Tokyo's Asakusa district glittered with vibrant lights, alive with the bustle of crowds, its commerce thriving and economy booming.
After the Meiji Restoration, this area had flourished, emerging as one of Japan's most prosperous hubs, faintly echoing the shadow of a future metropolis.
Yet, in this lively throng, a demon hid among the masses.
A fact so unthinkable, not even Muzan Kibutsuji himself would suspect it.
Residing in Asakusa were the demon doctor Tamayo and her loyal assistant, Yushiro.
Among the countless houses, Tamayo owned a sizable estate, concealed by her Blood Demon Art—a perfect embodiment of hiding in plain sight.
Tamayo's daily life revolved around reading and research, tirelessly seeking a way to revert demons to humans.
Beyond her studies, she occasionally ventured out on bustling nights to stroll the streets.
If she encountered a poor family unable to afford treatment, Tamayo would extend a helping hand, offering free care and even medicine.
Her assistant, Yushiro, however, had reservations about her generosity.
"Lady Tamayo, if you help too many people, word of your deeds will spread. Our presence could be exposed. Whether it draws the Demon Slayer Corps or other demons, it'll be trouble! Please, restrain your compassion—we can't afford to be discovered."
This was Yushiro's frequent plea.
Tamayo always met his concerns with a gentle, resolute smile. "Yushiro, if we hadn't crossed paths with these people, fine. But since we have, how can I not help? You worry for my safety and urge me to suppress my compassion, but I can't accept that. It was that same compassion that led me to grant your plea and turn you into a demon, wasn't it?"
Yushiro fell silent.
Back then, if Tamayo hadn't taken pity on him—combined with his desperate begging—he'd have succumbed to illness long ago.
It was because of her that he survived as a demon.
Like Tamayo, Yushiro required only a small amount of blood to sustain himself, never needing to consume human flesh.
Faced with her own experience as a counterargument, what could Yushiro say?
Nothing. He could only redouble his vigilance the next time Tamayo extended her aid.
Unfortunately, Yushiro's strength was limited. No matter how cautious he was, exposure was inevitable.
Tonight, as Yushiro accompanied Tamayo on a stroll to clear her mind, they came across another impoverished family unable to afford treatment.
True to form, Tamayo didn't hesitate to help.
Yushiro didn't bother protesting. Like a devoted servant, he shadowed her, guarding her closely, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any hint of danger, wary of any chance their presence might be revealed.
As before, in a rundown house, Tamayo met a young girl lying ill on a sickbed.
After a quick diagnosis, she determined the girl could be saved.
Tamayo swiftly treated her, providing medicine for ongoing care.
The family showered her with gratitude.
The girl, groggy from her illness, stirred slightly from her haze. Her first sight was the gentle, beautiful woman before her.
Though barely conscious, she saw her family's gratitude and understood this kind doctor was her savior.
With a weak voice, she murmured, "Pretty lady… thank you."
At several centuries old, Tamayo was far from a "lady" in age.
Yet, with her youthful, under-twenty appearance, the title of "pretty lady" suited her perfectly.
At least Yushiro, hearing the girl's words, felt a flicker of satisfaction. His usual impatience and vigilance softened slightly.
Tamayo approached, gently stroking the girl's forehead. "Your illness will heal soon. Rest well, take your medicine, and you'll be playing with your friends in no time."
The girl nodded faintly.
"Alright, Yushiro, let's go," Tamayo said.
"Yes, Lady Tamayo."
Amid the family's endless thanks, Tamayo and Yushiro departed.
Even as they left, Yushiro stayed close, his eyes darting warily, his expression like someone owed him a fortune.
His demeanor amused Tamayo. "Yushiro, must you be so intense?"
He replied earnestly, "Protecting Lady Tamayo's safety is the very purpose of my existence!"
"It's not that serious," Tamayo laughed. "We're near the bustling market—there's no danger here. Come on, let's go."
"Yes, Lady Tamayo."
Tamayo, it seemed, was a touch too optimistic.
And Yushiro, despite his vigilance, wasn't strong enough. Even with his caution, he missed a critical threat.
Unnoticed by either, atop the house they'd just left, an ornate pot adorned with entwined floral patterns had appeared.
It wasn't just a pot—or rather, a jar—but something grander, dubbed… Yushiguro.
A demon, grotesque and perverse, emerged from the pot like a genie from a lamp.
Its body was deathly white, with yellow eyes, green lips, purple fins sprouting from its head, a mouth where eyes should be, and eyes on its forehead and mouth. Tiny, infant-like arms protruded from its head and elsewhere.
This was Yushiguro, Upper Rank Five of the Twelve Kizuki!
One of the most repulsive and twisted demons among the Upper Ranks.
With his ability to teleport through his pots and his knack for disguise, Yushiguro was tasked by Muzan Kibutsuji with hunting for information on the Blue Spider Lily.
Despite years of searching, he'd found no trace of it.
Hoping to uncover clues in Asakusa's chaotic, crowded streets, Yushiguro had come up empty on the Blue Spider Lily.
Instead, he stumbled upon two intriguing demons.
Perched on the rooftop, Yushiguro muttered to himself in a vile, chilling tone, "Who'd have thought? Demons helping humans. Such traitors—failures who've betrayed Lord Muzan! That male demon's nothing special, just a young whelp. But the female, the one healing humans… she's interesting. If I'm not mistaken, that's Tamayo, isn't it? Once Lord Muzan's confidante, now a turncoat. Such a betrayer deserves to be eliminated on Lord Muzan's behalf! Hm? No, wait… I recall Tamayo's a skilled doctor, always tinkering with potions. Lord Muzan's been researching something too, though I don't know what. A living Tamayo might be more useful than a dead one."
With that, Yushiguro dragged his pot to the corner where Tamayo and Yushiro had turned.
"Hm? Gone!"
He froze, startled. They'd just turned the corner, yet now they'd vanished.
Far from angry, the perverse demon laughed, his voice eerie and menacing. "Heh heh heh… not bad for Lord Muzan's former confidante. She's no ordinary prey. No matter. It's just Asakusa—I'll find them eventually!"
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