Little (Y/N) couldn't move an inch even if she wanted to. Couldn't run away or jump out to the courtyard and over the garden walls. Her small body had frozen, in shock and fear and she could only cover her mouth in an attempt to muffle her quick breathing.

Old Daiki gave the food to the Haruki and the stranger, reaching for his cup of green tea and  gulping it down. He sighed heavily. "What happened?"

Haruki opened his mouth to speak, but the stranger stopped him.

"We believe we saw traces of a Lower Moon. Haruki wanted to give chase and I told him we shouldn't. Hence his wound." The stranger spoke serenely.

Old Daiki sighed in exasperation, drinking the other half of his tea and reaching for more from the teapot.
"I see. I suppose you have already turned in your mission reports to Oyakata-sama?"

"Of course we have!" Haruki exclaimed, cutting in.

It was the first time (Y/N) saw him the age he was; just a fifteen year old boy who still lowered his head when he was scolded and felt the need to make his father proud. She didn't dare make a sound and studied the other man.

He was a lot older than Haruki, but younger than Daiki. Stubble covered most of his face and brown hair rose in spikes from his head, cut too close to his skin. He wore the black uniform proudly, fit just right over his muscles. A blue haori with clouds hung from his shoulders like a silky curtain, falling to his knees where he sat down crosslegged.

Old Daiki sighed again, scuffing the back of Haruki's head slightly. "Quiet brat. You could have killed both yourself and Daiichi-san."

Cowed, Haruki shrunk in his position, grabbing his plate of udon and stuffing his cheeks with a pout.

The man named Daiichi, chuckled, a low rumble in his chest, short and quiet. Then, he was turning his amber eyes to Old Daiki, face becoming more serious.

"I looked a little bit into what you asked me."

"And?"

"It is just as you suspected. I traced the demons' activities starting from three months ago; they were all concentrated around the Sougatsu Village. Then they stopped a few weeks right before the massacre."

Little (Y/N) tensed even more, furrowing her brows. They know about demons! And what happened at home! They... they must be Demon Slayers! She stayed still and quiet, not daring to even breathe, only leaning slightly forward to listen more closely.

This past month in the Tsuguko Estate had been wonderful. But it had also been like a pause, a vacation. A short hiatus on her life before she set out to avenge her family and village. This was the first time since that day that she was hearing something about demons, about what happened; maybe even a clue.
There was no way she could pass it up.

Old Daiki hummed, twirling his orange moustache, brows furrowed and eyes narrowed. "It was definitely planned then after all. But what could have possibly been their objective? They sent all the Moons there for a buffet?" He grunted, fidgeting with his moustache. "There is something we're not seeing."

Daiichi nodded, sighing. He held his chin in thought, looking sideways. "Whatever it is, we have to find out. If it got Muzan's attention, if it got him to make such a risky move and show himself for the first time in the last hundreds of years, we cannot let it go."

It was that name that made (Y/N) freeze. Because she knew that name. It was the name she had heard come out of her mother's lips, telling her father and her to run, because
'Muzan has found us!'

The name her parents whispered in fear and the reason her mother could never stay for more than a couple of hours every six months.
He was the guilty one for everything.

Before she could think about it twice, (Y/N) gasped and burst out of the closet, standing in front of the three males, breathing quickly.

Old Daiki was startled so hard he dropped his cup of tea, Haruki had spit out his udon and Daiichi, the new guy, had instinctively-interestingly enough-made a grab for his sword.

The three male could only stare in shock and confusion at the small, frail five year old girl with eyebags for days and skin as pale as the moon that suddenly looked a lot more intimidating than she should have.

"Muzan?! Do you know who he is?! Where he is?! Tell me everything!" (Y/N) yelled, chest heaving.

It was the first time she had spoken since she had arrive at the Tsuguko Estate. Not only spoken, she had actually raised her voice.

Old Daiki stammered and stood up. "Kiseki?! What are you doing here?! How long have you been in there?!"

The old man rambled nervously, in shock and confusion. Mostly wondering what to say. On the other hand Haruki was lost for words.

Daiichi just stared at the child with interest, amber eyes glinting with curiosity and something else. He smirked a bit. "Hello there child. What is your name?"

