#rui ayaki x reader

[komoboko]

𝐫𝐮𝐢 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

ft: platonic rui ayaki ・spider demon reader

tumblr totally ate up the ask I saw about rui with a big sister reader so I hope you find this anon 😭

we all know how much rui strives for any family figures to be apart of his life, so you can imagine how much he would cling to you. He doesn’t like straying far away from you and when he has to, he tends to get impatient itching to come back to you. He’ll space out and almost feel lost without your guidance, embracing the side of the actual kid he was before he was turned into a demon.

Speaking of transformation, rui was already close with you before both of you were turned into demons. He appreciated how much you helped him even if he felt like he was burden due to his illness. Your reassurance definitely persuaded him to keep pushing, even if he couldn’t due as much as he pleased. None the less he still liked to help around the house almost as a way to show how grateful he was for you in the first place.

When muzan comes around and ends up turning both of you into demons, you still tried to shush his cries even if you were scared out of your mind. While rui can’t remember this moment clearly due to his human memories dampening and fading in and out of his mind, he can still feel the relief and joy that you were still there with him despite your unfortunate circumstances.

Now having the power to be more active then before rui totally takes advantage of it. He’ll bug you through any point of the day to play children’s game like tag or hide and seek all around the mountain with him.“to make up for the past.” is what he says but you know deep down he just wants to be a kid again. He tends to cheat in those games more times than you can count though… so he might cause you a bit of trouble here and there.

You stalk around the dark forest moving slowly but carefully as your eyes dart around any corner of the forest you could see. While the atmosphere around the area felt like something ripped out of a murder scene, the real intentions were much more lighthearted. You’ve been dragged into playing hide and seek with rui for an hour, it wasn’t like you haven’t seen him yet. Rui just cheekily decided to change the rules to play hide and seek tag instead of the tradition hide and seek.

A sigh escapes your lips as your breath lingers in the air before you plop down to the ground, defeated and giving up with chasing the demon around the entire forest. “Rui! It’s about time we stop playing around, we’ve been doing this for an hour.” You yell out as your voice echos in the forest, followed by a cheeky and mischevious laugh in response.

You can hear silk and webs creep towards your direction as you can already predict who’s coming down to meet you.

“You gave up already? we just started you know.” rui says with a cheeky grin only to be smacked in the head as you silent revenge.

Not to say rui doesn’t like just to spend moment in comfortable silence. One of his most favorite things to do is just sit in silence while you both weave and create large patterns and design out of spiderwebs that decorate the tree tops. Rui likes making different animals with them, but he really likes when you make stories through the webs. Almost like the demon version of shadow puppets or pop up books.

You get along with the spider family quite well!! They all in general enjoy your company and are reliable if you ever needed helpy with anything. You can’t help but sympathize for them, like spider sister for example. You often have to tell your brother off for being so harsh on the demons, so the whole spider family is grateful you save them from Rui’s anger from time to time.

Muzan doesn’t mind you around eithe. While it wasn’t ideal to turn you into a demon at first, you keep rui in check so he tolerates you to say the most. Rui grateful that the demon king can even tolerate letting you live in the first place. He likes taking you on mission, he’ll get bored when you’re not there so he claims he just needed your help when in reality he just wants to be around you.

While rui can be a pain to deal with, no doubt about it. He’s just a kid who wants to make up for the time he lost in the past, he truly does appreciate you got what you’ve done for him. He can’t help but admire the fact he had a role model in his life that is his big sister

[the-lady-with-horns]

—HALLOWEEN TIME FOR THE MOTH GIRL

Characters : Rui ayaki (canon, mentioned) , Spider mother (canon, Appearing) , Taiga DeMarco (oc of @warringwarrioridiot mentioned) , Akuma akaishi ( oc of @beautifulfire ) , Lady oni (oc)

Warnings : mentions of eating people, Lady oni being weird , Lady oni trying to hit on Akuma (unsuccessful)

Notes : it ain't Halloween yet, But I wanted to write. Anyways, The POV switches from time to time.

It was Halloween! My Shoes tapped against the ground as I scurried over to Akuma to tell the girl the news.

I carefully walk over to her futon, Shaking her awake gently. She stirred at first, Not fully awake before her scarlet hues opened in a Adorable way.

“ Wifey..Wake up~ ” I spoke with a smile as she got up, Stretching her arms as she looked at me with those round, Hypnotic eyes.

“Why'd you wake me up... Mmhm...I was having a good dream,” The smaller girl huffed, As I twirled a strand of red hair around my finger. “Its Halloween, fire bug.”

“ Only Nii-san can call me that... ” Akuma said, Annoyed. She was Slipping out of bed. “Halloween? My brother really likes this holiday thingy, He always decorates, I was scared when I saw a funny ghost.” Akuma was just talking about the small decorations that kind of scared her a bit.

“Im going to ask Mama if we can go out— I wonder if nee-san would like candy, too.” Akuma said, stepping out as she leaned onto me, sleepy. “I'll get lots.”

“Hm? Come in.” Spider mother said As Akuma nearly bounced over to her, sitting onto her lap as she was writing something. “ Mama, can we go out and get some candy, Pretty please?” spider Mother nodded gently, Wanting Akuma to be happy.

“Be safe, Dear." Spider mother pecked Akuma's forehead gently, Akuma got out of mother's lap to walk over to me and gave me a thumbs up. “I wish you could sit in my lap like that,” I said with a smile. Akuma Didn't seem to hear and turned away. “Humans kinda taste better than candy..” She mumbled Softly.

Me a d Akuma headed to town, Just playing fun little games As it was Halloween, I won a few, But Akuma seemed ty be a athlete as she won a lot of them.

Akuma was already snoring into my shoulder, I was carrying her. I pecked her cheek with a smile, Humming.

Rui surely was going to kill me if he ever found out.

[echantedtoon]

Bouquets/Flowers They'd Give You

Nothing much. Just some headcannons about what kind of bouquets the demons would gift you. Maybe modern au maybe not idk. None of the images are mine I just found them on Google and Pinterest. Daki n Rui are platonic gift givers. No romance from those two.

Kokushibo is a traditional man and as such would stick with the classic but beautiful full rose bouquet sometimes with baby breath to make it asthetically pleasing.

Is it really a surprise this guy would get you something that reminds the both of you of him? They're very pretty though so it's all good.

You want a teddy bear, flowers, balloons for your special date? This man gets you all in one package and makes sure to make it pleasing to look at. Everything for his darling.

If it's regular Kny he'd just scoop up whatever wild flowers are growing around him and present them to you but since we're going with modern here, he doesn't have a lot of money to throw away on flowers that'll just die so he takes his time to really make you something permanent you both can cherish forever by doing origami. The many paper cuts are worth it seeing you smile.

In a similar way to Gyutaro, Daki would want to gift something permanent you both could enjoy forever however she'd be more splurge-y than her brother and gift you a flower clip or hairpin.

Kaigaku barely gets you flowers in the first place but if you mention wanting to be gifted flowers long enough or if it's a special enough occasion he wants to celebrate, he'll get you something. But not a full bouquet, he'll just get you a simple rose or flower.

Nakime really doesn't get you flowers too often either, but on the rare occasion she does it's either a single rose like Kaigaku or flowers matching her own aesthetic.

So I just found out that seashell bouquets are actually a thing, and they have to be glued together and stuff. Seems like a good enough fit for the fish man.

Look he can be a sappy romantic if he wants to be. A big bouquet of roses and chocolate strawberries are the object of his choice if he's going to go all out.

he often worries about what to get you. He doesnt want to look too guady with a fancy oversized bouquet but he's also worried about a single flower not being enough so he gets you something in the middle all tied up in ribbon and lace. Please tell him you love it, he's very nervous.

This guy has money to burn. He practically shoves one of those really beautiful but really expensive bouquets with the big flowers covered in gems in your arms and calls it a day. It's expensive and maybe tacky but he doesn't see it that way.

like any sweet child, he just plucks whatever flowers he finds growing on the ground and gifts it to anyone he likes.

[colourstreakgryffin]

Yo sup! I love your blog soooooo much!!! Your writing style is great in my opinion ^^. I'd like a yandere! Rui (platonic) with sister reader. She actually puts effort into making "family bonds" and while she is nice to the other "family" members, she never questions Rui's methods and actions and genuinely loves him despite the behaviours he displays. He is really overprotective over her and he likes her attention. I'd love a scenario like that

Hmmm! Okaaay! I have never written for Rui yet so let’s try it out, I’m optimistic! Been getting a lot of Platonic Yanderes lately tbh!

Yandere! Platonic! KNY Lower Moon Scenarios: Ayaki Rui

Rui, on the inside, is a lonely miserable child that is so desperate to feel nearest and dearest love for once in his new life that he does truly cruel and twisted means to get what carves so badly

Rui finds weak, pathetic demons and transfers his strength to them so they become infused by blood, cementing them as his family for good. He has done this too many to count… but most go against him and end up fried

Rui figured you’d be the same. Another sister who dares to try run away from him and will become his next toasted spider but no. You’re nothing like the ones who came before you and he is very shocked at first

Rui, needing to know if this behaviour is genuine, begins to keep a close eye on you and is very pleased everytime with the answers. You’re sweet and considerate to the other family members he brings home, you never argue with his methods nor measures and you even ask him how he is

Rui suspected you’d be angry at him for his drastic punishments to your siblings and parents, but no. You never once go against him, you just smile and proclaim you understand if he must hurt you. But in that moment, he won’t lay a single thread on you, he gently pats your head and orders you return to your room

Rui becomes favouritistic towards you, to the point it becomes obvious to everybody in the house. You’re a real sister and he needs to keep you as his, at all causes. No demon slayer can take you away from him and no demon can try trick you into abandoning him, he grows a intense sense of overprotectiveness over you, his one true sibling

Rui never really gets the love he wants with this makeshift family he has forcibly created. You’re the rare diamond of the pebble pile, you give him love and affection with no fear nor opposing intent. He is very tense and tries to push back but once he realises you’re just kissing away the blood on his cheek, he lets you. His obsession over you growing in the process

His obsession over keeping you as his sister at all means. Must he kill all those other failures? None of them please him at all and none has true worth to him, Rui is tempted to just kill them all and keep you. Sure, two siblings aren’t necessarily a family but the risk of losing you, who actually loves him, over a family who doesn’t love him. He is going to pick you everytime

Rui eventually moves you out of the attic you were in with your surrogate siblings. You don’t deserve to be around those pieces of filth and he ends up giving you the room, right next to his. So he can come to you very easily and demand your affection without needing anybody else around

He wants you nearby 24/7, his one and only beloved. He wants you close so he knows you’re still here and you haven’t been twisted by anything else that can twist your views

Rui is very desperate for attention so he wants it from you all the time. He’ll just sit down before you as you read/other and wait for you to acknowledge him. He doesn’t get hissy nor attack like he usually would if you take a little while, since he knows you’ll apologise and give him hugs or kisses as extra sorries

Rui will never let you out of the house nor out of the forest. You can go outside when he is with you, just to make sure no slayer can hurt you nor a demon can intervene. It’s all from his anxiety that makes him step in and take those extra precautions to keep you with him

At all causes, he doesn’t care how big the bill is he must pay to have you

Rui holds your hand as often as he possibly can, loving the feel of your warmth. He summons you to stand besides him as he deals out punishment, he sends you to the safety of the household when he finds threats he must dispose off. He is loving, he is favouritistic, he is possessive, he is overprotective; he is all of the above and so much more

“My dear sister. Come here, I am exhausted from taking care of such useless humans, may I get some affection to ease all my tense nerves? I don’t suspect you’d refuse, here now. You know I don’t bite you”

[six-eyed-samurai]

Thinking about being such a Demon Slayer fan that you literally have every merchandise possible: posters, figurines, plushies, magnets, haori and even the character's accessories. You've even dyed your hair in (character)'s iconic colour scheme and style.

But that wasn't enough for you, so you decided to go to Japan. Hey, the tourism was good, and if you got to buy and explore more of your favourite anime, bonus!

So you arrive and wander the streets gawking in awe with full shopping bags in your hands, humming Gurenge under your breath. You were so lost in your daydreams you slam into someone - sorry, two people.

Cue your apologies as you scramble to your feet, but a melodic voice interrupts you with assurances that it was alright as two pairs of hands help pick up your fallen items. You look up to see a pair of petite sisters with matching blue-tinged hair and smiles.

"That's a nice hairpin!" Was what the elder and taller of the two called out as they continued to walk past you, and you self consciously raise a hand to the Kocho family butterfly pin in your hair.

You continue your walk downtown, strolling past screens with the world famous Tenma Uzui's face plastered on it as he lifted his latest medal and advertised products. At the toy store you had paused to look into, three youngsters rushed out with their newfound prizes in hand.

"Sabito! Give it back!"

"Hey, you already said we'd swap!"

"Until Makomo said she'd give me hers!"

You glance at them out of the corner of your eye and laugh seeing them fight over the colours of the warding masks. An old man with a red face mask stepped out of the shop shortly after and began to shepherd the trio away.

Seeing the Gashapon machines inside the store, you decide to step in too, but before you could the door flew open and a short, purple-haired man tumbled out. Clearly he had been kicked out but he wasn't taking the hint.

Inside the shop an exasperated but still polite voice echoed. "For the last time, Enmu, that toy train is for display only."

"I'll buy it someday!" Enmu declared cheerfully as if this were a regular occurrence and simply brushed himself off and headed to the direction of the nearest station.

You shrug and quit your side eyeing, venturing inside. The red haired shopkeeper looked up from the counter, his formerly poker face transforming into a bright smile that matched the red sun of his hanafuda earrings. "Hi, are you looking for anything? Tourist?"

Sheepishly you replied and casually asked Yoriichi, as he had introduced himself, for any recommendations on where to eat for lunch.

"Oh, you should try the diner down the road! It's family run - Mrs. Iguro is very sweet and they're very famous for their sakura mochi! My wife Uta and I frequent there, so just tell them I sent you."

That sounded good to you, so you thanked him along with your exchange of tokens, then asked for directions.

"It's right on front of where my brother works, Kibutsuji Enterprises. It's a huge office, you can't possibly miss it."

"Kibutsuji Enterprises...? I think I've heard of them, run by Kagaya Ubuyashiki right?"

"Oh, no, don't get confused, they're rival companies actually. The Ubuyashiki company has a wisteria as its logo."

A little confusing, but alright! You thanked him profusely once again and left, making your way through the busy streets to the diner.

You thanked your lucky stars you got there on one piece, for there was a motorbike zooming and booming through the crowds without a care for law or life just now as you were walking. Thankfully you had jumped back just in time before they could mow you down. From what you could see in the racing blur there appeared to be a green-haired young boy dressed in a crimson shirt with a manic smile on his face and a screaming white-haired girl clutching onto him for dear life driving. You hoped the two scarred faced policemen would catch them - no doubt, actually, seeing as they were both already brandishing guns and chasing after the two with furious speed .

"SHABANA, YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET FINED AGAIN!"

"I DON'T GIVE TWO FXXKS, SHINAZUGAWA!"

"Yeah, that's right, Onii-chan!"

You pass a school bus dropping off a bunch of tiny preschoolers, herded and fretted over by their hulking giant of a teacher. His wooden bead necklace matched yours, clacking together as he urged the kids to stay together. How cute... although such a big man being so kindly was a little unnerving.

"Oh? Want to try our signature Eternal Paradise perfume? We guarantee you'll have anyone falling for you with it!'

You ignore the blonde salesman leaning outside his store. He peered over his rainbow tinted sunglasses to catch you rolling your eyes and with a fake gasp of hurt he grabbed his chest. You snort and continue walking.

Mrs. Iguro was just as welcoming as Yoriichi had promised, although you were rather caught off guard by her bright pink and green hair and the fact she was carrying a whole stack of plates and balancing a baby at the same time.

"Hi!!! Welcome, do take a seat, what can I get you? Obanai's special for today is Western food - oh wait, silly me, you're not from around here, are you? I expect you'd want something local! Coming right up!"

You can't help but be buoyed by her bubbly nature, waiting patiently with a contented grin. You look around the diner and while the snake ornament at the counter catches your eye you find yourself studying the other customers instead.

A pair of identical twin boys eat quietly, with a younger boy with rosy cheeks noisily chatting with them; evidently a playdate of some sort.

"Don't forget, Kotetsu, you're paying because you lost the last shoji match."

"Aw, Tokito, you're such a seaweed head. I'm just a beginner!"

"Brother's a seaweed head, not me."

"HEY! WE LOOK THE SAME!"

You chuckle and your gaze strays to the other table, where a family of three ate their ramen. Their son seemed a little paler than normal and you couldn't help but overhear the mother's worrying.

"Darling Rui, don't eat so fast, you might choke and you just recovered!"

Embarrassed at your eavesdropping you duck your head and look at the other table where a group of rowdy students sit and snack.

"YOSHITERU AGATSUMA, HOW DARE YOU BURP LIKE THAT IN PUBLIC!"

"It was an accident, Toko! I can't control it!" Was the whining answer. "KANATA, DEFEND ME! OW! YOU'RE NOT A REAL FRIEND, KAMADO!"

"UMAI!"

Mrs. Iguro - or Mitsuri, as she had insisted you call her - arrived with towering plates and hell lot of topics to converse about. You happily indulged in their famous udon and her delighted talking while her husband glared at you from the window, although the threat was rather marred by the fact he was feeding a toddler at the same time.

You learnt Mitsuri - so cool! Her name was the exact one as the Love Pillar from the series! - had five kids (your head was still spinning over the fact) and that her hair had turned out that way from eating too much sakura mochi, which made you wonder what was happening to you after eating so much (favourite food) over the years.

After your meal you repeatedly thank Mitsuri for her meal and longingly promise to stop by again you leave for the last place on your agenda, Gyokko Art Studio.

The exhibitions mainly displayed brightly painted vases and scupltures; you had a lot of fun taking selfies with the gigantic koi fish statue and the one of a dozen blacksmiths forging swords. The studio also doubled as a pottery school, and when you enter you had immediately spotted the five rowdy teenage boys who were now arguing over a kiln and a broken vase at the back.

"KARAKU, YOU BROKE IT!"

"Hey, Sekido, chill! Zohakuten pushed me!"

"SHUT IT, WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS BLAMING ME? IS IT BECAUSE I'M THE YOUNGEST? AGEIST!

"Guys...quiet down....granddad is sleeping upstairs...."

"Nah, Aizetsu, I wanna see what happens!"

"Enough! All of you just clean that mess up! We have visitors! Your grandfather and I may be friends but I will never know what went wrong when he was raising all of you!"

Out of the back appeared the most flashy man you had ever met, eye catching with his coiffed purple hair and thick makeup, his scale tattoos catching your eye as he shooed the arguing brothers away. Eyes outlined with clashing green and red turned to you and he held out a stained hand. "Managi at your service! I run this humble store and I deeply apologize for the boys. Honestly, the Hantengu brothers are absolute menaces and I speak knowing the Shabana siblings."

Managi gave you a quick private tour of his studio, his arrogant but dramatic way of speech amusing you greatly, especially when he complained about a pair of twins who came in on the weekends, his two workers, children...well, Managi had an opinion on everything.

"Those Tokito whippersnappers have no appreciation for art! The only reason I haven't shooed them out with clay gluing their ill-mannered mouths shut is because their mother is a regular of mine."

"Haganezuka! Absolute concentration in what he does and a prodigy in vase making, but he is absolutely terrible with customer service! I usually leave that to Kanamori but we waste more time preventing Haganezuka from attacking customers than actually selling.

It was definitely a trip you'd like to remember, so you bought a small cup that had caught your eye and waved goodbye to Managi as you left for your final destination, your hotel.

You decide to take the longer way round to enjoy the picturesque walk beneath the sakura trees. Stopping to admire the pink fall you suddenly realize there's a couple beside you taking photos. Embarrassed that you might be unintentionally photo bombing, you move away, but a tap on your shoulder spins you back around.

"Hi, excuse me! Do you mind taking a picture of Hakuji and I? We tried taking a selfie but haha, the shot didn't cover the trees."

You oblige, secretly delighting in observing the young but loving couple interact with each other - especially when the punk-looking, tattoo-covered Hakuji was holding her so gently like that. You take their photo and after their grateful thanks you resumed making your way back.

Upon arriving at the lobby you were annoyed to say the least to find yourself stuck behind an irritatingly loud young man arguing with the poor receptionist. Of course, you couldn't actually see the receptionist's - Nakime, on her name tag, and that sounded rather familiar - face due to her long bangs but anyone would honestly be irritated with how obnoxiously he was talking.

"Sir, I have explained to you already, your booking was cancelled because you were late with your payment-"

"Oh come on, woman, it was just a day late!"

"You too are very late with your excuses."

The tall, tuxedoed man from the sofa had gotten up and was now towering over the younger man after politely excusing himself for getting in your way. "Miss, look for a room registered under Kokushibo. I suspected my fool of a secretary Kaigaku would make yet another mistake."

"HEY, LISTEN HERE, OLD MAN-"

"Kaigaku, I really don't have time for this, my wife is going to be back soon from taking the kids to the zoo. Thank you, miss, and excuse us."

"That guy was irritating you, wasn't he?" You remarked, accidentally blurting out your thoughts. "I mean, I wasn't eavesdropping!"

The receptionist smiled faintly. "Don't worry, I'm used to him. Your name?"

And it was only when you flopped down on your hotel bed and stared at the ceiling did it occur to you that a lot of people had seemed very familiar to you today.

Perhaps fiction and reality weren't that far apart after all.

[wolvwa]

Rui idea I wrote in an abandoned fic a while ago...might make this a tiny series cause I love my baby boy.

Fem reader

Entertainment district arc!!!

But Rui had a redemption arc. Hear me out.

The details don't matter, this is fanfiction and you're the main character. You found a way to slip him onto your side.

Giyuu was baffled when you yanked on his haori and snatched Rui up. After meeting Tanjiro, not much surprised him and he had a gut feeling to just let you go. Hashira meeting was mad awkward, though, and you were sure Sanemi wanted your head on a stick. He probably did.

Having one of the twelve moons on their side was a hudge advantage. You all knew after Muzan's death he'd atone for his sins that way. So off to Lady Tamayo he went.

After the mugen train arc you finally got to see your little brother again(he insisted you called him that after you hugged him like once.)

Muzan is super pissed by the way—I love dad muzan.

Anyways the entertainment district arc comes around and Rui and Zenitsu are NOT having it. Zenitsu is convinced Tengen is trying to snatch his wife #2 (despite him already having three and you are way too young for him.) And that convinces Rui that Tengen is trying to get his filthy hands on you. He mentally thanks Tengen when he drags you and Zenitsu from the beautiful women beckoning the two of you to spend the night with them(Rui fought the urge to carve them up.)

The two of them make a temporary truce.

I like to imagine them as sheldon and his dad.

"Calm down, I'm not gonna hurt you—"

"I'm sorry, but you are too big to be gentle."

Zenitsu is cackling in the background.

"Someone at the end of the table eats for free😒"

"SOMEONE AT THE OTHER END OF THE TABLE EATS FOR THREE–"

Rui is happy once you have free time so he can spend it with you. He's kicking his legs happily as you play with his hair—no matter how many times you brush it, it just curls back up. He's not paying attention under his blanket as he rests in your lap while you give your report on the house you're in.

"Since when has dinner helped anything!? Kid were fighting demons, you little.."

"Food is healing. You should know..."

Nezuko isn't happy she has to share a box with Rui cause his somehow (Zenitsu and Tengen conspired against him) ((Zenitsu is the biggest traitor)) got smashed.

