Kibutsuji Muzan had never been one for material desires. He didn't have any need for the things disgustingly, weak humans considered a necessity.

Love.

It irked him to his core, made him want to throw up every morsel in his body and crush every annoying ant which crawled those cities and villages.

Kibutsuji saw that gross, ideological love first hand almost everyday while blending in as a human. Ladies with eyes full of admiration, cheeks painted prettily in hues of soft pinks - men with inflated egos trying to impress the woman who clung tightly by their side.

However all Muzan saw was a blind facade of the brain's deepest needs - painting this pretty picture of the perfect person before you, when in reality the one who you 'love' really isn't as good as a person you thought them to be. Just your mind playing petty tricks on you.

The demon king considered himself a god, the woman whom posed as his wife in the human realm was so... utterly and disgustingly consumed by love for him that he found it repulsive.

Of corse every human being should bow down to him, they were weaker and are only valuable for food; it was only natural that they should worship him.

That's why... Tanjiro Kamado.

That night when he saw the small boy with hanafuda earrings, his grip strong on Muzan's shoulder. Such a look of rage, no fear evident on his face. That only changed when he turned around to show the infant in his arms.

Did yorrichi come back to haunt him? Why did this teenager have a strikingly, eerie resemblance to the demon slayer who almost killed him many moons ago. Even the spiked red hair and eyes were a carbon copy.

Disgusted.

Kibutsuji felt nothing but disgust as he remembered the boy. He saw him as a threat, an immediate one at that.

Tanjiro Kamado needed to die. This task wasn't just anything he could entrust any demon to complete, he'd take it up in his own hands to eradicate this haunting reminder of the most skilled demon slayer in history.

Kibutsuji still had the scars to remind him of the night Yorrichi hunted him down with such skill and agility it was terrifying; leaving nasty scars on his perfect body which never fully healed. A result of his 'sun breathing'.

Muzan felt his blood boil with anger at the memory.

On his mind only one thing;

Hunt Tanjiro Kamado.

Torture Tanjiro Kamado.

Kill Tanjiro Kamado.

Muzan had dismissed his fake human family a while ago, they were no use to him now that his cover was blown. So he chose to stay at a different household in his child form - making up the stupid excuse he had a 'skin disease' to not go in the sunlight.

In the mean time Kibutsuji occupied himself with books. Many of them. The family seemed to accommodate a library with was indeed useful.

It was nightfall. So Muzan opened the window, the fresh nightly air hitting his childly cheeks; the moon's glow showering his pale, sickly skin.

Jumping down off the balcony, the demon Lord landed in a dark alleyway which lead to one of the cities markets.

Instantly he was repulsed to see two drunken idiots kissing against the walls. Muzan snarled inwardly and kept his composure, silently walking past them with a deep breath.

'I don't want to bloody my clothes..' was his thoughts as he left the two drunks, luckily still with their lives.

The demon Lord found himself as expected in one of the cities most popular markets, full with many annoying ants and golden lanterns lighting up their disgusting smiles.

The 'small boy' scowled and began stalking the paths, senses on high alert as he tried to locate Tanjiro Kamado. He couldn't have been far away, because Muzan had received a recent report from Akaza telling of the Mugen Train incident.

'He must be here... you have to come through here to get to the other side of the forest.' Kibutsuji schemed, blue human eyes alert with searching purpose.

The demon was checking a nearby alleyway when a hard hand grabbed his small shoulder. How had he not sensed the presence of a human right behind him?

With a inward look of disgust, Muzan turned around slowly to meet the person.

"Hey... are you lost? Do you need help finding someone?"

'Him.'

'Tanjiro Kamado'

The boy had been looking for. Just Muzan's luck. Tanjiro stood above him with an awful smile of compassion, his cheeks chubby and bright red eyes crinkled as he grinned - haunting earrings tipping to the side a little.

He looked injured. Not gravely, but there was visible bandages wrapped around his stomach. Lips cracked as a tale tale sign of fatigue. Muzan figured Tanjiro had been crying, it was pathetic. Seeing his eyes red raw from emotion - however the previous sadness was expertly covered with a smile.

Like a mouse following a string of cheese, Tanjiro had walked straight into Kibutsuji's sharp paws.

