Notes: I'd like to deeply apologize for not updating this fic in a year. It really has been a year huh? Anyways, I've been in and out of the KNY fandom for a bit and the manga is finished. I don't plan on following the series exactly, there will be canon divergence and I've been updating and polishing the plot of this story while coming back to write this chapter. I'm no longer sticking to my schedule of posting a chapter once a week as my current one is too busy. I'll update when I can and I apologize once more for any delays. I also have drawn some fake anime screenshots of Muzan and Yuki! You can find them on my Instagram account which is named jazzviii!

Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

—|[0o0]|—

The city was like a whole different world.

The harsh luminous lights of Asakusa greeted Muzan and Yuki as they stepped foot into the city, both trying to shield their eyes as they maneuver themselves through the crowds of people. It took Muzan and Yuki numerous days to travel to the city, but it was definitely worth it.

The sight of a city was a new experience for the two.

So many people… Muzan thought as he looked around the area, the tall buildings towered over the populous as it was brightly lit from the inside. Nearly every building that he had seen so far was accompanied by festive and colorful banners that advertised what they were selling, tempting him to try to check the place out.

"Mmm…," Yuki looked dazed and pained as she shut her eyes, burying her face into Muzan's arm. She seemed quite overwhelmed by her new surroundings, constantly peeking in and out from his sleeve. There were some people who looked at the two weirdly, Muzan caught the eyes of a woman who was staring at Yuki's bamboo muzzled mouth, the woman quickly turned around as he tried to hide his confused reaction.

Considering the circumstances, it'd be fair for someone to react in such a way although it was a bit rude, to say the least.

Mentioning circumstances, his crow had mentioned that there were sightings of demons within the city. The city was busy, the fact that there were nearly dozens… no, hundreds of people in Asakusa are going to pose a problem towards Muzan. A single demon could've massacred the crowd he was in.

He took a deep breath as he took in the numerous auras that he saw in front of him, they were all shining brightly as Muzan tried his best to find a place with the least amount of people. The bright lights didn't help his case as he felt as if his eyes were going to go blind.

"Yuki?" Muzan said as loud as possible, tugging her hand towards his direction to a small market stall that didn't seem to have many people crowding around it. "We'll be resting here! Remember, we need to find a demon and…"

Ah, I forgot that I need to kill them… but if I kill them in such a populated place that doesn't know that demons...

"Mmm?" Yuki hummed in confusion as Muzan bit his lip.

What would Muzan do? This was quite a precarious situation and since there are not many places here that would allow someone to just unsheathe their sword in the middle of a crowd. Plus, he had heard from his wife from a long time ago that people weren't allowed to possess any type of weapon while entering a city... yet that was a long time ago, perhaps times have changed.

Yet, Muzan had to find this demon first before contemplating using his nichirin blade. That was the goal and the hardest part. It was going to be difficult as his biggest strength, his eyesight, was being turned against him here. There were so many auras in one place, bright lights, and people for him to just pinpoint one single individual. He wasn't very well versed in using this ability and he had only started training his eyesight two years ago.

"What am I going to do now?" Muzan harshly whispered to himself. What was he going to do? Maybe he'd be able to see the demon somewhere no one would suspect them to be? Perhaps somewhere obvious? If only his crow had told him about where exactly the demon was last seen in Asakusa. "I'm useless right now..."

Muzan leaned against the stall he was behind and groaned in frustration. He needed to focus, he can't just give up now.

Yuki perks up and points a finger at Muzan's stomach.

"Mmh?"

"...Well, I'm not too hungry," He looks around as he tries to pinpoint any suspicious dull colors. If only the lights were dimmed, he'd be able to differentiate everyone faster.

Suddenly yet gently, he felt a small tug on his haori as he looked down and saw Yuki looking up at him. She seemed a bit hesitant as she started poking Muzan with her parasol.

"Hm? What is it, Yuki?" Muzan asked with a small smile as Yuki pointed her parasol to something or someone behind him. He looked around as he saw a... woman holding a bottle of some sort. It had a small nozzle on it as the woman looked up and Muzan froze.

