It was sunset by the time Kagami and Tanjiro were halfway to the Butterfly Mansion. Their joints were sore, their body was in aching pain, and she felt she was running a fever. Racing after the crow to the Rengokus home giving no one a short notice at the time didn't seem like a bad idea. As she watched Tanjiro clutch the wound at his side, softly inhaling small gasps of pain, she wished she left Fuji a small note they needed to do something before it was too late. But, as she held the flame guard in her shaky grip, she began to think it was for the best. They might've stopped them.
Then, they-well, Tanjiro-was ambushed by Mr. Haganezuka on the trail.
"You lost your sword?! Are you out of your damn mind, fool?!" He had screamed at the poor boy chasing him with two sharp knives in his hands and two more wrapped around the sides of his head! "You deserve nothing less... than the horrible sting of 10,000 deaths!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry!" Tanjiro had pleaded frantically over the course of many hours.
Kagami watched from the sidelines, her tired eyes flickering back and forth from the frightened Tanjiro to his furious sword-maker, and continued to make her way back to the Butterfly Mansion. When she arrived, it was already dark, and Tanjiro still hadn't made it back. She quickly informed Aoi of the situation and was able to take a small nap before the first break of sunrise. As the first yellow light touched the dark land, the sound of screaming could be heard from the distance. The angry roar of a man who wished death upon a teenage boy.
She, Zenitsu, and Inosuke didn't see Tanjiro till breakfast was served. He sat in the dining room in his patient wear, head tilted down and wobbling just slightly, with his face was scrunched in exhaustion. Black bags creased his eyelids and he wouldn't move a muscle. His plate and bowl sat untouched in front of him.
"Haganezuka chased him until close to daybreak," She explained to her friends.
Inosuke, with his mouth covered in crumbs and his boar mask pushed up on his head, smirked mischievously at Tanjiro's plate. "So that's why you're not eating? More for me!" He chuckled snatching it from his side and immediately gulping it all down, using his chopsticks as regular sticks than anything else.
"Oh, man. If Miss Aoi hadn't calmed him down for me, he would've kept chasing me 'til noon," Tanjiro groaned tiredly.
Neither Tanjiro or Zenitsu seemed to mind but crumbs of food flew all over the table hitting everyone's areas. Inosuke's sloppy eating stained his mouth, and his clothing no less! All that was heard was his loud, open-mouth chewing with balls of his spit flying down on his plate before he ate it up again like it was nothing! She growled and slammed her chopsticks on the table, placing her rice bowl down, and huffed, "Inosuke, can't you eat like a normal person? You're making a mess... well, everywhere!"
"How the hell else am I supposed to eat, huh?" He immediately retorted to her annoyed.
"You can start with using your chopsticks properly and closing your mouth when you chew!"
"Why should I use chopsticks when I could use my hands instead?! Chewing with my mouth open helps shove more food in!"
"We've already gone over this-!"
"Do you seriously need to fight like a married couple every time we eat?" Zenitsu groaned to himself staring down at his food with a twitching eyebrow.
He wasn't wrong. It was the same argument the two of them have every breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it didn't mean he had to say it out loud! Kagami clamped up flushing bright red, body trembling at just the thought of it, but Inosuke's face only wrinkled more in confusion. "What the hell is a married couple? Is it something I could fight?!" He scoffed glaring at Zenitsu.
Rehabilitation Training commenced no later than that afternoon. All four of them have forgotten how... excruciating and intense the training could be. They were ordered to do 100 set of push-ups with Sumi, Kiyo, Naho, and Fuji occupying each of their backs. To the sound of the whistle hanging and blowing in Kiyo's mouth, they all pushed up, down, up, down in quick succession together. The sun glared down at them with no mercy as their arms trembled, their bodies drenched and soaked in sweat, and their backs nearly caved in under the weight of the small girl's, but they weren't going to give up! All of them gritted their teeth and kept pushing forward, even when they were ordered to do another set of 100!
Next was running the entire length of the forest beating either Kanao and Karasuma's record time.
