Alright then. We'll take Kamado-kun to my estate," Shinobu said in a neutral tone, her eyes unreadable behind her firm expression.
"Take him away. Don't waste time," she added, her voice gaining a chilling finality.
"Excuse us for before!!" two of the four Kakushi cried out, their heads low with shame as they rushed forward. One of them carefully lifted Tanjiro onto his back, while the other gently secured Nezuko, now resting silently inside her box.
As they began to move, Tanjiro turned his head, eyes filled with worry and fear. He looked back at Willow, who still sat restrained on her knees, bound by thick ropes and a cloth gag. His voice caught in his throat—he wanted to scream, to protest, but the pain in his body and the uncertainty of his situation kept him silent.
"Tanjiro," Oyakata-sama called softly.
Tanjiro turned to face him.
"Give my regards to Tamayo-san."
Tanjiro blinked in surprise, then the Kakushi carried him and Nezuko away, disappearing from view.
The atmosphere shifted. The Hashira now turned their full attention to the restrained girl in the shade of the engawa.
Oyakata-sama's tone turned solemn. "Now, the trial of Willow Tsugikuni and her demons will begin."
The Hashira all straightened at once. The sunlight glimmered on them, casting long shadows on the gravel as they were sitting down with mixed expressions—some skeptical, others curious, and a few visibly uneasy.
"I'll say it clearly," Sanemi snapped. "We can't afford to trust a demon, let alone one who drags around two more like it's some kind of family reunion."
"She protected a Twelve Kizuki," Obanai hissed. "That alone is grounds for death."
Tengen folded his arms with a flamboyant hum. "Two demons on our side?... sounds flashy, but is it worth the risk?"
Gyomei remained silent, tears streaming quietly down his cheeks.
Mitsuri bit her lip, clutching the ends of her sleeves. "She… she doesn't seem bad…"
Muichiro blinked slowly, clouded thoughts swirling behind his vacant expression.
"She could have run. But she stayed," Giyu said simply, his voice firm.
Oyakata-sama nodded, listening to each of them speak before gently raising a hand. They all fell silent.
"I accept Willow Tsugikuni under my protection," he said. "I wish to hear her story directly."
One of his daughters speaked forward, her voice delicate yet firm. "Father, she is currently restrained. She cannot speak."
Oyakata-sama tilted his head slightly, expression pained. "Ah… That is my mistake. Willow Tsugikuni should be free to speak in her defense. Kakushi, please—untie her."
The two remaining Kakushi hesitated for a moment, then rushed forward. They gently untied the ropes binding Willow's arms and legs and carefully removed the cloth gag from her mouth.
"Thank you," Willow murmured hoarsely, flexing her wrists as the pain of being bound began to fade. The Kakushi placed two large burlap sacks beside her—her companions. Kokushibo and Rui.
The Kakushi immediately backed far away, fear in their eyes.
Willow's expression faltered. That look. That fear. It still haunted her. But she quickly composed herself and turned to Oyakata-sama, bowing low. "Thank you for giving me a chance to speak."
Oyakata-sama nodded again. "Before you begin… may I ask what you look like?"
His daughter answered for him. "Willow is an average-sized woman, with shoulder-length black hair that fades into a maroon color. Her skin tone is tan, and she has purple eyes with cat-like pupils. Her haori, despite the blood stains, is an ombre of deep purple and pink. Both sleeves are adorned with a serpent-like golden dragon, the cuffs edged in delicate golden flames. Golden scales fade toward the bottom, and the back is decorated with flowing golden clouds, centered around a lotus flower enclosed by a circle."
"I see," Oyakata-sama said softly. "Thank you. Now, Willow Tsugikuni… please begin your story."
Willow took a deep breath. "Okay…"
She looked up at the Hashira, then back at Oyakata-sama. "I was born from the union of a human woman and a demon—Kokushibo, formerly Upper Moon One."
Sanemi's fingers twitched. Gasps spread across the Hashira like wildfire, but none interrupted.
Willow continued. "He fell in love with my mother. And then… they had me. I am a half-demon. When I was three, a village nearby learned the truth about my father. They came with pitchforks, blades, and fire. My mother told him to run with me… while she stayed behind to give us a chance."
The air turned tense. She went on.
"We ran. But when my father looked back… the house was burning. My mother was inside."
A silence fell across the yard. Only the gentle chirping of distant birds remained.
"For fourteen years, my father and I moved constantly—from caves to ruins. We avoided demons and Demon Slayers alike. We lived… quietly. But our peace shattered when Muzan Kibutsuji found us."
The name alone made most of the Hashira's expressions twist.
"Muzan tried to take me. My father stepped in, but because of his connection to Muzan… he collapsed. Muzan manipulated his cells—punishing him for defiance. Then… the floor gave out beneath us. I believe Muzan transported us to his lair."
Willow's voice trembled slightly, but she didn't stop.
"The place was like an endless labyrinth of wood—walls, corridors, doors that moved. Muzan… he mutated his arm into something grotesque to try and grab me. He asked if I was immune to sunlight. I said I didn't know. He got angry. Threatened me and my father."
Willow's hands balled into fists in her lap.
