Two days after the defeat of Upper Moon six, all demon slayers involved in the battle are all currently recovering in the Butterfly estate, except for Uzui Tengen who chooses to recover at his own residence cared by his three wives. Giyuu, Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu can barely move their aching muscles and broken bones. Kanao, on the other hand, suffers the least amount of injuries having been knocked out by a rampaging Shinobu.

"It was really master in the end. It was her...but she was talking like the demon I fought a long time ago" Kanao replaces Giyuu's bandages

"I was glad she still remembers herself and her humanity"

Giyuu briefly closes his eyes, refreshing the image of Shinobu staring at him with a thankful yet pained expression the moment she reveals it's truly her and not some impostor.

"I wasn't able to say anything to her...because I froze first then I got knocked out..." Kanao taps the bandage on her head

"Even when she lost control, Kochou was still restraining herself. I couldn't bring myself in cutting her head off so I endured her blows until she came to her senses..."

Giyuu places his hand on his left shoulder when Shinobu sinks her blade on it and regains her senses. After realizing what she has done, Shinobu pulls out her sword and moves away from the heavily wounded Giyuu, instantly bearing guilt for her own actions.

"What was it like? What happened to you two?" Kanao swallows her breath

"When I said I missed her, she looked angry and confused for some reason. She still hates me even as a demon..." Giyuu stares at the ceiling

"Ah..." Kanao is speechless

"Also, I think...my heart skipped a beat when I heard her voice again. That's why I'm just spouting nonsense when I talked to her"

"Giyuu-san, I think that's because-"

"Anyhow, during the time she was hiding from everyone, she learned how to use a nichirin sword. It's strange that it felt like I was fighting someone else when she used something called Breath of the Moon. It was a completely unique Breathing form with that crescent blades from her swings"

When Giyuu arrives at the scene, it's Akane who's the one moving and speaking through the body rather than Shinobu herself. Unfortunately, Giyuu isn't fully aware of Shinobu's unique circumstances. He's only focused on the one Wind Breathing form she uses before switching to Moon Breathing throughout the rest of the fight.

"Even if Shinobu learned to use Breathing techniques, the way she fight was fully experienced. It was like she was possessed..." Giyuu rubs his chin

"Maybe that's the case. Before you arrived, I was certain the demon I was fighting the demon master and I fought together before. She even used the same Blood Demon Art and fighting style"

"Shinobu is still herself...but she's stuck with another demon"

The thought of Shinobu being in a complicated situation doesn't cross him since she acted normally during their brief reunion at the red light district.

"I wanted to ask her a lot of questions to what happened to her and how she ended up like that...but she had to leave so soon now that she's a demon"

"The possibly only opportunity of talking to master again...and I missed it..." Kanao drops her shoulders

Kanao lowers her head and lightly sinks into depression since the opportunity she has been longing to grab at the second it appears before her...slips by in instant. She feels as if it's her fault for letting her guard down and getting knocked out of the battle that Giyuu is seriously injured trying to protect her.

"I'm sure she'll come back again to see us. She looked like there were some things she wanted to talk to you..." Giyuu reassures Kanao

"I wish I could meet master soon. I'm glad she didn't become like other demons, but I wanted to know what she has been doing all this time and she didn't reveal herself sooner"

When Kanao realizes the demon with an ink-like Blood Demon Art is Shinobu, she couldn't utter a single coherent word or process the situation back then. The demon she believes to be the same demon who supposedly killed Shinobu is actually Shinobu herself.

"You three should have come in if you wanted to hear about it..."

"We heard everything!" Inosuke proudly announces

Giyuu lazily turns his head to the door, and to Kanao's surprise, the trio slides it open with their heads on top of one another. The three have been eavesdropping, unsure whether to interrupt the serious and gloomy atmosphere.