Her aura was a dull lavender color, he knew that only demons had dull auras yet... this woman didn't seem to be a threat. Unlike many other demons, this woman's aura was... calm and peaceful. He couldn't sense a hint of bloodlust or evil from this... person.

"Sir? Are you here to purchase anything?" The woman asked as Muzan flinched, unsure how to answer.

"I... I'm not sure," Muzan replied, unsure. The woman nodded as Muzan got a better look at her.

She had dark lavender eyes with no pupils, wore her dark brown hair into a low bun, and donned a dark purple kimono that was patterned with red flowers, light purple branches, and finally accompanied by a cream-colored obi.

"Sir? You're looking quite ill, are you alright?"

"No, I'm rather fine," He manages as he tries to ignore the fact that... he was quite literally just talking with a demon. Was she his target? No... she looked too... too nice. Everything about this woman was calm and gentle.

"Ah, very well. You were looking at my eyes quite intently, forgive me if I was quick to assumptions," She nodded. She then presented the small bottle she held towards Muzan as Yuki growled slightly. "Would you like to test out of our products?"

"Grr... Mmph...!" Yuki hid behind Muzan as the woman seemed a bit shocked. Muzan panicked as he tried to think of an excuse.

"I apologize! My daughter doesn't like it when strangers approach me, it's fine," Muzan excused himself as he knelt to Yuki's level. "Yuki? What's the matter? Are you alright?"

Yuki seemed to calm down as soon as Muzan comforted her, making Muzan confused. Why did Yuki react that way when the woman presented that bottle?

"Sorry, about that bottle... what is it?" Muzan asked as he pointed towards the item.

"This is a product called perfume. I just created it but I only have a few bottles, I was planning on selling them."

"Huh... I remember my wife using perfume once but she hated how pungent the smell was," He chuckled. "But I wish you the best of luck on selling them. I'm currently waiting for somebody, I guess I can let you test the product on me."

"Really? Thank you, sir."

The woman gently grabbed Muzan's hand and spritzed the perfume once onto the top of his hand. After a few seconds, Muzan could faintly smell a floral scent as he brought his hand to his nose to smell it.

"It smells sweet... What flower did you use for this?" Muzan asked as the woman stepped back a bit.

"Wisteria, it's not a very popular flower for me to use but the smell is quite lovely."

Wisteria...?!

Muzan quickly looked up at the woman as he looked down at his hand. Weren't wisteria used to repel demons?

"Did you...?!" Muzan quickly asked as the woman nodded. "Wait, are you a...?"

"Forgive me, I have a customer waiting for me. I believe we'll meet again, sir," The woman said as she walked back to her stand and then disappeared. Muzan cursed under his breath as he wiped the perfume off yet he could still smell the scent of wisteria.

"Yuki..."

"Mmmph, mmph! Grrr..."

Yuki refused to walk near Muzan now as he facepalmed himself. That woman... she didn't seem the type to kill or hurt someone yet... Why did she use wisteria on him? Did she do it as an excuse? Why was that?

She said she created that perfume by herself… but right now he had to deal with Yuki. This wisteria perfume was repelling Yuki away from him.

"Ugh... Why is this happening?" Muzan asks as he sees Yuki stray far from him as he can see her sneak into the stand where the woman disappeared.

"Yuki! Come back here!" Muzan sternly said as he approached Yuki in the stand. Yuki shook her head as she ran off, running away from the stand as Muzan yelled in frustration in his mind as he gave chase.

"Yuki! Come back here right this instant! You'll get hurt!" Muzan yelled as Yuki ducked and weaved through the crowd.

She'll get hurt or worse, encounter the demon! I still won't believe that woman was the demon...! She doesn't seem like... the other demons I've encountered in Mount Sagiri and the demons from the Final Selection...

"I'm sorry. Sorry!" Muzan apologizes as he tries to pinpoint Yuki's aura, it was a dull plum color, a unique color that'll help him identify her faster. How annoying, that lady…! Spraying wisteria perfume on him… maybe she knew? Or maybe, to protect him? No… that couldn't be the case. But then again, no one here knows about Yuki's condition as a demon so that couldn't be the case.

