Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

☆ ― 𝓒. 𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐃'𝐒 𝓜. 𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐍 ― ☆

Falling For You: Mitsuri Kanroji x female reader!

Chapter: Mitsuri & Y/n’s Mission

CAW CAW Y/N L/N AND MITSURI KANROJI CAW CAW!

A crow yelled, circling above a h/c-haired woman's head. She appeared to be in the midst of speaking to someone before she was interrupted.

NORTHEAST NORTHEAST! A GROUP OF DEMONS ARE ATTACKING A VILLAGE!

“Ah, Mitsuri-san, it appears we have another mission together.” Y/n shooed the crow off with a wave of her hand. “It seems that Oyakata-sama just loves the two of us together, hm?”

Mitsuri, a beautiful pink and green-haired woman with dazzling light green eyes, internally squealed in response to the crow delivering their master’s mission for the two of them. Mitsuri was always bursting with excitement whenever the two were assigned a mission together — either Oyakata-sama was matchmaking or someone was blessing her with a chance to be around Y/n more.

“O-of course!” Mitsuri giggled, allowing Y/n to lead the way as they decided to leave early and hopefully get there before more terrible things happened. “We make an amazing pair, don’t you think N/n-chan?”

Mitsuri never minded that Y/n was older than her by a year. She took almost every chance to call Y/n some type of nickname; her favorite was N/n-chan because it just sounded so cute!

“Watch—!”

Y/n was cut off as Mitsuri stumbled over a root sticking out of the ground. The green-eyed girl fell onto the back of Y/n’s haori and grabbed at it, pulling the older girl down as well.

“Y/n-chan! I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention!” Mitsuri hurriedly picked herself up and went to dust the dirt off of Y/n’s demon slayer corps uniform. “Are you alright? Are you hurt? I’m sorry!”

“It’s okay, Mitsuri-san! I’m perfectly fine, just a little shocked by the pull.” Y/n chuckled, taking Mitsuri’s hand in hers to stop her from continuing to dust off the dirt. “Are you okay? You spaced out fairly quickly, would you like me to carry you?”

Mitsuri blushed. She hadn’t meant to pull Y/n down — she was only trying to grab onto something stable. But the thought of being carried did seem nice.

Take the offer? Or don’t take the offer… what a hard decision.

“W-Well my ankle does h-hurt a bit from that fall!” Mitsuri made a show of wincing as she placed a hand on her leg and rubbed it. “I should be alright walking but I’m sorry if I slow us down a bit…”

Y/n turned around and squatted.

“No, no, I offered to carry you for a reason. Now hop on and latch your arms around my neck so that you don’t fall.”

Mitsuri wrapped her arms around Y/n’s neck and her legs around her waist, making sure not to apply too much pressure.

“That’s a lot better, N/n-chan!” Mitsuri sighed, allowing herself to relax as Y/n continued to take the lead. “Thank you for being so kind!”

“Anything to help a friend!” Y/n smiled, dropping the conversation and focusing ahead once more.

Mitsuri, on the other hand, frowned a bit at that word — friend. She most definitely didn’t think of Y/n as a friend, but maybe Y/n did. She’d have to find a way to confess her feelings to the older girl sometime soon. And if not… hopefully they could still work alongside each other.

Yeah, just friends.

“Mitsuri-san! You shouldn’t be fighting, you could worsen your sprained ankle!”

Y/n called out to the Love Hashira after seeing her perform some pretty cool flips, twists, and kicks. As the b/t Pillar, she happily trained alongside Mitsuri most of the time, so seeing her in action was always amazing. But right now, Y/n could handle the last two demons for her. These were lower-ranked demons anyway; Y/n was more than capable of taking them alone.

“O-Oh! Y/n-chan, I’ve got it!” Mitsuri called back, getting slightly sidetracked seeing Y/n finish slaying the other half of the demons fairly quickly. “My leg is feeling a little bit better anyways, don’t worry!”

Y/n internally giggled at Mitsuri’s excuse. She already knew Mitsuri’s legs were perfectly fine because she hadn’t even fallen that hard — Y/n had cushioned her fall. She hadn’t minded carrying Mitsuri most of the way there. How could she? She loved the look of contentment on Mitsuri’s face when she offered to carry her; it made Y/n feel warm inside.

