Preparations
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Guest review answer corner.
Guest: I like ZenNezu too, that's why I'm just considering GenyaxNezuko for the moment, thank you for understanding; I hope you continue to enjoy the story regardless of which route I take.
Guest: Genya does deserve a lot of love; I'm still thinking about it but there is a very real possibility that I will go that route, hence why I said so in the previous chapter.
Thank you for the comment!
Guest: Thank you! Kanao will definitely be more involved in the story, I won't say how yet because it's spoilers but she will interact a lot more with everyone.
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Not much to say so let's get into it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Kimetsu.
Two days after Tanjiro and the others arrived at the Rengoku home.
Sabito walked calmly on the road towards the Flame Estate.
He had finished talking with Oyakata-sama about Tamayo's offer to help create a cure for demons earlier in the day and, to no one's surprise, he agreed to help.
Kagaya had told him that Tanjiro has the tool to store demon blood and to go get it from him as well as to send it over so the Kamado can send it to Tamayo.
The Water Pillar wondered why he couldn't just send it himself for a moment before the realization that Tamayo probably arranged it that way, he asked just in case anyway and his leader confirmed it.
He knows the story of how they met from Tanjiro and, judging by what his sibling-disciple said, she doesn't exactly trust the Demon Slayer corps.
'Well, her fears are justified.' The peach haired man thought with a shrug. 'I wonder if any of the Pillars will agree; Shinazugawa and Iguro are an obvious no; Tokito would probably do it if it was an order but, since it isn't, he won't; Kanroji… hard to say, I'll have to ask her; Tengen will probably ask Rengoku how Nezuko acts on missions and will decide after, same for Himejima-san; Shinobu… she is probably the one most likely to help aside from Giyu, Makomo and me but… something tells me she won't, at least for the moment.' Sabito frowned. 'The real problem is if Rengoku will help, if he outright opposes it will be hard for Tanjiro to collect demon blood, although I don't think he will interfere, maybe not help but I don't see him stopping him.'
Just as he finished that thought, he saw the entrance of the Flame Estate and Senjuro at the entrance, broom in hand.
'I guess I'll ask him now.'
"Ah, good afternoon." Senjuro greeted.
"Good afternoon, Senjuro-kun." Sabito said back, the two have met on the rare occasions he visits Kyojuro, not to mention the Flame Pillar likes to talk about his brother. "I came to see Tanjiro and I'd like to talk with your brother, are they here?"
"Yes, I'm not sure exactly where right now but they're in the house, please come on in; I'll help you find them."
"No, no, I don't want to take your time, I appreciate the offer, though." The Water Pillar assured him. "I'll manage, see you later."
"Very well." With a nod, the younger Rengoku went back to his task while Sabito entered the Flame Estate.
'It's past lunchtime so… let's check the training hall first.' He thought as he turned left.
"Shariputra, just as I praise the inconceivable virtue of Amida Buddha, so do the Buddhas… [1]"
"Hm?" He heard a voice from a room as he passed. 'That's…' Sabito knocked on the sliding door.
"Come in." He recognized Tanjiro's voice from the other side and opened the door.
"I thought I recognized that voice." Sabito said when he saw the Kamado and Genya, the former holding a worn out book and the two sitting at opposite sides of a table.
"Sabito!" Tanjiro blinked in surprise. "It's been a while."
"It has, good to see you two." The Water Pillar said to both, Genya nodded in response. "What are you doing, by the way?"
"Tanjiro's helping me memorize the Amida Sutra." Genya answered. "I trained with Himejima-san and he taught me 'repetitive actions', he even lent me his book of sutras to help me."
Tanjiro moved the hand holding said book for emphasis.
"He must like you if he lent you that." Sabito grinned. "But, I didn't come here just to say hello." The two teens raised their brows at that statement. "Oyakata-sama told me about that deal with Tamayo, he said you have a tool to extract demon blood."
"…thank you." Tanjiro smiled.
"Don't mention it." Sabito shrugged. "Ah, give me one for Giyu and Makomo too, I'm sure they'd like to help and I already asked Oyakata-sama to give me permission to tell them."
"Alright, please thank them in my behalf." He said as he rummaged the pockets of his haori and took out three of the knives. "Just stab a demon with it and it will extract the blood."
