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Chapter Text

Swords clashed, and lightning crackled. It was like storm clouds crashing to Earth as the two thunder breath users fought.

Zenitsu's skin cracked as Kaigaku's attack hit him head-on. He ignored the pain, instead choosing to move once more on the offensive. He kept pushing and pushing--not willing to give up. Gramps couldn't be left unavenged.

Even as he fell through the Infinity Castle, his former senior's condescending cackle following him, he still thought about Gramps. In a field of flowers, he listened to his teacher tell him how much he loved him.

---

Sanemi moved in to attack Uppermoon 1, preparing to use the 6th Form of Wind Breathing. Never had he been so glad he had such a rare blood time. It's moments such as this--moments like these that make a demon slayer worth being.

As he uses the form, he ignores blood rushing out of his wounds. He ignores the metallic taste enveloping his mouth. He needs to finish this as soon as possible. 

Uppermoon 1 looks perturbed at what the Wind Hashira had told him. Almost in awe. He effortlessly dodges the slash, stepping on his sword.

He began moving in to cut down the slayer once and for all.

---

"Hah...hah..." Giyuu panted heavily as he got back up. He couldn't let the uppermoon kill Tanjiro. Not after what they've been through--not after he failed so many others before.

Tanjiro's family, Sabito, Tsutako...the memories haunted him every night. He couldn't let the same happen to Tanjiro. Never again.

Cutting the demon's head did nothing--no matter what he cut off, he kept regenerating, regenerating, and regenerating...did he not have a weakness...?

Giyuu watched as Tanjiro punched the uppermoon. He was shocked. He did that for him? Giyuu was supposed to be doing the protecting--not Tanjiro.

He felt the boy's futile attempts at pulling the Hashira away from the preparing attack. Was he to die? If it meant saving Tanjiro, he'd do so.

---

Finding his bearings on a wall, the blonde apologized to someone he considered family.

'Sorry, Gramps, I won't be able to see you just yet.'

He reached for his sword, unsheathing it slightly. The air shook as if lightning itself was in the palm of his hand.

" Shichi no Kata: Honoikazuchi no Kami (Seventh Form: Flaming Thunder God). "

Kaigaku could only see a yellow blur coming his way before the world around him gave way to black.

---

Genya watched from afar as Uppermoon 1's sword came down on his older brother. He was terrified, scared.

He didn't want his Nii-chan to die before he even got to say goodbye. He never apologized for calling him a monster. He never made things right--he still had to tell Nemi that he loved him!

Genya Shinazuagawa never got to see what happened when the dust cleared. All he saw was darkness.

---

Giyuu was ready to  die  for Tanjiro. He wouldn't let the teen lose his life when he was there to protect him.

He knew he had to let go of the dead--but right now, he didn't want the dead to become Tanjiro Kamado.

Giyuu Tomioka thought he perished when all he saw was black in his vision.

---

POV: Third Person Omniscient

Five people woke up simultaneously, gasping for air, adrenaline pumping through their veins, in a random park in another universe. Why? That's a question they don't have answers to. How? Another question, they don't have answers to.

Things were not looking up.

Sanemi coughed up blood, taking in his surroundings from where he was on the ground. "Where the fuck are we?!"

Genya (still cut in half) glanced worriedly at his brother. "I--N-nii-chan--"

"Shut the fuck up, Genya.  Where the fuck are we?! " He struggled to a stand, clutching the sword in his hand with a grip as of a vise.

Giyuu's eyes were wide as he looked around. " Didn't I die-- "

Zenitsu stumbled as he tried to stand up. As soon as his hands left the ground, though, he fell back on his ass. "U-uh--ah... AaaaAAAAAAAAAHHHH! WHERE ARE WEEEE?!" The blond kept on screeching about nonsense, catching the unwanted attention of random civilians across the street from the park.

"Zenitsu, shut up!"

" GENYYAAAAA!!! WHAT'S GOING ON?!?! WHY ARE YOU BLEEDING?! "

"Hah?! Where the fuck am I?! What is this  scum  doing here?!"

The teen whirled around at the voice. His expression changed to an angered one--before his eyes widened, fear overtaking his features.

" What?"   The raven hair hissed. He looked down at himself, due to the "scum's" intense staring, to be greeted with a  terrible  sight.

" WHAT THE--"

"OH MY GOSH, KAIGAKU WHAT THE FUCK?! HOW--WHA--WHEN DID-- HAH?! "  Zenitsu screamed out, staring at the human--turned--demon--turned--human.

"I DON'T FUCKING KNOW--"  The older screeched back. His fangs were gone, his markings were gone--he could even guess that his sclera was white again! When he looked at the slayers around him, he didn't feel any intense hatred (except for maybe Zenitsu). He didn't even feel hunger for human flesh!

Due to everyone's panic, Genya cried out; "WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING--"

The question was answered with more screeching.

" WHAT THE FUCK DID MUZAN DO?! "

" ZENITSU, SHUT UP! "

" AHHHHHH-- "

" YOU FUCKING SCUM! I'LL KILL YOU! "

" We should all calm down-- "

" QUIET, EMO! "

" 'Nemi! You can't say that to people! "

" SHUT THE FUCK UP, GENYA!!! "

" *incoherent screeching* "

" I'll fucking kill you ALL! "

" No one will be killing anyone-- "

" GRAMPS, SAVE MEEE!!! "

" DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT BASTARD OLD MAN! "

" HAH?! DON'T FUCKING CALL GRAMPS A BASTARD! "

" I'LL CALL HIM WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT! "

" CAN EVERYONE QUIET DOWN?! WE'RE SURROUNDED BY DEMONS! "

That finally snapped some sense into the slayers (and the human--turned--demon--turned--human). They were, indeed, surrounded by  "demon"  looking beings. Except--they weren't attacking. They avoided them.

Sanemi looked out of the park at the sidewalk across the street. All civilians who'd been in the park had left. "Why aren't they attacking us?"

"They act like normal civilians, if anything," Giyuu states coolly. The white-haired man glared at him, still pissed by his sudden outburst.

"Says the one who fucking said they were demons."

"Hn. They might be."

"What the fuck are those things--on the path?"

"I'm...not sure. To my knowledge, it mildly resembles something known as a "car." "

"  "Car?"  What the fuck is that?"

"It's something used for transportation. It has most of the same uses as a train--except smaller, and...slower even."

"It's fucking useless then."

"Not necessarily."

"Are you fucking disagreeing with me, you bag of shit?"

"You can take it as such."

"You  ass! "

The two continued bickering as Genya, Zenitsu, and Kaigaku fought in a three-way fight--the two brunettes tag-teaming the screeching blond before them.

" WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING?! "

" TANJIROOO! INOSUKEEE! KANAOOO! GENYAAAAAA!! "

" I'm LITERALLY. RIGHT. HERE! "

" IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP, TRASH, I'LL FUCKING BASH YOUR SKULL-- "

" SHUT UP, KAIGAKU! YOU'RE NOT A FUCKING DEMON ANYMORE! "

" SO?! I'LL STILL KILL YOU ALL THE SAME! "

" I'M NOT GONNA BEHEAD A FUCKING HUMAN! "

" MAKES IT EASIER TO KILL YOU THEN! "

" BOTH OF YOU SHUT-- "

" FUCKING SHUT UP, (GENYA)! "  Both teens said, the younger the only one calling the teen by his name. The three were silent for a moment.