“No, no! You took quite the fall after all! If you could just take care of the kids over there for me that would be wonderful.” Y/n patted Mitsuri on the head as a sign of affection. “I’ll be over in probably three minutes top.”

Mitsuri was glad Y/n had hurried toward the demons because she was very pink in the face from the affection she’d received. She decided that on their way back she’d tell Y/n the truth. Hopefully, Y/n wouldn’t feel any kind of way toward her for milking the opportunity.

Y/n is such a nice person! Ahh, what did I do to be blessed with such a marvelous person in my life?

Mitsuri came upon the little group of crying children, trying to calm down one who was sobbing and trembling in fear while staring down the demons.

“Miss, please help sister!” a little boy cried, pulling at her hand. “If—if she keeps this up she’ll have a seizure!”

Mitsuri dropped to the little girl’s height, blocking the demons from her line of vision. She spoke in a gentle tone:

“Sweetheart, can you hear me?”

A short nod.

“Good, that’s good. Okay, I’m gonna ask you to tell me three sounds you can hear, alright? Can you do that for me?”

“Y-Yes! I… I can d-do that! I… I c-can hear your voice!”

“Keep going, you’ve got this. Just two more.”

“My—! My h-heart! A-and my voice…”

“Good job!” Mitsuri praised. “Now can you tell me three things you can feel?”

“U-um… I can feel m-my pretty dress. My b-brother… and…” The girl suddenly grabbed Mitsuri’s hand and gave it a light squeeze. “And your hand too!”

“You’re doing an amazing job! Do you want to tell me one more or are you feeling a bit better right now?”

“I’m okay now, thank you miss!” the girl exclaimed. Her shaking had toned down quite a lot.

“Thank you miss for helping my sister!” the boy thanked, wiping at his sister’s remaining tears. The other children flashed tiny bright smiles toward her.

“You are all welcome!” Mitsuri stood up. “I’m sure that your parents are worried so run along now!”

“Goodbye, pretty lady!” the boy called out as he and his sister ran off.

Children are so cute! Mitsuri sighed happily, turning toward the last place she’d seen Y/n before a yelp ripped from her throat.

“M-my apologies, M… Mitsuri-san!” Y/n said through a fit of laughter. She hadn’t meant to scare Mitsuri.

“Jesus, Y/n! Almost gave me a heart attack!” Mitsuri scolded, holding her hand on her chest and taking a couple of steps back — only to trip once more over a particularly big rock.

“Woah—!”

Y/n reached out an arm around Mitsuri’s waist and pulled her back on her feet.

“It’s almost like you’re falling for me, Mitsuri-san!”

“D-Don’t say stuff like that, Y/n!” Mitsuri stormed off in faux anger, blush decorating her face.

“Mitsuri-san! Don’t be upset! I was kidding, I promise!” Y/n giggled, trying to catch up to her. “Technically that was a lie. I wasn’t kidding but I said it wrong! I’ve actually fallen for you!”

【 Author’s note 】

I hope you guys liked the first oneshot of Cupid’s Mission! Just to let you guys know, b/t or b/s means breathing technique or breathing style — those things are decided by you guys!

Chapter Text

Tanjiro x sick!male reader.

Dear [M/n],

How are you? Have you been taking care of yourself? Do I need to come down there and take care of you myself? Because if you'll never hear the end of it from me. And I'll never write to you again, you'll have to get boring text messages from me.

I have a small confession. Forgive me for how cringe this is for pouring out my heart.

The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew we could never be friends. You were so closed off due to everything you'd been through and I didn't know how to help you. The more I tried to win over your hand in friendship, the more you stayed away.

It took me two long years to finally stop pushing myself onto you and wait for you to notice me. And when you did, I was overjoyed to have you by my side as my friend.

However, recently, I have begun to regard you as much more than just my friend.

My feelings for you intensified when I saw you start slowly come out of your shell and become more comfortable around me.

You have the most enchanting e/c eyes I've ever seen. And the way they light up at the smallest of things you find interest in just makes me want to see your eyes lighting up like that when you see me.

You make my heart run a marathon every time we talk and I know it's very weird to be writing you a whole letter when I could be calling you but you deserve more than just a flimsy text from me or a minute-long conversation over the phone because I'd been busy with work and school.

