Mount Natagumo arc: Tanya Kocho, the hashira of...

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It was the middle of the day, everyone was still recovering at the wisteria house they had stopped over at two days prior. Since most of them needed to heal up. Tanya tapped at one of her bandages, she felt no stinging sensation. "Well I suppose that is good." she was talking to herself. She was happy that she had nothing but felt the pain of the wounds inflicted on her by Zettour. But she also was nervous, since Kyojuro was feeling fine now as well both of them would be heading off to the master's mansion. By that, master specifically meant the leader of the demon slayer corps. 

Kyojuro told her she had no reason to be nervous, but that did not stop her from being nervous, a similar feeling she had in her previous life when she was called into the offices of her generals for unknown reasons. 'It's annoying that he at least did not give me more details.' Tanya tried asking about the master, but he said that she would find out everything about the master when they arrived. 'I hope though that Kyojuro is right, that I am being made a Hashira.' she shivered at the thought of it being something else, though Being X has tried screwing her over in other ways. 

She flashed back to last night when the two beings talked to her. It happened while she had gone outside after eating. Kyojuro was continually beating Inosuke in an arm wrestling contest, and as fun, as it was to watch the boy rage every time, it got old so she went outside. She also noticed Kanao talking with Tanjiro, it was nice to see the girl at least trying to have a conversation. When she got outside, that was when time froze as she could no longer move her body. And it was there that she saw the two nutcracker statues, red for Being X, blue for Being Z. 

"so, do either of the two of you wanna explain why the fuck Zettour knew my previous name? I thought we agreed only I carried memories over." Tanya said in a stern voice, obviously annoyed and angered by the events. She always had trouble with Zettour, but if he remembered their previous life, she would be hard pressed to say he would not at least be useful as an ally. So long as she did not become a demon to do so. "That is what we agreed on, but since I know miracles are something you do not believe in" 

"Which I do not." Tanya cut in, Being X continued "right…let me just say I am not at obligation to tell you how Zettour remembered your last name. But…" his voice went darker "who said he remembered you specifically." the 'divine' being was trying to get a rise out of her, make Tanya flinch, but the girl remained looking on with a stone cold face, though to be fair she was stuck in her position until time started again, since right now she could barely move her eyes and mouth. 

"Tanya that was amazing, those purple flames of yours are gorgeous!" Being Z bellowed out, sounding overly excited. She started spouting on about other things, mostly about that moment Tanya and Kyojuro had before the crow interrupted it. But by now Tanya had tuned Being Z out, the 'divine' being acting like a fan girl annoyed Tanya just as much as Being X did. "Tch, whatever, act like you don't care." Being Z feigned a hurt voice. Before time unfroze Being X said "don't get overly confident, you will be taken down a peg mark my words." when time started to move again Tanya smirked, "I doubt I will any time soon." 

Right now Tanya was waiting out by the gate for Kyojuro, who was to take her to see this master of the corps. By the time he was ready, everyone else was out there to see them off. "Goodbye you two, we will see you another time," Mary said, unlike the others, she was unlikely to be cleared to leave any time soon since the fight with Kyojuro had opened up her wounds. She was fine, only needed more recovery time. "GOODBYE, EVERYONE!" Kyojuro shouted loudly, he then looked at the three boys specifically "I am sorry we cannot train just yet, but I am certain you three will make excellent students!" 

"I will try my best mister Rengoku!" Tanjiro said confidently, he also wanted to use the training to prove to Kyojuro he would be strong enough to deal with Nezuko should she ever attack someone, although he doubted she ever would. "Just you wait Kyanto, I shall overpower you, you will regret training me when the time comes!" Kyojuro gave an enthusiast grin, not seeming threatened by the Inosuke, or offended by his mispronounced name. Finally, Zenitsu just gave a nervous nod, he had forgotten that he also volunteered to train under Kyojuro, he did not back out, but he was still nervous. 

Finally, Kanao came up to Tanya, "good luck out there." Kanao said quietly. Tanya nodded, she held out the coin "not sure when I will see you again, so I might have to return this next time I see you, which may be longer than our original deal." without hesitation, Kanao nodded, seemingly okay with it. "Just keep it safe." was all Kanao asked of Tanya. Kyojuro and Tanya left not long afterward. 