Kagami huffed and puffed chasing after Inosuke in the lead with Tanjiro at her side and Zenitsu dragging behind. Droplets of sweat beaded down their fore-heads, arms, abs, and legs, and flicked off their skin into the air. They all ripped their shirts off and continued running, feeling the cool breeze against their sizzling skin. She wasn't insecure with her shirt off; her chest was wrapped tightly in bandages to keep her modesty secured. Her abs were just as shiny and pronounced as the boys, and the muscles in her arms could rival even those of Inosuke's. She doesn't know about strength but she'd certainly win in a modeling contest against him. Sumi, Kiyo, Naho, and Fuji seemed to think so.
After cardio, they would work on strength and power. They'd lift large boulders using a pulley system to gain muscle in their arms, jump rope to train coordination and balance, and many more. Kagami dipped down low and placed her hands against the ground. She immediately pushed off her feet and held her body steadily in the air. As soon as she gained balance, she would begin to do 100 set of push-ups once again. Afterwards, Kagami liked to increase her body flexibility. Training with Inosuke proved its worthwhile, even if he did try to show off the hundred different ways he could freak her out with the contortions of his body.
Four months have passed since Mr. Rengoku's death and ever since then they've been training their hardest. In the meantime, they continued receiving assignments by crow. All of them would take down demons whenever it was necessary. Zenitsu would no longer throw fits, even when he had to go on solo missions. Inosuke somehow became even more of a hothead, boar-headed freak than he already was. Though, whenever she looked around, seeing the faces of Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke at her side, she is grateful... she has friends to train with.
Kagami was walking back to the Butterfly Mansion after another successful mission. She had decapitated a demon in a village miles away. Even outside the village she felt its hostile aura. It lurked in the shadows of the night preying on young, wandering children who didn't know, or understand, the fear of monsters in the dark. A small boy was seconds away from getting snatched when she rushed forward and sliced its arms off, engulfing its stubs on fire. She hurried the boy away and defeated the demon in less than a minute later. It was a lowly demon who didn't have the strength to fight normal adults and preyed on the vulnerable to get an easy meal. What an abomination.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, a pleasant wind blowing through the air, she suddenly got the aura of fear and despair mixed with domination and something... sparkly?
"Let me go at once! Please, I'm begging you! Let go!"
"Quit your yapping! Damn, you're loud."
Kagami realized she was outside the gate of the Butterfly Mansion. A swarm of angry squeals and high-pitch screams pierced the air from inside the property. She heard another voice that didn't belong to that of Aoi, Sumi, Kiyo, Naho, and Fuji. It was male, strong, broad, and full of annoyance. She wondered what the hell is going on in there!
"Let go of her, jerk!"
"I can't watch this anymore!"
She quickly rushed through the door, already beginning to scream, "What is going on?!" but stopped herself. Her eyes wandered up the tall figure standing in her path; Large muscles accented with golden bands around his arms, rings of various shades of silver and gold decorated his fingers, purple gems decorating the white headband wrapped around his fore-head, his white uneven hair pulled up in a thin ponytail behind him, and chains of smaller, blue gemstones hung from his head framing his sharp face. His left eye was marked with red dotted makeup and his eyes themselves were accented with eyeliner. Yet, in his arms, hung Aoi, Naho, Fuji. He looked familiar... but she had no idea who he is!
"Please, do something!" Aoi begged stretching a hand toward Kanao and Karasuma standing at the foot of the Butterfly Mansion.
Karasuma looked in pain watching the tall man taking the distressed girls hostage in his arms. Kanao's eyes were wide and wavering, full of question, fear, and indecisiveness.
"Mission. Order. Shinobu. Superior. Aoi. Naho. Fuji. Hashira. Coin. Order. Coin... Coin! I'll decide by flipping a coin," Kanao hastily, frantically, breathed out under her breath reaching inside her pocket. But she immediately stopped. Her eyes widened even more so and something sparkled in her purple irises, a small gasp fleeing her mouth.
Kagami watched with a confused look, her eyes drifting back and forth between the man already brushing past her and the Tsuyuri siblings. Suddenly, the man stopped mid-step.
Behind him, appearing in less than a second, was Kanao grasping Aoi's hand and Naho's dress. Her face was tightly scrunched in fear, nervous sweat beading down her fore-head, small whimpers falling from her lips, but her grip was iron-tight. Sumi and Kiyo were right behind her watching Kanao with tears in their eyes. Even Karasuma's eyes had widened from the display of his sister. From what Kagami gathered, with that small act of rebellion, she was disobeying orders from Miss Shinobu and stopping the man from taking Aoi, Naho, and Fuji.
