Oil lamps flickered across scattered scrolls. Akira set her mission report on Kiriya's desk, the paper crisp between her fingers.
"Another successful purification." Kiriya's pale face caught the lamplight as he scanned her neat handwriting. Nine years old and already carrying the weight of command.
"Yes, Master Ubuyashiki." Akira straightened her shoulders. "Though Tanjiro noticed something odd about the demon's behavior."
"Odd how?"
"Said it seemed aware but not itself. His nose picks up things we miss."
Kiriya set down the report. Dark circles shadowed his eyes.
"You think that's a problem?"
"Not yet. He trusts the process." The lie came out smooth. "But maybe we should pair him with others sometimes. Keep him from getting too focused on details."
"Good point. Your next mission is solo reconnaissance. Western valleys."
Perfect. No Tanjiro meant no inconvenient questions.
---
Two buildings over, Zenitsu pressed his palms against his ears. Every settling board, every mouse scratch, every whispered conversation stabbed through his skull.
A soft knock interrupted his misery.
"Zenitsu? Brought you tea."
"Come in, Tanjiro. Wasn't sleeping anyway."
Tanjiro entered with a wooden tray, steam curling from two cups. His burgundy hair caught the lamplight as he sat cross-legged.
"How bad is it tonight?"
"Like thunder in my head." Zenitsu's laugh cracked. "Every sound at once."
"Maybe try focusing on just one thing? Single out one voice instead of hearing everything?"
Tanjiro's forehead creased with worry. The pity stung worse than the noise.
---
An hour later, Akira knelt before her bronze mirror. She pulled pins from her hair, watching the careful arrangement fall loose around her shoulders.
Her reflection shifted. Warm honey eyes turned cold and calculating.
She lifted a corner of her floor mat, revealing a hidden compartment. Coded messages in demon script. A vial of pheromone extract. An obsidian blade carved with ancient symbols.
"Time to drop the mask."
Her posture changed. Shoulders back, spine straight. The breathing pattern shifted to something deeper, more controlled. Even her scent altered as pheromones responded to conscious command.
Three soft scratches at the window. Tap-tap-tap. Pause. Tap-tap. Pause. Tap.
"Enter."
The window slid open. A figure moved like liquid shadow into her room. Kage's pale eyes gleamed in the lamplight, their androgynous features sharp as blade edges.
---
Zenitsu tried Tanjiro's suggestion. Isolated Inosuke's snoring from two buildings away. Filtered out the guards' footsteps on patrol.
Then something new. Whispered conversation from Akira's direction, pitched below normal hearing.
"Finally. Something to focus on."
Two voices. Akira's familiar cadence and something else—something that crawled under his skin. Not demon, not human. Something between.
"Progress exceeds expectations. Tanjiro's trust remains absolute."
"And his suspicions?"
"Manageable. His senses detect inconsistencies, but emotion prevents logic."
Zenitsu's blood turned to ice water.
---
Kage folded onto the floor with impossible grace. Their presence sucked warmth from the small room.
"How many Corps members catalogued?"
"Forty-three individual profiles. Combat techniques, emotional triggers, leverage points."
"The Hashira specifically?"
"Tanjiro responds to protective appeals. Zenitsu breaks under pressure. Inosuke's pride makes him predictable." Akira traced patterns on the floor. "The retired Sound Hashira is the real threat. His network exceeds official Corps intelligence."
Kage's fingers drummed in inhuman rhythm.
"The Master's son?"
"Smart but inexperienced. Relies on advisors. Creates opportunities."
"And our assets?"
"Seventeen demons integrated into communities. Three more awaiting placement. All mastered emotional suppression."
---
Each word hit Zenitsu like a physical blow. The woman he'd trusted spoke about friends like chess pieces. His enhanced hearing caught every nuance—no stress patterns suggesting coercion, no fear indicating threats.
Pure betrayal delivered with professional calm.
"Purification's psychological effects last longer than expected. Subjects remain docile for weeks."
"Side effects?"
"Minimal. Some confusion, memory gaps. Nothing suspicious."
