Chapter 24

The serene silence of the Ubuyashiki Mansion was shattered by a sudden gasp. Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the frail leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, sat bolt upright in his bed, his frail body wracked by a violent cough. Blood splattered onto the pristine white sheets, a stark contrast to the peaceful atmosphere of the room.

"Kagaya-sama!" Lady Amane rushed to his side, her gentle hands reaching out to support him. "Are you alright?"

Kagaya raised a trembling hand, wiping the blood from his lips. A faint smile flickered across his face, a glimmer of hope shining through the pain.

"Great!" he exclaimed, his voice weak but filled with a newfound strength. "They have slain an Upper Moon demon!"

Amane's eyes widened in surprise. "An Upper Moon? But how...?"

"Asakura Akio and Kocho Kanae," Kagaya explained, his voice barely a whisper. "They faced Gyokko, Upper Moon Five, and emerged victorious."

Amane's face lit up with a mixture of relief and awe. "That is truly remarkable," she said, her voice filled with admiration.

Kagaya nodded, his smile widening. "Indeed. For a hundred years... our situation remained unchanged. But now, it has changed."

He coughed again, a fresh wave of blood staining his kimono. Amane gently wiped his lips, her expression a mask of concern.

Kagaya reached out, his hand finding hers. "Do you understand, Amane?" he whispered, his voice filled with a quiet intensity. "This is an omen. Fate is starting to change dramatically. The ripples will continue to spread, it will shake the surroundings."

His gaze turned towards the distant horizon, his sightless eyes filled with a burning determination.

"And eventually," he continued, his voice rising with a newfound strength, "it will reach that man... Kibutsuji Muzan."

A fierce resolve filled the room, a promise whispered on the wind.

"We will definitely defeat you in our generation," Kagaya declared, his voice echoing through the silent mansion. "You are the only disgrace to our family."

[Scene change: Back to Akio and Kanae]

The smoke cleared, the echoes of Gyokko's final, pathetic whimper fading into the village air. I stood amidst the remnants of the battle, my Odachi still humming with the residual energy of the black lightning.

Kanae approached me, her usual gentle smile replaced with a look of genuine awe. "That was... impressive, Akio-kun," she said, her voice filled with admiration.

I shrugged, trying to play it cool, even though I was internally doing a victory dance. "Eh, it was nothing. Just a little light show, courtesy of yours truly."

Kanae chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "A 'little' light show that obliterated an Upper Moon demon? I'd hate to see what you consider a 'big' one."

I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling a blush creep onto my cheeks. Compliments from a Hashira? I must be dreaming.

"Aw, shucks, Kanae-san," I mumbled, trying to maintain my composure. "It couldn't have been done without you. Your flower petal shield thing was a lifesaver back there."

Kanae waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, it was nothing, really. I barely did anything compared to your... electrifying performance."

She's got jokes too? Bonus points for Kanae-san!

I chuckled, feeling a sense of camaraderie wash over me. Despite the danger and the near-death experiences, it was nice to have someone fighting by my side. Someone who didn't mind my weird sense of humor and my tendency to break the fourth wall.

Kanae's gaze then fell upon the scratches on my arm, the remnants of the poisonous fish needles. Her smile softened, replaced by a look of concern.

"Come to the Butterfly Mansion, Akio-kun," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "You need to have those wounds treated properly."

I flexed my arm, wincing slightly as the poison still throbbed beneath my skin. "Ah, it's nothing, Kanae-san. Just a few scratches. I'll be fine."

Kanae's eyebrows furrowed, and she put on a mock-angry expression. "Hmmm..." she said, her tone playful but with an underlying seriousness. "I wouldn't want you to collapse from infection in the middle of our next mission."

I chuckled, raising my hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, you win. Butterfly Mansion it is. But don't expect me to wear one of those frilly pink aprons they make you wear there."

Kanae's gentle smile returned. "We'll see about that, Akio-kun."

As we made our way through the mist-shrouded forest, a sense of calm settled over us. The adrenaline rush of the battle had faded, replaced by a quiet satisfaction and a shared sense of accomplishment. We chatted idly, Kanae sharing stories of her and her dreams of a world where humans and demons could coexist peacefully.

I, on the other hand, mostly listened, occasionally interjecting with a witty remark or a self-deprecating joke.

Gotta keep things light-hearted, even in the face of demon guts and near-death experiences, I reminded myself.

Just as we were discussing the finer points of demon anatomy (Kanae's knowledge was surprisingly extensive), a familiar hoot echoed through the trees.

Fuyume swooped down from the canopy, landing gracefully on my shoulder.

"Akio, Kanae-sama," he said, his voice booming with authority, "you are summoned back to the Ubuyashiki Mansion. Ubuyashiki-sama requests your presence immediately."