He slowly turned his head and looked down at Kanao with a large frown. "You're not being very flashy," He growled. "Need I remind you of the orders you received?"
Kanao said nothing. She only held on even tighter.
"If you're gonna be unflashy, then say something!" He suddenly screamed full of annoyance.
"AHHH!" Kiyo shrieked watching the awful display. "Ch-Charge him at once!"
"Charge him at once!" Sumi agreed before racing towards him.
The tall man only had time to react with a small, confused, "Huh?" before quickly being overpowered by the 3 girls! Sumi grasped his leg, Kiyo jumping on his head, with Kanao keeping her tight hold, wiggling and thrashing as much as their tiny bodies could! Kagami quickly joined the fray and grabbed Fuji's hands. She pulled and pulled with all of her might to free her from the man's arms! "Hey, cut it out! Get off me, you brats!" He immediately screamed trying to throw all of them off him but they held on tightly!
Light, fast footsteps quickly approached from the outside. Sliding through the gate with an angry expression stretching from ear to ear, Tanjiro revealed himself with clenched fists at his sides. "How dare you treat little girls like that! Let go of them, jerk!" He screamed but his face immediately fell. His confused eyes flickered between Kiyo, Sumi, Kanao, and Kagami swarming the strange, annoyed man who seemed to have grown even more vexed at another person's appearance.
"He's kidnapping those girls! Hurry and rescue them!" Kiyo cried to Tanjiro.
The tall man quickly whipped his head up smacking it into hers. "Why you-!" He growled letting her fall to the ground. "Shut your mouth!"
"Leave them alone!" Kagami screamed still trying to pull Fuji free.
She heard rapid footsteps and turned her head to see Tanjiro joining the mayhem. He jumped high in the air and reared his head back, ready to headbutt him-!
Kagami gasped when she suddenly found Sumi, Kiyo, Kanao, and herself floating high in the air, with the tall man nowhere in sight! She immediately snatched Kiyo out of the air and used her own body as a shield, hitting the rocky path harshly, with Kanao doing the same for Sumi. They tenderly stood up, groaning from slight pain, but Kagami immediately looked around for Aoi, Naho, and Fuji. They were nowhere in sight! Did that evil man leave already?!
"You're a fool."
A scoff was heard from overhead. Kagami and Tanjiro tilted their gaze upwards and glared. He stood atop the red tile archway of the exit staring down his nose at them.
"I'm Lord Tengen Uzui, a former shinobi, a man known around here for his splendency," He announced himself through another scoff. "Did you really think I'd fall for one of your vulgar head-butts?!"
Kagami, Tanjiro, Kiyo, Sumi, Kanao, and even Karasuma joined together in a large group glaring up at Uzui. "You let those girls go! Lousy kidnapper! You have no business doing this!" Tanjiro huffed puffing his chest out and clenching his fists. Kanao and Karasuma pumped their fists in the air with Kagami, Kiyo, and Sumi voicing their agreements. They rallied behind him like he was their rightful leader.
That easily got under Uzui's skin. "Show some respect! Who do you think you're talking to?!" He shouted angrily popping veins from his fore-head. "I'm your superior! I'm a Hashira, damn it!"
A Hashira? What kind of Hashira acts like that?! Kagami thought to herself in disgust.
"Well, we don't acknowledge you as a Hashira! Humph!" Kagami huffed turning her face away and crossing her arms in retaliation.
"Don't give me that face!" She heard Uzui yell. "And why should I care if you don't acknowledge me?! You bottom-feeder! Did your brain fall out of your head, or what?! I'm taking these three, because I need female Corps members for a mission! And I don't need permission to take anyone who's not a Tsuguko!"
Kiyo beside Kagami wailed, "Naho and Fuji aren't even member of the Corps! Look! They're not wearing the uniform!"
Uzui picked up the two in one hand and looked down at their regular white set of robes. No Demon Slayer Corps uniform graced their tiny bodies. "Never mind," He casually spoke suddenly throwing the two girls away from him.