More hell broke loose.

" DON'T FUCKING COPY ME! "

" I DIDN'T! YOU COPIED ME!"

"DOES IT REALLY FUCKING MATTER?!"

"YEAH, IT DOES, GENYA!"

"TRASH! I'LL KILL YOU!"

"YOU KEEP SAYING THAT--YET YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN UP!"

"I'M WAITING!"

"OR MAYBE YOU JUST CAN'T !"

"NO ONE FUCKING ASKED YOU!"

"WELL--"

"ALL THREE OF YOU BETTER SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

"Nii-chan--"

"Quiet, Genya!"

"WHO THE FUCK SAID YOU COULD TALK TO ME THAT WAY?!"

"HAH?! YOU GOT A PROBLEM?!"

"YEAH, I FUCKING DO!"

"We shouldn't fight--we're all in the same situation--"

"SHUT UP, LONER!"

"NO ONE FUCKING ASKED YOU!"

Giyuu only blinked, showing no reaction as the two ganged up on him.

"THE FUCK YOU STARING AT?!"

"Nothing."

"Nothing, huh? BULLSHI--"

"KAIGAKU, STOP YELLING AT PEOPLE!"

"YOU WERE FUCKING SCREECHING!"

"I HAD A RIGHT TO!"

"OH, AND I DON'T?!"

"NO! YOU DISRESPECTED GRAMPS AND THE CORPS! YOU WERE A DEMON!"

"HAH?! SO THE BRAT'S A DEMON?!"

"NOT FUCKING ANYMORE, APPARENTLY!"

"THE FUCK CAN YOU DO THEN?!"

"I STILL HAVE A BLADE!"

"WHAT--YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ME WITH YOUR PUNY BREATHING?"

"THUNDER BREATHING ISN'T PUNY!"

"I WASN'T FUCKING TALKING TO YOU, BLONDIE!"

"Is this Tangled now?" Giyuu mused quietly.

Genya narrowed his eyes in confusion; "The fuck's a "Tangled"?"

"I don't know."

"Well, you disrespected my master's breathing style!"

"GO WHINE ABOUT IT!"

"I--"

"EXACTLY."

Zenitsu officially extracted himself from the argument, watching as two angry people faced off. He clung to Genya for support.

"Get off me."

"But  Genyaaaa! I'm scaaaared!"

"Fucking cling to Tomioka-san or something."

" Tomioka-saaan!"  The blond crawled his way to the brunette, ignoring the obvious discomfort the man was feeling. He clung to him like a baby would their mother and whined insistently.

'Should I tell him to move off? I feel like he'd be upset--'

Zenitsu could hear Giyuu's inner struggle but was too genuinely terrified to care.  The Wind Hashira  and  Kaigaku  were  arguing . Never in his life did he think they'd meet, and certainly not like  this . Where were they, anyway?  How  were they here?  Are those things demons or not? Why the hell was Kaiagku a human? Why did he have so much adrenaline pulsing through his veins--and why wasn't he dying?

---

Those were questions everyone in the group thought about but made no action to answer. They were too caught up in their confusion, and chaos, and were high on adrenaline. 

Sanemi was stitching up his wound while yelling at Kaigaku. Zenitsu was clutching onto Giyuu. Giyuu was having an inner turmoil between kindness and comfortability. Genya was slowly regenerating. Kaigaku was trying (and struggling) to get up from the ground, so he could beat the shit out of everyone there. Civilians watched wearily, very few looking for a hero to call.

One hero, in particular, managed to catch wind of what was going on. One grumpy, insomniac, coffee-loving hero who did too much, and was paid too little.

Shouta Aizawa was not ready for the 5 crazy people he'd meet. Neither was he ready for the changes they'd make to the timeline. 

May the force be with us all. And protect us from the crazy people who have no idea what the fuck is going on--a lack of knowledge can cause great destruction, you know.

Chapter Text

Aizawa Shouta was a hero. Well--an underground one. He didn't enjoy the spotlight and would instead just do his job in peace. He was a hero, not a damn celebrity! His job wasn't anything epic or fun like other heroes portray it--his job was to be a "hero".

There are times when Shouta wishes he hadn't chosen this course of work. It could be while he's on a particularly monotonous patrol, when he has to deal with overbearing students and way too gratuitous civilians--sometimes, these situations mess with his head.

This is one of those times.

In front of him stood five incredibly injured males. Well--only three were standing. The other two who weren't were either cowering away or actively cursing their "stupid human body."

The two oldest had white and black hair, respectively. They were standing up, along with a black-haired teen who looked similar to the white-haired man. Siblings, perhaps?

All five of them had katanas--the standing teen the only one having a blade and a shotgun. What a weird combination.

Besides that--where did they get these weapons? Do they have a license to carry them?

Though the blond teen seemed too jittery to have that line of work, they could be villains. A forced accomplice?

What's with their wounds, anyway? How have they not gone unconscious from exhaustion? Do they all have similar quirks--helping with the pain and blood loss? Who (or what) did this to them? Could they have fought each other?

"Who the hell are you?"

He spoke in a sort of...olden Japanese. Shouta understood him easily enough, but the fact was odd. "A hero." He saw no reason to tell them his hero name.

The ravenette on the floor snorted. " A  "hero?"  That's a fucking stupid way to refer to yourself."

The hero was mildly confused at his statement. Did he not know what a hero was? That was impossible--heroes were everywhere. And they were in  Japan. They had All Might, one of the most popular heroes amongst the public. His face was everywhere.

Were these people even villains?  How could they be when they didn't even know what a hero was?

Even if they were villains--they needed to be gotten to a doctor  ASAP 

"I'm not here to hurt you. Put down your weapons."

"As if I fucking will!"

"If I have to, I will use force. Put. Down. Your. Weapons."

The older black hair was the first to give in. His alarmed expression turned calm (practically void of emotion really), and he sheathed his sword. The white hair looked betrayed at his movement and began to yell at him.

"Are you fucking standing down?! Are you such a  coward ?"

No answer.

"Answer me, dumbass!"

Blue eyes met purple. "I trust that this... " hero"  will not hurt us unless prompted. We are also in no condition to fight. The chances of us dying any second are high, and we cannot afford to, considering the situation.

I highly advise you to sheathe your blade."

The other man's perturbed expression waned to one only mildly annoyed. He scoffed before putting away his blade, motioning for the teen to do the same.

The ravenette hummed in appreciation before turning towards Shouta once more. "I assume you will be asking us questions, but before you do, I have a few myself."

The hero only grunted.

"Where are we?"

"*something* Park in *something*." ( Lmao, figure out the names yourselves, I'm too lazy )

The man's lips downturned slightly. "Well, I presume we're in Japan because we speak the same language."

"Hn."

"Why are there demons-like people everywhere?"

'Demons? Is this a religious thing or something?'

"What do you mean by " demons"?"

"What the fuck do you mean? These  things  everywhere aren't fucking human!" The angry white hair gestured wildly to the civilians everywhere. Do they not know what a quirk is?

"These civilians aren't things, but people."

"Hah?! You expect me to believe that?! Bullshit!"

