Military Co-operation: face to face

~~~~~1909~~~~~

The newly arrived demons slayers sat in a room with a large table and many chairs, likely a battle plan room. There were many ashtrays on top through the center of the table. Rengoku sat at the head of the right side of the table, Tanya and Willibald next to him on either side. Granz and Weiss were next to Willibald, while Mary and Viktoriya were sitting near Tanya on the other side of the table. General Ruderkodia at the head of the left side of the table, Janoi, and Lehren on either side of him. The room itself, aside from the windows and doors, was littered with portraits of the art of soldiers and decorated generals. 

It was then that Rengoku spoke up first. "As I understand it a demon has been attacking the village and soldiers of this base for some time, and this demon has killed all other demon slayers that have arrived to stop it. Is that correct sir?!" he shouted loudly, but his mouth clamped shut when Ruderkodia seemed annoyed by the loud volume. "Yes, and there is no need to call me sir, I am a general not a demon slayer anymore," he spoke bluntly as if he should only be referred to by his surname by the demon slayers. 

It was then that Tanya had to get an answer on something that was surely on everyone else's mind. "Speaking of which, why are we working with you, to begin with. The demon slayer corp isn't recognized by any branch of government, likely for our own reasons. And here we are cooperating with you." Weiss crossed his arms before he spoke "well the general here is a former demon slayer, and if you can believe it a former hashira as well." he smiled widely, as everyone except Rengoku looked shocked and then looked at the stone-faced general, who seemed to have no reaction. Tanya was trying to decide in her head if her former general being a former demon slayer was a bad thing or not, the upside she came to was that at least they would not have to explain demons to anyone. 

The General slammed his large fist on the table and then spoke "yes I used to be, I left a long time ago. And I thought I told you to keep it to yourself Weiss!" the mentioned man whistles and played dumb. After rubbing his forehead Ruderkodia would continue "and as far as this unit is concerned you all are just mercenaries we hired to help take care of local terrorism threat. The only soldiers who are aware of demon slayers, demons, and why you actually are here is me and the two you see here." he motioned to Lehren and Janoi, both of whom nodded. "Trust me I had no intention of calling on the demon slayers, and only did so out of desperation. A former one like me doesn't deserve your help, I left purely out of selfish means because I got nationalistic and wanted to join the military. Nothing beyond that." the way he spoke was with a tinge of regret. 

Tanya meanwhile was thinking more to herself as the general spoke. 'Of course, he joined the military during Japan's expansionist era, why would I have expected anything else? He will have a field day when either of the world wars happens…assuming that this world still follows the same timeline as my original one.' so far it seemed that barring demons and demon slayers the world had the exact same events of the time as the first life she had, and if so then Ruderkodia was going to be on the wrong side of history sooner or later, assuming he did not die of course. 

Rengoku then laughed hard "exactly Sir, most Hashira either die or retire due to injuries that make them unfit for combat. You are of the few that left of their own accord. Besides…" the flame pillar seemed to have actual sweat go down his head, something which even Tanya had rarely see him do outside of combat. "If what the rumors I heard are true, then I believe your battles as 'the lion of demon slayers' were well earned!" he said as enthusiastic as ever. The others seemed to agree, Weiss even gave a thumbs up to Rengoku for what he said. The general seemed unamused at first, and it seemed like he would yell at the bright-faced boy for what he said. But then suddenly he laughed loudly "HAHAHA, is that what you think? I like this one." 

Tanya's eye twitched a little "well…at least he isn't mad." she spoke quietly, the old man's ego on full display now made it clear that he was, in everything but name, the same general she once knew. 

