#Akaza’s story made me so sad :(

[lowkeyremi]

⚠️ Major demon slayer spoilers under the cut ⚠️

anyway I’m just writing abt how much I despise doma, and how I feel abt the backstories of akaza and inosuke now that the new season is out 💕

LETS BEGIN WITH THAT RAT DOMA

First impressions: I’m not even going to lie when I first saw him at the end of the entertainment arc season I thought he was hot. Like dayum who is that fine ass man. Then I was like “HOW COULD THEY CUT US OFF WITH ONLY A GRAIN OF THIS FINE ASS MAN” so little ole me makes my way to the bookstore to buy volume 18 (mind you I have no other volumes and it was a random purchase)

Midway through: I read that shit and was like “THAT’S IT?” I NEED MORE (so after much bribery my wonderful father bought me the whole box set of manga) and I’m back to the beginning I read the manga all the way up to volume 18 and here’s what I have to say.. (I should have started with akaza his story comes first 🤦🏽‍♀️)

Okay let’s start with the ending of chapter 140 of volume 16: Shinobu is doing her job looking for demons so she can kill them, then she smells a scent of blood. She comes across doma and guess what? That twisted mf is happy to see her cuz she’s a woman and he prefers to only eat women. Next up is 141 of vol. 16 and we’re met with a little flash back of Kanae dying. Shinobu is scared and she’s trying to find out what happened. Her sister states what the demon who hurt her looked like, then we’re back to the present and Shinobu recognizes doma because of how her late elder sister described him. She tries to use her sword to get some poison in him (wisteria). She can’t cut his neck because she’s weaker than the other demon slayers.

At the beginning of 142 we’re give a brief little back story about doma. He had a temple where people come to him and pray to him. As a child he would cry hearing their sad backstories and he wanted to help people. At the end of the volume it’s not looking too good for Shinobu. She’s on the verge of dying because of all the damage doma is doing.

Vol 17: in the beginning of the volume doma’s crying (empathizing?) with Shinobu. He calls her weak and admires her for her strength to keep going even though she isn’t strong. He begins to absorb her and she tells him to go to hell. That’s when kanao runs in and sees the end results of the fight. (Rest assured Shinobu’s death wasn’t in vain it’s later revealed that she injected herself with poison that would kill doma, so when he absorbed her the affects would take place sooner or later)

We pick back up with doma in volume 18: mid volume doma explains how he eats women because they’re nutritious. He cried over Akaza dying saying he was his best friend. He also talked about how Akaza never ate or fought women. (Ima talk about his reasoning when we get into akaza’s part) He starts to get angry because Kanao calls him out and talks about how much of a sick mf he is (I LOVE HER WTF) After fighting for awhile inosuke comes in to help and doma says he recognizes inosuke…

THATS A WRAP FOR MY DOMA ANALYSIS NOW FOR THE CONCLUSION:

I agree that at one point doma was a good guy, but after turning into a demon he started out bad then became WORSE. He ate both the Shinobu sisters AND he kept talking about his love for eating women. And it wasn’t even a “oh I appreciate women” kind of thing it was “females are objects for me to eat” if I ever met his ass we fighting. His morals became sick and twisted and I’m glad akaza tried to keep away from his creepy ass. I wouldn’t have had a problem if he ate men and women equally but this weirdo had a fixation on JUST women. I would include the part abt inosuke’s mom but we’re getting there.

INOSUKE (my lovely child):

okay we’re at the end of volume 18. Doma remember’s INOSUKE because of his face. He looks exactly like his mother. He digs through his brain (literally) and remembers that Inosuke’s mother came to doma (with little baby inosuke) in fear because her husband and mother in law would beat her and yell at her. Doma liked her enough and let her stay at the temple only after the day it got so bad that he decided to kill her husband and mother in law.

She was slowly becoming aware of who doma was and what he did to the people. She didn’t like it and felt uneasy about it. She confronted him and he was NOT happy about. So much so he decided he would kill her. (Mr woman eater can’t have people knowing his secret) It was said by doma that he actually LIKED her and had no intention of KILLING her.

He even told inosuke about how his mother would sing “pinky promises” to him which seemed to jog his memory into remember her. Once she knew the truth though, there was no going back. She ran for her life with her baby and he chased her. She knew she was going to die so she at least wanted inosuke to live a good life.

She apologized for not being the mother he needed and throws him off the cliff. In the next second doma strikes her dead. He didn’t even bother to look for inosuke because he assumed he died from the fall. I think doma cried real tears in that panel? Anyway, inosuke is beyond pissed. He says that he’ll send doma to hell and the volume ends.

It all continues in volume 19: They continue to fight for awhile and doma decides to leave so he can avoid being scolded he uses his demon blood art to continue fighting inosuke and kanao but he suddenly starts to melt which meant the poison kicked in that Shinobu injected herself with. (Once again she injected her self with the mindset that doma would absorb her and he’d intake enough poison to kill him- it worked)

MY CONCLUSION:

I love inosuke and I feel bad he had to go through that. (I mean yeah he doesn’t remember most of it but still) His background builds character and helps us understand why he was raised by boars. His skills are amazing but he doesn’t know much about modern day stuff because he was raised by animals. It’s hard for him to communicate how he feels and to show affection (at first). After meeting tanjiro, zenitsu, and nezuko he learned how to be an affectionate person. He’s still not good at showing it but it’s obvious that he’s trying.

OKAY ONE OR THE SADDEST ONES IMO

We’re back in volume 18 because the majority of it is about Akaza and his back story.

Vol 18: Akaza is on the brink of death and he explains how he can’t die because he has to get stronger. (He thinks it’s just bc Muzan said he could get stronger but I believe he wants to get stronger so he can avoid the situation of his loved ones being hurt like his late wife and late father in law)

Hakuji used to steal wallets and other things as human so he could afford medicine for his dying father. (Even though he tried his father ended up killing himself) His death took a toll on Hakuji (Akaza’s human name). He became a delinquent and he would beat people and cause trouble.

One day he met his future father in law, who was asked to take Hakuji back to his dojo to train him and hopefully mellow down his behavior. Hakuji was not feeling it and tried to beat him up but he got a taste of his own medicine and was knocked out by the dojo master. (I’m sorry but I found that shit so funny)

Keizo (Hakuji’s future father in law) took Hakuji back to his dojo and asked that he take care of his daughter until he got back. He explains how his wife drowned herself because she couldn’t handle taking care of their sick daughter. Hakuji was all like “yo you sure you want me to take care of her? I’m a criminal.” And dude’s like “yeah well I beat the shit out of said criminal so I think everything will be okay :D”

That’s when he met pretty girl Koyuki <3

(LOOK AT HER JEJEJSWKW)

Anyway he meets her and she’s left alone with him. The first thing she asks is if he’s okay because of his injuries. She was such a kind girl. (I think that gave Hakuji true happiness because he met such a pure soul) She was worried about him and how he couldn’t go out do anything because he always had to take care of her. He didn’t mind though because he enjoyed her company.

He was also very good at taking care of her because he had to take care of his sick father. The only thing he didn’t like was how she would cry while they talked. He felt really bad for the girl. He offered to take her to see the fireworks because she couldn’t get there on her own.

Keizo tells Hakuji the story of how he got the dojo. He also tells him about the people who want the land for themselves and about how the neighboring dojo started harassing their dojo. (Remember this because it’s important later)

Three years pass and Hakuji is 18 while Koyuki is 16. Keizo asks Hakuji to be the successor of his dojo because his daughter has a crush on him and he’s like the only student who’s been at the dojo (bc of the bad reps the other dojos give to their’s)

Ofc he said yes. He was so happy that his life had turned around. He decided to go to his father’s gravestone and tell him about it. When he arrives back at the dojo he can sense something it off… WAY OFF.

Someone tells him that the neighboring dojo poisoned the well water. Keizo and Koyuki are dead. He suddenly had a flash back of he and Koyuki seeing the fire works together. That was the day she asked him to marry her. Hakuji said he realized he couldn’t live without her and would do anything to protect her and her father. And he felt horrible when he couldn’t even do that.

He was so angry that he killed 67 members of the dojo that poisoned the well. Muzan came to scout the area because there were rumors of a “demon” (because of all the deaths) around. That was when he met Hakuji. He promised him that he could get stronger if he became a demon. And so Akaza was born.

After all of the backstory shenanigans we’re brought back to the present where Akaza is getting his ass beat by Tanjiro and Giyuu. He’s so close to dying. He’s giving up his life though because Koyuki’s spirit comes to him and tells him that he’s done enough. As he’s fading away he reunites with his wife and apologizes for not being able to protect her.

And that ladies, gentlemen, and non-binary hoes /j is why Akaza never ate or fought any women.

MY CONCLUSION: Akaza loved Koyuki so much and is why he couldn’t kill women. He loved one so much that he couldn’t bring himself to do something that would make him feel guilty. He was a troubled boy who needed love, so when Koyuki took him in he felt complete, he felt the need to protect, he felt loved.

I know that sounds cheesy but it’s true. Yes, Akaza killed Rengoku and people hate him for it but just remember he didn’t originally want to be a demon. He was doing everything he could to get stronger so he could protect the people he loved and if being a demon was the way then he’d become a demon no questions asked. I’m so glad he reunited with her. He needs a hug :((

THAT CONCLUDES MY DEMON SLAYER EXPLANATIONS AND ANALYSIS I KINDA WANNA DO ONE ABT MITSURI, THE SHINAZUGAWA BROS, AND MUICHIRO. IF YOU GUYS WANT THAT LMK. BAI BAI :))

[thefiendio]

Romanced! Kokushibo Headcannons!!

Hi everyone! It’s been a really long time since I’ve updated something on this app, I’ve been really busy but I’m going to try and update as often as I can.

There are some fics and other things in the works right now for the SFW and NSFW lovers

To help get me back into the habit of writing, have some headcannons of someone Ilike to write for.

These are NOT cannon, however are just how I see him based on the manga and other things, he still has traits of cannon attitude, however he isn’t perfect in my mind

Warnings: None, but KNY spoilers on his lore and everything

Reader is gender neutral unless stated otherwise :)

Kokushibo is red

Gn reader is purple

Fem/specifically stated AFAB reader is pink

Masc/specifically stated AMAB reader is blue

I’m skipping a LOT of a timeline after he met you and abandoned his wife and kids, you both are dating in these

He was quite cold when you both got together during the start of your relationship because he didn’t know how to react, however you opened him up (he’s still not Mr. Nice Man all the time)

If he were to ever get you a non-stolen gift, it would probably be something homemade

No, he can’t cook, so it could be a piece of art he crudely drew himself, a poem that he wrote himself, or a wood carving that didn’t have every detail, however the shape is there and it was made by him

He’d get a little sad if you didn’t accept his gifts :( he really tried so hard even if it doesn’t look good :(( but he’d try better next time to make his gift better so you’d like it

He truly believes in “actions speak louder than words” so he’d rather show you that he loves you, rather than just tell you

There are times where he isn’t home for days or weeks on end, and that’s when he gets antsy to see you

After he gets back, he gives you his undivided attention for a while

There are times where he wants to spend his time with you, but he also wants to meditate. His solution? Have you seated in his lap as he’s sitting cross-legged and he meditates with his arms around you

He’s tried to help you cook in the kitchen multiple times, that’s when you’ve found out that he is AMAZING at helping you, just not when doing it by himself

Whenever you get hurt, even if it’s as minor as accidentally bumping into a wall, he makes sure you don’t get hurt again for the rest of the day by keeping you beside him

If you’re a human: He truly believes in separating you from the rest of the demons, and makes sure that you do not follow him into any meetings, or have any association with demons besides him

The only demon that you’ve ever had any sort of interaction with was Akaza, and that was because you were dangerously sick, and Akaza got the fear of Yoriichi coming back put into him by Kokushibo, you’ve only seen him once though, and you don’t really remember what he looks like, besides pink hair

If you’re a demon: He’s a lot less hesitant to let you interact with demons, however he will try his best to make sure that you don’t get too close to the upper moons or Muzan in fear of your safety, you’re allowed to talk and interact with Akaza because your boyfriend is sure that he won’t do anything to harm you

I’m a firm believer that he either calls you by your name, darling, or some non-traditional name that sounds so nice whenever he says it. Those nicknames consist of: flower, little one, honey bee, or starlight

He also likes to call you nicknames that have “little” in front of it because, let’s face it, he’s taller and larger than you (I hc him to be around 236 cm or 7’8”) so you are little to him

He is a man of few words and rarely talks, however you fill the void of silence with your voice

If there are times where you don’t want to talk, then he will ask if you want him to start talking, or if you want to sit in silence

If you choose for him to talk, he will. His words will range from how his day was, to what he likes about you, to stories he read, to things he has heard about others in the towns he has been to

If you want him to not talk and be how he is, you both will be in a comfortable silence, with you leaning on his body, or laying on his chest

He likes to read, whether that’s to you, or by himself in your shared room, he even likes it when you read to him. He would even settle for both of you sitting near each other and reading the same book

In my opinion, I think he wouldn’t buy you flowers. HE WOULD GROW THEM HIMSELF

He isn’t very affectionate outside of when you’re tired and need him to curl around you, and trying to get him to kiss your cheek outside of your shared home is like trying to argue with Douma on how big his ego is

He acts kind of like a modesty appropriator to you, making sure your kimono, hakama, or other clothing pieces are covering you properly, and are not falling off of you, are fitting properly, and are comfortable on you

If you wished to go to a festival with him, he wouldn’t like to go however would make sure that you both stayed away from other people, because of his eyes and appearance

In my opinion, he likes the idea of having a garden and has done research on that sort of field, however he doesn’t have much of a green thumb outside of growing a couple easy vegetables and simple (but pretty) flowers

He likes to be alone a lot, and admires having his own space. If your shared home is big enough, he’d have his own room to himself that you are only allowed in with his permission. The things inside are plain, with a bedroll, a box for scrolls and books, a sitting mat, and basic sleeping room appliances. He keeps this area clean and is content as long as you respect this simple space as his

If you were to give him a gift, whether that be a new kimono, something you made or grew for him, or something you bought from the market, you can find it on a shelving unit in his private space, with other things of yours that you have used, but don’t need

These things of yours can be a hair stick, clothing item, hairpin, hair piece, piece of jewelry, or a gift he plans on giving you

He likes to watch you sleep, but not in a creepy way, he likes how peaceful you look

He notices things about you that you didn’t notice yourself

He might not understand certain words and cues relating, however he is a literal god at reading body language and expressions

Dating him at first can be a bit difficult because he most likely isn’t so easy to read, however the longer you both have been together, the more you pick up on his cues for each emotion he is feeling

Again, he is a man of few words and expressions, however he means what he says

He really does care about you and your safety

He loves you <3

———————

Hope you enjoyed! I’m going to try and post something at least once a week, and see how that works

Asks are open! Please give me ideas on what to write :)

Have a great day!!

[arichaa]

Taking care of sick Akaza

Hello everyone! It's been so long. It's all in the title💓

Precisions: made it with female reader in mind; everyone is human; modern AU; akaza is human so we'll call him hakuji; fluff and cute; friends to ???

♡: narrator is telling the story from your pov

♡: narrator is telling the story from Hakuji's pov

♡

On your way home after your appointment with Ume, you feel your phone vibrate inside your bag. On your lock screen, you see that Gyuu has sent you a message.

'Hakuji isn't responding. Are you home? Can you go check if everything's okay?'

If it didn't make you so happy to have an excuse to visit Hakuji, you would have asked him where he finds the audacity to ask you such a thing. The fact that you live close to his place helps. You send Gyuu a simple 'ok' and start walking with a different destination in mind.

It has been a while since you've known Hakuji, ever since Ume introduced you. Now, the three of you form an inseparable group of friends. And you've noticed that your love for Hakuji is different from what you feel for the others. Without noticing, you have already arrived in the street where Hakuji's house is located.

______________

♡

Hakuji is not feeling well. He wonders if he has ever felt like this before. He has a fever like no other! Sitting on his bed after pushing himself to get up, he looks straight ahead, trying to see without getting dizzy. He notices his phone and tries to grab it as fast as he can, which isn't very fast in his current state. He discovers that it is 1PM.

...

1PM? That can't be... He was supposed to train with Gyuu at his place. He is about to send him a message to let him know he'll be late when he hears a knock on the door. It must be Gyuu. He struggles to get up and makes his way towards the stairs, hoping to greet his friend. But it's hard. He is shaking and can barely stand.

Hakuji didn't feel very well the previous day, but he didn't think it would turn into such a fever. He really doesn't want to tell Gyuu that their training session planned for weeks will have to be rescheduled. As he makes his way to the door, he tells himself he should at least try. And he will go back home if he really doesn't get better.

