Elsewhere, far from the chaos of Mount Natagumo, the night air was still—eerily calm, as if the world itself was holding its breath. The faint chirping of insects echoed through the quiet forest surrounding a small shrine. Lanterns flickered at the entrance, their gentle light illuminating the worn stone steps that led up to the wooden structure.
Inside, a man sat cross-legged before a low table. His robes were formal, his hair streaked with gray despite his youthful face. His posture exuded authority and patience, yet his eyes—sharp and calculating—betrayed a mind that never rested. This was Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.
A fluttering sound broke the silence.
Flap. Flap. Flap.
A black Kasugai Crow stumbled into the shrine, its feathers disheveled and body trembling from exhaustion. It landed roughly on the floor before Kagaya, bowing its head weakly.
"Kraaa! Message! Emergency message!" It squawked, its voice hoarse. "Massacre on Mount Natagumo! Multiple Demon Slayers dead! Unknown number of survivors! Possibly… Twelve Kizuki involvement!"
The air seemed to grow colder.
Kagaya's serene expression didn't falter, but his fingers, resting on his knee, curled ever so slightly. "A Twelve Kizuki…" he murmured softly, his tone neither surprised nor alarmed—just heavy with the weight of inevitability.
Behind him, two figures stood silently—Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, and Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira. The flickering lamplight cast their shadows long and sharp across the tatami floor.
Shinobu was the first to speak, her voice light yet laced with a seriousness that didn't match her usual teasing tone. "That's terrible… Poor souls. Mount Natagumo, you say? That mountain has always had a strange aura." She turned her gaze to Kagaya. "Should we assume a Lower Moon is responsible?"
Kagaya nodded faintly. "It's possible. The threads of fate often lead where darkness gathers. We cannot ignore the possibility that one of Muzan's Twelve has made their nest there."
He placed a gentle hand on the crow, soothing it with a soft smile before speaking again. "We will send some of the Hashira immediately. I would prefer to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, but if a Twelve Kizuki is involved… we must act swiftly."
Shinobu gave a graceful bow. "Understood, Oyakata-sama. I'll prepare at once."
Giyu remained silent, his blue eyes focused on the wooden floor. He could already feel the faint pull in his gut—the instinct that told him this mission would not end simply. Kagaya's calm voice broke through his thoughts.
"Giyu, Shinobu," he said quietly. "I trust you both to handle this carefully. Remember—those under your command are still young. Their hearts burn with courage, but courage alone cannot save them."
"Yes, Oyakata-sama," Shinobu replied, though her expression softened briefly as she looked toward Giyu.
Once outside the shrine, the moonlight painted the courtyard in pale silver. Fireflies drifted lazily between the trees, creating an almost peaceful scene that contrasted the grim task ahead.
For a while, neither spoke. Then, Shinobu broke the silence. "Tell me, Tomioka-san," she began with an oddly gentle tone, "do you ever think… demons and humans could get along someday?"
Giyu glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his face unreadable as always. "No," he said flatly. "It's impossible."
Her smile didn't waver, but there was a flicker of curiosity behind it. "Oh? You sound so sure. Even if there were demons who didn't harm humans?"
Giyu's gaze turned toward the distant treeline, where the wind whispered through the leaves. His voice was calm, but there was a cold edge to it—a conviction forged through blood and loss. "As long as demons eat humans… there can be no peace. Mercy won't stop hunger. And hunger won't stop killing."
For a moment, Shinobu's eyes. "Yes, you are right. I was just messing with you, Giyu-san." Shinobu said with a smile.
Giyu said nothing, turning away as the two Hashira began walking down the stone path.
~~~