~*~

"Well, well........what kind of fun do we have brewing here?"

Glancing over recognising his voice, Sanemi stood there with a wide intimidating grin etched on his face. He stood there with a large box in hand with straps attached to it, assuming what was inside. The silence grew between us all whilst I stood there wondering what he was gonna do, and hoping he doesn't do anything drastic. Despite the Hashira that were present here immediately decided to decapitate Tanjiro, I knew Sanemi was gonna be the worst.

"....Is that the moron who brought a demon along with him?" Sanemi gestures to Tanjiro, who was staring in shock seeing to recognise the box. "What the hell are you trying to pull here, exactly?"

(Those new scars make Shinazugawa look even more handsome! Hayami is so lucky to have a man like him by her side! ~ Mitsuri's Inner thoughts)

"Please, Master Shinazugawa!!!" A kakushi rushes towards him from around teh building, in alarm. "I must ask you to put down that box!"

Closing my eyes I try to maintain my urges to speak up hastily, even though I sensed Shinobu's anger summarily seeing her stand up before Tanjiro when she was just giving him water.

(Wow! Even when she's angry, Shinobu still looks as cool as ever! ~ Mitsuri's inner thoughts)

"Shinazugawa, please don't act out of line," Shinobu warns him, steadily yet Sanemi ignores her plea.

"Run that by me again, kid?......She can fight as a Demon Slayer to protect humans' was that it? You know what we call that?" before he grabs the hilt of his blade, drawing it swiftly. "Completely impossible, you idiot!!!!"

Without hesitation Sanemi plunges his blade forcefully into the box, as I sensed the sound of a child whimpering. The blade pierces right through the other side, blood spraying from his attack.

My eyes darken feeling my stomach churn at this, but before I could speak up Tanjiro picks him up in anger and rushes towards Sanemi.

"Anyone who harms my sister answers to me!!!!" The boy warns everyone, seeing a blaze of fire ignite behind his maroon eyes. "I don't give a damn if you're one of the hashira!!!"

Sanemi chuckles sinisterly and drawings his blade out from the box, swiping it to rid the blood from his tainted blade.

"Well, how very nice for you," Sanemi mocks him, sarcastically. 

Without warning Tanjiro yells out angrily feeling the tension rising, knowing deep down Tanjiro's feelings are validated with me already. This feeling wasn't unchanging, the moment I stepped on the grounds before him. Even I sensed no malice from the child within that box, my words weren't enough to end this argumental of a debate 

"Cease this!!" Giyuu shouts abruptly. "The master will be arriving shortly!!!!"

This causes Sanemi to hesitate when Tanjiro charges towards him, as my partner steps back swiping his blade. Yet the boy dodges his attack hoisting himself into the air raising his head as my eyes widen, before he slams his skull against Sanemi's head. My eyes widen seeing him collapse suddenly which was unlike him to fall at such an attack, making him drop the box.

Silence falls between all of us, when a soft stifled chuckle follows straight to Mitsuri who cowers behind her hands, "Pardon me,"

Tanjiro quickly got to his feet faster and stood between the box and my partner, seeing him unharmed from that immense headbutt. What was his head even made of? It was rather interesting, despite my concerns for Sanemi's headache he'll receive later. 

Realising Giyuu's outburst must've been a distraction, which allowed Tanjiro to take that opening. 

Sanemi grimaces from the ground, "Damn you,"

Tanjiro breaths heavily, "If you can't tell the difference between good demons and bad ones, then you shouldn't be a Hashira!!!!"

That sentence itself caused my whole entire demeanour to darken, finding it rather conflicting and offensive at the same time. He doesn't know what Sanemi went through to become the person he is......

"You no-good, little........" Sanemi growls, with blood running down his nose to his chin. He reaches out grabbing his blade again tightly and stood up with a wide sinister grin, "I'll destroy you!"

Remaining professional in front of everyone, I had to step in to tame the fight.

"Lord Shinazugawa, draw your blade back in," I firmly scold him, with a soft gentle tone causing his movements to come to a halt.Usually I never do come to these kind of measures to speak up, but right now he's gone too far. Hesitating for a moment his eyes meets mine for a split second, as his jaw clenches. "Your challenging a child........."

(Lady Hayami is so serene and collected, but can instantly calm anyone just by her voice, she's the peace amongst the Hashira. So beautiful! ~ Mitsuri's inner thoughts)

Suddenly this powerful and warming presence greets the unfolding scene, as my silver eyes fall upon the children of the master.

