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"And for today, you will all be meeting a fellow Demon Slaying Corps."
"Oyokata-Sama, there's another Demon Slaying Corps besides us?" Sanemi asked in bewilderment.
Kyojorou had his enormous smile on his face. "I am fascinated! Are they strong? Will we be training with them?"
"I hope I see a handsome guy!" Mitsuri cheered as Obanai glared at her.
"Yes," said Kagaya. "The leader of the other Demon Slaying Corps is someone even my grandfather knows. Don't be too surprised when you see them. Don't disrespect them, do you hear me?"
They bowed, feeling slightly excited in their hearts. Shinobu shivered slightly in excitement and Tengen grinned, their eyes trained on the entrance of the building.
They all imagined an old, withered but respectable and experienced master.
Suddenly, there were several wind chimes. A large sedan was slowly being carried in by a teenager boy, who smiled when he saw them.
The sedan was made of wood and had several wind chimes attached to the top, tinkling sweetly.
Wearing a green and black checkered haori over his black kimono, he had mahogany colored hair that looked red while his wine tinted eyes flashed in their direction, his pupils only slits.
The instant they crossed the door, all of the pillars froze.
The boy dropped the Chinese wooden sedan close to Kagaya, allowing the people inside to flee in the darkness if they got out.
This boy was a demon and he was carrying more in that sedan. Behind the sedan was another demon, a teenager girl, and she had long orange tipped hair and a pink kimono with the same slitted eyes that were colored the same as her kimono.
They both bowed to Kagaya. "Greetings to Master Ubuyashiki."
"Tanjirou-Sama, no need to be so formal. You've known me since birth."
The demon laughed cheerfully. "That doesn't mean I can't show my respect, little Ubuyashiki! How are your kids? Is Hinaki and Nichika alright?"
"They are perfectly alright. I have a son and two more daughters now."
"Oh? That's great! I can't wait to meet them. By the way, what's your name now?"
"It is Kagaya, Tanjirou-Sama."
"That's right, I forgot--"
Obonai interrupted with a slightly strained voice like he had to contain himself from screaming bloody murder. "Oyokata-Sama, do you realize that this is a demon?"
Shinobu clutched her sword, her smile widening a little.
Kagaya smiled and turned to the direction of his voice. "Why yes, I have."
"This is a demon!" Sanemi shouted, trying to visibly hold down his anger and rage. "Oyokata-Sama, why aren't you calling us to attack these monsters?!"
The demon named Tanjirou turned to Sanemi and frowned.
Sanemi growled at him, ready to unsheathe his sword before Kagaya said, "I told you all to respect him. Tanjirou-Sama has been a demon slayer for several centuries. He has been an ally of the Demon Slayer Corps for a long time."
"He is carrying more demons in that sedan of his! That girl is also a demon!" Tengen said, his eyes narrowing as he seemed to be trying to see through the sedan.
Kagaya smiled and nodded. "Tanjirou-Sama, why don't you introduce your members."
Tanjirou visibly flushed and mumbled, "Ah, right. I apologize but my organization is disappointing compared to yours. We have few numbers."
The door to the sedan opened in Kagaya's direction and four other demons climbed into the shadows.
There were three boys and a woman.
Tanjirou introduced all of their names. "Tamayo, Yushirou, Akaza and Rui are their names. This is Nezuko, my sister, and we're the Yoriichi Demon Slaying Corps."
Tamayo bowed respectfully, looking tidy and neat. Yushirou scowled at them, seeming to hate them just as much as they hated him. Akaza was silent, glancing at Tanjirou as if to ask why he was here. Rui bowed, calm and practiced despite the nervousness displayed in his shaking hands.
Nezuko nodded, taking out her bamboo muzzle and said, "Hello!"
Sanemi's hands were shaking. All six demons were at the same level or even higher than a Lower Moon One demon. The two siblings were even immune to sunlight, standing in the light like they weren't supposed to turn into ashes.
Kagaya turned a little and said, "Tamayo? You are a doctor, right?"
"Yes, I am, Master Ubuyashiki." She quickly slapped a hand over Yushirou's mouth, who looked ready to snap.
"Ah." He turned his head again, before he said, "I want you and Shinobu to work together."
Shinobu flinched, her hands clutching her robes.
"Oyokata-Sama, I don't think that we can work with demons."
"Even if you are my master, I must question your actions right now!"
"I can't work with them! They're demons! How can we know they haven't eaten humans before?!"
Tanjirou tilted his head before he said, "If it makes you feel better, Nezuko, Yushirou and I have never eaten humans before. Yushirou, Tamayo, Akaza and Rui only need a bit of blood to survive."
"If you guys haven't, that means the rest of you have! Oyokata-Sama, if you permit me, I'll exterminate these demons right now!" Sanemi shouted.
Tanjirou smiled a little helplessly. "I want to kill Muzan just as much as you, y'know."
Gyomei clapped his hands together, tears streaming down his face. "Oyokata-Sama, I cannot accept this, even if we have history with them."
Tanjirou sat on the same floor as Kagaya, appalling all of them with his nerve. He and Nezuko were murmuring to the others in soft voices.
If they listened real well, all they heard was:
"Akaza, what do you want to eat when we get back home?"
"Dunno. Rui-Chan, what do you wanna eat?"
"Mochi!"
