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1. Shinobu
It seemed that Nezuko Kamado was the herald for a new era, the very one Kanae had believed in and wanted so badly, the one Shinobu had dedicated herself to, despite the fact that it wasn’t a future she quite believed in, let alone had hope in.
But was this really one of the first steps that had to be taken?
Upper Moon Three? Involved with—with—
The demon followed Kyojuro around like a damn shadow. Ever since the truth had come out about the… relationship, Shinobu didn’t think she’d seen her friend a single time without the demon lurking just a few paces away. She was fairly certain the Flame Hashira had adopted a permanent nocturnal sleeping schedule, specifically so he could constantly be with him. Missions, infirmary visits, even fucking Hashira meetings, Akaza was always there.
It was unnerving.
Was this the only way to coexist with demons? Find each one a human for them to latch onto, and leave them attached at the hip forever? At first, she’d assumed the codependency she observed from Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado was the result of trauma, but after being forced to watch Akaza and Kyojuro interact, perhaps clingy codependency was the only type of companionship demons were capable of.
She supposed it made sense, given how obsessive they all seemed to be. No demon cared about something the normal way; it was obsession or apathy.
And what Akaza felt for Kyojuro was definitely obsession.
Although… given the way her friend interacted with the demon, perhaps it was mutual…
“You should have let me kill it,” Akaza growled.
Shinobu squeezed her eyes shut, praying for the gods to give her strength as she bandaged up Kyojuro’s chest, pointedly ignoring the extensive scarring across his torso, courtesy of the very demon practically crawling onto the bed with him.
“It’s dead now, Akaza, so it doesn’t matter,” Kyojuro said with a bright smile. “And I will be fine! They’re just flesh wounds, isn’t that right, Shinobu?”
“Yes,” she ground out, pretending not to notice Akaza’s scathing glare as she was forcibly dragged into the conversation. Or perhaps he was upset that she was touching Kyojuro. He could get rather possessive when he was in one of his moods, and Kyojuro getting injured was a surefire way to instigate one.
“But I wanted to kill it,” the demon insisted. “It shouldn’t have touched you.”
Shinobu tightened the bandage, probably with a bit too much force if Kyojuro’s slight wince was anything to go by, but honestly! How did he live like this? Shinobu wanted to strangle the demon, and she wasn’t even the one he focused on!
“I can protect myself, Akaza, thank you,” Kyojuro said, though his tone was more teasing than irritated. “You don’t need to eviscerate every demon that dares to land a hit on me. In fact, I would probably be out of a job, if you did such a thing! You’d replace me as a Hashira!”
Shinobu’s eye twitched. As if she would ever—
“As if,” Akaza said. “You think I would ever fight with the likes of her?” he demanded as he bared his teeth at her.
Shinobu forced herself to smile. “Given you are an ally of the Corps now, Akaza, if I was ordered, I would be more than willing to work with you.” For Kanae, she would be friendly with demons who defected to their side. For Kanae. For Kanae, for Kanae, for Kanae—
“Shinobu is a wonderful Hashira,” Kyojuro added with a nod. “You know that, ‘Kaza.”
Gods, when did that nickname become a thing? She swore Kyojuro fell deeper and deeper into the pit of insanity every time she saw him. She’d thought there could be nothing worse than him getting romantically involved with a demon, an Upper Moon at that! And yet, every time she witnessed more of the way this relationship worked, she was somehow shocked further.
Akaza scoffed and turned his head away.
Not that Kyojuro cared or noticed. “She’s a formidable fighter, and incredibly smart, and—”
Shinobu opened her mouth, prepared to tell the man that she was not so fragile as to need him to defend her to his demonic boyfriend, but her jaw snapped shut before she could get even a sound out.
Akaza lunged across the infirmary bed, closing what tiny distance remained between him and Kyojuro, and bit him. Right on the fucking neck, deep enough that a thin trickle of blood dripped from the wound, though Akaza was quick to lap it away, before clamping his sharpened teeth back down.
Shinobu squeaked, her hand going for her sword on instinct, ready to stab the demon for attacking Kyojuro out of nowhere—
But Kyojuro merely sighed, as if this was a common or expected occurrence. “Akaza, not in front of Shinobu.” He patted the demon’s jaw, gently, causing him to let go. “I told you to wait until I had my injuries checked out.”
