Chapter Text
It’s the top of the midnight hour, when hushed talk of an uprising makes its way through the Ubuyashiki Estate. Like flint on steel, it sparks conversation amongst the house keepers, kakushi, and eventually… what members of the Hashira were still awake.
Shinazugawa Sanemi is a storm with no calm when he barrels through. Sword at the ready, he’s lifting the collar of his uniform as he approaches the Room of Conference. To the left and right of him, people are moving out of his way. And their whispers go dim in volume, his steps the only sound, echoing off the engawa. If Oyakata-sama was not already there, waiting , nobody would be able to stop him from committing his long sought, treacherous revenge… not even Shinobu.
“We have located the Upper Rank Two of the Twelve Kizuki, Oyakata-sama.” The adolescent before him goes by the name of Souta. Currently, the kakushi is pouring out the intel he bet his life to collect… and so Ubuyashiki listens with a patient gaze. Though he could not see him, nor had he ever, the man knows he is exhausted. “The Eternal Paradise Faith, we found their base of operation. It’s worse than we thought, he’s consuming cult followers in masses, and---” but before he can continue, a hand is raised. The subordinate falls silent in response.
Of the many kakushi Ubuyashiki trusted, his faith in Souta for intel was beyond his imagination. Even with his ability of foresight, it only gave him so much of a glance at what was to come… Kanae’s death weighed heavily on him, and he blamed himself for not being of any help to stop it. To prevent it. This was another child of his lost.
This was a chance for him to atone.
“My deepest sympathies and regret, for what I have asked you to bear witness to.” While he knew demons were cruel, Ubuyashiki prayed deeply that religion might never become a tool to those damned to feast upon humans. Clearly, he was wrong to think they had morals to Gods. “If I am able to offer you any … peace in clearing these sights from your memory, after you’ve said your collections, I would offer it.”
In his ear, Amane describes in a voice like snow, how the kakushi is shaking his head in protest. Ubuyashiki nods.
“Oyakata-sama, if I forget even the slightest bit of what I have told you, I will no longer be of any use to you in your search for this killer.” Perhaps Kanae touched the lives of more than anyone thought possible… maybe she was smiling upon them now. “I would like to die knowing that what I saw was of use to you and everyone else who might want to avenge Kocho Kanae-sama.”
The room is silent when there is a creak outside the door. Sight isn’t needed when the family head turns at the sound. “Shinazugawa-san…” another thud, this sound Ubuyashiki recognizes as the Wind Hashira bending the knee. Amane’s shuffling to the door mimics that of water ripples, and within this chaos, he finds the peace that his wife brings him in all her simplicity. As the door slides open, an aura of razor sharp wind introduces the pillar. He reckons the man was caught in the middle of bathing, because there is a particularly sweet scent from him today. “You’re up late.”
At this moment, Shinazugawa is seething in his skin. There’s a fire in his veins that might even make the Rengoku Family run for the hills. “Forgive my choice of words, Oyakata-sama, but if what I’ve heard is true…” he lifts his head, now staring his leader in the eye, “you found the bastard that killed Kanae.”