[3rd Person POV]
The Butterfly Estate.
This estate formerly belonged to the late Flower Hashira, Kanae Kocho, before being passed down to the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, after her death.
Unlike other estates, which served as private properties for the Hashira and their Tsugoku, the Butterfly Estate is publicly available to all Slayers, acting as a form of recovery place for injured Demon Slayers.
The majority of healing at the mansion is done by Shinobu Kocho, though there are also attendants known as Kakushi who run errands and assist in watching over the injured. On top of this, there are others who live in the mansion that are not Demon Slayers, but offer training regimens to facilitate the recovery process and help the injured Demon Slayers reach top condition again.
The people performing training facilities are usually Slayers who were unable to pass the Final Exams, or were too scared to fight Demons, but still wanted to help the Demon Slayer Corps in some way.
And in this mansion, in a very specific room.
"Tch! I'm fine."
There was a rabid Hashira covered in bandages.
And when covered, you really mean covered in bandages. Every inch of his body was wrapped in white cloth, from his legs to his chest, to even his eyes and his head. A tray of disinfectant lay beside the table, which had long turned red from blood.
Sanemi snarled as he tried to lift his hand and tear the bandages from his eyes, only for agony to rip through his body the instant he moved, making him silently wince from the sudden jolt.
"Honestly, Sanemi." Shinobu huffed, "I wonder what my sister saw in you."
Beside Sanemi, Shinobu set down the last roll of bandages she had been wrapping, her hands steady despite the sheer amount of work already done. On the nearby table, discarded cardboard cores from used rolls were scattered in a small pile.
Sanemi silently snarled at the mention of Kanae, before falling silent.
"With the damage done to your body, I'm really surprised how you're still alive." Shinobu spoke, eyeing Sanemi, "Everything in your body, including your skull, was completely broken. Logically, you shouldn't even be here."
"Don't use logic on us, Slayers girlie!" Sanemi shouted, "We're the Hashira, stuff like that doesn't faze me at all."
Shinobu sighed, before bringing her hand forward and-
*SMACK*
-Slapping Sanemi straight on his chest.
"Agh!" Sanemi groaned in pain as he began to violently shake. Every muscle in his body spasmed at once, sending waves of pain tearing through him, yet his pride forced him to grit his teeth and endure.
"Oh, I thought the Hashira weren't fazed by this stuff," Shinobu replied with a sweet yet uncalming smile. "But you seem to be in a lot of pain, don't you, Sanemi-kun?"
"Tch!" Sanemi snarled, before pointing straight at Aoyama, "And why the hell is this guy still standing?"
Which he immediately regretted, as another sharp jolt of pain traveled through his body.
"Uh," Aoyama replied, before raising his hand. forming a peace sign. "Yo!"
"I'm surprised by that too," Shinobu sighed, shaking her head with one eye looking at him. "But it looks like he didn't take a lot of damage in the first place, so there isn't much to be healed."
'Still,' Shinobu thought, 'The fact that he possesses such a durable body, and such fast regeneration...'
Let it be known that Shinobu Kocho, in her medical pursuit, encountered a lot of extraordinary humans, more specifically, Demon Slayers. However, she had never encountered someone as absurd as Aoyama.
Seriously! Was this guy even human?
When Shinobu received his medical reports, her eyes practically burst out of her eye sockets in shock.
Disregarding his absolutely insanely physically powerful body and his perception that would even put the Lower Moons to shame, his other bodily functions were downright mind-boggling.
His immune system alone was beyond belief, having developed dozens, perhaps even hundreds of times more than that of an average Demon Slayer. His nerve reaction speed and brain's processing capabilities were equally staggering, operating on a level that no ordinary human should be capable of. And then there was his regeneration. While not on par with that of a true demon, it far eclipsed anything Shinobu had ever witnessed in a human body.
Frankly, even now, Shinobu harbored a persistent, almost burning desire to dissect Aoyama's body and uncover what made him so unnaturally exceptional. Perhaps he descended from a line of warriors? Or maybe some form of Gene experimentation?
Shinobu's gaze towards Aoyama became even more heated and creepy, turning into something that felt far too invasive. Aoyama, catching the weight of her stare, shifted uncomfortably and tugged at his collar, averting his eyes as a bead of sweat trickled down his temple.
Then, as if seeing Aoyama's actions, she quickly averted her gaze while clearing her throat with her face heating in embarrassment.
"Regardless," Shinobu said with a soft cough to steady herself, "Aoyama, you really left Sanemi in a terrible state. At this rate, he won't be able to recover for at least a month. Which means, we may have to proceed with the mission to subdue Upper Moon Six without him."
"Like hell!" Sanemi snarled, "There's no way I'm missing out on an Upper Moon. Remove these bandages from me right now."
"Absolutely not." Shinobu said, shaking her head, "To be frank, after seeing the power you both displayed in the forest, I'm even more convinced to make sure you don't suffer from some permanent injury."
Shinobu still remembered the fight.
Even since the beginning, the fight was extremely surprising. Despite Sanemi being a Hashira, Aoyama appeared to be doing nothing more than just toying with him. Even after Sanemi began to adapt to him, it didn't change the tide of the battle at all.
Then, Aoyama revealed something that left Shinobu speechless, that is, his ability to wield multiple Breathing Styles simultaneously. What should have torn a human body apart, he performed as if it were natural.
And when he decided to show his full power, combining three separate forms from three different styles in one seamless flow, the result was overwhelming.
Neither Shinobu nor the other Hashira could even follow the exchange. All they saw was Sanemi suddenly blasted across the battlefield, his body hurled away by a force so absolute that it launched him up to the sky.
And then to their surprise, Sanemi not only recovered from the exchange, but somehow unleashed a form so terrifyingly powerful, it counted more as a natural disaster. The disbelief from watching a literal tornado was so huge, they barely even acknowledged Aoyama's ability to solidify Breathing Style effects.
Speaking of, what the hell was that? How did he use a spear made of lightning?
And then when they clashed, it looked more like the clash between a meteorite and a tornado, two natural disasters instead of humans.
So, when both warriors crashed back to earth, every Hashira thought the battle was finally over. Surely, neither could rise again.
Which is why they were even more surprised when they saw Sanemi effortlessly destroy Aoyama.
The tides of the battle somehow instantly shifted. Somehow, Sanemi's speed had been enhanced to an absolutely inhumane degree. Even his casual running appeared as more of a blur to the eyes of the Hashira, forcing Aoyama on the defensive.
And then, in the end, Aoyama finally ended the battle with a form none of them had ever seen before. The exchange in the end was so fast, they couldn't even process how the battle had ended.
"Both you and Aoyama surpassed the limits of a Hashira, no, maybe even the limits of humanity in your battle." Shinobu said, "That is exactly why I refuse to lose someone with such strength, all because they were too prideful to remain in bed and heal."
Sanemi silently lay in bed as he heard Shinobu's evaluation, before snorting and finally relaxing in bed.
"Urgh! Whatever," Sanemi snarled, "You, Aoyama! You'd better find the location of another Upper Moon that I can beat up when I've recovered."
"Do you think Upper Moons grow on trees?" Aoyama replied, exasperated, "Where the hell am I going to find a second Upper Moon?"
"I don't care! Just find another damn Upper Moon," Sanemi replied, huffing, turning away from Aoyama.
"...Is he a little kid?" Shinobu said, sighing.
[Aoyama POV]
"Actually, Miss Shinobu, can you leave me and Sanemi alone for a while?"
"Hm?"
Shinobu looked slightly surprised at my request before nodding and getting up.
"I was going to attend to other patients regardless," Shinobu said. "Still, I do wonder what you both wish to discuss."
I didn't say anything, only letting out a small smile.
"Men."
Muttering her breath, Shinobu walked out of the room, sliding the door closed.
I stayed still for a while, ears straining, waiting for the faint sound of retreating footsteps. The room was silent, save for Sanemi's shallow breathing. No creak of the floorboards. No swish of her haori.
Nothing.
'Strange,' I thought, narrowing my eyes. 'If she'd really left, I would've heard it.'
