Ruby was killing Demons trying to use a form she had thought of for her own Breathing Style but resulted in unnecessary destruction as she unintentionally had cut a tree in half.

Ruby: *Grumble* Ok, let's try this one more time.

She calmed her mind as another Demon went forward to her.

Ruby: 'Total Concentration: Inferno Breathing.'

She got into a stance not exactly as if holding a sword, but almost akin to a scythe.

Ruby: 'Flame Blitz.'

She blinked out of the Demon's sight as it felt it's head roll off of his shoulders.

Ruby: WOAH WOAH WOAH!!

Ruby ended in front of a tree slicing it in half like the other before throwing her hands up in frustration.

Ruby: Ugh!!! I've had it up to here his this thing!!! At this point it doesn't even have to be Crescent Rose!! I'll be happy using any scythe at this point!!

She sheathed her sword a crossed her arms.

Ruby: The worse part is that the week is almost over and I haven't even seen Ryu anywhere!!!

???: You call?

She turned around and was faced by an upside down Ryu hanging from a tree branch.

Ruby: AHH!!!!

She fell backwards before getting right back up.

Ruby: Where the heck have you been?!!

Ryu: Ehh I've mostly just been fooling around. I was actually around you for 3 days. I was wondering how long it'd take you to notice me or say my name out loud.

Ruby: ... Why?

Ryu: Eh I've slain most of the Demons in the forest already. I'm pretty bored as it is.

Ruby: Wait what? I killed at least 10 of them. What about you?

Ryu: I honestly just stopped counting at 120.

Ruby: Overkill much?

Ryu: There's no kill quite like overkill. Also, check it out.

He pointed into the air seeing the sun was rising.

Ruby: Yay the sun's up!! That means we passed and soon I can get rid of this thing!!

Ryu: What, is a sword not your style?

Ruby: I prefer scythes and guns!

Ryu: Well you're gonna have to stick with scythes cause there isn't a single sniper rifle in this world.

Ruby somewhat broke hearing this.

Ruby: Y-You know what? Crescent Rose and your weapons are more than enough for me!

Ryu: Fair enough.

They made their ways to the entrance seeing that they were the first there. Ryu stretched before yawning and laying down on a tree.

Ryu: Wake me up when everyone else is here Ruby.

Ruby: As nonchalant as ever.

He started resting as he was soon fully asleep. While dreaming he opened his eyes seeing that there was a bright blaze in front of him.

Ryu: Okay so what's this?

???: Hello? Ryu? Ryu~? You can hear me right?

Ryu: What the hell?

???: I swear to Fang if this shits not working I'm gonna search for him and kick his a-

Ryu: Wait a damn second I know that voice.

???: Good, you remember me.

From the flames came a familiar looking figure.

Ryu: N?

RYU NAMIKAZE!!

N: What up?

Ryu: Hold on, what the hell is going on here?

N: Long story short I basically pulled you into your subconscious.

Shojo: How exactly did you do that?

N: Summer basically gave me cognitive awareness again and I was able to go off of that.

Ryu: Right. Anyway, what's up?

N: I was just watching and saw that you started taking a little bit more swordsmanship up.

Ryu: I mean I guess you can say that, but I can kinda already put Zoro to shame when it comes to swords.

N: Maybe, but you're probably not on my level yet.

Ryu: Wait wait wait, don't tell me you were a swordsman too.

N: Where do you think you got all of that skill? There weren't many weapons I didn't learn to use.

Ryu: Shojo what the hell?!!

Shojo: Don't look at me, I said you were a ninja.

N: Anyway I may just have an idea for that unique breathing style.

TIME SKIP!!

Ruby: Ryu? Ryu?

She shook his shoulder as he jolted awake seeing that there were 4 other people here. He noticed there were more footsteps before getting up and seeing Tanjiro was one of the people there.

Ryu: Looks like you did make it.

Tanjiro: I did.

Ryu quickly got back on his feet without even needing to use his hands. That's when he noticed the twins again slightly shivering.

Ruby: Why do you hate twins so much?

Ryu: It was a VERY DARK time.

