Chapter 1: The Meeting
Yoriichi opened the letter he received from the actual Oyakata and read its content. A few weeks ago, he invited him and his pillars to come to the Moon Slayer Corps HQ. This letter was his answer, and he informed Yoriichi that they would arrive in a week time.
"Tanjiro." Yoriichi said to his right-hand man and the Eclipse Pillar that looked at him "Inform the Corp that in one week, the Demon Slayer Corp's Pillar and Oyakata will come to visit."
Tanjiro smiled and nodded "I will get on it right away."
As Tanjiro left the room, Yoriichi read once again the letter:
Yoriichi-Sama;
I hope that this letter founds you in good health. I was pleased to receive your invitation, and I will gladly go with my Pillars to this meeting. I was already planning sending a similar letter, but you seemed to beat me in this. With the directions you sent us, we should arrive in a week's time.
97th Leader of the Demon Slayer Corps;
Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
*Demon Slayer Corp's Escort Group*
The escort of Oyakata-Sama, consisted of 5 pillars outside the carriage and 4 inside with Oyakata-Sama himself.
The ones inside, Gyomei Himejima, Muchiro Tokito, Mitsuri Kanronji and Sanemi Shinazugawa. Outside, Shinobu Kocho, Giyu Tomioka, Tengen Uzui, Obanai Iguro and Kyojuro Rengoku.
Only two of the pillars have the name of the Moon Slayer Corps fresh in their minds, Giyu and Shinobu. Giyu still remembers Nezuko Kamado, the Wind Pillar of that organization, that helped him and Sabito to train...
Meanwhile, Shinobu had worse memories of them. Especially from Kabuto and Rui, blaming them for the dead of her sister.
"Oyakata-Sama; are you sure that this... 'Moon Slayer Corps' are safe?" Sanemi asked annoyed and Oyakata smiled at him.
"I am sure Sanemi-Kun. My father started talks with them when I was a newborn. I recall some of them even babysitting me." He chuckled and Mitsuri smiled.
"That's so sweet of them, Oyakata-Sama!" She squealed and Tengen showed his head from the top of the carriage.
"I must inform that the road had been lacking of demons. This corps is doing a flamboyant job to keep them away with no wisteria flowers."
Oyakata hummed with a smile "Do you mind telling me how the arounds look?"
"A lot of trees, I can't seem to see one ray of sun trespass, but they're still a good amount of flora and fauna. Oh! And a lot of fireflies." Tengen informed before jumping to one of the trees.
The trip remained calm, until the ones outside the carriage, spotted a demon. Rengoku wasted no time, planning on keeping the travel as pacific as possible.
Just as his blade was about to cut the neck of the demon, another one got in middle, caught his sword with his bare hand and glared at him and Rengoku glared back.
The pink haired demon, wearing what could easily be, a very bad way to wear a demon slayer uniform, eyed him up and down "For a Pillar, you are pretty weak."
It let go of Rengoku's blade who jumped back. Rengoku eyed the baby on the female demon's arm. The male demon turned to her "I told you to stay inside today." He scolded her and she bowed.
"I-I'm sorry."
The male demon turned back to the pillars that got ready to defend their Oyakata-Sama. The demon rolled his eyes "Lower your weapons. My name is Akaza, the Shock Pillar of the Moon Slayer Corps."
The pillars looked skeptical "What's going on here?" Oyakata-Sama asked and Akaza raised a brow.
"Oyakata, right?" The demon asked and Sanemi glared at him.
"Don't refer to Oyakata-Sama so casually you filth!" Oyakata chuckled at Sanemi brashness.
"Let's trust him. His voice doesn't have deceit." Oyakata decided and the pillars, not happy with the decision, went with it. After all, they win in numbers.
They followed the demons, their hands on the hilt of their swords. Mitsuri decided to walk a bit more ahead and she saw the small baby human girl in the hands of the pale demon. "Why do you have a baby?" She asked, a bit flustered and the demon eyed her with wary. Akaza narrowed his eyes as he kept walking looking at Mitsuri from the corner of his eye.
"I am babysitting her."
Mitsuri nodded "And... how did she ended here?"
