Disclaimer:

I do not own nor claim all the rights to 鬼滅の刃 | Kimetsu no Yaiba | Demon Slayer; all rights are reserved to its respective creator, Koyoharu Gotōge. This is purely a work of fiction; names, characters, businesses, events, localities, and occurrences are all extrapolated from the author's writings and imagination or utilized in a fictitious manner. As such, any direct or indirect references to actual entities, dead or alive, or events do not, in any shape or form, resemble the opinions of the author.

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"..." = Dialogue

'...' = Internal monologues

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Laughter.

Smiles.

Flowers.

Happiness.

The four distinct characteristics that could be discerned within the vicinity of this particular setting. I fervently laugh as I aimlessly run through the myriad of flowers prevalent within this particular heath. My elder sister smiles as she spectates my outburst of jubilance; she is happy, I am happy. It was a happy time.

"Nee-san!" I called out as I turned around and scampered my way towards my beloved sister.

She was the only family I really had; she's the only one who always looked out for me with her loving embrace. She was the mother I never knew, the only one who reciprocated the appreciation I expressed towards her back to me with affection. Without her, I'd be nothing and no one—I would be deprived of the very thing for which we humans require as a source of purpose and hope. Therefore, I would do everything to protect this moment, this life. 

To protect her.

"Nee-san!" I exclaim as I approach her.

Her arms open up, both extending out in a manner that conspicuously served as an indication of a warm, affectionate hug. In response, I willingly and gladly jump into her embrace.

"Giyuu..." she said in an almost melancholic tone.

Taking notice of this abnormal and sudden transition in my sister's demeanor, I asked, "What's wrong Nee-san?"

"YOU..." her voice suddenly shifted from that of an aura elucidated by a maiden to that of a demon...

"N-Nee-san..." I said as I slowly backed away from her grasp, full of fear and terror.

Her body suddenly convulsed and transmuted from the petite and slender shape of a young woman to that of an irregularly-shaped demon whose limbs coalesced and materialized into a sort of shadowy figure—albeit, with protrusions that prevented a perfect transformation into a glossy carcass. However, within seconds, this shadow soon opened up to showcase a figure whose body shape was completely different from that of my sister's. 

Despite the change in appearance, this monster still harbored the soothing voice of my sister. However, the mannerisms that complemented such a voice had all but dissipated. Instead, the phonetic pattern espoused by this altered voice exuded that of anger, fear, and distaste for the boy that stood right in front of her.

"You coward... You killed me..." she growled as she gradually encroached upon me.

Water enveloped my eyes at the sight of this sinister being, "No... I didn't... I couldn't do anything..."

The fabric of this very 'world' begins to collapse as the bright blue sky is substituted by an invidious, chilling, blood-like red color that encompasses the entirety of the atmosphere. The ambiance of the setting is also immediately lost, as the initial passion for warmth is subsequently replaced by a passion for blood. 

My sister's body takes the liberty of applying an even more horrifying physique to the already-distorted figure: her eyeballs were beginning to pop and blood streamed down from the cavity left in the absence of the optical organs, her light skin transformed into a more somber and darkish silhouette, and the colorful complexion that defined her kimono hitherto the transition had all but been replaced by an anemic array of shade.

"It's your fault that I'm dead! It's your fault that I could never live life to its fullest! If only you would have shown more courage..."

A protrusive lump engulfed my throat as I tried my best to speak, "That's not true... I was too weak back then..."

"Excuses don't compensate for your sins! Your cowardice is what killed me! And I will never forgive you for that..."

"Nee-san... I-I'm sorry..." I wept as a trail of tears flew down both of my cheeks like a waterfall.

"It's too late for apologies."

..

..

"NO!" I screamed, gasping for air as I encountered the predicament that is hyperventilation. With each second, I take in an obtrusive inhale and exhale as the body's quench for oxygen exceeds all expectations and reasoning.

My senses were heightened; I was on edge. My eyes were still adjusting to the morning sunlight while a plethora of sweat dripped down my forehead—denoting the recent confrontation I had undergone with my nightmares. An abstract, yet substantial, sound of high-pitched ringing encompassed my eardrums; this served as an indication for my state of Hyperesthesia. 

Nevertheless, I managed to quickly pull myself together and attenuated all of my augmented senses back into their respective standards. I also ameliorated my breathing pattern to help calm down the nerves and allow for more logical processes to take hold of my cognitive functions.

I sigh. It was only a dream.

But despite that reassurance, I was still tense and could not wipe off the image of my late sister's abhorrent transformation in that specific instance. Although, this isn't the first time I've encountered such dreams; it is indeed true that, ever since her death, I've dreamt about her—and by dreamt, I mean I've had horrible and agonizing nightmares. 

Such is the result and consequences of trauma supplemented by guilt, emotions I probably will never be able to overcome at any point in my possibly short lifetime...

..

..

..

..

..

..

The sunlit sky enclosed the estate under its magnificent and enthralling radiance as the sun arose from its slumber—while the moon settled in the distance. The aroma of a heavy, yet colorful scent was contrived in light of the early hours of the morning dew. Miles away, the luminescent street lights were incrementally turned off and the commencement of the profuse pandemonium prevalent within the confines of the nearby town and its surrounding prefectures could be distinguished from the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters. 