His trembling hand uses more pressure than he would have liked on the door handle. The door creaks, and in a hoarse and tired voice, he begins: 'Hey man, listen...' But when he looks behind the door... It's not Gyuu. It's Y/N.

Hakuji retreats behind the door, nearly falling over. He winces. Y/N? What are you doing here?

________________

♡

You almost got hit by the door. What just happened?

'Hakuji?' You pushed the door open and allowed yourself to enter, but as you find your friend behind the door, you put your hands to your mouth. Hakuji is about to collapse onto the floor.

'Hakuji, are you okay?' Having only heard an uncomfortable noise, you approach without hesitation to put his arm around your neck. His breathing is hard.

'You can let me go, I-I have to go-' 'You're not going anywhere. Look at yourself. Come on.' You make him climb the stairs he had so much trouble descending to lay him on the bed as best as you can. You calm yourself and analyze the situation. You can't believe it. He can barely move.

'You should go to the hospital.' 'No...' He coughs. 'It's not necessary, it's just a fever, please.' You can't help but give him a sad look. You press the back of your hand against his forehead. He's burning hot, no need for a thermometer to notice.

'What are you doing here?' he asks you, hesitating.

'Gyuu said you weren't responding and I was nearby.' you say, taking out your phone to text Gyuu that Hakuji is sick.

_____________

♡

Hakuji doesn't know what to do, even though he can't do anything in the first place. He would have preferred that it be Gyuu or even Ume, but it had to be you. If there's one person whose opinion matters, it's yours. Hakuji has his hands on his stomach, trying to keep his eyes open. He sighs as you look at him, worried for him.

'I'm going to find something to cool you down.'

'It's not necessary...' But you get up as if you hadn't heard him, and leave his room, leaving him alone with his thoughts. Hakuji stares at the ceiling. He would have hoped that you do yourself a favor and leave him in his misery. But he knows very well that you are not like that. You come back with a cloth and a bowl of water and sit next to him before wetting the cloth.

'I'm going to put it on your forehead,' you warn him, so he won't be surprised by the coolness. Hakuji feels the cold fabric on his forehead and sighs. It feels incredibly good, and he feels chills all over.

'Do you feel better?'

'yeah.' What else could he say? He can't say more, too intimidated by your kindness and the fact that you have to play the mother. Hakuji coughs before giving you a look. You look really sad. If it's because he's sick, you shouldn't. You worry too much.

'Are you hungry?' you ask him.

'No, I'm fine.' He doesn't want to make you work more. But his stomach was more honest than him. You let out a small laugh and Hakuji changes position to turn his back to you, the embarrassment too powerful to show his face.

'You should have told me, I don't mind making you food, especially since you're sick.' You say with a small smile, as you rearrange a pillow behind his neck.

Hakuji can at least draw a positive side to this: you no longer look as sad as before.

'I'm going to make something. I'll use your kitchen.' You say as you get up, before disappearing again. Hakuji starts to relax. He can't deny that part of him loves the fact that you give him so much effort. After all, he loves you. He just would have liked it if it wasn't when he feels so... helpless. He just hopes he gets back on his feet soon. And after that, he could invite you to watch him fight. Yes, and you'll see that he's stronger than that. No need to think about it more than necessary.

On this thought, Hakuji takes a handkerchief from his coffee table and blows his nose before turning onto his back. After a few minutes where he closed his eyes and heard the noise you were making in the kitchen, he opens them again, alerted by your approaching footsteps. You knock softly on the door and let your pretty face pass.

'Hey, the soup is cooking. Do you... Do you prefer I wait downstairs or stay with you?' You are so cute. 'Don't take it personally, but... I'd rather you don't see me rotting in my bed'

'Don't say that...'

'And it's better if you keep an eye on the cooking.'

'Okay, you're right. Just, call me if you need anything.' Hakuji nods, and you wave him goodbye before going downstairs, leaving the door open so you can hear him if he needs anything.

______________

♡

Back in the kitchen, you sigh and continue your way to go into his living room, just as neatly cleaned as usual. You allow yourself to sit in his armchair. While you listen to the sound of cooking, you keep an ear out for Hakuji. Hakuji... You didn't expect to find yourself in this situation.

That's when you check your phone and see Gyuu's response

'Take good care of him, then ;)'

Oh him.. it doesn't bother you that he teases you about your... affection for Hakuji, as long as he keeps his mouth shut in front of him. You can't help but feel happy when you're alone with Hakuji. After all, he's determined, strong, attentive. And to top it off, he's so handsome... You're confident enough to hope that he loves you too. You silently thank Ume for introducing you to him. And of course you hope he gets better soon.

The sound of the whistling pan snaps you out of your thoughts. You go into the kitchen and taste your preparation, which is pretty good. You go upstairs carefully, making sure not to spill anything and hope that Hakuji will like what you prepared for him. You shake your head. No time to think about your love for him right now. He needs support, you'll see the rest when he feels better.

You enter the room and give him a little "hey" before sitting next to him. Hakuji smiles and notices a steamy soup ready to be enjoyed. 'Sit down a bit please', you tell him, as you support his shoulders. Hakuji struggles to push on his arms and winces. You place the bowl on his lap and offer him a spoon with hesitation.

'Are you sure you can eat by yourself?' At this question, Hakuji swallows and looks away.

'I... won't ask you to feed me.'

'You know I wouldn't mind...'

'And I appreciate you for that. Don't worry, I can eat alone. But it would help if you held the bowl'

'Of course.' You help as he asked. But not without your cute little heart full of love skipping a beat. 'And I appreciate you for that...' Come on Y/N, get a grip! It's not the first time he's said or done this sort of thing. You know he's looking out for you. You then watch as Hakuji tastes your soup. His eyebrows relax.

'It's delicious, Y/N'

'Really?'

'Yes, could you make it for me on a day when I'm not sick? So I can appreciate it even more...'

'Of course, I'd love to.' While he eats your good soup, you ask him. 'So... Do you know what gave you that fever? Did you stay out in the cold for a long time?'

'... Not that I remember...' he says, before sneezing. But Hakuji thinks he has a clue.

'Do you think it's possible to fall ill because you have too many physical injuries?'

'I don't know. So you're in this situation...' You take his hand and he puts his soup aside. 'You need to take care of your body, Hakuji.'

'Yes, I know...' he sighs. To your surprise, you feel his fingers close around your cold hand. His warmth contrasts with yours. He's so warm. Even when he's not feverish, you always feel his body heat when he's near you. He warms your cold hand, and you give him a certain freshness to soothe his fever.

Speaking of, it's time to re-dampen the cloth... You take it off his forehead and moisten it, then squeeze it to place it back on his forehead.

'Thank you…' Hakuji murmurs. 'Anytime...' you reply with a cute smile. Your hand goes to his forehead, then his temple. Hakuji closes his eyes to better feel your hand slide across his warm cheek.

_______________

♡

'You've done enough, go home...' Your Hakuji says with a certain difficulty, but not due to his illness. He is reluctant to let his sweetheart go.

'But you can't stay alone...'

'I'll call Gyuu...~'

'But I don’t want to~' On this little flirtation, you both let out a small laugh before Hakuji coughs. 'But I don't want to...' It feels good. The fact that you don't want to leave him alone, combined with your gentle hand on his cheek. But he doesn't forget the promise he made to himself: to prove to you that you can rely on him as well.

'I'll stay with you today, and tomorrow if it doesn't get better' you tell him, approaching him and lying down next to him. Hakuji looks at you with love and embarrassment as you look at the ceiling. Then he looks at it with you.

'Alright.'

[petitelepus]

Psst, part 2 to the slave!Akaza please

Maybe about them spending time together as friends (briefing over arcade, movie theater, cafe lunch), she's been dragging him around all day by the hand, and then she takes him shopping to find him clothes, and while he's trying out different styles, she can't help but begin blushing, he notices and gives flirtous response

(You can make her try on clothes and make it so it's his turn to be in awe but it's an option)

And as they head to leave the shopping center, he can't help but notice how cold his hand is since she's no longer holding and (I'll it up to you what happens next)

Summary: You and Akaza head into the shopping center to catch a movie and maybe do some shopping! But there are people...

Warnings: Slavery, Gossipping

A/N: Slave!AU, Demon Slaves, Akaza, Fem!Reader

EXTRA: Sorry, I got the order of the story a little mixed up, but I hope this is just as good!

It was an interesting start, your and your Demon's relationship. You weren't a really big fan of the idea of owning a slave… It was kinda rich girl stereotype to own one… But Akaza might have just been the best thing that ever happened to you.

He was fun, charming and so kind to you, you couldn't help but love his company and you liked to think he liked yours also. You hoped he saw you as a friend and not just as his owner because he definitely was way more than a slave to you.

As a Demon, Akaza couldn't leave the safety of your house without being protected by multiple layers of dark clothes. Sun was his enemy and you didn't want him to be hurt by it so whenever you went out, you made sure to take your father's car which had dark-tinted windows that kept the sunlight out.

When you wanted to do something exciting, you went to this shopping center that was Demon-friendly. There was no sunlight and the Demons could walk without leashes as long as they stayed close to their owners.

You loved to go there with Akaza and spend time with him and that day you had chosen to go watch an action comedy movie. You loved the first movie so you were so sure you would love the second part also.

"That movie was so sad…!" You sobbed as the movie ended. While other people got up and left the theater, you sat on your seat, wiping your teary eyes as Akaza comforted you.

"Young Lady, please don't cry! It was just a movie, nothing in it was real."

"I almost cried at the beginning, and I was sure I could make it, but the ending got me!" Another round of tears came down your cheeks and Akaza gently rubbed your shoulder in a comforting way.

"It was an action movie!" He tried to say, but you swallowed a lump in your throat, "But a sad one!"

You tried to furiously wipe your stinging eyes, but even remembering the ending made you cry harder, "He loved her so much, and then he lost her… I don't know if I could survive if I lost someone so dear to me…!"

While you were trying to collect yourself, Akaza looked at you, stunned as he learned something new about you, his owner. He knew you were a kind person, but he didn't expect you to be so gentle and… Thoughtful.

"You're certainly something else young Lady," The Demon smiled as he got up and offered his hand to you, "Shall we go?"

"Okay…" You nodded as you took his hand and he pulled you up on your feet and then you left the dark theater, hand in hand.

You were walking around the mall until your tears dried and you finally felt like a proper human again and not some sad crybaby.

Akaza smiled, "Are you feeling any better, young Lady?"

"A lot." You admitted and smiled to the Demon, "Thank you Akaza."

"Anything for you," He nodded, and you grinned, "No, I mean, like truly thank you. You didn't ridicule me for crying in movies like many others have done."

Just what kind of people you had been hanging out with before he came into your life? Akaza could tell that he didn't like the people who used to hang around you.

You had told him that people tried to befriend you because of your father's wealth and unfortunately, Akaza understood that rotten human nature more than anything.

Some awful humans used to own him back then when he was still fighting against his own kind in Arena, way before your father bought him for you.

Hearing your story just gave Akaza more reasons to hate humans, but you were different, you were genuinely kind and empathic enough to cry in a movie theater over characters that weren't real but fiction.

"Oh, can we visit this shop?" You asked as you pointed at the store and Akaza took a look, "A clothing shop?"

"It's Summer and I could use a new dress or two?" You explained and the Demon smiled as he nodded, "Then, by all means, let's go find you something nice to wear."

You smiled and the two of you stepped into the store and started to look around anything that could catch your eye. You would ask Akaza's opinion on styles and colors and he would tell you his honest opinion. He wasn't trying to lie or please you, but he felt like you deserved honesty.

The two of you found a couple of pretty dresses and you looked happy again after crying over those people in the movie.

"I think I'm going to try these on, is that okay?" You asked as the two of you made your way to the fitting room and the Demon nodded, "Of course it's alright, young Lady."

"Great, just wait here a second!" You said as you let go of Akaza's hand so you could slip into the small room… And only when you let go of his hand, did Akaza realize how empty his hand felt when you weren't holding it.

The Demon blinked, stunned by his own feelings, but he ground his teeth together and shook his head, chasing the weird feelings away from his mind. He was a slave and you were his master and nothing more.

Well… Maybe a friend?

Akaza snapped out of his thoughts when you stepped out of the dressing room, looking absolutely stunning in the dress you two had picked together. Same with one after it and one after that.

You were happy with your findings as you two went to register and paid for the dresses. Akaza was a gentleman and carried the shopping bags for you and you thanked him for it.

The two of you stepped out of the store and much to Akaza's surprise, you grabbed his hand and held it in yours, just like you had done earlier.

…But this time Akaza couldn't help but notice that people were staring at you two and it didn't take a genius to realize why.

"Young Lady, you shouldn't hold onto my hand like this." The Demon said suddenly.

"Why?" You asked, "Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"No, not at all, but people are staring."

"Ah?" You looked around and sure enough, you noticed that people were giving the two of you strange looks.

You glanced at Akaza and the Demon frowned, "You shouldn't be holding a slave's hand like this. People will think and say things, mean things that might hurt yo-!"

"I don't care about those people," You said and Akaza sighed, turning to look at you and explain why it was a bad thing to be so friendly with a slave, but the determined look in your eyes briefly took him aback.

You frowned as you squeezed his hand in yours, "These people can go fuck themselves all that I care."

"Young Lady-!"

"You're my friend, not them." You smiled, "And I take care of my friends."

Akaza's eyes widened as he registered your words… And he smiled as he was reminded how kind and pure you were. Truly, you needed all the protection you could get and he was going to protect you with his life in line.

"I understand." Akaza smiled as he nodded, "Then, what shall we get next?"

"Well, I got something new so I feel it's only fair you get something too!" You smiled as you looked around and pointed to a men's clothing store, "There! Let's get you something from there!"

Akaza was about to object because that place you were taking him was way too expensive for a slave to get their clothes from, but you had none of it. Nope, you literally dragged him in there, and while the staff was shooting stink eyes at the two of you, you picked up clothes that you felt suited Akaza. Expensive clothes.

"Young Lady, these are too expensi-!" He tried to object, but you were having none of it.

"Nonsense! You're my friend and you deserve the best there is!" You smiled as you picked another good-looking dress shirt, "This one brings out your eyes!"

"But young Lady-!"

"Come come! You gotta try them on!" You pulled Akaza to the men's dressing room and pushed him inside with all the clothes, "I'll wait for you here!"

"I…" The Demon sighed before finally nodding, "Okay." And just like that, he stepped into the room.

While Akaza was in the dressing room, you thought about what he had said… About you holding his hand and people staring.

Normally, you would have cared maybe even too much about other people's opinions but now that Akaza was part of your life and your friend? Other people didn't matter to you anymore. The only one whose opinion you respected was Akaza's.

"How are the shirts?" You asked curiously and Akaza stepped out of the room-!

"Oh, Akaza…" You blinked, stunned as you saw him absolutely SLAYING the shirt! He looked so handsome, you nearly couldn't function right!

"How do I look-?" Akaza was asking as he turned to look at you… And then he saw the stunned look on your face and he had the guts to grin at you and you swear, if you had been in a cartoon movie there would be steam coming out of your ears.

"Do I look that good to you?" He grinned and you blushed… But then you smiled and gave him a thumbs up, "Akaza, you look amazing. Like a model!"

"Really?" He turned to look at himself in the mirror and you smiled, "I am so going to buy that for you!"

"But young Lady-!"

"Next shirt!" You smiled, "You gotta try other ones also!"

"Okay, okay," Akaza chuckled as he closed the door for some privacy… But as he was there, you felt weird. You looked away and held your burning cheeks.

W- what the heck was that!? Why was your heart going so crazy in your chest? What was happening to you and how would this affect your friendship?

"Alright, here is the next one!" Akaza called as he was about to step out of the room and you collected yourself just in time, "Show me!"

And yet again, he looked stunning. Another shirt joined the pile of clothes you were going to buy. You just wondered… How many shirts had you picked and would he look so good in every single one?

May God have mercy on your restless heart.

[rooviebae]

I read ur book Candles and I loved it! I checked your tumblr (the akaza story made me sad in good way) and I saw you take requests! So, might I ask for douma with a daughter reader who's about 12-13? She's kinda small and has doumas eyes. She has a similar bda to him (maybe like elsa?). Could she also have white hair and pointy ears? Just want general hcs (also, could I repost it to my blog?)

Douma's Daughter

I have rp blogs on here so I have no idea when this was asked, but I came to check up on this account! Also thank you for the support! I love to write so I'm glad you liked the book! And of course you can reblog! There's no need to ask! By the way my messages are always open in case you want to annoy me (for everyone reading this)

Warnings: none!

Douma having a kid would be a bit strange not only to others, but to him as well.

