Eira and Kaze sat together on the side opposite Rengoku, it had been 10 minutes and he had continued to eat from the large pile of bento boxes he had on his side. Eira stared at Rengoku curiously, he was a very interesting person, immensely strong, effortlessly charismatic and of course a highly respected Hashira. Eira couldn't help but notice Rengoku's striking and bold orange aura, it danced brightly like flames, just like fire it was warm and almost felt like a blanket, no wonder so many spoke good of Rengoku, his very presence warmed people. The carriage was silent for a while, and as soon as Rengoku finished the horde of bento boxes he immediately started a lively discussion.
"I've been informed you two are both quite powerful slayers." Rengoku's casual tone was already loud, his voice blasted as he crossed his arms and wore a smile. The train swayed left and right gently.
"That's a big compliment from a powerful Hashira like you, but really I'm not that strong. Eira on the other hand is crazy, she took down a Lower Moon." Kaze bragged on behalf of Eira, Rengoku's eyes moved towards Eira who was already unusually quiet, the train gave her a weird feeling that did a quick job of shutting her up, she just didn't feel safe in the train, no wonder there was a mission here, she could feel something was off here.
"I also know that you were offered the position of Hashira." Rengoku's words struck Eira's heart, her eyes that wandered around the train immediately locked on Rengoku, she wondered how many people knew…
"Yes, but I didn't take the offer, didn't think I was ready…" Eira felt a little embarrassed as she stared at Rengoku, she didn't know how other Hashiras would react to such an impactful decision, Shinobu and Giyuu had taken it well, but Eira wasn't sure many of the other Hashiras would look upon her fondly.
"That's okay! At the end of the day, it's your decision, and if you think you aren't ready it's best if you wait till you are." Rengoku's voice, just like a warm campfire, brought a feeling of reassurance over Eira. Eira felt a smile grow on her face as she heard the words, she thanked Rengoku and continued to listen to Rengoku and Kaze's conversations. Even Rengoku's kind words weren't enough to shake off the deadly feeling of the train. It wasn't long til Eira got bored and slowly dozed off, Kaze and Rengoku followed her soon. The three rested in preparation for tonight's mission.
The large steam train, jet black in colour and hulking size sped down tracks. The night sky popped with patches of stars bright in the sky. The steam train whistled as it raced alongside the barren countryside. All of the passengers had already gotten off at their respective stops, all but three. Rengoku, Eira and Kaze all sat in one corner. They all slept with no idea of the nefarious schemes that were running right next to them, the lights flickered a little. None of the demon slayers were aware they were under a deep Blood Demon Art.
Lower Moon One, Enmu, stood on top of the train, his hair flew in the harsh wind. His dark suit creased and flailed as he spread apart his arms.
"Dreams… They can create or destroy a person." Enmu looked to the night sky as he spoke softly. His eyes glowed as the train slightly turned. Enmu was well aware that there were three powerful slayers on the train, including the Flame Hashira. He had enacted a plan to kill them without them knowing, to kill them in their own dreams.
Enmu leant down and grabbed at the hatch on the carriage he stood upon, he lifted the heavy iron and dropped down into the very first carriage, there stood a pale man who clutched his stomach.
"Please… Master Enmu… Please heal me. I have done so much work already, please grant me an infinite dream…" The pale man fell to his knees and grabbed onto Enmu's feet, tears clashed with the wooden floor and the dim lights swayed gently as the train shook slightly. Enmu's Blood Demon Art was to put anyone into a deep sleep, in turn, he'd put them into a hyper-realistic dream in which all their inner desires were fulfilled. They would be placed into a perfect world that they wouldn't want to leave. While the dreams continued and the victim slept, Enmu's slave would enter the victim's dream through a special rope made by Enmu's very flesh. After they entered the dream, they would find an object with the name 'Spiritual Core' and destroy it. Destroying the spiritual core would kill the victim.
Enmu knelt to meet the man's eyes and grabbed his hands, the pale man's eyes filled with tears. Enmu smiled gently and looked at the man.
Enmu's hand violently pushed towards the man's face, Enmu's two fingers stabbed into the man's eyes. The man recoiled in agony, his eyes bled and he screamed. Blood endlessly flooded his now-popped eyes. He backed away and let go of Enmu's hands. His screaming filled Enmu with happiness.
"Infinite dreams are for those who have earned it." Enmu laughed maliciously but softly as he stared at the man who wriggled like a worm on the floor. Enmu's heart filled with joy seeing the man in such pain, Enmu's hand lifted and he continued beating the man in the most painful ways. Enmu's workers were those with fatal diseases, those who didn't have much time to live so they came to Enmu, they begged for an infinite dream where they could be healthy and happy again. They didn't know that they would only end up suffering further in Enmu's sadistic hands.