"Oi! Watch it!"

"Sorry!"

He kept rubbing his hand, trying to get rid of the scent as he saw Yuki's aura. He nodded to himself as he managed to push through the crowd as he looked around. Her aura was suddenly gone as he lost sight of her entirely.

No...! No no no no no!

Muzan started to panic as he frantically looked everywhere for Yuki, trying to run past everyone as he felt his heart bang against his chest.

I shouldn't have trusted that woman! Why she…! Screw it!

He scrambled to the nearest stand as he looked around for anything to stand on. He saw the owner of the stand and begged for him to climb onto the top of his stand as he didn't wait for an answer.

"Where is she…?!" Muzan's eyes darted from left to right as he tried to find her. He had to. He can't let anyone know that she was a demon or else….

She'll die. I'll lose my right to live if she dies… She's all I have left!

"S-Sir?! Please get off!"

"I've lost my daughter! I need to find her!" Muzan refuted as he continued to scan the area. Why….? Why couldn't he see? Was his ability… his superhuman sight that horrid? "Plum… Plum…!"

He frowns as he suddenly sees… plum, Yuki's aura, alongside a—

Red.

Burgundy red.

He felt something grow within him. He remembered that color.

That day. That horrible day.

He never forgot a color in his life.

It was unmistakable. The person who killed his family was in this crowd at this very moment. Muzan blinked as he saw where Yuki was in full clarity, regaining his sight.

Rei, her parents, Ryouichi, and my own parents…

They all died to this person. This one person.

He had to focus. The killer was just a few yards away from Yuki.

He jumped off the stand, hand over the hilt of his blade as he saw Yuki's aura a few feet away from him. He grabbed his water pouch and drenched his hand with the water and started rubbing his hand furiously. The smell had to be gone now.

For two years, he trained. Trained as hard as he could in order to fight demons, to kill that person… no, thing. That tragedy led to where he and Yuki were right now.

They'll pay. They'll suffer.

Muzan reached out towards Yuki as she seemed shocked as Muzan grabbed her by the hand, quickly rushing away from the demon behind them. Right now, he couldn't push out a fumbled apology to whomever he pushed as he needed to get Yuki somewhere safe.

"Hrmm! Mmgh!" Yuki seemed confused as she cried out to Muzan as his hand over his blade started to shake with rage.

Was that a figment of his imagination? The stress?

Muzan looked behind him and froze for a second.

The aura. The aura was gone. It was as if they vanished without a trace.

"What?" Muzan asked as he frantically looked around, looking for that aura. He looked at Yuki who was shocked by what had happened as she gripped the handle of her parasol, she stifled a low growl.

Muzan then started to try to pinpoint any afterimages of the burgundy red aura, he took a deep breath as he blinked.

In a flash, he saw the aura.

It stood in front of them, just a few feet away.

Muzan froze, instinctively, he stood guard in front of Yuki as he bit his lip. He felt something was absolutely wrong, his stomach was curling up into itself as his breathing got uneven. He felt cold, he was scared.

But why?

He knew why, he just didn't want to acknowledge it. He'd die and so would Yuki.

The demon knew he was here.

Muzan took a deep breath, trying to keep calm despite his panic rising by the second. He can't.

Just as he tried to even his breathing, to tame his fear, keep Yuki at bay from danger, he saw it. A sudden blur as he stood there, petrified.

Someone, no, something had perched on his shoulder. Their grip was tight as if they didn't want him to run away.

A hand on his shoulder as its veins were popping out, Muzan looked to whoever the hand belonged to.

He couldn't feel any warmth from that hand, it was freezing.

"Sir? Are you alright?"

The voice belonged to a young boy, around Yuki's age. That boy smiled as his red cat-like eyes beamed at Muzan's, something about the smile seemed porcelain. It's as if it was going to crack at any moment. He wore a simple black yukata with a green and black checker pattern, had black hair with burgundy tips, and had a prominent scar on his forehead.

Muzan couldn't bother to comment on why the boy was approaching him as he realized something else.

This boy's aura.

