Returning Home

Kamado Akina’s POV

“Message! Mess-AHHH!” I slap the speeding bird out of the air before my brain can process things properly. “What was that for!?”

“Oh my God! I’m so sorry!” I stop pressing the handkerchief to Tanjiro’s face as I look down at the bird, gently placing my hand over my mouth. Both my siblings giggle at my horror. “I didn’t mean to, I swear! I sometimes forget not everything is a threat to me or my siblings! I-”

“Oh! So you’re Lady Kamado?” The crow hops up, looking perky and pleased now, “I don’t know if you’ll like this much, but! Oyakata-sama wants Tanjiro Kamado-”

He points at Tanjiro.

“-and the demon known as Nezuko Kamado-” He points at Nezuko, and I growl warningly at his wording. “-to be taken into custody! He wants you to bring them to him, specifically.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I deadpan at him, gently picking up Tanjiro’s least injured hand and putting the handkerchief in it. He gets the message and presses it against the cuts on his face as the crow takes the air again. “Nezuko, I’m sorry, but you need to get in the box again. This trip isn’t exactly short, and it’s nearly dawn, too.”

She nods at me understandingly, crawling into her box and settling in to sleep. I pause, then take off my own haori - a black backdrop with a simplified golden vajra across my shoulders - and wrap it around her like a blanket.

I look at Tanjiro and sigh softly as he leans against a tree, already dozing. I gently take his haori from his lap and tie it around the box before sliding it onto my shoulders.

“...this is too sweet to ruin, but where is the demon?” Kocho-san’s voice is as sweet as blooming wisteria blossoms - and as deadly as the poison she extracts from them. I give her a slightly exasperated look, then turn just enough to show her the haori-wrapped box. “...okay, it can return to being cute now.”

“Did you think I would abandon my sister, when that would sign each and every one of our death warrants?” I ask her, my voice heavy with exhaustion, and she pauses, blinking. “Nevermind. I don’t care what any of you think. I’m taking these two to Oyakata-sama.”

“Since when does Oyakata-sama make a decision without asking the Hashira?” Kocho-san reaches, her hand coming far too close to Tanjio’s head-

The clearing goes silent as Kocho wheezes, my foot heavy on her chest.

“Don’t touch my kids.” My voice is low and soft and it carries, the Kakushi in the clearing around me go rigid. Their eyes wide as I switch to carrying Tanjiro in one arm, his head nestled on my shoulder. “Tell me where you put Zenitsu.”

“He will be cared for-”

“You lost that trust when you grabbed for Tanjiro.” I snarl, a muffled whimper reaches my ears, my head snaps up- “Zenitsu.”

I tuck him securely in the other arm, moving across the clearing before anyone - even Kocho - can track. Zenitsu cries on my shoulder, shaking like a leaf in the wind, and I straighten up, only slightly encumbered.

“We’ll see you at the meeting.” I snarl at Kocho as I pass, Tomioka blink slightly at us as Tsuyuri leads him into the clearing. “Tomioka, put Inosuke on my back now.”

Tsuyuri gawks at me, but Tomioka hurries to do so, carefully laying the delirious boy over Nezuko’s box and tying him down with rope he carries with him.

“Thank you.” I growl, something in my chest settling slightly - something I hadn’t realized was agitated in the first place. “You’ve been very kind, Tomioka-”

“You can fuss and feel guilty later, take care of these four now, Akina, they need you.” Tomioka places a hand on my shoulder, I look at him over Tanjiro’s head and…

Understanding.

Warmth.

A small burst of shame and embarrassment hits me, exploding hotly in my stomach, and I turn away from him. Tomioka steps back, gesturing for Tsuyuri to do so too, and she skirts out of the way…

I.

Run.

The collective gasp my speed stirs up is loud enough I hear it at the foot of the mountain, and I smirk as I pass the Wisteria House. My feet blur against the ground, our surroundings melt together like an impressionist painting, and Zenitsu gasps under his wrappings.

“Behold, Zenitsu, the ultimate abilities of the Demon Slayers.” I whisper to him softly, noticing his tears slowing, “Did you know you access this speed using Thunder Breathing regularly? Your training was intense, I’ll bet. I can’t wait to see how many forms you’ve mastered so far.”

His tears start flowing harder again, but his bandages crinkle around his mouth again - like he’s smiling under there.

“Oi oi oi!” I bark, holding onto Oyakata-sama’s left hand as Nichika and Nezuko close the doors behind us, Hinaki jumps slightly, and Oyakata-sama lets go of me to pat his daughter on the head. “What the Hell are you doing to my baby brother, Shinazugawa!?”

“He wasn’t bowing to-”

“It is his first meeting.” Oyakata-sama intercedes, holding up his left hand to gesture for silence from the Hashira, “It was not needed, and violence towards younger members of my Corps - especially when they are injured - is not appreciated. Release him, Shinzugawa.”

