Traveling alone for so long, accompanied by the unhealthy thirst for vengeance. What would it do to a person's sanity and morals?

Revenge was a bitter word and Ruri always thought she would never be one of those demon slayers whose sole purpose for living was to slay demons nonstop because it was their own way of seeking revenge for their loved ones who had fallen.

She thought that she would never be so simpleminded like them yet for weeks after killing her brother, she found herself hunting down demons nonstop, demanding and squeezing them dry with information regardless of the methods used.

And yet the weak ones would be too frightened to even utter their progenitor's name. It was like a curse that prevented them from saying anything against the original demon.

"Kibutsuji Muzan." In all her life, this was the first time she's ever uttered the name herself and like the rest of the demon slayer corps, she was disgusted and angry just from hearing that name, let alone thinking about it.

Ruki-nii would have never been turned into a monster if that demon never existed.

But that demon's reign would end soon. Ruri would hunt him down like a predator closing in on its prey. She wouldn't torture him. No, she was not that far gone to do that and she would not stoop that low. She would behead him, a fitting end for a lowly criminal who has amassed thousands of deaths.

After she asked some questions, of course. The he'll be dead and Ruri could finally rest.

She'd quit after this then go back to the village where she grew up in and then she'll return to the childhood home that belonged to her and her brother. All the memories inside those walls and the familiar safety of that place, she would go back to it once everything has settled or she would die trying.

There was no guarantee that she would live.

When Ruri became a demon slayer, she already accepted the fact that this was the only way she could live alongside her brother and Sanemi. But without her brother and with Sanemi, no doubt angry at her, Ruri has no choice but be selfish now.

There would be no one waiting for her.

"Come back safely, my children."

There should be no one, she thought. But there was still Oyakata-sama who cherishes all of them.

What would he tell Ruri once he saw what she has become?

Ruri pursed her lips, unable to bare the idea that he would hate her too.

♤♡◇♧

The city. It was alive and filled with ignorant masses like little ants scurrying from one place to another, unaware of the demonic being stalking the streets, perfectly blending along them because of his human appearance.

He was beautiful. Pale skin and ruby red eyes that were vertical like a cat's eyes. His black curly hair was short and he wore a white fedora as well as a suit that made him look like a man of high status or nobility. He was a great actor, being able to blend in human society like a fish swimming in the water or a bird flying in the sky. It was second nature to him to deceive the humans around him.

Ruri had to give him credit. This bloodthirsty murderer looked nothing like the demon progenitor she was expecting. She imagined someone much older and much scarier, all muscles and brawn yet this creature was different.

He was like any normal human with four limbs, capable of human speech and highly intelligent. Too intelligent. He's able to deceive anyone with his flawless smile and handsome face.

He was alone which was a plus for her since it would be easy to confront him in a nearby alley. That is if she could reign in her bloodlust for him.

Who would have thought that she could feel this much excitement after seeing this monster? Would she be able to kill him? Or would her head end up rolling down the pavement instead of his?

What kind of attack should she do? A sneak attack like a silent assassin or a direct one full of aggressive force?

So many ways, too little time.

"Heh."

Ruri approached him when he walked towards a secluded area. She knows that he knows he's being followed and yet the arrogant demon did nothing. He was confident that she could be killed which greatly amused her.

'Of course I know that I could die. But would that stop me? No, of course not. I'd be a coward to do that after searching for so long.'

Ruri smiled when they were finally alone.

"Don't you think that they live a lonely existence?" Ruri began as if she was speaking to a longtime friend.

She met his gaze with her own, so calm, so blank and undeterred by the danger.

"Don't you think that they live a lonely existence?"

Her lips quirked to the side as she stretcher her right hand forward towards the sky.

"It's so, so sad. To be able to live that long while silently fearing for your life. It's really sad. " She said in a much calmer voice as if talking about the weather.

He shifted, more curious than annoyed.

"What are you trying to say?"

It seemed as if she stood for a long while without answering but in reality, the delay was only a few seconds. Her head whipped to glance at him as her dark purple eyes met with plum iris.

Her eyes beamed and a sad smile slowly graced her lips before speaking.

"Demons, I mean." She turned to face him fully, a sad expression on her face.

"Demons are sad creatures. They have the ability to live a long life yet they could easily disappear and turn to dust once the sun rises from the horizon. They only roam during the night and what's more, they depend on humans to survive."

"What?" His answer made her smile even more. Ruri could tell, how he was getting increasingly annoyed at the fact that she was belittling his kind in such a polite yet insulting tone.

"You don't look like you believe me. " She said, a patient edge to her voice.

As if to add fuel to the fire, "But I know I'm right. "

His eyes narrowed.

"Because demons need to eat human flesh in order to live."

She turned her back to him before slowly removing the sword on her waist from its hilt. The action was so normal that the person she was talking to failed to realize her next set of actions. Afterall, she looked like a naive human that it would be almost too easy to devour her.

"I mean, humans are the only sustenance that could sate a demon's hunger. Without our existence, demons won't even exist in the first place. "Then she let out a small chuckle. "And there's also the fact that demons used to be humans in the first place."

She then turned her head half way to spare the person a glance.

"They really are quite sad. Living such a lonely existence. "

And she was a sad, sad creature for confronting her death sentence.