All three slayers sat still, asleep, to next of each of them one of Enmu's workers tied to them by a purple rope, made of Enmu's flesh. Each of the slayers having a pleasant dream to distract them from the actions of the real world.
Eira felt at peace in her dream, although she didn't even realise it was a dream. She didn't know how, but she was suddenly on a beach. The sand was warm, she had never been to a beach before, and she relied on stories to describe how it felt to be at the beach. The sunlight softly warmed her skin and Eira laid back on the sand, she could sink into the sand and she wouldn't care. She wasn't sure if this could get any better. Suddenly, a shadow blocked the sunlight from her. Eira slowly opened her eyes and Asumi and Kaze stood there and smiled. Her heart jumped at the sight of them, she quickly got up and shook the sand off herself. Asumi and Kaze laughed in unison, the sun shone brightly alongside the bright smile of Eira.
"You guys scared me!" Eira playfully threw at them and laughed. They laughed so much that their stomachs hurt. Eira's heart felt so full of love, so full of happiness she could explode. She realised something, that Asumi's pink aura no longer had the bold red line of guilt, Asumi had finally healed from whatever guilt she held. Eira's face lit up as she stared at her two friends and talked more and more. Eira looked around and she couldn't believe that her older brother was here as well, lounging on a beach chair as he tanned himself. Eira quickly sprinted towards him and jumped into a hug, he was quick to complain but Eira refused to let go instead she laughed. She introduced her brother to her friends, she couldn't believe this was happening, her heart thumped with joy. The wind, the sunlight and the temperature were perfect.
She was enjoying this to her fullest. She loved this with all her heart.
Nothing was missing from her life. She had her beach, her friends and her family. Eira looked at the waves that crashed onto the shore, without any shame she ran to the sea and started to play in the water. She looked at the horizon and her heart finally exploded with joy.
"This can't get any better!" Eira screamed into the world she was obsessed with. It felt good to scream what she wanted with no shame. She closed her eyes and stretched her arms.
Eira's happiness was almost instantly lost, her stomach dropped as her mind brought attention to a particular aura right behind her. A ghastly grey aura. Her eyes instantly opened, the once bright and colourful beach was now dark. The waves were aggressive and violent as they pushed Eira back, and she fell onto her back. Her head hit something hard. It hit someone. Eira's head twisted back and there stood a shadowed figure.
"It can get better. I'm here now." The shadowed figure stretched their arms out. Eira was out of breath and her lungs refused to cooperate with her, Eira felt as if the sand was melting and trapping her.
"Your best friend!" The shadowed figure shouted and put their arms up and cheered. "Best friend…"
Eira tried desperately to escape the heavy sand that her arms collapsed in, the harsh waves crashed onto her back and the violent winds pushed against her.
"Why… Why didn't you save me?" The shadowed figure slowly stepped forward.
Eira saw the world in front of her collapse into pitch black. It was like the world was unfolding its true nature. There in front of Eira stood Ali, her stomach turned with disgust as she got a good look on his face. He was extremely disfigured, his arms were twisted and wrinkled, and blood dripped from his elbows. His flesh rotted, his face was gruesomely mutilated, his eyes dangled out of his sockets, his nose bled heavily, his legs were bent.
"This is... your fault." Ali pointed a bent finger to Eira. "You didn't save me."
Eira's heart now spun with fear, her eyes filled with tears and her breath only quickened. Her throat was too tight to scream, her whole body shivered and she closed her eyes.
"Eira. Look at me. LOOK AT ME!" Ali's voice screamed at Eira. Eira's whole body trembled and she opened her mouth wide to scream, but no sound came out, she screamed and cried silently.
Eira gasped as she awoke, her whole body still in fear. Her eyes and ears took time to adjust, next to her was someone relentlessly struggling. Eira glanced to the side, her hand was tied to an old man who had only one leg. His face was petrified as if he had just seen a ghost.
"You… You demon! Your guilt alone turned Master Enmu's perfect dream into a nightmare!" The old man backed away from Eira. Kaze and Rengoku already seemed to be awake. Kaze looked at Eira.
"We were put under a Blood Demon Art. Given nice dreams while these people tried to kill us. You alright?" Kaze sounded out of breath, there were a total of 3 people tied up in a corner.
Eira's mind pounded with that image of the disfigured Ali. She slowly took a deep breath and clutched at her sword, her anxiety calmed down slightly, she was still in recovery from her intense nightmare.
"I'm fine." Eira stood up.