The discrepancy between the town, which emitted both the synergy and loud reverberations of a relatively large urban center, and the Corps' headquarters, with their erratic critters along with the incessant croaking present in the contemporary wildlife throughout the surrounding habitat and forest, could be clearly observed. 

This, much to the annoyance and contempt of the residents and slayers alike, included an army of mosquitoes, for whom awaited an opportunity to initiate the extraction and consumption of red blood present under the skins of their human targets—a description one could mistake for a demon when not given the appropriate context.

The day was still young, and Giyuu was one of only a few to arise from his deep slumber. This early awakening can be attributed to the fastidiousness concerning his daily schedule, which is mostly constructed around the notion of continuously—and, at times, unnecessarily—training and honing his swordsmanship to the maximum degree possible. 

Such a dedicated and stringent routine did indeed procure results for the aloof slayer: the attainment of a well-respected seat as the Water Pillar amongst the Hashiras of the Demon Slayer Corps—the chieftains known for their immense strength and adroitness with a blade that no other slayer within the corps can equally match. Thus, making Giyuu one of the strongest slayers in the Demon Slayer Corp. 

However, his distinct social nature, or lack thereof, made him naturally distant from the rest of the Hashiras. His lack of communication and deliberations with his supposed comrades made him a target of animosity and annoyance on the part of his peers—such a revelation only being revealed to Giyuu just recently by Kocho Shinobu, the Insect Pillar, during their assignment to Natagumo Mountain. 

This, of course, surprised him as his abrasive character was concurrent with his lack of attentiveness to other people's opinions of him. But, alas, he paid no mind; after all, he was only here to kill demons—not forge friendships.

Despite the absence of a well-rested night, Giyuu paid no heed and stayed true to his rigid schedule by first brewing tea, sharpening his sword, and making himself some breakfast before he embarked on another day of rigorous training.

..

..

..

..

"......"

"Shi—"

"—nobu"

"Live a life of happiness—"

"—don't be consumed by hatred—"

"—don't be burdened by your own anger—"

"Shinobu..."

I jerked my head upwards, ascending above the pillow of my futon until my back was perfectly straight. I was heavily panting like I was undergoing a harsh and demanding activity of some sort. It wasn't every day that I woke up to find myself in a tenuous state of being—and it certainly wasn't pleasing or pleasant to do so. Despite this, I quickly compose myself and revert to a nominal state of existence. It seems it was just a bad night for me...

"Huh?" I say aloud as I feel something funny rolling down my cheeks.

I watch as droplets gravitate downwards to my lap. Those were tears trickling down from my eyes...

"Why am I tearing up?" I ask myself as I felt an abnormal sensation stinging in my chest, as if something of great importance had been lost; something I revered and cherished, only for me egregiously falter and allow for its ultimate demise—allow my shameful lack of resolve to precipitate the occurrence of such events.

"Huh... A day never goes by without some reminder..." I say poignantly.

How long has it been since that fateful day? Have all the actions and decisions that I have undertaken since then done justice to her? Or am I merely betraying her trust? Have I really been consumed by the sins she spoke of? Is all of this justifiable? Am I being selfish? Am I doing the right thing?

A multitude of questions I can't answer... Questions I don't know the answer to... And I hope it remains that way.

Otherwise, I might blink and hesitate...

..

..

..

"KAW KAW! REPORT TO OYAKATA-SAMA IMMEDIATELY! KAW KAW! REPORT TO OYAKATA-SAMA IMMEDIATELY! KAW KA—"

"I understan—"

"KAW KAW! REPORT TO OYAKATA-SAMA IMMEDIATELY! KAW KA—"

"Understoo—"

"KAW KAW! REPORT TO OYAKATA-SAMA IMMEDIA—"

"Like I said, I am awa—"

"KAW KA—"

"I GOT IT, OKAY?!" Shinobu finally cracked and interrupted the crow's regurgitation of the same lines of information. 

From the perspective of an observer, an obtrusive vein can be seen disclosing itself on the upper left corner of her forehead, but she nonetheless maintained that plastered smile on her face—though it was seemingly looking to be more of an anomaly by the second.

"Oh dear, almost lost my composure right there," noted Shinobu as she walked over to the nearby mirror, "remember: smile!"

And with that, the smile was rejuvenated and settled as the standard disposition for her facial expression.

In compliance with the given orders—despite the irritating manner in which the orders were bestowed upon the recipient—Shinobu readies herself for what is likely a scouting mission of some sort. 

Dressed in the Corps' standard-issue uniform as mandated by regulations, she supplements this bland image of a uniform with a white haori which has a butterfly wing pattern that fades into a turquoise then pink color on the sleeves and bottom edges which are cuffed with a black and white dotted trim.

(Credit goes to the Kimetsu no Yaiba Wiki Page on Shinobu Kocho for this detailed and meticulous description.)

Additionally, she equips her respective Nichirin Blade which was imbued with a flower-shaped with 4 petals; the petal has an aqua-colored core with an orange border. After allotting a few seconds for an observation of the blade's condition, Shinobu promptly sheathes it into her scabbard hanging on her left waist. 

Furthermore, she acquires and packs medicinal implements and herbs along with the essential Wisteria Flowers for anticipated use in the near future. While she undertook these necessary preparations, there was a knock on the door.

"Shinobu-sama, are you awake?" Kanzaki Aoi, an adjutant and a member of the medical staff at the Butterfly estate, asks.

