Hello, my beloved readers! Here is another chapter! Please, leave reviews.


For centuries, the Ubuyashiki clan has fought to vanquish the demons that plague their country. Being the founders of the Demon Slayer Corps, it has been their eternal goal and burden to defeat the Demon King. Yet, for a hundred years, too many of their attempts to defeat him have failed miserably. Some were begging to believe that this war against demons was a one they were never going to win. But, something miraculous had occurred recently. Something that has not happened in a hundred years. The death of an Upper Moon! The defeat of a powerful demon related to Kibutsuji Muzan!

This news alone was enough to raise the spirits of many demon slayers. It especially caused a great stir within the Ubuyashiki household.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya, ninety-seventh head of the Demon Slayer Corps, had just risen from his sleep when his wife gave him the miraculous news. "What did you say!? An Upper Moon was defeated!?"

"Yes." His wife responded calmly. "The slayers responsible for this feat are all young slayers...Tanjirou, Tengen, Inosuke, Zenitsu, and the demon girl named Nezuko."

An excited smile made it to Kagaya's scared face. "I see, they really beat an Upper Moon... Amazing job, Tengen, Tanjirou, Neuko, Inosuke, Zenits-" His words were caught short as he doubled over coughing. Blood splattered on the tatami floor.

"Kagaya-sama! Please don't overexert yourself."

The two crows next to her cawed in agreement with her.

Kagaya ignored his wife's concerns. "For a hundred years! A situation that hasn't changed for a hundred years has finally changed!" He lifted his hea up, accepting the handkerchief his wife was offering. "Amane, do you know what this means?"

"Yes."

"This is an 'omen.' Fate is begging to change in a big way!" Kagaya had to pause for a moment in order to wheeze more oxygen into his weak lungs. "The ripple is begging to spread. It's will soon swallow everything in its path and cause a huge jolt. It won't be long before I will finally come face-to-face with that man...Kibutsuji Muzan...We will definitely defeat you in our generation! You are the single blemish on our entire family!"

"Kagaya-sama, there is one more thing. We received word from the demon Tamayo about the appearance of a new unlikely ally. One who may prove to be very useful..."

"What?"

"Her letter said that 'the dragon no longer protects Kibutsuji Muzan.'"

Kagaya's eyes widened in surpirse. "You mean to say that-" The sick man doubled over again to restrain his coughs. His lungs struggled to get air in. His wheezing and coughing echoed throughout the room.

"Father!" His daughters rushed into the room the second they heard their father struggling to breath.

"Dear! Kids, get some warm water and the medicine! Now!"

Kagaya could feel his wife and daughters near him, trying to ease his current suffering, but he paid no mind to them. Hid mind was plagued with only one thought.

The dragon no longer protects Kibutsuji Muzan...

The dragon no longer protects Kibutsuji Muzan...

The dragon...is our ally?


"Now, what's this?"

Muzan looked down on her subject. The petite kunoichi kneeled before her mistress. Her head lowered in submission. Fuyumi kept her gaze to the floor, attempting to avid eye-contact with anyone in the room. Her entire body was tense from her anxiety. Despite her mistresses' playful tone, she knew that her mistress was displeased with her.

"Fuyumi...my loyal servant...why are you so late to return home? Did you not receive the message to retreat?" Muzan spoke from her throne. She sat there in nothing but a black silk robe. Her legs and arms crossed as she fixed her red gaze on her smallest subject. Anne, her faithful shadow, stood beside her.

"Forgive me, Mistress..." Fuyumi spoke. "I did receive word of our retreat, but-"

"But what?" Her voice cut through the air like a knife. She rose from her gold and iron throne. She gracefully descended the steps to approach her subject. "What could have possibly gained your attention to stay behind?' She circled the girl like a predator, eyeing her the entire time. "What, pray tell, would ever compel you to disobey your mistress?"

Fuyumi swallowed loudly. "I wanted to watch the Kamado siblings fight the Upper Moon."

"Why? I thought I made it quite clear that I had no further interest in them."

