Hashira Meeting

(Sorry for being gone so long, just had a decent holiday time. Trying to come back with a barrage of these. Enjoy.)

They all stood there in silence once they heard that whoever was in charge would be coming out there in a matter of moments. A man slowly walked into sight. "I see you've all made it." When he finally stepped out of the shadows that the building provided, Tanjiro and Jikon saw that he had scars on his upper face that even took his eyes, and maybe even his vision. "My beloved children." He fully stepped outside and Shinazugawa ceased all his hostility, then that man held a hand out and one of the white haired attendants guided him closer to the lovely garden they were in until he stepped into the sunlight. "Good morning to you all. The weather is strikingly nice today. Possibly with a blue sky?"

'So he is blind.' Jikon thought as he pushed Tanjiro off him with his thighs.

"It pleases me that we've made it to our semiannual Hashira meeting, and it brings me joy that we've had no changes in personnel." His voice was… relaxing to hear. Like a gentle stream bringing fresh water to a tranquil pond.

Tanjiro paid more attention to the scar tissue. 'Injured? No. Is it a sickness? Whatever it is, he's the Master of this mansion?' Tanjiro quickly found his head pressed into the gravel again and Jikon didn't get a chance to even ask since he got pushed down by the kakushi.

Koujo was going to do something but he was forced to lower his head as well… since Shinazugawa used the hand that wasn't forcing Tanjiro down to swing his sword and cut off his leg below the knee. 'I couldn't even respond! Is this what a Hashira can do?' He didn't bother raising himself up once he saw all the Hashira kneeling down respectfully. 'They all kneel for this man? He's gotta be really powerful…'

Sanemi started talking even as he pushed a boy's head into rocks. "I am pleased to see you in good health as well Master. I fervently wish for your good fortune to continue."

"I thank you, Sanemi."

Mitsuri's mouth wriggled in envy. "I wanted to say that! I wanted to be the one to welcome the Master."

"If I may Master, before we start the meeting would you mind enlightening us about these young swordsmen, Tanjiro Kamado and Jikon Hakuga, who've been traveling with demons?"

Tanjiro was surprised now. 'He didn't seem to have even a drop of social grace before but now he's speaking so formally!'

Jikon had his own thoughts on the Wind Hashira's hundred-eighty switch. 'Oh so now he wants to be a goody goody? Where was that when he was about to kill us?'

Koujo… Koujo was distracted by something else at the moment. 'Leg still not healed yet, don't lose limbs in the daylight. I'll get you back later scarface!' They might've had a one to one match for injuries but that kick to his head wasn't for Koujo, it was for Nezuko, Jikon, and Tanjiro. He'd get Shinazugawa back for this one.

"Of course. I apologize for any confusion. About Tanjiro and Nezuko… I'd already sanctioned their situation. I would appreciate it if you'd all accept this condition."

Gyomei rolled his beads and cried again. "Master. Even though it's what you request, I simply cannot agree with it."

Tengen… Tengen would've agreed had he not met these three boys in person. "I'm not sure about that one's sister, but the red haired demon and his brother have that pizazz that I like. If you're alright with it Master then so am I."

"I shall do whatever it is that you wish, Master!" Mitsuri's words could easily be misconstrued but her intent was clear.

Muichiro just commented that he'd forget regardless so he was fine with whatever the majority agreed on.

Shinobu looked at Jikon for a moment and remained silent, her internal monologue more than likely splitting her in two halves. Giyū was also silent for unknown reason, whatever he was thinking would have either been in agreement or denial.

Obanai was clear on his stance. "I won't trust them. I won't trust them, absolutely not. I loathe demons and that's final."

Rengoku was still pondering something but he had enough sense to ask a question. "If I may, I have to ask the demon boy a question first!" The blind man was taken aback for a moment but he smiled and nodded his head.

"I see no reason to deny that, please go ahead."

With that permission from the master, Rengoku's smile almost doubled in size. "You there! Demon boy!"

Koujo's leg was nearly back, all that was left was his foot. He finally got his mind off how to get Shinazugawa back and looked at The Flame Hashira. "My name is Koujo Itadake." He knew that he shouldn't have too much of a tone or else he could be stuck on the ground even longer with more healing needing to be done, so he kept any attitude out of his statement.

"Yes and your brother there mentioned a woman named Kouka?"

Koujo nodded while the other Hashira wondered where this tangent was going since it came out of nowhere. "That's right, she's my mother. His dad has two kids from two women, his mom and mine."

'His dad's gotta be a charmer if he has two wives. The love they must have!' Mitsuri wrongly assumed.

'Maybe he's even more flamboyant than I thought, even his father can have multiple women. Of course it doesn't compare to myself.' Tengen was starting to come around on this matter the more and more he heard about these two.

Gyomei rubbed his beads together and Obanai had a sneer on the visible half of his face, clearly they didn't agree with the idea of polygamy. Shinazugawa and Shinobu maintained their neutral expressions in anticipation of Rengoku's point.

"I see… Hmn! My fellow Hashira, Kocho and Tomioka told me that a technique which created a flaming tiger was used on Mount Natagumo." The other two Hashira that were present filled their associate in on how his technique was used without him being present, and he had questions. "The only people able to use Flame Breathing techniques are those who have been taught, or-"

Or? Everyone was leaning forwards in anticipation. Mitsuri fell over with an adorable squeal. Gyomei almost looked like he could see everyone's expression. Obanai had a brow raised and even the snake around his neck looked invested. Tengen had his arms over his head in an extravagant pose. Giyū was still off in his own world at the end of the row but unbeknownst to everyone else, he was paying full attention the entire time. Sanemi had a full scowl on his face, wondering where this was going when they had traitors to kill and demons to slay. Muichiro was looking ahead with a distant expression, more than likely wondering about what type of wood the deck was made of… probably mahogany. Lastly there was Shinobu who was glancing between the three boys on the ground, wondering how they'd have any tie into Rengoku. So really they could only wait for whatever was after the "or".

