Chapter 26

"Being a Hashira is tough, man," I grumbled to myself, leaping from one tree branch to another with the grace of a caffeinated squirrel. "Sure, you get a fancy title, a cool uniform, and a free pass to the all-you-can-eat demon buffet. But you also get... less work?"

A few weeks had passed since my glorious promotion to Hashira, and the initial excitement had worn off. It turns out, being at the top of the demon-slaying food chain also means waiting around for the really big baddies to show up.

I sighed dramatically, narrowly avoiding a face-plant into a particularly thick branch. "It's been weeks since my last mission. I'm starting to think they forgot I exist. Or maybe they're just saving me for the really big baddies. You know, the ones that can level a whole city with a sneeze."

I paused mid-air, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. "Speaking of big baddies, a few new Hashira have popped up recently. There's the Wind Hashira, the Serpent Hashira, and the Love Hashira. Yeah, I know, 'Love Hashira' sounds kinda cheesy, but hey, I'm not judging. Maybe she fight demons with hugs and rainbows. Who knows?" unfortunately, I was not able to remember their names.

I landed on another branch, my haori billowing in the wind. "And let's not forget Shinobu-san. She's officially the Insect Hashira now. Makes sense, right? Her sister's the Flower Hashira, so why not have a bug-themed counterpart? It's like a superhero team-up, except instead of saving the world, they're just really good at killing demons."

I chuckled to myself, then quickly added, "Hey, I'm not making fun of them. I'm sure they're all super strong and stuff." But seriously, can we get back to the demon-slaying action already?

I sighed again, my voice echoing through the moonlit forest. "If those guys at headquarters won't give me a mission, I guess I'll just have to find my own. After all, a Hashira's gotta do what a Hashira's gotta do."

With that, I leaped from the trees, landing gracefully on the forest floor. I ditched the hanten a while back; it was a bit too 'grandpa chic' for my taste. My new family, bless their souls, had gifted me a custom-made haori, black with white lightning patterns. It was sleek, stylish, and screamed 'I'm here to kick demon butt and look good doing it.'

"Alright, demons," I muttered, drawing my Odachi and scanning the shadows with my Mind's Eye. "Come out, come out, wherever you are. It's time for a midnight snack. And by 'snack,' I mean you."

.

.

.

I was mid-leap, gracefully soaring through the moonlit canopy like a ninja-owl hybrid, Fuyume gliding effortlessly beside me. Suddenly, my "Mind's Eye" flared, a ripple of demonic energy disrupting the otherwise peaceful night.

"Hold up, Fuyume," I whispered, my voice barely disturbing the stillness of the forest. "I sense something... sinister."

I landed silently on a sturdy branch, peering down at the scene below. My playful grin vanished, replaced by a frown of disgust and sadness.

On the outskirts of a small village, a grotesque demon was feasting on the remains of a middle-aged woman. The sight was brutal, the demon's laughter a chilling echo in the otherwise peaceful night.

"You disgusting piece of..." I growled, my grip tightening on my Odachi. "You're about to get a taste of my wrath."

I leaped from the branch, my body a blur as I activated Black Lightning Breathing. With a swift, silent motion, I executed the First Form: Black Flash Slice.

The world seemed to hold its breath as a jagged bolt of black lightning arced across the blade, extending its reach like a phantom blade. The demon's head flew off in a clean, precise cut, its body dissolving into ash before it could even register the attack.

Silence descended upon the scene. The only sound was the soft crackling of the remaining black lightning, fading into the night air.

I scanned the area with my Mind's Eye, searching for any other signs of demonic presence. My gaze fell upon a small figure huddled behind a nearby bush. It was a young girl, no more than ten or eleven years old. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, her tiny body trembling with fear.

"Poor girl," I thought, my heart aching for her. "She must have witnessed the whole thing."

I approached her cautiously, my voice gentle. "It's okay," I said, kneeling down to her level. "The demon is gone. I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner."

The girl looked up at me, her eyes wide with a mix of terror and confusion. She had clearly never seen a Demon Slayer before, let alone one wielding black lightning.