A low, rumbling growl reverberated from Akaza’s chest, and though he didn’t bite down again, he refused to pull his face out of the crook of Kyojuro’s neck. His quiet sniffing could be heard through the awkward silence, and occasionally, his tongue darted out to lick at the bite wound.
Kyojuro offered Shinobu a pathetic smile, nowhere near ashamed enough for what she had just witnessed.
Because if that hadn’t been some bizarre attack, then—then—
Shinobu’s gaze shot to the ceiling, her entire face burning as she actually processed what she just saw. She wasn’t a prude, by any means, but she’d never even seen Kyojuro and the demon kiss, let alone whatever the hell that had been. “I’m, uh…” She snatched the roll of bandages from the bedside table. “I’m finished with your bandages.”
Akaza’s eerie eyes slid towards her, menacing despite the kanji having disappeared along with Muzan’s curse, though he still didn’t pull himself away from Kyojuro’s neck, and flustered embarrassment morphed to irritation and anger as Shinobu realized she’d played right into what the demon wanted.
“Is this a common occurrence?” she asked, forcing her normal smile to return, never breaking the staring contest with Akaza. “Him biting you? I wasn’t aware he was getting most of his blood from you, Kyojuro.”
“Ah…” Kyojuro shifted, and Akaza grumbled as that dislodged him from his place. “That wasn’t—It—”
“Oh?” Shinobu leaned closer. “He bit you for some other reason? Whatever else would he do that for?”
If Akaza wanted to play this game, she could play it.
Kyojuro finally had the sense to get embarrassed, his cheeks flushing as he nudged Akaza away. “It’s nothing, Shinobu! Don’t trouble yourself with it!”
Akaza moved so that he sat behind Kyojuro, wrapping his arms around the other man’s chest and peering over his shoulder at Shinobu, a clear indication that she should back the hell off.
But well… Shinobu couldn’t do that! If Akaza was truly going to be an ally and spend copious amounts of time around them, he needed to realize how very difficult everyone could be, herself included. “Don’t trouble myself with it?” She let her hand drift towards her sword, fingers tapping against the hilt. “If he bit you for no reason, that’s not acceptable! He’s meant to protect humans now, not harm them.”
Akaza tightened his grip on Kyojuro, and Kyojuro made a rather pathetic nose, something almost resembling a keen in the back of his throat. It nearly made Shinobu feel bad enough to spare him from any more embarrassment, but she’d already come this far, and if he was going to engage in behaviors like that with his demonic lover in front of others, he deserved to get teased for it.
Even if he hadn’t realized that was what Shinobu was doing yet.
“I’m okay with it, Shinobu!” Kyojuro exclaimed, finally shrugging Akaza off. “Really! There’s no need to worry about it!”
“You’re okay with him biting you?” she asked with a tilt of her head. “You like it?”
And just like that, any and all of Kyojuro’s embarrassment vanished once more. “Yes, I do! It’s how he shows affection!”
Shinobu blanked, not expecting the conversation to take that turn. Was the ridiculous man really more ashamed of her not knowing why Akaza bit him, than he was over her finding out he enjoyed it?
What the hell was wrong with him…?
“I see…” With a heavy sigh, Shinobu admitted she had just lost whatever bizarre game this was to Akaza, who still just stared at her without saying a word, and turned to walk out of the infirmary, determined to shove this incident into some dark, dusty corner of her mind to never, ever think about again. “As I said, I’m done with your bandages. Though do take it easy for a day or two.”
Though if biting was the way Akaza showed his affections, Shinobu suspected her advice fell on deaf ears.
“Thank you, Shinobu!” Kyojuro called after her.
She waved over her shoulder with a grunt, not wanting to turn back around and see the triumphant look in Akaza’s eyes.
Nezuko and Tanjiro
Tanjiro had met Akaza several times since what he had deemed the train incident, but despite that, he didn’t think he would ever get used to seeing the demon in such a casual environment. After all, their very first interaction had been Akaza trying to crush his head.
An order from Muzan to be instinctively followed, apparently, but Tanjiro still didn’t appreciate it.
But… he knew the demon was trying, and that he cared about Rengoku, so he would be civil!
