Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters — the Ubuyashiki Estate
The atmosphere was solemn and heavy.
Master Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat quietly in the corridor. Though his eyes were long blind, his gentle voice carried a power that calmed everyone who heard it.
"The battle on the train… although we successfully repelled Lower Rank One and Upper Rank Three, and saved over two hundred passengers' lives—this was only the beginning."
He coughed lightly, and his daughter immediately stepped forward to support his back.
"According to reports from the Kasugai Crows, Kibutsuji Muzan's movements are becoming more frequent. Moreover, in a certain bustling district of Tokyo Prefecture, there are signs that an Upper Rank demon has been hiding there for a long time."
Standing in the courtyard, Uzui Tengen stepped forward and knelt on one knee. Despite his flamboyant appearance, his expression was unusually grave.
"Master, that location is the Yoshiwara Entertainment District. I've already sent my three wives to infiltrate and investigate—but recently… all contact with them has been lost."
"So I need capable female slayers to assist me in infiltrating the area."
Uzui rose sharply, his gaze sweeping the courtyard like lightning, finally locking onto the recently returned trio of Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu… and the girls standing behind them—Kanzaki Aoi and Takada Naho.
"You! You'll come with me!"
In a flash, Uzui appeared before Kanzaki Aoi and reached out to grab her.
"Hey! You—diamond-headband giant!"
A hand suddenly cut in.
A blue-green iron fan snapped open, blocking Uzui's wrist with precision.
Inosuke stood in front of Kanzaki Aoi, wearing his conspicuous blue-and-white brocade haori, his expression full of irritation.
"That's my cook. If you take her away, who's going to make my food? Who's going to massage my legs? Are you picking a fight with me?"
"…Hah?"
Veins bulged on Uzui's forehead.
"This is a mission! A flamboyant demon-slaying mission! And Yoshiwara is a place only women can infiltrate!"
"Infiltrate? Women?"
Inosuke sized Uzui up from head to toe, then let out an extremely mocking sneer.
"With your build, you still need women? I say you're just trying to trick innocent girls into being free labor. How utterly un-flamboyant. What a scumbag."
"Who are you calling a scumbag?! And if I don't take them, who do I take—you stinky men?!"
"What's wrong with taking us?"
Inosuke pointed confidently at his own face—prettier than most women's—then jabbed a thumb at Tanjiro and Zenitsu.
"With this face, I'd be the top courtesan there. As for these two…"
He glanced at them with disdain.
"They could be sold cheap and still be acceptable."
"I don't want to be sold cheap!!!"
Zenitsu screamed.
Just as the scene spiraled toward total chaos—
"UMM! That makes sense!"
A powerful voice cut in.
Rengoku Kyojuro strode into the courtyard. His left eye was still wrapped in thick bandages, his chest bound in cloth, yet his flame-patterned haori billowed proudly.
"Master! Uzui!"
Rengoku declared loudly.
"If there's a suspected Upper Rank demon, then logistics personnel should not be sent into danger! The boys' proposal is sound—let them go!"
"And furthermore!"
He walked over to Inosuke and planted a large hand on his head, rubbing it vigorously.
"Inosuke-boy saved my life on the Mugen Train! I will personally ensure the safety of him and Kamado-boy! For this mission—I'm going too!"
"…What?"
Uzui froze.
"Hey, Rengoku, are you serious? Your injuries aren't healed yet, are they?
And two Hashira on a stealth mission? What is this, hunting demons or demolishing a city?"
"My injuries are of no concern!" Rengoku laughed heartily.
"As long as my heart burns, I can still wield my blade! And if we truly encounter an Upper Rank, two Hashira are far more reliable than one!"
Inosuke suddenly leapt up. A calculating gleam flashed through his emerald eyes.
Two Hashira.
One: a festival god who clearly looked rich.
The other: a loud owl who ate a lot, laughed a lot—and fought like a monster.
What did that mean?
Double combat power.
Double safety.
And—most importantly—
Double suckers.
"I AGREE!"
Inosuke shouted, snapping his fan open with a sharp snap and pointing at Uzui and Rengoku.
"If there are two Hashira acting as bodyguards, then I suppose I can reluctantly go inspect the place!"
"But let's make this clear—all food and lodging expenses are on you two! If I have to pay even a single coin, I'll sell you to a brothel to cover the debt!"
From the corridor, Master Ubuyashiki listened to the noisy courtyard and smiled gently despite his pale complexion.
"Then I leave it to you, Tengen, Kyojuro—and children."
"Safe travels.
May your blades find victory."
Meanwhile — deep within the northern forests, thousands of li away
BOOM!!!
A colossal ice lotus bloomed out of nothingness, freezing the forest for hundreds of li into a vast ice field.
"So this is where you were… you made me search quite a bit."
Doma stood atop a frozen giant tree, his dark red cult-leader robes fluttering in the icy wind.
He waved his golden fan lightly, wearing a spring-warm smile—yet his eyes were utterly cold.