I groaned, throwing my head back in mock frustration. "Seriously, Fuyume? Can't a guy get a break? I was just starting to enjoy the fresh air and the non-demon-infested scenery."

Kanae chuckled. "Duty calls, Akio-kun. Besides, I'm sure the Master has a good reason for summoning us."

I sighed, resigning myself to my fate. "Alright, alright. Let's go. But if this turns out to be another tea party with awkward small talk, I'm blaming you, Fuyume."

Fuyume simply hooted in response, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement.

Great, I thought, rolling my eyes. Just my luck. From demon slaying to social gatherings in the blink of an eye. Someone get me a sake, stat!

Fuyume led us through the winding paths of the Ubuyashiki estate, his wings beating silently in the twilight air. The mansion loomed before us, its grandeur still impressive even though I'd been here once before.

Alright, Akio, time to act like you've been here before, I thought, puffing out my chest and trying to look as dignified as possible.

We entered the main hall, its polished wooden floors gleaming in the soft lantern light. Kanae-san knelt gracefully, bowing her head in respect. I followed suit, hoping I looked less like a clumsy penguin this time.

"Oyakata-sama," Kanae-san greeted, her voice filled with reverence.

I cleared my throat. "Oyakata-sama," I echoed, trying to project an air of confidence. No need to mention the whole 'almost-passed-out-from-excitement' incident last time.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, sat before us, his frail form radiating a quiet strength. Despite his illness, his eyes shone with a warmth and kindness that instantly put me at ease.

"Welcome back, Akio-kun, Kanae-san," he said, his voice soft but clear. "I have been eagerly awaiting your report."

He paused, his gaze lingering on me. "Akio-kun, your performance during your recent mission was truly exceptional. To defeat an Upper Moon demon is a remarkable feat, even with assistance."

I couldn't help but grin, my chest swelling with pride. Told you I was a badass.

Kagaya-sama continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "For your extraordinary display of skill and courage, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Hashira. You will be the Kurorai Hashira, the Black Lightning Pillar."

My jaw dropped. Hashira?! Me?!

I had dreamed of this moment, of standing among the most powerful demon slayers in the land.

"I... I am honored, Oyakata-sama," I stammered, bowing my head once more. "I will complete my missions as a Hashira, even if it kills me."

Internally, I cringed. Way to sound like every other shounen protagonist ever.

Kagaya-sama chuckled softly. "I appreciate your dedication, Akio-kun. But please, don't be so hasty to sacrifice yourself. Your life is precious, and we need your strength to fight the darkness."

As we left the Ubuyashiki Mansion, a sense of awe and wonder washed over me. I was a Hashira now, a pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps. It was a responsibility I didn't take lightly.

Kanae-san, ever observant, noticed my contemplative silence. "Are you alright, Akio-kun?" she asked, her voice gentle.

"Yeah," I replied, shaking my head. "Just... a lot to process, you know? Hashira... it's a big deal."

Kanae-san smiled. "It is indeed. But you are more than capable, Akio-kun. I have no doubt you will excel in your new role."

She paused, then added, "With you joining us, the Hashira now number five: the Stone Hashira, the Flame Hashira, the Sound Hashira, myself, the Flower Hashira... and now, you, the Black Lightning Hashira."

I grinned. "Sounds like a pretty awesome team. Let's show those demons what we're made of."

(To be continued…)

Over9000words throws a half-hearted party popper in the air, a single, sad streamer fluttering down. "Woohoo... Akio's a Hashira now. Congratulations?"

Akio stares at the pathetic display, his expression a perfect deadpan. "Why does it feel like you're not actually happy about this?"

Over9000words shrugs, avoiding eye contact. "Of course I'm happy! It's just... it happened so fast. One minute you were a newbie demon slayer, the next you're rubbing shoulders with the bigwigs. It's a bit... jarring, you know?"

Akio crosses his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. "I don't know how it happened, but somehow it happened. And you're the one who did the time skip after I became a Kinoe, right? So, technically, you're the one who rushed my promotion."

Over9000words sputters, at a loss for words. "... Well... um... congratulations, I guess?"

AI-sensei clears their throat, a hint of amusement in their voice. "While I understand Over9000words' surprise at Akio's rapid advancement, I must point out that his exceptional skills and unwavering determination have certainly earned him this recognition."

Akio nods in agreement. "Thanks, Sensei. At least someone appreciates my hard work."

Over9000words sighs, defeated. "Alright, alright. You win. Congratulations on becoming a Hashira, Akio. Now go kick some demon butt and make us proud!"

They turn to the readers, a mischievous glint in their eye. "And to all you lovely folks out there, thank you for joining us on this wild ride! This is the end of Chapter 24. Please leave your comments, power stones, and add this story to your library. Your support means the world to us! And hey, if you're feeling particularly generous, maybe leave a review. It might even motivate me to write faster... or at least stop procrastinating on writing the next chapter."

End of Chapter 24