The greek hashira chapter 2

(2 years before the main story)

It has been a year since I became a demon slayer and within that year I have suplexed a total of 97 different demons, killed 96 of them and suplexed Douma 24 different times within the year. For a man who is supposed to be a hard demon to fight he is rather easy to find and suplex, heck I don't even bother killing him cause I know alone I am at a disadvantage facing him.

Today however was a special day for me as I had ascended to the rank of hashira for killing a total of 4 members of the lower twelve Kizuki alone. The Hashira headquarter was beautiful as it was calming the tranquil zen garden and flowing rivers gave the entire place and joyous and peaceful vibe while the weather itself was just perfect, clear blue skies and the sound of birds filled the air, and the main house was tranquil.

This was the first time in a year I have seen any of the other Hashira so seeing Sensei Rengoku and Shinobu made me beyond happy as it warmed my heart to see them still alive and happy, and they have become fine warriors. Some of the other Hashira though were really happy to meet me for the first time such as the water Hashira Giyuu Tomioka who was a quiet fellow but calm and just.

"Niokolaos Aristokles, the great lion of Sparta, we are honored to meet you" Tomioka san said bowing to me.

Flipping through my translation booklet I said, "yes, it is very nice to meet you too, Tomioka san, I can't wait to work alongside you and the other hashira"

A girl with pink and green hair giggled at me and said, "I guess even though he has been here in Japan for so long he still has trouble doing translations in Japanese."

I looked insulted and said, "oi, oi, oi I still can understand…sort of what you are saying even without the booklet…its just speaking that I have trouble with…."

Rengoku laughed a bit and said, "I guess you have learned some things! It's good to have someone like you with us, and I am sure the master would agree!"

I smirked and said, "while we wait for the master, shall we exchange formalities? If I am to work alongside you all it would be rude not to at least know your names, I already know the flame pillar Rengoku, and the insect pillar Shinobu but who are the rest of you?"

The girl with pink and green hair giggled and said, "he's so formal! And so cute my heart is skipping a beat just looking at him!"

The tallest amongst them walked forward, a blind man yes but I could tell he was stronger than the others.

The man looked at me and said, "I am the stone pillar Gyomei it is good to meet you Nikolaos."

I smiled and watched as the others introduced themselves, the serpent pillar Obanai, the wind pillar Sanemi, the Mist Pillar Muichiro, the love Pillar Mitsuri, and the sound pillar Tengen. Each one of them brought a different thing to the table with Tengen being a ninja, Sanemi having the quickest attacks, Obanai's unique serpent blade, Mitsuri's usage of a whip blade and Gyomei being the second strongest.

"wait second strongest? Who would be the first" I asked curiously.

A voice then called out, "that would have to be you, Mr. Aristokles."

I then looked behind me to see the twins from the final selection along with a man that was blinded, the top part of his head looked like it was poisoned.

Suddenly I looked behind me to see the other Hashira were starting to bow so I took it upon myself to bow with them taking a knee and slamming my spear into the ground.

The master smiled at me and said, "ahhh so your Nikolaos Aristokles, your name has been going around, a strong demon slayer, a foreigner who fights like an ancient Greek hoplite, a truly foreign sight here in Japan, you are an amazing warrior, and quite frankly we are glad to have someone like you in our ranks"

I chuckled and said, "so you're the master of the hashira, I am honored to meet you."

The master chuckled and said, "so Nikolaos, you have had three different Hashira vouch for you and your appointment to Hashira, so I must ask what your title would be?"

I had been thinking about this for months now and had it all planned out in my head, "call me the Greek pillar! The great lion Nikolaos Aristokles!" I snickered.

The master smiled and said, "your heart burns in a way foreign to us, but it is a fire of good, a true warrior worthy of the title of hashira, and with your successful killing of 9 lower moons I think your appointment is well earned! Very well Nikolaos Aristokles, I name you the Greek pillar, the Greek hashira and the great lion! Welcome to the Hashira!"

