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Upper-Rank 0

Summary:

Standing beneath the sunlight without any worries was Muzan's biggest desire. He kills and turns everyone he stumbles upon to become a demon so the chance to find the special one arises. With you, it is the same. However, training with the other Upper-Ranked has led you to gain more attention from the Lord himself.

Chapter 1: Caught

Chapter Text

Moonlight shines dimly under the cloudy sky resulting in a very dark environment for the precious human eyes. However, there you are, standing brave against a mysterious man standing meters from you. Every little cell in your body is already telling you to leave immediately because it senses danger.

The danger that coming from this neat and fancy-dressing man.

"What a wasted effort," he sighed as he started to walk towards you. "A girl like you wouldn't stand a chance in front of me."

Rage should have been summoned in you after you listened to those words, but you realize something else. You exactly know what is wrong here and the reason you come home quickly.

"Not a step closer, Demon! I know what you've done to the nearest village!" you yell while lifting the axe on your palm, "You are the human-eating demon and that means I won't let you pass through me!"

He seems displeased by whatever you have yelled at him, judging by how he growls as he answers, "You are wasting my time."

You are sure to move a step earlier than him, but you feel a huge pain in your waist as he disappears in front of you. Slowly but surely, you look down to your waist. Only to find that you lost half of your waist and belly. Blood spurs out from your mouth as you lose your balance.

"Hopeless," he mutters to himself and as he starts to walk, you surprisingly succeed in grabbing his collar and gripping hard on his arm. He is annoyed, but why do you even have to care about that?

"I am not going to let you move ... or even touch my family!" you scream as you push him, but nothing happens. He was just stunned there, clearly annoyed.

Although from your very eyes, you could read something hidden beneath those thin black pupil and red veins eyes of his. Without further dispatch to learn his eyes, you could feel an enormous pain start to strike your neck. It's his fingers, with long claws dipped deep into your neck.

"Then let's see if you could withstand this."

The sheer pain you felt in your bones was so painful that you were incapable of making a noise, or even as simple as a whimper. You lost consciousness and fell to the ground. He scoffed upon seeing you barely able to breathe in his feet, so he started to move towards your family which already shrieking in disbelief.

Standing right in front of the mourning family, he reached out to the young lady with his bleedy claws. Or so he thought, because the moment he touched the girl, his hand was gone. He blinked in surprise and quickly realized that you had awakened.

You, standing not far from him, biting his cut-off hand with full madness on your face. Glaring hungrily towards him, full of anger. Surely, it doesn't bother him how high your anger is, but what bothers him is your durability.

"I can't believe I need help," he mutters as he walks closer to you, with his hand already regenerating and reaching out to you, "You are coming with me."

"No ... NO! Our daughterㅡ" Father's plea was interrupted by the arrival of a pink-haired man.

"Akaza has arrived and is ready to serve you. Any order, Lord Muzan?" he speaks, kneeling on one foot without paying attention to the terrified family near him.

Muzan, already held you in his arms, ready to bring you leaving the place, commanded Akaza, his subordinates.

"Finish them."

Akaza bowed as he stood. "As you wish."

Screams could be heard as Muzan fled with unconscious you in his arms. Beneath moonlight's charm, he passes everything without worries with everything running in his mind.

Are you the one he's been looking for centuries?

Chapter 2: Inconvenience

Notes:

hey! thanks for reading; this is my first one among all drafts and I apologize for the inconvenience encountered as I'm still learning English myself :D

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Months have passed but Muzan still regrets the same thing over and over. He questioned and answered his confusion about the main reason he brought you a few months ago. Because there you are, on top of his comfortably unused bed, sleeping soundly as if there's nothing traumatic had happened to you.

In one of the months, Muzan decided to erase your memory about your family. He doesn't think having them would make you willingly obligated to him. He hates with every fiber of his demonic blood a weak and incapable demon of hunting humans. Especially this one, the one that sleeping on his bed.

"I can't bring myself to explain the justification to not kill her, while she is obviously not eating any humans!" he grunted, standing pissed by himself.

"What is Douma doing right now?" He leaves the room and immediately arrives in Douma's dwelling. Dark, neat, smells nice, and spacious.

"Is he not realizing I'm here? Because I know he's here."

Not long after, Muzan could hear the door slide open and Douma's face started to show in front of him. He greeted Muzan excitedly with a soft-spoken tone that was supposedly full of respect, "Douma is here, ready at your service, My Lord. Is there anything I can help?"

There is no immediate answer because Muzan chose to just sit on one of the so-called thrones. Douma isn't questioning anything and just follows him to sit right close to his lord. His smile didn't waver a bit, showing how curious he was upon his lord's arrival in his dwellings.

"Are you slacking off?"

"I'm sorry?" Douma immediately perked up when Muzan spoke to him, "I apologize if I had caused you to anger towards me, My Lord. However, there is no such thing as slacking off, as I always welcome every prey coming uninvited."

Muzan knows that, of course. He is able to spy on every single one of his Kizuki. He's just here to somewhat find a miracle that Douma is secretly slacking off. After realizing his decision, Muzan starts to think that he might be acknowledged to be bored by his subordinates and wondering the reason behind it.

They all know your existence in the lord's bedroom.

"Encountered any Hashira?" Muzan finally remembers his top priority.

"They're easily spotted," Douma answered confidently, "I haven't killed any because they're smart enough to realize I'm spying on them."

Now, Muzan had discovered a hole under his strict custody.

"You? A mere human realizes an upper-rank demon like you around them, and that makes you restrain yourself, an upper-rank 2?"

Douma laughed soundlessly as he held both his palms to meet in front of him before he started to speak to Muzan, "I have a target to kill four Hashira in one place. I need to make a pattern so I can lure them in and finish them off."

"Is that your new way to get on my nerves?"

"How dare I, a mere subordinates to have such idea to you, My Lord." Douma still keeps his steady and soft-sounding voice while speaking to Muzan. Between the silence after exchanging words, Douma had found another word to utter to Muzan. "Are you somehow looking for excuses for your little sweet demon, My Lord?"

Whether or not Douma intends to rage Muzan, at the very least he is indeed made Muzan enraged until he loses his below jaw. Though not a moment later the jaw regenerated to his usual perfectly shaped jaw. Realizing he was easy to read now, Muzan stands from where he sat and stands towards a space.

Douma called out to him, "You can set easy command to any of your underlings to finish her, My Lord. There is no need to get further stressed." He bowed with a smile so innocent that everyone so sure it was genuine.

"It's none of my subordinates business, so I suggest you silence yourself when any idea of bringing her in conversation comes up."

By stating those, Muzan disappears as the wind blows Douma's curtain. His tall, steady, and pretty form stands between moonlight, forming a pretty silhouette of a Saint. Again, his curvy pretty smile never fades on his face although he utters something ambiguous.

"I shall never fail you, My Lord."

Notes:

you can leave comments or notes for any errors!

Chapter 3: The Lord

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Blinking slowly after regaining consciousness, the light started reaching out to your sight. Very unfamiliar surroundings, and ceilings that looked quite luxurious which was very unusual to you. However, you can't recall the reason. You don't even question where you are, but instead, you study your surroundings.

Awake on top of a weird bedding, a heavy yet comfortable blanket, and a yukata on your body. Everything seems neatly arranged with minimum items and decorations. What dominated most of the spaces on shelves and floors was books. A lot of them with few weird-looking bottles and liquid inside.

"You're awake," a voice spoke to you in a low tone, attracting your attention. He is good-looking, like he has all the perfection carved on his face. Especially his red eyes, it's given you a tremendous shiver.

"I ...."

You exactly know that you don't know what to say.

"You got a glimpse of your name?" he asks, seated himself on the edge of the bed.

You fell silent because you have no idea. Though you are confused and worried, because nothing goes through your brain, the man in front of you sighed.

"I can give you a nickname, but with one condition." He implies as if you need one.

Now, instead of nodding and listening to his condition, your forehead wrinkles in confusion. "Why would there be any conditions for a nickname? And why it had to be you?"

"Seems like your mind is blank," he continued. "Can you tell me everything about you so I don't have to spend my precious free time just to talk to you? Now, talk."

His crimson eyes that sent shivers down your spine now start to make you incapable of thinking. As hard as you could recall any situation in your mind, you could only remember a moment when your body felt like roaming among the winds, with hands that held tightly around you as your body ached.

Your senses tell you that you need to rest assured, while carefully keeping your distance from him, physically and perhaps mentally. Upon not hearing any single word uttered from your mouth, he sighed.

"I usually don't do an introduction, because every single person that has seen me, knows who I am." He closed his eyes, resulting in his pupils thinning and red iris dominating his eyes. He glares at you, implying, "I'm Muzan."

Nodding towards this awkward introduction, not hard for you to see that Muzan hasn't done speaking. "I'm a demon, I help people to gain purposes for their life if life had betrayed them."

"As a demon, that is very generous of you."

"Because demons have eternity to achieve anything they please," Muzan stated, "although we of course have weaknesses. Sun."

"The sun is our weakness?"

"We will turn into ashes and die once we bathe in its shining light."

Blinked upon hearing Muzan's statement, you start to have a reminisce of a sunlight beauty. Although it seems like its heat is sometimes able to sting your fragile skin.

"Then, am I one of your important people?" you asked, wondering why he had to go to such lengths to explain this demon stuff.

No immediate answer like the previous one, because Muzan fell into silence. His expressions explained that he had made a bad decision. He rises from his seat with a glimpse of rage from his eyes. Of course, you can't fathom the reason. One thing is for sure, for you, he's a weirdo.

Weirdo with a genuine purpose.

"One thing is important for you to know, as you are my subordinates, you need to feed on humans."

"Humans?" you tilt your head, wondering in curiosity. "I suppose they're the ones that are against your will to help people find purpose in their lives?"

Listening to your words, Muzan seems pensive in his thoughts with annoyed expressions on him. You exactly don't understand why he is suited well with that expression. Out of nowhere, he chuckled.

"You can eat any kind of human, as long as you crave their flesh, they're yours." Muzan glares to you. Maybe your eyes deceived you, but you can slightly see his smile.

"Is it hard to get them?"

"There are kinds, but I have no further wish to speak to you, so get out of there and meet my other subordinates."

"I suppose they'll help me?"

Muzan sighed in annoyance, as if something just passed his mind. "Not all, but I know at least a few of them would gladly help."

After all his explanations, you got this feeling inside of you that behind his annoyed expression all the time, he's a sweet and caring person. You had no idea why, but you always trust your senses, and although lost everything, you just had this gut feeling to listen to your senses.

"Oh, one important thing." He didn't stop walking after both of you got out of the room. He held his index finger up while saying, "If you want, I will call you Kirayame."

Seconds passed as you processed the information given to you, you nodded behind him and happily answered, "Of course, Muzan."

"You call me Lord."

"Of course, My Lord."

Notes:

I have stocks for chapters ready to publish but let's wait, shall we :))

Chapter 4: Hunt with Kokushibo

Notes:

if your favorite is Kokushibo, this chapter is for you dear ;)

Chapter Text

Morning has come and you cannot go outside so instead you were sitting inside a very sturdy building with a concrete wall surrounding it. There are piles of pillars made of wood that are huge. Feels empty, but you can sense something walking towards you.

Five meters, three meters, and he gets closer.

"Your senses are dull, Young Lady."

A heavy and strong voice echoed across the large room. There, two steps away from you, a tall figure of a man standing wearing a purple duotone kimono with dark hakama on him. Everything about him is regular and looks normal, not until you reach sighting his face.

Eyes widened, you can't pick words between disbelief and amazement at what you've seen. His gray skin contrary to his red hair, lighten his fully red eyes with yellow iris glowing inside. Something was written right in his irises.

Upper-rank 1.

What is that supposed to mean?

"Did you say so because I did not recognize your noiseless arrival?" you asked with a radiant glance towards his eyes. Peeking at his katana on his waist, you do think this man is addicted to eyes.

"Yes, you realize." His voice sounded husky he may recognize a hidden meaning behind your question. "You know I'm coming."

A smile still lingers on your face to reply to his answer. "Please, have a seat."

He sat down across the table in front of you a moment after you asked him to do so. He seems displeased and you know exactly why, yet, he said it out loud. "This is my place, you acted like it's yours."

"Oh, I owe you an apology as an ill-mannered guest. Lord Muzan had asked me to wait here for someone so I didn't give a thought that this place belonged to someone. Although I didn't expect someone like you either," you replied in a gentle tone.

"Why is that so?" he asked, staring at you deeply with those six eyes dominating his face.

"Judging from Lord Muzan himself, you look quite ... extraordinary."

No replies, but he broke eye contact with you. "I heard it from Lord Muzan, he wanted me to take you with me when I'm hunting humans." He touched the hilt of his katana, supposedly so you pay your attention to it. "Is this your first hunt?"

"Yes, and I have not eaten any human too."

"I see," he answers. "The sun will set soon enough, so I have given thought to teaching you basic things as a demon. Especially under Lord Muzan's direct demand."

"I appreciate it, Mister ...?"

You look straight into his eyes and he realizes he has not introduced himself. "Kokushibo, apologize for not introducing myself properly."

"Apologize accepted and I am named by Lord Muzan himself. You can call me Kirayame."

