Worse Than A Demon? (Sasori x Demon Slayer)

Everyone looked at Sasori, who had just executed Rui with a chilling efficiency. The air seemed to crackle with the residual energy of the battle, and a heavy silence fell over the group.

Rui's severed head rolled to a stop, eyes still wide with shock, a gruesome testament to Sasori's lethal precision. Ren puppet, gleaming with fresh crimson, retracted its blades with a sinister hiss, ready for the next command.

Amidst the tension, Sasori's expression remained unreadable, his eyes cold and calculating. He wiped the blood from his blade with a detached, almost ritualistic motion.

"Good job Sasori... Now let's get back to what we were discussing."Shinobu said as she rushed at 'Sasori' aiming at his leg.

Sasori easily jumped over her attacker and kicked her head sending her a bit away making her skit across the ground.

"Sister!" Kanao said as she ran toward Shinobu's aside "Why are you helping that demon?" She asked looking at Sasori.

"Orders from the core." Sasori informed as a crow began to fly around them "Message! Message! I bring a message from headquarters!" The Crow informed everyone except Sasori looking shocked even Aki looked shocked.

"Tanjirou and Nezuko are to be taken back to headquarters alive! Tanjirou and demon, Nezuko, are to be taken back to headquarters alive!" The crow began to repeat.

Shinobu, dusting herself off and regaining her composure, nodded in acknowledgment of the crow's message. "It seems you were right," she remarked, her voice tinged with resignation.

"Bring them back! Bring them back!" The crow said.

As the implications of the crow's message settled over the group like a heavy shroud, they realized that their mission had just become infinitely more complicated. With Sasori's loyalties called into question and the fate of Tanjirou and Nezuko hanging in the balance, they knew that their journey was far from over.

-Demon Cour headquarters-

The scene shifted to the imposing structure of the Demon Corps headquarters, where tension and anticipation hung thick in the air. The Hashira, elite members of the corps, gathered in a grand chamber, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. Among them was Tengen Uzui, the flamboyant Sound Hashira, who had been eagerly awaiting this meeting.

Uzui's excitement was palpable; he was thrilled to meet a fellow family member who, like him, had once walked away from the rigid structure of the clan. However, his excitement quickly turned to disappointment when the most unflashy, unremarkable kid stood before him, being taken to trial for the grave offense of harboring a demon.

Tanjirou stood resolute, his face a mask of determination despite the weight of the accusations against him. Beside him, Nezuko remained silent, her presence a living testament to the controversial stance Tanjirou had taken.

Uzui's eyes narrowed as he observed Tanjirou. "This is the one?" he muttered, his voice dripping with incredulity. "This unflashy kid is the reason we're all gathered here?"

"He's more than he appears, Uzui," Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, replied softly. Her eyes, usually full of warmth, now held a mixture of pity and concern for Tanjirou and his sister.

The Master of the Demon Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, sat at the head of the chamber, his calm demeanor belying the seriousness of the situation. "Tanjirou Kamado," he began, his voice gentle yet authoritative, "you stand accused of breaking our most sacred rule. Explain yourself."

Tanjirou took a deep breath, his gaze steady as he met the Master's eyes. "Master Ubuyashiki, Nezuko is not like other demons. She has never harmed a human, and she fights to protect them. I believe that she can help us in our fight against Muzan Kibutsuji."

A murmur rippled through the assembled Hashira, a mix of skepticism and intrigue. Uzui crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "And we're supposed to believe this because...?"

"Because I have seen it with my own eyes," a new voice interrupted. It was Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, who stepped forward with a calm, unwavering conviction. "Tanjirou speaks the truth. Nezuko has shown remarkable restraint and humanity."

The room fell silent, the weight of Giyu's words sinking in. The Master nodded slowly, his gaze shifting between Tanjirou and Nezuko. "Very well," he said finally. "We will hear more of your story. But understand this, Tanjirou: the path you have chosen is fraught with peril, and the consequences of failure are dire."

Tanjirou bowed deeply, his voice resolute. "I understand, Master. I will not fail."

As the trial continued, the tension in the room remained high, each moment bringing new revelations and challenges. The fate of Tanjirou and Nezuko hung in the balance, their journey intertwined with the very future of the Demon Corps itself.

-After the trial-

"Oi, Shinobu! You know where he is?" Uzui asked, his voice tinged with excitement.

Shinobu gave him a sly smile. "My, my, Uzui, your excitement is absolutely adorable," she teased. "But we mustn't confront him outright. We need to wait for the mission with Iguro to be fully decided."