"I indeed am," Shinobu replies as she makes her way over to the door and slides it open to find Aoi situated in front of her.

"Shinobu-sama, should I procure breakfast for you?" Aoi queries.

"No need, I have been summoned by Oyakata-sama and am due to convene at his abode in a short time from now. Besides, I packed my own meal, so there's no need," Shinobu said as she sustained her perpetual smile.

"Understood," Aoi acknowledged.

"I will probably be assigned a mission of some sort, so, Aoi, can you do me a favor and watch over the manor while I'm gone?" Shinobu requests.

"Of course, Kanao-chan, Sumi-chan, Kiyo-chan, Naho-chan, and I will do our utmost," Aoi complied.

"I appreciate it, thanks," Shinobu replied merrily as she made her way out of her private quarters and into the hallway, with Aoi moving aside to make way, "I'll be off now."

"Oh, Shinobu-sama, one more thing," Aoi adds.

"Hm?" Shinobu halts her advance and turns around.

"Water Pillar-sama is outside waiting for you," Aoi informs.

'Eh? What's Tomioka-san doing here?' Shinobu's thoughts rupture into a state of confusion.

"O-Oh, I see..." Shinobu says, taken aback by this revelation, "does he want something?"

"Not that I know of; the only answer I got from him was, 'Waiting,'" Aoi answers.

'What does that idiot think he's going to achieve by just standing there!?'

"Ah, okay, I'll go tend to him then," Shinobu says while her smile undergoes a spasmodic convulsion as the Insect Pillar tries her best to wipe the image of exasperation off her face.

"Hai, understood," Aoi bows and then excuses herself.

'Okay, let's see what Tomioka-san wants with me.'

..

..

..

Shinobu

Serving as the Insect Pillar within the Hashiras, I had the opportunity and privilege to converse and actively work with the strongest and most talented members of the corps. 

From the awe-inspiring enhanced strength demonstrated by the Flame Hashira Rengoku Kyojuro to the nimble agility performed by the Love Hashira, Kanroji Mitsuri, each of the elite and well-distinguished slayers harbored a great deal of talent and aptitude with regard to their physical and mental capabilities. 

More so than not, bonds would be established by individual members of the Hashiras, even with hot-headed personalities such as Shinazugawa Sanemi having the capability of conversing with others under an acceptable amount of time. I myself have forged a close friendship with Mitsuri-chan and am at least acquainted with everyone else.

However, there is one individual that especially, and quite oddly, stands out for his reticent behavior and demeanor. 

I am, of course, referring to Tomioka Giyuu—the Water Pillar. 

It's not that he doesn't attempt to establish communication, rather, it seems he tries to deliberately obstruct such events from occurring. He vehemently is adamant about performing solo missions without an obliging partner by his side, and he seems to seldom open that mouth of his around the Hashiras—or anyone else. 

Regardless of that present knowledge, Oyakata-sama frequently consigns the two of us as pairs in scouting operations. 

So much so, in fact, that I've managed to churn out conversations between the two of us; it was certainly fascinating to witness a man of few words speak openly—albeit, only when it's pertinent to the ordained assignment. 

In spite of that, I was enlightened by my interactions with the other Pillars when they informed me that I was the only Hashira to have the potential and ability to hold a decently long conversation with Tomioka. Which was certainly surprising, but a pleasant one I'd say. Maybe that's why Oyakata-sama has the propensity to group both of us together...

Even so, I've found him quite intriguing and my voracious curiosity demanded that I get to know him more. 

This was further compounded when, during the recent trial that deliberated over the fate of Kamado Tanjiro's demon-turned sister, Kamado Nezuko, it was proclaimed that—due to their endorsements of, and faith within the Kamado siblings—the former Water Hashira, Urokodaki-dono, along with the current occupant of that same title, Tomioka-san, would both commit seppuku should Nezuko fail to abstain from consuming human beings. 

Such a devoted stance in support of two random persons could either be perceived as commendable or laughably ill-advised. 

Either way, it was definitely astonishing to oversee this sudden and revealing facet of Tomioka's character and personality. 

Needless to say, my interest in him was piqued after that incident, and I suppose you could say that I've developed a sense of infatuation with him. 

I have a myriad of questions and grow only more interested by the day—but, most of all, I want to ask him one simple question: what is your purpose? 

Sounds like a simple question, right? 

Well, it's not so simple with someone like Tomioka-san who probably has no one to fight for nor does he seem to ardently uphold a belief or ideology of any kind. I want to know why he continues to do what he does, and what's the driving force behind it?

Maybe I'm crazy for wanting to know something so personal from someone so distant, but that's simply my innate nature at work. I fight because I want the head of a demon that I despise so much that no other level of animosity in this world could possibly hope to attain an equal footing with my detestation—no matter the circumstances, I will track that demon down to the ends of the Earth in order to wreak upon him the wrath of my vengeance. My driving force is derived from hate and a desire to avenge my loved ones. 

But what does he fight for? Does he fight to make the world a better place, or does he fight to provide consolation to his unbridled malice and contempt for this unforgiving world and its inhabitants?

As I exit the manor, I spot Tomioka standing idly by the entrance of the Butterfly Estate, all dressed up in his standard-issued uniform along with his Haori that's split down the middle into two different patterns: the right one a solid pink-red and the left one geometrically patterned with squares of green, orange, and yellow. 