Zenitsu's hands shook. Every demon Akira had "saved" was mind-controlled. Every success story was orchestrated lies.
"I need more time with Tanjiro. His abilities could be useful if properly directed."
"Define useful."
"Perfect detector for traditional demons. If we convince him our approach is more humane..."
Zenitsu buried his face against his knees.
---
Akira spread a detailed map across the floor. Red marks showed Corps installations, blue indicated demon territories, green marked hidden bases.
"Eastern mountain caves provide perfect staging. Remote but accessible."
"Timeline for phase two?"
"Two months to complete infiltration. Another month for positioning." Her finger traced supply routes. "Corps trust gives me access to classified information."
"When they discover your purpose?"
"They won't until it's too late. Our people will be integrated into every major settlement."
Kage leaned forward, pale eyes reflecting lamplight like mirrors.
"Your attachment to the Kamado boy could compromise effectiveness."
"My attachment ensures cooperation. Emotional manipulation beats coercion."
"Unless emotions interfere with necessary actions."
The warning hung between them. Akira met Kage's stare without flinching, but something flickered in her amber eyes.
---
Zenitsu rocked on his futon, hands clamped over his ears. His supernatural hearing had never lied before, never created phantom conversations.
"This isn't real. Stress is making me hear things."
But the clinical precision felt too detailed for hallucination.
"Nezuko's condition makes her valuable. Her connection to demon consciousness could provide network insights."
"Explain."
"She retains links to collective demon memory. With proper stimulation, those links could be reactivated and controlled."
Zenitsu's breath caught. They wanted to use Nezuko. Exploit her past suffering.
"I have to tell Tanjiro." His whisper barely stirred the air. "But who would believe this?"
---
Kage produced a scroll from dark robes. The network diagram resembled a spider web—demon assets, strategic locations, communication pathways spanning the region.
"Northern territories report complete integration. Subjects suppress bloodlust indefinitely."
"Behavioral modifications stable?"
"Beyond expectations. Several subjects formed genuine attachments to human communities."
"Does attachment improve success rates?"
"Preliminary data suggests emotional investment strengthens motivation for maintaining mimicry."
Akira studied the web of influence. Dozens of communities harbored demons who'd learned to pass as neighbors.
"The Corps will never detect them. They're hunting monsters, not friends."
"Unless someone teaches them to look beyond appearances."
"Which is why eliminating threats remains essential."
The casual discussion of murder made Akira pause. When had strategy become callous disregard?
---
"Contingency plans if discovery seems imminent?"
"Eliminate witnesses. Blame demon infiltration. Use Corps paranoia as cover."
"And if Tanjiro becomes suspicious?"
"You know what must be done."
Zenitsu's heart stopped. They would kill Tanjiro if he got too close to truth.
"But raising alarm might trigger exactly that response." His whisper cracked. "How do I protect him without exposing myself?"
---
Kage rose with fluid grace. The scroll vanished into dark robes.
"Next contact in seven days. Same protocols."
"Understood. I'll have updated intelligence on deployment patterns."
"Remember—sentiment is luxury we cannot afford. If attachment compromises effectiveness..."
"I understand my priorities."
But tension crept into her voice. Kage's eyes narrowed with predatory focus.
"Do you? Your reports suggest growing affection for the Kamado boy."
"Affection is a tool."
"Tools that become too comfortable sometimes refuse to cut when cutting is necessary."
Kage moved toward the window with inhuman silence.
"Seven days, Shiranui. Deliver results, or face consequences."
---
Alone, Akira slumped against her wall. The bronze mirror reflected a face carved by necessity into masks she barely recognized.
"What have I become?"
Two buildings away, Zenitsu sat in darkness thick as graves. His enhanced hearing catalogued every night sound, but now whispers carried threat, footsteps suggested conspiracy.
"Tomorrow I decide. Brave or smart. Trust my abilities or doubt my sanity."
The compound settled into predawn quiet around them. Rest remained elusive for those carrying secrets that would shape the coming storm.
Thunder rumbled in the distance.