Douma-Shinobu: Twisted Love

Just like the last time, two Hashiras appeared a few minutes later, meeting Obanai standing idly while Shinobu tended to Giyu's wounds.

"Uh, where's the fight?" Mitsuri asked, mirroring Tengen's confusion.

"Gone." Obanai said curtly, seemingly sulking.

"Damn! I'm always late!" Tengen frowned in frustration.

"Anyways, since you guys were able to survive, I guess it was an equal match." Mitsuri concluded.

Instead of responding, Giyu, Shinobu and Obanai turned away, downcast.

"We're too weak."

Unexpectedly, Obanai spoke first.

Tengen's eyes widened. "You three couldn't match him?"

"Sure, we made him bleed a bit but that was nothing. He wasn't taking us seriously." Shinobu explained, done bandaging Giyu's wounds.

"Hah? If he didn't take you seriously, how did Giyu get hurt? Don't tell me he tripped on something."

Tengen asked sarcastically, finding it hard to believe that three Hashiras couldn't match an Upper Moon.

"Well..." Giyu hesitated. "I'd be dead if it weren't for Shinobu's intervention."

Immediately, Tengen's smile vanished.

"Dead? You mean he'd kill you?"

Giyu nodded, signalling at the wounds that would have cut him in an 'X' shape.

"I'm confused. Is he that damn strong? Also, how did Shinobu save you?" Mitsuri asked, her innocent eyes lingering on Shinobu.

Hearing her question, everyone turned to Shinobu—silently demanding answers.

"I'm confused. He seems to listen to what I say. Although I'm not sure if that was on a whim or not. I find it strange." She explained clearly despite her own inner confusion. Why had Douma stopped when she asked him to? Also, why did she have a feeling that his mentality was twisted? 

Shaking her head, she focused on the reactions of the other Hashiras. As expected, they were surprised and unsettled. Being under the combined assault of three serious Hashiras, then suddenly obeying one of them? Comical.

"Seems we'll be having another Hashira Meeting again. Things are getting nasty."

Tengen suddenly said.

Shinobu turned to him, surprised. "What happened?"

"Well," he held his chin, "Demon activity has suddenly spiked up and is getting more and more everyday. It seems like Muzan is getting tired of the Demon Slayers."

"That's a given. Demon Slayers have been a force stopping them for generations." Shinobu remarked.

"However," Giyu rose to his feet. "Upper Moon Two was right. We've gotten so much weaker than our older generations. Several forms of breathing styles have been lost. We need to start training again. From the lowest ranked demon slayer to we the Hashiras."

Obanai silently hummed in agreement, inwardly feeling bitter about not being strong enough.

"Well then, we will meet at the Ubuyashiki Mansion tomorrow."

Shinobu said, her tone unexpectedly firm.

...

The next morning...

"Welcome Oyakata-sama."

"Greetings, Lord Ubuyashiki."

The Hashiras bowed to the frail man, then rose after he told them so.

"We meet again and I'm happy to see you're all fine." Kagaya said with a calm smile, "Let's get straight to the point shall we?"

Shinobu rose to her feet.

"Again, and as suspected, Upper Moon Two appeared yesterday and clashed with us three Hashiras. Unfortunately, we still couldn't match up with him. However, we realized something." Her eyes sharpened. "He seemed inclined to listen to me. Although this hasn't been confirmed yet."

Sanemi scoffed. "Isn't he just getting in your head?"

Shinobu didn't say a word of reply and only looked at Kagaya who was deep in thoughts.

Sighing, the frail man spoke.

"Long ago, the Upper Moons were always known for their own distinct behaviors." 

"Upper Moon Six is Envy."

"Upper Moon Five is Narcissism."

"Upper Moon Four is Extreme fear."

"Upper Moon Three is Pride."

"Upper Moon One is Perfectionism." 

"As for Upper Moon Two... it's Emptiness."

Emptiness? The Hashiras were surprised. How could a vile and hateful demon full of malice be said to be empty?

"Lord Ubuyashiki, what are you trying to draw from these points?" Gyomei asked seriously.

"I believe we should be expecting a few changes soon." Kagaya smiled mysteriously, "I would like to see Shinobu privately after the meeting."

The others were surprised but didn't dig too deep, trusting his decisions.

"Secondly, we've all received reports of increased demon activity in the past month." His smile faded. "Rengoku, I want you to take those four: Tanjiro, Inouske, Zenitsu, and the demon Nezuko to check out the Mugen train. Reports are that several people have gone missing in that train. A Lower Moon might be at play there."

Rengoku sprang up, a determined smile on his face. "Good. I'd be happy to clear off those demons."

Kagaya nodded, then turned to the other Hashiras. "I believe you all should start training again. We need to be stronger to confront the Upper Moons."

.....

After the Hashira meeting, Shinobu followed Kagaya into a room in his mansion where the two of them sat opposite each other.

"Shinobu, there is a reason I called you privately and I hope you can hear me out."

Shinobu focused, ready to listen to him.

"I want us to manipulate Upper Moon Two."

What?!

Shinobu was shocked. Manipulate a demon? Wasn't that risky?

"Of course it's risky but I believe we can get several benefits." Kagaya spoke with barely concealed malice. "If Upper Moon Two is acting attached to you, then he might be able to be controlled. At least by a slight margin." 

"I know this is hard for you, especially since it's the same demon who killed your sister but I believe this would even help you make a poison strong enough to kill him one day."

Shinobu shivered softly, feeling uneasy after seeing Kagaya Ubuyashiki's dark side. This man would do anything to get rid of demons.

"Understood Lord Ubuyashiki. I'd work on that. However, I don't think that would be possible under Giyu and Obanai's supervision." She said solemnly.

Kagaya smiled, relieved. "No problem. I'd simply assign them to other areas. Though they'd be close by in case of anything unexpected."

Shinobu nodded, steeling her heart.

'Kanae-onee-san... would you forgive me for this?'

Her hands curled into fists. If using herself as bait meant destroying this monster—then she'd do it. Even if it burned her inside out.