A/N: This chapter might be very explicit for some so if you can't bear stuff like that, please skip this chapter.

You have been warned.


"We are here!" Tanjirou exclaims as the rice farming fields are in view.

It was at the very crack of dawn and the sky was showing faint shades of purple and orange as the night's dark blue sky was slowly disintegrated by the warm rays of the sun.

The fields had a light mist surrounding and the grass had dew drops sprinkled all over it, upfront a group of small settlements can be seen which ultimately lead to the great mount Kumotori.

The scene, itself, given the time of the day, created a magnificent sight which caught everyone in awe.

This place had too many memories associated with it to be forgotten about.

Tanjirou grew up here. Well not here, in the mountains but still, because of how frequent he visited the place; it was like a second home to him.

"Nezuko, we are here!" Tanjirou said cheerfully, looking back at the box. However no reply or any type of response came which was really natural since it was near dawn and the demon slept most of her time in the box.

Zenitsu then sat down the ground and letting out an exaggerated sigh, "I can die happy now……we made it to the mountains after such a painful journey"

However his moment of relief was cut shot as he was kicked hard on his butt so hard that he stood up straight.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!" Zenitsu screamed.

"Stop sitting around like a sloth! We are here to kill demons not take naps! Get the fuck up" Inosuke growled.

"Even though I disapprove Inosuke's method of approaching, I do agree. We must not sit back and relax yet! We have demons to defeat!" Tanjirou concluded charmingly.

"OKAY FINE! I GET IT!!! I AM NOT STOPPING TILL I REACH THE VILLAGE ALRIGHT?!" Zenitsu cried out as he raced forward in full speed.

"Oi Zenitsu! Wait for us!!" Tanjirou said as he ran forward to catch up.

"WAIT FOR ME TOO YOU IMBECILES! YOU THINK YOU CAN LEAVE ME BEHIND JUST LIKE THAT?!" Inosuke yelled as soon as he realized he was left behind.

Giyuu wondered how these three still had so much energy left even after such a harsh journey.

Why did I get paired up with these idiots, anyway?

He quickly shook off the thought as he had to soon sprint at full speed to catch up with the other three who had almost reached the village. He could hear the loud chatting and laughs as he got more near to the group.

These sounds however were replaced with a single empty silence as they got inside the village and stood at its gates.

Giyuu increased his speed and reached the same spot as they did and looked at the scene in the front. His eyes widen ever so slightly at the sight.

There was a heavy fog around the area but with what was visible, it ran chills down the spines of the demon slayers.

The houses in the front seemed like they had been broken into and were in a very poor state as if something or someone was slammed hard against it.

Blotches of blood were evident on the walls as they left stains after drying up.

The houses had a lot of their furniture tossed outside with no care, they all had dried up blood stains on them and what scared everyone the most was that from one of the oshiire's, blood was seeping from it…dripping….creating a small pool around it…

Bits of fabric were seen coming out from the small gaps of the closet.

With heavy courage, Tanjirou proceeded forward with his Katana in his hand.

The others were high on guard as they took their blades out incase of a surprise demon attack.

After all, the sun rays still haven't touched the ground and neither are strong enough to cause any harm to demons.

Tanjirou flinched at the smell of rotting blood and pinched his nose.

He then pulled on one of the drawers to see a dead woman's body squeezed inside forcibly in the tiny space.

The smell was so pungent and rotten that Tanjirou almost collapsed from it, only to be held up by his friends who took and placed him far enough where the scent won't be that strong.

It took every ounce of will of the three to not throw up immediately.

Giyuu had seen many grotesque scenes of murder implemented by demons upon humans in his life time but this…type of heinous blood scene was new, even to him.

Zenitsu and Giyuu covered their noses with their haori in hopes of lessening the smell even if by a slight margin while Inosuke stuffed his noses with two rocks he found lying.

As they took out the body outside, they noticed…Head, arms and feets were all missing.

Slowly and steadily, they emptied the rest of the parts and found the head, neatly placed in the upper most drawer. The victim had a face of horror plastered on her face. Her last moments (as evident by the rest of the scene) were not a pleasant one. What made this head discovery more eerie is that the face was placed, facing directly to a bloodied mirror as if showing and mocking the head for its expression as it reflected it.

The demon slayers collected the head and then assembled it to start burying and giving it a final peace.

