#big brother tengen perhaps

[xxlady-lunaxx]

it’s hard to tell how tengen should feel. sitting here, waiting quietly as sanemi sleeps. he replays everything that had happened in the last few hours, folding his hands over his lap. he gazes uncertainly down at sanemi’s pale, almost sickly face. it’s resting now, at least. slack and unlike the previous defeated expression he’d held a moment ago.

somewhere around noon, sanemi’s crow had come to the uzui household asking for tengen, and only tengen. confused, but with time to spare, tengen heeded the order and headed over to sanemi’s estate. on first glance, it had seemed normal. but tengen has always had tuned hearing. he could tell, as he slowed, that there was something unnervingly off.

with sudden concern, he’s at sanemi’s door in an instant. he knocks, waits, knocks again. after another minute of waiting, he hears reluctant footsteps trudging towards the door. a hoarse, “uzui?” from the other side before the door opens to reveal a disheveled sanemi. which is putting it lightly. sanemi’s hair is a mess, his skin much too pale, and eyes sunken in, supporting eye bags so dark they could rival the feathers of his crow.

“shinazugawa,” tengen says, his worry increasing by the second. he’s let inside by sanemi, who stumbles aside before closing the door. “what happened?”

sanemi merely shakes his head, swallowing once. and then again. it strikes sanemi, suddenly, that the place reeks of alcohol. oh, fuck. sanemi shuffles towards another door, opening it and stepping through. he’s clearly expecting tengen to follow, which he does. he finds himself in a bedroom—sanemi’s. the room is in even more disorder than sanemi, and it looks like a group of demons could’ve pummeled through it several times to get to this level of disorganized. many things catch tengen’s eye, but the first thing is a bundle of purple fabric: a stark contrast against the grayish white of the futon it sits on.

it takes a moment for him to place it in his mind, pair it with the initial owner of the clothing. but he does recognize it, more specifically from the days spent training the lower slayers before the war. and then the name comes to mind, and he breathes: “genya…”

genya shinazugawa. sanemi shinazugawa. shinazugawa. oh, fuck.

something about sanemi’s had pulled tugs of familiarity in tengen’s mind, but he’d yet to place it until now. because he’d been the same, once before. when he was younger—burying himself in his room as he struggled with the truth of everything. and how the reality crashed upon him too many times to count, awakening him from dreams he’d pretended were real only to be cruelly torn back into the ache and the pain of what it actually was. he remembered that his wives had been main reason he’d managed to pull himself out of his current of thoughts enough to run away from his clan. back then, he’d just recently married them, yet they were the most supportive of him and he’s made sure to cherish their every action because they had done so much for him he felt he could never repay.

but sanemi has nobody. in the past, there had been people. fleeting or not, there had been. he hadn’t been alone until now. even tengen, who could toy with the possibility that he was something for sanemi, could see it. he knows. that sanemi is truly, and utterly alone.

he recalls, vaguely, the name masachika kumeno, and sanemi’s final acceptance in kagaya. the momentary something that kanae had managed to snag from sanemi before she’d died. the close friendship obanai and sanemi were able to build, the bridge between them never breaking. and now, tengen can see that genya had been so much more than sanemi let on. because of course he had. even tengen, knowing how badly his father had managed to twist his younger brother’s mind into one full of thorns and knotted vines, had still cared for him. had rejected the idea of killing them, despite the turmoil he’d been. sanemi and genya were no different, it seemed. but now, it feels like caring had much more consequences than if sanemi had truly hated genya.

the thoughts flit through tengen’s mind in an instant, and he clamps his mouth shut, realizing a moment too late that he shouldn’t have spoken his thoughts. the name. genya’s name.

sanemi sags, wobbling enough so that he has to lean against the door for support. “fuck,” he mumbles. “fuck.” he repeats it again, and then again and again, like a mantra. like it’s the only thing grounding him. and tengen understands. he agrees, silently, and then interrupts. because sanemi will get nowhere this way.

“shinazugawa.”

there’s a brief, sober understanding that flickers through sanemi. he pauses his chanting, swallowing again. then he rambles, quietly, “fuck, i’m sorry, uzui. i’m sorry.”

“i know. come on,” tengen says. and sanemi follows him, manages barely to guide him to the bathhouse. then he waits patiently as tengen fills the bath and warms the water. he obeys when he’s made to undress and sink into the tub. he’s quiet all of a sudden, though his jaw works itself. as if he wants to say many things, but can’t find it in himself to speak.

tengen washes him gently, because sanemi feels so fragile. and he’s afraid that if he holds him too tightly, or nudges too suddenly, sanemi will break. physically, sanemi is the strongest anyone could be. not in the type of strength that gyomei held, but with the sheer will sanemi had to persevere. it allowed him to live through things no human should be able to. yet now, sanemi feels as if he’s completely given up on living. somehow, tengen senses that the vulnerability that sanemi’s displaying is his way of telling him that there’s little to be done now except hope. sanemi isn’t one to let himself be defeated. but here he is. eyes closed, lips moving in words that never form, his body limp and at tengen’s complete mercy. god, fuck.

once sanemi’s clean, washed from the prior weeks of negligence, tengen dresses him in a somewhat wrinkled but relatively alright robe, then props him up somewhere safe to sit. he hurries to fix up sanemi’s room as much as he can in ten minutes, focusing on the futon before tucking sanemi to sleep. once he’s sure sanemi’s comfortable, he begins to clean the rest of the room quietly.

he puts away the clothes to wash—including genya’s—and rids of empty bottles or discarded food. he does as much as he can without being loud until he’s satisfied enough. leaving the clothes to soak in water for some time, he comes back to the room and settles beside the bed. he has no doubt he’d hear sanemi awaken no matter where in the house he is, but he wants to be there. because he knows that, even if he’s nothing compared to genya or masachika or anyone sanemi had loved, tengen had been a hashira. and a hashira’s duty was to hold up the people who couldn’t, support the ones who were too weak to do so themselves. sanemi would understand, and he does, really. because for the first time, he’d depended on tengen. he’d called him over and allowed him to do everything for him. for once.

tengen shifts, torn between watching sanemi dutifully or distracting himself from his concern by doing something active. he settles with staying when sanemi turns slightly on his side, facing tengen. he wishes he could do more for sanemi. but for now, he will do what he can. he isn’t even sure if there’s anything else he could possible do. and so he sits there quietly, waiting, and watching, and hoping sanemi will be okay.

[salemwasnteverhere]

How the Hashira men react to your neighbor asking you to be quiet

Characters: Tengen, Sanemi, Rengoku, Obanai, Gyomei, Giyuu,

Additional shit: Swearing, Sanemi fighting said neighbor, Rengoku being blunt, mentions of sex, ooc mot likely :p

Tengen

He couldn't care less

His whole thing is being flashy and loud so he wants you to be loud

Like it's not his fault that dick is magical

After he shoos your neighbor away he makes sure to be as loud as possible that night

He's pounding into your cunt and you swear your gonna break when he whispers "okay now scream exactly how big my dick is. Don't forget the tip color-"

He gets cut off by you hitting him with the pillow

Way to ruin the mood

But that doesn't stop him and instead he goes harder, making sure the bed creaks loud ASF for your neighbor

"Not my fault he doesn't know how to please a woman." Is his main reason for doing so

He really wants you to scream his name so it's imbedded in your neighbors head

"Morning N/N!" Him to your neighbor from the balcony while your trying to get out of bed and failing

"Actually die." Both you and your neighbor to Tengen

Sanemi

Cares alot

Why the fuck is that limp dick biscuit talking to you and him? Who does he think he is?

You were the one who broke the news to him thankfully cause if Sanemi was the one who opened the door then you'd have to see your husband through glass in a prison

Just kidding. The Slayer corp would get him out of trouble if he didn't do it himself.

Anyways

Sanemi made it his goal to piss your neighbor off as much as possible

Your under him, practically creaming on his cock, and he's slamming the wall yelling "This loud enough yet?! Huh!?"

Not kidding I can see him doing that

He quite literally had you against a window where your neighbors could see him destroying you just to make them mad or uncomfortable, hopefully both.

But then he'd get pissed someone else would see you all naked and fucked out so he settled for the wall next to the window

One day your neighbor, finally having enough, bangs on your door yelling and guess who opens it...Sanemi!!

Good Lord was he waiting for this

It took one punch and the guy was out

Kinda what happens when you put a normal dude against a guy who kills demons for a living

Rengoku

He's a good neutral between caring and not caring

Like he doesn't wanna make your neighbors mad but he also loves hearing your screams

So he tries to keep you quiet during sex but fails since he gets to into it to give a fuck

The next days his loud ass voice wakes you up

"IM SORRY FOR MAKING INCREDIBLE LOVE TO MY WIFE!" He's not being sarcastic thats his genuine apology

Your facepalming and you want to die when you see your neighbor and she can't look at you

"PERHAPS SHES MAD BECAUSE HER HUSBAND CANNOT PLEASE HER!" Rengoku says casually and you know she can hear you from outside in her garden

"Inside voices!" You place your hands over his mouth to try and shut him up.

It works for a bit before he's yelling again

You love your husband but holy shit you wish he would speak normally sometimes

He's actually quiet in bed though

So your the problem (real)

Obanai

I'm not an Obanai fan so forgive me for how bad his section will be

Obanai is a quiet mf, and you're not even that loud

It's your neighbor who was the problem

A little old man whose hearing aids apparently had the power of 67 suns

You and Obanai found this out when he was outside training and your neighbor came over

He was so sweet and polite and even chuckled at Obanai's redness

Obanai cared at first but got over it

You? You make sure to not make a PEEP in bed

Okay that pisses Obanai off but he understands your reasons

At least make a gasp or sum cause he's over here like "Wait does this feel good? Can she feel it? Did I forget where the clit is?"

Brother is STRESSING

Then you cum and he's like "ah"

Then he's like "Did you take it?"

You have to keep yourself from murdering him cause how tf would you fake squirting

Gyomei

Babe I'm not gonna lie, you're a screamer

Gyomei is built like a house and your telling me your just gonna whine and whimper?

NO

Your over here crying and screaming into his chest, neck, the pillow, anything.

And Gyomei loves it!

He can't see your reactions so hearing and feeling them let's him know he's doing good

Gyomei isn't loud but he's not quiet

He'll grunt and moan and praise you, but he's not gonna cry out.

Well he'll cry but you can never tell from what

When the pussy so good you start crying 😭🙏

When your neighbor politely asked you to be a tad bit quieter Gyomei actually laughed

Not in a 'nah we'll keep being loud' way but more of a 'sorry we'll be quiet' way. He also found it hilarious how you actually died of embarrassment.

Don't worry he thinks its endearing

Yet it was kinda hard for him since he enjoyed hearing you

But your touches and now quieter moans made that better

And then there's also you literally drawing blood from his back you were scratching so hard

Giyuu

Holy shit you have never seen him so embarrassed

Like you could shade match his Haori to him and get the exact same color

He was the one your neighbor told and he stopped working when 'loud' and 'moaning' left their lips

If a demon doesn't kill him then his own actions will

Giyuu isn't loud, and he loves that he can make you feel so good that your loud for him.

But he didn't want your neighbor back over at your house so he tried to keep you quiet

You were super confused when he held his hand over your mouth in bed and he just pointed to your neighbors house. Then you got it.

So you nod and try to keep quiet.

You know in school when the teacher tells you and a friend to shut up but they look at you funny and you break?

Yeah that was you

You were riding Giyuu one night and you were loud so he was like "holy shit I love you but please- I can't look our neighbor in the eyes anymore."

And you couldn't help but laugh

Like howling

You calmed down obviously but sex was very giggle filled after that

You've never seen Giyuu so panicked

But give him a week and he'll stop caring

[flametrashiraarchive]

Being a kakushi helping out in a lot of Kyo's missions, basically a friend already... Having a big fat crush on Shinjuro. Celebrating a hard successful mission and you let it slip in a drunken haze, within earshot of Shinjuro - and then well ✨👀 Shinjuro is kinda lonely ya know... And he supposes he might want another kid ya know...

- Beer anon 🍻

Hellooooo so I got carried away again lol. Shinjuro just makes me feel some kind of way and I can't be brief about him. I hope you don't mind but I left out the wanting a kid part but the horniness is all here!

Also this is canon-divergent. Everyone is alive at the end lol (even Muzan... he's just living on a farm with me and Douma... jk... unless....)

NSFW under the cut. CW for drinking alcohol.

Dancing with the Flame

Shinjuro couldn't believe his own ears. For one, his son Kyojuro was drunk on shōchū (a very rare occurrence) which made him extremely giggly (less rare). And two, you were talking to his son about him.

"I want him, Kyojuro," you repeated, with giddy sincerity.

Perhaps he hadn't heard you correctly. The celebration was loud since Tengen was setting off fireworks like they cost nothing. It seemed the entire demon slayer corps had gathered to celebrate the defeat of the demon king: pillars, rank and file slayers, kakushi, medics, swordsmiths… the air was crackling with hope and excitement. So, he must have heard wrong, he told himself. There had to be some other explanation.

"Kyojurooo, I mean it. Your dad is so damn hot. Let me be your stepmother."

All his son could do was laugh, his face a deep pink shade.

"He's just so... burly... and... ugh, you know? Please invite him over so I can-."

"I am NOT enabling you to seduce my father!"

"Kyoooojuroooo!"

There was no denying it and it shouldn't have felt as good as it did. He'd met you on a few occasions and he'd remembered your name. You seemed to be a good friend to Kyojuro, and a capable member of his team.

But Ruka had been gone for over a decade, and since her death, Shinjuro hadn't even so much as looked at another woman. But with the demon threat eliminated once and for all, you weren't wearing your face covering, and he really saw you for the first time.

And no, noticing how pretty your eyes and your smile were didn't count. Nor did respectfully noticing the way your Kakushi uniform fit your figure nicely. Or...

His eyes widened.

Oh gods, that absolutely counted, didn't it?

"Come on... You love your little brother... I could give you more little brothers. Dozens of them. Please just one chance, Kyo-."

When Shinjuro finally chanced a glance in your direction, Kyojuro had one hand firmly clamped over your mouth while he raised his shōchū cup to his lips with the other.

A rare smile pulled at the corner of Shinjuro's lips. Being wanted felt good.

Before he had chance to talk himself out of it, he began to walk over to your table. He'd had a few to drink too and the was alcohol bolstering his confidence.

Your startled eyes as Shinjuro approached, and the way you tried to discreetly nudge Kyojuro to alert him... you were so sweet, so funny.

"Father!" Kyojuro greeted him effusively, finally removing his hand from your mouth. "I'm so happy you joined the celebration."

"Of course," Shinjuro said, sitting at an empty spot at the table. "My eldest son helped defeat Muzan. How could I miss it?"

Kyojuro beamed at him, and Shinjuro's heart swelled with pride. He hadn't always been the father his boys deserved, but he was working toward being a better man, and repairing the damage he had done.

But your eyes were fixed on Shinjuro too, and he could feel the heat of your gaze.

"Good evening to you too," he said.

Your cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink. "Good evening, Lord Rengoku."

"Shinjuro," he corrected. "Please."

Gods, your eyes were even prettier up close.

He hadn't tried to flirt with anyone for over two decades. It was a strange sort of feeling, and truth be told, though he'd faced countless demons without feeling the slightest bit nervous, this was a different beast entirely.

"Would you like to dance?" he asked, hoping you didn't hear the waver in his voice.

Your eyes widened at the question... so did Kyojuro's. The boy raised his eyebrows and quickly walked away, leaving you and Shinjuro alone.

Gods, he wasn't prepared for that.

But then you smiled and took his hand, and Shinjuro's heart quickened. Together you walked to the center of the party, where couples were gathered, dancing to the music.

He had no idea what his next move was, but you took care of that. Once you reached the dancing couples you kept walking...

"Wait... where are we going?" He asked.

"To dance." You looked up at him with those pretty eyes and gave him a slanted smile. Wherever you were leading him he couldn't resist following.

He knew the layout of the headquarters well enough to quickly figure it out, and he soon found himself treading a familiar path to the training ground and toward the equipment shed.

His heart began to pound as anticipation coiled in his belly. His breaths became heavier and less satisfying the closer you got to the shed. Your intentions were clear.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked, well aware of his higher status, his larger body, his strength, even though it was abundantly clear that you were in charge.

You led him around the back of the structure, where the moonlight pooled and he could see your hands reaching beneath your kimono and pulling down your underwear. "I'm sure, Lord Ren- Shinjuro... I want you."

"Mmh..." he tried to bite back his groan, but it broke free anyway. It had been so long since he was intimate with anyone, let alone someone new. But Gods, he wanted it. "I want you too. But... it's been a while. You'll have to forgive me if I'm a little sloppy."

You chuckled, pulling at the neckline of his kimono. "I don't care, Shinjuro, give me sloppy."

That was all he needed. He pressed his body to yours, pinning you to the wall of the equipment shed as he kissed you.

His desire, which he had long thought dwindled to ash, ignited at the touch of your lips. He kissed you deeply, his tongue stroking yours, his hands splayed across your jaw. And you were so damned eager, sucking his lower lip and tangling your fingers in his hair, sending tingling bolts of pleasure through his body. He was hard in seconds, his touch-starved body demanding more.

But before he would allow that, he was going to make you cum. Shinjuro wasn't some impatient young buck willing to rut against you for a few minutes until his aching cock was satisfied. He was going to take his damn time and make sure you both got the most out of this.

