AN: Trigger warnings for depression, suicidal thoughts and arguments regarding them.

xXx

Tamayo had been around for a very, very long time. A voice in her mind whispered too long all too often. And she agreed. She was tired and longed for rest. At this point, she could only hope she'd done enough good to offset the horrible things she'd done under Muzan.

As much as she hated that man, he hadn't forced her to do anything. She'd willingly taken his blood (the liar) and she'd been the one to attack and eat others (even if she couldn't remember half of that first raid on her home village) and she'd been the one to give up until someone had come along and shown that the monster was not invincible – that he could be beaten.

If nothing else, she owed Tsugikuni Yoriichi her gratitude for that… and for letting her go. He, of all people, had had the least amount of reason to do so… and yet he had. The man had been a good, kind person. Tanjiro reminded her of him so much she almost had to take a second glance whenever she saw him sparring with Nezuko or Kanroji-san (who had, as of yet, not given her permission to call her by her first name, but Tamayo refused to push – she was honestly lucky the girl had been as tolerant of the two demons as she was). It wasn't the facial structure by any means. Tanjiro's face was rounder, wider in and above the baby fat of his age, and he had larger eyes that shone of innocence and kind intentions. Tanjiro wore his heart on his sleeve. Yoriichi hadn't… not any time she'd met the man – and she had met him more than once. His face had been narrow and pointed and firm, enough so that even with the similar hair-color, they didn't really look that much alike.

But their actions, their styles, the marks on their faces…

Sometimes she just knew Tanjiro was Yoriichi's reincarnation. Sometimes she swore he was the man's ghost.

And sometimes, he looked and acted nothing like the man at all, whatsoever.

Like right now.

She blinked at his question. "Forgive me, Kamado-san," she said formally, making him wince a little, "I believe I heard you wrong. You want to… what?"

The boy sighed. "Look, something's wrong with him. It's… I can just tell." He muttered that last part more than anything else, a blush coming to his cheeks. She could still see a tint of green under the red as well. It made for a very strange color.

Part of Tamayo wanted to start an interrogation at his admission. She'd never met another sire before! Actually, she'd had to come up with the term herself, it was so unprecedented. His demonic cells didn't attack his human cells (and presumably all human cells, although she hadn't had a chance to test that yet) but instead remaining dormant until they came across one of Muzan's demonic cells. They attacked those with a fervor. It was incredible. And fascinating. And the medical possibilities…

The other part of Tamayo recognized this was not the time.

With his reactions, she wondered if it ever would be 'the time'. Then again, he certainly seemed to be warming up to their demon guest far faster than anyone else. So maybe?

"Something is wrong with the Waxing Moon in our cell," she clarified. He nodded, so she continued. "So you want to… let him out… to spar with you."

The boy shuffled his feet. Wasn't he supposed to be over a hundred years old? Even demons turned at a young age tended to gain a maturity the boy before her seemed to lack at times.

"Well… I mean, I can stop him… if he tries to run, I mean. And I… just…" He sighed. "He's changed. Or something has changed in him, not for the better."

She still wasn't seeing a problem.

Except the doctor in her did, she just didn't want to admit it.

"I don't understand how letting Muzan's third strongest warrior," well, former, but she wasn't about to address that – Tanjiro was still having too many issues with it, "have free reign of my clinic and base is a good idea," she said, trying to phrase it in another way. Maybe that would make him come to his senses.

"He's so sad though!" Tanjiro said, frustrated and exasperated. "It's just… like… Ung!" he said with emphasis, then pointed to his chest. "Right here!"

This time Tamayo just blinked at him. Was she supposed to understand that? His face scrunched up in annoyance and frustration at her blank expression. "I've never had to explain it before! It usually takes me a couple of loops to learn to explain things so people understand!"

It really hit her then just how often this boy had restarted these years of his life. Almost every other explanation he'd given had been intelligent, succinct and well-thought-out. Somehow she couldn't help but think that he'd underestimated how long it had taken him to learn some things…

The boy continued, cutting into her thoughts. "Look, it's just bad! That's all! And I want to stop it… No," he paused and his gaze went a little distant as he turned his head down. "I have to stop it."

The older demon's face softened. "Is it hurting you, Tanjiro?" she asked softly.

He frowned. "Kind of? I mean, I know what he's going through." He looked off to the left towards the staircase. "I think all demons do at some point. It just hurts. Not physically." His frown deepened and he put a hand to his chin. "It… actually feels like he's mourning, to be honest."