“The hell are you staring at, brat?” Akaza demanded.
Even if the demon seemed determined to test his patience.
Nezuko huffed at his words, but refused to quit staring at him and Rengoku, which Tanjiro could admit was a bit odd. Sure, a lot of Nezuko’s social skills had vanished with her transformation, but she still wasn’t prone to staring at others. She was a perfectly mild mannered young lady, and she knew such a thing was a bit rude! Not to mention, they’d known Rengoku for a while now, and had met Akaza several times, so it wasn’t like she was overwhelmed by people she didn’t know well.
“Akaza, be nice,” Rengoku scolded as he nudged the demon’s shoulder with own. “You know! Miss Kamado is one of the only demons in the world who understands your situation, along with Lady Tamayo!”
Akaza’s eyes narrowed as he stared right back at Nezuko.
She snarled.
“Nezuko!” Tanjiro waved his hands. “Akaza isn't an enemy, you know that! We just worked a mission with him and Rengoku! He helped us fight! Rengoku is right, he’s like you!”
Akaza’s eye twitched, but he didn’t deny the statement.
She pointed a little clawed finger towards Rengoku, before turning to Tanjiro and making an alarmed noise.
“Yes?” Tanjiro shook his head. “Rengoku is fine. He didn’t even get hurt!”
Nezuko huffed, her face twisting in displeasure, and she grabbed the front of Tanjiro’s uniform, yanking him down so she could point at his nose, then pointed towards Rengoku again.
“What?”
Across the little campfire, Akaza snickered. “He’s more than alright, brat. Though I wouldn’t expect a little pipsqueak like you to understand.”
Nezuko clenched her fists, stomped her foot, and returned to glaring at Akaza.
“Understand what?” Tanjiro asked. “If you know what she’s talking about, maybe you could explain instead of being mean to her.”
Akaza rolled his eyes. “I’m not—”
“Akaza.” Rengoku reached over to grab the back of the demon’s neck, and it was a gentle hold, despite the odd placement of the gesture. “Kamado is right, you should be kinder to his sister.”
“I’m not kind,” he snarled.
Rengoku chuckled. “Well, no. But I’m requesting that you be kind enough to calm her down, if you know what’s bothering her.”
“She’s throwing a fit because you smell like me,” he said with a wolfish smile. “Little demon brat doesn’t like that.”
Tanjiro tilted his head and took a deep breath, and well… Akaza was definitely right. He hadn’t really noticed it before, how the demon’s scent clung to Rengoku. He’d assumed it was because they were both near each other, and had been traveling together for a long time now, but this was… a bit different, almost like Akaza’s scent had become part of Rengoku’s.
Odd.
But he didn’t understand why Nezuko wouldn’t like something like that.
A grating hiss came from the back of Nezuko’s throat at Akaza’s declaration, and Tanjiro grabbed her hand, hoping that would help calm her down. “Nezuko, it’s okay. They travel together a lot. Like we do with Inosuke and Zenitsu.”
“Mm mm.” She shook her head, and turned her concerned gaze back to Rengoku.
“I didn’t know I smelled of you…” Rengoku mused as he stoked the campfire with a stick.
“I’m all over you. Of course you smell like me,” Akaza said. “Keeps the smart demons away.”
The second part of his statement was said with a sharp glare towards Nezuko, and Tanjiro had to take a deep, calming breath. How dare he insinuate Nezuko wasn’t smart! She was brilliant! And it wasn’t her fault she couldn’t communicate more clearly!
“Oh, is it a territorial thing?” Rengoku asked with a tilt of his head. “Like the bullshit you pulled with Shinobu in the infirmary several weeks ago?”
“She kept touching you.”
“She was treating my injuries.”
“I could have done it,” Akaza insisted.
Rengoku sighed and finished with the fire, settling down next to the demon once more. “Akaza…”
“Territorial thing?” Tanjiro dared to ask, some part of him sensing this conversation was going to go somewhere he was not prepared for, but curiosity got the better of him.
“I don’t like to share,” Akaza growled. “Your kid sister doesn’t like that I don’t like to share. Welcome to the cause of most demon infighting.”