Uzui's face fell in disappointment. "But I feel like you should judge him first," Shinobu added, her tone softening. She gestured for Uzui to follow her as she headed toward the Butterfly Mansion.

Uzui perked up slightly, curiosity replacing his disappointment. "Judge him? What do you mean?"

Shinobu glanced over her shoulder with a knowing smile. "You'll see. Sometimes it's best to understand someone before leaping into action. Trust me, Uzui, patience can be just as valuable as strength."

Uzui sighed but nodded, falling into step beside her. "Alright, lead the way. But this better be worth the wait."

Shinobu's smile widened. "Oh, it will be. I promise."

-Butterfly Estate-

Zenitsu opened his eyes, still reeling from the trauma of almost becoming a spider. As his vision cleared, he noticed Inosuke sleeping peacefully nearby, but what caught his attention was the sound of wood being cut.

Turning his head, Zenitsu saw Sasori sitting on the floor, crafting a wooden arm. The Daisuke puppet was next to him, its arms conspicuously missing.

"Sasori?" Zenitsu called out, his voice still husky from waking up. Sasori looked up from his work, meeting Zenitsu's gaze.

"Greetings, Zenitsu. We meet again," Sasori replied calmly.

"You were on Mount Natagumo?" Zenitsu asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Yes, I was there," Sasori confirmed. Zenitsu gestured for Sasori to come closer. Sasori obliged, moving nearer to Zenitsu.

As soon as Sasori was within reach, Zenitsu grabbed his collar and began to shake him violently. "WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU! I ALMOST GOT TURNED INTO A GODDAMN SPIDER! WHERE WERE YOU TO SAVE ME?" Zenitsu screamed, his panic and anger spilling over.

"Release me, or I will hit you," Sasori threatened, his voice icy and calm. Zenitsu stopped immediately, loosening his grip.

Just then, a girl with light skin and a set of circular, dark brown eyes approached. She had shoulder-length black hair with thin bangs framing her face and two pink butterfly clips on each side of her head. She wore a long, white nurse dress tied with a dark, reddish-pink bow around her waist, along with white socks and shoes.

"Ah, looks like you're awake!" she said cheerfully.

"Who are you?" Zenitsu asked, still on edge.

"Hi, my name is Kiyo Terauchi!" Kiyo introduced herself with a bright smile.

Zenitsu's tension seemed to ease slightly at her friendly demeanor. "Kiyo... where are we?"

"You're at the Butterfly Estate. You and your friends were brought here to recover," Kiyo explained. "You all were in pretty bad shape."

Zenitsu looked down at his arms, alarmed as if they had gotten shorter. The sleeves of the clothes he was wearing covered his arms, making it seem like he was wearing a large jacket.

"AHHH! WHAT HAPPENED TO MY ARM!?" Zenitsu screamed.

"Please, sir, calm down. They have only shrunk, but if you take this medicine, your limbs will go back to normal!" Kiyo said, handing Zenitsu a bottle of medicine.

"So wait, are you seriously saying my limbs will heal with just this medicine?" Zenitsu asked, taking the bottle. "Listen, are they really gonna heal? Tell me how they're gonna get healed!" He asked, sounding scared.

"Please stop shouting, will you?" Kiyo asked, sounding slightly annoyed. "Somebody give me a thorough explanation!" Zenitsu demanded.

"Oh great, the first thing he does when he wakes up is scream." A young girl of average height, with deep blue eyes that fade to a lighter blue at the bottom, along with white rectangular pupils, straight black hair with a parted fringe, and twin tails, approached. She wore two blue butterfly clips to keep her twin tails in place. She wore the standard uniform with the addition of a white nurse dress on top of it, with a blue sash around her waist. Her uniform was tinted slightly blue. She was often seen with a frown on her face.

Following behind her was a Kakushi carrying Tanjiro and dragging Tanjiro's box. "Zenitsu! Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" Tanjiro asked, sounding concerned.

"Tanjiro!" Zenitsu screamed as he hugged the Kakushi.

"So you did come up the mountain after all!" Tanjiro said.

"Of course I did. You didn't think I'd let you go up there alone with Nezuko!?" Zenitsu said, sounding annoyed. "And speaking of her, she'll come out now!" Zenitsu cued as Nezuko exited the box and looked around, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern.

Nezuko stepped out gracefully, her presence immediately soothing Zenitsu's frayed nerves. "Nezuko!" Zenitsu exclaimed with relief, his eyes brightening. Nezuko gave a small nod, her expression softening as she took in the scene around her.

