Chapter 31 - Meeting the Hashiras

Their gaze was fixed into the young man standing that had a stoic face unfazed by their gaze. He did the same looking at each of them feeling overwhelmed by their presences.

For Ryuu, they were nothing but fictional people but now everyone was real. He always considers that defining what is real would be the most ignorant thing.

In every history people doubt the possibility of flight but eventually proven to be true. Though, the scenario was completely different is still a factor to consider.

"Is this the informant you spoke of?"

He turned his gaze to a young adolescent of tall stature and athletic build. He seems to exude an air of great optimism about him, having an enthusiastic smile plastered on his face nearly all the time.

He had long bright yellow hair with red streaks akin to flames along with two shoulder-length bangs and two chin-length bangs on the side of his head, black forked eyebrows, and golden eyes that faded to red with white pupils.

This man who Ryuu gave his utmost respect for the action that he was able to do that few would even last for a second.

"Greetings! I'm Kyojuro Rengoku, it's an honor to meet you!"

He spoke loud and enthusiastic that the other felt annoyed but respected him enough to not voice it.

"You shouldn't speak too casually. We have yet to know if he is truly to be trusted or not."

The one who spoke was a fairly muscular man of short stature and a pale complexion. He has straight-edged black hair of varying lengths, the longest reaching down to his shoulders and the shortest stopping at his cheekbones, which he wears down with two shorter strands hanging between his eyes. His eyes are almond-shaped and tilt upwards on the far sides, and heterochromia with his right eye is yellow and his left eye is turquoise.

"I have to agree, he seems to boldly claim that those pesky demons are strong enough to kill us all!?"

Ryuu heard an annoying voice that made him recall those he had beaten up when he was younger. It was a tall and muscular man with spiky long white hair and large pale purple eyes. His face and body are covered with scars and wearing a crazed expression on his face.

"Don't act too rashly or it will cause unforeseen problems."

Ryuu ignored him and turned his gaze to a tall young man of muscular stature and pale complexion, who is almost always seen wearing a serious and emotionless expression.

He has unruly black hair of uneven lengths that sticks up in tufts around his head, which he wears tied back in a low messy ponytail at the base of his neck.

His bangs fall over his eyes in an uneven fringe. His eyes are sharp and moderately large, their irises a deep sapphire that fades to a lighter blue and their pupils a bluish-black, and are framed by thin eyebrows.

"....."

His gaze caught a glimpse of a short, muscular young man of light complexion with long, straight hair of a black color that fades to mint green as it approaches his waist.

He wears his hair loose with two clumps protruding slightly from each side of his head, a set of marginally shorter hair left down to frame his face, and unruly bangs over his forehead. He also possesses large, empty-looking mint-green eyes.

"I think we can trust him since Kochou-san believes in him."

Said by a curvaceous young woman of average height and muscular build with a slightly pale complexion and round, pale green eyes with long eyelashes, a small beauty mark beneath each of them.

She has long, light pink hair that fades into a lime green color at the halfway point, which she wears in three thick braids. She has five shorter, choppy clumps hanging over her face as voluminous bangs, the tips lime green as well.

"We should not fight and have faith in Kochou-san."

Said by a hulking figure among the Demon Slayers. He easily towers over his fellow Hashira. He is powerfully built and extremely muscular.

He has spiky black hair and a prominent scar running horizontally across his forehead. Having been blind since childhood, he has white eyes with no visible irises or pupils. His eyes were tearing-up without reason.

"If he tries to fool us then I'll flamboyantly behead him myself and show flamboyant bloodsprays."

And finally he turned to a very tall, broad-shouldered, and muscular man with lightly-tanned skin and white hair.

His hair is of an uneven length, the longest strands reaching his shoulders, and is styled with three more notable, shorter clumps arching up to fall as bangs between his eyes and on either side of his face.

He has quite thin, maroon eyes that appear to slant inwards, each with one long eyelash flowing to the far side of his face.

Ryuu recognizes them as Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku. Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro. Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa. Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka. Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito. Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji and finally Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima.

Ryuu understood their vigilance towards him but it's starting to get on his nerves since he isn't one who is patient enough to take their rant. Though that would be his past self who despite having low self esteem likes to have brawls that annoy him especially those that ridicule his brother after death.

The only thing he was not confident about was fear of not being accepted by his violent nature that he kept locked by watching anime and other shows. This is the reason why he shows no hesitation to fight people

He isn't a coward like you'd expect from someone who appears to have the average character background that he was before. He was violent like a wild beast when he was younger and only calm when he became more mature.

Though, the killing part was partially from the [ Gluttony ] that somehow removed his guilt when fighting criminals viewing them as nourishment.

He pondered if it was considered them as a hostile enemy which is why he doesn't feel remorse since he still felt emotion when they were beating up that man.

