It had been around five months since Sanemi's welcoming party and now the Y/n was zoned out, staring at the sky. She was standing outside, behind her new estate that had been finished being built a month or two after the attack. Her home was now down the mountain and nearer to the Master and HQ so there was less of a walk, which she was glad about, she would be able to visit everyone easier. Kanae was with her too, helping her set up her new garden. Crows flew about, cawing happily, as they adjusted to the new environment.

            "Y/n-Chan!" A voice called out breaking the girl's daydreams.

            "Yes?"

            "Ara, ara what are you thinking about? I've been calling your name for a while now. You're not sick, are you?" Kanae worriedly asked, walking up next to her.

            "No, I'm fine, thank you." Y/n smiled, now directing her attention to the Hashira, "Thank you for helping me out today by the way, I know you don't get much time off like Oniichan..."

            "No, no, your fine! Plus, I've been wanting to spend some time with you before my next mission!" The Flower Hashira said waving it off, "Plus, Shinobus doing fine on her own at the estate."

            "Are Kanao-San and Aoi-San still training to become a demon slayers?"

            "Yes! Aoi a lot more so, but Kanao is still doing some training!"

            Y/n hummed and nodded in response, "Mmm, good for them. I trust with you as their trainer they're doing good."

            Kanae pulled her cheeks playfully, "Aww! Stop that you're making me blush!"

            They both giggled.

            "When's your next mission Kanae-Chan?"

            The purple eyed girl sighed, "Tomorrow..."

            "You don't seem too happy." Y/n answered sarcastically.

            "Ara, ara. Look at you being all sassy now, what happened to my old Y/n." Kanae sighed, "My, my all grown up now..." She giggled for a moment before her mouth curved down, "It just seems all so pointless..."

            "Hm?"

            "The endless fighting and wars we have, especially with the demons..."

            "I agree Kanae-Chan, it's horrible that people and crows alike have to fight what seems like an endless battle. Hopefully we can exterminate the demons soon..."

            "But what if we didn't?"

            Y/n's e/c orbs blinked confusingly at her dear friend, "Pardon?"

            "What if we didn't Y/n." Kanae grabbed her hands into hers, holding them up, "Why can't demons and humans get along?"

            "Kanae...Demons eat humans like us."

            "I know its just..." She sighed, "I hope, I wish...that one day we can find a way to end this without bloodshed...a way that all of us can live."

            Y/n glanced at the girl, sadly sighing, "You know that's not possible Kanae-Chan, you've seen yourself the horrors demons have caused...I've seen..." Y/n shuddered.

            "I know...but us humans have done some horrible things too. And...." The Hashira was going to go on but once she saw her friends face of twisted sadness and grief, she quickly changed the subject.

            "Anyways, yes, I head out for my new mission tomorrow. Hopefully I'm home soon."

            "Which mission are you taking?"

            "It's the one in the town due south, where all the women have been going missing."

            Y/n gasped, and her eyes widened, "Kanae-Chan you can't!"

            The mission Kanae was taking was discussed widely amongst the Corps right now especially for the crows, who loved to gossip. Many people had been sent on this mission to just not come back alive, even a few crows had gone missing. They were certain it was a demon and whoever it was it was strong, Y/n got reports of the town basically being all men now.

            "I see you know how bad it has gotten..." Kanae smiled sadly, "It is my duty as a Hashira, I must Y/n-Chan."

            She gulped, "are you going alone?..."

            "Yes."

            "Kanae-Chan..."

            The beautiful butterfly merely smiled, putting one of her hands on Y/n's cheek and caressing it, "Don't worry Y/n-San I'll be back before you even know it!" She beamed, 'In fact it's a promise I'll make to your true title L/n-Sama, I will come back! And when I do, we can have a true trip to the hot springs. Just us! And I'll stay with you the whole time!"

            "You better keep that promise Kanae Kocho."

            "Ara, Ara! of course, and then we can have Sakura mochi and..."

            The girl continued to ramble on as her companion happily listened, pretending to know what half the stuff she said meant. Y/n wanted to tell Kanae something, but she decided to hold it off until she got back. Little did they know, Kanae would have the same fate awaiting her the next day that the butterfly had when Y/n was little. Except more than the little butterflys wings would be crushed...

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            "Squawk! Kanae Kocho the Flower Hashira has died fighting an upper moon! Squawk! I repeat! Kanae Kocho the Flower Hashira has died fighting an upper moon!" A crow called out circling above the new L/n family estate.

            Y/n had fallen to her knees, a wave of grief passed over her, hands and body shaking as tears flooded her eyes. She felt the same feelings she had when the demon had attacked and killed her crows all those months ago. She wanted to throw up, pass out, her body wouldn't stop shaking. Worried crows surrounded her, some gently nuzzling her head or hands to try and comfort her.

'Kanae-Chan...' She thought

The beautiful butterfly merely smiled, putting one of her hands on Y/ns cheek and caressing it, "Don't worry Y/n-San I'll be back before you even know it!" She beamed, 'In fact it's a promise I make to your true title L/n-Sama, I will come back! And when I do, we can have a true trip to the hot springs. Just us! And I'll stay with you the whole time!"

            "You better keep that promise Kanae Kocho."

            "Ara, Ara! of course, and we can have Sakura mochi and, dangos, and oh oh! You can make me those donuts I saw your brother eating the other day!