Tamayo's eyes widened and she turned her own gaze to the staircase for several seconds. Could it be…?

"He… may have never gotten the chance to grieve a lost loved one before this," she admitted, perhaps a bit grudgingly. He'd been loyal to Muzan, even after he'd gotten his memories. She had every right to not trust him – to resent him… and yet…

Hadn't he been just as much of a victim as she'd been? As the entire Kamado family in multiple other lives had been? As so many of the people she tried to help who had their loved ones killed or turned into demons?

The demonic doctor sighed. "Very well. First, allow me to make some preparations in case the worst happens." She studied the boy in front of her for several seconds before smiling softly, almost wondrously. "You truly are a remarkable person, Kamado Tanjiro."

He seemed a little flustered, if pleased, at her words and opened his mouth to say something, but cut off when Yushiro rushed into the room.

"I heard Tamayo-sama sigh! Who do I need to kill?" Then his eyes focused on Tanjiro. "You," he hissed, crouching as if ready to lunge.

"N-now wait a minute," Tanjiro said, holding up his hands and backing away.

The demon went to pounce on him but Tamayo cut him off. "Yushiro, I need you to begin preparing for evacuation plan fourteen."

The green-haired boy's eyes widened and he straightened, as if he hadn't been preparing to attack moments before. "Will we be invaded?" he asked.

Tamayo shook her head. "I don't think so, but I want to be prepared, just in case. Make sure each sample case has extra padding."

"Yes, Tamayo-sama!" Yushiro said, then rushed out of the room without even giving Tanjiro a second look. Well, at least he was manageable.

"Evacuation plan fourteen?" Tanjiro asked after a moment of silence. "Doesn't that involve you putting on gloves and simply walking out into the sun under a hat or umbrella?"

Tamayo couldn't help but be surprised that anyone besides her and Yushiro knew that. "You will have to tell me the story behind your knowledge of that fact, someday," she finally said with a shake of her head.

He just looked at her with admiration. "You and Yushiro have to be the bravest demons in existence. Certainly the bravest ones I've ever met… with maybe the exception of Nezuko."

The doctor raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What about yourself?" she asked.

Tanjiro's smile faded and he looked down. "I'm… not fully demon yet."

She shook her head and looked on him with pity. How could she not? "How long will you deny it?" she asked. "You have a Blood Art, teeth, the appetite, other mutations," she pointed to his hands before they clenched into fists and he looked away, shamed. "The only thing you are missing is the sensitivity to the sun and the eyes."

He didn't answer for several seconds, but Tamayo had lived a long time. She could be patient.

Finally, he answered, voice so low she could barely hear it. "It was… really nice," he said. "Being human again for so long. I… don't want to lose that."

Tamayo didn't often touch people outside of when she was practicing medicine, but recognizing the boy needed some support, she reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. "Even when you become fully demon again, I doubt you will ever lose your humanity, Kamado Tanjiro."

For a moment, his breath caught in his throat, but then he looked up at her, eyes suspiciously moist. "Thank you, Tamayo-san," he said softly.

She just nodded, let her hand fall back to join her other one in front of her before walking past him. "I will let you know when we are prepared for you to let him out."

She didn't turn around, but she did hear his clothing rustle when he bowed. "Yes, ma'am."

Tamayo smiled.

xXx

Hakuji… (he almost wanted to sigh) Akaza woke to the sound of Kamado and the pink-haired Pillar speaking.

"Okay, you go out and help Nezuko and I'll watch Akaza. Then you get some rest, Mitsuri."

A chuckle. "I'm pretty sure Ubuyashiki-sama sent me with you first because he knows I trust you."

A snort from Kamado. "Probably. Shinazugawa would have tried to take both mine and Nezuko's heads, let alone Tamayo and Yushiro. I don't even want to think about what he'd say to me asking taking over watch duty on Waxing Moon Three."

Another amused noise from the woman. "He'd probably accuse you of siding with the demons, again, and try to convince us how you just want to break a Kizuki out of jail. I mean, don't get me wrong, Shinazugawa's not exactly bad looking – okay, he's very good looking actually," a wistful sigh sounded before she continued. "But his personality's just not cute to me, you know?"

"Not really…" came the awkward response.

Akaza wanted to snort. That was almost amusing at least.

"I guess I don't really think in terms of who is cute and who isn't. That's your job, Mitsuri-san."

