Chapter Text
Sanemi Shinazugawa's Kasugai crow, Sorai, flew in the air, nearly taken down by the strong wind today. It looked like it was in a hurry, a piece of parchment attached to its beak. The paper was tightened in a tiny scroll, a red ribbon securing its safety.
The crow swirled in the sky, trying to avoid a crash into the tall trees. The passing demon slayers eyed it, suprised by its sheer speed of flying. Honesly, it was normal for them to make assumptions - the crow really was unusually tense.
Finally, after 10 minutes of traveling it arrived infront of the wind hashira's estate. It jumped on one of the steps to his home and waited infront of the door.
Dropping the piece of parchment on the wooden stair, it cawed loudly, not having any intention of stopping until it sees Shinazugawa standing before it.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
"Uh, what is it now..." Sanemi grumbled annoyed, opening the door.
The crow cawed even louder, the urgency evident.
"Hashira meeting, hashira meeting! 10 a.m! 10 a.m!"
It repeated the words a few times, making Sanemi snap out of his sleepy behaviour. He groaned, looking down the crow.
"Really, Oho? Now, at this weather... i doubt. You sure you got everything correct? Master knows how freaking windy it is at the moment."
He stared holes through the crow, pointing to his waving hair at the moment. The crow didn't continue further, just tucked the parchment towards him with its beak.
Sanemi lowered himself to take it, undying the delicate ribbon. His eyes scanned the writings in the message. It read -
"Sanemi Shinazugawa,
Today, at 10 a.m, I await you to come amongst the other hashiras to gather up for a meeting. Forgive me for the inconvenience about the timing with the weather. I hope you understand that the problem isn't one to be taken easily upon and your attendance means a lot to us.
Master Kagaya"
Sanemi stared at it confused. A personal letter to him seemed to out of line. Usually, they are sent for one name, the exact same one for all the hashira.
The crow bowed its head slightly in departure, leaving Sanemi stare at its path. He turned back to his estate, closing his door.
He got ready for the meeting, currently 9 a.m on the clock. He put on his demon slayer uniform, combed his hair just so he didn’t look like a disaster.
And of course, who is he without his precious sword. Hilting it, he left the estate, curious on what could be the causing of a meeting this time.
"Probably some other demons attacking villages again." He scoffed to himself as he walked past the inns and Wisteria Houses.
The walking slayers' laughs died off their tongues, Shinazugawa's annoyed gaze enough to make them fast their steps up. The wind wasn't on their side today either - nearly making branches crack.
"It's only okay when I use wind, fucking trees.." he muttered, the growing decibels in his voice slowly showing up.
Soon enough, he arrived to the headquarters, entering them with the same fierce energy he carries with himself.
He walked towards the hashira who were already here - Uzui Tengen, Kyojuro Rengoku, Iguro Obanai and Shinobu Kochou.
Tengen and Kyojuro immediately started laughing and greeting Sanemi, which was probably the reason why one of his veins popped out on his head. Kocho just offered an innocent smile and Iguro nodded his head in acknowledgement.
The Master had a warm smile plastered on his face. Sanemi immediately bowed and greeted first.
"Good morning, Master Kagaya."
"No need to bow that low. Good morning to you too, Shinazugawa."
Sanemi straightened back up to his feet, and turned to talk with Iguro the meantime.
"Hey, man, do you know what this is all about? I mean, usually we would've skipped for atleast tommorow? Is it that serious to attend in this trenchourus weather." He complained, his hair spiking out in multiple directions.
Obanai rolled his eyes and spoke through the mask.
"No, if I did I would look way more serious. And what, can't handle even a little wind? The title does not apply to you then, does it."
Sanemi gritted his teeth. "Bastard. Didn't ask for comments. So, anyways, did you recieve a personal letter too."
Obanai turned fully to him and nodded. "Yeah, it was. It was written by hand too, like he was in too much of a rush to to write elegantly. And at this time, not that it is early, just unusual."
Sanemi agreed, all of their heads snapping towards the sound of steps coming.
"Hey, I think the others finally remembered they were hashira and came." Sanemi rolled his eyes and scoffed to Obanai while watching them.
When the view was clear, they saw Muichiro, half-asleep, Mitsuri, Himejima and Giyuu lurking behind them all.