Tanjirou who somewhat recovered from the ordeal returned to help in the burial.

He had a blank expression on his face all the time and the others can't blame him for it. They weren't prepared mentally for this.

Whatever the mission held…it was far from easy.

The emptied furniture was then collected and moved to a side to clear the way.

Tanjirou couldn't bear the pungent smells each box emitted, he almost fell unconscious again, so each time a body was found, the others excused him from the side, understanding his part.

Tanjirou meanwhile dug the holes where the burial would take place.

Soon all the bodies that were found in such tragic state got a proper burial and the furniture was burned so that more demons won't be attracted to the place from the blood trails that were left behind.

They moved forward and…forward but they found no signs of inhabitance. Some houses were bolted shut, some had a notice stating they left, some were clearly abandoned and some left offerings to spare their family.

The offerings were different for each house. One had rice, one had fruits, one had meat which looked suspicious enough to be said human but the thought was immediately dismissed.

Many of these houses were but all too familiar to Tanjirou. He had helped, talked and laughed with the lively people there. He had a expression of guilt and horror over his place.

He had abandoned them…he failed them even after becoming a demon slayer.

Without realizing, tears escaped his eyes as everything ran through his head.

The other two knew exactly what he was going through. They knew too well how it felt when you leave home for a while and come back to see people you knew, dead.

They held his shoulder, giving a silent support as Tanjirou quickly wipped his tears away.

Giyuu stayed a bit away. He didn't know how to comfort without hurting him even further. He was not a people's person. He wasn't social.

All the train of thoughts were interrupted as a sob of a little girl was heard just a bit away.

Immediately, everyone rushed towards it. They soon found a house with the door broken where surely, a small girl was gripping a man tightly, shaking him as if trying to wake him up.

" Otou-san, wake up! Please don't leave me alone" she said in a desperate tone as tears streamed down her cheeks and fell on the floor.

This scene brought back too many memories for all of them. The same thing had happened to all of them which pushed them to what they were today.

The girl soon acknowledged their presence and got scared at first but was soon a bit relieved when she realized they meant no harm.

She then yelled in a begging tone, "Please save my father! I beg you!"

The others Immediately went to her side. Zenitsu checking if she had any injuries and Inosuke checking the pulse of the man.

Thankfully, he was alive. Tanjirou took out the bandages and cream he always carried as first aid to cover up the cuts and bruises. Both he and Zenitsu helped in applying.

Inosuke helped too and for the first time, calmed the girl like a normal human being would.

Giyuu assessing the eyes of the person realized he was conscious but in a catatonic state. He took out the medicine given by Shinobu and dropped a drop of it in the person's already open mouth.

The medicine and the first aid by the others had a very quick effect and the person blinked his eyes, looking frantically everywhere.

" Otou-san!" The little girl squeaked in joy as she hugged her father.

He held her tightly in a hug too, as if to never let her go.

"Father, these people helped me save you!" cried out the girl.

"Thank you, I don't know how I can ever repay you but thank you so much for saving me and my daughter" as he cried and bowed down with his daughter, sensing a presence of other people himself as well.

"There is no need to bow! Really! We just did our job!" Tanjirou said, frantically trying to make the man sit up and not bow.

"Um but sir, if you don't mind me asking- Where is everyone? Wha-"

"I will tell you everything" the man spoke, patting his daughter's back.

The others leaned in close and sat up straight to listen to the story of the only survivor they found.

"Quite sometime ago, the village saw the arrival of five children after sunset. They seemed harmless and soon were seen as orphans since they never spoke of their parents when asked and later admitted they simply no longer were there. They never stayed. They ascended and descended the mountain pretty often, however."

He continued, "People eventually took pity on them and let them work for small wages and offered them a small shelter. But just after they settled, strange occurrences started to happen. People started to go missing."

Tanjirou and the others now knew where this was going.

"This was ignored at first but soon blood was found splattered in the rooms of the victims or the victim was left in a numb state where they were conscious but couldn't move a muscle…they eventually died since no medicine worked"

He frowned as he realized he was left in the same state.

"However one day, suspicions grew to horrid belief as the orphan siblings were found in the room where a man was hanging still mid air…in the same numb state. These siblings looked far from human….they were demons. The one who witnessed this… lived just long enough to yell the news out to the other villagers. While trying to flee or trying to fight back, most of the victims were said to be dragged up on the air by some supernatural force and then lead to the numb state and eventually got killed or devoured…"

Everyone was horrified at the story. Tanjirou was devastated.