"Kyojuro." Their master called his attention. "I appreciate suspense as much as everyone else, but I believe it's been a few minutes since you left us in it." He wasn't wrong. Around five minutes of anticipation and bated breath passed while the ever present smile was just about frozen on his face.

"My apologies Master!" He shook his head clear of whatever was clouding his mind. "As I was saying, the only way to learn Flame Breathing is through being taught by someone who knows the techniques or through the texts written on them! Before I was the Flame Hashira, my father had the same role, but… there was another contender…"

The ever so impatient Wind Hashira spoke up. "Please tell me that this has a point."

"Young demon! I'll be asking to have custody of you, whether or not you are executed!"

Koujo's leg was finally back and he worked himself up to a crouched position to look at Rengoku. "Huh?" Perfect response to such a weird situation. "Why do you care?"

Rengoku's flame themed haori that he wore around his shoulders fluttered with the wind, and he stood up with his arms crossed. "Because my boy, the only other person who knows Flame Breathing well enough to have taught you, was the other candidate to become the Flame Hashira before me! The first woman born into my family in five generations, Kouka Rengoku!" For a second there was nothing, no movement, and somehow no breathing despite everyone present needing it to either survive or to fight.

Then- "NANDATTE?!" Composure was lost by every Hashira that was paying full attention, and Muichiro was just staring wide eyed towards his associate.

"Yes! That means this demon is my family!"

You could almost hear a pin drop in the silence. Not a single word from anyone present. There wasn't anything until- "NANDATTE?!" Repetition is key sometimes. Now eyes were on Koujo and he was nearly catatonic from the realization that he was related to one of the strongest Demon Slayers in the organization… although now he didn't know if he should be relieved or terrified.

Sanemi seemed to just have a throbbing hatred towards the group and spoke up again. "The mission of the Demon Slayer Corps is to annihilate any and all demons. I can't accept these ones because of that, Master!"

He stood there in all his respectful glory and revealed another piece of information. "I received a letter from the Water Breathing cultivator, Sakonji Urokodaki, some time ago. The letter."

"Yes." The girl with white hair to his right pulled out a piece of paper. "A previous Water Hashira sent this letter and I'll read to you the shortened version. 'Please allow the demon, Nezuko Kamado, to accompany Tanjiro, Koujo, and Jikon. Her resilient spiritual strength and mental fortitude have allowed her to keep her sense of reason, even when starved she has not devoured a human and has held this for two years. The situation sounds outlandish but it is reality. In the event that she should assault another human being, myself as well as Giyū Tomioka, Jikon Hakuga, Tanjiro Kamado, and Koujo Itadake will atone by committing seppuku' The letter is clear in its intent, all current users of the Breath of Water will commit suicide should the girl ever falter and consume a human."

Tanjiro glanced at the aloof Water Hashira and realized that all along he'd been taking a risk for their sake… he believed in Nezuko so much that he had to have agreed to these terms. He started crying while Jikon came to the same realization. "Master Urokodaki…"

"Old Man…"

No seriously, his burning hatred was becoming a problem. "Who cares how they choose to kill themselves? If they want to die then they can for all I care! It doesn't guarantee our safety!"

Obanai hopped on that bandwagon all the same. "What's worse is that this brat relative of Rengoku's wasn't included in that hypothetical, for eating a human I mean. He turned into a demon after this little agreement was made, so even if we have to accept the girl he's not included."

"I have to agree! Family or not, the boy became a demon after this letter was sent!"

Their Master took that for all it was worth and was about to speak up. "It's not my fault that bastard Kibutsuji wanted to kill me for cutting off his hand!"

It was totally quiet after that. You could hear a mosquito's heartbeat if you listened close enough… but you probably wouldn't hear it over the heartbeats of all the humans present. Every single one of the Hashira snapped their attention to Koujo with surprise across their faces. "You met the Demon Creator?!" Sanemi said with doubt in his voice.

"What did he look like?!

"What was he doing?!"

"What are his powers?!"

Their master raised a single finger to his mouth to calm them all down. Each of the Hashira calmed down and quickly regained their composure, none of them wanted to think about how they just acted in their leader's presence. "Speaking of that man, we know that he's sent pursuing demons after Tanjiro and young Jikon as well. Whether it be to silence them or for some direct purpose is unknown, but, he's finally revealed himself and I want to seize this chance. I also believe that something's happened to Nezuko that Kibutsuji never saw coming, and possibly the same for young Koujo."

The aforementioned demon raised his head as well as he could with Sanemi pushing his face into the gravel. "Uh, sir? Master? Kibutsuji doesn't know that I'm alive." Everyone looked at him in surprise. "When he tried to turn me all I could hear was his irritating voice telling me to be quiet but… after a little bit it all just went silent and I couldn't hear him anymore."

The sickly man contemplated that information for a moment. Demons all had a connection to their progenitor so hearing that this one was completely disconnected definitely brought up some questions. "I see. Are there any other strange abilities you'd like to mention now?"

That actually made Koujo avert his eyes towards the basket he leapt out of. "Well I can… Uhm…" The next thing he knew he was tasting the ground again.

"When the Master asks you a question you better answer him!"

Seriously he was hating this scarred bastard every second he dealt with him. "I can break Muzan's curse on other demons… I can cut them away from him somehow, and- and one that I did it to is in my basket over there."

Everyone's eyes shifted towards the bamboo basket on the right but the actual owner of the basket glared at his sibling. 'Your basket? I'm pretty sure my mom made that basket for ME but okay yeah… His basket.'

"It's not a normal demon that I took back either, it's Lower Moon Five of the Twelve Kizuki." Another long break of silence that had all eyes on him… once more the entire group of Hashira looked at the demon with wide eyes but they didn't get a chance to yell again.

