Doma smiled playfully.
Seeing that Kanae was faltering, he had no intention of pressing his advantage.
Instead, he deliberately gave her a small window to catch her breath.
As the Flower Hashira, Kanae Kocho's strength was by no means weak—Doma was simply too overwhelmingly strong.
At first, their exchange was evenly matched.
But the moment Doma got even a little serious and took the initiative in attacking, Kanae could no longer parry him.
Her movements were already beginning to lag.
While Doma and Kanae fought, Ryuya gradually pieced together Kanae's identity.
She was the elder sister of Shinobu Kocho, the future Insect Hashira, and the current Flower Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.
A girl so gentle she believed humans and demons could one day coexist.
But in the original story, she died at Doma's hands.
It seemed the outcome would be the same this time.
Ryuya's hand rested lightly on the hilt of his nichirin blade.
He was just about to step in—
When Kanae suddenly changed.
"Flower breathing, Final Form: Higan Shugan!"
Ryuya saw Kanae's eyes rupture with blood, her irises staining red as veins bulged.
Her eyesight was being strained to the breaking point.
Flower breathing's Final Form, Higan Shugan, placed extreme pressure on vision—overuse could cause blindness.
Kanae darted forward, pressing close to Doma as she struck again, using every sword technique she had left.
After only a few exchanges, Doma tilted his head as if noticing something interesting.
"Oh? Young Miss, your movements got faster. No… it's your eyes, isn't it?"
He smiled in amusement.
The moment Kanae's attacks sharpened at his comment, Doma confirmed his suspicion.
"Those eyes are lovely. Beautiful, entrancing… they'll taste wonderful when I eat them."
Between the clash of his iron fan and her nichirin blade, he stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.
A chill ran down Kanae's spine. She swung her sword faster.
"Flower breathing, Sixth Form: Whirling Peach!"
Kanae leapt high, petals spiraling around her as the blade descended toward Doma's neck.
This demon was too strong. And his blood demon art—ice that interfered with breathing—was something the Demon Slayer Corps desperately needed to know about.
She had to return alive. She could not die here.
Even if her will pushed her forward, the difference in strength crushed her hope.
"Young Miss, I think it's time I ate you. Become part of my body, won't you?"
Doma waved his fan, blocking the slash, and unleashed his art:
"Blood demon art: Freezing White Princess."
Two beautiful ice maidens emerged, opening their mouths to release a storm of frost straight toward Kanae.
Cold sweat beaded down Kanae's back. Before she could retreat—
"Blood demon art: Gentō Icicles."
Countless icicles rained from above like a deadly downpour, cutting off every possible escape.
They were packed tightly. Even with Higan Shugan revealing minuscule gaps, Kanae's sword skills simply couldn't keep up.
As she attempted to analyze an opening, Doma appeared right before her like a ghost.
"Blood demon art: Lotus Ice."
Kanae tried to activate her breathing—
"Flower—"
But the freezing pain in her lungs stopped her. She couldn't gather breath in time.
With sheer instinct, she raised her nichirin blade to block.
A sharp clang—
Her blade snapped in half under Doma's iron fan.
In that instant, Kanae saw her death.
The fan swept toward her face—
And then a streak of moonlight sliced through the storm of ice.
"Moon breathing, Second Form: Flowing Moon."
Ryuya swung his nichirin blade.
Two crimson moon blades, trailed by small golden arcs, crossed paths and knocked Doma back.
"Oh? Young Master Ryuya, what's this?" Doma looked down with a wide smile.
Ryuya's attack not only shattered Doma's offensive, but the tiny moon blades tore shallow gashes across his clothes and flesh.
A strange coldness crawled across Doma's skin.
That chilling effect came from Ryuya's innate system—a small supportive ability with a rare activation rate, almost forgettable.
"This seems to be my prey, Doma."
Ryuya said coldly, shifting his grip on his blade.
"This…"
Doma eyed the eye-covered demon blade in Ryuya's hand, then let out two dry chuckles.
"Ah, then Young Master Ryuya may eat her. But… Young Master, could I have one of those eyeballs? A girl's parts are all delicious."
Hearing that, Kanae felt her entire body freeze in fear.
She backed up instinctively—only to hit a dead tree trunk. No more space to run.
"Eat her?"
Ryuya turned to Kanae.
She looked like a startled fawn—frightened, trembling. It irritated him and pained him at the same time.
"Who said I was going to eat her? Doma, do you think everyone's like you? Eating women?"
Ryuya scoffed.
If any other demon insulted Doma like that, he would tear them apart under the sun.
But Ryuya was Muzan Kibutsuji's son. And Kokushibo's cherished apprentice.
Doma couldn't touch him.
Doma narrowed his colorful eyes and gave a light smile.
"Young Master Ryuya is right."
Kanae didn't understand the full situation, but from their exchange… it seemed she wouldn't be eaten yet.
At the same time, she stared at Ryuya in confusion.
A demon with a breathing technique?
Moon breathing—she had never even heard of such a style.
"Um… Mr. Demon, were you once part of the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Although Ryuya was aloof, he didn't carry the filthy stench Doma had. And to be addressed as Young Master by Upper Rank Two… she could not guess his identity.
"Young Master Ryuya, dawn is approaching."
Doma reminded him nervously.
He was barely holding himself back. He desperately wanted to eat Kanae—every last piece.
"Kanae Kocho. Flower Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, correct?"
"Mr. Demon… you know me?"
Kanae searched her memories, but found no hint of Ryuya anywhere.
"I recognized you. Speaking of which… Doma, do you think humans and demons can coexist peacefully?"
Ryuya asked suddenly.
Doma blinked, baffled, then burst into laughter.
"What? Young Master Ryuya, that's impossible! How could we coexist with our food?"
Ryuya's tone grew flat.
"Is that so?" He looked at Kanae's dim, fading eyes.
His words crushed her idealistic belief cleanly.
"I think it's funny too. Such a naive idea."
To Kanae, it felt like being cast into a pit.
She bit her lip, staring at Ryuya's face as her vision blurred—not only from tears, but from her near-blinded eyes.
After a painful breath, she steadied herself.
Then she smiled—soft, warm, unwavering.
"Mr. Demon… I don't think it's a joke. It's not funny at all. Can you try… to believe in it?"
For a brief moment, Ryuya was actually stunned.
The image of his former apprentice, Makomo, flashed in his mind.
"…If that's the case, then prove it to me, Kanae Kocho. I'll give you the chance."
He bit his lip until blood welled up.
Then he leaned down without warning and pressed his lips to hers, forcing a kiss onto her pale mouth.
"Mmph—ah…!"
Kanae's eyes flew wide as the taste of warm, salty demon blood ran down her throat like molten fire, melting the icy agony inside her lungs.
"Ah—ahh!!"
She screamed, clutching her throat as her body convulsed—
And her demonization began.