The other Hashira clapped for my addition to the core, and we all had a great feast to welcome my addition to the core where they soon found out that a Greek's belly is an infinity as the ocean. The food went by fast as we ate and as others started to stop and pat their full bellies Rengoku, Sanemi, Gyomei and I were still filling ourselves up on the cooking while the drinks never ran out. It was times like this that I missed my home, and my family. The laughter as we sat around and ate was a sound as loud as thunder and as joyous as a wedding and for the longest time, I had not experienced it till now.

Rengoku would laugh as he ate with me shouting, "Nikolaos come tell us one of your fondest memories here in Japan so far."

I laughed back and said, "well I did get into some trouble in the entertainment district."

This caught Tengen's eyes as he looked at me and said, "oh? And what would a person like you be doing in a place like that?"

I looked a little brash and said, "I was looking for a translator actually, as you all know my Japanese isn't any good, like at all and I hoped to find someone who spoke Greek, unfortunately the geisha I found there who said they knew Greek only knew a couple Greek phrases, so it was rather…annoying"

Tengen laughed and said, "let me guess, they brought you in saying they spoke Greek and took your money."

I laughed and said, "worse they brought me in thinking I had money but all I had was drachmae, a currency they don't accept here, so they kicked me out and took my shield and spear, which I didn't like so I broke back in and took my spear and shield and now I am banned from the entertainment district."

This got a laugh out of them as we started to talk about our lives and what we had lost to get to where we are.

Shinobu and I mourned Kanae sensei as she was a sister to both of us and a mentor…we never did find her sword though which worried us both as a demon with a nichirin sword was a truly dangerous sight.

The master chuckled and said, "so Nikolaos, do you have a place to stay?"

I nodded my head and said, "Shinobu sensei has been kind enough to let me stay at the butterfly manor."

The master was caught off guard a bit, "oh! So, you don't have a manor of your own! Or even a place to call your own!"

I sighed a bit and said, "I wouldn't mind having a small manor to call my own, or at least a house to come back to"

Shinobu laughed and said, "but master, Nikolaos is like family to me! A brother of sorts!"

I chuckled and said, "lets be honest though Shinobu it would be a good idea for me to have a base of my own cause I do plan to train more and more demon slayers in my ways"

The master chuckled and said, "ahhh so you plan to help train our demon slayers"

I nodded and said, "forgive my rudeness master but the strongest Hashira couldn't even take me down without my spear and shield what makes you think the weakest demon slayer couldn't kill a demon?"

This seemed to insult Sanemi who looked at me and said, "oh you think I couldn't take you on without your spear and shield?"

I laughed and got up and said, "you know I could!"

Sanemi then led me outside and got into a sword stance and proceeded to attack me with every ounce of his sword skill slicing through me easily, but I didn't really feel a thing. His will of fire was truly something to admire though, with each swing of his blade I could feel his hatred, his drive I learned more about him from these small attacks than a person can learn about sanemi in their entire life. He fought for his family, no his brother! He fought to make sure he was okay, he fought to exterminate the demons, like other hashira yes but the way he fought me was more like he hated demons on a personal level! Perhaps someone close to him turned into a demon…and that's why he hated demons!

I was unable to speak though, I had never been attacked by the wind before and was excited, my blood boiled, my heart pounded, this was the first time I had ever been cut this way the blood flowed from my veins.

Grinning I said, "you had your fun! Now it's my turn!" before rushing him shocking him a bit as I slugged him in the face and started to box him disarming him and starting to box him putting all my might into it before turning him around with a lightning-fast punch and suplexing him hardcore.

Sanemi rolled into a defensive position and rushed me again, no breathing technique this time, just pure swordsmanship which I defended against not realizing just how many wounds I had till I finally headbutted him and grabbing him and throwing him into the ground holding him with his arm pinned behind his back.

