A sudden stillness swallowed the infinite expanse of the Infinity Castle—that otherworldly realm twisted in endless shapes, pulsing with the will of its creator.
And then, like the snap of fate's fingers, they appeared—one by one.
Akaza. Douma. Kokushibo. Hantengu's absence. Gyokko's silence.
Upper Moons gathered, but silence was never a refuge here.
Because in the center of it all stood Muzan Kibutsuji, not seated, not composed—but seething.
His crimson eyes burned, veins bulging under pale skin. His rage made even the castle walls quiver.
"…How many times must I remind you all?" Muzan's voice was thunder laced in silk.
"One child. One sun-conquering demon. One boy with earrings—and you allow him to live."
The pressure in the room grew suffocating.
Akaza bowed his head in silence, fists clenched tight.
Douma leaned with a smile, balancing a finger on his chin. "My my… Lord Muzan, you almost look… frightened."
The castle froze.
Even Kokushibo's breathing paused.
Douma giggled. "I mean no disrespect, of course. But your fury… reminds me of that day."
His eyes twinkled with sadistic glee. "The day Sahiru appeared… and wiped out your entire experimental Upper Moon branch stationed in Osaka."
Akaza's jaw tightened.
Kokushibo's eye twitched.
Muzan's gaze turned deadly still.
"Douma," he whispered.
Douma laughed again, twirling a shard of ice between his fingers.
"I only speak truth! Sahiru is an anomaly even we can't explain. He doesn't belong to the Corps, yet moves like a god among men… a mask, no name, a breath no one understands… Even you, Lord Muzan, never speak of what happened when you—"
SLASH.
In a heartbeat, Muzan's hand extended, slashing the air—just grazing Douma's cheek, but blood was drawn.
Douma paused. His smile faltered for just a second… then returned.
Kokushibo, silent as always, finally spoke. "Sahiru is not a warrior… He is a force of nature. And nature does not fear us."
Muzan's eyes pulsed again. "…I don't care how strong he is. He is not Yorichii. He bleeds. He will fall."
Akaza finally broke his silence.
"…What if Tanjiro becomes like him?"
Silence again.
Muzan's glare stabbed through Akaza, then returned to nothingness.
"Then he will die alongside him."
The room shifted.
The meeting ended.
But as each Upper Moon vanished, tension still choked the air.
And in the deepest corners of the Infinity Castle, something ancient stirred.
Elsewhere, in the quiet night…
Tanjiro stared at the stars, clutching the earring hanging by his cheek.
"…That man in the mask… Who was he?"
His heart beat heavier with each memory.
He didn't know the answer.
But Sahiru did.
And from within the veiled shadows of Tokyo…
He was watching.
____