With that thought, Kocho Shinobu placed the coin on her thumb and flicked it into the air.
The sunlight caught its surface, making it flash brilliantly. Even shielding her eyes, she couldn't clearly see which side would land face up.
It was supposed to be a simple decision.
A coin toss.
But before the coin even fell back into her palm, Shinobu already knew the answer in her heart.
As it descended, her unease only deepened.
What if the result wasn't what she wanted?
If it said no… would she truly give up?
Clack.
The coin landed in her hand.
Shinobu held her breath.
She glanced nervously at Tsuyuri Kanao, only to find Kanao staring at her, equally tense.
"Kanao… you reveal it."
Shinobu didn't dare look herself.
"Oh… i-is it my turn again?"
Kanao bit her lip, clearly troubled.
Under Shinobu's expectant gaze, she slowly stepped forward and gently opened Shinobu's hand.
"It has to be heads…"
Shinobu swallowed.
As Kanao lifted her fingers away, the edge of the coin became visible—
Heads.
Relief flooded her instantly.
Her cheeks flushed pink, and a small smile curved her lips.
"Thank goodness…"
Seeing Shinobu smile, Kanao felt a quiet warmth in her chest.
Her coin had helped.
"Kanao, I'm going out for a while," Shinobu said softly. "Don't tell anyone. Especially not Big Sister. While I'm gone, I'm entrusting her to you. Understand?"
Keeping it from the Demon Slayer Corps would avoid unnecessary trouble.
Keeping it from Kanae would make it a surprise.
"Mm-hmm!"
Kanao nodded firmly.
"Then I'm off."
Shinobu trusted her completely. Though Kanao was quiet and naïve in some ways, she always carried out instructions perfectly.
Ryuya, you scoundrel… I'm coming.
But this wasn't because she wanted to see him.
It was for her sister.
Only for her sister.
With light steps, she left the Butterfly Mansion like a drifting butterfly.
Three Days Later
"It's been three days and three nights, Iguro Obanai."
Ryuya's voice echoed calmly within the ink-painted world.
"Do you have anything to say?"
Kaigaku hadn't returned.
Ryuya smirked.
Kaigaku, Kaigaku… you never disappoint.
Obanai sneered.
"As expected. That selfish piece of filth."
He raised his chin.
"Kill me."
From the beginning, he had placed no hope in Kaigaku.
His only regret was failing to expose that coward's true face to the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Kill you?"
Ryuya tilted his head slightly.
"No, no. I never said I would kill you."
"If you don't kill me, I still won't become a demon."
Obanai's voice was cold and resolute.
He would rather die.
Ryuya's interest only deepened.
The harder something was to obtain, the more valuable it became.
He could have forced Obanai to drink his blood three days ago.
He could have used a Blood Demon Art to tamper with his memories.
But he didn't.
He disdained such methods.
What he wanted—
Was Obanai's willing submission.
A puppet stripped of its soul was meaningless.
"How about this?"
Ryuya suddenly reached out and grabbed Kaburamaru, the white snake coiled around Obanai's neck.
"Kaburamaru!"
Obanai's composure shattered instantly.
He lunged forward—
But Ryuya was faster.
With a swift motion, Ryuya sliced his own wrist open.
He pried open Kaburamaru's mouth—
And forced his blood down its throat.
"Catch."
He tossed the snake back.
"Kaburamaru!!"
Obanai caught it with trembling hands.
Fear gripped him.
Not for himself—
But for his companion.
"Kaburamaru… what's happening to you?"
His voice shook.
Everyone had a weakness.
For Iguro Obanai—
It was this snake.
The one who stayed with him when he was trapped.
When he was desperate.
When he had nothing.
Under his horrified gaze, Kaburamaru began to change.
Its white body shifted into a grayish hue.
It grew larger.
Red patterns spread faintly across its scales.
Hard plates formed along its head.
Its eyes turned blood-red.
Two sharp horns protruded from its skull.
It no longer looked like a simple snake.
It resembled a fledgling dragon.
"Kaburamaru…?"
Obanai barely recognized it.
But their bond told him the truth.
This was still Kaburamaru.
The snake flicked its crimson tongue and gazed at him with longing.
Hunger.
Obanai could feel it.
Through their connection, he understood—
Kaburamaru wanted flesh.
Human flesh.
It wanted blood.
Obanai's entire body trembled.
His companion had become a demon.
"Iguro Obanai," Ryuya said lightly, tossing the fallen Nichirin Blade at his feet.
"You hate demons so much."
"Go ahead."
"Kill this Demon Snake."
The blade clattered against the ground.
Obanai stared at it.
As a member of the Demon Slayer Corps—
He should slay demons.
But that was Kaburamaru.
The one who saved him.
The one who stayed when he had no one.
He couldn't do it.
He simply couldn't.
"What? Can't you?"
"Shut up! Don't spout nonsense!"
Obanai snapped, fury and anguish mixing together.
What should he do?
Kill Kaburamaru?
Impossible.
Release it?
It might harm people.
Then—
He would take responsibility.
He would keep Kaburamaru by his side.
Watch over it.
Prevent it from harming anyone.
He would prove it could be controlled.
Hadn't there already been a precedent within the Demon Slayer Corps?
The former Flower Hashira had remained despite becoming a demon.
Surely—
Surely there was hope.
But Obanai didn't know the full truth.
The Flower Hashira had only been allowed to remain because the Master personally guaranteed her.
He had sworn that if she ever consumed a human, he would commit seppuku himself.
Even then, the Corps had been thrown into turmoil.
The Master had declared it a single exception.
The first.
And the last.
From that point forward—
No matter who it was.
No matter the reason.
Even if it were the Master himself—
There would be no more exceptions.
...
Author's Note:
The full completed version of Demon Slayer: Son of Muzan (Completed) is now on Patreon!
🔥 I also have an Additional 18+ fanfics now available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1.Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
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