Obanai perked up slightly when Mitsuri came in, clearing his throat and immediately ignoring Sanemi.
Sanemi seeing the dynamic smirked and pressed on.
"Oh, betraying me for a girl, really manly of you Obanai."
He flashed him a warning gaze which spoke more than words. Sanemi grinned even more but let him have it his way for now.
When everyone was sat in their places, Kagaya started slowly.
"Good morning, kids. I know the weather is more of a reason to not be here, but right now I need you to listen up to what I have to say. A demon is roaming around the Entertainment District Area. People can be targeted and killed easily, as the lights and life there never dies off."
They tensed up slightly. All of them knew where this was heading.
"The people fill the streets, so might a demon at this rate. The innocent deaths shouldn't increase, as of now there are a few reports on people missing due to this. We cannot let this inequality be continued, so now im settling the matters into your hands."
All of the hashira nodded but Kochou's question hanged in the air out of nowhere.
"And who is going to go for this mission, if I may ask?"
Everyone turned to Kagaya, who seemed to be thinking it.
"Ah, I did have someone in mind at first actually. Tengen knows the place quite well, I reckon, so having someone like that is helpful."
He immediately smiled with that infuriating grin, pushing his chest out immediately in victory.
"Aha! I can promise you all I am not going to disappoint us! After all, I am flashing itself"
Kyojuro was the only one to laugh with him, as for Sanemi, well he thought that that kind of behaviour was too much on his nerves.
"Thank God I am not going to be with him. I can't handle that kind of behavior" He crossed his arms and mumbled to Obanai.
"To your acquaintance, you won't go alone Tengen. Alongside you will stand Shinazugawa Sanemi and Tomioka Giyuu. Like I said, there could be either a few harmless demons, or something way worse. We need to be prepared."
Sanemi's eyes widened, looking at the master like he was insane, but didn't dare protest.
Uzui laughed even more, seeing the tormented look on Shinazugawa's face just made him smirk.
"Ey, Shinazugawa! You aren't usually that pressed about who you're going on missions. Is this time too much for you. I wonder why."
He snapped his head to Tengen, opening his mouth but failing to bite back, Kagaya stopping him at the last second with his finger before another argument erupted.
"Now kids, it isn't the time for arguments."
His calm voice seemed to soothe Sanemi for the moment.
"Oh once we go to the mission he will see..." Sanemi mumbled continuously under his mouth to the point where even Obanai was concerned.
"Man, he has a point though, why are you so inflicted about this?"
He met his gaze, opening his mouth again but to vain.
Really, why was he so upset about this?
"It's Tomioka." His gaze roamed around all the hashira until it landed on the water pilar.
Everyone knew their connections. It was like trying to mix oil and water for a recipe - they can never be on good terms or blend in. And if they did, it would be temporarily, barely to even go throughout the whole mission without any arguments.
Obanai followed his gaze, narrowing his eyes when he saw the usual quiet, yet composed hashira.
"Did he do you wrong or are you just hating eachother for no shitty reason." He turned back to Sanemi, phrasing it out too knowingly to even be a question.
The other guy groaned quietly, trying his best not to get annoyed at him. Really, didn't he get the point that no matter what things just won't change between the both of them.
"Do I have to have a reason. I just, hate him. Hate the way he acts, the cold composure all the time, the emotionless robot with a big fat wig on his head. How can one like that in the first place?"
Sanemi pointed out his excuses. They seemed childish and stupid, but he really didn't stand that freak.
Obanai stared at him for a while, trying to process such deep hatred for someone he was supposed to call a comrade.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
Giyuu on the other hand was just zoning out, thinking about how a Sake Daikon would slap at this moment. The thought enough was able to make his stomach rumble.
As he stared off to a random point, he felt something burn at his side. He immediately tightened up, slowly turning his face to face whatever was making him feel so tense.
Even though he kept the stoic facade, his eyebrows went up a bit, the sight surprising him and catching him off-hand.
Sanemi Shinazugawa was burning him with his gaze from affar.
"No wonder my back is so hot..." he mumbled to himself and turned back to face the master as he spoke stuff about the villagers and their concerns.