"What's with the 'san'?"

"Sorry."

"If you weren't so adorable yourself – in a little kid kind of way – I might be more annoyed."

"I'm not a little kid."

"You look it."

"M-mitsuri-san!"

She outright laughed while Kamado probably sat there steaming. Hey, this was actually getting interesting.

Too bad he had nothing to eat and was too tired to really appreciate it.

"If you keep saying 'Mitsuri-san', how else can I view you? It's Mitsuri. You've said it before."

"Mitsuri," he replied, almost sullenly. Well, there were times he certainly acted like a kid.

The taller Pillar laughed again.

Then Kamado spoke. "Actually, I was thinking I might let him out. I mean, it's kind of cruel to not let people run around even a demon. I know it's night, but I'm pretty sure I can stop him from escaping."

Akaza felt his eyebrows raise. He hadn't expected anything like that. It… made no sense. Why would he even think about suggesting that? Well… he was right Akaza couldn't get away, or do any real damage. Not with Kamado right there. He still wasn't entirely sure he wanted to try…

The Pillar – Mitsuri, he supposed – seemed just as surprised, if far more hesitant.

"Have you spoken with Tamayo-san about it?"

A short pause, then, "Yeah. Tamayo-san says she's fine with it and is making preparations. That woman is very… slippery. He can try to get her himself, but she'll find a way to escape somehow. She's surprisingly good at that. I've seen her walk out in sunlight under an umbrella." A pause. "It was… kind of awe-inspiring. She's so dedicated to bringing Muzan down and staying alive until then."

Akaza frowned. That should make him upset… but he just felt so tired of everything right now. That… really wasn't usual for him. Was that the change in his body? He could feel it now that he concentrated (even if he didn't want to feel it or acknowledge it – he'd always been the kind to fix problems or face them head on, not run away – not from anything short of the sun… and Muzan). Or maybe it was the whole situation? The realizations he'd come to recently…

And why was he so tired? Wasn't sleeping supposed to help that?

"Well, I'll see you, then! Just… be careful, Tanjiro," Mitsuri said, then Akaza heard her rush up the stairs calling out, "Neeeezzzzuuuukooooooooooo!"

Shaking his head, the younger Pillar came into view, starting a bit when he looked over and saw Akaza watching him.

"Oh! You are awake!"

Akaza rolled his eyes. "You knew I would be."

The boy shuffled and looked down. "N-not really. I've been trying not to… pry. Everyone deserves some privacy. And I was kind of focused on Mitsuri."

The Waxing Moon just shook his head. "I don't get you, kid."

The boy rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, I get that a lot. So… how much of that did you hear?"

Akaza snorted again. "All of it."

"Oh." The boy said a little awkwardly. After a moment he went and sat against the wall opposite of the cell.

"Did you mean it?" the demon asked.

Kamado blinked and looked up. "Mean what?"

"That you'd let me out?"

"If you promise you won't hurt anyone, probably." He said it so nonchalantly.

Akaza frowned. "You'd believe me?"

Kamado looked down. "I can tell when you're lying."

The demon rolled his eyes again. "So much for privacy."

The boy frowned but didn't seem defensive, just contemplative. "In all fairness, you can't get upset at me for wanting to protect my friends and family."

"Life's not fair kid."

The boy sighed. "No, I suppose it isn't." Then he looked back at Akaza, jaw set in determination. "But I still won't let you hurt them."

The demon snorted at that. "Being in or out of a cell won't make a difference one way or another."

Kamado didn't answer, but Akaza could tell the boy knew he'd spoken the truth.

After several seconds, the demon sighed. "What are you doing here?"

The boy blinked. "It's my turn to guard."

Akaza rolled his eyes. "I mean over here. Why try to talk to me at all? No one else has." He may or may not have muttered that last part half to himself.

Kamado smiled. "You felt calmer… and different."

The demon clenched his fists. He really hated it when the kid did that… had Muzan just read their thoughts like that but kept it to himself? He repressed a shudder. He'd known the man could… but this felt different somehow.

"No, seriously, what do you want from me? You said you'd let me out, in exchange for what? At least name your price, kid." Maybe Hak—Akaza had just liked knowing where he stood – and with Muzan, he always did. With this kid… not so much.

"Well, I am glad you're doing better, and I did want to let you know that, but I was also curious if you thought about my question. What do you want?"

