Visit the Butterfly Mansion

"Haru-sama, we have arrived. This will be your residence from now on," Kakushi said respectfully while pointing to the mansion in front of them.

Haru nodded, "Thank you."

"I will take my leave now, Haru-sama," Kakushi said before bowing and departing.

Haru gazed at the magnificent building before him. The mansion featured grand architecture, with a traditional Japanese-style roof and large windows reflecting the afternoon sunlight. The vast yard in front of the mansion was surrounded by wisteria flowers, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Haru stepped inside, feeling the calm aura that enveloped the place.

Haru began to explore every corner of the mansion carefully. Each room had its own characteristics—a spacious living room with classic furnishings, a kitchen filled with the aroma of spices, and a training room large enough to hone his skills. As he stepped into the yard, he felt a cool breeze brushing against his face, as if inviting him to train.

The yard was equipped with various training tools—wooden swords, dummies for attack practice, and an open area for movement training.

After satisfactorily exploring the mansion, Haru decided to rest for a moment. He realized he needed to sleep early to be able to train this evening before patrolling his territory. In this world, night was when demons began to move, and he had to be ready to face them.

Haru had become accustomed to his reversed sleeping pattern. For the past six months, he had often trained at night and slept during the day. This habit might sound strange to others, but for Haru and the Demon Slayers, it was part of their life routine. He was currently the weakest Hashira, especially when facing Kibutsuji Muzan; even fighting against Upper Rank Kizuki would force him to retreat. But because he was weak, it made him even more determined to become stronger.

He returned to his room, a simple space with tatami mats and a large window overlooking the yard. Haru lay down on his futon, closed his eyes, and let his thoughts drift. It had been six months since he met Sora, and he missed him a little. For Sora, Haru's departures were usually just a few hours, but for Haru, he had been in this world for over six months. During this time, he had changed a lot, especially in terms of mentality and strength. He was confident that as a newcomer in the Reincarnation Tower, he could be considered among the best.

As the sunlight began to dim, Haru woke up. He took a deep breath, gathering his spirit. It was time to practice. He put on his training gi and prepared the wooden sword that had been set in the corner of the room. With firm steps, he headed to the yard.

Under the darkening sky, Haru began to train. Each movement felt steadier, more powerful. He focused his thoughts and energy on every swing of his sword. He felt connected with every motion, as if his body became part of a greater universe.

Haru was not only practicing physically; he was also training his mind. He tried to control his hasty emotions and achieve tranquility like water in a calm lake. Every time he sensed tension within himself, he made an effort to release it, letting the night breeze flow through his body. He knew that mental calmness was key to facing dangerous situations.

After practicing for several hours, sweat trickled from his temples. With the blessing of his lineage, he quickly regained his peak condition in just ten minutes.

The night grew darker, and it was time for patrol. Haru grabbed his Nichirin sword and donned his Demon Slayer uniform with a white haori over it.

He left the Shunshin mansion, his figure blending into the night.

Entering a small village at the foot of a mountain, Haru sensed that something was wrong with the village as he noticed that although there were many adults and elderly people, very few children were present.

Realizing that there might be demons lurking in the village, Haru leaped onto the highest rooftops, observing the entire village.

Suddenly, from the shadows, a terrifying figure emerged. A demon with glowing red eyes and sharp, prominent teeth. Spotting his target, Haru immediately pursued it, leaping from one roof to another like a ninja.

"Second Form: Water Wheel!"

As he approached the demon, he quickly raised his sword and executed a diagonal spinning slash in the air, decapitating the demon.

The demon, who was about to catch a young boy in front of him, had no idea how it had met its end. As the head fell to the ground, half of it vanished into smoke, and moments later, the entire body and head of the demon disappeared.

The boy stared at Haru in fear. After all, he was just an ordinary boy, and it would be terrifying to witness such a gruesome scene.

"Don't be afraid, I have killed the demon. Where is your home? I will take you back," Haru said gently, trying to calm the boy.

Seeing that Haru seemed not to be a bad person and had just saved him, the boy relaxed a bit and showed Haru his home address.

After escorting the boy back, Haru continued his patrol but did not encounter a second demon. Once he completed his patrol, he returned to the mansion. Upon arriving at the mansion, instead of sleeping, Haru sat on the tatami in the living room, waiting for news from the Kasugai crow in case anyone needed help.

Every Hashira, if not on another mission, would always be at their respective mansions, remaining alert for any emergencies.

Waiting until dawn without any reports of requests for assistance, Haru finally decided to rest.

Time passed, and a few days later, with no work to do, Haru decided to visit Shinobu. He had heard from Shinobu earlier that Tanjirou and the others were recovering and training there. It had been a long time since he had seen Tanjirou, and there was another reason for Haru's visit: it seemed that the plot of the Mugen Train was about to unfold. If he could defeat Akaza or at least save Rengoku Kyoujuro, it would significantly increase his rewards when he returned to the Reincarnation Tower.

...

Haru stood in front of the Butterfly Mansion, feeling the calm aura that enveloped the place. The building was surrounded by a beautiful flower garden, with wisteria hanging over the pathways.