"Then I send it to you and you will send it to Tamayo." Sabito said to make sure, Tanjiro nodded. "Alright, does any demon's blood work or should I look for something in particular?"
"Any demon's blood should work but Tamayo-san said that the more related to Muzan the better."
"Members of the Twelve Demon Moons, then."
"Yeah." The Kamado nodded. "Thank you, again, Sabito."
"Really, don't mention it." The Water Pillar glanced away. "I'll let you get back to your work-ah! Do you know where Kyojuro is?"
"I think he is in the training hall with Inosuke and Zenitsu." Genya answered.
"Thanks, I'll go check."
"See you later." The two said while Sabito waved before closing the door.
.
.
Sabito could hear the sound of wooden swords clashing when he approached the training hall, he opened the sliding door and-
"GYAA!" Sabito saw a flash of yellow flying in his direction, took a step to the side and caught whatever was coming at him with one arm.
"What the…?" The Water Pillar wondered when he saw a blonde around Tanjiro's age, his eyes spinning around the room.
"Um… thank you."
"Ah, Sabito!" Kyojuro called out. "What brings you here?" The Flame Pillar asked as he deflected Inosuke's swords and knocked him back.
"Hm? Ah! You were with the woman with the fox mask!" Inosuke shouted, pointing at him with one of his swords.
"Makomo? How do you… ah, I remember you." Sabito realized after seeing the boar mask Inosuke's wearing. "You were in Natagumo."
"Alright, you two take a few minutes to rest while I talk to Sabito!" Kyojuro declared.
"I can still fight!" Inosuke tried to argue.
"I'm sure you can! But rest is important as well, feel free to train on your own while I talk with Sabito if you want!"
"Alright, come here and fight me Monitsu!"
"It's ZENITSU! Learn my name!" The blond, still being held by Sabito, yelled back.
"We'll just take a few minutes." Sabito assured the two as he let Zenitsu back on the ground and the two Pillars walked from the training hall and stood in the garden. "So, I just talked with Oyakata-sama today, I'm sure you can guess what it was about."
"I can." Rengoku nodded, his expression serious. "I suppose you came here to get that tool from Kamado and to ask me what I will do in regards to that proposition."
"Pretty much, I saw Tanjiro before coming to see you at the training hall." The Water Pillar furrowed his brows. "So?"
"I had a talk with them about it the first night they got here, long story short, I won't actively help but I won't interfere if they collect demon blood."
"That's a relief." Sabito said with a chuckle. "By the way, just curious, why were just those two training with you?"
"I trained with Kamado and Shinazugawa earlier but the latter wanted to continue memorizing his sutras like Himejima-san suggested and Kamado offered to help; just before, I was helping Golden boy with his attitude!" Koyjuro said, his usual smile back. "He doubts himself way too much, I'm trying to get him to have more confidence by sparring and Inogashira insisted on joining!"
"I… I'm not sure if being sent flying helps build confidence." Sabito admitted while shaking his head.
"Agreed! But facing someone strong and see your technique work against them does!"
"…does it work?" The Water Pillar asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Not exactly, he is fast but it's not a speed I can't react to; against a demon, though? I have little doubt it will and it will be easier for him to avoid their attacks and counter after sparring against me."
"I haven't seen any of them, but Tanjiro, fight so I'll trust your judgement." Sabito shrugged. "Well, I better get going, I still need to give these to Giyu and Makomo." He patted the pocket of his haori where the knives Tanjiro gave him were. "See you in two weeks for our usual get-together with everyone?"
"Of course! Have a safe trip home!"
Sabito nodded before turning around to leave.
'Now then, I should go back to help those two train.' Kyojuro thought. 'Hm?' Before catching sight of Tanjiro on the garden, a wooden sword on his hands. "Kamado, finished helping the younger Shinazugawa already?!"
"Ah, Rengoku-san, yes." He nodded, turning to look at him. "Genya said he didn't want to take away too much of my time since I also need to train so I came here, I thought you would still use the training hall to spar with Inosuke and Zenitsu."
"And you would be correct! I was on my way back just now after talking with Sabito!" He nodded. "He said you gave him some of the knives to collect demon blood."
"Yes, Sabito, as well as Makomo and Tomioka-san, will help collect blood, I'm very grateful to them." Tanjiro confirmed. "Ah, wait!"
