Chapter 9

Afterwards everyone besides the upper moons were dismissed. While they were all brought here to witness the fight Muzan gathered them here under Kyoshi's request because he wanted to meet them.

The last time he saw them they only said hey then it was time to go. Although Muzan initially had them on a mission looking for info on a special flower, he decided to set up a plan so everyone could meet Kyoshi.

As all of the upper moons looked at Kyoshi, they all were thinking about the same topic. His eyes. They were quite weird and didn't fit all too well with his appearance.

"Raise your heads." Muzan said.

"Today one of you will keep an eye on him. All the rest will continue with their mission." Muzan said towards the upper moons who nodded.

Kyoshi looked around at each of the upper moons as he was coming to a decision on who he wanted to talk to first.

"You." He said, pointing to the tall demon with six red eyes. The other 5 demons split away, giving Kokushibo a path straight towards Kyoshi.

Once Kyoshi was able to see his full appearance he looked up at the tall demon with his mouth wide open. Kokushibo was pale-skinned like most demons, tall and muscular, with long and spiky hair with the red tips being kept in a ponytail.

His most notable feature is the three sets of eyes on his face with red sclera and yellow irises. His middle set of eyes featured the kanji that meant Upper Rank and One. Along with that, there were red markings resembling flames seen on his face and neck.

Still though, he seemed dignified and majestic. Like some royal guard coming to fight in a war. Kokushibo wore a purple-and-black bee-hive patterned nagagi kimono and black umanori-styled hakama pants tied with a white cloth.

He carried a fleshy katana at his waist that had eyes in the space between the tsuka wrapping of the handle of his sword.

"Everyone else is dismissed. Kokushibo, take him with you." Muzan said.

The other 5 demons vanished and after a second so did Muzan, Kyoshi, and Kokushibo.

…

Midnight Temple

Kyoshi and Kokushibo reappeared inside Kokushibo's "hideout". It was dark since it was nighttime and the doors were closed along with the windows as well, but as demons they can naturally see in the dark.

"Woah, this place looks comfortable." Kyoshi exclaimed as he looked around. They stood in the middle of a spacious room that didn't seem to have any type of furniture.

"So what do you do here?" Kyoshi asked Kokushibo.

"I can explain on a tour if you're fine with the thought." He replied with a slight bow.

"Yes, let's explore!! Oh and Call me Kyoshi." He said putting his hand out for a handshake.

Kokushibo stared at him for a few seconds before shaking his hand and nodding. He slid the room door open and let Kyoshi out as they entered a hallway.

"This temple has been my home for quite some time. After I was turned into a demon by master Muzan, I found this place and used it for refuge during the day." Kokushibo stated.

"I see. Why do you guys call uncle Muzan 'master?'" Kyoshi asked.

"Because he's our leader with power rivaling gods. He's a man I both fear and respect." He replied. They made a left turn and were welcomed with an opening that split into three ways.

"Oh I get it. You all are friends and chose my uncle to be the leader?" Kyoshi asked.

"Hmm, no. Not at all." Kokushibo answered bluntly.

"Why does this place have so many rooms?" Kyoshi asked. As they walked he peeked into many of the doors just to find out that they were multiple rooms, all a copy of the other.

"Let me tell you the history of this place if you'd like to hear it." Kokushibo suggested.

Kyoshi nodded his head and shut his mouth as he listened intently to the story he was being told.

…

(Kokushibo POV)

—423 Years Ago—

Sengoku Period

During this time I was just a wandering demon, training, honing my skills with a blade as much as I could while surviving and growing stronger. In the mornings I'd have to find somewhere to hide from the sunlight while at night I'd have to take on wave after wave of demon slayers.

At some point during my travels, I decided to get a place to call home, somewhere I can stay out of the sun and train. Then a thought came to my head, back when I was a kid and even as I grew older, I'd hear of this huge temple.

A temple built to protect people and ward off evil spirits, but it's been over 4 decades. I didn't think this place would still be occupied, but I learned the hard way that it was. At night I set out to make claim to the temple, but I was ambushed by none other than the demon slayers.

Hundreds of them including a Hashira. I cut through them again and again and again, but when it came to that Hashira it took some time, but after killing him I found out that this temple was the same one my parents planned to send my little brother.

