A/N: - None of the characters mentioned in the story belongs to me.

Enjoy the chapter~

Tokito Muchiro, the renowned hashira of the Demon Slayer corps excelled in his flawless and almost fluid-like movement but was readily deflected by another blade held by someone who was actually not a demon slayer and seemingly an inhume containing vast amounts of some eerie energy.

The boy...no probably a demon despite not having any physical evidence was surely not something close to a human and the Mist Pillar needed that much intel to plan his next move.

He sheathed his katana and stabilized his feet while holding the two entities in the middle of his vision. Neither of them has moved a single bit from their spot, seemingly casual about the appearance of the two Pillars.

Shinobu was observing the situation with keen eyes with her hand resting over her sword. Muichiro knew once he separated the two demons, the insect pillar would engage with one of them, probably the beastly demon since it radiated with less demonic presence than the boy.

Muichiro knew what he had to do, and that was to perform his job as a Demon Slayer and bring an end to the miserable lives of these creatures who aimlessly devoured innocents until now.

'Forth Form: Shifting Flow Slash. '

His body broke human physical possibilities. Amidst the camouflage of the mist, the early teenage boy appeared right before the white jacket-wearing guy before Muichiro unsheathed his sword in a flash and sliced it from down to up.

However...

"Can we chat peacefully for a bit...?"

Muichiro didn't know how and why but currently his sword was in the grasp of his prey who took hold of the katana in the middle of the slash before it could have gained its complete momentum. That dexterity!

And how in the seven hells a demon was seemingly okay even being in contact with a Nichirin sword? Muichiro set apart his astonishment as he tried to retrieve his sword with brute strength but all resulted in vain.

He was...unmovable.

"Ara~You seem to finally need me huh, Tokito-kun~"

Muichiro couldn't tell whether she was trying to ease her own nerves or just was completely foolish to joke around now but having a hashira here was extremely needed since Muichiro couldn't have held these two creatures alone, that was for sure.

"Dance of Bee Sting: True Flutter."

The Insect pillar moved exponentially faster than her normal pace and within seconds she inched over three meters with her stringer Katana held for a thrust and was ready to inject poison into the raven-haired guy's throat.

Muichiro knew she couldn't behead him but the poison would surely give him the slight window he requires to retrieve his sword and end this conflict as soon as he could.

But like today was a surprise fest on display, even Shinobu's sword was caught mid-way before she could have inched any closer than three feet near the boy.

The serpent-tailed beast growled making both pillars alert on their guard but seemingly helpless as if being captured by the same guy.

"Calm down Rika-chan. They probably misunderstood us."

What was there to misunderstand? Both of them were demons and the other two were demon hunters. Their understanding should be only limited to between a hunter and a hunt. That's all.

Or was this demon trying to fool the slayers by not attacking them when he had a chance? That would be foolish since the first things Demon Slayers are taught through experience is that regardless of circumstances, never believe in a demon.

"I think rather than your chit-chats, it would be better for you to check up on your hand first."

Shinobu chimed which got the attention of her companion as his gaze roamed toward the humanoid demon's arm which was holding the stinger.

Blue and black veins protruded at uneven places seemingly the result of touching the deadly poison Shinobu's blade is coated in. Muichiro knew it was his cue as he began struggling even more to free his sword but the guy, who should have been panicking by now since the poison seemed to be growing at a rapid pace, didn't even flinch from his spot.

However, what followed made both of the pillars shocked.

CREAK*

Both Shinobu and Muichiro got free of the demon's hold but at what cost? They got their blades broken from the middle through the sheer force the demon applied and collapsed the structure of their nichirin katana.

'This guy...he is not only resistant but also strong... '

But that was not it since suddenly a reddish blue radiance enveloped the demon's poisoned arm and slowly the effect of the poison subdued. Within seconds there was nothing that made his hand look out of place. Back to its original state.

'He can heal himself...?! '

Shinobu knew that demons could regenerate fairly easily, more so when they have a lot of experience and had hunted several humans. But this particular demon didn't detach his arm and just cured the poison with a simple surge of energy? Was it even possible for demon arts?

"Like I said, let's talk for a bit first alright?"

"What is there to talk about? You just have to shut up and let us kill you both."

Muichiro responded as he was stating a matter of fact, and Shinobu would have spoken the same thing as well. Why could demons actually talk rather than display their greed for human flesh or manipulate them to be more prey for a buffet feast?

Neither of them was naive to get in words of an inhuman but before they could say anything, a ray of a distant ray of sunlight suddenly flashed on the crown of the mountain, bringing hope to the two uniform cladded slayers to end this right here and now.

"We have to keep them engaged Shinobu-san."

"You read my mind."

Both of the pillars got ready to engage once in battle since within minutes sunlight would reach up all over the place and what they have to do is just too stale sometimes and that would be it.

Even if their swords were broken, the strength of a hashira was nothing to scoff about. They weren't the highest-ranking slayers for nothing. However, before they could have moved to battle the two demons, something unexpected happened.

In normal scenarios, a demon regardless of their rank, including the Demon Progenitor himself would have chosen to run away as soon as they sensed dawn nearing but this one...?

"Ah, the best way to prove our innocence, right Rika-chan?"

Muichiro was way beyond speechless witnessing the stance of the two who should've been on the move right now, but all the boy did was plant his butt on the ground and sit casually like he was waiting for a good sun bath.

Even the tailed demon seems to be uncaring toward the sun, much to the slayer's shock since if for a moment they could consider the boy as a human but the other one? That thing could be anything but a person.

Muichiro glanced at Shinobu and found her skeptical gaze tracing at him as well, seemingly confused about what to make out of this. Both of the Pillars had enough experience to tell that they weren't under any demon arts nor the demons were trying to devise any plan to escape at the brink of the moment.

