Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cold. It's what the setting day feels like without him by your side.

You sigh wistfully at the coldness of autumn, watching the vermilion and cinnabar leaves dangling wistfully from their dried branches - only to be swept off from the mere breath of the wind.

Strong, warm arms hugged you from behind, engulfing you with the taste of summer and the embrace of a smoky furnace. It's warm, it's cozy, it's him.

The sharp familiar nose rubbed against your cheek with softness that caressed your heart in a rhythmic flutter. You can feel your heartbeat thrum faster than before, engulfed with the scent of coal and of the musk you've missed for days. The blood rises on your face, and the organ of love twinge painfully inside your rib.

You straightened yourself onto him, only to feel the deep alluring hum of his voice vibrating comfortably against your back - trickling your nerves in toasty delight as you succumbed more in his embrace.

And he pulled you tighter against him.

Each passing second feels like eternity that could vanish with just a movement, that one wrong flinch would take him away from you - yet, even as you turned yourself to face him and buried your nose on the space below his jaw - everything seem to still just for the two of you.

You soaked up in his unbridled warmth, and he thawed the coldness of solitude that froze you in his absence.

With a breathed sigh against your ears, Kyoujurou whispered in a deep voice melted in adoration;  laced with a loving tone reserved only for you.

"I'm back, sunshine."

And the two words made you smile even wider than before. You held his hands around your waist, gripping them while he softly entangled his own with yours.

"Welcome back, love." You kissed the exposed flesh before you, your lips tickling against the humbled, bright laughter that surrounded the room like summer rays.

Home. Inside his arms felt like home.

Then it became warm. The setting day finally feels warm.

Chapter Text

To pretend to know nothing gathered the ocean in his hollowed eyes.

"You're late."

Again.

You almost dropped your keys down on the floor at the voice of your husband; tired, but ever devoted.

He's reading his lesson plans once again - the same couch when you left him, the same expression on his face - but you've noticed the bags under his eyes, the monochrome in his voice. It hurts to see the one you love become like this. Emotionless. A robot.

Yet, it doesn't seem to stop you from straying.

Shuffling and calming your nerves, you swiftly gave your husband a kiss on the cheek, hugging his head with tired arms while inhaling the shampoo the both of you shared.

The ocean. Such a calming smell.

"I'm sorry love, there's been a traffic."

Reasons.

You seem to be full of them lately.

So many invaluable excuses that deterred his nerves and silently fried his patience and sanity.

Yet… he believes them.

Love had made him blind, willingly,unwillingly and it consumes him into the deep abyss of tar and hopelessness.

But having him in your embrace - your hair trickling the side of his face, and soaking in your attention - just this love-filled hug instilled fondness in his heart.

A fondness, a hope, that for once; he can pretend that nothing is wrong.

But he knows.

He knows that something is wrong and it's too clear it hurts.

His tired frame relaxed against your own, fingers curling around the fabric of your clothes and pushed himself against you. You chuckled at his ministration, threading your hand in his hairs and scratched on his scalp.

"Come home earlier?" 

It was stated in an apathetic voice, monotone and dead like the night - and he waited for your words, patiently and dotingly as he always be. 

Your fingers stopped their tender movements and so did his heart.

"I'll try."

Closing his eyes, he nodded weakly. The burning sensation returned on his lids, but he swallowed them with difficulty that dried his throat. 

He took a breathe to slow his breaking heart, and he wished he didn't. 

Giyuu could smell Sabito's scent all over you.

"Giyuu?" His name in your voice sounds so foreign; it no longer gave his heart a moment to pump - it only stabbed it with an icy dagger of disbelief. "What's wrong?"

He pulled away with shaky hands and returned to his work without looking you in the eyes. Your voice seems to be loss with the static in his ears as he ignored you.

"Nothing."

His reply was as cold as your infidelity.

A glow caught his attention and he grimaced.

The golden ring shining against the low light of his lamp mocked the promise you made for him.

But Giyuu doesn't have the heart to remove it in a blind hope that one day... one day, you'll return to him.

But stubborn tears won't fall, as his heart continues so.

Chapter Text

The heavens must be playing a cruel joke.

"Give that to me."

Your eyes widened three times its size when the respectable demon-lord approached you with a stressed expression. And who wouldn't?

You're merely just a low demon that serves Douma after all, and to think you would be approached by the likes of the progenitor of all demon when your own lord won't bat an eye at your presence makes your remaining sanity leave its slowly quaking form to embarrass itself.

"T-this thing's bad, my lord." You inwardly slap yourself right on the face - before wallowing in a pit known as 'fuck why did I say that'. You just stuttered right in front of your demon god and worse; you denied him your opium-filled kiseru! 

You're in no doubt a dead pile on the floor in the next millisecond--

"Did I stutter?" 

The lord grunted with a guttural expression that matches a beast showing his dominance - and you know that demonic face is the last thing you'll see but the lord just took the liberty in sitting beside you on the roof with a soft thud. (Oh no, he just sat beside you - fuck! This is not going to end up with you being a bloody corpse right? Wait, isn't he supposed to kill you for being weak and pathetic? Holy shit, is this some kind of prank your co-demons are doing- why are you suffering this- wait, can you even call this suffering? The father of demons actually smells pretty good... fucking hell! What are you thinking? You're going to die and you're here sitting idly sniffing the air like a mutt!)

Your mind blackened, and while you were in your moment of weakness - the lord took your precious item away with a blink of an eye.

The lack of the wooden piece in your hand raised the hair on your neck and snapped your head at him with a snarl. You were about to snatched your soul back to you with no regards of your punishment, but stopped at the scenic that played before you.

You watched in plain awestruck at the way the lord inhaled the grey wisps in his mouth -the bowl flickered its sunlit hues and coloring his frame with sparks that looks as inhumane as him - before he let it all out with a sharp smoke pushing though his mouth. The ghosts from his lips danced around him, creating a mist that surrounded him like clouds would to a Buddha.

You've never seen someone use the kiseru as elegantly as he did, and his act caught your breath the way your eyes did by the ethereal man.

The lord did it again, this time - keeping the air of sweetened smoke in his lungs longer with his eyes closed, and the space in his once-furrowed eyebrows widening.

Your (color) orbs stared at his delightful expression with light reflected from the dying kiseru. His face, white as the snow, looked just as pure and relaxed before the moonlight. The western clothes he wore made him just as foreign, and it created a solemn visage before him. The frown he always wore eased into a thin line that plumps his chapped lips, and the furrowed edges of his eyebrows finally tamed the moment the wisps of your drug left his frame.

Your mind halted, your hand forgotten in the air. Captivating. Handsome. Was the lord always this attractive?

Because by Kichijouten; he looked so much irresistible this way.

You bit your lips to tempt away the sigh that dared to escape you, and just as you did, sharp bright ruby eyes opened slowly. They stared down at the gloomy forest below with brightness that rivaled the moon's and glazing back at you with a sharp stare that could cut your judgement in half.

"What are you staring at." His sharp statement came out a demand rather than a question, and fear of getting caught, you stuttered the first thing that came out in your mind.

"T-there was a firefly behind you." You managed to squeak out, before internally crying at your reason because it’s not even summer anymore! (Goddamn it, your flustered mouth.)

Your cheeks warmed up when the lord raised an eyebrow at your words, and you were awaiting the taste of death.

Instead, he entertained your motion. He looked down at the forest, then back at you - staring you down with those glowing orbs that you wished could just take your existence.

But they melted you into a puddle of embarrassment instead. With a smirk and a playful look in his eyes, he spoke too softly that's no doubt an effect of the drug in his system; "We're a bit too high for them to fly about."

You opened your mouth to try and correct him, yet you find your body shaking in subservience before his stare. (For the lord to look at you as if you were something soft instead of a minion needed to be punished is too much for the likes of the sanity of a low demon like you.)

You instantly found the roof's wooden textures much more interesting than getting sucked in the lord's handsome smile.

Perhaps it's in the opium, or perhaps he was bored. Still, the way the lord chuckled deeply at your reaction with such care-free air made you closed your eyes in ruffled consciousness. 

And you relished his subtle baritone that plays along with your strumming heart strings with a conflicted expression.

How an evil, evil being like the lord could utter such a child-like laughter bewilder your very person.

To disguise a devil as an angel right before a mortal's eyes.

Chapter Text

That moment when you fell, enraptured in cupid's arms;

You blinked, surprised as you tilted your head to him. Your face red and fuming from being saved. 

"I guess you can say..." Bright cheeks and with a quivering voice, Zenitu stared at you with a shy gaze that’s stubbornly stare into yours. "…you fell for me?"

You can feel your blood rushing towards your neck up to your head as you gazed up at him - suddenly becoming aware of how close Zenitsu's warm fingers are to your chest.

You want to react, put some distance between the two of you, but your body warmed up at his contact, and try as you want, you find yourself not moving an inch away from him. You felt glued on the spot from the confusing emotions that swirls in your chest, even more so as you become more aware at the situation the blonde had put you into.

And the way he looks at you.

There's something with the way his bright orbs stubbornly bore into yours makes you feel ... defeated, weak? You don't know how to describe it, but it makes you curl your toes in weird anticipation for his next action.

Just the way his golden eyes shines in a hopeful manner makes your chest feel lighter, warmer and blissed than listening to him laugh. When you find yourself leaning more into him, you cannot help but gulp.

Your shaky vision landed on his dry lips, mind going blank at the way his tongue poked and wet them. The flush of his lips almost looking slick and endearing, tempting you to move closer as your fingers twitched at the thought of touching them, smoothing them by the pad of your digits and feeling them under your touch. 

Your nose twitched at the familiar smell of musk on his hair, haori - all of him - relaxing and coaxing your nerves to be closer; telling you how much your chest would lighten if you just, close the distance between the two of you. 

You unconsciously leaned forward, half registering the fact that Zenitsu did the same.

Your mind coax you to raise your eyes, asking you to meet his orbs, persuading you of sweet essence that'll coat your chest, and you succumbed. You were surprised that his eyes are already staring at yours with an unfamiliar light in them, burning with an unknown fire as they revel in yours - with each second passing, a kindle of longing sparks brighter.

Your stare softened with his.

You never thought of how mesmerizing Zenitsu is up close until now...

Then a beast screamed, startling you two back on earth from your high on cloud nine.

"Chemitsou! (Batchered name)! Ganapiro-baka is looking for you!"

You awkwardly peel yourself away from Zenitsu's arms as you stubbornly clean yourself off from invisible dirt. A heavy blush decorates your nose and cheeks, eyebrows furrowed deeply as your eyes shake with an obvious fond confusion sprinkled in those bright (eye color) pools that the blonde felt enamored to capture. 

You bashfully walked towards the direction of Inosuke's shouts to save yourself dignity from what the fuck just happened. You did so with a quiet shake to your frame and tried to leave the scene behind with all your might despite the fact it keeps replaying in your mind and asking you to continue what should have been. (and you wanted to.)

Zenitsu just stared at your form with a bubbling electricity climbing up his spine - charging him up with uncontrollable excitement.

The man had never seen you that bashful before (usually he's the one that receives this short end) and it made his heart recoil in a satisfying grip.

The blonde couldn't help but shake in happiness remembering the way you melt right into his arms, and he raised them up above the sky as he jotted after you with a love-sick expression.

"(Naaaaaaaaaammmmmmeeeeeeee)-chaaaan!"

Hearing him screech out for you only made you fumed in embarrassment as you power walked away from him. But that didn't deflate his eagerness, as Zenitsu kept running after you - secretly wishing you'd trip more often right into his arms.

"Wait for me, (Name)-chan!"

 And his heart fell a thousand more when you did.

You felt the bliss of his love more so than his charms.

Chapter Text

Amidst  the thousand flowers shyly dancing for the butterfly's attention,

Sitting under the one of the Wisteria tree as Shinobu read her medical journal is nothing, but domestic. Just feeling her shoulder against your own was enough to satisfy your needs for her attention.

Then all of the sudden, your impulse told you that you wanted more. And who would deny the attention of this beautiful butterfly? (Not you, that's who.)

You sharply turned to face Shinobu, grabbing her cheeks in your hands - squeezing them and enjoying the marvelous soft skin she has. The ravenette let out a soft, annoyed groan at your act and questioned you with narrowed eyes - but there's something inside her misty, lavender orbs that begs you the question why, why are you doing this?

Your answer was a charming grin, catching her off-guard as she eyed you closely. Suspiciously.

Your face inched closer, her own becoming more and more warm on your fingers as her eyes starts lidding in excitement and adoration at your close distance.

You kissed her on the forehead loudly with as much love as you could muster, before pulling her in a tightest hug one could give and relished in lovingly petting her hair. The remnants of soft, black strands entangled in your fingers, but you couldn't care less. And she didn't too, despite the fact her signature hair pin fell on the grassy floor and letting her hair fall on her shoulders and yours.

Her only reaction was letting her body slumped against yours, just oozing in disappointment.

The Kochou wanted more from you and you pulled off a disgusting(ly sweet) stunt on her that she couldn't even be annoyed of. She was expecting a kiss, a justified one to cut her attention off her studies – but you gave her a kiss that can only rival her hatred for a certain water pillar. If she ever--

"I suddenly wanted to say I love you." You whispered to her with adoration laced in your voice, honey-dewed and sweet, and stopping her from continuing her ranting thoughts.

Shinobu won't openly admit it, but those three words that she'd always hear from you at night always calmed her nerves in burning happiness, and now, those three words melted her into a puddle of warmth more so than the acid in her work.

Shinobu's fingers twitched against her book, her body became rigid for a moment of silence -- before her hands dropped her learning material and slowly snaked around your waist.

To hear you adoringly uttered her favorite words in broad daylight made her heart constrict pleasantly that she finds it hard to breathe, and she brought herself closer to you with nothing but the scent of you in her lungs.

She stayed like that for a few second - sharing a tight hug that caged her heart - before Shinobu looked up at you with a pleased expression; eyes curled like half a moon and lips soft in a cupped arch. She moved her chin and settled it above your chest, the lovely shades of gradient violet orbs twinkled beautifully before the low light of the Wisteria's shadow.

Your heart couldn't help but sigh contently at the sight of your girlfriend, and raved to her with the birds singing in the background. "You look prettier than these Wisteria that you study."

A look of surprise widened her eyes, before a smirk appeared on her pale face and inched a peppered peck on your nose – a coat of her lipstick stayed much to her pleasure. "Stop being cheesy."

You blinked, caught off guard as your face started warming at the memory of her soft lips on your skin. Before laughing at her cold statement. "I couldn't help it, especially when you're always looking so radiant."

Shinobu scrunched her expression at your sweetened words, but the edge of her frowning lips twitched up as the pastel color of pink appears on her visage; a non-verbal sign that she appreciates your compliment more than her pride could approve.

"Will you shut up and just kiss me."

…

The guttural command in her voice broke the sweet atmosphere you conjured up while she stared at you blankly, waiting anctipatingly for you to comply with her words.

You only raised your eyebrows at her with an expression that asks 'what the fuck?' and she leveled her own with the same silent question.

"Really?" You voiced out your disappointment. "You're not even going to ask for it nicely?"

Violet orbs blinked apathetically, gears working slowly in her mind, before slowly clicking.

Shinobu couldn't help but lower her dignity as she sighed too loudly -- rolling her eyes at your stubbornness. "Ugh, come on. Please?"

That… came out more of an order, rather than a request.

When you didn't budge, her pink, tinted lips pouted - showing that they truly beg to be loved, and almost breaking your stubborn facade - still, you didn't dare move. (Even if you truly wanted to savor her taste with yours.)

The two of you stared at each other like that, waiting for the other to break down.

Then, your lower lips plumped up in sadness at her determination and you looked at her with watery eyes akin to a puppy's. Shinobu first felt remorse at your move, before she felt the playful guilt washing her from your stunt that she couldn't help but sighed in defeat.

How can she not? Especially when your lips are pouted in a way she could teasingly bite them off in hopes to listen to your complaints and engulf them in a much needed heated embrace. But she'll save that tactic for later.

Shinobu threw her own stubbornness out of the window as she purposefully, weakly uttered the word you wanted to hear.

"Please?"

She said the word as if you just threw her lipstick away with how bitter her expression is. You couldn't help the swelling warmth boasting in your chest as you giggled at her reaction.

"Now that ain't hard, isn't it?" Tenderly cupping her face with a lone hand, you pulled her into a kiss with lips curled into a tight big smile, enticing her own to do the same. And she did.

Shinobu let herself melt in your embrace, hands scooting up from your waist to your hair as her fingers tangled in your (hair color) locks with a loving tug that gave her the sweetest noise.

And when you whispered those three words above her wet lips in the passionate exchange; the butterfly found herself loving you more.

She whispered her longing with the softest tone and the most tender peck on your lips, eyes telling more than her words alone; “I love you, too.”

She chose one that stood still - showing her the confidence of a brave heart.

Chapter Text

The king watches his pieces to fight for him.

(Color) orbs narrowed sharply at the move, eyebrows meeting in a frustrated manner. What the hell is he thinking for putting his golden general - one of the most powerful piece in shogi - on such a fragile spot in a way to expose his king?

Is this an unconscious mistake? A bait? Whatever the reason, you want to move your silver general and corner his royalty to easily finish the game – but at what cost?

Your fingers twitched under the table, impulsive impatience urging you to finish the game already, but you stopped midway, still reluctant of doing it. Something doesn't sit well in your stomach the same it is with your heart.

You don't want to prolong the game, but the persistent butterflies fluttered towards your chest - freezing you in reluctance that your mind won’t let you admit.

And that sensation always takes you aback - because why? Why are you always stalling to continue this helpless game? It's an easy win. You'll win, and you'll prove him whose better between you. Isn’t that already enough to satisfy you and your ego?

Your eyes glanced at him, and the way he sat there silently with reverence made you stop to soak in his being. A feeling of soothing ache caressed your heart, and when his eyelashes fluttered – yours stare bore back to the wooden board with confliction.

You hated this inner turmoil you always have to face in his presence. You're ordered to accompany this man by your family as his shadow – his shinobi – and you always taught protecting a dying man is no use. He’s fated to die young like those before him, and he never interested you even if you followed and watched him throughout your end of the mission.

That is, until he caught your presence and presented you the liberty of guarding him easily. You kept telling yourself that he is nothing but a man that you must serve only in the shadows of the night, but his insistence and knowing smile always wins against the arguments you have with yourself.

You complied in showing your being before him, you complied when he asked you to converse with him. He argued with you that you can have some of his tea and sweets, and he argued that you are more than a guard, but a friend.

The two of you always seem to be in an endless state of argument, and most of the times he would always revere victorious – and you accepted that with no hardened resolve, because a shinobi have always been a puppet to their mission and will do as just to make their client happy.

Then it slowly became personal.

You accepted the way his kindness melted your exterior, and you embraced the routine of you holding his hand before he sleeps. You took the liberty in accompanying him in walks around his small gardens with a conversation drifted in the air – and surely, you thought of him as your friend.

As years passed, you complied with his wishes and arguments, perhaps out of your pity for the man and his fate or of something special that you won’t let yourself admit.

It was no harm, you said to yourself, even when you find how striking he was under the colors of fireworks in new years and how warm he is when he asked for an embrace in cold nights – adhering to his requests are easy for you to provide; and you always had no complaints against them.

That is, until his very presence conflicted an argument between your mind and emotions, trying to sway you not with words but his being alone that he has a place in your heart.

And your mind knew it’s counter-intuitive because he doesn’t deserve to be in your chest, nor you in his; because you have no future with him, but just his shadow.

You find it hard to just pretend that everything is normal with conviction every rising day that wakes you up, and you’ve become noticeably bitter as the seasons pass. You kept reminding yourself that your emotions mustn’t blind you, and if it did – you only have to remind yourself that his end is near, and you don't want to be there when he did.

Yet… you also wanted this: just being with him. Out of duty or out of personal interest, it’s all a grey area when you’re with him. Because just being in his presence relaxes you, envelops you with an emotion that’s fleeting, and made the nights longer with fascination.

And when the word 'relax' comes in your mind, it always reminds you of how sweet his (traitorous) smile could be.

How warm those amethyst orbs seem to be as they bore into yours - and how adorable Oyakata-sama looks when hiding his lower face whenever he's thinking for his next move--

You shook your head. Focus. Focus. Focus.

Your squinted eyes shifted above once again, attention falling on lavender ones - a bit shock at the fact that Oyakata-sama is already looking at you. His usual, sarcastic purple mirrors are reflecting emotions that distracts you - even more so than the mistake he so seemingly made.

Fondness, admiration -- adoration? Is this really the father of all slayers? Or are you hallucinating? Imagining things? Did… did he just sweetly grin? At you?

You shook your head once again and blinked several times in disbelief; no doubt looking like someone who just woke up. Yet, that solemn expression his eyes are wearing the same tint of fondness - telling you that this isn't a dream, and the way he rose his brows struck a nervous chord in your heart strings.

"Is there something that bothers you?" His warm voice asked, coating you with cold, honey dew sensation. Amethyst orbs growing warmer, happier when your ears warmed at his tone.

Is… he perhaps, playing with you?

Your attention quickly went back to the wooden shogi pieces with a forced frown on your face - trying to fight off the growing warmth on your cheeks and kill the butterflies trying to fly in your stomach as you always did with him.

"Yes." You countered his inquiry with a straight answer, glaring - burning holes on his golden general with a dumb expression. The kanji on the piece almost seemingly mocking you.

"You're not stupid, but your move is foolish." Your sharp (color) orbs met his purple ones. "Why are you risking the only general left on your board?"

"Hm…" Oyakata-sama hummed, the fingers that once tenderly wrapped around his chin in a thinking manner went to fix the stray raven hair that fell from the low ponytail you've tied on him; easily distracting you with the way his strands complied with his slender fingers.

You waited for his answer, impatiently as he took his time - amethyst orbs seemingly taunting you as they smile in such a fascinated way.

"Why would I need a golden general," Warm, soft, treacherous hand grabbed your chin, steeling you to meet the ever closing distance between your stare on his. "When I'm already looking at one?"

You blinked in confusion, in his actions and his wordings - before realizing that Oyakata-sama just compared you with one of the most important pieces in shogi.

Your lips opened and close in a flustered manner, and for a second you think his eyes fluttered on them with a quiet sigh.

He mirthfully chuckled at your expression, and you felt the baritone of his voice vibrating in your chest rather than hear it with your own ears – especially when he closed the distance between you, kissing your nose.

You inhaled sharply, eyes widening in silent shock as he smiled at you with a devilish grin that stole your breath just as his stare did with your heart.

Convictions and silent arguments stirred in your mind and in your chest – driving you insane with the paths you must chose to keep your dignity intact, and longing became muddled with your stubbornness, that the two polar emotions came up with a move that’ll paved its way to your act.

"It's still your move, remember?" his voice whispered, and it was unsure as the stutter of your own heartbeat for his.

When you caught the surety in his face, the way he kept his gaze on you despite the fact his own being felt insecure as the one lone move he made on the board – you could no longer help to keep this distance barred between you as you finally took your move.

Your hands stretched and cupped Kagaya's pale cheeks, closing your eyes as you pushed yourself towards him - soft plump lips locking with his and his with yours with strength that’s foreign to his body. The warmth of his face, and the softness in his pale lips buzzes in your heart.

You finally let the conflicted butterflies in your stomach escape its cage as they flutter free; covering you in the relief of warm air as you tilted your head to deepened your shared kiss. His fingers grazed your temple with shaking resolve that found themselves in your hair, and he moved himself closer to you with a delighted hummed the moment you opened your heart for him.

The smile you felt on your own told you that he planned this from the start, and you find yourself accepting once again the victory he has over your love.

When he only wishes to fight with them.

Chapter Text

Assumptions made the boy hesitate to give his heart to her.

"You're smoking?"

Sabito did not reply to your high-pitched question, instead, inhaling more of the aired wisps and letting it out in the night, swept off with wind.

Offended at the lack of response, you stomped towards the man on the park and pulled the cancer stick out of his fingers – the putrid smell of acid smoke burns your nose unpleasantly, scrunching your face on the process.

Your coworker did not move on the bench, but he did set his eyes on you before huffing out the smoke in his mouth. Right on your face.

"Ugh, Sabito-!" You coughed and swat the dirty air away, completely letting go of the still burning stick to the ground.

The pink-haired man couldn't help but chuckle pleasantly at your reaction - finding it adorably cute, before grimacing at that sudden thought and looking back at the bright city view behind you with more focus than needed.

Truthfully told, he likes you – even much so that he thinks he might be falling for you. Any other day, he would have repeatedly tease you, soak up your attention – both good and bad – and try to get some charm points to get you to notice him but...

News on the corps you're already dating someone. On the fucking internet. Who the fuck does that?

Sabito scorned at the thought of losing you to some stranger he couldn't even punch of.

That's why he's here, smoking miles away from where you parked on your own car, but can you believe his terrible luck? You're here too.

His mind wants to ease his thoughts off you, take his moment to be fond of the cigarette taste in his tongue rather than his mind wandering of what your kiss would taste like, and maybe perhaps go to a bar and drink this stupid, dejected feeling away.

But here you are; your very being torments him in such, disgusting(ly good) way.

"You shouldn't smoke you damn idiot! You already got sick last week with a stupid cold," you crossed your arms and shot him an unhappy look, giving him your side eye with a cute sneer to boot. "Now you're going to kill yourself slowly with a literal cancer stick? Unbelievable!" You lecture him as you always do whenever you see him doing 'bad' things, and usually... he would have soaked them all up as he watches your lips move tantalizingly, wandering when he could kiss them until he'll snapped out by a good slap on the back with a foreboding threat coming from you.

This time, he's not in the mood to even breathe in the same air as you. Sabito did not hide his growing frown. He doesn't know if you're doing this for fun, or you're just torturing him. Because all of you - your words, your act - they all seems to relay on him with mixed messages.

And he hates them. He's sick of them. Perhaps part of you for dating someone else that isn't him too. But he also hated the fact you're acting 'concern' to him when just a day ago, you threw a memo pad on his temple after taking the last bite from your pudding.

With your hurtful words of his habit traveling from one ear and another, Sabito mused at that one thought.

He has to say, the dessert you craved so much is sweeter with your taste on it. Always have been. Then again, he couldn't pull the same stunt anymore now that you're in a 'relationship'.

Sabito let out a long, dreaded sigh at such reality.

With an aggro tone, the man folded his hands on his chest and blankly stared at you with tired lavender eyes.

"Now why would you care?"

Your jaw dropped at his sudden question and your eyes widened in disbelief – shutting yourself up from your minutes long lecture about the importance of a healthy lung.

He usually just listens to you with a sly smirk on his face, so you didn't expect him to ask such a trivial question now out of the blue.

You expected him to defend himself – maybe tease his way out like other times - not counter you with such a sentimental question.

"It's bad for the health!" You retorted quickly, too quickly for the pillar to notice your ever blushing form. "It's common sense!"

"Common sense?" Sabito tilted his head like a sly fox scrutinizing its prey. "Do you snatch cigarettes from every smoking person you see in this district?"

One of your eye twitched at his sarcastic tone, before blushing madly at the way his amethyst eyes looked up at you with sharpness that makes you feel judged.

"N-no, but-"

Sabito hummed nonchalantly, sitting straight from the bench and walked towards you.

"Is that so?"

Each step he takes is like an earthquake that shook your core, and with an expression like that; Narrowed eyes, teasing grin and a sense of luster of colors in those purple mirrors - you couldn't help but be frozen in your place out of shock of this new light on his personality.

"I'm asking you again this time," Sabito took your chin with his thin fingers, the pads rough on your skin and creating an evident contrast that warms your cheek. When his sharp nose brushed on yours, you felt your breath-hitching in your throat. You find it impossible to pull yourself away, especially when he's staring you down with soulful lidded eyes.

He exhaled, the warmth on his breath flushing your face just as his question did to your chest.

"Why do you care?"

The telltale of smoke in his breath lingers, and you feel like you're melting from both the heat from your cheeks and the way his body pressing against yours.

"I-I," you gulped, heart ramming in your chest – vision dizzying from the focus you have instilled in his stare. "Just care for you..."

A hand gripped your shoulder, squeezing them with a tight hold - and before you know it, you're pinned on the nearby street lamp with Sabito smirking down at you like a predator would a helpless prey.

"Easy, isn't it?" Warm lips stretched tantalizingly slow, before disappearing besides you - the soft flesh skimming against your ear.

He whispered your name huskily. "I'd like more of your honesty next time."

___

Sabito spat out the tea you prepared for him, getting an earful from you at the process. "Can you not? I just finished cleaning the house."

"So you're saying..." His body started shaking at suppressing his laughter as his fingers traveled up to his hair and gripped on them - eyes closed and a big aloof grin on his face. "You're 'dating' an anime character? On a game?"

My kami. Why.

You slumped your shoulders exaggeratedly and looked at him with a lost, yet annoyed expression. "Is it really that hard to believe?"

He cannot. Sabito can't-

Full blown laughter echoed around the room - the deep octaves of his voice trembled in your chest as you tried hard to scrubbed the tea of your beloved floor.

"Shut up" You shouted, embarrassed and cheeks warm from his joy. "I'd rather date someone who'll love me for me even if they're just two dimensional."

Laughter soon became dying wheezes as Sabito threw himself on the floor at your reply - cradling his stomach as tears bites his lavender eyes. Shit, he doesn't know if he'll feel bad at your predicament or relieved that you're single, but holy shit.

Why have you torture him with this information? Why? He might as well sounds like a broken woodpecker right now.

You glared at this man before throwing a dry towel at his face in tantrum, hoping he'd suffocate from it. "Well if you think that's funny - don't dare try to kiss me and ask if I'm single on the same night, you damn idiot." Crossing your arms, you couldn't help but puff your cheeks at the memory - sure it affected you since you do care for this man more than you wanted to but, you felt belittled after telling the damn truth. "I should've just screamed rape when I had the chance."

"You know," Sabito composed himself, a hand on your coffee table as he inhaled the much needed air for his lungs. "You don't need to date something two dimensional. When you can date me."

The sight of your face suddenly fuming red made the man laugh an easy laugh and he did not hesitate in pulling you against him for another kiss.

And the way you melted against him made him crave for more.

Sabito cradled your head and gripped your hair with a soft hold, tugging on it lightly to make you gasp. The air that escaped your lips traveled down in his stomach in a pleasant buzz. He captured your lips with ferocity that melted your frame against him, his hand traveling down to hold you down on his lap to feel you more.

Your arms snaked around his neck, and the weight of them settled on his chest as your own pressed against his - the feel of your tongue against his own drugged him with lust, and he pulled himself away from your lips to trail down kisses down your neck to savor more of you; groaning appreciatively when your back arched before him. And the moaned you gave him when he latched on your neck with a soft bite egged him to do more.

The way you smell... your reactions, and how you feel above him - all of those did no justice with the way you uttered his name in a breathless plea, and it made him stop to kiss your lips with a lust-filled apology leaving his own.

Because Sabito hopes you'd forgive him for what he'll do to you tonight.

When he only need to ask the truth and receive hers.

Chapter Text

Brought to you by 'memoir of a diamond'

He finds it entertaining to torment himself with rants about our training.  

He spirals up unnecessary accusations of our sensei trying to kill him, complains about the lead and toll of missing his sister being awake, but most recently; he has been telling me stories about the times he spent with her at his former home.

At first I find this idle chatting a bit unentertaining, but as we both put ourselves in the shoes of devoted students; I find it them enjoyable more than writing about my travels. Entertaining, even.

Yet, my way of speaking did not change or did I softened my behavior towards him. Somewhat, he took value on my actions rather than my words that are twisted in ways to make them sound hurtful. And I was thankful of that.

Tanjirou would find himself looking at Nezuko with worry in his eyes as he writes down on his journal. Sometimes, when I’m unnevered of his thoughts and aura growing deep in murky solitude, I would knock on his door and ask him to tell me stories of his childhood to distract him from his own thoughts.

He usually agrees to my request with a delightful response and I listened to him as I practiced my breathing - shorting my own breath while I talk and inhale as much when I don't. He kept bragging about his sister being the beauty in their town and no one else could compare to her cuteness that I sometimes wished I never even asked to endure this. Not even his childlike grin would pay up to the torture of him biting my ears off by praising his sister like a goddess. She's a beauty all right, but my kami. Stop overstating the truth, you damn sun.

Tanjirou mentioned that Nezuko looks more like his mother and he was the spitting image of his father. I found that interesting and somewhat… domestic, and he asked me if I ever looked like my parents. 

"I don't." I stated while writing down on my own notes besides him. He looked at me curiously from his own journal. "I was told that I looked like my grandfather." 

I was so peeved when he chuckled. The noise twinkling in my ears spiraled red flames on my cheeks and being. He got the nerve to laugh when he asked me that question himself. I was about to tell him that when he quickly retaliated my words with a smile. "I'm sorry, I was just imagining a charming old-looking man."

I blinked. Dumb-founded of his words before sneering at him. I rolled my eyes and laughed sarcastically, not finding his words a tad bit amusing. 

"Right. As if your dad wasn't a handsome man." I replied with a tone full of bitterness, but I got no reply in return.

Not even a thanks. 

My eyes gaze up, only to see him staring at me - face pink with lips squished in bashfulness.

Staring at him back with that kind of expression on his face made me feel awkward beyond words. I grimaced. 

"You know that was sarcasm right?"

He blinked for a second, and threw me an unamused visage that I couldn't help but smirk at.

Serves him right for making fun of me.

by yours truly

Chapter Text

She saw the sun in his being, felt its rays touch her skin. The warmth in his eyes melted the ice she called her heart.

When Tanjirou is lying with a face like that - you don't even know if you should continue being angry, or find his reaction endearing.

The matter of who ate your tiramisu would be saved for a later date, right now - you just want to soak up on this rare event. You drop your hardened stare at the sight of his sour expression, your big frown softening into a small contented-smile.

If that face wasn't hilariously adorable, then you don't know what is.

Gingerly, you put your hands above his - making him stiffened at the contact shared as you pried his hands away from hiding his aching face, your eyes brightening at the sight of his burgundy ones and yours further curled with mirth that eases Tanjirou's frayed nerves from your manhunt.

"Don't hide, it's just me." You whispered, comforting him, reassuring him, the tone you're using reminds him of the one he used to console his siblings. "I'm not mad anymore, you see?"

You gave him a big childish grin to further your point, and the rhyme only egged him to give you a shy smile.

To see you like this; gaze softer than your hardened ones, a smile curled alike a moon's and with a scent that's akin to a flowered field of morning glory and to have you comfort him... It made Tanjirou feel protected, his feelings honest than the lie he just spouted.

His eyes shined in a light you've never seen before, and you blinked in surprise when Tanjirou curled his fingers around yours and bowed his head until he's hiding his face with the comfort of your palm on his cheek.

You couldn't help but inhale sharply, surprised by the valiant act from your usual-oblivious friend – still, you kept your soft stare on him as let out a soft chuckle the reverberated in the Kamado's chest with a stuffy buzz.

Under your moonlit gaze, he suddenly felt penitent. It showed on the way his eyebrows arched towards each other and the glow of defeat in his eyes. The frown on his lips tightened, and his grip on your hand strengthened in guilt.

He suddenly felt unconscious on how close his lips are on your palm. The warmth coming from his face seeped on your own as your fingers unwillingly traced the smoothness of his jaw, the way he looked up at you with an apologetic doe-eyes made your heart stutter uncomfortably in its bony cage.

Tanjirou never thought that your gaze could softened further, but he's not complaining when they did. In fact, he felt his captivated in yours.

Like a sun mirroring the moon - just as bright, just as warm.

"I apologize, (Name)-chan." He whispered dejectedly, and Tanjirou swore your fingers cupped his cheek. He waited for you to answer his apology, but you ended up ruining the moment by laughing. A gradient of blush distant on your face and a big, childish grin on its wake.

"I think that's enough sweetness for the both of us." You giggled, taking your hand away from his face – leaving a trail of cold disappointment from where your heat has been – only for Tanjirou's soul to leave his being in a brief second the moment you wrapped your arms around his waist.

He can feel you shaking from both embarrassment and forced joy. The heat emanating from you felt comfortable in the evening air, coaxing you to hug him closer as you stole his warmth before the engawa.

Tanjirou melted quickly in the hug and complied with your embrace by snaking his arms on your waist, turning his body until it was facing yours – knees meeting each other awkwardly as he hugged you just as that. Tanjirou never thought he could be physically starved, but the way you grip on the back of his haori and of the feel of your limbs on his; you showed him that he is with how stuffy his chest feel with you inside his arms.

And that... he is starved with the allure of your starry-eyed smile.

"You could've just told me Inosuke ate it you, baka."

You felt, more than heard his laughter when his warm arms enveloped around you - pulling you closer against him as you felt the weight of his hand on your head, patting you like he does with Nezuko and earning him a hearty giggle that resonated with his soul.

"The thing is," Tanjirou chuckled nervously. "I ate it."

The Kamado felt choked at the way you tightened your grip around him, once peaceful (color) eyes bursts into fury. "You ingrate, I trusted you."

Each statement stabbed the poor Kamado's heart more painfully than his lying expression. Crystal warmth burst out of his eyes as he looks at you hopelessly with tears streaming down like waterfalls. "G-gomen!"

You screeched at his apology as you pull him towards the pond - the poor lad crying his eyes out as he begged for your eternal forgiveness mid-air. "Sorry won't bring back my goddamn cake, you baka!"

Splash.

___

Tanjirou got sick in the morning. Everyone in the household was unhappy with your decision. Except for Inosuke.

Inosuke praised you for putting Gonpachiro in his rightful place. Whoever that is.

___

The Kamado sulked the whole time he was recovering. He thought you would never forgive him – it was a moment of weakness for him and the food was just begging to be eaten, and it was too late to realize it was your serving. But an act of mistake or not, he reaped what he sows from and he is truly regretting it.

Especially when he thought you've finally graced him with your undivided attention.

When the shoji of his room slid open for the moon light to trickle in the gap, his eyes widened with the way the sky's crescent's brightness lit up your own smile.

You came in silently and lit the lantern in his room and Tanjirou watches your soft movements with his face half-covered with the blanket of his futon. You caught his repenting gaze, and he smelled the field of moon flower once again.

"Next time, don't lie – alright?" You grabbed the warm kerchief that was settled on his forehead, the pad of your fingertips pushing away the strand of wet burgundy that sticks on his head. "It must've been painful for you, but it is as painful to me."

"Well," You caught yourself and a soft laughter escaped from you. "Painfully amusing."

Tanjirou groaned at that tease, but he succumbed with laughter along with you.

He sighed, looking up at you in a newer light that warmed his chest. The Kamado called your name with a strained voice, and you hummed just in time the feel of coldness on his forehead eased him to say words he wanted to say ever since you've looked at Nezuko with those moonlit smiles.

"I like you."

He felt your fingers twitched, and your warmth muddled with his own mixed the tiredness that takes toll on his drifting consciousness. The last thing he saw before was the beauty of the moon shining down on him with starry-eyed smile. "I like you, too."

She fell in love to the man she calls her opposite.

Chapter Text

The real demons can be found around you.

When an anthropomorphic boar snatched a tempura out of your bowl - the gift of a food that fell from heaven rejoiced by unworthy mortals like you - you swore vengeance.

"You're not the boss around here!" You screamed at the beast, using your bokken as a stick to terrify him - but no, he took your anger as a challenge and took a bokken as well and copied you with a broken, mocking voice. "You'RE nOt tHe BoSs ARounD Here!"

You could feel your hair flying off its bun in newfound anger as you snarled at him, fingers gripping on the wooden hilt as you jumped towards him - swinging your weapon at his head, to which he easily deflected with one hand.

"HAH." Okay. His voice is becoming increasingly irritating. You cannot any more. "Is that your best?" The beast taunted, fumes of smoke escaping his nostril as his grated voice screamed at your face. "I could do better than yo--ACK!"

The way his knees buckled as he curled up to grip his manhood was satisfying. The crack in his voice when he screamed was even more.

You felt something broke apart when you kicked him on the groin, but who cares? It's not like this beast need to breed more of his annoying shit.

Your loud, sadistic laughter overpowered his pain, scratching his ears at your annoying pitch. 

Then the beast screamed louder to deafened your sound of discovery and you glared at him. Dead blue lazy eyes glared back, taunting you. Challenging you.

Your dominant eye twitched at the silent dare.

The unspoken tournament was set, and the two of you prepared for it.

You inhaled sharply, air filling out your lungs as you ready yourself - his unwavering scream of struggle egging you on to let out the loudest laughter your chest could muster.

The terrifying guttural sound of "haha's" trembled the butterfly estate.

Everyone swore the end was coming; children crying, hashira getting their nichirin - anyone who can fight in the household ran towards the source.

To find you, literally having a screaming contest with Inosuke - who was mistaken to be aroused because of him gripping his poor pp. (What else could be the explanation of his broken sac? Arousal. Thank you, Shinobu-dono.)

"Could you two lower your voice down?!" A blonde added in the mix, screeching at the engawa and adding into the chaos. "You're disturbing the others!"

The two stopped - and eerily looked at Zenitsu at the same time, making the antsy cry baby cry more from the pressure.

The unwavering stare of lazy blue eyes and fury-filled (color) orbs made the blonde just… fall down on the floor grabbing his ears as he rocked himself back in forth.

Then the two continued their fight. The two contrasting pitch creating headache to those who was unfortunate to hear such chaos that scratches the sanity of humanity.

"Tanjirou-nii…" One of the butterfly triplets asked with horror as their eyes glued on the two. "Is this… is this what a mating call is?"

"I don't know, Sumi-chan." Tanjirou couldn't help but let a lone tear fall on the floor - expression unreadable at the question. "I-I don't know anymore."

The available pillars are not faring any better.

Giyuu is rubbing his forehead at this nonsense - hoping for his depression to save him from this misery. Sanemi is making '???' noises - Shinobu is just… watching in amusement.

"Go get them, Inosuke our boy!" Kyoujurou cheered at the background, wherever he got the pompoms is a mystery - but no one could complain at how cute he is by waving them energetically side by side.

Mitsuri also have the same equipment, jumping in excitement as she shakes (favorite color) pompoms besides the flame hashira. "Yes! Overpower them with your loving screech, (Name)! I believe in you!"

The two cheering pillars egged the two to continue their one on one.

No one was happy.

___

The people in the butterfly estate was granted peace when the two manage to exhaust their vocal chords and are announced to be mute for the next two weeks.

Everyone celebrated, even the two – by using underhanded trick by raising both their blurred finger up in the air because profanity must be mosaicked for some odd reason.

The happiest was Zenitsu. Shinobu just told him the news that he's half deaf and he thanked the gods that they granted him relief from this earthly pain.

Never again. Zenitsu thought. Never again.

You only need to find them.

In this case, Zenitsu did.

Chapter Text

When the pillars decided to have a slumber party; everything became... questionable.

"Oh my kami." Muichirou couldn't. He couldn't. Who is this person in front of him – this is not natural. This is disrespect.

He silently dragged his fingers down his face - the make-up not even moving an inch away from the beautiful woman that he’d stare at for a dead minute in front of that mirror.

The way his long hair pinned in a shimada style made his head ache, but it ached even more at the sight of the proud motherly look emanating from the insect hashira besides her. That, and the whole set of eyes staring (judging) him down at this transformation.

"Everyone." The mist pillar hid his face with his kimono sleeve; denying others to see the glorious flower he’d finally become. "Please, don’t."

"Muichirou have finally accepted who he is." (Name) dried her tears with a handkerchief - too genuine to even call her reaction as fake. "Beautiful, isn't he?"

Everyone, except for the few males in the room, nodded in agreement. The poor mist hashira's temple bulged a vein at her statement.

"Why do I feel violated?" He blurted out loud, wanting to break down at this mockery he's forced to be in.

"Yeah, no shit." Obanai remarked besides the boy. The snake pillar put a hand on Muichirou's shoulder, making the poor mist jump on his seat at the sudden contact. "We will celebrate your loss."

Muichirou was this close to punch his comrade but he stopped himself when he realized wasn’t even looking at him, but rather – below him.

Why... why is the snake pillar staring at his groin like that.

"He was so young--" Tengen cried besides Obanai, tears streaming down on his face as he cups his mouth in despair. "Now, he'd became a beautiful-" pause, cue tear falling down dramatically; "-flamboyant girl."

"Uhm…"

"They grew up so fast." Gyomei stated in the background, he too, drying his never-ending tears. "So, so fast. I pray for his soul in their safe descent."

"HAhahahHahhahHahahaHa!!!!" @ Sanemi.com.

"Q-quit acting as if I've died!” Muichirou’s embarrassed form flushed in anger, before turning to Sanemi and throwing a sake battle at the wind pillar – who dodged it miraculously by rolling on the floor chortling. “And stop laughing!"

He defended himself, stubborn crystal appearing at the edge of his lids - capturing every girl's attention in the mess hall as they rush towards him as if they're mother hens trying to protect their gender-confused chick.

"Don't bully our beauty! That's unkind!" Mitsuri berated the men in the room, pouting as she does. Tengen want to say shit, but Shinobu raised an ominous glowing lipstick in warning, shouting him up.

Everyone would shut up in the face of a glowing lipstick, mind you.

Muichirou looked up at his female companions in epiphany, the torture they have bestowed on him slowly being forgotten as they protect whatever dignity is left on him.

Could they be? A trail of tear fell on the floor from shaky mint eyes. Are they really concerned for him?

"You…" The mist hashira sniffled in joy, feeling protected despite the condition he's in. (Name) came by besides their jeweled geisha and dried his upcoming tears with the handkerchief she used before.

It was stupidly wet, but the boy couldn’t argue about it as he hugged her daintily – the woman squealing inside her mind as her heart kept plunging down a nonexistent knife in her chest.

She took him in her hands and patted his head – careful not to ruin the wonderful hair style that matched the goddess in her arms.

"Shh, my baby girl, don't cry." Okay, the mist hashira want to cry because of that. "Your beautiful make up would be ruined."

Muichirou was about to let his tears flow like unbridled waterfalls, but only managing to choke at the loud voice announcing that his back.

Kyoujurou bursts in the room with a steaming bucket of large sake bottle in in his hands - hair unruly as his yukata, which is falling off from his frame – exposing almost everything if it weren’t for the obi tied snugly on his waist. Beads of sweat are rolling down on his chiseled frame, almost as if he just got out from a work out that consists of fetching alcohol from the kitchen.

Tengen choked on his sushi at the sight while Obanai made sure to cover Kaburamaru’s eyes – of which the snake just slithered around to stare at the hotness that entered the room.

(Name) gasped loudly before hugging Muichirou to her chest, making the poor hashira embarrassed beyond compare from being squeezed in the valley of nirvana. “Have some decency!” She cried, throwing her haori on the glistening man who caught it with his head. “We have a maiden in here!”

The flame hashira just chortled at that and used the haori like towel around his neck.

"Whose thirsty?!" Kyoujurou screeched happily. (Name) raised her hand in lightning speed, but the expression her face was another term for being thirsty – and it was soon replaced with a sheepish laughter when everyone gave her a gloomy look.

“That’s the spirit!” Kyoujurou pumped, giving (Name) a bottle of steaming sake but what’s steaming is her resolve not to touch that fleshed masterpiece, damn it. “Who else’s thirsty?”

Hunched with his abs defined like that, Tengen couldn’t help but stare with a sharp expression, slowly raising both of his hands to which Sanemi and Obanai quickly slapped down.

After the alcohol was evenly distributed to everyone – except for Muichirou because his innocence must be protected always - the scream of Kyoujurou’s father shook the frame of the house, echoing on the walls of the Rengoku estate as the little Senjurou shouted to his father with words of crying comfort.

“Where did you get the sake from Kyoujurou-san?” Giyuu appeared in the corner all of a sudden, giving half the room a scare: Mitsuri holding on Shinobu with a frightened scream and the insect pillar grabbing on the love hasira’s boobs in reflex and was about to use it to throw on the intruder (until she realized that this is not a weapon of war but a weapon for bed) and just groped it instead. Sanemi did not let out a girly scream, he’s pretty sure Obanai did. Obanai is looking at Sanemi and is pretty sure that girly scream came from the wind pillar. Tengen is staring at the both of them down with a look of constipation because he just heard the two pretty much scream like a girl.

"These?” Kyoujurou raised the half-empty bucket. “I got these from my old man's reserve so they're bound to be good!" There was not even an ounce of guilt on his face. Everyone gave him undivided respect, except for those who fear the wrath of the older and uglier Rengoku.

"That's really bad Kyou-kun!" Mitsuri stated with both hands on her hips – Shinobu’s hand is still latched on her boobs - not reading the atmosphere of the room looming at the act of theft. "Do you even regret stealing from him?"

Kyoujurou blinked at the love pillar with an eerie grin - making her uncomfortable - before laughing boisterously at the question. "Nope!" He then added with a broken stare, "Why would I when these sake came from my allowance?"

"..."

…well, no one should complain about the free drink in the first place.

"Wait." (Name) gestured at Muichirou - putting a blanket around his shoulders – whose pretty much nose bleeding. "Do you want some alcohol, baby girl?"

“He’s too young to drink.” Giyuu reminded everyone because the poor mist hashira pretty blanked out from getting boobified. Kyoujurou let out a gasped akin to a katana scratching glass. “We got an Okama entertaining us?!” He then turns and looked at the area where the male hashiras gathered. “You all got weird tastes!”

Sanemi raised his hand and threw an empty cup at Kyoujurou’s head, Obanai and Tengen joining. Gyomei coughed out his sake, Giyuu on the other hand, missed his mouth and ended up drinking with his eyes.

“What?” Mitsuri crouched besides (Name) and grabbed unto the unconscious hashira, nose still bleeding as she tried shaking him awake. “He’s our entertainer?”

“Tengen was supposed to hire some courtesans to entertain us.” Gyomei soured his expression. “We don’t need any of that.”

“Exactly!” Tengen turned to Gyomei and pointed at the four female in the room. “We have pretty girls to stare at,” He gave them a charming smile. “Don’t you say so ladies?”

Of course, (Name) and Mitsuri giggled happily, but Shinobu and Muichirou is having none of it. The former knowing that Tengen’s just a cheapskate while the latter's waking up from the absurdity of the flamboyant man.

“You’re just pretty damn cheap.” Muichirou sneered, to which (Name) hushed. “Sh, you don’t talk to the adults like that, baby girl.”

Muichirou pretty much lost his face at that.

"You have a child, (Name)-chan?" Warm wide eyes of the flaming hotness landed on the transformed lad, brightening at the sight of them and effectively making the mist hashira blush away from the stare.

Kyoujurou basically forced his face on the mist hashira and nodded. “I like this new lipstick trend they have on!” The Rengoku pointed at the trail of red below the mist’s nose. “Boy, the Shimabara’s growing fetish is pretty wild huh?” Tengen wheezed, but nodded nonetheless. “It’s a new trend called despair.”

Kyoujurou looked down at the boy-turned-girl and put his thumbs up like a life motivator. “Pretty accurate!”

Muichirou choked on his nose bleed and asked the lord, why.

“Don’t joke about my child like that, Kyoujurou.” (Name) scoffed, slapping the man’s ass because that’s what they’ve been staring at for the last few minutes. Giyuu raised his hand on his mouth from that ministration, blushing on his corner. “O-oh.”

“Don’t ‘oh’ that stupid stunt, scum” Sanemi bashed, throwing his palm behind Giyuu’s unmoving head. “It’s disgusting – right Obanai?!”

Obanai was nowhere on his cushion beside Sanemi, but rather, kneeling down besides (Name) with his ass up. “Do me next, Mitsuri. (Name).” He turned his head towards the two female.

“I don’t know.” Mitsuri sighed and patted the presented bum and patted Kyoujurou’s thick one. “It’s pretty flat…”

“Slap me!” Obanai screamed with resolve, a battle cry that is more fitting on a love hotel than Kyoujurou’s mess hall.

“Well… a butt is a butt.” (Name) was about to do the honor in Obanai’s excitement but of course, Shinobu took the prestige away by kicking that pancake away from them. “We’re not your damn mother, fool.”

Gyomei is literally questioning what’s happening in this room right now…?

Kyoujurou laughed, before turning to Muichirou and (Name). “Is he really your child?”

Muichirou shook his head, and she nodded hers. Of course, flame hashira is biased so he took her agreement over Muichirou’s dejection. "They're as beautiful as you! They must have taken their features from their father!"

The mist hashira is asking the Buddha what earthly sin have he committed to face this injustice.

"Oh, you!" (Name) could not help but put both her hands on her cheeks, gushing at that compliment. "Of course, they'll take their beauty from me!"

What is it so he can repent.

"Please." Giyuu spoke up in the corner of the room; his expression looks akin to one bearing the death of a loved one’s pet. "This is unbecoming of us."

“Why didn’t you say that when (Name) slapped Kyoujurou’s ass.” Uzui scoffed as he sipped on his drink with a knowing smirk to the water hashira.

Giyuu’s cheeks turned pink, but it ended when Sanemi gripped his stomach and started laughing like an escaped mental. Something inside the water pillar snapped and looked at his companions in utmost seriousness.

"It's unbearable to watch."

"No one asked you." Shinobu snapped. Giyuu was quickly forgotten by everyone. Invisibility seeped in his body as he committed 'depression'.

Kyoujurou kept on gushing about the beauty of Muichirou and how great of a mother (Name) is even though she's really not the mother because of how young she is what the fuck is wrong with this.

"Can you shut up, dimwits." Obanai palmed his face at the repetitive exchange while Mitsuri gasped in the background. "Obanai!"

The snake pillar ignored her in favor of correcting what must be corrected. (Even if he felt guilty that he ignored his number one waifu. (Name) being number two, but that because he liked bullying her as Shinobu does with Giyuu.)

"Kyoujurou, that's Muichirou."

The way the flame pillar's reacted was too much - it's as if you told him that his father finally became a good man - it was full of utter disbelief.

"And (Name) can't land a boyfriend much less a child." The (hair color) woman broke down at that statement. Being called out like that broke her nonexistent pride. "Let me dream, you fool."

"Holy kami above." Kyoujurou stared at Muichirou in new light, his eyes basically twinkling. "Is that really you, Muichirou?"

"Yes." The mist pillar replied with a sniffle - blowing his nose at the kimono sleeve of the woman crying on his lap. "Regretfully."

When Kyoujurou did not answer or even reacted - the room fell silent at the sudden shift of atmosphere. Even Sanemi passed out from laughing all of the comedy he just ingested. (Giyuu’s pretty sure he also ingested something else because the wind hashira is foaming on the mouth.)

Their host raised himself up from the tatami mats and stared at his comrade with a serious expression, striking fear in their soul.

Giyuu didn't want to say he didn't warn them but…

"Do me next." Kyoujurou started stripping much to Uzui and (Name)’s delight and everyone else’s horror. (Gyomei is just looking at each direction of the room confused.)

Giyuu did warn the- what. No.

His face paled. What the fuck is that shining between the flame pillar's legs?

Chapter Text

Wounds beget scars. These scars wound the man's heart.

You're much more of a troubling pillar than what Sanemi had originally have in mind.

The pad of your thumb lined on the skin under his eyes, your palm on both cheeks and your fingers cupping the sides of his face, spreading warmth on his pale complexion - and hurting embarrassment. It's an agony not to get flustered and smack your hands at the same time; if else, he would lose in this dare.

The hold made Sanemi feel vulnerable, but at the same time, safe - he doesn't know how to process what he should be thinking rather than how soft and meaningful your caresses are to him, and he guess he substitute the sensation with the one his mother uses to do whenever he's crying.

Yet, it felt all the same. These haunting touches.

It made his chest churn in longing, surfacing the buried emotions he once hard to forget. It’s a touch filled with tenderness, ministrations nothing but satin – the feel of your fingertips on his face felt foreign, yet it’s a touch of home.

Sanemi tries his best not to sigh.

Your fingers are grazing his scars now, and for some odd reason - he found that intimate. Too intimate.

Your fingers are soft to the touch, and softer than a child's hand. Your caress became satin, and your hold became a ghost to the warmth on his skin. You’re holding unto him as if you’re afraid he’s fragile, and the notion curled his heart inward: hurting, but a good hurt.

He would never admit it, but your touches described him well - how else would he explained his dismissive behavior?

Your touches leave a foreign wake on Sanemi' cheeks, and his grey eyes struggled not to meet yours.

He let himself felt sigh when the pad of your fingers brushed the scar above his nose, before clenching his jaw when he felt your fingers trace the scar on the side of his mouth, fingernails are like shadows to your warmth – leaving an imprint on his face: still caressing and thumbing the char-healed skin with careful touches that soothed his longing heart.

How come you're not disgusted of his features?

He became vaguely aware of how close your fingertips are to his lips. He wanted to take your hand and move it away from his warm face – forget that this ever happened. Curse you off like a drunkard full of regrets, and he would do that if his own dignity was not on stake.

But… he can’t fight what’s already happening, and he can't move until you're finished harassing his face. All he could do is let you be, until you're satisfied that the dare is done.

Your hand left his cheeks, and he sighed through his nose in relief - only to seethe inwardly when he felt too much from the way you cradled his jaw with your delicate touch. Your hold makes his chest heavy, and for some odd reason, he wants to savor it this time.

The sound of bemusement echoed in his ears, and the he raised his eyes to find yours - which are curved into mirth alongside the toothy smile you display just for him. He froze, the distance made him want to step back - but he didn't. He couldn't. The way you grin at him like that; Sanemi wants more of it.

You're looking at his forehead now, and he wonders if you're looking at his scars; oblivious that your lips are practically above his, just above whisper and if he would want, he could close the distance and would mold those two together in an embrace.

He's heavily considering it.

Your lips look so smooth, soft – just like your touches – that it made Sanemi wonder how it would feel for him to touch them - kiss them. His gray orbs couldn't help but imprint the sight of softness and lines of the plump flesh with bottled restraint.

Oh how they tempt him, seduce him, wants him to push himself on you.

Then he became aware of what he's thinking and strayed his eyes down on the floor with a silent curse leaving his mind.

He shouldn't be thinking that - you're a friend and you're just that. Sure you're attractive, and the wind pillar wouldn't lie that he mused at the thought of the two of you being together - but you're better off without him.

Trouble follow his trail like a loyal dog, he loses more people than he would admit stayed - and he wouldn't want that fate for you. You deserved better than him. You deserved a peaceful life than a promised uncertainty of being with him. You're strong, yes… but he doesn’t want to tempt fate that he could avoid.

Too soon, your hands left his cheeks and it made him feel lonely all over again. Like northern winds blowing away the remnants of your touches - he felt his face grew cold, instantly missing your warmth.

"Now ain't that fun." You chuckled, folding your arms in front of your chest in a cocky manner. He frowned at your words, but deep inside the man couldn't help but wish to kiss that smirk off your face.

Sanemi grunted in reply, looking away from you as he willed himself not to stutter. “So what's the next stupid dare?"

The knowing smile grew on your face, especially when you put that soft finger above your lips. His jaw dropped as the color of warmth painted his cheeks at the dare that comes next.

"I dare you to kiss me."

Her presence made his heart mend together - and he grew afraid. The wounds she'll leave will be broken beyond repair.

Chapter Text

"Don't apologize."

The storm has yet to calm. The pitched howl of the wind nibbled at your expose skin and biting at them with sharp pinpricks with each howl of a gust - raising your distaste for the weather as you closed the sliding door of the dining room with a grimace reserved to the storm.

Out of all days it could snow, why does it have to be when you're feeling helpless and weak? You never loved the hail - always have grown a dislike of it as a kid. Before, it was annoying, but it then morphed into something deep: the weather became a shadow of your loss. 

It was a day like this when you lost everything, and more. Any other day you would have ignored the scratching air outside by sleeping, but it has been like this for three days and you're already feeling the stuffiness suffocating your lungs - grating your nerves in quick irritation. 

"You shouldn't keep doing that." 

You squeaked at the voice that filled the silence, hugging yourself in quick submission as your eyes found tired, minty ones.

The dullness in them made you ease, at the same time, concerned - the sun isn't up yet - why is he awake?

You put a hand on your beating heart, calming the organ before giving the mist pillar a small smile that’s admittedly more forced than you liked. "How long were you here Muichirou?" You asked, voice softening as the frustration that once bubbled inside you turned into one of dismayed solemnity. 

The hashira stared at you for a second - face lacking any sort of emotion as he holds the warm tea in his hand. The toundai that shines just a meter away covers him in a warm color, heightening his soft features: black, well-kept hair framed his cherubic face in gradient accent, his sharp nose accenting his thin pale lips and his doe-like eyes -gosh, those clear pool of calm mint never failed to captivate you. 

You could stare at him for a whole day: him just sitting like this; him just minding his business.

The fingers above your heart twitched at the sight of him, the spark of warmth slowly burns your tips up to your cheeks. You wouldn't openly admit it to anyone - but you find Muichirou captivating, cute, an air head maybe - but that only made him more charming in your eyes.

You sigh out the fluffiness that gathered in your lungs as your closed smile grew longer. You couldn't have contained it – not when you’re too busy ogling at him like a lovesick fool that you are.

Muichiro's nose twitched - perhaps because of the cold - and you can't help but think of him like a rabbit when you did, coaxing your heart to warmed up at the cute display despite the cold air around you. 

"I was here..." The raven-haired cut his stare with you as his attention fell on the steaming cup in his hands - expression dull as his voice. "Before you."

Wait… does that mean…

Your fond smile cracked. "A-ano!" Your face is now heating up in a different reason as your hands flew around you as if they’ll help you explain the mistake you just committed.

Swear, you didn't mean to ignore him when you busted in the room! You were so focused on checking the weather with your frustration blinding you that… you kind of… forget why the light is still on in this room. You swear you did not know he was here!

You laughed nervously, coaxing your abash composure into normal. "G-gomen." You bowed repeatedly to the man before you, feeling your face numbed from the growing shame you felt for literally forgetting his existence just a moment ago. "I didn't mean to neglect your presence, Muichirou!"

"You tend to do such feat."

Your confidence shattered in pieces at his nonchalant reply. You were about to shoot him another apology when his cold voice stopped you, gripping you immobile at the remorse he splays for you to roll on. "You always seem to blank out often," The mist pillar sips on his tea, not uttering a noise nor movement but his thoughts. "More so right at my direction."

You can literally feel the guilt-tripping laced in his voice poisoning your diminishing confidence. You don't know what to say.

"I don't know if I should feel offended," He chose his words carefully, your eyes landing on the way he nibbled his lips in thought. Gosh, you know he's guilt tripping you but why, why be a tease Muichirou--

"-Or should I be flattered." 

Your eyes narrowed for a sec before widening into a ceremonial tea bowl.

...Because hold up. What.

You gawked at Muichirou with your jaw hanging - face heightening its temperature in heated captivity. Did you hear him right?

"Tell me, (Name)." Muichirou doesn't seem to realize the affect he has on you and still asked for inquiry. "Am I wrong with one of the conclusion I've made?"

You inhaled your answer, and sharply replied. "Yes!" 

He was taken aback at your emotion as you calmed yourself down, looking at him with a serious expression that he could relate to. "I-I mean… yes, you're right."

He blinked. For a second you think you came out strong but you're glad he understa--

"Oh." His deflected posture quickly made you deflate. Which of the conclusion did he thought was right? It’s obvious. His reaction screamed the former, and you were quick to correct it. 

"But in a good way!" You concluded to him, and he took your words in his mulling form brighter compared before. You took his silence and the glint of interest in his eyes as cue to go on. 

"I just really, really find you captivating, Muichirou." You explained with a solemn, but sure voice - your attention fell on the floor out of embarrassment, as the tip of your fingers met each other bashfully. 

"I know that was straightforward of me, I know!" You defended strongly - still not meeting his stare in fear of what his reaction might be. "I just, I can't help it every time I look at you - you're just really charming on your own way that it made me stop thinking…” You rubbed your arm awkwardly. “And I suddenly want to observe you, you know?" 