The black hair sighed. "Might we ask why these "civilians" look like demons?"

'They definitely don't know what a quirk is. If they don't, then how are they standing and remaining unconscious with such damaging injuries? Do they have quirks, but don't realize it? Is everyone here unknowingly involved in some sort of...villain experiment?'

"It's their quirk."

"  'Quirk?" "  The brunette echoed.

"It's essentially a "superpower" everyone's born with."

" Superpower...? "

"Yes. You've asked enough questions--now it's my turn. What's your name?"

The white hair hissed at him. "Why the fuck would we tell you that--"

"Tomioka Giyuu."

" What the fuck--"

Shouta made a note to check the system for that name later after he took them to the hospital. 

"And the rest?"

"Tomioka" looked towards the pale-haired man next to him "Are you going to tell him, or am I?"

"Fuck off!"

"Shinazugawa Sanemi."

" I'll fucking kick your ass--"

Tomioka's expression didn't change at the threat. He only continued introducing people. "Shinazugawa Genya," he said, looking towards the shaven teen.

'So they are related.'

He motioned towards the blond clutching his leg. "Agatsuma Zenitsu."

The man looked toward the snarky teen behind him. "I don't know his name."

"I-it's Kaigaku..." Agatsuma muttered.

" Don't fucking tell him my name!"

"Well, Tomioka-san didn't know!"

"Exactly!"

Genya turned towards the two.  "Don't fucking start up again--"

"Quiet, Genya! I'm so sick and tired of him!"

"Hah?! I'm sick and tired of your weak ass following me around!"

As the two fought, Aizawa turned to call an ambulance. He gave them a decent amount of information, half-listening to the argument behind him.

"You were a demon!"

"I'll gladly become one again!"

"WE'RE ALL FAR AWAY FROM HOME, IN A WEIRD PLACE WITH TALL BUILDING THINGS AND "CARS" AND "QUIRKS", AND YOU CAN'T FIND IT WITHIN YOU TO COOPERATE?!"

"FUCK OFF!"

"NO! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU!"

"OH? REALLY? WHAT--ARE YOU GOING TO FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED?"

"No--I--"

"EXACTLY! YOU'RE STILL A FUCKING WIMP!"

Aizawa watched as the blond began to cry. He looked mad, yet tears spilled out of his eyes.

" Y-you...WHY CAN'T YOU JUST STOP FOR ONCE?! WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING HERE! W-we're--

We're all far away from home ."

Aizawa could see the signs of a panic attack. The teen was shaking, and he could hear his ragged breathing from over here.

"We're all supposed to be fighting, and now we're here, and who knows what's happening with Muzan, and everyone could be dying, and  we can't help them-- "

"Pull yourself together, dumbass! If we want to go back and help them, we have to deal with ourselves first!"

The words seemingly snapped the boy out of his downward spiral--he looked up, wide-eyed, at the speaker. Shinazugawa Sanemi, was it?

"Don't fucking start to lose hope now. We haven't even started doing anything yet!"

"B-but--"

"No fucking buts. Did you even listen to anything I even fucking said?"

Tomioka Giyuu nodded. "Shinazugawa-san is correct."

That earned a whimper from the blond teen, a grunt from the scarred teen, and a scoff from the older teen. All three stayed quiet despite themselves.

With that, the man turned to Shouta. "Before you ask any more questions of us, hero, I ask that you lead us to somewhere we can heal, and, if you may, please explain in more detail the world around us.

Though before any of that, I have one last question to ask."

Shouta decided to let oblige one last time. "Hn."

"Have you ever heard of a man-eating demon?"

The hero's face morphed into a frown for a split second before returning to his usual, stoic, and bored expression. "I have not."

The brunette only nodded, brows furrowed in deep thought. "I...I see...thank you for answering." He cleared his throat. "May I ask you to follow my other two requests?"

Before Shouta could answer, the sound of sirens was heard in the distance. All 5 troublemakers stiffened.

"...What the fuck is that?"

"It's an ambulance siren. It will bring you to the hospital."

That seemed to be enough to console them and get them to relax a bit more. The three teens began to talk aimlessly, the oldest letting out more insults and vulgar language. The two adults were the only ones whose stances were almost just as defensive as before.

The two just continued to stare at him--one gaze was full of suspicion, the other calm, and calculating.

Eventually, the ambulance came, and all 5 clambered in. The only two who couldn't stand had to be carried and were placed on the (unneeded) stretcher. 

As the vehicle sped towards the ambulance, Shouta let his eyes roam over the people before him.

Tomioka Giyuu. It was almost impossible to read him. He was covered in blood and didn't even bother to wince at the gaping wounds around his body. None of them did--only one didn't have a single scratch on him. It was the one named Kaigaku.

Shinazugawa Sanemi was easier to understand. He was an incredibly angry person. He had a temper and was suspicious of anything and everyone. Even so--he was still almost just as calm as the brunette. Did the man have some sort of control over him to calm him down so easily? Was Tomioka some sort of leader?

And then there were the three teens.

Shinazugawa Genya. He was related to Shinazugawa Sanemi and had just as many scars. He had a sturdy build and seemed on his way to growing taller than his older brother. As everyone else seemed to be someone focused on katanas, he wielded two weapons--a katana and a shotgun. From the way he held the blade, it looks as if he's more well-versed with the shotgun. He also had a temper.

Kaigaku. There was no last name to give, and he knew the blond teen. He was the only one there that knew him. There were also plenty of problems between the two, and Shouta could guess it had something to do with the brunette becoming a "demon". It was also most likely a "man-eating demon". He'd have to look into that...other than that, the teen just seemed to be a vulgar-tongued bastard.

Agatsuma Zenitsu. It was almost impossible that the boy was a villain. The more Shouta studied him, the more he was sure.e The others had a possibility, but he did not. He obviously had some sort of self-esteem issue and was someone who gave up easily. He cried at every little thing. Shinagawa had to give him some sort of pep talk to keep him from having a panic attack, while everyone else was as calm as ever. The teen was a nervous wreck.

It was the shittiest quintet Shouta had ever seen. How the fuck do these people know each other, and how the hell have they not strangled each other to death?! They are so many conflicting personalities it's mind-boggling.

That explains the screaming and yelling.

Another thing was the lack of trust between them. The two eldest personalities were opposite, making their decisions and outlooks clash. Kaigaku was the outsider of the group--as if he didn't belong there one bit. He seemed to hate every one of them. Zenitsu and Genya were the only ones who had faith in each other.

What's weirder was how they thought the civilians were "demons". And they don't even know what quirks are--nor heroes. Tomioka said something about "man-eating demons".

Where in the world did these people come from?

...

Giyuu did not like the situation he found himself in. Here he was, in an unknown place, with unknwon people. Well, he knew he was in a Japanese hospital, and people he knew did surround him.

He stared down at the bedsheets, unmoving. With his wounds, he'd be here for months on end. 

The smell of antiseptics and sanitizer filled his nose. The smell was familiar--it smelt like the Butterfly Mansion. Though it didn't feel like it. Too many tubes were stuck in his body, and too many beeps and squeaks and squeals filled his ears--it was horrible.

He rather deals with Kocho's insistent nagging than this.

What he was glad for, at the very least, was the fact everyone got to share a room. A curtain separated the beds, but from the snoring and light breathing around him, he knew they were all here.