"I understand we're all surprised but please don't yell again, on a day this beautiful the sound will carry and disturb nature around us." They all quickly bowed their heads again. "Young demon?" Koujo immediately managed to get into a kneeling position since Shinazugawa finally lifted his hand off the back of his head. "Would you happen to have any reason for letting one of the Demon Moons live?"

"He's- Rui isn't a demon who hurt people because he liked it, not exac-"

That white haired, manic faced, bloodshot eye having, heavily scarred and well physiqued- "Forgive me for this Master, but I say that's total bullshit!" That language in the presence of their leader was immediately frowned upon by the other Hashira but none of them objected to it openly. "How do we know that this demon wasn't hypnotized by that Kizuki? How do we know that they weren't sent to us like this to topple the Corps and kill you, Master?!" His words had every drop of his conviction in them and his message was clear; 'We can't trust them'. "Asking us to house demons after so many of us have died, after so many innocent people have been killed? It's unfathomable!" He drew his sword and sliced into his left arm, not even flinching from the pain it caused him.

Instantly there was a change in the air. He could smell Shinazugawa's status as a marechi no problem, and he immediately built his resolve to ignore the instinct to have a taste of him. Unfortunately he made a major mistake in his plan… he didn't consider what was going on now. The smell of the Wind Hashira's blood was so strong that he could tell that he had sweet blood from the basket, but he didn't at all think about how powerful the smell must really be to go that far. The second Sanemi cut into his arm, Koujo felt like someone just slammed the best smelling array of fruits and cooked meat into his face all at once. Drool poured out of his mouth and his entire body started to shiver.

Mitsuri panicked for a moment when she saw her associate cut into himself without hesitation. 'Why did he do that? What is he doing? It's spilling onto the garden!'

"Hear me Master, the depravity of these demons! I'll prove it to you all here and now!" He threw Nezuko's box to the ground and started letting droplets of his blood fall onto it. "Come on out demon! I want you to have some dinner too!"

Jikon wriggled in place at the ordeal, the sound of saliva hitting the ground and blood dropping against Nezuko's box ringing in his head. Tanjiro started to move himself at the display in front of them, not liking how that sword was so dangerously posed over his younger sister.

Sanemi kept his smile even as growling and the sound of claws started appearing from not just the box, but even the basket started to move which made Koujo run to it in a burst that made everyone tense. 'Out of the sun! Out of the sun!' He managed to get beneath the cover of the building that the Master was standing in, and as a bonus the smell of sweet blood was ever so slightly weaker.

The Wind Hashira looked over at them and noticed his lack of thinking in that moment… He was standing in the sunlight! No wonder this little monster wasn't showing her true colors… She couldn't try and have a bite without dying. He picked the box up and walked towards the building as well. "Master, please forgive this discourtesy." In one leap he was behind his superior and once again a wave of that scent hit Koujo in the face… even worse, the lid to the basket burst off right when he tossed the box down and jabbed his sword into it.

"Stop it!" Tanjiro started to get up and Jikon was following his example.

"You sick- Gah!" An elbow slammed into both of their backs, courtesy of The Serpent Hashira himself.

Back in the cover of shade there was more taunting and goading from Shinazugawa. "Come on out and join us! There's already one here about to enjoy the blood you love so much and you aren't even coming out!" He withdrew his sword and stabbed again, earning another grunt of pain from the poor girl inside.

A blue haori with the decoration of white clouds rose from the basket and in a swift pull of the fabric revealed Rui with drool at the edges of his mouth. "A marechi- The best I've ever smelled!"

"Cut that ou-" Tanjiro got the elbow pushed even further into his back and started to notice that he could barely get a breath in. 'Can't breathe! I can't even move!'

Jikon was slightly better off only because he was working some air back into his lungs from the initial hit. 'He's not letting us breathe! Damn it! She doesn't deserve to be hurt like that when she hasn't done anything! There has to be something I can do!' He started struggling more and got the same treatment as Tanjiro, an elbow dug even further into his back.

A foot slammed onto the box and the point of a sword undid the latch. The female Kamado rose groggily as the Hashira watched on, each of them wondering how this would play out. Rui took a step forward but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. "Rui- don't fall for it." He had the willpower to say that even with his own desire to just taste what was in front of him.

"Come on and have a taste… that way I can destroy you all like I should!" Nezuko twitched and the Lower moon did the same.

Shinobu turned to her left with some concern in her eyes. "Iguro you're digging too far into their backs. Please, ease up a little."

His calm tone betrayed the very prominent veins in his arm that were visible under his striped haori sleeve. "I'm only doing this because they're trying to escape." His hatred for demons being so obvious and his equal desire to see them all dead were very prominent from the start. The fact that he was being so rough on two boys that defended demons and went so adamantly against his ideals? Totally couldn't be related.

Shinobu looked down at the two pained boys and gave them a useful piece of advice. "Kamado, Hakuga. If you try to use any breathing techniques while your lungs are being squeezed, it'll cause your veins to burst."

"Their veins will burst?" Uzui sounded excited at the idea of something so extravagant, even if it was something that would probably be lethal. Mitsuri looked up at the man beside her, not agreeing with the idea of such a painful way to go out. "That sounds dramatic! I wanna see it, that's a perfectly flamboyant way for these two to go out! Show me!"

At the far side of the line was the tallest one present, and Gyomei was crying with those blank eyes seemingly focused on everything and nothing. "Poor souls… Such weak, pitiful children. Namu Amida Butsu." That could have been a prayer out of pity or out of concern. It wasn't very clear.

Nezuko was panting heavily and clearly under stress from the smell in front of her. She didn't have the means to articulate how amazing it was just to smell it but she didn't need it, words couldn't begin to describe this smell at all. Rui was barely being stopped by that hand on his shoulder. "Why are you stopping me? You smell it too! We can't be strong enough to kill Kibutsuji like this, we nee-" The hand on his shoulder turned him around and slapped him across the face.

