Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In a dark room, a worn out doll is in the hand of a man with black hair and red eyes. He rests a finger under the doll's neck and held up its head, talking to it. "Our plan is going perfectly. The last one was a strong blow to them, but not strong enough. Get me another one."

He tosses it out his window, and it floats away into a starry portal.

Once out of the portal, a window opens, with a bony metal hand retrieving it.

"A stronger one, huh...?"

It set the doll on its worktable, taking a pair of scissors and cutting its outfit: a plain white yukata and juban with darker umanori-styled hakama pants. Next, it carefully pulls out the doll's golden spiky hair, red at the tips.

With a seam ripper, it takes out the yellow buttons that served as eyes. Lastly, it cut the doll's mouth open and pulls the cotton stuffing out.

Now left with a bare, un-stuffed doll, it sticks its bony hand inside and turns it inside out, turning the fabric from a dirty yellow to white and fair.

Rubbing its hands together, it began to re-create the doll. This was its favorite part.

Opening a cabinet, it pulls out a box of sawdust and poured the dust into the doll, filling it up until it was practically bursting at the seams.

Gently laying the doll back on the worktable, it sewed the mouth back shut with a needle and thread. Once that was done, it pulls the drawers of the table open, revealing hundreds, if not thousands, of pairs of buttons.

With a bit of consideration, it selects a pair of turquoise ones and carefully sews them on as eyes.

Next, hair. Using black yarn, it made two clumps protrude slightly from each side of the doll's head, a set of marginally shorter hair left down to frame the doll's face, unruly bangs covering the doll's forehead.

Mixing some turquoise dye, it dips the doll's black hair in halfway, dying the bottom part turquoise, which reaches down to the doll's waist.

Finally, the outfit.

Pulling out a long wad of black fabric, it cut it into a pattern it used a few times before, only a bit looser at the sleeves and pants this time.

For footwear, it made dark blue tabi socks and a pair of white zōri with dark blue straps. The straps were surprisingly challenging, but the results turned out quite nice.

It crafts a sword's handle, black and turquoise braiding down to the five squares that made up the guard of the sword, securing it at the doll's hip.

It packs up the doll and sends the doll through the starry portal, along with a note.

Back in the room, the man, who is running a few experiments, noticed the doll's return, along with the note. He picked it up and read it.

'"I am confident this one fits your requirements."'

He studies the doll, an evil smirk flashing across his face. "Perfect."

He tosses the doll out to the world, ready for its owner to find it.

Chapter Text

The nine Hashira stand in the gardens at Ubuyashiki Mansion, wondering why the Master held an emergency meeting.

"Anyone know what this meeting is for?" Mitsuri Kanroji asks.

"Maybe another Kamado incident?" Rengoku Kyojuro shrugs.

"Haha, sounds flamboyant!" Uzui Tengen shouts.

"Kami, you're too loud." Obanai Iguro groans from his spot on a tree.

"If it is, maybe we can be friends with it, like Kamado Nezuko." Kocho Shinobu chimes in. "Don't you agree, Tomioka-san?"

"..." Tomioka Giyuu says nothing, standing a few feet away from the group.

Himejima Gyomei rubs his Buddha beads together, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Namu Amida Butsu."

(Um, what was that bird called again...?) Tokito Muichiro thinks with his eyes glued to the sky.

"Ha! If it's another slayer travelling with a demon, they'll have to go through me!" Shinazugawa Sanemi grins manically as he pumped his fists together.

Soon, the Ubuyashiki twin daughters stepped out. "Oyakata-sama has arrived." They say in union.

Oyakata-sama holds out his hands and let his daughters guide him to the edge of the engawa. "Good morning, my children. Is the sky blue today?"

All nine immediately bowed down.

"Oyakata-sama, I continue to pray for your health." Kyojuro said in a serious tone.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiles. "Thank you for your kind words, Kyojuro. I am sure many of you are wondering why I have called this emergency meeting. It pains me to say this, but a handful of slayers and people have vanished."

"So what if some weak slayers have vanished? They're weaklings anyway." Obanai scoffs.

"Iguro-san! That's really mean!" Mitsuri cries.

Kagaya turns to Nichika, one of his daughters. "The list."

Nichika took out a piece of paper from her sleeve and unrolled it. "The list of Missing People. Ubuyashiki Kiriya."

All the Hashira gasps.

"Oh no." Shinobu coveres her mouth in horror.

"Those damn demons!" Sanemi grits out.

Gyomei put his hands together and prays, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Poor Kiriya. Namu Amida Butsu."

"Kamado Tanjiro and Kamado Nezuko."

Giyuu's breath hitched. (No...)

Muichiro gasps in horror. "Tanjiro!"

"Agatsuma Zentisu."

Uzui snaps his head up. "The flashy thunder boy?!"

"Hashibara Inosuke."

Gyomei prays some more.

"Tsuyuri Kanao."

Shinobu's smile slips and she clenches her fists. "Kanao..."

"Shinazugawa Genya."

Sanemi grits his teeth and glares at the ground. "Damn idiot..."

"Rengoku Senjuro."

Kyojuro's smile falls as his eyes dims. "Little brother..."

Nichika put the list away and Kagaya sighs. "I understand that it must be incredibly hard for some of you to hear..."

"How could this happen?!" Kyojuro yelled, furious. "Aren't they all in safe, secluded places?!"

"I agree with Rengoku. How?" Giyuu spoke up.

"That's the point. We don't know how it happened." Everyone gaps in shock.

"What do you mean, you don't know how it happened?!" Uzui yells.

"A scratch mark, a lock of hair, a note, anything!" Obanai adds.

"You can't just vanish into thin air!" Mitsuri waved her arms around.

The Master put a finger to his lips, and everyone shut up. "I don't know if this is Kibutsuji's doing or not, but I don't want to lose any more of my children, so I want to prevent it. I'm having the Kakushi build a campus nearby, and I'm going to move every slayer, Kakushi, and Swordsmith there."

"I see! I agree! This is a good plan!" Kyojuro grins, trademark smile back on his face.

"No objections here!" Mitsuri blushes.

"...I guess that's safer." Obanai grumbles.

"Flamboyant!" Uzui cheers.

"I agree." Giyuu speaks up.

"Whatever." Sanemi scoffs with an eyeroll.

"It is a great way to provide protection. Namu Amida Butsu." Gyomei rubs his prayer beads together again.

"Sure." Muichiro shrugs.

Shinobu smiled. "Can I bring my girls?"

