"The Master of the mansion has returned."
Angela immediately tore her eyes away from the fight that had ensued between Tanjiro Kamado and Sanemi Shinazugawa. They turned towards the entrance of the home where two of the Master's daughters waited with small smiles. Then, behind them, a tall figure began to walk out from the darkness within to greet them. Her eyes ran over the familiar black kimono and the long white haori with a pink and purple-like flame adorning the bottom. His light skin greeted them as his black shoulder length hair swayed softly in the breeze.
It was him, their Master, Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
His two daughters, Hinaka and Nichika, were on their knees and bowed deeply when he approached. They slid the doors closed behind him and gently took each of his hands. They guided him forward slowly and softly until the sunlight touched warmly on his face. It accented the large mark that cursed his face already covering the top half rendering him blind. Even though he couldn't see them, or anything around him, he always held a gentle and serene smile on his face. He radiated calm, gentleness, and tranquility. It was unlike anything she had ever felt or seen before. To have him standing before her nearly made her heart burst.
He tilted his head and seemed to have basked in the warmth for a small moment. In that little space of time, all the other Hashira moved at the speed of light. They formed a quick line and got down on one knee in front of him, their heads bowed in honor and respect. All tension in the air ceased and the thick atmosphere dissipated at the sight of their Master. Just being in his presence was nothing short of astonishing.
"Good morning, everyone," He had spoken soothingly down at them. "The weather is strikingly nice today. Perhaps with a blue sky? It pleases me that we've made it to our semiannual Hashira Meeting with no personnel changes."
A small disruption occurred near her.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed Shinazugawa forcefully pressing Tanjiro's head to the ground in a low bow. The boy must've not reacted fast enough to stop or soften the blow.
"I am pleased to see you in good health as well, Master. I fervently pray for your continued good fortune," Shinazugawa started to speak. His voice was leveled, calm, and caring, with no hint of that malicious smile on his face from earlier anywhere. Just the presence of the Master himself tamed his temper.
Master smiled warmly at him. "I thank you, Sanemi."
"If I may, Master," Shinazugawa started again with patience, "Before we start the Hashira Meeting, would you mind enlightening us about this swordsman, Tanjiro Kamado, traveling with a demon?"
Angela could see the disbelief look on Tanjiro's face hearing and seeing the tamed Hashira who yearned for his head. Shinazugawa acted and sounded like a barbaric brute earlier, but speaking with the Master he spoke the words of a scholar and acted with such formality it would've confused anyone who had seen the ill-tempered man first.
"But of course," Master chuckled lightly. "I apologize for any confusion. Tanjiro and Nezuko have both been sanctioned. And I'd also like you all to accept it."
Sanctioned?
Everyone's eyes looked up at met his face in shock. He had spared both Tanjiro and Nezuko's lives as well as seeming to forgive the sacred rule they had broken. Just by being within the presence of each other, Tanjiro should've killed her two years ago except he refused. Master even went as far as giving him permission to continue traveling with her. It was an outcome Angela did not expect but welcomed wholeheartedly.
But it was also a solution that many others did not accept.
Himejima brought his hands together once again, tears flowing freely, as he hesitantly spoke, "Even though it's what you request, Master, I cannot consent."
Uzui jabbed a thumb at himself, his red and green nail polish glittering in the light, as he declared, "I, too, must firmly oppose! A Demon Slayer traveling with a demon is unacceptable!"
"I shall do whatever it is you wish, Master!" Kanroji squealed out holding her hands close to her chest as her cheeks blushed red.
"I'm fine either way since I'm going to forget anyway," Tokito said boredly.
Kocho and Giyu didn't speak their minds. Their wide eyes slowly softened and they kept their head bowed toward Master. To say they didn't accept it would be up to their imaginations. Angela suspects Giyu is slightly relieved but Kocho may not be. Except, she has younger siblings she looks after and she might show some compassion towards Tanjiro. The boy, after all, was protecting his little sister, the same way Kocho would've protected Karasuma and Kanao.