The Lord could hardly keep his excitement in check. It hadn't been this long since he felt so joyful to torture a human to a excruciating death.

Oh how much fun he was going to have with this boy. Crushing Yorrichi's exact lookalike felt amazing. Muzan couldn't wait.

"What's your name little one?" Tanjiro pulled Muzan out of the way of the crowd so they wouldn't disturb anyone else, crouching down to his height.

The 'boy' flickered his cold blue eyes down Tanjiro's body. Evaluating his movements and injuries for a moment "... I don't remember" he lied, straightening out the neat white collar tight around his neck.

Tanjiro gave a thoughtful look "here take my hand I'll ask around and see if your parents are anywhere" standing up, the Kamado gently grabbed Kibutsuji's hand and started to walk into the crowded streets again. Unaware that he was holding the person he most-despised in the world with complete obliviousness.

Tanjiro caught many people's attention over the corse of around half an hour, asking around if anyone had lost a child or known if anyone who had. But every time the young demon slayer only received a dismissive head turn or strange look.

Muzan simply followed along, because it would be a problem to cause a scene in this busy place. He needed to be careful and lead Tanjiro Kamado away from the crawling streets.

Finally Tanjiro had given up halfway into the night, collapsing in a nearby path which wasn't as busy and sighed deeply.

"Here come take a seat.." Tanjiro panted, his head throbbing from the pressure of the packed city. It was much too overwhelming for a country-bumpkin like him.

Muzan followed, sitting down with his short legs swinging above the ground.

Tanjiro looked down at the boy dressed rather smartly "those clothes look expensive, I'll take you around the biggest houses... someone must recognise you eventually" he tried to reassure, giving the demon in disguise a wobbly smile.

Kibutsuji shook his head "no. I don't have a home"  this was the first time he had spoken.

Tanjiro crooked his brow, placing the box containing Nezuko gently on the floor to give his back a rest. "Homeless? I'm sorry you should've told me.." he mumbled dejected, moving to hug the stone faced boy.

However, Muzan moved away quickly, avoiding the hug as if it were some sort of contagious disease.

Tanjiro recoiled and scratched his neck "sorry.. no hugging I understand!"

The demon slayer thought for a moment, hand placed thoughtfully on his chin as he looked to be staring at the black sky.

"Say... would you like to come back with me. That is if you have nowhere else to go, I can't imagine leaving you on the streets"

Kibutsiji Muzan felt a pang of excitement 'the demon slayer corps. This idiot could lead me straight to it' a sadistic smile attempted to pull at his small lips, however the demon Lord resisted the urge.

'I'll have to kill him later then'

"I would like that, thank you" he spoke in such a calm and flowing voice that Taniiro felt it hard to believe that he was homeless because of the perfect vocabulary and pronunciation.

"Great! Mitsuri-san would love to meet you!" Suddenly Tanjiro was full of life again as he sprung to a stand and grabbed Muzan's hand again. "Now let's get back and get you some food! I bet the others are wondering where I am already!" He giggled, pulling Kibutsuj along behind him.

'Excellent'

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Tanjiro was feeling rather excited as he arrived at the butterfly mansion. It was like having another sibling with him again! This boy reminded him of Takeo, oh Tanjiro just wanted to spoil him forever! Sure Takeo and this child were very different in personality but the eldest son couldn't help but see his little brother's image in him.

Pulling Muzan along, the duo eventually made it to the butterfly mansion where Kocho was tending to the injuries of Zenitsu and Inosuke after the fight in the Mugen train.

This child.. he took Tanjiro's mind off Rengoku's death. So in a way the young demon slayer was happy with his presence, something to distract himself.

"Tanjiro! My god I thought you got lost!" Aoi yelled upon seeing his arrival, not yet aware of the small 'child' standing behind him.

"Ah sorry... something important came up" Tanjiro meekly scratched his neck, moving to the side to reveal Kibutsuji.

"Wha-! Who's that?!"

Muzan recoiled from all the shouting, the horrendous amount of wisteria flowers around this mansion was nullifying his senses, it made Kibutsuji want to burn down the whole place. Listening to every inhabitant scream and writhe in pain as he did so.

"H-he was homeless, I couldn't just leave him Aoi-san..."

