AN: THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE UPDATED THIS WEEK, so please make sure you've read chapter 11 and 12 before this chapter!
xXx
Shinobu made sure to school her expression as she knelt calmly and waited for either Ubuyashiki-sama to call her in, or for the Pillar meeting to start. Next to her, Kanroji Mitsuri knelt, looking extremely troubled. Shinobu had met the girl before, when she'd come through the Butterfly Estate for healing, and knew the other woman tended to only be so quiet when she was worried or very sick. Otherwise she talked. And she certainly wasn't talking right now… not that Shinobu minded. She wanted some time alone to sort through everything.
So, while she felt a little bad about the tense silence in the room, she decided not to break it and instead, she thought over the last few days.
Shinobu herself had been the one to discover Kamado-san's new… changes and thus, she'd been the one to examine them. She'd made notes, isolated him and drawn his blood to examine. She hadn't known what to expect, and had been more than a little worried when she'd discovered some rather unusual cells in his blood. She didn't often get a chance to look at demon cells as the blood was difficult to preserve once the demon had been killed (although, they'd found a couple of methods that worked recently if they could prepare well enough), but she'd observed them often enough to recognize them on sight. The problem was, while Kamado's new, strange cells looked similar, they didn't act like demon cells at all. They just sort of sat there, surrounded by human cells without attacking any of them. It was… strange, and unlike anything else she'd ever seen. She wanted to experiment, but she needed some preparation and permission for that, which she didn't have as of yet.
She'd also wanted to confront Kamado about them, but when he'd woken up and asked for rice balls, of all things, she'd decided to wait and observe.
Him eating what he had had calmed her worries significantly. The quantity of food he'd consumed had earned some of that worry back. And then Tomioka pointing out the burns on the boy's hands after their lengthy trip in the sun– burns that had most certainly not been there this morning…
So Kamado had told them that due to a Demon Blood Art, he was slowly turning into a demon whenever he used his unique power… Did that mean that those cells she'd seen were demon cells simply held in check by a Blood Art? That seemed… like a terribly specific way for a Blood Art to manifest. And she'd never heard of the like before. Could it be Kibutsuji's cells and a newly obtained or rarely used Blood Art? Had he used such to insert a spy into their ranks? But the boy was such an earnest child and seemed to have a grasp on his demonic problems… with maybe the exception of how much he ate.
She didn't have any answers that fit. She certainly didn't want to execute him – it wasn't like he'd actually become a demon yet – but…
Well, she supposed that if he did fully turn into a demon, he may have a shot at becoming the first 'demon friend' that Kanae had been so insistent on finding… and yet, she was reluctant to allow that as he very well could be a spy. Maybe even an unwitting one.
Her fists clenched on her knees, the only outward sign of her anger. Doing something so horrible to such a talented individual… demons truly were the worst.
Taking a deep breath, she went back to her previous line of thought.
So, what would they do if Kamado was an unwitting spy? What else could they do? He knew where the Ubuyashiki estate was. The Estate they'd managed to keep hidden from Muzan for hundreds of years… if he found out… It wasn't worth thinking about. No, she'd have to speak with Ubuyashiki-sama about it.
Before she could really finish that thought, she heard the soft patter of footsteps down the hall… two sets, if she wasn't mistaken. Kanroji must have heard too because both of their heads snapped to the door, waiting as the footsteps came ever closer.
Finally, the door slid open to reveal one of the Ubuyashiki children. She bowed to them, then stood aside as a very dazed Kamado Tanjiro walked inside. Well, less of a walk and more of a stupefied wander. He shuffled over to where he'd rested on the floor before and knelt down, eyes not really focused on anything.
Out of the corner of her eye, Shinobu saw Kanroji begin to open her mouth and say something, but before she could, the white-haired child spoke.
"Kanroji-san, Ubuyashiki-sama would like to see you now."
Kanroji looked between the girl and Tanjiro for a couple of seconds, before she grimly stood and followed. She sent one last, long look at Kamado before the door closed.
Huh… where was Tomioka? Had he stayed to speak with Ubuyashiki-sama? She eyed Kamado suspiciously… Had he somehow gotten rid of Tomioka? He shouldn't have been alone at all to get the chance, but…
She decided to ask. "Kamado-san," she said with a smile, "where is Tomioka-san?"
He seemed to break out of his reverie for a moment and blinked over at her. "Hmm? Oh! Oyakata-sama asked Giyuu to stay behind," he reassured, then went back to whatever had distracted him so.