Tanjiro saw that and started to yell with what little air he had in his body, pulling his arms as hard as possible. "Hhhhhaaaaaaaahhh!" With a final push, he ripped through his binds and Iguro was surprised by that for just a second. In that second someone grabbed his wrist and pulled his arm away, that someone was the ever stoic Giyū. The boy scrambled to his feet and ran to the base of the deck as quick as his legs would take him. "Nezuko!"

She stood there holding back the desire to have a bite out of the scarred bastard in front of her but- But she tuned that out when she heard his voice. A memory of when things first went wrong. "She's my sister. I was taking her to get help! I don't know how it happened, but Nezuko is different from the others!" She remembered. Two faces that loved her unconditionally. Bodies even smaller than hers running around with bright smiles on their little faces.

"I convinced her that all humans are her family. I told her to protect them."

Then was the sight of her brother. His gentle face. His scarred forehead. She remembered the lesson she was taught during those two years, the one that sticks with her even now. 'Humans… are to be protected and saved. Never hurt them. I'll never hurt them.'

Back in the moment she watched the blood drip down again and hit the floor in a crimson splatter… and she turned her head away. "Hmph!"

Koujo held both of his ward's shoulders. "We aren't eating any humans, Rui. We won't hurt any of them unless they attack first… even if they're like him." A simple gesture towards a still surprised Sanemi and their Master smiled.

"Tell me what happened."

One of the girls by his side did exactly that. "The demon girl turned her head away in disgust."

"Despite Shinazugawa stabbing her three times and flaunting his blood in her face, she didn't bite him."

The other twin looked at Koujo and Rui. "The Kizuki was ready to attack Shinazugawa."

"But Itadake slapped him and they both resisted."

That made the Wind Hashira growl and clench his fist tightly. "Well then it's been proven. Not only will Nezuko not attack humans, but even one of those closest to Muzan has been swayed towards our side and resisted that urge."

Obanai pulled his hand away with a growl. "What do you think you're doing, Tomioka?" He released Jikon and they all watched the boy stand up and pull the ropes apart to join his friend.

"Tanjiro. Jikon." And that made the Hakuga stop and kneel respectfully. "I'm sure that even after this display of self control your siblings will be viewed in a negative light. Work towards changing their minds, prove to them that they can help our cause as well." Tanjiro gasped and fell down into a full dogeza.

'This feeling… it's like I'm floating. Is it because of this man's voice that I feel this way?'

Jikon was having similar thoughts just two paces back. 'Even though he's clearly sick he makes me feel so calm just from talking, it's no wonder he leads the Demon Slayer Corps… Who could ever refuse to listen to a man this reassuring?'

"The matter of young Koujo swaying a Kizuki to our side isn't enough. Go out and beat a Twelve Kizuki of your own, if you do that you'll be accepted by all." Wow his voice really was like a gentle stream in the forest wasn't it? "Your words will carry more weight and your actions will be supported properly."

Jikon raised his body first with a confident smile on his face. "We understand, Master, we'll start by beating the Twelve Kizuki for now." Tanjiro raised himself proudly at the proclamation. Their standards were set and he knew what the real goal was.

"We- We will defeat Muzan Kibutsuji! I promise that we'll strike him down and end this cycle of misery!" Well his heart was in the right place.

"That's a bit ambitious for you all at the moment, maybe we should start with the Twelve Kizuki for now."

Tanjiro was as red as a tomato. "Yes sir!" Mitsuri held back her chuckles and repeated a mantra to resist laughing. Shinobu had to resist that urge all the same. Tengen, and Kyojuro both had smiles on their faces. Muichiro and Gyomei were fairly solid themselves but one probably wasn't going to remember what happened here and the other was hard to read without normal eyes.

"Let it be known that the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps have phenomenal skills. They've trained themselves to their limits and pushed beyond them, and have killed members of the Twelve Kizuki. That is why the Hashira receive respect and are welcomed by others. So please remember to mind your manners when addressing them."

"Yes sir!" The two spoke in tandem at the reminder to respect those who earned their rank.

"Also, Sanemi, Obanai…" The mentioned individuals both turned towards their Master to listen to whatever he had to say. "Don't torment the younger ones too much."

The Serpent Hashira lowered his head. "As you wish."

Sanemi placed his sword down and knelt while Nezuko angrily steamed with only her head out of her box. Koujo and Rui were just squinting at him, scornfully, across the deck. "As you wish."

"With that our business involving you two is concluded."

A dainty hand raised and a smile was flashed. "If that's the case then please allow me to take them into my abode." Shinobu's voice made Tanjiro question life while Jikon blushed with widened eyes. She clapped her hands twice and rushing footsteps were heard.

"Pardon us for cutting in front of you!" Two male Kakushi showed up and bowed to the Master, then to the Hashira… then one grabbed the front of Tanjiro's uniform and started running off while the other did the same to Jikon. A female Kakushi went to, hesitantly, collect Nezuko and follow them.

As their footsteps retreated the Master spoke. "Now there is the matter of what to make of young Koujo acquiring one of the Kizuki." Everyone paid attention to that, Koujo and Rui had particular interest. "Because he-"

"Hold on just a second!" Tanjiro ran back into the scene with the Kakushi and Jikon following him.

The Kakushi tried to call him back but they were as useful as a candle in the ocean. "Tanjiro stop, we're already on thin ice!"

Tanjiro fell to the ground and the Kakushi started trying to knock some sense into him. "Please allow me to headbutt that scarred man!"

"Quiet! Keep your mouth shut!" They weren't doing any good in slowing down his payback.

Koujo called out from the shade. "Tanjiro! Quit while we're ahead!"

"One headbutt for every time he stabbed Nezuko! Show me where it says you aren't allowed to headbutt another Demon Slayer!"

The Kakushi still tried to hold him back but it wasn't doing much good so there was only one option. "Tanjiro, calm yourself!" Jikon raised his hand and chopped his friend on the neck and sent him straight to the world of being barely conscious. "Please forgive us for this, Master." He bowed his head and started dragging the Kamado elder off himself, unlike the Kakushi he actually could restrain another Slayer.