The girl sighed loudly, giving an exasperated grunt before storming over him.

"Whatever, i need to look at your side! You've been stabbed for heavens sake Tanjiro!" She started to yank the boy indoors, however a resistance on his Haori forced him to a hault.

Meeting the boy's cold, blue eyes Tanjiro raised his brow "don't worry... you'll be safe here" he offered a kind smile. Kibutsuji had never seen a smile like that before, one that threatened to burn him like the sun.

He was disgusted. "I have.. a skin condition, I cannot go in the sun" Muzan stated, looking up at the sky. His senses were honed at least enough to predict the sun would be rising in around ten minutes. Tanjiro gave him a sympathetic smile "I see.. we'll figure it out no worries! It's not up yet so let's get inside as soon as we can ok?"

Muzan cringed at that awful smile and nodded, following behind Tanjiro into the mansion. Small legs taking gentle strides behind the sun breather.

'This must be the demon slayer's place of healing..' the demon king thought as he smelt lots of different medicines and chemicals as soon as he entered. The demon thought this place would be good to destroy as soon as possible, after all humans were weak and inferior.

They take months to heal, maybe even more if the injury is bad enough. So if he burned their source of healing to the ground, then the amount of demon slayer's would almost definitely fall dramatically.

Muzan grinned to himself unknowingly, stupid. They were all naive little idiots who lead their worst enemy into one of the demon slayer corps few safe havens. However, this was how it should be anyways.

Humans were inferior after all. Stupid little creatures compared to him. A high being, godlike at least.

It only took Muzan half a day to learn a simple scent-masking technique in order for him to not be suspected by Tanjiro's sharp nose. He had learnt the trick after him and Tanjiro's first meeting when the slayer found him in that city - simply out of precaution.

But now this new technique seemed to be extremely more valuable than he first anticipated it to be. Kibutsuji may even have fun with this, playing with the sun breather's mind was something Muzan could take pleasure in.

If Tanjiro Kamado could be of use, even if he was used for enjoyment - then Kibutsuji would spare the demon slayer's life.

Either way, the demon Lord vowed to torture Tanjiro. Weather it be mental or physical, it'd be pure happiness for Muzan to watch Tanjiro crumble into a hollow shell of flesh. Completely devoid of that annoying smile and innocence.

Muzan stared blatantly at the boarded off room of which he was lead to, pale blue eyes staring holes into the bland looking room. This was certainly not the right attire for a high being like Muzan. But he decided to put up with it for now. The overall outcome of this visit was sure to play right into Muzan's cold palms, after all.

The boy with Hanafuda earrings sighed and placed the box containing his sister in the corner of the room. Muzan watched as Tanjiro stretched and cracked his back then shoulders.

"Ah-! Ouch remind me not to do that again!" The demon slayer hissed in pain; the wound in his side opening. Kibutsuji could smell the boy's blood seeping through the temporary bandage, it was luring.

Tanjiro laughed lightly, patting the hard wood of the box; which caused a orchestra of scratches and scuffles from inside. Muzan narrowed his blue eyes. That girl was a traitor. He wanted her dead just as much her brother.

"Have a seat! I asked Shinobu-sama to board off the windows so it wouldn't hurt your skin! Good right?" He limped up to the window and tapped the oak as if to emphasise the point "sturdy as ever!"

Muzan made no response, which seemed to make the Kamado all the more nervous.

Tanjiro gestured to the small bed made for a child, sitting down and patting the soft material next to him to gesture Kibutsuji over "you're not much of a talker, come sit... let's discuss a few things before Aoi practically knocks me out in order to tend to my wounds"

The demon king scowled and did as asked, neat, polished shoes tapping against the wooden flouring - hopping onto the bed with much internal turmoil. Merely being this close to Yoriichi's descendant made Muzan's skin crawl with putrid rage.

Tanjiro smiled, earrings clanking against his plump cheeks as his head tilted gently to the side "alright! So... are you sure you don't have a name?" The slayer pondered, feeling a little unease at his unwavering stare.

The small 'child' shook his head, straight black hair swept to the side placidly. "As I've said before. I do not" Muzan didn't enjoy having to repeat himself.