"The master of the mansion has returned!" The two young girls announces, in unison. Their snow white short hair was identical following with identical purple floral Kimono's that complimented their pale complexion. On their knees either side of the entrance, they opened the sliding fusuma painted doors.

Slowly my eyes fall upon our master as he walks at a steady pace, radiating the beautiful day with his soothing presence with every move he made. His aura was even more tranquil, it always set my heart at ease every time we meet twice a year for our meetings. He soon steps out from the shadows of the opened house verandah, with a strong and calming presence.

"My beloved children.......I thank you for coming here this day," he greets us, as one of his daughters takes his hand gently while the other stood on the other guiding him towards us carefully. He pauses gazes up to the sky despite his blindness as his disease continues to spread, "Hmmm....good morning to you all, the weather is strikingly nice today. Perhaps with a blue sky? Finding ourselves here at the semiannual gathering with all the same faces, it brings me joy."

Swiftly Sanemi grabs the back of Tanjiro's head and slams him down, as my partner bows in respect instantly following with the rest of us. Kneeling down beside Tanjiro next to me, my eyes remain staring upon the soft pebbled ground before us on my right knee and an arm propped up; with respect.

"i am please to see you in good health as well, Master," Sanemi's voice mellows out, returning to himself. "I fervently pray for your continued good fortune."

Master smiles, "I thank you, Sanemi," 

(Ohhh....I wanted to be the one to welcome the master! ~ Mitsuri pouts in her inner thoughts)

"If I may, master, before we start this meeting," Sanemi continues, lifting his head up to meet Master's softened gaze. "Would you kindly enlighten us about this young swordsman right here, who it would appear has been accompanied by a demon?"

"But of course, I apologise for any confusion," Master replies, earnestly. "Tanjiro and Nezuko have both been sanctioned. I would appreciate it if you'd all accept this condition."

Deep in my heart I knew there was something we waited for, especially with a good validated reason to house a demon within our corps.

"Master, even though it is something you have requested," Gyomei spoke up, as his beads rattle together around his clasp hands. His tears continue to stream down with a sorrowful voice, "I cannot bring myself to do it."

Tengen raises his thumb to himself confidently with the chime of his jewels dangling from his headband, "I am also opposed to this!" He agrees, stubbornly. "A slayer traveling with a demon is unacceptable!"

"As for myself, I shall do whatever it is you wish, Master!" Mitsuri gladly acknowledges his wishes, as the sweet and kind girl she is.

"I'll forget, anyway," Muichiro mumbles, indifferently. "So I'm fine either way."

Shinobu and Giyuu were rather quiet, wondering what was going on in their heads at this very moment. Closing my eyes for a moment, I allow myself to listen to everyone's own opinion of the matter.

"I won't trust them, absolutely not," Obanai spoke up, declining Master's wishes. "First of all, I loathe demons."

"Although I respect you with all my heart, Master!" Rengoku loudly spoke. "I cannot abide by this! I'm fully against it!!"

Sanemi growls, "The corps mission is to annihilate demons, so I ask that you punish Kamado and Tomioka!"

All eyes fall upon me as my eyes flutter open with a deep sigh, "I will gladly welcome them to the Demon Slayer corps, I trust you have good judgement master," I spoke softly, earning a scowl from Sanemi hearing him grimace. "I sense no malice with Kamado's sister, my decision has been made."

Silence falls between us all as we await master's words, whilst feeling Sanemi's anger still not subsiding.

"The letter...." Master spoke to his daughter.

His daughter nods, "Yes sir," drawing a white crisp letter from beneath her Kimono collar and slips the note and unfolds it. "A former hashira, Mr Urokodaki, sent along to us this letter with a request. I shall read to you an abridged version.....'I ask you to allow Tanjiro and his sister to accompany each other. Because of her resilient mental fortitude....Nezuko has not lost her human reason. Even when starved, she has never devoured a human, and that is true more than two years later. Although the situation sounds outlandish, it is in fact reality. In the event that Nezuko does assault another human being, myself, as well as Tanjiro kamado and Giyuu Tomioka, will atone by committing seppuku."

A small gentle sob leaves a shocked boy beside me, as Tanjiro lays there stunned by the good news.

