𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩

𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 together. The Flame, Love, Stone, Mist, Blossom, Wind, Serpent, Sound, Insect, and Water pillar all went to Uzui's place to dine.

The ten of them were greeted by Uzui's beautiful wives; Maiko, Hinatsuru, and Suma. And if you're going to ask them which member they're really fond of, it's Saito. They even ask Uzui to make Saito his 4th wife but the Blossom pillar is still young.

The three wives prepared them Tonkatsu, Kitsune Udon, Salmon Daikon, a bowl of rice, green tea for washing all of it down, and Daikfuku for a light dessert.

The pillars are seated on a long table fit for 10 people. On the right side seated Giyuu, Shinobu, Gyomei, Muichiro, and Shinazugawa. And on the left side, there are Obanai, Mitsuri, Saito, Rengoku, and Uzui.

The trio walked in carrying the food and Giyuu was ecstatic after seeing the Salmon Daikon, well not really, but his eyes sure say it.

"Itadakimasu!!"

Everyone chanted as they dig in. Saito served herself some Tonkatsu and Salmon. The crispiness of the Tonkatsu really satisfied Saito's liking as well as the freshness of the Salmon.

"Oi! Ushikawa! Tell us how you encountered the progenitor!!" Uzui shouted from across the table with his mouth still full of food.

Saito sighed and rested her chopsticks on her rice bowl.

"Well first, I didn't fully see the whole transaction and I didn't face him. So don't put your hopes too high.

Past

"I'm so tired... I want to eat Udon... I'm starving. Why did I have to have missions back to back. Why can't lower rank slayers deal with it."

Dragging her feet across the road. Most of the houses are closed and so are vendors, well it's already midnight to begin with. Using her sword as a walking stick, she saw a bench. Perfect for calming her burning calves. Oh how much they ache from all the jumping, walking, running and kicking.

As Saito was about to reach the bench, she saw a figure of a kid within her peripheral. Not wanting to deal with another demon chase, she decided to first walk the kid home before resting. A much better solution than letting the kid attract demons.

Before she could set a single step, the kid she once though to be young looking boy morphed into a tall man. The road is dark and barely lit, but those eyes. Those red eyes can be seen from a far. There's no mistaking it.

"Is that? Kibutsuji Muzan? Why is he here?! Is he going to cause any chaos?! I can't. I can't face him, Even if I do. I'll be killed before I know it."

Panick began to settle within Saito's core. But curiosity got the better for her and instead of hiding and running, she stayed hidden behind a lonesome tree behind the bend.

"Dispose them. I have no need for them anymore. Do whatever you wish. But it'll be a bummer if both of them will just be devoured. Turn the other into a demon. It's much more fun that way."

"As you please, My lord."

Unable to comprehend what she just saw, Saito forgot her intentions and a gasp escaped from her lips. Without any second though she used her veiling technique, hiding her presence from the demon lord and his subordinate.

"I cannot be seen. I have to concentrate! I must report this to Oyakata-sama! It's a precious information that I can't loose!!"

Muzan looked directly towards the tree where Kairi is hiding. He pointed at the tree and his subordinate followed and investigate. None.

"No one is here, My Lord. It must have been a rodent."

"Hmm... Proceed to your mission." With a single snap he was gone. Just like a popped bubble he vanished.

Now

"After that terrifying encounter, I went straight back and ordered my crow to tell Oyakata-sama that have something important to tell him.

But of course I saved the two people who was targeted. It was insane seeing him in that form. It was suffocating."

"But then why didn't you tell us?" Obanai asked.

"Well, first you didn't ask me. Second, Oyakata-sama told me not to tell anyone; outsiders, slayers, even you guys. It's going to be very dangerous if more than the two of us know anything about that demon, but I can't just leave you in the dark. So yeah..."

Uzui then piped in and shouted at Saito. "Wait! Why did your mission take almost a week? Did you fight a Jū ni Kizuki?"

Saito took a bite of the Tonkatsu while she listens to Uzui's question. "It did not took a whole week. My schedule was so packed that my missions took a whole week. Well, do you really wanna hear it? It's kinda long..."

"I don't mind!! I love long stories!! Go and tell us, the God of Festivities will listen!!"

Saito stared at her best friend with a very annoyed look. Sighing softly as she fixed her posture.

