Chapter Text
THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: a person who expresses a contentious opinion in order to provoke debate or test the strength of the opposing arguments.
“Everyone is here.” the Hashiras -- including you, stopped. Almost immediately, you brought down Tanjiro to his feet.
“You must bow down, Tanjiro.” you spoke lightly. He does what he is told.
Out of the rest of the Hashiras, your head was down to the floor. Your head was touching the ground. As Tanjiro is.
You kneeled between Tanjiro and Shinazugawa, though evidently, Sanemi wasn’t very fond of this. It is clear that he wants to hurt Tanjiro again.
The bastard doesn’t really know how to rest, doesn’t he?
“My cute swordsmen.”
Kagaya looked up the skies and sighed, the sun was hitting his face, displaying his black hair and a cursed mark that spread unto his face.
“Good morning, everyone. Today’s weather is great. The sky is really blue, isn’t it?”
His eyes wandered around the Hashira, “All the familiar faces are here. Welcome to the semi-annual Hashira meeting. I’m really relieved.”
“It’s great to see you in good health, Lord Oyakata. I sincerely wish you good fortune and may all your hopes be fulfilled.”
“Thank you, Sanemi.” the Master replied in return.
“Master, forgive my bluntness. But before we begin the Hashira Meeting, regarding the Demon Slayer, Kamado Tanjiro, bringing a demon with him, can I seek clarification?”
Shinazugawa does lack the intellect and rationality, but when he opens his mouth, he speaks clearly.
“You were right. Sorry for surprising everyone. The matter regarding Tanjiro and Nezuko has my approval.”
Everyone was surprised by the Master’s decision that they couldn’t overlook this fact.
“Therefore, I hope that everyone can accept them.”
The rest has different reactions. But most of them weren’t very welcoming by this decision. Half of them are terribly against it. But the silent ones, Giyu, Kocho, and you, were in deep thoughts.
“Take out the letter,” one of his daughters took out a paper, reading a portion of the letter that was sent to him.
“This letter was written by a former Hashira, Urokodaki Sakonji-sama.”
⸻ 悪魔 ⸻
Please allow Kamado Tanjiro and her demonic sister to be together. Nezuko has an unyielding mental power. She still maintains the rationality from her humanity. Even when she's hungry, she won't eat humans.
Just like that, two years have passed. Although it’s a situation that will be hard to accept momentarily, it’s definitely the truth. In case Nezuko attacks humans, Kamado Tanjiro, Urokodaki Sakonji, and Tomioka Giyu will disembowel oneself to show gratitude and take responsibility.
⸻ 悪魔 ⸻
Your head rose from the ground after the leader was read out loud. You can see that Tanjiro’s eyes was brimming with tears -- his recognition towards Giyu’s willingness to sacrifice oneself for the orphaned children was incredibly heartwarming.
“So what if they’re willing to disembowel themselves? If they want to die, they might as well do it now!”
He was clearly in the position of not accepting this proposition -- not ever, it seems. He despises demons and Nezuko was one of them. Nothing will ever change that hatred for them even if she is a kind demon.
Though his emotions were valid, his behavior was clearly unjustified and unacceptable.
“That’s not a guarantee at all!”
“Shinazugawa is right!” Rengoku seconded, you realized that his opinion has been unyielding all this time. You thought, that after hearing the content of the letter, Rengoku might be a bit understanding, considering how he views certain things.
“Killing her after she has eaten a human is way too late. The person she murdered won’t come back to life.”
“You are both right.”
Shinazugawa looked up, with hope lacing in his voice.
“Then, Lord Oyakata ...”
You let out a deep, troubled sigh.
“Satori?” your eyes fluttered open. You were surprised to see all eyes were on you.
“Yes, Master?”
“What can you say about the situation?”
Your mind went blank.
You weren’t really expecting anything to happen. Not a miracle. But for him to ask your opinion so suddenly?
Maybe it happened because your existence has already been embedded in this world. And you were bound to get involved, either way.
“I --”
“Respectfully, Lord Oyakata.” the Serpent Hashira interjects. “-- why does her opinion matters?” you held your injured arm fiercely.
Yes, I am curious, why does my opinion matter anyway? I’m just a disposable character who happened to be lucky and became a Hashira.