An hour of walking later Kyojuro spoke up "so have you thought of a name for your new breathing technique yet?" he asked, he had explained previously that since he is the flame Hashira she would have to be put under another title. Water was taken as well, and she knew little of either water or flower breathing to become the hashira of either. Tanya crossed her arms and gave a thoughtful look "not really, I only two forms for it so far anyway." she had been thinking about possible other forms, but she was yet to test any of them in combat. 

"I know!" Kyojuro shined as brightly as his smile. Tanya looked up at him to ask, but he started moving on. "A legend in China, where a carp attempted to jump the dragon's gate, up a waterfall. Becomes a dragon. Dragons move gracefully like the forms of flowers and breathe burning hot flames. DRAGON BREATHING!" Tanya gave a very horrified look. "I am not going to call it that, you took many leaps in logic there!" she spouted, having second-hand embarrassment just from hearing it, though maybe it was just her who felt embarrassed by it since Kyojuro who said it was not embarrassed at all. "Why now?" he asked, still brightly smiling.

Tanya groaned "I refuse to name it that, besides, I don't remember dragon legends ever saying anything about purple flames. Also, 'move gracefully' really?" she wanted to melt. "I will think of a name, an actual name, I refuse to call it 'dragon breathing'" she said pointedly, as that was a name she specifically wanted to avoid. Kyojuro shrugged, not seeming hurt that his suggestion was turned down so quickly. 

"Besides, we do not even know if being promoted to hashira is why I am being called there in the first place," Tanya said simply, as just did not want to hype herself up. But Kyojuro would do it for her, "of course you are, slaying a lower moon demon is how I became the flame hashira after all!" Kyojuro shouted excitedly, he was far more confident that his partner was going to become a hashira today that is for sure. "Now that I think about it, the demon I slew was lower 2 as well. What an awesome coincidence!" he shouted loudly as Tanya turned to him and smiled a little "is that so?" she wondered if it really was a coincidence, another person would have called it fate, but she did not believe in predestined fate. At best, one of the beings, likely being Z due to her obsession with the two of them, made Zettour lower two on purpose. Though maybe she was overthinking it. 

"Well, if you do not think of a name, I will tell the master it is dragon breathing!" Tanya rolled her eyes, she cannot deny her feeling for the man. But times like these make her question why. Her cheeks blushed a little when she thought of those feelings, and she shook her head. "Fine, deal. But I will think of something." 

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Tanya looked around when the blindfold was finally removed. 'How much time even passed?' she wondered. Many means are taken to hide important places to the demon slayer corps, especially the base and home of the leader of it. "Not much, thanks to me knowing most of the way," Kyojuro spoke up, loudly but not as loud as usual. He then suddenly kneeled down and got on one knee, this confused Tanya until she heard "ah, I see she has arrived."

Tanya turned and saw along with Kyojuro, Gyomei, Shinobu and Giyu were there as well, both also on their knees. Shinobu looked very relieved to see her, she had been worried after she heard Tanya got kidnapped by a demon, now that she was back she could relax a bit more. "Kneel down," Kyojuro said quietly. Tanya looked over at where the other three were staring. 

There she saw a man with a white haori that had a pink and purple flame pattern at the ends and hem of the haori. Though the man had a very obvious mark over half his entire face, it went over his eyes. 'Can he see me?' she realized very quickly that the reason the other four were bowing was that this sickly-looking man was the master in question, the leader of the corps. She quickly kneeled down "I-I am sorry sir, I did not know-" before she could finish, the master responded "it is fine my child, I am glad you and Kyojuro made it here safe. My apologies for not all the hashira being here, most of them are on a mission, while some are on their way back but were too far away to make it." 

'This feels…calming?' Tanya was surprised that the leader of what was essentially a small militia of swordsmen, one against supernatural beings like demons no less, was so calming. And had a calming order. It also shocked her that he not only apologized to her but also called her his child in a plutonic yet caring way. Normally the only people she has heard that from were priests, yet unlike those times she did not feel disgusted. "It is alright. I am Tanya Kocho, nice to meet you master." she tried to sound as respectful as she could. "I am Kagaya Ubuyashiki. It is quite funny, you are the third Kocho that has been invited here. And the third Kocho will be a hashira. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family amongst my children." 

