"I won't go during the day." Doma looked up at the stars and felt himself take in a breath for patience.

"Daki, we have to - " he began.

"No!" She cried, crossing her arms and sitting on the ground like Inosuke used to do when he threw his tantrums. "No, I won't go if it's during the day!"

"Daki, it would make the demon slayers more comfortable and it makes sense from their perspective - " Doma tried to coax.

"And it traps us!" Daki snapped. "If this goes wrong we'll be caught in a trap, we won't be able to escape, we'll die!"

"We won't die," Doma lied through his ignorance and painful lack of knowledge that he knew may just kill them all. "We're upper moons, that's why they want to meet in daylight... because they know they can't kill us."

"We will! You know we will," Daki whined. "I don't even want to do this and I definitely don't want to go when the sun is out!"

"I'm with Daki," Gyutaro announced, surprising absolutely no one.

They sat around a rocky forest clearing. Kotoha, Mirakuru, and Inosuke had all moved to a safe location, close enough to the slayer headquarters so Doma could reach them if this went south but far enough so no slayers wouldn't stumble on it. It was actually an impressive little inn that charged a decent price and had a good amount of wisteria trees around to discourage any demons from venturing closer. It didn't do much against demon slayers though...

The moon was overhead but Doma could sense the sun was only an hour or so from rising. If they wanted to get to the slayer headquarters and even have these talks, they needed to leave soon. It had been hell and a half convincing Kotoha to let him go and even then, she had held his face and kissed him like it was their last.

He promised her he'd return... as much as he intended to keep that promise, the threat of a demon slayer's sword was closer than ever.

"We are four of the most powerful beings on this planet," Akaza spoke up from where he leaned on a tree. "Of course the humans are cautious. Meeting during the day makes them feel as though they have some control. If we all work together, there's no way they can kill us. If they try, we hold a shaded position until night comes. Our stamina can outlast any demon slayer, no matter how powerful they are."

"But we'd be at a disadvantage. We'd be on their turf, man." Gyutaro argued. "They'd have the upper hand - I can smell the wisteria from here."

"Then we cover each other's back. If one of you gets grotesquely injured or poisoned, we cover you until you're back at full. We would have to be conservative with our offense so we don't bring the place down around us. If we are attacked, staying inside and keeping the building together should be our top priority. Doma can keep slayers locked at bay, the two of you have long-range attacks, and I can cover our asses if they get too close - "

"That assumes we have to fight them," Doma interrupted Akaza.

"The odds of that aren't exactly in our favor," Gyutaro sneered.

"Yeah! You heard the hashira! He hates us!" Daki whined. "They all hate us! They won't work with us! This is going to be pointless!"

"Maybe," Doma soothed. "But... you two never would've done half the things we have if you were half a century younger, maybe they can surprise us too."

That was true. The idea of Daki giving up feeding or Gyutaro working with Doma was still a crazy fact that Doma could imagine still gave Muzan a headache.

"But they're humans," Gyutaro sneered.

"And so were we," Akaza smirked. "We changed. We grew desperate, maybe they have too. It's been centuries and they've gotten nowhere close to killing that bastard. We're the best shred of hope they've ever had." 

A wind picked up through the trees drawing Doma's attention once more up to the stars that peeked through the swaying branches.

"So... I guess it all depends on what matters more to them; their dumb morality or their chance at killing Mumu once and for all?" Daki pondered.

"Ey - ey, what's with you being all smart?" Gyutaro teased, sitting down next to Daki.

"Shut up!" Daki cried, her ribbons flicking with displeasure, one slapping her brother in the face.

"So, are we accepting that we're heading off to the headquarters?" Doma demanded before Gyutaro could cry in indignation.

"No," Daki answered, jutting her chin in the air as she sneered. "But you're gonna go anyway and that means we have to go with you."

"I am going to go," Doma nodded.

Daki sighed and threw herself dramatically on her back. "You're gonna kill us all."

"Maybe he will," Akaza agreed. "But it'll be a fight to remember."

Both Gyutaro and Daki groaned at that familiar mantra.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Kyojuro's crow led them to the mansion (so it was crows that had allowed the slayers to send information so fast. Interesting). It was a good-sized house though the stink of wisteria flowers was overpowering, but Akaza could admit it was a good base of operations. Nothing compared to the vastness and intricacies of the infinity fortress, but it was suitable. Crows funneled in and out of the house and the stench of nichirin swords and demon blood was practically baked into these walls.

Kyojuro's crow perched on the roof of the house and studied the four demons as Doma approached the door.

"Do we just knock?" Daki asked skeptically. She stood at her brother's side and Doma could tell she was ready to jump into action, every muscle taut and ready to snap. Gyutaro was a bit better at concealing it, but his eyes gave his nervousness. He was picking every shadow apart like it was a slayer in hiding and every so often he fidgeted with one of his scythes, rolling it over his fingers in a display of mastery...

Akaza himself was a bit tense, but what idiot wouldn't be when walking into a nest of slayers. He doubted Muzan would feel confident doing what they were about to do...

Yeah, Muzan wouldn't have even considered it. Sunrise was minutes away and in a few steps, they'd be trapped inside this mansion with the sun as their prison, surrounded by wisteria and steel. Was it stupid? Yeah.

But Akaza wouldn't lie, a part of him was thrumming with excitement. Whether this went badly or well, something was going to change. If they joined the slayers, they might just be able to pull off the murder and coup of the century. If not, well Akaza would get the fight of his life, and god no matter how moral he got, that thrill would never grow old.

Koyuki would be frightened of him if she was still here... and he was ashamed of that. But Hakuji was dead and like it or not he was Akaza. Akaza lived to avenge Hakuji and make all who had loved him proud... but if he didn't have that, he still had the fight in his heart and the idea of fighting a group of slayers at the same level of Kyojuro was... exhilarating.

A knock pulled him out of the spiral and he consciously relaxed his fist. Doma had knocked and the crow on the roof cawed in tandem.

Within a moment the door slid open and the demons came face to face with a young girl possessing the creepiest eyes Akaza had seen in a human to date. She stared at them all with a controlled smile on her face and blinked once.

"Welcome. The Master's been expecting you, please come in." Her voice pinged uncomfortably off Akaza's spine, familiar in nature but oh so wrong. It was monotone, controlled... but it had the same lightness to it that Miku's had. She was a kid, but the level of control she had over her movements and expressions... It was the same control Kyojuro had held as he sat at a table surrounded by enemies, a smile firm on his face as his eyes glimmered.