(Y/N) frowned, crossing her arms. "(Y/N). (Y/N) Tatsugami."

Daiichi's eyes narrowed slightly as he smiled, taking his hand off his sword. "So, you are the child Daiki-san has adopted, huh? Interesting." He mused, eyes glinting. He gestured in front of him, "Sit down child."

"B-but-!" Old Daiki gasped, still in shock. The girl had not spoken since she had arrived, but now she was suddenly saying full sentences! He squirmed and held back the urge to burst with questions and sat back down rigidly, pulling (Y/N) down with him.

(Y/N) kept her eyes set on Daiichi, a serious look on the face of the five year old. "You mentioned Muzan. Tell me everything you know about him."

Daiichi chuckled, amused and intrigued by the five year old girl that was so blunt. "Why do you want to know?"

(Y/N)'s face twisted into a furious snarl, eyes glinting red for a millisecond, a furious yell coming out of her throat,

"Because he killed my parents! He killed everyone! I promised to avenge them; I will kill Muzan with my own two hands, nothing will stop me!"

In that moment, the five year old suddenly was no child. Small face had turned savage in its appearance, full of fury and hate that seemed to darken the room. Even Haruki shrunk back a bit, surprised and honestly a bit scared, as the hairs in the back of his neck stood up and a shiver ran down his spine.

Even Old Daiki's face had hardened into something unreadable. But Daiichi seemed to only adopt a more alert posture and grin widely, eyes glinting.
"I see. Fine, we'll tell you everything."

"W-what! Daiichi, she's five years old!" Old Daiki snapped out of his shock, exclaiming this in protest and snapping his fan open and close.

Daiichi chuckled and his amber eyes narrowed with something unreadable at the child. "I don't think there is another five year old capable of having that look on their face."

Old Daiki deflated, glancing at (Y/N) whose face was set into a determined scowl. I suppose he's not wrong. I do not agree with it... but... Daiki sighed heavily, turning to (Y/N), "There will be no going back once we tell you everything, understand? What you decide to do with the information will change everything."

"I understand."  (Y/N) nodded, lips pursed. I'm so close! I'll finally know more about that damn monster! "I'll do whatever it takes to kill Muzan, even if I must become a monster myself to do it."

Daiichi blinked and then burst into laughter, clapping. "Brilliant!" He exclaimed, smirking.

"Let's start from the beginning, shall we?"

~~~><><><~~~

"What will you do then?"

(Y/N) looked at her lap, reflecting on everything she had just learned. Muzan is the demon king. The progenitor. There are Moons under his command; powerful demons. Most of the moons, and Muzan were present in the massacre.
The Demon Slayer Corps is an unofficial organization that dedicates itself to hunting down demons and protecting humanity, their ultimate goal being killing Muzan. Pillars; the strongest slayers.

No one has survived an encounter with Muzan.

(Y/N) pursed her lips, closing her eyes. Her father's soft smile and her mother's harsh voice danced behind her lids, mirages of a life gone up in flames. There had never been any doubt once she had understood everything.
Her path was clear.
She looked straight at Daiichi and said, "I will become the strongest Pillar in the Demon Slayer Corps then. I'll become strong enough to kill Muzan."

Old Daiki gaped at the girl, orange brows curling in concern. "Are you sure?"

"How soon can I start training?" (Y/N) said in response, ignoring Daiki's concerns.

Old Daiki quieted and sighed sadly. Never mind trying to protect the child's innocence. It looked like her world would continue to be bathed in blood sooner than expected.
Haruki still had said nothing, but he was still and quiet, gaping at his younger sister.

Daiichi smirked at the child. This girl is something else. She might be just what we need.

"Today."

(Y/N) had just taken the first step into her new life. She'd now settle in the Tsuguko Estate and truly become one of them; she'd work herself until there was nothing left of her but bones and hate.

She had started on her path for revenge, but there was still a small problem that she hadn't dealt.
Well, it was small now, but it'd soon turn into a huge problem.

She hadn't fed in more than a month.
And she was starving.

She would not be able to keep her secret for much longer. A demon child she'd be called.

What would the Tsuguko do to her once they found out?