Blue Lovegrave

3

As the days went by, Sanemi began to learn more about Giyuu, every truth and every reality was beginning to uncover. He still had a lot of confusions, though. What was Giyuu's true nature? What changed him to be so dull, other than demonic fate? What made him want to open up again? Who made him want to open up again?

Then came a day where tons of demon slayers lost their lives on Mount Natagumo. Giyuu and Shinobu arrived there to aid the slayers. Shinobu mainly worked on rescuing, while Giyuu was out there slicing demon heads left and right.

Then he saw a boy about to reach his death. As soon as Giyuu saw the webs on the demon's hands, he understood what kind of attack he would pull, and thought about what defense should he put up. What a perfect time for Dead Calm to shine. He second guessed the decision for a split second, though, as the last time he used the eleventh form, he was so panicked after because he couldn't feel his own heartbeat.

No, Giyuu. An innocent slayer is about to get killed if you do not finish off this lowermoon.

Mizu no kokyu, Ju ichi no kata: Nagi

Though looking still and motionless, Giyuu speedily cut the threads that were sent his way. After, he beheaded the demon with a clean slice. He had a bit of a disagreement with the wounded boy, him telling Giyuu not to step on and disrespect the demon as he was once a human.

Taking a closer look, Giyuu began to recognize the boy. It was him, from two years ago. Him who, was a few inches away to ending Giyuu's life. Him who, for the first time, made Giyuu let a demon live for a reason that was seen as utter nonsense.

Urokodaki-sensei must've been so glad that this boy came back alive.

———
Butterfly Mansion

While Tanjiro and the others were sound asleep upstairs, he was tasked (or rather, forced) by Shinobu to escort a certain slayer to the building of messages, since the slayer had a message for Oyakata-sama but was not permitted to enter his mansion.

Outside the building, was a vast area called the training ground. The young slayer was quite afraid of the higher-ups, and to his luck (misfortune), the Hashiras were there, training.

"Oh, Tomioka? Who's that?" Tengen asked, wiping the sweat off his forehead. Mitsuri was behind him, holding a tray of mochi.

"A survivor of the incident of Mount Natagumo, mizunoto. I am escorting him to the building of messages, he has something for Oyakata-sama." Giyuu said nonchalantly.

"Do you know what it is?"

"I do not find any reason to. He says it is merely a message, and that it is private."

"You're gonna let this wimp deliver something to Oyakata-sama and not check what it is first?" Said Sanemi, frowning in disbelief.

"That could be something dangerous, Tomioka. Grab that parcel before I get my serpent to rip it open." Obanai spat.

Giyuu shook his head and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "This boy is doing services for a grand church in the village of Rokuro. Don't you know the place? The owner of the church was Oyakata-sama's good friend a few years back. So please, allow me to escort the young man and we'll be finished."

Sanemi could not believe what he was hearing. Was Giyuu really gonna put Oyakata-sama's life in danger like this? Was I deceived by this bitch?

"Church my ass, back in my hometown, our priests were killed by the very same people that worked for them! How do you know that that boy is any different?" Sanemi exclaimed.

"Ah, let me think, maybe because I used to work with him in the very same church? This is getting awfully personal, but I'll have you know that this boy lit the candles every session there was and always delivered the best prayers. This isn't the first time he's sent something to Oyakata-sama too." Giyuu took a few breaths.

"Now if you excuse me, I'm going to escort this boy to the building of messages." He said, walking forward.

"Oi, kid." Sanemi called out. The boy looked back, and a terrified look was on his face. Sanemi was confused as to why Giyuu's grip on his shoulder tightened. He ignored it, though.

"I'm only letting you deliver that because your 'friend' says so. But if I find out you're fucking with us.."

"Let's hear the end of it, Shinazugawa. Neither I nor this boy wishes to waste our time." Giyuu cut in sharply. Sanemi stared at him as he disappeared into the building.

———

"Tomioka used to work in a church?" Obanai said, an eyebrow raised.

Sanemi thought about it. Normally, church people were serious, but they always had this positive vibe. The vibe Giyuu had just now was not positive at all. Had something happened? It also concerned Sanemi, he hadn't been in any incidents where he accidentally found Giyuu doing something unexpected of him.

No more kindness, no more dancing, no more singing, no more smiling, no more untied hair, no more. Something was wrong, and Sanemi was going to find out.

A few hours after that, the sun was at it again with its scorching flames, and to the Hashiras' luck (misfortune, again), an emergency meeting with the Master was announced. Mitsuri had brought fans for everyone, but the boys kindly declined for some reason.

Sanemi was never affected by the weather in the first place. Obanai didn't want to destroy the fan, and he ended up drenching himself with sweat under all those layers. Tengen was not too bothered, as his outfit was lighter than everyone else's. Kyojuro, well, he's the Flame Hashira. Muichirou was also not affected too much. Mitsuri was too nervous to ask Gyomei, though.

And Giyuu, was in a bad mood. When Mitsuri turned to look at him, he was staring into nothingness with a deadly look in his eyes. Something wrong was clearly in his head. Mitsuri didn't want to ask, so she kept the fan.

Then Oyakata-sama arrived.

"There will be no need for formalities, this is an emergency meeting and I wish to get straight to the point." Oyakata-sama said with a stern look. He took a few breaths as the Hashiras watched him intently.

"We have a traitor amongst our ranks."

There were gasps and looks of shock. Sanemi scowled, disgusted by the thought. "I received a message from the church of Rokuro," he said, briefly turning his head to Giyuu's way, "and they mentioned that one of their nuns were found in their basement, completely dismembered and hung from the ceiling."

The horror the image held.

"Now, as you know, the church and the demon slayer corps are very well acquainted. The owner reached out to me immediately as he found a piece of fabric during the crime scene. It was a ripped piece of our uniforms— a thick, strong cloth." Oyakata-sama continued. He took a bag from his side, and held it out to Sanemi.

"Sanemi, if you would do the honors of inspecting it." He said. Sanemi took the bag and took out the said fabric. It was indeed, a part of their uniforms. The cloth had a bloody stench, Sanemi crinkled his nose at it.

"Oh, it's ours, alright." Sanemi said, handing the bag back to Oyakata-sama. Not focusing on his senses, the master accidentally dropped the bag, and something fell right next to Sanemi's foot. The master didn't notice though, focusing on picking up the bag instead.

Sanemi looked down to the item while Oyakata-sama cleared his throat and continued the discussion. It was a golden button.

One that only the Hashiras' uniforms had.