"Be sure to give Tamayo my regards." That made Tanjiro widen his eyes and Jikon nearly tripped as he followed the assistants.

He started to move some but Jikon did his job and made sure he wasn't moving much for a while. "W- Wait, I have to know how he knows Miss Tamayo!"

The Kakushi carrying Nezuko hit him in the face angrily. "Shut up! We already got in trouble because of you!"

"I thought I was gonna wet myself!" The third one among them looked shell shocked over the whole ordeal happening at all and just kept running.

Jikon sighed and realized that not only were these three not used to how their group could be, they weren't Slayers either so they didn't have that same fearless mentality. 'Okay maybe you can call it self destructive.'

"You should apologize to us!"

"Yeah, apologize!"

That actually made the boy stutter for a second but he cleared his throat and managed to say the words, "I'm sorry." To them.

Some minutes later they were outside of an estate and the Kakushi started asking if anyone was home… only to realize that nobody was coming to greet them. "One of you carry him." Jikon wasn't asking, he just handed Tanjiro off to one of them without a second thought. "Now one of you carry me." He hopped on the back of the one that nearly wet himself.

"Hey can't you walk on your own?!"

Jikon laughed at that with a charming smile. "Not very well, my whole body hurts from last night." They went around back to a garden filled with butterflies and saw a girl standing by the pond.

"I guess someone was home. It's Lady Kanao Tsuyuri, the Tsuguko." Both Tanjiro and Jikon recognized her as the girl from Final Selection, the one who was in better condition than all of the others who survived. "A Tsugoku is someone being personally trained by a Hashira themselves, only the most talented can get that role. Don't let her looks fool you, she's strong."

The one carrying Nezuko approached and bowed. "Please forgive us Lady Tsuyuri, we were given orders to come here by Lady Kocho. May we enter the mansion?" The girl just stood there with a small smile on her face. "May we enter the mansion?" Nope, her expression didn't change at all. "If that's alright with you?"

"Who are all of you?!" The Five of them yelled in surprise from the sudden voice behind them.

"We're here on behalf of Lady Kocho!"

This was a new girl with her hair done in two ponytails at both sides of her head with blue butterfly hair pins. "Kakushi. And you've brought two injured? Please follow me." She led the way into the Mansion and they followed dutifully.

Recovery Pt 1

The sunlight beamed through the windows and shone directly onto her face, even when she just wanted to rest she couldn't have that simple peace. Her eyes fluttered open and she started sitting up to see her signature pelt folded at the foot of her bed, someone even went so far as to clean it for her. Pain echoed through her body but it was dull compared to last night. "Mm…" Her eyes moved to her left and she saw her best friend and his iconic boar mask. "Inosuke?" She put a hand to her throat once she heard her own voice. 'I sound like an old man! Oh wait…' Her mind flashed back to Father spider holding both her and her friend's throats until things started going dark.

"Hnn. I'm awake." His voice was just as raspy and strained, but unlike her he didn't bother sitting up. "Monitsu went to sit outside." She furrowed her brows at his voice. His raspy voice wasn't her biggest concern, no, it was the lack of his usual energy whenever he spoke.

Her concern was obvious, and rightfully so. As long as she knew him he never sounded like this for anything… then again as long as she knew him he never was as hurt as he was last night. "Ya okay? Sounds like something's wrong?" Ami lifted her blanket and looked at the medical sleepwear she was wearing… and frowned when she realized it was a men's size.

Inosuke listened to her movements and sighed. "I'm sorry, if I wasn't so weak we wouldn't have almost died." Now she was standing at his bedside.

"It's not your fault, I wasn't strong enough to beat that big bastard either." She grabbed her pelt and slung it onto her face where it belongs. "Let's go outside, you said your friend was outside? Let's go find him." He didn't budge from his bed, not even the slightest movement to show even some interest in finding his thunder breathing friend… unfortunately Ami wasn't asking. "I said let's go!" She grabbed his boar mask and yanked it off his face then paused for a second once his blank eyes shifted to her, and quickly changed to having some of his usual aggression.

"Hey! Give me back the mountain god hide!" He leapt out of bed with more energy than a person who had his throat crushed should've had and started chasing her. "Ami!"

She nearly broke the door down, getting out of the room and started running through the halls of this building. "You want it back then you gotta catch me!" Their raspy voices and loud footsteps drew some attention but not from anyone that could've stopped their escapade. Ami saw light peeking out through some cracks in a door and honed in on her target, of course she didn't slow down at all since Inosuke was right on her tail. 'Outside here we come!' This time she actually broke a door down with her shoulder bash and her friend landed right on her back, of course the strange looks from the three little girls did make them pause their horseplay.

Inosuke snatched his mask back right when the girls realized that these two shouldn't be moving around so aggressively this soon. "Ah! You two should be resting!" The one with hair down to her shoulders pointed out them just getting over the serious injuries they took.

"Lady Shinobu won't appreciate this behavior!" That one had her hair in low twintails on both sides of her head.

Lastly was the one with braided hair on both sides of her hair. "Please go back to your beds!" They got off the ground and looked around the garden they were in while the last of these girls tried to convince them to continue their bed rest… if only they knew how these two were and how that ship wouldn't sail.

Inosuke spotted the yellow haired coward first and quickly waved him down. "Monitsu!" All his sadness was gone. Ami always had that effect on working him out of any funk he could get into, even when he didn't think he'd ever get out of it… then again they'd been friends for about half a year now.

Zenitsu perked up once he saw Inosuke coming towards him with his mask in hand… and who was that tall beauty behind him? "Haa~" A dopey smile spread across his face and he jumped up, a much weaker jump than he'd normally have, and hurried to them. "Inosuke~ Who's your friend~?" He tried to hug the new girl but her arm against his forehead shut that idea down fast, and his arms being unnaturally short really didn't help him out.