"Of course, Shinobu." The Master smiles. "I've already sent every crow to every slayer, and many are heading towards the campus as we speak. The kakushi will be at your estates to help move into the campus tomorrow. Meeting adjourned."

The Master turned to leave, then suddenly turns back. "Um, Muichiro, can you leave first? I need to have a word with the others."

"Oh." The Mist Hashira blinks, then nods. "Ok." He heads to the gates and leaves.

The Master looks at the remaining Hashira. "My children, I beg you to look after Muichiro."

"Why? Tokito is strong." Kyojuro frowns.

"And a Hashira." Shinobu adds.

"Yes, he is both those things, but think. What do all the slayers that are missing have in common?" The Hashira frowns and thought about it.

"They all have heightened senses?" Sanemi asks.

"No, that can't be right. Senjuro and Kiriya don't have heightened senses." Obanai fires back.

Giyuu pales as he realized. "Their ages are between 14 to 16..."

The others gasps as they grasp the problem.

"Oyakata-sama, do you think that Muichiro could be next?!" Mitsuri was positively horrified.

The Master nods. "Yes, I am worried that Muichiro might be the next target, so please, do everything in your power to keep him safe."

Everyone bows down so low that their foreheads are touching the floor. "We'll do our best, Oyakata-sama!" They said in union.

The Master smiles softly. "Thank you, my children."

Chapter Text

The Nine Hashira stares up at the gates in front of them, several teams of Kakushi behind them, carrying their bags.

"I guess this is it?" Kanroji breaks the silence.

"Perhaps we should go inside..." Giyuu suggests in a soft voice.

"Tch!" Sanemi scoffs and stormed in, the Kakushi holding his stuff hurrying in behind him.

Kyojuro puts a hand on Giyuu's shoulder. "Give him a little time. He just found out his brother's gone missing..." Giyuu notices that Kyojuro's smile is a lot more strained today, and nods in understanding.

"Genya is not my brother!" Sanemi roars.

As they make their way through the gardens, they find a lot of slayers inside campus.

"Wow... there are so many here already..." Muichiro gasps in awe as he looks around.

"Yeah, but does anyone know where we're staying?"

A beat.

"NO ONE KNOWS?!" Sanemi roars.

"We could just ask..." Giyuu says softly.

"Excuse me." Gyomei and Obanai walk up to two slayers who were chatting. The former wore a neutral expression, while the latter looked pissed off to talk to a low rank. "Could one of you direct us to the sleeping quarters?"

"It's the Stone and Serpent Hashira...!" One of them whisperd, trembling.

"It's... over... there..." the other points at a building, trembling as well.

Gyomei nods in thanks as he leaves, Obanai behind him. "Bunch of losers..." Obanai grumbled.

"Such poor unfortunate souls, Namu Amida Butsu..." Gyomei prayed.

The two join their comrades, who were talking with another group of slayers.

"Ah, Gyomei-san, Iguro-kun!" Kanroji greets them as the two joins them. "We know where we're staying, and a lot of other things too!"

"We know where we're staying, too."

"Really?!"

"Yeah, over there." Obanai points to a brown building at the west.

"Eh? But I heard we're staying over there." Kanroji points to a brown building at the east.

An awkward silence passes as the two Hashira stare at each other, the remaining seven looking between the two buildings in confusion.

"Which one is it?" Uzui asks.

"I have no idea!" Kyojuro takes a bite out of a doughnut he bought. "UMAI!"

"... I am going to torture the guy who told me we were staying in that building." Obanai makes his way to the slayer with a murderous aura radiating off him.

"Iguro-kun, wait! Maybe there was a mistake!" Kanroji pulls him back, which was easy with her inhuman strength.

Just then, a Kakushi runs up to the Hashira and bows. "Apologies for disturbing!"

"What do you want?!" Sanemi spat out.

The Kakushi member bows. "If you all would please follow me, I have come to take you all to your resting quarters!"

"Fucking finally..." Uzui sighs.

As they follow the Kakushi, Obanai's mind was still thinking about something.

"Hey, Mitsuri," the Love Hashira turns to face him. "You said you guys found out a lot more about this campus... what else did you find out?"

"Oh! Right! Well, apparently, the swordsmiths have their own corner in this campus, and it's quite big, too!"

"Not only that, Kotetsu brought his training doll." Muichiro joins in the conversation.

"What training doll?" Obanai and Kanroji both look down at their youngest comrade.

"A training doll that was made in the Sengoku Era, that can help with battle. I broke it the last time I went to the Swordsmith Village, but Kotetsu sent me a letter saying he fixed it." After saying that, Muichiro hurried ahead to chat with Giyuu, leaving Obanai and Kanroji dumbfounded.

"A-Anyway! There's also a training ground, and it's at the center of this campus! Isn't that exciting?! I thought it would be a good idea if we could train the other slayers, too!"

"Lame..." Sanemi groans.

"What do you think, Iguro-kun?" Kanroji looks at him with big eyes.

Obanai looks away, blushing slightly. "I... I think it's a good idea..."

"Of course you do..." Shinobu says with a fond smile. Sanemi and Uzui exchange a knowing look.

"We're here!" The Kakushi says as she stops in front of the building. A few of the Hashira nod their thanks while the rest just head inside.

When they get inside, they find nine adjoining bedrooms.

"Ok! Muichiro, your room will be in the center of ours, ok?" Shinobu smiles at the youngest.

"Eh? Don't I get a say in this?"

"Oh, sorry. Muichiro, are you ok with your room being in the center of ours?" Kyojuro asks.

"No." Muichiro deadpans.

"It's settled, then. Muichiro will take the room in the center. Kakushi." Shinobu snaps her fingers and signals the Kakushi to bring in their stuff.

"Then why do you ask...?" Muichiro grumbles.

"Sorry, little buddy!" Uzui ruffled Muichiro's hair as he goes to find a room to claim.

"Being in the center isn't that bad!" Kanroji reassures as she enters a room and squeals. "Ooh! I like this one! Mine!"

Giyuu claims a room that's right next to Muichiro's room. "Would it make you feel better if I'm sleeping in the room next to yours?"

"... a lot better. Thanks." Muichiro offers a small smile to Giyuu, which he returns.

"Ok, everyone. How about we unpack our stuff and hold a Hashira Meeting in the meeting room? We can come up with training schedules and everything." The others nod in agreement to Gyomei's words and enter their chosen rooms to unpack.

Muichiro is in his room, smiling down at a framed picture. It was taken after the battle at the Swordsmiths Village, when they defeated Upper 4 and 5, and he regained his memories.