I know that to you I'm just a friend but I'm really hoping you'll think about being mine someday. I love you so much and hopefully, you'll love me too someday.

No rush of course, but if you find this too much just send me a let me know and I'll stop. And we can go back to being friends with nothing in between.

I know you're still recovering at home so drink your medicine, use the stuff I sent you, drink lots of fluids, and get some rest.

All my love,
Tanjiro ♡

p.s - please please please look after yourself ☻

The h/c-haired male that the letter was sent to couldn't keep the small smile on his face from stretching even bigger.

He's such a sweetheart. M/n thought, pulling the letter away from his racing heart and toward his bedside table. He opened the top drawer and carefully placed the letter atop the others, a warm giddy feeling making itself known the longer he stared at the pile of letters.

This, as you could tell, wasn't M/n's first letter from the burgundy-haired man and hopefully, it wouldn't be his last. It'd be a shame if Tanjiro stopped writing to him all because he was sick.

"Achoo!"

He was going to need to make another trip to the bathroom sooner than he thought.

"M/n, that cup of tea has been sitting there for the past twenty minutes and you've only taken three short sips."

"That's 'cause the tea is nasty." M/n uncaringly moved the not-so-hot cup of Chamomile tea out of view. Making the burgundy (whose disappointed face was most definitely in view), sigh.

"I know it's nasty but it will help your sore throat," Tanjiro responded, his camera shaking a bit as he propped the phone up on his dresser. His burgundy locs were occasionally being swept out of his eyes as he spoke to the younger. "Did you take your medicine today? Eat? Drink at least six bottles of water?"

"No, kinda, and sorta," M/n answered, looking through his fridge for the nth time in the past hour. He wasn't sure why he kept doing it. Maybe he hoped that some snacks would magically appear in there for him to eat. "How was testing? Did you get a good score? Are you coming over tomorrow?"

Tanjiro gave him a stern glare, which M/n ignored and instead gave him a sheepish look. Begging Tanjiro not to lecture him once more and to switch the topic.

Tanjiro, of course, did not let M/n pass this time though.

"You're switching the topic knowing I'll get distracted. Unfortunately for you, all my attention is on you so no fooling me." Tanjiro said, earning a pout from the other. "Explain, now."

It took a good minute (the longest M/n had ever lasted in a staring contest against the other), for M/n to give in and explain himself. His eyes were anywhere but at the burgundy who he knew was burning holes through his head from over the phone.

"I didn't like the taste of the liquid medicines so I tried to take the pills but I couldn't swallow them so I kinda gave up on them. I slept most of the day away 'cause of a couple of headaches I had and the sudden fatigue, which made me not drink much water and eat today," M/n explained rather quickly but added one thing. "B-But! But, I'm gonna make something for me to eat right now!"

"You better! Or so help me M/n I will—"

"Okay! Okay, chill!" M/n laughed, it immediately turning into a coughing fit not even 5 seconds later.

"This is what happens when you don't drink all your tea while it's hot."

☆ ― 𝓒. 𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐃'𝐒 𝓜. 𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐍 ― ☆

𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬

"Who the fuck is up knocking on my door at 8 am on a fucking Saturday morning?!" M/n huffs, setting down the towel he had used to dry his wet hands and heading toward the front door.

M/n opened the door with an irritated expression on his face, about to ask what said person needed from him when he was engulfed in a hug. A tuff of burgundy hair fell into his face as the taller of the two hugged him close.

"Tanjiro!" M/n exclaimed, all previous negative emotions draining from his body in a flash as the surprise arrival of his childhood friend greeted him. Until he remembered—

"I'm still sick! And... and I could get you sick too!" M/n reluctantly removed himself from the older's arms. Taking a step back into his home. "I haven't gotten any better and being in contact with you could pass it along. You— Don't you have a huge test coming up?"

Tanjiro shuffled his feet, he appeared to have a bag peeking behind his legs now, but the contents inside were the least of M/n's concerns at the moment.

Tanjiro internally scoffed at M/n's words. A cold was the least of his worries. At least, he thought it was a cold.

"M/n, I'll be fine! I'm here to take care of you while you sick anyways and—"

But M/n apparently just didn't understand.

