Consciousness slowly floated up from the deep sea.
Tomioka slowly awoke from his drunken stupor, first feeling the soft and comfortable touch of the bedding beneath him, and a faint, dry scent.
He opened his eyes, and what greeted him was a familiar yet strange tatami ceiling woven from bamboo strips.
It was very quiet around him, unexpectedly quiet.
There was no ceaseless crashing of waves, no slight rocking sensation, nor the clamor from the deck. Only the faint, crisp chirping of birds came from outside the window, one after another, melodious and peaceful.
This is... He propped himself up on his elbows, looking around. It was a simple Japanese-style room, everything exuding a reassuring sense of familiarity.
Had he returned? Or was it just an overly realistic dream?
Just like when he was on that primitive island called Small Garden, he had briefly fallen into a similar illusion. At that time, it was on Fujikasane Mountain, with purple mist, and even his sister and Sabito had appeared... Tomioka didn't dwell on it further, he threw off the covers and stood up, intending to go outside the door to look.
He walked somewhat unsteadily towards the door, took a deep breath, and pulled open the paper-paneled sliding door.
The bright sunlight streamed into the newly renovated courtyard.
The wooden corridor was clean and tidy, with lush mountain forests in the distance and well-tended flowers and plants nearby. The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and plants.
Everything was so real.
Just then, a hurried footsteps came from around the corner of the corridor, and before the person arrived, that familiar voice had already reached him:
"Mr. Giyuu!!!"
A figure quickly rushed over, with crimson hair, scarlet eyes, and that distinct scar.
It was Tanjiro, still as boisterous even in a dream.
"You're finally awake!"
Tanjiro rushed from the corner of the corridor all the way to Tomioka, braking abruptly in front of him, almost colliding. He was slightly out of breath, a smile on his face.
"Mm."
Tomioka responded, he wanted to go outside and see.
He stepped forward, stretched his left shoulder, and yawned, while Tanjiro stayed by his side.
"Are you still getting used to it, Mr. Giyuu?"
Tanjiro's gaze fell on Tomioka's empty right sleeve, his tone filled with careful concern, "Without your right hand, daily life must still be very inconvenient, right? If there's anything you need help with, please don't hesitate!"
"It's fine."
Tomioka replied briefly. He watched Tanjiro looking around, even wanting to reach out and support him as he walked.
He stopped, looked at Tanjiro, and finally explained, "Walking is not affected at all."
"Is that so! Hahahahahaha!" Hearing this, Tanjiro immediately scratched the back of his head and burst into laughter.
Yes, if it was a dream, and he hadn't been drinking, why would walking in a straight line be a problem?
This thought flashed through his mind, as if to prove something, Tomioka deliberately began to walk steadily forward, step by step, aligning his toes with the wooden grain of the corridor floor.
He murmured softly, as if speaking to himself, and also as if speaking to a certain group of pirates.
"Simple."
Tanjiro watched from the side, his smile growing brighter. As he matched Tomioka's pace, he tilted his head and asked with some curiosity:
"How come, Mr. Giyuu, you seem to be... talking a bit more than usual today?"
Is he?
Tomioka paused slightly, he hadn't noticed himself. Perhaps it was from staying in that noisy environment for too long.
But he still denied the thought. If he didn't have to speak, he still preferred not to.
"No."
However, Tanjiro insisted, scratching his head and continuing to laugh, "Yes, yes! It's definitely not my imagination!"
The two walked one after another along the long corridor, towards the open main gate. Sunlight spilled over them, casting long shadows.
Outside the main gate, a figure stood silently.
He wore a red Tengu mask, his tall figure exuding a steady aura of having weathered many storms.
It was his master, Urokodaki Sakonji.
"Master Urokodaki! You're here too!" Tanjiro happily waved at him.
Master Urokodaki's gaze swept over Tanjiro, then to Tomioka, and his usual gentle voice came from behind the mask: "Hmph, I just happened to walk by here."
Is this really a dream?
Or... were those days of rocking on the going merry the dream?
Two completely different senses of reality clashed in his mind, causing a hint of confusion and daze in Tomioka's eyes. He stood rooted to the spot, somewhat unable to distinguish which side was the illusion.
He subconsciously raised his left hand, his gaze falling on his arm. The X mark, branded together in Alabasta, was still there.
It made Tomioka recall the warmth from the palms and backs of their hands when he parted with Vivi; he still remembered that feeling.
"What a cool mark, Mr. Giyuu!" Tanjiro, beside him, also curiously leaned in, staring at the mark on his arm.
What exactly is going on... For now, let's treat this as a dream. Being able to see them at this time... is good.
Tomioka swallowed, took a deep breath, allowing his turbulent thoughts to calm down slightly. Then he stepped a few paces in front of Master Urokodaki and raised his hand.
It felt like... it had been a long time since he had called out like this.
"Master."
"What is it, Tomioka?" Urokodaki's voice came through the mask.
Tomioka raised his only remaining left hand, his gaze fixed on it, "If there are still demons in this world that I need to eradicate, and I only have this left hand..."
"What should I do in this state?"
Although he had been practicing with his left hand on the going merry, constantly adapting to single-arm combat, and the feeling of swinging his sword was gradually returning, the techniques of Water Breathing were fundamentally designed for two hands, and it still felt somewhat different from before.
A scoff came from behind the mask, followed by a merciless hand chop on Tomioka's head.
CRACK!
"You... idiot!"
Tomioka covered the painful spot, looking up with some surprise.
"You are the man who created the Eleventh Form of Water Breathing, the Water Hashira who created Dead Calm."
"And you've awakened your Demon Slayer Mark. In my opinion... you are undoubtedly the strongest Water Hashira of all time. Now you come to me, an old man, with such a question, are you trying to embarrass me?"
"No, this disciple is not."
However, after Urokodaki finished speaking, he picked up a branch from the ground, his voice becoming gentle again: "If you are not satisfied with the current situation, then train more, train more, don't stop. If you can only wield your sword with your left hand, then find more suitable techniques."
"You, you can definitely do it."