The Hashira instantly crouched into a bow. Gyutaro did the same. This was the man who had pardoned his Sister's and given his younger Siblings a safe home. Of course he was respectful to him. "It's nice to have all the same faces at this, our semi-annual Hashira meeting." He tilted his face towards the warm sunlight, "It seems we have exceptionally good weather today too. Perhaps with a blue sky?" he asked. "It's wonderful to see you are well Master. We fervently pray for your continued good health and well-being" Sanemi said. Gyutaro glared at him from the corner of his eye. He was still mad that the Bastard had stabbed Ume. "Gyutaro. You are here, aren't you?" Kagaya asked. The green-haired young man nodded, "yes Sir. I was under the impression that you had pardoned Ume and Nezuko. Did you not tell the Hashira that they weren't dangerous Demons?" he asked.
"I feared that they wouldn't believe me without proof. So I decided not to bother, as it would only stir up discontent within the Hashira, until they could meet Ume and Nezuko for themselves" the Ubuyashiki explained. Gyutaro felt a vein throbbing in his temple. As much as he respected the Master, this man just created a whole lot of work for his family. "I refuse to believe it. Demons are monsters and always will be. He's only defending them because they're family. I bet they've both eaten a whole score of humans" the Hashira with the snake said. Gyutaro gave the man a stink eye, before turning back to Kagaya, "should I prove it then?" he asked. "Yes, I think that would be wise Gyutaro" the black-haired man replied.
He stood up and took Ume's box towards the house, "sorry if this is rude Sir, but I can't exactly let her out in the sun" he said. He brought Ume's box into the house and placed it down. The Hashira watched intently. Gyutaro looked around, "could I borrow someone's sword please? My Sickle was taken" he asked. Sanemi scoffed and tossed his sword to the Kamado's feet, "go ahead. Prove us wrong, brat" he sneered. Gyutaro wisely refrained from commenting that he was older than the Wind Hashira. He bent down and knocked on Ume's box, "Ume. I've got something for you" he said, as he cut his arm slightly. His little Sister pushed open the box with a groan, blood dripping from her injury.
"I know. This will help" Gyutaro said. Ume stepped out of the box, growing to her full size as she did. All of the Hashira were glaring at her, so Gyutaro glared right back. Ume walked forwards, panting, as Gyutaro extended his bleeding arm to her. The white and green-haired Demon took hold of his arm and pressed her lips to the wound, before drinking a few gulps of the free-flowing blood. Gyutaro placed the green sword down and wrapped his free arm around his little Sister, ignoring the slight stinging sensation from the wound. Finally Ume pulled back with a sigh and a yawn, as her injuries visibly stopped bleeding, "thanks for that big Brother. I think I'll go back to sleep now" she said. Gyutaro nodded, "sure. You get as much sleep as you need." He replied.
Ume walked back to her box and stepped inside. Then she shrunk back down into her Toddler form and gathered up her hair and clothes. Without a word the Demon woman lay down in her box and pulled the door closed. There was a pregnant silence. Gyutaro turned to look at each Hashira in turn, staring directly into the eyes of both Kyojuro and his Master. The Flame Hashira looked astonished, before his gaze turned guilty. He was humble enough to look down in shame for ever doubting his former Student. As for Gyomei, he frowned, and also looked down in shame for doubting him. "What the fuck?! There's no way she didn't eat him! She's a fucking Demon for crying out loud!" Sanemi cried in shock.
"What happened?" Kagaya asked his Daughters. "Gyutaro Kamado cut his arm with Shinazugawa's sword. Then Ume Kamado drank some of the blood and her injuries healed. She then went back inside her box and is presumably asleep" one of the white-haired girl's said. Kagaya nodded and turned to face the Hashira again, "now we have seen that Ume will not eat a human. She didn't even try to eat her Brother, despite him bleeding in front of her. Is this enough proof for you all?" he asked them. None of them said anything, and Shinazugawa grit his teeth, "this proves one of them won't eat humans. But what about the other Demon? The younger one? Maybe the Older Demon can control herself, and only needs to drink blood, somehow, but how do we know the younger Demon can control herself as well? I still don't trust them" the Hashira with the snake said.
"Perhaps we should ask her Older Brother. Gyutaro, what is your opinion on your other younger Sister's ability to control herself?" Kagaya asked the young man. Gyutaro stared straight at Kagaya, "Nezuko was the first of our Sister's to recognise us and calm down after they'd first been turned into Demons. She never hurt any of us, and though her mind is more clouded than Ume's, making her less aware than her Older Sister, between the two of them, Nezuko's will is also the strongest. She still has a hunger for human flesh, unlike Ume, but never once has she harmed any of us, or any humans. After she was turned, we were in our house talking for a while. She didn't have a muzzle yet. But she gently held our youngest Brother in her arms, never once attempting to attack him.