First name basis, no Tomioka to guard him, his general state… it was just too much for her to resist. "Kamado-san, what has you so distracted, if I may ask?" She made sure to add a smile onto the end of that, hoping it looked friendlier than it felt.
The boy turned his attention on her far more quickly this time and then he just kind of chuckled, a little hysterically.
"I told him everything. Why I am how I am, how I came to be here, what happened the other night… everything…"
Oh, well Shinobu wished she could have overheard that conversation.
"What happened?" the Insect Pillar pushed.
The expression he shot her made him look like a helpless child, eyes large and disbelieving. "He promoted me to Hashira. I… Why did he do that?"
Shinobu felt her eyebrows rise to near her hairline. "He… what?!"
"I know!" the boy said helplessly. "He… he said he was sure this was a good idea… but how?! What if Muzan finds this place through me? What if he finds information? I can't… I don't understand what Ubuyashiki-sama is thinking!"
And right there, he'd more or less addressed all of her concerns. Well. It was nice to know he was at least truly on their side. Didn't mean he wasn't an unwitting spy or that she'd go easy on him if the worst were to happen.
"I will speak with Ubuyashiki-sama about it, if you would like, Kamado-san," she said.
He looked relieved. It made her uneasy to think that he trusted her that much already… He really shouldn't.
"Would you, Shinobu-san? Thank you so much!" he turned to her and bowed into a dogeza. Aaaand now she felt particularly bad for trying to get him executed, or at least imprisoned… but could they imprison a demon on a Kinoe (or Hashira now, she supposed) level?
"Of course, Kamado-san," she said as she forced another smile.
Just then, the door opened and revealed a very pale Tomioka. Normally Shinobu would tease him about looking like death warmed over, but… well, even she had lines she wouldn't cross.
"Tomioka-san…" she said slowly, and with more worry than she would have liked to express. He didn't often completely ignore her. He usually stopped or nodded, or even just glanced in her direction, but right then, it was more like she didn't exist. He did stop after a couple of steps, but instead of listening to or acknowledging her, his eyes fixed on Kamado as the boy rose from his dogeza position.
"G… Tomioka-san?" Kamado asked, worriedly. Ah, so he hadn't been given the go ahead to use the Water Pillar's first name. Interesting.
Tomioka didn't respond to him either, so at least Shinobu didn't feel left out. Instead he just stood there for over a minute.
"Tomioka-san!" Kamado said, rising to his feet. "Are you alright? What happened?"
That finally seemed to snap Giyuu from his stupor as he blinked.
"Nothing," he finally said in what would usually be his normal tone, except Shinobu heard the waver he'd tried to hide.
He was starting to really worry her.
He stepped past Kamado, turned and knelt on the ground, still looking as if he'd seen a ghost. At the moment, Shinobu would almost believe it. Kamado seemed just about as worried as her, and even more unsure of what to do because he shifted uneasily on his feet before he took a seat next to Tomioka… who flinched ever so slightly. Shinobu doubted Kamado saw it, but she did. So… something about him? She'd have to corner him later if he didn't come out and tell them.
They sat there in an uneasy silence for a couple of minutes before the loud footfalls of someone running had them all turning to the door to the hallway. Seconds later, Kanroji threw the doors aside. "Oyakata-sama promoted me!" she yelled, half ecstatic, half panicking.
"Congratulations, Kanroji-san," Shinobu said, tipping her head with her usual smile. "Welcome to the Pillars! Did you know he promoted Kamado-san too?"
The pink-haired girl's eyes grew wide and she rushed over to fall to her knees in front of Kamado, picking up his hand. The poor boy looked like he was about to panic himself leaning away in distress.
"That's amazing! Let's do our best, Kamado-san and support the Corps as Pillars!"
"H-hai!" he responded, almost in a complete 180 from how he'd been just moments before, fist clenched in determination. "I'll do everything I can!"
Somehow he seemed to have gotten caught up in her exuberance. Shinobu could only shake her head, although Tomioka just stared at the two of them like he didn't know how to process what he was seeing.
She really needed to see what had him so worried.
"If you would please follow me to the back yard," a young voice from the doorway drew their attention to the same girl who had come in before. She walked past them and out to the Engawa. Shinobu rose to her feet slowly, dusting herself off as she did so. Kanroji had shot to her feet, dragging Kamado with her.
"Come on, Kamado-san!"
"Hai!" he said, grinning at her. Such a bright smile… even with those teeth. "And you can call me Tanjiro."
