What filled the girl's vision was a world of breathtaking beauty—an endless cascade of violet butterflies fluttering around her, creating a dreamlike spectacle. The delicate sound of their wings beating was like a flowing stream, soothing her mind and easing her tension.
Hum~
A soft purple glow, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance, swept across her vision, brushing past her small body like a whisper.
"?"
She blinked, dazed, and stepped forward. Before her was a radiant world lit by the dreamlike light of the rising sun. Instinctively, she raised her hand, allowing one of the butterflies to land on her fingertip.
"What… is this? So beautiful…" she murmured in awe, watching the ethereal scene before her.
But… a moment later, something felt wrong.
The butterfly resting on her finger began to change color. Its crystalline purple hue turned into a blood-red crimson, and its wings started to melt away as if corroded. Dark red droplets trickled down her fingertip.
"?!"
Her eyes widened. Looking down at herself, she noticed red blotches blooming across her chest—blood seeping through her clothes. One mark, two, three… until her entire body was stained red, and blood began to pour from her eyes, nose, and mouth.
"!"
Panic flickered in her mind—her thoughts snapped back to reality.
Crack!
The illusion shattered around her, the dreamlike world collapsing like broken glass—replaced by the image of a violet-haired woman lunging forward through the air, blade aimed directly at her.
Swish!
Thrust!
A flash of purple light pierced straight through her chest. The sharp sound of the strike echoed in her ears as Shinobu Kocho landed lightly behind her, moving with the grace of a butterfly.
"Insect Breathing: Butterfly Dance—Caprice."
Tap, tap…
After landing, Shinobu spoke her technique's name with a teasing lilt, then flicked her blade to the side, scattering droplets of crimson mixed with faint traces of violet.
Drop!
The blood splattering onto the ground shimmered purple where it fell.
"!"
The pale-haired demon instinctively reached for her neck—still intact!
What?! Her head hadn't been severed?! Why? How?
Her confusion quickly turned into relief. Her gaze darted toward the small woman standing with her back turned. The strange Nichirin Blade she wielded caught her attention—its slender shape, its fine needle-like edge… not a sword made for cutting.
"!"
So that was it! She understood now! The woman's small frame meant she lacked the strength to decapitate her. Heh~! In that case, victory was hers!
"Hehehe~ Die—!!"
But just as she was about to strike, a wave of searing agony tore through her entire body—a pain so intense it burned through her nerves and bones.
"What?!"
Her eyes widened in horror as she looked down. Her pale skin was marred by dark, pulsating veins that crawled rapidly up her arm, spreading across her neck, head, and chest.
"You—cough!!"
She coughed violently, blood spilling from her mouth—but it wasn't red anymore. It was deep violet. The same color now leaked from her eyes, streaming down her cheeks like tears.
Thump, thump!
Her heart pounded faster, louder—until it felt as if it would burst. Staggering back, she clutched her throat in panic.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Her screams filled the forest as her flesh began to rot and blister, her form collapsing into a grotesque mess.
Thud!
At last, her body convulsed one final time before falling still—her bloodshot eyes staring blankly into the night.
Whoosh! ×N
Shinobu finally turned around, giving her blade a small flick to scatter the remaining blood. Her calm, serene smile returned as she regarded the fallen demon like one might observe an amusing sight.
"You shouldn't let your guard down just because your head's still attached, you know~?" she said playfully, though the demon could no longer hear her.
"For instance, me… I'm the type of Demon Slayer who kills demons with poison."
Swish, swish!
With elegant dexterity, she spun her Nichirin Blade between her slender fingers, twirling it like a toy. The blade's light weight made it easier to maneuver—its spinning motion cutting through the air with a sharp hiss as she twirled it from behind her back to the front.
Clack!
Finally, she caught the handle in her other hand, holding it in a reverse grip, adopting a poised stance.
"Demon Slayer Corps, Insect Hashira—Shinobu Kocho. Among all the Hashira, I'm the only one who can't cut off a demon's head…" she said, her lips curving into a smile. "…But I can make poison deadly enough to kill them. A very, very potent poison~."
"…"
The demon lay motionless on the ground, her hands still frozen around her throat, mouth agape and eyes wide open—an ugly, twisted death mask.
"Hmm~? Hehe… How rude of me. You're already dead, so you can't hear me anymore, huh? How careless of me… My apologies," Shinobu chuckled darkly, tapping her own forehead lightly as if scolding herself.