A heavy pause stretched on. The silence itself began to feel suspicious, like someone was deliberately holding their breath just out of sight.
'Does she want to eavesdrop on us?'
Looking towards Sanemi, I could also see him shift his head towards the door in a silent snarl, before turning away.
"Is that fine?' I said, pointing my finger towards the door.
"She already knows about our fight." Sanemi muttered, "So I don't care. Just get on with what you want to ask."
Well, if he's fine with it.
"What the hell was that?" I asked flatly.
Sanemi shifted, wincing as the bandages pulled at his wounds. "The hell was what?"
"In the middle of the fight," I continued, narrowing my eyes, "you kept calling me Aniki. And half the crap you were shouting didn't even make sense. What was that all about? Not treating you to dinner? Not here to see you? What were you trying to say?"
Sanemi stayed silent for a moment, his face twitching with a mix of irritation and something harder to place.
"Fine"
"Huh?" I let out a sound in confusion, "You're not going to tell me to piss off?"
"Do you want me to?" Sanemi shouted, "If you want to, I can tell you to piss off right now!"
"Geez, calm down," I muttered, waving my hand, not that he could see with his blindfold, "Just get on with it already."
Sanemi scowled before relaxing his expression.
"Before I joined the Demon Slayer Corps, I met a guy..."
~~~
Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes turned into hours as Sanemi kept on telling me about his backstory, and about Masachika Kumeno, who died in the battle against the previous Lower Moon 1 before Enmu.
In the end, after hearing his backstory, I sat silently for a minute, comprehending his life and his character.
'It makes so much more sense now.'
In the story, Sanemi absolutely hated Tanjiro and Nezuko. At first, I thought it was just because of his overwhelming hatred of demons, but now that I really think about it, it's more than just that.
For starters, Sanemi hated how Masachika died because of his kindness in sparing a little girl who had turned into a demon. Seeing that same kindness reflected in Tanjiro likely triggered a surge of bitter nostalgia, which twisted into hatred for Tanjiro's character.
The same applied to Nezuko. In the end, while it was Lower Moon One who struck Masachika down, the truth was that he only died because his mercy toward that demon girl left him vulnerable. To Sanemi, her memory and Nezuko's existence overlap — both reminders that compassion toward demons is nothing but a death sentence.
So, seeing the two of them, who resonated with the absolute worst memories of his past, together...
'Yeah, I'd crash out too.'
In the end, I silently sighed, leaning back in my chair.
"And, you thought I had the same character as Masachika, which is why you got that furious and wanted to kill me?"
"Tch!"
Sanemi snorted as he turned his face away.
"Aww, no need to be embarrassed," I said with a small smile, taunting him, "How adorable."
"See!" Sanemi replied, raising his finger towards me, "That's exactly how he taunted me! The resemblance you two have is really creepy."
"Is that so?" I hummed disinterested. "By the way, you know Senpai, right?"
'While we're at this, I might as well clear up the misunderstanding these guys have.'
"Senpai?" Sanemi let out a sound in confusion, "Do you mean Tomioka?"
"Yeah, him," I replied, nodding my head. "Why are you so hostile towards him? He's been trying to make friends with you for a while."
"Hmph! That bastard?" Sanemi snorted, "That fucker thinks he's above us, saying shit like him not being the same as us. Why the fuck would I ever become friends with some arrogant asshole who thinks he's god?"
Ah, I see. This is the classical case of misunderstanding between two people because they can't be bothered to fucking talk with each other.
'Still, I guess there is one good thing I can get from his flashback.'
"On the contrary, he thinks he isn't worthy of being a Hashira."
"What nonsense are you saying?" Sanemi asked in confusion.
"When Giyu-Senpai was still a trainee, he had a friend called Sabito." I replied, "Sabito was extremely talented as a Demon Slayer, far more than Senpai was. Atleast, far more than he thought he was.
However, in the final selections, Senpai was injured by a Demon, so Sabito entrusted Senpai to another examinee and set off to kill other demons. In the end, Senpai passed out and only woke up after the Final Selections ended.
Sabito had gone into the forest to protect the other examinees. While he did succeed, he ended up dying in the end. That year, everyone but one person survived and passed the Final Exams.
In the end, Senpai believes that he wasn't worthy enough to even pass the Final Selection, and that he shouldn't be the Hashira, but that Sabito should have been the Water Hashira."
"He doesn't think he's the same as you, not because he's arrogant." I said, " He thinks he's not the same as you because he thinks he shouldn't be worthy of being a Hashira."
After that, a silence descended on the room for a few moments before Sanemi burst out in disbelief.
"The hell kinda bullshit is that?" Sanemi shouted.
"Isn't it kinda like you and Masachika?"
"Like hell it is!" Sanemi shouted out, "Even if Masachika was stronger and kinder than me, I never once thought I was unworthy of becoming a Hashira! Doesn't that dumbass realize only a handful of people ever become a Hashira?"
"Yeah, I know, right?" I said in exasperation, "That guy's been holding back this whole time because he thinks he shouldn't be a Hashira."
"He became a Hashira while holding back?" Sanemi shouted in disbelief, "The hell is up with this generation of Hashira!"
"Yeah, this generation of Hashira is pretty extraordinary too, huh?" I replied, "Far stronger than the previous generation, right?"
'Far stronger than any of the previous generations, barring the Sengoku era ones.' I wondered 'But why is that? Why are such strong people miraculously appearing at this time?'
"...Tch, you're zoning out like him again." Sanemi mumbled, "Seriously, are you a reincarnation of him or something? You act like him, talk like him, taunt like him."
"Is that so?"
'Is it because this is the second attempt of the gods to remove Muzan? Instead of sending one strong person to kill him, they instead buffed up the entire generation?'
"And the fact that you keep secrets," his voice dropped lower, bitter, "that's the same as him too."
My body stiffened. For the first time in a long while, I froze, not from injury, not from fatigue, but from the weight of his words.
"Just like Masachika, who hid behind his annoying facade and kept secrets, you too have secrets, don't you?"
Though Masachika always had a cheerful personality, it was more of a mask he used, just like how Shinobu masked her emotions to appear like Kanae.
His little brother had been devoured by a demon. Even if it wasn't truly his fault, Masachika bore the guilt as if it were. Ignoring his mother's pleas, he threw himself into the Demon Slayer Corps, driven by the need to destroy demons.
Taking Sanemi in as his younger brother was less about kindness and more of a coping mechanism in a desperate attempt to fulfill the void left by his brother that he could never protect.
"...Yeah."
In the end, I can't keep quiet about this after all. Sanemi trusted me enough to tell me his backstory, so I should atleast tell him some of mine.
"The place I come from isn't peaceful," I started off. "Just like how Japan has demons, my place also has its own threats called 'Villains', a sort of superpowered version of humans, if you will."
Sanemi listened carefully as I described my place of origin.
"I was weak back then." I stated, "My country doesn't have breathing styles, but another ability called 'Quirks'. Unlike breathing styles with which you can eventually become stronger, quirks are something you're born with and can't be changed at all.
And, I was born quirkless."
Sanemi's finger slightly twitched.
"I was considered the weakest of the weak, so I decided that if I can't help people by fighting, I can help them by acting as support." I continued on, oblivious to Sanemi's shock, "So, I delved into studying engineering, trying to make as many devices as I could."
My mind flashed to the day I handed Uraraka the communication device.
"But it made everything worse. In the end, because of my inventions, a group of friends of mine were seriously injured." I continued on with a grim tone. "They were all beaten to near death, and are in a coma as we speak."
Saying so, I looked straight at Sanemi.
"Masachika was wrong."
Instantly, Sanemi's fists curled up.
"When something happens that's out of our control, our brains have a nasty habit of making us feel like we should have been able to do something about it, even if that just fills us with guilt or regret.
Masachika's younger brother's death was not his fault; he couldn't have done anything to kill a demon, but he still blamed himself, clinging to the illusion of control. That's why his decision to join the Slayer Corps was, in itself, a mistake.
My situation is different. I had full control over what happened, and the only reason things went wrong was because of my own mistake. There was nothing outside my reach in that moment. That's why I joined the Demon Slayer Corps. That's why I'm so obsessed with becoming stronger, so nothing like this happens again."