"Well she-" The demon started but Akaza interrupted.
"You ask to many questions. Shut your trap until we arrive."
Iguro growled at how he treated Mitsuri and grabbed his shoulder stopping him "You better apologize, demon."
Akaza glared at him before grinning "You won't stand 5 minutes against me, bandages. So, for the good of your hand, let go."
The pillars got their grip ready on their sword, as the tension in the air increased. "Akaza-Kun!"
Akaza looked behind to see an angry human woman storm to the group and jab her finger on the demon's chest "What did Yoriichi-Sama said when we received our guests?" She questioned and Akaza looked a combination of annoyed and flustered.
"Hanako, they threatened Koyuki..." He excused and the woman, Hanako turned to the demon holding the baby.
"Nobara-Chan?"
The demon, Nobara, sighed "You know how protective Akaza-Sama can get."
"Excuse me, by any chance, are you the mother of the baby?" Shinobu asked and the woman nodded.
"That's right. My name is Hanako Uzaki, and the little one is Koyuki." She said smiling as Nobara handed her the baby.
With the situation defused, they continued their way to the HQ. It was a large manor, with fireflies flying all around it.
Two guards opened the doors as they bowed their heads and let everyone enter, Oyakata-Sama walked with help of his son.
"Nobara, inform Yoriichi-Sama and the rest of the pillars that the guests are here." Akaza ordered as the young demon girl rushed away. Hanako kissed Akaza on the cheek as she left with Koyuki in her arms. He then turned to the Pillars "Follow me, and try to not make a scene."
He said the last part more to Rengoku and Iguro, Rengoku simply ignored him and Iguro growled.
Sanemi looked around, expecting to see a demon jump at them at any given second, Mitsuri admired the manor hall that guided them to the meeting room, Gyomei kept quiet but praying, Muchiro just walked with the head in the clouds, Tengen interrogated Akaza with little result besides annoying the demon, Shinobu unconsciously gripped her sword tighter, Giyu was more nervous than what he showed.
Oyakata, guided by his son, just kept smiling as the door was opened by Akaza. The meeting room, resembled more a kendo dojo, with a demon with a demon slayer mark sat in front while other demons, all with different apparencies sat to the sides. Only one, another demon with a demon slayer mark sat next to who seemed to be the leader.
The demon smiled "It is a pleasure to meet this generation Oyakata." He bowed his head and Oyakata smiled.
"It is my honor to meet in person Yoriichi Tsugikini."
Yoriichi smiled "Please, take a seat."
As the pillars sat, Giyu and Shinobu noticed two particular demons. One laid against a wall on top of a bookshelf and other smiling at Shinobu, who was sat next to one that was drinking.
"Welcome to the Moon Slayer Corps Head Quarters." Yoriichi started "I called this meeting in hopes that both our organization could start working together in the goal of defeating Kibitsuji Muzan."
Sanemi growled and was going to call bullshit when Oyakata talked "It sounds like a great idea, but what you say if your pillars introduce themselves. I had been sending information on mine, but received little from yours."
Yoriichi nodded with a smile "My apologies. We were just making sure you could be trusted. A lot of innocent lives reside here." He nodded his head to instruct the demons to introduce themselves.
"My name is Tanjiro Kamado, Eclipse Pillar and second in command." The demon who was next to Yoriichi said.
"Tamayo, head doctor of the corps." A demon with purple eyes said.
"Nezuko Kamado, Wind Pillar." Nezuko glared at Sanemi who scoffed, but said nothing.
"If you idiots forgot, my name is Akaza, Shock Pillar." Akaza said as he leaned against the wall.
The one in top of the bookshelf wearing a fox mask simply looked at them "Sabito, Water Pillar."
The kid doing spider webs from his hands looked up and smiled innocently "Rui, Spider Pillar."
The one drinking from the bamboo cup smirked "Kabuto Yamazaki, Night Pillar."
The woman next to him smiled "Kanae Kocho, Flower Pillar."
As many pillars watched Kanae with shocked faces, Yoriichi coughed in his hand "Well, now Kagaya-Sama and I have a lot of discuss."
Oyakata nodded "Indeed. We require privacy."