"This guy's an odd duck, but he went up the mountain after us so I guess he ain't all that bad." His face was impassive even as he sat down on the deck where Zenitsu'd been.

Ami was just stupefied from this dandelion's attempts to be as close to her as he could… even though he couldn't even reach her arm with his stubby ones. "The name's Ami Kumagai, you're Monitsu right?" He actually stopped his flailing and went serious for a moment there.

"My name is Zenitsu Agatsuma, pig head just doesn't get names right." He sighed and sat back down beside a cup with some disgusting green liquid Ami could smell from where she was standing.

"Who're you calling pig head?! My head is normal Monitsu!"

"You wear a creepy boar mask! That's not normal at all! You and Koujo are the least normal ones here! Tanjiro and-" The trio stopped to look around for a second. "Wait, where is Tanjiro?" His hearing noticed it before anyone else- It was harrowing. 'W-What is that?!' He turned around and listened closer to the noises but that proved to be a bad idea.

Inosuke finally sat his mask down and started basking in the sunlight. "What's wrong with- Hey what's that sound?" He turned his head and started focusing on whatever the noise was. "The hell is that? Sounds like yelling." Zenitsu knew better than to call it simple yelling… whatever was going on had to be nothing short of agony.

"Is something wrong with you all?" They all focused on the girls again even as the one with twintails commented that they should be resting instead of moving around so early.

Ami looked into the estate with an eyebrow raised and pointed towards the first door she could see, even with Zenitsu shivering next to her and Inosuke still sitting on the deck she still focused on those familiar sounds. "That noise. What's going on?" Zenitsu knew exactly what was going on. He could hear every sound, every scrape against bone, the slicing of flesh, the burning, and the screams from it all. Worst of all is that he could tell that it wasn't a human making those sounds.

A cheery voice interrupted the quickly distressing atmosphere, and a familiar head of reddish brown hair stepped over the broken door the beast breathers left on the ground. "Inosuke! Zenitsu!" Tanjiro was in the same medical outfit that his friends were wearing, and he walked over to them with Jikon coming out to analyze the broken door they just stepped over.

"Uh Naho, Kiyo, Sumi? What happened out here?" The Hakuga walked over to them but stopped in his tracks once he smelled something just vile. "What is that smell?! First some screaming and now something stinks?"

Inosuke looked around and noticed somebody was missing. "Where's Gojo? Did that spider freak actually kill him?" Jikon snickered and Tanjiro just looked concerned. "What's so funny? Wasn't he your brother?"

"He is but- What happened to your voice?" He turned around to laugh a little harder while Inosuke started fuming. That sound they all heard finally died down and there was peace across the estate again… well as much as there could be with so many agents of chaos gathered in one spot.

Ami stretched her arms overhead and yawned while her joints popped with a sound akin to falling gravel. "Our necks got squeezed by the big spider guy." She sighed and held her throat tentatively. "Really if Jikon didn't help us out when he did then… we coulda died." That took the cheerful mood away fast. For the first time today they were all just silently there, even the butterfly trio just looked at them with bated breath to hope they'd go back to their beds… still wasn't going to happen.

One of them looked and saw the source of the weird smell from before… then connected it with the squeamish boy sitting right next to it. "Zenitsu… what's in that cup?"

Zenitsu straightened himself and started tearing up. "It's this disgusting medicine! I got bit by a freaky spider on that mountain and he tried to turn me into one! I have to drink this awful medicine to get my arms and legs back to normal!" Ah there was the blubbering that he missed, and though he knew exactly how strong Zenitsu really was it was still nice to know that he was healthy enough to be his usual self.

Sumi and Naho both stepped in. "Please take the medicine, Zenitsu!"

"You have to keep taking it or else you might never be normal again!"

The boy recoiled and started crying even more. "IT'S TOO DISGUSTING! TANJIROO! HELP!" He tried to take cover from the girls by going back inside but someone pushed him right back onto the deck. "Huh?! HUH?!" White skin. White hair. Silver eyes with blood red sclera? One of those eyes saying- "L-Lower f-Five?" His voice was a whisper and he scooted back from this new, and scary, face.

Tanjiro tensed up but didn't lose the smile adorning his face. "Rui." The ex-Lower Moon looked at his previous enemy with something that mixed between sympathy, familiarity… or constipation.

"Tanjiro… I was… taken here to stay with you all." Conversation wasn't an easy thing to maintain when you were used to everyone being afraid of you, but when you wanted to turn a new leaf it had to be done.

"Why'd you have to stay with us? It's pretty weird to have a demon sleeping in the same place a bunch of hurt people are if you ask me!" The girls present didn't pay that any further mind but the boys all looked at the blue haired loudmouth with furrowed brows… and moments into that he realized what he just said, then lost all his definition for the second time in 24 hours to look like he was drawn poorly again. "W-Wait that's not- Shut up!"

"After Master Oyakata was done with us, I couldn't stay at the Rengoku estate. Only Koujo could." Zenitsu perked up with a smile this time.

"Oh yeah! You three had to talk to the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, what was she like? Was she as beautiful as I'm imagining? Is she young like us or a mature woman?" The butterfly girls took three steps back and Ami did the same, none of them were used to his mannerisms just yet.

Jikon started snickering again and Tanjiro answered those questions with a simple correction. "The leader is actually a man."

…

…

…

"I've lost all interest in this conversation."

Jikon smiled. "So you found interest in taking your medication?" He lunged before Zenitsu could move and had him held down with the cup in his hand. "Don't make this harder than it has to be!"

"SAVE ME TANJIROOOO!"

While that went on, Tanjiro took a second to evaluate Rui and see that his eyes were almost clear? Not translucent but… like a haze was lifted away from him. "Tanjiro." Everyone looked back at the spider demon, even the still sputtering Thunder breather who was choking and complaining about the taste of the medicine Jikon just forced down his throat. They all watched Rui kneel to the floor and lower his head to the deck, granted they all were surprised at the burning from what little sunlight was touching the back of his head. "I'm sorry for what I did to you. Wanting to take Nezuko for myself- Trying to force a bond that would never work- Being so ready to kill you both because I didn't understand!" The back of his head was still turning to dust even as his tears hit the deck under them.