"Phew… I wonder how the Shogun is doing. She should be fine, right?"
Her gaze drifted toward the direction she had come from. The sounds of battle that had echoed earlier were now gone—had the fight ended?
Shinobu knew the Shogun's strength well. She was powerful—absurdly so. Her might rivaled even the Upper Ranks themselves. That was precisely why she had been allowed to take up the title of Hashira so quickly. It was one of the many reasons, Shinobu believed.
In any case, she trusted her. Trusted her strength, and her instincts. Inviting her into the Corps had been the right decision—it had to be. Without her, they would have lost something irreplaceable.
"Time to head back…" she murmured softly.
Just as she turned to leave—
"Hmm?"
A butterfly fluttered down before her.
"Another demon sighting? Any humans nearby? My, this mountain certainly has no shortage of them… Very well~ Let's go take a look."
Casting one last glance in the Shogun's direction, she changed her mind and leapt upward, landing gracefully on a nearby branch. With light, nimble movements, she darted through the treetops like a ninja, following the butterfly's lead.
Before long, it guided her effortlessly toward a small clearing where the demon's presence lingered.
Tap, tap…
Perched lightly on a branch, Shinobu looked down at the scene below—and her eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"…Tomioka-san?"
There he was—Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira. What was he doing here? And why wasn't he attacking?
Was he… protecting it? That was a demon, wasn't it?
(Since you're not moving, I'll take care of it myself~)
Whoosh!
Like a butterfly in flight, Shinobu descended swiftly, landing lightly on the ground—
Bang!
And in the next instant, she dashed forward, her blade aimed straight at the small girl cradled protectively in Tanjiro's arms—Nezuko.
"!"
Giyu reacted instantly, dropping low and drawing his Nichirin Blade in one fluid motion. Their blades clashed sharply, deflecting her strike.
Clang!
The sound of metal rang through the clearing as Shinobu flipped backward, twisting gracefully in the air before landing several paces away, her eyes glittering with amused curiosity.
"Heiya~?" she said lightly, her tone a mix of surprise and teasing intrigue. "Are you… protecting her? Protecting a demon? No way~ That can't be the Giyu Tomioka I know, can it?"
Tap, tap…
Her delicate feet touched the ground softly as she straightened, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her tone, however, grew faintly colder.
Giyu now stood protectively before Tanjiro, his sword raised and pointed toward her.
"Why are you getting in my way, Tomioka-san? Has your head been clouded by that demon~?" she asked softly, her words carrying both confusion and warning.
"You were the one who said demons and humans could never coexist. So what changed?" she asked again, her lips curling into a small, knowing smile.
"…"
He stayed silent.
"Heh… That's exactly why everyone dislikes you, you know?" she said with a faint sigh, her voice teasing but edged with honesty.
Click!
She straightened her stance, both hands gripping her Nichirin Blade firmly as she raised it toward him.
"!"
Tanjiro froze at the sight, sweat beading on his forehead as tension filled the air. Instinctively, he tightened his hold around Nezuko, shielding her.
"…Little brother~?" Shinobu called sweetly.
"Ah—yes!" Tanjiro blurted, startled.
"The one beside you is a demon, you know? Very dangerous~ Please step away from her. Thank you for your cooperation~!" she said politely, though her tone carried the weight of a warning.
"B-but—"
"Run!"
Before he could reply, Giyu snapped at him sharply, his voice stern and urgent.
"But—"
"Now!!"
His voice rose again, filled with unusual intensity.
"O-okay!!"
Tanjiro, startled by his tone, quickly gathered Nezuko in his arms and began running, stumbling awkwardly as he hurried to get away.
"Sigh… Tomioka-san, you do realize this is a violation of Corps protocol, don't you?" Shinobu said calmly, though her expression had grown serious.
"I don't need you to remind me," Giyu replied coolly, standing upright and raising his sword once more, blade pointed directly at her.
"Hehe… you really are troublesome, aren't you…" Shinobu sighed softly, shaking her head. "I didn't think things would turn out this ridiculous. But I suppose if everything went smoothly… it wouldn't be the Demon Slayer Corps, would it?"
...
Bang! ×N
In the moonlit clearing, sparks of clashing blades burst like fireworks. Two figures—one man and one woman—darted and collided in swift succession. The woman was clearly faster; the man, undeniably stronger.
Clang!