After he calmed down and took a couple of puffs of smoke from his cigar General Ruderkodia would finally finish what he had to say "the demons attack frequently, but their patterns for when they do it is easy to predict. For the past two months, they've attacked every other day, thanks to that we have been able to save many lives, but we always lose someone, regardless of if it is a soldier or citizen." he nods and Lehren, the blue-haired man stood up and began to speak "we have been able to put the village under temporary martial law, the curfew will keep people inside. If the pattern remains true then the demons will attack again tonight. You will split up amongst the patrol units and make sure no demons can get inside any of the houses, as well as protect our men out there as well." he handed each of them a paper of the patrol units' locations and where they will be walking around. 

Everyone after some more briefing and who would go where would begin to leave, "ahhh" Mary groaned quietly, she was assigned with Viktoriya instead of Tanya. The girl she was partnered with would pat her on the back "s-sorry if you wanted someone else." Mary looked at Viktoriya and gave a smile, it was not her fault after all. "It is fine, Let's do our best to protect the villagers." Viktoriya gave a determined nod. 

Meanwhile, Tanya approached Rengoku, who she was assigned with, outside of the room further down the hall. "Hey, you sure you're up for this?" Rengoku with his same positive smile and said "I SURE AM! Don't worry Kocho, just relax for now tonight, we will slay the demon for sure." Tanya raised an eyebrow, and then same as she had before lightly tapped one of his knees, he grasped it wincing as his smile dropped "hey! Can you stop doing that Tanya?!" she was probably the only person he did not act unabashedly positive around, though he probably had good reason this time. "Listen, Idiot, I understand that you want to protect everyone but how can you protect everyone if we have to be busy protecting you?" 

Tanya gave a deep sigh when she saw him finally stabilize himself. "I know you will not stay away from the fight, but at least try to let me take point on this," Rengoku smirked and nodded at her. "Sure!" she turned to leave him to his own time, once they both had left the boy hit himself lightly on the forehead "I forgot to talk to her about it again." he scratched his cheek "I suppose I can do it after the mission, would be better that way anyway." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Night time ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The groups of demon slayers split up amongst themselves, Tanya with Rengoku, Viktoriya with Mary, Granz with Willibald, and Weiss was by himself since he more easily knew every part of the village. They would occasionally check in with any of the soldiers on patrol that they passed by, so far none saw anything out of place. 

Viktoriya and Mary were walking down a street that would normally be booming with children playing outside, or had lights coming out from the houses. Yet the only sound in their ears was that of their own feet crunching against the dirt. In her momentary boredom, Viktoriya leaned closer to Mary and whispered "so you like Tanya right?" Mary innocently not getting what the other girl women meant nodded "yeah, don't you and the others?" Viktoriya narrowed her eyes, 'this girl…' to make her question more obvious she said "well yeah. But I meant Like-like, you know in a 'I would date them' way." 

Mary's face in a collection of seconds became increasingly redder. She turned to the other woman and sputtered her response "w-whh what?! That is- there is no way-" she had a hard time coming up with a retort or denying phrase. Viktoriya raised her eyebrow knowing "come on, I think the only one from the final selection crew that doesn't know it is Tanya herself. That or she does and instead of denying to your face, she opted not to address it." hearing that made Mary sulk, the woman frantically waved her hands and patted Mary on the shoulder "i-I was kidding. You know Tanya, she hates when people hide stuff from others, especially her. If she knew she would have asked at least." Viktoriya was wholly unaware of the irony of viewing Tanya as someone who does not hide things. 

Mary sighed and gave a small nod "yeah I know, but it's not like I can just tell her. Besides both of us are to young for that sorta thing anyways!" this was her way of brushing the conversation off. Viktoriya rolled her eyes "well okay, I just hope Tanya doesn't find herself in the middle of a cliche love triangle." the more innocent girl looked at Viktoriya with a look of confusion. She sighed "a love triangle is when two people like the same person, whether or not the person in question likes one of them, both of them, or neither of them is really a case by case basis."

