**********

" Koyuki san! She doesn't talk or eat! Her stomach was grumbling just now yet she doesn't say she hungry!"

" Wa- Aoi chan! Calm down." Koyuki left the dishes and came up to her. The wisteria manor was hardly busy today unlike most time. She was glad the

" The girl! She's sitting there in the corner ever since the bath. I asked her to come with me but she just stares at me. It's creepy." the little girl tugged on her sleeve.

"Now now, I think she's just a little sad... she's been through a lot. She had seen her family get killed remember?" Koyuki gently put a hand on her shoulder.

An image of her parent's bodies covered in blood stained sheets flashed in Aoi's mind. She bit her lips.

Koyuki wondered if she should have said that, Aoi had lost her parents at quite young age too.

" Come on Aoi let's check up on her."

" Okay." Aoi responded, and to Koyuki's relief- she sounded determined .

" Hey there Kanao chan. That dress looks pretty on you," Koyuki smiled as she walked inside the room. Kanao was wearing a pink floral dress that Koyuki picked out for her after giving her a bath.

" I've brought some stew. Trust me it goes nice with Onigiris."

" I've made the Onigiri myself!" Aoi proudly said.

Kanao looked at them. It's been a while since she had realized she was hungry and the aroma of stew tickled her nostrils. She didn't say anything but slowly picked up an Onigiri from the plate that was sitting in front of her for a while.

" There's a good girl!" Koyuki cheered. " I'll feed you some stew okay? Say aah-

Kanae nee san did the same when she came to their house.

A sharp pain in her chest- she felt her stomache feel emptier than before so she opened her mouth and swalloed the warm food.

This felt nice.

I hope this pain stops.

Koyuki handed the girl the spoon and the bowl and watched her eat. Just a few hours ago Ice pillar dropped off this girl at the rehabilitation manor. He explained how this unfortunate little child has no one in this world.

Such a cruel world... why does fate have to prey on such young, innocent souls? 

And she noticed the girl's unnatural silence too. Douma san did say she was not much of a talker; but this was not normal for a child. Shock?

Koyuki decides she'd ask Lady Tamayo when she visits. She's been learning to treat patients and helping wounded slayers in this manor for a year now. And she was eager to help out in anyway possible.

When Kanao finished her food Aoi handed her a glass of water and asks, " Now are you ready to talk Kanao?"

Kano drinks first, then she looks around searching something. Aoi and Koyuki watches at her curiously.

" What are you searching for Kanao?"

" coin..."

" What? I couldn't hear clearly?" Koyuki blinks.

" ... my coin... nee chan's hair pin..."

" Oh you mean stuffs you wouldn't let go before Koyuki san tried to give you a bath? I placed it in a box for safe keeping." Aoi brings down a wodden box from the table. " They're right here... I thought it was important to you."

Kanao almost immediately picks up the coin and the hair pin. Koyuki had noticed the pin was identical to the one she was already wearing when she had arrived.

" Say what is that coin for? You can't buy anything good with that." Aoi raises her brow at it.

"Nee chan... gave it to me." Kanao said softly.

" Oh..." Aoi didn't know what to say.

" But hey you're talking now! That's good." Koyuki smiled again. " You must be exhausted, you had a long day so you can take a nap. Aoi will show you the room. "

" You're gonna stay in my room okay? " Aoi pulled Kanao by her hand." Come, I'll show you around the manor first !"

" Aoi chan! Give her a tour tomorrow morning. She needs some rest. You too should go to bed early tonight."

" Arrgh, why me?" Aoi whined. 

" Because you can start the tour early then. We might have more people tomorrow so if you want to have free time you have to get up early."

" Hup, fine then."

*****

As Kanao lay down in her bed she couldn't fall asleep so soon. Aoi tried to converse but because Kanao talked very little she quickly fell asleep.

These people are nice... Kanao thought.

Am I gonna live here ?- It doesn't feel real. Will they die too?

A lot of thoughts bothered her yet she finally managed to drift away in sleep. 

**************

Two days later- at the headquarters of the slayer corps.

" We lost a pillar last month and we're back at square one, no clues of the progenitor demon." Kibutsuji Muzan scowled at the four hashiras seated in front of him. This was the Master's private quarters. They would have most of the meeting out in the porch between the grooves but this was an unofficial gathering, so only the top four were present.

" Um... I was able to find a demon moon." Douma said nonchalantly, although he predicted Kibutsuji's reaction.

