Kotomine stands before the demon named Kai Chisaki. As Chisaki looked at Kotomine with no interest, the priest stared back at the demon with no sign of fear.
"Let's get down to business. Zenon was part of my group, the Shie Hassaikai. Recently we've found out that he was killed. Do you have any info for me Kotomine?"
"Of course i do, however i would highly recommend not seeking vengeance. Once you find out who did it, i'm sure you're not going to want to let him go to waste by just killing him."
That sentence piqued Chisaki's interest. If what Kotomine is saying was true, then maybe he should make Zenon's killer join the Shie Hassaikai. Whether voluntarily or by force would be determined by the individual's answer to his offer.
"Zenon was fighting against three pillars when he died. The Mist Hashira and the Flame Hashira. However, while they played a part in his demise the one who was the key to Zenon's death was the third pillar. That was the Moon Hashira."
"I see, is it safe to assume that the third pillar is also the person you said we should spare?"
Kotomine looked at Chisaki and nodded. Though he left out the detail that Zenon only fought Yozora because of the deal he made. Soon the priest chuckled to himself as he looked at Chisaki.
"You are correct, Chisaki. Now before i give you the identity of the third pillar, i have a favor to ask. Tell me Chisaki, what is your view on the human race?"
"The boss believes that humanity is an illness and i agree. Everyday humans try to convince themselves that they want to live in peace, when in actuality they're lying to themselves. Hatred, anger, malice, and even a thirst for vengeance and war. These things are part of human history and they're part of the reason humanity thrives."
Kotomine looked at Chisaki with interest. He knew that Chisaki would have a intriguing viewpoint on humanity. He decided not to interrupt Chisaki as he found this entertaining.
"The hatred of demons brings people together to slay demons. The anger of losing a loved one to demons can make a person want to slay demons. However, while they try to justify their acts as saving humanity or justice they're merely giving in to their malice and don't want to accept it."
Chisaki stood up and walked towards Kotomine. As he stands next to the priest, Chisaki continued to speak. His mind was clear on what he wanted to say.
"You know it too, right Kotomine? Conflict is humanity's primal instinct. Peace causes humanity to become lax and lower its guard. Yet they still crave peace even though it's the reason their instincts became dull."
Kotomine nodded as he listened to Chisaki. Without conflict, humanity begins to lose it's killer instinct. When humanity finally finds peace, that instinct may as well be nonexistent.
"What good is a warrior if there is no battlefield? What good is a doctor if there is no injured? What good is security if there is no threat? If humanity truly finds peace, then they might as well be a wolf without its fang. Without conflict humanity doesn't evolve, it begins to regress, and finally...it loses the core purpose of existing. Sorry, i didn't mean to ramble. Now then, can you tell who this third pillar was?"
"Of course, the third pillar is a boy named Yozora Tsugikuni."
Chisaki looked at Kotomine in shock. He walked close to the priest and looked at him in the eyes.
"Are you telling the truth?! Was it really Yozora Tsugikuni?! If he's the same kid the boss mentioned, that would make him-"
Kotomine nods as he turns around after putting some distance between him and Chisaki. He already knew what was going through Chisaki's mind. As his back was turned, Kotomine smiled as remembers the pure look of shock on Chisaki's face.
"Chisaki, your boss says that humanity is an illness. Yozora Tsugikuni fights because, in a way, he sees demons as an illness. They're bound to cross paths and who knows what will happen. If the truth is exposed will Yozora still fight for humanity or will he become its downfall?"
"I don't know, but if that pillar really is Yozora Tsugikuni as you say....then the boss might try to come after him."
Kotomine merely laughs as he walks to the altar. As he stands in place, his mind was occupied on something else.
"Poor Yozora. He wants to be a hero but little does he know, he's a part of a great evil. I wonder, will the truth make him want to be a hero even more....or will he see himself become a villain?"
Kotomine turns to face Chisaki. Instead of a smile, Kotomine had a serious look on his face. Chisaki knew that Kotomine meant business.
"There's a job that needs to be done. It's time for us to get to work Chisaki."
~Timeskip, 3 hours~
There was a full moon out and everything seemed peaceful. In a large estate was a clan of nobles named the Tsunayashiro. The Tsunayashiro estate was covered by trees that were filled with wisteria flowers. A single man was seen in his room, the son-in-law of the current Tsunayashiro head.
He was a slender man with green eyes and medium length, dark-green hair that is generally unkempt except for a tightly tied braid along his left side of his head. He wears a loose fitting, black shihakushō over which he wears a white haori. This man is Tokinada Tsunayahiro.
"Tonight is truly beautiful. Yet, the head of this family doesn't want to make me the heir. It must be because i'm only married into the family. Hell, i bet he only let me marry his daughter only because he found out my true family heritage."
Tokinada stood up as he smelled something burning. As he looks out the window, he saw the wisteria trees outside of his estate burning. Soon he heard screaming inside the household. As he exits his rooms he saw a priest inside the house as his father-in-law was stabbed inside his chest by swords.
The priest soon looked over to Tokinada. As he walks towards him, Tokinada ran into his room. As he did he saw various thugs inside. However when thugs saw Tokinada, they noticed he wasn't scared. In fact, he looked like he was entertained.
"You actually went through with it. You killed so many people of this family tonight. Shame you won't tell anybody about it."
The thugs were confused as they didn't know what Tokinada said. However before they spoke, Tokinada moved his head as various swords went through the attackers heads. As Tokinada looked behind him, he smiled at who he saw.
"Thank you, Kotomine. I'm glad you went along with this scheme of mine."
"It was no trouble. Though to think you would hire people to assassinate both you and your family. You truly are a brave one."
"It would be suspicious if i was the only one they didn't target. I already appointed you as my bodyguard before hand, so when i say that you vanquished my assailants and saved me, i'll have an alibi. Besides, i was never going to be head of this family if an "accident" didn't happen. So i had to come up with this little scenario. Since you burned the trees, does that mean he'll be arriving."
Kotomine smiled as he looks outside the door. As Tokinada looks outside as well, he saw Kai Chisaki walking through the front gate. Tokinada smiled as he looked at Kotomine.
"Chisaki will dispose of the bodies. As for you Tokinada......well i shouldn't say more, you're the one who came up with this plan. With a demon appearing here, you have a reason to ask for the Demon Slayer Corps' cooperation. Since you're the head of a noble family now, i guess you have no need to worry."
Tokinada nods as he walks outside. As soon as he passed Chisaki, he whispered something.
"Be very thorough about disposing the bodies."
Chisaki nodded as he walks inside the estate. As he saw the bodies, he looked disgusted at all the filth. He took off his gloves and as he is doing his job, he had one single thought.
"You're an evil one Tokinada Tsunayashiro. Or should i say......Tokinada Ryougi."