At this point, it was clear the master called all the slayers his children, a nice sentiment. She turned her head up for a moment "does that mean, that I am a pillar now?" Kagaya nodded, she smiled the best way she could without seeming too overconfident. "I have many reasons for this, but of course, you slew a lower moon demon, which is important. You have done well." Tanya felt fuzzy, but she had to contain her excitement. "Thank you master Ubuyashiki." 

Kagaya smiled "you will fit in well. But as I said you slaying a demon is not the only reason." he coughed for a bit "are you okay master?" Shinobu asked, as two of Kagaya's children came up and made sure he was okay. "I am fine, thank you" saying he was sickly was an understatement, Tanya wondered how he was even able to run the corps in his state, to begin with. After he settled down from his coughing, he continued "your significant other, the flame hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, has spoken well on your behalf many times. I am aware you two make a nearly unstoppable combat duo, not just by his own admission but by a few of the other hashira as well." Tanya's face went a little pink, she wondered how much the master did know about her already, she gave a side glance to Kyojuro, who just smiled at her. 

"In addition to that, if you do not mind." the two children handed two parchments to Kagaya. "These two were read to me, one is a letter from the former stone pillar that I received two years ago. Another is a report written by you. If I may say, you have written the most comprehensive reports out of any slayer or hashira I have had the honor of hearing." he specifically said hear instead of reading since he was blind and each report was written in ink. Gyomei started to cry a bit "I read a bit as well, so immaculate!" the stone hashira said as a few tears went down his face. Tanya wondered why he cried about it, was Gyomei over-emotional? 

"As for the letter from Kurt Ruderkodia, the former stone pillar. He wrote your praises down well. Even citing that despite being a new demon slayer at the time, you fought like you had been one for years. He spoke of your plan, and how he was certain you make an excellent Hashira one day." Kagaya placed the rolled-up parchment down "I have not heard such praises from Ruderkodia since he suggested his protege, Gyomei Himejima, to replace him after only two months as a slayer" the sentiment made Gyomei cry again, as he remembered the day his master stepped down. 

Tanya was riding high now, she was finally being made a hashira. "Since there is already a flame pillar, I have been informed that you have recently made a new style for yourself, may I ask its name? So that I may dub you a pillar." Tanya blinked, she could already feel Kyojuro getting excited. But she refused to be, for the rest of her time here, to be called the 'dragon pillar.' she hated it. She racked her brain, she could make something based on all her elements, but she felt a lot of them would work better as forms. She gripped her fists, and finally spoke out "if you do not kind master, my style is…" 

It was now a few hours later, the meeting had been dismissed and Tanya was staring up at the ceiling wide-eyed. "I think it well!" Kyojuro shouted, happy she picked a name for herself. Tanya meanwhile was just thinking about what she had just done, to herself really. She could remember Shinobu giggling at the name, though she was going to tease her regardless of what name she went with, Gyomei seemed to like it, but that was only because of the implication of the name. Giyu, well, Giyu barely seemed to be paying attention. 

Right now, Tanya Kocho was a Hashira, dubbed the Keshin pillar. Or incarnation pillar. 

She panicked at the end when she saw Kyojuro about to open his mouth and quickly said the first thing that came to her mind. Unfortunately, her current predicament of living three lives so far came to mind. She was an 'incarnation' of herself. Kagaya took it as a means of reference to the fire of incarnation, water breathing new life into plants, or flowers. She did not even think about it at the time but she went with it. "I cannot tell if it is worse than your idea or not." she said to Kyojuro who laughed "and yet it is what you have! I cannot wait to see what forms Keshin style has!" 

Tanya rolled her eyes, she still felt torn up about it, but it was what she had. 'I will at least come up with better names for the forms. Or else I might die from embarrassment before a demon can get me.' she groaned a bit, she cannot even blame being X this time, this was her own fault. She felt so frustrated right now. 

