It's hard to come up with chapter title sometimes. I guess I will name this, "Stuff happens"

[Seiji's POV]

After my duel against Gyomei ended, my body finally could not keep the image of strength anymore and my legs turned into jelly.

I staggered back but before I could fall, I felt two soft mounds press on my back. The familiar scent of flowers whiffed against my nose and I felt a rush of air near my ear.

She was whispering something in my ear but I couldn't hear it.

I immediately focused on my body and using her as a support, I was able to stand upright again and catch myself. After a few seconds of channelling steroid breathing through my body, I was able to stand by myself again.

"Thank you," I said.

Kanae flashed me a small and uncertain smile. Then she left my side and went to Gyomei to check on his condition.

Meanwhile, Sanemi, Giyu and Tengen approached me.

"I must admit that today, you were flashier than me," Tengen said first since he reached me first.

"That was amazing Seiji."

"Oi!! Deaf man!! Teach me how to use your mixed breathing!!"

I smiled at them, I honestly missed these dudes. They were my friends after all.

"I think you need to learn another breathing style first before you can learn mixed breathing," Giyu replied to Sanemi's demand for me.

"Oh right, that's true,"

Giyu saw an opportunity and he quickly said, "If you want, I can teach you-"

"Never mind then. I will just have to master Wind Breathing to the point that I surpass whatever weird things you are doing." Sanmei said to me with fire in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Giyu was left dejected - his mission of getting closer to Sanemi and making him a friend had been unsuccessful once more.

I chuckled.

"Your last move was so fast that even I could not follow it. Tell me, how do you achieve such speed?" Tengen said and spawned a small notebook out of nowhere to write things down.

"What is that?" I asked.

"Oh, it's where I note down how I could become flashier/faster," he said with a shrug, "So, any advice?"

He was a really down-to-earth dude. There was no jealousy or bitterness when he saw that I was faster than him. Instead, he was simply eager to learn, even to someone like me who was much younger and inexperienced than him.

"Women weaken legs," I said, quoting Mickey from Rocky just to mess with him.

The absolute horror on his face after I said that caused me to laugh out loud. The conflicting expression that followed made my laugh continue.

It was a conflict of interest. What was more important, his women or being flashy?

"I'm messing with you. If you want, I can teach it to you when we have a joint mission," I said and he gave me a thumbs-up with a wide smile.

I did not need to teach him a whole other breathing style. One form of storm breathing he could use as a last resort should be fine.

"Hey! How come he is able to learn!!"

"Because Tengen is only asking for a way to increase his speed, not to learn mixed breathing. It's incredible you miss that." Giyu said with a straight face.

"You bastard! Why do you keep insulting me!"

"I am not. I just think that it requires someone unique to miss such an obvious difference."

That didn't sound better.

I watched them banter with amusement. Kanae confirmed that Gyomei had not suffered any injury other than fatigue caused by unlocking 100% of his muscle power.

All of us hang around the Headquarters, sometimes having important and serious discussions, sharing our ideas on the topic of the demon war etc. But we also had childish banter and gossip with each other.

The servants served us tea and we enjoyed each other company on the veranda for a short while before the Hashira meeting came to an end.

Everyone left one by one to their territory or to complete their mission. Me and Kanae on the other hand planned on returning to the Flower Mansion.

After using Storm Breathing (three breathing styles at once) I would need a good rest first before I began hunting demons.

But right before we left, Lady Amane stopped me and told me that her husband wished to have a private talk with me.

Kanae said she would wait so I went inside the main house of the headquarters to meet Ubuyashiki.

....

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"I heard you wanted to talk to me," I said. I was kneeling down in the centre of the room while he slept on a futon near the corner,

"Yes, there is something I must discuss with you regarding your fiance," Ubuyashiki said slowly, selecting each of his words carefully because he couldn't spare much energy to say nonsense.

"I am certain I crossed a line I shouldn't, but I have recruited her to the Demon Slayer Corp,"

"...."

I'll admit I felt a surge of anger when he said that. He was directly interfering with my private affairs, he had contacted my Mitsuri without saying anything to me.

And he ignored my decision to keep her away from the war. I knew he was smart enough to know I did not want to put her in danger or let her experience the things every demon slayer experienced.

"Please do not misunderstand. Even before you were engaged to her, I had my eyes on her since she was a talented candidate to become a demon slayer - like I did on you. Her special body could easily get her to the level of Hashira."

Once again, I was surprised at the guy's ability to gather information. I remembered there were theories that the Ubuyashiki family had the ability of foresight, was that true?

"At first, I was planning to respect your decision but two days ago, Mitsuri ran away from home to find you. She wished to become a demon slayer like you and fight alongside you." Ubuyashiki said.

That calmed down any anger bubbling in my heart. That was something I could imagine her doing. It was adorable.

"So I helped her," he admitted.

I sighed. I guess it was inevitable that she would become a demon slayer. I wanted to protect her, not just her safety but I also wanted to protect her from the darkness of war and cruelty.

But if it was her decision to become a demon slayer, I couldn't stop her. Instead, I guess I should work on training her and making sure she was many times stronger than her canon counterpart to assure her safety.

"I just want to say that sheltering her like that is not the best way of protecting her. With her talent, she would be safer if she learned to fight for herself, instead of keeping her a helpless damsel," he said.

It was true to a certain degree but I'm sure there was another agenda. He would gain another powerful pawn in his war against Muzan Kibutsuji.

He was not the good guy he pretended to be. I knew how ruthless he was and his obsession with defeating Muzan. He never hesitated to sacrifice his wife and children to bring the demon king down.

"It's fine. If it is indeed her decision, there is nothing I can do to stop her," I said.

"I am happy you understand Seiji," he said with a weak smile. "And regarding her sensei.."

"Send her to Rengoku," I said immediately,

"Rengoku?"

"Yes, he is my friend and I trust him to train and take care of her. Let him teach her and after she completes the final selection, I will take her as a Tsuguko." I said.

I really liked Rengoku and Mitsuri's sibling relationship in the anime. They were similar in many regards, strange hair, an unhealthy obsession with food, a positive attitude etc. Also, Rengoku's Sparta training should be good for her special body and learning Falme Breathing would help her develop Love Breathing as she did in canon.

"If that is what you think is good, then I will do it," he said.

"If that is all, then I will leave," I said and bid farewell to the dying man.

"Goodbye Seiji. Thank you for your service."

I left the house and met up with Kanae outside. Then we head towards the Flower mansion slowly so as to not tire my body more.

Maybe it was just me but Kanae was acting weird. There was also an awkward atmosphere between us during the whole journey.

I hope I'm just imagining things and Kanae was not really looking at me like prey she wouldn't let go.

...

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[IMAGE]

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Don't forget stones!!

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