Rui is terrified of Muzan. He's scared he's gonna be taken away from you, and even worse—Muzan might kill you. Borderline hyperventilating at the idea of Muzan using other demons to hunt him down and drag him back.

You and the Komoboko trio are out cold, and all Rui can do is crawl under your limp arms, wishing his big sister would just hold him. He realized that he needs to protect his big sister as much as she protects him, too.

Humans are like glass to him, and you're the sharpest yet most fragile piece he knows.

[ask-the-tomioka-twins]

🌈 anon

name your favorite followers/that your following

also rengoku x reader??

I’m kinda busy to do rengoku x reader sorry but I will try to! Also!

@ask-yn-shinazugawa-n-mod@ask-ky0jura-r3ng0ku@rui-ayaki-lower5@ask-the-insect-hashira@sulli1361@bunny-n3zuk0@ask-fluffy-mikono@g4m3r-mu1ch1r0-t0k1t0@nervouskingwinner@holywaterforevery3ne@tomioka-bb@history-teacher-kyojuro

lov you 🌈 anon

[colourstreakgryffin]

I've had a horrible week. Like so mentally down bad rn. So I'd like comfort from a spider boy that's definitely NOT comfort material but he is to me. Can you do him with the sister reader again? I'm the same person who requested the other one. If you don't do double requests, it's fine, just ignore it. But if you do, can you do a scenario where the sister just breaks down in tears infront of him? it's a hurt/comfort type of thing. The reason as to why she cried is up to you. Have a good day!

Awww. I’m so sorry about that, doll. I doubt you’re gonna be upset by the time this comes out but here, I’ll try the best I can for you! Here is sweetie Rui

Ayaki Rui- Funnel Blanket

“Sister. Look at me” Rui demanded in a rather gentle voice, opposing the usual cold and stern one he is known for around this household. Displease Rui and you end up his next deepfried prey to chow on. Rui has always been different with you, he never laid a single finger on you in a harmful manner

He adores you for your devotion and loyalty, he has a obsessive passion to keep you with him at all times and making sure you’re happy is another task he must complete to perfection. All so you will never wish to turn against him, nor even think about it. Rui, right now, needed to find out what’s wrong with his precious sister

He only left you alone for a few minutes to go handle the flocks of nuisance slayers running amok his laborious backyard. He comes back to hysterical sobbing and his useless makeshift siblings closing the door to your bedroom. Rui shooed them all away in the snap of fingers and almost torn down the wooden frame. He didn’t care for the stupid building, he only cared for his beloved sister

You sobbed, hands flinching away from your own puffy red cheeks and red puffy eyes as Rui’s soft thumbs brushed over the tears rolling down your beautiful face. He couldn’t stand the fact something made you cry, if it’s a breathing creature. He will dice them into literal pieces. If it’s a inanimate object, he will grind it down into smithereens. He could give less of a fuck for the world around him, he just wanted to keep you as his forever. No matter what he must do

You honestly didn’t want to spill the beans of the cause to your current misery. It was such a pathetic concern and your rationality knew that very well, you were wasting your emotions and tears on something that’ll never happen, a imaginary scenario at best. Your mother and father were taking longer than suspected with that odd trio of slayers. It made you horrified that Rui would have to step in and risk his life to defend the family he spent so long building

You didn’t want Rui to risk it for you. You love him so much that it hurts. You shed your sadness for him, rather he asks for it or not. On Rui’s side, he saw no reason to fear those slayers with a single ounce nor should the one so important to him. He is a Lower Moon, a member of the Twelve Kizuki that is actually much stronger than his rank indicates

The slayers should fear him and the fact they make such a mess of your gorgeous eyes and drip that mess all over your cute arachnid-styled kimono has veins growing all over Rui’s deathly pale skin as his hands slide down your face to cup your hands, holding them closer to his chest. Enabling you to feel his steady heartbeat, for the first time in his entire existence, he had a real heartbeat

Rui wasn’t going to leave you alone ever again and he wasn’t going anywhere until you are smiling and laughing again before him. Your happiness is his, your safety is his. You are his, his precious… forever

“Dokusha. Who made you cry like this? What is the problem. I demand you tell me every detail”

[echantedtoon]

Demon Bride Ch56 Demon's Are Strange P2

(Warnings: Douma IS his own warning. Possibly some innuendos. Mentioning of him being poisoned. Mentioning of death.

Alternate chapter name being 'Y/n Becomes Babysitter To Douma, A Mother To Three Children, And A Big Sister All In One Day'. Also Kokushibo needs reading glasses cuz I said so.

Author's Note: I don't know when Rui was turned into a demon in the original canon so for all I know he could've been way older than Tanjiro. Just for this story I'm going to say that Rui atm is 10 years old about to turn eleven and the twins are both currently 11 almost 12. Muichiro retains his optimistic personality since the traumatic incident in cannon with the demon does not happen in this particular au/timeline and Yuichiro is alive because I say so. So the ages of all the kiddos are-

Rui: 10 yrs old

Muichiro and Yuichiro: 11 yrs old 

Zohakuten: 14 yrs old)

Jade.

Older sister to Sakura and ex-possible lover of Douma. She became the head woman of the family since their mother ran away with another man seventy four years ago. Since Sakura was arrested and confined to prison nearly two months ago, their family has faced harsh ridicule and Jade and their father has tried to arrange a meeting with Douma to most likely try to talk him into releasing Sakura or at least probably lessen her punishment. But Douma refused any and all attempts at contact with them and Akaza (for his short few days of ruling in Douma's place-) had also refused after learning what happened between you and Sakura. 

And Douma had blatantly said Jade was the one responsible for your murder attempt.

Or at least he believed so. Which you had to admit, made a bit of sense. Jade was Sakura's sister and that was motive enough right there. But you also were technically engaged to Douma which was the person Jade attempted to seduce in order to gain more power, and that was the reason Sakura attempted to get rid of you in the first place. However Akaza was not going to make any accusations against her just yet. You didn't know if it was because Jade was a woman or because there technically wasn't any proof of her doing it yet, but there wasn't anything really too much to worry about. Kokushibo would be returning tomorrow and he would decide what to do about both Sakura and Jade.

There was nothing you could do about it either other than to wait and see what would happen tomorrow when Kokushibo arrived. It was only a matter of-

"MOTHER!!"

Something big jumped on your stomach and in an instant you both woke up and wheezed as all the air left your lungs. Rui excitedly jumped up and down on your futon while harshly shaking your shoulder.

"Mother! Mother! Mom, Mom, Mom!! Mother! Wake up, Mother! Wake up!!" Purple eyes blinked tiredly before a head emerged from the blankets hair all a mess as Rui smiled widely down at you. "Father's coming! Get up! Get up!"

...You groaned before flopping your head back making Rui shake you again. "Ok. Ok. I'm up."

"No you're not! You're still lying down!! Stand up!"

"Uuuuhhhh. Alright!" A hand smooshed against Rui's cheek and moved him away as you sat up. "Give me a chance to get ready."

"Hurry up! We don't have all day!" 

He crawled off your futon and headed towards his own room leaving you there... before groaning and tossing the blankets aside. Another day, another parenting Rui adventure. Sigh. With no other choice you dragged yourself out of bed and into the bathroom. A cold bath and half an hour later, you were straightening out your hair when Rui tugged on your sleeve.

"Why are you taking so lllooong?," he whined Arachnid sleeping in his arms. "I wanna go now. "

You sighed. "Rui, your whining isn't going to make Akaza show up any faster-"

KNOCK, KNOCK,KNOCK!!

Both of you turned to the door-

"Father!" You winced at how loud Rui was. The door was thrown open and Rui's excited face gasped at the figure on the other side throwing his arms up! "FATHER!! YOU'RE BACK!!"

You turned just in time to see Rui get lifted off the ground and into the air by blue fingered hands. "You've gotten bigger since the last time I saw you!" Akaza smiled at the laughing boy he held. "How old are you now?"

"I'm going to be eleven in two more months!'

"Well then. I'll have to take you hunting for your birthday. We'll catch a really big buck!"

"Yes! Look!" The STILL sleeping puppy was held up to him. "I GOT A PUPPY!! SHE'S GOING TO HELP ME HUNT TIGERS!!" The puppy only yawned before flopping her head over in boredom again.

Akaza chuckled. "I'm sure she'll be a great hunting dog when she gets older. But right now you and your mother have to come with me to an important meeting today, so I'm afraid your puppy is going to have to wait here."

"Ah. Ok." Rui gave a small pout as he was out back down and looked at his puppy. "Sorry Arachnid. But Father seems to be very serious about this. You stay here and guard my toys from the maid." The pup yawned. "I knew I could count on you."

You both chuckled before Akaza looked at you with a smile. "I'm sorry for coming like this so early but Kokushibo requested both yourself and Rui comes to the meeting he's holding."

At this you looked confused. "Rui? I understand if he wants to see me, but why does Rui need to go?"

Akaza shrugged. "I'm not sure myself but if it's important enough to warrant his presence then I think he should come. Besides this will be a good chance for Rui to experience what Kizuki work is! Very educational. Education is good for children!"

You chuckled at him and nodded. "Sure. I guess that'll be good for him as long as he behaves himself."

Long story short Akaza escorted both yourself and Rui down a few hallways to a part of the Dwell you've never been to or seen before but it was certainly just as cleanly, polished, and fancy looking as the rest of the Dwell. A few servants were already walking around working and bowed as you both walked past them all. You still weren't used to that along with your new royalty status but you couldn't help that now. Rui happily was walking between you two although his face was went back to that serious blank stare he always had while looking at everyone. Probably trying to mirror Akaza's serious face as he also walked briskly. He lead you this way and that before eventually stopped in a place that..Was completely empty. Literally. It was eerily quiet and silent as you three were the only ones standing there.  No servants or anyone else in sight. Although for some reason you smelt the heavy scents of...food? Like smoked pork and sweet cakes and freshly baked bread being a few of them. Was someone cooking around here? You looked at Akaza for an answer. Akaza then held up a hand and knocked on the sliding door in front of him. For a moment there was silence and then someone on the other side spoke.

"Enter."

You recognized the deep voice instantly. The door was pushed open widely as you looked inside and Rui leaned over to peer from behind Akaza's legs. A rather large polished oak table sat there in the center of a beautifully decorated room. Fluffy pillows were stationed all around it and you found the source of the smells as you saw a large amount of food sat on top of the wooden surface. At the head of the table sat a demon with his back towards you, a purple and black coat drapped over his shoulders and a deadly katana set to his side. The head turned waving a waterfall of cascading mahogany hair and thee half lidded eyes looked at the three of you.

"I have been... expecting you all."

"Kokushibo," you politely greeted with a small bow. "It's certainly been awhile since I last saw you."

His eyes momentarily closed as he nodded his head back to you. "Yes. It has. It also seems to be.... that you have been up to.....things as well..from what I've heard." His eyes opened back up and stared at you. "Attacking Kizuki....and making quite a... ruckus of... yourself." You froze staring at him. "I will let it...all slide this...once as you didn't mean...to cause trouble...but further trouble won't be... tolerated."

"Uh..Good to know. Thanks I guess?"

"Come sit. We have much to discuss."

It was only then as you all were walking in did you notice that Kokushibo wasn't alone in the room. There was five other people in here with him. You stared at Mr. Hantengu and Zohakuten of all demons also looking confused your way, Douma sat propped up in some kind of chair pillow combo at the very end of the table away from you and waved at you. Oh. That's why you weren't annoyed by Douma's yelling from his room this morning, he still looked completely sick however. And then there was two figures that were both sat on Kokushibo's right side. You stopped cold. Purple eyes widened. 

THERE WAS TWO HUMANS SITTING AT THE TABLE.

Two very young humans. CHILDREN. Kokushibo had CHILDREN sitting next to him. They also stared at you with bright turquoise eyes and looked like they had been stuffing their faces with the food before you all walked in.  They both looked so young. They couldn't have been older than twelve tops. You three just stood there staring at one another in surprise before one of the boys scowled and turned away sharply. What were human children doing here in the Infinity Castle? You hadn't seen any other children here except for Ms. Rei. 

"Now we...shall begin this meeting." You were gently tugged into sitting down the closest to Kokushibo by Akaza right across from the two boys, and you were very aware of the way Akaza was glaring down both  Kokushibo and Douma with anger- "Akaza..You shall refrain from violence....in front of the children..'' 

Said pink demon looked angry but just scoffed again. "If we're speaking of matters that needs to be taken cared of, then who's going to be undoing everything Douma put his hands on?"

"Douma has done adequately...in running the castle...in our absence." Kokushibo paid Akaza no mind as the pink haired demon paused and Douma chuckled from the far end of the table, and picked up a few pieces of papers. All six eyes reading over the ink scribbled on them. "However...there are some concerns... with budget expenses..." his top pair of eyes looked right up to Douma and squinted. "Daily trips...to the spa? Dresses. Jewelry...Daki had unlimited access to that money."

Douma chuckled and Akaza gave a facepalm loud enough to make the children jump. "W-What can I say? I've got a weak spot f-for my favorite pupils."

"This is why I said NOT to leave him in charge," Akaza hissed with a growl straining from his mouth through clenched fangs.

Kokushibo's brow rose higher. "Amongst the expenses are...also toys, books, and other items...that you personally purchased for...a certain woman." His eyes clicked to you as you quickly turned your eyes away. "...From now on..no one but myself will have access to the Kizuki budget... unless given permission. I expect..you all to follow that. Douma..you shall fork over.. some of your own money..from your cult to make up for the full amount...Daki and yourself spent so carelessly on."

"Oh. You all are so mean to me-*COUGH COUGH*" Douma turned his head to cough his lungs out and Akaza smirked at the sight.

"On the subject of your cult...Your head priest has been informed about the.. situation and will continue to...take care of things until you are able again... However you shall remain here, until you get better...Akaza." Said demon looked at Kokushibo. "I don't like leaving my fiance...alone considering the circumstances...So for now...you will also remain in the.. Infinity Castle until our investigation is..concluded and..Douma can resume his place."

"What about our regular duties?"

"I will...split them up between the...other upper moons. Sekido and Urogi...shall assume your regular duties amongst the humans...while I dispatch Gyutaro to...keep a monitoring eye within ...the Eternal Paradise compound..."

"Ooh! What a wonderful idea! I know Gyutaro won't l-let me down!"

Kokushibo only hummed and removed the first paper to read the next. "Very well then...As for the obvious problem in the room...The investigation of the poisoning is under way...Jade has been imprisoned and held..until proven innocent."

"Don't you think you should prove she's guilty first before she's arrested?"

"She's not arrested.. she's simply being held on suspicion...Until evidence is provided then they both...shall stay there." All six eyes narrowed at Akaza. "Or would you rather risk...HER life?" Akaza froze. Looking from Kokushibo to you and giving you a long frightened look.. before deflating in defeat. "Thought as much...Now if no one else has anymore grievances about ...that particular situation...I will be addressing the reason I called the chikdren all here."

You were wondering that too. It made sense for Douma and Akaza to be here and you to an extent. But why were so many other people here? Why Rui? Why Mr. Hantengu and Zohakuten? And why these two strange young boys? Human boys at that! None of it made any sense.

"The main reason I have... called them here is because there...are important changes that will be made concerning their livelihoods." 

You then watched as his left hand left the papers to reach into his hoari coat and pull out a pair of... glasses. No. Three pairs of glasses?  No. One pair of glasses that when he nudged it, popped up a second and third pair to easily fit over his face as he simply kept staring at the papers. You've never seen such a contraption before. 

"SRK?!"

Your head turned to one of the human boys, the one whom scowled at you before, had snorted before turning his face aside. His snort was followed by a look from his brother and his shoulders lightly shaking.

"Yuichiro. Is there... something you want to say?" Kokushibo's eyes glanced at them but the boy shook his head without looking at him. "Hmm...Then let us begin." The paper was held up for him to look at closer. "The first order of business...is to address the new noble titles three of you...have gotten."

"Who?"

"He's referring to Rui." You looked at Akaza. "As you obtained a noble title by the defeat of Sakura, that title also applies to any children or spouse you have. So that would make Rui a young Lord."

Immediately Rui looked at Akaza starry eyed. "I'm royalty now?"

"That also applies to the two in front of you, but only because of their adoption by a lord-"

"Akaza...I can surely explain myself."  Akaza went silent as Kokushibo stared at him harshly. "As I was saying...There shall be two permanent... residents to the Dwell. The two before you...Are My children."

You whipped back to Kokushibo wife eyed. Children? Did he say HIS children?! But they didn't look demon at all- Oh wait. Akaza mentioned adoption right? You turned back to the boys as the older demon quickly gestured at them both before moving on.

"They'll be... staying in the Dwell until adulthood... Starting next week..They start school." Your held tilted at the boy whom still didn't look at anyone. "Grade Rank Two...Treat them as such. Zohakuten-"

"What's your name?" 

Everything. Fell. Silent 

Akaza sharply turned to you wife eyed as you DARED to interrupt Kokushibo. Hantengu whimpered ducking his head and covering his face. Douma tilted his head interested- Before coughing again. Kokushibo himself had gone eerily silent. Lowering the papers and slowly turning to stare as you happily smiled at the boys. 

"My name's Y/n," you said gesturing to yourself with a smile. "What's your name?" You asked smiling sweetly and gesturing to the boys.

The one boy whom still looked away didn't look at you but the other one did, blinking widely before speaking. " Muichiro..T-Tokito."

"Muichiro?" You giggled making him flinched as you smiled. "What a cute name! And you both have such pretty eyes!" 

"H-HUH?!" His face spotted an embarrassed pink as whom you assumed was his brother finally bothered to peek at you.

"I've never seen someone with eyes like yours. They're so pretty and they match your hair so nicely!" Both boys just...stared. Muichiro red in seeming embarrassment and his identical brother with narrowed eyes. 

"U-Um...T-Thank you. I-I've never seen someone quite look like you too. You're very pretty."

"Muichiro." The boy jumped and snapped to the other that scowled at him. "You don't even know her! Stop saying useless flatteries!" 

"I don't think they're useless." Both looked back to you and you rose a brow at the scowling one. "And you shouldn't be so rude to your brother like that." The other seemed taken aback when you called him out so bluntly. "Don't do that again. Now...What's your name?"

He gave you a frown and you were reminded of Rui whenever he pouted. "... Yuichiro. Not that it's any of your business-"

"Yuichiro."  Said boy froze as Kokushibo addressed him. "You forget your place....I brought you here to...better yourself...Do not show disrespect to my kindness...by acting disobedient and spoiled."

Yuichiro clenched his fists on his knees and frowned hard at the table but didn't say anything more. Muichiro gave his brother a worried look before he also looked down. You looked at them before at Kokushibo.

"Don't be so hard on them. They're new here, so They'll be needing some time to adjust. Children need guidance sometimes that's more than just scolding."

Kokushibo continued to stare at you half lidded thinking of something behind those eyes, before slowly nodding. "I will take your words...into consideration going forward." Both twins looked surprised at him then at one another. "As I was saying... Zohakuten. Your results from school are severely slipping... Your rank shall be stripped later this day."

"WHAT?!", the loud voice of the teenager raged as he stared at the top moon slamming his hands down on the table. "THAT'S UNREASONABLE AND YOU KNOW THAT!!"

"You are currently yelling...at someone whom could easily...defeat you. Obviously...you are not mature enough to realize that....If you can't keep up simple grades like...other children your age and showing... constant disrespect to your superiors....Then you are unfit for the position. And .. proving you are nothing but a... disgrace to not only the entire Kizuki but your family and even... yourself." The teenager instantly looked like someone slapped him...his body going limp. "Is there anything else you...want to say and shame yourself further?".... Zohakuten silently sat down and stared at the table. "At last you learn something...Douma..You shall stay stationed in the room you are in. I ...do not want anyone... getting any ideas.. while you're sickened."

You stared at Kokushibo and then at Zohakuten whom just stared at the table hard enough to almost burst it into flames. ... Before you looked back to Kokushibo. And an idea formed in your mind.

"Kokushibo." He hummed but didn't look up from the papers. "I have a question concerning the Kizuki."

"Ask."

"Will you and Akaza and...Douma have your chance to court me soon? So far you three are the only ones that haven't done so yet." 

Akaza immediately looked like he wanted to smack himself and Douma looked interested tilting his head at you. However Kokushibo nodded again without looking up still.

"Of course...Those two may do so... while they're here. I...have much work to do and ...will do it when I have time."

"Agreed! But...you promised you'd give me a proper courting gift once you got back." He paused looking up at you. Ok. You had his full attention now. "For my gift, I don't want anything physical. I want you to grant Zohakuten a second chance to prove himself." This time EVERYONE looked at you in some form of shock but you only smiled. "If he's having trouble then he needs suitable tutors. Get him some."

He continued to stare at you... before humming. "Interesting...You seem to believe my ruling is wrong."

"There's a place for discipline. But there's also a place for understanding and guidance. You can't grow a tree by just planting the seed, they need help from the rain and sun to grow a strong trunk. I doubt yourself was a natural born Kizuki without someone that helped you."

He continued to stare at you with lidded eyes before just looking back at the papers. You frowned. Did it not work-

"A few months.." You blinked. "He has until the very end of the year...to show improvement in BOTH...his attitude and schooling....And it must be both. Not just one....If he meets my expectations..by the end of the year....then he may keep his Kizuki position. Your gift....is granted."

You blinked at him.. before smiling widely and clasping your hands. "Oh thank you!!" And before Akaza could stop you, you leaned up and easily threw your arms around Kokushibo whom froze completely off guard as you hugged him tightly. AKAZA held up his hands but didn't touch you as you pressed a kiss into the multi-eyed demon's cheek. "MWAH!! YOU'RE THE BEST!!" You then let go of him and sat back and smiled.

He sat there looking at nothing in the silence as everyone else stared in shock... before he slowly reached up a hand and fixed his crooked glasses and ignored the lipstick kiss marks on his face. "Now...As I was saying...Akaza...I was informed by Rui's tutors that they want ....to have him skip a grade Rank...and settle into Rank Four next year...as he is rather intelligent for...his age...Do you and the mother wish...to do that?"

"Uh...."Golden blue eyes continued to stare at the lipstick on his cheek before slowly nodding. "Sure. That sounds great. He'll get a great bump to his education."

"Well...Sure. Only if Rui' thinks he can handle it."

"I can!" Rui threw a hand up and puffed up his chest. "I can handle anything."

Kokushibo nodded. "Then the arrangements will be made...The children and Douma will be mostly in care of the one...whom can handle them best. ...I will also make...those arrangements in the Dwell..."

You smiled proudly at yourself and patted Rui's head. Things WERE starting to look up for you all. 

Douma coughed again. "I-Is there anything else W-We need to discuss while we're here, Kokushibo-dono?"

Kokushibo turned to the last page. "Ah yes...The new system in place ...for keeping out anymore...human brides from the Eastern mountain border."

....This might be a long night after all.

The meeting went on for another two and a half hours as you sat there and ate until Kokushibo FINALLY called the meeting to an end going on about some kind of system to distribute water to a certain irrigation system on the human plain. Something about farmers needing it in some drought? You weren't sure. The first thing Akaza did was pick up Rui whom laughed and held him with one arm.

"Now that I'm off work, what do you wanna do?"

"Come play with me!," Rui excited tugged on him, "I can show you my new toys!"

"Ah. So that's where the toy expenses went." You embarrassly covered your face as a strong arm wrapped around your shoulders. "Come on. It'll be nice to have you both around me once more."

"Akaza-dono!! Don't I get to come too!?"

"You're only going back where Nakime sends you!! The last thing I need is you giving Rui any ideas!'

