3rd POV
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"Hai! You can open them now!"
Senjuro did as he was told, shakily standing there, still tied up, and watched Taiyo-shin bind his unconscious assailants together with a rope that seemingly appeared out of thin air. He couldn't help but wince upon seeing the leader's bloody, swollen face. The man had taken such a severe beating that he had passed out. He had been horrified by the violence, and he was grateful that Taiyo-shin spared him from witnessing the worst of it. Still, he winced every time he heard the sounds of punches landing.
For a moment, he thought Taiyo-shin might have killed the man, but relief washed over him as he heard a husky wheeze coming from the unconscious bandit, indicating that he was still, in fact, alive, albeit barely.
After dealing with the bandits, Taiyo-shin turned to him, causing him to flinch. The masked man instructed him to keep an eye on the men. Confused, he gathered enough courage to ask what was going on, but he deflated when he realized that Taiyo-shin had disappeared.
"Hmm..." Bewildered, he let out a soft huff.
Just as he was about to look around, Taiyo-shin reappeared, this time with a heap of unconscious bandits. He stumbled in surprise as the masked man rapidly tied them up before stretching. It seemed like he had gone to gather the rest of the group to turn them in. Well, that was... good?
Senjuro's mind raced as he tried to comprehend the situation. 'How is that possible...? I know big brother's fast and all, but this is beyond fast...!' he thought, recalling the times his brother would dash to town to buy their father's—
Then, realization hit him like a freight train. "Ah!" he squeaked, his face paling in horror. Oh no!
"Hm? What is it?" Taiyo-shin turned to him in question before gasping. "Oh shoot!" He started approaching Senjuro, mistaking the his look of distress for discomfort. But the masked man paused when he involuntarily took a step back. Taiyo-shin held his hands up in surrender before pointing at the ropes. "Relax, kid, I'm just gonna free you from these. They look very uncomfortable to me."
Senjuro blinked and then slowly nodded. He hadn't meant to back away from his savior, but he couldn't help but feel slightly wary.
Taiyo-shin swiftly cut the ropes, freeing Senjuro who hesitantly thanked him, though before the words left his lips—
"That's some nasty bruise you've got here. Do you mind if I heal it?"
"Heal...? You can heal?" he parroted in confusion. How is that...
Taiyo-shin nodded, gently lifting a hand to the boy's right cheek. A warm sensation enveloped Senjuro, causing him to release a soft sigh of ease. The bruise immediately vanished, leaving behind his usual fair skin.
Gasping softly, he blinked quickly as his eyes met the kitsune mask.
"Here, done! That wasn't so bad, now was it?" Taiyo-shin said as he leaned back, fists on his hips.
Senjuro touched his face, astonished by how the pain had vanished. "How...?" he looked up at Taiyo-shin in awe.
The man chuckled, "Magic~! Now let's bring these scumbags to the police!" he said, striding up to one of the men and proceeded to kick his shin. "Oi! Wake up, you jerkface! Unless you want me to drag you all the way to town, you better get off your ass! Up, up!"
Senjuro sweat-dropped at the sudden shift in tone.
He heard some of the men groan as they regained consciousness, slowly realizing their predicaments. As much as he was nice, Senjuro didn't feel any sympathy toward them.
They began the walk back to town. As they strode, Senjuro couldn't stop himself from stealing glances at the masked man. He wondered why Taiyo-shin had given him the choice to...well, kill or let them live. If he had answered differently...would Taiyo-shin really have killed them? He shuddered at the thought.
"You've been oddly quiet for a while, you okay?" Taiyo-shin's voice broke the silence, making Senjuro jump in surprise. He peered at the masked man, who was looking at him with curiosity, before quickly glancing down nervously. "Oh, it's nothing important," he said, trying to downplay his feelings, and redirected his attention to the group of gloomy men following them. Senjuro couldn't help but gulp at the crude doodles on each of their foreheads. "A-aren't you worried that they might attack us...?" he voiced his concern, even though the men were restrained, it still made him uneasy.
"Heh, they can try. I'll punch them in the liver again," Taiyo-shin confidently replied, making a threatening gesture with his fist that sent shivers down the prisoners' spines.
"Oh..."
