Genya didn't understand…

The situation had been explained to him twice and Ubuyashiki-sama was starting on a third time, but the words just kind of washed over him without him grasping any of them after the news the first time.

"Your brother has become a demon."

He remembered his mother. His sweet, loving mother who had done so much for them… and he remembered the monster she'd become. He remembered his siblings… all dead. Dead, dead, DEAD. Never to walk or run or smile at him again…

Their life had not been a happy one, per se, but he had loved his siblings so dearly…

And now his brother…

He thought back over the conversation, trying to wrap his head around it all.

Before explaining anything, Ubuyashiki-sama had prefaced the news with explaining the new demon line under a new progenitor – who hadn't even known he was a progenitor according to him. And this progenitor was a Pillar even, working for the Corps, despite being a demon. Then they'd told him the demon's name – Kamado Tanjiro, the Sun Pillar. That guy he'd met at the Final Selection who couldn't be much older than him…

He'd known about the Sun Pillar, and the rumors surrounding him, but he hadn't actually believed the guy had been a demon. He'd been a little shocked because he'd never imagined a demon working for the Corps… it had been difficult to consider, even knowing that he'd met the guy. He remembered wondering what Sanemi thought of that. He also remembered wondering how these new demons would react with his body and if he could also eat them to gain their strength…

Then the Corps Head had explained that his brother had been caught in a demon fight with Waxing One. Genya had felt like he'd been punched in the gut… or stabbed. It had suddenly been so difficult to breathe. Then they'd told him his brother had been fatally wounded and to save his life, the new Pillar had turned him into a demon.

"Your brother has become a demon."

His brother would have preferred to die.

His brother would have protested at the very least, he was sure.

His brother would hate his own existence if he had any of himself left…

Losing Sanemi to death would have been bad. This… this was worse.

"Your brother has become a demon."

The phrase kept repeating itself in his mind over and over and over again.

He wasn't sure how long he sat there, sort of blankly staring ahead and not registering any of the presences around him. They'd all fallen away with that one sentence.

Finally, he felt – as if from a distance – a heavy hand on his shoulder and he began the laborious process of pulling himself back to the present situation. His cheeks felt wet. He'd be embarrassed except he wasn't sure he could feel anything at the moment besides utter grief at losing the last of his family.

He was vaguely aware that they had asked him something, but he wasn't sure what.

"I… I'm sorry," he managed to get out. "What did you say?"

Ubuyashiki-sama smiled sympathetically at him. "I have arranged for you to go and see him, if you would like. Kocho-san has a theory that surrounding him with people who remind him of his past will help him remember."

"If he remembers, he'll hate himself," Genya said numbly as he rose to his feet.

"They're rather sure he's going to remember whether you're there or not. You could simply help him remember faster," Ubuyashiki-sama said, not unkindly.

Genya could just see in his mind's eye how well that would go over.

"Why haven't you killed him?" he asked, uncaring of how rude he was being, standing before the head of the Corps and speaking in such a tone.

"He hasn't tasted human flesh," Ubuyashiki-sama said. "He's shown remarkable restraint, actually."

Genya just shook his head. "It would be a mercy," he insisted.

The head of the Corps frowned. "I cannot condemn someone for something they haven't done."

"He's a demon," the younger Shinazugawa returned, voice heated. He only backed down when he felt Himejima's hand on his shoulder again.

"He is not Muzan's demon," Ubuyashiki-sama said, voice soft.

"I don't see a difference," Genya shot back.

Silence fell over the room. "I believe it would be in your best interest to see him," the Corps head said thoughtfully and not unkindly. "Therefore I am ordering you to the Butterfly Estate. Understood, Gyomei-san?"

Genya felt his mouth drop open. He couldn't see his brother… He couldn't… And yet, his mentor was bowing and affirming and—

And he couldn't seem to open his mouth to stop them. For some reason, he could only stand there until Himejima-san put a hand on his shoulder and led him to the door. He was going to see Sanemi… Sanemi who had warned him to not join the Corps… Sanemi who had been turned into a demon…

The image of his mother with that crazed, hungry look in her eye flashed in front of him again.

It was hard to breathe…

Everything faded out again.