"best give up now Sanemi before-" I was about to say when all of a sudden my Kotoyami landed next to me.

"Nikolaos, head north northwest from here! Strange things have been happening as towns people have been going missing Ill as can be only to return back fully healed" Kotoyami said.

I grinned rushing in to grab my shield and spear and began my long march.

Rengoku and Shinobu walked with me to the edge of the manor.

Rengoku put his hand on my shoulder and said, "I hope you do well my student."

Smiling I clanked my spear against my shield and shouted, "I will bring glory to you sensei!"

Shinobu then gripped my shoulder tighter and said, "you better come back in good health and not covered in scars cause if you do, I promise I will hurt you and put wisteria into your blood stream."

I shuttered a bit and said, "noted Sensei" before rushing off following the Sparrowhawk.

As I left, I looked up to the peaceful skies and couldn't help but sing a song from my homeland.

"From the first breath until the last he stood for Sparta! Courageously he reigned beneath the stars, Victorious was the great Leonidas, the king who ruled an army and served the gods!" I sang happily clanking my spear against my shield.

I continued as I saw Kotoyami flying overhead, "so proud I was born to be spartan, they rise over fire they face! They carry the weight of Leonidas the bravest they fight to the grave!"

It would take me 4 days and 3 nights to get to the location, and along the way I did see Douma who I decided rush and suplex him and run away.

As I did I noticed a woman with him a demon who was shocked to see me suplex who I assumed she saw as her lover.

The demon looked at me as I ran and said, "how dare you! how dare you hurt my dearest Douma I swear I will kill you ya damn demon slayer! What is your rank so I may etch it into your grave!"

Snickering I shouted, "I am the Greek hashira! I am Nikolaos Aristokles!" as I ran away laughing my ass off.

Douma seemed intrigued in this shouting, "I am glad you became a Hashira Nikolaos, I knew you could do it! Our great battle will soon be upon us and when that day comes I will kill you myself!"

I avoided Douma once again and finally arriving on the 4th night I came across a village shrouded in bamboo and mist. This area wasn't good for a spear which worried me, but it was good for my kopis. With a smile I walked around the town listening to people's conversations.

Walking calmly with my booklet in hand I overheard a conversation that caught my ear. Flipping through the booklet I learned that at night when someone is Ill, they go to the edge of town and lightly tap a gong before kneeling and waiting for the mist to take them and when the morning comes they are healed.

This made me curious, however, how did people get sick in the first place. I had to figure out how people got sick first before going after the mist.

First things first, water. Back home in Greece if someone was sick the first place to check was the well, if this logic applied to here in Japan, then maybe the water was tainted. I walked through the town again till I came across the river that ran from the forest into the town. Kneeling I sniffed the water and could smell some sort of demon blood in it, but it wasn't like the demon was the water, it was like…the demon was polluting the water.

"What kind of demon would do something like this?" I muttered to myself before getting up.

I then noticed a commotion in the town and rushed back to see the town gathered around the area they said people came back from healed. The town was celebrating a man who had come back from tuberculous and poisoning which raised my eyebrow. Poisoning…. Could the poison be from the water? And the scent from this man it had a faint scent of a demon, but it confused me as it was…pure like as if the demon had good intent, but a demon like that doesn't exist! A good demon? That sounds very strange and what really shocked me was the fact that the demon scent was different from the demon water scent and what made me shutter was how strong it was. It wasn't that the scent was potent it was…well the demon was strong, an upper moon? No this scent was even stronger, which scared me but also made my blood boil excitedly.

A demon stronger than Douma! Maybe it was muzan himself doing this healing, but why I wonder. Could this healing be just a ruse to get people to trust him?

Grinning I walked up to the man with my booklet and asked him if he got a good look at his healer. The man sadly couldn't see the person responsible as the mist shrouded the two of them.