As nightfall arrived it sent the unintentional signal to every demon alive that it was their time to hunt and feed themselves freely. You and Kokushibo standing right on a low hill, observing a cheery village as if they're celebrating over something. You caught some specific colored light shining on the path.

"Is there a wedding? Wedding celebration?" You realize such a thing, and started to think you may not lost that much of a memory. Then you glanced at Kokushibo, who was clearly taller than you. "Are you targeting ...?"

"I don't specifically target kind or condition of humans, I merely think of the easiest way to get the most audible humans from this kind of celebration," Kokushibo stated as if what he said wasn't actually the same as what he's against.

However you just nod, maybe you will understand once you get your hands on those kinds of people Kokushibo mentioned. Kokushibo moved unexpectedly and you almost missed his entire silhouette if you didn't pay enough attention. He moves fast from tree to tree and gets closer to a bunch of drunk men near the forest.

Cheering of happiness and laughter colored the unseen wind. Nevertheless, Kokushibo doesn't get affected at all upon hearing those laughs and giggles. His eyes didn't move a bit, you expected at least there's some use of his addiction to eyes.

As surely as you thought, just a moment after you catch a person parted from the crowds, he is immediately gone. Just like that, gone in a blink of an eye. You're late to realize that Kokushibo is gone, too.

"Oh, he's quick, or does he have some supernatural power to hide-"

You stunned. Your senses of smell start to catch up on something so tempting. Something that drives your blood rushing and able to urging you to get your hand on anything that tempted you by its smell. Running with pure instinct and depending on your nose, you run to that mouth-watering smell.

Then, you arrived there, seeing Kokushibo already sitting on top of a high rock, wielding a ripped arm. Not far from the rock, right beneath Kokushibo, is a man ... no, three men, died, and all of their hearts are gone. You stand still, processing what you've seen while Kokushibo seems to anticipate of this reaction.

"She's still a human though she's asleep for three whole years."

What Kokushibo said is clear and stated, there is no way you couldn't hear that. However, you did not listen to any words of it. You looked to Kokushibo with wonder, "It's so messy, blood anywhere. Isn't this going to leave a trace? Isn't someone going to track us down and get their revenge on us, which ends up in our lives in danger?"

To be precise, Kokushibo did not expect that reaction, but he wouldn't lie that he was amazed. Truly, if he may say, he intends on ordering you to clean those and see how you would handle it. Now he had no choice but to explain himself by not behaving as an upper-rank 1.

"Keep that thought in mind," Kokushibo answered while munching the last pieces of flesh in his hand. "I'm doing this to remind me when I'm still new as a demon back then. That's how I'm going to help you."

Good excuses, you stated to yourself after listening to Kokushibo. After that nostalgic dinner with Kokushibo, he is indeed helping you to hunt humans. Before the sun arises, you already decided on how you will get your target for the next night.

Lure them with emotions. Kokushibo said it is humans' utmost weakness.

Chapter 5: The Charming Douma

Notes:

if your favorite is Douma, I hope you enjoy this <3

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

"Hello there, it's nice to meet you. I'm Douma."

A tall man with pale hair color and some kind of red pump color that looked like blood dropped on top of his head greets you with a wide smile on his face. His smile looked so genuine and pretty, suited well with his rainbow irises. Although, of course, there's writing in the irises, the same as you had seen in Kokushibo's.

It's different; written there was upper-rank 2.

"I heard that your name is Kirayame and Lord Muzan himself gave you that name? How generous of him!" Douma walks closer to you and every gesture of his body speaks how excited he is. "How is your week's hunting with Master Kokushibo going? Isn't he amazing? I was always amazed by how he used his breathing technique like humans."

He didn't stop talking even when taking a walk with you, touring inside his residence. It's a fancy traditional-looking house with a very thick layer of paper wall to cover the sunlight. Because you are sure that right now is in the middle of the day. There's even little lighting inside to see paths or rooms. Not that you wanted to know, because it may affect your hunting learning sessions with him.

You replied as much as needed, but cannot follow through with all these conversations that randomly go anywhere. His focus is pointed in one person by what you've listened to. He wonders about Muzan's perception of you.

"We haven't talked again since he left me in Master Kokushibo's dwellings. I don't want to bother him either because Master Kokushibo's teaching is taking all my mind to focus," you answered his roundabout questions that basically it.

Douma seems pleased though you're sure you must have offended him. You wonder how your learning would go since he is a charming person but at the same time is mysteriously intimidating. Maybe it's a simple answer: the same as Kokushibo's appearance, Douma's charming aura is something to be afraid of.

"I think you're going to love where you're going to stay for our two-week hunting lesson," Douma grinned as he slid open a room, showing a very light-filled room that was in contrast to the outside hallway surroundings.

"I like it," you replied and you could hear his giggles of happiness. A smile appears on your face and it stuns Douma for a while as you continue to say, "Your eyes are so pretty, so was that rank two supposed to mean that you're weaker than Master Kokushibo?"

He blinked because perhaps he hadn't processed your saying. You just complimented him and then mocked him?

He tilted his head and chuckled. "Of course, I am weaker than Master Kokushibo. I probably would need to regenerate my arms longer if he cuts it off."

"Well, at least you're stronger than any rank remaining, right?"

There, Douma doesn't understand your way of saying things. One thing he knows, you are interesting. You are so cute for him, yet he still wants to bite your arms off.

Douma laughs, "I wouldn't dare say so, but I am not afraid if anyone challenges me for my rank."

You nodded and said to him that you were going inside to take a break. Douma allows you with his cheerful smile and helps you to slide the door close. You stay standing close to the door, scanning the whole room to find any anomaly inside the bright and neat room.

Meanwhile, Douma also hasn't taken any step off from where he's previously standing, looking at your door with less of a smile. Moments later, he smiled and mumbled, "You're 21, isn't that right? It is a shame that you've become a demon."

Your first-night hunting lesson with Douma just started with you sitting not far from him. What you see right now is a countable amount of woman with an average age of 20 to 27 which is just your speculation by judging their body language and style of clothing. Douma peeking at you, seeing if you did anything, and of course, he realizes that you're in the middle of analyzing something in the crowds of women.

A few hours after that, you wore a thick layer of blanket to cover yourself from ice that decapitated every single lady in this room. Not scared, but you're watching Douma having his bites.

"Have you realized something? It's supposed to be obvious right now," Douma asked while glancing at you with blood almost covering his mouth.

"All of them are women," you replied quickly, "that is obvious. Unless you mean other else?"

"That's what I meant! You catch quickly and it's obvious you're paying attention to observe as I say." He seems so proud and throwing you a part of a neatly cutter part of the woman's body. "Enjoy that as a reward."

You thank him and eat in silence. The silence stayed that way until thirty minutes later when Douma tried to start the conversation. He seems like done eating the women and you're curious about what happened to the rest.

"Are you going to vanish them entirely without eating them?" you curiously asked.

"Correct! I only ate a few parts I needed," he answered and sat beside you with his face locked on you. "So, tell me. Do you have any specific target?"

Easy questions, you muttered in your mind. "Yes, after my lesson with Master Kokushibo, I decided to eat on women when they're about to have their wedding, or perhaps after their wedding. I'll decide later," you proudly answer with a little smile.

Douma did not react at all. He just stoned there, like running out of battery. However, it may not be the correct description because you could read his eyes. It's like telling you that there is an admiration there that was so slightly able to be recognized.

"I'm lacking in speed, especially if there are ten weddings celebrated on the same day in Japan." Laugh released from you to bring Douma back to his senses indirectly. "I guess I'll have to decide the amount of women I'd eat."

"You can count on Akaza for speed. I could teach you, but that sweet little pink-haired guy is much better in physical ability," Douma is smiling.

Somehow, you feel comfortable seeing that smile although your face was explained that you're shocked. Perhaps thinking that Douma's kindness and enchanting smile are dangerous, but recognizing a genuine smile from him probably broke you.

Though you're not sure if he realized he just smiled genuinely.

Notes:

I really appreciate the kudos and comments!

Chapter 6: The Challenger Akaza

Notes:

took me long for this one to publish, but honestly, I postponed it purposely. enjoyy

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Day by day had passed and unbeknownst to you, the two-week learning with Douma had come to an end. You parted with him by bowing respectfully and left, then you could see a pink-haired man standing meters away from Douma's residence's main entrance. This is new because you surely weren't treated this way to meet with the upper-rank 1 and 2.

Here you are, standing a few steps in front of the man who was called Akaza by Douma. He is shorter in comparison with Douma and Kokushibo that you have met, and he is also wearing a practically very different kind of outfit from those two higher-ranked demons.

Of course, you recognize the writing in his irises, the same as Kokushibo and Douma's but are differ in numbers. Akaza's writing explained that he's upper-rank 3.

"I'm Akaza," he said.

"I'm Kirayame," you answered.

Both of you fell into silence and awkwardness. Remembering what Douma said about Akaza, he's supposed to be an amazing, cool, and kind person. Now that you're standing in front of Akaza himself, you just got reminded what a person Douma is. He is either lying or he cannot understand Akaza's true characteristics.

Differ from you, Akaza indeed remember who you are. A girl that had been taken from the family he killed himself. No, he has zero guilt about killing those people. However so, he still feels awkward. He also remembered how Muzan treated you before leaving him to finish your family. Akaza doesn't know how to put it, either reason because he never fathom such expression from his stern Lord. If he dared say, perhaps, that expression is what people perceived as gentle.

"So, I suppose we are going to start our lesson before dawn breaks?" you finally asked the fazed Akaza.

He nods in response to your question. "I don't have fixed quarters to begin with, so I should ask your consent."

"Oh, sure."

Akaza then explained how you and he were going to practice and hide from the blinding sun during the day. You nod to every single explanation because he seems like enjoys explaining everything he needs to go through every day to you. It's still hours long before dawn, so you follow Akaza to a place he called the best place to train.

It is not a house of a human-like you're introduced to by Kokushibo, or crowds of specific kinds of sex like Douma had shown to you. It's more like a building that you are not sure knows what that is. You and him peeking from up above a higher building, spying over plenty of people walking in the hallway of the open building.

Where you are standing currently is a huge gate, it is tall but somehow you could follow Akaza without struggle by jumping through trees and up here on the gate. Perhaps this is what Kokushibo meant by infinite strength once you've become a demon. Glancing at Akaza, he seems focused on scanning something down below.

"There, you see that man standing over there?" He pointed to a man, far away from the gates, with a tall figure and a black outfit, standing in front of a shop. "He's going to be our target for training."

"I see him," you answered and back looking towards Akaza. "Are we going to fight him in the middle of this crowded and narrow place?"

"Of course not." Surprised, you didn't expect Akaza to smile. Or it may not be a smile, more like a smirk. "I don't know if that freak or six eyes already told you about their existence, but let me tell you anyway."

Freak and six eyes, I think you know who is Akaza talking about. He continues to explain about a specific kind of person that hunts demons like you and him. They are called Demon Slayers, humans with minimum abilities that are able to use a technique called Breathing; they have plenty of forms that Akaza knows of.

"The man I just pointed out to you is a Demon Slayer that is more powerful than any other Demon Slayers, and they're called the Hashira."

Hashira. You nodded as Akaza began to continue his explanations and addition to this titled people called the Hashira. They have special abilities and are sharp also stronger than average humans. They were even capable of killing demons easily.

"This, is our weakness besides the sun," Akaza gestured a line around his neck which you nodded at because Douma and Kokushibo did mention the same thing. "Now, I know you asked me if we're going to fight him here in this crowded place?" Again, you nodded. This time, he smiled at your nodding. "Of course not, we are going to lure him."

"How?"

"Because they're Hashira, they could sense us which is the same as I could see their burning spirit of fight."

You obviously can't see what Akaza could see, so you look back at the man he pointed to before. The man didn't stand there anymore, yet he came towards the gate, where you and Akaza sitting on top of it. His expression seems flat or at least normal, but once you focus your senses on just paying attention to him, you can feel your senses telling you that he's wary of something.

Instead of a serious tone, you hear Akaza giggling.

"He detected us. Let's leave," he said moving from his previous position.

Akaza is not moving fast like he was before, it's like he intends to move slowly. You observe him while following his steps and peeking a few times to check on the man. Out of your expectations, the man immediately locks their glance at you and you almost trip over because you jolted. Not wasting much time, the man followed you.

"He sees you," Akaza chanted while running far in front of you. "That is something we have to pay attention to."

You glance at him once again, only to realize the man has gone. Sweat starts to fall involuntarily, heart beating so fast you are almost incapable of thinking clearly. Akaza is still in front of you, so you better follow his steps correctly.

"Kirayame, we are still in different standards when it comes to fighting a Hashira," Akaza hinted and immediately vanish in a blink of an eye but you still be able to hear him, "Survive for fifteen seconds, will you?"

Bloody hell!

You jumped as your senses immediately told you so. To your surprise, there is a little door on top of the roof which now has been opened, and the man that gone under your alertness has appeared right a step away from you. His hand already holding a sword, which you are sure called as a katana, now swings right at you.

Seconds before it touches your neck, you dodge it by moving your head down and immediately put both of your palms on the surface of the roof. Legs hover a second and you try to steal the sword from his grip, kicking it off and stomping it down the roof. Now you're standing two meters away from him, collecting your breaths.

