After a week of resting and hyping herself up as if she were about to train for a marathon, even though she essentially was, Kagami's wounds were completely healed. She no longer had to wear those ghastly white bandages that made her out like a ghoul stalking the gardens of the Butterfly Mansion looking for its next beautiful victim. Whilst her flesh will never be the same, she was getting quite used to the roughened and scarred skin. She didn't mind the thickness of it trailing her arms and reaching up to her face from her neck, like a demon's claws trying to grasp the dragon nesting above her eyebrow. In fact, she was starting to rather like it!
Aoi and the rest of the girls from the hospital packed Kagami and Tanjiro food for their journey to their first training: Mr. Tengen Uzui's, former Sound Hashira's, Fitness and Stamina Training! Judging by the name, she could get a sense of what it was about already. She had done much endurance training with Mr. Urokodaki on Mt. Sagiri couple years back. With both men being former Hashiras, she wondered if their trainings were the same. Or at least similar.
What Kagami wasn't expecting but wasn't surprised to hear were the near belligerent and disappointed scream-thrashings by Mr. Uzui as they neared the training ground. She could hear it from a mile away, even more! It whipped harshly through the air, cracking the sound barrier every now and then with a horrifying pierce. It would've struck a nerve so harsh it could've sent her trembling, or at least very hesitant in her step, but she and Mr. Uzui had fought side-by-side and bested Death enough times to make the incorporeal being jealous.
Though, instead of shrinking away like any other lower ranked swordsman, she hurried her pace, heart soaring as loud as the nearby waterfall, as the sound of his voice grew closer and ever so clearer.
"Mr. Uzui!" She couldn't help but call out, her smile widening to touch her ears.
Kagami and Tanjiro finally reached the top of the steep hill. They were instantly greeted with Mr. Uzui roughly spanking many fallen swordsmen on the ground with his shinai. He turned at the sound of her call and his smile was just as wide, and flashy, of course, at the enthusiastic sight of the running pair.
Mr. Uzui hefted his shinai over his shoulder. "Is that you, Kamado and Yamato? Long time no see, kiddos!" He greeted proudly.
The two stopped just before him. "It's good to see you again! We're glad you recovered well," They greeted with a bow.
Mr. Uzui released a haughty cackle at that. He flicked a finger at his eye patch, a harshding!sparkling from it."Ha! If you can call this "well"! Look at what I've become!"
Kagami was in higher spirits seeing Mr. Uzui the same as before the Entertainment District, perhaps even more grown. Without his Demon Slayer uniform, he had fitted himself in a maroon montsuki and a dark purple haori. His signature white hair fell in uneven waves but still framed his sharp jawline impeccably. His permanently damaged left eye was covered with a gemstone eye patch so it could still sparkle just as the rest of his person. Even with a missing hand and eye, Mr. Uzui still held an intimidating and commanding presence that could bow anyone to their knees if he wished it.
"I hear that you took on another Upper Rank!" He then aimed the head of his shinai in their faces. It was a more imposing figure than him. "You're lucky kids to still be intact!"
Despite the backhanded compliment, Tanjiro still smiled, unwavering against the immovable force. "Yes, fortunately, we managed to survive somehow!"
"Right!" screamed Mr. Uzui, as if that was what was supposed to be said. "Well, after all that rest, you can shatter the rust off your bodies here!"
"Yes! We'll give it our all!" Kagami and Tanjiro didn't hesitate a second to squeal. The repeated agonized groans of their broken comrades sprawled around them played unheard to their deaf ears.
Being formally trained by the current generation of Hashira wassomething Kagami had been looking forward to for the longest time. Mr. Rengoku bringing up the idea of being his Tsugukos himself and Mr. Uzui recommending both Kagami and Tanjiro to take both of their vacant Hashira spots had been one of the many highlights that roared the passionate fire in her heart. She doesn't plan on letting it diminish again any time soon, not while so much faith and trust was placed on her shoulders to become the best.
Whilst Zenitsu continued to be a whiny baby about the grueling training, Kagami was more than prepared to become a sponge and absorb all the knowledge Mr. Uzui and the rest of the Hashira had to offer.