They began congratulating the 6, with Ryu tuning out every single word they said. After one of the twins clapped her hands they all saw crows flying down, as well as a tiny sparrow. A crow with what seemed to be red wings floated down onto Ryu's shoulder.

Ruby: Hey look, black and red like you.

Ryu: Hm.

???: I don't need this crap!!

One of the other new recruits swung his arm shaking his crow off.

???: Who the hell cares about some stupid crow?!!

He grabbed the head of the white haired twin.

???: I want my sword right now. Give it to me before I get angry! The color changing Katana! I want it now do you here me?!!

Ryu found this annoying so he grabbed the head of the boy lifting him up.

Ryu: Shut up, or I'll crush your head like a grape.

The boy realized he wasn't bluffing as he felt Ryu's grip slowly began crease every second he had his hand on the twin. He let go of her before Ryu did the same with him. That's when the black haired twin pulled a purple sheet off of a table revealing the ores. Ryu was the first to step up seeing for the heaviest ones with the best quality.

Ryu: Yo, any limit to the amount we can chose?

Twin1: Not at all.

Twin2: You can ask for specific types of weapons from your Nichirin Ore.

Ryu: Cool.

He took the 6 heaviest pieces walking away.

Tanjiro: Are you going to use all of those for 6 swords?

Ryu: Nope, just 2.

Ruby had a spark of inspiration as she took 3 of the metals. Not before checking the quality of each.

Ruby: This'll do!

Before she walked away she saw a boy with blonde hair seemingly scared out of his mind.

Ruby: Dude, you survived, chill out.

Tanjiro sniffed the air a bit before picking one himself.

TIME SKIP!!

About 2 days had passed as the two seemed to have stopped at an inn. Ryu was up making breakfast was Ruby was in bed sleeping.

Ryu: There's a voice, in your head
Saying it's, just pretend
There's a choice, and it's all up to you
Where you go~

From the singing Ruby had woken up seemingly already out of energy.

Ruby: *Yawn* Mmm... Why do I feel so groggy?

Ryu: Uhhh...

Ruby: I don't like how you paused there...

Ryu: So~ remember how we went to a bar last night Ruby?

Ruby: We went to a bar?

Ryu: Yeah~, and last night, you got REALLY drunk.

Ruby: How drunk IS really drunk to you?

Ryu looked up slightly blushing looking the other direction while also scratching the back of his head. He pointed downwards as Ruby looked to see her pajama's.

Ruby: W-Wait. I-If those are there... Does that mean I'm...

Ryu: All natural in those blankets yeah. Also, do me a solid and cover up.

In a split second she had become as red as a rose.

I'm not sorry for that pun at all.

Ruby: KYAAAA!!!!

She hid her face under the blanket as her blush was so bright Ryu could still see her under the blanket.

Ryu: Before you lose all faith in yourself we didn't do ANYTHING at all.

Ruby peaked out from the sheet still slightly blushing.

Ruby: You're being serious right?

Ryu: Ruby I have had my body used when I wasn't in full control. The last thing I'd let myself do is do it with someone who's drunk.

Ruby let out a small sigh as a small smile appeared on her face.

Ruby: That's good.

TIME SKIP!!

5 days had passed as Ryu and Rengoku were sparring with wooden swords. Rengoku was fierce with his strikes but Ryu seemed in complete control. The nanosecond he saw Rengoku's guard lower the slightest bit he knocked the sword out of his hand and held his own wooden sword in to the Hashira's face.

Rengoku: Looks like you win Ryu.

He put the blade down smirking as Rengoku smiled back.

Ryu: I'm pretty surprised you could keep up, I've had to fight since I could walk.

Rengoku: The title Hashira isn't earned by just anyone you know! Every other Hashira is at least as skilled as me! Some even more so!

Ryu: Hm, that sounds pretty interesting. Oh, by the way, I've got a question for you.

Ryu took out an eyeball of a Demon he had killed inside of a jar with a liquid.

Ryu: When we first came here I kinda killed a Demon. This is pretty much all that's left of it.

When seeing the words "Lower 6" Rengoku's jaw nearly fell off.

Rengoku: R-Ryu, do you know what that is?!!