If they got separated, the brunette wouldn't know what to do. Shinazugawa could take care of himself, and so could Genya. The Kaigaku boy seemed responsible enough (though they had to keep an eye on him for demon reasons). What got him twisting his hospital down in stress was Zenitsu.

The blond was too moody, too...too scared. It seemed every little thing got him screeching and crying in terror. There's no way the boy could be alone. The same is for Kaigaku, but for the opposite reasons--he was too aggressive, too unstable, and less than a day ago he was Uppermoon 6.

It would be terrible if either was let out of someone's sight for the smallest of time.

Giyuu winced as he sat up, the tubes in him pulling uncomfortably at his skin. The doctor had told them it was a miracle they were all still alive. The only thing that seemed to keep them living was the abnormal amount of adrenaline flowing through them. What was odder, was his body didn't hurt even a bit. Of course, now, every wound ached with pain, and the adrenaline was long gone. Though he should at least feel agonizing pain, right?

Either way, the pain was bearable, and all four of them were fine. But that didn't ease his worry the slightest.

How in the world did they get here? Where are the demons? How did Kaigaku end up human again? How were the others faring against Muzan?

Did Muzan do this?

How?

WHY?

What would he get out of this? Three fewer slayers to deal with? Why would he send Kaigaku then?

It doesn't make any sense.

Why did this happen to them--right in the middle of battle? Right in the middle of the battle that would change everything for better or worse? Right when they had the chance to avenge all those who died at the cursed existence that was demons?

It hurts so much.

It hurts to know his comrades and allies had been fighting to death--and he was here, laying in bed, resting.

He wasn't even a real hashira. He didn't even deserve to be a demon slayer--and here he was, a fake demon slayer, letting everyone around deal with wreckage as he healed.

Even if Tanjiro was right that he shouldn't think this way--it still hurt.

He wished it was him who died.

Giyuu felt like he should be crying, but he wasn't. He wasn't going to let the tears come out. He had to be strong, despite the circumstance. Even if he was a fake hashira, the least he could do was try to be a real one. In place of what Sabito couldn't do because of him.

For the rest of the night, he could only stare at his hands and will the tears away.

...

It was morning, and the curtain between them was opened. The white-haired man look toward the ravenette on the bed beside him. His face was void of emotion (as usual), though he swears his cheeks were tear-streaked.

Sanemi knew Giyuu was awake throughout the night. He hardly slept a wink himself. How could they? They were teleported to (what felt like) a whole other world, and the worst part was that they had been in the midst of battle.

Sanemi supposed it was better than dying at the hands of Uppermoon 1. But still--why was he alive somewhere else, while the other slayers were dropping like flies fighting the demons?

If he was to get a second chance, the least the circumstance could do was make sure he was in the right goddamn place!

What use was he in an unknown location? At least he was still in Japan and not some other bullshit place. But it didn't matter either way. There was no way they were getting out of this hospital so soon without backlash. He'd spent enough time in the Butterfly Mansion to know that.

Even if they did make it out, they had no idea where to go. They'd head straight for the battle, but they have no idea where the battle is relative to their location. Besides--half of their group couldn't even stand,  let alone walk.

And one of those two used to be a demon.

Even if they ignored that fact and found solutions for the three problems, they most likely wouldn't make it in time. When they made it to the hospital, it was afternoon.

It'd been already too late then. Now it was morning.

He could only hope they managed to slay Muzan.

And then, when they're done healing, they'd go find them. They'd go find them and either be greeted with smiles and laughs or death and blood.

They wouldn't know which until they got there.

Chapter Text

(*Third Person Omniscient*)

"...What the fuck are you guys doing...?"

Genya turned towards his older brother, who was two beds away from him. "Hm...? Oh!" The teen held up the piece of paper. "Zenitsu and I are playing Tic Tac Toe!"

The pale-haired man just stared blankly at the paper. "...The fuck is 'Tic Tac Toe?'"

"It's a game where..." Genya proceeded to explain how it worked. Giyuu, who looked up from the History textbook he was reading, listened intently. He nodded as the explanation continued. Sanemi just sat there, dumbfounded.

"What a fucking shitty ass game."

"Hn. It is not that bad, Shinazugawa."

"Didn't ask you."

The ravenette hummed in response before returning to his book.

Everyone else around was doing something to keep themselves occupied. Giyuu requested books to read (novels, textbooks, history books, etc.), Genya and Zenitsu talked all day, Kaigaku slept through most of the day and sat in silence all night, and Sanemi...

Sanemi was restless. He read some of the textbooks Giyuu got, but that was about it. There wasn't much to do now that he was bedridden.

To make matters worse--apparently, they weren't allowed to keep their katanas! They had to have some sort of "license" to carry it around! The same was true back home, but still!

The only good thing was that they could (possibly) get it back through legally. It still pissed Sanemi the fuck off, though.

And then there was this stuff about "quirks," "heroes," and "villains." It was all so fucking annoying! Most of the time, these so-called "heroes" were just fucking egotistical bastards. They saved people for fame, money, and everything but for the sake of being a hero.

And the civilians weren't allowed to help when dealing with villains. So if they see someone getting hurt, they can't help them with their quirk. Or even if they did help without using it, they still get scolded like a child!

Let's not forget about the villains themselves--people who made the wrong choice when life went downward. People who think they're better than heroes, yet end up being worse (or just as bad). Both were in the wrong, and neither would take the time to admit it.

And apparently, people get shunned for having a "bad" quirk or being "quirkless." So if you don't have the ideal type quirk, you're equivalent to a villain, and if you don't have one, you're a lower tier than those who do.

If a hero saw a quirkless person getting hurt versus someone with a good quirk, who do you think they'd pick? What if we swapped the quirkless person for someone with a "villainous" quirk? Who would they choose then?

Most heroes would pick someone with the ideal quirk. Every. 

Single. Time.

It seems people who retain the title "hero" forget the true meaning behind it, and see it just as any other job out there.

It made Sanemi laugh bitterly to himself. While the Demon Corps was off sacrificing themselves for the sake of everyone they love--these people treated the act of heroism as some sort of joke. A title to get whatever they wanted.

Goddamit, if his body didn't heal faster, the pale-haired man was going punch his way out of here himself. There's no way in hell he'd spend any more time in this shitty place.

"Shinazugawa-san." Tomioka's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"The fuck you want?"

The rude tone didn't faze the man one bit. He continued to speak, tone as indifferent as ever.

"Are you okay? You have been staring at the same spot for 3 hours straight."

The words took a minute to register in his muddled mind. When they did, the man scoffed loudly. "Don't ask dumb questions."

"Hn. If you're bored, you can read one of my books."

"If I wanted to, I'd have done that already, dumbass."

Giyuu nodded, expressionless. "Indeed." He then continued to read the Geography book on his lap.

'He's just grumpy,' the ravenette thought. 'Stressed out from our situation.'

'What an idiot,' the fair-haired man thought. 'Asking shitty ass questions.'

The two had...conflicting thoughts regarding that short conversation.

...

"Shinazugawa-san."

Sanemi sighed as his name was called for the 10th time that day. "What the fuck do you want?"

"Would you like to play "Patting Cake" with me?"