With steady steps, Haru walked into the mansion. As soon as he entered the room, he was greeted by the fragrant aroma of flowers and spices that reminded him of Shinobu.

Haru noticed Shinobu sitting at a table, focused intently on mixing a potion. Shinobu, so engrossed in her work, looked enchanting, causing Haru to freeze in place and unable to divert his gaze. With her black hair with purple tips cascading down and eyes sparkling with a mysterious hue, Shinobu looked like a goddess creating wonders.

Haru observed every movement of Shinobu's hands as she deftly mixed various ingredients in a small container. The fragrant aroma of the potion she was making filled the room, creating a soothing atmosphere.

After a moment, Shinobu became aware of Haru's presence. She lifted her face and smiled gently.

"Oh, Haru! Would you like to take a closer look?" she asked in a friendly and teasing tone. Haru snapped back to reality and approached where Shinobu was working.

"Yes, I'm curious about what you're making," Haru replied, eager to learn some knowledge about potions and medicine, which he might need someday in the future.

Shinobu nodded and began explaining the potion-making process. "This is a potion to help heal wounds. The ingredients are very important, and each step must be done carefully."

Haru listened attentively, captivated by Shinobu's knowledge and dedication. She was not only a demon slayer but also a highly skilled doctor in the field of medicine and poison.

"You are very talented, Kocho-san. I admire you," Haru said sincerely.

Shinobu's smile widened, and Haru felt warmth in his heart. "Thank you, Haru. If you want, I can teach you some basic potion-making techniques. Perhaps one day, you can help me." This offer moved Haru. Without hesitation, he asked Shinobu to teach him.

"How are Tanjirou and Nezuko?" Haru asked with curiosity while practicing potion-making. Thanks to his absolute memory, Haru remembered all the names of the potions, their effects, and how to make them; he just needed practice.

"They are still in recovery, but their progress is very good. Tanjirou and the others train every day. Soon, they might master Total Concentration Breathing: Constant," Shinobu explained.

"May I meet them?" Haru asked after memorizing all the potions.

"Sure, they are in the training room," Shinobu replied, pointing down the corridor.

Haru nodded and headed toward the training room. As soon as he entered, he saw Tanjirou practicing while Nezuko watched from the side. Tanjirou was holding a giant gourd and continuously blowing into it.

"Haru!" Tanjirou exclaimed upon seeing him, his face lighting up with a smile.

"You came! It's been a long time since we last met. I didn't expect you to become a Hashira so quickly. Congratulations, Haru!"

Nezuko also looked at Haru with bright eyes; although she couldn't speak, her smile was enough to express her joy.

"Glad to see you both," Haru replied as he approached. "How's the training going? Is there anything new?"

Tanjirou nodded enthusiastically. "I'm trying to practice the Total Concentration Breathing: Constant technique."

After exchanging greetings, Tanjirou resumed training while Haru sat with Nezuko.

After a while, Tanjirou stopped practicing to take a break. Aoi appeared at the doorway, looking at them with a smile. "It's time to eat! I've prepared some healthy meals."

They got up from their seats and followed Aoi to the dining room. The mouth-watering aroma of the dishes greeted them immediately. The food served was simple yet delicious, creating a warm atmosphere among them.

Zenitsu and Inosuke were already seated in the dining room. Sitting together, Haru also got to know them; although he had met them once during the final selection, he hadn't had the chance to properly introduce himself before leaving with Tanjirou.

While enjoying the meal, conversation flowed. Haru recounted his experiences during patrol in the village, how he managed to save a boy from a demon.

After finishing the meal, Haru returned to Shinobu's workspace, where the aroma of the potions still lingered fresh.

"So, Haru, ready to learn more about potion-making?" Shinobu asked with a charming smile. Haru nodded, "Yes, please guide me."

Shinobu took out several ingredients from a wooden shelf, each in a neat small container. "Today, we will learn about basic healing potions. This is one of the most important potions for a demon slayer. We will use some natural ingredients that are easy to find."

Haru watched closely as Shinobu began explaining each ingredient. "This is mint leaf, which has soothing properties and helps reduce pain. And this, chamomile flower, is excellent for alleviating inflammation."

Haru nodded, noting every piece of information given. "I remember, chamomile is often used in tea, right?"

"Exactly!" Shinobu replied enthusiastically. "Chamomile tea is very popular due to its benefits. Now, we will mix these two ingredients with warm water. Be sure to stir gently."

Haru followed Shinobu's instructions, feeling the warmth of the water as he combined the ingredients. "What's next, Kocho-san?" he asked with curiosity.

"After that, we will add a little honey to provide sweetness and enhance its properties," Shinobu explained while demonstrating how to add honey to the mixture. "Honey also has good antibacterial properties."

Haru observed how each step in the potion-making process had its purpose and benefits. "This is very interesting! I can't wait to try making this potion myself."

Shinobu smiled, "You're doing well, Haru. Now, we will let this potion steep for a few minutes."

After a few minutes, Shinobu checked the potion they had made. "Now, we will strain this potion to separate the solid ingredients. This is an important step to make the potion more effective."

Haru carefully followed Shinobu's instructions. Once finished, they had a healing potion ready to be used.

After several hours of learning, Haru felt tired but satisfied.