#(Mukuro01)

[fangsofdestruction]

Soon, a small group of individuals were brushing through the fur of a giant Demon Dog. This used to be the sole responsibility of the Jaken line, but when the children were introduced into the mix, insisting on brushing through his fur, it was a task that ended up delegated to the children. A true shame, because it was a task the Jaken line could gloat over- being given the sole right to such a task showing how much Sesshomaru trusted them.

In reality, Sesshomaru was willing to let a number of people brush through his fur. He was confident that no one could cause him severe harm without losing their life in the process, so it didn’t faze him to care. He’d grown up with servants grooming his fur, so he was somewhat desensitized to the idea that only those you were close to could brush through your fur- and it seemed Mukuro was similar. She allowed the kids she’d just met to brush her tails after all.

Steadily, they were working through patches of fur when one of the children remembers something. “Jii-chan! Nee-san said she’ll be joining us!” The youngest one, Kazehime, blurts out excitedly. Sesshomaru lifts his head to glance at Mukuro as if asking for confirmation that she did say something of the sort. The nuance was different, considering she said she’d like to join the Gumi if she could. That was slightly different from saying that she is joining definitively.

The body language of the large canine remained relaxed and unbothered. It didn’t seem like he was put off by the idea that Mukuro would consider joining them. What Hebisuke said about him not caring to allow someone who tried to kill him to join the ranks rang true. A demon who could ‘will’ injuries to close and stop bleeding didn’t care for ‘minor trifles’.

What only a few understood, was that the reason for treating Mukuro well even if an imprisoned captive (while investigations took place), was that Sesshomaru was willing to allow her to join their ranks and be around other Demons. He could tell that she didn’t have much experience being around other Demons, because if she had, her assassination attempt would’ve gone much differently. He felt a sense of responsibility to allow her time to get used to other Demons and perhaps decide for herself is she wanted to remain among humans- or learn to mingle with her own kind.

It was a choice that Inuyasha should’ve had, and yet, wasn’t given the choice. He was forced into one.

Watching the children seemingly puff up with pride when Mukuro said that she found them delightful caused a soft chuckle to leave her throat。 Mukuro always thought of herself to be rather good with children and maybe it was some sort of material instinct within her, but she did always like spending time with children。 There were honestly times when she considered taking up babysitting or some type of child caretaking side job, but with her main career choice as dangerous as it is, she didn't want to risk children getting in the mix。

Mukuro let out a little hum as she nodded when he mentioned that brushing one's tail, or fur, was typically reserved for families or those with close bonds in general。 She recalled Hebisuke telling her such when they first interacted, she could see why of course, this was something that seemed like a rather intimate gesture。

There was a soft smile on Mukuro's lips as she watched the kids eagerly sit on Sesshomaru's lap in preparation to brush him and watch the demon patriarch morph into his true form for them to brush was a charming scene to watch。

「Oh--」 When the brush was held out to her, Mukuro quickly looked between the brush and Sesshomaru, but since he didn't say anything nor move in any way, Mukuro felt it was safe to assume he'd allow her to brush him。 For a moment she considered declining because brushing a full-on adult as opposed to children felt different, especially since this action was meant for family or loved ones, but maybe it was in her best interest to agree to fully show that she was still not set on harming him。 

「Thank you,」 The smile returned to Mukuro's lips as she grabbed the brush held out to her and took a spot next to one of the children as she began to brush him。

[animuras]

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

The man saying those words is dressed in a black coat maybe a size or two too large, a pair of leather gloves, and a blood red cravat at his neck. He’s grown quite fond of toying with whatever expectations this ensemble gives people, and if it’s not broken, no need to fix it. There’s enough that is broken to deal with. Like the windows and televisions in Golden Ward.

He’s not in Golden ward himself, and the TV he’s watching in this cafe, set to a low volume and with subtitles streaming below the newswoman’s face - is working fine.

It’s a cafe in Archimedes ward, decor torn between trying to evoke the same vaguely mediterranean feel of the surrounding area and the basic utilities of a modern cafe - a few small tables and chairs, trash cans, and the TV in the corner currently showing the news of some weird cat creature and his totally derivative little game.

“Those balloon things don’t even explode they just… move around? That’s both lame and cheating.”

The coffee here is as stuck between styles as the rest of the place, deep and bitter - meant to be taken with sugar, though his cup has none - and served with the grains still at the bottom. But its served in the large utilitarian sizes and disposable material of a quick stop coffee shop. Neither one thing nor another. That fits the man sitting there, flitting his gaze between the news and his phone - temporarily switched from gacha grinding to this cities social media.