Neither of our Sister's would ever harm humans. And they would never let other Demons harm humans either. So, like I said, there's no need for you to kill them" Gyutaro explained. The Hashira were silent before Kagaya spoke up again, "there, you see my children? The eldest Kamado daughters are no threat to humanity. Therefore, as Gyutaro said, there is no need to kill them. Do you agree with me now?" the Master asked. This time all of the Hashira were silent. Kagaya nodded, "very well. Onto the next order of business. Gyutaro?" he said, turning towards the green-haired young man. "Yes Sir?" he asked. "You and your Sister Ume, defeated Lower 6 of the 12 Kizuki by yourselves in your previous Mission, correct?" Kagaya asked. Gyutaro nodded, "Yes Sir, we did" he replied. The Hashira broke into whispers, shocked to learn that one of the boys they'd condemned had killed one of the 12 Kizuki, and survived.
"Also, in the Mission on Mount Natagumo, you and Brother Tanjiro defeated Lower 5 in that forest, did you not?" the Hashira once again broke into whispers, even more shocked that this young man had defeated two members of the 12 Kizuki so far, and at such a low rank at that! "Yes Sir, we did" Gyutaro replied. "I cannot promote either of you two to Hashira rank just yet, because of circumstance and the fact that your Sister's helped you so much, but keep training, and you may just get their one day" Kagaya said with a smile, closing his eyes as he did. Gyutaro thought the smile made him look as young as he was for the first time.
"Thank you Sir. Also, where are Tanjiro and Nezuko?" he asked. "Tanjiro is at the Butterfly Mansion, recovering from his injuries, which you will go to soon. And Nezuko is detained there, but I will now ask Shinobu to lift that detainment, is that alright?" Kagaya asked the butterfly woman. Gyutaro recognized her as the one who'd tried to kill their Sister's on Mount Natagumo. The black and purple-haired woman bowed, "if that is what you wish Master" she said with a smile. Although, it looked somewhat fake to Gyutaro. "In that case, I will take the Older Kamado Siblings to the Butterfly Mansion as well" Shinobu said. "Ah! Hold on!" he said. The woman's smile thinned, "is something wrong?" she asked.
"Can our younger Siblings be brought to visit us their? When they find out about this, I'm sure all of them will be worried" Gyutaro asked. Shinobu smiled brightly again, "oh! Of course! After you've both recovered from your injuries enough. You do need the rest after all. Once I have judged that you're fit to receive visitors, I will have the Kakushi bring your Siblings to the Butterfly Mansion. That said, if you do behave and rest, I'll permit you to exchange letters with the rest of your Siblings on your Situation. But I won't have a group of crying, hysterical children in my Hospital where the patients are trying to rest. Understand?" she asked.
"Yes Ma'am. Thank you for that" he said, with a nod. Then she clapped her hands, and two Kakushi appeared, one taller and with more muscles than the other. They bowed to the Master, then to the Hashira and grabbed Gyutaro and Ume's boy and ran out of the Headquarters. "Oh, and Gyutaro. Please give Lady Tamayo my regards!" Kagaya called. Gyutaro was surprised that the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps would know Miss Tamayo, who was a Demon. But he didn't have time to ask, as the Kakushi swiftly carried them away.
U*G.K
The trip to the Butterfly Mansion was quick. Despite having his leg broken in his previous Mission, he'd never actually been to the Butterfly Mansion, or any of the Wisteria Houses before. He was lucky Lady Tamayo and Yushiro had been so close the last time. Once they got to the Mansion, he could clearly see where it had gotten it's name from. Hundreds of Butterfly's were flying around in the area surrounding the building.
"Hello?! Is anyone here?!" one of the Kakushi called, looking around. They rounded the building, and found a young girl with dark blue hair up in twin tails doing the washing. She put the shirt she had been about to hang up to dry, "you're the Kakushi. That man is injured, correct? Come this way" she said. The girl led them into the building, and into a room with a bed, a wardrobe and a bedside table. "You can set him down here and I'll have a look at his injuries in a moment" the girl said, before walking off.
Gyutaro was let down onto the bed, "thanks for bringing me here. I didn't say it before, but my whole body is aching like crazy!" he said gratefully. The black-dressed men nodded, just doing our job" the taller Kakushi said. Then they left. Gyutaro groaned, he hoped he could check on Tanjiro and Nezuko soon. And write those letter's to their Siblings. With a sigh, he looked down at Ume's box, which was out of the sun, due to the hole in it. Gyutaro then gingerly adjusted his position on the bed. 'I wish we could have gotten a sample of Rui's blood for Miss Tamayo. I hope Sayuri was able to avoid any Demon Slayers. I should write her a letter too, so Chachamaru can go pick up Sayuri and lead her to where they're staying now.' He thought.
Sighing again, the green-haired 27-year-old felt his eyes droop, as his energy ran out. Without the adrenalin of the conversation with the Hashira to keep him awake, his energy was draining fast. When the young girl returned to assess his injuries, she found Gyutaro to be sitting back against the wall, head drooping forwards as he breathed evenly. She sighed, before calling Kanao to come help her get the green-haired Kamado into the bed properly. "I'll evaluate his condition properly later. At least he doesn't seem to have any broken bones" Aoi said softly, as the two girls walked away.