"So good of you to come, my beloved children." Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, slowly walked towards our direction as he's being guided by his children. Looking at his face, it seems like the curse mark is slowly covering his face. That's not good. From what I remember about Ubuyashiki's words on the curse, most bearer of the curse dies before they reach the age of twenty-five, so it would explain the reason as to why he's the ninety-seventh head of the Demon Slayer Corps. But still, the fact that he's about to die makes my heart wrench.
Kaguya was the one that saved me from my despair. I'm not about to let him die if I can still do something about it.
Even if it means killing Muzan myself.
"Good morning, everyone. The weather is amazingly good today." Although his words are only greetings, his voice can make everyone at ease, judging at how the rest of the Pillars calmed down. "I wonder if the sky is blue." Damn, so the curse has managed to spread that far. "It pleases me that we've made it to our semiannual Pillar meeting with no personnel changes." Of course, there are no personnel changes, we just send you our reports about a day ago. Is he trolling right now? I wouldn't blame him if that's the case. I mean, I would do it if I'm about to die.
I heard a loud thud to my right. Discreetly looking at it, I see Sanemi forcibly holding Tanjiro's head to the ground. It would kill you to be nice to the kid, you know? Since he's still injured and all. "I am pleased to see you in good health, as well, Master. I fervently pray for your continued good fortune." One moment, he's acting like a total lunatic and the next, he's being formal and polite. I only wish that he could extend that courtesy to... well, everyone.
"And I as well, Ubuyashiki. It's good to see you still walking around." I steadfastly ignored the shivers that I'm getting right now. With how dangerous the glares I'm receiving, I instead focus my gaze at Kagaya. I'm not even working at a desk job and I'm still experiencing the negatives of having a desk job!
"Thank you, Sanemi, Hachiman." I saw a slight twitch on Kagaya's lip. Don't you dare think that I didn't see that, Kagaya! You enjoy seeing me suffer, huh?! Damn ikemen!
"If I may, Master. Before we start the Pillar meeting, would you mind enlightening us about this swordsman, Kamado Tanjiro, accompanied by a demon?" I'm also interested in learning about it. Why is Tanjiro being accompanied by a demon? There's no way that this is allowed with the only exception being he's guaranteed by someone. Is it Giyuu? The kid is also using the Breath of Water, so it's most likely him.
"Right... I apologize for startling you all. About Tanjiro and Nezuko, I've sanctioned their situation." So I was right. "And I'd also like you all to accept it." That would be hard to sell, Ubuyashiki.
"Ah... Even if it's what you desire, Master, I cannot agree to it." Gyomei speaks out. Not that I blame him, considering what he suffered towards the demons.
"I'm flamboyantly opposed, as well!" With his fingers 'flamboyantly' pointing at him, Uzui continued, "A Demon Slayer traveling with a demon is unacceptable!"
"I shall do whatever it is you wish, Master!" I know that you're the Love Pillar, Karnoji, but you need to pick your words carefully, especially since you haven't noticed the one person that has a crush on you.
"I'm fine either way." Did Tokito sleep on the way to the estate again? I'll have to reprimand him again if that's the case. Just because Yuichiro is showing signs of waking up from his coma, doesn't mean that he has to take care of his twin every single day. We have doctors and nurses trained for that reason!
"I won't trust them. I won't trust them." You don't have to repeat your words twice to prove a point, you know? "I loathe Demons in the first place, so why should bother giving this demon mercy?" Calm down with the roleplay, Iguro.
"Although I respect you with all my heart, that's an incomprehensible notion, Master! I oppose it with everything I've got!" Do you have a fetish for contradicting yourself, Kyojuro?
"The Demon Slayer Corps' mission is to eradicate demons. I request that you penalize both Kamado and Tomioka!" I almost thought that he wished for their deaths. Good thing that he didn't.
"Kamado Tanjiro is being guaranteed by Urokodaki and Tomioka, isn't he?" I blurted out. It makes the most sense; Nezuko not eating a single human for two years, Urokodaki taking care of the siblings. That old bastard is crafty. I saw Kagaya's smile become more pronounced.
