Genya was… confused. He hated demons. He loved and respected his brother (even if his brother hated him for what he'd said and done… and for being weak, but he was working on it). Kamado was a demon who had turned his brother into a demon. He should hate the guy. He did hate him… and yet. He was just so… nice. And kind. And hard-working. And accommodating…
It was hard to hate Kamado. At least now that he knew the guy.
He'd watched the Sun Pillar perfect both the Stone forms and his Sun Breathing style that morning. Now the kid sat quietly as he focused inward, determined to burn the mark off of his eyes or something. Genya still didn't think he'd been wrong to be angry at the guy for turning Sanemi into a demon, but… he wasn't nearly as angry anymore… which kind of ticked him off. All of the initial anger had just sort of drained away. Now he… dare he think it? He respected the guy. Genya still didn't know all of his story, but Kamado had been through so much, and had chosen to fight for humans. How could he not respect that?!
"Genya," he heard his sensei say. The younger demon slayer jumped and went back to pushing the boulders around. The only waterfalls around here were either too small or too warm to really train under, so they'd resorted to the boulder thing… again. It was… monotonous and boring, but it got results, he supposed.
"Hai, Sensei. Sorry, Sensei."
Himejima-sensei nodded and went back to practicing the Sun form Kamado had taught him. He'd said that out of everyone in the corps, the Stone Pillar was likely the most able to use Sun Breathing. But Sensei said it would take him months if not years to work up to a point where he could use the new breathing form. Not only was he used to Stone Breathing, but he had to learn the Sun forms by feel and description only. It was possible – that was how he'd learned the Stone Style after all – but, well, not fast. He'd only been working on the first form again and again and again, and Genya could tell that it was taking its toll on his teacher, but if anyone beyond the Kamados could learn it, it would be Himejima-sensei. That was something both he and Kamado agreed on.
All three of them continued training in relative silence for another hour before the demon's eyes popped open and he rose to his feet. Then he walked over to Genya, who was still breathing hard as he pushed the rocks around. "Any change?" he asked, pointing to his eyes.
Genya hated to be the one with bad news, but Kamado couldn't exactly ask Himjima-sensei. The only slayer without a breathing style looked closely at the other boy's eyes, or more importantly, the Kanji written in them. After a couple of seconds, he shook his head grimly. The Kanji was still there and dark as ever.
Kamado slumped, but nodded at the expected result.
"We still have some time before supper," Genya said, nodding to the sunset. Then he wondered why he was bothering! He hated this guy! Right! He did! He did.
(Or he wanted to, but wasn't quite sure he could keep it up anymore. Stupid Kamado.)
"Yeah, but we also have someone to meet."
The taller boy blinked. "Oh? Who?"
"Kanroji Mitsuri, the Love Hashira, is coming today," Himejima-sensei spoke as he walked towards them, wiping the sweat off of his brow and breathing more heavily than normal. This guy threw around boulders like they were skipping stones, and he was breathing hard.
"Oh," Genya said.
"I assume she's here, then?" the older man turned to Kamado, who nodded. "Then we should go greet her."
"She'll probably want to soak in the hot-springs after her journey," the demon boy pointed out.
Himejima nodded. "It would be good for all of us, I think."
Kamado grinned (which was kinda creepy with those teeth… and yet so warm… what the actual…?) and turned to bound down the hill.
"Are they friends?" Genya asked as he shook out his arms and legs. The Sun Pillar seemed rather excited…
"I believe so," Sensei said as he sheathed his sword. They followed at a far more subdued pace but still reached the town in a couple of minutes, only to see the spectacle of Kanroji almost crushing Kamado to death… or smothering him to her chest… or both. His arms flailed and she had made a high-pitched noise that kinda hurt Genya's ears.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she said over and over again.
Genya could swear Kamado was turning blue. Not that it would hurt him as a demon and all, but still… that had to be uncomfortable. Plus, she was a girl. Genya kinda wanted to help a fellow guy out but even approaching her made it difficult for him to speak.
Why was he like this? No, seriously, why?!
At least he could speak to Sensei, so he told him what was happening. Sensei looked as puzzled as Genya felt.
"Kanroji-san," Himejima-Sensei called out. The woman paused and then, still holding Kamado to her chest, waved her hand… why didn't he break loose? At least he seemed to be able to breathe again. Improvement, Genya supposed. "What is the meaning of this?" the older Hashira asked, gesturing to Kanroji.
"Tanjiro got Obanai-san to meet me and we're officially setting up an omiai!" She finally let go of Kamado – who fell to the ground, gasping – and put her hands on her cheeks, letting out that loud squee again as her face went bright red. She looked so happy… and cute. Genya couldn't help but feel his own face heat up in reaction.
