Her voice came to me like a dream. I spun around so fast I was surprised I didn't get whiplash. There in the distance was Mitsuri, running while waving just like the first time I met her. I could see the tears streaming down her face. Spare a few small cuts on her, she was perfectly fine.
Then I noticed her hair, it was no longer braided. It was much shorter than it had originally been, cut nearly at her shoulder length. Like she had dodged a slash meant to behead her but the cut still caught her hair.
Relief flooded me, in the year that I had known her Mitsuri had become more to me than I could have ever imagined. I quickly wiped my eyes.
'I'm not fucking crying… you're fucking crying… bitch…'
"Ahhh! Satoru-kun!!!" She jumped at me when she reached me, glomping me in a bone breaking hug.
I welcomed the embrace and held her tight. I closed my eyes breathed in her flowery scent, I could feel her heart pounding away in her chest.
"I'm so glad we all made it…" tears ran down her face, "those evil demons said they were setting a trap for you."
Then she looked past my shoulder at the devastated street and giant hole that tore through a dozen houses.
"Eh? EHHHH! Satoru-kun… did you go overboard again?!" She covered her cheeks as she stepped back.
Despite myself, I started chuckling. "Fuck… I thought I lost you Mitsuri…"
She smiled softly, tears still running down her face as she hugged me again. "Moh… Satoru-kun… you can't get rid of me that easily. We're supposed to get married, remember?"
I held her, my chin resting on her head. "The demon said some awful things, you can't blame me for getting worried." I responded.
"That demon was so mean…" Mitsuri pouted, "I was so scared that you'd be hurt. You came for me though… like I knew you would."
I leaned down and kissed her deeply, not caring if anyone saw us. Mitsuri yelped a little at the sudden passionate contact but melted into the kiss after a second.
Finally, after a beat, she pulled back. Fingers fiddling with her sleeve. "Satoru-kun… your eyes earlier. They looked so scary and cold. Don't be like that okay? I like them better when you're smiling."
Her words hit harder than the thought that had lost her ever did. The anger that had filled me earlier had vanished, but traces still lingered. Leave it to the Love Hashira to pick up on it.
I sighed, "Yeah…" a small grin formed on my face, "smiling is my thing anyways right?"
Mitsuri beamed and pulled me close, "That's better… my Satoru-kun."
I leaned down to kiss her again, she tilted her head and slowly closed her eyes. Just as our lips were about to meet, a cough rang out on the empty street.
"Hope I'm not interrupting…"
We both looked over to Tengen who was surrounded by his wives. Around them were a dozen or so women, looking around blushing.
I frowned, "You are… go away."
Mitsuri slapped my arm. "Satoru-kun, don't be mean."
Tengen smirked, "Flashy reunions deserve a flashy audience. Don't mind me, I'll just be here."
"Go. Away."
Mitsuri was still pouting at me cutely when she buried her face in my chest to hide her blush.
[Scene Break]
Tengen complained as we walked back to the Butterfly Mansion. Mostly about how I hadn't let him do his flashy entrance. I told him he was late and I wasn't obligated to save the demons, especially not after what Daki had said.
The Kakushi had arrived soon after Tengen came around with the rescued women. They took one look at the ruined buildings and streets. They eyeballed me, but I blamed it on the demons.
I had also managed to secure Kaigaku, who I had almost forgotten about. I basically stuffed him into a crate and teleported him straight to HQ with a little note to Kagaya nailed to the box.
I wanted to teleport everyone back, but I was overruled by Mitsuri and Tengen and his wives. They insisted on walking back especially since I had healed them with RCT.
It took some time since we were walking but we eventually reached the Butterfly Mansion. Tengen had barely seen his wives off to get checked on when Mitsuri's and Tengen's Kasugai crows came and notified us that we had been summoned to HQ for an urgent meeting.
We were already going to head there to report the death of another Kizuki, so I saw no problem with leaving so soon. Tengen on the other hand, seemed a little reluctant to part with his wives after just being reunited with them. He eventually relented, and with both Mitsuri and his permission I teleported us directly to HQ to save time.
We arrived just as Kagaya stepped out onto the veranda. Amane flanking him along with his children.
"Welcome home everyone," Kagaya's voice was stronger than ever, still soothing but his health was clearly miles better than it had been, "it gladdens me to see everyone in good health."
Tengen knelt the second Kagaya appeared, Mitsuri mirrored his action while I sat down with my legs crossed.
Kagaya's serene eyes swept over everyone. "This is an urgent meeting, Tokito-san, please retell the story you have told me earlier."
The Mist Hashira stepped forward, his usually clueless face filled with focus. He looked even younger than when I last saw him.
"During a patrol near the mountains, I encountered a group of demons. They were led by a strange one…" he seemed to blank out for a moment before continuing, "there was a demon that came out of a pot."
The other Hashira stirred, some raised eyebrows, while whispers were exchanged.
'Hmm, if my math is right… that should be one the last of the Kizuki. Gyokko or something. There's also Kokoshibo… heh, I picked up some stuff from the Redlight District just for him.'
Muichiro started speaking again, unbothered. "I destroyed the demons, but the one with the strange pot got away." He seemed disappointed in himself but spoke on, "before one of them died, it had gloated about how Muzan had discovered the location to the smiths village."
Gasps rang out, some in disbelief, others in anger. The veranda rippled with tension.
"That's not possible," Sanemi barked, fists clenched tight, "not even we know its exact location."
"Unless," Iguro started, "someone betrayed us…"
More voices joined in, theories springing up on who could have revealed the route and location. I raised my hand to draw everyone's attention, a carefree grin on my face.