"Young Tokito!"

Muichiro yelps in shock as he nearly drops the photo. He whirls around to see Kyojuro standing at the doorway with a wide smile.

"Geez, Rengoku, can't you knock or something?" Muichiro sets the picture down on a shelf, frowning at the Flame Hashira.

"I sincerely apologize! But I've come to bring something to you!" Kyojuro holds out a rag doll.

"I'm not a child," Muichiro deadpans, but he takes the doll from Kyojuro. "Where did you get this, anyway?"

"I found it in a box of Senjuro's things, and it reminded me of you! So, here you go!"

Muichiro gently strokes the doll's hair. "...thanks." He shuts the door and studies the doll closely.

Its yarn hair has the exact shade of black-to-turquoise as his own, and wearing the same baggy version of the demon slayer uniform.

The only thing different from the doll and him was that the doll has turquoise buttons for eyes.

Chapter Text

At night, all nine Hashira sat together, eating dinner while discussing the training plan for the trainees.

"So, any thoughts so far?" Tengen chews a spoonful of rice, staring at the others.

"Well, we know that the slayers who went missing all vanished without leaving a trace, so they probably didn't put up a fight. That must mean they were caught off guard by whoever captured them." Shinobu sets her chopsticks down, her usual smile turning melancholy as she thinks of Kanao.

"Hmm. So we should hone the other slayers' awareness to their surroundings and the situation they're in?" Mitsuri finishes a plate of sakura mochi, five empty platters sitting in front of her.

"An excellent idea, Mitsuri!" Kyojuro compliments his former tsugoku, a proud smile on his face as he devours a bento.

"I agree as well, but who should be in charge of it? Most of us are... unskilled in special awarenesses." Obanai crosses his arms.

"I can help with that. My master used to drop special attacks on me when he took me to train under his wing." Giyuu speaks up, salmon daikon halfway to his mouth.

The others all gaped at him, stunned that the anti-social Tomioka Giyuu is actually speaking and offering to help.

"What the shit..." Sanemi mumbles.

"I think you just sprung a sneak attack on us..." Muichiro jokes, nudging Giyuu in the ribs.

"Umu! What an excellent plan, Tomioka! Allow me to assist you with the Special Awareness Training! I would love to increase my stealth techniques as well!" Kyojuro puffs out his chest, his smile returning to its usual brightness.

Giyuu smiles softly, thrilled that Kyojuro wants to team up with him for his training. "I'd like that, Rengoku... I look forward to working together..."

The two Hashiras share a smile, Kyojuro with excitement and Giyuu with muted sheepishness.

"Now, should we wear costumes when we train the slayers?"

"Maybe we can just wear masks..."

"How about props?"

"You mean, besides our Nichirin swords?" Kyojuro raises his eyebrows in surprise.

"Yeah. When my master trained me, he used bamboo sticks, flying rocks, slingshots, poison darts..." Giyuu starts counting them off with his fingers, Kyojuro's eyes getting progressively wider as he listens.

"Anything else we need to train the slayers on?" Mitsuri asks, her excitement flared up as she watches Giyuu and Kyojuro exchange ideas on how to plan their training.

"... it's clear that the slayers also have unflamboyant stamina. I volunteer to increase their fitness and stamina." Tengen sloshes a cup of sake in his hand, staring at the alcohol in the cup.

"Some of the slayers also look a little stiff! I'd love to give them some training on flexibility!" Mitsuri presses her hands to her face, squealing in excitement.

"... I saw a few corps members working on their sword moves when me and Himejima went to ask for directions on how to get to our dormitories. Their moves were sloppy and uncoordinated. I'll work on it with them." Obanai feeds Kaburamaru a piece of raw meat, sounding unenthusiastic about training a group of weak slayers.

"Um, and their muscles could use a little increasing as well. Get some more power behind their strikes. I will be in charge of increasing their muscle intensity." Gyomei speaks up.

Shinobu involuntarily shudders as she remembers the training she and her older sister, Kanae, went through when Gyomei took them under his wing. "That's basically suicide!" She thinks to herself, her face getting pale.

"Anything else anyone would like to add?" Obanai mutters unenthusiastically, handing Mitsuri another bowl of hot pot.

"Tch. The resilience our so called 'corps members' have is shitty as fuck. I'll beat the resilience into them all." Sanemi smirks dangerously, pounding his fists together. His tea and ohagi sit on the table, getting colder.

"Hmm. I also believe it would be mandatory for slayers to know some basic first-aid out on the field, just in case. I'll teach them basic wound dressings and everything else after training every day." Shinobu picks up a piece of ginger tsukudani with her chopsticks.

"... Some of the slayers move far too slowly. They're going to get themselves killed out there on the field. I'll help them learn how to move faster." Muichiro mumbles as he moves the arms of his doll up and down, done with his meal already.

"Ok, so, let's check with the schedule one last time. First, Tengen is in charge of Fitness and Stamina-" Tengen nods as he downs another cup of sake.

"- Next, Muichiro is in charge of Rapid Movement." The fourteen year old nods, still distracted by his doll.

"- Then, they'll move on to Mitsuri, who will help them with their flexibility." The Love Hashira giggles enthusiastically as she finishes another bowl of hotpot.

"Obanai will assist the slayers with their sword movements." Obanai grunts in displeasure, putting his head in his hands.

"Then, Sanemi and his resilience training." Sanemi grins manically.

"God help us all..." Giyuu whispers under his breath.

"Finally, the slayers will proceed to muscle increasing training with me." Gyomei nods, and the other Hashiras nod as well, their dinner done. "Any questions or objections?"

"No." They answer in unison.

"Good. Now everyone, off to bed. No training or sneaking off tonight." Gyomei warns gently, and everyone stands up, slowly filing out of the room.

Muichiro stands up as well, reaching down to take the miniature him-doll. "Come on, mini-me, let's get back to..." He trails off, confusion written all over his face as he realizes the doll is not where he left it.

"Mini-me? Where are you?" Muichiro crawls around the dining room floor, checking every nook and cranny carefully. "Where are you...?"

Muichiro spots a blob of turquoise out of the corner of his eye, and he turns to inspect it. His doll sits, pressed between a chair and a section of a wall.

"Oh, there you are..." Muichiro whispers in a fond voice, crawling over and gently pushing the chair away, freeing his doll.

He was about to leave when he notices something unusual about that part of the wall. He places a hand to it, feeling the outline of a doorway tracing it. His hand travels down, surprised to find a small doorknob in the door.