Damn it, If I were to get close to this demon…I would have to get some backup a Kanoe would be best for this situation, as much as I hated to use people to my advantage, having someone who could bring out a demon for me to fight would be good. Summoning Kotoyami I sent a message back to headquarters for a kanoe demon slayer to come by and make sure they are parched, and that they approached the village from the east so that they see the river and instinctively drink from it.

This was exactly what I was hoping would happen and all went according to plan as the demon slayer did drink the water and got sick almost instantly. Curiously I watched as the demon slayer did take the advice of the villagers and waited till the night to go to the healer, but the demon slayer didn't hit the gong he just disappeared into the mist annoying me as I followed the slayer from a far as he followed the river instead of the mist.

Why would he follow the river though? All the villagers said to follow the mist, not the river, it was like he was in a daze. Unfortunately, though I lost him as an even thicker mist built up.

"wha- AHAAAAAHHHH! A DEMON! SOMEONE ANYONE HELP ME!" the demon slayer called out.

This shocked me and I rushed through the mist till I came across a most curious sight the demon slayer backed up against a mountain while a woman with redish brown hair, red eyes dressed in a grey demon slayer corps uniform wielding a red and black nichirin blade was fighting another demon woman dressed in a black kimono with red highlights and a huge bamboo hat with a veil.

This perplexed me as I sniffed the air and realized they were both demons! And more over the nichrin blade was giving off the scent of Kanae sensei!

I snuck in quietly and took the Kanoe away and said, "you have done your part young one, head back to HQ I'll take care of these two" before returning to see how the fight went on while frantically translating what they were saying.

The demon wearing the hat howled in anger shouting, "you traitor! Lord Muzan would be very displeased with you when he finds out his own daughter betrayed him and killed one of his lower moons!"

The red-haired demon calmly spoke saying, "no, it is you who has overstepped! As your blood demon art has tainted the land, this land may have yet grown the blue spider lily my father wishes to find and as such you must be exterminated, Blood demon breathing, great moon!" before turning into a crescent moon and slicing the neck of the demon wearing the hat.

This raised my curiosity as the red-haired demon's scent matched that of the scent on the people who were healed.

As the red-haired demon watched the hat demon burn I approached with my Kopis and Shield drawn and said, "so, I assume you're the one healing those town folk?"

The red haired demon turned around suddenly and slashed at me but I parried it with my shield and watched as she leapt back defensively before hissing and saying, "I don't wish for any trouble with the corps!"

I laughed, sheathing my kopis and putting up one finger as I started to very crudely say that I didn't want trouble either I just wanted to talk.

This intrigued the woman who looked at me and said, "you- you aren't from Japan are you?"

I shook my head and said, "nope I am from Greece, why do you ask?"

The lady in fluent Greek said, "because I speak fluent Greek in the spartan, Athenian, and Theban dialect"

This made me happier than I had ever been in my life as I had found someone I could actually talk to and not have to use a booklet for!

Smiling I said, "so you mind telling me what that was about?"

The lady nodded and explained how she was tasked with killing the demons who lord muzan believed had crossed the line and as such she was given free reign to do whatever she wanted, even designing her to be part human so she could walk through the daylight.

Getting a better look at her she was rather cute I will admit.

I smiled while taking a seat and taking off my helmet.

"Take a seat lass, let's talk" I chuckled.

The lady hesitantly did so, and I pulled out my pack pulling out some salted lamb and shared it with her.

"so, what is your name girl?" I asked curiously.

The lady blushed a bit and said, "I am Ayano Kibu- Nomura, I am Ayano Nomura, and what about you?"

I smirked and said, "I am Nikolaos Aristokles the Greek hashira"

This seemed to shock the lady a bit as she suddenly got up and said, "i- I am sorry I forgot, Lord Muzan would want me to report to him on what has happened here! Forgive me I must-"

Before she could go, I grabbed her arm and said, "will I see you again? Its been to long since I have had someone to talk to in my native tongue"

This made the lady blush considerably as she said, "I- I think I will see you, with the demon disposed of I will be wandering around again on my own- s- so maybe, Nikolaos now can you let go of my hand! Oh also you can let the towns people know that the water will no longer hurt them that the lady of the mist has vanquished the demon!"

