Chapter Text
Mitsuri tries very hard not to fidget.
The gravel path to the estate is familiar beneath her sandals, the soft crunch grounding in a way she clings to perhaps more than she should. Her hands fold together in front of her, then separate, then fold again. It wouldn’t do to appear restless—especially not when she’s been summoned by Master himself.
Still, her heart is already beating faster than usual.
When she’s guided inside and the sliding door opens, Mitsuri bows immediately, her voice bright despite the tightness in her chest. “You called for me, Master—”
She stops.
Because she isn’t alone.
Shinobu is already there.
Of course she is—poised neatly, hands resting in her lap, posture as effortless as ever. She turns her head slightly, offering Mitsuri a small, knowing smile that lands somewhere between polite and amused.
“Kanroji,” she says, voice light. “You seem energetic as usual.”
Mitsuri straightens too quickly. “Shinobu! I didn’t realize—um—I mean, of course you’d be here if it’s important—!”
She clamps her mouth shut, face going as pink as her hair, and bows again to hide it.
Smooth. Very smooth.
At the head of the room, Kagaya Ubuyashiki lets out a soft, gentle laugh—not unkind, never unkind.
“I’m glad you both came so quickly,” he says.
Mitsuri settles properly this time, though she becomes acutely aware of Shinobu’s presence beside her—the faint scent of wisteria, the quiet stillness. It’s… calming.
Distracting.
She focuses on Kagaya instead.
“There have been several reports,” he continues, “of a demon operating in a remote town. It has been difficult to track. Survivors are few, and their accounts… inconsistent.”
Mitsuri tilts her head slightly. “Inconsistent, Master?”
“They describe different appearances,” Kagaya says. “Different voices. In some cases… different relationships to the demon.”
A small pause.
“However, there is one detail that remains constant.”
Mitsuri leans forward, attentive.
“It avoids direct confrontation. And when Demon Slayers engage it in pairs… the outcome is often compromised.”
Something in his tone makes her sit a little straighter.
Shinobu speaks this time, her voice calm. “Compromised how?”
Kagaya’s expression remains serene, but there is a quiet weight beneath it.
“The demon possesses a Blood Demon Art that acts as a kind of… aphrodisiac.”
Mitsuri freezes.
“…Ah.”
She is suddenly very aware of everything. The room. The air. Shinobu sitting right next to her.
Kagaya continues gently, as if discussing the weather.
“It heightens emotional sensitivity, lowers inhibitions, and can distort perception—particularly in relation to attraction and trust. Many who have faced it found themselves… well… distracted. Disoriented. Unable to fight effectively.”
Mitsuri’s face is definitely bright red now. That’s normal. This is an embarrassing topic. That’s all.
“That’s awful,” she says quickly. “How underhanded!”
“Yes,” Kagaya agrees softly. “It is.”
A brief silence passes before he adds:
“It has been observed that mixed pairs are especially vulnerable to its effects.”
Mitsuri blinks.
Oh.
Understanding arrives all at once, and she almost makes a noise before catching herself with hand to her mouth.
“That is why,” Kagaya says, “I have chosen the two of you. This demon is supposedly one of the Twelve Kizuki—Lower 6—so I cannot justify sending a single slayer. Though it is the weakest, it is still one of the Twelve.”
Mitsuri nods immediately, perhaps a bit too eagerly, ready to end the awkward conversation. “Of course! That makes perfect sense! Very logical, Master!”
Her voice is just a touch higher than usual.
Beside her, Shinobu hums quietly. “I see. A precaution.”
There’s something unreadable in her tone.
Mitsuri does not look at her.
Kagaya inclines his head. “The demon is exceptionally skilled at avoiding detection. You may need to remain in the area for several days—possibly longer. I recommend you prepare to camp while you search.”
“A prolonged mission…” Shinobu murmurs.
Mitsuri swallows. “Together.”
The word slips out before she can stop it.
Silence follows—brief, but loud in her ears.
Shinobu turns her head slightly again. “Is that a problem, Kanroji?”
“No!” Mitsuri says immediately. “Not at all! I mean—it’s not like that—I just meant—we’ll be working closely, so—we should coordinate! Very efficiently!”
She is absolutely digging herself deeper.
Kagaya’s soft laughter returns, easing the tension just a little.
“I have full confidence in both of you,” he says. “Please take care.”
Mitsuri bows quickly, grateful for the dismissal, though her thoughts feel strangely… tangled.
An aphrodisiac… Emotional distortion… Attraction…
Why on earth would anyone think to send the Love Pillar to fight a demon like that?
She presses her hands to her cheeks as they step outside, trying to steady herself.
This is just a mission.
Just a demon.
Nothing more.
“…You’re unusually flustered, Kanroji,” Shinobu notes lightly beside her.
Mitsuri startles.
“I am not!!!”
Shinobu smiles.
Mitsuri’s heart skips—and that, too, she refuses to examine.
Not now.
Not when they haven’t even found the demon yet.