"Hm?"
"I've been so tired after training the last two days that I kept forgetting, Rengoku-san, do you know about the 'Dance of the Fire God'?"
The Flame Pillar frowned in thought for a few seconds before shaking his head.
"It doesn't ring a bell!"
"I see…" The Kamado's shoulders sagged.
"What is that?"
"It's… well, I thought it was only a ceremonial dance that was passed down on my family, we offer the dance at the start of the year to ward off misfortune, but at Natagumo, I managed to combine its moves with Total Concentration Breathing to fight Rui, Lower Moon Five."
"…is that so?" Kyojuro's expression turned thoughtful. "Can you show me some of it?"
"Ah, yes, I can't use them properly yet but I can show you." Tanjiro took some distance and prepared his stance.
'Dance of the Fire God: Waltz!' Taking a deep breath, he dashed forward, flames covering his practice sword, as he did a downward slash, the pressure from the hit making some wind blow.
Taking another deep breath, Tanjiro relaxed his stance.
"That was the first step of the dance." He said before grimacing. 'The rebound is still too much for my body.'
"Hmm…" Kyojuro's eyes narrowed slightly. "I can't say I recognize it… but I feel like I've heard of something like that once."
"Really?" Tanjiro smiled. "Where?"
"Hmm… sorry! I can't remember!" The Flame Pillar's expression went back to normal. "But I'll go check some old records later and see if I find anything, in the meantime, I suggest you continue to train, that technique felt powerful."
"Yes! Thank you very much!"
Kyojuro nodded before saying he'll go back to spar with Inosuke and Zenitsu.
Undisclosed location.
Ito opened her eyes to the light of the lamp lighting her room, her eyes quickly adjusting.
Demons don't necessarily need sleep but, since she can't really help Tamayo and Yushiro with the more technical parts of their research, the two told her she could go rest and she didn't feel like doing anything.
'It's a really nice bed.' She thought idly as she got up from the bed, a bit of sleepiness still in her movements as she changed to the kimono Tamayo and Yushiro had given her. 'I should go see if they need help with something.'
Ito finished putting the kimono on and walked out of her room, accidentally tripping on the lower part of her clothes.
'Hm? Weird-'
"Oi, you." She looked up and saw Yushiro glaring at her. "Wh… ah, it's you." His expression relaxed.
"Is something wrong?"
"We need a bit more blood, even if you only got 'second-hand' blood from a Lower Moon, it's still better than nothing."
"Ah, alright, I'll be right there."
"Good… why the change of appearance, though?" Yushiro raised an eyebrow.
"…eh?"
"I don't care either way but you could have at least told us, I almost attacked you before I realized it was you."
"What are… you…?" Ito trailed off as she noticed.
She is not particularly tall but she never had to look up at Yushiro as much as she is at the moment.
Looking down at her hand, she finally realized.
Her milky-white skin color was gone, replaced by a, while still pale, more human-like color, her long white hair was considerably shorter, only reaching past her neck, and its color black. She couldn't see it but she knows her eyes had reverted back to their yellow color and her face had two maroon lines on her cheeks.
"Oi… what's wrong?"
Yushiro's voice sounded far away, even as he walked towards her.
"No…"
"Oi."
"No…" In that moment, Yushiro's image overlapped with someone else's, someone with a certain number etched on his eye.
"I told you not to show me that face."
The scream that followed the sentence she alone heard was enough to make Yushiro pause in shock and even cover his ears on reflex.
"What is going on?!" Tamayo asked as soon as she got there.
"Tamayo-sama… I don't know." Yushiro admitted, speaking over Ito's screams. "We were talking and she suddenly started screaming."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Ito began to repeat, over and over, unaware of Yushiro's words.
"Could it be… is this Muzan's curse?!" Yushiro wondered in a panic, scenarios in which they were about to be attacked or places they should relocate going through his mind.
"No, it's not that." Tamayo assured him. 'I made sure to cut off Muzan's influence over her, this is something different.'
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll do what you tell me, I'll be better." Ito muttered.
Tamayo's eyes widened, a feeling she had almost forgotten about resurfacing.
Without giving any signs she calmly walked forward, the sound of her steps making Ito look up again only for that same fear Yushiro saw in her eyes to be directed now towards Tamayo.
