I'll Protect You, I Promise

Chapter 4: The Chapter Where Yoriichi Is Interrupted Too Many Times

A new messaging system had been implemented. Apparently dubbed the "Kasugai Crow Network". That wasn't quite important as of now. That was because one of these new "Kasugai Crows" was screaming in his ear. Oh dear, at this point, I'll actually be deaf, Yoriichi thought.

"CAW, CAW, TSUGIKUNI YORIICHI ALONG WITH ALL OTHER HASHIRA ARE SUMMONED TO THE UBUYASHIKI ESTATE, CAW!"

Is it over? Yoriichi slowly released his hands from over Tanjiro's ears. He didn't quite understand all of the intricacies of parenting, but he was pretty sure he shouldn't expose a baby to such loud noises.

"GET A MOVE ON, CAW!" It wasn't over.

"I'm moving"

"NOT FAST ENOUGH, CA-"

"There's a baby here," Yoriichi interjected. That seemed to calm the crow down, or at least make it stop screaming.

Yoriichi started to gather a few things, before some babbling interrupted his thoughts. Tanjiro, It would probably be very irresponsible of him to leave Tanjiro alone. That didn't stop my father, no, right now he needed to focus on Tanjiro... and the meeting. Going towards the kitchen, he decided to get some food and water for the baby, the meeting was bound to be a long one.

"WHAT... What are you doing? CAW!"

"Getting food"

"CAW, DON'T KEEP THE MASTER WAITING!" That crow was persistent, but he supposed that was its job... to be persistent.

That seemed to be enough, Yoriichi thought. Going back to the previous room, Yoriichi picked Tanjiro up and started to secure him on his back.

"CA-"

"I'm ready, no need to scream." Yoriichi said as he slid open the door and started to walk out, the Crow following close behind.

~~~

Yoriichi was the first to arrive, thankfully. He hadn't initially thought of the potential question the other Hashira would have, but now... now it was the only thing he could think of, they'd most likely ask about his mother, where she was. It made Yoriichi rather somber, but once again, Tanjiro had interrupted his thoughts.

"Chichi!"

"What is it?" Yoriichi responded

"Bird!"

Looking towards Tanjiro's extended finger, Yoriichi didn't find a bird, but instead a cluster of butterflies. Yoriichi watched briefly before turning back to him.

"That's not a bird, it's a butterfly," he said softly.

"Bubberfly?

"Butterfly."

"Budburfly!"

Yoriichi sighed, "close enough, you don't need to know how to say everything anyways." Tanjiro seemed rather confused towards Yoriichi's remark, deciding to play with the butterflies that had gotten closer to them. But Yoriichi could only enjoy the peace for a minute longer before the Flame Hashira had entered the courtyard.

"Tsugikuni-san!" The Flame Hashira exclaimed "It's good to see you again!"

He seemed to not have noticed Tanjiro yet, still it's just a matter of time until he does notice. Yoriichi began to open his mouth to respond, but before he could get anything out, his colleague interrupted him.

"Oh... Is that... a baby?"

"Ye-"

"Rengoku-san! Why did you leave me and Mizuhara behind!" The Rumble Hashira exclaimed. "Oh, hello Tsugikuni-sama, I see that you're already here."

Yoriichi nodded, deciding not to speak. Especially because it seems that it's everyone's mission today to try and interrupt him as many times as possible. As if he had predicted it, one more person had interrupted his thoughts, as it seems that the rest of the Hashira have arrived.

"KAMINARI, RENGOKU!" The two in question immediately froze in place. It seems that the pair have incurred the Water Hashira's wrath.

As the three bickered, Yoriichi absentmindedly combed through Tanjiro's hair, looking around the courtyard. I wonder what this meeting is about? It surely would have to be about our duties as Hashira, it is still a fairly new position. Looking back towards the three yelling Hashiras, he noticed that they seemed to have actually started fighting, well at least the Rumble and Water Hashiras. He would break them up, but they know better than to cause serious harm to each other. Plus, he wouldn't want to wake Tanjiro.

Thankfully for Yoriichi, he didn't have to move, as the Stone Hashira had dragged Kaminari and Mizuhara apart. He seemed to be scolding them as they kneeled on the ground in a pitiful position.

"Tsugikuni-sama," Yoriichi looked up towards the source of the voice.

"Yes Iwamoto-sama?" Yoriichi said, addressing the stone Hashira

"You don't have to refer to me with sama," The Stone Hashira commented, "what I was going to say was; why do you have a baby with you?"

Ah, That's when they ask. Opening his mouth, Yoriichi was finally able to speak, "This is my child, Tanjiro"

With that, the Hashira began to bombard them with questions. Rengoku was uncharacteristically silent, but that only made sense, with what he knows about my history, Yoriichi thought. All of the Hashira's voices overlapped with each other.

Until the Wind Hashira's voice overpowered the rest of them, "HEY!" The others all turned to him, "what happened to the boy's mother?"

Yoriichi Froze.

His...

Mother?

What Happened to her?

She must've loved him, his father too. Otherwise, he wouldn't be such a happy child...

Those adults... That were with him the day I found Tanjiro... they couldn't have been his parents...

Right?

~~~

A few minutes passed before Yoriichi snapped out of his thoughts. What seemed to help him out was Tanjiro, who was pulling at his Haori, staring at him with wide eyes.

"Hey Yoriichi-san," It was Rengoku who was talking to him, "are you okay? It's just that when Hayate-san asked you about the mother you kinda spaced out and started breathing heavily and yo-"

"It's okay, Rengoku-san." Yoriichi said, stopping Rengoku from talking anymore, "I'm fine."

Anything that the Flame Hashira would've wanted to say was put on hold, seeing that Oyakata-sama began to walk in.