"The hell...? Is there something back here?" Muichiro gently rests his hand against the doorknob and twists it, slowly opening it, his heart beating faster and faster with anticipation.

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His face falls with disappointment, seeing nothing but a wooden surface behind it. "Lame..." Muichiro shuts the door and leaves the dining room, clutching his doll tightly in his hand.

He doesn't see the flash of red, ominous light flashing from behind the door.

Chapter Text

After Muichiro enters his room, he sets his doll on his nightstand before turning to his closet. "Hey, no peeking." He smiles at his doll, taking out a mist-patterned yukata from his closet.

As he takes off his uniform, his bedroom door flies open. He yelps as he quickly slips his yukata over his head, covering himself up before glaring at the intruder, who turned out to be Uzui. "Do you not know how to knock?! I'm changing!"

"Oh please, I've already seen your body before. Flamboyantly toned." Uzui waves a hand around dismissively while dropping a comment on Muichiro's body, ignoring the latter's sputters as he looks around the room. "Who were you talking to?"

"Hah?" Muichiro blanches in surprise, blinking owlishly.

"You heard me. Who were you talking to?" A mischievous smirk crosses Uzui's face, and he places a hand on his chin. "Oh? Were you talking to your secret girlfriend? Very flamboyant of you, Tokito."

Muichiro's face grows red, and he tries to shove Uzui out of his room. "Ew! No! It's not that! Get out of my room!"

"Oh, come on, Muichiro. You're 14. It's natural to date and do other stuff! I remember back when I was fourteen, I took a trip to the Entertainment district and-"

"I'm gonna stop you right there." Muichiro deadpans, the tips of his ears growing red.

Uzui laughs loudly, the sound annoying Giyuu from the next room. The Water Hashira walks into the Mist Hashira's room with a frown. "What's going on in here? It's so noisy."

Muichiro's eyes light up when he sees Giyuu. "Yuu, thank god. Help me get this gaudy monkey out of my room!"

"Gaudy monkey? Man, you really know how to hurt someone's ego."

"I'll hurt more than your ego if you don't leave my room, you over-dramatic ape!" Muichiro gives Uzui another shove, but the Sound Hashira doesn't even budge, still laughing his ass off.

Giyuu sighs as he pinches the bridge of his nose. "I hate intervening with other people's messes..." He mumbles to himself before walking forward and placing his hands on Uzui's shoulders, steering the Sound Hashira out. "Come on, Uzui. Muichiro said to leave."

"Oh, come on, Tomioka. It's fun!" Uzui tries to protest, but Giyuu cuts him off. "No. It's best to not overstay our welcome."

Uzui sighs but gives in, letting Giyuu push him out of the room. Before he leaves, he turns back to face Muichiro with a grin. "Night then, little guy. Have fun with your girlfriend!"

"You wanna die so badly, don't you...?" Giyuu sighs softly under his breath, shaking his head.

Muichiro blushes as he picks up a pillow from his bed. "I don't have a girlfriend, you gaudy ape!" He throws the pillow at the Sound Hashira, who ducks out of the way and races out into the hallway.

Giyuu sighs and steps out into the hallway as well. He turns before Muichiro closes his bedroom door and gives him a gentle head pat. "Goodnight, Mui."

"Night, Yuu." Muichiro replies before closing the door behind him.

Giyuu sighs softly, shooting Uzui an annoyed expression before returning to his room. "Goodnight, Uzui-san." He closes the door behind him.

"Night, Tomioka! I wish you a night of flamboyant dreams!" Uzui gives Giyuu a two-finger salute before returning to his room as well.

Muichiro leans his forehead against the door when he hears silence from the hallway and sighs, giving his doll an exasperated look.

He walks to the nightstand and picks up his doll, running a hand through its yarn hair. "Lucky you," he whispers. "You don't have to deal with gaudy apes."

Muichiro picks up a hairbrush and starts combing it through his doll's yarn hair, humming softly. He feels himself calming down even more as the action soothes him, and he yawns before he sets down the brush, completely forgetting to brush his own hair.

He rolls out his futon and settles underneath the covers, pulling his doll close to his chest. "Goodnight, mini-me." He whispers softly as he closes his eyes, drifting off to sleep.

Later that night, Muichiro hears a squeak, and he stirs. He reaches for his doll, only to find it missing.

"Huh?" He immediately sits up, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Once they adjust, he sucks in a cold breath.

Two rats have found their way into his room, one of them holding his precious doll between its teeth.

"Hey! That's not food, you mangly rats!" Muichiro shouts at the two rats as they both scamper out of his room, the one with the doll in its teeth leading the way.

He chases after them, too agitated by the loss of his doll to notice anything unusual about the rats.

The rats lead Muichiro around the second floor before bolting into the dining room. Muichiro curses under his breath as he follows the rodents. "I swear to god, if you two are muscle mice, and this is Uzui's idea of a joke, I'm gonna..."

He trails off when he sees only one rat in the dining room, standing still as a statue. As if it was waiting for him. The other rat nowhere to be seen.

"Okay, you've had your fun, right? Give me back my doll, or I swear to God, I will feed you to Kaburamaru!" He glares at the rat while feeling incredibly stupid for yelling at a furry little rodent, but he can't help it. He wants the doll back, finding comfort in its soft yarn and its uncanny resemblance to his appearance.

He hears a soft squeak, but it didn't come from the rat standing in front of him. It came from behind the wall; the little door that's walled shut.

The rat in front of him squeaks before running to the little door, squeezes into the gap between the door and the floor, and disappears.

"What?" Muichiro mutters to himself, kneeling down on the floor.

He puts a hand to the crack between the floor and the door, feeling air blowing from underneath. It's as if there's wind on the other side. Muichiro pulls on the door slowly, but freezes as it makes a loud creaking sound. He quickly turns around to see if he woke anyone up, but the mansion remains quiet, with every Hashira asleep.

"Okay, then. One swift pull..." He whispers to himself. He takes a deep breath and tugs on the door, pulling it open as fast as he can. To his delight, the door swings open without a sound, and he peeks in.

Muichiro gasps in shock.

The wall from when he opened it earlier that night vanished, replaced by a long, shimmering tunnel. Lights flicker on and off in the walls and floors of the tunnel, while the tunnel itself looks like it's made out of clouds and mist.

He realizes that the view looks just like fireflies dancing in a misty night.

Entranced by the view, Muichiro reaches a hand out and presses it against the floor of the tunnel. Mist and clouds are vapour, after all. If he crawls into the tunnel, would he fall?