"S-sorry for eavesdropping. We felt like it's too awkward to come in..." Tanjiro bows

"I-Is it really true? The Insect Pillar became a demon?" Zenitsu swallows his breath

"We saw it for ourselves while you three were fighting the Upper Moon. Kochou Shinobu had become a demon" Giyuu confirms it

"Eek! Shinobu-san is already scary as a Pillar..." Zenitsu hides behind Tanjiro

"It must have been difficult to meet her again like that"

Tanjiro couldn't deny the overwhelming sorrowful and uncertain emotions from both of them. Both Kanao and Giyuu discovers it for themselves how Shinobu survived only to become a demon herself. Their faces blankly stares at the floor, remembering the disbelief that almost made them freeze.

"Kochou may be a bit like Nezuko. As long as she won't forget, there may be a chance for her" Giyuu is hopeful

"If she remembered her humanity this long, then there's still a chance, but she was hiding from us knowing she can't go back to her old life now that she's a demon" Tanjiro lowers his head

"Even if she became a demon, I wouldn't care as long as she hasn't lost herself. I'll accept the Kochou I know even as a demon..."

Giyuu's sincerity surprises the trio, seeing the stoic Water Pillar who prefers to be alone to be open with his thoughts.

(Giyuu-san's scent. Does this mean...) Tanjiro realizes the unexpected

No matter how much Giyuu conceals it behind his unbreakable stoic expression and distant tone. Giyuu is more concerned about where Shinobu is currently hiding rather than the deep wounds and broken bones caused by Shinobu herself albeit unknowingly. Reminiscing the recent events, Giyuu taps his shoulder as the strike on throat specific area is when Shinobu recognizes him.

The next day

As soon as the defeat of Upper Moon six at the hands of Uzui Tengen and Tanjiro's group, Ubayashiki Kagaya summons the Pillars except for Tengen himself as he is still under the care of his wives. The Pillars patiently sits, concealing their varying degrees of anxiety. Giyuu stealthily observes the mood around him and tries to narrow down the thoughts of each Pillars behind their calm and collected expressions.

"Giyuu, I know you're still recovering, so my apologies for summoning you here" Kagaya faintly smiles at him

"No, there's nothing to apologize, Oyakata-sama. My injuries have partially healed and I can move more freely now" Giyuu lowers his head

"I see. That's good to hear. Now, let's begin"

Kagaya clears his throat as anxiety visibly still looms over the Pillars with the obvious being Mitsuri trembling and coldly sweating while Obanai gently pats her on the back.

"Tengen and Giyuu reported another matter connected Upper Moon six's defeat. I'm certain you will have mixed feelings about this"

"...!" The Pillars are instantly curious yet still anxious

"During the fight with Upper Moon six, another demon is present there. The demon Giyuu fought...is the former Pillar Kochou Shinobu"

"...?!"

Mitsuri gasps and reflexively covers her mouth, while everyone else except Muichiro are visibly shocked and unsure of the news. Kyoujurou is already aware of this more than anyone as he is the Pillar other than Mitsuri who has seen Shinobu unmasked, but the latter denies she is indeed Shinobu back then.

"Although she was presumed dead months ago, her body was never found. It's unknown how she survived but both Giyuu and Tengen confirmed of her status as she appeared right before them and even spoke to them"

"Then I will eliminate her" Sanemi grins

"According to Tengen, Shinobu didn't hesitate to betray the demons by helping them defeat Upper Moon six. Right now, she is an enemy to both demon slayers and demons"

"What do you want us to do? Should we capture her, Oyakata-sama?" Muichiro raises his hand

"Oyakata-sama, please allow me to hunt her down-" Sanemi is certainly eager to put down Shinobu

"Don't get ahead, Shinazugawa. Oyakata-sama will decide" Giyuu interrupts him

"Huh?!"

Sanemi cracks his fingers, instantly irritated at how Giyuu "rudely" interrupts him and stares at him with a disappointed and uninterested expression. Although Giyuu usually speaks and behaves in a stoic manner, he is currently worried what will happen if the Pillars are ordered to eliminate her.

