"I can't." I stepped back. It wasn't that I was afraid of what would happen to me. I was afraid of what would happen to my family. Muzan-sama knows everything. I'm not entirely sure, but it seemed as if he could read our minds. He might know that I fought with a demon in defense of humans. "And I don't know you."
The boy… man? The demon slayer frowned at that. "Urokodaki Sakonji. You're familiar with demon slayers, I assume?" I nodded. "Demon moons are the ones closest to Kibutsuji, and while they would surely be able to give us more information, they are also a lot harder to capture and interrogate especially the Upper Moons. But you, you're different. Your scent is very telling how you haven't been eating humans. And the fact that there isn't supposed to be a Seventh Moon makes you a mystery we need to solve."
"I can tell you everything here." I found myself answering him. Wasn't I just scared of what Muzan-sama would do? Yet here I was offering up everything without even a threat? Maybe I was hoping for something I've only allowed myself to think of only now… that they would be able to kill Muzan-sama. I'm sure I had a vision of him facing off with several demon slayers before, under sunlight too. Maybe I need to help to make that happen?
"I don't doubt you." He said, stance a little more relaxed than before. Was he dropping his guard and deemed me as not a threat? "However, it'd be better for Oyakata-sama to have that talk with you." At the mention of Oyakata-sama a pang of heavy guilt settled in my chest. "This Oyakata-sama is a child, no?" Was it also eight years ago when I unwittingly brought the previous Oyakata's death? The past years are all still a huge blur of time.
Shaking his head, "He's about our age. Why?" If I tell him that their previous leader died because of me… would he kill me? Or was interrogating me too high a priority to keep me around? Swallowing almost audibly, "I owe him a million apologies." I decided to come clean. A quirked eyebrow was all the prodding I needed to tell him more than what he needed to know. "I get visions. I don't completely understand it yet, but I've seen locations of things – or people – that I… we? Muzan-sama asked me to look for. I think I saw visions of things or events that are yet to happen. I don't know how long ago it was, but I saw where the previous Ubuyashiki head was hiding at… and somehow Muzan-sama was able to see it, too. I'm quite sure he can read my mind, and that was what he did then."
"I see." I waited for him to say more, but he was done. He started to walk off, but when I stayed frozen on my spot he turned around, "are you coming or not?" I really wanted to tell him, no, but it felt like there's no way he'll let me have it my way.
The crow he sent ahead was already waiting for us outside the estate. It took us a while since I can't travel while the sun was out. There were only a few people there. The Oyakata-sama and ten demon slayers were gathered in the room that Urokodaki-san took me to. These were very dangerous people, and despite me being the demon I can't help but feel like I was the weakest.
Urokodaki-san knelt down, nudging me to do the same. "Welcome, Seventh Moon." My companion was right about the Oyakata being our age. So, his father's death has been years ago? He was a child then. I think.
"Are we sure she's a real Demon Moon? There are only twelve of them, higher and lower moons." One of the demon slayers said, looking on at me with murderous intent.
"Maybe you should learn how to read Kito, it's engraved on her eyes just like every other Demon Moon member." A man in a brown haori quipped, eyes glinting mischievously. The man he called Kito looked like he was about to explode as the other demon slayers started giggling at the exchange. Oyakata-sama chose that moment to step-in. "Kito-sama, Kuwajima-sama please." Silence was instant. "She is a legitimate member of the Demon Moons, yet her circumstances seem to be special. It's why we're meeting here today."
The young leader explained to the rest how Urokodaki-san and I met. It was almost like he memorized the letter that Urokodaki-san sent him. He also emphasized the fact that I've never hurt nor killed a human.
"I don't believe it." Kito-san exclaimed. The others nodding along, agreeing that such a thing is impossible. "It's true. I can – " Urokodaki-san started to explain but was cut off by almost everyone in the room, "smell it?" he nodded.
"Why won't you eat humans?" One of the slayers asked me, curiosity quite obvious. Why don't I eat humans? "I didn't want to feel more like a monster." As if that made sense. It also made me wonder, was I that noble? Or was I just a wimp who couldn't kill people? No. I had several chances of eating humans who were already dead.
Before I could explain how I've been trying to survive on animals, Oyakata-sama took over and asked the questions that matter, starting off with my name. "Y/N. Though, that's not the name my parents gave me. It's what Muzan-sama calls me." Shame flowed through my veins. It made me seem like Muzan-sama's puppet – which I am – and I hurriedly added, "Yukiko. My name is Yukiko." While the demon slayers looked on with varying expressions of hatred and disgust at what I hope was Muzan-sama's name, Oyakata-sama smiled at me and told me "It is nice to meet you, Yukiko-sama.