Karasuma and Tanjiro immediately jumped forward and caught the two falling from the air, thrown disgracefully from someone who is supposed to be Hashira! Someone who is supposed to be the same rank as Mr. Rengoku but acts nothing like him! Mr. Rengoku was courageous, brave, humble, and stuck to his roots. Uzui, who doesn't deserve to be called a Hashira, is kidnapping, shouting, and throwing little girls as if they're toys! What's the matter with him?! If Mr. Rengoku were here, he would put him in his place and show him what it truly means to be a Hashira! A leader and someone to look up to!
"What kind of monster throws little girls?!" Tanjiro screamed up at him furiously.
Uzui didn't even acknowledge him. He simply gestured to Aoi, speaking, "For now, I'm just gonna take this one on my mission, not that she looks very strong. But somehow, she is a Corps member, at least."
Aoi looked terrified over his shoulder. Her eyes wavered hysterically, whimpers falling from her lips, and nervous sweat beading her fore-head. Kagami knows Aoi didn't believe herself to be a strong swordsman but she chose to work for the Butterfly Mansion. She didn't want to go on any more missions and chose to stay behind. Kagami won't allow Aoi to go back into the field where she is nothing but horrified for her life!
"Miss Aoi doesn't want to go! Respect her decision like a real man and let her be! Besides, don't make insensitive comments like that! Everyone has their own personal strengths, and Miss Aoi is one of the toughest but loving person we know," Kagami huffed up at him.
Uzui gave her the most bored look she'd ever seen. "Good grief. You're all really that lame. No wonder the Demon Slayer Corps is getting weaker and weaker. They're recruiting wimps like you who whine about everything."
"Fine then," She scowled before placing a hand to her chest. She held herself high, strong, and set her steady yet stern eyes on those of Uzui's. His maroon eyes dared her to speak her mind and lash out at him because nothing she said will change his decision of proceeding with the mission. If that was the case, she will just need to supply him with what he needs. "You need female Corps members for a mission?" She asked bellowing out at him, "I volunteer myself in Miss Aoi's place!"
Uzui scoffed, his eyes narrowing, "A wimp like you?"
Tanjiro stepped forward beside Kagami and added, "Not just her, but us as well."
That seemed to have grabbed Uzui's attention. "What do you mean, "Us"?" He asked curiously.
A soft wind blew in gently shaking the trees and their hair, spilling small leaves over their locks and through their vision, but their eyes never strayed from Uzui's. A flash of yellow and grey appeared from the sides of the exit. Joining them at their side in perfect timing Kagami could never understand were Inosuke and Zenitsu.
"Who the hell are you two? Got something to say?" Uzui challenged raising an eyebrow.
Inosuke jutted a thumb at himself, announcing, "I may have just got back from training, but I've got plenty of power to spare! I'm ready for whatever you got!"
Zenitsu pointed a shaky finger at Uzui, trembling to the core, speaking nervously, "If you know what's good for you, you'll let Miss Aoi go, you hear me?! You may be a giant muscular monster, but I'm... not... gonna... back down, nuh-uh!"
Uzui's eyes narrowed even further.
The four of them quickly gathered more of their courage and held his glare. They were not going to back down!
Then, with a small shrug, he sighed just as casually as before, "All right, fine. I guess I'm taking you four with me instead." The four of them looked at each other in confusion, each of them equally surprised it didn't take much convincing, before turning back to see a cheeky smirk on his face. "But only if you four obey my every command," He chuckled with a smack to Miss Aoi's rear.
Before she knew it, Kagami, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke stood outside of the Butterfly Mansion's property and stared straight up at Uzui. He stared off into the bright blue sky with his fists proudly stamped on his hips. There was she able to get a good look as well as a feel to him. Strong, bold, tall, but arrogant. A Hashira nothing like Mr. Rengoku. Yet, she felt a strong will and presence, as well as unyielding confidence and courage. She couldn't feel it in the moment of anger but to be so close to him and feel some of the characteristics of Mr. Rengoku in him... Maybe she will trust him, for the sake of the mission and her friends.
"Okay, so where are we going, old man?" Inosuke exclaimed staring up at the giant who towered over all of them.
Uzui was silent for a moment. Then, he turned to look over his shoulder at them. A mischievous smile spread over his lips gazing down at them. "The flashiest spot in Japan that's teeming with lust and desire, a hotbed for demons... the Entertainment District."