"You said it was worth 50% of your grade, right?!" M/n blurted, cutting Tanjiro off.

"Maybe a bit more than 50% if I'm being honest. Maybe like 75%... but that doesn't matter anyways because—"

Because what? Because nothing. M/n just wouldn't let him finish what he had to say. The short h/c-haired male just kept blabbing.

"Regardless of me being ill at the moment, you shouldn't be here this early! You can't miss that test, Tanjiro!" M/n finished, taking a much-needed gulp of fresh air. Finally shutting the fuck up and letting Tanjiro speak—

"M/n, I'll be back in time for that test. I promise you," Tanjiro assured him, a quiet pause before he awkwardly cleared his throat. Putting M/n's attention back on him momentarily. "Back at home, I saw something that reminded me a lot of you and—"

Or not.

"Speaking of home," M/n interrupted once more, grabbing one of Tanjiro's arms and pulling him inside the house. "I probably should have had you come in sooner. I just finished making some hot chocolate! Would you like some?"

"Yes, thank you. But—!" Tanjiro realized that if he didn't speak now he'd probably get too nervous to say something later. "I... I brought you something."

Tanjiro revealed the medium-sized bag that he'd been holding. He watched as M/n's hands started to twitch at his side, he knew M/n wanted to snatch the bag from him and just open it.

"Go ahead, it's yours." Tanjiro lightly chuckled as the h/c-haired male yanked the bag out of his hands and got to investigate what was inside.

M/n pulled out a small bouquet of roses, a red box tied with black ribbons, and a black box tied with gold ribbons. He set the bag and the boxes down before staring almost blankly at the roses.

He knew that there are different colored roses with different meanings to them and as he stared at the red roses in his hands, he could feel his heart drumming along to some unknown song. Tanjiro said nothing in response but his actions spoke louder than words as he looked away and awkwardly opened his arms.

M/n accepted the hug, tearing up as he started to feel his chest tighten painfully. "I... You ruined my plan! I had a whole speech planned out to tell you that I felt the same way! I was gonna take you on this amazing date, we were going to eat a-amazing food, and w-when we finished I-I was gonna give you gifts and confess to you!"

Tanjiro couldn't keep in his laughter as he listened to M/n talk, it was only when he started wheezing and coughing painfully that he started to get worried.

"H-Hey! Please calm down!" Tanjiro held his hands in the air awkwardly as he watched M/n continue dying. "I-I didn't know it meant that much to you!"

"N- no! I'm just— allergic t-to roses, t-that's all!" M/n coughed out, causing Tanjiro to panic as he had a death grip on the flowers.

"You're what?!" Tanjiro yelled, trying to take the roses out of his hands only for him to continue moving out of reach. "Why didn't you ever tell me that?! I just literally gave you death in a bag! Let go of the flowers, M/n!"

"I'll be f-fine!" M/n tried to assure the burgundy but failed when Tanjiro continued his attempts at snatching them. "They a-are so cute and y-you went out of... o-of your way t-to get them for me!"

"Okay, okay! I won't throw them away!" Tanjiro declared, backing off of M/n and raising his hands to show his surrender. "Just— just let me put them away somewhere! Let me put them in a vase or something. I promise you, I won't throw them away... at least not today."

Muttering the last part, Tanjiro gave M/n a beaming smile as the younger handed him the bouquet reluctantly, eyeing Tanjiro as if he were a threat.

"Do you have anything to help you with your coughing and wheezing?" Tanjiro asked not too long after he set the roses aside. Now, the two were sitting on the couch. M/n opened one of his two boxes and Tanjiro watched him as one of his hands soothingly rubbed along the other's back.

"No, but I'll be fine," M/n mumbled, not really interested in the conversation. He was more interested in the bracelet—watch? That was now in his hands. "You... you got me a watch?! I love watches! This one is so pretty too..."

"Unfortunately, it's not a watch," Tanjiro said, warmth seeping into his chest when the smile on M/n's face didn't fade in the slightest. "It's a bracelet used for long-distance communication. Anytime you can't call or text me but need some reassurance, just tap the pad and it'll show up on my bracelet."