"Boo. You wound me so- *COUGH COUGH*"

You sighed as Akaza steered you away from the room and could only wonder if Akaza remembered that Douma was literally right across from you. With the day coming to a close Akaza spent what was left of it just sitting down and allowing Rui to babble on and show him the multiple toys he'd gotten overtime before insisting on Rui go to bed and just leaving but not before praising you and in turning you giving him a massive kiss leaving him with a red lips and lovestruck smile as he left making you giggle. However there was some sort of peace now. Only now there was a few more problems loomed in the background which you wouldn't find out until the next morning-

"YYYYYYY/NNNNNNN!!!!!" Purple eyes blinked open as a shrill cry left the air. "HEEEEELP MEEEE!! I CAN'T GET ANY FOOOOD!!!"

And so on and so forth until you dragged yourself out of bed and out into the hall where you found a tray with a large amount of food just left in front of Douma's door...which you opened and found Douma sitting there 'happily' smiled at you. 

"My darling! Thank goodness you answered my pleas for help! I was helplessly sitting here without anything else to eat." He pressed a hand to his forehead. "How tragic."

"Why didn't they just bring it in to you?," you asked annoyed leaning down to pick up the slightly heavy tray, "You're too weak to walk still."

"Oh. Well they're afraid to catch my illness so they made arrangements for you to care for me.~" he smirked and you blinked... before scowling.

"What?! I didn't agree to this!'' You marched in and just harshly sat the tray down in the blonde Demon's lap as he chuckled. "When did everyone decide I would be your sitter?!"

"Since Kokushibo assured them it would be alright to have you help if they or I needed it.". 

Your eyes widened before they narrowed. "Of course he would. Ugh!" You facepalmed and grumbled. "I'll need to have a talk with him later."

"Well he did say we'd be able to court you while we're here." A book was shoved at you and he smiled wider. "Why don't you read to me some more while you're here? After all we're going to spend a lot of time together."

You deadpanned before grabbing the book from his hand and pointed it at him. "I'll make sure you regret this."

He chuckled- Which turned into another round of coughing and him pounding his chest. This was going to be a long day.

"Also I've noticed that out of everyone that's courting you, I-Im the only one who hasn't gotten a kiss." A glass shattering sound went off in your head. "So may I kiss you?"

"...What?!"

"May I kiss you please?"

You deadpanned again. "Oh. Of cccoooouurrsse."

"Really?!"

"No!" You firmly say down just outside of his reach and opened the book. "Now be silent and keep your voice down or I'll leave. Eat your food and be quiet."

"Feisty this morning aren't we?"

"Only when you're involved. Now where was I?" Your eyes scanned the pages until you reached where you last left off. "Oh yes. The darkness of the night hugged her close as she-"

BANG!!

You yelped and fell over in fright as the sliding door slammed open with a woman and man standing there panting and teary eyed and clinging to the door hard enough to leave claw marks in the wood. 

The woman stared right at Douma... before letting her eyes go more teary and whining louder. "DDDOOOOUUUMMMAAAA!!!"

"Oh Daki. My sweet, beautiful child." He smiled at the two visitors he received and held his arms out. "Aw. Don't cry. I'm alright." Daki's response was to whine louder and instantly go to hug the older demon. Douma patting her back as she messily sniffled and ugly cried into his shoulder. "Oh Gyutaro. You're here too! I always knew you had a soft spot for dear old men.~"

"Uh...Yeah. Here." A random handful of flowers was just dropped on Douma's legs. "Get better soon...and stuff." It was then that a familiar green haired demon looked at your deadpanned face staring at the ceiling. "What the hell are you doing on the floor?"

"Admiring the ceiling." You then sat up onto your elbows to look at Gyutaro. "What are you two doing here? I thought you guys were doing stuff for Kokushibo."

Gyutaro grunted. "Was. Came as soon as someone told us someone was sick." He must've been referring to Kokushibo telling Gyutaro what to do with Douma sick. "Didn't know you'd be here too."

"Yeah. Someone has to look after the giant baby. Nice of you to drop by though."

"We're not staying for long. Too much work to do. I'll wait until my sister's done crying."

You glanced at Douma half hugging half patting Daki's crying head. "How long will that take?"

"No idea."

It was a long day after all. It was almost forever waiting for Daki to stop crying and eventually Gyutaro had to rip off his sister and throw her over his shoulder to leave as work couldn't wait, and they only stopped by briefly to make sure Douma would be alright. It was actually kinda sweet of them. However Douma would not be less annoying. Half the time he babbled your head off with useless topics and half the other time he just dead ass stared at you and no where else. It was creepy. You were finally able to leave with the excuse Rui would be home from school soon.

"YYYY/NNNN!!! I'M BBBBOOOORRRDDD!!", He whined as you stood in the doorway with a blank face. "I'm sorry I called you my little wife. I just wanted attention!"

"And how many times did you call me your wife despite us barely being engaged?"

"Twenty seven!," he happily chirped. Your answer was to just close the door in his face. "Y/N?!" 

''JUST READ ONE OF THE BOOKS I GAVE YOU!!"

'YYYYY/NNNNN-"

"WHAT?!"

"You didn't say good night!~"

"UUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHH!!!" You glared at the door as he laughed before starting another coughing fit before turning around and stamping off across the hall to your room. Not even bothering to knock on it, you just threw it open. And paused as four pairs of eyes stared back at you. "...Akaza?"

Said linked haired demon stared at you from his criss crossed position on the floor and surrounding him was Rui and the two twins you had seen just the other day. In their hands were papers and books. And what looked like the remains of a dinner. All of them stared at you and Akaza raised a hand in the middle of drinking something.

"Hey. Was wondering when you would get back. How's the baby?"

"Um... Douma's fine. What are all of you doing here?"

"Watching the children as they study. I would've gone to fetch you.." A few veins popped up along his arm as he restrained himself not to outright rage in front of the young children. "But Kokushibo said that I'm not to interfere with Douma's courting of you. He wants you to chose without outside persuasion."

"Oh. Well that's kind of him." Speaking of Kokushibo, you needed to have a talk with him later. "How's the studying going?...And why are Kokushibo's children here?"

"Fine. All three children are rather clever.  Kokushibo is unable to tend to them right now and is tending to things in the Master's place, so I took the liberty of looking out for them while I remain here."

You smiled at him. Aw! That was so cute of him! "That's so nice of you!" You then tilted your head at Muichiro. "And how are you two doing?"

He smiled and nodded. He looked so sweet smiling. "Your son showed us his puppy! She's very sweet!"

"Just you wait! Once Arachnid is old enough to not need anymore puppy naps, Father and I are going to train her to be a hunting dog!," Rui exclaimed with a determined face, "I plan on getting lots of big game! Aren't we father?"

Akaza chuckled as Rui looked at him. "Absolutely. But not until you're a little stronger. Next year I'm going to start training you. You'll learn how to fight and use your demon arts with perfection."

"Wow." Muichiro was practically staring starry eyed at them both. "We train too!" He happily exclaimed holding up his hands. "He's been training us on how to use swords since we were seven! He says soon we'll be able to learn a breathing technique like him or another one of his students!"

Breathing technique?...Does he mean like the one Kaigaku was able to weild? Did Kokushibo also posses the ability to use breathing techniques? You've only seen a few people able to use the special abilities some warriors use to fight against one another and others. Kaigaku was the only demon you knew that could utilize such a skill. You'd definitely have to speak to Kokushibo.

"Hmph. He spends so much time with his duties and training us, that we barely get to do anything else with our lives," Yuichiro spoke with a sour expression. "The only reason why we're even here is because he said we need an education on top of training!  As is we don't have enough to worry about!"

You gave Yuichiro a curious look as he just scowled down at his books.. before an idea popped into your mind. "Hm. Well ...You all get a day off in three days from school, and I know a really cool looking toy store nearby." Both boys looked at you although Yuichiro was slower to turn his head to you. "Or a bookstore if you'd rather read, and this a few places outside the Infinity Castle like a big meadow with a pond or an entire mountain side of cherry blossoms. If you boys can keep your grades up and behave then I'll start taking you both and Rui there with me! What do you think?"

Both twins stared at you then at each other but Rui was instant in his reaction. "Yes! I want to go fishing again without that green eyed pervert bothering us!!"

"I've always wanted to visit one of those places!" Muichiro practically lit up like a bright candle. 

"Hmph. ...Fine. But it's not like I asked." Yuichiro mumbled nudging a page over. 

"Then it's settled. I'll take you all to see some cherry blossoms soon!"

"This is going to be great!" Muichiro looked at you brightly. "I knew I was right when you'd be a great mother!"

"*CHOKE* PFFFFTTTT?!"

"That's disgusting!!," Yuichiro yelled out as Akaza choked and spat out his drink.

Akaza proceeded to pound his fist against his chest and went into a coughing fit. You stared jaw dropped in shock. Douma loudly laughed from a room over. Yuichiro stared in disgust where Akaza spat as Muichiro stared happily. And Rui stared in awe at Muichiro before throwing his hands up.

"I FINALLY HAVE BROTHERS!!"

*********************************************************************************

The air was getting oddly warmer and he wasn't sure he liked that or not. He often didn't even feel warm just a dull numbing cold. The cold usually didn't bother him either. In fact he relished it very much. His senses were also dulled to a very uncomfortable degree. He couldn't sense figures from fair away anymore and he often felt his ears and nose was clogged like being underwater only not and being light headed. And he discovered a very good observation.

BEING SICK SUCKED!! 

And even his best friend wouldn't visit him. Boo. At least his little prodigies were so kind enough to visit him. Speaking of visitors-

"My senses might be dulled, but I can still sense you.~" Rainbow irises turned to stare at six eyes and smiled widely. "Im so happy you decided to visit me, Kokushibo-dono."

"Still your tongue." A menacing figure walked from around his left and into view beside him. "Your body is.... starting to recover already."

"Oh yes! Two days ago I couldn't feel my legs, but now not only can I feel them I can also move them now..*cough cough cough*....Oh. Excuse me. My lungs still burn when I breathe."

"Hmm...Do not... attempt to walk just yet. You need to still... heal a great deal."

"Will do!" He held a hand up. "But what brings you to visit me so late at night? Akaza-dono mentioned that you were very busy."

"I'm contemplating something but need....your confirmation on a few details...to make a decision." Douma tilted his head with a curious 'oh' leaving his mouth as he stared at him as glassy eyed as a goldfish. "What did the woman do to warrant....you visiting her that first time?"

"Oh you must mean Sakura!" He happily nodded. "Well for whatever reason she had gotten it into her pretty head that it would be a good idea to challenge our darling little lotus and not only that, but attacked my sweet little Daki as well. *sigh* You should've seen the poor dear so distressed. Of course I only let Sakura off with a warning!  After all girls will be girls and petty arguments happen, but then she tried to off our darling when she confronted her. Naturally as the caring person I am, I was going to let her go find her own eternal paradise... Bbbbuuutt Darling convinced me to arrest her instead and leave her to you to deal with."

"And of her...sister?"

"Oh now THAT'S a much more boring tale." Douma waved him off with a few coughs. "Didn't show much emotion. Very cold woman that one. Never would've worked between us as she insulted my sweet Daki's capabilities. That is all I needs to know to make my decision. Why do you ask me of the sisters?"

"The one whom had those....flowers delivered to the Dwell...was a human florist on the surface...A servant of their...house placed the order thinking it... wouldn't be traced to them...If not directly by them."

"Oh I see. Jade paid off a servant to deliver the poison from an outside source. Very clever."

"Could she be... capable of doing that?"

"Jade? Without a doubt. She's definitely clever enough and would definitely do that on her sister's behalf." His head tilted more. "What are you thinking about now?"

"....Treason... attempted murder of someone whom is...off limits....Attacks on the Kizuki...poisoning.... Illegal possession of wysteria and a love potion... destruction of the Infinity Castle....My choice is clear...I shall contact Lower Moon Three and inform Hairou that...they shall both be executed immediately."

Douma hummed brows rising. "Would that be for the crimes they committed? Or... because of a certain lady?~"

"....My statement stands....Get well and back to your duties."

[echantedtoon]

Demon Bride Ch58 When Hearts Beat-Be Careful Who They're Attached To P2

(WARNINGS!!: Douma IS his own warning. Possibly some innuendos. Mentioning of Douma being poisoned but he gets better.)

-THIS CHAPTER WILL SPAN OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW WEEKS-

You could only thank Enmu for his incredible medicine and thank the gods that your crazy idea actually worked. The medicine worked the same for Douma as it did Rui, and the cold water seemed to do the job of helping to lower his temperature well below what it was previously. He definitely wasn't anywhere near his old death freezer normal temperature but he wasn't warm anymore either. It was more of a chilly but not freezing chilly temperature he had. Thank goodness. However….you had no idea how you were going to get Douma out of the tub by yourself. By now you had pulled yourself out of the water but stayed near the edge to help elevate Douma's head and was shivering like a shaved dog in a blizzard.  You weren't strong enough to lift Douma yourself and you doubted he was strong enough to actively lift himself out. You were a bit stumped and hadn't thought this far ahead. However your unlikely solution made himself known in the worst way possible-

"You know if you came to live in my compound, you'd be well taken cared of! You and your child! We have a great education system and his other family is there too!"

"I'm fine where I am thanks," you said holding his head up higher. 

"Oh. But you'd be such a beautiful mistress. I'd worship you like a goddess.~"

"I'd rather be treated as an equal and not an idol to be worshipped."

Douma opened his mouth to say something but a voice from the hall made you both pause. "Y/n? Hello?!"

You stared as Akaza's voice echoed from up the hall. Then you looked at yourself, then Douma, then the compromising position you both were in. And then your gut sunk remembering you left both doors wide open for everyone to see you two.

You gasped and instinctively pushed Douma out of sight. "Akaza! Shit! What's he going to think if he finds you like this with me?!"

"Um.." He looked over himself, then you, and smiled. "Lucky Douma?"

You shot a glare at him before practically shoving him back underwater. "You're not helping!!"

"Y/N!?" Akaza's voice perked up in happiness at hearing your voice and you wanted to smack yourself forgetting about his really good hearing. You couldn't move away fast enough when a pinked haired demon smiled walked through the door and completely stopped.

You winced as you just stared at the frozen demon staring in the doorway as you stared back at him. "Um…Hey! You!..Um. This must look completely strange." He stared silently as you stood up wet clothes clinging to you and Douma smirking up from his awkward angle. "It's a funny story really. He was running a fever and this was the only way to get him cold quickly!" You strained a smile. "I don't suppose you could help me g-gentleman him back out could you?"

There was still silence as Akaza stared long, hard, and right through you… before he took a deep inhale and stiffly walked over to you specifically. You let out a squeak as you were picked up and set down from out of the tub. Strong hands holding you.

"Are you alright?," he asked…oddly calmly and it gave you a weird feeling.

"Um…Yes. I was just making sure Douma didn't drown while he had a fever."

He nodded, let you go, and…. smiled?? "Well the important thing is that no one was hurt and you're alright…" his fists popped as vines bunched up on his arms and neck. "DOUMA YOU FUCKING PERVERT!! ILL DROWN YOU MYSELF!!"

"AKAZA NO!!"

You literally had to jump BACK INTO the freezing cold water and cling to a laughing Douma in order for Akaza to NOT attempt to kill him. Getting cold and soaked AGAIN. And argued with Akaza about it until you put your foot down and DEMANDED he help you get Douma out..Which he did by grabbing Douma by the back of his shirt, dragging his limp wet body across the floor, and just dropping him in a mess of wet clothes by the bed.

"AKAZA!! BE CAREFUL WITH HIM!! HE'S SICK!!", You yelled at him.

He only glare at Douma arms crossed. "He's sick in the head alright. Been that way forever."

"ALRIGHT MR. DO RIGHT!" Akaza flinched as you growled at HIM of all people and pointed at him with a deep scowl. "YOU'RE gonna help Douma up and get him into some dry clothes and back into bed!!"

"I AM NOT!!"

"THEN I'LL DO IT!!".

"Yes. Please do.~" Douma cooed at you with a smirk.

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!!" Akaza looked at you panicked and in disbelief. "Y-Y-You're an innocent lady! AND HE'S A PERVERT!!"

"WATCH ME!! EITHER YOU DO IT OR I WILL!! NOW WHAT'S YOUR CHOICE?!"

Twenty minutes later Douma was back in his futon with a dry pair of clothes and a towel wrapped around his head grinning ear to ear watching Akaza mop up the water trail he made by dragging Douma across the floor. You watched from a corner all dried off and also with a towel wrapped around your head, and tapping your foot making sure Akaza didn't try anything else. To say he had a new hatred for both Douma and mopping was an understatement. Akaza then resumed his old habits of staking out Douma's room the next day despite you telling him you were fine. And he got a bit more clingy with holding you and cuddling up with you to the point you couldn't escape. It annoyed you but it was kinda cute seeing him all protective of you. However it was also quite suffocating being between two demons like this from now on that constantly argued and one was a whiny blonde also clingy and demanding attention. It was like taking care of two more children. 

It got worse the more Douma got better. 

The purple escaped from his veins, his body started moving around with more ease, and he got to the point that he didn't need so much food to help sustain himself. His body also got colder and colder and colder to its near freezing usualness again. You nearly had a heart attack when one day you answered a knock at your door and came face to face with Douma's standing form.

"Surprise, Little Lotus! I can stand now."

Yes. The fighting got worse and worse between him and Akaza as he now followed you both around and if it weren't for you constantly getting between them and arguing with Akaza, Akaza would've beaten him a long time ago. This was starting to get ridiculous and you had half a mind to just smack both of them upside the head. You started sneaking out to avoid both of them or quickly grabbing Akaza and fleeing just to spend time with him away from Douma as well. The boys weren't too much happier when they shared a few meals with Douma per your promise to let him court you until the end of the year.

You had a serious talk about both of their problems. Akaza immediately bowed and begged for forgiveness so…At least you knew he was going to be better. Douma agreed to give you more space and by that he meant only sometimes , and you'd still catch him following you from a distance. Sigh…It was a start in the right direction at least. His two months recovery break was almost over and you'd be better when he went back to his compound.  It was one of these days you were so tired of it all and decided to just head towards the kitchen area for an early lunch. Not surprisingly Douma followed you on the way in and you found Akaza there as well just finishing up a fifth bowl of udon, looking up just as you both walked in.

"Darling, if you come stay with me to my compound you'll never want for anything else ever again."

You sighed tiredly stopping in front of a table already adorned with a small plate of cookies. "No thank you, Douma. And would you please leave me alone this morning? I'd rather not be around you right now.''

"But then how would I be able to help you if I'm not around you.~ You know it IS one of my specialties.~ People come to me from all around to seek my help and guidance.''

His voice purred out in that sickeningly sweet way that made your skin crawl from the inside out, involuntarily making your form shiver under his gaze which only seemed to please him more than he was before. It made you sick! Made your body want to scream and run away to the farthest corners on the world but you had already tried that with him and Douma had an annoyingly amazing habit of always being able to find you no matter where you hid. Trust me you TRIED!! Everywhere from under the kitchen table to inside the bathroom's pool. The jerk just sat there by the edge of the pool and waited until you couldn't hold your breath anymore and had to crawl out like a drowned rat. All with that smile on his asking if you needed a towel before just plopping one on your soaked head. The arse! At this point you'd GLADLY spend time with ANY of the others just to get away from him! You'd gladly accept spending hours sitting still and letting Daki make you her test subject for different dress up sessions or listen to any of Hantengu's sons fighting over who did what and who started it again. Hell! You'd GLADLY accept time with freaking ENMU of all people who was just as a bad as him mostly for the big advantage that if you ask Enmu to back away a bit guess what? HE ACTUALLY DID IT!! The dream demon was a sadistic pervert but he had enough common sense to comprehend that if he didn't respect your boundaries he wouldn't gain your favor, so when you asked him to keep back a little he did, even if he still followed you around closely and was a chatterbox. But he never touched you or got too close if you clearly told him ''NO!" Douma however would pick you up even if you bit him like a rabbid dog without batting an eyelash and insist you were playing hard to get. Which is the reason you hated him. But it didn't matter how you responded to him, he always persisted the same way. You were as rude as a spoiled rich person with a god complex! He laughed at you. You acted uninterested and gave him the silent treatment! He took it as a challenge to poke and prod you until you broke and blew up at him again. You tried hiding from him until he was forced to leave! …You already knew how that turned out. You had tried to be polite and explained to him why you didn't like him! He took that as an invitation to bother you EVEN MORE!! No matter what you did or how you responded he always acted the same. So…That was it. Your face deadpanned and you turned to his smiling form and he cooed at the face you made, because it was one he never seen you have before! It looked…neutral which was one he'd never seen before on another person other than Kokushibo, but on a human? This was sure exciting! He wondered what you would do now? Plead him to leave you alone? Maybe ask him to bother Akaza instead? Or maybe this was a ruse to throw him off so you could try to run. What he didn't expect was for you to slowly sit down at the table calmly and took your time to look up at him. You calmly gestured to the side of the table next to you and looked at him neutrally.

"Douma, would you sit down please?," you asked him gesturing to the side of the table in a voice that he could only describe as monotone.

He hummed raising a brow at the oddly polite question from you, before smiling and of course sat down without question. "Of course, my little rose!~ Whatever you ask! But I must say this is a surprisingly polite gesture for someone like you." He hummed thoughtfully tapping his chin with one of those deadly golden fans of his. "Could it be that you're finally starting to warm up to me?~"

"I want to talk. About you."

"About me?" He couldn't contain the stream of forced laughter out of him. "Well this IS a surprise today! But a welcome one! Now what is it that you would want me to talk about? There are a plenty things for me to tell about myself."

You only continued the same, expressionless, nearly blank and only calm, although you were aware of the daggers Akaza was sending Douma from across the big kitchen and the confusion he gave you between that rage, but this wasn't about him. "I want to ask how you feel about certain things." That earnt the first reaction from him that wasn't a smile. A thick brow rose and his head tilted in question to your question. As if to ask 'What kind of things?' "You once told me you were happy to help other when they came to you for help or guidance or if they just wanted something bad enough. Did you mean that? Does that really make you happy?"

Well…he certainly wasn't expecting a question like that, but in his hundreds of years of living, he had been asked that maybe once or twice. His answer was to smile at you. "Of co-"

"No you're not." Your voice, as blunt as a rock, dropped on his sentence and cutting it off faster than a hot knife through butter. It made him pause with his mouth open in a smile. However you only still stared. "If I were to accept someone else's affections and agree to be their 'mate' would that make you upset?"

The smile on his face remained but he blinked and tilted his head slightly more to the right. "Quite to the point today aren't you? Hmm. Why that question? Aw. Are you afraid I'll be heartbroken for you if you loved another?" He cooed.

"If I were to accept someone else's affections and agree to be their 'mate' would that make you upset?"

He hummed again. Your expression and tone did not change at all. You really wanted him to answer this question huh? Alright then. "Oh yes. Very much." A hand 'dramatically' was placed against his forehead with a frown. "I'd be dev-"

"No you wouldn't." Again you cut him off stopping him in his monologue and making him blink opened mouthed at you. "If someone were to wish harm on me, would you be angry?"

This time the smile didn't come back and he gave more of a look of confusion. "I don't understand why you feel the need to ask that, Little Rose. After all the answer would obviousl-"

"No you wouldn't. You lie."

Now this caused silence to fall between the two of you and the silent witness forgotten by the both of you in the background. A pregnant silence for once Douma didn't interrupt for a minute or two before the smallest of frowns appeared on his face and this time his head tilted all the way into his hand to hold it as he looked you over mulling the words.

