Chapter Text
A very skillful swordsman has recently entered the Final Selection and walked out of it after having slain approximately 90% of the demons trapped there.
It was a feat only seen in a similar fashion during the miracle selection, 7 years ago, where a boy killed almost 100% of the demons trapped on Mount Fujikasane.
What was particularly interesting to Kagaya was that this new swordsman entered at a comparatively old age, being estimated to be in his late 20s, and the fact that he has Slain lower moon 4 before he was made aware of the existence of Demons at all. An unprecedented feat, one that makes him, if this wasn't a fluke (which it doesn't appear to have been), on par with the Hashira.
The Swordsman's name wasn't known to Kagaya, but a message sent via the Kasugai Crows made the motivation for entering the Final Exam known to the head of the Demon Slayer Corps. To bring some safety to the people, slaying truly wretched creatures and finding hints to the location of a vanished companion.
Kagaya has already sent an invitation to the Ubuyashiki Mansion as a response back, wanting immediately to at least try to recruit a potential new Hashira.
Who entered the Ubuyashiki Mansion was a man with messy brown hair and wearing a maroon outfit, a simple formal outfit without much accessories or a haori alongside a simple scabbard and a blade inside. A saber, not the standard katana.
“I am here on the request of the Oyakata.” Was the first thing the young man said, arms folded behind his back.
“Indeed, I have been waiting for you. May I know your name first?” Kagaya replied, sitting on the engawa with his two eldest daughters by his side. It was a private meeting but Kagaya does need a bit of help occasionally.
A pause filled the air, before the young swordsman replied. “You may call me Tomioka, Tomioka Giyuu.”
“Am I correct in assuming this isn’t your actual name?”
“You are correct, apologies if it offends you if I use an alias.”
“Not at all, as long as I have a name to refer to you as.”
“What is the purpose of your summons, Oyakata?” ‘Giyuu’ inquired after the previous line of conversation flickered out, his tone flat and without much indication of any thoughts. It occurred to Kagaya that the other man likely wasn’t good at small talk, and hadn’t meant anything malicious with his tone.
“I want to offer you the open spot as Water Hashira. You have trained under Urokudaki briefly, no?”
“Only very briefly, to get a hang of Water Breathing. But surely it can’t be enough to get the spot of a Hashira.” Giyuu insisted, slightly startled at the offer of an immediate promotion after finishing the Final Selection.
“Well, you’d only be the Water Hashira because it is your primary breathing style. Urokodaki actually wrote a letter to me, claiming you were already an exceptional fighter when he encountered you.” Kagaya just kept saying, unperturbed by the perplexed tone Giyuu had taken on.
“I’m afraid I must refuse, Oyakata. I merely joined the Final Selection, and the Demon Slayer Corps, to get access to a Nichirin Weapon and the salary of a Demon Slayer. I am looking for a dear friend of mine who went missing not too long ago, and I will slay any demon that stands in my way to that goal.” Giyuu refused, his tone leaving little room to argue.
Blunt one, aren’t you? How refreshing.
“Very well, I wish you good luck in your search then.” Seeing little use in pressing the argument any further at the moment, Kagaya dismissed the swordsman, satisfied at having a name and voice to pair together now.
“I’m looking forward to your progress, Giyuu.”
“Good day, Giyuu. I trust you have been well, given you have not needed treatment in the Butterfly Mansion since we last met?” It was the end of the month after the Final Selection that saw ‘Giyuu Tomioka’ enter the Demon Slayer Corps and Kagaya Ubuyashiki had once again summoned him.
And indeed, Giyuu had not needed treatment in the Butterfly mansion since joining the Corps, despite the many missions he insisted on taking back to back without break. Kagaya had taken great care to keep an eye on the progress of the curious swordsman.
“I am fine. The demons aren’t too hard to take care of but I have yet to find my friend or any hint of him. “ Giyuu sounded frustrated to Kagaya, this friend of his must really be important to him.
It is curious that Giyuu appears to have little to no trouble with slaying demons, no matter how strong these demons are.
“Your demon kill count must already be around 22, by now. So I’ll extend my offer again, will you be the Water Hashira?”
“Ah, I must refuse again then. I apologize, Oyakata.”
“Good day to you, Giyuu. I trust you have made progress in your missions and your ultimate goal?”
“May your morning be peaceful, Oyakata. I have made some progress in the assigned missions, but I have not found significant hints towards the whereabouts of my friend.”
It was becoming a pattern, every month Kagaya would extend another invite to the quiet swordsman who calls himself Tomioka Giyuu in the hopes of convincing him some way to take the position as the Water Hashira. And every time the conversation would go roughly the same way.
But this time Kagaya would try a slightly different angle.
It was apparent that the main priority for Giyuu would always remain this vanished companion of his, being a Demon Slayer is merely the means to an end. An occupation that pays well, plays into his strength in combat and makes him get around with the advantage of the Kasugai Crows guiding the way to a required destination.
For basically a side occupation, Giyuu is incredibly good in his duties as a Demon Slayer. His kill count had risen towards the 50 mark in slightly more than 2 months. An impressive speed of progress.
“Allow me to slightly modify my offer. Being a Hashira would get you paid a lot more than you are being paid right now. It would also get you the currently vacant Water Estate to inhabit, or for your friend to inhabit once he is located.” Kagaya reiterated his offer, pausing in between to try and gauge the reaction of the slayer in front of him even though the Corps Leader wasn’t quite done yet.
Giyuu, for his part, did not give audible indication of any major reaction to the first part of the offer.
“And, in addition to that, I will offer my help in locating your friend. Any intel gathered by the Kasugai Crows and any indication of your friend gathered by the other slayers would be compiled by me here and given to you in a timely manner. You’d also have any resources of my family name at your disposal. That I swear on with my life.” And there it was, the card Kagaya has considered his trump in this negotiation. It was, technically, giving a lot while receiving relatively little in return. But to him, it was well worth it.
Giyuu however was a bit thrown off, evidently. “All this, just in exchange for me to take the spot as a Hashira? Surely you’d want for a more fair exchange. I can’t possibly accept this much resources and time from you, Oyakata. Not while also getting a significant promotion.”
An offer one can’t afford to refuse, and yet this man still seems to be reluctant to take a perceived unfair deal. Such integrity is rare, and unwavering morals even more so.
“Of course, I have personal interest in this as well. Even after counting the addition of a very capable Hashira, I have interest in meeting this friend of yours in person. Someone who can inspire so much loyalty in an upright person as you must be truly exceptional.”
“...”
“Could you tell me something about your friend? What kind of person is he?”
“...my friend is a good person. Many might see him as cold, uncompromising in his ways, but I know his core is good. He fought to protect the innocent without faltering. Extreme as some of his measures might be for justice, I fully trust him with my life. I am sure you’d like him, Oyakata.”
“Then I am looking forward to meeting him. Now, do you accept my offer?”
“If it is what will help me find him, then I will.”
"Wonderfull! Could you tell me your friend’s name?”
“Saigiku Jouno.”