When he regained himself, he was in his room with his mentor as Himejima-san led him through the Stone Breathing exercises.

Exercises he couldn't use…

But they did help calm him down.

"I… I can't go," he finally managed to choke out. "I can't see him like that…"

"Like what?" Himejima-san asked gently, face stoic but blank eyes kind.

"Like a demon! Like a monster! How… how could Ubuyashiki-sama be willing to even entertain working with a demon! If we get rid of Muzan and his demons, we'll still have these to contend with! They can't be that different! A demon is a demon!"

He was breathing heavily once he finished and he had to force himself to calm down. Panicking again would not help right now.

"You sound like your brother," Himejima-san said softly.

Genya couldn't take it anymore and he let out a loud cry of anger and anguish, screaming all of his rage and pain and loss out before he collapsed in on himself and sobbed.

Then he felt large, warm arms encircle him, and even when he struggled, the man wouldn't let him go. Eventually he just gave in to the offered comfort and cried into the man's chest.

"I must admit, I am skeptical of the circumstances of all of this… and I wish to go and evaluate the situation for myself."

That caused Genya to pause and look up. "You… what?"

Himejima-san shook his head. "The circumstances are… too coincidental. And perhaps it is innocent… but I cannot be sure unless I go and find out for myself."

And suddenly Genya felt as if a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. He wasn't the only one who saw a problem with this and it just felt so… freeing.

"What… what if it wasn't a coincidence…" he asked. "What if they're lying or… or something?"

The larger man let out a sigh. "Then we will have to take care of it ourselves." Then he turned as if he could look down at Genya. "Can you kill your brother if it comes down to it?"

For a moment, the younger boy could only blink up at the man in front of him… because what had he just asked?

But then, he felt his resolve steel and he nodded before remembering he'd have to speak his affirmation aloud.

"Yes," he said. "I'll do whatever I have to to avenge him – even if that means killing him myself." Or his 'progenitor'.

Himejima smiled sadly. "You are a good younger brother, Genya."

He returned the smile, albeit shakily. "Thanks… Sensei."

"Get some sleep. We leave as soon as Obanai-san returns to the estate either tonight or tomorrow."

Genya nodded firmly. "Yes," he said firmly. He also planned on cleaning all of his gear, making sure it was in top working condition – swords, guns… whatever he could. He'd have to be ready to face his brother after all.

His eyes flashed.

And this Kamado Tanjiro.

xXx

When Kaiyo woke next, she felt far better; more rested, more relaxed, still sore but in a different way than before and she couldn't quite place why. This time, a woman – no a girl, she couldn't be more than eighteen years – sat nearby, clothed in the same black suit that Kanzaki had worn with a haori over the top. It looked like butterfly scales, actually. Quite pretty. Very rich…

Why did that seem so intimidating?

The girl looked up from the papers she'd been examining when Kaiyo moved. Then she smiled.

"Ah, Suzuki-san! I'm glad to see you're awake. I'll have some broth brought right to you."

"Thank you," Kaiyo said as she pushed herself to sit up. Her body still didn't seem to want to respond well, but at least it was better than before. "I appreciate your hospitality."

Of course, then her stomach let out a particularly loud growl. Both women froze.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! Please excuse me," Kaiyo said hurriedly. That went beyond embarrassing and straight into mortifying territory. How horrible of a guest would they think she was now?

"It's no worry," the woman said, smile still on her face as she practically flitted to the doorway and opened it. "Do you have any food preferences? Anything you're craving right now?"

She still felt her ears burning with embarrassment but gave the question serious thought. Eventually, she figured that going simple would likely be the best.

"Rice and fish is fine. I don't need more than that," she said, looking down.

"Hmm," the woman responded with a strange look on her (still smiling) face. "Very well. Aoi!" she called down the hallway. That startled Kaiyo. She wasn't used to such loud noises. Wasn't that supposed to be discouraged in such estates?

"Yes?" she heard the Kanzaki girl say.

"Our guest is awake again and quite hungry. She said she'd like fish and rice along with the broth."

A rather long silence followed before she heard the girl acknowledge in the affirmative and head off down the hall. The woman turned back to Kaiyo and walked daintily to the stool she'd been sitting on after closing the door.