"…You know," he started after a moment more of quiet, "That is a bold claim to make."

"It's not a claim. It's the truth. You don't feel anything."

"Ouch! Now that's a hurtful thing to say!'' The golden fan was placed to his chest as he responded. "I may be considered a monster by many my people and some humans, but I'm not just an empty void of feelings. I can feel things-"

"That's right. You can feel some emotions," you slowly explained giving your own head tilt before nodding. "You can feel things. You can feel confusion as I just saw before. You can feel some annoyance or inconvenience as evidence by the few times I've seen you tap your foot. I've also seen you can be bored and sadistic and sometimes even curious about something. But you can't feel."

Again he hummed. Not angry humming. Not confused humming. Not a 'I agree with you' hum. Just that..a hum. "That's an interesting statement to make there. But let me ask you, how would you know how I feel about things?" He smiled back finally. "You can't read minds and you aren't in my body, so there's no possible way you can tell that for certain. More so you contradicted yourself." He pointed out to you. "You said I can feel some emotions and even gave great examples of me doing so but then claim I can't in the same sentence which counters your earlier statement and makes it invalid."

You didn't answer, not at first and he rose a brow teasingly back at you like he's won some kind of prize, but instead you silently turned back to the table and did something he wasn't expecting but it wasn't something that surprised him too much. Your hand reached over and touched the corner of a plate of cookies backed before (honestly he was more surprised no glutton had eaten them all yet-) you lid it across the table with a small noise until it was close enough for him to reach over and pluck one off if he wanted too.

"Then answer me truthfully about this one. If I were to offer you a cookie, would you enjoy that? And please say a yes or no."

He wasn't sure what you were getting at but your trying to prove him wrong was cute, so he'll comply until it got too boring. So he smiled brightly. "Of course I would, Little Rose.~"

"And answer me this. Would it guarantee you getting happiness if I were to offer an enjoyable cookie when you feel sad?"

"Aw.~ You'd do that for me? Anything my little rose would do for me to bring be happiness, I would be than-"

"No you wouldn't. You see that's where you failed to see what I mean." He only stared as you slid the plate back before a hand snatched a single cookie off the plate and held it up to his face. "I asked if enjoying something could guarantee to bring someone happiness. You said yes, but that's not the truth. This is my favorite cookie. I enjoy it very much, it could bring me happiness because I do enjoy it, but that doesn't guarantee it will. I could just eat it mindlessly without thinking about it. That wouldn't bring me happiness, it's just fulfilling a want or hunger without so much as a second thought. I could be having the worst day of my life crying my heart out and a friend could give me this cookie as a ways of comfort, but while I might appreciate their gesture, that doesn't guarantee the cookie will make me the least bit happy." Your two fingers pinching the cookie opened more, allowing the cookie to bump into your hand before it continued falling down to the table landing with a thud. Douma watched as the cookie harmlessly rolled along the table until it stopped right in front of him, before blinking and looking back to you. "You can't tell the difference between the two meanings. You can't feel happy, and you couldn't answer me correctly because not only can you not feel happy but you don't understand it, Douma. If you can't do that, why would you think I could believe you when you proclaim you love me and would care about me?"

And then the silence resumed. For once he didn't say anything back just as quickly. You just continued to stare at him waiting for him to say something. Anything. But he didn't. He just continued to stare back at you with that look of confusion he'd sometimes gained until you spoke bluntly again.

"Are you confused or will you not say anything because you don't understand how to feel about what I said?" Again the silence remained and you slowly stood up from the table. "You asked me why I don't like you around, and I've answered you. Now do you wish to continue with this game until next time you visit or will you let me go now to do laundry?"

"….I do have a question of my own if you wouldn't mind," he finally spoke slowly blinking.

"Ask me. It's only fair since you answered mine."

"I wonder, how DID you come to any of those conclusions of yours? Like I said before, you couldn't possibly read my mind so how could you know?" He thought that was a fair enough question to ask back considering you had asked so many similar ones of him.

"Your eyes." Your hand pointed at your own eyes to point them out. "They're blank. No emotion. Your smile." You pointed at your mouth. "It's stretched across your face, but it's forced. Your personality." Your hand returned to your side. "It's always faked. It's molded, you copycat what you see to make it real to whoever you wish to trick or please. That's your problem. Because you don't understand the emotions you're attempting to replicate, it's never fully there. You're able to mimic them pretty well, in fact you can fool others a lot, you even had me believing them for a while, but your eyes never changed from that of a doll's."

Despite everything you just said, he cooed with another smile. "So you've been paying close attention to my eyes?~ I suppose I should feel flattered you find me attractive.~"

"I don't," again you remained monotone and blunt. "Your eyes are beautiful, but it's like a chalkboard in the end. A person can use as many colors chalks as they want to draw the most beautiful images, but at the end of the day it's just a blank slate underneath. I don't find that beautiful."

"Even if that's the case, should it really matter?" He asked with a very casual shrug. "There are many people I have made happy with my physical body and generosity alone. I can't see why I couldn't do the same for you.~"

"Then that only proves what I thought for a while now."

"Which is what, Dear?~"

"You don't make people happy. It's what you can give them that does. On the surface you're a very beautiful and charming man." Your hand gestured to him. "Your eyes are the most colorful I've ever seen, your hair reminds me of starlight, and you're very clean and fit. And I admit, you can make yourself be charming, you can make yourself desirable to any man or woman who thinks of you as that." With each word you spoke he smiled more and mo- "But I only see ugliness in the fact you can't see they don't love you, they love what your looks and personality can fulfill to them. And even that can change. If you were to lose any of that then they wouldn't bother and you still wouldn't understand that. The same when you say you make people happy…" You shook your head. "YOU don't make people happy, it's the physical things or emotional void you fill their selfish desires with that they love. If someone else was in leadership of your cult, then THEY would do the same thing and that would be the same situation. But you can't see that still because you don't understand."

"Even if you're right and I don't understand, I could still make you happy."

"You don't even know what you want! Is making them happy a want or need to you? You can't answer that question because you don't either and that doesn't make me happy. And I know you couldn't make me happy because you can't establish the difference between THIS-" And Douma didn't move when you grabbed the plate of cookies and tipped it over with a half throw to launch the cookies at his lap. Rainbow eyes widened as a rainstorm of cookies showered down bumping off his legs as some settled in his lap while others landed on the floor, covering the entire area in crumbs. …And he slowly blinked. Your hands placed the plate back down on the table before you calmly walked over to him. He blinked again, before using his golden fan to knock one cookie off his knee. "And this." Your hands reached out and with extreme gentleness you never showed him before, you grabbed both his cheeks and made him turn his head to your still monotone look. Offering no actual affection but enough to make his eyes widen as he stared at you…And you slowly let go. "You want to make me happy…But you can't. Whether you really mean it or not doesn't matter. I can't be happy if someone who wants to make me happy is nothing more than a blank slate, even if you deny, lie, and say otherwise. So no. I can't accept that, and you need to accept that you can't make me happy if you even know you want to." And now your expression did shift, from monotone, to sad looking. "And now…I could say something else to you. I could say I feel sorry for you you aren't able to feel it. I could say I'm sad you'll never know what love or happiness truly is. I could even say I hate that part about you. But I won't because I know whatever I say to you won't matter in the end because you don't understand, and then the next time I see you it'll just be back to what we usually do. I just wanted to make you at least aware of the situation that I know." With that you could only offer him a bow. "Good bye, Douma."

The blonde demon never reacted to you leaving. Or the closing of the door behind you. Or the approach of his 'friend' who walked up to him and prodded his lifeless numb body when he didn't react to his form still more, and at first Akaza thought of it as just shock to your detailed rejection. And so he began to laugh. A loud laugh that vibrated off the walls for what he thought was Douma's shock. ..No. It was far more serious than that. Perhaps even something more dangerous that either of you realized. No. It was the fact that for the first time in the hundreds of years he's lived, he felt something. That something was the warmth of your hands with such gentleness as they turned his head and made him face the reality he was seeing for the first time. Because for the first time he could recall-

Someone saw through him. Someone that wasn't like those who he surrounded himself with.

And his heart had beaten with something that wasn't just it's usual purpose. His body shook. Quite literally, like a human bared to the frigid cold, and shaking hands reached up to clasp those cheeks where Y/n's once was. A shiver going down his spine. Once Akaza calmed down, he noticed the upper rank wasn't moving and he immediately stopped. Something wasn't right. Douma wasn't supposed to be shaking like that. Something was wrong. Did your logic break his brain or something? The man was shaking like his nerves were fried by lightning. There was a clattering noise that made Akaza's ears perk up until he figured out it was Douma's own fangs clattering against one another in that smile of his. But that wasn't the thing that put worry into the demon, it was his eyes. It was true like you said, his eyes were always barren, he's seen the same thing for years and years but now-….There WAS something. Something darker in those eyes. It looked almost like …longing. Like when a child would look at a wonderful toy.

"Ahehehe…AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" And now he felt. And now he felt the affection course through his veins. "Never have I ever! Never have I ever!!" Shaking arms were thrown upwards towards the ceiling, as if some great gods would come bestow their gifts on him. And to that ceiling he rose. Nothing but ringing and laughter beating against his eardrums in tune with that twisted heart. "I FFFEEEELLL!!!" More. More! Give him more of this warmth that filled him up and left him wanting more. And more he desired, from the source of those feelings. "AND I KNOW WHAT I WANT!!" Shaking arms pulled back from the heavens to the newly feeling face.

And for the first time in existence, Akaza feared what Douma will do next. Douma was not a normal person, so what was he to do when something finally made him feel something? The desire to feel it again will grow in him of course for he is no longer a void, but a jar wanting to be filled. He knew what he wanted now and what he wanted…

"And I want you.~"

Your footsteps slowly echoed throughout the halls. A relieved feeling filling your body for once in your life. Until a giant slam of a door made you jump a few feet and turned. And froze.  Douma stood there in the doorway not too far away breathing heavily and letting his very toned chest rapidly raise up and down breathing. A wide grin plastered on his face and you froze at his eyes. His eyes were not empty. They gleamed in a rainbow of colors but no longer dulled, instead bright like a child happily playing on a summer's day. He locked eyes with you. One minute he was there the next he was in front of you looming.

"Y/n…"

He whined your name. Begging. Pleadingly. THUD! Douma dropped to his knees before you. Beautiful you that tore his heart out and filled it up. It was like an empty room existed in himself until you opened the door and allowed light to finally filter inside. You were a goddess. A celestial maiden. If heaven did exist they sent you to him. To love 

TO LOVE HIM.

Being on his knees made you both eye level. Two hands grabbed you. One on your cheek, the other on your hand. The warm soft touch made a shiver rock through him. The one on your hand made your hand touch his chest. Immediately you lit up a red touching the toned bicep under your palm, but paused instantly feeling the rapid hammering beats from under the cold skin. 

His heart beat.

"Y/n." He whined again pleading for you to touch him. Notice him. Accept him please!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!! He squealed happily when you curiously touched the hand holding your cheek. "I love you!!"

You didn't get to say anything before a crash of lips met yours.

Author's Note: For some reason Tumblr refused to let me post this normally so I had to post it through my inbox

[echantedtoon]

Demon Bride Ch8 All In A Name

(Warning: Light cussing, Implied death, wounds, some blood, and other injuries mentioned.)

The earth was a beautiful thing if you needed it to be, or if you wanted to make it become that way. And in a way, it was both to you in the end. The sweet smells of flowers and grass filling your lungs. Combined with the warmth of the sunlight warming your smaller body as you walked along the pathway back towards your small home. Today was a perfect day to go fishing within the woods as it was warm, full of food, and a wide variety of other items that you could harvest. Wild berries to be picked. Old fruit trees long forgotten. A small pond with plenty of fish that only you knew. It was perfect for someone like you who was low on money, needed to repay a debt, and couldn't afford food all the time. You could just harvest and hunt whatever you needed even if you lost track of time and it was fairly dark now. It shouldn't take you too long to get back to your village, but even then it'll be dark before you got back anyways. Not that you were too worried about still being in the woods when night fell, after all there wasn't really anything dangerous like bears or tigers where you lived. They usually didn't go near human settlements. The most dangerous predator in these woods was the hawks and owls with the occasional fox here and there. You doubt a bird or tiny fox would even want to bother you, you were much bigger compared to them and it wouldn't be worth the fight for the food you carried when they could easily hunt their own. So no. You weren't worried at all. And it was beautiful outside tonight, a warm breeze in summer and the moonlight being your companions for the long trip back home.

But a campfire being lit up was new. And something that caught your attention, and you couldn't help but wonder over and accidentally startling the man who was using the fire as his companion for the night, and it took you getting closer to figure out one thing. He had been staring in your direction this entire time. It took you off guard once the realization hit you, and it caused you to pause staring back at the face. 

"Uh...Oops. Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

You couldn't make out his face entirely, the fire was too small to produce enough light and he sat cross legged mostly in darkness so you couldn't make out exactly what color the eyes that looked back at you were. But you could tell he was young, maybe late twenties or early thirties with some strange markings on his face, especially just over and under his eyes. They looked like straight lines. Maybe scars? Strange.

"No. You did...not scare me. Who...are you?"

"I'm from the village. I wasn't expecting anyone else to be out here hunting."

"I am...not hunting. Is that...what you were doing?"

"Well no. I was fishing. It's easier than setting traps and trying to chase down prey. But if you're not hunting, what are you doing all alone out here?"

"I am...traveling home...from meeting distant family."

He spoke strangely. Very slow and with pauses between his words. Strange. Maybe he was tired from traveling. It was turning night after all. 

"Oh. Well I won't disturb you then....Have you eaten anything?"

"No."

"Then here." The man seemed surprised when you reached out to the line you were holding, snapping off one of the fish, and holding it out to the darkened figure. "It's not much, but traveling on an empty stomach isn't good for your strength. Take this and make some food out of it...Wait. You do know how to cook fish, right?"

The stranger remained silent for a long moment just looking at the fish dangling from your hand. "...Don't...need to." A hand reached out and grabbed it from the darkness. You noted how much larger they were compared to yours and the strange pointed nails but didn't comment as the hand pulled it back into the darkness and away from your sight. The man's head turning away downwards to you assume look at the food you had offered him. "...This...will suffice...for now." He then turned back to you. "What...will ...you do now?"

"Go home of course." Your head nodded down the pathway back towards your village and his head turned following your direction. "Wait. Did you just say you couldn't cook fish?"

"It is...unnecessary-"

"No it's not!" Your rise in volume made him turn back to you, not surprised or anything but his brow rose at your frown. "Don't you know eating raw meat isn't good for your body? Or are you trying to save it for later?"

"I...will reserve my hunger...for later travel-"

"By then the meat will be bad and unsuitable for consumption. That'll just make you even more sick regardless if it's cooked or not!" You wanted to facepalm this stranger. You didn't know him at all, but he wasn't the brightest it seemed, or being tired and hungry is clouding his judgement. You extended your hand. "Here. Give it to me. I'll cook it for you then."

"You will...cook for me?"

"Yes. Because I gave you the fish, if you refuse to eat it properly then it'll be on me if you get sick. There's a fire here and plenty of sticks from the trees, so I'll be able to cook it for you the same way I cook it for myself."

He didn't say anything, but after a couple seconds, a hand slowly held out the fish back out to you and you took it back, only to drop your small bag and other fish to the ground and wonder off towards the woods still carrying the fish in one hand. All the while his two eyes followed your every movement from your form walking into the darkness, to your hand picking up a stick and jabbing it into the fish, to you walking back and just placing the entire thing into the fire with a part of the long stick safely out of the way of flames. And then the silence resumed for what seemed like hours as he just watched your actions which included using the stick to flip the fish over onto the other side after a long while. After a long while more, you completely pulled the now fully brown fish from the fire and held it out to him with a smile.

"Here. It should be good to eat now, and don't try to save it for too long or else it'll go bad." There was another pause from the man who just stared at the food you offered before the same hand reached over and took it from you once again. Seeing it as your job being done here, you stood back up and turned away from him. "Where are you heading anyways?"

"I live...beyond the mountain."

Ah. So another traveler heading up there. There was a few in your limited years of living here and they all traveled past your village on their way over the mountains ...Although it was a bit strange this stranger was returning there after already coming through here to visit family. He must've taken a different route you supposed. Either way it was none of your business. Your business was to pay off what your parents dumbly left behind.

"Is your destination far? You might need some more food."

"I will...be fine."

That was a no then. You sighed and picked up your remaining fish and bag only to toss it at his feet with a thud. He looked at it, then up at your still smiling face. "It's full of wild fruits and vegetables. They might taste a little bitter, but they'll last you a couple days. I can just come back and get more for myself." He didn't say anything, not that you were expecting him to, but you too that as your cue to leave, so your body bowed at the waist. "May you have a safe journey home."

With that you turned and began walking back off towards the direction of your village, with less food for your hungry self, but you could always come back and get more. The strange man watched your form until it disappeared from his sight and slowly turning back to the fish in his hand....And taking a rather large bite with his inhuman fangs.

***************************************************************************************

It was still dark when you came to. And the first thing you felt was-

"Dam them! Dam them! That door will be hell to fix!"

You felt..Oddly warm. Warm but numb. As if you were weightless inside a warm ocean. Like when you were just waking up from a dream on a beautiful summer morning.

"Not to mention everything will stain and it'll take forever to fully clean it all!"

"Lord Kyogai. Has she awakened yet?"

"...No. But I suspect she will soon. Are you certain she's not dead?"

"Dead people do not breath, My Lord. But my knowledge on human anatomy is extremely limited, I won't be able to give you any answers to her condition other than 'she isn't dead.'"

An annoyed growl escaped somewhere in the darkness of the numb warm ocean of thoughts. 

"Shall I tend to your wounds now?"

"No. I'll regenerate within a day or two anyways. Rejoin the others and clean all the mess thoroughly," a voice commanded, "Burn the remains to nothing but ashes. Fix what needs to be repaired. No one is go outside until this season passes over. Do I make myself clear on that!?" 

"Of course, Sir."

"GOOD!! And make sure you tell everyone else to follow those orders! The last thing I need is more insects thinking they can trespass in here!"

"May I ask what you will be doing, My Lord?"

A tired sigh came from somewhere. "What else would I be doing this time of year? Writing down all the death and marriage certificates that comes with this blasted month! Tell Mayla to bring me anymore reports left unfinished immediately. I will not have this incident push back my deadlines!"

"Yes, Sir. Of course, Sir."

"Good. Now leave me be for now. I have much to get done."

"And the human, Lord Kyogai?"

"...Leave her here. I'll decide what's to be done when she wakes."

There was quick, light footsteps that stepped away from you and then a drag and thud sound quite similar to the sounds a sliding door would make. Leaving you alone with nothing but the male voice and yourself slowly regaining feeling and memories. THUD. THUD. THUD. THUD. Footsteps made their way also from where the door was until with a heavy thud they sat down just a foot or two away from your body.

And silence resumed.

And then you slowly started to regain feeling. The warmth became obvious when you hand gave the tiniest bit of movement and you felt cloth against your skin, and your entire body. Something was over you keeping you warm, except for your forehead. Something cool and soft was placed against your forehead creating a clash against warmth the rest of your body felt. And then it came. A deep. Terrible. Awful. Terrible throb of pain from your leg making you snap your eyes open immediately only to blink them into the harsh light and become blurry the longer you stared without blinking, until you did and slowly your vision refocused and saw a...lantern?? A bright light from a lantern calmly shined above you in the middle of a ceiling. It's warm glow was a contrast to the absolute throbbing pain that came from your right leg making you internally wince at the bigger painful throb that came from it when you moved it. Wha- Where were you!? Were you finally dead this time?...Couldn't be. You still felt pain, and a dead person wouldn't be able to feel pain surely.  And then...it all came back to you in a bright white flash.

Last night.

The monsters. 

The one with insect eyes who fell from the tree. The one with the sword who ate your remaining food. The one that was fat and sounded like a pig. The one who crawled on all fours and used it's tongue as a whip. The one who had grabbed you by the chin and demanded your name. They-..They weren't real right!? Surely now that you had woken up, it had all been a bad fever dream fueled by your paranoia and the scary night! After all you had woken up and there wasn't anymore monsters around here anymore. It was daytime.  Your eyes lightly turned. So there's no way y-

You froze. Your eyes widened. Your jaw dropped open.

Sitting there, just a yard away from you, was a monster. And one you saw before. He had his back to you, sitting on a giant pillow in front of a table. One of his arms was moving slightly, as if he was doing something on the table you couldn't see, and the faint scratching sounds of writing was able to reach your ears from where you laid, although in the moment your shocked brain couldn't register it as writing. Now close to him, you could make out long black hair that reached just above his shoulder blades, and right under that was-...

Oh...

Oh you were gonna be sick-

Right in the center of his back was four deep wounds in a downards-right slash motion, the skin broken and the pink flesh underneath revealed. They weren't that deep, but it was still a horrid sight to be hold anyways. Oddly enough however, they weren't bleeding out despite being open wounds, however there was still splatters of dried blood all over his back and where it dripped down across the skin before it stopped. You stared at the sight wide eyed as an instant wave of sickness hit you, your breath quickened silently and your heart beats spiked for a moment at the horrid sight. 

Scribble. Scribble. Scrib-

The sounds of feint writing stopped. And once again there was silence as you continued to lay there silently.

"Hey. You." You flinched at the sudden raspy voice that calmly spoke out. "So you're finally awake."

In an instant, you reacted. Snapping your jaw shut and closing your eyes shut as the thing's head turned to look over his shoulder at you. Resisting the urge to panic and look asleep still-

"I can tell you're awake. Your breathing and heart beats are irregular. I can hear them as plain as day." He could hear that!? "Are you going to continue to keep this annoying charade up or are you going to act like an adult?" You were still frozen even when a hand reached over and you felt a finger poke your arm. Your body couldn't help but flinch making the voice sigh. "There's no need to fear me. If I had wanted you harmed, I would have done so the moment we met last night. I have no intentions of spilling anymore blood and making another mess. Now open your eyes and allow me to speak with you dammit!"

The finger prodded you again and startled you into opening your eyes, having them widen in fear at the face that was -....was...looking bored out of his mind??? The monster just sat there cross legged, with his head in one hand, and rose a brow at your reaction like he was tired of this already. The face he made you...confused. Still worried and afraid but now confused as you blinked.

''That's better," he huffed, "Are you able to speak?" You remained silent staring. "Hey! Are you able to speak or do I need a human translator?!"

"I-I can talk!!," you squeaked out in a panic and he nodded satisfied.

"Good. Now then listen very carefully because I will only ask this once, he spoke with authority but at the same time he still sounded tired. "Who are you? Why are you here?"

Your mouth opened and closed a few times as you tried to pull yourself together before you sputtered out an answer. "I-...I-I was chased in here!"

"By another demon?"

"Y-Yes! B-By lots of demons!"

"I see...Well you shouldn't worry about them from here. They've already been 'dealt with'."

"A-Are you going to eat me?"

That caught the monster off guard because his tired expression went to one of surprise, but then it went back to a frown. "What? Eat you?" You flinched at the new annoyed tone. "Do I look like a cannibal to you? Why would I-" His free hand came to his temples. "Eat you. Is this what Akaza meant by 'classic human paranoia'? NO! I'm not going to eat you. I don't have the least bit interest in doing so."

You were still tense, but let yourself relax a bit at that. "W-Where am I?"

"My home," he clarified with a raised brow, "You and two other uninvited guests barged into my home last night and left a giant mess!"

You winced. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! It was just I was being chased by that giant hell spawn and I saw your house and-...and..." You again winced when the pain from your leg throbbed hard. "Ah!"

