𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘆𝗲𝘀 - 𝗞𝘆𝗼𝗷𝘂𝗿𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗸𝘂 𝘅 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿

~Chapter 16~

"So..." you started, staring at the estate that stood in front of you and Kyojuro, "This is the place?" Kyojuro nodded with an eager smile plastered on his face. It didn't look like much, just looked like any other estate that belonged to some big family. It was pretty big, though, and it had such huge grounds, so you assumed that whoever owned was rich. 

So, this was the place where you'd find most of the answers to your questions. You'll get to meet the head of the demon slayer corps. You were going to visit their place right now! You had to admit, you had a funny feeling in your stomach. You'd get that feeling whenever you were nervous. Kyojuro gently squeezed your shoulder as he gave you a comforting smile.

"There's no need to be nervous, (Y/N). Everyone is very welcoming, I promise." He said as you sighed, slowly nodding your head.

"I hope so..." you mumbled as you both walked across the grounds. You watched the view around you. Whoever owned this place probably took good care of the gardens they had. You noticed a few people were watering the plants, others trimming some trees and bushes. This whole place didn't look like anything you were used to. Once you and Kyojuro reached the house doors, you were both greeted by some child, around the age of seven or eight. The child had pale skin and large lavender eyes. The child's hair was put into a blunt bob with a fringe covering her eyebrows, colored black. The young girl was wearing a purple with patterned flowers and green obi, along with a headpiece on the side of her head that was in the shape of a flower you have never seen before. She almost reminded you of a cute doll. You guessed the owner of the estate has probably preferred the traditional way of clothing.

"We've been expecting you, Rengoku Kyojuro and (L/N) (Y/N). Please, follow me inside." She greeted both of you. You tried not to look so freaked out over the fact that she knew your name without you introducing yourself and followed the little girl.

"She's adorable, not gonna lie." You whispered to Kyojuro.

"That's a boy, (Y/N)." Kyojuro smiled as you blinked in confusion.

"...oh..."

You and Kyojuro continued following the young boy as you both reached the end of one hall. The boy bent down as he put his small hands on the floor, lightly pressing as the floor tile slightly opened up. The young child pushed the tile open, revealing a secret trap door that lead to what you assumed to be the basement. The young boy looked up to you and Kyojuro as he gestured towards the trap door, letting you know it was alright to go in. 

Kyojuro let you walk down the stairs first with him right behind you. You looked at how the walls around you were decorated. It had some katanas with names written under them that seemed to belong to great demon slayers. So this is where the demon slayers would meet, huh? One certain katana caught your eye.

(L/N) Ayaka... that was my grandma's name!

"Yes, your grandma was a demon slayer back in her day. A very great one." You looked to the side and found a man standing, beside him was a beautiful woman with white hair helping him walk. The man had shoulder-length black hair and the most calming smile you've ever seen. Across his face, the man had what seemed to be a scar at first, before you realized it was a disease, making his skin look as if it were slowly rotting away. The man was dressed up in a black kimono along with a long white haori with a pink and purple mist-like pattern. Kyojuro immediately knelt as soon as he noticed the man as you stared at him in faze. Kyojuro pushed you down, making you kneel next to him.

"Oyakata-sama..." Kyojuro breathed as the man smiled.

So this was the master Kyojuro was talked about. Didn't expect him to look so... frail.

"It's great to see you in good shape, my child." Oyakata-sama said calmly, "Please, the rest of the pillars are waiting. I'd like to have a word with Miss (L/N) here." Kyojuro nodded as he smiled at you before walking away. Once Kyojuro left, Oyakata-sama turned to you with a very kind smile. It almost felt like it was a father's smile to his child. You noticed that he wasn't looking into your eyes. It seemed like his eyes were affected by the disease that was spreading across his face. Was he blind?

"How does she look like?" Oyakata-sama asked the woman standing next to him. The woman smiled as she looked at you.

"She looks exactly like her, only younger." The woman said as Oyakata-sama nodded with a smile. Did they know your grandma? How come she hasn't told you about any of this?

"I understand that you are very confused, Miss (L/N), but I promise you'll get the explanation you need soon." Oyakata-sama said.

"You knew my grandma?" You asked, slightly tilting your head as Oyakata-sama nodded softly.

"Yes. She was the Night Pillar, and she loved her job. The reason she retired was that she wanted you to lead to a normal life." Oyakata-sama explained as you nodded. Grangran left her job just to take care of me... god if only I can tell her how much I love her just one more time.

"I guess having someone like me to live a normal life is pretty impossible, don't you think... sir?" You chuckled nervously as you looked away, rubbing the back of your head. Oyakata-sama just gave you a fatherly smile.

"I'm assuming Rengoku has told you about the power you hold inside of you." Oyakata-sama said as you nodded.

"Partly, I guess. He mostly just told me that my blood is powerful and the demon lord wants it. I mean, I've been attacked by two demons so far! I would've died if it weren't for Kyojuro." You said. Oyakata-sama gave you an understanding smile as he nodded.

"Rengoku is correct. Your blood is, indeed, powerful. Yet there is more to it than meets the eye. But, I'm afraid I may not be the best person to explain it to you. There is someone I know who might be able to explain your situation to you better than I could." Oyakata-sama said as you nodded your head, wondering who that certain someone might be.

"Of course, sir." Oyakata-sama smiled.

"For now, would you like to meet the people who have been keeping you from danger for the past year and a half?" You hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding as Oyakata-sama signaled the lady beside him to help him walk across the hall.

"Right this way, Miss (L/N)." Oyakata-sama said as you followed. You liked Oyakata-sama's personality. It was very soothing and he almost felt so fatherly towards you, even if you have only met him just ten minutes ago. It's such a shame a very kind man like him was suffering from such a disease. You sighed, remembering your grandma.

They always pick the prettiest flowers first, huh?

You and Oyakata-sama walked along with the white-haired lady until you reached a room that almost looked like a conference hall, only without the table and such stuff. Your eyes widened when you saw the people that were waiting for you right there.

The pillars!