50 years ago …
The old man never knew what hit him. Hachiman crept in through his window and listened to him wheeze. He crouched over the asleep elder and observed the minute details that would be buried with him. Hikigaya looked at the sun damage on his skin, the thinning of his hair, the sickly manner that his body breathed in.
Hachiman studied the man's calloused hands, worn rough by years as a fisherman, the scar through his thumb likely from an accident with a fishing hook. How he slept on his side and seemed like he was trying to curl into himself.
He wondered what color the man's hair had been before it went white as snow, and what color the man's eyes were. What did this doomed man dream about as he slumbered? What did he fear? What did he want to be when he was younger? What were his regrets?
What made him laugh? Did he love someone the way Hachiman loved Yukino?
Hikigaya tried to ignore the deluge of questions and unknown answers and just focus on eating the man and leaving.
What about food and meals? What foods did the man eat regularly? What foods made him happy? Were there parts of the meal that he didn't eat? Did he enjoy a glass of sake with his fish?
Who did he eat his meals with?
Hachiman closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath; before, punching straight through the elderly male's brain.
The forehead split before the force he exerted and the brain didn't even put up a token resistance. Hachiman didn't stop his momentum until his hand was buried deep into the futon the man slept on
He could probably find the man's name if he wanted; but he didn't. That just made it harder. The more he knew about his victims, the more that it hurt each time.
Hikigaya took some pithy satisfaction that the man didn't suffer. His brain was eviscerated long before he could feel any pain.
Hikigaya put his mouth to the still warm neck and drank. By the time he'd finished the body was pale and cold; every last drop of blood drained from the corpse that had once been a fisherman.
When he was done he wiped his mouth on the sheet. Careful not to stain his cloak. The last thing that Hikigaya needed right now was to do laundry in the river.
He bundled the corpse up in the futon and hoisted the whole bundle over his shoulder easily before hopping out the window once more. This time the window sill creaked with the added weight of a body in a futon.
Hikigaya managed a silent landing on the ground below and began to walk out of the small ocean town. He'd go somewhere remote. Somewhere peaceful, and then lay the body to rest.
He was a monster. A beast of the night. A killer of men.
But he'd been a human, once upon a time. He knew that if he'd been eaten; he'd rather it be done painlessly and then his body buried with respect.
He was only a few hundred paces out of town when the slayer attacked. The woman had been sneaky, especially when you consider how brightly dressed she was. How does someone avoid notice when they're wearing a bright orange haori?
Her surprise attack was only detected by Hikigaya because of the whistling of her blade through the night air. Hikigaya sidestepped and the blade passed him by with only a glancing hit, shaving off a portion of his cloak and left shoulder that immediately began regenerating.
He lay his bundle on the rocky ground and ducked beneath another strike. This one missed entirely, he back pedaled a moment and inspected the woman.
She was young, probably only a bit older than Komachi had been the last time he'd seen her. He plastered a calm expression and tried to speak with a soothing voice. "Young one, we don't have to fight. It would be a shame for such a talented warrior to die so early."
She laughed and flipped her hair. A long river of mud colored strands. "I have no need for longevity, my oath as a hashira is to slay demons, as many as I can, whenever I can."
"A pretty extreme code." Hikigaya complained, he'd heard it before, and rolled his eyes at it then.
She scoffed. "What would you know about codes?"
"Not much. I behave in accordance with the situation."
"A likely excuse to justify your monstrous actions." She snarled.
This time Hachiman did roll his eyes and the slayer gasped at what she saw. "Y-y-you're the upper moon six."
"No." He snarked. "I just felt like getting an eyeball tattoo. I hear that they're all the rage."
She whistled and her crow glided down towards her. Before she could give it instructions, a pitch black arrow pierced the crow through its sternum.
It died with a squawk and fell unceremoniously to the pebble covered ground. Hachiman stood with his hand outstretched. "Blood demon art: Hachiman's Arrow."