"Tch.....who cares how they choose to end their lives?" Sanemi scoffs. "Fire, Hanging, it's all the same! It doesn't guarantee our safety!"

"Shinazugawa is right!" Rengoku agrees. "If she kills a human, we can't turn back the clock! That person will be lost forever!"

Master nods in consideration, "You do have a point,"

"So, then.....?" Sanemi's head perks up, awaiting for masters final words on the matter.

"What do you wish, master?!" Rengoku asks.

"We can't guarantee that she won't attack humans," Master replies gently. "We can't prove it. That said.....we also cannot be certain she will attack humans. Here is what we do know about her for certain......She has been abstinent for over two years, and there are three people who would vouch for her with their lives. If this evidence is rejected, one must offer in turn an even more convincing arguement."

Sanemi grew more disgruntled, knowing how much he hates demons no matter who or what they are.

"Are any of you able to do so?" Master questions all us Hashira. "Also, there is another thing I'd like to relay to you, my children. Tanjiro has met Kibutsuji face to face......."

Everyone of us gasp simultaneously, as for all the years we've never met him in person before. The only night was when he annihilated my entire clan, leaving nothing my mother's body to burn to ashes as a demon and now my own father is a Kizuki.

"That's impossible!" Tengen exclaims, as his large knee knocks Mitsuri over turning to Tanjiro. "Not even a Hashira has ever crossed paths with him! Did you really? What did he look like? What are his powers? Where did you see him?"

"Did you fight?" Muichiro inquires.

Sanemi began to shake Tanjiro's head, "What was Kibutsuji doing?! Did you find his stronghold? Answer me!"

"Enough," I spoke firmly, releasing Sanemi strong grip on Tanjiro's head.

"Shut up! I asked him first!" Tengen snaps towards Sanemi, continuing to overload the poor boy questions. "Come on. Tell us what powers Kibutsuji has!"

Master slowly raises a silent finger to his lips, silencing the overwhelming questions they kept demanding from the young slayer.

Lowering his finger, "Speaking of that man, we know he has sent pursuers after Tanjiro," Master mentions, his demeanour fades to how serious the matter is. "While his goal may simply be to silence Tanjiro, now that he has finally revealed himself, I wish to seize on this opportunity. I also believe something is happening to Nezuko that Kibutsuji never saw coming. Do you agree with me now?"

The questions itself might've swayed some, but Sanemi remains unconvinced by it all.

"I'm afraid I don't, Master," Sanemi spoke up, refusing to cooperate. "If it were human, there would be no question we'd spare it, but after all we've gone through, after losing countless of our brethren, asking to house a demon, it's unacceptable!"

He draws his blade and holds out his left arm, "Sanemi.....please--?"

"Just don't......" He mutters hotly, as he slices his forearm drawing his special marechi blood to the open making another fresh scar on his tainted skin. Droplets of blood splatter and stain the stones beneath him, "Hear me, Master! the depravity of a demon, I will prove it to you, here and now!!!"

"Sanemi....." Master murmurs, with concern.

Sanemi brought the dark brown box with the young girl inside and slams it down placing his foot on top, as he allows his blood to drop upon the door of the box letting it soak into the wood. "Hey demon, it's time for you dinner! Take a bite!"

Tanjiro struggles in his confines unable to do anything, whilst the blood continues to splatter upon the wood and drips inside. The sound of wood scraping by her claws and whimpers and muffled sounds, as if she was protesting against it. 

"No need to hold back," Sanemi assures, sarcastically. "Just show us your true colours, and then I'll destroy you right here."

"Get away from her!!!!!" Tanjiro angrily yells, protectively.

"It's the daytime, no good doing this now," Obanai mentions to Sanemi. "it'll only show itself in the shadows."

Sanemi sighs, "Master, please forgive the discourtesy I am about to commit," before he grabs the box and jumps up towards the verandah, beneath the dark shade of the room. He threw the box and walks towards it, plunging his sword into the box again with more force. The girls whimpers and muffles in pain, knowing if she hasn't devoured a human she can still feel physical pain no matter the weapon.

"Stop it!!!!!" Tanjiro pleads, his voice breaking in response. I'm so sorry.

Swiftly I sense Obanai about to do something, but I quickly deflect Obanai's actions. Shielding the boy with my body over him, I caught Obanai's elbow tightly glaring at him dangerously with a calm expression.