"Well, Suzuki-san, I suppose that we should begin to get everything cleared up." Kaiyo couldn't help but feel grateful that the woman seemed ready to finally explain everything.

"Firstly, my name is Kocho Shinobu and this is my estate."

Kaiyo's eyes widened. "Your estate?"

Kocho looked amused at that. "You expected someone else?"

"Of course not," the older woman assured, "it's just… aren't you a little young?"

"Ah, yes. Well, you see, my family was killed when I was young and then I inherited this from my sister when I decided to continue her work."

What a sad story. Kaiyo's heart went out to the girl. "My sincerest sympathies for your loss."

The smile turned bittersweet, but seemed more genuine somehow. "I appreciate that.

"But I'm here to talk about you. So, can you tell me where you are from?"

Kaiyo blinked. "You… don't know?"

Kocho shook her head.

The older woman frowned. "But didn't my husband bring me here? To be healed…"

Again, the younger woman shook her head. "No, he didn't."

Worry rose in Kaiyo's stomach.

"So you were sick?" Kocho asked, checking over some notes she'd written on sheets of paper. That had to be the nicest looking paper Kaiyo had ever seen. Too bad she felt too worried to admire such quality.

"I was," she said, deciding she needed to explain everything from the beginning. "I recently came down with… something. We weren't sure what, but I had pains in my side and stomach that continued to grow. It got to a point where I could not breathe well at all and had difficulty eating. When I woke up here, all the pain had vanished and I assumed I had you and your clinic to thank for it."

The woman's smile had diminished and now she just sat there looking sadly at Kaiyo.

"Did you have any family?"

The older woman nodded. "I do." Not 'did'. "My husband, Ezume, and my daughters, Etsuko and Chiyo. When I got sick, Ezume sent them away to live with his sister so they wouldn't contract it. I must get a hold of them immediately! They'll be so worried…"

The woman didn't comment on that. Instead she just sighed and looked down at her papers again. "If you tell me the town you're from, we'll see what we can do."

Relief welled in Kaiyo's chest and she looked gratefully at the girl. "Thank you."

The woman shot her another unintelligible look before she raised an eyebrow. Kaiyo realized she hadn't given the name of her town. So she did. Then she spoke her sister-in-law's name and the city she lived in as well as her husband's name, and then gave her her husband's parents' names and villages as well as her own.

Just as she finished up that last one, Kanzaki came into the room carrying a tray with three bowls on it. One was covered with cloth, obviously the broth, while the others held cooked fish and rice, respectively. It looked delicious.

Carefully, the girl sat the tray on the small table by Kaiyo's bedside. "Please be careful as you sit up," she said as she moved the tray so it would be easier to eat from.

"Thank you, Kanzaki-san," the patient said as she forced her feet to move and, after far too much finagling, managed to get into position. Then she smiled and clapped her hands.

"Ikadakimasu," she said softly then went to pick up her chopsticks.

"Oh, please have the broth first," Kocho-san spoke up. "We need to make sure your stomach can handle that before you have more."

Kaiyo didn't quite know what to make of that, but she figured that she was the guest and thus did as asked. She drank quietly from the bowl of broth, enjoying the rich, meaty taste. She'd never had broth like this before, and was happy that it didn't sit too heavy on her stomach.

"How do you feel?" Kocho-san asked once Kaiyo had finished the broth.

She honestly thought about it and then smiled softly. "I feel well. It is not a broth I have had before. I quite enjoyed it."

"Thank you," Kanzaki said in her stern, quiet voice. So, she'd made it then? What an impressive girl.

"How about you try a little of the rice, then?" Kocho-san ventured.

Kaiyo wasn't sure she liked the interested look on the younger woman's face, but she picked up the chopsticks and went for the rice anyway. She ate small bites of the sticky, white grains and paid attention to her stomach. She didn't expect to be able to finish the bowl, but before she knew it, she had. She noted the other two still watching her intently, but tried to ignore them as she brought the fish around. Normally, she would have the fish with the rice, but separate was fine with her too.