Within an hour of her starting, Kagami had become quite an agile athlete; a blur swiftly weaving between collapsing and huffing swordsmen. The training grounds were similar to Mr. Urokodaki's, minus the traps and ambushes that nearly got her killed back 'd lept over a log, slide under another, and continue without a missing beat. Her fellow swordsmen would go wide-eye, choked gasps taking what precious little breath they had left, as she easily passed them with no sign of exhaustion taken hold of her yet. She took joy in besting the men of the Demon Slayer Corps, but she could not fault them for where they staggered. Mr. Uzui's training absolutely did not compare to the battles she had endured and fought until then. So her fellow comrades could not understand why she completed the obstacle course with ease.
Mr. Uzui's training course consisted of the obstacle course, squats, running in place, pull-ups, and much more. The swordsmen wide eyes did not falter at Kagami squatting twice as hard and fast as the rest during the group routine. Whilst collapsed on the ground or resting against nearby tree trunks, they continued to watch her run in place by her and Tanjiro's lonesome, both in awe and horror.
Despite the soreness of her muscles making itself known insistently, Kagami took courage and heart they were becoming anew, just as she had time and time again after defeating a demon and prevailing against all odds. She would keep pushing forward!
Soon, it was lunch time, and Kagami was starving.
Wit her stomach growling louder and harsher than Inosuke's roars, she followed the smell of the delicious hotpot boiling on the stove, the rice balls made immaculately in fat triangles, and roasted meat covered in a pot roasting above a hearty fire. Each dish was tended to by familiar beautiful ladies clad in unfamiliar normal wear.
"Hey! Good to see you!" Miss Suma squealed as she glanced up from the roasting meat.
"Tanjiro! Kagami! You're back," Miss Hinatsuru said, a bright smile stretching her lips, a large basket of rice balls tucked safely in her arms.
Miss Makio waved her wooden ladle at the two, the boiling pot waiting patiently for its assistant to return beneath her, and chuckled, "Well, it's about time!"
Kagami waved happily at the women's healthy and happy state. "Hey, everyone. Nice to see you too!"
"You're all looking as well as ever!" Tanjiro said, just as relieved. Then, they bowed appreciatively as he added, "Thank you for all you did for us!"
All three looked pleasantly surprised at their words. Miss Makio dismissed their gratitude with a smirk. "Hey, why are you sounding so formal?" She asked, the small shake of her head swaying her black and yellow hair in the whispering breeze.
Miss Hinatsuru nodded, and said, "After all, you're the ones who saved us."
"Look at you both! Training must be going well!" Miss Suma noted.
Miss Makio looked them over with an appraising look. Her smirk widened ever so more as she glanced between the two. "Kagami has gotten even more muscular, I'm jealous. And Tanjiro is looking manly as ever. I wouldn't be surprised if the two of you start becoming magnets."
"Magnets?" Tanjiro questioned curiously.
"Yeah, for girls and boys."
Kagami instantly became bashful at that. Would her muscular body even attract boys to begin with? She shouldn't even be questioning that anymore. Two boys already occupied her mind full-time, and she wasn't even dating either one of them! She wouldn't know how she could handle another one coming into her life. Especially since she had no idea which boy she liked more; Genya Shinazugawa or Inosuke Hashibira? Did they even like her back? They haven't implied as such!
Ugh, she should just focus on her training!
"You guys, you need to eat up more!" Mr. Uzui's booming voice suddenly blasted throughout the clearing. It was louder than Miss Suma's nervous giggles. They followed the direction she was staring and found the former Hashira looming above a tired swordsman and his untouched meal. "If you don't eat, the afternoon session will be even more grueling."
"What?!"The swordsmen gasped in terror.
Mr. Uzui's smile became twisted. A maniacal deviousness glinted in his eye, like a sly fox ready to pounce on its unsuspecting victim. "If you don't finish your meal, I'm going to add more drills to the session," He threatened.
"We'll eat! We'll eat!"They pleaded as if for their lives as they shoved their entire meal in their mouths.
Kagami's stomach growled again, more fierce than before. "Well, count me in! I'm starving."
"Me too!" Tanjiro agreed.
Kagami and Tanjiro gathered on the pebbled ground near the others and ate everything the wives had to offer. She had never eaten so much in her life! It was as if it had been years since she had a decent delicious meal, despite having been constantly eating since she'd awoken from her coma. Her stomach continued to growl, demanding one bowl after the other, her hands already reaching for the next rice ball Miss Hinatsuru offered. With the wives walking around the clearing with the pots and basket in their arms, reminding them of Mr. Uzui's ominous promise, she still clamored for more.
