The Descendant (A Retelling and love story of Demon Slayer)

Four

A gentle breeze blew around a few falling petals of a pastel purple Wisteria tree in the peaceful garden of a small estate. The chill on the breeze suggested that an early winter was approaching quickly, but despite the shiver it brought, Tsukaima Renji refused to move. The cold was the last thing on his mind right now. Kneeling on the small round pebbles that made up the garden's paths, he couldn't even get himself to care about how uncomfortable it was. Not when he was kneeling in front of the master himself. Not only that but there were a small handful of others around him as well.

Standing beside the master was a set of twins, one with white hair, the other black. They were spitting images of the master and his wife, who was sitting comfortably on a zabuton off to the side. What puzzled him most -and also put him on edge- were the other two beside him. He had never met them before, but he had heard of their exploits. They were the real deal. Demon Slayers of a higher caliber. Hashira.

"It's an honor to see you again, Oyakata-sama!" The guy that looked only a few years older than Renji, with a blonde/scarlet mane, greeted casually before receiving a swift thwack on the head from the man on Renji's other side.

"Baka, that's not how you should greet Oyakata-sama!" He had a large presence, one that commanded attention and not just because of the large gaudy headpiece across his forehead.

"Ah! Gomen, gomen-" The sound of light laughter being stifled filled the garden, and Renji almost forgot where he was kneeling.

"It is quite alright. Tengen, try not to be so hard on our newest Hashira." The kind and gentle tone of this man's voice was not what Renji had been anticipating at all. In all honesty, he had been expecting to get chewed out by the Corps leader, not only for backing away from what was essentially his duty and letting a civilian fight for him, but also from considering omitting details about the woman from him. Renji's crow, Takai, had heard everything and like the little feathered rat that he was, spilled everything to the leader before Renji had even stepped foot in the garden. Renji had not been able to lift his gaze from the dirt since arriving. When he saw Takai sitting patiently in the hand of the Master, he thought his arrest warrant was all but signed. Treason. He felt like he wanted to vomit.

"Hai. If you don't mind me asking, for what purpose are we here, Oyakata-sama?" Tengen Uzui asked politely while passing a glance over the dark haired teen who had his head so low it looked like he was trying to stick it in the earth. With his hearing, he could tell the teen was beyond nervous. His heart was thundering in his chest so fast the Sound Hashira was concerned he would pass out. 'So not flashy.' He thought with a deadpanned gaze at the boy.

"Ah, my apologies for stealing you away from your reprieve after such an arduous mission. You both must be exhausted, but an interesting development has made itself known to me. I felt it prudent that you both be here, for reasons we will get to in a moment." With that, the master turned his gaze to the boy. "Tsukaima Renji," The boy jolted from the sound of his name, being pulled back from his racing thoughts abruptly and answering in a meek voice that trembled.

"H-H-Hai, Oyakata-s-sama...?" It made Tengen stare at the boy with a disgusted face. 'How unflashy can someone get!'

"-I'd like you to explain the details of your mission and its outcome, if you wouldn't mind please." Renji froze in his trembling, his gaze finally leaving the ground to stare upon the man before him in wonder. He didn't sound displeased at all. If anything his voice held a kind tone that was soft and coaxing. Like Renji was a frightened rabbit and the Master was attempting to feed him.

' -the current Master has a way of making others fall over his every whim.' Was this what she meant? The moment the Master had addressed him directly, it was like his guarded walls had crumbled with the gentleness of his voice. Renji was surprised to see that the man standing before him was the opposite of what he was expecting when he first arrived. Though his frame was very frail, he held an elegance in the air around him that only a leader should have. His black hair was shoulder length, half covering a horrible purple scar creeping along the top of his face. It looked as though half of his eyesight was gone, and the other eye was well on its way to losing its sight as well. Out of everything about the man though, it was his smile that made Renji feel most at ease. It seemed genuine.