Of course this girl would share that level of control. She worked with demon slayers, traumatic acceptance and discipline were practically carved into their existence.

They followed the girl through the halls, Daki basically bristling at every creak in the floorboards. Gyutaro tensed every time their hall intersected another one, prepared for an ambush. Doma managed to stride without revealing a sliver of nervousness, he had his mask back on again showing the world a demure, polite expression as he observed the house passively.

Akaza only rolled his neck as the suffocating smell of wisteria filled his every sense.

Finally, the girl turned back to them, gesturing to a door to their side.

"The Master wishes to meet you before the hashira meeting." Nothing else, just a statement and a gesture of her hand to the door. Akaza clenched his jaw and ignored the subconscious fears that rolled in his mind. He could activate his blood demon art to sense for any dangers... but that might seem aggressive. Still... something felt off about this and the fact that he couldn't be sure frightened something mortal in him.

Daki and Gyutaro clearly were perturbed too, they were practically merging into one with how close they stood beside each other. Daki's ribbons pulsed with her nervousness and while Gyutaro had stowed away his sickles, he obviously seemed to want to fidget judging by his twitching fingers.

Doma, with that mask of false politeness, bowed to the girl.

"Thank you," he murmured as he turned to the door and slid it open.

Akaza would begrudgingly admit that he braced himself. He waited for the attack, the flash of nichirin, a sudden battlecry. His senses were scrambled, his confidence wavering, if there was a slayer on the other side of the door, he couldn't smell them over the wisteria or hear them until they moved.

But nothing came.

The door slid open and they were met by candle-lit warmth, tatami mats, another child, and the master of the demons slayers. All things considered, as Akaza walked in, he was underwhelmed.

The master was not a warrior. His fighting spirit was warm in a way Akaza hadn't quite seen before. There was determination there, simmering under a weaker, diseased figure. There may be a rage, the gentlest of ones if so, but the violet spirit that burned in the master's soul was strong in a way Akaza didn't have time to dissect.

"Master Ubuyashiki," Doma bowed and Akaza followed suit, stiffly and respectfully. Daki and Gyutaro lowered their heads but did nothing else. Akaza could tell Gyutaro was skeptical and Daki was unimpressed by the blind man they faced. The master of the demon slayers... 

"You must be the Moons," Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled, and there was strange warmth there Akaza wasn't sure he could understand. They were demons, monsters that had slain many of this man's followers... and that surely caused the rage hidden in those clouded eyes, yet the man could smile sincerely.

Strange.

"Please," Kagaya urged, gesturing to the ground as he stared straight beyond. They all sat on the mats, kneeling in Doma and Akaza's case. Akaza took care to study their surroundings.

There was another door to their left, different from the one they'd entered that had now been slid shut. There was light peeking out from under that door's frame and Akaza could make out the distant sound of rousing birds. Surely that door led outside - they'd have to be wary of it. The roof didn't seem to be harboring any threats and strangely enough, there were no guards, only another young girl sitting by the master's side.

Did the Master trust them that much to not take a chance to kill the leader of the demon slayers? Or was this a test?

"I admit, I'm curious," Kagaya's gentle voice pulled Akaza away. "When Kanae first offered her thoughts on reformed demons, I wasn't sure what to think. Similarly, when Kyojuro explained the situation I remained skeptical. I'm skeptical still... but curious, and recently curiosity has borne good fruit. Tell me... I want your names, your stories, I wish to understand why such high-level demons would claim to rebel against Muzan, why they would turn to their enemies."

They all glanced at each other and unsurprisingly it was Doma who spoke first.

"I am Doma, I was once Upper Moon Two," he introduced.

Kagaya slowly turned his head towards the girl and she smiled.

"He's the tallest of the lot, leanly built but muscular, as expected. His hair is a soft silver, almost gold in the lightning, and it seems to be unruly. He is the rainbow-eyed demon that Kanae-san described, with the red stain on the top of his head and the golden fans at his belt. He's comfortable with polite courtesies and hides his emotions well behind a smile." The girl's descriptions were given swiftly and succinctly. Kagaya smiled with gratitude for her and then continued with interactions.

Akaza introduced himself, then Gyutaro, then Daki with perhaps a bit more snip to her voice. Each of them was described quickly, highlighting recognizable visuals and weapons.

"He's well-built and shorter. The stripes he dons are blue and cover his arms and parts of his chest. His hair is pink, much like how Kyojuro-san described and he carries no weapons, though he holds himself like he's at a dojo. Unlike the first, he scowls, but he holds himself confidently."

"He is slightly more misshapen than the rest, though he seems self-conscious of it. He appears lithe, and would probably move quickly, unpredictably even. Birthmarks cover his face, his teeth are sharpened, his eyes are dark and his sclera are golden. I know he has sickles, but he's stored them somewhere I cannot see. He seems very wary."

"She is sticking closely to the aforementioned one. She's immensely human appearing, much like the first, very pale in complexion and wearing revealing clothes, though they seem to tie into the ribbons on her waist that move with her, likely her blood demon art. Her hair fades to green at its tips and her eyes are golden with a center of red. I believe she's reminiscent of the demon Giyu-san and Shinobu-san encountered on Natagumo Mountain."

She was so serious, so orderly. Ignoring her ridiculous vocabulary, her simple monotone descriptions made Akaza's skin crawl as she routinely dissected each of them with their stances alone.

Kotoha had been able to look at someone and guess what they were feeling, but she did it with an air of warmth and caring. This girl... this girl looked at them and tore apart the details into flaws, descriptors, and warnings; it was calculated, like how Akaza's demon art could locate weaknesses, except she did it in a moment with her mind.

All the while Akaza stared at Kagaya and the girl, who he eventually deduced through the thick stench of wisteria to be his daughter. Kagaya nodded politely and seemed to commit all of their descriptions to memory.

"Welcome friends," he murmured eventually. "If that's what you are."

"It's what we desire to be," Doma answered diplomatically. Always one for pleasantries... 

"That is my hope," Kagaya murmured wryly. "Please... tell me how all this came to be."

Doma took a moment before going into the age-old story that Akaza had probably heard far too many times.