Shinazugawa releases Tanjiro’s head, who quickly shoves himself to his knees.

“Please, sir, is Nezuko okay back there!?” Eight of the other Hashira go rigid as Tanjiro cries out, and Tomioka eyes them from his side of the line.

“Nezuko is fine. More than fine, actually!” Oyakata-sama smiles at Tanjiro easily, “You know, despite what I had seen and heard, I still had some reservations about her myself - but when she immediately treated a cut on my hand instead-”

Immediate outcry of concern from the Hashira.

“I cut my palm on purpose, please calm yourselves.” Oyakata-sama raises his voice slightly, not quite shouting but louder than normal, and the Hashira shut up immediately. He raises his right hand, showing Nezuko’s expert wraps around his palm, and I feel smug as Kocho’s mouth opens into a small ‘o’ in surprise and recognition. “Even if Nezuko had lost herself and attempted to eat me, Akina was in the room - do I need to remind you all what she is capable of?”

“No, Oyakata-sama.” The nine of them chorus, Tanjiro looks at me with confusion and concern, and I motion at him quietly from my hip. He settles onto his heels, still looking concerned, but withdrawing for now as he looks between Nezuko and I as she sidles up behind me (as close as she can with Oyakata-sama and I standing in the sun.

“Oyakata-sama, maybe we should start with the letter you received regarding Nezuko and Tanjiro?” I suggest lightly, he pauses, his hand still on top of Hinaki’s head as she leans against him gently. “The one from Urokodaki-san?”

“Ah, that letter. I apologize, I thought you meant the one from Tamayo-san.” He tells me softly, I blink as I recall the…doctor…and her assistant, and I look over at Tanjiro.

A very slack-jawed Tanjiro.

(We will be having words when this is over.)

“Nichika, do you still have the letter?” Oyakata-sama calls, she steps around Nezuko easily, and I give her a warm smile. She beams back, and even turns and nods at Nezuko, who smiles at her as best she can with the bamboo muzzle in the way.

(I really need to find a better alternative to that thing.)

“May I read an abridged version, Oyakata-sama?” Nichika asks sweetly,

“Oh Lord, please!” I beg dramatically, sweeping one arm over my face theatrically, both Oyakata-sama and his children snicker at me. “Urokodaki is so long-winded! His lectures could kill!”

“Yes, my dear, you may tell an abridged version.” Oyakata-sama states, chortling slightly,

“I ask that you allow Tanjiro and his sister to accompany each other, because of her resilient mental fortitude Nezuko has not lost her human reason. Even when starved, she has never devoured a human, and that is true more than two years later. Although the situation sounds outlandish, it is in fact reality. In the event that Nezuko does assault another human being, myself as well as Tanjiro Kamado, Giyuu Tomioka,” Both Nichika and Oyakata-sama look at me as she continues, “And Akina Kamado will atone by committing seppuku.”

“Akina!”

“No!”

“She wouldn’t!”

“But she’s the strongest of us!” A flurry of hushed and horrified whispers break out at the stop, and everyone stares at me in appall. Tomioka raises his head, silencing them, and he has a small glimmer of tears in his eyes as he looks at me.

I give him a small smile, barely enough to show my teeth.

He bows, hands and head on the gravel.

“Who cares how they choose to end their lives!?” Shinazugawa barks, my eyes snap to him, my hands curl inside my haori, but I feel Oyakata-sama brush his knuckles against my own reassuringly. “Fire, hanging - it’s all the same. It doesn’t guarantee our safety!”

“Shinazugawa is right!” Rengoku almost spits out, looking conflicted as he leans forward and almost pleads with us. “If she kills a human, we can’t turn back the clock! That person will be lost forever! Akina, she can act with kindness in a calm situation-”

“She hasn’t fed in over two years and do I really need to point out the fact that Oyakata-sama cannot see?” I snap, the entire line jumps in surprise, small hands gently grab my haori. “My siblings do not know what I am capable of! They thought I was working in the capital as a secretary! If Nezuko was really capable of doing what you think she is, then she would’ve leapt at Oyakata-sama!”

Tanjiro pops up at the edge of the porch and gently grabs onto my ankles, also holding me back from physical violence (as if they could.)

(It’s really cute. How they think they can stop me if I wanted to do something to anyone here.)

“There’s also a small problem with the fact that Tanjiro has met Kibutsuji face-to-face.” Oyakata-sama states, I whip my face down to my little brother, who gives me a nervous smile as the Hashira all go deadly silent. “He is now hunting the boy, much like he first-”

“Tanjiro Kamado.” I hiss lowly, he sinks down, as close to the boards and the gravel as he can while still holding my ankles, “We will be having words, young man.”

Nezuko whines behind me, pulling on my haori angrily. I turn slightly, still shrouding her in shadow, but facing her over my shoulder. She headbuts my arm angrily - as if defending Tanjiro and his life choices.

I sigh.

