The Hashira Meeting

The atmosphere in the headquarters courtyard was so tense it could almost drip with water.

Tanjiro swallowed nervously. He could clearly sense the terrifying presences gathered in the courtyard ahead, its gate standing open. Each presence was like solid rock, blazing fire, or a deep pool, radiating an undisguised pressure forged amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. It pressed down on him until he could barely breathe. Even Inosuke had fallen uncharacteristically silent, his eyes wide beneath his boar mask. His beastlike instincts were screaming warnings, telling him that every person inside was extremely dangerous.

Moyu stood slightly ahead of Tanjiro, looking calm, though his azure eyes had already taken in everything in the courtyard.

On either side of the courtyard, sitting or standing, were nine figures of differing appearances. They were the pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps' current fighting strength—the Hashira.

His gaze swept quickly over them.

On the left, closest to the room, was an enormously tall and burly man. He wore the Demon Slayer Corps uniform beneath a brown haori bearing the words "Homage to Amitabha Buddha." His eyes were pure white, and he was evidently blind. He fingered a string of prayer beads, his face compassionate and solemn, with an aura as steady and imposing as a mountain. The Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima.

Right beside Gyomei was a man with short white hair, a face covered in scars, and eyes as vicious as a Demon's. His uniform hung open, exposing a muscular chest covered in countless scars. His white haori bore an enormous black character for "kill," and undisguised, violent killing intent radiated from him. The Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa.

Beside Sanemi was an extravagantly dressed man. He had white hair, red makeup radiating around his left eye, and gold earrings. Even his nails were painted alternating red and green. Nearly two meters tall, he wore a flippant smile, but his eyes were sharp as a hawk's. The Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui.

Beside Tengen Uzui was a boy with long black hair that turned mint green at the tips, and mint-green eyes to match. He looked very young, his face expressionless and his eyes vacant, as though indifferent to everything around him. The Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito.

At the front on the right was a man with long yellow hair edged in red, thick black eyebrows, and bright, lively eyes. He sat ramrod straight, a cheerful smile on his face. Even sitting still, he seemed to have flames burning around him. The Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku.

Beside Rengoku was the Water Hashira Moyu already knew, Giyu Tomioka. Wearing his distinctive two-colored haori, he sat silently with his ocean-blue eyes calm and untroubled, a stark contrast to the warmhearted Rengoku beside him.

Next to Giyu was the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho. She still wore a gentle smile, her purple eyes flickering as though she were watching an amusing play.

Beside Shinobu Kocho was a gloomy man with mismatched eyes, green on the left and gold on the right. Bandages covered his face, and a white snake was wrapped around his neck. He wore a black-and-white striped haori and gave off a cold aura. The Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro.

Behind and to the side of Obanai was a cute young woman with an excellent figure, long pink braids tipped in grass green, faintly flushed cheeks, and a mole beneath one eye. She wore an open-chested uniform and a white haori. Her large, pale leaf-green eyes were examining the three at the gate with curiosity and a touch of nervousness, especially the wooden box on Tanjiro's back. The Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji.

These were the Demon Slayer Corps' greatest fighting force, the Nine Hashira. Even with Oyakata-sama absent, their mere presence was enough to make the air freeze.

"Hey, Tomioka!" Sanemi Shinazugawa was the first to break the silence. His vicious gaze swept over Tanjiro at the gate before settling on the conspicuous wooden box. His voice was full of impatience. "This brat you brought back, and that box on his back... That Demon's inside it, isn't she? Bringing a Demon to headquarters—have you lost your mind?!"

Giyu Tomioka didn't even lift an eyelid. "Those were Oyakata-sama's orders," he said coolly.

"His orders were to bring them 'back'! He never said we couldn't 'deal with' a dangerous Demon!" Sanemi sprang to his feet and strode toward Tanjiro, brimming with killing intent. "Are we supposed to wait for that Demon to lash out and hurt someone here? Get rid of the threat first!"

"Mr. Shinazugawa!" Shinobu Kocho spoke up, her voice still gentle but carrying a warning. "Please calm down. Besides, Moyu made a solemn vow earlier, didn't he? If little Nezuko hurts anyone, he'll behead her himself and take his own life."

"An oath? Bullshit!" Sanemi sneered without breaking stride. "Can you trust a Demon's word? And how much is a little brat's oath worth? The only good Demon is a dead Demon!" His target was clear: the box on Tanjiro's back.

"P-please wait!" Tanjiro's face was deathly pale, but he bravely shielded the box. "Nezuko won't hurt anyone!"

"Out of my way, brat!" Sanemi couldn't be bothered with another word and reached out to shove Tanjiro aside.

Just then, a figure silently stepped between Tanjiro and Sanemi. It was Moyu.

"Mr. Shinazugawa," Moyu said calmly, but with unmistakable firmness, "attacking someone who is about to stand trial before the Master arrives is against the rules."

Sanemi stopped, his vicious gaze falling on Moyu as though he had only just noticed him. "Who the hell are you? Since when does a Mizunoto get a say here?" Moyu's unnatural calm and the perceptiveness in his azure eyes irritated him immensely. "Someone who consorts with Demons thinks he can lecture me about rules? Get out of my way!"