As Tanjiro explained, he fastened the bracelet onto M/n's arm, a shine in M/n's eyes as he played around with the bracelet and watched it light up on Tanjiro's arm.

"This... is so AWESOME!" M/n screamed, throwing his arms around Tanjiro's neck and hugging him tightly. "THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU—"

"You're welcome, but please stop yelling in my ear." Tanjiro gently shoved the excited M/n away from him as he heard his ears start to ring.

M/n apologized profusely but Tanjiro just waved him off and handed him the last gift. This one was a black box tied with gold ribbons.

M/n carefully pulled out a heart locket with the initials TK + (insert first and last name initials), right in the center. When he flipped it open, there was a picture of Tanjiro smiling on the left side and a picture of M/n doing the same on the other side.

"You're gonna make me cry again." M/n sniffled, trying to blink away the tears that were suddenly clouding his vision.

"This time it's happy tears, right?"

"Of course, it is, idiot! This time there's not a bunch of flowers in my damn nose."

"Stop bringing that up! You said you loved the flowers!"

"Yeah, and I love you too, stupid."

"So stop bringing it up! Wait... you love me too?!"

Chapter Text

Your Beauty Never Ever Scared Me

Male Character × Muzan Kibutsuji

The air in the Infinity Castle was perpetually still, thick with an oppressive silence broken only by the distant, disorienting shifts of the labyrinthine architecture. For most demons, it was a place of chilling dread, a space where one dared not even breathe too loudly. For M/n, however, it was simply... home. Or, at least, the closest thing a demon could call one under the iron-clad rule of Muzan Kibutsuji.

M/n knelt on the polished wooden floor, his head bowed, the familiar posture of absolute submission ingrained into his very being. The scent of ozone and faint, lingering blood hung in the air – Muzan's personal aura, a terrifying perfume that commanded instant obedience. He'd been summoned, not for a mission report, but for something else. Something in the subtle tremble of the very foundations of the castle, in the prickle of unease that had settled over even the most powerful of his demon brethren, hinted at an unpredictable mood from their progenitor.

The floor beneath him shifted with a soft groan, the sound of the castle rearranging itself at Muzan's whim. Then, the distinct, almost imperceptible thump of Muzan's footfall echoed closer. M/n felt his blood hum in his veins, a mix of terror and a strange, deep-seated fascination that always flared in Muzan's presence.

"M/n," Muzan's voice finally cut through the silence, a low, resonant baritone that seemed to vibrate directly in M/n's chest. There was no warmth, no discernible emotion, yet it commanded absolute attention. "Look at me."

M/n slowly lifted his head, his (H/C) hair falling slightly to obscure his view. His (E/C) eyes, now slitted with demonic pupils, met Muzan's. Those crimson irises, slitted and impossibly ancient, held a depth that could swallow stars, and a cold indifference that could freeze oceans. They were the eyes of a king, a god, a monster – and M/n found himself drawn into their endless void every single time.

He stayed knelt, his gaze unwavering, as was expected. Muzan stood before him, impossibly elegant in his dark, tailored suit, his very presence radiating an almost suffocating power. He was flawless, terrifying, and utterly captivating.

"You've been... observing, haven't you?" Muzan's voice held a subtle inflection, something M/n recognized as a veiled question, a test. It referred to the recent, subtle shifts in Muzan's own demeanor, the occasional, almost imperceptible sighs of frustration he'd sensed, the way his very aura sometimes flared with a quiet, internal rage.

M/n swallowed, his demon physiology no longer needing the action, yet compelled by habit. "Yes, Muzan-sama," he replied, his voice steady, devoid of the tremor he felt deep inside. "I have sensed... a shift in the air. A tension." He dared not presume to interpret Muzan's emotions directly.

Muzan's gaze remained fixed on him, piercing, evaluating. A long silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the faint, rhythmic shifting of the castle. M/n kept his eyes locked on Muzan's, refusing to break contact, even as the intensity of the stare made his demonic instincts scream to avert his gaze. He knew this was a test of loyalty, of courage, of his very worth.

"You are observant," Muzan finally conceded, his voice carrying a subtle note of something that might have been approval, if M/n dared to interpret it as such. "A trait I value in my subordinates." He took a slow, deliberate step closer, and M/n felt an involuntary tremor pass through him. He resisted the urge to flinch, to lower his gaze, focusing solely on the impossible depth of Muzan's eyes.