Five seconds have passed.

You are not sure if you see it correctly, but the man wields a katana. Fast, you looked down below your foot if you did step on a katana, but you didn't. There's nothing down your foot except the rooftile. Not long after, you could hear that man laughing at you.

"Nice move, Young Lady. Sadly it won't work on a Hashira like me," he blurted with a huge grin on his face which makes your blood boil.

Eight seconds have passed.

"You're weak, very weak even. Have you just become a demon?" He asks questions as if you're his hostage; tied to a chair simply cannot do anything. "What a shame, a pretty young lady like you had to become a demon. You haven't each that much of a human, are you?" He keeps walking towards you and you keep moving backward, avoiding him.

Eleven seconds have passed.

"Earth Breathing," he mutters to himself as he positions his katana.

He said it and you heard it. He just said 'breathing' that was a technique used by a fellow Demon Slayer to slay your neck off and kill you, a demon. Now, now, you're not sure if you can avoid this one by going anywhere. Locking his glance, you could feel a shiver down your spine as if life of yours would finally come down to an end.

After a few mutters, he moves so quickly and strikes his katana at you. You're too stunned to speak or even do anything, but something went wrong. Well, wrong for the Hashira guy.

Fifteen seconds have passed.

"So, you're lucky enough to have endured a Hashira in fifteen seconds. Lucky I say, because this brat instead of striking you, he speaks to you, giving you a more convenient way of thinking about your next strike."

Akaza already standing in front of you, looking right at you, grinning mockingly. Now you felt he starting to irritate you. However, you didn't think that would make an effect because you realized Akaza's arm had just gone. He did notice you noticed his arm was gone.

"Oh, this? Chill, it'll grow back." In a split second, it grows and points at the man standing meters away from you and Akaza. "Not him though."

Behind Akaza, the man was losing both his arms, dwelling in rage as you can sense his rage. Especially his eyes, rage and fear is easily sensed in there. In contrast to him, Akaza is consistent with his prideful smile.

"Watch me."

That was his last word before he lashed out at the man.

"You lost an ear, a whole arm, and a foot to fight that man."

It is morning and the sun has risen so high, so you and Akaza can only do so much inside the huge and deep cave. Both of you were having breakfast from the Hashira that Akaza had beaten last night which lasted until this morning dawn. You're looking at Akaza whom ignored what you just said.

"It's the Breathing, he had it so good. I'm a two or three level atop him," he answered without looking at you and keep on eating. "Which is a shame because I'm not far stronger than him."

"Ah, then that means it is your fault."

Now, he finally looking at you but you're not sure if he's pleased. At least, bonding happened in the middle of the fight that makes you understand Akaza. From his way of fighting and thinking; it's valuable for you.

Notes:

I haven't write the ending yet although I know how it'll end

Chapter 7: Lord's Questionable Wary

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Kokushibo poured a glass of his tea from a pot made of porcelain with an exquisite drawing on the body of the pot. The steam that comes from the tiny porcelain glass inhaled by him to clear his mind. He was so immersed in enjoying his tea time that he did not realize he had been transported.

Once he glanced up from his tea, he immediately knew where he was. Not very different from his living quarters, but familiar enough to continue to enjoy his tea time. Right beside him, the door has opened showing no pathway to move anywhere by walking. A mere blocks of room and spaces where he's sitting currently, Kokushibo could see four to five people, or more correctly demons, standing on top of a landing made of wood.

He knows what is this meeting about. This is about you, about your lessons with the top three upper-ranked. It's true because now it's been a month and a half since you trained by Kokushibo. A higher block from where the demons standing, Muzan is sitting on a huge throne made from bones. Kokushibo didn't realize if Muzan was interested in such an eccentric arrival.

"Lord Muzan!" Here it is, the annoyingly strong demon, the Upper-Rank 2, Douma greeted him.

"How's she doing?" Muzan asked, standing from his weirdly eccentric bone throne that surprisingly vanished when he left a step away from it.

"She's just fine and quick to catch on! Two weeks were too long for a talented demon like her," Douma responded with a big smile full of happiness that just sent a full bag of irritation to Akaza that standing not far away from him. "We have the same taste, women!"

Akaza does remember that and he doesn't care why, though it burns something in him to hate you, not like how he felt towards Douma. So, he just chose to help you gather pieces of information when dusk came and hunt for the rest of the night. Of course, Akaza cannot explain anything to you for more of the reason why he did not want to eat any women or girls.

"Akaza," Muzan called out to him with an unpleasant expression, "I saw what you've done."

Douma doesn't speak, but he speaks through his glances towards Akaza in the moment he turns his head. Hearing Muzan calling out to him as if he had done a worse crime, Akaza panicked because he had no idea at all that he had been doing wrong.

However, Muzan does seem like doesn't care whether Akaza needs to realize his mistake.

"You almost killed her, didn't you?"

Now, Akaza remembers what he had done wrong. Your memory had been erased by Muzan; which is the memory containing your trauma, fear of death, losing someone you love, and your anger towards Muzan that at the time you didn't know his existence. A situation that creates the same emotion as then would trigger your memories back.

Muzan doesn't want that. He didn't know why yet.

"I deeply apologize that I almost eradicated her by my own hands," Akaza kneeled on one foot by bowing his head. "It is naive of me to make an assumption that she's capable of handling a Hashira because of four weeks of training from the Upper-Rank One and Two."

What an answer, Kokushibo thought of. Akaza is not a maniac-manipulative person like Douma, but the words that just came out of his mouth is concerning. He doesn't put anyone to blame, but Muzan. It's like saying it is Muzan problem to question Akaza's decision in teaching.

"I'm so honored that you appreciate my talent of teaching a talented demon like her!" As Douma finally speaks with his fake flutter to Akaza, Muzan sighed.

"I'm still doing my research and she's my subject of experiment." He stepped down to the same ground as his subordinates, so once he stepped on the ground, everyone was stunned to pay him attention. "All of us will be taking our surveillance towards her, to see how much of a strong demon she would be."

The way Muzan spoke about you, it seems as if what he has is plan for you. That made Kokushibo think that his lord may be treating you differently from the other demons. Not that he's sure what that is, it's just this is his first time after hundreds of years working with him.

You have a high possibility of being the main key in Muzan's plan.

"I felt like being left behind," Kokushibo hummed after putting his porcelain glass down. His surroundings go back to normal, not spacious blocks of rooms, but now a pond at his house as his view. He glances at the person in front of him. "Is there something you need to tell me in person?"

"Yes," Muzan answered, "Blood Demon Art, I want her to have that."

"It's easy, isn't it? She just needs to eat more human, better if it's a Hashira."

The obvious answer doesn't really satisfy Muzan. He sighed, once again. Something does seem to bother him a lot. "You used Breathing, taught her about it. I need her in her prime extent to complete my research."

"After you get the result, what would happen to her?"

No immediate answer. Muzan expressed his answer instead of telling Kokushibo. The man stoned a moment before finally nodding. It seems the answer is even the Muzan haven't figured.

"I'll teach her," Kokushibo agreed, "but didn't she eat a Hashira together with Akaza on their first day of training?"

"Eating one and defeating one would result in different outcomes."

Kokushibo smiled with a nod and follows, "It's been a week after her last day training with Akaza. Hasn't he given you any reports?"

"He did. He gave it to me right away after Kirayame comes back to my dwellings," Muzan stated. "He said that the only Hashira he and her had eaten is only one because most of the Hashira drew themselves after encountering them."

Listening to Muzan explanations, Kokushibo gathers himself to a conclusion. "Perhaps the one they killed was the strongest Hashira."

"Kirayame would be dead on the spot if that is the case." Muzan shakes his head and continues, "That is sure odd, but she needs to get stronger."

"This is just my suggestion, but why not let Upper-Rank 6 help her? Both of them are females and she is able to pull Blood Demon Art at such a young age."

Muzan doesn't give Kokushibo any answers, instead standing and leaving in an instant after he left the room. Kokushibo alone had been left in wonder, why are you so special until Muzan ordered Kokushibo himself to train you?

You are not the first female demon, it is obvious. You are also not a Demon Slayer with an astounding Breathing style. You are not even a dangerous human with a big intent to kill other humans. You're just a regular human, you have humanity.

You hate Muzan.

So, was the odd relies upon Muzan himself?

Notes:

(thanks for the kudos and comments <3)

Chapter 8: Under the Moon

Notes:

<3

Chapter Text

You opened your eyes. Warmth caressed your whole body and drowned you in comfort. After months of training with Kokushibo, you could feel your senses getting more sharp than the first time you used them. Now, you started to be able to hear a heavy step heading towards you.

You stay still, not moving even a muscle, you also articulate your breathing so it would sound as if you're still sleeping. The door was slid open, and you could sense a man whose tall enough walking in your direction on the futon. The rattling noise of a glass distracts your focus, and you start thinking if Kokushibo did it on purpose.

It stopped. The heavy step stops walking and you're sure now he's moving to sit next to you. Taking the chance you've got, you move your arm first and with bare hands, leading it straight to Kokushibo's neck. He didn't resist even the slightest to dodge by moving his head. You grinned because he moved just the way you wanted.

Moving your body awake, you strike the nape of Kokushibo's neck. He jolted once you put a huge pressure on it. But then, he smiled.

"You're growing," he said, "I think we can move to the other techniques."

"Oh, finally!" You throw your hands up and slam your body back to the futon. "Is it harder than this one? It's been like half a year since I'm training with you."

"We hunt a lot of humans tough," Kokushibo answered and pushed the trail of food to you. "Foods."

You get back up and look at what Kokushibo had prepared. "Females?"

"Yeah, like how you liked it. Douma gave it to me two days ago by freezing it."

"Neat! He's like a big brother I would never have," you chuckled and tried to take a piece before a strike of thought hit you.

A big brother you would never have?

Kokushibo noticed it and wondered what was going on. He tilted his head a little so he could see your face. "Is there anything wrong?"

"Not sure," you answered and shrugged. "Anyway, you always prepare me food although I'm younger than you, and we're definitely not a family."

Smile that turns into laughter makes you wonder in curiosity of what is so funny until the cold behaves Kokushibo could laugh. "I can stand it for half a year, I have a plan."

"I sense danger."

"You're sharp," Kokushibo smirked and shoved a pinch of meat into your mouth.

The moon starts to shine after a huge dark cloud starts to divert far from it. The moonlight's charm made Kokushibo who was standing in front of it look quite majestic. Especially the eyes, all of them are so creepy that at the same time so enchanting. You can't move your eyes from every gesture of his body when he teaches you the move.

Moon Breathing.

You did remember when Akaza mentioned it on your first-day of training with him. Demon Slayer is supposed to have that technique to kill the demons. Now you are left with a question, was Kokushibo a Demon Slayer before he became this mighty demon?

"You're dozing off," Kokushibo warned. "Is that supposed to mean that you had understand it all?" He doesn't even stop at the slightest while moving his demonic katana.

"Oops," you giggled, "I don't have a katana to learn Breathing, so how am I supposed to practice it?"

No answer from Kokushibo, instead he started moving more ferociously with his scary katana. It's hypnotizing you to watch every muscle of his body as if he were dancing. Just like a drawing of a defense book, your eyes sketch every single track of movement inside your head. Until it occurs to you, to follow the dance movement because it was so tempting.

His wide range of moving the katana starts to create a moon-like shadow lingering around him. When the wind blew Kokushibo's hair, he moved the katana steadily and consistently. Then, he stopped. You do wonder why until a little noise of crack catches your hearing.

"The tree is crumbling!" you shouted with excitement. "It got cut trimly!"

"Do you think you can do it?"

Upon listening to Kokushibo's saying, you stop cheering and wracking your brain. How are you supposed to get a katana? Asking a Demon Slayer? How generous of you. Perhaps killing them and stealing one would be a good option. However, didn't a katana that Demon Slayer wield was made from a Nichirin blade that was capable of harming demons?

Realizing it took you time to answer him, Kokushibo walked slowly towards you. Well, of course, you notice it.

"Let's hunt. This time, we will hunt a Hashira."

You got perked up. You always like it when there's time to hunt a Hashira. Because they're so strong that you almost dead at the first time you met them. Alas, so far, you could only eat one Hashira and that only happens with Akaza. You wonder what kind of Hashira you would see this time.

Expectations rise so high that you forget one important thing. Hashira is hard to find, the same goes for Hashira when they hunt demons. This means you won't find them anywhere, not like the ladies you've eaten so far. Remembering your first lesson with Akaza, the Hashira seems like he's in the middle of a mission.

"Do you think finding a Hashira would be a struggle?" you asked Kokushibo, who walking by your side.

"Not really, just create chaos and eat an enormous number of humans and you'll attract their attention to you."

"So, are we going to murder?"

Kokushibo scoffed. "Of course not, that's not how I hunt so far."

Both of you keep walking, heading north where it's usually crowded because there's a town nearby. You don't know how you know that, but maybe one of Akaza's hunting lessons was here too. That's one of your weaknesses, you still can't remember ways to go somewhere.

However, you immediately stop walking. You sense something stronger than just being labeled as a danger. Kokushibo understands though he doesn't see your face.