Before he finished speaking, Sanemi curled his hand into a claw and grabbed for Moyu's shoulder, moving so fast he left an afterimage. He meant to fling him roughly aside. The grab carried tremendous force; if it caught an ordinary Corps member, it would likely shatter his shoulder blade in an instant.

But in the next instant, Sanemi's expression changed slightly.

His hand stopped dead an inch from Moyu's shoulder! Moyu hadn't blocked or dodged. Rather, it was as though Sanemi's hand had sunk into an invisible, intangible, yet incredibly tenacious mire. No matter how hard he pushed, that inch was like an insurmountable chasm!

"Huh?!" Astonishment flashed in Sanemi's eyes, followed by fury. "Quit your tricks!"

He pressed the fingers of his other hand together like a blade, gathering the sharp force of Wind Breathing, and thrust straight at Moyu's abdomen! This strike was faster and fiercer, powerful enough to pierce a stone slab.

The result was the same. His knife-hand was stopped by the invisible barrier again, an inch from Moyu's abdomen, unable to advance any farther! He couldn't even touch the hem of Moyu's clothes.

"What's going on?" Kyojuro Rengoku raised a thick eyebrow, interest showing in his eyes. The other Hashira turned their gazes toward them as well, with varying degrees of surprise and curiosity. They could all tell that Moyu hadn't drawn his Nichirin Blade or made any obvious defensive move. He was simply standing there.

"Bastard!" After two failed attacks, Sanemi Shinazugawa was thoroughly enraged. He let out a low growl, a whirlwind suddenly rising around him as the power of Wind Breathing gathered. He was clearly getting serious.

"Shinazugawa!" Kyojuro Rengoku shouted. "Calm down!"

"Mr. Sanemi, please stop!" Mitsuri Kanroji called out nervously as well.

Tengen Uzui rubbed his chin. "Oh? Interesting. Is this the 'special' thing Miss Kocho mentioned? That really is a flashy and bizarre ability."

The white snake around Obanai Iguro's neck flicked its tongue with a hiss. A barely perceptible flicker seemed to pass through Muichiro Tokito's vacant eyes. Gyomei Himejima quietly murmured a Buddhist invocation.

Giyu Tomioka remained silent, but his hand tightened slightly on his sword hilt. The smile on Shinobu Kocho's face deepened.

Sanemi Shinazugawa was in no mood to listen. Already hot-tempered, he now felt utterly humiliated after being easily stopped by an unknown newcomer in front of everyone. Rage surged through him. "Break!"

The whirlwind around him intensified, and he was about to use a form to force his way through.

At that moment, with tensions at their peak—

"The Master has arrived—!"

A clear, respectful voice rang out from beneath the veranda.

As though someone had pressed pause, the aura gathering around Sanemi Shinazugawa abruptly stalled. He shot Moyu a fierce look that said this wasn't over, but forced down his anger and withdrew his hand with a resentful scowl. He turned to face the head seat.

All the Hashira, including Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho, immediately restrained their auras and straightened their clothes. Their expressions became deeply respectful as they dropped to one knee in unison and bowed their heads. Even the volatile Sanemi Shinazugawa was no exception.

Tanjiro and Inosuke hurriedly knelt as well. Moyu calmly dropped to one knee and looked toward the doorway. After all, Kagaya Ubuyashiki was a man worthy of respect.

Supported by two little white-haired girls, Nichika Ubuyashiki and Hinaki Ubuyashiki, a thin man slowly emerged from the house. Fierce purple scars covered his face, leaving him almost disfigured, yet his manner was exceptionally gentle and serene. His smile was as refreshing as a spring breeze, and though he was blind, he seemed able to see through everything.

He was the current head of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

"Good morning, everyone." Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice was gentle yet strong, reaching everyone's ears. "The weather is lovely today, and our members remain unchanged. Everyone has safely made it to our twice-yearly Hashira Meeting. I'm happy to hear all your lively voices."

"Master!" the Hashira answered in unison, their voices full of heartfelt love and respect.

"I'm deeply relieved to see that you remain in good health as well, Master. I sincerely wish you even better health." Sanemi Shinazugawa seemed like a different person, showing none of his earlier temper.

"Thank you for your kind wishes, Sanemi," Kagaya Ubuyashiki replied gently.

Damn it, Sanemi, you stole what I wanted to say!! Mitsuri Kanroji thought, pressing her lips together.

With his daughters' help, Kagaya Ubuyashiki walked to the head seat and sat down. He gently "looked" toward the gate. "It seems our guests have arrived today. Tanjiro Kamado, and... Moyu, as well as Inosuke Hashibira, welcome to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. There's no need for ceremony. Please, rise."

Tanjiro and Inosuke got to their feet, somewhat at a loss. Moyu rose calmly as well and stood beside Tanjiro.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's "gaze" seemed to linger on Moyu for a moment, and his smile deepened slightly before he turned toward the wooden box on Tanjiro's back.