Aoki Dojo was vast, the buildings beautiful and luxurious. It looked impressive.
It should have been a thriving dojo.
But Aoki saw it wasn't.
Few people were around. Everyone he saw wore worry, fear, anxiety, distraction. The air felt heavy, stifling.
Akiyama Keisuke, the kind young man, looked embarrassed. He kept his head down, avoided Aoki's eyes.
"Interesting," Aoki thought.
He didn't mind. He followed Keisuke further into the dojo.
Then, a square-faced, stern-looking middle-aged man blocked their path.
"Keisuke, who is this?"
Keisuke spoke quickly. "Master, this is Aomura. He wants to join the dojo. Aomura, this is my master, Mizuno Kengo, head of Aoki Dojo."
Aoki used the name Aomura, to avoid trouble.
Mizuno Kengo's face was serious. "Did you tell him about our problem?"
Aoki's spirits lifted. The drama was starting.
Keisuke stammered, couldn't speak.
Mizuno Kengo didn't scold him. He sighed, turned to Aoki. "Lately, two young women have gone missing from the dojo. The disappearances were strange. Rumors say they were taken by demons.
Think carefully before you join."
"Demons?"
Aoki blinked. Then, he understood.
That was why the people at Aoki Dojo looked so scared.
Why the dojo, so grand, was so empty.
That was the truth.
"I don't care about that," Aoki said, firm.
Keisuke perked up. "It's just a rumor! Aomura, come on. I'll show you your room!"
Mizuno Kengo didn't speak. He turned, walked away. His back looked slumped, burdened.
On the way, Keisuke spoke quietly. "Aomura, I didn't mean to hide anything. Young women have been disappearing in town. There are more lately.
Not just at our dojo. It's happening everywhere."
"People disappear every year? More lately?"
Aoki frowned.
This demon was bold.
Or was it more than one demon?
What about the Demon Slayer Corps? Had they heard nothing?
Keisuke's face clouded. "One of the missing women was my master's daughter. It hit him hard.
If Aoki Dojo falls apart, too... I don't want to think about it."
Aoki asked, "Is that why you were recruiting?"
"I had to try. You're the only one who's joined," Keisuke said. He looked grateful.
Aoki asked, "What's your relationship with your master's daughter?"
Keisuke paused. He was silent for a moment. "We're... engaged."
As he'd guessed.
Aoki wasn't surprised.
Keisuke spoke and acted like he was in charge of the dojo. He couldn't be just a student.
Keisuke showed Aoki to his room, left quickly.
Aoki took off the Sun-Blocking Hat. He looked around his new home.
It was a room on the shady side of the building. Sunlight wouldn't be a problem.
The room was new, clean. It had the basics. It was better than his room on the mountain.
He put his things away, sat in a chair. He thought.
Demons were good for him.
He wanted to keep a low profile. But he wouldn't turn down a meal.
Even if the demon was strong, he could run. He had Space Warp now.
But he worried the disappearances would draw the Demon Slayer Corps.
Getting caught was bad. Getting blamed for eating people? That would be worse!
Aoki made a plan. "Need to find the demon. Kill it."
Besides the demon, there was another problem.
He was broke!
Money didn't matter to most demons.
They didn't buy anything. They couldn't show their faces in public.
But Aoki was different.
He didn't want to hide in the woods. He wanted to live in human society. He needed money.
He had ways to make money.
He could get rich. He could use his knowledge of the future to start a company. He could make a steady living. He was a good hunter.
But those normal jobs weren't right for a demon.
"I'm a demon. I still have to worry about money." Aoki sighed. "If I have to, I'll be a thief. I can look for demons and steal at the same time."
His plan was coming together.
Aoki put on the Sun-Blocking Hat, left.
He checked the dojo. No sign of demons. He'd widen his search.
He walked out. Then, he saw a familiar face.
A girl. Her hands were clasped behind her back. She skipped along, her pink braids bouncing. She walked beside a kind-looking man, smiling. She looked happy.
"She lives nearby?" Aoki wondered.
Mitsuri Kanroji felt a strange gaze. She turned. She saw a figure in a hat.
Aoki nodded to her, walked away.
"Do you know him, Mitsuri?" The kind man looked at Aoki.
Mitsuri blinked. "I saw him this morning, when I helped Dad buy sake."
"He came from Aoki Dojo. He's going to learn martial arts. Aoki Dojo is good. Mizuno is a great fighter. Too bad..."
The man shook his head, sad. He spoke to Mitsuri. "Don't go out alone at night. Not lately."
"I know, Dad!"
Mitsuri nodded. She glanced at Aoki again.
She didn't know why. She just felt there was something different about him.
Late at night...
Aoki sat cross-legged. A low table in front of him. A blue-and-white porcelain bowl sat on the table.
He picked up the Demon Brew Gourd, opened it. The smell of sake filled the air.
He needed to seal the gourd for twelve hours. That was how normal sake became demon sake.
Pour, pour.
Aoki filled the bowl. He lifted it, took a sip.
A smooth, gentle touch. The sharp bite of alcohol. They flooded his mind.
Aoki's face went blank for a moment.
---
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