Genya gave a small laugh. "It's Pat-A-Cake, Tomioka-san."

"Ah. Apologies. Shinazugawa-san, would you like to play "Pat-A-Cake" with me?"

Sanemi's nose wrinkled in disgust at the stupid name. "What the fuck is that?"

"It's a hand game Genya and I learned in rehabilitation! This girl, Reina, taught it to us!"

The blond began to blab on and on about to girl, actively simping for someone he hardly knew.

Genya rolled his eyes, smacking the teen on the back of his head. "Shaddap, and help me show them how to play, dumbass."

"So mean..." The teen grumbled but obliged. They begin to sing and clap their hands together. It was odd, and the song was a bit stupid--both knew.

When Reina showed them, they both were weirded out by it. Zenitsu did it as a way to be in contact with a girl. Genya did it because he wasn't sure what else to do (and Reina used her puppy eyes so he couldn't say no). The two had to admit that despite how childish it was, the game was enjoyable.

Both had been going to rehabilitation training for a few weeks. Genya was the first to go, Zenitsu following behind shortly after. Kaigaku should have been long on his way there, but the doctors could never wake him up from his rest. When they realized he was awake all night, they tried to coax him into a night version of it.

Kaigaku never spoke a word. He only sat there, glaring at them until they went away. Zenitsu tried to help convince him once, and the older immediately began to lash aggressively with vulgar words, and such a miserable sound that it made the blond start to cry.

The two eldest wouldn't be going into the training until a while. They were the most injured out of the quintet, and if quirks hadn't existed, the two would have been dead.

Giyuu watched them analytically, committing the words and movements to memory. Whenever anyone gives him any type of information, he takes the time to memorize it for later use.

He then turned to Sanemi, hands out, face blank as always. "Let us try now, Shinazugawa-san."

The pale-haired man felt a vein pop on his forehead. "Fuck no!"

"They showed us, so we must try now."

"I'm not doing that shit with you!"

"Okay." The man turned, facing Genya instead. He tried his best to hide the disappointment on his face (a slight downturn of lips and a small eyebrow furrow) as he asked: "Would you like to try with me?"

"I--sure."

The duo began the game. The clapping of hands was loud, almost drowning out the song.

The mix of voices was odd. Giyuu's monotone voice contrasted greatly with Genya's gruff one. And as the younger was focused mildly, the older looked like he was hardly focusing (though he was doing so very hard).

Genya looked to the side nervously. 'He's staring at me weirdly.'

The ravenette was indeed staring. As Giyuu tried his best to play the game correctly, he focused on the teen in front of him. He wanted to see if he was enjoying it.

The gaze made Genya do everything but enjoy it. It made him feel like he was being looked down upon. Was this why Nemi was always so rude to the man? Because he was looked down upon?

Zenitsu watched the two play and sighed. Tomioka-san was an intimidating man, but due to his unusual hearing, the blond could understand his true intentions. Really, the Hashira was just one big misunderstanding. Some part of him wanted to help the guy, but another...it's not his fault he had such trouble communicating! Why should he get involved in someone else's personal problems?!

Ahhhh, being nice was too hard. How does Tanjiro do it so much?

...

"Kaigaku!"

"Kaigaku, you bitch, wake up!"

The ravenette felt a vein bulge on his forehead but continued to ignore the blond.

"Kaigaku, you have to come to rehab sometime!"

Why does this bastard keep bothering him about such stupid things!? He wasn't going to rehab. He wasn't going to bother with anything here! There was no reason to! He wasn't a demon anymore--an existence higher than any human--so what use was he anymore? It was...just like back then. He's not going back to that time! Never again should he feel even slightly inferior to such a whiny bitch like Zenitsu!

"Fuck, at least eat, will you?!"

Eat? Eat? Anything he eats reminds him of how human he is! He shouldn't be human! He chose to be a demon! Why do the gods torture him so, huh?! Are they jealous? Jealous of the power a mere human could attain? Jealous of how close demons are to beings that control the heavens? Then that's their personal business--not his!

(The ravenette blatantly ignored the guilt in his heart whenever he ate anything non-human. What was there to be guilty of? There was nothing, so he decided to believe it was nothing.)

"Fine then! Die for all I care!" The blond huffed before walking away from the bed. As he walked with Genya to rehab, he thought about his elder's sound.

There was an inner turmoil within him that kept Zenitsu up at night. It was an eerie sound to hear--and with it, accompanied an even eerier scene to see--Kaigaku sitting up in bed, staring blankly at his hands.

His usual overly-confident sound dwindled into one of confusion and borderline hysteria. The ravenette was so incredibly unstable the younger desperately tried to do something about it. What if Kaigaku broke down and did something crazy? What if he started to try and murder everyone and everything here? That couldn't happen! Not when their so far from home!

The teen long gave up on killing Kaigaku. He wasn't a demon, so even if he wanted revenge for Gramps, he wasn't going to murder a human. Even if Kaigaku had no idea how to act humane anymore, he wouldn't kill him.

(Though now it would be much easier to. Zenitsu could easily stab a vital point and let him bleed to death. The ravenette could do the same--yet he hasn't. Why is that?)

The blond shook away the nightmarish thoughts from his head. Now wasn't the time to think about this! He...he had to become stronger! For Gramps! For everyone! He had rehabilitation to go through!

...

Shouta walked leisurely through the hospital halls on his way to visit five healing headaches of people. It's been a few months since he brought them to the hospital and a week or so since he last talked to them.

The last time he came with Detective Tsukauchi. They questioned everyone there, asking them what they remembered, who they were, what they knew about quirks and heroes, etc.

The answers were unforeseen.

...

"This is Detective Tsukauchi. He will be here to ask questions, take notes, and oversee this interrogation." Shouta motioned to the man beside him. Tsukauchi smiled and gave a short wave to the people in front of him.

With that out of the way, the hero turned and focused his gaze on Giyuu. "Tell us your name and age."

The ravenette obliged. "Tomioka Giyuu. I am 22."

The detective nodded when the elder turned to him. Tomioka was telling the truth, which made no sense. They had looked through files and hadn't found a trace of his name anywhere on any sort of records. The same was for the other four. It was like they never even existed.

"Where did you come from?"

"I am from *****, Japan."

"How did you get here?"

"I am not sure. I just suddenly appeared somewhere--the place you found us."

"What were you doing before you 'appeared'?"

The man kept quiet at that question. His hesitance hinted at something important, so the hero pushed further.

"What were you doing before you appeared in that park?"

"...I am afraid I cannot answer that question."

"Tell me what you were doing."

The young man's face remained stoic as he shook his head. "I cannot answer your question."

Shouta clicked his tongue. "Why did you all have katanas then?"

"That question cannot be answered either."

The hero leaned forward in his chair, locking eyes with the man before him. "Listen here, 'Tomioka Giyuu'--your name wasn't in any of our files. Your katana wasn't used with a license. You suddenly appeared in a park. You are in a hospital, having survived wounds that would have killed any normal civilian.

Legally, you shouldn't even  be  here. You're most likely just as confused as we are, so if you do not answer these questions and answer them  truthfully,  no one will be able to help you--any of you."

Silence enveloped the room for a few long, heavy seconds.

"So tell me, Tomioka Giyuu, what were you doing before you appeared in that park?"

