After dropping the unconcious Shinobu back to her home to get her injuries treated, Giyuu knows he can never show his face to her again. She saw everything. That he singlehandedly (no pun intended) took out an Upper Moon, the second strongest one at that.
'She's going to find out that I broke my sword..!' Giyuu panicked as he made his way to Urokodaki's place. Now with all the lies he cooked up, he has to come up with another one for his master.
He doesn't enjoy lying very much, but he did find out that he's pretty talented with it so far.
Collecting his thoughts as he reached the foot of the mountain, he remembered Doma's information about the castle. Pausing, the idea of storming the place entered his mind. 'If I assaulted the place on my own and destroy all of them... Then no one has to die.'
A chill went up his spine as he remembered Shinobu's battered body. Although she didn't suffer anything serious, it still bothered him.
It comes with the job, seeing corpses and gory injuries, but it doesn't mean it gets easier.
The people who die have families, have dreams and stories of their own, only to be cut short by the demons.
Giyuu's eyes widened, if he can destroy Muzan and his castle, no one has to suffer ever again.
'Finally, a world without demons. What will happen once that ideal was reached?' Giyuu remembered sternly telling Shinobu that their duties as Pillars comes first. But the day where the Corps can be disbanded means that their positions would be meaningless. Does that mean they can live normal lives?
'What do I even want once everything is over?' he wondered. 'A family?' he hates to admit it but he doesn't see another purpose for his life once the demons are extinct. Giyuu smiled to himself, he will make sure to find it.
He walked to the direction of the Infinity Castle.
'Wait!' he stopped in his tracks, and wondered that if he killed Muzan in a haste, just what would happen to Nezuko? Will she perish along with the other demons? Or would she be cured?
Giyuu stopped in his tracks, he cared so much for her. 'I won't gamble her safety.'
He decided that he can trust Ubuyashiki, with the desire to ask if the man was aware of a cure. Giyuu sighed, he won't be taking his sword anytime soon.
.
.
Shinobu felt immense pain on her body. Its been a while since she was the one on the receiving end of her own medicines.
"Aoi, is Tomioka-san okay?" she asked tiredly while her assistant handed her the medicine.
"Yes, Kochou-sama. However..."
"... However what?"
"He told me that he doesn't want to see you again."
Its true, Giyuu did say that. But for a different reason than she thought. Shinobu sadly smiled, confused and annoyed 'After all that, he decided to hate me now..?'
As Aoi left, Shinobu started to cry, the medicine causing her to be emotional 'Why?! What did I do? What happened?' she thought that it was so unfair. She had so many things she wanted to ask, yet he's just gonna leave her in the dark.
Him, who helped her achieve her dream. Her dream that would have cost her her own life. He saved her, in more ways than one. He freed her.
Come to think of it, how did he even beat Upper Moon 2 with just his fist? Shinobu wiped her eyes and frowned. Has Giyuu been this strong all this time? She had so many questions but he is just cruel enough to cut her off. 'This is why no one likes you, you idiot..!'
At first, Giyuu only planned on avoiding Shinobu because he actually can't be bothered to endure her bullying once she inevitably finds out he broke his sword. That, and he's afraid of her asking about his power.
But now, he decided on disappearing from everyone's lives for as long as Muzan is alive. He doesn't want to worry the Kamado siblings and his Master Urokodaki. He knows that those are the only people who care enough to stop him anyways.
'Huh. I guess being disliked isn't so bad after all.' Giyuu smiled to himself.
"WHERE ARE WE GOING?"
Giyuu looked at his old crow, Kanzaburo.
He needs to write a letter for when either Tanjiro or Urokodaki searches for him. He sat down for a moment and wrote a letter.
"I have defeated Upper Moon 2. He told me where Kibutsuji Muzan is, and I'll be paying that castle a visit."
Finally, he doesn't have to lie this time. He gave it to his crow.
"Deliver this to my house. And please don't come and find me, it'll be too dangerous for you."
"YOU GOT IT. AAAAAA-"
Giyuu got up and decided to dash to Ubuyashiki residence.
. .
It was noon. Giyuu knows it would be impolite to visit the Master unannounced but he believed that the sooner he can get on with his quest, the better.
"Tomioka-sama! What pleasure, for you to bestow as a visit!" a kakushi bowed. Giyuu nodded and requested an urgent permission to speak with Kagaya.