It was burgundy red.

The boy standing right in front of him killed everyone in his family.

The progenitor demon. Tanjiro Kamado.

"You…!" Muzan was about to scream, plunge his blade into this thing's head, decapitate him, and make him pay for what he did. He could not see this boy as a demon anymore, he was more than that.

He was a monster. An unfeeling creature.

Muzan got ready to unsheathe his blade, took a step forward, and…

"Oh? What is this?"

A nasally yet grand voice boomed as Muzan growled and saw a man walking up to the boy. The feature that Muzan first noticed was how peculiar his aura was.

It obviously belonged to a demon, the colors were murky and blended into each other but… the colors were that of a rainbow. His aura shimmered but it felt off, like the aura's owner.

The newcomer was slightly taller than Muzan, donning steel blonde hair with a small circular red-black stain on the top of his head. His eyes looked like his aura as it was more pastel-like, wearing flashy bright red kimono with a black splatter pattern that looks the same as the one on his hair, and was holding a gold fan.

Wait… his eyes…

Muzan sees… kanji? In the newcomer's eyes, it read, "Upper-Rank Two."

"What?" Muzan whispered to himself as the man chuckled, starting to fan himself.

"Ah! Forgive my assistant! Did he bother you, sir?"

"I was just checking on him, he was breathing heavily and was looking everywhere for something," That murderer smiled, it was as if he was purposely goading Muzan. Trying to get a reaction out of him.

Muzan tensed up as the demon mentioned them. How could he talk so nonchalantly? How dare he talk as if this was no big deal.

This was the murderer of his family, standing right in front of him.

He was smiling like a child being given sweets, looking proud of himself.

"Why, how nice of you!" The newcomer showed off a toothy grin, patting Tanjiro on the head. "So? Are you alright, sir?"

You…!

"How dare you," Muzan trembled as he looked at Tanjiro, he felt himself boiling in anger and murderous intent. "How DARE you!"

His outburst caught the attention of others, people starting looking at Muzan in curiosity, disgust, confusion, so many emotions…

"How dare you walk out here! Acting as if you're some sort of saint?! Look at me, you disgusting cretin!" Muzan snapped, gripping at the hilt. He had to kill him, right now, right here. "Don't even try to hide the blood on your hands!"

He didn't care if people viewed him as a monster for killing someone in public. They didn't know. They didn't know the pain and anguish that this creature threw upon him, the deaths of so many people.

The only thing concerning him was Tanjiro's friend here. This demon next to him is an "Upper-Rank Two." What did that mean?

"Huh?! Me? But I didn't do anything, I just asked if you were okay!"

"You've killed and tortured so many people…! You have no right to walk around here as if you did nothing wrong! I know you killed my family, so don't try to hide!" Muzan retaliated as he could hear Yuki grumbling behind him.

"Mmph?!" Yuki cried out as she tried to figure out what was going on, she peeked over Muzan's side. She looks at Tanjiro for a second, she frowns as she flinches as she sees the eyes.

Those red eyes...

That's him…!

She remembered those eyes. They reminded her of something, something truly horrid had happened to her when she saw them.

Yuki! I'll protect you! Okay? You'll be alright, it's going to be okay…!

It had hurt so much for her, so much pain. Those eyes also hurt her father so much… it's that boy's fault.

So you're the descendant of that accursed family… sleep well.

Yuki growled as she took a step forward, revealing herself to Tanjiro. Muzan blocked her as she howled in pain, she gripped her parasol tightly as she slammed it onto the wall in anger. The wall cracked as passersby quickly ran away, scaring them all.

"Gragh! Ungh!" Yuki pointed her parasol at Tanjiro, she wanted to hurt him. Hurt him as he hurt her. "Mragh!"

"Is that your daughter?" The newcomer asked as he looked concerned, his colorful eyes looking down on the both of them. "I'm afraid that you're setting a bad example."

"Shut up!" Muzan fought back against Yuki, she kept trying to approach Tanjiro as her nails started to grow longer and sharper. "Snap out of it, Yuki!"

She looks more of a demon now than them!