"I wanted to asses their skills. I wanted to know if they would ever be a threat to yo-" Fuyumi gasped in pain when she felt a powerful hand grasp her face harshlyh. Suddnely, she was face-to-face with her mistress, staring into those ruby eyes. "Muzan-sama..."

"What was that you were going to say, Fuyumi? You wanted to know if those little brats would ever pose a threat to me?" Muzan dug her sharp nails into the kunoichi's soft skin, drawing blood. "Such foolishness! As if that man's children could ever scratch me, let alone threaten my life. The very notion is insulting."

"Please, Muzan-sama..." Fuyumi's eyes watered pleadingly, but she did not try to break her mistress' hold on her. "There is something you must know! The Kamado children killed the Upper Moon."

"So?"

"The girl...she is powerful, very strong, and...her Blood Technique...her flames can purify others..."

This caught Muzan's attention. She released Fuyumi immediately. "What? Kamado Nezuko can purify others with flames?"

"Yes...I witnessed her use it on a human. She purified his body of poison."

Muzan's eyes narrowed contemplatively. So, the purifying flame resides within that child now... Even though she is a demon... "Anne!"

"Yes, Muzan-sama?" Anne answered, still standing in the same spot beside her mistress' throne.

"Has Kamado Nezuko ever consumed human flesh? Has she ever been exposed to sunlight?" Muzan asked.

Anne closed her eyes briefly, attempting to recollect all information she had on the Kamado children. "To my knowledge, no. Kamado Nezuko has not once consumed human flesh, although she has come close to falling to temptaion... Instead of gaining strength through the consumption of human flesh, Kamado Nezuko gains her strength through sleep. She has never once been exposed to sunlight...I suspect her brother has made sure not to take the risk of allowing her to anywhere near sunlight."

Muzan scowled. "I see...I suppose that is why the child an wield something as powerful as the Flame of Purity. But, for a demon to wield that power... I always thought it to be impossible... Have I underestimated these Kamados?" She subconsciously lifted her hand to touch her lower stomach. "I do not like this..."

"Muzan-sama?"

Silence filled the room. Muzan turned her head away from her subjects. Her expression turned dark. Her mind reeling with concerned thoughts. The Flame of Purity within that man's child... Not to mention, the tow of them seem strong. Growing stronger by the day... If they ever become string enough to confront him directly, will they learn the truth? What will they do if the past is revealed?

The large double doors to the left-side of the room suddenly opened. Every person in the room turned their gazes towards the new arrival. Lucy took a good, long look at the room and huffed. "Now, what's all this? I leave for a little while and suddenly the whole place is so gloomy? You're all acting like someone just died."

Muzan's scowl turned into a mischievous smirk. "Not yet, my sweet Lucy!" Her eyes followed the Englishwoman carefully. Lucy approached her mistress with a curtsy. Lifting Muzan's pale hand to her lips, she gave it a kiss. "I hope you had no trouble delivering my gift?"

Lucy lifted her head, showing off her gleeful smirk. "But, of course not, Muzan-sama! Tamayo was quite pleased with your gift. I'm sure the Demon Slayers will be just as pleased."

Muzan nodded in approval. "Good! All is going according to plan, but one other thing, ladies..." The demoness turned to address her other subjects. "I've decided to keep a closer eye on these Kamado children. I had every intention of leaving out of my plans, but I can't bring my child into this world with all these uncertainties. I don't care how many demons and slayers die at the end of this war, I just want to make sure that those two are gone by the time this child is born." Her hands stroked her lower stomach. She strides over to her throne. "Fuyumi, you will continue to monitor these young slayers, making sure to keep a close eye on the Kamado siblings."

"Yes, Muzan-sama!"

Muzan sat comfortably on her large throne. "Lucy, you will keep a vigilant eye on Tamayo's progress. I want to know exactly how she is using my blood and what for. She too is a loose stri ng I intend on getting rid of."

"As you wish, Mistress."

"Anne, call a meeting. I need all of my beloved subjects to be aware of my plans..."