There was a brief silence, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves and their footsteps as they made their way through the woods. Senjuro fidgeted nervously with his fingers, something Taiyo-shin couldn't ignore. He tilted his head to the side and gently tugged the rope bound to the prisoners, urging them forward. "You sure you're okay? You can tell me if there's anything bothering you," he said, his tone soft and concerned.
The boy bit his lip, a slight frown forming on his face, but he remained silent.
Taiyo-shin continued to watch him, "Is it because of what happened earlier?" Senjuro flinched at the question. "Don't worry, I wasn't really serious about it," Taiyo-shin reassured him with a chuckle, causing a look of bewilderment to briefly flash across Senjuro's face.
"R-Really?"
"Yup, I just wanted to see what you'd say, and I've got to say, you're truly a good kid!" Taiyo-shin ruffled his hair with a warm laugh.
He blushed at the praise. Besides his brother and Kanroji-nee, Senjuro rarely received compliments from others. Then again, it wasn't as if he knew a lot of people to begin with. Even Iguro-nii showed indifference toward him, but that was just how Iguro-nii was.
"Now that I think about it, earlier, you seemed quite distressed. What happened?" Taiyo-shin inquired, his masked eyes fixed on Senjuro.
Senjuro jumped slightly, then rubbed the back of his head with a sweatdrop. "Oh, um, I had been sent to... buy sake, but..." he trailed off, averting his gaze.
Taiyo-shin nodded in understanding. "I assume these jerks stole it from you and drank it all? That would explain why they reeked of alcohol when I got here," he remarked with a hint of disgust in his voice.
Senjuro sighed in confirmation. "Yes," he admitted softly, his shoulders slumping in dejection.
"Well, we'll just buy some more when we get there! Problem solved!" Taiyo-shin declared with a cheerful smile.
Senjuro's head snapped up in surprise. "Eh...? But I no longer have the money to—"
"Don't worry, I've got it covered!" Taiyo-shin interrupted, giving the boy a thumbs-up. "And, isn't it convenient that these guys here have nice bounties on their heads? Right, guys?" He suddenly turned his masked gaze toward the prisoners, who flinched and shivered in fear. One of them even let out a whimper.
Senjuro quickly shook his head in horror. "I-it's not necessary, sir! I'll figure it out! Please keep the money!"
"Nonsense! Now come on, we're almost there!"
"W-wait!"
Taiyo-shin paid no heed to Senjuro's protests and cheerfully dragged the powerless bandits toward the town while laughing. It was safe to say that this was probably the strangest experience Senjuro had ever had.
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After delivering the bandits to the nearest police station and nearly losing the leader's bounty due to the man's battered appearance, Taiyo-shin insisted on accompanying Senjuro back home. Despite Senjuro's feeble protests, the masked man firmly grabbed him and sprinted away from prying townfolk after purchasing a colossal sake gourd, taller than Senjuro himself. The boy could only sigh helplessly as they departed the town and ventured toward his residence.
"Sir, you really didn't have to give me all of this..." Senjuro sweat-dropped, eyeing his bag, now brimming with money. What was he supposed to do with all this? Even though he expressed that it was unnecessary, his savior was insistent and promptly handed him the pouch as soon as they left town.
"Nah, think of it as pocket money. Spend it however you like; I have no use for it," Taiyo-shin dismissed the concern with a casual wave of his hand, his demeanor brightening up. "Now that we're free from those guys, what's your name?" The masked man cast a glance down at Senjuro, effortlessly balancing the gigantic sake gourd with one hand.
Senjuro paused, realizing he hadn't introduced himself. He halted, bowing his head in embarrassment. "I-I apologize...! It was rude of me not to introduce myself earlier. My name is Rengoku Senjuro, pleased to make your acquaintance!"
"Don't worry about it. I kind of figured you were related to that Hashira guy, so it's all good," Taiyo-shin replied nonchalantly, waving his hand as he continued walking. The kid perked up at his words.
"Huh? You know about my brother?" Senjuro asked, surprised, as he matched his pace with the man.
Taiyo-shin chuckled, "Sure do. I've spotted him from a distance a few times. Real nice guy, though a bit on the loud side. You look like a mini version of him. Planning on becoming a Demon Slayer yourself?"
Senjuro nodded. His brother often spoke about Taiyo-shin and how he couldn't seem to catch him whenever he arrived in a village where the masked man's presence was rumored. Senjuro wasn't entirely sure about the specifics of why the Corps was after him; something about a bet and a promise of a year of free sweet potatoes, or something like that. He rubbed the back of his head, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Yeah..."