The former flame hashira got to his knees, lifting the bottom of your kimono and trailing kisses up your thighs. His big, rough hands slid from your ankles to your knees, keeping your legs together.

Your sighs of pleasure and your impatient little whimpers made his cock twitch.

"Shinjuro..."

"Patience," he whispered against the soft skin of your inner thighs. "Don't worry, I'll get you there."

The heat coming off you was intoxicating. You angled your hips toward him; so damn needy and ready. Your clit was already swollen and glistening with your arousal, and that he could not hold back from. He leaned forward, sliding his tongue over your flesh, groaning at the taste of you.

A cry escaped your lips as his tongue lapped at your clit. He wrapped his arms around your thighs, keeping them together and holding you upright as your legs trembled.

"Gods... Shinjuro..."

The desperation in your voice and the taste of your cunt made his cock throb, but as badly as he wanted to fuck you, he wouldn't let that happen until he made you cum. He licked you slowly at first, savoring the taste, drawing out your pleasure, until he felt you bearing down on his tongue, silently begging for more.

He wrapped his lips around your clit and sucked, flicking his tongue over it as you whined and tugged at his hair.

"M-more..." you whispered. "Don't stop. Don't..."

You needn't worry. There was nothing he wanted more than your complete and absolute ecstasy. He sucked and licked at your clit like it sustained him, driving you higher and higher until you cried out, almost collapsing onto him as you pulsed and quivered on his tongue. And when your orgasm subsided, he kissed it like a lover, his cock weeping tears of pre-cum, so desperate to bury himself in the wet heat of you.

"Shinjuro, please fuck me," you begged, putting your hand beneath his chin and tiling his head to face you. You were so goddamn beautiful in the moonlight. His heart was aching almost as much as his cock.

He wasn't about to deny your request. He stood up and kissed you again, melting at the soft caress of your lips as you tugged impatiently at his clothing, hitching your thigh onto his hip, coating the head of his cock in your slick nectar.

A deep, desperate groan rolled through him as your tongue slid against his, tasting yourself and moaning softly. No, there was no holding back now. He was going to fuck you. He had to fuck you.

A moment later he had you hoisted up, your legs wrapped around his waist as he pinned you to the side of the shed and slid his cock into you. The way your mouth fell open at the sensation of him filling you, the way your pussy clenched around him; it was heaven.

"Mm… Is it good?" he whispered, seeking your praise. "Am I making you feel good?"

"Yes!" You cried out in answer, raking your fingernails across his back.

"This is what you wanted, isn't it? Hm?" he growled against your ear. "You were imagining my cock deep inside your pretty cunt, weren't you?"

You nod, and a grin spreads across his face.

Tengen was still shooting off his damn fireworks, but in the silence between each shriek and explosion the night was filled with your gasping breath, your moans, the sound of flesh on flesh as he fucked you hard. You pulled aside the collar of his kimono and kissed his neck, sending sparks of pleasure through his veins.

"Mmh... Gods, I need... oh..." he was incoherent, lost in the sensation of you. His brow furrowed as he focused on his breathing, drawing from his hashira training to regain control. "Are you going to cum for me... one more time?"

"I'm close..."

"Good. Let me feel it. I wanna feel you cum all over my cock, pretty girl." He thrust into you harder, faster, letting his passion take over.

And then you cried out, your pussy pulsing around him as your lips crashed against his. "Shinjuro..."

"That's it," he whispered in your ear. Each throb of your muscles brought him closer and closer. "Oh Gods, yes, you feel so good. So good..." His teeth clenched as his own peak neared. "I'm..."

He pulled out with the intention of spilling his seed onto the ground, but a moment later you were on your knees, your lips around the tip of his cock, licking and sucking as you tugged his aching balls.

"Fuck!" He growled, his hand coming down to grip the back of your head as he came with a grunt. He had to brace himself against the shed to keep from collapsing as you swallowed down his load. "Ohhh.... fffffuck... pretty girl, that's it. Gods... that's it."

It had been so long, so damn long. So many years of denying himself, of thinking misery was the only thing he had left. But you... you made him feel good. Even if just for that moment, you made him feel like the man he thought he'd lost.

You smiled up at him as he tried to get his breath back, still bracing himself against the shed.

"You're something else," he chuckled as you grinned pressed your teeth to your bottom lip. "Something wonderful." He took your hand and helped you to your feet, pressing a kiss to each knuckle. "Thank you."

You balanced on the tips of your toes as you kissed him softly and slowly, your hand resting at the center of his chest. When he pulled back his heart was thundering, because he knew that while this was your first dance, it was by no means the last.

[knyswapau]

🩷~KNY SWAP AU INFO PAGE~💚

🩷🩸☀️💚🌸💜🫐💙🩷🩸☀️💚🌸💜🫐💙

“Huff huff… This is taking forever! How does Tanjiro do this so fast?” Nezuo thinks to herself, leaving trails of her footprints in the snow. The wind blows through the woods, her hair threatening to come undone from the next tug. She fiddles with the strap so the basket won’t fall off, continuing to think about how much of a pain this journey is. She starts to feel pity on her older brother who walks up this hill almost every day to sell coal. “Wow Tanjiro… The patience you have is insane..”

It’s been a day since she went off down to the village to sell coal. She planned to be home by midnight but thanks to her dear neighbor, Enmu had let her rest and stay the night. Still eternally grateful for what he’s done, she mentally thanks him once again continuing up the mountain. She looks back up, out of breath like she’s ready to collapse and she notices the roof of her house just some trees away.

Finally, she reaches her stop.

Nezuko practically runs the rest of the way up to her home, smiling happily. Finally, she can rest again, finally she can talk to her family, finally she can hug them all in a tight hug, finally she can check up on their well being, finally she can do her old tasks.

She freezes, staring at the open door. It’d be fine to leave the door open, they tend to leave it open all the time it’s just… Why was it so quiet? It was… Too quiet.

“Takeo? Hanako? Tanjiro? Shigeru? Rokuta? Mom…?” Nezuko called out for their names, wandering around the outside of their house thinking all of this was just a silly game. “Perhaps they're still asleep? But Takeo doesn’t sleep late… Maybe they were worried about me? Haha, how cute!” the girl chuckles at the thought, they’ve all had those moments worrying night about each other- especially their big brother Tanjiro. 

I mean, nothing bad can go wrong right?

She goes back to the door, still open letting the cold air in. Nezuko felt uneasy, her mind kept screaming at her to run and not look back. Like what was inside her beloved house was now a nightmare. However, Nezuko doesn’t step back. She pushes her doubtful feelings away- there could be nothing awful in the house and if she's the big sister, she’ll take care of it! 

.

.

.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!”

🩷🩸☀️💚🌸💜🫐💙🩷🩸☀️💚🌸💜🫐💙

Hello! My OOC account is @kanaokanzaki-op but my main blog is @official-butterfly-sisters (don’t ask). This is a blog related to the well known KNY Swap AUs, but I’ve decided to do my own. Other than that, I want to thank you for taking time to read all this! I’ll try to update daily with some wips, headcanons and other things per request- I take a lot of those, don't be shy!

My only rules are no sexual content, hate or anything not related to the AU. I have my OOC account for a reason! I love getting to know people and I hope you guys like this AU! I am not good at promoting aha…

You can ask questions, give dares and much more, I’ll even hold events for such! Genuinely just wanna have fun with this AU and I hope you guys end up enjoying it! Thank you for your time!!

🩷🩸☀️💚🌸💜🫐💙🩷🩸☀️💚🌸💜🫐💙

Character Masterlist:

Kamaboko Squad:

🩷🩸Nezuko Kamado🩷🩸 ☀️💚Tanjiro Kamado☀️💚 🌸💜Kanao Tsuyuri🌸💜 🫐💙Aoi Kanzaki🫐💙 ⚡💛Zenitsu Agatsuma⚡💛 💙🪨Inosuke Hashibira💙🪨 🍉💜Genya Shinazugawa🍉💜

Upper Hashira:

🌑👁Michikatsu Tsugikuni🌑👁 ❄🪭Douma❄🪭 👊🩵Hakuji Soyama👊🩵 🪕👁‍🗨Nakime🪕👁‍🗨 💔😭Hantengu💔😭 🌊🐟Gyokko🌊🐟 ⚡💙Kaigaku⚡💙 💚🪓Gyutaro Shabana💚🪓 🥰🩷Ume Shabana🥰🩷

9 Moons:

🪨🪵Gyomei Himejima🪨🪵 🍃💚Sanemi Shinazugawa🍃💚 🌊❤Giyuu Tomioka🌊❤ 🧡🔥Kyojuro Rengoku🧡🔥 🖤🩵Muichiro/Yuichiro🤍🩵 🎶🩶Tengen Uzui🎶🩶 🤍🐍Obanai Iguro🤍🐍 🍡🩷Mitsuri Kanroji🍡🩷 🦋💜Shinobu Kocho🦋💜

Extra:

🌊👺Sakonji Urokodaki🌊👺 🪻👁Kagaya Ubuyashiki🪻👁 💜🪻Amane Ubuyashiki💜🪻 🪻🖤Kiriya Ubuyashiki🪻🖤 🩸❤Muzan Kibutsuji🩸❤ 💉💜 Lady Tamayo 💉💜 📜🩵 Yushiro 📜🩵 💕💤 Enmu 💕💤 🕸🤍 Rui 🕸🤍 ❤🌊Sabito❤🌊 🌸🌊Makomo🌸🌊 🦋💕Butterfly Triplets🦋💕 💧🩶Murata💧🩶 🦋🩷Kanae Kocho🦋🩷 🌸🩵Koyuki🌸🩵 ⚡🪨Jigoro Kuwajima⚡🪨

[More to be added]

🩷🩸☀️💚🌸💜🫐💙🩷🩸☀️💚🌸💜🫐💙

[echantedtoon]

Demon Bride Ch30 Red Shines Bright Tonight

(WARNINGS!!: Possibly some innuendos. Mentioning of the Red Light District but THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY STAY SFW AND NONE OF 'THAT STUFF' WILL EVEN BE MENTIONED!! IT. WILL. STAY. S F W!!! Rui being a bit sick. Gyutaro habits of clawing and scratching himself, Gyutaro putting himself down, and possible mentions of blood. Not sure if this last one does count as something that should be warned about, but just in case be warned of Gyutaro's body description. Attempted kidnapping and forced marriage. Slight mention of toxic relationships. Gyutaro gets verbally bullied and has a few things thrown at him. Reader kos someone with a kick to a very unpleasant spot. A bit of spilt blood. Enmu IS his own warning.

If you don't know who Tengen's Brother is there's a picture of him above. Image is not mine.)

The  streets tonight were too bright and too noisy for your senses that never experienced such a thing. 

You had to brace yourself in the alley with deep breaths before with one last determined face, you braced yourself and marched out towards the crowd. Ok. You could do this. Even slipping in beside the people who you didn't know and would never know. All you had to do right now was find the doctor. Find the doctor. This place must've had a doctor somewhere! There couldn't be a district this big without having a doctor amongst them! Now only if you could find them.

You stopped in the middle of a busy street. As not one but two thoughts hit you.

Where was the doctor?! You had no idea where he was or how to get there!! And further more...HOW WERE YOU SUPPOSED TO GET THE MEDICINE?! You didn't have any money on you or anything else you could pay for it. .. Your hand reached up your body to gently touch the magatama charm on your neck. A gift from Kaigaku. ...He already used two of the expensive charms as bargaining chips to get you here. Could you use this the same way? No. No you couldn't. Kaigaku gave it to you in good faith as a gift. You couldn't go behind his back and trade it away, and you still had to give it back to him somehow. So that left you with nothing... Perhaps you could trade the weapon?? No. Who'd believe you if you said it was a demon's weapon? And it'd be a too dangerous idea. ...So all that was left was thievery. You didn't like that idea, but what you didn't like more was the fact that Rui was sick again. So if you had to steal, then you'd have to do it. For Rui. But you'd worry about that part later, right now you had to find out the whereabouts of said doctor. 

Your eyes scanned around the crowd of people walking around or constantly bumping against yourself. Bright lights from lanterns and and candles given the buildings a warm glow against the dark night sky. If it weren't so crowded it might've been the perfect night for a walk. The buildings all looked similar to one another with many stalls and men shouting at others to come and buy their superior goods. The smells of all kinds of food and perfumes littering the air. It could be easy to get lost around here. Every direction your head spun saw the same things. Everything looked the same from your point of view. So in a bold move on your half, you reached out and grabbed a random woman's arm. In an instant she turned her head towards you...and blinked looking very surprised.

"E-Excuse me, Miss. I really don't want to bother you but can you please tell me where I can find a doctor around here?," You asked slightly worried and quickly. "My friend really needs medicine but I'm lost here."

The woman in the blue hat blinked again before smiling politely. "Oh. Of course." She turned her head slightly upwards and to the right. "It's directly ahead and to the right five streets over. You should have no problem finding it on the fifth street as it's the only building with a sign on the front there."

You smiled. That wasn't too far from here! You could go and be back in less than an hour! Perfect! "Thank you! Thank you so much!"  With a small bow in thanks you turned on your heels and began to quickly walk away where the lady had pointed unaware of the figures suddenly appearing next to her.

"What a disgraceful action. Touching the Mistress of our kind with such filthy human hands."

"Yahaba, don't be so rude. She just needed directions."

"Hmph. Still..Are you sure you'd rather not have us track her down and eliminate her?"

"For asking directions? Don't be absurd. Come along now. My daughter's waiting for us."

People bumped and knocked against your form as you weaved through the masses quickly. All the way down the street she said. People and figures blurred past you as you pushed past nearly running through them all but being tightly packed together like a herd of sheep made it difficult to do, but eventually you did make it to the very end of the street which split off into many other streets but you turned right. And five streets over. The fifth one should be where the doctor's home resided. You went straight through. The same thing as before greeted you. Many people walking around closely more cramped than an over flowing milk bucket, making it difficult for you to see or get by them when all they did was shove you around and give you mean looks for 'daring to bump into them'. Maybe they shouldn't just barrel their way through the streets and act like civilized people! Your brain however did manage to keep track of the streets you pushed slowly past. One, two- With each street the scent of strong perfume got stronger and stronger and there was less and less shops and stalls. Three- There was no more shops now other than ones that looked like they sold things like expensive looking kimonos or make up or hairpins, etc. Everything a woman would enjoy and one or two inns. No more street vendors were calling out to come buy anything except for a woman who stood with a cart of perfume bottles. Four-

"Ah!!" You suddenly found yourself falling and with a thud landed face first on the ground when something tripped your leg.

"Watch where you're going, Wench."

You sputtered shaking your head and looked up just in time to catch the back of a black haired man walking right past your head and disappear into the crowd. You laid there for a moment blinking before scowling at where the man disappeared at. Sheesh! Was everyone around here just an asshole? Your face scowled as you got up muttering, and you would've stood up if something shiny on the ground hadn't caught your eye. You paused on your knees as the lantern lights made something on the ground shine. A teeny tiny piece of yellow shimmered at you from the dirt. Instinctively you blinked at it for a moment before reaching to pluck it out of the ground and your jaw nearly dropped eyes going wide. HOLY GODS!! IT WAS A GOLD COIN!! This shiny slightly dirty coin looked totally different than the regular coins you saved up all your life to pay back Genya and Sanemi. This coin was pure gold by the weight of it in your hand and how shiny it was. You'd never seen one up close before but here you were with a precious coin in your hands-

Wait a minute.

YOU COULD USE THIS TO PAY FOR THE MEDICINE!! Your eyes lit up. With a coin like this you'd be able to buy Rui the best medicine the doctor had without having to steal it! This was perfect! Although you did wonder how such a precious coin was just left on the ground like this...A rich person must've dropped it here. Oh well. Yours now. And that doctor was just one street over from you now. You'd be able to get there and get back to Rui sooner than you thought! With a new smile you pushed yourself off the ground and stood before continuing on your way with the coin firmly gripped in your fist. Five- You were expecting a crowd of people to be walking around in this street same as all the others you've encountered but was surprised to find instead a wall of people just standing still. ...That was odd. It made you pause briefly before you just shook your head and just pushed your way into the crowd earning you a few glares and insults in the process. Didn't matter. Rui needed that medicine! However what you weren't expecting was to push through the other side and nearly fall face first into a cleared street.

...You blinked. Wha-..What was going on?

The entire middle of the street had been cleared and what looked to be two giant crowds of men and women lined the street on either side. As if something was blocking them from crossing with each other. What was stopping them? Did something happen just now? You then looked up the street and immediately knew the reason why.

Slowly coming towards you was a parade of people. And smack dab in the middle of them all was a woman. The most beautiful woman you had ever seen. She glowed under the lantern lights like a beacon of beauty, slow steady steps she took gracefully step after step slowly but surely as if she was dancing, by the way she was doing so you knew she must've done this countless times before. Her makeup and hair done perfectly. Her robes the fanciest you've ever seen yet so beautifully matched perfectly with her complexion. But what struck you the most about her was her eyes. Her eyes were the most striking beautiful shade of blue you've ever seen a human have. In a way they weren't human, not with the way they shined in the light. However her demeanor was... Strange. As she got closer you could see the thin lipped frown on her face and slightly annoyed look in her eyes. As if she didn't want to be here, but yet at the same time there was something... Powerful almost scarily heavy about her body despite how graceful she moved. Entranced by the new sight you only stopped and stared as she ever so slowly and gracefully walked by  not giving anyone in the crowd a second glance as she did. Your head slowly turning with everyone else as she passed and continued up the street with her escorts.

