—START—
-3rd Person POV-
Butterfly mansion, one of the main establishments demon slayers have for recuperation and healing other than the wisteria inns.
It was originally founded by the Kocho sisters after the stone Hashira saved them from a demon attack that ended the life of her parents.
It became knows quite quickly due to the essential service they provided, and with the ascension of the eldest sister to the position of Hashira the recognition only became greater.
Kanae Kocho, a sixteen year old with the title of flower Hashira was walking down one of the halls of the institution she and her sister originated inside the Corp.
She was on her way to a very, very, VERY important meeting right now.
The door at the end of the hallways was a little cozy room not tailored for the medical use of the mansion, rather it was her own space for her to relax or receive guest that were not seeking help.
It was where her guest had been waiting for her.
When Gyomei came to her with the idea of using the mansion to meet up one day she had to try to keep her excitement concealed.
Tengen, Giyuu, Gyomei and her all in one place just hanging out for once, just as if they were normal people, not demon slayers nor Hashira.
She would be lying to herself if she had preferred that to be the truth, but that was not the world they lived in.
Kanae reached the end of the hallway, where everyone else said they would be.
Once she opened the door.
"Happy Anniversary!" were the shouts of two people and the more quiet normal speaking of another that she received once she entered.
There was a lot of food on the table, the flowers had been changed to groups of pinks and whites that combined with the pillows of the same color they were using to sit.
It had been some form of surprise party for her.
"Kocho, your finally here" Tengen was smiling at her shocked expression, amused that what they had planned worked. "flashy isn't it? we really caught you off guard"
Kanae blinked repeatedly still processing what was going on.
"y-yeah, guy what is this?" even if she didn't know why they had done this the gesture alone made her excitement reach a maximum level and her gentle smile bloom in all it's glory.
Tomioka had gotten up from here he was seated and came close to her. "You became a Hashira today" Giyuu answered her question, and as always, it was a slightly confusing version of the truth.
Gyomei and Tengen had also gotten up from where they had been sitting, approaching the girl.
"It is an anniversary for your ascension to Hashira" Gyomei clarified. "It is one of those things people tend to celebrate and we thought you might enjoy it too" the giant's words almost moved the girl to tears.
Never before in the corps this idea had been entertained since the charge of Hashira had been one tied to death and a bigger responsibility than the self.
Kanae however always spoke of how much she enjoyed the simple things of a common life, sharing all kinds of traditions or festivals others did with them that they could never really take the time to enjoy as busy as they were.
Your own time and maybe your life was always the price for the chance to save as many lives as possible.
Which is why when Tomika approached Gyomei with the idea to do something for Kanae, the strongest Hashira could not refuse.
Gyomei questioned the youngest as to why did he ask for them to do this, not because of a refusal to do so, but rather what had brought that on.
He answered.
"Kocho enjoys things outside of our position" The Hashira explained. "always talking about birthdays of others and promotion celebrations…She has done a lot for the corps and me, I want to repay that"
It was the longest thing Gyomei had heard Tomioka say, which showed him how important Giyuu thought this was for Kanae.
"We believed you might appreciate something like this, and with the incredible job you've done as both a slayer and a medic it was only fair we try and compensate your achievements" It was those words that finally got the girl's tears to fall.
They were incredibly happy tears, her efforts were never something she cared if they were thanked or not, she was simply doing what she believed to be correct.
Yet hearing one of the people she admired the most say that, it was a joy.
"Oh Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she got the three of them to stand closer and hug all, sniffing as more tears fell, with Uzui Laughing while Gyomei and Tomioka gave each a smile for the situation.
As the girl calmed down the atmosphere became much more soothing, the Hashira spent their time talking about how things have been to them, the adapting to the new position as Tomioka has just been a Hashira for six months now.
There was also a lot of teasing considering Kanae was the only person Tomioka regularly directed words too unlike the other two Hashira who'd receive the silent treatment most of the time.
Uzui particularly was happy to use that to his advantage.
"And there was this one time a slayer came with a foot on her hand to the mansion" Kanae was now telling stories of different things that had happened to her on the clinic. "It wasn't even theirs, apparently they wanted to see if we could just stich it back on a companion of her"
It was also somewhat of a vent on the idiocy some of the organization had. "Which is why we began giving slayers some classes on first aid and some medical common sense"
The disappointment on Himejima and Uzui's faces was all she needed to confirm their thoughts.
Some things might be strange or even difficult to grasp when it came to medicine, but even still loosing limbs was openly known to be an irreversible damage.
Tomioka on the other hand didn't think it was that obvious. "but could you?" Kanae was really glad this idiot was her best friend and an intelligent individual.
Except when it came to any basic human function.
From what Uzui and her theorized it was due to whoever raised him had no real expectations on his survival despite all the training he had and didn't bother to teach him anything.
A grim but not that uncommon of an upbringing.
"Dude, how can you even ask that?" Uzui looked at him incredulously. "I thought you were a smart one Tomioka"
"That's just Giyuu for you" Kanae giggled at their interaction, but she too was concerned by her friends lack of common sense. "No Tomioka, lost limbs are not something we can heal"
"Oh, Kocho always seems to be capable of anything so I thought…" he stopped himself there before anything else could come out of him mouth, but the damage was already done.
This was ammunition he was giving the sound Hashira that he would one day regret.
"Aw, I'm so glad you think that highly of me" the girl found his poor explanation cute and would now remind him of this day for the rest of his existence too.
And people asked why he didn't talk much.
"Leaving Tomioka's doubtful knowledge aside" The jab wasn't hidden at all and the water Hashira recoiled slightly at his medical incompetence being exposed.
"It is a good idea for slayers to be taught basic care over wounds, it would increase survival rates" The man had begun to cry when he thought of all lives that didn't make it. "Namu Amida Butsu"
"Leave it in my hands Gyomei-san, I will make sure everyone, including Giyuu, know basic first aid" was her enthusiastic promise to her comrade then, she looked at her friend. "you have to be one of the first ones to participate, you have to set an example"
All the answer she got was him turning his head to look in a different direction as he stuffed his mouth with some of the mochi at the table.
"Yeah Tomioka, turn that flashy frown upside down and set an example"
"It would be the smart thing for us to set the example we want the rest of the demon slayers to follow Tomioka"
The three of them laughed together, looking at the product of their work glow red in embarrassment.
It was a good day, one that had just began.
Six years have passed since that little party.
Now we stand in front of a grave, one in a sea of the many graves buried under the demon slayer responsibility.
A man with a mismatched Haori, a man with a sleeveless shirt and an incredibly big man with red pearls were all walking together in the direction of that one grave.
There was no actual body there, it was a symbolic place since the one who passed had been buried with her family instead of the one at her job.
Like she would have wanted.
They all seemed to be carrying something, the mismatched haori brought some mochi, the giant brought pink and white flowers and the sleeveless guy brought some sake.
The three of them sat in front of the grave, pouring four cups of sake, one for each soul now present in the get together.
The mochi and the flowers being left at the foot of the tomb, a little offering for the dead.
"Happy Anniversary" the three of them chanted together, clicking the cups, and downing the contents of it in a single go.
"we hope you found yourself happy on the other side Kanae"
"We'll surely meet again on the next life my flashy friend"
"I pray that we do, Namu Amida Butsu"
—END—