#dewdrop x y/n

[nameless-ghoul-trash]

Sodo x F!Ghoul!Reader Pt.2

As requested, here is part 2 for my Sodo x Ghoul Reader. It's my first full smut, but I hope it meets your expectations!

MINOR DNI

Word count: 1.2k

Lightly proofread

Warnings: P in V, fingers, oral female receiving, degradation, slight praise. (If I missed any, let me know)

Part 1

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   The moment the door to Sodo's room closed, he pushed you against the wall. His lips landed on yours as his body presses into you. Slotting his leg between your thighs, the feeling his throbbing erection sends shivers down your spine. The fire low in your stomach grows with every touch, kiss, and sound. Growling Sodo grinds into you, his knee catching on all the right places. "You're always such a brat. Always so naughty." Kissing his way from your jaw to your caller bone, you turn your head to the side to give him better access. Grabbing you, he swung around and pushed you on the bed. "Strip." He demands taking his own clothes off. You happily do as you're told, but you're taking your time. Slowly bringing the hem of your shirt up, you lock eyes with him. Finally, bring it over your head. You let it fall to the ground. Then you go for your bra.

   Once your top half is bare, you reach down to work on your bottom half. With an impatient rumble, he loops his fingers into your waistband and pulls off your pants and underwear. Throwing your legs over his shoulders he lowers himself, bring his face to your exposed pussy. "Look at you so wet for me already." He drags a finger down yours slick, and brings it to his mouth.

   Sucking his finger clean, he held eye contact. Pulling his hand away from his face, he uses it to push you thighs open further and brings his face closer. Running his split tongue over your clit causing you inhale sharply and arch your back. He pulled away. "You want more of that." He taunted. "Yes!" You nod, tail thuding on the mattress. Flicking your clit again, he taunts you.  "How bad?"  "So bad. Please. Please. Please!" You sounded so needy. You were so fucking turned on and sensitive. Reaching down you intertwined your fingers in his long hair, griping his right horn with one hand. You use your grip to pull his face closer as you thrust up, needing the feeling of him giving your clit his undivided attention. Slowly he wraps his arms around your thighs and pressed his hands to you hips effectivly holding you down.

   "You've been such a naughty girl, tho. Naughty little slut. Giving me such a hard time. All the sass and sarcasm. The insults." His voice had a teasing tone in it. "Maybe I should just take what I want, leave you wanting. Leave you to think about your actions." At the last word he blows on your clit. You give a drawn out whine. "Please! Please, I need you!" You beg. Growling he finally began his assault on you aching pussy. Moaning at the sensation you tighten your grip on his hair.

   Drawing one of his hands lower, he replaced his tongue with his thumb and proceeded to tongue fuck you. The feeling of his ghoulishly long slipt tongue abusing your hole had your mind going blank, ripping a series of moan from you. The coil in the pit of your stomach begins to tighten. As he goes down on you like a man starved you can feel yourself getting close. Arching your back as that coil begins to come undone, the sensation stops. Let's out an unceremonious whine, your tail thuds on the bed, clearly irritated with the loss. Looking back at him, he smirks. Unraveling your hands from his hair you bring your fingers to your pussy to try and finish the job. Before you can make contact he grips your wrist. "Only good girls get to cum."  Standings, he brings his free hand to his cock, giving it a few lazily strokes. "Get on your hands and knees."  He let go of your wrist and motioned for you to move.

   Flipping around, you settle with your ass in the air.  Grabbing a hole of both ass cheeks, he spreads your lips with his thumbs and runs one through the ever growing pool of arousal. "Such a little slut. Your dripping wet." The sound you let out only fuel the fire. Pushing two long fingers in he sets a small pace, scissoring every few strokes. "You going to let me fuck you rough like a good girl?"  He produces a low rumble deep in his chest when you moan out a needy yes. He hastily removed his fingers from you. Rubbing the slick on the tip of his cock he lines himself up, keepingone handon your hip. In one fluid motion he drives into you, giving little time to adjust to his size.

   You both let out a moan as he bottomed out. "Take this cock so good." Pulling almost all the way out he slams back into you setting a brutal pace. Reaching he grabs ahold of your shoulder, fingers curling lightly around your throat. Using this new found leverage he drills in to you harder. Your tail wraps tightly around his forearm.  "So good. Feels so good." You could barely get the words out, so taken by the sense of him abusing your pussy. You are startled by the flat of Sodos tail rubbing aggressive circles on your neglected clit. More unintelligible word spill from your mouth mixed with heavy moans. The tight coil slowly begins to return.

   Sodo groans when your walls clinch around him. "You little whore. You love my cock deep inside you." Keeping his pace he pushes your shoulders down so your face is in the mattress. The new angle causing him to hit that sweet spot inside you. "Right there! Keep going! Please! Please! Please! Please! Don't stop!" You plead to him, moans racking your body. "You going to be a good girl for me?" He taunts. "Yes! Yes I'll be good! I'll be so good!" You cry out, the coil tight and ready to snap. He let's out a pleased grumble. After a few more thrust the coil snaps. A sob tears through you, your body trembling. Moaning he doesn't slow down working you through your orgasm. "That's it. Good girl."  His  thrusts begin to get sloppy and his breath uneven. With a low groan he comes to a full stop, filling your pussy with his cum.

   You unravel your tail from his arm, allowing him to let you go. Getting up, Sodo made his way to the bathroom attached to his room. You slide into the bed, staying face down. Sodo returning a minute or two later with a warm wash cloth walks back over to you. He had already taken care of himself. "Here, let me clean you up." His voice was soft. Rolling onto your side, you basked in his gentle touches. "How do you feel? Do you need anything?" His asked. "I feel good, tired, but good."  You give him a faint smile. "Can I stay here tonight?" You look away a little anxious. You had never stayed in any room but your own, and you half expected him to say no. "Of course you can!" You look to see him smiling.

   He pulled back the covers and motioned for you to get under. Quickly doing so, you make yourself comfortable.

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Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this. As always, I appreciate any feedback! Requests are open! Nobody asked for it, but here's a picture of Sodo!

[zyonsay]

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[in-ghost-we-trust]

No dew on the morning grass

Chapter 2

Dewdrop x reader

Rain x reader???

A rewrite of twilight new moon

When dew left you crumbled into pieces, you've blocked out everyone

Rain = jacob???

Swiss = mike???

Also so very sorry this is so bad I'm on my phone not my computer, I haven't used my phone to post somthing on tumblr in years and I've completely forgot how to find bold and italics so pleaseeee don't judge I'm working with what I got

You haven't left your room in days, why should you? He's left and there's nothing else for you out of this room. When you do let yourself think, you realize that it sounds mean seeing how you have the rest of your friends, rain primaril. He was your best friend since he was summoned, you"ve been to peas in a pod ever since.

The first couple of days you didn't leave your room, he'd tried and tried to get in or you to come out, just anything, somthing. After you never did he would sit outside your door and tell you about his day, any stunts swiss pulled, mountains new flower beds for spring. He'd never get a reply but he could hear you shuffle out of bed to sit on the other side of the door, head pressed to the cool wood. You listened to him, took everything in. Anything he told you, you'd think about it when your mind wasnt on dew. As much as you wanted to open up that door and see rain, as much as you wanted his embrace, his familiar face, his safety, you couldn't bring yourself to open it. Your room was your salvation, no questions, no looks, you could just sleep, forget or dive into your grief, make yourself feel all the pain again and again. The pain was the only reminder that he was real, when mountain brought you back the pictures you had hanging from a line of fairy lights were gone, the blanket he got you for Christmas? Gone. All the shells he had dived into the lake by the abbey for you? Gone. It was as if wherever he had gone he had tied strings to anything that would directly remind you of him and tied them to himself and walked away.

You were in your bed when you heard it, the lock of your door being wiggled and a soft click, you weren't facing the door, you couldn't see who was comming in. Did you even want to look? You shut your eyes praying whoever this was would think you were asleep. A soft creak at the end of your bed sent a shiver down your spine, it didn't cross your mind it might be a creep or a werido until then. Staying still you heard soft foot steps and some rustling next to you. Your bed was about four feet from the window, you and dew had picked out a rocking chair when you both decided which one of your rooms to stay in when you became a couple. You hear it quietly creak like someone was sitting in it and rocking back and forth. A hand brushed stray pieces of hair away from your forehead, you fought the instinct to shoot your eyes open. The hand was cool and remind you of the smoothness of a rock. The hand left your skin and footsteps lead to the bathroom, the sound of water and more creaks towards you sounded in your ears. Your arm is lifted and a cold rag ran over it, you haven't even noticed you were burning hot, the rag moved to your other arm and the sheets you had covering you were moved away and you could feel the coolness of water run over your legs and stop just above your knee, at least whoever this is, is respectful. You heard a little drip drop of water and felt wetness on your face, gentle and safe, like you would wash a small child after they fell off their bike in the mud. It leaves your face and you don't feel anything else until a small part of your hair is moved, like someone trying to play with it. The rocking chair creeks and sounds like it is being pulled closer to the bed more than the window. You buck up enough to open your eye enough to look asleep and to see whoever it was.

Rain sat there looking at you, fingers fidgeting with the tips of your hair. You shut your one eye again. You relax a little bit but your brain starts to wonder. How long has he been doing this? How did you never notice? You decide to flip on your stomach to face him more, you feel his hands snatch away and a sharp intake of breath. You pretend to mumble somthing. You hear a shaky exhale and him starting to talk "I couldn't sleep again, swiss thinks it's werid for me to be here but I have to know your okay, I miss you so much ______ I mean everyone does but everyone has someone else" your stomach drops "cumulus and cirrus and sunshine, aether and swiss, mountains always been more to himself but me? I don't have you anymore" you feel like crying, you've been so caught up with your own heartache you've caused one "whenever you're okay and come back, I'll be there, as much as you need me" thank satan you had your eyes closed because if not tears would have been running down your face. You don't know what to do, you feel you have to do somthing. You "mumble" in your "sleep" again and stretch a arm out from under your head and let it flop on the arm of the rocking chair. You feel his hand take yours, it was a awkward angle but it was nice to feel his skin on your own. "I miss you so much _____" he whispers and traces your hand with his index finger. You actually do start to fall asleep with his voice as a lullaby. When you wake he's not there, your door is locked and there's no rag by your bed, no water, the rocking chair back in its spot. No evidence of him, just like dew.

Thanks to @the-fem1n1ne-urge for commenting, it really gave me motivation to write

Also sorry for no word count I'm writing this in tumblr and not my normal word docs

[black-moon-bunny]

Forgiveness and Rituals.

Swiss made his move in order to get the sister's forgiveness, the Cardenal returns to the church after his trip and some big news are lingering in the upper clergy and Dewdrop is trying to get lucky. Beneath the weight of her own actions Sister y/n has to make decisions and look at her heart.

Chapter one. Chapter two. Chapter three. Chapter Four

Couples: Fem!Reader x Swiss, Dewdrop x Swiss, Drewdrop x Reader.

Warnings: Y/N is used, Threesome, Oral sex, A horny bisexual trio between the reader Swiss and dewdrop, a lot of plot, Praise Kink, Dirty talk They fuck on a bus and hallway so maybe a bit of public exhibition NSFW, Minors DNI +18. All of the pictures were taken from the internet so credits to the people who made them.

Word Count: 14k.

A.N: First of all, I want to apologize for submitting this so late, I had one of the worst couple of weeks that I could imagine, I got an awful cold, My dad got sick again, I had a lot of personal issues, my laptop died and the worst of them all, my beloved childhood dog "Mota" passed away at 16 years old. So a pretty crappy two weeks. As an apology, this chapter is full of plot and smut. I know that is long as fuck,but once I started, I couldn't drop it and I kept writing, I thought about splitting it in two but for me it wouldn't make sense so there it is. Again, I'm so sorry for the delay, I'm already writing chapt 4 so is not going to be thaat late. I hope you enjoy the chapter! Have a good reading!

Swiss got up earlier that every ghoul in the den, he tried to not wake up anyone, so nobody could stop him before leaving. He knew that he wanted to do things right this time so, he decided to give her a surprise, nothing fancy just a tiny detail. As Cirrus said to him, he needed to apologize and show her that he was indeed sorry for everything. He went again to the library, before she woke up and set the place, he cleaned his mess from the night before and put some fresh flowers that he stole from Primo's garden. He wrote her a note "Sorry. I'm an asshole." With a happy face and then left. He decided that after breakfast he was going to try go and talk to her again, with the gift he was just testing the waters.

As he walked his way to Primo's morning mass, he stood a bit in front of her room's door, kind of waiting for her... But he knew better, so he left to the mass, waiting to see her there. But she never went, he waited the whole mass to see a glimpse of her, but he never saw her. After the mass ended, as he was about to leave Primo stopped him.

—She never misses a Mass. What did you do?

—I didn't do anything! I just helped her yesterday that's all.... —He tried to leave again but with his cane Primo stopped him again.

—You have marks all over your neck, are you sure that you just helped her? ....

—I was with another sister yesterday... I didn't do anything, maybe she fell asleep or something.

—If she does not appear for breakfast, I'm going to make you go and get her. If you didn't do anything, you should not have a problem with going to her room to see if she is fine don't you Swiss? —Primo was dead serious, Swiss just nodded and left. He felt a bit guilty again, maybe she fell asleep late after their "meeting"

But he didn’t see her at breakfast either, that’s when he got worried. He left his seat to go find her when she appeared next to Primo, he was relieved in a way. But she seemed sad, her eyes were a bit puffy, and her overall expression seemed defeated. The guilt only grew bigger inside him, he needed to talk to her, make things right.

She was tired, in fact she fell asleep, and she wasn't going to have breakfast either but Primo went to looking for her directly at her room.

— Sister y/n, are you up?

She tried to fix her face a bit and dress quickly to open the door, Primo seemed worried about her state, who could blame him? She sure looked like crap.

—I’m sorry Papa, yesterday I didn't sleep at all, I assume that I missed morning mass didn't I?...—She looked defeated, she knew that she failed not only with the mass but with her work

— Figlioletta, what happened? You seem ill, are you okay?

—I just... couldn't sleep yesterday, maybe I got a cold or something but I'm fine Papa, thank you for worrying about me...

—You never failed one mass, and after our talk yesterday you left me worried. Are you sure that thus doesn't have anything to do with a certain ghoul?...

She tensed up a little, but she tried to brush it off with a sweet fake smile.

— Swiss? Oh no, I haven't seen him since yesterday when he was helping me with the books...

— I'm going to believe you child, but please don't starve yourself. Come with me to the dining room to breakfast.

—Y-Yes Papa...

They walked slowly, Primo was talking to her about how he knew that something was going on with Swiss and her, but also knew that if he talked about it they could get in trouble.

— Sister, I know the thrill of the ghouls but if they hurt you, you need to tell me. They can be dangerous when they want to. But, I don't think that they will, Copia's ghouls are a lot to handle, but they are not pure evil like the first ghouls of the church. They are well behaved but can create a lot of mischief, and sometimes they forget their ghouls strength...so if you are going to indulge with them be careful, and don't worry about Sister Imperator, the old man gives her enough problem for her to worry about you and if she does, I will talk with her...

She entered the room and she could feel how she was being watched again, but between everyone in the tables she recognized his favorite red and black suit. She smiled a bit, maybe she could go and talk to him, that sure could lift her spirit a bit. So she walked to the table in which the Cardinal was, but she didn't saw Terzo seated next to him until she was right at the table.

—I’m sorry Papa, may I have a little time with the Cardinal ? If you are not busy...

—Oh no no no, take a seat sí? ....Hey you are the piccolina working at the library, aren't you? —He took her hand and kiss it with a subtle wink of his eye towards her.

— She has a name Papa. I was looking forward to seeing you sister y/n. —Copia smiled— I have brought some interesting additions to the library, I hope you have some time in the afternoon to check them out.

—Oh I would love that, they are in Latin? Maybe we need to build another shelf just for the Latin books, we have to many and they are spread all over the library...

—Si, if you want to do that I will communicate it to Sister Imperator and get the materials ready

—You have quite a passion for your job sister y/n. I'm glad to see that you two make good company to each other. —Terzo smiled— I wonder if you are as passionate as with your work in other more fun areas....—He winked his eye and left the table laughing a bit, she was sure a sweetheart blushing like that for a small comment. Despite his jokes he was not feeling up to flirt today, he was tired and the morning news from Imperator ruined his mood.

—Mi scusi per...all of this , Terzo is always like that you see...—He was nervous, the reunion with the clergy un the morning had stirred up all of his anxiety, but seeing her calmed the feeling a bit.

— Oh I know...But he is quite charming, sorry for bothering you at breakfast Cardinal ...Do you mind if I seat?

—Copia, you know you can call me Copia. And you never bother me dolcezza, about the books. How do you think we should arrange them? I have noticed that the library is quite... old-fashioned...Terzo suggested maybe a change in the decoration...the arrangements maybe?...

—I do think that is a bit outdated, but is wonderful...maybe some changes could improve the looks...and it's always so empty, I know that some sisters and brothers would enjoy spend more time in the library...

—Si , Si I believe that too...—He handed out to her a sweet tart he had on his plate— I brought these from Italy, Sister Imperator loved them...take one, cheer up. You seem... defeated today. Si si, like a deflated balloon....

—You are so sweet Cardinal...thank you —She laughed a bit at his strange expression of worry for her. And for his examples. — I have been feeling like shit lately...—She laughed a bit, she used to not curse in front of the clergy, but with Copia it came naturally, he was different from the upper clergy, more closed to Terzo's but with a dash of Secondo and a unique style for himself. The charming rat man who rode a tricycle around the abbey, the same man that in front of the stage seemed like a demon, with his mismatched eyes, the ones that can be deadly scary when he was serious about something. When she spent time around him withing the first three months of her stay at the abbey, working at the library and helping him with some paperwork she felt at ease in his presence, she felt comfortable around him. He was more close to the people she liked to hangout during her university years.

—Si? Why? Is there something wrong? .... you know that you can come to me if you need something, si?

— Yes, I know... It's nothing really...I just felt like I'm going through a tough time inside here...—She pointed her head — Bad thoughts and stuff...—She looked at the table of the ghouls, she saw Swiss talking with one of the ghoulettes. His neck was a bit bruised, she knew why...And besides the feeling of anger there was a hint of jealousy.— I'm begging to think that I'm crazy, or a fucking prude in this place... everyone seems to have fun you know?

Copia noticed that she was looking to the ghoul table, he raised an eyebrow, she was interested in one of the ghouls?

— If you are talking about them, I can introduce you to them if you want, I wasn't aware that you enjoyed danger so much...—He brushed a strain of hair behind her ear before it landed in her coffee and made soft short laugh before returning to serious— Be careful si? They can be a little...too much...—He nodded while remembering the time that Sodo burned his bed after a makeout session with a brother of the church, or the time that Cirrus and Sunshine were found having sex with one sister after a ritual in the gardens — A bit much...

— I-I don't see them as that...well. I kind of do but it doesn't matter...how did you...ugh...I just had a ... misunderstanding with Swiss...and it made me feel bad, but I know that I shouldn't take this so personally, I'm sure he really meant no harm, but he angered me...

—Do you want me to talk with him?

—N-No it's fine...I'm still mad but, I hope that I can solve this soon

—Okay Okay, I get it...But Sister, if there's anything that I can do for you please don't hesitate to talk to me. —He smiled to her, a little shy smile before standing up, Imperator made him a sign to go and talk to her. — If you excuse me dolcezza, I need to go, duty calls...—He put his hand on her shoulder before leaving — You know, besides being savages they are good company, and we both know that with me gone you will need a little of that.

Breakfast ended and everyone returned to their work. As she walked her way to the library, she couldn't stop thinking about the last thing that Copia said to her "with me gone". He had another long trip. He will be attending to the sub unities of the church around the world? She sure would miss him but, that lonely she looked for him to notice? That sucked.

She arrived at the library only to find everything tidy, clean and some fresh flowers in her desk. They had a note " Sorry. I'm an asshole." She laughed a bit, she couldn't deny that it was a cute detail, and that he seemed to really care about her forgiveness because the library seemed as clean as it could be, even the armchair. She was about to start organizing some books when the reflection in the window stopped her.

— Did you liked the flowers?....—Swiss was there, standing against a wall, looking at her.

Without turning around to look directly at him, she answered

— Yes...I like the flowers thank you...

— Sister y/n ...I'm truly sorry. It was a dick move from my part. I shouldn't have put you in this situation...And please don't believe that the library was my only motivation! I swear! After seeing you and talking to you, you seemed sooo... appealing to me...I know that it’s wrong also, but you have to understand, your scent and your body were calling me!

—Stop it Swiss...—She tried to contain her laugh, the whole apology was a mess, but she felt that it was an honest apology. And she was not going to forget the fact that she was "appealing" to him. —Stop talking and think for a moment, you are making a mess of yourself!...I know that you ghouls have heats and everything but it's not my fault, learn how to control it or something!....

— I do control myself don't be so cocky. It was just a specific situation, that's all. And it's true! You are quite something....And I'm not the only one who thinks so, Cirrus thinks the same...You are special, I don't know why but you are. And I screwed I know but it's not going to happen again and I will talk with the other ghouls to say that no more library night meetings so you can keep your job...

— So, ghouls do feel remorse?...

— We do...don’t mock at me, Primo was about to send my ass down to hell again.

— He was? I don't blame him! You acted like an asshole...and listened to a conversation that you misunderstood.

— Yeah....but, just for you to know...I was thinking about fucking you before hearing your little chit chat with Primo.

— And that's an apology?...—She laughed at last, she felt good knowing all of this. So, he was thinking about her the whole time? Interesting.

— I'm trying my best; I do not often apologize Sister. And I'm being honest, but I was surprised to see you enjoying my little show...—He had a slight smirk while saying this, he couldn't help it. She still was smelling as good as the night before...

— I was not...Ah ok, you win. I was, but it's not my fault I mean...—She finally turned around to face him , a little bit blushed and shaky. — All of the sisters always tell stories about how good feels to fuck one of the masked ghouls from the Ghost Project. Do you known how many times I have heard sisters talking about your band mates? Too many! To many tales from Cardinal Copia's Ghouls.

— Cardinal? He is not a cardinal anymore sweets. Didn't you find out? —He got a bit close to her, looking at her eyes. — Terzo is leaving the papacy. Our big boy Cardinal Copia is going to be the new Emeritus the Fourth, something about a vision from Secondo and some tricks under the sleeve of Sister Imperator.

—H-He is? He didn't...say anything to me this morning...

—It’s kind of a secret, they are going to announce it out loud in today's ritual...so, you were saying that the sisters always talk about us?

—Yeah...—Her voice and demeanor change a bit, if Cardinal Copia was going to be Papa...that means that she was not going to be able to call him Copia anymore? No more time at the library? No more working together? Organizing books until late?

Swiss noticed the change in her mood, she was suddenly sad again.

— You care a lot about Cardinal huh?

— What? No... it's just surprising to say the least. —She tried to mask her feelings— He was one of the first people that I meet here, she is...the closest I have to a friend here...

—Hey don't be ashamed, it's fine. He is a weird man, but he is also very kindhearted and he puts a lot of passion on the rituals. He is going to do fine.

— Yeah....Hey don't try to make me forget that I'm mad at you for being nice! —She tried to forget about what Swiss said about Cardinal and Terzo, he was right. He sure was amazing in the rituals, and she couldn't wait to support him as Papa. But, at the same time she was a bit worried, he didn't seemed to react well to so much pressure and being Papa was a lot of it.

—I’m not trying to do that! I was just worrying about your sudden change of mood. Besides, you were saying something about how you are jealous of the sisters who had the chance to be with us?

— I never said that! —She blushed pushing him a bit with his hand, he felt warm to the touch. A nice warm.

—Oh but you were about to say it...don't lie to me little bunny. —He pinched his nose a little, making her sneeze right after. — But...As I was telling you, I never thought that you were such a dirty sister, jerking off to one of your sisters being fucked...dirty dirty dirty....

—Stop...It's not my fault I'm not built from stone you know? And...it's none of your business how dirty I am.

—But it could be, you only have to say the word and I will indulge in that sweet scent of yours. —He cleared his throat before standing straight looking at her and extending his hand to her— So... you forgive me for being an asshole? And almost ruin your job?

She seemed to hesitate, she looked at him with a serious expression

—With one condition....

—Which one? ...

—You are going to finish the book that I recommended to you. I took my favorite books very seriously, you know? And you did not appreciate that...—She was blushing, she knew that it was an stupid request, but she was really passionate about the books.

—Are you for real? Is that your only request? Well, I'm going to put another offer on the table. I read the book, and...I will give you the other gift that I had prepared for you... —He smiled to her, dead serious about his offer

— Just... finish the book, I'm sure that you will enjoy it...another gift? Apart from the flowers?

Swiss looked for something in his pockets until he found it. A dark red ticket, wrote in black and gold, he showed it to her and then left it in her hand.

— This is...a ritual pass!?

—It’s going to be a hell of a ritual, Copia is going to be anointed as Papa today, and you don't seem to go outside very often. It's an all-free pass, and because I gave it to you.... —He took the pass and wrote his "name" on the back. — You can go backstage with us after, and before if you want to.

She was delighted, it was an awesome gift for sure. And she was going to be there for Copia's anointing! She took the pass and looked at the name that Swiss wrote.

— Swiss Army Ghoul? ...—His handwriting was messy, but legible.

— Yep, that's me. —His smile grew bigger with pride.

— Swiss Army...really? Why? Were you a fighting ghoul or something?

— Oh, well...I'm a multi-ghoul, I don't have a particular "element" or characteristic. I'm all of them! ...and Terzo said that I was like a Swiss Army Knife full of surprises and perfect to create mayhem. Ah and also because I play too many instruments...but I do say myself that I'm very good at fighting, sadly sister Imperator doesn't let us fight anymore...

She began to laugh, when he was not actively trying to get under her dress, he was adorable. And that name really suited him, he was a lot.

—Ok Ok...apology accepted, but please talk with the rest of ghouls.... I really don't want to lose this job. And... if I'm honest with you, it is not the job. It's the room...I have a whole room for myself, and I can be myself in there... without being judged by other sisters and stuff.

— Judged? Why? You are pretty cool...maybe a bit of a nerd but who cares? -He pinched her cheek making fun of her a bit—

— Yeah, I'm a bit of a nerd...and I like not so gothic and satanic stuff you know?...—Why was she talking so much about herself? She was mostly ashamed of some of her hobbies for not being "dark enough".

— Ah...don't worry for those type of things! Only morons worry about those things! Cirrus loves birds, Sunshine loves miniatures and tiny things, Mountain is very in touch with nature and loves gardening with Primo. Cumulus watches cartoons with Sodo and Rain every day.

—Well...for some sisters I was not the perfect embodiment of a satanist you know? Too "bright" too "colorful".

—They are just jealous that you have an actual personality and are not just a one sided picture like some of them, and I'm being honest I have met a lot of sisters and brothers that doesn't have anything more to them that "their darkness" and that's lame.

—You are just saying this to me to make me feel better but I will accept it just because you gave me the ticket...

— Ahhh. You are unbelievable, let's get something clear, you are interesting, and charming. And I'm sure that you would get along just fine with the rest and if they don’t appreciate that, their lose not yours.

She couldn't help it, her body reacted by itself and hugged him tight, hiding in his chest, trying to hide some of the tears that fell from her eyes. She blamed her sensibility on her hormones, on the fact that she was tired...on the fact that she was lonely most of the time, and this morning she was being treated with such love and care from Primo, Copia and now Swiss. She felt loved for the first time in a long time.

—Thank you...

Swiss was a lot of things, he could be an asshole, a total jerk, a fucking despicable little demon...But he had a heart, he cared about the right people, and he could see that she was the type of "right people".

—If you cry, I'm going to make fun of you and then give you a kiss —He took his mask off with his left hand, with his right hand he was still holding her close to him.

— It doesn't count, I'm already crying...

—Then, I already make fun of you...—He grabbed his chin and before she could say anything he kissed her, Nothing lustful, nothing more than a sweet caring kiss. Soft and warm. After letting her go she was not crying anymore, she was red yeah, but at least not crying.

— You dumb...— She didn't feel like that kiss was anything more than a soft warmness to her heart.

— You are too soft, like, too soft for your own good. And it's ok I swear, but I cannot let you go around life like that all alone...—He kissed her forehead — I have to go, I have to practice with the ghouls before the big ritual...Hey, I will go get you by...seven the ritual starts at ten but you are going with us in the bus. You will love the rest of the ghouls and ghoulettes!

— Swiss I need to work here until eight...

—Close early, come on, nobody will notice anyways, and if they do you can say that you felt sick and went to bed early! I'm going to be waiting for you in the garden of Primo at seven. —He put his mask again and blow her a kiss before leaving

She couldn't believe that all of that happened, the kiss, the ticket to the ritual. The weird apology from Swiss and the warm feeling that surrounded her today. She woke up defeated and ready to give up, and as Secondo told her once, her calling was strong enough. She was at home and felt great about all of it...but meeting the ghouls was a complete another deal, and she was kind of nervous.

She kept working to finish everything early and avoid overthinking, as she was taking books of the shelves someone knocked and then entered to the library

— Sister y/n , Cardinal Copia sent me with this for you...

She turned around and found herself in front of a gorgeous pale blueish grey skin ghoulette, she was just a bit taller than her and she looked like a goddess, she was without her mask and her curly hair with that beautiful blue undertone shined in the lights of the library, y/n felt awestruck for a moment. Then the ghoulette spoke again softly.

—Are you okay? You seem a bit.... impressed....

— I... I am....you are really pretty....Oh Satan, I did say that out loud? I'm so sorry....