The aura around Sato's body darkened and she hissed out softly, "Master… I will always be grateful for your hospitality and kindness towards me, but… I simply cannot accept a demon in our ranks. It's our job to defeat them and defend innocent people."
"I won't trust them, I won't trust them," Iguro scoffed. "In the first place, I loathe demons."
Rengoku lifted his head and his unwavering smile never faltered. His red and golden eyes met those of the Master and he declared loudly, "Although I respect you with all my heart, that's an incomprehensible notion, Master! I cannot abide by this! I oppose it with everything I've got!"
Angela bowed her head deeply at Master and replied, humbled, "I thank you deeply, Master. Your forgiveness, compassion, and kindness will not be overlooked. I know Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado will serve our ranks well. I believe it when the boy said his sister will never harm a human being. We should have faith in the girl and her perseverance to never lay a hand on anyone other than demons who prey on their lives."
The formal side of Shinazugawa had fallen. His anger nearly rose to the surface of his skin, his hand clutching Tanjiro's head tightly, when he growled slightly, "The Demon Slayer Corps' mission is to annihilate demons. I request that you punish Kamado, Tenshi, and Tomioka."
She wasn't surprised at his full rejection of their Master's words, as well as wishing her and Giyu to be punished for defending Tanjiro and Nezuko. Shinazugawa wouldn't find peace or any tolerance if there wasn't a punishment to be laid out for either of them. It seemed justice would be served if all four of them were decapitated. Angela, while wishing to keep her head, would not fight a punishment if it meant the Kamado siblings kept their lives.
Master gazed down at Hinaka and said, "The letter."
Grabbing an envelope from within her purple flowery kimono, Hinaka opened up a letter and announced to them all, "This letter arrived from a former Hashira, Sakonji Urokodaki. I shall read you an abridged version." She looked down at the letter and began to read, ""Please allow Tanjiro to be accompanied by his sister, a demon. Because of her resilient spiritual strength, Nezuko has retained her human reason. Even in a starved state, she refused to eat people, not even tempted by the blood of a marechi, the daughter of the late Dragon Hashira, who she has been traveling with, and this has held true more than two years later. Although the situation sounds outlandish, it is the indisputable truth. Should Nezuko ever attack a human, Tanjiro Kamado, as well as I, Sakonji Urokodaki, Giyu Tomioka, Angela Tenshi, and Kagami Yamato, will atone by committing seppuku.""
Seppuku… the act of disemboweling oneself to restore honor to themselves and their families. What a painful torturous death…
Angela felt queasy at the thought of slicing open her gut should Nezuko fail to stay away from the taste of human blood, but never hesitated to agree on those conditions. She wanted those two to live as long as they could.
"Yamato… Isn't that the girl Sanemi saved with his blood?" Sato spoke up in a small gasp.
"Dragon Breather? Is she really the daughter of Masako?" Kanroji gasped putting hand to her mouth. "I haven't heard her name in years! I bet her daughter is such a cutie!"
Shinazugawa looked absolutely furious. Angela didn't know the girl, the marechi she saved, was the daughter of the late Dragon Breather but also a longtime friend of Tanjiro's. It seemed she had known Nezuko for as long as she was a demon and never killed her. Even after she was accepted into the Demon Slayer Corps, they still traveled and completed missions together. Mr. Urokodaki, former Water Hashira, seemed to also make her take responsibility for not acting on her sworn duties.
For Shinazugawa, for his blood to save someone who was defending and befriended a demon, it must be infuriating.
"Who cares how they choose to end their lives?" He growled lowly to himself before picking his head up. The crazy look reentered his eyes and he scowled loudly, "Fire, hanging, it's all the same! If they want to die, then rot to death for all I care! It doesn't guarantee anything!"
"Shinazugawa is right!" Rengoku agreed. "If she kills and eats a human, it's irreversible! The dead won't come back!"
There was silence from their grinning Master. Then, he said, "You do have a point."