It was granted.
"Good day, Giyuu. Would you like to come in for tea?" Kagaya offered.
Giyuu bowed before nodding.
Now that they are somewhere private.
"What brings you by?" Kagaya asked as he poured him a cup. Giyuu politely accepted the cup "Master. The angel the town from up north had been spreading rumors about..."
Kagaya simply smiled "Is you, am I right?"
Giyuu's eyes widened but he nodded either way.
"I figured. The previous meeting we had, there was something different about you. But I played along as I feel like you won't enjoy the attention it would potentially bring if I revealed it." Kagaya said.
Giyuu bowed politely out of admiration. He held Kagaya in such a high regard, that Giyuu thinks Kagaya had more wisdom than three thousand Hashibira Inosukes combined.
"Upper Moon 2 told me where Kibutsuji Muzan is hiding." Giyuu said, shocking Kagaya.
"He did..? That's a heavy news. We-"
"No, master. I, will storm the place." Giyuu emphasized on "I"
But before Kagaya could reply, he continued "I have acquired power that could potentially surpass the demon king. It is my responsibility to defeat him on my own."
"On your own? I apologize, Giyuu, but I will not let you put yourself in danger." Kagaya replied.
"Master. You don't understand the extent of the power I have acquired. I don't understand it as well, but I know I need to do this on my own, so no one else has to die." Giyuu said.
"Giyuu, my child..." Kagaya sighed. "... This is a difficult decision to make. And I admire your courage to even think of fighting them alone."
"Master, what must I do to convince you?" Giyuu asked before gasping as an idea popped in his head.
. . .
"What a beautiful day to stroll around the lake." Kagaya mused as he held an umbrella. Giyuu insisted on bringing him here. Kagaya, thinking that it would be nice to bring Kiriya along with 3 kakushis for a small picnic.
"Master, I have brought you here so I can show and hopefully convince you that I can take care of myself." Giyuu said as he removed his haori.
"Giyuu, I am still worried about your decision."
"Master, please watch me." Giyuu said before turning to scour the lake. It was a somewhat large lake. What Giyuu had in mind is to make a large wave from the middle of the lake, flowing to two different directions to showcase his power.
So he crouched down and put both his palms underwater facing up, and fished it out as fast he can.
What happens next, exceeded his expectation and imagination.
"By the Gods..!" Kagaya said in awe. The kakushis squealed in amazement at the display.
"AAAAAHH! IS THAT REAL?!" A kakushi screamed. Kiriya simply stared in amusement.
Giyuu, once again, was surprised by his own abilities.
He parted the lake in half (like Moses and the Red Sea)
The lake bed was completely dry in the middle for a few seconds before the lake turns back to normal.
"My eyes doesn't deceive me, that was the most amazing thing I have ever witness..!" Kagaya told Giyuu, to which he bowed in embarrassment.
"PLEASE TOMIOKA-SAMA, DO IT AGAIN!" A female kakushi requested, causing her colleagues to look at her. .
About an hour later back in Ubuyashiki residence.
"So the stories are true then? You can break a house in to splinters in a single punch?" Kagaya asked, somewhat hyped up from what he just witnessed. "Yes, master. I also appear to be capable of clearing the rain and clouds with a single punch directed to the sky." Giyuu answered.
"What immense power..! And you also managed to receive Upper Moon 2's attacks without any harm?"
Giyuu nods.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya thought about it for awhile before finally granting Giyuu the permission to embark on the mission all by himself.
"Master, can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"If I defeat Muzan, will Kamado Nezuko return to normal on her own..? Or will he perish along with the others?" Giyuu asked. "I believe that the only demons that would perish are the ones who are under Muzan's curse, because it is some sort of a hive mind. And I also believe that Tamayo told me that curing and turning a demon back in to a human is possible without having to take anything from Muzan." Kagaya answered.
Of course, Tamayo. How can Giyuu forget about her? Tanjiro told Giyuu about another kind demon named Tamayo and her less kind assistant Yushiro who are free from Muzan's will.
With that in mind. There's no reason for Giyuu to hesitate exterminating the castle.
"She was actually planning on a project, creating a poison that is lethal enough to negate Kibutsuji Muzan's abilities with Shinobu. But I'll be sure to tell her to prioritize Kamado Nezuko's cure instead."