You gave him a close-eyed smile, one that shows how much care and adoration you bottled up for him. You did not hear any reply, nor did you want to.

Because you slowly realized that you now basically confessed to him!

You quickly rambled on with this distracting heat covering your face.  "Augh! I'm sorry, that's so weird of me..."

"Don't apologize…" He mumbled the next few words - unreachable to your ears, and cryptic with the howl of the wind deafening you.

But you dare opened your eyes in curiosity, only to sharply inhale at his reaction. He's staring at the wall before him, and you couldn't help, but marvel at the angelic sight before you. 

There's a small smile on his usual dull expression - it looked foreign on him, but it was one of a good different among other. The suffocating fluff that once gone came back in full force - egging you to picture this sight of his, frame them at the very crevices in your mind.

Because who knows if you're dreaming such a scenery. Your eyes couldn’t look away. If ever, you don't want to wake up.

The color of sakura prepping pale cheeks gave luster to his facial feature soothed your blood in velvet heat and the way his eyes lit up… you felt your own brightly smiled at his. And the satisfying throb inside your chest deepened when his stare founds yours.

"Would you like to have tea with me?"

You nodded quickly - looking like that love sick fool that you are as you crawled towards him like a dog meeting her master. His eyes widened at your giddy reaction, before chuckling at your act.

The solemn, tinkling sound of his distinct voice gripped your breathing as the air inside of you slowly being replaced with the sensation of fluffy admiration.

You need to hear him chuckle more often.

___

"You… only have one tea, Muichirou."

The man merely gave your reply no attention as he shoved his cup on your hands.  You have to get used to the sight of his cheeks being pink, or else you would keep staring at him.

The mist pillar raised his hand to his face, the sleeve of his yukata hiding his lips as he whispered amidst the howling wind. 

"The sight of your smile is enough to warm me up." 

This smooth beast.

You couldn't handle it.

"Muichi-Kun~" The way your voice coo at him made the poor pillar's heart palpitate in haste. You threw the teacup aside, forgotten and not minding the damage it cost as you all but pulled him into a tight hug - your cheeks nuzzling his, defenseless against your loving embrace.

Muichirou did not know how to react, but rather awkwardly put his hands on your waist as the distinct smell of your particular scent invaded his nose in warm abundant - filling his insides with a foreign warmth that made him feel suffocated.

Still, he wanted more.

"How can you be so soft~" You praised him with voice velvet with charming childishness, earning you a bright red hashira in your arms. You raised one hand and started petting his head, as the other locked him tighter on your frame.

You kept humming, and he could the vibration from your throat – and it made him speak up shyly.

"Y-you're soft too." Muichirou replied quietly - mostly to himself, but his compliment reached your ears, heightening your act of affection on him.

When the tip of your nose grounded themselves on his neck, your breathe fanning and tickling his skin - Muichirou couldn't handle it.

His mind blank out, and he felt not the bit of the loneliness the hail provided – but the furnace of your affection coddling him secure. Safe, protected and wanted.

And in that hail, you finally gained something. Someoneprecious.

"I feel the same way."

Chapter Text

"You'll be capturing lot of men's heart, Kyoujurou." Shinobu stated, finished with his make-up after a brush of ointment on his lips: the bright red lipstick showing wonders to his pale complexion.

"Please," Kyoujurou replied in a high pitch tone that made the insect pillar choked on her spit. "Call me Kyouko-chan."

"That's the spirit, Kyouko-chan!" Mitsuri exclaimed happily as she tamed his unruly hair down into curled strands. How she managed the impossible, we wouldn't know. "Do the impossible! Spread love with your beauty!" oh now we do-

"Aren't you doing that already, Mitsu-chan?" The man-turned-woman tilted his head in question, making the pink-haired giggle uncontrollably and slapped his back.

Shinobu heard a bone breaking somewhere in there but props for flame daddy not reacting to it.

Meanwhile, (Name) closed in the room as she raised a sunset-colored hikizuri for everyone to see - red obi were tied around her neck like a scarf.

"I think this would look good on him since he has a pretty nice ass! This obi will hug his beautiful frame and let the booty flow!"

"Thank you so much for picking the best color to fit me, (Name)-chan!" Kyouko-chan turned around to give their comrade a thankful grin.

And what beauty she had seen.

One hand cupped her lower face as (Name) blushed at the beautiful woman sitting in front of her. Elegant looks, wide eyes - adorable personality. Oh kami. Maybe he can be gay. He is perfect to be gay - the perfect seme to an uke…! The other way around? Or, or… 

She didn't know that a revelation will happen to her - but here it is, here's the truth. Staring at Kyoujurou makes her feel the gay.

"Kami." The woman breathed, fanning herself with one unoccupied hand. "You're beautiful, Kyou-hime."

Kyoujurou blinked at her with wide eyes, before his closed, reserved smile lit up the room. 

Being called a princess made the flame pillar chuckle behind his sleeves - the fleeting sound making the (element) hashira's knees felt like jelly.

"I know right?!" Mitsuri giggled as she winked with a playful tongue out. "The boys won't know what hit them!"

(Name) blinked at her in tears, nodding and staring at the flame pillar in a new light.

They better be questioning their sexuality after this because she sure did.

Brought to you by, baby Inosuke having a race with literal boars. Put that in your mind. Visualize it. Happy? I sure am.

Again.

Baby boar-head inosuke.

The Hashira men don't know how to react if ever they'd see one of their leader figure dressed like a woman. But truthfully told, half of them don't even want to; but there's a slither deep inside them that sways them to have interest in this idiocy they're participating in.

"Do you think he'll look like a middle-age courtesan from the red district?" Obanai asked his peers, staring at the room the girls disappeared into.

"I'm betting my money he'll look more as someone else's flamboyant grandma." Tengen laughed at his own statement as he down a bottle of sake, trying to remove the imagery in his mind. The bitter look on his face said it all, and no one wanted to ask what kind of shit did he just imagined.

"I don't know." Gyomei silently preached in his seat. "Listening to the girl's reactions at Muichirou makes me think of the possibility it'll work out."

"I don't want to even think anymore." Sanemi stated in the background, massaging his temples with eyes wide in horror. "Just looking at Muichirou made me almost die."

"I won't be responsible for your death." The mist pillar retorted, drinking cup of sake without anyone stopping him down because they know how badly he wishes to forget this night ever happened. His one decorated hair is halfway undone as he sniffled, finally ruining his make-up with his snot and kimono. "I am… considering to kill myself." Emo boy turned.

Giyuu perked up at that. "I'll accompany you." He turned to look at his fellow pillar until he stopped - eyes turning blank at the horror he had seen as his mouth frothed. Sanemi didn't have the energy to laugh at that even if he wanted to with how coarse his voice is.

No one is looking at Muichirou now - much to his happiness - because if they did, they might suffer the same fate as the poor Tomioka, who seems to be convulsing and at the edge of seeing Sabito beat his depressed shit.

"BOYS~"

All of the conscious men in the room stiffened at that forced, high-pitched voice. Afraid to even turn around to look at the owner in fear at what they might see.

Shinobu threw a handful of sakura petals as confetti in entrance. "We have returned with the new and improved;"

"KYOUKO-CHAN~" Mitsuri gestured at Kyoujurou with jazz hands, giddy and happy as she made way for the beauty to enter.

Everyone swore a sun entered the room with how bright the flame pillar was, and as soon as the men delighted in the brightness that grant them blindness - it was soon over.

Only to be graced by Amaterasu-sama herself.

Obanai gripped his hair in disbelief, eyes ready to pop out of their skull. "NANTEKOTTA I?!?!?!?"

"WHOAAAAH." Tengen screamed - standing up and pointing at Kyoujurou in utter shock, spilling several sake at Giyuu and Muichirou who aren't paying attention. "SUGOI!!!"

Sanemi couldn't even move his eyes away from that beauty. "Fuck." Even if they feel like drying.

Gyomei only laughed at his comrade's reaction delightfully. "I told you so!"

Before tearing up at the thought that he couldn't see the beauty himself. Poor bb.

Everyone marveled at the goddess reincarnated, posing as he did while the Rengoku smiled at them so elegantly one could mistake him as a daimyo's daughter. (Exception for his hulking frame of course.)

"Arigatou gozaimasu~" Kyoujurou giggled in a venomously high-accented tone that scratched the men's ears to bleed.

The mirror of beauty the flame pillar once marveled, cracked loudly at the sound of his voice.

Obanai, Tengen and Sanemi's souls left their body out of shock. Their poor body couldn't handle such stress.

"Oh gosh!" Mitsuri gasped, before turning to the Rengoku with a wide, giddy smile. "Your beauty even made them faint! How lovely!"

Shinobu is shaking, biting her lips as she struggled to contain her laughter while gripping on her fellow (hair color)-haired pillar. Said pillar was still staring at their leader with clasped hands, eyes twinkling and tearing up at the goddess before her.

"You are so beautiful, Kyouko-hime." (Name) dried her tears with Shinobu's haori. "So marvelous."

Kyoujurou flipped his hair majestically, blond locks flowing behind his head like sunshine. "I know."

Yep. That's it.

(Name) converted to gayism.

Or lesbianism, depending who you ask.

"I feel an unsettling disturbance." Inosuke chirped on their futon - the bubble that was once blowing out of his boar nose popped.

Zenitsu groaned at being awakened and spat, "Don't you fucking always."

"Zenitsu!" Tanjirou scolded the blonde for cursing. "Not in the presence of my sister!"

"Fwucking."

The room grew cold.

The boys raised themselves up from their futon to look at Nezuko in disbelief. She's muffled by her bamboo muzzle, surely it isn't her, right?

Pink eyes closed in happiness at their attention and raised her baby hand in the air.

"Fwucking!" Her beautiful first words echoed around the room.

Zenitsu felt the burning stare of the older Kamado as he scrambled out of his futon - the hollowed laughter of Inosuke shooketh the whole Wisteria rest house.

"Zenitsu…" The roar of flames brightened the room as the burgundy boy took his katana.

"I hope you already recited your prayers."

Tanjirou smiled as he unsheathed his blade, looking down at his tearing companion with nothing but death screaming in his eyes.

Never did the poor blonde thought that a kind smile could literally kill.

Chapter Text

They mirrored the pain hold against their hope.

You thought you lost him. You thought you'd be alone forever. You thought… you thought..!

But he didn't.

Kyoujurou is strong. He always is, and will be. It's one of the reason you fell in love with him.

He survived the train - you managed to arrive just in time and intervene with the fight. You might've garnered broken bones, chipped ears and a few missing fingers, but the pain is nothing compared to the thought of losing him. 

He lived. That's what matter.

And now, he's awake.

You hastened your hold at his rough, charred hands. Curling them against your own in hope and happiness. The crevices of scar and molten skin on his fingers mold against your palm, tipping you to kiss them as your heart gripped at the sight of his lively, jasper eyes. 

To see him in one piece, alive and breathing - it's all but a blessing. You must've done something right in this horrid world to have him alive. You must have truly deserved him like the promised he made.

You smiled brightly at him, tears falling free as your grin shined in fondness. You missed his voice, so much that--

"Who... are you?"

Your heart stopped.

Its rhythmic beat played in disbelief as the organ squeezed the air out of your lungs - freezing your joy that once bathed your soul. His question... they covered you with the sensation of falling down in a pit.

Warm tears fell down on the floor in quick abundance, the joy in them halted into sorrow as you look into the eyes you fell in love with.

And how they stared at you in confusion.

Your fingers gripped onto his unresponding hand - eyebrows furrowing in fear and frustration as your head ache at the numbing horror that shrivels your heart.

You don't want to believe this is true. It can't be true. It just can't.

"Kyoujurou... it's me, (Name)?" You begged, questioned - not even sure how to feel in a situation like this. You gulped down the retching sob that squeeze your throat, stilling your frame straight for him. Just for him. "Your betrothed."

Kyoujurou promised you. He promised that he'll marry you after this - how can he forget? How can he forget you? Can he not realize the connection of the ring on his finger? On your own?

You raised his hand to your tear-stained cheek, vision blurring from the relentless water that escapes your lids. "It's me," Your voice cracked even more when no ounce of realization sparked in his expression - just staring you down with dull, painful hesitation. "Don't you remember me?"

Your eyes begged his, wishing, hoping, praying, that his words are nothing but figment of illusions that bridled from his pain. Just like concussion, right? It has to be temporary concussion. It has to be.

Your face nuzzled on his limp hand - lips trembling while your heart beat painfully slow in its bony cage. 

You waited for any sort of hope in those warm orbs, waiting for any sort of light, affection, realization - anything!

But nothing. Nothing glinted in his sunset-filled eyes.

He only glance at you like one would to a stranger whose mind's deranged with grief or fascination. There's pity reflecting in those orbs you fell in love with, and those lips that kissed you in the loneliest nights only quirked in a forced, apologetic smile that felt so insincere towards you.

"I'm sorry."

You felt like the world stopped before your very eyes as you keeled before him. Hugging his unresponsive hand in yours as you muffled your defeated cries in his bed sheet - the scream that wretched from your throat thundered in the room with grief.

How could this be.

Why is the world cruel to you?

You have him, he's alive.

He's here. Not dead. Alive.

Kyoujurou is alive.

Still you lost him.   

You lost him

Cruel was the heaven to bring him back.

Chapter Text

She called out their name towards the sky.

Mitsuri loves you. So, so much.

You were the one that showed the beauty in her, the one that gave her reason to find one at every person. Her hope, her muse, the person that gave her back her love with nothing, but a smile.

No one could replace you. 

She tried. She tried, and how she regrets it.

You're irreplaceable - none could replicate the brightest smile you wore; no one could give the same warmth they brought, one that that grips her heart in abandon and a smile that her lips ached to return.

No lover could give her the same passion of your embrace, the same softness of your kisses, and of the wanton touch that graced her skin, lips, and chest that you bore with just a caress of a finger.

You were you, the only one she wanted - the person she could love as such. Try as she could to imagine you in their embrace; they weren't you. They're not you. No one else can be you.

She learned that the hard way.

A year, she did not return to where you are - lost, brokenhearted. People tried to mend her, cheer her up, but alas, they're not you.

Yet, she tried her best to cease the concern people around her - just for you - you wouldn't be happy if you saw her like this. She knows, because in that hole you left, was slight crack of your brightness peeking through.

So she tried her best to see you in her dreams, to keep her spirit up as she tries to replay your voice calling her name. That soft, gentle whisper of her name.

"Mitsuri."

And your distant voice would make her heart leap in joy, even if it shatters her heart little by little. 

The memory she shared with you, your smile… your eyes. Sadness grips her throat as it trembles to keep your name in her lips. Her lungs shook as she tried her best not to cry.

Because you're here. Finally, you're here.

She stared at you with a practice grin on her face - green eyes still glimmering with the spark of undying adoration and everlasting devotion; sparkling and hidden by the glaze of warm tears threatening to stream her face.

The setting sun glinting the gold band around her finger as he set the bouquet of [favorite flower] down to the place you’ve called your own.

She touches you, your name and hers, fingers shaking from the coldness of your warmth.

"I love you, Mitsuri."

She inhaled and let her tears flow at the sight of you, voice cracking as she recalls her day with your love echoing in her mind.

"Good morning love! How's my favorite person-ever doing?"

She dried the plump tears that brimmed her eyes as she struggled to keep her wide, shaky grin.

Because for you, she will smile.

Because you always loved her smile.

And she loves yours.

"I'm doing well considering…"

Even if the smile you wore is nothing, but the brush of kanji on marble stone.

But only the winds listened to her.

Chapter Text

Fallen tears, the smell of home...

"I thought you already stopped." 

Accusing. Your tone was accusing when you approached the troubled man with a visage of deep distaste.

Giyuu just stared at his glowing stick with a silent remorse, asking himself the same question you've just uttered. 

Opium have always been his vice. He tried to smoke one every few months to keep his emotions tame. The deep musk flowing in his lungs numb him - the poison lifting the weight on his nerves - it made him feel less, and he wanted it that way.

No one dared try to correct him of his abuse, and if they did - they would have done it comically without taking consideration of his feelings. Shinobu have a talent to dig her words deeper than their nichirin - it wouldn't be a surprise if you pull the same stunt.

You would remind him this and that - warn him of the after effects. But ever since you became a part of the hashira, you've started doting on him like a mother hen. 

You found confidence and berated Shinobu and Sanemi from bullying him, made him eat three times a day and made sure to train with him. You've gone as far as forced him to sleep when he needed it even if he doesn't want to.

He doesn’t know why you're doing all of these. For the Tomioka, he thought of it as nothing as annoyance. 

You can't get something from him, and if you would - it'll be turned into an inside joke like what Shinobu did to him. He tried hard to put up his walls against you by fully ignoring your very being - and it somehow worked.

Until you've given him a talk. 

He found them breaking down the more he knew about you.

___

He was lucky to have you as his partner in hunting down this demon, and he swore he would've died at the hands of it if it weren't for you. But that didn't mean you saved him from the injuries he got.

The sooner you'll heal his scratches; the sooner he'll leave you be. That's what he planned, until he got distracted from his internal debate with your off-putting topic.

"I see my mother in you."

He blinked. He's tired - dreadfully so - and he just wanted to be alone. 

But Giyuu realized that this would be the first time you would share your past with him - and he halfheartedly processed what you said as tried to learn more about the mystery behind your act. Perhaps if he did, then he would know how to remove your very being from stalking his shadows.

So he listened.

"Both of you brood and have an aura that scares people."

You told him solemnly - tired but alert, mending his wounds as he tried not to flinch at the antiseptic burning his flesh into one. 

He felt your fingers fluttering on his bruise skin amidst the cotton - making him furrow at the spark that seem to follow their wake. Giyuu tried hard not to think at your gentle caress, but when your thumb flicker above his shoulder in reassurance; his body shuddered at the tenderness of your touch. 

"I always tell her to take better care of herself," You distracted him effectively, before shuffling as he smells the pungent scent of creamed wisteria behind him.

Gentle caress, soft touches - lingering warmth; Giyuu tried hard to ignore them as he listened to the melancholy in your voice.

"But all of the money I've earned repairing clothes always goes straight to her opium."

His mind turned blank.

Your touches forgotten and grew cold against him as he questioned you silently.

If you care for someone so deeply you would have done the opposite – yet, it didn't stop you. Why would you do that? 

"She told me it's one of the reason that makes her happy in this god forbidden world, and I believed her." Your digits stopped above his aching bruise, faltering as they limp on his warming skin as he processed your words.

"I killed her instead." A shaky inhale. "Because of overdose, you know?" You gulped, still shaking as he kept telling himself you're lying. You must be playing tricks on him. You must be.

"I... just wanted her to be happy."

Then why do you sound so genuine?

The deprecating chuckle that left your lips sound watery, the echoing vibration of your broken voice shook his lung into halt - but Giyuu did not move to comfort you. 

He dared not to. 

He doesn't know what he'll do if he sees your usual frowning expression morph into something depressing. He didn't realize how deep your words were before it hit him.

You see him following your mother's step - and it made you weak. 

To see - no, just to imagine you like that - fragile at the edge of breaking; he knows it'll break the impression he has on you.

There's only one person in his life that should feel sadness and it's supposed to be him. Only him. Not you.

To grasp the fact that one of the strongest people he knows crying over something like this would make his confidence shiver into nothingness. 

He wants to believe that you really are a pillar. Not someone fake like him.

That you're a strong, sturdy hashira. Someone that could carry the weight of hope returning successful with each mission – someone impossible to defeat even at useless banters – someone that he can't bear to lose.

Because he wouldn't know what he'll do if he did--

'Stop sobbing,' He kept repeating in his mind as he snarled at the pathetic noises you keep making. 'Stop it.' 

Giyuu's fingers dug themselves against his palm. Not moving an inch even as your arms hugged him to wrap the bandages around his frame. 

But you didn't stop. 

The shattered noise that left your lips made him feel. And it hurts him. It hurts his heart. The pain stepping at his organ with each sound of your sniffles intensified that he found his composure failing.

"I see her in you,"

You stated weakly as the pain of loss coated your voice in defeat, coaxing him to grit his teeth as he tried hard to focus on something else aside from your grief.

Why must you make him feel.

Why must you do this to him.

It's unfair. You're unfair.

He forced his eyes closed. The pain of stopping himself from crying heightened in its peak, boiling inside his chest as his shoulders shook in forced disbelief.

"I know that outside of this cold exterior of yours; you're also afraid."

Your comforting arms found themselves around him, careful as you curled on him. He could feel the plump of your cheek above the nape of his neck, your hair - the flutter of your lashes.

And the warmth of your tears trailing down his spine. 

They were suffocating him, and he's slowly becoming tired of running away from you that… that he weakly admitted that fine, you're right. You won.

He is a coward. 

"No." Your voice reprimanded his confession, hurting but still strong. "You're anything but that." 

Then why tell all of this? Aren't you doing this to make him break? Make him admit that he's nothing but a burden? So why are you doing this to him? Why are you making him goddamn feel if you weren't trying to make him admit the very flaw he tried to run away from?

Giyuu wondered where you found that strength to correct him, and even more so when you took his palm against yours - grounding him with the feeling that you're there. That he's not alone. You're there and he's with you. Somehow it made him feel... better.

"You're afraid of losing someone else, that you succumbed to the temptation of drugs in order not to feel." Your words found themselves nestling in his shattered heart, mending them together as you did with his wounds. He's confused. Why are you comforting him instead of yourself? How can you do such a feat even when you're hurting?

The intimacy you showed were tender, overwhelming and the way you hold onto him as if he'll shatter any minute. And if you hold him so softly like this - then he might as well.

"It's okay to cry."

He felt your dried lips kissing his nape, leaving a lingering, shuddering warmth in his wake.

"Because I'm afraid to lose someone too."

Giyuu found his shaking hand covering his face - firmly forcing his tears to stop from streaming endlessly as a wretched defeated sound escaped his throat.

Why are you making him feel?

He sobbed, he cried - all of his defenses are down as he curled up against your hold, but you didn't laugh at him. 

You only pulled him tighter as you joined him.  Tears creating a shadow on his back that bore weight with your words.

"I'm afraid to lose you."

With love, he found it all.

Chapter Text

"Fool. He's such a fool."

You gritted your teeth – gnashing them gristly at the jealousy that boils in your stomach. Watching him interact with that adopted Kochou chick through your peripheral view, filling the cup of already brimming anger in your being. You use such emotions into swinging your bokken on the practice stump with a bit too much force. 

Muichirou raised his eyebrows at your action, the attention he had on the clouds drifted towards the blisters flying in the air with each of your attack – a hairline of a crack evident on your wooden sword. He watched you with dull eyes, before simply chuckling to himself. "You should have known he'd like someone cute."

The poor pillar's tea cup almost met the sharp ping of a pebble if he didn't dodge just a millisecond late. You wouldn't say the same with Inosuke's poor head though – he’s currently looking for the culprit as he all but pointed at Zenitsu as the main suspect.

Ignoring the event happening behind the mist pillar - you stomp on your feet and crossed your arms in dismay - letting out a haughty huff at his comment and raised your chin to show your already-bruised pride.

"I'm cute!"

Muichirou blinked, an agonizing blink before snorting. "If you say so."

Frowning, you sighed - feeling tired at this jealousy boiling inside your chest as you sat beside the pillar. Hopeless. That’s what you feel when you’re with that Kamado. For a strong warrior like you to even struggle at the grasp of ‘love’ makes the whole thing ironic.

Still, you mulled over and over at the fact if Tanjirou would feel the same way with you. It's not surprising that he'll have admirers with that kind personality of his - but when he literally slapped your senses back to you after tying to commit harakiri…

Well, you could say you admire him more than his personality. 

You tried to think less of the Kamado, and as a pillar you've gone through it successfully with all your missions. But seeing him again in this estate just… made your feelings surface even though they've been buried deep inside your frustration. 

‘To see him grow, it made me feel whole.’

You wonder how it would be to receive his warming smile the moment you wake up, ground yourself at the tender touches his roughened fingers would make - or what would it feel like to have burgundy eyes filled with loving gazes looking into yours instead of the usual respect. 

You bit your lips at the thought, cheeks warming at the scenario running rampant in your mind, before slapping your forehead like a fool for even thinking of the possibility of it.

Being in love… it's only human to wish for such things with someone special, it's only humane to crave for them and yet...

'He would never consider me as more than just a mentor to him.'

___

Torturous. Perhaps that's what you felt when you watch him train with Kanao. It's like ingesting a bitter medicine for your already bitter heart.

It reminds you why you fell in love with him; his kindness, his thoughtful acts. Even as he smiled at the blushing girl, you couldn't help but appreciate the scene instead of hate her.

A lone, warm tear fell down on the wooden floor, but even then - your broken visage wore a love-stricken smile.

'He always had the brightest smiles.'

___

"(Name)-san."

Picking up the last of your own baggage, you turned slowly around at that treacherous, warm familiar voice.

Something akin to a tumor managed to grow in your throat - your eyes getting blurred at the thought of his name as the familiar taste of salt reached your lips. 

"How have you been, (Name)-san?" Voice full of sheepish innocence broke down your walls - familiar burgundy eyes curling with yours. 

He's finally awoken. This stupid, stupid boy.

You dropped the harvested laundry much to Aoi's dismay as you all but ran into him, pulling him to your frame with the tightest hug you can ever give.

"You fool." 

You sobbed tirelessly - relief over-washing your fatigue that grated your nerves for weeks. Not caring of any decency, not caring of your hard reputation. That moment, you know – you know that you only care for him.

Your tears stream down your face freely as you buried your head against his shoulder, gripping unto him like your life's support.

You miss your student - you miss Tanjirou - much so than considered normal, and that thought alone could be an excuse to let your strong hashira's facade fall. 

"You made me worry," your fingers gripped his blue hospital clothes as you burrow your head against his neck - shaking in fear at the thought of this just being a vivid dream as you tried to inhale his musk to settle your nerves. "You goddamn fool."

"Haha," You felt, more than heard the laugh that bounced around your ears and embraced you as tightly against him. "One time is already enough, you know?" He chuckled, rubbing his face against your hair while calming you down in a familiar manner that soothes your heart. 

His gentle demeanor, his thoughtful hold - the scent of sun-dried grass and the closeness of his voice; you couldn't help it. You let yourself break down against him knowing that he'll catch you.

It might have only been a second, a minute or two – but his hug felt infinite, holding you in a desire filled with relief. You don’t ever want to leave in his arms, he made you feel like you belong.

As if just for a moment, you truly belong to him.

"I'm happy."

Your eyes fluttered at his soft-spoken words, tears clinging on them as his tanned arms pulled you closer against sturdy chest. You felt his heartbeat thrumming against your own, seeping on each other's warmth as you stood still like statues.

"At least I'm your fool."

Your heart stopped, and you swore you've failed to register his falling tears in your memory; because those words - those goddamn loving words - squirmed itself tight in your aching heart.

'I wished he never said them.'

___

"You're going back." 

You slowly whispered, not in a question than it should be - but a disappointing statement. He nodded solemnly, his face covered in soot and mud, but still pristine compared to the others with you.

Watching how the sparks and embers shadowed his face is relaxing - especially after what you've all had gone through. His deep expression is one of those that instills itself with ambrosia - and it would've made your heart skip a beat if not for the news he suddenly threw on you.

"It should be me..." He lamented, voice deep as his remorse. 

'Haven't you promise we'd go through this together?'

Your mind snarled at him with full bitterness, but you only replied with silence. 

You considered his death wish, before sighing reluctantly. Closing your eyes in frustration and missing the way his own orbs shown regret. 

"Good luck then." And it snapped. 
Your emotions had once again been barred to your soul and never would have you feel the sweet taste of reciprocated love.

But the way he replied; the way he quietly laughed. That noise sweet and full of that innocence you adore so much --

"Thanks (Name)-chan, I'll be needing a lot of it." 

-- it melted your soul. 

You gripped his hand against yours as you peppered his dirtied visage with loving kisses. His laughter became giggles, and you joined him - his lips found yours one last time, before leaving.

'Never to return.'

He looked back and gave you a reassuring smile, gripping his nichirin blade with gusto - and you smiled with him. 

But yours is a forced joy than his. Because all this time, you know that you're the only fool in this story.

'I should've known not to fall for him.'

"...At least he's your fool even in the end."

Chapter Text

He's misunderstood.

Genya raised his middle-finger at you, and even shoved a thumbs down on your face for better measure. "No, fuck you!"

The audacity of this man…!!!

"Yeah, I'd fuck me too!" You glared at him, squaring your shoulders and shoved your finger down on his chest. "Better than you would!" Then you pointed at his groin. "Better than this small thing could!"

His face burst into flames.

"S-SHUT UP!" He screeched - trying to grab you, but you evaded his hands in order to raise your own middle finger up at his reddening face. 

"See this? This fucking small digit - this fucked me up better than you would ever could, now shut the fuck up or I'll shove it up your ass." You pushed the degrading sign right up his scarred face. 

Genya doesn't know if that's a threat, or a promise. 

"You-" He dropped his jaw, cheeks red and blushing at your retort as he clenched his fingers in frustration. "-You!"

You scrunched your face at his reaction, now raising both of your middle fingers up in the air "No, you."

Still, you understood him.

Chapter Text

There was a man afraid of love.

After a long week of dreadful assignments and unfinished casual talks shared between the two of you - made him miss you in more ways than one.

The frustration of not seeing and touching you made the raven-haired man stand at the edges of his own nerves. Giyuu was spoiled by your love and he's having a hard time coping with the lack of affection.

He was not used to the distant connection and it showed. He became moody, fidgety and all too easily annoyed whenever his out of class. But no one seemed to notice, since he's too good at hiding it.
Or so he thinks.

Days like these come and go, even in the three years of relationship with you. But time and familiar situations aside, he still hated it. He never got used to it. To the distance and lack of you - it only made him sore and bitter in the inside. People say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but to him it, it's the complete opposite: it's a timed torture even he couldn't adjust to.

And he's infamously known for torturing himself with depressive thoughts until you came into his life.
Giyuu knows its immature of him to want your constant attention. You have your own life and time - but he couldn't help being a bit selfish when it comes to you.

You're one of the best things that stayed in his life, and he'd be stupid not to relish every second of that.
Yes, he comes off as somewhat clingy; like a kindergartner's first time being left in the daycare.

But if you find this part of Giyuu annoying or suffocating - you would have told him so.

Although, silently the Tomioka knows that you don't mind. You haven't made a point with it per say, but he knows it. He knows it by the reassuring warmth you give him whenever he wrapped you in his hold a bit too tight – he knows it by the genuine taint of smile you have on your face. 
He knows it by the trust and endearment that sparks in your eyes; their brightness nestling in his soul like heated fire.

He silently wished you shared at least one class with him so he could revel at you. To appreciate you in another light. But the probability of educ and (course) students coming together in one class is rare.

Giyuu sighed, taking his bag with him as he drags his body to his last class - gripping his textbooks with frustration lingering his wake.

For the man, the lack of your company for so long is overwhelming.

___

Giyuu's phone vibrated, halting him midway at his descendant on the stairs with practiced reflex. He fished the item out with a blank look, before ocean eyes softening at the picture of the texter on his screen.

It's a lazy picture of you brushing your teeth in his favorite shirt - and while he could list of hundreds of pictures of you from attractive to more attractive; he'll save this one as the first place. Not because he could see more of your skin on this, no.

It's more than that.

This was the time you invited him to your apartment to sleep with him after all. Your first night together was painfully awkward, but incredibly sweet - and that memory of two people cuddling, reveling in shared affection - it's by far one of his favorites.

Giyuu's phone vibrated once again, catching the stray attention his mind had run off to. Opening your message with fevered excitement, he devotedly read every word in your shared chat.
You texted him that today is the last day of your "project rush", that you two will finally have more time together. Aww, you even sent him a heart emoticon!

His hand went up to his lips to hide the growing grin on his face. That's so cute of you. Giyuu felt like a high school girl: smiling dumbly at his phone as he delved at his excitement exploding in his chest.

He's already itching to hug you and relish in your presence because of that. Determined, he pocketed his phone and quickly fastened his pace just to get to his you - avoiding people who tried to talk him along the way.

Eager to finally be with you.

___

Your friends snickered when Giyuu pulled you in for a hug without warning.

You blushed uncontrollably at your boyfriend's brave move and apologize to everyone nearby about your "PDA".

Usually, he's too reserved and coy to pull a stunt like this, but after weeks of not holding you? Embarrassment be damn. Your warmth, your scent and your frame against his -- he wants them all.

He knows you're embarrassed with showing affection in public, but really - he couldn't care less since he knows you're okay with it - much to everybody else's chagrin.

Giyuu cuddled your face with his and savored your distinct scent and addicting warmth that enamored him.

Slowly, he felt the lonely burrow that's filled with liquid desperation dissolved in seconds, filling it with a wholesome ichor that only you could give. The luring embrace sweetened his soul in delight, making him let out a relieved sigh as the wave of longing for you washed away in sands of time.

You in his arms, your distinct scent and the cute noises you make - Giyuu really, really missed this.

Needless to say, he's so happy to just have you in his embrace after a very long wait.

"It's only been weeks, Giyuu." You giggled, hugging the tall man back with a big smile - no doubt feeling as lucky as him as you both basked in this shared affection. "Stop acting like it's been forever."

He mulled over your words, ocean orbs shining at the last word.

"Yes." Giyuu's eyes never left yours as his lips roused into a hearty grin - making your heart stop at the rare display of his genuine happiness before you. 
"It felt like that."

You gripped your chest and made a face, the sight of Giyuu smiling so carelessly and the feeling of his lips lingering on your forehead didn't ease your fast heartbeat.

'Ah... I'm so lucky to have him.'

Unbeknownst to you, he feels the same.

Always, and forever.

Then he craved more.

Chapter Text

The desire he have for you makes him weak,

The solemn whisper of the howling breeze tickled the demon's ears in sobriety, followed by the clanking of the souzo amidst its gentle running water. The evening is hailing - a normal occurrence in mid-winter of late January - and it painted the world of darkness with the gift of abundant white.

The pitter-patter of soft frozen rain and its bitter wind would deter anyone with a sane mind to enjoy the evening outside. And yet, Douma did not shy from the night's frigid embrace. He took it in; uncold of the weather before him, smiling forlornly at the cloudy sky with glazed eyes, and his slow, beating heart longing deeply for someone by the title of (Name).

Douma finds himself enjoying his freshly-brewed tea in such an evening. Something he does not participate in, even if he has nothing to do when he's bored.

It might be the first time he'd done this - to drink human beverage that used to be worthless to him - but he found himself thinking he might've drank tea a thousand times in this long life of his with how fulfilling it is for the demon.

One would ask why he's doing something so out of character, and he would not hesitate to answer them with an adoring whisper that it's all because of this familiar cup in his hand.

This ordinary object reminds Douma of you, and how you make him feel: cold, before filled with the contents of warm love. The feel of seasoned porcelain, even just the mere sight of it - felt natural… smooth, and languid. 

To think that the demon even started this pseudo party for himself was already an indication enough that he wanted more of your presence in his life.

The warm cup nestled perfectly in his large hands - creating an obscure the image of your own hand in his. The beverage steamed against his pale expression in silky wisps as he sipped at it tenderly - lips cupping over the feel of the stolen ware with a giddy smile rather than enjoying the taste itself.

The black tea is nothing but bland water to his tongue compared to the excitement of drinking human blood - still, after visiting your dainty little tea shop - it was all he could do to reminisce about you as he willed himself to enjoy the numb flavor with fevered ardent. 

His blonde strands are messy and unkempt, still wearing his old clothes from yesterday - almost as if trying to prolong the night spent with you in hopes to bring you into his dreams. Yet, they were uneventful much to his distaste - quite the opposite with the times he spent with you. 

A wistful breath ghosted his lips, replaying the notable events that caressed his soul in rhythmic thrum. Your smile, your eyes - even the flaws you carry; everything about you makes him wanton.

How selfish, he thought to himself - he's indulging the idea of you, without you. 

Perhaps, if you'd give him a chance, he'd do much more than just stare and be playful with you. He'd give you everything your mortal life would want, anything under this dark sky - because you are the everything his longing heart desire.

And he never wanted more but to have you share your eternity with him. 

How unique, and spectacular you are; to capture this man's interest with nothing but that denying personality of yours. 

___

"I'm sorry, but I don't serve creeps."

Douma's chest rumbled at that, the sound of wholesome entertainment whispered above his lips; chuckling at the memory of your own curling in disgust when he pulled you to his lap. 

You said those words as if you weren't doing just that for the last few days, and it entertained Douma at how hard you refuse such a powerful man like him.

His smile pulled over your lips, breathe fanning your face and teasing you as the tip of this nose rubbed against your own. His foreign eyes curled in satisfaction when your face taint with the hue he so adored.

"You know well I could pay you to entertain the likes of me." He spoke them with a promise of a good night, but when your eyes flinched at his words - he couldn't help but hope. They might be annoyed, yet their distant shine isn't lost to him.

In your mind, he knows that you're also considering that possibility

Then, the demon finds himself musing at the thought of kissing your thoughtful eyes closed - to feel your eyelashes against his mouth - cradling your head as he all but pepper more on your ever-warming face.

Douma would have done that in a heartbeat if you didn't rudely push him away.

"Excuse me?" You remarked with disgust. Your scent overwhelming his as your dainty fingers made way to slap him - but his head did not budge when you did. The pain was nothing to him, but the way your hand mold against his cheek - it twinges an ache in his chest, ghosting the pain of your weak strength in such pleasure he never knew he would feel.

Douma sighed at your angry expression, smiling like a lovesick fool at the magic of your touch. Would it be possible to pay you to hold him like this instead? Nothing perverse - unless you want to - he just wants your innocent act to be bolder. For your touches to stay a little bit longer, and your expression to grow softer as the perfect image of you in his imagination whistled a hearty tune his mind.

Call him desperate, but he would really do anything to have you near him like this.

"Do I look like a begging courtesan to you?" Your words sharply dragged itself, and Douma could only hummed - trying to sound thoughtful at your aggravated remark. "No," He leisurely moved his head so that your hand is just above his mouth, his smile kissing your heated palm with a twinkle in his eyes. "But your lips sure are."

You gagged loudly at his suggestion as you pulled yourself away, your visage growing redder as he doted at them in his fateful stare. The way the color misted over your cheeks was ethereal-- beautiful, and he found himself wanting to caress your face softly with his cold digits.

Yet, you refuse his wishes as you slapped his hand away, snarling at him for being so repugnant. "I serve tea you foul man, not sake!"

Douma chuckled at that, almost finding your words amusing as he tilted his head in interest, taking a pouch of pure gold from his yukata that he packed just for you; displaying its filled content for you to see.

"I think you can serve me more than just those." Douma asked more hopefully than before, voice husky and almost begging for you to say 'yes'. The innuendo did not escape your mind as your cheeks grew darker at his bright suggestion.

Your expression. He could look at them for eternity; even if they're scrunching like evening flowers in daylight. Douma wanted to kiss your frown away and let you unravel before him with his touches. You're just so beautiful, tempting - he can't stop himself. Perhaps if he would show you how much he desires you, you would--

"Out with you." 

He blinked owlishly, snapping away from his night dream as he all but looked up at you through his lashes. "Huh?" 

"Out I say!" You pulled him up from his seat and he did so willingly, raising his eyebrows at your embarrassed expression as you directed him out your space. The palms on his back are small and so endearing - it's hard not to get distracted when they're so warm against him.

"But I'm the only costumer you have-" Douma could stop you anytime, and yet he found this bravado of yours adorable that he doesn't want to. "-I have always been for the last few nights." When you picked your speed up, he laughed gingerly - it's truly hard to hate you if you're acting so cute and high before him. "Is this how you treat your loyal costumer?"

You finally pushed him out of your humble shop, expression unseen as he tried to peak from his shoulders. Douma pouted at that. Alas, your short form has been one of your adoring attributes, but not always it seems. 

"I don't care! Go have your urges filled with the women that needs your gold more than I do!"

With that, you closed your shoji behind him. The sound of wood meeting each other echoed around the area with a deep unwanted tremble - causing his heart to do the same as he stared at the barrier that separated you. 

The warm color of the lantern inside your shop illuminated your shadows, and his rainbow eyes crinkled at your distinct form more so than your act. You're stopping your feet in frustration. How adorable.

He'd forgive your brash words that felt untasteful in describing him - not because he's a lovesick fool - but because he could see that behind such childish tantrum; you felt embarrassed because of him. 

And that made his longing deeper; for you to feel something for Douma must have been the greatest drug he's ever in.

Addicting, that's what you are.

"Douma-sama! Are you okay?" One of his followers asked in haste.

They were scaring off possible patrons from your shop so that he could have you all to himself, but their concerned expression made him feel nothing compared to the frustration you have for him. "We'd make them pay for disrespecting you!"

"Nonsense." Douma smiled a splitting grin as he felt something alive beating his cold organ into crackle of heat as he stared at the very door that hides you. "I'd like to visit them more often."

His followers exchanged thoughtful gazes with one another at the genuine tone of his words, but they didn't voice out their confusion.

The way their master gently cradled your teacup - it was akin to one treasuring a gift from their betrothed.

And to Douma, it felt exactly like that.

___

A forlorn smile grazed his peaceful feature, bismuth orbs opening from the memory of yesterday's conversation.

The demon does not feel. It's one of his redeeming quality that he prides himself in. It makes killing easier, it makes eating more favorable. To him, it's one of his many talents.

Yet, you made him feel more than the pleasure of human meat. That itself was vague even for him when he first realized it.

He tried getting under your skirt to correct his theory - but you were an unwilling subject. Even if he tried persuading you with gold, meaningful promises and power that anyone would accept no matter what. Still, you stood your ground.

If you were any other human then he would have forced himself to you.

But you denying his advances did not make him frustrated - not even a midge of such emotion - he only felt the thrill of chasing after you.

Perhaps, the man asked himself countless times: is this love?

He's no expert in that matter, he'd seen his followers wed, make offspring’s and he's no alien with the act of making love.

But it's different with you. You proved him wrong that he doesn't just want your body, but your devoted attention as well.

It's the truth.

A mere touch of your skin made his control tremble, the whiff your distinct scent made his mind muddled with longing. No one had made his heart ache this way before. It's painful, delightful and the thought of you makes it even more.

Your love. His own needs it.

He let out another longing sigh as the fuzziness that cramped his chest, sipping the tea from your cup as he watched a certain snowflake dance along with its peer.

Douma's work as the upper moon leeches off what little sane energy he has. Respecting Muzan and his fellow upper demons is a feat he never thought would toll on his missing sanity, even more so with the demand of human after their latest trafficking got disbanded by a certain meddling demon slayer.

But today, it's different. Today, he's free.

A day off, a rare commodity in his job but something he learned to savor. As much as Douma wants to spend the night observing you behind the cacophony of trees near your house - you'd be at work for the next few hours. 

And he tried going to your shop. But the demon was unfortunately stopped by his devoting members with a foreboding warning. A pest of a slayer is holding you hostage in your own shop as you're forced to serve tea to the likes of him.

Douma felt angry of course - to not see you and your very being enjoyed by his enemies - any sane man would riot.

But he's not sane, he's far from that. He'd put a finger in his brain to prove such point.

As much as the blonde wanted you to be with him - he also knew that he needs to keep his distance from that annoying sunshine pillar everyone seems to adore.

If that pest tries to do something funny to you - the jounikizuki would not hesitate to torture that prick and feed his flesh to the lower demons that would enjoy the taste of scum.

So, Douma's stuck in the confine of his garden, enjoying the thought of you in this little souvenir you gave him with his spies sent to your shop to protect you in his absence.

He has enough of your blissful expression to occupy his mind for the whole night. He can entertain himself for hours with his memories of you.

Just this night, he'd be patient. Just this night.

Hours upon hours of recalling simple moments with you, his imagination wanders in dangerous depths that granted him more warmth than your bashful exchanges. A heated warmth that blooms unbashfully in his chest, and slowly traveling down in his stomach.

What if... he didn't have to visit you at night anymore? What if, he could finally relish your company with his own?

What it'll be like to see one of your honest smiles directed at him. To see your (eye color) orbs curl in mirth as reply from his own grin, or hear the twinkle of your laughter warming his chest from something he'd so flirtatiously joke. 

What would you look like if he tenderly grasps your cheeks under his palms - not fighting him anymore - as his own snuggles close to your visage? Would your cheeks blush in array of cherry? Or would it be like the hues of tsubaki? 

What it'll be like waking up next to you every evening, his senses overwhelmed by your scent, your heat as he buries his nose in your hair. How would it feel like to have you in his captured hold - the smoothness of your pristine skin exhilarating his heartbeat as his thumb he caressed you lovingly?

If he ever trailed kisses down your neck... If he ever whispered your name in husky desire; would you stare at him with doe-like innocence or share the lust that breathes fire within his chest? 

What it'll be like to finally kiss you. 

To have your lips fondled by his as he shows you how much love he has for you. To pull you in a tender embrace that'll grip your body into sweet submission. Just for him, all for him - before taking you close to his frame only to relish in you with shared passion.

What sounds would you make if his tongue meets your flushed skin - would you mew? Would you moan? Would you call his name in such manner he wants more? 

Imagination runs amok in his mind as he stared at the ever-darkening world - a full grin plastered on his face as he thinks of you, and only you.

Douma hadn't realized he'd been gripping his teacup the whole time - a feathered crack appearing as he found himself thinking more and more of his unfiltered desire.

And he hopes one day he'd made you feel the same.

Chapter Text

When (Name) asked the girls to make her into a “handsome man”, the guys don't want to even think of what she'll look like.

If ever, just the sight of Kyoujurou's and Muichirou's transformation terrified them.

But they'd be lying if they say they aren't interested. They'd be willing to have another migraine to satiate their morbid curiosity to see the man that their (Name) had become. Still, it scares them shitless.

"Do you think she'll have a one-eighty degree turn like… like," Sanemi asked his peers, gesturing at their leader-figure. The way the flame hashira reapply his lipstick and smacked his lips on the handheld mirror made them irk at the sight. Meanwhile, the mist pillar can be seen at the corner of the room hugging (Name)'s haori as he silently brood - perhaps harboring the most brain cells in the group, but it’s slowly decreasing every time he inhales idiocy.

"For the first time in my life," Gyomei stated while drinking the warm sake, smiling pitifully as he sighed. "I'm so glad I'm blind." 

Giyuu gripped on the hulking shoulder of the stone pillar. "Give me the same relief."

Kyoujurou clicked his tongue and gracefully put the mirror down on his lap. "Don't act pessimistic, I'm sure (Name) would be a handsome man!" The other pillars would have taken him seriously but by kami, his voice.

Why must he raise them like that.

"I theorize that she would look like a yakuza." Tengen stated in the background, picking up the lipstick and trying it on himself curiously. "She's as pretty as my wives so I'm sure the girls would need to make him flamboyant somehow." 

"I don't even want to think." Was Obanai's answer. Terrified of the horrors he will, and don't want to see. "I'm horrified. Why did she have to ask something like that?"

"Because she's crazy." Sanemi remarked with his mouth full, munching on a sashimi as he pointed at the snake pillar with his chopsticks. "I don't know what you see in her and Mitsuri, but you have a fucking weird taste."

"Don't you slut shame me." Obanai hissed, glaring at the grandpa with bravado.

"Excuse you," Kyoujurou spat, throwing his lipstick at Sanemi rather than Obanai for some odd reason. "Mitsuri and (Name) aren't hoes."

Tengen loudly gasped at the language like a dramatic queen hearing a juicy gossip about her bff for the first time. He looks like he wanted to say something, but he ended up coughing after accidentally inhaling the stick of the lipstick from his flamboyant act.

"The audacity of you two calling them hoes! They're nice people…" Muichirou cried, but no one was paying attention on him.

"Hoes?" Giyuu perked up at the word, before turning to Gyomei in question. "I'm surprised that Mitsuri and (Name) knew farming."

"I-" The stone pillar gave his companion a troubled look before downing his sake in silence. He wants to reserve his sanity, and he does so by ignoring everyone in silence.

Then the shoji of the closet opened loudly, snapping their focus as all the men in the room rigidly looked at the direction.

There's Shinobu looking smug, holding their beloved hashira's uniform in one hand, followed by Mitsuri crying over a bundle of (hair) strands. The two looked ominous behind the flames of a toundai, but the real question is; where the fuck is (Name)?

"Konni-fucking-wa bitches." 

All of the men were startled at the deep, booming voice and some even screeched in terror when the culprit greeted them at the balcony. We're not calling out names but the guys who hit the high notes were Sanemi, Giyuu and Tengen.

Sanemi quickly took a sake bottle and broke it with his fists, as if showing his dominance to the new male in the domain - no doubt the scent of his marechi blood arousing demons nearby - followed by his manly roar of "WHO UUUUU".

Obanai threw one of his plastic snakes at the stranger out of pure hysteria, but they ended up landing on Muichirou's feet as they all but slither up magically in his kimono. Poor bb is just staring at the new face with sounds of confusion scratching his throat. He might have lost his memories one time, but why the fuck that man looks heckin' familiar?

Meanwhile…. Giyuu merely stared at the hot daddy with a hand resting on his chest, eyes shining as roses and sparkles suddenly appear around him like one of those cliché romance anime. Gyomei still can't see shit, but he smacked the annoying rose that poked his face. Where the hell did those flowers came from anyway?

Kyoujurou stood up, and pointed at the short man with his red katana appearing out of the blue. To answer your question; there's a lot of space inside his hikizuri, you don't want to ask how he managed to stuff his weapon underneath his skirt.

"Guys calm down." Shinobu remarked everyone with an unamused tone. Of course, seeing how frantic they are - they'll do anything but that. 

So, butterfly queen calmly strode towards the stranger instead. "He's (Name)." She all but chortled when she felt a hand laid atop on her waist as she played with her hair, flirtatiously blinking at the woman besides her. "Handsome, isn't he?"

Everyone's reaction to that was justified because did they heard her right? Is this glorious man of a stranger -- their (Name)?

"Is he perhaps her brother?" Gyomei asked out of the blue, of which the other men tried to agree with that. There's no way (Name) can pull of that look - how on earth did she became a bae to a stud in an hour? They find it hard to believe such miracle can happen, even if she basically cut her hair off to prove that point.

"No… it's her." Mitsuri sobbed, snot coming out of her nose as she kept crying. "She even cut her lovely hair in dedication." And proceeded to scream w h y. The strands of hair sticking on her face made the scene much disastrous as her cry.

Meanwhile, (Name) dropped Shinobu on the ground as she all but pointed at the shocked hashiras with such manly grace the men couldn't help but swoon at.

"Ecchi Shiyou, motherfuckers." 

And how that sentence rocked their world. 

Kyoujurou squealed like a pig getting butchered at the invitation while Muichirou's face burst into flames, stuttering his embarrassment as he hides his face behind her (color) haori.

Gyomei couldn't adjust with the smoothness of her voice asking for their pussies. He might be blind, but his ears just orgasm at that baritone. 

Then there's Obanai and Sanemi - who are currently questioning their sexuality because who asks the impossible with a lidded expression like that and a deep voice like hers? They don't even have any vagina but they're tempted to conjure one for her damnit. 

Meanwhile, Giyuu on the background is trying hard not to show his yaoi expression but freaking failing. Instead, a shiny tear fell from his closed eyes as covered half his face - his fingers growing long somehow. "Her manly voice gives me reason to live."

And Tengen? Unbashfully, the sound hashira all but gripped (Name)'s Yukata as his hulking form kneel before the babe.

"Please." Tengen breathed, putting a hand on the cheek of this beautiful man before him. "I beg of you, be my husband."

(Name) also replicated the white head's act and blinked down at him dramatically. "But I don't have a dick."

His legs felt like jelly. "Keep saying dick please." 

"I don't have a dick?" Tengen sobbed with a red face, hugging (Name)'s knees as his head laid atop her stomach. 

"I don't care. Marry me and I'll give you one."

No one was happy about it. Except for Shinobu who seems to be inhaling sharply at all this yaoi scene like some kind of drug.

"Oi!" Obanai tried hard to scrape off Tengen off their daddy as he gritted behind his bandage. "Fuck off! I saw her first!"

"You mean him." Sanemi stated, before coughing into his hand and put another at (Name)'s shoulder. 

"Can you… say my name?"

"Shinazugawa." Yeah, he'd like it if (Name) have that last name right now but no, not that name. Sanemi frowned as he tried not to cuss out at her being a tease. "No. Say my first name." 

(Name) gave him a coy smile, one that easily warmed his stomach as she winked at him. "Of course, Sanemi." 

The wind pillar broke down. 

Both of his hands are on his face as he rolled on the floor in an embarrassed puddle of horny. "Oh goD fuckinG damnit why are you So HOT???"

"Since we're both cross-dressing," Kyoujurou stood up and hugged the clueless (Name) by her hips. "I declare us husband and wife."

"Wait, no." Giyuu spoke up his objection, snapping everyone of their daze as if expecting him to address their stupidity like he did before. 

"Can I at least be your mistress?" And… there goes their voice of reason. 

"Excuse me?" The flame pillar asked, flabbergasted at the gull of this depressed boi asking something so trivial. 

Giyuu looked at the otonoko and jusou in the room. Expression serious as he all but gaze at them with promise in his eyes.

"Can I be your mistress?" Is that even the correct term to call himself? He doesn't know - but he is willing to be a side hoe, just saying.

"No." Kyoujurou replied with no hesitation, keen on keeping the man to himself followed by him raising his chin in distaste. He would never, find Giyuu a comforting lover. Never.

The water pillar's expression soured at that. "Bold of you to assume I was talking to you Kyoujurou; I was proposing to (Name)."

The flame hashira made a constipated visage at that sassy reply while Mitsuri choked on the strands of (hair color) hair from laughing loudly. 

"Actually,"

The handsome woman spoke in a deep voice that makes everyone in the room felt like their knees became melted wax. "Why not we all form a harem?"

"…"

"Yeah. Like one big messed up Uzui pile?"

Everyone can hear crickets. Who in their right mind would agree to that?

"I have no objection." Giyuu and Tengen spoke up at the same time. Apparently, everyone is.

Obanai sweat dropped, but he hastily raised his hand. "I'm in if Mitsuri is also in-"

"I am. He's so handsome I'm unfolding." Mitsuri stated in tears, to which the Iguro added energetically; "Then I'm in!"

"Yeah, fuck no." Sanemi walked out of the room not having this shit, before returning the moment he walked out. "I actually fucking changed my mind. Yeah, count me in."

"I would be opposed of it but…" Shinobu spoke softly before looking at the man of her dreams, aka (Name). "I would sacrifice even my morale for him."

Gyomei raised his hand, almost in defeat at the big turn of event as he prayed for their doomed souls. "I'm okay with being the witness of your messed-up wedding and at the same time, be the priest."

Meanwhile, Muichirou sniffled, his brain cells deteriorating by the minute being exposed by the radiation of his peers. "I'm too young to get married."

"It's settled then!"(Name) pumped her fist up in the air before pointing at everyone. "Most of you are my bitch now."

Tengen guffawed loudly, clearly seeing himself in the shoes of their head lover. "Doesn't that make you a pimp?"

"Dude." Sanemi grimaced in mock offense. "That word is not invented yet."

"We aren't colonized by Americans, 'dude'." Obanai retorted with a roll of his eyes, followed by Mitsuri asking, "What's American?"

Kyoujurou rubbed his temple at the sudden wall breaking exchange. Not having any of it. "Can you all just chill." 

"YOLO." Mitsuri sobbed as she kissed the snake hashira passionately. With her boobies.

Shinobu chortled. Her new drug, a literal wisteria drug seems to be finally taking its effect. "I think the drug is already setting in our nerves." (Name) wheezed besides her, the breathless sound scratching the insect hashira's ears to bleed. "I think it already did." 

Amidst the chaos, Giyuu was right.

This is unbecoming of them. 

___

"My children, I have returned." Kagaya exclaimed happily as he slides the shoji open - only for his smile to falter at the chaos inside.

"…"

"…"

The head of demon slayers slowly closed the door.

"Are you okay, love?" His wife asked, carrying the tea he requested in her hands.

"Never have I felt disappointment in my life." He looked at his wife, tears falling from his closed eyes. "Until I stepped into that room."

And thus, the end of this cringe-fest of a story.

Chapter Text

Pain have never been painful,

Screeching.

The security of familiarity, mixed with the anguish of screaming reminds you of your fool. And the sound of it bring torment to your broken heart.

It might've been the hopeless echo in your mind that repeated such horror, and you tried hard to believe it so. But it felt so real that it gripped your consciousness awake.

Your eyes opened in drowsy wakefulness, and when you looked at the direction where he's supposed to be lying - just far, but close enough - your breathing hitched as your vein ceased its flow.

'He's alive.'

Your heart pounded in hopeless abandoned when your eyes stared at the sight you never thought would be granted by the heaven.

'Tanjirou is alive.'

All you could see are your own tears blinding you with his broken silhouette - gaping at the boy you've never thought would ever return; body burning under the guise of the rising sun while your own shook in tired array of aching hope.

To see him… To see him move - alive, breathing and, yet deformed… Fate have a way to play with your heart and still, despite him becoming a demon - he's still Tanjirou… he's still your fool. 

You can't help but gripped your chest in reckless despair.

'Why must hope be as painful as loss?'

Smoke rose over his body the way your disbelief does - controlling you to watch the transformation as your lips quiver at the horror and joy. You can't believe it. It's hard to believe it.

Your tired muscles are demanding you to stop, rest. Let it be. This is hallucination. This can't be true.

It's the loss of your blood reminding you that your aching heart is creating illusions to soothe the ache of his death.

"Tanjirou has turned into a demon!"

Yet Giyuu's hopeless screams urged you not to close your eyes and cry at the turn of event - but his warning gave you enough strength to fight back for what's yours.

You stood shakily, wounds opening as you try to reach for him - ignoring Zenitsu's cries as you tipped your broken blade as a cane.

"Expose him to the sun to kill him!"

Your limping feet walked, the weight of your screaming body sparked you with burning pain as you seethe it through, ignoring the taste of rusted iron that filled your mouth as your feet felt burned with every step.

"KILL HIM BEFORE HE MURDERS SOMEONE!"

You left your comrade's sides and ran after him faintly, an arm outstretched in helpless dream as you blinked the salty pearls away your vision. But Inosuke stopped you; pushing you down to the floor as he took your broken blade into his own.

You looked at the boar's eyes helplessly and shook your head, begging - pleading not to go ahead. Your broken voice murmuring incomprehensible as you try to look for words to stop him - but he did not listen.

He left with your blade in his hand and forgetting his own. Only to use it to defy the attack of your beloved.

Your own blade against your own heart. How poetic it must've sounded, but to see your own hurting him grieved your soul to falter.

"Stop," your voice scratched your throat in desperation, reaching for them as you try to stand up against the complaints of your own body.

They're unreachable. Your own pleas left drifting in the morning breeze. But you keep pushing your limit, in hopes to reach them him somehow. In desperation to reach him.

"Please,"

'don't kill him.'

Your shaking eyes watched as he stopped smoking, body curled into fours as he dried his lips. The eyes… those eyes - they're not his.

One hand met the ground, the other pulled your body up - tired feet dragging along the dirt as you whispered your prayers.

"I beg the heavens,"

'let it still be him.'

You took a stray nichirin blade and gripped its handle - the warmth on your face never-ending as you finally taste your own grief.

Inosuke did not kill him - he only stared at Tanjirou in disbelief. But the demon found nothing but a prey in front of him, leaping in the air to assault his former friend that stopped him.

"I plead to the gods,"

'let him know I'm here.'

You jumped in front of the boar, the stray katana in your hand as you curled your body just in time to stopped the upcoming attack. Your heart stopped at the face of your beloved, and yet the situation can't help you to admire his features.

Your body flinched and cower at the strength of his blow - limbs trembling in exhaustion mixed with pain as the heel of your foot ground itself into a halt.

Inosuke is crying behind you, frozen in his own disbelief as he watched the two of you fight against each other. You would too, for Tanjirou's kind burgundy eyes have gone feral - a broken mirror of the one that you grew to love.

But it's him. You remind yourself that it's him. Among the remnants of a demon: the inhumane veins, the sharpened teeth and his slatted eyes - you know that it's still Tanjirou.

You smiled brightly at the face of death; your porcelain teeth tainted in blood as your eyes lingered on the marks on his face.

"What are you doing (Name)!?"

Somewhere in there it's him.

"Stop! It's not worth the fight!"

"I beg the fates,"

'let my fool come back.'

Tanjirou's hands withdrew, hauling back in lightning speed as the tip of his nails sharpened - ready to cut your head apart. You raised the shaky blade just in times to be used as a shield between you, your grin not faltering as the blow deafened your whisper of his name.

His claws met your blade, again and again. Bones screaming inside your numb arms as you met them flawlessly without a beat.

And with each reflected attack, you said his name repetitively without hesitance - hoping, praying that somewhere inside this shell of a demon - he could hear you. That he'll be back.

'That my fool would come back.'

As one experienced emotionally.

Chapter Text

Change easily comes to those who harbors a wild heart.

It's no surprise that this scarred man is skittish around women. If ever, he would be willing to avoid them for the rest of his life as long as there’s oxygen in his body.

Because come on; he's no genius, but Genya is aware he's far from what would people think as attractive.
He knew it himself that he’s the last option anyone would pick if the bachelor choices are between him and the Kamaboko squad. Heck, that damn uncultured swine have more lady points with that 'exotic' personality of his than Genya could even dream acquiring.

And there's his brother. The younger Shinazugawa have to be overshadowed by his older sibling's talent and charm that he could literally disappear anytime in the background if Sanemi’ll just utter one word. He could not even compare to the water and snake pillar his brother kept calling ‘ugly’.

Sometimes he thinks his brother is blind, but hey – at least he didn’t say anything about his face, yet.

It’s not that Genya cares about something so trivial as looks, but he can’t help it. Not when he's reminded that he’s literally surrounded by people better than him in any other way, and while it's heavily frustrated him from time to time - he came to sluggishly accept the reality that he's the most hopeless romantic person to ever live in this land.

A big exaggeration on such self-chastisement, but that's how he feels about himself most evening that kept him awake.

Besides, he can’t just hope at something ridiculous to suddenly ‘change’; that’s just like wishing for dogs to sprout wings. He can’t erase and change his face even if he wanted to, it’s not like there’s a demon art out there that’ll save him such headache.

As much as he wished that to be a reality - the possibility of facing such a demon is only one in a billion.

To be honest, the younger Shinazugawa is willing to die old, crippled and alone.
He already accepted that he'd be so forever, that the thought of dating or even the likes of it doesn’t even faze him at all. Besides, it's not that all bad of a future. He kept reminding himself that having all the time to yourself is what any bachelor would dream off.

Note the sarcasm. That’s just him comforting himself in this late-night rendezvous with his anxiety.

Genya’s not an idiot even if he tried acting like that boar-man. He knew that being alone for eternity is going to be a big pain in the ass in the future: it’s going to be lonely, pitiful and boring. And how does he know of this? Simple. That water pillar sure is a living example.

Still, even ridiculing people like Sanemi would doesn’t make Genya feel less shitty of himself.

Time and time again, he always resonates with the idea of his brother having a family of his own, and that the younger Shinazugawa won't even get the chance to congratulate him until he became a hashira himself. And knowing what a stud Sanemi is - his children would be teens when Genya proved himself to be a part of their family.

It’s ridiculous – his brother is as stubborn as he is, maybe even more. He just wants to have a shortcut to get his brother’s respect back. He hates how he felt helpless in that area, but he’ll show him. Genya won’t die lonely – he pitifully swears it to the world with the help of his sleep deprived mind.

Halfway through his deprecating thoughts – Genya slowly dwindled at the love and affection he could receive if ever someone will look past his terrifying appearance and unsavory personality.

A small part of himself wishes that to be the truth; for someone to love him for who he is without having the need to change. But he knew he’s asking for the impossible.

