Chapter Text
It was an exciting day at the Demon Slayer Headquarters. The Demon Slayers were expanding their reach. The Master foresaw that one day soon, Muzan Kibutsuji would leave Japan. But not just the continent; he would leave the timeline altogether! So, the Ubuyashiki clan sanctioned the first of many missions…into the modern day.
And this mission would be for none other than the Hashira; the Demon Slayer Corps’ absolute best. Nine incredibly capable warriors, who would be ready for anything Muzan would attempt! And assuming all went well, more Demon Slayers would be sent through after them. The Pillars had been given passports, credit cards, phones, a van, and Ubuyashiki even paid for their first month of rent! But from here on out, their own survival would be up to them. So, the next morning, they began packing their things, and saying their goodbyes.
“Here you are, sir.” Goto, one of the many Kakushi, offered the Water Pillar his suitcase.
“Thank you.” Spoke the soft voiced Hashira.
Dressed in his diametrical haori, Giyu Tomioka put his suitcase in the van. Unlike the other Hashira, he didn’t have many people to say goodbye to. Or, so he thought…
“Hey!!” Called a familiar, friendly voice. It was none other than Tanjiro Kamado, a young boy who Tomioka had saved; with the hopes he’d become the true Water Hashira! “Mister Tomioka!!”
“Hello, Kamado.” Giyu greeted, his expression serious, and unchanging, despite being happy to see the young boy. “What Brings you here?”
“Well, we wanted to say goodbye!” Tanjiro smiled.
We? Who’s we?? Before long, Tomioka got his answer. Nezuko Kamado, Tanjiro’s Demon Sister hurried over to the pair, giving Tomioka a friendly hug.
“G…Good Luck!!” Nezuko chimed. Since she conquered the sun, she’d begun to talk again, although it was more like she was parroting others than learning how to talk.
“Thank you, Nezuko.” Giyu spoke sincerely. He’d offered his life to protect Nezuko, and would do so again in a heartbeat. But someone else also stood up for the young Demon Girl…
“Tomioka.” An older, gruff voice spoke.
Giyu’s eyes widened ever so slightly, and he looked up to his master; Sakonji Urokodaki. Giyu didn’t know his master by his face, rather, the Tengu Mask he wore. Urokodaki approached his apprentice, and pulled him into a gentle hug. “Good Luck, Giyu. You’re gonna do great.”
“Thank you, master…” Giyu hugged Urokodaki in return, swallowing the lump in his throat.
Not far, the Insect Pillar said her own goodbyes. Shinobu Kocho, younger sister of the late Flower Pillar Kanae Kocho, packed away some medical supply kits. The Shortest Hashira wore a lovely white Haori that looked like the wings if a Butterfly, and had a hairpin to match! In fact, several other girls also wore butterfly hairpins, like…
“Waaah! We’ll miss you, Ms. Kocho!…”
Kiyo Terauchi, Sumi Nakahara, and Naho Takada, who were all crying. These three young girls assisted Shinobu in helping patients in the Butterfly Mansion, where Slayers were taken to recover after battle.
“I’ll miss you too, girls.” Shinobu took a knee, hugging them all close. “You three do as Aoi says, alright?”
“Uh huh…”
“Yes Miss Kocho!”
“We’ll make you proud!!”
“I know you will.” Shinobu smiled.
She next approached the new head of the mansion; Aoi Kanzaki. Though not related by blood, Shinobu saw all the girls as siblings, and Aoi was no different.
“I hope everything goes well, Miss Kocho.” Aoi spoke calmly, trying to keep her strict appearance, despite her watery eyes.
“Thank you, Aoi. You’ll do great.” Shinobu spoke.
Aoi was only able to muster a nod before she too began to cry.
However, one Butterfly didn’t shed any tears. Consoling Aoi was Kanao Tsuyuri, a timid girl, and capable Demon Slayer. She bowed her head to Shinobu and smiled.
“Make sure to take care of yourself, alright, Kanao?” Shinobu asked; of everyone, she worried for Kanao most of all.
“Of course, Master. Thank you.” Kanao nodded, smiling sincerely to her adoptive big sister.
Similarly to the Insect Pillar, another Hashira was worried for his sibling. The Flame Pillar, Kyojuro Rengoku, was as bright as ever. His Hair, Haori, and Eyes matched his blazing heart, one that burned even in light if this major change. But one who was more worried was his little brother Senjuro.
“And make sure that when you spar, you practice breathing techniques!!” Kyojuro spoke firmly, smiling at his little brother.
“Okay…” Senjuro nodded his head, and wiped his tears.
Kyojuro simply smiled, and hugged his brother close. “I’ll miss you. Make sure and take care of father.”
“Okay Brother…” Senjuro nodded.
The Rengoku Family Patriarch stood nearby, staring off into the distance. He was working through his emotions, and a part of that meant being quiet.
“Father…”
“Yes, Kyojuro?” Shinjuro turned to look at his son.
“Take care of yourself, alright?…” Kyojuro hugged his father closely and lovingly.
“…Of course. I love you, Kyojuro. Your mother would be proud of you.”
“I know. I love you too dad…” Kyojuro answered back, both Flame Pillars tearing up.
“BIG BROOOOO!!…” Cried out shrill voiced slayer. Zenitsu Agatsuma hurried over, clinging to Kyojuro and crying. “I’ll miss you big bro!!…”
“Me too!!…” Joining Zentisu in the dog pile was the gruff voiced Inosuke Hashibira, who bawled beneath his boar mask.
“Guys, please don’t bother Mister Rengoku’s family!!” Tanjiro hurried over, frantically trying to remove his friends.