“But what would you even be sharing?” Tanjiro asked. Of course, he knew demons didn’t like to share meals between each other, with very few exceptions, but Nezuko and Akaza didn’t eat humans, and there was no food here for them to fight over.
“Me,” Rengoku supplied. “Akaza does not like to share me.”
“Oh… Oh.” Tanjiro’s gaze shot to the ground, and he hoped the darkness hid the blush he felt on his cheeks. “Um… Nezuko doesn’t… She uh…”
Rengoku’s rich laughter left Tanjiro nearly jumping out of his skin. “I did not think so, young Kamado! But Akaza here doesn’t care for distinctions, even if it’s something we’re working on.”
“O-Oh…” Tanjiro glanced towards Nezuko, but she had returned to simply staring at the pair of men. “That’s uh, it—”
“I don’t mind though,” Rengoku said with a wave of his hand. “If Akaza wishes to have me, he can have me. And Miss Kamado—” he smiled towards Nezuko “—I assure you he treats me very well. There is no need to get upset on my behalf.”
Nezuko narrowed her eyes, but the words did put her at ease, and she slumped against Tanjiro’s side, deciding to watch the fire instead of Akaza.
Frankly, Tanjiro still had no idea what the hell was going on, but perhaps he shouldn’t question it too hard, for his own sanity.
Akaza moved so he could rest his chin on Rengoku’s shoulder, but not before licking his tongue across the Flame Hashira’s jaw.
Tanjiro jerked his head to the left, positive he hadn’t been meant to see something like that, but Rengoku hardly reacted to it all! He’d already changed the subject, going on about something to do with Mitsuri.
Yes, best to just move on from that, especially if Nezuko was satisfied. Tanjiro really didn’t want or need to know anything else about that relationship.
Sanemi
“Oh! Hello, Sanemi! What brings you here?”
Sanemi grit his teeth, and cursed the gods for letting him arrive at the Butterfly Mansion just as night had fallen. If the sun was still up, maybe it would just be Kyojuro (not that he particularly wanted to have a conversation with the man who had betrayed them for a demon, even if no one else seemed to see it that way), and not the former Upper Moon who trailed around after him like a damn dog. But then again… probably not. Kyojuro had adopted a permanent nocturnal sleep schedule himself, like he couldn’t spend a single second without the fucking demon.
“To see Shinobu,” he ground out. “Fuck off.”
Kyojuro’s smile doesn’t falter, but when did it ever? He simply closed the distance between them, and clapped Sanemi’s shoulder, like they’re old friends.
(And well, they might be, but like hell Sanemi wants to fucking acknowledge it).
“Just a visit?” he prompts. “You don’t look injured, and from what I know, someone would have to drag you here kicking and screaming before—”
Sanemi jerked away from him with a sneer. “Don’t fucking touch me!”
“Alright, alright.” Kyojuro raised his hands in surrender. “Always so moody, Sanemi. What’s pissed you off today?”
“Oh I don’t fucking know.” He turned his glare towards the demon lingering at the end of the hallway, watching the pair of them with a solemn expression. “It’s goddamn hot outside, I have to see Shinobu, there’s a fucking demon staring at me who you think it’s a good idea to trust!”
“Oh, you’re still on about that?” Kyojuro rubbed the back of his neck, and Sanemi glared at the faint bite marks decorating his skin, courtesy of unnatural fangs.
Kyojuro was a fucking idiot.
Everyone was a fucking idiot for letting him live this way!
From down the hallway, Akaza flipped him off.
Sanemi’s fingers itched for his sword.
“You know, he’s really very good to me,” Kyojuro said, his smile as irritatingly genuine as ever. “He—”
Should Sanemi have punched him? All things considered, probably not, but he was not in the mood to hear about Kyojuro’s ridiculous, stupid relationship with a former Upper Moon.
He was kind enough not to hit him as hard as he could, but there was still a sharp crack, and blood spurted from the other Hashira’s nose. Kyojuro gasped, his hand flying up to try and stop the blood flow, before his eyes blew wide and he shouted, “Akaza! Don’t—!”
Sanemi grinned as a hand wrapped around his throat, squeezing, more than powerful enough to crush his windpipe if the demon so desired. His own hand scrabbled for the hilt of his sword, but he was already being thrown, with enough force to crash through a damn wall.