The next day, she and Tanjiro were up before anyone else. Everyone met Mr. Uzui at the beginning of a trail deep into the forest. The two of them were more than prepared for the new training to begin. The others looked absolutely discouraged and moved like their limbs suddenly turned to metal overnight.
"Alright! Let's move on to the next drill! Split up into pairs!" Mr. Uzui commanded.
The drill was still the obstacle course, except they must carry their partner throughout the entire duration. Tanjiro didn't hesitate to hoist his partner on his back and take off running at the commencement. Kagami rejected her partner's offer to carry her first and lifted him instead. She chased after Tanjiro, her partner exclaiming in surprise at the speed she ran, his body thumping against her back with every heavy step she took.
Kagami flashed a smirk in Tanjiro's direction when she met his side. "I'll race ya!"
Tanjiro reciprocated her cheekiness. "Whoever reaches the finish line first gets extra servings at lunch time!"
"You're on!"
Soon, the rest of the swordsmen were far behind them, Mr. Uzui's screams dimming by the second. They both reached the end of the trail at the same time, leaving their little competition in a tie. That was alright. They both promised to each get more servings to replenish their strength. Though, by the time the rest of their fellow swordsmen met the end of the trail, Kagami and Tanjiro were already hard at work keeping their hearts pumping and muscles active for at least a good hour. There was no end in sight of their stamina, and that terrified their comrades.
At lunch time, a whole basket of fat rice balls was awarded to them by Mr. Uzui's wives. They were enjoying their meal when they somehow found themselves in the center of a crowd.
"Those Upper Ranks are crazy strong, right?" One of their comrades asked apprehensively.
Tanjiro's mouth was stuffed when he answered, "Sure, more than you can believe."
"What's it like?" Another gasped immediately, leaning on the edge of his seat.
Kagami waved her rice ball around, exposing her scarred skin in the sunlight. "Well, for starters, we almost died a dozen times by each Upper Rank in many creative ways according to that demon's blood demon art. By the time you register the demon is about to attack, you'd already be dead if you didn't move." That earned many pale faces.
Tanjiro added without hesitation, "But the fact that you're not dead means you were able to respond, so then you turn around only to get slammed again! Next, you feel a "Crunch!"" with an unsettling cheerfulness. "And if that cuts off the oxygen to your brain-!"
"All right, gotcha! We've heard enough!" Another swordsman quickly interrupted.
Kagami and Tanjiro continued to eat as if they hadn't traumatized the already defeated comrades of theirs.
Mr. Uzui gathered and joined the group on the bank of the river. "All right! Let's wrap things up for today!" He announced. His shinai roughly pointed in the direction of a distant mountain. "Today you're hitting that mountain! Take a lap around its foot and come back! If you don't get a move on, no dinner for you!" He had added at the cacophony of drained groans arising from his students. At the slow start of their pace, he continued to scream, "Come on, guys! Get going already! If you can't even take this, you're not gonna cut it!"
Kagami winced at the slaps of his shinai against the swordsmen's backs, but that was that. They were nothing more than slaps to pick them up and get them going on the trail toward the designated mountain.
"Lord Tengen has a way of giving them the rough side of his tongue," Miss Hinatsuru had giggled, looking unfazed and unconcerned by the treatment.
Miss Suma had a similar reaction. Nothing worth seeing had deterred the smile on her face. "Right! But he's actually a real softie!"
"Like, the other day, he refused to eat his own meal until the last Demon Slayer came back, and in the end, he went all the way to the mountain to get him!" Miss Makio informed them brightly.
Mr. Uzui approached them from behind. Every single bit of his commanding authority and rough demeanor he showcased to the Demon Slayers had completely dissipated by the time he arrived. His hand plopped softly on Miss Makio's head, his voice as gentle as the birds singing in the trees as he said, "You know I can hear every word you say." At their bashful chuckles, he continued, taking on a more serious tone, "The Master put these Demon Slayers in my care, and I can't let them flame out on my watch."
"Of course not!" His wives agreed.
