When the boy ran off with his demon sister in his arms, Angela knew she had just broken a sacred rule of the Demon Slayer Corps. Though, she knew well enough what she was getting into the moment she decided not to kill the her.
She had found Giyu, the boy, and the demon girl because of the beautiful display of red and pink flames mixing together to form what looked like fireworks in the sky. Fiery halos circled that section of the forest in what should've resulted in a deadly forest fire. Curiously, it didn't cause any havoc or wrecked the beautiful bit of nature God had created personally with his owns hands. She had to go see what caused such dangerous yet intriguing colors.
By the time she arrived, Giyu had already sliced off the head of the angry demon boy that tried to kill the helpless Demon Slayer crawling across the ground. That was when she noticed the marking engraved on the demon's eye: LOWER RANK FIVE.
The Master had his suspicions about something lurking in the forest that had been killing hundreds of Demon Slayers. He originally was going to send just Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho as backup but Angela was adamant on going along with them. She expressed she couldn't handle the thought of so many dead Demon Slayers and their restless souls wandering the dark lonely mountain for all eternity. She wished to grant them peace, to give them a state of mind, as well as granting her own.
He listened intently with a small smile. She knelt on one knee and bowed low to the ground asking, nearly begging, to attend even though he couldn't see it. At last, he granted her permission.
Angela did as she promised her Master she would do; she set the lost souls free and granted them eternal peace. It was within her power as an angel to do so. She had the power to calm souls, put vengeful spirits to sleep, and guide those who were lost. The innocent and pure, the strong and weak, were all given equal access to a new life, a happier life, where they would thrive without suffering at the hands of the demons.
When she saw the dead member of the Twelve Kizuki lying beside the boy and the girl underneath him, she almost turned away. She thought she was going to witness the demon try to defile the two with its last moments but, instead, she witnessed an act of kindness that nearly melted her heart.
The Demon Slayer had placed a gentle hand on the demon and looked down at it with such sympathy, warmth, and kindness. Tears stung his eyes as his hand clenched around the white robes seeing the demon beginning to disintegrate with every passing second. She didn't need much time to figure out that the Demon Slayer and the girl underneath him were badly injured and wounded by that demon. Even though the demon had every full intention on killing them, whether it would be quick or painfully slow, the Demon Slayer still showed him compassion.
Many times, Angela had forgotten she was an angel. A servant of the light to guide lost souls and heal those who were in trouble, the good and the bad. She had no intention on giving the demon a peace of mind, knowing full well he deserved what he was going to get, but completely changed her mind seeing the Demon Slayer's compassion. She believed the demon still needed to repent and be properly punished for the slaughter he caused, but allowed a small word that he deserved a second chance. What solidified her decision was the small vision in her head of the demon crying tears of joy and shame reuniting with his dead parents. Even if the reunion was in hell, it was better than rotting all alone in the merciless fiery flames.
After it was over, she shifted her attention to the Demon Slayer boy. He had placed his body protectively over the young girl and didn't move a muscle as she approached. In an instant, she knew the girl wasn't human. She could sense the souls of everyone around her; humans and demons have distinct types. And the girl's felt just like a demon's.
Though, she couldn't bring herself to kill her. The Demon Slayer boy was protecting her with his life. There had to be a reason.
When she laid a hand on the girl's head, she was then granted access into her soul. She wandered around searching for any indication the demon could possibly be a threat to her, to Giyu, to the boy, and to any human around them. Just one tainted black spot, one human kill or devour, would be enough evidence for Angela to immediately kill her. Except she never saw one. The girl… was completely devoid of all human consumption.
"I see. Very… interesting," She couldn't help but whisper in awe.
The thought of killing the girl no longer crossed her mind. She might've been a demon but she never harmed a human before. She never saw the dark stain of human blood. It seemed like her soul had no motivation or will to kill and consume. All she felt was the love of a sister for her brother, and vice versa.
If Giyu hadn't made a move to kill the demon girl, she was glad. She didn't want to fight him for the life of a demon. Or fight any Demon Slayer for that matter.
That was, until, Shinobu Kocho stormed in.
Angela planned on letting the boy go secretly with his sister but Kocho wasn't going to let that happen. She was serious about killing the girl and had the audacity to sound cheerful about it. Even poking fun at Giyu's insecurities made her giggle and smirk, and it wasn't something she could stand behind.
She didn't want an innocent soul to be killed just for being a demon.
