Giyuu walked through the halls of the master's estate, waiting for the meeting to be called. He was trapped once again in his own thoughts, voices in his head reminding him that he didn't deserve to be here. A hashira's position was meant to be earned, deserved, something he never did. He was never meant to live this long, he was never meant to wear this uniform. He stood among the greatest swordsmen in all of Japan, people he saw as his superiors. He was the outlier, no matter how the master tried to convince him, Giyuu could never believed he was worthy of being a hashira. Part of him wanted to quit, to step away from it all and leave the position open for someone who was truly worthy of it. He knew he couldn't indulge in this selfish desire, he still had a duty to uphold.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard the panicked noises of someone, and decided to investigate. Finally finding the source of the noise, he found a female slayer with oddly colored hair and a rather unorthodox uniform. Deciding against his isolationist thought process, he chose to help her. She finally noticed his arrival and rushed him in a pleading manner. "Oh thank you for finding me! Please help me, the master called me here for something, but I got lost! I don't know my way around." She said with shame and embarrassment apparent on her face. Giyuu sighed internally, not expecting to act as a guide today before his meeting. He believed bringing her to the meeting would cause a headache with some of the others, but that was the first moment he was aware she'd be able to see the master.
He nodded at her, remaining quiet and gesturing for her to follow. "Oh thank you, thank you! My first time visiting the master's estate and I already met someone so nice as to help me!" The girl seemed easily excited and full of passion, reminding him of a certain flame breather. "Oh I just realized I never introduced myself! I'm sorry." Giyuu watched as she stopped and bowed her head. "I'm Mitsuri Kanroji. Who might you be?" He was prepared to stay silent, but there was something about her that seemed familiar in a multitude of ways. "Giyuu Tomioka." He gestured for her to continue following, although she had moved closer and awe seemed to take over her features.
"Wait you're the water hashira?!" Giyuu couldn't help but flinch at being referred to as that. "You're the one Rengoku-sensei has told me about! The quiet stoic one who's always training so hard and keeps his distance from everyone!" Giyuu stopped in his tracks, understanding now why this eccentric personality seemed familiar. "You trained under Rengoku? And... was quiet but stoic and lonseome his words? Or yours?" Mitsuri bowed once again, believing her wording was offensive. "I'm sorry, that's just how he described you. I was only going by second hand information. But to answer your question. Yes, I trained under him. I was meant to use flame breathing, but it just wasn't the most compatible with me. Thankfully though I actually managed to create my own breathing form!" She cheered with a small excitable scream coming from her.
Giyuu could only look at her with shock, learning that another person had managed to create a while new breathing form. She wasn't the first he met to do so, but the feat alone will always be commendable in his eyes. "The demon slayers are honored to have your capabilities in their ranks. Come now, I still need to attend my meeting. You can speak with the master after." He gave a hand gesture for them to continue walking, almost to their destination. Mitsuri agreed and followed after Tomioka-san, smiling and giggling at the words of encouragement. "Thank you! You certainly are a lot kinder than from what I've heard around." Giyuu sighed internally, already having some kind of idea as to the things she's heard. "We're here for my meeting, stand by until it's over for your time to see the master."
Mitsuri nodded eagerly as she watched the hashira get together in preparation. She saw Rengoku-san making conversion with some tall man who had a bejeweled headband and muscular features. She couldn't help but feel her face get heated as she imagined just how strong this stranger could be to be talking with him in such a friendly manner. Everyone here was a hashira, so she was having a chance to witness all the strongest people in Japan! Her excitement was almost becoming palpable when she heard someone yelling at her. "Hey can't you hear me?! I'm asking you what is a non hashira doing here?!" Mitsuri flinched as someone with white hair and visible scars was angrily coming towards her. He radiated with strength which would've made Mitsuri excited, if this same man wasn't causing her a level of fear.