It was outlandish to imagine a human crying for a demon of any kind, regardless of their actions in life. A demon was a demon, a monster according to almost everyone who ever encountered them… including the ones who lived to tell the tale. Tanjiro Kamado was an empathetic person who would even shed tears for a demon that felt remorse for their actions in that state, not exactly because he forgave them but because someone who could feel remorse was better than the monster they came from… Kibutsuji. "Rui…" The former Lower Moon lifted his head and exposed his face to them all. Jikon had a winning smile from ear to ear. Ami was flashing a snarky grin. Zenitsu was hiding behind Inosuke. And Inosuke was putting his mask back on. Tanjiro's eyes had the same kindness that he was known for, and he used it to convey his message. "We forgive you."

"…Thank you…" He stood back up and felt the back of his head recover from being burnt by the weak rays of the sun. Now the screaming started inside again and Zenitsu jumped once more. "I pity her."

Tanjiro rubbed his hair and raised a brow. "What is that noise Rui? It's been going on for a while now." He tried to look inside and see where it could've been coming from but all he saw were empty hallways.

"That's the Insect Hashira, she brought one of my… my not-family and said she had to pay for the people she's eaten." Insert a pregnant pause for everyone to come to the slow realization that one of the Hashira, specifically the one that was offering them asylum to recover, was torturing a demon somewhere in the estate…

"Lady Shinobu was so happy that she made a friend!" Kiyo's excitement betrayed the tone that was just set mere moments ago… but nobody could complain about it being anything less than adorable.

Two lights to the left and right of Master Oyakata, and his daughters flanking him all the same. The Hashira sat in front of him to patiently listen to his words. "As you've all reported, the carnage caused by the demons has grown to new levels. Which in turn means that the threat to human life is higher than it has ever been. We need to bolster the ranks of the Corps. What do you all think?"

Sanemi had a strong opinion on this, their quality was being increased but the quantity was dropping hard. "The incident on Mount Natagumo made things very clear. The caliber of our Slayers has dropped into the dirt, most of them are useless against stronger demons. I personally blame our trainers. You'd think they could tell if some of these people were competent or not."

"Well that's not always the case, those kids packed a lot of power. Lower Moon Five? That's like the twelfth strongest demon currently alive, plus they all tried to attack you in such a dazzling way Shinazugawa. I'd say they have potential." The most flamboyant Hashira spoke proudly and caused his scarred compatriot to scoff. One of those kids was currently keeping his head low behind the current Flame Hashira, doing his best to not be noticed or stand out.

"The more the human population grows, the harder it becomes to unify them. Not mentioning that the times have changed in this era." Shinobu added.

Gyomei palmed his prayer beads and cried fresh tears. "There are those among us who joined after losing loved ones to demons. And there are those who are a part of families that have hunted demons for generations, but asking average people for the same or greater commitment to the cause would be cruel."

Rengoku smiled. "But think of it this way; Only so long after joining were those boys able to come into contact with Kibutsuji himself! Even one of the Twelve Kizuki! Perhaps they have the power to draw them out! I'm envious, even we as Hashira rarely get the opportunity to confront one!"

Oyakata hummed in thought. These were all valid points but there was one thing made clear by what Rui was up to in his territory. "Because of Rui's actions we can safely assume that Muzan is not near Mount Natagumo, possibly far from it. Like Asakusa, whenever he wishes to hide something he creates a clever diversion to throw us off. It's quite frustrating."

'Especially when you see through it and end up dying to death in an alleyway.' Koujo didn't make a mistake with his word choice, the only way he could still describe that pain was by calling it 'Dying to Death'.

"Nonetheless. As long as there are demons out there, ones that have no issue eating innocent humans to gain strength and survive. For the sake of those who lost their lives there is only one option for us. I believe that you all present, The Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, you are the finest unit I've assembled since the first breathing swordsmen of the feudal era."

He had to speak up. He knew for a fact that he wasn't included in this roster and this split second break in speech was his only chance. Slowly but with all the needed confidence of a man surrounded by hungry lions did Koujo raise his hand to object. "Master, I'm not a Hashira of the Corps." Eyes moved towards him and not all of them were tolerant of his presence there. "I still don't think I have any reason to be at this meeting, especially among my superiors."

He may have been blind but even he could see the discomfort of the Demon among Hashira, experienced Demon Slayers. "Forgive me for making your matter wait for so long, young Koujo, but it simply slipped my mind. Because of your ability to convert Lower Moon Five to our side I've taken some things into account." This could be really good or really bad. "For one you are definitely a demon unlike any other, and it shows with your ability to take control from Kibutsuji. Second, because of your actions against such a dangerous opponent, your brother, Tanjiro, and yourself are all being promoted to rank Kanoe. Congratulations." He clapped his hands together softly and his ever encompassing aura spread to have the Hashira mirror the action, even if two thirds of the people being promoted weren't present.

'One clap?' He was about to think something on the lack of generosity but then remembered where he was and decided that one was better than nothing at all.

"And of course there's the ever important matter of you being taken in by Kyojuro. As we already established, Rui will stay with Tanjiro and Nezuko for now and the Kakushi escorted him some time ago. You are going to be under direct supervision and care by the Flame Hashira, please mind your manners and heed his words."

Koujo bowed his head. "Yes Master."

"And Kyojuro, please be mindful of others should you decide to train him yourself." That… that sounded like concern for everyone but Koujo… and he didn't like that. "But my point of The Hashira being my greatest fighters still stands. I trust you all to do your best."

"Yes!"

"Yes."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Yes."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

A chorus of responses, with only two people lacking the same enthusiasm, and the meeting was adjourned. The Hashira left the home of their master and returned to the night to either patrol or went to their varied pieces of land to prepare themselves for their line of duty.

