"Are you going to sleep all day? Wake up already!" the Kakushi shouted, shaking Tanjiro awake. His eyes snapped open, disoriented.
"Disappointing. When I heard about a Demon Slayer traveling with a demon, I expected someone flashy. This one looks like an ordinary kid," Tengen Uzui shook his head as if Tanjiro had failed to amuse him.
"We will put this boy on trial. It must be done," Kyojuro Rengoku declared, his expression optimistic and unwavering.
Tanjiro looked around at the group, noting their diverse hair colors ranging from pink and green to white, fiery red and yellow, and even some normal black. Nine powerful presences stood before him, each exuding an aura stronger than any human he had ever encountered.
"Who are these peop–?" he began to speak, only to be interrupted by the furious Kakushi above him.
"Don't open your mouth, you moron. Just who do you think was standing before you? You're in the presence of the Hashira!"
'Hashira? What is a Hashira? What is he talking about? Who are these people?' Tanjiro thought, confusion evident on his face.
"Where am I?" he asked aloud.
"This is the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters," Kanae Kocho spoke gently with her usual smile. "And you are about to be put on trial, boy! Before we start, why don't you explain the crime you comm—"
"A trial isn't necessary," Rengoku interrupted. "Protecting a demon is a clear violation of the code. We can deal with this ourselves. We can execute both of them."
"In that case, I am glad to decapitate them flamboyantly. I'll show you the flashiest blood spray you've ever seen. Maximum flamboyance!" Uzui stated.
"Ah... what a pitiful sight this boy is. The poor soul..." Gyomei lamented, his eyes brimming with empathy. "Let's put him out of his misery."
"Mn!" Kyojuro agreed.
"Yeah! Let's do it flamboyantly," Uzui added.
"Nezuko. Where's Nezuko?" Tanjiro began frantically searching for his sister and his friends.
"Forget that. What shall we do with Tomioka? Based on what I heard, he is as guilty as the boy," Iguro Obanai commented. "Seeing him stand there without any restraints gives me a headache. Don't you have anything to say, Tomioka?"
"Let's wait for Kagaya-sama," Ryou, who had been watching the show, finally spoke up.
"I am more interested in the boy's story. Despite being a Demon Slayer, he travels alongside a demon. I wish to know why," Kanae said and turned to Tanjiro, "Can you tell me the reason?"
"No need to ask," Uzui interrupted.
"No. I need to know!" Kanae said forcefully.
Tanjiro looked around at the Hashira, his heart thumping. He took a deep breath and explained, "That demon is my sister, Nezuko.
When I was away, my family was killed while she was turned into a demon, but she has never harmed a human till now and never will. She's different.
I believe she can fight alongside the Demon Slayers as a demon. Please, believe me."
Shinazugawa, who had been missing for a few minutes, returned with a ferocious grin, carelessly holding a wooden box in one hand.
"Is this the moron Demon Slayer who has a demon with him? What do you think you're trying to pull here?" Shinazugawa demanded.
"This won't do, Shinazugawa-sama," a female Kakushi came and interjected, opposing his actions. "Please, would you mind putting down the box?"
"Don't act out of line, Shinazugawa," Kanae said, her usual smile absent from her face. Anyone familiar with her would know she was angry.
"What did you say about the demon, kid? That she can fight as a Demon Slayer to protect humans? You know what we call that? A total delusion, moron!" With that, Shinazugawa drew his sword ready to stab the box.
At that moment, an overwhelming presence surged through the courtyard, suffocating everyone as if a mountain was pressing them down from above.
Instinctively, the Hashiras' hands reached for their weapons.
"Didn't you hear what Kanae said, Shinazugawa?" Ryou's voice sliced through the oppressive atmosphere, yet it remained casual.
But, the oppressive aura radiating from Ryou was absolute, sending cold sweat trickling down everyone's foreheads. The two Kakushi trembled in their feet, paralyzed with fear, fully aware that the strongest Hashira, Ryou was angry.
"Powerful!" Tanjiro thought. This kind of frightening presence, he had only felt before in Kibutsuji Muzan.
'His presence is scary! But, he's so strong!' The Love hashira, Mitsuri thought.
Facing his presence, there was only one word in their mind: 'Overwhelmingly strong.'
"My... My... Please, Ryou-san, there are others present," Kanae spoke.
"Tsk," Shinazugawa, being him, threw the box aside and immediately confronted Ryou. "Are you trying to show off your strength, you bastard? Come on, who do you think you are?"
Against the furious Wind Hashira, Ryou casually apologized, "My apologies. I got carried away," though his face betrayed he wasn't sorry.
Shinazugawa felt as if he had punched cotton. He couldn't attack someone who had apologized, even if that bastard didn't look sorry.
At that moment, the voices of two children sounded in unison. "The master of the mansion has returned,"
Ubayashiki Kagaya wearing a white haori over a black kimono stepped out. His two daughters took his hands and led him to the edge of the porch.
"Good Morning, everyone. The weather is nice today. I'm happy that we made it to the semi-annual Hashira meeting without any possible changes in the rank."
As a sign of respect, all the Hashira knelt on their knees including Ryou who respects the Ubuyashiki family's dedication to fighting the demons and protecting the innocent people.
"I am pleased to see you in good health as well, Master," Shinugazawa said. "I pray fervently for your continued good fortune."
"Thank you, Sanemi."
Shinazugawa got straight to business and asked politely. "If I may, Master, before we start the Hashira meeting, would you mind enlightening us about this boy, Kamado Tanjiro, accompanied by a demon?"
"Right." Kagaya smiled gently and spoke. "I apologize for startling you all. Regarding Tanjiro and Nezuko, I have sanctioned their situation."
The Hashira stared at their master, some with their mouths slightly agape.
He added in a soft voice, "And, I'd also appreciate it if you all accept this."
Silence reigned for a moment before the Hashira began to react. Gyomei, Uzui, Rengoku, and Shinazugawa opposed straightforwardly, while the others remained silent.
Ryou watched everything unfold as if it were a scene in a movie, his expression quiet.
As if expecting a wave of objections, Ubayashiki remained calm. "Letter," he spoke to one of his daughters.
The one on his right obliged, pulling a folded letter from her kimono, and read aloud. "The former hashira, Mr. Urokodaki, sent this letter. I shall read an abridged version of it to you...
She ended the words with, "If Nezuko hurts a human, Mr. Urokodaki and Giyu Tomioka, will atone by committing seppuku."
Following that, the events unfolded much like the original story. Shinazugawa cut his own arm and stabbed Nezuko a few times to test whether she could truly resist the hunger to feed on the humans.
Of course, Nezuko performed well by turning her head away in visible disgust. She clenched her teeth, resisting the urge with all her might.
Despite the intense provocation, Nezuko remained firm, proving her ability to resist her demonic instincts. Her performance left a strong impression on the gathered Hashira, at least they are somewhat convinced.
Kanae then offered to take the siblings into the Butterfly Mansion, intrigued by the unique bond between the human brother and demon sister.
After the events involving Tanjiro and demon girl Nezuko were over, the Hashira finally gathered inside the mansion for their Semi-annual Hashira meeting. Since it was the first time in years that Muzan Kibutsuji had revealed himself, Kagaya formed a team of two Hashira, Obanai and Shinazugawa, to trace Muzan's whereabouts.
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