Mortal Draw, Dragon's Breath (Sekiro × Demon Slayer)

Root (Part 1)

It had only been a passing rumor, but for him, it could not be ignored.

The Demon in man's flesh observed the wartorn panorama that was once the thriving lands of the Ashina clan. He watched the red warriors of the Interior Ministry – samurais of the Tokugawa Shogunate – cut down the remnants of Ashina's own, who amounted to no more than ailing old men, wounded soldiers, and inexperienced ashigaru's barely fresh out of training. Famed resilience or not, Ashina could still succumb to numbers. Quantity over quality and Tokugawa had quantity. He would ask where the fit and strong ones of Ashina were, but one of his position could care less about them.

Then... he turned his attention to the Demon that was wildly wrecking the outskirts in front of Ashina's castle gates, massacring contingents after contingents of Tokugawa's warriors without care. In a feat that was completely unlike him, the Demon took some time to marvel at the sight, amused and almost awed by what he was witnessing.

So much Bloodlust.

So much Hatred.

So much Resentment.

Not once did the Flames of Wrath that it swathed abate, only consuming everything it touched. The screams emanating from those exposed to it were nothing more than cathartic. He had yet to realize the karmic debt accrued by the one who would come to be known as the Demon of Hatred. For now, he only knew that aside from ingesting his own revered blood, there were other ways for mortals to become a Demon.

...He would have to return to that Demon later.

A faint whisper of a distant memory he had long forgotten flowed through his many brains. He struggled for a moment to make sense of why he was recalling it now... then it hit him. One particular person crossed his mind which made him remember why he had not thought of entering Ashina until now.

Ashina Isshin.

The Demon had once approached that human in an attempt to turn him over as he had with the brother of Yoriichi – now named Kokushibou – who had information on other human warriors that were potential threats to Demons and was responsible for letting him know about Isshin in the first place.

The withered old human had simply laughed, called him a likeness of "Shura", and sliced him down without him knowing.

Then slashed him.

Then stabbed him.

And administered all manners of killing that could be done by the sword.

It did not matter to Isshin what form the Demon took, whether it be a monstrous behemoth with countless limbs, or a multitude of skulking, venomous snakes agile in their slithers, he sliced him with punity, almost as if he knew exactly where all of his hearts and brains were. And, knowing that he could not kill him, he made do with making a mockery of him instead by slashing him apart countless times, even using his own Blood Demon Art against him at one point, until the sun rose.

Isshin was not a Demon Slayer. He was a Sword. He was utterly unpleasant and Muzan had no desire to be in his presence again after that disgraceful night. He did not need anything or anyone that could mock his authority.

It finally made sense why he stepped into Ashina after so long. Isshin had passed away. The clan was no longer in its Golden Age. The Tokugawa shogunate had immediately assaulted the land in force upon news of Isshin's death and made quick work of its remaining forces.

Which led to now.

Normally, he would ignore rumors conjured up by humans and demons not even worth his attention or even acknowledgment. After all, why should he care for their existence? The only thing that was worthy of being acknowledged was he and himself only.