"I'm sorry if that offended you somehow," I said, looking at Sanemi, "But that's the truth. So, please don't compare me to him.
I know you people don't believe in something like "If's" or "What could have been", but if you could have gone back in time, you would have stopped him from joining the Demon Slayer Corps, right?"
Sanemi stayed silent, his jaw tight and eyes narrowing, as if he was grinding over my words with a mix of anger and disbelief, and yet, he still pondered over my words.
"...Yeah, you're right," Sanemi replied.
'Huh?'
Looking at him in shock, I wondered if I had heard what he said correctly.
"I said you're correct, dumb bastard!" Sanemi replied as if sensing my incredulity. "If Masachika had realized that, then he wouldn't have joined the Slayer Corps, and he would have still been alive, living with his mother and father.
You're also right that if I could, I would have stopped him from ever becoming a Demon Slayer.
But if he had done that, then I would have never been introduced to the Demon Slayer Corps, I would have never met the cultivator for Wind Breathing, and there would be one less Hashira right now.
If he had done that, then all the innocent lives he saved would have been lost, all the families that could have been saved would have been torn apart, and all the Slayers he helped would be drowning in their own guilt and fear.
Even if his joining the Slayer Corps was a mistake, it was a mistake that helped everyone. How many lives have the Slayers he helped save? How many lives have I, the Wind Hashira, saved? They all would be dead right now if he had never joined."
Sanemi shifted his head, as if looking straight at me.
"Aoyama, not all mistakes have to be bad ones. Sometimes, you can only go forward in life by making a mistake."
~~~
*creak*
The wooden tiles beneath my feet creaked as I walked pointlessly across the hallway.
"My my, Sanemi really opened up to you, huh?" Shinobu teased, " To think he actually told someone about Masachika, you must be really lucky!"
"Uhuh"
'Sometimes, you can only go forward in life by making a mistake.'
That sounded like a profound truth, but how much of that statement was true?
Quite a lot, actually.
For starters, I am a mistake myself. Someone like me should not exist in this world, but by some miracle, I am here, walking with 2 Dimensional characters that people gooned over in my last life.
*sigh*
But, isn't everyone stronger now?
Sanemi unlocked his Demon Slayer Mark, which is going to spread to all the other Hashira, making them marked soon as well. That means the Hashira have atleast a year to not only master their Marks, but even unlock Transparent World as well.
'A mistake, huh?'
So, does that really make me the mistake? Sanemi unlocked his Demon Slayer because of me after all, which conversely boosted all the Demon Slayers as well.
'How fitting.'
Running my hand through my lucious, thick black hair, contrary to the many balding people out there, I let out a sigh at my predicament.
'But, I suppose, I am a good mistake then'
Most progressions in human history happened because of accidents. So, my calling myself a mistake is not an insult, but rather, an honour of the highest kind.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Shinobu pondered poking my back. "Mou~ You're just like Tomioka. Is this stoicism something you inherit while learning from the last Water Hashira?"
"Nah, it's not." I responded, swatting her fingers away, "I was just thinking about Sanemi."
"Really?" Shinobu responded before hopping in front of me. "Were you thinking about how you made your first friend in the Slayer Corps, right? Mhm, that's definitely it, right? And Sanemi, too, of all people, how fortunate!"
'First friend in the Slayer Corps, not the first friend ever, huh?' I thought, replaying her words, 'Haaah, I was hoping she didn't hear me, but I suppose if she was standing outside the door, it couldn't be helped.'
"He's not really my first friend," I responded, waving her away as I continued walking. "If we count Tomioka, he's more or less my 4th Slayer friend."
"Eh! You already have four friends?" Shinobu mockingly gasped before putting up her hand to cover her mouth, " Oh my! That's already 3 more than Tomioka! He must be so jealous of you."
Shinobu then stilled for a moment before sprinting.
"Wait, wait, wait, does that mean Tomioka asked you to help Sanemi become friends with him? Is that why you told Sanemi about Sabito?" Shinobu mocked mercilessly, "That's so pathetic, imagine asking your junior to set someone up with you, no wonder he has no friends!"
"He does now," I responded, shaking my head. "Sanemi will talk to him, I'm his friend, and I'm sure my junior, Tanjiro, will get along with him. That's 3 friends already."
"You're counting how many friends he has? That's so pathetic," Shinobu said before shaking her head. "Still, after hearing what you just said, I might just make it 4."
"Appreciated."
"And, if you really want." Shinobu said, letting out a smile," I can make the number of your friends increase to 5 as well."
As soon as I heard that, my eyes moved straight towards her face.
...
I opened my mouth before closing it again.
'Do I want to be friends with her?'
"Hm?" Noticing my hesitation, she tilted her head. "You don't want to be my friend?"
"No, it's just...Friendship is between two people who understand each other." I said, "Not only do I not know your goals or your motivation, but I don't even know the real you beneath that smile of yours."
Shinobu's smile stilled as soon as she heard me.
"I told you everything about me, my origins, my life, my friends, but you haven't told me anything about yourself." I continued on. "When I'm with you, it always feels like there's something between us I can't bridge no matter what, as if you yourself are trying to push me away."
*tap*
Shinobu stopped walking as she processed my words. With her standing in front of me, I was unable to see her face or any form of expression she was expressing. I should have stopped talking, but I couldn't just ignore what she did in the Hashira meetings.
"You hate me." I flatly stated, "Since the first meeting, I could see that you were targeting me. I understand being annoyed in this meeting, because someone you have never met before criticized your medical practice, but what reason did you have in the first meeting? Do you really think I can just forget all of this and become friends?"
*clench*
As soon as I finished speaking, her veins bulged around her hands and neck. For a moment, her breathing intensified with her taking ragged gasps, as the atmosphere around us intensified.
And then, just half a moment later, everything returned to normal. The atmosphere reverted back to how it was, and Shinobu's rage vanished, turning back into her usual jovial fake smile.
*rustle*
Quietly fixing her Haori, she turned back around with the same smile on her face, as if everything that just happened was an illusion.
"Aoyama, I have to treat some patients, so I'm going to leave now," Shinobu mentioned with a smile on her face. "So, please don't look for me, alright?"
*whoosh*
Just as she finished talking, she vanished in a blur of speed.
I stood there quietly for a moment, looking at the space where she had just vanished from, before letting out a sigh of resignation.
"Looks like I pissed her off, huh?" I murmured, scratching my head, "It can't be helped, I guess. I'm not going to let someone with malicious intent run around like nothing, especially not someone like a Pillar."
'But, is it really not fine?'
Even if she didn't like me, it's not like she would have killed me or whatever. Was there really a need to confront her like this, and maybe just increase the hostility she already possessed towards me?
'Still, was there a better way to handle this?'
Perhaps there was, but what's done is done. This is the first time anyone has shown anger towards me instead of fear, so I have no experience in dealing with situations like these. The only thing I can do is learn from this experience and move on to make better decisions.
'Anger...'
What a refreshing emotional response.
*creak*
The creaking of a wooden door brought me out of my thoughts, making me look towards the source of the sound.
'Huh?'
Lilac color eyes, framed by thick eyelashes, and pink lips. She possesses medium-length, raven-black hair, tied into a side ponytail on the right of her head and fastened by a green butterfly ornament with a pink rimmed and white speckled spots. Along with the normal Demon Slayer uniform, she also donned a pure white cloak.
And that smile. Unlike Shinobu, who donned a fake smile to cover up her anger, she donned one to cover up her lack of emotions.
'Kanao Tsuyuri'
Hiding behind a door and barely peeking out of it, she froze for a moment before relaxing and putting her hands in her pockets, bringing out a small golden coin. Placing the coin on her thumb, she immediately flicked it.
*thwick*
The coin flickered in the air before falling down. She immediately reached out to the coin, catching it on the back of her wrist with one hand, covering it. Slowly, she moved her hand to see the side of the coin.
Heads.
Upon seeing the side, she pocketed the coin and bowed down in a short greeting before closing the door on me.