"One of the upper-ranked is hunting here," Kokushibo murmured, although his body language didn't show that he was wary. "They creates quite the mess, everyone starts chasing on their tail."

"Is it Sir Douma? Or Akaza?"

"You haven't met them."

Right, Muzan did say to you that there are a few more of his Kizuki that he hasn't introduced to you yet. You didn't question more, so you just followed Kokushibo's steps. You're sure that he wouldn't show himself because that would freak everyone he met, and it's obvious why.

He is different than Douma and you.

"Right now, we are in Entertainment District, the place where one of the upper-ranked currently lives and feeds on humans by trapping them."

"Oh, that is interesting indeed," you answered while looking at enormous colors of light shining the buildings and roads brightly.

"Now, we began the hunt." Kokushibo finally looks at you, and you look at him back. "Think you can catch on me?"

His glare and condescending grin boil your blood to beat him. You smile widely and proudly answer, "Let's see who will steal their heart first."

"I love the challenge."

Chapter 9: Moon Breathing

Notes:

pardon the typos fella

Chapter Text

It's been quite a while since you parted ways with Kokushibo in the darkest entrance of the Entertainment District. You can tell the huge difference between your first training with Akaza by hunting a Hashira and this time, hunting a Hashira on your own. A kimono should make you mingle with other humans surrounding you.

Their smell is satisfying enough, that you want to grab them so bad and start scaring them to death. To be honest, speaking from experience so far, it is best to eat them while they're still alive.

"I sense something," you muttered but kept walking forward based on your senses telling you where are your prey right now. "It's tailing on me."

You end up on the other lightless side of the district. The senses that lead you to your prey, now warning you about something behind you. A threat.

A Hashira, you guessed.

Not wasting any time, you move yourself. However, things don't turn out the way you want. A smell of familiar blood lingers on your nose. You start to be wary once you feel a burn on your whole arm.

You lost an arm. Not that it's a bad situation to a demon, sadly, you didn't generate that fast. Not fast as Akaza.

"You need to stop eating humans, Young Lady!" the human screams at you, which currently standing on top of a roof.

Answers aren't something you need to tell the human, but their outfit catches your eye. It's written on their back, Demon Slayers. Are they just regular slayers? Because you didn't sense too much of strength. However, there's no way a regular demon slayer could cut off your arm that easily.

"Am I that weak? I've grown into nothing," you murmured in speechlessness because you thought you were capable. "Half of a year training does nothing."

An attack coming right at you, but you dodge it easily by depending on your senses. They seem so eager to hit you and of course, kill you if they get the chance to. If you lose, what would Kokushibo think of you? You won't win the challenge you made yourself.

"Tch! I think I might use that Breathing he taught me, perhaps without a katana."

Upon making a decision, you started moving the way he was sketched in your memories. No katana in hand so you decide to strike with bare hands with claws sharp enough to cut down trees; based on experience with Akaza. The rule for Breathing is to put focus and strength in a single or a couple of strikes toward your aim by using the thin and sharp blade of a katana.

As a result by using your claws, you didn't make a deep cut on their wrists, but just made it bleed. You feel like making a joke on yourself.

"At least it's bleeding the way I wanted," you said to yourself by using the second form.

"I don't think it would work the way you wanted." the Demon Slayer proudly smiled at you; only just to make you enraged.

"I'll use you as my experiment, Mister."

Attacks kept coming from both of you, close combat finally coming close as you practiced every single Breathing form. The rage that started the battle diverts into something as fuel for your attacks on the human. Their katana always aiming at your neck; your fatal weakness.

Not only Kokushibo because Douma and Akaza always told you the same thing. Put tricks on your neck to protect yourself by using Blood Demon Art. Alas, currently you don't have the strength and skills to summon one.

"You seem tired, why don't take a rest?" They spoke with a grin on their face that stunned you for a moment. They still moving with their katana once they had scraped the space between both of you.

The good thing is, that you could hear your sense to aim right at their heart by using your left arm to distract their aim.

It worked. You strike right through the slayers' body and push their heart out. They are immediately dead in your hand, literally. A few heavy breaths later, you pull your hand that holds the heart and let the human fall, but someone catches them quickly.

"Master Kokushibo?" you call the man with six eyes that standing right in front of you. "Have you been watching the whole time?"

"You used the Breathing, Moon Breathing." He proudly smiled that made his eyes closed adorably. You don't exactly understand how you find that cute.

"You did watch the whole time."

"Hey, you won. This is yours, all of it," Kokushibo replied by handing you the dead human. "You have the strength to defeat the demon slayers yourself, be proud."

A compliment just came out from Kokushibo, which is not very rare but with that smile is quite endearing to see and you're not sure if that is usual to see. Then, after the battle, you're eating the human while listening to Kokushibo's lecture after watching your combat. Questions arise, what if you are dying or perhaps die?

Kokushibo didn't give you immediate answers but he smiled and annoyingly answered, "Nah, you will make it."

He is negatively positive. At least it sounds like an encouragement.

Chapter 10: White Figure

Notes:

it's been a while ... oh if things don't make sense, I apologize!

Chapter Text

The night had come, and light started to shine on the houses along the roads. Everyone looks so busy, although it is almost midnight. Everything looked very beautiful, with flowers and white dominating the room. Despite the business, there is a single lady currently sitting alone in her room, glancing outside her window.

She wishes for herself to be set free.

"Do you need help?"

Out of nowhere, a beautiful woman showed herself outside her window with a beautiful smile. The lady was so stunned by her beauty and enchanting appearance that she started to cry. You, the woman now standing outside her window, smiled pitifully.

"So, do you want something? You seemed so sad."

"Are you an angel, Lady?" she asks with tears in her eyes.

"I don't call myself that way, but I'm here if you need me," you said with a smile still drawn on your face.

You offered your hand so she could grab it, so both of you could leave. The lady seemed to hesitate, but she graced your hands and asked you to take her away. You pleased her plea. You take her away from her home, to a place where she would be happiest.

Everyone had heard about you. The kidnapper kidnaps brides on the night of their wedding. Every single person has assumed that you're a man, but that is where they have it wrong. You're a woman, beautifully dressed in a white kimono and white decorations when you meet your prey.

You don't prey on women with a happy life because they wouldn't flee with you willingly. If they screamed, then it would be troublesome for you to catch them. This is why you stalked mostly elderly women or younger girls who would get married by coercion or something similar.

Easy said you listened to Douma. We have to help humans set themselves free from the pain they had to get through their whole lives; in your case, it was in marriage they didn't even wish to happen.

You and the woman had arrived in front of a residence, dark enough that she started to have a chill down her spine. However, though she realizes that it's too late to run away, she still peeks at you who is standing beside her.

Your pale eyes were beautiful, now shrink into thin irises that colored with crimson red. Hidden fangs inside your mouth strike the vocal cords of the lady and make her faint due to the shock of fear. Blood fell on your bright white kimono, but who bothers to care when you have a portion of food right served fresh on your hand.

Minutes have passed after midnight, and now you are seated on your throne with ladies lying on your left and right. Dead, of course. Your black hair is tied neatly with a hairpin from one of the upper-ranked. Although your pale eyes and skin contradict the crimson blood flowing on your mouth and kimono, you looked gorgeous and bathed beneath the moonlight.

Because after three years of training intensely with Kokushibo, you have expected to trigger the Blood Demon Art soon enough.

"Moon Breathing is the only defense I hang upon right now if there's a sudden strike threatening my life," you murmured standing from your throne.

Surprised, your senses whispering to you of an uninvited being that has come to your dwellings. You sense enormous strength and power, with big intentions of murder. If you can predict based on what you had sense, they're a troop of Hashiras. A greatly wrong time for them to attack you right now as you finished eating already.

However, the other consideration is that you can't fight them. Not without Blood Demon Art like Muzan mentioned; you can't fight like you are with Akaza. You will die in ten minutes thanks to the regeneration strength of a demon. So, the best option for you to have right now is to leave. Run for your life.

"Tch!"

Whispering between the walls, it cracked open and let you leave the throne filled with bones and bodies of the ladies. Your blood-spilled white kimono waves carelessly as you run with your pace through the narrow alley of buildings, heading right into the nearest forest. Sun is still far from rising, so you still have dozens of hours to mess with that Hashira.

"Why do they chase a weakling demon like me?" you mumbled as you ran, thinking of an answer on your own, "Is it because someone recognizes that I've been close to Upper-Rank One and Three?"

The glimpses of the window catch your eyesight. Now you just need to take advantage of the large forest to run and find shelter from the Upper-Ranked. However, a very decent smell caught you off guard. At the same moment you catch the scent, your senses scream at you about an incoming threat.

A shiny grey katana swings right in front of you, forcing you to dodge by sliding below the katana. Successfully escaping from the death threat, you immediately face the wielder of the Katana. A man with white hair, face full with marks of wounds. You recognize nothing from him; unless the raging expression, ready to cut your head.

"I'm going to take you down and make you lead me to Muzan!" he yells moving faster towards you, erasing the gap between both of you so you have no chance to flee from his grasp.

"So, I was right," you said, purposely to yourself but actually to distract his attack. It was a nonsense saying, but it worked.

He froze for a second, affecting the movement of his katana and you took your chance there to run farther. Now is not the time to face a Hashira. Not yet.

The shape of the window is getting closer, so you step up your speed while listening to the step of the Hashira behind you. It's a close call, but you need to go away. The hope you thought when the window is within your reach is broken immediately when three Hashira show up from there. Your whole body shivers and moves in reflex to dodge.

Too late, you remember that there's also your enemy running right behind you. Now, the katana is stabbed through your torso. It burns and hurts like hell. You wanted to run, but the three Hashira in front of you wouldn't give you a chance. One of them cut you through your neck; a second later you could feel your blood boiling inside.

A scream so loud escaped your mouth.

Chapter 11: On the Verge

Notes:

hoo I return! i hope you miss this- but oh well :>

Chapter Text

It scent. The scent that comes out of the katana that stabbed your neck is a flower that once been told by Kokushibo is dangerous. Senses in your whole body telling you to jump, leave immediately. So you did, you jumped to the roof and the wall, finally free from the narrow alley by using the window. Although your whole body feels enormously hurt especially inside, you need to run away.

You can feel your body regenerating, something inside of you pushing back to your throat, forcing you to vomit. A black with a touch of violet scattered on the ground. Dizziness still creeping into your bones and you can feel it breaking your face. However, you feel like you are still fine and alright, so you want to continue to flee.

"Not so fast." A lady in white haori with butterfly designs stops you before you can move. Now, here you are, between the woods and the open ground.

"Want to give it a try?" you scoffed staying with the cool demeanor so she would think that the poison doesn't work on you.

Her absurdity of katana makes you wary, as it is the one who transferred the poison inside of you. The other three, including that white-haired Hashira, are now standing in a circle. They cornered you, with no chance to leave from any side. Perhaps you could steal a katana from someone to help you with your Breathing technique, but it can't be. No choices left, you grabbed your hairpin and held them in a fight position. It is now or not ever.

Fight crashes not a moment after. Your senses keep telling danger from any angle while you're still struggling with the pain on your face. If you are destined to die tonight, at least kill one of the Hashira by yourself. Although Muzan possibly wouldn't appreciate that.

Far, far away from where you are fighting your life to the extent, Akaza is spending his time to find the requested Blue Spider Lily by Muzan. He hides between the shadows and moves faster than the winds so no one would recognize his existence. However, upon taking a peek at a situation in a place he knows full of Demon Slayers; he did not expect to hear something devastating.

"Yeah, there are like four Hashira chasing a demon. They're not an Upper-Rank though, isn't that weird?"

"What? Why would they do that?"

"Maybe it was Muzan? He is not an Upper-Rank."

"You fool, if that was Muzan, why bother sending four Hashira? We would all be sent away!"

"So, it was no one? Just a mere demon?"

The person who brought up the topic seems drowned in thought before he answers, "I heard that this demon is often caught with the Upper-Ranked, so they thought of torturing first if they could catch her."

"Her?"

Akaza stands in silence. Perhaps the death of one Hashira and a Demon Slayer has led them to a string of conclusions. He needs to report this, so he starts to move back to where he had come from. The questionable panic that arises in his heart is overwhelming, making him realize that his sole distraction is the safety of you. Puzzling with the option of whether to report to Muzan or find you immediately, leave Akaza in distress.

Unexpectedly, Akaza stumbled upon Douma. He also seems surprised to meet Akaza on the street. He smiled and waved, trying to say something but was cut off by Akaza.

"Kirayame is in danger!"

Douma freeze. His eyes shifted a moment from happily Douma to something evil. It doesn't stay forever, as Douma gets back to his senses and asks Akaza, sticking still with his good personality.

"How could you know, Sir Akaza?" he asked, putting suspicion under Akaza.

"I'm not kidding, so I wish you could inform Lord Muzan, thatㅡ"

His words got cut as the space around them changed into some familiar disturbance room with a Japanese touch. Not far from where both of them standing, Muzan is there close to them; Kokushibo is also standing right beside him. Akaza finally remembered that he could know where his subordinates were and what they'd been doing.

Expression drawn on him offers a thought in Akaza's mind that he is displeased. "I will send Douma and Akaza to protect Kirayame. Kill all of those Hashira if you could, but her safety is the priority."