"You don't seem convinced," Taiyo-shin pointed out, causing Senjuro to glance down with a dejected laugh.
"I... I don't think I'll ever reach my brother's level," he admitted softly.
"Why not? From what I gathered, wasn't your father a former Hashira or something? Isn't he training you?"
"How did you...?" Senjuro began but was interrupted.
"That's not important." Taiyo-shin scanned the surroundings, spotting a conveniently placed tree trunk by the road. He walked toward it, setting the box and gourd on the ground and patting the spot next to him. "Come on, tell me more about it."
He hesitated for a moment but eventually joined him. It was the first time someone other than family had shown interest in him.
"Now, what is it about never reaching your brother's talent?" the masked man inquired gently.
Senjuro looked down at his lap, feeling a sense of sorrow. "It's just..." He hesitated, not wanting to burden his savior with his problems. He nearly jumped when he felt a comforting hand on his head.
"It's okay, take your time," Taiyo-shin reassured him.
He glanced at Taiyo-shin for a moment, grateful that the man wasn't pressing him for answers and instead showed patience toward his indecisiveness. It was a relief.
After mustering his resolve, Senjuro began his tale. He spoke of his shortcomings, his struggles with the sword, and his inability to change his nichirin's blade color, a symbol of his perceived inadequacies despite his strong desire to contribute. He felt utterly helpless, the fear of not meeting his family's expectations, despite Kyojuro-nii-sama's support and his father's constant dismissal, weighing him down.
Taiyo-shin listened attentively, offering encouraging words and the occasional inquiry that prompted Senjuro to share more. With each word he spoke, Senjuro felt as though a heavy burden was slowly being lifted from his young shoulders. Sharing his worries with someone other than his brother felt liberating. Although Senjuro knew nothing about the masked man, something about him made Senjuro believe he could trust and open up to him.
"I didn't want to waste your time, but thank you for listening to me," he finally said, feeling somewhat better after unburdening himself from the bottled-up thoughts that had haunted him for years.
"Nah, don't mention it," Taiyo-shin waved it off.
Senjuro shook his head, a small, grateful smile forming on his face. "No, truly, this is more than enough. Thank you," he expressed, lifting his head to offer his heartfelt gratitude to Taiyo-shin. However, his words stalled upon meeting a pair of golden eyes. "Eh...?"
"Hm, hm, I see. Well, no problem, kiddo! Good to see that you managed to get it out of your system! Oh, oh, I got an idea! Hm? What? Speechless? Wondering why I removed my mask? No particular reason, honestly, and you're such a nice kid. It's best if I show you now than later. Oh, by the way, the name's Colith, though you can call me Colith-nee if you want. But shhh, don't tell anyone!"
Senjuro simply stared, his mouth wide open in astonishment.
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It was Senjuro's first time seeing a black person in the flesh, aside from vague mentions in his books. He stood there utterly speechless, his gaze fixed on what he had assumed to be a man for the past few hours.
To his surprise, Taiyo-shin turned out to be a tall, dark-skinned woman.
His face flushed in mortification upon realizing that he had been referring to her as 'sir' from the beginning, even though Colith-nee, as she insisted he call her, had reassured him it was no problem. Senjuro had never met a black person before, and her appearance left him flabbergasted. However, Colith-nee didn't seem bothered by his reaction. In fact, she shared more about herself when he asked, though she made him promise to keep it confidential.
Senjuro couldn't help but wonder why she concealed her face with a mask. After some reflection, he realized that not everyone would be as open-minded and kind as he was, and they might treat her differently if they knew the truth.
With a determined nod, Senjuro promised to keep Colith-nee's secret. After all, she had saved him, healed his wounds, and even bought sake for his father, despite his growing concern about his father's drinking habits. As they approached the gates of his home, he couldn't help but feel nervous about what awaited him inside. He had taken longer than usual to run his father's errands.
Just as his anxiety started to creep in, he felt a hand on his scalp. Looking up, he met the gaze of the kitsune mask that Colith-nee had put back on shortly after they resumed their journey to the Fire Estate. It was becoming clear why people mistook her for a man. With the mask and her deeper voice, it was difficult to determine her gender. Add to that her towering height, and Senjuro could understand the confusion, especially given her distinct mannerisms that differed from the women he had encountered before.
