• Ubuyashiki finally got a chance to have a talk with the infamous "demon".
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"I thank you for saving Rengoku, Kamado Nezuko-dono. Or perhaps, are you prefer to be called as Gudako?"
Gudako calmly sipped her tea, creating a picture of elegance and composure. "This humble one doesn't worthy for your thanks, Oyakata-sama. I simply did what I can do to support the team," she said.
"And I do not mind any names, although I do prefer to be called as Gudako. No suffix needed."
"Is that so?" Ubuyashiki hid his amused smile with his sleeve. After all of the rumours, their first meeting, and information he got from the pillars, he didn't expect for her to be able behaving in such polite manner. It's as if he was talking to different person. Ubuyashiki had believed he had known every single aspect about his children, but it seemed the reality had planned one step away, like always.
Maybe she had another agenda?
Not impossible. Kamado Nezuko, or Gudako since she wanted to be referred with that name, had showed her extraordinary wits countless time. Many lives had been saved and unnecessary disputation had been avoided.
And the scary part was, never she was directly involved nor expressed her true intention in any ways possible. She simply pulled the string, played a jester role, and fooled everyone to make them think that their action was 'unexpected'. That their choice was purely came from their own intention.
In reality, it's the opposite. Always the opposite.
With such cunning brain pulling strings behind his back, Ubuyashiki couldn't help but getting curious. What did she plan? Would it beneficial for Demon Slayer Corps? Or would it put Muzan in advantageous spot?
Playing mind games with the girl in front of him was like man who had been playing shogi for years challenging a professional shogiーwhile he might as well put some fight or even cornered her down, she would find a way to defeat him again and again.
Plus, using such method to his own child left a bad taste on his mouth. He loathed it.
Ubuyashiki just wanted to know. He wanted to know what's inside the girl's head whose existence was an enigma and see if it could put their endless battle with Kibutsuji Muzan into an ending.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya truly, truly wanted to know more about her and her sibling whose future couldn't be predicted no matter what. Or rather, he wasn't allowed to see it.
It was intriguing to say at least. Why he wasn't allowed to see it? How powerful their guardian spirit was to the point able to make a affect in reality?
Was it related to Kamado siblings' unwillingness to be referred by their true name? After all, when one changed their name deliberately, it meant that they'reー
"With all due respect, I advise you to stop trying to figure me out, Oyakata-sama. Or else your head will explode."
Ubuyashiki blinked at the deadpanned girl. Was she able to read his thought? "My apologies," he said. "I do not mean to pry into your personal life. I'm just, ah, curious. On the side note, this is my first time hearing that idiom. Is it something you made by yourself?"
Much to his surprise and slight amusement, Gudako made a choked noise. He might had lost ability to see, but he could imagine the horror look on hher face before it disappeared quickly. Her breath sounded controlled in rhyntm, most probably she forced herself to stay calm.
Huh. Interesting.
"Please do not mind it," she said, deliberately coughed on her fist. "Anyway, you don't have to concern yourself with mine business, Oyakata-sama. I am well aware with your worry, and I shall assure you I will never, ever put anyone in danger."
Gudako fixed her expression and spoke in strong intensity, "My goal is to protect everyone. You shall have my word."
She went silent for a moment before added, "Of course, except those who deserve it. I'll make sure to put them in big danger."
A silence dawned upon them for a moment.
"...Fufu," Ubuyashiki couldn't help but laughed. While the way she wording her sentences sounded arrogant and impolite, he could feel the confidence and strong determination. It wasn't something that can be pulled off with a mere will of revenge or bloodlust. As a tactician, vowed to protect everyone meant she couldn't make a mistake in her decision, nor bothered with unexpected situation. She must be cool-headed all the time, thinking outside of the box, and put all of her faith to her comradesーwhose very life depended on her command and decisions.
It was the safest, yet most nerve-wracking job to handle. There's no room for doubt nor negative emotion; not until lives had stopped falling down like a rain and sun finally showed its light after a long storm.
When the fight had finally met its end, that's the time when all tension evaporated and one finally allowed to grieve.
((It's not easy to be the one who sat in the back line while their friends, their family, their comrades ran to the front line just to lost their fragile life forever.
And they couldn't do anything, could only watch in silence and commanded other people.
It's never easy.))
"I believe you," he spoke with gentle smile adorned his rotted face. "It is such a shame I no longer have the ability to see. I really wish to witness your deed in the future..."
"Believe me, you'll be disappointed," Gudako muttered under her breath.
"Amane," Ubuyashiki called her wife who stayed silence beside him. "Can you tell me what time is it now?"
"The sun has started to set," Amane said. "A hour and half before the night come."
"I see. Thank you, Amane," he said. "Once again, thank you for coming here, Gudako, even though you're just finished accompanying Senjurou-kun's training."
"No, no. I'm the one who should thank you. This humble one is not one of your children, yet you treat me like your own. You even ask for a private talk with me, a demon, in your house no less. This humble one is so honored for such kind treatment."
"Such nonsense," he replied back. "You're my children too, Gudako. You may not an official member of Demon Slayer corps, but your deed has saved many lives countless time. I can't thank you enough for everything you have done for our organization."
"..." She didn't say anything, expression remained unreadable.
Ubuyashiki felt like there was something left unsaid, but he didn't push it. He kept smiling as Amane whispered that Gudako was leaving.
What a mysterious sibling, Ubuyashiki thought to himself after Gudako had left their household. This is my first time I can't figure someone out completely. His instincts, the ability that had been passed from one generation to next in Ubuyashiki lineage, had rendered useless beyond belief.
Wait. If he remembered correctly, there was term that could described their existence. A foreign term hailed from faraway land, coined by a man of wisdom. Described as a device that put tragedies into an ending, albeit too sudden and unexpected. One could even accuse it as underhanded trick, or a theater play that has strayed away from harsh reality. If he wasn't mistaken, the correct term was...
Deux ex machina.
Roughly translated, from God to machine.
God, huh?
...How funny.
Ubuyashiki then chuckled, inviting his wife's curiosity.
"What are you laughing for?"
"Ah, nothing," yet he still chuckling.
"It's nothing important."
.
It's really funny,
For the fact that those term perfectly described Kamado Sibling's existence: two beings that had brought nothing but raging storm to their stagnancy, like Apostles of God descended to Mortal world to put endless tragedies into an end.
Ubuyashiki couldn't deny how ridiculous how it sounded. But, with how little information he could gather and mysteries that always lingered around Kamados'... Even a sane mind could be swayed too.
Probably, he wondered.
Probably, it explained why they have refused using their real name.
Because, when one threw away their original one,
It meant they had chosen to take life-changing path,
or,
They had chosen another identity to bear over.