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His hand rests firmly on the misty surface, and he lets out a sigh of relief. He starts to crawl into the tunnel, too entranced by the view to notice the door behind him swinging shut.

Muichiro crawls in deeper and deeper, his wide eyes drifting across the twinkling lights embedded in the clouds and mist.

"This place is beautiful..." He whispers to himself, admiring the shimmering tunnel from every direction as he crawls. He's so distracted by the view that he slams headfirst into something hard, stars appearing in his vision from the pain. "Ow!"

He rubs his head, scowling at whatever he slammed into. He blinks furiously in an attempt to dispel the stars in his eyes, trying to clear his vision.

"The hell...?" Muichiro gasps in shock when his vision finally clears, revealing what he had slammed headfirst into.

It was another door, identical to the one he just entered.

"What the? Did I go in a circle all over the mansion?" Muichiro wonders aloud as he reaches for the doorknob,

He steps through and closes the door behind him, frowning when he sees that he's not in the mansion anymore. Instead, he's in a wooden hut. A very familiar wooden hut.

"What? How is this possible? Am I dreaming?" Muichiro mumbles softly as he looks around. He raises a hand and presses it against the wall, the roughness of the wood firm against his skin. "A very vivid dream at that..."

Muichiro closes his eyes as he sniffs the air, noticing a familiar smell in the hut. "That smell... It can't be..." He runs into the kitchen, stopping dead in his tracks. His eyes grow wide, and he covers his mouth with his hands.

There, at the kitchen counter and chopping vegetables, stands a very familiar person, wearing a black yukata with mist patterns, and turquoise-tipped black hair hanging to his waist.

Muichiro blinks repeatedly, rubbing his eyes with his fists. He pinches himself as hard as he could, trying to convince himself that it's a dream. But undeniably, the person is his older twin brother, Yuichiro.

"Nii-san...?" Muichiro mumbles out, tears stinging the corners of his eyes.

Yuichiro turns around and smiles, his usual scowl replaced with relaxed brows. "Ah, Muichiro. You're back. You're just in time for dinner."

Muichiro stumbles forward, his arms opened wide. Yuichiro holds out his arms as well, hugging Muichiro tightly. "What is it? Why are you crying all of a sudden?"

Muichiro doesn't answer at first, clinging to Yuichiro tightly. He buries his face in his shoulder, sobbing loudly. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

"Shh... Shh... Let it all out, Mui. Just let it all out." Muichiro cry even harder at his twin's words, and he buries his face deeper into Yuichiro's shoulder, still mumbling apologies between his sobs.

The twins remain in that position for a while. Muichiro can feel himself calming down even more as Yuichiro holds him, and he lets out a sigh of relief. "I... I can't believe you're right here..."

"I'm here, Mui. I'm here." The older twin starts stroking Muichiro's hair, letting out a tsk when his fingers find knots in his twin's hair. "Have you been taking care of yourself? Your hair is all tangled up."

The younger twin chuckles weakly, breaking the hug apart. He rubs his eyes again to dry the tears. "Yeah, well, I've been a little busy..." He gasps and stumbles backwards, his eyes widening when he sees Yuichiro's face.

"What? What is it, Mui?" Yuichiro asks as he gently scoots closer to his twin.

"Nii-san... Your eyes..." Muichiro stutters out, his finger trembling as he points at Yuichiro's face.

Upon close inspection, he realizes that his twin doesn't have regular eyeballs. Two turquoise buttons sit in their place instead.

"Ah? These?" Yuichiro raises a hand to tap one of his button eyes, smiling slightly at his younger twin.

Muichiro stares at his older twin's button eyes, his own normal eyes growing progressively wider. "Nii-san doesn't have button eyes... Nii-san has normal eyes..."

Yuichiro smiles softly, brushing a lock of hair out of his twin's face before rising to his feet. "Don't fret about it, okay, Mui? Now go sit down. Dinner's almost ready." He heads back to the kitchen, a slight spring in his step.

Muichiro hesitantly walks over to the small table and sits down, his hands twisting the fabric of his yukata. His eyes dart around the room as he searches for anything unusual, and they land on his doll, his eyes widening in surprise.

Yuichiro comes in with a plate, the food steaming. "Here, Mui. I made furofuki daikon." He sets the plate on the table, frowning when his twin doesn't respond. He turns his head, following Muichiro's gaze to the doll.

"Nii-san... where did you get that?" Muichiro asks softly, his eyes still on his doll. His mood turns sour the second he remembers the rats stealing his doll from him.

"Ah. Two little mice came in with one of them carrying it in its teeth." Yuichiro lowers a hand to the floor, and a little mouse squeaks before running to his palm. He scoops the little rodent up and scratches the back of its ear.

Muichiro frowns, his mood darkening even more. "Well, I would like it back. I don't like how the mice stole from me." He complains, his tone a little snippier than he intended.

Yuichiro complies without question, walking over and picking up the doll. He hands it back to his younger twin, and Muichiro holds his doll close to him, his expression still sour with a hint of suspicion hidden within.

After all, Yuichiro was never this nice to him back when he was still alive. Sure, there were some nice moments here and there, but never had his older twin been this sweet and considerate.

"Muichiro, is everything okay?" Yuichiro tilts his head slightly, his button eyes gleaming under the light.

Muichiro swallows nervously at the sight of his older twin's button eyes before nodding. "Uh huh. It's just... I'm really happy to see you, Nii-san. But the rats and the eyes..."

Yuichiro smiles again, his button eyes filled with warmth as he reaches across the table and holds Muichiro's hand in his own. "I told you, don't worry about the buttons anymore, Mui. As for the mice... Think of it this way. If they haven't stolen your doll, you wouldn't have reunited with me!"

Muichiro frowns as he turns the information over in his head, and Yuichiro holds his breath, praying to himself that his twin will accept it.

Muichiro finally nods as he accepts Yuichiro's words, picking up his chopsticks and poking the furofuki daikon. "Nii-san, is the food... safe to eat?"

Yuichiro hums in confirmation as he lets out a sigh if relief, picking up a piece of daikon with his chopsticks and putting it in his mouth. Muichiro relaxes when he sees his twin eat, and picks up a piece of daikon along with furofuki with his chopsticks, chewing it happily. "I missed Nii-san's cooking..."

Yuichiro smiles as he picks up another piece of daikon. "Eat up, Mui. I can make more."

Muichiro manages to eat three more servings of furofuki daikon before setting down his chopsticks and yawning. Yuichiro notices and sets down his chopsticks, too.

