2

A small checkpoint outside of Tokyo – 08:57 AM – Japan – 1912

"What the fuck!? Move and we shoot!" The taller policeman would exclaim as he had his gun raised towards Sukuna, with the shorter one further away doing the same.

Sukuna would narrow his eyes at the man's loud remarks, and descended from out of the carriage with a scowl pronounced upon his face as he was now at ground level with the officers. Upon seeing this sudden movement, the tallest officer opened fire, a bullet hurtling towards Sukuna's forehead. The front of the King of Curse's hand was suddenly reinforced with cursed energy, as his arm was already raised to cover his forehead before the bullet was able to arrive. And just with a flick of his hand, the bullet was swatted away like a fly as it landed on the grass with a small clink. The utter powerlessness that overcame the officers in that brief moment of disbelief at the miracle performed was overpowered by the need to stop whatever being was laid before them, both of the officers would spray the position Sukuna was in with bullets, it was already too late however, bullet holes riddled the side of the cabin, yet not Sukuna. He was nowhere to be seen.

The short officer felt a sharp force enter through the back of his neck, before a great blackness overcame his senses. Sukuna's hand would piece straight into the man's nape, and through his entire neck to the other side as it appeared disturbingly out of the man's mouth as a bloodied dripping mass that could only just be identified as a hand. Sukuna would then proceed to pull down on the man's jaw from the inside of his mouth, sort of like how you would pull a lever, using his teeth to grip onto as he separated the man's jaw from the rest of his head. A fleshy blob of meat and teeth splattered the floor. The now-corpse followed moments after, descending lifeless on the red misted ground. The taller policeman had only just pivoted to realize what had happened to his comrade after the thud of a body onto the as his finger tightened on the trigger, a sound that would make his skin crawl would reach his ears, the sickening click of a gun with no more bullets. And a wave of despair once again fell over him which gave rise to the instinctive feeling to run away. The man rotated on the spot, attempting to sprint away. He barely got three steps in before he was two evenly cut sections falling onto the floor.

Sukuna would flick the chunks of flesh stuck on his hands away which stuck to them with blood to his side, causing a large red splatter to form over the carriage's side, cursing the once bright wood to a deep crimson. The entire scene unfolded within an estimated time of 10 seconds as the remains of three now lay on the floor.

"You have an extra set of clothes within that bag of yours?" Sukuna now asked of a shocked Ichinose.

As he fully processed the image before him, the Slayer would snap back to life in order to comply with Sukuna's instructions as he opened his bag to reveal a bland grey cloth top and pants.

"I suppose it will suffice, throw them to me when I'm done washing in the river over there." He pointed over to a small river which jutted out of the forest they had just exited Sukuna reached the river to wash off the dripping blood which coated his body, the once translucent and flowing blue water would transform into a deep and murky crimson as it spread out from him in a pool of colour. The curse had been satisfied now that he was washed clean of fool's blood, he would change into the grey cloth top and pants. The vessel's notable brown hair had returned to him as all blood was washed out of it, making Sukuna look normal upon first glance, if you didn't spot his second pair of eyes that is. And as he rose from the river bank, Ichinose would be there to greet him, the most he could do was give the King of Curses a respectful nod of his head, this would just cause Sukuna to give out an amused huff, obviously the fool was trying his best.

"We're staying in the carriage until we reach the Entertainment District." The man would explain to the slayer, much to Ichinose's dis contempt and worry.

Which he attempted to voice now.

"But sir? What about the blood stains on the carriage, won't people grow suspicious? There's still blood inside the carriage aswel-"

"Not another word out of you, unless you'd like to give me your last arm." Sukuna threatened, and Ichinose understandably shut up.

The two would once again walk to the carriage, which had just been left in the open along with the three brutalized remains of the policemen and the

woman. Flies had already made their way onto the corpses by this time. And the carriage would set off, leaving all evidence of the horrors that took place in that location behind without a care in the world.