Her eyes widened, but the moment she'd seen something move. Her sword had been raised in guard. "You beast."
Hikigaya examined himself with a theatrical curiosity. Besides a single hourglass marking on his cheek, his appearance was almost identical to his as a human, though his hair was slightly shorter now.
She charged and he didn't bother defending himself. Hikigaya left himself so open that it was almost a joke, the punchline was the arrow. She barely dodged the projectile that had shot and then burrowed through her crow; and, was now flying through the air again. He let the arrow dance around her like a hummingbird that had mated with a bullet.
The bolt picked and prodded at her defense, sometimes changing speeds just enough to throw off her block. Only through sheer instinct and experience had she avoided getting hit.
She kept an eye on the arrow and on its master. Leaping into a roll to dodge Hikigaya as he surged forward with a punch. He and his arrow tag-teamed her and she was gradually pushed back.
He overextended and she slashed with all her might, prepared to separate his head from his body. Hikigaya shot out his hands and grasped the blade, long enough for his arrow to shoot toward her back.
She couldn't let go of the blade, because she would surely die without it. So, in a move of desperate improvisation she violently twisted her body.
The arrow took out a chunk of flesh beneath her armpit but missed anything vital. Hikigaya kept pressing the attack.
The next injury was his. Another attempt at baiting her blade found his hand sliced off. He hissed and danced away from her follow up as the appendage regenerated.
She slashed at his neck and the arrow flew forward to parry. He lashed out at her arm and got another scrape. If she hadn't been injured, she probably would've been fast enough to dodge. But the flesh taken from her body was beginning to slow her down.
Her breath flagged and fat beads of sweat rolled down her forehead. Hikigaya kept on attacking, and slowly gained a greater advantage. He could easily risk his limbs and torso to rank blows.
Even if she took an arm and he gave back a scratch, it was still a winning trade. The arrow helped as well. Never slowing down and never letting her have a moment to catch her breath.
Before her breath was heavy, now it was ragged gasps whenever she could take one. She started taking riskier and riskier blows trying to bring the fight to a close. The furious combat had been persisting for over half an hour.
The decisive moment in the battle occurred when Hikigaya tried to catch the blade between his palms and twist. The demon slayer anticipated his attack and kept the attack going, slicing through both hands and then through his waist as he dived toward her.
However, his lack of legs didn't matter. Hikigaya's mouth found its way onto her bicep as he sucked desperately. She took a deep shaky breath - as fast as she could - and then hurled him away. However the damage was done. She was pale and shaking. His legs were already regrown.
The next few blows were paltry compared to the fierce warrior that he'd faced before. He deflected them with ease before the arrow impaled her in the back - right at the junction where the head met the neck. She choked and gagged as the arrow pushed through her mouth.
She struggled for a moment as tears fell from her eyes before going limp. Hikigaya stroked her head and frowned. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Rest in peace."
Hikigaya quickly drank the rest of her blood.
"Well, shit." He hoisted her over his shoulder after snatching the nichirin sword from her belt.
He carried the bodies to a clearing and picked up a large branch that had fallen nearby. He dug a hole, reminiscing on the days that he would've sweat while doing so. Once it was all over he laid the bodies down inside the pit. He pushed dirt over them and then walked away.
The bluish-green blade dangled from his hip.
!¡
The next night …
"I need one large barrel of oil." The hooded man monotoned.
"What kind?" The perky shopkeeper asked.
"Whatever you have is fine?" A curt answer. A bulging coin pouch landed on the wooden countertop.
She opened it up and inspected the gold coins within. "Sir, p-please. This is far too much."
He laughed. The pretty girl winced. It sounded like the grinding of glass and stone. "Consider this an inconvenience fee. For being open so late."
"What's an inconvenience fee?" She tilted her head.
"Never mind. I trust that this buys your silence as well." He grumbled.
She frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, which one is it?"
