Ashen Demon

9

 Even though Zenitsu and Inosuke were taken to the estate that belongs to Shinobu, given the injuries they had suffered, Byleth was escorted to where the meetings of other Hashiras are specifically taken place to conduct trials. 

With Tanjiro all tied up and having his box taken away, carried by the kakushi members for he was knocked unconscious. Now, the kakushi were too nervous to stand close to the mint-haired woman because she was looking at them with a gaze so unmoving and cold, they felt like she is a moving statue. It alone was daring them to try to tie her up, along with attempting to take her own box away.

Shinobu and Giyu specifically told them to leave her and the box containing the members of the Twelve Demon Moons alone. Unlike the kakushi themselves, the two are making sure Byleth does not try anything funny during the travel back to the headquarters. 

Though unnecessary, because Byleth was cooperating with them the entire time. She is only cooperating with them because they weren't attempting to take drastic measures against her, and she is fully aware of the consequences.

"Ne, ne, Eisner-san? Are you aware that you and the boy will be on trial for keeping demons around with you both?" Shinobu questions, the first to break the silence while giving a smile to Byleth.

"I'm fully aware, especially what would be the most probable outcome of the trial." Byleth responds with a neutral face.

The calm expression on her lovely face is rather unsettling, if she is aware that her life along with the boy's is on the line. She knew the consequences of breaking a corporate rule, and yet she went ahead to travel with a demon and recently taking in another. Both being the greatest enemies that work with the king of demons closely.

"Ara, is that so~" Shinobu widens her smile, now having a hint of coldness in them and condensation. While Byleth is admittingly a very beautiful woman, but the crime she did unfortunately won't go unnoticed. "From what I heard, the boy is carrying a demon who is his sister. But you? You now have both members of the Twelve Demon Moons on you, and that cannot be ignored easily. Tell me, why do you have them with you? Enlighten me~" she added with a question.

Byleth can feel the gaze of Giyu burning into her back, likely wondering the same thing as Shinobu. She may not know the full tale herself, but she noticed that Giyu is very familiar with Tanjiro and Nezuko. This made her think if they had met before, and if that is true, perhaps he was giving support of entrusting Tanjiro the responsibility of looking after his sister. That, and offering him a chance to allow him to try finding a cure to make Nezuko human again.

Alas, Giyu's past actions of letting Nezuko go alive and helping the two are caught on. Of course, he too would be given punishment for aiding a fellow rank 10 slayer keeping and protecting a mere demon. But Byleth's case, she knew it is something that caused quite a stir among the ranks of the Demon Slayer Corporation.

And it was all because of her having two demon moons on her.

"It would be best to say my reasoning when all are present." Byleth responded.

Partially because she wanted all of the Hashiras to hear her, with the Master included. And another reasoning to keep silent until then when the trial starts, is because she needed time to think about the arguments for her to say.

"Fair enough~" Shinobu remarks happily.

Byleth grimaced when Tanjiro was laid down to the ground albeit too harsh, making her feel guilty for not extending her own conditions to him as well. That's when she feels several more presences, making her glance up and saw there are about six more individuals within the area and now five are coming to gather close with Shinobu joining with them. Giyu, on the other hand, distanced himself from them.