Saying something ridiculous or not speaking at all is his defining specialty, sadly. He can’t literally imagine someone being patient with him – maybe except for Tanjirou and a certain someone but, other than them? No. He can’t see it happening.

Genya sighed, rubbing his face with the sleeves of his yukata. A man could always dream; it’s free after all.

To him, just the thought of being wanted and cared for bring a big stuffy comfort in his lonely soul – maybe he could receive head pats that aren’t out of the blue embarrassing and it would feel fulfilling; or be tackled in a hug that won’t send his instincts to go in survival mode - but rather, edge him to hug the person back just as tight, or maybe more.

Suddenly, a big fat title with the letters of (N-a-m-e) quickly dashed in his mind; the annoying (color)-haired slayer giving him a handsome smile and a thumbs up in his tired imagination.

All of the domestic scenarios that conjured in his mind with a faceless soul displayed (Name)’s visage – from the simple thought of holding hands to making love - and it made Genya so confused, but happy at the same time? What?

Wide eyes became wider as his face became redder. Of all people he knew, it has to be (Name)?

Genya stared at the ceiling in both horror and disbelief; the image of his rival appearing in his sleep-deprived thoughts quickly killed his interest in romance.

(Name)'s a guy! He can't see himself dating a guy – okay, maybe he does, but just a little bit. But no.

Genya can see his brother making fun of him behind his back for even thinking about it.

Which is justified, because this-- (Name) is uncalled for! It’s a confusion of the highest order - and it’s also making Genya feel weird all of a sudden: a mixture of anxious-filled panic and the good comfy feeling that comes with pining over someone. That supposedly isn’t (Name).

Who is he kidding? (Name)’s the only one he ever thought of pining down—no, be gone weird thoughts, be gone.

Everyone seems to be having partners left and right, and honestly; Genya feel more and more self-conscious about himself to the point his bitterness is soaring up to the heavens whenever he's exposed to couples.

But he’s not going to ask any breathing being to be his spouse – he’s not as desperate as Zenitsu is – but if it ever comes to that, he can’t imagine someone else he’d be so comfortable to be with the way (Name) made him feel.

Genya would be lying if he said he didn't fancy them. They're his rival after all; he knows their good points and they know his - as well as each other's flaws that both don't even give a living fuck. Plus, there's this thing called 'sexual tension' between such a trope. He sure felt that way for the (color)-haired guy for a long time, but he’s quite adamant to push down what he feels for the mere fact it felt unnatural for him.

Thank kami he never saw the guy shirtless for once, it would be a different story if he did. Genya bit the inside of his cheeks, fists tightening at the thought. Too bad, he’s willing to ran his fingers down-- wait. He did not just imagine running his fingers at tone (skin) chest, that - just no way.

He knew he’s too old to get spikes like in his hormones, but really? Oh kami, he’s sleep-deprived and he need sleep more than thinking of praising his rival’s possible physique…

Well, as long he's on top then he has no problem with the weird arrangement.

He shook his head - eyes widening more in astonishment as his expression froze in frustrated mortification. He had to walk around his room for hours to take the steam out of his body.

Thinking of (Name) is not a good way to end the day. And thinking of his rival in such a creepy way? Those are the thoughts that always haunted the younger Shinazugawa before he sleeps.

Loneliness sure is scary when you know you're basically the description of unwanted – and he doesn’t even want to think (Name) ever seeing him of nothing more, but just a rival. That, and the heat pooling in his stomach that keeps him more awake than his anxiety.

Genya clicked his tongue and shoved the blanket of his futon up to his face - hoping to suffocate instead of waking up to another day full of helpless pining over his brother's acceptance and his own frustrated needs over you.

He hates how complicated life is.

It would’ve been a different story if one of you were a girl.

___

“What the hell.” Your worried voice scratched his ears as well as punched his heart. He groaned tiredly before he felt your hands pulling him to seat beside you - making him angsty but relaxed at the same time.

He’s slowly coming to the realization that he likes you, and with each night that pass makes him more and more awake. It’s not helping when you’re acting this concern over the likes of him – even more so when you’re just inches away from his face.

If he wasn’t harboring the weight of his eye bags, he would’ve said something so spiteful against you or perhaps blush his way out of the room; but he’s tired. Really, really tired that he doesn’t want to care anymore.

He felt your hand land above his forehead, him failing to notice the small concerned brush of your fingers between his thin brows. Still, he felt his own chest tightening at the distinct scent of your musk invading his nose. “Did you even sleep?”

Genya replied with something inaudible, feeling drowsier with your very presence tiring him. It’s slowly overwhelming his deprived senses with something warmer than a blanket in summer, the frigid air that crept on his skin slowly evaporated as he found your arms holding him tight - moving his head to lay atop your shoulder.

“You ass. You better be ready to train with me after you wake up.”

He blinked, trying to grip the consciousness that's slowly brushing away – but feeling the distant purring sound that left your throat in a simple austerity – stroked the domestic endearment he felt in your embrace, warming his beating heart, and finally; lulling him into one of the best sleep he ever had.

___

Tanjirou walked in the engawa to have tea with himself, but halted his plan when he saw you scratching Genya’s scalp by his ear – almost feeling that he invaded both of your privacy when he heard the way the sleeping man grunted appreciatively at your touch, before burying his nose deeper in your neck..

The burgundy-haired boy noticed the soft giggles that left your lips, your wide eyes that usually displayed the feeling of excitement mellowed down to (olor) orbs seemingly content at watching the Shinazugawa display a rare-sort of affection.

The air reeked of caramel, and as sweet as the scene is – Tanjirou left the two of you for your privacy, but not failing to notice Inosuke, Zenitsu and Kanao watching you and Genya.

Zenitsu looked as if he was traumatized for some odd reason - and he can’t see what’s Inosuke’s expression is because of his mask but underneath, Tanjirou could smell nothing but confusion in them.

Behind the trio, Kanao spoke the loudest with her soft genuine words that shocked them all.

“I approve.”

___

Genya was so used with the thought of you being a man that finding out that you were actually parading as one this entire time made his brain felt fried for not noticing it sooner, his heart unstoppable and frame shaking in meddlesome excitement from the truth.

He couldn’t help but recall the softest, domesticated, heck – even the moments he'd pinned you down at wrestling playing in his mind that he was reduced to a blushing, sweating mess at the back of the room

Of all people that he could actually have all of those stupid(ly sweet) confrontations - it has to be you.

"Fuck you!"

"Yeah, I'd fuck me too. Better than you would!"

Hnggh.

Just remembering it made the poor ravenette scream against his palms in frustration - face beating red as beady fumes escaped his ears.

That distant memory made him feel choked, just knowing how right you would be since he doesn’t know jack shit about pleasing the female anatomy.

For a second, he thought he truly was gay, but thank kami you're actually not a guy.

He finds himself scared how easy his reserves of thinking about dating you quickly dissipated when you revealed your true gender – it mentally stumped him. In fact, he spent the time reacting at your words shaking silently in agitated embarrassment over his own self-debate.

"You should stop acting like that boar and be a lady then!" Zenitsu claimed brightly - nose wide as he looked up at you with wide perverted eyes. "Replace that pitiful uniform of yours with a kimono, then you'd look pretty!"

Genya would’ve push that desperate boy's head down on the floor and use his hair as a mop for claiming such a thing – if only he's not too busy feeling the shock settling his body over your confession.

"(Name) is pretty." Tanjirou frown at his blonde companion, comforting everyone in the room as the voice of reason. He had his suspicions, but he can’t assume because that would be rude – he’s just happy you came clean with your gender and smiling at you proudly with that patient smile of his.

"But Zenitsu’s right, you should try dressing more properly than…" The kind man gestured at your humble attire consisting of an old haori and seemingly tattered slayer uniform. "That."

Kanao softly hummed, looking not all that surprised much to everyone’s else. It seems like she knew this secret of yours, but she did agree with Tanjirou’s claim over changing your whole get up. “One must take care of their appearance as it reflects well with their personality.”

Contradicting, since you are acting like a wild man, but okay.

You tipped your nose at their suggestion and crossed your arms in adamant display of defiance. "Yeah, right. We all got to agree that Inosuke is the prettiest out of all of us, not like my gender changes anything else rather than how I’m supposed to dress."

Said boar was too busy understanding your words. Because huh? How? It confuses him!

You're a girl, but you dress like a guy for no reason just because you want to? What? What? Inosuke screeched at the heavens as he pointed at you with an accusing finger saved for a criminal. Because to him, you are.

“You’re a man (Butchered name)! You’re a man, and that confession won’t change it!”

Everyone has a bead of sweat rolling down their head at his bold proclamation.

“I refuse to believe your claims!” The boar grabbed your shoulders and shook you back and forth with such force that it made you dizzy. "Show us proof." The horns besides his snout of that mask of his pressed uncomfortably against your cheek, his words bleeding your ears with his petition.

“Undress!” Inosuke’s words echoed around the room, seemingly getting louder each time as he demands you to do so.

Genya and Zenitsu's expression are the same. Their face quickly exploded in a red color. They both could feel the blinding numb of embarrassment for even thinking of such a thing happening while Kanao and Tanjirou reacted with pulling you away from the wild boar.

You looked at the beast with disgust. You never thought he would say such a thing with a constipated expression that reminds Zenitsu of Tanjirou's when he first saw him begging the hands of a beautiful stranger to marry him.

Your eyes drifted towards Genya, and the way he quickly averted his own from yours made you feel hurt despite the fact you saw the desired effect you wanted on him: embarrassed.

Still, deep inside your mind it felt like you shouldn't have spilled the truth.

___

Kami. What the hell are you wearing?

Genya could only gawk at your transformation – eyes stretched wide in denial and jaw hanging.

He can't believe you'd part way with your rugged attire with something as formal as a cleaner slayer uniform - and the length of the skirt; who made the big idea for it to stop above your knees? It should go down to your ankles! Down your ankles like Shinobu-sama does!

Genya used to laugh at the notion of someone saying that ‘one would be more attractive if they 'clean themselves up'’, because it's just so ridiculous to even think about it. But damn, you bring justice to that saying, holy shit.

Duashsh.

His mind spoke in fumbled out of the blue.

A hand covered half his fuming face – black orbs trying to look away, but they’re so curious and adamant to stay on your form. He wouldn’t know when will be the next time you’d dress like this and he should enjoy the cute sight of you while he can – at least that’s what the voice inside his head told him so as he tried really hard to move his gaze away from you.

"You're finally looking like your real gender (Name)-chan!" Aoi clapped her hands in mirth, Kanao smiling besides her with a solemn nod; eyes shining brightly in approval.

Your once messy (hair color) locks are smoothed up - and somehow your face became feminine with your over all look. Even Genya knew how to appreciate such a subtle, but noticeable change – it suited you, but it’s not exactly you.

He felt conflicted. As much as he wanted to paint this image of you in his mind; that woman he fell in love with is not exactly the one standing in front of a mirror pouting cutely.

You looked like a different person and he doesn’t like it one bit. He was about to leave, but his eyes snapped at the way your hands reached out to tug off the (color) butterfly pin that hold onto your hair. He must’ve imagined how slow the strands of (color) tresses fell, but to him they were captivating. Eye catching.

Genya thought you were pretty before, but with your hair messy and wild like that – he can’t help but grin smugly and thought to himself; "There she is.”

Perhaps the world did stop just a second for him to be enraptured by your beauty.

Because that, is more of your style and he appreciated it more than the cleaner you.

Though, he felt disappointment nestled on his shoulders when you dragged your thumb against your tinted lips and took the makeup away, but the sight of your uneven lips and disheveled hair painted a different picture in his mind.

He bit down on his own as the confines of his heart beats erratically, finding it hard to believe that what he’s looking at is you in another light - is not a figment of his own delusion. It's you, and all he could do is stare.

You scowled at your image at the mirror, attitude reflecting on your twin as its fingers pointed at the skirt you're wearing – your own seemingly accusing it for a sin it did not committ but for looking so short on your frame. "There's too much air between my legs."

Aoi met her palm as she groaned at your words, Kanao giggling softly in entertainment besides the older girl. However, Genya chocked at your statement - not knowing if he should laugh or think something naughty; but his restrained noise caught your attention and regret washed him with a wave of cold fire for staring at you so intently just a moment ago.

"Oh, it's you bastard." You raised your fist up at his direction and gave him a boyish grin. Things don’t seem to change when you open that mouth of yours, and it somehow comforted him that you haven't replaced yourself with some fitting for your real identity. And he truly is grateful for that; he liked you for the way you are and nothing will change that.

Except maybe your gender, but his already past that.

"Last one who'll reach the training grounds going to clean after the winner!" The image of your transformation broke the rose-tinted glasses that he has on you as he focused on the way you dragged out your words. “And get their dessert!”

You swiftly dashed past him, but before he could even grab your arm to stop you from this petty contest – he grabbed on his nose instead with the telltale sign of a warm fluid running down past his nostrils. Lips opening in a gape as he tried to scream out for you - but felt the hold of embarrassment rendering him speechless.

Kanao gave him a handkerchief to which he’s thankful at, only to realize it has your scent on it. And it made him a flustered mess on the floor.

"Don't run like that!” Aoi screeched, running after you with a grace of a lady. “Your underwear is showing (Name)!"

You cheekily grinned back, still running as your eyes smiled at the sight of your rival’s red face. “It’s called strategy!”

Genya’s complaints about the lack of romantic escapades must’ve reached some kami’s attention because holy shit – he’s not complaining anymore, but starting today he’ll start thanking them for even gracing such an absurd, cliché scene to play before his being.

That (color) underwear would be the death of him.

___

Of course, maybe the gods must be playing with Genya's feelings because he spoke too fucking soon.

"(Name)-chaaan~" Drawled the man that seems to be adamant to be your conjoin twin. The blonde has been rotating around your nonexistent orbit and begging for your attention ever since you started dressing appropriately.

You can’t help but groan at his unwanted pestering. "What."

"I have a flower for you~" Zenitsu's voice reached an annoying pitch as he shyly gave you a stem of a wild violet pansy.

"You do know I'd appreciate it more if you give me poison instead." You sighed dejectedly as your fingers rotated the item in your hold. You’re not going to lie to yourself, you find the notion sweet – but it’s not really your cup of tea. Zenitsu should know by now that you're not like any other women he associates himself with.

You turned to Nezuko whose head is resting on your lap, and gave the flower to the small girl. She sniffed at it experimentally before raising herself up and cuddled your side happily, slender arms hugging your waist as you clip the flower's stem near her pink bow. "Hmmm, mmmh!" She hummed at you, eyes closed and smiling like the crescent moon.

You cuddled back with a boyish grin, hugging the cute demon by her waist as you put your cheek on the top of her head. "You're welcome."

You failed to notice the daggered eyes glaring you down.

Genya won’t admit he’s jealous at the display, but he is. You’ve always been smooth with the ladies – even smoother than Zenitsu or Tanjirou without you realizing it. Anyone would fall victim with your tender touches and boyish grins – and he finds himself staring at the way you played with Nezuko’s strands and silently wished she was him instead.

The way you make him feel; it’s both a blessing and a curse.

Zenitsu felt his face bloom in red at the sight of his two favorite girls interacting with one another. He raised his arms towards you and he sniffed with a snot falling down his nose. He teared up at how cute you and Nezuko are acting before him. "Can I join, please? Be it my reward - please?"

Before you could even answer your rejection, you felt Nezuko quietly crawled away from you, and you realized Tanjirou is pulling his small sister back by her kimono - the demon could only watch as she reached out for you with sad doe eyes that hit your heart into melancholy.

You tried reaching out for her too, but the older Kamado glared at you uncharacteristically in his place. After all, sleep is Nezuko's food and you're basically denying her that for cuddling her in daytime.

Unhappy from the lack of physical attention and your lack of Nezuko, you growled at Zenitsu with murderous intent – who only looked back at you with a sappy expression even Genya wants to punch off. "No."

"I can make you really happy with my love-filled hug, (Name)-chan." The blonde persuaded unsuccessfully, but his determination made you inhale sharply as a vein popping up on your forehead.

“Inosuke” The boar snapped off from his afternoon sleep as he raised his head groggily. “First one to make Zenitsu cry will feast on Tanjirou’s dinner.”

The burgundy lad looks offended as he put his sister back at her futon. "Please don't pull me into this."

"Betrayal-" Zenitsu didn't have the chance to finish his words before his ears bled with Inosuke's rambunctious laughter. Needless to say, you let Inosuke tickle the blonde until he peed his pants. You're laughing in full engagement at the chaos before you. Tanjirou had to move his sister over the next room because he does not want her to smell the humiliation Zenitsu released – entertaining as it was.

However, amidst your fun, you failed to recognize Genya's sulking form on the background.

He knew he's uninteresting than the rest of the Kamaboko squad, but good job for you for making it evident and making him feel more terrible at grabbing your attention.

He scoffed in detestation as he tried to drone out your joyous sound into deafness as he made his way out of the room. It’s not like you’re going to notice it anyway.

Genya tightened his fists in exasperation – scowling at nothing but the floor with slanted eyes, before letting his anger out in a big exhale of his breathe that sapped on his energy.

He… started missing the stupid times you'd challenge him over petty things when those three - especially that sickening mop back at the room - won't pay any kind of attention on you.

"You know," Kanao spoke besides him, appearing out of nowhere and shocking the Shinazugawa with her presence alone.

He calmed his beating heart as the quiet woman gave him a plastic-kind of genuine smile, and knowing eyes that made him uncomfortable. "You should make your feelings aware before it consumes you."

Genya gazed down at her confused, before sneering at her words - looking away as his face reddened at finally soaking in the meaning behind them. He abruptly left the insect tsuguko by herself, but not after harshly whispering at her to 'mind her fucking business.’

She merely smiled back.

It did not escape Genya that there's a hint of encouragement with the way Kanao spoke her mind.

Should he, really? He thought of your boyish smile for a second, stopping on the middle of the hallway as he kept the image of your soft eyes dear in his heart - before rowdily shaking his head like a wet dog.

No. Hell no. That’s going to be a bad move. You'd basically think he's a creep for suddenly liking you - like how you think of Zenitsu fawning over you.

He didn't show his real feelings for you back then when you're 'still a guy'; why the hell would that change now that you've revealed you were a trap all along? He won’t dare even speaking to you about it, he’d rather just let you be than find unhappiness with a pathetic guy like him.

After all, you are way out of his league.

Right. He’s foolish for even thinking he had a chance. It's not as if you'd accept his confession after all. You'd be happier with that blonde fool and that damn boar than you'd ever be with him. He’d just make you feel shit like he always has been for defeating you at training.

The jubilee sound of your rambunctious laughter echoing in these empty cold halls seems to mock his aching heart, rendering his breathing slower as it only reminded him that you can be happy without him. Happier, maybe now that he’s gone.

He could feel his eyes brimming with unwanted warmth as he tried drying them with the sleeves of his dark yukata, cursing a thousand profanity under his breath at how stupidly repressed you make him feel.

He hated how your relationship with him have to change.

___

"Oi."

Genya did not stir from his seat on the engawa, undeterred eyes still focused at the bamboos and hydrangeas planted around the garden. The afternoon breeze never fails to lull you in a reserve, and it was always the time you and this silent man would always take your own time away from ridiculing each other - it brings back pleasant memories, a complete opposite of the thick atmosphere shared between you.

Any other day, you would’ve sat beside him and stared at the pleasing plants with serendipity washing over the two of you – sometimes, the rarest of times – he would let you lean on his shoulder and you’d let him do the same.

It’s almost an unspoken instinct shared only between you and you came to miss it greatly, especially when he seems to be disappearing all the time whenever you look for him.

It’s quite painful to even think of it, but you know that he’s avoiding you. For what reasons? You wouldn’t know. It's unnerving to see him this distant, it’s not working wonders on your already aching heart. You’re so used to his sarcastic smirk or fuming face that this expressionless Shinazugawa emits such a hollowed energy that it edges you in a worrisome state.

Especially when just a month ago - the two of you liked shouting at each other's presence with the most degrading words in your vocabulary. Everything changed when you revealed your gender and the chaos it ensured was so obvious as it was entertaining. The other members in your odd proclaimed club started giving you attention you never really cared to savor – it was different when he was the one that does the same. It’s just different.

It’s more genuine when you're with Genya; his double-meaning words, his crude actions – they’re just all an act to protect the person hurting inside. It’s more real because you’re doing the same. He knew of your past after a heartfelt training and accepted you for who you are, even when you know that sometimes he can’t tolerate your pestering presence for always annoying him.

To think he’d let a broken person like you be near him is already grace enough. But then again, two broken people makes each other complete and he made you feel that way: complete.

He sees you for you, and you see him for him. Maybe it’s already an overused term but it truly does speak the volume of the relationship between you.

Heck, one could call you lovers and you wouldn’t mind it one bit because the two of you act just like that.

But he just has to change that image you dreamt of for so long after you gathered up all of your bravery to scream at the world about the truth. Perhaps it was a mistake to reveal your gender - but you did it because of him.
You won’t lie that you… kind of regret it, but you don’t want to dwell to much about the past. The present is what’s important now, and you're adamant to fix what's broken between you two.

Hence, you annoying the shit out of him by poking him until he’ll notice you.

Your (color) orbs looked up from your moving digit on his shoulder up to his face. Your eyes traced his scar, staring from the edge of his hairline until the edge of his nose. You’ve always thought that his scar looks great on him, but… at the same time they look painful.

Sometimes it’s too overwhelming to look at them – it looked deep, and just imagining the image of it once being fresh makes you shudder. You might be used to gore, but just trying to imagine how painful they feel makes you want to vomit your brains out for even thinking of it. You have battle scars with you, maybe more of emotionally than physically – but it does not escape you how each one tells their own stories and his…

It carried one of his regrettable mistakes with him, a big reminder of what he shouldn’t have done, and what he shouldn’t have said. All those years of pain lingering and permanent on his expression– stagnant and never leaving, following him and reminding him of his bitter past in each wakeful moment.

It's no wonder why he always rubbed his face with too much force than one normally does after staring too long on his reflection.

You felt bad for him, not because he’s weak or felt pathetic for himself (sometimes, you literally have to punch his face when he started brooding without realizing it), but because you know how it felt for your guilt to follow you with each waking moment that pulls you back to its reality.

You wanted to let him know that the weight he's carrying can be shared – and that he doesn’t have to face his problems by himself anymore.

It’s obvious that you carry your heart by your sleeve and Tanjirou always kept reminding the group of this trait of yours, but is Genya really that dense to miss out most of your romantic cues? Or aren't you subtle enough? Argh.

Your conflicting emotions are frustrating as the way he is acting like now.

"Hey," you finally broke the lingering silence between you but he didn't answer. Typical stubborn Shinazugawa. Why are you not surprised?

You can’t help but scowl and gave him an annoyed look at his impassiveness before poking him again, harder this time.

His obsidian eyes quickly glanced at you in loathing that you didn’t know he could display, looking you down with bridled irritation with his frowning expression unchanging. His eyes might've gazed down on your face for so long that it silenced the comment you want to spout on his being.

You sat there, frozen – fingers being shrugged off in a not so gentle manner as he returns his own task in rejecting your presence besides him. You could feel your heart on your throat, thumping and uncertain at the look he gave you.

You've never saw his eyes lidded in that way before, and it makes… it makes you nervous. His gaze was both terrifying and… undeniably attractive, for some odd reason, it also makes your stomach do a flip. And you want more.

You slowly withdrew your finger and scoot closer to him. He seems unbothered by it, but he did click his tongue – trying to deter you away with his glare but it only made you sit beside him, determined.

"You alright?” You asked with the softest voice you could muster, but they sounded came out a timid whisper. You noticed the way his frame relaxed a little, how his eyes shook in defiance and cheeks burning from your words. He turned his head away – giving you the full view of the back. You could see the fumes of bashfulness leave his reddened ears.

"Do you think moping around is a definition of 'alright'?"

You rolled your eyes at his sharp reply, still, even with how bitter he acts - you find yourself soothed that at the realization that at last, he finally spoke back to you. "I wouldn't know with you looking so angry all the time."

It was no surprise he was offended by your words.

"Can you just shut up, and let me think in peace?" He gritted through his teeth – fists tightening on his lap in detestation.

"How about no?" You remarked sharply, but your actions are anything but. He felt your hand cupping them – they’re small, warm and it’s a contrast of his own. He let out a shaky sigh that gathered on his chest as he felt your forehead laid atop on his arm. "You've been doing all that for weeks and Genya - you're taking the fun away."

You’re the one that does that.

"Is that right?" He chuckled spitefully, wanting to pull his arm away from your hold but he can’t find the energy to do so, not when you’re rubbing your thumb against his scarred fingers – rendering his tightened hold soft, his heart resonating with your gentle touch.

"Perhaps it'll be fun if you go away instead." The dejection in his voice laced perfectly with the snarl of his words. If you haven’t known him well enough you would have thought that he only just needed space – but you do.

You know him too well that you noticed that self-deprecating tone anywhere. "Kami, is that how you treat a lady?" You scoffed at him, and you felt him tensed up at the noise – but you kept your hold on him when he tried pushing you away.

Genya cursed under his breath at your stubbornness. Why won’t you just leave him be? You have more interesting people in your life and he’s not one of them. How often does he have to play these weird charades of yours?

He was tempted to stand up and leave; perhaps disappear from your life fully with how stupid you make him feel - but when he felt your fingers nudge on his own – closing the space in between his as you hold his calloused hand protectively… He felt so frustrated in confusion that he can’t fight you anymore.

Not knowing what to say, he just spat shrewdly in deep remorse.

"Well last time I remember; you were a guy."

Wha... His words made you almost sputtered in laughter, still – there’s a time for that and this isn’t one of them.

"Why? Am I more interesting for you when I'm masquerading as one?” You cupped your chin on his shoulder, raising your eyebrows at the sight of his reddening ears. "Is that it?"

"Yes, “Genya blinked at his words in disbelief before turning to you in a big fat denial. “I mean no!" He wanted to defend his slip up even further, but he felt that his foot landed on his mouth with the way your eyes looked at him through your lashes – easily painting his visage red as he looked for his words with clumsiness. "AGH. Dimwit, I don’t know?"

Your boyish grin returned, one side tugging wider than the other as you clearly find entertainment in his suffering.

"You don’t know a lot of things."

Genya found great offense in that. His arm that you were forcibly clinging unto wrapped around your waist, pulling you closer to him as his warm breath fanned your face – looking you down with predatory snarl that show off his perfect set of teeth.

"Yeah?" He growled. "Like maybe I don't know the fact Zenitsu keep begging you to be his wife, or I don't know - Inosuke replacing me? Because yeah, you're fucking right, I don't know those things."

He let you go, grumbling more under his lips with his permanent scowl. You felt immobile, stuck. Especially when your mind keeps replaying at the way his fingers gripped your waste and with how close he was you could see his lashes on his eyes.

The memory of him holding you like that... you find yourself squeaking from the embarrassment. Genya’s eyes landed on yours in reflex – eyebrows ceasing when he noticed that you were having a hard time breathing.

“Are you alright?” he asked you genuinely, voice concerned as well as his expression and you can only blink at him, feeling nothing but shock at his question.

Is... he reality that oblivious that he hasn’t realize he just admitted he was jealous over your lack of attention? That, in a way; he just confessed that he also felt something for you?

"Pft." You gripped his cheek with your fingers and pulled it down, relishing at his sound of pain as you tugged him down ‘til his eyes reveled with yours.

"You know damn well I won't marry Zenitsu. I only see him as a brother. Why the hell did you think about that?" You can’t help but let the air of relief leave you in a turn of appreciative chuckle. "And don’t complain about Inosuke; you keep moping around and avoiding me so I need to have a partner in crime somehow."

"Then go to your fucking partner in crime.” Genya groaned loudly, unimpressed with your explanation. “See if I care."

"I am already with him."

Genya's heart stopped at your implying tone, biting the inside of his cheeks at the way your eyes brightened in mirth “Even Inosuke can be bland compared to you – no one can replace you”

He finds himself gulping from your words, feeling too hot even from the afternoon breeze. "S-stop talking to me like that."

"Well,” Your voice quickly became mocking, the air of comfort shared between you became notorious as you poked him at his weak spot. “Maybe you can make me?" And he did; simply by pushing your face down on the ground.

His fingers felt frozen on the crown of your (color) hair that his actions quickly caught up to him; his nerves instantly frying from the drowning regret.

Genya cursed a thousand curse in his mind for acting on his instincts. For a moment he forgot who you were for tickling him, and the fact you were annoying him like you did before escaped the realization you were a girl this whole time and holy kuso why did he do that?!

Your chest shook alongside your body – and Genya honestly doesn’t know what to do but stare at you hopelessly with shaking reserve. If he sees you cry – no, if he did make you cry; he’s going to commit seppuku right here and there.

But instead, you laughed.

Pushing yourself up from the floor and grinned at him - nose reddening as his face. He doesn’t know if you’ve gone crazy, but he felt a huge load of weight left his chest as he cupped your face in a silent apology – only making you laugh harder much to his dismay. "Now that's the Genya I've missed!"

His fingers flinched at your words, wide eyes widening more to reveal the disbelief displayed in black orbs. What… what did you say? You missed him?

The man felt his heart played a chord as you grinned at him widely. "Don't you dare change your ways around me just because I'm a girl." You blew his black, messy mohawk before fist bumping his chest, your (color) orbs glazed in a loving invite.

"I don’t want you to change one bit because then you’d be changing the man I fell in love with.”

He felt his face burning with each syllable of your words, stroking the fire in his heart to burn blindly. You knew how bad he is with his words, and just seeing you wait for him patiently with that damn smile of his makes his control melt.

Genya pulled you close to his face, tilting his own just enough to lean his lips just above yours – staring you down lidded eyes and giving you time to shy away from his – but you didn’t, and thank god you didn’t.

Because he doesn’t know what to do with you being so close to him– your distinct scent, the way your lips quiver in anticipation – they break down each control he has as he finds himself listening to his instincts to close the gap between your soft lips.

The warmth from his breath and kiss felt so enlightening, so fulfilling that you can’t help but push yourself up to him for more, inhaling his musk as you commit them into memory – savoring every moment as you internalized the feel of his own beating heart in yours. You did not expect him to be so sweet and careful with that brash personality of his, but you’re not complaining.

Instead, you gripped on the fabric of his yukata, fingers digging in the garment and no doubt leaving wrinkles with how tightly you hold onto them - not wanting to let go.

You felt him smile in your embrace, and all too soon he pulled away - staring you down with pursed lips and red face, no inch of regret or doubt in them as you can feel the calmness resonating between you two; hearts beating wildly and foolish grins on your faces.

No brash words, no act of dominance, just the two of you enjoying the peace of the afternoon. Just like that, it felt perfect. The both of you felt complete, like this.

Then all of a sudden, his relaxed expression broke with an energetic grin – his eyes lifting up in happiness as the telltale roughness of his thumbs brushed against your cheeks.

“They say change is inevitable.” He kissed your forehead, and you felt the honesty in his words more than how your ears registered the sweetness in his whisper. “But this,” His nose buried itself on your hair as his arms hugged you tightly against him.

“I don’t ever want to change.”

Chapter Text

Basically What Started This Chaos

Shinobu: Giyuu, can you stop making everyone annoyed.

Giyuu: But I'm doing nothing?

Shinobu: Exactly.

You: *frowned* Ya'll know that's just rude. 

Giyuu: Thank you, (Name)-

You: *slaps Giyuu's shoulder* Pay more respect to the man who absorbs our depressed energy you ungrateful children.

*turns to the big man* I'm sorry Giyuu, but everytime I see you suffer I feel happy to know I'm not feeling that way.

Shinobu: *wheeze* Relatable.

Giyuu: …

Kyoujurou: Lmao I have no depressive thoughts, so no thanks.

Muichirou: Preach.

Shinobu: Kudos.

Mitsuri: What is depression?

Obanai: Close your eyes. 

Mitsuri: *closed eyes* ahuh? 

Obanai: Imagine that "nothing" being your feeling.

Mitsuri: *pouts* I'm sorry - *tears up* I just can't imagine a world without you.

Obanai: *dramatically grabs his shirt* my heart-

Giyuu: I'm surprised you have one-

Sanemi: AT LEAST HE GOT HIS BEATING NOT LIKE YOURS.

You: You guys are so insensitive. *cries* what babies.

Giyuu: You forgot to count yourself-

Sabito: My god, Giyuu, take a hint.

Giyuu: You too?

Sabito: *makes a hashtag sign with his fingers* No regrets.

Tengen: *puts a shade on Sabito* OHHHHHHHH.

Giyuu: why do I exist if I only exist to suffer.

Gyomei: Mood.

You and the MC Squad Vibin'

Zenitsu: Do you guys think this girl is cute? 

*Zenitsu shoves his phone at your visage - only for a picture to illuminate brightly against your eyes and burn them at the sight of green hair pushing her lips in a duck face.*

You: Zenitsu, you always think all girls in the Instagram are cute.

Zenitsu: Because they are???

You: Then what can you say about me?

Zenitsu: Uhm… *visually sweats*

You: *raised a daring eyebrow*

*Zenitsu committed yoink and turns to the man wearing a boar onesie at the chubadai and shoved his phone screen at him.*

*Annoyed emerald eyes diverting their focused from their coloring book for a second.* 

Zenitsu: Inosuke do you think this girl is cute?

Inosuke:  She breathes? She thot.

Zenitsu: How dare??? *gasped horrendously it's a miracle he's not choking* WHY? HOW? YOU blind? You poor virgin-- YOU???

You: I think Inosuke drinks pussies for dinner--

Zenitsu: I'm not talking to you!!! This is a woman's pride we're talking about!

You: You're not a woma-

Zenitsu: How dare you assume I'm not?!

You: *turns to Inosuke* Mah dude, we share the same IQ level - but is it just me or did Zenitsu claimed he got a clam stuck between his legs?

Inosuke: Want me to prove it?

You: Do it. Do me justice.

Inosuke: A'ight. *unbashfully grabbed Zenitsu's balls and snorted at the way the blonde cried MERCY and RAPE at the same time* 

Inosuke: Nah, He radiates SIMP energy. Small pepe and all.

You: *WHEEZE* I can't believe great minds think alike--

Zenitsu: *crying on the floor* TANJIROU - INOSUKE JUST GRABBED ME BY THE BALLS

Tanjirou: *seethes at his chill moment getting ruined and removed his blaring headphone* What?

Zenitsu: *pointed at you and Inosuke creating woodpecker noise at the background* INOSUKE MOLESTED ME.

Tanjirou: Ahuh. *turns to his sister coloring a children's book* Nezuko?

Nezuko: No, aniki. Ino-kun did not. *smiles brightly* Zenitsu is just being a simp.

Tanjirou: I-

You and Inosuke: W W W W W W W W W 

Zenitsu: SEE? THEY DESTROYED OUR NEZUKO'S BEAUTY AND INNOCENCE!!! ARE YOU GONNA DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT? IF I WERE YOU I WOULD'VE KILL THEM WITH MY VERY HANDS!

You: Do it.

Zenitsu: *Jumps towards you with grabby fingers* YOU ASKED FOR IT-- *took hold of your chest and groped them*

Inosuke: *ChoKES*

Tanjirou: *Commits shock* *puts a traumatized hand on Nezuko's eyes* 

Nezuko: *leaned down and watched the whole thing with curiosity*

Zenitsu: *gaze up at you with a happy face* Am I killing you with embarrassment yet~?

You: *looks down at the blonde with killing intent* Let go of me, or else.

Zenitsu: *shock pikachu expression, before squeezing your chest tentatively*

Tanjirou: *stood up from his seat and grabbed the blonde by the hair - expression red* Zenitsu that was inappropriate! AND Why are you just watching Inosuke?

Inosuke: Because I was enjoying the show-?

Zenitsu: *cradling his hands on his face* I'm never washing my hands ever again.

You: *cries in betrayal* ya'll have zero brain cells I'm committing harakiri tonight. 

Nezuko: there, there *pulls you in a hug* If it would make you feel better; I will join you (Name)-san.

Tanjirou: No.

You: *grabs on Nezuko and cried* I would like that please.

Tanjirou: No.

You and the Pillar Squad Textin'

You: 
Ya'll children - Oyakata-sama told me that I'm gonna be the head of the pillar meeting tonight.

Tengen: 
You do know we're basically your senior, (Name)? Don't call us children?

You: 
Why, afraid of being pedo?

Tengen: 
I don't want the FBI hot on my trails.

You: 
You should've thought of that when you took 3 wiwives.

Tengen:
What.

You: 
What.

Muichirou: 
I won't go.

Gyomei: 
Why?

Muichirou: 
I feel like you're all going to do adult stuffs and make fun of me for not being able to 'have fun'.

Mitsuri: 
But we must protect your innocence Mui-kun! 
And we also really love your presence :( 
Please come it won't be the same without you.

Muichirou: 
Mitsuri-san please refrain complimenting the other gender. 
Obanai is trying to strangle me.

You: 
Lmao why you chill tho.

Shinobu: 
Giyuu is protecting Muichirou by letting himself be strangled instead.

You: 
Yikes. 
Never thought your husbando would be kinky Mitsuri.

Mitsuri: 
Oh, I'm actually the one that introduced that.

Gyomei: 
Please refrain from doing such a talk in my presence.

Shinobu: 
Wow, you can text Gyomei?

Gyomei: 
No, this is Kyoujurou typing for the stone pillar.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUNNY FOR HIM TO TYPE ALL OF A SUDDEN INSTEAD OF HIM ANSWERING BY VOICECLIPS LMAO

Shinobu: 
Dark humor, I appreciate.

Sanemi: 
WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING IN CAPS ITS ANNOYING 

Gyomei: 
BECAUSE I CAN SHORTIE.

Sanemi: 
CALL ME SHORT I'LL USE YOU AS DEMON BAIT

Shinobu: 
Shortie.

Sanemi: 
Speak of the devil.

You: 
BURN OMFG WTF HAHAHAHA

Gyomei: 
IM CRYING IMCYING

Shinobu: 
Brb I need to get my poison for a certain bastard's dessert.

Sanemi: 
BOLD OF YOU TO ASSUME I BROUGHT OHAGI, MOTH.

You: 
Whoa, whoa there. No one's gonna be calling each other something degrading okay.

Muichirou: 
How is 'moth' degrading exactly?

You: 
It's cause they're ugly Muichirou.

Muichirou: 
So like you.

Sanemi: 
PFFFFTSJUAAIIW9QOWWGWHIS 

Shinobu: 
Okay that* got me stop trying to murder Sanemi.

You: 
Did I already told you guys that I hate you all?

Giyuu: 
Mood. 

You: 
Oh hey, how was the strangling?

Giyuu: 
I wished Mitsuri-san did not stopped Obanai.
They're now making out at the next room.

Muichirou: 
Ignore them and they will ignore you.

You: 
Seems like this isn't your first time seeing them do that Muichirou.

Muichirou: 
You get desensitized by them. 

Gyomei:
My ears have heard such things I sometimes asked for the heavens and fate to get me.

Shinobu: 
Lololololol I'm vibing with Gyomei's mood.

You: 
He's acting like Giyuu though.
Does that mean you also like vibing with Giyuu?

Shinobu: 
Am I supposed to laugh at this?

Giyuu: 
Are you?

You: 
No?

Giyuu: 
I like spending time with (Name) instead.
They don't bully me as much as you guys do.

Sanemi: 
No one asked you simp

You: 
Baby Giyuu my darling my sunshine baby

Giyuu: 
Why do I read that as an insult.

You: 
My sweetest babu of the dearest breast hills and hardwood forest deep in milky ways

Gyomei: 
HAHAHAHAH GYOMEI SAID STOP WRITING PORN

You: 
AH SHIT. 
I THOUGHT I WAS VAGUE-

Gyomei: 
NO YOU WEREN'T AHHAHAHA 
R U EVEN TRYING PFT

You: 
…
Kyoujurou PLEASE use your phone instead.
Seeing Gyomei's account reply like that makes me have nightmares--

Gyomei: 
The only nightmares you can have is NOT having your face getting painted white 
By my cum

Giyuu: 
???

Sanemi: 
Okay what the fuck

Muichirou: 
I think I just had a migraine from reading that.

Shinobu: 
What even.

You: 
WHO IS THAT. 
WHO IS IT. 
I AM CONFUSED AS MUCH AS I AM HORNY BUT FOR THE WRONG REASONS. 

Gyomei: 
FATHER USED GYOMEI'S PHONE SHIT HOW TO DELETE IT. 
FATHER IS LAUGHING LIKE A DEMON 
PLS HELP

Sanemi: 
WHAT HAPPENED TO GYOMEI

Shinobu: 
Please tell us he's safe.

Muichirou: 
I will cry if something bad happen to our boulder dad.

Giyuu: 
Please protect Gyomei-san with your life Kyoujurou.

You: 
WHERE'S OUR STONE PILLAR DAMNIT

Gyomei: 
Okay.
All of you are just rude. :(
I'm being made fun of my old man and Gyomei :(
AND you're all unconcern for my being. :(

You: 
Whoa- chill drama queen.
Lmao then get your ass up here so we could all start the meeting. 

Sanemi: 
Wait. Whose already there?

Shinobu: 
Me and Giyuu

You: 
Sitting in the tree

Giyuu: 
k i l l i n g 

Sanemi: 
First comes sex

You: 
Then comes pregnant

Sanemi: 
Then comes the baby

You: 
Crying why he's ugly--

Sanemi: 
Becuz it's giyuu's fault.

You: 
Pls give me love and affection have sex with me and I shall give u my virginity innocence pls love me hard daddy

Sanemi: 
UHM.
WTF???

Muichirou: 
Wrong time to open my phone --

Giyuu: 
DIS IS (NAME) THEY GOT MY PHONE
FUCK THEY'RE SENDING THAT THING TO ALL OF MY CONTACTS 
FUCK FUCK 

Sanemi: 
Well for a second I WAS considering it

Giyuu: 
Dude. 
No. 
Not yet at least.

Gyomei: 
*voice clip: You sinners should double die in hell.

Gyomei left the group chat.

Giyuu: 
I think Gyomei is back on his phone.

Sanemi: 
You think? Bruh. He just sent a voice clip.
And left

Giyuu: 
I AM FREAKING OUT OKAY
MY TWO BRAIN CELLS ARE FRIED WITH SHINOBU AND GIYUU'S EVIL LAUGHTER

*Voice clip: hahahahahhehehehehehahahahHEHEHEHEHHEAHHAHAHHAHAHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHAHAHAAHA

Muichirou: 
Are they… doing some kind of demonic ritual?

Sanemi: 
LOLOLOLOL WHAT IS THAT. 
THEY SOUND LIKE WOODPECKERS.

Kyoujurou: 
I RECEIVED YOUR TEXT (NAME).
I SHALL AGREE WITH SUCH A BURNING PROPOSAL.

Mitsuri: 
Logged in and saw your message (Nickname)-san~
Obanai and I are considering a threesome!

Obanai: 
🐍💞👌

Giyuu: 
GUYS NO. 
IT'S A TRAP. 
SHINOBU AND GIYUU ARE USING MY PHONE.

Sanemi: 
Sucks to be you.

Giyuu: 
YOU WERE WITH ME ASSHOLE.

Sanemi: 
Bold FOR YOU TO ASSUME WE WERE TOGETHER

Giyuu: 
:") 
I imagined you saying that to Giyuu I'm happy for some odd reason.

Sanemi: 
*WHEEZE* 
I can't even be mad. 
WAIT NO. 
I'M NOT GAY.

Giyuu: 
IT'S NOT GAY WHEN YOU DON'T TRY TO MAKE IT GAY

Kyoujurou: 
SO When are we doing our rendezvous (Name) ;)

You: 
In your room ;))))))

Mitsuri: 
Oh~ This is entertaining to read~

Obanai: 
😂😂😂

Kyoujurou:
Be prepared (Nickname) ;)))

Giyuu: 
KYOUJUROU NO. 
THAT'S NOT ME. 
THEY'RE USING MY PHONE.

Tengen:
Just received the booty call (Name),
Me and the wives are free 2night. 
Will we pick you up or you want to do it at your place?

Giyuu: 
GUYS PLS. AS MUCH AS I WANT TO FUCK ALL OF YOU CAN YOU ALL JUST FUCK EACH OTHER INSTEAD I'M SCARED- SHINOBU AND GIYUU ARE LOOKING AT ME.

Mitsuri: 
Aw… does that mean no more fun?

Shinobu: 
News flash.
Ten people sent (Name) some nudes as replies.

Sanemi: 
Are they all guys?

Tengen: 
Are there some boobies???

Shinobu: 
BOTH.

Sanemi:
Damn. Ten people? 
Damn.

Tengen:
Are we talking about B, C or D cups?

Shinobu: 
Mostly D.

Tengen:
Can you forward it?

Shinobu:
Sure lmao.

Sanemi:
Yo, me too.

Shinobu: 
🙂

Tengen: 
SHINOBU WTF.
I THOUGHT THEY'RE GOING TO BE BOOBIES
WHAT THE FUCK
WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS
ARE THESE LENGTHS AND GIRTHS EVEN HUMAN.
WHY ARE SOME OF THEM SO VEINY.

Sanemi:
SHIT WHAT THE HELL YOU TOO?
THE HECK WHAT IS D CUP IN HERE. 
WHAT R THESE.
IS (NAME) FRIENDS WITH SOME PORN STARS???
THEY'RE ALL DICKS-
oh. D as in fucking dicks. 
Smartass Moth.
Fucking smart ass.

Muichirou: 
Good one Shinobu-san Lmao.

Shinobu:
I know. 
Lmao lmao.
Update; Giyuu is a blushing mess here, I'm a bit impressed he's still dodging (Name) then again they're busy typing in.

Muichirou: 
I'm curious. 
Are they all killing each other in the process?

Shinobu: 
I'm not gonna answer that
But here are the nicknames of the people that sent their nudes:

Giyuu: 
NO. 
DON'T ADD THEM IN THIS CHAOS
SAVE THEIR IMAGE PLS.

Shinobu: 
1. Hee-Heed In My Fantasy
2. Apathetic Blonde Sociopath
3. Web-web Milky Love
4. Biwa Mom pussy
5. Yummy tattoo-kun
6. Ducky-Ero-Dono
7. Six eyes sexy
8. One eye sexy
9. Secretly Blonde Daddy
10. Zenitsu

Mitsuri: 
Oh my,
What vulgar nicknames!!! 

Obanai: 
Why am I not surprised that Zenitsu is in there?

Sanemi: 
CAN WE APPRECIATE THAT THEY ALL GOT NICKNAMES 
EXCEPT FOR ZENITSU HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Shinobu: 
I know right? 
Lmao lmao 
Giyuu's gonna change it.

Giyuu: 
PLEASE I WAS DRUNK WHEN I PUT THOSE NICKNAMES 
AND I FORGOT ZENITSU EVEN EXISTED.

Tengen: 
Poor kid LMAO

You: 
Zenitsu's nickname is now Lord Thunder Dick. 
You're all welcome.

Sanemi: SUDICHW8WOZNAIWBRDOXKANS 

Obanai: 
I--

Mitsuri: 
PFFFFFTTTTTT.

Kyoujurou: 
I'm at my room (Name) ;))

Giyuu: 
SHUT UP KYOUJUROU.
I TOLD YOU IT'S ALREADY A TRAP.

Kyoujurou: 
???
Why is Giyuu talking in caps?

Shinobu: 
Lmao Lmao. 
Giyuu and (Name) exchanged phones. 

Kyoujurou: 
UHM. 
Well shit. 
My mistake-- 
GUYS HOW TO DELETE MESSAGES?!

Muichirou: 
Are we just gonna let it pass that at all of those names Kyoujurou might be one of them?

Shinobu: 
Well you're not wrong there.

Giyuu:
GISHS8WGWWYEUD8X9SIWVWEIXJSBWIDOXVSWIFIXJEOWOJWDXSBUWSI

You: 
I am scarred. 
He is big. 
Time to wash my eyes with bleach.

Giyuu: 
DGWISHISS 
I'M GOING WITH U

Kyoujurou: 
Should I find your commentaries about my genital a compliment or an insult?

Muichirou: 
Both lol.

Tengen: 
Okay is it just me now that I think about it.
Some nicknames resemble the Muzan's Group traits from the sister company?

Sanemi: 
(Name) YOU GOTTA EXPLAIN YOURSELF
WHY ARE YOU FRIENDS WITH THEM

Muichirou: 
I think it's none of our business but since it does defy one rule in the company guidelines… 
We can use it to blackmail them.

Mitsuri: 
:0

Obanai: 
Damn. 
Please remind me to never make fun of you Muichirou.

Oyakata deleted the conversation.

Chapter Text

Masks often come loose to the person you don't want to lose.

You never really knew what’s going on his mind, even now.

He’s uncultured, he’s rambunctious – the very description of audacious and a noted king of caprice. The way he thinks is a mystery. But maybe it is a mystery because he doesn’t think at all – and rather act proactively with no sense of shame.

You would akin him to a toddler or an unrefined child with no discipline. His loudness marvels well with his idiocy, and his whole identity as a slayer match well with his state of mind: wild.

Sometimes, you like to think he’s nothing more than that. Just a wild man, in a structured world. You know you’re being too hard on him; but sometimes, you have to think worse of a person to know why they value you, right?

You scrunched your brows.

Or maybe it’s just you.

Watching Inosuke sleep on your lap makes you wonder what made you value him too.

Because you’ve never thought that you’ll treasure someone else as much as you treasure your life.

Your fingers traced his nose absentmindedly, and they twitched – deep, sleepy grumbles replied to your silence before a rough hand grabbed on your own and kept it nestled under his jaw. Soon, there’s a bubble of slumber growing by his nose.

The action was swift, and yet it felt natural for you.

You can’t help but chuckle at his reaction, because even in his sleep, he would look and cling on your being as if you were his lifeline.

You find it oddly adorable – despite his overbearing flaws; he seems to look for ways to show you his better ones. A face like his, the mask on his stomach and his personality.

They are all so different, and yet... he made them feel the same.

You wondered how he did that, and perhaps you wonder too much about masks lately.

That because there’s a Japanese proverb that spoke well about the faces one carries in a lifetime. You’ve always been obsessed with it after you heard it in a passage and you can’t help but relate to it.

It says there that one individual carry three masks in their lifetime: One, it’s a face that you show to the world without fear.

And it made you think at the first time you met him, and how well it resonated with you.

When you first saw him, it was when you were preparing dinner for the slayers in the estate. It wasn’t a normal occurrence to find yourself beating up a man for stealing, but he was a first amongst many. Perhaps you did that out spite, or out of frustration of the day’s work – maybe both.

But you always thought it was justified.

You’re in charge of taking care on those who were hospitalized due to the severity of their injuries, and you made each dish appropriate for each patient’s speedy recovery.

Different ailments need different medicine – and such is your craft of preparing food for the sick.

So, you were provoked when you noticed some of the dishes were touched, lingering with the scent of a mountain - notably the leaves of hinoki and sugi – and you set out to manhunt the thief.

You saw the man eating in the corner of the kitchen, mauling over the meat covered honey on fours, empty plates decorating around him that’s strategically placed to blame him as the culprit. He was like a beast, and whatever was on his head made him feel and look like that.

While he was distracted, you did not hesitate in jumping in for the opportunity. You kicked his head down on the ground, the plate shattering under his snout as you proceeded in stomping on him despite his guttural complaints. 

“Oi, oi! Stop that!” He cried, protecting his face as you kept stomping on him with speed that he can’t grasp. “Is this how you treat a guest!? Who the hell do you think you are for stepping on the mighty king of the mou-- ACK.”

Your tramples became heavier, your body hunching to put more weight on your attack. “A guest won’t eat the food of the others.” You whispered deeply, voice lacing with venom that promises death.

Despite that warning, he still fought back. He grabbed your foot and his snout fumed with a steady stream of warm air.

“It was begging to be eaten, idiot!”

A vein budged on your forehead at the stupid retort.

Someone sane would be apologizing for eating someone else’s dish without permission – but he kept making complains that shows he’s not showing any ounce of guilt. “You’re the idiot here.”

You abandoned your sandals and jumped back just in time to dodge the kick aimed on your stomach. You gave his attack a haughty huff, seeing how sluggish it was while he screamed like a boar preparing for another assault.

The thief charged against you, shouting his technique’s name, and you quickly stepped on the right to avoid it before raising your arm to deflect the pincher punch that aims at your stomach. Electricity trickled on your muscles when his knuckles landed on your arm, but you grit your internal complain and took hold of his wrist, landing a punch on his stomach – or that was the premise.

The man has a flexible way of fighting you haven’t seen before and you didn’t expect the knee on your chin at your intent to subdue him with that punch. “You think you can fight better than me?!” He lets out a deep laughter that insults your moment of weakness.

You tasted iron, and you felt your jaw numbed from his foot– but your focus is still sharp.

You swayed away from another low punch coming from him before grabbing on his elbows and used his low stance and momentum on your side by throwing him on the ground. He lets out a confused noise – but before he can gain his ground; your knees dug themselves deeply in his thighs and you held his arms besides him before headbutting boar’s mask more than once.

He was screaming undecipherable words at you, but you were too focused putting weight on your head to even care.

You felt him limp in your hold for a brief second and you took the opportunity to throw punches on his chest, fueled with anger for this thief. Your knuckles felt raw, warm and it feels like you’re punching on a stone wall – but that only spurred you on to beat this man up for his sin.

“What on earth are you two doing?!”

Your senpai gasped horrendously, pulling you away from the thief and helping the man up – body covered with your blood from your bloodied mouth and darkening colors on his pale skin.

You were breathing heavily; your head pounded its ache – the abuse it suffered from being numbed returned with adrenaline leaving your stream. Your lips felt plump and sensitive and your left cheek sting – no doubt from the horn that grazed your skin when you headbutted the thief.

You dried the blood and saliva flowing down from your face with the kerchief around your neck – trying your best to keep your eyes on him, and he stared back at you. You don’t’ know what he’s thinking at time, but those lazy blue eyes made your eyebrow twitched in annoyance.

It looks like he’s mocking you with an animalistic glance that isn’t even his.

“He’s a guest!” Aoi shouted at you with a condescending tone, looking at the man’s injuries up and down with a deeper grimace on her face. “Kami, how hard must you beat him up?”

You grimaced, gulping down the iron taste in your mouth before looking away from the Kanzaki’s reprimanding stare. But instead of heeding on your mistake, you used your frustration to judge him.

There was not even a ‘thank you’ leaving the man’s mask from the woman that saved his person – just the cold snort of disapproval as he crossed his arms above his chest, boar mask raising high and mighty away from you two.

You would ground yourself on him if it weren’t for Aoi on his side, cleaning him up with her kerchief, looking more distasteful by the second.

You were new in the estate as a helper. So, you know you have limitations as a newbie, and you’re still showing your sensei and the woman that saved you your credibility – one of which was growing warm – until that man just destroyed three months’ worth of your reputation.

It felt unfair on your side for being assumed as the attacker when you’re just doing your job. You tried hard to be helpful, but you felt tarnished for doing something as correcting a criminal. Thieves are no better than scum and should be treated as such.

You stared at your senior in blank astonishment, your silence snapped as you proceed to point at the man accusingly; an action that made the man rigid in fury. “He ate most of the honeyed-meat we roasted for the injured.”

She gave you a look, before looking down at the man she just protected.

You flinched when the Kanizaki threw a hand behind the mask’s boar and proceeded to lecture him. “How dare you, your glutton has no end does it?! To think you’d even eat the serving of those most injured! Do you know how hard it is to feed them at that state, huh? Huh?!” The sharp sound of flesh meeting flesh made you flinch. “You only think of yourself!”

The man grumbled something under his breath and Aoi taunted him to speak louder. You would have absorbed the glory of your victory and enjoyed this torment, but you merely stared at the situation.

That time, you know that the sense of ‘victory’ wasn’t worth it with a thief like him. You slowly came to understand that the man is a frequent troublemaker, especially from Aoi’s reaction.

For a second you thought he would risk your position, but instead, it seems like he lost his.

You shook your head and picked up the kozara decorated around the floor.

The sun is setting and dinner is almost close, you’ll leave justice be served with your senpai’s hands and sharp tongue.

You still have to look for a substitute for the loss menu and you’re already dreading the process of barbecuing another batch. Melted sugar could be subjected as honey’s replacement, right? You can always try to season tofu to taste like meat…

You were grabbed by the shoulder, quickly snapping you off from your wondering thoughts. You were busy trying to plan in saving this disaster – and you felt more peeved when the one that distracted you was no other than the thief himself.

It made you pissed and you glared at the man.

You tried shrugging off his grip on you, but he forcefully turned you towards him instead. Lazy blue eyes stared at you with a suffocating aura that brings a painful discomfort. You were ready to throw a punch against that pink snout and knock him out cold but you stopped at a harmless question thrown at you instead.

“What’s your name?”

You gave him a sour look, one that seems as if you sipped on a spoiled lemon, before your eyes found Aoi’s.

She was fuming behind him – hands on her hips and face scrunched just as sourly as yours or maybe even more.

You nudged your head towards the man, but she merely huffed and stomped out of the room with a dreaded aura on her shoulders, late afternoon evidently ruined by the man.

You sympathized her – she always had quite the temper but it is justified this time knowing how helpless this man seems to be. You blinked at the stranger. “Have you even said your thanks to senpai?”

“Sen-“ He cut himself off. “The hell is that? Is that your name? What the hell is the name sanpei?” His grip on you tightened as his other hand pointed at you accusingly in a weird way: both of his middle and ring finger are folded while the others spread out and pointed at you threateningly. “Why on earth would I say my thanks to you, stupid? You should be the one thanking me for beating your ass up!”

This man.

You closed your eyes and inhaled sharply, calming your nerves. You truly wanted to grab his head and use it as a hammer to fix the tiled roof – but if Aoi won’t even waste her time with this beast, then you also shouldn’t.

“You’re the one who’s the idiot here.” You threw the konzaras’ in the air and slapped his hand away on your shoulder and caught the items midair in succession.

The man lets out a noise at your display, something that’s almost akin to amusement and tried grabbing the plates from your hands – but you dodged his intention easily and he screamed his disappointment. “Hey! I can do that better than you!”

You raised an eyebrow and he hulked his figure closer to make the height difference between you adamant. You merely ignored his presence and whispered something under your breathe that sounded goading in his ears; “As if I’ll trust a stupid man like you.”

“What’d you say?!” He pointed at you again with that weird style, and you felt like your patience is running thin with just him being around. You gave him a bored look.

“I said you’re stupid.”

“YOU!” He screamed at you like a mad man and tried his best to land an attack on you – but you kept dancing your way out of them as you placed the konzaras’ in the sink to be washed later.

You don’t remember how he calmed down, but you do remember him sitting on a stool by the corner of the room and eating some left over senbei from the afternoon’s tea – watching you do your chore with his loud, unsanitary crunching accompanying you.

(You wonder what he was thinking back then, but whatever it was; he was no doubt planning your demise.)

“What’s your name.” He kept demanding; the deep baritone sounded hoarse to your ears and sparking more of the annoyance you have for him. You sighed deeply through your nose and kept ignoring him, proceeding to go back with your work.

Then he will repeat that question, again, and again.

For hours, you acted as if his presence was nothing, even if he was goading you by trying to poke on the food you prepared for the patients – of which you slapped his hand with the wooden spatula).

He was like your child that you wished you could’ve just aborted in the first place but you endured through his presence because he won’t just disappear as quickly as he appeared. This man was hot on your trail like a beast’s tail, even going as far as annoying some of the patients that you have to check for.

Some of them would ask him to shut up, but he would just raise his chin or point at them to fight him and make him shut up. (Which earned him a good smack on the head from you.)

What made him follow you the whole evening is beyond your comprehension. You tried lugging him off to Aoi, but the woman seems to have enough of his shenanigans and he felt the same with her with how heated their argument was. (If you even call it an argument for Aoi since it felt like she’s just talking to a parrot by that point.)

You find their ‘conversation’ a little bit amusing, and you would have treated it as if you’re watching a bad kabuki show if it weren’t for the fact Aoi gave up with the hardness of this man’s head and walked her way out of the room. The little girls that were watching with you following after her before giving you an apologetic look that you don’t understand. (At that time, you haven’t realized it’s because they left you, with him.)

The slayer was having a fit of maniacal laughter at Aoi’s leave, and you find it rather entertaining to listen to – kind of contagious in a stupid way.

“You’re quite the man to ‘win’ an argument against senpai.” You mused, giving him a smirk. As much as you respect the woman, sometimes Aoi can be overbearing and too strict for your taste. So, it’s kind of a guilty relief when he manages to shut her up.

The man’s nostrils fumed with air once again as he placed his hands on his hip, seemingly triumphant at your words. “Hell yeah, I am.” You can’t help but chuckle at his reply.

“Stupid woman can’t handle this baby.” He flexed his left arm at you, and you can’t help but find that amusing. Your eyes curled at him and a full smile climbed up your lips – even despite the sharp pain from your injuries that clings to them, you still brightly grinned at him.

His mask raised a bit at your reaction, and he tilted his head – one lazy blue eye staring at you with an interesting glint shining in them.

“What’s your name.” He demanded once again, but it felt serious this time compared to the half-ass requests hours ago.

You rubbed the back of your neck where your uniform meets your skin and sighed in defeat with your eyes closed. You know that he would never stop asking you – that much is evident with the way he followed you and goading you in a fight with him.

He even skipped his meal to annoy you with your own.

“It’s (Name).” You opened your eyes the moment your name left your lips, and you tried your best not to dig your chopsticks down his throat when you found him holding onto your miso soup – contents missing.

“(Butchered name)?” He laughed, pointing at you. “What kind of stupid name is that?”

You gave him a forced smile, one that’s dangerous on the edges as you picked up a pickle daikon from your serving. “You seriously want me to fight you, huh?” You bit on your food and crunched it loudly to spite him.

It did not work – seems like rude manners are alien to him, that or he’s the entity of rudeness. “Why not try landing a punch on me, hm?” You taunted, but he snorted as if you said a lame joke, and snuggled himself by laying in front of you with a hand on his head.

He looks like a geisha lying like that, if geishas’ have a boar for a head.

“I can fight you all I want but it won’t be fun if you’re not the one that initiates it.” He pointed at the bruises hidden by white gauze on his chest and at your bandaged cheek. “’sides, Kentaro told me not to fight pansies because they’re “fragile”.” He air-quoted, and a nerved popped on his head.

“Fragile my crap, you fight like a fucking bear!” He pounded on his chest with his free hand, and you cringed at the after pain his sensitive bruise must’ve given him – but he seems unbothered by it. “Let’s have a rematch and I’ll show you I’m better than you! You idiot just caught me in a surprise!”

Your amused expression morphed into a constipated one, before giving up at his complaint in the end.

A joyed laughter escaped your lips as you dried your eye from the tears that mused at the hilarity of this man. “There were many intervals to intercept my attack, yet you complain about me being superior to you?” You raised a hand on your hand and stifled your laughter. “I’m sorry, but isn’t that too infantile on your side?”

“That’s not what I meant you (butchered name)-idiot!” He rolled towards you; your tray being pushed towards your direction as his snout pushed up to your nose – hands caging you down by your side.

“The name’s Inosuke.” Your eyes fluttered close at the steam meeting your face from his snout. “And I’ll damn defeat your ass fair and square!”

The shoji slid open, and the two of you turned your head at the person – Aoi looked at you two with a peeved stare before closing the door close. “Clean that mess up, (Name).”

You clicked your tongue and pushed his face back with your hand, but he won’t move. You groaned at him and he chuckled menacingly in reply. “Your breath smells like gensui, bastard.”

“What breath?!” He screamed on your dominant ear before turning his snout at you and blew air at your nose. “This breath?!”

“Oh, come on!” You complained in a pitched whine, and he only laughed as you struggled to get away from him. “Shut it you, boar!”