"Don't underestimate yourself, Sen-chan! You're stronger than you give yourself credit for. I'm sure you'll overcome any hardships. You aren't a Rengoku for nothing. Regardless, leave this to me," Colith-nee assured him, tapping her chest with a gloved thumb. Her voice carried a smile, and Senjuro felt a sense of awe and admiration wash over him, coupled with a profound sense of relief. He nodded in response.
With newfound resolve, they entered the estate. Senjuro hadn't expected Colith-nee to want to meet his father after he had shared some details about him. He had anticipated that she would drop him off and continue on her way. Nonetheless, her presence by his side brought him comfort and a feeling of safety, despite the unusual circumstances. They soon arrived in front of his father's quarters, and Senjuro could sense his father's grouchy mood from behind the door, likely due to his delay.
Feeling a bit nervous, he was about to suggest to Colith-nee that he should announce their arrival when—
"GREETINGS, FUCKFACE!" Colith-nee dramatically slid the door open with a thunderous *SMACK*.
Senjuro felt his soul leave his body
During a meeting, a white owl suddenly interrupted, causing Iguro to pause in the middle of his report. All eyes followed the graceful bird as it circled the courtyard silently. Before anyone could utter a word, they relaxed as it landed gracefully on their leader's outstretched arm. The place filled with hushed awe as their master's eyes brightened, and a warm smile curled his lips as the bird presented a note attached to its talon.
"My apologies for this interruption. It seems I've received an important message. I hope you don't mind if I take a moment to read it, Iguro-kun."
"Of course not, Oyakata-sama," the snake pillar responded with a respectful nod.
The pillars patiently waited while their leader read the letter. Oyakata-sama chuckled softly as he perused the contents. He then bid farewell to the owl, promising to reward it next time, before the meeting resumed. However, the mystery of the message lingered in the minds of the gathered pillars.
"That owl... I think I've seen it before," Uzui remarked, prompting Kyojuro to turn to him with a puzzled expression as they exited the courtyard.
"What do you mean?"
The sound pillar hummed thoughtfully, capturing the attention of his comrades. Even Giyuu, who had been walking silently, paused to listen. Gyomei had to prevent Muichiro from wandering off, as the boy was daydreaming.
"OH OH! It was so pretty! Oyakata-sama seemed so pleased when it appeared!" Mitsuri gushed with a blush. "I wonder what was on that letter to make Oyakata-sama smile like that!"
"Umu! That owl was indeed beautiful, like a snowflake falling from the sky!"
"Ah!" Uzui suddenly slapped his palm with realization, exclaiming, "Taiyo-shin!"
Instantly, everyone clamored for more information, even Muichiro.
"Tch, what? What about him? Why is it always you who finds clues about that bastard anyway, huh?" Sanemi grumbled.
"Oh, shush, Shinazugawa-kun! No need to get your fundoshi in a twist because of the obvious! I'm just better at this than you all!" Uzui boasted, striking a flamboyant pose.
"Will you tell us what that owl has to do with Taiyo-shin, Uzui-san?" Shinobu chimed in with a sigh. Kyojuro held Sanemi back from lunging at the taller man, while Gyomei wearily shook his head.
"Hmph! Since no one here's competent enough like yours truly, this magnificent being here will be generous and share this little finding out of pure competitive spirit! And because you suck."
"Uzui-san."
"Alright, alright! I've seen it glide a couple of times whenever Taiyo-shin's around. At first, I didn't think much of it until today. I'm certain it's the same owl, given its sound."
A gasp was heard, "Which means—"
"Oi, oi, oi, Mitsuri-chan, don't steal my spotlight! To put it simply, it was his bird. Oyakata-sama just received a letter from Taiyo-shin."
Every pillar tensed at the revelation, realizing that what they were after was actually closer than they thought. However—
"And as we've agreed, Oyakata-sama's off-limits, so don't even think of fishing information from him since that'll be considered cheating and you'll be out of the competition!" Uzui exclaimed dramatically, "Anyhow Kyojuro-kun, off we go!"
With that, he grabbed the Flame Pillar by the back of his haori's collar. Rengoku let out a startled 'Hm?!' from the manhandling as he was dragged into their joint mission, leaving confused comrades loitering behind.