"It started when I met Kotoha. I used to be in charge of a cult, though that sounds unsavory - "

"No... before that," Kagaya interrupted softly, startling both Doma and Akaza. "Tell me how you became a demon. Tell me of your sins and your triumphs and your life. Tell me of Muzan and yourself... and then tell me of why you left him."

Akaza felt his throat close, strangely enough. The master wanted all of that!? He thought back to the hashira he'd slain and the slayers that fell to his hand and he had a sneaking suspicion that they would all be asked similar questions. This was a trial in itself and... if they couldn't convince the master, perhaps they would have to fall on plan B after all and fight their way out. Maybe this was the prerequisite - the test to see if they even deserved a trial...

Very suddenly Akaza didn't want to be here. He had no desire to spill his heart and soul to a stranger, let alone an old enemy. He would not use Hakuji's tragedy to defend Akaza's sins. What happened when he was human would not excuse what he'd done as a demon.

Doma took a breath he didn't need before beginning again and Akaza cursed him. Doma, of course, was willing. This was his chance to give Kotoha and Miku a home, a permanent place where they could grow old.

Gods damn it all this was their chance to feel safe again. Akaza clenched his jaw and tried to prepare himself. Fuck. Fuck -

"I was born a strange child..." Doma murmured through Akaza's staunch headspace. "I did not know emotion, and my eyes marked me as 'holy' which made my parents place me on a pedestal. From that pedestal, I would not know emotion for a very long time."

Like a wary river, it all trickled out of Doma's mouth. His childhood in a cult, the murder of his father, the arrival of Muzan, and in excruciating detail... the horrors of demon hood. Doma didn't hesitate to spill his guts and Akaza both cursed and admired his honesty as the demon lay bare all he did and enjoyed as an early Moon. He explained finding Gyutaro and Daki, turning them into what they were now, he explained his rivalry with Akaza, and he explained his nonchalant attitude to the entire world that he held no emotion for.

"And then... I met Kotoha," Doma murmured, his voice trembling for almost a moment. "And like... like an epiphany, she brought me emotions. It all changed so quickly and drastically and very quickly I... I fell in love with her and grew to love her son, Inosuke."

Kagaya visibly brightened at the mention of the young demon slayer and Akaza felt strangely reassured by that.

"I loved Kotoha... and I had to change because the monster I was and the man she fell in love with were too drastically different. Because I fell in love with her... I appreciate humanity and grew to love it too."

 Akaza glimpsed Daki openly roll her eyes and Akaza had to throw Gyutaro a harsh glare when the demon almost snickered.

"He would not hear of a demon falling in love with a human, so when he threatened my family I knew I had to escape - "

"Yes... so I've heard," Kagaya smiled, interjecting as Doma briefly skimmed over why Muzan wanted to kill him. Akaza knew he purposefully emitted Miku from the tale... they wouldn't speak of her until they could be certain that they could trust these slayers with the information of Miku's existence. "Though, I must admit there is a discrepancy in the story you're telling and our... findings."

A pin could've dropped three rooms away and Akaza would've heard it.

"A discrepancy?" Doma echoed warily after a moment.

"Kanae spoke of a young girl you travel with. One who shares your eyes and a faint aura of a demon, though nothing she's ever sensed before. Kyojuro also mentioned her, specifically how you failed to mention her in the retelling of your escape."

Akaza felt his muscles trying to tense and he pushed them back down. There was no aggression in Kagaya's tone yet...

Maybe Miku's story would have to come out sooner than intended...

"If you wish us to believe you are truthful in your intent, I must politely demand the truth from you all," Kagaya explained, firmly perhaps but not cruelly. "We have theories, but I'd rather understand you all fully before I propose anything to my children. Please, let me have honesty. Who is the girl?"

Doma glanced to Akaza, as if he had any idea what the fuck to do, and then slowly began again.

"The child is Mirakuru. She... she is my daughter," Doma breathed slowly.

Kagaya didn't interrupt.

"I do not know how exactly she was able to be created but she was. Kotoha became pregnant while we were together and when Miku was born it was obvious she wasn't normal."

"How so?" Kagaya asked when Doma remained silent for too long. Akaza wanted to shift, prepare, brace, do anything other than sit there but they were riding a line between danger and safety that Akaza refused to break.

Meetings with Muzan rode a sharper line and Akaza had mastered the art of sitting still and emptying his mind if required. He found himself doing it now even when this human couldn't possibly know the thoughts that gnawed at his mind.

"She didn't need to eat, she healed remarkably fast, she was faster and stronger than any human should be... she was a strange hybrid of human and demon. She..." Doma took a long moment before continuing. "She could walk in the sun."

Again, Kagaya displayed nothing in his expression. He gave no indication he was surprised. When the silence stretched on for a long moment he straightened and smiled, perhaps in understanding though Akaza wasn't sure.

"So Muzan tried to take her for her immunity to the sun?" he posed. "And because he tried to kill your daughter, you took Tamayo's advice and you removed yourself from him and fled, forsaking your diet of humans and changing, for the better."

Damn. That's right, Tamayo worked with this master. Akaza cursed himself as he had forgotten.

"Tamayo's mention us?" Doma's asked, suspicion eating into his tone.

To that Kagaya chuckled airily.

"Of course... I'd known of your existence and your daughter because of Tamayo. I couldn't send my children after you and you did not seem willing to come to me. Tamayo spoke well of you, but I wanted to judge you all for myself. I'm glad you decided to tell the truth about her..."

"If you knew everything, why ask us!?" Daki demanded suddenly.

Gyutaro seemed to try and quell her outburst by grabbing her hand. Daki had always been the most outspoken of the Upper Moons, but she'd barely known Muzan's cruelty. If this was a different breed of meeting, she would be a stain on the wall for the interruption, but Kagaya only smiled.

"I didn't know everything. I knew of you all, of your abilities... I knew of a hybrid between humans and demons and I knew that Tamayo trusted you. I still wish to know all of you. Doubtlessly you have committed atrocities that many of my children will not be able to overlook, but I find it easier to understand redeemed characters when they have a moment to be truthful and prove themselves."

"Prove themselves?" Akaza questioned. That never sounded good.

"I am here, alone... unprotected. If you were aiding Muzan, it would be a good time to strike," Kagaya's words grated against Akaza's skull like a sword against a stone.

"No, it wouldn't!" Daki cried. 

"Daki," Doma warned over his shoulder.

"No, I'm with her," Gyutaro objected. "The suns coming out and we have no idea if he's actually unprotected. There could be plenty of hashira in this house waiting for us to strike." 