Moreover, his Nichirin Blade can be observed resting on his scabbard situated on his waist. At the head of the scabbard, the Tsuka (Handle) of the blade can be discerned, with the Tsuba (Guard) configured hexagonally with a bronze core and with an overlapping Fuschia border.

He had a grim look on his face, as always, emanated a chilly atmosphere of tension and apprehension; even though such characteristics would be hardly prevalent in this particular place, at this particular time, and in this particular moment. 

Regardless, he has always sustained that bland impression on the exterior no matter the circumstances he might find himself in. I also suspect he evokes such an outward appearance in order to ward off individuals who might consider approaching him. 

Luckily for him, I am immune to such aspects of his physical mien and can willingly speak to him without having to feel agitated by his behavior or facade.

"Ara-Ara," I call out, "what must the great Water Pillar want with this sudden visit?"

"..." he fails to respond.

"Let me guess... You're here to see me!"

"Ye—"

"Of course! I knew it! But I'm sorry to disappoint you, as Oyakata-sama has invited me for a discussion at his quarters. So, I won't be able to tend to any wounds. Though, Aoi, Kanao, and everyone else are still here to treat them. But sadly, I will be unable to do so due to certain duties that supersede all else," I go on and on, hoping to get some kind of reaction out of this emotionless man.

"..." he fails to reply again. Instead, he just stares at me with a blank look on his face.

"Again, I apologize for this inconvenience and hope that you'll have better luck next time," I said.

Tomioka continues to stare at me with that poker face, while I eagerly await for a response.

Instead, his face furrowed, with a contraction of the forehead and the eyebrows along with a frown that indicated the conveyance of either confusion or irritation; it was probably both. 

Unexpectedly though, Tomioka proceeds to make a subtle, yet noticeable, sigh, turns his back on me, and begins to walk away from the estate.

What.

Completely flabbergasted by this sequence of events, I follow him—except, this time, I intend to grab his full attention.

"Now, now, Tomioka-san, walking away from your problems won't resolve anything," I said with a hint of irritability.

"..."

The absence of a tangible reply aggravated me further and made my blood boil, so I decided to reciprocate that rude behavior with a physical impetus.

"Oiii Oiii, Tomioka-san, are you listening?? Moshi, Moshi?" I say as I begin to repeatedly poke him.

"..."

I guess I'll have to use my trump card, "You know, this is why nobody likes you."

Tomioka's trek down the dirt trail came to an abrupt halt. After a few seconds of silence, he replies, "I'm not disliked by people..."

Heh, works like a charm. This is all thanks to the fact that he is an absolute idiot.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I hurt your feelings again? Are you still reeling from the first time I told you that useful piece of information? I'm terribly sorry that you weren't aware of that," I toy around with him.

Tomioka simply glares at me before turning around and walking in the same direction once again.

I am having way too much fun with this charade.

I give out a small giggle at the sight of Tomioka's disturbed face, "My, my, you're worked up, aren't you?"

He stops yet again but doesn't turn around in this instance.

Then, in an unforeseen moment that rarely occurs, he speaks: "You were also summoned by Oyakata-sama."

'Also'? Why does he know about tha—oh right, this is probably another joint expedition. Well, more time for teasing and poking, I guess.

"You are correct," I reply.

"Then he has an assignment for us," Tomioka states.

Thanks for pointing out the obvious...

"I suppose so, looks like that means more time for some one-on-one between us," I add while exposing a conspicuous, but malicious smile—though, for the average spectator, it would be difficult to differentiate the malicious from an ordinary smile; while they exhibit disparate intentions, the physical incarnation of those two is not distinct after all.

Tomioka finally turns around and peruses his interlocutor as any average person would do if they were accustomed to the proprieties one must uphold and adhere to strictly in an actual conversation. But sadly, Tomioka is neither ordinary nor does he follow conventional wisdom—in other words, he's an airhead.

Of course, being Tomioka, he doesn't immediately rebuke that statement nor provide a sufficient response in the form of a full sentence or two. 

Instead, he just stares at me with that same facial expression devoid of any life or meaning. In the span of a few seconds, a mundane period was present which consisted of no sounds contrived, no words uttered, nor any action that could be done overtly in this opportunistic situation. While he just blankly stares at me, I return the gesture with a half-hearted smile that I always invoke.

Then, in a stroke of unanticipated and irregular gesticulation, Tomioka casually walks towards me and closes the relatively large gap in between us—a little too close for my comfort. He promptly bends down his back—because, as much as I hate to say it, he's substantially taller than me—to achieve a level of elevation that would provide a comfortable eye-to-eye posture between the beneficiary and the contributor. 

His inscrutable face stares at me intently with a deadpanned observation—which seems contradictory, but not when you're Tomioka. 

But he seems to completely disregard proper etiquette and contracts the unfilled space between our individual visages to such a degree that one would mistake this maneuver as an indication for the convergence of the lips—basically, a kiss.

Obviously, this wasn't something that happened every day, and I immediately went into a frenzy.

"T-Tomioka-san, w-what are you doing??" I say tentatively as I stumble through my words as if my previous persona which was brimming with confidence and self-gratification had seemingly been immediately abandoned in light of this sudden intrusion of personal space concocted by Tomioka. 