"Hmm! I didn't expect you to share this crucial clue with us, Tengen-san! Wouldn't it have been better for you to keep that advantage? Although I commend you for the aid! I was beginning to wonder if I'll ever cross paths with him!"
"Not at all! I have faith in my abilities, and I'm sure that even with this little boost, I'll be the one who finds him in the end! It'll make things far more interesting!" Uzui exclaimed, causing peals of laughter to erupt from his companion.
"I see you're as confident as ever, Tengen-san! Do not fret, for I'll gladly prove myself to be a great challenge in return!"
"See?! That's why you're my favorite! You've got the spirit!"
They exchanged a few more words as they strode while keeping an eye out on their surroundings. A peaceful silence took place as their discussion subsided.
"So, I've been meaning to ask, how's your father?" Tengen began, peering down at Kyojuro from the corner of his eye.
The subject was a delicate matter.
Whenever he asked, Kyojuro would plaster a big smile and enthusiastically inform him that his father was doing well and just needed more time to himself, that he'll eventually come around one of these days before moving on as though nothing was wrong. And that even though Tengen could distinctly perceive the distressed sound emitting from him whenever it was brought up. It pained him just thinking about it, such a fine swordsman lost to grief, then again he could understand. Just the thought of losing one of his wives was enough to make him distraught.
The Sound Pillar halted suddenly when instead of troubled vibrations, an echo of utter bewilderment and hope—that was new— found his ears, causing him to sharply glance at Kyojuro who was sporting an expression reflecting the sound he was emitting. Kyojuro quickly shook his head before replying as if he himself didn't believe what he was about to say.
"Father has... I'd say, been acting strange...?"
"Strange? How so?"
"Well...,"
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Freshly returned from a mission, Kyojuro was making his way to announce his arrival when he encountered his father. His posture instantly stiffened as he prepared to greet him, "Hello fa—"
"Kyojuro, starting today, you will join me and your brother in the backyard every day for practice. We're resuming your training," his father declared with a curt tone before striding past him, leaving Kyojuro standing in the corridor, frozen and processing the unexpected turn of events.
"eh?"
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"Senjuro won't divulge what triggered this sudden transformation, and father isn't inclined to discuss it either," Kyojuro explained. However, a genuine smile brightened his face, the fiery notes within him resonating with delight. "I must say, it's a welcome change! He hasn't touched a single drop of sake in the last two months! I'm proud of him, hahaha!"
Tengen let out a surprised whistle, clearly taken aback.
'Looks like that bastard Shinjuro finally got his act together. I remember he had neglected his sons' training before, forcing them to train without proper guidance. Heh. Kyojuro is bound to become a formidable force, no doubt about it!'
"THIS IS TRULY FLAMBOYANT!"
"Hm?!"
Amid his crafting, a sudden knock echoed through the silent house, causing Urokodaki to pause his activity and direct his gaze toward the door in curiosity. Visitors were a rare occurrence in his quiet abode, especially considering the dwindling number of acquaintances who remained alive. Furthermore, it couldn't be Tanjiro, as the young boy had departed only two hours ago for his training.
After a brief sniff that yielded no discernible scent, he sighed inwardly, having already deduced the identity of the person at the door despite the absence of any distinct odor. He shook his head in acknowledgment and resumed his task as if the interruption had never occurred.
"Enter," he grumbled.
The door slid open, revealing a tall, cloaked figure donning a familiar kitsune mask. "Osu! Tengu gramps, how's it going?" came the greeting from beneath the mask.
"Colith," he greeted without shifting his gaze from his work. "I am doing well, thank you."
The woman hummed softly as she removed her hood, revealing mid-length dark brown locs. She then lifted her kitsune mask, unveiling a warm smile beneath. She casually kicked off her sandals before gracefully entering the washitsu, her eyes sweeping across the room. Her attention was piqued when she spotted what Urokodaki was crafting.
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Oh, what's this? What's this?" She moved closer to the old man, leaning in to get a better look at his project.
"You seem to already know," Urokodaki responded curtly.
Colith couldn't help but purse her lips in amusement as she sat down on the floor beside him. She placed a nearly identical box next to her, mirroring the one the former Pillar was currently crafting.
