I had heard a commotion outside. It was unlike anything I had been used to over the past several months. Boards of the old temple breaking into pieces. The screams of those demons who are meeting their end. I was certain that witnessing this would have been entertaining, but unfortunately, I had found myself in somewhat of a bind. Bound by chains. Surrounded by four walls. Neither of which I could break. So, I would sit in silence listening to the rumblings of chaos that occurred beyond the palace I called a prison until the sounds stopped.

"What the hell is going on?"

"Hey, Shinazugawa. What was that just now? And where did those demons vanish to?"

"Hell if I know."

Two male voices having a conversation just beyond the wall I leaned up against. I could speak. Could tell them what happened to the castle. Where the demons went and what game Muzan was starting to play, but the truth is, I wasn't sure what that game was anymore. I was kept chained up for a reason. I didn't like to play by the rules our Lord set anymore. He knew I was starting to put my own pieces into play, and that was dangerous. Muzan wanted me close, but just outside the entrance. Just beyond earshot.

"Who the are you?" I had been lost in my own thoughts; I had forgotten about the company so close by. A young man, with black hair and a serpent draped around his neck peeked his head through a decently sized crack within the wall. Leering his gaze at me.

Without another second, the wall crumbled to the ground. Dust filled the room and a shadowy figure stomped towards me. As the smoke began to clear, he knelt down beside me. White hair with streaks of blood running through. Likely from his earlier battles. Scars along his body. Eyes, full of anger and quickening disgust. It became quite obvious. Neither of these two at first glance would have assumed what I am; a demon. But as they stared into my red eyes, they knew.

"If you're going to kill me, get on with it." I turned away. Appearing bored. And truthfully, I was. This had been the most entertaining thing to happen in some time, but if that's over now. So be it.

"Gladly." The white-haired man readied his blade until the other man put a pause to that action. Gesturing to the chains around my ankles and wrists. "Who the hell cares why it's chained up out here." The two went back and forth for a moment. Discussed the relevance of the chains and whether my being here was a trap or not.

I glanced back at the two of them, now arguing. I signed and reached my hand down towards one of the chains at my feet. As soon as my fingers made contact with the metal, the skin on my hand began steaming. Melting. I winced at the pain, but the sound of burning flesh made the two men stop bickering and peer down. "Chains wouldn't usually hold me, but as you can see," I dropped the metal to reveal the bones of my fingers seen under melted flesh. "Muzan made these special. He can't kill me, so he had to find a way to contain me."

The two exchanged a look – as if a decision had been made.

"Are you two out of your damn minds?!"

"And you brought her here?"

A few voices were arguing but I didn't hear a lot of what had been said. Instead, my focus was put onto the chain around my neck. Before taking me on this journey, the white-haired man had removed the binds from my feet only to wrap it around my neck, like a leash. And it burned, badly. But part of me was thankful to be out of that rundown temple. Feeling the fresh breeze against my skin. I would enjoy the mountain air as well if the stench of burning flesh wasn't currently the only thing wafting into my nose.

Glancing up, I could see the full moon shining down upon me. The leash around my neck tightened as the serpent man made sure I wasn't going to try anything.

Just then, doors opened ahead of me and a room of people stared daggers. All except one whom I recognized right away. He began to move towards me. I wasn't stupid. Back at the temple, it had taken me a few minutes to put the pieces together but I eventually found those two men to be Hashira. So were those now kneeling behind this man; Ubuyashiki. He stopped several feet before me, a woman at his side. The serpent man pulled me down to a kneel. "Can you tell us your name?"

I stayed silent. Staring with narrowed eyes back at this man. Though I know he couldn't see me, all these others could. The Hashira. They would judge my every move. Every word. And it would be pointless because in the end, I'd die anyway. Demon Slayers do just that… slay demons. So, what was the point of playing nice?

"Obanai, would you mind releasing that chain around her neck, please?"

"No way!"

"Master!"

"That's a bad idea."