Cirrus laughed, she was a cutie just as Swiss and Dew have told her. And she was really pretty, her y/e/c eyes, she indeed had doe-ish eyes. Her body seemed soft and huggable, she was sure that Sunshine and Cumulus would love her at first sight too.

—It’s okay Sister y/n....You are really pretty too; the guys were right about you....

Guys? Plural? She only knew Swiss, who were the other ghouls that knew her?

— Guys?...

—Oh you know , our "lovely" Swiss, Dewdrop and Aether had been talking a lot about you...

— I...I only have met Swiss...

—Yeah...but the others are aware of your presence in the abbey. You will find out....—She looked behind the sister to the bouquet of flowers and the ticket on the desk. — Oh, so Swiss actually apologized? He was going nuts yesterday....I'm glad that you two are on good terms...

—He did...Sorry I don't know your name yet and you already knew a lot about me....—She blushed again—

— Ohhh yeah...I forgot that part of presentations. I'm cirrus, one of the ghoulettes....—She grabbed her hand and kissed it. — Nice to finally meet you...

She was bright red again, even the ghoulettes where beautiful and masters in making her blush and giggle She smelled like fresh air and spring, it was sweet and made her heart feel calm and relaxed. How gorgeous she was, totally perfect from head to toe.

— T- Thank you....—She looked at the books that Cirrus brought to the library — So....this are the books from the Vatican? Our Cardinal did such a great job...—She looked through the pages, gold corners, drawings, symbols. Every shape, every color, the smell of old book in her nostrils, bringing back memories of the time she spent alone in the library reading and cleaning. Books of demonology, angels, ghouls... Ghouls? There were no ghoul books in the library, she knew that Cardinal and Papa Secondo had copious amounts of Ghoul related books, how to summon them, how to treat them, what to expect from them...but she had never seen one. She would maybe read it later.

Cirrus watched carefully how she went through the pages, how she treated the books with care and how she showed interest in the book of ghouls. Her mind wandered for a minute, if Secondo's vision was about her...she would soon become much more important to the church, she would be stripped from some of her liberties as human and maybe she would not like her new life...A part of Cirrus wanted the vision to be a lie, to be mistaken...even knowing that Secondo never fails with his visions. The anointment of Copia, the untold truth of his bloodline. The true about his own place in this church. Every one of them was true, every one of them was right what Secondo envisioned. What their master desires for his lambs.

— Thank you, Cirrus....these books are wonderful — Y/n smiled at her. — If you want to come and take one after I organize them you are more than welcome here.

The sound of her voice brought back Cirrus to the room, she forgot for a minute the books and just smiled at her, she seemed so full of life talking about her interests.

— I would love to, If you excuse me I have to go, need to prepare for the ritual tonight....

— Oh! I will see you there then...Swiss invited me to the ritual...—She showed her the ticket — He wanted me to go with him in your bus...if that's okay with you all...

— Oh sister, nothing would make us happier, but I have to warn you. They are going to be all around you, and we misbehave a lot without Copia in the room to stop us.... —She winked at her with a mischievous smile, similar to the one that Swiss gave her. — You should dress comfortably, and ....please, enjoy yourself...—She gave her a quick hug and left with a huge smile , what Swiss had told her was totally true...She smelled amazing, Sunshine was going to love her.

Y/N was completely red and amused, all the ghouls are like that? How would she survive on the bus with all of them!? She looked at the clock, she still had two hours before going, she took the book about ghouls and began to read it. Most of it was in Latin, so she would need the help of Cardinal Copia...Well, no. Emeritus the Fourth to solve them...She still was a bit worried about his beloved cardinal turning into one of the Papas, but she tried to brush of those feelings. She needed to be happy for him and show him how much he deserves his new title. But....what was going to happen with Terzo? She believed that she did a great job also, and as happy as she is for Copia...Terzo was a good papa too, maybe she could bring him a little sweet, something "casual" just a coincidence, but a nice gesture nonetheless.

As sister y/n prepared the last two hours of work, Swiss was with the rest of the ghouls, a bit anxious. He wanted to see her, get some more of her scent, feeling her close to him. Even after apologizing to her and being in good terms, he couldn't erase from his mind the memories of her giving herself pleasure while watching him...her beautiful face that expression of lust and need. He needed to be responsible for that expression, make her moan his name and let his hands wander freely over her body. But he was not going to be that guy with her, he was going to try his best to not be an asshole. He was lost in his thoughts when Sodo threw a pick to him

— Hey dipshit, we were talking to you....You invited the sister of the library to the ritual? —Sodo walked closer to him — You want to fuck her huh?

— Yes I want, but I didn't invited her for that...she is nice, and she seems lonely...You have friends between the sisters and brothers too, she is...I hope she becomes a dear friend to me..

—She will...—Cirrus arrived at the den and Swiss smelled y/n 's scent in her clothes....he growled a bit under his breath.

— You were with her?...

— Jealous?...—Cirrus laughed at him — I was, we were talking about some books that Copia handed out to me for her. She is the cutest thing in this church, isn't it? Don't be selfish Swiss, if you bring her...you know that everyone is going to want a slice of that sweet pie.

— I'm not jealous....but I saw her first! And she is my guest tonight. So, each one of you, play nice. Be nice to her, and especially you...—He grabbed Sodo by the chin and made him look at his eyes. — You are worse than me sometimes...don't make her feel uncomfortable or I will cut your dick off.

— Don't worry Swiss...If I'm going to chase her it will be in her own terms, I'm a nice ghoul...—He licked his fangs with a smile.

— Play nice...—He saw the hour and picked up his things — I'm going to bring her here first, don't be assholes.

Sunshine and Cumulus nodded enthusiastically, rain and mountain were a bit lost on what was going on, they missed part of the conversation because they were lost in their own world for a moment, hugging and cuddling but nodding like they did understand. Sodo was exited, he wanted to talk to her and ask her...maybe she was a witch! And if she was, how awesome that would be!

Swiss still had half an hour so he took a quick shower and dressed for the ritual, maybe a bit much but this ritual was special so, he would dress nicely for the new Papa. And maybe for her too. After dressing he went up to the library and waited outside, after a couple of minutes he knocked the door of her room.

— Coming! —She was ready to go, just needed a couple of shoes and her earrings. She opened the door and smiled at him — You were supoused to wait on the garden huh?— She laughed a bit—I only need to put on my shoes....do you want to come in?

Swiss smiled; she wanted him in her room? Again, he needed self-control to not lose it completely. She didn't want to screw it up again, but she looked so cute. A black silk dress up to a bit above her knees, a leather corset and silk stockings with a short leather jacket in case it gets cold. She looked gorgeous. He went inside, her room was filled with her scent. The bedsheets seemed so soft and he was sure that they were scented like her also.

— Sorry for the mess, I was looking for my best comfortable shoes and made a whole mess of my room.... sit on the bed if you want, I don't have any chairs...well I have one but it's full of dirty laundry....—She blushed, there she was again with her oversharing of information. She couldn't help it.

—It’s okay, don't worry.... if it weren't for Rain and Cumulus our den would look even worst, like a war zone. —He laughed a bit, but it was true. Sodo was a mess, he was not better, mountain was tidy, but he also made a mess with his sweaty shirts and copious amounts of drumsticks all over the den. Rain and Cumulus got tired of it and made everyone clean their rooms and common places.

— Do you think this would be comfortable enough? —She was wearing a pair of platform boots, made her look taller but were much more comfortable than heels.

Swiss was lingering his gaze over her legs, so soft and they seem longer with the platforms on. They would look very nice in his shoulders.

—You look gorgeous...I'm going to have a lot of problems keeping my hands to myself....—He licked his fangs while moving his gaze all over her body —

— Swiss.... —She was bright red again, maybe she could play a bit.... Primo said that as long as she took care of herself, she could indulge with the ghouls. She walked closer to him and took a seat in his lap, looking at him. — Maybe...just maybe if you behave ....I can give you a treat after the ritual....

Swiss hands were fast and grabbed her waist pulling her closer to him, making her press against his lap a bit hard.

— You are trying to make me lose my mind don’t you sister? ....

— I'm not.... I just think that...maybe we could have a good time, something to make even clearer that we are friends... aren't we?...—Her chest was dangerously close to the ghoul face, he was having a hard time not kissing or biting the skin in front of him.

— We still have a couple of minutes left before....

—Nope....—She smiled at him and kiss the mask in the forehead and stood up from his lap— It's only if you behave during the ritual...—She winked at him with a sly smirk in her face.

—You are punishing me aren't you?....—He sighed and stood up from the bed walking to the door.

— Yeah....I am, maybe a bit. You deserve it....but you are going to be a nice ghoul today are you?...

— I will....but if I do, you will have to give me my treat....—He grabbed her ass and squeeze it between his hands, not to hard but not soft either. She was feeling the heat in her core stirred up a bit. — And I'm a bit hungry for some sweets....

—Swiss....l-lets go....—She moved to the door and left the room with him. She never walked through those hallways in direction to the den, they were dark and looked old, older than the rest of the abbey at least.

Swiss was talking to her about meeting the rest of the ghouls and how exited they were to meet her. She smiled a bit nervous and told him how she already have met Cirrus.

—She is bossy....One of the elders here really, she and mountain are the eldest ghouls of the den the youngest are sunshine and Dewdrop...

— Dewdrop?...

— Sodo....well he goes by many names, but his "birth name" is Dewdrop, Sodo is kind of a joke that Terzo said once and it stuck with him so, we call him Sodo.

— Why? ....

— Because they call me the Sodomizer sweets....—Sodo drop from the ceiling close to the walking pair, in the middle of the hallway before the door of the den, he dropped in front of her but not to close.— Nice to finally meet you....you can call me Dew or Sodo if you like....

She let out a weird scream, she got a bit scared. He seemed really out of his mind, totally unhinged and at the same time incredibly funny and energetic. As magnetic as Swiss but she assumed that was just a ghoul thing, Cirrus was magnetic too. He was smaller than Swiss and thinner , but his presence was as big as the multi-ghoul one.

— What part of behave you didn't understand asshole? —Swiss grabbed his arm and pulled him to his side — You scared her dumbass

— I just wanted to make a good first impression! What better than a scare? She will never forget me! —He winked at her ignoring Swiss

After the scare she laughed, he was funny. And how sweet it was that Swiss ask them to behave...

—It’s okay Swiss, I was just a bit surprised....Nice to meet you too...Dew...

The way that his name sounded in her lips was so sweet. And her smell was crazy, she smelled like sweets with a bit of acidic flavor...He thought about tangerines, and pomegranates.

— So, I was here because I was looking for this big guy, Cirrus is looking for you she has something important to tell you or something....You go, I can guide our sweet sister to the den...If she wants to...

— I do not trust you Dewdrop....

— I do...go on Swiss, if it is important you should go...don't worry, he seem nice....

—I am nice!

— Too nice sometimes, keep your hands to yourself ghoul. Or else, I will kick your nuts and tie you to the front of the bus. — Swiss got closer to her and gave her a little peck on the forehead before walking away to the insides of the den. Leaving the fire ghoul and sister y/n alone.

— Sooo....you are a fire ghoul?....—They were walking slowly, Dewdrop was doing rounds around her while walking.

— Indeed, how did you know?

— Because...it was freezing cold here before you dropped from the ceiling...and you are steamy.

— Oh....so you find me hot? That's what are you saying?.—He smiled showing his fangs

— Well....yeah...—She smiled back to him — You are funny...

— Oh, so you also find me charming?....—His tail moved in front of her, she saw how the end of the tail was a bit chipped.

— I do I do....—She laughed, it was easy to talk with him, he was indeed charming, and he was flirting with her a lot but it did not make her feel uncomfortable. She enjoyed the company of this crazy ghoul

— Swiss was saying the truth...You are a complete sweet... Not even a bit anoyed by me?

— You are funny...and remind me a lot of one of the guys I used to go to class with...and maybe you could be a bit annoying but it doesn't matter, I can be annoying too....sometimes I cannot stop talking, and I get to intense about the things I like...and I have a weird taste in music that can annoy some people

—....You know....I like the music that you listen...This is going to come off as a fucking creep I know but, I was trying to enter the library one night...and I saw the light coming out of your door, and the music that you had playing...and how clean is your voice to sing...

— Oh...so you were the shadow that lingers outside my door? ...—She could be mad, but he never did anything more than that and he never went into the library...but she was a bit ashamed. — It's not the typical music that you can expect from a satanic church member...

— Oh that's lame...you need to hang out with us , we listen to almost everything that you can imagine...it's pretty awesome for us at least, you humans are so complex and live around so many things that are complete opposite and even with that you make it work....I kind of envy some reincarnated ghouls, they could experience life outside...most of us ghouls only know the deeps of hell....and it's awesome but, it's always the same...you have the chance of living in a world that is continuously changing. That's cool....why restrict yourselves to only one type of everything when you could have a whole spectrum!

— Because humans are dumb...and everyone who is "different" is in the wrong...and even among the *different" people they still give you labels and outcast you when you are different from them in the slightest...

—Well....we are a bunch of outcasts from hell , will you feel comfortable around us? —The flirting stopped for a minute, he grabbed her hand and smiled at her — Because...the ghoul den is going to be always open for you. —He was serious, after a chat with cirrus while Swiss was gone, Cirrus said something between the lines of " Copia knows she is special, and she needs good company, specially know that he is going to be so busy. And besides, don't you think that it will be refreshing for us to have new company here? She seems nice enough! " So, he wanted to make her feel at ease with them at the den.

—Why all of you had been so nice with me? Cirrus, you...Swiss was a bit of an asshole, but he apologized...even Copia and Primo...

— I don't think that is being nice....we only treat you as you treat us. Swiss doesn't apologize to anyone that is not from our..."family"  but with you he was willing to make things better....because you are sweet and amiable, and you stand out from the rest because of that...I'm not saying that there are no amiable sisters or brothers but they have their groups and they are pretty much all the same....They approach us for lust and good time but they never try to really talk with us or get to know us, and it's okay I don't blame them but it gets tiring after a while....and there all of the sudden there is you, the stone in our shoe to access the library, but you ended up being so nice....and made Swiss angry that's a plus for me!

— You are saying this because you want to get in my panties Dew? —She laughed a bit, she felt good around him, like after a good coffee filled with energy.

—I do not mind getting some fun In bed with you, I swear you are gorgeous and smell delicious.... but I also want to spend time with you talking or watching movies. And I'm sure the rest will think the same about you.

She blushed again , the same as Swiss with his comments. He was a cutie too.

— You two.... —She laughed a bit, then they stopped outside a big metal door. It had golden symbols; she recognized the Symbol of Swiss shirt...and the one in Dewdrop helmet. She assumed that the other symbols belonged to the other ghouls.

— Do you want to know something interesting? We didn't carved this symbols, they just appeared with us...

— Woah....it's beautiful, but seems heavy...—She touched the handle and it burned his fingers — Ouch....it's hot...

— Are you okay?...it's not supposed to do that...—He lifts his eyebrows suspiciously. — Are you sure you are not a witch?

The tip of her index and thumb was a bit red, nothing to serious but it will maybe leave a mark, dew moved the door open for her

— What? I'm not dew! —She laughed.— I don't know what happened....

—That was ...weird, it's not hot...come in, maybe rain could soothe your hand ...

The hallway to the den was filled with pictures of the ghouls and the different Papa's, in various settings and situations. Some were more formal, a lot of them seemed like family pictures. There were also pictures of other ghouls she did not recognize, must be old ghouls who belonged to Primo or Secondo. As they walked closer to the den, she could her laughter and the sound of instruments moving.

— Rain could you help me with something? — They entered the main room, he was holding her burned hand in his hand— Oh yeah, this is sister y/n! She had a little...weird accident with the door...

— Huh?...— Rain came closer to her and soothe the red skin between his hands — Nice to meet you....what happened?

Rain was soft...his skin was moist and cold, and felt really nice in her burnt hand. He smelled like water lilies; his skin has a blueish green tone mixed with grey. He was soft spoken but he seemed as energetic as Dewdrop.

— I touched the metal gate and burned my hand...

Cirrus looked at her and her hand, the burn mark was shaped like a crescent moon while the one in her index was shaped like a small triangle. She moved next to Sunshine and whispered something at her.

— That's weird...—Rain replied — But is nothing that serious, Mounty can you grab a cold compress from the fridge?...

The ghoul came closer to her with the cold pack, He was tall, like a tree. And he was skinny but well built, she noticed that in the way that the shirt stick to his body. He smelled like a forest.

— Nice to meet you.... I’m mountain.... —He grabbed her hand putting the cold pack close to her fingers. — This should help...

— Nice to meet you...both of you...And thank you...

Rain and Mountain looked at her smiling softly, Cirrus was being honest with them when she told them that sister y/n was a sweetheart.

—Move! I want to meet her too! —Someone pushed them both away and looked at her. Sunshine was exited, too excited. She was just as Secondo's vision had told her. Her cute face, her puffy cheeks, her hair. She was gorgeous! — I'm sunshine! Nice to meet you sister y/n!

She smelled like summer, that summer afternoons reading in her backyard at her house...And her smile was so bright and full of energy. She was almost her same height maybe a bit smaller, but her body shape was amazing, her hips and chest, the way that the black suit hugged her curves mesmerized her.

— It's okay if I hug you? —The ghoulette waited for an answer —

— Yeah...it is don't worry...—She extended her arms, Sunshine hugged her and pressed her body against her, lifting her a bit from the floor. It was a tight hug, but felt amazing...all of her nervous thoughts disappeared at the moment she let herself go in that sweet embrace.

— Oh, cirrus you were right! She is huggable! Swiss, fuck off I'm going to keep her to myself! Cumulus join in!

—Fuck off sunshine .... She is my guest...—Swiss smiled at her, she was still hugging Sunshine, but she seemed so calm and relaxed...an expression that he had not seen until that point. Cumulus went from behind sunshine and lift both of them in a hug. Y/n laughed; it was something that not even in her wildest dreams could happen. Everyone was so nice to her, she felt that warm feeling in her heart again. She felt welcomed by them...Cumulus was gorgeous also, a tad shy compared to Sunshine but gorgeous nonetheless, she reminded her of a soft cloud, the type of fluffy clouds that linger in the first days of spring...

Swiss was happy, seeing her so calm and relaxed, laughing with the ghoulettes...She was not going to be alone anymore.

—Hey, let my guest alone you two....let's get our things, we are running a bit late...—He hugged her from behind as soon as the rest went to fix their instruments and clothes — Sorry if they are a bit much...but I did warn you...

— It's okay Swiss...if I'm honest, I was a bit scared...but they are so nice...and here I feel...at home?...—Her eyes became a bit glossy, she didn't felt this full of love since a long time ago.

— I'm glad to hear that...—He kissed her cheek — You are more than welcomed here...You are now officially welcome in the ghoul den....—He was hugging her from the waist, and made a small movement down her hips, he couldn't help it.

— Swiss...do I have to remind you that you need to behave?... —She smiled a bit. He looked like a scolded kid.  Pouting at her.

— I'm doing my best...but it's so hard...—He nuzzled his face in her neck breathing her scent and leaving soft kisses in her skin. — You smell so good...can I misbehave just a bit?...—He squeezed her hips pressing a bit against her— Just a bit...

Her breath was irregular, she choked a small moan as soon as his lips touched her skin. But she was not going to lose this, it was his punishment.

— Swiss....I'm not going to give you your treat if you don't behave...that was the deal...

He growled behind her ear giving it a little bite at her earlobe before letting her go.

— I get it....but you will pay for this later....—His smirk grew as soon as he felt her scent becoming stronger. She was already aroused.

Dewdrop saw the whole thing from the ceiling, her scent was strong enough to hit him, he wanted to feel it closer to him, maybe under him, maybe above him. His fangs bit his lip hard trying to bring him to reality and he dropped from the ceiling in the kitchen, to not scare her again. The rest of the den was ready to go, she walked with them to the outside of the church, talking with Cirrus about the new books and how some of them were in Latin, cumulus promised her to help her with the translation because she knew Latin. They got on the bus, it was luxurious but not overwhelmingly luxurious. It seemed comfortable and she understood why, they travel a lot and for many hours sometimes. She awaited to everyone to get in the buss to find a seat, she seated between Swiss y Dewdrop. Both of them put their hands on her legs, and both of them growl to each other when they realized.

— It's okay, it doesn’t matter but behave please.... don’t growl.

— You are my guest....Mine.

—Yeah but she already told me she finds me hot and charming!

—If you don't behave I’m going to seat between Mountain and Rain, they seem more mature than you two right now...

Rain laughed and patted his tight and Mountain did the same

— You will always have a good seat here with us don't worry.

She blushed, does everyone in the den was interested in getting in her bed?...Well , she was amused by it, but also she was intrigued and wanted to taste a bit of hell with the ghouls...

Swiss and Dew pouted at her and stopped their fight , keeping their hands where they were without complains. Swiss squeezed a bit her thigh, while dewdrop caressed her skin softly, playing with the embroidery in her stocking, she heard steps coming from the drivers cabin.

—What’s going on in here? —He was huge, HUGE. Tall and strong, his arms could crush her if he wanted to. His thighs were big, almost trapped inside his pants. — Oh you are the famous sister from the library? Nice to finally meet you! —He hugged her and lift her from the seat with ease, she felt as a feather being manhandled like that, his hug was strong but not rough, and her whole body fitted perfectly between the ghoul arms.

— H-Hi.....

—Oh Sorry, I'm Aether! I'm the one in charge of the bus most of the time because the rest doesn't have sense of orientation and always mess with the locations and directions. You are really small....

She was still in the air until he grabbed her legs and put them around his waist. Like a koala.

— Hey dipshit , drop her she is my guest! — Swiss kept on repeating that, because he didn't wanted to say "my treat".

—Oh, but she sure would enjoy being with me, wouldn't you sister? —His smile grew bigger showing his fangs. She was red like the velvet seats of the bus. The ghoul just laughed and put her down again in her seat with care. — The offer is still on Sister, nice to meet you. —He left again to the drivers cabin.

— He is huge....

—But he is a golden retriever in terms of charisma. He is a total— Cumulus joined the conversation—...how did they said in that series that we were watching Sunshine? ....

— A total himbo! —Everyone laughed at the comment. They were having such a good time

When they arrived at the location she helped the ghoulettes with their outfits, and polishing their masks a bit. She helped cirrus with her hair, and fixed Dewdrop tie. Then she helped Swiss to adjust his suspensors and gave Aether a shoulder massage because he was a bit tense to move freely. She was seated on the backstage when a pair of mismatched eyes found her.

—Sister y/n?.

— Cardinal! ...—She hugged him — I'm so glad to see you before your big night....

— What are you doing here?...how did you know what is going to happen? ....—He caressed her head with soft movements, he was indeed happy to see her, but intrigued.

— Are you mad at me? I know that I should have told you but I wanted to be a surprise...Swiss invited me, and told me about your big day....

—I’m not mad dolcezza, sorry for not saying anything about this in the morning...I really wanted to but, Sister Imperator told me not to say a word before the ritual...—He kissed her forehead. — you came with the ghouls?....are you good with Swiss? Si?

—Everyone is so nice...and yes Swiss and I made up, part of his apology was bringing me here....—She cuddle in his chest enjoying his warmth.

— I'm glad that you get along with them...You know what will happen now with me do you dolcezza?...Maybe I'm not going to have that much time with you as I used to but...you have them now, and they will take care of you...

—I’m going to miss you...but I will always be there when you return..

—I will visit you as soon as I arrive....—He brushed her cheek...he was worried about her. He was told about Secondo's vision, she was so young...her destiny was already written...but she would be happy with that?

— You will do great Papa...—She caressed his chest and fixed his tie a bit — I fully believe in you.

— Dolcezza....thank you for being here, it means a lot to me....I got to go, the show is about to start...ask one of the guys from security to move you to the first row,  I will tell them your name ok?....—He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and left, she waited on the side of the stage. The ghouls started to walk towards the stage.

Cirrus hugged her before going up, Sunshine kiss her forehead, Cumulus also hugged her. Mountain asked about her hand, and then kissed it on the palm before going up, rain kiss her forehead. Aether lifts her again in a hug. Dewdrop got close to her, too close...

—If I kill it on stage...will you give me a kiss? —He smiled —

— I will think about it....—She laughed and kissed him on the mask.

—That’s enough for me...—He left with a big grin and went up stage.

Swiss walked to her and grabbed her by the waist. He was without the mask, and it was holding it with his tail.

—I know I promised to behave...but this is going to be my lucky charm for today....—He grabbed her chin and kissed her, slowly and intense. He pulled her closer to him, he needed to enjoy as much as he could before going on stage. She did not fell short, she hugged him and pressed her body to him, why not? She broke the kiss when the air was lacking to her body.

— I will take that in consideration but....good luck...—The ghoul smiled, put on his mask and went to stage. She was flustered.

—Sister y/n , please come with me —She followed one of the guards and she found her spot , in front of the stage, she was ready to see the show.

She was sure that this was going to be one of those experiences that she would never forget no matter how hard she try. Tonight she didn't care about anything but the ghouls, and his Papa Emeritus the Fourth. The show was about to begin, and Sister y/n felt the excitement running through her body. She didn't attend a ritual since she entered the abbey thanks to one, she felt the adrenaline of being in the presence of the ghouls and Papa in their element, the stage.

The ritual begun with a small ceremony in which they presented to the world the new Emeritus the Fourth. She screamed in joy, clapped with the other assistants to the ritual in his honor. Then the music started, and she was mesmerized by it. Papa showed so much energy, so much passion and love to his doing, Dewdrop was indeed killing it so she would have to give him that kiss later. Swiss looked at her enjoying the show, so he was going to put a little show for her too. Dewdrop thought the same, as he moved through the stage he blow a kiss in her direction, she laughed. Swiss was dancing in his spot shimming his shoulders and hips at the beat, sunshine vocals were amazing...Everyone was giving their best. Swiss came closer to the end of the stage during a small break and greeted the public, but keeping special attention to the part where she was standing, winking at her, blowing kisses. Dewdrop notice that and just to bother him ( and make her smile ) threw a pick at him. When the multi-ghoul looked at the fire ghoul, this flipped him off and stuck out his tongue just to annoy him even more. What he didn't expected at all was for the multi ghoul walking towards him, getting behind his back and start to choke him in the most seductive way possible. He got the point he was trying to prove, she was watching them...why not giving her a show? Dew press his back against the body of the ghoul who mas moving his hips to the rhythm of dew's guitar, they rocked back and forth all of this while one of Swiss hands grabbed his chest and the other his neck, squeezing a bit. Copia returned to the stage after drinking a bottle of water and looked at the show the other two were putting, a part of him embarrassed and another part intrigued, they were always like that but, they seemed really invested and the public was screaming like crazy. A pretty good ritual, nonetheless.

Swiss squeezed a bit harder and before leaving the ghoul he bites his neck over the fabric. And the hand in his chest traveled to his crotch to grab his dick, Dew moaned , not loud enough for the people to hear but enough to make Swiss aware of it. That prick was going to pay after the show, alone or with the sister.

She felt heated just by watching that, they kept eye contact with her the whole time , except for the dick grabbing, at that point they were only looking at each other, they went back to their spot to continue with the show and try to avoid looking at her, they felt her scent growing, after memorizing her scent they could smell it everywhere if it was strong enough...and it was. She felt the wetness between her legs, which show they put for her in front of all of those sinners who enjoyed it. The way they moved, how Swiss hands were so big , she needed to feel them in her neck, in her chest, she was dizzy, the smell that she knew...It smelled like Swiss scent...but there was another one, like burnt wood in a campfire but more musky...smokey leather. She felt lightheaded.

Dewdrop was the first to fall, he looked at her. She looked so amused, so flustered. Her glossy eyes, her lips partly open, her scent traveling to his nose as an invitation to eat her out all night. He played it a bit more, he winked at her again, to make her known he was watching her, and took his hand to his mouth licking two of his fingers and moving his tongue up and down the middle of them. She felt her thighs clenching together and the wetness of her core growing, a choked moan was stopped in her throat when his hand made the movement of him jerking off to her. With a cheeky smile the ghoul turned around, she was going as crazy as him.

Swiss smiled noticing all of that...Dew wanted to play, and he was more than sure that y/n also wanted to. She was slowly letting herself go, and both ghouls were more than happy to help her loosen up a bit more. Swiss was needy, he wanted to feel her...for a long time he didn't feel this type of hunger about someone, she was driving him crazy, and that little game with Dewdrop left him even more needy. He only prayed to Satan that the moment of receiving his "treat" would come soon to him. He was so aroused that his glare was failing, he thanked that the suit covered most of his skin, but his horns were becoming a bit annoying under the helmet.

Dewdrop was begging for the ritual to end he wanted to relieve the tension on his pants as soon as possible, around his neck the scent of Swiss was also making him go feral. As soon as the play the last song he went backstage, he decided to go as quick as possible to the bus, he could jerk off alone while the rest packed the things. Little he knew that Swiss had the same plan in mind, involving sister Y/n

Swiss went quickly to find her, she was waiting at the hallway behind the stage, the one that lead to the bus, it was empty.  He was sweating, his pants felt tight around his crotch, his scent hit her like a punch in the face. Her legs twitched , he got closer to her grabbing her waist and pulling in his direction.

— I think that I behaved pretty well...—His voice was a bit deeper, a growl trapped in his chest. His claws pressed against her hips, threatening the fabric of the dress. — I want my treat....and I'm not capable of waiting until we get to the den...

She wanted to throw herself into his arms, but she also wanted to play a bit with his limit... something inside of her was growing and could be the lust, but this was darker, a primal desire to be fucked until she couldn't take it anymore. So, she was going to tease a little more.

— Do you think that you behaved? What about that little show that you played with Dewdrop....poor thing, he was notoriously hard beneath his guitar...—She moved his arms around his shoulders pulling him closer to her — That was good behavior?....