…

Come to think of it, you should have just knocked him out with another headbutt. You rolled your eyes at the not so-sappy memory, and found yourself playing with his silky black strands with your fingers.

The second mask have always been about the face you would show to your friends and family, but despite the long months you’ve stayed in the butterfly estate; you never did feel showing Aoi and the others with who you are in regard of that.

That time, you were still masquerading for everyone to look at you with the person you want them to perceive as you – even as you all face each other in dinner, you just find yourself listening than engaging in conversations, and merely replied when you needed to.

You still kept your first mask one. Perhaps, it would’ve stayed like that if it weren’t for Inosuke being so determined in opening you up.

“Pig assault!”

You stepped towards your left and raised a wooden bucket just in time for Inosuke’s head to get stuck in the item – you chuckled at the fact that it worked, and you chortled when he had a hard time removing it.

“What is this?!” He grabbed on the edge of it and tried pulling it away, but it won’t budge and he ended up kicking dirt on the ground as he tried to lodge it out. “It smells wet! Aeurgh! Get it off me (Butchered name)! Get it off me or I’m killing you!”

You grinned down at him as you set to clip the blankets up to dry on the steel lines. “Good luck killing me blind.”

You felt a sharp pain traveling up your spine and your front met the ground with a heavy thud – you lost you breathe for a second before turning around, trying to get your momentum but losing it by being pinned the same way you do with Inosuke every time you get the upper hand in your fight.

You felt threatened at the bucket staring you down, but you felt pain digging uncomfortably on your thighs more than the unkempt nails on your wrists. “I don’t need to see to trap you down, idiot.”

“H-how?” You gulped down, frozen in confusion and bewilderment. He huffed, but the noise sound as muffled as his words. “Why would I tell my secrets to my rival? That’s just dumb.”

You gasped out a short chuckle. “Fair enough.”

He seems to freeze for a second, and you wondered what made him tick – then he poked the dirty butt of the bucket on your face and you swear some dirt managed to get into your mouth. “Oh, stop that! I’ll remove it, damn bastard!” You sputtered out in a shrilled voice.

Inosuke cackled maniacally in reply and he kept doing that, egging you to keep shouting at him as his grip on your moving limps tightened – his long nails digging in your wrists as uncomfortable as the knees on your thighs. “Try and get off me first, HAH!”

“You two again?” You heard your senpai’s long, despaired sigh. “You can never finish your chores just in time if that man keeps hounding you like that, (Name).”

You stopped struggling and gave Aoi a peeved expression.

Inosuke lets out a noise that sounds like an offended pig. “Mind your damn business, ugly!”

“My kouhai’s business is my business, you man-child!” She screeched back, pointing at him rudely, yet senpai still didn’t put an effort to help you from this beast – and it made your mind stop and think one big thing that bothers you.

It’s true that this arrogant man had kept following you and goading you, and that you sometimes entertain the likes of him – but how did this situation become common for your senior to even just act as if this is normal occurrence?  Heck, since when did Inosuke wrestling with you sounded normal without you ever realizing it?

Just what kind of relationship do you share with Inosuke?

Your strength falter as you look for a realization to smack you back to reality – but you merely just see Inosuke for who he is: an insistent leech stuck on your skin in a form of a man-boar. (Not someone that makes you smile and comfortable, you reprimanded yourself.)

“I’m doing my best to get him off, senpai.” You cut the two of their argument, while giving her your senior a look that begs her to help you.

Aoi’s bright eyes skidded to the left, pursing her lips and clearly ignoring your plea. She looks dead like that, and you feel dead at her betrayal.

“You call this your best?!” The sight of fumes escaped the bucket’s mouth, and his maniacal laughter echoed hollow to your ears. “Pathetic.” He grunted deeply at your ear.

Your dominant eye twitched at his insult. You nudged your left shoulder on his wrist – and he caught on your trick, making him put more weight on that direction as you willed enough strength to push the neglected side up.

Inosuke shouted his confusion when you rolled yourself up to him and sat yourself on his stomach – his breathe shortening at the weight on his diaphragm as his limbs froze in the air.

At that time, he looks like an upright dead boar, much to your amusement.

Inosuke did not react as fast as you expected him to, in fact – he did not move. The bucket obscured your vision on that mask of his, but you swore you noticed his temperature rose up under you, and the skin on his neck reddened in hue.

You found that reaction weird, but you took his flabbergasted reaction as means to lock his hands down on the floor. On cue, he’s back to being the sore, hyperactive loser-boar that he is. “Get off me, you pig!”

The nerve.

“Takes one to know one.”

He moved his body around, clearly trying to disbalance your center weight but you’ve wrestled him a good few time to know how to deflect that trick. “Shut up! you weight like Chemitsu’s solitude!”

You snorted at that, visage looming. “You calling me heavy?”

“No,” He hissed, another fume escaping the lid of the bucket. “I’m calling you a fat-ass!”

“Seems like the mighty Inosuke ain’t that mighty it seems.” You clicked your tongue sharply at him, and dug your nails in his wrist. “Can’t even handle a fat-ass.”

You can feel the hate emanating off him, and that made you smile in sadistic amusement. "Why you…!”

“Oh my kami,” Aoi spoke up in the background, both her hands are covering her face while the tips of her ears burning bright. “Can you two stop flirting? It’s making me uncomfortable”

You felt your own face heated up, and you choked your denial. “We’re not flirting!”

“What’s flirting?” Inosuke questioned out loud, louder than your denial and Aoi’s expression morphed into something sinister. She wouldn’t.

“Flirting is when there’s sexual tension between two people – especially in the way they talk.”

You gave your sensei a face of utter betrayal. ‘That’s not even fully accurate! Senpai, I trusted you!’

There’s no sexual tension between you and Inosuke – just playful wrestling. What made her think about that? Wait, why are you even defending yourself in this?! Why are you not denying it?

Three dots appeared between you three and suddenly, you wanted to remove yourself from Inosuke. Actually, you would rather want to disappear right there – your face felt as if the steams from cooking rice buried themselves in your pores and you can’t feel whatever expression you’re making.

The man grumbled incoherent noises under you, trying to shake you off literally before he screamed angrily.

“Yeah we’re flirting!”

You choked on air.

The world seems to stop, and it silenced. Even the slayers that were watching you three stopped their chatter to look at the menagerie.

You couldn’t believe your ears. What the hell.

You were trying to justify that he’s ignorant amongst everything and you swore that he doesn’t know what sexual tension even is; still – your heart felt like his fingers gripped on it tightly, pounding them in a heated beat that you can’t count.

You’re suddenly aware of the shape of his abs below you, and became more sensitive with his hike of temperature – and it didn’t escape you how his shoulders seem to share the pink hue on his neck.

Aoi’s eyes just bulged wide as she blurted out her confusion. “What?”

Inosuke turned his head around to ‘look’ at your senpai. Even if he’s still in the bucket, his words were clear and loud.

“We’re busy flirting now shut your trap and leave us alone!”

Someone dropped their teacup at that declaration, and Aoi’s expression turned more scandalized by the second.

And you felt your first mask cracking.

You swiftly let go of Inosuke and stood up – breeze walking your way out with a hand obscuring your lower face. The boar cried your name, and he followed after you – but you ran in speed that have always been your greatest trait.

Jumping off the estates’ wall, you felt as if your first mask finally broke beyond repair.

You didn’t know what to do or think at that, or why you run away. But you felt as if it’s embarrassing to suffer through something you can’t comprehend with a clear mind so you have to find your scattered thoughts up in the place you’ve always called your home.

Throughout the journey, you kept asking yourself with what kind of feelings do you really have for Inosuke: Was it annoyance? Was it amusement? Maybe both, maybe more.

But what is more in the friendship that the two of you have to make Aoi assume something like you two flirting? What was Inosuke thinking for admitting something stupid like that?

You stopped yourself from your ascend in the mountains and held unto a tree. Did... did your subconsciously hinted that you really were flirting with him?

It’s… not even flirting – just playful teasing! Augh. You can’t even find logic in your mind right now. (Then again, love never was about logic in the first place – if only you knew it before; it would’ve saved you form the head aches caused by your overthinking.)

More importantly, why did you run away from him? Where you afraid to show him who truly are? Or are you afraid that he won’t like who you for who truly are? You don’t know. Even as you collect your sanity back then, the questions felt long unanswered.

You thought of how stupid your mind is; how dumb your feelings are; and how idiotic your heart was.

Great, now you’re sounding like him.

You tried staving off your thoughts about Inosuke, so you drink in the scene before you as you trekked up the bushed path up to your spot, and you find yourself admiring the view instead of watching where you’re walking to – slowly forgetting about that man without even realizing it as you drown yourself with the nature around you.

A sense of nostalgia hit your mind, and the feeling of home cascaded your frame. Appreciation gazed you with happiness, and you were reminded once again why you’ve always admired the mountains.

They’re pretty to look at in all season: green, red, yellow, white and sometimes pink. The sky that reaches to them, the way they stood tall and unmoving – the mountains have been a symbol of strength for you.

And home. It always has been like home. The scent of wood, grass and the clean chilled air – it’s felt comfortable more than the futon you lay on. You felt attuned with nature, and you find comfort in its beauty and of the belongingness that struck you just being alone in this place.

It’s beautiful, even more beautiful compared to the scene below you.

The town have a sight on its own – but it’s more about the radiance of the future. You like the comfort it brings, the tools and food; but it’s far from your lifestyle.

These mountains are your past – it always has been.

How long was it when you got rescued? You’re pretty it has only been more than a year. But it felt longer than that… as if it has been forever. Maybe your chores in that household kept these thoughts from coming back, or maybe it’s just a part of you that you didn’t like thinking about.

After all, you could’ve still been in that mountain if the insect pillar didn’t appear in your life.

You obviously had the strength to overpower the demon you served as your mistress, but you merely found yourself following their orders as her slave. Shinobu was kind enough to save you from your old life up in that wooden mansion, and she was kind enough to take you in to her home to keep the only purpose you have; to serve.

You sighed, eyes drawing at the ocean of trees below you, as the waves of confliction washing ashore your frame.

You once fear these heights – the feeling of being too far from the ground used to fill your stomach with cold suffocation – but you felt like you’ve found the limit of your fear. Oni… they’re more terrifying when you’ve faced their claws and teeth too many times.

Threats felt real, more real than punishment themselves. It has been embedded in your mind that your whole existence is about serving others and that you’re not a person but a tool. The reason why you felt obsessed with your work, and felt strongly about it.

Inosuke changed that about you… and you don’t know how to feel about that.

You looked at your hand, and flinched painfully at the memory of your fingernails getting removed. They’ve grew back, thanks to Shinobu’s help – but the shadows of pain still linger on them if you stare long enough.

The past is treacherous as these mountains to those unprepared – the future is uncertain to those who do not know themselves, especially with someone whose purpose is just as simple to serve. It’s because of Inosuke that the person you’re still trying to be slowly broke apart.

You guessed that’s the answer you’re looking for after running away from the estate; you just need to admit you can’t keep up being the person you want to think that you are – a person that no longer belong to the past but rather in the present.

You curled your fingers in your palm and told yourself to return to what’s important: now-- Your whole body pumped with adrenaline the moment you felt arms curled in between your own – pulling your body away from the cliff.

You reacted in reflex, blood boiling in speed and thew your elbow at the person that grabbed you from behind – your nerves frayed as you stood up and instead of running away – you reacted by stomping on the stranger that dares disturbs your peace.

“Oi, oi, oi! It’s me, you dimwit!”

You know that voice. You blinked rapidly and shook your head, before fuming madly at Inosuke – helping him up from the ground and checking on him for any injury. You let out a sigh of relief when you realize didn’t bruise him, but you put your anger at him for catching you off guard.

“What the hell were you thinking?” You grabbed his mask’s tusk and shook it, making the man clamping on your wrist and also shaking your hand off him. “You were planning to fall!”

Your fingers let go of their hold at his assumption, but his didn’t, and they only tightened comfortably.

“I’m not…” You broke your words off… Did you really look like you’re going to commit suicide to him? Your eyes shake as you find his – they’re still that lazy blue, but they looked insistent. “…going to jump off.”

If you did, you would have left your slippers by the cliff.

“That’s right,” Inosuke made a noncommittal growl towards you, his grip stiffened – hurting you a bit, but his words felt heavy as lead, the grasp of his voice grounding you to pay attention on him. “Because I won’t let you.”

Does your life meant that much for him to save you? Even when you’re wearing nothing but your first mask towards him?

You can’t help but stare at him with wide eyes that begs the question ‘why’.

“Jotaro and the others told me that whatever I said upsets you.” He cut your mind off, and he shook your hand with speed that made your joints softened.

“I don’t understand why! I’m just telling the truth!” Inosuke screamed right at your face, before steam chilled your burning visage.

You gave him a helpless look, just for a second and it disappeared just as quickly, but the way he squeezed your wrist told you that he saw, and it made you weaker in the inside.

You couldn’t look at him right in the eyes – not when he just… said that.

You found the ground less intense than this man. “You… really think that we’re talking like that?” You whispered meekly – not meeting his gaze, to which the boar screamed; “Yeah!”

“Do you…” Your eyes skidded on the floor, unsure if you should be questioning him this. “…even know what’s sexual tension is?”

Inosuke huffed at that and his breathe sounds like steam rolling off a train. “Pft, Chumitsu told me what is it.”

Your ears perked up as your eyes found his blue ones. “And?”

“And?” You gave him a look of astonishment that he quickly groaned at. “What? What do you expect me to say?” He raised his hands as if grabbing the air. “I don’t care about it, why would you?” He looks so peeved and his body shows it with how rigid they are and how he pointed at you as weirdly as he did before when he first met you.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of - animals have it all the time.”

This man.

You cracked a smile at how dumb, yet logical that was, and it didn’t escape you how his shoulders flattened a bit at the sight of your face. “Inosuke, you’re insufferable.”

Inosuke raised his chin and huffed while crossing his arms at you. “Yeah, try saying that without a smile next time.”

You sighed, your smile falling with his words – maybe you’re the one being insufferable here.

“HAH?” Inosuke quickly scoffed before your face. “What did I say to make you upset this time?!”

You raised your hands when you felt his curled painfully in your shoulders – there’s urgency and concern on how he held you and your heart couldn’t help but slowed its beat painfully - especially on how easy you can read his actions more than understanding his words. (He really was concerned for you, and he wasn’t even afraid to show it.)

“No, no!” You grabbed on his hands and stopped him from shaking you relentlessly. “It’s just me and my brain having a conversation.”

Inosuke stared at you, and his mask’s lazy eyes felt judging. “I’m not worth a conversation, is that it?” A breeze left his snout and he broadened his stance so that his height overpowers you. “I’m better at talking than your brain!”

“Oh my gosh.” You couldn’t help but smile painfully at him. He really does like you, huh?

You nudged your head towards a fallen log nearby – and he took your silent cue with confusion.

“What kind of business do you have with that dead tree? Do you want me to headbutt it, is that it?”

What kind of advice did his friends below told him to act like this? You shook your head and nudged your chin towards the log again. “Please stop acting un-Inosuke like and just sit with me there?”

“Un-inosuke like?” He let you go, voice laced more with question as he watched you take a seat on the fallen tree.

“Yes,” you blinked at him, confused that he didn’t caught what you mean. “You would headbutt that log without question the moment I nudge my head at it – not ask permission.” You gave him an unamused expression when he merely stared back at you. “It’s… weird with you acting so concern and all.”

“But I am.” Inosuke stated without a beat, sitting beside you on the log. You smirked at his words, huffing a bit. “So, you do admit you’re weird?”

“Don’t go around the topic.” His gruff words felt vexed, as if he was annoyed at your point. “I mean that I am concern.” Inosuke whispered the next few words and it made you look at him.

You know that he is. You’re just… you’re still trying to believe he sees you in that kind of light – and it’s hard. You can read his body language as well as Shinobu and you’ve noticed some cues that gave away his feelings.

Just the mere fact you knew them made your own feelings for him grow warmer.

You will admit, the only reason you tolerated him and his childishness was because he grew on you – his naivety, his excitement, his way to garner your attention and how he make the days in the estate more fun and less lonely; have been enough nurture for the feelings to bloom – and you pushed that feeling at the back of your mind to keep whatever interaction with him normal that it… it made you treat him the same as you did the first time you met him.

Like how you kept on holding on your first mask despite it shattering long ago.

Inosuke clicked his tongue at your silence, and crossed his arms at you. “Did something so stupid as the truth upsets you that much?”

Did it?

No, you were just embarrassed that he felt that way, and more unsure of yourself that you have to find time to look for the answer.

But maybe he doesn’t know the weight of such thing about how deep is it to feel something like that, because as he said it himself ‘animals have it all the time.’ Just – not the same way humans show theirs.

Inosuke tilted his head, as if asking that question again.

“No.” You whispered in reply; eyes glued at the sky. “It didn’t really upset me.”

“So why did you run?”

“Maybe…” You bit your lips, your eyebrows scrunching as you look for your words. “It’s because I thought I could outrun it.”

“That’s stupid.” He flicked your forehead painfully. “Feelings stay no matter what.”

You flinched at the throbbing pain on your forehead, rubbing it with your finger before registering his words in your mind.

That was too wise for him to conjure. You can’t believe your ears; did he really thought of that? No, you know he rarely think. You refuse to believe that came from him.

You narrowed your eyes at him. “And who said that?”

“Monjiro.” Inosuke replied sheepishly before going defensive against you. “But I first thought of it, okay?!”

You laughed at the absurdity of it and just decided to play along. Right.

“Well, the both of you are telling the truth.”

Your eyes found interest at the sky and you sighed the excitement out of your chest. Amidst the sudden silence, Inosuke looked at you weirdly as he always does whenever he thought you’re not paying attention on him.

His stare always felt judging, but it never failed to make you feel important.

“You know… this… us… felt like having a confession.” A half-assed one, you added to yourself, but something that seems not to far off with Inosuke being in the picture.

He chuckled deeply at that and you found his baritone echoing inside your heart.

“Kinda is.”

You turned your head towards him sharply. His whole body is facing you, both hands on his knees as he stared at you pointedly. Inosuke looks terrifying with those blue eyes, and you felt yourself shrink under the pressure of them.

“I don’t… understand?” You squeaked, and he pointed at you in that weird way with a snort leaving his mask.

“You’re supposed to be smarter than me. Why are you acting dumb right now?”

You gave him an offended look and raised a sassy eyebrow at him, much to his delight. “Maybe because I’ve been hanging out too much with you?”

He laughed rambunctiously as that, and you laughed with him, too. You can’t help it. His laughter has always been triumphant or filled with goading that hearing him laugh so genuine like this makes your heart notice him more and more as a summer breeze breathed on your face.

Your laughter died down and so was his, and the eerie calmness hugged the two of you and yet, it never felt so comfortable as the way you stared into each other’s eyes.

“I’m not joking.”

Inosuke stated softly, his voice lacing with a tint of seriousness and it was so out of the blue that you waited for every syllable that comes next.

“I have feelings for you.”

Your face warmed up, and you felt your words dried out in your throat. The sensation of his fingers around your heart returned – gripping them, and you could only offer him your silence in reply.

You were looking for the right words that you wanted to reply, but… you can’t find it. Just, you keep your gaze on him and Inosuke shuddered under your gaze – mask looking away as he muttered something under his breath that you caught clearly. “Or whatever Chinkomitsu told me to say.”

You facepalmed. Shaking your head as stifled your laughter at that. He didn’t know he broke the mood, still, you grinned at him with tenderness that you hope he can feel. “Since when?”

He shrugged at your question and scratched his mask. “Since the first spring we saw each other.”

You gasped loudly at him and he groaned at your reaction, his foot tapping impatiently on the grass beneath him. “That’s when we first met! It’s already been a whole year! Did Zenitsu taught you how to catch feelings that easily, is that it?”

Inosuke looked at you with a nerve popping on his shoulder. He pointed at you angrily with steam leaving his snout. “Oi! Don’t say his name when I’m confessing!”

You found his reaction interesting and playfully scoffed at him. “Oh, and you can?”

He seemed to be more pissed as he grabbed the air with his hands and screamed at you. “You don’t hear me say Ai-ai’s or Shinobu’s name!”

“Well now you did.” You snickered at him when he fumed even more in anger. You poked on his nose teasingly with a warm smile for him, giving you a scandalized expression when you did. “Having fun?”

He threw a fit of tantrum; stopping his foot on the ground as gripped his fits on the air. “(Butchered name)! I will pig assault you right now if you won’t reply to my confession seriously!”

You wanted to laugh at his antics, and congratulate yourself for teasing him – but you ended up stifling them by biting your lips as you looked at him happily. His anger flattened when you did that, and he suddenly acts unsure with how his body shrinks from your warm stare.

“Why ask something obvious? Stupid feelings…” He turned his head to the ground, rubbing his hands on his pants, before looking at you with determination. “It’s easy to have fun when I’m with you.”

“You know, it’s kind of weird for me to have… to have feelings for someone-” He brightened at your words, those blue eyes seemingly sparkling as he became more confident in his stance, before deflating at your next words. “-I haven’t seen his face before.”

He raised his hands and wiggled his fingers, replying sarcastically; “Whoa, mysterious.”

You rolled your eyes at him. “Oh, come on, what’s with the outfit?” Or lack thereof.

“What? This?” He gestured at his naked top – you don’t have to see his face to know he’s being smug about it. “It’s just my mightiness.”

A smirk climbed up on your lips.

Okay, you’re coming to understand why you like him.

“I can see that, but not your face.”

He fell silent when you told him that, and he lowered his hand to grab unto his knee with a grip that’s tight. Your gaze landed on his hand, before they climbed up to his eyes.

There was something between you that’s growing tense, and you can see that it bothers him with the way his body momentary shake for a second.

You scooted closer to him, and he backed away. That act made your heart throb in disappointment, knowing that it means he don’t trust you – at least, you think that is the reason for him acting so meek.

You raised your hands, as if in surrender and he tilted his head. “Do you think… I can remove your mask?”

“Why?” It was quick, it was short – and you answered the same, just with honesty than confusion.

“I want to see you.”

He grabbed one of your hand and hold it tight, squeezing them as he lowered his mask.

“You’re looking at me right now.”

You never heard his voice so soft, so unsure. You think your heart want to console his, soothe him to tell him that it’s alright; that he can trust you.

You told him all of those with your begging eyes.

“The real you.” You whispered, and Inosuke hesitated, and you can see it in the way his hold on your fingers weakened for a second.

“Your feelings won’t change?” You asked yourself the same thing with him.

“Why would it?”

He scoffed, and his chipped nails curled around your wrist.

“There’s a reason why I don’t eat at the same room as you.”

That made you smile for some odd reason, and you find his hesitation adorable by the minute instead of drowning you with disappointment like before.

“You think I’ll find you ugly?”

He shrugged in reply, and that made you gave him a patient grin that made his hold tightened on your wrist. “If you catch feelings for someone, their physical appearance isn’t that important.”

“That’s stupid.”

Inosuke was quick to deflect, and he pointed at you with his index and little finger again. “Tell me why I like how your eyes are shining right now.”

You blinked at him, feeling your blood simmering in your cheeks as you raised your hand to touch your heated face. “They are?”

He nodded slow, before nodding again feverishly.

“Yeah, and I-I like how your face turns like a tomato.”

Your hand on your face spread to hide yourself from him, especially the growing smile that you have for him.

“Oh my god, Inosuke please stop.”

“Or that.”

Inosuke tugged your wrist before letting it go to slap off the hand that tried to obscure his vision on your visage.

“That stupid smile, I like that too… A bit too much.”

You want to hug him, you really do – but you found yourself just hugging your hands to your chest in reply as you looked at him with an embarrassed smile that made his heart stutter. “Then you must understand why I want to see your face.”

Inosuke looks at you blankly for a second, before punching the log between you.

“You fucking smart ass!” he crossed his arms and lets out another fume from his snout. “Can’t believe you used my words against me.”

“Well,” you gave him a victorious grin that made him fume in defeated anger. “I am smarter than you.”

He raised his arms in disbelief, a nerve popping on the side of his mask.

“Fine, but don’t run if you see my face!”

You chuckled easily at his permission, and he spouted curses at you to shut up – and you did, but your chuckle turn into a high giggle that made his ears tinkle.

He thinks he would melt, with how you softly you looked at him with that stupid smile and tender (color) pools. “I promise.”

Never mind, inside he’s melting.

You raised your hands slowly, and took hold at the bottom of his mask. The fur from the head is thick, rough and a bit dirty – but you didn’t mind it as your fingers curled in the warmth inside them.

Your fingers lingered at where the skin meets, and his body grew rigid. “Tell me if I hurt you,”

“What kind of question is that?” Inosuke scoffed with a guttural groan. “Don’t stall, idiot.”

Your grin widened at him, and you removed the mask in a way that isn’t as gentle as you thought since your excitement showed with how fast you took it off.

…

And you honestly don’t know what you were expecting.

You dropped the mask between you two and you couldn’t help but ogled widely at him.

You were met with a woman’s face, far beautiful than the mountains and the town – far beautiful than anyone you’ve met. It was as if, you are staring in a painting majestic to behold.

Because Inosuke stole your breath away in amazement and wonder with those narrowed gazes.

His eyes reminded you of the trees of summer, his lashes reminded you of the branches in fall – his skin the peaches of spring and the whiteness in his teeth that shows from his snarl, the breath of winter.

His face is fair, small – a beauty, far from your own. His skin reminded you of pearls – pure and smooth, and his lips – they’re honestly so silky to look at despite them being chapped from dryness.

His beauty is natural, and you… just can’t help but compare it to nature.

Your eyebrows met in disbelief, because you are unsure if you’re staring at Inosuke – or an angel that changed place with him.

Why did he decided to hide his face again?

“Pretty.” You whispered up to him, a word that you never thought you would use to a man. Then, as if it was a switch – the color of tsubaki flushed on his cheeks – highlighting the glow that shines in his summer eyes.

You reached up to touch his face, and his gaze instantly landed on your shaking hands, his lips frowning a bit as if he doesn’t want you to touch him. Still, your heart felt confident that he will, and still, you asked if you could.

“Do it.” There was no beat, there was no hesitance. He answered you just as quick, and he egged you with that look of shine brimming in his eyes.

And you did. Softly cupping your fingers on his cheekbones, thumbs brushing the warm skin.

Inosuke leans into your touch, and his frown grew into a smug grin as he looks at you with eyes that flicker with a gaze of victory.

You sighed in relief at his reaction and blew the air that you were holding in. You easily chuckled, and he accompanied you – grabbing your wrists with his holds as he rubbed his face against your palm.

Your heart fluttered at that childish act, and you can’t help but grabbed unto his ears as he grumbled his dislike at that act. “The hell are you doing– wait, yeah, keep rubbing that spot, yeah.”

He’s acting like a dog – more so with how he taps his foot on the ground and how he closed his eyes as he leaned more into your touch. 

“You’re wholesome, do you know that?” You cooed, and his eyes opened at you with a narrowed gaze, before his grin came back – full blown. “Now I do.”

He pulled your hands away from him and let go – but before you could even complain about the lack of cuteness; Inosuke grabbed your face and leaned closed – rubbing his face against you instead in a way that made you more aware of his scent and the joint warm from your skin on his.

You couldn’t help but let go of the laugh that nestled in your chest at the cuteness. “What’s this?”

He groaned, as if you should know something about this. “I’m scenting you.”

Your face easily heated when you felt something warm and wet roughly gazing your skin.

“W-wait” You grabbed his wrists and tried pulling away from him with a laugh that he grumbled at. “What, why on earth would you stop me?!”

“What’s with the scenting?” You giggled. You didn’t know you could scent someone, but hell – that alone made this session more Inosuke-like.

Said man narrowed his eyes at you with a big pout. “Because.” He pushed your forehead with his finger. “I don’t want other’s stealing you.”

Your heart felt trampled at the way he said it, and you cooed at him while you put a hand on your beating heart in hopes it would slower your pulse. (It didn’t.)

“But licking me?” You asked airily at him and he murmured his reply by crossing his arms and turning his head with an ugly sneer.

“That’s what the adult boars acts in the wild.”

You made a noise that sounded like a kettle as you try to stop yourself from falling more for him. His ways are indeed mysterious, but they are honestly adorable that it hurts your pride for stopping him.

“Have you seen human kiss?” You asked him, tilting your head and he looks at you with a raised eyebrow.

“All the damn time.”

You opened your mouth at that, before closing it – suddenly becoming embarrassed as you shyly gaze at him.

“That’s how we should kiss?”

Inosuke blinks, blushing – before the red on his cheeks subsided as he looks at you with a puzzled look.

“What’s so special with sucking each other’s mouth?”

You suddenly feel as if you were lied to your whole life, and you grabbed your chin in thought at the epiphany of his words. “Is that how kissing really looks like?”

“More or less.” He shrugged, and you gave him a sheepish smile that made him grin back.

“But…” You spoke low and, in a whisper that made Inosuke focused on you intently. You pointed at your lips and his gaze at you hardened. “Can we try?”

There was no reply.

Inosuke grabbed your chin and literally smashed his face on yours.

You made a sputtered noise with how his tongue invaded your mouth and you pulled away from him in shock.

“Oh my god!” You breathed in as he glared at you, and Inosuke tried leaning again for another kiss but you stopped him by putting your palm against his lips. “What kind of kisses did you see?!”

He licked your palm and you made a disgusted expression that he laughed at. “One I saw in Red Light District?”

Your face bloomed like the color he stated. “That’s not how kisses supposed to work.”

“What.” Inosuke looked at you with a narrowed envy. “You kissed someone better than me, is that it? I’ll show you I’m bette—” You leaned your head away when he leaned in, and you squeak at your loss of balance.

But he catches you easily with his arm and pulled you closer against him until your palms landed on his toned chest. “Tell me. Have you kissed someone else than me?”

“N-no?” You squeaked at how he frowned at you and you have a need to hide from his intense gaze. “I mean you’re my first kiss and well, uh – kisses are not supposed to be heated like that?”

“Huh?!” He shouted his confusion at you and you felt really close into melting at how his voice vibrated on your frame with how close he’s holding you against him.

“They’re supposed to be slow and soft?” You stammered and Inosuke looks even more perplexed than ever. You breathed in, trying to calm your nerves - but slowly regretting it since all you can smell is him.

Still, you found your bearings and gave him a surer look than before. “I’ll show you.”

You leaned in softly and tilted your head – closing your eyes the moment you felt his lips on your own. You two stayed frozen like that, and you find your clothes constricting with how tight his fingers are gripping on the garment around your waist as he pulled you closer the way his kiss felt.

You moved your lips, just in a way to entice him to follow and he did – the feel of his breathe on your face overwhelms you with a stuffy feeling that made you pushed harder in his embrace and you felt him smile.

You think, your mind has fried itself when his tongue rubbed on the side of your mouth and it suddenly became too much.

Inosuke groaned in disappointment when you pulled away and you hid your face with your hands – and then you heard him laugh so loud and true as he hugged you to his chest with how flustered you look.

He patted your head to calm you down, and you wished he didn’t because it only made your heart palpitate in a speed that makes your lung incapable of copying. But you gave yourself a moment of silence and two, and all you could feel is his comforting touch and warmth.

And suddenly, the feel, the scent and just being in his embrace makes you two feels normal in a way you don’t understand – but certainly like.

“Does this make us a couple?” You asked in a whisper, cheek rubbing on his chest and you felt him grumble. “What’s that?”

“It’s… how we label each other that we’re together.”

Inosuke clicked his tongue in reply, clearly annoyed.

“Just tell them we’re together then, don’t make it complicated.”

“You know what?” You pulled away from his chest and he raised an eyebrow at you. “You’re right.”

He blinked, he blushed at your compliment and there was a shy look that appeared on his face when you said that before that giddy smugness returned to his face.

“Heck yeah, I am.”

You grinned, melting in his arms. The man huffed at that but hugged you tight anyways, raising you up ‘til you’re sitting on his lap.

“You’re surprisingly comfortable.” You complimented, and you giggled when Inosuke sounded offended.

“Surprisingly? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Your fingers laid atop your chest, before tracing down the line in his chiseled abs. He shuddered, but he didn’t move an inch – you can’t see what his expression, but you can feel his temperature growing warmer on your cheek. “I thought you’re going to be hard to lay atop on.”

“Well now you’re wrong.” He pulled you closer, as if the small space between you is not enough. “I’m plenty comfortable.”

You giggled, agreeing to his statement with a nod and you felt him relaxed. You felt him pet your head again, and you wonder if he likes that too – considering you would pet him whenever he helps you out on your chores. (It’s rare, but he would always do them right instead of making more work for you – you never really thought hard about it, until now; but you’ve learned to give more meaning behind his act.)

“Can we hold hands?” You asked, looking up to him through your eyelashes and you grinned adoringly at him when you noticed a blush that took his face.

“(Name), why are you even asking?” His emerald eyes didn’t meet yours for a second, before he coughed his fluster away and gazed down at you. “I told you; just do it.”

You blinked and looked up at him, his eyes aren’t fixed on yours – they were shaking, maybe in excitement? – and his eyebrows are scrunched. He looks cute like this, especially when he puffed his pink cheeks.

“Hey, you didn’t butcher my name.” You poked him, and Inosuke let go off his breathe and grinned down at you in such a proud manner that made you want to coddle him.

“I might or might’ve practiced.”

You can’t help but feel at awe at that. To think he would do that for you. You reached up and kiss the skin on his jaw, the arm around your waist tightened a bit as he sighed loudly at the feel of your lips.

“That’s really sweet of you.” You felt his hand intertwined his fingers with yours, and they squeezed tight when he asked with entertainment laced in his voice; “Sweeter than the honeyed-meat I stole?”

“Sweeter than that.” You hummed in agreement. Inosuke chuckled at that and he leaned away to look down at you with mischief curling in his eyes.

“I know something sweeter.”

“What is it?” You tilted your head in question, and his reaction made your heart full.

A big, unfamiliar grin that felt familiar appeared on his face, cheeks flushed with the color pink red as he leaned down and captured your lips with his – savoring your taste this time as his free hand weaved his fingers passionately in your hair.

He pulled your connected hands to his chest, and he groaned in appreciation when you opened up to him with a moan.

This thief has stolen not only your heart, but also the last of your mask that you hid.

The third mask – of which you thought you would never show to anyone: weakness.

You thought deeply on how Inosuke opened you with just by being himself, and you wondered if you could’ve done the same with him.

Inosuke made himself home to the butterfly estate with each mission done, and everyone else just acted as if you two are recently married after your talk in the mountains.

Zenitsu and Aoi looked scandalized when they saw you two walking back, holding hands. Especially with you wearing Inosuke’s mask and the man wearing your kerchief around his neck. It was just a sight they never thought they would see.

Tanjirou and the others congratulated you two with warmest regards, and Shinobu felt like a proud mother seeing her children being married off, and as everyone suddenly started eating red beans – you thought of how happy you were just seeing him eat like a pig besides you.

Because at least he no longer has the need to hide, and you felt the same with him as you cleaned his face from the rice that sticks on his jaw.

Though, as sticky rice is – he was also like that with affection.

Inosuke likes cuddling – he doesn’t care if he’s the big spoon or the small one; he likes it as much as the first time you introduced it to him. Still, you find him overbearing as the first night he barges in your room with his own futon in his arms.

“What are you doing here?” you asked with a high-pitched tone, covering yourself with your blanket.

He closed the door with his foot and just proceeded to march his way towards you. “I want to sleep with you.”

You felt the air in your chest got knocked off your frame as you squeaked, “What?”

Inosuke dropped his futon besides your own, but he ended up just pulling your blanket up and threw himself on your side. The mask rolling off his head, his eyes bright despite the darkness and grin wider than before – he grabbed your arms and tugged you closer to him.

You stared back at him, face growing warmer by the second. What is he planning to do to you?

His lips landed on your own and you closed your eyes, but before you two could farther – he pulled back and peck your nose. “Night.”

Just like that, Inosuke was out like a wind – taking most of the room in your bed. You looked down at him in astonishment, before admitting defeat. You would have to make do with whatever stunt this is.

When he woke up that night, he was surprised that you were on his chest, sleeping soundly.

Inosuke smiled softly at you, eyes lidding as he gently pushed the hair that clings on your face. You made a noise that made his heart stutter and stomach warm. The way you rubbed your cheeks on him made him sucked up his breathe – heart pounding with your scent invading his.

He asked you what it was called in the morning, and you regretted telling him the word as he would repeat them like a broken bird.

His affectionate pig assaults became a chant of “cuddle, cuddle, cuddle.”

He would repeat them with his arms spread wide, and if you won’t comply – he would end up just grabbing your whole body and pull you in his arms; caging you in his tight embrace as he rubbed his face on your own.

You’d stay like that for minutes, and if you don’t hug him back – it’ll be longer.

You never would have pegged him as touch-starved, but… so are you. You’re just good at controlling your urges. You guess, that this is what weakness is; to accept things you would always try to push away.

Because you know that you have someone strong enough to disregard your worries and fill it with love.

Your fingers felt ticklish, and you realized Inosuke’s waking up from his nap – his long eyelashes fluttering on your fingers. “Have fun in dreamland?”

“No.”

He yawned loudly, and the noise reminds you of a father yawning so loud and it made you crinkle a small humming laugh. He rubbed his eyes as he told you this; “It’s more fun when I’m with you.”

You easily gave him a soft look.

Inosuke is smooth without even trying. That is a testament you’ve learned far back when you two started dating.

You leaned down to kiss forehead. Inosuke made a noise of appreciation and reached up to curl his fingers in your hair. The feel of your lips on his skin felt warm, gentle and ardent. He can let you stay there like that on him forever and he won’t even complain – not even when he’d feel uncomfortable.

The two of you stayed like that, both eyes close and just enjoying each other’s presence. The both of you have a third mask that the other don’t know, and you think…

“(Name).” Inosuke whispered with a low voice, and you pulled away from him, only to see his eyes wide – emeralds shining like the mountains, and boyish grin that’s as comfortable as home. You hummed, caressing his hair away from his face.

“Aishiteru wa.”

A tear fell down on his face, and his eyes curled in a way that made you want to hide, and you didn’t have to when his thumbs brushed those tears away.

Your lips trembled as you closed your eyes in happiness, kissing his fingers and his wrist and anything that you can reach.

You think that face and masks doesn’t matter anymore. Only the hold of his hands on your face does, and the lips that comforted your heart more ways than once.

He matters; the feel of him, his love… these gentle caresses.

“I love you too.”

Inosuke matters more than anything else.

Chapter Text

"Unresolved love is the most painful; especially if you know what the two of you could've been if things were just a little different."

You're glad you couldn't see the expression on his face, because you know that deep inside him he's breaking apart.

It's a good call that you have your head away from his - but that didn't help you feel less of yourself already. After earning his trust, after being a part of his life – you don't know if you can handle the guilt that's present before his face.

You don't know if you'll ever forget it even in death.

You gulped down the building tension in your mind; getting the anxiety and pressure in lying to him overcome your body in cold flames.

Trying to think too much about Shinjurou's sad tone, or at the thought of his mind rambling about how much space the two of you had ever since you've stopped hanging out felt like torture.

You knew him too well, and...

It's... not a good thing to dwell about.

You turn to shoot a fake smile to your friend – hoping to ease his worry even if your eyes can't meet his. But you only feel the lingering tendrils of forced remorse settling in your stomach - boiling itself inside of you, keening your lie over at the way his face dimmed in unknown emotion.

Some truth hurts and it may permanently damage the both of you. But lies are sweet when fermented, aren't they? Yet, right now – your tongue only tastes dry with sadness.

Lies... Lying – you are a great liar, aren't you? You live your life that way, so you know it will end like this but... was it bad to play pretend with him feeling as if they are true?

Especially since he's training to be a slayer, while you're masquerading as a human.

Maybe it's a good that the two of you started faltering off one another - you wouldn't keep up the pace of being a true friend. Or... were you ever true to him?

"...There must be a cure." He stated in a voice loud as a pin dropping in a noisy street. Shinjurou's arms shakes in frustration at your silence and he repeated the statement; looking you straight in the soul with sunset pools drawn in sadness.

Your heart curled at the hopeless and pure denial in his eyes. It glazes with a shine that make yours water, and they crinkled in fear and astonishment.

He's asking you with them, begging the question why – why does it has to be you?

"I don't know if there is." You told him, gripping the windowsill in his room with strength that made the wood crumble, but his eyes still never lingered away from yours.

You can feel your nails growing back to its colors as you stare down his face with your body hulking – but Shinjurou did not look at you as the monster that you are; not even when he has to look up to you.

You... don't deserve the longing in his soul. You don't deserve him.

"I'm sorry... for being in your life." You don't deserve even being a part of it.

"Don't say that!" The man shouted at you, deep voice quaking in anger as his eyebrows furrowed deeply as his face wrinkled in the anger he always wore and your chest warmed at the sight of them.

You have it bad for him, didn't you?

He stomped towards you in speed, that in a blink of an eye – he was gripping your wrist with calloused hands you helped created; the days and months muddling in your mind in a flashback where you trained with him as his heiho.

Back then, he would look at you as an enemy – not... not someone reflected in his eyes. There's a hue of defiance in those orange orbs you've grown to love and it pains you to the point you have to stare at the floor.

"Don't you dare look away." He barked sharply, and it made you feel like your pricking a thorn on your throat when you saw a tear rolled down his cheek as he tried his best to keep his composure leveled.

"Don't..." Shinjurou closed his eyes just a second, before glaring at you with a crack in his voce. "Talk to me as if you're going to die!"

You smiled wistfully at him with anguish; if only he knew it wasn't easy to act as a human for him.

You've been lucky to have your demon arts strong enough to fool everyone in his family. Infiltrating his home as a mock student in their arts – finding their trust to kill everyone in the household, and put an end the lineage of flame pillars.

That was the plan; and it would've been easy if it weren't for this man squeezing your wrist with tightness that begs you not to go and you felt more of the time chanting its end.

Muzan isn't happy with your stalling; he knew you were perfect for the job - your skills are basically hone to be like it. You have traded your life away from his greed to assassinate pillars – and you were his puppet. You acted the role given to you – morphed your appearance in ways it's not human in order to fool them.

You've been doing it for years that you felt empty – and just training with this heated man showed you what is it to be alive again; showing you how to feel human, again.

You want to stay with him. You truly want to forget the corpses you used as a stepping stone to escape Muzan's wrath.

And you guess it's only human to want Shinjurou to be happy, safe – far from you.

Perhaps, at the back of your mind you knew that the demon king will haunt him down for your betrayal – and you'd rather face death than watch your beloved be mercilessly tortured by the likes of him.

Muzan mustn't know you've grown attach to Shinjurou.

He mustn't know that you chose for your prey to live.

Your eyes lidded in despair as you reach down to wipe off the beads of pearls his own creates. The rage in his words and expression didn't not match the fear in those eyes. 

You felt grief, disbelief and helplessness oozing out of him - and you felt guilty and sorry knowing that it was you who made him feel this way.

And it hurts you as much as it hurts him.

"I am." Your slender fingers grabbed his hands, opening his tightened palms with softness only you could show him along with the whisper in your voice. "I am one of the lower moons, Shinjurou."

Your lips quiver when you felt him intertwined his fingers with yours, holding unto them with suffocating strength. His expression is nothing but the complete opposites of his hair and eyes: dark, grim and pained - but his grip, the way his nails dig into your skin were anything that that: he was clinging unto you, grieving and suffering.

The way he held unto you felt as if he's protecting them from the truth he did not want to hear.

"I was sent to kill you and end your family." You felt your tongue dry when you told him that, emotions over flowing with regret that spins your mind into numbness. "To behead me would be your trophy and haven." 

With a tight grip a passing lover could only give, you smiled a sad smile before him - breaking the ties between your hands as gentle as you could... breaking his heart the moment your warmth felt cold on his skin.

"You'll find someone better than me." Tears and more fell on the floor as you kept your eyes on him. "Continue your lineage... and be happy." Your smile faltered, but you kept it on your face.

And you were given silence. Shinjurou wanted to shut you off; to shout at you to shut up and just listen to him – trying to find the words to change your mind, but he can't. How can he? He's lost for words that staggers in his throat with vile and astonishment.

He wanted you to be with him, despite the odds – despite the truth.

But he knew better than to listen to his heart. You always told him that a warrior must follow their duty despite it all; and he believed your words with agreement.

That conversation felt ironic for Shinjurou that his vision blurred at the memory.

His confidence dropped further when your face slowly morphed into something he never thought would exist - a snout, whisker and sharp teeth. (Color) fur growing and covering your face, and your fingers turned into padded talons only beasts can have.

A monster appeared before his eyes, and Shinjurou should feel disgust or shock – but he only stared at you with wonder as he thought of how wonderful this form of yours is. You looked like a wolf, and under the moon light - the solemnity in its waxy glow cascades you in an ethereal veil.

He never would've thought such a fierce animal could be beautiful, especially with those soulful (color) orbs.

"You'll find someone." You spoke, but he didn't listen.

Shinjurou was captivated with the way your jaw moves, sharpened teeth displaying how powerful they are. He thought of how easy for it for you to just snap his throat away – but you didn't.

And he was fascinated. All he wanted was to kiss you, to shut you up and just... just let him be selfish for the night, and he would've done that if only one of your (color) eyes didn't twitch into a number he hated so much.

The stroke clear and broad, the hue of your eyes shining ever more brightly with the name of death more evident in your eyes.

"Someone who's not an animal." Shinjurou felt a rough padded finger drying his cheeks in a helpless attempt - soaking your fur as he smells more of your distinct scent in them.

"You deserve to be safe and happy." Out of nowhere, you gave him a katana - one that must've been stored in his family's reserves, one whose nichirin belongs to his grandfather's.

Shinjurou didn't grab it. Instead, he glared at you with so much hatred he can accumulate as he slapped your hand away from his face.

How dare you, you've been nothing but kind to him. Sweet and adoring.

He can't believe a demon like you would make him feel this way – to feel this stupid feeling that made him blind with the word he despised so much – he never thought that it was possible for him to fall for one.

But then comes you, doing just that with nothing but a smile on that foreign face of yours and he felt strongly of wanting to punch it.

All he could repeat in his mind is 'how dare you.'

He wanted to throw his growing anger at you, rant your ears off with pain and frustration; but his burning energy did not give him the will to kill you - but to grieve instead.

Something about Shinjurou's gaze made the liar in you cry inside, just staring at them makes you nerves jitters and oh kami... that anguished frown he you're your heart flinch.

'I'm lying for a good reason.' You internally countered, hoping - wishing that he could hear your thoughts.

But he couldn't. 
That's the problem. He couldn't, and he never would.

Cutting your eyes away from his, you sighed through your nose - trying to shake off the feeling of lead that incessantly pulls you down. You don't want to pretend he's not hurt - just the look in his eyes told you more than you could handle - but you also don't want to make any compromise to make the situation better with your own honest explanation.

You've told him enough truth to ruin your relationship with him.

"How dare you play with my heart..."

Fingers wrapped around the sheath of the weapon you display, drawing the sword as the red blade glinting before the moon's shine.

Your heart twinge in sadness at the grief laced in his words, the butterflies that once flew about in your stomach turned into wasps as you try to blink away the tears that escapes you.

Because the last thing you want to see is his face.

"I've always play pretend with my prey, Shinjurou."

His eyes, his hair and the brightness of his soul; he's the last, but the most beautiful sunset that you've ever seen.

And staring at him made everything burns.

"But you made me love you."

The last thing you remembered was his father entering the room to see Shinjurou looking down at your head pitifully.

You closed your eyes and grinned, tasting nothing but rust and sea on your tongue.

There's no regret for falling in love with someone who was strong enough to kill you.

___

The old man scoffed at the memory, downing his sake as he stared at the grave you called your own.

The wisteria tree has grown well, your name aging with its bark. 
You etched it with his last name after the final selection – and he buried your clothes and belongings under it after that.

Shinjurou is not a sentimental man. 
His anger issue rose when he lost you, even his own wife failed to tame the longing he had for you.

You were always full of those sentimental shits when he's only good at showing anger and passion for killing your kind.

You were a mistake. 
You, and your lies.

He thought his tears had dried for years, just knowing how happy you two could have been if only you were human... made his heart stop painfully as reality stabs it with ichor of aching loss.

"Stupid woman."

Shinjurou sneered as he drunkly punched the bark with disgust in his eyes, but his voice crack evenly in fake bravado as he remembers the last crescent smile you've gave him.

"You're the reason why I hate animals."

Chapter Text

She talks and talks, but he only thinks of how would it feel to have his lips on hers.

Inosuke have always been sensitive with his heightened sense of touch.

He doesn't know what's the appeal between touching and all of those romantic junk – it peeved him actually, because why would you let someone touch you if they're not gonna fight you, huh?

He's ignorant about most things and he knew that, and ever since he knew of Kentaro – he's trying his best to at least be (more) better than him.

And Inosuke's very adamant to upstage him, even if it meant dwindling with something disgustingly stupid in his mind just to show Chinkomitsu and the others he's a natural in this whole touching thing.

So, out of all people he could've asked to help him know the appeal; it has to be you.

And you did not fail such (impossible) simple task.

You held unto his hand with both of yours; the way you cradled his hand felt as if you're treating him like he's fragile when he's not. It peeved him, because he's strong and you should handle him such.

A lingering warmth followed your fingers, ghosting his palm littered with hollows and roughened patches. Every gentle stroke you've traced on the lines on his palm felt softer than a brush; lacing the pad of your fingers with silk-like waves that made his heart stutter its beat – it's addicting.

Inosuke can't feel his expression behind his mask because your hold... it felt indulging. To the point your fingers felt no longer like the caresses on his palm but it overwhelms his lungs with the feeling of being stuffed with warm cottons – caging his breathing to be irrational.

Inosuke reminds himself that you're just holding his hand. (Yet, why does he feel as if his whole body is protected with just your hands on his?)

"Have you ever heard of the saying that 'actions speak louder than words'?" You broke the silence between you, and your voice was louder than the pounding of drum resonating in his chest. "Because it is the truth."

Fingers, dainty and small curled unto his index, wrapping it with enough tightness that gripped on his heart. The feeling of your hands on his seeped over him like the warm summer breeze – giving him a sensation of your being hugging him in the coldest of winters. (He wants to melt, he really does; but his pride told him not to – not yet, it says – and he asked why, only to be replied with the loudness of his heart pumping.)

Inosuke waited for you to continue your words, and he found himself enthralled with your thumb slowly brushing over his palm like ripples in a calm lake.

It was a wonder to watch... and more to feel.

With how easily you enrapture his whole frame with warmth that seems to rise further with just sliver of your fingers cupping tighter on his hand. (It confuses him.)

"Words can lie, voice can change the message and actions... actions will never lie nor does it change a person's intention."

You whispered, so soft that only he can hear and it made him eager to hear more of your voice.

"They bring light to the truth of one's desire."

Inosuke's eyes that was once admiring your gentle caress flickered up to your face to study your reaction – and he found himself staring in those (color) pools that glistened with something bright and longing; he had never seen your eyes so close, and it made him want to stare long enough to listen to the thoughts running in your mind.

In that moment he asked himself; were you thinking of him?

His hand twitched with need, and he wondered if you feel the same thing you are making him feel. (He wished that to be the case, because it would be cruel for you to hold unto him so soft, so gentle and so doting that... it makes him want to succumb with the craving of your hands on his.)

Inosuke felt perplexed even further than when he was questioning Tenjariou's kindness – an urge spiraled in his being. He wants to touch you back; hold your face with the same softness you have on his hand, ran his thumbs over your cheekbones – just under your eyes.

He wondered; Inosuke wondered if you would let him feel your lips. Would they be as soft as your gentle caress? Or softer than silk he once touched and love.

Would your lips be warm as his face? Or warmer than the blood that pumps in his heart?

Or how about both? Would they feel warm and soft that it beats the feeling of anything else? Would you pepper him with attention and caring that it makes him want more, and more, and more?

Yes. He wanted that. He wanted to know.

He wanted to know how you would feel underneath him.

Your hands abruptly left his, and his sense of thought returned to him coldly.

The space your hands once occupied was greeted with the lone shiver of emptiness – and his shoulders felt rigid as he looked up at you with eyes begging for you to return your warmth to his.

But you can't see it behind his mask and he was too occupied in staring into your eyes that he hasn't even noticed.

Inoauke's felt his heart lurched down when you gave him a smile, even more when you spoke. "That is the secret behind an intimate touch." Your smile reaches your eyes, and you made it harder for him to look away. "It is the simplicity and promise projected from a person's desire."

He did not reply, he will not admit it on your face that he wasn't listening back then – but even if he did, Inosuke realized that his voice ran off somewhere as they shy away from your adoring gaze.

He kept looking at you; hoping that you'll have your hands on his again.

Despite it all, he still doesn't know the appeal of touching like that. He also still doesn't know what the hell does intimate means.

But the word 'like' struck him differently than the times he uttered those words thousands of times. The way you said them felt deeper, meaningful. and he asks himself if you put your heart on saying it.

Because he knows he can.

Though, Inosuke doesn't know the word on how he feels now – but 'like' is near. Still, he felt as if it's more than that.

He only knows that he likes your attention on him and he wants more of what you gave him.

You became so enthralling, so inviting, that he could only think of your name.

Inosuke decided that he double likes you, and he let his instincts acted on their impulse.

The man grabbed your hand with a tight hold, and easily pulled you into his arms.

You made a noise that travels in his chest and edged his breathing, yet he sat firm as he hugged you with a resolve of not letting you go. He felt you froze in his arms, and he merely soaked onto your warmth.

He felt your hands twitched the same way he did, and the way you snuggled back was loud for him to feel more than any sweet words you can murmur something indecipherable in his ears.

This embrace. He also double like this embrace.

This is like how you held unto his hand, soft but tight. Warm and protective. To have you close, to have your warmth – yes, he likes this. Very much.

Inosuke was so caught up in feeling more of you that he didn't realize he blatantly spoke his mind.

"I... like you too." You whispered back, and your words struck a chord in his heart to start beating ever faster than before.

He felt overwhelmed with how your arms snake around his waist and how you pushed yourself closer to him – that it made the blood in his brain stop circulating as they all went to his shoulders and face. He didn't know if he heard that right, or if he just thought of it at the heat of the moment.

So, he asked you gruffly with a meek tone to repeat that again.

"I like you." You smiled up at him, and as if once wasn't enough and Inosuke urged himself to stay still as he records the love in your confession at the back of his mind. "I like you, very much."

Inosuke couldn't help but huffed proudly at that, and pulled you against him – caging you in his embrace as he snuggled you in a rough manner that reaches your heart softly.

Your fingers spread on his back, the spaces and feel of them spreading like the warmth of a summer morning – grazing him with the sensation of you, holding unto him like your lifeline. Not with strength, not with desperation; but with a like-filled message that your words failed to perceive.

The Hashibara let himself melt in the tenderness of your hold. He hugged you, closer – tighter; his frame curling as he enveloped you in his embrace. He felt you laugh so softly that it made him coo, and the tinkle in your voice buried itself in the back of his mind as your scent reached his nose, filling him up even more of just you.

He tried to bury his face on your neck – to feel your heartbeat above his lips – before realizing his mask was on the way. Inosuke grumbled under his breath and removed it, and he pushed some of your hair away from the space between your head and should as he buried his face there, nose snuggling against your skin as his eyelashes and hair tickle you with their grazed brush.

Inosuke shuddered at the feelings of your bangs fluttering on his neck and the softness of your lips grazing his chest – your breathe on his skin feels like the summer winds and he thinks of how amazingly warm you made him feel.

And suddenly, he was reminded of the question that burned his heart to beat faster.

Inosuke pulled away, just a fraction enough to look down at you.

Your eyes, closer than before and he seems to hear the word that echoed in your mind, and he heard it loud and clear as you breathed it so silent that it felt like a secret shared between you.

It was his name.

And it was enough reason for him to drown himself with darkness as he captured your lips in a needy embrace that pulls you closer to him until no space is left between you two.

Inosuke  will make sure to feel all of you.

Chapter Text

A touch, a tease - it's special when it comes from him.

The feel of his padded coarse fingers hiking up your skirt in such subtle manner made your breathe hitched on your throat - his rough thumbs sending shivers down your legs as he played with the sides of your hips.

Caressing, his hand softly fondled with the flesh of your back - gripping, before petting them lovingly - repeating the process all over again and each time growing rougher as he pressed himself up against your front.

A warm kiss haunted your ear, the outline of his lips burning - the shiver of his breathe fanning the fire in you.

"I could tease you all day, sunshine."

Chapter Text

'Beautiful' - a word that only the heart knows.

Pounding his weight on you as he gripped tightly on your body made him feel like in heaven: eyes closed as he commit your mewl and heat in mind, drinking you in more ways than one.

He'll make sure that you'll finish first, showing sure just how much he loves you by letting you enjoy your first time - whispering sweet nothings to your ears before taking your lips into his, drinking your wanton moans as he runs after his own pleasure - hips thrashing against yours as the bed creaks under the both of you; your arms around him as you pull him tighter; praising his name like a mantra as you reached your second.

Black eyes closed tight from the feel of your heat tightening around him - milking him as he paints your insides white - before decorating you with open-mouthed kisses as he marveled at your tired frame.

Sanemi sighs dreamily at you, one hand letting go of yours as he wiped the dampness of your face with all the tenderness his words can't reach. 
His parched lips raised at the edges when you weakly smiled at him with a pleased fire in your eyes.

And to Sanemi, with you pantless and tired because of him - the only coherent word he could understand was beautiful.

"You're beautiful."

Chapter Text

His love have never asked - but when he did, it's always spoken with affection that melts your resolve.

Giyuu's arms weaved tightly around your waist as he spooned you, legs entangled with his as he nuzzled your neck with his nose. The foreign sensation tingles your nerves but it's not unwelcome.
You melted in his embrace as you lazily cradled the hand that rested on your chest.

"I have something to ask." He whispered, voice husky and laced with content. Soft warm lips ghosted above your shoulder, body shuddering at the fleeting sensation as a coil of want drift in your stomach.

"Yes?" You asked with intent, voice leveled but pitched. His hands drew you closer, one hand on your thighs as he kissed your earlobe, a prominent heat poking your behind.

Giyuu's lips latched on your neck, teeth grazing your veins as you gasped in approval, legs twitching under his as you push yourself on him. You can feel the indent of a smile on his mouth as he kept nibbling your flesh - one hand kneading your clothed breast with a firm grip.
With a breathy groan, he turned your head around and pocked you in the eyes - blue orbs hooded with admiration and lust as he stared in yours, the warm streetlights coming from your window emphasized his features.

You unconsciously lift your hand and touched his cheek, fingers softly brushing it as he let out sigh, leaning on your hand with affection - before kissing your palm softly - hooded eyes boring into yours with a promise of a good night.

A fulfilled silence is shared, the occasional sound of car drifting outside filled the empty room, your breathing growing heavy with each affectionate stroke on your thigh. Sweet touches travel against clothed skin, until a finger pressed your lower lips - sending your stare to flutter as a moan leave your lips.

You felt something twitch on your thigh as Giyuu pulled you in a passionate kiss. The warmth from his breath and his oceanic taste pulls you in, mouth opening as he drew you close with each careful caress of his lips.

Your hand entangled itself in his hair, fingers massaging his favorite spot as he hums in approval at your gesture, drawing you closer with a desperate kiss.

The sound of wet flesh lapping with one another drowns you, your mind glowing hot with his with every seconds that pass, the kiss lingering at the back of your mind as your shared sensation blacken your thoughts.

You pulled away - breathing labored as you tried to focused your eyes on his - clearly failing from the diligent stroke of his fingers rubbing on your clothed core.
Giyuu's eyes are smiling at you, straining the image of your flushed face and helpless expression in his mind as his lips turned up with mirthful affection.

"Would it be okay to have you?"

The way he looked at you, the way he asked - Giyuu was the epitome of a careful, attentive lover.

You couldn't help but pull his mouth back into yours with fervor - eyes closed with him finally leaning his weight on you.

Chapter Text

Once started, love will never fail to deliver.

"Hngh."

He grunted against your ear, the sound fondling your heart the way he holds you down by the mattress - your knees balanced on soft pillows while he pulled your ass against his crotch over and over again, delighting on the way your walls clenched on his cock despite the fact he'd been abusing you for the last few hours.

The way his hips slammed against your own - the sound of flesh and the bed creaking under you send pleasure all over your body. Over and over his cock slide in your core, the squelching sound of your wetness against him becoming too loud as he pushed you down on the mattress - a hand caging your neck steady as the other digging their nails against your hips. Increasing his pace every time you asked for him to slowdown.

"I believe you told me you could handle me at my fullest," he kissed the nape of your neck, a tongue sliding out to play with your ears as he bit your lobes - unfazed with the rocking movement caused between you two. "Are you really backing now when our fun only just begun?"

Your lips quivered at that, the moans escaping them felt broken with the way he stops every syllables with harsh moved of his crotch against you. He's relentless - not even when you tried hard to beg for him to stop, and he won't. Not until you say the safe word he won't. Sabito's so happy that you're acting such a good girl for him. Only for him.

He spread your legs further, a hand sliding down to play with your clit as his mouth latched on your shoulders - biting down as his speed paced up, feeling him groaning deeply as his hips stuttered against your own; pushing deeper, stopping and doing it all again with a rough movement.

"A-are you finally finished?" You asked in a hoarse whisper, turning your tired head around with a fatigued expression.

Sabito's grinning down at you, eyes shining dimly in the moonlight - your own widening at the item on his teeth as he tore another condom open.

"Finished? We've only just started."

Chapter Text

Often times, the soul recalls the pain of the past and tries to heal it with the present as its gift.

You:
Sorry for texting you in one in the morning but I dreamt of you turning into a monster because I tried to protect by some stupid tattooed guy and you didn't remember us and it made me fucking depressed 
Whatever happens.
Remember that I'll never forget you Kyoujurou and I hope you do the same because I'm crying.

Sun-nii:
Sunshine
Will you be okay?

You:
Syaohdworvridbsj
Why are you still awake-

Sun-nii:
Would it be weird for me to say that we had the same dream?

You:
What happened in yours?

Sun-nii:
I watched you cry and cry and I couldn't talk to you nor even try to comfort you. 
Even when you were hugging me tightly
It hurts my heart

You:
Whoa.
It's eerie--
THAT exactly what happened in my dream?!

Sun-nii:
I have a theory!
What if... we were dreaming about our past life?

You:
tHE PAST IS SHIT FUCK
I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE ALIVE AND KICKING AND YOU KNOW ME

Sun-nii:
Hahahahaha!
That makes the two of us, I don't want to see you cry ever even if it's in my dream
Also I don't know about you but I dreamt having a bamboo muzzle on my mouth for some reason?
Hahahaha!
I never thought I'd have awoken a kink in such a extremely emotional moment

You:
WTF LOLOLY
THAT made me feel fucking better because I didn't. You were just tied up in my dream.
Lmao. 
How funny would it be if it was a ball gag

Sun-nii:
Please cut off my head if that happened

You:
WHEEZE
But seriously tho.
Why is like our dream have bondage for a reason

Sun-nii:
;)))))))))))
Maybe it's telling us something????

You:
Sayonara Kyoujurou-nii

Sun-nii:
I'm just joking! 
(Name)?
Pft
Sleep well then sunshine!

You:
You too Sun-nii :3 uwus♡

Sun-nii:
UwU♡♡♡♡

___

The Rengoku blankly stared at his screen, the deep line of his lips had slowly morphed into a small tug of a smile as he reads your text.

What were the chances that your dreams felt eerily connected?

Kyoujurou wouldn't know the answer. But he sure knows one thing; he was glad you were there to share the pain... even if it sounds selfish.

(Can he really blame himself? With you, all he want to be is selfish.)

The nightmare was something. Felt true to some level, and he wasn't one to dwell with the negative outlook in life even if it was just as petty as this - but something in his gut spilled when he saw you crying, even if it was only in his dreams.