"Who was that?," You mumbled out to yourself.

"That is the Oiran Warabihime." You jumped at the sudden voice before turning to blink at a young man next to you who smiled. "She is the most beautiful and important woman in the district. By the looks of it she's off to greet a wealthy customer. I just wonder who it could be?"

You blinked at the man before looking back at the retreating parade. An...Oiran? That would certainly explain her. Wait...If THAT person just now was an Oiran, and she was here...Your eyes widened and twisted around you seeing the many many fancily dressed women watching the Oiran from the buildings and streets. OH NO!! This was 'THAT' part of the district you didn't WANT to be in! Was there really a doctor here? Or did you goof up and make a wrong turn somewhere. In a small bit of panic you turned back to the man in question. 

"Is there a doctor on this street?!"

The man looked away from the Oiran surprised slightly before blinking. "A doctor? Not currently no."

"What do you mean by that?!"

He shrugged. "He was called out two days ago to the far side of the district. A really bad string of food poisoning broke out I heard and he hasn't been back yet."

"WHAT?!"

Your stomach immediately dropped and your face paled. The doctor was GONE?! AND HE WASN'T HERE?! No. Nonononono!! That can't happen!! This can't be happening?! You came all the way over here just to reach another dead end?! Now what were you supposed to do?! It's not like you could just summon a doctor out of thin air- You paused.Wait a second. Maybe you COULD actually summon a doctor. Enmu! He mentioned he was the one in charge of the trains right? And there was a train station close to here! If you doubled back and managed to get Enmu to give you medicine then that'll work just as well. But how long until the next train arrives?

"...Do you know when the next trains due?"

"Not until early in the morning which is hours away from now," the man answered you.

Ok. That gave you plenty of time to get to that train station and wait for Enmu. Then you'd get back to Rui as quick as possible. After all you promised to be back before sunrise.

"Thanks."

You thanked him before turning and beginning to walk off in the opposite direction. Already people were starting to walk back into the street now that the Oiran was gone and soon things would be very crowded again especially around here so you'd do well to get out while it wasn't too crowded. So you walked. Step after determined step towards the path of least resistance which was a right corner rounded back in the direction of the way you came from. People were starting to get more and more crowded by the second especially in 'this' part of town so you'll have to be quick- 

"Filthy animal!! Y-You stay away from my stock!"

You heard rather loud yelling across the street from you but paid it no mind. After all it was none of your business and you had other matters to deal with at the moment. 

"I don't CARE if you 'can pay'!! You're bad for business!! Get out of here before I call the guards on you!! You-..You-... DISGUSTING UGLY MAGGOT FROM HELL!!"

You wouldn't have paid attention to it and kept on walking if it was for the fact that people around you stopped walking to stare at the commotion. When more than ten people stopped to watch the source of the yelling you slowed down before coming to a complete stop. ...Your head turned over your shoulder as you noticed something else. The talking buzz died down quite a lot as people turned to stare. You couldn't see what it was however due to the crowd blocking the view. It was most likely someone harassing the girls here and if that was the case then you should just leave and yet-... Something compelled you to turn around and start walking towards the crowd. Curiosity? Maybe just boredom from staying in all the time? Or maybe it was because the same feeling you had when you saw that Oiran came back, but only much stronger. 

"....It must be REALLY NICE to be able to set up shop here and not have to worry about anything. You're not the most attractive guy, in fact you're kind of plain looking if I'm being honest, but it must be SO nice to not worry about scaring away you're own customers."  You pushed your way through the crowd now towards the new voice. "You even get the pleasure of seeing all kinds of pretty faces without having them run screaming just at the mere THOUGHT of you. ... You're really lucky you know. I was born with such ugly features that I don't even look plain like yo-"

There was a loud SPLAT like sound and all of a sudden the crowd did a gasp. You had finally breached to the front of the crowd and you had froze at what you saw. There was a small wagon like stall sat there in front of a building, on it was the BIGGEST MOST MOUTH WATERING dumplings you had ever seen!! They smelt of meats and fried vegetables stuffed inside them and each one was as big as your fist! But...That wasn't the thing that made you freeze. It wasn't the half angry half terrified looking man behind the wagon either. It was the six or seven foot tall man right next to him that made you freeze.  

He was unlike anything you'd ever seen. In man or demon.

He must've been at least a good head or two taller than Kyogai, but you couldn't tell as he was slightly hunched over. His hair was a strange concoction of colors. Black but then faded to an almost dark green near the bottom. His height alone would've been really strange but you took notice of a lot of other things as well. The hakama coat and pants he wore looked so worn and dirty and torn as if he wore them every day and night of his life. But that didn't compare to his body. He was so...thin. Sickly so! You could faintly make out some ribs in the opening of his tattered coat, and any moment the wind would blow him away. There was also strange black markings all over his body but mostly on his face, which he had his eyes closed. However you could see why everyone gasped. Where was literal food on his face. Smeared all over his cheek and part of his lower jaw and upper neck. And right at the man's bare feet was one of those dumplings now dirty and ruined. It stunned you along with everyone else into silence. Until the wagon man spoke again.

"Th-Th-There! You w-w-wanted food?!" His voice was shaky and nervous, face looking more scared than angry now as he raised one shaking fist while the other free hand pointed at him. "We-We-Well now Y-You can have food suited for someone like you! An animal who e-eats off the ground!!"

The much taller gangly man didn't respond for an entire full minute before his eyes opened slowly and you once again froze as almost inhuman striking blue eyed revealed themselves to the world. The. EXACT. Same. Eyes...As the beautiful Oiran you just witnessed no more than twenty minutes ago. In an instant the same feeling and aura hit you as well. A prickling powerful pulsating one that masked itself as something weak but actually very deadly. In the oirans case it was her beauty that masked the aura but for this man it was the weak looking body. You almost could feel the anger radiated off the taller man as he did.. nothing.

Literally nothing.

Not even when someone joined and threw a small pebble from the street somewhere at him. It hit his shoulder and rolled off to the ground. Then a random woman from a different direction tossed what looked like a half eaten apple his way. Before you knew it there was a flurry of uproar and voices to be heard sneering at and cussing at the man. Insults and demands flying from the mouths of everyone around you from men and women alike. All saying the most vile of things to him.

"Leave here! No one wants to see your face here anyways!" One man shouted. "You always drive away my customers whenever you come around here you inbred weasel!! It's bad enough you scare my girls but do you have to ruin our livelihoods as well!?" Another angry old woman shouted. "All you do is cause fights!!" Shouted another man. "WHY DON'T YOU EVER GET THE HINT YOU'RE NOT WANTED HERE YOU DISGUSTING MOLD!!" A beautifully dressed lady yelled from a window and you saw the thin man's head tilt just slightly towards her as she continued- "I WOULD COMPARE YOU TO A RAT OR COCKROACH BUT EVEN THEY ARE MORE PLEASING TO LOOK AT THAN YOU ARE!! IT'D BE AN INSULT TO PESTS TO COMPARE YOU TO THEIR LIKENESS!!"

And ON and ON and ON they continued their insults and yells and making little things bounce off him. The skinny man just stood there and silently stared at the shaking food vender without any emotion on his face. That was until his stuff body moved. It was SO. SLOWLY. That no one even noticed, in fact you're not sure how you noticed. Your head just snapped to his hand on it's own,only to see the fingers ever so slightly twitch and the long arm inhumanly slowly move it's way towards his back.

You weren't sure how- I mean how could you possibly know that this MEANT danger? For all you knew he could've been reaching out to wipe his face, but something made you do something without your permission. Both men were frozen when a woman's arm was suddenly thrusted between their bodies before they could even comprehend what happened-

"T H A T' S   E N O U G H!!!"

A powerful pulsating soundwave traveled through the air and cut like a knife through the thinnest of wet paper, and melted away into the sky only to be repeated by a few echoes of distant memory. The only sounds being of the heavily panting woman standing in the middle of the display. Her lungs heaving and her hands raised before she growled (not human like but failed to notice-) and grab onto her head as everyone stared at her essential mental breakdown -

"What. The actual HELL. Is wrong with you people?!" You yelled throwing your arms up in disbelief. "I mean what the actual fuck is going on?! WHAT are you doing?!" You gazed at the many faces just.. staring at you lost. "Like...What the hell do you think you're doing?! You're literally pelting a man for....for...FOR WHAT EXACTLY?! FOR LOOKING DIFFERENT?! FOR BEING FUCKING HUNGRY?! FOR JUST-...LIVING IN THE SAME SPACE AS YOU?!" We're they really yelling at an innocent man...For THAT!? "HOW STUPID ARE YOU?!"

"Why are you defending him?!" The vending man asked with a scowl making you snap towards him.

"I don't know! Why aren't you giving him food?!," You demanded back a hiss in your tone and a claw pointed at him.

"Just look at him!" The man scowled harder gesturing to the dumbstruck skinny man just blankly staring. "Don't you see what he looks like?!"

"Eh?...?!" The tall man actually flinched when faster than a regular human being, her head snapped to him with a crack sound with thinned pupils I'm those purple eyes. ...She stared at his face for a few seconds before looking him up and down before looking back at the vendor.

"....Ok. And your point is?"

It was like someone slapped the man with how slack jawed he went at her deadpanned face. "I-...A-ARE YOU BLIND?! YOU'D HAVE TO BE TO NOW SEE WHAT A DISGUSTING PIG HE IS!!"

"HA!! You call that-" a thumb was jabbed over your shoulder. "-ugly? Sir, I've seen both demons and humans uglier than that inside and out and I happen to be staring at one."

"HOW DARE YOU-"

"I'll dare you all I dam want! At least I'm not stupid enough to turn away a paying customer or heartless enough to turn down a starving poor man." The man's face turned redder and he opened his mouth- "Shut up! Because I don't want to hear it. What? Just because Im not a good looking man like you I can't have an opinion? I'm not even a man but I have more FUCKING balls in my body to admit when I fucked up!"

No one noticed but light flower patterns crept along your skin under your sleeves hidden- 

The skinny man only watched turning his head to the girl then to the vender then back to the woman who scowled at the vendor. What-...What was happening right now? There was a woman here?! Defending who? HIM?! ....Ok. He was sure he cracked now. There was no way a beautiful woman was defending something as ugly as him. One of these people must've hit him hard in the head with something they threw at him. O-Or maybe his hunger was making him hallucinate.  Whatever the reason he just stood there staring at the woman...There was something very odd about her. But he only watched with a tilted head. 

"Why you-!! You-!!" 

"He was going to buy some of your dumplings right? Why not just let him and let him be on his way? If you would've done that in the first place, he would've been already out of here and none of this spectacle would've happened."

"Because the last thing I need is him putting his disgusting, dirty hands near my food!"

You paused. You turned back over your shoulder to the skinny man then back to the vender. "Oh. So it's because his body's dirty? Well why don't I buy some for him instead?"

"HA! There's no chance of that happening!! After I've been insulted and berated by a stupid wench like you!? Where's your Madam!? You shouldn't be outside without supervision with that attitude!!"

"I don't work here! Even if I was, I'll still tell you how stupid you were."

"Then I guess that makes you a wondering BITCH!" 

Her body went rigid. Her pupils dilating to that of a snake's. Inhumanly she tilted her head at this sneering man. "...Excuse me?"

"You heard me!" He leaned closer to her with a smirking sneer. "You're a little bitch who I bet is real-"

C R A C K!

The crowd gave a collected gasp lol. Women covered their mouths in horror and one even fainted being quickly caught in the arms of a nearby man. About everyone looked on shocked or leaned back as the vendor man froze for a moment. For a moment he didn't seem to be affected by a kick delivered to him... Before his face paled, his eyes bulged out slightly, and the sounds of a deflating mouse left his throat before he crumbled to his knees. Then fell over onto his side in a fetal position continuing his high pitched whimpers of pain. She stood there for a moment scowling down at him before turning to the wagon...and just silently started picking up the dumplings still available. Taking a part of her kimono and pulling it up to use as a makeshift basket showing her legs. He took notice of the contrasting clothes she wore on her body. Her kimono looked new and as fancy as the other women's dresses but her boots looked worn out and a step away from falling apart. It only added to the confusion of her. Blue eyes scanned over her body but stopped when he noticed she had turned around and was staring right at him.

"Well don't just stand there. Pay him."

....He blinked. "Eh?"

She sighed. "For the dumplings of course! You said you were hungry right? Come over here and leave some money for them. It wouldn't be good to steal."

...He blinked again raising a brow. "You kicked a man down, but insist on not stealing the food?" His voice was raspy and a little high pitched for a man's voice. She didn't look away and it made him reach up a hand to lightly scratch at his neck. "That has some double standards written over it."

"I kicked him because he wasn't going to calm down but I'm not going to continue kicking him while he's down. Now leave some money for however many you can afford. I don't like stealing if I can avoid it." He still stared making her put a hand on her hip. "Do I have to repeat myself to you? You want the food, pay up!"

He still didn't move for a long moment before the jiggling of coins was heard and a moment later a small poorly made cloth bag was tossed into the wagon. Purple eyes snapped towards it for a moment before the woman turned and started walking away. He stood there for a moment before deciding to follow her. After all this was confusing to him and he was still unsure of how to act in response. Plus she carried the food he paid for, he wasn't about to let her walk away with that. People immediately retreated when he began stepping out and the looks on their faces was that of fear, anger, and disgust. So nothing new. It did make a satisfied feeling course through him that not too many would actually have the confidence to take him on in a fight not that they could actually win against him. But sometimes...It was hard to focus his power in keeping up his human disguise sometimes but such was his life. The woman was quick to walk away from the eyes of the crowd nearly to the very end of the street and there she stood patiently waiting for him to walk up to her. On instinct he did stop a bit away as most people wanted him standing far from them. Purple eyes scanned his body and he felt an irritation at the wondering eyes that he felt so many times before stare at him like something to be hidden away from the world.

"Do you have anything to carry this food in?" 

"...What the hell did you just ask me?"

"I asked if you had anything to carry your food with. I noticed you don't seem to have anything to carry it with." 

...THAT was the first thing she asked him?! He was standing here right in front of her in full lantern light plain as day and the first thing she chooses to ask him is if he had something to carry dumplings in?It sent his mind to real at the strange words spoken to him.

"Do I look like I carry a bag?," Was the only thing his confused brain could think of to say. 

"Alright. That can easily be fixed." 

What the hell was she- RRRRRIIIIPPPP!!! He stopped and went wide eyed as she put a piece of the raised kimono carrying the dumplings in the corner of her mouth, and just RIPPED the nicely woven fabric. It tore easily in her grip and the end result was her proudly holding up a large torn piece of cloth encasing the food and a long rip in her kimono which exposed her right leg from just below her knee down. If anyone looked you would've thought a dog had bitten into the fabric and torn it away with it's teeth. He found himself just staring at her leg before quickly turning his head away embarrassed. 

A moment later she held out the make shift cloth bag to him. "Here. This should tide you over until you finish eating them."

You held it out to him politely but instead of being happy or just taking the food he just stood there averting his eyes to the ground. "... You're really selfish. You know that?"

You blink taken aback. "What?"

Blue eyes looked her way with a creaky turn of his head. The hand that had been lightly scratching his neck still scratching at his pale flesh. "I bet you feel rrreally proud of yourself aren't you? AREN'T YOU?! Someone as nice looking as you standing up to a crowd for some poor ungrateful hellspawn!" The scratching became faster and slightly harder as he gave a deep frown to her surprised look. "Good for you. Good for you!  I bet you feel really good about yourself teaching a lesson to the ones below you just to make yourself feel above them! That's what it is isn't it? A savior complex!! That's what I am isn't is?! RRRA!!" A frustrated growl left his throat as the nails dug in more and raked. The smell and feeling of crimson filled the space. "A charity case to make you look and feel good!! Defend the poor sap who can't defend for himself! Is that it?! Well I don't need your help or your pity!! I don't need anyone defending me as a way to get their fill of hellish self satisfaction!!'' She paused as he hissed and leaned over her giving her an angry frown. "So why don't you stop showering me with fake kindness and do what everyone else does when I get angry? Get out of my sight."

She didn't move an inch. Staying wide eyed and frozen staring up at him, and he thought she must've been frozen in fear. ...He thought.So when she frowned at him, he thought again it was going to be one of the usual reactions he got. He expected her to throw the bag of food at him or insult him or storm off or maybe even attempt to slap him. What he wasn't expecting was to feel a free hand suddenly latch onto the front of his torn coat and yank. What he wasn't expecting was to be forced to be level eyed with purple irises. What he wasn't expecting was to smell the fragrance of peony flowers.

.... Peonies?

"Alright. Now listen here!" You spoke in a firm but calm and nonthreatening tone. You were getting a little tired of people yelling at you and pushing you around ever since you arrived in demon territory. "You can be mad all you want at the situation but don't you go and take it out on me because you had a bad night! I didn't help you because I 'have a savior complex' or 'pity you.' I don't even know you enough to pity you! The only reason I helped you was because I knew you were about to attack that man with the wagon! I hate it when people fight and get hurt, and judging by how powerful you look you could easily kill a grown man! I would've just walked away too and minded my own business too but like I said you looked about ready to kill." Your hand released him and he slowly leaned back up a few inches. "Besides...I know what it feels like."

He frowned deeper furrowing his brows. "To be uglier than the dirt you step on?" He asked skeptically.

