The Upper Ranks (KNY X HxH)

Chapter 21

Gon paced, raking his hands through his wiry black hair in frustration. "Gon-" He turned to look at Tanjiro with a huff. "Yes?" Tanjiro let out a sigh. "You've been doing that for the past fifteen minutes.." Nothing was working. It had been three whole weeks since he'd found Killua. And he wasn't improving in the slightest. He was still the same empty shell he'd been when he first saw him tearing the flesh off that woman. Nearly a month, and no progress. "You need rest, you've barely slept." Tanjiro worried, placing a soft hand on his shoulder. Gon's fists shook as he clenched them, teeth gritting. "No..." He whispered. Tanjiro went to speak, but Gon spoke over him

"I can figure something out." He said firmly. He'd try his damn hardest, even if it killed him in the end. He'd rather die than let Killua continue down that path. Tanjiro sighed. "well, we're being summoned to the Ubuyashiki Estate today..." He said, with a nervous gulp. Gon blinked, glancing up at him. "What's that?" He felt like he'd heard the name in passing before, but he couldn't recall much. Tanjiro looked down at him with a conflicted expression. "Demon slayer headquarters. Its where the Hashira meet and stuff. It's not all that hard to guess what this meeting is about I'm sure." It must be about Killua...

"Well, technically it was just me who were summoned but I thought I'd be better to bring you as well." Tanjiro admitted. Gon nodded, grabbing one of his knife sheaths and slinging it around his hip. "Alright, I'm ready." Tanjiro glanced at Gon briefly. "Let me do the talking, alright? You aren't even technically supposed to be there so you might be asked to leave. If you are, don't try to argue it." Gon looked away, teeth gritting. "Fine..." He wasn't certain if he was telling the truth, what would Gon do if he was asked to leave?

They struck out for the mansion early in the morning, which ordinarily would've been relaxing due to the scenic view. However, with so much on the two's minds there was no time for them to enjoy themselves. Upon their arrival, the two were met with hostile looks from the many Kakushi that were wandering around. Tanjiro looked extremely uncomfortable, and nervous. However Gon kept his head level. Maybe I can get the Hashira on my side with this, it would be a benefit to them if I manage to pull it off anyways. He thought hopefully. As they neared a clearing, Tanjiro held his hand up for Gon to stay back.

Gon would've preferred to meet with the Hashira himself, but be obliged. At least, for a minute or two. He activated Zetsu and crept forward, scaling a tree and peering down below as he observed the meeting. There were eleven people standing there. Two of them seemed to be children, and the man standing between them was definitely the Master. The other eight were the Hashira. His eyes widened as he watched a man with silver hair and an aggressive aura slam Tanjiro into the ground, pinning him there. He wasn't the only one looking at Tanjiro with hostility, it was every single one of them. What the hell? Gon thought.

"I say we should really execute him this time. It's one thing to house a friendly demon, entirely another to be friendly with one of the upper moons." The silver haired man snarled, reaching for the sword on his hip. Execute? Gon thought, with alarm. Were they really going to kill him? "Wait! Its...more complicated than that." Tanjiro protested. "Quiet, I don't wanna hear it from you." A shorter man, with a snake wrapping around his shoulders hissed. "Wait, let him speak." The master spoke, soothingly. "Tell me, Tanjiro. What could possibly be happening, that could justify your actions?"

Now was Gon's chance. He deactivated Zetsu, and immediately Tanjiro stiffened as he caught his scent. Gon leapt down from the tree, and immediately all twelve pairs of eyes snapped in his direction. "Gon I told you to wait outside..!" Tanjiro bit out, teeth gritting. Gon took a deep breath, staring the Master dead in the eye. From the look of it, he couldn't see. But that didn't really matter. However the next words that came out of his mouth, made Gon stop in his tracks. "Ah, Gon Freecss. I was expecting you."

Gon blinked, and he felt his own hostility subside ever so slightly. "You...know who I am?" The Master didn't answer his question, he simply smiled. "Welcome, my child. I believe you have the answers to the questions that burn so deeply in our minds. Why it has been-" Gon stood firmly, raising his head high as he spoke over the Master "His name is Killua. And he's not an it." There was a beat of tense silence, he felt all of the eyes boring into his back as the Master spoke. "You speak of upper moon one as if it...he, is a loved one." The master spoke softly. Gon drew in a breath. This was his chance. "Killua is my best friend. He might not remember himself, or who I am, but I know I can get him back." He clenched his fists. "I've already made progress, I convinced him not to eat humans...anymore." He said the last word slowly, his voice faltering slightly. He didn't want to think about Killua eating people.

"So he has eaten humans before? That is reason enough to decapitate him. Is it not?" The silver haired man said harshly, drawing his katana. "How exactly did you convince him to stop, is my question?" One of the woman spoke, her purple eyes locking on Gon's with thinly veiled suspicion. Gon nodded. "Well, he doesn't think like the other demons do. He's more...like a machine, than a monster. His concerns are with doing what he's told the most efficiently. I managed to convince him that devouring his own kind would make him stronger than preying on humans. Which at the very least can help the demon slayer corps by taking out many monsters who would've otherwise eaten people." 

The silence that followed was extremely uncomfortable, Gon gulped nervously as he saw the disturbed expressions of the faces around him. " I've established myself as a friend to him, which..appeals to him, for some reason. I don't really know why yet, but it works. He...listens to me."

"What utter nonsense, a demon obeying a human is an absurd enough of a concept, but an upper moon? Upper moon one?" the silver haired man spat once more. Tanjiro grunted from his place on the floor. "it's true! I've seen it with my own eyes. It's the only reason I allowed it to happen in the first place" Then he sighed. "Not like I really...had much of a choice in the matter." The Master cleared his throat, and all eyes went to him. "Well this is indeed interesting." He said softly, deep in thought. "You have a single month, to prove that your mission has merit. If you cannot, then both you and the demon will be killed."

Gon gritted his teeth, a month wasn't all that long compared to what he was trying to do. And who the hell even knew what counted as tangible results. "Deal." He said firmly. Although as the words slipped from his mouth, he felt his heart thudding in his chest. Both his and killua's lives hung in the balance, and possibly Tanjiro's as well. He slowly lowered his head, staring down at the ground as he contemplated the journey ahead of him.

I already lost Kite, I can't lose you too Killua...

1280 words

To Be Continued...

Hey shippers! it has been a uh, very long time since this has last updated. I apologize if any small details are forgotten, and for how long you had to wait for this to come out. My vision for the book has changed with time, but I hope you will enjoy nonetheless!