a leaders choice

as Iide, Kei and Takano reached the door of the manner they saw Sora and Dai both shirtless and trailing like their lives depended on it, with Tachibana standing there with a displeased look "come on Sora you're beating Dai so just keep going!" Sora kept trying to lift one of the large decorative stones while Dai was struggling to lift a slightly large stick "this -hmmp!- is for you -ahh- Akira!!" Dai yells as he finally lifts the log, with everyone looking in disappointment "I'm... gonna go inside now." Takano mentioned as he walks past them "oh hey Taka." Dai said as he quickly drops the log "don't call me that." the door then closes behind the demon, (that worm is only here because of Akira, ugh it's so pitiful) Iide thought while he walks past them towards Tachibana, "Tachibana I see the training isn't going well?" Iide looks in disgust at Sora, a sickly feeling coming to his stomach "oh it's you..." Iide muttered, "what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Sora puts down the large rock, staring at Iide "nothing, just get inside I have an announcement to make." Sora begrudgingly followed them inside "dumb mask-wearing bastard." he mumbled under his breath "what was that?" Iide asked with his hand gripping the handle of his sword "nothing."

later on, the lot sat down with Sanda Ubuyashiki being at the centre, with all the people bowing down to him except for Dai who was oblivious (why the hell are they bowing down?) he then leans his head down to Sora "pssssst, Sora." Sora turns his head slightly with a stern look "that guy is you know..." Dai was still oblivious as ever "the leader dumb ass!" realisation then came onto Dai's face and instantly bows down with Kei and Kichi snickering.

Sanda cleared his throat and looks at Sora dead in the eye "Sora Aiko, I'm afraid to say this but...." Iide smiles underneath the mask while an overwhelming amount of dread washes over Sora, "we can't risk that demon taking over and so we must execute you so that demon may never take full control!" all of the hashira besides Iide are in shock "hmm... I accept your decision master Ubuyashiki!" Kei and Dai are both overcome with emo but Kei refused to stay silent "there isn't no way you're going through with this?" Kei demanded to know why now, why after they've defeated the lower ranks was it to prove a point "I'm afraid that we can't take any ri--" "shut it! I don't care if you can't take risks all you are is a disease-ridden man in charge!!" Dai bellows as he stood up, shocking Akira "Dai I demand you sit down and apologise!" Akira states but Dai refused and so he does the only thing he can think of "you know what! I challenge you to a dual and if you win you can execute Sora and even me!" all of the hashira are still in shock, even Kei, Sora and Sanda himself which caused him to snicker "alright then, I'll accept this challenge." Sanda said as he stood up with his sword at his side, he then took Dai outside out front to start their dual.

Dai had his two swords at the ready, Sanda staring him down with his diseased face terrifying Dai a little bit "so Dai, do you plan on striking first?" then Dai rushes towards him with his blades right at Sanda's neck but Sanda steps to the side and steady his breathing until it starting sounding sharp and piercing (sun breathing,) he whips his blade out with a raging flame that was as hot as the sun left his scabbard and he clashes with Dai, "masters technique!" Nishinara said in awe as he saw Sanda use his technique as if he was a reincarnation of Yorrichi Tsugikuni (flame dance!) Dai is blown back by the deflection and so Sanda strikes his blade downwards with a flame accompanying it "Woah! for a guy with an incurable disease you're pretty good!" Dai complimented as Sanda quickly turns his flame dance into his other move clear blue sky, Sanda spun around as he completed his spinning a flaming wheel being formed but Dai jumped back away from Sanda's attack "so you were taught by a sun breather, doesn't matter I'll still kick your a--" Sanda appears in front of Dai with the full intent of landing his attack.

from the sideline Akira watches as his student, no... his son fights this monster of swordsmen "what's wrong? think you're kids gonna fail?" Iide asked as he watches Dai gets battered by Sanda and then Sanda swings his flaming blade towards Dai's neck like he was about to kill him but he stops right before the blade could even scratch Dai's neck, Sora jumps in, his flames countering Sanda's roaring solar flames, "oh a new challenge?" Sanda said as he began to fight Sora with Dai trying to get back up and help (sun breathing, dance!) Sanda delivers a vertical slash with the solar flames being guided by his blade (roaring rush!!) Sanda charges forward and moves his sword like a paintbrush, with the flames being the burning paint "how the hell is master Ubuyashiki still able to fight?" Nishinara mutters while paying close attention to Sanda's fast and rapid movements, while Sora and Dai could barely keep up and so to combat this Sora activates his slayer mark, its red flame ignited on his face, stretching from his left eye all the way down to his neck, his flames now turning a fearsome blue "back off!" he could now compare to Sanda's speed but not his power and so Sanda then aims for Kichi but a chain wrapped around his blade and as he turns he saw Akira, with a stern fierce look "master Ubuyashiki, I would hate to disobey but please let this man live." Akira asks kindly, while restraining Sanda's blade "hm, guess you're right." Sanda sheaths his blade into its scabbard "that was a good exercise, Sora maybe you and I should have a dual." Sanda said as he walks away from him, "wait... are you not killing me?" he asked confused "why are you asking that!?" Kei shouts from behind the hashira.

"oh yeah that, nevermind about the whole execution, you risked your life for a friend and that is truly admirable." he then walks past Akira and then punches him in the stomach "that's for disobeying me." he said while his sickness slowly spreads across his body.