In response you held up the bag to his face. "To be hungry. I can't always afford the food I need and I know what it's like to struggle and sometimes go days without eating. So here." You forcibly grabbed a hand of his before forcing the bag into it. "Take your food and eat it. Everyone deserves the right to eat no matter who they are."...Your eyes glanced down at his neck...and your hands went to the obi around your waist.

The skinny man was once again confused into silence. Not shock. Not surprise. But...confused. No one...had ever really done this before, and he wasn't again sure how to take this. Shouldn't she be disgusted by him?! Running for the hills or screaming at him?! At least give him a nasty glare? Why wasn't she acting like everyone else? Was she hard of seeing or needed glasses? Must be. It was the only way to explain this! Unless she was really dumb to not be afra-

He flinched when something soft wrapped around his neck and furious eyes snapped back to her. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"Your neck is bleeding,Dummy," she said just wrapping the obi around his neck like a scarf patienly. "Shut your mouth and just let me wrap it before it gets infected."

"DONT TOUCH M-"

"Oh hush up." He was once again yanked down with one hand as she fiddled with his neck. "You need to calm down. Working yourself up isn't going to help anyone especially yourself. There." You released him as the obi was tied around his neck. "That ought to work. And with that my work and business with you is finished." You took a step back and watched as he slowly reached a hand up to run across his neck. "You should probably clean the wound properly when you can. It would be better when addressed. Right now I have a train to catch."

He remained silent and stunned standing there as a hand gently felt over the silk obi tied up around his neck. He didn't need this! He would regenerate in a few seconds! He wouldn't need medical attention!!... But then again she didn't know that really. Strange woman. Strange, strange woman. He looked back and spotted her walking away into the crowds of people down the street, pretty easy to spot for him really. He had to be good at spotting specific people in crowds. She walked along the road passing by people. He huffed and turned his body to leave . Whatever. He wouldn't be seeing her again.

"Eh?'

His hand continued to rub over his covered neck when blue eyes looked over and noticed that they weren't the only eyes scanning the crowds or the only ones following that girl. Red eyes followed the form of the girl walking down the street before they slowly followed from a distance. The girl with purple eyes disappeared around a corner and a moment later so did the red eyes right after her.

"....hmm."

The streets were as crowded the way back as you came here and still there was the annoyance of doubling back and heading back towards the secret inn you left. You were also very annoyed. You went through to the entire trouble of getting there and the dumb doctor wasn't even there! Now you had to rely on the chance that Enmu would be on that train which wouldn't be here for another few hours still. So not only was your time wasted but you had to find the bloody train station now. About mostly all the way back, you again stopped someone and asked one of the food venders directions to the station. After getting them you continued the long way back to said station. It wasn't easy to find either. The whole trip left you annoyed and frustrated. Enmu had BETTER be there!! You swore this was getting ridiculous! You some how FINALLY managed to get to the train station and let out a sigh of relief to see that not many people were actually there. Good. At least you'd get a break from the crowd. With nothing else to do you just walked up to one of the many benches and plopped yourself down on it. Your feet were sore and you were tired from it being so late. You just hoped Rui was alright and not sicker, that's what worried you most. With a sigh you just leaned back, head tilted up and eyes closed. This night couldn't be any worse than it already was.

Oh how wrong you were because as it turned out fate just LOVED to taunt you.

A red pair of eyes approached. Large footfalls came. A lumbering force stopping near.

"How much?"

Your purple eyes popped open bristling and you came face to face with a man looming over you. You froze as you saw him. He blocked out most of the light giving him an eerie look to his emotionless face, only his dulled red eyes piercing with any real notice. The black hair on his head held back from his forehead by some headband and most of his visible body dressed in pitch black. You both continued to stare at one another, you up at him sitting and upside down and him looming just behind you. 

"How much?," His voice was as emotionless as his eyes and monotone as his face, deep and blunt.

You slowly blinked. How much? How much for what? The train tickets? "How much..for what?"

"Your debt."

...your brows furrowed. Debt? What debt? You didn't have any debts. You paid off the massive one you did owe and you didn't have any others made. So what was he talking about? "I don't have any debts."

"Then how much is your marriage contract?"

"Excuse me?"

"Which house do you work?"

A glass breaking sound went off in your mind. 

Holy shi- THIS GUY THOUGHT YOU WORKED HERE!!!

"I don't work in this district!!" You shouted before shooting out of your comfortable seat. He just watched you blankly jump a few feet away. Your face almost panicked as you frowned. "I don't know what the hell gave you that impression but you are sadly mistaken about any of that!! Or do you assume all women here work there!?"

He didn't respond other than looking onwards blankly eyeing you up and down so slowly that it was like someone was examining a donkey trying to decide if it'll be worth working in the fields or not. You especially didn't like how he gazed longer at your exposed leg before bothering to look back at your frowning face again. 

"Where's your escort?" His body turned to step around the bench, those piercing red eyes never leaving your form. 

"I don't...have one." You backed away fully aware now how tall and muscular he was compared to you. His expression was one that sent a shiver down your back and your hairs standing on end. Everything about this screamed danger! From the slow pace he walked to the way his eyes never left your face to the way one hand slid across the top of the bench as he walked around it to you. You started taking a few steps back from. "Who are you?"

"My family name is Tengen, but that won't be important now. Or when you have time to think afterwards."

"'Afterwards'?" You took a few more steps back as he stepped out from behind the bench finally. "What the hell do you mean by that?"

"Is there a father or head of your family? I'd like to make an offer to them," he said ignoring anything you just asked. Who the hell was this guy?! What did he want with you?! Nothing good by the looks of it. His whole demeanor was that of a predator staring down at a piece of prey! "You're loud and annoying, but that attitude and forwardness is something I don't see a lot in your kind. Would make for good traits passed down."

Your kind?! You both were human?! What the hell does he mean by that statement?! It was like deja Vu all over again and your mind flashed back to the night you were chased by those demons. The same overwhelming feeling you felt when you were being chased by them returned now with each step this stranger took towards you closer and closer despite every step you took back in return.

"No?...That might make it easier then."

Make what easier?! You had no clue but you certainly didn't want to find out! Especially when he caught up to your retreating self. When he blocked out the light from your form. When your back hit a wall in the train station. And-...When a sycle shot up to press against the side of the man's..neck??? You froze. The looming black haired man also froze and his face finally gained some emotion, it was wide eyed surprise. The eyes widened and the red pupils shrank. A hand that had been reaching out for you stopped in mid air just an inch away from touching your shoulder. So there you were back pressed against a wall staring up at a man about to grab you frozen by a random sycle blade pressed to to tender side of his neck. Silence between the three of you.

"You have a debt to pay."

Something- No. Someone taller than even the man before you made himself known and ever so slowly the red eyes turned followed by the head and met inhuman blue eyes framed by forest green locks of straggly hair and uneven teeth in a frown.

"I knew I've seen you from somewhere." Your head perked up. Hey! You recognized that voice! Just behind the red eyed man was another man who was skinnier and his body was covered in markings. You could half make out his figure just behind the first man. It was that skinny man from before! "You were here almost five months ago weren't you? Weren't you?!" A free hand instantly reached up to scratch at a free cheek furiously. "Yes you were. You tried to get money out of that house with the prettiest girls and almost killed the host. Not enough beauty for you wasn't it?! You're so good looking with those glasswork ruby eyes and coal hair and yet you're greedy enough to comeback for more!!" The scratching became faster and a bit deeper just leaving light scraping across the skin. "Even your skin is perfectly tanned without any scars or blemishes! I bet you could get any lady you wanted! Hell even maybe a couple men too! But you're so greedy! So greedy. SO GREEDY!! Some is never enough for someone like you! You want more and more!! Was that pretty girl you walked off with not enough for you?!"

The red eyed man silently looked at the hand holding the blade to his throat, seemed to consider something in his mind, before looking back up at the skinny man and speaking. "The girl I took with me was no good. She hasn't been able to provide me any heirs. It only makes sense to demand back what I paid if I don't get what was promised. That ...or be provided a replacement."

The sudden realization hit you like a train and you froze. ... SERIOUSLY!?!? ANOTHER SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE WANTED TO FORCE YOU TO MARRY THEM AND 'SAVE THEIR LINEAGE'?! THIS WAS LIKE THAT NIGHT ALL OVER AGAIN GETTING CHASED BY DEMONS ONLY THIS TIME IT WAS A HUMAN AND NOT A DEMON. Although monster suited him just as nicely.

What he must've said was wrong because red eyes shrunk more when the blade was pressed further into the skin. "You get what you pay for and nothing else unless you pay more." The raspy voice trembled but not in fear, it sounded like he was barely holding back rage. "I thought you learnt that from the last time you and I crossed paths." Something about the way he spoke seemed to be familiar to the red eyed man because he didn't dare move. A grin slowly spread across skinny man's face before he chuckled. The smile threatened to split his face. "Remember when I mentioned unblemished skin? I lied.~ There's some scars still under that shirt you wear isn't there?~ Not as pretty anymore. It's your own fault."

You took the opportunity to silently slide across the wall and get out of the backed corner you had trapped in. Stepping a few feet away was such a relief that you trembled with the deep sighs you took before taking a moment to look behind you. It was the same skinny man alright, standing there hunched over one hand scratching his cheek the other holding a large sycle blade to the red eyed man's shoulder. Thank the GODS he showed up when he did. But what was he doing here? Did he follow you? Or was he just tracking down the first man he cornered? 

"You still haven't paid you know. Damages are done and my wages didn't get paid by those pretty girls you were harassing even though I went through all the trouble of kicking you out and saving them. They didn't like giving money to someone so ugly, and you snuck away from me. But now I'm going to be taking what you owe me out of your skin."  The sycle was replaced by a hand large enough to fully wrap around his neck and it squeezed. The red eyed man wheezed, more air being forced from his body when he was shoved forward into the same wall you were once backed up against. The shine of the blade caught on the lantern lights as it was raised-

"WAIT!! STOP!!"  tinier hands leapt forward and latched onto the arm that was firmly gripped around the choking man's neck. The skinny man froze mid swing before snapping his hatred filled face at you. "You don't have to kill him!"

"He's been asking for it for too long. Stay out of something that you have no dam business in!"

His angry ranting didn't scare you off. Instead you scowled back. "Will you just listen to me?! You said he owed money right? He mentioned paying me a while ago so he's obviously must have some on him right now. Just take it and let him go!"

He gave a look like you were crazy. "You really have no say after everything he's done."

"Maybe I don't but just out right murdering someone in a train station wouldn't help your reputation! Just take the money and then if he comes back to cause more trouble then do to him what you did to him last time! It would be better in the long term. Please, please, PLEASE don't let your anger cloud your thoughts on this."

.... Dammit.

He had almost done something that he shouldn't do. It made him more angry. Daki was the one who was always careless. Master had to literally pay her a surprise visit and warn her to be less suspicious about her identity just to get through her naive brain to tone it back, and here he was almost ruining what profile he had. If he tore this pompous asshole limb from limb right here and now just like he wanted too then it wouldn't look good. He'd have to go into hiding for about a hundred years just to make sure anyone currently alive who've seen him wasn't around anymore and then reintegrate himself back into human society here from scratch. Which was already annoying to do the first time....He had to take care of this later and silently if he wanted to avoid any unwanted trouble. So reluctantly he forced his hand to release just the teeniest bit for him to breath but that could easily change. 

"You're lucky you know. I'm very merciful if I want to be." A blade pushed into the black haired man's back. "But that depends on how much you give me to spare an death of peeling your skin off or plucking out an eye with my out fingers. I don't think I have to tell you what I want do I? Or maybe you really are too pathetic to comprehend what it is."

......The sound of metal jingling beautifully rang out as a satchel dropped to the wooden floors of the train station.

"Good boy. Let's see if I can teach you how to fetch." A hiss was given to the man. "Now get out of my sight before we try 'play dead' next."

He was tossed to the left by the hand still firmly gripped at his neck and blue eyes watched the red eyed man stumble forward and stop for a moment to stare back at the woman next to him, then at the blue eyed man.... before turning and walking back off towards the crowds. He gritted his teeth together watching the asshole leave. Asshole! Disgusting pervert should drop dead. A jingling sound caught his attention and a moment later the woman was holding up the satchel of jingling coins up to him. 

"Here. You should take this before you forget it. You've certainly earned it."

"Hmph. I would've  just gotten it myself!" The bag was roughly grabbed from your hands as he sneered. "I don't need your help! Get that in your feeble mind if you can!"

You blinked but frowned. "Well excuse me Mr. Grumps. Next time I won't be nice." You placed your hands on your hips. "Thank you for the help though. What was with that man?"

"I didn't come here to help you! Let's get that part straight! And secondly I only 'helped' because I had unfinished business with that guy." He hissed and your brows rose at just how ..demon like that noise was. "I'll have to deal with him later now. Dammit. You sure get into trouble. You know that?"

"Hey! That guy followed me not the other way around!," You clarified, "I was minding my own business waiting for the train!"

"...Are you stupid or something? The next train doesn't come for hours."

"I know that! But I don't have any other options. I need medicine and the doctor's note here and I can't just wait for who knows how long for him to come back! My only option is to wait until that train comes!"

...he rose a brow. "You need medicine and hoping to get it from a train? ...Are you an idiot or something? Unless you plan on traveling to a different town for medicine your plan makes no sense."

You sighed. "I'm waiting for someone I know ON the train. He knows about medicine and he gave me some a few days ago. I need more because a friend of mine is sick. That's why I was even in ...'that' part of the district in the first place. I just need some medicine. That's all."

"Hmm." ...His hand holding the sycle lowered behind his body and put the hidden blade away before mindlessly scratching lightly at his cheeks again. "... You're a strange woman. You say you hate fighting but kick a man who insults you." His hand gestured to your torn kimono, or more specifically your very worn boots. "You're wearing a wealthy man's dress but wear the shoes of a poor thing. You are a woman and yet you rip your dress and don't act ladylike at all." He then leaned down until you both were eye level, and again he rose a brow when you never even showed the tiniest ounce of fear or disgust. "....And you were afraid of that very good looking not to mention wealthy guy but yet don't flinch when someone as horrid as me is literally standing close enough to grab you. So am I right and you do need glasses?"

"No. I can see all your features just fine."

He smiled widely. "Then you agree with my earlier statement."

"No. I just don't find you scary."

A glass breaking sound went off in his head. "....What?"

"I don't think you're ugly either. Dunno why everyone says that."

"Eh?"......What?! Was she broken in the head?! Did she need glasses but denied it?! "What?! Can you see my ugly markings?! My deformed body?! My hair is an unnatural color!?" He leaned closer snarling his teeth. "My horrendous teeth?!"

You deadpanned. "Yes. I see all of that. And frankly I don't care. Are you going to knock that off now?"

He blanked stunned. Sputtering on his words before snarling harder narrowing his eyes. "You should fear me?! Admit it! You really do don't you?! It's alright to admit it! You don't have to be nice and pretend to spare my feelings. Everyone thinks it! I'm dirty and disgusting!!"

Your brow rose. "I'm NOT being NICE and I'm NOT pretending. I literally just don't care what you look like."

"You don't -.....YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON MY APPEARANCE?!" 

"I mean you could use a bath and a good meal but Im not going to judge you if you don't have access to those things. I don't either for most of my life so I won't fault you."

His arms dropped and his shoulders slumped and his jaws dropped. ".....What?! WHY?!"

"Because I've seen both humans and demons look and act worse than you."

"What?! How can that be?!"

"*Sigh* Ok. Would you like some examples?" He rose a brow still flabbergasted but nodded for whatever reason. "I've seen a man absolutely covered in scars and have anger issues worse than a volcano! I saw demons of all kinds with no eyes, different colored skin, four eyes, horns, tails, and markings of all kinds! I was literally chased by three demons in one night who tried to carry me away! I personally know someone with literally more anger issues than you and there's a perverted demon I see every so often who tried to flirt with me! On top of that the man you just scared off scares me more than you because he actually is dangerous. You're big and scary to a lot of people yes, but I'm not scared of you because I've seen so much diversity that your appearance doesn't surprise me in the least! On top of that you've never given me a reason to be weary of you so I don't see and reason to feel threatened by you. Now does that answer your question?"

You tilted your head at him but he said nothing. Only pausing as you stared back flabbergasted. When he didn't answer you turned back and sat down on the bench with a sigh. After a silent moment you heard someone approach you and a raspy voice spoke.

"You're serious... aren't you?"

"Glad you caught on. ...I didn't catch your name by the way. Mines Y/n."

"... It's Gyutaro."

"Gyutaro." She spoke the name softly trying it out on her tongue before giggling and looking up at him with a smile. "That's a nice name." Although why did that name sound so familiar to you? "You mentioned that man owed you a lot of money. Does that mean you're a debt collector?"

"Sometimes." He wasn't wrong. That was a part of his cover here, and he did use to be a full time debt collector before the Kizuki life. "Depends on who pays more." However he was more enticed by the first sight of a genuine smile thrown his way, pretty smile- And soft purple eyes. And the pretty smell of peony flowers in his nose. Made him feel woozy. "Then again.... sometimes money is...needed."

BU-BUMP-

A hand immediately clamped onto his chest with a shocked cough from him.

 "I understand. Sometimes you just need it. I know I did...Hey. Are you related to that Oiran I saw earlier?"

His hyperventilating paused as he froze....and he slowly looked back at you. "...Why would you ask me that?"

"Because you both look alike." 

He again paused. "....Eh?"

You pointed at your own eyes. "Your eyes. I've never seen another human with such a blue color, but both you and the Oiran I saw have them. You both give off the same aura and expression as well when I first saw you two. So does that mean you two are related?"

