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Muichirou groaned underneath a bright white moon.
"This sucks." She said aloud, using her toe to nudge the crumbling body of the demon she just killed. Its mouth was already gone, but those hateful eyes remained on her. Surely cursing the Pillar again and again and again.
"You were very gross," Muichirou complained. Digging her foot into the demon's lopped off arm. It crumbles underneath the slightest pressure like a rotted book, and the demon's eyes widen in a flash of pain.
And Muichirou, covered in grime, dirt, and sweat. Smiles with satisfaction as she stomps its eyes out.
The sight of the Wisteria Estate is a welcomed one, inconspicuous among the bustle and lights of the growing village. It would be a full fledged city in another year and Muichirou could not express how much she hoped she was not here for that.
She ducks through the entrance. Wisteria crest fluttering like wings over dirty black hair and torn fabric. A hostess is immediately at her beck and call. Wide smile and a slight crinkle to her eye, "My Lord Tokitou."
The hostess in a lilac kimono extends a glass, Muichirou takes it to soothe her throat, and doesn't bother correcting her mistake. "Lord Tokitou, a room and fresh clothes have already been prepared for you. There is also a robe in your room should you decide to take a dip in our hot springs." After you clean up goes unsaid, Muichirou is young. But not an animal.
"A-and we have a doctor-"
"Don't need one, nothing is broken. Cuts aren't too deep." Muichirou handed the glass back, wiping her mouth free of water droplets. The hostess flusters, her skin turning pink as she cleared her throat. She was unused to Muichirou's rather flippant behavior, Kanroji and Tomioka frequented these regions more often — but they were unable and therefore Muichirou was sent.
The hostess should be lucky it wasn't Shinazugawa or Iguro.
"At least let him clean your cuts!" the woman snaps, then clamps a hand over her mouth. Realizing she raised a voice at a Pillar. Muichirou looked at her, brow wrinkled with a scowl as the air turned heavier and thicker.
"After my bath and soak. If that makes you feel better."
"I… yes, that would be fine." The hostess is jarred by the agreement, Muichirou was trying to be less blunt and ignorant, but she had trouble with the ghost of Yuichirou.
"Then I will be back soon." She nods, the ends of her hair curling around her jaw as she did so. Wordlessly, then. Muichirou takes off for her room, eager for a night of rest. The words 'thank you' are awkward and stiff on her tongue. So Muichirou doesn't bother, rather to leave her silence genuine than to fill it with syrupy sweetness that rolls stomachs.
Her neck rolls. Trying to ease the strain twinging her back. Muscles jumped and made her wince. Teeth digging into the bottom of her lip, a sharp sting was always taken easier than an ache making her vision white-out when disturbed.
Benefits of being a Pillar, Muichirou gets the nicest, largest room of the entire Wisteria refuge. It could not be bought with even the highest yen and only with the service of cutting down demons of the caliber she did. The only slight disadvantage of this, is that a Pillar's quarters were also always the furthest away for privacy purposes. And the aches in her legs were stubbornly groaning. Muichirou didn't want to move but she didn't want to be dirty either.
And complaining about it to herself, made the drab walk even longer. Her shoulders slouched, and her feet dragged rather sluggishly. Muichirou would be a proper pouting teen, angered by blooming responsibilities. If it weren't the katana and scabbard at her hip.
Eden comes into view. Her room, with fresh blankets and clothes and a soft futon and—
Muichirou frowns. An eccentric exhale blowing from her nose. And she couldn't just lay down and sleep— she could! Would have, actually, a few months ago. But it would be improper and she was trying to be more proper. She reminded herself with gritted teeth.
And despite it all, Muichirou really did wish to soak in the hot springs. Though at this rate she might fall asleep in them.
Carefully tucking the fabric underneath her arm (why did it have to be white when so many Demon Slayers came to Wisteria Estate's covered in dirt, blood, and other various liquids and crusts?) she turns on her heel, shoulders rising with a tired inhale and sets off on her walk back to the other end of the halls that felt endlessly long. Orpheus was Muichirou, and this Wisteria Estate was the Underworld.