"Nii-san... I'm tired." Muichiro rubs his eyes, blinking slowly. He feels incredibly sleepy, but he doesn't want to fall asleep and wake up from this wonderful dream.

"Come on, Mui. Let's go to bed." Yuichiro takes Muichiro's hand in his own, leading his twin to their shared bedroom. Muichiro enters the room, smiling slightly as he sees the futons laid out on the floor, and the walls a pristine white. It was like the demon attack from that summer night never even happened.

Yuichiro tucks Muichiro in, blinking his button eyes as he gives his twin a smile. Muichiro hugs his doll tightly to his chest, feeling a little unnerved by his older twin's button eyes.

"Go to sleep, Muichiro. Nii-san will stay right here." Yuichiro says gently, his tone uncharacteristically soft.

Muichiro furrows his brows, but he doesn't overthink it. He's too happy, too content with how the night turned out to dwell too long on it. He reaches for Yuichiro's hand, squeezing it tightly as he falls asleep. "Mmhm... Goodnight, Nii-san."

Yuichiro smiles as Muichiro falls asleep. "Goodnight..." He whispers back, squeezing Muichiro's hand back. He can feel warmth spreading across his chest, and he uses his other hand to brush a strand of hair out of his younger twin's face.

"Yuichiro." The button-eyed twin freezes, squeezing Muichiro's hand even tighter. The latter doesn't notice the voice, still sleeping peacefully.

Yuichiro turns to look at the doll in Muichiro's hand, its button eyes now narrowed as its brows furrow. "Do not get attached. You know why he's here." Yuichiro immediately bows down, pressing his forehead to the floor. "Yes, Master. I remember."

The doll smirks dangerously before returning to its limp position in Muichiro's arms, and Yuichiro sighs, looking at his sleeping twin with an apologetic expression.

"Muichiro... I'm sorry."

Chapter Text

When Muichiro opens his eyes again, he finds himself back in his room at the dormitories instead of the wooden hut he fell asleep in last night.

He raises a hand to shield his eyes from the light, and his mind thinks back to the events last night. He sits up and looks to his side.

His doll is sitting next to his pillow, as if watching him sleep.

He smiles softly as he picks it up in his hands, stroking its yarn hair. "Good morning, mini-me." He pauses for a bit before raising it to his lips to whisper in its ear. "Did last night really... happen?"

He picks up a faint scent coming from the doll, and he quickly pulls it to his nose.

He sniffs carefully, detecting a hint of wild berries and smoke. He knows that wild berries don't grow near campus, and this particular smell of berries is exactly how the berries near his childhood home smells like.

Muichiro hugs the doll to his chest, grinning from ear to ear and inhaling the familiar scent of berries.

"Guys, I am telling you. It happened!" Muichiro insists, waving his chopsticks around in the air.

The Hashiras are gathered in the dining room again, this time for breakfast. The cooks have prepared a breakfast buffet consisting Japanese choices like miso soup, fish, and sushi, along with Western food like pancakes, omelettes, and juice.

Everyone is thankful that the cooks made a separate buffet just for Mitsuri, considering that she's already eaten half of her buffet.

Shinobu sighs a little as she looks over at the youngest Hashira. "Muichiro, listen to yourself. A little door in the wall of the dining room, and it leads to another world, where your twin brother is alive, and with button eyes?"

"It does sound a bit far-fetched." Obanai admits as he strokes Kaburamaru's head. The snake hisses in agreement.

Muichiro stares at the Insect and Serpent Hashira. He can't believe that they don't believe him. "I'm not making this up. This really happened!"

Kyojuro frowns a little as he thinks over the Mist Hashira's words, and he looks over. "Young Tokito, you said you got to this 'other world' through a door in the walls?"

Muichiro frowns as well when he sees the Flame Hashira use his fingers to quote out the words 'other world', but he nods. "Uh huh. Here, I'll show you."

He walks over to the wall, very well aware of the other Hashiras following him. He kneels down and rests his hand on the doorknob, pulling the door open. 

"Here, see? You guys see the tunnel?"

The other Hashiras look through the doorway before giving Muichiro pitying looks.

"Mui... That's a wall." Giyuu says bluntly.

"Mui? Since when are you guys so close?" Shinobu raises an eyebrow at the nickname.

"Since when were you close with anyone?" Sanemi scoffs, and Giyuu lowers his gaze a little.

Muichiro doesn't seem to hear the short banter between the others. He's too busy pressing his hand against the wall, knocking on the hard bricks.

"What?! But... this was a doorway... There was a tunnel..." He protests, still knocking on the bricks as if he can knock the portal back.

Uzui sighs before nudging the door shut with his foot. He kneels down to Muichiro's eye level with a rare look of seriousness. "Look, kid, clearly you had a heck of a dream..."

"Shut it! It wasn't a dream!" Muichiro snaps. He walks over to his doll, which he brought with him to the dining room, and hugs it close to his chest.

Giyuu shares a look with Shinobu and sighs softly. He walks over to the youngest Hashira and kneels down to his eye level, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, Mui. A lot of us have had dreams about our dead loved ones before."

"Not to mention, you just got your memories back. You probably just had a memory flashback, and mistook it as a dream." Muichiro sighs as he looks down at the doll in his hands.

"Yeah, maybe you're right... It was all in my head..."

The other Hashiras breathe out sighs of relief at Muichiro's words.

"Come now. It's almost time for training." Everyone groans at the reminder before shuffling out of the dining room.

Muichiro casts one more look at the small door before hurrying out to catch up with the other Hashiras, and misses the red glow that appears from under the door.

Every slayer is divided into groups by their rank, and their training starts. 

Needless to say, it was hell.

The Sound Hashira slams a wooden sword against the ground, yelling at the Mizunotos as they run lap after lap around campus.

Tsuchinotos scream in pain as the Love Hashira guides them through a series of yoga poses, and their limbs end up getting tangled up as they resemble a pretzel.

Kinoes and Kinotos form in pairs of two, with their backs pressed against one another's. They hold wooden swords in their hands as they try to parry the Serpant Hashira's sword strikes.

The sound of screaming rings throughout campus as the Wind Hashira beats the hell out of Mizunoes, yelling profanities in the process.

Hinotos and Kanotos grunt painfully as the Mist Hashira zooms around them, the wooden swords in their hands proving to be useless as the Hashira beats them mercilessly.

Tsuchinoes seem to have it a lot easier than the other ranks. They sit and listen as the Insect Hashira guides them through the steps of simple first aid treatment.

Kanoes whimper and choke back sobs as they stand under a rushing stream, the cold water soaking them to the bone as they mumble out prayers, with the Stone Hashira watching from a distance.

