FULL STORY SUMMARY

Rated M for mature. Reader discretion advised.

After the death of her mother, young Himari and her father becomes part of an unscrupulous clan; the Kato family. Himari is subjected to continuous abuse by the family but all that changes when she falls in love with The Progenitor of Demons, Kibutsuji Muzan.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

THANKS FOR READING

CHAPTER VOCABULARY

* sake: alcoholic beverage

* hakama: traditional Japanese garment

* kung pao: a spicy, stir-fried Chinese dish

MEDIA DICTIONARY

* Thoughts

* "Dialogue."

* 'Telepathic dialogue.'

* "Past conversation."

* {Sound}

* [Movement]

MUZAN

Muzan gazed at the woman in his arms. Himari's movements had ceased for a few moments now.

She has fainted, but transformation went well...

He analyzed her new demonic features; magenta teardrop shaped markings were on both of her cheeks, her nails were power white, and her ears were sharp, reminding him of an elf. Two curly horns sat upon her forehead.

Muzan opened her mouth and examined her fangs. The Demon Lord wanted to see her eyes, but he didn't want to disturb her peaceful slumber.

Such an alluring demon. Her beauty even surpasses that of Daki's.

Deciding that it was time to take Himari home, he teleported to the Dimensional Infinity Fortress.

HIMARI

Himari finally awakened on a cold, hard floor. She noticed that something about her was... off. Her body felt like it didn't belong to her, as if she was nothing more than a soul in an unknown vessel.

Himari looked down and noticed that her arm was completely healed.

"You've awakened," a familiar voice said.

...Where is that voice coming from?

She frantically glanced around the darkness but to no avail.

'Himari.'

The familiar, deep voice resounded in her mind. Clearing her dry throat, she said, "...Tsukihiko? Is that you? I-I'm scared!" Himari strained her eyes to find him, but she couldn't.

"Your metamorphosis went extremely well. Honestly, I didn't think you were going to make it," he chuckled heartily, confusing her even more.

What metamorphosis? What is he talking about?

"T-Tsukihiko, I don't understand. W-what—"

"Do not call me by that name ever again," he boomed. His voice made

Himari pause and filled her with dread. The girl began to tremble in fear.

W-why am I shaking like this?

"You may only address me as Master, His Lordship, or That Man from now on."

"B-but you told me that your name was Tsu—"

'Silence.'

A sharp, localized pain throbbed in her brain.

"Arghhh!" Himari cradled her head, screaming in pain and terror. A few moments later, the pain ceased.

"I am no Tsukihiko. I am Muzan Kibutsuji, The Progenitor of Demons. You may never utter my name aloud or I will know about it. This is your living quarters and you will behave."

Then she heard nothing.

Moments later, Himari realized that she was now alone in pitch-black nothingness.

MUZAN

Muzan was in a state of euphoria after giving his newest pet a short orientation.

While he spoke to her, he finally saw the girl's eyes. Her eyes were a deep shade of pink that glistened even in the dark. Muzan marveled at his newest creation's beauty.

She's almost worthy of being by my side.

Out of boredom, he sent a few of the Lower Moons to prove their worth by slaughtering Demon Slayers.

The Demon Slayers were currently a weak organization, but Muzan wanted to take them out before they could be a problem.

After pondering for a while, Muzan decided to keep Himari incarcerated for a couple days but alter her perspective of time.

Each hour that past in her cell would feel like a full day to her...

TIMESKIP: THREE DAYS

Three days had past and it was time to check on Muzan's newest demon.

'Nakime, show me Himari.'

A vision of Himari attempting to scratch through the walls appeared in his mind.

"Tsukihiko, please release me! I'm going crazy in here!" she sobbed hysterically.

Muzan growled at her incessant whining and disrespect. Vowing to punish her when the time was right, he decided that it was time to release her.

HIMARI

Pain, isolation, and hunger were the only things Himari could feel. The girl had been begging for help for what felt like eternity.

How long had she been imprisoned? Two days? Two weeks? Two months? She didn't know.

"Help me! Is anyone out there? Please let me out, Tsukihiko!" she cried.

Himari sobbed on the floor, shaking. She felt like her body wasn't hers as a strange, unknown craving pulsed within her.

...I'm so hungry.

Himari howled as her insides twisted and turned. As she a wave of fatigue wash over her, she fell onto the floor and closed her eyes.

This is hopeless. I'm going to die in here…

Suddenly, the floor below her disappeared and she fell into a black abyss that felt like death.

When she came to, a warm light shined upon her. Perplexed, Himari opened her eyes and gasped.

Am I in... Heaven?