Waving his hands apologetically, Tanjiro placed a finger on his chin as if in thought. Bright eyes ghosting over the Nezuko's box. Those horrid, reminiscent irises. The same ones which stared down on him centuries ago, glaring at him like some sort of inferior animal!

Shaking subtly with unbridled rage, Muzan felt the almost-irresistible urge to rip Tanjiro's eyes straight from their sockets in the most painful way possible.

He could do it so easily right now... simply crush his skull in less than a secon-

"Do you like the name Takeo?"

Muzan zeroed in his icy gaze onto the younger, preventing his anger from bubbling to the surface. Takeo? Why such a peculiar name? Muzan thought for a moment, this would only be temporary anyways...

As the demon Lord was about to nod. A sudden realisation dawned on him. 'Takeo' that name was cried out by the woman of Tanjiro's family he had slaughtered. Most likely the mother.

Kibutsuji felt his eye twitch.

Was this boy honestly using Muzan himself as a means to fill his hole of grief from the loss of his family? Absolutely disgusting.

The demon felt his hands automatically rise to the Kamado's neck. Just one movement and his spine could snap in half like a twig. Just one clench if his hand around the boy's throat-

"Oh! Would you like a hug?" Tanjiro beamed innocently, blissfully unaware. All that he registered was the child's hands rising towards him - so Tanjiro took his chance, arms tightly wrapping around the smaller.

Muzan let out a small choked gasp, utterly frozen in place. The demon slayer's warmth was unrivalled against his cold, lifeless skin. It was like placing your hand in a burning fire. Muzan felt his skin prickle uncomfortably as Tanjiro squeezed their bodies together.

"Ah this is nice! Since you didn't say yes to the name I don't want you to be uncomfortable, so let's avoid labels for now ok?" Muzan recoiled as Tanjiro's hand started to rhythmically run through his dark hair.

Such intimate affection made the demon king bristle with unease. It was unknown against his touch-starved skin. "Fine, will you get off now?" The older spat.

Tanjiro shrunk back and laughed "sorry... well, I'll get going now. You stay here and I'll bring you some food later ok?" He reassured, leaving the bed and placing his hand atop Nezuko's box in an affectionate manner.

Kibutsuji allowed his teeth to unclench as the red-head moved further away. His cold uncanny eyes staring holes into that familiar box, the place where one of his own demon traitors resided peacefully; unbeknownst to his presence. Muan was sure Nezuko would recognise him at first eye contact.

Even when masking his scent and changing his form, Muzan's lower moons were able to identify him with a flicker of his sharp pupil. So Nezuko was sure to notice, and he'd have fun with mentally tormenting her. Hopefully- just maybe Tanjiro would leave her in the same room...

"Before I go... I have to leave this here. Just- don't freak out if you hear something ok? I'll explain it later"

It looks like the god's really did favour Muzan. Or maybe they were scared of him? Well it didn't matter, he got what he wanted either way.