He saw how her eyes darkened in front of him, the pupil like a whole moon , her gaze completely filled by lust. Her scent was beyond the point of intoxicating , he needed her, he ripped his helmet of his head, his glare long gone by now. He grabbed her chin looking right into her eyes.

— It was nothing. I can be a lot worse....—His fangs were glowing under the light of the hallway — I could grab you right here...pulling that nice dress up and make you my little slut right know...

—You deserve your treat....don't you?....—She was consumed by lust at this point. Nothing was in her mind. She felt her blood boiling inside of her, she wanted him. She needed him, in her mind there was nothing but him.

—Please sister....you really want to tease me?....I could destroy your insides with my strength if I wanted to...but I don't want to do that....I want to make you come over and over....you are going to feel me inside you probably a couple of days and if you forget.. I'll be glad to remind you as much as you need to.... Please y/n .... don’t torture yourself.... don’t torture me...

She lifted her dress showing a cute lace purple underwear and moved her leg up to his waist. And Swiss felt his cock was about to burst inside his pants. They still had at least two hours before everyone was ready to leave and that hallway was going to be empty all the time. He kneeled in front of her looking her flustered expression, he released his cock from his pants to relieve some tension before ripping her underwear of the way , one zip from his claw.

—H-Hey...those were my favorites...

—I will buy you more...and rip them again.... —He could have waited, took more time...but the sight in front of him was something to die for. He couldn't wait a fucking minute more. He place both of her legs in his shoulders with his strength, he could have her there a whole day if he wanted to. Before she could say anything more he began to eat her out. He was a thirsty ghoul, licking every piece of soft skin in his way, paying special attention to her clit, pressing his tongue and sucking slowly.

Her back was straight to the wall, she thanked that the ghoul had her lifted in his shoulders, because her legs stopped working since the ghoul began to lick her like a starved man who found fresh fruit in the desert. He was hungry, the sinful noises that came out her mouth, the sound of the wet tongue of the ghoul licking between her folds. She felt close to the edge, she couldn't help it. It has been so long since she had something, and that could not be compared at all with the feeling of having the ghoul between her legs, worshipping her as some sort of lustful goddess.

— What happened with that smart mouth sister....—He stopped his eating to look her right the eye while moving his index over her hole slowly, tempting.

— D....Don't....—She couldn't even talk properly — be....a tease....mgnh...Swiss please.... I want your dick inside...

—I’m not going to fuck you here....I want you to be comfortable...—He smiled as he pushed two fingers inside her with ease, feeling how her inside twitched.— But I'm going to make you come in my mouth before leaving....

— But.... Swiss.....I want it....—She gasped and moaned between words, his fingers were as dexterous as with the guitar...she felt like she was going to come at any minute. His tongue made his way to her clit, licking and pressing the small bud, he found the perfect pace and that sweet spot that made tighten around his fingers sucking them back in every time he pulled them out, over and over. Her taste was delightful, he could drink from her day and night.

— Swiss... Swiss I want to....I need to come please...

He moved his fingers faster, deeper. Looking for her breaking point, enjoying her moans, her hands pulling his hair a bit every time she was near. After a couple more minutes she came at least twice, her whole body felt like melted butter. She looked down on the ghoul, his face and beard wet, her pussy still constricting and pushing that liquid outside her. She didn’t even knew she could do that! He kept licking until she squeezed her legs to making him stop.

— E... Eno...ugh....—She dropped to the floor on her knees after the ghoul let her down on the floor Looking at him before letting her eyes wander down to his cock. His black underwear had a huge wet spot, he was leaking so much pre cum, and his scent was strong overpowering her senses. Without thinking twice she licked the dark spot over his dick, outlining the head of his cock with her tongue, sucking the taste out of the fabric. He growled grabbing her hair in a fist pressing his crotch to her face.

— You seem hungry sister...look at you...on your knees for me...with my dick pressed to your face and you drooling over my underwear...so filthy...tell me sister....do you want to suck my dick like the good girl you are?...

Her fucking praise kink , she felt her insides twitch by the mere thought of having him on her mouth, moaning her name.

— I want to...please....—She opened her mouth sticking her tongue out waiting obediently. Like she waited for the wine in front of Papa. He released his dick from his underwear and rub it on her tongue, she moaned feeling the hot wet pre cum directly in her mouth. She was feeling like a whore, but she didn't care, her body had a mind for its own , she wanted more. More of his taste, more of his growls and moans.

— If I get to rough you can pat my leg....—Before she could answer he began thrusting his dick inside her mouth, she was bobbing her head and drooling over the floor and on his dick, she looked up with tears in her eyes and a blissed outlook, he moaned at the sight. She was so hot and her mouth felt amazing. He pressed against her throat making her gag a couple of times before leaving it inside for a couple of seconds grasping her hair, moaning her name. Just to push her away for a moment and rubbing his cock and her spit over her cheeks and lips.

—Look at you...you are a filthy sinner... drooling all over my dick with that fucked out look on your face....such a good little slut for me....I'm going to come in your mouth...and what are you going to do?

— Swallow it...

— Like a good slut... say it sister ...

— I'm....going to swallow it like....like the good slut that I am...

— Good girl...I'm going to fuck you so hard after this...you are going to scream my name over and over....—He put his dick on her mouth again making her licking and sucking it. Chasing his high — And...mgnh....ah fuck....when we come back to the den...I'm going to fuck you until you pass out...ahhh! Fucking hell like that.....damn...you sure are hungry....keep going I'm going to come in that pretty mouth of yours....look at that slutty face of yours...Mngh.,.oh fuck ....y/n...I'm going to...ahh fuck!

He pressed hard against her mouth letting his thick cum flow freely in her mouth, he had a lot to let go. She swallowed until he stopped. So tasty, so thick and salty....

—Nngh....such a good girl...who is my good girl huh? —He lifted her from the floor — We still have like an hour left....and those velvet cushions on the bus are perfect for your soft skin...—He kissed her, tasting himself on her mouth. He carried her to the bus, caressing the skin of her legs slowly.

When they got in the bus they heard a breathy moan, and the sound of springs and cushions, they looked around the bus only to find out Dewdrop at the back, with his pants open and his fist on his dick masturbating with one of Swiss shirts that laid on the bus.

—So that's were that shirt was...

—Mngh... fucking asshole...—His eyes darted out to the sister in Swiss arms — Mngh...you are going to only sit there and watch?

She had never seen him without the helmet, his long greyish hair shined like silk on his flustered face. The scent of charcoal and campfire, smoked leather....it was him. Her mouth watered seeing his dick leaking pre cum on the seats. She looked at Swiss with a mischievous smirk.

— We still have an hour?... And...I promised something to Dew....—She patted Swiss arm and he let her down, she walked down the bus closer to Dew, he moaned just feeling her scent near to him.

—Y/n....please....

— Don't worry Dew...—She kneeled down in front of him and gave his dick a long lick from the base to the top. Swiss got hard just seeing that wonderful scene. He also got closer to them grabbed Dews hair and pulled him closer to his crotch.

— Come on Dewdrop...lick it....

— Fucking asshole....—He growled before sucking the tip of Swiss dick, giving it a little brush with his fangs, Swiss tightened his grip on the fire ghoul hair and growled at him.

— Don't bite....

— Be good Dewdrop....—She kept licking but not putting him in her mouth, not yet.

— Mngh....y/n...you are going to pay for this too...—He sucked harder on Swiss who buckled his hips in the small ghoul mouth fucking his face with almost no consideration. He loved the sight of the prideful ghoul drooling for him, and she looked so invested in making both of them feel good. She was another person, where did the shy sister from the library went? He wanted to see more of her. She was a mysterious little lamb...and he couldn't wait to fully unravel her lustful side.

— Mngh...Dew...—She went down on his dick , she felt the tip brushing her throat, she tried her best to battle the gag reflex and gave her best to making feel as good as he could, he was a moaning mess between her and Swiss. His hands went to her head pushing her down and keeping her on place, he began to thrust chasing his climax, they were both a drooling mess.

Swiss took out his dick from Dew, this purred and looked at him annoyed, he wanted to keep sucking him.

— Don't be selfish...—He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her

—Help me a bit here Dew....—He grabbed her legs speeding her open and sitting with her in his lap. His dick brushing her pussy every time that he moved to adjust. — aren't you hungry?

Dew smiled and went right to her pussy, licking and sucking with hunger. Swiss took of her dress and bra, and while the fire ghoul was eating her, he was playing with his nipples pulling and pinching them, his tail going up and down her body. The fire ghoul put his tongue inside her moving it, using his fingers to stimulate her clit and used his own tail to jerk off.

Dew was having a wonderful time eating her out, her taste was so good, and she was so wet already. His tongue going in and out of her, he felt already like and addict to her taste, he wanted more and more. The spade of Swiss tail went beneath her and began to going over her clit and giving it little slaps while Dew worked with his tongue on her. In less than five minutes she was almost there, the over stimulation was making her go crazy, she felt how her hips buckled and the coil in her inside burst. She came with a loud moan, gushing all over dewdrop face, who drinked it with delight.

— Thanks dewdrop...—He lifted her again a bit and began to make his way inside her, pressing slowly and letting her down smoothly. — Fucking hell.... you are tight...

She felt her insides being rearranged to fit the ghoul , she was so full. Her mind was completely gone by now, the only feelings in her head were pleasure and a primal hunger for more of the ghouls. She looked at Dew as she struggled a bit to fit Swiss inside of her.

—Poor sweet sister....it's hard?...—Dew came closer to her, cupping her face in his hands passing his thumb over her lip. — You can do it.... how does it feel Swiss??...

—Incredibly tight and warm....but she is adapting to me as she was made for me Dew...you should try it later...—He moved a bit, she moaned and licked Dew's thumb hungry for more of him. — Look at her...such a nice girl...What do you think Dewdrop... Mngh fucking hell...we should keep her in the den....all day being stuffed by us...

— Oh no...maybe we could use her cute room next to the library, no one will go there at night....no one will hear you scream our names....—Dew got closer, he kissed those velvety plumped lips letting her taste the sweet scent of her pussy in his tongue, he grabbed her tits and caressed them, tracing the skin softly with his claws, pinching slowly and pulling. She deepened the kiss while Swiss began to move at a steady rhythm when she was comfortable enough.

— Dew...Mngh...I want to suck you...

— Mmnn....my sweet girl is hungry? ....—He seated in the sit in front of them and Swiss moved her closer to him while pounding her pussy harder than before , the change in position tightened her inside, and it felt like fire inside of her. So warm, so wet and sticky, her velvety insides were milking him, squeezing him every time she was close. Dewdrop guide his dick close to her mouth, grazing her lips with it a couple of times before going in. She moved her tongue around it tasting as much as she could.

He looked at Swiss, his blissed-out expression, his eyes shining with desire and lust. It had been a lot since the last time they shared a moment like this together. He looked so fine all sweaty, his black hair sticking to his face, the veins in his neck pumping like crazy. His own hips began to move harder, trying to get in sync with Swiss thrusting, her moans, his moans and growls alongside the moans and growls of Swiss were the only thing that one could hear inside the bus.

—Mngh....I'm going to come inside you little whore....—Swiss slapped her butt a couple of times. She was already on her Sixth or Seven orgasm of the night, her insides felt like fire and inside her chest something was growing every minute.

— Mngh...do you want it in your mouth sweets?...—Dew pushed against her throat again.— I will take that face as a yes....—They both growled in sync while their thrusts were becoming more and more savage, they were a growling and moaning mess.

She was completely lost in her lust to even care about what will happen with her after that, she just wanted to live the full experience with those two. She moaned their names taking a moment from worshipping dewdrop cock.

—Mngh.... Swiss! Dewdrop! I'm going to....ah! Swiss! Dew! Mnhhh fucking hell!

She came with a loud moan, the coil in her inside exploded,  her interior tightened and squeezed Swiss dick inside her, making him burst with a deep growl filling her with his thick and hot cum, his claws breaking a bit of the skin in her hips as he squeezed her in position.

Dewdrop didn't last long after that, he grabbed her face and look directly in her eyes as he came on her tongue. She swallowed and smiled. Dew was fairly impressed.

The trio collapsed in the couch, slowly getting back to their senses. A deep purring came from Swiss chest before getting up.

— You, help her get dress, lend him one of my shirts and....uh...she doesn't have any more underwear...I think Cumulus had a pair on her bin I'm going for it....—He smiled looking at the sight in front of him, the small ghoul and the sister cuddling in the seat, all sweaty and tired. He gave both of them a kiss before going to look for clothes and a towel. He helped her first cleaning her and making sure she was comfortable enough for the ride back home, then he did the same for the ghoul.

—I missed doing this type of mayhem with you Dew, but don't bite my dick again or I will bite your precious tail. —He joked with the fire ghoul, she was slowly going back to reality after the high. As the both of them were watching her, Dew gave her a blanket and a kiss on the forehead. They opened the windows in a lame attempt of making the place stink less like sex.

—Swiss...hug me...—She looked at him needy, too needy. Like a puppy.

—If you want to....—He hugged her, passing her arm around her shoulders and letting her rest on his chest.

—Make space for me asshole...—Dewdrop hugged Swiss from the opposite side of her, purring. The multi ghoul was warm...

—Does anyone of you smoke? —She asked—

— You smoke?...

— Only when stressed....or after sex. It's kind of a cliche....And I haven't smoke in a long time...—She laughed a bit. Swiss gave her his cigarettes, dew lightened with the tip of his tail with a smile.

—Here...

—Well...I did gave you the kiss you wanted. —She smiled pinching the ghoul cheek — Do you have anything to do now?...

— Well...go to bed...eat something!... tomorrow we have another ritual...why?...

She looked the tip of her cigarette, the smoke going up and twirling in the air, so many memories from other times flooded her mind.

—.... I wanted to know if I can stay with you tonight...

Swiss and dew looked at each other, a bit worried and at the same time excited.

— You are always welcome in the den. If you want to stay, you can stay...But you are going to sleep with us. I don't want sunshine stealing you in the middle of the night. She has a huge crush on you.

— And you don’t? —She gave him a cheeky smile. — She is so cute...

— More than me?....—Dew made her puppy eyes before giving her a kiss — You smoke menthols Swiss? Your dick is going to fell and shit ....

— You didn't seemed worried about that while sucking and drooling all over it.

She got red, Dew just smiled and laughed. They cuddle again while talking about nonsense and food until she fell asleep. The other ghouls went to the bus hours after, they already knew. It was no fucking mystery that the three of them were fuming for each other.

—Ugh....this place reeks...

— Mnn... It's smell like pomegranate....and burnt. —Aether took a picture with his phone of the three of them napping. — They are going to beg for this picture.

Copia went inside the bus, he had a soft smile in his face, he was tired but he wanted to talk with the ghouls, so he asked if they could talk outside the bus to don't bother y/n and the resting ghouls. Once outside Copia looked at the ghouls and made a small bow to them, showing the respect he had for all of them as a team.

—It was a great night guys....I know that you...are used to Terzo way of doing things but...I will give my best to make you feel proud of the Project. I know that this could be harsh at first , and maybe I will mess a lot of things. But I will do my best effort.

— Oh papa...—Cirrus hugged him and kiss his cheek — You are doing a great job....Terzo is mad at you?...

— A bit....Si, and I understand him...I want you to know that I never planned to steal this from him...He is my friend. But everything was already planned by Secondo and Sister Imperator. I'm glad that you understand me...And I'm also glad to see that y/n is being cared so much here...She is...well she is a friend, someone very important to me, and I know many of you are aware of the situation that surrounds her but, please don't say anything yet...I want to have a talk with her before...

— Secondo told you?....—Cirrus interfered

—What are we missing on? —Aether and Rain were unaware of the situation, as dew and Swiss who were sleeping. — What "situation"  

— Mnn...okay, I will tell this to Dew and Swiss later. Secondo had a vision, about a sister of sin who would be reborn as a ghoul. This vision happened years before Terzo assumed the papacy, but around a year ago Secondo called Me and Mountain as representatives of the ghoul den, because he had news. A sister had been integrated to the church, and she was the one in Secondo's vision, he was sure about it, the oracles and our boss were asked so he could be completely sure about her. And he is. Sister y/n will become a ghoul like us in... about a year.

— She!?...a ghoul!? That's.... I know that there are ghouls that used to be humans but...the process can be horrible...—Aether protested—

— And... being a ghoul means that she will have to live here forever...

— Not necessarily, but she will never be a complete human again, she could pass as one but she will be almost immortal like us. She would have to say goodbye to her family...—Copia interrupted, he knew about the complications, as a way to help her he sends cirrus with the book, he knew she would be interested in reading it, maybe it would help her to make amends with her destiny. — That's the hard part...

— And the heats, and when you feel your horns pierce your skin as they grow, how your tail breaks your skin to be free, and how it hurts to feel that the first months...—Rain replied — It's going to be hard...she will be ready to it? ....—He sighed. From the den he was the only one who was a reincarnated ghouls, but it had been years since he became a ghoul, he forgot most about his human life already. But he did remember the pain and the fear to the unknown, the changes. He loved his ghoul life, that did not change the fact that maybe she wont be ready to it.

— Rain…I am also scared, I care about her too, but our lord decided that her destiny lies here, with us, as a ghoul...I want to give her the best chances of have a better life here, so she never looks back and regret her decision because It will kill her inside…

As they talked about the future of the sister, the fire ghoul was listening closely, from behind the door of the bus, his heart ached, Copia was right; she will die inside if she lives with that regret, he needed to tell her, he needed to prepare her for the changes…But how she could react to the news?

A.N : So, a long chapter and a plot twist. Yeah, the idea was the same since the first chapter but i wanted to build it up a bit. I dont know if it worked that well though. I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading it, I will try my best to post more often, oh and im also thinking on opening the ask and take some submissions maybe, if you are interest coment down below <3

tag list: @jbcalway @yuk-for-president (comment if you want to be added to the tag list)

[cherrycxkes]

”You walked in and my heart went 💥bOoM💥”

(Our little Dewdrop animatic)

[thewickedspinster]

Of Eternity (Thranduil x Reader)

pairing: Thranduil x F!Reader

synopsis: Thranduil and Y/N know each other from what seems like a past life; one that both would rather forget. Once secret lovers, hidden from the prying eyes of the Elvenking's court, the two elves' disagreements became too much, their opinions too divided. Y/N departed for Rivendell and sought shelter with her friend, Elrond. But when the Elvenking of Mirkwood comes to parlay with the Lord of Rivendell, he once again meets Y/N, and someone else who looks awfully familiar...

warnings: afab!Reader, pregnancy, elf children, war

Tathrenion = son of one willow-made

requested by @starlight5cat

Of Eternity

In Rivendell, the seasons turned as flowers bloomed; with a sudden burst of color against the greys of winter. They came and went quickly for elvenkind, rising and eddying like the tide, and with them came new wonders and sounds, new flavors. Song.

Y/N could hardly remember a time when her life was not dictated by these rhythms, when time was so magnified as to hear her own heartbeat, to watch the sunlight catch upon a dewdrop. Though, it was not so long ago she was in a place where seasons hardly touched, where time stood still and light lingered in honeyed moments. Where her breath raced in her body, and youth stretched into eternity. Where naïveté was all too familiar.

Here, she had more responsibility. Here, she was unequivocally welcome. When she had fled the confines of her life before in Mirkwood, where she had been daughter of a Ñoldor house descended from Fingolfin, and gone westward into the Misty Mountains, she had only hoped her old friend, Elrond, would grant her sanctuary. He welcomed her with open arms. Here, she sat on his council of advisors. Here, life was warm and full of light once more.

For a short time of twenty-odd years, there was peace east of the Misty Mountains. Though her cousin Galadriel could not believe it, it had appeared the dark servant of Morgoth named Sauron had been vanquished. The grey elves lived in peace with the sons of Durin and helped the wayward man, but kept to their forests and their mountains. All had seemed well, and with the protection of the haven of Rivendell, the darkness of old seemed unable to touch her.

Such comforts cannot last. Not so long as Morgoth and his fell creations plagued Arda.

As soon as word reached Rivendell of a darkness fallen upon southern Mirkwood, Elrond sought Y/N's counsel.

"You know the eastern forests well," Elrond said softly, guiding them both down towards the river. Water fell in a gentle curtain of silver ahead, glinting in the moonlight. "What sort of evil could cause these things?"

The pair ducked behind the waterfall, and the sound of rushing water hushed their voices. There hidden was an alcove, large enough for a small group, with cushions surrounding the burnt-out embers of a fire. Elrond had come here often in the early days of ruling Rivendell, and when Y/N had arrived, had brought her here in her most vulnerable moments.

"The Elvenking's Halls are to the north, but in my many wanderings, I went south," she answered, settling on the floor alongside Elrond. "Mirkwood is vast and its creatures untold, but I have never seen anything that would produce this sort of rot."

Elrond hummed, deep in thought. Elven and human messengers alike had been passing along rumors of dark creatures in the southern Mirkwood, things that walked on more than four legs, with slavering maws and the stench of evil surrounding them. Elves who more often ventured south returned with harrowing stories of voices, of song coming from the dark trees. The canopies had grown so thick that sunlight hardly reached the ground. Some had even reported sightings of Orcs.

"You know what this means," Y/N said, interrupting Elrond's reverie. "Galadriel was right. She was always right. We cannot know that Sauron is vanquished. We burned no body. Isildur brought no head. Only the Silmaril."

"There are no credible rumors of Morgoth's creatures, Y/N."

"There are," she insisted. "They have started calling this force 'The Necromancer.' This is no coincidence, Elrond. All evil in these lands comes back to Sauron. To Morgoth. So long as their discord remains, none of the children of Eru are safe."

Beyond his red head, with his noble face, the silvered water fell in sheets, dulling to a gentle sheaving. Waiting. When he raised his gaze, he said, "What would you have me do?"

Galadriel would have them go to war. Though she had grown less brash since the last age, she had grown no less desperate for Sauron's defeat. But Rivendell was a haven, a place of peace for wandering elves. She could not see amassing forces and marching to Mirkwood unaided. Besides, it was not Elrond's territory to march on.

"You know exactly what you must do, my friend," she said at last.

"You do not like him."

"What of it?"

"He is the reason you fled your home."

It was true enough, though it still gave Y/N pause. Mirkwood had been a home for long centuries, it was true. But before that, she had known the lushness of Beleriand, and the glory of Númenor. She would always be a wanderer. But the Elvenking of Mirkwood brought with him memories too fresh to be painless.

"He is the lord of Mirkwood, and should you wish to do anything at all about this rising evil, you must first confer with him," she said firmly. "Invite him here. Invite his entire court. They will leave Prince Legolas to guard the north, but Thranduil will come."

"I would have you by my side upon his reception."

Y/N caught the glimmer of ancient mischief in Elrond's eyes, and offered him a faint smile in return. "It would be an honor."

~~~

Word came within a fortnight that the Elvenking's party would embark on the Elf-path by the full moon. This gave the people of Rivendell little time to prepare, but showed Elrond and his council how dire circumstances were in Mirkwood.

As Y/N stood at Elrond's side on the dais before the sweeping steps to the city, she knew that in this matter, as all others, that Thranduil would be stubborn, cunning, and seemingly omniscient. It was in his power as king to appear so to his people. But Y/N, he could not fool. She and Elrond would simply need maneuver with tact, to force Thranduil into showing his hand.

In the distance, the royal traveling party rounded a bend and came into view, the Elvenking in his raiment of grey and silver astride his great antlered steed. From here, Y/N could feel his piercing gaze upon them, focusing on her at the Lord of Rivendell's side. Robed in rich, dark green against Elrond's golden raiment, Y/N stood tall. A circlet of gold sat upon her brow, and in it, an opal enshrined. Befitting of her station, she stood to Elrond's left, his wife Celebrían to his right.

Y/N had known true fear in the face of evil, yet facing the Elvenking of Mirkwood after these twenty years turned her chest cold. She could never fear him - she knew him too well, but that was just the problem. They shared a deep past of friendship, of love, forbidden though it may have been. And pain, at the last. Since their parting, she had, for the first time, lived many secrets that she kept from him still.

The party finally arrived at the dais, the great reindeer's feet clapping against the stone as thunder. The Elvenking dismounted, stepped before Elrond, and inclined his head.

"Lord Elrond of Rivendell, you honor me with your great hospitality," he said formally, the Sindarin tongue rolling like quicksilver from his mouth. "And Lady Celebrían, thank you for welcoming my host into your household."

Elrond, Y/N, and the council assembled bowed to the king.

"We are pleased you answered our invitation," Elrond replied, his tone, as ever, one of deliberate lightness, as if he knew something no one else did. "How long shall you stay?"

"A week," Thranduil said shortly. Finally, finally, his silvered eyes shifted to Y/N. She breathed in deeply. "There are matters to attend to in Mirkwood."

"I do hope Prince Legolas is well," she said softly, smoothly.

Thranduil looked momentarily surprised she'd spoken, his eyebrows drawing together at the sound of her voice. "He is taking to his responsibilities well."

A moment of silence passed. The river roared below. Then, Celebrían was taking gesturing towards the king, leading him away into the great wood house of Rivendell.

Formal greetings complete, the rest of the crowd quickly dispersed, and elves moved swiftly in preparation for the feast prepared in the king's honor. Soon, only Elrond and Y/N remained. She watched the sun setting over the vale, eyes fixed on the rushing waters surrounding.

"Will you tell him?" Elrond asked, voice so quiet only she could hear.

"How could I?" Y/N whispered. She felt her fingers tremble.

"It is unfair to -"

"You shall not tell me what is fair or unfair, Elrond," Y/N whirled, suddenly furious. "You know not what it is to have my fears."

Elrond held up his hands. "I only wish to say that truths are better spoken. Deception is the chaos-sower."

"It will put him in danger."

"It will give him power."

"A curse," she hissed. "A bounty upon his head."

"Or a crown."

She stared at her friend, stunned. "You do not mean that."

Elrond only watched her in return.

With no words left between them, Y/N turned and disappeared into the house, bracing herself for the week to come.

~~~

It was the fourth day of the accursed sessions of counsel, and Thranduil had still not admitted there being any disturbance in Mirkwood. He spoke on matters of trade, of agriculture, of relations with Khazad-Dûn, but nothing of the murmurs from the Sutherlands.

Y/N was beginning to lose her patience.

Elrond, blessedly, had more of it to spare. Ever the diplomat, he listened to Thranduil's concerns and complaints of their relations, and constructed plans to fix them. Ever the master of compromise, he kept Rivendell's secrecy and best interests at heard. Ever the more patient of the two, he kept prodding the Elvenking towards revealing his secrets, to no avail.

Y/N sat, posture relaxed, around the dais at the center of Elrond's pubic chambers. The elves around her deliberated, debated, while she kept her mouth closed. As Elrond's chief advisor, her primary duty was to listen. She interjected when Elrond looked to her, and when someone said something entirely ludicrous. Elves tended to take a laboriously long time to come to any sort of agreement in politics, and were reasonable to the point of boredom. Y/N's engagement had thus far been minimal, though she heard all.

They had turned to the topic of weapons, and of Rivendell's protection. They were inching closer to the topic at hand, but she knew Thranduil had a deep well of patience, particularly when it came to dealing with elves. The high noon sun blazed down on the white marble.

"How have you fared in the training of your ranks?" Thranduil inquired, sipping at a goblet of honeywine.

"The archers excel, under the tutelage of Sindarin masters," Elrond said. "The swordsmen, under that of the Ñoldor. Khazad-Dûn has agreed to provide us with weapon designs, and with materials to forge them. Durin is all too happy to help an old friend."

Thranduil scoffed lightly into his cup. "Old friend, indeed."

Y/N sat up straighter at the tone, the scoff. She had heard it many times. "Prince Durin has provided us with an excellent relationship over the years. He is a close friend to Rivendell."

Thranduil looked at her, through her, in her. Before her mind's eye flashed his face, poised over her, abed. Soft candlelight shone from beyond his features, and his face was softened into the loveliest of smiles. Gone in an instant.

Just then, lithe footsteps from just inside, and bursting from behind the curtains came three elven children, small and laughing. A maid reached out, trying to snatch them by their tunics, but too late. They sprinted into the circle, and straight up to Elrond.

"Father, we would like to go the Gates," one boy panted. Elrohir.

"Apologies, Father," the other interjected, suddenly serious. Elladan, his twin. "I told him not to come."

"Our swordmaster is at the Gates, and asked us to join him," the third explained. Y/N sat forward, staring down at the boys.

"Tathrenion," she said severely, hiding the quake to her voice, "you know not to enter this chamber when Lord Elrond is taking counsel."

The third boy, unlike the other two, with (Y/HC) hair and striking grey eyes, paled, bowing to Y/N. Even when he straightened, he kept his eyes averted. "Forgive me, Mother. Elladan and Elrohir wished to go, and I wished to accompany them."

It was only then, as the boys turned to glance around at the present company, that Elrond spoke.

"You are in the presence of Thranduil, Elvenking of Mirkwood."

Shuffling, with a soft gasp from Elrohir, the three boys bowed low to the king. Thranduil said nothing for a moment. Instead of on the children, his eyes were pinned on Y/N, wide with unbridled shock. When he finally did look at the boys, at the one called Tathrenion, he found his own eyes staring back, steady and calm.

Thranduil stood abruptly, setting down his goblet. He opened his mouth, closed it, then said, "We shall eat. Elrond, you shall decide what to do with your sons."

He swept off the dais, out of view, and Y/N was left staring at the spot he once occupied.

"Go after him," Elrond murmured to her, leaning close.

"Tathrenion-"

"Leave the child to me." And an unspoken promise to keep her son safe.