This time, none of Oyakata pillars complained and simply left the room. Akaza was the first one to turn head and went to leave, followed by Rui "Are you going to see Koyuki now?"
Akaza nodded "Yeah. You can come if you want shrimp."
Mitsuri couldn't help herself and wanted to see that lovely baby again and followed them and Iguro groaned and did too.
Nezuko skipped to Sanemi "You're the Wind Pillar too, right?"
Sanemi glared at the demon "Yeah, what is it with you?"
Nezuko smiled at him "I always wanted to spar with a fellow Wind Pillar."
Sanemi growled. For who this girl took him for!? "If I ever spar with you, I would cut your head clean, hear me bitch!?"
Nezuko frowned "Was it really necessary to be rude?"
Sanemi growled and Gyomei talked, tears in his eyes "Excuse him, even though Oyakata-Sama told us to behave, he still comes and insults you in your own home."
"Well, some children take longer to learn manners." Nezuko commented and Sanemi heard enough.
"Who are you calling child! What are you! 14!?"
"I stopped counting at the 100-year mark."
Sabito and Giyu starred at each other, Giyu, trying to say anything to the mask of his thought to be dead friend.
Sabito patted his arm "Look at you. A pillar." He said and Giyu could feel the smile behind the mask.
"Guess we are two. What would Urokodaki say seeing us like this?"
Sabito hummed "Probably chase me down for not telling me I am alive." He joked and Giyu couldn't help but to smile.
Shinobu hugged Kanae that hugged her back, Shinobu tears in her eyes "I thought you died..."
Kanae hug tightened "I'm sorry... but I wouldn't know how you would react... I really wanted to go back."
Shinobu was going to say something, before she spotted Kabuto watching the scene as he drank some sake. "What are you looking at?" She asked with a fake smile but annoyance at that demon.
Kabuto shrugged "Just happy of seeing a nice family unite."
Kanae broke the hug "Oh Shinobu! You remember Kabuto?"
Shinobu noticed how her sister latched to his arm and her eyebrow twitched "I do... you two seem awfully close."
Kabuto scratched the back of his head "Well, we kind of are."
Kanae smiled "We been together for a year or so."
Shinobu nodded very mechanically "How... lovely."
A tap on Shinobu's shoulder brought her back to reality "Yes?"
Tanjiro chuckled nervously "Yoriichi-Sama asked me to show where the clinic is. Would you mind following me?"
Tanjiro could get the angry smell from her as she nodded "Sure. Show me the way."
"AAAAHHHH! DON'T KILL MEEEEEE!" Rengoku and Muchiro who got separated from the group turned to see a blonde kid running away from a... boar demon? Maybe?
When the blonde kid turned and saw them, he somehow paled even more "DEMON SLAYERS! INOSUKE PROTECT ME!"
The boar demon, but Rengoku noticed that it was just a boar head turned to them and pointed one blade to them "You came to defy me!?"
Muchiro looked at him, a bored look on his eyes "Who are you again? I didn't listen."
Before Inosuke could say anything, Nobara followed them "You two! I told you to be nice to our guests!"
Rengoku laughed "Oh! Nobara, right?!" He exclaimed and she nodded nervously "I wanted to apologize my rude behavior earlier in the forest!"
She smiled and nodded "There is no need for that. You didn't knew."
"Hey! Nobara-Chan is going to marry me! Don't try to steal her away from me" The blonde boy screamed and Nobara blushed as she glared at him.
"I told you a million times Zenitsu! I am not going to marry you!"
"But-"
"But nothing!"
Muchiro looked down again and was face to face with the boar. "Can I help you?"
"I don't know who you are! But if you think you can fight the King of the Mountain, I'll bash your skull in!"
Muchiro glared at him, as he gripped his sword "I would like to see you try."
Nobara slapped the back of his head "Inosuke! Behave!"
"Shut up Bortara! You don't give me orders!"
"Don't insult Nobara-Chan!"
Rengoku only laughed at their flames and Muchiro wandered back to the rest.
A/N: I hinted to some pairings and future pairings here. Let's see who caught which.
Next Chapter: Test of Strength