Thankfully, though, I was able to continuously smile despite the waves of embarrassment that overtook me in this equally gratuitous situation—although, it was looking to be more difficult to maintain and appear natural as time went on.

What the hell's wrong with this buffoon!? This has never happened before, and I couldn't imagine it happening at any point in the future!

However, I could not revert to my reclined state of emotions, as I was completely and utterly at the behest of Tomioka's foolish and absolutely atrocious antics. 

My heart was beating so fast that I could collapse at any given moment while observing the symptoms of a severe stroke. 

I was of course furious, but I could not—for the love of god—enunciate the words required to impart such discontent and discomfort induced by Tomioka's stupidity. 

Why is that? Why am I hesitating to condemn his blatant indiscretions? Under normal circumstances, I would be gutting him in the stomach, but now I'm just frozen! Get yourself together, Shinobu!

But, upon closer inspection—as both of our eyes met—I couldn't help but be captivated by the sight of his sheen eyes exuding the irises of a deep sapphire that fades to a lighter blue, while the pupils are bluish-black. Sort of fitting for the Water Hashira, isn't it? 

His hair, though noticeably long—which is facilitated by the fact that he wears a tied back, low, messy ponytail at the base of his neck—and unruly thanks to it being of unequal lengths, had the potential to enrapture one's eyes once placed under scrutiny. It was long, yes, but it was also wavy and a gust of wind had the capability to remedy this deficiency with more galvanizing traits. 

Now that I think about it, he doesn't look so bad after a—WAIT a minute, what am I doing...? Am I admitting that Tomioka doesn't look half as bad?

My thoughts are at a complete standstill as I contemplate the troublesome opinions that were engulfing my head in a wave of confusing emotions that I could not effectively micromanage under any circumstances. 

This is completely unprecedented; I usually come up with some retort to sway away any men drawn towards me, but why can't I chastise Tomioka!? I feel some tickling sensation radiating on my cheeks; I feel my head—yes, just the head—heat up as if I were experiencing feverish symptoms. 

My breathing slows and I don't move an inch as the tantalizing allure of Tomioka's very presence provokes and spins my head. 

Don't tell me I'm turning red... Oh Kami-sama, what has gotten over me??

..

..

..

While Shinobu fights an internal battle and is incapacitated, Giyuu is more concerned about other matters.

..

..

..

Giyuu

I received a notice from Oyakata-sama asking me to convene at his residence for the acquisition of a new task. 

I, of course, willingly, and in abidance to stipulations, adhered to his request and immediately assembled all of my essential equipment for what is likely to be a long-distance search-and-destroy mission. 

I was also provided the requisite knowledge that Kocho-san—a fellow Hashira for whom I frequently am partnered up by Oyakata-sama—is to also partake in this operation. 

I was neither ecstatic nor troubled with this notion; Kocho was someone I could work with, but she did have a tendency to instigate provocations against me for whatever reason. Ergo, why I harbored neutral opinions of her.

But, if there is one thing I can say about her with firm confidence, it's that she is commendable and worthy of respect. 

Though she lacks the physical strength that the other Hashiras have a natural abundance of, she does not let that dishearten her spirit or resolve; she instead improvises and conjures up an innovative technique to make up for that deficit through her expansive and indispensable knowledge in the field of medicine. 

By synchronization, she produced a unique style that combined her medical expertise with her excellent swordsmanship; in other words, she optimizes both facets of those individual traits in a manner that doesn't require her to muster up the sheer physical strength she lacks to behead a demon. 

Thus, making her worthy to actively participate in the battlefield as the Insect Pillar of the Hashira.

Although, it's not just respect for the ingenuity she demonstrated to rightfully attain her standing amongst the Hashiras, but also sympathy that I retain towards her. 

Sympathy for the loss of her sister. 

Though many of us have lost a loved one, I found the death of Kocho's elder sister—Kocho Kanae, a former Hashira herself—to be the most impactful. 

I suppose it could be that her passing brought upon the painful memories of my sister's death. Hence, why I understood the sudden change in appearance and personality Kocho undertook after that traumatic event—as I had done years earlier...

Maybe that's why I seem to be the closest with Kocho than with anyone else, not only because of our joint deputations—though that did play a significant role—but also because I do understand where she's coming from at a certain level. 

I can commiserate with her loss and her rationale for fighting—even though we do not share common end goals.

With that said, though, she does act and thinks like all the other Hashias; she harbors an uninhibited and uncompromising disposition with regards to the status of Demons. They seemed to be in the mindset that every and all sentient life forms which require human blood as a source of nourishment are a malignant tumor on this Earth. 

I thought so too, that is, until I met Tanjiro and his demon-turned sister, Nezuko. 

The amount of restraint and conscientiousness Nezuko managed to obtain by refraining from eating other human beings is genuinely astounding. And all of that strength to control her insatiable desire for blood is mostly attributed to her love for her brother and family. It appears to be a radical notion based only on myths, but I have witnessed that same 'demon' actively defend her brother and other humans before myself. 

Despite this, some of the Hashiras refuse to accept the fact that this world isn't black-and-white the same way Nezuko isn't a monster, even though her appearance might say otherwise.

Although, I can say that she is more open-minded than the rest of them—despite her malice and contempt towards demons. She seemed to have warmed up to the Kamado siblings, which is very fortunate when considering the fact that she almost impaled me with a knife during the Natagumo Mountain incident because I tried to protect those same siblings. I imagine she would be willing to legitimately kill me if she must. 