He didn't want to let the boy know he had thought about it. Far too much. He'd even acknowledged his answer: He wanted to live with Koyuki and Master Keizo in their dojo…

He honestly couldn't decide whether having his memories back was better or worse than before. He was leaning towards worse, and yet… he never wanted to forget Koyuki again. Or master Keizo… or Father…

"Nothing I can have," he muttered aloud. Even getting stronger seemed so much less important now. Still somewhat desirable but…

"I'm sorry."

The words drew Hakuji back to the boy sitting in the hallway looking grim.

"What for?" Akaza asked, confused and a little annoyed.

Kamado bit his lip lightly, causing his canines to show, but he still didn't look menacing in the slightest. "You… remember, don't you."

The Waxing Moon wasn't sure how the boy had figured that out with just a couple of emotions and a vague sentence, so he narrowed his eyes and didn't answer, even knowing that would be answer enough.

"That pain… you never… I mean, demons don't seem to feel much pain unless they remember their pasts."

Akaza didn't know how the kid could have known enough demons to figure that out, but he didn't particularly care at the moment… and the kid wasn't wrong.

"Yeah," he finally muttered. "I do."

The boy nodded. "I'm… glad. As much as remembering my fam… er," he paused for just a second, causing Akaza to frown. "My father. As much as remembering my father hurts me, I wouldn't ever want to forget him."

That pause had seemed… highly suspect to the demon. He decided to file it away for later contemplation and went back to his own inner struggle.

"I'm not sure it's worth the pain," he finally said, looking away from the kid and at the blank walls of the cell. "But I don't want to give it up again."

The boy nodded in understanding and Akaza was really starting to get annoyed with this general line of conversation.

Sensing (literally) his mood, the boy wisely decided to change the subject.

"I had a thought. Do you want to stay here? With other demons?"

That took Akaza by surprise. "What?" he asked, shocked.

"Well, Mitsuri, Nezuko and I spoke while you were asleep, and really… we don't know what to do with you. You're… not still loyal to Muzan, right? He will kill you, you know…"

No, Akaza really wasn't. Not after his recent realizations. He'd finally had time to process the fact that if he went back to his former master, he wouldn't survive. The sense that he no longer had a connection to the progenitor of demons alone would get him killed. Muzan might be interested in whatever Kamado's cells had done to him, but the last thing he wanted was to be poked and prodded by that man.

Besides, seeing everything now – the entire past with his memories intact – painted a very different picture than the world he thought he'd been living in.

Still, he didn't particularly like this new picture either.

"And if I am?" he asked, just to be difficult.

It didn't work. The kid just nodded solemnly. "Good. I'm glad."

Akaza grit his teeth. "That's really freaky, you know."

The boy blinked, then his eyes widened and he looked down. "Sorry." After a couple of seconds, he looked back up, curious. "But… didn't Muzan do that to you all the time?"

The demon scoffed. "Like I would know, kid. He probably did but didn't tell us."

"Oh. That… makes sense."

The sad thing was, it really did.

And Akaza was getting tired of talking about this too. His fighting style, he could go on about, but his actual person and future? Not so much.

Time to turn the tables and get some of his own information.

"So, you've asked the question of me, so I will ask it of you: What do you want?" he asked.

The boy blinked, taken aback. Akaza wanted to smile. That felt like a victory. He wanted to, but couldn't seem to bring himself to, so he plowed on instead. "You asked me what I want, isn't it only fair for me to ask the same of you?"

Muzan would have killed him for a question like that. The boy just blinked again, but then recognition lit his eyes.

"Oh! Well, I want what I've always wanted: to protect my family and kill Muzan."

Akaza wasn't impressed. "And after that?" he pressed, sending Kamado's previous words right back at him. "If he died today and you lived on, what would you do?"

The boy didn't even hesitate. He just smiled that all-too-enormous smile of his and said, "Live happily with my family!"

The demon blinked at that. "Not very ambitious, are you."

Kamado chuckled and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I suppose not. But then, why do I have to be? I loved my simple life with my family. I'd love the same simple life again." He rubbed his chin for a moment, pondering. "I suppose if I had to choose something grander, I'd want to be someone who could help people."

"Vague."

The kid shrugged. "I hadn't really thought about it beyond that. But I do like helping people. That's why I became a demon slayer, after all."

And the kid wasn't lying.