"The letter." I saw Hinaki unfolding a letter. "This is a letter received from a former Pillar, Urokodaki Sakonji. I shall read you an abridged version." Well now, this should be fun.
"Please allow Tanjiro to be accompanied by his sister, a demon. Because of her resilient mental strength, Nezuko has not lost her human emotions. Even in a starved state, she never devoured humans, and this had held for more than two years. Although the situation seems somewhat far-fetched, it is an indisputable fact. If Nezuko does assault a human, Kamado Tanjiro, as well as Urokodaki Sakonji and Giyuu Tomioka will atone by committing seppuku."
Wow... I have nothing to say to that except that these three believes in Nezuko. And as an older brother, my respect for Kamado Tanjiro grows.
"So, what if they commit seppuku? If you want to die, then rot in the dirt for all I care!" Oy, those words are way too out of line. "It's no guarantee! Not by a long shot!"
"Shinazugawa is right! It won't bring back the people who were killed!" As much as I want to disagree, Kyojuro is right. It wouldn't bring back the people who were killed by the demons but it doesn't mean that we should be blinded by our hatred towards the Demons. I can see it clearly, a change is happening and it would revolve around the Kamado siblings.
And I'm not about to let it go.
"If that's the case, then I shall also guarantee Kamado Tanjiro's words and if Nezuko does devour a demon, then I, Hikigaya Hachiman, shall also commit seppuku." I solemnly stated as the rest of the Pillars had a look of shock on their faces, even Kagaya was surprised but it was quickly removed.
I felt myself being lifted and lo and behold, I saw Shinazugawa's face baring at me. "What did you say, Hikigaya!? You're willing to commit seppuku because of that demon-loving brat?!" Shinazugawa roared as he shook me hard. I can feel my haori being torn up. Stop that. This haori is custom made and I don't want you to ruin it because you wanted to make a point!
"Nii-san, are you serious?" Although aloof, I could hear Tokito's concern when he spoke. Don't make me back down on my words, Tokito! I have a good explanation for this, so you need to wait.
"Onii-sama, I hope that you're joking. You better have an explanation that I can bring back to Onee-sama." Can you please remove your hand at the handle, Shinobu? I might think that you wanted to kill me first before I can even commit seppuku!
Sighing, I pointed to my eye. "That's easy to explain. His eyes." Earning a look of confusion from Shinobu and a chuckle from Kagaya, I continued, "The eyes are the window of the soul and looking at Kamado, I can confidently say that Kamado can make sure that Nezuko would never and will never eat a human." As I looked at the kid, I can see tears dripping through Tanjiro's eyes. Don't cry, man. You're making me feel embarrassed at my words. And now I feel like a shounen protagonist. Great, as if the day could not get any worse. Oh yeah, I still need to contain Shinobu's glare.
I know what to do. Looking at Shinobu, I gave her a smirk, "Besides, Kanae would understand." I hate using that card but if it means that I can get Shinobu to agree, then I would use it. Seeing her eyes widen and huffing cutely is solidifying into my mind that Shinobu is a Tsundere. No matter how much she tries to copy Kanae, Shinobu could never really hide her Tsun side.
Ubuyashiki chuckled, either from our antics or from the situation that is currently unfolding, causing the rest to turn their gazes back to Ubuyashiki, "You do have a point. We can't guarantee that she won't attack humans and we can't prove it. That said..." Here, although it was carefully hidden, his voice lowered. "We also can't prove that she will attack humans."
Sanemi gasped but Ubuyashiki continued, "The fact is that Nezuko has refrained from devouring humans for more than two years and also that four people are risking their lives for her. To reject this notion, those who reject it must offer an even more convincing argument." And there it is; Mr. Ubuyashiki's cold, hard facts. Man, if this guy were to be born in the twenty-first century then he would be a politician or a lawyer.
I looked to the left and I could see Kyojuro's smile leaving his face. Although he doesn't show, Kyojuro was the type of guy that knows how to hide his feelings. Just like Hayato, he would always grin; no matter the circumstances. Since we first met I used to hate his guts because he reminded me of Hayato but ever since we had that conversation...