"Uh, that one." She pointed to a large brown barrelin front of the counter. They weren't worried about someone stealing it. "I can get my brothers to come help you move it into your wagon."
He waved her off. "That won't be necessary."
He rolled the barrel away with a grunt and she watched with amusement
Hikigaya rolled the barrel away with a fake grunts. Once he was out of sight he stopped and picked the barrel up.
He ran it high up into the mountain, he stuffed it deep into a cave. He pried open the lid and dropped the sword inside. It slipped into the oil with a plop.
He didn't need it now. But preparation never hurt.
Even if it took a thousand years, Kibutsuji needed to die; he would see it done.
~/~
2 years ago …
Kanae readied her defense as the demon with the fans charged. He drew near so fast that to a normal person he would've looked like he was teleporting. But Kanae wasn't normal; she hadn't been for years.
The flower hashira's veins bulged as she deflected the blow. Whilst never losing track of her enemy, she scanned the slowly brightening horizon.
She could tell the sun wouldn't break over the mountains for at least another fifty minutes. It probably wouldn't bring her safety for at least another five after that.
She turned her sword and deflected the swipe of his fans into a glancing blow. Though there was barely any contact the force within the impact almost knocked the weapon out of her hands, or her off her feet.
The demon turned and waved his fans towards her. The movement conjured a massive being of ice with clasped hands and a sealed mouth. The statue was surrounded by a small sea of lilies - also made of ice.
The demon paused. "Why do you fight?" A soft frown played along his handsome features. "You're so beautiful but it's fleeting. Here today and gone tomorrow. If you give yourself to me and become assimilated I shall make your beauty eternal. You will be a part of something greater and beautiful."
She scowled. "I want nothing to do with you. No matter what you say."
The demon jutted out his lower lip and pouted. "Now that's just rude. You don't even know me. I'm Doma and I'd be pleased to know the name of such beautiful prey."
Kanae repressed a shudder of revulsion at his words. Even when he thought he was being charming and polite, the evil bled through like water and a cracked dam.
But time was a resource she needed to burn. Her crow had gone for reinforcements but who knew when they would arrive. "I'm Kanae Koucho." She tried to force a genial smile along her face.
"Tell me, Kanae. Are you still a virgin?" Doma licked his lips.
Despite herself, Kanae blushed slightly. "What does that have to do with anything?"
He laughed. "But my dear. That has everything to do with it." His eyes roamed across her skin. "I just love untouched girls. That makes breaking them and possessing them all the more fun." He sniffed the air. "Never mind, I know the answer." His eyes twinkled.
"Well, why are we wasting time? Let's get to the good stuff." He motioned and the still looming statue's mouth slowly began to open. Kanae began to dodge before the entire sculpture exploded with a boom.
Kanae had leapt away and shielded her eyes from the flying fragments. She opened them as soon as she felt the wave of debris pass over her, scoring small cuts along her body and a few pebble sized shards of ice indenting into her side.
Doma's body was almost entirely destroyed, nothing left below his sternum. Just an aerosol of blood and viscera.
Doma's head snarled, the first she'd heard of the demon being less than polite, deadly, and collected. "Hachiman, does the master know that his dog is off the leash?"
"Shut your mouth, Doma." Hachiman replied, ripping off his midnight black cloak. "You're a filthy degenerate who deserves to die."
The blond demon seemed bored at the words. "Is that your big cutting remark? That's it?" His lower body was regenerating but slower than it had before.
Hachiman laughed. "No, this is. You are so out of touch with emotion or understanding humanity that you try and feel a connection the only way that you know how, through pain. You don't want to admit to the profound and destructive loneliness that plagues your existence. You're narcissistic to your core but even a worm who considers himself a god wishes for followers worth subjugating. You're left with pathetic scum who are a waste of your time."