"It's a dumb way to prove our loyalty! I thought you guys were supposed to be clever!" Daki demanded.

"So you don't think you can take on my children?" Kagaya asked. That question sang through the air and tensed all of the demon's shoulders. It cut through the tension and left Akaza's head buzzing.

Gyutaro flexed his fingers and was clearly going to reach for a sickle. Akaza threw him a warning look that stopped him. Daki's ribbons only swayed with her own uneasiness.

"We wouldn't want to," Doma answered carefully, tiptoeing the tension for them.

"Good," Kagaya smiled simply. He turned his head towards Akaza, though he looked right through him. "Akaza, was it?"

"Yes," he answered quickly.

"Tell me your story," Kagaya urged.

Akaza's back tensed and he felt his chest grow tight. 

They'd all, in some way, shape, or form, exchanged sob stories. It had been a long day hiding from the sun and Kotoha had gently pried stories from Daki and Gyutaro, asking about their lives, their childhoods... their deaths. She had held Daki for a long time as the girl sobbed about how unfair it was and Akaza couldn't remember a time when Gyutaro had looked so vulnerable. She had soothed them, telling them that they had been wronged by the world. She had told Daki that it was unfair, that no one should've suffered like that... and she applauded Gyutaro for killing the sick bastard who tried to take advantage of a thirteen-year-old.

Upper Six had cried like children... because they were... and then Gyutaro had looked to Akaza and recognized something.

"We spilled our fucking guts for you, Three... your turn. What's your baggage?"

Oh, what a day that had been. It had been a terrible time admitting it, speaking it, airing those terrible times, and facing the fact that they were real. It wasn't until you spoke of something that it truly felt real strangely enough...

Hakuji's life had been so real when he spoke it allowed...

It had been hard enough in front of Kotoha, Doma, Daki, and Gyutaro... it was near impossible now.

To a stranger... to a slayer... 

Doma was looking at him... concern in his eyes. Daki and Gyutaro both stared at him, expectantly...

Akaza's forehead burned. Kotoha had kissed it after his story. Daki had tried to hide how her eyes misted for him... how strange had that been. Even Gyutaro had looked pained... At that moment, Akaza had felt human - but weak. They'd all been weak... human in that moment. They'd faced their past together, their vulnerabilities... 

He didn't want to be weak in front of a stranger.

He had to be weak...

"When I was a human, I went by a different name. As a child, my father grew sick..." Akaza began, and he hated how his voice grew tight already. He wasn't weak - he wasn't human. He was Akaza. He closed his eyes and imagined Inosuke, grinning as he managed to punch him through his defenses. He imagined Miku laughing as she fixed up Gyutaro's hair with Daki.

He wasn't weak. He wasn't Hakuji anymore, he was Akaza... he had to take whatever strength he could in that. He could speak of Hakuji's failures, his stupidity if it meant that Miku, Kotoha, Inosuke, and hell even Doma could rest easier at night without the fear of Muzan's dogs coming for their throats.

"I stole to try and pay for his medicine and got caught three times by the magistrate. I earned these stripes, the mark of a thief." He spared a glimpse up at Kagaya and found the man without a hint of judgment in his eyes.

"My father committed suicide shortly after, knowing if I was caught stealing again they'd take my hands..."

And it spilled out of him slowly, carefully. He mentioned no names, only figures... placeholders. He would not let Koyuki's name be tainted here. He explained meeting the sensei of the dojo... meeting his daughter. He hesitated when it came to the marriage but Kagaya had asked for truth and Akaza wasn't going to allow himself to be the reason this peace mission failed. 

He forced himself to push through the memory of finding their bodies... of learning of the poison in the well. He refused to look at Kagaya when he explained the retribution he took on that rival dojo... or how Muzan chose him because he was practically already a demon in human bindings.

Strangely enough, telling his life as Akaza was easier. He was strong as Akaza, regretful, but strong. He explained how Doma had stirred memories he'd forgotten and how it had been enough to force him to recall what he had stood for and what Muzan had taken from him.

By the end of it, his knuckles were whiter than they'd ever been, his jaw was clenched, and his voice was laced with anger.

He looked up and found Kagaya's brow just slightly furrowed.

"I cannot atone for my sins, but I can kill the man who took my memories from me and made me dishonor all who wanted me to become more than what I was," he finished resolutely. "That is why I want him dead. That's my story. That's why I come to my old enemies; to kill him."

Kagaya nodded, but said nothing, seeming to roll the story over in his head. Akaza felt deafened by the sound of his memories and the master's heart that was steady as it had been when they entered.

"Vengeance drives many of my children," Kagaya murmured finally. "And hatred is a strong, but self-destructive motivator... I sense it's the same for you two."

He was referring to Daki and Gyutaro.

They visibly tensed and bristled as their turn came around and Daki looked like she wanted to sneer. Still, they too recognized the gravity of the situation and after Akaza poured his damn heart out, they had no fucking excuse to clam up.

"I'm not going to apologize," Daki began sharply. "I - I know you're probably looking for that, but I'm not going to apologize for any of it."

Doma seemed to wince and Akaza internally cursed Daki for her bluntness. Kagaya said nothing, and so Daki brashly continued.

If this was a meeting with Muzan, she'd be screaming in pain and Muzan's glare would make nearly everyone quiver. He'd soothe the pain with kind false words to Daki at the end of it but the lessons would ring clear; don't stand up, don't stand out, don't speak without fear... stay reverent.

Daki thrived without the rules.

"We - the district we were raised in showed us no mercy, so we showed it none. We killed people, yes... and some of them were probably good - but that place is evil. For as many good people as we killed, we ate ten more evil ones. We don't eat flesh anymore and... and I don't think we will again, but I won't apologize! I can't - I won't ever forgive them. So... so don't go looking for any sort of apology!" She held herself taller and spoke prouder than Akaza had ever heard her sound.

Kagaya only nodded slowly and waited for more.

"We were raised in the Red Light District. I was Gyutaro... she was Ume," Gyutaro began as he saw how uncomfortable Daki had become, staring at her trembling hands in her lap. "I was ugly, she was beautiful, there was nothing else to be said."

And off they went, retelling their tale of woe. How Gyutaro found he had a knack at fighting, how Ume's beauty summoned demons of a different breed. What befell them... How Doma had found them... how they relished getting vengeance...

