Disclaimer: Demon Slayer is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
---
While Gyomei urges the Tokito family to come to the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps, Tanjuro was behind everyone as his eyes kept scanning and reading the papers that were given to him by Kokushibo.
Tanjuro laid out several of the papers to see that most of the papers' drawings were blueprints to the Infinity Castle.
Although the structure of the castle was never fixed, the overall layout was not easily changed.
For example, the location of the Nakime, where Muzan usually appears.
Each of the Upper Moons has their own residence within the Infinity Castle, and the location of such rooms will not change.
Tanjuro's gaze went to the lower part of the map.
In small letters, "Douma – Lotus Shrine" was written.
The mobile and fragmented buildings are also marked with their usual movement tracks on the map.
It is a very detailed blueprint that contained almost everything in the Infinity Castle.
This... was all left behind by Kokushibo.
"Kokushibo..." Tanjuro frowned and muttered to himself. His mind was working overtime, and the impact of such information would do to the Demon Slayer Corps.
"You really betrayed Muzan?"
After learning that the words in Kokushibo's eyes had disappeared, Tanjuro remembered back that the numbers in Gyokko and Hantengu's eyes were one digit higher than before.
The fact was true. Kokushibo is removed from the Upper Moon.
Such an idea was absurd to think about.
He didn't know what happened to cause this or the reason behind it; it can be inferred from the papers, the Tokito family, and their interaction in the woods that Kokushibo has indeed betrayed Muzan.
Kokushibo's action of closing his eyes to look more normal...
...perhaps, he wanted to make himself look as he did before, a human.
But that was not possible.
Tanjuro put away all the papers and folded them neatly back into the package.
'I'll leave this to Kagaya.' Tanjuro decided.
---
---
The next day.
"Amitabha."
Gyomei stood outside the door. His monk robe was stained with the dew of the mornings. His hold on the beads was never loosened for a moment.
The Upper Moon One did not reappear, and nothing happened last night, much to his chagrin.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Himejima-san."
The entrance of the house was opened. Kaoru walked out while holding her children's hands. She turned her head back to look at the house. She had lived here for more than 10 years, and her eyes seemed to stare through the house, remembering the memories.
"Let's go."
---
The group made haste until the afternoon, when Tanjuro separated from Gyomei at the intersection leading to the Butterfly Mansion.
Shinjuro did not return with them, as his Nichirin blade was broken. He was in talk with his blacksmith about forging a new one.
The village chief also promised Tanjuro that he would send his Nichirin blade to the Butterfly Mansion after he finished forging it.
Before separating, Tanjuro handed the intel of the Infinity Castle to a kakushi, who passed it on to another member until it reached Kagaya.
A meeting with the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps is scarce, in order to protect Oyakata-sama, unless it's time for the Hashira meeting.
This rule was established during the Warring States era because of Kokushibo.
"Uncle, where are we going?"
Yuichiro reached out and tugged at the hem of Tanjuro's kimono. The kid was looking up at him with a questioning expression.
In other news,
Tanjuro tilted his head to look at the Tokito family and their luggage, big and small.
The Tokito family was temporarily placed in the Butterfly Mansion by request of the Stone Hashira.
So they were following Tanjuro.
"The Butterfly Mansion." Tanjur answered as he continued walking forward with Yuichiro still holding on to the hem of his clothes.
It wasn't long before they saw the roof of the mansion visible at the end of the street.
---
-Location: Butterfly Mansion-
"Good afternoon! You've worked hard!"
"Need any help?"
Tanjiro was greeting people in the same energetic way as Kyojuro had done a few days ago, startling the patients in the Mansion Ward, who broke out in cold sweat and quickly left the vicinity.
Tanjiro was not discouraged, and he continued his chores.
A few days ago, the girl who didn't like to talk much came back from a mission. She was not surprised to see the Kamado family.
Perhaps Mother's worries are unnecessary.
But!
Tanjiro raised his head and his fist. He gripped the rag in his hand and had an eager look on his face.
"I want to help! I can't just eat and drink here for free every day!"
Tap, tap.
The sound of footsteps was barely heard coming from behind Tanjiro.
His nose twitched slightly, and he smelled a familiar scent.
"Urokodaki-san!" Tanjiro turned around to greet the visitor.
Sakonji paused in his walk. "Hello, Tanjiro." His voice was old and experienced and seemed a little surprised.
Sakonji's appearance was the same as his anime counterpart, with his red tengu mask and blue cloud-pattern jinbei kimono.
Even though their meeting was short, Tanjiro was already able to sense his presence before he walked in through the gate of the entrance.
'What a hardworking child.'
Urokodaki's eyes softened slightly under his mask.
Tanjiro ran over happily, stopping in front of the old man. As he got closer, though, Tanjiro's expression became a little more worried.
"Urokodaki-san, are you perhaps... injured somewhere? Is that why you come to the Butterfly Mansion?"
After all, only injured members of the Corps would come to the Butterfly Mansion.
Sakonji didn't answer Tanjiro's question for a while, lost in his own memories.
The last time, the Kamado family stayed at his residence.
The children were so noisy and unruly, he felt like he was talking to his boneheaded disciples he had taught.
...and none of them survives the final selection.
Urokodaki Sakonji, the former Water Hashira and the current master instructor for Water Breathing, has not produced many swordsmen from his teaching for a long time.
It reached the point where he took in disciples who were persistent in learning from him, and he deliberately prevented them from participating in the final selection.
He gives them all impossible tasks.
By splitting a gigantic and tough rock.
So many children died in vain.
Because he didn't do a good job.
Such a weight of his failures pressing down heavily on his heart.
"Urokodaki-san?"
Tanjiro looked straight at Sakonji with pure intention. There was no thought of malice or prank in his mind as he kept searching Sakonji's body for a sign of injuries.
Sakonji's reason for coming to the mansion was simple.
He wanted to see the children of the Kamados.
But for some reason, he couldn't utter a word to express this intention. He couldn't bring himself to say, 'I came to see you.'
However, Sakonji was saved from an awkward situation by the arrival of the Tokito family.
"Brother, look! What a big house!"
Muichiro pulled his brother's hand and excitedly pointed out his finger. His eyes were sparkling with novelty.
"How cool!"
Yuichiro pulled away his hand from his brother's clutch. Disgust coloring his face. "Shut up, moron!" He answered with indignation.
Sakonji and Tanjiro turned their heads to see the commotion at the same time.
And Tanjuro, who was walking in front, came face-to-face with Sakonji.
While both of them knew of each other's existence, this is their first time meeting directly.
The moment Tanjuro saw Sakonji's red tengu mask and gray hair.
Click.
Tanjuro subconsciously gripped the hilt of Kusabimaru on his waist and almost swung it out of its scabbard.
The visual reminded him of another person in the Sekiro world.
A person with white hair and a tengu mask.
—The Sword Saint, Old Man Isshin Ashina.