Chapter Text
The Hashira stood up and stretched before trickling out of the room, except for Giyu who called for Gyomei to stay back and chat. As Tengen heads to the kitchen, the other Hashira disperse with the agreement to stick in groups just in case.
Shinobu and Giyu decided to explore this strange copy of headquarters together, hoping to learn just how similar it was. Kyojuro followed Tengen to the kitchen, probably hoping to sneak bites of food while he waited. Sanemi began training in the yard and after a moment, Obanai asked to spar. Gyomei was sitting on the verdena to meditate, Muichiro sitting nearby.
Mitsuri wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. Her mind was still processing all the things she had seen. The sibling bond between Tanjiro and Nezuko was absolutely beautiful, and she deeply admired the boy’s kindness and determination. She didn’t know what she would do in his shoes, but she hoped she could be as strong as him.
“They’re dead, aren’t they?” Muichiro said suddenly. “Or at least, they’re going to die.”
“Who do you mean Tokito?” Mitsuri asked, kneeling beside him.
“That woman and her child.” Muichiro replied. “His fake family. He must have killed them after Tanjiro confronted him.”
Mitsuri sighed, her gaze going towards Obanai. “Yes, I think you’re right.” She agreed sadly.
"He was likely just using them to appear like a normal civilian. Their deaths would have been inevitable either way, but because Tanjiro confronted him, he most likely abandoned his human identity. They would have asked too many questions if he just disappeared so he must have disposed of them.” Muichirou continued, looking up at the clouds. "That's just one more reason for us to kill him."
Mitsuri thought about that for a moment and then nodded, giving the younger boy a soft smile. "That's right. We'll kill him, I'm sure of it! We have to. For the sake of humanity!" She clenched her fists, feeling more determined to survive and see Muzan's reign as Demon King come to an end.
Mitsuri stretched and made herself comfy, content to bask in the early morning sun.
Wait…
Early… morning… sun…
Something was wrong with that sentence. Mitsuri frowned, looking up at the sky. Something was wrong with the sky… what was it?
Tengen’s call rang out. “HEY! LUNCH IS READY GUYS!”
Mitsuri screamed in realization as it finally hit her.
“Kanroji!” Obanai rushed to her side. “Are you okay?! Why did you scream!?”
“The sun!!” She cried out, pointing up at it. How had she never realized?! Why hadn’t any of them noticed?!
Shinobu and Giyu came running outside, their blades drawn. Tengen bolted from around the corner, followed by Kyojuro. “We heard someone scream, what’s wrong?!” Shinobu asked.
“Kanroji just screamed suddenly but I don’t know why.” Muichiro said, his eyes scanning the sky for danger. “She’s just looking up at the sun.”
“The sun?” Sanemi repeated, looking up in confusion, lifting a hand to shield his eyes as he looked up. “I don’t understand, it’s just the morning…” He choked on his words.
Slowly, everyone looked up, the realization slowly sinking in.
“Does anyone remember if the sun even set yesterday?” Kyojuro finally asked.
“N-no.” Tengen replied. “We were all so tired after all of that, we went straight to bed but… the sun was still in the sky.”
“Does the sun not set here…?” Muichiro wondered. “What is this place?”
“And what will happen if the sun does set?” Gyomei asked, a grim expression on his face.
***
Suffice to say, this strange revelation only served to kill most of their appetites. Only Kyojuro and Mitsuri were able to eat anything, and even then they could only swallow down a few bites. Silence loomed in the kitchen until Shinobu sighed.
“Our afternoon can’t get any more tense, so I suggest we once again review what we’ve seen.” The insect Hashira suggested.
Mitsuri whimpered and dropped her chopsticks, those horrible images flashing across her mind once more. Those three people in the alley… the fake family… she didn’t think her heart could take discussing them again. “Do we really have to?” She asked.
“Kocho’s right.” Tengen agreed. “I think it would be a smart idea to review. Even if we don’t remember it, it’s at least going to help us keep track of things.”