"We're... we're not good people," Daki admitted softly. "We... we didn't choose to leave him. I'm sorry... but we would not have chosen to change like Two and Three."

"So why did you?" Kagaya asked softly.

Daki looked at Gyutaro and Akaza saw the bond they held. The pureness that was there...

"He asked me to kill Daki," Gyutaro admitted softly like it was still a crime that hung over his shoulders. "He wanted me to rid myself of familial connections so that she couldn't question my loyalty like Kotoha questioned Doma's."

Kagaya nodded.

"But my Onii-chan couldn't, and we ran," Daki elaborated, with pride. "We found Doma and the deal was if we stopped eating people, we'd be protected. So we did."

The silence descended and Kagaya seemed to think for a moment before speaking again.

"Would you eat a human now, if Doma allowed it?" 

The question was obviously a test and strangely enough, Akaza was certain there was no way the two would be able to lie their way through this. Even if this human wasn't in their head, he seemed omniscient in other ways. The silence sat heavy and once again Akaza felt danger prickling his muscles.

"...I don't... I don't think I could," Daki admitted. "But I don't know."

"I... I don't know either," Gyutaro agreed.

"Why the shift?" Kagaya asked, a curious hint in his voice. "If you see no fault in your old ways, why stray from them?"

Daki and Gyutaro looked at each other.

"I... " Gyutaro seemed to struggle for words while Daki turned to stare at the ground knowingly.

"We learned to love humans again," Daki explained after a moment. "Kotoha... she's... she's like Doma says; she's the nicest person to ever exist. She's... she's the best part of humanity and hurting humans doesn't... it doesn't feel good anymore. It did, and I won't say sorry for that... but it doesn't anymore."

"Inosuke too," Gyutaro chuckled dryly. "I dunno, they just changed how we... humans weren't appealing anymore. I can't explain it. It feels like when we hurt good humans, we hurt them..."

Kagaya smiled. "Not the most confident of answers, but it suffices."

"Suffices?" Doma asked carefully. 

"I've heard your stories... and I know you all now," the master murmured. "I don't know how much you know of me, but I love every slayer who comes under my wing."

This didn't seem good. Akaza threw Doma a glance but the superior demons didn't return it, too enraptured with whatever the human was saying.

"It pains me, but does not surprise me, that Muzan treats his subordinates so terribly... but I do not know if that excuses your sins," Kagaya stated.

"What does that mean?" Daki demanded, her ribbons twitching with her words as her eyes narrowed.

"You've all been honest, and for that I thank you. It pleases me to know that some of my fallen children are remembered by the monsters who slew them. It's saddening that others are not. It's also strange to converse with the demons that I for so long hoped would meet their end."

"You don't think we can be redeemed," Doma supposed.

"No," Kagaya answered simply. 

"So you don't accept us," Akaza demanded sharply.

"If I said I did not?" Kagaya posed carefully and there was a threat there that Akaza couldn't quite understand.

"We'd go our separate ways," Doma answered firmly. "We desire no bloodshed. If you refused to forgive us, we'd leave you to your own devices."

"And if I did not let you leave unscathed?" Kagaya's threat was clearer now and Akaza could've screamed as Daki and Gyutaro jumped to their feet. He threw them a glare but they were far to jumpy to spare him a glance.

"So this is a trap?" Gyutaro demanded.

"Told you," Daki hissed knowing as she clung to her brother's arm, her ribbons swaying like snakes about to strike.

"If it is?" Kagaya asked carefully, without a shred of fear in his voice. Akaza's skin crawled; were there slayers in hiding around them? Was that why the master could be so confident? Did he merely not value his own life and safety? Why was he so calm?

"You tell me!" Gyutaro snapped. "Is it?"

"Could you fight your way out if it was?" Kagaya asked, and his head tilted towards Akaza when he said it.

Was this a trap... or a test? Was this condemnation or salvation? Who the fuck knew anymore. They walked in and were forced to be honest with themselves and with this man, maybe that was just what they had to continue to do.

"No." 

Doma, Gyutaro, Daki... they all looked at him in horror.

"What?" Daki sounded small and Akaza took a long breath. Honesty and all that crap, don't fucking fail him now. He looked at Kagaya and continued.

"I exchanged blows with Kyojuro and I know that he is strong, almost on par with my power... even as a human. If there were two of him, even I'd feel challenged, and I know the hashiras are likely at least close to that. If it was during the night, even if we were pressed and nervous, the four of us would win without question. But... during the day, we are limited to this house so none of us can be remotely as destructive as we could be without risking exposing ourselves to the sun. I don't think we could win if this was a trap, but we would take some slayers with us." Akaza stared at Kagaya, knowing full well the man wouldn't see him, and watched as that fighting spirit flared just the slightest bit at Akaza's threat at the tail of his confession.

"But - but you said we could!" Daki cried.

"We may, but we may also die," Akaza bit back regretfully. Yes, he told them they'd be fine because Doma had been rubbing off on him and he had hoped for the best.

"And yet you still came," Kayaga murmured softly. "Knowing the dangers and the risks... you still came."

"We had to," Akaza answered coldly.

"Why?" These incessant questions were purposeful and Akaza's eyes narrowed. 

"Because at the moment all we do is run," it was Doma who interjected. "And that's no life for the people I love."

Daki and Gyutaro, sensing the worst of the dangerous tension was fading, made the right decision and settled back down, crouching now but no longer looming over the group.

"We run and we fear... but we want to fight," Doma explained. "I want to create a world where my daughter no longer lives in fear, where I don't have to worry about what he will do to her if I fail."

"Your desire to kill Muzan supersedes your self-preservation," Kagaya inferred. "Your desires to keep your family safe has made you do something foolish and dangerous... which means you think the reward is worth the risk."

"Some of us," Gyutaro murmured cautiously.

Kagaya smiled at that and something in Akaza's chest loosened at the expression.

"Then my mind is easily made," the master explained.

They all felt their nerves seize for a moment as they leaned into the next words, Doma more visibly than anyone.

"There will be no trial today; you will not be executed no matter what my children decide. This will be a discussion on whether or not they are willing to forgive and fight alongside you and you with them. If we cannot reach a consensus, then I will bid you farewell and there will be no bloodshed. I deem you guilty of your crimes but worthy of the chance to avenge yourselves... I do not think you wish us ill-will... and I do not think you're evil."