(She was super cute and… wait… WHAT WAS SHE WEARING?!)
The younger demon slayer turned his head away as he tried to control his reaction. And everyone left in the village was staring at him. Well them, but it felt like they were staring at him and couldn't they look away?! WHY?! He dropped his face in his hands.
Kamado was coughing from where he knelt on the ground.
"Kamado-san," Himejima-sensei spoke then, the frown in his voice obvious, "are you alright?"
"Oh!" Genya glanced back fast enough to see the shocked expression on the girl's face. Then he had to turn away again because that outfit. Ugh. He hated that he couldn't seem to think around girls. "I'm sorry, Tanjiro!"
"I… It's okay," he reassured, although his voice sounded a little raspy, Genya was able to catch him out of the corner of his eye without seeing Kanroji-san if he turned just right, and the boy was beaming and waving the girl's apologies away. "I'm happy for you."
Another squee, and Genya had to look away again as the Love Pillar attacked Kamado with another hug. The boy went back to flailing his hands. That must be so uncomfortable… and embarrassing. Genya really almost felt bad for him.
Then it occurred to him, the girl didn't have any material on her front… and he was a demon… being crushed into said front. He wasn't doing anything malicious or remotely demonic despite the woman's flesh being right by his mouth…
Hmm…
Maybe they could trust him?
He quickly shook the thought from his head.
"Kanroji-san," Himejima-sensei cut in again, likely having guessed what had happened. He was good at that. "Why don't we have dinner and retire to the hot springs?"
"That's a great idea, Himejima-san!" she replied happily. Kamado was gasping again, so at least he could breathe again.
They all made their way back to the rooms the Swordsmiths had lent them, Genya trailing behind his sensei, who followed Kanroji and Kamado, who had fallen into a very energetic discussion about food, of all things once the demon had recovered from his near strangulation.
"Genya," Himejima-sensei said quietly as the other two continued to talk animatedly.
"Hai, Sensei?" he said back, his voice coming out far lower and quieter than he would like.
"Please prepare yourself."
Genya frowned, and then dread settled over him. Had he forgotten something? "For what?" he asked.
His teacher seemed surprised as he turned his head in the direction of his student. "The hot springs."
The younger demon slayer frowned. "What about them."
Himejima-sensei blinked. "There's only one pool at the establishment we're staying at."
Genya's frown turned puzzled. "I know that, Sensei."
"We'll all be bathing tonight."
It took him a minute to put it all together. He felt his face pale and he glanced at Kanroji-san's back. "Y-you m-m-mean…"
"Yes."
Genya fainted.
xXx
Obanai didn't really remember traveling to the Ubuyashiki estate. He walked there in a bit of a daze, only barely remembering to take the circuitous routes that should throw off anyone following him. He… just couldn't believe it. Mitsuri was more than open to a relationship with him… It… boggled his mind. He'd even shown her his scars… it had been so… surreal.
She stared at him, just blinking every few seconds, but didn't respond. He instantly regretted asking her here and vowed to track Kamado down and utterly destroy him, demon or no. He would—
"You… would like… to set up an omiai?"
He suddenly felt so self conscious, sitting at the table in the private room of the restaurant that had been reserved for them (he hadn't realized it would be a private room!), several bowls and trays of food laid out before them.
"O-only if you would like to!" he hurriedly amended, bracing himself for rejection. All he got was more blinking.
"Why didn't you approach my family?" she asked, sounding confused. To be fair, that was more traditional, but…
"W-w-well," ugh, now he was stuttering too, "I… didn't want to if… you… didn't want… to."
That was when she frowned. "Why would I not want to?"
His brain shut down.
The only thought running through it was, 'What?' over and over again. Now it was his turn to stare at her. He couldn't believe she'd said that… he must have heard wrong.
She must have realized he needed some explanation or time or whatever he actually needed because she looked down (so cute) and opened her mouth.
"Do you know why I entered the Demon Slayer Corps? To find a husband. Or…" she paused and her voice quieted a little, "at least that's what I thought. After talking to Tanjiro, I realized that I just wanted a place where I belonged. I'm naturally very strong and I stand out because of it, to a point where other people are embarrassed to be around or with me."
"That's ridiculous!" Obanai found himself saying angrily, leaning forward. She jumped at the sudden movement and he immediately backed off, looking away. "S-sorry."
"No, it's fine…" she paused, putting a knuckle to her mouth and glancing up at him through her lashes. "Why is that ridiculous?"
Obanai swallowed. "W-w-well, anyone who thinks you're not incredible and awe-inspiring is absolutely stupid and they don't deserve you! You're amazing, Kanroji-san. Your strength is one of your best traits! I would admire you no matter what! I don't know if you're stronger than me or not, but I don't care! I could never love someone who didn't put all their strength behind their convictions!"