After all, how can someone with no emotions have a kid of their own? He wouldn't even be able to know what his daughter was feeling since he's never really had that same feeling in his life!

However, with his daughter, he always has this strange feeling in him that he can't help but love you.

He doesn't completely understand that term just yet, but he knew what he was feeling was something that he didn't want to let go.

Douma as a father means that he's going to spoil his kid, boy or girl.

He may not feel too much, but he can be quite protective unless you're around Akaza or Kokushibo.

Probably forced them to meet you💀

After all, they're best buddies!

Kokushibo honestly didn't care about you too much, but Akaza didn't want to see you.

He wouldn't want to look into your matching eyes and immediately see Douma 💀

He would definitely let you play with his hair. He'll let you do all these crazy hairstyles. He'd even go out in public, he wouldn't care at all.

He knew it would be easier to train your Blood Demon Art since yours is the same as his, but he wouldn't force you to do anything you may not want to do.

Whether you like it or not, you're his little angel.

Depending on how small you are, he would probably love to carry you around.

He's over 6 feet tall, so having a tiny daughter would be so cute!

Refuses to let other demons he doesn't know go near you even though you're a demon.

The same goes for most humans; if they're a demon slayer, he says no.

Would dress up for you, no lie.

This man would straight up wear a dress for his daughter if you wanted him to wear one.

As long as his little girl is happy then everything will be okay with him!

[kitcattales]

Something There - Akaza x Fem! Reader Chapter 2: Wrapped in Lantern Light

Author's note: Here's chapter 2 of my Akaza fic, ya'll! c: If you're liking the story so far, please maybe consider supporting me and my work on AO3 and my other cross-post sites! c: Chapter 1 - 4 are all available on those sites! <3 Your support means the world to me! <3 If you've made it this far, thank you for keeping up with the story up to this point! As always, God bless and happy reading! <3

Please find information about warnings and the rating for the entire fic in the post featuring Chapter One linked below! I will also be doing my best to tag these posts with appropriate warnings as well!

CHAPTER ONE, CHAPTER THREE

Cross-posts: AO3, FFN, Wattpad, and Quotev (I am most active on AO3!)

Word count: 11,172

Chapter 2: Wrapped in Lantern Light

The forest had fallen into a peaceful silence when Akaza began to trek down paths familiar to him despite their unmarked existence.

His footsteps were quiet as they traversed the foliage around the cluster of cedars though he walked briskly with the unconscious woman in his arms. His bright golden gaze remained fixated ahead of him, trying to focus solely on the environment and the beings in the forest around them, but try as he might, he couldn’t dedicate his full attention on where he was going. There were subtle things about the girl in his arms which continued to cause his attention to stumble upon her repetitively, wordlessly beckoning those otherworldly hues of his onto her being.

The gentle, almost ticklish sensation of her hair brushing against his arm with every move he made when she’d sway just the slightest bit though he tried to maintain as stable a grip on her as possible; the rhythmic warmth of her constant, quiet breath blanketing the skin of his bare chest, causing gooseflesh to come to life along the length of his arms every so often; the occasional tear which slowly dripped and trailed from her cheeks to wet his flesh and soak into his open haori; the odd scent of her, so feminine and delicately mixed with the natural essence of the woods, something so foreign to him, it kept him wondering how long it had been since he had smelled something similar from this close.

In a word, the human woman was completely and utterly distracting.

He was normally much more focused and attentive when it came to his objectives, but this entire scenario with the Slayer in his arms was totally off-script from what he was accustomed to. It left him baffled with himself, almost at a complete loss on what he should be doing. He had some course of action to take for the time being, but whether that was the right move for him to make or not was still incredibly unclear to him.

As he pondered the thought, his walking slowed, and subconsciously, his gaze lowered upon the nameless woman swaying lightly in his arms. He didn’t really need to look where he was going. He had walked through the spaces in between the densely packed cedars so many times, he practically had every single seedling, adolescent, adult and fallen tree perfectly mapped out in his head. Effortlessly, he could sense the weaker beings which inhabited the forest alongside him, but he didn’t really care about their presences. Unlike the humans, he didn’t need to worry about the other demons. It truly had to be a mindless creature freshly born of rage and desolation with nary an idea on how the world around them works for one of them to charge at him like the weakling from earlier.

That in mind, he presumed he could devote a moment or two to observe the woman in his arms.

He found himself staring aimlessly at first, the sound of the breeze encouraging the leaves of the cedars to dance to the sound of the orchestrating crickets filling the space of existence around him.

Even asleep, she looked incredibly…sad. Somber. Distraught. Her brow was furrowed lightly, creasing her delicate skin on her forehead. Her lips, plush and softly reflecting the distant glow of the moon whenever the canopy allowed, were pulled downwards. A few of her tears had left their streaming trails on her skin alongside the corners of those lips of hers before they had dripped and disappeared beneath her chin.

He supposed it was only natural that she looked that way after what happened. He assumed most humans would be fairly distressed or troubled to have a confrontation with a couple of demons in the woods – but then again, she wasn’t just any ordinary human and he already knew he couldn’t have been the cause for her original strife.

Mimicking the expression on her face, Akaza’s brow had furrowed, perplexed once again by the thoughts running through his mind.

What a strange human, He thought to himself. Coming to me on her own like that. She must be out of her mind. If I had been any of the others, she would’ve been a pile of bones by now.

He frowned, stopping a moment to adjust his hold the slightest bit so he could carefully stroke a few strands of hair behind her ear the wind had blown astray. By then, the blood on his hands had dried and brushed off on the two of them, allowing her hair to remain dry this time when his ink-dipped fingers lightly tucked those silky strands back in place.

He stood still where he was, just staring at her, his eyes slowly trailing down her frame to take in the curves and contours of her plump, feminine figure before trailing back up to her face to take in the small detail of her long lashes gently brushing the tops of her wet cheeks. The world around them kept moving, the woods kept breathing life and eliciting excitement into the beings hiding amongst the cedar, but he felt like he was stuck in place despite knowing exactly where he had been going. Everything about what this woman was, what she represented and what he was doing with her was all completely against everything he knew and did throughout his lifetime as a demon. It caused things to stir in him which left him feeling unlike himself.

Uncertain.

Hesitant.

He didn’t like feeling like this. This feeling of instability on the ground he walked on no matter how firmly he planted his feet nor how sturdy he made his stance.

Tearing his gaze away from her figure, he turned to look towards the direction he knew led back to the village he assumed she came from. For an instant, he considered to just take her there. He could leave her at the edge of the village before any of the other humans saw him and disappear. He’d have saved her from death’s grip tonight and would be free of the uncertainty she planted in him.

Long, seemingly endless seconds passed him by as he considered it, his eyes staring into the distant empty foliage as far as his sight allowed him. Ultimately, he turned sharply on his heels, dismissing the idea and simply continuing along the paths he knew as well as the back of his hands.

Forward he walked with purpose and focus once more, the distractions of the woman in his arms pushed to the back of his mind for the time being. He didn’t want to linger on possibilities and open air anymore. He needed a sense of grounding, a sense of stability and concrete direction of the likes of which he thrived from. So, he kept walking, swiftly ducking and passing in between the gossiping cedars smoothly no matter how packed and dense the woods around them became.

Deeper and deeper into the dark he wandered, the two of them consumed in a world he knew she couldn’t survive on her own. Without him, she’d be a sightless, bloodied lamb, wobbling around and bleating in her lost, innocent ignorance until a starving wolf came along to do away with her life so as to stain the blades of grass beneath their feet with red. In that scenario, what did that make him? He could’ve very well been the wolf, and he very well still could be, technically, but he knew better than anyone that would never happen. So, what is he? What role is he supposed to take in this story?

He shook his head, deciding that the answer didn’t matter.

Thankfully, his hastened, quick footsteps made it so he didn’t have to wonder about it for much longer, either.

Before long, he had found the path of forest floor bordered by two twisting rows of thick, ancient cedars. The massive, impressive trees stood side-by-side, on guard, their canopies outstretched to keep all light at bay along the trek to the door of the old cabin at the end of the trail – the abandoned cabin he often called home when he needed sanctuary from the brilliantly scorching sun; something the humans looked at as a symbol of hope and happiness, and likewise, something demons like him looked at as a symbol of a cruel, painful death.

What did it feel like? He wondered absently. The warmth of the sun on my skin without the feeling of it blistering me like a burnt piece of meat…Did I like the sun when I was human too?

The questions made him frown again though he felt more at ease at the sight of the cabin’s inviting wooden structure. The feeling of walking below the cedars’ shadows had always covered him with a sense of safety and refuge; a place he knew he could rest in without worry of the sun’s burning rays hitting his sleeping body. Regardless of what he must have thought about it in his prior lifetime, the sun was now an enemy he would have to battle against for the rest of his eternal, immortal days. As long as she was in the cabin with him, she would be safe from the others on the outside even during the day.

Sliding the cabin door open with his right foot, he stepped into his home, greeted by a calming dark within. The dim light casting hazily from the open door allowed him to see the little furniture he had in the small room was right where he had left it last.

The cabin itself didn’t have a lot to look at on the inside. The structure was relatively small, primarily consisting of one main room and a small closet towards the back. There used to be two windows on opposing walls, but he had boarded them up when he first found the place to ensure it would be shrouded in complete darkness whenever the sun rose. Within the main room there was a simple one-person futon, tucked towards the center of the room away from said windows just as a precaution. Its comforter was thick, the edges bordered in white with an intricate pattern of waves displayed on the middle fabric. It wasn’t exactly his taste, but he wasn’t picky, either. He had stolen that from the nearby village, actually, not so long ago.

Beside the futon, there was a lantern with a recently replenished tall, white candle confined within the detailed metalwork. Naturally, it wasn’t lit. A few feet away from the futon was an irori pit with a cooking pot setup above it and two beige zabuton cushions on either side. In the irori pit itself, there were a couple of cedar logs haphazardly beaten down to size, edges jagged and misshapen. He wasn’t in the habit of cooking at home often, but considering his specific dietary lifestyle, he would sometimes simply hunt animals in the forest and cook the meat he harvested from them in his cabin. Of course, he didn’t have to do this, but he wasn’t really the type to go out of his way to kill off just any human for a meal, either. Consequently, the fact that the cabin had its own irori pit was actually a bit of a plus for him. Eating cooked animal meat whenever it was convenient to fill him was just…well, convenient. When he wasn’t cooking anything, however, he would light the irori anyway to better illuminate the entire cabin.

The walls themselves were barren, the natural grooves and rings of the wooden planks the only decoration offered in the room. Against the wall to his left, there was a basic wooden cabinet with a single door hiding what was stored within. Beside the cabinet, there was also a basic wooden dresser with two sets of three drawers. All in all, it wasn’t a whole lot that he had there, but it was enough for a being like him who never stayed in one place for too long.

The floorboards beneath his bare feet hushed out quiet creaks in greeting as he approached his futon. Kneeling down before the mattress, he carefully lowered the woman in his arms down onto it, one of his hands sliding to the back of her head to guide it tenderly to his pillow while the other straightened and adjusted her legs. Once she was settled in and his hands were free at last, he looked towards the Nichrin sword sheathed by the woman’s hip. He didn’t expect her to use it on him, and even if she did, he knew he could handle it, but he still figured it would be for the best for him to remove it from her person so she didn’t hurt herself if she started tossing around in her sleep. Taking care not to jostle her body too much, he detached her sword from her belt – sheath and all – and placed it on the ground beside him for the time being. After that was taken care of, he turned back to her and moved the comforter gently out from underneath her legs and hips to pull the warm blanket atop of her weakened frame. He took a moment to tuck her in loosely, making sure she was warm and well-covered by the comforter.

Only when she was completely settled is when he got back up on his feet and went to close the cabin door, the dark within the room completely consuming the two of them for a moment’s breath. Still, even in the pitch black of these four walls, he knew exactly where he was going and where he shouldn’t step. Instinctively, he walked towards the dresser against the left wall and pulled open one of the top drawers. He rummaged inside for a few moments, his tainted fingers feeling around various miscellaneous objects he had stored away until he eventually came across one of his matchboxes. He fumbled with the box, his thumbs pushing the lid open so he could pluck a single match out of the bunch. Closing the box and holding it firmly in his hand, he swiped the match

once,

twice,

three times

until fire sparked on its head.

He hummed, pleased, and tossed the matchbox back into the drawer before pushing it closed. He then returned to the woman on his futon and knelt down beside her to face the lantern at her side. He opened up the small cage’s door, a squeak of rusted metal groaning with the motion as it revealed the candle hidden within its framework. Pinching the match between his thumb and forefinger, he lit the candle, its graceful flame dancing to life bathing the cabin in a warm, orange glow. Once it was lit, he blew the fire out on his match and tossed it carelessly into the irori’s sands to swallow up the faded giver of light.

For a moment, he considered lighting the irori, his eyes lingering on the pit and the cedar logs he had yet to use within it, but he shut the lantern’s door closed and decided against it for the time being. Instead, he took the woman’s Nichirin sword and went to rest it against the wall by the closet door before returning to kneel by her bedside once more. Bathed in the lantern’s glow, as he gazed upon her sleeping figure, he began to drink in her details in a different light almost without even noticing. He didn’t really know where to look at first, so many details long since forgotten suddenly pushed onto his lap out of the blue tonight having made everything somewhat confusing to the demon, but in time, his gaze began to focus on the small details again just as he had done out in the woods.

He took in the sight of her chest rising and falling consistently with her breathing first, the subtle motion causing for the comforter atop of her to ruffle quietly along with her shallow breaths. It was lulling to watch, a constant rhythm which made him feel somewhat…peaceful. Strange that he got a feeling like that just by watching over her like this. His eyes then traveled back up to her face, taking in the sight of her feminine softness bathed in orange light and brushed crimson where his hands had touched her earlier. Despite the macabre undertone, she actually looked quite beautiful with her thick locks of hair splayed out across the pillow around her. Womanly and graceful even in the state she was in.

He hummed at the thought as he took in, once again, the troubled and pained expression the woman harbored on her delicate features he caught himself admiring. Her frantic crying and pleas to be killed set aside, there had been something else going on with her that caused that look on her face to surface. She had been limping when she approached him, having practically dragged herself all the way to him from wherever she had come from. He wouldn’t be surprised if her body was littered with all kinds of injuries beneath that uniform of hers, considering her line of work and the humanity she couldn’t help.

“If you were a demon, that wouldn’t matter. You would have gotten over it by the time you blinked twice.” He commented lowly, hushed under his breath, an innate response which rolled off of his tongue instinctively. “…But you’re not. You’re human…You’re weak.” He remarked, gently reaching down to comb his fingers through a few locks of her hair. “You’re fragile…You can’t take care of yourself on your own like that, can you…?” He repeated the motion a few times, starting near her head without actually touching her and combing his fingers leisurely along until they carefully pulled themselves out of her luscious waves by the tips. He watched curiously as the strands gracefully fell from his fingers onto the futon and pillow, unused to the silky sensation and the odd sense of peace these simple, insignificant actions continued to bring him.

On the sixth time his fingers found themselves swimming in her (hair color) waves, his hand had paused midway. He stalled there to allow his thumb to rub those silky strands between the pads of his fingers, the smooth, honeyed sensation of it abruptly causing the inkling of a memory to shyly lift its head within his mind. He blinked a few times, his fingers stopping and his brow furrowing, the shy memory he didn’t know he had becoming bolder and extroverted, suddenly hitting him with a quick flash of images and words that forced him to stir from where he sat with a start. He straightened up, his brow creasing further, taken aback but actively motivated to move with the sudden information he had at his fingertips. Finally allowing her hair to fall from his fingers one last time, he stood to his feet and got ahead of himself, already rushing towards the door, but he stopped himself halfway with an annoyed click of his tongue.

“Water.”

He turned back around and moved towards the closet, sliding the door open to reveal a pail set on the floor below the shelves he used to bring water to cook with and to refill the small outhouse outside. He grabbed its handle with his bloodstained fingers, and the sight of their bloodied state casually reminded him he needed to wash himself up after his encounter with the lesser demon. After he made a mental note of that, he closed the closet door and rushed out of the cabin, making sure he had slid the front door closed behind him.

He was sure she’d be fine on her own for a little while. After what happened earlier, he doubted any of the others would really dare themselves to come near her now that he’s taken her in, even when he wasn’t around – at least not tonight.

I’ll remind them why it’s an awful idea to try if they forget quicker than they should. At the very least, it would make for an entertaining couple of minutes.

