The two of them hadn't even stepped out of the Butterfly Estate when the Kakushi arrived, dragging along a group of injured swordsmen.
Shinobu had to stop and tend to the wounded first. Several of them had bizarre symptoms caused by demon Blood Demon Arts.
Among the group, Yuko spotted two familiar figures—
the three little brats were finally together again.
By the time Shinobu finished arranging the patients, dawn was breaking.
When they arrived at the Master's residence, Yuko noticed that none of the other Hashira were present yet. Ubuyashiki Kagaya seemed to be waiting specifically for her.
Beside him stood two white-haired girls, doll-like in appearance.
Pretty—but with an uncanny, unsettling aura that didn't feel human.
They were his daughters.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya had four daughters and one son.
"Lady Yuko, you must have heard from Shinobu already."
With a gentle smile, Kagaya greeted her.
"The child you took an interest in, Kamado Tanjiro…"
"In the battle on Mount Natagumo, he successfully slew Lower Rank Five of the Twelve Kizuki."
Although Yuko had never directly told Kagaya about Tanjiro, she had mentioned the successor of Sun Breathing. She'd also taken the Master's referral letter to send Tanjiro to Urokodaki.
For Kagaya, finding Tanjiro wasn't difficult.
The child Yuko took an interest in?
The rumored newcomer who slew a Lower Rank…
So he was Yuko's protégé?
Shinobu, who had never heard anything about this from Yuko, turned slightly, unable to hide her curiosity.
Yuko gave a small, calm smile. "Yes… honestly, I'm surprised as well."
On the way here, she had been wondering what title Tanjiro would receive.
Sun Hashira?
She almost couldn't hold back a laugh.
Even Yoriichi never had such a title.
Imagining it was both amusing…
and painfully nostalgic.
Her smile slowly dimmed.
"About that child's sister who became a demon…" Kagaya continued gently, guiding the topic. "Urokodaki and Giyu have jointly submitted a letter of guarantee."
A demon sister?
Shinobu felt like the world had become foreign.
Ever since meeting Yuko, she kept encountering kind demons—something she would have once considered impossible.
Previously, she never would have believed a demon could be good.
But now… she found she didn't feel disgust or fear at all.
Instead, she instinctively thought:
Any demon connected to Yuko must be a good person.
Yuko remained calm. "Yes, Nezuko is special. Since becoming a demon, she has never harmed a human. She has never even tasted human blood."
Never tasted blood?!
If the Master weren't present, Shinobu would have leapt to her feet.
There was… something she had always avoided asking.
Has Yuko… ever eaten a human?
…
Kagaya, already informed by Urokodaki's letter, nodded slowly.
"I trust you, Lady Yuko—and I trust Urokodaki and Giyu. But the Demon Slayer Corps' hatred toward demons runs deep."
"A verbal explanation alone will not satisfy everyone."
"So, at the semiannual Hashira Meeting, in the presence of all the Hashira, I plan to formally introduce you. Would that be acceptable?"
Yuko smiled gently.
"I would be delighted."
She had been waiting for this—
the era of the Taishō Hashira, now ten instead of nine.
Seeing her agreement, Kagaya's expression brightened.
At that moment, a voice called from outside.
"Master, we have brought Kamado Tanjiro. All Hashira have returned as well."
"And his sister has been placed in a sunless room, just as you instructed."
"Good. I understand."
Kagaya turned his empty-eyed gaze toward Yuko.
"Lady Yuko, please look after Nezuko for now."
"Then I'll take my leave."
Yuko bowed and exited without hesitation.
Shinobu followed her out, asking, "So that newcomer is your protégé?"
"No. At most he's half a disciple… also—"
Yuko walked down the corridor.
"Protégé? That's a Hashira term, isn't it?"
"Isn't Yuko a Hashira?"
Of course she wasn't.
Yuko blinked at her before realizing Shinobu must be asking about her past.
Still—
"No. I'm not."
And she truly wasn't.
She may have reached Hashira-level strength, but after first mastering Snow Breathing, she got taken out immediately. Her two older brothers had physically carried her off the frontlines—chair and all.
She had become logistic support before she ever had a chance at becoming a Hashira.
Shinobu parted her lips to respond, but before she could speak, they stepped into the courtyard.
Several gazes shot toward them at once.
"Namu Amida Butsu~"
"Whoa—who's that with little Shinobu? Such a beauty~ I wanna meet her~"
"Heh~ marvelous patterns. Not quite as glamorous as mine, but close enough."
"Mm! Spirited!"
"What was that cloud lady's name again?"
"Who's that woman?"
"…"
"Little Shinobu…"
Among the crowd, the young woman who resembled Shinobu—her older sister Kanae—had been about to greet her. But when she noticed who was standing beside Shinobu, her eyes widened slightly.
Yuko had intended to observe the Hashira for a moment, but when she noticed Tanjiro tied up on the ground, she fell silent.
What… strange play are these people acting out?
Shinobu waved at her sister and turned.
"Yuko, I'm going to go greet my sister."
"…All right."
Yuko hesitated, then walked away under the watchful eyes of the entire Hashira assembly.
"Um…"
Kanae reached out, but couldn't call her back in time.
…
Yuko reached the room near the courtyard corner. Inside was the wooden box containing Nezuko.
The Kakushi assigned to guard her shrank into a corner, trembling violently.
He had no idea why he was chosen to guard a demon of all things.
"Lady Yuko!"
When he saw her enter, he nearly cried with relief.
A savior had finally arrived.
Yuko nodded in acknowledgment.
During her time with the Corps, she hadn't interacted much with the other Hashira, but the Kakushi frequently delivered injured swordsmen to the Butterfly Estate. Over time, they learned she was a guest there.
Sometimes they even saw her spar with Lady Shinobu—
and overwhelm her every time.
Yuko crouched before the box and opened it.
The Kakushi flinched hard.
Inside, curled up and sleeping softly, was Nezuko.
Mm. Quite cute.
She seemed to be in a state of deep recovery—
no wonder, after the battle on Natagumo Mountain.
Yuko was just about to close the box when a dark shadow suddenly stretched into the room.
"Wind Hashira-sama!"
the Kakushi yelped in panic.
Yuko looked up to see a man covered in scars, with a menacing, almost villainous face standing at the entrance.
Shinazugawa Sanemi stepped straight toward her with unerring focus.
Yuko lifted her eyes to meet his.
Though he looked intimidating enough to pass for a villain, as one of the Taishō-era Hashira, he was probably someone who only looked scary but had a decent—
"…Hm?"
Yuko's brows rose.
She grabbed his wrist in one swift motion, staring up at him.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Sanemi froze, stunned that someone could react quickly enough to stop him.
Then his expression twisted.
"There's a demon in that box, isn't there?"
Yuko: "…"
He IS a villain.
This guy is absolutely a villain.
Who looks that deranged and isn't?
"Yes," she replied flatly.
"Good."
Sanemi grinned viciously and reached for the box.
---
Currently at chapter 423 for advance chapters
https:// ko-fi.com/rabi08