Sanemi stepped forward, his posture aggressive, his voice a sharp blade. "You're either insane or so full of yourself that you think playing with the sun is no big deal. Do you even understand what kind of chaos that could have caused?"
I met his glare, but instead of rising to his anger, I sighed. If it were anyone else speaking to me like this, I might have put my fist in their mouth and left them in a pool of their own blood. But this was Sanemi. Knowing his backstory, I couldn't even muster annoyance, let alone anger.
Sanemi had lost his family to demons as a child, a tragedy that had shaped the man he was now. After that, Ubuyashiki and the Demon Slayer Corps had become his family, the anchor that kept him tethered to a purpose. And now here I was—an outsider with powers unknown to them, abilities that placed me leagues above everyone in this room. To Sanemi, I was a walking threat, not just to him but to the people he considered his new family.
I couldn't fault him for being wary. He'd experienced far too much pain for someone his age, though that was a common thread for everyone here.
"I do understand," I said, keeping my voice calm and even. "But the fight with Akaza was so exhilarating that, for a moment, I forgot about the consequences. You can't blame me for getting caught up in the thrill." My tone was light, almost teasing, though the words carried a deeper weight.
Sanemi's expression darkened further, his anger bubbling to the surface like magma. "You forgot the consequences?" he spat, his voice rising sharply. "Do you hear yourself right now? Do you even have a shred of responsibility in that arrogant head of yours?"
I shrugged lightly, unfazed by his outburst. "Responsibility? Sure, I have that. But sometimes, when you're in the middle of something exhilarating—like a fight that pushes you to your limits—it's easy to get caught up in the moment. I'm sure you've experienced that too, Sanemi. I mean, isn't that what keeps you going? The thrill of battle, the rush of giving it your all?"
Sanemi's hands curled into fists, and his jaw tightened. He looked ready to explode, but before he could speak, I added, "And hey, let's not forget—I did kill an Upper Moon. That's a win, isn't it?"
The room was silent for a moment, tension thick in the air. The other Hashira exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from concern to curiosity. Sanemi opened his mouth, likely to deliver another scathing remark, but I cut him off with a sigh.
"Fine," I said, my tone shifting to something more serious. "How about this—I'll heal Ubuyashiki's disease. Consider it my way of making up for 'playing with the natural cycle,' as you put it."
The room froze, and all eyes turned to me. Even Sanemi seemed momentarily stunned into silence. Ubuyashiki himself raised an eyebrow, his serene demeanor unchanged but his curiosity evident.
"You... can heal Ubuyashiki-sama?" Shinobu asked, her voice cautious but tinged with hope.
I nodded, meeting Ubuyashiki's calm gaze. "Yes. I have the means to heal him, to rid him of the illness that's been plaguing him. It's not beyond my capabilities."
Ubuyashiki's smile remained gentle, though there was a glimmer of interest in his eyes. "That is a generous offer, Alex. But such a cure surely comes at a cost, does it not?"
"Everything has a cost," I admitted, "but it's not one you need to worry about. The price is mine to bear."
Sanemi's anger flared again, though this time it was mixed with confusion and suspicion. "Why would you offer something like that? What's in it for you?"
I gave him a half-smile, leaning back slightly. "What's in it for me? Peace of mind, I suppose. Healing Ubuyashiki would remove one of the many obstacles weighing down this war effort. Besides, I don't like seeing good people suffer unnecessarily."
"How noble of you," Sanemi said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "But why should we trust you? You waltz in here with your overpowered magic and cryptic attitude, and now you're claiming you can cure a disease even our best healers can't touch? Sounds too good to be true."
"I get it," I said, my tone steady. "You don't trust me. That's fine. But whether you trust me or not doesn't change the fact that I can do this."
Tengen, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up, his voice light but curious. "Well, if he can actually pull it off, it would be a game-changer. Ubuyashiki-sama's health has been a constant concern. If Alex can fix that, maybe it's worth giving him a shot."
"That's assuming he's telling the truth," Obanai said, his skeptical gaze fixed on me.
"Obanai, I don't need to tell a lie for something as insignificant as this." I said.
~~~
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