SHE NOTICED THAT?! No one's ever noticed that before... except his Master but she was a simple human! How could she have been smart enough to make that connection?! And all based off their eyes and smiles? He narrowed his eyes more at the woman calculating but her patient expression never changed.

".... She's my younger sister."

"Oh! That explains so much! You both look similar." Similar? Them?! "She's very beautiful. No wonder she's an Oiran. I've never seen another woman look quite like her before."

...He slowly nodded in agreement. That was one thing they could agree on actually. There was absolutely NO ONE more beautiful than his beloved sister. No one.  "She's beautiful isn't she? It's something that I can claim and no one else can. But it comes with problems. Mostly in the form of greedy humans." And don't get him started with the headache that mating season comes with! Too many annoying suiters trying to take her away from him! That wouldn't do at all. 

"Was...that man one of those men?" He nodded again with an annoyed his and snarl. "What is his problem?!"

"He paid off the debt and marriage contract for a girl from one of houses last year." He mumbled. "Pretty girl. Really nice nails and eyes. But he came back demanding to be given my sister when he didn't get what he wanted."

Your nose wrinkled in disgust. "That's disgusting! Who does that?"

His eyes widened in surprise before he scowled again. "That's what I keep saying but no one ever listens to my opinions!"

"They should! That guy's a creep and a pervert! He literally just tried to kidnap me! Who does that guy think he is?!"

"That's what I said! Who does that?!"

"A disgusting degenerate troglodyte who doesn't have enough balls in his body to even fight back against a real man!"

"EXACTLY!!" 

"YOU'RE DOING THEM A FAVOR SCARING HIM OFF!! ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR SISTER!! I BET SHE'S GRATEFUL AT LEAST!! I WISH I HAD A BROTHER LIKE YOU BACK IN MY VILLAGE!!"

"YES!! FINALLY SOMEONE ELSE SEES THIS!!" It was SO good to finally have someone besides his sister agree with him!! Even if it was another woman. "I MENTION THAT BUT THEY DIDN'T PAY ME!!"

"THEY'RE MISSING OUT!! HERE!! I'LL PAY YOU FOR KEEPING ME SAFE!!"

'EXACT-....." He paused. "Wait. What?"

A shiny gold coin was held up from the bench. "Here. I know it's not much, but it's all I have and you did protect me even if it was unintentionally. So consider this payment."

The gold coin glittered bright and fancy in his face which made his eyes go wide seeing it. "Where did you get that?"

"I happened to find it after someone rich dropped it. I was going to use it to buy medicine for my friend but since I'm pretty sure I can get it for free now anyways, you should take it for your services."

She was... willingly paying him? For something he didn't do for her benefit anyways? "....Tch. Keep it." He pushed her arm away. "I have the money I need from the idiot I thrashed just now. I don't need your pitiful money when I didn't even do anything for you anyways.''

"Well then what if I hire you?"

"Excuse me?"

You smiled. "That man's still out there. He could come back looking for me so why don't I pay you to stay with me just until my train comes?" He rose a suspicious brow. "I'm serious. You don't even have to talk or anything. It'll only be for a few hours anyways, and you can have this as payment. Here. I'll even give it to you in advance so you know I'm serious." Again you held up the coin. "So what do you say?"

He hesitated but he couldn't deny it wasn't tempting. Gold even for a Kizuki was valuable....HE COULD BUY DAKI THAT HAIR PIN SHE ALWAYS WANTED WITH THAT!! It would make her so happy! And she would look so beautiful in it! And all he had to do was sit here and play bodyguard for this girl for just a few hours? That was probably the easiest job he was given. Hmm. Well he didn't have anything else to do for now, and his sister could survive without him for a little while. You blinked when the coin was just snatched from you hand to be examined closely by blue eyes... before he bit down on it between his teeth. And seemed satisfied enough to hum.

"Alright. But don't expect me to be nice and make small talk."

"I don't expect you too." You smiled and gestured to the bench next to you. "Come sit down."

He blanked. "What?"

"I said sit down. It'll be a while so you might as well sit down. You'll get tired just standing up the whole time." You smiled wider. "It's ok. I don't bite."

.....he slowly blinked. "O-Oh...Ok."

He took almost twenty minutes shuffling about and lowering himself to sit on the very far side of the bench away from you but that's fine. You won't make him sit closer to you if that made him uncomfortable. Most of the wait was silent other than a few people walking by and the buzz of the crowds behind you that didn't slow down in the slightest despite the long hours of the night. You almost nodded off a few times but woke yourself up with a start every time. You HAD to do this. For Rui. You thought you caught Gyutaro looking at you ever so often but every time you looked over he would be looking the other direction. The sleep deprivation must getting to you. It must've been near morning when you heard it. That sounds you were waiting for.

WWWWWOOOOOOO WOOOOOOOO-!!!!!

It made you gasp and nearly fall down off the bench as a metal beast steamed into the station and stopped with a wheeze letting steam out everywhere. This was it! You could get medicine for Rui!! Forgetting Gyutaro behind you, you ran towards the train sitting in the station along with a slew of other people. Up the steps and into the nearest car you did nearly tripping on your kimono and faceplanting as you did.

"ENMU- AH!!" You slipped grabbing onto a nearby seat to yank yourself back up on tired legs, getting a few weird looks from some people getting off past you. "Dammit!! ENMU!!! WHERE ARE YOU?!" You shouted looking up at the ceiling of the car. Dammit! You only had a limited time before you had to get off. Where was that perverted demon?! "EN!! MU!!" You jumped up and down and even kicked a seat in your growing frustration. "DAMMIT!! COME OUT HERE OR ELSE!!"

"There's no need for violence, Begonia.~" You whipped around meeting teal eyes. "I'm right here. My, my what a surprise. I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon.~ How's -"

Before he could even finish you had grabbed him by the front of his coat, yanked him down, and growled in his face. "Give me some more medicine for Rui and NOW!! He's running another fever and I already wasted enough time trying to get it for him!!"

"Hm. Well why didn't you just say so?~" A bottle was held up with blueish pills and jiggled at you. "I took the Liberty of keeping this in my pocket on the off chance we crossed paths again." He still kept up the smile even as the bottle was snatched from his hands. "Now these need to be given in small doses. Only give him one per fever and make sure he doesn't take them on an empty stomach."

"OH THANK THE GODS!! HE'S SAVED!!" You had to get this back to Rui and NOW!!

"Yes.~ Aren't you feeling thankful?" He tilted his cheek at you. "Doesn't it make you want to thank me?~"

"Thanks, Enmu! I owe you one later!" He blinked as something pushed past him and a second later saw your form hop off the train. 

".....Hm. That's the thanks I get for keeping medical practice on me."

Meanwhile you were happily stumbling and smiling like an idiot happily clutching the bottle in your hand and running your way off the train. "I HAVE IT!" You yelled at Gyutaro who for some odd reason had stuck around to watch you hold in the air excitedly. "I got the medicine!!"

"Good for you...I guess?" He was unsure of how to react when you stopped in front of him happily heaving and smiling like an idiot. 

"This is great! I have to-...I-I have to get back to Rui now and he'll be ok! This is the best news I've had in days!"  You were so happy you could kiss someone!!...In fact- Gyutaro was not prepared when out of your sleep deprived mind you grabbed his cheeks and something soft smashed into his face for a brief moment. "MWAH!! THIS IS GREAT! I OWE YOU ONE FOR THE HELP LATER!!" 

With one last giggle you looked at the bottle again and ran off leaving him standing there. Blue eyes bugged out of him mind with his hand paused in the middle of scratching at at his chest...When his teeth stuttered against one another...

"....EH?!"

Meanwhile in a different part of the district there was a different room with different colors, with fancier furniture, with beautiful inhabitants, with a certain woman studying her reflection in the mirror. But she paused when a strange sensation came over her. She felt a beating of a heart but it wasn't her heart. She paused in applying her makeup to glance at her chest before groaning and reaching up a lipstick back to her lips.

"Great. Looks like it finally happened. Brother finally got lost in a pretty face and fell. Just when I thought it was going to be a peaceful year. Oh well. It was bound to happen sooner or later surrounded by dozens of women....She had better be worth the trouble."

[intcritus]

“Don’t.” The word is immediate, leaving his mouth as soon as he is joined by the other hashira, bearing its fangs with the vicious tone he uses, threatening harm should one delve too deeply into matters. Word had reached him earlier, his crow bearing the harrowing tale of how his brother had succeeded in passing the trial, had become a part of this twisted, hopeless world despite all efforts to keep him away. The anguish burns in his throat, knowing that he is yet again little more than a failure, his stomach sick to think of the days to come. You can’t save anyone, Shinazugawa, you never could.

“He’s nobody. Don’t get any ideas.” Lids descend over his eyes, closing off the muted world from his vision, teeth grinding before he pushes himself to his feet with a burst of energy, storming towards the door to grab for his sword. Maybe in another life… he thinks, a bittersweet impossibility, but he can imagine taking Genya to Tengen’s to spend time with his family, to laugh and smile. But it is a little more than a childish dream. To Genya, he will only be their mother’s murderer, a failure, someone who did not deserve him.

“I’m training. Stay here if you want, or bring your sword, I don’t care.”

He’s nobody. That was a lie if Tengen ever heard one, but he knows not to pry on matters of family, especially when it came to this life. They had all been in dire straits, hadn’t they? Losing and failing when it came to family, outrighting stepping away because of what he deemed as treacherous. The sound Hashira didn’t need to know Shinazugawa’s story to understand that he and Genya’s history was complicated and though he wished to help them reconcile, he’s also not sure if this is the right path for the other to tread.

While he couldn’t speak for himself when it came to family, his wives filled those holes in his heart, and it gave him something to look forward to. And looking at Shinazugawa, he saw pain and guilt hidden behind anger, at himself ? A light hum, a downturn of his lips, narrowing eyes before shrugging his shoulders. For now, it’s not his place but he’ll definitely stay to help the other train, if only to get some of those hefty emotions off his shoulders.

❝ ━ Fine, fine, the possibility of my words being unheard isn't a big deal. ❞ Chuckling softly, he merely follows his companion, hoping that this particular training session will soften those sharp edges, even if they don't talk verbally, perhap physically it will lesson Shinazugawa's load. And if he went to spy on Genya, well that was to be kept to himself. New recruits should always be looked upon as fresh meat for battlefield, perhaps they had plenty potential.

There's a ferocity to the Wind Hashira's blade today, the whistle of it swinging through the air, parrying Tengen, oh it's most flashy ! Tengen enjoys it, but something in his chest thrums with an ache as he replays his own thoughts, yet says nothing as they get into the thick of their own battle, resigning himself to silence as eyes narrow and he gives back as good as he gets, putting the Wind Hashira on the defensive.

when he understands but doesnt. | @resolutepath

[intheclearblueskies]

If They Asked You Out

| Masterlist |

Tanjiro:

Tanjiro's the kind of guy who'll ask you plainly, but not too plainly.

He'll try to set a romantic atmosphere first off, like asking you under the stars or over a candlelit meal. He doesn't want to do anything super extravagant, because he knows you're probably not comfortable with that. He'll ask you with a soft smile on his face.

Nezuko:

Nezuko, like her brother, will ask you plainly, but not too plainly.

She's been getting coached to speak properly again by Tanjiro just so that she can ask you to be her girlfriend. On the night that she asks you, she'll try to set a romantic atmosphere, perhaps asking you on a moonlit night under the stars or in a peaceful clearing of the woods. She'll take your hands and, sans gag, ask, "P- please be my girlfriend, (y- y/n)!" with a hopeful smile on her face.

Zenitsu:

Let's be honest: Zenitsu's gonna have some flair for his.

He won't go full Tengen, but he will give his confession some flavor: asking you under festival fireworks or maybe on a birthday are prime candidates. He'll give you a gift, something nice like a piece of jewelry with your birthstone in it, and drop to his knees and ask you. No matter where he asks you, he'll be super nervous while doing it and may tremble a little.

Inosuke:

It'll take a little suggestion, but Inosuke will just ask you outright, no matter where you are or what you're doing. Even if you're in the middle of a fight, he declares his feelings for you and asks you to be his.

Giyuu:

Giyuu is surprisingly traditional with his confession. He already went to your parents to ask their permission to date their daughter (and got overwhelming approval, to his surprise) and asks you to go with him for a special outing.

He shows up with (f/flowers) and takes you to dinner at his place, and afterwards when you're relaxing in the garden with a cup of hot tea he asks you to date him. He's very sweet and awkward about the whole thing, but you can tell a lot of thought went into it.

Kyojuro:

Kyojuro is the type of guy to ask you with a little bit of flair, but not too much.

Really, depending on the situation, he may just ask you outright -- maybe you did something adorable, or you're sitting and doting on Senjuro. He wants to make the moment a little extra special for the both of you, so he'll likely give you a little gift, such as flowers, and ask you. If you're just being you and the moment becomes too much to let slip by, he'll ask.

Muichiro:

Muichiro will try to make the moment special.

He may seem really spacey one week out of nowhere, but in reality he's planning to confess. He'll try to get a romantic atmosphere going, such as a candlelit dinner or something similar and will start out by giving you something nice, such as a trinket from a nearby village. Once the moment seems right, he'll ask.

Shinobu:

Shinobu won't want a lot of unnecessary glam, but she'll definitely try to make it special.

Shinobu is pretty straightforward with her feelings to you most times. She wants you to know that she's not just putting on a happy act for you and that she cares about what you think. She'll try to get together a special dinner for you or get you to a festival so that she can ask.

She'll preface it with something of value, such as earrings or a kanzashi. Despite what she goes with, whether it's over dinner or during a fireworks display, she'll turn to you and ask with a genuine expression.

Gyomei:

Gyomei won't want a big event, so he'll likely ask when the moment feels right.

He'll likely have spoken to your parents beforehand (so that they know what their little girl is getting into), and he'll wait for a good opportunity. (He's likely prayed for guidance more than once.) Once he feels like he should ask you, he'll ask.

Sanemi:

Sanemi won't want a big event, so he'll probably try to find a romantic moment.

He's still a little nervous about you rejecting him, so he definitely doesn't want a big show just in case -- he'd rather not be humiliated in front of all his colleagues, thank you. Instead, he'll likely try to get together a romantic spot for you -- maybe a trip to the hot springs or a night's stay at another village.

Either way, he scrapes everything together and asks you bluntly, although you can tell he's nervous underneath his usual demeanor.

Akaza:

100% shy about it. It's kind of cute how formal he tries to be.

Akaza is a little old-fashioned when it comes to courting someone, and this is made clear when he asks you. He most likely waited until a special occasion, like a festival. He waits until the fireworks start before turning to you, holding your hands in his, and asking if you would date him.

Douma:

Douma asks you out with a bit of flair.

He decorates his chamber with beautiful sculptures of ice and plans dinner with you that night. When you arrive, you two eat and he asks you the question, creating a small sculpture with their hands outstretched to you, a silver necklace with a glowing snowflake-shaped gem in its hands for some added style.

Kokushibo:

He'd be very formal about it. It's likely that he'd offer something of value in exchange for your hand as his girlfriend, such as a satchel of expensive spices or gems of some sort.

He'd use pretty formal language to ask you out, and if you said yes, he'd probably leave immediately, but only because it was fairly difficult to ask in the first place. He hates being seen as weak, and especially in front of you, asking you out made him feel pretty weak.

Muzan:

Muzan would be simplistic, but stylish.

He's a real classy guy, with some good tastes. He'd take you to a nice place armed with your favorite sweets and ask you over a couple of glasses of 'wine' (well, real wine for you).

Yoriichi:

Yoriichi would be pretty nonchalant about it.

He'd give you some sort of gift, such as flowers or one of your favorite snacks, and ask you if you'd like to go out. He'd be pretty relieved when you accepted.

[wildfire317s-oc-box]

(Sorry ive been so busy today getting ready for a friends bday party)

"Mhm, Kimi had to visit them recently for a check up and happened to overhear Yushiro talking to Tamayo about it" *he leads the way inside and all of the children and teenagers scamper inside and find themselves somewhere to perch. Inside there are plenty of toys of various types and sizes, and a fair few are surprisingly made of metal. Tsuki giggles softly at your comment about tanjiro, perhaps she has met him too?* "That sound's about right for him...I have run into him a few times and he is a good person as far as I can tell...though he tends to have a large parade of spirits following him around..." *She chirps as she subconsciously starts fiddling with a long, light blue scarf with an oddly familiar texture, in an all too familiar way; a cat's cradle. Her eyes flick back to you when you mention the story of the demon you have met, an inquisitive expression flashing across her face.* "It's nice to meet you too, but yeah I like to think so! It's fun being the big brother again" *Tsubaki smirks and covers Asaki's face with her fox-tail, giggling mischievously. The tallest demon of the group who was about as tall as tengen without her horns, was perched atop one of the multiple book-shelves that lined the walls. She smiles softly at you a bit relieved as Ryuu starts going through the papers on his desk to find their respective files, muttering to himself about how he probably should have gotten them out earlier* "Ah that's good I was worried all of this may have frightened you. I hope so too, it's always fun to make new friends. Ah silly me I forgot to introduce myself I'm Mine. Tsuki how about you introduce her to the others while Uncle is looking for his paperwork?" *she suggests to the younger girl*

*A red fox with a camellia flower red collar and a messenger bag scampers up to you before barking softly to get your attention, perhaps the little creature has something for you?*

She looks down at the smaller creature with a gentle smile. “Hello there little one how can I help you today?” She reaches her hand down slowly to let the little fox sniff her and get her scent.