"As you ordered, Sir."

Akaza bows upon Muzan and as the string of biwa is heard, he already transferred to a forest. Both of them could hear a clash of katana and a hard object not far from where they were standing. Akaza jumped on a tree branch to get himself close. Not the same as Douma, he plays with his fan but his Blood-Demon-Art of snow moving fast towards the battle. The expression on his face is something Akaza had not seen in usual.

He is an asshole but never looked this serious.

Struggling with cuts and stabs, your blood spilled around your now dark-red kimono. The Breathing technique has helped you a bit to stay alive for plenty of minutes. Although you're not sure when your senses will be dull and the exact moment when you will lose all your strength. That is what you have thought, but the last kick with a single inhale of breath finally set you to leave the circle of the battle.

Now, you're having your time to generate, with wounds scattered all over your body. Akaza who was watching from above already could tell that you would die with a single blow on your neck.

"I'm so fucking tired of this," you murmured to yourself, getting back with your battle pose. However, a stroke of memory hit your head like an arrow. It costs you focus, as you don't reminisce the memory.

Is that your memory? You did forget your past, so, is it triggered because you're in the same state as you were back then?

"In this moment? Really? Fuck off," you shout with a pose ready to face the upcoming attack from the white-haired Hashira.

However, something has changed when you move your hands. A transparent barrier was built right on the tip of your hairpin. Your brows frowned, confused. The image of the white-haired Hashira becomes blurry. Drown in confusion, you strike the barrier right to that Hashira. It caught him off guard; his whole body bled in random places with tiny cuts, as if they were thrown by tiny glasses.

Glasses?

You feel a katana coming right at your neck. A defense in your mind ordering you to give an order to protect your neck. So, you did. Surprisingly, the katana broke into pieces. The wielder and everyone were fall speechless and stunned. Especially you, but you are shocked in excitement.

Now, this is going to become your playground.

Chapter 12: Discovery of Power

Notes:

welpp it's been monthss! I'll dump every chapter I have!! ♡

Chapter Text

"What happened to your face?"

Douma touches your left face, up to your eyes, and makes you twitch in reflex. It does feel hurt and burning at the same time, but the cold from Douma's finger is sort of cooling it. Maybe it was from a Hashira with a Breathing technique that involves fire or something.

"I'm not sure, it's already hurt even before the battle occurs outside." You also touch the part where you feel the most hurt and burn.

Akaza is standing in front of you, inside one of Douma's rooms in his residence. His expression is full of worry, wonder, regret, and hesitation and you don't even understand why he has those expressions on his face. However, you do know what at least triggered his curiosity of wonder. You just got yourself your Blood-Demon-Art; consisting of manipulation of glass or perhaps a more precise mirror?

You need to explore the possibility of what you can do. Douma's excitement is something you could sense behind his worried expression. It's not something he would do, it drives you curious. The sound of heavy steps coming closer didn't bother the three; as they knew what was walking in the hallway.

As the door slid open, you could see Muzan's expression once it fell on you. He walks to you and grabs both of your arms; forcing you to look straight into his face.

"You have possessed a Blood-Demon-Art?" he asked.

"I did, it happened so quickly I can't provide you details," you uttered, "but I do know there is an aspect which awakens it inside. Perhaps this burns on my face."

You pointed to your left side, leading Muzan's eyes to divert and look at it. The pattern of the wounds is close to the branches of a tree flower. He knew exactly what you had been injected with and the fact he had no idea how to heal you just made him more angered; which you could sense. Muzan was full of rage, his hands on your arm were gripping with strength.

"Lord Muzan, I apologize if I have failed you."

He immediately detached his arms away from your arm as he took a step back. He sighed in the authentic stern and intimidating voice of his saying, "If you ever get yourself stuck in that situation, there would be no aide I'd send for you."

Disregarding any response and answers, Muzan walked away towards the door and vanished just like that after the door was closed. No steps to be heard as if he just faded into the thin air. Now, left with the three Upper-ranked, you glance back at them while raising your hand. A thin yet sharp shard of glass was formed just with a tiny space on top of your palm.

Kokushibo gazing on the shards to understand your newborn ability of Blood-Demon-Art. He smiled a little and patted your head, "Well done. At least now you know what you will practice on when you meet one of us."

"Although I'm worried about this," Douma fretted while touching the side of your face with violet scars lining like a branch of a tree.

"Is it that bad?" You grew curious so you decided to create a mirror from your Demonic Art. The three were almost surprised, but they kept it quiet because you just met the standard as an Upper-Rank. "Oh, right it is. I can't cover this with powders."

"It's fine, we'll find the cure along the way. As long as you're breathing, you'd be fine alright."

The cozy embrace coming from Douma is something usually normal, yet this time, it felt as if Douma hiding something. Akaza and Kokushibo still staying quiet but they paying attention to you; more precise is the wounds on your face.

A violet scar, lining like a branch from your brows to your eyes; which now makes your eyes colored in violet, down to your cheek.

"Wisteria flower, I've told you about it, didn't I?" Kokushibo asked in a monotone, but you could sense a mix of emotions; anger and a spur of sadness. He tried hard to hide it so you couldn't sense it. "It's dangerous, Kirayame. You could've died."

"I mean, I've tried to survive and I did, that's why I'm here now with all of you," you answered while looking at the three, "Although you couldn't kill any Hashira and I was left badly wounded, it does sound like a defeat."

You know pretty well how bad an infection of a Wisteria flower could affect a demon. However, it is pretty rare for a demon to stay normally conscious and normal like you. They perhaps already considered you as a failed demon and will soon die because of a flower, yet the emotion they're trying hard to suppress is telling you otherwise.

The silence between the three of you left you uneasy. Heat embraced from your face because the flower was not hurting anymore, so you figured one thing.

"I know how to deal with me," you proposed, as expected, a questionable expression is what you get from the men.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Akaza who once stayed quiet since they met, now chooses to speak.

A little smile left your face and you showed more of what you can do with your blood art. Dozens of daggers made of glasses were spawned on top of your palm, it was twirling as you ordered them to; trying to gain attention from the men of what are you trying to do. Setting aside your inequality ability of Blood-Demon-Art among these top Upper-Ranks, you do know how to prove to Muzan how strong you could be.

After a little bragging of your puny blood art, you imply, "Let's do a match to determine the position of the new Upper-Rank."

Chapter 13: First Match - Akaza

Notes:

ah, you guys might've notice this but I'm no English native speaker and though I've develop a bit of my narrative when learning English, I didn't really proofread this for the third time, so... hope you still love it ♡

Chapter Text

The proposal for the battle of Upper-Ranked was accepted by Muzan because he couldn't let any weakling just carry on with their business without proving their strength. You are no exception for him. As the days passed, you finally got yourself inside the old and familiar Japanese interior.

Right in front of you, Akaza was standing meters away with a serious expression on his face. In preparation to face the mighty top three of the Upper-Ranked, you have practiced your Blood-Demon-Art all by yourself to prove to Muzan just how capable you are and he needs to worry less about you.

However, if you die, it would be such a shame.

"I wouldn't go easy on you, Apprentice," Akaza remarked as he took the step first once the battle declared to begin.

The battlefield was on a wide field of flat surface made of wood. Akaza doesn't use any of his Blood-Demon-Art, instead he's using the demonic strength to push you out from the block surface and fall deep into the darkness. You could either survive or die; if you die and it's all over. However if you do survive, you need to make Akaza on his knees or at least incapacitated to move for 8 seconds.

Ain't no way the speed Master Akaza would sit nicely while in battle, isn't he?

"It'd be such a shame to be on your knees in front of your apprentice, right?"

Close-range combat is the practical technique of Alaza's style in combat. He believes in his speed and strength to ruin everything within his range and touch. Not to mention his good reflexes and quick-adapt with slightest off moves. Many Hashiras had died and shattered in pieces just by his raw strength.

What about wide-range combat?

It is entirely wrong to assume that this Upper-Rank Three weakness is wide-range combat. Because when wide-range combat happens, that's how his Blood-Demon-Art comes in handy and nothing you need to fear more than that. Close-range combat is something awfully threatening, but wide-range combat is deadly; because his art is playing with the winds.

The speed used by you to fight and defend yourself from the attack is all taught by Akaza. No wonder if he could predict your move easily; especially when his face is serious, no smile being caught. This just means Akaza was proving himself in a serious stage. One thing to be sure, after weeks training with him and months interacting with the pink-haired guy, he always takes fighting seriously; especially winning.

Despite the grin and chuckle between hits and kicks, he is proud to always win. He knows his strength and the spirit of his rival is visible for his eyes. Nothing would escape his love and dedication for fighting. And that's how you drop on your knees, losing both arms. Of course, you could grow them back and stand on your feet; the question was whether Akaza will let you do as you please.

Blood splattered on the ground, you could see Akaza's grin for the first time in the battle as he says, "I do like your style in combat, Kirayame, but if this is the farthest you could go, that would put me in shame."

You are chuckling while trying to stand on your toes, "I want to see if your Blood-Demon-Art is something against mine. Now, can you sense it?"

Akaza knows about that, you don't even have to mention it. With the Compass of Destruction, he could order the wind to pierce any kind of mirror you sent towards him. He doesn't even have to sweat it and pieces of shards shattered all over the ground, vanished at your command. However, of course; one rule you need to put upon fighting the Upper-Ranked is never underestimate them.

Your regeneration in Akaza knowledge is not that good; that’s where he got it wrong. Playing tricks with his mind, you command a knife-sized glass with your mind and charge towards Akaza with no hesitation. It's odd for Akaza as he knows how you usually think in battle and this is not a you thing to do. Preparing attacks for any deception; he is certainly sure you’re just using the charge as bait and doesn’t even mean to attack him straightforwardly.

He aims for one thing; your left arm which has just fully grown back.

The left arm immediately separates from your body as Akaza cuts it in less than a second. However, he wouldn’t exactly believe how your left arm immediately grows back and now punching his face. As a result, he got himself floating midair and went as far to the edge of the flat wood. Although, it’s obvious it wouldn’t be that easy to beat the mighty Akaza.

His laugh could be heard from where he is now, standing with half of his face in the process of regenerating and yelling, “Well done, Kirayame. You have already stepped up your game!”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” You already regenerated your arms back and the one which actually hit Akaza was your perfectly hand-formed Blood-Demon-Art; Shape of Nothing.

No more time to waste, Akaza with his demonic speed comes to you in seconds with Blood-Demon-Art ready to strike you down. Preparing a comeback is a thing when it comes to fighting with the battle-lover Akaza, because he knows nothing about stopping unless it comes to sun. That said, you know what to do.

As Akaza chanted his Blood-Demon-Art, he stopped right in front of you because he saw something. A glitching mirror distorted in front of his eyes had him confused and lost focus; even when it’s just a second, it’s too late. Taking the dozing Akaza, you cut both of his legs and make him fall to his knees. Just this won’t do anything; he could just jump and pop his legs out back again and you would be struggling to get him on his knees again.

“This won’t do, Kirayame. You’ll need more than just this,” Akaza grunted as he grew his legs back but you just left him a smirk.

“Yeah? The thing I needed is to apologize to Miss Nakime,” you answered, “I’m sure I can’t do this anywhere but here.”

Frowned eyebrows on his face because of the mention of Nakime’s name. And that is just what you needed. Chanting your strongest Blood-Demon-Art, a big, white yet transparent blade standing tall right on the edge of the wood flat and falling down, cutting the wooden flat in two. It makes sense; you really do need to apologize to Nakime as she didn't even predict this would happen and yet, she couldn’t play the biwa in her hand as well.

You smile at the trapped Akaza inside the mirror world you created for him. A small world which suffocates him with anything; bad memories, fear if he has one, and probably the illustration of the sun. Standing to the other side of the wood which isn’t crashing down to the endless void, because you are taking advantage of your astonishing Blood-Demon-Art which could hold a big surface of anything as long as you wanted it. Hard train, of course, but satisfying results.

“He can hold it for eight seconds, right?” you muttered while looking at Akaza, then glancing towards Muzan.

His eyes wouldn’t lie, the same goes to his lips. He is indeed pleased.

Chapter 14: Second Match - Douma

Notes:

I wrote the end of this story right away. and I hope you all realize that this won't end happily ( ´ー`)

Chapter Text

You are now titled as the new Upper-Rank Three. Is that an achievement? Of course, but this is not over just yet. Right after half an hour passed from your fight with Akaza, Douma is now standing close beside you with that charming and gorgeous smile of his. The battle has not yet begun, but Douma surely knows what he has been doing.

"It's astounding of you to tackle down Dear Sir Akaza like that, I'm proud," he said with that gleaming smile of his, close to your face.

"That's so sweet of you," you answered with a thin smile, then whispered back a reply, "I wonder how you would react if you were in his position."

Not sure if those eyes of sparkles and stars are something you need to worry about or just some excited reaction commonly coming from him. Right after the string played, Douma immediately vanished beside you and appeared just in a second, meters away in front of you. The battle to achieve that title as the Upper-Rank 2 is now within your hands.

The one to decide could you get it or not is you.