Words of protest rang out from everyone around him, and yet Ubuyashiki still smiled. He once again urged the serpent man, Obanai, to release the restraints around my neck. I could sense the hesitation, but then felt the chains loosen. After it fell to the ground, I was able to focus my energy on healing the wound around my neck. The smell of burning flesh wandered away into the night air as I was finally able to take in the scent of fresh mountain pine.

"You have no reason to trust me."

The man nodded in agreement, while I saw the Hashira all with hands at the ready to attack. "No, but if you wanted to, I'm sure you would have made a move by now. Whether that be to flee or take one of us out. Am I correct?" He took a moment to let me answer, but once again I remained silent. I wasn't sure what any of this was. The point. "Back at the temple, you said something that caught some attention. Sanemi sent his crow with a question, and I gave my answer. That is why you are here. Because I wanted to meet you and ask my own questions in person. You wouldn't be the first demon we've befriended."

This comment of his got my attention.

"Tell me, miss…"

"Mazikeen."

The man nodded with his grin. The eyes of the Hashira narrowed as they learned my name. "Mazikeen, tell me, why is it that Muzan cannot kill you?"

I could tell them the truth… because I'm not one of his. But I felt that would cause more harm than good. Create more questions than answers. And I wasn't in the mood to deal with all of that tonight. More than anything, I just wanted a hot bath and good night's sleep. "Because I'm immune to his power." Sure, we'll go with that. It's not entirely a lie.

This answer caused a new conversation. One that the Master was certainly not expecting and wasn't sure how to handle. Questions were thrown at me. Several at a time from everyone at once.

Ubuyashiki was trying to regain control of this meeting. After several minutes, he succeeded. He asked that Hashira rest their heads this evening and they would come back to meet in the morning. We would discuss things in greater detail.

Bodies trailed off one by one until there was only me, the master, the woman beside him, and the white-haired man who had brought me here. "Sanemi, I trust you won't mind giving room to our guest considering you were the one who found and brought her here." I glanced at the man. I could tell there was a fire burning behind his eyes at the request, but he nodded before voicing his agreement with a tone of respect.

"I didn't agree to stay here." The Master's grin finally faded. "I appreciate not being left for dead at the temple, and your kindness here, but I have no reason to stay. Especially when I get the feeling that he may try to end me in my sleep." Gesturing to the one known as Sanemi. I took a step back and turned. "Your fight with Muzan is your own."

As I began to walk away, I felt a hand grip onto my wrist. Tight. When I glanced back, the one who grabbed me was Sanemi, but the one who spoke was the Master. "I ask that you stay for this one evening and then join our meeting in the morning. After that, you may do as you please." The vice grip Sanemi had on me tightened.

"Fine."

I followed Sanemi down the dirt path towards the Wind Hashira's manor. He didn't say a single thing to me. Both of us knew neither of us wanted to be in this situation. I inhaled, but before I could utter a single word, Sanemi spoke. "Speak and I'll kill you."

I rolled my eyes. Tough guy. "Doubtful. You wouldn't go against your Mas –" Before I could finish my sentence, Sanemi had me pushed up against the side of a wall, and the blade of his sword stuck straight through my left shoulder.

"Try me." In one quick motion, the blade had been removed. My blood splattered across the ground at his feet. Sanemi turned his back on me once again to continue on home. Part of me debated firing back. While my shoulder was now healed, I didn't want him to get away with something so rude. He didn't know me. Didn't know what I had been through in my life. To treat me as any other foul demon was just… I didn't like it. I didn't like him.

We walked to the manor in silence. It was a decent-sized building. Plenty of space. I started to follow Sanemi, but he stopped me. "I'm not letting scum like you inside." Giving him a confused glance, the man continued. "There's a shed around the corner there. Or stay outside. I don't give a damn, but you're not coming in here." With that, he entered the manor and left me out in the night.

Clearly he doesn't care what happens when the sun rises… not that that ever affected me anyway. They didn't need to know that though. I moved around the corner and found this shed that Sanemi referred to. Run down, holes in the walls. No better than the temple I had been rescued from. I stepped inside, and luckily, there was room for me to at least sit down. So I did, knees brought to my chest. I signed, wondering what kind of mess I got myself in now.