The first part of the prolog is written in the third person, then we switch to the second pov.
I wanted toseparateso the past of the reader from the present.
Happy reading now.
Prolog: The Tale of the Good Demon
Long ago there lived a young maiden.
She was as beautiful, as she was kind, loved by her family and neighbors.
Some said that she had something godlike in her, that made her this way.
Of course, such shining light attracted the darkness.
The Demon King himself set his eyes on the young maiden.
One day he come into her home, killing anyone but her.
Turning her into a demon with fox-like features, ears, and a tail.
Kitsune he called her from this day and the young maiden was practically forced to obey him.
But even if she had to kill humans, even if she ate them, she searched for a way to escape this cursed existence.
She still was as pure in her heart as she was in her human life. Any death and harm she caused made her feel disgusted and hated by herself.
Years passed and the young maiden now only known as Kitsune became stronger.
So strong, that the power the Demon King had over her, vanished.
Finally, she could break free from his control and run into the night.
Now free, but still a demon, Kitsune didn't know what to do.
She roomed the lands of Japan in search to give her life a purpose.
It wasn't until she stumbled upon an old shrine where the fox goddess Inari was prayed to, that she found it.
Kitsune protected the Miko's that lived there from evil men, who wanted to steal the treasures of the shrine.
She killed any last of them and the Miko's thought she was a godsend by Inari herself.
They begged her to stay and Kitsune become their protector.
Life had again a meaning, a purpose.
Again years passed and anybody started to call her Inari, the good demon.
The protector of humankind.
This reached even the head of the Demon Slayer corps.
He came to the shrine with two of his strongest Hashiras.
With humility, he begged that Inari should join them. Become a Demon Slayer and help them against the Demon King.
Inari was unsure.
She lived a good life as the shrine's proctor.
But the Miko's encouraged her to go with the Demon Slayers.
Often she had talked to them about how she wanted to make the Demon King pay for what he did to her family, to her…this was a chance do to so.
So Inari joined the Demon Slayer Corps and became a Hashira.
To this day it is said that the young woman with whisker marks on her cheeks with an orange haori is the good demon Inari.
But these are of course only rumours.
It's a story that gets told in Demon Slayer circles because the family Inari always has a woman as Hashira, nothing more.
Or that's what you want to make all believe…
Trying to remember your human life…was difficult.
Every year that passed in this cursed demonic existence, you forgot more about your family and yourself.
The smell of your mother's favorite perfume, your father's loud laugh, grandmother's swift hands at needlework, grandfather's voice which sang you to sleep.
Like fog in the sunlight, it slowly vanished.
You signed and looked up at the sun.
After two centuries you finally could walk on sunny days again. It had been an amazing feeling. Like you have got a bit of your humanity back.
That's when you heard a well know voice and found yourself with an armful of bubbly pink-green-haired Hashira.
"Mitsuri-Chan.", you greeted her. "Nice to see you again."
The Love Hashira greeted you back and then formally smashed your face into her bosom.
You tried your hardest not to turn into a tomato.
Technically you were older than her, but mentally and physically you were still seventeen years old. It sucked to be stuck in eternal puberty!
One of the reasons you so wanted to put Muzan's stupid face on a stake and then spit on it.
"You look so cute today!", she complimented you. "I like your new uniform."
You only changed your stockings, since, like Mitsuri, you wore a skirt, but your friend got easily excited.
One of the reasons you found her so cute.
"So what are you doing here Mitsuri-Chan?"
Here been the house of Oyakata-Sama, where your Hashira's mostly got your missions.
"Where you called by Oyakata-Sama too?"
"No, I just came from a mission. I think Shinobu-Chan and Tomioka-Kun were called here, like you Inari-Chan."
"Oh joy, Tomioka.", you deadpanned, which made Mitsuri giggle.
Nothing against the Water Hashira, but being around him made you more depressed than you already are. At least Shinobu would go on his nerves, which was always fun to watch.
Not for the first time you thought about just throwing these two idiots in a room and throwing the key away. Their sexual tension was annoying.
Humans and their relationships…were you like this when you were human once?
You couldn't remember.
Hell, you have even forgotten your own name, that's why anyone called you Inari.
Muzan had fucked you up well.
Anyway, you and Mitsuri said goodbye to each other, since you needed to go to the master and she needed to rest.
You enter the main room in the mansion, Shinobu and Tomioka were already sitting before the master.
You gave a deep bow and excused yourself for being late.
Oyakata-Sama just invited you to sit with them.
Pointly you ignored Tomioka's disappointed stare and shared a quick hand squeeze with Shinobu.
Your master had exhausted kasugai crow in his lap.
"You did well to return.", he cooed to the bird. "So, most of my children have been slaughtered? We might find the Twelve Kizuki there, then. It seems I'll have to send in some Hashiras. Giyuu. Shinobu. Inari."
For a second you wonder if it would be one of your old "friends".
Netherless you and your Hashira colleagues agreed with the master order.
"If only humans and demons could get along. Like we do with Inari-Chan.", mussed Shinobu. "Don't you agree, Tomioka?"
"Impossible… as long as demons eat humans."
"I haven't eaten a human in a good 50 years.", you reminded all, but mostly Tomioka.
"You are strange and old, that's why."
"Did you just call me a hag?! I may look seventeen, but I'm still your senpai!"
"Ara, ara, Inari-Chan, don't listen to Tomioka, you are still as beautiful and young as we first meet."
Yeah, good that Shinobu was there or you would use your Katana on Tomioka.
Prick.
Good looking.
But a prick!
The master told you to go to Mount Natagumo and prepare yourself for anything.
Later, you would muse about how you didn't had expect THAT what you encounter on the mountain.
No one could have prepared you for this.
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