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Chapter 29

Both of our foreheads were flicked painfully hard.
"Don't you say another word! We got yelled at because of you! You don't know how terrifying the Hashiras are! I'll never forgive you for as long as I live!"

She pinched my cheeks hard, stinging.
"I grew up with a Hashira! Give me a break!"

"We'll still never forgive you!"
"Never!"

"Apologize! Apologize!"

"I... I'm sorry..."

《•|•-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-•|•》

After the yelling stopped, we were brought to a large mansion, carried through the yard after nobody responded near the front door.
"I thought my mom was exaggerating when she'd tell me the Headquarters were huge, but this mansion is something else entirely."

"Your mom?"
Tanjiro asked.

"Mhm. She was the Sky Hashira before dying to a Twelve Kizuki years ago."

"The Sky Hashira? As in, The Sky Hashira?"
The male Kakushi asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"She was one of the nicest Hashira we ever interacted with!"

"...My mom was pretty great."
I smile, we were taken to a garden, butterflies starting to surround us.
Now that I think about it, wasn't this place called the Butterfly Mansion?

"Hey, there's someone."
I recognize the girl from earlier,.

"That would be... Uhm... Oh, right! The Tsuguko. Her name is-

"Tsuguko?
Tanjiro asks.

"Isn't a Tsuguko someone who's trained by Hashira?
I add.

"Mhm. That's Master Kanao Tsuyuri."

"Huh...? That's the girl from Final Selection."

"Hey, somebody's forgotten how they got stomped on by Master Kanao last night."

I chuckle.
"I thought you guys knocked him out because he was being loud."

"Hey..."
He pouted.

The female Kakushi walked over to the girl.
"Forgive us, Master Tsuyuri. We were ordered to come here by Master Kocho. Permission to enter the mansion?"

She said nothing, just smiling as a butterfly rested on her hand.

"Uh, do you mind?"

She closed her eyes, smiling wider.
"Y-You don't mind, do you?

We were all startled by a sudden loud voice, a girl behind us glaring our way.
"And who are you?"

"W-We were ordered by Master Kocho!"

She seemed to relax.
"Are you a Kakushi? You've brought injured then, right? Please, come this way."
She took us into the mansion, the long halls leading to a large room.

As we walked, a familiar voice became louder and clearer the closer we got, and through the doorway I see Zenitsu, in what appears to be perfect shape.
"So, that guy still seems to be making a commotion."

I ignore everything, jumping off of the Kakushi's back, ignoring the pain in my limbs as I run at Zenitsu, unable to hold in my joy.
"Zenitsu! Zenitsu, you're okay!!"

I tackle him in a tight hug, nuzzling his head in my shoulder.
"I was so worried, Zenitsu!

He was startled by my sudden movement, but once he realized who I was, he hugged me back tightly, crying in my arms.
"Y/N! Y/N, YOU'RE HERE! PLEASE HELP ME! I HAVE THIS HORRIBLE MEDICINE TO TAKE FIVE TIMES A DAY FOR THREE MONTHS! IT'S SO BITTER AND GROSS!"

I laugh, crying with relief.
"I missed your annoying hog-monkey screams too!"

"I AM NOT A HOG-MONKEY!"

"Zenitsu! Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself? So you did come up the mountain after all!"
Tanjiro asked, Zenitsu startled by his voice, but easing when we spoke more to him, still complaining about his medicine.

"T-Tanjiro..."
He cried again, clinging to the poor Kakushi.
"Tanjiro! Listen to me, will you? I got stung by this stinky spider, and the poison hurt like crazy, ok?! And that girl's been yelling at me the whole time! I hate my life!"

I pat his head.
"There, there now, Zenitsu. Just quiet down for me, ok? But, did you get smaller? I remember you were a little taller than this..."

He sniffled, snot and tears running down his face.
"I almost got turned into a spider... My arms and legs are really short now."

"I see. Wait! Where's Inosuke, though?! O-Or Murata?!"

"I don't know anyone named Murata. But Inosuke's right next to me."