I nodded my head and watched as the lady leapt through the bamboo forest.

Eating some salted lamb I waited for Kotoyami to land on my shoulder.

"Kotoyami, can I talk to you about a theory I have and this stays between us" I said.

Kotoyami nodded and I said, "that lady…she has the scent of a demon yes, and more importantly she also has the scent of a human, a good human….do you think its possible for her to aid us?" while taking some of the salted lamb and leaving it in my hand for him to eat.

Kotoyami graciously ate some of the lamb and said, "it may be possible however I don't think the other demon slayers would approve of her…why do ask?"

Grinning I scratched Kotoyami under his beak and said, "well for starters she knows Greek and Japanese which makes her vital to me, not a lot of people know the spartan dialect of Greek here in Japan, they mainly know the Athenian dialect and even then they only know the formal Greek, not conversational Greek and those people reside in the royal palace, shes the first person who knows conversational Greek which is very good, that and you saw how she protected that demon slayer, she has a will of her own and I like that" before taking another bite of salted lamb.

Kotoyami tilted his head and said, "but again she is a demon, if the other members of the hashira finds out you saved her- "

Before Kotoyami could say anything else I said, "I'll take full responsibility for her when I get a chance however I need to confirm my theory, return back to headquarters and let the master know that I have slain the demon responsible for poisoning the water but I am looking in to the healer, ask the master if there is such thing as a demon healer, make sure none of the other Hashira find out about this however cause I am sure if they did they would try to kill me"

Kotoyami nodded and flew off and I was left again to my own devices. Daybreak was soon upon me and I was still hungry. Walking back into the village I struggled a bit but managed to tell the village chief about the poisoned water which should be purified soon.

The village chief bowed thankfully, and I found a place to eat. It was a local shop but it served a really good tempura udon.

Taking a single bite of the tempura shrimp that was served with the udon I was caught off guard by how good it was and shouted, "NOSTIMO!" and ate 4 bowls of Tempura Udon eagerly.

As I finished my fourth bowl I noticed that there was a boy by the door to the shop, he looked to be about 11 and dressed in a green Haori with scarlet eyes. The boy was staring at me with a glint in his eyes and a huge basket of charcoal on his back.

I smiled at the boy and patted the seat in front of me for the young boy to sit. The boy seemed to understand and sat down in front of me and I ordered him the same thing I was eating along with some roasted eel, beef and steamed vegetables. The boy and I barely talked but there was no need to talk, we could tell instantly about each other just by the way we acted when we ate.

It was an old Greek philosophy but when two people eat together you can tell a lot about them based on how they eat, how much they eat, and their manners. This boy had such graceful manners when eating and at such a young age too! It warmed my heart as it meant whoever raised him raised him to be a great and responsible kid. The kid finished his food and walked over to me with the thing of charcoal offering me some. I smiled and reached into my pack and gave him the rest of my salted lamb and took some charcoal in exchange, giving it to the shop owner as payment for the food.

In my crude Japanese I found out the boy was known as Tanjiro Kamado, a young boy who lived up the mountain with his brothers and sisters, he was a kind boy, and loved by the villagers. I hoped to be around long enough to see him again when he has grown because I have a feeling he'd make a wise man.

Kotoyami finally came back though with a letter from the master. The letter did confirm my suspicion, this lady could be trusted as it wasn't the first time a demon defected from Muzan's order and the fact she had breathing arts was unique yes, but I was curious what else she had up her sleeve. The letter also said that if I believed she would be an asset to me, bring her back to the manor so that she could be evaluated. I grinned happily as it meant I could finally have my translator! And a damn strong one at that!