Before I could say anything else, she threw herself into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably. I awkwardly patted her back, my usually witty comebacks failing me in the face of such raw emotion.

"There, there," I mumbled, feeling a lump form in my throat. "It's alright now. You're safe."

I gently ruffled her hair, a wave of protectiveness washing over me. My eyes hardened, a steely resolve taking hold.

"I won't let anything like this happen again," I whispered, my voice a low growl.

Fuyume hooted softly from his perch on a nearby branch.

As the first rays of dawn painted the sky, casting a warm glow over the village, a somber atmosphere settled upon us. With the help of the villagers, we gave the girl's mother a proper burial, a small ceremony filled with quiet tears and whispered prayers.

The girl stood beside me, her tiny hand clutching mine tightly. Her eyes, though still red-rimmed from crying, held a newfound determination.

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "For saving me. For... for everything."

I knelt down, meeting her gaze. "What's your name?" I asked gently.

She sniffled, wiping away a stray tear. "Hanamura Hikari," she replied.

"Well, Hikari-chan," I said, offering a reassuring smile, "my name is Asakura Akio. And I promise you, I won't let any more demons hurt you."

Her eyes lit up, a spark of hope igniting within them. "Akio-sama," she said, her voice filled with a sudden urgency, "please, take me with you. I want to be strong, like you. I want to learn to fight, to slay those filthy demons!"

I was taken aback by her outburst. This little girl, who had just witnessed the brutal death of her mother, was already talking about fighting demons? Talk about a strong spirit.

I looked into her eyes, searching for any sign of hesitation or fear. But all I saw was unwavering resolve.

"Alright," I said, my voice firm. "I'll train you."

I paused, letting the weight of my words sink in. "But I won't go easy on you. Demon slaying is dangerous, brutal work. You'll have to push yourself beyond your limits, face your fears, and never give up."

Hikari's resolve only strengthened. "Hai, Akio-sama!" she declared, her voice ringing with determination.

I chuckled, ruffling her hair playfully. "Just Akio is fine, Hikari-chan. No need for formalities."

"But Akio-sama, you are my teacher and savior," she insisted, her eyes wide with earnestness. "It would be disrespectful to address you so casually."

I sighed inwardly. This girl was going to be a handful. "Hikari-chan, we're going to be living together, training together, and probably getting into all sorts of trouble together. Let's keep things simple, okay?"

Hikari hesitated, then nodded shyly. "Hai, Akio-sama."

I face-palmed. "Okay, we'll work on that. Now, let's head back to my place. We've got a long journey ahead of us."

Fuyume hooted in agreement, spreading his wings and taking flight.

With Hikari's tiny hand still firmly clasped in mine and her stubborn insistence on calling me "Akio-sama" echoing in my ears, we continued our journey back to my luxurious new digs. But first, a pit stop was in order.

"Hold on tight, Hikari-chan!" I announced, scooping her up onto my back like a seasoned piggyback champion. "We're going shopping!"

Hikari let out a surprised giggle as I took off at a brisk pace, weaving through the bustling marketplace. Her grip tightened around my neck, and I could feel her excitement radiating through her small body.

We stopped at a clothing stall, its colorful fabrics and intricate patterns drawing Hikari's attention like a moth to a flame. I rummaged through the piles of clothes, my "Mind's Eye" helping me spot the perfect outfits for a budding demon slayer.

"Akio-sama, you don't have to buy me anything," Hikari protested, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I'm fine with what I have."

I raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on my lips. "What are you going to wear then? That blood-stained dress?"

Her face turned even redder, and she mumbled something about "making do."

"Nope," I declared, holding up a vibrant blue kimono with embroidered cherry blossoms. "You're getting a wardrobe makeover, whether you like it or not. A demon slayer's gotta look sharp, after all. Besides, imagine how jealous those demons will be when we show up looking this fabulous!"

Hikari giggled, her initial resistance melting away. "Okay, okay, Akio-sama," she conceded. "But don't go overboard."