"Understood, my Queen."


The dragon no longer protects Kibutsuji Muzan...

What does this mean for us? What does it mean for the Slayers? If the dragon is no longer on his side, then what does that mean? Is she our ally now? What are her intentions? Why has she forsaken Muzan?

Ubuyashiki Kagaya sat comfortably on a bench in his garden. His eyes were watching the Koi fish swim about in his pond, but his mind was consumed with thoughts from this morning's news. Nothing else has occupied his thoughts since. It was begging to concern his family even more than they usually are. He needs to know the answers to his questions. He needs know where the dragon stands, now that she won't protect the demon king. He needs to reach out to Tamayo. No...Tamayo-san isn't at all close with that person. I need to confirm this from someone more reliable.

Kagaya's thoughts were interrupted when he felt a new presence enter his garden. "It has been a while since anyone has been able to locate my hiding spot. Should I be concerned for my wellbeing?" He spoke to the intruder.

The intruder leaned against a cherry blossom tree. "The elves are not concerned with your secrets, human. Don't flatter yourself."

"Then, why are you here?"

The intruder huffed. "We know you have valuable information concerning the demon king and the dragon. Tell me know, human."

Kagaya couldn't resist the smirk that made it to his lips. "For centuries the elf clans have refused to aid our cause to end Muzan's reign. Even though we have always had the same goal in mind, you elves have never wanted to join forces with us. Now that there is progress on our end, you want me to cooperate? Seems a bit selfish of your clan leader to demand this of me, a human."

The intruder growled. He moved from his spot by the tree to come face-to-face with Kagaya, finally revealing himself. Blue eyes glared into hollow, purple ones. "This is no time for your games, human! You know perfectly well why we will never work with you filthy humans again! The last time we joined forces with you, it gave birth to a horrible monster!" The male elf grabbed Kagaya's neckline. The sound of crows cawing maniacally filled the air. It would not be long before someone came to see what all he ruckus was about. "Tell me what you have discovered! We know that one of your slayers came in contact with the dragon!"

Kagaya stared at his aggressor with a completely calm demeanor. "All I know is what Tamayo-san said to me, that 'the dragon no longer protects Kibutsuji Muzan.' As for this 'meeting' between one of my children and the dragon, I'm afraid I don't have the slightest idea of what you are talking about." His answer was followed with several painfully bloody coughs.

The elf cringed at the sight of blood dripping from Kagaya's mouth. "How disgusting. This is the curse that has plagued your family since the begging of this war, huh? I almost feel sorry for you, Ubuyashiki. But it serves you right! It was your ancestors that created those monsters..." He released Kagaya from his grasp. "So, the dragon has finally forsaken that demon... The elves will be interested to hear about this. Yet, I can't help but wonder why... Are you certain you know nothing of the dragon's interaction with one of your slayers? Tell me the truth, human."

Kagaya took a deep breath before answering. "Unfortunately, I don't. If I had any idea of one of my children coming that close to-" Kagaya suddenly paused. A certain young demon slayer came into mind. "Unless it was..."

"Unless it was who?"

"I'm afraid I cannot say..." Kagaya said in a serious tone. "You'll have to forgive me, Elf-san, but as you and I have already sated, humans and elves are not fighting together to eradicate our mutual enemy. Therefore..." He raised himself from his bench. "I cannot just give you the name of one of my children. But, you can rest assure that I will look into this matter myself. So, if you would please leave?"

The elf intensified his glare. "You selfish human! You are truly a creature deserving of your family's fate! Do not think this is the end of the matter!"

"Oyakata-sama! What was noise!?" The voices of his beloved 'children' alerted the elf.

Wanting to avoid having to deal with more humans, the elf decided to make his leave. "I will not forget this, Ubuyashiki!" He ran towards the manor walls.' Leaping over the stone structures, the mythical creature disappeared.

The dragon no longer protects Kibutsuji Muzan...

That was a fact Kagaya was begging to come to terms with, but now there was something else bothering him. What does Kamado Tanjirou have to do with all of this?