Oh, no… she looked like she was about to cry! What did he do? Did he say something wrong? He felt panic begin to rise in his chest.
"I… thought you wouldn't… want to be with me," he blurted, realizing what he'd spoken only after he'd spoken it, and he felt his face drain of color. Going from blushing to pale couldn't be good on him… at least that's what the spots at the edge of his vision told him. He fought them away by focusing on the face of the girl sitting in front of him.
"Why would you think that?"
She asked a lot of questions.
And… and he had to be honest with her – to answer her. He didn't want to trap her in something she'd hate because of… well…
(Why had he let Kamado talk him into this? It had been such a terrible idea.)
So he reached up and began to unwrap the bandages around his lower jaw. Once he finished he sat there, looking down, not wanting to see the disgust on her face.
"Oh… Iguro-san… no… Obanai-san!" She wanted to call him by his personal name?! "What happened?"
So he told her everything; about being born into the clan, how he was a male child in a family of women and how outsiders were sacrificed to the snake demon – who'd been treated like a goddess in his family – for their own gain. How, when he was twelve, he learned he was a sacrifice, only growing until he would be of 'edible' age due to his strange eyes. How his family had cut his face from the tips of his mouth to the ears so he would look more like a snake to please the demon. How he'd managed to escape, and his entire family – except for his cousin – had been killed for it. How she berated him for escaping and how the entire family died because of him. Over 50 people…
When he finished, they sat there and said nothing. She'd only eaten about half of what was on the table, and he knew that was a bad sign.
"This was a bad idea," he said, standing up. "I'm sorry for wasting your time. You shouldn't be with someone as dirty as I am."
"What?!" she shrieked. The noise was so sudden it was his turn to jump and Kaburamaru tightened around his neck, so that must have startled him too. "How can you say that?! They were terrible people who sacrificed others and were going to sacrifice you just for being born! I don't care if they were all women, they can't just have babies on their own! How did they get pregnant? Where was your father? Your cousin's father? There was more going on there than you know and they were horrible people! No one should be sacrificed like that! It's a horrid practice that was done away with for a reason!
"Besides, you're incredible, Obanai-san! You took the most horrible part of your life – the snake-demon's identity – and made it your own! You became the Serpent Pillar! Instead of letting it stop you, you took those scars and turned everything around! You're not dirty! I've never believed that a person should be blamed for their parents' mistakes! And I would be honored to arrange an omiai with you!"
He just stood there for several seconds, staring at the girl who had risen from her seat, facing him and breathing hard… wearing the stockings he gave her because no one should walk around cold and…
Wait… were those tears in his eyes?
No… no, it couldn't be. He hadn't cried since…
"If you can accept me for being strong – just as strong as you are – then I can accept you with your past," she said, her voice quieter and tears in her own eyes. Then she shot him a weak smile. "But I might punch your cousin if I ever see her."
Obanai didn't laugh often. Or at all. He honestly couldn't remember the last time he laughed. But he did right then, ignoring how the stretching pulled at the scars on his cheeks. It hurt, a little, to laugh like that, but it also felt so good. And cleaner than he'd ever felt too, like the nails of his dead family that he'd always sort of felt digging into his skin and dragging him down, melted away. They were still there, but they… just didn't seem as important as they had before.
For the first time in his life, he felt as if he could be whole. With a woman even. One of the few women he didn't absolutely despise.
It felt… healing.
And that felt the best of all.
He'd set up arrangements to go and visit her family the following week. He wasn't quite sure what he could present or why they should consider him to date their amazing, incredible daughter, but she assured him that they'd listen to him and likely be immensely happy and welcoming.
He wasn't quite sure what to think of that, but then, he had little doubt she'd had incredible parents if she'd turned out like that. Especially the way she spoke of them.
"Who goes there?!" someone called out. Obanai blinked and realized he'd arrived. Right.
So he returned the call with the proper responses and was consequently hurried inside. He ran into Shinazugawa almost immediately. The Kakushi all gasped and backed away as the Wind Hashira strode towards them. The sun had long-since set and the moonlight shone off his bright hair, making him look like a wraith.
"So, you're finally back?" he asked with that nonchalant drawl of his.
"Yeah," Obanai returned.
"Oyakata-sama's asleep. You can see him first thing tomorrow."
The Serpent Pillar glanced at the Kakushi who all nodded in agreement.
"What took you so long?" Shinazugawa asked in a tone that almost made the question confrontational and accusing. "Did you run into demons?"