Ryu: The eye of the Demon I'm pretty sure. Don't know how it survived for this long though cause I made sure to make that thing stop ENTIRELY.

Ruby: He didn't give it a chance either. I honestly think I could've done it with the right-

Rengoku: THAT'S THE EYE OF ONE OF THE LOWER MOONS OF THE 12 KIZUKI!!!

Rengoku grabbed Ryu by the shoulders with joyous eyes.

Rengoku: Ryu, I knew you were amazing but something like this?! Where did you get a Nichirin beforehand?!!

Ryu: What? I just used my bare hands, and a little bit of fire that burns as hot as the sun.

Rengoku: What are you-

Ryu held out his hand revealing his white flames.

Ryu: THIS is what I used. I got this ability about a year or two ago.

Ruby: Wait what?

Ryu: You weren't there for this Rubes.

Rengoku: What will happen if we take out this eyeball?

Ryu took it out as it vanished exactly as a Demon would. Rengoku couldn't find the words to describe it before smiling.

Rengoku: Lower Moon or not, defeating one of the 12 Kizuki is grounds for an immediate Rank Up!! Although you are only a Mizunoto now, if you were a Kinoe you would immediately become a Hashira!!

Ryu: Ok, so where do I end up right now?

Rengoku: Hmm... It's hard to gauge, but if I'm being honest, then you'll most likely end up at least a Kinoto, possibly a Kinoe if they see the your skill.

Ryu: Hm, ok then.

Ruby: Nice one Ryu. Looks like you'll be moving fast ahead.

Ryu: I guess so.

They heard metal in the distance before turning to see someone with a mask carrying many blades.

Ryu: Alright, our weapons are were Ruby.

Rengoku: If I had to guess...

He look at one massive blade and another regular one, while also seeing a literal scythe.

Rengoku: The two swords belong to you Ryu, and the scythe is for Ruby.

Ruby: Bingo!!

The masked man had came forward and sat down panting.

Masked: Traveling to this place isn't easy on foot.

Rengoku: Ah, you've arrived Hagumo!

Hagumo: Yes. These designs especially where different ones. They got my creative juices flowing like they never had before!!

He seemingly steamed from the mouth hole of his mask laying them in front of the two.

Hagumo: Though I'll admit this giant sword formed of 5 Nichirin Ores was a challenge I'd never faces. Same with the scythe.

Ruby: Worth every bit of the wait! With this I can use Inferno Breathing exactly how I want!!

Rengoku: So I see you two have taken your own routes in Flame Breathing.

Ryu: Well mine is kind of like the advanced stage of flame breathing so yeah.

Hagumo: I'm curious, do you know what colors your blades will change to?

Ruby: Well they're definitely rare I can say that.

Ryu: Just watch.

They grabbed their Nichirin weapons as Ruby's became red and silver like her sword had, while Ryu's swords backs became pitch black with the edge mixing between red and blue.

Hagumo: Fantastic!! I've never seen blade colors so mesmerizing in my life!! And it fits the users so splendidly!!

Ryu: Why do I have a feeling you're different from most sword smiths in your village?

Hagumo: Oh yes everyone say that when they first meet me! I poor my emotions in every weapon I create so I'm the calmest! But I still tend to get angry when my swords do break.

Ryu: Uhhhh, well sorry in advance cause a lot of weapons that I don't make myself sometimes can't handle the raw power.

Hagumo: We'll Kyojuro had specifically told me about your monstrous strength so I went in knowing!

That's when they all heard a crow cawing.

Crow: Ruby Rose, I bring you orders!!

Shojo: THAT BIRD CAN TALK?!!!

Ryu: WHAT?!

Crow: You must go to a town north west of here! And hurry, young girls are disappearing!!

Ruby looked at Ryu and Rengoku before both men nodded. After a few minutes Ruby came out of another room with a Slayer Uniform and her cape acting as a Kimono of sorts. Ryu had minor flashbacks to their days in Beacon seeing the slightly similar clothes.

Rengoku: You look splendid Ruby! I wish you luck!

Ryu: Go out there and kick some ass Rubes.

Ruby and Ryu high five'd.

Ruby: You bet!!

CHAPTER END!!