~¤ ¤ ¤~

The evening air was warm, the cool breeze carrying the sounds of people conversing and traveling, caught up in their own bubbles and lives. The lights above were warm and golden, easy on the eyes, but bright enough to make the scenery come to life for those who walked along the station platform. Up ahead, the train tracks were empty, a wide and vast forest left in full display on the other side during its temporary vacancy.

_______ felt disoriented by the familiar sights and sounds of the Mugen Train Station, aware that she had visited a few times in the past, but she couldn’t remember visiting it recently, let alone coming tonight to sit on that metal bench she was on right now. She looked around her, eyes squinted, lips parted slightly as confused, labored puffs of air left her. The sight of the crowds of bustling people and the bright ticket counters illuminating the dark of night came off blurry to her, so she lifted her hands to rub her eyes in an attempt to bring the world back to clarity. She tried to orientate herself, remind herself on where she was and what she was doing, but her mind kept drawing a blank no matter how clear her vision became nor how focused she tried to make herself be. The only thing she was able to really acknowledge was that this was, in fact, the Mugen Train Station. She didn’t need to read the signs to know that. Still, that didn’t tell her anything about why she was there and how she got there to begin with.

“You’re awake, young _______!”

That voice…

That voice.

It shook her to her very core to hear it ring so vividly in her ear. It sucker-punched her in the gut to hear it clear, bright and warm like the comforting lights above her. It forced the air out of her lungs to hear the laugh which followed soon afterwards, full of vigor and life. Slowly, she turned in her seat, coming to face the side of the station she had neglected since her eyes opened in the midst of the hustle and bustle of common life. Upwards her gaze rose until it landed on those lively, unique golden hues and that brilliant, heartwarming smile she had burned in her memory to the very last detail. Right down to the dimpled creases and the fiery rings of color within his irises.

“R…R-Rengoku…? Is that…? B-but…but how can…?”

He simply widened his smile, chuckling further as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Don’t trouble yourself too much with how right now! We have other things to discuss, don’t we, young _______? More important things.”

_______ shook her head, her hands trembling on her lap before they grabbed tightly at the hem of her skirt. Her nails tugged roughly at the fabric, so strong she swore it would tear, but that didn’t matter.

All that mattered was that Rengoku was there.

He was alive.

“Tell me, why are you here?”

Still completely floored by the Hashira’s appearance, _______ slowly shook her head in response. There was so much she wanted to say, so many things she wished she had said, but none of it came to her tongue now that he was sitting in front of her like she thought he never would be again. Everything jumbled up in her mind in a large, convoluted knot, forcing her to hyper-focus on his presence as a whole instead.

“I…don’t know why I’m here…I don’t even know how I got here…”

“Yes, you do know why you’re here. I’m sure you do. Dig in a little deeper, _______, I know you can do it!”

Her lower lip began to quiver at his familiar encouragement, her eyes beginning to mist up.

“But I r-really don’t, Rengoku, I-I don’t know why I’m here…I can’t give you the answer you want…”

“Yes, you can! Search within yourself and you’ll find the answer you need!”

She shook her head again as it lowered, pulling her gaze away from his brilliant expression completely to instead stare at his flame emblazoned haori draped beneath him on the bench.

“You always had so much faith in me,” She whispered meekly. “Why…wh-why did you ever have that much faith in someone like me?”

Though she no longer looked at him, his smile softened and his head tilted gently to the side.

“I had many reasons to have faith in you, but there’s more to this.” He remarked softly. Vaguely. “Dig a little deeper.”

She shook her head one more time, tears now beginning to roll down her cheeks, clinging to the edges of her jaw before falling in fat droplets onto the fabric of her skirt and the metal of the bench.

“B-but, Rengoku, I don’t care why or how I got here, I-I’m just…I-I’m so happy you’re here…I d-don’t even know what to do with myself, my head feels so empty but so loud at the same time…There’s so much I want to s-say to you, but I’m…” She couldn’t completely end her sentence, a heartbreaking sob wrenching itself free from her gut forcing her to cut herself off. She bent forward, ducking her head down lower into her chest as she brought her pained, heavily squinted gaze down to her laps where it heavily blurred with her tears. All the while, the bustling, busy crowds around them continued on their ways, carrying on their own lives and business, completely ignoring the two of them in their shared bubble.

Roughly, she bit into her lower lip, surprised she didn’t taste blood from how brutely she had dug her teeth into the tender flesh, but she didn’t question it.

She just needed to try to compose herself.

She felt like it was crucial.

She had no idea how much time she had.

“Why are you here, _______?” Rengoku asked again, the feeling of his large, gentle hand reaching down to press and rub against her back forcing another devastating sob to rip through her throat no matter how hard she tried to swallow it down.

“Y-your hand,” She sobbed. “My God, Rengoku, your hand i-is so warm…Without saying anything o-or…or d-doing anything in particular, you’ve always made me believe l-like things will be okay at the end of the day…J-just like that…J-just because you’re so reliable a-and dependable…S-so strong…”

“_______...”

“W-why would you ever waste s-something so compassionate and k-kind on someone like me…? W-why, out of e-everyone you could sit with, did you come to m-me? I don’t deserve this – I-I don’t deserve you…!”

“Why are you here?”

“I DON’T KNOW!” She suddenly cried out loud, as loud as her lungs allowed her to proclaim. Her back straightened, bringing her to sit up and face the Hashira with an expression completely crumpled in heartache and every single sense the sentiment held.

“I don’t kn-know why I’m here, R-Rengoku…! I never did!”

Rengoku’s expression softened further, warm and full of compassion and care, not at all shaken nor deterred by her outburst.

“You wandered into that forest on your own,” He remarked. “You went in when you were most vulnerable. You dragged your feet across roughened soil and through shadows in the dead of night knowing fully well what you were getting into – but why? Why did you do that, young _______?”

She couldn’t answer him. Her trembling lips quivered heavily and broken, painful whimpers erupted pathetically from her throat as the tears distorted her vision of Rengoku further, but she couldn’t bring herself to answer that question.

Not to him.

She would sooner confess it to the entire world before she would ever confess it to him.

“I know it hurts,” He hushed softly when she didn’t reply, the hand he had rubbed her back with coming to slide upon her cheek where he brushed her tears away. His touch was gentle and thoughtful, the warmth of his skin reminding her again of the life beating in his heart in this moment in time. When he wiped all of her tears away, he brought his hand up to pet the top of her head in comforting strokes. “I know it’s hard to move on, but you can do it, ________. I’ve always known you could. I never had a doubt.”

Still, she could say nothing. All she could do was continue to fall apart right there in front of him, new tears taking the place of the ones he so tenderly wiped away for her as she reveled in the feel of his petting – something she almost forgot the feeling of. The way his large hand would lay flat against her head and gently stroke backwards towards the back of her head before lifting to the top to start over again. The way his fingers would sometimes get caught in her locks and the memory of how they would laugh when he pulled some of her hair out of place when he was done. It all only served to break the small pieces of her heart which remained into smaller, miniscule, jagged shards, devastated that she had really forgotten how this used to feel.

In the midst of his petting and encouraging words, she could hear the distant sound of a train’s whistle blowing. The sound caused for her heart to leap to her throat, the widening of her eyes clearly showing the panic she felt bubbling because of what it meant – because of the fate she knew it carried within its carts.

“Whenever you need me, I’ll be here,” Rengoku promised her, his eyes closing into gentle crescents as his smile splayed softly across his lips from ear-to-ear in his own unique display. “When you figure out why, I’ll be here too. I know it’s hard right now and the answers aren’t as clear as you’d like them to be, but you’ll get to them in time. Be patient not just with this, but with yourself. Be patient and be kind.” Giving her one last stroke of the head, he allowed his hand to slide to her cheek where it lingered for a few seconds before he stood to his feet as the Mugen Train came to rest at its station.

Instantly, _______ began to shake her head vigorously, her body moving on its own to stand her up along with him.

“R-Rengoku, please, don’t go! D-don’t get on the train!” She gripped at his arm desperately, trying to pull him back to her, trying to pull him away from the open maw of the Mugen Train and the destination she knew it would lead him to. “Stay! S-stay with me! J-just…j-just a little bit longer! You don’t h-have to go! We can think of something else! W-we can get backup from the Corps and m-make a proper plan! PLEASE, just stay with me…! Don’t get on that train!”

He let out a soft sigh lightly laced with a somber nostalgia, his eyes shifting to look at the Mugen Train with the smile still on his face before turning to look back at _______ once more.

“You and I both know I can’t do that,” He commented softly. “But that’s okay. I’ll be okay, and more importantly, you’ll be okay too.”

With that, he gently removed her hands from his arm, squeezing them strongly and reassuringly in his own for a few seconds longer. When he released them, he turned towards the Mugen Train and boarded it with the other passengers, flashing her one last smile before he disappeared in his cart. Suddenly, the entire train station was empty of the crowds and the atmosphere was silenced from the chitter chatter of the pedestrians. All the doors of the train closed and locked, the beast of iron and coal roaring to life once more with a loud blow of its whistle and a shrill screech of its wheels beginning to turn on its rustic tracks.

_______ shook her head desperately once more, watching as the train began to leave the station at a slow, leisure pace which gradually picked up speed the more its wheels turned.

“N-no, no, no, no, no…! Rengoku! RENGOKU!”

Despite the futility of the situation, she raced after the Mugen Train, trying with all her might to run alongside the cart he had boarded. She could see the top of his fierce mane of blonde locks with their bright red tips from one of the windows, the small sight of him beckoning her to kick her feet as fast and as hard as she was able against the platform floor – but there was only so much platform she was able to run on and only so much time she had before the train was traveling at a pace she could never dream to compete with.

Skidding to a clumsy stop at the very edge of the station platform, _______ watched the Mugen Train rush down its tracks, carrying Rengoku away with it to a fate she knew she couldn’t change no matter how strongly she wished she could.

From there, all _______ could do was watch from the lonely, empty platform as the train quickly grew smaller and smaller in the distance until it was completely out of sight. By then, she was sobbing openly into the blowing wind, orchestrating her deep, wrenching anguish to the vast woods – the only audience she had left.

~¤ ¤ ¤~

Orange.

Flickering, swaying orange delicately tinged with a golden inner glow casting shadows while performing on what seemed like a wooden stage.

That was what the world around her was gradually coming to be as her eyes slowly fluttered open. Her eyelids felt heavy, almost too heavy to lift, the weak effort she put into opening them causing for her lashes to tickle the skin of her cheeks. The world still didn’t make much sense to her in those senseless moments of groggy forgetfulness. She couldn’t tell where she was, couldn’t remember what had happened last in that very moment, but she did acknowledge the colors soothingly dancing on the foreign ceiling above her.

The colors were vibrant and strong, lighting up the space of the room she was in perfectly in its comforting glow though she made no move quite yet to look around. She could just tell and feel that it did from the intensity of the colors acting out their play on the ceiling. She felt safe watching them, wondering how it was they got there but having no real determination nor interest in finding out.

She didn’t want to question it.

She knew what happened was just a dream, but she wanted to pretend for a while longer.

She wanted to feel safe and comforted in a way she had long since forgotten for just a little bit longer.

It was a feeling the colors on the ceiling tried to mimic with their performance, and they did quite well, if she were to critique. The play they put on for her made the feeling linger for a while, though it was naturally diluted and nothing like the real thing. It was as though she were coming down from a numbing high, plummeted back into a reality she didn’t want to accept, but allowed a few more minutes in blissful ignorance and disassociation of the truth she hated to accept.

Her vision slowly began to mist and cloud as she watched the colors dance and flicker in the sporadic climax of their stories, but her expression remained the same. She didn’t grimace nor crumple nor pucker. The tears simply came to be in her eyes and slowly began to slide down the sides of her temples, because that’s what they were supposed to do. They were supposed to be there, welling and building up in her sore, tired eyes and marking her skin with their paths repeatedly until she was covered in well-worn tracks. For this instant in time, she was too exhausted to react, too battered to care and too far deep to struggle.

Thus, she simply allowed it to be.

Yet, despite all of that, something beyond the colors was beginning to seep into her current reality. She was gradually becoming aware of the sound of what she believed was bubbling water, consistent and lively somewhere to her left. Along with the bubbling was the occasional clang, pank, clang, pank of metal lightly bumping into metal. Lost in her vague awareness, she shifted her focus from the dancing colors on the ceiling to the shadows which surrounded them. Most of the shadows bore no defined shapes, constantly changing and altering with the movement of the bright glow. She assumed those shadows were stationary objects in the space she was laying in, though she still showed no interest in moving to see what they were.

Amongst the majority, however, was a more persistent shape. Naturally, it would distort and bounce gracefully on the wooden ceiling at the dancing glow’s demand, but through it all, the shadow itself owned its own fluidity. She could make out what appeared to be an arm steadily turning over and over in circles. There was something held in its hand, though she couldn’t make out exactly what it was. Occasionally, the arm would stop its rotating motions to pull on whatever it held – or was it lifting it? Yes, it was lifting it. A ladle of some sort. Shortly after she labeled the mystery object, a larger shadow came into view; a head and upper body bending forward seemingly peering into the ladle. The person who inspected whatever was on the ladle didn’t stay in view for long, already dipping the ladle back into what must be a pot of some sort to continue their stirring. It was then that she picked up on an earthy aroma warmly enveloping the air, reminding her of flourishing fields and endless plains of grass sprouting from earth recently bathed in cooling rainwater.

Where exactly was she supposed to be? The last place she remembered being in was the cedar woods. She had been close to death then, but had she actually died? Was that what the vision of Rengoku related to? Was that why she was in the Mugen Train Station with him?

No, that didn’t make sense. If the afterlife was really cruel enough to torture her with those kinds of visions, then it would be the same kind of hell she lived in day-to-day. Besides, even if that was the afterlife, why wasn’t she at the station now? This wooden ceiling didn’t belong to the modernized train station, that much she was aware of. It was much too rustic for a bustling, up-and-coming city like the one that station resided in.

That begs the question: if she hadn’t died and she wasn’t laying in the space between life and death, then where exactly was she?

She knew she should turn her head. She kept asking and wondering where she was while watching the shadows and lights on the ceiling, but she was fully aware she could begin to gather an answer if she simply looked around.

Pull her gaze away from the ceiling.

Lead her eyes astray from the calming, warm glow.

It’s such a simple action. If she just turned her head even the slightest bit, she would already have more detail and information to work with to piece together what had happened to her, but that one simple, minuet action felt harder for her to accomplish than the training she endured to become a Demon Slayer and every mission she ventured on up to this day. Turning her head away meant turning away from the warmth of the orange and bright golden glow which kept her company during their comforting play. Pulling her gaze away from the lights and shadows on the ceiling meant turning away from so much more than just absent, blissful ignorance.

It meant turning away from the vision.

It meant turning away from the comforting, temporary fake feeling of okay.

It meant turning away and simply allowing the door to close and lock again.

‘You’ll be okay.’

She grimaced lightly as his voice echoed in her mind. She could practically hear him laughing, could practically see him smiling down at her with reassurance from within the glow. He said that with so much confidence and faith in his voice for her, but how could he be so sure? How could he believe in her that much when she held no faith in her own self? Though he had been certain of what he said, she was convinced she would never truly be okay again, so she wanted to keep pretending. She wanted to keep existing in the pathetic copycat of the safety and encouragement he made her feel when he was still there. When he spoke to her. When he expressed so much belief in her when it was difficult to see an ounce of worth on her own.

When he was still alive.

She lingered a few moments longer, envisioning his smile and repeating everything he told her in the station, the clang, pank, clang, pank of the shadows having long since turned to soothing background noise. If it had been up to her, she wouldn’t move ever again, but deep down, she knew she had to – even if it was only to live up to Rengoku’s beliefs in her.

Though it was difficult, though it shattered her heart to watch his image dissipate and fade amongst the dancing lights, _______ began to turn her head in defiance against everything in her that told her to sit there and rot. Slowly, stiffly, she turned to the left, taking in the mostly barren sight of the room she was laying in. In the process of it is when she realized she was tucked into a futon, its thick comforter hugging her close to the thin mattress beneath her. Not only that, but her Nichirin sword had been taken away from her, although it was still close by, leaning against the wooden wall facing her. Being disarmed didn’t unnerve her. It simply was.

Beside the futon itself was a lantern, its metal frame housing a burning candle. For a few seconds, her gaze lingered on the intricate cage of the lantern, taking in its crisscross detail highlighted by the flame burning within. When she caught herself becoming too comfortable with the soothing glow once again, she forced herself to shift her gaze beyond the lantern.

Close by, there was an irori lit, the planks of wood in the pit of sand roaring with brilliant, lively flames which licked at the underbelly of a dark pot strung above them. The most jarring part of the scene, however, was the person who had been casting the shadows on the ceiling she was watching mere moments ago.  