"No. Shinobu right now isn't a threat to be eliminated even if that child is with her"

"Oyakata-sama..." Sanemi is slightly dismayed

"I request that Kochou Shinobu isn't to be targeted or seen as a threat if any of you encounter her. She may no longer be a part of the demon slayers, but she is an enemy to the demons"

"Understood..." Sanemi is forced to accept it

(T-thank goodness! I really didn't want to fight Shinobu) Mitsuri takes a deep sigh of relief

Kyoujurou heavily taps Giyuu's shoulders and raise an optimistic thumbs up when he turns his head, his thankful expression is replaced by mild annoyance upon seeing the Flame Pillar's energetic and supportive expression brimming with life.

"Kyoujurou and Mitsuri previously reported of sighting the demon who resembled Shinobu"

"Huh?!" Sanemi quickly turns to the two Pillars

"I got knocked out by another demon though!" Kyoujurou proudly laughs

"S-she escaped because I didn't take her seriously..." Mitsuri covers her face

"Right now, the real threat is the demon who calls himself Hirokuma. He has been stealing the corpses of demon slayers he kills and use them as corpse puppets. There have been several reports of encountering dead bodies of our allies being used as puppets"

"Their souls are being defiled by the demon toying with the dead" Gyomei could barely contain his anger

"I'll turn him into minced meat" Sanemi grits his teeth

"Kyoujurou, Sanemi, I will leave the task to you two. The crows will inform you as soon as he is been sighted"

"Understood. We'll put this demon down!" Kyoujurou's spirit still burns

"Leave this to us, Oyakata-sama. I'll slice him up without fail" Sanemi confidently promises

The Blood Demon Art and other techniques of their enemy remains unknown to the demon slayers due to his elusive nature, but Kagaya entrusts that two Pillars can take down Hirokuma before any more demon slayers become his corpse puppets.

Unknown location

After the whole ordeal in the red light district where Akane completely decides to be an enemy to the rest of the demons, she spares no time to flee from the scene and away from everyone else. Shinobu, completely exhausted after fleeing from both demon slayers and demons, goes into a deep slumbers. As her body continues to recover the large amount of strength it lost from successfully escaping, her mind freely drifts into the shared consciousness.

"What's this? This place looks...a bit older. A hundred years ago perhaps?"

The full moon is out and cold eerie night breeze sweeps through the grassy plains. There isn't a single human in sight, just a pair of familiar demons looking in complete disappointment at the mangled and severed corpse of what appears to be a demon slayer judging from the nichirin sword and the torn haori.

"Very good. You learned to utilize your original Breathing technique against a Pillar" Kokushibou scoffs

"Hmm...It's still lacking..." Akane shakes her head

Kokushibou may see this as some sort of achievement, Akane herself isn't satisfied with the result. She manages to take one Pillar on her own, but her victory isn't easy. The large diagonal slash running down from her shoulder to her waist and the line of blood in her neck indicates she struggles to take on a Pillar by herself.

"Rather, I'm still not enough. That guy almost chopped my head twice and even chopped my arm"

Akane's arm has just regenerated, slowed down after constantly healing her wounds throughout the battle. It's only natural considering she rarely fights Pillar and her thoughts aren't completely focused.

"You're already an Upper Moon candidate since you've been closely paying attention to my teachings and endured my training"

"I'm still not at your level, master..."

"Being on my level is still a faraway dream, so you should aim to surpass the other Upper Moons first. For example, Gyuutarou and Daki shouldn't be a problem once you learn to see the same world as I am"

"The same world...?"

Kokushibou walks past a confused and bloodied Akane to closely inspect the visibly dead Pillar after he had been sliced on the waist while his right arm and left leg are a few feet from the rest of the body.

"You had been marked by the time I stumbled upon you. On that moment, you refused to die as you stood on your feet"

"I can't really remember...but I felt like my body was heating up and my senses being pushed to the maximum. My head hurts every time I try to remember it..." Akane presses her hand on her temple

"What matters is not the past but the future. A future where you remain stagnant is death sentence. That's why you must only persevere to pave a path where you continue to sharpen" Kokushibou points at her

"I understand. That's why I also take every opportunity to fight someone seriously" Akane lightly bows

"Then you can start understanding your inner self first. It seems lingering anger of the past can't be masked by your laid-back and uninterested demeanor"

"I'm angry...? Huh, I didn't really notice..." Akane barely reacts

"Your Wind Breathing have naturally been polished, but you have yet to master Moon Breathing. Tonight, I will show you the superiority of the Breathing and what you lack in order to polish it"

"Sure..."