“Well, Tanjiro went on his first mission and that went easily enough.” Kyojuro recalled. “I think we can leave it at that and move on to the next part.”
“Muzan Kibutjusi is either currently in Asakusa or he will soon be there, living as a human for god knows what reason.” Giyu added. “Also within the city is a demon doctor named Tamayo and her assistant Yushiro.”
The conversation continued on as such for the next few minutes, and Obanai even managed to find some spare paper and ink to make notes on. As Mitsuri tried to follow along, she rested her head in her hand, accidentally rubbing up against her ear.
Hmm, maybe she should get them pierced again? Then again… maybe it was better to leave them be, especially considering the reason why she let the holes close up in the first place. During a fight with a demon, she had narrowly avoided claws to her face, only for his fingers to snag around her ear and tear the earring out.
Luckily her earlobe had healed up quickly enough, but she decided from then on to forgo earrings. Mitsuri sincerely hoped that Tanjiro never had to suffer through that.
Huh… earrings. Hanafuda earrings… like the kind that the mysterious figure wore in Muzan’s memory. A figure that had long hair… like Tanjiro’s father in the ending song with the Kamado family.
“Hey, guys?” Mitsuri called, getting everyone’s attention. She couldn’t help but blush a bit, everyone’s gazes were so intense! She hoped she wasn’t sweating. “I just thought of something. Could Tanjiro’s father have been a member of the corps?”
“What makes you think that?” Gyomei asked.
“Well, we saw in that ending sequence with Tanjiro’s family that the earrings came from his father, right?” Mitsuri began. “Kibutjusi didn’t like the sight of the earrings, they reminded him of someone he fought before. That’s why he sent two demons after Tanjiro. What if that man he fought was Tanjiro’s father?”
Everyone was silent for a moment, taking in this information. Tengen tapped out a song onto the table. “In that case, could that be why Muzan was so far out in the middle of nowhere? Was he hunting down the Kamado family out of revenge?”
“I do not like the idea of that.” Giyu said, glaring down at his bowl. “Because now Muzan knows of Tanjiro’s existence, if Kanroji’s theory is true, then he’ll just send demon after demon to finish the job if he doesn’t do it himself. He could stop sending average demons and dispatch a member of the Kizuki, maybe even an upper moon.”
“And we won’t remember any of this to protect him.” Tengen scowled. “How is having intense Deja Vu going to help us in that regard? Not to mention the kid doesn’t know about us to reach out to us.”
“And even if Tanjiro did know about us…” Obanai sighed. “Can we really say that any of us would genuinely be willing to help him besides Tomioka?”
“I would.” Mitsuri replied instantly, surprising even herself.
Giyu looked at her in surprise. “Truly?”
His gaze is so intense and full of hope! So dreamy~ Mitsuri blushed before starting to stammer. “W-well you said you wrote a letter to the Master, and at this point I think it’s just impossible that he doesn’t approve of Nezuko at this point. So, um, yeah, you have my full support Tomioka!” She declared, pumping her fists in the air.
Giyu’s eyes shone with emotion. “Kanroji… thank you.” He said, bowing his head.
“I can’t say how I’ll react when I have no memories,” Kyojuro cut in. “But right now, after seeing Nezuko for myself, I fully support the Kamado’s as well.”
Shinobu pursed her lips for a moment before sighing. “I can’t say if I’ll fully agree either, even with my stance on wanting to befriend demons. But I’m sure in no time I’ll see things your way.”
After an uplifting end to their conversations, everyone found they could eat a little bit more.
Shinobu looked down at the food. “Why don’t you all go on ahead? We have enough leftovers that I want to make a bento box for us all to have for dinner, that way we can continue to watch while we eat.”
“You sure?” Sanemi asked. “We don’t mind waiting.”
“I’ll be fine, you’ll just have to catch me up when I come back.” Shinobu insisted, waving them off as she took off her haori and rolled up her sleeves.
“Alright.” Sanemi shrugged. “Probably won’t miss much anyway except that annoying blonde’s screams.”