Of all things she expected to see, Akaza tending to something in an irori’s pot while she laid in a futon a few feet away from him was not one of them. He was stirring something he had cooking over the open flames, his dual-colored eyes focused on the broth. The glow of the flames danced and reflected off of his skin much as they had done on the ceiling, highlighting his features to her from the angle she observed him in.  

He has long eyelashes…

It was an odd thought, but it was one of the first things she noticed, the very first being how much his eyes stood out even in the dimness of the room they were in and the fierce glow of the irori’s fire. The blue of his sclera was shattered with dark veins, the brilliant color reminding her of a cloudless, sunny day, his striking golden irises taking the role of the sun for themselves.

What does that make his eyelashes then? Pink and full…Maybe an oncoming sunset?

Again, a strange thing to think about. She was just soothingly fascinated by his natural colors and how much they actually stood out. His nature as a demon and the terrible things he had done set aside, Akaza was quite beautiful in his own regard, but maybe that was her artistic side talking. She used to be the type who appreciated that sort of thing, but every now and again, that side of her personality peeked up from the murky depths they now hid beneath to help her cope with the world around her.

He was, after all, the reason why Rengoku was gone.

“You’re awake.”

The comment startled her some, causing her to shift slightly on the futon as she turned her focus to the demon as a whole. Had he maybe heard her head moving? Or maybe he saw her eyes open from the corner of his? Who knows? He seemed the observant type, something that was taken to an extraordinary level when paired with a demon of his caliber.

“Good to see. I was starting to wonder whether you’d be out cold ‘til morning.”

He didn’t look at her as he spoke. His eyes remained on the pot and what he was stirring, his free hand resting in a fist upon his lap. The expression on his face was one of neutral concentration, not aggressive nor particularly friendly. He just…was. Paying attention not to burn whatever it was he was brewing.

“Wh…Where…” She began to speak, her throat feeling raw, her voice sounding not like her own to her. She frowned in distaste, weakly clearing her throat and swallowing the dry lump before continuing. “Where am I…?” Her voice came out in a murmured whisper, almost lost to the crackling of the lively flames of the irori, but not to Akaza.

“In an old cabin, I guess is the best way to describe the place.” He hummed thoughtfully, his expression softening with a light purse of his lips as he pondered his choice of words. “I found it a long time ago. Abandoned. So, it’s my cabin now.” He corrected himself, nodding his head, satisfied with the clarification.

“Your cabin…” She echoed, her eyes wandering away from him to take a better look at the cabin. There didn’t seem to be any signs of struggle anywhere she looked. No claw marks on the walls, no broken bits of furniture scattered on the ground, no old bloodstains forever soaked up by the wooden floor. The only thing that was slightly out of place was the fact that the windows were boarded shut, but seeing as he had come to claim the place as his own, it made sense that they would be that way. “Why did you bring me here…?”

“You weren’t making a whole lot of sense back in the woods, but if I had left you where you were in the state you were in, you’d be dead by now. I knew you’d be safe here until you woke up, so I just brought you with me.” He replied matter-of-factly as he pulled the ladle he was stirring with out of the pot to prop it on one of the handles. Turning to the other side of him, she watched him pick up a cup he had waiting on the floor before taking the ladle once again and dipping it into the pot. He poured a little over two ladles full of the broth he had cooking, steam wafting above the cup he handled with care. Once it was full, he propped the ladle back on the pot’s handle and stood to his feet. Her gaze followed him as he walked over to her, their eyes meeting while he closed the short distance between them until he was kneeling down by her bedside.

“Sit up.”

She knew what he said was more of an order than it was a request, but the way he said it and the gentle way he looked at her confused her by suggesting it came from a good place. It was bizarre, to say the least, the way this demon spoke to her with such…decency despite the unwavering firmness of his voice. Her brow furrowed slightly at the detail, her lips parting the slightest bit more so in bemusement than with intention of speaking.

“Ah,” He seemed to realize something when she didn’t react after a few seconds. “That’s right. Human. You’re human…” He muttered to himself, carefully setting the steaming cup on the floor beside him before turning back to her, his hands coming to rest on his laps again.

“Do you need help?”

Do I need help…?

What was going on? This is the demon that killed Rengoku? How? He was treating her with respect and even offering to help her sit up if she couldn’t do so herself. She had heard of the other demon on the Mugen Train, Enmu, who had lured people in with false kindness of sweet dreams before he plunged them into horrific nightmares, but Akaza didn’t have that kind of profile. From what she was told, he was an abrupt and upfront fighter; someone who didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point. He wasn’t a manipulative demon. He was a close-range demon who fought for the sport of it, starving for the thrill of a challenge like the one Rengoku had to offer that night.

This demon isn’t at all what she expected to be confronted by when she set out to the woods tonight.

Even in her baffled silence, he patiently waited for some kind of response from her, no annoyance or hasty agitation in the way he looked at her. His hands remained on his laps, not moving an inch to touch her, but his striking stare did remain on her face, studying her the same way she studied him. That is, until his gaze had shifted towards the cup at his side, his head nodding in its direction as well before he refocused on her.

“It’s an herbal tea. I went to fetch some water and to find the herbs and roots I needed to make it for you while you were asleep. You’re weakened from your work with the lessers. I noticed. This should help.” He informed her, offering a small smile to appear friendlier. He understood her apprehension. If their roles were switched, he’d be apprehensive too. From a human’s perspective, what was a demon supposed to be serving them from a pot of a boiling brew they couldn’t even see because of their incapacitated state? It really could be anything, so it’s not like he expected her to fully believe him the moment he brought it over and explained it to her.

Hell, even he couldn’t believe he had this herbal remedy stored away somewhere in his faintest memories.

He supposed it made some sense. He was human once, but that was centuries ago. Yet, he somehow remembered the recipe and what he had to look for as if he had made the tea every day since he was turned.

Something about her triggered the memory, that was all he was sure about.

“…How do I know you’re not lying…?”

He let out an amused breath, his head tilting again in his good humor.

“I guess you don’t. You just have to take my word for it.”

She shook her head the slightest bit at him, a distant look befalling her as her lips angled into an exhausted frown.

“Why didn’t you kill and eat me…?” She asked, the question leaving her so naturally, it unsettled her; unsettled her how much she wanted to know; unsettled her how much she had wished he had been what she had expected. Something in her told her he had ulterior motives. That he was keeping her alive to make the thrill of the kill more exciting in some way or another. Maybe he thought if he gave her the idea of being spared, she would take back her death wish and be eager to escape to the village. Then, he could enjoy the chase, too, before inevitably sinking his fanged maw into the tender flesh of her neck when he tackled her onto the ground.

Akaza, however, didn’t answer her question. He simply stared at her, the small smile he had given her straightening the slightest bit but retaining its foreign friendliness despite it. Genuine.

“Would you like me to help you sit up so you can drink your tea?” He repeated his question instead, making no move to place his hands on her if she didn’t answer him. She considered denying him, but she supposed she didn’t have much to lose either way she went about this. So, she finally gave him a small nod of her head.

“Please…”

His smile widened up a bit once more when she accepted his help, giving her a curt nod of his own in return. Reaching over, he folded the futon’s comforter halfway so the upper half was resting on her legs. Once he did, he turned to her as she began to prop herself up carefully on her elbows. She would wince with each move she made, he noticed. As gently as he could, he slid one of his hands down her back until he had it pressed against the middle of it, slowly pushing her upward while his other hand took a hold of hers to help give her more support.

His hand felt warm to her. Probably warmer than it should be, since he had been holding the steaming cup of tea. Looking upon his larger, masculine hand, taking in the feeling of his calloused palm wrapped around her own, she took notice that the blood from the other demon he fought earlier was gone from his skin. Her eyes traveled up his arm, across his chest and down his other arm. Nothing. The blood was gone, cleaned away probably while she was asleep. For a second, she wondered if the fight had actually happened, but the speckling of blood around what she could see of the ends of his white pants told her otherwise. Images came to mind of the short-lived confrontation he held with the lesser demon as she stared at the bloodstains on his clothing. It was a stark reminder of how powerful this man actually was.

“Why didn’t you kill me?” She repeated her question, her gaze slowly lifting to meet with his once more when he helped her sit up properly. “If you wanted to, you could have done away with me just as easily as you did that other demon…Why didn’t you…?”

His small smile had fallen entirely this time, morphed to a bemused look of his own.

“Why did you want me to kill you?”

The retort caught her off guard. She hadn’t been expecting any kind of questioning on his part of this. He’s a demon, after all. Demons kill and eat humans. That’s just what they do. That’s what they’ve always done. Why would he care for her reasoning? Why did he want to know? She didn’t know, but being put on the spot like that so curtly made her squirm in discomfort, her gaze dropping to her hand he still had gripped in his own.

She had spilled a lot of what she thought about her predicament when she approached him, she knew, but…telling him exactly why was something she didn’t want to do. She didn’t want to tell anyone why. Nobody knew. Nobody had the slightest idea that she had these thoughts running across her mind, and the one person who came closest to uncovering her inner turmoil was dead now. It was an accumulation of a lot of things which caused this spiral in her person, and the thought of saying all of those things aloud left her feeling unbearably shameful and vulnerable in a way she absolutely abhorred.

Akaza didn’t press. He simply pulled his hand away from her back and picked up the cup of herbal tea, bringing it down to their joined hands. There, he released hers and placed the cup in her grip, wrapping both of his hands around her own this time to make sure she held onto it properly. When she didn’t lift her head nor squeeze the cup on her own, he leaned down and peered up at her, offering a gentle, patient smile.

“You should drink it while it’s warm. It’ll be good for you.”

At first, as soon as his face came into her line of sight, she turned her eyes away from his, looking off to the wall on the right of them. When she felt him lightly squeeze her hand in both of his, however, she hesitantly looked back again. His eyes were softly narrowed, masking some of the kanji in both of his irises, and through them, he still gave off that friendly vibe he’s been carrying from the start.

His hands completely covered both of hers, enveloping them in a warmth she didn’t expect him to radiate. She had assumed it was from the cup of tea, but both of them felt the same way and it wasn’t changing after he put the cup down. She had always expected the touch of a demon to feel…cold. Chilling. Yet, his wasn’t. It was the kind of soft warmth you’d seek out during a cold winter’s day. The type of warmth you’d want wrapped around you when you feel scared and need comfort. The type of warmth you’d hide in during a stormy night to help lull you to sleep alongside the melodies of pattering rain. How could something so…wholesome radiate from someone like him? She didn’t know how she was supposed to take this nor how she was supposed to react. Should she really believe in that friendly gaze and patient smile? Should she buy into the kind act he was showing her?

Without a doubt, she would be a fool if she did.

She gave him a small nod of her head and squeezed the ceramic cup in her hand. He pulled his hands away from her own when she did, bringing them back down to his laps as he straightened up his posture again. She followed his lead and straightened up a bit as well, her gaze dropping again to peer into the cup she brought close to her chest in both of her hands. There were herbs floating in the amber-tinted brew, partly living up to the demon’s explanation. Bringing it closer to her face, she took a curious whiff of the drink, noting that the earthy aroma she picked up on earlier had come from the tea. Letting out a shaky breath, she dropped her shoulders and caved, finally deciding to bring the edge of the cup to her lips to take a gulp of the warm brew.

After the first two gulps, she pulled the cup away from her and grimaced heavily, making a face of clear distaste. It certainly tasted like a medicinal tea, that’s for sure. Actually, it tasted almost identical to the remedies the medics at the Butterfly Estate often had her take whenever she was brought in with injuries. Granted, she may be wrong about that. All those herbal remedies tasted the same to her: like dirt. She never liked drinking them, and this tea Akaza had given her tasted just like the others. She didn’t want to take another sip, but when she peeked over in his direction, he was staring at her pointedly, lifting an eyebrow at her in question. She didn’t need to be told what that look meant. The medics gave her similar looks whenever she reacted this way…It was just jarring to receive that look from a demon of the twelve Kizuki.

Deciding not to try her luck as she often did with the Butterfly medics, she tentatively brought the cup back to herself, stalling in awkward pauses until she eventually pressed it to her lips once again. She wanted to get it over with as soon as possible, so she just went for it. She shut her eyes tight and drank the warm tea in large gulps, slightly tilting her head back to take in all the liquid while doing her best to avoid the leaves in her way. When there was barely anything left, she pulled the cup away from herself again and dry-heaved to the right, a short series of coughs following soon afterwards.

Akaza chuckled a bit at that, taking the cup away from her and setting it to the side once more before leaning over to pat at her back with minimal strength in the gesture. Only just enough to help her get over her coughing fit.

“I take it you’re not a tea type?” He questioned, smirking lightly in amusement.

“Medicinal tea tastes like mud…If that is what that was…”

She replied without missing a beat this time once she had calmed down, shakily bringing her hands up to wipe at her eyes and face. When she pulled them away, she looked at her palms and narrowed her eyes in confusion for a moment. There were…red streaks covered all over them. When she realized it was blood – dried blood she must have dabbed onto her hands when she wiped the tears off of her skin – her hands began to tremble before balling up into tight fists and quickly falling to her sides out of her sight. All of a sudden, she became all too aware of the scent of blood on her person – the demon’s blood Akaza had wiped on her back in the forest before everything went dark.  

“Oh, that’s right,” He commented, beginning to stand to his feet with her cup in his hand. “You probably want to wash off after what happened earlier, right? Let’s go do that now.” She looked up at him when he said that, watching his back as he walked to the other side of the cabin to place the cup on the dresser before he opened up one of the top drawers. He pulled out an old towel from within, gray in color. Then, he wandered over to the closet and pulled out a small wooden washing basin which he tucked the towel into.

When he heard no kind of reaction or response from her, he turned around and lightly waved the basin in her direction.

“You do want to wash away the blood, don’t you?”

Again, he was being so polite and considerate. It threw her off, and perhaps in the right state of mind, she would’ve rejected his kindness and labeled it a manipulative fraud. Right now, however, she simply saw it as an odd direction life was taking her in, completely skewed from the one she had chosen to walk upon earlier this evening. Maybe it was also because she was desperate to get rid of the scent of blood on her. Normally, she was completely accustomed to it, but having it on her person like this, mixed with her tears, with what she had dreamed of still in her head? It was suffocating.

“…Yes, please…”

“So polite~” He mused lightheartedly, walking over to her bedside once more, but this time, he simply bent down by the knees, his legs spread on either side of him with ease, his free hand resting upon his left thigh. Offering her a more playful grin this time, he handed her the basin with the towel, and once she accepted them, he propped both of his hands on his knees as he looked her in the eyes once again. “Right, then. I figure you can’t walk much right now, can ya? ‘Course not. You’re pretty beat up. So, do you want me to help again?”

“I…I-I suppose I need your help, yes…” She really couldn’t deny it. She had been a wreck when she wandered into these woods, and right now? There was no way she could do much of anything without it hurting her like hell. Acting like she could walk without support through the woods on her own again would be a pathetically obvious display.

“Right. Okay, hold tight.” When she had been expecting him to help her to her feet so she could walk with her arm over his shoulders, he had surprised her by instead pushing the comforters of the futon completely off of her before scooping her up in his arms, one hooked beneath her knees and the other coming to wrap around the back of her waist. Easily, he propped her body up against his chest, secure in his grip. Tight and cozy.

_______, in response, stiffened up something fierce, ignoring the ache it forced to spread throughout her body. Her arms hugged the basin he had given her tightly against her chest, her nails digging into the wood while she stared up at him wide eyed.

“Comfortable enough? Is it okay for my hands to be where they are?”

 His…hands?

What kind of a question was that? He cared about something like that?

“I-I…Y-yes, this is fine…”

“Okay, good. Tell me if that changes on the way.”

She really couldn’t believe what she was hearing. This man – this demon – had gone from crushing and dismembering one of his own kind brutally without an ounce of remorse, to making her medicinal tea and caring about the way he touched or held her. It totally, completely contradicted everything she thought she knew and left her floating in a strange feeling of vacillation and gray areas.  

This wasn’t how the night was supposed to play out.

Yet, there she was, being carried out of this demon’s cabin, snug in his arms.

On the way out into the cedar woods, she even became acutely aware of his large hand pressed firmly against her waist, propping her up against his chest. She could feel each individual inked digit of his digging securely into her waist to keep her close to his person and safe from falling. She could feel his palm splayed on her side, radiating with that surprising warmth of his even through her uniform. Come to think of it, pressed up against his bare chest like this, she could feel his body radiated that same warmth as well.

She could have told him to move his hand if she wanted to, but decided against it.

The warmth felt soothing.

Familiar.

Instead, she allowed her head to lull against his bicep and for her eyes to slowly close as she watched him walk them away from the cabin, the light of the flames within still somewhat visible through the sliding doors.

