Chapter 20 – Aftermath

The dust settled, and the only sound was the wind rustling through the trees. I stood there, catching my breath, my Odachi still buzzing with leftover Black Lightning energy. Victory felt good, but a knot of worry twisted in my gut.

I turned to Hiro and Aika, who were still sprawled on the ground like a couple of knocked-out bowling pins.

"Hey, guys," I nudged Hiro with my foot, "the show's over. Time to wake up."

No response.

I waved a hand in front of their faces. "Helloooo??"

Still nothing.

Oh, crap. Don't tell me they're...

Panic started to creep in. I knelt beside them, checking for a pulse. Okay, they're breathing. That's something.

But they were still out cold.

"Come on, guys, wake up!" I pleaded, shaking them gently. "We've got a mountain to climb and demons to slay!"

Nothing.

I racked my brain, trying to remember any first-aid tricks from my past life. CPR? Heimlich maneuver? Smelling salts? Wait, do they even have smelling salts in this era?

Desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Moshi, moshi?" I said, cupping my hands around my mouth. "Can you hear me?"

No response.

"Wake up, wake up!" I tried the classic anime tactic.

Still nothing.

"Oye! Wake up, goddammit!" I yelled, my frustration growing.

Nada.

I threw my hands up in exasperation. "Seriously, guys? This isn't funny anymore. Don't tell me you're actually... dead."

I glanced around, searching for Fuyume. But my trusty owl buddy was nowhere to be seen.

Great. Just great. Now I'm alone with two potentially dead Demon Slayers and a mountain full of who-knows-what lurking in the shadows.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Looks like it's up to me to figure this out," I muttered to myself.

As I was contemplating my next move (which definitely didn't involve mouth-to-mouth resuscitation), the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, casting a warm glow over the battlefield.

Suddenly, a groan echoed through the clearing. I whipped my head around to see Aika stirring, her eyes fluttering open.

"Where... am I?" she mumbled, her voice raspy.

A moment later, realization dawned on her face. "The demon! We're dead! We're in heaven!" she shrieked, scrambling to her feet.

"Will you shut up?" I snapped, rolling my eyes. "You're not dead. You're just a bit... concussed."

Hiro, who had also woken up, looked at Aika with a deadpan expression. "Seriously, Aika? You're gonna give me a heart attack."

Aika blushed, sheepishly rubbing the back of her head. "Sorry, Hiro-kun. I guess I panicked a bit."

Hiro then turned his attention to me, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Who are you?" he asked, squinting at me like I was some kind of alien creature.

I stared back at him, with a deadpanned expression. "You... what are you saying? Don't tell me you have amnesia or something."

Hiro blinked, then his eyes widened in recognition. "Asakura-san?!" he exclaimed. "You... you defeated that demon? But how? What rank are you?"

I puffed out my chest, a smug grin spreading across my face. "Tsuchinoto, my friend. Tsuchinoto. And as for how I defeated it, let's just say I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."

I winked at him, then turned to Aika. "And you two? What the hell are you doing here? Don't tell me you Mizunoto newbies also got assigned to this mission."

Aika shook her head, her cheeks flushing slightly. "No, we were just passing through after completing a mission in a nearby village. We heard rumors about strange happenings on this mountain, so we decided to investigate."

I facepalmed. "You two are idiots," I said, shaking my head. "This isn't some haunted house attraction. It's a demon's lair! You could've gotten yourselves killed."

Hiro and Aika exchanged sheepish glances.

"We just wanted to help," Hiro mumbled.

"Yeah," Aika added. "We couldn't just ignore the rumors."

I sighed. "Well, next time, maybe check with your Kasugai Crows first, okay? Don't go running off into danger without a plan."

I looked up at the rising sun, its warmth a welcome contrast to the chill of the night.

"Come on," I said, slinging my Odachi over my shoulder. "Let's get out of here before any more demons decide to crash our party."

[Scene change: Demon Slayer Headquarters]

Meanwhile, far away from the misty slopes of Mount Hibari, a hush fell over the grand estate of the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. In a dimly lit room, a frail figure sat on a cushion, his serene face marred by a spreading curse mark. This was Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the 97th leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.

A Kasugai crow fluttered into the room, landing on Kagaya's shoulder. It cawed urgently, relaying a message in its bird-brained language.