Nezuko spotted Inosuke sleeping in the bed next to Zenitsu. She climbed up onto the bed and began to jump on his chest, trying to get his attention. "How cruel of you. Kicking someone while they're at their lowest. I'm proud of you," Inosuke said, his voice deep and husky with a hint of pride.

"Nope, don't do that!" Aoi said, lifting Nezuko up and passing her to Sasori.

Tanjiro looked at Sasori with a smile. "Thank you for helping to save Nezuko," Tanjiro said gratefully.

"Don't mention it. I was just following orders," Sasori replied as Nezuko hugged him and leaned her ear against his chest.

"Still, thank you," Tanjiro said, his sincerity evident in his eyes.

Sasori looked down at Nezuko, who seemed content and at ease in his arms. "You're welcome," he finally said, a rare softness touching his usually stoic demeanor.

Aoi satisfied that Nezuko was no longer causing trouble, turned her attention back to Zenitsu. "Now, please take your medicine. You need to recover fully," she instructed firmly, handing him the bottle again.

Zenitsu, still a bit shaken but more composed, nodded and took the medicine. "Alright, alright," he muttered, swallowing the contents reluctantly. "This better work."

"It will," Kiyo reassured him with a smile. "You just need to rest and let the medicine do its job."

Tanjiro, now seated beside Inosuke, watched as the boar-headed warrior slowly woke up, grumbling. "What's with all the noise?" Inosuke mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"We're safe now, Inosuke. We're at the Butterfly Estate," Tanjiro explained.

Inosuke glanced around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings and the people. "Hmph, this place is weird," he declared, but there was a hint of relief in his voice.

"You're all safe here," Kiyo assured them. "Just focus on healing."

The group settled into a tentative peace, the chaotic energy of their previous battles giving way to a moment of calm. When suddenly a booming voice disturbed them.

"Hello there, injured ones!" Uzui announced, his voice booming as always. Aoi gave him an annoyed look and made a shushing motion, but Uzui ignored her, his attention on Sasori.

"Hello, there my flamboyant fella! I heard of your strength and wish to test it!" Uzui declared, striking a flamboyant pose.

"Not interested," Sasori replied curtly, putting Nezuko down and returning to his work of replacing Daisuke's arms. Nezuko followed him, pressing Daisuke's chest making it open, and crawling inside it.

The sound of Zenitsu dying from cuteness was heard by everyone within a 50-meter distance.

"What do you mean, 'not interested'?" Uzui asked, surprised by Sasori's refusal.

"I am Lorde Tengen Uzui The most flashy, the most flamboyant Hashira, the god of festivals himself!" Uzui proclaimed, striking another dramatic pose, making everyone in the room look at him as if he were a lunatic.

"He's a lot crazier than I remember him being," Zenitsu muttered to himself.

"Hello there. I hope you all are getting proper rest," Shinobu said, walking in with a serene smile on her face.

"Shinobu-san!" Tanjiro greeted her warmly, grateful for her presence.

Sasori paused, looking up from his work. He glanced at Uzui and then at the others. "If it means that much to you, Uzui, I'll accept your challenge," he said calmly.

"Great, let's head to the training grounds!" Uzui said, guiding Sasori to the Butterfly Estate. As they walked, they encountered the Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro.

"Ah, you must be Sasori. I need a word with you," Iguro said, his tone serious.

"Sorry, Iguro, but I need him right now," Uzui interjected, clearly having other plans.

"I just need to discuss the mission we have," Iguro insisted.

"He won't be going anywhere. You can discuss the mission later. Plus, I heard about a new flower shop that opened up that has Mitsuri's favorite flowers," Uzui said, with a knowing look.

Iguro disappeared into thin air, his priorities seemingly shifted by Uzui's words. "Too easy," Uzui said with a smirk as they entered a training room. "We are here." Uzui put his swords away, readying himself for the upcoming session.

"So what kind of test do you want to do?" Sasori asked, standing at ease but alert.

"A couple of simple tests. First, reflexes!" Uzui announced, launching a punch at Sasori, who dodged it easily.

"Good reflexes, but let's see if you can keep up," Uzui said, increasing the speed and frequency of his attacks. He threw several punches and kicks at Sasori, who dodged or blocked all of them with precision.

"Impressive," Uzui said, slightly out of breath but grinning widely. "Your reflexes are top-notch. Now, let's move on to strength."

Sasori nodded, prepared for whatever Uzui had in mind. Uzui picked up a large training log and tossed it towards Sasori, who caught it effortlessly and placed it down with ease.

"Strength is good too," Uzui acknowledged. "But I want to know how good." He opened his arms, inviting Sasori to strike him. "Punch me with all you've got!"