Any vestige of the calm facade Doma had presented was gone. He was apoplectic with rage. "I'll kill you, Hachiman. I'll rip you limb from limb and toss you into the sun. You'll-"
This time the arrow was dodged by Doma's almost completely regenerated body. As if from nowhere, another pair of fans pushed out from his hands. The next move he made saw him fire a swarm of icicles speeding towards her.
Hikigaya's arrow rammed through the dozen or so missiles and shattered them. He spoke to Kanae while never taking his eyes off Doma. "Help me kill him, don't worry about the ice. I'll cover you."
Doma scoffed. "How droll indeed, a demon slayer and a demon working together. Simply disgraceful, even for you Hikigaya." The blonde demon had gotten his anger under control once more.
"Please work with me. I give you my word that I'll do you no harm." Hikigaya cried.
Kanae didn't hesitate, taking her sword and charging Doma. Hikigaya smirked and followed her. When she went low, Hikigaya went high. They delivered nasty combo blows to the other demon,
Doma tried to use his ice to create space but it barely mattered. Hikigaya's arrow blew apart the constructs mere moments after they'd been formed.
Kanae delivered slash after slash. Constantly separating Doma's arms from his regenerating body. Hikigaya several times, managed to bite Doma and gnaw out a chunk of flesh.
Those wounds steamed and Kanae noticed that they regenerated at a much slower pace. Doma didn't take the pain lying down. He bit back fiercely. For every piece of flesh ripped from his body, Hikigaya had one ripped from his in turn.
Hikigaya bit deep into Doma's chest and roared. The ice demon staggered back trying to evade. But Kanae was ready, she swung downwards in a J-shaped slice and separated his head from his body.
As Doma slowly began to disappear, he cursed. "I can't believe I died to such inferior beings. This is the worst."
Hikigaya blitzed over and began to frantically eat as much of the other demon's body as he could; before it vanished into ash.
He made quick work. Opening his jaw like a snake and taking massive bites of Doma. Within ten seconds, he'd consumed all the intact parts of the body. "Ahh, that's good. With his flesh, I'm now probably more powerful than he was. Doma was a goddamn monster but he was strong." Hikigaya laughed.
Kanae tensed and struggled to her feet, stepping back a few paces, just in case. "What now?" She clutched her sword. Dawn was still fifteen minutes away. This demon only needed seconds to consume her.
He shrugged and for the first time she really took in his features. The first word that came to mind was sharp.
Sharp eyes, sharp jaw, and a sharp nose with a green hourglass on his cheek. He shrugged off the deep forest green cloak he wore and revealed his bare chest.
He had no shoes or shirt and wore a faded pair of black trousers over his legs. He stepped forward and crouched down, before underhand tossing a small, slimy object at her. Doma's eye. "Now you take this and receive praise for your achievements. Congratulations, you just killed the upper moon two. You're going to be a legend in the corps. He stepped back and picked up his cloak, quickly shredding it into long, hand-thick strips. "But first, you should set your arm in a sling and disinfect those wounds."
He pulled a small glass bottle of clear liquid from his pocket and set it on top of his cloak's remains. "Here, put a little bit of that on your wounds. All I have is a few candies but you're welcome to them if you want." He dropped a small pouch on top of what was quickly becoming a pile.
Kanae smiled as she slipped the eye into her pocket. "Why are you helping me?" She no longer felt afraid, if this was a ploy to kill her it was so elaborate and stupid it was almost funny.
"I don't want you to die." He replied, stepping back so she could approach and scavenge his supplies.
"I don't know, maybe you're scared of me." She teased, pushing her luck. She knew that this was risky but the chance to realize her dream outweighed the associated dangers.
"You're kidding right?" Disbelief was painted across his face. He rolled back his eye and it was her turn for shock. And fear - or so he thought.
"You're upper moon three."
"Yep at your service." He bowed playfully
She giggled. "You're not what I expected of an upper moon."
"What did you expect of an upper moon? Fanaticism, violence, and weird habits."
Kanae considered protesting but ended up nodding. He was essentially right.