Y/N was up in an instant, following in Thranduil's wake as quickly as possible. But he was moving fast, and kept dodging out of sight, around corners that he did not know. Servants moved out of the way as Y/N passed through an adjoining kitchen at a sprint, intercepting Thranduil as he rounded the corner into the next room.

She caught him by his elbow as he tried to pull from her grasp, but she held firm.

"Thranduil," she said. "Stop. Just... Stop. And listen."

His rage made his jaw tight, his brows drawn low. "I will not stand here and listen to you when you have -"

"I had to leave," she interrupted, holding his gaze unflinchingly. "I could not be your concubine, Thranduil. I would not."

He scoffed, that same sound he made when he thought someone foolish. Beneath him. It hadn't started this way, but as they fell deeper into each other, he'd started scoffing at her the same way. It was part of what drove Y/N away from Mirkwood. "You were not a concubine, Y/N."

"Then tell me what I was to you."

Thranduil bent lower, so their faces were inches apart. "You know exactly what you were to me."

"I know that I was not your wife." And that was venom in her tone, sour and deadly.

A shadow passed over his features. "You were everything she was not."

"And that makes me whore to a king."

"You have never been a whore!" He shouted.

The surrounding house went quiet. Y/N trembled, fingertips numb.

"Tathrenion is your son," she said lowly, practically hissing into his mouth. "Your son, Thranduil. Our place in Rivendell is of your doing. You never recognized what it was to be in my place, with no guarantee of my safety in your court."

"I always would have protected the both of you."

Tears gathered in her eyes. "Our love felt increasingly fragile. I doubted that it even existed any longer. Had we been found out, I doubted you would protect me from exile."

Thranduil was quiet. The house had moved on from his sharp outburst, exhaling as his anger passed. Y/N's grip loosened on his tunic, her truth spoken. But her touch lingered.

"Did you know?" He murmured hoarsely.

"Not when I left your halls. Not until I reached the Misty Mountains."

"And all... went well? With the birth?"

Elven births were rare, and dangerous for mother and child. "Blessedly, Elrond's midwives and healers some of the most gifted, and I healed swiftly. He was born squalling."

He loosed a soft breath, and some of the tension left his features. He had always been beautiful, but it was when he was away from prying eyes that he truly became ethereal. Radiant. Himself.

"You should always have been in Mirkwood, with me." She just looked up at him. "I am sorry, my Y/N. I never meant to make you afraid."

"It is safer for both of us away from you and Legolas."

Thranduil snorted. "My son has proven impertinent. And lacking the character to succeed me."

"He will mature," she said softly. "He is young still."

"He will have to fight soon."

"Then this Necromancer..."

"Is a threat. Whatever darkness lurks in the south of my lands, it is dangerous and spreading."

"Tell Elrond," she urged. "He wishes to aid any fight against Morgoth's darkness in these lands."

"My forces are strong."

"They will be stronger with Rivendell's. Don't let your pride cloud your judgement."

At that, a small smile graced his mouth. "That has always been your advice for me."

"It will always stand. Unless you change."

"Would you come home?"

The question surprised her. "You would have us? So soon after the death of your wife?"

"I would have your company," he said. "And I would have my son raised by the both of us."

Y/N did not have an answer, and she was about to say as much when a smaller voice said, "I would like to go to Mirkwood."

Y/N whipped around, and found young Tathrenion standing behind them. She took a large step away from Thranduil, then lowered herself to her son's level, steeling herself.

"What did Lord Elrond tell you and the twins?" She asked.

"He said we may go to the Gates, but I decided to stay behind." Tathrenion peered past Y/N, to the Elvenking. "I wished to speak with you."

Thranduil could hardly stomach looking at his son's face, the very reflection of his own, untouched by age yet full of a strange wisdom. "Speak, child."

"I know little of why my mother left your kingdom, but I know she has done everything since for my sake. Please, do not ply her with false hopes. If you invite us to Mirkwood, you pledge to keep her safe."

"And you," Thranduil answered immediately. "I will protect you both, and welcome you into my household in places of honor."

Y/N was speechless, her throat swollen around pride for her young son.

"I know you not, Your Majesty, but I would like to," said Tathrenion simply.

Thranduil smiled.

Y/N sent him on his way, leaving her alone once again with the Elvenking. This time, he reached out to her, and against logic, she stepped into him, leaning into his fingers upon her cheek. She had longed for his touch, his kiss, his steadfastness ever since she left the forest. Leaving Mirkwood had been one of the hardest decisions of her long life.

"Let us think about this," she whispered. "And let these diplomatic matters be done first. Speak to Elrond in earnest."