With that, Kagami joined the others. For the past few days she had been training with Mr. Uzui, it reminded her of why she admired the man and trusted him with every fiber of her being. Despite his constant tongue-lashings, he was kind and cared deeply for his comrades. He wanted to make them stronger and better to prevent more unnecessary and needless deaths.
It was the same with Mr. Tomioka, Miss Tenshi, Mr. Rengoku, Miss Kanroji, Miss Sato, Mr. Tokito, and the rest of the Hashiras. Each one of them were kind people deep down who cared about the lives of those around them. They were using their precious time to train all the swordsmen with utmost focus and attention. All to make them stronger. Kagami's gratitude for them extended much more than she realized, and she would always be forever grateful to them.
At dusk after finishing the lap around the mountain, Kagami helped Mr. Uzui's wives transport all their cookware back to the storehouse. She and Tanjiro were the first and only ones to finish the course by the time everything was packed up, so she decided to help out.
"Thank you for the help, Kagami!" said Miss Suma.
"No problem. Tanjiro would've helped but he's busy helping collect collapsed Demon Slayers," Kagami explained.
"Even so, you're still a big help. If there's anything you need, you could always come to us," Hinatsuru offered.
Kagami's heart twisted at the women's nods. Seeing at how close those three were, alongside Mr. Uzui, she couldn't help but play images of their life in her head. A household of multiple wives married to a singular man, yet despite that they've never shown jealousy or hostility toward each other. They had never referred to each other as the "other woman" but rather a comrade, a companion, and, above all, a friend. For as long as Kagami had known Mr. Uzui, he never showed favoritism to any wife. He cared for them all equally and had been fearful for each of their lives back at the Entertainment District. They all loved each other.
If they worked out, then maybe...
"Miss Hinatsuru. Miss Makio. Miss Suma. How do you all do it?" Kagami had asked softly.
All three turned to her, surprised and confused. "What do you mean?"
Kagami released a shuddered breath. "Mr. Uzui loves all of you, no doubt about that, but do you ever worry he likes one of you more over the other? How do you cope with that feeling he will choose one wife consistently over the other two? Doesn't it bother you or make you uncomfortable, at least?" She immediately grew ashamed at the barrage of intimate questions she threw at them. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry into your personal lives."
A warm smile bloomed across Miss Hinatsuru's face. "You're in love, aren't you?"
"Huh?! In love?! I wouldn't go that far!" Kagami immediately blurted out. She tried to cover the panic in her voice with a nervous chuckle but at the women's all-knowing giggles, she gave up on that. "Is it really that obvious?"
"With those kind of questions you're asking, it definitely is," Miss Makio said. She sat down and patted the seat beside her. Kagami followed suit and was handed a warm cup of tea from Miss Suma. "So, who is the lucky boy or girl? You can tell us."
Kagami sighed. A blush caressed her cheekbones. "Two boys, actually."
"Aww!" The women cooed, both hands pressed to their faces.
She blushed harder at such reaction. "I like them both. I really do. Being thrusted into life and death situations alongside them made my feelings for them grow." Her fingers anxiously played at the strands of her hair. "It's just... I don't know if they like me back. And if they do, I wouldn't know what to do! How can I choose just one? I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings."
Miss Hinatsuru sat down on the other side of Kagami. "I see where this is going. You love them both and don't want to give the other up. That's why you're asking questions on how our marriage with Lord Tengen works. Well, I'll tell you this, it wasn't easy."
"It wasn't? You make it look so easy," Kagami gasped.
"You have to remember our marriages with Lord Tengen were arranged. His family practiced polygamy, so when someone turns 15, they must have 3 wives. That's how ours came to be," Miss Suma informed her, sitting down at Kagami's feet. "Though, it's just as Hinatsuru said, in the beginning it wasn't easy."
Miss Makio chuckled. "I remember all of us vied for Lord Tengen's attention. It's kind of funny thinking back on how much we competed with each other over who could get and keep his attention the longest. Then we realized how silly it was." A dreamy expression washed over her. She couldn't help but release another chuckle. "Ah, this brings back memories."
"It didn't take us long to realize no matter who it was, Lord Tengen treated each of us equally with the same amount of care and kindness. There was no need to fight when we were all getting the love and respect we deserve," Miss Hinatsuru added.