It seems in a sluggish blink, she's outside the bath-house. Heat crept from the door, wet and warm and a welcomed sensation. It made Muichirou feel a little more awake — the bags underneath her eyes not so heavy anymore. And fingernails caked with gunk eagerly reached for the door, when—
"Tokitou-San?" It opens for her, revealing a startled Shinazugawa Genya. Clean skin coveted in a white robe and wet hair tied back. From the hot water, the tall girls' skin was already pink. But from the… ah, startle? Of the Pillar before her, it deepens into an impressive red. "I didn't know you were here."
"I wasn't supposed to be." Is the honest answer, Muichirou straightens. Clears her throat, it crinkled with a rasp from exhaustion and recounting her report to Ginko. Suddenly, though. Muichirou felt a bit self conscious in front of the tall girls. Aware that she was dirty, but now. She felt like she was dirty in front of the Shinazugawa girl, uselessly fixing her hair and smoothing wrinkles from her uniform. "It was a last minute thing."
"Oh, did you dispel a demon?" Shinazugawa asked, with a cock of her head. Wet hair dangled with the softest of curls, Muichirou could smell the soap on her. Lilac, honey, and lemon. She wondered how soft the moisture of it made her skin.
"Yes, it gave me a little bit of a run, though. It was probably of Lower Moon caliber." She gestured to the stains on her uniform and the cuts on her face. The gash on her arm and legs were hidden by the oversized fabric of her uniform. But Shinazugawa didn't need to know of that, "though it did not have any number etched into its eye."
Shinazugawa's lips curve in thought, Muichirou cannot help that her eyes follow them. And wonder only a moment later: why?
"I see, I'm sorry that I wasn't there to offer any aid."
"Don't be," Demon Slayers couldn't all possibly convene to one area. "It wasn't anything I couldn't handle."
"Of course," Shinazugawa nods, the skin that had cooled off into her normal skin tone brightened again, the pink-red hue bewitching on ivory skin. "Pillars really are amazing."
The compliment could be directed to any Pillar, all of them, in fact. Himejima, Shinazugawa, Kanroji. All the Pillars Shinazugawa knew of or spent much more time with than her— but Muichirou ducks her head. Her own shy blush making her skin feel warm.
"Thank you." She says awkwardly, realizing she cares if Shinazugawa knew she was grateful or not. The tall girls smile stretches a width wider, and it's beautiful.
"I'll- uhm." Perhaps suddenly aware she's been talking to Muichirou in nothing more than a robe, Shinazugawa clears her throat. And the moment is cleared with it. "I'll leave you to it, now."
"Yes, thank you." Muichirou wonders if the edge of disappoint is softened or not, as she watches Shinazugawa walk by.
Her eyes linger on the swish of hips.
Once thoroughly cleaned and amazed at how long it took for the water to run clear down her body. Muichirou feels better and more awake. Which meant more importantly she could go soak for just a little while before returning to bed. By then the sun would be close to rising — but Demon Slayers traveled at night for a reason.
The robe is big on Muichirou's frame. Not at all accentuating the curve of her hips or the dip of her waist (Just like Shinazugawa's did—) but that was generally how she liked it. If an enemy couldn't tell the direction her limbs were going, then they couldn't tell where her katana was swinging either.
The hostess smiles at her again, polite and perfectly crafted to be non threatening. Muichirou does not smile back at her but takes the offer of a small snack before she heads to the warmed water. Figuring it would help stave off any lightheadedness if she overheated.
Thankfully. The water of the hot springs is not the water of Styx. So it doesn't take long for Muichirou to ferry her way across. The large privacy fences to keep others out and others safely inside loomed, faintly illuminated by some light posts that stood by like guardians. Water burbled and bubbled, as pale eyes swept over each pool she could enter in. They were all unaccompanied — expected since it was so late in the night.
Which is why seeing Shinazugawa is a shock, the girl's white robe neatly folded on the warm rock and acting as a pillow while she tipped her head back, mouth curved open in a small gap. Eyelids closed in peace, her eyelashes grazed the apples of her cheeks. Red and rosy from the water.
She looked beautiful. Muichirou's feet pull her toward the girl, as if she is an irresistible treasure.