Sitting up, she wondered what to do, Kagaya gave her the rest of the day off. So she did not have to worry about any missions. This whole development made her want to crawl into a hole, but that would really do nothing. She turned her head over to Kyojuro, she had not realized she had been staring until he said "Hey Tanya you okay? You have been staring at me for a few minutes now!" he did not seem freaked out, he was just pointing it out. She instantly turned her head 'damn it' many thoughts crossed her mind, but right now she needed something to clear her mind. Tanya mentally sighed, 'I can already hear Being Z getting giddy over what I am about to do. Being X and Z turn your perverted eyes away, or I will kill the both of you after I win the bet!' 

Tanya turned to Kyojuro, she walked up to him. And after a few seconds of standing there, she hugged him and planted a singular kiss on his lips. "Ah, you could have just asked…ed?" even Kyojuro noticed the look in Tanya's eyes, one that matched her blushing face. He pulled her in, "something the matter Tanya?" he asked calmly as Tanya gripped his shoulders. "Kyojuro…I think we have something to finish that a certain crow stopped us from doing," she says stop, more so putting them out of the mood is what the crow did. "Though looking back, the walls were not as thick in that family's mansion." Kyojuro blushed as well when he remembered what Tanya was talking about. "R-right! But maybe now is not-"

Tanya cupped his cheeks, "I won't force you of course. But I would like to use that request I won from our bet, well that we both won. But I am using mine." she was referring to the bet they made during the festival where Kyojuro confessed to her, and she rescinded even if not right away. Tanya could feel her face getting redder, she has never thought of this before, but it was better late than never. Not hearing any response from Kyojuro she would say in a nervous tone "o-of course like you said back then, we cannot force the other to do something they truly don't want to-" She was cut off when Kyojuro pulled her in for a big kiss, a deep kiss that lasted a full minute before they both pulled away to catch their breath. 

"Of course, I want to, are sure this is what you use it on though?" Kyojuro asked, obviously he was willing to do it now regardless. But Tanya nodded "this is…important to me." Tanya hated to admit it, but this moment was important to her. Because Kyojuro was important to her. Kyojuro nodded, as he started unbuttoning his uniform and pulled Tanya in for another kiss. "For me as well." and their lips touched once more…

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Two nights ago, near the tsuzumi mansion

Some banging is heard from under one of the floorboards of the bottom floor. Before the floorboard is broken, a gray-skinned demon with long brown hair and a beard wearing a dark cyan Gi popped out from them "ah, damn you Zettour. Thought I would never get out." he grumbled, pulling himself out of the rubble. The demon had his left eye crossed out, were a 'lower 2' appeared, the demon who held the position before Zettour took it from him. He had heard rumbling recently, with how quiet the mansion had become he had guessed that Zettour and all the other demons that worked for him were dead. 

The former lower 2 grinned "hah, beaten by a slayer, and after he gave me that whole speech about how weak I was when I refused to join him. And after he took my rank to boot!" the demon clenched his fists, he wanted to push Zettour into the sun himself, but the man was dead now. At least that was what it seemed like. 

"Good, burn in hell Zett- AH!" suddenly the demon heard a ringing sound and his vision shook. He fell to the ground and held his ears. "W-what is- happening?" he struggled to speak. The demon lost consciousness. After ten seconds of silence, the demon stood up. All it did after that was walking out of the mansion, no more words spoken. 

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Day time, wisteria crest family mansion

"Thank you for taking care of us," Tanjiro said as he waved at the old lady who ran the place. She nodded at him. Tanjiro, Kanao, Inosuke, and Zenitsu were cleared to go by the doctor today. Mary would still be healing for at least another day. The old lady stuck two rocks together to make a spark. "Eh? What was that?!" Inosuke shouted, Zenitsu spoke up before the other boy could make any wild assumptions "it is to wish us good luck and safety." he wondered how Inosuke knew so little. The four were told to head to a mission sight where many slayers were being summoned. Why so many they did not know yet, but it was certainly going to be a tough mission that is for sure. 

Tanjiro adjusted himself and made sure the straps of the box that held Nezuko in it were on tight. "We should get going before our crows peck us more." the four let their crows lead the way, towards the area of their next mission, Mount Natagumo.

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ooc for a second, thank you all for wonderful suggestions of Tanya's style name. I went with this cause it would be easier for me to remember as a whole. but I will not lie, a suggestion by NarutoKurai inspired the flames of incarnation. a lot of the forms, have been inspired by those name suggested as well. there are 9 forms of Keshin breathing.