The progenitor demon didn't seem to answer as his eyes shifted from Muzan to Yuki as he seemed as if he was sniffing the air. The outburst from Muzan and the scene from Yuki seemed to scare off some nearby people as they quickly walked away.

"This scent…" Tanjiro mused as he dropped his facade, suddenly looking at Yuki and then Muzan with a darkened expression. "I thought I had… how did I lose your scent?"

"Tanjiro-sama? I believe we've wasted enough time on them! I have to go to meet up with my followers…!"

"Be quiet," Tanjiro hissed quietly as he looked behind him and saw a couple walking past him. "We'll leave on my mark."

Muzan looked at Tanjiro once more, finally deciding that he'd unsheathe his blade. He stepped forward as he was going to end this once and for all.

"You're dying here, by my hand! I'll slice that head off your neck!" Muzan cursed as Tanjiro frowned. Just as he was going to use Fourth Form: Striking Tide to attack, he saw the demon's hand twitch ever so slightly.

Muzan jumped back just as Tanjiro swiped his clawed hand, scratching a woman's neck so quickly that no one but him had noticed that it happened. The woman immediately dropped to the ground in shock as a man, presumably her husband, quickly rushed to her side.

"Why you…!" Muzan growled as he looked back at where Tanjiro was standing but he was walking away from him with that rainbow-eyed man. "Come back here!"

Muzan stopped as he looked at the woman who was attacked as her husband laid her head on his chest, asking if she was okay. Yuki, who was still angered by Tanjiro's sudden appearance, was trying her best to calm down as she looked at the crowd.

"Tch! Yuki, calm down! Ma'am?! Sir?! Are you okay?" Muzan rushed over the couple's side as he grabbed a bundle of bandages out from his pack, checking the woman's wound.

"I...I don't know! She won't respond!" The husband cried out as he tried to support his wife's drooping head.

As Muzan was going to get his water pouch to clean the wound, the woman's mouth twitched as he felt his heart drop.

"Watch out!" Muzan warned as he pushed the woman away from the man as an animalistic growl rose from the woman's throat. She looked up with frenzied eyes, her sclera turned pitch-black, while her teeth turned into fangs as she dashed towards Muzan.

Muzan took his saya off his belt as he used it as a guard against the woman as she attempted to bite him. Muzan shoved the saya into her mouth, using it as a gag while the woman-now-turned-demon tried to twist and turn as she flailed her nails around.

"Ngah!" The husband yelled as his arm was clawed, he winced as Muzan managed to get her to lay on the ground, trying his best to restrain her.

"Everyone stay away from her!"

"B-But! That's my wife!"

"You're hurt because of her! Please trust me!" Muzan ordered as he threw his bandages and water pouch to the husband. "Put pressure on the wound and clean it! Yuki, help him! Please!"

Why?! He just hurt an innocent person just for him to escape…! That BASTARD!

Yuki started handing the items to the husband as Muzan steadied himself,

He turned around, looking for Tanjiro's aura as he gritted his teeth, steeling his resolve, to tell him exactly what he wanted to do to him.

"Tanjiro Kamado! You disgusting piece of shit! I'll rip your limbs off one by one and make sure I flay you alive with my blade! You'll pay for what you've done to my family! You'll straight go to hell!" He looked right at Tanjiro's aura, he was absolutely sure that vermin was looking right at him back. "I'll pursue to the ends of the earth! I'll find you and I will behead you myself! I swear that until the day I die!"

"What is that man talking about?! Why is he talking like that?"

"How vulgar! He has a sword!"

"Get the police! Oh, they're arriving!"

"I'll never forgive you!" Muzan screamed as the aura stopped for a few seconds. Through the crowd, he can barely see those accursed red eyes. It was as they were trying to stare him down, make him falter. Or was he furious that he even dared to call him out?

"Mmh!" Yuki quickly rushed over as Muzan saw her frantically pointing over the crowd, he saw a small group of men rushing over to them as they kept the crowd at bay.

"What are you doing to that lady?! Get off of her right now!" A man in uniform declared as Muzan stayed still, trying his best not to look crazy.