Hinoes are taken to the corner of campus, and they clutch their katanas as their eyes dart around. The Flame and Water Hashiras would jump out occasionally, taking a slayer before hiding again. In other words, it's basically like a very scary version of tag.

Screams echo throughout the entire campus as day stretches into night, the sound never waning or faltering.

When night falls, they dismiss the slayers, and watch them disperse with different thoughts.

"Well, I think they're all fucking useless." Sanemi says as he folds his arms over his chest.

"I agree. They're quite weak." Obanai scoffs as he rubs his thumb over the wooden sword he's using. "They couldn't even lay a hand on me. And I was going easy."

"Come on, guys! They did their best, and that's what counts!" Mitsuri, ever the optimistic one, tries to defend the slayers' performance at training today.

Kyojuro nods in agreement as he crosses his arms over his chest, mirroring Sanemi's posture. "Umu! They did give it their best!"

"Yes, but it's not enough. If they don't get stronger, all of them might get kidnapped." Giyuu chimes in as he tugs off the mask he put on for the scary game of tag.

Muichiro is barely paying attention, too busy drinking water to do so. He's just set down the bottle when a hand grabs his arm and tugs him away from the group. He looks up at the owner of the hand, glaring at his very flamboyant colleague.

"Hey! What the-?! Uzui, let go of me!" He struggles against the Sound Hashira's grip, but Uzui is surprisingly unrelenting right now.

The Sound Hashira drags the Mist Hashira to a secluded spot behind a wall and spins the younger boy to face him, his expression serious and lacking its usual teasing smile.

"What the hell was that for? That hurt..." Muichiro grumbles as he rubs his arm, feeling a bruise form at where Uzui grabbed him.

Uzui winces apologetically when he sees the forming bruise. "Sorry. But this is serious, alright?"

Muichiro grumbles as he stops rubbing his arm, and looks up at Uzui's face. "Fine. What do you want?"

The Sound Hashira looks left and right before suddenly leaning close to the younger boy's face. The latter flushes red with embarrassment and awkwardness. "Uzui! What the heck?! Get away from-"

"Stay away from the small door."

"Huh?" Muichiro pauses. He looks into the taller man's eyes. "What did you just say?"

"Stay away from the small door. My mice suddenly started squeaking this morning, and that's all that I can get out of them. I don't know what it means, but stay away from it, alright?" Uzui looks at the younger boy, waiting for a response.

But Muichiro had stopped listening. He lowers his gaze as he thinks back to the little door in the wall of the dining room wall. To his button-eyed twin on the other side.

"Earth to Tokito Muichiro! Are you there?"

Muichiro jumps when he hears Uzui shout at him, and he looks up to face the Sound Hashira again.

"Sorry, I spaced out. What did you say?"

Uzui huffs a sigh at Muichiro's response. "Honestly. I thought you grew out of your habit of staring into space. I said that the small door in the dining room wall is dangerous! Don't ever go in again, got it?"

Muichiro rolls his eyes before nodding. "Alright, alright, I hear you..."

Chapter Text

Dinner seems to drag for ages.

Even though Muichiro is itching to go and check out the small door again, he stays in his seat because for some reason, Uzui refuses to tear his gaze away from him. He stirs his miso soup slowly, trying to distract himself.

"Hey, Mui. Muichiro? Muichiro!"

Said boy yelps when he hears someone shout out his name, and he drops his spoon. He looks up to see the Water Hashira, who's staring down at him.

"You okay? You seem distracted." Giyuu asks as he furrows his brows, his usual monotone face displaying concern.

Muichiro nods as he forces a small smile on his face. "Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine." He lets out a chuckle or two, knowing that he sounds unconvincing and extremely awkward.

Giyuu's frown deepens at Muichiro's response, and he leans in closer to talk with him more privately. "I saw Uzui drag you away after training. Did he say something to you?"

Muichiro thinks back to what the Sound Hashira had said to him, frowning. Stay away from the small door...

"Uh, no. Nope. Nothing remotely important." He says after a while, trying to give his older brother figure a reassuring smile.

The Water Hashira blinks down at the Mist Hashira's reassuring smile, and he manages a smile back. "Alright then, I'll believe you. But remember, if you need anything, my room is right next to yours. Okay?"

Muichiro rolls his eyes fondly before picking up his spoon and sending a spoonful of soup into his mouth. "Alright, alright. I'm not a child, Yuu."

Giyuu smiles softly at Muichiro's nickname for him, and he pets his long hair. "No, but you are younger than me. Therefore, it's my responsibility to care for you."

Muichiro grumbles as Giyuu starts petting his long hair, but he doesn't push his hand away. He leans into the touch instead. "Fine. I guess I have no choice but to accept." He huffs, trying and failing to seem annoyed.

"Am I seeing things? Are the two of you acting like a pair of brothers?"

"Oui! This isn't the time and place to do that, you two dipshits!"

"Ara ara, Sanemi. That's not very nice, you know."

"Shut your mouth, woman!"

"L-let's all just stay calm..."

"Umu! Let us not fight!"

"Get out of my face, Kyojuro!"

Muichiro and Giyuu share an exasperated look as their fellow Hashiras start gaping and shouting like a bunch of children. Although, to be fair, they were acting like children themselves.

"Hmph. Childish." Muichiro huffs.

"You said it." Giyuu agrees.

When all the chatter finally died down, they realized that it's almost time to return to their rooms again. They all filed out of the room, talking with one another.

No one notices Muichiro sneaking a block of cheese from the table.

After Muichiro returns to his room, he breaks the cheese into tiny little pieces, his tongue sticking out in concentration. He can hear Uzui's words ringing in his ear, and he groans. 

He lifts his face after a few seconds, locking eyes with his doll. It might only be his imagination, but his doll is giving him a judging look.

"Don't give me that look. I know that Uzui said to stay away from the door, but you saw what's on the other side. Yuichiro is there! I'm going to see him again tonight." Muichiro says as he places the small cubes of cheese on a handkerchief and places it on the nightstand.

He sets his doll next to the handkerchief before changing into his yukata, glad that he had the foresight to lock the door this time. If he strains his ears, he can hear Uzui's muscle mice squeaking outside.

Muichiro sighs as he crawls into bed and pulls the covers up to his neck. He looks over at his doll, anticipation written all over his face. "Now... we wait."

Muichiro yawns as he stares at the block of cheese, feeling his eyes growing heavier with every second. It's almost midnight, and there's still no sign of the small mice that took his doll last night.