So, she was forced to fight. Both she and Giyu exchanged blows with Kocho. They charged, slashed, and deflected each other's hits. The three of them were on even fighting grounds but Angela and Giyu were stronger. Just by the sight of their swords, how Kocho's was thin and not a full blade like theirs, showed it. The fight was indeed unfair but Kocho wouldn't understand about the boy's predicament.
Seeing she was outnumbered, Kocho tried to make a run for it to catch up to the boy and his sister. Except Angela immediately caught up to her. Her wings gave her a huge advantage with speed and flight.
She grabbed Kocho, twisted her arms back, and planted her into the ground stomach first.
"I will not have you hunt down the girl, Kocho," Angela defiantly said to her friend.
A vein popped out of Kocho's head and grin that held no friendliness spread on her face. "Tenshi, are you listening? Since my attack was to slay a demon, and therefore justified, I don't believe it could be construed as a violation. But what you're doing is against the Corps rules. You're preventing me from slaying a demon. Just what are your intentions here? This is your final warning," She giggled in between gritted teeth.
"I felt her soul, Kocho. She hasn't harmed a human," Angela began to speak but—.
"Please don't start with that soul rambling again, Tenshi. You know how annoying it could be. You're doing it to spite me. Don't tell me you're angry on the behalf of Tomioka when I said no one likes him but you," She purred with a smirk.
Angela and Giyu froze and went rigid at her words. Heat rose to her cheeks and she refused to look at his reaction. Instead, she tried to refocus on Kocho but her moment of weakness was already exploited.
Kocho had kicked out a hidden blade from the heel of one of her white zori sandals and kicked it backwards towards Angela's head! There was no time to dodge such a swift and calculated attack—!
"Message! Message!" A Kasugai Crow suddenly announced in the air.
All three of them froze once again in their places hearing the crow circle the air above them. "I have a message from headquarters! Tanjiro and Nezuko are to be taken into custody and brought back to headquarters! Tanjiro and the demon, Nezuko, are to be taken into custody and brought back to headquarters! Tanjiro, dressed in a checkered haori, with a scar on his forehead! Nezuko, a demon girl with a bamboo muzzle! Bring them back! Bring them back!"
So that was the end of it. The Demon Slayer boy, Tanjiro, and the demon girl, Nezuko, were to be taken into custody alive.
Angela instantly let go of Kocho and the three of them sheathed their swords. Then, they slowly began to walk back to headquarters in complete silence. There was still tension in the air but all hostility had completed dissipated. Angela and Giyu may have broken a Corps rule but it would be dealt with by the Master.
They walked for a few minutes when the sky was suddenly colored in pink, yellow, and orange streaks. The dark forest was slowly lit by a bright warm yellow light that ascended from beyond the horizon. Angela turned her head and watched, in awe and astonishment, as the sun began to rise from the east. The darkness felt like it had lasted forever and she feared she'd never see the light of the heavens again. She greeted it warmly with a small smile and continued walking.
She accompanied the Kakushi and helped delivered the wounded from Mount Natagumo, finally freeing herself and its victims from the darkness.
Then, she found herself standing in front of the Master's mansion. But she wasn't alone.
There, unconscious at her feet, was Tanjiro Kamado. His hands had been bound behind his back, his face planted into the small pebbles beneath him, and it looked like he had no indication of getting up soon. Angela wanted the boy to rest, he was suffering from injuries she wasn't allowed to heal, but what was going to happen was far more important.
Goto, a member of the Kakushi brigade, knelt by him. Even with the white cloth covering his face, she could see the annoyance very clearly and in his voice. "Wake… Hey! Hey you! Come on, you! Come on! Are you going to sleep all day?! Wake the hell up, will you?!" He screamed down at him.
Tanjiro's eyes flickered open with a gasp spilling from his lips.
"Bummer. I heard he was a Demon Slayer with a demon in tow, so I was looking forward to seeing someone flamboyant, but that's one drab-looking kid, huh?" Angela heard someone sigh out in disappointment near her.
The sound of marbles softly rolling together then pierced her ears.
On the other side of her, someone loudly declared, "And we're here for this boy's trial! So it shall be!"
A soft jovial sigh emitted from beside her, dreamily speaking, "To think he's been protecting his sister who's now a demon… Now that's a beautiful sibling love! How brave!"
Tanjiro's eyes widened hearing their voices and his eyes flickered over those who had been speaking all around Angela. "Who are these people—?" He tried to gasp out but Goto roughly shoved his head into the pebbles with his hand. A small grunt of pain spilled from his mouth and it took everything Angela had to not race forward and shove it off.