Kagaya said before staring at Giyuu "I have faith in you, Giyuu. But please, do not hesitate to call for help when you need it."
"Yes master. I won't let you down. Please don't tell anyone about my whereabouts however, specially Kochou." Giyuu requested.
"Hm? May I ask why her specially?"
"She... She'll never let me hear the end of it when she finds out I snapped my sword in half."
Kagaya chuckled, Giyuu can't help but smile as a response.
"Of course, my child. Your secret is safe with me."
. .
As he exited the residence, he encountered Rengoku.
"Hmm? Hey, Tomioka! How's it going?!" Kyojuro greeted. "... Everything's fine. You?" Giyuu only asked back as to not be rude, but he would rather be on his way right now.
"Everything's great! I had a successful mission! I'm about to report to the master before I celebrate! Wanna come with?" Rengoku offered.
'Oh no.' Giyuu, who is aloof but too nice to decline, specially from someone as friendly as Rengoku, agreed. "Sure..."
"Alright! Wait for me, I just have to tell master the results!"
As Giyuu waited, he wondered why would Kyojuro ask him to celebrate. He then just realized that Kyojuro is just a very friendly man. He's like an older version of Tanjiro in that regard.
'Wait, then that means some people don't dislike me..!' he thought.
"Ah there you are! Thanks for waiting! I know a tavern that serves good food and sake, lets go!" Kyojuro said before leading the way.
Both of them didn't say a word to eachother on the way to the tavern.
As they went in and had their seats, Kyojuro offered to pay for Giyuu's meal, to which he politely declined.
Before realizing he left his wallet back in his house.
"Relax, Tomioka! I insist!" Kyojuro insisted. Giyuu felt his stomach churn, sometimes he can't believe someone can be as kind as this man.
Kyojuro then proceeded to talk about the success in his mission as they ate, with Giyuu humming and answering whenever asked a yes or no question. "Its okay, I know that you don't like speaking, you don't have to reply." Kyojuro said. "No, I'm sorry. It feels like its impolite for me to not reply." Giyuu replied.
"Oh, by the way Tomioka. The demon I just had slain told me that there is an uproar in their demonic community yesterday because the Upper Moon 2 was killed." Kyojuro said before swallowing, now that his mouth wasn't full anymore, he continued "Can you believe it? Someone killed Upper Moon 2 without even notifying the corps! Master also confirmed if! What do you think it could be..?"
"I... It must be the angel that the villagers had been talking about." Giyuu muttered, uncomfortable that the question is too close for comfort.
"Huh, by the way, have you found out anything about that angel?" Kyojuro asked.
"Uhh... Nothing significant." Giyuu answered.
Kyojuro noticed that Giyuu seemed shifty "You seem uncomfortable, Tomioka. You don't like the food?"
"I do, its delicious actually. I just... Wondered why you brought me here." Giyuu mumbled.
"... Oh! Well we're pillars! Any demon slayer is a friend of mine! We are friends, right?"
"I guess..? Its just that..." Giyuu stopped himself.
"Hm? Just what?"
"Nevermind, forget I said something."
"Oh come on! You can tell me!" Kyojuro gave him a bright grin.
Giyuu sighed "Its just that I was under the impression that you and the others hated me."
Kyojuro's smile disappeared "What nonsense! Obanai and Shinazugawa maybe disliked you. But not me and the others! We just wish you would open up more however."
"Huh? But Kochou said..."
"Kochou? Well out of all of us, she is probably the one that likes you the most! She never stops trying to get you to open up despite you being so cold! Don't believe what she says, she's just being mischievious." Kyojuro dismissed his concerns offhandedly.
"Ahh, I see." .
. .
"Thanks for the company, Tomioka!"
"Thanks for the food, Rengoku."
"You should join us sometimes!" Kyojuro waved as he walked the other way. Giyuu waved back before thinking 'I should have just used my speed to return back home and pay for my own...'
Giyuu had a great time. He's been alone for so long that he forgot what it was like to hang out with a friend. And even though he only mostly listened, he still had fun interacting with his newfound friend.
"What was I doing again..?" he asked outloud as he stepped aside the busy street.
Oh, right. The infinity castle.
Night came as Giyuu tried to follow Doma's directions at a moderate speed.
He was in a place he hasn't been to before, so he was a bit cautious. The vegetation keeps getting thicker and thicker and the sea of trees are getting deeper and deeper.