"So then…" Shinazugawa almost gasped
"We can't guarantee that she won't attack humans. We can't prove it," He began to speak much to the others relief except horror to Angela, but he added, "That said… We also can't prove that she will attack humans. The fact is that Nezuko has refrained from devouring them for more than two years, and also that there are five people staking their lives on her. To deny that… those who reject it must offer an even more convincing argument. Do you all intend to do so?"
No one made a move. Shinazugawa growled lowly to himself and Rengoku simply made a noise.
"Also, there's something I'd like to relay to you, my children. Tanjiro Kamado and Kagami Yamato have crossed paths with Kibutsuji," He spoke calmly and kindly.
A gasp of shock and disbelief fell from all of their mouths, except from Giyu's. Two fifteen-year-old kids met the Demon Lord, their worst enemy, face to face and lived? Muzan Kibutsuji was not one to leave stragglers, survivors, or bloody messengers of his endless bloodlust and wrath for humans. Stories of evil incarnate, devouring humans, creating demons in hordes of hundreds, creating desolate ghost towns in just one night, and using the Twelve Kizuki to do most of his dirty work would spread on their own. Shaky and fearful whispers and murmurs had pass on those tales for the past thousand years.
Her comrades looked like they didn't believe the story. Angela almost didn't herself. Their eyes widened, their mouths fell open, and they almost lost their composure. It was also the first time they've heard of Kibutsuji showing himself in public, whether it was purposeful or accidental.
"Impossible! Even when no Hashira has ever crossed paths with him?" Uzui exclaimed. He lurched forward and, in his shocked excitement, knocked Kanroji to the ground to look at Tanjiro. "Did you really? What did he look like? What about his abilities? Where was he?"
"Did the two of you battle him?" Tokito asked with wide eyes but in a bored tone.
"What was Kibutsuji doing? Did you find his lair? Answer me!" Shinazugawa demanded tightly grasping his hair and shaking his head around violently.
Uzui huffed at the Wind Hashira, "Shut up! I asked him first!" Then yelled at Tanjiro, "First, tell us about his abilities!"
The moment Master placed a finger to his lips to quiet them down, it instantly went silent. Their heads bowed deeply once again and they stopped talking. All the shock, surprise, and dismay at Tanjiro and his friend's encounter with Kibutsuji ceased, but it still lingered in the air. When none of them have encountered him, kids did. And that feared them.
When he placed his hand back down, Master continued, "Kibutsuji has sent pursuers after Tanjiro and Kagami. Though his purpose may simply be to silence them, now that Kibutsuji's shown his tail and we've grabbed it, I don't want to let go. I also believe something's happening to Nezuko that Kibutsuji never saw coming. Can you try to understand?"
He was met with silence.
Angela looked over the faces of the comrades she would die for and saw reluctant acceptance. All of them wanted to see Kibutsuji's head roll for all the damnation, evil, and demons he had placed upon innocent people and the world. Now that they had an advantage, two kids and a demon that Kibutsuji wants to see dead more than anyone, it seems the Hashira finally agreed to let Nezuko live. Just for the sake of killing Muzan Kibutsuji and ending his reign of terror once and for all.
Except, she should've known better than to think Shinazugawa would understand.
"I'm afraid I don't, Master," He growled. "If it were human, 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!"
All of them watched, shaken, as he unsheathed his sword and ran it along his arm.
Blood pooled out of the wound he inflicted on himself, staining the garden underneath him, and he held it up high. "Hear me, Master. I will prove it to you myself! The sheer ugliness of a demon!"
"Sanemi…" The Master spoke concernedly at him but it didn't stop the Hashira.
Angela watched with wide eyes as Shinazugawa grabbed Nezuko's box and threw it forward. He slammed his foot against it and let his blood drip onto the wooden box. His crazy maniacal smile returned on his face as he purred, "Hey, demon! It's time to eat! Sink your teeth into this!" His blood slowly dripped into the hole he made with his sword and noises erupted from within.
Sharp nails scraped along the wood, muffled deep growls piercing their ears, and the blood just kept dripping inside.