I look over, and tear up again, Inosuke laying silently in bed.
"Inosuke!"
I didn't even notice him!

I get up and go over to him, hugging him as well, careful in case he might be hurt.
"I was so worried about you, pighead! I'm so sorry for abandoning you! I'm so sorry!"
I cry, wiping my own tears away.

"I was so scared back then! I thought we were gonna die!"
I chuckle as I sob, Tanjiro crying too.

"I'm so sorry I didn't come rescue you!"

When he spoke, his voice was even worse than before, hoarse and tired.
"It's okay. Don't worry about it."

"Inosuke... Your voice... Was it... Was it from that giant spider demon?"

He nodded, and I hug him again, surprised he didn't push me off.
"Gah! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry, Inosuke!"

"I heard he lost his voice or something. I don't have all the details, but I heard he got like... Hit in the neck, and when he yelled at the top of his lungs at the end, that finished it and did a number on his throat. He's depressed now, so it's made him really gentle, and it really cracks me up."

I glare at Zenitsu, making him squeak.
"Don't be mean."

"...I'm sorry for being so weak."
Inosuke spoke up, making me tense at his words.

"What?! No! Don't apologize! You were anything but weak, Inosuke!"
I hold his hand.
"You weren't the one to cower and run away! You weren't the one who abandoned their friend! You fought! And you were really brave! Even when we almost died, you didn't give up! So don't give up now! It's not like you to get depressed!"

Tanjiro and Zenitsu cheered him on too.

"I... I think you're really awesome, either way, Inosuke. I'll never be as brave as you. And I'm really happy you're alive!"

He seemed to perk up at that, slightly turning his head to me.

"What about you guys, though? I heard you got battered up really bad."
Zenitsu asked.

"Hmm. Sorta. I was almost dismembered."
I calmly tell him, lifting my arms and lowering my collar to show the messy and still healing wounds on my skin.

"YOU WHAT?!"
Tanjiro screamed too, taking in the wounds I had.

We all keep chatting, Tanjiro and I getting cleaned up and bandaged, offered clean and soft clothes to wear while we rest. I sit up in my bed, smiling as Zenitsu's snores fill the room.
I'm so happy they're okay.

"Y/N, Zenitsu, Inosuke... Thank the spirits. We all made it out alive."

《•|•-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-•|•》

By evening, Tanjiro and I brought Nezuko to her room, setting her box down gently, pulling the curtains to make it dark.
"It's ok to come out now, Nezuko."

Tanjiro moves to sit down on the bed, wincing.
"You ok?"

He smiles and nods, holding his side, Nezuko opens her box, her tiny figure looking at us both.
"We got really roughed up on Mount Natagumo, huh?"

"It still hurts a lot."

"Hurts like crazy, honestly."
I chuckle.

"Nezuko. Thanks for protecting us on that mountain back there."
Tanjiro smiles at her, and I sigh, sitting on the floor by her box.
"They said you could use this room to rest.

"Who would've guessed that not only you, but Mr Urokodaki and Tomioka-San, too. They're all risking their lives for us. They're all taking care of us."
I gently move my hand to rest on Nezuko's head, petting her slowly.

I promise I'll be a better older sister from now on.

He smiles too, looking down.
"I need to become stronger. Even today, the Master more or less saved our lives."

"That man's voice... It was soothing in the most mysterious way, wasn't it?"

"Yeah... Just listening made my head feel light. I wonder what kind of person he is.

A small thud was heard, and we turn to see Nezuko sound asleep on the floor, snoring softly.

"Oh, right... You're sleep-deprived, aren't you?"
He smiled.

"It hurts, and this is really tough, but we gotta keep on fighting. Because one day, we won't be kids anymore."

Tanjiro continued.
"Then I'll become an old man and die. But you'll have Y/N with you, Nezuko. Still, I bet you'd both be too lonely..."

"We promise we'll turn you back into a human, Nezuko."

I smile and pick her up, Tanjiro preparing the bed for her before I lay her down, the two of us tucking her in.

《 •|• 《♡》 •|• 》

End
● Chapter 29 : ●
● "Hashira Meeting" ●