            Her heart clenched at the memory of their conversation that was just a few days ago. Her chest and heart felt like it was being crushed, she could barely breathe.

                        "Squawk! Y/n-Sama I'm sorry to bother you but..." A random crow hesitated, "An emergency Hashira meeting is starting soon, Master had requested you there..."

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Y/n sat with a solemn face as Shinobu cried into her lap, "Nee-Chan!" She sobbed, "My Nee-Chan!"

The two sat in the master's estate waiting for the Hashira meeting to start.

"Those stupid demons! I told her I told her! But she didn't listen, she only wanted to get along with them. Monsters! Monsters!" She cried out ranting.

"Kocho-San...you don't have to be presented as the new Pillar now you can just go home and- "

"No!" Her head shot up, angry tears rolling down her face, "I don't want to rest, I to want tear that fucking demons face off, I'll show him!"

"You cannot go after that demon Kocho-San..."

"Why not!? Huh?!"

"Because the crows have already informed me that he has long since left the area since killing your sister. Also, it was an upper moon who easily killed an experienced Hashira...I'm sorry but..."

"Who are you to even say what I can and can't do!? You're just a medic, same level as I was!"

Y/n pursed her lips and shook her head, "I am sorry Shinobu but I have been lying to you I am not a medic..."

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The Pillars where waiting in the courtyard waiting for the meeting to start, but unlike their usual meetings it was dead silent. There was no happy chit chatter, no laughing or gossiping. The tension of anger, sadness, despair, and grief floated in the air. Gyomei was crying more silent per usual, Shinjuro wasn't smiling nor Uzui, Sanemi just looked conflicted yet angry, Giyu was silent as always, and Hikaru just looked...shocked...hurt....his normal pissed and monotone expression long gone from his face.

"Squawk! The Second Master has arrived Squawk! I repeat! Squawk! The second master has arrived!" A crow on the ceiling called out.

The Pillars all immediately bowed down as Y/n exited the estate, her hands folded neatly Infront of her.

"Good afternoon, Y/n-San..." Sanemi began, "I hope- "

"Don't Sanemi-San." Y/n smiled sadly, kneeling into her siting position of the engawa, "This meeting is not about me..."

Sanemi bit his lip and nodded his head, staying quiet as well as the other pillars.

"I see you've all heard the sad news." Y/n smiled numbly.

There was no answer until Hikaru broke the silence, "Which son of a bitch did it? Which Upper moon fucking killed Kanae, I'll personally fuck up that little shit to pieces."

"We do not know; all we know is that its long gone by now."

"This isn't fucking fair, first they attack you and now they've killed Kanae, a pillar!? Who do those assholes think they are, screw all that peace shit Kanae talked about! Let's rip their asses from the face of the earth!"

"Hikarus right..." Uzui said flatly, "They're getting stronger and more brazen too no doubt, there's not enough of us to stop them from eating and attacking people."         

"I agree with the other two." Shinjuro piped in, anger laced in his voice. "Y/n-San, where is Master?"

"He's..." Her e/c gazed wondered off, "...Busy."

"This isn't good, we were low on Hashira as it was before Sanemi and Uzui." Giyuu said straightly keeping his eyes on the ground as he got surprised glances from everyone for finally talking.

"Young Giyuu is right, we had only six before the two boys and even having only eight Pillars is a low number. Now were down to seven." Shinjuro said sternly yet sadly, closing his eyes in a sad way.

"Not quite..." Y/n smiled, "Everyone I would like to introduce you to Kanae's tsugoku and now the new Pillar. The Insect Pillar."

"Wait!? She had a tsugoku?!" Sanemi shot her his head up surprisingly while voicing the thoughts everyone else had. Only Gyomei, it seems, knew she even had one.

"Everyone please welcome Kocho Shinobu, your new comrade..."

The purple tipped girl walked out of the estate onto the engawa, with a stern yet sad face. Y/n stood up and walked over to her, taking her arm before leading her to the front of the patio.

"It's that doctor from the butterfly estate?" Sanemi grumbled.

"Hmmm, I did not know you where Kanaes tsugako, I only knew she was your elder sister please forgive me." Shinjuro said.

Gyomei just still stayed quiet, crying silently while praying with his beads, mumbling prayers.

"We all here are sorry for your loss Kocho-San, we thank you for coming back so soon. When you're ready I will read her will to you..." Y/n patted her arm.

Shinobu looked at her with dry yet puffy eyes, a strange look in her eye. It was like if she was asking the girl why she hasn't cried yet, Kanae and her always seemed to be good friends, even the best of friends in the short time they knew each other. Yet, there was no sign of her crying like her usual self.

"Thank you, L/n-Sama..." Shinobu nodded, while Y/n flinched at the name change.

Quickly regaining her composure Y/n turned back to the other pillars, "And with this the Hashira meeting is adjourned, please everyone, take time to grieve and know you are not in this alone. Also, people may be whispering rumors and worries about a loss of a Hashira. Please ignore it, people are simply just scared." Y/n smiled sadly.

And with that the meeting ended. Everyone left except Shinobu and Y/n who stayed on the engawa.

"Are you ready for the will ready Kocho-San?"

The new Pillar nearly just nodded and sat down traditional style on the engawa while Y/n stayed standing.

A crow came over and handed Y/n a document, she nodded at him, and he flew away quickly. Not wanted to disrupt.