Chapter Text
Whispers spread through the foggy mist of the land between realms.
“Two Orisha have been captured.”
“Two missing by one demon.”
“One demon that created all demons.”
“Liability.”
“Defenses are down.”
“Not enough self-portraits.”
“Who is to blame?”
“Who is responsible?”
“Those that hunt the demons.”
“Human demon slayers.”
“Demon Slayer Corps.”
“Weak.”
“Pathetic.”
“We want blood.”
“We want war.”
“Kill them all.”
“Kill the demons and the slayers.”
“Retrieve the heart and the water.”
“I warned you all of the threat of Muzan Kibutsuji. Now he has two Orisha. If the heart becomes a demon or even dies, no more Orisha can be reborn.”
“We will have war.”
“I will have blood.”
“Send Ogun. Send the plague amongst all of Japan.”
“Bring them to their knees.”
“They are not one of us.”
“Not one of us… Not one of us… not one of us!”
It had been a full seven days since Ayo and Femi were taken and the fact their energy could not be sensed in the world alerted all the Orisha.
Bambaataa made sure to be as far away from the Ubuyashiki manor as he remained standing in a field. The pink rift opened across from him and slowly a large figure began to march out. A man, much older than the earth Orisha approached. His head was clean shaven, and his beard was thick and full peppered with white hair. His eyes were black as the night and his black robes showed the power he held. Bambaataa just stared as the man approached him, then walked past him and stared at the sky for a moment. The rift remained open and now it was just the two of them.
The air was tense all around them and Bambaataa knew not to speak.
“So where are they?” he asked, lowly voice deep, drenched with authority. Bambaataa closed his eyes slowly unsure of how to exactly answer a question the larger Orisha already knew. He finally turned around with a glare.
“Where are my children!” he roared, his voice echoing across the land. Bambaataa looked in the direction of his father who approached him with a crazed look in his eyes.
“Utata-”
“DO NOT SPEAK!” he snarled as he began to turn and pace about, his eyes taking in every ounce of the land before him. His energy channels open. He could feel the presence of every human in Japan. “You are the oldest, you are MY first born, and you lose not just my young son, but my only daughter as well to a pathetic demon!”
Bambaataa scowled.
“Ayo sacrificed herself to get Femi back!” he argued. Ogun stood before him now, his large hand gripping his son’s chin hard causing him to let out the smallest sound of discomfort.
“That was not her choice to make! I don’t think you realize the position you have put me in, son, the position we are all in. You three were sent here to do a simple task, and now two Orisha are off somewhere held captive by demons, and I was sent here to clean up the mess you put yourself in.” he explained. Bambaataa could feel the grip in his father’s hand, and it was harsh enough that if he were a human his jaw would have broken easily.
“Let me fix this, Utata.” he said. Ogun laughed dryly.
“You cannot fix this. The demon who has my children has existed even when your mother and I were in chains. I know his power and I know the humans who fight against him are no match for him. Uncultured swine, all of them.” he spat letting Bambaataa go and turning from him. He took a few steps and looked around. “This land hasn’t changed, that much I know. I see you came here to meet me alone rather than allow me to speak with Kagaya Ubuyashiki in his territory.”
Bambaataa looked down with a slight wince.
“You think I would have held him responsible for all that has happened, killed him and then kill the pathetic insects he has called his children.” he said. Bambaataa was quiet knowing that his father did not want to hear a response. Ogun turned to him and nodded. “Well, you’re right. That’s exactly what I would have done. I would have torn his cursed skin off his body, then I would do the same for the rest of his blood line then that would have counted as penance for the position he too has put me in. Then I would kill all his pathetic Hashira as well for simply existing on this planet long enough to lay claim to my daughter!”
Bambaataa knew that conversation was coming. His father knew his sister was mated, and he knew he was not going to approve. He would never approve. Ogun shook his head holding up his fist.
“Japan has caused our family nothing but pain since our ancestors were brought here in chains. I will have retribution for this grave offense that has fallen upon our tribe.” he said holding up his hand and curling his fingers into a tight fist.