It didn't get better afterwards. The feeling of someone's eyes on him didn't leave and he had to act like the usual, even though SOMEONE couldn't just give into the mission and accept his fated partner for the day.
"Really, am I that unlikable or shit. Uh." He rolled his eyes a bit.
At that moment he could've sworn he felt a burn on his shirt.
"So we set it all. Tomioka and Sanemi will be by Tengen's lead and side, since we don't know what might approach you. You can meet here the three of you tommorow and head out by 7 p.m. Wish you all of the best You are free to go, my children."
The warm smile made its way back to Kagaya's lips, all of them bowing down for their goodbyes and slowly making their way back to their own estates.
After all of them left, only Giyuu, Sanemi and Obanai behind, they made eye contact for a split second.
Obanai nudged him in the side slightly, tilting his chin to Tomioka's direction who was hilting his sword, ready to leave too.
"Won't even say a thing? Come onn, rude. You are, after all, going to be on the same mission together." Obanai tilted his chin, the only thing masking that grin on his stupid face was the mask.
Oh he knew what he was doing.
"Are you insane?! I have to be on alcohol to approach that depressed bitch-"
﹌﹌﹌
Anyways, there he was, standing infront of Tomioka Giyuu with his hands crossed. His attempt on looking intimidating was failing, the narrow in his eyes describing how forced he was in this by Obanai.
Giyuu looked up, waiting for the man to say whatever he had.
"What"
Yeah, Sanemi was already pissed as fuck by this.
"Just so you know, shithead, I'm not going to act friendly and dovey to you just because we are on a mission together. Oh, infact, I'll torment you every second that I get the chance to."
His eye twitched as he watched Tomioka not even showing an ounce of fear.
This was going to be hard for both of them, turned out.
﹌﹌﹌
Nonetheless, here they stood the three of them. Tengen with his usual makeup that looked stunning, Giyuu Tomioka who was quiet but sharp as ever and then there he was Sanemi.
Poor guy couldn't even sleep yesterday, the adrenaline of killing monsters pumped in his veins, despite the fact of his partners. And now being 7 p.m says a lot about it.
And of course Tengen had noticed and could NOT leave him be.
"Oooh Shinazugawa, someone looked like they've had a horrible night. I wonder if it's because they couldn't stop thinking about this glorious face?!" The man laughed and pointed at himself.
Shinazugawa just stared at him and Tengen rolled his eyes.
"Mood killer. You're like the angry version of Tomioka. Never showing any other emotion than that."
Finally after what seemed like decades that guy defended himself in some possible way.
"Don't bring me up into this." He glanced at both of them and just adding unnecessary fights.
"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO FUCKING BASTARD-" Tengen laughed and cut Sanemi off short, patting his shoulder.
"Now, now, no need for all that hostility towards poor Tomioka." He was containing himself barely from bursting out.
Shinazugawa immediately shoved his hand away and brushed his shoulder, trying to make the feel of Tengen's hand there dissappear. He didn't waste time for him as much to Tomioka though.
"Hey man, rather like it when you keep that mouth shut." He added with a scoff, the grip on his sword tightening up.
"Let's head out already." Tomioka turned to them and Tenged finally let the teasing off, leading the long path towards the Entertainment District Area.
The walk was full with Tengen's not so funny puns, Sanemi's outbursts and never ending insults and Tomioka's presence, adding in a few words to matters if Tengen forces him to engage in the conversation.
And at around 8 p.m, the lights came in to sight. The red really deserved the gossip it had about it.
The lamps were everywhere, creating the atmosphere of fierce fire, ready to blow it's flames out any minute.
People dressed in so many different styles, beautiful yukatas and clothing on every person passing by.
Hairstyles full of enchanting ornaments which blazed like rhinestones to the human eye.
Tomioka and Shinazugawa were taken aback by the scenery. It's not like neither have then haven't been here - especially Sanemi for alchohol, but they have never seen it so lively...
"So, what do yall think about it this time?" Tengen smirked, drapping his arms around both of the boys who were standing at each of his side, waiting for their reaction.
Sanemi's smirk turned into a full on smile, the annoyance gone like it never existed. His eyes glinted with energy, ready for action.
"Fuck yea baby, don't need to ask me a second time."