—Location: Butterfly Mansion—
On the veranda of the mansion facing the courtyard, two figures sat bathing in the clear morning sun.
"Brother."
Rokuta sat in Tanjiro's arms, his legs dangling and swinging.
"Brother, what did you talk about with Grandpa Urokodaki?" He looked up at Tanjiro and asked in a puzzled tone.
As he spoke, Rokuta lowered his head and looked at his fingers, seemingly a little worried.
"We came here suddenly."
"Father, will Father be able to find us?"
The child's voice was tender and full of worry.
Tanjiro held Rokuta more tightly in his arms and looked up at the sky under the eaves, comforting his younger brother. He took a deep breath.
"It's okay, Rokuta." Tanjiro smiled.
"We were talking about Kibutsuji Muzan." Tanjiro answered the question.
"...Muzan?"
Rokuta tilted his head in confusion. He looked up at his brother with his deep red eyes.
"Who's that?"
"I don't know either." Tanjiro gently stroked Rokuta's head.
"It was the name our father called out that night." He sighed deeply but still had a smile on his face.
"Probably... it is the name of the demon."
"Oh..." Rokuta nodded.
The conversation ended as the two siblings decided to enjoy the morning sun together in silence. Hiding the worries they felt.
Letting the voice of their brothers training in the courtyard filled the silence.
Takeru and Shigeru were doing push-ups together, panting and counting out loud.
"30."
"31."
"32."
"Hey! Shigeru! You're cheating."
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—Location: Ubuyashiki Mansion, Hashira's Meeting—
"According to Murata's intelligence and the Kakushi's report."
"The demons that have appeared in the towns near Tokyo are very likely to be the Twelve Kizuki."
Kagaya's steady and firm voice echoed.
"That area was originally under the jurisdiction of the Flame Hashira, Shinjuro."
Kagaya looked straight at Kyojuro.
"Therefore, I would like to entrust Rengoku Kyojuro with this mission and eliminate said demon."
"And..."
He turned his attention to Tanjuro.
"This is my personal request."
"I hope that Kamado-san can accompany Kyojuro in this mission."
"I would like to know what you think, Kamado-san."
The Hashiras were stunned. They looked at their master as if they couldn't believe what they had just heard.
"I have no problem with that." Tanjuro answered in a simple and decisive manner.
He was actually going to volunteer himself to Kyojuro after the meeting.
Moreover, his family was moved from Urokodaki's residence to the Butterfly Mansion at the insistence of Kagaya; thus, he has a debt to repay.
In addition, he can replenish the energy needed for the Dragon's Heritage to trigger should he die.
It's just killing two birds with one stone.
Kyojuro looked happy to be entrusted with this mission by Oyakata-sama. He straightened his back, and with a deep breath, he bellowed his agreement with enthusiasm.
"Yes!"
Kyojuro understood that this was a chance for him to prove himself. To prove that he had the strength to serve as the Flame Hashira!
Killing the Twelve Kizuki, direct subordinates of the Demon King. One of the requirements that allowed him to be promoted to the rank of Hashira.
'Oyakata-sama, I won't let you down!'
Kagaya nodded at the eager-to-start Kyojuro and the serene Tanjuro with a smile and gratitude.
"Thank you, Kamado-san."
At that moment, a voice raised his objection.
"Forgive me for speaking out of turn, Oyakata-sama." Sanemi announced as he turned his gaze to Tanjuro, his tone serious.
"If the demon is one of the Twelve Kizuki, then it should be me or the other Hashira who goes on this mission."
He said and sneered disdainfully at Tanjuro. "Sending the two of them will only serve the demon additional meals to crunch on."
"I'm sorry, Oyakata-sama, but I can't trust their strength."
Sanemi finished as he humbly lowered his head to Kagaya. He had one more thing to say but decided not to say it.
While he knew Kyojuro's strength because they are comrades, Tanjuro's strength is unknown to him, as they only met for the first time.
It doesn't help that Tanjuro is a middle-aged man who looked really weak and frail.
When he said he met Muzan, Sanemi didn't feel any fluctuation in his aura or his hatred for the Demon King.
'Sending a man to his death against a demon is not something I would like to do. It's just a waste of time."
'No, it is better for me to go on this mission.'
"So pitiful... I concur with Sanemi on this." Gyomei expressed his concern as his tears soaked his clothing and hands that were clasped together. His tone was laced with compassion.
Giyu didn't say anything, as he knew his comrades wouldn't accept any more explanation about Tanjuro's strength unless they saw it for themselves.
The other Hashiras were indifferent to Sanemi's opinion but kept quiet as they silently approved his decision.
"I hope you can understand, Oyakata-sama." Sanemi stood up as he spoke sincerely.
Sanemi's calf muscles were tensed with force.
Tanjuro turned his head slightly to glance at Sanemi.
To be honest, he didn't even pay attention to the Hashira's meeting until Kagaya called his name.
Everyone here is not a bad person, but each of them has a "unique" personality.
In terms of approachability, Tanjuro thought Giyu was one of the better ones after Kyojuro.
He had stayed silent and only spoke when he was asked. Trying to avoid any trouble.
It seems his efforts were for naught.
Tanjuro's Transparent World already sees through Sanemi's body, from the tense muscles to the blood vessels as well as the blood flow.
Sanemi wanted to attack him.
—"危." Danger!
The moment his danger alert reached its peak. Sanemi had already disappeared from where he stood!
"Sanemi-san! Members of the Demon Slayer Corps are prohibited from killing each other!"
Kyojuro quickly reacted and tried to deescalate the situation as Sanemi charged toward Tanjuro.
"This guy is not a member of the Corps!"
Whoosh!
Gusts of wind blew over as Sanemi was airborne in front of Tanjuro. His core strength suddenly twisted in mid-air, swinging his leg for a side kick to Tanjuro's torso.
'He'd probably be laid up for half a month with how much strength I held back.'
Yes, the purpose of this strike was to injure Tanjuro, not kill him.
Tanjuro calmly leaned back and narrowly avoided the kick by a mere inch.
"?!" Sanemi's pupils shrank slightly as he hit nothing and quickly adjusted.
However, Tanjuro was faster!
With Sanemi in mid-air, unbalanced after the miss. Plus, underestimating his opponent.
Tanjuro countered with a swift hand on Sanemi's abdomen, tilting his center of gravity easily, and pressed down hard on the opposite momentum.
Bam!
A cloud of dust kicked up. Things happen so fast that the next thing Sanemi knows is that his back hits the ground, and his breath leaves his lungs from the impact.
He only sees Tanjuro in a more alert stance with one hand pressing down on him and the Hanafuda's earrings swaying gently in the wind.
"???"
Sanemi's shock and confusion were shared with all of the Hashiras in attendance as they watched the spectacle unfold.
Only Kagaya remained in his seat with a serene smile as if he had expected such an outcome.