[Seiji's POV]
The whole thing came to an end.
It was easy and it was safe.
It was a direct consequence of my existence.
*Woosh!!*
I immediately disappeared in a gust of wind after everything was over and each character had gone through their respective character development.
My arms scooped up the surprised Mitsuri and held her tight. I twirled around while she tired to make sense of what just happened.
"You did it!!!" I yelled and laughed, similar to how Rengoku would often do.
"WHaaa~!"
I smushed her with love like the adorable creature she was - she always activated my cute aggression. I had seen everything that transpired today and I was filled with immense pride for her.
After realizing it was me, Mitsuri did not question anything else and laughed alongside me, my joy seemingly infecting her. How I was suddenly here, why I was so happy or anything else was not a priority in her mind, I was happy so she was happy. It couldn't get simpler than that.
"You did it!" I said with a smile.
"I did? I did!!" she yelled, matching my energy,
Finally, I stopped spinning around and put her down on the ground. The surrounding people looked at us oddly. After all, an attack just happened with multiple explosions going off everywhere yet here we were, like a happy couple.
I couldn't care less about them but I did scan the surroundings while I spun. There was still chaos and people were still panicked but they should calm down soon.
"Good job Mitsuri, for finding your own path and saving everyone," I complimented her. She smiled and melted under my approval.
"It is your uniqueness that saved everyone. So next time, be proud for being different, not ashamed," I said and she nodded again, now with tears in her eyes.
She came up and hugged me again for a second time, her face buried deeply in my chest. I smoothened the back of her hair and have a kiss on her head.
"Thank you," she said and I could hear her through the vibrations on my chest.
She would've found herself anyway even without my help, I knew that from the anime. So although I was glad, I did not feel like I deserved the gratitude.
We stayed like that for a long time while the city settled into calm. The firefighters and the police took care of the aftermath of the attack. My eye still remained vigilant though, observing everything closely,
I saw Rengoku come up to me, and by the time he reached us, I had already noted down every injury he sustained better than any modern machinery would have done.
Unlike in the manga, he did not pass out after the fight because it was not really a tough fight for him. He was already strong enough to take care of the lower moons without much difficulty or risk.
"Good job slaying that Demon," I said.
"Hahahahahahaha!!! No demons can withstand the fire of righteousness!!" he said, "And you don't have to worry about me! Other than bursting my eardrums, I suffered no fatal injuries!"
"I can see that," I said. He seemed to be even louder than before, and he was attracting the eyes of every civilian in the vicinity, probably due to his damaged eardrums.
"I guess you are finally one of us now," I said, "Hashira," I gave him a small bow of respect.
His eyes turned wide for a moment before a happy realisation hit his face. He smiled widely and looked to the sky, taking in the moment of his victory.
"I guess I am," he said and looked at me, "Comrade,"
He had never called me a comrade since I became a Hashira. So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw his lips move to produce that word. What else could I do except nod in acknowledgement?
Mitusri pushed herself away from me but when she noticed that my shirt was wet from her tears, she panicked, saying she was sorry for ruining my clothes and tried to wipe them away.
"Don't worry about it," I said and stopped her.
"Now that the fight is over, shall we all get food to celebrate our victory?" I said, "My treat!"
"You read my thoughts Seiji!" Rengoku exclaimed while Misturi nodded with stars in her eyes and a watering mouth.
"Wait! What about us!!" one of the Demon Slayers who fought under Rengoku asked. There were a few other swordsmen behind him too.
"You all can join us," I said and they cheered.
The rest of the evening was spent on a good note. Except it was hard as fuck to find a restaurant that opened after the attack had happened.
...
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(The Next Day)
"Do you Rengoku Kyojiro, accept the title of Hashira and promise to become a pillar that supports the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Every Hashira witnessed Ubuyashiki crowning Rengoku with the title of Hashira, Most of us were glad to welcome a new ally but some were more than just glad, they were happy and proud, like me.
The sun was blazing in the sky with a new hope, humanity had found yet another protector, a pillar.
"I do," Rengoku replied while kneeling down in front of Ubuyashiki.
"The title of Hashira is proof of your stregth. Do you promise to use this strength to protect the weak?"
"I promise,"
"Then rise, Flame Hashira," Ubuyashiki declared and after taking a breath, Rengoku stood up, tall and proud, strong and brave.
"Stand strong, and never falter," Ubuyashiki ordered.
With that, the other Hashiras started cheering for Rengoku who turned around, now donning a new Haori, the one we saw in the anime.
A white Haori with Flame patterns at the end. It was the haori passed down in their family, inherited by every Flame Hashira.
And so, at the age of 17, Rengoku Kyojiro became the Flame Hashira and replaced his father. It was the rise of a warrior who would change the course of the Demon War, an inspiration to all.
..
..
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[Seiji's POV]
You know, things have been going well for a long time now.
Maybe it was going too well.
And you know what they said, life was a cruel mistress, it comes at you when you were least prepared.
Happiness and good times eventually come to an end.
After the celebration of Rengoku's promotion was over, we all attended to our duties again. We got our assignments and this time, even Kanae got an assignment.
It was about helping a certain village that was infected by a strange disease.
"Don't be such a worrywart Seiji, this is not even a slaying mission. I just have to go to the village and provide medical help, that's all," she said with an amused smile when I asked her what her assignment was.
Maybe I should've stopped her then....
Heh, who am I kidding? I never saw it coming.
When all things are going well, life finds a way to stab you. And it stabs you in the most painful place.
....
"That is....." the words escaped my mouth as my eyes - wide with shock and fear - saw the Kasugai crow of Kanae flying towards me.
It was covered in blood that was not its own.
*BOOOOOOM!!!*
Thunder roared in the darkness of the night as I blitzed through the forest like a natural calamity. It never crossed my mind that Kane's encounter with Douma was not just an encounter of chance.
It was because of my blind faith in what I knew from my past life. A false confidence that came from things always going according to my plan.
The words I read from the kasugai crow rang in my mind like a chilling breeze in winter.
'Upper Moon'
..
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[IMAGE]
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Author : Don't worry, I cooked.... well at least the patreon members assured me I did.
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