Akane wants to complain about being dragged around to battle demon slayers by herself and bring trained in the same night. She knows she really doesn't have the right to complain against someone as intimidating and dangerous as her mentor, Upper Moon one himself. As his apprentice, Akane instantly agrees to endure his training whatever method he uses even if it means throwing her into battles with little chance of victory like the one tonight where her head is close to being lopped off.

"..."

The dream fades away almost instantly while the observer returns to the waking world as quietly as she has been observing the past events play out. Rather than Shinobu, Akane is the one who returns to the reality where she has chosen to be fugitive as well, making her an enemy to everyone now.

"It seems you suffered serious injuries, but your wounds healed we fast as you were wounded. You've regained some of your old strength...Akane" Tamayo greets her

She recognizes who is in control right now just by a glance of Akane's uninterested yet easily annoyed-looking expression. Unlike Shinobu, she makes little to no effort in masking her own emotions and finds is too tedious to keep acting too carefree.

"I don't have much of my original strength, so I have hard time protecting this body. I just recovered my Blood Demon Art after all" Akane pushes herself up from the bed

"When we last spoke, you're a demon who only interested in your own strength and desires. Being forced to spend time with a former Pillar, influences you"

"..." Akane looks away

"You wished...to save her, didn't you. It's what you tried to imply last time"

The moment Tamayo reminds her of the reason why Akane overtakes Shinobu last time when they first meet Tamayo, Akane's left index finger twitches. The demon's wish is so unlikely with her tendency to be arrogant and bored that it somewhat piques Tamayo's curiosity to what lead her to have such wish.

"No. My wish is to separate myself from Shinobu. I don't want to live with a former Pillar until the day I die"

"So this is your true nature, huh. Indeed you are selfish and lacks interest with the people around you"

Tamayo grabs a nearby stool and sits right next to the bed while Akane moves herself to the side of the bed.

"I'm a demon after all. It's like I'm being sedated because of this annoying toxins. The more I regain my old strength, the more I return to who I used to be" Akane grunts

"I've studied your blood sample. The more that former Pillar draws more of your power, the more her body accepts the demon blood"

"Shinobu needs my strength to fulfill her goal of revenge, but..."

"You don't want to endanger her. There's a chance either of you might lose yourselves in the process"

"What will happen to us if I regain more of my old strength"

"I fear Kochou Shinobu would lose more grip to her humanity. Her feelings to her old allies might fade away and she'll be compelled to kill them as part of our demon nature..." Tamayo sorrowfully informs

"..."

"Why is it you care about the former Pillar? She was the one who poisoned you and weakened you enough for Hirokuma to use his power on you"

Akane clutches her chest when her anger re-emerges regarding the night where she refused to flee and seals her fate by facing both Kanao and Shinobu despite her weakened state. Blinded by her own anger and seething desire for revenge, she bears her fangs remembering the moment Hirokuma reveals himself and when she realizes she has been used to sate his curiosity.

"I have yet to fully break Muzan's curse on you, but his grip has weakened. It seems the toxins keeping you weakened has damaged your connection to him" Tamayo points at Akane's chest

"How? I've received more of his blood in the past which linked me even more compared to a regular demon" Akane rubs her head, still feeling dizzy

"It's a complicated process, but it's not difficult as a demon doctor who first broke of his control. I used a bit of my blood while you were unconscious"

"What else did you inject me, woman?!" Akane raises her voice

"It must be done to prevent him and other demons from tracking your whereabouts. The other demons knows you exist, but they can no longer pinpoint your whereabouts"

It may sound like great news since Akane doesn't have to worry about being constantly tracked down by Muzan or the other demons, but it's only little progress compared to the goal she has mind. Right now, she's frustrated but aware of her current situation.