Master didn’t answer.
Instead, when you met his eyes, you can see how his cheeks elevated his face. A warm and light sensation spread across your heart -- like a ball of light comforting every part of you.
“If I may,” your lips parted, your throat seemed dry -- as if you were parched.
“Their anger is certainly reasonable, but the way they handled this situation is opposed to our traditions, Master. We’ve attained our position for the same purpose and similar situations that drove us to be a Demon Slayer. But ...”
You had a hard time swallowing the lump in your throat.
“-- if the Kamado siblings are truly a special case, there is no doubt that people will be wary of them. And they must constantly prove themselves in order to remove any doubts or discontent on their part.”
Tanjiro stares at you with awe in his eyes, he couldn’t help but be grateful for the support you have given him in one day. And he doesn’t even know about you.
“They also ... deserve our trust at some point. No boy like him would go to such an extent and become a Demon Slayer only to betray us. And if he does betray us, he will carry the burden of innocent lives falling upon his own hands.” your eyes met Tanjiro’s. He was gleaming with determination.
f*ck, did I say too much?
Yes, I did.
You can see the veins popping on Shinazugawa’s forehead.
This damned browless guy.
“Very well said, Satori.”
“But --”
“Nezuko has never eaten human flesh in two years. That is a fact. For Nezuko, three people gambled with their lives. If you want to completely deny these two things, the opposing party must also offer to pay a bigger price.”
I can hear Shinazugawa’s frustrated groan.
“Does everyone plan to do so?”
In a manner of seconds, Master’s expression shifted. “In addition, I would like to inform everyone that Tanjiro has met Kibutsuji.”
Everyone, except you and Giyu let out a sharp breath.
“How’s that possible? Even the Hashiras have never met Kibutsuji!”
Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen.
Kanroji face planted on the ground. Uzui’s expression, never faltering.
“This brat?”
“Did you fight with him?”
Mist Hashira, Tokito Muichiro.
You felt a hand grabbing Tanjiro’s hair across you. Shinazugawa started pulling on the poor boy’s hair.
Tanjiro was in daze.
“What did Kibutsuji do? Did you find his lair? Answer me now!” he was shaking his head like crazy.
“Shinazugawa!” you hissed, holding his wrist tightly.
“Shut up, I asked him first!”
Everyone immediately caved in once Lord Oyakata silenced them as he puts his index finger on his lips. Everyone has once again felt the need to fix their bewildered and chaotic state.
“Kibutsuji sent his subordinates to kill Tanjiro. Maybe the reason is to silence him. But this is the first time Kibutsuji has given himself away, I really don’t want to let go.”
You can see the fogginess that’s been consuming Tanjiro’s expression is slowly fading away into nothingness. As if he finally understood now.
“I’m afraid what happened to Nezuko was beyond Kibutsuji’s expectations. Do you guys understand?”
A moment of silence before Shinazugawa spoke once again.
“I don’t understand that, Lord Oyakata. If she’s a human, she can live. If she’s a Demon, there’s no way. Think about the mentality we have while fighting as Demon Slayers. The number of sacrifices we made.” he spat, he unsheathed the sword, “I really can’t accept it.”
“You’re not going to injure yourself to prove a point, are you?” you muttered to the Wind Hashira coldly.
Knowing that he will, you still asked him. You were hoping that he would change his mind.
But perhaps this was all necessary to prove themselves to the Hashiras.
Shinazugawa merely smirked at your angry retort.
Kanroji resorts into a panicked expression.
Love Hashira, Kanroji Mitsuri.
Shinazugawa slits his wrist and threw the box in front of him. Blood was dripping all over the place.
“Lord Oyakata.” raising his hand, still, “I’ll prove it to you how ugly a Demon is.”
“Sanemi ...” Lord Oyakata reprimanded softly. His eyes narrowed slightly.
Shinazugawa stepped onto the box and let the blood drip into the box, hoping that Nezuko would smell his blood and come out.
“You idiot,” you muttered once again.
“Hey, Demon. It’s time for your meal. Come and eat me.”
Shinazugawa kept taunting, until they heard the growl and scratching inside.
And then Iguro added the fuel to the fire.