Now that I think about it, she has always been quite hostile to me—albeit, in a relatively passive manner without revealing the worst facets of it.

I don't mind our conjoined tasks, but does she? 

She probably despises it whenever she is assigned with the likes of me; which, I can understand—I'm not a very likable character. 

I guess I'm now more self-conscious about what others think of me than before the Natagumo debacle. You could say that I'm thankful for Kocho revealing just how hated I am—despite the shock and irritation that encompassed me back then. 

Thus, I will take her words into mind and be more self-aware of my image amongst strangers and colleagues alike.

Since the Butterfly Estate was bordering the path to Oyakata-sama's abode, I thought it to be convenient to just rendezvous with Kocho and adhere to Oyakata-sama's request for an audience with us. 

Of course, she tried to grab my attention—which is something I don't hand out on a silver platter—and I ignored her... Until she used the 'nobody likes you' statement, which obviously disconcerted me. But we continued our trek to Oyakata-sama's appointment nonetheless...

But first, I need to check if my eyes are just well-adjusted; they haven't been in good shape ever since I woke up. I suppose bad dreams reflect your physical state in some aspects? I chose to test their prowess and ability to discern meticulous details by looking into Kocho's eyes—as they are quite intricate pieces of her colorful appearance.

I'm sure she won't mind, she'll probably be able to understand my objective right away.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Tomioka-san the social hermit.

As I gaze upon Kocho's eyes, I can ascertain the condition of my eyes—they're perfectly fine. However, despite the assurance, I continue to inspect her amethyst eyes with curiosity. 

I feel as if those enchanting eyes had entrapped my thoughts in a state of ambiguity where I cannot decide whether to deliberately elongate this moment because I am fascinated by her looks or because I want to allocate more time to the enhancement of my eyesight. 

Either way, I was spending a little too long surveying her and I could clearly tell that my volition was causing her to turn red like a tomato; she's probably mad as hell right now, so all of that rage and blood has become translucent and present on her contemporary facial expression as of now. 

Maybe I overestimated her ability to read my intentions... I might have miscalculated.

I think it will be best to diffuse the situation before she tries to disembowel me.

Therefore, to de-escalate this, I must first back away from her and then procure a succinct explanation for my sudden movements against her personal space.

So I do just that.

I promptly, and with a moderate pace, carefully situate my head away from hers and then subsequently draw a few paces backward while lifting my bent spine into its hitherto, straight posture. As I initiate that procedure, I also take note of my deportment and mannerisms before I bestow upon her an adequate explanation for these turn of events.

While that was occurring, Kocho's face turned less red and the look of what I thought was anger suddenly transitioned into a look of confusion. Her entire attitude changed in a matter of seconds. So, I think I was successful in abating the tense ambiance that surrounded us a few seconds earlier.

Now, for the clarification, "Sorry Kocho-san, I was meaning to provide a platform to appraise the current condition of my eyes."

Good, I managed to give a concrete and concise explanation. A job well done.

..

..

..

Shinobu

"Sorry Kocho-san, I was meaning to provide a platform to appraise the current condition of my eyes," Tomioka said.

Wait... What.

You mean to tell me that the whole conundrum that I encountered was because of you wanting to fix your eyesight?! Was that whole thing just a farce for your own benefit?! Oh, Kami-sama! How dare he humiliate me into thinking that I was falling for hi— OH NOT THIS AGAIN! Come on Shinobu!! Pull yourself together!! Retaliate! Make him pay for this!

All my previous feelings of dazzlement and arousement now feel misplaced and completely unjustified. I felt both infuriated but also disappointed. Why am I disappointed? Is it due to his asinine reasoning? Or is it because of my internal delusions preventing me from thinking rationally? What was that feeling that I felt back there then? A plethora of questions I couldn't answer... 

Wait no, this whole thing is this imbecile's fault! If only he didn't do something so obscene towards me! He's going to pay...

..

..

..

While Giyuu took pleasure and confidence in the erroneous notion that he managed to handle the situation with great ease and precision, Shinobu's temper reached a boiling point.

"Tomioka-san..." Shinobu said nonchalantly.

"Hm?" Tomioka replied.

"What do you think I should do? Strangle you to death, or release a dose of lethal poison into you?" Despite the light-hearted smile and the jubilant demeanor, she conspicuously modulated her phonetic speech pattern to make clear that she shouldered ill intentions. Through the emphasis on such discrepancy, she evoked a sense of terror and malevolence.

Giyuu, who was only just recently in the mindset brewing with complacency due to the inaccurate belief that he handled the situation with the best stratagem in mind, was now woefully and utterly confused. For that reason, he manufactured a look of discombobulation and bewilderment.

'What did I do wrong...?' he thinks as he begins to stroke his chin.

"Is there something wrong, Kocho-san?," Giyuu answers.

A large vein emerged on the corner of Shinobu's forehead as she replied, "Oh, no, no, no, nothing's wrong. It's just that I want to chop you up into pieces..."

"But Kocho-san... We'll be late for our appointment with Oyakata-sama," said Giyuu.

Shinobu was now furious, 'You're concerned about that and not me?! GOD, you're more stupid than I imagined!'

"Well then..." she said shakily as she strived to curb her anger from being conspicuously known, "I guess we'll have to make this a quick one."