Giyuu could only stare, taken aback by the man's straightforwardness and harsh attitude. It mildly reminded him of Kocho--though without the sickly sweet facade. It's a pity she died. She would have taken kindly to this man.

Maybe not much so, considering how intimidating she was--

"Answer."

"Hn." Giyuu looked to his side to where Sanemi was sitting. The man was seething at what the hero had said and looked ready to explode. Their eyes met, and the pale-haired rolled his eyes and scoffed before looking away.

'Do whatever you want--I don't care.' That was what he seemed to say.

The sentiment was enough.

"I was fighting in the Infinity Castle against Uppermoon 3, Akaza with Kamado Tanjiro."

Genya grunted, and Zenitsu let out a gasp. They both knew already (as announced by the crows), but it was still nerve-wracking to hear it proclaimed again. Seeing how many tubes were stuck in him and how many bandages had him wrapped up--it must have been a harrowing battle.

Shouta glanced over to Tsukauchi, who nodded.

"It was...an intense battle. This is where I got most of my wounds." Giyuu spread his arms out as if to present himself and his injuries as proof.

"Who is Akaza, and Kamado Tanjiro?"

"Tanjiro is a 16-year-old member of the Demon Slayer Corps, while Akaza is Uppermoon 3 of the 12 Kizuki--the twelve strongest demons, taking orders directly from Kibutsuji Muzan, the Demon King."

Shouta closed his eyes, massaging his temples with his fingers. "I presume when you say 'demons'--you mean some sort of humanoid demon with an appetite for human flesh?"

Giyuu hummed in affirmation, slightly shocked at how quickly the hero understood the situation.

"And this corporation you are a part of, slay these beings?"

He hummed again.

Shouta sighed. He peeked back toward the detective, who confirmed the truth behind those words. But, then again, even if one believes something to be true--that doesn't make it so. Either he's dealing with asylum patients or something much, much worse.

'What troublesome people...' He sighed again.

"Will I be correct to assume the rest of you are all workers of this same corporation?"

Sanemi grunted, Genya let out a mumbled "yeah," Zenitsu nodded hesitantly, and Giyuu hummed--all in affirmation.

"Might that include Kaigaku?"

The one stated wouldn't join the conversation. They managed to wake him up, but all he's done so far was stare at the wall in absolute silence.

Zenitsu looked towards the floor. "He...used to be."

Shouta narrowed his eyes in suspicion towards the quiet brunette.

The detective butted in. "This corporation has ranks right?"

"Indeed we do."

"Can you tell us which rank each of you belongs to?"

Giyuu nodded. "Zenitsu is a (...), Genya a (...), Kaigaku..." The ravenette shook his head before continuing. "And Shinazugawa-san and I are Hashira--the highest ranking in the Corps, second only to Master."

"Hmm...alright." Tsukauchi nodded his head toward Shota, as a sign to continue.

The pro-hero took over the questioning. "Now, explain to us what exactly demons are," he inclined his head towards Kaigaku, "and what connection they have with him."

Heads turned as Zenitsu sucked in a breath. "I...Kaigaku..."

Giyuu was quick to take over. "Demons are monstrosities created by the Demon King, which devour and torment innocent civilians. There are ranks among the demons, and ones on the more powerful side are gifted special abilities--something called "Demon Blood Art."

"Kaigaku...Kaigaku had been a demon himself--"

Zenitsu flinched, turning away from the conversation.

"--holding the rank of Uppermoon 6, the last ranked Uppermoon."

The room was quiet. No one said a thing--all eyes were on Giyuu, Zenitsu, and Kaigaku.

Shouta looked at the five before him and sighed. 

***

The rest of the interrogation was just as awkward, but Shouta got a lot of good information out of it.

One, the group was all at one point a part of an organization called the Demon Slayer Crops--a group most certainly not recognized by the government.

Two, this corps fought against demons--human-consuming monsters that terrorized people. The first demon and creator of the 'race' was the Demon King, Kibutsuji Muzan.

Three, Kaigaku had once been a demon himself and somehow changed back, which was supposedly impossible.

Four, all of them had these...'quirks' (when using the word loosely) called "Breathing Styles." Tomioka had Water Breathing, Shinazugawa had Wind Breathing, Zenitsu, and Kaigaku had thunder (and blood demon art), while Genya had some odd power he didn't get into, no breathing style, and skill with a gun. 

What even is his job anymore?

...

As soon as e entered the room, Shouta got straight to the point. "It's been decided--you're going to UA."

The retaliation was instantaneous. 

"Wha-WHAT?!" Zenitsu stumbled up from his bed. "We-we...HUH?!"

"You mean Hero-School UA? The... the school you told us about?" Genya was quiet, which was uncharacteristic of him but expected--he was in shock.

"Ah...this fucking place..." Shinazuagwa muttered and scoffed, just loud enough to be heard.

"Are we following the plan you explained to us, Aizawa-sama?" Tomioka, calm as ever, asked. His ability to catch on quickly and speak with neither aggression nor naivety left Shouta satisfied.

"Yes. You three will join once we run a few tests to estimate your power and figure out your placement."

"Remember, you are not real students. You're there purely to be kept under control and supervised until we completely figure out what's going on with you all."

"The same is meant for too, Tomioka and Shinazugawa. You will stay partly at home and at UA--for supervision purposes only and nothing more. Am I clear?"

The group nodded.

Good. Next week we will take those tests, and by next month you will enter school, however late it may be. Tomioka and Shinazugawa will stay in the hospital for another month or two before moving into the house given to you by the government." 

"It has enough room for the five of you," Shouta glanced briefly at Kaigaku, who was staring at a wall, "and will be under surveillance 24-7. So don't expect any privacy."

Shouta stood up, near finished with his brief visit. "Do anything suspicious, dangerous, or threatening, and you'll be thrown into an asylum with no chance of escape." He smiled at them, watching as their faces morphed into curiosity, suspicion, fear, and nervousness.

"Co-operate with us, and we will co-operate with you."

He left. 

Chapter Text

Giyuu was tired. He wasn't used to being bedridden for so long, and certainly not under these circumstances. And being in such close quarters with Shinazugawa for this extended period was taking a toll. The man wouldn't stop glaring, whether it be at the wall or Giyuu's head; as if Giyuu were to blame for the predicament.

Besides that, Aizawa-sama's plan was weighing on his mind. They were supposed to let the three youngest out of their sight? One of them was Shinazugawa's sibling, another was terrified of nearly everything, and the last was mentally unstable. 

This place was too much. Everything was too loud, and the hustle and bustle was...abundant. It was worse than the Red Light District! How could there possibly be so much noise and lights?! Honestly, he didn't want to deal with it anymore.

By far, the worst of it all was that he and Shinazugawa were meant to...'stay at home.' And do what? They couldn't train and they couldn't leave. What was left for them? Shinazugawa had his brother, but even then, the tension between them was thick. Giyuu didn't have anyone.

He wasn't close with Zenitsu at all. The teen was loud, cowardly, and with plenty of tears to spare. But Tanjiro liked him, didn't he? They were friends, along with that boar boy. Giyuu remembers him from Mount Natagumo.

Tanjiro would want him alive.