The older demon watched the younger boy for several seconds before he decided to ask his next question. "So why do you hate Muzan then?" It didn't even register that he'd actually said the man's name without the 'sama' at the end until he'd finished speaking. Once he did realize it, he winced… but nothing happened. Right, no connection. He let out the breath he'd been holding.

Kamado noticed something had gone on, but didn't ask or push it. Instead, he shut down so quickly

Akaza almost wondered if this were the same boy. He'd been bright and sunny before, emotional and forward, but now…

This was the Kamado he'd witnessed the night he and Douma had confronted him. This was the Hashira Muazn wanted so badly. It was a little terrifying to witness such a fast and complete change.

"The very least of his sins," the boy said in a monotonous voice, "was when he murdered people I care dearly for: a woman and her children."

Akaza didn't let his breath catch, but he couldn't help remembering the dream. Still, he distinctly remembered thinking of himself as the 'older brother' to everyone there except the mother.

"And then he did it again… and again… and once… he… turned a woman's son and he…" The boy's face darkened even further and Akaza could sense his warrior's spirit rising. "The things he makes people do for fun are unspeakable. There is nothing redeemable about him. He is evil incarnate and needs to be destroyed."

They sat in a tense silence for several seconds before the boy seemed to realize where he was and his aura calmed.

"Sorry. It's… a personal question."

More like a land-mine. Still… that change had been… almost awe-inspiring.

"You… didn't strike me as the revenge type…"

The boy's anger almost completely vanished at that and he looked down at his hands. "Yeah. I… didn't used to be. Becoming a demon does that to you, I suppose."

Oh, that had absolutely nothing to do with the kid becoming a demon… but Akaza wasn't going to touch that. At all. Ever.

Besides, even if it had no bearing on the situation, he wasn't wrong per se.

"I'm not sure if I'll miss that or not," the older demon muttered.

Kamado looked up, the innocence back in place. (No, seriously, that was terrifying. No one should be able to change like that! Not that quickly! Even Muzan took time to!) "What do you mean?

Akaza just studied the kid for several seconds, wondering if he should answer – wondering if he could or should even try. Finally he figured, why not? He wanted to figure it out for himself too. He decided to start at a place he could describe and go from there (it was something Koyuki had taught him…).

"Dunno if you've ever experienced demonic hunger, but I don't think the word 'hunger' describes it. It isn't strong enough. The need a demon feels is like…" he paused, trying to find the right words.

"Like the entire world couldn't possibly fill the hole in your gut," Kamado whispered.

Huh. So he had felt it. That was certainly interesting and something else to contemplate for later. (He was gaining a rather large list...)

"Yeah," Akaza said slowly before continuing on. "And with it comes an anger… maybe rage? Animal instinct? Some combination thereof? Whatever it was, it was powerful and great fuel for a good fight. I've always had that as a demon. I even had something like that as a human, but it exploded into something so much more as a demon. Thing is, ever since I woke up here, it's gone." It was both a relief and an emptiness; a loss of both motivation and burden.

Suddenly, Kamado looked worried as he sat up and studied Akaza intensely. "I've seen looks like that…"

The demon frowned. "Like what?" he asked, petulantly.

"On other demons… right before they walk into the sun."

Akaza snapped his mouth shut as he blinked at the concerned child. He'd heard of demons who walk into the sun… who can't handle being a demon once they'd come back to themselves after the initial transformation and hunger. He'd always thought they were so weak…

But now…

Had he been contemplating that? He… he supposed so. Now that he didn't really have anything to live for, what was the point? Because he couldn't go back to living for only strength. Not when he finally remembered why he'd wanted that strength so badly. And they wouldn't have to worry so much about what to do with him after that… That solution really seemed to answer a lot of problems.

"B-but you can't!" Kamado insisted when Akaza didn't refute the claim. "Don't you have someone you want to meet in the afterlife?!"

The demon snorted. "I wasn't a good person before I became a demon, Kamado. I've been a demon for centuries, a Waxing Moon for a large chunk of that. Do you really want to know how many people I've killed? There is no good afterlife for me, no pleasant reincarnation, no paradise or rest… and no way I can earn it to be with them… to be with her."

"You can try! I know you aren't a coward!"

That word still got to him, despite himself. So he growled at Kamado. "Fine, what do you suggest?"

"Training!"

Wait… "What?"