"Demons aren't a hegemony. We have a dictator at the top of the hierarchy but that doesn't mean we all want to follow him blindly." A bitter expression wrapped along Hikigaya's sharp face. "We just don't have a choice."
"Okay, Mr. No Choice. Why'd you save me? I can't imagine that guaranteeing my survival was serving Kibutsuji's will." She poured the alcohol over her wounds and hissed through her teeth when it made contact.
"Well, I'm a demon and I've killed people but I try not to make them suffer. Doma on the other hand reveled in the pain he could cause, especially to women." Something complicated and malaise laced his tone. "Once upon a time back when I was human, I had a little sister and a girl that I loved. When I imagined Doma ever getting his hands on them and torturing them, I knew he had to die."
Kanae wrapped herself with a sling. Even taking a leap of faith by looking down to set the sling properly. "Thank you. I'm Kanae Koucho."
He smirked, "I know." At her confusion he elaborated. "I have extremely good hearing, both a perk and curse of being a demon."
Kanae sheathed her sword by her hip and picked up the bag of candy. She popped one in her mouth and relished the sweet sugary flavor. "These are delicious."
"Thanks." His tone was wry but his expression was sincere. "I should be going. The sunrise is soon and reinforcements shouldn't be far behind. Take care of yourself, Kanae Koucho."
With the last remark he raced away. Kanae barely saw the blur.
Only when he was gone did she realize she'd never gotten his name.
~/~
First meeting after Kanae's return. The next day.
The hashira were abuzz. The first upper moon killed in a century, maybe this was a sign. The tides of war were changing.
Kanae had been suspiciously quiet and reflective since the fight. She'd shown the eyeball but hadn't spoken another word, insisting that she'd share her tale at the pillar meeting.
The elite demon slayers fired curious glances at her, her arm was still in a sling but besides a few small cuts and bruises, she looked for the most part fine.
Ubuyashiki stepped out onto the wooden veranda of his home and smiled gently. "Hello my children. The sky is beautiful today, he squinted hard at each of them, like he wanted to preserve the memory of their faces.
"It's wonderful to see you master. I hope that you find yourself in good health." Kanroji smiled, the youngest pillar looked around with the fascination of a first-timer.
"Thank you my dear." He nodded to her. "I'm saddened to hear that one of our ranks has fallen. Ami was a good hashira. She died after chasing rumors of Kibutsuji near the south coast. Her bravery and sacrifice will not be forgotten."
"I have found her replacement. However, he will need a few months to grow into his role." He turned his neck and called into the house. "Muichiro, can you come out here, please?"
A young boy called back. "Of course." Out onto the deck stepped a young pubescent boy. The hashira had incredulous expressions.
This was going to be their brother in arms. Ubayashiki gestured. "This is Muichiri Tokito, he uses the breath of mist. He will be your peer."
The small boy joined them in kneeling before the master of the corps. In a shrewd maneuver, Oyakata moved to more occupying matters. "Now we may address the elephant in the room. Kanae Koucho managed to slay the upper moon 2." He held up a jar filled with clear liquid, bobbing around inside was the eye that declared Doma's rank.
Several slayers let out sounds of exuberance.
"Namu Amida Butsu. How excellent." Gyomei prayed.
"Good work!" Iguro bared his teeth in a friendly smile.
"Fuckin eh." Shinazugawa cheered.
"That's so amazing. I'm glad you're okay." Kanroji cheered.
Giyuu hesitated. "You are truly a model demon slayer."
"I approve." Rengoku beamed.
"The clouds are nice." Muichiro mumbled.
Uzui Tengen smirked. "How flamboyant! This is what the corps needs more of."
Ubayashiki held a hand up after a minute to silence the stream of approving comments. "Now, will you tell us how it happened?"
Kanae fiddled with the seam of her haori. "Of course. I'm happy to follow your orders." She faced her peers. "Before I begin, please give your word that you won't comment on the story until I've finished telling it."