He was frozen, afraid. Even if he tried playing it cool, this would bother him for many days to come. The sight of you, (color) orbs glinting with lost hope behind thick tears - body shaking as you spoke to him with static voice - made his chest churn in a desperate manner. 

He laid a careful hand on his sternum, lips pressed tightly together as his fingers warmed and vibrated from his unsteady heart beat.

What are the possibilities you feel this shaken? 

To think you're forgotten... by him. Saving someone... like him.
Only for you to cry your heart out when he woke up a different person. Another entity.

Kyoujurou couldn't help but let out a stubborn groan as his free hand combed through his hair.

This is too much emotion for someone who wanted rest. Actually, this is too much emotional investment for someone he knows couldn't reciprocate his feelings.

The giddiness in his chest simmered into something darker - like a lake once reflecting the sun before turning bleak in the presence of a storm cloud. 

Maybe he's romanticizing things, and maybe he's just being too much emotional over this.

But hell be damned, right now he wanted nothing but to think everything's just fine. That you're fine.
That he's fine.

Again. Why is he so hopeless when it's come to you? Of all women he could've fallen for... it has to be someone as infamous as you - the aromantic and the lovable.

Everyone knew his attachment and it didn't help with the fact that his own father even pranked him off his feelings.

Just. How bad did he really have it for you?

Kyoujurou stared at your shared conversation - reading and rereading your half-assed convo before turning something so serious the next, and suddenly becoming wholesome later.

Your private chat was the description of a roller coaster, and he was happy to ride on it - voluntarily and unwillingly. There's not a dull moment with a text from you.

Kyoujurou grinned at your softer replies, and even more when he tried to imagine that there's more than what your relationship is with him.

Kyoujurou bristled in his blankets - reading a very fond 'I hope you're doing fine, if not here are my loves and kisses in emojis' as he kept reading it with one eye opened and the other smothered on his pillow as he controlled his sweet, delighted chuckle.

Yeah, you better work with your emoji's because somehow a '🦔' went in the bundle of your heart overload, but he's not complaining - in fact, the mistake made it more authentic.

More you, in a sense - and that made him more happier.

Kyoujurou sighed and closed his eyes, smothering himself on his pillows with a lamented sigh.

Jeez... he suddenly have the urge to continue his rom-com. He's glad you don't talk about his one shots that much.

Because truthfully, if you analyze the content just deep enough - half of the events scrambled in there was inspired by your exchange with him, and he might have committed plagiarism, but how could he not? Not when you're basically his muse in such things.

Or maybe he's just trying to tell himself that he's not really that much of a clingy pervert the others refer him as when interacting to you.

He let out a drawn-out sigh.

Kyoujurou found himself trying to type something comprehensible in this late morning haziness. Perhaps just to distract his mind or maybe because he still wants to talk to you.

But he just started quickly blinking at the realization of your picture and name calling for him on the screen.
A goofy grin reached his ears.

He eagerly swiped left with nothing but big grin - sitting up from his bed as he hugged his pillow a little bit tighter than usual.

"Morning."

He heard you inhale a sharp breath, before letting out a soft chuckle that made his tired features softened into a tender smile.

"Oh dude. Your voice sounds hot lmao."

He bit his lips to scratch the temptation away. 

You surely are oblivious are you?

 Nonetheless, that makes you charming.

"And yours sound like an aging woman, sunshine!"

"Right. Give me an insult as thanks for my compliment, will ya?"

He chuckled, bright eyes curling in sweetness - accompanying the grin he has for no one but you.

"What made you call, sunshine?"

"I saw that you're typing on our chat. And hey, after that nightmare might as well do some kind of more endearing talk?"

"Mhm. I thought you don't want to talk to me after my suggestion? Wink wink?"

"Oh god, no. did you just say wink? You sounded so old now! hahaha,
Lol, am I bothering you right now? Should I could call next time?"

He swiftly stood up straight, more awake and alert as he shook his head with a forced chuckle.

"No, no!
Just - just out of it you know?"

Please don't end the call, please don't end it.

"...yeah. Feel ya."

Kyoujurou let out a silent sighed of relief as he closed his eyes with a hand atop his forehead. That worked him up.

"Yo. Sun-nii. About your series.
Why don't you ever, you know. Want to serialize them?
Just asking because one of the peeps in tumblr be asking me that."

Right, aside from being their official translator - you also make time for engaging with the fans via social media. He thought you'd have your hands full with all the works and people you talk to, but he guess you're much more of a hidden surprise rather than being a readable character.

Perhaps that's the reason you drew him in... 
Well! Kyoujurou wouldn't know.

(He knows, but deep inside, he just want to think he likes you as a friend - even if his whole being tries to tell him that he doesn't see you as one.)

"Sun-nii?"

"Ah sorry, just thinking of an answer."

"Don't worry.
I can wait for you."

The way you giggle, the soft sound resonating in his chest - the way you those velvet words rolling of your tongue; it made his chest hurt more so than what he's used to.

It felt so close to the lie he wanted to believe in.

Kyoujurou wants to laugh that emotion off, and tell you stop making a man dream like he used to - but, selfishly, he wanted to be that man in the dream.

Let him admire this lie a bit longer.

An inhale. And another.
Kyoujurou have he urge to just, slap his face with his phone all of a sudden.

"No. I know the answer, you don't have to wait."

His voice became dull, and he's thankful you didn't brought it up.
But in reality, Kyoujurou looked down at his pillow - the red case wrinkled as he hugged it tighter. Asking the same question on why didn't he?

Yes, he made the manga because he wanted to do them. He wanted others to appreciate it too - and even perhaps inspire them to made his own, like everyone else did to him.

Plus, it is getting popular lately... so there is success behind it. Having it serialized and turned into an official series would be one step ahead of his dream and substitute career.

Yet...
Truth to be told, most of those scenarios he'd drawn and put his heart into have always been some kind of fan-fic and daydream of his between you and him.

Like these late night texts - and those stupid teasing found in his latest chapters. Hah, he also wanted to write down that carrying scenario you suggested after the club being moved out in the third floor.

Still. The reason he wasn't keen on serializing it was,

"I just don't feel like it."

-because it felt wrong sharing his intimate thoughts and re-imagination to the others when,

"I feel like it's not complete."

-You two aren't even together.

He waited for your answer, absolutely breathless as he keep his pounding heart at bay. Talking to you with that tired yet attentive voice of yours this late in the morning make him feel like he ingested some kind of happy caffeine and... he's not complaining even when his heart painfully throb in its bony cage.

"Well, it's your choice."

Kyoujurou let out a sigh of relief upon hearing your voice.

"For me, it makes sense. I guess something is pulling you down from it yeah?"

Kyoujurou gulped, a bit called out, and more confused.

"H-how do you know?"

"Your voice. 
Becomes a bit melancholic you know? 
Maybe you even look like Jii-sunshine at the moment."

Kyoujurou found himself shaking off the furrowed eyebrows and frown he carried. 
Are you a psychic or something?
Nonetheless... knowing the fact... that you knew something he wasn't aware about himself made his chest feel like stuttering.

"I guess, it's your choice in the end. I really like them by the way. I wish I could see Yume-chan and Shibo-kun be together in the end."

You sighed with a longing aftertaste in your words, and he did too. 
Because you're the sole female lead in his work and he's the title sake. He even made the names eerily same with his view on your shared relationship.

Kyoujurou forced a laugh at your reply, but deep inside he wanted that to happen too. For the two people he closely tied with in his manga to really end up dating in the end.

To be together, with you. That would be a good end to his series.
That or maybe a beginning of another?

"Call me back, I want to jot down new ideas for Pinning."

Kyoujurou stated excitedly, the sound of rustling bed sheets and his excitement breathing made you giggle at his energy.

"Omfg, yes. Please know we support you and love your work and don't forget to drink water okay? 
I'm being lenient because it's the weekend tomorrow but rest once you're done."

Kyoujurou gave a faint thanks and goodbye before ending the call. It might have been abrupt, but truly - he was too fueled with your short conversation to even keep his inspiration calm.

But your genuine concern and sweet words acted as his reason to keep pinning over you - and Kyoujurou thought that perhaps in this small self-indulgence of his, you two could really end up together.

Kyoujurou snorted and rubbed a small tear away.
He surely felt like that clingy pervert the pillars saw him as.

Only, just hopeless.

Chapter Text

"We all want to be treated as if we're important."

Everyone took advantage of this boy ever since he was in grade school. Who wouldn't? The rich will always blame the victim.

Anyone would take his lunch and he would just smile at them, knowing full well the misery of hunger.

His assignment would be taken off his hands and the paper wouldn't give back. Even in group projects, if he was unlucky enough - he'd do everything on his own.

He never spoke against the people that mocks him, didn't even try to fight when they would go as far as trip him.

He would just smile, because violence was never the answer. He would laugh at the jokes, even if it pained him. 
Everyone was openly mocking him, everyone thought it was good to joke about his financial status - his food, despite his manju getting eaten by them - his clothes for being second hand, and his normal life for walking home from the city back to his neighborhood.

He was bullied like this because he doesn't react properly.
He let them because he knew fighting against the rich wasn't the solution.

People tried protecting him, but he wasn't weak. He never needed friends in this place - they only took his things. He felt used, even stooped low to become an errand boy.

Everyone knew that his greatest attribute is his greatest flaw: he was too kind for his own good.

And his classmates took advantage of it.

Tanjirou always knew that his school was toxic in a way because it was a prestige private school.

He just got in because of his scholarship. And people took advantage of the fact that he was poor, envied his skills, or just because they have a higher financial leverage.

Bullying is frequent in Japan – he's no one special. The Kamado have always accepted that fact: he had no place in this school unless he made one.

Even if that means being someone 'usable' in the eyes of everyone.

Everyone except for (Last Name), (Name).

Now that's someone opposites of him. He knew her ever since their first year in middle school.

If it was still three years ago, and someone told him that he'd be best of friends with the most infamous person in his batch - he would have given them a deep look full of skepticism.

She just was the opposites of him in so many ways.

(Name) have always been so passive, kept to her business to herself and she knew how to fight people who bullied against her.

She was confident in her own way, and while people hated her for being herself - she did not care for it. Never showed it, unless someone provoked her. She doesn't talk to people unless they talk to her, and always had the aura of pure weirdness that made people stray away from the (Last Name).

She might've as well been the best candidate for the title 'most likely to be the outcast of society' because of her personality.

She was 'unsightly'. His classmates would say. Tanjirou have never been one for looks, and it confused him why his classmates would say that.

Sure, she wore framed glasses and had braces - sure, she doesn't bother with her hair even if they look like a batch of hay.

But why would people even mock her for the way she looks when school is supposed to be a test of intellectual and social status and she's advance in both sides?

The teachers like her as they do with him. They're both attentive and respectful students. She helps out a lot and does her best - Tanjirou could admire that, even from afar.

But his batch didn't. 
They always have been overbearing people, and perhaps it was their jealousy speaking.
He never knew where their jealousy came from until he experienced it himself.

Second year in middle school, he ran for class president.

He won, as expected because he overheard some girls voted for him for his looks - the other reasons he knew of terribly because he would be easily 'bended'.

The teachers had always trusted him with everything, from rounding his fellow students to distributing news and work sheets. 
He took pride in being a 'teacher's pet' and for once in that school, he felt important. 
The feeling of belongingness was different from his own family - the teacher's appreciation for his work made him feel satisfied and made him felt fulfilled.

He never thought holding such close ties to important figures would made him feel inferior from the classmates that belittled him. Truth to be told, his position had flown straight in his head.

Tanjirou made a little daydream that keep his spirits up; the teachers saw him as equals - something that his classmates never did made him feel.

"(Name), please make sure you're going home safely. Thank you again for dropping your gift off." 

"Yeah, yeah Tsiaki-sensei. Be sure to say hi to Yuki-chan for me - and don't eat her orange gummies, okay? They're her favorites." A foreign chuckle in an even foreign voice. She left the faculty room with a big smile on her face and didn't even bat an eye towards his direction.

And the illusion of being equals with their teacher quickly cracked from that act he just witnessed.

Tanjirou have always tried to bury his jealousy - what benefit would it bring to him anyways? - but at that time, his nails found purchased on his palms as he glared at the back of the (color)-haired girl.

It was a sickening feeling that made him confused; to hate someone without a reason. Yet, he did so effortlessly and it brought doubt to his being.

He was just like his classmates and it sickened him. Not even playing with Nezuko and his little siblings would take off that feeling.

It was really tiring to have that strong emotion whenever he sees her talking to people he admires.

It's as if (Name) had it easier than him.

___

"Hey Kamado, you forgot my lunch." One of the bullies he did not even know the name of cornered him down the hallway.

This is bad, this is bad. Tanjirou thought, everyone else had already returned to their classrooms after the bell rung. He needs to return too.

Why was he even adamant to do the plans today instead of tomorrow?

The memory of (Name) calling their teacher by name played in his mind.

That's right. He bitterly thought. He didn't want to be 'second' to someone anymore. He wants to be equal with them.

He's the class president and she's nothing. That's why he had to show their teacher he's better by finishing his given task early.

"Ah, gomen." He bowed, but deep inside he's seething in anger. "I was rushing our seat-plan for next semester for Hohine-sensei - I forgot to bring my-- your lunch."

The bully snickered at his straightforward reply as if Tanjirou was the one being pathetic. "Doesn't mean you're the teacher's pet now you'll forget who voted for you." Ah, he's one of his classmates? He wouldn't know.

They all looked, and sound the same to him: bullies with no faces but the katakana written on their plain faces.

Tanjirou gripped the folder to his chest, lips forming into a tight line as he stared down at their white shoes with creased eyebrows.

Amidst it, he didn't answer. He didn't know what to say rather than to unknowingly spite them with his silence.

"Fucking politician now, are you?"

Tanjirou felt his breathing constricted as his neckline grew tighter around him. Not even when he's being carried off the ground Tanjirou won't look at the eyes of his perpetrator. "C-cursing is bad."

"Yeah? Say that again when you're looking at my face." 
Burgundy eyes raised from the ground to see the words 'bully' written all over the place a face should've been found. 
"Cursing is bad."

"That's bad? No," No lips movement. Just the 'bully' being insulted by Tanjirou's bravado. "I'll show you what's bad."

Tanjirou felt nervous, anxious and he couldn't move. He only held on his manila folder with more force, feeling the papers crumbling in his weak strength as he closed his eyes waiting for the pain.

But it did not come.

"Leave him alone." A familiar, foreign threat. He opened his eyes and looked at his left, surprised to see his rival pointing her phone at them.

"Bitch, what do you think you're doing?"

Exactly. Bringing your phone out in school hours is unheard of. She'll have her gadget confiscated and Tanjirou thought for a second at how dumb (Name) was.

"You people call me that now?" She taunted with an ugly sneer, her braces glinting comedically despite the deep command in her voice. "What I'm doing is recording you manhandle our president."

"Shit." The bully dropped him back on the floor, Tanjirou could only watch in stumped curiosity as he watched the exchange. "Delete that and we won't have a problem."

"And if I won't?"
The way (Name) cocked her head tauntingly while waving her phone made the bully even more furious.

"Then you'll be in big trouble, weirdo." A step, and another. 
The bully was approaching her and yet she did not move an inch.

A sarcastic laugh left her lips - the sound was grating even to Tanjirou's ears. "Is that supposed to be a threat? Because you're not giving yourself justice in this video here."

The bully took her wrist and he quickly yelped when a sharp pain electrocuted him on the sack - removing his hold and quickly finding purchase in between his legs as he crumbled on the ground.

Tanjirou's palm met his gaping mouth as he watched the exchanged. (Name) just kicked the bully by the balls and she showed no remorse on it.

"Try to threat me." The girl spat with venom in her voice, looking down behind her glasses with a sly smirk on her face. "There's more where that came from."

"F-fucking bitch! I'm fucking going to ruin your life!" Big words from a scrapped bully. Tanjirou thought of how pathetic that faceless boy was.

(Name) chuckled, amused as she played the video in her phone. "My life's already ruined the way it is. Don't make me ruin yours."

The girl stepped over the guy and pocketed her phone. And at that time, the Kamado didn't know what to think or even say to her.

He merely stared, hand still on his mouth as he gaped at her. "Yo, Hohine-sensei's looking for you. You better go back to class fast."

Suddenly, he found his voice. Albeit shakily, but Tanjirou found it. "W-What about you?"

It took her three seconds to reply back, and when she did - it was with a stupidly hilarious finger guns; "I'm going to change my napkin."

Three dots appeared between them before the (color)-haired girl left without anything else to say.

Meanwhile, Tanjirou furiously blushed madly at her words – being the one embarrassed for her. How can she say something so obscene to the other gender? Was she out of her mind?

The groaning boy on the floor was right. She was a weirdo. Nonetheless - Tanjirou left with a red face. He remembered he haven't even said his thanks.

And the Kamado didn't know how, especially with his wounded pride.

Days turned to weeks and weeks turned into a month. (Name) did not mention anything to Tanjirou nor even acknowledged his presence.

She was just the same person she was despite holding a blackmail material that could kick a student out of their school. The way she acted so normal despite everything made Tanjirou jealous of her carefree nature.

And it did not help that she helped him lessened the people that targeted bullying him because of that small stunt of hers.

Now he felt indebted with his rival. 
That feeling didn't bode well with him.

Because how can a laid-back weirdo like her gain the trust of their teachers without any reason at all? Yes. He found out that (Name)'s almost friends with everyone in the faculty and it even hurt the illusion he made to comfort himself.

She's a no one in this classroom. He's the president. 
She was someone close with the teachers and he's just a class president.

There's no justice in that.

But he tried comforting himself. 
Of course, someone as rich as her could be friends with anyone because she has money. That must be the reason. He thought and lied to himself - and for days, he finally believed it.

Money can buy even love in this world.

There was a project and Tanjirou felt unlucky to be partnered up with the (Last name). He felt as if the girl would depend on him - like everyone else.

But he judged too early.

"Class president." He has a name, thank you very much. Nonetheless, Tanjirou put on a fake smile and looked at her. "Hai, (Last Name)-san?"

"You free?" That shocked him. Was she really going to ask something of him because she saved his being once? He felt a bile coming up his throat and that bile was anger.

"Why?" He asked, a bit too sharply as he returned to fixing his items. The other students are already leaving - this is a private school after all, they don't need to clean.

Benefits of those who are lazy, Tanjirou thought.

"Let's finish the project today. I'll pay for the materials." (Name) exclaimed nonchalantly, reading her manga uncarefully. "You're a busy person so let's finish it quickly and pass it tomorrow."

That proposal shocked him. He usually was the one to approach his work partner and usually is the one who gets rejected by countless of unbelievable reasons to escape the responsibility that he could only ask, "why?"

"Because you're a scholarship student, right?" (Name) did not look up from her reading material even when Tanjirou was burning that question on her face. "Kurosawa-sensei said that passing early have extra credits."

He finds himself bristling at her words. They were spoken in a care-free voice, but they bore weight on his overthinking mind.

Tanjirou felt silenced. Humbled.

He never thought she knew that. Granted, (Name) was sucked up in her own world being herself and reading things that should be banned in school. He never had thought she would know an information like that with how she acts.

And it made him feel giddy; to think someone else would even pay attention to him – without needing something in return.

"Yo, you're busy? That's fine. I can do it myself." The way she closed her book gently and putting it in her bag before walking away, and that made Tanjirou grabbed her wrist in reflex.

"N-no! It's not like that." He quickly let go of her wrist, rubbing the back of his nape, finding it hard to look at the weird girl in the eye. "I'm just surprised."

She fell silent, and her eyes glazed with something inquisitive in them. Tanjirou thought at that time that he might have said something wrong. Or did he word it wrong? He felt unsure.

"That's a first." (Name) stated with a 'matter-of-fact' tune. "You always look so sure and confident when deciding."

...what.

Tanjirou felt his ears burned. She knew? How? Just the thought of it made him feel so weird.

"Say, let's go to Shibuya to buy materials to make the volcano." (Name) grinned boyishly, putting an arm around his shoulders as she dragged him out of the chair. "There's some mean takiyoki that you should try - eating manju for lunch gets boring, you know?"

Tanjirou felt overwhelmed. To think that his rival knew more of him than his fellow classmates makes it hard for the Kamado to hate her more.

But as the days passed by, he thought that he should have liked her more instead.

___

"Tanjirou. You didn't tell me you used to be in the same kindergarten that I was in." (Name) dropped an album on him one lunch time - the looks of bewilderment or judgmental stare have softened into something neutral when the Kamado and (Last name) started eating together.

"Huh?" He poked at his manju with his chopstick and raised his eyebrow at the book more than her.

"Mom made me look at my daycare photos after mentioning you and she was like," The weird girl coughed before poorly imitating her mother. "'Omg, you used to be best friends with this Tanjirou boy', and I was like. How? Then she showed me this!" She slapped on the book, shaking their connected table with force as Tanjirou chuckled at her energy.

(Name) have been livelier lately - then again, he would've been too after being free from the wretched hold of braces. Just the description of the pain of having one made him empathize with the poor (color)-haired girl.

Nonetheless, he took the book flying in her hands and flipped it open. Eyes paying attention on details of the pictures, before gawking at the familiar child playing with an even more familiar boy.

Because he thought he would never see her again.

"T-this was you!?" The shock in Tanjirou's voice was as loud as his voice as he pointed at the children playing in the picture - feeling scandalized at finally recalling the cutesy moments he had with you back in the good old days of learning the Japanese alphabet.

"Shock? Same, boo." (Name) chuckled at his reaction as she put her expensive-looking rice ball and three of her Mr. Octopii in his bento and exchanged it with one of his manju. An unfair exchange if you ask him because your food was clearly superior than his trade.

"I didn't know you were the (Name)!" He still freaked out, biting on his share of manju furiously as he blushed for not remembering someone he was so fond of in his childhood days.

"Chill! You might choke on your food." (Name) grinned at him with crinkled eyes and pointed her chopsticks at his direction. "I'm just really stoke to know that we're actually childhood friends! Like, are we equals now president-kun?"

He stopped biting on his food and relished at the genuine expression of happiness on (Name)'s face. The tease she made settled in his chest with a big weight.

She sees me as someone superior all this time when she was even more so? Tanjirou gulped, feeling his blood warming his ears. In fact, she's asking me if we're equals?

"Y-yeah." The Kamado nodded sheepishly, looking away with his lips forcing a line. "I think we are."

The way her (eye color) eyes smiles at him with her glasses sliding off, alongside that playful pull of her lips - it made his chest hurt briefly. "We should totally celebrate with some good old Sakura mochi then! The weirdo and the president! Equals!"

Tanjirou laughed a good laugh, drying his tears at her choice of words. "Don't call yourself weirdo! It's weird!"

In fact, Tanjirou noticed that day that just being with his 'friend' made him feel like that.

Weird. But in a good way.

In a nice way that he never thought he fathomed to even compare with 'admiration'.

___

"What's with the cheesy get-up?" (Name) laughed, and the crinkled joy sparked the warmth in his heart the way it did to his face. "You treated me to that Takiyoki stand we first went to, bought me a cute necklace to boot in a shape of a volcano and now we're standing in this candle lit beach?" The way she looks bathed in the candle lights - her (eye color) orbs shining in mirth as she looked up at him. 
To think that they used to have the same height.

Tanjirou smiled down at her, a calm expression on his face when his feelings were anything but. He felt his heart twinge in longing just looking at her gaze up at him through her lashes - and he would have cupped his shaking hand on her cheeks if she didn't turn around and laughed at the salty breeze.

"Is there a camera hidden somewhere? You gotta be stoked with the views you're having!"

"Not exactly." Tanjirou grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head as he bit his lips - looking for the right words. "This is real."

"Huh?" (Name) turned her head at him, tilting it cutely as her hair framed her face just enough to flutter his heart into cloud nine. He felt his body warmed up, fingers shaking as he plants the back of his hand on his lips while his unsteady eyes found the ocean suddenly interesting.

He felt his face heating from that cute display and he will admit it; Tanjirou finds it hard to look at her even more, as the feeling of adoration and affection grow more and more impatient as the days pass by.

"Tanjirou?" And the way she calls for him with a soft voice. The way (Name) treats him so special, and the way she spoke of him as equals -- it makes him yearn for something he never thought he needed.

Reciprocation. He wanted to know if she feels the same way for him. He wanted to know if she wanted to hug him so tightly it'll end up with her never letting to go. He wanted to know if she would let him kiss her so badly just to taste the heaven in her lips.

Tanjirou wanted to know; to ease his beating heart and burning desire. He needed to know.

"Please go out with me." His voice was strong, but his delivery was shaky. He studied the look of shock from his words as her face painted a pretty pink that made his fingers twitch.

He repeated his words, adding her name into his proposal as he bowed, rigidly - face aflame as his earrings dangle besides his cheeks. He felt the words stuck a chord in his heart the way it did in his throat, but finally - finally, he said those words.

(Name) is fond with stalling her words, and the wait made him so anxious.

"Well, shit." The way she said her reply felt like the abyss drowning his thoughts. "Tanjirou, I." He raised himself and looked at her curiously, the way her expression morphed into anxiety and it made him confused. "Kami. I feel flattered."

And yet, she said it with worry. Right there, the Kamado knew his confession blew off. He felt disappointment flushing his feelings down, replacing it with cold numb realization that she didn't feel the same way.

"I-I understand (Name)." Did he read the signs wrong? Fuck. He was so full of himself - why would you even want someone poor as him? He felt his lips quiver, his throat clenching as he tried his best not to sniffle. "You don't have to force yourself to say n-no."

But the tears spurred on as a pitiful sob left his being. He wanted to run away, and he felt as if he would if didn't for the fact (Name) stopped him by hugging him tightly.

Tanjirou pulled her closer, setting his chin on her shoulder as he tasted salt not from the sea's winds - but from his tears.

"Tanjirou, you beautiful sun child." (Name) cooed like a mother, rubbing his back as he held on him tightly - almost apologetically as his body shook from the gentle hold. "You're so amazing, don't ever think that you're lacking. Everything about you is awesome and cute and I would date you." He felt something warm travel down his own shoulders as his fingers gripped on your clothes, burying his nose on your neck to smother his sob.

"Fuck, if I could - if only I could, I wish to feel the same way for you because you're hecking perfect and just the best boyfriend material out there." (Name) tried to joke, forcing out a chuckle as she separates herself from him. Teary red eyes looking down at her own as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"I am so sorry Tanjirou. I really do wish I feel the same." Her fingers felt warm against his face, her thumbs drying his cheeks - giving him a shaky, apologetic smile. "But I'm aromantic."

Tanjirou blinked at the word. 
And all of the sudden it made sense He did not know whether to cry or laugh at that - so he did both.

Grabbing your palm on his cheeks, he pushed his nose down until your fingers covered his eyes, tears streaming down his face as a watery chuckle left his lips.

Of all people, why must he fell for you?

"Tanjirou, I'm really, really sorry." He felt your lips on his scar, the sensation only making his heart beat slower. Pulling him again to another tight hug whose love only one-sided.

He thought to himself that night; even if you don't feel the same for him - he would still love you the way you are.

___

As Tanjirou reads your energetic, but idiotic texts in your group chat, he couldn't help but smile fondly at your picture and name.

"Aniki, you haven't answered my question yet!" Nezuko grumbled as she bit on her tenth bread, crumbs sticking on her lips as she shoved them off with her thumb and sucking on it. "Why did (Name)-nee rejected you after saying those cute things?"

"Because." Tanjirou hugged the cushion pillow as he adjusted by the couch, putting down his phone and smiling cheekily to his sister. "She's aromantic."

The feeling of shock made Nezuko drop her bread on the ground - their toddler brother taking it off and eating it with no repulsion, dawdling off cutely in his underwear.

"You're lying?" Her words came out as a question than a statement and Tanjirou's body chuckled more so than let it out.

"I hope I was."

He just still couldn't fathom why such a lovable girl like (Name) would be curse not to feel something so deeply as romantic love.

Tanjirou stared at the ceiling, a hand messing his already messy wine-colored hair.

Maybe, just maybe. 
He still had a chance.
Just maybe.

He chuckled amidst himself, earning a weirded outlook from his sister.

Tanjirou still loves you and it's hopeless for him to cling unto a feeling he knows you wouldn't feel. You made him feel equal, when the world didn't. At least for him, these pining emotions are justification of how much important you are to him – and maybe one day, he could be more to you than just... 'equals'.

Chapter Text

He tries to find the fault in you as he fails to do it himself; but he realized what a hypocrite he was since all he could see was beauty in your flaws.

He was never fond of you.

In fact, ever since Mitsuri introduced you to him, you've been following him like a literal puppy, a duckling – like a shadow he wished to extinguish with the darkness in his glare.

Your rambunctious, talkative nature reminds him of a chihuahua yapping that he wanted to shrug off, and he felt as if he would suffer migraines from how you never seemed to tone down your excitement – even when he visually tells you to shut up.

If you weren't his ex-crush's cousin then you would've been punched hard on the face.

The annoyance he had for you didn't cease the longer you stay with him, but rather, multiplied since it just so happens that you're in most of his class. Figures that the gods will hate him.

And he thought it couldn't be worse when Mitsuri flat out rejected him since he sees her as her 'otouto'. Being called 'little brother' on a rejection just made him feel like a simp, and experience a whole new level of friend-zone that shouldn't be this absurd – but holy hell, was it a wound on his already livid pride.

He knows he's overbearing – but there must be another reason why she rejected him... right? He can't believe that she will pick that butterfly chick over him. The gods might as well kill him and he would enjoy every moment of his life disappearing before his eyes because suffering heartbreak is worse than death.

As if Mitsuri read his mind – she made you tag on him because she's worried for him. He felt like a child with that, and further just broadened the picture that he's only a 'brother' to him.

Mitsuri can help him moved on, but she needs to prepare for her own course examination - and while you proved to be a silent listener and an empathetic person to be with; you would never know how pathetic he feels with having you around.

You remind him of himself – how he follows over Mitsuri like you would do. How you look up at him with a tender intensity, how you would smile at the littlest moment shared between him and Kaburamaru...

How you hugged him tight when he broke down, even when pushed you away. How you didn't give up and you just took it in with a brave face and comforted him with the warmest embrace, warmer than Mitsuri's-

Yeah, you can be endearing when you wanted to but most of the times you just like talking his ears off.

Truthfully - he's just exaggerating. Obanai's a silent person, speaking only when he needed to, and he still have a hard time grasping how you could talk your mind off. Mitsuri's another case - emotions are attached, so he's biased.

But he can't help, but think that when it comes to you - you're walking in a thin rope with testing his patience. You're naive in most cases, and perhaps he feels this way because your curiosity was even more troubling than your being alone.

"Do you have Kaburamaru with you?" Even if he does, he won't let you touch them.

"Why do you have different set of eyes?" He would roll them and ignore you - but his mind will answer nothing but something original like 'genetics'.

"Why do you always wear a bandage around your face? I've never seen you eat at the cafeteria or anywhere actually?" You would gasp and match the tempo of his fast steps. "Are you shy? Is that it? Why not wear a medical mask instead?"

Those questions and inquiries have been making him angry and frustrated lately that he had to make you stop.

And he has a plan - not the most brilliant, but a good plan in hindsight.

He plans to threaten you to stop the priority given by Mitsuri to you and just leave him be.

Why did Mitsuri even though it's a good idea to make you follow him even when he's no longer thinking of her? Ergh. This is why he mostly kept to himself.

In mind, he plans to subdue you away by punching you on the stomach - and if you tell Mitsuri about this - he'd be willing to punch more out of you. It's the greatest plan a law student could make. Not. But really, he's just looking for a reason to physically hurt you right now.

He invited you, and you being the most oblivious person he knows – you naively followed him to the back of the school building.

It's usually secluded with the close hedges and it's quite an infamous spot for... accidents; both physical and emotional to happen, per say.

"Oh! Sorry, I was busy staring at your backpack that I realized you might've wanted to relieve yourself."

Obanai face-palmed. How could you say that with a straight face?

His eyes narrowed with irritation brimming in them, before a nerve under his left appeared. He's not that type of a guy. At least, he thinks he isn't.

You gave him a finger guns that made him gag a little bit at your failure of being 'cool/cute'. "I'll leave you be and your future partner and do wear protection!"

Obanai grabbed your arm, his lithe fingers wrapping tightly on your wrist and pinned you on the wall - (color) eyes staring up at him with an innocent blink that he can't help but get more frustrated at.

React like a sane human, will you?

"Whoa, man." Okay. Human. But not that kind of reaction.

He was too busy glaring down at you that he didn't notice a grin etched up on your face, accenting the curl of your eyes as you reached up with a free hand to move some of his bangs to see them clearer. He flinched on your hold, and his glare became wider.

Obanai's eyes are staring you down in irritation, but to you – they looked beautiful even in wrath. The dark mint and yellow seems to shine amidst the shadows of the building - making them even more beautiful in your mind.

"Your eyes are prettier up close."

Obanai blinked, shocked expressing in his gaze, before letting you go as if you just burned him. His face turning pink with a grimace under his mask that you squealed at. "Oh my gosh! The way you scrunched up your nose moved your bandages? That's adorable."

Iguro stuttered at your weirdness, confusion well displayed in his eyes.

That moment, your compliments are more overwhelming than Mitsuri's - hers was more energetic and bubblier but yours... they felt too close and genuine that it just felt wrong receiving them.

"You know you could say I don't have to follow you, right?" You laughed, and the sound irked him because it's became softer somehow.

"I think you noticed that I have a problem reading the atmosphere and even more with you since the only thing I could is by looking you in the eyes." You put a hand on your chin and tried catching his gaze - but he was stubbornly looking away. Fingers twitching still out of embarrassment.

The grin of your face lowered into a sympathetic smile. "Don't do something you won't regret. Mitsuri'll worry and I don't want to comfort the heck of another person just to distract them from their thoughts."

With another finger gun - you waved your goodbye, and started walking away. And Obanai couldn't believe how fast that escalated.

He was left staring at the place you were standing before, a hand in his hair as he furrowed his eyebrows at the confliction in his mind.

Like what the heck just happened?

He never thought that his plan would work. Maybe not as planned, but the purpose was enough.

You haven't bothered him anymore. Didn't follow him, not even a glance on his direction.

Obanai thought he'd feel relief, he thought he would be a little less suffocated without you around.

Instead.

He felt lonely.

Lonelier than before, not even when he would slip in Kaburamaru in his bag to go to class – not even when he's finally talking to Mitsuri.

He still felt lonely.

Obanai thought... that his plan might have worked too flawlessly.

___

You found yourself getting pinned on your locker without bystanders burning questions on your frame. Before you, Obanai have a conflicted shining in his dual orbs that you've known a bit too well to realize.

"What made you so grumpy so early in the morning?" You asked, an eyebrow raised, but a small smile on your face. You noticed how one of his eyes flinched from your soft-spoken words.

"You give up too easily."

Your eyebrows shot up at that. "I didn't know you liked my company?"

"I don't." He let go of you before sighing, body frame sulking as he put his hands in his grey hoodie's pockets. "You make things less unbearable."

Your reaction - the way you inhale sharply with wide eyes struck something inside his chest. "That... might've been the nicest thing you've told me." And the honesty and sweetness in your voice rolled something foreign sticking in his heart to slowed its beating.

He shook his head and grunted. "Don't get used to it."

You laughed and playfully punched his arm - only for your fist to get slapped at midway with a triumphant hum leaving his throat from your cry of betrayal.

___

You didn't know when it happened, but he was starting to stare at you like you've noticed on how he would look at Mitsuri: full of admiration.

It made you uneasy, because you felt like a rebound. But perhaps, he wouldn't catch it right? You grabbed his scarf and threw it on his face with a laugh.

Kaburamaru raised their tongue in the air as they slithered around your hand, squeezing it as if reprimanding you for hurting their owner.

Obanai's eyes lit up at the interaction between you and Kaburamaru, before pulling the scarf off his face and pegged the serpent. "Yeah. Squeeze them until they'll die."

"They're not an anaconda." You chuckled, rubbing the snake's forehead - missing how intently your friend is staring at your act. "But I guess if you believed hard enough, they could be." You looked at him in the eyes and grinned. "Actions are meaningful than the purpose behind them, don't you think?"

Obanai just blinked at your words - eyebrows furrowing at the meaning behind them. Meanwhile, your attention quickly drifted back to the being on your hand. You laughed when the snake nudged your fingers with their head - practically spreading them and laying their cool head on your palm afterward.

"Kami! This is just adorable." You grinned at the albino on your hand before raising them for Obanai to take. He didn't.

Instead, he followed Kaburamaru's act and pulled you close - slithering his arms around your waist and hugged you tight. Careful not to hurt the snake in your hand nor being too forceful with his embrace.

You blinked at him with a reddening face, eyes seeing nothing but the color of his face as you felt him sighed. "What's... happening?"

"Cuddle session." Yes, it was obvious that the two of you are cuddling with how he's holding you, "but why?"

Obanai didn't reply as fast, but rather, he played with your hair as his fingertips scratched your scalp with talent that made you melt against him.

"Actions are meaningful." He whispered as a reply, hollowed voice melancholic, but meaningful as he put his cheek on your head - your hair tickling the surface revealed on his face.

He took your hand with Kaburamaru, his cold fingers ghosting just above yours in such a velvet movement - a trace of heat following his wake and making your heart halt at the tenderness behind them. The way he holds your hand, his own settling his palm against yours; warmed you up. Even more with Kaburamaru looking happy in cuddling between both hands of different size.

Obanai's eyes grinned, and he his embrace just became a temperature cozier.

And when an arm wrapped around his back, the feeling of lips printed on his neck - he realized just that he became a hypocrite.

Obanai never thought he'd be fond of you, of all people... but he sure isn't regretting being corrected.

His breathing stuttered when he felt you smile, and he can't help but pull you closer against him, pushing your head deeper in his neck as he sighed when you peppered more of your pecks on him.

Maybe Obanai can drag you two in the back of the building for him to take off his mask and drown you with kisses of his own.

Chapter Text

A smile was enough to bring adoration in his eyes.

As much as possible, no one dare tries to approach him, much less converse with him.

Not because he's Kokushibou's relative (as threatening that is), not the fact he looks dead twenty-four-seven, but the rumors circulating about him and how he spent his time are no doubt correct, though exaggerated.

You see, he's infamous for knowing every type of 'dirt' or in better words; incremental secrets that could lead to someone's fall. He just collects them for the fun of it - he couldn't deny the allure that it makes him superior and omniscient.

Muichirou just likes knowing things about things that interest him or have anything against him, but it soon became an obvious fact that he knows too much about everyone around his vicinity. This unhealthy obsession of his were rooted at the fact he and his brother used to get bullied back in their middle school - it didn't really affect him; he knew himself better than them - but his brother has suffered and changed greatly because of it.

So being the more tactful between the two, he did anything just to steer away from the bullying. And he did so ruthlessly.

He was too observant for his own good, and knew everyone better than themselves. He used that to his advantage to anonymously prank and bully the kids that targeted and his brother until they were groveling to them for forgiveness. 
Yoichirou did not forgive them, and so did Muichirou. (But the bullying didn't stop. No one knew it was him, and it was better that way.)

The turn of unexpected event would have satiated his sense of revenge - but the fire only grew further as he realized how he could use this to his advantage.

Kokushibou was known for his skills in hacking and the younger Tokitou asked him to teach him how to do so. Of course, their cousin was delighted in teaching him (everyone knew that he's fond of the twins as he was with his brother), and asked him why he was suddenly interested in learning something he's not interested in the first place. "For the future." Kokushibou have a gut feeling of what Muichirou meant, but shrugged it off.

Perhaps it runs in their family's blood, but they were always chasing something they can't attain, Maybe Muichirou was in that phase, and at times like this - even when evil is due; family comes first.

His years in middle school with his brother became a rampant of gossip and quarrel. Wherever they go, trouble will follow their steps, like stubborn shadows not disappearing even in the darkest of times.

People already connected the dot that the twins were responsible somehow, and for the longest of times - the Tokitou brothers have each other as company. Just them and no others. 
Even when they were in the Kendo club as the other people close to them - still, to him, it was only just the two of them.

So, it was like injecting a heavy douse of lead unto Muichirou's chest when Yoichirou told him that he decided to go to a different academy for their high school. He could respect his older brother's decision, but it just made him more and more detached with others.

You would see him staring at the sky on their class all alone, expression not changing even when his attention is called. He looked as if he was full of lament and he chose it to be that way.

Despite knowing that he was detrimental to be with, his former club mates in their kendo club still hang out with him. They were the first group of people that accepted him for who he is despite what he can do, and he learned to respect them as friends the longer he spent time with them. 
They were all influential or skillful people in their own area of expertise and are popular, so when the voting came; they were soon known as the 'Pillars of the Kimetsu High' for being elected to be the school council on their second year.

Muichirou won on the spot because no one dared try to challenge his position - actually, all his peers who run for the council all won mostly because of fear or admiration. Tengen was a former delinquent with a reputation that surprisingly have no juvenile records; Giyuu was known famous for his swimming achievements; Sanemi have close ties with students; Mitsuri and Shinobu won for their propaganda - Gyomei was already the president and Kyoujurou the vice.

They all managed Kimetsu high for the school year, but they all decided to retire since the work was too much and they ended up making a mangaka club to hang out with each other instead, while also participating after their primary club. Sure, people started joining their club in hopes to be close with them, but only a few of them truly stayed.

Inosuke, Zenitsu, Tanjirou, Kanao and Genya are the few who decided to be permanent members alongside the nonexistent pillars in the mangaka club. "It would be good to spend some time with people your age." Shinobu and Gyomei would lecture him, and he 'tolerated' his peers just because he was told so. 
Still, he didn't feel the connection he had with his fellow pillars even when he tried to like them out of necessity. Inosuke and Zenitsu are just too loud, Tanjirou too passionate, Kanao and Genya too reserved and quiet. To him, they were all like two-dimensional characters that you can easily predict their actions.

Muichirou have earned enough black-mail material without even trying - and he soon became bored with them that he would only just stare at the sky with that apathetic expression of his to entertain himself.

Clouds. He liked them. They're unpredictable and you could never have enough time to even decipher them. But then, there comes you. The 'otome mc', 'heartbreak princess', 'the goddess of randomness', 'the inferior whore'. (Last nickname was a passing title that he heard from someone jealous while you were talking to Giyuu and the others.)

The first time he saw you was the entrance ceremony - one of the new students in this new school year. You were supposedly just another face, just someone lost in the crowd of nobodies. 
But it seems like you were more than that. After the ceremony, most of the people he knew went to you and cheered for your presence a bit enthusiastically and truthfully. (At that time, he felt envious - no one would welcome him so warmly like they did to you.)

You were being smothered by Mitsuri's boob and laughing like an idiot with her. The two of you have this crack energy going on and it's obvious that he doesn't want anything to do with you. Not to mention, Giyuu and Tanjirou were giving you odd stares that would rival's Sanemi's longing gaze on his uneaten ohagi, or Obanai's admiration to the pinkette.

You were someone interesting for sure, especially with catching two of the attention of the pillars and a well-respected student - but to Muichirou, you were just another person in the waiting list he'd scoured sooner or later.

He wanted you to give him a reason to hate you - but the opportunity didn't come to light. He rarely sees you after all, since the third-year students are on different levels and lunch are held in different time per grade levels. So, you were safe from his judging gaze. 
(He often wondered why he wanted to pick a fight with you but the rumors about you interested him to challenge himself and see if they were the truth - perhaps use them as his advantage to take that light of affection the other pillars started showing whenever you visit Tanjirou and his squad on the Mangaka club.)

Fast forward a few weeks, he was holding boxes upon boxes of research materials for his primary club. Muichirou doesn't really need help; often than not - he's used with these of labors despite his height and age due to his training in the kendo club. Yet, you swooped in to 'offer your assistance' to him.

You and him just happen to be going at the same direction, and with each turn and hallways that you've walked, it became painfully awkward that the two of you are walking towards the same destination. What kind of business you have with the science club - he wouldn't know and he wouldn't care by the slightest.

"Here, I'll help." The load in his arms lightened - the speed and the nerve you have to take what he was carrying was unbashful; before he knew it (because he was too focused in judging you), you were holding the heavier box in your hands. "Oh shit," the expression on your face squeezed into one of constipation and that made him blink from the hilarity of it. "I think my spine just cracked."

He would've cracked a noise at that, but you were nothing but a titled stranger to him, (he would never give you the satisfaction to revel in his reaction - a feat he kept doing even when you became close just to annoy you).

Muichirou's eyebrows furrowed at your words, creating an ugly creased line between his forehead as his minty eyes staring at you sharply with annoyance and confusion. "I don't need your help. I had it."

In his mind, he was telling you to give the boxes back, but his eyes were too dark and gloomy and you were staring back at them oddly with wide eyes. Because how on earth can a man have such pretty green eyes looked at you with frustration?

"Too bad I'm already carrying it." You stated nonchalantly, nodding your head before blowing a playful raspberry at him - and that infantile act made a nerve appear on his forehead. "Go lead the way, senpai."

Senpai. That word made his nerve bristled. He's so used in being referred to as Tokichitou-sama from strangers that... it's the first time he's called with an honorific like that. It's... weird. You might've had the guts of steel or the brain of a monkey to call one of the most feared pillars with such a title.

Muichirou might've been gazing at you for a long time with a deep look in his face since when he came back to his consciousness; there was a line of nervous sweat dripping from your temple.

(The sight of those shaky (color) eyes that tries to meet his unyielding orbs and those trembling lips... Muichirou wouldn't admit it so openly - but your expression did something to his stomach that day.)

With no words, the Tokitou continued on - you following him with just enough speed and stamina. It was shared with silence, it wasn't awkward, it wasn't uncomfortable. Just a void that he felt tolerable for the likes of you. The walk was a long one, and he kept staring at the accessible view in front of him with too much focus because lest, his eyes would linger to you and it was weird because such a mood would only strike him when he wanted to look at the sky. (And obviously, you weren't the sky.)

Muichirou harbored a deep frown after nearing the club, and the tight line did not go even when opened the door of the science room. Surprisingly, no one was yet in it. The science and garden club are in a close partnership this year since they wanted to make a never-wilting wisteria out of whim in a club meeting, so Muichirou knew the member might have been gathering sample in the school's garden. Whomever the reason you visited this in the first place isn't here. So, he expected to turned with you absent and the box somewhere in the room, but you were already inside with no shame and without permission; inspecting the diagram of a wisteria displayed in the blackboard.

He wanted to tell you of how rude you were, wanted to lecture you the importance of permission in a club you don't belong in - but all logic was lost at the sight of you. Muichirou's frame became stiff, his breathe hitching at the hue of orange and yellow bleaching your being.

Strands of (color) hair reflected the lights with a silken glow, your nose - the shine on your lips, the expression on your face that was full of detailed attention.

You look like someone out from a well-drawn illustration. Muichirou raised a hand to his chest, the other twitching with curiosity; asking him to reach out for you to see if you weren't just his imagination, but a reality.

(He soon became vague aware why the other students would call you an 'otome mc'. That kind of magic is witchcraft - you weren't that all pretty, but how come you conjured such a presence? Confusing. Unbelievable.)

"Have you guys decided to try and prune the wisteria - let it adapt on a colder region, graft it do the cycle again?" Your voice was soft-spoken, but full of certainty a question can utter.

He blinked awake from his internal thoughts, now caving with the wisdom you've just uttered. The club... they're more accustomed with genetically altering the plant and cross-breeding it with a relative tree that the others, even he, himself, didn't thought of that.

"I'd like to see the results one day. Good luck, senpai!"

You smiled, not at him but at the graph before you, nodding at him with wide-eyed energy before waving good bye at him with an exaggerated wave and an even fake smile. (He never thought that's just how you grin happily - a characteristic of yours that was proven wrong.)

First time meeting you, it was... unexpectedly nice.

___

Like before, he heard things about you, both good and bad. 
You have your own appeal, that's for sure but there's more to your person than surface level that you always keenly display to people around you. 
He made his way to observe you just to know how you interact with strangers and to the ones you knew.

What he accounted was that you treated them all the same, just more careful with those you don't know. You have too many layers in your personality that it made him think that such complexity must've been hiding an unpleasant core about you. 
So, of course he had to make his way and look for hidden information about you, there's just no way you're that of a person. True to Muichirou's suspicions, you weren't as pleasant as you try to be.

Unsavory past, a forced familial connection, Juvenile records that are mostly about beating people up, a deformed appearance in middle school and an even deformed grade. 
First glance and impression, he just knew it that something is up with you.

How exactly did you enter a prestige school like this with a past like that? What exactly made you change all of a sudden? 
Do you have ulterior motives? Questions upon inquiries, all unpleasant the longer it runs in his mind.

Muichirou thought he was a complicated person for being the way he is, but he's surprised that there was someone else that could rival his situation.

Somehow, from that realization; his shoulders felt lighter.

___

"You know, the rumor about you are actually just exaggerated."

Muichirou took a sip from his canned tea, just staring at the sunset with no plans of giving you attention. In his mind, he thought of how there's ton of rumors about him, you have to be specific in that one.

Yet, he only offered you silence as he leaned on the barred railings with a sigh through his nose - eyes lidded as he let you accompany him.

You smiled, drinking your own drink as you followed him suit. There's a reasonable distance between and yet you make Muichirou felt suffocated with your presence somehow.
"I mean, I know you have some kink with digging up dirt on people." You chuckled when you heard the annoyed click of his tongue, yet you continue your thought. "But at least you don't openly spread them."

He raised an eyebrow at that. So, you knew? He bit on his cheek, molars tightening around the flesh as his grip on the can in his hand tightened.

Why are you still accompanying him then? 
Aren't you supposed to be afraid? His eyes landed on your frame, but you weren't looking at him - actually, you weren't looking at all. 
Your eyes are closed, but you have that stupid smile on your face. In his mind, he's asking you if you're giving him a reason to test you. 
Spread rumors about you for bringing that up. But what exactly are you thinking?

"How can you say that I don't spread them with such confidence in your voice?" He asked, his own tune laced with sarcasm that was spiteful to see your reaction. 
Yet... your face remains calm; your eyes remain tight as your smile only opened to retort his own question with another. "You've managed to hack in my account - didn't you?"

You took his silence as a cue to continue. "Don't worry, I don't hate you for it. I'm just surprised." (Color) orbs shining brightly with the sunset's kiss. "My brother has the hacking skills so rest assured I won't hack in yours."

Yet, you have the opportunity. "Why didn't you?"

Muichirou felt cornered - he never felt this claustrophobic sensation before, and he never had felt the shriveled cold wash of anger and fear thrashing around his heart in unease. 
Your answer was the solace of this foreign sensation that thrums in his chest erratically and he don't know the reason behind the way his instincts do. 
Internally, he just hoped that the confliction wasn't showing on his expression - because he doesn't know how to handle this when you do, and he wouldn't know how he'll react with it.

Your orbs met his, and in them showed nothing but the genuine truth and forgiveness he knew he doesn't deserve. "You seem like you're the type of person that likes their privacy, so you know." That smile came back to your face; one that is full of softness that matched too well with your words. "I at least wanted to respect you that way despite what you did."

Muichirou inhaled sharply.

Again, you managed to stop his lungs, the air in his chest felt tingled. He can feel his body shaking, but he doesn't know why - he's only familiar with how his nails try to dig on the rails and on the can. With a battered sigh, and a forced grimaced - he looked away, voice deep with respite as he insulted you.

"You're stupidly complicated."

You laughed. An innocent, childish laugh that was all too good to be true.

The Tokitou read in Kyoujurou's manga about how the sole female would make the mc stumped with the sound of crinkled joy that left her lips - rendering him speechless as he stared at her with embarrassment and adoration. And he never thought he'd relate with a non-existent character so far as he did with you; hearing you laugh, making him stumped - he was only glad that the sunset hid whatever flames he had on his cheeks.

Especially when you gave him a smirk that resonated well with the curve of your eyes. "Takes one to know one, senpai."

His heartbeat felt agonizingly slow... yet fast at the same time.

___

Yoichirou looked at his twin weirdly, chewing on his food with a rice on his cheek before coughing loudly to catch Muichirou's attention. He didn't. The older twin coughed, loudly and with more force - still, his younger brother was lost in his mind.

He slammed a fist on the table, a stern expression on his visage as he glared at his brother. "You're smiling and it's creepy."

Muichirou's grip on his chopsticks tightened, eyes widening just a bit before returning to their normal size and he tilting his head with curiosity. "I was?"

Yoichirou almost snorted at that, but he merely rolled his eyes at that nonchalant reply. "I'm used with you being so apathetic, of course I'll notice." Then sprouted a cheeky grin Muichirou felt unnatural on his older brother. "So, who's the girl?"

"What?" The disbelief and shock in his voice was so obvious, it made Yoichirou all the curiouser. Minty green eyes became crescent as the grin on his lips - body hunching forward with intent to know more of this side of his sibling. "You have a crush on someone, don't you?"

Bingo! The older twin laughed a rambunctious, victorious chortle when Muichirou's ears turned a pinkish hue - and he doubled in laughter when his brother looked away with a pout and ugly unibrow on his face. "I don't know what you're saying."

"Your ears are going pink." Yoichirou grinned, relieving himself from the shallow tears on his eyes as his body shake with a few chuckles that escaped his lips. "Dodge all the questions you want otouto, but it's harder to dodge those feelings."

Muichirou felt damned when he realized how true those words are.

___

He didn't know what to feel.
Pity? Frustration? Embarrassment?

Everything felt like a storm in his mind, and he tried to find the logic in his situation more so than what needed be.

Muichirou caught the whole confession. You and Zenitsu - who would have wondered? At the place he always hangs out even. The rooftop has been his favorite spot to watch the clouds as they transitioned to nothing but the night's stars.

He was nestled in the corner of the rooftop - unseen and unnoticed, and it always was a good spot to hide in whenever he wanted a time alone from judging eyes. But by his rotten luck, he had to listen to his peers confessing their desire to the other.

The tender exchange of Zenitsu's smooth message, the affection, the desire and longingness in them - it spoke a loud volume of how he cared for you.
Added with that song he soulfully singed for you; it was damn the best confession Muichirou ever heard. Like listening to the drama on the radio his mother always listened to - a rather well done one.

But he didn't felt nostalgia. He did felt appreciation for the act - still, he felt even more envious and more remorseful than anything else. You've already been in his mind too much than what's accounted as normal.
And he has to lose you to someone else? He couldn't move on his position, couldn't even cut the confession into stop and cry his own.

Muichirou froze. Cut the confession into stop and cry his own? His body felt as if they were drenched in cold water.

Why in tarnation would he think about that? The two of you barely spoke with one another, and if you two did - it would be an onslaught of him insulting you, and you laughing at them - most of the time, you would share silence that was too much comfortable. What in the world will make him think of that?

What gave him the confidence he'd think you'd pick him over such a sweet (pathetic) confession over his?

He heard sniffling, a sob - then cries of a child with you cooing over the dirty pitch and his hearing sharpened at that.

"I'm so sorry, Zenitsu. I don't mean to make you fall, fuck - perhaps if I know what romance is, I would be the one falling with you instead... God, let it out. That's it, it's okay to cry. I won't judge. Shhh, everything will be okay."

Muichirou felt something stirred in his chest. It was not pity over the blonde; it was something that made him higher - it was hope. It was confidence. It was...

The sound of your own sobbing shut the Tokitou's thoughts, the words you've uttered stroked his mind into a numbing disbelief.

"I'm aromantic."

...lost.

___

Muichirou was staring at his plate, the end of his fork poking at the potato on his sweet curry serving. The dinner was dreadfully silent, and it made his aniki felt what the other feels within the connection the twins can have.

"So, you got rejected or they already got a boyfriend." Yoichirou stated melancholically, biting on his carrot while staring a bit too sharply on his notes. The younger Tokitou's gaze lifted up from his food to see the mirror of his own face, just frowning sadly on his papers with that deeper frown on his eyebrows.

"What are you talking about?"

"Your attitude changed." A short reply. "You're not smiling anymore."

Muichirou's lips tightened into a straight line, eyes glazed and unemotionally before letting out a shrug.

He doesn't feel like talking.

Yoichirou hummed thoughtfully, flipping his reviewer on the next page as he added with food in his mouth. "Whoever they are, you're too good for them anyways."

It was only supposed to be comfort to raise his spirits up - something to make him feel better over this stupid situation, but Muichirou's jaw only tightened at that, eyebrows meeting each other like one of his siblings as he looked away.

Yeah. Maybe he is too good. 
Too good for the fact you can't feel what he can.

___

Even after that confession, you and Zenitsu still hang out with each other as if nothing happened. 
Instead, Zenitsu felt even bolder to hug you out of nowhere and the other two on your weird squad will join quickly. He couldn't count how many times he would enter the Mangaka club with the four of you are cuddling with one another while reading and rereading manga on one computer.

Today, however, is one of those rare times where you would be hanging out in the club and he would be contributing on his own.

Muichirou did not expect you to roll your chair towards him and look at what he was doing. "I'm surprise that you're the one in charge of toning the others works."

He did not mean to snap at you, but the events of what happened weeks ago played in his mind. "Do you have anything else better to do?"

You chuckled, as you always would with his snarkiness, but this time he truly meant it. 
The sound of your voice makes his resolve weaker, and even more when you started leaning closer to his frame to get a better view of what he's doing. The nonexistent distance made him hyper aware of the scent of your perfume, he swore he could feel the warmth from your being despite not touching, and the sweetness that coated you made his body grew rigid.

Strawberry. You smelled like strawberry.

"Yeah, watching you work." You replied while making yourself comfortable as you leaned on the back of his chair with your hand.

"Don't you know," that stupid smile, those distinct shine in your stupid eyes - it made his eyebrows furrowed deeply as he found himself doing quite often around you. "that you look so calm and peaceful when you're working?"

Muichirou's ears reddened despite his will, the way you said those words made him think of how you were observing him without him noticing and the thought alone made his heart skip a longing beat. He rolled his eyes, letting out a silent, shaky sigh as he tried to focus back on his work. "Bold of you to assume I don't always look like that."

You snorted, the sound irritating but oddly adorable in his ears. "No, no. You have this softness in your eyes and your lips twitch a little higher when you enjoy something." You told him unbashfully, not realizing how he shifted uncomfortably in his seat from that information.

"You were doing that so I have to see what you were happy about." A lone finger pointed at the frame he's working on, the half-colored gore and screaming woman made Muichirou relate at that moment. "I'm not surprised that it because you're coloring Sanemi's work."

He knew he shouldn't fall for you, and he tried not to just by being rude with you. Ignoring you just as helpless. Now, your grin, that half crescent eyes and softness in your voice when the two of you are alone - it was too much to avoid not noticing.

Your warm reception despite his crude behavior makes you even more appealing to him, giving more and more of a reason for his walls to crumble and for his heart to beat.

Muichirou let out a shivering sigh, body relaxing and feeling so satisfyingly warm with you leaning on him. Your honesty, your proximity... it was nice to delve in.

He looked down at you, head on his shoulder and finger typing fast on your screen as you giggled at your stupid reply to your brother - he felt his visage twitch as his gaze became softer than they were before. Moments like these, when the two of you are alone - he wanted it, at the same time, fear for it.

Love is such a complex emotion and you... To him; you were the best description of it.

___

Muichirou lets out a lamented sigh as he stared at your instamon - you and your bakaboko squad (befitting name, with the way you act with them most of the time,) uploaded a picture with Genya and the others holding something you so credibly pixelated.

It looked suspiciously like dildo, but he wouldn't know - he could try to unpixellated it but what fun discovering what's that mystery object? Now he's currently wondering what kind of stupid stunt were you guys are currently doing.

"Got a crush again?" Yoichirou was brushing his long hair, before tying them up in loose ponytail with that stupid grin of his. 
The younger twin would always shrug and would always reply with "I don't know what you're saying." But the two knew well that it's her.

His phone vibrated once again, your image and name popping up on his notifications and asking if he's free to join your escapades with the others. He typed in a cold 'yes' and you replied with scrambled of capitalized letters that made his face twitch pleasantly.

He stood up abruptly, the speed making the older Tokitou flinched from his seat.

"I have to go somewhere."

Yoichirou's expression was one of great surprise; wide eyes, soured lips. He turned his head slowly towards his twin's leaving form, before letting his jaw fall on the table.

That was the first time he saw Muichirou grin about someone that isn't family, and it was almost alien on him.

___

You surprised your misty boy with a tight hug he was too baffled to even think about, but he was pushing Zenitsu's and Tanjirou's advance to join in with a haughty glare.

"So glad you came to join us! I was expecting you to say 'fuck off I have a project to do' but yeah, surprise!" You let him go from your hug much to his dismay, but your hands are clamped around his shoulders as you shook him mildly. "We ambush your home!"

That made him blink and realized what you meant. "How did you know I live here."

You let out a loud, forced laughter that made him raise an eyebrow. You looked at Tanjirou helplessly, who gazed at Zenitsu, who stared at the sky while scratching his cheek nervously. "Connections?"

You and Tanjirou laughed nervously at that reply, but there are nerves popping on your foreheads - the two of you glaring at him sharply. Zenitsu quickly reflected your stare - his eyes narrowed in anger at the two of you while laughing the loudest, forced laughter ever.

'These people befit their new title.'

Muichirou just rolled his eyes at his thought, before widening them at what he saw by their window. His twin had his face pinned on the glass - almost looking like Inosuke with that big goofy smile with eyebrows wiggling uncharacteristically.

He facepalmed. He's never going to hear the end of it. You turn to look at what he's looking at before, but he merely tugged on your hand and pulled you away. The two guys following suit, and maybe Muichirou was imagining it, but he swore that he felt something burning on the back of his mind.

But what he wasn't imagining is the fact that your wrist felt soft and small in his hand, and he tried not to think too much about how warm and pleasant to hold unto it.

"Right call! Genya can only save our barbecue orders from Inosuke!" You cheered enthusiastically, but your words were received with a negative reception. Zenitsu gasped horrendously at that reminder, gripping on his hair as he cried. "MY SWEET KOREAN BARBECUE!! WHY DID I JOIN YOU TWO!? AAAH, I SHOULD'VE STAYED! THAT PIG MIGHT HAVE ALREADY ATE MY BARBECUE!!! MY SWEET BARBECUE!"

Tanjirou sweat dropped at the exaggeration, patting the blonde by the pack in some sort of comfort. "Relax, (Name)'s paying."

That must've been the magic word, because soon enough Zenitsu calmed down, a hand on the top of his chest as he sighed loudly. "Right."

You chuckled at their reaction while shaking your head. "I limited our hangout to two thousand yen so we only have three barbecue each guys--"

The two looked at each other, before dashing off in the blink of an eye - dust following their wake. You didn't have the time to finish your sentence.

"Jeez, I think we should run before they end up eating it all."

You smiled at them fondly, Muichirou looking at you down with a thoughtful gaze. If he could, he would kiss you. But right now, your soft fingers in his - he's content with just being with you.

The Tokitou merely hummed in reply to your musing, but didn't changed his pace.

You were away of how his own fingers wrapped themselves around yours, making you feel warm on the inside, but you didn't comment about it. Instead, you enjoyed it by gripping his own and smiling up at him sweetly - much to his surprise.

That expression on your face... it made his body bristled pleasantly, his body warming as his own eyes lidded in satisfaction.

You swore, when he returned your smile, there was something in those glazed minty eyes that you've never seen before but knew all too well.

It was full of adoration.

Chapter Text

'Want'; such a strong word to describe how they felt for each other

The confidence he once extort was quickly replaced with an air of awkward bubbles - spiking his already flushed face with a reddened beat as he listened to you talk about the interest he stuttered to ask.

Bead of coldness prickled the back of Giyuu's neck as he tried his best to maintain his eyes on yours.

His lungs are constricting the air in them and his foot tapped repeatedly under the bar-stool.

