11. Kibutsuji Muzan

Hana, Tanjiro and Nezuko walked through the bustling city of Asakusa.

Her eyes widened at the sight. The streets glowing with bright lights from towering buildings, neon signs, and the constant motion of trains and lamps. Crowds hurried to their destinations, oblivious to the small group moving cautiously through the chaos.

'Are the cities this advanced now?' Hana thought, rubbing her temples. 'It's nighttime, but it's so bright out! The buildings are so tall... the cities... I feel so dizzy.'

"I feel dizzy," Tanjiro muttered, covering his eyes with his scarf.

"Me too," Hana replied, moving closer to him. "Lean on me, Tanjiro. I've got you."

Walking ahead, Tanjiro spotted a dark alleyway and suggested, "Uh... let's go that way."

Suddenly, they noticed a young couple making out against the wall. Tanjiro immediately covered Nezuko's eyes, while Hana pulled her brother out of the alley.

"I-I'm so s-sorry!" she stammered, bowing apologetically.

They ran through the busy streets, finally reaching a quieter, secluded area a simple udon shop. Hana exhaled in relief.

"Excuse me, two bowls of udon with grated yam on top, please," Tanjiro ordered, clearly exhausted.

Hana's stomach rumbled. Food... finally.....she thought, smiling faintly. She sat down beside Nezuko.

"S-sure thing!" the man behind the counter stammered, retreating to prepare their bowls.

"I've never been to a place like this... it's way too crowded," Tanjiro said, sulking.

"I know," Hana agreed gently, rubbing Tanjiro's back.

The udon arrived. Hana and Tanjiro each lifted their bowls and sipped carefully. Suddenly, Hana froze, dropping her bowl as a familiar scent consumed her.

"What happ-" Tanjiro began, but he froze as well.

Hana looked at Tanjiro, who was already staring at her with wide eyes, gasping slightly. Her hand immediately went to her sword. Tanjiro mirrored her movements, drawing his own blade. Without hesitation, Hana grabbed his hand and sprinted into the streets toward the scent, ignoring the shouts of the udon vendor behind them.

This scent...why would I catch it here all of a sudden? Hana thought, running alongside Tanjiro.

They brushed through the crowds, pushing aside pedestrians carefully to avoid harm. The scent led them to a man wearing a white hat. Hana grabbed his shoulder and turned to face him.

As soon as their eyes met, they froze.

The man's eyes widened as he saw them, his eyes lingering on Tanjiro's earrings.

Hana and Tanjiro drew their swords, ready to strike but then a soft, childlike voice interrupted them.

"Daddy?"

A little girl appeared in the man's arms. Hana felt a pit in her stomach. Muzan Kibutsuji the demon they had been hunting for so long was posing as a human.

'They're human....the little girl and the woman. They're human! Don't you know? Can't you tell? That he's a demon...that he devours humans...' she thought, her heart clenching in agony.

"Do you know them?" the woman asked, pointing toward Hana and Tanjiro.

"No, much to my consternation, I've never seen these children before. He must have mistaken me for someone else," Muzan said soothingly, hiding the lethal intent in his words. He turned fully toward them, his eyes sharp and predatory.

"Oh, you think so." the woman replied.

Hana's eyes flicked sharply. In one fluid motion, she saw Muzan silently cut a man's neck nearby. Tanjiro gasped in horror.

The man grabbed the back of his neck, clutching it in pain, while his wife looked on in panic. Suddenly, his fangs bared, and he lunged at her.

Hana reacted instantly, jumping on the man to hold him back. She used her weight to pin him down. Tanjiro stuffed a scarf into his mouth to silence his struggles, holding it there firmly.

"Ma'am! Worry about yourself! Put pressure on the wound with a cloth!" Hana shouted to the panicked woman.

Hana's rage boiled as she looked at the man pinned beneath her.

'Just a second ago, this man was just walking down this street with his wife...'

'Where did he go?' she thought looking around.

Hana's eyes flicked toward Muzan and his family as they began to walk away.

"Muzan Kibutsuji! We won't let you get away! No matter where you go!" Hana shouted.

"What's the matter with those children? What do you think, Tsukihiko?" the woman with Muzan spoke, as Hana's eyes widen in disbelief.

"No matter where you go! You're not getting away! I'll follow you to the depths of hell. I swear I'll slice off your head with my blade! I will never forgive you! Not ever! What you did was unforgivable! I will hunt you down! I'll avenge my family!" Hana cried.

Police officers rushed in. "What's going on here?" one asked. "Is it a drunk? Kids, stay away from him!" another shouted.

Hana gritted her teeth. "Step away from the man! He's dangerous! Restrain him properly!"

"We can't! Bring some restraints! No one can hold this man but us!" Tanjiro shouted, trying to pull the officers away while Hana kept the man pinned.

"Shut up and get off of him already!" one officer barked, raising a baton.

Suddenly, a swirl of flowers appeared between them, stopping the officer mid-swing.

"What's this smell?" Hana muttered.

She rose, scanning the area. The scent intensified, and two figures emerged a woman with lavender eyes and a man with striking white-and-black hair.

"You're still using the term 'person,'" the woman said calmly, stepping forward. "To refer to even a transformed demon... and you're still trying to save him. Allow me, then...to lend you a hand."

Hana's brow furrowed. "But why? You... your scent tells me that you're....a demon."

"That's right," the woman replied, her gaze steady. "I am a demon, but I am also a doctor. And I too wish to obliterate Muzan Kibutsuji."