Blood of a marechi… Shinazugawa is using his blood to tempt Nezuko into drinking it!
"No need to hold back," He chuckled heavily. "Just show us your true colors, and I'll obliterate you right here!"
Tanjiro violently shifted on the ground, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Get away from her!"
"Master, if I may!" Angela quickly spoke feeling the blood in her veins boiling at the barbaric sight. "When I touched the girl and roamed her soul, I found no traces of any human flesh or blood inside of her. She had no thought, no will, and no appetite for it. It was proven she was around the marechi, Kagami Yamato, many times she was wounded and never feasted on her. For Shinazugawa to tempt Nezuko with his own is not needed! If we could only have Kagami speak as a witness—!"
"Shut the hell up about soul searching, Tenshi!" Shinazugawa screamed at her. "I don't give a damn if you roamed its soul. I don't trust a single word you're saying! It's a fluke, nothing more, and I'm about to show everyone this demon cannot be trusted! My blood is more potent than any other marechi's. I will break it."
Angela's hand nearly flickered to her sword, scowling, "You damn close-minded bastard."
"Shinazugawa, it's no good doing it in sunlight," Iguro spoke up. "We have to go into the shade, or the demon won't show its face."
The two Hashira exchanged looks and she instantly had a terrible feeling.
"Master, please forgive this discourtesy," Shinazugawa spoke to the Master, grabbing the straps of Nezuko's box, and jumping straight into the shade of his home. Carelessly, he threw Nezuko's box away from him and violently stabbed his sword inside once more. A painful yelp erupted from within once again.
Tanjiro squirmed on the ground, his red eyes blazing with fire, screaming loudly, "STOP IT—!" but he was abruptly cut off.
Iguro didn't hesitate to jab his elbow into Tanjiro's back. The boy immediately froze in place, seeming paralyzed, with his eyes stuck on the mayhem in front of him. His breath got hitched at the back of his throat, his face going completely red, and he couldn't move with the Hashira on top of him. He was forced to watch Shinazugawa stab Nezuko not once, not twice, but three times, each one spilling out her blood along with shrieks of agony.
He didn't stop nor acted with remorse as he continued to spill his blood inside her box. His maniacal smile never wavered or faltered and he continued to growl, "Come on out, demon! It's the human blood you love so much!"
Cold sweat ran down her body and it took everything Angela had to keep her wings furled to her back. "G-Giyu," She choked out barely above a whisper.
"Tenshi?" He regarded her slightly.
"I need you to hold me back," She spoke firmly gulping down a lump in her throat. Her fists clenched at her side, her mouth widening into a snarl, and her vision went red. "It's my sworn duty as an angel, a pillar of the white wings, as a protector of the pure and innocent, to cut down anyone who threatens or kills someone who had never hurt a soul. Shinazugawa…" Her soft voice almost dropped into a feral growl, one that Giyu almost didn't notice, "Is hurting a pure soul and I cannot accept it."
Her hand instantly grabbed the hilt of her sword. At the same time, she felt someone grab her hands and pull them violently behind her back. She yelped when her body was forced into the earth beneath her, her chest and face slamming into the rocky pebbles, and the breath knocked out of her.
"Don't worry, Tenshi, I've got you covered," She heard a voice that didn't belong to Giyu giggle.
Rising from Angela's shadow was Kurai Sato. A small smirk spread on her lips and she used the darkness itself to tether the angel to the ground.
Shaking and trembling against her restraints, she breathed heavily and angled her head upwards to see what Shinazugawa was doing. He jabbed his sword into the handle of Nezuko's box and flipped it open. He kept his arm held out, his wound still dripping blood, and his smile widened seeing the demon within.
They all watched, eyes wide and bated breaths, for what was going to happen next.
Nezuko's small figure shakily stood from the box, low deep growls emitting from her throat, and kept her head turned away. Blood poured out of her wounds staining her light pink kimono and black haori. Her body was hunched forward, her long wavy black hair with orange tips hid her face, a pink ribbon decorated on her head, and she nearly stumbled when she straightened. Then, she turned her head setting her pink, angry, slit eyes upon Shinazugawa.
