Ali followed Shinobu to a tranquil, wooden room where a traditional low table awaited them at the centre. They seated themselves across from one another, the silence between them thick with unspoken thoughts. The quiet was soon interrupted by the gentle sliding of the door, as two Kakushi entered, each carrying a tray. On the trays were bowls of steaming soup accompanied by a side of dumplings. After placing the trays on the table, the Kakushi made a move to leave.
"Hold on," Ali said, his voice firm and commanding.
The Kakushi halted abruptly, exchanging anxious glances with Shinobu, who observed the situation with a calm yet discerning gaze.
Ali lifted his tray, scrutinising the modest meal before him. "Listen carefully," he began, his tone cold and deliberate. "Take this tray back to the kitchen and return with ten servings of solid meat—something substantial. And be quick about it," he added, his eyes narrowing.
"If what you bring back doesn't satisfy me, or if you take too long, I'll roast both of you alive and feed you to the nearest demon."
Shinobu's eyes widened slightly, taken aback by Ali's harsh words, while the Kakushi visibly trembled, hastily retrieving Ali's tray as they hurried toward the door.
"One more thing," Ali called after them, his voice laced with an unsettling calmness. "When I'm finished with my meal, I expect dessert immediately. Remember what's at stake here."
The Kakushi nodded frantically before scurrying out of the room.
Shinobu, still processing what had just happened, finally spoke. "What was that all about?"
"My body requires a large amount of food to maintain itself, and I haven't eaten in a day," Ali replied nonchalantly.
"That's not what I'm asking about. You can't treat them like that. They aren't your servants, Ali. The Kakushi are an essential part of our corps; they've saved countless lives, including those of the Hashira."
"Relax, I was only joking," Ali said, brushing off her concern.
Shinobu sighed, clearly unconvinced, and resumed eating while Ali leaned back against the wall, lost in his thoughts.
"Should I be aware of anything before tomorrow's meeting?" Ali asked after a moment of silence.
Shinobu paused, setting down her chopsticks. "Be respectful to Lord Ubuyashiki and try to ignore the other eleven Hashira. They may seem foolish at times, but know that they all mean well."
With that, the room lapsed back into silence. Shinobu finished her meal and stood, gathering her tray. "I'm going to rest now. Make sure to wake up early—you don't want to be late tomorrow."
Ali nodded. "Goodnight, Shinobu," he said, his voice softer.
Hearing him say her name so casually sent a flutter through Shinobu's stomach, making her momentarily freeze in place.
"Are you going or what?" Ali teased lightly, snapping her out of her daze.
Embarrassed, Shinobu hurried out of the room, leaving Ali to shake his head in amusement.
Not long after, the Kakushi returned, struggling to carry a large tray piled high with various meats. Ali wasted no time in devouring his meal, following it up with dessert. Once finished, he retreated to his assigned room, which was sparse except for a white futon placed in the centre. The room's paper doors opened to reveal a garden bathed in moonlight. Ali stepped out, letting the cool night air wash over him as he contemplated the events of the day.
'The air here… it's denser, richer than it was on Earth' Ali mused. 'It's like one breath here does the work of two back home. My body is responding to it, adapting. Tonight, it's going to be a rough one.'
He stripped down to his boxers, examining his forearm where the mysterious tattoo had changed yet again. 'This mark… it's some kind of ORIGIN meter' he thought.
'It reacts when I encounter specific people or places, giving me a clue about their significance. It's a useful tool from Veska, but I wonder… how much would it fill up if I killed the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps? Not that I'd live long enough to find out.'
Ali laid down on the wooden floor, avoiding the futon to keep it from getting soaked in sweat. As expected, the pain came, intense and unyielding. His muscles tore and rebuilt themselves stronger, adapting to the new environment. Despite the agony, Ali remained silent, enduring the night as he had so many times before.
When the first rays of sunlight crept into the room, Ali stood and stretched, noticing the subtle changes in his physique. His muscles had grown slightly larger and more defined, able to hold more air, which in turn increased his strength. He threw a punch at full power, creating a small shockwave that cut through the air with a sharp crack.
'I'll need to adjust to this quickly' he thought, performing a series of movements to test his new limits.
A knock on the door interrupted his routine.
"Ali, are you ready?" Shinobu's voice called from outside.
Ali dressed and opened the door, finding Shinobu waiting. "You look different," she observed, tilting her head. "I don't know how, but you just do."
"Is it a good kind of different or a bad one?" he asked with a smirk.
"Follow me," Shinobu said, evading the question. "We need to get there on time."
As they made their way to Lord Ubuyashiki's residence, Ali's attention was drawn to a commotion in the distance—a girl's shout followed by a man's cry of pain.
"Did you hear that?" he asked, glancing back.
"You're not the only guest I have," Shinobu explained. "There are four trainees and three assistants living in the Butterfly Mansion with us. I didn't get the chance to introduce you to them since we arrived late, and we need to leave early this morning. I'll introduce you when we return."
Ali nodded, following her as they approached the heart of the Demon Slayer Corps' operations. They passed by grand residences and busy Kakushi, the architecture evoking a sense of ancient Japan. 'I do appreciate the style here' Ali thought, admiring the intricate designs.
After a few more minutes of walking, they entered a vast garden, where Ali could feel eyes watching him from every corner. 'It seems their leader is well-guarded' he mused. 'I wonder if he's the strongest of them all or if he rules through different means.'
As they neared the mansion at the end of the garden, Ali noticed eleven figures kneeling with their backs to him, facing an empty room.
"Good morning, everyone," Shinobu greeted them with her usual smile. "I hope we didn't keep you waiting too long."
The Hashira turned to face the newcomer, their eyes locking onto Ali, the foreigner who had stirred so much curiosity and unease among them. Ali looked down at them, meeting each of their gazes with a calm, assessing stare. 'They're certainly a unique bunch' he thought. 'But there's no doubt they're strong—especially the crying monk'
Even without a word exchanged, Ali could sense the tension in the air. The Hashira, each a formidable warrior in their own right, were on edge, their hands instinctively moving closer to their weapons. They'd heard a lot from whispering Kakushi to Shinobu's detailed letter about how Ali handled the demon with nothing but wooden sticks and seeing him in person, the descriptions didn't do him justice.
Five extra chapters on patreon.com/Rondo312