The sudden yell seemed to have startled him a little bit because he jumped and blinked when you made yourself sit up slowly the blanket you were covered in falling off. "What is wrong?"

"My ankle! It hurts!" Another dull throb erupted from just above your ankle where that gross tongue squeezed down hard on it. "That stupid monster must've done something to my leg- WHOA! HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

You resisted the urge to just outright smack his hand away when he reached over to push the blanket from your legs. "Be calm, Y/n." You froze. "I'm just inspecting where the damage may lie." You didn't move after that, not that he cared as he just calmly looked at your bare legs. The many small cuts and bruises were still present but the healer had said they should heal no problem. It was easy to tell which leg must've been hurting her because the right one had a bruising pattern similar looking to a rope wrapped around your leg tight enough to leave bruising, and it was lightly more swollen than the left ankle. Lightly, he hovered a hand over the area. "Is this where the pain is coming from?"

"OW!" You jolted when he lightly touched it and immediately stopped at your reaction, hissing through your teeth, you nodded. "Y-Yeah. That's it...But how do you know my name? A-And where's my boots!?"

"You told me last night when we first met, and I had my healer remove them." he gestured at your body. "She was the one who looked you over and treated your minor injuries. You should be rid of most of them within a few days time." Last night-....Oh yes. Last night. Just before you passed out. "Although I do have further questions. What are you doing within this part of the forest? You are far from any human settlements."

"Huh?" You blinked. "O-Oh. I was actually heading for the other side o-of the mountain." You gestured with a hand. "But I got lost last night and ended up being chased by quite a few monsters. I thought maybe I'd be able to shelter here until the sun came up, but it seems I was wrong."

Well that certainly explains most of what entailed. So she had gotten lost and ended up being chased by others until she came across his home by chance and was followed in by desperate insects. But he still rose a confused brow. "So you are...not an offered bride?"

You just stared at him for a moment longer, before frowning confused. "Bride? Excuse me, Sir! But I was running away from a marriage, not going into one. I'm nobody's wife. What gave you the idea I was?"

"You are wearing white," he bluntly said as if it was obvious.

You blinked raising a brow at the now slightly torn up and dirty white kimono that you had fled from your village in. "Ok. And?" You gave him a look. "Lots of people wear white, that doesn't mean I'm getting married, and this dress isn't even close to something as elegant as a wedding dress." Now he looked even more confused. Those blue and red eyes looked you up and down looking for an answer for a specific question he held. "What's your name?"

"Huh?..." He looked back at you, slowly blinked, and looked away again. "It's Kyogai."

"Kyogai," you tried out the name on your tongue..before offering a smile. "Thank you for rescuing me last night. If it wasn't for you, I might've been eaten by one of those monsters."

"Yes. Well I-..." he paused mouth open before looking at you again. "Wait. Pardon but did you imply you thought those insects were after you because they wanted to eat you?"

"Yes. That's why I was running from them." You tilted your head. "That's what they were trying to do...Weren't they?"

He groaned. "You really don't know anything do you?" A hand reached back up to rub his head. "No." His hair moved as he shook his head. "No they weren't after you for food, they were seeking a mate."

You stared at him. He stared back at you. He only patiently watched as the gears whirled in your mind, your face a blank slate of emotion until only one word escaped you-

"WHAT?!"

"It is my kind's mating season," he bluntly said, "It lasts this entire month. You wondering into the woods is the equivalent of a rabbit willingly throwing themselves into the jaws of a wolf." He only watched, seeing your expression go from blank to horrified to disgusted. "Wearing the color you have on your person wasn't doing anyone any favors."

"Are you telling me-," you started slowly feeling a disgusted feeling bubbling in your stomach, "-that I was being chased around for the sole purpose of-...O-Of...Because these things wanted me as a wife!?"

"To put it simply, yes. But they weren't supposed to. According to laws they're supposed to at least court you or see if you express interest in offering your dowry." he grunted annoyedly. "Unfortunately there's disgusting insects who don't like to follow the lays. That's why my Master appoints Akaza and other of my ranks to make sure the laws are obeyed." Oh yeah. That reminds him-

"You mean I could've been-..*GAG*" Your hands clasped over your mouth as a disgusted feeling speared through you. "Oh, gods above. I think I'm going to be sick!"

"You do not have to worry. Your problems have been dealt with, and as annoying as it may be, I don't feel like throwing you to the wolves."

Well...thank gods for that at least, you were still having trouble processing this. "I-...I don't even know what to say! What to think! H-How could anyone mistake me f-for a-...THAT!!"

"You're wearing white like the others." Your head snapped to him so fast he was surprised it didn't go flying. "*sigh* It's not often that it happens...But sometimes if the humans are desperate they think sending a forced offering would bring what luck they seek."

"And does that work?"

"More often than not a poor human is just forced into an unwilling union for the rest of their lives. Many years ago it was a sigh of peace to send a bride every year, but now it's more of a taboo practice if it even still happens...Are you alright? You look pale."

You just stared. "....I think I'm going to be sick." You slowly looked back to him. "Well, what's going to happen to me n-now?"

He might've commented on your 'sickness' but the second question seemed to throw the demon through a loop as he opened his mouth ...and slowly closed it looking you over again. "I-....am unsure. I have never encountered a situation like this before."

"So...Does this mean I can just leave?"

He slowly nodded. "I have no reason to keep you here. We are not enemies, and you have not done any of the damages to my home, but I do not believe it is a good idea to do so now."

"My leg?"

"That and I believe you would still be in danger. With yourself being injured, there would be no escape from whoever hunts you."

The thought of potentially some other monster hunting you was bad enough, and all for what? Just because they were that desperate for marriage!? And not escaping...that was NOT an option! An even worse option than Sanemi ever was! That was THE last thing you wanted!

"Then..what do I do?"

"It is..hard to say. I do not know human medicine, so I will not be able to tell what is wrong with you."

This was a big problem. He wasn't expecting an bad turn of events such as this. In reality he was hoping he could just ask her a few questions and send her on her way, then get back to his work for his Master hated delays. But now this complicated things. The idea of throwing an injured human woman to the ravenous wolves wasn't one he liked too much but he hated having a stranger in his home at the same time. Although he guessed he could just have one of the servants take care of her until she healed, but no one here was able to know what injuries she sustained. Could they be permanent? He didn't know. But maybe he knew someone would know! Who did he know that knew humans really well? 

The first one who came to mind instantly was Douma. But as soon as he thought that, he disregarded that instantly. No. Douma would not do. He's not one that screams 'I know medical practice' and he'd spend the majority of his time advertising that perverted cult of his. Maybe Akaza? He seemed to like humans the most out of all the upper moons (genuinely not like Douma's creeping 'liking' to them), but again he had nothing that had medical practice etched into it. Kyogai was hesitant to ask his Master himself. The Master would most likely see that as an insult, to disrupt him and his affairs to attend to a stranger, a human with no real significance to him. He'd be punished. Only one person came to mind he knew for certain, but he pushed that idea back. Then thought about him again and then pushed it away again, then it happened again and he frowned, growling at the thought and making you jump at the sudden growl.

There was no wanting to call upon...HIM of all people! He was just as bad as Douma! But-...

"Are..you alright?"

He closed his eyes and nodded. A huge inhale being slowly taken in before being released back out even more slowly. "...Yes." He lied. "I am fine. I believe I know who may be able to help our unfortunate situation."

You perked up. "Really? Who?"

"It would be best if I send a message to see what can be done about him coming here first of all. Our Master prefers us to be busy and dislikes us interrupting others." 

He ignored your stare as he turned back around until he was back to facing away from you and down at the table. His documents and quill and ink pot forgotten for the moment but longing to be done. Sigh. He'll have to work hard and fast to make up for the time wasted. 

"What are you doing?"

He blocked out her voice. A deeper and slower inhale. Closing his eyes in concentration. Allowing his mind to go into that meditative state. It was like his conscious became thinned, light as air, and as nimble as a snake slithering through the lines of connection between himself and the bonds the Master's blood allowed them all to have. If he had one way of describing it, he would say it felt and looked like a tree rooted into their minds, different branches that were never the same but still connected to the same trunk in the end sharing the same deepened roots. The mind thread slithered ever closer to the door which would lead to the connection he wanted. The one responsible for all transportation within this hivemind of threads, he reached out to that small thread sending a questioning thought for entrance from it. In return a thrum of an instrument vibrated within the wave lengths in return, a questioning tone back at him to what he wanted. A beat of a drum returned in stride.

"Nakime. Lower Moon Six requests the presences of Lower Moon One and the Master if granted."

Nothing was said back but there was a gateway opened and a message sent within the wave lengths. Questioning to a much more powerful force above them both with a second split off towards another branch. He hoped the Master would not be angry at his request. It did not take long for there to be a reply back. In return of his questioning, with the heavy feeling of smog and fire of an engine with a hint of amused-questioning. One he despised but one he wanted anyways. And then something much more darker. Much more wicked. Much more heavy overshadowed the both of them. 

The Master.

The twisted, rotting, suffocating presence enveloped the wavelengths and twisted around them like gnarled roots taking in them both completely. He mentally winced and would have gladly avoid this if he could. He was thankfully not angry much to his relief. It was more of a curious hum if anything. But it didn't take away the unease of it at all.

"Master."

"What does Lower Moon Six desire with me?"

Blunt, dark, and straight to the point as usual. The other smaller presence remained silent but he felt a curious tone under the amusement.

"Forgive me. I ask permission for Lower Moon Six to assist myself with an endeavor I am unable to complete-"

PAIN. A claw of talons stabbing into his mind and gripping and entrance way into his thoughts and there was the dark presence finding the answers to why he dared to contact. 

"You think it wise to ask of something so trivial of me? For something of unimportance compared to what others and yourself are already tasked with? Is my generosity not enough, Kyogai that you can not fix this yourself?"

"FORGIVE ME MASTER!! Your mercy is not taken lightly or without great thanks! I am forever grateful! But I can not kill without cause as you have commanded! I am following your every word!" 

The stabbing pain receded. Pleased with his explanation and permitting him to continue on. 

"This human has done nothing to warrant the punishment of death, and I would go against your order of killing without cause if I allow her to leave and die to the elements. Unfortunately I am unequipped for the solution to this problem. I request your permission for Lower Moon One to come and give assistance where he excels at."

The second presence turned to smug mockery at the confession and he couldn't help but feel annoyed at that. However he knew better than to cause trouble and potentially anger their master especially after he was granted the mercy of getting heard out by him. There was silence, calculating thought from the darker, heavier presence which made him nervous, but the voice spoke up again after his heavy consideration.

"I will grant Lower Moon One's aid to you one week from today."

A whole week of waiting!? That'll take forever. Clearly he was annoyed, but quickly squashed those feelings in an instant. It was better to not anger his Master lest he change his mind, he was lucky he was able to be granted his request at all.

"I understand. Thank you, Master. I am grateful. But before we sever ties, I wish to ask something of Upper Moon One before our meeting within a week."

There wasn't any response from his Master except silence, which meant he was allowing Kyogai to ask the second smaller presence what he wanted. His Master must be in a good mood today if he was allowing this second request mercifully. The second smaller presence reached out to touch his own in question, but he was mostly amused and smug about this entire thing. Speaking for the first time since this meeting started.

"Mmmm. Kyogai.~"

He although wanted to gag in displeasure. "Greetings, Enmu."

"I must say, I am quite surprised you would even call my presence here.~ You usually do not speak to me at all beyond meetings." And he wondered why? "But now I know it's because of a pitiful human woman.~ Mmmmm! Tell me is she suffering?~ Did her life flash before her eyes knowing he couldn't escape her perils?~"

"Enough of your mockery! Have respect for the Master is still within our presences!"

"Yes. Forgive me, Master. What is it that Lower Moon Six wishes to ask me?~"

Gods he hated that slimy tone! "The human woman, she is experiencing pain within her body under her ankle. How do I treat it until you can arrive?"

And there was a silence (mercifully) from the annoying tone. A sign that this 'Enmu' was thinking to himself. Kyogai was still suprised he was knowledgeable at all in these topics.

"....Hm. A pain you say? Is there perhaps any bones sticking out? Or deep wounds?"

He hated out both happy and genuinely questioning Enmu's voice was. "No. No visible damage, although the skin is bruised and swollen. She seems in deep pain whenever her leg is touched or moved."

"Can you tell what's wrong?"

"NO! That's why I requested you be sent to me!"

Again another hum. "Then it might be possible her leg is either broken or fractured, but I won't be able to tell until I'm able to look at her. But of course Master's assignments tasked to me comes first.~"

"Then what do I do UNTIL you arrive!?"

"All human bones work in a similar fashion. Like a delicate glasswork, they're so pitifully fragile and weak.~ So you must be careful remembering that.~ You say she experiences pain when she moves her leg? Keep her off it as much as possible. Try to make sure her leg is kept straight and stiff as a board, maybe strap it down if you must. The more she moves it, the more damage to her weakened form she might cause herself.~ Treating the swelling is a different task however...Does your mansion still have that underground well?"

"Of course it does!"

"Hmhmhm.~ Then I suggest submerging her leg within the cold water to help, or perhaps wrapping a cold wet towel gently around the swollen areas.~ I'll send a messenger raven with a recipe for herbal tea that helps numb the pain in human bodies. That should be sufficient enough help until Master allows me to spare a visit.~"

"It does. I thank you for your words." He hated thanking this perverted insect for anything! "Master, I am grateful for your time spent on me. I have no need of anything else at this time."

As instantly as he said that, the dark presence loomed over and overtook the three-way connection between all of them, severing the ties abruptly painfully causing white hot flashes to throb in his mind, and throwing them both tumbling back from one another until both presences were gone and he was left alone amongst the threads of thought. Kyogai took this time to relax and let his own mind rest from the two overwhelming people he had to speak with. Speaking with his Master was always a nerve wracking experience no matter what it was, and Enmu was.....Enmu. He hated the perverted insect to the bone! But..that was one problem off his plate, he was still curious about someone else's involvment within all of this mess. His mind thread reached out once again. 

"Upper Moon Five. Are you still present?" A strum of Nakime's bawa answered him in question to what he wanted from her this second time. "Lower Moon Six requests the presence of Lower Moon Two. Please grant me it."

Nothing was said back but there was a gateway opened and a message sent within the wave lengths. Questioning to another branch of this wavelength tree. In return of his request, came a different presence back. This one younger, annoyed, and not too happy to be disturbed at this moment. Brash and no brains. Yep. Just what he was expecting. 

"Kaigaku. I'm glad you answered my calling."

"What do you want!? I'm busy!"

Brash and annoying as always. Sigh. "I have something to ask you concerning some events which occurred last night."

"WHAT!?"

He had the urge to slap this ungrateful brat already. "Last night two intruders broke into my home."

"And? It's not my fault most of your staff are girls! You deal with your own territory and don't cry to me about not being able to do your job! If you want me to scare some dam idiots into submission, you can wait until I'm done!"

"You not doing your job is precisely my point! One of the dam insects claimed they were chasing a human bride through the woods!" The anger in the other presence fell silent and he took very close notice of it, but he wouldn't reveal anything to him yet. "It's YOUR job to patrol the east side of the mountain and make sure no strangers enter or any demons leave the forest to that side of the mountain! Clearly you aren't doing your job good enough!"

There was silence for a few seconds as the younger presence thought on what he said. "You have the human?"

So he did know of her huh? "I have no human!" He lied. He had a bad feeling already about having Enmu coming to see this human girl, he won't add a walking headache maker to it too. "DO. YOUR. DAM. JOB!! NEXT TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS I'M REPORTING YOUR MESS UP TO KOKUSHIBO AND THE MASTER!! DO NOT LET SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN! CONSIDER THIS YOUR ONLY WARNING!! Nakime, I am done with this message."

"NO! WAI-"

The connection of the two wavelengths were cut off with a harsh strum of a bawa string, like a knife through hot butter, and there was a slight pain from the severed connection. But he confirmed what he needed to confirm and got what he wanted to request. With that he sent one last message. A small reach out to Nakime in thanks to her services, to which he got a single neutral strum back in response before she left him. And he was left alone. And Kyogai took that as his time to leave the wave lengths. Down, down, down he tumbled until he felt his mind reconnect with his body and feeling returned with the sigh of his lips. The feeling of sitting on the comfy pillow.

And the feeling of water against his back???

He yelped when something pressed firmly against his back that was cold, wet...yet oddly soft. A small pain throbbed from his back as something delicately wiped at his back between the slashes still present and his neck twisted all the way around like an owl's startling a tiny human into dropping the red stained towel in her hands and leaning away from his back. 

"What are you doing!?", he demanded with a scowl.

You stared at him, and the weird position of having his head turned all the way around to stare at you like an owl while his back was still facing you....but then you rose a brow. "I'm washing the dried blood off your back, and cleaning your wounds. They're exposed and that's not good! They could get infected!" You tilted your head at him. "I did ask if it was alright if I did it."

"What? No you didn't!"

"Yes, I did. I asked you if you were hurt but you didn't answer. Then I asked if It was okay if I helped you. You still didn't answer me but you didn't move when I started, so I took it as you were alright with it."

He didn't say anything at first, just staring at you blankly before looking down near your legs. You were sitting on your knees, with a bason of water and water pitcher next to you the water was already a tinted red from where you must've dunked the towel (That used to be on your forehead-) to use it to clean up his back. The towel itself was stained a light red. His eyes then turned downwards to his back and was surprised to find all the previously dried blood cleaned off and the wounds still present looking cleaner having the filth removed. He just...stared back at you.

"....Why were you doing that?"

"Because you saved my life, and because it was my fault in the first place for running in here and bringing those monsters to follow me. If I hadn't, this wouldn't have happened to you." You gestured to his back. "And...I'm sorry for that."

He just remained silent but his head snapped back around with a crackle of bones that made you wince at the noise and looked away from you again. "You don't need to apologize, and I don't want your apologies. I will heal within two days time anyways."

"It doesn't matter! I don't want you to be hurt whether it's my fault or not!" He paused again...before looking over his shoulder at you and your frown. "So either you take care of it or I'll tend to you myself."

He just stared at you silently for a long moment, before he sighed again. "Fine. I tire of fighting, and if you're insisting on this matter-" A hand reached up to one of the strange lumps sticking from his body and tapped the one on his left leg twice.

You were left to wonder what he was doi- The sound of the sliding door opening startled you into falling off your knees, a hiss threw your teeth at the throb of pain from your ankle.

"You called me, Lord Kyogai?", a woman's voice asked and you nearly gasped when you looked over. A woman was standing in the doorway, except she didn't look human. She was dark purple from head to toe except for her hair which was pure cinnamon brown and she had no eyes. Just a nose and mouth which was smiling. Her plain orange kimono was the only normal thing about her.

"Yes," Kyogai answered without looking from the table, "Send for Eri to come tend to my wounds after all." A clawed hand pointed to the dirtied water and towel. "Take these away to be disposed of, and bring us the coldest water from the well. It will be needed for the human."

She bowed. "At once, Lord Kyogai."

She didn't waist any time in rushing in to collect the objects he had pointed out to her before quickly exiting the room, leaving you both alone again. Then you turned back to the largest demon.

"Who was that?"

"Nagi. She is one of my servants appointed to me by our Master. She is quite competent, which I find best in any servant I have here."

"Your Master gives you servants?"

"Not all of them were appointed by him. Some of them are those I chose to take in to shield from the dangers of my kind. Others were brought here by their families as offered servants." 

"Some of your servants were gifted to you by their own families!? That's cruel!"

"No.... It would be crueler if I turned them away." His tone took a slightly softer edge. "If I hadn't, they would've been offered to someone else who could've been much crueler than I. They are beneath me in terms of ranks, but I do not treat them unfairly. They are paid, and I make sure they are sheltered and not overworked with plenty of food."

"....You sound like a good man to work for."

He made a noise and you jumped at the new noise before realizing the sound he was making from him chuckling. "Or so I've been told, but you are the first human to say that to be, so I will take that as a compliment. ...I have asked my Master to send a college of mine." He frowned again. "He is....very unlikable." Which was putting it lightly. Very lightly. "But he is knowledgeable in human medicine. He will be here within a week to tend to you."

"A week!?"

"Yes. Unfortunately it will take him a while to get here which is why he has said to stay off your leg and keep it still." His head turned back to you. "So please do not sit on your knees again or attempt to walk by yourself. I'll have Eri tend to you until he arrives. Until then, you shall remain here where safety can be provided. My kinds' mating season lasts until this month is over, and I'm afraid your condition will leave you open to attacks."

You had to stay here for an entire week!? And you had to wait another two weeks until this month was over to escape safely!? UGH!! Great! This was turning out to be a great turn of events.

"But what if more of them come in here looking for me?"

"I highly doubt any will. It's forbidden to go against a Twelve Kizuki. If anymore insects should find their way in here....Then I'll eliminate them."

[echantedtoon]

Demon Bride Ch2 Dealings With Fate

(WARNING: Mentioning of death in this chapter.)

Kanae. The eldest butterfly sister. It should've been her. Graceful, beautiful, kind Kanae.

...But-

There was some mistake when a paled hand was pointed at the direction right down the middle of the crowd, making all heads turn to follow it. The hand's direction was tilted in a way that made no mistake who the blind man was pointing at, despite the fact he couldn't see he made no mistake. So when the hand pointed, and everyone fell silent, whether in shock or respect you weren't sure. But what made your blood cold was the serious hand pointing in the direction of your own, frozen and shocked body.

"Y/n. Would you please stay behind with me? I have something we have to discuss."

The world felt smaller now with all eyes staring at you. Some in silent neutrality, some in shock, and one or two in anger. Not that you could blame them..If you could even look at them that is. Instead all your shocked body could do was stand quietly and let the fate loom over you. Then there was a break in the silence. A whisper, a hurried one. Encouraging the others to follow suit. And slowly, one by one, retreating footsteps headed towards the exit. Towards the path of another year of freedom which was sealed with the slam of a sliding door. Which left you staring into the abyss of a blind man who held your fate, with two daughters sat beside either of them, as if they were just silent observers of fate and destiny unfolding before them. You couldn't move. You couldn't breath. Perhaps if you stayed still and quiet enough, you could fool the blind man in front of you into thinking you'd disappear with the others or make him think you were spirited away with the wind itself. Oh how you wished that was the case for you.

The hand which had remained extended lowered to gesture the ground in front of you with such calmness compared to your fear it was almost scary. "Won't you please sit down? I did say I wished to discuss something very important with you. I promise you it won't take more than twenty minutes to discuss." You silently obeyed, sitting back down in your spot in front of him, and he continued talking once he heard your body settle back down. Hand retreating back to his body. "Thank you. Would you like a cup of tea? It would be helpful to calm your nerves."

How did he- You shook your head stiffly. "N-No. T-Thank you."

He didn't see to be offended at your denial and you mentally cursed yourself for allowing your fear to be heard in your voice. "No matter. Do you know why I have asked you to remain here with me this night, Y/n?"

You hoped it was a misunderstanding. "I..I'm c-confused."

"Hm. Well there's no need to be frightened, as I mean you no ill will, but it has come to my attention that an unpaid debt has been hung over you that I failed to see sooner. I wish to talk to you about a solution that will take place to pay it in full."

Ah yes. The debt. The one that hung over you for as long as you could remember and one you had worked hard to fight against lest it control your fate later in life, and now it seemed that it has. It was never meant to be like this, but like a wolf baring it's teeth at a cornered rabbit, it held you by the throat in a chokehold. There was no getting around it now, the debt your parents wracked up by borrowing money from the late Shinazugawa family before you were even born. Not much was known to you about the two people who brought you life, other than they were some of the poorest amongst the village and that both had passed away due to unforeseen circumstances shortly after you were born..