"Then call me Mitsuri!" she said as she dragged the boy after the white-haired Ubuyashiki girl. Those two would be a whirlwind of a duo if ever paired together, she suspected. Well… the coming meeting wouldn't be boring, she supposed.
Tomioka went to step after them, but she saw her chance and reached out to touch his arm.
He jumped.
Mr. I-wouldn't-start-if-Mt. Fuji-exploded, jumped.
"Tomioka-san," she said, "what did Oyakata-sama tell you about Kamado-san?"
He just stared at her for several seconds before looking back to where the others walked. He swallowed, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Later," he said. "We may find out in the meeting if it plays out as Oyakata-sama thinks it might." He turned to step out, leaving a confused and rather annoyed Shinobu behind him, but paused before he could go more than a few steps. "Kocho… Shinobu," he said, looking over his shoulder at her. Her eyes widened. He'd never called her – or anyone – by their first name to her knowledge, let alone without an honorific. "Don't get involved if something does happen in the meeting. Or, only get involved if… Be ready to step in between… him and Oyakata-sama."
Her breath caught in her throat before she went back to her constant concentration breathing. "Do you think he'll attack Oyakata-sama?" she asked.
He looked pained for a moment. "No. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be ready."
That made her feel a little better at least, but still.
He hurried after the newly promoted Hashira and Shinobu followed, closing the door behind her. They caught up just as the others came around the back of the house where they often met Ubuyashiki-sama for the Pillar meetings. They reached the area just in time to see some of the other Hashira be led in by other almost identical children. The Pillars lined up and stood in front of the room where they would soon see the Demon Slayer Head. The children lined up facing them and all bowed as they said in unison (did they practice that?):
"Thank you for coming. Ubuyashiki-sama will meet you soon." With that, they turned and walked demurely away, the perfect example of hostesses… even at their young age. Shinobu wasn't sure whether to be worried for them, to pity them, or to be impressed. From everything else she'd seen she knew that their parents loved and doted on them… Still…
They stood in silence for several seconds, waiting for Ubuyashiki-sama to come.
"Oi," Shinazugawa broke the silence, "who are you two?" He pointed to Kamado and Kanroji standing at the far right.
"Oyakata-sama will speak to us about that," Tomioka said quickly.
That drew the light-haired man's attention from the new additions. "Oh, so Mr. High-and-Mighty knows something?"
Tomioka tipped his head to the side, confused (although Shinobu didn't know why he would be…).
"Tomioka-san doesn't think he's better than anyone," Kamado said suddenly, a little shocked for some reason. Shinobu closed her eyes and resisted pinching the bridge of her nose. Apparently he hadn't realized that Tomioka-san had wanted to re-direct the Wind Pillar's attention. And yet he'd caught other cues somehow… This kid made no sense.
Still, she decided she'd help Tomioka… just this once.
"Oh, is that true, Tomioka-san?" Shinobu asked, tipping her head to one side with a smile. She'd help him, that didn't mean she couldn't poke fun at him too. Although that look somewhere between betrayal and bafflement on his face made her feel a little guilty. A little.
"No."
"Oh, yeah?" Shinazugawa asked, falling for the bait hook, line and sinker. "Then why do you say you're not like us, huh? Always lookin' down on us."
The complete puzzlement didn't lessen in the slightest. "I am not like you. I never have been. I don't deserve to be a Pillar. I am merely here as a placeholder until a better Water Pillar can be chosen."
That took both Shinazugawa and Shinobu back. Shinobu liked to tease and poke fun at the stuck-up boy who seemed to think he was so much better than them. She… she hadn't realized…
But he'd spoken so plainly… She had little doubt he hadn't meant every single word.
And suddenly, so much more of his actions and comments made sense.
It had been a while since she'd misread someone that badly… especially for that long.
"That is not true," a familiar voice spoke. They all turned to see Ubuyashiki-sama standing on the engawa and, for once, he had a frown on his face as he looked directly at Tomioka. Immediately all the pillars fell to one knee, although she noticed that Kanroji and Kamado did so a little after the rest of them.
Silence fell for several seconds before Ubuyashiki-sama spoke again.
"Giyuu, you have earned your place here just as much as any other Hashira. You fulfill your missions quickly and efficiently. You are stronger than you realize and I am proud to have you here as one of my pillars – one of my children."
More silence.
Then… "But… I fail. So often…" Tomioka said softly.
Shinobu suddenly felt guilty and ashamed for her attitude towards this man. She'd… certainly not made anything better.
