He couldn't shake her off, nor could he kill her. Honestly, it was a headache.
But he still had to meet Tamayo today.
He couldn't afford delays—too many things could go wrong if he waited.
Ryuya wasn't in the mood to deal with Kanae, so he quickly headed toward Tamayo's hidden residence.
Time was tight. Daki hadn't bought him much extra time.
"Mr. Demon, where are you going? Aren't you going to find that young Miss Demon?"
Kocho Kanae followed right behind him.
When Ryuya ignored her, Kanae felt a small sting of disappointment.
She had been looking forward to seeing him again, but he didn't seem particularly happy to see her.
"Mr. Demon… can I follow you?"
She said she would leave, but truthfully, she wasn't willing to at all.
"Since I can't shake you off, do whatever you want."
Ryuya glanced back at Kanae quietly trailing behind him.
Her cautious little steps, the way she wanted to speak but held back—it made him feel amused, even playful.
As long as she didn't reveal his whereabouts to the Demon Slayer Corps, he didn't mind her presence.
In fact, it was… interesting.
They passed through several alleys before reaching a dead-end. Ryuya stopped.
Kanae halted behind him, confused. "Did we take a wrong turn, Mr. Demon?"
"No." Ryuya stared at the wall. Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward.
From Kanae's perspective, he was about to walk straight into it. Startled, she rushed forward to stop him.
But she froze mid-step, eyes wide, as Ryuya simply passed through the wall and vanished.
"What… what's happening?"
"This is a Blood Demon Art—an illusion that deceives the eye," Ryuya's voice echoed calmly from the other side.
"Oh!" Kanae nodded and walked toward the wall herself.
She expected to enter a room on the other side. She did not expect Ryuya to be standing right there waiting.
She walked straight into his chest.
A warm breath brushed against her face.
For a moment, Kanae's heart fluttered wildly—completely caught off guard.
Last time, he kissed her.
This time, she threw herself into his arms.
Would he… misunderstand?
Flustered, she looked up—only to see Ryuya gazing down at her with teasing eyes.
"Miss Kanae, haven't you hugged enough?"
"Ah—! I—I'm sorry!" Kanae realized her hands were wrapped around his waist.
Her pretty face flushed red. She immediately pulled away and stood stiffly.
Ryuya withdrew his gaze, quietly savoring the brief closeness.
Just like the first kiss—it felt good.
"Who are you people? Who said you could come here?"
Yushiro, short green hair and white clothes, walked out with a sour expression.
Who were these people now? Always interrupting his precious alone time with Miss Tamayo!
"Yushiro?" Ryuya called the boyish demon by name.
"You know me? Don't think that means I'll be nice to you!" Yushiro snapped.
"Didn't anyone tell you there are no appointments today?"
"I'm not here for an appointment," Ryuya replied, his crimson eyes locking onto Yushiro.
Yushiro froze.
A chill ran down his spine. Sweat gathered instantly.
"Y-You're… a demon?"
He stumbled back in panic.
They were intruders—dangerous ones.
"Yushiro, who is it?" Tamayo's gentle voice drifted from inside.
"Miss Tamayo, don't come out!"
Even terrified, Yushiro stood in front of her, trying to protect her with nothing but his small frame.
He swung a shaky fist at Ryuya.
Ryuya was still considering how to handle him, but Kanae moved faster.
She grabbed Yushiro's arm. "Please don't attack. This must be a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding? Ugly woman—what misunderstanding? Aren't you Kibutsuji Muzan's subordinates?!"
"Ugly… woman?" Kanae blinked, stunned.
Her sister always said she was a great beauty…
"What? Ugly woman, got nothing to say?" Yushiro sneered.
Ryuya's eyes narrowed.
In Yushiro's world, anyone who wasn't Tamayo was automatically an "ugly woman."
Thank goodness Kanae was gentle and didn't argue.
If it were Daki, she would've ripped his head off and kicked it across the room.
But Ryuya was here to ask Tamayo for cooperation, so killing Yushiro outright was not ideal.
Still… hearing Kanae insulted filled him with a cold, sharp displeasure.
Before Yushiro could even blink, Ryuya drew his blade.
Yushiro's left arm hit the ground.
Blood sprayed. He staggered backward, trembling in fear.
"Mr. Demon! How could you—!"
Kanae gasped at the sudden violence—then realized Ryuya reacted the moment Yushiro insulted her.
Demons could regenerate, so losing an arm didn't matter, but…
Was he really that angry on her behalf?
Kanae's heart fluttered sweetly despite her worry.
"Yushiro," Ryuya said coldly, "learn to respect people. Some things are fine to say. Some are not."
Tamayo appeared at the doorway, startled by the scent of blood.
"Yushiro—your arm?!"
"Miss Tamayo, run!"
Tamayo froze, confused and frightened. "Run…?"
"Miss Tamayo, be careful!"
She stumbled. Yushiro reached for her with his remaining arm, but he couldn't catch her in time.
Ryuya moved instantly, catching her around the waist before she fell.
Even through her kimono, he felt her warmth—her delicate form resting in his arm.
"Miss Tamayo, please be careful," he said softly.
His crimson eyes reflected her violet ones.
Tamayo's breath caught. Her body trembled as she whispered in terror.
"Muzan… Kibutsuji?"
The man who destroyed her life.
Her family.
Everything she loved.
She never wanted to see him again—never wanted to feel this fear.
But now he was here.
"It seems my father and I really are alike," Ryuya said calmly.
Father?
Yushiro froze.
Tamayo paled.
Kanae's jaw dropped.
Father…?
Did that mean—
Ryuya was Kibutsuji Muzan's son?