The wood cracked and splintered around his body, cascading down on him, and it took Sanemi’s mind a moment to catch up with the fact that he was not standing next to Kyojuro anymore, but was instead lying on the floor, staring up at the ceiling of the office which had been blocked off by said destroyed wall.
Shinobu’s gonna fucking kill me…
“Akaza!” Kyojuro groaned. “You didn’t have to— ack!”
Sanemi scrambled to his feet, sword already in hand, more than alarmed by such a surprised and peculiar noise coming from Kyojuro. He knew they couldn’t trust that fucking demon, that Akaza was just biding his time before he—
His blade clattered to the floor, disturbing the rubble of the broken wall further.
Akaza gripped the sides of Kyojuro’s face, his tongue delicately lapping up the trickles of blood running from his nose. And Kyojuro was far less alarmed with the situation than he should have been, his face scrunching up as Akaza’s tongue slid from the trail of blood to his cheekbone, leaving behind a smudge of bloody saliva.
And Kyojuro, the fucking maniac, merely chuckled, as if the demon’s antics were mildly exasperating or entertaining, not a predator getting a taste of a potential meal.
“Akaza, I’m fine.” Kyojuro nudged him away. “But I’d like to have Shinobu look at this, just to make sure it’s not broken.”
Akaza growled and wrapped his arms around Kyojuro’s waist, squeezing him tightly, like he was never going to let him go, and buried his face in the crook of the slayer’s neck.
What the fuck was Sanemi looking at right now?
Kyojuro pet his hair. “‘Kaza, I’m fine. Been through a lot worse. And it’s not the first time Sanemi’s sucker punched me.”
The demon’s snarls rumbled louder. “Fucking Hashira.”
Sanemi resisted the urge to snap that it wasn’t a sucker punch, and that Kyojuro had it coming for prattling on about a goddamn demon like a blushing bride on their wedding day, but considering he just had to watch Akaza lick all over Kyojuro’s face, he didn’t want to say or do anything that might instigate another situation like that. “Stop giving him tastes of your blood, Kyojuro,” he settled on. “Or the thing’ll eat you alive.”
Kyojuro rolled his eyes. “It’s not the first time he’s had my blood, Sanemi, and it will definitely not be the last. Maybe don’t punch your fellow swordsmen outside of spars.”
“Yeah, Sanemi—” Akaza said, finally pulling his face out of Kyojuro’s neck to fix Sanemi with a piercing glare, accurately guessing that use of his given name would only piss him off further. “Kyojuro’s blood is mine.”
“What-fucking-ever. You wanna get eaten? Be my fucking guest.” He kicked a loose board in frustration, and stomped down the hall, leaving Akaza to fuss after Kyojuro’s wound in the fucked way a demon would.
Licking it.
What kind of kinky bullshit…
Tengen
Kyojuro yawned, propping an elbow on the table and bowing his head as he did so. “Apologies, Tengen…” he murmured, one hand coming up to rub at his eyes, and Tengen was fairly certain this was the first time he’d ever seen the Flame Hashira visibly tired. The dark circles smudged under his eyes could rival Shinobu when she got in one of her moods and refused to sleep. “I’m not used to being awake midday right now.”
“Missions keeping you busy?” he asked after taking a drink of his sake, though he knew damn well that wasn’t the main reason for Kyojuro’s sudden and total nocturnal sleep schedule.
“Well, that’s part of it, but obviously Akaza can’t do much during the day,” he answered. “Did you know it’s actually difficult for demons to stay awake when the sun is up? They’re very drowsy; it’s rather interesting, I think!”
“Uh huh…” Tengen’s gaze shifted to the purplish bruises on Kyojuro’s neck, along with various teeth marks. And while he certainly wasn’t any type of prude, it still surprised him that a man like Kyojuro would be so brazen as to not only allow the demon to mark him so clearly, but not even attempt to disguise the bites and hickeys. “Though from the looks of it, you two aren’t doing much sleeping during the day either.”
Kyojuro choked on his mouthful of noodles, and Tengen let out a hearty laugh.
“No need to be ashamed about it! I just didn’t take you for the type to enjoy being so marked up by a partner.” He tampered down his laughter and shook his head. “But then… I never took you for the type to find a demon attractive at all.”
