Disclaimer:
I do not own nor claim all the rights to 鬼滅の刃 | Kimetsu no Yaiba | Demon Slayer; all rights are reserved to its respective creator, Koyoharu Gotōge. This is purely a work of fiction; names, characters, businesses, events, localities, and occurrences are all extrapolated from the author's writings and imagination or utilized in a fictitious manner. As such, any direct or indirect references to actual entities, dead or alive, or events do not, in any shape or form, resemble the opinions of the author.
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"..." = Dialogue
'...' = Internal monologues
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The gentle gush of a warm breeze engrosses the propinquity with its calming embrace.
The scorching temperatures are working in conjunction with the oppressive humidity in order to contrive the muggiest, most uncomfortable conditions one could possibly encounter in the summer months.
The aroma of a sweet, yet heavy fragrance manifests itself as the remnants of the morning dew.
Beads of sweat are furiously sliding down from the General's forehead. The resulting watery substance soaks the collar of his insulated, wool uniform.
The General has yet to be acclimatized to the unbearable weather of inland Japan, as his duties mostly relegated him to the more moderated conditions of the coastal cities.
But while the General had a difficult time getting accustomed to the new circumstances that now inundated him, his interlocutor seemed to be completely unscathed by the surrounding environment.
General Nobuyoshi Mutō, Special Advisor to the Minister of the Army and Commander of the Eastern District Army, accoutered in a military uniform that—with the emblem of the Imperial Army in full regalia—is furnished with a multitude of medals and other accolades, was engaged in a high-profile meeting.
A meeting with Ubuyashiki Kagaya, the head of the unrecognized Demon Slayer Corps.
"I apologize for this sudden request, General," the phlegmatic demeanor of Kagaya was enough to almost instantaneously lift the tension out of the atmosphere.
"Ah, it is of no concern, Ubuyashiki-dono," General Mutō replied. "After all, communication between your organization and His Majesty's government, even in the absence of formal diplomatic correspondence, is indispensable for a healthy, productive relationship."
The General's hoarse, but authoritative, voice—the consequences of his age and niche—juxtaposed Kagaya's clear, courteous tone.
Such are the byproducts of their respective positions and milieu, as General Mutō's job demands a more magisterial and dominating presence, while Kagaya's legitimacy as leader of the Corps is derived from his ability to garner obedience without intimidation, treat his subordinates with the utmost respect, and deliver orders without coercion.
In other words, the General's military milieu necessitates a more centralized bureaucracy that is dependent on a higher official's ability to carry out orders with force. This means that lower-ranking soldiers are completely subservient to the decisions ascertained by the upper echelon of command.
Meanwhile, Ubuyashiki Kagaya's decentralized chain of command lends more sovereignty and discretion to individual slayers without sacrificing the validity of his supremacy. Thus, his reputation amongst each of the slayers—especially among the Hashiras—is enhanced on a personal level.
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