"I will wait for your return to my side, Y/N," he murmured. "I have been waiting since the moment you left."

~~~

Dappled sunlight shone down upon the glade, lighting the page Y/N read. It was a letter, signed in Elrond's familiar hand, detailing the phalanxes marching towards Mirkwood. They would join Thranduil's army in patrolling for evil in the south, just as they had hoped.

Amongst the trees, a young boy laughed, and an older one hollered. Legolas was nearly fully mature, but had taken to playing with his younger half-brother in earnest. Together, they romped through the forest, and Tathrenion adored having someone elder to look up to and learn from. He excelled in archery, now, thanks to Legolas's tutelage.

A hand wrapped around her arm, pulling her backwards, and she fell upon Thranduil's chest. He was stretched upon the grass, feline at ease. She luxuriated in the feel of his body against hers, in his fingers in her unbound hair. In his mouth, pressed to her shoulder.

She had refused to take him to bed since her return, but she had begun to let him back into her heart. He had honored his word, and the loss of his wife had left him in need of comfort, in need of counsel and a tender hand.

Besides that, over honeywine in the candlelight one night in Rivendell, he had finally told her he loved her. Words were the playthings of elves, and though they meant little to some, they meant everything to Y/N. She opened up visions of the future that had ere been clouded.

"Of what do you think, my love?" Thranduil breathed against her skin.

She came back to the dampness of the grass beneath them, the golden green of the canopy above, the laughter of her son in the distance. The warmth of her king at her back.

She smiled. "Eternity."

[thewulf]

Tides of Comfort || JJ Maybank

Summary: Request - I begging and dying for JJ Maybank comfort. Like reader is just going through it and JJ being the best “I got you baby” and just holding her forever and the pogues are just “awww they’re so cute” I just craveeee it

A/N - Stoppp this is just so sweet. Again, trying to be a lil more descriptive in the writing so lmk how you like it!!

Pairing: JJ Maybank x Female Reader

Word Count: 1.6k+

As the evening draped over the Outer Banks like a comforting shroud, casting a soft golden glow over the horizon, you found yourself perched on the weathered dock of the chateau, tears staining your cheeks like dewdrops on delicate petals. The weight of the week's hardships weighed down on your shoulders, threatening to engulf you in a sea of despair. Hugging your knees to your chest, you sought solace in the solitude of the fading light, the rhythmic lapping of the waves against the dock providing a soothing backdrop to your turbulent thoughts.

Unbeknownst to you, JJ Maybank, your unwavering anchor, and beacon of light in the darkness, had ended his shift earlier that evening. A nagging intuition, a silent whisper of the heart, pulled him towards you with an urgency that he couldn't ignore. With each step he took, guided by an invisible thread of destiny, his determination to offer you his unwavering support grew stronger, his heart beating in sync with yours.

As JJ made his way towards the dock, the soft crunch of sandy dirt beneath his feet mingled with the gentle rustle of leaves in the evening breeze. The salty tang of the ocean hung heavy in the air, a familiar scent that filled him with a sense of homecoming. With each passing moment, the distance between you and him seemed to shrink, as if drawn together by an invisible force that transcended time and space.

Finally, he spotted your silhouette against the dimming sky, a solitary figure in a world of fading light. His heart clenched with hurt at the sight of your tear-stained cheeks, his resolve strengthening with each step he took towards you. Without hesitation, he closed the distance between you, his footsteps soft against the worn wooden planks of the dock.

"Y/N?" he called softly, his voice a gentle whisper carried on the evening breeze, infused with warmth and concern.

Startled, you turned towards him, tear-filled eyes meeting his with a mixture of surprise and relief. In that moment, the world seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of you amidst the quiet beauty of the twilight. Without a word, JJ closed the remaining distance between you, enveloping you in a tender embrace that spoke volumes of his unwavering love and support.

"What's wrong, baby?" he murmured, his voice a soothing melody amidst the chaos of your emotions, a lifeline in the darkness.

Unable to find the words to articulate the storm raging within you, you simply leaned into him, seeking comfort in the safety of his arms, finding security in the warmth of his embrace. With each beat of your heart, each hitched breath, you felt a sense of peace wash over you, as if the weight of the world had been lifted from your shoulders.

JJ held you close, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of your head, his touch a gentle caress against your skin. "You don't have to tell me if you're not ready," he whispered, his breath warm against your ear, his words a promise of unwavering support. "But know that I'm here for you, always. I've got you, okay?"

You nodded, a soft sob escaping your lips as you clung to him, finding comfort in his unwavering presence, in the depth of his love.

With infinite tenderness, JJ gently lifted you into his arms, cradling you close as he rose to his feet, as if determined to shield you from the world's troubles with the strength of his embrace.

Without a word, he carried you to the nearby hammock, its gentle sway offering a semblance of peace amidst the storm raging within you. As you settled into the hammock, JJ's heart swelled with love for you, his touch a soothing balm against the ache in your soul.

Brushing away your tears with his thumb, he spoke, his voice a gentle murmur of reassurance and affection. "You're safe here, baby," he whispered, his words a promise of unwavering support. "I'll stay with you until the storm passes, love."

And in that moment, as you lay together beneath the starlit sky, the weight of the world lifted from your shoulders, replaced by a sense of peace and serenity in JJ's embrace. For in his arms, you found not only comfort, but also the strength to weather any storm that life may bring.

You buried your face in his chest, your tears flowing freely now as you allowed yourself to release the pent-up emotions weighing you down.

JJ held you close, his arms wrapped around you protectively, as if shielding you from the world's troubles. With a gentle sway, he rocked you back and forth in the hammock, the rhythm soothing and comforting.

"I love you, more than you will ever know.” He whispered, still holding you close to his chest knowing how badly you needed it now.

His words washed over you like a healing balm, dispelling the lingering shadows of doubt and fear that had taken root in your heart. With each tender caress, each whispered assurance, JJ's love enveloped you, wrapping you in a cocoon of safety and security.

"You're not alone, baby," he continued, his voice a gentle melody in the quiet of the night. "I'm here with you, every step of the way."

A sense of peace settled over you, like a blanket of stars strewn across the night sky. In JJ's embrace, you found solace, a refuge from the storms that raged within.

As he continued to murmur words of comfort and love, his touch a soothing symphony against your skin, the walls around your heart began to crumble. Brick by brick, the barriers you had built to protect yourself fell away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of vulnerability and trust.

In JJ's arms, you felt seen, heard, and cherished. His love was a beacon of light in the darkness, guiding you through even the most treacherous of seas.

JJ's eyes twinkled mischievously as he shifted in the hammock, his arms still wrapped securely around you. With a playful grin, he leaned in closer, his voice filled with anticipation. It was that determined look on your face that meant you knew you were in for something.

"You know what always cheers me up when I'm feeling down?" he began, his tone light and affectionate, much different than the seriousness he had been conveying just moments prior.

Curiosity sparkled in your eyes as you tilted your head, eager to hear what he had to say. "What's that, JJ?"

His grin widened, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "Stories. So let me tell you one. Well, did you hear about the cheese factory explosion?" he said, his voice laced with playful excitement.

You couldn't help but chuckle at the unexpected turn of conversation. "A cheese factory explosion?" you repeated, amusement coloring your tone, playing along with whatever, he had planned.

JJ nodded enthusiastically. "That's right! It was a de-brie-acle," he quipped, unable to contain his own laughter at the literally cheesy joke.

Your laughter bubbled up in response, the sound filling the air with warmth and light. JJ's eyes sparkled with delight as he watched your smile widen, his heart swelling with affection.

Encouraged by the sound of your laughter, JJ's eyes lit up with delight, and he leaned in closer, eager to keep the joyful momentum going. With a playful grin, he launched into a series of lighthearted anecdotes and jokes, each one more absurd and whimsical than the last.

He regaled you with tales of his childhood escapades, embellished with exaggerated details that left you in stitches. His laughter mingled with yours, the harmonious melody echoing through the stillness of the night.

With each story, JJ's enthusiasm was infectious, filling the air with an undeniable warmth and light. He painted vivid pictures with his words, transporting you to worlds filled with laughter and wonder, far removed from the troubles of the present moment.

As the night wore on, the two of you found yourselves caught up in a whirlwind of laughter and camaraderie, the weight of your worries fading into the background. In JJ's company, the darkness seemed less daunting, replaced by a sense of joy and possibility.

Sooner than you wished he had finished his stories, leaving you cozied in his arms under a comfortable silence. As you both lay there in the hammock, time seemed to stand still. The gentle sway of the hammock beneath you mirrored the ebb and flow of your emotions, a soothing rhythm that lulled you into a sense of peace.

The Pogues watched from afar, their eyes filled with warmth as they observed the scene unfolding before them. John B, Sarah, Kiara, and Pope exchanged knowing glances, their smiles mirroring the affectionate bond shared between you and JJ.

In that moment, amidst the tranquil backdrop of the night sky and the gentle rustle of leaves, they saw more than just two individuals finding comfort in each other's arms. They saw a beacon of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, love and laughter could light the way.

For you and JJ were not just partners; you were each other's guiding light, offering support, comfort, and unwavering devotion in the face of adversity. Your connection was palpable, a testament to the strength of your bond and the depth of your love.

As the Pogues watched on, their hearts swelled with affection for the two of you. They knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, you and JJ would face them together, hand in hand, drawing strength from each other's presence and guiding one another through the darkest of nights.

And as the evening breeze whispered through the trees, carrying with it the promise of a new day, the Pogues shared a silent moment of gratitude for the love that bound you and JJ together. For in that simple gesture of love and laughter, they found hope, knowing that as long as you had each other, you could weather any storm that came your way.

Permanent Taglist (Message me or comment below if you want to be added!): @loving-and-dreaming @kmc1989 @memeorydotcom @matisse556 @buckylov3r @taygrls @ah-blossom @hardballoonlove @rosiahills22 @djs8891

[emeraldelixirs]

Bloodsport {I: where’d it go wrong?}

bsf! m. riddle x fem!sallow!reader, fem!sallow!reader stepbrother! t. nott

Bound by Blood, Betrayed by Fate. When you’re dragged to Malfoy Manor under orders from Voldemort himself, you learn the price of your mother’s mistakes: an Unbreakable Vow, tethering your life to the deranged Bellatrix Lestrange. Forced to navigate a web of dark magic, family debts, and impossible expectations, you must tread carefully in a house brimming with enemies—and a few familiar faces. As tensions rise and the lines between loyalty and survival blur, one question remains: will you find a way to break free, or will you lose yourself to the darkness?

Content warnings: 18+ themes, mentions of death, mental, emotional, physical abuse, torture, trauma, dysfunctional family dynamics, taboo themes, grief, underage coercion misogyny, classic canon HP themes of blood purity, house prejudices, oppression

Word count: 2.3k

A/n: and here lays the start of y/n’s trauma, with a lovely flashback. This is merely a filler before I get to the good stuff, bc next part is 8k worth of words and I will not elaborate any further. DISCLAIMER: girl in picture is not descriptive of Y/n, I am writing her with as little description as I can besides last name ofc. I just wanted a fitting pic for the chapter until I get to an official banner.

[playlist: the lakes–taylor swift, july–noah cyrus, forever winter–taylor swift, where’d it go wrong–d4vd]

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It was a bright summer day in June, one of those days where the remnants of spring lingered in the air—a soft, cool breeze running through the wildflowers in the fields surrounding the Parkinson Mansion. Despite the sun’s gentle warmth and the comforting drone of dragonflies and honeybees, something felt off in the pit of your stomach. You couldn’t place it, but the sense of dread fluttered there, stubborn and persistent.

You, Pansy, and Daphne had strayed from the bustle inside—your two closest friends pulling you out to the meadow behind the estate. The Parkinson Mansion itself was a grand, pristine building, though seldom occupied by actual parents these days; they were always away at this meeting or that trip. Under normal circumstances, you’d relish a carefree summer’s day with your friends, but the knot in your stomach refused to untie. Perhaps because your mother had acted so strangely the night before, insisting you spend the night at Pansy’s, hugging you tight enough to leave you breathless and—if you weren’t mistaken—a little dampness in your hair from her tears. You’d woken this morning with an irrational worry gnawing at you, ready to flee back to the perpetually hollow cold of Nott Manor to ask the meaning. But now, it merely circled your thoughts like a blackbird overhead. 

Nevertheless, it ought to have been peaceful here. Sunbeams chased off the last dewdrops from the night. Mourning doves cooed in the distance, half-hidden in the branches. The breeze ruffled Pansy’s dark hair as she crouched, meticulously polishing her new Nimbus broom, the latest model on the market. She paused every so often, lifting it into the sunshine to watch the metal fittings glint.

“Lorenzo,” she huffed, “is going to swallow his words when he sees this baby. And he’s coming with Draco later this week—they promised to run a few drills with me. I’ll be unstoppable against them.” Her tone was smug, but you only nodded, half-listening.

Meanwhile, Daphne lay on her stomach in the tall grass, your head pillowed on her back. She’d spent the last hour braiding bright wildflowers into flimsy crowns—two perched precariously on your heads, the third already wilted beside Pansy, who cursed every time it slipped off. Daphne flicked a new chain of daisies between her fingers, giggling under her breath at some rumor she’d heard.

“I heard Cho was found snogging Terry Boot on the train ride home,” she announced, her voice lilting with the thrill of gossip. “Not even a week after poor Cedric died, can you believe it?”

A shudder prickled at your arms. Cedric’s death had rattled the whole school, and you still felt uneasy about how the year had ended. You shifted your weight off Daphne, dislodging a few petals. “That’s got to be rubbish,” you muttered, frowning. “Cho wouldn’t move on that fast, surely. She was devastated.”

Daphne shrugged, weaving another blossom through her makeshift crown. “That’s what Astoria heard. From a friend of a friend, she claims.” She sniffed in that way she did when she wanted to sound superior.

Pansy snorted, hugging the broom handle against her chest. “Astoria’s sources are always questionable,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I call bollocks.”

In another world, on another day, you might have teased them both about digging into outlandish rumors. But the knot in your stomach tugged tighter, a creeping sense that haunted you with the talk of death. You cast your gaze toward the sky—blue, bright, with just a hint of humidity that promised a sweltering afternoon. The day felt too perfect, as if something unspoken lurked at the edges.

Trying to ignore the weight in your stomach, you steered the conversation elsewhere: “Have you heard Lyra Nox is releasing a new novel soon? It’s about a woman who falls in love with a charmed portrait.”

Pansy snorted a laugh. “A portrait as the love interest? That’s… creative.”

Daphne giggled, half listening, half braiding. “I’ll skip the reading and wait for your review,” she joked, nose wrinkling in playful distaste.

“I’ll opt out of both.” Pansy deadpanned. You huffed in faux annoyance, reaching over, grabbing a handful of stray wilting daisies, launching them at her.

She grinned at you, “kidding, kidding. Easy Sallow.”

You made a show of tossing a few wilted daisies at Pansy in mock offense. She smirked, swatting them away. The three of you resumed your chatter—about next year’s classes, potential new teachers, Blaise Zabini’s upcoming party, and what you wanted for lunch. The conversation and the bright field nearly lulled you into forgetting the morning’s dread.

Until, you noticed a lone figure emerging from across the field. The shape drew closer, weaving through the tall grass in rushed strides. As it neared, your pulse quickened: Theo. It was definitely Theo, but something about his posture was wrong for such a sunny day. A heaviness radiated off him, like a storm cloud in human form.

He approached, slightly out of breath, hair windblown, and your friends halted their chatter. Pansy stood up a fraction, shielding her eyes against the sun. Daphne paused in her braiding, turning her head so your weight slid off her back. Silence fell.

Theo’s eyes were red at the edges, his mouth pressed into a thin line that barely contained whatever grief lay behind it. Your stomach lurched. Theo rarely displayed emotions so openly in front of others—especially not in front of Pansy and Daphne. The dread inside you knotted further, as if your body already knew what he was about to say.

“Y/n, you need to come home.” he urged softly, glancing at Pansy and Daphne with quick, polite acknowledgement before focusing on you. “Now. Your—it’s urgent.”

Fear spiked hot in your throat. “Is everything… is my mother…?” The question choked off, half-formed.

“We need to go home,” Theo repeated, voice taut. His eyes flicked from you to your friends and back again. He looked… distraught in a way you’d never seen, as if the ground had dropped beneath him. The phrase go home struck a chord of panic. You realized you never wanted to leave the safety of this sunlit field. 

“Wh–what’s wrong?” you asked, trying to laugh it off, but fear caught your breath. When he remained silent, you slowly stood, petals tumbling off your lap. Daphne’s crown of wildflowers dropped from her fingers, petals scattering in the grass as she sat up, alarmed, while Pansy clutched her broom handle.

“Just… trust me,” Theo insisted, more hoarse this time. “I—I’ll explain later, okay? We have to go home, now.”

You glanced at Daphne and Pansy, confusion rolling off them in waves. But the dread in Theo’s eyes sealed your decision. “Alright,” you whispered, “Let me just—”

“No,” he cut in, shaking his head. “We need to leave immediately.”

Pansy hugged her broom closer, confusion written across her face. “Hold on—what’s going on?” She demanded, stepping forward. “Theo, you’re scaring us.”

Theo parted his lips, but only managed, “I—I just can’t explain right now.” He caught your arm gently. “We’ve got to go home. Right away.”

Without another word, you allowed him to gently grip your arm, pulling you away from your friends. Shock rooted them in place. Pansy called after you—What’s going on?—but you just shook your head, tears unexpectedly pricking the corners of your eyes. You didn’t know why you felt this sudden wave of sorrow, but the air felt heavier, the sun less bright.

Daphne scrambled to her feet, her half-finished flower crown forgotten. “Wait, Y/N—?”

But Theo gave a final apologetic glance over his shoulder, and the two of you were gone, weaving back through the fields, up the winding path through the overgrown grasses toward the Parkinson Estate.  The day felt too bright for tragedy, but dread clawed at your ribcage. You blinked back tears, your breath hitching as you nodded, trusting the urgent plea in Theo’s eyes.

The moment you reached the Floo station inside, your heart hammered out of control. Theo grabbed a handful of powder and swept you into the emerald flames. You clung to his sleeve, a kaleidoscope of color and spinning magic swallowing you until you tumbled out into the drawing room of the Nott estate—your stepfather’s home, which you reluctantly shared. 

The abrupt shift from the sun-drenched meadow to this lifeless interior felt like stepping from day into a permanent night when You staggered out, disoriented, gripping Theo for stability.

The drawing room’s silence was a stark contrast to the lively field. At its center stood Narcissa Malfoy, her elegant features drawn tight with concern, and Theodore Nott Sr., whose expression held all the warmth of a gravestone.

A swell of panic rose in your chest, breath hitching. Theo hovered at your side, shoulders trembling in silent grief he tried to bury.

Your stepfather—no, your mother’s husband in name only—met your gaze with chilling indifference. “Your mother,” he said flatly, “died last night.”

A ringing filled your ears. The day’s brightness seemed to vanish from your memory, replaced by icy shock. “No…” you whispered, hardly aware that tears streamed down your cheeks. “That can’t be—there’s no reason—she was fine—”

Narcissa stepped forward, ignoring Nott Sr.’s disapproving scowl. “I’m so sorry, my dear,” she murmured, voice trembling with empathy. She guided you gently from the Floo, wrapping an arm around your shoulders, beckoning Theo in too.

Theodore Nott Sr. cleared his throat. “She arranged for you to spend the night with Miss Parkinson, presumably to spare you the drama of witnessing… the end.”

He spoke without even a glimmer of sympathy, as if narrating the front page of the Daily Prophet. Your mind reeled, refusing to accept the finality of his words. She can’t be gone…

“H-how?” You breathed out. You already had feeling as to how and why, but you wanted to hear it from him.

He sniffed, “complications on the job,” impatiently glancing between the three of you.

It was because of her.

The mad woman that decided to marry your mother off to Nott Sr that stood emotionless in front of you, that had free reign in your house, pulling your mother into the drawing room for hours on end, sending her away at elusive hours of the night, doing gods knows what. Bellatrix Lestrange. 

Theo gave a strangled sob, hearing the one that wracked through you loudly, turning his face away, wiping his eyes. You gripped his sleeve needing his presence as much as he needed yours, letting him tug you in his side.

“Emotional displays won’t—” He cleared his throat.

 Narcissa, her voice firm, snapped at Nott Sr. “Leave them. Now. They’ve just lost their mother.”

“This is my house, Narcissa,” The older wizard made a dismissive sound. “They’re old enough to keep emotions in check. The times we live in—” 

“Get out,” Narcissa repeated, sharp enough that even he winced, her authoritative maternal side shining through. With a roll of his eyes, he strode out, slamming the door behind him, leaving the room colder than before.

In the hush that followed, your tears came in earnest. Narcissa guided you and Theo to a nearby sofa, letting you cling to each other. She summoned tissues, stroking your hair lightly in a gesture that felt heartbreakingly maternal—something your mother could never do again.

You tried to reconcile the morning’s bright sunshine, the warm breeze, the friendly chatter with your friends, with this. The last vestiges of spring now seemed mockingly beautiful, overshadowed by your mother’s sudden absence. She must have known something terrible would happen—why else insist on your sleeping over at the Parkinsons’? The question gnawed at you.

Theo trembled at your side, every muscle tight. You slid an arm around him, drawing him close. Step-siblings, yes, but more than that—friends, companions. Now you were bound by even more shared loss, being there for him when his own mother passed a few years prior. And if Nott Sr. was your only guardian left, you shuddered at the hollowness that awaited you both under his roof.

Narcissa, kneeling by your feet, pressed her hand to yours. “You’re not alone. I’ll help however I can, you two are some of Draco's closest friends.” Her voice wavered, tears bright in her eyes. But she held steady for you, for Theo, gently bridging the gap left by that the cold, malicious man who cared little for either of you.

Outside, the June sun still shone, oblivious to your world’s collapse. You let your head rest against Theo’s shoulder, tears staining his sleeve. The memory of how lovely the day had seemed only hours ago panged in your chest, a cruel reminder that fate offered no warnings.

You still felt the knot of unease you’d woken with, that sense of dread now realized. The breeze you’d thought was gently stirring your hair had, in reality, been a herald of loss.

No matter the brightness of summer, the world looked bleak and gray now, hollowed by grief.

The sunlit day felt like a cruel mockery, each warm ray a glaring reminder of how a bright sky could so easily clash with a dark heart. You sat on the steps leading to Malfoy Manor’s lavish gardens, reading, but your body felt heavy, your mind drifting back to the day your mother died. The recollection threatened to swallow you whole, and you had no energy to resist.

Bellatrix had held you in her claws for most of the day—torturing you in every way possible except actually casting the Cruciatus Curse. You suspected she was saving that particular brand of agony for a later date. You stared at your tender hands, welts from her punishments forming red and raw across your knuckles. They pulsed with each heartbeat, a physical echo of the emotional storm churning within.

It hadn’t been physical violence alone; she forced you to “charm” a mirror, an exercise that turned your stomach. The mirror displayed a rotating gallery of men—some young, some old and unsavory—teaching you how to coax and manipulate them with your Veela magic. That memory made you feel unclean, as if your soul were smeared by something far more insidious than a simple bruise.

You’d rather have endured a hundred more blows than endure that humiliating “lesson” again. Yet here you were, in broad daylight, the beautiful summer mocking your pain.

At last, the manor’s door opened behind you, footsteps on stone drawing your attention. You glanced up, shielding your eyes from the sun, spotting Theo stepping outside with Mattheo in tow. Both wore suits—dark, meticulously tailored, each cuff hiding the marks that chained them to the Dark Lord’s bidding. They looked weary, but they managed half-smiles, as they talked animatedly about something.

“Columba,” Theo called gently, that old nickname he’d used for you since you were kids. He approached with caution, Mattheo lagging behind like a silent sentinel.

“Ready to go home?” Theo asked, offering a hand to help you stand.

The word home jarred you. Home might as well have been a crypt these days, the Nott Manor empty except for house-elves who scurried about on edge, rarely speaking. You forced a nod, sliding your bruised hand into Theo’s. Pain shot through your fingers, but you let him lift you.

He froze when he saw the injuries marring your skin. “Gods, Y/N… she did this?” he whispered hoarsely, a flare of anger in his eyes. Over his shoulder, you saw Mattheo tense as he peered over his friend’s shoulder, running a hand through his curls before letting it drop to his side, frustration emanating off him in waves suddenly.

You shrugged, trying to sound calm. “I wasn’t doing well enough, apparently.”

Mattheo let out a hollow laugh. “How hard is it to twirl your hair and bat your lashes at someone, exactly?”

Your temper flickered, turning your gaze on him. “It’s more than that, you twat.”

He shot you a look, jaw clenching. “More than enough to get beaten for?” His dark eyes glinted with incredulity, but beneath the sarcasm you caught the faintest glimmer of concern. “Please, enlighten me.”

They’d never understand, not fully, not when you hadn’t even understood barely—the art of charming guarded men, of coaxing out secrets with a coy turn of phrase, all while Bellatrix delighted in your squeamishness. The memory of that mirror and those endless faces made your stomach churn.

“Lay off it, Matty,” you muttered, brushing his shoulder lightly as you passed him to reach the door with Theo.

Mattheo stayed put. You glanced back to see him rooted to the spot, arms rigid, eyes locked on the horizon as if waging an internal war. Theo stopped by the threshold, keeping a gentle hold on you. “You coming back, Mate?” he asked, trying for a casual tone.

“Nah,” Mattheo exhaled, glancing over at the hand Theo rested on your back. “Go ahead. I have a couple things to tend to.” His voice sounded distant, any previous good mood lost.

You rolled your eyes with a touch of exasperation. Lately, this was the version of Mattheo you always got: cold, distant, and bitterly brooding. “Fine,” you said sharply, words cutting more than you meant. “We’ll see you at Zabini’s party later, yeah?”

He raised his hand in a noncommittal wave, turning away to pace near the garden steps. You half-wanted to call him back, to tell him you needed him at the manor just as much as Theo, that you despised him for being so frigid but also respected his reasons for it. But your body ached, and your heart was too drained for another confrontation or his dejected attitude.

Theo gently guided you inside, toward the Floo station. You cradled your bruised hand, stepping into the emerald flames with your stepbrother by your side. Home. The concept twisted in your mind like a knife, the echo of your mother’s demise still haunting your chest.

taglist: @moonlightttfae

A/N: I love a good broody Matthew and a protective Theo, anyone else? I quite literally thrive off of it, and platonic scenes between the Slytherin gang. Anyways, feedback, likes, weblogs are always appreciated. And lmk if you want to be added to the tag list!

[simplydozing]

𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐘𝐨𝐮

Nameless Ghoulette Cumulus x Ghoul!Reader Shedding season always comes early for you. You don’t know why, but it’s the most painful thing you ever go through. Luckily for you, you have a whole squad that takes care of you during this time, one putting in extra effort than the rest. Word Count: 2253 || Ao3 Gender Neutral Pronouns for Reader Author's Interpretations Of Nameless Ghouls

 It was that time of the year again, for you at least.

 It was that time where you succumbed to pure agony. You would be put through the most excruciating pain just to shed the outer lining of your horns.

 You never understood why. Why it hurts so bad, and why your shed time came a full season before the others.

Your horns are smaller than the others. They were the most common shape, jutting out from your hairline and curving upward to a small point. Could it be that the size affects your shedding?

 Age didn't play an issue, you were as old as the others. You think there's something wrong with you, but they say it's natural and that you were fine. Maybe they're right, but it was something you couldn't shake off.

There was this one time where you collapsed on stage and you were sure to be sent back to hell for ruining the scene. But you woke up in the infirmary with the other ghouls surrounding you, one in particular holding your hand.

Cumulus was always the one to take extra care of you. She had this nurturing spirit about her. She was the first to get to know you upon your summoning, and you both grew close pretty quickly. She was the one to introduce you to the rest of your team.

It was definitely an interesting sight for the frontman, who you came to know as Papa Emeritus IV. All he saw was a pack circulating around you, taking in your scent and checking out the features you have. He was quite the character himself. She told you everything you needed to know about him and what to do.

She was the one who helped you find your talent for singing. Finding your “human” voice is a big deal for your kind. Ghouls don't talk like one could imagine, they use a sort of telepathy. It sounds like indistinct whispering, and they use small words and phrases. So when you heard her “voice”, it almost brought you to your knees.

Since then, you both have been inseparable.

Today, you're all practicing for the new songs the Emeritus wrote.

Or, you all were supposed to be. You didn't show up, and the rest were still waiting on you.

“What is taking so long?” The Emeritus broke the silence.

“Did I not say this was urgent?” He turned to the rest, throwing his arms up in an over exaggerated shrug.

They look around and stare at each other.

“ {y/n} unwell?”  

“ where {y/n}?”

“is late, is never late.”

There were chirps and purrs coming from each of them while they questioned your whereabouts.

 Cumulus was deep in thought about it. But then it hits after remembering what day it is.

She grabs her companion, Cirrus, by the sleeve. Cirrus tilts her head and twitches her nose.

“ know of {y/n}?” She asks.

“ {y/n} shed today,” Cumulus answers, distressed.

The others pick up on this, and immediately put their instruments down and go look for you.

The Emeritus jogs after them.

“Wait! What's going on?”

It's Dewdrop that stops in his tracks.

“ shedding,” he makes a pulling motion from his head where his own horns are positioned.

“Oh.” He raises his eyebrows, coming to the realization that you could literally be anywhere, and that brings a chill down his spine.

 You once freaked him out when you were in the middle of this process. It was a late night, and he was just finishing up some paperwork when he decided to take a break and wander around to stretch everything out. He was not expecting any other person to be up, much less you. So when he sees you at the end of a darkened hallway covered in blood and the only source of light coming from your dimly glowing eyes, he books it right back to his office and slammed the door. He even blocked it off with a chair.

“Yes. Yes, okay. Go,” Emeritus pats the ghoul on the shoulder. Dewdrop nods, and flees to catch up with the others.

“And find them before they find me!” He calls out, shuddering when he thinks back to that one night.

Everyone splits up, covering more ground around the abbey. One checks the kitchen, another inspects the reading room. Mountain scours the cemetery, and Dewdrop searches the meeting room.

But you're nowhere to be found.

Cumulus is out in the garden area, chittering and clicking, making the sounds you can recognize her by. She was hoping to be the one to find you, knowing what to do with you and how to do it.

 She looks under the benches. She rattles bushes. She pads around the various delicate flowers.

 She can't find you, though.

 The sound of dry leaves crunching under her feet grows more frantic. She's in a panic. You couldn't have gone far in your state.

 All hope begins to fade as she comes to a halt, catching her breath while trying to think rationally.

 You have these “go-to” spots, but all reported you weren't in any of them. Sometimes, you would get so overstimulated that you would find a new hiding area. But at the same time, you have a tendency to go astray. The pain would be so mind-numbing that you'd aimlessly drag yourself anywhere.

 Sleepwalking, in a way.

Feeling defeated, Cumulus decides that the others have probably found you by now.

 She surveys the area one last time. 

 She knows you haven't gone that far out, but she still squints at the treeline of the woods that hid the church. She sees the old conservatory.

 Perhaps you found sanctuary there.

 She hurries to the abandoned building, brushing away the stray brush and tall grass.

 Your scent is getting strong. Thank Satan she chose to look around again.

 On arrival, the first thing she noticed is the door that's slightly ajar.

 The building itself is gorgeous. There's an entryway that's framed with stained glass windows telling the story of Lucifer's Great Fall. It leads to an even larger glass dome. Some of the glass is broken, and the whole thing is held together by rusted beams.

 How could they let this breathtaking edifice go in such a vanquished state?

 No matter, she could sit and gawk at it another time. Her top priority was you.

 She shuffles through, and what she sees inside is incomparable to what is on the outside.

 The dusking light passes through each panel. Each color seeps in, reds and oranges paint the cobblestone pathway. Dead rose bushes fill the stone troughs that lined the hall. There's a lot of weeds and shriveled leaves.

 It was the definition of “hauntingly beautiful.”

 She ambled through, taking in the sights.

 It quite literally resembled hell.

 She was so lost in this place that she didn't pay attention to the scuffling that was coming in close behind her.

 Your vision is blurred. You are quite literally burning up, smoke evaporating off of you. Your lungs feel as if they've been strangled, leaving you to wheeze in what little air you can breathe.

 Your head is killing you.

 Emeritus scheduled one of the worst days for practice. You don't blame him, he just didn't know.

 You came here to be alone. You didn't even know this place existed, but it was perfect.

 The interior reminded you of home.

 “Home.”

 You could writhe up here the same way you would writhe down there.

 It was isolated enough so you couldn't venture out around the abbey, and so that no one could easily find you.

 No one was supposed to anyway.

 You were jostled from your withering when you heard the door creak open. You lifted your head from your hands when you heard footsteps.

 They were sparse, and some even dragged.

 They were unrecognizable.

You struggled to pull yourself to your feet, rolling over and clawing your way up.

 You had a hand in front of you to guide yourself.

There was another set of heavy wood doors connecting the actual greenhouse to the hall.

 You braced yourself, and weakly heaved them open.

 Through your heavy vision, you saw her .

 Cumulus had her back turned to you. Her eyes were glued to the ceiling. You didn't dare follow her gaze, seeing as she was truly the most beguiling thing here.

 You lurch forward, reaching for her.

“cumu….lus”

 She whirls around.

 And her eyes widen at the sight of you.

 The lining of your horns are peeling, exposing chunks of the tender flesh that was protected by it. Blood poured down your face in dark red rivulets. Smoke flows around you, and your clothes are torn to shreds.

 The worst part is how tired your eyes are.

 You try to walk to her, but you're so fatigued that your eyelids droop and you start to fall.

 You were prepared to hit the ground, but you were met with a warm softness.

 She caught you, and was now holding you under your arms. Her hands clutched what fabric was left of your uniform.

 She rubbed your back and eased you down so your head rested on her lap. You convulsed at her touch, hissing when she came too close to the base of your horns.

“ are hurt, why so far?”

 You didn’t have the strength to answer her. Right now, all you wanted to do was sit in silence. “ can walk? ”

 You shook your head. You’re too exhausted to move.

She lifts your head and spreads her legs out to get in a comfier position. Once settled, her claws itch at your scalp. She massages your head with slight pressure, which honestly feels so good given the circumstance.

 You whimper and tiredly bring a hand up to her knee.

 “ shh, are almost done ”

 She rubs your temples, seeing as how the enamel continues to peel. You start shaking.

 Cumulus is here for you. She doesn’t mind waiting for you . You’ve done the same for her a few times. She remembers being so embarrassed for you to see her in the same position you are, but you stayed by her side regardless.

She would take all this away from you if she could. Every ghoul has to go through this, sadly. It breaks her heart seeing anyone go through this. But it shatters seeing you go through it.

You white-knuckle the hem of her suit as your horns are at their final stage.

Your mouth is agape, but no sound comes out.

All you can do is hold onto your dear friend.

 And she lets you.

 She lets you dig your claws in her leg. She lets you scream and cry as loud as you need to. She lets you wipe the blood off on her clothes.

 She lets you be vulnerable.

You're so tired, and you're in so much pain.

 You pass out when the tips of them come undone.

 “ rest easy, {y/n}, ” she strokes the side of your face.

 She wishes she had more time with you like this, but you're both found by Mountain and Swiss.

 You're both a bloody mess.

 They don't question anything, they just help her carry you back to the church.

 You wake up in the infirmary yet again, but this time, no one is around you. Although, you do feel a weight on your torso.

You look down to see none other than Cumulus resting her head on folded arms, fast asleep.

 You smile and place a hand on her back.

 Her eyes flutter open.

 Seeing you're awake makes her sit upright.

“ are awake! how feeling? ” She clasps your hand in both of hers.

 You reach up to touch your horns and find that they're wrapped in bandages. There's a slight buzz in your head.

“sorry for not remember .”

 She looks away in shame.

You scoot up to her.

“no need,” you reply, taking her by the sides of her face to return her gaze to you.

“thanks for help. glad it was you.”

 Her eyes sparkled, the reddish-brown hues paling as she leaned into your touch.

“ as well as i,” she brings a hand up to rest on yours, further pressing flush against her.

 You kept this position for what felt like ages. You looked at her lovingly, and you want to say she reflected it.

 “ are… are feeling same? ”