Kyojuro reached for his drink, clearly disgruntled by the turn the conversation had taken. He wasn’t exactly flustered, but certainly didn’t appreciate Tengen’s teasing. “Demons are attractive. We all know that.”
Tengen’s eye widened. “I’m sorry?”
“Demons have always been attractive. Or well… some of them are. But we all know that,” Kyojuro said with a shrug.
Tengen held his hand up. “Hold on, I’m going to need some elaboration. Because sure, I’m not blind—well, I’m only half blind! But, I can admit when a demon is attractive, because the person they used to be had clearly been attractive. But you’re saying it like them being a demon is what makes them attractive.”
“Yes…” Kyojuro’s gaze drifted up towards the ceiling, like he didn’t want to make eye contact. “I thought we all knew this.”
“You think demons are attractive.”
“Yes! Obviously!”
“Dear gods…” Tengen shook his head and reached for his sake. “You’re an unusual man, Kyojuro! What makes a demon attractive?”
“I don’t know!” he exclaimed as he threw his arms up. “What do you want me to say, Tengen? I thought we just—I thought everyone agreed on this! I thought it was just an aspect of demons that we ignored to fight them, and—”
Tengen burst out laughing so loudly several other patrons of the restaurant glanced over at their table. “You’re attracted to demons! And you just thought everyone else was? What is so attractive about their freaky eyes and too big teeth and all the other weird shit they have going on? Is that why you let him bite you so much? You into that kinda shit, Kyojuro?”
“No!” he exclaimed. “N-No! I don’t—”
“Hey, I’m not judging!” Tengen placated. “Truly! Well… perhaps a little bit—”
“You have three wives! You have no right to judge anyone for their romantic choices!” he interrupted.
“Do you know how many men would kill for the attention of just one of my wonderful wives?” Tengen scoffed and shook his head. “Besides, women are women. We are talking about demons. Though… I must say… I never took you as someone who would be so submissive—”
“I am not!” Kyojuro practically shouted, and yeah, people were definitely staring at their table now. “Akaza only bites because I let him!”
Tengen shoved his hand over his mouth, desperately trying to muffle his laughter. “That’s just proof you like it,” he forced out. “You let him bite you.”
“Damn straight I do!” Kyojuro crossed his arms and turned his nose up. “And sometimes I bite him, too! But I don’t see anyone say anything about that! It’s only ever the other way around!”
Tengen’s laughter abruptly died in his throat. “Huh…?”
“Is it just because I don’t bite him in front of other people like he does with me?” he asked, leaning across the table. “Because he doesn’t let the bite marks heal, Tengen. Just no one pays as much attention to him.”
“I—Uh—”
“Whatever.” Kyojuro waved him off and settled back in his seat, already digging another bite of noodles out of his bowl. “Never mind.”
Tengen blinked, trying to figure out when the hell he’d lost control of the conversation, as well as how much he’d thought he’d known about Kyojuro had just evaporated.
This was the last time he ever inquired about his friend’s relationship, let alone the more sexual aspects of it.
He shook his head, letting the subject drop, and instead inquired about how all the other Hashira had been doing since his retirement.
He never thought he’d ask about them for a semblance of normalcy.
+1 Mitsuri
“This is ridiculous,” Sanemi grumbled. “The fact that we have to wait for goddamn nightfall for a Hashira meeting is deplorable. At this rate, why don’t we just give the damned thing Tengen’s spot? Huh?”
“Oh, hush, Sanemi!” Mitsuri scolded as she lightly slapped the man’s upper arm. “Be happy for Kyojuro! He found someone he really loves, and who loves him too!”
“The demon…?” Muichiro asked, though given the way he stared off into space, he wasn’t actually tuned into the conversation.
“Yes, the demon!” Sanemi seethed. “They don’t love each other!”
“Well clearly they feel something for each other,” Shinobu said. “After all, Akaza broke Muzan’s curse for Kyojuro, and Kyojuro… well, he certainly compromised some morals to find it in his heart to live with Akaza.”
“It’s bullshit!” he spit.