Douma is famous for his ruthless attack without even trying to unleash it. One time you do remember how it feels like to train with him; it's just easy, he taught you nothing much but to manipulate humans to crawl to your plate. So, you don't know what is hidden beneath that gleaming expression. A mysterious skill of Blood-Demon-Art by the Upper-Rank 2.

One thing you did know is that cruel icy Blood-Demon-Art which you don't know what kind of form he has. This won't be easy, you think and try to figure out what first attack you should throw at him. Yet, you could feel something piercing your body.

"Shit," you mumbled as you don't feel your leg anymore, "well played."

A string of ice crawls beneath the flat and strikes right beneath where you're standing. Because you're late to move, the thin string of coldness cuts your legs and makes you fall. However, the gift Muzan gave you after your win against Akaza has now come to help; your regeneration skill is at par with Douma as well. So, there's no such thing to be worried about that you might get face-slumped on the flat surface of the battleground.

"Hm, you're honing them quite quickly although you received them just an hour ago," Douma said in a slightly disappointed tone.

"I'm merely learning from you, Master Douma."

You throw your hands to command the invisible glasses to strike Douma. Due to the similar kind of Blood Art, he strikes your attacks easily by forming an icy wall, breaking your invisible mirror easily. It's disappointing to know that your thick but small weapons are nothing against Douma's icy wall as if it shows that there's still a gap between your Blood Art and his. Even though he is your master and that Blood-Demon-Art of his is something you're amazed at, you do want to beat him and prove that you're much better.

Well, perhaps there's no more second chance. It's now or over.

Douma is wary of the small world of mirrors you use for Akaza due to his inability to counter it. However, teaching you for weeks and hunting ladies along with you has helped Douma create a special distraction just for you. Your type of attack is not simple to handle like how Douma used to face; it's more complex now thanks to Akaza and Kokushibo.

Once a sharp invisible blade of mirror cuts his nose bone, Douma chuckles. "Ouch, it burns, Kirayame. How did you do that?"

"Yeah? Kneel before me for eight seconds and then I'll tell you how, Master Douma." Your remark has sent tension to Douma's blood yet his expression remains gleaming.

"I can't blame anyone but myself for that behavior," Douma replied as he chanted his Blood-Demon-Art to create a small figure of him.

This is the kind of Blood-Demon-Art from him that you do expect to face in this battle. Douma is full of tricks; using this icy small figure as a distraction is a cheap trick that obviously won't do anything to you. To encounter them you had prepared a big spear to shatter all of those figures in seconds and faced Douma, preparing to counter any kind of attacks coming after.

However, that's how you were caught off-guard. You forgot the most important part of Douma; the golden fan that is capable of cutting human flesh easily. The weapon that always touched the fresh flesh of women now is almost ripping all of your body apart. Losing half of your face, torso, and arms was nothing but mercy from Douma as you saw him standing a few steps in front of you.

He always smiles in any kind of situation, yet this one smile sends a shiver down your spine. "It's not over, My Dearest Kirayame."

"Yeah?"

You thought it would be a cool remark, but Douma wasn't joking. Every cut and open-wound flesh wasn't regenerating like it was supposed to be. The flesh doesn't grow at all. There only means one thing; you cannot regenerate like you are supposed to be, even at the slowest pace like how you are at the first time as a demon. The stinging cold kept stopping the blood in your body from streaming normally; just in seconds, you could hold your breath.

Douma's finger touches your chin and makes you glance into his eyes. "Oh my, I never thought you would look this pretty when you are suffering ...." He is stunned for a moment when he realizes you stopped breathing. Yet, he continues to chuckle. "My, I think you will die honorably as the Upper-Rank Three, My Beloved Kirayame. I will make you the most beautiful grave since I love you."

The small army of his walking slowly towards the edge of the flat to throw you out. This would be the end of the battle.

"There's no need to go to such lengths, Master."

Your voice was echoing in Douma's head and it made him turn in surprise; he wasn't pretty much able to comprehend how you could vanish in a span of second, far faster than him. There you are, standing just half a step from him, holding an invisible glass to cut through Douma's head and kick his leg to fall to the knees. The invisible glass you had on your hand, you lengthen it to the length of Douma's body and stab it down from his chopped neck down to his crotch.

"Thanks for inspiring me on how to use my Blood-Demon-Art better, My Pretty Master."

Douma grins furiously, "Dear Kirayame, you will not defeat me this easily."

"Yeah? I'll spill some tricks to waste eight seconds for you."

And so, you take eight seconds to explain to Douma and everyone who is watching the battle how you escape the deadly Douma's Blood-Demon-Art that froze your bloodstream. In which to Douma's surprise, you were capable of changing every cell in your body by commanding them to turn them into a mirror; that's how you break Douma's ice as it creeps into your blood.

You haven't vanished it all, most of it is still creeping into your bloodstream right now, and that's how your face is still half recovered. However, understanding which part of your body is important to get prioritized to be recovered first is the whole key to encountering Douma's deadly attack. As the eight seconds almost passed, you smiled at Douma and raised his head like a trophy.

"For the last seconds of Sir Douma's loss, I would like to thank Lord Muzan for the gift."

Everyone knows how Muzan feels towards Douma. Now, he isn't hiding anything from his expression. The Lord himself has sent you a genuine smile of pride and acceptance. The smile that resulted in your official title as the Upper-Rank Two.

Chapter 15: Third Match - Kokushibo

Chapter Text

"Do you think you can come out unscathed after our battle?"

The heavy yet calm tone greets you while you're inside the room, caught your attention to turn your head towards the door. The master himself, one that has taught you many skills that you become who you are right now, standing not far from the slid open door frame. His eyes are trying to tore answers from your expressions, especially as a light laughs escapes you. Raised from your seat, the end fabric of white kimono sweeps the floor behind your legs as you walks towards the door.

Exchanging glance with each other, you reply, "Unscathed or not, I will make you kneel, Master Kokushibo."

He tilted his head, lightly raising his katana and let the tip of it touch beneath your chin. "There is a reason why I'm the number one, Kirayame."

"Yes, Master. There is also a reason why I become the Upper-Rank Two less than five hours, as you know it."

For once in forever, you know you've seen Kokushibo expressing his emotions at any given moment. Those times, you are sure Kokushibo are aware of what expression he have shown to the people. Yet this time, without any doubts, Kokushibo likely unaware of the maniac-grin he is currently express to you. As the end of his katana moves from your chin, Kokushibo moves his face forward, eyes written with Upper-Rank One on his eyes meeting your Upper-Rank Two tinted gaze.

His breath are cold; as if it's carries the winter blows under the deep dark sky around the moonlight, blows your face softly. What once could be felt on your lips, the cold now run down your spine, the intimidating glare from the Master himself has given you quite the strength to stand still before him. Yet, as his grin turned into smile ....

"I can't wait to learn your plan to make me kneel," he stated, "especially with that beautiful Blood-Demon-Art of yours."

You nods a little, followed with a smirk, "I won't disappoint, My Master."

"Yes, as you should be."

Without command, the sound of biwa could be heard and before you could blink your eyes, the room has turned into the flat battleground. Meters away where your gaze could catch Kokushibo's form, all his eyes seemingly could see everything through; your plans, ideas, tricks, and everything. You're not going to lie that handling Douma is much preferable than handling the one and only katana master among the demons.

Well, to set your hand right for that Upper-Rank One is one in a lifetime chance. Let's not let that slip away, shall we.

If handling Douma and Akaza costs almost half of your body, you couldn't envision what might cost you to win from Kokushibo. Fingers lingering as shreds of mirrors appears around, you casts a weapon to stand still from Kokushibo's deadly breathing style combined with that maddening demonic strength. You anticipate one thing; Kokushibo dissappear just after you lose a shift focus but you're wrong.

The master who was standing meters away, now are an inch close to you with heat starts to ripping off your wrists. It is absolutely late to recognize Kokushibo's plan against you, which your defense is to drag your feet up in the air and step on his chest, using him as your stepping ground to flip on the air. Finally creates another gap, you're starting to set your senses properly from Kokushibo incoming attacks.

The cut immediately gets healed, yet your shivering back tells you incoming threat. Mirror walls was built as your last-second defense, taking it advantages to shift Kokushibo's focus and gives yourself an advantage to hit him right on the nape of his neck. Not as easy as it seems despite you're close to him, his katana are almost ripping your head off if you're not reacting in time. Just in the split second, you blind him with your piercing mirrors to his eye; right top and bottom.

"You have grown, Kirayame," Kokushibo uttered, "but this is so reckless."

"Not at all." You shakes your head, along with another pieces of glass shattered around Kokushibo and cutting deep into both his wrists, arms, elbows, neatly went down to his waist, knee, and legs. "I don't practice for nothing, Master. I wish to own your title, as the Upper-Rank One."

Kokushibo wouldn't lie if the mirrors dipping into him didn't took any toll. He is quite amazed by how you costs all your spare strength after fighting with Akaza and Douma, yet still capable to pull such tricks with sheer spell strength. Even though he is satisfied with your capability, it's still not quite to fight him off to get on his knees. Fighting the contrary pressure of the mirrors, Kokushibo lets the shattered mirrors around him to pierce through him; which made him escaped your Blood-Demon-Art.

Not letting you had the time to order the shattering mirrors as what you've done on the past battle, Kokushibo acts on his Breathing and shattering the mirrors into nothing but dusts. Your sigh of despair and amaze could be heard as you pull another mirror of defense, trying to lock Kokushibo like how you finish Akaza.

The Chamber of Mirrors: Misery of the Past. Spell which costs you the most of your strength - but the breathing technique Kokushibo has taught you now giving you the upper hand a little. Every single shreds of chamber was torn one by one without any doubts from Kokushibo; he sensed the threat and won't let any touch of your Blood-Demon-Art to influence him.

Knowing just how much strength you have left based on pure sense, he runs right to you as he casted his breathing while whispering, "I'm proud of you, Kirayame. Your death would be anything I despise in my life."

You couldn't react in time which your mirror of defense were once again torn apart by Kokushibo's katana, now are stabbing deep into your torso. His face and yours are separated by nothing but nose touching with each other, he traced your expression as he moved the blade up; trying to cut you in half despite you fighting for your life.

"Chamber ...," you murmured, locking eyes with Kokushibo. ".... Misery of the Past."

It's not your last words; which Kokushibo is aware of and are too late to reactㅡthen to find himself locked inside nothing but mirror. This is just how Akaza lost to you, Kokushibo swings his katana to torn open anything, yet nothing is reacting. Now Kokushibo's mind are filled with just how tremendous your skills are to create a world which capable of trapping someone as skilled as him and Akaza.

"Brother?"

That's not nice to be heard. He immediately turned his head and to find his twin brother, standing not far from where he was, waving his hand happily. It's not his brother when the last time he sees him, because this one is the younger Yoriichi. "Oh, I hate how you played this, Kirayame."

Yet Kokushibo still couldn't able to control his own rage towards the obvious reminisce of his twin brother. Katana were raised high up in the air, as all of his six eyes are focusing into the neck of Yoriichi. To end it all is not to let anyone drown inside the memory it offers.

Because it's all fake.

"You're the best, Brother."

Frozen in place, someone had talked with Kokushibo behind his back and the voice it has triggered some anger inside of him. He swings his katana in fury, to find the realm starts to cracked. Now using the anger which has been built inside of him, Kokushibo swings his katana with the breathing technique he owned; letting him to escape the mirror world of yours.

As the sphere of mirrors starts to breaks, Kokushibo starts to sensed your presence and immediately run towards you. He wouldn't let anything to stop him from keeping his position as the Upper-Rank One. Aiming for your head, Kokushibo was ready to swing his katana and get your head on the flat groundㅡyet something stopped his katana from moving.

"Seems like you are influenced with the mirror world I've presented for you, Master," you whispered behind a thick yet transparent blade to Kokushibo behind his pigmented black blade.

He retreats himself just immediately as he sensed threat. For once he sets himself in a safe position, he acknowledged the thing you hold. A katana, made from glass and mirrors, hilt of it was made from the fabric of your bloody white kimono. What surprised Kokushibo is the fact that it could withstand the pressure Kokushibo's katana yield along with his demonic and breathing technique.

It arises an irk yet wonder in Kokushibo, but he prioritize to end this battle and maintain his title as the Upper-Rank One.

"I am not," Kokushibo stated, "you got something up your sleeve, aren't you? I've told you I will learn how you will make me kneel."

"Good," you replied, "I'm glad I could teach My Master something."

Waste no more time, Kokushibo sets his feet to get close to you as he knows what you moves you might prepare to handle him. "It would be theㅡ" You are right meters away from Kokushibo, but now you have vanished and Kokushibo could feel heat on his neck. "ㅡlast."

A thud was heard on the ground, the thick yet transparent blade of Blood-Demon-Art katana are now cuts inside Kokushibo's body as he kneel. His eyes could see his own body now kneeling, right then he could see your bloody white kimono walking towards him, and warm palm of hands touch his face. As you take Kokushibo from the ground, you smile and walks towards the edge of the battleground.

"Yes, it will be the last, My Master." A small bows for Kokushibo, before you straighten your arms and let go of Kokushibo's head from your grasp. You stand there for eight seconds before you glanced back to Muzan, saying, "Am I worth the title of Upper-Rank One now, My Lord?"

