Gyutaro got dressed quickly and headed to the Ubuyashiki Mansion. 'I have to tell the Master about my Vision. I don't know whether we should be trying to get the marks anymore, if they'll just kill us in the end either way. But they're our only chance against Muzan! Goddamn it! What the hell do we do?!' he thought frantically. The 27-year-old raced through the Corps Headquarters, disturbing some poor Kakushi who were cleaning the Courtyard. Finally he reached the Mansion, finding Hinaki and Nichika waiting for him. "Thank you for arriving so quickly. Please come with us" the white-haired girls said.
Gyutaro tried to calm himself, but found that his hands were shaking. He followed the girls through the house and into Kagaya's bedroom once again. "Gyutaro. I had a v-vision that you would n-need to see m-me *cough*" Kagaya said weakly. His voice seemed to have skipped passed being horse, and gone straight to weakened stuttering. Gyutaro knelt down in front of the young man. "Sir, I believe I just had a dream that was part vision and part- I don't know what, but the important part is that my Premonitions about that Mark were right. In exchange for enhanced power, it kills it's user at age 25" he said.
"I see. Unfortunately, w-we don't have any oth-ther choice. If we don't k-kill Muzan th-this time, he, w-will not show h-himself t-to us again f-for cen-turies" Kagaya rasped. Gyutaro lowered his head. He'd thought as much this was their only chance, wasn't it? "I pray that, e-enou-gh of m-my child-ren, survive to d-die at 25-y-years-old" the Master said weakly, before he fell into unconsciousness. Amane silently led the young man out of the house. "Thank you for warning us about this Gyutaro. Really. But, with everything that we have to lose, dying at the age of 25 would be a blessing, as so many die even before that in the Corps.
My Husband is concerned about the apparent curse of the Mark. But any price to kill Muzan, and allow the future generation to live without the threat of Demons is low in his mind. Try not to worry about it. And prepare for the Hashira Training" Amane explained seemingly calmly. Gyutaro sighed in frustration once the woman had left, running a hand through his hair and kicking the gate of the mansion angrily. Trying to stop others from getting the mark, didn't change the fact that Tanjiro already had it. Meaning that he would die at 25-years-old.
Tears welled in his eyes. His younger Brother was going to die and he couldn't do anything about it! And his Master would die in a year's time. He was glad that he didn't have the Mark. He was already over 25-years-old. Would that mean he died the day he got it, or would it not affect him like that? Either way, it seemed more like a Curse Mark that something good. Gyutaro ran back home. Tanjiro had to know, at least! As Gyutaro walked home, he wondered how his Siblings were doing. Probably playing with Yuichiro again. He was no longer looing forward to the Hashira Training. It was training specifically to try and get something that would kill everyone.
But he understood where Kagaya was coming from. Either they got the Mark and died killing Muzan, or didn't and died for nothing. It was an impossible choice. But for the sake of humanity, and their family, they had no choice. Just like Kagaya had no choice but to sacrifice himself and his Wife. All he could do was pray that things turned out alright.
U*G.K
Soon he reached their house. "Oh Gyutaro! Are you alright, you just ran out of the house!" Tanjiro said, as he came out to meet him. The green-haired young man stared at the 15-year-old, and the Mark on his forehead. He had to struggle not to cry, knowing that it would kill his younger Brother. The first younger Sibling he had gotten after he became a Kamado. And there was nothing he could do to stop it. Gyutaro clenched his eyes shut, 'I have to tell him,' he thought, Tanjiro deserves to know!' the green-haired Kamado looked up at his Brother, startling Tanjiro at seeing the tears in his eyes.
"Tanjiro, I have to tell you something" he rasped.
U*G.K
His Brother stared at him in shock. He opened and closed his mouth several times, but nothing came out. "What? I'm going to die when I'm 25-years-old?" he asked hollowly. "That's what I saw. I'm sorry Tanjiro. I'm, so sorry!" Gyutaro burst into tears, hating how unfair the world was. Hadn't he already lost enough? Hadn't all of them? Their parents had died, their Sister's had been turned into Demons. And now Tanjiro was going to die in only 10 years! It wasn't fair! His Brother deserved to live a long, happy life once all the Demons were gone! After they'd killed Muzan, and avenged everyone he'd killed and more.
He didn't deserve this! Gyutaro felt a gentle hand land on his shoulder, and he looked up. Tanjiro smiled at him, "hey, come on! What's with all the tears? You act like I'm dying right now, not in 10 years time! I'll still have years left to live, and I can have a family of my own, so don't worry about it. 10 years is more than enough time to do everything I want, live a fulfilling life. As long as we kill Muzan. Right?" the burgundy-haired teen asked with a smile. "Tanjiro," Gyutaro said sadly. 25 should be the beginning of his young adult life, not the end of it. And for Tanjiro, of all people to have that fate- "it's not fair Brother. You deserve to be able to live a long happy life. After everything you've been through" he said sadly.