"Don't open your mouth just yet, you moron!" Goto criticized him. "Just who do you think is standing before you?! You are in the presence of the Hashira!"
Her eyes ran over those who stood beside her. Most of the Hashira stood together staring down at the boy who looked up at them with shock, fear, and confusion. On her right stood the Flame Hashira, Mist Hashira, Stone Hashira, and the Insect Hashira. On her left stood the Love Hashira and the Sound Hashira. Far away from them was the Water Hashira who didn't stand before Tanjiro with them. Then, there was herself, the Angel Hashira, who stood in the very center.
They all stood in the garden outside of the mansion her Master lives. Large wisteria trees lined the very spacious property outside of the stone wall protecting them from the outside world. It was beautiful but at the moment its beauty couldn't be held because of their circumstance.
"This is the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters," Kocho, the Insect Hashira, began to speak with a smile, "You're here because you, Tanjiro Kamado, are to be put on trial."
His eyes widened in fear at the word 'trial'.
"Before we begin the trial, why don't you explain the crime you've comm—," Kocho was beginning to explain when someone interrupted her.
"There's no need for a trial!"
All of their eyes turned to Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira. He stood tall, strong, and proudly beside Angela with his arms across his chest. His long bright yellow hair accented red streaks akin to flames along with shoulder-length bangs and two chin-length bangs flowed softly in the wind, his white-yellow gradient pattern haori with red flame-like fringes followed. His black forked eyebrows quirked upwards at the sound of a trial he didn't think was needed. His golden eyes with a hint of red stared down at Tanjiro with a scrutinizing gaze. He may have held an enthusiastic smile but he was very adamant about the boy being punished for saving and defending a demon.
"Protecting a demon is a clear violation of the code! We're within our rights to deal with him on our own! We shall execute them both!" Rengoku loudly announced with the same smile never wavering.
Lifting a hand gracefully to his head, Tengen Uzui's, the Sound Hashira, gaze hardened in focus and concentration. The very tall, broad-shoulder, and muscular man seemed content with Rengoku's declaration of execution.
His sleeveless and dark turquoise Demon Slayer shirt showed off his muscular arms. Large golden bands wrapped around his arms, rings of various shades of silver and gold decorated his fingers, a white headband wrapped around his forehead adorned with three large light purple gems leaving his white uneven hair in a thin ponytail behind him glittered in the sun, and chains of smaller, blue gemstones hung from each side of his headdress framing his elegant face. His left eye was also adorned with red dotted makeup and his eyes themselves were accented with eyeliner.
"In that case, I'll be glad to decapitate him with style. I'll show you the most flamboyant blood spray you'll ever see. It'll be a spectacle," Uzui boasted with a small smirk.
Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, just stared down at Tanjiro with sorrow and love-stricken pale green eyes. She had a tiny hand placed against her light pink lips, her pale cheeks going a rosy red, and her thin eyebrows arching upwards in sympathy. Her long light pink hair that faded into a lime green was separated into three thick braids with five shorter clumps hanging over her face as voluminous bangs. Her curvaceous body was fit into a pink-tinted Demon Slayer Corps uniform with a plain white haori over it. The chest of her uniform was left unbuttoned and she wore a short-pleated skirt in place of the tattsuke-hakama pants.
Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira, began to silently cry beside them. He held his japamala delicately in between his hands that had been placed together in prayer, holding the red, glass, prayer beads gently, and spoke, "Alas, to see such a pitiful creature as this. I grieve for him… Perhaps it would've been better if he hadn't been born."
Himejima was the tallest Hashira of them all who easily towered over them. He was tanned-skin, powerfully built, and extremely muscular. His black hair was spiked upwards and a large prominent scar ran horizontally across his forehead. His eyes were completely white with no visible pupil or irises. He had been blind since childhood but no one knew how. He wore the typical Demon Slayer Corps uniform with bandages over his shins resembling kyahan and an olive-green happi draped over his shoulders. The collared frame of the happi contained the kanji inscription for the Shin Buddha chant. A large beaded necklace also adorned his neck and he was known for frequently tearing up when emotional.
Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira, didn't seem bothered at all. The 14-year-old boy was short, muscular, and long black that faded into a mint green hair reached his waist. It was loose in two clumps on his head and unruly bangs fell over his forehead. His large mint-colored eyes held no emotions as they stared into the skies above them. They were completely empty and devoid of any life. His dark, slightly turquoise-tinted uniform Demon Slayer uniform had longer, loose sleeves that were similar to that of a kimono. His pants lacked the bands around the calves making his uniform seem loose and sizeable.
Tanjiro didn't seem to have cared about the Hashira's squabble. Or the fact three had already agreed on an execution. Instead, his head and eyes were darting back and forth frantically with fear more visible on his face.
"Hey, you. The Hashira are speaking. What are you looking at?" Goto reprimanded him. "These are the 11 highest-ranking swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps."
"That's the Hashira…?" Tanjiro gasped out letting his eyes fall back on them.
Himejima spoke calmly and sternly, "Let's put him out of his misery."
"Right!" Rengoku immediately agreed.
"Let's do so with flair," Uzui reminded them with a smirk.
Angela didn't want the boy to be executed. She fought for his and his sister's survival against Kocho, the Code, and the everything the Demon Slayer Corps stood for. If they were to kill him and his sister, then her efforts would've felt in vain and she couldn't possibly let it happen. It would be one against nine Hashira with each of them having different fighting styles and techniques. She wouldn't count on Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, to come to her aid.
Tanjiro still wasn't bothered by their talks of ending his life! Instead, he shifted and moved around, even if he was still recovering and in pain, gasping out, "Nezuko! Where did you take her?! Nezuko! Kagami! Zenitsu! Inosuke! Murata!"
He was calling out for his friends. Not for help but wondering if they were alive. He wasn't worried about his own life but theirs. For someone to put themselves way behind others was an admirable feat.
"Forget that. What will we do with Tenshi and Tomioka?"
Angela's gaze hardened hearing the slithery and airy voice of Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Hashira. Her eyes darted upwards to see the Hashira lounging on a large branch in a tree nearby. His almond-shaped eyes, his right yellow and his left a turquoise-blue, narrowed on her.
Iguro was fairly muscular, short stature, and pale complected. His straight-edge black hair was of various lengths, the longest reaching his shoulders and the shortest barely reaching his cheekbones. A large white bandage covered the lower half of his face, keeping what lingered underneath hidden. He wore a black and white striped haori over his navy-blue Demon Slayer Corps uniform with his white snake, Kaburamaru, wrapped around his shoulders.
He pointed a finger at both her and Giyu, hissing, "Seeing them there without any restraints is giving me a headache. Based on what Kocho told us, they're just as guilty of breaking the Corps rules. How will we deal with them? How should we make them take responsibility? What kind of lesson shall we teach them? Don't you have anything to say for yourself?"
Angela then felt all eyes land on her and Giyu.
She refused to meet their gazes and so did he. He stared at the ground not bothered by their words of wanted punishment. They needed to put on a united front. Separating and dividing when their goals were the same at the end would be terrible. So, she walked forward and stood beside him. She didn't say anything, and he didn't meet her eyes, but it was a small gesture that she didn't regret a single thing back in Mount Natagumo.
"Oh, I think it's fine," Kocho spoke with a smile. "They did come along without resisting. Let's come up with a penalty later."
Angela turned and faced Tanjiro who sat up on his knees. His eyes showed sorrow and guilt when they looked into her eyes. He must've been blaming himself for the predicament they were in, thinking it was his fault for dragging them into it, but she only gave him the subtle shake of her head. It was their choice to protect him and he needed to understand that.
"What I'm more interested in is hearing this boy's story," Kocho spoke smiling at him. "The reason he's going on missions with a demon in tow despite being a Demon Slayer… I'd like to hear the explanation from the boy himself. Needless to say, what he's done is against the Demon Slayer Corps rules. You are aware of that, aren't you?"
Tanjiro glanced down and shamefully nodded his head.
"Tanjiro Kamado. Why are you traveling with a demon when you're a Demon Slayer?" Kocho asked him.
With a frustrated and impatient groan, Uzui placed his hands on his dual-wielding Nichirin Cleavers, huffing, "Who cares why?"
Kocho ignored him, adding, "You can take your time. Just tell us why."
"Take his time? Hm, I don't think I have the patience for that," An airy, near whisper-like voice came out from a ways distance. It was familiar and not one that her comrades even bothered to look at.
