"Please take care of yourself," said Kagaya's wife, Ubuyashiki Amane.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya couldn't stop coughing up blood, staining the handkerchief red. He struggled to prop himself up and took a cup of warm water from Amane's hand, sipping slowly.
"I don't have much time left, Amane."
Kagaya gazed at his wife, who was as beautiful as a fairy.
"Yesterday, I received a message. The Stone Hashira encountered Upper Rank Four and Upper Rank Five and eliminated them one after the other."
He stood up with excitement, ignoring his weakened state.
"This is an unprecedented breakthrough! For hundreds of years, Hashiras have never won in fights against upper-rank demons! Amane, I can feel it. The millennium-long curse between Muzan and the Ubuyashiki family will end with my generation! In this final stretch, I will give my all to make Muzan pay for her crimes! This place is dangerous; it might turn into a battlefield. Please take our children with you and leave. Bring them to a safe place."
Kagaya laughed heartily, despite that fresh blood again stained his lips.
"Do you remember why I married you? Because you respected me. You told me that if I didn't like the engagement, you would tell them to cancel it. Now, I want you to respect my wish to stay with you, no matter what. Kagaya, I won't leave you alone."
Amane, kneeling quietly, touched Kagaya’s cursed, ugly face, her gaze warm.
...
Three days later.
After making sure Teru was asleep, Muzan slipped away quietly.
The living room was filled with packages of all sizes. Teru had been packing up over the past few days. As Teru had planned, they would soon leave Tokyo and travel around Japan before they eventually find a suitable place to settle down.
Muzan showed up in the Infinity Castle. The upper-rank demons had been waiting for their queen.
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A few days earlier, she had received news that Gyokko and Hantengu had been killed by the Demon Slayer Corps. It was a well-built man wielding a meteor hammer. Despite their efforts to sever one of his arms, the swordsman activated the Demon Slayer Mark and swiftly killed the two demons.
The Demon Slayer Mark was contagious. They should eliminate all of them before the other Hashira awakened their Marks.
Teru was too naive. Even if she tried to hide, wouldn't they find her eventually? Perhaps, in this instance, it was time to end the feud between Ubuyashiki family and Muzan.
Muzan glanced at the upper-rank demons, every one of them.
Kokushibo, Douma, Akaza, and Daki.
"Tonight, let's eliminate the Demon Slayer Corps!"
With the strumming of Biwa Demon's instrument, the five strongest demons were transported away, landing outside the house of the Ubuyashiki family.
...
The Hashira Meeting commenced. It was late at night.
All the hashiras were present. In high spirits, they gathered around Iguro.
"So, you're saying the information came from a girl named Minamato Sayo?"
"Yes." Sone hashira, Gyomei, nodded and took out a slightly crumpled letter from his pocket.
Wind Hashira impatiently snatched the letter and opened it, reading it aloud.
"An informant recently detected unusual activity near the Forge Village. Upon investigation, they found a vase-like creature and an elderly weird man. They are, very likely, demons."
"I've heard of the Minamato family before..." murmured Mist Hashira.
"You took down two upper-rank demons! You truly are the strongest swordsman!" Flame Hashira slapped Gyomei's back forcefully, his laughter as loud as thunder.
Snake Hashira tried to remind Wind Hashira that it was impolite to take someone else’s letter without permission, when he noticed Love Hashira, with her innocent demeanor, was fixing her eyes on him, unblinking. He blushed and turned around.
Water Hashira, Giyu, stood at the edge of the group and kept poker face.
Shinobu walked up to him, tilting her head with a smile.
"Haven't seen you that cheerful in a while!"
Shocked, Sound Hashira hesitated to speak. How could anyone read his emotions from that impassive face?
Guided by his wife, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, walked out from behind the door. Two young girls, barely reaching his waist, clung to the corners of Amane's clothes. They were Kagaya's daughters, unwilling to leave their mother's side.
"As you all know, Gyomei killed two upper-rank demons a few days ago. In the midst of battle, he awakened the Demon Slayer Mark. Humanity emerged victorious against upper-rank demons!"
The group turned their attention to Stone Hashira and saw burn marks on his face.
The Demon Slayer Mark significantly enhanced a Hashira's physical abilities. However, since the it consumed the body, it shortened the user's lifespan considerably.
This was common knowledge recorded in their scriptures.
Kagaya, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, deeply bowed to the assembled Hashiras.
"Let's fight together and bring an end to Kibutsuji Muzan!"