“Don’t worry boys, we’ll all come back to visit before you know it!!” Kyojuro chimed, grinning from ear to ear as he hoisted both slayers into the air; making Senjuro laugh at least.
Another Dogpile had formed atop the Sound Pillar, though it wasn’t any tsuguko, nor siblings. It was his wives; yes, that’s wives plural! Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira, and former Shinobi, wasn’t even able to pack a bag yet!! He’d done his makeup, put on his sleeveless uniform and Flashy Headband, but now he had a far greater challenge…consoling his three wives.
“WAAAAAAAH!!” Cried Suma, who was currently clinging to her husband’s leg. “DON’T LEAVE US LORD TENGEN!!”
“Baby, I’m not leaving you! I…” Tengen stammered, struggling to lift his leg.
“If you cheat on us we’ll never EVER forgive you!!” Makio barked, also teary eyed as she tugged at Uzui’s suitcase.
“I wouldn’t even dare, pookie!!” Tengen grunted, using all his effort to try and pack his things.
“Here, Lord Tengen.” Hinatsuru approached her husband, carrying one of his bags to him.
“Thank you Darling…” Tengen grunted and took it. As he did, Hinatsuru smiled kindly, before her lip began to quiver. “Why are you three so sad?! You’re literally coming over next month!!”
“I’m sorry…” Hinatsuru sniffled.
“I’M NOT! HOW COULD YOU?!” Makio pouted.
“WAAAH! WHY?!…” Suma bawled.
Unlike his peers, however, the Mist Pillar didn’t have such a sappy sayonara. He casually packed his bags, being the third Hashira to pack his things entirely. A hand came to rest on his shoulder, and gently run across his flowing long hair.
“Muichiro,” A Kind, motherly voice spoke softly. “I hope things go well for you.”
Muichiro turned to meet the eyes of Lady Amane; the Master’s wife. She looked at him the way she would any of her children, with pure love, and pride.
“You’ve come so far, and I hope you become everything I know you can be.” Amane smiled softly, hugging him close.
Muichiro shortly held her in return. “Thank you. For everything, Miss Amane. I promise I’ll visit soon.”
“I’d love that. And so would my children.” Amane smiled, holding him close.
“Hey! Sea-Weed head!!”
Muichiro shortly began to look around; he recognized that voice! It was none other than Kotetsu, and Kozo Kanamori! Two Swordsmiths, the latter being the man who made his newest sword.
“We wanted to wish you luck, Lord Tokito.” Kanamori bowed in respect to the Hashira.
“Yeah, try to visit us sometime!!” Kotetsu beamed.
“Thank you, both of you.” Muichiro smiled, pleasantly surprised by this.“I will keep in touch, I promise.”
Muichiro was calm, yet sincere in his departure. However, the Love Pillar was anything but calm. Though she was certainly sincere.
“WAAAAH! I’ll miss you Tanjiro!!” Cried Mitsuri Kanroji.
The Pink Haired Girl was always open with her feelings, and that included her sadness for leaving so many friends.
“I-I’ll miss you too Kanroji!”
“Good Luck, Mitsuri!”
“You Too Nezuko!!…”
“I’ll miss you more, M-Ms. Kanroji!!” Zenitsu stammered, hoping to also receive a hug.
“WAAAH! THANK YOU WHAT’S-YOUR-NAME!!…” Mitsuri blubbered, hugging Zentisu close. Unfortunately, Zenitsu’s scheme worked out a little too well, as Mitsuri nearly shattered his back with her incredible strength.
“Kanroji,” called one of her fellow Hashira. “We need to get our things packed.”
“Huh? Right, sorry Iguro!!” Mitsuri sniffed, grabbing her bags and hurrying along.
Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Pillar, was a loner, not unlike Tomioka. However, the Striped, Masked man didn’t say farewells with any kindness. Rather, he glared daggers into young Agatsuma; how dare he try to touch Mitsuri?! Kaburamaru, his snake, shortly moved into Obanai’s sight, reminding him of something.
“Sorry. Almost forgot.” Obanai grabbed a bag full of pet-care supplies for his friend, packing them away with Mitsuri.
Similarly alone was the Wind Pillar. Sanemi Shinazugawa was undoubtedly the most frightening pillar. From his scars, to his attitude, to his lack of eyebrows, nobody wanted to say goodbye to him! Well, except for his little brother.
“Hey, ‘Nemi…” Genya Shinazugawa approached, shyly holding his hands together.
“Whaddya want??” Sanemi puffed and looked his way, jamming a suitcase into the Van as he did.
Just behind Genya was the Stone Pillar, who nodded supportively to both brothers. Genya swallowed nervously, then spoke up,”I-I hope it goes well for you, big bro…”
“…Thanks…” Sanemi looked away. He was never good at this stuff. “…make sure to keep yourself alive, alright? And you better visit or I’ll kill you.”
“O-Of course!” Genya nodded, his face lighting up.
The Stone Pillar smiled at this; glad to see the siblings start to get along with one another. Gyomei Himejima, the strongest of the Hashira, didn’t have many people he was close with. Of course he said his goodbyes, but he was always a solitary man by nature. Even so, he shed tears as he packed his final bag.
“Everything is ready, my son.” The Master’s kind voice broke the silence.
“Yes, it is. I’ll take care of them.” Gyomei answered, turning to face his master.
Kaguya Ubuyashiki simply nodded, with the loving smile of a father. “I know. You will do great. All of you will be great, I knew it from the day I first met you. I am proud to have served you, and so glad I can see you off.”
“Thank you, master…” Gyomei sniffled, nodding gently.
The Hashira finished packing their things, Tengen being the last to do so. With that, Giyu got behind the steering wheel, and they began the long drive to their new home...