Time has been really flying. She don't know how but one week has passed. Yes. One week since she grew her army to now three demons. Reader had a great time with demon slayers who accompanied Rengoku san and him.
Talking about Rengoku san, the way she catched up changes took place in last 4 years is.... interesting. She mean a lot happened apparently as he told her. Two new Hashiras has arrived. Firstly, shinobu chan is now a hasira. An insect hashira.
Other one is Tokito muichiro. A mist hashira. He is only 14 year old. Can anyone believe? She can't really believe the amount of talent and dedication some childs have. Well, not only him but every single child who leave their dreams and childhood behind them. Just to protect and fight for other people is so rare and heart warming.
Now she is standing in front of demon slayer corporation headquarter's gate with her group of fellow demons and demon slayers. Pretty ironic how she is fellow demon for demons and demon slayer for demon slayers at same time.
To be honest, she is nervous. She won't admit as she pulled herself together while wearing that nonchalant mask she always does. It's evening as moon took place of sun in sky. She have mix feelings.
Fear of getting hated by people she loves. Exitement of meeting her loved one after four years. Nervousness of not being able explain herself. Uncertainty of being given choices between her fellow Hashira or Douma.
But all this is deep in her heart, away from everyone's gaze and understanding. She does feel a lot. But she is afraid of showing this things to anyone. Douma? She could have but he is struggling with his own. It's better to leave him for now.
"Let's go." She beamed with bright smile on her face. "You must be excited. Am i right Reader chan?" Flame hashira let his loud voice ring in air. She nodded enthusiastically ignoring other uncertainty she feels right now.
"Tanjiro, Inosuke and Zenitsu kun." They all looked forward to face Reader. "You all should head to butterfly mansion. Well, i will see you all around if we have chances. For now, we must attend a meeting with Oyokatasama."
Tanjiro and other looked uncertain. She wasn't really sure about Inosuke though as she couldn't see his face. But, they seemed to understand gravity of situations. They went on to bid their goodbyes and wished her and her demons best.
"Akaza san, Enmu san and Douma." They all now were attentively listening to her all for different reasons. Enmu was more fascinated by Reader's unreadable demeanor and personality switch ups. Akaza was more likely to grab command and act upon it proving his loyalty in every step.
Lastly, Douma. Well, Douma never really shifted his Focus anywhere else to begin with. He knows one thing and feels that very thing 'Unshakeable love towards Reader'. Surely, it confuses him every step. But, can he help the way he feels?
Even if he can, he simply doesn't want to. This is the very thing he wanted. To feel something and anything. Look at his luck, he found her. Reader. Precious out of precious. How can he decorate his feelings in mere words?
Because, he doesn't understand the intensity and value of her in his life. Is there any way to measure it? He is afraid any measurement tool is useless and won't give him the answer.
"Listen to me, you all have to follow every command given by Oyokatasama. He will be having second authority on you. Secondly, try to act polite as possible. Leave some good impression." They nodded in agreement.
"Let's go then. Rengoku san please lead." Flame hashira nodded and lead them to the head quarter's main hall. Reader and her demons followed behind him. Douma was carrying all the luggage they were travelling with.
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Reader stood in open ground's one side while other hashira's glare at her with scrutinised, harsh and questionable gaze. Oyokatasama was also present with his two children either side of him. All her demon stands beside her.
"I don't beleive her at all. No way she is telling us truth. I smell some huge conspiracy." Sanemi kun let out his accusation. Reader looked at him dumbfounded. "What conspiracy can i possibly have in my mind?"
"You can be possibly with Muzan. You are just here to make us fool while you pass on every information to him." Igoru san accused. "And why would i be with him? What benefit i can have?" Igoru san just shrugged.
"Immortality like he have or anything other precious thing." Sanemi kun sounded unsure about her benefit but sure of her involvement in some sort of conspiracy. Reader scoffed at the benefits he counted.
"Well, i was demon from birth. It just didn't showed up till four years ago. So Immortality is something he won't have to offer to me. Other than that, i can walk in sun just fine while he or his any demon can't. Other precious thing like what? money? I am more richer than anyone present here not to brag and that muzan guy don't have any money at all. I can buy any luxury i want." She shrugged.
Everyone fell silent. "Why are you here then?" Shinobu chan asked while frowning and anger evident in her voice. "Shinobu chan, i am still Ice hashira you see. I have to still serve my duties. I have to fulfil my part of duty which is to defeat Muzan."
"What a pity. I am finding it hard to believe that Reader san was demon all along. But, i don't feel any bad intentions from her." Gyomei san rolled beads in his hand while crying. "I swear, i just want to help demon slayer corporation with my all."
"What about those three out of twelve kizuki? How can we accept them?" Tengen san asked. "I have to just say that all these demon are under my control and can't betray me even if they want to. So, you don't have to worry about them." She felt little tired of repeating herself again and again but didn't let it show.
"That tall demon is the same one we fought together, right?" Kanae chan asked while pointing toward Douma. Reader nodded and confirmed. "He is Douma. Former Upper moon 2. But, he is not a threat for us anymore." Sanemi kun scoffed and glared at Douma like he will rip him apart.
Reader was not really offended even a little. She was expecting all this. She really can't blame them can she? She would also react the same if she was in there place. But, what hurt the most is silence. Silence of Mitsuri chan and Giyu kun.