Ryuu wonders how that person is doing since he isn't likely to be arrested since the kills were mostly slashes and cuts that the police wouldn't find any evidence of blade capable of doing and wouldn't be able to pin to him.

"Oi! It's not a problem if you don't believe me since it's your life but never blame me for thinking you're a fool."

He quickly uses his [ High speed Thought Processing ] increasing the perception of mind by several times enough to act when needed since his Intuition immediately sends signals to activate his magic.

His words made the Hashira silent looking at Sanemi who took aback from the ridicule that caused his forearms and forehead to bulge their veins.

"Hahaha you seem confident then…"

He took a deep breath that sounded like a steaming kettle flowing his blood through his body increasing it by several folds while placing his hand on the katana around his waist.

Shinobu witnessed this and was about to act and stop them but witness Ryuu step forward accepting the challenge.

Hashira was expecting him to be beheaded by Sanemi knowing he was the fastest among them beside the retired Lightning Hashira. They soon took aback when Sanemi froze, unable to move an inch with his hand still at the hilt of the blade.

Ryuu smirk always hated those who are arrogant and never know their place in the world yet enjoy the violent nature of the world. It makes his blood boil but flinch before exhaling, removing his vicious thought.

'I almost lost myself there…'

He took several steps and arrived several inches away from the Wind Hashira who tried his best to move but was unable to. Hashira baffled at the turn of events before their eyes.

Ryuu turns his gaze towards them and causes the same effect as Sanemi, unable to move as if their body had turned into stones. The blood red pupil that seems to turn glow akin to a mystic eye.

"What is going on?"

He turned to the side and saw a wounded man with light skin and black shoulder length hair. He has rotting flesh that spreads around his eyes blind him yet despite that he has a calm aura accompanied by a friendly smile.

He usually wears a black kimono over a white with a long white haori with a pink and purple flame-like pattern that starts from the furi in the calves and the fuki in the hem. Beside him were two children helping him walk closer to the sun.

"It appears that the informant had arrived and caused every Hashira to freeze in place excluding the Insect Hashira."

Explain by one of the children beside him having a monotone voice. This made the wounded man, Kagaya Ubayashiki who was the current leader of the Demon Slayer corp.

Shinobu witnesses him arrive quickly kneel in respect while the others would have done the same if not for their body being frozen in place. Ryuu's remaining standing made the other Hashira frustrated by his lack of courtesy.

"Ryuu-san, it is impolite to remain standing." She quickly apprehends him while he simply shrugs it off.

"Ah apologize, I am not fond of kneeling to strangers beside my parents and ancestors. I hope you understand, Ubayashiki-sama."

He sounded like some Chinese novel Protagonist but Ryuu spoke plainly because kneeling means submitting to that person and he only submits to his parents.

Ryuu does bow in respect but not kneel. Sure you may call him a fool or arrogant but that is his principle and beliefs.

He showed his reason for lack of courtesy as he doesn't know him enough to earn his respect even if he saw the anime. Shinobu somehow understood his reason but still disliked his action.

He gave a light bow in apology that was described by the children beside him. Kagaya calmly accepted his reason that made Hashira grow to dislike him. Ryuu didn't care much knowing that this is the best way for them to listen.

"If that is the case then would you tell me how you are able to stop the Hashira from moving?" He asked him, hoping to end the conflict that had plagued them for centuries.

"It is an ability of mine among other things."

Ryuu turned his attention toward the Hashira and gave a sincere apology showing no hostility towards them.

They were all confused as it was obvious that his human yet displayed a unique ability similar to a Blood Demon art.

"I did it because most of you won't listen. The upper demons are not something you would casually fight head on without properly knowing their ability and ways to defeat them."

He shook his head in disappointment that they are at death's doorstep if they believe that fighting a Upper Demon is as easy to defeat Lower ones.

"Well beside the Flame Hashira who could at least contend with the 3rd Upper Moon but even that would lead to your death."

Of course Akaza was holding back because he wanted to recruit Rengoku to become a demon but still fighting Akaza isn't an easy feat and gaining his respect means Rengoku is a formidable opponent.

Unfortunately, the Hashira's pride was being questioned that made them infuriated, except shinobu who knew the truth, because they are being underestimated. Though, it is wavering after he easily disabled their chances of winning.

Kagaya downcast his gaze already guessing it was true that if this person who is able to stop his most powerful subordinate then fighting the Muzan and his servant was near impossible.

"That is why I've offered my help. Defeating that Michael Jackson guy." Ryuu jokingly said.

"Mich-What? I don't understand what you mean." Kagaya is confused by the name.

"Sorry, I mean Muzan Kibutsuji. He reminds me of someone with that name."

Ryuu shrugged seeing the uncanny resemblance of that guy with the smooth criminal. Kagaya confused before turning grimm hearing the name of the Demon Progenitor.