To her surprise, she finished the fish completely as well and felt very satisfied for the first time in… well… it felt like the first time in a very long time, although she'd usually had enough to eat before from what she could recall…

"It was a very good meal, and I thank you," she said politely, bowing a little from her position. Kanzaki, who had stayed in the room the entire time, just nodded her head, picked up the tray and left.

Shinobu-san clapped her hands together once and closed her eyes as she smiled. "I am glad you enjoyed the food and that it didn't make you sick." Kaiyo wondered why she seemed so worried about that, but decided not to ask. It would be an embarrassing and very rude question.

"Before we continue," Kocho-san said, "could you please tell me what year it is?"

The question, so similar to Kanzaki's earlier, shot some anxiety through her chest. Something was very off here…

"Eight Meiji?" she said, more of a question than an answer. "I really hope it isn't Nine Meiji…"

Instead of answering her implied question, Kocho-san asked another of her own. "Since we don't know how long you were… out, could you tell me anything you remember of your recent life? Anything that could lead to clues as to why we found you in the middle of the wilderness?"

Kaiyo couldn't help but be taken aback.

"I was found in the wilderness?"

Kocho-san nodded. "Near a pond, actually."

That almost stopped Kaiyo's heart. "A… pond?" No… surely it couldn't be...

"Does this have any significance?" The younger woman continued.

Kaiyo felt her breath quicken and bit the inside of her lip before deciding to answer. "I… remember very little. I don't remember leaving my home at all. My husband had gone for a new doctor. I… think he came back with a man, but after that it gets fuzzy and… I only… had bad dreams."

"Dreams?" Kocho-san pushed.

The older woman looked away. "I'd prefer not to discuss it."

The other girl smiled softly, "I understand. However, it may be important to your treatment and recovery. Therefore, I must insist. I promise, I will not judge."

That didn't make her feel much better, but… the woman had a good point. So she sighed. "I had dreams of turning into a monster. Killing people… killing my own husband," she cut off with a choke and had to take several breaths before continuing on. "Then I wandered for several years doing the same. All that drove me was hunger and all I could eat were humans…" She shuddered. "It was a horrible nightmare."

"It was," Kocho-san whispered in agreement, but she looked so melancholy.

"Kocho-san?" Kaiyo asked.

The woman looked entirely too sad when she spoke next. "I should probably explain something else to you. My name is Kocho Shinobu, and I am a doctor and head of this estate – the Butterfly Estate. I am also known as the Insect Pillar – one of the highest ranks – for a group known as the Demon Slayers." She shook her head.

"The Meiji era lasted for forty nine years and it is now the Taisho era. It has been for a while. We found you near a pond after you attacked some children playing nearby.

"I'm sorry, Suzuki-san, but what you remember was no dream."

xXx

"Hello, Akatsugi-san!" Rengoku rushed over to him, grinning widely. Even more widely than normal…

Akatsugi, who had just gotten up from a 20-hour sleep, blinked at him.

"Hello, Rengoku-san" he replied a touch groggily, still waking up a bit. He'd actually gone looking for a sparring partner, so this was fortuitous.

The man's smile (impossibly) widened. "You may call me Kyojuro if you wish! Now, I spoke with Ubuyashiki-sama about teaching you a breath style…"

That certainly woke Akatsugi up fully. "What did he say?"

"He would like to speak with you about it! I am to escort you there! Come, follow me!" And without waiting for so much as a reaction, he turned on his heels and marched down the corridor. The demon blinked as he watched the other man walk away, but then shook his head and hurried after him.

They met Ubuyashiki-sama in the same room they'd met before, Rengoku… er… Kyojuro standing with his arms folded off to one side instead of taking a seat.

"Please, be seated, Akatsugi-san," the sickly man said once they'd entered, gesturing to the table and the cushion across from him. The demon glanced at the Flame Pillar before he ended up sitting down as invited. He didn't see a reason not to.

"Now, Rengoku-san—"

"I know my father preferred 'Rengoku', but due to recent developments I have decided I do not! You may call me Kyojuro, Oyakata-sama!"

The interrupted man smiled in the Flame Pillar's direction and nodded, then turned back to the resident demon.

"Kyojuro-san says you would like to learn a breath style. What has brought this on, if I may ask?"