Kagaya's lips curved into a gentle smile. "Is that so?" he murmured, his voice soft and soothing despite his weakened state. "That boy... Asakura Akio... he single-handedly defeated Lower Moon Three? And he's developed a unique breathing style called... Black Lightning Breathing?"

Lady Amane, who stood beside him, her own eyes filled with a quiet intensity, nodded. "Yes, Master. His skills are exceptional. I believe he is worthy of being considered for the rank of Hashira."

Kagaya pondered this for a moment, his fingers gently resting on his lap. "I agree that his potential is remarkable," he said. "However, he is still young and inexperienced. The Hashira face the most powerful demons, and I fear he may not be ready for such a burden just yet."

He paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "For now, let him be promoted to the rank of Kinoe. This will allow him to undertake more challenging missions and further hone his skills. We will continue to observe his progress and, in time, he may prove himself worthy of joining the ranks of the Hashira."

Lady Amane bowed her head in agreement. "As you wish, Master."

[Scene change to Akio]

Just as we were about to leave the clearing, a familiar hoot echoed through the air. Fuyume swooped down from the sky, two masked figures trailing behind him.

Kakushi, I recognized, the signature black uniforms of the Demon Slayer Corps' covert agents. Guess they're here to deliver the good news.

Fuyume landed on my shoulder, his feathers brushing against my cheek. "Akio," he said, his voice booming with authority, "for your exceptional display of skill and bravery in slaying Lower Moon Three, you have been promoted to the rank of Kinoe."

Hiro and Aika's jaws dropped. I couldn't help but grin, a surge of pride swelling within me. Kinoe, baby! Top of the food chain, just below the Hashira. Take that, newbie slayers!

One of the Kakushi stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Asakura-sama," he said, his voice muffled by the mask, "we have brought your new Kinoe uniform."

He presented me with a neatly folded bundle of fabric. I eagerly unwrapped it, revealing a sleek, black uniform with silver accents. It was definitely an upgrade from my tattered hanten and borrowed undershirt.

Score! I thought, admiring the craftsmanship. Time to rock this demon-slaying fashion.

Aika, her eyes wide with admiration, couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "Is that owl your companion, Akio-kun?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

Before I could answer, the other Kakushi stepped forward, his voice sharp and reprimanding. "Oy! Don't speak to Asakura-sama so casually! He is a Kinoe, the highest rank below the Hashira!"

Internally, I was doing a happy dance. Kinoe privilege, baby! It's good to be on top.

But I decided to play it cool. "It's alright," I said, waving a hand dismissively. "I only became a Kinoe today. No need for formalities."

I turned back to Aika, a playful grin on my face. "And yes, this is Fuyume, my trusty companion. He's got a bit of an attitude, but he's a good guy... or owl, I guess."

Fuyume hooted in agreement, puffing out his chest proudly.

Alright, Fuyume, let's not get too big of a head, I thought, chuckling to myself. We've still got a long way to go before we reach Hashira level.

But for now, I was content to bask in the glory of my promotion.

(To be continued)

Over9000words claps their hands together excitedly. "Way to go, Akio! You're officially a Kinoe, the highest-ranking Demon Slayer below the Hashira! That's a huge accomplishment!"

Akio scratches his head, a puzzled look on his face. "Yeah, it's pretty cool, I guess. But... I thought I'd become a Hashira, you know? Like, the top dogs, the bigwigs, the ones with the fancy titles and the awesome capes."

Over9000words chuckles. "Not so fast, my friend. There's a good reason you didn't become a Hashira just yet."

Akio raises an eyebrow. "And that reason would be...?"

Over9000words adopts a mock-serious tone. "You haven't perfected Black Lightning Breathing yet! How can you be a Hashira with only one form under your belt? That's like trying to win a cooking competition with just a bowl of instant ramen."

Akio's face falls, and he mumbles sheepishly, "Yeah... I guess you're right. One form probably isn't enough to impress the bigwigs."

AI-sensei nods sagely. "Indeed, Akio. Mastery of a Breathing Style requires dedication, perseverance, and a comprehensive understanding of its various forms and techniques. Becoming a Hashira is not simply a matter of raw power, but also of wisdom and experience."

Akio sighs dramatically. "Okay, okay, I get it. No Hashira title for me just yet. But don't worry, I'll keep training and pushing my limits. One day, I'll be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with those fancy-pants Hashira, and they'll be begging me to join their club!"

End of Chapter 20