He couldn't believe it. Giyuu couldn't fucking believe it.

You noticed him. 
You're talking to him.
You really are talking to him.

A shy glance made its way on his facade as a reply to your smiling form - as he indulged himself in your own story, staring at you as you share your anecdotes with closed eyes and a jingling chuckle that leaves airily on those desiring lips.

You really are one of a kind.

Giyuu's breathe hitched, his body became rigid as his face grew warm when you opened your eyes; staring at him with a honey-dewed glance that caught his heart beat alongside that captivated smile.

"Tomioka, Giyuu, isn't it?"

His eyes shakes as well as his resolve, and he drew them down on the ground with a shy smile of his own. The words he wanted to say got stuck on his throat, and he can only nod to your sweet voice.

In his melted mind, in his beating heart - he can't help it. Not when you're looking at him like that. Not when your eyes shines so brightly against the illuminated fusion lights.

Giyuu gulped, closing his eyes. And you stared at him with a curious glint.

Suddenly, his frame relaxed - his smile softer, and his own orbs firmer with his stare on yours as he took your hand and brought it near him.

Warm, moist lips met your knuckles, staying there a second too long with his eyes lidded to stare up at yours.

He wanted you to call his name again.

"Just Giyuu will suffice."

His voice, deep and sultry reached your ears - electrifying your spine, and palpitating your heart. Your eyes widened at such smooth reply, and you stuttered ungracefully.

And your reaction pleased him.

You felt him chuckle through your connected hands and that sound... you couldn't help, but stare at the drink instead of him. Yet - you didn't take your hand away.

Giyuu took the liberty to hold it, fingers around yours with a steady grip before letting go.

"Then call me (Name), Giyuu."

Pink appeared on his cheeks as he nodded at your word, returning to his drink with a more flattered expression on his face.

But not before testing your name against his lips. And the way he said it, the way he played each syllable of your own - sounded almost as if your name belongs to him.

A nd you wanted it that to be nothing but the truth.

Chapter Text

"Love is found in everything; you should only learn to stop and admire the beauty before you." 

Even with each session, even with each shared morning - every time you wake up; you find yourself just staring at him and smile yourself.

You memorized his face in your mind, the image of his calm expression will always drift down permanently in your heart. Yet, it's still so different when you can see him rest calmly like this.

You giggled to yourself at the thought of how his eyelashes are longer than yours, yet as you brushed his burgundy hair away – and you can't help but sigh lightly at the feel of his soft scars under your fingers.

He's quite bewitching, that even without doing nothing he can make you feel so loved and it's really something.

Mysterious something, but enigmatically beautiful.

A handful of lithe air left your mouth. Your consciousness slowly waking up from what felt like a dream.

The contentment in the air brushes your skin like electricity lapping water, filling your veins with shock and a warm domestic filling that makes you high.

You showed every ounce of your love for him, and he did to you. There's no remorse to be shared, only humbleness and happiness.

To think you have him to be called yours.

To think that he loves you and you to him.

To think that the both of you are happy together -- It felt like you cheated fate to have him, but a feeling of gratitude laps your consciousness instead of guilt.

You feel so happy, so lucky, to wake up inside the arms of a loving man like him.

"Beautiful." You mumbled; feelings tainted with satisfaction as flames of love burns inside you.

Yoriichi's lips quirked up, sending you in a spiral of terror as he chuckled. "You are."

Your body quickly reacted on its own, moving away from his as you stared at him with big dumb eyes. "Were..." you gulped, Yoriichi's hand found yours and pulled closer to him as your blood raised to your rousing state. "You awake the whole time?"

Your beloved nuzzled your head with his lazily, kissing you on the temple with a soft sigh. "Yes."

You could feel your body ignite in embarrassment from that realization. Your hands that was once on him swiftly took package on your shared blanket, raising it up on your face as you sputtered, "Ahhhh, I'm sorry – that's so creepy of me!"

You peaked from your red covers with a shaking gaze. "I won't do it again..."

Yoriichi opened one eye and found both of yours and sighed, vexing the fear in your stomach before he removes it with a silent blink. He carefully took your hands in his, fingers intertwining tightly against yours.

He stared at your lithe digits, no doubt comparing how his can easily cover yours, before looking at your eyes – maroon orbs softening into melted gems. The warm message in them made you stopped your breathing.

"Don't."

Your heart broke.

You cowered from his gaze, your hold on him slacking as you tried tugging it away. "I-I know, I'm really sor--"

"Don't apologize." Yoriichi groaned, shutting you up with a loud warm sigh before kissing your knuckles as he kept his gaze on in yours with an annoyed tint in them. "I do the same."

He smiled softly with his eyes as dry lips kissed each bump on your knuckle once again. "I stare at you from time to time."

You blinked, and gaped at him like a fish. He what, now?

Perfect set of broad teeth showed, his lips crescent from your reaction. "Your touches are nice." Yoriichi hummed, the hand tangled in your hair started easing the knots on your scalp - relaxing your frayed nerves with each gentle massage. "Today's the first time you spoke."

You nodded at his words, dazed. Before your face heated up at the thought of those times you've spent touching him without his consent.

You felt the vibrato of Yoriichi's chuckles hammering above your chest, pushing you to him with a hearty smile. "Your face is red." He hums, before kissing your nose - eyes crinkled in satisfied joy as he delved into yours. "It's cute."

"Y-you are, too." You quietly mumbled in reply, your face heated from his affective gaze.

"Hmmm." His lips pursed, shoulders slackening from your words as he squeezed your intertwined fingers with strength that grips your heart. "I don't think so."

You returned his squeeze with a determined gaze, catching his attention as your cheeks flare in disagreement. "Yes, you are!"

Yoriichi lazily raised his eyebrows in reply, disbelief clouded his intent but still curious in your words. "How?"

You can taste your bravery drying at the tip of your tongue. You chuckled nervously, shying away from him as you stared at his chiseled chest.

"You don't want to hear it." You unraveled your joined hands together to poke his chest, much to his displeasure. "It's embarrassing..."

Yoriichi slowly nodded at your reply. You wished that's the end of it, but he propped his head up with his hand, his elbow just besides your face as he tilted your head up with interest glistening in his soft voice. "I won't judge."

"I..." You drifted off, distracted at the deepness of his eyes - conveying unspoken message of trust as it prints in your heart - before nodding at his words with a shy grace. "Okay. Just don't laugh okay?"

"I won't." He hummed a chuckle, voice deep and nice to listen to. You must have looked at him weirdly since he let out a weak, airy laugh at your face.

You puffed your cheeks, slapping his chest with an indignant smile. "I haven't said a thing and you're already laughing at me!"

He bit his lips - not out of passion but of trying to stop himself from cackling - and inhaled swallow breaths to calm himself down. "Don't blame me; You're too adorable."

All of that with a straight face!

You blushed and hide your face with the blanket. "Don't flirt your way out of here, Yoriichi!"

"Flirt?" He asked in genuine question, before propping his head up with his arm. "I'm merely saying the truth."

Yoriichi let out a humming chuckle when you slap his chest. "Stop, you're being too much!" You squeaked when he pulled down your covers; a satisfied expression on his face when he noticed that you're grinning behind your hands out of giddiness.

He pinched your nose and grinned down at you. "I'm not sorry if it means keeping that smile on your face."

He pushed some stray bangs away on your face before kissing the space between your eyes. "Don't avoid the topic."

You nodded with a flaming face, feeling sober from your high and thankful that his jaw found purchase on the curve of your head instead of staring down at you.

"You... have a cute smile." You began, finger tracing the visible lines on his chest as you continued. "The fact you rarely smile makes the meaning behind it more special, and whenever you do - it just warms my heart, you know?"

"I smile all the time with you." Yoriichi stated as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. Eyes crinkling at the end as his lips tugged up with a small grin.

You playfully slapped his chest and giggled. "Pft. I know that." You rolled your eyes anchored with amusement. "Still - the effect your smile has on me never really changed despite all these years." You sighed, gaze softening as you trace his bare chest with your finger, earning an appreciative hum from your beloved.

"It's just so genuine, loving and... really wholesome." You smiled to yourself, picturing him looking down with that fond grin of his directed to you. "Like every problem I have can disappear just a second of you smiling at me."

You bit your lips, just catching how cheesy your words are, but still continued out of frayed nerves.

"I just really love your smile! It's..."

This... felt like serving your heart in the platter and you don't even mind. It doesn't hurt to be honest, right?

"It's the reason I fell a bit attracted with you in the first place actually."

Yoriichi spoke up, a teasing tone in his monotone question. "Only a bit?"

The sound of your giggle sends his heart to tightened with a satisfying throb. "Okay, maybe a lot."

You two fell silent, and you wondered if you said something stupid but he whispered something under his breathe that made your ears burned and eyes closed. "I could relate with that."

Yoriichi hummed in satisfaction, the vibrator of his voice felt loud on you. "I feel the same."

You blinked once, and twice, before giggling at that. "Don't be absurd!" You laughed, not moving an inch in his hug but still your body shakes from your joy - a small act that sends him to join you with a silent chuckle. "I smile all the time."

"Exactly." Yoriichi felt your body warming up at his one word. He cradled you in his hold, kissing the crown of your head.

"Exactly." He repeated, this time, his words held more weight.  

Chapter Text

The headcannon: how would the pillars react if you told them that your spouse was cheating on you?

Giyuu

-Shocked. Like really. You're amazing and he looks up to you with how kind you are that having to know someone cheat on you with someone else? Wow, maybe the world is still fucked up even without demons no longer roaming around.

-Doesn't know how to react. He would only stare at you blankly with his eyebrows furrowed as if you just told him a bad joke. You might be crying or whatnot but he will still look at you like that.

-Don't feel judged; deep inside, he's actually silently screaming his question why the fuck someone would cheat on you, like why?

-He will ask insensitive questions to know more about your past relationship and understand why he broke up with you. There are two sides of a story and he must know yours first before having a concrete idea of what literally happened, but with each inquiry answered brings light with how dumb your ex is.

-He will blandly tell you that you're hurting yourself if you stayed with your spouse.

-Expect him to always be there in your recovery, doesn't matter if you find him annoying because he doesn't really much talk if he accompanies you; he's just making sure you won't feel alone and unwanted despite it all.

-His actions show it. Even if it's awkward for him, he will put a hand above yours and tell you that you're not alone and he's there for you. His eyes are so sure you think they glow along with his words.

-Will make his way to show you how much love you deserve through simplest of things he knows he can do for you.

-You forgot something? He'll fetch that. You're not eating well? He'll treat you out.

-Giyuu might suck reading the atmosphere and he doesn't know what to do. So, he'll ask Tengen and the others how to comfort you.

-He took advices seriously and do them literally, word to word. He hugs you whenever you have breakdowns and give you water devotedly after, but also, he punched your ex in front of you. (You have Sanemi to thank for that.)

-When you apologized to your ex and dragged Giyuu away, he thought he was in trouble - but boy, he found himself falling harder for you with your laughter.

-Low-key will try his best to show you how better off you are without your ex by simply (and bluntly) tell you that you're strong and amazing.

-Giyuu won't do the first move, he doesn't know if you completely healed or not - so you better be the one confessing to him.

-Will be a blushing mess, but he'd be happy to be your blushing mess. Enlightened even.

-It's hard for him to initiate affection, but Giyuu will do his best to show you how amazing, endearing and loving you are through small gestures.

-Brushing your hair off your face, rubbing his knuckles against yours when walking - kissing your nose when you sleep... Giyuu will do that all for you in order to make you feel loved.

-Bonus: Everyone lost their marbles when they realized you're dating Giyuu. Shinobu and Sanemi will question your taste in men and Oyakata-sama alongside Gyomei prepared adzuki mochi with Tengen and his wives.

Everyone were acting as if you two were married couples and even threw a celebration with too much red beans that it made you kind of sick of the celebratory food for months.

Kyoujurou will be the first one to unashamedly ask your plans for the future.

"Kill the demons." "Have children."

Two different answers were a mood and Giyuu looks as if he was harassed when you just implied you want to have a family with him.

Save him from his existential crisis because he can't believe you're going to go as far as that with him.

"Who would've known." Oyakata-sama smiled a knowing smile at that. He won't spoil, but he has a hunch that will come true.

Sanemi

-He smells blood. Who is this guy? He just wants to talk. (Though you know its bad news if you expose your ex to him.)

-You cried telling him that? He will comfort you in silence, hugging you and patting your back throughout your breakdown.

-He won't talk when he's comforting you and don't make him talk, because he will spit venomous words and talk shit about your spouse even if he doesn't know the guy. (He will literally spit and beat the guy if he sees them out of the streets - especially more if he knew them.)

-"You're fucked up if you think you can still be with them if they cheated on you. You're more than you think."

-Sanemi will internally celebrate if you broke up with the guy - but he's also having 50/50 thoughts if he should go and hunt them down with a good beating.

-He'll be in and out of the picture with your recovery. He knows you'll need your space and he's willing to be there if you need him, but don't expect him hounding on you 24/7.

-Sanemi's hella sweet throughout your recovery. He won't make you talk your feelings out but he will treat you out as a way to make you happier. He will avoid eye contacts and if you strike a conversation with him, he'll just reply with shortened words.

-Will do small things for you, but he'd do that anonymously. You done training? Suddenly, there's (Favorite food) near you. Is that your favorite flower? How come it's in your quarters? You have an idea who, but you play along with his games.

-His guilty pleasure is when you thank him for his small effort to make you happy - but he's too proud to admit that he's the one who did those things. (But it's kind of obvious since he'd get weirdly angry if you thanked the wrong person.)

-Also, now that you're free from the clutches of relationships; expect him with a metaphorical net because he's sure of himself in trying to catch your heart.

-Sanemi just knows that he'll treat you better than that bastard.

-Actually, Sanemi will treat you better than anyone else, and that's a promise.

-Will go touch-starved on you if you two are together. People will see you in his arms drinking tea by the engawa, or have his arms around your waist or shoulders everywhere else.

-Lowkey cuddles and kiss you to the extreme when alone, because it's his way to tell you just how much he loves you.

-Bonus: Genya isn't exactly close with his brother but when he heard of the news you two are dating he tried his best to congratulate you two.

Sanemi lowkey ignored him and tried pulling you away but you gave your man a look that says 'you're going to be fucked up if you won't stay'.

Sanemi does not know if that's a threat or a promise, but he gritted his teeth and ate with you and his brother. It's not fun for him because he's not fond of Genya still joining the corps.

He listened as the two of you talked without him joining the conversation - because of course he isn't. His pride won't let him.

Genya spoke highly of his brother throughout dinner and will share anecdotes how he's literally the best older brother next to Tanjirou and poor wind pillar be blushing in his seat wanting to punch the taller Shinazugawa for oversharing.

Those stories made you fall harder for Sanemi though, and after dinner - you hugged Genya and told him that if he have problems with his bro, you'd be there to help him through.

"Onee-san, please take care of 'Nemi for me." Genya bowed so low you can't believe how much genuine respect this kid have.

"We'll take care of him," you hugged Genya and patted his back. "That I will promise."

Sanemi wants in the hug but just knowing that two of the most important people in his life looking out for him made him feel the warmth of embrace all the same.

Shinobu

-She's not secretly planning to poison anyone. She's just really mixing a new, stronger concoction. She swears.

-You told her out of the blue that it made her drop everything she has in her hands and asked you bluntly if you are okay.

-If you cried, she will quickly grab unto you and comfort you. If you didn't, she expected you to be lying but she'll play along.

-She will whisper sweet and encouraging words that you're much better than the person your spouse cheated on you with. She will make her claims really personal, so expect sweetness from her. (And vile as she talks shit about your spouse.)

-She'd congratulate you and be proud of you if you took matters in your own hands. Will act as a proud mother the whole day.

-Shinobu's a busy woman, but she will make sure that you're her top priority and will always be there if you ever need her, (she will be there even if you don't need her). She won't leave your side if she knows you're still not alright.)

-But it's okay, it means you two get to cuddle a lot. She likes being the big spoon, because it means she can hold you tightly against her. Hand in your hair, arm around your waist and legs dangling each other in the best? Shinobu feels like her heart can't take it, and yet she still wants more.

-Will unbashfully treat your ex and their spouse with livid stares and sharp words. She tries her best not to act that way but she can't just forgive anyone who treated you like scum. She will treat them as a scum.

-Expect her to treat you out more often than not. Loves it when you thank her with a kiss on the cheeks. (Please, just kiss her on the lips already.)

-She will leave you to your devices if you've recovered, but she will try her best to show you she likes you.

-11/10 witty sexual innuendos thrown around in conversation.

-"Need a cushion to sit on? I can be yours if you want."
-"Our uniform looks very becoming on you. Then again - if I was on you, I'd be coming too."

-You may or may not miss most of her innuendos much to her big disappointment.

-She's not really vocal with how she feels (Shinobu finds the thought of frankly admitting she likes you a bit awkward for her.) So, her teasing are her way to portray her emotions so if you caught up to them; she'd be a melted puddle.

-Even more if you teased her back. But more if you literally acted on your feelings on her.

-Shinobu's very physical, and her simplest gestures like sitting next you whenever she's doing her research would lead to one thing and another.

-Usually ends up heated in her futon.

-Bonus: Kanao will be more silent than usual - like you've noticed it since you've started dating her sister.

The two seems to be hiding something to you and whenever you find yourself sharing tea with the tsuguko -  she will give you a guilty smile that never reaches her eyes.

"Please be strong for her."

It was ominous, but you would always reply with a promise that you would. Kanao have doubts of course - but she stayed silent with her feelings.

When they shared your plans with you - you didn't know what to do but literally faced Douma on your own. You stole Shinobu's katana and used it with your own, even with the blade deflecting your technique - you came out as a victor because of your quick thinking and speed.

Perhaps if you didn't brought Shinobu's poisonous blade then maybe you would have been another victim.

You lost a lot of you, and you think you're going to die. But it's okay. Shinobu got to live. You fainted out of blood loss - clutching unto Shinobu's scabbard.

You woke up feeling as if you're dead. It took you hours to realize you lost a leg, an eye and maybe you have tons of few scars to your trophy - and you were staring at the ceiling asking why you're still alive.

Shinobu had a mental breakdown before you when she saw that you were awake and the first thing that she did was slapped you. Tell you how much pain you've caused her and how stupid you were to do something like that.

But you, being you - just smiled at her and told her that hey, in the end, it paid off right?

Shinobu cried even harder at your reply and kissed you with a longing that tells her gratitude.

"Don't ever leave me again." She spoke those words above your lips and despite how tired your hand is - you raised them up to dry the tears in her eyes and cupped her cheek.

"Then don't ever do the same stunt again or I'll sacrifice myself to keep you alive." You threatened her with a voice full of hatred, yet your eyes were crying their desperation for her to agree with your condition.

A heated kiss sealed the deal. 
Shinobu stopped drinking wisteria poison after that.

Mitsuri

-Your spouse did what?! She will make you break up with them or she's going to strangle someone or two! (Preferably your ex, until their death.)

-She's going to be angrier and sadder than you ever will be at the news. You two would end up comforting each other, and your uniforms would be really sticky and damp by the end of it.

-Mitsuri will give you a Ted-Ed talk about how self-love is best love and that if you really love yourself then you know what best for you.

-She's gonna throw red beans mochi in the air if you broke up with them, and will try their best for you to forget.

-Because she knows you'd do the same for her.

-She won't leave your side, despite being all sappy and cheerful most of the times - Mitsuri have her moments of wisdom.

-"Sometimes, people don't know how precious you are until you leave them."

-And she knows how much you mean to her so she doesn't want you to leave, ever.

-She's mostly just herself, but clingier.

-Will seek you out most of the times and expect her to be attached on your hips. It's just her subconscious way of showing you that she believes you shouldn't be alone in those trying times.

-Make her too comfortable, she will whisper her confession out with the most tender look you've ever seen her do; green eyes lidded and curled, lips showing teeth and face pink as her hair.

-If you asked her what was that, she will blush and pretend that it was something stupid.

-If you kissed her? She will instantly melt, grabbed unto you with all her strength and kiss you harder.

-She will show you much she loves you and she swear it to the heaven and her title!

-Tender kisses and touching will grow aggressive with her if not monitored.

-Ends up dominating you, if you know what we mean.

-Despite how she acts, Mitsuri wears the pants in this relationship.

-Bonus: Everyone was like, 'make sense' when they saw you two walked in the meeting holding hands.

Mitsuri looked so energetic and happy and she was humming the whole time much to everyone's chagrin - meanwhile, you were keeping your seiza with shaky legs and deep set of dark bags under your eyes that it concerned some of the pillars.

After Oyakata-sama gave his congratulations and dismissed you all - hell broke loose. Muichirou, Giyuu and Gyomei went off their own way of course, but the others stayed to learn more about this spice.

Tengen quickly grabbed on your shoulders and asked you why you're still here when you should be resting. (He almost sounds like he knows your experience and you don't want to ask or overshare.)

Shinobu congratulate you two and gave you a jar of contraceptives even though you two kinda don't need it. (If you're female of course, but you thank the holy queen of medicine if you're a guy.)

Obanai felt as if he should say something, like a congratulation or anything original - but he ended up just telling you good luck.

Kyoujurou, being the father figure for you and Mitsuri - cried at the news. "You two grew up so fast, next thing I'll know there would be little children running around the area."

For some weird reason, masked children started appearing in the training ground and Kyoujurou felt as if he inhaled a drug. "Okay what the fuck."

"I forgot that Oyakata-sama wanted us to show the children from the Weapon-smith village around." Muichirou spoke out of the blue and it all made sense.

Mitsuri brightened at that and carried you bridal style towards the children. "Kiddies~ Onee-san will show you how fun this place is!"

She's gonna show you how good she is with children!

"Eh??? Why you carrying them, nee-san?" One of the kids asked and she raised you up like how a lion cub would be raised in the sky.

"They my wifey~" Mitsuri sings and the children started poking you out of curiosity. "Are they dead?"

Are the- Mitsuri looked down at you and you looked so peaceful despite the drool leaking down your chin. She giggled and dry your face with the sleeves of her haori before looking at the children. "How about we all eat sakura mochi by the engawa?"

Cheers and cahoots energized the place and Mitsuri did ended up showing you how good she is with children when you woke up with masks staring down your soul and you had a heart attack.

"Mitsuri, why are the kids using my body like a pillow?" Mitsuri hummed and played with your hair. "'Cause you're using my lap, love."

You chuckled at that and grabbed her hand, opening her palm before leaving a kiss on it with your eyes boring up to her green ones. "You're pretty comfortable."

Mitsuri hid her blushing face with her free hand - but didn't hide the big, love-stricken smile on her lips.

Kyoujurou

-He'd reply with a booming laughter because surely, you must be joking? You're the most lovable person he'd ever known that you? Being cheated? Good one.

-Will feel guilty afterwards if you cried. You did him a 180 and now he's fretting and panicking.

-Will try to calm you down and he's thankful that you didn't get angry at him. Actually, he's thankful that you even let him hug you throughout your breakdown.

-Kyoujurou holds unto his tears because just listening to you sob and feel you shaking in his arms makes him want to cry.

-He's just as heartbroken as you, maybe even more if you keep sobbing like that.

-He'll talk to you while you're crying, telling you that you don't deserve this, and that, you deserve better.

-He's not ashamed to say how beautiful and bright you are that he is so sure that your spouse will regret ever cheating on you.

-You broke up with your spouse and when he heard that; he felt both happy and relieved for you. He's glad you listened to him.

-Will pull you in the warmest embrace he can conjure and pet your hair as he congrats you.

-Kyoujurou realized that was too forward of him and he will repeatedly apologize at the sudden reaction and when you smiled up at him and told him it's okay - he willed to stop himself from kissing your forehead because you just broke up and now he wants to hit you?

-Oh uh.

-Have a hard time dealing with his problems caused by your breakup more than you ever would.

-Kyoujurou knows you're strong and you won't let something like that bother you - still, he will be your support throughout your recovery from that toxic relationship.

-Catch is, he finds himself falling harder it makes him have a panic attack every time you caught him staring a second too long.

-Grant him mercy. He doesn't know if he could keep continue acting dumb when he all wanted to do is kiss that smile off your face.

-Don't expect him to be the one confessing. He doesn't want to make you feel as if you're cornered with his affections and he have amazing self-control in regard of that matter.

-If you confessed to him, all control will be thrown out of the window as he showers you with his pent-up love and adoration that he knows you deserve.

-Kyoujurou is kind of guilty that he's glad you broke up with your ex, because it meant he can show you how much amazing you are through simple touches and warm words.

-"Your smiles are so bright it really beats the sun, sunshine." 
-"I'm into watching sunsets, so I'd love to see you go down for me."

-Expect him being soft for you and teasing you all the time - there's no in between.

-Good luck at night. Kyoujurou's active there.

-Bonus: Shinjurou was cold to accept you in the family, and Senjurou was warm. It was an odd reception but you felt at home with them because of your overbearing ways of teasing his father and him as well.

Senjurou is just too innocent to even be in that position so he's exempted.

"Otou-san, you should shave your handsome face more!"

Senjurou looked at you as if you just asked death to take you to the Sanzu river. Shinjurou glared at you and threatened you with his sake bottle but you kept your smile on your face.

"Who gave you permission to call me father?"

You blinked up at him and at Kyoujurou - who have a nerve popping on his forehead to have his father show disrespect to his waifu how dare.

"I call Kyoujurou daddy all the time so I am pretty sure I can call you that since your son and I are technically married in bed."

Oh my god.

Senjurou doesn't need to know that. Shinjurou doesn't need to know that. Kyoujurou is asking you deep inside why you said that.

And you smiled so innocently throughout the dinner that by the end that the two of you have to go - Senjurou and Shinjurou was there to watch you both go.

"Please, use protection." Senjurou bowed and Shinjurou patted your head with a gruff. "Make my son proud. Continue the Rengoku bloodline."

Kyoujurou laughed a loud fake laugh and started pulling you away. "Hahaha! Look at the time! We should be going, dinner's amazing you two!"

"Don't worry 'Tou-san! I plan to have tons of babies with Kyoujurou!"

Shinjurou nodded at you proudly and Senjurou is secretly asking himself if his father thinks of you more as his son than his aniki.

You didn't left Kyoujurou's side since then, and you were there when the both of you fought in the train.

You lost an arm trying to block the punch that would've killed him - but you don't regret it when you know Kyoujurou gets to live.

Of course you were forced to retire even though you wanted to fight more, but Kyoujurou wanted none of it. He also ended up just retiring because of his eye.

"You can still fight, you know." You told him somberly and he hugged you tightly against him in the bed. "I almost lost you right before me." Tears pooled on the pillow you two shared. "I don't want you to feel the same every time I leave."

You two slept holding each other tightly.

"I've heard of the news." Shinjurou sat near you as you two oversees the set of kids Kyoujurou is training to prepare them for the final selection.

"Thank you... for protecting my son."

He doesn't look angry or mad before when you two arrived with the news of your retirement, but he looks relieved this time. He even shaved his face like you told him to.

"It's okay, 'tou-san." You smiled at your fiance and he caught your gaze. Kyoujurou energetically waved his hand at you and his students looked giddy for their sensei as they teased him.

You waved back at him and blew him a kiss and Kyoujurou acted as if he caught it and that made Shinjurou gagged. "Okay, I told you what I want to say, now I'm leaving."

You smile up at your future father-in-law. "Thank you for granting us your blessings, Otou-san."

He stopped and gave you a look. "You paid your arm for it." He left like that, and he's not even cool when doing it.

Senjurou bowed to his father before raising his tray of tea at you with he brightest smile. "Onee-san, I brought more tea!"

"Great! I'll call them." You struggled to raise yourself up from your cushion and Senjurou was quick to stop you. "I'll go get them! It's okay, just sit there okay?"

You gave him a thankful look and sigh in lazy relief in your seat. "Okay."

The engawa was filled with laughter and it made you smile. Soon, your child would join them too.

Kyoujurou rubbed your stomach with his hand, his head leaning against yours. The arm around your back squeezed as you felt more of your fiance.

"Otou-san thanked me for saving your ass back then." You broke the serene air between you two and your fiance laughed loudly at your use of word.

"I do have a hot piece of ass." He remarked and you teared up at tha, and nodded with him. "Yes, you do. I want to grab it but I lost my hand you see?"

The both of you shared a look before you two started giggling.
"I'm sorry sunshine," he pointed at his missing iris, a dumb grin on his face. "But eye can't see."

Two rambunctious set of laughter silenced the students talking - and they watched as you two hunched your backs wheezing for air before chortling again.

"Are they always like this?" One of Kyoujurou's student asked Senjurou with a whisper, and the young Rengoku sweat dropped.

They haven't heard you two talk when you two thought you're alone.

Senjurou shuddered in trauma. "This is the tamest conversation they have."

The students understood not to question more about their sensei's personal life.

Gyomei

-He'll ask you to repeat that.

-Yes, he's blind not deaf; but he still can't believe those words that reached his ears.

-He will then ask if you're fine with it, and the sobbing coming from you answered that you're not. He'd get shock if you hug him and cry your eyes out - but he'll comfort you anyways.

-He'll sing you Shintoist-Buddhist prayers, and while it sounds weird in concept; his deep voice resonated well with the song and it didn't fail to make you calm.

-You'd stay in his arms even after you cried your heart out, and you'd find peace in his voice.

-Gyomei will ask if you want to pray with him after. Especially for the Gods to help you think through these trying times.

-You would, and he's happy to have you besides him.

-When he heard the news that you broke up with your spouse, he will thank the gods as much as he would congratulate you for being smart about it.

-He has other things to express and he doesn't feel strongly for you since he has more important priorities - so he expected that you'll find your way through the path of recovery.

-Gyomei did not expected that you'd end up following after him and his schedule despite being a busy hashira yourself.

-You'd be training with him, doing chores - be present in his preaches and teaching other slayers, and of course; visiting the town's orphanage.

-He always has a soft spot for kids, and listening to the children interact with you and you using your baby voice on them makes him weirdly warm and fluffy inside.

-This man doesn't know what'll hit him and he find it harder and harder for him to be with you with each passing day that's slowly overwhelmed with your presence.

-Gyomei will actually stay silent throughout your confession towards him and he doesn't know what made you like him in such a way. (He will admit that it's flattering, still he's just as confused.)

-He will be reluctant, but he will give you two guys a shot because it's really hard to turn down a heartfelt confession.

-Best decision in his life.

-Who knew how soft your skin is against his rough ones and how silky your hair weaves through his fingers?

-Gyomei melts if you put your hands on his face or if you'll let him touch yours.

-He loves it when you lay atop on him or just push your weight on him. It reminds him your presence and he thinks this is what drugs must've felt like: it's addicting.

-He loves your voice. He loves listening to it, and when he's teaching you chants and prayers - he will always find himself looking at your direction with a soft smile on his face.

-Yes, he's into chains; it only took you to be submissive with him. Just saying.

-How the holy has fallen.

-Bonus: "You almost died." You hugged the girl on your frame as you hauled her up from the railing.

She cried and limp against your hold that you ended up embracing her to comfort by the red bridge.

"You're so young," you whispered and rubbed her back. "You shouldn't waste your life away."

"My life isn't worth it!" She punched you weakly and you hugged her more tightly because of that. "It does. You are."

"No, no..." the young teen sobbed harder and you hoped that Gyomei will take notice of your absence and look for you.

He knows what to do when it comes to this. "It's okay, it's going to be okay alright? Believe me." You murmured to her with hope that she knows you meant your words.

You were like her once upon a time, she just need someone to remind her how great it is to live.

"(Name)?" Gyomei asked, his hand cuppes your shoulder as he crouched besides you. "What happened?"

You felt the girl grow rigid in your arms and cling unto you, burying her face in your chest as she shakes in what you can assume as fear.

"She... almost took her life." You whispered, and Gyomei gave the girl a pitying look.

"Let us take her back to the temple."

The girl shook her head and you asked her why but she refused to speak. You're confused, but you touched Gyomei on the arm and silently wrote to walk a meter away between you two - preferably on her back.

He gave at you a confused gaze but followed suit. The moment he did, the girl sigh through her mouth and weakened her grip on you.

"You know him, right?"

She nodded weakly and you asked if she wanted to talk.

"I almost got him killed... I framed him... and..." The girl inhaled a shaky breathe before crying harder and you hush her with a soothing lullaby Gyomei play with his shakuhachi.

"He told me about you." You patted the girl's head. "Sayo-san, right?"

She was unresponsive but you continued on in hopes she's listening to you. "He told me he understands why you did that." You whispered to her in a soothing voice - one that is reserved for a mother to her daughter.

"You were just a child back then, and you were afraid." You feel her shaking again and it worries you more. "But he told me that if it weren't for you, he wouldn't have known his true potential."

She pushed herself from you and you ignored the coldness that drenched in your damp front. The teen looked at you with pain in her eyes and you dried them carefully with your haori.

"Onee-san... does he..." you gave her a comforting smile and gave Gyomei a cue to walk closer.

"You have to ask him yourself." Sayo eyes widened when Gyomei appeared behind her and the tear works returned as her face flushed red with shame and repentance.

"Aniki... I'm s-sorry... for everything. I didn't meant - I was afraid to talk. I'm sorry." She tried her best to talk coherently, but her shaking and hiccups made them indescribable.

But she apologize as clear as the night and that was enough for Gyomei to understand as he teared up.

"Sayo. I've already forgiven you."
He puts a hand above her head and patted her. "You only have to forgive yourself."

The girl cried and cling unto his happi, and he cried with her as he comforted her the way you did.

You smiled at the two with an ounce of relief washing your soul l, and left to give them their privacy.

At least that's one regret washed by the river.

The walk to the temple was silent and you two ended up doing your own routine before bed.

You were waiting for him by your shared futon, and you felt Gyomei sat behind you as he wrapped his arm around your frame, nestling his nose against your shoulder and holding you close.

You held unto his arms tightly and kissed what you can reach. There was no need for explanation, just the comfort of silence as the two of you share the solemnity of the night's wind and the crickets' songs.

You felt a bead of warmth trail down your shoulder.

"Thank you." He whispered in a relieved yet broken voice.

You turned your body around and wrapped your arms around his neck before pulling him into a passionate kiss that promises a loving night.

Muichirou

-He saw through it, he knew and called it - and he believes your confession much to his better judgement.

-He would merely put a hand on your head and pet you, and it was cue for you to breakdown as you grabbed unto him and cried your eyes out.

-He's not really touchy-feely or wordy-wordy so his way to comfort you was like Giyuu's; be there for you throughout it all.

-Muichirou's looking at you down with lidded eyes and put his chin on your head as he pets your back. He may look apathetic and act like that but secretly, he's mutilating your spouse in his mind.

-"Love made you stupider that you didn't even saw how obvious it was. I warned you, but you didn't believe me. Your ignorance made you reap what you sow."

-You will low-key cry harder and he will feel just a bit (lots) of guilt for saying that. But he's all about tough love and blunt words so suffer through it because he wants you to be strong enough to handle the truth.

-You broke up with your spouse? He'd give you a thumbs up at best and returns to his pile of cats watching the sky with him. Don't worry, he'll invite you.

-Muichirou is like a ghost in your recovery. You know he's there watching you but if you look for him, he's not there. He observes your recovery and will be there if you need him - just, only if you truly needed him.

-He's a different person out in public and behind quarters, so expect him not all that present when you're with others.

-Muichirou did his best to comfort you by bumping unto you and putting some of your favorite treats in your pocket. It's just his way of saying "get well soon".

-He's secretly glad and happy for you if you truly did move on from that event. Just don't expect him to show it other than his way of putting a thumb's up.

-Seriously, you know the guy's full of emotions somehow, so you'd be the one courting him to soften him up.

-Muichirou's actually easy to give in with his affection for you, just not when others are around.

-Soft kisses, heartfelt promises and sleeping in each other's arms felt the best with him.

-You'd be lucky enough to stay awake and hear him say "I love you" before falling asleep.

-Bonus: "I never knew you like cats?" You swooned at the piles of feline laying around and atop of him and only Muichirou's face is exposed as he stared dully in the ceiling.

"I'm cat-sitting Mitsuri-san's and Gyomei-san's cats." He patted the space besides him and you laid down - and almost as quick, some of the felines gravitated towards you.

You squealed and rubbed their fine coat, silently screaming when they started rubbing against you "They're so many!"

"Some stray cats joined my blanket." You laughed at his dead reply and you're tempted to dry your face with the friendly cats. "Why am I not surprise."

All of a sudden, Muichirou pulled the cats away from you one by one before he scooted closer and wrapped around an arm on your waist.

He put his head on your chest and he smiled to himself when he felt how fast your heart beat was under him.

"This is fun."

For him, maybe. 

You feel as if you're going to explode with his hands groping you like that.

Obanai

-He will hiss and disappear so quickly you won't see him until tomorrow.

-News in town, your spouse is beaten almost to death and you know who's the offender is.

-New bandages on his knuckles, you knew it has to be Obanai and when confronted; he'll snap at you.

-"You think I'll let you get hurt like that? That scum doesn't deserve being reborn a human in his next life."

-He doesn't expect you to understand why he did that. He acted on his whims so he's not going to be all cowardly about it now.

-You told him that you already broke up with the toxic man and Obanai shouldn't have done that and should've let you finished your explanation instead.

-"Oh."

-Obanai's personality will somber down to embarrassment and shame at that. He's not gonna show it, but the way his eyes glances down whenever you look at him gives it away.

-He will try his best to show you he's sorry by simply following you around and helping you with small menial tasks but never say that word to your face because pride.

-He will appear out of nowhere and give you something before walking away.

-It's an omamori. It looks handmade, but the golden kanji embroidered on the pink charm is enough to make you blush.

-"En-musubi." You followed each stroke and you kept that charm with you all the time.

-Obanai will actively seek you out through your recovery, and his eyes will wonder on you as if looking for something; only to look smug if he sees his charm on you.

-He's just himself, but clingier and more up front with his emotions than usual. Not in public - more when you two are just together.

-He actually kind of haunt you down wherever you may go and when you're alone in somewhere private - he will be unashamed to lean on you or watch you from afar.

-Though, you two never became official despite acting like couples behind scenes.

-People just assumed your relationship because you two are seen together all the time.

-While he believes you deserve to be his and you deserved him just as much - he thinks he's not pure enough for your love.

-Every night, he goes to a well-known shrine and pray for the two of you being together in the future.

-Doesn't matter if you two will be reborn as animals. To him, as long as you're together in the end.

-He prayed the hardest that you'll still find love with each other in the next life.

-Lately, you join him with his prayers.

-Your understanding towards both of your situation and your very presence in this shrine made him fall in love even more.

-Bonus: Mitsuri kept talking to you that you two should marry, like she would handle the financials just please, she wants to be an auntie.

She have been playing matchmakers for you two for YEARS and just stopped because you started dating someone else. 
So, are you seriously going to think she won't stop just because her OTP became canon? No. Seal the deal and make babies for her, please.

Obanai will disappear from that talk with a beet red face, and you would upright tell her you two aren't ready for something like that. 

Have a sad Mitsuri drinking milk like alcohol with Shinobu as her therapist. (Shinobu did it for the juicy secrets Mitsuri tells her. You  tend to overshare with your BFF.)

"You know, I understand what made you think of us like that." You spoke, grasping his cold ones in your own as you sat besides him on the tree branch. Obanai squeezed on your fingers tightly, but he didn't turn his head at you but merely stared at the sky in silence.

The stars were littered like sparkling dusts against dark velvet, and it reminds you of the story of Hoshi Matsuri. "You know, Orihime and Hikoboshi are still together and they love each other in their own way.

I think, we are like that. I'm just happy to be with you." You shot him a smile, and the way he brought your hand on his bandaged lips - you know he understands too.

The both of you don't need words to show your affection. 

Tengen

-He have three wives, and even if his eyes lingers to another woman he never would dream of touching them. He's very loyal despite what others think.

-So, when you busted in his household and cried in the girls' arms - he felt as if he should be there to comfort you, seeing that you're his wives' self-proclaimed little sister.

-Suma held unto you and cried with you as she wailed how unfair your spouse was for doing you dirty and Makio and Hinatsuru shared a look that says someone will be dying tonight.

-Tengen is not stopping them.

-He really did not have anything to do or even have the time to comfort you. (Suma did that for him), but he acted as the logic and heart in the group and rather give you words of wisdom.

-"You'll find yourself in these trying times - if a man failed to justify why he did that, then he failed as a man."
-"You're better than what you think, we all think of that. I hope you'll realize you're not replaceable and they were acting stupid to even do that to you."

-You stayed in their house and became alive despite the whole hurtful things that you've gone through - seeing you smile and be happy makes Tengen and the girls smile and be happy too.

-You sleep with all of them - not in a dirty way, but you cuddled with all of them with you in the middle. You look precious in that image.

-The girls all found themselves on your side in the morning rather than in Tengen's arms. He's kind of disappointed you weren't in his.

-You came home to tell them you beat the shit out of your spouse and dragged them to hell that the women celebrated with sake - almost forgetting their duty to make food.

-You helped them through their chores and they're amazed at how fast you prepared for them. You finish the work load of three in just an hour but they guess being the fastest pillar did attribute outside of your title.

-You were actually strong in your recovery and that's all thanks to the girls and Tengen. You even became a better person through it since you became more confident!

-You literally lived in the Uzui household after beating your ex to pulp.

-Tengen learned how precious you truly are. He always thought that his wives are just lonely and wanted children and you acted childish for them to enjoy the wholesome pretending but your height doesn't justify how big of a person you are.

-You are actually fun to be with. You even entertain him with random stories and play shogi with him - even you can defeat him in mock battles.

-When he retired as a slayer, he really missed hanging out with you. Whenever you come home - the girls will just surround you. He will be there but he will just listen and laugh at the conversation going on rather than joining it.

-One night, you confessed to them that you're romantically interested in all of them. Suma, Makio and Hinatsuru quickly looked at him pleadingly and he couldn't help but also be giddy about it.

-Very good polygamy sex happened. He never knew things like ***** exists and he's thankful of how kinky you are. (He's kinky by all means but you took the reigns.)

-Tengen... did not expect that you will become the new pants in this relationship.

-Yes, they all married you and the celebration matches Tengen's name and all that, but Suma, Makio and Hinatusuru were sure Tengen will still be the head man.

-Hahaha, uno card.

-Tengen's now your wife, and his wives are your wives, and frankly enough he's not complaining. 

-It's good to be the one smothered with affection this time around.

-He will subtly admit that you're more flamboyant than him and he will remind you that everyday with him kissing your knuckles like some prince charming.

-Bonus: "Are you going?" Tengen asked, careful not to wake the wives up as he walked towards you fixing yourself up.

"Yeah." You put on your uniform and started buttoning it on your frame. The kanji on your back reminds him of the days where he used to fight with you - those were the good times he can only relive in his memories.

"Return to us safe, okay?" Tengen helped you put on your haori as if it was second nature, and you grinned at him with a promise. "Of course."

You reached up and he bended down for you, your hand rubbed his left cheek just under his eye patch and he sighed at your tender touch.

"Take good care of yourself and keep an eye out with objects you might bump to on your left. You keep doing that." He chuckled at your concern and nodded.

"And make sure Suma drinks plenty of water because I don't want her to feel light headed from being dehydrated. Also, keep Makio from slapping Suma and make sure to prepare her afternoon tea with the right amount of honey I taught you, and watch for Hinatsuru so that she won't overwork herself."

Tengen cupped your face and kissed your forehead. "Make us proud."

You grinned up at him and look at him with one of your rare stare that made him shiver from the love illuminating in your eyes.

"I will." A kiss good night was enough of a statement you'll return.

And when you did, the Uzui household celebrated with triple news that made you almost choke in your sake.

First, Tengen started overseeing the training of demon slayers and brief them with his experience and own training style. It's good as long as he won't over exert himself.

Second, you brought home news of having a tsuguko and everyone was glad to hear that and they want to meet your student, of course!

Third, Makio, Suma and Hinatsuru lined up in front of you and grabbed their stomach in a sync you know they practiced. "We're pregnant!"

You spat your drink towards Tengen and he looks down at you with pursed lips and asked why.

"You three? The same time?!" You coughed and you can't believe your ears.

"Yes! Isn't that amazing?" Suma sniffled and you glared when Makio was about to slap her from being too emotional. Makio laughed nervously before grinning and patting her belly. "We're three months in - awesome, right?"

"I'm already making linen for the babies' diapers." That's so Hinatsuru.

You put your hands on your lips and cried. "I'm going to quit my work to look at you four pregnant babies."

"I'm not pregnant." You hushed Tengen and grabbed the cushion under your butt and put it inside his aqua yukata before covering him up and patted his stomach. "Now you are."

"You don't have to quit being a pillar, we can handle ourselves!" Makio looked at you with disbelief. "They need you."

"Well not as much as we do." Suma chimed in and Makio shot her a glare that made her cry. "(Name), Tengen! She's looking at me again!"

"(Name) wouldn't worry if you two don't act like children." Hinatsuru sighed before looking at you with seriousness in her eyes. "We can take of ourselves, and Tengen is with us."

"But I want to take care of you four and of our babies to be." You sobbed and pouted on your food.

Because of an injury you sustained in battle, you can't have a child so just knowing you'll have three with your wives makes you pumped up so much that you want to be there every step of the way.

"We can talk to Oyakata-sama and tell him you'd be helping me with training the students. That way, we can have all spend our time together."

You looked at Tengen with a baffled expression and cried. "Sometimes I keep forgetting you are the man, man."

You patted on his cushioned-stomach. "Hope our baby have your brains."

His wives giggled at him teasingly and as much as he loves you four, sometimes you're all too much for him.

You and Tengen became best dads and your wives best moms.

-Bonus-Bonus because I love writing about Tengen and his wives:

Not one of the babies looked like Tengen and you keep teasing how weak his pp is. "I swear if you can get pregnant I'll make you shut up."

"Hahaha you can still try." He didn't even wait for tonight.

Surprise bitch.

You got pregnant because miracles happen and the wives were all so happy and so proud they threw another celebration.

They made morning sickness and labor so fucking easy that it felt like their pain was all given to you.

And when the day came, you were glad that the pain became less painful.

You're happy that it's all over and you can hear the wives cheer as you closed your eyes from being tired.

Of course, the midwives are confused who to give the baby after the wives argue they will hold your son for you, and while Suma and Makio argues whose going to hold lil' buster first - you looked at your with son with tired eyes.

You gave birth to a child that looks like Tengen. Your words are bitter in your content heart.

"I feel so relieved, but also feel betrayed so much."

Your husband chuckled before kissing your hand. He gave you a smug grin when you glared at him in your sweat-drenched bed. "Told you."

You groaned at him and weakly slap his face as you felt the midwives cleaning your below. "Flamboyant king of shit, shut up."

"LET ME HOLD TENTEN FIRST." Makio screamed and Suma shook her head. "NO, IT'S TENRO!"

"Lovelies, I can name my own son." You wheezed and you regretted it when you felt pain cling unto your spine. "I'm naming him Itami for bringing me pain of joy."

Tengen looked at you with 'no' in his eye. "(Genderbend name) is a good one."

"Shut up, Tenshit." 

"I need help with the babies." Hinatsuru shouted in the chaos.

Chapter Text

"Of all things real, I found that our love was the truest of them all."

He was still just a wandering demon when he first saw you.

You never struck him as someone that could appear time and time again in his life - you were beautiful yes, but you were just another passing soul, another human.

Muzan would've never thought that your string of fate would be tied with his, and they were tangled in a messy knot that took centuries to unveil.

Perhaps he knew that deep in himself that you were important - and your continuous reoccurrance in his life reminds him so, yet he willingly played dumb from such obvious picture that whenever he looks at you, he wanted nothing more but to travel back in the past to save you from the life you've had.

He will take this feeling until his next life; but he regretted not saving you once, but twice in your lifetime.

At first, it was winter.

You were being carried off to a palanquin by men dressed in white, followed by monks playing the fluid airy song of their shakuhachi with the rhythm of their march. They were being guided by the head priest sitting gracefully atop a high horse being pulled by a young man - the old priest chanting Shinto prayers that boomed over the villagers' voices and waving his staff with the golden ornaments dangling with a crinkle of its bells.

It was not his first time to see these kinds of processions, as they are frequent in his travels - but Muzan tipped his straw kasa just enough to look at the woman being carried in such a stylish palanquin.

And he watched with interest at the person he saw.

You were the embodiment of innocence and stillness. Someone young, and a flower partly bloomed in a valley of white. You weren't old enough to marry – but you were near the age.

Your whole face was an illustration. Any expose skin was covered in rice powder. Eyebrows drawn in beady beaut, and it was painted by an artisan's fingers. Your lips were tinted with a bloody red that shines with the grey sun, and were brushed to make you look like you're smiling even if you're not.

You might've been a daimyo's daughter, with a noble face like that. Even under the thickness that covers your real visage – he knows that you were beautiful with the shape of your face.

The farmers whispered their disappointment at the sight of you, the wives gossiped their envy. The children merely pointed at you with interest and questions that were quiet by those older than them, and the old shook their heads and pitied your fate.

Amidst the loud chatters, you did not give the peering crowd the luxury of a glance.

You had your eyes drawn dutifully on your lap. Those pair of orbs were captivating, saddened, but they were wide with purpose. They shined with unspoken duty, even without the sun's full rays to illuminate them.

They were the most notable feature you had that he remembered; (color) eyes that rivaled the beauty of rainbow chrysanthemums he once saw in a crazed painting.

You looked like a doll sitting so still like that, and you dressed all in white like the snow around you. You were missing a husband on your side - but everyone knew you were not to be wed.

You were a sacrifice.

It wasn't an uncommon practice to offer a maiden when in face of difficulties, the people in this land took it upon themselves to do such when cornered.

Muzan was just a passerby with no idea of why you're going to be immolated or buried - but he knew it has to do with the people falling one by one from a 'plague' that he knew too well. He had known it deep inside that he was at fault to have your beauty be wasted - but did he care?

Not at that time, no.

Like what any passerby's would do – he ignored the business he doesn't feel concerned with.

He walked the direction opposites to your palanquin with his kasa shadowing his face. The rhythm and the melody that waved with your presence slowly became quiet the more he put distance between you two, until your procession became just a dot behind his back.

He easily forget the grief on your face as he continued his journey in this icy trundra, and Muzan subtly recalls your first meeting as freezing as the hail that steals the warmth from his breathe.

The second time, it was summer.

He already had demons supporting his back, and he was cultivating them in the dark with number and strength. Muzan was just looking for a title to call themselves, something that sounds peculiar enough to satisfy his interest.

And he found himself walking down the lively night of a pleasure city, most notably known as the "heaven of Edo" out of wonder than intent.

The name has been thrown around in the air with luxury and promise, and he was traveling close to the place so he thought that he might as well look into it.

There, he found the title of such a city so ironic yet befitting since the place was full of sin but a heaven to mortals.

Women selling themselves for the joy of men - men with blood in their hands paying ill contained coins to fund such establishments – it was a cycle of greed and lust only humans are capable of displaying so anticlimactically proud.

The air reeks of disgusting love, a whiff of strong opium and cheap and expensive sake alike. It was also filled with rambunctious laughter and forced giggles that irritated his ears, alongside the geishas' calling for costumers behind wooden bars with samurai watching them like starved wolves.

He plans to leave after his curiosity was satisfied - that was the plan, but the moment he left the pleasure house - he saw you exiting another.

You were holding unto a man's arm – tight in respect, but not as devoted. Your head was bowed down like the time the two of you met.

You were still covered in white, your eyebrows and lips still painted – but this time, your eyelids are too with a blush of orange and streak of red. Your hair is no longer hidden in a white veil but rather, fixed up in such a delicate weave that made you no special than most wandering geiko around this place. It's Ofuku. If he isn't mistaken, and he found himself slightly wondering who was the man lucky enough to be your danna.

From a sacrifice, to a woman of pleasure - he realized how degrading that was for you.

Especially observing that this place did not treat you well. Your hikizuri looked too plain compared to the others, the kanzashi clipped on your hair weren't even as captivating to catch his interest.

Your attire and extravagant make-up did not give justice to the beauty under that layer, and he frowned as he stared at you chat with the man besides you.

Muzan thought before that you might be the girl he saw in that palanquin - because the resemblance is too much: it's you from the head to toe, even the scent of you and aura you carries feels the same.

Yet, he hasn't age even a bit even with the a hundred of years that passed. It's impossible that you would too.

The demon knows it isn't you, even as hard as he thinks of it that it is you; since your eyes were shinning like the bow that visits the sky after a rain, and those (color) pools mirrored the saddened duty he saw in that palanquin.

Muzan stopped on his track as he watched your painted lips raised slightly in reply to the man you were holding on - your attention still on the ground when you did, and he found that mildly interesting.

He observed you with a leer, body prompting to follow you - but he found himself above the likes of you until he is no longer staring at your person, but a crowd of men overlooking women in such a dreary street.

But despite that, he wasn't disappointed. Muzan took note of the embodied pattern on your obi.

Crescent moons.

He closed his eyes and decided that he would call his army by demon moons.

Spring.

He was in a supposed "business trip" far from his quack 'family'. He was leaning on the frames of the steam boat as it swayed with the gush of water trickling his ears.

His pants felt rained by the splash of the machine below him, and it's usually wise to watch the view on the front deck rather than the back - but he was drawn here for a reason he doesn't know, but a feeling that he wanted to be left alone.

The moon shines in a yellowed haze, sharing its ethereal glow with the clouds around it. The city has always been bright at night to the point stars cannot be seen, and steam made their way to dirty the sky with their huffs.

Yet, to him it's endearing.

To live long enough to see this is endearing.

He closed his eyes and sigh through his nose, the warmth leaving him just as easily it came back from him rubbing his hands and blowing into it. Despite turning into a demon, he could not easily shrug off the simple habits he got used to living as a human.

He found it as rustic and useless, yet he find himself doing it from time to time and he would always be late to realize it like now. He furrowed his eyebrows at his hands, but nonetheless, he returned in observing the likes of this human world.

He felt old, but not his body but his mind and it made him tired in a way he craved for excitement. He inhaled again, out of spite in his own musing, and the damp scent of a swamp from the rive overwhelmed him with a frown until he stopped at a familiar scent he thought he'd forgotten decades ago.

Muzan sniffed towards a direction of that distant lily before opening his eyes to see you there; standing and leaning against the rails like he is.

But one of your gloved hand was outstretched, holding unto a white kerchief unmoving except when there's a gust in the wind that blew past by.

Your face wasn't painted any longer, and he smirked proudly to himself that was right: you are more beautiful without the rice powder on your skin or the crimson paste on your lips.

You were plain, but that held more of your enchanting picture.

Your beauty shines through and through, and he thought of how captivating you looked in a western attire - the dressed hugged your frame charming in ways only unique to you, and he took note of how your eyes are no longer drawn on the floor but on the sky.

Those (color) pools shined with the moon with shared illuminated loneliness, and he felt his breathing slowed as he finds himself feeling conflicted with the nostalgia that spur in his stomach.

It's been centuries since he last saw you, and you always look so young and beautiful every time you appear. Maybe even more as you mature just slightly before his reminisce.

The city has grown silent around you and the machine still roars it peddle below him. Yet, you haven't moved an inch from your position. It has been hours that you stayed like that, and he found amusement in your patience.

You've been so patient in your past lives that it made him wonder why you kept such a destructive attribute even in your rebirth - but he found that as alluring as your whole person presented before him.

He watched you in the shadows, just enough for his mind to wander around the topic of how you kept appearing before him. It's an alien thought for the demon lord to muse over such a stranger like yourself, but you captivate him in ways that he failed to realize before.

He could've made you like a demon out of amusement and erase your memories, try to play you in ways that he wanted to - but he realized that it would take the fun of truly knowing who you are, if you still remember those pasts you've had.

A harsh, rough wind blew against you two - but you looked unbothered by it even when your pinned hair gave way and danced around you. Despite Muzan's lack of humane senses - he knew it was getting cold for comfort.

He may not be a real gentleman, but he will do this one time to entertain his building interest of you. They say you can trap a butterfly with nectar more than a hidden web would – and he plans to do just that in order to entertain himself for the night.

Muzan walked out of the shadows of the darkness that stilled his place in this vessel, and your eyes glanced at his direction with a flutter that made them still his beating soul.

He did not stop even when he noticed how serene those (color) pools are, egging him to stay and just watch like he did years before. But with each step he takes, he found himself growing closer to you in ways that it made him feel weird yet nostalgic that it calms his soul at the same time fastens it.

Even if he could be a stranger that may prove harm to you, you waited for him like you're the nectar and he's the butterfly - and he stopped when he realized that. He looked conflicted, but you did not comment on it.

Awkwardly, (something he never thought he would feel until you) he leaned on the railings just a hand away from your frame. He found himself amused when you did not shy or scooted away.

"Evening." You spoke with an accent that isn't Japanese, and yet your words sound just as bland as the evolving language.

He bowed his head, out of courtesy and he took note of the strange way you bowed back - hands lifting your skirt up by your waist as your knees bended with your head down at him. It was strange, but it was something that he thought that fits you.

You two fell silent just observing each other, before your eyes found themselves more interested in the sky than him.

You stayed still on your place despite the rather boring introduction and he wondered why you haven't move away. Do you find him as interesting as he does to you? Or maybe you are doing this out of courtesy?

He does know something; he felt insulted when you stared at the sky rather than him. when he could stare at you for hours.

Muzan's red eyes gazed at you, and you caught it, turning your head slightly to face him. You gave him a forced smile that seems to be unnatural on your lips, and that smile washed him with a nostalgia that hit his nerves

It was the same painted smile that he remembers in the past, and that made him frown ever more slightly.

"Are you not cold?" He broke his thought, and you returned your gaze to the sky in reply. "I feel cold, but I am not bothered by it."

The first memory of you played in his mind and he wonders if deep in your unconscious you know the reason why. Your eyes curled, not for him, but for the moon. "How about you, good sir?"

"Are you not afraid of a man approaching you in the dead of the night?" His words came out harsh rather than charming, and he didn't answer your question. But you didn't react strongly against his tone.

Instead, you smiled; and it was that same smile returned – making his patience thinner than before.

You took your glove away and raised your left hand towards the moon in reply to his inquiry. Muzan's eyes caught the low glint if gold shining coldly around your finger. It looked a size too big but still, you admire it with just cold, materialistic appreciation that doesn't reach your heart.

"I have no longer fear men more than I have with my husband."

The time he saw you back in the district of pleasure trailed in his mind like a misted show. He felt something akin to pity and sympathy for you – but he cannot grasp the concept why.

Life must have been cruel to you, to have you be reborn in a life that never once treated you right, even if you try smiling at it with acceptance. He has limits with his patience, and if he had gone through the same pain as you, he would be scorning to the world instead of beaming at it.

But looking at you, you don't seem to be bothered at it. As if, you are so used with the pain that it never once crossed your mind how wrong life has been treating you all this time.

Muzan's gaze scanned your apathetic expression, and his eyebrows furrowed at how empty your eyes are compared to before. The way you stared into your ring wasn't as bright as the past when you were staring at the ground, or as endearing as the moment you were looking into the moon.

They looked stagnant, lonely, and he could feel them with how his fingers twitch at the thought of closing them with a kiss.

Another strong wind flew you two, but this time you grabbed unto your hair. Your body shuddered from the cold, and yet your expression stayed still. He found himself musing that he'd rather have you smiling so blankly on the sky than look so dead with your eyes.

It bothers him.

"Your husband might've been a charming man." Was all Muzan could say as he shrugs off his coat and put it around your shoulders.

He plans to leave you alone after that, knowing well he stepped on a boundary he doesn't want to invest with too much of these human emotions that flood his senses - but he halted, and he noticed how your eyes widened for the first time with glee.

Your gaze on him softened the moment he bestowed you his coat, and his soul stuttered from the way your smile swelled up to your cheeks until they reached those (color) orbs – shining like the sun, twinkling like the stars.

For once, they reflected something he shouldn't feel for years, and it was one that made him stay.

Muzan bended an arm behind his back and he tightened his fist as he controls himself from wanting you, but the more he stares into those overwhelming (color) gems – the more he realizes how it seems fruitless to fight against it.

"You are more charming than him." You teased, closing your eyes with your pale lips grinning ever so full for him.

And he found himself not walking away this time.

___

You watched as the trees change their colors, and your body changed with it too.

The seasons change and you felt them more than before.

You let out a wispy sigh and watched how the white breath disappear by the lamps light as you pulled his coat closer around your frame.

Hands that weren't yours grazed your stomach with a touch so tender it cupped your heart as well - and the long, thick fingers comforted the child in you in circles as you felt butterflies flutter on your neck.

"I see you're watching nature again." Muzan whispered, warm breath tickling your ear as he kissed them with a tender peck, holding you close against his chest as he held your hand with his, and the other laid atop your stomach.

"The color reminds me of your eyes." You admitted with a soft murmur, orbs shining happily when he squeezed your fingers, before they slowly intertwined with his. "Do you think our child will have your eyes?"

You felt his hum, and it never sounded so warm to the point the autumn's air felt more but just an aftertaste of a summer's night.

"I'm hoping they have yours." You giggled at his playful kisses on your temple and Muzan relished at the honest joy in them.

You turned your head to kiss him properly; your lips molding perfectly against his own as the two of you cherished the darkness in each other's arms.

His soul twirled in a blissed agony, drunk with the pleasure of your love.

Muzan often wonders how you make him feel so human despite you knowing he isn't, and how you still accepted him even when he's not what he seems to be. But oddly enough, that made him fall even harder for you.

He often jokes at what kind of dark arts you peddled to make him fall for you and you would say that it's as simple as love. He would always scorn at that lazy answer, but if love is a curse that felt so true as it is soothing - then perhaps he could live with this. He can easily accept this than the first curse he carries.

After you birth his child, you will stay by his side as his immortal queen. One day, he will make your child immortal too, and the three of you will be a family. One that will fight the odds against life – one that he knows he'd protect with all his own. It was an act of repentance, for him and for you. He thinks that maybe his sin will be forgiven if only the gods know how true his devotion and love that keeps growing with you by his side.

But even if they didn't, he's just happy to live a life tasting the chances that slipped by his fingers. A chance that keeps returning to him, and never once disappointed him with just a look in your eyes that accepted him as much as you love him.

The sound of your heart beat, the feel of your skin and the sound of your voice... it will never be his as much as the words you whispered to his lips full and true: "Aishiteru yo."

And it was more than enough for him to find the person that he strives to never leave alone again.

Your eyes found his and that color he loves so much reflected the seasons that long pass with his humanity. He kissed them close and tuck your head under his jaw; inhaling the scent of you and he only smelled your love for him. 

Muzan breathed out an airy sigh, and he nuzzled your head. Arms tightening around you as his mind repeated a mantra prayed for you. "Aishiteru wa," he called your name, before tilting your head to look at him with those eyes he loved so much as he captured your lips again, and again.

Chapter Text

To pretend everything is fine made the field of lavender dry.

Guilt.

The arms wrapped around your waist felt as heavy as lead - but they are so warm, full of love and affection that you can't find the energy to push them away.

Apprehension.

His lips on your nape left a trail of wisps on your spine as you sighed out of content at the feel of them. They stayed there with a promise that melts your body into submission but your soul flickers in coldness.

Regret.

His scent shrouded over yours, overwhelming your mind with longing, making you feel that you truly belong to him and him alone. Those lavender that you love so much fills your lungs - making you forget the distant smell of sea.

It doesn't feel right.

Your eyes felt warm as your vision blurred. Your heart hurts, as if bricks are toppled on your chest with weight that shortens your breathe.

A lone tear fell on his arm below you and you felt them flinch. You quickly dried the gathered tears in your eyes, peeling yourself away from his molded warmth - but the fingers that were grazing your thigh wrapped around your waist and only pulled you closer.

And it makes you want to stay, just moment longer - in an escape you never thought you wanted.