Instead, she decided to keep pretending.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you so much for making it this far and supporting me and my work! I hope you've been enjoying the story up to now and that it's been meeting expectations! <3 Your support encourages me to continue with this series, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring and interacting with it! <3 God bless you all and til next time! <3

[demonslayedher]

Things that ran through my head while watching this episode:

--Sad opening with slow music & slow motion was unnecessarily sad. No, scratch that, an appropriate amount of sad, this is the loss of Rengoku-san we're focused on here.

--I love how Ufotable was probably like, "sure, Fuji TV, we'll air the next season on your channel, but we want as much air time when and how we want in order to tell the story instead of just fit things into time slots, you must have figured out by now that we made enough money on that movie that no one expects us to follow the same guidelines as other anime" and Fuji TV was like, "yes, yes, anything, you got it, one hour premiere, you got it, but we will get some fluffy filler right? Please??" and Ufotable was like, "DONE. But don't expect us to make any big departures from the manga, the fans will be down our throats."

--So with the ability to take their time, I love how they accomplished both a satisfying follow-up to the movie with most of this episode being dedicated to the fall-out (complete with slowing down the Muzan intro and drawing us into the upcoming setting), and then a brief review of what's typical for Tanjiro & Nezuko in the Corp (raincoat Tanjiro, eeeee), and then get us off to an impactful start for the rest of this season.

--Those Yuukaku setting details, though! Particularly at the end of the episode it feels like, "hey, we put all the work into this 3D model of the town, you bet we're going to show it off" but then they turn around with details like a moth that got its wing sliced, presumably by an obi.

--One of the scenes which I loved in the stage play of Mugen Ressha was when Akaza appeared before Selim Bradley child!Muzan, because the actor had such a compelling physical performance which sold the idea that for as hard Rengoku worked to damage him, it's nothing compared to the ease with which Muzan beats him up, over and over. Here, in the anime, it's just one blast, a true statement.

--Akaza. Akaza. Akaza. A KA ZA.

--I love how Zenitsu has learned to be strategic with how he steals manju.

--With Tanjiro asking if Senjuro's even heard the news of Kyojuro's death, it really, really hasn't been that long.

--Show-offy animation moment: the sake bottle crashing against the ground

--Senjuro's horror at Tanjiro's impending doom is palpable. Shinjuro is still powerful and Senjuro knows it. I really love how Senjuro is performed, he's so brave and polite.

--Tanjiro makes a lot of great faces throughout this series. This face as he accept the tea is his worst face ever.

--Kinda drives my inner meta nerd mad how there had already been 20 Flame Pillars by the time the 21st one met Yoriiichi and learned Breath technique. They must die off as fast as Ubuyashikis do.

--Tanjiro's self reflection and determination to become a Pillar warms my heart

--Oh crap, there's the sunset tones and the slow music again as Senjuro gives him the tsuba, nooooo, my heart, it's burning

--I love how Haganezuka levels up every time we see him. I am so, so ready for the next season. And the silliness!! The seiyuu must have been given directions to make it sillier and sillier in every take, which makes me very, very excited for the Tanjiro & Kotetsu antics.

--Speaking of filler!!! Ufotable must had seen that Aoi & Inosuke are endgame and thought, "gee, we need to... leave, like... some kind of hints, somehow" and had Aoi knowingly serve Inosuke a heaping second portion of rice and smile fondly when he gets excited about mitarashi dango. They're taking that "he makes her smile" tidbit and slipping it in as best they can, because we otherwise never see her smile until all is said and done.

--This, as well as Aoi being the smart and brave one to rescue Tanjiro from Haganezuka, certainly endears us to her before her plight.

--Kanao!!! It has been 4 months since Tanjiro declared that she stop using the copper coin, but here she is in a moment of indecision, and with how her actions silence everyone else, this is the very first time she's made such a decision. Good girl, Kanao! That said, she leaves herself speechless too, and when Kiyo and Sumi are emboldened to shout and scream at Uzui, she's as mute as Nezuko. Actions speak louder than words, that's for sure.

--But Kanao's thunder is totally stolen by the entrance of the Kamaboko Rangers

--I love that Tanjiro knows right away that his words have no weight, which is why he very quickly changes tactics and switches to volunteering himself (and his bros) to action

--THESE TAISHO SECRETS ARE SO UNABASHEDLY SILLY

[neerikiffu]

i still havent made the link in bio (21.07.24)

idk i can't manage my time! but i've reuninted with the otome addiction

okay let's rule CxM:U out first

i've tried to return to the okazaki after story that ive left off at, and tbh it's just BORING BOOORIIING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING OF INTEREST

i don't think i'll finish it, and i DEFINITELY don't wanna play the enjailed shiraishi one

yeah it's sad about the all the additional content that's not LI based but really i am amazed how cxm has such an unlikeable lineup (besides yanagi, yanagi one love) (mineo is just too passive yet hes nice)

so

ive touched tengoku struggle

out of the lineup - i really have my eye on yona, like i really really do, if not the soft route order i'd go for him first

otherwise i like goemon, he's nice (my 2nd goemon lol) uga is too sissy and i'm just not a fan of sharaku-like characters even though sharaku is voiced by kaito ishikawa himself

i got spoilered so hard from going on vndb, that jack will be a main character this fucking edgelord jackass and it's not just me to think that

so so far the LI likeability (to me) is kinda bad, 2 likes vs 3 dislikes, kinda like cxm had it

i'll trail off talking about likeability ratios now

so out of all games i played, like/dislike, from least dislike to most:

Olympia Soiree: | 2 vs 4

akaza, kuroba / himuka, yosuga, tokisada, riku

Piofiore: Fated Memories: | 3 vs 3

dante, gilbert, orlok / henri, yang, nicola

Piofiore: Episodio 1926: | 4 vs 1 vs 1

dante, orlok, gilbert, henri / yang / nicola (yang is in a very deserved middle but heck i liked him so much more in the 2nd game, even though he's still second from the end, i like him way way way more here)

Radiant Tale: | 0 vs 4 vs 1

-nobody is my favorite- / radie, ion, paschalia, vilio / zafora zafora is a shitass, also vilio gives "i can fix him" vibes

Cafe Enchante: | 1 vs 1 vs 3

ignis / misyr / il, canus, kaoru i love misyr but his route was hot garbage

Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei: | 0 vs 3 vs 2

-nobody is my favorite- / noritsune, shungen, benkei / yoritomo, tomomori

My Next Life as a Villainness: | 2 vs 3 vs 1

silva, rozy / alan, nicol, keith / geordo

Nightshade: | 2 vs 1 vs 2

hanzo, goemon / gekkamaru / kuroyuki, chojiro

Cupid Parasite: | 0 vs 3 vs 3

-nobody is my favorite- / raul, shelby, peter / ryuki, gill, allan

Collar X Malice: | 2 vs 3

yanagi, mineo / sasazuka, shiraishi=okazaki

as you can tell im quite picky

saying every middle character is half a point and every bad character is 0, i can rank the games in terms of LIs

okay back to tengoku struggle now

but, order route is route order, and i went for uga first

not my type, from start to finish, but i kind of lived through it

there wasn't anything really plot-relevant going on, and all other LIs almost vanished, they werent around enough at all, even as side characters

the entire route wasn't even really focused on kikunosuke himself, but instead his sister, and how he's sad about his sister

overall it was alright wasn't unenjoyable but wasnt really enjoyable either

i like the routes are not that long

the story is very very linear, your first choice is a route you wanna go on, and then you just have basically no impactful choices, just good vs bad, and there's like 10 of them for the entire route

it's how olympia soiree did things, but at the same time OS had way more ways to trail off the route

i am yet to complete uga's bad end, and i'm very very very looking forward to playing yona next

i'm studying my way through summer, kinda gettting ready to tackle the big thing starting september

so far i'm pretty proud of myself and happy about it, as i did it diligently, and awesome people are helping me lately ive been losing some enthusiasm though

that's all for now, i successfully wasted over an hour of my time writing this out and now my hands hurt and i need rest…

[maigo-san]

filling out the rest of the rentan ask game 🔥🎴!

⚔️ - More importantly, did you cry when Rengoku… yknow… died lol

at first no, I was too stunned. I really thought it was a jinx. But then the next watch I cried buckets.

❄️ - what are your feelings about Akaza? Was he an effective villain in the story? Do you like him in AUs?

at first I didn't like his introduction. It's so sudden, there's barely any foreshadow or hints. He's obviously not just some demon, he's UM 3. But then I realized that it made sense from Kyoujurou's pov. Upper Moon or not, a demon is a demon to Kyou and unlike Tan, whatever sob story behind these villains, it didn't matter to Kyou. All he needed was to protect everyone. He's definitely effective considering Kyou's death made a lot of people sad and even though I wish that his story didn't overshadow Tan's avenge fight scene in the final arc, it's not that bad.

Do you like him in AUs? I feel neutral about it. I don't usually include him in AUs cuz he's just really different from Kyou and Tan. He does martial art, and they do swords. Maybe they were in the same school like in kimegaku but they have very different social circles.

Though I feel Hakuji and Tanjirou can get along pretty okay or that Hakuji might find Tanjirou's profoundness aggravating (like in the canon) but unlike in canon, they're not conditioned to fight with each other, so Tan is unfazed and Hakuji will just feel stupid with himself. They both have similar struggles too, so maybe they were part-time co-workers. Or just seniors and juniors that know each other and maybe Hakuji won't feel embarrassed about borrowing Tan's money since Tan knows how it feels to be broke.

Also, they're both just simple dudes who simp their s/os and I always find it funny thinking abt an awkward hakukoyu-rentan double date. Koyuki and Tanjirou will definitely get along, but I can just imagine Hakuji making snarky remarks about Kyoujurou or how he keeps bringing up that time Kyoujurou declines his offer to try martial art and making jabs about kendo being a stupid sport. And Tan gets to see a rare Kyou smiling wide like he's about to murder someone.

🍠 - what are your opinions on the Rengoku family, and how Kyojuro was raised?

HOOO BOY. The Rengokus fucked an already good family and I feel so bad for them. They could not gatekeep flame breathing but they did. Whether it's intentional or not, it's been planted throughout generations and even Senjurou knows. That's why he's been weighed by that.

I know both Kyoujurou and Senjurou are victims in this but we can't forget Shinjurou too. The Rengokus are known to be loyal and kind-hearted but it's also a wonder how just now, just when Shinjurou got driven into alcoholic madness we decided to address it (plot reasons I know, I'm being hyperbolic). But it's always interesting to explore. I'm sure it's not just him that had wished they could break this cycle of curse. That wished they don't have to be a demon slayer for once.

Though, I feel like they're only wishes and nobody really made a move. It's probably why the records made it seem like Yoriichi was some legend or that no breathing style can ever be at the same level as sun breathing and that they're all just going to fight demons until the end of their lives since The Chosen One is dead. I don't know

Maybe that was Shinjurou's intrusive rage talking or maybe it is something the other Rengokus had always believed in. After all, Kyou also had never wanted anything other than having a tsuguko or dreamed about anything else other than demon slaying.

But anyway

yes, Kyou

Honestly, I feel satisfied whenever I read about a cutting generational trauma and though it's tragic, Kyoujurou's nuclear family saved the rest of the Rengokus.

A part of me thinks that Kyou drives himself to the limit also as a response to his father but it's really just something he knows what to do. So even if Shinjurou retired honorably, Kyou will still do what he does. That's all he had known to be and Ruka had only implemented that but I have a feeling that they had always married someone who has that personality and similar mindset.

He technically grew up as "planned", as in he carries the values the previous Rengokus still hold along with his mother, but I also like how Kyou grew up seeing the crack in their perfect model portrait. He saw how broken his father had become and I believe that's how he became such a down-to-earth Hashira and how he didn't pester Senjurou to be the next Flame Hashira.

That's all though. I think these four are really lovely.

I have a headcanon that Senjurou inherited Shinjurou's critical side and Kyoujurou inherited Ruka's crafty and creative side instead. That's why Senjurou did so well in housekeeping and Kyoujurou has an out-of-the-box almost theatrical way of teaching history.

🪨 - what are your opinions on the Kamado family, and how Tanjiro was raised?

I feel gtg almost always sees them as one entity when in reality it's not. It makes me feel that Tanjirou is a dad of six with Kie occasionally chiming in.

Though Tanjuurou's death was quite recent from Muzan's visit, I know Tanjirou sold charcoal even before Tanjuurou died since he had been ill for quite a while so yes, Tanjirou probably replace his role sooner than anyone expected.

I know Tanjirou mostly seeks guidance from Tanjuurou and Kie is the one who's often in Nezuko's dream instead but it only emphasizes more about how TanNezu has been parenting the younger siblings lol

I wish they were more explored like the Rengokus (and promoted) because they're literally TanNezu's support. Despite everything, I love the parents' connection with TanNezu. I wish we know more about Tanjuurou and Kie like Shinjurou and Ruka, so I headcanon because Tanjuurou makes Kie concerned because of his very peaceful nature, and that worry turns to love and Tanjurou saw how good of a person Kie was and decided to marry her. It made sense, she's the one with the armor forehead.

I want to know how Tanjuurou was when he's young (Tan really looks like him post-canon tf), maybe he got that easygoingness from Suyako (Sumiyoshi's wife)'s side instead lol

I also love love love the younger siblings my goooddd... they have so much potential and I love their various personalities. Tsun-tsun Takeo, Hanako and Shigeru are the perfect example of middle child lol, and then little Rokuta who probably sees Tan more like a dad than a brother and maybe in another universe grow up the most similar to Tanjurou or Tanjirou. idk

Just a fun thing to think about.

🗑️ - just tell us everything you love about Shinjuro

💀 oh old man

I love every single strand of leg hair you own, your perfect skrunkly frown, I don't love the way you hit Senjurou but the way you beat Tan is so satisfying, (especially in the stage play lmfao, that actor really went for it), and the way you ruin Kyoujurou's mood every single time. I also love the way they made him wear an undershirt after he's sober 🙏 literally saint-ified lmfao

I think that's all! It's been really fun. The questions are really interesting.

[murachinchi]

🔥 - aaaa it was more because Tanjiro is my fav character and then gained kyo as my fav character after their first meeting. when i first saw them interact i just thought they r very cute together. then the sleeping together happen and i was just 👀 . i totally binge the rntn tag on ao3 that day

☀️ at home 🥲 ive known kny for much longer but decided to not watch it cause i havent been interested in anime for sometime.. but decided to finally watch when i got lots of free time and also because ig keep recommending kny reels 🙃🙃 im surprised i didnt get spoiled that kyo's gonna die so early in the series

⚔️ NO... at my first watch... because i was on denial lol like "haha no way he gonna die come on it's just a hand through ur chest is not that bad" even until the end of the season im still in denial cause no way he died cause he seems so importaaannttt. so yes i didnt cry on my first watch though i reaaaallllyyyyy like the song that plays on his last speech so sad yet inspiring. i only bawled on my second watch cause there i finally accepts his death

❄️ i've hated him even before he kills kyo lmao idk his face and smile just seems so annoying.. and im sorry fellas but i really dont like his theme song 🙃 its like hate on first sight (?) like even after i knew about his backstories it still didnt make me like him. it's like so what if u have a tragic backstory idc lol but then i realised that he's kinda forced to be turned into a demon yes? he just doesnt care anymore and got turned into a demon. so i just see them as different characters lol i like hakuji but i dont like akaza. yes there's an AU where i like him and it's something i made myself (??) jk i like an AU where they r separate person lol

💤 i dont like him im sorry 🙃🙃 i dont like the way he talks 🙃 i love that he's just a horrible demon without sad backstory. and i find it very funny thats he's a train perv in kimetsu gakuen lol

❤️ hmmmmmmm i like almost everything really.. as long as they care about each other UwU i do want to see a twisted version of reincarnation AU tho.. like since they dont have much time together on their previous life they get to be super protective of each other to the point of toxicity but it goes both ways lol like a yanderexyandere story. also omegaverse but with beta kyo and omega tan 🥺🥺🥺🥺

🥵 yes yes yes yes this has many story potential lol specially angst give me the slowburn pls

💭 i want them to interact more on the train awake 🥲🥲🥲

🍠 i love the rengoku family.. they have funny genes... i do wonder how would they turn out to be if Ruka is alive and well.. she seems like the quiet type and from what we've seen of childhood kyo he seems to be like that too.. i feel like he smiles alot cause he gotta put a front for sen and it becomes a habit to just smile on everything and also because of Ruka's words.. about the current one i do get where shin coming from.. and he keeps his feelings to himself and lash out on his children kinda sad really.. i want to believe that he never actually hit his children just verbally abuse and neglect them but finally breaks down after kyo's death. still doesnt justify what he had done to his children tho

🪨 i still find it funny that they have 6 children lmao like damn Kie no wonder ur husband so weak 😭😭😭 but i love that even with that many siblings the parents still try their best to raise them. and u can see that kie felt bad for making tan work so young. i do want to see more of their family specially when the dad is around. and also how Kie defend her children with her strong forehead lmaoo that caught me off guard

🗑️ his thigh man i dunno he's just a silly sad man who can't drink right. i remember when my friend told me that she didnt expect shinjuro looking like that since kyo refers him as "chichiue" which was very formal. so she was laughing so hard when shinjuro first appeared cause he look very scrunkly.