"That's fine, goodbye now"

~~~

Kibutsuji has started to grow very interested in this Yoriichi doppelgänger.

In addition, he had gotten to learn a lot about the demon slayers during this little 'undercover mission'.  They were strange for short, but no behaviour too out of the ordinary... just normal materialistic stuff humans do.

Tanjiro Kamado had taken it upon himself to act as an older brother. To say the least, it was incredibly annoying. Muzan hated how touchy and affectionate this human was, always moving for hugs, head pats and even the occasional kiss on the forehead. However that would only make the eventual torturing off the boy more enjoyable in the end.

The red head would take Muzan out during the nighttime, seemingly satisfied with his excuse of a bad skin illness not allowing him near sunlight. A naive boy his was for believing such a lie, Muzan expected better in all honesty.

Though, while Tanjiro seemed completely bashful and consumed with love - the same couldn't be said for those who made an effort to visit the, quote: 'strange child who Tanjiro adopted'.

Not so long ago, a hashira, more specifically, the water pillar visited Tanjiro to see where all his spare time was going. After all the man wanted to train his soon to be Tsugako, and now he was always off to 'look after Takeo'... goodness knows what that meant, Tomioka thought.

So he decided to find out, and there was instantly something off about the whole situation.

As he looked into the cold blue eyes of this boy, a restricting air settled around him. His movements were unusual, 'Takeo' would walk with such elegance and prestige it was hard to believe the so called homeless story Tanjiro told him.

It felt as if the child had a shadow of malice and mystery lurking behind him, the way he coddled inside his room during daylight with the door barred shut.

The way he ate food slowly as if swallowing lumps of bile. Subtle veins around his dainty hands pulsing with every mouthful, though his expression remained serene throughout the process. Tomioka had also noticed how horrifically petrified Nezuko was around him.

She refused to leave her box whenever the child was in her view or in smelling distance. Her movements fidgety and sharp all the time as if a small animal avoiding the jaws of a predator.

But Tanjiro insisted there was nothing wrong.

Tomioka started to get worried.

"Tanjiro, you need to find his parents." Giyuu insisted, pulling the young slayer aside Muzan's room for some privacy. Not that it would do much, the demon could hear every word.

Tanjiro looked at him like the pillar just suggested something utterly outrageous "what? Giyuu-san I told you he doesn't have any. I searched the whole city, plus he's really getting used to it here" the Kamado squinted his eyes a little, defences flared.

Sighing, Giyuu placed a hand on the teen's shoulder, staring down at his passionate eyes, his lips tucked in an act of stubbornness. He looked cute.

"There's something... wrong with him, Tanjiro believe me please" the pillar would never be one to express such acts of need, but with Tanjiro it was different, he was special.

The boy shook off Tomioka's hand with an aghast look, blinking a couple times to assess the situation. Did he hear that correctly? Giyuu wouldn't normally say something like that. Tanjiro must've heard him wrong. "Sorry Giyuu-san, can you repeat that?"

"That kid's making you act weird! Kocho assessed him and there's nothing wrong with his skin Tanjiro, he's lying about something. Think about it, he acts like a noble, I hardly believe he's homeless. Tanjiro he's manipu-"

"Tomioka that's enough."

The young slayer looked at Giyuu's normally bored, now sharp and attentive features, his brows were scrunched in anguish, mouth open in protest; almost like he was ready for battle.

"why're you saying all this? YOU are the one acting strange" Tanjiro looked the male over, the same way he would to someone who may dare to insult his sister.

Tomioka bit the inside of his lip, this conversation was getting nowhere, and the tension only worsened.  He looked down on Tanjiro, they were close to one another - bodies maybe a couple steps away from the other.

He could feel Tanjiro's breath growing hotter in short puffs, his fists whitening.

"I'm trying to help, you don't understand-"

Suddenly the air changed, a constructing, daunting cloud fogging the surroundings. Tomioka could feel it, those cold blue eyes staring into his back - slashing and hacking away at his skin, tearing into his flesh and plunging a fist to capture his soul in a vice grip.

"Is there... a problem?"

Giyuu prickled uncomfortably as he slowly turned to the door of the child's room, glimpsing the demon in disguise standing almost stone like, arms twisted behind his back.

Tanjiro moved past the hashira quickly, his face brightened again at Muzan's presence "hey! Nothings the matter I'm just finishing up here!" He wrapped a protective arm around Kibutsiji's shoulder and lead him back inside, and once the boy returned, Tanjiro diverted his attention back to the pillar.