Her footsteps are uncaring though, kicking stray pebbles and slapping on the stone. Shinazugawa's small eyebrows knit in confusion, her eyes crinkling in concentration. Enveloped warmly in her comfort yet she could tell something was off.
When violet eyes flutter open. Muichirou is already standing in front of her, slender hands on the tie to her robe.
Shinazugawa freaks.
"Huh- OH! Tokitou-San!" She juts around in the water. It sloshes like a proper wave, crashing around her body and spilling over the rocks. Her strong arms that flex with lean muscle wrap around her breast.
Muichirou quirks a brow, confused as she continues to undo the tie holding her robe shut.
"What are you—" one hand is removed from her breast to slap over her eyes while the other snakes across. Squishing the mounds of fat and splaying her fingers open so that even though her eyes were covered. Shinazugawa could still see everything that happens. And, every inch of Muichirou.
"Soaking?" Muichirou answers, as the robe falls off completely. The moonlight beams and warm glow of the lamp-lights illuminate her skin. Scars, muscles that were hidden and therefore surprising. Shinazugawa gaps as she stares — and Muichirou smiles, watching as her eyes follow along her body. From her face, clean of dirt and blood. To her chest, where small breasts sat. Her waist wasn't very prominent or curvy — at least certainly not like Kanroji's when the Love Pillar had badgered her into soaking together at the Swordsmith Village. But that was changing more every day as Muichirou grew.
Shinazugawa's eyes keep traveling down, with trepidation laced curiosity. But when black pubic hair begins to come to sight, she looks away. Face lit with flame.
"You're- you're a girl?"
"Indeed, shocking I know." Muichirou answered as she sank into the water. It tickled as the high heat shocked her skin, before it soothed and settled. "Is that disappointing?"
"No!" Shinazugawa's head snaps up, face blanketed in sincerity. "It was just a surprise! I really- I- thought…"
"It's okay, they all do." Muichirou was short, with short hair (save for the two stands she did keep long.) and an obscuring uniform. The other Pillars had all one by one discovered her real sex and reacted with varying degrees of shock or uncaring. Iguro-San before had seemed rather uncurious of her but not apprehensive, until he'd learned that she was a girl. From then on, Muichirou could always sense an ease of discomfort from the man.
Tengen had said something Muichirou could not quite remember. Something about being unflashy before Shinobu-San, who knew all along. Had quietly murmured something that made the tall man break out into a sweat. Kanroji had offered to doll her up, should she ever so choose. Tomioka had said nothing but his head had tilted so slightly, like a dog confused by an odd noise. Himejima had made a thoughtful hum noise and—
Well, Muichirou had always found the Wind Pillar's reaction the most peculiar. The man was all but rabid, dangerous. From the gust of his breath down to his toes spoke of a raw edge of power, one that he was not afraid to use or flaunt or torture with. But Muichirou had noticed — even back then, before her mind was clear and clean. He was gentle with children and women.
He didn't dislike her. But he disliked her position as a Pillar at her age and sex, probably. Violet eyes looked at her like he was seeing someone else. It had always made her feel strange.
Now, looking at the little sister he disowned. Muichirou was starting to understand why.
"If it's any consolation," Shinazugawa shifts her body back toward Muichirou. She still hugged herself self protectively, but it was more prudent now than alarmed. "People thought I was a boy too until after final selection."
"Really?" The Mist Pillar cannot keep the hint of surprise out of her voice. She couldn't imagine Shinazugawa being mistaken as a boy — she perhaps didn't have the makings of standard beauty in Japan, with her long limbs, scars, lean muscles and unique hair. But Muichirou wouldn't call her boyish.
"Yes." She laughs, fangs showing. Those were pretty too. "I was short, square as a board. My hair was all matted and had to be cut off, it was surely a look."
"Didn't last long?" It was less of a question and more of a statement. Muichirou couldn't help the way her gaze fell to the top of Genya's mounds, wet and shiny and pink. She could count a few moles and a painful looking scar across them. That feeling from earlier came back — the one where Muichirou felt self conscious, but, now she didn't think it was that. Didn't know what this feeling was. But she knew it only came when Shinazugawa was around.
"No. Puberty came for me-" Genya gestured to herself with her free arm. "Very violently."