"I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She said again, scampering backwards but falling on her back, using one hand to support herself at an angle.
"It's okay." Tamayo said in the softest tone possible as she kneeled to her level. "Everything is okay." She assured her before gently wrapping her arms around Ito and slowly bring her close into a hug. "It's okay."
Ito looked stunned, her body frozen in place, as if waiting for something else to happen.
"Everything is okay." Tamayo repeated, gently stroking her hair.
The younger demon flinched at the contact but slowly began to relax, hesitantly raising her arms and tightly clinging to Tamayo.
.
.
"I… I'm sorry." Ito said, back to her white haired form.
It had taken around an hour for Ito to calm down and the three were now sitting in the living room of the house, Tamayo next to Ito and Yushiro in front of the two.
"There is nothing to be sorry about." Tamayo assured her gently. "But, if you don't mind me asking… what happened?"
Ito flinched again but took several deep breaths to calm down.
"B-back in… where Tanjiro-san and I met… I told you I was with a Lower Moon that wanted other demons to act like his family, right?"
"You did." Yushiro answered, his expression neutral instead of its seemingly constant frown.
"I… wh-whenever… whenever I or other of members of the 'family' did something he didn't like… he punished us." She revealed, hugging her form once again. "In my case… a lot of times it was because I couldn't maintain this form."
"I see…" Tamayo trailed off, a small frown marring her features.
"There is… something else." Ito continued, gaining their attention once more. "I… I think I've gotten weaker since getting here."
"What do you mean?" The other woman asked.
"I can still use the abilities I had in Natagumo but… they're not as strong as they used to, I…" She looked away in shame. "Before, I could capture humans in my strings and force them to move how I wanted to but… I think they could break free of them now, or at least, the ones that can use a breathing technique could."
"That's… strange." Yushiro frowned. "Even if Tamayo-sama cut off your link to Muzan and made it so you don't need human flesh… that shouldn't interfere with your abilities."
"We haven't done that procedure on many people, Yushiro." Tamayo countered. "And never on someone close to a Lower Moon; Ito-san, may I make some tests to ensure you're not in danger." She smiled gently before adding. "I promise to only perform painless tests and we can stop anytime you want."
"I… yes." Ito nodded.
At the Butterfly Estate
While Shinobu is the head of the house, her duties usually keep her from taking care of the day-to-day activities; save for performing check-ups as a doctor and deciding what medicine to give, the more 'mundane' activites are usually overseen by Kanzaki Aoi.
While younger than the Insect Pillar, she has made it her duty to ensure Shinobu can focus on the important tasks, acting as a nurse and ensuring that any patient gets the proper treatment once diagnosed; such postion has made her observant of others to make sure the medicine is working properly or that a patient isn't hiding wounds.
It is partially because of this that she was able to notice a change in someone, not a patient, but another member of the Butterfly Estate.
Kanao.
'What is going on with her?' Aoi pondered as she put some sheets to dry.
It's not like Kanao did a drastic change, she didn't suddenly begin talking with everyone and being a social butterfly or, the opposite, shun everyone out and tell them to leave her alone; for someone outside the Butterfly Estate, they would probably not be able to notice anything strange but, not counting Shinobu, Aoi is the person that has known Kanao for the longest time so she did notice the subtle changes.
'I thought Shinobu-san had told her to help us at first but she was just as surprised as I was when I mentioned it during dinner yesterday.' The blue-eyed girl thought. 'Looking back, I don't think she would have ordered Kanao to help us, ask her maybe but it would depend on Kanao's coin.' Her frown deepened. 'Maybe she tossed her coin to decide if she would help us or not? But… wouldn't someone need to first put the idea on her head so she can toss the coin and decide?' Aoi took a deep breath and let out a sigh. 'Well, it's not like I'll complain about extra help so, I'll just keep an eye on her for now and see if there is anything else strange; maybe she simply tossed her coin on a whim to decide to help us and I'm overthinking it.'
"Ah, Aoi-san!" She turned her head and saw Sumi happily running towards her.
"What is it, Sumi-chan?" She asked as she put the last sheet to dry before turning around.
"Here, for you." Sumi extended her right hand and revealed a candy.
"Oh, thank you." Aoi smiled as she accepted it. "Where did you get it?"