I felt shame at how he addressed me. Here is a man whose father died because of me, yet he's been welcoming and respectful. My body, overwhelmed with guilt, moved on its own. My forehead was touching the tatami floor in my position as I confessed and asked for forgiveness, "Oyakata-sama, years ago it was me that brought Muzan-sama to your father… he was found and killed because of me. I… know this isn't enough, but all I can do is ask for your forgiveness." He looked at me, face unchanging. There was no anger, no surprise. Only serenity that seemed to wash over me once I looked at him.
"I know, Yukiko-sama. Our family is rather gifted; you're not the only one capable of seeing things that are yet to happen." That gave me pause. Of course, that's how he was able to run away before we arrived years ago. Then that meant his father waited for us? He knew Muzan-sama was coming for him and he just stayed there? Oyakata-sama's head gave the tiniest of nod, making me believe he could read my mind.
One of the slayers asked me about my transformation, so told them the little bits that I recalled about becoming a demon, and about how Muzan-sama never stays too long in one place, and how his blood is the lifeline of all demons. Urokodaki-san added how I defended humans from a demon attack.
This took them by surprise. "Isn't it an unspoken rule for demons to not fight each other?" I nodded. There was no point. We couldn't kill each other, and Muzan-sama doesn't like it. "The demon, he… he attacked my younger brother and his fiancée. I couldn't just let him be killed and eaten." Shame flowed through my veins like ice at that. So, if it was some other person, I'd let the demon eat them? Maybe? It's what I've been letting happen for the past eight years, right?
Whenever I was with Muzan-sama, I'd stay out as he kills and devours humans… and it's also what I did when I was with Akaza-san. I always turned the other way. I killed them, too.
"Your brother?" One of the demon slayers asked, surprise evident on her face. "Yes. My family, they're still alive. Only, my younger brothers are physically older than me now." She looked like she was about to cry. "You remember them?" I told her the truth – how I wasn't really sure it was them at first. How my memory of my life as a human was such a blur it was hard to recall anything at all. Turns out her interest in that part of my story is rooted in how her father turned into a demon and ate the rest of her family. I can almost hear the unspoken question that hangs between us, why was her father unable to remember?
This prompted more questions about what it was like being a demon. I answered pretty much all of them easily enough. When Oyakata-sama asked his question about my abilities as a demon, the mood changed. I told them about the frost, which I haven't really used much. Then the visions.
Oyakata-sama already know of the visions since Urokodaki-san wrote about it in his letter. Maybe even the gift his family had that he talked about earlier gave him insight on what my abilities are.
"I know Demon Moons are supposed to be strong, but I never really fought anyone before… I'm sorry! I'm weak and useless. I still don't quite understand why Muzan-sama turned me into a demon, let alone made me the seventh moon…"
"It's because of your visions." Oyakata-sama sounded so sure, I almost believed him. "Kibutsuji is looking for something. Something that would make him impossible to kill, and he believes you would bring him to it." Alright, now I'm more confused. It's not like I could control the visions. Yes, I could trigger it sometimes but what I see is not something I could choose.
"What do we do with her? We can't just let her go now, Oyakata-sama. She might not eat humans now, but if we just let her be, who knows?" Kito-san voiced the concern that they all seemed to share.
What are they going to do with me?
"We better get going now, demon. The sun has set already." Kuwajima-san said, rousing me from my sleep. I sighed, thinking back to how Oyakata-sama declared that one of the slayers – a hashira – would go back to village with me and stay there indefinitely. Both to keep an eye on me and to wait for Muzan-sama to get in touch with me. I don't really have complaints about this arrangement, it made me feel that my family would be safer with a hashira's presence. However, meeting with Akaza-san would be difficult.
Kuwajima-san was munching on an onigiri as we walked, and he actually tried to offer me one. I looked on in surprise. Did he really forget that I was a demon? The thought warmed my chest. He chuckled. "If not humans, what do you eat?" That reminded me that I haven't eaten in days. An idea popped into my head, "Do you want to see?"
Washing the blood of my hands and face, Kuwajima-san started to ask the questions he'd been holding in since he saw me hunt and eat a deer. "Why don't other demons live off on animals? Why even kill humans if an alternative is possible?"
Tilting my head to the side, "I don't know. Though, surviving on animals is like humans surviving on water. You're not hungry, but you're not satisfied either. And… well, there's hardly any benefits."