[duckymcdoorknob]

Hello Ducky! I have a lot of trouble with my emotions and experience extreme apathy, so I was wondering if you could do Giyuu fluff with platonic GN reader where Giyuu has learned that they pretend to be happy when they don’t actually feel happy, so he makes it his personal goal to make them genuinely smile? Thanks, and I hope your day is lovely ☺️

Of course I can!!

This request makes me so soft OMg OMg.

(THIS WAS THE CUTEST THING THAT I EVER WROTE OMG!!$)

I can definitely help.

please let me know if you ever need anything!

CW UNDER THE CUT: None!

𝐺𝑖𝑦𝑢𝑢 𝑇𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑜𝑘𝑎

Giyuu Tomioka is a man of very strict apathy.

So, he never expected to take such a liking to you. Perhaps you remind him a little of himself, so he found someone he could agree with.

He never expected that the day you were brought to the mansion, alongside Tanjiro and Friends™, that he would have the desire to befriend you.

As the two of you got closer, the water hashira found one fact about you to be an enigma: your smile.

He could tell that all of your smiles were fake and forced. He wondered if you’d ever actually smiled genuinely before in your life.

He also wondered… could he help?

Without worrying about sacrificing the little dignity he had, Giyuu made a decision that he knew he truly would dread: asking Rengoku for help.

The young pillar visited to room of the flame hashira, waiting for him to finish his prayer. When he had finished, Giyuu spoke. “Uh hey, Rengoku… Can I ask you a question?”

“Ah! Tomioka, hello! Yes, you may.” The older man beamed him a smile as he began to deconstruct his altar.

“Right. I need a little advice I suppose.”

“I understand. Go ahead and sit, shut the door behind you so that you may have some privacy.” The flame pillar’s voice was gentle, almost as if his “big brother mode” was switched on.

The water hashira obliged and slid the door shut, taking a seat on the mats below him.

“What’s troubling you, Tomioka?” Rengoku asked, sitting across from his fellow hashira.

“So, you know those four idiots and the demon that we just took in?” He asked, slight exasperation twinging in his tone at the thought of the three rowdy boys.

“I’m aware, yes.” A warm smile fell upon the older male’s features, “You seem to forget I was present at young Kamado’s ‘hearing’.” He accented the word with finger quotes.

“Yes, right. Um-“ the Raven-haired male fiddled with his fingers, “The one slayer… (Y/N), their name is… something seems off to me about them.”

“Why do you say that?” The flame hashira sat up, showing that Tomioka had his full attention.

“I suppose I’ll just come right out and say it. They don’t seem to be truly happy here and…” Giyuu trailed off, trying to formulate his sentence. He waved his hands around as he furrowed his brow, “I really just want to make them smile.”

“Oh! That’s easy!” Rengoku beamed, “There’s many things that you could do to get them to smile!”

“You could tell them about your day, compliment them, tell them a joke, tickle them- or, maybe not that one. That could backfire if they aren’t ticklish, and then you’d become the one smiling.”

Giyuu shifted uncomfortably at the thought of that happening. Maybe that one would be on the backest back-burner that he had.

The flame hashira tapped his chin, “I mean, I think if you just try little gestures, like helping them with something, bringing them a plate of food without them expecting it, simply being by their side may make them smile. Or, you could always send them to Tengen for a lewd joke; those typically work.”

The raven-haired pillar let out a fond puff of air, accompanied by an amused grin.

“See? Just like that! It’s that easy!” Rengoku beamed.

“I do see now, thank you Rengoku.” Giyuu stood to his feet before bowing slightly to his fellow hashira. “I owe you one.”

“No worries, Tomioka! Just keep me filled in!” The older male chimed.

Over the course of the next week, Giyuu tried his best to take Rengoku’s advice. He’d leave you little treats as you recovered from your missions. He’d offer to spar with you, ask you to go on “adventures” with him (which were just walks to find cool bugs and leaves in the woods near the mansion). He tried everything.

And yes, he even considered the backest back burner idea, but he figured he shouldn’t cross your boundaries like that. And, he wasn’t exactly ready for the consequences if his plan backfired.

Fate or maybe dumb luck saved him though, one day. He had been tasked to alert the “four idiots and demon” that it was time for dinner. He managed to stumble upon Zenitsu desperately trying to win over Nezuko.

He entered the room and sat crisscross next to you. Waving to you, he watched the scene unfolding in front of him.

You flashed him a cordial “smile”, if you could call it that. “He’s been at this for about an hour.” You leaned in and whispered, then leaning back to your seated position.

“This is a disaster.” He leaned in and whispered in return, then returning to his seated position.

The two of you continued your whispered conversation, taking turns leaning in and out.

“You gotta appreciate his attempt and bravery.” You said with a tinge of amusement on your tongue.

“Bravery? Please.” Giyuu quipped, “He could come across a baby deer and he’d start bawling his eyes out.”

Your eyes widened as you slapped two hands over your mouth. You couldn’t help but snort and laugh at his comment.

And Giyuu? He started laughing in the same way you were.

The laughter was horribly suppressed, but the attempt was appreciated by the four pairs of eyes that fell on the pair of you.

When you noticed their eyes, your forehead fell onto the water pillar’s shoulder as you tried to stop the flow of giggles that were pouring out of you.

Giyuu took a few breaths to regain his composure, “Come on you idiots, dinner’s ready.” He stood to his feet and offered you his hand.

As you took it, he pulled you up and whispered to you: “I never want to see a fake smile from you again. A real one looks far too good on you to try and hide with a fake one.”

You were taken aback, but elbowed him in the side and nonetheless replied: “I could say the same about you, Tomioka. I appreciate all of your little gestures. Those were to get me to smile, right?”

“They were.” He replied with a sudden sheepishness, “Rengoku gave me a few ideas, and I figured that looking for bugs was better than trying to tickle you.”

“And that’s because…?”

“He reminded me that you might retaliate.” His voice was just above a murmur.

“Is that so?”

In that moment, Giyuu Tomioka realized that he had made the world’s biggest mistake. His eyes widened and he took off running, pushing through the crowd of young slayers ahead of him.

You chuckled as you chased after him. As the two of you passed by the dining room, Giyuu yelled: “RENGOKU I HATE YOU!”

You laughed heartily, “THANKS FOR THE TIP, RENGOKU!” You yelled in response.

As soon as Rengoku explained the situation, the dining slayers opened all of the doors of the mansion to see who would lose the chase.

You know what they say, dinner’s never complete without a show.

—————♡︎✞♡︎✞♡︎✞♡︎✞♡︎✞♡︎✞♡︎✞♡︎✞♡︎✞♡︎—————

[silverynight]

Dead End

<---Previous

Part XI

"Actually, you go ahead," she makes a gesture with the knife. "In front of me. Let's try to get out without anyone seeing us."

Tanjirou knows he should try to escape, but getting out also means he can see Tomioka and perhaps warn him or try to help him.

"What's your name?" Tanjirou can't see her face anymore, he can only look ahead; he's trying to think about the best path to get out without being detected.

"Does it matter?" She asks after a pause, her voice sounds curious, but also surprised. "I get why you wanted to know it before, but now... Why do you care?"

"I can't help caring about other people..." He admits. Tanjirou knows everyone makes mistakes and he usually tries to understand their motivations behind their actions... he really does. There's probably just one person Tanjirou can say he truly doesn't like and that's Muzan.

"They call me Daki."

"I don't think that's your real name."

"It's the only one you get to know," Daki hisses behind him; there's probably something about the other name, the real one that she doesn't want to remember.

Tanjirou wonders if she has suffered before... If that was one of the reasons she decided to work for Kibutsuji.

They're doing good so far; Tanjirou thinks there's a possibility they can make it out of there because the archers are probably focused on the man trying to get inside. They're probably trying to help Tomioka.

"Tanjirou!" A kakushi runs into him on his way to the main door. "You shouldn't be here, it's dangerous."

She hasn't noticed the knife... Tanjirou's body must be blocking her view. It's alright, he wants to avoid a conflict.

"You're right. I'll go back to my room..."

"Wait. Who are you? I haven't seen you before," the poor kakushi girl takes a step closer and Tanjirou can tell the exact moment she sees the knife, just by the way her eyes shadow with fear.

Tanjirou hears the movement; he knows Daki is going to do something risky to avoid someone else finding out and he's mostly sure it involves hurting the kakushi.

So he jumps in front of her. A sharp pain on his left side makes him groan. The kakushi runs and Tanjirou has the time to turn around to see a very angry, but scared Daki in front of him.

"You're an idiot!" The girl hisses, although it seems like she's about to panic. "I'm not supposed to hurt you! My lord wants you alive!"

Grimacing in pain, Tanjirou presses his hand against the wound and notices that the knife is on the ground, covered in blood.

"I'll... survive."

"Big brother!" Daki yells; she probably doesn't care about being seen anymore because Tanjirou is sure everyone nearby heard her.

Tanjirou takes a step closer, but feels terribly dizzy and weak, perhaps he's losing more blood than he thought.

"Daki... Listen, I..." He can't see for a second, everything turns black, but Tanjirou blinks, forcing himself to focus.

Someone is screaming... They're very close; Tanjirou worries about Tomioka, but then he hears a familiar voice.

"Tanjirou, I'm glad you're–" that's the moment Uzui notices the blood and Tanjirou's pale face before he turns his head to look at Daki. The girl hisses like she's ready to fight, but Uzui's demeanor has changed completely.

Tanjirou has never seen him like that before; he's furious, he looks absolutely terrifying.

Even Daki turns white. She takes a step back at the same time Tanjirou falls to his knees.

"Wait, Tengen-san... She didn't mean to hurt me, she..." Tanjirou stops because talking is really difficult now and because he realizes that even though she didn't mean to stab him, she was probably going to kill the kakushi. She probably wants to kill Uzui...

"She was going to take you to Kibutsuji, which is far worse," he's furious, his voice is vicious and his eyes are full of hatred, but also worry for Tanjirou.

This is why everyone is so afraid of the Pillars...

Everything turns black again, but this time Tanjirou can't fight it, he can't remain awake. He passes out, worrying about his hashira and everyone around him. The last thing he remembers is Nezuko calling out his name...

She finally used her voice again...

***

Maybe it's just a dream, but now that he thinks about it, dreams don't usually hurt that much...

He knows there's chaos around him; Aoi is screaming, ordering people to move out of the way while Tanjirou is being carried... It hurts, everything hurts and he can barely breathe...

He can't even open his eyes, but he can hear a few things. Is that Tomioka's voice? And Uzui's?

Unfortunately, his body gives up again and he gets sucked into darkness... A long state of unconsciousness without dreams.

The first thing he sees when he wakes up is Nezuko and that makes him feel better immediately. However, when the girl finally looks up, he realizes that she's been crying.

But she's not the only one.

"My love!" Kanroji sobs, cupping Tanjirou's face in her hands. "We were so worried about you!"

After blinking a couple of times, Tanjirou notices that all the hashira are there with him; Uzui's left arm is completely covered in bandages and it looks like he can't move it at all, Tomioka has a few scratches on his face, but he looks fine.

"You were about to die," Iguro speaks then and his words carry so much sorrow and hurt Tanjirou doesn't need to see the others' faces to understand they've been through hell because of him.

"I..."

"We want to get married to you," Tokito mumbles then, prompting Tanjirou to blush to the tip of his ears.

The Pillars look so determined, so sure about it that Tanjirou thinks... No, he knows there's something they're not telling him.

"But we just... started dating. Am I going to die?"

"No," Kocho answers immediately and sincerely. However, Tanjirou regrets asking that because the mention of it makes them flinch like they're in so much pain. "We wouldn't be so calm if that was the case..."

"No they wouldn't," Aoi mumbles then, getting closer before putting a hand over Tanjirou's forehead. "You didn't see them... They were so... broken when we thought you weren't going to make it."

Nezuko sobs next to him and Tanjirou pulls her closer to his chest, even though it still hurts a little. Then, Himejima approaches and kneels next to the bed to cradle Tanjirou's face in his hands.

"Please, marry us, Tanjirou."

"What happened to Daki and her brother?"

"We killed them," Uzui says then without remorse in his voice.

"They deserved worse," Shinazugawa growls, his eyes find Tanjirou's before he looks away like he can't stand seeing him like that.

Tanjirou knows they invaded the hashira's territory, he knows they came to kill the Pillars and take him away, but a part of him still feels bad for the siblings. The only monster there is Muzan...

"What happens now?"

"We take care of you until you're completely healed of course!" Kanroji smiles, wiping her own tears away before leaning closer to kiss his hand.

"And then we get married, my boy! Please say yes!" Rengoku grins, right before he rushes to his side to kiss him all over the face.

A giggle escapes from his lips and he notices how the others smile as soon as they listen to his laughter...

But then, an idea pops up into his head, something about the marriage is worrying him...

"But... Muzan will find out about his assassins, he'll know they failed. He'll send more–"

"We're going to take you and Nezuko to a safe place," Kocho cuts him off, taking his hand, he hadn't even noticed he was shaking.

"And after we get married we'll find him and kill him so he doesn't hurt you ever again," Tomioka adds with fierce look on his face. They all look determined and furious...

"No... You'll–He'll go after you if you do that, I don't want anything happening to you," Tanjirou shivers, trying to hold back a sob... Shinazugawa moves closer and holds him into his arms. He's being particularly soft that day.

Usually, this is the part where they start promising and assuring him they'll be back, that nothing can keep them apart from him.

And that's when Tanjirou finally realizes what's going on.

"You said after the wedding..." Tanjirou mumbles, unable to hold back a sob.

"Tanjirou–"

He shakes his head, cutting Iguro off.

"You want to get married because you're afraid you're not going to make it!" Tanjirou doesn't even bother to wipe his tears off. He moves away from Shinazugawa and goes back to cuddling Nezuko instead. "You're... You don't know if you're going to see me again! You have to come back to me!"

Himejima touches his shoulder but Tanjirou moves away from his touch; it hurts him, it hurts them all, but Tanjirou can't help it. He doesn't want anyone to die for him. He doesn't want to lose them.

"Don't go..."

"Kibutsuji won't stop hunting you. It's the only way," Tokito tries to reason, but Tanjirou shakes his head.

"Stop sacrificing yourselves for me!" He glances at Uzui's injured arm and sobs. "Why do you do that?"

"Isn't it obvious at this point?" Iguro asks, he looks oddly calm, but Tanjirou knows him enough at this point to know he's suffering as much as the others.

"If you let me go–"

Shinazugawa growls, startling Tanjirou for a moment, however, the one that actually says something is Uzui and he doesn't look happy.

"A few minutes ago, we thought we were going to lose you... I've never experienced so much fear or despair in my whole life, Tanjirou. Don't make me–don't ask us to go through that again."

"Our lives are much better with you in them, Tanjirou," Rengoku says in a whisper full of emotion.

"Then why do you want to leave me?"

"We'll do anything to come back to you, you know that," Tokito says then, trying to reach out to him, but Tanjirou refuses to be touched by any of them...

"But we won't lie to you, there's a possibility that we don't... That we won't make it," Kocho cuts in, making Tanjirou's heart break. "Maybe some of us will and they'll make sure to take care of you and love you for the ones that can't come back or..."

She stops, but Tanjirou doesn't need her to say it out loud to know what she left unsaid.

Or maybe none of them come back and Tanjirou's heart breaks into tiny pieces.

"I don't want you to go."

"We will anyway," Shinazugawa says.

"Let me go with you."

"No."

It doesn't matter who said that because Tanjirou knows they all think the same; they won't let him help.

"I'm not going to marry you," he mumbles then, after a long pause. The Pillars look back at him with shock and pain in their eyes. "Not like this."

"But..." Kanroji stops the moment she looks into his eyes. She nods after a while. "It's... okay."

Tanjirou is already regretting his decision, but he can't help it, he's still too hurt, confused and scared of losing them to think about it properly.

"Would you please leave me alone with my sister? I need to... I just–please leave."

They don't question it, but Tanjirou can see in their eyes, in the way they move that he's hurting them.

When they finally leave, he moves closer to Nezuko and feels her arms around him, she starts stroking his back when she whispers:

"Tanjirou."

Shocked, he moves away to look at her in the eyes.

"You spoke! I didn't dream that!"

However, she starts signing again.

I'm trying.

"It's okay! You don't have to! Saying my name was more than enough, Nezuko!" He mumbles, feeling a little bit better. "But you don't have to force yourself for me, okay? It doesn't matter if you're not ready yet or if you don't want to speak ever again. I love you no matter what!"

I know. She chuckles, however the smile vanishes as soon as it appeared. I was so scared for you, we all were.

"I'm sorry..."

It's okay, you need to rest. We can talk about it tomorrow... We need to talk about them tomorrow.

Tanjirou nods, glad she doesn't insist because he doesn't want to think about what happened anymore...

***

Next--->

Patreon

[just-sp-in-inginthevoid]

What's/who's going to be in season 2 (not in chronological order):

Riko

Haibara

Emo Nanami

Toji

Shi-woo

SaShiSu

Baby Megumi (+Mamagumi) (+6 years old Megumi)

Mahito being terrified (+the wolf-rabbit metaphor)

Actual Kenjaku and not Suguru's body (who's ready to see an animated talking brain?)

