Road to Hashira

-06-

Giyu Tomioka is very familiar, more or less fond, of the distant, snowy mountain ranges of central Japan. This is due to the fact that Tomioka used to live and train alongside these lofty ranges where it is usually cold and drear every year, and also very lonely.

Because of this, Tomioka's missions mostly occur around these mountains and the quiet villages alongside them, and is also why he mostly goes solo since the places are quite far from common villages and major cities. This way of adventure truly suits the quiet and cold Tomioka as he also prefers carrying his missions alone and in distant places far from the common people's sights. However, this time, as a Kinoe (10th rank), Tomioka has been entrusted with a few lower-rank comrades to assist him, as well as guide them in their new mission.

His temporary team members are named: Sato Akemi, Suzuki Eiko, Kobayashi Erina, and Shimizu Hikaru; Erina being the only girl and the rank of Mizunoe (2nd rank). The other three boys are ranked Kanoe (4th rank). A fairly decent team for Tomioka.

Nobody really knows how Tomioka prefers a team. What types of people is he looking for? What types of people does he go along well with? What types of skills would he prefer? What types of teamwork formation would he most likely use? All that said, it doesn't seem like a team would bother Tomioka, more so, he's still the same nonchalant and wilful person that he is.

Akemi, the wide-eyed boy with a wide-lipped grin, addresses Tomioka very casually, not that he's being rude, it's just his natural way of speech, "Giyu-kun, why do you have mismatching halves on your haori? Is that your personal fashion statement? Do you prefer the contrast of the plain color and the patterned colors?"

"That is not how you should address a Kinoe, Sato-san!" Eiko is a rather tall and well-framed boy, but in contradiction to his stature, he has a very timid and gentle personality and a voice as calm as a silent breeze, well, not in this situation though. He continuously apologizes to Tomioka for the misconduct of his colleague from the Final Selection.

The other two, Erina and Hikaru, standing equal to each other, remain silent as they tag along from the far back. This is the first time the two have met, but they seem to resemble each other a lot. Hikaru has very pale and nearly empty eyes, ones that don't really suit his namesake "shining light." Erina is a fair girl, small in stature, but she seems very capable.

And so their team forge on the hoarfrost terrain without a single word from Tomioka. They reach an empty resthouse a mile from the summit, and decide to lodge there till the snowstorm relieves. Erina lights a fire for warmth and the others set their things at ease, taking their swords and pouches heavily off their waists.

Akemi stretches his limbs and lies on the hay matted floor. "Not the best of times, but surely not that bad either. Hey Giyu-kun, do you really think demons would show up so high near the summit? Don't demons feel cold?"

"Demons can survive anywhere, Akemi, you know that very well. Also, stop addressing Tomioka-san as if he's your immediate friend."

Akemi chuckles in a sly manner. "Yeah yeah, Tomioka-kun it is then. There, you happy now?"

"There are no exceptions when it comes to demons... the only thing you have to think about is how to kill them effectively... even in this circumstance." Giyu bluntly speaks out of the blue, barely looking at anyone but the crisping fire at the center of the hut.

Hikaru glances at Giyu with the same hoary gaze. Wondering at the seriousness and dedication of this man to his duty.

*Meanwhile in the Butterfly Mansion*

Shinobu was with Aoi hanging newly washed blankets at the courtyard when a sudden gust of wind brushed against her, tossing a blanket to her face.

"Ah, Shinobu-sama, are you alright?!" Aoi immediately helps to keep the blanket off Shinobu's face.

"I'm fine. More importantly, we've washed less blankets today than we normally would right?"

"Yes, it seems that fatal injuries on demon slayers have drastically decreased these past few days."

"Yeah, it's good, but what's the cause?"

"I hear that because some of the lower-ranking demon slayers have been paired in a group with high rankers that the number of fatally wounded demon slayers have decreased. They say that it's good that the demon slayers are getting along, but some say it might cause others to idly depend on high rankers to carry them through each mission."

"Oh..." Shinobu puts her thumb on her chin. (I wonder if that person also got paired with a group? How will he even do it? Pairing with just one person is already so hard for him.)

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"What makes you think that I wield my sword for fun?" Tomioka's eyes stay straightforward while Akemi stands in front of him, urging him to a friendly duel.

He grins and narrows his eyes at Tomioka who sat still and silent. "C'mon Tomioka-kun, it's just a little entertainment while we're trapped in this hut with nothing to do! Plus, I really am curious to know just how strong you are. Amongst all the Kinoe I know, you're the weirdest one so far. How did you even get to become a Kinoe despite being the same age as me?"

Tomioka closes his eyes and breathes a sigh. In a moment, he slaps Akemi away, tossing him against the entrance door and causing him to lose consciousness.

"!!!" The other three were astonished by the immediate result of the bout. (So fast!!!)

"Fool! If you've got time to mess around, how about thinking more on how you'll survive this mission!" Giyu raises his voice with his brows curled.

"T-Tomioka-san, it's not allowed to hit and fight a fellow demon slayer!" Eiko checks on Akemi if he is still alive. (He's breathing, but he's out cold.)

Tomioka: ( •_ • )

"I-is he dead?!" Erina puts her palms on her mouth, worried.

Tomioka: ( •ᗣ• )

"Tomioka-san, I believe that was too much." Hikaru finally spoke.

Tomioka: ( 0 Д 0)