"At that moment, my Blood Demon Art awakened. A serpent dragon made of blood burst from the ground and chomped Muzan's body almost completely off, severing the arm that held me. It gave me enough time to grab my father and try to escape."
She paused. "The next part is a blur. But we ended up in a cave. I unlocked another Blood Demon Art that severed Muzan's control over my father. But… the trauma left him in a coma for two years."
"I decided I wouldn't live in fear. My father had once been a Demon Slayer. I would follow that path. But first, I had to know… if I was immune to the sun."
Everyone leaned in.
"I reached out into the morning light… and it didn't burn."
The Hashira were stone-still.
"So, I trained for two years. I forged my style—Dragon Breathing. I learned to fight. My qoal is to be strong enough to protect my father… and others like Rui."
"Rui?" Iguro said sharply.
Willow nodded. "Yes. He remembered who he was. He didn't choose this. I saved him… because I saw myself in him."
Silence lingered, thick and heavy.
Oyakata-sama finally broke it. "You are brave for being here. Despite your past, despite your pain… you chose to fight for others."
The Hashira whispered amongst themselves before offering input.
"She has a strong will," Giyu said simply.
"I still don't trust her," Sanemi grunted, arms crossed.
"Unorthodox… but I admire her flash," Tengen added.
"She's been through so much," Mitsuri said softly. "She deserves a chance."
"She's endured so much…" Gyomei whispered, hands folded in prayer.
"Very well," Oyakata-sama said. "Willow. Please, open the bags."
Willow nodded and gently undid the burlap sacks. Kokushibo emerged, now returned to his full form, standing tall. Rui sat up slowly, blinking with confusion.
"Are you both okay?" Willow asked.
Kokushibo nodded. "Yes."
Rui gave a small, quiet nod. "Yes…"
"Shinazugawa," Oyakata-sama said. "Begin the test. But do not harm yourself too much."
Sanemi smirked. "Let's see what they really are."
He drew his blade and slashed his arm, blood dripping to the floor if the room.
The scent filled the air. Kokushibo closed his eyes and calmly said, "I no longer desire human flesh… I gave that up… when I fell in love with… my late wife."
Mitsuri's breath caught, heart fluttering.
Rui turned to Willow, then looked back at Sanemi. "I don't want to hurt anyone anymore. I want to learn from Willow. I want to understand what true bonds are."
Shock rippled across the Hashira again.
"…Then this is a sign," Oyakata-sama said. "A sign of redemption."
He turned. "Hashira. Do you accept them?"
One by one, they nodded. Some with hesitation, some with confidence.
Willow breathed out in relief.
Shinobu stepped forward. "Alright. If everything's settled, take Willow and her demons to my estate. And make sure my big sister sees Willow personally." She clapped her hands. "Take her away."
The Kakushi stepped forward. One lifted Willow. The other carried the sacks now sealed with Kokushibo and Rui.
As they carried her, Willow looked back and wondered.
Big sister? she thought. Does that mean… Kanae is alive? But how? Is that why Shinobu has been acting so odd?
They entered the Butterfly Estate.
The Kakushi carrying the demons nodded. "I'll place them with the Kamado siblings."
"Thank you," Willow said.
The other Kakushi shifted her weight. "I'm taking you to Kanae Kocho-sama now."
"Kanae… alive…? " Willow's heart raced.
They stopped at a door. The Kakushi knocked, then entered. Sitting inside was a kind woman with soft eyes and long, flowing hair—Kanae Kocho.
"You must be Willow," she said gently. "Please, seat her beside my desk."
The Kakushi placed Willow into the chair and bowed, quietly exiting and closing the door behind them.
Time passed.
Willow now lay in a soft bed, wrapped in a recovery uniform, her wounds bandaged. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke were asleep in nearby beds. Kokushibo and Rui lay in beds in a shaded area across the room, safe from the sun.
Kanae had tended to her, speaking gently, asking questions about herself. Willow had answered truthfully. Also Willow was able to use Her BDA: Crimson Conquest to sever Rui from Muzan.
She finally looked at her stats.
WILLOW TSUGIKUNI
SPECIES: Half Demon (Variant – Sun-Immune)
TITLE: The Wanderer
AGE: 19
Level: 15/90
STATS /ATTRIBUTES:
Attack: 72
Defense: 56
Speed: 64
Stamina: 50
Blood Demon Arts: 15/90
(-) ~ Passive skill- Because of your BDA, your blood can be used as acid to demons not overridden by your cells.
(-) BLOOD DEMON ARTS (Can be amplified by The System)
• Crimson Conquest – Overrides Muzan's demon cells with Willow's, breaking his control. Passively acts as an acid against demons not under its influence.
* Modified Version- Can control a demon temporarily. Drawback: Uses most of Stamina.
• Vermilion Dragons – Creates blood dragons of various sizes, from small crow-like scouts to massive draconic titans.
* Modified Version- ??? Drawback: ???
• Ancient Revival – ???
*Modified Version- Can recover a demon's past memories. Drawback: Demon becomes confused and disoriented. Worst case: hostility.
Then she looked at her attributes.
STATS/ ATTRIBUTES :
Intelligence – 100Wisdom – 32 Charisma – 60
Now, at last, she could rest.
For now… she was safe.