'The hell?'
I was momentarily stunned by her actions before breaking out of my stupor and dashing towards the door, opening it in a second.
'Please don't tell me she saw what happened with Shinobu!'
Kanao Tsuyuri may appear emotionless, but she was fiercely protective of her adoptive sisters. She even became a sadist out of pure rage, constantly insulting Douma in the Infinity Castle upon seeing him kill Shinobu and disregarding her own life, trying to get revenge for her sister's death.
'If she saw me make her upset, then I'll have to sleep with one eye open in the Butterfly Mansion.'
*whoosh*
Disappearing in a gust of wind, I immediately appeared in front of her.
*clench*
Surprised upon seeing me suddenly appear out of nowhere, she immediately clenched the Nichrin Katana strapped to her skirt with an expression of alarm colouring her face. Upon seeing my face, she relaxed the grip on her Katana, as her expression of alarm was immediately replaced by her usual unnerving smile.
My eyes instinctively went towards her Nichrin Katana, only moving away after confirming her lack of hostility.
"How long were you there for?" I questioned her.
She stood for a moment, just smiling at me, before taking out her coin from her pocket.
*ting*
The coin flickered midair before landing on the back of her wrist.
Heads.
"Thank you for your service," Kanao replied with a hollow tone in her voice.
"Um, no, I asked how long you were eavesdropping on us."
"Thank you for your service."
"No, I'm serious, how long were you standing there for?"
"Thank you for your service."
"Listen, I-"
"Thank you for your service."
💢
The veins on my forehead clenched in annoyance.
'She's just like her sister, huh? Eavesdropping on private conversations'
Fine, if she was going to act like this, then I'll just defeat at her own game.
*rustle*
My hands quickly went to my pocket, searching around, trying to find what I was looking for, before finding it, as I yanked it out.
"Alright," I murmured before pulling out a coin of my own, "If this coin lands on tails, you're going to tell me how long you've been standing there for, alright?"
Kanao stilled for a moment, looking at my coin, before looking at her own coin. She put her coin on her own thumb before hesitating and removing it. Turning towards me, she let out a silent nod of agreement.
"Great"
Upon obtaining her confirmation, I didn't waste any more time.
*ting*
I flicked the coin upwards. It stayed in the air rotating for a moment before coming crashing down. Instantly, I caught the coin in my palm before flipping it upside down on the back of my palm.
Heads.
Kanao looked at the result before nodding and turning around, trying to leave.
Keyword: trying
"Where are you going?"
Kanao paused for a moment before tilting her head in mock confusion.
"But, it was heads."
"Who said I only get one try?" I pointed out with a smile. "If I don't get the result I want with just one toss, then I'll toss it multiple times. After all, I never said you were free to go if it was heads."
Her eyes slightly widened in shock before relaxing back into their usual positions.
*ting*
Heads.
"I already know what I want, so all I need is to find a way to get there, no matter how many tries it takes."
*ting*
Heads.
"So, in order to get the answer I want from you, I will keep on flicking this coin until I reach the desired outcome."
*ting*
Tails.
"Just like this."
As the coin finally landed on tails, I showed her the result.
"...What?"
Kanao quietly murmured in confusion upon seeing the tail's side on my coin.
"So," I continued, oblivious to her shock, "How long were you standing there for?"
"I..." she murmured, "I-i just opened the door and saw you standing alone. I don't know anything that happened before that."
I see, so my worries weren't necessary at all.
"Oh, is that so?" I said, heaving a sigh in relief, "Yeah, I would have sensed you if you were there. That's fine, I guess. Sorry for bothering you then, I'll see you later."
'Come to think of it, it's not like she would have killed me in my sleep, right?' I thought,'I really need to tone down my paranoia.'
*whoosh*
Waving goodbye, I vanished in a blur of speed.
However, I could never guess the impact my words would have at the time of my panic.
"Keep on flicking this coin...until I reach the desired outcome?" Kanao murmured, holding her coin with her hands, "Is something like that...possible?"
Unbeknownst to her, her dull eyes magically seemed to gain some luster, and her monotonous heartbeat seemed to speed up.
~~~
*creak*
The sound of grasshoppers could be heard outside in the night sky. The full moon shone brightly on the world, as a swarm of bats flew in the sky above. The cold wind rustled the trees, creating the perfect atmosphere for sleep.
*knock knock*
Unfortunately, I wasn't going to get any sleep tonight.
As soon as I heard the sound of knocking, my body jolted awake. Immediately, my hand traveled to my waist to grab my sword, but I grabbed empty air instead. Taking in my surroundings, I calmed myself.
'Calm down, don't react like a mom.'
Taking in a deep breath, I calmed my nerves before setting my sights on my sword resting against the wall. Getting up, I grabbed my sword mid-step before going on to answer the door.
'Who is it so late in the night?'
*slide*
Sliding the door open, I was surprised to come face to face with the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho herself.
Do note the sarcasm.
"Aoyama, please follow me."
Then, without saying even another word, she immediately vanished.
'Huh?'
Knocking on my door, telling me to follow her, and then leaving in a matter of seconds?
'Is she going to kill me?' I thought clenching my sword 'I mean, no way right? I don't think she's going to kill a human just because she's somewhat annoyed of him right?'
Even so, I did not let go of my sword.
'Let's see what this is about.'
*whoosh*
Immediately, I too vanished in a burst of speed.
*thud*
Then, as soon as I vanished, I reappeared on the roof of the Butterfly Mansion.
My gaze shifted to the bright full moon in the sky, as my mind replayed the events of today.
After the little incident, I roamed the Butterfly Mansion in search of the other members, but they were all busy tending to the injured or doing their chores. Not wanting to disturb them, I let them be as I retired to my assigned room.
After that, seeing as I had nothing to do, I decided to go to sleep during the day, a habit I picked up as I became a Demon Slayer. As such, I can tell exactly how many hours I have slept for, and what time it is when I wake up.
That's why I was immediately alarmed when someone woke me up at 3 in the morning.
'It's supposed to be an unlucky time.' I thought, 'I wonder, how this will play out?'
My eyes moved instinctively towards the figure huddled at the topmost part of the roof, staring straight towards the moon.
Hesitating for a moment, I began to approach her.
*step* *creak*
The tiles under my feet creaked as I approached Shinobu. After walking for a few seconds, I appeared beside the sitting Shinobu, who seemed not to mind my existence, continuing to gaze at the moon.
Then, her eyes turned towards mine. Her usual hollow purple eyes twinkled with...an emotion I couldn't quite pinpoint. Her usual smile was nowhere to be seen; instead, it was replaced with a completely neutral face.
As our eyes made contact, it looked as if she were staring directly into my soul, and I was staring into hers.
"Don't stand there," Shinobu said, moving her eyes away as she patted the area next to her. "Come, have a seat."
"...Don't mind if I do, then."
Responding softly, I sat down next to her. While next to her, my eyes couldn't help but be drawn to how the soft moonlight highlighted her pale white skin, and her solid purple eyes shone like pretty shiny purple pears.
As I looked at her, I couldn't help but think a strange thought.
'Was she always this pretty?'
"Are you done looking?"
Shinobu's teasing voice broke me out of my thoughts. My blurry eyes regained vision, instantly traveling to her teasing face and purple eyes that twinkled with the tiniest bit of mischief.
"You were staring pretty intensely there." Shinobu mentioned, covering her mouth as she let out a small giggle, "Were you entranced this much by me? I must say, I'm pretty flattered right now."
"Is this a strategy of yours, Miss Kocho?" I questioned, "Seducing me with your beauty and turning me into a bumbling, shy boy? Then, you'll question me and strip away all of my secrets?"
"What do you think, Aoyama?" Shinobu replied, putting her face on her knees," Then again, if this isn't enough, then perhaps I can strip something else off as well?"
"If you're that desperate, then go ahead," I motioned, a small smile spreading across my face. "Can't say I'm opposed to seeing a beautiful woman strip naked in front of me, especially if the woman is the most beautiful Hashira."
"Oh my" Shinobu giggled, "If I were drunk, maybe this would have led to a passionate night?"
