Just a few moments later, Tengen Uzui landed flamboyantly with a soft boom, leaves rustling. Just behind him, Tomioka Giyu appeared—both tensed and alert.
"We came as soon as we received your message. Did you kill the demon?"
Tengen asked, looking at the pale faced Shinobu while Giyu scanned the area warily.
"I killed one. The other escaped." She answered shakily.
"Lower Moons?" Giyu asked quietly, releasing the hilt of his sword.
"No..." Shinobu shook her head, still pale.
Tengen immediately noticed something amiss. If it wasn't a Lower Moon, then it definitely couldn't have been able to escape from Shinobu.
Could it be...?
"Douma." Shinobu heaved, clarity returning to her expression slightly. "Upper Moon Two."
Tengen's eyes widened in shock. "And you fought him alone? That's suici—"
Shinobu interrupted, cutting him off. "He didn't come to fight." She paused. "Instead... he came to see me."
"See you?"
Giyu's eyes narrowed. He could tell Shinobu was mentally shaken. Perhaps the demon had used a mind ability on her?
"I guess so. It's eerie. The way he spoke. The way he..."
She shook her head. She didn't want to go into details.
"We need to have an Hashira meeting tomorrow morning. I'll inform Oyakata-sama. If it was truly Douma, then the Upper Moons must be getting active."
Tengen frowned, then turned to Shinobu.
"Let's return to your mansion. From there we'll move to the Ubuyashiki Mansion."
.....
In the Ubuyashiki Mansion, the next morning.
Gathered before the house were all the Hashiras—Tengen, Giyu, Mitsuri, Sanemi, Muichiro, Rengoku, Obanai, Gyomei and finally Shinobu. Everyone was tensed and solemn, each disturbed by the appearance of an Upper Moon demon.
"Welcome Oyakata-sama."
Two girls, twin sisters both called in sync as a frail young man with black hair and a pink like veiny disease on his upper face stepped forward.
Immediately, all the Hashiras dropped to their knees, bowing to him.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
The leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.
"You can all rise."
Sitting with the help of his two daughters, he said calmly.
"I believe we've all heard about the issue which occured yesterday night. Still, I'd like Hashira Shinobu to please reinform us what exactly happened."
All the Hashiras nodded, turning to look at Shinobu who dropped to her knees again.
"I was training outside yesterday night when I suddenly saw a demon watching me. At first I thought it was strong until I chased it and easily killed it. Then he appeared." She gulped. "He was so strong I couldn't even touch him until he let me."
"Let you?" Sanemi frowned, disturbed.
"Yes. I was pathetically weak against him until he allowed me to land a hit. I was able to stab him with my poisoned sword but..." She took a deep breath. "He used that opportunity to... hug me."
Silence.
Deep, frozen silence generated from shock.
"D-did I mishear?" Mitsuri, the Love Hashira asked quietly. Even Tengen and Giyu were shocked. She hadn't told them that.
"Shinobu, why do you think he did that?"
Kagaya asked calmly.
"I-i don't know. It just—it just felt like a twisted form of longing. Demonic." She spat, her eyes burning with hate.
"Holy Buddha. I feel your anger." Gyomei said solemnly.
"Could this be a ploy? Trying to manipulate Shinobu?" Giyu asked, his stoic face marred with a frown.
"Hmm? Manipulation? I see." Obanai hummed, sounding convinced.
Shinobu wanted to agree with them but she suddenly remembered. The thumping of his heart in her ears.
'Hell! That couldn't be real right?'
"I presume Shinobu isn't done yet?"
Kagaya's voice silenced them all as they turned to the contemplating lady.
"Shinobu, did he say anything in particular? Probably a clue to why he would take such an action." Kagaya asked, deeply interested.
"Well, based on what he said, he seemed to have developed a feeling of missing me. I just don't know how since I've only seen him once." She gritted her teeth. "When he killed my sister."
Instantly, the mood dropped. Kotoha was not the first Hashira to have died from the hands of demons but her's was the most painful.
Quietly, Giyu stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder awkwardly.
Shinobu seemed to appreciate such form of silent support as she gave him a weak smile.
"Also. He said he'd be back. I don't know when but I'm sure he would."
Immediately, Rengoku's eyes shone brightly. "That means we have a chance at killing him."
Instead of sharing his enthusiasm, Kagaya was more troubled.
'Was this one of Muzan's ploy to disorient the Demon Slayer Corps? Or could it be Upper Moon Two playing a different game? This is dangerous.'
Sighing, he looked at the Hashiras who were awaiting his verdict
"Obanai and Giyu. You both should stay with Shinobu for a while. We wouldn't pack all our Hashiras at one point. That might be their plan." He paused, letting the reality sink into them. "If he indeed disregards caution and show's up despite seeing two other Hashiras, then you are allowed to engage. The others wouldn't be too far away."
"Understood."
Giyu and Obanai chorused, striking their chest with their fist.
"Very well, you're dismissed. Thank you for showing up." Kagaya smiled softly, then stood up.
The Hashiras bowed again till he was out of sight.
"Shinobu-chan, you shouldn't worry much about that demon. Instead, this is your chance to finally kill him." Mitsuri said comfortingly, holding her hand and gazing into her purple eyes.
"Ah, thank you, Mitsuri." Shinobu smiled softly, eased.
"Let's go."
Obanai said behind his mask, the snake on his neck hissing in agreement.
"We'll be around. Let us know if you encounter him on any occasion. We'll come running."
Rengoku said grimly while Gyomei clasped his hands and uttered a silent prayer for the trio.
After the three left, Muichiro spoke up.
"Are the Upper Moons that dreadful?"
Everyone turned silent, turning to Gyomei for an answer.
"Yes. They are the only ones who can easily kill an Hashira. But I believe we can kill them too."