The knowledge of owning such terrific demon as him never occurred within Muzan's mind. To know that he has the full-power of such being is what Muzan ever plan to have, among numbers of demons he had created with his blood. Excitement beating out from his heart had him fully out of control of his own expressions, the surprising glance now has turned into something pleasant.

"Upper-Rank One? Dear Kirayame, I'll bestow you the position that could only be owned by you." Muzan disappeared from the throne, now reappeared in front of you, fingers rested on your chin as his maniac smile grows bigger. "You are now the one and only demon to ever grants the title of Upper-Rank Zero."

Chapter 16: New Identity

Chapter Text

Winter could be felt when the water falling from the sky feels freezing the skin. Hurried feet run to get inside their homes before the sun fully drowns itself on the horizon. Whispers and hushes were heard as their fragile arms closed any gaps in their house; doors, windows, cracks, tunnels, ceilings, and chimneys. It didn't take long because right after the last sunbeam finally vanished from the cloud, something jumped on top of their roofs, letting the moonlight beam right at him.

His eyes shifted from left to right, showing exactly the tinted writing of the 'Upper-Rank Three' owned by Akaza.

"It's bitter cold around here now, Master."

"Master?" Akaza scoffed as he turned his head around, seeing you, fully clothed in white with bare feet. "Are you humbling me right now, Lady Upper-Rank Zero?"

"I'm not addressing you in our hierarchical ways, Akaza," Kirayame said, "but a mere respect. So, tell me, which one makes you feel like you want to punch me?"

"I'll blow a hit if you can't bring any humans for the Lord."

"Sure, just try to not freeze to death, Master."

"Ha! Very funny, My Lady."

As you initiate to run along with Akaza, you are surprised by the shift of place. What once a vast forest with house glooming in darkness, are now the walls of Infinity Castle. Knowing well who is behind this doing, you looked right up and saw Muzan, well, not gravity speaking, sitting up in the air while holding his cup of tea. Seems like he was supposed to be meeting Kokushibo not long ago.

Without letting him wait long, you jumped in the air and broke Nakime's biwa spell. Now, sitting in front of Muzan, you're waiting for his order regarding anything. It's been a week since the battle and Muzan had been telling you to take a rest and hunt regular humans daily to gain strength. Now, it seems that he has something to tell you.

"How do you feel?" Muzan lets words out of his mouth after minutes have passed.

"I am well and there's nothing to be worried about, Master," you replied.

"No, not that."

It immediately raises a hint inside your head regarding what Muzan is asking from you. To hone your Blood-Demon-Art and the Breathing technique you acquired from Kokushibo, Muzan ordered you to place traps around some places close to your dwellings. The purpose is to capture humans and harvest their flesh and blood; which is also to practice your strength and channel it properly to each trap you have placed. What it costs is the strength within you, which is the main reason why Muzan asked you to go to such length, in the purpose of honing your Blood-Demon-Art; The Art of Mirror.

To answer Muzan's question, you need to sense the demon blood you've placed on the human residents. It's supposed to be an invisible trap that a mere human wouldn't sense, unless they're capable of higher mastery like the Demon Slayers, well, the trap might be detected. Nevertheless, that's more likely the reason why Muzan ordered you to train the spell and see how the spell works when it's far from you.

Muzan seeking power from a demon that could control things from far, far away. This could help him to detect the residence of Ubuyashiki, helping him to get his revenge.

"On the south, in a village of farmers, five humans have been trapped. North had captured three this far, probably due to the placing being within human's reach." You try to address traces of your blood spells that you have placed in four different positions. Each one of them has a spare different in length from where you are.

"Hm, then could you consume them all before dawn start to spring, Kirayame?"

"No doubt, My Lord."

As you were sent back to wherever you are by Nakime's biwa, Muzan is now left alone inside the Infinity Castle with Akaza. The shortcutted pink-haired man is standing very far away from where Muzan and you are having conversations, but Nakime's spell helps him to eavesdrop on every single conversation. No, it's not an accident, Muzan ordered Nakime and Akaza to do such.

With one string pulled by Nakime, the sound of biwa brought Akaza right in front of Muzan just in seconds. Akaza was already on one of his knees, head looking right on top of the floor.

"I'm not making things complicated here, Akaza." Muzan stood up from his seat, walking to a table that appeared out of thin air. "You need to protect her, no matter what. The Blue Spider Lily should be your second concern."

"I will do as you wish, My Lord."

"Of course," Muzan replied, "don't let her sense your presence. Just make sure no Hashira ever lands a hand on her, despite her immense strength. She needs to be perfect."

"Yes, I will do as such, My Lord."

"Good."

Akaza vanished just immediately after one string was heard. There, all alone, Muzan flips a few pages of the book he currently holds in his hands. A book that consists of any medical situation that might related to the Blue Spider Lily.

The shift in Muzan's eyes as he senses another presence around him expresses a feeling of surprise. Yet as he acknowledged the presence, he turned around and locked a glance with Nakime.

"Is there anything you wish to tell me?"

"Yes, regarding Kirayame."

"What about her?" Muzan asked, head tilted to the left as he pondered on why Nakime was suddenly interested in you.

"Her strength is powerful, I can sense it. She could break my spell easily, which it took Master Kokushibo plenty of times to get used to...." Nakime stopped talking as Muzan raised his hand.

He turned his head, and seems uninterested. "The point?"

"She is strong, but her memories are her weaknesses. She might not question it, but once the truth unfolds, she might be a threat."

Silence arises after Nakime finishes her words. Expecting nothing less, Nakime saw Muzan raise his hand to dismiss her from his residence. She bows without Muzan looking at her and vanished after another string of biwa.

Deep in thought, Muzan is aware of such concern far earlier even before you are able to kill a Hashira. The potential are patent in your eyes, which Muzan are capable to see through it.

However, it might backfires to him one day. Yet Muzan doesn't know how to deal with it. Clenching his palm and gritting teeth, he mumbles, "Why can't I bring myself the thought of killing her?"

Chapter 17: Akaza's Memories

Chapter Text

The smell lingering in the air is telling your sharp senses that the sun will rise just soon enough. You have finished eradicating the humans that were trapped inside your mirror traps. It might invite curiosity from the Hashiras, but isn't that what you are waiting for?

On top of a rock, you look down below to the spot of your last trap. A small house, seemingly abandoned, but there are just enough people around there, supposedly already trapped in your blood spell.

The ground shakes as you fall on the ground. Raising your body slowly, you're ready to devour these humans after processing them through Chamber of Mirrors: Blinding Light. A spell that could make a defenseless person turn into mincemeat after your command.

However, this is odd. No one seems aware of your tremendous presence. Walking slowly to the strongest person among the people, you looked around. They are indeed tied within your spell, but it doesn't mean it will numb their sense of presence.

It's puzzling indeed, but maybe they don't pay much attention to strangers. Now as you stand before the large man, he smiledㅡnot towards you, but someone else behind you.

"It's her! She came back!"

Just then, he walks past you. Offended, you turn your body to check on who is he talking about. Yet, what appears before you are capable of taking your ability to stand properly vanishes just in a snap of a finger.

It's you. You, with different clothing, standing among the people with a smile on your face.

"You didn't face any demons?" An old man asked her, but he held your shoulder tight right after. "You are sure?"

You nodded. "Yes, please, don't worry about it."

You, the real you, are not standing meters away from them. Feeling something doesn't sit right, you throw a piece of glass that is strong enough to bleed a normal human to death toward the other you.

The sound of glass breaking was heard. It stunned you immediately. Was this ...

"... my memory?" you mumbled, as your eyes caught a hint of rippling glass spread in the air. The sign of your spell was broken.

You are left stunned. Puzzled with questions and confusion. Especially that old man's words.

"It's as if facing a demon was a threat to me." You glanced back to where the people were surrounded you. "It's as if ... I'm not a demon. That me, was not a demon."

Through the eyes of the Upper-Rank Three Akaza, Muzan flinched upon seeing your little mirror world. However, he couldn't see much further as the heat start to sting Akaza's face. Knowing that the sun will set, Akaza whom watching you from the higher cliff are both confused and concerned that you didn't move a muscle.

Looking at you, he mumbles to himself, "What are you thinking? Go away!"

It's not working. Akaza has to break his Lord's request to save you before the sun embraces your body and causes you the imperfections that Muzan will despise.

You, on the other hand, were a little bit shocked by Akaza's sudden spawn but smiled after hugging his neck. "I thought I would be turned into ash."

"You will if you dozed off in the wrong place like that," Akaza replied while running at full speed, toward the cave where he protected himself from sunlight.

As you now rest beside Akaza, wondering how you might miscalculated the amount of humans trapped there, only to find yourself trapped inside your trap. You glanced up, seeing Akaza being a bat by sleeping by day. Seeing him so comfortable being vulnerable with you made you think that there might be something in Akaza that he thought about you.

Your glance swiftly moves to trace his arms then stops when you look at Akaza's open palm. Chamber of Mirrors: Misery of the Past can be extracted willingly or forcefully, depending on whether you can hold their palm or not. The extraction is so you can see their past because it is a pigment of their memory that they think when they're pressured or with someone they know.

In this case, since Akaza was aware that you were with him, he might have been thinking about the past that related to you. Whatever it might be, it should be the past. There is your curiosity, wondering if you can find some answer. Perhaps, starting from Akaza.

Nothing special, you remember the battle in Infinity Castle and your training moments. As you hold Akaza's palm, you can feel him gripping even tighter to your hand. It might be the side effects; you're disturbing his daydream.

However, one memory jolted you. You can see Akaza, standing before an old man. The same old man you see in your memory.

You don't know how to react, but to release your hand from Akaza. Yet the grip are getting stronger, forcing you to open your eyes wide to look at him.

"I can sense your spell," Akaza mumbled, he glanced at you, "What are you doing, holding my hand?"

"Why are you even reciprocating it by holding it even tighter? Let me go." You avoid answering the question.

However, of course, Akaza cannot be fooled. He didn't break eye contact with you, telling you that you shouldn't lie. Tell him the truth, he telepathically said through his eyes.

Your gaze met him, and then seconds later you giggled. Akaza frowned his forehead. "What's funny?"

"You are funny," you said. "Why are you holding my hand? Can't you let it go?"

"Not until you tell me what you plan to do," Akaza replied.

Not immediately answering, you raise your other hand and land a touch with your index finger on Akaza's head. Not breaking eye contact, you say, "Memories. I want to dive into your memories."

"Why?"

His eyes narrowed down, examining every bit of your eyes, letting his expression reflect on your eyes. Shallow breaths echoes within the cave, the sunlight almost reaching the depth of the cave - yet Akaza didn't bother to move a muscle. The gaze of Upper-Rank Three are locked into your Upper-Rank Zero gaze, trying to find answer that shall satisfy him.

Swiftly closing your eyes, you chuckle. "No reason, I was trying to see your past."

"What about that?" Akaza asked, sound both curious and suspicious.

"Lord Muzan trusts you, more than Douma despite him being in higher position than you." Fingers tapping onto his cheek, you caress the blue stripes on Akaza's. He flinched a little, but your smile soothes his scrunched forehead. "I wonder if I'm here to replace you."

"I don't understand," Akaza stated, pulling himself away from you, yet feeling the heat of sunlight closing behind him.

Smiling, you pull Akaza's hand on your grip and get his attention back to you. Hands behind his head, you locked your eyes into Akaza as you placed your lips on his. It's another way to dig into Akaza's space of mind - the blank-state mind amidst confusion and shock. Your ability to create spatial spell are able to crawl into anything as long they're close enough to you; physically or emotionally.

Thus, after collecting anything you needed, you retract from Akaza and immediately stand up. Looking up at you, his eyes was full with rage and confusion, he asked in high-pitched voice, "What was that for?!"

"Is that your first?" You asked, tapping your fingers to your lips.

"Why is thatㅡ" He stopped talking and stand from his position. As the sunlight heat are getting stronger, he grabs your wrists and walks deeper into the cave. "Don't do that anymore, the Lord isn't happy if anyone of his subordinates is ...."

Walking behind him with his pace, you tilted your head. "Is ...?"

"Just ... don't do that again. That was unexplainable," Akaza answered without turning his head to you.

Upon seeing his reaction, you recalled the shards of memories you collected from Akaza. There is nothing much happening before your first encounter with Akazaㅡthe one where he trained you. The walking went on until the surrounding changed into something more familiar. Walls of arranged yet displaced windows are arranged neatly, which you immediately recognize where you are now for more precisely.

Akaza letting go of your hand after arriving on a door. "So, the cave was an entrance to the Infinity Castle, huh?" you asked while sliding the door open.

"Yeah, take your time to rest well. It's day, so I suggest you hone your skills somewhere else since I believe the spell you placed on the villages already vanished with the sunlight touch," Akaza replied, his eyes following you getting inside the room.

You nods. "Sure, you take rest too." A little wink left from you to Akaza, which the demon himself flinch before leaping away from your door. Amused with his awkwardness, you slide the door back close before finally enhance your spell.

Now, you're focusing entirely to examine Akaza's memory shards that is not much ㅡmeans there is only a small memory in Akaza's mind about you. As you extract further, there is a brief memory within Akaza's that similar to what you just experienced a while ago. Him, standing before many people that you assume are a family, bowing over someone beside him.