"Fine. Don't blame me if you think it's long. Okay... Oyakata-sama called to me and said that there were slayers that kept dying in Kawane-Honcho in Shizuoka. I was the only one available."

𓂉F L A S H B A C K 𓂉

"Saito, my precious child. Go and defeat that demon that has taken the lives of our loyal slayers."

Saito nodded, but curiosity got the best of her.

"Oyakata-sama, not to be rude but is there any news from the demon slayers about what demon they encountered?"

"Actually yes, the last slayer that went in the village was able to tell me via his crow that the demons were multiplied.

On his second night, it was the same pack of demons. That's when I got worried that there might be a demon that can multiply itself or it's a Jū ni Kizuki. And that's why I want you to investigate. I know that you can do it, I believe in you, my child."

𓂻 A T  T H E  V I L L A G E 𓂻

And that same day Kairi went to the Village and heard about kids at the age of 6 to 8 years old started going missing, as well as pregnant ladies.

Staying up that night and went to patrol the whole village, she did encounter a pack of demons after a 30 minutes stroll. The demon was eating what seemed to be a seven-year-old girl. She of course beheaded them.

The pasing night was the same thing. A group of demons were on the hunt for humans to eat but luckily no one got eaten. And it's becoming rather annoying, unable to wait any longer she decided to get on the ground and search.

That same night she scavenge the whole village in hopes to find a base where demons would usually choose; like caves, underground abandoned mines, or places where the sun doesn't reach. Unfortunately, didn't find any, and then it clicked.

If there are no demons in places where a normal demon would be, then that demon might be hiding in places where the sun can reach to confuse demon slayers.

Saito wandered around the east were the sun can reach and it was a public market. It was quite amazing how the demons chose that building and didn't target the vendors and instead targeted others as to not draw attention to its base.

S

aito went in a very suspicious door. It was an abandoned basement where the tarps, woods, planks, chairs, and tables are stored. And there was a woman seated in the middle of the materials. Beside her is a pile of bones and skulls from past victims.

The demon then turned her head towards Saito.

The sickening sound of her neck twisting made Saito wince, the demon looked at the pillar with its white eyes which means the demon is impaired from seeing whose in front of her.

"So this is where you had been hiding the whole time? I can't believe i wasted four days on finding you, i could have a relaxing day if you weren't hiding like a coward!!" Saito screamed, clearly frustrated.

"You must be the demon slayer that keeps killing my kids. How cruel of you. I will avenge my children by killing you." The demon finally spoke in a rather soft but sad tone, while tears escape her colorless eyes.

"Don't sweat it, you'll be with your children anyway."

"Kekki Jutsu: Unseing Eye"

Saito's surroundings turned dark as if she is walking in the dark. "I have to concentrate...

Full Focus Blossom Breathing Third form: Swirling Lilac; Modified"

Saito took a deep breath, as her hearing heightens and used that ability to locate the demon by its vibration.

Ria, the blind demon took the opportunity and tried to sneak an attack.

"Kekki Jutsu: The Helpless Wanderer"

But luck wasn't on her side as Saito was able to navigate Ria who is hanging upside down on the ceiling.

"Blossom Breathing Fifth Form: Calendula; Raining Grace"

Then pillar plunged her sword to the demon's abdomen down to its neck, beheading it horizontally in the process. Ria's head fell and rolled on the concrete floor.

"Why did you kill me? He promised that once I killed a Hashira like you he'll bring my children back."

The demon said as her body also fell and started to turn to ashes. Akatsuki Shoyo, Ria's actual name questioned as she looked over to Saito who was standing over her.

Saito felt a tight sensation on her chest. She felt sympathy towards the merciless being.

"She lost her kids and was turned into a demon by Muzan. He lied to her. She killing those kids in hopes of finding her own."

"I'm very sorry for your loss, but you have to pay the price for killing innocent people. And the man that promised that he'll bring young kids lied, he's just manipulating you for his own good. He did it for his agenda and his own benefit. He never intended to help you."

"But what about my children? I've been looking for them for years... They are the only memories I remember from my human past."

Saito looked over the demon and kneeled, placing Ria's head on her lap and petting it gently. Ria's eyes started to water as she silently cried in the hands of the slayer.

"They are waiting for you, I know it. Go and meet them, I'm sure they miss you very much."

The demon slowly crumbles and disappears. Ria was able to choke out her name before she completely disappear.

"My real name is Akatsuki Shoyo... I just remembered. Thank you."