Well, mostly Giyu kun. Is he mad at her? Does he hate her? Why isn't he questioning her? Worst he isn't even looking at her. He is looking down on mud rather than at her. She wants him to shout at her or question her. Anything but Just make conversation to her.
Accusation of everyone grew with time. Every one had different concerns. Only Giyu kun, Mitsuri Chan, Gyomei san and Tokito san was silent. It was now chaos. Noise was growing more and more. She couldn't even make out what anyone is saying anymore.
While she was dealing with accusation and fighting verbally to let her demons live, they were in their own world. Akaza san was pissed off by mere presence of Douma. Douma would be making conversation with Enmu san and Akaza san. Akaza san would straight up ignores Douma and he would pout.
"Shhh." With that one shush every noise was dead. Oyokatasama made his one of the daughters read aloud every letter exchange between her and him. With every letter Sanemi kun's and Igoru san's eyes grew darker. It will be hard. She knows.
"With that i want you all to understand the situation we all are in. It's a lot to ask my childs, i know. But, accept Ice hashira and her demon as your comrades." Despite every words of Oyokatasama hesitation was still there.
"How can i trust her? Why is she even standing there alive? Let's just excute her immediately." As soon as those words left Sanemi kun's mouth, Demons took defensive position ready to protect their master. "And how exactly will you do that?"
"What do you mean?" Igoru san hissed. "I mean, i don't get burnt in sun so nichirin blades are just useless on me. Even if you cut my head off i can regenerate it." She again shrugged. That ticked both Sanemi kun and Igoru san off.
"I have said this earlier. You have two benefits after accepting me. First being additional help in muzan's defeat. Second being loss of Muzan on his kizuki's. With my blood i can turn every important demon into one of me. They don't even eat humans now."
"And what about the humans they have consumed till this date? How can we forget their sins?" Gyomei san asked. "Gyomei san, i genuinely can't do anything about that. Even though i know it is hard to neglect those humans suffering and pain, still we don't have any option."
"Why do you think we will accept them? What other genuine benefit we can have? Additional help is just fine and we won't care if we don't have that." Uzui san asked confused. She just smiled. "You have two more benefits. One of it is something just i can help you all with."
"And that is?" Shinobu chan scoffed. "Well, you see i have a lot of information about Muzan and his hideout. How he is hiding from thousand of year? I know all. Secondly, some tips have forwaded to japanese government about this corporation by someone."
"I have already told you that i was influencing figure in China. I have also flourished my business's roots in japan. You can say that i can help taking care of that. If once investigation is launched then it will be very hard for each one of us as this whole thing is illegal in government's eyes. Child labour, unauthorised weapon usage, unlicensed medical practice, threat on children's life, etc."
"What? Is this true?" Kanae chan asked. Reader nodded. "You didn't informed them. Did you?" Tengen san asked. "Tchh. Don't you have any faith in me? Those three slayers from earlier mission had more faith in me than you all." Reader rolled her eyes.
"I don't think she will do anything like that. I genuinely think she doesn't have any ill intentions." Rengoku san stated loudly. "Thank you. Only you get me, Rengoku san. You are the best." Reader smiled at him.
"I think, she had made her intentions very clear. Hence, i accept her. I hope you all will also soon." With that Oyokatasama left the meeting with his daughters while everyone bowed including her demons. Most hashira left the scene immediately.
Which includes Sanemi kun, Gyomei san, Mitsuri Chan, Shinobu chan, Kanae chan, Igoru san, Muichiro san. Sanemi san and igoru san left only after giving her direct threat. She just smiled at them not taking any offence.
Only person left there was Giyu kun, Rengoku san, Tengen san and her demons. "Well, it's wierd interaction we had earlier. But, you are more flashy than i last remember." Tengen san complimented.
"Thanks. You are also flashy as ever." Tengen san just hit one pose and smiled brightly. "I know." With that he left. "Rengoku san, Thanks for support. I won't let you disappointed in me." Rengoku san beamed more and let his loud laugh ring in air.
"Now i should be heading back. Senjoru must be waiting for me." She nodded. "You should. Let him know that i was thinking about him. It's been years since i last saw him. I will visit your estate if i have chance." With that he left also.
Now only Giyu kun, Douma, Akaza san and Enmu san is left with her. Giyu kun was still not making eye contact. "Giyu kun? I am so sorry. You must be very disappointed on me. You must hate me. Don't you?" Finally he made eye contact.
His blue eyes were all watery. "W-why are you crying? Giyu kun are you ok? What happened?" Giyu kun didn't waste any time and embraced her in his arm. He started crying louder this time.
"Why? Why didn't you contact me? You know, how scared i was? I thought something happened to you. You know, how lonely i was? I missed you. I missed you and your talk every day." Reader patted his back.
"I am sorry, Giyu kun. But, i couldn't. I am so sorry, you felt lonely. Situations were so intense i couldn't at all. You have every right to be angry. I am so so sorry." She was also tearing up. Her voice barely above whisper scared it will crack anytime.
While they both were having this heartfelt reunion. Douma was about to crash their hug only Enmu and Akaza holding him back. He was feeling really unpleasing that this hashira is hugging his Reader chan. How unpleasing.
Soon, they both calmed down and Reader invited Giyu kun to her Ice estate. He agreed. They all started following her to take them all to her long abandoned Ice estate. God knows how dusty it will be. They have to work a lot there.