So she found herself speaking up again. "Tomioka-san, we all fail. Terribly sometimes. Even now as Hashira."
"Indeed," Himejima said, tears running down his cheeks. "We are all here because we failed at some point." Then he faded off into a chant.
Ubuyashiki-sama's frown lifted into a warm smile. "Giyuu, we cannot stop every demon from killing. I know you know this. I don't expect you to save every life in danger, I merely ask you to try. If you fail, I know it is because I didn't send you early enough or Kibutsuji made another demon before we could figure it out. I know you are hurting, but your life is precious too. Please stop punishing yourself for surviving when others don't. You deserve to live too."
Silence, somehow deeper and thicker than the last one fell over the group. Giyuu didn't answer, although Shinobu didn't know if that was because he didn't want to, or couldn't. She could swear she saw tears in his eyes, but he valiantly held them back.
Then Ubuyashiki turned to everyone. "That goes for all of you. You have all lost loved ones to demons: Brothers, sisters, parents, friends, lovers, children… and the only person we should blame is Kibutsuji Muzen. Once we start blaming ourselves, we start letting him win. I beg of you all, please don't let him win."
Shinobu did notice out of the corner of her eye that Kamado had tears running down his cheeks now too.
Okay, that was it, they'd have to find a way to hold a demon of his strength because she didn't think she could bring herself to lobby for his death. He was just too… pure.
"With that being said, I'd like to move on to the purpose of today's meeting," the head of the Demon Slayer Corps said, his signature smile back in place. Somehow he made it look so effortless… Shinobu wondered how he did it.
"Today, we fill two of our empty Hashira places. I would like to introduce to you Kanroji Mitsuri and Kamado Tanjiro, our new Love and Sun Pillars respectively."
Kamado and Kanroji both turned towards the group and bowed (although Shinobu wasn't sure how Mitsuri's chest stayed inside her uniform like that… or how she fought like that even).
"Please take care of us!" they both said.
"Wait," Shinazugawa spoke up, "the girl's bad enough, but the kid's like twelve!"
"I'm fourteen!" Kamado said, looking up in exasperation.
"What do you mean, 'bad enough'?" Kanroji asked, sounding offended for probably the first time in her life.
Shinazugawa stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. Shinobu went to step after him, but a hand on her arm caused her to look up at Tomioka-san (who had tear-tracks running down his face that she completely ignored – mainly out of not knowing how to deal with such a development). He shook his head, then turned to stoically face Ubuyashiki-sama.
"Oi… why are your teeth like that?" the Wind Pillar asked, sounding angrier than ever.
Kamado glanced at Ubuyashiki-sama, who didn't answer, and sighed. He looked over at Kanroji. "Please don't get involved. This is something I need to take care of myself."
She looked troubled at his words, just about as troubled as Shinobu felt. What…?
Then Kamado stepped away from them, hands still in front of him. He took a deep breath, then called out. "Due to a Demon Blood Art, I have been infected and will slowly turn into a demon."
Shinobu hadn't realized stretches of silence could feel so different. This one rang with shock and horror.
"Well, then, I guess it's pretty obvious why Oyakata-sama brought you here. You need to die," Shinazugawa said with a manic grin.
"I agree!" Rengoku said, speaking up for the first time, smiling widely.
"I flamboyantly agree!" Uzui almost yelled, posing dramatically. Seriously, how was he from a shinobi family?
"I must also agree!" Himejima said, tears still running down his cheeks. "We must offer him release before he is lost." He trailed off into muttering again.
"B-but that's not right!" Kanroji said.
"Mitsuri-san," Kamado said, then smiled at her. "It's okay."
"No, it isn't!" she protested loudly. "Why would Ubuyashiki-sama promote you to Pillar if he planned on having you killed?!"
The boy blinked at her, and then his warm smile came back. "Thank you, Kanroji-san. But I understand where the other Pillars are coming from. If any one of them can attack and beat me, then I will leave my fate in their hands. And again I ask you, Mitsuri-san, please, don't interfere."
Shinazugawa's smile (somehow – impossibly) widened. "Good answer!"
And with that, he attacked.
xXx
AN: Thank you to TimeLordTim and Quathis for their help on this chapter!
So yeah, this is the third chapter I'm posting this week because I'm still trying to make up for the stress that was the month of July and while 12 is about my normal chapter length, both 11 and 13 are a little shorter, so yeah. You get them sooner.
Please let me know what you think!
Discord: discord. gg/PChdnmNEc5