Taking in her surroundings, she realized that she was in what looked to be a Japanese garden.

Himari looked at the sky and basked in the sun's warmth, her arms outstretched.

"I see you're enjoying this," a familiar voice said.

Him!

Swiftly, Himari turned and saw Muzan standing a few yards away from her.

The Demon Lord wore a black hakama and his curly medium-length wavy hair blew in the warm, gentle breeze.

As she admired his beauty from afar, she then recalled what he did to her. "You demon beast! I will never forgive you for what you did to me! You're a monster!"

Next to a koi fish pond, she spotted a medium sized rock. Himari grabbed it and threw it at his head.

With ease, Muzan dodged it by slightly tilting his head.

In a blinding rage, she picked up an even larger rock and threw it at him again.

As expected, he effortlessly dodged the boulder again. Suddenly, Muzan appeared behind her and grabbed her arm. "Pet, stop being difficult, or I'll have to punish you."

"I'm not your pet; stop calling me that!" Himari moved to strike him with her other hand, but he grabbed that as well.

"I presume that you're feeling fine," he said.

No, I feel horrible thanks to seeing you!

"That's such a rude thing to say to your Master."

How did he—

"I can hear your thoughts," he interjected, pulling her closer to him. Muzan embraced her and inhaled her vanilla fragrance deeply

Himari felt nauseous in his arms. She felt like crawling into a ball and dying right then and there. "...Where are we?"

"Home," he replied.

A sunbeam perfectly hit his face and reflected on his eyes. As she examined them, she saw that they were made of tiny flecks of various shades of red.

...He has eyes like rubies.

Muzan internally smiled at the compliment. He wouldn't dare give her any indication that her feeble comments actually pleased him.

"Demons currently aren't able to be in the sun," he abruptly said.

"But we're under the sun right now."

"This is only a simulation that I've created; a mere illusion."

"Oh… so I'm a demon now?"

"Yes."

The two stood in silence. The air grew tense and awkward as they stared at each other.

"Do I have to remind you that you cannot, under any circumstances, say my name aloud?"

"No, but could you explain why?"

"It's a curse that I created. No demon is worthy enough to say my name freely, including you," Muzan said with a sense of superiority.

Himari frowned at his egocentricity. After a few moments, she said, "Your Lordship, could I please get something to eat? I'm starving!"

"As a matter of fact, yes, you may. Let's get going," Muzan said with a sinister look upon his handsome face.

Then he took her hand and teleported back to the human realm...

HAKUJAKU

The weary man sat in his office cubicle with a stack of documents. Each page in were related to Tsukihiko Kobayashi.

Unbeknownst to Hakujaku, most of the documents were falsified. The documents contained almost all of 'Tsukihiko's' life, including pictures of Tsukihiko as a child, teenager, and so on.

Stuffing the documents in his suitcase, Hakujaku left to go home.

When he finally arrived home, Hakujaku found Soaku hunched over a table, devouring a meal fit for three.

"Soaku, we have to call the police!" he exclaimed, spreading out the paper on the table.

"What? Why is that?" Soaku mumbled with her mouth full of kung pao.

"I have proof that Tsukihiko Kobayashi is behind your bankruptcy, but he's also a demon!"

"What? Isn't Kobayashi Enterprises part of The Watanabe Clan? And how is he an oni?"

"Yes and he's a demon because I saw it with my very own eyes! His eyes changed and looked like a serpent of some sort. Himari is with him, as well!

"Haku, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say. Besides the demon stuff, The Watanabe's are powerful people. I don't think we should—"

"This isn't just about The Watanabe's, Soaku! This is also about Himari. At the wedding, I saw her with that demon, and I have a feeling they're in a relationship! He's dangerous and might eat her! I even found a human ear at his mansion, so I know that he already ate someone else!"

Soaku stared at him in disbelief.

"Haku, I think you need to rest. You've been working yourself dry for so long. Come, I'll pour you a glass of sake."

Enraged, Hakujaku threw his suitcase against the wall. "I don't need any sake, I need to save Himari!"

Soaku sighed and continued pouring two cups. "That girl isn't your daughter anymore, remember? You disowned her a while ago. Let it go, Haku. She's a grown woman now," she scoffed.

Soaku motioned for him to drink with her, but he pursed his lips and refused.

"I know I disowned her and that's my mistake. But long ago, I promised her mother that I would protect her! I know I've been a horrible father and did nothing but put her in harm's way but this is my chance for redemption."

Grunting, Soaku handed the phone to him. Before Hakujaku could press a number, a knock on the door surprised both of them.

"Who could that be at such a late hour?" Soaku asked.