He lets out a noise somewhere between a sigh and a groan. “This thing is taking itself way too seriously. Really, what kind of lines are those. Tropes are fine, but show some awareness.” He huffs. “And whats the point of breaking all the windows before you even start. People are supposed to do it themselves in panic, otherwise its just fancy set dressing.” The man continues, talking to the creature on the other side of the TV who in no way can hear him. 

The owner of the cafe says nothing, didn’t even react to the new story on the TV. Maybe, as an NPC, he’s just programmed that way. All these months later and it still amuses him to be in a place where that is so literal, instead of just a very apt metaphor to describe most of Tokyo. Or maybe this is just the normal human reaction anyone who thought they’d lived in a place like this for years would have. To ignore death and suffering and cat monsters taking their university drama credit way too seriously.

Not that Furuta is complaining. He’d come to this shop specifically because the man behind the counter wastes no time with pleasantries - just hands you the order, gestures vaguely at where the cream and sugar sits, and goes back to whatever else he’s doing. No smile, no conversation, no recognition the next time you come in, sit next to the window, and down a giant cup, not even bothering to filter out the grounds with your teeth.

“Catculator,” he mutters. “Really.” He takes a deep drink from his cup and then looks inside to see whats left - not much, maybe a few swigs, grounds included. He places the cup on the table, sliding it against the laminated surface drawing out the noise of it.

He’s not the only one whose come to this cafe today, of course, he’s simply been talking to the TV anyway. And most of them had done what most people do. Kept their heads down. Most of them.

Without any real warning, he leans his seat way back until it’s balancing precariously on only two legs, putting his head right over the table of the person behind him. He’s never met her before, but she’s been watching him so closely for the last few minutes, it’s almost like they’re old pals by now.

He looks at her upside down, and smiles. Ah, maybe from her point of view, it’s a frown. Well. Everything’s relative. “I know my hair is beautiful, but don’t just stare at the back of my head like that, I’m dyyyiing to know what you think of all this.”

>>> @mukuroultimate​

[queenharumiura]

Haru didn't have much of a knack for knowing when she was in danger, but she did have a good sense for 'someone is bullying Lambo and I need to get vengeance'. In this case, it seemed she happened to clue into someone thinking about her-- or they wanted to talk to her. She kept looking around until she noticed a familiar face.

"Hahi! Mukuro-san! Hello! Haru hasn't seen you in forever!" She thought that you were perhaps building yourself a chocolate castle and started living in it.

[fangsofdestruction]

Such was the irony in Demons living such long lives, the children were incredibly impatient and even a few seconds up to a minute still counted as ‘soon.’ The impatience was especially true for Kazehime, given that she’s able to travel as quickly as the wind blows.

The children seemed to ‘puff’ with pride at Mukuro’s comment about them being delightful. Sesshomaru could relax upon seeing that she genuinely found their company enjoyable. The Demons who would tolerate being around children didn’t number high on average- but they did make up the majority for anyone within the Gumi. That was mostly personal preference, of course, because Sesshomaru was very tolerant towards children.

They reminded him of his young ward, Rin, and a couple of descendants that came out of the union between his half-brother and his wife, Kagome.

Though initially shocked to hear that Mukuro allowed the children to brush through her tails, he did remember that she spent most of her time around humans. She likely didn’t know just how intimate an act that was because it was a display of affectionate skinship. He allowed the children the right because they were young and he was fostering a guardian-ward bond with them. Jaken was his subordinate, so allowing  such favors was warranted.

       ❝Your tolerance for their request is appreciated. That is usually reserved for family or loved ones.❞

Soon, the children flocked to his side, the two girls opting to sit on his lap waving their brushes around excitedly. They were begging to brush through his fur. Tolerant and generous, he morphed into his true form and allowed them to brush.

“Do you want a brush too?” Tama asks Mukuro, holding out an extra brush. Considering the fact Sesshomaru didn’t budge, it was like he was giving her permission that he’d allow it. It truly spoke to how confident he was that nothing could harm him in the middle of this Demon mansion.  

「Oh?」 Hearing that he'd be coming by soon was a bit of a surprise to Mukuro, not noticing just how much time had passed since she'd been out here with the children and how he must appear here like clockwork since ' soon ' meant, " right now " as her gaze redirected to Sesshomaru when he walked into the courtyard。 It was also then she noticed that a lot more eyes were on her than she had realized, since upon Sesshomaru's appearance that familiar feeling of eyes on her dispersed。

She gave her own little nod in greeting as he approached and sat on a nearby large rock。

「Not at all, they've been quite the opposite actually, they're quite delightful。」 There was a genuine smile on Mukuro's lips as she spoke and shook her head slightly, 「I've had a delightful time hanging out with them~」

Mukuro gave a small nod when he took note of the fact that the children asked to be brushed, 「they were quite interested in brushing out my tails, so I was more than happy to also brush them in return。」 Mukuro had been prepared to be asked to brush them when she was first introduced to the children。