Slithering out of the darkness of the tree Iguro was lounging against, holding the trunk and peeking her head out just slightly, was Kurai Sato, the Shadow Hashira. Her white sclera but crimson red pupils streaked with black colors landed on them all. Her midnight black Demon Slayer Corps uniform hugged her skinny frame, the black-pleated skirt that fell to her knees swayed in the wind, and the cross earrings she wore twinkled in the light. Her dark purple haori adorned with skulls, blood stains, and scythes sat on her shoulders. Her tiny lips were turned into a small frown, her long black hair that reached her waist was pulled behind her, the smalls bangs that reached her chin draped dramatically over her face tickled her, and her body radiated with a dark glow. How long she had been hiding there Angela didn't know.
Once again, Kocho ignored her and gestured for Tanjiro to speak.
He looked stricken with grief, desperate for them to listen and show compassion, as he wheezed, "She's my… She's my young—!" but he couldn't get the words out. He went into a fit of dry coughing and couldn't speak after that. He hunched over, his throat sounding hoarse, and tried to stop the onslaught of coughing that prevented him from standing trial.
Kocho reached inside her haori and pulled out a small gourd. She unstopped it and walked towards Tanjiro who was still trying swallow his cough. "It looks like you need some water," She stated kneeling in front of him. He didn't hesitate to grab the tip with his teeth and chug the water down his throat. "Your jaw is injured, so please drink slowly. It contains a painkiller, so you'll feel better. Your wounds have yet to heal, so you mustn't overdo it."
Tanjiro was done drinking by the time she had finished speaking. Water dripped down the sides of his mouth and his chin, his breathing exponentially calmer and slower, and he looked to be in a lot less pain. He slowly regained his breath and stared at them pleadingly as he explained, "That demon is my little sister! While I was away, my family was attacked by a demon, and when I got home, they were all dead! My sister was turned into a demon, but she's never eaten anyone! She never has and never will! She'll never hurt humans no matter what!"
Iguro waved a finger, scoffing, "Enough. Spare us your absurd ravings. If she's family, of course you're defending her. I can't trust a single word you're saying. I, for one, don't believe you."
Himejima continued crying as he shuddered, "So sad… He's been possessed by a demon. Let us kill this poor child immediately to set him free."
"Listen to me please!" Tanjiro begged. "I became a swordsman in hopes of finding a cure for Nezuko! It's been more than two years since Nezuko became a demon! And in all that time, she's never devoured anyone!"
Uzui rolled his eyes. "Your story's just spinning in circles, idiot. She hasn't devoured anyone, and she isn't going to? Those are just words, so prove it to us and impress us."
Kanroji kept her hand to her mouth, her cheeks still burning red, and seemed to be thinking something over. The passive and soft woman looked like she was melting for Tanjiro. A soft sweet kid like him fighting for his younger sister would be something she would fall for. If he could win over more Hashira with his story, Angela wondered if the outcome of his execution would change.
Then, the Love Hashira spoke, barely above a mutter, "Excuse me?" She lightly called for everyone's attention and continued, "I'm not sure about this… but I don't think the Master isn't aware of this."
Rengoku and Uzui made a noise at her comment.
"Should we really deal with him on our own? Should we at least wait until he arrives?" She asked.
The two Hashira created the same noise and turned back to Tanjiro with more or less the same expression as before; wanting his execution.
"Let my sister fight with me by my side!" Tanjiro suddenly screamed into the air. "She can fight as a Demon Slayer to protect humans! So please—!"
"Well, well, I see there's some fun brewing here."
Angela thought the arrival of Iguro was bad enough but the most sadistic, angriest, and short temper of them all had finally arrived. Her angry eyes landed on those of the likes of Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira. His tall and muscular form stood off to the side, long white hair spiked up on his head, and his large pale purple eyes landed on them. His face and body were covered in scars that seemingly would never fade; they lined around his eyes, cheeks, and marked his toned chest. His green-tinted Demon Slayer Corps uniform shirt was unbuttoned exposing his chest and he wore a white long sleeve shirt over it with the kanji for kill inscribed on the back.
His arrival forced their eyes on him and even grabbed the attention of Giyu. He had been staring at the ground without a flicker of emotion. But hearing Shinazugawa speak brought his stoic gaze onto the sadistic man. Sato yelped at his sudden appearance and hid behind Kanroji, both women blushing madly at the sight of him with dreamy sighs leaving their lips. His face held a crazed look as he held up a large brown box in his left hand.
"That's Nezuko's box," She couldn't help but gasp out softly.