And before they could repay that debt owed to the Shinazugawa family.

With neither of them around, that debt of theirs then fell upon you and even with the death of most of the Shinazugawa family, it was still something that weighed you down. Kept you here. Something that as soon as you could comprehend words and situations, had fought against lest it control you. From a young age working hard to earn measly coin after coin, and carefully counting, and hiding it all in a place where no one but you would know to keep it all safe. Each small clink of a coin added to your collection putting one more tiny dent into the mountain that was your debt to what was left of the Shinazugawa family. The brothers Sanemi and Genya. In fact...that was a reason why you suspected Sanemi hated your presence and tended to avoid you more than anyone else. Because you were just essentially a reminder of something that hung over himself and his brother as well. Which is why you were planning on presenting the money you had spent YEARS working hard and giving up so many things just for the sake of saving more money, to Genya instead of Sanemi. While you and Sanemi couldn't stand to be around each other, his brother was slightly different. As a child, Genya wasn't much more different or harsh as his brother, but as he grew older he had become more-...kinder and less to anger than his older brother. Especially around women. In fact, some in the village say he's timid around the women of the village now but you weren't sure. You hadn't spent much time around either brother to find out, too focused on working and getting coin after coin to pay attention to them. But if you could give back the money you wished your late parents hadn't borrowed, then nothing would be weighing you down anymore and you could be free to travel away from here. To be free without the fear of anyone hunting you down for any stupid debt. You were ALMOST there! You just needed a little more time! Just a little more time and you'd have all the money you'd need! You estimated you could get it all settled in just three months time from now but now...This seemed to change everything. After all you never told anyone of your work to pay back the debt. You were always afraid if you did, someone would get the idea to try and steal the large amount of money you had been saving up. The only one who knew was the elderly woman who took you in, in exchange for you caring for her in her old age, and eventually left you the small house and land that she had that you now lived in. You always believed you could beat this, if you just worked hard enough in the fields, and hauled enough bags of rice for the farmers, and cleaned enough houses. Earning what little money you could and sparing as MUCH as possible to pay it all off. It was hard work and up til now it seemed the gods heard your prayers for help. Just for one more year of freedom! To make it to that goal! But now what had you done to deserve this?

You quickly nodded. "A-Actually I've been thinking about that myself!"

"Oh?" His head tilted at you still kindly. "I'm glad we are both on the same page at least."

"Y-Yes! I-I'm highly aware of what I owe the Shinazugawas and I've been working o-on it for a very long time!," you assured the Elder. Perhaps you could appeal to his more reasonable nature and NOT do what you thought he was about to suggest. What you were AFRAID he was about to suggest. "A-A-And I'm nearly done with paying off the debt! I just need a little more time and I-I'll have it all paid off I assure you!"

His expression didn't change much but he seemed pleasantly surprised. "Oh?" And he hummed in thought. "Well then this does change things a bit doesn't it?" He smiled wider and you almost let yourself sigh in relief. "And for how much longer will it take you to pay off the rest of your debt to them?"

"T-Three or four more months!," you answered back as calmly and confidently as your nerves would allow. 

Surely he'd be merciful and pick one of the other girls upon realizing you didn't have time to get married and would nearly be done with the Shinazugawa family a month or two into the new year. But any hopes you had died in your brain when the man before you instantly frowned back. ...and he hummed. Not a good hum either, a hum that told you that they were upset by something they heard or thought.

"Well then...There is a problem with that."

"W-Why? I promise you I'm not lying!" Was he thinking you were lying about paying them back? Well you never told anyone until now hoping telling him would change your fate. "I am really close to paying back what my family owes them I promise I'm not lying-"

He silenced you by holding up a hand. "Y/n, I assure you I have no reason to doubt your word and I do believe you when you tell me you've been working hard to repay your family's dues. Honestly it's very noble..." He sighed. "However there lies the problem as well."

"W-With the debt?"

"No. Not the debt itself but the situation as a whole."

"....I-..I-I'm afraid I don't understand."

It was then that the Elder sucked in a breath between his teeth, and you knew what was to come was just more bad news. "I understand that you're aware of how your family's dues came to be?"

"I do."

"Then I don't suppose no one ever bothered to tell you the other half of it then?" At this you were confused. Other half? What 'other half'?! As far as you knew, you just owed the brothers eighty coins you spent years on collecting and storing away in your poor life. But the Elder must've sensed your silence as confusion. "Allow me to explain. Many years ago, when your parents first asked Sanemi's parents for help, they made a safety precaution in case they could never pay off that debt."

Precaution? What precaution? You never heard of any second agreement to this ordeal!? "What promise was that?!"

"Before your parents deaths and the tragedy of the Shinazugawas, it was agreed between both heads of the households that if your parents were unable to repay their end of the bargain, then one of their children would be married into the Shinazugawa household to pay it off." In a INSTANT, your stomach immediately dropped at his words and the true meaning of them washing over you like a blizzard in your veins. The Elder however only slowly nodded reluctantly. "And you see...The deadline for which the debt was placed is due. Your parents died before they could have anymore children, and so the deadline and debt must be respected and paid accordingly."

You could only stare at him before the horrific realization of what would upon you slapped you in the face. "A-Are you saying because I haven't paid off the debt within a deadline I didn't even know about, that I'm going to have to make up for it by marrying SANEMI!?"

"Or Genya. I haven't chosen which one to go through with it yet. I was hoping you had possibly finished it off but it seems I was wrong."

"But I can STILL pay it off!," you were quick to plead with him begging even at this point. YOU MARRYING SANEMI!? NO!! NO NONONO!!! "Please! Give me some time before you tell them!"

"That's the problem. You see...They already knew from the beginning this was coming. I just haven't told them of my decision because I wanted to talk to you and see what could be done about the situation. I'd wish I could wave off this problem, but it would be dishonorable to just disregard the deceased ones' unfinished business. So I'm afraid this situation would fall upon the responsibility of the ones who they left behind. I am truly sorry, Y/n."

The reverberating silence beyond the crackling fire engulfed all of you into silence. Silence of that death would usually bring, your situation making your inevitable freedom die and burn within the hellfires of eventual holy matrimony. Of a husband you'd never have the pleasure of loving first and the silence of freedom's death were replaced with the promise clacking of shackles of the inevitable outcome of being changed to Sanemi for eternity. Or Genya. Nothing against Genya of course, he is as innocent as you in this situation, but even the thought of having to be anywhere NEAR Sanemi even by proxy. But nothing could be done with this situation...

Or-

Your panicked face suddenly stopped looking panicked, and you froze you for a moment..Or what if there WAS something you could do?!

"When is the deadline for the debt?," you slowly asked him.

"The deadline was never really established in concrete perse. Just that it all must be settled before the youngest child reached the age of twenty five, but the reason I wish to have this situation settled now is because of the amount of time it's taking to be fulfilled. It's never good to leave something unfinished for so long."

That 'youngest child' would be Genya! Who still had a few years to go before that age!! So by that logic you still should've had PLENTY of time, but if the Elder wished so, he could have you pay it sooner rather than later. Which didn't give you that much time...but you had to try.

"How long is it until the first full moon of next year?"

"We are in the last month of this year and the first full moon is half way through the New Year's first month. So that would be around six weeks from now. Why do you ask?"

"How about a deal to counter that debt?"

At this both daughters beside the Elder seemed to look shocked and the Elder tilted his head in question. "A wager? Now what could you mean by that?"

"If I can get the rest of the money to pay the debt in full before the first full moon next year, then you must agree to not marry me to either brother."

Now this seemed to catch the elder off guard because he hummed in surprise....before another smile crossed over his face. "Now that is a bold claim."

You shrugged. "I have nothing to lose." Except your freedom. "And really it wouldn't be harming anyone. In the end either way the debt WOULD be paid wouldn't it? Nothing lost. Only something gained for all involved."

He hummed again, seeming to mull over the offer in his mind for a good moment before he nodded. "Alright. It's agreed then. If you're able to repay what your parents couldn't, but if you aren't able to then you must pay what is owed."

Even if it means you'd be bounded by marriage to Genya or WORSE Sanemi. But unbeknownst to him, you were already thinking about a way that would ensure your freedom in the end.

"Agreed. Please inform Sanemi and Genya of our dealings."

"I will be sure to. I look forward to seeing what you have in store."

[echantedtoon]

Demon Bride Ch30 Red Shines Bright Tonight

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Watch where you're going, Wench."

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

Wait a minute.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Is there a doctor on this street?!"

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

"What do you mean by that?!"

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

"WHAT?!"

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

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

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

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

"Thanks."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Literally nothing.

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

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

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

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

"T H A T' S   E N O U G H!!!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"HOW DARE YOU-"

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

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

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

"Why you-!! You-!!" 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

C R A C K!

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

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

....He blinked. "Eh?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Alright. That can easily be fixed." 

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

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

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

You blink taken aback. "What?"

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

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

.... Peonies?

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

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

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

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

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

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

"DONT TOUCH M-"

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

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

"Eh?'

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

"....hmm."

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

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

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

"How much?"

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

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

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

"Your debt."

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

"Then how much is your marriage contract?"

"Excuse me?"

"Which house do you work?"

A glass breaking sound went off in your mind. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"You have a debt to pay."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

.... Dammit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"What?! How can that be?!"

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

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

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

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

"... It's Gyutaro."

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

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

BU-BUMP-

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

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

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

"Because you both look alike." 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"EXACTLY!!" 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Well then what if I hire you?"

"Excuse me?"

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

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

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

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

He blanked. "What?"

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

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

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

WWWWWOOOOOOO WOOOOOOOO-!!!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"....EH?!"

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

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

[echantedtoon]

Demon Bride Ch6 The Monsters

(WARNING!!!: This chapter will have cussing, slight gore, blood, wounds, maybe scars mentioned, implied death but no actual depictions/descriptions of death, and Fighting Which Will Include: Punching, scratching, making cuts and wounds, maybe biting, some blood being spilled, and a demon's hands being cut off with a sword.) 

You shrieked again.

Your scream was like a beacon for all the fear in the world, diving towards the voice that emanated from the vocal cords and through your open mouth all that raw human fear went, striking everywhere in your body and mind. Your body froze. As if your very muscles were frigid with ice from the inside out, painfully still. The sound shrilling out of your throat, pushed forward by the force of the air from your lungs, echoed throughout the night. A sound that could shatter glass and make even a deaf person cringe from the eardrum shattering sound. The wind half muffling the echoes from such a scream from your body. The monster only laughed more. A cackling high pitched laugh that didn't sound human, it sounded like a chicken clucking out a mule's braying in abrupt stops over and over again. Slowly the man-...No. The thing got up slowly in a similar way a human would stand after tripping over and landing on the ground, and you could only stand there for the horrifying display of the monster with the preying mantis face that smiled horrifyingly at you like you were just a piece of meat for him to feast on. Your body locked up. Your mind blank other than primal human fear. And your lip visibly quivered as it tilted it's head at a degree that no human could, those multiple segmented eyes slowly eyeing you up and down as if studying you but then he hummed. A...disapproving hum. Like the kind a displeased parent would give a child.

"Not entirely what I had in mind for this night." Then he shrugged arms back and devious smile on his face, so wide it might split off his face and connect to his neck. "You're as scrawny and pathetic as a fishbone! And I doubt you're intelligent....But you should work in a pinch. Enough to put respect on my doorsteps, and supply my future lineage." 

In the moment your mind couldn't exactly process what the meaning behind the words he spoke or even the words themselves. You panted. Heavy breaths in and out of your mouth enough to make your head swim and your ears be filled with your heartbeats as the muscle thumped against your chest hard. The trembling hands gripping the map harder and harder as he went back to smiling wickedly and took a step towards you, which made your weaker body flinch under the sounds of his steps as he approached your form. F/c widening with quick breaths as a hand, with gnarled claws reached for your closest arm. 

And your body finally allowed you to react-

Mindlessly your arm swung out, with a loud slap sound, your hand made contact with the monster's own hand smacking it away, the flesh was cold from what quick contact you gave the brownish skin. Your sudden defiance seemed to surprise whatever monster because he stopped in his tracks stunned, but that just gave you opportunity to strike. The man-monster thing gave a loud noise of surprise as you quickly slapped the map to his face, a rip tearing into the delicate paper from the small horn protruding on his cheek, your hands pressing the material to his face and continuing to push against the flesh underneath the paper enough to push him back and down he went backwards towards the black ground. She didn't hesitate for a moment. Not even a second. Not when the woman turned around and RAN.

Every runner knows that the first warning sign of danger is a sense of dread, a feeling of impending doom. You are about to run away from a monster. But how do you prepare for this? Y/n had always hated dark forest with its lumbering tall trees. It was a place where she felt fear. The dark teased like taunting bullies, each sway of a branch creaking it's maniacal glee and  every whistle the wind whipped by your ears whistled their sick pleasure in watching her panicked state of mind. SLAP, SLAP, SLAP!! Went the sounds of her feet against the black ground and curling tree roots, like spiderwebs under her feet, ready to snag her and make her join the abyss any moment. The darkness caged you in with the mockery of noises, a canopy of night shrouding the way out. But for now you only knew one thing.

RUN.

Your body felt light, only being able to feel every time your feet slapped against the ground which would surely be sore later, but you didn't care. You could be hurting for the next ten years for all you cared! Please gods just let you get away! Your eyes darted around for any signs of escape only being shown endless darkness instead. Your arms were partially extended in front of you, to push and swipe down any bush, branches, and other plants in your way as you ran. Stumbling and half tripping over large tree roots and clumps of grass in your wake, but still making good distance. Until the burning in your lungs threatened to make you drop, and you were forced to start slowly down step by step until you were hugging the side of a tree for life, your arms desperately gripping the rough bark until the imprints were deep in your palm and your knuckles were deep white, forcing your body to step around the tree until you reached it's front and you hid yourself behind it from the direction you just ran from. Your back hit the hard tree and your head tilted towards the heavens, hands clutching your pounding heart. And there was silence other than the mockery of wind and branch creaks. Your throat and lungs were on fire. Your heart pounded almost painfully in your chest. And you did not dare move in fear of seeing that-...that-....MONSTER somewhere behind you. 

That-....That wasn't real r-r-right? It COULDN'T be real! It was just a figment of your imagination projected by your fear! T-That must've been the case!...But then..How were you able to make contact with it if it was just a hallucination? You felt your hand make contact with that thing's hand and you felt the body struggle under your hands as you pushed it over. You stood there, shaking harder than a tree in a tsunami in dead of winter. Other than the gasps of air your body forced you to make, you dared not make a sound. Not a noise. The whole time you stayed perfectly still as ever so slowly your heartrate decreased the longer the silence went on and the longer nothing appeared. Slowly your lungs and throat's fire extinguished with the help of the cold wind you swallowed, and what was left behind was just a dull soreness. The rapid beating of your heart calmed slowly until it was just a little above what it would normally be beating. Your eyes slowly regained focus from the sheer panic. And your body calmed down but not your mind. Your mind still raced in fear from what you just saw and you stared straight up at the creaking branches of the tree you hid behind. The panic still clear and making you do nothing but listen in anticipation, like a rabbit hiding from a pursuing fox. But still...nothing but silence. And when your eyes slowly looked to the right and your face followed until your cheek and side of the face was pressed against the rough tree bark awaiting for any sounds, but nothing still came. 

It was a stupid decision...A bad one really but-..

You slowly scraped your back against the back of the tree slowly inching your way to the side of the tree, and ever so slowly, poked your head out. Not all the way. Just enough to look out at the direction you ran from and saw...nothing. Nothing but darkness and trees. And that made you pause. There was...nothing? Nothing at all? Slowly you pushed your head fully out to see better, and took your time grazing your eyesight around the darkness, straining your eyes in the limited light that seeped between the leaves and branches. Quietly listening for anything running after you, but still nothing came. ...You-..You must've lost whatever that was. You exhaled a shaky sigh of relief and slumped back against the tree. Eyes closing as a wave of relief washed over your tired body. That was until you opened your eyes. And shrieked again.

The scream was cut off as a cold, clawed hand was slammed into your mouth. The force made your head and right wrist he gripped, painfully hit back against the rough bark of the tree which would surely leave a goose egg and some scratches later. Your muffled scream rang out as you stared into the rage filled insect-eyes of the demon, who had indeed turned out to give chase, as he glared with the wrath of a hundred Sanemi's as he bared his fangs and gave some inhuman growl to your instant struggling. Free hand pulling against the arm that pushed against your head, and in a final panicked attempt to get away, you kicked your legs out. You struck the demon in various places your legs could reach, but you might as well have been kicking a brick wall. He didn't even flinch at any hits you gave him no matter how hard you tried, it only seemed to make him more annoying at that point because he seemed to hiss at you.

"Stupid woman! SHUT UP!," he all but bellowed out at your terrified, muffled screams. "Are you trying to alert others!? Dammit! You'll be a terrible mother."

You didn't pay attention to his words. Only panicking more with each passing second flailing about in a desperate attempt to GET HIM OFF OF YOU!!

"Stop struggling! It's futile! There's no escape-"

SHING!!

A metal sound. A shine of silver in the dark. A dash of shadow. And a strike of thunder.

It all happened too fast and too dark for your mind to comprehend what happened. All that you knew was that one moment  you were pinned against a tree and the next dropped to the ground like a rock, landing with a loud thud. A loud inhuman half screech half animal cry pierced the air and crimson liquid splattered across the dark. The cry echoed across the darkness, and was cut short when a powerful foot kicked out and struck the handless demon in the chest, knocking him back. And his form went flying back into the darkness only to be swallowed again and disappear, the red trailing after him, the only sounds to be heard was broken branches and then a loud thud and then the silence resumed once more.

"Dam idiots."

Well...that gruff voice was knew. Your head swam for a moment numb and your eyesight spun dizzily for a moment as you slowly blinked with a small groan on the ground. Before your vision started to come back. Wait...What was that brown thing in front of you? It took a second even after your vision focused for your brain to register what was laying just a foot away from your head was a decapitated clawed hand surrounded by blood. Your body froze for exactly five seconds....before another shriek cut from your throat making the new figure snap his attention to you. In a flash your body reacted, scrambling away from the hand that just laid limply and crawling back on your hands and feet clumsily until your back hit a tree, breathing heavily. And then a black mass shifted next to you. And you once again froze.

....And you slowly looked over.

It was hard to make out in the dark since the figure camouflaged in so nicely, fit like an abyss's glove. The first thing to meet f/c eyes was a pair of strong looking black boots that connected to equally black pants with the legs facing away from the trembling form, but then the legs turned to point at you and with them came a glimmer in the dark making you freeze more as the image of a silver polished sword's blade with a crimson splatter pattern across the small width some of which slid down the shining metal only to drip poorly onto the dark dirt. 

Blood...

THAT WAS BLOOD!!

Immediately a hand was slapped over your mouth to prevent the vile urge to vomit from rising up as you horrifyingly stared at it..Until you heard a clattering sound like something clacking their teeth together in raid session which made you look up, and yet again freeze as f/c ones stared into the abyss of blue and black ones. And you realized-....You were staring at another one! However this one looked more humanoid than the last one. This one that was looking at you was more scary than the last one if that was even possible. His grey skin and all black attire was perfect for him to blend into the shadows easily, the black themed clothes continued because he was hearing a black shirt with strange yellow stripes on the chest with a larger black coat over it, held together with a blue sash tied around his middle. He also wore a necklace around his throat with some kind of blue charm dangling from it you couldn't quite make out in the dark. And a long whip like tail like a snake's hovering behind him. However you didn't care for his attire, you only could focus on two things. The first being his face. He looked...young. Early twenties clearly. Pointed ears barely visible behind ink black hair, with oddly shaped tiger-like stripes on his face but what was the most striking was the piercing black and blue eyes that stabbed into your own and like you were under a spell, your body locked up unable to move. The second thing was the sword he clutched in a clawed hand. The long Katanna was about as long as half your size and it could easily cut you down in an instant. And that's what really kept you from moving from your spot. Intensely, the both of you stared at each other for a moment, before he opened his mouth revealing a mouthful of fangs and you flinched before he clattered them together in a rapid session to make the same clattering noise you heard before his face changed to look like he was straining his cheeks and a small shrill-grunt sound left the man-..monster?...The thing. And he tilted his head expectantly at you. You just continued to stare at it wide eyed, and it-...it-

Rolled it's eyes and grunted??...

What-

"Not fluent in that, huh?" Your mind blank....What- "Figures you wouldn't be." He scoffed with another eye roll before bringing up his sword to inspect. And he scowled at the blood on it. It would have to be cleaned and polished later. "Disgusting pigs!" He harshly gave the blade one harsh shake to knock what droplet he could off, twirled it around with a wrist movement and aimed the blade to be returned to the sheath covered by his cloak. "So did I cut you or what?"

You could only let your bottom lip quiver in response as you made some kind of squeak noise making him sigh in annoyance.

"You gonna make me repeat myself? You humans are pathetic." You finally seemed to regain some sense as he scowled at you. "Hey, Human! Did I cut you or what!?'' You flinched pulling your hands to yourself before frantically shaking your head no making it snort. "Good. Didn't think I did anyways, my skills are too precise for that."

This was-....This must've been a nightmare! An absolute nightmare!! Yes! THAT'S IT!! You fell asleep and with you being slightly paranoid, of COURSE your brain would make you have a crazy nightmare that feels real! Yes that must've been it! You just needed to wake up!! So taking a shaking hand, you pulled it back and slapped yourself across the cheek just hard enough to wake you up which made the thing stare at you like you really HAD gone crazy. 

"The hell? Did that weakling hit your head too hard or something!?"

You hissed hand rubbing your sore cheek. Well...you hadn't woken up...which meant you had to be already awake. "....This h-h-has got to b-b-be a n-nightmare..." You spoke barely above a whisper, not even loud enough for a hound to hear your voice.

"Tch. Unless you ran into Enmu, I highly doubt we're in one," he bluntly answered which made you flinch and look at him again. Did he seriously hear you? "But I've been trailing you this entire time so I know we didn't. Which begs the question." You yelped as he suddenly squatted and pushed his face into yours making it to where you were forced to stare into his angry scowl. "Who the hell are you!? You're not one of the humans brought in from the train! And you don't belong to Douma, you don't have his scent on you." His tail gave an annoyed thrash behind him. "So are you a trespasser or what!?"

"NO!!", you suddenly blurted out in fear of angering the monster more than what he already was. "I-I WAS JUST F-F-FOLLOWING THE MAP IS AL-ALL!!"

A thick brow rose higher, but he hummed. Yes..he had seen you with a map. "You were just following the map?" He asked again and terrified, you nodded making him hum again. "And then let me guess. You accidentally got lost on your way through here?"

You nodded again. "Y-YES!! That's r-r-right! I was!"

"Well why the hell were you not paying attention!? Any human should know once they're sent in that they need to be on the look out for scum like that!" He gestured at the ground like it should've been obvious. You didn't answer at first not wanting to send this creature further into anger and he growled like a dog, annoyed, a hand reaching up to rub his temple. And the silence ensued other than a few mumbles under his breath before he spoke again. "Doesn't matter." The hand moved and he bore back into you. "I only spared your life because I wanted answers, otherwise I would have left you for whatever fucking scum to claim."

And your gut sank again. Panic came right back as you froze. Does that mean he was going to kill you!? No..N-NO!! It couldn't end like this! Not now! Not like this! You had just started out! You never even got to do anything you would've liked! You just-...Got freedom only for it to be taken away by a monster-

"So before I leave your sorry ass, let me see your dowry." 