 She finally put it into words.

 There’s a theory that ghouls can feel emotions on a much deeper level than the average mortal, that they can feel it through a simple touch.

 And with your hand on her cheek, it exclusively validates it into fact.

 Your thumb grazes her soft lips.

And you then pull her in by the chin, taking one last glimpse in those hellish eyes of hers.

And you kiss her.

She squeaks happily. Her stomach flips and her heart skips a beat. You’re so warm, not overheating like you were. And you’re so unexpectedly tender, gentle even.

 If she had a tail, it’d be wagging.

 You recede from her, leaving her mouth partially gaping open.

 “answer question?” You let out a breathless laugh.

 She giggles and nods, bringing one of your hands up to plant a kiss in the palm of it.

“ not know half of it! ”

 There’s a new scent to you, to both of you when you were given the ‘okay’ and discharged. No one questions either of you, but you best believe there was some gossip among the rest.

[wannabepoeticischiya]

fragments of caelum

It’s frightening… a love with a time limit. When he was the right person, with all the time in the world… and she was nothing but a fraction of time he’d experience. Something you know will end before it can even begin.

ao3: fragments of caelum pairing: sukuna x f! reader genre: romance, angst, heian era wc: 15.4k status: completed art by: usobuki_jj on twitter

Songs of the spring echoed in the courtyard, domed by an eternal blue sky, bordered by the stretching forests. Vines circled the barks of the trees, reaching far into their branches with hopes to touch the heavens. Sun rays thawed the dewdrops, casting them far into the depths of the sky.

Cradled underneath it all was the vessel of the King of Curses. The falls of his steps were the only rhythmic clatter clashing against the silence that blanketed the lands.

Haze of the early morning remained, tying everything to peace. No noise, no curses, no Sukuna.

Itadori continued his journey to the library where he knew no living sorcerer would ever step foot in. For what reason? Why, to run an errand for his all-time favorite teacher, Gojo Satoru, of course!

That place was as horrid as the curses they were trained to exorcise. It didn’t help that it was riddled in eerie quietness, or that the principal had these thick black curtains covering every window because he didn’t want those ancient manuscripts to crumble to ash and be blown away.

Quite simply it was a place he would never enter if he could help it.

Itadori pushed open the heavy wooden doors, hearing an ominous creaking sound emanate from it, going on and on for what seemed to be forever until the back of the door crashed against the wall with a loud bang.

The young sorcerer gulped, putting a foot forward, and trod as quietly as he could to the farthest corner of the room, where those papers (written with ancient runes no one ever really bothered to read) were dumped. Why his teacher wanted those, he didn’t know—Itadori wasn’t even sure if he could understand what was recorded in those, they were probably older than all of them plus Principal Gakuganji combined.

When he reached the very back, a dusty table greeted him along with a few books stacked up in the middle of it.

The sight had him asking, when was the last time anybody’s been here?

He sighed and picked up everything that cluttered the table. Mumbling about how the school needed to stop being cheapskates and hire a janitor.

One by one, he placed them back on the shelves, pondering which section they should go to, but it proved to be for naught since he couldn’t understand what most of them said.

Whether by accident or by fate, he knocked over a journal: weathered by the hands of time, pages golden with age. A compass was etched on its cover along with a name that had faded perhaps years before he was even born.

As he bent down to pick it up, an old picture slipped from one of the pages.

When his fingers grasped the object, Itadori realized it wasn’t a photograph, it was a drawing. One so detailed it deceived his eyes.

I guess cameras weren’t a thing back then, huh?

On its blotched page, a smiling girl could be made out. Her hands held up a peace sign over her closed eyes with one of her hands boldly slung over a man that only plastered on a ghost of a smile. Written on the side in messy little characters were:

'Ryōmen & (Y/n)' Auflage, 850

Itadori squinted, trying to see the face of the man—finding it strikingly familiar like someone he knew was tethered to the same features.

"Sukuna..." He called; eyes still glued to the sketch. Itadori wasn’t sure what to make of it all.

It was the King of Curses, feared by sorcerers and demons alike. But here, in this moment trapped in time he looked… human. As though he couldn’t be any farther from the names the world had called him.

"Oi! Sukuna! Do you know this lady?"

Itadori’s head remained free from thoughts. For a second he nearly believed that there was only a single soul inhabiting this body of his.

The silence remained, scattering like stardust through the stuffy and tense atmosphere. Itadori, who was once just curious began to worry about the demon king’s unresponsiveness.

It was strange. The oxygen in his lungs came in leveled breaths, yet his heart thudded so wildly in his chest he thought it would break free from its cage and start running to the ends of the world.

This woman couldn’t be any more than a stranger to him… so why?

"Where... where... did you get that?" Another voice, deeper in tune, laced with anger and sadness, broke the stagnancy.

It felt like his blood was pushing past its limits. His organs felt ignited, and his vision began to blur. This was Sukuna’s doing. To have him answer was rare enough as it is but to have him open the lid to his sentiments—have them pour in abundance that it became overwhelming for Itadori to handle—was never something so farfetched he couldn’t even dream of it.

"ITADORI!" Sukuna's voice echoed in his head, tearing apart his daydreams and bringing him back to reality.

 "Okay... Okay... Relax.” He breathed, coaxing his body to stop its trembling. “It just fell from one of the pages."

You kept it… even after all of that… idiot woman.

Itadori inspected the fragile piece of paper, careful to not let any scattered sunlight graze it for fear that it might crumble and fade for good.

He flipped past the cover of the book and carefully turned the pages. The words of the owner were inscribed in ancient text, one so archaic he doubts there were still records of it alive to this day.

It's old, that's for sure. Have other people seen this? It doesn't look like it's been touched for years.

"Sukuna. Oi! Sukuna!" Itadori tried to call, only to be rewarded with disregard.

SUKUNA!

The young sorcerer grumbled, knowing he wouldn't get anything out of the—now surprisingly quiet—demon. So, he pulled out his cellphone and snapped a shot of the drawing, careful not to use a flash. He would get answers even if it killed him.

He slipped the drawing back into the journal, placing the artifact on the table.

Auflage's Hero: (L/n) (Y/n), the Little Liar.

Itadori ran.

Out of the library, down the winding halls, over the cobblestone pathway; drowsiness being overpowered by his overwhelming curiosity. He rushed to find the person he knew that'd know the answers he so desperately wanted to hear, Gojō Satoru.

Was this the reason why he sent him there? To find that? To see Sukuna in a way he never would have imagined?

Leaves of springtime began to fall, littering the grey sidewalks and roads with silver and blushes of pink. Puddles from last night's apparent rainfall made the scent of warmth linger in the air.  

Glimpses of the open field slipped through the foliage, pushing him to hurry.

As he reached the final steps of the courtyard, he saw the person he was looking for.

"Gojō-sensei!" He called, trying to catch his breath.

The blindfolded man turned to look at the heaving form of his student.

"Itadori!" He enthusiastically bellowed before turning to face his students once more.

"See? You guys could learn a thing or two from him! You know... he can finish a 50-meter track within 3 seconds! Ain't that impressive huh? He could be a car!"

Itadori scrambled to his feet, approaching the happy figure of his sensei.

"Do you know someone named (L/n)?"

The albino-haired man seemed to be deep in thought, his pointer finger repeatedly tapping on his chin before joyfully declaring his knowledge on the topic. "I do! In fact, there's an entire clan of them! Bow-using priests and priestesses. Isn't that right, (Y/n)?"

"(Y/n)?" Itadori’s question rang, shadowed by a sonorous tune.

A mischievous smile plastered on Gojō's face, "You know her, Sukuna?"

Perhaps this was his plan all along, to rile the King of Curses into silence. Force him to relive a memory written down as one of the greatest achievements in sorcerer history.

"Tch. Who could forget?"

And it worked because the demon king never resurfaced for the rest of the day.

"What does he mean by that, Sensei?"

"Yeah. Why would someone as evil as Sukuna have ties with the sacred clan of (L/n)?"

"Why'd he suddenly get all chatty when he heard (Y/n)-chan's name?”

Question after question left the mouth of his students, flooding his ears, making his head spin.

"All right. All right, I'll tell you... just be quiet. Come on, let's all go inside."

---

Welcome to AUFLAGE.

The sign that welcomed visitors to the town was old, decorated in ivy and overgrown flora. Some of the white paint had already begun peeling off, and the wooden board where the words were engraved had its edges ridden by termites.

Please d i e slowly.

And that same sign gave travellers a very warm welcome.

Auflage was a little village near the end of society. Covered by thick forests of the west, flagged by towering mountains in the north and south, bordered by the sea in the east.

The isolation eased the nerves of its citizens, chains of brooks and rivers that circled around the town were considered a protective barrier by the old folks that resided there. They claimed that it was what protected them from the curses of the outside world.

In that same village resides a happy young woman. Easily swayed by strangers, fooled by travelers, and convinced by the shadiest of stories. (L/n) (Y/n) was what they called her.

The carefree girl that lived near the brooks. Always stuck in her own world. She came into town one day dressed like a shrine maiden.

None of the townspeople knew where she had come from, nor did they bother to ask. Perhaps she came from the next town over, or maybe even farther out in the cities. It didn’t matter. To have a new face linger for a few days was a delight, and they rejoiced at the news that she would be there to stay for a long time.

Her little home was far into the woods, a small humble hut littered with firewood, still, the people of Auflage accepted and loved her.

As the trees swayed to the rhythm of Mother Earth, her figure emerged from the thick mist. Her zori sounding in soft thuds as it hit the hardened earth. Thin golden armbands glinted in the faint light of the sun that slowly seeped through the cracks of the mountains.

The rest of her figure came into the scene, dressed in a pair of wide-legged, pleated trousers, dyed in bright red, a white kimono-style upper clothing held in place by a wide belt, with sleeves that flared at the wrists fluttering ever-so-softly in the wind.

Adults and children alike were scattered across the small village. The little ones chasing their friends around, laughing joyously without a care for the world.

It was a simple sight that she saw every day but every time she laid eyes on it, it grew more and more special.

The lady made her way across town and entered the local tavern, guided by one of the strongest shamans out there.

(Y/n) took a seat on one of the many unoccupied stools in the building.

"One mug of cider please."

Her forehead met the wooden counter, still drowsy from the early wake-up call. The sound of her plea got the attention of the flair man.

"Ah! (Y/n)-san! Always good to see you!" He cheered, wiping a glass to use for her request.

"Good to see you to Amaury-dono, how's the wife?" She raised a hand in greeting, eyes still rooted to the floorboards.

Amaury only smiled at the girl as he finished up her fill, "She's good, Arne is due in a few weeks so got to work hard."

He placed the mug of cider in front of her as (Y/n) mumbled a silent ‘thanks’.

Creaks of the opening door dragged Arne’s attention to the incoming patronage. "Welcome! What'd be for today Seizou-sama?"

Seizou shook his head and took off his sun hat, revealing his balding scalp and the wrinkles that etched themselves on his face, resembling the years that passed in his life. Hanging it on one of the hooks near the door.

"Nothing of the sort lad, just came here to issue a request."

Amaury nodded and smiled, nonetheless.

"Sure thing, let me just get some papers in the storage."

(Y/n) lifted her head to see Amaury's retreating form, his back getting further and further away until he disappeared around the corner.

Once she was certain he was out of earshot, (Y/n) faced the trembling man.

"What kind of request is it, Seizou-san?"

Seizou gave her a sad gaze, one where despair and hopelessness ravaged in those fading irises of blue. "Killing the king of curses."

(Y/n) pondered on the thought. In all her years living here, she only came across that title a couple of times when it was whispered amongst warriors and hunters or woven into a tale of caution.

Beware the demon king by night, With blazing eyes and fangs so bright.

The scrolls that the village owned were useless; moth-eaten, fading as the days passed. And even if they weren’t, the priestess wasn’t fortunate enough to know how to read—such a luxury reserved for nobility.

His whispers lure in dreams unseen, To snatch away the pure and clean.

Of course, rumors and stories flutter past her ears every once in a while. Parents told the tales of the demon king who will take you away to his palace if you don’t eat all your vegetables. Even depict him as a being with horns and wings with sharp jagged teeth. There were the occasional sketches that went around if a painter was visiting town, albeit (Y/n) doubts if they will ever ring true.

Walk the paths where lanterns glow, Stray too far and the dark will show.

"Say, what... what brought this on hmm? What makes you think that this 'king' even exists?"

It was difficult to believe that which you have not seen for yourself. Much more to fear a creature you have never once met.

The aging man only sighed, he couldn’t blame the young woman, really.

"May I?" he asked, gesturing to the seat near hers.

"Be my guest."

Seizou situated himself on the stool only a few feet away from the girl.

"The king of curses is no mere legend, miko. Few of my kin have encountered him during the hunting season, saying there lay a creature in the woods far too fast for the eyes to see, resilient to the sharpest of blades—the strongest of swordsmen. But it was no forest beast… it was a demon. The vilest of them all. No shaman could bring him down. Calamity falls on the cities he ventures. Towns reduced to ashes from his wrath. He spares no one, not women nor children. They say that he has four arms and a mighty build. His body adorned in ink; eyes dyed red from all his bloodshed. Only he had four, prodding at you every which way; so deformed one would think he had two faces. My son... tried to... hunt him down and never came home. Soon, my youngest also attempted to do it, he too... never returned."

(Y/n) listened earnestly to his tale as she shifted in her seat, resting her cheek on her fist. "Say he really does exist...” she entertained, still skeptical of the demon’s existence.

“Surely, you can’t expect people to do this for such a noble reason as vengeance?”

"Of course not. I’m putting all my fortune into this. At the very least, if someone were to defeat him... It'd do great for the future."

The girl looked towards the window seeing the clouds swirl and darken over the once azure sky, feeling something creep up her spine. "Oi, Mr. Seizou..." she called.

His fading icy blue eyes clashed with her (e/c) irises. "I'll do it. I'll kill him."

---

At the rise of daybreak, (Y/n) prepared for her estimated lengthy adventure. From sharpening blades to making wards to stocking up on food and other necessities that she needed to live.

The priestess wrapped her things in a large cloth, hiding the little things in the pockets of her kosode. 

She barricaded her windows and finally locked the door. (Y/n) was sure she wasn’t returning here for a while. Although it was sad, for she had grown to love her humble home, it had to be done.

After grabbing the map (given by Seizou) that supposedly leads to the castle of the king, the priestess took off on what will be a year-long journey to the kingdom of the demon king.

As she walked the cobblestone path of Auflage—the last one for a very long time so it seemed—stores of all kinds and sizes that a great deal of things welcomed her vision. From bakeries to armories to the newly established livelihoods. For a town near the end of the world, it sure held a lot of variety.

Despite having been in town for a long time, the structures and the people still fascinated her.

(Y/n) decided to stop by one of the stores that recently opened.

A jingling sound flooded her ears, ringing all throughout the space, the moment she opened the door. A sign perhaps… that somebody entered the place.

The priestess observed her surroundings, weapons were fastened to the mahogany walls, huge beams of wood holding the building upright. Daylight streamed through the windows of the door, and there it lingered. Torches lined the posters, bringing luminescence to the room clouded in shadows.

What caught her attention were the odd-looking things lining the shelves. From swords to butcher knives to just rotten banana peel-designed wrappings.

(Y/n)’s stare drifted from one trinket to another, finding them so strange from the usual apparatuses used by the shrine maidens. What kind of shop is this? Is that a toenail?

"What'd it be for you, missy?"

Her curious gaze met the eyes of the man at the end of the aisle, clothed in a humble grey hakama and kosode.

"I see a lot of cursed energy pilling up inside you." He commented, eyeing the products he had for sale. Surely, he must have thought them odd, too.

"I beg your pardon?"

The tiny keeper laughed, clutching his stomach at how hilarious he was. His hunched form and disheveled appearance approached the weary figure of the priestess.

"You see that man over there," the woman looked to where his bony finger pointed to, "you're somewhat similar to what he is." He smiled, crossing his hands behind his back.

At the other side of the store was a muscular man, cautiously looking over the things that were on display. His ears catching patches of the conversation that was quietly weaving behind him.

"—could learn a thing or two from him."

The tiny old hunchback walked to the back of his shop, soon coming out with a bow and a case of arrows in his arms.

"I'll rent it to you," he casually dropped the weapon in her arms, not minding the clatter that followed as a few of the arrows fell to the floor, "if you come back alive, you can have it. If you don't, I’ll charge everything on your descendants."

If the wind could penetrate through the thick walls, (Y/n) was sure that it would blow everything away... everything including her.

She looked to the odd man; his posture, appearance—even just the fact that he was running some quack shop sent warning signals all over her head.

"Kill the king for me, too."

---

(Y/n) walked the final steps that would lead her to the ends of the village, one where the forest path lies ahead: the only entrance and exit to Auflage.

She passed through the large torii gate that welcomed travellers to the estranged town and soon, she also passed the broken sign that should've spelled drive instead of d i e.

Towering trees flagged her vision, the endless ocean of green and yellow littering the ground, accompanied by the rhythmic orchestra of the fauna made her head go into a frenzy of cautiousness.

(Y/n) had already made the journey through the woods halfway. If she kept at this pace, she would reach the town before eventide.

Still, it did not make her ventures a whole less eerie.

It's quiet. Too quiet.

The echo of a snap compelled her to turn her head towards the direction of the sound, to find a culprit for her startle.

The scene that greeted her was certainly, how do you put it...

Odd.

"Handsome, aren't I?" He smirked.

"More like strange..." The priestess countered cautiously, eyeing the man behind the trees.

"And handsome."

"It must be nice to have such vain concerns." She sneered.

The stranger emerged from where he hid behind the tree, his pink hair spiking in meaningless directions, clothes barely covering the areas it was supposed to cover. His body was packed with muscles, like he had all the food to eat with no one to share, yet he appeared somewhat wounded.

But what made (Y/n) halt her observations was the striking crimson pooling in his irises, as though every shade of red was made just so he could have it. It must be a trick of the light, surely. For what human could be blessed with such beauty that even the gods might envy him for it.

“If you draw me now, you might finish it by twilight.”

Alas, he had a foul mouth on him. And it irked the priestess—especially when he was saying such atrocities with that sickeningly haughty grin and a face drawn with ink. I’ll put you in your place, you pig!

"What're you doing in the middle of the woods?" She questioned, forcing her patience to reach further. "Almost naked at that."

(Y/n) gestured to his beaten figure.

"If you wanted a quick coin, you could at least have tried a town. You’re not going to sell much out here with tanukis and foxes."

Pinky boy tilted his head to the side, amusement glimmering in his red eyes. "Do you not know who I am?"

Taken aback by the sudden question, (Y/n) raised an eyebrow at him. "Am I supposed to?"

The stranger grinned wider at her retort, doubling over in laughter because to him, the tiny little priestess was oh-so amusing.

"Interesting..." pinky hair chuckled, wiping the water from his eye.

"I'm Ryoumen." He declared, spreading his arms out in a grand boisterous gesture.

"I didn't ask... but okay. I'm (Y/n)." The priestess bowed humbly.

Orchestras of birds hastily fluttering their wings and taking off interrupted their conversation. Soon, gray clouds blotted the sky, thunder echoing through every nook and corner of the forest.

“I can walk with you until the next village, it’s just around two hundred and twenty-five cho away*. If we walk now, we can reach it by twilight."

(*30 km or 18 miles)

“Heh?” He smirked, raising a brow at her bold offer.

“Or you can just stay here and freeze to death,” (Y/n) shrugged, turning her back to him, and soon started to walk away. “Either way, I offered so my conscience is clean~” she waved, “Don’t curse me if you die out here.”

---

"Gojō-sensei! Who's Ryoumen?"

"That's Sukuna's last name. Now shut up or I'll leave you all hanging."

--

"You want to kill the king of curses?" Sukuna laughed at her declaration.

(Y/n) forgetting all about her manners, hurriedly slurped every bit of noodle left in the bowl before slamming it down on the table. "So, what if I do?"

The man scoffed and flicked her forehead, "I think you're a hundred years too early to be trying that."

She slapped his arm away, ignoring his jibe. "I can do it. It’s what I always wanted to do ever since I arrived at Auflage. Besides, you wouldn't know until you try."

"Your optimistic attitude will be the only reason you'll make it to the gates of his temple."

His comment caught the priestess’s interest, eyes shining with wonder and admiration that agitated the pink-haired man. 

"You've been there, old man?"

"Don't call me that.” He glared at her. 

“And... yeah. I have. That's why you saw me in such a state." Sukuna crossed his arms over his—still naked—chest, defensively.

His statements were half a lie, half the truth. When he realized his hesitance, he briefly wondered, why in heaven’s name was he guessing over what words to say.

Sukuna had gone there, of course—it was his home, after all. And he got battered and beaten from destroying town after town, chased by some shamans who wanted to take his head.

Still, he lied just as easily as he killed. Finding that his resolve faltered when she looked at him with such shameless appreciation…

"Ain't that cool!" She beamed and flashed him a charming smile, "Hey~ teach me, will you?"

Sukuna broke free from his daydreams, shackling himself back into reality where he left no room for such foolish thoughts.

"No. I don't teach. I don't have anything to teach you."

The priestess deflated at his rejection, eyes watering and lips quivering. "You’re a real pain." she silently mumbled.

(Y/n) sniffed, intakes of breath growing more and more frantic by the second.

Then the tears came streaming down her face, gaining the attention of the people, and fast.

Oh... she's good.

"W-Why... why... WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?!"

His eyes widened at her yell, "Wha—"

"After all we've been through?!" She stood up and slammed her hands on the table, making the porcelain and silverware that littered the furniture clatter.

Murmurs erupted from the people who silently watched the scene unfold. To them, it looked like (Y/n) and the pink-haired man were having a lover's quarrel... but none of them could see the glinting mischief that pooled in the eyes of the priestess.

She's worse than me.

Sukuna didn’t know what to make of this silly little woman. It unnerved him so, he could have killed every single person in this inn, even burn the entire town to cinders… yet he remained—staring at her with unmanned wonder.

"YOU DID IT WITH HER DIDN'T YOU?"

Confusion rattled his soul, "I don't know what you're talking about—" he really didn't, they haven’t even spent one moon together!

One thing was clear, (Y/n) was causing a scene... and it was a very convincing one at that.

"YOU RAILED MY MOTHE—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Sukuna’s hand covered her mouth. Eyes widening to bowls at her supposed declamation.

"Fine, I'll teach you—just... be... shut your foul mouth." He harshly whispered in her ears.

The curse really didn’t know how he agreed… or why. Perhaps it was the lingering murmurs, or the boredom waiting to be tamed. Still, in the darkest corners of his soul… it remained, this little spark that soon will blossom into raging fire—casting his world alight.

Sukuna grabbed her hand and led her out of the varying gazes of the people inside the establishment.

"Now that wasn't so difficult, right?" (Y/n) placed her hands on her hips and laughed at the painted expression of annoyance that colored his face.

“For a priestess, you’re pretty scummy.” Sukuna sneered.

“Hah! Jokes on you, I’ve heard worse than that, Ryoumen~”

He stole a glance at her at the mention of his name, one of the many, he reminds.

Sukuna realizes it then… that it was the first time someone’s lived long enough for his name to be voiced in his presence. It had always been Sukuna-sama with him, or Demon king, beyond that there was nothing at all.

Despite having many titles, he was hardly called. As embarrassing as it was to admit, many years would pass without a living soul uttering his name. He would often forget about it, failing to recall that he had one in the first place.

So, to hear it now with his own ears felt strange. Sent him reeling back into the darkest corners where there was nothing but the familiar oblivion—away from that fickle flame.

Because how would he make of it when she lets it flow past her lips with such gentle familiarity? Like he was given that name so long ago just so she could call him that here at this very moment—that her voice will string with that title for every crimson moon to come. For every passing lifetime.

Silence covered the distance between them, leaving the faint rumble of people talking and laughing to echo in their wake. Flames that danced from the lanterns cast an orange glow over their faces, painting their shadows in elongating strokes.

(Y/n) exhaled loudly before she started prancing around him like a lost horse.

"What'll it be, huh? Martial Arts?" She ghosted punches over his form, pretending to kick the air.

Idiot.

"One of those fancy breathing techniques with the sword thing I keep hearing about?" She grabbed a stick and lightly hit the impassive man on both sides.

Sukuna, irked at her ministrations, grabbed the stick and broke it into two then threw it to the sides.

"Can I breathe fire?"

"What about water?"

“Hey! Wait up!” (Y/n) chased after the form of the walking man. 

"What about those chakra things? With the psschhooww and the wham and bam will I be able to do that?"

Sukuna dragged a hand over his face, silently questioning the decisions he makes whenever he had nothing to do with his time.

Man, she's annoying.

The priestess and the king of curses continued their journey, treading the path until the cobblestone faded into hardened earth and the midnight sun shone overhead.

They halted in front of a small hut on the side of the road, with shattered windows, fungi blanketing the roof of the small shack. No flicker of fire could be seen inside the humble house.

It kind of reminded (Y/n) of her home back in Auflage.

"We'll stay here for the night." Sukuna forced his way into the house. If this was compliant with the Shogun’s law, the priestess didn’t want to know. She just hopes that whoever owns this shack wouldn’t mind if they occupied it for a little while.

Clinks of glassware being broken, wood scraping against the floors, thuds of heavy objects hitting the ground. The sounds made her worry.

Soon enough, Sukuna emerged from the doorway, leaning his forearm against the threshold, his other hand holding an unlit lantern.

"There's no light though..."

"Really? You're gonna worry about lights when you're literally going across the country to kill the king of curses?" He stood to his full height and towered over the priestess.

The gentle breeze of the evening swayed the (h/c) threads that were planted firmly on her head, a shiver crawling up her spine as the cold wind bit against her body.

"Please don't kill me!" She wailed in mock panic, shutting her eyes tight.

"I'm not going to kill you, you maniac. I should be worried if you're gonna kill me." He defended.

"You don't have to be so defensive about it." (Y/n) ceased her act and rolled her eyes at him.

I want to kill her so badly... she's so annoying.

(Y/n) turned to face the man, the light of the imprisoned fire casting a faint glow of orange on her face. How he managed to set it ablaze, she had no clue.

For a moment she looked at him like she wanted to say something, but she held back. Probably something stupid, he thought.

Her pondering continued until she let out a laugh, eyes glinting with scheme and mayhem, smirking up at the tall man. "You're not going to take advantage of me, are you?"

A flash of fire rushed past her head and blew a hole through the wall of the already rundown shack. "WHAT WAS THAT?"

"I'm not gonna take advantage of you... you sicko!" Sukuna fisted his free hand, restraining every bit of anger in his soul. To think this—this demon spawn could even be the least bit grateful!

Oh, he's mad.

"That was a curse. That's what you'll be learning first thing tomorrow." He lectured, handing her the lamp and pushing her through the doorway, "NOW SLEEP!" before he slammed the door shut.

The King of Curses remained standing under the stars, trying his best to restrain the bubbling urge to incinerate everything in his sight.

What in the world am I doing? He sighs, walking further into the rice fields.

Sukuna sat under a tree, a great distance away from the hut. The cicadas sung their melodies into the night, frogs croaking from the side. He watched aimlessly as the curses circled around the area of his energy, seeing them lurk around the edges of the forest, or peek from the foliage yet remained a means too far for them to be harmed.

If only that idiot priestess was the same.

The light from the lamp gradually faded, a sign that she was yielding to slumber. Curses weren’t tethered by such earthly needs. Sukuna had no need for food or water either. He simply indulged in the flavors they brought but he held no obligation to them.

She held a striking difference to him.

Long after she had passed from the memories of every person she had met, their children, and their children’s children, Sukuna would live on for the centuries to come.

The priestess was so painfully mortal. A hand from him would send her soul to the borders of death. A slip—a mistake. A burst of anger, an annoyance, if she were to be at the end of his temper…

Sukuna pondered then, if he should leave.

This has been nothing but a simple detour. A way to kill the time he just had so much of.

But she shone like fire through the abyss that it made looking away impossible. Because when you’ve known nothing but resentment, you’ll latch yourself to any form of kindness that shows your way.

---

Light of daybreak refracted the early morning dews like prisms, casting the colors of the sun into the haze of dawn.

"WAKE UP RYOUMEN!"

(Y/n) banged together a metal ladle and a metal pot while repeatedly saying her new favorite phrase, 'WAKE UP RYOUMEN!'.

"I'm up! I'M UP WOMAN! STOP YOUR DAMN NOISE!" He grabbed the utensils out of her hand and threw them out the window. “You’ll wake the entire village with your racket!”

In the end, Sukuna returned before the break of sunrise, telling himself that he’ll play along until the act gets old, or he grows too tired to keep up—until his patience wears thin, or she dies. Whichever comes first. He didn’t know then… that those were all just excuses.

For a priestess, she has such a terrible attitude.

“Hey, um…”

Sukuna looked from the broken window (a lot more broken than last night) to the priestess.

Her cheeks were dyed as scarlet as her hakama, hands behind her back as she bit her lip.

“I just… wanted to say… that—”

Irked by her stalling, he snapped. “Spit it out, miko!”

“THANK YOU FOR COMING ALONG!” Startled by her words, (Y/n) quickly covered her mouth like she could hardly believe she had said those words of her own free will.

“What I meant was that… that… uhmm…”

A firm hand covered the expanse of her head, ruffling the already unkempt threads.

“I said I would, didn’t I? I don’t break promises.”

The king would never know how his simple truth would tether the priestess to him. How the words he spoke on a whim would be the frail vow that would shackle her until the day she dies. That it would latch onto him as tightly… just like he had held onto her.

(Y/n) beamed at him from under his arm, grabbing the shoulders of the tall man and shaking him back and forth, "Teach me then, o great one."

Sukuna led the priestess to a large clearing. Far from the prying eyes of any other mortal.

Reaching the area with a large tree (the same one he had idled under last night). He told her to stay a few steps back.

Sukuna spiralled his focus in a single breath—

“Ready when you are!”

“Be quiet!”

Once more, he breathed in, his posture upright and relaxed yet brimming with intensity. Sukuna’s eyes narrowed sharply as he channeled his cursed energy, hand rising with fluid grace. His fingers parted in deliberate gestures, steering the power that sparks and swirls to take the shape of a fiery arrow. In a controlled motion, he draws his arm back, the flames burning brighter every passing second.

Then he fired, sending the arrow straight to the tree, burning through it, and blasting open a boulder on the other side of the field.

Pleased with the small display of destruction, he turned to the priestess with sheer delight. Finding that she had her jaw dropping to the ground from shock.

“You’ll be learning that miko.” Sukuna smirked, jutting his thumb at the fiery wake of his technique.

Snapping out of it, she shut her mouth and readied herself to protest, “Are you kidding me?! I can’t do that!” (Y/n) crossed her arms, glaring at him all the way from where she stood a hundred feet away.

“It’s the only beginner trick I know!” He hollered, silently snickering at her predicament. “Kids could do twice as much if they tried!”

“You cheat! That’s a lie and you know it! You’re the worst teacher ever!” The priestess fumed, snarling at him from the distance, shaking a fist in the air from sheer annoyance.

Sukuna slowly crossed the distance between them, taking in her angered image. It amused him seeing her so riled up from a single comment. Human emotions were truly as fickle as their lives. 

The sun glared brightly over their heads. Still, its rays fell warmly for what seemed to be the first time in half a century.

As he drew closer, he craned his neck to catch her gaze. “You’re already giving up?” He teased, shaking his head in disappointment, “What happened to all that hope? Come on~”

“Why you—”

“OI! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU SCOUNDRELS ARE DOING? YOU BURNED MY TREE DOWN!”

The priestess looked to the raging villager in panic, getting ready to kowtow for forgiveness while Sukuna didn’t even spare a passing glance as he stood uprightly.

“I think… we should…” She looked to Sukuna with a diabolical grin, finding that he did not even show the slightest bit of emotion on that inked face of his. With a shake of her head at his indifference, the priestess intertwined her hand with his and tugged him forward breaking forth into a—“… run.”

“Hey! Get back here!”

She laughed, the melody echoing between the borders of the valley and his ears, feeling his soul calm at the sound.

The unusual duo ran from the angry man, stopping only once they heard no footsteps chasing after them.

Sukuna has never run from something so obscenely foolish—he reckons he never ran away from anything at all. There existed no creature who could make him fear for his life or sweat from nerves.

Still, even as he tried to deny, he could not shake off this excessive thrumming in his heart—screaming that getting dragged by this human was just a teeny tiny bit fun.

---

For days and weeks on end, that became their routine: wake up because of the loud banging (whether it be a broken sword, a wooden stick, or an out-of-tune biwa), eat (mostly just for the priestess), go to a clearing, practice techniques that can easily be done by a kid if the teacher wasn’t such a jerk to his student that obviously wasn’t a kid but a priestess who could only try so hard!

If they were lucky, angry mobs of people wouldn’t come chasing them out of the village… that was very rare. It had them sleeping in marshes, openings of an old tree, caves.

(Y/n) didn’t mind. In her heart, so long as Ryoumen was there for her every waking moment she was certain that everything would be alright.

But it could not be said for the rest of the world.

Soon enough, tales of the king of curses traveling with a priestess began circulating from town to town. Undoubtedly originating from the folks they startled half to death, given their flashy explosions and endless bickering.

In twilight's glow, the priestess strides. The demon king at her side.

They knew nothing. All those foolish humans and shamans conjuring their own truths to soothe their fear, to vanquish uncertainties, to pin their accusations on whoever was close enough to be suitable.

His eyes aflame, her heart of grace. Souls entwined in a wicked embrace.

But if the world ran on scales being tilted to fair and unjust then there would be no need for rulers. Reality remains: the truth can be muddied and lies can come as clear as water. If people in power put their faith in that notion, who were the unfortunate as to question them so?

Calamity awaits this dark dance, A fate in ruin, a cursed chance.

Stories of the king’s companion reached the ears of power, binding the unknown priestess in a place far from where she actually stood. It was simple, really. If one cannot get to the root, you stick the poison in the bark until it seeps in and kills it from within.

For those who lived in torment of his existence would stop at nothing if it meant eliminating him from the lands.

O priestess pure, who dared to scheme, With demon king, forsake your dream. In shadows deep, your light shall wane, A traitor's fate, eternal pain.

Bound to the fiend, your soul will weep, In eternal gloom, your spirit keep. For conspiring with the devil's might, In endless night, lose all your light.

“Curse the traitor who dares to walk the shadows.”

Wades of grass swayed from the broken gale, leaves rustling until the breaths of their life got carried into the blue ether.

“Oi, get up.” Sukuna loomed over the hunched form of the tired priestess, looking down on her with bordered patience.

The woman panted and tried to catch her breath, pushing her palms against her knees to hoist her body upwards. “Yeah… just… give me a… second.”

“I can see the sun go across the sky, that’s how long you’re taking.”

“That’s so rude—” her body was suddenly shaken by violent coughs, sending her crumbling to her knees. "I think I might be coming down with something." She laughed, looking up and flashing him a forced grin.

"Yeah, the wrong idea." He jeered, poking her forehead.

"It might be a cold." The priestess tried to put forward, grabbing the hand that continuously knocked on her head to help hoist her upright.

"Don't be ridiculous.” Sukuna scoffs, prying his arm from her once she’d found footing, tucking it under his battered kimono. “Idiots are too dumb to catch a cold."

“Right? That’s why you’ll never have to worry about getting sick!” She laughs, walking past him and onwards the path they had to tread.

Sukuna, frozen where he stood, could only stare and watch as her figure got further and further away. Draped over by the daylight that lingers around her, loyal as they come. Clothes that fluttered in the wind like waves crashing against the shore. Eyes that looked back at him when she noticed his footfalls weren’t anywhere near hers.

He wasn’t so sure if he was angry at her comment… or relieved that she was alright.

Even now as she waved at him from so far away, her sleeves waltzing with the breeze, Sukuna couldn’t see any of those hurtful resentments—the ones that he was most familiar with—as though they had not existed at all.

“I’m leaving you if you don’t hurry up!” she yelled, cupping her hand near the side of her mouth to have her voice reach him.

Foolish little human, he would think. He could cross that distance in the blink of an eye, even appear at the gates of his home without a single breath passing. Still, he chose to walk alongside this priestess… wasting the time he just had so much of.

But deep down, he knew. He was happy that he was wasting all his time with her.

---

“If you don’t feel well just say so, idiot miko.” Sukuna knelt beside her heaving form, his shoulder being the only thing stopping her from falling to a crumpled heap on the floor.