Their swords met again, locking briefly before both pushed off and separated.
Tap! ×2
Landing lightly, they faced each other across the clearing.
"Huff… so you're serious now, Tomioka-san? I didn't think a fellow Hashira would go so far as to protect a demon… and even cross blades with me," Shinobu said coldly. Her usual gentle tone hardened into something sharp, a rare display of her seriousness. That boy and the demon girl had already fled. If she didn't stop them soon, they would become a threat later.
Why was he protecting that demon anyway?
She truly couldn't understand it.
"…"
Her violet eyes narrowed, fixing on Giyu Tomioka. He stood opposite her, his expression calm and cold, showing no emotion.
"…Still not talking? Fine then. If you insist on stalling, I'll leave you behind. I won't waste time playing along."
Whoosh!!
The next instant, she vanished in a blur, the air parting in a sharp gust of wind.
"…I'll be going on ahead. No more playing around."
Her small figure appeared high above, balanced on a treetop. Without sparing him a glance, she leapt toward the direction Tanjiro had fled.
"!"
For once, Giyu's calm eyes widened in surprise. But he quickly recovered, leaping after her at high speed.
Whoosh!
Shinobu glided through the forest canopy like a butterfly, each step light and precise. Her feet touched branches and tree trunks as she propelled herself forward—graceful yet incredibly fast.
But when she looked back…
He wasn't falling behind. In fact, he was gaining on her.
(Has he gotten faster?) she thought, mildly surprised. Was he secretly training his speed?
"You don't actually think you can catch me, do you, Tomioka-san?" she called teasingly over her shoulder.
Tap, tap…
He said nothing, just continued his relentless pursuit.
"Even if you—"
Boom!
Before she could finish, Giyu suddenly jumped—his powerful legs launching him into the air like a cannonball. In an instant, he was level with her.
"!"
Wait… what?!
Her eyes widened in surprise, her usual serene smile giving way to genuine shock.
Whoosh!
He reached for her, intending to pull her down—but—
Ding~
From the distant forest below, a violet flash shot upward. Neither of them had time to react as the beam of light streaked toward them, bursting between them like lightning.
Crackle!!
The purple radiance expanded, taking human shape. In an instant, the Shogun appeared, wrapping an arm around Shinobu's waist while her leg swung forward in a powerful kick.
BAM!
"!"
Caught off guard, Giyu's eyes widened just before her kick connected squarely with his face, sending him hurtling through the air like a meteor.
CRASH!
He slammed into the forest floor, crashing through several trees before coming to a stop.
"Oh my…"
Shinobu covered her mouth with a small, guilty laugh. "That must've hurt…" But before she could react further, she realized she was still pressed tightly against the Shogun's chest.
Her face was buried against the woman's bust—soft and firm all at once—and she struggled briefly for air.
Whoosh!
The Shogun landed gracefully, holding Shinobu close as her feet touched the ground.
"Are you hurt?" she asked softly, her voice calm as always.
Shinobu quickly turned her face away, breathing in fresh air at last.
"I almost suffocated… maybe use a little less strength next time?" she said with a teasing smile.
"Can't you be serious for once?" the Shogun replied with a faint sigh, giving her a mildly exasperated look.
"Hehe~ sorry, sorry," Shinobu laughed, her tone light and playful.
"Ahem~ judging from your state, you're unharmed?" the Shogun asked, adjusting her grip on Engulfing Lightning as she extended a hand toward her.
"Mmm—if you hadn't shown up, I might have been in a little trouble," Shinobu admitted, taking her hand. The Shogun pulled her gently to her feet, and she sheathed her Nichirin Blade with a soft click.
"Phew… You vanished without a word. I thought something happened to you," the Shogun exhaled softly, crossing her arms as she spoke with faint irritation. That man had almost laid hands on Shinobu—fortunately, she had arrived in time.
"Oh~? Does that mean… you were worried about me, Shogun~?" Shinobu asked brightly, tilting her head with a teasing smile.
"…What else? A friend goes silent in battle, of course I'd be concerned. Phew… try not to give me more reasons to worry," the Shogun sighed, sounding genuinely weary.
"Pfft… Sorry, sorry. It's just that things got a little… uh—" Shinobu began awkwardly.
Tap, tap…
Before she could finish, Giyu Tomioka appeared once again, stepping calmly into view as if nothing had happened. Despite his earlier fall, he was completely unscathed.