“Utata please… let me try and find Ayo and Femi and kill the demon known as Kibutsuji.” he said, his tone almost close to pleading. Ogun looked at his son for a moment before turning and placing his hands behind his back.
“I will give you six weeks to bring Ayo and Femi back. If you fail, I will bring a plague onto Japan that is so severe that the suffering will live on for as long as Japan is called such and the very first to be infected will be the Demon Slayer Corps. If Ubuyashiki is not dead from his curse by that time, then he will be the very first to feel the plague’s effects, then his Hashira, then the rest of the pathetic humans in the corps and slowly all of Japan will feel it. Then when the sun goes down, I will bring an even swifter punishment on the demons themselves. No one will know peace once I am finished with this land, and this pain will not stop until Femi and Ayo are presented. You have weakened yourself by showing too much mercy toward humans. I should hope you’ll come back to your senses before I have to come back here in six weeks to do what you couldn’t.” he said and without saying anything else he began to walk toward the pink rift.
Bambaataa winced letting his head fall as he felt his father’s aura disappear from the field as he disappeared. Ogun, the Orisha of disease and famine. His power grows from sickness and death, the very thing that plagued many slaves on the ships they were chained to. He need only to touch a living creature and their body decays. He was the opposite of his mother, the Orisha of love.
Ogun was always a strict man, and an even stricter father. He has been the cause of many plagues that have occurred throughout history because the black energy in death gave him such power. Bambaataa finally looked up at the sky.
“Ayo, I hope you know what you’re doing.” he said. The Orisha journeyed back to the Ubuyashiki manor and looked around at the place. He could feel his own anger rising. They should have never come here. They should have never come here. This war against the demons in Japan was not their business and they made it their business! And now look what’s happened!
It's their fault, it’s Ubuyashiki’s fault! He wanted to blame the man, the sick man who took up this crusade against demons! How easy it would be to walk in and just kill the man right now! But he knew that would set off a chain of events like no other. He’d be spending most of his time fighting and killing the Hashira and then that would push him further from his task at finding his little brother and sister.
“Bambaataa.”
The older Orisha looked to the side watching as Kyojuro and Tengen approached. The two looked seemingly calm, but Bambaataa could feel the pure tension radiating off of the flame Hashira. Ever since Ayo left, the positive energy around the bug-eyed man was gone, morphed into something dark.
“You have returned from your meeting with your tribesmen. Will they offer help?” Tengen asked. Bambaataa looked at the man, the feelings gone from his eyes.
“We have six weeks to find both Femi and Ayo or things will get significantly worse, and it will not only be Kibutsuji that you have to worry about.” he said before turning, leaving the two with looks of concern.
Kyojuro turned, crossing his arms and looking at the ground. He felt so helpless, and he couldn’t believe he let his love go off on such a dangerous mission.
“I shouldn’t have let her go.” He said. Tengen looked down at his friend.
“Don’t do that to yourself. Ayo was going to go after her brother no matter what any of us said or did. You know that.” he said. Kyojuro closed his eyes and just shook his head.
“I feel her… in here.” he said placing his hand over his chest. “It’s faint, but that warm feeling I always felt when she was here, is still there, like it’s still calling me- trying to guide me back to her.” he said. Kyojuro knew ever since the first time he looked upon Ayo’s face, the deep, sensual look in her eyes, had ensnared him. Ever since he held her body close to his, protecting her from the cold, a warm inside him was lit, it was not like anything he had ever felt before. But he knew that no matter how close or how far Ayo was, he felt that flame, that warmth. When she is close, his body is ignited, and when she is far, the flame dims just a bit, but it is still there.
When he fought Akaza and felt he was going to die, he felt that flame grow as if it were his soul telling him that she was coming. And now that flame is still there inside him, clawing at him as if it wanted to rip from his chest and guide him to where she was.
Tengen placed his hand firmly on the man’s shoulder a look of determination on his chest.