"The carriage sends a message, the blood on it and corpses of those people are sure to set off alarms, it will draw in those parasites who wish

to leech off of that suffering, which is exactly what I need." Sukuna explained from the interior of the carriage to Ichinose, though he didn't need to at Demon Slayer's hands buckled as he took control of the reigns and with a flick of his wrists, the horses set off, masking the man's incessant trembling with the resumed vibrations of a moving carriage. Tokyo was now in sight, more wooden houses littered the streets, until they suffocated the road at every direction. Giving way to a bustling crowd at the side of each building, keeping to their own lanes and avoiding the main road in which countless horse carriages ran along.

The crowd began to twist their heads at Ichinose's carriage in particular, the actions of the passers by would fill the Demon Slayer's gut with dread at the impending consequences of his actions, being associated with such a fiend would surely be the end of the Slayer. Dried blood stuck onto the wooden carriage like a wine-stain as they continued on wards through the colossal road amidst the turning of heads and the expressions of the population turning to worry on the two paths that ran along side it.

The City of Tokyo's "Crimson Carriage" incident would be noted by the government and the demon slayer corps alike. One believed it to be a serial killer on the loser, the other, of course, the work of demons. However the true depth of horror had yet to be unearthed. The Demon's that skulk about in the shadows could also grow weary of this unwanted demonic(?) activity.

The carriage stopped off down a back-alley, Ichinose swiftly stepped off, you could practically sense the worry emanate out from him in the air as he jittered around waiting for Sukuna to contrast by exiting the carriage with the speed of a snail, the King of Curse's narrowed eyes were not readable and his slow movements just caused the Slayer further anxiety at being caught.

Sukuna would pass by one of the horses, and proceed to slap it in the thigh, which panicked the horse greatly, causing it to dart off, and subsequently, haul the carriage away with it to wherever the horse is stopped by authorities.

"You worry as much as the sweat that beads off of your ugly head, it's incomprehensible to me, cheer up, the fun is just starting. We make for the entertainment district, you'll ask the passing crowd if they know the directions to it." Sukuna would muse, he clearly hadn't a care in the world about the whole situation and the attention he had just drawn to that ugly scene.

Both of them would wander through the back-alleys towards a main street in order to gain their bearings.

Ubuyashiki Estate – Demon Slayer Corp Headquarters – 1:15 PM – Japan – 1912

A slow gushing of water as it came down the rocks in many streams masked the large estate as having air of tranquillity. However the meeting inside was far from it. A tense barrier of unease formed its self in the meeting room where the Hashira now gathered, all sitting cross legged to face

their leader, Ubuyashiki.

The incessant chatter of the Hashiras is interrupted by the raising of the one man's hand, Ubuyashiki clears his throat gently to speak.

"My children, you have done well over these past months in clearing out demonic populations in rural areas.

However a very public incident has occurred."

The source of the concern, the Hashiras lean in to listen more intently.

"A bloodied carriage has been reported by the Tokyo Police. Containing the body of 2 dead women inside. A small blood spattering left by the carriage and witness reports detailing where the carriage had arrived from uncovered an even more gruesome scene, the mangled body of two Policemen as well as one more woman."

"How sickening, I'll kill all of those dogs, we must go and mobilise the Hashira in Tokyo! If Muzan is finally making a move-" The Wind Hashira harshly proclaims, but is then interrupted.

"If we were to mobilise over a small demon incident, it wouldn't end well. Think with your head." The Serpent Hashira would fervently cut in.

These two bickering would once again incite the room into another heated debate regarding the situation. Ubuyashiki once again raises his hand and a wave of silence submerges the room in patient attention.

"We should first focus on our ongoing investigations into the dissappearences in the entertainment district over the years, Tengen, my child. I'd like you to personally train with a detatchment of demon slayers and travel to the district in a few weeks time. We still have intelligence regarding demonic activity going on. Best not to get caught up over new events rather then more pressing incidents happening over the course of years. After all, demons infest and conquer best when given their most important resource, which is time. You are all dismissed."

The Hashiras collectively nod at the statement given, standing to leave with a bow.