"The next time we meet, don't tell Shinobu what we talked about last time and right now" Akane softly requests

"Why?"

"I don't want Shinobu to put up a fight. It'll only end up with the two us struggling for control"

Akane may not mask her irritation and frustration, but it's clear right now that she's being dishonest to herself. Perhaps, deliberately rejecting her true thoughts out of pride. Whatever Akane's reasons may be, Tamayo has no intention of interfering with the two, but she is willing to help Shinobu's quest to regain her humanity and Akane's wish to be separated from Shinobu.

"...That's why I need to find that bastard Hirokuma as soon as possible. He used a Blood Demon Art on the two of us. It caused my flesh to be forcefully assimilated to Shinobu" Akane grits her teeth

"Hirokuma's Blood Demon Art is a plague. He can destroy flesh or cause it to fester. His ability mutated into ingesting demons with Blood Demon Art"

"A sick bastard with a sick Blood Demon Art. Typical..." Akane clicks her tongue

"His power allows him to grant anyone sickness and polished it to mold flesh like it's merely dirt to him. This power of him ate away his mind with every use. Hirokuma once sought to rid Muzan's influence on him"

"You told me he went nuts because he lost track of his goal" Akane raises an eyebrow

"It's a side effect of his power. Like a parasite, it rots and plagues his mind until the constant pain became unbearable. When you eat filth, it obviously dirties and rots you from the inside out. He devoured sickness until is malformed him physically and mentally..."

"Are you saying he wasn't an asshole before?"

"...He was also a doctor even before becoming a demon. I believed he used to be idealistic man, but his ideal of curing the sick was too much for him"

"I don't care about his past on whether he was a good man or not. What he did to me is more important and nothing else. I'll make him wish he was dead"

"Your revenge isn't mine to judge, but he must be stopped" Tamayo drops her shoulders

Unlike Shinobu, Akane has completely forgotten her past as a human and her humanity is lost the moment she became a demon. Her sole goal is to undo what Hirokuma did and kill him slowly and painfully as equal payback for her fate worse than death.

"He used me like a rat when he pitted me against the tsuguko and Shinobu. When he sensed the demon slayers coming, I realized he pretended to leave knowing I'm weakened" Akane clenches his fist

"He knows he can't easily incapacitate a demon who is a proper fighter, so he grabbed the chance when he saw it. That's the kind of person he is" Tamayo frowns

"He even admitted that it was out of a whim and it'd be a waste to let the chance slip by. I can't forget how laughed and mocked my arrogance"

"..." Tamayo knows how Akane is boiling with anger

"I don't care what kind of tragic story he had as a human, I'm killing him without a doubt"

Even if all demons are formerly humans twisted by Muzan's influence, Akane is blinded by her revenge after Hirokuma used her for his own benefit and currently forces into a fate worse than death. Akane learns to cope with her current life after mutually coexisting with Shinobu, but her bloodlust hasn't subsided the least. In fact, she's even more determined to kill him after remembering that painful night.

"Akane, have you truly lost your grip on humanity? When you are with Kochou Shinobu, you behaved like you were human"

"I don't know what being human is anymore. Although, I admit that being with Shinobu isn't as terrible as I thought. When her emotions flowed to me, it's like I never felt those emotions before even though I'm not emotionless as a demon" Akane gently presses her chest

"What do you mean?"

"I kept coming back to where I first became a demon, possibly my old home...but I couldn't get near at a certain place there. When I try to get close, I keep seeing visions of a smaller version of a me being hugged by a man pitying me so much that he cried. It's like he was horrified but couldn't hate me..."

"..." Tamayo is surprised at Akane's fragmented memory

"I didn't understand, so I stopped caring. It just made no sense how I saw myself being so confused when he hugged my small body. There were no warm feelings...other than disgust" Akane's hand trembles

"You don't have to force yourself to remember. Perhaps it's a painful memory that continued to linger..."