"Has poison taken over your rationality as well, demon? Don't you have to run away? Ah, don't mind my warning though since it would only make our work easy."

Shinobu spoke up, to gauge their intention as soon as she could since without any further choices of action both the katana wielders felt unnerved and clueless about how to approach the matter.

This humanoid demon was fast and strong, not to talk about his ridiculous healing aspect. If he was able to resist nichirin and subdue Shinobu's poison, then it would not be exaggerating to say, that along with the tailed demon, the boy could have easily restrained the two Hashira within moments.

"You think we are demons by the curse energy we are overflowing with but it's not how it seems, Butterfly-san. We both are very much human as you may not assume and to prove our innocence I am just waiting for the sunlight to reach us."

Butterfly... Right, neither of them has introduced themselves, and in the first place, it was needless to think about introduction whatsoever.

Again, it could have been understandable if the boy could've vouched for himself but that thing with those sharp fangs and such a massive body...? Indeed, the boy seemed out of his mind.

Muichiro, unlike his companion, was not paying attention to their words rather he was on his guard all the time with his broken half blade held ready to assault the very same instance those two demons shows any sign of movement.

The sun was nearing to bestow its glow over the surface and that would mark the end of this whole farce. Muichiro just needs to ensure they do not move and that would be it. However, what made him feel disappointed was how easily he got defeated just now which called for more training and Muichiro know how he can get specific tools for that purpose.

All four of them silently held their ground for a good fifteen minutes before something unbelievable took place.

Until the very last second, both of the pillars thought that these two demons would try to pull something off which would work as a distraction however nothing like that transpired before sunlight washed over all four.

These demons...have they conquered the sun!?

"If you may think, then wouldn't Muzan come to greet us himself if we were demons under his command who conquered the sun?"

Before both of the slayers could have fallen into a loop of turmoil the humanoid demon(?) came up with a reasoning which neither of the two could have rebutted.

Muzan was an almighty being but one thing he has yet to surpass and that was his weakness toward the sun. If any demon in existence were to do that in his stead, Muzan would not wait for another single day before devouring such a demon and becoming a completely immortal being.

Not to talk about the fact that this guy was able to spell out their seeming lord's name which could have ended gruesomely considering the curse every demon carries.

But again, like every compass of reasoning has stopped working both the Pillars were unsure of the situation.

"Now that you both know that we are not your enemies, can we have a little chat over my cabin? You see, I haven't eaten anything since yesterday."

The said boy rubbed his abdomen as in to emphasize how hungry he was, but the other two had no intentions of hearing out this strange...thing whatsoever.

There was certain proof that this boy for the least was not a demon, but to be able to have such comfortable contact with thag evident inhumane things and also that negative energy he was radiating was anything but settling the two hashiras.

"We are going nowhere and you have to answer us right now about your identity."

Shinobu spoke up the right words which Muichiro had in mind as well. Following the guy and having a good nap inside a wooden cabin while cool breezes rushing past his face was a tempting offer, more so if there was a meal attached to it, but he didn't buy it since it was neither the time nor the host seemed trustable.

The boy grumbled with his eyes drooping a little. Shinobu might have patted the pitiful boy if not for the thing hanging protectively around him.

"Well, we are not demons and carry the same motive as you guys. I have been tempting demons with my blood and killing them ever since I found this place. So yeah, in a way we are your allies."

"Then why didn't you join Demon Slayer Corps?" Muichiro raised the query which seemed natural to ask given the circumstances.

If this guy really is just a warrior, a veteran at that, then why didn't he join the corps? It would have granted him privilege and his assistance might have been utilized in the best way possible.

But again there was a reason which might have hindered his admission into the Corps which the boy himself voiced out.

"Possessing this kind of energy and having Rika-chan with me, surely would have raised many questions and I guess there might be people in the ranks of Hashira who outright despise the very existence of anything which is not human, right?"

He was right.

Even Shinobu herself hated demons with a passion, more so after her sister disappeared after seemingly facing an upper moon. Shinobu had a hard time filling Kanae's gap and keeping her composure in front of others in Butterfly Mansion.

If anything then Shinobu had only hatred and disgust for the demon race. But now that these two have proved their innocence of not being demons, would Shinobu allow her unguarded back in their care?

The possibility was close to none.

"Now you understand, why I never contacted you guys? But now things have changed and I no longer seek to remain in the dark since sooner than later something big is about to happen. I can tell."

There were many notable things he spoke about right now.

First, his decision to not play from shadows made the two slayers curious and alarmed as well upon how he would announce his presence. However, what made them more focused on his words was the fact that something massive was about to take place.

Was it an all-out war with Muzan? Quite possible, considering how many demons have been annihilated recently and the prospectus of the new generation Slayer. Well, it might be farfetched to say that the death of some demons could affect the Progenitor of the Demons but the existence of this new appearance might change things that were not supposed to happen this soon.

The boy turned toward the two before he bowed slightly seemingly bidding his farewell but his parting words left the two far beyond astonished.

"There is a semi-annual meeting in a month, right? Tell Kagaya-san to expect some guests. Ah, and I would be bringing an old acquaintance of yours as well, Posion Butterly-san so look forward to it."

A/N: - If you have guessed then yeah, she's the love interest.

I dunno if I make it harem since I enjoy solo romance. You have to try hard to change my mind.

And no, Mitsuri stays with Iguro.

It's shown that Yuta has a domain but its details haven't been disclosed yet so I would be using my imagination.

One more thing, I am bad at remembering how people addressed each other in the canon so cut some slack there...