To explain the weight lifted off Akaza's shoulders would be impossible. There was an inexplicable worth to Kagaya's last words and Akaza felt like he had to shake his head to ground himself again. Doma was beaming like an idiot.

"Thank you, Master Ubuyashiki," Doma bowed reverently.

Daki and Gyutaro looked skeptical.

"So what was with the subtle threats?" Gyutaro demanded.

"Yeah, I thought you were about to call on a bunch of hidden slayers to kill us," Daki muttered.

Kagaya chuckled warmly, as did his daughter. "And yet... you didn't strike out at me. A weak and helpless man threatened you, and you did nothing."

"That was a test?" Daki demanded. "Isn't that kind of stupid for the master of the Corps to do?"

"I'm alive, aren't I?" Kagaya smiled wryly.

"Yeah, because we weren't actually wanting to kill you..." Gyutaro sneered. He seemed to come to an epiphany as he continued. "What if you were wrong?! What if we were actually working for him and tried to kill you!?"

"That's what I'm saying!" Daki agreed. "Do demon slayers just lack will to live!?"

"I assure you, I'm not completely foolhardy," Kagaya's smile only grew as he looked over at his daughter. "Nichika... would you?"

His daughter stood and made her way over to the side door that reeked of wisteria and fresh air. She slid the door open and there, to Akaza's minute horror, were who he could only assume to be the hashira.

They had been standing, hands on their swords, stances tense but as the door opened they immediately went to their knees and bowed reverently.

Akaza's horror immediately vanished when he saw the priceless faces on Gyutaro and Daki. It was comical, honestly, and he knew they were thanking whatever gods they didn't hate that they didn't attack the master.

"There were minute contingency plans if this went wrong, for my children's sake," Kagaya explained warmly. "Though... I sensed you all had good intentions the moment you humbled yourselves and dared to come to such a meeting."

Kagaya slowly got to his feet, with a bit of pain and hesitance that made his daughter, Nichika if Akaza remembered correctly, come back to his side so she could help him to the edge of the porch where the sun could touch him.

"Good morning, my children," he greeted.

"Good morning Oyakata-sama!" a pink-haired energetic bubble of a slayer greeted. "I'm glad to see you're in good health and we didn't have to jump to your aide and kill the demons!"

A few other slayers visibly tensed at her upbeat mention of a worse scenario. Akaza took the time to run down the line and pick apart these powerful humans.

He recognized Kyojuro, the man looked happier now, far more comfortable in friendly territory, but his fighting spirit hadn't changed. There was the other one; the butterfly girl they'd run into briefly. She stared calmly at Akaza and smiled serenely. When Akaza looked at the slayer next to her, he became strangely thankful it was her they ran into.

The furious dandelion that was the hashira next to her looked ready to commit murder in several different ways and his fighting spirit seemed willing to lash out at anyone near him. They wouldn't have been able to talk a spirit like that down... at all.

"Moons, before you are the most skilled demon slayers I think the Corps has ever produced," Kagaya introduced with a hint of pride in his voice.

He went down the line and Akaza etched each name into memory as doubtlessly, if they were on the same level as Kyojuro, they'd be important in the future.

Obanai Iguro; Heterochromic-eyed, snake man who also looked ready to strike. He was probably sneering but it was honestly hard to tell behind the mask. His spirit brooded and coiled, swaying patiently but furiously.

Kyojuro was... well, Kyojuro, and Akaza smirked to see that broad grin. Strangely enough, Kyojuro met his gaze and smiled in return. 

Sanemi Shinazugawa was the infuriated scar-collection who apparently didn't know how to button his shirt. He glared at Akaza and Akaza glared right back.

Kanae Kocho was the butterfly woman with the soft and bright fighting spirit, with a sweet smile that was reminiscent of kinder people Akaza had known.

Gyomei Himejima was a unit of a human and Akaza would admit that was his first and only thought as he stared in awe at the fighting spirit that blazed in that man. It was practically a bonfire.

Tengen Uzui was certainly a character and Akaza decided he would kindly reserve judgment until later. Gyutaro was already locked into some sort of staring contest with him so Akaza figured he should be lenient with the 'flamboyant' human.

Muichiro Tokito was... familiar? Strangely... Akaza stared at the immense fighting spirit paired with the blank uncaring stare and felt like he'd seen that mixture before. He didn't have much time to dissect it as the master moved on to the last one.

Giyu Tomioka. Either that man hated everyone... or just the wall he was staring at.

"And these," Kagaya explained softly as he gestured to demons, "are the Upper Moons who've come willing to work with us. Doma; the previous Upper Moon Two, Akaza; Upper Three, Gyutaro and Daki who together make up the Upper Six demon."

Doma bowed, Akaza glared, and Daki waved self-consciously when her and Gyutaro's name came up.

They received a conglomeration of glares, curious looks, and fascination.

"And you find them willing, Oyakata-sama?" Kanae asked softly.

"I do," Kagaya nodded. "They are enemies of Muzan, for good reason. They seek asylum for their human compatriots that I am willing to offer."

"And the demon girl?" It was Obanai, Iguro Obanai, who asked it so coldly. "Did they confirm or deny her existence?"

"Her name is Mirakuru," Doma's blunt streak only came out when it came to his kids and Akaza temporarily cursed it as the previous Upper Two glared at the snake hashira.

"I don't quite care," Obanai responded and his snake flicked its tongue agreement (if Akaza had to decipher that tongue flick as a sentient choice).

"They did Iguro," Kagaya nodded. "The child is indeed a half-breed."

Just like that the hashira seemed ready to jump to their feet again, save for Kyojuro and Kanae.

"That's impossible," Shinazugawa spat.

"How can this be? How did they do it?" Obanai demanded.

"Flamboyantly, I would bet," Uzui grinned. Interesting word choice, so once again, Akaza wasn't sure whether to judge harshly or laugh...

"We don't know how," Kagaya soothed and like that the tension was gone. It was incredible to watch the hashira react to their superiors. Minor outbursts were soothed and opinions were validated... it was... foreign.

Akaza knelt there and felt a part of himself shift into memories of Muzan's meetings. The blood, the sharp words, the condemnation, and punishments...

A wrong word, a wrong thought, and a demon would be groveling, begging, or whimpering in pain. Even Upper Moons were not spared if they were truly foolish in a poor moment. The pain eased after the first few times, but Akaza learned quickly to not speak or think or even wonder while Muzan spoke. He learned to read Muzan's moods and react accordingly. This was so different, even in the way the slayers held themselves. There wasn't a shred of fear here... only respect.