"Kocho-san?"

..

..

..

..

Later, at the official residence of the 97th Leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, Ubuyashiki Kagaya—better known by his peers and subordinates as "Oyakata-sama".

"..."

"..."

"..."

"My, my, we're late aren't we, Tomioka-san?" Shinobu breaks the silence.

"..."

The two were sitting side-by-side, Seiza-style, in a dimly-lit traditional room of an orthodox structure dating back to the Edo Period. 

The source of radiance being a minuscule sliver of sunlight etching its way through the small windows situated near the ceiling. 

This particular room acted as a sort of convention for the convenience of the guests and host alike with respect to official meetings. The room, despite having the supposed purpose of housing a large delegation for the undertaking of businesses imbued with formality, was relatively small; it was about the size of an average classroom in any given school. 

The walls were mostly hidden thanks to the noticeable bookcases that were situated adjacent to each of the four sides of this rectangular room—with the exception of the door, of course. 

Although, the bookcases themselves weren't tall enough to touch the ceiling nor short enough for someone to reach the upper-most shelving. 

Within the circumcenter of the room lay a light brown, wooden table too short to necessitate the acquisition of a chair—as most Japanese tables are supposed to be. This, of course, indicates that the users of such a supporting structure were induced to sit Seiza-style to best accommodate the pre-existing circumstances.

"I wonder why we're so late? Did you forget the way to Oyakata-sama's house, Tomioka-san?" Shinobu asks, tempting Giyuu to respond.

"Drawing out your blade didn't help," he retorts.

"And being unlikeable doesn't either," Shinobu smiles, as always.

"... I'm not disliked by people," he said for the second time within the span of this particular day.

"Are you a broken record, Tomioka-san?"

"No..." he replies.

"Oh! I know! Maybe, if you did turn into a broken record, people would like you somewhat!" Shinobu exclaimed, clearly in a sarcastic manner.

"And maybe if you were a little taller, you would stand out a little more," Giyuu, in a surprising feat of admissible and coherent communication on his part, struck back with an insult directed towards a distinct, and sensitive component of Shinobu's physique for which she lacks.

"Oh dear, do I have to behead you for that?" Shinobu says, but with that same vein protruding on her forehead again.

"That would be most unnecessary."

"You think?"

However, before the conversation could further be exacerbated beyond the point of no return, the Shoji screen (Basically, a door or room divider in Japanese architecture) leading into the designated room opened up to reveal a dainty, pale-skinned girl with large, purple eyes. 

She had white, shoulder-length hair styled into a blunt bob with bangs and sported a red ribbon on the right side of her head. Moreover, she wore a dark blue kimono decorated with purple flowers and a maroon obi (A broad sash worn around the waist of a Japanese kimono). If an outsider was to find themself observing this figure, he or she would almost certainly mistake it for a walking, haunted doll with no organic features. 

However, despite how doll-like and fair-skinned she may seem, such abnormal pigmentations do not do justice for the fact that she is indeed a living, breathing human being. 

This was, of course, the daughter of Ubuyashiki Kagaya (Oyakata-sama), Ubuyashiki Hinaki.

Greeting her guests, she spoke in a formal and ceremonial tone while making way for the man behind her, "Oyakata-sama will greet you now."

Both Giyuu and Shinobu immediately halted every action, word, and thought to present a genuflect and respectable bow in the presence of their superior; their left knee touching the floor while the right knee was allowed to survey the atmosphere while their elbows were resting upon it. Additionally, both of their heads were faced-down as per etiquette.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya, or Oyakata-sama, subsequently walked into the room, "Thank you for meeting me on this strange occasion, my children."

Like his daughter, he has light skin but black shoulder-length hair. He also has a curse mark that makes his skin look as if it was rotting—spreading down his face and covering his eyes making him unable to see. 

Wearing a black kimono with a long white kimono jacket with a pink and purple mist-like pattern that starts around the lower back and waist, he doesn't seem the type to command a legion of demon slayers. 

But, alas, he is indeed the leader of the Corps. 

One reason for his excellent leadership can be attributed to his personality—having a calm demeanor; he exhibits genuine care about the members of the Demon Slayers, and even considers them as his children. 

He is also able to handle criticism well, and is honest about his weaknesses; his inability to become a Demon Slayer in spite of his position being one. In order to make up for this, he remembers every single member of the corps and visits the deceased members at their cemetery daily until he could no longer move due to the curse.

Despite this supposed emotional attachment to the Corps, he very much harbors the required logic and impartiality needed for the preservation of a strong and stable Demon Slayer Corp. 

He makes clear of biases and is open to any given opinion that may be propounded to him; he only concerns himself with the logical processes and reasoning behind any given situation. 

One example would be his consideration regarding the status of the Kamado siblings; despite the outpour of hate and derision towards Tanjiro and Nezuko alike, Oyakata-sama determined, via Urokodaki-sensei and Giyuu's appeals, that the siblings ought to be defended despite the protestations elucidated by some of the Hashiras. 

This natural, leader-like ability to think within the realm of reasoning is also complemented by his gentle, tender elocution that can persuade even the most unyielding individuals of the Corps—such as the Wind Hashira, Shinazugawa Sanemi—to obey his commands without provoking any of them.

With the aid of his daughter, Oyakata-sama situated himself opposite to his subordinates—on the other side of the wooden table—and settled down Seiza-style.