I spent the rest of the day training with my spear and shield till I felt honed enough for the day. As night fell, I returned to the place where I met Ayano and saw her sitting there, in the center was a greak hot pot, the smell of pig, mushrooms, vegetables, beef and the beef stock was amazing. Part of me was saying to kill her now, she was a demon after all, and yet my Greek instincts said she could be trusted she saved a demon slayer she didn't know after all and the way she fought, she had the Greek will of fire all spartans had. This excited me as I walked up to her and bowed before putting down my spear and shield next to me and picked up a bowl and started to eat.

"Hello Ayano, I didn't know if I would see you again, I assume you bought all this?" I asked as I filled my bowl with the beef stock and a couple of vegetables.

Ayano bowed and said, "yes…I'm not like the other demons, I do not heal from eating humans instead I heal from eating food."

I whistled and shouted, "Nostimo!" as I ate hardily.

Ayano giggled as we ate some more and I decided it was time for interrogation, "So Ayano can I ask you about your mission? And where your loyalty lies?"

Ayano chuckled and said, "well my loyalty is to my fa- I mean lord muzan…even if he does scare me, I still have no choice but to follow his orders…"

I laughed a bit and said, "sounds like you don't really want to follow him"

This shocked Ayano a bit as she said, "i- I mean well…I really don't want to…he's cruel and obsessed with conquering the sun and yet he gave me a human body and demon powers, I can walk through the sun easily which confuses me, but I have no choice in the matter"

I chuckled as I ate and said, "well it doesn't sound like you have anything tying you to him, am I correct in this assumption? If that's the case why not join the demon slayer corps? Your already wearing one of our uniforms and carrying a nichirin blade so your already a slayer in that respect, plus I could use a translator"

This raised Ayano's eyebrow as she said, "well I mean I wouldn't mind working along side y- I MEAN I WOULDN'T MIND BEING YOUR TRANSLATOR! Hehehehe yeah that's what I meant!" before turning beat red.

I laughed hardily again slapping my arm against my knee before finally looking at Ayano with a smile as she blushed brighter and brighter as she said, "I- god is it hot in here or is it just me? Boy is the food good!" trying to change the subject.

I took off my helmet and put it next to my gear looking her in the eyes as I said, "the food is amazing, but the point still stands, and this is the reason I came back here, how would you like to work with me?"

This shocked Ayano as she blushed harder and harder, "work- work with y- you I mean you are pretty hot b- but wait why did I say that! Ahhh I mean I would like to but I am sure lord muzan wouldn't allow it at all!" She then started to mutter to herself and I got closer to her to see what she had to say.

This made her get red and blush like crazy under her mask and I took my opportunity, lifted down her mask, and kissed her on the lips. This turned into us making out for the night and her passion…. her passion was just lovely and filled with the joy of life.

The next morning, I woke up to see she had left, but she left me a note to meet her here tonight and be ready for anything. I sent for Kotoyami and sent him off with a letter to the master to assemble the other hashira for a meeting at the manor.

I feel like fate is finally going our way, if how Rengoku sensei described the situation was correct than that would mean that this girl…could be the ace we were waiting for.

During the day I decided to take a nap and meditate on all that was going on, the fact that this girl was some how important to muzan…but how was she important? Was it because she was just a mix of a human and demon? I mean muzan wanted to conquer the sun so why didn't he just kill her? Did he have a plan for her? Perhaps.

I must have fallen asleep cause when I woke, I saw her rushing toward me covered in gashes and wounds which shocked me.

"Ayano! Are you okay!" I asked rather shocked, getting up and putting on my helmet.

Ayano stuttered and said, "y-yeah yeah…no, not really it is bad, and I mean bad! I know I just got here but we need to run like right now!"

Confused I said, "wait what do you mean!"