🎴hmmmm tbh he's almost kind with everyone he met so any ship would go well with him.. but i'd say InoTan. tho i do tend to read or look at tan being shipped with the upper moons lol in the context of rntn but kyo is dead lmao i like that

❤️‍🔥 no... :c i've seen lots of kyo ship while i do find it adorable but nah.. the closest would be renkaza but only if they were exes lol

💣 hmmm this one a bit weird.. i like omegaverse but i dont like genderbend.. so im not really keen with genderswap rntnrn fanarts. but this is not a rntn specific tho 🥲🥲

RenTan ask game!

Grit your teeth and join the fun.

Please reblog so everyone can see!

🔥- What first drew you to Rengoku Kyojuro/Tanjiro?

☀️ - How did you watch Mugen train for the first time? (In theaters, at home…)

⚔️ - More importantly, did you cry when Rengoku… yknow… died lol

❄️ - what are your feelings about Akaza? Was he an effective villain in the story? Do you like him in AUs?

💤 - what are your feelings about Enmu? Was he an effective villain in the story? Do you like him in AUs?

❤️ - what are your favorite kind of RenTan stories? (Canon, Rengoku lives, modern… etc)

🥵 - what are your thoughts about their rank difference? Did you want Tanjiro to study under Kyojuro?

💭 - In a world where the train ride lasted longer, what do Rengoku and Tanjiro dream of?

🍠 - what are your opinions on the Rengoku family, and how Kyojuro was raised?

🪨 - what are your opinions on the Kamado family, and how Tanjiro was raised?

🗑️ - just tell us everything you love about Shinjuro

🎴 - do you ship Tanjiro with anyone else? If yes, who? If no, why not?

❤️‍🔥 - do you ship Kyojuro with anyone else? If yes, who? If no, why not?

💣 - share your most controversial RenTan take. Set your thoughts ablaze!!

[tinaotaku]

yandere muzan with a cold natured daughter? like she’s cold all the time always shivering

No one POV

"I need more blankets,"

"No, you have 3 of them right now,"

"But I'm freezing right here!" You cried in sadness.

"No means no, (Y/n)," Akaza replied as he sighed. Pinching his nose, he said, "This is ridiculous! How can Douma deal with you every single day?"

"Well, I can't control the weather, Akaza! It's so cold right now I could freeze like an ice cube!"

"(Y/n), it's freaking summer right now. SUMMER! It was supposed to be HOT! Even in the evening you still can feel the heat!" Akaza groaned before walking backward. "You know what?"

"... What?"

"I gave up,"

"Wait-"

***

And that's how you got another demon quits being your babysitter.

Well, it's not entirely your fault. Ever since you were born, you did nothing but shiver in coldness. Everything felt cold to you. You need more layers of clothing than people do and can't stand being in the wild. Walking outside your room is an impossible thing to do, and do not mention the outer world. You have no intention of dying to coldness (literally) and prefer to stay inside.

Nonetheless, walking outside your room is a big no-no.

Well, it can be a bit boring in here. The room is spacious and filled with different entertainments, yet spending more than a century here can make you bored.

You grumbled under your breath before pulling your blankets and covering yourself like a cocoon.

"Ah... it's so cold," you sighed. Pulling your knees to your chest, you closed your eyes and fell asleep.

Muzan POV

I opened the door as I brought another thick blanket to my daughter. "Dear, would you like another- oh," I gasped as I saw my daughter being a cute tiny little ball, sleeping beneath all of that blankets. I said this and won't hesitate to say it again, "My daughter is the cutest in this world!" Soon, my expression turned into a smile with imaginary hearts floating around my face.

Yep, you guessed it.

The strongest demon alive; aka Kibutsuji Muzan; is a simp for my daughter. (Don't worry it is a platonic kind of love)

Softly, I walked to my daughter, trying not to wake her up. She can be very scary but that story is for another time. With one swift, I throw the thickest blanket I could find and put it on top of her. It was faint, but I can hear her purred in happiness.

Though I still have a lot of things to do, I decided to kneel beside her bed and look into my own daughter's 'fortress' As I closed my eyes, I still remember how small she is when she was born. Tiny arms and plump cheeks are not what I noticed at first, but her coldness.

When I first touched her, she was as cold as ice. I swore I could mistake her as a dead baby. If it wasn't for her short breathing and gasping, I would kill her right there. I remember being lost and confused. A cold baby has no use for the great demon as me. My ego clouded my mind and I was so ready to end her short life. Then, a voice came. It told me to hug her.

Hugging a cold-ass baby? It was a no from me.

"Come on, don't you want to feel it?" The voice urged me.

"It may be a new experience for you!"

"Look how tiny she is. I reckon you will like it,"

Then, I did hug her.

It was awkward to hug a cold baby. As I held her head against my heart, she moved her fat cheek, trying to find a comfortable position. Then, I heard something that I swore that they would not come back.

My heartbeat.

It beats on a peculiar rhythm. Fast and certainly deafening my ears. Everything seems overwhelming now. Tears flew from my eyes as I put her a bit closer.

I dislike this feeling.

I don't want to feel weak, yet this cold baby made me cry.

Why?

Why am I feeling this?

Do I love you?

But you are nothing but a tool for me.

Can I love you?

My journey was filled with blood and I took the life of those who were innocent.

Are you sure you could accept me for who I am?

I wanted to kill you and leave all of this mess.

But you are too cute.

Adorable and vulnerable.

Small yet weak.

Will you follow me until the day I die?

Oh, who am I kidding? Of course, you will.

You are my daughter, perfect for the almighty me.

Isn't it a tradition for daughters to follow their dad?

I'll make sure your life is filled with nothing but me and ONLY M E.

I made an oath that I will protect my daughter until the day I die. Don't look at me like that. It was necessary to protect my child from all sorts of problems, right? Obstacles such as friendship, relationships, and enemies are nothing. Why would my daughter hurt herself for this kind of nonsense?

All you need is me, (Y/n).

M E.

No one POV

"Daddy, are you here?" I asked as I rub my eyes. I still can feel the blankets around me which is fine. However, the blankets seem a bit heavier than I remember. Oh, it wasn't my problem at all.

"Oh dear, are you awake? Would you like to have a glass of water or would you like to take a bath? I'll make sure to have Daki accompany you,"

A small yawn escaped from my lips as I changed my sleeping position. "No, I'm still sleepy, *yawn* Why are you here anyway?"

"Akaza told me that you lacked a blanket. Therefore I decided to bring you another. Do you like it?"

"Yes, I liked it. It was warmer than before. Thank you, daddy,"

Muzan chuckled as he replied, "Your welcome, dear. I'll leave you to have a good night's sleep, ok? I'll be in my lab for a couple of days, so don't worry about me,"

Muzan gently stood up from his seat. No matter how much he'd like to stay and spoiled her to death, he knew that responsibility comes first. Moreover, he respected his daughter's wishes, but before he could leave, you whispered, "Could you please accompany me? I missed you, daddy,"

It doesn't take 5 seconds for him to be at your side. As fast as lightning, you can find him inside your thick blankets. His arms gently warped around you, and he snuggled into your shoulder. "It's so warm, daddy. It doesn't feel that cold anymore,"

A low chuckled can be heard from your back.

"It's because I'm here, baby. I'm always here,"

[midnightstoriesblog]

Kyougai turned into a demon cause he wanted to appreciate, right? So, Kind Muzan AU, what if he got that appreciation? What if his writing became famous amongst demonkind?

The first person he'd talk about his stories to is Muzan, who also enjoyed his story.

Their (platonic) bond was strong. They were very close. Muzan was even comfortable to share some of his secrets and worries, and Kyougai listened and kept it a secret.

It's no secret on how close the two were, and some (like Gyokko, Akaza, and/or perhaps, Kokushibou) were quite envious. So when Kyougai was killed, what if Muzan fell into deep depression? He doesn't have any motivation to do anything and stays in his room all day. He became unresponsive most of the time. Kyougai was probably the first demon he was comfortable enough with and doesn't betray his trust (like many other had in the past).

They missed Muzan's warm and gentle aura. Now it's just cold and hollow. Muzan showed no reactions to things that he'd usually would (and Gyokko is especially sad at this).

What would the Kizuki's/Uppermoons do to help Muzan with grief? Would he even recover? Or would he just get annoyed with them eventually and just put up a fake front of being alright (which Douma could easily see through).

Maybe one of them (Daki?) even broke down in tears, begging him to just come back? Making even sadder, he merely patted her head and just looked or walked away? For a moment there, maybe she saw a glint of sadness or spark of life in his eyes. She could've just been dreaming, though.

Idk if this is too dark, but if it is, you can ignore it! 😅

Happy, sad, or open ending you can choose!

A/N: I'm veryy sorry about how long it took me to post this, I haven't had motivation to write in a while, but it's back now! Here it is though, I hope you enjoy reading!

Kind!Muzan dealing with Kyougai's death

Warnings: themes of death and grief, pretty heavy subjects, "happy" ending but not really

~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆

Kyougai was a well known demon in the community. Even though he was only a lower moon, all demons knew his name, but most knew him because of his writing. Many were considered his 'fans', but there was one person who was truly his biggest fan- none other than his master, Muzan. He spent countless days, either reading his work or listening to his ideas while working, sometimes even taking some time to proofread for him.   So, when he found out about his death.. it was like a part of his heart was torn out and then ripped apart. Not only was he a member of what he considered his family.. but it was his responsibility to keep him safe..

And he failed.

Ever since he got the devastating news, grief overwhelmed him and every aspect of his life, and it seemed like there was no escaping it either, as it slowly changed the way he acted..

Even though he already overworked himself, it got even worse, as Kokushibou now couldn't even help with the work- because the door to Muzans office would be locked, and Nakime was rather.. hesitant to go against the masters orders, of not letting anyone other than Muzan into the office. Koku understood that, he was never the type to disobey orders either, so he didn't hold it against her, but he was worried about the fact that the order wouldn't lead to anything good.. No one was really sure what he did in his office, whether he was truly working, or perhaps he just wanted to isolate himself from the outside world.   Not to mention, there was always a sense of.. coldness from his demeanor now. Even progress that was being made during missions, or even something as simple as Gyokko's new artistic ideas failed to cheer him up, or at least light a spark in his eyes. Most meetings were lead by Kokushibou now, only with written notes from Muzan at most.. even though those were rare..   It's clear that all the uppermoon were trying their best to help with the grieving process, but it was clear that they too had issues when communicating to him. Some of them were too scared to bring it up, others didn't know how to approach the situation and they weren't even sure if they should talk to him about it, but there were two who broke the ice- Akaza wasn't just going to sit around while Muzan was in obvious emotional pain, and Daki, though childish, was one of the most deeply attached to him, so of course she wanted things to go back to normal.   Akaza tried to keep it subtle, he never had the courage to address the grief directly. It was always something simple- like knocking on his door and checking up on him, reporting everything that happens in person, rather than just passing the information to Nakime. He could've sworn that with each day Muzan was speaking more and more, even if it was only one extra word, he was simply grateful for even that much..   ..Surprisingly though, Daki was the one who made the most progress- even if it wasn't intentional. The breakthrough happened when Muzan dismissed her concerns (and cries) with a simple pat on her head, before turning to walk away. It's in moments like these that her childlike bluntness ends up being useful, because in that moment, without thinking about it for too long- in between tears, she blurted out something along the lines:

"We're here for you too! You can't just leave us behind when we're trying to help!"

It was probably the stupidest thing she had done- and yet, somehow- it made him stop walking away. It was as if a spark finally light up inside him..

Perhaps this was a turn for the better..

~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆⭒~⭒☆

A/N: Am I hinting at a part two? Who knows.. grief is one of my favorite topics after all... ;]

P.S: The Douma erasure in all of this was unintentional, I truly do love Douma, I just forgot to involve him in the idea <;/3

[tvrningout-a]

his words are like knives, sharp and cutting, yet kaiya's skin remains untouched. she made peace with her decisions a long time ago -- with some of them, at least. the choice to remain kind, soft, forgiving, was made long ago through tears and turmoil. it was made the same day her father came to her in a dream, made her promise to keep living, and the same day that sei found her in that decrepit house. she made that choice because she hated who she became when she lost her kindness. she hated herself, what she had been capable of.

never again. never again will she allow her heart to become so cold, quiet, dead. she'd rather it bleed time and again than let that happen.

" to be alive is a blessing. i'm lucky to exist in a world as beautiful as this one. " she answers his venom with honey, but her smile seems... sad, mournful. " but you see, i'm living on borrowed time. i should have died long ago, so while i treasure this life, i don't mind dying so someone else might enjoy this world a little longer. i don't think it unfair, even if that person wouldn't do the same for me. it's alright if they forget me, too. it isn't as if i'm someone of great importance. i'm more like... a nameless character in a sad story. "

( it's easier to think of it that way, isn't it? this is just some tragic tale she's found herself in. she isn't meant to have a happy ending; she's meant to be an example, just a tool. )

" so if even one person gets to live because i was a kind idiot, i'm okay with dying. i know that's hard to understand -- my friends don't quite get it, either. but who can say whether my choice will make a difference or not? no one. not even you, akaza-san. "

and it was like he was made of barbs —— thorns that threatened to rip and tear, should she get too close. it was difficult for him not to immediately cause her pain, to lash out and show her the world was evil to the kind-hearted.

but something stops him. it always did. 

“——does living mean nothing to you?” a question laced in venom, “—you should favour preserving yourself, over what you can do for others.”

a scoff.

“—they wouldn’t do the same for you — don’t be an idiot,” he huffs, “—sacrificing yourself to a cause like that isn’t going to make the world any better. anyone who you’re kind to will forget about you, and you will hold no impact.”

[atopearth]

Olympia Soiree Part 7 - Akaza Route & Overall Review

I'm finally up to best boy Akaza!! I'm so excited!! Lmao, I love how Camelia helped Byakuya do a little analysis on what type of guy she likes and tells her that her perfect guy is Akaza, but then Byakuya is immediately like no🤣 I'm glad to see Akaza very forward and persistent about at least getting a chance for him and Byakuya to get to know each other. Byakuya is definitely the most guarded towards him compared to all the other guys in the other routes haha, but I am excited for their first date! Lmaoo at Byakuya trying to reject it by saying she was busy every day he suggested until she realised he wasn't going to give up, so she said she actually has time the next day loll. Akaza properly introducing himself to Daifuku and giving him food was so cuteee! Perfect guy right there, he even gave some to Byakuya because he could tell she wanted to try it hahaha. I hope Byakuya realises soon he's just not that good with words when it comes to romantic stuff and love. Wow, Akaza in casual clothes is breathtaking. I don't blame Byakuya for being stunned. He doesn't have glasses either! Honestly, both looks are great with different vibes and I love both.

Akaza bringing Byakuya back to Tennyo Island on the first date was really sweet tbh. He knew that despite the bad memories, she would still want to come and decided to take her here. When Byakuya told him to leave her alone because she couldn't hold back her tears, so he covered her with his handkerchief or something so he wouldn't see her cry was the most touching thing ever. And then when he said he was abusing his power to come here when it's restricted just made me smile, Akaza is so kind and gentle. Lmao, Byakuya was so cute when she kept trying to make excuses up for Akaza to stay because she didn't want their date to end. It was so funny when he asked her if she intended to serve him tea in her underwear since she didn't have a change of clothes and she's supposed to be drying her current clothes at her hideout lolll. I'm glad Akaza is a gentleman who is very patient with all the silly stuff she does🤣 Okay, Akaza smiling is the sweetest thing ever. I am smitten. Well, I was already smitten with him ages ago, but dang, he's so beautiful.