Silence continued on. He stared at you expectantly. You stared at him silently wide eyed. Nothing answered you except for the wind and creaking branches. ....And then he scowled.

"W-What-"

"Your dowry! Let me see your dowry! What do you have to offer me!?," he practically shouted at your face before giving a grunt of annoyance pointing at your bag. "In there! Gods above! Do I have to repeat everything to you!?"

Dowry?...He wanted a...Dowry? What was he talking about!? You didn't have a dowry! A dowry was a payment for-...Oh wait! Did he want a payment? For sparing you from the other monster?

You slowly rose a brow at him. "You want the-...A return payment?"

"Dowry! Payment! Offering! What ever the hell you people call it! Just give it to me! I know every human in your situation has one to give if they travel through here!"

Oh..Oh...OH!! A payment. It must've been a toll payment of some kind! For traveling through these monsters' apparent home. Maybe that was why the other one attacked you before? Because you didn't appease it with an offering? But-...You had no more money. Whatever spare money you had you used on journey up the mountains. So how were you going to pay him!?...Would he kill you if you didn't pay?! A brief spike of panic passed through you thinking of what you could possibly offer. Perhaps he'd take something other than money? But the only other things you had was two poor spare outfits and some peaches you packed for a later snack! ...Maybe he'd accept food? There have been many ghost stories and fairytales of people leaving offerings of food to appease spirits of all kinds, maybe this was the same!?

"I-...I-I have no money." He seemed to exhale annoyed at your response. "B-B-But I ha-have these!"

He watched intently as your hands reached over, trembling harder than when you forced yourself to work in the winter cold, to your bag and he watched every moment intently, like he was expecting you to suddenly attack at any moment. Instead you reached to your bag, and pulled the top flap back with one hand, in an instant the sweet-sugary scent he'd been following this whole time intensified and you nearly flinched when you saw the way his eyes enlarged like a cat's when they saw a mouse. Instead you ever so slowly reached into the bag and pulled out a peace of cloth tied with a knot at the top, shaped lumpy with some visibly round objects. It was brought up to the monster held out, and his gaze was fully focused on it. 

"H-Here. F-For you." You forced yourself to smile. Perhaps he'd show mercy if you showed kindness?

But he never looked at your face. Your arm froze as the cloth was instantly snatched from your hand and soon found itself within the claws of the monster who didn't waste any time shredding through the cloth instead of just undoing the knot leaving the shreds to slowly float to the ground from his hands and inside amongst the shredded cloth in his hands was three small pieces of fruit. The small heart shaped pieces were cute looking in contrast to the clawed hands that held them, a pretty pink that faded to a yellow-tan color near the bottom. Not a blemish on them, you were surprised they were just still in tack from all the tripping you did earlier. The monster continued to stare at them for the longest time making you the more nervous the longer he just stared at them. What if he didn't like them!? Would you be in danger then- You flinched as a few peach juice droplets splashed against your hands and blinked. The monster had revealed it's mouthful of fangs and bit through half of one peach with one bite, some pieces of the fruit falling to the ground. You could only silently watch as he gave a different reaction from before. He exhaled slowly through his nose and his shoulders visibly relaxed. One more bite made the rest of the fruit disappear into his mouth like he was terribly hungry, then the second one followed the same fate as the first, gone in under a minute in two bites. It was by the third one that he even bothered to look at you again after all this time, where you had remained unmoving too afraid to see what would happen if you dared to bolt away from a monster who had a sword attached to his side. 

After a moment he bothered to hum, arm reaching up to wipe at his mouth before he stood. "Not really a good dowry. Dam pathetic really." Your heart dropped at this. Oh no. Was he not pleased with this? The last peach was tossed up and down in one hand. "The bare fucking minimum of expectations." It was then that you noticed something. Blue eyes carefully rolled over your form studying you like the last monster had done, but there was a different feeling behind it. While the other monster made it feel he was eyeing a piece of delicious meat, this one's studying gaze reminded you of a buyer at the market, carefully examining an object debating whether it'd be worth the money or not. He hummed thoughtfully...and then nodded. "But lucky for you, I'm feeling generous tonight. Hmph! You should be thankful!"

"S-So...Y-You're not going to hurt me?"

"If I wanted to hurt you, I would've struck you down the moment you stepped passed the tree line! Now stand up! We're leaving!"

You blinked.... "Leaving?"

He gestured at the dark. "Would you like me to leave you lost, alone, and in the dead of night where others are sure to find you?" ...he seemed to pause at what he said himself, because he hummed and turned his head upwards. "With how much you stupidly screamed, I don't doubt others are already on their way here now." He growled with a scowl. "The bastards. Fighting like rats over a scrap of meat."

More monsters!? On their way here!? NOW!? "N-NO!" He looked back to you as you forced yourself on wobbling feet to stand before him. You were not about to be left behind with even more monsters on the way (possibly-), and if he was willing to show you the way out, you weren't just going to sit there and let yourself be a sitting duck. "I-I don't want to stay here! P-Please show me the way."

He seemed pleased with your answer because he huffed and one side of his mouth curled up in a smile. "That's more like it. If you're gonna be around me you need to step up your think-"

He didn't get to finish that sentence. In fact...He didn't get to even stand when a large hunk of branch flew past at lightning speed, and slammed right into the demon's side with a sickening crack sound. Wind flew past you from the sheer force of the throw, and the black robed demon was sent flying to the right and into a heap several yards away from where he initially stood. You stood frozen for a moment, the sight being too fast to comprehend what exactly had just happened. Then a horribly familiar voice spoke.

"Hands off the female! She's MY claim!!"

Your head snapped around, and you again shrieked as the insect-eyed demon has returned, hands fully intact and fangs bared towards the sight of another one of his kind as you stumbled back, eyes wide. A creaking sound was herd somewhere behind you followed by a loud thud and a deeper growl that reverberated off the wind and trees as a hiss sound escaped a black mass pushing themselves off the ground with many bone cracks and hissing noises until dangerously blue eyes cut through the dark right at the other. 

"Dammed fools! You dare attack one of the Twele Kizuki!?"

"I couldn't give a dam who you are! I staked my claim first! By law she's mine!"

And with that, he charged. You shrieked and ducked, arms coming to shield your head from the upcoming attack but a black mass lunged faster, knocking the first one back into the trees as the two monsters rolled off. You couldn't take this anymore! Trembling as the horrific sounds of crashing branches, animalistic cries, pained wails, and fighting ensued. This was insane!! And all you could do was stand there frozen like a statue?! A voice in your head rang loud and clear in your mind.

''What am I doing!? Don't just stand there like an idiot!! RUN!!''

You listened to your inner voice, with both monsters distracted by each other for the time being, you turned on your heels and began running again taking the opportunity given to you by the gods. Offer and guide be darned. You didn't care if you got lost this time, you only cared about living. And so through the darkness the abyss had to offer, you again ran. Not which direction you were heading. Not sure who you'd run into or if you got more lost, but you were darned determined to not be eaten tonight by anyone! Not today demons! You only did what you did before. Your feet slapped against the ground which would surely be sore later, but you didn't care. Your f/c eyes darted around for any signs of escape only being shown endless darkness instead. Your arms were partially extended in front of you, to push and swipe down any bush, branches, and other plants in your way as you ran. Stumbling and half tripping over large tree roots and clumps of grass in your wake, but still making good distance. Until the burning in your lungs threatened to make you drop, and this time the roots claiming your feet snagged onto a particularly large root, and down a dark hill you went tumbling.

Your screams of tumbling down from a hill were cut short as it felt like you hit every single root, rock, and hard spot on your way down. Pain exploded everywhere your body made contact with the ground until finally with a final thud, your body fell hard onto soft grass. Knocking the air out of your lungs and you gasping for air on your side. Your body was in pain from everywhere your body hit the ground and you were sure it would leave bruises and scratches later. You coughed and gasped for air, lungs burning but you nearly stopped breathing again when the same animalistic screeches came from the above making your body feel like it was dipped in ice as your heartbeats sore. No. Not more of them. Not again! Adrenaline kicked in now as your body wobbled and felt so light, not to mention hurt, as you forced yourself to stand and start walk-running away, swaying as you still gasped for air but your panicked state didn't care about the pain or anything as you somehow quickly got your balance back and started running through the dark. The sounds and darkness of the forest blocked almost all moonlight as you blindly ran to try and get away from the giant demons, to keep from being eaten. You ran...and ran...and ran blindly in the dark with your hands in front of you. Branches and other plants hitting your legs and face as you did, the sounds of the things behind you disappearing as you kept running. At one point you had the brilliant idea to look behind you to see if anything was following you-

"AH!"

Your foot once again got caught on something. You screamed as your body went tumbling head over heels down a hill in the dark. Your already sore and hurt body becoming even more so as you rolled and rolled and rolled until you finally came to a stop at the bottom of it onto your back, with your body facing the sky. Your vision swam and your head spun as you stared up dizzily at the sky as your vision slowly went around and around and around until it focused. And you gave a cough as your burning lungs heaved against your chest. Your heart feeling as if it'll explode any moment it was beating so fast, you couldn't stop it! You just sat there gasping and panting and clutching your chest. Your brain felt foggy. No...No. Don't black out now! Get up! COME ON GET UP!! Muscles burnt. Barely able to breath. The dirt and grass felt stinging cold and burnt your skin as you turned on your side to weakly lay on your stomach, your face gasping the sweet scent of grasses for a moment as you laid there for a sweet few silent seconds, before you allowed yourself to look up and you stopped..gasping heavily and staring at what was before you in awe.

There standing before you was a house.

Well not just a house. A full mansion!

There before you was the beginnings of a mansion between the trees and flora, it's walls and roof tiles looking dark and menacing in the half dark, half moonlight. The black roof tiles blending almost perfectly within the darkness provided but...why would a mansion be in the middle of a forest full of monsters? But that was a distant thought. The only thought you had was that maybe, just maybe you'd be able to get some help! Maybe there was someone there that could help you! Maybe the home was abandoned and you could hide there until the sun came up and you can see your way out of here! A trembling, desperate hand reached out and dug into the dirt and pulled. A soft scraping sound as the body was dragged across the ground. Another reach. Another drag. Another foot closer. Your body trembled violently with each pull, each tug forward as your tired body-

THUD!!

Until something H E A V Y dropped down behind you and wrapped around your foot. And you screamed despite your burning lungs and you cried out as you lost the feeling of gravity and began ascending up and up into the heavens as a giant hand painfully gripped your leg and brough you up. And you looked down..uh..'Up' from your upside down position, bag barely hanging onto your form and you were horrified yet again to see another monster. You were expecting the insect-eyed demon or maybe the strange blue eyed one that ate your peaches, but no. This one was different. This one...was HUGE!! In every sense of the word. He was easily ten feet tall with short black greasy hair and had a single small horn in the middle of his forehead. He was as fat as he was strong by the way he painfully gripped your leg and looked down at your horrified form. A whimper escaped you as he made some kind of pig grunting noises at you, but you didn't respond to those at all. Too horrified at what was happening to even try to comprehend what was happening. But it seemed the lack of communication didn't matter to the monster who gave a couple deep pig grunting laughs in glee at his catch and held you up higher to him-

BUM! BUM! BUM!!

Went the sounds of your heart against your ribcage, which...oddly enough sounded like drum beats. The monster paused however as you struggled and kicked out at him...and he turned his head towards the direction of the mansion. Almost trance like in his movements as your drum-beats still sounded out.

BUM! BUM! BUM!

And then you reared back your free leg, and as hard as you could, you kicked out and hit the monster right in one of his eyes! The reaction of the monster was instant. A high pitched pig-like squeal screeched out from the lungs of the giant monster for all to hear. His grip on you leg gave, and with a thud you fell back onto the ground in a heap as the monster's two hands flew to clutch at his face. Your head hurt. Your lungs ached. Your muscles begged for a break. You forced yourself to stand. And RAN towards the entrance of the house. Your footsteps thudded against the ground as you ran. The monster behind you calling out in agony before there was a raged screeched and heavy thudding behind you terrified your mind. IT WAS CHASING YOU! You didn't look back. You couldn't afford to. The heavy thudding came closer and closer as you raced across the forest towards the house heart pumping and feet aching, but you still ran. As the heavy footsteps got closer and closer and closer to the point you could feel the ground shaking from the mighty footsteps behind you-

B U M!!

The door to the house opened. Someone was there! Someone would help you!! The hope made your legs strain themselves to go faster against the wind and balled your hands into tighter fists as the grunting got louder and louder. Until with a flying desperate leap, you launched yourself towards the door, a slash of air flying past your head in a desperate grab at you.

And then you disappeared through the open doorway. 

[echantedtoon]

Demon Bride Ch61 Origins

(Warnings: Mentioning of death.)

It seems Kokushibo wouldn't  let up on your traveling schedule. Fine by you. You were just as eager to get answers and return as he did. Even if your mother had passed, you still wished to visit her grave sight. At least once. Kokushibo bargained already with someone else for more food so you both set out again in a direction he pointed out and you followed his direction. The routine of traveling with him by day and letting him carry your sleeping form at night helped you both travel farther and faster. You were concerned about him not getting any rest and told him as much but he insisted on doing so. You remembered Akaza mentioned they could go for long periods without sleep so you supposed he was alright. Slowly there started to be more and more houses and less country side. You had again fallen asleep in Kokushibo's arms but was shaken away shortly afterwards and looked up at him sleepily.

"Awaken...We are here."

You were then placed on your wobbling feet yawning and rubbing at your face. It was still night judging by how dark it was. You blinked and blinked around you...and your eyes widened.

THE AREA WAS HUGE!! YOU'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE!!

BRIGHT LIGHTS WERE EVERYWHERE!! It nearly blinded you by the amount of lanterns and lights glowed warmly against the sky, when you looked up it was almost completely night again. The sun was just setting giving a small bit of light left. But that wasn't the most shocking bit. PEOPLE WERE EVERYWHERE!! TONS OF THEM!! All human too. Walking around, shouting at one another, talking loudly, and sometimes carrying objects like bags and boxes. The murmuring of voices together was loud enough to be a buzz like that of a bee hive. It rattled your head in a way that was unpleasant and new. You hissed and yelped as a strong arm pulled you against Kaigaku's side as a swarm of people ascended to board the train as fast as possible. It took a moment but you realized that you all were standing on the platform of a train station. The buildings surrounding the people were bigger than any of the ones back in your village. Two or three stories each. At the base of said houses were small stalls and wagons the tons of people swarmed but you couldn't see what they were about, there were too many different faces. It was dizzying. It reminded you of a slightly less crowded area of the Entertainment District. Eventually after you were looking around you looked back to Kokushibo.

"Right. Where do we go from here?"

He hummed before looking around. "...We should locate Asakusa's undertaker...If Tamayo had passed here...then there should be a record of her death...and burial there... That would be the fastest route."

You nodded. "That's a great idea. Ok. Let's go find that undertaker."

So you two set off for the local undertaker. It took nearly three hours for you both to find him walking around and asking directions until you both gotten to a gloomy building and finding a strange man in black robes inside. He looked to be in the middle of carving a headstone for a customer when you two walked in and explained exactly what you were there for. Only to be given devastating news. 

"If you're looking for records from twenty something years ago then I'm afraid your out of luck. The old building caught fire five years ago and any records before the fire was burnt to nothing but ashes."

"WHAT?!" You stared gobsmacked at him. "You mean you can't tell me anything?!"

He shook his head. "I'm sorry. But even if there was records of her here, I wouldn't be able to tell you anything. My apologies and condolences to your loss."

That's how you both ended up sitting outside a kimono shop a little aways from the undertakers building. A dead end. Possibly quite literally. What could you do now? There's nothing you could do now-

"There is nothing left...for us to do now..." Kokushibo spoke after he had handed over an apple for you to eat. "The undertaker..was a loss and anyone...old enough to remember someone..as impressionable as her claim they remember no one ...like her. It is most...likely she has passed away..and the records were burnt..in that fire.."

"I know but..." you threw your hands up. "I was really hoping to get something out of this."

"And you did..You finally learnt the truth... Perhaps not everything you would...like to know but you now know a lot..more of your origins."

you nodded with a sigh. "I suppose you're right...but where do we go from here?"

"Home." He turned but gave you a serious look. "I will be getting a few...supplies for our long trip back..Remain here while until I return."

You nodded at him and watched as the tall demon turned and began walking off leaving you there alone with the throngs of people walking around. Just you and your thoughts. And your disappointment for what you wanted to do. Everything always felt like a dead end and never finished didn't it? Just another thing you had to deal wit-

Meow!

You joked up feeling something furry wriggle against your arm. On instinct you pulled your arm away quickly and looked down...only to blink seeing a small orange and white kitty cat staring up at you. It purred loudly before tilting it's head at you and loudly meowing...You immediately calmed down with a sigh.

"Hello, kitty." You reached out and it happily let you pet it. "You're a pretty little kitty cat. I wonder where you came fro- HEY!!" 

Without a warning, the cat suddenly leapt into you climbing onto your shoulders climbing onto your head. Something gave away as your hair fell down your shoulders, the cat jumped off and ran a few feet away, it looked back at you with your hairpin in it's mouth, and then ran off. You blinked a hand grabbing you head... before you jumped to your feet dropping your apple. 

"HEY! That's my hair pin! Give it back!"

You then gave chase. The cat ran away from you as you ran after it shouting for it to stop and give back your hair pin but it didn't. Only running faster. Thanks to your new heightened senses and speed and stamina, you were easily able to keep up with the cat and keep track of it weaving through the people. But the crowds of people awere making it impossible for you to actually get close to it. Street after street you both crossed as you weaved through the crowds until it turned a hard right down and alley way and you followed. It ran out the other side across the street, and right to a building. You stopped in the middle of the road panting and heaving for breath. The cat stared at you from the front of the building before hoping onto an open window next to the door and climbing inside. You gotta be kidding yourself. With a groan you made your way across the street and up to the front. It... looked like some kind of store but you couldn't tell what kind. You couldn't even tell if it was open. The lights were still on so you assumed it was. With a weary hand on the doorknob, you turned it and pushed the door wide open.

It creaked open with a loud cream sound and you slowly stepped inside. The first thing you smelt was the strong scent of..paint?? Blinking you looked around and widened at the sight of paints. A giant shelf of paints lined the back wall and scattered about the place was a few canvases of many sizes, a table with scattered paint brushes, and next to the table was a giant blank canvas set up in front of a chair and ready for someone to paint on. To the left corner of the room was a doorway covered by a curtain leading further into the building. No signs of anyone or the cat. Cautiously you stepped further inside, turned, and stopped.

A single large painting hung on the wall right next to the door. You stared up at the beautiful lavender eyes of the woman staring back at you. And you couldn't look away. Only noting how BEAUTIFUL she was. Her beautiful soft features smiled at you from her pose holding a bouquet of mixed flowers in front of a pretty landscape. Raven black hair tied up in a bun and held by a hairpin. It looked so realistic. As if it would move any moment. As if she could reach out and touch you.. Without thinking you reached out a hand to it-

"Our shop is closed." You jumped with a gasp, turning your head around. You were met with a middle aged man with green-black hair and purple eyes. He was carefully setting down a few canvases in order from biggest to smallest. "If you wish to have something or yourself painted, you'll have to come back tomorrow morning and make an appointment like everyone else, Girl."

You blinked at him for a moment before bowing your head. "I'm so sorry for intruding like this! But it was an emergency.''

"Do you need the doctor? She's asleep right now but I can wake her up if it's that important," he said still not looking up from his work.

You looked back up to him. "Um. No. I was actually chasing a cat. It took my hair pin and climbed in through your window."

At this the man scoffed. "Chuchumaru would never do such a stupid thing." He finally turned to you. "He might be a cat but he's not-" 

He froze the moment he saw you. The canvas he held dropping from his hands and clattering to the ground. You blinked at the action staring back at him he stared at you.. before his eyes slowly looked at the painting up at the wall behind. His eyes widening further before looking back at you slower. 

"It can't be..." He mumbled staring at you like you were a ghost. "...Y/n."

This time it was your turn to blink eyes widening in surprise. "That's right..But how do you know my name? I only just met you."

He said nothing at first. Just staring at you blankly, almost as if he was about to cry, before he straightened up and returned his arms to his sides. "...Why have you come here?"

You rose a brow. "I just told you. Your cat took my hair pin."

"NO!" He said firmer making you blink as he frowned and pointed at you. "What are you doing here in this town!?" He practically demanded.

This time it was your turn to scowl. "Why should I tell you?! You didn't even answer my question! How do you know my name when I didn't tell you anything?!"

"Answer mine first and then I'll answer yours!!"

"OH FOR THE LOVE OF- IM LOOKING FOR MY PARENTS!!" You shouted at him making him flinch as you pointed back at him. "The last I heard of them was that my mother died in this town! Now are you going to answer my question or not!?"

He only stared at you more. "What is your full name?"

"Y/n Tamayo."

His eyes widened again before he quickly calmed himself and turned. "Follow me." He said before walking away towards the door and disappeared on the other side flapping the curtain.

You stared at where he was... before quickly following. The curtains pushed aside to reveal a flight of stairs and you saw the back of the man disappear at the top. Blinking you quickly followed him up the stairs and got to the top revealing a hallway. The man gone but a single room open. You heard quick mumbled voices from inside so you quickly approached and stopped in the doorway. You stared wide eyed at what you saw. Inside was a woman. The SAME woman from the painting downstairs only an older version of her with wrinkles under eyes and looking tired from just being woken up by the man kneeled next to her. She looked bewildered but ended up staring in shock at you the same way the man before did previously and...That was it. You three just stared at one another for a long silent moment before she softly smiled at you.

"I suppose I always knew this day would come. Hello my dear." She smiled wider. "You have Yushiro's eyes."

"Please. She looks more like you than me. I'm glad she does." He looked at you. "Although I should answer your question as promised. I recognized your name because I was the one who picked it out. Y/n.." his hand grabbed the lady's hands. "We are your parents. I suppose the dosage of human antidote wasn't strong enough to make you human permanently like us. Oh well..I suppose you would've seemed us out sooner or later."

Your face paled.  Parents. Your parents. These were your parents! That was Tamayo! You finally found them! They weren't dead! So...why didn't you..feel anything? You felt numb. Just staring at these two people who looked so calm and even happy to see you as you only stood there numbly staring... before you slowly frowned. Hands balling into fists at your sides.

"Why?" They both blinked at your words and sudden anger. "I spent so much time in confusion and misery and that's all you have to say to me? Not a sorry? Or even a bit of remorse for what you've done?...Why?" You stared at them harder. "WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME AT THAT DAM VILLAGE KNOWING FULL WELL I'D BE DIFFERENT!?"

"We just wanted you to have a normal life. Just like every other girl your age. We wanted to give you the best life you could've had." He spoke with such a matter of fact tone, like you should already know this and be grateful on top of it, so bluntly. "You grew up out of danger. You had every chance at a good life."

"The...THE BEST LIFE I COULD'VE HAD?! ARE YOU BOTH SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!" Anger bubbled to the surface as you just stared at the man whom just stared at you with the same unchanging expression. The woman in the futon stared. "Do either of you two know the HELL you put me through?! I NEVER HAD A 'GOOD LIFE'!!" Your entire life up until months ago had been an entire lie, and nobody had ever bothered to even consider how you would ever feel about it. "From the very moment I could remember things, I never had a good life!! Do you want to know what my life has been like for me?!"

You stared past your father looking your 'mother' directly in the eyes with the most burning scowl your body could produce from the pain and anger flowing through you. She did not react.

