Chapter Text
Year: 1633
Location: East China Sea
"Ugh, it's been too long." Muzan sighed and smiled. "I wonder if everyone's still trying to kill eachother."
"Everyone's always trying to kill eachother, my Lord." the recently promoted Upper One spoke, adjusting the sails.
Twenty Three Years after Muzan decided they'd head home, the finally on their way back. To Upper One's surprise, Muzan had to be under constant supervision. Muzan found countless things to do on their journey back: They participated in the Thirty Years War, and even contributed to the beginning of some great building project in India! Some sort of fancy masouleum for the emperor. Frankly, Kokushibo's just glad he talked Muzan out of sailing aboard the Mayflower. He had enough of the west for one lifetime. Currently, the pair were on a stolen boat, sailing towards their distant island home.
"Y'know, I wish we'd at least brought a few Europeans with us."
"...Really?"
"Well not alive!" Muzan puffed. "We'd stuff them into barrels and save the meat for holidays."
"Don't you have enough souvenirs from Europe??"
"There's never enough, my friend." Muzan spoke, still dressed like European Royalty.
"You even sound like them too.." Kokushibo rolled all six eyes and looked at the Island on the horizon.
Home sweet home. It had been a little over a century since he'd seen it. That was one thing the younger demon had yet to adjust to--how quickly the years went by. Muzan, on the other hand, paid the passing of time no mind. He wasn't exactly aging, so what did time matter anyways? Muzan went back into his cabin, admiring his collection. From all his time in Europe, he'd taken many gifts; Kokushibo's Knight Armor, a portrait with William Shakespeare, and he even stole a brick from the Taj Mahal's construction sight! The only question was where to put it. Maybe he could make a demon that would make him a castle--
KA-BOOM!!
With a sudden, ear piercing blast, the entire ship shook. Muzan hurried back to the deck, only to find they were under attack! Kokushibo hurriedly ran past Muzan, descending into the hold,"We're under attack!"
"Obviously! Pirates again?!"
"No! It's our own!!"
"Wha--"
BLAM!!
A Cannonball annihilated Muzan's head with a powerful blast. The Demon King slumped over, his body slowly regenerating from the blow. When he regrew his eyes, he looked to their attackers with a cold gaze. There were no pirate ships, nor any invaders boarding the ship. This attack...came from the port. Blast after blast hit the ship, and for all his efforts, Kokushibo was unable to salvage it.
"Lord Muzan, the ship's coming apart!!"
"Dammit! Load up the escape boats!" Muzan shouted.
Making haste, The Demon King and his right hand crammed as much loot as they could onto an escape boat, cutting themselves loose and rowing like hell. However...they couldn't save everything. Kokushibo's armor was far too heavy, and was among several dozens of pieces lost at sea. Muzan glared back at Japan in cold fury, he would find his way back and destroy them if it's the last thing he ever did!!
The Next Evening...
To Kibutsuji's relief, this attack was not because word spread about demons. In all actuality, it was something more surprising. When Muzan captured some foolish fisherman just before dawn, he learned what happened to his homeland. The Shogunate had implemented Sakoku: a policy that closed Japan's borders, even to the Japanese! This ban also locked out any and all foreigners, especially Europeans. The Christian Religion was banned, and any poor sap with blue eyes and non-native features was as good as dead. The Demonic Duo had rowed to a wild shore, and hid inside a cave. Now that they were free, they followed the coast in search of the nearest civilization--one that wouldn't blast them to high hell.
"...I mean just who do they think they are! That damn Shogunate. I'll see to it their whole pathetic empire burns to the ground!!" Muzan stomped his feet with each step.
"Yes, Lord Muzan." Kokushibo spoke, struggling with the awkward load of goods he carried.
The Demonic Duo walked, and hid in daylight, and walked some more, and hid some more, until...they found it. Finally, Someplace to stay! It was a lovely spot too. An impressive castle, topped with a golden crescent moon. And the waters were calm, reflecting its resplendent glory.