"If I do, you'll probably be a bloody mess," Sasori cautioned.

"Oh ho, then hit me as hard as you think I can handle!" Uzui insisted, undeterred.

Sasori surged forward, lifting his arm and readying himself to strike. Adding a bit of chakra to his punch, he delivered a powerful blow to Uzui, sending him crashing through the wall of the training room and into another.

"Maybe I used too much," Sasori muttered, wondering If he had killed Uzui from that strike, Uzui leaped up, the only signs of damage being the blood leaking from his mouth and the bruises on his stomach.

Uzui grinned, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. "Now that's what I call strength! You've got quite the punch, Sasori."

Sasori nodded, feeling a bit impressed by Uzui's endurance. "Thank you. I'll be sure to use more force next time."

"How about endurance? Let's see how much damage you can handle," Uzui proposed, walking in front of Sasori and positioning his hand in front of Sasori's stomach. "You ready?" Uzui asked, to which Sasori simply nodded.

Uzui pulled his hand back, putting as much force as he could muster into the punch, and struck Sasori's stomach. However, Sasori only moved a couple of feet, showing no signs of damage. Uzui shook his hand in slight discomfort.

"Your abs must be made of steel!" Uzui exclaimed, marveling at Sasori's resilience. Sasori remained stoic, not the list surprised at Uzui's comment after all perfection doesn't break easily.

"Now for the second-last test!" Uzui announced, assuming a fighting stance. "A simple hand-to-hand duel!" His excitement was palpable.

"My, my, you seem quite excited about this," Shinobu remarked, surveying the broken walls. "Oh, yeah, sorry about the wall. I'll pay you for it," Uzui apologized. "Do you mind if I have a round with Sasori?" Shinobu asked.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, sure, but why?" Uzui asked, curious about why Shinobu wanted to test Sasori.

"Out of all the Hashira, I'm clearly the weakest, and even though I have been a Hashira for a while, I haven't really proven myself yet. I can't let the other Demon Slayers think I don't deserve this title. And It starts with proving myself against the genius of this generation of Demon Slayers," Shinobu explained.

"Ah, it's about your pride. Understandable," Uzui said.

"I've been referred to as this generation's genius?" Sasori asked, curious.

"Of course. You've been meeting Lower Moons left and right, and the only reason you're not a Hashira is because you don't have a breathing style," Shinobu said.

"So, you figured out I don't have a breathing style?" Sasori asked.

"Well, yeah. Breathing styles are sword techniques, and what you're doing is definitely not a breathing style," Shinobu replied.

"So you need a breathing style to become a Hashira?" Sasori asked. "I was really looking forward to the infinite money the Hashira get paid." Truth be told, the only reason Sasori became a Demon Slayer was by pure coincidence. He figured he might as well use it to gather more information about this new world he found himself in. The only reason he wanted to become a Hashira was to gain more access to information. When he learned they get paid as much as they want, he wanted to become a Hashira even more, simply to fund his own lab and more.

He was hoping to stay a Demon Slayer for a while until he gathered enough money to leave and use that money to establish another spy organization. But it seemed he had to change his plans.

 "But are you still sure? He packs quite the flamboyant punch," Uzui warned.

"Oh no, I'm not talking about a hand-to-hand fight. Just a simple game," Shinobu clarified, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

She picked up a small vase. "All you have to do is get this from me. We can fight or play cat and mouse," Shinobu proposed.

Sasori nodded, ready to take on the challenge.

"Ok, the rules are you have to get this vase from me and have to keep it in your hand for more than 10 seconds. There isn't a timer to this Uzui will count the time it takes for you to get the vase from me. I can break the vase only if it's in your hand and if the vase breaks I win and you have to buy me a new one."  Shinobu said 

Sasori nodded, acknowledging the rules of the game. "Understood," he replied simply, his focus sharpening as he prepared to engage in the challenge.

"Ok, fine, whatever, let's begin!" Uzui announced, taking a step back to give them space.

Shinobu held the vase delicately, her movements graceful yet calculated. She darted around the room, her light footsteps barely making a sound as she sought to evade Sasori's grasp.

Sasori moved with precision, his eyes fixed on the elusive target. He followed Shinobu's movements closely, anticipating her next move as he strategized his approach.

The tension in the room mounted as Sasori and Shinobu engaged in their cat-and-mouse game. Every twist and turn, every feint and dodge, brought them closer to the culmination of the challenge.

Meanwhile, Uzui watched with keen interest, silently counting the seconds as the game unfolded before him. He could sense the intensity of the competition between Sasori and Shinobu, each determined to outmaneuver the other.