"The Hashira," Muzan continued, the name a venomous hiss on his lips. "They persist. Their tenacity is... bothersome." A faint ripple of distortion passed through the air around Muzan, a subtle manifestation of his displeasure.

M/n nodded, sensing the weight of Muzan's frustration. He knew the burden his master carried – the ceaseless pursuit of the Blue Spider Lily, the gnawing desire for ultimate perfection.

"Is there anything... Muzan-sama requires?" M/n asked, his voice low, earnest. "Anything I can do to alleviate this... burden?" It was a daring question, a risk, but M/n felt compelled to offer. He craved to be useful, to be acknowledged, to be needed by the one who had granted him his existence.

Muzan's eyes, for a fleeting moment, seemed to hold a flicker of something M/n couldn't quite decipher – perhaps surprise, perhaps a hint of dark amusement. He took another step, his presence now dominating M/n's vision, completely enveloping him. M/n felt a wave of crushing pressure, the sheer force of Muzan's power pressing down on him, forcing him to acknowledge the insurmountable gulf between them. Yet, he held firm, his gaze unwavering.

"You are bold, M/n," Muzan murmured, his voice now dangerously soft, almost a caress. He reached out, his hand slowly, deliberately, raising to M/n's face. M/n's breath hitched, every fiber of his being tensing. He closed his eyes instinctively, bracing for... he wasn't sure what. A strike? A punishment?

Instead, Muzan's cool fingertips gently touched M/n's cheek, then brushed a stray strand of (H/C) hair from his forehead. It was a touch devoid of warmth, yet surprisingly light, almost tender. M/n's eyes fluttered open, locking onto Muzan's. He could feel the faint hum of Muzan's power against his skin, an intoxicating sensation.

"Perhaps," Muzan whispered, his thumb stroking M/n's cheekbone, "your observation, your unwavering gaze... could be of use." A subtle, almost imperceptible smile touched the corners of Muzan's lips, a chilling curve that promised both immense power and unimaginable peril. "Stay vigilant, M/n. Watch. And if you sense anything... anything... that might lead me to what I seek, or to those who would defy me, you will bring it directly to my attention. Without hesitation."

M/n felt a surge of adrenaline, a profound sense of purpose. He was chosen. He was seen. "Yes, Muzan-sama," he breathed, his voice filled with renewed, absolute devotion. "I understand. Your will is my will."

Muzan's hand lingered for another moment, then slowly withdrew. The warmth, faint as it was, left M/n feeling oddly cold. Muzan then turned, his form shifting, blurring into the shadows as he moved deeper into the castle. The oppressive silence returned, but for M/n, it was now charged with a new, exhilarating tension. He remained kneeling, gazing at the spot where Muzan had stood, his heart thrumming with a fervent, unwavering loyalty. His Master had seen him, touched him, and given him a task. And M/n would fulfill it, with every fiber of his demonic being.

The shift from the oppressive stillness of the Infinity Castle to the damp, night air of the human world was always jarring. One moment, M/n was kneeling on polished wood under Muzan's chilling gaze; the next, he materialized in the dense cover of a moonless forest, the scent of pine needles and damp earth filling his nostrils. His human memories, fleeting and fragmented, offered no such immediate transitions. This was the raw, immediate reality of his new existence.

The mission, relayed through a quick, silent communication from one of Muzan's cloaked servants, was succinct: a small, isolated village nestled deep within the mountains of Shinano Province. A low-ranking Demon Slayer, a persistent fly, had been causing "undue disturbance," eliminating several minor demons in the area and, more importantly, stirring a dangerous level of vigilance among the villagers. M/n's task was to quell the disturbance. Permanently. And with discretion.

A thrill, cold and sharp, coursed through M/n. This was it. His first direct command from Muzan-sama, a chance to prove his worth beyond mere observation. He took a deep breath, the scent of human fear already faint on the wind, a tantalizing promise. His pupils, now sharp slits, narrowed, and his enhanced senses stretched out, mapping the terrain.

