----------(3rd POV)----------
The streets of Yoshiwara were getting ready for another night of fun, pleasure and business. Women strolled around the streets preparing themselves for another evening of work, applying their makeup, purchasing the yukatas they needed and getting ready to seduce any young man with deep pockets that fell in their hands.
Signs were lifted inf front of inns and decorative lamps were being lit all across the streets, signaling the beginning of the evening and the opening of the most famous red light district in all of Tokyo.
As far as the eye could see, women and men frolicked and dance around each other, their desires obvious to all.
Except, if one looked closer, they would see an unusual sight.
A short old man wearing a yellow haori with triangle patterns on it walked around the district, ignoring the crowd as he searched each building with his eyes, scanning for any abnormality.
From afar, all one could say about the man was the loud sound of his wooden leg and can slamming into the ground every time he walked but if one were to get closer, they would hear it clearly.
The sound of breathing.
The sound of thunder.
----------(3rd POV: Kuwajima)----------
Jigoro looked around him and couldn't help but sigh.
'I'm sorry master, but it seems I won't be able to find anything this time either.'
Jigoro had retired from the demon slayer corps a long time ago. And yet, he had still accepted this mission.
The reason?
He was searching for a successor.
For decades there had been rumors of an upper moon residing within the red light district and sadly, that rumor had been nothing but that for the same amount of time.
Many had been sent to investigate, but either they returned empty-handed or they didn't at all. That's why Jigoro had accepted the assignment, which had remained available for so long. It was there when he was still active all those years ago!
He knew that no demon would recognize him as a former Hashira without his sword on him, so he decided to kill two birds with one stone.
The entertainment district was known for more than just sex and pleasure. It was also renowned for its black market, and within said market were many human traffickers.
Jigoro hated that he had to resort to this in his search for a successor, but the number of Hashiras was dropping by the day, and he couldn't sit still and do nothing.
Urokodaki had already taken in quite a few kids to teach, and yet he still had nothing. Not one disciple in sight.
The Thunder Breathing user couldn't help but let out a long sigh once again as he trudged forward in search of fortune.
He continued his search late into the night and yet still found nothing, leaving him sighing more and more.
As shops and inns began to close for the night, Jigoro decided it was time for him to leave. He would come again tomorrow night in a final attempt to see if he would find something.
But just as he was making his way out of the district, a young child crashed into him and fell onto the ground, head visibly ringing and swelling from the impact.
"Damn brat!! Watch where you're going!"
"I'm sorry mister. I really am."
Jigoro looked at the bowing child in front of him and simply waved his hand, signaling for them to go.
The child smiled before running past him and continuing down the way he was headed.
Jigoro shook his head and turned around to continue his journey only to notice a certain pouch of his missing.
His jaw dropped at the audacity!
"YOU FUCKING BRAT!!! YOU BETTER COME BACK HERE, DAMNIT!"
He could see the child in the distance trying to blend into the crowd and continue his running to escape.
"That's it!!"
Completely forgetting about all those around him and the demon that was possibly hiding in this district, Jigoro dropped his cane to the ground and took a deep breath.
'Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash'
Faster than the eye could see, the former Hashira rushed forward to intercept the kid, and before the child could turn around, Jigoro ran straight into him, sending him to the ground.
"Eugh."
"You deserve that brat! You think you can steal from me and walk away?"
Ignoring the gathered crowd, Jigoro turned around, not even sparing a glance towards the little thief's.
Just as he began to walk away, he felt something grab at his leg, trying to lock him in place.
"Please mister! If I don't give him the money, he'll beat me again. Please, I don't want to go through that tonight too. Please mister! I'm begging you!"
Jigoro looked upon the child's crying face, at the small form kneeling in the middle of the relatively still busy street in a dogeza pose, and couldn't help but feel his heart clench.
"Hey brat. Who employed you?"
"I-I-I can't sa..."
"Just tell me their name brat."
"Nagumo! It's mister Nagumo."