"Kanao-san bought it for us."
That sentence immediately froze her in the spot, as if someone had told her that a demon was approaching.
"K-Kanao bought this?"
"Yes, Shinobu-sama had asked her to buy a few things in the town and she brought these for us." Sumi answered happily, showing her own candy. "Ah, she had to leave for a mission immediately after she came back but asked that I assure Shinobu-sama that she payed for it with her own money."
Aoi's jaw felt like it would fall, not once did she think Kanao would do that, not without someone ordering her to and she knows no one did.
'Shinobu-san would NEVER order Kanao to use her own money, I know she gets a pay since she is a member of the corps but she never spent any of it… at least, not as far as I know. I know I didn't order her so… did Sumi-chan and the others did?' Her expression quickly turned to a frown. 'No… I mean, I guess it's possible but they would never outright order her to do anything, ask her maybe but-'
"Aoi-san."
Her train of thought was interrupted by Sumi's voice, who looked up at her with a worried look.
"Is something wrong?"
"Eh, ah, no, no, sorry." She quickly assured her. "I was just lost in thought… Sumi-chan, did you ask Kanao to buy these sweets?"
"No, Kiyo, Naho and I were really surprised when she came back and gave them to us." Sumi answered with a smile.
"…did you, or one of the girls, mentioned wanting to eat sweets?"
"I didn't… I can't say for sure about Kiyo or Naho but I don't think they did either."
'Wait… even if one of them did, or if Kanao just happened to overhear them talking about it… would Kanao toss her coin for that?' Aoi thought back to the last two days and how Kanao had been acting strange. 'She definitely still tossed her coin, I saw her a few times but that's… that's the usual so I didn't pay attention… not good, I need to talk with Shinobu-san.'
"Aoi-san?"
For the second time, Sumi's worried tone interrupted her thoughts.
"Sorry, it's nothing; I have to go talk with Shinobu-san for a second."
"Oh, alright."
With that, Aoi walked away and towards the Insect Pillar's room.
.
.
Aoi arrived at Shinobu's room before even realizing it, her feet bringing her there on memory alone while she was trapped in her thoughts.
"Come on in." Shinobu called out from the other side of the door after Aoi knocked.
"Please excuse me." Aoi said as she walked in, closing the door behind her.
"Ara~ Aoi-chan, do you need something?"
"It's…" The Kanzaki frowned once more, trying to come up with the correct way to say what's on her mind. "Have you… do you think Kanao has been acting strange lately?"
"Very much so." Shinobu answered immediately, a small smile on her lips. "Naho-chan just came here a few minutes ago and gave me a candy that apparently Kanao bought before saying she had to leave for a mission."
"It's not just that, the last few days, she has been helping around with chores without any prompting or anyone asking." Aoi chimed in. "I thought she had tossed her coin or something but this… I don't remember her ever throwing her coin to decide to buy sweets of all things."
"I don't either." Shinobu shook her head twice. "Are you worried?"
"…not exactly." Aoi said with a frown. "I mean… ever since she came here, I felt that she tossed her coin for everything that wasn't a clear order but… for example, if Kiyo-chan was tending to the clothes or doing another chore and she happened to see it… I don't remember her tossing her coin to 'decide' to help out; not once in all the years I've known her have I seen a situation like that so for her to suddenly buy sweets without anyone telling her to is… strange but… it could be a good sign?" Even as she said all that, she was clearly hesitant to put too much hope on those words.
"It could indeed be." Shinobu nodded. "I don't know what prompted this change or if it's actually a change but… for now, I'll just wait and ask her when she comes back." Her smile widened. "I don't think this is a bad sign, at the very least."
"…me neither." Aoi agreed. "We… I don't have anything against her but I can't say we're particularly close, even so… it's good if she is starting to think on her own."
The Insect Pillar couldn't agree more.
Four days after Sabito's visit.
'It feels like it was just yesterday that Sabito came to visit.' Tanjiro thought.
He is sitting on the porch of the Flame Estate, his haori and the jacket of his uniform neatly stacked next to him leaving him in only his pants and a white long-sleeved shirt, a wooden sword on his left hand and a bit of sweat on his forehead.