Todo being Todo

Yuuji losing his smile

Big brother Choso

Ultimate Mechamaru mode absolute

Nanami kicking asses (then taking his well-deserved break in malaysia)

Sukuna having fun

Gojo being furious in the subway (and annihilating hanami)

Actual Six Eyes (+5+4+3+2+1)

Yuki (sure for Gojo's arc, not completely sure for the rest of the season but perhaps)

KFC break up ofc

Nobara (not the return we wish for but we'll do with what we're given until gege draws her again in the manga)

New chara design Maki

Toji vs Megumi (and how this fight f*ing ends)

INO

Noritoshi with his longer hair and school uniform

If we're lucky, not Mai (I mean, she will be in the train but.. you know what I'm talking about. Season 2 will already have too much pain in it; Mappa can wait season 3)

Anime only will stop calling Kenjaku Geto

Kenjaku merch will stop being called Geto

Tengen ? Maybe ?

Alright. That's all I can think of

[xxlady-lunaxx]

Hashira HC!/Tengen+Giyuu+Sanemi

After the war (already screams spoilers-), they made graves for all of the Hashira (including those of which’s bodies couldn’t be buried; theirs was empty of course) surrounding a tree that bloomed w/o a flaw every spring (perhaps the one in the garden in the Butterfly Mansion? Maybe not)

I have a separate HC that Giyuu made flower crowns with Tsutako a lot, so Giyuu would make those and decorate the graves with them whenever he saw them

Around the tree were empty spaces for Tengen, Giyuu, and Sanemi, whose graves were slowly dug for them as they died. Also, I think they would have a grave for Kagaya and Amane, maybe Kanae too?

Tengen stayed for longest (of the Hashira) and buried both Giyuu and Sanemi. He also buried Tanjiro there, where Tengen was supposed to be, having thought that Tanjiro was worthy of it (he’s js giving MC vibes idk why 🙄/j) so Tengen wasn’t buried with the rest of the Hashira- 😭.. (i don’t know why i’m doing this with myself)

The remaining of the Kamaboko Squad made a space next to the circle of the Pillar’s graves for Tengen since they (specifically Nezuko) were touched at his actions of burying Tanjiro with the Hashira

So he wasn’t fully there, but partially, which was the best they could do

Also, back to before Sanemi’s death, he made flower bouquets and placed them there often. Genya’s grave was somewhere else (as were the other rank-and-file DS’s who had died) which Sanemi went often to

Could be SaneKana or not but Kanae had taught Sanemi a bit of flower arrangements just for fun in the past, which he incorporated into his bouquets for the Hashira/Genya

Tengen (and his wives) cared for Giyuu and Sanemi and the Kamaboko Squad as if they were his own children (we love big brother Tengen), making sure to carry out Giyuu’s wishes of giving Tanjiro the best life he could have before his death

After Tengen died, his wives took care of the Kamaboko Squad, carrying them through all the grief and everything despite their own loss as well

I’d say Tengen did a lot of both grieving and caring tbh… I think he would take his jewelry and ornament the graves by placing one jewel upon each grave (including the unnamed Demon Slayers)- He ran out of his precious stones but he felt it worth it

Or, he had one left, which his wives placed on his grave upon his death

No shit this headcanon’s longer than i intended 💀

[demonslayedher]

The Sound Pillar past, I have heard that explore a bit in databook about being ninja.

Also what happened his sibling that still remain.

Also what there react

Combining info from the fanbooks and Chapters 80, 87, and 90 we get the following narrative of Uzui Tengen and his family, as complete as I could fill it in. It's always possible the anime version will expand and give us more, but here's what I've got in chronological format.

Uzui Tengen's father was the leader of their clan, one of a few ninja clans who lived in close community. Ninja were regularly sent on missions, but it is not clear what those missions were. Women and children were also expected to undergo strict training and go on missions, but women were primarily only valued as baby-makers, and it was common for one man to take multiple wives. The wives, at least in the Uzui case, were chosen upon agreements between families. (For more commentary on the unusual and cult-like nature of the Uzui ninja clan, please see this post.) In Chapter 80, Makio recalls how she never used to be afraid of dying because she was so brainwashed to believe her only value as a kunoichi (female ninja) was to put her life on the line in support of the strong male ninja. Tengen is the oldest of nine children. Of note, Fanbook #2 states that he has a mother and father from whom the nine children came, but as multiple wives is the norm in this village and Uzui was 15 when they were forced to fight each other, I think it's reasonable to assume many of them were half-siblings (even if all with one very busy wife, that would make the youngest one only around 7~9 years old or so, by my guess. But, it doesn't seem unreasonable in this clan that an 8-year-old would be expected to take part in this fight.)

Tengen had his three wives by the time he was 15. Since he is 23 when canon takes place and Hinatsuru (from a ninja clan second in rank to the Uzui clan and who has a good balance of core ninja skills) is 21, Makio (physically a highly capable ninja but her short temper causes her to fail her missions and yes, she is Tengen's cousin, please restrain your knee-jerk reactions and accept the cultural difference and move one) is 20, and Suma is 19 (and yes, Fanbook #2 said she likes both men and women), that means his wives were respectively 13, 12, and 11 when they fled the village. As Suma's younger sister was originally the one being considered as a bride, this means they were willing to marry off girls even younger than that. See this post for more commentary on multiple wives in the Taisho period, and as an added note, the legal age for women to marry in Taisho was 16. The Uzui ninja clan was entirely counter-cultural in the first place, though, so this doesn't apply very directly to them. Furthermore, due to their curse, the Ubuyashiki clan had very usually early expectations for children to wed, and they always run a not officially recognized organization. Otherwise, most of the cast seems to follow more usual Meiji/Taisho family patterns. Of the nine siblings, three of them died before Tengen turned 15, simply due to the lifestyle. When Tengen was 15 (clarified according to Fanbook #1), Tengen's father pit the remaining six siblings against each other so that only the strong would remain. They were all concealing their identities and did not know they were fighting their own siblings. According to Fanbook #2, Tengen killed two of them, and his younger brother (second oldest) killed another two, and Tengen was pissed when he realized what was happening. He couldn't bring himself to kill his remaining brother, though that brother was just like their father when it came to his values that only the strong should survive, and he really didn't care about killing his own flesh and blood. This was when Tengen decided he didn't want to live like this, and he took his wives and fled. For a while (according to Fanbook #2), he often said he should go to hell, but this made Makio angry, it made Hinatsuru cry, and it made Suma bite him so he stopped saying that. He did continue to think that he should eliminate the rest of this evil Uzui clan, but he could never bring himself to kill his father and little brother. (So, fanfic writers, grab your pens, we can assume the Uzui clan is still active.) Anyway, once he was free of that lifestyle where he had to constantly hide his presence, he thoroughly rebelled and embraced the flamboyant.

It's unclear when and how Tengen learning Breathing technique. It's possible there was knowledge of this technique in some form or another among the ninja (though his wives don't seem to display it), and it's also possible he learned from a cultivator. Sound is an off-shoot of Thunder, but it's unclear whether Sound was established before he came along, or if he created this Breath to make extra use of his keen hearing. (What I would give to see Tengen/Kuwajima interactions, preferably arguing about which Breath is superior.) It's unclear how much time passed between fleeing the clan and joining the Demon Slayer Corps. Given his ninja skills, as soon as he found out about the Corps (and perhaps by extension, demons), passing the Final Selection was probably a breeze for him. It was either right after the Final Selection (and therefore still waiting for his uniform), or just as he had made up his mind to join the Corp that he declares his new rule to his wives: their lives are #1 priority. #2 priority is morally upright humans, and #3 is Tengen himself.

And they're like, "whaaaaaaaat."

But sure enough they all accept the demon slaying mission, and before long, Tengen and his wives meet Oyakata-sama one fine spring day, I assume upon attaining the rank of Sound Pillar. Oyakata-sama sympathizes with how hard it must had been for Tengen--for all of them--to go against what they were raised to believe, and to fight to protect people in what they've deemed a morally upright course of life. Tengen's like, "this guy gets it" and becomes as big a fanboy as any other Pillar is for Oyakata-sama. It's purely conjecture, but I'm guessing he and Oyakata-sama both were somewhere around age 15~17 at this meeting (again, we don't know how much time has passed since Tengen left the ninja. Due to Kanae and Tengen's shared presence at later flashbacks, he couldn't had been older than 18~19). Tengen goes on to be super popular. The most popular Pillar in the Corp, Taisho Rumor has it. His wives all help on missions too, but there's an agreement that they'll get out and live a happy domestic life once they've bagged an Upper Moon--enough of a contribution to, perhaps, to feel they've atoned for the sins they committed as ninja (or at least, this was how Hinatsuru proposed the idea). Once the arm gets chopped and the eye gets cut, Tengen gains a really good excuse for retiring, but it was just his luck to have declared three Tsuguko within hours of his forced retirement. (Like, I doubt this counts for anything. And if he ever calls them that again his trio of Tsuguko are probably going to be more confused than anybody else.) Anyway, Nezuko brings him back from the brink of poison-induced death and he basically walks home. While still involved in the Corp in training the rank and file members and guarding Kiriya upon his becoming Oyakata-sama (meaning he, like Himejima, was trusted with knowledge in advance about Kagaya's very flamboyant exit plan). After that he truly goes into domestic retirement mode and makes friends with a fellow lop-sided former Pillar, however drab he always thought that person was. He takes enough of a liking to said former Pillar that he brings him along on co-ed hot spring dips and lets him hold his first child. Which of the three wives birthed the first child, we don't know. And then one of his descendants goes on to be a flamboyant gymnast, but still gathers once a year under Ubuyashiki's leadership to perform the Sound Breath forms as a sacred Kagura dance. And we still don't know what became of Tengen's brother. For all we know, modern gymnast Uzui Tenma and his six other siblings regularly avoid explosive attacks on their life from a generations-held promise to eliminate them. PARKOUR---but more flamboyant. (I hope it's obvious that I am being silly here and have no canon basis for this.)

[sakusasmolesryn]

KNY - Demon Slayer  Kyojuro Rengoku x gn!reader fluff one shot

• Welcome Home •

Summary: Kyojurou comes home from a mission, after being deprived of him, feelings start unfolding and relations go forward

Warnings: none

Word count: 1.4k

Pairing: Kyojurou Rengoku x gn!reader

It’s been 4 days ever since Kyojuro left for a mission. He mentioned it was quite a bit away, but you didn’t expect him to be gone for this long. You’ve been training under his wing for over a year now and you’ve made a lot of progress since then. You’ve been a demon slayer ever since you were 14, but it wasn’t till recently you started working with a hashira in hopes of becoming one. Rengoku saw a lot of potential in you, even if you two were close in age. “You still have plenty of time to become a hashira,” he tells you over and over. “Stay focused, concentrate on your breathing, and set your heart ablaze.”

You spend a lot of time during the day with Kyo. Whenever you’re not training, you, Kyojuro, and Senjuro will have fun together and hang out. You were very close to the Rengoku family, even Shinjuro somewhat enjoyed having you around. Senjuro likes to spy on your training, he likes to tease you about liking his brother.

Even though it’s only been 4 days, you missed him a lot. You couldn’t wait to see him come back home and spend every minute with him. He wasn’t battling an upper or lower moon demon, but 5 amateur demons in a small village north. Perhaps he got held up with another mission? Or maybe he was in a clinic residence? Surely his crow would’ve come and updated you by now. You started getting anxious about his whereabouts when suddenly Senjuro came running towards you screaming.

“[Reader]!! Kyo is home! He just got here!” upon those words, you jumped to your feet faster than lightning, sprinting to the front of the Rengoku manor. “Kyojuro!” You ran to him at full speed tackling him into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re home, big bro! [reader], and I was so worried!” Senjuro joined the tackle as you both laid on top of Kyojuro on the ground. “Well, you both must be happy to see me considering you tackled me to the ground,” Kyojuro stated.

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” you looked up at him into his eyes. He looked uninjured but he didn’t look as joyful as always. “How was your mission? And how are you feeling?” You helped both Kyo and Senjuro up and walked alongside them both inside. “My mission was successful. Unfortunately the demons I had to slaughter had pretty bad reasoning forever becoming a demon, I may have even been a little touched by their stories. But I assure you they died peacefully and free from the pain that has been thrown to them. As for me, I feel great. Left without any severe injuries.”

“What took you so long?” Senjuro looked up at his brother with concern. “Ah. After my mission, I was called to join Shinazugawa on his task. He ended up getting another slash so I stayed with him for two days while he was recovering at the Butterfly Mansion. I’m sorry I didn’t send a message. You both must’ve been so worried.”

You took his hand in yours, “Don’t worry about it, Kyo. We’re just glad you’re safe. Now come inside, I’m making dinner. And it’s your favorite! Sweet Potato salad.” You’ve never seen that man run faster into the house, him and his sweet potatoes.

--------------------------------------------------------

“Tasty!” You sat next to him as Kyojuro finished off his 5th plate. You chuckled, “I’m so glad you enjoy it. I’ve missed you so much I made sure to make it extra special.” Senjuro finished his plate quite a bit ago and went out to do some garden work before sunset.

“Tasty! Thank you so much, [reader]. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The best meal I’ve had in a hot minute.” His smile was always so bright, and it never failed to make you smile in return. You stood up adjusting your attire and took your and Kyojuro’s bowls to be washed. “It’s starting to get late. The sun will be down soon. I should probably get going,” you said. “I’m really glad you’re home Kyo. Are we training tomorrow?”

“Actually, do you think you could stay here tonight?” he asked. “I want to stay up and have a conversation with you.” He sounded pretty serious, but who were you to decline. “Oh- alright. That shouldn’t be a problem then. Should I tell Shinjuro?” Kyo shook his head, implying his father probably wouldn’t even notice you spent the night, considering he spends most of his time in his room.

--------------------------------------------------------

You and Kyojuro sat together in the garden looking up into the stars. “I missed you a lot, [reader] while I was on my mission.” His voice was softer than it normally is, also keeping a low tone since Senjuro and Shinjuro are sleeping. “When I listened to Sanemi talk about how much he missed his girlfriend back home, it made me think about how lucky I am to come home to you, my brother, and my father.” he cleared his throat turning his face towards yours. “Thank you so much, [reader]. For always being there for me and my family.”

You couldn’t help but get a little flush from his words. He always knew what to say to pull your heartstrings. His love and praise always sent butterflies to your stomach, and he cared about you more than anyone else. “I’m hoping that you feel the same,” he breaks the small silence. “I’m hoping that you feel the same way I do about you, [reader]. I realized I want to be with you more than just a friend.” His eyes were filled with love as he stared at you.

“Kyo, where is this coming from? I’m not complaining. But I’m curious.”

“While staying with Sanemi, and hearing about how much he loves his girlfriend, and why. It made me realize that everything he said was the same reason why I love you,” he grabs your hand and places a soft kiss on top of your knuckles. “Please tell me you love me too,”

“I do.”

--------------------------------------------------------

You spent that night cuddling with Kyojuro and falling asleep in his arms. The next day, you planned to have a day with just him. You wanted to go to the city and visit shops together, and meet up with Tengen and Obanai for lunch. “Two bowls of udon please.” The four of you sat together enjoying the food and time together. You and Obanai have always been close too. When you first started training under Rengoku, he would visit to join the training as well. But after a while, he stopped coming. Kyojuro believes it’s because he spends his time with Mitsuri.

“We should get going,” Tengen said. “My wives are gonna pester me about not spending enough time with them. “Yeah. I should get going too. Mitsuri and I have plans,” Obanai left behind Tengen leaving you and Kyojuro alone. It was hard to believe that this was the first day of being Kyojuro’s significant other. You were both so open to each other, and nothing felt odd. He was even starting to look more handsome than before, but that may just be because you fall in love with him all over again every time you see him.

“What do you say, [reader]? Shall we head back? We can either go to my residence or yours.” It wasn’t often that he came home with you. He did once but you never invited him back over because your family was kind of loud. As if Rengoku wasn’t loud either. “Let’s go back to your place. My family might be home and I don’t want to deal with them right now.” as the two of you headed back, Kyojuro paused and picked up flowers from the ground, handing multiple to you. “They’re radiant, like you.” Again, his words never fail to swoon.

--------------------------------------------------------

For the next two weeks, you and Rengoku spent every moment together. But of course, you had to include Senjuro here and there. You started growing closer and closer, thinking it was impossible since you were already so close. Being with Rengoku felt like time stopped. And that you two were the only ones alive. He showered you in love and appreciation, and he never once allowed you to feel incompetent. He never wants to let you go, and he couldn’t feel more blessed to be with you. “I love you, [reader].”

[kanonsarchivedblog]

Tokyo Nights

Word Count: 1821 Rating: E Ships: Many! (Rengoku/Mitsuri, Rengoku/Uzui/Wives, Rengoku/Giyuu…) Genre: Smut Author's Notes: I have no excuse. There aren't any triggers in here (that I'm aware of?)- so enjoy this shameless smut. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Privacy was a blessing, something not often received at home. The compound was busy near constantly with the bustle of relatives, of young hopeful slayers training beneath their sensei, of younger brothers stuck to one’s side like glue. It wasn’t that Kyojuro was upset that he didn’t have privacy- no, quite the opposite! He enjoyed having company, enjoyed having people around him and having something to do. But times like these, privacy was, indeed, a blessing.

The hotel was nice- one of the newer ones in Tokyo that had a private onsen attached. It was perfect for couples wanting to escape for a night or two- or for weary Hashira who needed a place to rest and recuperate. Somewhere out there, Tengen walked with his wives, exploring the city to their heart’s content before their own mission would begin within a few weeks’ time. They’d invited him to go along, seeing as how he had no current mission in progress- and he’d agreed! It’d been too long since he’d last been to Tokyo.