Tamayo reached out to Akane and gently presses the confused demon's hands between her soft and gentle hands. Words aren't enough to ease Akane's anxiety and fear, but she needs warmth to reassure her and reminds her the difference of fragmented past and the present.

The following night

As a demon, Shinobu fully recovers her strength in mere hours after exhausting herself past her limit just to fully evade the demon slayers and demons pursuing her at sight. Shinobu aimlessly strolls the same village where Akane once lived as a human. At least, what remains of it as the original village is long gone.

"A human would shiver at the cold night air, but as a demon...I can't feel it"

Shinobu takes a deep breath and let the gentle night breeze ease her anxious thoughts. The long abandoned village may be only connected to Akane, but their merged status shares the uneasiness and longing feeling to Shinobu.

Shinobu, keep heading straight. There should be remains of an old house at the boundary of this village

"Akane?"

I can't remember why, but it's important. I never really went near it for some reason, just looked at it from a distance...

"I'll try. It may be important..."

Shinobu decides to take her chances, sensing the trembling sorrow in her voice. Akane can't sense it herself, or perhaps the demon is being too stubborn to admit it again. The merged pair proceeds with caution, not letting the silence and peace fool them into a false sense of security.

"This is strange. The houses in the village are all new in a sense and completely intact, but this one has been ruins for a long time. It's like no one approached this place"

The house is slightly far from the rest of the village, taking at least ten to fifteen minutes barefoot on a normal phase. The house itself is barely recognizable with how four pillars barely support the torn roof. The four walls protecting the house itself are of no use anymore since most of paper have been shredded by nature and time itself wears down the wooden walls that a large portion of it has been taken away that Shinobu can see how empty the inside is when before reaching the house.

H-huh...w-what's this...?

"Akane? What's the matter? You're voice is suddenly shaking" Shinobu presses her hand on her temple

Why...why are there tears...?

"Tears - huh?" Shinobu clutches her chest, wrinkling her kimono

Akane's own emotions overwhelms that she unintentionally shares it to Shinobu. Tears stream down her cheeks even if the forgotten sadness and longing feeling belongs to Akane. Shinobu gently wipes her tears away, somewhat sympathizing with a demon capable of reacting like a human.

I don't understand. Why is my chest hurting?

Within the shared consciousness where what remains of her existence is contained, Akane couldn't stop herself from breaking into tears that her mind is suddenly thrown into chaos. Feelings of the past encroaches to her, silently calling her out and reaching out to her.

I don't like this...

A long time ago, a child which seems to be Akane judging by their exact appearance, except that this younger and human Akane has short jet black her and calmer-looking scarlet eyes. The child gently allows the cold shallow river sweep by her tiny hands, but she enjoys such little pleasures in life. She smiles at how crystal clear the water is that the sun's reflection is glinting in the surface and she can visibly see the rocks, branches, dried leaves, and sand beneath.

...

The view then switches to another peaceful scenery. Shinobu is powerless to influence her surroundings because it doesn't belong in reality to begin with. Right now, she analyzes and studies the unfamiliar surroundings which is clearly from an older time, perhaps during Akane's time.

"The fruits here have the best kind" The child resembling Akane takes a small bite of a peach

"This like a secret garden of mine even if nature had nurtured the plants and tress here"

An old man meticulously picks peaches from the tree rather than plucking all of it and stacks it on his straw basket. Since 'Akane' is too short to reach the fruits hanging above her, the help is can do is help the kind old man gather fruits back to a certain village.

"Kazuto, stop hitting the tree. You'll ruin the fruit" The old man sternly warns the young boy

"Trees aren't for sparring" Akane snickers

"You won't spar with me, so I just asked this tree"

"I may be old, but these bones aren't brittle yet, boy" The old man marches to him

Kazuto, a boy about two years older than the young Akane, sticks out his tongue which angers the old man who delivers a swift hand chop right to the center of his head. He drops his makeshift wooden sword and rubs his head with both hands.

(Her life...was so peaceful...)