"Are you going to answer me you damn new blood, or are you going to have to explain yourself to the master why you're here?!" She felt herself begin to shake and her words became nothing more than whispers. She tried to explain that the master requested her, but nothing she tried to say would come out right. She tried to look up at the man again, but all she could see was a split pattern in front of her as Tomioka-san stood between them. "Do you intend to fight another person at a meeting Shinazugawa? We remember your attempt to fight Rengoku, now you come after his former student? She has business with the master and was summoned for it, she has reason to be here."And you chose to bring her here as our meeting is about to start? How much of a narcissist do you need to be you damn loner? Thinking you know what's best? This isn't her place, she isn't meant to be here." Shinazugawa-san continued to press Tomioka-san on the matter, Mitsuri couldn't help but feel thankful that he was protecting her from him. She stayed behind him and kept her head down, not wanting to have more of that angry glare staring her down. "She was lost and asked for me to guide her. She's here to see the master, and he will be here shortly for the meeting. The logic is there if you actually desire to understand it." Mitsuri had to agree with the idea Tomioka-san was trying to explain. It seemed like a plan of killing two birds with one stone. However, this seemed to only anger Shinazugawa-san more. He seemed as if he was prepared to say something else when two children came out into sight. "The master is here."
With that phrase alone, the hashira took a kneeling position. Sanemi had rushed back in line with the other hashira, as Giyuu stayed off to the side. Mitsuri unknowing of what to do, followed his lead and kneeled down, still behind him. She looked up as the master had finally revealed himself. She was shocked to see the person in question was a very sick young man. His skin was purple across his body, he sounded as if he had difficulty breathing, and it almost seemed as if he was blind. Gyomei was the first to speak, wanting to properly greet the master. "Good afternoon master, I pray every day for your health and good fortune." Gyomei began to cry over his master's condition, chanting a small prayer to himself in hopes they would give some level of aid. "Thank you Gyomei for your kindness and compassion. I trust you all have been well since our last meeting?" Everyone verbally agreed, not wanting the master to be worried on their behalf. Sanemi still in his kneel, rose his head. "Forgive my outspeaking master, but we have a non hashira with us. Tomioka brought them here."
All eyes were on Giyuu, and by extention, Mitsuri. Only one of the hashira looked towards them with excitement and it was Kyojuro. Everyone else wore a look of confusion. Giyuu was the one that broke the silence. "I bring the slayer named Mitsuri Kanroji. She claims to have been summoned by the master, she was lost inside and asked for me to guide her. My intentions were to bring her to where we all knew the master would be, and do what she was called upon for after the meeting." Mitsuri felt gratitude towards Tomioka-san for standing up for her like this. She was aware she was currently an outsider, but she was happy that a complete stranger was willing to help her like this. "Ah, Giyuu, I have missed hearing your voice during our last meetings. It is good to hear it again. I also must thank you for bringing her actually, for she is the reason this meeting was called. Please Mitsuri, come forward."
Everyone looked around confused, not understanding why she the main topic for this meeting. Giyuu turned around towards Kanroji, seeing she was feeling nervous at being asked to stand directly in front of the master of the entirety of the Corp. She noticed he was looking at her, almost looking for help. He nodded at her slowly, showing his trust in her. "The master is a kind soul, you need not fear what will happen." Mitsuri felt herself begin to relax. She had two people here to support her that she could trust. She had Rengoku-san and now Tomioka-san. She stood up and moved to in front of everyone, kneeling back down towards the master. "I am here master. You said I'm the topic for this meeting, was there something I did wrong?" The master laughed softly, shaking his head. "You may call me Oyakata, and no Mitsuri, you are not in trouble my child. Quite the opposite in fact."
Mitsuri let out a sigh of relief, happy she wasn't in trouble. She still continued to question her purpose of being here. "Yes Oyakata-sama. So what do you mean by the opposite? Just what is it that I'm here for?" Oyakata smiled in delight, looking towards her. "Mitsuri Kanroji, I ask you here today to join us as one of the hashira. Your teacher Kyojuro has told me of your feats and skills. Creating your own breathing technique, your immeasurable strength in slaying demons, your care towards to the innocent. These are all qualities that make up a hashira, and I have deemed you worthy of being the next one to join the ranks."Everyone had gasped in shock of this news, another person has been offered the opportunity to become a pillar and support the Corp. Kyojuro could not contain his excitement any longer and laughed with delight. Giyuu was shocked that the person he was helping earlier was meant to be another hashira. He felt proud for her to make it to everyone else's level on her own strengths. He saw Rengoku as someone trustworthy, so he trusted him on this former student turned equal. Mitsuri felt on the verge of tearing up, she couldn't believe the person who brought her in was now asking this of her. She looked back to the crowd and saw Rengoku-san, smiling proudly for her. He's the one who helped light this own fire inside of her, she couldn't let him down by rejecting this. She looked over to Tomioka-san, and he seemed as stoic as ever. He almost seemed the exact opposite of her former teacher, where as he was a raging fire, Tomioka-san looked like a calm ocean. Their eyes locked in on each other, he nodded for her to take the offer. She trusted the both of them, and she trusted in herself.