Giyuu would protect him. Yes. Giyuu would risk his life for him because Tanjiro would. They are so far from home, and Giyuu can not let someone so precious to Tanjiro die.

If..if Tanjiro was alive, Giyuu would bring Zenitsu to him safely. If not, then he'd make sure that Zenitsu would live a good life. He-he'd make sure that every single one of them would lead lives worth living.

He can't let them die.

---

"Shinazugawa-san."

Sanemi rolled his eyes. "What the fuck is it this time?"

"This plan...there is no way we can get out of it." Giyuu gripped the book in his hand slightly tighter.

Sanmei scoffed, more annoyed than genuinely angry. "I know that."

"We can fight, but it will lead to unnecessary grief."

"Your point?"

"...we can only sit idly by."

"No shit."

Silence.

"Shinazugawa-san, you don't believe we won, do you?"

Sanemi's head snapped towards him, veins popping up from his face. "You bastard--are you doubting our abilities?"

Giyuu sighed (which was a small puff of air Sanemi hardly noticed). "The Demon King is powerful. We needed all the help we could get, and with so many of us gone...we can't be sure we have anywhere to go back to."

Sanemi sighed too, gruff and loud. "Fucking Kibutsuji...they better have slayed that demon."

"We cannot avoid the possibility."

"You want me to rip your vocal cords out? We both got it already, so just...enough talking. Your voice is pissing me off."

"... should I apologize?"

"Stop talking."

And then the conversation ended, and neither knew what to make of it. Their worries weren't eased, they learned nothing new, Sanemi was tired of Giyuu's questions and factual thinking, and Giyuu was just as confused as ever.

However one thing's certain--they won't be going back anytime soon, if there's anything left to go back to.

---

"A few more steps, Zenitsu."

Zenitsu groaned, already ready to give up. "Uggghh, whyyyy???"

The nurse, Miko-san, sighed in a mix of resigned annoyance. "Zenitsu, this is the only way to recover. You'll be going to UA in a few months. You're already lucky you don't have to take the entrance exam to be guaranteed entry--don't you want to be recovered before the school year starts?"

"No! I don't even want to gooo!!!!"

"Fine. But you want to be able to walk by yourself, right?"

Zenitsu shook his head. Why would he want to walk by himself, when he had pretty girls to push him around? Reina especially! Oh, and that one other nurse--

"Hey! Zenitsu! Enough of your daydreaming! Just so you know, it'll only be me, Genya, and Jackson-san pushing you around!"

Zenitsu sputtered, nearly losing hold of the railing. "Jackson?!?! The "AMERICAN" guy?!?!?"

Nurse Jackson, only a few feet away, smiled at Zenitsu in passive, barely repressed anger. The blond could hear how his tune turned dark and intimidating, and he squeaked.

"Zenitsu-kun, how many times have I told you to quit screaming? You're disturbing the other patients." Jackson's grey eyes glowed intimidatingly, and Zenitsu was shaking.

"Aaah, s-sorry, Jackson-san! I-I didn't mean to offend--"

"That means you'll be listening to our lovely Nurse Miko, correct?" His short-cropped hair began to float menacingly around his face, and reminded him of Erasure, that scary bastard!

Zenitsu nodded quickly. "O-oh of course!" He turned to Miko-san, bowing on shakier legs than ever. "Sorry, Miko-san!"

Nurse Miko smiled approvingly. "Apology accepted." She turned to Jackson. "Thank you!"

Jackson's demeanor changed, turning happy and calm instantaneously. "You're very welcome." Then he was walking away, muttering to himself about paperwork and annoying blonds (to which Zenitsu took much offense).

"Funny how good he is at keeping you in line, when he's so young, huh?"

Zenitsu nodded, taking her hand as she helped him back into his wheelchair. "Early twenties my ass. He acts like an old man!"

Miko laughed, handing him his water as she pushed him away. "Ready for the next exercise?"

"Oh, please, spare me!!"

"Sorry-not-sorry, Zenitsu-kun. As nice as I am to you, you're not leaving rehab without a few more stretches done. We've only done one so far."

"Uggh, but being pushed around is so much easier..."

"But life's so much easier being able to walk, no? How else are you going to train to be a hero?"

Zenitsu grumbles, holding onto the railing. "...I guess..."

Nurse Miko smiles. "Thank you. Now, come on. Walk to the edge and back. You can do it. Let's see how far you can get in five minutes, okay?

Zenitsu paled. "What?! How can a woman be so mean to me?!"

Nurse Miko rolls her eyes. "I don't know what century you came from, but during this time and age? You're walking to the edge and back. In three minutes."

"What?! Miko-san, I'm sorry--"

---

Kaigaku was silent. As he usually is now. He looked down at his food. Simple, plain rice. A start. The only thing he could stomach.

He put a hand to his abdomen. He was hungry. But when he looked at a human, he didn't see them as food. How revolting. His sclera wasn't black. His fangs were gone. His claws were gone. And now his sword was gone.

Surrounding him, were people. People with... demon powers. And he was human again. He was the weakest again. It felt so good to be a demon. Uppermoon 1... Kokushibo... he only did it to survive... but he couldn't give that up... the power... God, that power! He could've gotten stronger! That damn blond was so close...so fast... and now he's here. Where? Where is here? He doesn't know.

This is all bullshit.

He'd prefer to be almost anywhere else. This time and age was so much... different than his. It was unfair. He worked for that power. He deserved it, and these people were just...born with it? Given it, free of suffering, free of pain, free of... all of it. While his were taken away?

Worse yet, these people were out and about playing hero, living lavish lifestyles while powerless scum like him were meant to stain the underside of their shoes. He had to claw his way up to the top, while the people here were born with it. Born with it.

If he were born with the powers he had--where would he have been? He wouldn't have been eating dirt to fill his stomach. He wouldn't have landed himself in that stupid orphanage with that stupid caretaker. He would've been respected. Feared.

If he were born with it, he could've been satisfied from the beginning. He wouldn't have had to work so hard just to stay alive. He's always been destined to be great. It's unfair. It's always been unfair. Everyone above him got to eat with their families. Everyone else could live happily. Every day, people were born into comfortable lives. People could just be born with powers. People could be exceptional, their destinies laid out in front of them. He had to reach for his.

But he was special. He had to be. That's why he was allowed to be a demon. That's why he could become a demon slayer, that's why he had become so strong. That's why he survived off of mud and grass. That's why he was born to suffer. He pushed through because he was special. Unlike all of them. Unlike every. Single. One. Of. Them.

His fingers dug into his sheets, and then the tray before him clattered to the floor, the rice spilled and the bowl rolling away. The anger boiled deep inside him, eating away worse than the hunger ever could.

He worked hard to get where he was. He was grateful and special and deserving--

It was that stupid blond. That crybaby scum. He was why this happened. This was his chance. That stupid, stupid, stupid, weak crybaby ruined everything. But Kaigaku could do it. He can. He's still special. He'll kill him. He'll kill him.

Kaigaku's fingers dug into his wrist, and yanked the weird tube thing out, liquid and blood dripping. He was seething with pure, unadulterated rage. He willed himself to get up, but his legs burned and he couldn't. His face got hotter, his blood boiling beneath the surface of his skin. That old man favored Zenitsu more than any of his students. More than Kaigaku. He had put respect on his teacher's name, while that pathetic scum had the gall to call him Gramps. The older man had only goaded it on, with how much effort he put into a teenager who could only master the first form. He taught that idiot a secret form while leaving Kaigaku out--though Kaigaku worked hard. Zenitsu didn't. Zenitsu spent all of his time crying and whining. He didn't listen to his senior's advice. Kaigaku never cried that much, even when he was younger.