Guilty pearls kept escaping your eyes, but the way he holds unto you - the way he tightened his arms around you; it's so tight, so protective. It's home.

You tasted more of your guilt as it falls more on the sheets. You wanted to stay; you really do.

But "I have to get home."

Your voice was always just a whisper in your farewells, and it made Sabito's heart break even harder than yours. He never wanted to hear it again - god knows he doesn't.

His arms went limp, and they laid there around your naked body with warmth that felt more colder as each second pass.

The moment your weight left his embrace, he grabbed your wrist; fingers squeezing tightly on you with desperation that stops your breath.

He called your name, and it never felt so right but broken at the same time as he plead. "Stay here with me."

You wanted to draw the blinds and lock the doors with his hopeless voice - but you can't. The weight on your finger made you more and more awake of who you truly belong to.

"He's waiting." You answered back, turning your head around to see him rousing from the bed.

Your gaze found his, and he stared back at you with desperation that makes your knees week and resolve weak. He raised his hand and cupped your face - they felt full, loving... you can't help but let a sob leave your lips as you buried your face on it.

His thumb swiped your tears away, but they were never enough to wipe the guilt away.

"Sabito..." The way you called his name wasn't as right as when you were under him, grasping his body as you chanted for his name like a mantra.

He grabbed your face and turned your gaze to him - his eyes determined but his brows begging. Your own answer was one of guilt and he showed it too - but he pulled you into a deep kiss that tampers the feeling down on the ground as he tried to make you melt against him the way he knows you like.

And you moaned, the sweet humming sound made him want more and more and he was so sure as he pushed his body against yours into the bed that you'd stay - but you pushed him away.

You didn't even look up at him, the arms that was on him just a second ago wrapped around yourself as you made your intention clear.

"I can't do this anymore."

And he felt his head light from sadness and his chest heavy.

His silence was unnerving. You felt rough fingers traced your arms and you sighed - making a mistake to glance up at him in moment of weakness.

Sabito gazes down at you with those lavender eyes, and you can't help but close yours when you felt his lips on your own - begging you once again to stay, just for him.

Stay. 

Don't leave.

Stay.

"No one knows." He pulled away, leaving that whisper on your lips as he started trailing down kisses on your neck - and as much as you want to wrap your hands around his, you stopped with a shaky resolve.

"He does." His lips stopped on your pulse, a second, another. They stopped and he hesitates. But you felt him nip on your skin with his teeth as if he doesn't hear what you've said.

You put your hands on his shoulders, pushing him away - but your fingers ended up curling in satisfaction when his hands grazed down your thighs.

Sabito laid you down and you forgot what you were even arguing for when you saw how much love and desire are projected in those lavender orbs.

He smiled down at you with so much affection that it made your heart halt its beat, and you kissed him, again and again - telling him that you're ready for more.

In his arms, with his lips on yours - his weight above your own felt so right, perfect. You wanted to stay.

A glint caught your closing eyes and you felt your blood ran cold as the metal shines with the city lights before you.

"Both of us know that this isn't right." You spoke loud, cold, that it finally made him stop. His eyes weren't lidded with desire the way they did before, but they curled into one of hurt and you felt your fingers growing cold on his shoulders.

"But I love you." He murmured with a crack in his voice, tears falling on your cheeks as they trailed down beside you. He leaned his forehead on yours and you hugged him desperately close to yourself.

"I love you too." You felt his arms slither below you and embraced you back - much tighter than before and it breaks your focus much more.

"But I have to go." Your throat felt tighter, you can feel your face morph into anguish - and you know his too, with so much of his tears falling with your own.

"Please." He pleaded, and you almost didn't hear him with how soft yet hopeless his deep voice was.

You feel his nails dig on your skin as he buried his threatening sob on your neck, breaking your heart further with much he tried to muffle his cry.

Sabito tries to persuade you, tries to justify your shared love - but even as he clings to your small frame tightly, he knows that this isn't right.

Still, he looks into your eyes with what little strength he has, and whispered these words that broke his heart even more; 

"Stay here with me. I promise I won't tell a soul."

Chapter Text

The day of the noble moon had come... and so is the insanity brought by the pillars.

Shinobu, (Name) and Mitsuri are sulking on their respective corners all huddled like kittens trying to out do each other by bending into weird angles as if they're all possessed.

The hashira men are pretty concerned with their coddled up position, but the most logical of them spoke up.

"If we asked them, Shinobu will throw something at us." Tengen stated, staring at the three changing positions by moving an inch from their place before they equally raised their legs up on the wall. "I propose we try copying them."

"Are you fucking mental?" Sanemi scoffed, gesturing at the three - whose now just laying on the floor horizontally and weirdly. They looked like corpses waiting to get buried, and they might as well be with how pale and dead their eyes are. "You're asking us to do those stunts?"

"I think it's cute and it would be fun!" Kyoujurou piped in, and no one wanted to question how the fuck looking like cadaver is cute.

He should blink more because Tengen and Sanemi are pretty sure Kyoujurou's vision is becoming shit and he's going to be blind one day just staring straight at the sun like he always does every morning.

"I know this." Obanai slithered in the conversation naturally and they all looked at him down.

Realizing that he's being dominated by sheer height, he kicked the Uzui by the nuts and the poor festival god gripped on them with a squeeze that'll save his future children. A lone tear rolled down his eye - smearing the eyeliner he had on as he sobbed.

"Why," Tengen breathed, but what he wanted to say was 'betrayal'.

Obanai just used the flamboyant hashira as a stepping stone and raised his hands like a messiah. "Listen to me you sad cherry boys."

"Mine's popped already." Sanemi grunted and Giyuu seemingly disappeared when the topic arose.  Kyoujurou was crouching down besides the dying Tengen and poked the man with his scabbard while cackling in amusement. "I'm pretty sure Tengen's cherry's popped too."

"I'm pretty sure that's a different kind of popped." Giyuu spoke up, and Tengen cried even harder at that. "Please do not talk more of my broken balls, please."

All of the guys easily caught on the pain and they snickered sadistically.

"Boobs." Sanemi chanted, followed by Kyoujurou with a weird ass smile that made him look like a perverted horse. "Vaginas."

"Titties." Obanai gripped the air and we're all pretty sure he's grabbing on something in his mind. Sanemi raised a finger before bumping his fist on his palm as if he thought of something legendary.

"Thighs and ass."

Kyoujurou and Obanai gasped at the same time, looking at Sanemi as if he was god and they started clapping like gentlemen that they are not.

Tengen wheezed. "My chinko cannot withstand this torture-" he kept crying on the floor with his face ruined like a geisha who was told she's ugly. He's pretty sure he's going senile after this.

Giyuu hold up his hand and they all ceased their excitement, and he spoke his sentence with utmost seriousness in his face.

"(Name)'s ankles."

Three dots appeared between all of them, before most the men gave Giyuu the most weird ass look a man of their stature can give to their enemy: the double chin stare.

Giyuu blinked at them and was about to explain why her ankles are hot, but the flamboyant daddy made a noise like a cat wailing to just die. "She sure has a pretty damn pair of ankles. Have you seen her feet?"

The water pillar instantly laid besides Tengen and the two have had a no-homo one-off stare.

All of a sudden, they both cried as they fist-bumped.

Kyoujurou scratched his head at the weird exchange, and Obanai wished he could kill these two.

"What the fuck is wrong with you." Sanemi hissed at them with an angry look and was this close to step on their head when he realized he'd rather save his energy judging them harshly instead. 

Giyuu looks up from the floor - quietly asking himself why was he even hanging out with people who can't understand him when he could just join the girls. 

At least they looked as depressed as him. Maybe Tengen could join them, because he's already pretty dead down there.

Obanai stepped down on the Giyuu's head and the sound hashira's temple as he balanced himself on their suffering to boost his (not so tall) height and kept his god-like posture.

He raised his hands higher this time, and some sock snakes fell from his sleeves and Kyoujurou ended up playing with them like a cat and Sanemi raised his eyebrows at Obanai because what the fuck.

Why the socks with eyes. Sanemi and Kaburamaru eyes met and they instantly agreed that they won't talk about it. Because who knows what these socks have been through.

Snake priest ignored the brotherly exchanged and continued on his holy mystery. "This is the anomaly all men fear. It is the time where the end of a precious life is sacrificed in the pain of a woman's dignity."

Mismatched eyes stared down at the fools before him. "It is the 'day' where blood replaced the ocean."

"That's some war." Giyuu spoke up, but again, he is ignored by Obanai making him kiss the floor.

"That's too poetic it means nothing to me." Kyoujurou laughed, now wearing the snake socks on his hair like hair pin with Kaburamaru looking at him with disgust in those sneyk eyes. Such disrespect. Such gull. Must die.

The flame pillar screeched when the albino sneyk jumped on his face and it suddenly became an underground ring fight between the two. 

Who would win? One slithery boi? Or crying big man?

Sanemi dropped a crumpled paper yen in Obanai's bowl and the snayke messiah did the same.

"Go get him! Show him the flames of you proud Rengoku!" No one knew how Shinjurou appeared like a ninja in this scene, but they're not complaining at the betting money growing tenfold. "Lose and bring dishonor to the family!"

"YEAH." Sanemi screamed loudly as they cheered on the flame daddy, and Kyoujurou felt as if he's so filled with energy all of the sudden and he grabbed unto Kaburamaru's slither slighter with victory.

"NO, MY BABY." Obanai screamed like a helicopter mother seeing their precious child dropping their pp, but he was stopped by Hotaru, who also suddenly appeared like some ninja since he also bet with Kyoujurou winning. 

"LET THEM FIGHT LIKE A MAN!" The swordsmith cried and Shinjurou and Sanemi followed after with a big loud 'Yeah!'

"What's happening?" Tengen asked as he stared at the wooden ceiling with an expression that says 'my balls were stolen and abandoned'.

Giyuu always look like that and he too, stared at the world with a a face that says 'I wish I'll have salmon daikon for dinner.'

Both men sighed at the chaos before them.

One brave boi appeared like a mist and came in the hashira whose gender is nothing but Muichirou and diva walked himself in the sacred room of femininity.

The boys stop their weird ass ceremony and caroled, "oooh'ed" at that because shit, that was some brave move, much respect.

"What the hell are you three doing." Muichirou overshadowed the three with a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

"It's one of those days." Mitsuri cried, tearing up so much that she felt something tear up down there too. "It's one of those days."

"My lower lips are spouting up lipsticks I've wasted in my lifetime." Shinobu complained as she gripped on her stomach.

"I feel achy and sore and not the sexy kind." (Name) stated as she dramatically dried her tears. "This is worse than dying."

"Death is better than this." Mitsuri gasped in pain as she held on a death grip at (Name's) hand.

"I am feel crying what is living give me purpose now." The (element) hashira choked on her tears and she was having a fit of hysteria because her salty disrespect for life made her regret even breathing water instead of air.

Mitsuri slapped (Name)'s chest and the coughing stopped. "I think..." the (color)-haired girl look down at her front. "My boobies got inflated."

Mitsuri cried at that. "My vagina is too."

"Bitches." Shinobu let a lone tear fall on the ground. "My whole body felt flat."

(Name) and Mitsuri have a world shaking moment at her words as the two of them nodded so aggressively it's a wonder how they still have their head.

"Oh." Muichirou looked at the three of them with an apprehensive expression. Before joining them on the ground and putting his hand on his stomach before he raised his legs on the wall.

"I feel your endless pain." Shinobu suddenly grabbed on Muichirou's stomach and gripped it tightly - and he squeaked so much he fainted.

Shinobu then teared up. "Now he does."

Mitsuri and (Name) prayed for their loss sister and cried. "Amen."

How the mighty Muichirou have fallen in the hands of periodT.

"I can blow the air back in your bewbs, (Name)" Shinobu suddenly propped and Mitsuri shot up from the floor at the idea, before returning to the floor with a disappointed look. "Boobies doesn't work like Temari balls."

(Name) already had her uniform unbuttoned down and all men suddenly peeked in the room with more interest.

"I am willing to do an experiment." She spoke in a broken voice that Mitsuri have to pushed her in her own boobies to comfort her. "Baby, you don't need to do an experiment your heart's so big I feel it."

Shinobu pushed away Mitsuri and buried her face on (Name)'s valley and she looked as if she drank spoiled milk. "I never thought I was capable of being disappointed with you, (Name)."

The girl easily broke down at that and grabbed her smoll melons while Shinobu buttoned the (element) hashira's shirt up. "I'm still growing."

"You're already passed 18." Shinobu grabbed (Name)'s head and she put it on her arm as they both lay down on the dead floor like before. "Your body stopped growing."

"I'm hoping I'm growing." She cried and Mitsuri cried also because she wants to be in the cuddle. (Name) grabbed on her hands and squeezed tightly before the three returned to their original position: looking like corpses with their legs up on the wall to lessen the pain of their cramps that's coincidentally started the same day.

Giyuu dragged Tengen in the room and the girls looked at him with a synchronized turn of their head. Shit looks like a horror movie with haunted triplets, but water pillar is unbothered by their stunt because he looks like that every time he sees his reflection. (#CryForTomioka)

He laid himself between Tengen and the dead Muichirou and he raised his legs up on the wall like the girls are doing. They gave him a threatening look, but he is pro to punch his stomach with so much force it bruise.

He did not even flinch and Tengen curled as he gripped on his balls further.
"We feel like dying."

"Welcome to the club." Mitsuri suddenly wailed as she suffocated (Name) with her titties when she tried to reach out for Giyuu.

"Hskqbws." (Name) stated but her words are muffled and Mitsuri looks as if she just stepped into someone changing in a room.

(Name) pushed the titties away and breathed in before her expression cringing so badly she nosebleed. "I think your boobies broke my eyes. I'm seeing nipp-"

Mitsuri laughed loudly and clamped her hand on the poor girl and kept suffocating her. The love pillar fixed herself before quickly laying her head on (Name)'s own titties.

Suddenly - Shinobu's head is on (Name)'s stomach and she put her feet on Giyuu's face with Muichirou under her knee.

"I suddenly feel better."

Gyomei walked in the room while looking at the direction of two mad bois fighting dominance and a crowd gathered around.

He can't see what's happening and it should stay like that because Stone daddy doesn't know he's looking at two shirtless dudes wrestling in Kaburamaru's honor; who is sitting atop on a cushion worn by Oyakata-sama's head like some neat looking crown.

Kyoujurou and Obanai looked twenty years older and their facial expression muscles looked so defined that you can see the kanji of their scream when they started punching each other with speed unmatched with untrained eyes.

NGL, the onlookers think that they almost looked like they came from a different anime.

Gyomei pursed his lips at the chaos and hoped that it'll resolved by itself because he won't spend his sanity any longer.

Himejima raised a wrapped bento. "I brought cocoa candies and Shinobu's pain reliever."

The girls quickly raised themselves up from ground and grabbed on item with speed that shocked him. For a second they felt like wolf but the moment the three hashira started voicing their appreciation - everything returned normal. Or whatever normal is ever since (Name) joined their ranks.

"What are Tengen, Giyuu and Muichirou doing there?" The stone pillar asked with a voice that is a bit judging, and he felt a big disturbed energy coming from them.

"They're also having their period." (Name) explained but Gyomei just looked at her weirdly as if you just told him Buddha doesn't exist and he might as well looked offended for not having a vagina. "Men don't have monthly cycles."

Mitsuri sobbed so hard at that she felt her heart is on her throat. Shinobu cried too, and grabbed her stomach with a hand on her lips. "But they suffer life's pain."

"We all have our periods, Gyomei. Just differently."(Name) softly spoke for the stone pillar and it made him have an epiphany. 

All of the sudden, Gyomei is besides Giyuu with his legs up on the wall - crying at the reality as he chanted prayers underneath his breathe. "Oddly enough, this makes me feel better."

"You and me both, Gyomei-san."

"We women have it rough." Gyomei teared up at his words and the water pillar cried with him.

"We sure do." Giyuu nodded.

"So... do you girls have any plans tonight?"

The two men looked at Tengen waggling his eyebrows at them - laying there like one of those french fries waiting to be eaten.

Gyomei and Giyuu's expression turned sour at that.

"We don't want to catch any disease." The water pillar rejected him and Himejima raised his hands at that. "Amen."

"I'm mensing so hard it hurts." (Name) spoke out of the blue and Shinobu pet her head. "My vagina regretted not being a pp."

"My breasts felt like they should belong to my ass." Mitsuri spoke the word of wisdom and the girls ended up crying while eating their cocoa covered nuts. "Preach it, sister."

"I beg your pardon," Zenitsu poked his head in the gap of the shoji door and looked at the three with a shy expression.

"Then beg." Mitsuri replied to the poor boy and he blushed.

"U-uhm. You all looked amazing just the way you are!"

That's not begging, but okay.

"I suddenly feel loved and horny but also disgusted at the same time." (Name) admitted and Zenitsu perked up at that with a lewd expression that was kicked by Shinobu. "I feel very beautiful with my body even if it tortures me."

"Life is torture, beauty is pain." Mitsuri spouted out of the blue and (Name) suddenly have another fit of mental break down. "Mitsuri, please no."

"Words are wisdom waiting to be knowledge." The love hashira cried as she bit on her delicacy.

"When did you suddenly became smart." Shinobu asked, and she regretted asking because of the watery answer given to her. "My blood stain the world with regret."

"We be like that sometimes." (Name) binge-eat the cocoa candies while the two lady-men ended up thinking too much of her words like yes, keep doing that, more chocolate for her.

The crowd grew wild as Oyakata-sama raised  Kaburamaru and declared the snake as the victor - Kyoujurou and Obanai cold on the floor. 

The group of Kakushi watched the chaos unraveled before them and they wonder why and how the fuck is the most respected individuals still functioning like pros when every single month, they act like this behind the scenes. 

Chapter Text

He can never shrug these emotions even if he tried. It filled the hole in his heart that he willfully buried.

When you and your spouse broke up because of their rampant cheating, you became a new person.

The meek, nerdy girl that rants about her fictional ships to him when the both of you are alone, and the one that fantasizes about going into a world in a game or books with him suddenly changed.

The girl that showed him a new perceptive in the joy behind other's works became someone else entirely.

You became... her.

Someone... he doesn't know.

Kyoujurou didn't know what to feel about that at first.

He knew people change fast when they're suffering - to improve or to forget themselves, he's no stranger with it. He saw how his father changed for the worst and he was there to observe throughout his transformation.

But you, you changed so fast that it made him stare dumbly at the footprints you left.

Kyoujurou was besides you the whole time in those last three years of college - ever since you two had a fateful partnership in a group project at English. Perhaps he was just bad at the subject, or that you're really good at it and was patient with him throughout the process – but you two easily hit it off like a snap of a finger.

You two were really close, and was often mistaken as couples. That would always put a blush on his face and something stuffy in his chest, but you would always laugh at it and tell people off as if it's hilarious for someone like him to date someone like you.

He thought of that time that you only see him as a friend, or maybe worse: a brother. And it would make him stare at the corner of his dorm for so long at the thought of you ever looking at him far from that.

Kyoujurou did accepted that; he would rather be with you and share fond memories and cuddles platonically than to risk ever losing you with his affection. He was dumb that time, and he knew how precious you were to him – but to think that his own seclusion of the idea of confessing to you was the reason why he lost you.

And just as easy as you two hit it off, it was as easy for you two to cleave far from each other; a single rift in your relationship growing larger and larger by the day.

The Rengoku didn't know why you haven't told him when you started dating that person, and he was shocked when you kept telling stories about them out of the blue in such a fond manner.

His pride was hurt, and so was ego – perhaps his feelings even more. He was so confused, he felt so frustrated, and depressed when you told him that you're truly dating someone.

Because he was there, and he still can't comprehend why would you look at someone else when he was there. He was there when you needed him, he was there when you don't – and he's willing to be with you through the ups and down only if you want him to.

But it was clear that you didn't, and it made his heart felt ripped apart like the rift in your relationship.

It was a sudden news for Kyoujurou, but he quickly adapted for you. He cared for you and even if you hurt him, you were his friends foremost until he caught feelings that he should have stubbornly avoid.

It was easier to pretend than to explain. At least, that was the case for him.

The Rengoku would always smile politely when you bring that person up and even if it makes him grit his teeth in annoyance, he would listen to you babble so fondly about them. Most of the time, he would drown your words out of his mind and stare down at you with yearning in his eyes that you were too busy to notice – and sometimes, often rarest of times; he would let himself imagine that you are talking about him and him alone even if he was the polar opposites of the person you're with.

Call him helpless, naïve and he would accept those words in his being because that was what you made him feel.

But as the time pass in your last year of college, he slowly became uncomfortable of your oversharing to the point he noticed flaws within those six months of 'love' as you would call it.

Kyoujurou knows you more than you know yourself, and he knew that your relationship had started to have a toll to your mental health with how toxic your spouse was.

Kyoujurou told you how much better you are and how you deserved better than them. But every time; you tell him that you don't deserve your spouse and that you're lucky to be with them despite it all. (And he felt a lead of envy burn in the furnace in his soul. He would fight to have you think of him that way, or to make you feel like that, but even then – he knew something was wrong.)

He sees you became more reliant and needy to their attention, and how you spoke of them so highly that you undermined yourself to the point it made him flinch badly every time you share your times with him just talking about them.

It hurts him to see you that way, but every damn time he tells you that – you would always shrug it off as something 'he wouldn't understand'. And it slowly breaks him.

Because he does, he truly does.

Do you think he would let you lower your own guard just to stroke his ego? Do you think he would let you be played like a fool waiting for his words? No, you are your own person and he adores that about you.

To hear you say that he doesn't understand how to love makes him feel so incompetent, that he truly felt that maybe he doesn't know how to love you the way they do. (And it cursed him months of sleepless night filled with tears just thinking what made him lack such a luster that he easily lost you to a bastard that can't even show how important you are to them.)

Kyoujurou was truly lost at that time. He's no expert with relationships, but he knew something was wrong. He just can't point out what, or even if he did try to find what; he always has a feeling that you would shrug him off once again.

Yet, he still tried because he knew that what a good friend would do. He cast aside his own emotions for you and acted the friend that you wanted him to be just to please you.

And he told you, coaxed you with warnings about the toxicity of your spouse behind laughter and jokes - but you missed how clear they were because of how fogged your rose-tinted glasses.

He should've known that was the time to cut you off. He knew it deep inside he did want to give up on you. Kyoujurou was emotionally tired.

But amidst the taste of envy and the ichor of heartbreak filling his being whenever he's with you – he stayed strong, for you.

Despite it all, he always was the positivity in your life and you to his. The both of you were close, and nothing would change that, not even the tiredness and depression that muddles in his mind and soul.

He thinks it's only natural to support you that way. Even if it felt unnatural to him on how you seem more and more engrossed with that person more so than the times spent with him, your friends and family.

Long conversations became one-sided chats. He became a listener, a pillar for you to lean on your problems - and while he tried his best to keep up with you; but it became clear it was not enough for you that you started having more friends than him.

The more you grow attached of your spouse, the more that you seem to change. The simplest habits he liked about you, the ones he adored - they all dissipated in the air like morning fog.

It made him too stunned to the point at those moments he was there, with you; in every step of the way... felt as if it's just a figment of imagination.

An imagination that was so easy for you to shrug off.

Until one day, you two stopped talking.

He always was the one to greet you in the mornings and hugged you maybe a less tighter than before, and he thought 'would she greet me first or will she noticed that I didn't greet her?' – and he experimented with that thought.

He passed you several times by the hallway but your eyes would be elsewhere, as if purposely ignoring him and it broke... it broke his heart when he realized that was it all took for him to realize you no longer wanted him around.

That truly was Kyoujurou's waking call.

And still, he hoped that you would come around.

He would keep sending you glances that wished for you to notice him, and he would wave at you in hopes you would talk to him. But nothing changed, and he truly was losing hope.

It was semester break, and for the last three years of your shared friendship, you two have a little routine that you do before going home. You two would hug the year worth of stress and load in a tight embrace, and you two would promise each other to update what interesting things the two of you would do and share.

It was almost holy for the two of you, well... it was for him. It was important, it was something that made the college life easier – to know that you're not alone.

It was the moment he always looked forward to because he gets to hold you tight against him with all his love. Whenever you brought how suffocating it was, he would excuse it in a laughter and hugged you even tighter with tears that cling to his eyes.

Because to him; that's the only time where he could silently express his love for you in guise of a farewell. He doesn't need to explain, he doesn't need to act – Kyoujurou would just have you in his arms and your arms around his waist and to him that was enough.

But fourth year became lonely for him.

He waited for the same spot the two of you will do your heartfelt routine - the spot where your dorm meets - just in hope you'll appear and give each other a mighty farewell that will fan whatever small flames in your relationship with him.

But he was alone. You didn't come, and he sat there by the bench under the street lamp still waiting for you. Even as he wanted to release the tension in his throat and cry the shaking of his shoulders – he smiled in that bench, waiting for you to appear.

Even when the last train he should've took that was scheduled that day already left by then.

He still waited, and waited, all as the fire of hope in his burns itself out.

And under the light of the lazy lamp, he let himself break.

Kyoujurou felt his heart shattered into pieces and pulled in an abyss of emptiness ten times more than when his mother died. He felt his eyes raw with tears as he tried his best to dry them with his coat – the shaking of denial did not subside and once again; he was reminded that he finally lost you.

He tried reaching out to you in person after semester break, but you avoided him like a plague. Kyoujurou tried messaging your social media account, spammed you even; but they were inactive the whole time.

He wondered what happened to you, and he wanted to ask what did happen in that month of you two not seeing each other.

He wanted closure, and the only way he thought of at that time was to see how you were doing.

Kyoujurou actually blamed himself, you know? He kept thinking of how you told him he doesn't know how to love you the way they did. He thought that he didn't support you well enough, or that he wasn't just enough for you.

He actively tried to put his attention more in supporting Senjurou and working more so than to keep his hopes up. Even if he does that, his mind will often wander on what you might be doing, and are you okay? Do you miss him the way he missed you?

He felt as if he's a rabbit hole that he doesn't know how to leave. But his father knew the pain in his eyes, and the longing in his movements. Perhaps it's a father's instinct or he felt this way when he lost Ruka – but never have Kyoujurou thought that he would share a quiet evening drinking sake with him.

Their conversation was full of the past, and he finds himself understanding more and more of his father's behavior as he compared it with his. Only that, Kyoujurou put more of his grief on work rather than in alcohol.

"You have to let go." That was the sentence that resonated in Kyoujurou's mind. His father repeated that not only twice, but six times when Kyoujurou tried to explain to him that you needed him. Disbelief and easy tears flowing down his eyes, and his father gave him a look of hardened pity as he felt his hands pat comfortingly on his shaking back. "You have to let go."

And it was easier said than done. Two months was all it took for him to think of the essence in his father's words. Every day as he stared at his phone to wait for your message, he was slowly reminded that you don't want him anymore.

You already have them.

Surely enough, you didn't need him, right?

It was confusing as it was frustrating for him.

You already have someone else.

It was hard to accept, but it was the bitter truth and he took it all in with a brave face. Slowly, he lets go of you... slowly, he tried to forget about his feelings for you. Whenever Senjurou mention your name, he would take that chance to tell his little brother that you no longer needed him. His brother looked confused, and asked the reason why.

And for once, the little lies he told to Senjurou that you found someone else, and that you replaced him - all merged all in one ugly truth that he actually believed in.

Time passed; he saw you once again in those long hallways.

Kyoujurou saw you happy, in a group of friends that were all strangers to him. You were laughing like you did before, acting so normal except for the way you dress and how you kept your hair.

Even as you joked and talked with them; your smile never reached your eyes. But you don't seem to care now, and even when you two shared a glance - you avoided it.

It didn't escape him how your shoulders suddenly lowered when you looked away.

He clenched his fists and stomped away, tears threatening to fall as he walks towards his next subject.

He knew you didn't need him, and he accepted that, even if it made his heart bitter and resolve crumbled – he accepted that.

But to actually be in that situation... to see you being with people that can make you laugh the way he did before and for you to act so coldly... it shatters his mind, his heart and soul to the point all he could see were blurred figures and all he could do was breathe haggardly to calm himself down.

And the only thing that makes him eased the pain was to keep punching his chest so hard until his heart no longer hurts.

It took time, but he slowly moved on. Kyoujurou became his pillar, and he told himself that you no longer wanted him. So, he should too.

He did his best to be there for you, but it seems it wasn't enough. It was alright, at least he tried.

Graduation became a blur, and he landed a job in Kimetsu High. He then found peace in working with his new friends and helping his students.

For years, he thought he needed you in his life in order to be happy, but he realized that was the message he was trying to tell you back then when you were dating that guy - that you only needed yourself to find real happiness.

He's a teacher now, and perhaps you've become the lawyer that you wanted. Kyoujurou found that happiness, and he wondered if you found yours.

It was ironic to think he was a hypocrite – you were dependent on your spouse, but he hasn't realized it sooner that he was also dependent on you.

But he lived through his mistake and he thanks you in his prayers for letting him understand more of himself the way he used to understand you.

Kyoujurou was bitter before, but he soon came to accept the past as it was. 

He could never hate you, or shrug off those memories you shared with him even if he wanted to – and he guess maybe he still loves you even after all of those years of anguish and frustration you left him.

There is one thing he knows that came in light; he became a better person because of you, and he hoped, in his prayers and with all his heart, it's the same for you.

Chapter Text

"Everyone's a prey in life; they only became predators to those weaker than them.
Often, it's because  of  love."

The demon have no emotions rather than the polar of what human feel.

He lost his humanity. All of those alongside his brother.

He didn't think much of it.

Life have served blessings on his plate after ingesting so much hatred and envy in his soul that he thought nothing of it.

He's strong now, he's capable of being a god.

He never have he felt intimidated for decades, and it stayed that way.

Until you came out of nowhere, taking off his hand and slashing the other with silence.

You stared at him, dead eyes glazed with painted pursed lips - easily dodging his attacks.

Just who are you?

"You're quite sad, aren't you?" You spoke as easily as the moment you swirled around his attacks with your blade deflecting his hands.

His eyes widened when he felt something puncture on his chest and he grabbed at the cursed blade burning his inside but you withdraw easily as you flick the blood out of your blade. "Your soul is full of wrath and sadness."

You looked down at him as one would a prey - (color) eyes shining with a mirth he saw in Muzan's whenever he play with his food: sadistic.

"You must've been lonely." You pouted down at him and gave him a look that would've been pity, but they looked frustrating at best.

He wanted to attack you but there's something laced in your blade that made his attacks sluggish and composure weak.

Your mocking voice jingled like a wind chime as the poison took effects in his vein - and he could only keep up by swiping his hands at you with lethargic attacks that doesn't need your sword.

Kokushibou felt as if he's being toyed once again and it frustrates him to the point to keep assaulting you despite the vulnerability his body faced. "Shut up." He hissed at you with a guttural voice that shocks your body in halt, and your vision twinkled with amusement in reply to his threat.

He felt a warm hand coated with his blood grabbed unto his chin - fingers gripping on his face as human nails dug deeply in his skin. You close the distance between you with agility that made him stunned, and you muttered words into his that made him waged internal conflict in his cornered mind.

"You're such a beautiful hue of suffering."

You ducked back from the arm that tries to cage you - and you flick your katana with a strong swipe that all smudge of maroon on the (color) blade dropped easily on the floor. Still - you raised a rag and cleaned it with so much luxury in your movement that it made him angry at your bravado.

The demon's face morphed more in anger when he realized that the rag you were using came from his own kimono.

Kokushibou never felt fear and envy so potent, so strong, that it drowns out the feeling of biting poison in his veins. He garnered strength that could've easily cut a slayer in half at best - but only your haori sleeve was damaged from his attack.

Anger flashed just a moment in your eyes and he felt himself grin at that small ounce of victory he had on you - before his ability to breathe was cut short with your scabbard being sliced on his throat.

You clicked your tongue when his body fell on the floor, staining the tatami mat with so much of his blood it became as dark as mud. A hand grasped on his neck, trying to keep the damage minimum as he stared at you with more than a pair of eyes.

They sickened you in a away it amused you.

"I was sent to kill you, you know." You crouched, your scabbard returning to your hip as you sheathed your sword. "But you looked so beautiful just to be killed so easily."

That eerie, smiling expression of yours sickened him. How a human like you defeat him like this make him inferior and it boil his blood so much to the point all he could think was killing you.

You saw that look in his eyes, and it pleases you.

You know he won't disappoint.

A grin grew on your lips - mocking him highly, before disappearing into the night.

Kokushibou lamented with his blood coating him like a blanket of red, thinking of who really is the demon between you two.

___

You laughed at the face of chaos and danced around his momentum as if you two practiced this fight for years - and you might've with how many times you've taunted him with your presence.

Your ways was alike a performance in a kabuki - predictable like a story but at the moment of mind's comfort will change in an actress' choice. Your permanent smile and dead eyes looked haunting as the masks on such plays and it terrified him just how free you are even if he tries to corner you.

You didn't even retreat when your blade broke into two and just merely chuckled every time his fingers grasps around the short steel.

"Why do you haunt me." He asked, not with snarl or the grunt of threat like he usually does - but he asked as if he was sharing tea with you; with a voice so calm that it broke the image of a monster in him.

He felt a pause in your movements when he spoke, and his eyebrows furrowed deeply at the mystique running rampant in that mind of yours.

You would never tell him, nor if you can; you would never find the luxury to tell him. You found that small change between you alluring, and it shows with the gaze you set on him.

The demon hesitates when he noticed that look in those (color) pools, but he did not move to attack like you've expected him - he just stared back at you with a question in his.

The two of you shared a glance with different emotions illuminating your frames - the moon's rays looked divine on your face; unscathed, cold but ethereal.

The sky made you look so heavenly, when he knows you're anything but.

Yet, that smile have grown fonder somehow - as if they turned not because they found him amusing, but they turned because of something he couldn't understand.

It must've been his eyes displaying tricks against him. Kokushibou was fast to shrug that away at the back of his mind and he raised his hand to maimed your head - but only to stop when the taste of his blood overpowered his other senses.

"Don't you think that's fascinating?" You giggled before plunging your broken nichirin in his chest at his moment of epiphany - blood dripping from his mouth on your face but you didn't wiped it away.

You easily cut off his hands that held you hostage and jumped back away from him, giving him that amusing grin that made his blood ran cold.

You spat on the ground, red mixing with silver in the moon's waxy light shines near him, but he felt more disgusted at the feelings you made him feel than that act alone.

"Don't you find it amusing that I'm only human and you're a demon, but I can still defeat you?" You asked with a hint of sublime laced in your voice.

Kokushibou offered you nothing but silence, staring at you with frustrated wrath in those alien orbs.

You hummed, picking up your broken blade in his melting hand and sheathed the other one.

Your back was turned on him, and you gave him a look that's eerily cold. Kokushibou's eyes widened at the words that left your painted lips, before you quickly disappear in the moon's haze.

He felt his heart beats painfully slow as they healed fast with his wounds.

He punched the floor and it made way against his strength.

You made him feel less of a human and more of a dirt as he gritted his teeth at the pain that lingers in his mending chest.

Kokushibou have to find another reason to burn this room behind him - devour another human to heal him and tries to train his thoughts away from you.

He would rather die than tell Muzan of a slayer that could defeat him.

___

"I'm growing tired of you."

You sighed as you jumped far back to have more interval to talk to him rather than deflect his attacks.

He noticed how his veins froze at your apathetic words and how worry pumped in his heart, but he still aimed his attack with you - this time with his forgotten sword.

You felt more and more like a demon to him with how easy you counter both his demon attacks and deflect his sword - your speed is unmatched and it scared him how easy you play him like this.

But the bored stare you have on him scared him even more.

"Is this what a monster like you could do?" You mocked, and you find yourself being caged in the floor with a man whose face covered with eyes - the teeth of his blade kissing your throat with a threat but you didn't relent.

"You even have to fight me like a bushi." Your eyebrows furrowed deeply as you narrowed your stare at him, gaze filled with disappointment that makes him panic with unspoken beat. "Isn't that insulting to your kin?"

The demon didn't even gave you a luxury of a reaction as he merely stared at you - and the pregnant silence that stills between you two made you realize that you are no longer just an enemy to him.

But a prey.

Your body shakes like a fool and you wanted to plunge your katana in his neck to finish him. You would rather have him stare at you like a warrior than a measly morsel that you are to him.

You waited, and waited for him to butcher you open from the injustice you made him feel - you were eager for it even, yet he merely just stays hovering above you with eyes that dares scan deep in your being.

"You no longer want to kill me." Your gaze hardened, and your smile frowned as you waited for his sword to slit you open. "Why is that, demon?"

"Kokushibou." He answered his name with his eyes set on you.

Of course, he doesn't have to. You know it, but that doesn't answered your question - rather it created more.

Why is he humanizing your rivalry fight that comes once every full moon? Has he grown tired as you are to him? Then good.

The feeling of being a predator have grown cold with his inability to even take one of your limps, and your desire to subdue this demon have steamed in thin air. It was fun while it lasted - but continuity have a gag to make a fool of itself.

You would've spare him and never to return to his face again after a few harsh words with him - but you haven't thought you'd be one meeting a sword's end in this meeting.

But why is he stalling?

You pushed your head up to have the katana's blade finally cut your throat open - but he threw it away, far from you as he morphed back into his 'human' form.

Questions muddled your mind, alongside the desire that you've buried past him - to have been pinned on the ground heavily like this would make any woman panic.

But you can't find yourself doing that as you stare into burgundy eyes in the waxy moonlight. The scratches of your blades healed and what reminds were stained blood on his face - and his hair danced freely with the cold wind of autumn from the open shoji.

The way he stared down at you was a reminiscent of the way you looked at him whenever he's defeated and you understand how weak you must've made him feel.

"I'm fighting the wrong battle with you." He spoke softly with eyes that melted your cold exterior, the hand that was on your shoulder brushed his knuckled against your cheek.

"And how can you say that?"

You won't easily give him what he wants, even if you're going to be just a food to him you would never allure him with an easy bait.

"I felt it."

You blinked at his softness, stunned by his show of humanity that you never knew he could express. But instead of soaking it in, you can't help but laugh so loud at his reply.

"Your affection is a projection of your own hunger for human flesh." You chortled with a snarky tune, body shaking in amusement as he glared at you. "You only want to devour me, so don't play around."

He didn't look at you with a semblance of annoyance that you thought he would display, but he brushed his thumb on your mouth and you flinch at the taste of his blood on them.

"What if I don't."

You pursed your lips at him, but his thumb pushed your lower lips down with a stare that would make any women weak, but you.

"Then feed me to other demons." You spat, but your saliva mixed with his iron ichor ended up trailing down your chin - and those eyes of his did not hide the lust he had for you. "I'd rather die fighting with my bare hand than be played like a morsel."

Your threat was more likely for him but they sounded as if they were meant for yourself as you tried hard not to fall with your buried desire.

You felt more of his weight pining you down, and you almost lost it when his hand grabbed your thigh and opened your legs just for him to feel closer to you.

"Do you want that?"

Kokushibou whispered to you, his thumb gracing your lips with an expression that wanted more of you.

Your eyes shakes and you looked away from him, feeling too much of the way he looks down at you.

"Yes." You breathed out, and it sounded more like a broken moan when he rolled his hips against yours, making you aware of his stiff he is for you.

Your eyes fluttered in weakness at the feel of him, jaw lax for a moment as you deny yourself pleasure that he keeps giving with each dry thrust that felt so good on you.

He watched you unravel before him, and he felt proud to see you breathe hard against him, legs unconsciously opening wider for him.

He never tasted victory this sweet and he will savor every inch of it by savoring you.

"So you have grown bored of me, right?" He breathed against your ear, his hands already stripping you off your clothes.

Kokushibou sighed at the feel of your warm skin against his bloodied fingers, tracing circle around your waist with his thumb as he gripped unto you with a pining strength.

You felt him smile against your neck, lips leaving tender pecks against your skin. "Then let me show you just how much fun you were missing from denying yourself."

Kokushibou chuckled in satisfaction at the weakness you've uttered for him. Your submission never felt so powering.

He pulled you against him and kissed you passionately, and when you whispered back his name with eyes that stares only for him; he knew he no longer have control over his desire.

He'll make sure he'll play with your body just as much you played with his feelings.

And he'll love every single second of it.

Chapter Text

He tried filling the emptiness inside, and he wanted nothing more but feel whole again.

Time accumulated itself - even through hardship and joy, his mind will often wonder to you. How are you doing? Are you okay? Do you miss him the way he does with you even after everything?

Those questions are stuck in his mind and try as he may to shrug them off, they'll return at moments of weakness and times he wouldn't comprehend.

Teaching his students in his way made him interesting for them, and they would ask him; 'Sensei, do you have a special someone?' and he would reply yes in quick succession even if he doesn't. They would ask for more about that someone, but that's something he wouldn't share to them because he never actually has that someone.

Still, you hold unto his heart, and he still felt he belongs to you.

In the arms of another, at times where he finds himself spending the night in Kabuki-chou - he couldn't control himself but moan your name under his breathe even when he's not making love with you. Kyoujurou finds himself embarrassed after sessions because of that, but he's glad his lovers never took it strongly against him.

He would never spend the night twice with a lover, but he thought of how he can spend more with you - maybe forever. And when he found himself thinking of that, he would always berate himself to 'move on'.

And while his mind might've moved on; his heart and soul didn't.

Perhaps he was just frustrated of how he acted before, and how so much better if he could've confronted you all those years ago instead of dancing around the pain and accepting it - age comes wisdom, and he was daunted at night again at the possible scenarios he should've taken to keep you in his arms, just beside him in this bed-he sighed, groaning as he combed his hair with his fingers. He's doing it again.

You know what he lamented the most? In his haste for his own recovery, he cut all contact he had with you. As he stares at the papers he's supposedly checking - he will mentally beat himself up that he did something so irreversible permanent with such a temporary emotion.

Even if he searched you up, your old profile would just appear and it haven't been touched since you two have a falling out.

"Where is she now? How is she?" Kyoujurou repeated it to himself several times in the course of years.

You've tapped something deep inside him for the fact he kept thinking of you, and even as he tried to forget you by dating other women (and heck, even men); he never feels the same ecstasy and happiness that you gave him.

Just a smile of yours would brightened his whole day, and just a touch and a hug was enough to give him energy to laugh through the hardship away, and often times he would touch himself thinking it's your own on his in a way that it made fantasy and reality in one and it was enough for him to stave through everything with confidence and guilt in his bones.

But he can't be sorry about it, nor does he have to. It's something of a guilty pleasure Kyoujurou has that never truly be explained aside from him thinking it's his way to try and beat the steam off. He knows it's wrong, to think of you that way and of that manner - but what is even right after all those years? Deep inside, he misses you in an unhealthy obsession - therapy and others never made him forget you. Maybe in bliss, he does.

But it will all return to you. (It might be a family thing, he realizes. To let go, to move on, but never forget.)

Still, aside those wanton pining over someone he hasn't talked for years - but still imagined that he does - he truly wished he didn't delete your number, email and all that jazz - he wished he kept it in his phone all these times.

Then, he should still have a way to contact you, to see how you are doing. Just a way to keep you in his life as an inspiration rather than being labeled as 'someone he used to know.'

If he didn't try to erase you in his life, it would've saved him sleepless nights filled with grief and guilt. That's something he have to face through day by day. It's not as bad as it sounded - it just... sometimes he would look at the things you used to like before you changed with frustration at how bad he's coping up.

Like your favorite color out there in the mass of hues the streets, how your favorite food will often bring your smile back in his mind whenever he sees one, and how he would excitedly talk to the club he's overlooking about your interest in your favorite anime that you two used to watch.

And sometimes... when he truly missed you, he would find himself on a bench, tugging on someone who have the same build and hair colors like yours to see if you are them, before slowly feeling disappointment to see that it wasn't you.

Kyoujurou knew he had it rougher than his father. At least, Shinjurou can function well without talking about his wife's likes and dislikes and shared memories they've spent together when being reminded by it.

He would often laugh his despair off and just drown himself in work like he usually does when Kyoujurou finds himself doing that. He thought he would never see you again.

Then by some luck, the two of you met again.

It was so random, so out of the blue - that it caught both of you off guard.

You two made eye contact when the doors of the elevators opened. He thought those (color) pools looked familiar - and he blinked several times to see if they're the correct hue in the correct face.

And it was.

In his memory, he recalls how he was fond at staring at them whenever they twinkle in joy and delight, it was something he adore and the reason why he always tickled you into submission of laughter - but the (color) orbs he's staring right now have pain in them, evident like the time he last shared eye contact with you.

Still, he finds himself staring at you with disbelief.

You were there, holding unto a paper bag full of groceries. He could smell the raw meat from where he stands, and yet your eyes overwhelmed every other sense that he has.

Because you were there, and it made him stare at you with so much focus he had for years to see if it's truly you, not someone that look like you - but truly you.

And when you did that small habit of yours that he was fond of, he knew that it's instantly you.

It made Kyoujurou feel giddy as if he was in college again, when you first kissed his cheek as thanks for helping you out over a subject he long forgotten. It was so much that it was easy for him to smile widely, and genuinely.

You didn't change much compared to what he expected. Your hair is still the same hue, your face still pretty as it was - the only thing changed was that there are dark circles under your eyes.

Still, he found you more beautiful than just imagining you in his mind.

The elevator dinged loudly as it slowly closed, making him snap off his thoughts and he quickly grabbed it open for you.

You were staring at him dumbly with wide eyes, mouth agape and frame frozen in shock, and he guess that was the reason why you haven't reacted as strongly as he did.

The two of you would've stared like that for hours, but you easily got cut off from that spell when he shoots you an easy smile that made your chest hurts in longing.

"Sorry for the wait!" His voice was just as warm and welcoming as you remembered, and that made you smile with a tinge of sadness and regret on your lips. "Thought I saw a ghost for a second."

You also miss his dumb jokes. His ears warmed at that familiar chuckle that traveled in his ears down to his throat, and he finds himself biting his cheek at how he missed your voice very much.

"You're fine." You told him, acting as if he was a stranger while your eyes looked at the view behind you - still, it was better than not having you around and Kyoujurou cling to every last word that escaped your lips.

"I didn't know you can see my company."

Kyoujurou's expression softened into longing just for a second when he realized you played along with his joke like before.

Perhaps it's the airiness in his head that made him feel high, or it's because he wanted to calm his beating heart; but he laughed so loudly like he did so back then with a smile that hurts his face.

You chuckled at the sound of his laughter as you entered the elevator, and he realized that he loved the sound of your joy mixed with his, and he wished to have more of it.

And it died down the moment you pushed the floor you're leaving through, and came the silence that birthed a suffocating tension between you two.

Kyoujurou didn't know why he stepped in to stop the elevators swiftly without thinking of this possibility of awkwardness in the first place; he disappeared so quick in your circle of friends - like how the old you disappeared in his life - that guilt shrouded his being with disappointment.

You two didn't spoke, nor did you try to come up with a conversation. Kyoujurou tried, but he finds himself just gulping down the topic in his throat. Inside this elevator - it became clear that it's going nowhere despite how easy your exchange with him at the start.

He thought he already confronted himself and made peace with his past - and this was a treat he should savor for his closure to come to fruition that he needed much. After all, you look well, and you're still kicking and believed that it was all he needed to know in order to finally live his life for himself but... seeing you like that; in that old familiar hoodie and jeans - some sort of energy washed his being in a possibility that you returned to the person you've changed from.

Just a hope. He knew he shouldn't hope after so many times you've disappointed him, but this time, he actually hopes that he's right.

He turned his body in order to face you, and he was confident to talk to you - but you have your back turned to him and the only thing he could do was to grab your shoulder, turn you around and hope this isn't just his imagination that he couldn't easily shrug off later on.

Kyoujurou inhaled and raised his hand.

"(Name)--" A loud ding cut him off, making him immobile. When the elevator's doors opened, and you started walking off without a goodbye - the past flashed in his eyes and he panicked, quickly grabbing your hand and pulling you back in the elevator with force that made some of your purchase fruits drop on the red rug.

There was urgency and desperation in his reaction, and you turned your head around to give him a bewildered look instead of annoyance that he thought you would wear after he stopped you from leaving.

His eyes are on yours, and he noticed how they glisten in something he knew well. The elevator dinged, and its door closed behind you and yet you did not move.

Inside his mind, all Kyoujurou could think was how hard his heart is beating and how he feels so full just standing with you.

You are there, with him.

You are waiting for him, patient to what he has to say.

You're looking at him, in his eyes, even if it's hard for the two of you to do so.

All those things that you didn't do in those years, being done right now - it was everything he ever hoped for.

"I miss you."

Kyoujurou's voice that was loud, that was confident - in that sentence, it was uncertain.

It was meek, and watery, and only spoken in a cracked whisper.

In his bright eyes; you can feel the pain in them. How his eyebrows furrowed so deeply, how his shaking smile tries not to break - tears were easy for him, and it was enough for you to know just how much he truly missed you.

Your eyes closed, warmth flowing down your cheeks as you drop your bag and threw yourself in his arms. Your fingers gripped on his white shirt so tightly you don't want to let go, and he gripped you back with his arm securely on your back and hand wrapped around in your hair.

In his embrace, you never felt so full.

You buried your eyes in his neck and inhaled the scent of his that spurred more of your tears, you miss him, so much - you know that he feels the same when you felt him sob, and feel his tears trailed down your scalp.

The two of you held unto each other tightly, as if, afraid things will return back once you two let go. You felt warm, too warm and also relieved - but it was nothing compared to the hail that you're experiencing inside your chest.

"I'm sorry." You spoke the words that you suppressed all those years, and sounded so broken it makes his heart shatter more than the time you ignored him - and he tried catching the shattered pieces by pulling you closer to his frame, as if his tight embrace will save you from breaking any further.

"I'm so sorry." You chanted your apologies with a tired voice and broken resolve, and he offered you his silence as he always does when you cried - but it was okay, because he soothed you with his hand running up and down in your back to comfort you.

He hasn't forgotten how to eased your pain and that only made your heart break even more. You grabbed unto him so painfully tight that the years that were lost felt found, and when his familiar scent hit your runny nose - you can't help but cry harder.

Because you found him. Finally, you found him.

After so many years of not talking to him; it suddenly dawned on you how much he was the sunlight that brightened your days. "I miss you." Your frame shakes, resolve as weak as your voice as you whisper them in broken murmur to his ear; your legs feeling like jelly as he keeps you balanced with his strength. "I miss you, Kyoujurou."

And you felt cold when you felt him flinch when you called his name. Your heart fell when he pulled you away, because you know you didn't deserve to utter his name after hurting him for so long.

But your heart rose when he grabbed your face, and he looked at you with a relieved smile with those sunset-kissed eyes that are crying; and it made you scrunched your expression to display more of the pain you felt deep inside because he didn't deserve to cry.

He doesn't deserve this. He doesn't deserve you. You weakly let go of him and raised your hands, jittering as they cupped on his face. Your chest felt full when you felt him leaned in your hands, staring at you with that broken smile that grew just an inch wider when you tried your best to dry his tears with shaking fingers.

Because that's all he needs to feel to know you mean your words.

"I'm sorry." You sniffed at him, face hurting as you try your best to blink away the tears by shaking your head. "I'm so sorry for everything, Kyoujurou."

Kyoujurou smiled, despite it all - the pain, the loneliness and loss of closure - he still smiled down at you as his warm thumb brushed away the tears in your eye. "I've already forgiven you years ago."

He did what he wanted to do before when you cried in his arms; he kissed your eyes from the tears and held your head close to his chest and hugged you with whispers that soothed your nerves. And still, you cried even harder, but not in pain - but more in relief as you soaked yourself in the embrace you've missed and long for so many years.

"Everything's going to be okay, again." He spoke his words with his loudness, with his confidence - even as tears fell more and his words sounded watery; they were strong and held so much weight. "We're going through this, together."

You willed your best to shake off your tears, hugging him even tighter with newfound strength from the fulfillment pumping your heart with ichor full of fluff.

Together. How you needed to hear those words from him.

Well, no shit? You got a student going on and confessing on you like that?" You laughed, nerves aloof with the alcohol in your veins. "That's some tumblr prompt shit over there."

Kyoujurou's chortle boomed in your chest, and you swear you can feel each syllable that left his chest drawing goosebumps on your skin.

"How about you?" His hand fondled on the muscle on your waist with an experimental squeeze, before his fingers grazed up and down on your hips - the warmth and softness in them making you shudder, and he held you tighter against him when he felt that. "Did some criminal you were defending confessed to you?"

"Naw." He chuckled at your bitterness, pecking on your nose at that adorable expression. "You can't fall in love with a stuck-up attorney as easily compared to a homey teacher."

He can see the allure in your description but he thinks you're not a stuck-up - just rather too serious on your job. Still, that made him admire you and he can't help but raised an eyebrow at your choice of words - that easy smile on his face. "You think I'm homey?"

"Mhm," You grinned at him, lashes fluttering sweetly at him, and he found his heart fastened when your eyes sparkled before the city light from his apartment's screen. "Yeah, very homey - see?" You pulled him in a tender kiss, and he returned it with gusto.

He grabbed your head and pulled you closer, capturing your lip with a rolling motion that makes you melt. Kyoujurou's hand that was on your hips moved you up, and the other carrying you so that you're straddling him.

You pulled away, breathing down at him as a sliver of saliva shines before the lights from the screen. Your hands moved to hold on tight on his shoulders, and his heart stopped when he saw just how much love you have for him with your lidded expression that steals his breath.

He grinned easily, and he reached up to brush a strand of hair at the back of your ear, and that endearing touch made you fall even harder for him than the times you did in college. "I can't believe that all these years I still love you."

"That makes the both of us, hm?" He smiled even wider at the expression you gave him before pushing himself up with his elbows to give him enough leverage to kiss the side of your lips. "I think you're still ero for a stuck-up attorney." He whispered seductively, and despite the huskiness in his voice, the serious look in his eyes and the promising touch on your waist - you can't help but laugh.

You slapped his chest and he flinched at the sharp sting, but it was worth it when you were laughing at him just the way you did, just the way he loves.

"Oh my god," you wheezed, rolling away from him onto his bed. "We should work on your flirting."

The mood maybe ruined, but Kyoujurou can't get angry at how cute you are acting. He raised an eyebrow as he laid there like a french girl - blanket covering him waist down. Your eyes lingered on the V below his stomach and he bit his lower lips at you when he noticed that. "Oh, is the teacher being educated for once?"

"If you'll let me." It would've worked, but you wagged your eyebrows at him and he rolled his eyes at your antic with a stupid laugh.

Kyoujurou's joy livened down, and hummed his chuckle as patted the space besides him. "Stop being cute there, and start being cute with me."

"You're already pretty cute enough like that." Despite your words, you pulled the blankets up to your shoulders and rolled towards him and snuggled close until his arms latched around you once again.

"How about we actually try being ero together?" You scratched his jaw and exaggeratedly wink at him with both eyes that your man can't help but laughed again.

"Oh kami, we do need to work on our flirting." You joined him and he kissed your forehead, chortling still.

He stopped when he felt your fingers brush off some of the locks on his face and his heart gripped itself at the look in your eyes. "I love you, Kyou."

He can't help but softened his stare at you. Kyoujurou grabbed the hand on his cheek and kissed your palm before whispering his confession - his gaze still on you.

"I love you too, (Name)." You felt his words on your palm and the heat of his breath trapped them securely in your veins as his sun-filled eyes curled in joy. "Very, very much."

Chapter Text

The headcannon: Will they catch you if you play 'trust fall' with them?

Kyoujurou:

-Will catch you with all his body if he have to. 

-Will end up catching your feelings too. 

-Big daddy sunshine will catch anything for you.

-The two of you ended up doing this for a week much to the other's annoyance, but he'd be the one to stop it by pulling you closer against him after one big fall.

-"Will you catch my love for you too?" He asked, his loudness gone and replaced with the softest voice you've ever head.

-He's looking at you down with eyes hopeful and bright, and the way he held you felt more personal than playful.

-Please kiss sunshine daddy in reply. 

-Something amazing will happen in his room.

Shinobu:

-Do you trust her? 

-That smile of hers says you shouldn't, but you ended up falling in her arms still. 

-You pretty much softened at her act.

-"Your smile is so genuine in this angle." You whispered and cupped her face, and she leans on it with a wider smile that reaches her lavender eyes.

- The two of you can stay like this forever - just marveling at each other's sight.

-"Also, your double chin is cute."

-Shinobu would drop you afterwards.

-"Wait! Shinobu! I was just joking!"

-"Try doing that again and you will find yourself tied up."

-The confused look you gave her made her want to tease you.

-"Is that a threat or?"

-She tilted her head. "Do you want to know?"

-The puppy look you gave her made her smile a little bit wider, before pulling you in her office.

-It is a threat as much as it is amazing, just saying.

Mitsuri:

-Please fall more, because she will catch you with so much enthusiasm she'd end up hugging you with her boobies every time you do it.

-Because she cannot believe it! 

-You're willing to trust her? Do you love her? Is this an act of secret confession she doesn't know?!

-Gasp! 

-In return, she'd end up body slamming her way towards you to "catch" her confession.

-Two of you ended up on the ground and she's giggling happily on top you. 

-Mitsuri stares up at you, smiling with all her happiness with her chin resting above your chest.

-"I like this game as much as I like you!"

-Cue blushy Mitsuri because that is the most corniest way to confess. 

-Will shut up with a kiss and a hug, but with more kisses please?

-Mitsuri loves, loves, loves your kisses!

Giyuu:

-He don't trust you, and you shouldn't trust him; but the moment you were falling - he quickly slides down to stop you from meeting the ground.

-"See? I trust you and you caught me!" 

-Your laughter would melt his heart the same way your lips etched up in a smile.

-Pretty sure his heart fell when your eyes met his.

-Would drop you afterwards because awkward water boy can't keep up the eye contact he has with you.

-Very troubled, this one. 

-Will have a hard time focusing because all he can focus on was the way you look up to him with those trust-filled (color) eyes.

-Often times find himself gripping his chest when he thinks about that without him noticing it.

-Shinobu's 'ara ara' knows what's up.

Sanemi:

-He won't raise his arms to catch you - he'd raise his foot, and the moment that his heel's on your back, he'd kick you until your face flattens on the floor.

-He'd feel guilty about it, but he'd laugh it out instead. 

-You'd ask him to do the trust fall next and he'll agree because he can catch himself if you decided to betray him, just saying.

-Sanemi did not, with all his fiber of his being, expected you to catch him after the stunt he did.

-"What surprise?" 

-Pretty much, his expression is frozen like a fish out of water and you'd help him up.

-"Bastard, you don't save those who hurt you." 

-Sanemi would remark bitterly and with frustrated guilt that's evident on his face.

-"Then who'd end up saving them when they're hurt?" 

-Your stupid grin and the truth behind your words settled in his chest, filling up his lungs and making him have a hard time to breathe as he feels his face steamed with embarrassment.

-Sanemi shuts up and end up walking away with a blushing face - leaving you pretty much confused.

-Follow him? His ohagi is his only, can you not. 

-Would actually share them with you if you won't tease him about his shy boy reaction.

Obanai:

-Give him reasons that you trust him and it better be good because he'd end up watching you fall on the ground and danced around your corpse afterward to mock you if you didn't met his standards.

-But to be honest, he'd just end up watching you fall.

-"You're so sadistic." 

-You'd laugh before grunting in pain at the ache pounding on your head. 

-Your pain tolerance is low on this one, so you pretty much curled like a ball on his feet.

-Obanai would end up rolling his eyes and carry you back to the porch. 

-He'd let you use him as a pillow - but the moment he knows you're okay, he's leaving.

-"Oi, I'm still hurting."

-He narrowed his eyes at your voice. 

-He have things to do.

-"Only an idiot would believe you."

-"But I'm hurting here," 

-He turned around to see where you were pointing and he wished he didn't.  

-"You can only help me with my pain."

-Obanai's face turned a bright red at that notion, before meekly returning to his seat besides you with his head drawn low. 

-He'd end up pushing himself into your arms and leaned his head on your chest. 

-"Better?"

-He'd melt against you if you wrap your arms around him in reply.

Gyomei:

-You have a presence that can't be read or felt so he's having a hard time with this game when it's played with you.

-Cannot see when you'll fall so he ended up catching air instead.

-"Did you fall yet?"

-A lone tear fell on the grass in reply.

-"I'm already on the ground, Gyomei."

-Much tears and apologies later, he'd end up serving you tea in embarrassment.

-Of course that backfired because he poured steaming hot tea on your legs.

-He cannot with you. 

-He swears, he's not doing this out of spite! 

-Gyomei could not really sense your presence.

-"You don't really know where I am, do you?" You asked after changing.

-"Regretfully. I truly am sorry-" a finger on his lips stopped him, and he can only assume it's yours.

-Gyomei would feel you hug him, and he'd shyly gives it back after a minute or two of sitting there shocked.

-"How about now?" 

-Your words came out as a loud whisper next to his ear.

-"I feel you." He reply meekly, feeling uncomfortable to the point of satisfaction.

-"This is better than catching me, isn't it?" 

-You felt, more than heard his laughter. 

-"Yes."

-Stone pillar wouldn't care if his thigh had grown numb from you sitting on it, it's actually comfortable to have you in his arms.

Tengen:

-He'd catch you without a beat. 

-You don't even have to ask or tell him you're playing the game - he'd catch you.

-To show off his flamboyance, of course.

-He'd make you feel inferior with his sparkles and get-up and would play with you like a ball because of how "light" you are. You'd let him be, because it's nice being thrown up in the air and being caught like that.

-"Hey, hey! Put me down, Tengen!" You laugh, air leaving your lungs the moment gravity set in before being caught. "Put me down!"

-"You're no fun."

-Tengen would trick you, the moment your feet meets the ground - you'd end up flying in the sky once again. 

-You know he's strong, but this is too much flexing.

-When you weren't laughing anymore, he'd seriously stop and asked you if you're still okay. 

-"I think... I'm gonna barf."

-Tengen would hella run towards the bathroom with you in his arms and hold your hair away from your face as you retched your insides out.

-He's rubbing circles on your back with not even a tinge of regret on his face - just pure amusement. 

-"You okay there?"

-You answered by throwing your stomach out in the bowl. "I hate you... so much."

-"I know, I know." A flash of regret would fade on his face before Tengen lets out a sigh and smoothing your face from say strands. 

-"I'll make it up to you."

-Wives saw everything and are watching by the door. 

-They have suspicions that you're joining them soon, but they couldn't help but think that they'll have a new lil' sibling they could tease in the new future.

-"Make it up to me *belch* by treating me and the wives *vomits* to dinner."

-"Oh."

-No one knows why your words made them blush - especially with the current situation; but Makio, Suma and Hinatsuru felt wholesome at that.

-They would be the one to peg Tengen to marry you - you basically stole their hearts too. 

-Tengen's not gonna complain with the whole idea, he'd have you in his family any other day.

-You're too precious for the likes of them.

Muichirou:

-He would be questioning the essence of this game. 

-One does not prove their trust, they show it. 

-So he blatantly ignored you when you invited him to play.

-He's not playing your game even if you kept falling on the ground before him.

-You two are on a mission to fight a horde of demon - he pretty much have it under control and you acted as his back-up whenever he's attacked on his blind spot.

-One of the evaporating demon grabbed you by the feet and you would have fell down and had your limb bitten off if it weren't for Muichirou catching you and stomping on the oni's head.

-"You're getting rusty." He commented - eyebrows furrowing slightly as he looks down at you with glazed eyes.

-He felt confused when you're looking up at him with shining (color) pools that's filled with admiration.

-His heart  is bothered at that.

-Your lips rose into a big grin, your eyes following suit. "So you did caught me in the end!" You couldn't help, but close your eyes in happiness.

-"That's why I trust you, Mui-kun~"

-Muichirou will stare at you for a long second, expression morphing from apathetic, confused to an unfathomable sentiment that made him widened his eyes, before dropping you in the ground and coldly walking off.