"Giyuu-san, I hope we forget about this. I really would hate for it to change our training sessions" he stated coldly, colder than ever before. Tomioka didn't know how to respond, he couldn't respond. Tanjiro was completely different, he wanted to see the boy's smile again. But all that was received now was a motionless straightening of his lip.

"Training is postponed."

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Muzan squinted his eyes, padding up to his bed and assessing the sun breather's body language. He was sad, it wasn't hard to tell. You didn't need to have demonic senses to figure that one out.

He heard the conversation, and it was indeed alarming. The hashira had a better perception for danger than Kibutsuji had originally estimated. He had only met two hashira so far, that being the insect and water, but both seemed to be a little suspicious.

Well it was no bother, he had wrapped the boy with hanafuda earrings around his little finger. As long as Tanjiro was here, Muzan would be able to extend his stay and gather even more info.

Time was not on his side though, Kibutsuji had to be quick but steady in order to execute this plan to perfection.

"Hah! Sorry about that, Giyuu-san is a bit paranoid" Tanjiro gasped and let out an exasperated sigh, expelling all his pent up stress in one, long exhale.

Muzan glared towards the door "I can certainly tell. Controlling also, doesn't he seem a bit possessive to you?"

Tanjiro quirked his head in question, sitting on the floor since he knew the boy didn't appreciate others sitting on his bed. "Why'd you think that?" It was weird to hear such a statement from a young child, but Tanjiro was somewhat used to his advanced vocabulary now.

"I can just tell, you're pretty popular around here, aren't you?"

That was a clear observation the demon Lord discovered on his very first night, and it became even more apparent the more the days go by. It was entertaining to watch, but also disgusting. Seeing so many humans blindly acting in the name of love and compassion, it was sickening but something the demon had learnt to put up with.

"Oh I wouldn't say that! I just help out sometimes.." he giggled innocently, almost plastering the label 'dense' directly on his own forehead with the statement.

'This kid...'

"Tanjiro! I've brought you and the little one some soup made especially by Kocho-sama!" Aoi yelled from outside the door, giving a brief warning before storming into the room with a two steaming porcelain bowls in her hands.

"That smells delicious! I'll go and thank Shinobu-san personally later!" He beamed, bowing to Aoi and grabbing one to hand to Muzan who was still glaring at her.

She shivered under his gaze and quickly departed the room out of fear, Aoi was not normally a girl to avoid someone, but she decided to listen to her gut on this one. Besides... this was a 'special mission' apparently to Kocho.

Aoi wondered what that meant, and just why the older woman was stirring some sort of bottled concoction into only one of the soup bowls.

It wasn't her place to question it though, Shinobu always had a calculated reason for doing things.

Sipping at his bowl, Tanjiro felt his cheeks burn with delight "mmh this is just lovely to have on such a cold night, isn't it? I bet it's hard not being able to play in the day like other kids" Tanjiro glanced at Muzan, who was staring down at his own bowl with a look of disgust.

"Are you... not hungry?" He changed the subject, figuring it must be touchy.

Muzan scrunched his nose. 'What a cleaver woman.' He thought.

There was a supple scent of Wisteria disguised behind a barrage of spices and herbs. But only in his meal, there was none in Tanjiro's. This amount would surly weaken Muzan, so he didn't want to risk eating the food... but that way he would be playing into Kocho's hands.

"Here, let me pour my bowl into yours. I've eaten already" the demon offered, tweaking his hand in the air to draw the red head in closer.

With a delighted smile, Tanjiro gracefully accepted and scarfed down the liquid in no time. Now Muzan had an empty bowl, that would probably throw the insect hashira off his scent for at least a weak or so.

Gosh what an annoying pest she was, Shinobu certainly lived up to her breathing style, considering she was just as persistent as a fly. Muzan would make sure to kill her nice and slow when the time came. All in due course..

"Where's your... box?" Muzan questioned, faking innocence by acting as if he didn't know Nezuko resided there. Tanjiro had yet to 'introduce' them.

The boy stiffened and placed his bowl on top of Muzan's, ready to be cleared away.

"Ah, Zenitsu is... keeping it safe" he deadpanned, a nervous sweat trailing the demon slayer's forehead as he thought of his friend chasing poor Nezuko around while squealing with delight. Kibutsuji hummed, he found it rather fun tormenting the girl while Tanjiro wasn't present. But that would have to wait for now.

The eldest Kamado was much more fun.

Muzan released a breath into the silence, making Tanjiro turn his head in question of the bored sigh.