You mean, other demons? Obanai thought, but knew better than to say that aloud. Normally he would have replied that it was none of anyone's business, and that what had happened had happened. But part of him – the part that had been so high and free for the first time ever – couldn't be brought down, even by Shinazugawa's dour mood, and he wanted to share it.
"No. I met Kanroji-san. We're arranging an omiai."
Shinazugawa blinked. Then he opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it.
Finally he shrugged. "Good."
Obanai blinked. "Good?" he couldn't help but ask.
"Well, yeah," the demon replied with another shrug. "You've been pining after her since the first time you saw her fight."
Well, he wasn't wrong. Still.
"I didn't expect that answer from you," he said bluntly.
Shinazugawa shrugged a third time. "Nothing happened, so I don't really care. Do you want to train or sleep?"
He said it as if those two suggestions just happened to go together, like he hadn't changed the subject at all.
"Sleep," Obanai replied. It had been a long day.
Shinazugawa nodded. "Okay." He turned to the Kakushi. "You heard the man." Then he turned to leave.
The Serpent Pillar frowned. "Shinazugawa-san?" The demon paused and turned to him, slit purple eyes glowing in the darkness. It made for a terrifying picture, as was evidenced by the Kakushi backing away more. "Are you the only Pillar here?"
The white-haired man frowned. "No. Rengoku's here too. He's training with the other demon and the brats."
The… other demon and the brats. "The former Waxing Third?" he asked.
Shinazugawa rolled his eyes. "Well, yeah. Who else did you think?"
It could have been a new demon Obanai hadn't 'met' yet or Kamado even. There were other options. Still, Obanai didn't think pointing that out at the moment would be a good idea, or conducive to a still-standing estate by the end of the night. Obanai may agree with a lot of Shinazugawa's sentiments, but they had never been friends…
Or… had they? Now that he thought back, he and Shinazugawa had spent a lot of time together, and he didn't dislike the man's company…
Maybe he'd ask Rengoku?
(He shuddered.)
Maybe he'd ask Kamado the next time he saw the boy.
So instead of snapping bluntly, he shrugged. "Just making sure."
"Tch," Shinazugawa clicked his tongue. "Whatever."
"Brats?" Obanai pushed.
"The crybaby Thunder Tsuguko and… I ain't sure what to say about the boar-head kid. He's got potential, I suppose."
Oh. Them. Well, that explained everything, he supposed. So he turned to the Kakushi next to… The Kakushi who had been next to him but was now several feet behind him. Obanai clamped down on his usual lectures of weakness and dedication and cowardice. He was too tired and in too good of a mood.
"Please show me to my room."
"Yeah, later," Shinazugawa said, stretching one arm above his head. "I'm going to sleep too."
That took the Serpent Pillar by surprise. "I thought that was dangerous." He might sleep through something important.
"Don't have a choice."
Obanai frowned. "Why not?
The Wind Pillar tensed up, but then shrugged as he tried to look nonchalant. "Not exactly a lot to eat around here if you get me."
Ah. Well… point.
"Wake me up if something goes wrong," Shinazugawa said as he turned and continued walking back into the house.
"Yeah," Obanai replied, watching the white-haired Hashira disappear into the door frame. Wake him up. If they could. But it was better than the alternative.
He was a little uncomfortable, knowing the demon had had free reign of the house with Rengoku out training… but he also trusted Shinazugawa. Even now. Well, perhaps he should say the demon had earned some of Obanai's trust back.
That wasn't an easy thing to do.
So he turned to the Kakushi again. "I'll take dinner in my room."
That snapped the man out of his fear. "Of course, sir," he said, taking some initially hesitant, and then more confident steps in the same direction Shinazugawa had gone.
"Are we expecting any more Hashira any time soon?" he asked the dark-clothed people, wondering how thin they'd been stretched.
"Yes, sir," one of the kakushi now following him – a woman this time – replied. "We're expecting the Mist Pillar, as soon as the Final Selection finishes."
Oh?
"When will the Final Selection finish?" He hadn't known they'd reinstated it.
"In three mornings, Iguro-sama," a third Kakushi replied as they stepped into the actual house and began to walk down the long, empty halls of the mansion.
He'd probably get more information from Oyakata-sama in the morning. So for now, he just nodded and followed the Kakushi. He was looking forward to a hot meal, a bath and then a night to himself when he could think about Mitsuri, the upcoming omiai, and… well, everything. It was so much to think about and take in.
He allowed himself a small smile under the bandages he'd replaced. After all, no one but him would know it was there.
xXx
AN: I promise the set-up chapters are almost done! Thank you to Kaylessa, TimeLordTim, Found and Quathis for their help beta reading this! And thank YOU for reading!
Discord: discord. gg/xDDz3gqWfy (no spaces)