-You trailed after him, giggling a bit too loudly to his already blushing ears.

-Probably just end up ignoring and avoiding you after - would confront feelings later.

-Tease him too much, he'd gripped your uniform's collar and kiss you to shut up.

-The things he do to make you to shut up. (18+ because.)

Chapter Text

You were so focused staring at those demonic eyes, trying to find him in them - so focused flicking your blade against his claws, conversing with him the way you thought you can reach him -- you failed to protect his sister.

The one treasure he asked you to protect. The very person whose as important as you.

Your eyes shook as your jaw hang open when her arms hugged him from behind - the helplessness in her hold reminisce with the way you hold your blade against Tanjirou, and the tears smoothly flowing beneath her eyes mirrored your own: crying and pitifully clutching on him with her fingers digging in his bloodied uniform with the desperation you can feel tenfold.

You tried to use your words, you tried to find them as your gaze flicker from him to Nezuko - but you felt your throat suffer from the throbbing inability, and you ended up furrowing your eyebrows hopelessly at her – telling her not to. Begging her to go.

But she gave you a look of her own, and Tanjirou's uniform wrinkled easily at the strength in her hands as she held unto him with those grief-filled eyes you know will break his heart.

Because yours break for him and it hurts.

"Onii-chan," She spoke, voice wavering as she blinked her tears away. "Gomenasai..."

Broken, but hopeful. She said those words with firm confidence, even when her whole frame isn't. "I'm s-so sorry... I didn't share the weight on your shoulders."

Tanjirou's body halted in a pause as if, for a second, he's listening to her. His frame trembled with her voice and it might've been hope; but you find him in those eyes, much clearer... much better... more than you tried talking to him with a sword.

And you can't believe it.

You feel that your ability to think shortened into a slate of blankness. You're slowly feeling lost, even more so as you listen to Nezuko.

"Why do you have to suffer for us?"

Nezuko hugged him tightly, burying her face on his shoulder as tears stroll down her pained face. Your soul quiver at her braveness, and you lowered your shaking hands as the adrenaline in your veins silently steams down as your lips pulled sideways as you listened to her words resonating well with your soul.

"Why do kind souls who struggle everyday gets trampled over and over?"

Pink eyes landed on yours - endless with honesty, in hopeless endeavors, and they spoke the loudest along the message uttered from her heart speaks.

"You've forgotten we're here to help you too."

The crack, the sadness and hope in her pleas are the same with your unspoken ones. Nezuko... she spoke the meaning you've failed to utter, she spoke everything you wanted to say – and she, who was weak in so many ways, have faced him with nothing but her love and faith for Tanjirou.

Everything hurts.

In the place where your heart should be as you try to keep your blurred gaze own on them - it hurts.

Nezuko showed how much she loved this man with nothing but her selfless act, when you can't even drop your blade against your fool.

How can she find the strength to do such a thing...?

Your expression scrunched into despair to the point it hurts to look at them. Tanjirou's eyes are still unflinching as he stared back at yours with fury a newborn demon has, yet you know deep inside he can hear you two.

But can he hear your silent pleas?

You want to believe so. You really do.

You can't even face Tanjirou without something to protect yourself. You can't even tell him anything else but please and return; and even if you spoke the hardest with your actions – Nezuko's voice are far louder, meaningful and loving than yours.

With what little strength you have, you urged your eyes to move and gaze down at your hands – and you can only see the steel that meets the center of his face. You made a noise that left your lips, and they sounded more broken and incoherent than what you wanted to say.

"I'm sorry."

Because fighting him heads on, with something that can easily kill him...

Is this how you put your trust in him?

Is this really how much you love him?

Your vision shakes as more tears blind your being; the cold sweat of pity gripped your heart in a hardened pause, stealing your breath away with the pain and longing that no longer felt alien.

You can't even stare at his eyes long enough to see it through.

Your frame shake in defeat at the reality of your action, and the blade that hugged your fingers so tightly with trust that you can talk to him – slid as easily on the floor.

You call him your own when you didn't even trust him to face him like a human?

The metal clanged as you hugged yourself, looking at Nezuko and Tanjirou with a stare that you know looked more broken than you feel.

Demon.

The hope that once pumped your veins in assurance struggled into halt as it drenched itself in cold complaint that break your soul.

You showed your love by treating him like a demon.

Your knees gave way to the weight of guilt that pulls your soul down in the ground, and you felt yourself sob with a dagger of regret stabbing on your throat. Your shaking fingers gripped your face in disbelief - nails digging down your cheeks. The thick sticky blood from them are washed down with the salt and iron that clings on your vision, tasting them both on your lips and it made you want to vomit.

You want to stop.

You only want to stop the suffocating hold pain have for your heart at the thought of losing him.

You closed your eyes in anguish, and the feeling of misery made them hurt where you wish you are blind.

You're weak.

This... is why you should've died by the hands of Muzan instead of him.

A victim of their own emotions.

A weakling.

You're a fool to believe you can save him.

The taste of iron returned to your tongue, filling your mouth as you choked them out. 

You felt a shrilled stinging pain clamping down your shoulder - blinding you for a moment as you leveled your breathing through pink teeth.

"No! Onii-chan! That's (Name)-san, please!" You blinked slow. The first thing you see was burgundy, and the first thing you've smelled is him. Charcoal, pine, together with yours - it soothed you.

"Tanjirou! How could you? Don't do this! They'll die!" You feel yourself growing weaker, and yet – you still found the energy to pull a broken smile at the thought that the last thing you'll feel is your fool, holding you tightly against him just the way you wanted him to.

"Aren't you their spouse?!" Holding you with arms that never wanted to let you go.

"Take your jaws off them!" The sharp teeth grinding in your neck felt so warm, your weakened hands couldn't help but grabbed unto his uniform - as helpless as Nezuko's hold has been, but only vincible as your trembling fingers could only clamped around the curl of his back.

"Don't hurt (Name)! You're... you're always guilty when doing that!" Those voices seem more and more faint and yet you can make them out, and the more you hear their cries – the more you feel your own fall.

"You were so kind - so go back to being our Tanjirou!"

Graaaaaah.

Everything shook, and you feel everything tremble and too loud, even more on your shoulder where he bit on.

Blurry vision noticed Nezuko's frame being stopped by Inosuke and Zenitsu - mouth shouting words you can't hear as your heartbeat finally deafened your ears.

Even with feel of his heavy breathing and animalistic act, the unmistakable beat of his heartbeat on yours felt human. You buried your nose deep on his neck; talking with a strong resolution behind dry voice. "I'm sorry, Tanjirou."

Your shaking hand grabbed unto the tanto you've always kept under your uniform.

His hands that hugged you once so lovingly, scratched you down as a predator would with a growl. The sound of his voice becoming pained as you dig the nichirin down his spine - dragging it down as the warm blood soaking your fingers in a rusty glue.

"I'm sorry for not putting my faith on you." You can't hear your own voice anymore, and maybe ,you are just speaking with a voice that can longer be heard, but you still tried as your free hand grabbed unto his burgundy hair. they felt coarse, as they always do, and your fingers curled in to them familiarly whilst pull his head closer – in hopes, in desperate hope that he can hear you.

"I've been so hard on you for so long I forgot..."

Memory of him smiling at you flashed your mind. You felt him cry - a blinding light stutter with your words as your weakened state tried to feel him. Yet you can't, and that makes you feel so cold than the sharp pain of his edged fingers digging more into your flesh.

You can't feel your fingers that clutched the blade anymore. Your hand feel so weightless.

You felt numb and cold, and alone, and yet; when your lips met the edge of his, you slowly felt so warm and liberating. Alive.

He's alive. And that made you smile so brightly at the demon staring you down.

"I wanted to say I love you before you go."

You whispered; you think you did. His growl was on your ears as your lips kissed his them with the faintest touch, finally letting go of him as his own gripped you tight on his chest.

"Please come back to us."

You don't know if you'll see him and you tried your hardest to focus your fainting vision at him.

For a moment, you see that sun-filled smile that you loved so much, and you don't have to know that your lips tugged up in a pained, bloodied grin in return.

All of your senses are finally fading.

You only heard the deafening noise of your heartbeat falling into silence when you accepted that, but you felt your words leaving your lips as loudly as your heart screaming I love you to him.

"They're waiting for you."

You can't help it.

Everything is turning dark.

But you don't feel as lonely anymore, knowing that you drifted off in his arms.

Chapter Text

The desire he has for you had made him succumb to the need that he can no longer control. 

"How dare you."

Your throat felt constricted with how hard he pushed your head over the wooden counter, your chest felt constructed against the furniture. His sharp nails digging painfully into your scalp with harshness that terrifies you, and you listened to him breathe harshly, the sound bringing fear in your shaking heart.

You can't scream, you wanted to scream – but the rag in your mouth gagged you, and the taste of cotton makes your tongue dry. You felt something warm dropping on your cheek – and even if it hurts; your eyes rolled to your side and there you caught a glimpse of him.

You saw him pushing a finger deep in his temple. The sight made your knees weak and you find yourself breathing in with panic – not out of lust, no; it was one of fear.

And the way he was smiling angrily at you, with those rainbow eyes wide – nerves bulging on his face with sharp row of teeth displaying for you... Douma froze a scream in your throat.

"I gave you my affection, my mercy, my love." His voice trembled, cracked and his eyes looked forlorn as he looks down at you. But that broken look easily faded with the anger that took a toll on his expression. "And this is how you repay me?!"

He pushed you on the wood again, and you cried with a glare that feels permanent in your eyes.

The low light from the lanterns outside illuminated in the shoji screens you have in your shop, and the shadows that gripped Douma's face made him more and more of the demon you knew him to be.

You should have told him about Kyoujurou before he left. You should have—

"You dare try to play around with my enemy when you belong to me?" You stared at him with all vile spite you can have in your being, and he pushed your face even harder on the wooden surface, now pooling with your lukewarm tears.

'I don't belong to you,' You screamed through your makeshift gag, but they sounded nothing but indecent words muffled by walls. You bit on the rag, gritted your teeth, and moved your body as you try to fight him off – but his strength is as terrifying as the way his eyes softened at your helpless struggles.

"Sweetheart..." His words were uttered with a loving whisper one would give to their lover – but you're not his, and that only further irked you.

His finger squelched disgustingly away from his head, and your eyes widened at how easy his bleeding stopped. You threw your shoulder away from him as you felt his blood mixing with your tears, his maroon finger brushing tenderly on your cheekbones.

His caresses were soft, and supposedly they are warm because of his blood – but they felt so cold against your face. Disgustingly cold.

So cold that it made feel like vomiting every insult at him.

You don't want him to touch you, you'd rather die – and your determination spiraled with the way your bonded wrists below you rubbed harshly against the ropes he tied on you. Douma noticed it easily, and even with your vision blurred; you saw how his eyes gazed at you with fascination.

He chuckled – as if your suffering was something so amusing for the likes of him.

"You looked so beautiful, even if you cry like this." He sighed warmly, and you felt his chest pressed on your back as you glared at him – his soft stare hardened into irritation. "But I don't like it when you look at me like that."

He spat so venomously, pushing your head down on the counter with each of his accented words. It hurts, your cheeks felt as if needled splinters dug into them. Your tears felt too easy to fall from the pain burning your wrists, eyes and face, and you regretted ever letting them go when your captor stared at you dumbfounded with those big bizmuth gems.

They looked stunned, and they lidded with one of a leer. His pale cheeks turned bright pink, sickening you further in the pits of your fluttering stomach. His long hair brushing your cheeks, and you felt more of his weight on you, holding you down as if he's claiming you.

And they were sinful; like the way he pushed his hips pushed on your behind, with a hardening indent you don't want to think of.

"Oh, we can't have that sweetheart." Douma grinned with his eyes, and his expression made your blood cold. "I don't want that." He kissed your ear, and it made you gag – but you did not show it to him in fear he will push you more on this splintered wood below you.

But you regretted it more when he groaned low, and threateningly against your ear that sounds too wanton to be a threat.

You felt it stiffed more on your ass, and your body quickly ready in anxiety as you shook your head at him, begging him with tear-stricken eyes to stop, to move away, not to force it more into you.

Yet, he only laughed coldly at you as he grabbed a fistful of your hair, tugging your scalp painfully – making you scrunched your expression in pain. And that excited him more, with how languid and rough he's rubbing himself against you.

"I gave you a choice, sweetheart." You feel his lips travel on your nape, suckling in the skin greedily that made you whimper at the sting. He moaned out a broken sigh at your sound, and he kissed the blooming skin behind your neck with love-struck eyes full of wanton. "I waited for you, but clearly enough, you don't appreciate that - huh?"

Douma's blonde tresses tickled your temple as he moved to kiss the side of your lips, licking your tears away before he laughed a cold laugh that dooms your body into cold realization form the manic gaze, he sets on you. "I'll show you just how much you belong to me."

You complained into your rag when he buried your head on the wooden counter, but your complaints escalated to frightful screams when you felt your garment becoming loose – your muffled cries seemingly unheard to him as his other hand quickly untie your obi with quick fingers.

Douma whistled low, the sound haunting in your hazed mind as he pushed up your kimono. The air was biting, and you clenched your jaw at how empty you unrestrained you felt underneath. His fingers, once again felt soft when they smoothed the skin on your spine, relaxing you and you felt ashamed of yourself as you pushed your thighs together to helplessly hide yourself.

You closed your eyes and hid your face with your hair when you heard him chuckle at the sight of your slick between your legs, and you felt the need to die from frayed nerves from the truth in his soothing murmur against your ear. "Look how excited you are for me."

Shamefully, you are – but do you really have the luxury to tell him that? All you can do is deny yourself, deny him – and you tried with moving your body frantically away from him.

He didn't do anything to stop you, instead - you felt his finger trace your slit, up and down with a grace that barely touches them and your legs shakily joined you to move away from him – trying to restrain the moan that wish to leave your gagged lips.

"Oh sweetheart," Douma's scent hit you more as he nuzzled his face against yours. "Stop denying yourself." He said something so lovingly, despite how sinful his hand is rubbing on your folds, cupping them with a sigh that escaped his lips – and it felt loving, like the way the hand in his hair scratched your scalp comfortingly.

It was almost as if he was seducing you with lust and love at the same time, and your eyes fluttered at how delicious his thumb was for pressing unto your clit, rolling them just enough to earn him a muffled moan, and his delighted chuckle felt inviting when your hips stuttered unto his hold.

But the illusion broke when he whispered your name with a voice that reminds you who he was.

The heat that clings unto your frame steamed into disgust as you tried again to fight him off you, and he only pressed his weight more unto you as he smiled the way your muffled shouts reached his ears when his fingers pinched your clit.

"Fight all you want, but you like this." You bit unto the rags when you felt Douma easily slid his finger in your cunt, the pad of finger rubbing against your damp wall, and he chuckled darkly at the wanton reaction of your body. "You seem to want more, with how you tight you're sucking me."

You can't feel your face from how warm they felt – and all you could do is helplessly close your eyes, wishing that your body wasn't as weak as this. Douma bend down to kiss your cheek, and the roughness of his tongue once again tasted your tears.

You shakily looked at him, and he was eyeing you with those rainbow orbs that curled in satisfaction when he felt your walls clamped tight around his finger from his heated gaze. "Can you feel just how much your body wants me?"

Slowly, he pumped his finger into you, earning a squeak that pleased his ears. Douma licked his lips, and he watched every moment of your reaction with giddy lust. You looked so beautiful, with how you breathed in and out – you looked delicious with how your eyebrows furrowed with each thrust of his finger.

He felt himself throbbed at those expressions you made for him, and his control shakes as he finds himself wanting to take you raw. He can't wait for more, and he bits his lips at how your eyes fluttered close – just wanting to take his finger away and replaced it with more, which you wanted so badly to deny.

But he has to prepare you. Douma sucked in a shaky breath, and only pumped his fingers with even more speed that made your toes curl from the pleasure he's providing. Even if he wanted to take you raw, take you painfully and roughly – claim you with his love; you're acting such a good girl for him, that he'll have to make you ready for him.

He trailed eskimo kisses down your face and neck, lips gracing softly on your skin before his teeth found purchase on your pulse. His eyes watches you as you drooled on the counter below him - and he felt you moved deliciously when he inserted two more of his fingers into you, coating his fingers with slick that he wanted so bad to lick off, but there would be a moment for that.

At the heat of this heated moment, with your scent filling his lungs; he's happy to have you shiver and curl under him as your mind tries to deny the fingers pumping in your core. Douma sighed against your ear when he felt your walls clamped unto him, and he kissed your temple.

"Sweetheart, you want this."

You shook your head. Even with how red your face is, and how brimming with tears your eyes were – you deny him. The demon felt a nerve appeared on his face, and his loving expression turned into one of manic at your denial. "Ah."

He leaned away from you, and the way you sighed in relief fueled something in him. He curled his fingers into you, and you squealed, clamping your slick thighs together as if to stop him. Douma found that cute, and the smile on his face grew wider as he roughly pumped his slender fingers in and out of your core.

The way you stuff your moan from him made him do it faster.

The demon scratched your scalp softly as your body keep shaking with his ministration, and your eyes rolled deliciously – body trembling and he knew that you were close to finishing.

Douma have always wanted to know what you'll like when you'll cum – just the sight of you like this made him want to touch himself and followed yours - but his fingers stopped their act in you, and they left your dripping core.

You were shuddering, out of breath, as if you finished – but he knew you didn't, and the power he had on you and your body made his blood fuel his desire – he would do anything for you at that moment, just for you. Yet, instead of begging him with your eyes to continue his love for you, you didn't voice out your complaint much to his chagrin.

Douma's hand fondled your ass with tender caresses, waiting for you to catch your breathe. He groped and squeezed them experimentally, the slick on his fingers coating your skin as he sighed loudly in pleasure at the sight of them. "I would've love to take care of you, show you how much I love you by making you cum." He spoke softly, and he noticed that you were looking at him so he shot you one of his sweetest smiles.

Before they turned into an excited grin as he slapped you hard on your ass, and your muffled cry became louder much to his delight as he did it again, and again until you're crying for him and only him. He voiced his awe, and you felt him cupped on the stinging pain, fondling your reddening cheeks as if to comfort you from the pain that hurts more.

"But you just have to make it hard for us, hm?" His touch stops, and he bend down to kiss your nape with longing lidded in his eyes.

You felt your knees weakened in defeat at his gaze, and that only made his smile pull wider. Douma chuckled at the way you closed your eyes in defeat and shake your shoulder to try and fight him off, but he merely pushed you down with the hand on your head as he made you opened your eyes by tugging your hair.

And he made you watch as he licked your slick off from his fingers, easily making you bothered and wanton.

Douma moaned at the sweet taste of you, his tongue curling against the fluid with desire. He wanted to lick more off it, from the source between your legs - but you don't deserve that, not yet.

You screamed in your rags to plead your refusal at the permission his expression begs, and you tried hard to rubbed the rope wrapped around your wrist free when you heard clothes dropping on the floor. But you felt helpless from the heat that was prodding on your core.

The head of his cock felt too big, and you knew that it's not going to be easy to handle.

Douma's grip on your hair lessened as his moved his hand down to hold onto your hips and ground you down by the counter - the wooden edge biting your stomach as you plead him with your eyes to stop him from pressing into you any further.

But the demon merely grinned in happiness at your submissive expression, and you felt his stiffness rammed into you with strength that pushed air out of your lungs. He bottomed you out so quickly that it hurts, and you can't help but feel as if your whole self was claimed by him with the way his cock fills you.

"That's it." He cooed against your ear, moving his hips slowly as he pushed himself more into you. The pain lingers inside of you, making you sobbed in defeat at the loss of your purity, but he comforts you with tender touches on your waist with his fingers. "You're doing so good in accepting me," he moaned your name into your ear as he puts more of his weight in caging you down.

You felt yourself limped at his weight pushing the air out of your lungs, and you feel him pant now and then as he pushed what little space left between you two. Douma stayed like that, in you, just kissing what his lips can reach, and they feel even more colder just the way he groans at how your walls squeezed on him.

You felt his cock twitch inside of you, and you wanted so bad to cry and get him off you.

But the way he kept himself snug in you, how his hips stutter as if he wants to move, made you secretly want more that it disgusts you.

"You're acting like a good girl for me, sweetheart." Douma grunted his pleasure when he felt you hug him tighter, and he kissed his satisfied smile on the space between your shoulders. "You feel so good, so warm." He slowly slid out, and you felt embarrassed at his satisfied chuckle when you felt yourself clinging unto him not to go. "Your cunt doesn't seem to want me to leave you, hm?"

His curled eyes felt cold on you, and his nails dug painfully on your waist. "But I won't easily forget your infidelity, slut."

He pounded into you, hard, and he kept doing that without breaking his force and speed, as he snarled at you with anger in his eyes. "I'll show you how much you wanted me until you'll feel nothing but my cock in you."

Douma's hips did not relent as he curled his body to pushed more and more weight into his thrust as you screamed for him in muffled mercy - and he wanted to take off your rag to hear your cries but he knew better than to do that in your empty restaurant.

"That's right," he whispered to you lovingly, gritting his teeth as he watches your defeated expression smash into the counter again and again with the roughness of his thrust – the sound of wet flesh filling the air deliciously with each slap of his hips into yours. "Accept my love, you slut."

The feeling of his big cock ramming to you, the roughness of his hips slapping against your thighs felt like heaven and you felt more and more of him as he kept his unforgiving pace. The sound of his pant and groans made you sickened at the same time bothered, and you tried drowning it all out with just silence - but it's hard to focus when you feel so darn good below with how much his cock rubbed sweetly against your walls – just how much they filled you, and how good he felt just hugging you tightly as he threw his strength to each roll of his hips hitting every right spot in your core. Again, and again.

You moaned for him, so loudly just for him, and Douma tightened his grip on your waist until his knuckles grew white as he growled your name possessively as you cum hardly – toes curling as your eyes rolled back into your skull.

Douma's speed doubled as he pounded into you with ferocity, and he kept moaning your name as his hips stuttered more as his girth overwhelms you more with each thrust from the way your cunt is milking him.

You felt something warm and thick shoot inside your walls, overwhelming you with something you don't understand and you felt disgustingly full of him that it made you cry for the last time.

You thought that it was done.

You thought that was it. But the demon slowly rolled himself into you in a lazy way, as if was still not enough and you felt some of his cum slid out of your core as his fingers pressed in your clit - and your whole body shivered again in pleasure that it alerted him. "You've took me so well," he whispered before pressing a smiling kiss on your ear. "Of course."

You felt his finger twirled around your clit as he pounded into you lazily, and your hips buck back into him of stimulated nerves, making you beg incoherently in your gag for him to stop. But Douma took it as sign that you wanted more. "I told you that you desire me along."

Douma's hand cupped your front as his digits worked diligently in working you for another release, and you never felt so attended before that any resolve you have in your mind broke away as he dutifully plunged into you with each stroke of his fingers on your throbbing clit.

Your own fingers curled into your palm as you kept your eyes closed, and you bit into the rag so hard that your jaw easily slackened when you felt the tight coil in your stomach unravel once again from his soft thrusts. The scream that escaped you as your legs quiver doesn't sound like yours - but you laid limp feeling like your body never felt so satisfied and high like you did now in his arms.

The ecstatic feeling was soon replaced with too much of it, as Douma whispered his endearments to you as he chased for his own pleasure, and you felt more of his cum filling you up as he groaned your name and held you tight against him, panting and caressing your body as he pulls you closer.

The both of you catch your breath, feeling fulfilled despite the sweat that covered you two. Douma laid above you, his hand that was once on your hips brushed the damp strands away from your face while the other lazily played with your folds below you.

He shot you a happy, pleased smile, but you stared at the wall before you with tears easily escaping your eyes.

"You felt even better than in my imaginations." He peppered your shoulders with kisses, but all you wanted him to do was to leave you. You silently joyed the moment he slid out, feeling some of his cum leaving you and you wished they'll leave more - but he thrust into you easily with a groan from his lips that tells you that this, isn't over.

The sloppy sound of wet flesh smacking makes you closed your eyes as you try to push the sound out, and the way he pulled you into his hips with more leverage ignited more of that feeling of bliss that you never wanted.

Douma nibbled on your shoulder, biting, kissing all the while as you felt his cock hardened into you.

"Don't ever forget you belong to me." He whispered possessively, those rainbow eyes staring into yours passionately as he turned you around without ever leaving your core.

Chapter Text

A mirage, a blessing - it's a mirror of one's wish and desire.

Sabito's tails swayed with the evening cacophony, swinging with the gentle breeze that passed you two. The cicadas sing, the crickets play - it was a haunting melody, as it was the image of his glowing face illuminated by the waxy fireflies.

"Close your eyes." He spoke a timbre that constricted your heart with the way his lips moved, and you think for a second that he was haunting too, with how kind he looks at you with those tender eyes. 

You did what he said, because you feel that your vision will shake into submission if you looked more into those lavender pools - pulling you more and more in an abyss you know you can't easily leave.

A rustle of the grass made your heartbeat louder in your ears, and you closed your eyes as tightly with your hands gripping each other.

Waiting, and waiting...

You inhaled a sharp breathe when you feel his warm ones on your face, and you find his velvet chuckle stuffing your heart with honey mead.

It was warm, it was soothing.
It was also tender.

You felt a pair of lips pressed in your forehead, and a sliver of shudder followed his eskimo kisses as he goes lower, and lower.

On your closed eyes, they landed smoothly - as if they promise clear sight of a future, with him.

On your cheeks, his mouth curled into a smile and you felt them full against your skin - and suddenly, yours were smiling too.

Dumbly, but happily.

And then you waited, and waited.

Because you know his lips would be just mere inches with yours, and that made you immense with a shy excitement.

It shows on how you scrunched your face cutely, and Sabito's teasing chuckle danced around your heart once more.

His knuckles, soft yet hard, brushed on your jaw - and his fingers cupped on them like a tight leash that made you suffocate in a comfort knowing he's there.

Then you felt him.

He pressed his lips on the side of your own, once, twice - always just brushing on your lips, and you think your heart flutters to the point it made a high sound escaping your mouth.

The phantom squeeze of his fingers on your face was no imagination, and the chuckle that blew your face with warmth made you open your eyes.

And you were greeted with a promise: lidded, wisteria pools soulfully looking into yours, curled mirthfully like the crescent moon.

And with a loving stare, whose heat is as strong as a furnace in summer.

That mischievous smile grew another inch wider, and the last thing you saw was his eyes closing the moment the distance between you.

And the way his kisses danced passionately with yours, was that of his blessing.

Chapter Text

The future is strong to those who built foundation; of love, of hope, of promises.

Muichirou looked at his rival with minty eyes that's too glazed to be serious, but too determined to be dishonest.

"I like her."

His voice was airy, but his words were heavy - and that made his rival straightened his seat the more the child spoke.

"She's not smart, she's not the best."

Muichirou spoke so nonchalantly, and it was a mystery why was he saying this.

"But I like her."

There was a ghost of a kindred smile that appeared on his lips, and his eyes lit up with the sunset that hazed the two boys.

It was a baffling look on the apathetic boy, a look that was full of weakness; but it was an honest look.

And Muichirou's eyes curled at a thought, and his rival knew it's an expression of love.

"To the point I will marry her."

He told it with so much weight that it felt true.

Perhaps it is, for him - but the other boy blushed heavily in both shock and secondhand embarrassment, because that's a heavy promise a kid like Muichirou shouldn't spout so easily.

More so, since the Tokitou is just a middle-schooler, and (Name) is in high school.

His rival tried to comprehend how seriousness this boy is with his feelings, and he babbled the first thing that got struck in his throat.

"You guys are like, six years apart!"

Muichirou's left eyebrow raised.

"And?"

"You're young!"

His rival straightened the fact, and it made the Tokitou rolled his eyes.

"Once I get a job, that won't matter."

And his rival blushed more at the confidence oozing from the younger boy.

"A-ah."

The other chuckled in embarrassment as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I guess..."

"She's not good in academics."

Muichirou pointed out her flaws, but it sounded endearing even with his sharp words.

"I'll study hard for the both of us and I'll provide a life she deserves."

The other boy choked with a red face, to hear such a serious confession is out of his league - and slowly, he respect this younger boy more so than he respect himself.

Because Muichirou looked so sure, so determined. The aura he held is high, and his rival thinks that it's just something of a passing phase for the younger boy.

"You're young,"

The rival spoke in a voice that sounded adult, and that made Muichirou's eye twitched to be spoken like such.

"You'll meet someone else in the future."

Muichirou shook his head, his hair following his wake as he narrowed his stare at the other.

"Are you not listening? 
I will take her as my bride-"

"Who are you taking as a wife?!"

Speak of the bride; you appeared in your  classroom with a gusto wave of oozing crack energy. Your grin is lopsided with mischief and your eyes are full of energy.

Your uniform also said 'fuck you' with your bow-now-turned-scarf and your shirt buttoned wrongly.

How you easily dodged the uniform committee is beyond him.

Muichirou facepalmed at you.

You looked stupid.
But a smile crack under his fingers as he stared at the way you grinned at him.

But you're his kind of stupid.

"You have no shame."

Muichirou spoke sharply, and you easily broke at his words.

"Fix yourself."

"But I am very fix much, so as you're very fix."

You curled your thumb and index finger at him and the Tokitou scoffed at that and went to you, and you opened your arms at him.

"My baby boy-"

"I'm getting taller."

It's a truth that made you pout. Soon, you won't be the one looking at him down, but it would be him.

Muichirou secretly delights on that thought as he fixed your uniform carefully, as if it was second nature.

But he was just making his movements slow so that he could inhale more of that sweet scent that he do adore.

"So, who are you going to marry? Is it that Kamado chick? Because hell yeah I'm with you on that sweet piece of cake."

You wiggled your eyebrows at him, and that made him want to slap that expression off and smile.

He did both.

"DOMESTIC ABUSE!"

You cried easily and the crocodile tears made him kind-of regretted his stunt.

"Oh, shut up."

Muichirou grumbled and you laughed your sorrow easily before hugging him tightly.

Your chest pressed snugly on his back and he secretly wished to die right there and now.

"You won't be using violence on her right?"

Muichirou's eyes found his rival, and for a split second, he realized he's not alone in this room.

Because right, he's still there.

"I won't."

He won't dare lay a finger on you with his anger, but rather, with his entertainment. You do have a nice set of reactions with his act of endearment - and sides, he's pretty sure he's going to be the one receiving most of the violence between  you two with how much you're slapping his back until all air in his lungs leave his frame.

"WHO THE BRIDE?!"

You screamed, and perhaps if you didn't - you would've heard him say 'you'.

The rival silently blushed himself out of the room, because of course - he's seen how much promise Muichirou's eyes have set on you.

That alone, screams true.

Muichirou's promise for you is true.

___

"You waited for me?"

You giggled at the way his lips found the pulse on your wrist, and your fingers that were cupping his face curled more at his eskimo kisses.

"All those dumb years, you waited for me?"

Minty eyes fluttered on yours, and they were lidded with an expression that made your heart soar.

It was of pure love, and you think you will melt at the heat of his cool gaze.

"You're worth the wait."

You felt his smile on your skin, before they left to kiss the golden band on your finger.

"I made a promise to myself to marry you."

You giggled, high at love and also at the nibbles he playfully bit on your skin.

"You are so dumb!"

Muichirou held your waist done and looks at you with a rare smile on his blushing cheeks.

"For you, I am."

He pecked your lips, before snuggling close with his chin on your shoulder.

"I'm glad I fulfilled it."

"We're just still engaged."

You giggled, and he always likes that sound. It felt nice on his chest.

"You're getting too ahead of yourself, Mui-kun."

Muichirou sighed tiredly, as if he's the one whose thirty years old.

"Don't jinx it."

He leaned away, and he supported himself with his arm to look down at you. His hair tickles you, and he way he stared down at you made you feel the need to hide.

"I still plan to have a family with you."

You sputtered out incoherent noises at his confession and he chuckled easily at the way you hid your face with your hands.

Red, adorable face hidden behind pale fingers - a glint of the gold in one of them; Muichirou felt as if his promise really is fulfilled.

Chapter Text

Satori: a word that brings forth sudden enlightenment.

Sanemi's eyes opened just a fraction at that realization, before gripping his hair in disbelief - pursing his lips as he tries to stop the blush that caved on his face. 

"Fuck." He cursed, before rubbing his palms on his eyes as he repeated the vile word again - each time, his face growing warmer. 

"I do." It makes his heart beat just saying that, and he wants nothing more but bury himself in nonexistent in order to save what small dignity he has over this. 

"I do like her." He gritted that confession as if he was being tortured, and he might as well be with how fast his heart is constricting him to stop breathing.

Giyuu looked at his classmate with a face that says he doesn't want to be here -- but boy, it's interesting to watch Sanemi have a mental breakdown. 

To think this just started with Giyuu asking if the Shinazugawa likes (Name) after he cursed her out for bumping into him. It was a harmless question at first, but it seems with how beaten up Sanemi is - the question is actually lethal than it seems.

The Tomioka awkwardly patted the blonde's back, and he flinched when Sanemi lets out a long drawn out 'fuuuuuck'.

"What are you blushing for?" Giyuu asked dumbly, and Sanemi raised his reddening head from his palms.  His ears are red too - even his neck, and it's weird for the Tomioka to look at Sanemi like this with how pale he usually is. 

Sanemi looks like a tomato, Giyuu thought.

The Shinazugawa gripped his lower face with a hand, thin eyes flickering from side to side, and the stark contrast of his pale fingers and heated face became more evident the more you'd stare at him. "I'm not blushing, stupid."

...

Giyuu blinked at him, unamused. "Ahuh."

Look, Giyuu could be socially inept at times - especially as a middle-schooler - but at least he knew that Sanemi is, indeed, having his brain being fried the same way his face is burning. 

If the ravenette could, he would Shunshin no Jutsu his way out of this mess. Instead, he's stuck cleaning their classroom with this guy.

"Hey minna-san!" (Name) called out, the door of their classroom opening with her cheery voice, and both of the sound made Sanemi squeaked in frenzy anxiety.

"I forgot my recorder in my locker!" She sing-sang, and when (Name) met eyes with the awkward blushing boy; Sanemi did the impossible.

He parkour himself out of the room. Out of the window. On the fifth floor.

(Name) screamed at that and ran towards the window - only for her face to gloom in disbelief at what she saw.

Sanemi is standing on a ledge of a window the floor below, and he raised both of his middle finger at her before doing a flip she wished won't land until the earth below.

(Name) closed the window and pretended she saw nothing.

Still, she blinked, dumbfounded at that act, and she looked at Giyuu for answers - but he also blinked back at her, just as confused. "What's that all about?"

Giyuu pursed his lips, before returning to his high duty of erasing the blackboard. "Satori."

"Satori?" (Name) repeated, even more confused, and the Tomioka only nodded at that. "Satori."

"The fuck, what?" Giyuu facepalmed. 

Sanemi seems to be rubbing off you.

Chapter Text

A conversation or two, can make the night better than a one spent blue.

"So hey," You poked his cheek with your hand, the other wrapped around Nezuko's sleeping head on top of your chest. "What's up with you still wearing your hanafuda even in bed?"

You spoke in a very loud whisper, because you know Tanjirou isn't asleep with the way he's moving on his side of the bed. He stopped his shuffling, and in the darkness, as you stared at the ceiling - you heard him scratched his head in un-surety. 

That small noise made you shot him a comforting smile, but you realized that he can't see it, making you blush at the darkness instead.

"It's... a habit." Tanjirou cut your thoughts off as he spoke his words, selectively and also in a whisper. "My father gave this to me, and he always wore it. And... I never really thought of taking them off."

"Does it hurt? When it pulls?" You murmured, and the mattress dipped and down again as he moves, and you can feel him getting closer - but not as close as Nezuko is with you.

"No." You felt the way he shook his head, and you turned your gaze at him.

You can make out his outlines, but not his whole features - and somehow, that made you pull your lips sideways in disappointment. He should consider having lanterns.

"Is it a heirloom?" You asked the obvious, and Tanjirou easily snorted at that. 

You felt flustered when he did, especially when you know he's hiding his face between a hand that covers half his face, but you can't really think of anything smart this late at night.

"It is." He whispered before a soft, low chuckle reverberated between you two, swiftly entering in your chest. "I thought I've already told you stories about it?"

"Yeah, it went back in my mind." You grinned shyly, moving to make yourself comfortable as you sighed. "Kinda forgot it for a second."

He hummed at that, and the sheets shuffled once again. You looked at him with raised brows, and you felt his hand grabbed unto your shoulder, before sluggishly moving down to grip on your own fingers. 

The way his hand traveled down on your arm made you awake for a brief second, and your heart started pounding in eagerness.

You felt him traced a line on your open palm, tickling your nerves to fastened your pulse at the tender touch, and they halted when you felt him squeeze your hand as a whole with tightness that stopped your lungs.

It was just a brief second, but it felt longer like that. 

It was almost painful, to have him hold your hand softly likes - but when he easily intertwined your fingers with his, you think the pain is justified to have the satisfaction of his long digits curling around yours with a longing that makes your heart lull.

You find yourself staring at the warmth shared between you two, and it has to do with your mind numbed with sleepiness, but you can feel your heartbeat matching his in speed.

It's... nice.

"You know," Tanjirou grinned at you with his eyes curling in mirth, and he hoped you can see it even when he can't see yours - but he knows deep inside you're also smiling at him. The scent of strawberry was enough of an indication that you do.

"I always feel as if they're a part of me."

His heart felt full with joy and fuzziness when your fingers grabbed unto his hand with a tighter hold than his - and he felt his face melt at the way your thumb brushed against the space between his.

"What?" Your tone hold a playful tease that makes him shrink in the blanket. 

"My hand with yours, or your hanafuda earrings?"

Both. Tanjirou found himself thinking easily.
Both.

He wanted to say that with so much confidence, much endearment - but he finds himself scrunching his face painfully as he meekly replied with a soft noise.

"My earrings."

But the pain on his face eased at your delightful reaction.

Your soft chuckle sounded like water splashing kindly in his ears, and the way your hand pulled his closer to your chest made him smile so damn much it hurts his face further.

He can feel your heartbeat growing stronger and your scent of joy overwhelmed his chest that all he could feel is fuzzy, happy and horn- love easily filling his nerves.

Tanjirou's fingers twitched as he inhaled more of your aura, and he felt as if his hand is one with your heart as your pulse was the only thing he can feel in your hold.

He wasn't shy to move closer to you, and your hair brushed his cheek, lacing your scent with the smell of your shampoo.

He wants to dig his nose in your head, hold you tight against him - just to feel more of you, but he didn't.

Tanjirou felt cock blocked with his beautiful sister snuggling close atop your shoulder. Meanwhile, Nezuko moved and the hands that cling unto your waist hugged you tighter.

(Tanjirou loves his sister, he really do as a big brother that loves all siblings equally. But that one time where he thought he can finally get a moment with his best friend has to be the time where his younger sister wants a piece of you.

He's not really possessive of you, he's willing to share - but he'd been sharing you with Inosuke and Zenitsu that moment of time alone with you became rare as the blue moon. It doesn't help the fact that it makes him secretly jealous that Nezuko could easily cuddle with you and he don't.

Maybe if there's a light source and he sees the both of you being too cute, then maybe, he'd let this envy go - but there's no light source and he can't see you two being cute so Tanjirou's going to be openly bitter about it with a big old frown that makes him older in the dark.)

"Well it takes a pro to get used to dangling earrings, you know." Your voice lulls him to calm himself down, and he wanted to hear more of you softly speaking to him in that volume that steals his warmth - rather than shouting jokes and obscenities so loudly with the others.

He loves that too really, your voice often crack when you scream too much and it made you more adorable in his eyes. But you know what else is more adorable?

You, whispering just enough for him to hear.

It makes him feel as if you're telling him a secret (a very soft secret that makes his chest thump loudly), and the only thing missing is the warmth of your breathe on his ear.

He shuddered at the thought of your lips brushing accidentally on his skin. 

Tanjirou felt too warm when he saw your shadow let go of Nezuko's hair to pry the blanket between you three up to his shoulders.

"Do you have... a family heirloom?" Because come to think of it, you never really spoke much about your family other than you complaining and making a joke about them.

While he did talked to them and entered your estate (and being in awe at the interior design and how rich you are), it's only just the surface level with his knowledge about your clan and frankly, he wants to learn more.

You hummed, and your thumb rubbed absentmindedly on his. "I don't actually know. Never really got briefed about it."

There's no lament in your words, you only sounded detached - your scent changed abruptly like the sea's and Tanjirou squeezed your hand in comfort, as if, it was enough to take your mind off your thoughts.

It did, and he felt relieved when you smelled thankful, and also flustered when your hand tightened back in reply to his.

Your fingers felt so small around his large ones, and it made him silently coo at the stark difference. It's endearing for him to notice these small differences between you two.

Tanjirou's eyes flicker towards you, curiously. "You never asked?"

You hummed your reply, and it was low. 
"No... I just thought, it's not that important for me."

The Kamado tilted his head, and blinked at you. He's quite confused at your remark, and it was loud in his whisper. 

"But you asked about my earrings?"

The scent of the furnace reached him the moment your words left your lips: 

"That's because you're important to me."

Tanjirou stared at your frame with a face that he knows harshly glows in the dark with how warm they felt. He knows he's important to you and he feels the same - maybe more - but to hear you say that so confidently and so... softly?

It makes him want to kiss you.

Tanjirou carefully pulled your hand back, and he put it above his chest. It was something he thought was right to do at the moment, and it was satisfying to have your hand above his heart.

You didn't comment about his move, nor did you moved. You let him, and that made him fall for you more. 

He scooted closer until he was sure he can press his lips on you - and when they left your forehead, you made a sound that made his night a little bit too bright.

"You're important to me too, (Name)." He called your name with tenderness, and he felt his heart strings played a heavenly chord when you replied with his just as lovingly.

"We're family." You added, and Tanjirou never wholeheartedly agreed to anything as much as he did with you.

"We're family." He repeated, smiling to himself before closing his eyes.

He wish that one day, you'll let him have a family with you.

meanwhile, in an alternate universe:

sun_shineboi_TK

#foreveralone #imhere(name) #ineedlovetoo #nezukogetsallthelove

#imnowsad #pleaseloveme #imsimpin #willdeletethislater

!!! You Received A Message

sabi2cool4u

#bro #same #bodypillowgetsloveandnotme #waterboisbesaddin

Chapter Text

"Those who have the ability to pick up their broken pieces despite their bleeding fingers are the one capable of being called 'strong'."

Cheated on you.

He don't understand why your spouse would cheat on you. 

You were already competent on your own and he saw how much you devoted yourself to them - so, it's more of a question than a closure for your best friend when you told him that your spouse cheated on you.

Giyuu just stared; throughout your confession he stared at you.

Eyebrows furrowed in disbelief, lips pulled sideways in frustration and blue eyes narrowed sharply enough it could cut the tension between you two.

Perhaps it has to do with you always pointing out minuscule things about him, or he's really improved with his observation and perception because of you always doing the same for him - but you were acting closed-off that he felt more concern than he normally would.

He's inwardly panicking. But outside; he does not show emotion that could trigger more of your tears. 

Even when you pearls sprout from your face in an endless warm falls - even when your voice cracks in a threatening sob; he could only just offer you his silence and ears and not once touch you to comfort your anguish.

Because he doesn't know how.

Inside, he's hurting just as much as you. The way your eyes won't meet his, the shadows deep below them... they hurt him. Even how your voice speaks in a broken falsetto - they break his heart little by little to the point it's hard for him to sit with you in the same room.

But he still stayed put in his cushion and listened intently to you. 

Because Giyuu knows that all he can do. 

Your hands never left your face as you tried to stave the tears away, your frame kept shaking in sadness that he can relate, and he knows because it's hard to control his body from trembling from wanting to reach out and hug you.

Still, he can't seem to find the strength to comfort you. 

As he stares more at the way you broke before him like a mirror sheltering a fractured line - he realized that he's afraid of you. 

He's afraid that he might break you further when his hand reached out for you.

He doesn't know if you want him to touch you after what happened to you and your ex. Because he's a man, and he's afraid to fan the flame of fear and anguish bursting inside of you if you would feel another touch of a man.

He doesn't want to add up to the pain, Giyuu can't stomach that. 

But he also don't want for you to suffer alone.

Even if he wanted to look away from your face to save himself the heartbreak, he can't.

Because that's Giyuu's way to know how hurt you've been, and it's his way to sympathize with you the best he can.

He must've been looking at you as if you're nothing more than a scum with how narrowed his expression is: eyebrows furrowed deeply, a deep frown settling on his lips in silence and his eyes are as numb and cold looking as the way he usually acts.

(He doesn't know he's doing that, he was merely trying not to show weakness to you - he has to keep the water from falling and it showed on his face with how hard he's trying. 

What would you think of him when the pillar you've leaned on is breaking and crumbling before you?

You would stay away. He knows that, because he thinks that what he'll do if he sees himself crying for you.

He got to be strong, not for himself; but for you.

Even if the blood in his palms are bleeding with how his nails are digging into them with how tight he's gripping his fist to stop himself from reaching you.)

When you stopped sobbing, he was quick to offer you a drink.

You tried your best to drink the glass of water with your shaking hands but it spilled on you as you willed yourself not to cry. "I'm sorry..." you chuckled blankly, drying the new onslaught of tears with your handkerchief that's already been too damp to even do its job properly. "I... I must really look pathetic right now."

Giyuu's expression darkened at that.

Do you think that he thinks you look pathetic? 

Because to him, you're not.

You're strong to even show him how broken you are since he could never show that part of himself to you (at least, not again). Just the thought of you going towards him to even tell your problem is a justification enough that you're not pathetic in needing someone else's help. He learned from you, after all - and he wanted to tell you that.

"He's the one whose pathetic." But he found himself breathing out spite instead.

Your eyes grew wide at the venom in his sharp words, and he have to stop himself from looking away at the refreshment and brightness from your watery (color) orbs while his ears turned pink at your reaction.

His face felt as if they burned when you laughed at that one simple sentence that he thought you'd be angry with.

He looked at you, confusion settling on his visage so visibly that it pains his face - and that only made you even laugh harder.

Giyuu's face felt like it's melting off his head and his vision finds difficulty in looking , but it's only because he felt as if he said something incompetent in hopes in comforting you.

Did he made a joke? Surely he did not. He belittled your ex and... he's really just confuse?

"You really have different way to show your concern." You chuckled, sniffing as you looked at him with a broken smile that tear his chest. (He doesn't want you to look at him that way - it hurts him as much as it made him hope; but it's an improvement. He thinks it's an improvement. At least you're smiling now.)

"Thank you." You whispered to him, and your eyes fell to look at your shaking palms. "You... for listening for me without cutting me off..." you put your hands on where your heart is, giving him a look of pure gratitude. "It means so much to me."

Giyuu's heart raced and his eyes looked away from your own as his face scrunched in embarrassment. (It's weird, how he can stare at you crying when he can't even look at you smile so beautifully for him.)

"...I can still listen to you." His voice is calming, and it didn't escaped you on how warm they felt despite being coldly delivered.

"I know you would." You stated softly to him as you dry your new set of tears. Your eyes felt heavy and your nose raw from being dried - but you still found the energy to grin at him.

You really are something.

"I... think it's my cue to leave and rest." His shoulders drooped at your statement - but who is he to stop you? After a whole day of crying, you needed that. (But he also wanted you to stay, perhaps so that he could watch over you if you needed anything else - he really wants to be your pillar, one way or another.

But he also knows his boundary, and he won't dare try to pass it through since he doesn't want to scare you off.)

"Don't do anything stupid." Giyuu voiced his concern in low tone, and he overthinks for a split second that he might've word it wrongly but you still caught on his intention and chuckled at him.

"I won't." You gave him a close-eyed smile that captured his breath. His dark orbs lingered a second too long to admire your face - and he realized just how impressive you are.

With how much pain you've gone through, with how red and wet your face is - you can still smile so genuinely despite it all. You are indeed worthy of your title as a pillar, and he thought at that moment that he must be the one leaning on you all this time for being so strong for him.

Giyuu stared at you with an apathetic expression that his eyes failed to comply, and whatever reserves he feels dissipated in the air as he reached up to touch your face. 

It was a compulsive act, but it's an act that made his heart melt for you when you met his palm half-way with your smiling cheek.

His hand is big, warm and comforting; and it cupped your face so comfortably that when he brushed the warm water off your lashes - it made you tear up more.

Giyuu's lips pursed and opened several times, and when he felt your hand laying atop on his - he finally found his words.

"You are strong."

And you cried with a thankful smile that reaches his soul.

"Thank you."

___

"You two are dating?" Mitsuri choked on her sakura mochi whilst you laughed sweetly at her reaction.

"Yes," you nodded, still feeling high from the idea of having Giyuu as your spouse. "We are."

Obanai rolled his eyes as he laid atop on the branch of the sakura tree you and your cousin is sitting on. "Of all people you could've been with; it has to be someone whose bad at showing his emotions."

You should've felt insulted at that, but you found yourself giggling at it. "I don't really care."

Mitsuri pumped her hands and almost threw her mochi at you - emerald eyes but grin even wider. "I'm so happy you two are dating! You deserved to be happy, you know!"

"Thanks Mii-chan." You grinned at her and stuffed mochi in her open-mouthed smile, to which she happily chewed at. "Honestly, I didn't know what made me date (Ex) - I always felt as if he was hiding something even at our first day of being official."

"You're too blinded with love, that's why." Obanai literally hissed, and you huffed at that. "Says the blind one crushing on my cousin."

Mitsuri choked on her mochi and you slapped the space between her breasts to make her breathe. She ended up just gulping the sweets as you sweat dropped when she hugged you tightly with tears in her eyes. "You saved me again~"

Before she shook your shoulders free from their sockets. "I'm not judging but what did you see in Tomioka-kun?!"

"You sound judging to me." You choked on your spit when she shook you more - to which Obanai delighted at your torture with how he egged on Mitsuri with his supportive claps. "What did you see in Tomioka-kun?!"

Mitsuri, why do you have to scream on thy ears like that-

"I'm not really bothered with Giyuu's flaws in showing emotions." You sputtered out first in a whisper and Obanai just grumbled out a 'huh?' to your statement - but Mitsuri heard it loud and clear and it was enough to save you from being abused with her hold. 

"Really?" She gasped, putting both her hands on her cheeks while she blushed and tilted her head. She have that thinking smile on her face that makes you wish whatever she was thinking is pure.

"He have his own way to show his feelings." Your eyes landed on two forms dueling just miles away from where you three sit. You smiled fondly at your ravenette, and your eyes curled at the way he deflected the speedy jabs his opponents throw at him.

"Even when he comforted me the day when I broke up with (Ex) with silence; I heard his despair and control through his eyes." You shrugged, blushing while feeling sappy. 

"To me, just for him to be there..." your eyes softened and it didn't escaped Mitsuri's prying gaze at the look of affection in those (color) pools. "It was more than enough."

Then you chuckled as you tapped your head with your knuckles embarrassingly. "But I did wish he hugged me instead of just holding unto my face."

Silence was loud between the three of you, before Mitsuri gasped scandalously at that confession and Obanai blinked down at you. "He did what now?" Obanai was really this close to like, judge your taste in men.

Because if he was there when Mitsuri's ex broke up with her - he would have committed a sin as grievous as letting a demon live: homicide. Giyuu should do the same.

"I didn't know he could be such a romantic!" Mitsuri squealed and pulled you in a hug, once again suffocating you with her chests. "I'm so sorry for judging!"

You pushed yourself away from her tight hug with your hands on her arms as you laughed, knowing that the snake pillar in the tree is glaring at you because of being squished with the breasts and he didn't.

"Trust me, he gets creative." You smiled with your ears tipping red and Mitsuri plumped herself with her elbows on her thighs as she cupped her face with her hands with a giddy girlish grin. "Oh~ Listening~"

"When he looks as if he's constipated, he's just really thinking too much about something, but if I kiss him or hold his hand - his face would just glow and smile timidly and it's like winning a prize when I guessed what he was thinking." You swooned. "He never shows his feelings physically but he's been leaving me little notes to tell how much he appreciates me." You chuckled. 

"Though most of them are quite blunt like, 'don't frown if you drop your favorite food, it makes me sadder'. and he's really getting good at writing Tanka poems!" You sighed endearingly, and looked at your palms with a lovesick expression. "He doesn't know that I keep his little notes in my drawers."

"Oh damn." Mitsuri dried a tear on her eye with lips that curled from smiling too much - her face officially now red in contrast with the hands on her face. "That's really so sweet, even for Tomioka-kun."

"Right?" The both of you nodded, synchronizing at that. 

"Actually, you would never know how great he is in bed despite being a virgin." 

"..."

"..."

"..."

You slapped your mouth and paled at your slip confession.

Obanai slithered away when Mitsuri grasped on your shoulders with pure attention on her blushing visage as she shakes you in full force. 

"Give me the fullest of details!"

You instantly regretted opening your mouth but while Mitsuri is screaming detailed questions at you - your eyes found your beloved staring at you with adoration in his eyes.

You waved your hand at him with a big grin despite the onslaught of torture Mitsuri is giving you and you watched him froze for a second, before warming from your patient grin. Giyuu waved back so timidly it looked rigid and unnatural for him - and perhaps you would've seen him smile if not for Sanemi to land a strike on your boyfriend's red face.

"Don't break my man now! We still have a family to plan!"

Giyuu's frame froze once again and he literally melted on the floor. He laid in the ground curled up - hiding his red face with his hands as the other pillars training with him teased him for it.

"So... how many children are you two planning to have?" Mitsuri whispered loudly towards you, and she wagged her eyebrows like waves in seas. "Please tell me it's sixteen. I want little (ship name) dawdling around."

Buddha, Mitsuri, no. "I'm not planning to make an army."

Your cousin put her hands on her hips and puffed her cheeks with indignance. "Well you should! You two are cute together and imagine mini-you's just screaming 'auntie Mitsuri~' and please! Just give me nieces and nephews (Name)-chan." Mitsuri cried, hugging you tightly with lips frowning so deep.

You covered your hands with your face, reacting like your boyfriend as you curled on the grass besides Mitsuri. 

Now you understand what Giyuu felt when you kept joking about having kids. 

Chapter Text

It's human nature to always want more, even when they're satisfied.

The clamor of wooden chopsticks meeting porcelain bowls echoed around the veranda.

The bond between you is atmospheric as the view, and you and your partner in crime oversees the town in tranquil ambiance whilst the both of you eat your respective dinner peacefully with the chatter of people below doing the work of filling the lack of conversation between you and Genya.

His brother have yet to return from his escapade, and here are the two of you; just relishing this free meal and wonderful view of this second-floor inn - feeling not even a midge of guilt at the thought of putting up Sanemi aside in this loving silent dinner of yours.

Scratch that silence, Sanemi just entered the room screaming bloody murder why didn't you wait for him when he was having a good-ass time playing with the guard dogs just a minute ago.

Knowing the Shinazugawa siblings for years now, the sight of their numbered healed injuries are nothing but a normal occurrence - and yet, it never failed to amuse you on how keen they are with showing off each and every crevices of their 'battle trophies' to one another.

Call yourself lucky to be their childhood friend, but you also found it awkward that somehow they didn't mind your presence wherever they 'flex' to each other.

One does not agree with Genya being better with his advantageous height, as you will be coddled by the older brother with a pillow and the other just egging his sibling to choke you.

If you do put the effort in relishing in Sanemi - Genya will offer you his silent treatment and that is something you don't want to suffer.

So it's safe to say you are just there to observe and laugh rather than provide answers to whom is better looking than the other.

One instance as that is today;

Sanemi shrugged off his top with you dining in their room as he flaunt his muscles at you and Genya in a way that is too vain - you flinch when his uniform landed on a weather vase, and you sighed when the ancient ware did not fall.

But your eyes kept returning to his form as he walked closer to where you and Genya sat, and the sculpture of his paleness and the brightness of his sly grin blinded you with the pure glory of his upper body.

To which you silently gulp down your thirst with the miso soup you're currently sipping from the wooden bowl.

The younger sibling haughtily huffed at Sanemi's antic and followed his brother suit with attentive fingers in unbuttoning his top. He took it off with gusto, and his hair clings to the sweat on his skin on his shoulders.

Genya at least had the audacity in fixing his uniform top besides him - before crossing his arms in his front as he sits in a high, proud poise that truly made his toned body as evident as his brother's.

You feel as if you are not there in their feat of questionable brotherly bond - because the two men just proceeded to... flex.

Truthfully, you like staring at muscular bodies when you see one - much more when they are very defined like these two - but it's too much for a budding woman like you to handle.

Most specially because they basically took you in as their foster sibling. And siblings don't just, undress and show off their body to their 'sister', much less in the presence of a girl.

You can't use your hormones as a justified mean to do or say the unthinkable. 
You're better than that.

"Can you not undress in the presence of a lady."

You spoke your mercy and wished they would understand your discomfort, and yet...

The two only stared at you as if you grew ten heads: amusement and disbelief painted on their faces.

Genya's expression morphed into a haughty smirk at you. There's a teasing glint in his eyes that made you wish you never even spoke in the first place. "Lady what?"

Sanemi did the same, but with a shit-eating grin as he ruffled the mohawk's hair. "Sorry (Name), but you got to accept that you're more of a man than this lil' shit is."

"Hey!" You and Genya reacted with an offended pair of sneers. Sanemi could only laugh at that - and you wished you can choke him by stuffing the pouch of ohagi hanging by his pocket to teach him a lesson.

Instead, you stood up from your sit and put both of your hands in front of you.

"Okay." You inhaled sharply with closed eyes before gesturing at him, Genya, and then yourself. 
"One, that is just rude - the both of you. Two, I'm a lady if I fixed myself okay?"

"Yeah," the younger of the brothers shrugged, rolling his eyes as he spoke his words with a drawl. "Not seeing it."

Sanemi propped himself on the floor and also shrugged at you, before proceeding to unwrap the pouch besides him with diligent movement.

"Really not seeing it." The man didn't even dare look at you when he said that.

You visually deflated at their reply, and you seethe in annoyance when they could only enjoy your misery.

As siblings, that is what bonding is.

So yes, your romance bar with these two are next to nothing - while your bromance is at the roof top.

And for years, that didn't disappoint you.

In fact, it's quite comical to see Sanemi being cuss-lord to any breathing female around and Genya becoming skittish around women.

You hold some kind of weird happiness knowing that they're comfortable around you.

While it did hurt your lady-pride, knowing that you have a special relationship with the two was something to treasure.

You just often wished that they can see you as more than just a 'sister-figure'.

But you're sick of them doing what they want so you sighed out loud and plopped yourself back on your seat.

Sanemi choked on his sweets when he saw what you were doing and Genya flinched away from you as he held his shirt up to 'hide' himself from what you've did.

Because if you cannot defeat your enemies, you might as well join them.

You held your chest high, the bandages around it did a good job in hiding your womanly figure, yet your stomach is still exposed and you slapped your slender navel.

"Hah! You two have nothing against my body!" You proudly proclaim and you think you broke the two because they're not meeting your gaze.

Sanemi turned his frame away from you - so that you're facing his back - but you can see how red his ears are and shoulders with his exposed skin.

Genya on the other hand, is staring meek-fully on the ground with a shaking gaze. He is also cupping on his lower face with his top as he avoids your eyes.

You find their reaction weird, but you thought of how victorious you are for shutting them up.

You put your hands on your waist and cackled loud and annoyingly - but that seems to be the reason why they flushed further.

"Hey, I even have toned legs than you two - want to see more?" You joked, and you laughed when silence greeted you and Genya was the only one to show you his disapproval.

Sanemi wanted to say yes and it shows with how hard he bit on his lower lip under the hand that cupped his lower face.

Whilst Genya shook his head in reply, but deep inside his mind he's saying yes.

What you didn't know is that they flex to you to show off their-selves in a competition whom you would show appreciation more - because Genya and Sanemi both like you in a way that is more than a sibling that you treat them.

In fact, they held that flexing contest to know which one you favor because it's a silent cue for the other to give up pursuing you.

Instead, you were always equal with your attention and affection of them that behind the scenes, the brothers would just often talk about sharing you instead.

This day was supposedly their last resort to egg a reaction of you - and their plan did not work out.

Now, they are left in a puddle of confused excitement with you joining them in their flex. Just seeing that much skin from you is a treat that would feed their fantasy. (Something they are currently thinking right now even in your presence.)

If only they were good with words, or if they were brave enough to act on their feelings right there - then perhaps the outcome to this mess is different.

But right now, just hearing you laugh in genuine amusement is enough to calm their competition into truce as they succumb to their hearts beating wild and true.

Sanemi and Genya shared a look, one that says defeat and the brothers grinned before joining you in your laughter.

One day, you three would become more.
That's a fate Sanemi and Genya will try to thread together with you.

Chapter Text

Annoyance is an endearment only the childish hearts can give.

You bumped into him, often times, you always do.

It's not that you're clumsy, it's just--

"Hey, watch it." He snapped at you sharply, and you frowned at him with agitation.

"I am." You retorted, raising your lips at the student in grey hoodie holding an ugly sneer. "Your shoulders are just bended awkwardly with how you pocket your hands."

You pointed at him, cringing the same time you told him this; "You also look stupid walking like that."

You didn't realized back then that the crowd's gasps of incredulity was for you, and not for him. Still, you remember how he looks flabbergasted, and his red eyes widened just a bit before they narrowed in irritation that makes you feel as if they're ruby sharp and impenetrable. "Yeah? I think you're the one stupid for bumping into me, stupid."

You pulled your lips sideways, making them fall in a bored straight line with your bored gaze on him. You silently judged his vocabulary, and he seemed to be proud of himself at rendering you silent . 

He's a simpleton, you realized. 

You let out a sigh and walked towards him, he was preparing for you with that ugly smirk of his - but he whatever he was preparing was certainly not the heavy slap on his back. The boy easily straightened at your treatment, but not with a loud 'ow' that echoed in the hallways.

"Stand straight and walk straight. You'd be a hunchback before you know it."  You huffed at him with a cheeky smirk when tears of pain brimmed on his eyes - he doesn't look all that threatening even when he's staring you down.

You fixed your glasses, bowing your head politely, before walking away. Not truly prepared that the boy suddenly found interest in you after that. 

--Ever since you talked back to him, he was really up front with bumping into you in the hallways as if it was his goddamn business.

It kind of concerned you at first, because no sane student would do that everyday. So you asked the teachers to handle him, and they might have done a terrible job at the case of your 'bullying' because he kept pestering you even after that.

With his insistence to follow you like a loyal dog (that always yips and barks at the most crucial of times), You learned that he is a delinquent - so you kind of let a part of your anger go. His kinds often are quirky and better not to mess with - and given how you were new in this school as a transfer student, you never really knew better than to talk back to the kid that 'rules the school'.

Besides, he's harmless at most cases. Just troublesome to be with. Annoying... really taxing... you sincerely miss having a moment of silence.

"Hey!" You grumbled lightly as you fixed your glasses, before pushing your lower lips out in a pout with the way he smirked at you. 

"Hey there too." His toothy smile shined with a coyness that reaches his cheeks.

He might've thought he look hotshot with that set stupid piercings of his, or with that pretty mug that other girls like to coo about- but to you; Tengen, Uzui is just that one guy that irritates you just for existing.

"You ever thought of just, you know?" You flick your wrist exasperatedly as you find your words, having your patience grow thin with how he always appear at moments you thought you would never see the living daylight of him. 

Because you even have to climb the second floor and walked its hallways just to avoid bumping to him - but no, he have to just rub his shoulder against yours on your way. 

"Let me walk in peace?" 

Uzui intentionally collided into you once again, and you were even walking sideways to avoid him but he kept following you. How he did he even knew you plan to walk on this hallway? Was he stalking you just to retake what small pride of his that was bruised the first time you two met?

 Because that's your suspicion, and you wished you never had a tough bravado to begin with.