Zenitsu never deserved to live. With how much time he spent whining about his fear of dying, he should've gotten it over with.

If Kaigaku were that pathetic, he'd have killed himself ages ago.

---

Genya sat outside. Lucky for him, the hospital had something of a courtyard. He couldn't train, but he decided to sit around instead. His legs were sore from walking, and he propped up his crutches on the edge of the bench where he sat. There was a small garden, partially tended to. The flowers looked dehydrated, with how hot it was. The hospital staff should water them more.

He looked off to the side, huffing. He wasn't a fan of flowers anyway. But his mind couldn't help wandering, reminded of the scent of wisteria. The powerful, natural demon repellent and poison. When he first became a demon slayer, he was immediately off-put by the smell. He could admit that they were pretty, at least.

One of the nurses, what's-her-face, brought him out here. She gave him a bit of privacy, going to get him water at his request. He had a time limit, of course. He wasn't allowed to stay out here for more than 40 minutes, for some stupid reason he didn't care about. He lazily tilts his head up, his violet eyes scanning the blue sky above. It wasn't so bad out here, at least.

This place was different. It was a lot more advanced than the Butterfly Estate, which left him a bit confused at times. He was hooked up to something called an IV for a good week or so, which was very uncomfortable in all honesty. The doctors were all poking and prodding at him, curious about his regenerative abilities. Genya wasn't too sure about it himself. He wasn't a demon any longer, yet his generative abilities had remained just as powerful as before. He had been mostly regenerated before Aizawa had got there, and he hardly took notice of the chaos of it all. It was about as powerful as a higher moon demon, which surprised him. Maybe the effects of Upper Moon One's flesh still lingered in his body, but it didn't tend to last this long.

The doctors had found that his body had mostly regenerated but still needed physical therapy to 'break in' the new muscles and skin. He was still a little stiff, but the more time he spent walking on his own and stretching, the better he got.

Genya can't but sigh, biting his lip slightly. He couldn't believe they were here. Wherever 'here' happened to be. All this stuff about quirks and heroes and villains made his head hurt. Along with the questionable decision to bring them to some UA hero school, his head only hurt worse when he thought about what happened back at the Castle. He still hasn't thanked Sanemi for saving him that day. He's tried, but his brother keeps brushing him off. He thought that since 'Nemi tried to protect him, maybe he'd be open to listening. Maybe he could give Genya a chance to apologize like Genya's always wanted since that day. But he's still harsh.

His hand comes up, gently grazing the scar lying jaggedly across his face. Tears were pooling again already. Sometimes he felt like a worse crybaby than Zenitsu. If he had just held his tongue that day or found a way to get through to 'Nemi... maybe things would be different. Maybe they wouldn't be here.

He wasn't even sure what happened. One moment he was watching as his brother tried to dodge the incoming attack, and the next, everything was black. Then, he woke up in the middle of somewhere, surrounded by 'quirked' people and a group that was more dysfunctional than any missions he'd ever been a part of. Truth be told, he was a contributor to the problem, but it was hard to be around those four. Zenitsu never shut up, Tomioka was unreadable, 'Nemi hated him, and that Kaigaku guy was always either silent or screaming. If Tanjiro were here, things might be going smoother.

Right. Tanjiro. Muichiro. Gyomei. Kocho. Inosuke. Everyone... Did they even survive? There's no telling what might've happened, with two slayers and two Hashira gone from the battle. At least one of the demons came with them. It gave the rest less to fight, even if Kaigaku had only been Uppermoon 6, the weakest of them all.

(Part of him was glad for that. It would've been a lot worse if somebody like Uppermoon One came with them instead.)

He didn't realize he had closed his eyes until something tapped his shoulder, and he opened his eyes to see the nurse back with a cup of water. He took it with a quiet (and slightly embarrassed) thank you, sipping as he thought.

He wasn't sure if this was better or worse than being dead.

---

Shouta sighs impatiently, watching the rodent of a principal stir his tea. The furry creature sat on the edge of his desk, legs crossed, sipping from his cup with more poise than Shouta's seen from more human-like individuals.

"Mm. I read your report. Detective Tsukachi relayed it to me. It's quite interesting. Besides their testimonies, you've found no information, hm? Nothing on these so-called, 'demons', and their king, Kibutsuji Muzan? Nothing of an illegal Demon Slayer Corporation?" Principal Nezu inquires, taking another languid sip of tea from his fine china.

"Nothing. They've checked everyone with similar names, but they hold no connection. It's like they never existed." He replies, choosing to stand behind the offered chair, rather than sit. "There's not a single trace of them ever existing."

Nezu nods, tilting his head slightly. "I see. Even if they came from another country, there would be some record of such a trip. But you say they recall always living in Japan?"

"That's what I've been told." Shouta sighs.

"Hm.. not a trace of anything about demons.. perhaps, demon-like quirks. But we haven't dealt with very many cases of cannibalism, especially not to the degree they suggest."

"I don't think they're villains. They were too cooperative and didn't harm any of the civilians. They were hurt badly when I got there. The seemingly regenerative ability they had was only temporary. It seemed to be a result of pure adrenaline. Eyewitnesses say they just appeared." He settles back his shoulders, hands in his pockets. "It might be some experiment. How they described it seems too detailed to be a mass hallucination."

Nezu nods, putting down his cup. "I see. Thank you, Aizawa. As I'm sure you know, I will be calling a meeting later to speak about this in more detail with the rest of the staff. Hopefully, the children will find themselves at home, here in UA. And, we will be able to keep an eye on them. Besides that, I'd like you to take a look at this," He passes Shouta a letter. "From the HPSC. Since UA and you have gotten involved, it's been recognized as a hero-related matter and a possible public safety hazard. "

Shouta takes the letter, eyes narrowing. He didn't trust the government very much, much less the Hero Public Safety Commission. But it's not like he can simply refuse their involvement. He was in no position to do so.

"... they want to keep them at the Safety Commission?"

"Yes. To keep an eye on them, and fully figure out what their quirks may be while they are granted access to UA," Nezu responds, black eyes watching Shouta with an analytical expression.

Shouta looks over the letter again, feeling slightly irritated. "Wasn't the government going to give them housing?"

His boss hums. "That was before the Safety Commission got involved. They say they need all their agents on hand. So it's easier to keep them at headquarters, where they will be monitored."

Shouta sighs. They can't be serious. They changed plans, just like that?

Nezu continues. "There are no heroes who have the time to watch them. As an official 'hazard,' it's important to keep them contained and observed. Keeping them in government housing by themselves is 'dangerous'."

The hero reads over the letter again with an apathetic look, before returning to Nezu. The mouse-like creature smiles. "Are you concerned, Aizawa? We will be discussing this at the meeting if you wish to voice your thoughts then. Until then," Nezu says, effectively ending the conversation.

"I'll keep note of that," Shouta says, before making his way out of the office.

Maybe today was a good time to get back into drinking.