Her face twitched with fury, drool pooling out from underneath the muzzle and down her chin, and her forehead was creased with sweat. Veins popped out her skin, her growls shaky, when her eyes landed on the blood dripping from Shinazugawa's arm.
"What's the matter, demon? Go on! You know you want it," He taunted with a wide smile.
Angela's restraints never eased up, Sato wasn't showing any remorse for the angel, but her full attention was on Nezuko. She heard the slight chatter of Iguro, Kocho, Himejima, and Uzui, but it never hit her mind. All she wanted was for Nezuko to resist the temptation Shinazugawa was forcing in front of her. It was savage and cruel of what he was doing to her. Showing her his blood was simply enough. To stab her, to taunt Tanjiro with his brutality, was not needed!
Nezuko was breathing deeply, her sharp nails digging into the palm of her hand so sharply she was dripping pools of her own blood, and her eyes stayed true on his wound. Her body was shaking violently and it seemed… like she was about to lose.
"AAHHH!"
Angela gasped and turned her head seeing Tanjiro screaming into the air. Then, suddenly, his rope bindings ripped apart! Somehow, he, against all odds, freed his hands and wrists from his back. Iguro let out a small gasp and visibly looked startled. Before he could recuperate, his own wrist was taken hostage by Giyu forcing his elbow free from the boy's back. The boy jumped on his feet and raced towards the Master's mansion.
Sato set her eyes on the boy and almost raced forward—.
Angela felt energy in her core and quickly let a white light envelope her. The darkness that tethered her down was immediately eradicated and blinded Sato. A small yelp of surprise fell from the Shadow Hashira and Angela used the distraction to race forward and place herself in front of the line of Hashira. She stood in front of Tanjiro protectively and met all of her comrades' eyes, unyielding in her confidence and determination in the Kamado siblings. She wanted Tanjiro to do what he needed to help his sister.
"Nezuko!" He screamed her name at the foot of the mansion.
Then, they all continued watching with wide eyes when she didn't acknowledge him. Her eyes shifted from the wound on Shinazugawa's arm to his own. Her eyebrows furrowed, her hands clenched tightly at her sides, and she gave him one last look that Angela could only take as screw you.
She did something that even took Shinazugawa by surprise.
Nezuko turned her head away from him in disgust.
With her eyes tightly closed, her heavy breathing started to slowly go back to normal. The angry growls that produced from her throat began to soften. Her fists at her side stayed clenched but it was obvious she wouldn't fall for Shinazugawa's trick. She has rejected his blood and symbolized she will never ingest a human being.
"Tell me what happened," Master spoke to Hinaka.
"The demon girl turned her head away in disgust," Nichika began. "Although she'd been stabbed three times by Shinazugawa, and despite his flaunting of his bloody arm in her face, she restrained herself and did not bite."
Shinazugawa growled at the result of his savagery.
"So now, it's been proven that Nezuko won't attack humans," Master spoke with a light smile. "Tanjiro. Nevertheless, some may still view Nezuko unfavorably. You must prove it to them starting now. That you and Nezuko can fight as Demon Slayers. That you can be useful."
Tanjiro's eyes wavered gazing up at Master and immediately fell on his hands and knees, bowing deeply.
"Go out and defeat a Twelve Kizuki. Do that and you'll be accepted by all. And your words will carry more weight," Master added.
Tanjiro bowed deeply once more and picked up his head. "I will! Nezuko and I will defeat Muzan Kibutsuji!" He declared loudly with unsurmounting confidence. "Rest assure we will strike him down and stop this endless cycle of misery!"
Master stared at him for a second and chuckled nervously, "That is a bit ambitious for you two. Let's start by defeating a Twelve Kizuki first."
"Yes, sir."