"Not for me, it seems." Pale eyes tore themselves away. It was improper to stare, but she still was. Staring at the curls sticking to the tall girls forehead, to the high cheekbones she wanted to brush her thumb against. The neck that looked woefully incomplete without a kiss or a nip. And yes — to the body hidden by ripples of water.
"It will come and you'll wish it hadn't." Shinazugawa griped. "My back hurts all the time because of my breast. And boys they-"
"They bother you?" Thin lips pull to a tight frown, Muichirou could imagine it. Pimple faced boys and greasy men, wolf whistling the girl in front of her as she walked down the street. Propositioning her for a 'fun time', it made her angry. It made the hot water around the body feel ice cold as her chest seemed to cave with anger.
Eyes widen at the question, at the intense edge to Muichirou's voice. From here Muichirou could see the hint of gold in her irises, speckled like flakes, the way they mar the rest of the violet of her eyes. It created a sunset look clinging to her slightly sharpened pupils. Purple, gold, and red. They were beautiful, how had she never noticed before?
Muichirou moves a little closer in the water.
"I- well, yes. But it's not so bad after I yell at them, I can be quite scary."
"Not to me." Muichirou is close now, standing in the hot spring. Shinazugawa was still standing or else the girl would be towering over her, which gave Muichirou the edge now to look down at her and truly peer into the cute, bashful look she was given as Shinazugawa stared up at her.
"You know, Tokitou-San."
"Muichirou."
"Then you can call me Genya," Genya smiled a little more cuter. Muichirou's hands act on their own, pulling from the water before they're properly soaked and pruned to graze the exposed collarbone of Genya. Her mouth falls open, stutters on her breath. Before she continues. "I always found you handsome for that."
"For what?" Muichirou didn't mind being called handsome, just like she didn't mind being called a boy. But she wasn't indifferent to the former as she was to the latter — it made her feel nice, handsome.
"That you didn't look at me like other boys did." Fingers trail to the divot of Genya's throat, nails scrapping at the soft and wet skin. It went downward to the middle of her cleavage, and Genya's arm finally fell away from her chest. "You didn't look like you wanted to eat me alive."
"Do I look like that now?" Muichirou questioned. Her own voice unfamiliar to her ears, it was thick with a want she hadn't experienced before. Intensifying when Genya's back arched into the slightest touch of her palm to the girls chest.
"Kind of." Genya's breath is a whisper.
"Is that disappointing?" The question from earlier comes around in a full circle moment. The girls, now so much more known to each other than before. Muichirou's hand lifts from the curve of Genya's breast where she'd begun to touch the underside. Full lips frown, unpleased with the loss of contact. Before Muichirou is now touching her angular jaw softly, her grasp light and easily breakable should Genya choose to break away.
But Muichirou really, really hoped she didn't break away.
"Not at all."
Muichirou grins.
Lips trail across skin. Muichirou has threaded their fingers together. Pinning Genya's arm back with a bruising strength that did not look like it would come from a girl of her stature. But Genya hadn't broken away, and now. Muichirou was not inclined to let her.
The water seemed hotter than ever, as their breaths panted against lips. Genya looked thoroughly debauched just by an hour of kissing, dewy and glazed and a mess of mewls and pleading arches.
Muichirou couldn't wait to see what other faces she could stir from the girl.
"Come to my room." She pecks kiss swollen lips, much gentler than earlier. Genya's eyes widen a fraction and she can see the question in them.
"To sleep, actually sleep. I would like to hold you."
The words fluster her, but there's a tilt to her voice. Whiny. "After all of this?"
"I want to treat you better." She unpins Genya's arms but doesn't stop holding her hand. Instead, she drags her mouth fondly along scarred knuckles. "Let me take you on a proper date before I take you."
"I.." her voice cracks. "You are so lucky you're-"
"Handsome?" Muichirou asked with a grin.
"And pretty." Genya leaned forward, pecking Muichirou's nose.
A surprisingly happy giggle bubbled from the Pillar, and she is releasing Genya's hands. The two of them pruned and overheated from the water and each other.
This time, Muichirou doesn't bother hiding the way she watches Genya's hips sway.