Thud…
The Shogun immediately pulled Shinobu behind her, raising Engulfing Lightning before her, eyes narrowing in silent warning.
"Ah~" Shinobu let out a small sound of surprise at the sudden movement.
"Who are you?" Giyu asked coldly.
"How foolish. Shouldn't one announce their own name before demanding another's?" the Shogun retorted icily.
"…"
Giyu fell silent.
"…"
She did too.
The air between them grew awkwardly heavy.
"Um… Shogun, he's my colleague," Shinobu said finally, stepping out from behind her.
"…Colleague?" The Shogun arched a brow.
"Remember what I told you before? The Water Hashira who came with me—that's him."
"Oh? Then why were you two crossing blades?" the Shogun asked, lowering her naginata slightly but keeping her gaze sharp.
"She tried to kill a demon. I stopped her. That's all," Giyu answered curtly.
"Demon? What demon?" the Shogun asked.
"A boy was protecting one. I still don't understand why Tomioka-san is shielding it," Shinobu replied.
"…You're talking about Tanjiro, aren't you?" the Shogun asked, turning to look at Giyu.
"! How do you know him?" Giyu asked, momentarily caught off guard.
"He traveled with me part of the way. We met by chance, but I learned a bit about him," she replied calmly.
"Huh? Wait—what do you mean?" Shinobu blinked in confusion, her tone curious.
"This goes back about two years…" Giyu began, sheathing his Nichirin Blade as he explained.
"If you start from that far back, this'll take all day. You're doing this on purpose, aren't you, Tomioka-san?" Shinobu said with a strained smile, a faint vein twitching on her forehead.
"The demon the boy travels with is his younger sister. He's a demon slayer who fights while protecting her. She hasn't shown aggression—she's rational and doesn't eat humans," the Shogun explained briefly, summarizing it in her usual composed tone.
"Oh? Is that so…? I find it hard to believe there are demons capable of resisting such instincts," Shinobu said skeptically. But then she sighed softly. "Still… if you say so, Shogun, I suppose I can let it go."
That boy likely understood the danger better than anyone. He'd already made his choice, after all.
"Message! Message! Caw—!!"
Whoosh!
"?" ×3
At that moment, a squad of crows from Headquarters swooped over Mount Natagumo. One of them circled directly above the trio, calling out orders in a shrill voice.
"By order of Headquarters—Tanjiro Kamado and the demon Nezuko Kamado are to be captured alive and brought back immediately!"
"Repeat! Capture Tanjiro Kamado and the demon Nezuko Kamado alive and escort them to Headquarters!"
"…" ×3
The three of them—Shogun included—stood in silence, exchanging brief glances as the crow continued.
"Tanjiro Kamado: wearing a checkered haori, scar on forehead. Nezuko Kamado: small stature, bamboo muzzle, black haori. Both must be brought back to Headquarters by direct order of the Master. Do not fail!"
Flap!
After delivering its message, the crow flew off, joining the others dispersing across the mountain to inform all units—including the Hidden Corps.
"…Let's go, Shogun," Shinobu said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She took the Shogun's hand and began leading her away from the mountain.
"Where to?" the Shogun asked as she followed, sheathing her naginata.
"Why, to Headquarters, of course~ We need to give you a proper welcome," Shinobu replied with a bright smile and a playful wink.
A welcome, huh… Let's hope it's not too warm, the Shogun thought silently, suppressing a sigh. She had the feeling things wouldn't go smoothly.
Giyu followed quietly behind them. After a moment, he asked, "You still haven't told me who she is."
"Hm? I thought you'd already guessed. Sigh… very well. She's the one I mentioned—the special guest invited personally by the Master," Shinobu explained.
"So it's you, then… hmm—" Giyu studied her closely, eyes scanning her face.
"…You won't learn anything from staring. And your gaze is rather rude," the Shogun said calmly, glancing back at him.
"I know it's rude, but, Butterfly… she's nothing like you described," Giyu replied bluntly, frowning slightly. Cute? Innocent? Not even close.
"Shinobu… what exactly did you tell him about me?" the Shogun asked suspiciously, clearly unimpressed.
"Hehe~ Don't worry. I only mentioned your charms, that's all. It's nothing serious. Tomioka-san just has a way of being… disagreeable," Shinobu said soothingly, giving her a sweet smile.
"Phew… fine," the Shogun muttered, sighing inwardly. She didn't care enough to argue further.