"No Oyakata-sama, it is not strange at all," said Shinobu as she lifted her head to make eye contact with her commander-in-chief.

"You two may be at ease," Oyakata-sama noted.

Both Shinobu and Giyuu concluded their genuflection and proceeded to sit Seiza-style once again for the following briefing.

"Your presence has been requested here today because I have a task that I hope the two of you are willing to accept," Oyakata-sama started.

"Of course, we shall accept whatever may be proposed to us," Shinobu replied.

"Thank you, my children... One month ago, we received a report that a demon was terrorizing the inhabitants of a local village near the city of Yokohama. It was reported that fifteen of the denizens had gone missing, and a further five were confirmed to be dead under mysterious circumstances—at least according to the authorities. Moreover, it seems this reign of terror is a mere branch of a much larger, more widespread, and protracted dilemma regarding the disappearance of people endemic to the denoted prefecture. This problem had been going on for the past two months, and, since then, over 150 persons have been reported to have gone missing and a further 20 were confirmed dead when their disfigured bodies were uncovered at the mouth of the river... We had reason to believe that a demon was behind all of this, so we deployed a squad of five slayers to properly address the issue... That was four weeks ago. The slayers never returned nor did they file a proper report on the status of their mission. Therefore, we have concluded that they have probably been either incapacitated or captured as a result of a direct confrontation with their enemy," he continued.

"So, I ask of you two, the Hashiras—the strongest warriors presently serving in the Corps—to investigate this predicament in hopes of ameliorating and completely eradicating it. Please, I ask of you, I don't want to see more of my children slaughtered by the hands of a foul beast. I want you two to head over to Yokohama and slay that demon," Oyakata-sama concluded.

Shinobu was on the verge of delivering a response, until, much to her surprise, Giyuu spoke, "Understood Oyakata-sama, we will do everything in our power and effort to carry out this mission."

"Thank you," Oyakata-sama replied graciously.

"We will take the next available train to Kanagawa Prefecture, where we will ride a conjoining line to Yokohama," Shinobu explained.

"Ah, yes, please do... Do either of you need time to pack up before leaving?" Oyakata-sama asks.

"Not at all, we were anticipating an assignment, so we already made all the necessary preparations, right Tomioka-san?" said Shinobu.

"Yes," Giyuu replied.

"Good, good. I am eternally grateful for you two—you two work together so well and are in sync for a majority of the time," said Oyakata-sama.

Shinobu, still reeling from the debacle with Giyuu, was a little flustered at such a bold notion, "Y-Yes, indeed."

Oyakata-sama simply smiled, while Giyuu looked at Shinobu with utter confusion.

'Did she just stutter?' Giyuu noted.

..

..

Later, Train Station

The station was bustling with travelers, businessmen, government bureaucrats, and soldiers alike. A gush of obtrusive steam emitted from the train's muzzle blew into Giyuu's face as he was walking across the train platform with Shinobu at his side.

Giyuu promptly coughed while Shinobu amused herself by witnessing his suffering, "Ara-ara, what seems to be the problem, Tomioka-san?"

Giyuu didn't respond, instead, he continued coughing for a few more seconds before settling down.

"Have you ever been to a city, Tomioka-san?" Shinobu asks him.

"N—"

"Of course not! You're definitely not the type to do so!" she exclaimed.

Giyuu gave out a small, exasperated sigh.

"You look like you're having the time of your life," Shinobu said sarcastically.

"..."

"And of course Tomioka-san won't bother to reply, as always."

"Not always," Giyuu finally said.

"Oh my, so you can speak!"

Giyuu, irritated, made a disconcerted face.

"WAR IN EUROPE! JAPAN DECLARES WAR ON GERMANY! JAPAN JOINS WAR WITH BRITISH ALLY!" a newspaperman managed to yell out in the ensuing pandemonium and chaos that constituted the environment and setting of this train station.

"War?" Giyuu said aloud.

"Oh? You don't know? There's apparently an enormous war breaking out in Europe between the great empires. And their colonies are involved too, so it's big," Shinobu explained—hoping that this would aggravate Giyuu by espousing information he isn't aware of; it's implying that he is hopelessly ignorant, or something along those lines.

"A big war..." Giyuu mused.

"Yeah, and they're apparently calling it a 'Great War'. Funny, isn't it?" she joked.

"So that explains the multitude of soldiers and sailors here..."

"You really are uninformed, aren't you, Tomioka-san?" Shinobu smiled.

"I suppose; I don't read the morning papers often."

"How very typical of you, Tomioka-san!" Shinobu tried to annoy him further.

Instead, the opposite occurred: "Thanks, Kocho-san."

"Eh?" Shinobu said, dumbfounded.

"Thanks for informing me," he said back casually.

"N-No, problem," Shinobu said while trying to maintain her composure.

'Why on Earth am I getting nervous?! What's wrong with me today?!.... It's probably Tomioka-san's fault; it's his fault for doing that embarrassing thing earlier today!' Shinobu's head partakes in a great conundrum.

"ALL ABOARD!" a man shouts, signaling for the passengers to enter their ride before it leaves the station in a couple of seconds.

"We have to go," Giyuu said.

"Y-Yeah," Shinobu replied, feeling slightly light-headed.

And thus, the two leave for Yokohama—where they will encounter tribulations never overseen before...