"Is that the idiotic Corps member who brought a demon along with him?" Shinazugawa growled with the largest craziest smile she's ever seen. "What the hell are you trying to pull here?!"
A female Kakushi had raced up from the side of the mansion frantically, exclaiming, "This won't do, Lord Shinazugawa! I must ask you to put down that box!"
The smile had been wiped from Kocho's face. She had stood and stared at Shinazugawa with what many would've said was expressionless. Angela was no fool to think that. Kocho radiated cheerful and kindness but, underneath, she could see the raging fires burning in her heart. To see the fair trial she wished for Tanjiro to have completely butchered by Shinazugawa's impulsive and hot-blooded behavior must've been infuriating.
Kocho turned to him and sternly spoke, "Shinazugawa, please don't act out of line."
Shinazugawa completely ignored Kocho and kept his purple eyes on Tanjiro. "What about this demon, kid? That she can fight as a Demon Slayer to protect humans? You know what we call that?" He drawled with a growl. Then, he unsheathed his sword with his other hand, held it high, chuckled maniacally, "Completely impossible, you fool!", and drove his sword inside the box.
Angela felt a cord break inside her chest hearing a painful cry erupt from inside the box. Shinazugawa kept pushing his green blade until it went through the other side, stained with red blood. Her hand almost flew to the hilt of her blade, anger flaring inside her core seeing an innocent soul being tortured for just being a demon, but a hand roughly grabbed her arm. Giyu gave her a firm head shake but she could see he was just as bothered as her by the barbaric display.
Suddenly, Tanjiro jumped to his feet, screaming, "Anyone who harms my sister answers to me!" He was angry, furious, and his voice dripped with such poison it sent chills down Angela's spine. His face held so much fury at the sight of the sword that had driven into the box and the person who wielded it. "I don't give a damn if you're one of the Hashira! I won't let you get away with it!"
Shinazugawa let out a small laugh at Tanjiro's anger.
He whipped his blade roughly out, another small yelp of pain erupting from within, and he swung it around in the air. The blood was swiped clean in just a few fluid movements as he chuckled, "Is that right? Good for you!"
"AAHH!" Tanjiro roared loudly racing forward.
"Cease this!" Giyu immediately yelled at the top of his lungs. "The Master will be arriving soon!"
Shinazugawa's eyes widened at Giyu's words and the prospect of the Master arriving. But that moment of hesitation would be his downfall. Tanjiro didn't stop moving at all and had continued racing for the Wind Hashira. To make up for his lack of focus, he tried to swipe his blade at Tanjiro but the boy jumped high dodging the blow. Even with his hands bounded behind his back, he didn't look lost or fearful. Instead, he looked determined down at the Hashira who had slid his sword inside his sister unprovoked.
They all watched, eyes widened in either shock or astonishment, Tanjiro sharply bring his head down on Shinazugawa's.
None of them moved from their spots when the two collapsed to the ground. The most awful noise, like two boulders that had pounded against each other, hit their ears. Angela nearly cringed at the sound, goosebumps rising on her arms, seeing the two's bodies tremble in pain on the ground for a few moments. Tanjiro had recovered from the hit faster than the Hashira and immediately knelt in front of the fallen box of Nezuko.
Blood poured out of Shinazugawa's nose and mouth when he looked up to meet the boy. "Damn you!" He choked out clutching his head.
It was amazing seeing Tanjiro get the drop on Shinazugawa. Angela's eyes landed on Giyu and quirked an eyebrow at him. His outburst of the Master had been a distraction. Shinazugawa would've had no problem cutting Tanjiro down and then gutting his sister if it wasn't for him. That small display was enough to make the Hashira hesitate just slightly, and it was enough for Tanjiro to bring him to his knees in just one move.
So, the man who shows no mercy towards demons allowed the boy to take his comrade down in order to save his sister. It seems he does have a heart…
"If you can't tell the difference between good demons and bad, you shouldn't be a Hashira!" Tanjiro screamed.
The crazy smile on Shinazugawa's face was instantly replaced with a nasty snarl. "You little—!" He growled reaching for his sword. "I'll destroy you!" He threatened placing his sword against Tanjiro's neck but the boy didn't move. Instead, he defiantly met the Hashira's gaze back, a deep growl emitting from his throat.
"The Master of the mansion has returned."
All of them immediately tore their eyes away with a small gasp. Standing at the front of the mansion were two of their Master's daughters. Then, behind them, was him slowly walking out from within to greet them.
He… has returned.