"Yes, Oyakata-sama. I humbly take your offer of becoming the next hashira." Mitsuri bowed her head, estatic that this was really happening. "I am glad Mitsuri, the demon slayers are thankful to have you in our ranks. Please tell me, what breathing form do you use?" "Love breathing Oyakata-sama, I was originally training in flame breathing, but my new technique is derived from the passion flame entails." Oyakata smiled at her, lifting his hand. "Rise Mitsuri Kanroji, from this day forward, you are the love pillar. Join your comrades, your equals." Mitsuri stood up, smiling widely as the tears finally broke free. She turned around and started walking to the rest. Her eyes darted towards Tomioka-san, contemplating if she should stand by him so he isn't alone. Her eyes darted down to his mouth, noticing he was wording something.
'Join them. You've earned it.' She was confused as to why he was saying this, she also just realizes how far he was from the others. She'd save these questions for later and did as he said. She found herself kneeling next to Rengoku-san, both were smiling and were only containing their excitement as to not be unsightly in front of the master. The meeting had ended shortly after, as the promotion of Mitsuri was the focus of it. Her and Kyojuro exploded with joy as soon as the master was out of sight. "Kanroji, I could not be prouder! You have grown even stronger from when I first started training you, and I do not doubt you will get even stronger!" Mitsuri pulled Kyojuro in a hug, forgetting her own superhuman strength. "Thank you Rengoku-san! I couldn't be here without you and all you've done for me!" She buried her face in his chest as she continued to hug him. She could've sworn she almost heard cracking as looked up, seeing that he was on the verge of passing out. "Ah! Rengoku-san I'm sorry!"
She felt someone poking her shoulder, she turned around only to realize it was Shinazugawa-san. She quickly hid behind Rengoku-san, not wanting to risk being yelled at again. He sighed loudly, lowering his head before bringing it back up. "Look I'm sorry alright? No one knew what this meeting was going to be about aside from asking us how our districts are. Welcome to being a hashira." Sanemi put his hand out, hoping she would take the gesture. Mitsuri looked down at the hand, slowly taking it and shaking it. "It's alright, this was a surprise for everyone... Did you really try to fight Rengoku-san when he attended one of these meetings?" Sanemi let out a loud groan as he walked away, not wanting to remember that shameful memory.
"Don't mind him, he's always like that." She let Rengoku-san go as she heard a female voice. She was a smaller girl than herself, her identifiable notices were her cheerful smile and butterfly hair ornament. "Hello there, I'm Shinobu Kocho. I will admit it's nice to have another girl amongst the ranks." She chuckled softly as she looked up to Mitsuri. Mitsuri couldn't help but find her utterly adorable. Her smile seemed so cheery and caring. "Who gave you that uniform?" She noticed that Kocho-chan suddenly released a murderous aura. "Is, is this not the normal female uniform?" Shinobu shook her head as she felt a vein start to pulsate under her skin. "They tried to get me to wear that thing as well when I first recieved mine, I burned it. Meet me at the butterfly estate and I'll give you some oil and matches." Mitsuri was rather shaken at this offer, hearing somewhere that these uniforms were meant to be fire resistant. "No no, please, there's no need for that Kocho-chan. I've actually grown quite fond of it."