"I understand accepting the humans and if we're willing to allow a full-blood demon into our ranks, I understand why you would allow a half-breed. But those siblings are a different story all together! These are full-blooded man-eating Upper Moons!" Shinazugawa's pulled Akaza out of that shallow memory. There was anger festering in his every word and much of it breezed past the master who continued to smile serenly.

"I know, Sanemi... and I understand your dislike of the situation," Kagaya nodded.

"Dislike doesn't begin to quantify it," the hashira hissed. "We're supposed to forgive these demons because they've eaten enough humans to suddenly understand that they can stand up to Muzan? We're supposed to ignore the thousands of lives lost to their appetite simply because they may choose to help us now!?"

"No," Kagaya answered simply. "But we must also consider the benefit of their help."

"I see no benefit," Sanemi... Akaza could appreciate that hate in his eyes and figured it was time to start referring to him with his first name, even if the slayer would likely hate it. "There is no benefit," he continued. "They've murdered innocents, slayers, good slayers, hashira! They cannot be forgiven."

"We're not looking for forgiveness," Doma answered cooly. "We're looking to kill him."

"And you'll kill us while our backs are turned!" Sanemi objected. "I can't trust you any further than I can shove my sword through your neck! If anyone here can trust you, they're fools... I'm sorry Master, please take no disrespect... but I think even humoring this meeting is despicable and dishonorable to everyone who's died to these monsters."

Kagaya took that criticism with grace Akaza knew Muzan never possessed and he was so in awe of it he almost missed the sibling's reactions. Gyutaro tensed at the word 'monster' and Daki sneered.

"We're right here, you know," she bit. "And it's not like demon slayers have shown demons much mercy."

"That's completely different," Obanai interjected forcefully. "Demon slayers kill to protect the innocents you would murder. Demons kill to feed and protect themselves."

Gyutaro extended and hand and pointed accusingly at that snake-man, his eyes flickering with dislike. 

"When you wake up and know nothing but hatred, pain, and hunger... it doesn't feel like a choice or an act - it feels like a necessity. It's the sort of hunger that tears you apart until you quench it, so don't judge what you don't know," he sneered.

"We will judge it all we want. It is a selfish unsatiable hunger that kills, and that deserves judgment," It was Tomioka Giyu who spoke and Akaza smiled to see Gyutaro's sneer deepen. He should probably be taking a side here but, honestly, this was entertaining to watch.

"This is also a moot point." It was Kanae whose voice pulled them all out of their squabble. "We're not asking if the demons can be redeemed. We're deciding if what they can offer us is more important than what they were and what they've done."

"They can't truthfully offer us anything!" Sanemi snapped. A simple look from Kanae soothed him ever so slightly, loosening his stance and forcing his eyes down.

"They are four of the strongest beings we may ever face," Kanae explained firmly. "They know Muzan and his ways far more than we can ever compare. They offer us an opportunity that we would be foolish to squander."

"I acknowledge their worth to our mission..." It was Himejima who spoke and Akaza wasn't even going to pretend that the man somehow wasn't deserving of a first-name basis. "Their stories are tragic and their hatred is true. We can weaponize that, if we are ever able to look over the moral evil we would commit by ignoring their crimes."

Alright, so apparently Himejima had listened to their sob stories and Akaza wasn't quite sure he appreciated that at all.

"If their story is true... it's proof that their love has made them better!" Mitsuri beamed. "I think if they're willing to open their hearts, we must allow them to redeem themselves. That's my opinion... but I leave my decision to the Master."

"Opening their hearts is nothing but bullshit!" Sanemi spat. "They can never atone for what they've done."

"My atonement is killing him," Doma stated firmly. "It's all of ours."

"Maybe for you, but not for the innocents that you devoured!" Sanemi hissed.

"Perhaps we can consider a compromise," Uzui smiled. "A flamboyant sort of agreement that works for both sides!"

"Such as?" Kyojuro urged curiously.

The 'flamboyant' hashira pointed at the demons as a serious look took over his face. "You, Moons, help us take down Muzan Kibutsuji and in return, we protect the humans and the half-breed to keep her out of Muzan's clutches. Once that is over and done with, if we are able to take down Kibutsuji, we avenge the people you killed."

"No way!" Daki cried, jumping to her feet, and immediately Sanemi, Obanai, and Himejima were reaching for their weapons, Sanemi was on his feet.

"Daki," Doma warned urgently.

"We didn't fight through hell just to let some human decapitate us! If we fought and won against Mu-mu there's no way I'd just roll over and die after that! After we won our freedom!" she cried.

"A freedom you stole from countless others when you took their lives!" Sanemi cried started to unsheath his sword.

Gyutaro was up by his sister's side protectively and Akaza tensed. The bubbly girl from before aww'd at the scene of a protective Gyutaro even though it was very likely that the two groups were about to rip into each other.

"Sanemi," Kagaya soothed, remaining calm even as he listened to nichirin slide out of a sheath. "Please don't be rash."

"Master... they are despicable beings. I can't trust a word they say... especially if they're not even willing to feel remorse for what they've done," he hissed. "They're still hungry, cruel, uncontrolled animals."

"Watch yourself slayer," Gyutaro sneered. "You haven't been at the top of the food chain for a long time."

His sword was out and Akaza hoped he wouldn't have to jump between a sword and a dumb sibling in the next few seconds.

"We've started a long path towards betterment," Doma tried to soothe urgently. "I am sorry for what I am and what I'm done, even if my companions don't completely share my sentiment."

"So you think you can be forgiven now!?" Sanemi challenged as his hateful eyes tore Doma apart. "You think because you woke up and decided to be good that you can atone for the centuries of evil and pain you wrought!? You think you're any less monstrous now because you've decided to suddenly be better!?"

"Sanemi - " Kanae snapped, but the man turned his sword on himself without hesitation and had slit open one of his arms quicker than Akaza thought possible.

His scarlet blood splattered on the stone garden and immediately Akaza felt his mouth water.

It was marechi. The damn hashira had marechi blood running through his veins. Real, pumping, thriving marechi blood. Not out of a bag, or a cup, but dribbling out of a human's veins and splattering onto the sun-touched stones.