'Rengoku-san said that we will probably get a mission tomorrow, a Pillar-level mission.' The Kamado closed his eyes in thought, memories of his fight against Rui flashing through his mind. 'That time… I couldn't do anything, I only managed to stay alive because Rui was caught off guard by the Dance of the Fire God and Nezuko's intervention at the last second.' Tightening his grip on his sword, Tanjiro took a deep breath and released it all in one go, his eyes opening and burning with renewed resolve. 'I've gotten stronger since then, I'm not sure how much but I definitely have.' Getting up, he moved a few steps from the porch and prepared his stance. 'I can only keep working and do my best.' With that thought, he resumed his practice.
"Ah, Kamado, I see you're still hard at work!" He turned and saw Kyojuro.
"Yes, Rengoku-san… what happened to them?" Tanjiro asked, seeing the Flame Pillar carrying an unconscious Zenitsu and Inosuke under his arms.
"Hm! They pushed themselves a bit too far during training, nothing that Senjuro's food won't fix, I'm sure!" He answered with a laugh.
'I get the feeling it was more Rengoku-san pushing them too far.' The red haired teen sweat-dropped.
"Ah! Before I forget, I have to take care of something so I'll be gone until dinner, I might even not make it in time so feel free to eat without me! I already told Senjuro about it!"
"Oh, alright, what do you have to do?"
"…" For one of the few times since he met him, Kyojuro took a moment before answering. "I'm going to check on something and then… buy something for my father, let's leave it at that."
"…yes." Tanjiro nodded.
Despite being here almost a week already, they still haven't seen Kyojuro and Senjuro's father, Shinjuro; the Flame Pillar was very clear about not getting near his room to the point even Inosuke listened but it was still strange for Shinjuro himself to not leave his room in all this time.
"Great! Then, I'll leave you to it!" Back to his usual demeanor, the Flame Pillar walked inside with the two unconscious teens.
.
.
Later that night, Tanjiro, Genya, Inosuke and Zenitsu had all gathered in the dining room once Senjuro called them; the last two looking exhausted.
Nezuko had opted to stay inside her box since the first day; her presence put Senjuro on edge.
"Why me? Why is it always me?" Zenitsu muttered, his voice muffled since he was resting his head on the table. "Ah, Rengoku-san must hate me, that must be it."
"I'm sure he doesn't hate you, Zenitsu." Tanjiro replied.
"Then why? Explain it to me, Tanjiro, why is he always dragging me to fight him when Inosuke is the one that challenges him to a duel?"
The Kamado was genuinely impressed at how subdued he sounded; Zenitsu would usually scream his lungs out when he was complaining about something fight related.
'I guess he is that tired.'
"I try to avoid him, the second after the joint training ends I run away, I even tried to leave the Flame Estate but he simply chased me and dragged me back." Zenitsu let out a sigh. "…it reminds me of my time with Gramps."
'Hm?' Tanjiro grinned. "Then I guess it's not all bad."
"Huh?! What are you talking about?" The blond turned his head to him with a glare.
"You were smiling just now when you mentioned your master and your scent was really happy." The Kamado explained, having heard the story about his training when they were recovering from the Tsuzumi mansion.
"Ah…" Zenitsu trailed off and looked away in embarrassment.
"I'm sure Rengoku-san has his reasons." Genya chimed in. "I'm more curious why Inosuke keeps challenging him every day when we can't land a hit even when the four of us fight him together."
The Hashibira groaned but didn't say anything in response.
"Food is ready." Senjuro said as he brought the plates and set them down. "Feel free to start, I'll go bring food to my father and come back."
"Alright, thank you." Tanjiro smiled, Genya nodded and Zenitsu and Inosuke groaned as confirmation.
Giving a quick 'thank you for the food' the four began to eat.
"…we'll get a new mission tomorrow." The Kamado thought out loud.
"Eeeh?!" It was immediately followed by what sounded like a whine coming from Zenitsu. "Did you have to remind me?! I was trying so hard not to think about it!"
"Now, now, Zenitsu; the five of us will be there together, not to mention Rengoku-san." Tanjiro tried to calm him down.
"It will be a chance to get demon blood to send to Tamayo too." Genya chimed in.
"Yes!" The red haired teen smiled. "It's a shame that no one apart from Sabito came to ask for the knives but between the three of them and us, I'm sure we can collect enough."