As the game reached its climax, Sasori made a decisive move, seizing the moment to close in on Shinobu with calculated precision. Sasori kicked the hand holding the vase making it fly into the sky.

Sasori leaped into the air, his movements fluid and precise, snatching the vase from Shinobu's grasp with a swift motion. Reacting swiftly, Shinobu followed suit, launching herself upward, and aiming a kick at Sasori's head. However, Sasori countered effortlessly, blocking her attack with his free hand.

Undeterred, Shinobu adjusted her strategy, using her other leg to target the vase, attempting to break it. Sasori anticipated her move and, with remarkable agility, tossed the vase into the air using his now free hand. Seizing the opportunity, he swiftly redirected his momentum, using his other hand to throw Shinobu to the ground in a controlled maneuver.

As the vase descended, Sasori gracefully intercepted it mid-air, landing smoothly on the ground. Shinobu, recovering from the fall, chuckled ruefully as she rose to her feet. "I'm starting to think you enjoy tossing me around," she remarked, her tone laced with amusement.

Before she could launch another attack, Sasori observed her approach, anticipating her next move. Shinobu lunged forward, attempting a leg sweep, but to her surprise, Sasori didn't evade the attack. Instead, Shinobu's leg met Sasori's with an unexpected impact, eliciting a sharp cry of pain from her.

"Ow!" Shinobu exclaimed, feeling the jolt of pain shoot through her body. Reacting swiftly, Sasori capitalized on her vulnerability, swiftly maneuvering to wrap his legs around her neck, locking her in a hold.

"And the winner is Sasori!" Uzui declared, acknowledging Sasori's victory. With the match concluded, Sasori released Shinobu from the hold, helping her to her feet. He returned the vase to her, their friendly competition coming to a graceful end.

"That was a flamboyant mach!" Uzui said sounding excited "Are you ready for our match or do you need a break?" Uzui asked Sasori.

"Fine, let's go," Sasori said, settling into a fighting stance. Uzui's manic grin widened as he mirrored the stance, anticipation crackling in the air.

Shinobu slowly walked away from the two, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she began to count. "One... two... three... Go!" At her signal, Uzui lunged at Sasori, his arm cocked back, ready to strike. Sasori sidestepped the attack and delivered a sharp elbow to Uzui's ribs.

Uzui didn't even flinch from the pain, his endurance impressive. He immediately countered, aiming a powerful punch at Sasori's chest. Sasori felt the force of the blow, his core momentarily shifting from the impact, but he quickly adjusted, maintaining his balance.

"Quite the hit," Sasori remarked, his tone neutral as he assessed Uzui's strength.

Uzui grinned, clearly enjoying the challenge. "You haven't seen anything yet," he responded, launching a rapid series of strikes at Sasori.

Sasori blocked and parried with precision, his movements fluid and controlled. The two combatants were evenly matched, each testing the other's limits.

As the battle intensified, Shinobu watched from the sidelines, her interest piqued by the display of skill. "Impressive," she murmured, noting the subtle shifts in technique and strategy.

Uzui, noticing Shinobu's attention, couldn't resist a bit of showmanship. "Watch closely, Shinobu! This is where it gets flashy!" he declared, ramping up his speed and power.

Sasori remained unfazed, his eyes narrowing in focus. "Show me what you've got," he challenged, preparing for Uzui's next onslaught.

The clash continued a dance of strength and skill, each move calculated and precise. Sasori and Uzui pushed each other to their limits, and the room filled with the sounds of their fierce exchange.

Uzui attempted to strike Sasori's chin with his knee, but Sasori leaped gracefully, landing on Uzui's raised knee. Undeterred, Uzui launched a punch at Sasori, but Sasori deftly blocked it with his other leg. In a fluid motion, Sasori lifted himself off Uzui's knee, using the momentum to deliver a powerful kick to Uzui's chin.

The impact sent Uzui staggering back, a surprised yet impressed look crossing his face. "Quite a flashy move," Uzui said, rubbing his chin with a grin. "You're not just talking, are you?"

Sasori landed gracefully, his eyes fixed on Uzui. "I never am," he replied calmly, readying himself for the next round of their intense sparring session.

Shinobu clapped slowly, a smile playing on her lips. "This is better than I expected," she said, her eyes gleaming with approval. "Keep going, you two. Let's see just how far you can push each other."

Uzui and Sasori exchanged a glance, and their competitive spirits ignited. "Ready for round two?" Uzui asked, his voice full of excitement.

Sasori nodded, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "Always."