Daki visibly trembled and forced herself to step back with Gyutaro to get as much space between them and that blood as possible. Doma's hands were trembling slightly and Akaza was certain he was doing the same.

"Look at yourselves! You are as monstrous as the rest of your kind!" Sanemi cried as he stuck out his wrist and strode into the darkness with confidence that was straying into the stupidity category.

"You must truly have a death wish," Akaza chuckled at the sight, wiping drool from the corner of his mouth. "Or confidence that we won't all devour you."

"I have confidence that if you do, I can take at least one of you down," Sanemi scowled.

And to that Akaza laughed. Truly, truly all these people were wonderfully resistant to death, fear, and built to fight! He smiled and shook his head as that human's tempting blood trickled on the wood and made Daki whimper as she held her nose. Gyutaro wasn't any better off.

"You're making a habit of staining Oyakata-sama's floors, Sanemi," Kanae chided softly.

"I apologize, master," Sanemi stated, without even looking at the man.

Kagaya only stared outward and listened while his daughter watched.

Sanemi was closest to Doma and the demon stared up at the boy, trembling ever so softly. Slowly, and purposefully, Doma stood and stared down at him, his face full of an emotion Akaza couldn't read.

"You're right, unfortunately..." Doma breathed. "I am as monstrous as I was before I recognized it. We are starving creatures, hardly more than dogs who've rebelled against their master."

Doma reached out, not threateningly but the slayer tensed all the same, grabbed the tip of the green sword, and brought it to his neck.

Now Akaza got to his feet because goddammit Doma! Now was not the time to get a death wish!

"Doma - " he warned. Kotoha would kill him if he came back and told her how Doma had gotten beheaded due to his own stupidity trying to prove a point. No, literally, if there was any human who would actually be able to do it - it was Kotoha.

"If you can guarantee that my family will be safe. If you can promise that you'll kill him and stop this cycle of pain. If you can swear that I can die and know that my children will never suffer by that man's hand again, then you can kill me here and now to avenge those I've killed." And Doma stood there, with a slayer's sword pressed against his neck, a true calm expression on his face.

"Doma!" Gyutaro snapped. "The fuck are you doing!?"

"We're not just going to watch you die!" Daki objected, her ribbons coming up in attack-formation. The snake man, Obanai was his first name, began to draw his sword at the sight, as did Uzui (Was his first name Tengen?).

Akaza held up a hand to at least keep the siblings in place as he watched with a mix of anticipation and horror, same as everyone else in the morning garden. He kept his eyes fixed on that green blade.

"Can you swear to me, Shinazugawa, that you protect my daughter, my son, my wife... and kill him? The demon that every demon slayer has been trying to kill for centuries?" Doma demanded. "If so, I will gladly offer my pathetic existence as a trade."

Sanemi only stared, blood still trickling from his arm.

"Doma," Akaza warned. "I won't let this happen."

"You will if it's what must happen," Doma answered curtly, never breaking eye contact with the hashira whose sword was at his throat.

"No, I won't," and for the second time in his life, Akaza purposefully did something immensely stupid to save Doma. He stepped up, ignoring how badly he wanted to sink his teeth into flesh, and pushed the hashira's blade away. The resistance he met, strength-wise, was far more than he expected and Sanemi's fighting spirit flared angrily at the intervention.

Akaza pushed Doma away from Sanemi and glared at him, keeping his back to the angered hashira which was a terrible combat choice, but hopefully, he wouldn't regret it.

"We don't trade lives here," Akaza spat. "Even if it's a bluff your making, I won't let you make it."

"If it's what must be done - " Doma began.

"We don't treat each other like we're expendable. We can't treat ourselves like we're expendable. I won't allow it and you know Kotoha would never allow it!" 

Doma looked beyond Akaza to Sanemi, Akaza only stayed trained on that idiot's rainbow eyes.

"If you died to save Kotoha, Miku, or Inosuke, they'd have your head and you know it. You said yourself, we're family and we stay together. No sacrifices."

Doma seemed caught by surprise for a moment, perhaps by the Upper Three's sudden earnestness.

The damn bubbly girl was squealing again at the word 'family'. Goddammit that had slipped out, hadn't it?

Akaza ignored her and finally turned to face Sanemi. "We'll worry about answering for our crimes after he is dead. I, personally, have no reason to cling to this world if I can get my vengeance. If it's retribution you want, you'll get it; but we have to kill him first."

"I'm not so keen on that - " Gyutaro began.

"Fine," Sanemi's bite surprised Akaza honestly as the hashira sheathed his blade. "But you're not trusted, and I'll hold you to that damn promise. When this is over and done, I want you all to pay for what you've done."

Maybe Doma's act surprised Sanemi... maybe it was Akaza's warm little speech, either way the hashira stepped back into the sunlight and spared a glance over his shoulder at the demons.

"The dead must be avenged. We kill Kibutsuji first... and then you answer for what you've done." The hashira looked back to his comrades, his stance powerful, but his injured arm trembling. "If these are the terms, I'll agree to use these monsters to kill the bigger of our demons."

Kanae smiled softly at her fellow hashira and her companions nodded slowly.

"I accept those terms," Uzui grinned. 

"I see no flaw in using the gifts we're granted," Himejima agreed.

"They conditions are viable to change if necessary, but I think they'll suffice," Obanai hissed. "If they step out of line, we'll kill them."

Gyutaro and Daki were obviously uncomfortable, but they said nothing. Worse comes to worst, if they actually managed to kill Muzan, Akaza would cause a diversion long enough to allow the two brats to escape when this was all over and done with...

They'd kill Muzan and at the end of it, he'd finally die. He spared a glance a Doma and sighed.

Kotoha was not going to be too pleased by this.

(

Doma: I'm all good with dying after we kill Muzan if that's what it takes.

Akaza: No you're not you sonofa - you have a family!

Doma: But it's for Kotoha and Miku's sake - 

Akaza: I'm your family.

Doma: *tearing up* really bro? That means so much...

Akaza: Yeah bro... anyway, *turns to the demon slayers* yeah, I'm also all good with dying if that's what it takes to kill Muzan -

Doma: You fucking hypocrite.

*pant* *pant*

Writing tension is exhausting~

Thoughts? Opinions? Criticism? I'm sure some of the characters are flawed and I fear Sanemi may have given in too soon but honestly, I'm just excited for our demon friends to fight with our slayer friends. :D

Hope y'all are having a great day/night!! <3