Ayano grabbed my hand and we started to run, and she explained how she was actually tasked with killing the Greek hashira but she liked me to much to kill me and how she was given another chance to kill me but instead she defected and decided to work with us instead.

"called it!" I laughed as we ran.

As we rushed through the forest towards the Hashira headquarters., I felt a change in the air and instinctively grabbed Ayano and pulled her back just as a fist launched from the bamboo thicket.

Ayano screamed a bit shouting, "what the- no, by God no did Muzan send her to face us! Of all the demons why her! Why Horoko!"

From the thicket came a woman dressed in traditional Greek armor which shocked me, it was almost like mine but with the addition of large Japanese segmented spaulders her skin was a deep crimson, and she wore the hat part of the Murmillo gladiator helmet and from her mouth were four large fangs curled and jagged like that of a boar yet…they looked pristine and vicious. Her eyes had symbols in them not Japanese at all, they were Greek, and I knew these symbols well they were the symbol for Achilles and Herakles. This woman wasn't Japanese, at least not fully. From her scent I assumed Greek, more specifically Theban, no scratch that this one was from Sparta! She was one of my people but the way she fought; she was a practitioner of Pankration!

I grinned happily and said, "Finally another one of my kind! Tell me warrior of the Agoge which gods do you worship!"

The lady roared at me and said, "I denounced my old gods, and only worship my demon king! I envy you warrior for I can smell you and your power, are you also from sparta!"

I grinned happily and said, "you are correct! I was born of sparta too and I am honored to fight another one of my kind!"

Ayano looked at me gripping my shoulder shouting, "Niko please I beg you! this demon is an ancient demon! She may not be an upper moon, but she has eaten over a thousand different people over his live!"

Grinning, I pushed her away and kicked the bottom of my spear and twirled in my hand before gripping it tightly and slammed it against my shield before taking up a phalanx stance.

"Ayano hear these words and keep them close to your heart as these words are held by the mighty Greek spartans! Hold your head high, keep your spirit high, let your heart burn with the fire of passion and never run away from your opponents! The might of your enemy is nothing as long as your will of fire is stronger!" I grinned happily and laughed before slamming my back foot into the ground.

My heart was a blaze…. I guess what Rengoku sensei taught me has finally sunk in, set your heart a blade let your will of fire guide you! these words though specific to Rengoku Sensei are Greek as well and I would not give in, or give up!

This made Horoko smile as she looked at me and said, "I am happy! Finally, someone who understands the will of fire! Very well Greek Hashira I will fight you and when I kill you I will give you a proper Greek death! Now die!" before suddenly rushing at me with her arms raised to try and grapple with me.

Grinning I rolled out of the way and lunged forward only to be met with a punch right to the stomach followed by her gripping me and I realized exactly what she was about to do but it was to late as I suddenly found myself on the receiving end of a suplex causing me to roll out of the way a bit dazed.

"so this- this is how it feels to be suplexed hehe damn that hurts, but now its my turn!" I grinned lunging forward and suplexing Horoko dazing her.

Leaping back, I gripped my spear readying myself for the finale.

Shallowing my breathing I shouted, "Pantheon breathing style, 2nd form, Poseidon stampede!" allowing my spear to turn a light blue followed by water flowing around me as I rushed Horoko.

As my spear pressed its way into her body the ground shook like an earthquake and a wave of water surged behind me dousing Horoko. The demon didn't die sadly from this but it allowed me to watch as the demon screamed in pain and tried to destroy the spear, but she couldn't as the spear burnt her every time she touched it.

With a smirk I unsheathed my Kopis and leapt forward again, "Pantheon breathing style, 4th form speed of Hermes!" turning into a bolt of lightning before cutting off her legs and then zooming around her to grab my spear and sheath my kopis and with a howl I leapt into the air and readied my spear.