“Shinazugawa. She can’t come out under the sun. If you don’t go under the shade, the Demon won’t come out.”
And then there was an idea that sparked inside his head.
He carried the box, “Lord Oyakata, please pardon my action.”
“Stop it!”
Shinazugawa stabbed the box open. As soon as Tanjiro resisted, Iguro planted his elbows down to Tanjiro’s back with brute force.
Slowly, a figure rose inside the box. Everyone watches apprehensively. Giyu watched with calm determination in his eyes. You saw it.
Perhaps he was also hoping what you were hoping for. That she won't cave in.
The Demon, whose mouth was covered in bamboo stares at Shinazugawa in anger.
Tanjiro was struggling under Iguro, and Kocho can’t help but finally put a notice into this too.
“Iguro, you’re being too hard on him. Can you be gentler?”
“I have to pin him down hard because he’s trying to move.”
“Kamado-kun, if you use any breathing techniques when your lungs are pressed down, it will break your blood vessels.”
Insect Hashira, Kocho Shinobu.
You heard Uzui’s encouraging remark about breaking his blood vessels.
“I feel pity for him. He’s such a frail, sorrowful child.”
Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima.
Kamado began screaming. He was trying to break free from Iguro. Perhaps he could no longer bear the hostility, the ropes were cut loose on his back as he forcefully broke his two hands apart.
You were about to step in and realized that it was Giyu’s moment. The Water Hashira’s liquid-like movement startled you. You saw how he gripped Iguro’s hands. Tanjiro took this opportunity to run towards his sister.
“Nezuko!”
The little girl was startled as soon as she heard his brother’s voice. A slight smile graze your lips. You realized that Nezuko must be recalling her family and Urokodaki’s words right at this moment. Her face relaxes and then ... her head turned around, refusing to look at Shinazugawa’s open wound.
Tanjiro breathes in a relieved sigh, while Shinazugawa gasped in disbelief.
“What happened?” Lord Oyakata asked.
“The demon girl is resisting by turning away. Although she was stabbed by Shinazugawa thrice, and even though there’s a bloodied arm in front of her, the demon girl still refuses to bite him.”
“So we have sufficient evidence that Nezuko won’t attack humans.”
“What were you thinking, Tomioka?” Iguro said, pulling his wrist away from his grip.
“Tanjiro.”
“Like what Satori said, there will be those who remain suspicious of Nezuko. You have to back it up with evidence. From now on, Tanjiro and Nezuko will fight and contribute to the cause as members of the Demon Slayer Corps.”
I feel as light as a feather. You can hear his thoughts at that very moment, judging how he bowed down with utter respect.
“Your struggle against the Twelve Kizuki has gained our recognition all along. Your claims carry a lot of weight.”
“Nezuko and I will defeat Kibutsuji Muzan! I promise that we will both succeed.”
He was just the right amount of ambitious.
“That is still far-fetched given your present status. Perhaps you can say that after defeating one Demon Moon.” Lord Oyakata smiled, his eyes disappearing.
You can’t help but press your lips into a thin line. A shiver of embarrassment ran down your spine.
His face went red. “Yes ...!”
Absolutely gold comedy.
You can tell that the Hashiras were forcing it upon themselves not to laugh. Kanroji’s face puffed.
“The Hashiras of the Demon Slayer Corps have outstanding talents, to say the least. They have poured blood, sweat, and tears to prepare themselves for the worst so they can vanquish the Twelve Demon Moons. That is how they gained respect and deference. Tanjiro, you must also learn to mind your words.”
“With that said, Sanemi,” he glanced back at a defeated Shinazugawa and onto to Iguro, “Obanai, you should not be too harsh on that boy.”
“As you wish, Master.” they mumbled.
“That is all for now about Tanjiro. You are all dismissed.”
Kocho requested Tanjiro to be handed over to the Butterfly Estate to be taken care of. Tanjiro was surprised by this claim but agreed nonetheless.
Though, not even a second later, after retrieving, he returned with a newfound anger of wanting to headbutt Shinazugawa for the second time around.
Tokito threw a small rock on his head, rendering him unconscious. The Kakushi apologized on Tanjiro’s behalf and left with embarrassed faces.
“Back off.”
“Yes!”