Mary still looked confused "so…someone else like Tanya?" she quickly tried to rack her brain for who it could be. Granz? Unlikely, he feared and respected Tanya. Willibald? She doubts it. That Weiss guy? Less likely. 'Oh no? Is it Viktoriya?! I won't stand a chance!' Viktoriya could tell the small bit of information was overwhelming the poor girl. "Well, yeah, Rengoku." Mary blinked, 'Rengoku? They did train together, but she always seemed annoyed with his overly enthusiastic personality….wait she almost always seems annoyed with me as well!' The new information just seemed to freak Mary out more! 

Viktoriya sighed heavily and grabbed Mary by the shoulders to face her. "Listen, just calm down. Maybe it's just me reading into too many things. I mostly said it as a joke" Mary seemed to calm down a little. "I also said because, while I agree you are both are too young I would not wait too long till you ask her out, or at least let her know how you feel. Because well- I may have said it as a joke, but Given their history, I would not be surprised if she also liked him." Mary sweated but nodded and understood. After Viktorya let her go Mary asked "by the way how did you learn how to scope out when people feel you know, that way." the girl laughed nervously at the others question, she was not sure 'I just read a lot of romantic stories and books' would be the best thing to say. 

Just then they heard some screaming, no more time for chatter the two went to check it out. 

They ran towards a Building where a family was running away from. "Where are you going?! There's a monster that way!" one of them yelled at them, but the two kept going. Eventually seeing a female demon gnawing on something. Viktoriya took out her sword "Flower breathing, First form; Orchid Blossoming!" she slashed multiple times at the demon cutting it back as it jumped away. "Damn human, interrupting my meal." the female demons snarled, she seemed to look skinny yet scaly at the same time. Mary looked at the two soldiers the demon attacked, one of them was unconscious, the other though, the one the demon was in the middle of chewing on was unmistakably dead. 

Mary's eyes went blank a little bit. She clasped her hands together and started praying for the passed soldier, and then after she was done took out her sword. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rengoku and Tanya walked passed a soldier, who Renoku waved at as they left. The soldier smiled and waved back. "That makes seven, now the score is seven-five." He said enthusiastically. Tanya rolled her eyes "these soldiers just had a rough time here, I am sure they were just happy with you waving at them." she was totally not grouchy that she was losing their little game of who would wave back at Rengoku or not. The boy chuckled "ah so you admit that I was right in that they needed my warm smile and greetings." Tanya once more rolled her eyes and just muttered 'whatever.'

"Well, I suppose I never expected to see you two again." The demon slayers looked up and then watched as a man in a blue yakata jumped off a roof and landed in front of them. Both instinctively took out their swords 'damn it, he is Mary's father! I knew he was here but so soon?' she thought to herself as they stared the old demon down, she looked at the other demon slayer with her, his legs still had not fully recovered, she would have to pick up his slack now. Rengoku calmly asked, "you, so you are the demon leading these ones?" 

Anson smiled a little "ah, it seems you remembered me and likely think that I am the leader because I was a member of the twelve Kizuki." he pointed at his eyes, it was a little hard to see under the moonlight but it was clear three scratches appeared across it over the lettering in the eye. "I am no longer one, but your corps was right to assume one is leading the demons responsible for the misfortunes of this village."

 Rengoku's eyes narrowed, "just because you are not the leader I can tell, you killed many humans here, some tonight even." he said after noticing a few fresh blood marks on the demon's clothes. Anson nodded "indeed. A soldier that spotted me a few minutes ago." his voice was laced with regret, but that did not matter. He started summoning iron barbs from his Blood demon art. "I believe this is where we fight, I hope, unlike previous demon slayers you manage to take me down." despite what he said he looked ready to fight. 

Tanya and Rengoku readied themselves, Tanya noticing how Rengoku had to readjust himself after his fighting pose nearly caused him to fall due to his still recovering knees. She looked back at Anson, 'he may no longer be a demon of the Twelve Kizuki. But he is still dangerous. If Rengoku's knees give away fully it will be bad for the both of us.' she clenched her teeth, this would be a tough fight. But she needed to slay him now, hopefully before Mary found her way here. 