“Then use that feeling and let it guide you back into her arms! We will find her, and we will cut down any demon or upper moon who stands in our way!” he said with a flashy tone. Kyojuro looked at the man’s confident face and nodded.
“I will find her!” he said with confidence.
Ayo’s POV
I stood outside on the engawa, staring up at the dark skies and closing my eyes quietly.
I felt no wind, no life, nothing in this realm.
“Ayo, you finally came to me.” Muzan said with an amused smirk.
“Where is my brother?” I asked.
“Ayo!” I hear the scared voice of my brother. I turned to see Femi standing across from me, but he was held in place by a blonde-haired demon who smiled almost happily.
“Femi!” I called out as I tried to stand. However, I felt immense pressure over my body, and I felt the feeling leave my legs making me drop to my feet. I groaned at the pressure that I felt weighing down on my body. Muzan chuckled.
“There is no water in this realm. Your abilities are useless here.” he said wickedly. I growled looking at my brother and then at him.
“You said if I gave myself up, you’d let him go.” I said. Muzan chuckled even more.
“And you actually believed I would be true to my words?” he asked. I actually knew he wouldn’t. I would never trust a demon to be true to their words ever. “No, I think I will keep you both here. You both will play a key role in the events that are to come. Then it will only be a matter of time before your older brother joins us as well.”
“Bambaataa will never join you.” I snarled trying to fight the pulse in my legs so I could stand. Muzan smirked.
“Who knows, after having both his beloved his siblings here, it may be quite easy to convince your brother to reunite with his family. He is playing on a losing team; he must know that.” he said. I growled at his words. Muzan could see the pure rage in my eyes, and he smirked.
“Doma will be in charge of your brother until you both can behave. Until I know you can be trusted, this will be the last time either of you will see each other.” he said. The blonde demon chuckled.
“Oh, how exciting! Thank you, my lord. I will cherish this gift.” he said placing his hand on Femi’s head and I yelled in frustration.
“Let him go, do what you want with me, but let him go!” I snapped. Piercing red eyes were before me already as a hand gripped my face hard.
“Oh, I plan to do whatever I want with you Ayo. You will obey without question and if you don’t then I will rip your brother’s heart out of his chest and make you eat it.” he snarled. I glared at his words feeling my entire body tighten.
There truly is no water in this realm, and I would need to store all the water I could in order to keep up some of my senses. This castle was a maze, I noted, when I was allowed to move about it. There was no where I could go that Muzan did not see.
I made no moves at all. I let my hand slide up over my chest, over my heart and I felt it beating beneath my skin. I could feel Kyojuro still. I felt a cool sensation moving about me when thinking of him. I would not deny I was afraid, but I would do what needed to be done. I needed to get Femi, and I will save him.
“Nakime informs me that you haven’t been eating.” I hear the low purr of Muzan’s voice. He was close and I slowly let my head lull forward. “Is the food not to your liking? I have tasked the servants into getting specific foods imported from your country so that you would feel comfortable here.”
He sounded so genuine and that scared me, but the fact he truly did bring me fruits and meats from the Mother Continent, terrified me. Why would he go to such lengths?
“It is hard to have an appetite when your loved ones are in danger.” I said finally turning to face the demon. Muzan smirked.
“Young Femi is doing quite well in Doma’s care. I hear his cult has taken a liking to him. I hear the boy paints very well.” he said. Keep it together. Femi would never paint for a demon unless he were threatened with something causing harm to his loved ones. But they don’t know to combine blood with a painting. This could be harmless.
“I simply wish to see my brother, to hold him.” I said. Muzan tilted his head some watching me as if amused.
“And what will you offer in return for my generosity of seeing him?” he asked. I looked down some and gave a shrug.
“I will eat the food you bring me.” I said. Not that I would trust it. But I couldn’t weaken myself now while Femi is here and in danger. Muzan didn’t look very moved by my words.
“No, you will have to do better than that.” he said approaching me with a calm and collective stride. Yet his eyes watched me like a predator watching its prey. His body was calm, but those eyes were feral.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“You will share my bed and do your part in birthing a new demon for me.” he said.