"What brings you here? It surely isn't about Tanjiro since you didn't immediately rush to him as usual."
"Heh, do I need an excuse to visit my favorite grandpa?" Urokodaki lifted his head to meet her gaze with a neutral expression. Colith snorted in response. "Alright, alright," she said, her gloved hand gently brushing against the dark wooden box. She managed a smile, though it appeared somewhat strained. If the old man noticed, he didn't comment on it. "I've been debating how to share this with you guys for a while now, and I finally found the courage to do so today, which is why I'm here."
"You've found yourself a demon, I presume," Urokodaki grunted, causing her to twitch.
"Yeeeess, something like that. Man, you weren't supposed to figure it out so quickly, though," she mumbled. The elder simply gestured to both boxes, indicating that he knew precisely what they were for. He had been crafting one for the demon child, hoping for her eventual awakening. If...she wakes up, that is. Her sudden slumber had been a source of concern for the old man, despite their limited interactions. Colith rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.
He shook his head, his mask turning toward her in curiosity. "What I wish to know, however, is why? I don't recall you having any family members who have undergone this transformation, especially given that you're not from here. Furthermore, I can't detect any demonic presence coming from the box, which leaves me wondering how such a thing is possible." Urokodaki's gaze remained fixed on her as he questioned her. "Is there truly a demon inside that box?"
Colith perked up, nodding energetically. "Actually, yes!" she confirmed. "I've done something to conceal what's inside, making it much easier to travel and interact with slayers. I couldn't risk someone with keen senses discovering that I've been transporting a demon all this time." She groaned, "No, that's not a risk I'm willing to take."
Urokodaki nodded slowly, considering her words. "Why choose to tell me now, then?"
"Well, firstly, because you're already familiar with a similar situation, with Tanjiro and Nezuko and all that. And secondly, because I wanted you to be the first to know," she replied with a warm smile. "I haven't even informed Kagaya yet, although I'm sure he wouldn't object. It's just that... I felt you should be the first to know."
Despite the mask hiding his expressions, Urokodaki felt a warm feeling of fondness swell upon hearing those words.
"And also because I sort of made this one switch sides, but I'll explain later," she chuckled while waving a hand. "Do you mind?"
The elderly sighed and then placed his tools next to him, nodding. "By all means, go ahead."
"Alright! By the way, don't be fooled by his appearance! He's a real softie! Well, with me at least. But don't worry, he no longer eats humans, so he's harmless unless provoked," she explained lightly, executing a strange knocking pattern on the box, which left the elder wondering what she was doing.
As soon as the door of the box showed signs of opening, Urokodaki found himself at the other side of the room, katana in hand, ready for battle. The sudden and powerful presence was unlike anything he had ever felt before. The smell in the air was also unusual – this was no ordinary demon!
There was a beat of silence before Colith let out a baffled whistle, "Damn, grandpa! I know you're retired and all, but that was impressive!" She blinked in amazement. She hadn't even seen him move, let alone grab a katana. Then again, he was a former Pillar. Colith glanced at the silent demon beside her. "Come on, Koku, shrink before the old man has a heart attack. And stop glaring at him!" she admonished.
The demon huffed but complied, shrinking down and ceasing his intimidating glare. Fortunately, the windows were closed, preventing the light from entering. Colith barely refrained from squealing before snatching the tiny creature into her arms, much to his dismay. She then placed him on her lap before leveling the old man with an awkward stare. She cleared her throat, making the old man's mask slightly shift toward her.
"So...this is Kokushibo, formerly known as Tsugikuni Michikatsu. And, Koku-kun, this is Sakonji Urokodaki, former Water Hashira, and my beloved grandpa," she introduced after a long and awkward silence.
"He is an Upper Moon," the old man stated the obvious, still far from relaxed. Having a demon child in his house was one thing, but an Upper Moon? Preposterous! He had never imagined his first encounter with an Upper Moon, no less, would be like this. It was so...unexpected and outright ridiculous. None of the Lower Moons he had faced could come close to the sheer power exuding from this one.
"Yes...which is why I wanted to inform you first and see your...reaction," he could hear the hesitation in her tone as she scratched her cheek sheepishly.