He snorted, "yeah, demons get stronger by eating humans." We started our trek back to my village. The whole town was asleep when we arrived, given that it was the middle of the night. I sniffed the air, relieved at the absence of any other demon scent. "My family lives this way." I said, taking Kuwajima-san to our estate.
This is it. I had to tell them the truth – that is if Yusuke didn't beat me to it. I hope Keiko-san is still alive. I thought my family was asleep, however, candles were still lit, and my brothers were in the main hall sharpening swords I didn't know they had.
"Nee-san!" Yori exclaimed, engulfing me in a hug. Yusuke on the other hand, pointed his sword at me. I know I'm a demon, and I looked so monstrous when I fought that demon in front of him. But didn't he see how I did that to protect him and Keiko-san? The sight of Yusuke so mad at me is breaking my heart.
Kuwajima-san clearing his throat took my brothers' attention. "Who are you?" Yusuke was quick to question him, the sword still pointed at us. "Kuwajima Jigoro. I'm the thunder hashira." At my brother's blank looks he explained further, "I'm a demon slayer."
Yori grabbed me, hiding me behind his back as he backed away from the two other people in the room. Yusuke was the opposite. "Then why don't you slay that demon?" It was all so cold… his tone, his voice… Yori's grip tightened.
"You mean your sister?" A humorless laugh erupted from Yusuke's chest. "My sister died eight years ago. That one's a monster. At that, he turned on his heel and left.
After Kuwajima-san and I settled in, Yori went on to wake our parents. My mother was a mess of tears when she saw me. She didn't care when she was told that I was no longer human. I thought she didn't understand, but she just simply didn't care. My father was more apprehensive. Yori was taking it better than I thought he would. Yusuke returned sometime during our conversation and went ballistic when he saw everyone acting pretty much the same around me.
"How can you all not see that she's a monster!" Was what he said before declaring that he'd never accept me or talk to me until I could do it in the middle of the day and under the sun. That was the last time we saw him.
Kuwajima-san was to stay at our home as long as he was assigned here. He said it was no different to what his usual role as a hashira – they were each assigned a district to guide. Watching me was just an addition that he could manage just fine.
Eventually, my family went back to sleep, Kuwajima-san excusing himself to patrol and also to see where Yusuke had gone off to, and if he's okay. I used this as the chance to go to the mountains and see if Akaza-san is already here.
I arrived at our agreed-upon place, and found myself alone. It's been a crazy week. Well, it was more than a week. A sudden hand on my shoulder made me jump, and Akaza-san was suddenly behind me, a playful smile on his lips. I so wanted to hit him but was also relieved to finally see him again that I couldn't stop myself from hugging him.
This took him by surprise, but he returned the hug anyway. "You're happy to see me." He said, ruffling my hair. He looked me over, from head to toe and a deep crease appeared on his forehead. "What?"
"Y/N, your battle spirit is strong now. What happened to you here?"
"A lot." His comment made me think, how could my battle spirit be strong? Wasn't I ready to die at Urokodaki-san's hands before? But then the thought of my family entered my mind. Maybe finding them again and remembering more about myself has given me purpose. "Maybe I found something worth fighting for." I said, Akaza-san smiled, but it was short-lived. He grabbed me closer, stepping in front of me, as he growled at the trees and bushes in front of us. I was about to ask him why, but Kuwajima-san's voice reached me. "Upper-Rank Three? Not Kibutsuji, but this is still good."
I can feel Akaza-san getting ready to attack, and held him back. "Kuwajima-san, please don't." It wasn't him that replied. Akaza-san turned to me, a flash of hurt evident in his eyes. "You brought a demon slayer here? To me?" I wanted to tell him, no, but in a way he was right. I might not have intended for Kuwajima-san to find Akaza-san, but I did bring him here.
Pushing me aside, Akaza-san went on to attack Kuwajima-san. The sight of his sword, a sword that is capable of killing demons, chilled me to the core. No, I can't let Akaza-san die. I also couldn't let him kill Kuwajima-san. So like the fool that I am, I stood in between them. In between the sword that could kill me, and fury that might as well be as sharp at that sword.
I closed my eyes and felt the slice in the air, but the blade never reached me and Akaza-san's hands went to grab me instead. Dragging me away from the sword and gripping me so hard he scolded me, "Are you stupid?" I nodded, "Yes. But please, Akaza-san, stop." His nose flared at the intensity of his breathing and the anger he was feeling. He appeared to have something to say, mouth opening but then nothing coming out of it.
Shaking his head, he turned around and I let him.
"Well, that's the second one to turn his back on you tonight." Kuwajima-san teased, sheathing his sword. "Let me be the third." He said, turning back with a small wave.
I was left alone. Now what?