“No… I’m… I’m fine.” She caged the fabric of his clothing between her fingers, chasing the breath she kept on losing even from a simple exercise like walking to a clearing. “I just… need—I just need to catch my breath… that’s all.”

Sukuna shifted in his position, slumping on the hardened soil, allowing her weight to fall on him completely.

“You’ve been saying that for the past week.” He reminds, planting a hand to support both their weights.

“You don’t seem to be getting better.” Sukuna’s fingers carded through her hair, wanting to untangle them… only they stuck to his digits like glue, bunching up in his hand like he had yanked it straight from her scalp.

“Yeah… sorry about that.” Her chuckles sounded tired, as though it took everything in her to even force it out. The priestess loosened her grip on him, letting her hand fall.

Time felt warped in those few arbitrary seconds, perhaps he was just imagining that it did; never quite admitting the bothersome whirring his heart would emit when he saw her struggling all this time. It was fine when he was the one to cause her little setbacks, because she, too, took part in riling him up. But it was an all too different matter when it was caused by something else.

Still, in those few passing moments, the pieces seemed to gravitate together. And he yells at himself for ignoring the warnings. His agitated energy, the flutter of his power, the unsettling gloom trailing past her shadow. The coughs, her hair… the patches of green and violet decorating her skin.

Even from a few moons ago, he shouldn’t have brushed it off. The priestess would wake in the dead of the night screaming—yelling that something was out to get her. She’d jump at the slightest rustle, asking if Sukuna felt it too… that someone was watching them. Her sadness from the hostility of the animals from the villages, or that she wasn’t as happy as she used to be… that it probably killed her inside just to pretend that she was alright.

Sukuna pushed the priestess, not enough to get her to let go, but far enough for him to be able to see the dark circles under her eyes and within them, the hazy reflection of the one that had been cursing her.

---

“Your wife seems to be in terrible condition.” The shaman from the village inspected the priestess, squinting his eyes in what looked to be pretend observation. Of course, anybody, be it human or curse, could see that she wasn’t doing well.

Sukuna rolled his eyes, not even bothering to correct that the woman was not his wife—he’d rather eat his own fingers than be bound to her for eternity.

“Well, let her stay here for a few days to get her energy back. It’s a long way from the one hexing her so she should be alright.” The human excused himself from Sukuna, leaving him to stare at the bedridden form of the priestess.

With every stutter of her breath, the twitches in her closed eyes, even the faintest mumbles that slipped past her lips, Sukuna found himself clinging to the moments when her laughter would ring in his ears, that she’d poke fun at him and say he was walking like an old man, or when she’d complain and say she was tired… that she wanted to sleep and eat until she couldn’t breathe.

Back then, it all looked so foolish; annoying if nothing. On days like those, he wished she would just cease her endless chatter—even if it was for less than an hour—or that she would tire herself out from running around like a child, or that she would stop asking all those unnecessary questions.

Why is the sky blue?

What’s your favorite season?

Where do you want to live once this adventure is over?

But one would never really know the value of a moment until it’s forced to become a memory.

He drew closer to her, raising his arm in a languid manner, a spark of blue flame dancing on the tips of his fingers.

Sukuna’s hand lingered above her body, hesitant to cast the spell that would end her torment. He wouldn’t have admitted it, and he knew that he never will, but in that space in time—a little rift that belonged to him alone—he trembled in fear.

What would she make of him if she ever found out? That the king she had so desperately sought was the same being walking alongside her. The same one who was at the receiving end of her kind smiles and warm affection. What would you think of me… if you knew the truth?

It was easier that way. To hide. To run. To cower away from all that he deserved from the one person he didn’t want to look at him that way: In fear, in hatred, in contempt. Because beyond that, Sukuna didn’t know where to be. He couldn’t bear to know what would become of him if the priestess would see him the way humans did. The vile curse who killed anyone in his wake. Sukuna. Calamity bringer. Demon king.

But the sight of her in pain, plagued by the nightmares conjured by a wicked sorcerer, weakened by the spell wrongfully placed on her, haunted by the waking thought that it would never get better.

No. that’s too much.

Sukuna let the fire fall, burning away the remnants of harm thrown at her. Swearing to himself that he would not let her suffer for his sake.

If she were to wake one day and realize her mistakes, then it would just have to be the monument of his retribution. He would take it, so long as it was not right now… here, where the fervent longing in his heart blazed for nothing but the priestess. Burning so fiercely, blinding any other thought, because he didn’t want anything, not the humans or the curses, to take her away from him.

Not the human who fearlessly led him through the forest, clung to him like he was the one who held all the answers, looked at him like he had hung the stars in the sky.

Not when he wished for nothing but to stay by the miko’s side.

---

A hundred million lights shone on the midnight canvas overhead, illuminating the world in a soft glow, casting faint drizzles of warmth to cover the face of the sleeping girl—no longer running from the darkness.

Sukuna never left the room. For if she was here, then there was no need for him to be anywhere else.

Yet once more, the world—or rather, his subordinate—begged to differ.

"Sukuna-sama."

The demon king spared not even a passing glance at the sudden entry of the white-haired servant, choosing to keep his crimson stare pinned on the priestess.

"Oh, Uraume." He acknowledged emptily.

"I have been looking across the country—"

"Get lost. I don't need you right now." He was quick to dismiss his servant’s urgency with a wave of his hand.

Uraume placed a foot in protest, although hasty to rescind when a sharp glare emanated from the eyes of the demon king. "But Sukuna-sama, the sorcerers..."

Fed up with the useless rambling, Sukuna let out an exasperated sigh, "What? Are you so weak that you can't take care of a few little humans?" he ridiculed.

"They are dabbling with the forbidden arts, Sukuna-sama." Uraume tried desperately to raise even a grain of attention in the king’s heart, yet he remained impassive to the situation all the same. "One was recently sighted to have cursed a few nobility—"

Sukuna leaned back in his chair even more, resting his cheek on his fist and glancing at his servant from the corners of his eyes. "Since when have I cared for others, Uraume? Let them die."

His words were cold, uncaring, and cruel… but not once has he torn his gaze from the soul resting on the cot.  

Uraume thought it to be strange. The king of demons had spent so long treating the lives of others as nothing less than dirt under his foot, yet he held this fleeting human he’s known for less than six full moons as a treasure he could not look away from.

It wasn’t any of the servant’s business. How Sukuna chose to spend his time is out of Uraume’s concern. Uraume merely has to report to Sukuna and take care of all the things he didn’t want to concern himself over.

"She did from the grounds of her home, Sukuna-sama." Uraume tried not to falter from Sukuna’s heavy stare, choosing to bow instead of facing the angry expression painted on the king’s face. The servant did not want to be at the end of his wrath.

"Pink eyes? Blue hair?" His footsteps echoed within the small room, and Uraume was soon looking at the seams of a white kimono.

"Yes, Tsukumo Ren, are you perhaps acquainted with her—?"

"Kill her." Sukuna’s hostility forced the servant to the floor.

Now that Uraume has confirmed it, Sukuna had no doubts. Tsukumo Ren was the sorcerer behind those pools of (e/c) staring back at him that day. The same ones that used to look at him with all the hope in the world. The same ones that were glistening in pain—begging for him to put her out of her misery.

"Kill that sorcerer. That's an order."

The sound of fabric rustling had Sukuna withdrawing his energy, looking down on his servant in contempt before he tore his gaze and walked away.

“Leave.”

Uraume wasted not a single breath and teleported away. Either the servant obtains the sorcerer’s head, or Sukuna would be the one to take Uraume’s.

After what felt like eternities dragging on, the priestess had finally woken.

Sukuna pushed the gnawing sensation of relief down the depths of his soul.

He felt silly… feeling like that, for a human, no less.

"Were you… talking with someone… just now?" She rasped, hoisting herself to sit up.

But he would admit to it just once that in this moment, Sukuna was happy to be the one who stood here. To be the first thing she saw, the first voice she heard. To be the first person she thought of.

“No.” Sukuna was quick to deny, as he handed her a cup of water. “You were hallucinating.”

After being the object of contempt for many, many centuries… it was nice to know that beside her, he was wanted. Above all else, beyond rhyme and reason, when he was with her… he felt seen.

The priestess downed the liquid, feeling her the tightness in her throat diminishes. “I see. Have you eaten yet?”

“Worry about yourself more, idiot.”

He felt loved.

---

The demon king, in twilight’s glow, Found solace in the priestess he’d come to know.

Not a week later, the renowned shaman who could curse anybody from a distance was proclaimed dead. Shards of frozen water bordered her home that had exploded into splinters. Sorcerers investigating under the command of the shogun found her body sliced to pieces, her blood painting the walls.

For her, his heart would fiercely burn, And vengeance swift would soon return.

Soon enough, rumors emerged from town to town. Iterating the tale told by one folk to the next, each one a lot more diverted from the truth than before. Still, it would not matter. For the chants written down in history would prove every other legend wrong—yet this one will always remain true, even as the world is raised to ruin.

To those who dare to bring her pain, His wrath unleashed will reign like rain.

---

"Who ever knew I'd be so famous that others would want to curse me?" (Y/n) walked joyously, swinging her arms back and forth divergent to the falls of her steps.

Sukuna trod alongside her, as he told the priestess the truth, finding no need to withhold it from her. If his servant held life second to Sukuna, then the sorcerer would be no more.

"Yeah, waste of a perfectly good incantation if you asked me." The king shrugged nonchalantly, purposely saying the words that would add fuel to the fire flickering in her.

Sukuna could feel the sharp glares she was sending his way all while he pretended not to notice them, suppressing the laugh that threatened to burst from his throat.

The priestess huffed in annoyance, turning her head away from him and walking at a much faster pace, leaving him behind.

“Oi! I was just joking!” He yelled in protest, hurrying his strides to catch up with her who was now turning the next corner of the street.

Sukuna stopped moments before he could collide with her back.

People walked past them in every direction while they stayed stagnant in the midst of it all, like an iceberg adrift in the vast ocean.

"So, how do you intend on paying the healer?" The priestess turned to face him, inclining her head to meet his stare.

Her question took him by surprise. They had to pay? For what? That quack doctor didn’t do shi—

"Uh... I wrote my name; they can ask for something in return when they want to." Sukuna looked away, scratching the back of his head. Like hell he’d do something for a lowly human—

"You know how to write? That's so cool!" She looked to him in adoration, the same one she had always worn before that sorcerer took it away—and heavens was he elated to have the light of those eyes end its journey behind his own.

"What you don't?" Sukuna smirked, flicking her forehead.

"Nope! Not even my name!"

Sukuna was left staring at her, at a loss for words, like he had seemed to be for the past twilights. He couldn’t wrap his head around it, how this little human squeezed through the tight crevices in the walls he built so high—or perhaps it was him who tore them down.

"You wouldn't even know if you're a national criminal." He laughed, tucking his hands in his sleeves, and continued to walk.

"Right?” She grinned, skipping every now and then to match his lengthy strides, “I do know how to write Auflage."

Sukuna scoffed, slowing his pace so he could poke fun at her from a nearer distance. "That's useless."

"Correct again! Wow, you're really smart, Ryoumen!"

There it was again, that little stutter in his breath at the mention of his name. One of the many, he continues to remind.

Even with the chatter of the townspeople, the clatter of their sandals hitting the cobblestone path, the late afternoon breeze singing their melody, he feared that knocking of his heart would be too loud—that it would overpower all the resounding restrictions he so desperately tries to put on himself and he would end up giving in to all this… all this happiness.

"You're just an idiot..." He whispers halfheartedly.

"Hey! Teach me how to write your name." The priestess bounced on the balls of her feet as she looked to Sukuna with a heart full of hope and stubborn determination. 

"Shouldn't you be more interested in yours?" Sukuna raised a brow at her, pushing the priestess to move with the rest of the crowd towards the river.

"No. You probably know how to write that but it's not fair that I don't know how to write yours." She shook her head and pointed an accusing finger at him.

"What?"

They halted near the bank of the river. The setting sun sank behind the horizon, painting his face golden; striking the priestess with shadows.

Then she turned to face the rushing river, half her face dyed in aureate light, casting the illusion of eternity.

"How am I gonna find you if you go disappearing on me? I can't write. I can't read, and I can't draw."

Slowly, humans came occupying the fields of grass, scattering their laughter in the once silent atmosphere.

"At the very least, if I know how to write your name, I'll be able to look for you in the future... and find you again."

As the last rays of daylight faded into the earth, she looked to him for what should be no-less than second nature… so why? Why did his soul scream at him to go to her? To be near her no matter what life she lived? To be the one within arm’s reach… to be the one she looks for, the one she asks to see.

How ridiculous her words were. To him who ardently believed that he was born and reincarnated to be the object of everybody’s contempt, that he lived only to hurt other people.

Still… why does she look at him like those didn’t matter? As though they never held importance to begin with. She was the one being ridiculous! Not him!

“Hello? From the magnificent miko of the land to Ryoumen? Is anybody home?” The priestess waved a hand over his face, the one who stared at her unblinkingly.

But Sukuna realizes then that he too was accountable for some of the blame.

“Sit down and pay close attention.” He grabbed a small branch and sat on a log away from the rest of the crowd.

Because even as he harbors these doubts, he still finds himself looking for her. Everywhere. In everything. In everyone.

Through fire and flame, where darkness holds its sway, The demon king feels something start to sway.

When Sukuna turned to see if the priestess obeyed his command, his soul nearly descended to the depths of hell as he sees her sitting so painfully close to him, staring at the undisturbed earth with such fervor.

As moonlight dances on her gentle grace, A flicker warms his cold and distant face.

The king began drawing lines on the dirt, glancing at her from the corner of his eye to see if he still had her attention. He did.

兩面

“How do you read that?” She gazed at him in wonder as she pointed to the characters on the ground, written so neatly it would have passed as a calligrapher’s penmanship (the priestess has never seen a calligrapher’s penmanship. This is the first handwriting she has witnessed).

“Ryoumen, you idiot. Now you try.” Sukuna flicked her forehead and handed her the stick.

In her presence he sheds his ancient rage, And finds his soul anew free from its wretched cage.

As the priestess glanced back and forth from Sukuna’s writing and to her own, the king finds himself sinking more and more into the warmth she gave. When he looked at her, he would often think to himself, how lucky am I to have been right here where you existed. Even now as he drowns his crimson irises in her image, in this time, in this life… he finds himself wishing for this moment to last just a little bit longer.

“There. All done.”

Sukuna peeked an eye open. He wasn’t quite sure what he was expecting to see from someone who hadn’t written anything in her whole life. But it certainly wasn’t this.

“What’s with the scrambled sticks? These look like summoning runes!”

The priestess inhaled a breath of offence, holding a hand over her heart. “I haven’t written anything in my entire life! You’re supposed to be encouraging me to do better.”

He desperately tried to hold back the harsh criticisms flooding his tongue as he grabbed the twig from her hand and erased the characters they’d both written.

“I’d be lying to your face if I told you that you did a good job.” Sukuna gave the stick back to her, looking at the priestess with a deadpanned expression.

“You’re supposed to follow certain strokes not write whatever you want wherever you want.”

He moved closer to the priestess, holding the hand she used to write and guiding it to draw on the ground.

The priestess held her breath for all the seconds she felt him so close to her. She could have sworn her vision dotted from the lack of oxygen flowing in her lungs, but she feared her heart would crawl out of her mouth if she so much as let out a sound.

His hand felt cold over hers, like he was plunged in eternal frost before coming to wake in the vernal freshness of the sun.

Yet to the priestess, he was like a cool breeze during the summer heat, or the anchor in a raging storm, the moonlight in the illusions of midnight.

He felt like home.

And she swore she could have stayed like that for all the eternities to come, caged in his hold, safe from the cruelty of the world, seen amidst ten thousand people.

If only her lungs didn’t burn from the breaths she didn’t want to take.

“On—On second thought…” The priestess broke free from his half-embrace, standing up and fisting the fabric of her clothes, “you—how… how about you find me instead!”

Sukuna’s eyes widened at her yell, he thought for a second that the miko was giving up, that is until he saw the scarlet coloring her cheeks all the way to the peaks of her ears. 

“You’re smart, and you know how to read and to write. So—uhm, I’ll just wait for—for you to come and get me… if I get taken away.”

“Okay.”

“It’s more of a situational condition anyway, it’s not like I’ll be—wait, what did you say?” The priestess ceased her pacing and faced the man still sitting on the log, watching her with radiant glow.

“I said okay. I’ll find you in the future.”

She broke out in a face-breaking smile and sprinted to where he sat, beaming down at him with all the happiness the world could offer, “Really?” She spoke in a joyous, hopeful tune.

Before Sukuna could berate her for asking too many questions, something shone from the corner of his eyes.

The king watched as the villagers, one by one, then all together, lit up the objects they held, letting them float into the midnight ether. The lights flew into the sky, disappearing as though they’d become one with the stars.

He once deemed the festivities foolish, looking at them from far away, alone in the courtyard of his temple. Humans throwing their trash into the sky or letting them sink into the rivers. What was the use of such fleeting moments, he would think. For what good is there to laugh and cry knowing it will come to an end sooner or later?

But the humans remained happy either way, even if they knew their lives were as fickle as the lights they set off into the night.

Sukuna looked away, not liking the feeling of something brewing in his chest. He turned to tell the miko that they were leaving, away from all this frolicking, only to find her holding one of those lights.

Ah, why am I like this?

“Hey, c’mon hurry. The light’s gonna burn out.” With haste, she grabbed hold of his hand, placing it parallel to hers on the lantern.

For so long… it was all so strange to him. How do humans take it? All these happy memories will crush them one day, he knows it. What greater heartbreak is there than realizing that these will pass… just as everything else does.

That you will pass… just like all you mortals do. Scattering the lands with all your laughter that it echoes even after you’ve gone. Long after your death, for many centuries to dawn.

“Now make a wish. If the light reaches the heavens, then your wish will come true. Ready?” The priestess closed her eyes, squeezing his hand with ardor.

The light of the lantern painted her face in a warm glow, setting alight the fervency of her desire.

But Sukuna only had one wish.

“Now.” He felt her hand push his to raise the light afloat. “Look at it go! Our wishes are definitely going to come true.”

She watched the lantern ascend to the heavens and Sukuna watched her. For what good was the promise of paradise if heaven was right there.

---

Beneath daylight, the demon found, His heart for her was tightly bound.

As the days of their journey neared its close, the very last meadow they stepped foot into was half a wasteland.

"Hey, Ryoumen..." The priestess sat under the shade of a tree that had miraculously survived, watching as the clouds drifted by in shapes and sizes blotting the earth with shadows painted in their likeness.

Sukuna sat a little ways off, in the middle of a small patch of flowers. He looked out of place, or so he had believed. To be embraced by life when he only brought death.

"What is it?" he asks, not tearing his attention from what he was doing.

The priestess, innocent and kind, Knew not the feelings within his mind.

"A shop owner gave me this," She pulled out a large bow and a case of arrows, one she had forgotten about until she was so painfully reminded of their existence (tripping over it as she was packing her things), "he told me that I was somewhat similar to a person nearby at that time..."

Sukuna faltered in his activity, thinking back to that moment she spoke of. One that transpired nearly eleven—no, twelve full moons ago. Once, he would have thought of the time passed as nothing—if you’ve lived long enough, everything starts to blend together at some point. But all these days to him have felt like a lifetime, a lifetime that wasn’t nearly enough.

Similar to me, eh? Very wrong, filthy sorcerer. She's nothing like me.

The priestess threw the weapon at Sukuna, thinking that perhaps he had the answer. But the moment it made contact with his skin, a sharp hissing sound emanated from his skin.

Her eyes widened at the scene, standing up so fast and rushing to his side to cast the bow elsewhere.

"Hey—what... why is there... steam? What? Are you okay—"

Sukuna held up a hand and that stopped her from reaching out for him, "It's nothing."

Sukuna rose from his position and returned the weapon, feeling his hands burn from the contact.

“Hey! Wait just a moment, Ryoumen. You’re hurt, aren’t you?” The priestess tried to catch up to him when the sun had mysteriously gone out, and the scent of flowers invaded her nose.

"Let's go to the village. Might be the last time you'll see a human. You never know..." His voice echoed in the wind, coming from everywhere all at once until it faded to a distant buzz.

In silence deep, his truth concealed, For she knew not what love revealed.

Her fingers found solace in the circlet he draped over her eyes, a wreath of flowers.

When her vision narrowed to search for his presence, to call his name—ask what he means for every gentle touch, warm smiles, and kind undertakings—she found he was already up over the hill, standing there… waiting patiently for when she’d be ready to depart.

Perhaps then, it all became clear…

Under the azure canvas overhead, painted over with the silver water of light, surrounded by the passing zephyrs, she knew.

The hustle and bustle of commerce from the town strung from one corner to another. Streets were littered with people. Children ran around, keepers and vendors opened their businesses for travelers and residents alike. Banners that vary in size and color were hung all over the place. Laughter and chatter of everyday life danced in the happy and uplifting atmosphere.

It made the priestess smile; it was exactly what she missed most about her town.

"Get yer Ambrosia here! Buy one get one free!"

"Rat poison for sale! Up for free taste!"

"Expired milk! Fit for your cheating husband! Get two for the price of one! Limited time only."

The demon king and the priestess walked through the lively streets. Her hand clutched firmly against the cloth of his light-colored kimono that he only got after the rest of his torn and beaten clothes crumbled and got taken away by the wind.

"Get your portrait drawn by the greatest artist around! 50% off on people with companions!"

The priestess dragged Sukuna to where she heard the calls of the advertiser. His hand intertwined firmly with hers as she dodged and avoided people as much as she could.

"Hi there, onee-chan! Here to get drawn?"

She nodded her head, and the little boy beckoned her to follow him. The priestess tugged at the unwilling hand of Sukuna who stood firmly and unmoving outside the venue. 

"C'mon Ryoumen! It's to commemorate the finish of the training thing! This may be the last thing we'll have to remember each other... never know..." She tried to use his own words to convince him, continuously pulling at his arm trying to get him to agree.

Still, he refused.

The priestess sighed, ultimately deciding that it was her pride or this absolute need for remembrance, and she wasn’t going to leave with either so she pulled out the greatest weapons any girl could have... the look.

"Pwease~"

The pink-haired man showed a look of disgust and shivered from the image engraving itself into his head and slammed a hand to cover her horrifying face. 

"Alright, I’m going. Just—just stop it with that face."

"YES!" She cheered and circled around him—the space she occupied for herself.

Sukuna silently watched her, a faint smile gracing his usually annoyed face.

What a weirdo...

"Onee-chan, Onii-san, this way please..."

---

"It looks so cool!" The priestess gushed, ogling at the portrait that took almost 3 hours to make.

"It's not half bad. I guess..." Even Sukuna couldn’t put it in himself to deny.

She turned to the little artist, "Do you have a quill I can use?"

The little boy nodded and handed her a spare.

“What for? You don’t know how to write.” Sukuna smirks, looking over her shoulder to see what she was up to.

“Currently not entertaining the jeers of bashers.” She swatted him away and continued to write albeit in slow, messy strokes.

'Ryōmen & (Y/n)' Auflage, 850

Sukuna took notice of the writings she engraved at the bottom of the paper. Had she been writing? All those times she had her back to me… she was practicing?

"Why Auflage?" He found himself asking. Sukuna knew it was one of the three things she knew how to write: her hometown, her name (which he demonstrated after many, many pleas and cries from the priestess), then Sukuna’s name. But she could have easily asked him to write it for her. The priestess would have only needed to say, and he would have made it so.

She looked up at him and flashed him a beaming smile, "Because that's where we first met, silly."

When did I start seeing you like this?

The gentle breeze of the early afternoon danced around her body, rays of the bright sun highlighting the curves and bumps on her face.

How can you still look at me like that? After knowing me… wasting so much time… on me—

"I will treasure this for years to come! Maybe when we meet again, I can laugh about how you showed up in front of me half-naked!" She lightly chuckled at her suggestion. “The great Ryoumen!”

When did I start thinking that my name had a ring to it whenever you would say it?

"Thank you." The priestess handed the quill back to the boy and continued to wander around the town with her companion.

She held the portrait up and inspected it for the hundredth time that day, "Wow! We look like a couple here."

That I'd do anything for you over and over again if you'd ask me to—if I knew it will make you smile.

Sukuna stole a glance at the drawing with mock disgust, and an evident flush of red dusting his inked face, "A couple of jackasses."

"HEY!"

---

What Sukuna said had rang true. No, not the 'couple of jackasses'. The part where he said that that'll be her last human contact for a while.

It had been three full moons since that last village, twelve since she had set foot in her home. Still, the seconds ticked by as though they were but a grain of sand in the endless desert.

Sukuna and the priestess traveled for a long time, passing by a long, deep ravine, walking through dark, creepy forests, and eerie swamps. As they crossed the distance to his castle, the more he began to feel the heaviness in his chest grow.

The curses lingering in the shadows began to act more unpredictable, fearing nothing, believing themselves to be the strongest.

“What is going on in that head of yours…”

Sukuna diverted his attention from the darkened borders of the woods and towards the priestess who had her hands supporting her head as her elbows rested on her knees.

“You always look so out of it ever since we came here.” She pointed out, tilting her head in question. “If you’re scared, we can just go back—”

“Whoever said I was afraid?”

“You don’t have to say it when it’s written all over your face.”

Sukuna scoffed. Why would he need to be afraid of himself? He could care less. At least, that’s what he wanted to believe.

Still, why didn’t it cease this hurricane of sadness wreaking havoc in his soul?

Crackles of the fire permeated the space between them. There existed no cicadas’ orchestra, no rustles of the foliage, the king even doubted if the zephyrs dared to venture into his domain.

It was just him in a place far too big for a single soul to inhabit.

“Do you think the king ever feels lonely?” The priestess stood and walked near him, not knowing that the person in her question was already at the receiving end of her words.

“So vast a kingdom for there to be no citizen.” She sat next to him, keeping her eyes on the dancing flames.

Sukuna didn’t know what to say. He was the king, renowned in all the lands. Demon king. King of curses. Calamity. He has had so many titles for the past century, be it as a curse or as a human. But he never chose to be labeled by any of those.

He had a name once, just like the rest of them. He once turned to see who uttered it so long ago, he would know he was needed at the mention of it, and he would be reminded of his own self—breathing, living—just like the rest of them.

“Maybe that’s just his fate. To be the abomination in everybody’s eyes.”

But now, his name was buried under the titles he was bestowed, woven in tales of terror, burned in history as the vilest demon to have ever been born. Perhaps he was far too gone in the oceans of his sin to be called by his name.

“No one is born to be hated, Ryoumen.” The priestess nudged his shoulder with her own, “I would know, the head priestess in the shrine I used to work at told me. And even if she didn’t, I’d still think so.” She smiled, seemingly proud of her belief.

“The same way no one is born to be revered by the heavens, no one is born to be the basin of everybody’s anger.” The priestess tossed a few sticks into the fire, watching as it burst forth to blaze once more. “Because that’s just cruel, isn’t it?”

“How do you bring yourself to love a world that did nothing but reject you?”

Sukuna stared at her in wonder. For so long, he lived his days believing that there was nothing in this world for him to have, nothing for him to hold dear, nothing to be blessed with. So, he took what he wanted… even if it already belonged to someone else. It wasn’t fair. Why does everyone have something while I’m here with nothing? Yet here she was, wholeheartedly believing otherwise. As the light of the fire painted her face golden, Sukuna found himself thinking, how could anyone… be as marvelous as her?

“That’s why I’m glad… that I met you. It really feels like a stroke of luck! After years and years of nothingness, nothing but this spiralling darkness, all of a sudden—there was you. I didn’t really know why I was born all those moons ago, but now the answer just seems so simple. Maybe, just maybe… I was born so I could meet you.”

He believes it then, if the world had so selfishly kept it all from him, letting him believe that it didn’t need him… Sukuna will just have to keep living for someone who does.

---

Her words shone like daylight in this never-ending darkness. At the falls of twilight, in the wake of dawn, mists of the afternoon, shadows of midnight, there existed not a single second where her warmth had ceased to be near him.

Sukuna recalls the tender falls of his name from her lips, and all her kind affection. All that happiness, all those adventures, and everything in between. He treasured them all, carving them deep in the shrines of his soul, promising himself never to forsake them, resent them, or throw them away. Even if the sorcerers of the future were to damn him into eternal suffering, he would never forget.

I would rather be pained by the reminder of you, in every corner and every turn, than to live a life without a single memory of you.

Because he knew that after this, there was no going back. There would be no tomorrow. No lanterns to keep the roads alight. No fires to keep them warm. No nagging miko to keep him company.

It would just be him all over again. A single soul in a world that was far too big.

"His place certainly fits the description." The priestess looked up from the sketch and towards the looming temple in front of her.

Towering pagoda-like spires, carved with serpents and grotesque faces, reached for the skies. Beams of darkened wood stood at held the obsidian tiles covering the expanse of the roof. Screen windows were sealed shut, leaving no room for glances as to what secrets it held inside all that ancient malevolence.

There existed no clear route to the palace-like structure, for it looked to be as if there was no need for one. Not a single soul had ventured here in one piece, nor had anyone been fortunate enough to leave with it intact. The grounds were overgrown with thorny brambles, shadowed by the foliage that left no room for the gale to weave through.

An eerie, dim sunray streams through the dense canopy, painting the cracked stone pathways with unsettling patterns.

The priestess looked to be hesitant to go through the thresholds of his home, although Sukuna guesses her reasons were far too different from his. She had probably feared for her life, much like many mortals do… yet he feared that beyond this, nothing would exist. Just like how it had been before he had come across her being.

“Ryoumen I—”

“Move forward, miko. The king is ahead.”

Sukuna led her through the winding corridors of the temple, finding every torch ignited to a fault, leaving no room for shadows to linger. Crimson and obsidian tapestries depicting the waking nightmare of mortals hung from the walls. The air was heavy with the scent of incense blended with something acrid.

"Who knew he was such a collector huh?" The priestess jested, trying her best to give him one of her grins—yet she, herself, found it difficult to perform such a gesture when she was walking under the ceiling of the place serving as the foreboding citadel of demonic power, within the realm where the demon king reigns supreme.

“Listen, Ryōmen—" she faced him and looked at his weary eyes, "maybe we should leave.”

She gave him a halfhearted smile as silver began to brim the horizons of her lashes. “We can just tell everyone that they were mistaken, that the king doesn’t exist. Or that we killed him—anything!” The priestess drew closer to where he stood, clutching the fabric of his kimono, scared of letting go.

“I thought this was your dream?”

"Please…" her words were silenced by the sound of doors sliding open, crashing against the walls with a resounding bang.

No… it’s not. It hasn’t been for a long time now.

The priestess felt her chest rise and fall as her breath slowly dwindled. With a guilt-ridden heart, her gaze trailed upwards, like those lanterns from all those moons before. She found herself desperate to trace the contours of his inked face, memorize the shade of crimson dyeing his eyes, see the hints of warmth decorating the plains of his cheeks. The priestess treasured them all knowing that after today… she will never get to see them again.

You were my new dream.

A searing pain flowered from the beds of her stomach, casting her vision to tunnel to the image of him—so profound, so out of reach… so pained.

“Su…kuna… ah, I finally… got to call… you that…”

In his bewilderment, ropes of blinding white erupted from the shadows of the corridor, binding the king in a heavy hold.

Sukuna clenched his fist in protest, desperate to break away—to catch her before she fell in a crumpled heap on the floor. Only to falter when it dawns on him that this was her scheme all along.

For so long, people called my name in fear, resentment, like I was the very scum that walked the earth.

Sorcerers emerged from the corners, flooding the halls in numbers. Dressed in white kosodes and black hakamas.

“Well done, girl.”

A man rounded the corner, his hair shaded in the likeness of snow, eyes refracting the color of the sky. Sukuna recalls those features, having been inherited from the clan they labeled Gojo.

Sukuna looked to where the miko lay, a hand clawing the floors to reach where he stood, bound beyond escape, while the other was dyed red from holding her wound. A very prominent arrow nock blooming past that kosode she so devotedly wore.

Beneath the stars, the demon grieved, For love was true, yet hearts deceived.

The stranger knelt to where the priestess was, face down and holding tightly onto her wound as her blood flowed out of her body like waterfalls.

The man fisted the threads on her head and held it up, forcing her to witness the fruit of her crafted scheme.

The priestess, pure, in love so deep, Had no intent for harm to reap.

Yet to Sukuna, it remained clear as daylight, that she wanted no part in this. Even as her life is held at the palm of another, ready to be taken away, she remained looking at him… like she had always done.

“Your precious demon king, about to be sealed away.” Seizou shook her head back and forth while the priestess could do nothing but clench her eyes and endure the pain.

“Finally, after all these years.” he dropped her to the floor, choosing to draw closer to where Sukuna was bound, “Your reign will finally come to an end—”

Seizou’s words were swallowed by the white-hot pain searing through his chest, blood pooling in the back of his throat.

“Too bad yours will, too.” The priestess twisted the knife, imbued with a thousand curses, deeper into the heart of the man, hilt painted crimson—the color of her life… the color she had come to love so ardently.

“SEAL HIM AWAY!”

But darkened plots from hidden hands, Sealed his fate with cruel commands.

“It’s over—demon!”

The binds burned brighter, forcing him to revert to the form he was known for. One whose face was so deformed that humans were quick to conclude that he had two, his four arms tearing through the fabric of his kimono—the same one he recalls that she had held on so fervently.

Ah, the miko…

Everything slowed down. Her fingers freed the knife from her bloodied grip, staggering in her place and Sukuna closed his eyes.

As cowardly as it was, he didn’t want to see her turn away in resentment. He didn’t want to see the light, he had once been the center of its orbit, dim to leave him in the darkness. Sukuna, above all else, didn’t want his last memory of her to be one where she looked at him like he was anything but himself.

Humans prayed with their lives clutched so tightly, afraid that I'd be the thief that would take it away. Did they really deem themselves so precious that I'd steal their breath? It's kind of arrogant, really. The ones who declared themselves to be the humblest in the lands had held their souls higher than the heavens.

He was ashamed. Over and over and over again, he believed himself to be foolish—to have fallen so low as to crave the affection of a human. The priestess who was so painfully mortal.

But it remained. Every fervent thought. All the waking daydreams. Glimpses of heaven in you.

When did I get strung in such sappy things?

When did I...

Sukuna, feeling his fingers be burned from his limbs finally raised the curtains of his irises.

The hallways were free from noise, not a single breath in place.

“…hey.”

Aside from the priestess who lay beside his feet, tugging weakly on the seams of his clothes.

"Pretty... aren't I?" She laughs weakly. 

"More like strange..." Sukuna could have sworn he heard those words before.

"And pretty." 

"Sure, and pretty."

“I’ll… write your name. I promise… and they… won’t look like… summoning runes.” She coughed, casting away the substance that gave her life, no matter how painfully short it was.

How do mortals bear such anguish, knowing all that they loved would meet this end?

Sukuna spoke her name, one tethered with such earnest longing—a desperate plea for her to keep her life—to keep living, far longer than any other human. To outlive these sorcerers who gave him such a fate, even if it was just for a second longer.

“You… finally… called me… by my name.” The priestess smiled, letting her hand fall to the ground.

As the binds grew brighter, encasing everything in white, Sukuna caught the sight of a lone tear falling from the side of her eye, along with the words… “find me in the future.”

---

In realms where twilight meets the darkened sea, A priestess loved the demon king, though doomed to be.

Their passion burned where stars and shadows blend, Yet destiny decreed their hearts would never mend.