Even with a sort of recommendation from Oyakata, you'd still have heard a young man yelling with excitement clear in his voice. "Koujo! Don't stop your repetitions just yet! You only have ten more!" Rengoku was standing proud in a training uniform with his arms crossed. Yet most interestingly he was somehow moving up and down about fifteen inches every few seconds.

"It's easy for you to say! You're not the one doing this in the sunlight with a man on your back!"

Right now it was around midday and Kyojuro was standing on the back of a demon doing push-ups. This training wasn't new and they'd been at this for about six hours now. Being a demon meant that you had a near endless amount of stamina that could only be exhausted by constantly regenerating major wounds from someone above you in power, meaning that the rough training courtesy of the Flame Hashira was not letting the boy get tired enough to warrant a break… even though he was feeling it in his very bones.

"That sounds like quitter talk! Hmph! I haven't even managed to start you on doing these vertically!"

"I'm already doing them with one arm! What else do you want me to do?!" Sometimes you don't want to ask that question and this is one of those times.

Kyojuro looked around and saw a familiar head of golden hair with red tips like his own. "Senjuro, my brother, come help us if you aren't busy." A boy, not a boy like Koujo or his friends but an actual kid, came into the yard with a broom in hand. His hesitance to be near them was a mixture of both fear from the demon relative he had, and fear from being away from his chores. "Please join me on our cousin's back!" He held his hand out to help his younger brother up and Koujo felt that much more weight settle into him and he groaned.

"Um, should we be doing this here brother? You know how father was yesterday." It was a fresh memory in their minds when they all became better acquainted.

Their platform scoffed and kept pushing himself up and down. "If Shinjuro wants to get mad at the Flame Hashira training a Demon then that's on him, damn alcoholic."

"Please don't speak of him in that way. His current self may be a bit… difficult, but he was still a Hashira before me." This really was a caring son regardless of how angry his father was at him bringing a demon to their doorstep.

Koujo did his best to look back at his mentor even though most of his effort was going into this monotonous action. "He showed how much of a Hashira he was when he almost cut my head off! If he was sober that might've killed me."

The swordsman smiled again and unfolded his arms. "Well you're alive and well! And you finished your sets, now we can move on to your swordsmanship! Senjuro! Please go get us the training swords!" The Rengoku brothers stepped off their relative and one of them went to retrieve the practice weapons while Koujo stood up and dusted off his training outfit. "From what I've seen your Flame Breathing is very sloppy, we have to correct your form before anything. Now, you've shown me the first form and the sixth through eighth, but there are still three main forms that affect your overall performance of the rest. They all build off one another!"

Senjuro finally came back with two wooden swords with a similar finish of rock lacquer to Nezuko's box… Wait a second. 'Nezuko's box is really tough, and Urokodaki made it to last.'

Senjuro moved to grab the broom and return to his chores but he paused and looked back at his elder brother. "Is it alright if I watch you both practice? I can finish-"

"It's fine by me!"

Koujo examined his weapon with a sharp eye to notice every knick and crack from previous use. "So you're going to teach me the other three forms? I'm not sure why but something is telling me I should be alarmed."

"We shall start with the second form!" Koujo raised a brow and held his sword firmly, his instincts were flaring right now.

"What's the second form?" Sometimes you really just don't want to ask questions because the answer is not something you're ready for.

Kyojuro smiled and took a breath. Koujo tensed and started to block whatever was coming but his arms might as well've been molasses for all it did. Flames trailed around the wooden blade and burned bright even in the midday sun, ironically- "Nobori en ten!" (Rising Scorching Sun). The sun was very involved with the technique that just slammed a wooden sword into Koujo's jaw and sent him flying into the air. Luckily he could recover from the sudden pain and land on his own two feet to feel that his jaw was everything but broken. "That was the second form of Flame Breathing. Observe it, learn it, know it, and we'll practice it!"

He heard exactly how Kyojuro's breathing shifted and focused specifically for that attack, now all he had to do was mirror it. He moved his sword to his hip and rushed forwards. 'Hono no kokyu Ni no kata!'(Flame Breathing Second Form). Of course his target wasn't going to sit still and let himself be hit, this was practice! An enemy won't just sit there and die! Kyojuro sidestepped and with beautiful bright flames tracing his sword he swung but Koujo ducked below it. "Nobori en ten!" (Rising Scorching Sun). He raised his sword high and through the flames saw- 'Oh.' He saw something he'd be getting used to as long as he did this… a wooden sword hitting him in the face.

A Demon rolled across the ground and shot up with tingles going down his back. Those were the telltale sign that he should start looking for shade before things got painful… and probably lethal. "You're not doing it properly, I can see that you're behaving like a Water Breather and being fluid with your motions which is commendable, but Flame Breathing techniques are performed from proud, high stances. We'll correct that confusion soon enough!"

"Actually, I need to be out of the sun for a while." He let his shoulders drop then turned to sit in the shade of the awning behind them.

Kyojuro remembered the important detail of how he could stay in the sun but not indefinitely. They could take a break now and have some lunch… 'Does he eat human food? Hm… Questions for later!" He looked and saw Senjuro and Koujo looking at him strangely. "Is something wrong?"

Senjuro blinked twice, almost like an owl. "You just yelled that there were questions for later?" He looked up to his sibling and watched him cross his arms proudly.

"I suppose I did! Ha! Ha! Ha!" Senjuro backed away while his brother laughed, secretly wondering if he started following in their father's footsteps and took up drinking. Koujo watched his newest mentor and chuckled to himself about something he had to get done right now… okay maybe not right now but before he went to sleep.

"I have to write Urokodaki a letter."

How could you Jikon!? You made me take that gross medicine!

It's for your own good! If you don't take it then your arms and legs might stay that way!

I'm sorry for being so weak...

Stop being so sad before I take your mask again.