Below him, in a pit of snow, Akaza knelt on one knee. His red vest was shredded by ice shards, his body coated in frost.
"Doma!"
Akaza wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, golden eyes blazing with rage.
"I knew this was your doing. That disgusting incense smell—I can detect it from ten mountains away."
"Oh my, that's Kotoha-chan's special incense," Doma replied lightly.
"How rude of you to call it disgusting. You really have no sense of romance."
He floated down gracefully.
"Enough nonsense!"
Akaza roared, stomping the ground as his compass technique flared to life.
"Technique Deployment—Destructive Death: Compass Needle!"
"I've hated you for a long time! Always wearing that fake smile, playing house with pointless games!
Since you came to me yourself—let's settle this with blood today!"
Boom!
Akaza shot forward like lightning, blue battle aura wrapping his fist as it slammed toward Doma's face.
"Destructive Death: Disorder!"
"How frightening," Doma said calmly.
"Blood Demon Art: Lotus Leaf Ice."
Countless lotus-shaped ice crystals formed instantly, blocking Akaza's punch.
The battle erupted.
The forest roared with endless explosions.
This time, Doma wasn't casual. Every strike targeted Akaza's joints and vital points, ruthless in a way never seen before.
Half an hour later—
"Hah… hah…"
Akaza knelt in the snow, soaked in blood. His regeneration could no longer keep up with the damage.
"What's wrong, Akaza?"
Doma stood before him, spotless, fan gently swaying.
"Tired already?"
"Your punches are slowing down. Is it because you hurt Inosuke… and feel guilty?"
"Shut up!"
Akaza roared.
"Who would feel guilty over some human brat?!
I just can't stand the sight of you!"
"…Is that so?"
Doma narrowed his eyes, his smile fading.
"Then why are you so angry at me? Because I raised humans?"
"Yes!"
Akaza ground his teeth.
"You're an Upper Rank! Yet you mingle with food, even call them family! It's an insult to demons!"
"An insult?"
Doma walked closer, looking down at him.
"Inosuke and Kotoha are my family. In this long, boring, empty life—they are the only things I've ever wanted to keep."
"Family?! Don't make me laugh!"
Akaza snarled.
"That kind of fragile thing is only needed by the weak!"
"Fragile?"
Doma suddenly crouched and jabbed an icy finger hard into Akaza's empty chest.
"I don't understand emotions—I was born without them, I can only imitate. But what about you, Akaza?"
"You keep saying you hate the weak, hate women, hate family… but do you really hate them?"
"Or is it—"
His voice became a knife, slicing straight into Akaza's deepest wound.
"Are you just jealous?"
"Jealous that I have what you once had… and lost with your own hands?"
"You can't stand seeing me happy because you're a pitiful creature who's forgotten who you ever wanted to protect in the first place."
Boom.
Those words were deadlier than any Blood Demon Art.
Akaza's pupils shook violently as a corner of the fog in his mind was torn away.
A dojo.
A sickly girl.
A kind master.
And himself—swearing to grow strong to protect them… only to watch them die.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH—!!!"
Akaza clutched his head and screamed, a cry born not of flesh, but of a soul collapsing.
He stopped fighting, collapsing limply into the snow.
Doma watched him, the killing intent slowly fading into puzzled curiosity.
"Oh? Did you break already?"
He tapped Akaza's head with his fan.
"Hey, not fighting anymore? I haven't even finished venting Inosuke's anger yet."
Akaza didn't move.
He lay among the ice shards, staring at the gray sky, tears streaming uncontrollably.
After a long while—
A tattooed hand grasped Doma's robe.
"Doma…"
Akaza's voice was hoarse, filled with confusion and pleading never before heard.
"Take me… to the Eternal Paradise Cult."
"…Huh?"
Doma blinked.
"What for? Be my second kid?
Nope, I already have Inosuke. Kotoha wouldn't agree either—you're a bit old for that."
"Not that…"
Akaza slowly pulled himself up, head lowered like a lost child.
"I want to see…"
"To see how you… how you live with humans."
"I want to know what that thing called 'family'… really feels like."
He raised his head. For the first time, there was no killing intent in his golden eyes.
"I want to stay there a few days. I won't eat people. I won't cause trouble. I just want to… find what I lost."
Doma stared at the usually arrogant Upper Rank Three.
He was silent for a full minute.
Then—
"Pfft—"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Doma burst into wild laughter, clutching his stomach, tears streaming as he grabbed Akaza around the neck and slapped his back hard.
"Incredible! Absolutely incredible, Akaza!"
"Are you serious? You want to come to my house and be a watchdog?"
He leaned in close, his voice dripping with mischievous delight.
"Don't tell me…"
"You really want to be Inosuke's… third uncle?"
"If that's the case," Doma chuckled,
"Inosuke would probably be very happy."
"After all—he'd have yet another person to give him allowance, wouldn't he~?"
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