Tripping on a wire, a log smashed to Giyuu. To which it got destroyed upon impact.
"Traps." he notes.
The birds slowly stopped chirping, and the trees slowly blocked the moonlight.
'Come to think of it, I don't even know what it looks like.' Giyuu wondered if he was lost, had Upper Moon 2 gave him false information just to mess with him one last time?
He saw a castle from a distance.
'This must be it!' he thought, leaping to the walls, ready to fight.
But upon closer inspection, it was just an abandoned run down castle.
Unkempt, dusty and with its foundations crumbling. And no signs of life.
Giyuu put his fists down and sighed. Doma did deceived him.
'I was so naive to even believe anything that scumbag says.'
"You must be the one who ended him."
Giyuu immediately turned to the voice.
Upper Moon, Rank 4 (Promoted)
G̴̤̻̮̬̥̱̜̜̖̤̙͕̈̚y̸̧̤͎̝̮̫͎͚͌͆̒͛̿̓́̉̊̑͋̚ǫ̶̣͙͚͍̗̜̗̩̮̫̪̘̾̈̾̓̄̀̋̿̈́ͅͅk̷̙̺͉̹̠̭̗̣̳͍̮̪̬͈̚k̷̜͍̠͕͖͍͔̣̗̏̾̐͒͛̎̉͂͊͂͆̀͘ͅǫ̶̓̍̚͝
Upper Moon, Rank 3 (Promoted)
Ḩ̷̠̭̯̠͇̭̗̥̹̤͙̻̻̻̄͒̅̅̓̽̀͂̕͝a̴̧̡̡͚̤̝̫͔͖̞̟̔̑͜͜ṭ̴̨̢̳̭̪̝̗̤̹̾͐̿̃͑͗̂̂̋̓̾̀͗̚ȩ̷̢̞̼̙͚͙̪̩͍̙̬̗͊̉̇̄͊̌̆͆̎̕͘n̶̛̹͓͉̥̭͓̫͉̻̥͍̟͙̆͛͒̋̏͂̚̕͜͠g̸̨̧̳̬̲̱̾̏̈́̆͐̄̍̅͑̂ͅŭ̷̡̡̳̠̝̪̖̭̥̳̉̈́̋̐̊̆̐́͘̚͘ ̶̨̪̝̝͚͔̭͖̪͙̯̮̳͖͙͐̆̒͛͑̑̑̒̉̀̏͒͘
"If he is the one who killed Doma... Then are you sure we should-"
"GROW A SPINE, HATENGU. EARN YOUR RANK."
Giyuu frowned and watch Upper Moon 3 get scolded by the one with the lower rank.
With two punches in rapid succession, he easily slain and added two more Upper Moons under his mantle. Leaving a giant hole in to where the two demons used to stand.
Sighing before returning his attention at the old castle in front of him with disappointment.
Giyuu then facepalmed 'I should have asked them about the infinity castle's whereabouts before I...'
...
Muzan frowned as he realized that two of his Upper Moons died once more. "Just who in the hell is doing this?"
He didn't even bother planning on replacing his vacant Upper Moon ranks, thinking it would be useless to do so.
His plan however, involved on gathering the demons from every corner of Japan and donating a hefty amount of blood.
'To hell with the hierarchy. As long as I stand on top.' Muzan thought. He knows its time to disband the Lower Moon ranks, as he had enough blood to turn all the bottom of the barrel demons in to Lower Moons.
Once he gathered them all however, only then would he lure this entity to his domain.
..
'I can't just return home empty handed...' Giyuu decided to take it upon himself to hunt down every demon he can so that he can force Muzan to appear. 'I'll head in to town to buy a map first thing in the morning.' he thought as he would like to take the time to enjoy the night sky. Bored of being at bedrest all day, Shinobu decided to write a letter to Giyuu.
"Tomioka-san. I need to speak with you regarding your victory towards the Upper Moon 2. Did my eyes deceive me? Was I having a dying dream? Or did I witness a miracle by your hands? I need answers. Please, come see me."
And so she sent her crow to deliver the message.
..
The next day, Giyuu laid the map down in front of him and decided on marking his current destination. He was planning on moving from city to city in an attempt to kill as many demons as he possibly can.
And so his hunt begins.
.
A few days has passed.