"That's right! Even outside of polygamous relationships, everyone deserves respect and love from their partners. These two boys are sure lucky to have someone like you already considering marriage with them," Miss Suma gushed.
Kagami frowned. "If they like me back."
"And if they do," Miss Hinatsuru gently poked Kagami's nose, "they're lucky to have a woman like you in their life. Right now, don't worry about something as grown up as marriage. I would recommend starting off with confessing how you feel about them. Then go from there."
The thought of confessing her feelings to either Genya or Inosuke brought a swarm of anxious butterflies fluttering her stomach. She wouldn't know how either one of them would react to a girl blurting her feelings as if she were about to explode to them. Maybe shewouldexplode... Mr. Uzui's wives made it sound easier than it was.
The next day at dusk, after another intense training session, Mr. Uzui met them at the river bank as they stretched each other's limbs for another lap around the mountain. But he suddenly made an unexpected announcement. "Listen up! I'm calling off the long-distance mountain run that we finish up with every day! And I'm replacing it with a special drill that's close to actual combat!" That devious smile returned. "Head to the mountain!"
What ensued was a mock trial of battling an Upper Rank demon.
The forest was completely pitch black, save for the small trickles of moonlight streaming between the clawed hands of tree branches and thick clouds covering the night sky. Their only source of protection was each other and their wooden swords. No stray animal nor bug was in sight. They were completely all alone. Or so they thought.
"Battles with demons always happen at night,"Mr. Uzui's chilling voice echoed between the thick trees and breathed down each of their necks. He could not be seen, only heard in the impenetrable darkness."That's why we have to hone our combat skills in the dark. Strain to see in the dark, and what you can't see, you'll just have to sense! Starting now, I'm a demon. A demon that's going to devour you. Let's see you try to survive somehow. Kamado, Yamato, it's your job to bring me down while protecting the rest of these guys!"
Then, Mr. Uzui went completely silent. So the battle commenced.
Kagami was not relying on her sight. Only blobs of even darker blackness made up the trees and her comrades scattered around her. It would be foolish for her to find what she couldn't be able to see. And the harsh sound of wood thwacking against human flesh and the abrupt screams of her comrades told her Mr. Uzui would disappear just as quick he would strike, so there was no sense in running toward the defeated swordsman's side. There would be no underestimating a former shinobi.
One after the other in quick succession, her comrades fell all around her. She needed to sense where'd he be, but by the time the wind would convey where he was headed a swordsman would fall and he'd be gone.
The moonlight suddenly appeared from beneath a passing cloud. An ominous halo of white laid itself on Mr. Uzui standing between three fallen swordsmen. He didn't move to hide nor shield himself in the cover of darkness. Instead, he straightened his back and stared each of them down, waiting for their next move.
"Impossible," A swordsman close to her gasped. He backed away slowly, fear taken hold of his shaky hands. "A-Against a Hashira, we don't stand a chance!"
The slightest narrow of Mr. Uzui's eyes preceded his disappearance. Then, he reappeared just as swift behind the fearful swordsman. "Would you say the same thing to a demon?" He huffed in the swordsman's ear. Without waiting for a response, he swiftly knocked the swordsman unconscious with the butt of his shinai.
After he was done, he went back to staring them all down again.
Kagami understood then; he took offense at the half-hearted attempts of his students and their comfort with backing down because he was human. He was not just any human though, he was the former Sound Hashira and they wouldnotmake that mistake again!
"Mr. Uzui is a former Hashira and shinobi, so do not dare make any half-hearted attempts! He will see right through it and fail you before you could blink!" Kagami instructed to the small crowd of Demon Slayers that were left. "Don't be reckless and stay together! Gather behind Tanjiro and I back to back! We will cover you!"
Just as the Demon Slayers moved to follow Kagami's instructions, Mr. Uzui also struck simultaneously. He reappeared beside a couple of fleeing swordsmen and whipped his shinai outward to fail them. Instead, it struck Tanjiro's sword. The vast force behind Mr. Uzui's hit disrupted the entire atmosphere, sending swordsmen and wind alike flying backwards.
The devilish smile returned. "Hey, not bad, Kamado!" Mr. Uzui praised.
Yet, from where Kagami stood, Tanjiro was struggling against the continuous force applied by Mr. Uzui. Such tremendous force from just one hand was not surprising. He was incredible, as always.