"Get out of the way Mizutsuki," He sneers coldly, but I grip his elbow hearing a slight crunch earning a grimace. Releasing him, my hand swipes away as I keep myself as a shield.

My eyes steadily meet his with disscontempt with a locked gaze, with my body shielding the young boy beneath me who was frightened for his sister.

"Come on out, Demon!!!!" Sanemi urges the girl to come out, before stabbing the girl again with his blade. The sight was beyond what i was expecting the scenario, as he was being far excessive. My heart was pounding despite my calm demeanour, "It's the human blood you love so much!"

He places his foot on the box and flicks the hatch up with his blade, before seeing the young girl slowly standing up in the shadows. 

"N-Nezuko!" Tanjiro cries out.

Sanemi's arm was held in front of him filled with such intensity. I couldn't see enough of what she looked like from afar, except her vibrant rose pink eyes glowing the darkness. "What's the matter? Go on......you know you want it," Sanemi continues to patronise her, letting his marechi blood fill the young girls demon senses.

The young girl Nezuko was grunting and struggling to stay focused, as the hashira were talking only for it to come in muffles as I saw my partner being overboard with convincing master.

Nezuko growls while she was bleeding herself from the stab wounds, as she remains standing in her box. Her anger was more targeted towards Sanemi, as my boyfriend chuckles menacingly towards her. However I hear Tanjiro struggling with his confines as he uses up his little strength before his ropes frayed and torn apart instantly. He picks himself up and tries to run towards Nezuko as Obanai goes to stop him, when I grab the serpent Hashira's arm tightly and kept him in his place.

"Don't....." I warn him.

Tanjiro soon reaches the edge of the verandah, "Nezuko!"

After a moment Nezuko's head jerks away from Sanemi's arm with disgust, which left Sanemi stunned as his breath hitches.

"Tell me what happened," Master asks his daughter, due to his blind self.

"The demon girl turned her head away in disgust," She replies simply.

The second daughter nods, "Despite Shinazugawa stabbing her three times, and then flaunting his bloody arm in front of her face, she restrained herself from biting him,"

Sanemi let's out a groan of frustration, realising that the young Demon girl doesn't desire human flesh which was a big relief.

"There is is, undeniable proof that Nezuko won't attack humans," Master confirms, before his head turns to the young slayer. "Tanjiro, I'm sure that even after all this, there are some who can not accept Nezuko. Work towards changing their minds. Prove to them that you and Nezuko can be helpful to our cause by fighting as Demon Slayers."

Those few simple words seemed to sway Tanjiro's heart, as he immediately bows now understanding this kind of feeling of being light and warm.

"Go out and defeat a Twelve Kizuki, do that you will be accepted by all," Master continues. "Your words will carry more weight as a result."

Tanjiro stands up with a new found goal, "Alright, my sister and I will defeat Kibutsuji! Rest assured we will strike him down and stop this endless cycle of misery!"

The master gives him a sheepish smile, "That is a bit ambitious for you two, let's start by defeating a twelve kizuki first,"

Tanjiro's face instantly flushes in embarrassment, "Y-Yes sir,"

I couldn't help but allow a soft chuckle to leave me in response, "It goes without saying that the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps have phenomenal skills," Master adds, as a few more of the Hashira begin to chuckle in response. "They have trained themselves to the brink of death and have defeated it, as well as those of the twelve kizuki."

Rengoku nods, "Yes! A noble pursuit!"

"That is why the Hashira receive respect and favourable treatment, so it would be best for you to mind your manners when addressing them, Tanjiro," Master informs him, referring to the awful start to the meeting. 

Tanjiro sits up straight on his knees, "Yes, sir," his voice much softly.

"Also, Sanemi, Obanai........don't torment the younger ones too much," Master scolds the two boys. "Your lucky Lady Hayami intervened just before, Obanai......she keeps the peace for everyone here and she does her best to keep you two in line. Remember that......"

Obanai lowers his head with a guilty look, "As you wish,"

Sanemi lowers his sword on the floor and knelt down on one knee, "As you wish," he reluctantly gives in, with frustration lacing in his voice. His white hair covers his eyes making it unreadable, but I knew what he was feeling.

Master turns to Tanjiro, "We have concluded our business with you, Tanjiro," He informs the young boy. "You may step back."

Shinobu slowly raises her hand, "If that's the case Master, allow me to take Tanjiro into my abode," She offers with a smile, before clapping twice. "All right, then! Take them away,