Lmao, I just realised but Byakuya is acting like such a tsundere🤣 She tries to deny all her positive feelings towards him and doesn't admit to stuff like going to the Kotowari just to see him when she obviously did hahaha. Akaza likes paella!! I don't think I've ever eaten paella before tbh🤔 I love how he got her food and the Olympia soda, but isn't he going to eat?? Lol. Wow, Akaza is so blunt about his thoughts and feelings towards her, I don't blame Byakuya for running away, I would feel so shy hearing how interested he is in her hahaha. HUH?! Akaza is Jigen's son?!? I mean I knew Akaza was high up but I really didn't think he was Jigen's son!! They've never interacted with each other before! If even Tsukuyomi is against Byakuya being with Akaza, there must be something really bad about this curse on the Red.. But technically, Jigen is an Outsider so he's not a "real" Red right...?😅 Just let them be happyyyy. So the one who killed Amaterasu was actually her little brother Susano-o who wanted to defile her, but she resisted and he got mad and killed her😮 After regretting his actions, he killed himself, and his blood became the Red.. LOL when Byakuya showed Kuroba how disappointed she was that Akaza wasn't there to check her letters, and it was just him🤣🤣 He was teasing her but I still feel bad for Kuroba because you can definitely tell she really was disappointed🤣 I actually agree with Kuroba that I like the cinnabar story of the Red too tbh. It's sad that a lot of people died and the Red were shunned, but I really liked how it showed that what was killing them wasn't some sort of curse but an actual toxic material that was around, and that they could use to change their whole situation around! The only problem though is that is this story really the truth?

Aww, I love how they both apologised to each other for what they've said or acted, it was so nice to see them properly communicate. OMG, when Akaza laughed and then immediately went back to apathetic face LOLLL, HE'S SO CUTEE! WHAT, you have to remove yourself from your family register to join the Kotowari to ensure fairness and righteousness??? Wow... It's not even just Akaza because he's the director, it's every single person, that is so so saddening... I guess at least that means whoever is in the Kotowari is probably as passionate as Akaza but yeah wow. And that's why Jigen and Akaza have always acted like strangers in public... For a second, I thought he meant he wasn't blood related to Jigen, but I see, it's actually that they're blood related, but in the family register they are considered unrelated. Not only was Jigen's relationship to Akaza a big shock, but Akaza's mother being a woman from Tennyo Island is the second shock of this route! So does that mean Byakuya can have children that aren't White? Maybe this is why Akaza is so hot🤣 Okay, omg, when he said he wanted to go on as much dates with her as possible so that his other rivals won't get a chance, I was smiling for Byakuya like an idiot because that is just so adorableeee! Izanami's story is so sad...I can't believe Izanagi ventured to the land of the dead (Yomi) to look for her, and yet when he saw a grotesque version of her, he decided to throw peaches at her and abandon her instead.. That's pretty horrible.

Man, it was such a lovely moment between Akaza and Byakuya as they discussed how colour classes shouldn't be discriminated and instead protected, but then Kanan HAS to appear😒 Akaza finishing his lunch before Yosuga could tease him and Byakuya any more about "resting" here at the inn together made me rofl, Akaza is so cute🤣 Tsukuyomi definitely has his reasons for wanting Byakuya to stay away from Akaza, and probably can't tell her or something but yeah, I don't blame Byakuya for not listening to him, because I wouldn't either haha. Akaza is so nice and sweet, I wouldn't be able to just ditch him because someone said that I shouldn't be with him. Lmao at Kuroba and Yosuga teasing Byakuya and saying they should all go on a date so she can "compare" to see whose best, and just because they want to see Akaza jealous hahahah. To be fair, I would love to see Akaza jealous too. It was so funny how hurt Akaza sounded when she screamed at the sight of him because she wasn't expecting him to be at his office🤣 Omggg a home (hideout) dinner date?! I love it!! I'm glad Byakuya got all flustered about how Akaza told her before that she shouldn't invite men to her hideout because it could be suggestive, and here he is suggesting they have dinner there hahaha. Omg, Akaza's food looks sooo good!! Lmaoo when Akaza said if Byakuya chooses him as her husband, she can have as much of his smoked food as she wants🤣🤣 I love her deadpan face saying he's just trying to lure her in like he did with Daifuku before with food hahahah. He even baked a cheesecake to go with the jam she got from a delivery!! I love how awkwardly straightforward Akaza can be, I don't blame Byakuya for being so flustered with him hahaha. Honestly, it's really adorable to watch them, they're so innocent and cute. Akaza being so genuinely happy for the Kou guy being able to go to university was so sweet, he smiled so much, I don't blame Byakuya for being so smitten, like who can resist such a supportive guy, he's the best🥺🥺 Their kiss on the boat was sooo cute!! I'm glad Byakuya is finally admitting to her feelings a bit more lol, it's kinda frustrating sometimes seeing how tsundere she is towards him when he's always trying his best and being honest with his feelings towards her.

Tsukuyomi's utter loathing and disgust towards Akaza was pretty frightening with how much he wanted to kill Akaza just for basically existing and looking exactly the same as Susano-o. I think the scariest thing is that Akaza has been carrying the katana that killed Amaterasu all this time, and has been unable to throw it away because every time he did, the katana would come back to him somehow. I feel so terrible for him that he used to get nightmares every night seeing himself kill a woman (probably Amaterasu), I am also surprised he didn't go crazy, but because of it, he doesn't smile anymore and that's sad too. On the other hand, I'm not sure if Tsukuyomi breaking the other half of the mirror that was to be used to call Amaterasu back to this world into Byakuya's body and taking over it is the right choice. Was there no other way to protect her? To think that Chigaya (Byakuya’s attendant) was actually a women of the White who left Tennyo Island to come here and live with the man she loved, that's honestly pretty romantic, like wow. Kinda glad Byakuya isn't alone anymore🥲 It was actually kinda scary when Himuka kept talking to Byakuya saying he couldn't wait for Amaterasu to return blah blah, he totally disregarded her as a person and I think that was really saddening to hear. I feel so bad for Byakuya that Kanan's article saying she's cursing Tenguu Island is so widespread that there are people thinking she's better off dead. Like yeah, I know, they're all scared, but seriously? Really shows how her existence to them is just to make the sun continue to shine, so if it doesn't, it's obviously her fault.

Omg, so the katana was actually found by Suzuha (Akaza's mother) on Tennyo Island when she was pregnant with Akaza, and Tsukuyomi threw it back into the whirlpool, and then Akaza was born.. I can see why he hates Akaza so much, he probably thinks of him as cursed before he was even born, and it was only because the women of the White pleaded with him that he didn't send him as a baby off alone on a boat into the sea. It was actually kinda interesting that there's an Olympia cult that believes Byakuya isn't cursing them, and that if they turn the people in Yomi into Shou and offer it to the sun, it will go back to normal. I guess that's understandable, even though they were scary. As expected, the sun didn't come back even after Byakuya prayed to it. I felt so bad for her when everyone was surrounding her and about to drag her away and kill her for "cursing" the island, but I didn't realise how scared I was for her until Akaza appeared protecting her with the katana, I just couldn't help but cry. I was so glad when Akaza said he refused to give in and would defy fate, and had chosen that path since she turned 18 (when Amaterasu is supposed to come). She's not a shell for Amaterasu to come back through, and Akaza is not Susano-o, and they can choose their own paths. Omggg, the sex scene was cute, Byakuya with red hair is pretty!

I've been thinking this for a while...but is Douma actually Byakuya's father? And now after getting to hear his voice, it seems like it really is him.. Like I've never really thought Douma was that bad of a person as Byakuya did, since the only time he irked me was in the beginning of the story when he said something like no one could ever love her, but everything else he has done or said has been quite logical. I wonder why Tsukuyomi is so "obsessed" with Byakuya. Honestly though, can't say I blame Tsukuyomi for hating the people on the island for trying to kill Byakuya, I wanna give up on them too. On the other hand, Tsukuyomi wasn't joking when he said he threw away one half of the mirror, he literally threw it into Shinimizu Spring where no can touch because they'll just die from haku. Another crazy revelation was Tsukuyomi being the one who spread the Shinimizu water around the island because he hated the people, their obsession with colours and how bodies kept piling up because of these obsessions. As I said before, if I was him and had to "watch over" stuff like this but be powerless against changing how disgusting people could get, I would give up on them too. Well, Tsukuyomi just gets crazier lol.

Douma shouting at Amaterasu for not protecting Hakua and trying to use his daughter as a vessel made me sad, especially now knowing the real reason as to how Hakua died and what caused it. Guess all the previous leaders really sucked in the same way, sigh. On the other hand, Akaza saving Byakuya from the Shinimizu Spring after she retrieved the mirror made me cry. He made me cry even more when Byakuya's flesh was literally melting off and his facial expression and love for her never changed. He refused to accept "fate" that she has to die by his hands and I honestly loved him for that. It's expected of Akaza considering how stubborn he is towards his beliefs, but seeing him so unwavering and strong really made me love him even more. I feel so sorry for Izanami that she didn't get to experience that kind of love from her husband. But yes, I'm glad that Douma's words saying that this world and the people inside it are not the gods' toys got through to Amaterasu because he's right, even though alot of the people suck, this world should be left to the people on it to change it instead of the gods to destroy it. Seeing Douma and Byakuya finally reconnect for the first time was pretty sweet, it was so funny how awkward it was for Akaza though haha. The bad endings were pretty much what I expected, but yeah it's sad to think about an ending where Akaza would do exactly what he vowed to never do, that was terrible. LMAO at the cake short story where Akaza is super salty (and sulky) about Byakuya giving the first cake she's ever baked in her life to Douma and not even giving him a slice🤣🤣🤣 His sulky voice is so hilariously cute🤣🤣

Overall, I really love Akaza, he’s literally the perfect man. Not only does Matsuoka Yoshitsugu voice him in such a mature and sexy way, but Akaza’s character himself is wonderful. I really loved seeing him do his best to chase afte Byakuya despite her running away all the time, and I really loved how thoughtful and kind he was to her all the time. He always treated her as the person she was and never allowed something like “fate” to get between them. He loves who he loves and he would never compromise, and I think that’s really why I love him. He faces his love for Byakuya the same way he does towards Tenguu Island, and that is he refuses to let stuff like tradition, legends and the people in higher positions than him dictate what should or should not be done. He decides it for himself and he is unwavering when it comes to his desire to change things, and that really touched me. I also really loved the little dates he and Byakuya went on all the time getting her to warm up to him and understand what kind of person he truly is, and I’m so glad to see how cute they are and how much they love each other. As for Tsukuyomi and Douma and stuff, it was kinda whatever for me tbh, not that it was exactly terrible but I guess it paled in comparison to the story as a whole, and to Akaza’s route. Still happy for Byakuya that she has family now though haha.

Final Thoughts/Overall Review

I honestly didn’t expect to love Olympia Soiree as much as I did. I really liked Byakuya as a heroine because her cluelessness towards Tenguu Island was believable but at the same time helped frame what kind of place this world was through her eyes, and it felt like we were learning and growing alongside her. The common route was pretty long and I probably missed alot of things but I think it was really interesting how the colours interacted and how well-built the world was in showing the superiority of certain colours. Aside from that, I really love all the LIs! I didn’t particularly love every route because I feel like each one had things that were kinda disappointing like villains not being developed enough in Riku’s route or how uncomfortable Nagusa was in Kuroba’s route etc but in the end, I think every route still had a lot of great moments for the characters that made me love it regardless. In terms of routes, I personally loved Riku and Akaza’s the most, then Tokisada, Kuroba, Himuka and then Yosuga, which is very surprising! I loved Yosuga and Akaza the most when I first started but Yosuga’s route ended up not being my cup of tea because I don’t feel like he had the same charm that he did in the common route for me. Otherwise, I love how much of a emotional rollercoaster all the routes are, and I just love seeing them all fight against the island’s rules and the purpose of their lives. Personally, I think Riku’s background and growth was the best, especially with how he ended up handling Shura in his ending, he was really cool haha. Oh and the scenes in this game are definitely the spiciest I’ve seen on the Switch so extra points just for that haha! But yeah overall, I would give the game an 8/10. I enjoyed it and the emotions really got to me alot of the time and I think that’s enough for me to wanna play this game again in the future haha.

[dear-yandere]

vanya plz share your fav anime, manga, movies, series, and books?! it doesn't matter if it's dark genre🌟

ahhh i have so many!!! i'll try my best to keep each category brief so i don't ramble on and on ehe

anime: i have too many to name... but i really enjoyed given!

manga: dengeki daisy!! i’ve read it on and off since i was about 16 (i’m 24 now) and it always makes me cry and scream...their romance is such a joy to see unfold! i highly recommend it!

movies: interstellar! the soundtrack and story gives me chills, and the first time i watched it with my partner i literally ugly bawled into his ear sdfjndskjfn. other favorites include promare, spirited away, howl’s moving castle, and ride your wave — most anime fans have probably seen the first three, so i’d like to encourage anyone interested in a (sad) well-buit romance to please check out ride your wave! yet another movie i ugly cried to...

series: gravity falls, steven universe, and arcane! as a league player, seeing the characters and lore of runeterra become a hit show made me very nostalgic and happy (also after only having fanart and some brief in-game interactions to tide us over beforehand, cait/vi is finally a thing <3), but i highly suggest it to anyone who doesn’t play league or is even hardly interested in it. the animation alone will blow you away!

books: tgcf by mxtx and erha by meatbun, though i really suggest anything at all written by these two goddesses. tgcf is a fave because of the wonderfully written pairings (hualian and beefleaf always fill me with absolute joy — hualian truly created love...) and amazing storytelling, and erha is just wonderfull all-around. it’s a mystery, tragedy, so many misunderstandings, and even has dubcon/noncon (which is always a fave for me ehe). i am currently collecting all the translated books and soon i will be unstoppable .

games (otome): i’ve played many, but olympia soiree is my all-time fave otome! i love how the story and romances unfold, and i found myself loving each character rather than having one or two i only cared for. yosuga and akaza are my favorites! if you play, please feel free to gush about it with me!!

this question brought me so much joy, ty for asking!!

love ♥  vanya

[lion-buddy]

hey i just watched the kny movie for the 3rd time, so imma share some thoughts i have for funs :3 (so spoilers below)

i like how each dream interpreted nezuko differently.  in tanjiro’s, shes the most accurate to how she looked, sounded, and acted as a human, which makes sense since tanjiro grew up with her  then in zenitsu’s dream, shes his interpretation of human nezuko.  She still has her pink demon eyes and copper tips.  Her voice is also different, much cuter and more demure (I have so much praise for her va).  Zenitsu has never seen or heard human nezuko, and i love that the movie/manga shows that and shows her in zenitsu’s “ideal” image of her

the two demons at the start had really cool designs and im sad that they got killed off so quick, but at least it was in an awesome fashion 

i loved how all the kids under enmu’s command looked really tired.  poor things just want sleep

all the music is so good. rengoku vs akaza is such a great song.

im glad they didnt make us feel bad for enmu. the guy was a terrible person with a really good design, voice and plan.  he was fun to watch

even though it was so frustrating to see akaza get away, the movie/manga does an amazing job at also showing that frustration in its characters.  it created such a great moment for tanjiro and rengoku 

   (k this next part’s a bit more character analysis driven)

Idk why, but rengoku’s arc and death specifically makes me very emotional. In a series full of death and tragedy, why was it is his death that really stuck with me?  I was really not to attached to his character at first, yet his impact on The Boys really made me understand his position in the story. He’s the cool, amazing, supportive older brother, not only to our main guys, but his own family as well. So when he does die, to see all those sibling connections get cut really gets to me I guess (I’m a real sucker for sibling dynamics).

Also, the different ways the boys reacted to his death stuck out to me. Tanjiro interacted with rengoku the most during his death. Clearly, he was heartbroken, and angry too. You’d think anger would be more of a trait displayed by only inosuke, but I was surprised and genuinely moved by tanjiro’s frustrations And zenitsu, who was hardly there at all and didn’t witness his actual death and fight, took a minute to actually cry. He saw tanjiro upset, and it made him upset, showing how empathetic he is. And his crying isn’t his typically dramatic screaming, but genuine sadness that he feels and is receiving off of tanjiro. (That shot of him with his arm over his face is when I started to cry as well) And Inosuke While used as comic relief in this scene, his reaction was accurate to his character. Of course he’d want to push those sensitive emotions aside, he already had trouble understanding sympathy and empathy, feeling it this strongly must be very strange. (On a side note I’m glad we get to see him take care of tanjiro after the train crashes, showing us how he’s grown to be more gentle and genuinely cares for the safety of his friends). He doesn’t want to see his friends this sad, he wants to be able to move on and just keep fighting, but he doesn’t really know how to in this moment. He stands off to the side for a duration of the scene, and we can see he’s shaking as he’s taking a long time to process everything.  And his only solution is distraction, and desperately tries to pull his friends to fight with him so they can all move on. Inosuke is the support these two really need when dealing with grief and sadness, and I think he will be very important for them in the future.