22. Hashira

“Wake up!”

“Hey, I said wake up! You can’t sleep all day, you know! Come on, wake up already!”

“Hm?” Hana opened her eyes and saw a line of people standing before her.

“You’re in the presence of the Hashira!” the Kakushi stated.

What the actual-

“Bummer,” the Sound Hashira remarked. “I heard they were Demon Slayers with a demon in tow, "I expected someone flamboyant...but that's one drab-looking dude and a plain little girl..” There was clear disappointment in his tone.

An irk mark formed on Hana’s face. What did he just call me?

“And now, we’ll put these children on trial! I see!” the Flame Hashira chirped.

'To think that they have been protecting their sister who’s now a demon… Now that’s beautiful sibling love! How brave! the Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, thought.

“W-who are you peop-” Tanjiro started.

“Don’t open your mouth yet, you numbskull!” the Kakushi snapped, pushing Tanjiro’s head into the rocks. “Just who do you think is standing before you?”

“Where are we?” Hana asked.

“Do you have any idea who these people are?” he shouted at the siblings.

“You are in the presence of the Hashira!”

'Hashira? What is Hashira? What is he talking about?' Hana thought.

“This is the Demon Slayer Corps’ headquarters,” Shinobu explained. “You and your younger brother are to be put on trial. Before we start the trial, why don’t you explain the crimes you’ve comm-”

“There’s no need for a trial! Defending a demon is a clear violation of the code! We are fully within our rights to handle them! They shall be beheaded alongside the demon!”

The Flame Hashira, Rengoku, cut her off.

“In that case, I’ll be glad to decapitate them with…flamboyance!” the Sound Hashira said with a grin. “I’ll show you the most flamboyant blood splashes the world has ever seen. Maximum flamboyance!”

“What pitiful children,” the Stone Hashira murmured, tears streaming down his face. “Their poor souls… perhaps they shouldn’t have been born at all.”

Where’s Nezuko? Nezuko?

“Hey, you. Where do you think you’re looking?” the Kakushi holding Tanjiro snapped. “These are the nine highest-ranking swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps.”

“Hashira...” Tanjiro muttered.

The Hashira debated whether to execute Hana and Tanjiro. Hana remained silent, watching, while Tanjiro’s eyes darted nervously.

“Nezuko? Nezuko, where are you? Nezuko! Zenitsu! Inosuke! Murata!” Tanjiro shouted.

“Forget that. What do we do with Tomioka? Seeing him standing unrestrained weighs heavily on my mind. According to Kocho, he is just as guilty. How should we hold him accountable? What lesson should we teach him? Tomioka, don’t you have anything to say?” the Serpent Hashira asked.

Hana's eyes stayed on Giyuu, guilt twisting in her chest. Because of her and Tanjiro, it wasn't just their lives at rist they had pulled him into the fallout as well.

“Oh, where’s the harm? He came along without resisting. We can decide his punishment later. What I’m more interested in is hearing their story. Why do they act as Demon Slayers and with a demon in tow? I’d love to hear their reasoning straight from their own mouths. Their actions clearly breach the Demon Slayer Corps’ code. Surely you understand that?” Shinobu said.

Hana felt a pang in her chest.

“Hana Kamado and Tanjiro Kamado… what are your reasons for traveling with a demon as Demon Slayers?” Shinobu asked.

“No need to ask,” the Sound Hashira interjected.

“Take your time. Just tell us why,” Shinobu continued.

“She’s… she’s our little-” Tanjiro started, but coughed. Shinobu immediately handed him water. Once he drank, she turned to Hana. “Would you like some?”

Hana shook her head.

“…That demon is our younger sister,” Hana explained. “While Tanjiro and I were out in town, a demon attacked our family. By the time we returned, everyone was dead.”

“Our little sister was turned into a demon, but she has never eaten anyone! She never will! No matter what, she’ll never hurt humans!” Tanjiro cried.

“Spare us your absurd ravings. It’s no wonder you defend her if she’s family. I can’t trust a single word you say,” the Serpent Hashira said.

“She’s been possessed by a demon. Let us kill these children immediately so she may be liberated!” the Stone Hashira demanded.

“Listen to us, please! My older sister and I became demon slayers to cure Nezuko! It’s been two years since she became a demon, and in all that time, she hasn’t eaten a single human!” Tanjiro pleaded.

“Your story is dull, idiots. Just because she hasn’t eaten anyone yet doesn’t mean she never will. Words are cheap prove it with maximum flamboyance!” the Sound Hashira scoffed.

“Excuse me? I doubt we should act without the Master’s permission. Shouldn’t we wait until he arrives?” the Love Hashira said.

“My younger sister…she will fight by our side! She can fight as a Demon Slayer to protect humans! So please…!” Tanjiro shouted.

Footsteps approached from Hana’s left. She turned her head.

“Well, well… looks like you’ve stirred up some fun here,” the Wind Hashira said, holding the box containing Nezuko. “So the moron slayers had this demon with them?”