"Hai hai… everyone, before you start accusing each other, I have a possible answer to this problem."
Without waiting for permission I vanished with a crack, a heart beat later I reappeared with a medium sized wooden crate. I cracked the lid open under the shade of the covered veranda and kicked it over spilling its contents out.
Kaigaku, still unconscious despite his injuries having mostly healed, tumbled out of the box in a heap of limbs. The other Hashira stood, and moved to get a closer look. I grabbed Kaikagu by his hair and lifted his face up so that everyone could see.
"Y-YOU!" A shout drew everyone's attention.
Gyomei, the normally calm and collected Stone Hashira roared as he hefted his chained axe and meteor hammer combo. Tears streamed down his face as his body tensed.
"Traitor!!!" He rushed forward, the wooden floor of the veranda cracking under the force of his launch.
Before his meteor hammer could turn Kaigaku's head to mush, I froze him in place with Limitless. I raised an eyebrow when I felt the force he was exerting to free himself.
"Woah, woah, easy there big guy… let's ask this rat if he knows anything before you turn him into a pancake."
The Stone Hashira's chest heaved, his brows furrowed in anger that slowly faded away as Kagaya stepped forward. He glanced at me and nodded, I released Gyomei as Kagaya put a hand on his shoulder.
"Please Gyomei, let him answer first before he pays for his crimes."
Tears still streaming down his face, Gyomei let out a shaky exhale before apologising to everyone and muttering out a prayer as he clasped his hands.
Kaigaku chose that moment to stop feigning unconsciousness. He tried to break free of my grip but I slammed him face first into the ground. A grin promising endless pain formed on my lips as I lifted his head so that he could look at me.
"Relax, Kaigaku-kun…" my grin sharpened, "you know the game… I ask a question, you answer honestly. That is… unless you want some more skin care treatment."
Kaigaku went rigid in my hands. His face filled with unbridled fear as he looked around to see if anyone would step in. Sadly for him, everyone was looking at him hatefully. Even Mitsuri's face was filled with disappointment.
His face twisted in bitterness as he spat out. "It was so easy… everyone has gotten too relaxed. I followed the smiths back to their village after each time they delivered a sword."
Sanemi half drew his sword out, Kanae put a hand on his arm to stop him while shaking her head. Iguro hissed in anger, and grabbed his own blade.
Kaigaku let out a mirthless laugh, "gHahaha… Lord Muzan knows, I told him… he'll soon burn that village to the gro-URK!!!"
I slammed his head into the veranda several more times before stomping on his back with a sickening crunch as I shattered his spine. My grin never left my face, I looked up at everyone after dropping Kaigaku's unconscious body on the ground again.
"There it is folks… straight from the source. There's no traitor in the corps other than this rat." I kicked Kaigaku's prone form.
Kagaya raised his hand, calming the storm that was brewing amongst the Hashira.
"This truth… while bitter, is necessary."
I sat back down next to Mitsuri, "So what now Bossman Kagaya? He confessed, twice I might add. Once when I caught him, and again just this moment?"
Kagaya sighed, "A trial by his former peers need not happen, Kaigaku, the former member of the Demon Slayer Corps will be executed one week from now."
[Scene Break]
The meeting wrapped quietly despite the tension in the air. Mitsuri held my hand while Uzui clasped my shoulder as I teleported us just outside of the Butterfly Manions gate.
I heard the sounds of training inside and grinned, the Slayers that were training under the Hashira's guidance had arrived, probably while the meeting was happening earlier.
We stepped inside, Tengen immediate left to go find his wives. Mitsuri and I watched as Kanao and the other slayers played what looked like a game of tag. Only she was it, and everyone else had to dodge her as she tried to bash them over the head with a bokken.
Tanjiro spotted Mitsuri and I immediately and ran over with a smile plastered on his face despite the sweat making his hair stick to his face. His hair had grown significantly.
"Satoru-sensei, Mitsuri-san!" He waved as he reached us.
Behind him was Zenitsu, who was face first in the dirt while Jiguro sat on his back. Inosuke was launched over not long after by a solid blow from Kanao's bokken. He was on his feet in a blink, bare torso puffed out as if he didn't just get ragdolled by a tiny girl.
"Yo… Tanjiro, still breathing eh?"
Tanjiro smiled warmly, "Hai Sensei… the training is hard but I feel myself getting stronger every day."
"H-hard?! This training is impossible Waaaaa-GAAA!" Zenitsu wailed before yelping as Jiguro smacked him on the head with his peg leg. "Jii-san! Why?!" Zenitsu wailed.
"Shut it! Do more push ups!" Jiguro barked.
I glanced at Mitsuri, she nodded as she spoke with the Tanjiro and Inosuke. I stepped over to Jiguro and Zenitsu.
The old man looked up at me, "Satoru-sama." He bowed a bit.
"How have you been old man." I grinned.
Jiguro huffed, "I have my work cut out for me… why didn't you tell me that Zenitsu had neglected his training?"
Zenitsu let out a whimper as I replied, "He has? Well, looks like I'll have to get Tanjiro to drag him off for morning warm ups."
The yellow haired boy stiffened, Tanjiro had kept up with my Saitama training method so there was no way Zenitsu wasn't familiar with the 'warm up' exercise that I had Tanjiro on.
"Tch…" Jiguro got off of Zenitsu who immediately tried to run only for Jiguro to bash him over the head with a karate chop, "I take it this isn't just you visiting to see me?"
"Nah… I have some good news. I caught Kaigaku, Kagaya has announced that the traitor will be executed in several days time."
Jiguro's face shifted, so did Zenitsu's. The two of them shared a look, before turning back to me.
"We will be there." Jiguro answered for both of them.