" And is that something to brag about?! There was still something left. Couldv'e been another powerful kizuki, or even Kagaya! You hashiras are supposed to be the finest of the slayers in a century and yet- Cough* Cough*

He couldn't finish his raging sentence as he started coughing violently. He forgot his doctor's advice not to get too excited and yell. Despite of looking almost completely fine on the outside Kibutsuji Muzan was a severely ill man. He was unable to move around outside without assistance, his blood pressure was dangerously low and he'd often have sporadic sessions, coughing out blood .

The illness itself was a curse and it had been in his family for generations. The curse of being the successor of the man who was the first & the most terrifying demon of the history.

" I apologize master-" Michikatsu Tsugikuni, the user of legendary Moon breathing remarked, concerned a bit about their master.

" Muzan sama- you must breathe and calm yourself down." Nakime the sound hashira insisted. " I'll go call Tamayo san," and she hurried inside of the mansion.

He took a few breaths and coughed a little bit more. Then he settled himself and turned towards them again, eyes bloodshot. He hated being this vulnerable, especially in front of others.

" I'm just saying- if it was really Kagaya and if I did collided with him- I might've not survived." Douma stated after he was sure that Muzan sama had calmed down.

" You rudea*s coward! " Hakuji snarled. " I would've taken him down even if it crushed all of my bones."

"But Hakuji dono- you couldn't take me out in a fight. How would you survive the main boss? "

" SHUT UP! "

" Be quiet you two or I'll slice you." Michikatsu threatened them .

" Haaa- you guys are so carefree," Muzan sighed. " Honestly, I swear at least show some respect while seated in front of your master-"

" You get respect as you earn it." A female voice stated. " And I don't think you've built the amount of greatness in your character to be respected so much."

" Ahh! Tamayo Sama! You look beautiful as always." Douma said with glee.

" I don't need your flattery Douma san." she cut him short.

The woman in lavender kimono wearing a white apron was brought in the room by Nakime. The pillar went back and took her seat beside Michikatsu and the other took a seat beside Muzan. " You didn't take your sedatives today. I made this dose stronger but why did you refuse to take it?"

He couldn't look directly in her eyes. He was half annoyed by her gallant authority and half embarrassed because he couldn't really state the real reason he refused the medication. And If he had known his personal doctor well in these five years- she would pick it up like a hawk.

" Is it because of the taste?"

Darn it.

"Ooh! I didn't know master had a dislike for bitter stuffs." Douma remarked.

"But how do you know it's bitter? " Nakime asked.

" Isn't it natural? I remember taste testing medicines for Koyuki when she was ill. She couldn't swallow as the powders were too bitter." Hakuji recalled.

" I only have one bad memory of ingesting medicines, when I was a kid- " Michikatsu started.

" Get out..." Muzan said in a defeated tone. Yet another spiral of them rambling about useless stuff was going to start now.

" Just get out. Meeting dismissed for today."

********

After attending Muzan, Tamayo was rummaging through the books in the personal Library. One of the good things about staying in this house was she got access to this place. Tamayo was given full authority of this place and they would make sure collect any type of books she needed to study. Muzan was really desperate to find a cure for his condition even though this disease was considered to be incurable.

Is it really?- one thing she'd agree on asking with that man. Because it was her practice, she's not sure about the nature of this disease completely yet. How is a curse different from natural disease? As a doctor who already had so much success in her career and preparing medicines, she couldn't just leave such a disease unstudied.

This man was her most unique patient she has ever attended.

Also she continued her study to make poison that'll work against demons. She wanted to destroy the demons... the demons who killed her family, her fiance and her friends.

" Hey, Tamayo sama! I didn't really get your words after I sent you the sample blood. Did it reach to you safely? " Douma entered the room.

" You... don't bother to inform first do you? I know I told you to meet me, but don't just come into the room. Master Muzan would be disappointed if he sees you running around inside the house without permission."

" Aw why wouldn't he? After all if he catches me meeting up with his sweetheart after hours-"

THUNK

Tamayo slammed a book loudly on the table & cut his joke .

" I don't find your banter funny Douma san. I'm a professional doctor and Kibutsuji sama is only my patient. I will not tolerate you making up rumors about me."

"Jeez- don't glare at me like that I just came to ask. You see I'm in a bit hurry- have to go on a patrol before night falls. "

" I'm sure you understand that's what I wanted to talk about," Tamayo sighed.

" The little girl Douma san, the one you rescued from Mitagomori village."

-----------------------------

Thank you for reading!

Aaasksk Terribly sorry for the unsatisfying end here . I know my pace has been a little off but  I will try to fix it on upcoming chapters.

That being said- the next chapter might be a bit delayed. I have a lot of other plans for the next month so I can't say for sure when I can update.

Until then see you next time and HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!