"Are you sure this is a good place to go, master?..."
"Relax! Whatever guards are inside there are no match for the two of us." Muzan brushed aside Koku's concerns, approaching the docked raft nearby. "Now c'mon, let's go pay a visit."
As Kibutsuji predicted, breaking into this palace was no problem at all. There were plenty of guards; not exactly a problem for demons. That said, they were quite skilled. Muzan estimated a dozen of them could potentially kill any average demon. Better yet, the carnage leadone guard to sound the alarm, bells ringing all the way up to the top of the tower. Where a foreigner dwelled...
"Invaders?..." He groaned tiredly, his voice rich with an Irish accent. Though the clear moon night, he looked to his business partner. "See to it they're destroyed."
Rounding up a spiraling tower, Muzan and Kokushibo neared their next threat...an inconspicuous long hallway. Both entered, before noticing the most peculiar contraption in the ceiling.
"Hm, I think someone's watching us." Muzan gestured. Within an instant, the walls groaned, and began to push together. Muzan laughed, doing a brief stretch,"Oooh, scary!"
Both demons cleared it in a matter of seconds, before any of the spikes could even shoot out of the walls. The Armsdealer who worked with the irishman gasped in disbelief at the sight. Could it be?? He hurried to his nearest assistant, and demanded,"Get as much Wisteria as you can."
"Ugh, more stairs?..." Muzan groaned.
"I'd hate to see what the actual palace looks like..." Kokushibo chuckled. Breaking down a pair of large doors, they stood before the crescent moon castle, snow descending on the--
FWOOM!!
A Trap floor broke away beneath Muzan, sending him falling onto a spike pit. The Demon King looked at his skewered body,"Dammit...this was from the finest tailor in England!!"
As Muzan pulled himself free, Kokushibo advanced. More floor traps, but they were only useful if someone fell into them. However, now several guards had emerged. They were well trained, so maybe...
"We need not be adversaries." Kokushibo spoke. "My Master will reward you with power beyond your wildest dreams if only you swear your loyalty."
The many samurai stopped and stared at the demon. They'd heard stories. The terrible six eyed samurai, a monster of inhuman swordplay. And they'd be the ones to kill him. At least, they thought so. One eager soldier drew his katana, and only two seconds later he, and all twenty two of his allies lay dead. Muzan caught up, before puffing indignantly,"What, you didn't leave any for me?"
"You didn't ask." Kokushibo pushed the next door open.
Inside were...cooks, and cleaners. They were quiet, only meeting the eyes of the demons once or twice, but continuing their meal. Whoever resided here must mean business, even faced with demons they kept working!!
Muzan looked at another one of the spyglasses, approaching and grinning,"Hey, you're gonna give us some actual challenges! Right??"
"Dammit! This isn't enough!!" The Armsdealer hissed.
"But you know what's next?" The Foreigner grinned. "My Flowers."
The Demons entered the next room, an exceptionally peculiar one. A lovely indoor garden, dimly lit by candles. A creature soon poked out from behind a tree, it was...a macaque! The Ape walked forward with a lovely flower, and puffed it towards the demons. A strange pollen reached them, neither demon thinking to hold their breath.
"Huh. Not Wisteria..." As Muzan spoke, the world began to glow. And there were so many stars in the room! They were everywhere!! "...O-okay, it's got a little kick. Kokushibo, are you..."
"Wh...they're everywhere..." Whimpered Upper One. He shakily pointed to the beams above them, dozens of red eyes peering down.
Several apes lept at them, Muzan lashing them apart with an arm-whip. Due to his drunken state, he also whacked Kokushibo in half. "Sorry..." Muzan slurred drunkenly, picking his buddy's two halves up and carrying them along.
"Oh little brother..." Kokushibo sobbed, having a really bad trip.
"Oh boohoo, quit crying..." Muzan grumbled as he kept walking. They passed through a prison, several humans trapped there. No...not humans...DEMONS! Muzan was uncertain if it was the opium talking, but it looked like they had demons trapped here!!