I guess she was stronger than I thought cause her legs regenerated and she turned to face me ready to kill me as I was in the air, I had no way of dodging whatever she had planned. Before either of us could attack though Ayano unsheathed her Nichirin blade and said, "Blood demon breathing 5th form calming walk of the Yuki-onna"

The air became cold and filled with ice as Ayano walked past Horoko with her sword drawn and then suddenly sheathing it as ice engulfed Horoko's legs followed by them shattering.

Not missing a beat, I grinned, "Pantheon breathing style, 6th form Artemis moonlit Arrow!" I shouted, throwing my spear with grace allowing it to follow a path which headed up piecing the demon's heart and then lunged forward with my Kopis decapitating Hokoro.

As Hokoro fell I grabbed her head in my arms and kneeled.

Hokoro coughed up a bit of blood and said, "t-tell me warrior did I fight well?"

I grinned putting her head in the hands of her body and then kneeled in front of her, "you were a great opponent, a true testament to the strength of sparta, you may be a demon but…I will strive to be as strong as you I swear by the river styx…I pray that the courts of the underworld judge your soul worthy of the fields of Elysium" before pulling out a single Greek drachmae and leaving it in his lap and bowing low.

Hokoro grinned and said, "you know…you remind me of myself in my youth…I was a firebrand a great hoplite who served under a general who led us here to Japan to fight….only for us to be slaughtered like animal, I fell into a drunken stupor after that…and nearly lost myself even going as far as to become a demon working for muzan but you, I can tell your fire is different and won't be put out so easily…please great warrior live and fight nobly!"

I grinned picking up my shield and spear as walked over to Ayano who was staring at me with a blank expression with stars in her eyes.

Smiling I said, "liked what you saw?"

Ayano chuckled and said, "a bit but... your bleeding…like a lot"

I looked at my body and raised my eyebrow and realized I had been bleeding a lot during the fight.

"Oh shit…. Lady Shinobu is gonna kill me" I muttered.

Ayano laughed a bit a nd said, "come now…. boss? Niko, what should I actually call you?"

I thrusted my spear into the ground and tapped my chin thinking about it and said, "call me Niko for now actually."

Ayano nodded bowing slightly and saying, "well Niko, I shall follow you and see what your fellow Hashira have to say about me!"

Oh they had a lot to say when I got back, and what they had to say included a lot of cursing, stabbing, getting hit in the shield a lot and me having to defend Ayano from the other hashira who were trying to kill her.

"Rengoku sensei! I don't want to hurt you!" I shouted hesitantly taking up my phalanx stance.

Rengoku looked at me and said, "as your sensei Nikolaos I must say I am disappointed in you! you made allies with a demon! Why!" before rushing me.

Standing my ground as he attacked my shield I shouted, "my gut says she could be an ally sensei! And look at her! She isn't burning in the sunlight and she said it herself! She eats normal food, not humans! She could be an ally to us! Our fight against muzan hasn't progressed at all and in fact has become more aggravating! We have lost slayers left and right with no sign of getting closer to killing him or his upper moons! All we have done is kill lower moon demons! Ayano seems to have this will about her! You have to trust me on this!"

Rengoku leapt back a bit stopping Shinobu too as he did. It seemed my words got to them and more importantly my words got to Ayano who got up and shouted, "I am nothing like Muzan! I don't have his intent! I want to be better than him! I want to help you demon slayers by healing those who can't heal themselves! Please let me join you! let me aid you however I can" before bowing very low.

I smirked looking at my fellow Hashira and said, "is that convincing enough?"

The master then came out with his children and said, "I think lady Ayano would be a valuable addition to the corps, and as such I too will vouch for her, Nikolaos how far will you go for her?"

I smirked and said, "if she does end up killing a human, I swear by the river Styx I will put her down myself, for now I wish for her to accompany me"

This raised the master's eyebrow as he said, "oh? Why is that?"

"she knows Greek and Japanese she would be a perfect translator, plus she's cute so I want to keep ker close to me" I chuckled.

This made Ayano blush like crazy but also left ger speechless