Tanjiro immediately turned beet red at the Master telling him to calm down and watch his ambitions. They were respectable but he was still so young and not close to the skill level he needed to be. Kanroji, Kocho, Himejima, Uzui, and even Sato had to stifle their giggles and chuckles at the young Demon Slayer. Angela merely grinned and retook her place among the Hashira, once again kneeling and bowing her head at her Master.
"It goes without saying that the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps have phenomenal skills. After training themselves to death, they have defied it, and they've also defeated members of the Twelve Kizuki," Master explained.
Rengoku nodded his head and declared, "Yes! A noble pursuit!"
"That is why Hashira receive respect and are welcomed by others. So, Tanjiro, mind your manners when you speak."
"Yes, sir!"
Glancing back at Shinazugawa and Iguro, Master added, "One more thing. Sanemi, Obanai, don't torment the younger ones too much."
Iguro bowed his head in shame, sympathy flickering across his face, speaking, "As you wish."
Shinazugawa put down his sword and dropped on one knee. He ignored Nezuko who had retreated back into her box still glaring daggers at him, noises of fury muffled against her muzzle, and grumbled, "As you wish."
"Oh and, Tanjiro," Master smiled down at him, "Please tell your friend Kagami Yamato it's wonderful to hear the Yamato bloodline's thriving and very well much alive in her. It would've been an honor to have met Kaen and Masako's daughter." Then, he finished, "Our meeting is concluded, Tanjiro. You may step back."
Tanjiro's head looked like he was spinning at what small piece of information Master unveiled about his friend.
Kocho raised her hand, a small delicate smile on her face, when she spoke, "In that case, please allow Kamado to stay at my mansion." She clapped her hands twice and giggled, "All right, then! Take them away, please!"
Angela watched as Goto and the female Kakushi from earlier make quick work of gathering up Tanjiro and Nezuko before leaving just as quick. They arrived and left within a 3 to 5 second time span. They were former Demon Slayers but didn't have the sword skills to cut down demons. Whether they failed the Final Selection exam or retired, they joined the Kakushi brigade to still be of use. They clean up after demon battles, transport the wounded, sew and repair Demon Slayer uniforms, and much more. They were just as important as any other Demon Slayer.
When they were out of sight, Master began, "Now then, let us begin the Hashira Meet—"
"Hold on just a second!"
They all whipped their heads and saw Tanjiro round the corner of the mansion towards them at full speed ahead. The Kakushi weren't too far behind and angrily chased after him. "Come back here!" They screamed waving their fists. They quickly tackled him to the ground screaming, "Shut up! Quiet!"
Tanjiro ignored them and pointed a finger at Shinazugawa who hadn't moved from his spot inside the mansion. "Please allow me to head-butt that man covered in scars! I need to do it! I gotta head-butt him as many times as he stabbed Nezuko! Three times I need to do! Show me where it says you're not allowed to head-butt another Demon Slayer!"
"Settle down!" The female Kakushi screamed.
They picked him up and tried to drag him off but he fought against their restraint. "Let go of me!" He screamed.
Suddenly, three pebbles appeared out of nowhere. One at a time, they flicked into his face and rendered him paralyzed for a moment. He fell to the ground face first and didn't move. Their eyes flickered to Tokito who played with a small pebble in his hand. He sighed annoyed, "You're not allowed to interrupt the Master, all right? It's very rude."
After apologizing profusely to Master, Tokito, and to the rest of the Hashira, they quickly took Tanjiro away to the words of Master. "Give Tamayo my regards."
Angela quirked her head at the name not knowing who this Tamayo woman was but it seemed Tanjiro did. His eyes narrowed drastically and a visible gasp sounded from his throat. It seemed he wanted to ask how the Master knew this name or woman but he was swiftly taken away from them. Possibly for the best seeing how he wanted to head-butt Shinazugawa until neither of them could stand on their own two feet. Boys will be boys.
She was beyond relief Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado were given another chance by their Master. She knows they will serve the Demon Slayer Corps well. She has staked her life on it, but she knows she will never regret it.