It can't be….

They lost all of them?

"The ones who survived and couldn't leave because of their life long investments, some even offered blood and meat of their own relatives just so they can survive and the ones who chose to leave…died on their way in the forest from what I have heard"

He added, "I and my daughter survived…just by pure luck…As a doctor, I never really believed in demons…but I did have a fascination of having wisteria flowers decorate my gate and garden.…Demons are apparently weak to that and when they tried to kill me, they couldn't cross the heavy flower line…they had to destroy my gates…gardens…everything which was decorated by the flower and when they eventually reached…They tried to haul my daughter away from me…while trying to save her..I was shot by what seemed like a needle at the eye and….blinded- …they seemed to be swearing to kill me in the worst way possible"

The child clutches the father as he narrates how he lost his sight as tears escape her eyes.

Even Inosuke remained silent as he attentively listened.

Giyuu silently blamed himself upon his failure to reach on time to stop the chaos while Tanjiro felt the burden of guilt weigh his heart down even more.

...But... why Mount Kumotori of all places...?

The father continued, "…just like they would to a certain hanafuda earrings wearer which have the pattern of the sun rising …and who wears a green-black checkered haori"

Tanjirou's eyes slowly widen with realization.

Kibutsuji Muzan.

The others look at him, shocked. It is making sense now. Why Muzan targeted this village in particular out of all places and why the demons were more violent than ever. The main purpose was to bring Tanjirou here.

The daughter's eyes widen as she finally takes notice of their rescuer's appearance and notices Tanjirou to match the description perfectly.

"But the flowers took long enough for them to remove and by the time they attacked me, the day came, you all came and before I could die, my daughter was saved, I was saved" he smiled as tears appeared in his eyes.

"It's alright. We are glad you and your daughter are alright" Tanjirou said as the others slowly nodded.

"Do you remember how they looked?-" Zenitsu asked softly.

"I am afraid that I don't…as much as I would love to help you at the moment, I didn't bother to carefully look on how they looked. I was more concerned with my and my daughter's safety and in all honesty…consumed in panic."

"Oh…I am sorry" Zenitsu said.

"Its is quite alright but I must re-mention though….there were five of them and they had been looking for a boy wearing hanafuda earrings -"

Everyone's attention immediately increased by tenfold.

"They said if they find him or if they find some flower known as blue spider lilies growing areas. They will leave-" he coughed violently.

"Are you alright?!" Zenitsu rushed.

"Your heartbeat seems too fast-" he quickly explained.

"I am quite alright. Thank you." He replied.

"I believe me and my daughter should leave the village and depart to a safe place by the day time…I don't want to stay in this nightmare place anymore…" he said as he stood up and started walking.

"But if anything…however cruel it might sound…I hope that boy visits the place and surrenders for the lilies they spoke of most probably didn't exist….I cannot bear to hear news of more deaths of my neighbors and loved ones…I would hand him over myself…"

Everyone's expression was grim. They can't believe he just said that. But then again, it's normal human nature.

"And….please whoever you all are…do this old man a favor and tell your names….I must know who saved us"

"Our names are of no importance, really. Our duty was to rescue the people living here from demons" Giyuu said calmly.

"I see…"

"Father…may I assist the guests outside now?"

"Yes, dear but come back soon…we are to leave this place"

"Yes father"

She then left her father's side and indicated them to go outside and so they did.

She looked behind her and when she thought she was in the appropriate distance to be not heard, she said in a low voice looking at Tanjirou, "I know you are the person the demons are looking for and my father wants to handover but you are a good person not a bad one so please….leave this place…nothing could be done- save yourself from whatever curse this village has fallen to"

Tanjirou bent down and patted her head.

"I will do what I can"

The girl gave him a wide smile and then returned to her house which would soon be vacant too.

The sun shined brightly in the clear but somewhat cloudy sky. It was near noon.


A/N: Welp-

here it is, the third chapter-

Definitely a long one, guess it compensates the last chapter lol

Regardless, I hope the series is enjoyable

Btw, Oshiire is the name of a Japanese Closet. There's another word very close to this one which means "ass" lol so yea please don't get confused ;

Comments are always welcome!

See you all in the next chapter!