“It is not!” Mitsuri insisted as she stomped her foot. Of course, she’d only gotten to interact with Kyojuro and Akaza a few times since this had all come out, but it was obvious how much they loved each other! You could see it in their eyes every time they looked at one another! Hear it in their voices when they spoke! Did no one else see that? “And be nice. None of you are nice to Akaza!”
“It’s not like Sanemi was nice to Nezuko either,” Giyu said, and well, he was being strangely talkative today, it seemed!
“She’s a demon!” Sanemi shouted.
“Yes, we all know, Sanemi,” Shinobu said. “But it seems we should get used to working with demons. This is the way the world is shifting. Perhaps you should try befriending a demon,” she said with a mirthful smile.
“What, so it can bite the shit out of me and drink my blood whenever it damn well pleases?” he asked with a scoff. “No fucking thank you.”
Shinobu sighed. “While I do admit the biting is a bit odd and alarming, Kyojuro always insists that such a thing is fine, so I don’t think it’s anything we need to be truly worried about.”
“Biting…?” Giyu questioned with a tilt of his head.
“Freak of a demon bites the shit out of Kyojuro all the time and the damn idiot never seems to give a shit,” Sanemi grumbled.
“Why do you only care that Akaza bites Kyojuro?” Mitsuri asked, a slight irritation on behalf of her friend welling up within her. “Do you just want to find reasons to hate Akaza? Kyojuro bites him all the time, too!”
Sanemi jerked his head around to stare at her so quickly Mitsuri swore she heard the vertebrae pop. “Fucking what!?”
“Yes, I believe I’m going to need some elaboration on that, Mitsuri,” Shinobu said.
“You really don’t notice?” Mitsuri chuckled and shook her head. “Well, I supposed Akaza doesn’t have as many, but he has the same bite marks all over his neck and shoulders as Kyojuro does. And I’ve seen Kyojuro nip at him from time to time.” She clasped her hands together and let out a dreamy sigh. “Isn’t it so sweet? I hope I find someone who cares about me that much one day!”
“You’ve got the same goddamn screws loose as Kyojuro does,” Sanemi said. “How the fuck is that sweet? How is biting anything good?”
“Some romantic and sexual partners find pleasure in that, Sanemi,” Shinobu answered. “Though I suppose you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
“I’ve fucked people before!” he practically roared.
Shinobu’s smile faltered as she tried to stifle her laughter.
“Hush!” Mitsuri scolded. “Muichiro is right there!”
“So is Giyu,” Shinobu snickered.
Giyu tilted his head. “Huh?”
“Oh nothing.” Shinobu waved him off. “Wouldn’t expect you to understand.”
“Muichiro has never listened to a damn thing in his entire fucking life,” Sanemi said. “Fuck off, Mitsuri.”
Mitsuri rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t talking about sex, you know. Though it’s fine if that’s why they like it, too, I just don’t think that’s the only reason. It’s like—like—Oh! I know!” She snapped her fingers. “Cat bites!”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Sanemi demanded.
“You know! Sometimes you’ll be playing with or petting a cat,” she explained. “The cat is purring, the cat really likes it, but then it’ll just randomly bite you. It’s like that! It doesn’t mean the cat hates you, or that it wants you to stop doing that or stop interacting with it. It’s just being playful, and showing love in a really specific way. It’s like that. It’s just a really specific way of showing affection that Kyojuro and Akaza like. It’s not something bad. Like I said, I think it’s very sweet and romantic.”
“Cat bites…” Shinobu echoed with a solemn nod. “I suppose that does make sense in a way.”
“You’re fucking crazy,” Sanemi huffed, still unconvinced. “Every fucking one of you. Just as goddamn crazy as Kyojuro is.”
Mitsuri really didn’t think so, but she also knew better than to argue at this point, and Sanemi would get over himself eventually. “Oh, whatever you say. But the sun’s almost down now, so they should be getting here soon.”
“Great, I can watch them engage in their cat bites,” Sanemi said with a roll of his eyes.
“Yes, we can!” Mitsuri said with a bright smile. “And we will all be very supportive, because Akaza is trying, and Kyojuro proved that even an Upper Moon has redeeming qualities. Besides, if a Hashira and an Upper Moon can love each other so thoroughly, that means everyone has hope. Even the likes of you, Sanemi.”
“Fuck you.”