Extracting memory is not something you're able to do properly. You can't hear anything and the memory seems like it will fade just in a mere second. However, as the memory about to fade, something stunned you.

Muzan was there with Akaza, and someone you can't recognize. What bothers you is the sense of familiarity with the surroundings. It bothers you a lot. The lack of ability to explain the uneasiness within is making your head hurts.

Chapter 18: With Kokushibo

Chapter Text

As dusk set low hours ago, Kokushibo let himself having sometime for a while before finding himself dinner. Strolling around the forest for a late night walk before the sun rise again were Kokushibo's favorite thing to do. A moment later, he could sense a presence around him.

Slowly closing his eyes, Kokushibo knows exactly who it is, but it doesn't mean he would restrain himself from confronting them. Winds blow strong towards the target, the katana aimed right to where he sensed the presence of the person. Rustling sound of bushes moving against the night breeze, Kokushibo could catch the white fabric contrary to the dark surroundings.

There, you walk from behind the tall bushes and thick trees, peeking over Kokushibo with a smile. "Good evening, Kokushibo."

"Oh, if it's not our Upper-Rank Zero Lady," Kokushibo mentioned, scoffed as he unseathe his katana. "I believe your targets don't live here."

"Because I'm not looking for a target."

You walk towards Kokushibo, approaching him slowly and it draws his attention. After you stand before him, he pats your head and asks, "Something seems to bother you. What is it, if I may know?"

"Wouldn't you like to take a guess?"

"It sounds like a Douma thing to do, so if you mind, play the game with him."

Laughter fills the vast space around you, taking Kokushibo's attention entirely on you. Now having a company to stroll around the forest, Kokushibo seems to intently listens anything you said, despite him prefer his alone strolling time undisturbed. Something about you sets off odd feeling within him, yet he has vague idea what to make out of it. The stroll seems to has no end, even when the sky turns a little brighter than before.

The two of you ended up in Kokushibo's hidden residence - which you're aware since the time Kokushibo trained you.

You sit on the small stairs in front of the house. Despite questioning, Kokushibo follow suit, sitting beside you and putting his katana beside him. It's a dangerous spot to watch sunrise, for sure. Silence fill the air for a moment, which Kokushibo finally decide to break it first.

"Is it something about Lord Muzan?" he asked, seemingly proud to himself because he saw you flinched.

"If that's so obvious to you, I wonder if the others see right through me," you mumbled, eyes not meeting Kokushibo's who is now watching you with curiosity.

Soft wind billowing into your face, swiftly moving strands of hair dropping to your face. As you dive deep in thought, a finger touches your face, tracing the moving strands hair and tucked it to the back of your ear. Feeling the oddly warm finger, you looked over to Kokushibo. His gaze greets you, wonder exudes from his bloody golden eyes. The space between the both of you is almost vanish.

Although you assume Kokushibo might not having the answer for you curiosity, but you do wonder what would be his first memory about you. Chance giving itself to you, which you took advantage by touching Kokushibo's chin, trying to distract him. With a mere inch to finally set your lips on to his, a stinging cold air freezing your movement.

You immediately looked over, to find Douma standing tall with his fan. "So, apparently I got myself into some juicy situations."

"I'm really lowering my guard," Kokushibo muttered to himself, which obviously you could hear him.

"Wow, didn't expect to see the Upper-Rank Two here," you responded, stood up but then bend over so that you can reach Kokushibo's ear, to whispers, "Thank you for accompanying me."

No reaction, you pats Kokushibo's shoulder before going towards Douma. His mere appearance actually telling you that Muzan is indeed watching, but since he can't place his power on you, he used the top upper-ranks. However, you got what you needed from that slight touch on Kokushibo's face. Although this large and quick reaction is possible if Kokushibo has such a huge feeling about you.

Chapter 19: Under Douma's Care

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Douma's residence is like no other. Common people would do whatever it takes to protect their houses from demons attack. They would avoid strolling outside the house, especially when there is a recent case of demon attack. Fortunately, that's not the case of Douma's followers.

They love and praise Douma so much that they're now, in the middle of the night, coming over to Douma's residence to seek protection but also to answer Douma's call. One thing you knows for sure is that they're definitely far from the word protection. They will be the feast, the banquet for the two of you. That's how Douma sees them after all.

"We'll set the men for Akaza, he might be hungry," Douma said with his usual smile, a hint of amusement evident in his voice.

The smell of blood lingered in the air like nothing for you and him. Bones, blood, and flesh seated on the wooden floor of his residence, horrified glare of the women's head collected just perfectly on Douma's lap. A bothersome view for a human, as it's suppose to be, especially how your mind were occupied with certain things.

"Akaza will come?" you asked softly, looking at him with wonder.

Douma chuckled, finishing his last bite and licking his bloody-red lips. "If he is, I would not let these pretty ladies lay on the floor scattered like leaves." His lips kept smiling as he leaned closer to you.

Your eyes widened slightly before you tilted your head to the side, noticing his face inching closer to you. "Because he will be angry because you feast on women?"

"Yes, that pretty much it," he said, just that, then let the silence sink in between the two of you again. This was so weird, especially that Douma was not someone who let silence befall in the middle of a conversation.

"Douma...?"

Your eyes locked into his, realizing something. He was doing something, Douma was trying to catch you to do something. With that, you realized that he is the only one who you have not touch after inventing your power. You also wondered what kind of memory if you just... leaned closer to him and, press your lips against his.

It's cold. His lips are cold, but the warmth of the human blood mixed against his lips. You feel him smile, slowly pushing his head against yours, pressing his lips deeper into yours, sticking the blood in his lips on yours. This odd feeling brings you to the memory you have been looking for, the memory which Douma wasn't even involved, but he is there, watching.

Your breath hitched when he traced your lips with his tongue, moving his bloody hand to your face. "Well, what do you see?" he asked in a soft voice, his eyes lingering in yours.

Everything. And at the same time, the sound of a string of biwa removed the scene before you, with that split of second you can see the look of horror in Douma's face before you moved into the Infinity Castle.

Muzan stood not far from where you are now trying to stand, his back facing you. Your blood-stained kimono now exuding the scent of human blood that ignited something in him. Muzan turned around slowly, walking closer to you with the expression rather different from his usual stiff and irked expression.

"My Lord?" you called, making sure he was here with you now.

However, Muzan didn't say a word but his steps are inching closer and closer to you. Just as you tried to prepare yourself for an attack, he stopped. His eyes narrowed, his red eyes ignited a different kind of lookㅡwrath. It was uncommon for him, but the way he seemed to be out of control was something new.

"What... are you planning to do?"

The firm voice echoes within the cramped space of the Infinity Castle. You stiffened like a cat being caught in the open by it's hunter. Making no surprising move, you keep your eyes on every movement of Muzan. You rested your gaze on him, seeing the twisted expression on his face that was rather new and unfamiliar.

"I beg your pardon, My Lord." You will not give away your intention just like that, despite you knew he wasn't going to bluff. Once he knew, he knew it like the back of his hand.

Muzan's pupils dilated into a fine line within his red eyes. His claw emerged and without flinching, a loud crack was forming under your feet, causing you to fall and losing your feet. What you thought was an abyss of Infinity waiting underneath you, suddenly your back hit something as hard as the ground.

You groaned loudly, choking from the unexpected impact. Your instinct caused your Blood-Demon-Art to trigger, the faint defense of glass is now shielding you as Muzan's presence became overwhelming. He stood above the stone, his eyes locked into your figure with heightened wrath that seemed could engulf you alive.

No, but you are not going to back down. The trees rustled, following the path of the wind as you looked into Muzan's eyes.

"I saw it all, My Lord," you said firmly, yet your eyes twitch at the sound of his title coming out of your mouth. "Or rather, Muzan."

It was a bad idea to fuel his wrath further, that his claw shattered your Blood-Demon-Art defense. You chuckled instead, knowing his wrath is the nightmare of every demon, not exceptionally you. Your gaze never leaving his as he launched another attack, this time by plunging right at you.

"I'm a human," you said with pride and determination. "I'm one of those you've feasted on for all these times I've been awakened by your side."

Muzan didn't listen to any of your words, as he kept launching more and more attacks. Just as stubborn as he is, you kept dodging and flee, moving at ease while avoiding his attacks from harming you or blocking your line of speech.

"You kidnapped me," you continued, eyes never leaving his as you took every chance to close back at him. "Why? Just for the sake of power?"

Apparently, your words hit something inside him. "Enough!" he yelled with his usual firm tone, looking at you with sharp eyes. "You are my Upper-Rank Zero, Kirayame. Better watch yourself or I will make you regret it."

Notes:

I really want to write softer Douma in the future (*´-`)

Chapter 20: Worst Goodbye - Muzan

Notes:

we're at the end of the story!! don't hate me pls but maybe I'll rewrite this one and make it less depressing but who knowsss ( T∀T)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

It was annoying, truly. You never felt like crushing Muzan so badly—as if he was an enemy. You're a demon, supposedly under his control, but why are you feeling so much hatred towards him? Then, you realized, how much power you've put into your Blood-Demon-Art. Even Muzan was wary as he watched the glistening sight of the broken mirror around you.

But you have to put up a fight—to end him. And the clash began, worse than before. Muzan didn't put up much effort into it, but he was struggling with something else. Dodging your attacks weren't a problem for him, it's an easy feast. If anything, he could strike a single blow and get your head chopped right away.

But... no. No, he couldn't. Something holds him back and it made his heart pounding fast like crazy. The sight of your furious eyes, bloody clothes and disheveled hair—it wasn't bothersome, but Muzan feels something as he kept jumping away from you.

Emptiness.

And it rage him more than anything. Why would he feel so empty knowing you'd die before him? It's ridiculous. He shouldn't have feeling like this.

You noticed how he looked struggling, but your attacks barely harming even a strand of his hair. Instinctively, you sensed the rising heat around you, and your eyes shifted to look at the horizon, between the two mountains.

The sun will arise soon.

And the battle need to be ended soon. Thus, you're determined to kill him right here and there, ending the glory of demons and avenge your family. Which Muzan sensed your bloodlust, for a second he snapped back to his original plan—to punish you, torturing you, everything to show that you have no place against him.

But then, why is he hesitating now?

Your neck were right under his claw, then why couldn't he hear anything except his own heavy breath? Why's everything so quiet that he could hear his mind screaming "wait" multiple times? Shouldn't he kill you, here and now? Why is he... hesitating?

There's no way you wouldn't notice that. Even so, he's now within your range, and so you activate your Blood-Demon-Art and wrap them around you and him, shielding him within your grasp. There's no escape for him from you, and that's when you used your power to access his memory.

It's not easy, Muzan was putting up a fight until you forces him—you kissed him with force, holding him tightly, despite how you felt your neck bleeding now that he dug his nails deeper into your flesh.

But then, you discovered something. Something else. Something that's not related to any of your past. It was something about Muzan.

Then, your eyes meeting his as the kiss broke. Somehow, Muzan felt less and less angry, but now stunned as he hovers above you. The two of you fell into silence, the crystal-like glass unwrapped under your control and Muzan's fingers left your neck. Not long, he hissed when the soft sun ray almost hits him.

"The sun is about to rise," he said, suddenly changed entirely as he stood before you, still watching you. "Stop being stubborn, Kirayame. You have no choices left. You are my property, I own you and that means you, are mine."

There's nothing for you to say, as you stand up after him, watching as the sun about to burns your feet, and Muzan was already intending to leave. But he froze. He couldn't communicate with Nakima nor that Nakima could teleport him away.

"You should watch this."

You said to him, slowly walking to the ground where the sunlight reached. It made Muzan tensed up, using his power to stop you and reach to you, but it doesn't work.

"I... think I've become too powerful," you said, ridiculing yourself as you looked at him. "You will get your power soon, I just placed a protection around you, so you couldn't use anything... as long as I live."

"What...?" Muzan wasn't confused, but he is panicking when he saw you keep walking to the sun. "Kirayame. Stop. I command you, to stop walking."

Muzan should be moving, he should be running after you, but his feet froze to the ground. It's not your power, it's himself. He was... not going to execute himself just for you. But... but why does it feels... so wrong?

Then, the sunlight hits your feet, slowly vanishing you. Muzan's eyes widened, knowing in a matter of second, you'd be gone into the air. Slowly, you turned around, offering him a subtle smile before saying, "You won't live for long, My Lord."

Just like that, your body crumbles right before him—and Muzan immediately jumped with his reflex, escaping the sunlight while his blurry gaze looking around for you. But nothing, and the landscape shift into Infinity Castle. Without thinking, Muzan was screaming with the top of his lungs, unable to explain the scorching pain inside his heart.

It wasn't the sun. It was you. Not your words, but you. He lost you.

Muzan's scream was loud, in agony, his claws dug into the wooden floor as his rage mixing with the excruciating pain within his heart. You're gone, gone, gone, gone, forever and he couldn't bring you back. He's all mighty and powerful but he lost you. Lost you. Lost you, like a helpless human unable to do anything.

So pathetic.

Notes:

thank you for bookmarking it!! fun fact, I've been hyperfixating on Simon Riley (COD) for a while and maybe this is a sign for me to back active on AO3! yay :3