"Maybe it really was a dream..." He mumbles to himself as he closes his eyes, ready to succumb to sleep.

Squeak squeak. Squeak squeak.

Muichiro's eyes fly open at the soft squeaking, and he sits up in bed, turning his head to look at the cheese. Two mice are sitting on his nightstand, eating the cheese.

"Hey!" He yells, and the mice scurry off. He chases after them, going around the dormitories before they lead him into the dining room again.

"Just like last night..." He whispers in anticipation as he crawls over to the small door. His hand hovers above the small doorknob, hesitant and uncertain.

"Should I...? Uzui did say to stay away from it... But then again, he's an idiot. He could've been joking. But what if the portal's not there, just like this morning..."

Muichiro stares at the small door nervously, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Please work, please work..." He mumbles to himself before pulling the door open.

He lets out a sigh of relief when he sees the shimmering tunnel, with tiny, golden lights weaving in and out of the mist like dancing fireflies.

"I knew it. I knew it wasn't a dream." He whispers happily to himself. He immediately crawls into the tunnel, trembling with the anticipation of seeing his twin again.

"Nii-san! Nii-san, I'm back!" Muichiro yells happily as he crawls out of the small door and straightens himself up. He looks around, expecting to see the familiar wooden hut that's his childhood home.

Only, he doesn't see it. 

He finds himself standing in the dining room of the dormitories again, the only glaring difference being the table. Instead of bare and empty, it's filled with an assortment of food. His stomach growls.

Muichiro sighs as he walks around the table, his fingers running over the smooth wooden surface. "So was it a dream or not? I went through the portal, but I'm back in the dining room..."

He rubs his temples, confused about the predicament he found himself in. He went through the portal, but why is he back in the dormitories?

"I need a snack. I need to think." He says aloud to no one in particular as he exits the dining room and walks into the kitchen. He does a double take when he sees someone that he never expected to see in the dormitories.

"Yuichiro?!" Muichiro gasps out, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

Yuichiro turns around to face Muichiro. "Ah, Muichiro. You're back. How was your day?"

Muichiro stares at Yuichiro, his eyes comically wide. He can see the buttons in his twin's eyes' place, so he knows that he's passed through the portal, but they're in the demon slayers' dormitories...

"... Nii-san, where are we...?" Muichiro asks softly, looking around the kitchen.

"We're in the kitchen, silly." Yuichiro says softly, his button eyes somehow expressing amusement.

Muichiro huffs as he takes a step closer, his eyes narrowing slightly. "True, but we're in the demon slayer dormitories. This isn't a place you should be in..."

Yuichiro raises an eyebrow and folds his arms over his chest. "Why can't I be here?"

"But... This place is... How are you here?"

"I've always been here."

The twins stared at each other for a moment, the silence awkward and heavy between them. 

Eventually, Yuichiro breaks the silence with a sigh and turns back to the stove. "Can you go and get the others, Mui? Tell them that dinner's almost ready."

Muichiro nods numbly as he spins on his heels and walks out the kitchen, his mind reeling with confusion. Yuichiro is here, in the demon slayers' corps? And what others?

The answer to his second question came sooner than he thought, when he peeks into the doorway that leads to the gardens. He looks up at the sky, noting that the moon looks brighter and bigger than when he last saw it.

He can hear soft conversation, and he turns to face the source of the sound. His eyes grow wide as he received his second shock for the night.

"Guys?! What are you all doing here?!"

Everyone whips around to look at Muichiro, and he gulps loudly. He takes a hesitant step back, his pupils shaking slightly.

"B-b-b-button eyes..." He stammers as he points at his fellow Hashiras, staring back at eight pairs of button eyes.

Uzui walks forward and places his hand on Muichiro's shoulder, ignoring the younger boy's flinch as he gives him a warm smile. "What are you doing out here, Muichiro?"

The person in question flinches again at Uzui's words, and he looks up at the red buttons gleaming in the place of the Sound Hashira's eyes. He gulps again before quietly pointing inside.

"Uhm... Nii-san... Dinner..." He stammers out, his voice shaking with fear and confusion.

"Yay! Yuichiro made dinner!" Mitsuri cheers, her lime-green button eyes somehow expressing excitement.

"Of course he did..." Sanemi huffs, a hint of a smile on his face as he quietly adjusts his lavender buttons.

"Well then, best to get a move on. We wouldn't want it to go cold." Giyuu chimes in as he brings up the rear of the group, his ocean-blue buttons shining under the moonlight.

Muichiro whirls his head around as he stares at his fellow Hashiras. His eyes follow their movements, studying their body language. He can tell that something is different, but he doesn't know what.

Yuichiro is setting a big dish on the table, smiling when he sees the Hashiras file in, chattering. His smile brightens when he sees his twin, and he runs over to him.

"Thanks, Mui. You're always so thoughtful and helpful." Yuichiro flings his arms around Muichiro's neck with a tiny smile, which the younger twin returns happily.

"Hey, can you two cut it out with the hugging nonsense? Some of us want to eat." Obanai pulls his mask down and places a piece of sashimi into his mouth, chewing. Muichiro dully notes that the scar that he's seen on the Serpent Hashira's face once is gone.

Yuichiro huffs in response, but he pulls away from Muichiro. He leads his twin to sit down at the head of the table, a hint of a smile still on his face.

"Oi, Tokito. I need gravy." Sanemi grunts out as he looks down at his steak.

Yuichiro claps his hands, and a gravy boat sails through the tablecloth, stopping in front of the amused Wind Hashira. "Here's your gravy."

Shinobu and Mitsuri lean in close and whisper to one another, their voices soft as they let out an occasional giggle.

Uzui and Rengoku are having a drinking contest, and they down the sake, one cup after the other, with Gyomei as the judge.

Giyuu watches the drinking competition quietly as he helps himself to a plate of salmon, chewing on the fish as he watches Uzui and Rengoku get redder with every cup of sake they drink.

Yuichiro settles down next to his younger twin, his head resting on his shoulder as he holds a bickering contest with Sanemi, the whitehead yelling back while eating his steak, miraculously not choking.

Muichiro looks around the table, and suddenly, he understands what is different in their body language.

Joy. Happiness. Freedom. Their body expression is filled with them, free of the stress, anger and misery that usually plagues them.

Muichiro smiles softly as he rests his chin in the heel of his palm and looks around, feeling calmer than he's been ever since he became a demon slayer.

He yawns softly and closes his eyes, falling asleep to the soft conversations and the chimes of silverware.