She fell to darkness, he was bound in chains so tight, Their love a fleeting spark in endless night.

[sturnioloblogs]

Skincare

Y/n x Matt

Summary: you and Matt are hanging out and you convince him to let you do his skincare hehe.

Warnings: nothing I don’t think! Just cute fluff❣️

A/n: hiii I hope you like thins one!! This is my first time ever writing fluff so bear with me 😭😭I also don’t know if these are the right steps for skin care… keep giving me ideas!!

𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹

“Matt stay still!” I giggled to my boyfriend “it’s cold I can’t help it!” He replied.

It took my ages for me to convince him to let me to do his skin care, but today he finally gave in.

I was applying the glow recipe dewdrops to his freshly washed skin. Gently rubbing it into his forehead, cheeks and chin.

“Baby it smells like trees..” he said disgusted “you think?!” “Yes it smells horrible!” he chuckled.

“We’ll get used to it because I wanna do this more often” I said, with a sneaky smile. Before he could respond, I cut him off by saying “if I do this to you every day, your skin will look amazing!”

“We are definitely not doing this every day” he said, closing his eyes and sighing.

“Now we need some face cream” I said, grabbing the jar of lotion off of my shelf “i don’t think this one smells bad…” I say handing it to Matt “it kinda just smells like baby power” he said, handing the jar back to me.

I unscrewed the lid and dipped my finger into the jar, rubbing it into my hands to warm it up a little bit this time.

“Okay so now just going to make sure your skin is moisturized” I said, concentrating.

Making sure to rub it all of his face and down his neck.

“Annnndddd your done!” I said, with a big smile “ooo my skin feels soooo nice and soft, thank you baby” Matt said, while looking at himself in the mirror.

𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹𖦹

A/n: hello pookies let me know how I did! Keep requesting. This was kind of short but its okayyyy







[xxwhiskeyxx]

Mountain content..

I must ask

Can we get some AFAB Ghoul reader x mountain fluff?

Mountains been head over heels since they were first summoned but he's been too scared to tell them, so for years they never knew until Mountain gets his secret told by one of the ghouls

Possibly Ifrit because this man would ship them so hard and be a little shit about it

Just a thought tho

JUST KISS ALREADY!!!

Hello, my dear Evo, I'm sorry it took me so long to get to your request. But I have finally fulfilled it! Ifrit is the annoying little shit that gets his OTP together. I may have gone stereotypical, but I thought it was cute that went to your request. (Y/N) and Mountain have been in love for years, absolute simps for each other, but the typical oblivious goofball and the stoic one who refuses to believe that their love interest could return their feelings. But Ifrit has a plan, keep them seperated all day then drive the big guy crazy tonight during game night, just how will he do it?

-1275 words

I hope y'all enjoy this! I think it's cute with the little bit of steam at the end -Love Whiskey

Ifrit has been watching Mountain and (Y/N) pine and tiptoe around each other since the young ghouleh had been summoned by Terzo later in his reign as Papa; they had been brought to the surface from the Pit to serve as an instrument tech since they were a Multi ghoul like Swiss and Sunshine. (Y/N) was talented at each instrument, having picked up remarkably quickly on each once they were settled into the Ministry, but their favorite instruments had to be Bass and Percussion, of course, Drums being their top favorite (Sorry, Not Sorry :P) 

They have been on every tour since their summoning and have grown close with all the ghouls, most of all the lumbering giant of an Earth ghoul with whom they share a love of music. Mountain and (Y/N) have been the best of friends for years and, without the other knowing, star-crossed lovers who are so oblivious that it hurts. 

Ifrit finds it annoying that his favorite couple does not seem to know how to get together, so he comes up with a plan after listening to Mountain complain about (Y/N) being stolen anytime he wants to talk to them. 

“Hey (Y/N)! Can you come help me with something?” The Fire ghoul calls across the garden as he jogs up to the multi. He grinned as he saw the (height) (h/c) ghoul perk up in surprise from their conversation with Pebble and Mountain. “Sure, what’s up, fritter?” They ask, tilting their head as they stand, brushing off the dirt from their knees. Ifrit notices how Mountain stares up at them from where he’s half kneeling, still chest height with the multi, “I have a favor to ask. Can you come with me?” Ifrit chirps.

(Y/N) smiles, “Of course!” And off they go, IfritIfrit smiling widely as he notices the giant get up with a huff and head off in another direction. 

The Fire ghoul continues this the rest of the day, never leaving the pair alone. He watches as the normally level-headed and stoic ghoul gets more and more frustrated every time he steals the Multi away, not missing the glares he sends when he sees the himbo wrap a friendly arm around their waist. 

But it all comes to a head that night during their weekly game night; Swiss and Sunshine had come up with the idea of truth or dare spin the bottle. Everyone took turns spinning the quickly emptied wine bottle and acting out the various inane antics and deep truths they had given. Delta admitted to having once fucked Terzo on the balcony of a fancy hotel, and that’s why they were banned; Cirrus performed a lap dance for Rain, who turned the color of the deep ocean in embarrassment before hiding in Dewdrop’s lap for the rest of the night, and Ifrit will never forget seeing Alpha dressed in a maid outfit (Satan knows where Special got the thing) and romantically dancing with Aether. 

But things got spicy as the bottle slowed (Y/N). Ifrit grins as he sees his newest victim. Leaning forward, the Fire ghoul smirks. “Truth or dare, little one,” he purrs, watching as Mountain stiffens at the name. 

(Y/N) grins, “Dare bitch, hit me with your best shot!” Ifrit’s grin only grows as he glances around the circle before coming to rest on his kin, who is dressed only in a muscle shirt and dark jena

Alpha chuckles darkly as he watches them blush, the former lead guitarist hadn’t been shy about his interest in the Multi with his flirting and open offers of them coming to him if they needed help with anything.  

(Y/N)’ s face is a deep scarlet in record time as they glance over at the large ghoul, tail flittering with nerves, “uh..h..how long?” They stutter

Ifrit grins, “just one song,” already scrolling for the perfect song in his playlist. Swiss is already running to set up the designated chair for the dare, a deep red plush armchair (I’m uncreative, sue me) 

Alpha smirks as he gets up, “cmon squirt, let’s see those moves.” moving to sit in the chair as if uninterested, even if the way he’s watching them like he’s about to eat them says otherwise. Ifrit watches as Mountain knuckles whiten as he grips his pant legs. 

Soon, Minerva by Deftones spills through the speakers as (Y/N) stands, sauntering over to Alpha and swinging their hips as they walk. Thankful that they wore their ripped jeans and not the shorts they’d planned on, (Y/N) leans down to caress warm, toned arms as they roll their body sensually. 

Ifrit grins as he watches Mountain’s rage bubble to the surface. Alpha smirked and enjoyed his show, his hands holding the Multi’s hips as they ground on his lap. 

As soon as the song is over, Alpha is quick to tug (Y/N) into his lap and whisper something in their ear that has them blushing and giggling like a schoolgirl. This snaps the giant’s resolves. 

With one fluid motion, Mountain stands and stomps over, scooping up (Y/N) from the Fire ghoul’s lap and heads down the hallway. 

“So…game over?” Special chirps from where he’s lounged in Omega’s lap like a house cat 

~To Our Lovebirds~

“Mountain! Mountain, put me down! What’s wrong with you!” (Y/N) shrieks as the said ghoul kicks open his door and throws them on his bed with a grunt. Within seconds, the giant is on top of them, chest heaving as he attempts to calm himself, “What’s wrong with me?! Watching you grind on that asshat has driven me fucking crazy! Nobody should touch you like that but me! Not Alpha, not Ifrit, not anybody! Not unless they’re me! I love you, and I refuse to watch someone else touch what’s mine,” he shouts, face softening as he sees the fear in their eyes. 

Pushing up and leaning back on his heels, rubbing his face with the heels of his palms, “I’m sorry…I just… I’ve loved you since the day we met, and..watching him touch and look at you like that after Ifrit’s been stealing you all day was just too much. It… it’s okay if you don’t feel the same,” his voice hoarse as if holding back emotions

(Y/N) says nothing and stares at him for a moment before crawling towards him. Glancing up at them, “What are you doing?” 

Mountain asks, confused, before he’s pulled into a warm kiss, and his world explodes with color. 

The kiss lasts a seemingly endless amount of time, yet it feels like it ends too soon as (Y/N) pulls away. “I have loved you every day since you took me to the garden. Please know that I am yours as much as you are mine,” they whisper.

The drummer groans and tugs them into a possessive and needy kiss that quickly turns spicier as whines and growls echo under the door.

Just on the other side, a certain Himbo sits, giggling as his plan works. "“You really had to play the jealousy card?” Special asks as they flop beside him. “Yep!” Ifrit pops the P as he listens to the slowly growing noises that come through the door. 

Special smirks, “How about you come with me, and we help poor Alpha through his horny heartbreak?” 

They don’t finish their sentence before Ifrit darts down the hallway. Standing and brushing imaginary dirt from themselves, they hear a surprisingly low-pitched whine that sounds suspiciously like Mountain, “always knew he was a bottom.” they chuckle as they follow Ifrit.

[in-ghost-we-trust]

no dew on the morning grass 

this is my first fic since I was 12. idk what insipred me to write but I did at 1 in the morning It's a re-write of that one scene from New Moon when Edward leaves Bella

724 words (baby fic)  

TW possible sewerslide thought? I don't know just don't want to trigger anyone

Dew was the type of ghoul to show affection. Once he was changed to a fire ghoul, his smile became nothing more than a memory, his hugs were few and far between. He wasn’t him. His pack could sense it, they tried to help, but he shut them out, he shut Papa out and the worst part; he shut you out. His “water lily”. You were his but ever since the change, it seemed as if you were nothing. 

Snow danced down onto the ministry's grounds, there were siblings of sin and ghouls running and throwing snowballs at one another. Yes, there were so many ghouls out, but you only looked for one. Your ghoul. Your dewdrop. He stood off to the side, face slightly looking angered. You catch his eye and run over to him, waving, almost slipping on the ice that covered the marble walkway, he saw this and caught you and helped you stand up straight.  

When you looked in his eyes, you could tell there was something wrong “dew?” you asked still in his arms. His face screwed up and fell and his eyes met yours again “_____ we need to talk” your mind raced, and your face painted with worry. He led you behind the greenhouse, which mountain was checking his trees in. Dew looked directly into your eyes  

“You don't belong in my world.” It felt like he had smacked you, you looked up at him, searching his eyes for any signs of an ill-tasted joke or a fault but, there was nothing. “I belong with you.” you say, no plead “no you don’t” he says with the bluntness of a plastic knife. You go to reach for his face, to cup it to hold him but he steps back from you “i. Don’t. Want. You.” each word was a stab to the chest, over and over again “you don’t want me” it wasnt a question it was just a statement to yourself. You didn’t know if you were in shock, you’d never been but if anything, this was it. “no. But I ask one thing” “a-anything” you choke out “Don't do anything stupid or reckless do you understand” “i- okay” it seems his face slightly softens “Don't worry. You're human. Time heals all wounds for your kind. Particularly if you're not reminded.” your heart stops, it drops to lucifer himself in hell 

 ‘’don't- please dew” he flinches at the nickname ‘’Try to understand. Every second with you is about restraint. You're too fragile. I'm tired of pretending to be something I'm not. Reining myself in so I can be with a human.” something clicks in your brain “if this is about my soul, then take it. I don't care! I don't want it without you” you raise your voice “You're not good for me ______” everything stopped, his words rang in your head, your vision is blurred from the tears that pool in your eyes “I'm so sorry I let this go on for so long” he whispers and leans in to kiss your forehead. You blink, closed your eyes for just a second, he's gone “dew!?” you scream and run to the forest next to the abbey, not seeing him near the building. 

You run and run, hoping just maybe you'll find your love, that maybe you can fix whatever just had happened. You quickly become aware of the cold snow seeping into your shoes and the harsh wind that hits your face and hands. You stop running and turn in all directions. You were lost, in a literary since and an emotional since. Tear fall from your eyes like melting icicles, you fall to the freezing ground, shaking with grief ‘was that even the right word?’ it felt like he had died, like he was no longer on this earth.  

Moutain was the one to find you, he had followed you into the woods after he had heard you scream. He carried you back to the abbey, the siblings stared, and the ghouls had bolted over to you. They crowded mountain with questions, but he had no answers, he himself had no idea what had led to this.  

You haven't got out of bed since he had left, you just rot, you don’t get up, everyone tries to check in on you but all you do just float in and out of your body when they are there with you, you dont want their stupid sympathy, all you want is him but hes gone. There's no him. Why should there be a you? 

Chapter two 👆

[amica-aenigmata-naboo]

Undead Heart

Astarion x Y/N - drabble - 1.4K WC

Masterlist

Warnings: necromancy, defensive reader, Astarion being a supportive little baby (he is so precious), doubt, reassurance, flufffff, kinda angst? idk

———————————-

Astarion laid his head on your chest, smushing his face in for good measure. You let out a breathy laugh. It was still early, the birds hadn’t graced the winds with their songs yet. The sun hadn’t peeked over the horizon to start the new day. You held Astarion close, one hand gently caressing his soft curls at the base of his neck - the other drawing circles on his bicep that was holding your waist. For a creature who didn’t sleep he appeared pretty dead to the world currently. You listened to the little breaths that left his mouth. You watched his eyes move beneath his closed lids. You loved looking at him, especially when he was like this. His face was calm and smoothed over with rest. Nothing could hurt him here, you wouldn’t let it. 

“Staring is rude.” he mumbled into your chest, somewhere between sleep and wake. 

“It’s not staring, it’s admiring.” you whispered into his ear, kissing the side of his face softly. You could feel a begrudging smile form on his face for a moment before his breathing evened out again. 

You slowly slipped away from him. You were a necromancer, of unknown origin. Your past was muddled but you had found histories of yourself at the citadel from the far reaches of Faerun. You had lived a life. Full of good and bad but your future was yours alone to define. You were ancient, you never aged. The years, for the most part, had been kind to you. Your powers were unmatched and your beauty was unparalleled. Slipping out of the tent you walked out of camp through the fog of the early morning. You could feel the sweet dewdrops kissing your feet as you walked barefoot to the cemetery you had passed yesterday before setting up camp. The souls there called to you. They wished to be released, to visit one another after an eternity apart. As you walked to the center of the graveyard you felt your powers start to flow from your palms. Black smoke and glowing green light emanated from you, swirling and twisting about. Figures started to arise from the graves, transparent and ghostly. You kept your concentration as the ghosts mingled. Laughing and dancing with one another as if they were in the midst of a ball. Your power enveloped the graveyard in a shimmering light, as if millions of little sparkles had graced the small event you created. You walked through the endless rows of graves, quietly admiring everyone. Out of all the things you could do with your abilities, this was always your favorite. Reuniting old friends, families, lovers. Even some enemies who decided to call truces due to their undead circumstances. Everyone always looked so happy, so relieved. The ghosts could see you just as you could see them. One floated through you before another held your hand, spinning you about to the quiet tune that drifted through the air. An enthusiastic bard playing his instrument, as if he had never put it down all those centuries ago. You knew the sight was strange, and that people often found you strange yourself. Death did not scare you. You were its equal and enjoyed teetering that otherworldly line. 

You had never shown this power to Astarion, concerned he would find it odd. You had been together for  a few months. He knew you were ancient and powerful but beyond that you tried to be quite vague. You continued to smile and laugh amongst the ghosts, feeling relieved to use your powers. In battle you were skilled with necrotic and psychic attacks along with general melee fighting but this is truly what you enjoyed using your powers for. Bringing peace, unity. After a while though, the air shifted. You felt eyes watching you. You searched for the source, eyes finding a very much awake Astarion leaning against the graveyard gate.You jumped, sucking in a shocked gasp. You made the shimmer fade, the swirling slow, the smoke dissipate. The ghosts slowly drift back to their respective graves, solemn looks on their faces. No amount of time living or dead would be long enough with each other. And yet, you felt their appreciation radiate to you. You felt pale, almost sickly. Astarion was going to think you were some sort of freak, you just knew it. You slowly made your way to him, keeping your head low and arms tight across your chest to protect yourself from some unknown threat. 

Astarion’s face wore a slight frown, his eyebrows drawn up in a furrow “Little love, whatever could be the matter?”

Your heart raced at the pet name. “How long have you been standing there?” you asked, walking past him, heading back to camp. 

He trailed after you, “Long enough. You looked like you were enjoying yourself.” he quipped. There was no malice in his tone, nor teasing but it made you cringe internally anyways.

“I wish you hadn’t.” you whispered, walking into your tent. 

Astarion felt confused, he tried to follow you into your tent but was stopped by a similar shimmering force at the entrance of your tent. He stepped back, he could still see and hear you but he couldn’t get to you, couldn’t touch you. 

“I would like to be alone.” you said picking up a book and sitting down, eyes never meeting him.

“Darling…” Astarion said quietly, noticing a few tears on your face. “Please let me in.” 

“Why?” you spat, you wanted to fill your heart with anger in preparation for the negativity you were sure you were about to receive. 

“I let you in.” he spoke softly, you knew he wasn’t just talking about his tent. He had shown you every facet of himself, the least you could do was let him into your damn tent. 

He slowly pulled the book from your hands as he sat down, attempting to take them in his own. You pulled away quickly, crossing your arms over your chest. He felt a pang of hurt within him but pushed it aside. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Well, get on with it…” you huffed  out shakily. 

“I have to say… that was pretty powerful magic you were doing back there…” you snorted a bit at his comment. ‘If only you knew’ you thought. 

“Freaky, right? Strange? Unnatural? Unholy?” you rambled off sounding angrier by the second. Your walls were building back up at breakneck speed, preparing for the worst. 

“My sweet, why do you sound so upset? I thought what you were doing was quite… amazing. Honestly… everyone looked so elated, thanks to you.” your eyes flicked to his. 

“I know it’s weird to be so… involved with the dead. I never wanted you to see me doing anything like that… but they sounded so sad, so lonely…” you tried to explain yourself.

Astarion chuckled, causing you to snap your head up. “My precious, you do realize I am undead? I think I might understand better than anyone why you wanted to give those souls a reprieve. It was… sweet of you.” he smiled at you tentatively, hesitantly going for your hand. He smoothed his thumb over the back of it. 

You wanted to trust him, to believe him. Yet a voice still tugged at your mind. “You think so?” you whispered.

“Darling you gave them a few minutes of life, do you know how sacred that must be for them? And you did it out of the kindness of your heart. Now that, is truly meaningful. That shows the soul you possess.” Astarion moved his other hand to cup your cheek, tilting your face to be level with his. 

Your eyes were glossy, “I just don’t want to be too different. Too strange.”

“You are quite strange… it’s quite possibly my favorite thing about you.” he smiled, his fangs peaking out a bit. “Do you know why I rest on your chest so much?”

You shook your head ‘no’ at him.

“I do it so I can listen to your heart. I feel almost as if mine beats with yours for the first time in centuries when I hear it. Strong. Compassionate. Wonderful.” you tilted your head into his hand, kissing his palm. 

“I love you.” you said quietly. 

Astarion smiled, you had only said those words to each other once before when your emotions became too much to hold inside. 

“And I you, endlessly my strange little love.” he kissed you deeply yet gently before laying you both down. He settled in his usual spot, listening to your heart. Strong, even, calm.

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

Naboo's Note:

Hello! I hope everyone likes this piece, it came to me suddenly as I am in fact writing and posting it at damn near 2 AM #worthit. I think I might try to write another this weekend but I work tomorrow and have been pretty exhausted (mentally and physically) as of late so idk, no promises. Anyways - thanks for all the likes comments, reblogs, and requests! Ilysm xoxoxoxo, talk soon.

[cherrycxkes]

”I love you” (Sh!tpost I forgot to post earlier)

⚠️Slightly suggestive warning⚠️[Bite mark at end]

Not really much effort into this. But according to Ibis paint, it took me 3 hours and 5 mins for all the drawings/sketches in this.

[you-know-honey]

𝙱𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚜 𝙰𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝙹𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚜

Sodo/Dewdrop x f!reader

Summary: Two can play the game of jealousy.

Word Count: 3571

Note: bad english, soft porn (If you can call it that) mildly erotic scenes, harassing actions, jealousy.

"We're coming in in 10 minutes. Everyone ready? I need you in your positions" A girl asked as she entered, she was in a hurry, checking Sodo's guitar that had had problems at the old show. “Where is Y/N?” He asked as he looked everywhere in search of you.

Everyone nodded as they finished dressing and looked at each other to see you if anyone had seen her, but the truth was that no, since you had gotten out of the truck that had taken them to that place, you had disappeared to everyone.

All the ghouls came out of the dressing room, ready for the show.

"Sodo" called Rain who had stayed behind, speaking quietly to the girl.

"What?" he asked rolling his eyes.

“Can you stay here to see Y/N arrive?” The ghoul said, the truth is that he was worried, you were never away so much and they had little time.

Sodo wanted to renege, to send that request to hell but Rain had an ability that made him unable to say no, after all it was just waiting for you to arrive, it was nothing of importance.

"Fine" he replied, leaning against the wall next to the door. Rain seemed a little surprised that he hadn't put up a fight or complained, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing, nothing" Rain said goodbye and ran to the stage.

'Damn' you thought as you ran through all the hallways so full of people just as busy as you, the only thing I had on was the helmet, you wouldn't go anywhere without it, but it was difficult to try to fix things with the helmet on. You didn't know why your keyboard was so screwed up, stiff keys, poorly connected to the amplifiers and cut cables were what you found when a sound assistant called you the night before.

Someone had ruined it on purpose, but you wouldn't give them the pleasure of seeing you not show up with the rest of the band that night. Also, for some reason you felt sick because of a nauseating smell that seemed to come from everywhere and at the same time from nowhere. It wasn't your lucky day, that was clear.

When the alarm on your cell phone informed you that you had to go on stage in 10 minutes, you simply felt a bucket of cold water fall on you and you ran as fast as you could towards the dressing rooms.

It wouldn't take you long to get dressed, you knew it would take a while to fix the piano so you were just wearing a loose shirt and high waisted camping pants, something easy to put on and take off.

You let out a breath of relief when you finally reached the dressing room, something that didn't last long when you saw Sodo lying near the door.

"You're late…" Sodo said in his classic rude tone "We're supposed to be on stage already" he scolded you.

"I've been busy" you replied as you took some air.

Your relationship with Sodo, if it could be called a 'relationship', was friends, although you also doubted that, they used to annoy each other but there wasn't the trust to cry on someone else's shoulder or even to ask for a favor.

You quickly opened the door and the smell was stronger, a kind of stench that was concentrated in the ghouls' dressing room.

"What the hell is that smell?" You asked, covering your nose and looking at Sodo for answers.

The blonde sniffed the air a little but didn't seem to notice anything "I don't smell anything, stop the drama and go get dressed" Sodo simply ruffled the hair on your head and pushed you into the room, closing the door behind you. "Hurry up!" you heard him shout from the other side.

You sighed and immediately ran to the closet. The only suit left hanging was yours, although the boots didn't seem to be anywhere, you looked for it for a few seconds. You were left in your underwear in front of the mirror. You put on your pants, you started to close them when a click resounded in the air, you turned around in surprise but the sound didn't repeat itself, you didn't want to think too much so you assumed it was an outside sound.

"It's getting late! Are you ready?" Sodo asked coming through the door, there were barely five minutes left and he was getting impatient.

A surprised gasp left your mouth. You were about to take off your helmet to put on your shirt, technically half-naked, then a new click was heard, this time inside the room accompanied by the bright flash, something that made your breath freeze in your lungs.

"Sodo! Come out, I'm-" you couldn't finish the sentence when Sodo trapped you between his body and the mirror, covering you with his body, lowering his balaclava and letting his lips fall against yours in total surprise. Your arms ended up surrounding his neck, trying to push him away.

"Go with the flow " he whispered against your neck, causing a long shiver to run through you that ended in a sigh "Excellent" he smiled as he melted his lips with yours again.

Maybe it was habit or he really wanted to do it, Sodo's tongue made its way between your teeth to start a dance with your tongue, your eyes couldn't stop looking at him, surprised by his way of acting and the passion with which he attacked you.

'Should you continue? Why had he done this?' They were questions that flooded your head.

Your breasts were pressed against the cold clasps of his vest and his skillful hand like no other traveled from your bare back to your legs, leaving circles drawn in his wake. He grabbed one of your thighs tightly and lifted it, giving you the signal to wrap your legs around his waist, something you didn't hesitate to do.

Even though all of this wasn't real and you didn't understand Sodo's actions, your body responded intensely to every touch, every rub, the aroma of his perfume, his voice, his wet and messy kisses as if he were desperate.

"Turn off the light" He whispered to you, you didn't understand why he was giving you the order, just like you didn't understand what they were doing. "Now" he said to you as he pulled away from you slightly, a small trickle of saliva joined the swollen lips of both of you.

Your arms rose into the air above their heads and with force culminated in a loud, dry applause that brought absolute darkness to the room.

Then a flash went off again with the classic clicking sound. Sodo walked away from you, unfortunately or fortunately.

"I found you" Sodo said, he inhaled air and when he exhaled the product it was a thick black smoke with a powerful smell of sulfur, she caught it in her hand and released it under one of the ceiling panels.

Seconds later something started to move and fell to the ground making a big crash. The smoke had trapped him and enveloped him, preventing him from breathing.

He was a middle-aged man, somewhat bald but in good shape, the smell of him was exactly what had been making you nauseous all afternoon and who had surely ruined your piano to leave you alone in the dressing room. Next to the he held his on the floor was a camera. You weren't crazy, it wasn't an external sound, someone had planned all this.

"What the fuck!?" You screamed and with a snap on your part the light filled the room again.

You took the shirt from the table and put it on quickly, you certainly didn't want more time half-naked. Sodo was faster and he sat on the man's back, preventing him from standing up.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Sodo questioned, hitting the guy's head on the ground.

"Photos" he said, he seemed disoriented, maybe because of the smoke, maybe because of the fall or maybe because of the blow.

"Tell me the true!" Sodo yelled at him in a tone that you didn't know, one of true annoyance.

"Of her, I was paid to get photos of her without the mask" he pointed at you with one of his sausage fingers.

"So seeing her half naked was a bonus right!?" Sodo grabbed the men's hair tightly, causing him to raise his head painfully. He seemed to be too upset.

"Yes! I was planning to charge more for those photos" the subject confessed.

Sodo laughed and kicked the camea to your feet. You took it and looked inside it. There were photos of the other ghouls without the mask but especially of your butt, your legs, your breasts, but you couldn't see your face in any of them and some of the 'scene' that you had created with Sodo just a few seconds ago.

"I knew someone was here, only then could I justify that disgusting stench" Sodo confessed. A criffix hung from the man's neck, that was exactly the object where the horrible stench came from. You leaned down and pulled it from his neck, it wasn't long until he began to rust into dust.

"You…are…real demons! It was true!" The guy clarified, trembling.

"We always make that clear" you replied with distaste.

"Do you have fun looking at her half naked? I'm sure your little cock likes it," Sodo mocked, lifting the subject's neck even harder, who screamed in pain, he liked that. "I'm not surprised, she's good. I'm sure thinking about being with her…" He said, remembering the intimate moment they had shared just a few seconds ago.

Yes, everything had been planned (somehow) but he did not expect your positive response and kind cooperation. Your aroma, your grip on him, the sounds that came from you, every sigh, every labored breath had sent his brain too many signals and for a second when he took your legs he let himself be carried away by desire. Something that was not supposed to happen.

"Just kill him once and for all Sodo" you told him as you turned around to finish getting dressed. Uncomfortable because of the talk.

Sodo leaned close to the guy's ear, "Too bad that never happened." Once he finished the sentence, he pulled the men's hair even more until he heard the crunch of bones and saw the last halo of life escape from his eyes. The corpse fell with a thud to the ground.

You shook your head to erase that image from your mind and finished buttoning your vest.

"What was all this shit about?" You asked, looking at him in the reflection of the mirror. He was smiling.

"Say thank you, ungrateful one" replied Sodo, who burned the camera to ashes. "There, is no evidence."

"I'm not talking about the guy." Although you definitely had to thank him. "Why did you kiss me? What was that whole show?" You asked him again, poking his chest with your index finger.

More than upset, you was embarrassed, the way your body had responded to him made you think about taking those kisses to the end. You were embarrassed by the ease with which you had given in to him, it made you feel stupid and used.

"Oh, you mean you getting carried away? Listen, I made it so they couldn't see your face, so you're welcome." Sodo stood up and headed for the door.

"What?" Wondering, your face looked disappointed, but what else could you expect from a demon like Sodo.

"What?" She joked, faking your voice "it was just a kiss, it's not my fault you got so hot with so little. Don't make drama" with a self-centered smile and she left the dressing room, leaving you alone in the company of a corpse.

Sodo closed the door behind him and leaned against the wall next to him, the hallway was empty, there were just 2 minutes left until the start of the show and he had a problem that wouldn't come down in 2 minutes.

You didn't know why he had basically vomited those rude words all over you, his initial plan was just to pretend to kiss you but being so close, having you so close made him fall into the temptation of thinking about what you would do if he just kissed you and maybe something else.

He CLEARLY didn't expect them to accept, he was surprised that you hadn't noticed that his own body had reacted to your touches, to the way your legs had trapped him and roughly pulled him closer to you.

He shook those thoughts out of his head and simply adjusted his pants, sighed and crossed his hands in front of his pelvis, hoping that would make his body forget everything that had happened.

The fans' screams were so intense that if you didn't have headphones in your ears you wouldn't be able to hear anything. By the time the huge white curtain fell to the floor you were already in your position. The show was a complete success. Sodo had not approached you at all, he kept a huge distance as if he were the damn plague.

That bothered you, it bothered you how he had humiliated you and made fun of you that way, as if only you had reacted to him. If he thought you were stupid and hadn't felt something against your pelvis when he approached, he was sorely mistaken.

You danced with more emotion than usual and your voice was more powerful during the choruses. You were on your platform next to Swiss, dancing close, very close to each other.

"Why so much energy Darling?" Swiss whisper against your neck, with my back to you.

"Let's say I want to have some fun…" Swiss took your hand and spun you around before resuming his position. You laughed at his gesture.

"You don't expect me to believe that simple reason, do you?" He answered you, while he danced.

"Maybe I also want to bother a certain gremlin" you laughed and sang your part of the chorus, while you moved your hands nimbly over the keyboard.

"Your chance is close, good luck!" Swiss kissed your cheek and jumped off your platform as was typical of him.

You didn't understand what he meant, maybe he was just trying to be supportive. While you were playing the piano, Phantom approached your platform, playing his guitar and at the same time with a delicate bouquet of flowers in one hand, how timely. You smiled and knelt at the edge of your platform to take the bouquet, you felt a peculiar gaze on you. You had felt it from the moment Swiss had climbed onto your platform, just one look could burn upon you.

Now you understood what Swiss meant by 'the opportunity is near'.

"Humor me" Phantom nodded without asking, after all it was all just part of the show, right? The boy trusted you.

You gave Phantom's case a small kiss before returning to your spot and preparing for the next song. Mommy Dust.

"But how timely," you whispered to yourself.

Phantom did not go far from your platform, he continued playing in the front and when your solo arrived, he invited you to come down to accompany him in the center of the track.

Adjust the strap of the keytar and sighed before the green light focused on you, you descended the platform with slow and somewhat seductive steps, the audience shouted and clamored like crazy. Sodo continued playing but away from you, avoiding you. But that was not the case with Phantom, he followed you like a puppy follows its owner. The peak moment of your solo had arrived and Phantom took the initiative, giving you a malicious idea.

They were in front of the stage, you could feel the cameras focusing on you and the thousands of fans' gazes on you. It would give them something to watch, a show that would leave a mark.

Phantom knelt in front of you, letting his back fall to the ground as he still played the guitar on his chest. Your fingers danced over the keytar and smiled at the somewhat submissive act on his part, walking a little until basically trapping it between your legs.

"Ready?" Asked.

He just nodded. Lifting his pelvis.

Your hips lowered little by little until they bumped into each other and made an insinuating movement, going up and down again. They were still playing their instruments, as if nothing was happening.

The audience began to shout even louder, even with the headphones in your ears, their excited screams echoed through your head. Of course everything was accompanied by a thousand clicks that you would surely end up seeing on Tik Tok.

Out of the corner of your eye you could see Sodo. The knuckles of the hand gripping the neck of the guitar were white, static in place, just staring. After a few minutes he simply picked up the guitar showing you his 'You Suck' plus his friendly middle finger and walked away to his spot on the stage.

Your solo ended and with that the little act that you and Phantom had put on, you stood up together and take your place on the platform, continuing with the choruses.

You helped bring down your keytar and some other keyboards of Cumulus keyboards so when you got to the dressing rooms Phantom was coming out of these, with more comfortable clothes but always with his helmet on.

You brought your fist up so he could bump his and he did so, smiling.

"Great show, you gave it your…special touch" Phantom joked.

"We both did it, thanks for helping me"

"Don't worry about that, worry about the 'little man' he's furious" you sighed and smiled, it was just what you were looking for.

"Seriously?" You asked, seeking to further delight your ego.

"Yes, I don't know what's wrong. Anyway, I'll see you in the car." With that, the boy said goodbye.

You took a long breath and prepared to be alone with Sodo again, you were looking forward to seeing him, he was really as upset as you wanted.

You opened the door as if nothing had happened, he was sitting on the couch with his legs open and his arms still lying on the couch, both shirts were thrown to one side of him, only wearing his pants and boots.

Ignorant him and you continued walking until you took your things and entered the bathroom, you would not change in the dressing room again, lesson learned. Sodo didn't say anything, you just heard him huff as you closed the door. Maybe it wasn't that bad, just a silly silent treatment and some dirty looks, you could handle that easily.

You let your guard down, big mistake. When you opened the bathroom door, Sodo pulled you by the arm and took you to the couch, he seemed so upset that his touch was starting to burn you.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" You asked him, slipping out of his grip.

"I'm asking you the same thing. What was that?" She asked, massaging his forehead as if just thinking about it hurt him.

"What are you taking about?" You asked feigning madness on the subject. If he wanted to claim you he would have to say it, say how jealous he was.

"Don't play dumb, you know perfectly well" you shook your head with false innocence and that made him angrier "Your soft porn act with Phantom. Damn. Don't pretend you don't know" he seemed annoyed, his eyes were a little glazed over. "You wanted to make me jealous? How pathetic…" He laughed.

"Getting jealous? How ridiculous." You laughed back, tuning him out. You stood up and pushed against his bare chest, his skin was warm and soft. Sliding your fingers from his heart to his chin, where he shook his head to move your touch away from him. "Listen, it was just an act, it's not my fault that a little erotic contact makes you like this. Don't make drama" you flirtatiously repeated the same words. that he used something on you that seemed to hurt his ego even more.

The way your chains had danced on top of Phantom's was something that put him in a bad mood just remembering it, he wanted to go and separate you from him right away but Copia wouldn't like that at all. He cursed himself for being such a coward.

"Grow up and I'll see you in the car." You ended the conversation and left the dressing room. Once the door closed behind you, you jumped with joy for having put Sodo in his place and switched to the car humming a victory song.

Sodo stayed inside the dressing room, he looked up to see himself in front of the mirror, the same one where he had had you just a few hours ago.

"Damn…" he said into the air while shaking his head in amusement.

He finished changing and left the dressing room with a smile, you played dirty and he could play that way too. He provoked you and you responded with even more force.

I hope you liked it, I've been finishing writing the first Ghost fanfics I have. (most of Sodo because it's my favorite) If you want me to write something else or about something, ask me and I will do it.