Akatsugi raised his chin a little, even knowing the other man couldn't see it.

"I've been stuck," he finally decided to go with. "I have been for a long while, actually." Not untrue… but kind of difficult to admit. Still, it was also necessary. "I want to make up for the lives I have taken and I'd like to help you take Muzan down. I know I used to be the third strongest Waxing Moon… but I don't know if you understand how strong he is. You understand that Kamado can beat me." And yikes, that hurt to say too, but he went on. "You also understand that he couldn't beat Kokushibo…

"Muzan… I've seen him overpower Kokushibo once. It was hardly a thought and then it just happened. No struggle, no contest. He's just that far above us power wise."

"The simple answer is, I'm just not strong enough if I truly want to accomplish any goals – if I truly want to help you accomplish your goals."

"Hmm," Ubuyashiki-sama replied thoughtfully. "And beating Waxing One and Two have nothing to do with it?"

Akatsugi frowned. "Of course that has something to do with it. I couldn't get strong enough as one of Muzan's demons to take them on and to get to him they'll need to be taken down too." What an odd thing to say.

The Corps head nodded again, still thoughtful and with that kind smile on his face.

"Why ask Kyojuro-san? Why not ask Tanjiro-san to teach you?"

Akatsugi opened his mouth, then closed it. Then he finally replied. "It didn't occur to me to ask him when he was here," he answered truthfully, if a little sullenly. "Kamado would probably ask you for permission anyway, so I may as well just come to you, too.

"Hmm," Ubuyashiki-sama nodded a little, then he sat forward. "Akatsugi-san, you are asking that I give you, a demon who is already extremely strong, a great deal more potential power. Many of the Pillars still speak against you and Tanjiro-san and this would make them… uncomfortable to say the least. I have to admit, I don't believe their fears are completely unfounded."

That was understandable. Akatsugi couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, but… he couldn't really blame the Hashira either. He still searched his mind for something else to try and convince the man, though.

"Going against a demon with breathing can be good for training," he pointed out, knowing he was grasping at straws. Kyojuro had liked that line… he didn't think Ubuyashiki-sama would.

"We do already have two demons who know how to use breathing styles,"

"Yeah, Kamado and his new demon," Akatsugi replied, perhaps a little bitterly.

"Ah, but Oyakata-sama, will we be able to train with them? Is Kamado-san not going home soon?" Kyojuro put in. Akatsugi couldn't help but be taken a little aback. He hadn't expected the man to stand up for him.

He wasn't sure how he felt about it, but he wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

He nodded to the Flame Pillar before turning to look at Oyakata-sama again. For a blind man, he had an extremely intense expression on his face.

"Are you, perhaps, worried that you cannot be useful now that Tanjiro-san has another demon under his care?"

Akatsugi couldn't help but freeze for a moment, but then he shook his head angrily. "No."

And yet, the man's face softened even more. "You know Tanjiro-san isn't like that, do you not, Akatsugi- san."

The demon didn't answer. He couldn't. If he did, he'd yell or scream and undo any good he'd ever done here. All the good any demon had ever done here.

"I…" he tried after a moment, but then shook his head. He'd have to play his last card. "Please, Oyakata-sama." He bowed low to the table, hating how he had to do this. But becoming obsolete would be worse. "I will not let you down."

After several seconds of silence, Oyakata-sama spoke. "Raise your head, Akatsugi-san. Your humility shows me your dedication. I will deliberate on this, and I promise you I will take your request seriously. If I cannot acquiesce, I will explain why in detail and try to find a compromise."

It was honestly more than he'd expected. As it had been delivered by the man's kind, soothing voice… he could believe the Corps Head would honestly deliberate and give his side a fair chance.

So different from Muzan…

It was odd how often that struck him.

"Thank you, Oyakata-sama," he said as he stood.

"Come! Let us go and train!" Kyojuro said, still grinning as he gestured for Akatsugi to go ahead of him out the door.

"Yeah," Akatsugi replied. He could use a good fight right about now.

xXx

AN: Feel like this was a bit of a filler/set up chapter, but it is what it is, I suppose. Everything that needed to happen happened, so... *shrug*

Thanks to TimeLordTim, Found and Quathis for their help on this!

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