"If I do, you'll get hurt! Look at that man over there! Please get him somewhere safe!" Muzan answered as the woman thrashed around wildly, he restrained her arms as he tried to pin her to the ground again and at the same time, he tried to keep the saya in her mouth as a gag. The police started to try to separate both Muzan and the woman as he tried fighting back.

"I can't let you do that to a person! That's inhumane!"

"Then help me get the proper items to restrain her! I'll do it, so please don't be near her, or else you'll actually get hurt! She… She's just not feeling too well, just please don't hurt her!" Muzan pleaded as he felt someone trying to drag him away.

"Men! Help me get him off!"

"No! Get off of me! You don't know how to deal with this! This person didn't…!"

"Look at her face! She looks as if she'll…!"

"This isn't her fault! Stop it! If you keep doing this, she'll overpower me!" Muzan tried to shove the officers off, but more kept trying to tear him away. He was going to lose his grip on his saya if this keeps up.

So many people were trying to fight against him, he felt so tired, so done with this situation but he couldn't give up.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Be calm, relax.

"...This scent!" He quickly realized as he frowned.

He smelled… a peculiar fragrance. This scent reminded him of that perfume from before, that lady who was a demon… back at that stand.

He looked up at the crowd as he something that would've looked like it came right out of a dream.

Waves of colorful flowers blocked his vision and the officers from trying to get to Muzan. The pleasant floral smell wafted around the area as Muzan was surrounded by such vibrant colors, he felt strangely at ease.

"Where is he?! I can't see anything!"

"What are these flowers!? Why are they here?"

...This doesn't seem to be an attack. I might be wrong yet at this moment, it seemed as if this was aimed towards the officers.

Muzan looked up as he suddenly saw that dull lavender aura again, behind the flowers. The colors parted ways as he saw a young boy with pale-green hair that had black tips and the woman who sprayed the wisteria perfume on him. The woman's right arm was dripping with blood as Muzan looked shocked.

"...So you really were a demon?" Muzan asked. "Was that a Blood Demon Art?"

"Yes, you seemed to know that since the start. What everyone is seeing is an illusion," The woman nodded as she looked at Muzan's current situation. "You treat them as if they are still human, you tried to save them."

"...I...this isn't her fault," Muzan pleaded. "She had nothing to do with what I had to."

"I see. So I shall lend you my help," The woman tugged on her right sleeve, to hide the blood. "I too, want to end the man that calls himself Kamado."

"Why?" He asked as it confused him. "Did… of course, all demons are created by him…"

"Correct, and please bring that man with you. Though I am a demon, I am a doctor. You may give me the lady, I'll bring her to my residence."

Muzan sighs as he nods, gently taking the saya out of the demon's mouth and handing her restrained arms to the woman. He calls over Yuki as the woman allowed Yuki to lead the man over to their side, who was still confused.

"Mm!" Yuki hummed as she grabbed Muzan's hand, he forced a smile as he gave her a pat on the head. He looked on, seeing the woman and the boy walk off, motioning that they follow them.

So this demon… These rumors of a demon roaming the streets of Asakusa were about him, not her.

"Now, shall we?"

—|[0o0]|—

"Here's your order of gyoza! Eat up!"

"Thank you," Muzan nodded as he grabbed his plate and sat down on a log outside the food stall, next to Yuki. He grabbed his chopsticks and started eating, blowing on his food as it was still hot.

"Huh? Your kid ain't hungry?" The gyoza seller asked as he walked up to Muzan. "I can cook up another batch for ya."

"Oh no, it's fine! She said that she's not hungry," Muzan nervously explained as Yuki nodded. "And this is just a small snack, it's not a big deal."

"Huh, sorry. Just wanted to know cause your kid had that bamboo thing…"

"Uh… she loves wearing that."

"Really?"

"...Yes," Muzan started stuffing his gyoza in his mouth, quickly eating it as he gave his plate back to the gyoza man. "Thank you very much for the meal."

"Wait, that doesn't seem…!"