But now? Now, he was tired- but not enough to sleep. A strange electric current felt as if it were running through his veins, making him antsy, too warm despite the chill in the air outside. He huffed, finally tugging off his yukata, a sigh of relief slipping free as the cool air of the room graced his form. He fell back upon the bed- a raised bed! They were popular in the west, apparently. It was soft- softer than he’d expected, no harsh tatami mats beneath. Perhaps he could invest in one for his room? That would be nice.

Eyes sliding shut, he felt his body relax into the mattress. Oh, this was nice- very nice. Outside, the sound of laughter drifted to his window, though it was distant. His mind drifted to the events of the last three days- of the laughter shared, of the joy that filled him. Tomorrow, they will head back to their respective compounds. Tonight, Tengen would retire with his wives to their room-

Beside his own.

Kyojuro tried to swallow, but found his throat to be dry. Was he coming down with a fever? To be so warm- he shook his head as he sat up, hands reaching up to run through his hair, untangling the wild mane. An image flashed before his eyes- of a larger hand gripping the hair at the base of his head, tilting his head back, holding him there as a hungry mouth pressed to his own, the kiss demanding, making his knees feel weak. Red and gold hues blinked hard once, twice, before he shook his head. That had been the first night they had been here.

“Too much to drink,” he murmured out loud, even though he knew he’d only had one glass of sake and Tengen hadn’t even drank anything. He knew that the girls had only a glass of a red wine- though Hinatsuru had white instead of red. How they’d brought him back to their bedroom, four pairs of hands wandering across his body. How Suma had settled on his lap, her hips grinding down as Tengen settled behind him, his hands broad, strong, palms smooth despite the heavy blades he carried.

Kyojuro gave a harsh shake of the head, as if attempting to clear the images of his past endeavor from his mind. Instead, his mind drifted to another endeavor- of much smoother skin, of soft hips and a softer voice. Of whines of his name, begging for him to go “harder, Kyo, please- you feel so good in me, so full, so deep- don’t stop, don’t stop, please!” Oh, how he’d enjoyed that encounter- especially with how she’d settled atop his lap and tried to ride, but he ended up having to take control.

Who knew Mitsuri liked to have her hair pulled? He hadn’t, not until that night.

Cheeks flushed a healthy red, he poured himself a glass of water before downing it in a few long drinks. Tired- that’s all. He was just… Very tired! He needed to rest! Yet when he settled back on the bed, a hand drifted low, palming at himself. “Already?” He muttered, brows furrowed inward as he grasped his half-hard cock. Huh. “Traitor,” he spoke to his own body as he released himself before sitting up. He reached over, taking hold of the extra pillows to stack them against the headboard.

Uzui wouldn’t be back for a while longer- and it wasn’t often that he was able to just take time for himself.

His head tilted back as he settled in, a small hum slipping free as his hands wandered slowly. He was proud of his physique; he’d worked hard to get to this point. A gasp escaped as his fingers pinched at a nipple before brushing his thumb over it, as if to soothe. Now that he was embracing this sudden urge, his mind was running wild- giving brief glimpses of those he’d found attractive. Of the time Giyuu had managed to pin him down during a sparring session, his hips pressing down into his own, the normally docile sapphire hues bright and wild, a breathless grin on his lips-

Of Sanemi pressing close against his back, trying to get ahold of Giyuu who was being held back by Tengen, the way he’d felt so solid and had growled in his ear. Oh, that had ended up in a fun few nights when Kyojuro was alone in his room, face pressed into his pillows, gasping out Sanemi’s name like a prayer while his hands worked himself over.

Of the time when Obanai had unintentionally walked in on him in the shower- and then refused to leave since Rengoku couldn't “see me, so this is okay, I’ll be quick.” He’d needed to change his bandages- Senjuro had spilt water on them, and Obanai hated the feeling of damp bandages. Kyojuro had been so close, too, when he’d walked in. He’d covered the moan he had let free when the door opened with a loud yawn, though he still wasn’t sure if Obanai had believed it to be a yawn. He hated to admit, but he hadn’t stopped stroking.

A groan slipped free as his hips rutted into the air, searching for a touch that wasn’t there. He could calm down, get dressed, and take a trip to one of the Tea Houses that Tengen had mentioned visiting before- with his wives, even. That was scandalous- but the idea was tempting. Too tempting, but that meant getting up, and he didn’t want to get up, not with how hard he was now.

Fiery gaze opened slightly, glancing down at himself- “Oh, fuck.” he whispered, eyes widening in surprise at how hard he’d become. He was leaking already, a drop settled against his stomach. Moving without realizing, his hand raised to his lips, fingers slipping past as a groan fell free. When was the last time he’d been this worked up? Especially after having been with someone only three nights prior? He couldn’t remember, but god, it felt nice to have something in his mouth.

Would be better if it was 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦- anyone. He let the digits slip from his mouth to reach down, grasping himself and moaning at the feeling. His hips shifted, meeting his hand with each downward pull. “Yes, yes-” he whispered, head falling back against the pillows once more. Makio had gone down on him three nights ago; she’d been good. Wickedly good, her mouth hot and the suction just right. “Please, don’t stop,” too goo, too good-

He had to slow his hand, chest rising and falling quickly. Too quickly- oh, he didn’t want this to end just yet. No, not as his mind brought forth such a lovely idea- something that Tengen had brought up. The idea of Tengen settled between his thighs and Suma on his cock, Hinatsuru on his face. But his mind, those images changed- Tengen still between his thighs, but it was not Suma riding him. No, it was dark hair, his head tilted back as he rode, gripping at Tengen’s arms. “Just like that, Tomioka, just like that,” he murmured, lost in his fantasy.

If he were home, he’d have something to fill himself with- but alas, he was not, and didn’t feel like taking the time to prep himself. That meant stopping, and sweet Buddha, he did not want to stop. He could picture the feeling well enough- hell, he 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 what it felt like. Tengen was large- larger than himself in length and girth, but that was no big surprise. Tengen in general was a big man. Of course he’d be big.

Oh his face- oh, his sweet kohai would sit, so shy and nervous! How she’d tremble with every flick of his tongue against her clit, how she’d watch the way Giyuu’s face would contort, how he’d be begging for Kyo to go deeper- but Tengen was in charge here. He’d set the pace for them all. Kyojuro was just there to be used for their pleasure- that’s all. He could almost feel how Mitsuri would clench her thighs around his head, could picture so easily how her head would fall back, her hands clutching at her chest as she would sob. She was a crier-

He knew that from experience.

“There-” he gasped, hand speeding up around himself. Close, so close. “Don’t stop, baby- yes, god, just like that, just like that- Tengen-fuck!” He jolted, hand stilling for a moment as his orgasm took him by surprise. His eyes were screwed shut, blood roaring in his ears so loudly he never heard the door open, shut- didn’t hear the footsteps that came closer.

Only when a hand cupped his cheek and drew him into a deep, hungry kiss did he realize who had entered his room. Uzui- alone, but he had a key to his room. Of course he would have come to check on him. He slowly released himself as Tengen kissed him almost lazily before he pulled back. “I’d been calling your name for a few minutes- figured you’d gone to bed until I heard…” He trailed off, gesturing to Kyojuro’s current state.

“I- apologize. I hadn’t even heard you over myself!” He joked, shifting to cover himself- only for Uzui’s hand to reach out and grasp his wrist. He blinked, head tilting in a rather owlish manner.

“We leave in the morning,” Tengen began as he settled onto the bed, free hand reaching down to undo the ties of his yukata, “but I wouldn’t mind one more night of pleasure. That is, if you don’t?” He paused, ruby gaze drifting to Kyojuro-

Who looked ready to explode. A smile crooked the shinobi’s lips. “That’s a good boy,” he murmured as Kyojuro leaned forward, grabbing at his face and drawing him in and down for another biting kiss.

[thekillingmoonmoon]

HUNGER

(a piece I wrote about Genya after finishing Kimetsu No Yaiba)

If you have not finished the manga, and do not wish to be seriously spoiled, STOP. 

STOP RIGHT HERE

tw: angst, violence, suicidal ideations, overuse of commas, pain.

But what if Genya had lived? What if, between the blood of the First Upper Moon pumping through him, and those cursed unsaid words, that unspoken apology, that final conversation, Genya lives.

He lives. But he isn’t human. Not anymore. First, it’s the sunlight. Before it used to hurt, send sharp tingles over his skin, dry out his eyes, create a flowing heat through his body that always made him loosen his uniform collar. Why were the Demon Slayer uniforms black anyway? To hide the blood? Probably. Now the sun cripples him. His joints buckle, melting into liquid fire, his limbs spasming as he gasps for breath. His skin burns, worse than fire, a blistering heat that burns so fiercely it feels cold. He knows that the day is no longer his. He knows that even an hour spent in golden warmth will lead to a painful death. A lonely death. Because if he’s going to die, he’s dying alone. Far away from those who care for him. He doesn’t want them to bear the burden. Especially not Sanemi.

He’s big, growing taller and broader with each passing day. By the time he’s eighteen he surpasses Tengen, earning him a bedazzled grin and a clap on the shoulder, followed by the comment that he was well on his way to becoming as big as Himejima, perhaps bigger. He doesn’t want to think about that, but it haunts him, nags at him – every time he has to duck through a doorway or slide through a narrow passage sideways. He wonders if Sanemi would have grown this much if his growing body hadn’t been stunted by the constant war of slashes and wounds he earned fighting demons. Genya doubts it. There’s something unnatural about his size, and no small part of him blames it on the sin flowing beneath his skin.

Genya is an unholy thing. A desecrated husk, more demon than human. His eyes always carry the night now, a startling sight that terrifies the girls at the Butterfly Estate when he first returns after The End. Now they were accustomed to the darkness of his gaze, his eyes always looking everywhere but at them. He’s become deft with a razor and can clean his jaw of facial hair without so much as a glance in the mirror. He has to. Because he can’t look at himself, can’t stand the sight of his own evil eyes, made worse by the sharp fangs that glint when he speaks and the snaking scars across his skin. The first few months after The End was filled with bloody lips and bitten cheeks, hours spent over the sink mopping up the mess he’d made of his mouth. But now he’s okay. He eats delicately, nothing like the feral teenage hunger from when he trained. He speaks carefully, hiding the daggers behind his lips, cautious not to flash the predatory fangs when he smiles. Not that he smiles much. He wears a thoughtful expression, mouth set in a firm line, his brows caught in a small frown that has left a little crinkle in his forehead. Tengen has offered him cream to ease wrinkles, but Genya refused. His hackles slightly raise when Giyuu had offhandedly remarked that his face mirrored Himejima’s when the former Rock Pillar meditated.

Genya’s uncomfortable around people. He always has been. He was rough as a child, carrying the burning ache of loss in his chest, mourning his mother, his absent brother. He grieved through anger, anger at the world, but mostly anger at himself. When he joined the Demon Slayer Corps, the fire of his pain was sated, somewhat. He had a mission. A purpose. An identifiable target upon which he could release the raging inferno without the consequences. But there were consequences. There always were. And somehow those consequences had resulted in the near-constant ingestion of demon flesh. Once, when he was very young, he’d seen an opium-eater in the street behind the room they rented. A living ghost, he’d thought. Nothing but hollow eyes and a hunger no meal could satisfy. He’d been revolted then, but he understands now. He too feels the ache in his bones, in his chest. An emptiness that is never filled, a bottomless well of yearning. A hunger.

Genya avoids people. He has to. He’s fine with those that survived. They don’t ignite his appetite. He sits with his brother and Giyuu, peeling fruit for them, cutting their food into pieces manageable enough for chopsticks. Sanemi hates it, tries to refuse it. But Giyuu doesn’t mind. He can see Genya’s actions for what they are. They’re love. Reassurance. As much for Genya’s sake as it is for them. It was like Tanjirou’s ritual of having an eating competition every time he visited, a wordless gesture of comfort and care. Genya sometimes brings them sweets from the night market, despite Sanemi’s protests that the two Pillars could have got the same thing during the day. Sanemi receives the gifts though, with a sad smile and a violent ruffle to his not-so-little brother’s hair. He has to stand on his tiptoes to do it, and Genya has started to bend down to help him. But they still do it. Their own version of a hug. Their own version of love. He hasn’t apologised yet, Sanemi hasn’t given him the chance. Maybe his older brother believes that once Genya apologises, once all is resolved, then Genya will go. To death or to life, Genya isn’t sure, so he lets it rest. He survived for those words, for that mended tear. But he can wait, for now at least. Until then he’s satisfied with loving his brother from afar, caring for him on Sanemi’s terms. But the apology waits, like an oath, a vow, lingering in the clap on his shoulder or the blanket he drapes over Sanemi when it’s cold.

He tries, he really tries to go see his siblings. But they’re lucky enough to live without the war, to live without knowing what happened, what he did. He does his best to hide what he’s become. But it’s difficult with family. Family’s honest, raw, vulnerable. And all of those are things Genya cannot afford. So his visits are brief, bringing supplies enough until he comes again. He leaves too soon, clutching at his neck, baring his teeth at the darkness, fighting that hunger, that pain.

He visits the others as often as he can, travelling through the night to the Kamado family home. There’s a soft warmth in his chest when he breaks clear of the forest, immediately spotting the golden light spilling from the windows, the cabin kept alight throughout the night, just in case he arrives unannounced. There, he can relax. Be himself, both demon and human. They understand. He spends nights in silence, sitting between Nezuko and Tanjirou, staring at the stars and just being. They’re the last demons on earth. The Girl who was Once a Demon, the Boy who Carries a Demon, and the Brother who Became a Demon. All together. All quiet. They know what runs through Genya’s veins, they know how his heart beats, they know his hunger. And they love him. He spars with Inosuke and takes walks with Zenitsu. They never ask after his health, just grip his shoulder and tell him that they’re glad to see him. And they are. And Genya feels safe like he’s found his family again. The siblings stay up with him on the bad nights, Nezuko sings lullabies, and Tanjirou teaches him how to weave baskets, distracting him from the hunger pangs in his belly. They talk of a future, of marriage, of children, despite the blasphemous blood they carry.

Genya has given up on a future. Sometimes, Zenitsu asks him about girls, if he’s found someone. He hasn’t. He barely speaks to women, and they’re all attendants at either the Butterfly Estate or his brother’s home. They’re scared of him, of his size, his eyes, his past. He cannot think of children, of a plump little daughter on his knee, of teaching his son how to carve wood. He dare not think of children. Love and children are not his. Not with his lifespan. When he’d joined the Demon Slayer Corps he was told he’d die young. And he’d accepted it. But now, with all of time stretched out before him, Genya was terrified. When would he die? Would he die young? Would the poison of his past be too much for his mortal body, leading to a long painful death filled with regrets and the taste of demon blood on his tongue? Or would he live too long? Tanjirou and Nezuko seemed to think so. Demons were immortal, it only made sense that those who’d become demons would have prolonged lifespans. Genya would rather die an early, torturous death than wither away alone, long after everybody he loved had left this earth.

Genya is lost. Some nights he wakes with a yell, half of his body prickling in liquid fire. Those nights he dreams of The End. He dreams of Sanemi, crawling across the blood-soaked floor towards him, screaming blurry words that Genya never heard. He sees Tobito, his tiny form a crumpled heap, tossed aside like a child’s doll. He sees Himejima’s tears, spilling over the wan cheeks of the young swordsman, whose face is finally, finally set in a smile. He sees the First Upper Moon, feels him. Tanjirou confides in Genya, tells him that sometimes, when Tanjirou has spent too much time alone, he hears Muzan. Tanjirou dreams of him, living through his long, wretched life, experiencing the slow bleed of Muzan’s humanity dissipates into cruelty. Genya nods and says nothing. What is there to say? He knows the feeling well. Sometimes he can even hear the voice of the demon he swallowed down in the heat of battle, hear him apologise to his long-gone brother. He relates. And promises himself that, one day, before death finally comes to claim them, he will get Sanemi to listen to his apology.

But for now, Genya lives. Through the hollow ache of the hunger, when he has no choice but to barricade himself in his room, for their sake, for his sake. Through the nightmares, and the war he lived through before he even reached adulthood. He lives. He goes for walks, a lumbering giant travelling through the night. He watches the stars and knows every one by name. He knows the creatures of the night, knows their call. Sometimes, a young wolf joins him on his walks. Never too close, yet present, a darker shadow in the pitch of the night. He sits with his brother and the former Pillars and laughs at Tengen’s terrible jokes. When he passes by, he stays at the Butterfly Estate. And overnight, any manual work or repairs are mysteriously completed, leaving the younger girls bewildered, and a gentle smile shared between Aoi and Kanao. Genya lives, constantly roving from haven to haven, spending the long winter months with Tanjirou and the others, the rainy season with his brother.

He lives gently. He cradles fallen baby birds in his huge palms, swinging himself halfway up a tree to return them to their nest. He helps as much as he can, digging up the soil behind his brother’s house so that Giyuu and Sanemi can plant seeds come morning. He leaves flowers at the graves of the Pillars, slightly guilty that all he can offer is a quick line or word of thanks. Genya lives on. Sometimes, after he’s had too much sake with Inosuke, he allows himself to daydream, to hope. He dreams of his friends’ weddings, imagines holding their children for the first time. He thinks he’d be a good uncle. He dreams of a candid conversation with Sanemi, imagines the relief of finally exorcising the poisonous apology he’s been carrying for the majority of his life. Genya dreams of peace, laughter, and maybe, love. But for now, Genya lives.