Urokodaki has never received another letter from his student, and it filled him with worry. He sent a couple of letters to ask about his wellbeing, but none of them were answered. He sent Tanjiro a letter, and the boy said that its been a few days since he saw Giyuu.
.
.
Shinobu, who was almost fully healed, didn't really expect any reply from Giyuu. 'I guess we'll just have to do this the hard way, Tomioka-san.' she thought, preparing to visit him once more.
She visited him once, during a festival where she forced him to leave his house. And now she's back here again.
"No sign of Tomioka-san, I see." Shinobu mused as she didn't even bother knocking. Letting herself in, she noticed that his crow was here, taking a nap.
Shinobu saw her untouched letter. And she saw Giyuu's that was meant for Tanjiro/Urokodaki.
It was blunt and direct to the point. "Is he suicidal?! What is he thinking?" Shinobu yelled crumpling the paper.
"Kanzaburo! Where is Tomioka-san?!" Shinobu asked the crow, startling it.
"I DON'T KNOW, HE TOLD ME TO NOT FOLLOW HIM!"
"Crap. I must let Master Ubuyashiki know about this..!" Shinobu said, taking her leave.
.
.
.
5 demons killed in three days. He managed to explore the other parts of the countryside, and it was breathtaking.
However, the demons he killed slowly and surely led him away from the countryside.
Giyuu is slowly getting closer and closer to the big city, where the corps is becoming less and less known.
He wasn't a total countryboy like Tanjiro, but he's not used to the bright lights, huge buildings and large amount of people.
"Hey you, handsome looking man."
Giyuu didn't look until his shoulders were tapped by a foreign looking man.
"Want to give pachinko a try?"
"Pa... Chinko?" Giyuu asked.
"Yeah! With just a small fee of investment, you have the potential to earn 10 times as your initial bet!"
To play pachinko, players get a number of metal balls by inserting cash or cards directly into the machine they want to use. They then shoot the balls into the machine.
The player has a chance to get more balls if a launched ball lands in one of certain places as it falls. Having more balls is considered a benefit because it allows the player to remain in the game longer, and ultimately creates a larger winning chance.
Seeing as the man look liked he needed the money, Giyuu sighed and gave it a shot.
And it was addicting.
Giyuu can't seem to have enough. The highest he had was 36 metal balls, but his growing greed and dying luck reduced it to 12.
Giyuu wiped a sweat from his forehead, realizing he was there for three hours. But before he can ask how to convert the balls to money, a trio of rough looking men barged past him and proceeded to extort the pachinko machine owner.
"Come on, Choi. Its time to pay your dues again." the tall one said. "Please! I need to feed my kid!" Choi replied.
"You damn korean, flying over to our country just to take money from us." the fat one sneered. "And women too, what's yer wife's name again? Yoko, was it? I have an idea, why won't you let her fix your debt for you by... Hehe, you know." the short one smiled dumbly.
Giyuu noticed that one of them had their pinky cut off.
"No, please give me a few more days-"
"I heard that excuse enough to last me a lifetime, boy." the tall one said before the fat one punched Choi in the stomach.
Giyuu immediately intervened "Excuse me. How much does he owe you?"
"Hahh? And who are you?"
"Someone that could potentially absolve his debt. Please, let me help." Giyuu inquired. "Well well well! We have a good samaritan over here. Lets see, he owed us 5000 yen." the tall one laughed.
"No, no, I think it was 7000 yen, boss." the small one chuckled.
Choi then shook his head at Giyuu, silently pleading him to leave.
The three's laughter disappeared as Giyuu was holding up 7000 yen.
"What the..?"
"That should be enough, right?" Giyuu asked. "Oh ho! More than..." the fat one said before trying to snatch it away. Giyuu however, withdrew it "May I ask why did he borrow such amount of money from you?"
"This bastard..!" the fat one snarled.
"Borrow? He didn't borrow nothing! That was his protection fee." the tall one explained.
"Huh? Protection from what?" Giyuu asked.
"Please sir, I will pay you first thing three days from now! This gentleman must not know what he's-" Choi attempted to save Giyuu from dealing with them but he was swatted away by the short one.
"Protection from me, and the Yama group. Asshole." the tall one menacingly said.
There was a pause.
"... Why?" Giyuu innocently asked.
The fat one and the short one proceeded to grab Giyuu's arms to make him stay in place. The tall one sighed before smirking menacingly once more in an attempt to intimidate.
"Well you see, kid. I become a bit of a demon whenever I don't receive any money from these people who dare start their business on my turf." the tall one cracked his knuckles.
"A demon? Did you just say you're a demon?" Giyuu asked with interest in his voice.
"Yeah. Figuratively. Moron."
"Oh."
The tall man proceeded punched Giyuu's cheek...
Only to break his own fist.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!"
"B-Boss!" his two stooges lets go of Giyuu to attend to their leader.
The boss told Giyuu that their conflict is not over, and that he would make Giyuu pay for trying to be a hero, to which Giyuu replied "... But I already tried to pay, you're the one who assaulted me."
The crowd stared at the three "fearsome" men, who they previously made way for.
"Sir!" Choi called Giyuu.
"Sir, I am grateful and all, but do you have any idea what you've just did?"
Giyuu shrugged as his answer.
"Those are the yakuzas! They are capable of evil that makes you question if they even have humanity left in them! And they just added you on their hit list..!"
"Oh. I guess I better follow them then." Giyuu said.
"W-What?! Sir, have you lost your mind..?" Choi asked in horror.
"They threatened me. I can't have them try to attack me on a time when I least expect it. I better deal with them soon." even though Giyuu knows they'd just be a nuisance if they did decide to ambush him, he still can't leave knowing that the yakuza might return for Choi and the other people who can't defend themselves.
Giyuu then walked to the direction of the retreating yakuza.
"NO! I can't just sit back and watch the man kind enough to save me throw his life away!" Choi yelled as he latched himself to Giyuu's foot.
"Sir, it would be dangerous if you..." Giyuu thought about it. "Nevermind, I guess you can come with me."
...
"Damn that weird wolf haired bastard..!" the tall man snarled. "We can put ice on it to reduce the swelling, boss!" the fat one declared.
"H-He's following us?!" the short man said after glancing behind him. Seeing the strange man and Choi clinging on his leg as he effortlessly walk towards them.
"H-Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" the fat man yelled. Giyuu did not respond, slowing down his pace so he can match theirs.
"What the..?" the tall man stopped, his subordinates followed suit.
Giyuu awkwardly stopped as well, waiting for them to continue.
"Choi, what's the meaning of this?" the tall man asked, still holding on to his own broken hand.
"I have no idea as well!" the korean man replied.
Giyuu's empty stare intimidated the two underlings, but the tall man smirked "Well if he is too keen on following us, why don't we give him a Yama style welcome, eh boys?"
"Y-Yeah!"
"Just you wait, punk. We're gonna skin you alive..!"
...
Yama headquarters.
"Waahh! I can't believe you followed them all the way through here!" Choi yelped before letting go.
'Huh, there are lots of them.' Giyuu stared at the crowd of mean looking tattoo ridden men with short swords and wooden ones. One even has a sai.
"You got balls to follow me to my place, boy..." The tall man said as he wore four thick steel rings for each of his fingers except the thumb on his right hand.
Giyuu raised his hand. Causing confusion.
"Is this everyone?" he asked.
The gang members stared at eachother before laughing. The building being filled with laughter.
"Yes, yes it is." the fat man said.
"Good. Then I would like to tell each and everyone of you to change your ways. Stop harrassing people trying to make an honest living like Choi-san." Giyuu requested.
There was a pause, and then the laughter returned once more. As the laughter died down, they proceeded to draw their weapons and move towards Giyuu and Choi.
Giyuu's eyes widened as he felt nervous.
'Oh no... What if I accidentally kill them..?'
"Finally feeling scared, boy?" the taunted. "Lets cut him a thousand times!" one of them said.
Giyuu closed his eyes and focused. 'Concentrate on your breathing, control your strength output.'
"Stabby stab!" the first one tried to puncture Giyuu with his short sword, but Giyuu grabbed his arm and tossed him away like paper, causing the rest to pause.
Giyuu opened his eyes and asked in worry "Are you okay?"
"...Y-Yeah, I'm fine." the man weakly replied.
'Maybe I can get them to back down without hurting them...' he pondered, trying to think of something.
.
A few minutes later.
.
"I, Yamaboko Tontarou swear on my life that we won't be performing any criminal acts from this day forward!" the tall man bowed, his followers followed his example and yelled "Osu!" in unison.
"I'm glad to hear that. I'm sorry for the roof." Giyuu apologized.