He moved through the forest like a shadow, his demon strength and speed making short work of the treacherous mountain paths. The subtle clicks and groans of his transformed joints were the only sounds he made. The village appeared below him, a cluster of flickering lights, a beacon of vulnerable warmth in the vast darkness.

M/n settled on a high ridge overlooking the village. His eyes, naturally adept at piercing gloom, could make out the faint glow of hearth fires, the silhouette of a patrolling figure near the village entrance. Ah, the pest. He was surprisingly diligent for a low-ranker.

Hours passed as M/n observed. He watched the Slayer's patrol routes, the villagers' routines, the subtle changes in the wind. His keen hearing picked up fragments of human conversation – fears of "man-eating beasts," whispers of strange occurrences. The Slayer, young and perhaps overzealous, was stirring panic. This was bad for Muzan-sama's interests, drawing unnecessary attention.

As the pre-dawn chill set in, the Slayer, a boy no older than M/n himself in human years, retired to a small, isolated shrine on the outskirts of the village, likely his temporary lodging. This was M/n's opportunity.

He descended from the ridge, his steps silent. The scent of human blood, faint and delicious, grew stronger as he neared the shrine. He found the Slayer within, meditating, his Nichirin blade resting beside him. He wasn't particularly strong; M/n could feel the relative weakness of his aura compared to the powerful Hashira Muzan often spoke of.

The Slayer's eyes snapped open just as M/n stepped into the dim light of the shrine, his form casting a long, monstrous shadow. His (E/C) eyes, glowing with demonic intent, met the Slayer's terrified gaze.

"D-demon!" the Slayer gasped, scrambling for his blade.

M/n simply smiled, a slow, predatory curve of his lips, revealing perfectly sharp fangs. "A disturbance," he purred, his voice a low rumble, "must be... quelled."

The Slayer, driven by desperation, lunged. His movements were clumsy, his breathing technique unrefined. "Breath of Water, Third Form: Flowing Dance!" he shouted, swinging his sword in a wide, watery arc.

M/n scoffed internally. It was pitiful. He flowed around the attack with effortless grace, his demonic speed making the Slayer seem agonizingly slow. This wasn't the kind of struggle that would earn him significant praise from Muzan-sama, but it was a necessary step.

His own Blood Demon Art, a subtle manifestation of his heightened senses and awareness, activated. The world around him seemed to slow further, outlines of vital organs and blood flow shimmering faintly under the Slayer's skin. He saw the precise moment the Slayer's footing shifted, the slight tremor in his grip, the fleeting opening in his defense.

With a whisper of movement, M/n closed the distance. His hand, imbued with demonic strength, easily deflected the incoming sword, sending it clattering to the shrine floor. Before the Slayer could even register the loss of his weapon, M/n's other hand closed around his throat.

The Slayer's eyes bulged, hands clawing at M/n's wrist. The fear in his scent was intoxicating, overwhelming. M/n felt a familiar surge of power, the primal satisfaction of dominance. He didn't need to devour the Slayer; Muzan-sama had simply ordered the "disturbance" to be ended.

"No more disturbances." M/n stated, his grip tightening, cutting off the Slayer's air. He held the boy's gaze as the light began to fade from his eyes, ensuring his last sight was of the demon who had silenced him.

When the Slayer went limp, M/n carefully lowered his body. He paused, ensuring no sound had escaped, no trace remained. He then swiftly moved to collect the fallen Nichirin blade, snapping it cleanly in two, scattering the pieces. No evidence. No lingering disturbance.

As dawn approached, M/n melted back into the shadows of the forest. The mission was complete. The "disturbance" was silenced. He felt a profound sense of accomplishment, a quiet triumph that resonated deep within his demonic core. He hadn't brought back any new information about the Blue Spider Lily, nor had he faced a challenging foe. But he had followed Muzan-sama's direct order, swiftly and efficiently.

Back on the remote mountain peak overlooking the now-silent village, M/n looked up at the moon, just beginning to wane. A quiet satisfaction settled in his chest. He was a demon. He was Muzan Kibutsuji's demon. And he had done well.

All he craved now was to return to the Infinity Castle, to once again kneel before his Master, and perhaps, just perhaps, to earn another fleeting, approving touch. His unwavering gaze was already fixed on that singular goal – as it would be for all of Muzan’s eternal rule.