Mr. Uzui flipped backwards and landed on the edge of the clearing. "Come on now! Don't hold back, you two!"
"Right!" Kagami and Tanjiro exclaimed, and raced forward.
All three exchanged blow after blow, hits that sent intense vibrations scattering across Kagami's bones and deep within her core. Her fingers had almost gone numb from the first couple of hits, but she never wavered. She pushed forward and continued to block and parry Mr. Uzui's strikes, even striking attacks of her own. Never once did she hold back. She fought as if she were fighting an Upper Rank demon again, her eyes swiveling around for any opening Mr. Uzui could've made and using her senses for what he could possibly commence next. Even if she had been struck and sent flying backwards, she'd readjust mid-air and land on her feet. Without wasting any momentum, she'd launch herself back at him and continued to attack.
Suddenly, three swordsmen interjected their battle and attempted to strike Mr. Uzui. He nimbly blocked their attacks and weaved between their bodies when he suddenly landed in the center of their circle. Kagami smiled at the Demon Slayers taking up their swords against Mr. Uzui. No longer were they a whimpering mass of babies but courageous swordsmen holding their ground.
Even Mr. Uzui looked impressed. He twisted his shinai all around him, laughing loudly, "Hey, now you're starting to look good! Come on!"
Despite them all taking on Mr. Uzui at once, the training did not last for more than a couple of hours. By the end of it, they were all bruised and plastered in mud from their beat-downs, some too much to be stood on their own.
Mr. Uzui stood in front of the group's low-hanging heads. "You guys, how could you let a retired guy like me clobber you like this?" He glanced over their pathetic states and sighed roughly. "Jeez, can't you even show me some bravado?"
"We don't stand a chance. Against a former Hashira! You're asking too much!" The swordsman from earlier cried out again.
Mr. Uzui scoffed. "Look, you! I didn't train you to make you freak out!"
"I know that!" The swordsman huffed. That stumped Mr. Uzui. "The Hashira, Kamado, and Yamato might be..." He lifted his head high, and bravery coated every single part of his expression, "able to defeat the Upper Ranks and Muzan Kibutsuji! This has given me that hope!"
"Me, too!"
"M-Me too!"
"Me, too!"
"So, we're all going to work hard so that one day, we can at least support you! I promise!" The swordsman on Kagami's shoulder cried, unashamed at the tears he had to wipe away.
Another on the other side of Tanjiro belted, "We're going to train and get stronger!"
Kagami took a long look around her comrades, at their tears and unwavering courage, and smiled. The fire that had been burning bright in her heart had lit the fuses in theirs. It persisted even in the morning. She had grown used to their groanings and moanings about training, but she was awoken to eagerness greeting her before dawn. During training, they moved swifter and renewed, as if the Master himself bestowed his delightful presence to them.
"You know what? Despite it all, they're making progress for sure," Mr. Uzui commented at the uniformed sit ups. He then redirected his attention to Kagami and Tanjiro beside him. "There's nothing more for you to do here. Move on to the next step."
"Right."
Even at the proudness in his voice, it once again took a serious turn when his eye laid back on the Demon Slayers. "We defeated an Upper Rank. But, Muzan Kibutsuji, until we defeat him, this will never end." He plopped his hand on Kagami's head. "I'm counting on you two."
Kagami and Tanjiro confidently nodded. "Right! We'll bring him down, no matter what!"
With a bundle of food prepared by Miss Hinatsuru, Miss Makio, and Miss Suma tied around their necks, Kagami and Tanjiro said goodbye to their fellow Demon Slayers. "Good luck, everyone! I'm sure we'll see each other at the next training ground!"
A chorus of cheers, smiles, and farewells erupted from the group. She was sure going to miss training with them, but knew they'll one day meet again. With that, she turned to leave.
"Hey, Yamato!" Mr. Uzui called out to her.
"Yes?" She turned back, curious.
Mr. Uzui flashed her sly grin. "My wives told me of your little predicament." She immediately blushed red at that. He chuckled lightly, but gave her a sweet smile. "All I have to say is, why choose? Later, kiddo!"
Kagami was confused by his words but waved goodbye nonetheless.Why choose? Huh...
With that, she and Tanjiro were on their way to their next Hashira training!