"You'll never find it, you know." Spoke a familiar voice. Muzan turned, staring at...the doctor?!
"...You're dead." Muzan huffed. It had been almost seven hundred years! These drugs were really strong.
Kokushibo healed on their walk up the stairs, where the next opponent made himself known...a giant of a man, who held a club. He tapped the ceiling, marching stepps echoing from above.
"I like this guy. Wanna be a demon??" Muzan offered. However, before the giant could accept or deny this offer, the door behind him creaked open...
KA-BLAM!!
...and a gunshot rang out.
Guns were still relatively knew to the demon pair. They were originally a primitive attempt at handheld cannons, and had only just recently reached a point of easy usage! And some poor, stupid person had decided to shoot Muzan with one. The Demon King groaned, half of his head now missing, his flesh bubbling as it regenerated. "...That's no fair, now is it?"
"I could tell you the same thing." That Irish voice broke through the silence.
Muzan's eyes widened, and he looked to the armed man. Yep, he was irish. Irish clothes, hair like fire, and the confident stance only a european would have. "...You're not supposed to be here, are you?"
"I could tell you the same. Didn't think demons existed." The European chuckled. "But you didn't come all this way for me, did you? If so, God was a bit late on that call, wasn't he??"
"God," Muzan laughed. "I am a god. Name another man who can take a bullet to the head and live."
"..."
KA-BLAM!!
"...Him?" The European gestured to Kokushibo, who was now healing from a headshot of his own.
"...What's your name?" Muzan smiled. He liked this one.
"Abijah Fowler. You are?"
"Muzan Kibutsuji. And I need a way back inside Japan." The Demon King demanded. "Give me that, and I'll let you keep this lovely castle."
"...Sure." Abijah holsterd his flintlock and smiled. "One question though; my business partner, Heiji Shindo, is up on the top floor up to his ass in Wisteria Petals. What's that about??"
So that's what Muzan smelled. The Demon King leered; the European was smart, he'd stuffed some petals into his pockets. He was the perfect being, absolutely. It was a cruel force of nature that made such an evil plant. At least, that's what Muzan thought,"...I'm allergic."
"...Really!" Abijah laughed. "Well, I'll have them clear the room, and we can do dinner, huh?"
Heiji Shindo was not happy. It was already bad enough dealing with a European devil every day, but now two of the most infamous demons of Japan shared tables with them. Neither Muzan nor Kokushibo ate much; since becoming demons normal food became unedible to them. But the booze was pretty nice. Plus, the stories Abijah and Muzan shared were absolutely insane.
"Oh, I tell ya, you two seem fun!" Abijah laughed.
"Well, that'll happen when you've lived six hundred years!" Muzan chuckled as he sipped sake,"You know...you could always become a demon. I've been looking to--"
"I'll stop ya right there boss," Abijah raised his hand. "I'm flattered, but I know a bad deal when I see one."
"Oh? Nigh absolute regeneration's a bad deal??" Muzan smiled his way.
"Not at all. But you two have never been spotted in the sunlight. Why is that?"
"..." Muzan began to laugh. "You got us! That actually reminds me of a great story."
"No..." Kokushibo groaned with embarrassement.
"Yes! This idiot, literally the morning after I made him a demon, decided,"Oh yeah I'm just gonna walk into the sun" and lemme tell ya, he was COOKED!!" Muzan laughed aloud.
Abijah joined the Demon King in hysterics, Kokushibo blushing and puffing angrily,"I wasn't used to it yet. That's all..."
"Want a refill?" Heiji Shindo offered, plastered just so he could share the room with tweedle-dee and tweedle-dumbass.
"...Yeah." Kokushibo nodded.
By the next day, they were given a pathway back into Japan, and things were back how they should be! The great nation had changed a lot over the centuries Muzan and Kokushibo had left. Frankly, it was fascinating to see. But more importantly, they had to resecure their home. And that would begin, with creating his Kizuki...