“Oyakata-sama, I need to escort these two knuckleheads to the infirmary-”

“They can go to the Butterfly Mansion.” Kocho offers ‘helpfully’, and I give her a side-eye as Oyakata chuckles softly.

“They can join the other two in the infirmary here, Kocho, it’s no trouble.” Oyakata-sama states, quickly letting out two sharp claps, and two Kakushi that I’m familiar with appear.

“Oh, hey Iyashi, hi Koju.” I greet them, they nod to me, bow to Oyakata-sama, bow to the Hashira, then Iyashi herds Nezuko into her box and Koju whisks Tanjiro onto his back and they both run away to the infirmary.

“Just as you all have reported, the carnage of the demons has grown more than ever.” Oyakata-sama states, I balance my dual swords across my lap, settled in the back of the room, my back against the corner nearest to the door out. “Meaning the threat to human life is greater than it’s ever been. We must bolster the ranks of the Demon Slayers, what then, are your thoughts?”

A small moment of silence descends, and I blink down at my swords.

“The incident on Mount Natagumo says it all.” Shinazugawa states, I raise an eyebrow, looking up at his back as Kocho and Tomioka look back at me warily, “The caliber of Demon Slayer’s dropped tremendously. Most of them are useless.”
(“You’re useless if you don’t has a Breathing Technique!”)

(“If you can’t use a Breathing Technique, you’re a dead weight!”)

(“There’s only twelve Breathing Techniques!”)

I bite my tongue, a small amount of blood oozing from the wound.

“The trainers’ must’ve gone blind or something. You’d think they could at least tell if someone was competent or not.” Shinazugawa snaps, sounding irate, I snort loudly, dragging my knuckle roughly in front of my mouth in order to hide any sign of my bloody tongue.

“Well, that kid today sure packed a lot of power!” Uzui states cheerfully, I shoot him a look as he beams towards the front of the room, “He landed that dazzling blow on you. He’s got potential!”

“Of course he does.” I drawl slowly, everyone turns to face me, I glare at them all, “Why, exactly, do you all think I was hiding my siblings?”

They go silent.

It stretches for a while as they visibly flounder.

“Children deserve to have a childhood, you fools - they deserve to play, to be comfortable, to be afraid of silly things, and grow at their own pace.” I snarl lowly, Oyakata-sama gently touches his daughters’ heads, and they both look up at him as he frowns heavily at his lap. “Children deserve to be children. I don’t care about potential - I care that they are children.”

“Child or not, he is now one of us, Akina.” Tomioka says, sounding ready to cry, “He has to be ready for what’s coming.”

“You don’t think I know that?!” I snarl,  I return my glare to my swords. “All of them do! Or…”

(“Run, you fool! It’s Kibutsuji!”)

I clench my fists until my gloves creak around my sword sheaths.

I inhale deeply, my lungs feeling tight.

“Akina is correct.” Oyakata-sama states softly, everyone else turns to him. “But so is Tomioka.”

“But…this boy,” Rengoku says nervously, I feel the weight of his glance in my direction as I continue to glare at my swords, “So soon after joining, not only did he kill an ex-Kizuki, but he encountered and survived a current Kizuki! I think he can draw them out! Even we rarely get the chance to confront one-”

“Of which you should be grateful for.” I hiss from the corner, the room goes quiet again, “The Kizuki are not just powerful demons, but also powerful psychological manipulators! You will have to fight your own mind after you're done with them - that’s if you even survive.”

“Akina, how many does Rui make?” Oyakata-sama asks softly, I squeeze my eyes shut tightly, “Kamado-san.”

“Four.” I snarl, the room gasps, all of the Hashira and both children recoiling in shock, and I lean against the wooden beam behind me tiredly. “Be grateful they don’t hunt you. Be grateful they don’t see you as a challenge.”

The Hashira gawk at me, and I stare at all of them, meeting each of their eyes in turn before sagging my head against the wood and closing my eyes.

“Akina, how many demons have you killed? How many kills have you stolen from other Slayers?” Oyakata-sama verbally pushes, his voice soft, and I heave a tired sigh, but give in.

“I’ve killed one hundred ninety three demons - and over one hundred and twenty of those were stolen kills from other Slayers.” I state, exhaustion dripping from my words, “I wanted them to claim the kills though, to take the easy road, and get paid for work I did. I’m only doing this to get back at Kibutsuji.”

The room is completely silent - you could’ve heard a pin drop on the tatami.

I sigh again.

“I’m tired, Oyakata-sama, and I still need to hear what Zenitsu and Inosuke have done.” I use my crossed swords as a crutch on one side and the wall as a stabilizer on the other as I pull myself to my feet. “I apologize for my rudeness, but the four of them seem to be troublemakers, and I apparently will have my hands full with them for some time yet. Konbanwa, Oyakata-sama, girls, konbanwa, Hashira.”

I bow shortly to them all, and I leave, limping as my leg wobbles from an old injury - the Lower Number Five before Rui was quite talented with a sword too.