They nodded reluctantly.
And so she told her tale.
During the recounting, they gasped (Kanroji), they stayed stoic (Himejima, Rengoku, Shinazugawa, and Tomioka), they clenched their hands so hard the knuckles were white (Sanemi, Obanai) or they stared at the clouds (Muichiro). Oyakata kept smiling.
Unsurprisingly, Shinazugawa was the first one who couldn't hold his tongue any longer. "Kanae, I'm not trying to say you're a liar but that's bullshit."
Kanae glared at him. "Then pray tell Sanemi, what are you trying to say?"
He growled. "Fuck, I don't know. Maybe you hallucinated because you thought you were going to die."
Her expression didn't relax.
"It's more likely than a demon helping you. Let alone the upper moon 3 helping you kill the upper moon 2." He argued.
"I must agree with Shinazugawa here." Rengoku nodded as if affirming his own words.
Tomioka stood and spoke gloomily. "Kanae is not a liar, furthermore she's reliable. I believe her, however unlikely it may be."
Mitsuri grimaced. "I just don't really see that happening." Her words were soft and apologetic. Kanae watched her hands toy with the hem of her brown uniform. Kanae remembered the verbal reaming she had given the corps' tailor, Maeda, after she'd seen the uniform he'd first presented to the love pillar.
She tried to bite down the resentment that bubbled in her chest as Kanroji doggedly avoided her gaze. Just because she'd stood up for her, didn't mean Mitsuri would reciprocate. Kanae didn't expect it or want that.
But was it too much to ask for the benefit of the doubt. She beamed a grateful smile at the turned away back of Giyuu Tomioka.
Before anyone else could speak, she rose. Kanae addressed her fellow pillars. "Unless you wish to try me as a traitor to the corps for not fighting against a demon when I had the chance, I believe that concludes my report. You may believe whatever it is that want about it."
Oyakata waved a hand. "The meeting is dismissed. Unless anyone has an urgent report."
Kanae walked out ahead of the other hashira, pointedly ignoring Sanemi's attempts call out to her.
"Kanae!"
"Kanae!"
"Kanae!"
He ran past her and stood in front of her. She made eye contact. "Yes, Shinazugawa; is there something that I can do for you?"
Sanemi hesitated and when the silence stretched she stepped around him and continued on her way.
"Wait, Kanae. Damnit!" He ran ahead and cut in front of her path again.
"I wasn't trying to insult you. Just the story is ridiculous."
"I appreciate your candor, now I really need to get back to the butterfly estate. Please don't bother me unless you have something related to demon slaying."
She stepped around the frozen wind pillar and continued back to the butterfly estate with a scowl rather than her usually sweet expression.
~/~
3 days later …
Shinobu Koucho stormed across the butterfly gardens and grabbed one of the kakushi by the collar. "Care to repeat what you just said?"
Yukino Yukinoshita, the water pillar's tsugoku, trailed reluctantly after her small friend. The seventeen year old toyed with her katana's tsuba, or guard.
"I didn't say anything." The stray kakushi stuttered in fear as the other masked corps members drifted away from him.
"Yes, you did. You called my sister soft in the head." Shinobu rattled the poor man more aggressively. The veins on the side of her face softly bulging.
"Shinobu, that's enough." Yukino lay a hand on her younger friend's shoulder. The small girl turned away with a huff while Yukino stared down the flustered kakushi. "I want you to remember that the woman you're talking about is an elite member of the corps and she could kill you with her hands tied behind her back and her eyes closed. I consider her a friend and should I hear you insulting Kanae again I will take matters into my own hands.
With that the ravenette followed the breath of insect user across the lawn.
(A/N): dead pillar is an OC, but she's unimportant; just a name who filled a spot before Tokito. No big deal. Also, changed Mitsuri's uniform because the original design was stupid, the breast window is an easy target for a demon to scratch or bite.