"And yet, that's how it is. As long as we can turn Ume and Nezuko back into humans again at the least before I die, I'll be content. Of course, I might get to do more than that, if I'm lucky. And our Siblings will all get to live long, fulfilling lives. As their Older Brother, I'm satisfied with that much. So don't worry about me Gyutaro. As long as we kill Muzan, if we survive, I'll live the rest of my life to the fullest" Tanjiro said with a grin. Gyutaro let out a long sigh, "alright. I still wish there was something I could do, but if you've made your peace with it, then I suppose I should leave you be" he said, before smiling sadly, "as your Older Brother, let me take you for your first Drink when you're old enough, okay?"
"Sure" Tanjiro agreed, "now, dinner is ready. You ran out of the house so suddenly and fast that Hanako didn't get to tell you before". "Cool, what are we having?" Gyutaro asked. "Omlette Rice. Miss Kanroji taught Hanako that one as well. Also," here he paused, "she asked is she could go see Hakuji tomorrow. I told Hanako that she should ask you first" Tanjiro looked at him nervously, "what do you think big Brother?" He asked. Gyutaro sighed, "I guess he hasn't tried anything, and Shinobu did take him on as a Butterfly Nurse. Fine, she can go see him, as long as I can go with her to supervise" he replied.
Tanjiro grinned, "sure. That would leave Ume and I here to take care of our Siblings and Yuichiro. Sounds good Gyutaro" he replied. And so, the Brother's entered the house to eat with the rest of their Siblings, and the Tokito twin.
U*G.K
Th next day, Gyutaro waited for Hanako to get dressed. She came downstairs wearing the Kimono she'd bought to visit their Grandmother's Grave. (Come to think of it, she never ended up going, did she?) "Okay, I'm ready to go now Big Brother" the 12-year-old said with a big smile. Gyutaro couldn't help but grimace as he thought of Hanako being courted by Hakuji, and it wasn't because he was a Demon. "So, you're just going to be talking today, right?" Gyutaro asked. Hanako sighed, "yes Gyutaro. I've told you that the last 15 times you asked" the little girl replied patiently, slowly, as though he were a toddler and couldn't understand what she'd said.
"Well, he is much older than you. I don't want you taken advantage of and hurt" Gyutaro replied. "I've told you, Hakuji doesn't eat humans anymore Brother" Hanako replied, annoyed. "I'm not talking about eating you. I know that he doesn't eat humans, and didn't at women. I mean, I don't want you to get your heart broken, if he's not the kind of person that you think he is Hanako" Gyutaro explained worriedly. "Hakuji is very kind and gentle with me. He likes talking bout fireworks, and flowers that he's seen, and he likes asking me about my family, not to mention that he's very awkward around me.
He's not the kind of person that would hurt a girl. No matter what kind of hurting it is. Can't you trust him?" Hanako asked, getting upset, "can't you trust me?" Gyutaro sighed, "It's not that I don't trust you. I just want you to be careful, okay? This is my job as your big Brother, after all, right?" he asked with a small smile. Hanako smiled slightly, "yeah. You're a great big Brother Gyutaro" she replied. The Oldest Kamado walked his little Sister over to the Butterfly Estate, hoping everything would go okay. Soon they reached the building, the three youngest girl's greeting them at the door. "Oh, Hanako! It's good to see you again.
Mr Hakuji is waiting for you in his room" Naho said. When they saw Gyutaro was with her, Kiyo let him in, "oh, hello Mr Gyutaro. What are you doing here? Do you feel sick?" she asked. "I'm here to supervise, since no one told me that my baby Sister was going to be having a date with an Upper Rank Demon tonight" Gyutaro said firmly. "Big Brother, you're embarrassing me!" Hanako hissed. There was an uncomfortable silence, before someone nearly bowled both him and Kiyo over. Gyutaro grabbed the person, only to see a red-faced Genya in his arms. "Oh, good job Mr Gyutaro. If you could just bring Genya back to my office for me" Shinobu said as she walked up to them. She looked over the group clustered at the door. When she saw Hanako, she smiled wider, "ah, here to see Mr Hakuji? He did tell me that he was having a Date tonight" Shinobu said.
Gyutaro maneuvered around the other girls with Genya in hand, "excuse me girls," he glanced down at Hanako, "I'll be back. Make sure I don't have to threaten Hakuji at Sword-point, got it?" he asked. Hanako went red, "Bro-ther!" she cried, mortified, before the two Demon Slayers were gone.