Shinobu shrugged at the denial, leaving Mitsuri to her own desires. "Rengoku-san, are you alright? I don't imagine you'd face an early grave by a mere hug." Shinobu couldn't help but tease, watching Kanroji physically react from the idea. Kyojuro finally could breathe normally again, hunched over as he was still recovering. "You would be surprised Kocho! Kanroji is physically stronger than any other person besides perhaps Tengen and Himejima!" Shinobu laughed slightly, looking over him. "She didn't seem to show much restraint during that hug. If what you're saying is true, come to the butterfly estate once we leave. I'd like to make sure this didn't cause any minor injuries." Kyojuro agreed as he finally stood upright.Mitsuri enjoyed watching the interaction, really beginning to feel the care between everyone. "Oh, Kanroji-san. I'd like to ask you, just how did you get Tomioka-san to speak so much? He rarely talks at all, to see him defend you like that is quite the curiosity." Shinobu directed her attention back to Mitsuri, done with checking on Kyojuro. "I actually don't know, but he did seem nice." She looked around for him, only to see him walking away from everyone. "Tomioka-san! Tomioka-san!" She ran over to him and managed to get him to stop thanks to calling for him. "I wanted to thank you again for helping me, but why are you leaving? Everyone is still here talking and enjoying the company."
Giyuu shook his head, looking down at his newest comrade. "There's no need to thank me. You needed help and I was there to do it, it's just what we do as part of our duty. And you don't worry about me. I just, prefer being alone." Mitsuri managed to get another good look at his eyes, this time she got a better view of them. They were a deep blue, almost like staring into the ocean itself. She focused on them, but noticed another detail of them. They seemed cold, they seemed tired, she started to question if he was alright. "Tomioka-san, are you alright? Your eyes seem-" "Go. Stand with the others. You've earned it. Don't worry for someone like me." Before she could ask him what seemed to be bothering him, he flashstepped away. Mitsuri frowned that he left, returning to the others. "Does anyone know what's wrong with Tomioka-san? Something seems off."
Before Kyojuro or Shinobu could give some kind of answer, Sanemi and another hashira returned to give their own opinions. "That damn loner thinks he's better than the rest of us." Mitsuri was shocked at this idea, wanting to defend the person who went out of his way to defend her first. "I didn't get any kind of feeling like that from him though, why think he believes he's better than us?" Sanemi was about to speak, when his friend in a striped haori and mismatched eyes pitched in. "He stands away from us for every meeting, even before I arrived, everyone had said he's been doing this since he joined. He never joins in any activities either, always declining them as if he has something better to do. He even says he's different from us, but never elaborates as to what it means. What else could be mean?"
Mitsuri didn't want to believe that this was the case. She looked over to Kocho-chan and Rengoku-san hoping for an answer that wasn't as mean spirited. "Unfortunately Tomioka does isolate himself! Every time I have asked him to join us in group meals, he always declines! I do not think he is full of himself however! He is always most humble in our spars!" Kyojuro was quick to defend Giyuu, apparent that he had a positive mindset towards Giyuu. "I can confirm that he actually doesn't talk much. He's always quiet during meetings, and he only ever communicates on missions when it's about the mission itself. He's not one to reach out, it's why I was so curious as to how you got him to talk so much in your defense." Shinobu was the next to speak up in defense of Giyuu. While she did enjoy teasing him from time to time, she never desired to be outright hostile to him. She believed he had his reasons to back his actions, but she will admit it did annoy her in her attempts to befriend him.
Mitsuri felt slight distraught, not wanting to believe someone actively desired to be alone. She was always showered with care and love from her family, so it made her concerned that someone had no access to it. She refused to let this go on! She was going to put aside her own goal of finding love and help Tomioka-san find love in his own life. Whether it was in the romantic sense, or through friendship! Her face quickly heated up at her thought process, refusing to do this for selfish reasons. "Rengoku-san, can I stay with you for the time being until my estate is ready for me?" She was happy that he was eager to help, agreeing almost immediately. "I won't let things go on like this any longer! Tomioka-san count your days of being alone, for I am putting a stop to all that!"
She had openly declared in front of everyone. Shinobu had let out a small laugh, Kyojuro nodded in excitement for his former apprentice, Sanemi groaned in annoyance that someone was getting so hung up on Tomioka of all people, Obanai only looked on in a weird curiosity. He normally desired to avoid women given his past. Kocho obviously had to be an exception, for she was the doctor all slayers relied on. This new girl however, she seemed different. Her first reaction upon Tomioka was a loner was to help change that. He had no idea as to what love breathing was, but she certainly seemed to live up to it. He had heard her panics earlier as well, only when he arrived to investigate, Tomioka had already found her. This gesture was a curious one to witness, Obanai had decided to see where this would go. He believed this would be interesting to watch.