Chapter Text
“I have a new plan, Upper One. A plan to expose the Demon Slayer Corps’ little hideout once and for all. And you are to be the center of it!”
Kokushibou, knelt down before the Demon King, suppressed a sigh. All of his master’s plans to find the Corps had been unsuccessful for centuries. Those pesky little humans are but mere insects, who couldn't possibly stand in our way if they tried. His middle pair of eyes narrowed just a fraction as the thoughts entered his mind. So why let them?
Of course, he didn’t actually say these thoughts. It wasn’t necessary, since Muzan was already reading through them, his confident smile turning into a frown.
“I expect full compliance from you on this mission. Do not make me repeat myself.”
“Yes, Lord Muzan.”
“Excellent. Your task is to get very close to a particular Hashira, Kanroji Mitsuri. I have had Nakime observe her, and she seems kind-hearted, gullible and naive.” Muzan announced. “You are to be rescued by her on purpose, then come across her “by casualty” until she trusts you, and get her to let some info slip about the Corps’ location.”
“I understand, my lord. But why choose me?”
Muzan gave him a deadpan look. “I do not trust any of the other Upper Moons with keeping up a facade half as much as you. Consider it praise.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
“Then it is settled. You are to start immediately. It has been very cloudy these days, so you shouldn’t have problems with the sun. Nakime,” He called, “Drop him off where you saw the Hashira patrol the other day.” He turned back to Kokushibou. “I trust you will not disappoint me.”
“Never, my lord.”
“Good.” They heard the twang of a biwa, and Kokushibou was standing on a dirt path between fields, under a bright full moon. He took a deep breath, and his extra eyes melted into his skin, while the middle ones changed color to a more inconspicuous dark red.
He would not disappoint his master, he was sure of it.
……
Demons were weak and clueless creatures, he soon learned.
Not only did they jump him with seemingly no clue he was Upper One (he supposed that was good, since it meant he had successfully hidden his demonic aura and appearance), but they made almost no effort to hide themselves from any potential demon slayer as he walked down the path. Which was actually perfect, considering his plan to be ‘rescued’ by the Love Hashira.
His sword couldn’t kill demons on its own, since it was an extension of his own flesh, so he resorted to absorbing the ones who tried to harm him as long as there was no one around. The few humans he passed either smiled at him or ignored him as they passed; more proof that his disguise was flawless. You couldn’t expect less from Upper Moon One, after all.
His destination was a busy town further north from here. He had been informed by a kind old farmer that it was the center of this region of Japan, and he assumed that it would be the perfect place to find his target, if he didn’t run into her on the outskirts. The path itself was old and full of potholes, which he carefully avoided on his way. Didn’t anyone have the decency to fix the little road nowadays?
The night went by uneventfully, and it was around five in the morning when he first heard the bubbly voice of a woman that could only be the Love Hashira.
Kokushibou stopped, and listened quietly. His demonic senses told him the girl was still a ways away, reassuring a thankful couple that had just been saved from demons. If he estimated correctly, she would be back to patrolling in a minute at most, heading for his exact direction. He continued walking– a little faster now– to where he knew a demon was hiding in the underbrush next to the dirt path.
The lowly demon pounced, and he suppressed his second sigh of the day. Kokushibou could only hope she took the bait and saved him from the non-threat as soon as possible.
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“Aha! Get lost, you evil demon!” The whip-like sword sliced through the creature’s neck, and it yelled in anguish, disappearing into a pile of ashes.
Mitsuri was overjoyed; this was the second demon she had managed to kill so far this evening. Not because she wasn’t capable; no, far from it; but because all her targets tended to… run away, as of late.
It was odd, really. She was used to being underestimated as a woman in the Demon Slayer Corps. Many demons had made that mistake, before she cut their heads off. So what had changed? Did they finally catch on? No, that couldn’t be it, could it?
Either way, this issue had to be reported to the Ubuyashiki family as soon as possible. Whether it was fear or something else, it was keeping her from doing her job right! She finished saying her goodbyes to the lovely couple she saved, and took off running again, taking her usual route of patrolling alongside the perimeter of her region.
The couple… they looked so happy with each other, didn’t they? Mitsuri couldn't help but feel some longing at the sight of them together. She hadn’t told her reasons for being in the Corps to anyone except the people she trusted (Shinobu, Obanai) but it still made her a bit self-conscious. All her coworkers had such noble reasons for becoming Demon Slayers! Avenging a sibling, saving a family… and yet she just wanted to find love. It was almost ridiculous.
“Mitsuri-chan! Mitsuri-chan!” Her crow stuttered, snapping her out of her thoughts. “Someone is being attacked by a demon up ahead! Hurry!”
“Oh, you’re right, Urara, I spaced out! Kyaaa, I don’t want them injured because of me, let’s go!”