"Come on, Yuki," Muzan sighed as Yuki grabbed Muzan's hand and walked off. He gagged as he felt as if he wanted to throw up, he shouldn't have forced himself to eat all those gyozas all at once.

"...That was a mistake," He looked off into the distance in a daze as he rubbed his face.

This day was throwing whatever it could into his face and it just wanted him to suffer. Just what had happened today? What would be the chances that he'd meet them, the…

I don't want to think about him, it's just doing to drag me deeper into my anger.

Yuki cocked her head as she grumbled, tugging on Muzan's arm roughly, he winced in pain as he swore he heard a bone crack.

"Whoa…!" He exclaimed, looking at Yuki in confusion. "What is it?"

She directed his gaze to the house to their right, Muzan noticed a small figure lingering there. It was that boy from before, with pale-green hair. As the duo walked over, the boy sneered as if they were uninvited to be near him.

"You two were taking your precious time."

"Sorry, I was rather hungry," Muzan apologizes as he bowed quickly, Yuki bowed as well, not knowing what was going on. "Yuki, you don't have to do that. Anyways, are you…?"

"Am I what?" The boy spat out vehemently. "What? Say it."

"Are you both really demons? I apologize because I…"

"Yes, what do you think? You knew about her but you don't about me?"

"Look, I'm just making sure. I apologize," Muzan tried to end that conversation, looking awkward. The boy crossed his arms in a huff, looking as if he's going to hit something out of spite.

"Whatever, anyway, are you ready? I'll guide you to Lady Tamayo's place, so you better behave. Both you and that beast," The boy explained, swiftly turning around as he started to leave the area.

Beast? Me? Wait, he means…?

"Are you calling my daughter a beast?" Muzan snapped as the boy rolled his eyes, not turning back as Muzan tried to calm down. "Hey, say that again to my face. Say that to Yuki's face, I dare you, look at us and…"

After a few minutes of a one-sided argument, they finally arrived in front of a large house with a piece of peculiar paper tagged on the top of the entrance.

"You better apologize!"

"Lady Tamayo, I brought the nuisances here," The boy said as Muzan held back the urge to harshly snap back at him.

"Welcome back, Yushiro. Oh, and please take a seat," The lady replied as she motioned her hand to some chairs next to her. She was sitting next to a bed with the man that Muzan saved, the man was sound asleep and his arm was wrapped up in bandages.

"...Tamayo, correct?" Muzan asked hesitantly. He felt somewhat nervous, not knowing what would happen to him now. "I… Thank you for helping us back in the city. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't intervened."

"You don't need to thank me, sir," Tamayo answered with a gentle look. "As you know, I am Tamayo and this boy is named Yushiro, I hope that we may get along."

"As if," Yushiro mumbled as Tamayo shot him a stern look. "Hmph."

"I'm Muzan Kibutsuji and this is my daughter, Yuki," Muzan introduced as Yuki nodded quickly, earning a curious expression from Tamayo. "...Is something the matter?"

"She's a demon, isn't she?"

"Y...Yes, she is. It's because of him," Muzan refused to mention them as he looked down at the floor. "Anyways, how are they? The couple?"

"The husband just needs to rest, but the wife? She needs to be kept somewhere where she'll be safe," She answered as Muzan and Yuki took a seat.

"...I also wanted to ask you something. About… being a demon…?" Muzan asked as he turned around and saw Yushiro pausing as he was about to slap him. "Ah. I'm afraid your… apprentice was going to hit me."

"How dare you ask that to Lady Tamayo! As demons, we must endure the smell of blood and flesh. And you ask us to respect you as humans, trying to ask insensitive questions!" Yushiro growled, lowering his hand down in vain. "Lady Tamayo, you don't need to answer…!"

"That is enough. Why must you resort to violence, Yushiro?" Tamayo responded calmly. "What is it that you want to say, Kibutsuji-san?"

"Well, I wanted to know this as soon as I arrived here but…" Muzan frowned slightly as he took a deep breath. "That… monster. Why do you want to kill him? Doesn't he control all demons? I mean, Yuki isn't for some reason and…"

"It's alright. You have the right to know," Tamayo said. "I'll tell you what I know."

