The eye of the storm (Sanemi x Reader)

8| Bloody symphony

I was at the Butterfly Estate, assisting Shinobu in organizing the newly arrived medicines. The shelves were filled with an array of vials and herbs, each carefully categorized. As I focused on my task, Aoi burst into the room, breathless.

"She's already here," she exclaimed.

Shinobu's eyes widened in response, a special gleam appearing in them, as if a sudden wave of joy had washed over her. Shinobu gestured to me indicating that she was stepping away for a moment, and together with Aoi, they left the room in haste.

Just as they departed, my crow swooped in through the window, cawing excitedly, "He did it! He did it!"

My heart swelled with happiness. Zenitsu had successfully passed the final selection. My little brother had made his effort, sweat, and tears pay off, and pride overflowed within me.

Later on, I learned the reason behind Shinobu's overwhelming joy. It turned out that her apprentice, Kanao, had returned. Against Shinobu's wishes, Kanao had participated in the final selection and successfully completed it, officially joining the Demon Slayer Corps. The unexpected return of her apprentice had brought immense happiness to Shinobu, and the Butterfly Estate buzzed with the news of Kanao's accomplishment.

Later that night, a mission awaited me in a distant village. The Master had summoned Tengen, Shinazugawa, and me. Apparently, a significant number of actors, dancers, and singers had gone missing in the area, to the extent that they had to close down the auditorium. However, the count of victims continued to rise. The Master suspected that a demon was behind these disappearances and speculated that it might be one of Muzan's Moons. That's why he dispatched three Pillars to investigate the area. 

The night was wrapped in an stillness as we walked through the dense forest—Tengen, Shinazugawa, and I. Every step resonated in the quiet, and the moon cast its silvery glow on our path, offering glimpses of the mysterious surroundings. The deeper we ventured into the forest, the thicker the shadows clung to the trees, and an unspoken unease enveloped our small group.

As I glanced at Shinazugawa, I couldn't help but notice an extra layer of anger etched on his usually stern face. Memories of our heated argument from the day before about my brother lingered in my mind. The worry for Kaigaku still weighed on me; his knack for getting into trouble was a constant concern.

Shinazugawa's reaction to the Kaigaku situation baffled me. Why had he exploded with such fury? The tension between us was palpable, and now, on this mission, his demeanor was anything but friendly. He hadn't exchanged a single word or glance with neither Tengen nor me.

I saw Tengen exchange glances between Shinazugawa and me. He didn't take long to ask, "I sense a growing tension in the air that is anything but flamboyant. Has something happened between you two?"

"You better shut your mouth before I break it," grumbled Shinazugawa, not even bothering to look at him. The veins on his forehead were swollen again.

Tengen couldn't help but furrow his brow, offended. "You woke up on the wrong side of the bed today, huh? I remind you that you're talking to the great God, Tengen Uzui; show a little respect."

Shinazugawa let out a snort. "I'm not in the mood for your bullshit."

"And that's exactly why you'll never get a wife," Tengen asserted, displaying a triumphant smile. As if having three wives made him unstoppable and majestic.

"As if I care," Shinazugawa growled again.

Before Tengen could respond, I stepped in to say, "Let's focus on the mission."

Shinazugawa nodded, still with a grim expression. "I'll go ahead. By the time you two arrive, I'll have finished off all the fucking demons. You guys keep wasting time talking about princesses and Gods."