This Bitch gives their stories Daddy Issues

Of Fire and Wisteria

     The slayer sleeps stiffly.  It's odd.  Their crow says they are only ranked Tsuchinoto, but somehow they already know Concentrated Breathing Constant?  It's hard to believe.

     They lay in the gravel silently.  Their haori is a white hooded cloak with bright purple and red embroidery, it depicts heavenly clouds and cranes with a large sun element spread across his shoulder blades.  Along both lapels it reads, 'Burn, Destroy.

     They wake suddenly, grunting softly and pushing themself upright.  Frowning from under their hood at the feeling of their bound hands and wrists, they look up and recognition flashes across their face.  Good, they ought to be able to recognize the Pillars.  But it isn't fear or awe on their face.  They cringe slightly and take in their surroundings eerily.
     "Why am I here?" Their voice is as soft as a summer breeze and makes each Hashira straighten slightly, they sound almost, familiar...

     "You directly disobeyed a Hashira and ran from orders."  Shinobu's icy voice rings through the quiet courtyard, the buzzing of cicadas is distant.
     "Ah.  That." The mysterious slayer hums, seemingly unperturbed by the relatively serious charges.
     " 'Ah, that?' " Tengen scoffs.  "Unflamboyant..."
     They hum and looks around them, clicking their nails in an odd manner that draws attention solely to their person.  They inspect their surroundings and getting lost in thought.  But it is in no way reminiscent of Muichiro.  Rather more like Shinobu or Tengen.  Calculating, planning.

     "Well?  What do you have to say for yourself?" Sanemi nearly growls.
     "Mhmm, ah well.  About that..." they trails off again, seeming to test their restraints before eyeing the kakushi around him, each Hashira in turn and then the building they were sitting on front of.
     "Oi!  I'm fucking talking to you!"
     They turn back to the Pillars again, the hood of the cloak hides the mystery persons hair and shadows their eyes but they are visible nonetheless.  Glittering, intelligent, kind.
     "My apologies.  I was lost in thought.  Might I implore you to- ah, how to put this... Call ahead?  To the Master, of course."
     The Pillars tilt heads and raise eyebrows, vaguely impressed by the nerve of this amateur slayer.
     "Excuse you?"

     The cloaked slayer frowns at Shinazugawa's response.
     "What part is unclear?"  Despite his blunt words--which could be easily taken as insulting-- his voice is still light and airy, bringing a strange sense of peace.
     "YOU'VE GOT SOME NERVE-"
     "Master has arrived."

     The strange slayer flinches

     The cloaked person sweeps into a low kneel quickly, nose brushing the gravel.
     "Good morning my children, it is a fine day is it not?"
     "Yes it is.  Made all the more lovely by your presence, Master.  We are ever grateful, for the opportunity to serve." Shinobu chimes sweetly earning a grimace from Sanemi.
     "Thank you, my child.  Now-  why is my son bound and knelt before me?"
     The strange slayer flinches harder.
     "Good morning, Father." He mumbles nervously.

     "What?!"

     "Tanjiro, dear.  Stand."
     "If it is your wish, Father." The thick, treated ropes binding the young man shred like paper and snap like threads.  He stands slowly, flicking back his hood and bowing his head politely.
     A long braid snakes down his back, his dark hair shimmering burgundy as he looks up to the Master through his dark feathery lashes, crimson eyes glittering in the morning light.
     Mitsuri gasps and Uzui's eyebrows raise sharply.

    "Now, how has this come to be?"
    The man dips into a slightly deeper bow with a nervous sigh, "My apologies father, I was careless in my accepting of missions.  I took on a case that was soon taken on by your esteemed Pillars.  I had not noticed the Young Miss Kocho had taken her Tsuguko along and was captured before I could slip away quietly.  She is a very impressive slayer, you were quite correct about her."
     "You were captured by a Tsuguko?" Ubuyashiki asks.
     "I didn't want to hurt her, nor raise any further alarm.  I had assumed I would be placed under simpler circumstances, not immediately on trial."  He shoots the Pillars a quick glance.

     The Master chuckles.
     "That sounds very much so like you, Tanjiro."
     The young man raises his head with a soft grin, "Shall we begin my impromptu debute?"
     Ubuyashiki laughs and waves the man up.

     He crosses the garden without hesitation hopping onto the engawa as if it didn't come up to his waist, before patting one girls head and taking his father's arm in her place.
     "Greetings, Pillars.  My name is Ubuyashiki-Kamado Tanjiro, I was graciously adopted by the Master who has shown me nothing but kindness that I can only hope to one day repay.  I am the eldest son of the Ubuyashiki family but will not be inheriting the position of my Father, that will still fall on my beloved little brother, Kiriya."
     He places a hand on the head of the girl beside him who leans ever so slightly into his palm.
     The Pillars have several questions.

I am not out of hiatus yet but I wrote this a while ago and thought someone ought to see cuz I think it's neat :)