…

(Third POV)

"So you're really old?" Kyoshi asked.

"…Yeah, but Master Muzan is older than even me." Kokushibo answered.

"So wait. Doesn't that mean I should call him grandpa Muzan?" Kyoshi wondered.

"Hmm, I think so."

Kyoshi nodded and turned back to Kokushibo and noticed the sword on his waist more noticeably the eyes on his hilt. Kokushibo noticed this and took the katana from his waist.

"Is it alive?" Kyoshi asked.

Kokushibo held the katana by the sheath and the eyes on the hilt started to blink and look around.

"Woah, can I touch them?"

"Go ahead."

Kyoshi put his finger out and touched one of the small eyes before retracting it.

"Can it talk?"

"No, it's just a blade made from my flesh." Kokushibo said.

"How did you do that? All I can do is make a dagger." Kyoshi said as his hand transformed into an ash gray dagger while still connected to his hands. Kokushibo's eyes widened slightly at that.

Since Kyoshi was fairly young, he didn't think he'd be this proficient in flesh manipulation, but even though it was faint Kokushibo was still able to sense his demonic aura and it was on par with maybe the lower 3 moons.

"Oh, I guess you're a swordsman, huh?" Kyoshi asked, receiving a nod.

"My uncle Habuki taught me martial arts. I haven't mastered them yet, but I learned the moves. Wanna see?"

Kokushibo thought for a moment before nodding and signaling for Kyoshi to follow him. They walked down the hall, made a right turn and came across two big doors that Kokushibo slid apart.

Once the doors opened a gust of wind followed and Kyoshi was left amazed. The scene in front of him was something he thought he'd never see in all of his life. Right outside the doors was a gravel path that had flower beds on each side of them.

The path split off so the one on the left led to a rather big bridge that crossed over a man made moat while the right path led to a big square shaped arena that had a fence around it.

Not only did this place look like an emperor's palace, the agriculture definitely gave it that breathtaking feeling. From the cherry blossom trees to the maple trees, with a mix of pink and red leaves following and flowing with the wind to the hydrangea flowers in the garden bed.

"Did you do this?" Kyoshi asked.

"I cleaned the place up and kept it maintained, but this place was already like this." Kokushibo said as he opened the fence into the big arena.

"I'll be your partner." Kokushibo said as he too stepped into the arena.

Kyoshi nodded his head and got into the same stance as Habuki did. Although his whole demeanor seemed to change from an innocent child to a long time fighter. The veins in Kyoshi's legs and arms started to bulge out and he shot forward at an incredible speed.

Speed way faster than Habuki and Keiko.

Face to face with Kokushibo, Kyoshi shot his right leg out aimed towards Kokushibo's face which he blocked with his arm.

'He's quite strong.' Kokushibo thought as he pushed Kyoshi's leg back.

Kyoshi spun around and as he landed on the ground he did a leg sweep which Kokushibo hopped over, but before he could land Kyoshi grabbed his ankle and swung him over his head towards the ground.

Before he hit the ground, Kokushibo flipped and had to move his head to the right, dodging Kyoshi's punch.

Unfortunately, Kyoshi wasn't just punching. When Kokushibo moved his head, Kyoshi hooked his arm around his neck while bringing his left fist upward towards his face. Sadly, Kyoshi didn't have the strength he thought he did and instead of pulling Kokushibo down, he simply hung off his neck.

"That failed miserably.' Kyoshi thought.

"I guess we can end this here." Kokushibo said.

Kyoshi dropped down and crossed his arms with a rather frustrated expression on his face.

"Your movements were fast and strong and your techniques were also good, but you're just next strong enough to go against me. Maybe with more training you'll get there." Kokushibo stated.

"But I can't practice with uncle Habuki anymore because he said I'm too strong for him." Kyoshi said.

"…Maybe Akaza will like you. We're supposed to be sparring tomorrow so if you chose to see him tomorrow you can see the both of us." Kokushibo said.

"Really?!"

"Mmhm."

For the rest of that day Kyoshi and Kokushibo sparred constantly. Up until tomorrow where Kyoshi chose to meet Akaza.