"Just you watch! I'll collect more blood than all of you and the fox pack combined!" Inosuke suddenly yelled.
'Looks like the food brought back his energy.' Tanjiro thought with a chuckle.
Soon enough, the dinner table was as lively as usual.
.
.
'This place looks terrible.' Mukago thought as she walked along the remains of what used to be a human town; right now, calling it a ghost town would be the best description.
The buildings looked like they were ransacked, most doors off their hinges and holes that could pass as windows on the walls; the scent of blood permeated the air, some splashes of dry blood clinging to the ground or the side of the buildings.
'Well, if my assumptions are correct, then it makes sense.'
"What are you doing here?"
Lower Moon 4 allowed herself a moment of surprise before turning around.
"I came to see you, Rokuro." She answered, locking gazes with her 'superior', at least in rank. "I want to make a deal."
"…a deal?" Lower Moon 2 stood with his arms at his sides, his head titled to the side slightly.
"Yes, a deal." Mukago repeated. "One that would benefit the both of us."
There was a moment of tense silence between the two before Rokuro crossed his arms.
"I'm listening."
'First step, clear.' Mukago grinned internally.
"I'll just say it plainly, I want us to cooperate to kill a Pillar."
Rokuro's eyes narrowed.
"I'm certain that person meant that 'only those that can kill a Pillar or the kid with hanafuda earrings can serve him', as in, if you kill either of them yourself; saying that we killed a Pillar between the two of us would anger him."
"I agree but you misunderstand me." Mukago smiled as she raised her arms in a placating gesture before moving them so her palms were up. "That person said that we have to kill a Pillar or that kid, so what if by cooperating we could kill two Pillars, one each?"
"…go on." Lower Moon 2 continued to stare with narrowed eyes but looked willing to listen.
"There really isn't much more to the deal; I help you kill one of the Pillars and you then help me kill another of the Pillars, simple as that." Lower Moon 4 shrugged. "If you're worried about taking credit then each of us will give the finishing blow to one of them."
"And I suppose you offered this deal to the others as well?"
"Pff, of course not." Mukago chuckled as if someone just told a joke. "If 3 or 6 had survived, then maybe I would have offered them but I don't know this Susamaru, I rather not deal with an unknown, and Enmu… well, he creeps me out." She shrugged.
"Hah!" Rokuro barked a laugh. "Well, we agree on that at least."
"…so?"
Lower Moon 2 stroked his beard.
"Hmm… suppose I accept this deal, how exactly would we cooperate?"
"Well, it looks like you already prepared this place, didn't you?" Mukago grinned knowingly. "And I bet some slayers already passed through here, right?"
Rokuro shrugged, not giving an answer either way.
"I will give you something you can use to communicate with me, once you detect a Pillar entering your territory, you use it and I will immediately rush over." She smiled sadistically. "No matter how strong, they won't expect two demons to work together, even less if it's two members of the Twelve Demon Moons."
"…let's make something clear." Rokuro's arms moved to be at his sides once more and he walked forward. "If I accept, then the Pillar that comes here is my prey, I am the one that will take credit for the kill and, once that's done, I will help you bait and kill another Pillar."
"How do I know you won't just go back on your word after you kill a Pillar?" She frowned.
"You don't." Rokuro's sadistic grin matched the one she previously had. "But you already knew that when you came here and when you explained this deal of yours; didn't you?"
"…heh." Mukago chuckled lightly. "I knew you had a good head on your shoulders; I take it you accept if I agree to your terms?"
"Correct."
"Then we have a deal."
And another chapter ready!
Just a quick thing before I forget
1: That sentence is part of the 'Amida Sutra' that Genya repeats to use repetitive actions, I searched it via google.
Hi again everyone, it's been a while.
As you can see, this chapter was mostly to finish the set-up of what will happen in the 'Lower Moon Arc', as well to prepare for certain things that will happen with other characters.
Next time, everyone goes on a mission, how do you think it will go? Hehehe
Before I leave, an ANNOUNCEMENT!
There is a TanKana fanzine!
For the record, I am in NO way responsible for creating it, I just found out about it yesterday but go check it out if interested, there will be an announcement on March 9th!
END OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Ok, I think that's it, as always I hope you enjoyed and don't forget to leave a comment; I love reading them :D
Until next time!