Meanwhile, two other fights were steadily about to take place around Takoi Village

Willibald and Granz were staring down a demon with long white hair, in between, them was a hole on a roof that the demon had tried to use to escape them. Below them were a man, a woman, and their young son who were shaking in the room having nearly been killed by the demon before the two demon slayers showed up. The demon licked his lips "my my, I tried to escape you and yet you followed. I suppose that means I will have to kill both of you." Granz and Willibald readied their Swords and ran at the demon. 

"Blood Demon Art; Blight blast!" Gunner yelled as he fired his attack at Weiss, who used the broad side of his large blade to block it and then deflect it into the fence. "Crap, the general is going to have my ass for ruining that." he stared back at Gunner, whose eye twitched a little. The demon slayer in front of him had stopped him from incinerating two soldiers who had long since the runoff, and he could block his blood demon art? "Well aren't you just a pain in my ass." Weiss smirked as he swung his blade in the air a little "same to you." 

The battle to protect the village was on. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the Military base, Ruderkodia was taking out a fresh cigar. "Hmm…" he stared blankly ahead from atop a lookout tower, looking directly ahead at the village below the hill. "Hopefully tonight will be the last night I have to deal with demons, and the village will finally be safe." a few silent moments went by, "sir you okay?" a soldier that was up there with him asked, Ruderkodia chuckled "just remembering some old times, that boy with yellow and red hair made me flashback to a time I was a little different." 

The soldier leaned against one of the half walls of the tower "what do you mean?" General Ruderkodia took a puff out from his newly light Cigar before responding "let's just say, I used to be like them before I joined the army." the soldier thought his general meant he was a mercenary or considering his age, a samurai working under a shogun. But before he could ask more something cut his cheek, "ack- what the- Ah!" he was suddenly held over the edge of the tower. 

"What's wrong-...." Ruderkodia stared at the figure before him. It was a demon wearing a cloak, though what was under the cloaks could be now be seen, with the straps loosened they revealed an old worn-out Imperial Japanese military outfit as if it had been pulled directly from the start of the Meiji restoration period. The old, somewhat wrinkly face could be seen with the hood lowered, gray hair brushed to the left side of the head. The demon chuckled "what's wrong Kurt? You look like you've seen the ghost of an old friend." the demon opened its eyes to reveal symbols for 'lower 6' in his left eye. "I suppose it has been a while though so I can understand that." 

Ruderkodia stared blankly at the demon before him, and at the soldier, he was dangling over the edge, likely to keep him from trying anything. "You…what do you want?" he spoke in a rough tone, clenching his cigar causing it to burst out and half of it to fall to the ground far below the tower. The demon smiled "what? Not even a courtesy how do you do? It's like joining the army put a stick up your butt Kurt." The general tried to move forward, but the demon pushed the soldier closer off the edge, making him stop.

 "Now, just a little bit of a spoiler, but throughout the past few attacks on the village, I've been sneaking in and putting bits of my blood into the drinks of your soldiers. And now a few of the demons serving under me are inside as well preparing to attack." the lower moon demon put his fingers into a prepared snapping position. "The moment I snap my finger the soldiers who drank the drinks I spiked with my blood will come under my control. As an example…" he pulled the soldier he was holding over the edge, he simply pointed at the soldier and suddenly, starting from the cheek wound he was given blackness began to outline his veins. "Sir Ruderkodia I-" he could not get another word in, the soldier went silent, then limp, then stood up blank-faced, their body twitching. 

The demon laughed "I wonder how many of your men drank my blood unknowingly, it will be great to see an army under my command once more." he stared at Ruderkodia, who was clenching his fists, in anger. "Don't you have something to say Kurt before I snap my finger?" the General stared dead ahead at the demon and the poor soldier in front of him. "You bastard, I'll kill you before this is over, Hann Zettour!" 

Zettour smirked with glee "that's the Kurt I remember." he snapped his fingers right then