"Also, there's something that I'd like to relay to you, my children. Tanjiro here has met Kibitsuji."
I felt my hands gripping the ground fiercely. Finally. The Demon has made a mistake.
"What?! The kid has met Kibitsuji?! The only Hashira that has met with Kibitsuji is Hikigaya and even then we still lack information!" That was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, Uzui and I wasn't even a member of the Demon Slayer Corps back then! So don't say it as if I have a group of shinobi just lying around gathering information!
"Did you battle him?" He didn't. Otherwise, he wouldn't be here if that's the case, Tokito.
"What was Kibitsuji doing?! Did you find his stronghold? Answer me!" Please stop that, Sanemi. Kamoda can't answer you if keep spinning his head around like a washing machine. "Shut up! I asked him first!" God damn it, Uzui. I swear, they act more like children than proper adults.
Their bickering was stopped when Ubuyashiki silenced them. And he didn't even to speak. I wish I could that back then, mainly because I want Zaimokusa to stop speaking every time we meet. "Kibitsuji has sent pursuers after Tanjiro. Though his purpose may simply be to silence him, now that Kibitsuji's given himself away again, I don't want to let it go a second time." The Demon has slipped and we now have a trace. "I also believe that something's happening to Nezuko that Kibitsuji never saw coming." There's that too.
"Can you try to understand?" That's asking too much, Ubuyashiki. While everyone just stares at him, Sanemi doesn't and instead replies, "No, I can't understand, Master."
Shaking in anger, he continues. "If it were human, then I'd be okay with letting it live but not a demon! Not after all that we, the Demon Slayers, have gone through in battle! Not after so many people have lost their lives! It's unacceptable!" Damn it. Just when things were about to cool down. Sanemi is going to do something stupid, I can tell.
Lowering myself so that I can whisper to Kamado, I quietly spoke, "Kamado-san, I request that you remain calm. Sanemi is going to do something drastic and I don't want you to make a scene. Is that okay?" Seeing him nod, I nodded as well before gesturing to Sanemi, who's currently taking out a sword and proceeding to slice up his wrist. Of course, he's going to do that. With Sanemi's blood being a Marechi, Nezuko would have a hard time resisting the most intoxicating blood to a demon. I still don't know what type of blood a Marechi is included in but I hope that they can finish what type of blood it is before the year's end.
"Master, I will prove it to you myself! The sheer ugliness of a demon!" After that, Sanemi proceeded to take the box and roughly slamming it down to the ground. I can hear Tanjiro gritting his teeth but he still hasn't made any attempts to break out of his ropes. That's a good sign, Kamado. Control your emotions if you want to prove that your sister is someone different.
"Hey, demon. It's time to eat! Sink your teeth in this!" Sanemi states as he let the blood drip into the box. I keep my grip on Tanjiro's shoulders as he tries to move. "There's no need to force yourself to hold back. Just show us your true colors and I'll decapitate your head right here, right now! You demon!"
"Shinazugawa, it's no good doing it in the sunlight." And why do you have to complicate matters, Iguro!? "We have to go into the shadows or the demon won't show its face."
"Master, please forgive this discourtesy." After saying those words, Sanemi proceeded to jump into the mansion and throwing the box into the ground. Before Tanjiro can shout and attempt to break free out of his restraints, I strengthed my hold on his shoulder. Shooting me a desperate look, I only shook my head, indicating that no, you should not try and attempt to break free, even if Sanemi is stabbing the box and pouring his blood into the holes. I turned my head to Iguro, who's about to jump and stop Tanjiro. I just looked at him, proceeding to give me the stink eye. He relented and instead, focused his gaze towards the event that is happening.
"Come on out, demon! It's the human blood you love so much!" Seeing no reaction, Sanemi opened the box and slowly, a girl rose up. Although I couldn't see much of her physical characteristics, the fact that her mouth is dripping with saliva is an indication of her being a Demon.
"Nezuko!" Tanjiro shouted as she glared at Sanemi.
God, I hope that I made the right choice. I don't want to commit seppuku, I still have the kids and my wife and child to worry about! So please, grin and bear with it, Nezuko!