8. Kagaya Ubuyashiki

There were only five candidates left at the end of the seventh day.

Shiro arrived at the clearing and saw the other four candidates already waiting there. He also saw the two daughters of Ubuyashiki standing in front of them with their usual unreadable looks.

As soon as he arrived, they turned their attention to him.

"It seems the final survivor has arrived," one of the girls said with a smile. "Shiro, apprentice of the former Undying Flame practitioner, you have been summoned to the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps."

"Eh?" Shiro blinked and pointed to himself.

The other candidates, including Tanjiro, looked toward him in surprise.

'The headquarters?' thought Shiro. But then it dawned on him, 'It must be Ubuyashiki. I'm sure he's received a report on my performance and probably wants to meet me.'

Respectfully, Shiro replied to the two girls, "I shall go. Could you point me in the direction?"

- - - -

"He has arrived Oyakata-sama," a servant reported.

"Very well."

Ubayashiki gracefully stood up from his sitting position and his hands were held by his other two daughters who led him out. As he was blind, he needed the assistance provided by his daughters.

In the courtyard, Shiro knelt on the ground when he saw the man appear.

"I humbly greet Oyakata-sama," he said solemnly. He knew this man was held in the highest respect and he intended to follow tradition. Just because he was someone from another world doesn't mean he could act how he wanted around elders.

"A pleasure to finally meet you, Shiro," Ubayashiki said.

His voice was pleasant and soothing to hear. It was like a soft breeze that fell on your ear.

Shiro kept his kneeling position but raised his head.

'Wow, he looks exactly like he did in the anime' thought the boy.

"I'm sure you have an idea as to why I've called you here, Shiro," the man spoke.

"I believe it is because I managed to defeat fifty demons during the Final Selection," replied Shiro.

"Indeed. You have accomplished something that many demon slayers are unable to. Despite them being low-level demons, they are still demons regardless and you have met the requirements needed to become a Hashiro or a Tsuguko, a successor to a Hashira," Ubayashiki said. "I have decided to appoint you as the successor of the Flame Pillar, Kyojuro Rengoku."

Shiro's eyes widened slightly. Not from shock, but because of how coincidental it was.

Wasn't Rengoku the first Hashira to die?

It was mentioned somewhere that Ubayashiki had some sort of foretelling ability. Did he already guess that something bad might happen to him?

Shiro's response, however, was something unexpected.

"My deepest apologies, Oyakata-sama. I am afraid that I cannot become his successor," Shiro told him. His face held no sign of joking.

Ubayashiki didn't seem surprised though.

"May I know the reason?" he asked. "Not many people would turn down such an opportunity."

When asked this question, Shiro couldn't help but wear a small wry smile. Looking directly at Ubayashiki and his two daughters, Shiro said, "It is because the Demon Slayer Corps will cease to exist by the end of this year."

Had any other member heard those words, they would take it as a threat. But Ubayashiki did not. Instead, his lip curled up with interest.

"Oh?"

Shiro had been contemplating for a while now on how he was going to go about defeating the king of demons. He had finally thought up a plan during his seven days in Mt. Fujikasane. But, if he wanted his plan to work, he needed the support of Ubayashiki.

"The origin of demons came from your bloodline, am I correct?" Shiro said with a smile. "Kibutsuji, that is his name."

"I'm surprised you know that name. From your tone, it appears that you are familiar with it," Ubayashiki said.

"With all due respect, Oyakata-sama, if you could spare me a bit of time, I will explain everything I know and what I plan to do," Shiro requested. He bowed his head to show his sincerity, "I beg you to hear me out."

It was silent after that.

Shiro dared not raise his head from the ground. Instead, he waited patiently. After a minute or two, Ubayashiki's calming voice was heard.

"Very well, Shiro. I am willing to listen to you."

A small smile appeared on Shiro's lips which he promptly hid when he raised his head.

"Thank you, Oyakata-sama."

- - - -

"I must say, as much as I am curious as to how you acquired this much information and where you acquired the information from, I highly doubt you'd tell me," Ubayashiki said as he rested his hands on the table. "I will allow it since I know that you mean humans or the Corps no harm."

"Thank you for believing me, Oyakata-sama," Shiro said. He was sitting with his back straight and his legs tucked under his thighs.

"So how do you plan to draw out the twelve kizuki?" Ubayashiki asked. "They never show themselves unless they need to."

That's when Shiro smirked and replied, "For the next month, I plan on making a lot of noise. Enough that it will provoke Kibutsuji to send out his kizuki. In that time, I ask that you lower the number of missions that you will send the Hashira on and keep an eye on the Kamado siblings."

"So you even know about the Kamado siblings," Ubayashiki muttered.

"They will play an important role, Oyakata-sama. Especially the girl who was transformed into a demon. She will be the most important part of the final stage of my plan which is to draw out Kibutsuji from hiding," explained Shiro.

"It was Kibutsuji who killed their family, is it not?" Ubayashiki asked. "I'm sure you already know this."

'Aye, this foresightedness is scary' thought Shiro with a inward chuckle.

"I do. And I also know why he personally targeted the Kamado family," replied the boy with a hand gesture even though Ubayashiki couldn't see. Shiro went on to give a vague explanation of the situation.

When he was finished, Shiro let out a sigh, "The reason I'm saying this now is because I do not wish for more people to die. I also do not want more demon slayers to perish for naught. I am a hundred, if not a thousand percent sure that my plan will work."

Ubayashiki had memorized every word the boy said. He knew that something was different about this boy and everyone else. His knowledge went far beyond that of even the Hashiras and every single word that he said was filled with sincerity and determination.

There was a voice tugging Ubayashiki's heart.

It was saying that he could trust the boy. No, he HAD to trust the boy. And he was never wrong.

For this reason, Ubayashiki agreed to the plan giving Shiro the greenlight to move forward.

-----

A/N: I believe it IS canon that Ubayashiki possesses some form of foresight because many of the guesses he makes come true. In this case, I made it that he could 'guess' that Shiro's words were true and that he meant no harm to the demon slayers.