"Shit, shit, shit!"
Nezuko screamed the words inside her head three times in a row.
Hiding inside the closet, peeking through the tiny gap in the door, she was almost certain Shuya had spotted her. The thought of him yanking the door open and dragging her out for a lecture made her stomach twist into knots.
She wanted to disappear into the floorboards. If she'd just agreed to Mitsuri's offer earlier, she wouldn't be stuck in this nightmare.
A thin beam of light from the gap hit her face. She squeezed her eyes shut, curled up tight in the dark, and waited for the judgment to fall.
Nothing happened.
No closet door swinging open. No angry voice.
Nezuko slowly cracked one eye open.
The door was still closed. Shuya and Mitsuri were still out there… doing things.
Did he not notice me?
Relief flooded her. She let out a shaky breath and leaned closer to the gap again, careful as hell.
Then her eyes went wide.
Wait. Hold on.
Shuya was carrying Mitsuri straight toward the closet?!
"Naughty girl," Shuya murmured against Mitsuri's ear, voice low enough that only she could hear.
Mitsuri made a confused little sound, still hazy with lust, and tried to kiss him again. He pressed his palm to her forehead and pushed her back gently, then twirled a lock of her pink-and-green hair around his finger, brushing it over her skin.
"Tickles~" she whined, pouting.
Shuya kept playing with her hair, eyes dark. "Nezuko's hiding in the closet, isn't she? Mind telling me what the hell is going on? I don't remember giving you permission to do this."
Mitsuri's brain finally rebooted. Oh no. I completely forgot Nezuko was in there.
She opened her mouth to explain, but Shuya pressed a finger to her lips.
"Shh. Keep your voice down. We don't want Nezuko hearing us yet."
Mitsuri blinked at him, completely lost. He'd already figured it out, but now he was telling her to stay quiet like he wanted to keep it a secret from the girl literally five feet away?
She gave up trying to understand him. Shuya wouldn't hurt either of them, right?
She leaned in close and whispered, "It's not what you think. I asked Nezuko to come tonight. She's been working so hard on her breathing technique. It felt too cruel to leave her out just because she hasn't mastered Constant yet, so I—"
Shuya cut her off with a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "No can do, Mitsuri. This was supposed to be a reward for the winner. Nezuko lost fair and square. She doesn't get to share the prize."
Mitsuri tried to argue, but he pinched her lips shut between his fingers.
"No buts. Since both of you decided the rules don't matter, I'm changing the game. You two are getting punished instead."
Mitsuri's eyes went huge. "P-punished?!"
"Exactly."
He slid his arms under her thighs and back, lifting her in a smooth princess carry. Mitsuri instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, face burning as he carried her off the bed and straight toward the closet.
Her back hit the wooden door with a soft thud. The cool surface made her shiver.
"Shuya, wait—what are you doing?" she whispered, voice shaky.
"Giving you that punishment I mentioned." His eyes flicked to the closet door behind her, then back to her face. "Keep it down. Nezuko's listening."
Mitsuri's whole body trembled. The closet was right there. Nezuko was on the other side of that thin wood. She could feel everything.
Shuya leaned in, lips brushing her ear. "Ready, Mitsuri?"
She couldn't even form words. Her brain had melted into steam. Her skin flushed deep red, like she'd been boiled alive.
Shuya was about to go through with it—right there against the closet door, with Nezuko trapped inside—when his expression suddenly sharpened.
He stopped cold.
He set Mitsuri down gently and stepped back, face turning serious.
"I've got good news and bad news, Mitsuri. Which one do you want first?"
Mitsuri was still half-dazed. "Good news~"
"Good news is the punishment's canceled."
Her face lit up. "Really?! Then the bad news—?"
"Bad news is the reward's getting postponed too."
Mitsuri's eyes went wide with horror. "What?! No way! I was already— I was ready— Why?!"
Shuya's voice dropped. "Something came up. Muzan's here."
He could feel it through his En— Muzan Kibutsuji had just arrived at the Butterfly Mansion with every Upper Moon except the sixth rank, plus a whole swarm of lower demons.
Too many. He couldn't guarantee Mitsuri and Nezuko's safety while fighting that many at once. Not when they'd only just mastered Constant.
He manifested the Crossing Gate to Greed Island and handed Mitsuri her kimono.
"Put this on. Go inside and tell Saeko and the others I need them. Right now."
Mitsuri nodded, no more pouting. She slipped the kimono on and stepped through the gate, still looking frustrated and worried.
Shuya turned to the closet and yanked the door open.
Bright light hit Nezuko square in the face. She squinted up at him, curled up like a guilty kitten.
"G-good evening, Shuya-nii…"
"You really like hiding in closets, huh?"
Nezuko's face burned. "I can explain—"
"No time." Shuya held out a contract scroll. "Sign it. Then get through that gate and find Mitsuri. We'll deal with your little stunt later."
Nezuko took the scroll without hesitation. She'd sign anything right now if it meant getting out of this mess. Besides, she could already feel the change in her own breathing—she'd somehow mastered Constant while hiding in there.
She signed, stepped through the gate, and came face-to-face with a very flustered Mitsuri on the other side.
Once both girls were safe in Greed Island, Shuya finally relaxed.
Next step: get the three little girls and Hanako through the gate too.
Then Saeko and the others could come out and start harvesting Blood Demon Arts from Muzan's little army.
Twenty minutes earlier.
Outside the wisteria perimeter.
Muzan Kibutsuji stood on a high branch, staring at the glowing Butterfly Mansion in the distance. The blue spider lily was in there. He could feel it.
After a thousand years of hiding from the sun, the key to walking in daylight was finally within reach—delivered by the very family that had hunted him for centuries.
Perfect.
He glanced back at the grotesque army behind him. Every Upper Moon except the sixth. A swarm of lower demons. All disposable.
He pointed at one sickle-armed demon. "You. Dig us a tunnel. Avoid the wisteria."
The demon obeyed instantly, carving through the earth like it was butter. In under a minute, a wide tunnel opened beneath the flowers.
Muzan led his forces through.
Once inside the grounds, he felt it—an old, familiar presence.
Tamayo.
He smiled coldly and walked straight toward her.
"It's been a long time, Tamayo… Miss."
Tamayo's face went pale, then flushed with rage and terror. She hadn't expected him to find her so fast.
" Muzan? What are you doing here?!"
Muzan's golden eyes locked onto her, radiating the crushing pressure of the Demon King.
"Tell me the truth, Tamayo. Was the blue spider lily information you fed the Demon Slayer Corps just a trap to lure me out?"
His voice was ice. "Because if it was… you're going to regret ever betraying me."