Douma leaned back on his bed after another long day of listening to the believers exhausting stories. Love woes. Begging for the Gods mercy. Wanting him to guide them to heaven. He stretched and popped his shoulders to alleviate the tension in them. Sitting like that all day could be murder on his muscles at times, even for a Demon of his caliber.

"It's a shame that they're too dumb to realize that there's no heaven or hell." He mumbled under his breathe, boredom oozing out of his tone. But that wouldn't stop him from doing this. Let the one thing his pitiful parents left behind stay strong. If anything, all these believers served as entertainment (and food).

"Speaking of which. I haven't had a decent meal in a while. What I wouldn't do for a sweet and cute girl about now" he complained to no one in particular. He couldn't just eat one of his followers. He made it so he ate a few here and there with enough time in between so nobody got suspicious.

"Like that poor simple woman. What was her name again?" Before he could go to stimulate his memory, the scenery changed. Instead of his private quarters, he was in a very familiar place. Though he rarely ever got to visit, as the Twelve Kizuki weren't permitted to simply meet up on their own terms. He wondered what Muzan-sama needed of him, given, aside from Nakime-chan , he was alone.

Which was supposedly a good sign. After Rui was killed and the lower moons aside from Enmu, who was later on killed by demon hunters so unceremoniously, were slaughtered, Muzan was on a tangent. His frustration towards some non-pillar boy and his usual single mindset of permanence and perfection. So another Kizuki, let alone an upper one dying? There'd probably be serious repercussions.

"Douma. I have a mission for you." Muzan suddenly appeared, dressed as his female persona. Douma respectively bowed and nodded in affirmation to Muzan.

"According to intel, there's a female pillar who is an expert on medical and pharmaceuticals. If anything she'd most likely possess knowledge on the blue spider lily. If not that, there is also the matter that she can create harmful poisons towards demons. A nuisance!"

Douma let the information sink in. A female pillar, eh? By the looks of things he didn't think he was going to be allowed to dine on her till she fulfilled her purpose. Whatever it was.

"What I want you to do is capture her, have her give you all the information she has and then she's yours to do whatever with. Succeed and I'll give you some of my blood as a reward." Muzan finished his command.

"Go to Tsukimi, she'll be assisting you on your mission." With that he was transported back to the temple.

"Looks like I get to see Tsukimi-chan again. And her cute little minions. Let's just hope she's in an agreeable mood. Last time I visited her along with Akaza, she very nearly made good on her threat to sew Akaza's face to my genitals. She's pretty dark and frightening."

Douma later on found himself at the isolated village Tsukimi resided in. It was the village she had been turned into a demon. Tsukimi was a…rather unique individual. She had been able to develop two Blood Demon Arts. Her Doll Creation Art, which enabled her to make living dolls. She normally uses her own memories which is why the aforementioned village was inhabited, and she also uses her imagination. Douma thought her blood art was fascinating. In fact, she also held a special ability…her dolls are diluted with human blood so they can survive in the sun. But what Muzan really found unique was her second ability of time manipulation. When she was turned into a demon. She stalled the sun's rising for another hour to find herself shelter. Muzan-sama desires her to increase her power to halt the sun…indefinitely.

That is the reason, she has that rank.

Shinobu Kochou was on one of her usual missions. With Sanemi of all people. If she were to be honest she hadn't really liked him before. He was brash, temperamental, did NOT work well with others, especially Tomioka-san, not that she blamed him, and worst of all. He dared to date her beloved nee-san! Before Kanae's death, they had been together. It wasn't as though dating was discouraged amongst Demon Slayers. Those who had lost the ones they loved were they types to meld and find comfort in their fellow kin.

And although there were things they disagreed upon, Kanae's philosophy that demons and humans could be friends one day, they were a great couple. And it often made her the tiniest bit lonely. Not just because it felt like her sister was being taken away, but she didn't have anyone she felt even the tiniest bit of romantic inclination to. But she found comfort in seeing Kanae and Sanemi and hoped she'd live to see the day Iguro finally get the courage to confess to Mitsuri. Hell, even seeing Uzui with his three wives made her jealous once.

After Kanae's death, Sanemi nearly broke down. He had refused to attend her funeral out of guilt and remorse he hadn't been there for her. But, after a month of his self loathing and near suicidal devotion to hunting down more demons, he returned to his normal self. Although they were fellow demon slayers they hadn't had any real friendship. Mitsuri is her best friend. But nowadays, he had a protective older brother in law vibe towards her, Kanao and even Aoi, Sumi, Naho and Kiyo. It was totally awkward sometimes.

It had been a few weeks since she encountered Tanjirou, Zenitsu, Nezuko and Inosuke. They were good enough kids, if only Tanjirou could see the changes he's been causing in sweet Kanao, Zenitsu would give Aoi a break. And Inosuke stop yelling. But they're still sweet children, in their own little ways.

(If she was being honest, she can completely see Kanao and Tanjiro's wedding already. And Aoi and Inosuke, if Inosuke ever understood how to treat a girl)

"Hey. Kochou? Seems like a storm's brewing. . We'll have to take shelter soon."

I'll be stopping here. Partially because I've got other works to attend to.