Urokodaki sighed. He eyed the demon warily, noting how the heavy pressure he felt earlier seemed to have receded to that of a mere demon. Urokodaki was no fool. While the young Kamado's scent was pure and untainted, as she had yet to attack humans, this one's scent held centuries of bloodshed. The elderly wondered how on earth she had managed to tame such a monster before recalling something.
With her bubbly nature and boundless energy, he often had trouble recalling her true nature.
A Goddess.
He still couldn't fathom such possibilities, although now he truly understood. No human could ever think of achieving such feats.
Only instincts honed by decades of experience caused him to react this way. His first reaction was to cut him down, yet given the number in this Kokushibo's eyes, upper moon one, Urokodaki, despite years of being a Hashira knew he had no chance against him.
She beckoned him to sit so she could begin her tale, and he did, albeit grudgingly. Kami knows no one in their right mind would even dare to linger even a second in the presence of such a monster.
She explained her wanderings, experiences, how she met the demon, and more importantly, how she discovered her ability to...influence them in some way. Urokodaki's eyebrows raised significantly as she spoke, though she warned that Kokushibo was the only success so far, emphasizing that she did not want an army of demons trailing her.
Before long, she was done and waited for him to speak.
"If I understand correctly, you hope to achieve the same result with young Nezuko, is that right?"
"Only if Tanjiro's okay with it, though," she hummed, happily tousling the demon's hair. Kokushibo remained uninterested in the conversation, as all his eyes were closed in bliss.
Urokodaki found the sight both fascinating and disturbing.
"Plus, it'll help with the spell and prevent her from ever losing control in the future, so yeah! If it works with Koku-kun, who's an Upper Moon, I'm sure Nezuko'll be fine! Mah, don't look at me like that, gramps! I'm not human, so it won't actually destroy Tanjiro's oath!" she winked cheekily. "The final selection is in two months, if I'm not mistaken, so we'll just have to wait until then and hopefully, Tanjiro will agree."
"She has been asleep for almost two years now. How are you so sure that she will awaken in time?" he asked, "And final selection? Tanjiro has yet to overcome the test. I am not sending him this time either. He isn't ready."
A smirk appeared on her face, "Oh, she will, trust me on that. Nezuko will definitely wake up on time!" she nodded, confidence lacing her tone, "As for Tanjiro, let's just say that you will be up for a surprise, gramps!" she snickered.
Urokodaki gave her a dubious grunt while shaking his head at her antics. He folded his arms before sparing Kokushibo a glance, noticing the lack of animosity other demons usually exuded, unlike Nezuko. Though the young Kamado was an exception.
And Tsugikuni? That name was famili—
The front door abruptly slid open, revealing a disheveled Tanjiro whose eyes were blown wide in panic. He was panting, seemingly breathless from rushing from the training ground.
"D-d-demon...! I..smelled...one! I—" He managed to voice as his hands tightened around his worn-down katana. His words hung in the air, heavy with urgency and fear.
He was sparing with Sabito when his nose took in a foreign smell before suddenly freezing in shock upon recognizing what it was. The demonic scent was...monstrous, and he couldn't help but tremble in dread. A demon had appeared. A powerful one at that! Although he had only faced one demon, the difference in power was appalling. Whatever that thing was, Tanjiro should keep his distance from it, no, he should run away from it!
But then his breath caught in his throat. Because that thing was in Urokodaki's house. With a defenseless Nezuko there. Nezuko! His stomach sank and lurched with terror, and a distressed scream threatened to slip past his lips.
Tanjiro threw caution to the wind as he immediately dashed to the house, too troubled to hear Sabito and Makomo's concerned cries to 'wait' as he disappeared from the clearing. And even when the presence subdued itself, Tanjiro still sped up because his baby sister and sensei were in danger, and he wouldn't forgive himself if he let it happen again.
Not this time! He wouldn't be late this time...!
"h-huh..? W-what..?" the boy stammered.
"Aye, Tanji-kun!" He startled when his frantic gaze found the woman, entirely missing the demon on her lap. Cheerfully, Colith waved a hand. "we were just talking about you! Come sit, come sit! There's someone I want to introduce you to—"
"These earrings..."
They all jumped at Kokushibo's voice and promptly snapped their attention to him as he grew in size, towering over all of them. Tanjiro jolted in shock, stumbling a little upon finally seeing the demon and faltering. His breath caught in his lungs. He fell on his butt, his katana clattering on the floor as primal fear took hold of him entirely at the fearsome sight before him.