"Let's go out, I want to walk" said Muzan lazily, hopping down from his bed and luring the sun breather to follow him like the obedient dog he had proven to be. Tanjiro would do absolutely anything Kibutsuji asked, he had even neglected Nezuko in comparison to the time he used to spend with her. Muzan was slowly taking over Tanjiro's life and behaviours, and the demon slayer was completely unaware to it all.

"Oh I know, let me take you to me, Inosuke, and Zenitsu's favourite spot!" He exclaimed delighted, grabbing Muzan's small hand.

Though repulsed, he let it happen. It would help in gaining Tanjiro's trust after all - so the demon Lord swallowed the urge to swipe the red head's arm clean off.

Though, Tanjiro felt stunned by coldness of the smaller's hand, it was as if he had put his palm to soak in a cold bath then dried them off in the wind - quite unpleasant but strangely refreshing.

As they walked, Muzan took the time to notice Tanjiro's surprisingly delicate but sturdy frame. The way he carried himself was quite mesmerising, earrings gently tapping against his cheeks with the rhythm of steps. The demon Lord felt as if he was watching Tanjiro for an eternity, lost in a daze of some sort. Before he knew it, the slayer plunked himself on the floor with a sigh.

"I really like it here" he said rather silently. "It's calm"

Muzan looked over his surroundings, sure he could understand how the placid shine of leaves above them trapped an atmosphere of tranquility, complimented with a small wooden bench which decayed with the constriction of ivy crawling it's legs would be pleasant to a mere human. But he?

It was rather ugly, unimportant and boring.

Tanjiro smiled wholly and sat himself down with a huff on the bench, un-crinkling  his Haori while doing so.

The boy patted a space next to him, gesturing his life's enemy in disguise to take a seat.

Muzan thought that while he would not take pleasure in the surrounding, he could at least indulge in his little pawn of amusement. The demon moved closer and glazed his eyes over the young boy's chest, the subtle tightness of Tanjiro's uniform fabric around his pecks, noticing his unique body features. Muzan stared until Tanjiro shifted away from the demons's line of view.

"Ahem.. well tell me more about you" the little demon slayer perked, twitching his sensitive nose at some nearby scent. Kind of like a cat, Kibutsuji thought. He liked cats.

In fact now that the demon Lord thought about it more, Tanjiro had many feline qualities; dainty but aggressive and ruthless, eloquent in manner and he practically had 9 lives. Hell, he has probably lost around 3 or 4 already and the boy wasn't even halfway through his life. Muzan didn't know how Tanjiro was alive.

Maybe it was because of his Yoriichi blood... Yorrichi. The name stung and poisoned Muzan's mouth.

"Uh?"

Torn out of his hateful daze, the 'child' shielded his face - feeling the veins on his head pulsing and his deep blue eyes bleeding red slowly.

"Are you okay?" Tanjiro asked worried.

Muzan gritted his teeth, forcing his demonic features to bubble back down to his gut as he turned to face the slayer "I'm unimportant. How about you tell me instead"

Tanjiro bristled and sat himself up straight, "okay! Well my ultimate goal is to avenge the deaths of my family. That man who was responsible... I'll kill him even if it kills me in the process" the words came so deep within Tanjiro's gut that it made him shake slightly with anger when he forced out the demon king's name through his lips.

Muzan laughed. Internally of course.

How stupid, how futile, how disgusting.

To think Tanjiro even thought for one second he could kill the great demon king himself, made Muzan snicker with pity for the boy. If he really wanted, the person Tanjiro had just vowed to destroy could kill him in an instant right here.

"What's so funny?" Tanjiro asked confused, clearly slightly offended after he had shared such a heartbreaking moment of his life with the little boy. "I was coughing, sorry" Muzan fixed his composure quickly.

"Anyways, how do you plan on doing this" he followed.

The red hair exhaled a long, thoughtful sigh. His shoulders slumped and he seemed to sink and merge with the wooden bench. "I need to be stronger, train to my limit"

Kibutsiji let his skin soak in the chill of the moon as it seeped through the leaf canopy above them, the watery glow complimented Muzan's fake blue eyes with a dusted shine on his irises. Tanjiro awed, completely forgetting the tense topic "wow, your eyes are beautiful"

Startled, the 'child' flinched back a little and hid his porcelain, doll-like face back in the shadows. "Don't spout obscenities" Muzan spat.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to make you mad" Tanjiro panicked, waving his hands around the air in apology.

So disgusting, horrible, and corrupt Muzan thought. For some reason the demon king had gotten a little lost in the conversation and seemed to forget Tanjiro was a pitiful human, and the reality slapped him in the face sharply. Now all he felt was repulsion. Muzan imagined squeezing the slayers neck till his pretty eyes rolled from their sockets...

Huh? Pretty?

Muzan thought to himself in bewilderment. Pretty?

{ 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉 𝟣 𝖾𝗇𝖽 }
𝟧𝟩𝟢𝟫 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽𝗌