Chapter 14: Preparing for a Long Journey
In the days that followed, Kanzaki Akira fell into a steady, disciplined rhythm. Though the First Form of Thunder Breathing remained just beyond his grasp, his mastery over the other forms soared with each passing day. His practice of Total Concentration Breathing deepened, and his physical conditioning grew in tandem.
Meanwhile, the tranquil grounds of the Ubuyashiki Estate were frequently shaken by devastating commotions. For the young sisters, Ubuyashiki Hinaki and Ubuyashiki Nichika, these past weeks had been an education. Their understanding of human limits was being completely shattered.
When they had first met Himejima Gyomei, they had only noted his towering stature, a clear indicator of a man possessing great strength. For a time after that, he had been a quiet presence, arriving daily to study the training manual for Stone Breathing. Aside from his tendency to weep at the slightest provocation, he displayed nothing out of the ordinary.
That all changed half a month later, the day after Akira departed for Mount Momo. With his long-malnourished body finally receiving proper, abundant nutrition, Gyomei's already immense frame grew even more strong.
It was then that the true training began, and with it, a series of feats that left the two sisters utterly stunned.
One day, they might see him performing squats or even jogging while carrying three massive logs strapped to his back, each one thicker than the two girls' waists combined. Another time, he would be shoving a boulder more than two meters in diameter across the training grounds, the stone groaning in protest as it carved a trench in the earth. Perhaps most astonishingly, he would meditate directly beneath a hundred-meter waterfall, its thunderous cascade powerful enough to render an ordinary man unconscious in an instant. For Gyomei, this was merely a way to temper his physique.
What would constitute a fatal accident for any normal person was, for Himejima Gyomei, simply the starting point of his warm-up.
One afternoon, having just concluded his workout, Gyomei was preparing to contemplate the theoretical nuances of Stone Breathing when he heard the soft footsteps of Ubuyashiki Kagaya approaching. He immediately turned and bowed his head respectfully.
"Master." Deep within, Gyomei was filled with a deep gratitude for the man before him. He had yet to contribute anything to the Demon Slayer Corps, yet he had been treated with such generosity for so long.
"Gyomei," Kagaya said, his voice gentle. "A letter has arrived for you from Kanzaki."
"Little Akira?" Gyomei's head lifted in surprise. "Amitabha… I wonder what he wrote." He had been meaning to find the time to write and check on the boy he had watched over for so long, but he hadn't expected Akira to reach out first.
At Gyomei's prompting, Kagaya broke the seal on the envelope and began to read aloud.
The letter was straightforward. Akira reported that his Thunder Breathing training was progressing smoothly; though the First Form still eluded him, he was now proficient in all the other techniques. He added that his Total Concentration Breathing was improving rapidly and that Kuwajima Jigorō was taking excellent care of him. The letter concluded with earnest concern for Gyomei's well-being.
In truth, Akira had sent two letters. The first, addressed to Ubuyashiki Kagaya, was filled with polite, almost formulaic expressions of gratitude, before "incidentally" inquiring about the fate of Kaigaku.
The second was for Gyomei. They had lived together for years, and the gentle giant had cared for him deeply, even saving his life on that terrible night. It was only natural that Akira would write to him as well.
"Amitabha. It is good that he is doing well," Gyomei murmured, pressing his palms together. A quiet warmth spread through his chest, learning that the child he had cared for was thriving.
When it came to a reply, Gyomei, who had never received a formal education, was at a loss for words. He could only offer a simple, heartfelt, "All is well," which Kagaya transcribed for him. Kagaya then penned his own reply to Akira, mirroring the formulaic greetings before "incidentally" confirming that Kaigaku had been dealt with.
Receiving the replies, Akira felt a weight lift from his shoulders. However, when he saw Kagaya's opening pleasantries—a near-perfect copy of his own—a wry smile touched his lips. The revered Master of the Demon Slayer Corps, it seemed, had a rather childish streak.
Then again, Akira mused, the current Ubuyashiki Kagaya was only a few years his senior and even younger than Gyomei. Such a personality wasn't out of place; if anything, it made the distant leader feel more approachable, more human.
From that day on, Akira developed a habit of writing every few days.
His letters to Kagaya always began with the same mock-formal greetings, followed by amusing anecdotes or jokes he had heard. The letters to Gyomei were simpler, filled with updates on his training, well-wishes, and gentle reminders to take care of himself. It wasn't that Akira didn't want to share jokes with Gyomei, but the man's nature was too earnest and serious. He was a dependable older brother one could always rely on, but not the ideal friend for lighthearted banter; he would invariably take every jest with solemn gravity.
Kagaya, in contrast, was someone Akira felt he could treat as a friend.
Gyomei's replies were always a variation of "All is well." Kagaya's, however, maintained the playful charade, matching Akira's formulaic openings before offering his own thoughts on the stories Akira shared, occasionally including a piece of news that didn't breach the privacy of the Corps members.
The days slipped by. The only major event was Gyomei passing that year's Final Selection and officially becoming a swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Shortly after, however, Kagaya complained in a letter that Gyomei's frame was so massive that a standard-issue Nichirin Blade looked like a mere chopstick in his hands. He noted that even the stoic Gyomei had, for the first time, voiced a rare complaint that his weapon felt unsuitable. According to Kagaya, it was the first time he had ever heard a complaining tone from the man.
The subsequent process of choosing a new weapon for Gyomei was a matter of considerable debate. Taking the man's own input into account, it was finally decided that the swordsmiths would forge him a unique set: a broad-headed axe and a spiked flail, connected by a long chain that ran through the axe's handle. This would allow the flail to deliver devastating attacks at medium to long range, while the axe could effectively dispatch any demon that managed to get close.
Reading this, Akira couldn't help but wonder what kind of demon could possibly get close to Gyomei in the first place. From his memories of his past life, he knew that even among the Upper Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki, very few could accomplish such a feat, and those who could were likely smart enough not to try something so thankless.
Once Himejima Gyomei became an official member, the correspondence between him and Akira naturally dwindled. His immense combat power meant he was assigned a constant stream of missions. While he received preferential treatment in pay and rank, his free time vanished. He was constantly traveling, making regular communication nearly impossible.
Akira's letters to Gyomei went from one every few days to roughly one a month. In contrast, his correspondence with Kagaya maintained its frequency, right up until Kuwajima, unable to bear the thought of his student bothering the Master's work so often, restricted him to writing only once a week.
Just like that, time flew by. As winter approached, Akira began preparing for his first solo journey.
"Honestly, it's not even that far…" Akira muttered.
"You have to stay overnight! That's not far?!" Kuwajima Jigorō retorted, his voice sharp. "Just how much farther do you want to go, you little brat?!"
Akira was planning to pay his respects at the grave of Kanzaki Keizan.
After his adoptive grandfather's death, Akira had spent a considerable sum to hire people for a proper burial. The site was on the outskirts of that small town, not far from the temple that had taken him in. From there, it was a simple day trip.
From Mount Momo, however, the journey would take two days even by carriage. The round trip would require him to spend at least three nights away from home. Fortunately, there were villages along the route, so he wouldn't have to sleep in the wilderness.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash."
"Second Form: Inazuma."
"…"
"Sixth Form: Rumble and Flash."
On the day before his departure, Akira stood in the familiar courtyard, flowing through the techniques of Thunder Breathing.
That's right. In just over half a year, he had completely mastered all six forms. He had finally grasped the elusive First Form during the same week Gyomei was participating in the Final Selection. With the explosive speed of Thunderclap and Flash now integrated into his movements, the other forms he had long since perfected became even more powerful, the transitions between them seamless and fluid.
The only thing that left Akira slightly disappointed was the realization that the crackling lightning that appeared around Kuwajima during his demonstrations was, in fact, just a special effect. The true damage came from the Nichirin Blade itself, augmented at most by the sword pressure it generated, which had a limited range.
Whether it was the lightning of Thunder Breathing or the visual phenomena of other Breathing Styles, they were all just illusions—the result of the user's specific breathing pattern causing the surrounding air to connect, combined with the precise movements of their Nichirin Blade.
As for why mere breathing could produce such spectacular effects? Don't ask. The answer was simply that every world operated by its own laws. In a world where demons were real, what was so strange about a fight having a few special effects?
Kuwajima Jigorō sat on the porch, watching Akira's fluid movements and the arcs of lightning that scattered with every slash. His eyes were filled with pride. The Kanzaki Akira of today, despite his lack of real combat experience, was already stronger than many official members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Even so, Kuwajima couldn't help but worry about Akira's solo journey. It wasn't just the danger of encountering a demon; he was also worried the boy would be cheated or taken advantage of. In his eyes, Akira was still just a child, albeit one with prodigious talent in swordsmanship.
But Akira was determined to pay respects to the grandfather who had raised him, and Kuwajima couldn't bring himself to forbid it. Besides, the stubborn brat had been adamant that he didn't want him to come along.
Just thinking about it made Kuwajima's temper flare. So what if his leg was lame? It wasn't like he couldn't walk anymore.
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