The solution he acted upon is to simply raise his fist and blow out the ceiling and roof from the force of his punch, which is enough to make the Yama group submit.
Choi can only watch in disbelief as the mysterious man not only stood up for him, but did the impossible: a superhuman feat of strength, and taming the wild yakuza group.
"S-Sir, may you tell me your name?" the korean man asked.
"Hmm? Tomioka."
"Tomioka-samaaaa!"
"We're at your service, Tomioka-sama!"
"Uh, no. Just stop being criminals, that's all I ask for-" Giyuu tried to decline.
"Let us perform community service for tomorrow and follow Tomioka-sama's good example!"
"OSU!"
..
Giyuu returned back to the busy part of town, somewhat amused at the bizarre day he just experienced.
"I can't express how grateful I am, Tomioka-san." Choi said. "Its nothing really..." he replied before continuing "However, you shouldn't let people step over you like that, no matter how stronger they seem to be."
Choi stared at him, intent on listening.
"If begging and groveling works, then those men would be using that strategy to extort money." Giyuu absent mindedly lectured "Be strong. And protect those who can't protect themselves."
"... Will do, Tomioka-san."
The korean man bowed one last time before parting ways with Giyuu. It was eerily similar to what he lectured Tanjiro during one of their discussions. He wondered what him and Nezuko are up to right now.
...
It was rare for a Pillar to request for a meeting, because they only see that Kagaya is the only one with authority to call upon one.
However, rules be damned. Shinobu requested a Pillar meeting and it was immediately granted.
"Oi, one of the kakushis told me that one of you requested this meeting. That's very disrespectful for Master." Obanai started. "Ahh! Well its not me!" Mitsuri said.
Kagaya arrived, and the pillars bowed while greeting him.
"Shinobu, will you tell us why you requested this meeting?" Kagaya asked but he already knew the reason.
The pillars glanced at her.
"Master, I have found this message in Tomioka-san's house." she held out the letter.
"I have witnessed him singlehandedly defeat Upper Moon Rank 2 with my own eyes." Shinobu declared, causing gasps from the other pillars.
"Tomioka did what..?"
"He defeated Upper Moon 2?"
"Atta boy!"
"I understand if its difficult to believe as I had a hard time believing it myself, but you can ask the villagers south of his home as reference. However!" Shinobu continued
"He... He declared that he will go after Kibutsuji Muzan alone!"
"That was so flamboyant of him!"
"I- I don't know if he got cocky after winning, but Master we should do something about it! We can't just let him go on a suicide mission on his own! Specially since he doesn't even have your permission!" Shinobu said.
"Tomioka violating the rules, is there anything new?" Obanai mumbled.
"I can't believe he... Upper Moon 2. Kanae..." Sanemi muttered under his breath.
"His courage is inspiring." Gyomei states. "Fabulously flamboyant! Hands down!" Uzui exclaimed.
"But he told me that the Upper Moon 2's demise was caused by the angel..." Kyojuro muttered before realizing "OH! HE IS THE ANGEL!"
"Eh? That sounds adorable!" Mitsuri said.
"T-This is not the time to joke about it! He's in danger!" Shinobu blushed at the thought of Giyuu being her angel.
Kagaya cleared his throat, catching their attention.
"Shinobu. Giyuu did not break any rules..."
"... What do you mean, master?"
"I did gave him permission." Kagaya said, much to the shock of the pillars.
"But master! Tomioka-san might..!" Shinobu stopped.
"My children, you know that I will never gamble your life away if I am uncertain. So sending him on his own was not a gamble, and not a risk." Kagaya sat upright "I have complete faith that Tomioka Giyuu will follow through."
"B-But master..." Sanemi tried to protest but he doesn't really have much to say. He was still dumbstruck about the revelation.
"How did he know about Muzan's location?" Gyomei asked.
"He told me that Upper Moon 2 revealed it to him." Kagaya said. "He did... But I was too weak to catch what they're saying." Shinobu said, somewhat disappointed yet more curious than ever.
...
'Do demons even thrive in the big city?' Giyuu asked himself as he wandered through the crowded streets full of theaters, restaurants and taverns. He then remembered Tanjiro's story of encountering Muzan in the city, Giyuu can't afford to let his guard down.
He wondered why the amount of women seem to have increased as he entered this part of town however.
Now entering Red Light District.