The demon's gaze remained fixated on the earrings as he approached the boy, his yellow eyes narrowing in an attempt to recall where he had seen them before.
"You—"
"Koku-kun." The demon froze, slowly looking down. Colith stood in front of him, creating a barrier between him and the boy, her hand pressing against his chest to halt his advance. "You're gonna burn yourself. Step back." A frown creased her face as she pushed him away from the sunlight.
Urokodaki hadn't even seen her move.
They locked gazes for a while until the demon eventually relented, and whatever unspoken exchange had transpired came to a close. A fleeting look of displeasure passed through his eyes before a veneer of neutrality once again concealed his emotions. The demon returned to his original spot beside the box, resuming a perfect seiza posture with blank eyes, although he retained his towering stature.
The woman's lips formed a subtle pout before she shook her head, redirecting her attention to the trembling boy. Poor Tanjiro remained on the ground, quaking like a leaf, prompting her to offer him a reassuring smile and a helping hand.
"Don't worry, Tanji, he's with me, and he won't harm a fly unless I give the word. Come on, up you go," she urged gently, taking hold of his arm and easily helping him to his feet.
Tanjiro staggered slightly as she guided him back inside the house, all the while shooting wary glances at the silent but watchful demon. He shuddered when six yellow orbs fixated on him, particularly his earrings. With trepidation, he took a seat next to Urokodaki and cautiously greeted Kokushibo with a meek tone, to which the demon responded with a silent nod after Colith playfully elbowed him to 'be nice.'
Tanjiro remained utterly perplexed by the scene, and Urokodaki couldn't blame the boy because he shared the same sense of bewilderment.
In response, Colith calmly explained the situation, which helped ease Tanjiro's apprehension as she spoke. He began to comprehend the situation better, feeling less threatened by the passive Kokushibo. Nevertheless, he couldn't shake his amazement at the whole scenario. She could tame demons? Kami!
"...and you think it'll work on Nezuko?"
"Yeah, but don't worry, it won't break your promise since I'm not human. Plus, it's just drinking blood from time to time, so that won't count as her eating humans. And who knows, she'll get strong enough to defend herself against enemies."
"I don't know..."
"Look at Koku-kun, sure he's been going out there killing and devouring people for centuries, though that's mostly because of that big bad jackass, but a drop of my blood was enough to put a stop to that! Now he's more like a cranky grandpa—ow ow ow ow! Stop! I get it, I get it! You're the strongest and the most handsome demon in the whole universe! Now stop pinching me!" she rubbed her cheek, squinting menacingly at the demon when he retracted his hand and sat silently with a face devoid of emotion. Although a faint scent of pride and satisfaction emanated from him.
Urokodaki observed the scene with barely hidden disbelief while Tanjiro was outright gawking with wide, bewildered eyes.
Kami, he was too old for this.
"Point is," Colith carried on, "think of it as a precaution in case things go wrong." her gaze softened as she folded her arms. "But you don't have to accept if that bothers you! Just tell me if you change your mind! Just wanna help."
Urokodaki sighed and decided it was time to put away his tools. The wooden box he had been crafting was nearly finished, but he knew it could wait. Thankfully, Tanjiro seemed lost in his thoughts and didn't notice the half-completed box.
As Urokodaki returned from his room, still on high alert due to the unbelievable presence of Kokushibo that had gone unnoticed up until now, he heard Tanjiro emit a thoughtful hum. The boy locked eyes with Colith, his long burgundy hair cascading over his shoulders as he nodded in agreement.
"I... I'll think about it, Colith-san. I am grateful for your consideration," Tanjiro said with a deep bow.
"Maa, no need for that, kiddo. Just let me know when you're okay with it," Colith replied with a lazy grin, casually leaning on the demon's shoulder, leaving the two males astonished.
With that, they changed the subject. Colith inquired about Tanjiro's training, prompting the boy to discuss it. Surprisingly, Kokushibo shared a few of his inputs, though they were scarce. This piqued Urokodaki's curiosity, as the demon had remained mostly silent unless the woman sought his assistance in discussing the boy's routine.
The day unfolded in an unexpectedly peaceful manner, the elderly thought.
The following month, Tanjiro sliced the boulder.
HAPPY NEW YEAR PEOPLE!
EDITED