Shinobu is baffled at how normal and peaceful Akane's childhood is compared to the indifferent and slightly sadistic demon currently fused with her. The small child in front of her is no different from any human child: innocent, cheerful, and friendly. On the other hand, the demon Akane used to be annoyed half of the time, only cooperates if it benefits her, and would be amused at her struggle.

"What changed you...?"

As Shinobu reaches out despite knowing the scene in front of her is a reenactment of another's memory...but the bright and lively setting is shredded in front of her and painted by the deep night. Rather than a forest, the setting is partially as the village she is visiting, but its inhabitants lay lifeless on the ground and drowning in their pool of blood.

"Akane...and the boy?!"

The only two living beings alive in the village splattered by blood and littered by corpses are Akane and the boy. Years leaped since the last scenery with how the two aged and Akane...being a newly awaken demon. Kazuto holds his bleeding shoulder while Akane blankly stares at him, tightly clutching her blade. The half-lucid demon doesn't speak a single word, but her eyes still recognize the boy in front of her.

"...!" Akane jolts

A durable and unwavering blade swings into the night reflected by the moonlight and connects through Akane's flesh, cutting through the skin across her back and spilling blood.

"...!"

Kazuto drags his feet and desperately flees the scene the moment Akane turns to face her attacker, who is an old man in his sixties already. His hair has grown silver and growing thin in his head.

"Sen...sei..."

Fortunately enough, Akane still displays sanity even after her anger boils from the special blade cutting to her back. Being a newly turned demon and have yet to sink her teeth into anyone, her ability to reconnect her flesh is still slow and painful.

"Forgive me, Akane. I couldn't save your father...and I couldn't save you. That's why I will pay for my sins in the afterlife after I put you down. I will cut off your head and reunite you with your father"

The old man sincerely shed tears of extreme regret and sorrow. Akane grits her teeth and bares her fangs while the old man raises his sword, steeling his will to put down Akane before she can slaughter more innocent people.

(W-wha...)

Shinobu desperately gasps for air when Akane's emotions almost overwhelms her. She has been focusing on the memories that her senses has become numb and almost devours her in the process.

"Ugh...! My head..." Shinobu grunts in pain

Shinobu finds her face touching the soil, unsure when did she pass out. She remembers standing on her two feet even when her consciousness is being dragged to observe the memories Akane couldn't see for herself. As soon as the dizziness fades away, Shinobu pushes herself up before someone stumbles upon her on a vulnerable state.

"Akane, from the beginning..."

...Shi...nobu...? I was in the dark. What happened?

"There was a sudden turn of events..."

Shinobu?

"It was all bright and sunny one day...then it turned to hell"

...What did you see?

"Akane, I saw an old man who had a nichirin sword. That old man was possibly a demon slayer who knew you very well, so putting you down takes a steel will. It's like I was pushed back when I wanted to see more"

It becomes like a fleeting dream for Shinobu since Akane is unaware of the dream itself despite those memories belonging to her. As if there's a wall pushing herself away from accepting it or a mental barrier denying what should have been obvious.

"Ggh!" Shinobu almost collapses to the ground

Shinobu?!"

(My heart is racing fast, my body is tingling...and everything went red...)

Shinobu couldn't stand back up as her whole body trembles and her emotions run wild. A flurry of unknown feelings grasps her from the corner of her mind and feels the course of demon blood in her veins. She briefly loses grip to the world around her with her reasoning being drowned out by unknown instincts.

(I can see Akane more clearly now...)

The demon she can vaguely view whenever she would focus on her thoughts feels much nearer and brighter now like the shadow around Akane is fading away. Akane's lingering sorrow and regret strikes Shinobu that she can understand it even with a mere glance, but the demon herself fails to notice Shinobu being nearer to her. The world around her unfolds with learning and subtlety accepting the demon she once loathed.

Her connection to the demon is pressing on her humanity...

Chapter 20: Shinobu realizes that her connection to Akane is growing stronger and in their talk about their goals for revenge, Akane shares information that shocks Shinobu. Meanwhile, Hirokuma finally reveals more of himself to the demon slayers and takes interest in Kanao after the Red Light District incident.