"Nah, it wouldn't," I said, waving her off, " I don't take advantage of drunk women. I would've just handed you to someone like the female staff here."
"Talking about other women when one is right beside you, you really are hopeless, aren't you?" Shinobu teased with a smile before looking back at the moon, "And please, do call me Shinobu. Miss Kocho sounds too formal."
"Then, Shinobu," I said with slight hesitation, "Why did you call me here in the middle of the night?"
For a moment, she said nothing as she gazed at the moon, before turning away from me.
"I believe we have something in common," She said after a brief silence. "Today, I learned that beneath that confident, fearless, and charming character of yours is just a helpless and angry young boy."
"And what about you?" I questioned, probing her, "What lies beneath that jovial, happy-go-lucky smile of yours?"
She stilled for a moment, contemplating her thoughts, before sighing as she spoke out.
"My elder sister was killed by an Upper Moon." she started "I don't know which one it was, and the crow that saw him was found frozen to death, but I atleast knew that he had characters on both his eyes.
My sister, as she was about to die, told me that the demon had rainbow coloured eyes and had a red coloured head, as if he was constantly bleeding. His voice was gentle and had a benevolent underlying tone to it, and his beauty made him appear to be a divine being.
After finding the frozen crow, I figured that the demon had a Blood Demon Art related to ice, but I didn't have enough information to confirm anything.
It couldn't be helped; information on Upper Moons is too limited, and anyone who knows about them can't survive the battle. That's why I spent my entire life torturing demons. developing many truth serums with my Wisteria poisons, trying to get any clue about the Upper Moons."
She then tilted her head, looking into my eyes.
"So, when some kid who wasn't even a part of the Slayer Corps since the last two months, just barges into a meeting held between the highest ranking members, and tell us not only the location, but even the abilities and weaknesses of one of the Upper Moons that hundreds of people have died trying to acquire, I couldn't help but get a little angry.
It felt as if the efforts we put in all our lives were nothing more than common knowledge that everyone should know about. So, I do apologize for that earlier, but I can't say the rest of the Hashira won't hold a grudge against you."
After a moment of silence, she asked another question.
"Isn't that awful?" She questioned, completely turning towards me, "The others are doing their best to kill Muzan Kibutsuji, but the only thing I care about is killing the Upper Moon that killed my sister. Isn't that an awful example of a Hashira?"
I remained silent, not answering her question.
"So, to answer your question," Shinobu continued, "Then, beneath this jovial, happy-go-lucky smile of mine, is just a helpless, angry girl, just like you. That's why I believe we have a lot in common with each other."
After that, an uncomfortable silence settled around us both. She looked down, but I could tell that she was just waiting for me to speak.
This vulnerability, perhaps, I will never be able to forget. It could have been either criticism or comfort, but she desperately needed to hear words coming from me.
And so, after a moment of contemplation and not a lot of thinking, I came to one conclusion.
'I'll tell her the truth.'
"There's nothing wrong with your thinking,"
She stilled for a moment before looking up towards me, looking straight into my eyes as if trying to decipher whether I was telling the truth or if I was just trying to comfort her with sweet lies.
Yet, for some reason, I believe that in this moment, she wouldn't have minded either of the two.
"Everyone joined the Demon Slayer Corps to get revenge for their dead family members." I said, "It's just that most of the people who joined don't have any idea about the demon that killed their family, so they blame it all on Muzan Kibutsuji, who wasn't even there.
I believe that if most people knew which demon killed their family, they would immediately run towards their location and kill it. After completing their revenge, they would lose all their drive to stay in the Slayer Corps."
"And then they would leave?"
"No, they wouldn't. They have nothing left, so most people will just mindlessly continue killing demons, because that's the only thing they know to do. The Demon Slayer Corps would still function, but I don't think any Slayer would rise to the position of Hashira ever again."
"Though, that bit isn't important. I guess what I'm trying to say is" I gestured with my hands "No, I believe your thinking is completely justified, because that's what everyone else in your place would have done, and it's certainly what I would have done."
Shinobu quietened down for a moment, fiddling with her Haori as she looked down with an intense gaze. After a moment, she heaved a sigh of relief, as a feeling of fatigue became visible in her eyes.
"Thank you, Aoyama," She replied in a tired voice, "I don't know what I would have done if you just left me here without saying anything."
"Don't worry," I replied, waving off her concerns, "There's no way I would have just left you here like this."
Shinobu just smiled without saying anything. The atmosphere around us turned warm and fuzzy, making the two of us relax as we sat with each other.
'What an unfamiliar feeling.'
This awkward yet pleasant atmosphere, is this supposed to be a sign of friendship between two people? I certainly never felt like this when I hung out with Matsumoto, though. Maybe it's exclusive to female friends?
Regardless...
'But, I'm not satisfied yet.'
Just because everything was fine now doesn't mean everything will be fine later on. Just because I helped her now doesn't mean she's going to forget her grudge against Douma like this. She's still going to fill her body with poison and sacrifice herself to get revenge for her sister.
'Though, there's nothing I can do .'
It can't be helped. Her hatred towards the demon who took away her precious sister was just too great. Expecting me to somehow change her mind in a single conversation was just too unrealistic.
However, while it may be impossible to change her mind, it's another matter if she were successful in taking her revenge while not dying.
'Here goes nothing.'
"I know which demon you are talking about."
As soon as I said that, she completely froze. The previous intimate and warm atmosphere immediately turned icy cold.
"Rainbow coloured eyes, a blood red top that looked as if it were constantly bleeding, and an ice Blood Demon Art." I continued on watching her closely, "It all points to the Upper Rank Two demon, called Doma."
"Doma..."
Shinobu quietly whispered his name, as if trying to burn it in her memory.
"Doma leads a cult called Eternal Paradise. He believes that humans are pitiful creatures, so he eats them in order to forever make them a part of himself, so they can continue existing forever in bliss.
What's more, is that he only eats women. He's especially drawn towards powerful or beautiful female swordsmen, so your sister's encounter with him probably wasn't just a fluke."
As I continued speaking, more and more veins emerged on Shinobu's face, which was completely engulfed by rage. Her hands clenched around her Nichrin Katana, making the wooden handle creak from the pressure.
"How...how do you know about him?" Shinobu quietly whispered, " That's two Upper Moons now. How do you have so much information on them? And, why are you telling me about this?"
"I know a lot." I confessed, "I don't know how to tell you, but I know a lot about demons in general. Maybe one day I'll be able to tell you, but for now, I know it's a lot to ask, but please just put a little faith in me."
"A little faith?!" Shinobu yelled in shock, "Do you even know what you're saying? You expect us to have a little heart-to-heart, and you tell me something like this, and expect me to have enough faith in you to just blindly trust you?"
"I understand," I started, "But what have I ever done until now that didn't help the Demon Slayer Corps? I gave you the details of an Upper Moon. I helped Sanemi become stronger. Everything I have done is for your sake."
"That makes it more suspicious!' Shinobu yelled, "Why have you been helping us then? Don't you realize that makes it all the more suspicious? Even if you are helping us, I don't know about your intentions at all! Isn't this meeting supposed to help us know each other better? Then why are you still holding secrets from me?"
After her outburst, she clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest, shoulders rising and falling with sharp breaths. For a moment, she couldn't even meet my eyes, her gaze fixed on the floor as if trying to gather the pieces of her composure.
Then, little by little, her breathing steadied. Slowly, almost reluctantly, she lifted her head and looked back at me.
"Then, please, let me understand, why are you helping us?"
'Why am I helping them?'
The question hit harder than I expected. Truth be told, I didn't even have an answer ready. Why was I going to such lengths for people I'd never even met before? even going as far as trying to stop them from unlocking their Demon Slayer Marks so they don't die at the age of 25, as if their fates were my burden to carry?
...
Honestly, what a stupid thing to even hesitate over. I shouldn't have needed to think this through; I've known the answer from the very beginning.
"It's because I believe in happy endings."
"Happy endings?"
"When I was a child, I liked reading fairy tales," I continued, "I always liked the part where the hero won, got everything they ever wanted, and then lived a happily ever after.