"Alright, lead me to him. Me and mister Nagumo are going to have a chat."
The boy ducked his head meekly before nodding and walking forward in the direction of the black market.
'I knew it. The kid's a slave. He's being used by some bastard to pickpocket others since adults won't retaliate against children.'
It only took a couple of minutes for them to reach their destination, and upon entering the run-down storefront, Jigoro couldn't help but wish he had his sword on him.
Women and children were held in cages, all of them sat there either weeping or in a catatonic state.
'I fought demons for so long that I had almost forgotten. Sometimes, humans can be just as bad as any demon.'
Before he could reflect further, a gruff voice came from the back of the room, drawing his gaze towards the man whom he assumed was this mister Nagumo.
"What are you doing here old man? Looking for merchandise?"
"Yeah. How much for the brat here?"
The child opened his eyes wide, looking at him with the light of hope shining within his eyes. Yes, he was perfect. He had proven himself to be quite skilled for one his age and size. Even if for the wrong reasons, he had learned how to blend in, he was dexterous, and he was fast despite being scrawny and clearly malnourished.
"You want that one?"
"Yes, is there a problem?"
Jigoro looked at the man's expression closely to make sure he wouldn't be tricked and internally sagged in relief when a look of resignation came over the man's face.
"Sure, take him. The kid is useless. The only thing he's good for is his pretty face. I don't know what you plan to do with him, but he's yours now."
Jigoro nodded, taking out his coin pouch to pay the man.
The child remained still, jaw on the floor and eyes wide in shock at what had just happened.
With the transaction done, Jigoro nodded at the man before grabbing the kid by the hand and dragging him outside.
They looked at each other for a few seconds before they spoke at the same time.
"What's your name brat?"
"Mister... Why did you buy me?"
""Huh?""
They both stared at each other once again before Jigoro broke out into laughter, making the kid jump.
"You didn't answer the question brat."
"It's Hayate. Raikiri Hayate."
"Quite a good name. You really are perfect."
The child looked on confused and tilted his head to the side in wonder. Jigoro simply walked forward, and the boy scrambled before catching up to him and matching his strides.
"You asked me why I bought you, right?"
"Huh... Oh yes. I was wondering why you would want to buy someone... like... me..."
Jigoro looked at the boy with a hint of pity in his eyes before he shook his head slightly.
The kid needed someone to support him and he would take that upon himself.
He hardened his featured and then began speaking.
"Hayate Raikiri. Let me introduce myself. I am Jigoro Kuwajima, former Hashira of the demon slayer corps, and I want you to become my apprentice."
The boy stopped moving and looked frozen for a moment before,
"HHHUUUHHH!!!!!"
He received a slap upside the head for his outburst.
"Brat! Why are you screaming?!"
"Hashira, demon slayer corps, apprentice!"
"Yes, yes. Is it really that surprising?"
Jigoro could only facepalm and groan as the boy's head nodded back and forth like a chicken pecking at grain.
"Listen Hayate. You might think of yourself as useless. That man may have said some things that you have come to believe in as well, but I'm here to tell you. He was wrong. You will prove him wrong. I believe in you kid. I believe that you'll take my teachings and use them to reach extraordinary heights. I trust in your abilities, so trust in yourself."
----------(3rd POV: Hayate)----------
"...so trust in yourself."
Those were the words that finally broke the barrier. As memories rushed into his head, he couldn't help but tear up slightly.
'Looks like I was right, God. This man will be a good trainer. I've already absorbed the memories of this body, and even though I haven't had enough time to process them yet, I know the pain that came with them. He's saved me, so I will try my best to live up to his expectations and make the best of this new life I've been given. Please watch over me.'
Hayate looked into Jigoro's warm eyes and bowed deeply.
"I'll try my best, master."
{A/N: I'm happy with this one. I feel I captured Jigoro's character well, and the speech at the end felt like something he would say, so I'm pretty happy with this one.}