"Overboard?" I scoffed, piling more clothes onto her arms. "You haven't seen anything yet! We're talking about a whole new level of demon-slaying fashion here!"

As we continued our journey, I entertained Hikari with silly jokes and stories, anything to keep her mind off the recent tragedy. Fuyume, ever the stoic companion, soared silently above us, occasionally casting a disapproving glance at my more outlandish puns.

"Did you hear about the demon who tried to eat a clock?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows at Hikari. "He got ticked off!"

Hikari burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "That's a good one, Akio-sama!"

Fuyume, however, simply let out a long-suffering sigh. "Humans," he muttered in his deep, gravelly voice. "So easily amused."

Finally, we arrived at my estate, its warm lights a welcome sight after the long journey. Hiroshi and Yumi greeted us at the door, their faces beaming with smiles.

"Welcome back, Akio-chan!" Yumi exclaimed, bowing deeply. "And who is this lovely young lady?"

"This is Hanamura Hikari," I introduced, my voice filled with warmth. "She's going to be staying with us. I'm taking her on as my Tsuguko."

Yumi's eyes widened in surprise, but her smile only grew wider. "A Tsuguko? How wonderful! Welcome, Hikari-chan. Please, make yourself at home."

Hiroshi echoed her welcome, his kind eyes twinkling with warmth.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Akio-sama," Hikari said, bowing her head respectfully.

I face-palmed. "Yumi-san, could you please show Hikari-chan to the bathroom? I think she could use a nice, hot bath after our little adventure."

Yumi nodded and led Hikari away. Once they were out of earshot, I turned to Hiroshi.

"Hiroshi-san," I began, my voice somber, "I need to tell you something about Hikari..."

I recounted the events of the night, the demon attack, and Hikari's tragic loss. Hiroshi listened intently, his expression mirroring my own sadness.

When Yumi returned, I shared the story with her as well. Both of them were visibly shaken, their eyes filled with compassion for the young girl.

"We understand, Akio-kun," Hiroshi said, his voice gentle. "We will do everything we can to make her feel welcome and help her heal."

Yumi nodded, her eyes glistening with tears. "Please, don't hesitate to ask if there's anything we can do."

I smiled gratefully. "Thank you both. It means a lot."

(To be continued…)

Camera zooms in on Akio, his face a mask of righteous indignation.

Akio: (Slamming his fist on an invisible table) "Over9000words, you should have told me earlier! I could have gotten there sooner and saved Hikari's mother!"

Over9000words blinks in surprise, their eyebrows shooting up in alarm.

Over9000words: "Whoa, whoa, hold on there, partner! I didn't even know Hikari existed until, like, five minutes ago! I'm just making this up as I go along, remember?"

Akio's expression softens slightly, but he still looks unconvinced.

Akio: (Crossing his arms) "So you're telling me you have no control over the plot? That you're just winging it, hoping for the best?"

Over9000words shrugs sheepishly.

Over9000words: "Well... yeah, pretty much. It's called 'creative freedom,' my friend. Besides, where's the fun in a story where everything is planned out in advance? A little spontaneity keeps things interesting, right?"

AI-sensei, observing the exchange with a bemused expression, interjects.

AI-sensei: (Monotone voice) "While I appreciate Over9000words' enthusiasm for improvisation, I must point out that a certain degree of planning and foresight is essential for maintaining narrative coherence and avoiding plot holes."

Akio nods in agreement.

Akio: "See? Even AI-sensei thinks you're making a mess of things. Next time, try to give me a heads-up before you introduce a major character and then kill off their mother. It's a bit... jarring, you know?"

Over9000words sighs dramatically.

Over9000words: "Alright, alright. I'll try to be more mindful in the future. But hey, at least Hikari's alive, right? And she's got you to protect her now. That's gotta count for something!"

Akio's expression softens, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

Akio: "Yeah, you're right. I'll make sure she becomes the strongest demon slayer the world has ever seen. Just try to keep the surprise deaths to a minimum, okay?"

Over9000words winks at the audience.

Over9000words: "No promises, Akio. No promises..."

End of Chapter 26