But once I grew up, I realized why they were called fairy tales. Not everyone gets what they deserve, and not everyone gets to live a happily ever after either. They all grow up, and under the cruelty of the world, have to abandon their dreams.
I've seen students work and prepare for an exam for their dream jobs for years and not get in, all because the position was taken over by some politician's nepo child. I've seen children who wanted to grow up to be scientists or artists, be forced to work dead-end jobs.
I've seen politicians and presidents do heinous acts of crime, forcing millions of innocents to suffer and get away with it as if nothing happened, all because of some reason they won't even bother telling us."
As I spoke, I never once broke eye contact with her..
"And, I hated it. I hated that this was life." I said, "So, that's why I'm helping you, it's because I want you all to have a happy ending, because I want you all, who have sacrificed their past, present, and future, to finally get the peaceful life you deserve."
As I spoke, I saw more and more emotions flicker within Shinobu's eyes before they settled down.
And then, she burst out in laughter.
"Th-that's—" she rasped between chuckles, "that's so childish!" She tried to stifle it, covering her mouth, but the laughter still slipped through. "Pft—sorry, sorry. I know I shouldn't be making fun of you, but… that's the first time I've ever heard something so pure coming from someone."
"Hey! What the hell?" I protested, "I told you my reason, and you're laughing at it? No wonder I didn't tell you guys before."
"No, no, I'm not mocking it," she replied, waving me off. "It's just that, after hearing all the grim revenge stories, I was surprised to hear something so pure and straightforward, but make no mistake, I am absolutely not mocking you at all."
Her voice softened, but a shadow fell over her eyes.
"It's just… after everything we Hashira have done, are we really worthy of a happy ending? Can people like us, who only know how to kill, truly live a happily ever after?"
"That's-"
"Shh"
My eyes widened in shock as Shinobu pressed her finger against my lips, letting out a shushing sound as she stared straight into my eyes.
"You bully, you tricked me," she said, tapping me on my chest. "Fine, I'll trust you just this once."
'What?'
I blinked incredulously at her actions. I expected her to have a little more resistance, but she didn't even question me on my absurd motives!
"So?" Shinobu questioned, "What else do you want to say?"
'...Ah, I see.'
In an instant, all shock immediately vanished, replaced by a dead calm as my mind instantly came to a conclusion.
'She's trying to get information from me by seducing me.'
There's no way someone like her will become so close with a random person this fast. She's obviously trying to lower my guard and turn me into a bumbling fool so she can see if I'm Muzan's secret agent!
Honestly, sometimes my genius surprised even me.
'But, I can't tell her yet.'
As much as I would like to reassure her, she was someone who had no regard for her own life. Furthermore, none of the Hashira know about the combat capabilities of an Upper Moon, so I can't have her underestimating one.
When Tengen barely made it out alive against Gyutaro, Obanai mocked him for struggling against the lowest-ranked Upper Moon. Just from that exchange, it was clear that the Hashira who had never actually encountered an Upper Moon thought of them as nothing more than slightly stronger Lower Moons.
That assumption is fatal. No matter what plans Shinobu makes, it won't work if she's still stuck in that same mindset. If anything, it will just lead to her underestimating an Upper Moon's poison tolerance and dying without fulfilling her revenge.
So, I absolutely cannot tell her about Doma until we have finished fighting Upper Moon Six.
"I'm sorry," I responded, removing her finger, "But I think we should focus on the fight against Upper Moon Six first."
Shinobu quietened down for a moment before moving her hand away and holding out her pinky.
"Then," She started with a small smile, "Let's make a promise. If the two of us survive, let's meet back here again."
"...That's it? You're not going to ask me anything more?"
" I'm surprised too, but for some reason, I completely trust you right now," she replied. "So, shut up and take your hand out."
"Alright," I nodded before holding out my own pinky. "Then, it's a promise"
And then, under the moonlight, our fingers intertwined, as a quiet promise, and perhaps something more, was forged between us. The hour that was supposed to be unlucky turned out to be the luckiest hour of my life.
~~~
[3rd Person POV]
*flicker*
A single lamp flickered before turning on, illuminating the dark room.
*flicker* *flicker*
Another followed, then another. Soon, the glow began to spread, lanterns lighting one after the other, climbing higher and higher, spilling outward in every direction.
*flicker* *flicker* *flicker*
It didn't stop. Hundreds of lanterns blazed to life across the vast expanse, chasing the shadows away. Floor after floor revealed itself, corridors stretching endlessly, stairways twisting into the dark, bridges vanishing into the horizon.
The area was beyond comprehension.
*whoosh*
*ting*
The sharp pluck of a biwa string echoed through the void, and with it, the castle stirred to life. One by one, doors materialized out of nothing, sliding and folding into place. They slammed open, rotated, and vanished just as quickly, only for another to take its place.
*clack* *slam* *whoosh*
Dozens of sliding doors folded into one another, rearranging the space like a living maze. Walls turned to ceilings, floors split into stairways, entire hallways flipped and spun as though the castle itself bent to guide him.
Up was down, and down was up. Left was right, and right was left. The entire fortress was arranged in a way that defied the laws of gravity and physics itself. Floating diagonal houses, floors that suddenly shifted from one dimension to another.
It appeared like an inescapable maze.
*step*
And yet, even though hundreds of floors moved randomly, and houses crashed into each other, a lone figure walked through the shifting fortress with ease, his body marked by thick blue lines that glowed faintly against pale skin. Short, bright pink hair framed his face, and inward-tilting yellow eyes stared ahead, their pink lashes and fractured blue sclera resembling shards of cracked glass.
But it was the words etched inside those eyes that defined him more than anything else
Upper Rank Three — Akaza.
'It's this place, the alternate dimension.' Akaza calmly thought, looking at the shifting world, 'The so-called Infinity Castle'
*whoosh*
Tilting his body, Akaza effortlessly glided through the spontaneously appearing doors in a certain direction, as if knowing exactly where his destination was supposed to be, despite the immense size of the place.
'But why have I been summoned here?' Akaza thought before narrowing his eyes 'Could it be...was an Upper Moon killed by a Demon Slayer?'
*clench*
For a moment, Akaza's fist clenched in anger, with his veins bursting from his head and back, before relaxing just a moment later.
Then, taking a step forward onto empty air, Akaza fell from the floating platform. His body tilted forward, and without hesitation, he plunged into the vast hollow of the fortress.
whoosh
The air howled past him as he descended, falling through the endless shaft lined with lanterns. Hundreds of floors blurred by, each glowing ring of light briefly illuminating his form before vanishing above.
Yet despite the fall, his body never wavered. It was as if the entire fortress bent to his will, guiding him downward, deeper, toward his destined place.
And then, finally.
*thud*
As the ground approached, Akaza bent his body, rolling sideways to cancel his momentum as he landed without a sound. Despite the immense force of his landing, the floor beneath him remained perfectly still, untouched by the force of his descent.
*ting*
Hundreds of towering pillars, shaped from the frames of traditional houses, lit up all at once, casting sharp lines of light across the void. The ground beneath Akaza briefly shifted before launching upwards, as if taking him to a specific location.
*whoosh*
Akaza looked calmly at the fortress as he ascended higher and higher, until he completely left the infinite fortress. The vast castle soon fell away, replaced by an otherworldly expanse of floating pillars that hung suspended in the dark. The platform carrying him slowed, its momentum fading as though bowing to the place above.
And then, beyond the forest of pillars, his destination finally came into view.
*ting*
The biwa string rang once again, as Akaza immediately teleported away from his makeshift train onto a wooden platform.
*step*
Akaza moved forward, turning to briefly look at Nakime, as if wanting to ask her why she had called everyone.
"Well, well, if it isn't Akaza-Sama"
'Tch'
Akaza's mood immediately soured as soon as he heard that annoying voice.
*clatter*
From the empty air, a clay pot tumbled down and rolled across the wooden floor, coming to a stop right at his feet.
*wriggle*
Wet gurgling sounds could be heard from inside the pot, as two pale white hands emerged from within, before gripping the corners of the pot, thrusting himself out of the tiny space into the world.