—|[0o0]|—

"Ehhh, that was quite the outburst!"

"..."

"I mean, that expression on his face was amazing! So much anger, he was about to slice your neck off, right there! Simply superb, wouldn't you say?"

Tanjiro looked at the rainbow-eyed demon with disdain as he flexed his hand, sharp nails appeared as veins bulged out of his arm.

"No. It wasn't, Douma-san," Tanjiro mused as he looked down at his nails. They were a dark maroon, the color of blood. "It was rather unpleasant."

"Oh? Did you really think that?" The now-identified demon asked, smiling. "But he seemed to know you! I thought you'd use your…!"

Douma suddenly paused mid-sentence as he felt a chill, looking shocked as he felt something trickling down his chest. He peered down, blood was pouring down his neck, his throat was slashed open.

"Gah…!" Douma traced the line that had been cut in his throat, merely happily humming as Tanjiro took a deep breath. Douma felt his neck repairing itself, the skin tissue started to cover the slash and he beamed with delight. "I was just curious, Tanjiro-sama! Am I not allowed the freedom to speak?"

"...You are. You just happened to mention that man," The boy merely stated as he flicked his hand, the blood splattered onto the wall. The two walked into an alleyway, devoid of any souls who might overhear their conversation. "He is the one I am looking for. So was the demon that he had behind him."

"Huh? That girl? Oh, if I remember correctly," Douma whipped out his fan and started playing around with the blades. "She was that man's daughter, I presume. But she's under your control, right?" He asked as Tanjiro shook his head.

"...She isn't. I don't know why, it's bugging me," Tanjiro narrowed his eyes. "But I remember that I have never converted any of that family into a demon, I was sure I had annihilated their assurance."

"But you have a second chance! Just order someone low-level ones to kill him, not a big deal," The silver-blonde shrugged. "Or you can let Akaza do it!"

"No, Douma. Must I remind you about your duty to find what I requested of the Upper Moons?" Tanjiro said. "I have others on standby and you said that you had a meeting with your followers."

"Oh…!" Douma snapped his fingers loudly. "I completely forgot! Man, that's a bummer for sure! Anyways, if your standbys end up dying, you always know who to call!"

Tanjiro narrowed his eyes as he snapped his own fingers, a sudden flash of gray and black appeared and settled as two demons knelt before Tanjiro and Douma.

"What is your bidding?"

"Them?" Douma asked as Tanjiro rolled his eyes.

"I'd like you two to help me locate and kill the demon slayer with Ubuyashiki blood. You saw them when I confronted them, you'll do what you can," The burgundy haired demon ordered as the standbys nodded and flickered away. Tanjiro shook his head as he looked at Douma with a disappointed gaze.

"What's wrong?"

"They'll probably fail, which is where you come in. Just in case."

"What happened to the Upper Moons needing to find your requested item?" Douma gleefully asked. "Don't tell me you're giving up on that…?!"

"You're going to follow him. That man is a threat and as long as that accursed family lives on…"

"Aww… You seriously couldn't dump this on the others?"

Tanjiro growled as Douma put his hands up in surrender.

"I apologize! Anyways, what's so special about him? All he did was live, that's for sure, but what else? He'll die of that age limit curse, whatever you call it, at some point!" Douma shrugged.

"...This man lived past that point."

"...Huh."

"That's why, I'm not going to let him go," Tanjiro explained. "I'll go back and you keep an eye on him no matter what."

As he said that, he vanished into thin air, leaving Douma by himself in the lonely cold alleyway. He pouted as he put his hand on his hips.

"Rude. But it's interesting," The lone demon mused with a thin smile plastered on his face as always. "Why would he be so concerned over this? It's unlike him."

He shrugged as he exited the alleyway, humming an upbeat tune as he entered the lively streets of the city. He sees a rather beautiful woman buying some jewelry inside of a shop, catching his eye.

He morbidly smirks.

"Who cares! Let's see if I can get some food before they hunt him down… and before my meeting."

—|[0o0]|—

Notes: Once again, I apologize for such a delayed update. Thank you for reading and have a good day/night.