"Heh. That's why you're short."
"You know it's because I can't grow, you Tamayo-fanatic!"
"Why you--!!"
"Yushirou! We're in front of pillars!"
Overall, their conversation was very carefree. Giyuu had been quiet for some time until he finally bowed his head and said, "I accept your decision, Oyokata-Sama."
The rest of the pillars looked at him like he was stupid and Shinobu smiled.
"Oh my. This is why no one likes you."
Giyuu glared at her. Tanjirou smiled and then said, "It's no problem if you don't accept us. We're still demon slayers and we're your allies. It doesn't mean you have to be friends with us. We will help you exterminate that demon and then we'll leave you alone."
Then he glanced at Kagaya and said, "How about I make you some Kusa Mochi, Kagaya-Kun? It's spring and Rui wants some Mochi."
"Of course." He slowly stood up with Tanjirou's support. The cries of alarm that his actions invoked were ignored. "I'd be happy to."
His hand reached out and Rui stepped forward so Kagaya could stroke his hair. "This is Rui, right? He seems like a good child. Let's all go inside the house."
Rui blushed and looked flustered.
The pillars were forced to follow, keeping a watchful eye on the demons. Giyuu was dragged forward by Nezuko as she chattered to him.
With horror, they realized that all of them had met Giyuu before.
"Giyuu-San! It's good to see you again! Oh my, you've gotten stronger, haven't you? Gahahaha! Let's fight again!" Nezuko chirped.
Rui flanked his other side and chattered in his other ear. "Giyuu-San, do you wanna fight me after? I practiced! I can make new designs! I swear that I'll beat you this time!"
Kyojurou stared at Giyuu and asked, "Have you met them before?"
"Yes."
Akaza and Tanjirou also crowded around Giyuu, the former wanting another battle while the latter was trying to convince him to help them train.
Giyuu was surrounded on all sides and looked rather distressed. Tamayo was talking to Kagaya and Gyomei walked ahead of them so he'd be next to Kagaya if something happened.
At some point, Nezuko and Rui climbed on top of Giyuu and the former was riding on his shoulders with the little one on hers. Even if it was with demons, the sight was funny, making Shinobu snicker.
When they went into the kitchen, Tanjirou called over Nezuko and they both worked in the kitchen. Yushirou stepped in to assist while Rui tried to go in but was stopped by Akaza.
"No. You'll make a mess again."
"I won't! I really won't! I'll only watch," Rui promised but he was picked up by his armpits.
He was brought in front of the pillars and he sat awkwardly under their heavy gazes.
Only one pillar had positive thoughts.
'Kyaaah! He's so small!' -Mitsuri
Rui finally brought out some string and said, "Wanna see my designs?"
He didn't wait for an answer, only using the string to play cat's cradle. He did several times with more and more extravagant designs until he finished and looked up with a bright smile.
The pillars had no reaction and Tamayo noticed before she said, "Rui-Kun, you've been improving!"
Akaza glared at them ferociously before Kyojorou opened his mouth and said, "That was impressive!"
They all glanced at him.
He smiled and ignored them, still watching Rui with glowing yellow eyes that didn't seem to blink.
Rui visibly brightened and then said in a shy voice, "Yushirou helps me sometimes."
Sanemi tried to break the sudden illusion of Genya but it was close to impossible because he was reminded of his only living brother.
Dammit.
His heart was softening.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the rest of the pillars frown or tighten their lips. They were affected by this demon child in some way or another.
Rui was a good host and made sure that they were hydrated and entertained. He looked eager to show off his skills and was very happy when he saw their impressed reactions.
When Rui ran out of tricks, Tamayo brought out a pack of cards and they played. Even Akaza joined and completely smashed all of them to the ground.
Kyojorou and Akaza were particularly vicious against each other but both were grinning and seemed to be having lots of fun.
They all tactfully ignored the pounding in the kitchen and the mad cackling that seemed to come from Nezuko.
Rui and Muichirou were both playing a very calm game of sugoroku. Kagaya, Tamayo and Gyomei also joined and all three (Kagaya couldn't stare, but you get the idea) were staring at the two kids play with extremely serious expressions.
Even Muichirou looked like he had stopped daydreaming and was playing very cautiously.
Finally, Tanjirou and Nezuko came out with plates of Mochi and other sweets. A plate of only ohagi was given to Sanemi by Nezuko and he grabbed her hand before she went.
"What's this."
"Ohagi," she answered with a bright smile.
"Why the fuck did you give me ohagi?" He snapped.
She grinned. "Nii-Chan said you smell like ohagi. You like it? I worked hard on it!"
As he stared at her, she smiled and seemed to not mind, not even pulling away as she let him stare his fill. Finally, he let her go wordlessly, his head hanging down.
Tanjirou was brought into a loud conversation with Kyojorou and both seemed very excited.
Kagaya was given three whole plates to himself, each filled with delicately made Mochi and pastries. Tanjirou smiled and said, "Yushirou made them. You better eat them quick before he takes them back for Tamayo-San."
Tamayo sighed loudly, her head in her hand as Yushirou flushed red and sputtered.
Kagaya smiled and said, "Thank you."
"No problem! Everything tastes better with people around! I made some for your family by the way. Does Nichika still like Sakura Mochi?"
The pillars all think of the same thing.
'Maybe they aren't so bad.'