From the shattered pot rose a pale, twisted figure. Its upper body resembled a grotesque, armless statue, merging seamlessly into a porcelain vase like some malformed djinn. Infant-like hands with red nails twitched across its body and tail, while thin purple-blue fins crowned its head, styled like warped hair. Its eyes and mouth were interchanged as well.
Upper Rank Five - Gyokko
"Akaza-Sama~~" Gyokko sang cheerfully, "It's so pleasant to see you in good health. The thought of you dying nearly made my heart sing-Ahem! It made my worried heart filled with anguish!"
The more Gyokko spoke, the more disgusted Akaza's face became, before turning into a fully blown sneer.
"Ah, but it's been so long, right?" Gyokko replied, not at all minding Akaza's expression, "Around 90 years, right?"
*sniff*
Both Akaza and Gyokko's attention was drawn as someone crouched in the corner began to sniff.
"Scary! so scary!" The figure sniffed, "In the time we haven't met, Gyokko-Sama has even forgotten to count. It has been 112 years since we were last summoned."
Trembling, the crouching figure raised his head as he opened both his palms, as if attempting to count. Immediately, blood red eyes came into view, along with a giant red pimple-like forehead. His hands were disfigured, covered almost entirely in claws.
Upper Rank Four - Hantengu
"An even and divisible number," he sniffed "N-no! A number that can be broken down in so many ways! Terrifying! so terrifying!"
"Huh! Shut up, all of you." A figure grumbled, walking in. "Seriously, so annoying. Don't you realize Muzan-Sama might be here? Is this how you're going to greet him? What a bunch of uncivilized barbarians."
Akaza's eyes shifted to the voice before his jaws clenched once again.
She was tall and curvaceous, with pale skin that almost glowed under the light. Her lime green eyes, ringed with a dark orange center, stood out against long lashes, and her snow white hair that cascaded elegantly down her back.
Her attire was a revealing two-piece variation of a kimono. Magenta cloths tied with long bows covering her chest and hips, paired with matching panties. Black thigh-high stockings, traced with magenta lines and floral patterns layered over white stockings, gave her a sharp yet graceful presence.
Upper Rank Six - Daki
Akaza's fist immediately clenched as soon as he spotted the figure approaching.
"Oh my~" Daki sang, "Are you angry with me, Akaza-Sama? Perhaps you're going to kill me for annoying you? Oh, wait, you can't! You don't hit women! Hohohoho! Honestly, what a stupid rule you have."
"Did you know?" Daki continued on approaching Akaza, "I ate quite a lot of women these hundred years, and no one even questioned me! The entertainment district is such a convenient place to become stronger."
Let it be known that Akaza did not like Daki.
For reasons even he couldn't explain, Akaza generally respected women. For some unknown reason, he always possessed a natural aversion to eating any woman, which forced him to only prey on males.
Another thing was that Akaza also disliked weaklings. It didn't matter if they were humans or demons, male or female. If someone was weak, then they were equally worthless in Akaza's eyes.
And yet, standing before him was the embodiment of everything he loathed: a fragile parasite, sneering at him as if she were his equal, all because she was a woman. This leech only achieved the position of an Upper Rank because of her brother.
Akaza respected Gyutaro for putting up with Daki's rants. He was not hesitant in admitting that Gyutaro possessed far more patience than he ever could.
"But, if you're interested~" Daki purred hugging Akaza, as she ran her finger through his chest "I don't mind letting you stay in my room for a while. I could eat the women, and you could eat my male clients if you want. What do you say?"
"I refuse."
"Eh? Why?" Daki cried, pushing Akaza away, "Don't you feel anything when you look at me? Have you never thought of sleeping with me even one time? Doesn't this body excite you so much~~?"
"Tch," Akaza clicked his tongue. "Go bother someone else. I already have..."
As Akaza spoke, his words eventually came to a halt
'I already have?' Akaza wondered 'I already have what? What do I already have that I don't want to sleep with her?'
"You're the only decent-looking person here!" Daki cried, throwing her hands up. " Gyokko looks awful, Hantengu is pathetic, Doma-Sama is like a father to me, Kokushibou-Sama is way too scary, and I wouldn't even think about sullying Muzan-Sama with my body! If you weren't the most beautiful person here, I wouldn't have bothered you at all!"
"Oi," Gyokko shouted as his face turned red, "You say that like I want to sleep with you at all, you old hag!"
"Eeek!" Hantengu cowered, "So scary! Women are so scary!"
Akaza, despite his monstrous regeneration, was starting to have a headache.
"I'll be sure to find some way to disfigure my face," Akaza replied, massaging his head.
"You!"
"Oh my," a lilting voice cooed, "what do we have here?"
Before Akaza could react, an arm casually draped itself around his neck, the gesture far too familiar, far too mocking.
"Are we having another love quarrel here?" he said with a small laugh. "Ah~ how I missed your yelling, we should meet up more often."
A tall young man with a lean, muscular build and an extremely pale complexion. His long, pointed nails were tinged a faint purple. Platinum blond hair framed his face, shorter strands flaring out to the sides and curving backward, with one lock falling between his eyes, while the longer strands spiraled down his back.
His eyes were said to be incredibly rare and mesmerizing, but to Akaza, they were the ugliest things he could have ever seen.
Upper Rank Two - Doma
"Ah! Doma-Sama," Gyokko cheerfully replied, "How are you! Did you like the flower pot I gave you?"
"Ah, Gyokko-Dono, I'm fine. Is that a new pot I see?" Doma replied, waving his hand "By the way, the vase you gave me is currently displaying a woman's head."
"Oh! That wasn't its intended use, but I find that interesting!"
Enough.
"Get your hand off me."
"Huh?" Doma replied, turning towards Akaza, "Did you say someth-"
*squelch*
Before Doma could finish speaking, Akaza landed a devastating backhand to Doma's head, obliterating his lower jaw. Immediately, Doma staggered backwards, caressing his chin, or I suppose, the lack of his chin with his hands.
"Don't touch me, you bastard!"
"Eek!" Hantengu cowered. "They're fighting again!"
"Tch, again?" Daki replied, crossing her arms, "Don't you two get bored?"
'Wait.'
A sudden thought came to Akaza's mind, as he looked at the gathered Upper Moons, all of them with the exception of one.
'If all the Upper Moons are here except for him, then does that mean Upper Rank One was the one killed?'
"Cease your thoughts, Akaza."
The words barely left his lips before a suffocating, inhuman pressure slammed down on everyone nearby. The sheer weight of it forced knees to the ground, bodies bending involuntarily, as if the air itself had grown heavy with command.
However, none of the demons resisted, for doing so would lead to a fate far worse than death.
Above, on the ceiling, a pale man dressed in a white and gray tuxedo with a white top hat sat upside down on the chair, defying gravity itself. He held a small book which he seemed to flip from time to time, as his blood red fractured eyes read through the words.
Demon King - Muzan Kibutsuji
"Kokushibou has been here since the beginning; you all were simply too weak to notice him." Muzan replied, bored, "Akaza, Demons should not be compared to Humans, so even entertaining the thought of one of you dying to an inferior species, much less the strongest of your circus band, is a blasphemy I won't tolerate a second time. Understood?"
"Yes, Lord Muzan!"
Akaza's words came out harsh, strained, as if his throat itself rebelled. He dropped to his knees, the sheer weight of Muzan's presence pressing down on him, and blood seeped from the corners of his mouth, staining his pale skin.
"My lord... please forgive him. He is nothing... but an immature child."
Instantly, everyone's eyes traveled to the middle of the group.
'What?' Akaza thought incredulously, 'Since when has he been there?'
In the middle of the room, knelt the strongest Upper Moon.
His purple-and-black hexagonal-patterned nagagi kimono clung to his broad shoulders, and the black umanori hakama pants hung perfectly, tied with a crisp white uwa-obi. Even in stillness, the presence of his zōri-clad feet on the floor conveyed an effortless dominance.