The boy thrust his hand to one side, palm face up. "My sister is out there right now, training. She's fought demons before, but only weak ones! Help her understand what it's like to face a stronger demon! Mitsuri too! And Yushiro hasn't had any formal training, but I'll bet he'd love it! And anyone else who would like to learn how to fight a Waxing moon! Do you have any idea how many lives you could save with that?"

For several seconds Akaza just stared at him, unable to form words in his mind.

Was this boy suggesting… teaching? But… why?! Akaza would be a lousy teacher. He had no patience for weakness – he never had (except for Koyuki – he pushed that thought to the back of his head because not now) and he'd only ever wanted to get stronger (he'd wanted to take over Master Keizo's dojo and make it successful, once).

Akaza honestly did not know what to say. He couldn't say it was an unwelcome thought… but he could say it was an unprecedented one.

Who, in their right mind, would want Akaza to teach? Well, apparently Kamado Tanjiro, but the kid couldn't be in his right mind because… seriously? (He ignored the voice that prodded him in the back of his mind saying that once upon a time, other people had wanted Hakuji to teach.)

"I…" he finally said, still a little unsure, but then he steeled himself. He had to convince the kid this was a bad idea. "What's in it for me?"

Kamado tipped his head to one side. "What do you mean? You get out of the cell, you get to walk around, you get to fight and train… isn't that what you like to do?"

Akaza snorted. "I get to fight weaklings to make them stronger. Besides, it's not difficult to accidentally kill a human in a fight. You'd trust me with that?"

The boy's expression cooled, although that just made him look more neutral than anything. "Obviously I'd want your word that you wouldn't kill anyone. If you try, I will stop you and we'll toss you right back in here." He said with a shrug. Then he looked up at the captured demon and deflated a little. "And if you're really starving for a fight, Mitsuri and I will spar with you. If you really wanted something challenging we'll even both take you on at once."

The idea of getting stronger may not be a huge driving force in his life right now… but he had to admit, that was still appealing. If nothing else, he could always get lost in a good fight.

He tipped his head to one side. "And you'll get me some blood or meat?"

The kid sighed, but nodded. "And I will talk to Tamayo-san about getting you some blood."

Well, he supposed it was better than he thought he'd get.

"Fine," he said with a nod, "you have a deal. I'll… train your Nezuko and the demon boy without permanently injuring them. By the time I'm done, they'll be so much stronger, you won't even recognize them."

Kamado just grinned, looking relieved.

"Great! Now we just have to—"

"KaaaMAAAADOOOO!" a new voice cut him off.

"Huh," the boy said thoughtfully, "that's actually good timing."

The green-haired demon boy came storming up to Kamado looking murderous. For a kid with such weak warrior's spirit, it wasn't that bad, actually.

"How dare you put Tamayo-sama in danger like this?! I ought to…." he held his hands in claws and bared his teeth, but Kamado just stood there with a smile.

"Yushiro! Great! Akaza here has agreed to train you!"

"You just—" the boy started, then stopped abruptly, coming up short. "He what?"

"Well, I figured you and Tamayo-san would want something out of this, and if he trains you, you'll be able to fight by her side against other demons that attack you."

Yushiro just stood there staring at Kamado. He seemed to have that affect on people. Then the demon boy's eye twitched as he looked away.

"That… is acceptable… I suppose." But then he eyed Akaza suspiciously. "But how can we trust him?"

Kamado just smiled. "Simple." He turned to Akaza. "Do you promise you will not hurt Tamayo-san, Yushiro-san or any human currently staying here?"

The (former) Waxing Third shrugged. "Yeah, sure."

The boy studied him for a couple of seconds before nodding.

"And you promise to train Yushiro and Nezuko to the best of your abilities without permanently hurting them?"

Akaza gave another shrug. "Yeah. As long as I get a good fight with you at the end."

"And you won't destroy the house or property?" Yushiro asked, a little hurriedly.

The older demon snorted. "No promises about the yard, but the house should still be standing by the time we're done."

It was kind of funny to see the demon boy splutter in reaction to that.

"There you go," Kamado said triumphantly. "I can tell when he's lying. He isn't, so I need the key."

Still smiling brightly, he held his hand out in front of him, palm up.

The demon boy continued to splutter before he threw his hands in the air, dug into the pouch hanging off of his belt, and thrust the key into Kamado's hand.

"You better be right about this," was all he said (growled, really).

Kamado just grinned and unlocked the cell.

xXx

AN: Thanks to TimeLordTim, Found and Quathis!

Discord: discord. gg/zJQSDa8