His muscular frame seemed almost carved from stone, and the three pairs of eyes on his face glinted with a cold, calculating light. The yellow irises against the blood-red sclera radiated an unnatural intensity, while the black lines fanning outward gave him an otherworldly, predatory appearance.
Upper Rank One - Kokushibou
"Do not tell me what to do, Kokushibou."
Saying so, Muzan closed the book he was reading before throwing it away with a swipe of his hands.
"You worthless bunch," Muzan recited, "I'm slowly losing all hope I placed in your useless group."
"My lord, there you go again with the melancholic words." Doma cheerfully replied, "Has there ever been a time when we didn't fulfill your expectations?"
*ting*
"Eh?" Doma muttered, tilting his head as the world around him suddenly flipped upside down.
His vision wavered for a moment, the ceiling becoming the floor and gravity feeling entirely wrong. And there, in front of him, suspended in midair yet perfectly composed, was Muzan. He held his head lightly with one hand, sitting upside down as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Is that so?'' Muzan replied, "You haven't annihilated the Ubayashiki family. You haven't found the blue spider lily. Exactly which expectations of mine have you met?"
As Muzan spoke, his grip over Doma's head tightened even further.
"I'm starting to question why you even exist."
"Ehh? I'm so sorry about that, Lord Muzan," Doma replied cheerfully, resting on Muzan's hand. "Do you want me to atone by gouging out my eyeballs? Or perhaps I can-"
"I have no need for your worthless eyeballs," Muzan replied, his expression turning into disgust.
*ting*
Instantly, Doma's head fell from Muzan's hand, landing perfectly straight onto his severed neck, regenerating in an instant.
"It can't be helped," Kokushibou calmly replied, "The Ubayashiki family is too good at hiding."
"Yeah, searching isn't my strong suit either," Doma said, pointing upwards, "So I can't help too much in that either."
"I'm aware of these matters." Muzan replied, "However, today, for the first time since the creation of the Twelve Moons, did I finally receive some good news."
Saying so, Muzan cast a silent glance towards Gyokko.
"Yes!" Gyokko replied, stepping forward, "Recently, a Demon Slayer purchased one of my pots, and I was able to hear a very interesting piece of news!"
Gyokko tilted the pot upside down. At once, a thick tide of red blood poured out, spilling over the floor, and a mangled corpse tumbled from its mouth, twisted and unrecognizable.
"Specifically, from this guy."
All eyes turned to Gyokko as he continued with the news, not minding the carcass in the slightest.
"Apparently, all five of the current Hashira, and a majority of the Demon Slayer Corps, are preparing to raid the Entertainment District."
"The Entertainment District?" Daki mumbled, "You don't mean?"
"Exactly!" Gyokko replied with a disgusting smile, "Looks like someone by the name of Aoyama Yuito Daichi was able to find out your hideout, Daki."
"Th-that's impossible!" Daki shouted, "My disguise was fool-proof, and I killed all witnesses. How did he know my location?"
"It was inevitable," Akaza calmly replied, "No matter how well you hide it, someone is bound to discover you if you stay in the same place for hundreds of years."
Akaza then turned his gaze towards Daki, as he spoke with a small smile.
"That's why all of us Upper Moons move around. I figured that would be common knowledge, but I suppose I expected too much from you."
"You!" Daki yelled, "What do you mean by us Upper Moons? I'm an Upper Moon too!"
"This Aoyama." Doma interrupted with a smile, "Is he a Hashira or something?"
"Nope~" Gyokko replied, "From what I've heard, he's just a Kanoe, the fourth lowest rank."
"So, he's just a weakling?" Akaza replied with a frown, "That sucks. I was hoping he was someone strong."
*snap*
A snapping sound echoed through the castle, silencing everyone.
"Did I give anyone besides Gyokko permission to speak?" Muzan said, "Don't interrupt like monkeys the next time. I have been far too lenient with you, all because you are Upper Moons."
After Muzan finished speaking, he slowly put his hand down. Instantly, all the Upper Moons stopped speaking, kneeling down immediately.
"Daki, Gyutaro."
Daki instantly flinched upon hearing her name.
"Upper Moon Six, the weakest of the Upper Moons," Muzan continued, his tone calm but cutting. "Not only that, but your presence was discovered by a rookie Slayer. Now, you will relocate to another area, and that will make you even weaker. Do you have anything to say?"
The air thickened with tension, the silence stretching as both siblings struggled to form a response under the piercing authority of their progenitor.
"Do you realize that you may lose the position of an Upper Rank if this goes on?" Muzan inquired, "And if that happens, I will certainly not let you live."
"I-I-I..."
Daki trembled under Muzan's gaze.
Akaza found immense satisfaction in that.
*whoosh*
While failing to respond, Daki instantly felt a pair of warm hands enveloping her head.
Looking up, she was surprised to find Muzan gently caressing her head.
"Oh, Daki," Muzan said with a soft smile, "It's fine. Because of this mistake of yours, you have helped me get one step closer to my goal."
"M-my lord" Daki replied as tears formed in her eyes.
Muzan Kibutsuji is not an uncivilized man-eating demon; he is a civilized and smart man-eating demon. While he didn't constantly prey on humans, he devoted himself to studying medicine and chemistry, all in a relentless pursuit to replicate the Blue Spider Lily.
Whenever the opportunity arose, he would infiltrate wealthy families, absorbing every bit of knowledge they had to offer. In the current era, his mastery over chemistry and biology was unrivaled. Perhaps only Tamayo could approach his depth of understanding.
However, experiments require materials, and materials cost money. Sometimes, his experiments required either very expensive testing materials or a large amount of material at once.
That's where Daki came in. Considering she worked in the Entertainment District and possessed the rank of Oiran, the highest ranking possible, she brought in a lot of money, which was used to fuel Muzan's experiments.
It was for this reason alone that Daki was allowed to hold the position of Upper Moon, despite her obvious shortcomings. Her rank was not a testament to her strength, but to her usefulness in sustaining Muzan's ambitions.
Which is why Muzan was lenient to Daki's shortcomings, even relative to an Upper Moon's. Make no mistake, Muzan only saw Daki as a source of money, nothing more.
However, this time, Muzan was genuinely happy because of Daki's mistake.
"The strongest of the Demon Slayer Corps will be there," Muzan said, voice smooth as poison. "Killing them will cripple the Corps and the Ubayashiki line for years."
He paused for a moment.
"The Hashira know where the important places are, including the location of the Ubayashiki family. Capture a Hashira and bring them to me, and I will turn them into a demon and extract all of their memories."
"My lord, Kokushibou spoke. "I do not mean to contradict you... but Upper Moon Six may not be strong enough... to handle half a dozen Hashira."
"Kokushibou," Muzan spoke, "Tell me, how long have the Demon Slayer Corps been a thorn in my side? How long have they been pestering me and thwarting my every move?"
"It should be...more than a thousand years."
"A thousand years," Muzan repeated, tasting the number. "They've annoyed me for a thousand years. It's about time, I remind them who holds the blade."
Muzan's eyes then narrowed, going over the entire group of Upper Moons.
"In all your millennia, this may finally be the moment you prove useful to me. Coincidentally, it's also the first time in countless ages that I'm closest to my goal. Fail me, and death will be the least of your concerns. Understood?"
Immediately, every Upper Moon responded in unison.
""""""Yes Lord Muzan""""""
As they all replied, Muzan grinned with a small but sinister smile. His red eyes seemed to glow, radiating cruelty as he balanced his head on his palm.
"The Slayer Corps is only expecting one Upper Moon, huh? Then, let's give them a small surprise.
~~~
Yo, it's me.
Damn, 12k words? Did NOT mean for this chapter to be so big.
Yeah so, I figured with all the action, it's about time I started diverging from Canon, and making my own. Thankfully, Demon Slayer isn't that complicated, and I used to make Naruto fanfics, so this shouldn't be an issue (mostly)
A bit of romance teasing, too. I feel like that's the only thing a few readers who come to read multiverse fanfictions want, so might as well.
Don't ask me if this is Harem or not, I don't know that myself, and I'm probably just going to go with the flow.
Anyways, its 4 in the morning, I'm tired, so I'm going to sleep.
Cya