"For YEARS I felt trapped in! I thought my family was DEAD!! That woman you left me with worked me to the bone to pay off her debt and then left me to clean up her family's mess!!" A hand struck your chest. "Ever since I was a child, I had to work for EVERYTHING and it was NEVER for me!! I spent YEARS working in poverty on a farm, taking orders from and caring for someone who only saw me as a means to get out of her own troubles, and working countless days and nights doing backbreaking work just to pay off a debt that wasn't even mine!! And that stupid old man was in on it!!!" Neither reacted when you pointed at them. Why didn't they react?! Why were they just standing there watching as your eyes began to sting with hot salty tears. "I spent so much time worrying about work and others I was never able to make any friends! I spent countless days and nights going hungry because I couldn't afford food or didn't have any time to grow any. I spent YEARS getting soaked by leaky roofs and shivering from cold drafts because I couldn't ever afford to fix the simple house I grew up in!! And do you know what?! I was almost married off to someone who literally HATED me because that dam old man wanted to keep me in the village forever!!! I almost was forced into a worse life than before and nobody CARED to think about what I wanted!! I LITERALLY HAD TO RUN AWAY AND LIE IN ORDER TO NOT END UP A SOMEONE'S HOUSE SERVANT!!! DO YOU KNOW DEGRADING THAT WAS FOR ME?! AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT TO FIND OUT EVERYTHING WAS A LIE AND PLAN TO CONTROL MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!" Your arms finally plopped to your sides. "Does that mean anything to you? To either of you!' "It was...to dangerous for us to raise you ourselves. If we were ever caught or Muzans decided to betray the agreement to not go past, the Eastern Mountain then you could've been killed." "Yeah?! Well that didn't happen?! Now DID it?!" The man flinched when you jabbed his chest with a force he wasn't expecting you to have. "YOU got yourself a high paying job as a painter and he's a wealthy doctor!!" Your arms flung at the woman still staring. "You two had one of the best lives in the world and never bothered to even check on me because you assumed I was in a good place trying to protect me from so called dangers that never even existed AND you even had the gull to strip me of my own powers!! IT TOOK ME ALMOST GETTING MARRIED TO COUNTLESS DEMONS AND GOING THROUGH MULTIPLE MISUNDERSTANDINGS JUST TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH!!! AND YOU HAVE GULL TO STILL ACT LIKE YOU DID NOTHING WRONG?!" You wanted to smack that look off his face. "YOU'RE THE WORST FUCKING FATHER IN THE WORLD AND SHE'S JUST AS HORRIBLE FOR COMING UP WITH THAT PLAN FOR ME?!" There was silence as the man just stared at you unable to form a sentence to say. But you both looked behind him at the sounds of rustling sheets. Blankets fell to the ground. The woman had stood up and you were finally able to see her fully. She was INDEED human. And she was certainly getting up in age. Maybe almost fifty physically with silver hair already starting to show in her hair and wrinkles appearing on her face. Despite all that however she was still admittedly beautiful. You couldn't deny that. But you could deny it when her hands reached out to you with a few steps back. "I don't want you to touch me. I don't want or need or comfort or pity." They both just ended up staring at you again. "You know...You both really hurt me in a way you'll never understand. Maybe you did have good intentions but it was hell for me! Your past may have left you scarred in ways I couldn't even imagine but that wasn't an excuse for what my future became! You could've checked on me ONCE! You could have written to me JUST ONCE IN MY LIFE!!....I would've just been happy with once. Now?... I'm going to decide what to do with my own life! I'm going to accept myself for who and WHAT I am. And I don't CARE how you two or anyone else feels about it." Your feet took another step back. "And my first decision is going home to my son."

Both shock and surprise graced their features. "You....You have a-a son?!"

"That's right. Every day he gets so big that one day Im scared he's going to tip me over when he hugs me but that's ok. He can hug me as much as he wants because I'm going to let him know his mother loves him so much. And I'm going to give him everything he needs to grow up to be a strong man. A man who knows his mother loves him, and will always be there for him. And I'll give him things he doesn't need too just because I can. I'll let him make his own mistakes and learn his own lessons even if they're hard life lessons. But I won't let him walk through it feeling like he doesn't have someone to help him."

You turned and began walking away. Not bothering to even look back at the two demons turned human watching you exit. You didn't need them. You had a small family back home, and right now you had a son you wanted to see. You turned to leave but was stopped by an arm grabbing yours. Snapping around you saw the face of the woman. The face of Tamayo, now human and aging, she stared at you as you stared back at her.

"Please come back to see us?," she asked in a soft, gentle voice. "I'm so sorry for everything. There will always be a place for you here. With us."

You stared at her before scowling and removing your hand from hers. "I'll have to think about it...I'm leaving now."

Neither of them said anything as you just turned and walked out quickly. The bell rang above you as you quickly left the building past all the paintings and back into the night and crowd of people. Letting tears stream down your face as you cried and reached a sleeve up to whip up your tears and pink puffy eyes. You knew everything now. You'd finally gotten all the answers...but it still made your heart hurt. Kokushibo was right when he told you that the truth would hurt. You continued to walk fast, distancing yourself away from the painter's studio and just walking and wiping at your face not paying attention to your surroundings until you ran right into something hard. Face first you ran into someone powerful and taller, making your pink eyes blink as you stumbled back a few steps. Blinking as you stared at a checkered black and purple coat, and looked up at a calm but disappointed face.

"I told you to stay...near the dress shop...Did I not? You deliberately ran off."

You stared at him for a long moment before looking at your feet deflated. ". I-I...I-Im sorry." You barely managed to whisper out of your tight throat.

He knew from the moment he sensed your presence again that you were anything but happy. "Did you...find what you were seeking?"

No matter how upset you were..You wouldn't rat out someone else who tried to escape in a similar way you did. You nodded your head yes still not looking at him. "Yes....I f-found my m-mother's gr-grave..."

He hummed at you. "So the rumors...were true....I am sorry." An arm wrapped around your shoulders and gently pulled you close. "Come...We should head back now...we will take the train halfway...back to the  Infinity Castle and walk..the rest of the way."

"I want to go home," you confirmed softly.

His only response was to move you back up the street towards the train station and held you close to his body. A small comfort that you forever appreciated.

"Where's Mother?"

"I already told you two days ago, they're on their way back. Just like the time before that you asked. Now finish your homework?"

Akaza sighed as he sat in the center of three children. It wasn't easy being a single guardian to three boys AND run an entire race and a few human provinces for days on end. He only hoped Kokushibo and Y/n would return soon to help him with his workload. It was at that moment that the sliding door opened and all looked up and stared wide eyed as a woman slowly stepped through the door.

"MOTHER!!" 

Three little boys dropped what books they were holding in favor of running up to your form and hugged you tightly as you smiled tiredly from days of travel. You breathed a sigh of relief after so much so soon and were relieved to finally get home.

"I'm home."

[echantedtoon]

Demon Bride Ch57 Demon's Are Strange P3

(WARNINGS!!: Douma IS his own warning. Possibly some innuendos. Mentioning of him being poisoned. Mentions of Douma's backstory and what he went through as a result. Mentioning of murder and self-murder of Douma's parents. Douma gets a really bad fever and nearly gets worse from it.

To answer a few questions about the Tokito twins relationship with Kokushibo, in this particular au/timeline, most of the Twins backstory IS cannon but a few details are moved around. Their mother still passed away from her illness but instead of getting sick when they were 10, she got sick and passed away by the time the twins were both 5 yrs old. Their father still cannonically died as he did in cannon, by attempting to get his wife the herbs she needed.

In this timeline, Kokushibo kept track of his and Yorichii's family tree. However as Yorichii's child died unmarried and without any children, he mainly kept tabs on his own bloodline which ended (for now) with both twins. Kokushibo found out through a few humans about the death of the twins' parents but as they weren't in Muzan's Territories he needed special permission to interact with them.  By the age of 6 both twins were essentially adopted by Great Something Grandpa Kokushibo as he saw potential in them, and by age seven he started training them in the ways of sword fighting as he had done with Kaigaku before them in between his other duties to Muzan. When both Twins were 9 Kokushibo thought it was best for him to retrieve the twins and bring them both back to live with him instead of going back and forth constantly.

That's when he met Y/n on his way to retrieve the twins, two years before the events of chapter one. Kokushibo only just recently brought them to live in the Dwell to be looked after along with the other Kizuki's family. Kokushibo absolutely remembers his past interactions with Y/n and part of his intentions of bringing the twins is to have them imprint of Y/n and vise versa for the sole purpose of giving the twins some sense of a family unit.)

"I'm so happy that you agreed to spend time with me again! "

"As long as you don't start calling me your wife again. How are you feeling? It's been a few days since you were..."

"Poisoned? It's alright. You can say it. Won't change anything. But it's nice you asked! My body is already feeling better! My coughing fits have already stopped sometime last night."

You sat across from Douma and nodded at him. You had visited him again and brought him a few new books to replace the few you'd given him to read. Apparently he was a very fast reader when left alone with nothing to do and you weren't there to be his entertainment. Surprisingly he chattered a lot though. 

"That's good." You nodded at him. "Have you been eating and drinking enough water? Getting enough sleep?"

He nodded to everything you said. "Yes! I've eaten everything you've given me. You're a very good friend!"

This is how 'courting' with Douma has been. Not only were you playing sitter with him whenever the boys weren't around  but Akaza would often be heard either just outside the doorway or hovering down the hallway which often lead to Douma calling out to him which would then lead into an argument until you put your foot down and FIRMLY told Akaza he couldn't be bothering you or him while you helped or was court by Douma. Akaza seemed hurt but you would make it up by promising he could court you right after you were finished with Douma. Which was usually just you both lazing about in between you helping Douma or after he brought the children home. Which usually included small gifts of flowers or kind gestures of hugs or holding your hands....After he asked permission to hold said hands. It was complicated going back and forth between two constantly courting demons,  taking care of Douma, now THREE children, and keeping Akaza and Douma from fighting.

The children were  a whole different deal all together. There was obviously the fact that Muichiro seemed to be thrilled at the idea of you being a potential mother, Yuichiro didn't say much honestly and seemed more annoyed by everything than anything else, and Rui was going back and forth between excitement that Akaza was finally spending so much time with him and the prospect of having the two twins as brothers. Sharing his toys and constantly trying to get Yuichiro to take what toys he shoved into his stubborn hands to play with. Which led to a few small fights either you or Akaza had to stop. Children. Sigh. You even stumbled into the twins huddled around Rui who...had your courting gifts??

"What are you boys doing with those?" All three looked at you. "Those were given to me by my courters. You can't just take them without permission.''

"Oh it's ok, Mother," Rui said waving a hand at you. "We're helping you choose which ones will be our dads!"

You blanked staring at the three. ".... Excuse me?"

Rui pointed at the three groups of objects on the ground, the objects that your 'fiances' had gifted you to start courting you. "This is the pile of dads we want." Rui pointed at a small group of Akaza's anklet, Kokushibo's white sash belt, and Gyutaro's cloth. "Scary Dad can get us lots of stuff by just yelling. AND HE COMES WITH AUNT DAKI THAT SPOILS US! And of course Father and Father 2 are here. Father is the best Father and Father two is powerful and gives me brothers."

"What about Mr. Douma?," Muichiro said curiously holding up a Golden fan. "He always seems really nice."

"Are you mad?" Yuichiro frowned at him and harshly yanked the fan from his twins' hand. "He's a no good womanizer! And he gives me a bad feeling every time I see him! He's going in the definite no pile!" He then threw the fan in a second pile that had an empty bottle of medicine Enmu left you, Karaku's fan, and Urogi's feather. "I'll never have him as a father!"

You just stared as the three discussed father's before pointing out a third pile in the middle made up of two objects. Sekido's golden hoop and Aizetsu's blue rope. "And...that pile?"

"That's the 'maybe' pile!," Rui explained as he pointed at them. "They're both annoying and I still hate them for attacking me...But one gave me a puppy and blue eyed one is tolerable. If you marry one of them then we would also get a grandfather and uncle. We just haven't decided yet." You then watched as Rui picked up two items. Kyogai's drum and Kaigaku's necklace. He placed them in the 'definitely' pile. "The drum man is a good father too, and Kaigaku has proven to be a good provider and protector. So I'll allow them to also join as my fathers."

"You mean Kaigaku?" Yuichiro scoffed again and crossed his arms. "His egos almost as big as his fat head! His attitude is spoiled and stubborn too!!....But Kyogai is fine. He always likes to tell stories."

"I like Mr. Kyogai too! Don't think of Kaigaku like that. He can just teach us how to be samurai when Sensai Kokushibo isn't around!"

"....Boys. Just...Put those back on the shelf. Now."

But enough about that. Now in the present you were just sitting there with Douma and just watching as he babbled senselessly and hold up a book. 

"Oh how sweet art thine eyes compared iddly to the morning summer morning dew drops as they traverse across the softest of green grasses only to drip and kiss the earth with thy gently drizzle droplets.~" he sighed and pressed a hand onto his chest. "Such poetry is made to be shared with the most beautiful of company.~" He then gave you a wolfish grin eyes half lidded and winked. 

You rolled your eyes. "Psh. What a cheap flirt. It'll take more than that to get me to fall for you. Although I'm glad we're talking normally. It's a nice change of pace."

"Oh? Well then I'll be sure to keep that in mind when we meet again for lunch tomorrow."

"Can't." He hummed and tilted his head. "I'm spending time with Akaza tomorrow. We're taking the boys and Zohakuten to spend a day outside. It'll be good for them to get outside and get some fresh air."

"Oh...Fresh air will be good for me too! Nakime can just teleport me outside and back in!"

"No. That wouldn't be fair to Akaza. He needs some of his own space to court me away from you. Don't worry about it. I already arranged something with Kokushibo so you're taken cared of while I'm gone." With one hand you reached out to pat his cheek... before pausing gazing at his face...before pressing your palm fully against his cheek.

"Oh darling.~" He cooed before reaching a hand up and grabbing your hand. "You do not have to pretend to be so formal-"

"I'm not being affectionate." You pulled your hand away before plopping it back onto his forehead and furrowing your brows. "You're warm...Are you running a fever?"

"Oh I'm fiiiiinne. It's sweet you care though." 

You frowned looking at him.. before sighing and removing your hand away from him. "Well I thought we agreed to not lie to each other again. You have bags under your eyes,so you might be telling the truth about eating and sleeping enough but you haven't been sleeping well. Have you been staying up reading these books?"

"Reading yes! Books? No." He held up a hand. "I've been doing my duties from here and answering my fateful worshippers letters!"

You blinked looking at him. "What?" 

"Of course! I've sent word to my compound to send me any worries to me by letter. I will guide them to paradise by writing and in spirit if I cannot in person."

You just stared at him. ".... Exactly how many letter do you get?!"

He hummed in thought. "...I cannot remember the exact amount. They're usually delivered very late in the day when you leave because it takes so long for them to get here. I make sure to answer them swiftly to deliver the best results."

You slowly nodded. "Yes...I can understand that. Tell me more about that poetry you were reading."

You made it a point that night to speak to Akaza and convince him to stop anymore mail from being handed over to Douma and be held from him until he recovered. You would deal with Douma's whiny aftermath when you get back from spending time with Akaza and the children. Finally have a peaceful, normal day-

"I don't see how you were able to think of such a disgraceful idea!" 

You gave Zohakuten a deadpanned look as Akaza just packed up a giant basket of food to take along. It was his idea to turn the entire trip into a picnic for the children, but he turned around and gave the moody teenager a frown as he kept complaining.

"I got your father's permission to have a picnic there. As long as we don't destroy any of the cherry blossoms and clean up after ourselves there's no problem. And you all need a chance to get some real sunlight and a break from studying and training. You children need a time to play as children. I've already told Kokushibo I'm taking all of you whether he likes it or not."

Zohakuten looked at you wide eyed. "...You are really pushing your luck with him. I'm surprised that he hasn't loped your head off for disobedience yet. And that grove is a sacred place to my family!"

"Well tough. And if Kokushibo wants me to take care of them then I'll do it the same way I care for Rui. If he has a problem with it then he should speak up."

Zohakuten only still stared in disbelief as Akaza chuckled and picked up the basket. "Well I for one agree. If he has any complaints then he'll make it known to her later, and the reason we're going to that place in particular is because we know it's safe. Right now SAFETY is the number one priority not technicalities." Akaza then pointed at him. "If I were you, I'd be a little more grateful to her considering she stuck her neck out to give you another chance to be a Kizuki. So start shaping up that attitude like Kokushibo said or else you'll lose it again." Zohakuten looked at him for a moment before looking away quickly. "An apology would be a good start, Young man."

"Apologies are weak. Vulnerability leads to weakness and weakness leads to your power being taken from you."

"There's strength in feelings. Whether they be rage or something more gentle. I've learnt that thanks to a very special person. Now apologize before I force it out of you."

Zohakuten snapped to Akaza..and quickly remembered his place when Upper Moon Three turned the same look he's given Sekido and Karaku he attacked them at him...and he quickly turned his head back to you. "Apologies. I'll....control my tongue better around my company.'' He said through gritted fangs and looking like he'd love to punch Akaza in the face. 

"It's alright. Just try to do better from now on. Are you doing better in your studies?"

"I have to. Father is making me study whenever I'm not elsewhere."

"Well that's all Kokushibo wants. He wants you to improve yourself and do better. That's why he gave your brothers a second chance." You patted him on the shoulder with a smile that made him blink at you. "Study hard, work on yourself a little more, and you'll be alright. Just remember to take a break for yourself too every while."

He continued to stare until he turned his head away with a huff. "Fine. I suppose I should honor your brave act but don't think I'll be soft."

"I don't expect you to."

"Now that's all settled, let's go get going. That sun isn't going to stay out all day and I'd rather go and get back before sundown."

Akaza outstretched his arm to you before picking up said basket and of course you obliged. What a gentleman. You accepted his arm much to his happiness and soon three little children toddled up instantly to you both and the grumpy teenager. Akaza had already arranged things with Nakime so you were already expecting it when a blue tipped hand reached out, grabbed the door, and pulled it open. Three little pairs of eyes widened as the sunlight filtered in and a gentle breeze blew a flurry of pink petals over their body. The sight of cherry blossoms and a beautiful small creek filled their eyes before they looked at one another....

"Last one to the stream has to eat their vegetables!!" Rui was first to run out making the twins blink.

"HEY!!" "That's not fair! We weren't ready!"

Both twins raced after Rui and Zohakuten grumbled stomping out after them. "YOU BETTER NOT HARM ANYTHING HERE YOU HEAR ME?!" 

Akaza sighed and you patted his arm as if to say 'welcome to parenthood' and together you both crossed the threshold. Breathing in fresh air and the sweet aromas of the flowers, and feeling real sunlight on your skin. This would be a long overdue experience for everyone here. 

*********************************************************************************

"What's going on here?!"

It had been a whole day since you last saw Douma. One whole day and night. Twenty four hours. And yet when you woke up it was to Rui complaining about so many people coming inside the Dwell and the background noise of people talking. You just opened the door and found a MASSIVE line of demons standing there starting from Douma's room and disappearing around the corner, and these people weren't servants. You also found Akaza standing there also looking very puzzled at the sight and had looked at you when you spoke up.

"I have no idea. I've never seen these people before."

You looked at him before at the many pairs of eyes staring at you. "Alright. Then I'll go to the source." You frowned before pushing past Akaza and the people closest to the door and grabbed the door leading inside Douma's room. Throwing it open and looking inside. ".....What the HELL are you doing?!"

You had walked in on Douma sitting there in the same comfy set up, only there was a demon couple there sitting on their knees in front of him but all of them had looked up when you just threw the door open. 

"Oh hello, Darling!" Douma smiled and waved at you. "You just walked in on my daily visits. This young couple was just telling me about their wishes for a son! I suppose after seven daughters you'd want one of those.''

You... slowly blinked. "That still doesn't explain what the hell you're doing!!"

"Oh. Daily sermons from myself to the gods! I told you people come to me constantly seeking my guidance. For some reason my letters stopped so I agreed to in person visits. It does get rather lonely by myself."

".....ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! YOU'RE HAVING CULT VISITS AT FOUR IM THE MORNKNG!? I JUST...UGH!!!" You threw up your arms before you pointed at the two demons. "You two! Out! Now!" You then pointed at the door.

"What?! But what about our son-"

"O U T!!," a loud snarl escaped your mouth with a snap of fangs that Akaza would've been proud of.  eventually the  two left with you stomping your feet close behind them as the woman pulled her husband out by the arm. "OOOOOUUUUUTTT!!! OUT OUT OUT!! GET OUT!! AND STAY OUT!!" You poked your head out the doorway and glared at everyone muttering and staring at you. "FROM THIS POINT ONWARDS THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYMORE VISITS!! AKAZA GET ALL THESE PEOPLE OUT OF HERE!! AND THAT'S FINAL!!"

SLAM!! 

There was a murdering uproar from the annoyed group outside but you just slammed the door in their faces and stayed there for a moment hearing Akaza yell out above the crowd and telling them all to get going. You have a long sigh just standing there and mumbling curses.

"That wasn't very nice. I still had to help them you know."

"Are you kidding me?" You turned tired eyes on Douma as he sat there. "It's four a.m. in the morning, people are sleeping, and you decided to have a side business inviting people in here!" You fully turned to him as the sounds of the crowd started to shift down the hall muffled by the walls. "What were you thinking?!"

"Oh. Well I wanted to continue my duties-"

"NOT WHEN YOU'RE SICK!!" You threw your arms at him looking him over. "Look at you! You look worse than you did when I last sat you! You're not getting sleep, you're pale with eye bags the size of apples, and you keep making stupid decisions like this! Are you trying to make my life difficult at this point?!"

"Oh no. I'm trying to help IMPROVE everyone's lives in fact! If you want I can also improve yours!"

You ended up dragging your hands down your face ... before just stomping towards him. Douma blinked as two hands firmly grabbed his shoulders. "YOU!!" You harshly shoved him back down in the pile of comfy pillows. "Go to bed! NOW!! I'm going back to sleep, and in the morning I'm having a healer come look at you." A hand poked his chest as he rose his brows in amusement. "And absolutely, positively NO more working! No more visitors! No more mail! No nothing! You need rest! And sleep!  Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?!"

"Clearly!" He nodded happily. "But I do have one question?"

"What?"

"Do I get a good night kiss?~"

"Ugh!" You pulled away from him and sat down on the floor rubbing your temples. "Why do you always do that?"

"I've done it since I was a young child." You looked at Douma deadpanned. He's always been this annoying as a child? Doubtful. But then again this WAS Douma you were talking about. "I've heard people's problems and troubling thoughts, and helped them out as best as I could."

You rolled your eyes at first...but the longer what he said lingered the more it really sunk in what he just actually said to you. Making you slowly look back at him. "Wait...What did you just say?"

"I've always helped people in need since I was a young boy. You see I've always had such a talent for it. My parents noticed it the moment I was born with such divine features. I was born to be a leader." He pressed a hand to his chest and smiled widely at you. "Oh yes. Many a human and demon alike gathered around to ask for the gods blessings through me, even if I don't personally believe such things I make it my duty to guide others."

You stared at him for a long, long moment. "...And..your parents don't see a problem with you just doing that? What do they say when you disregard your health like this just to tend to other people's useless desires?! That man wanted a son out of you, but you couldn't possibly make his wife bare a son!"

"I have no idea what they were saying now." He shrugged. "Unfortunately my father wasn't a very  moral man, quite the many affairs he had. Perhaps that's what drove my mother to take both of their lives." You continued to stare numbly as he hummed again at the memory. "The mess they left behind was so terrible. It took my poor servants hours to clean everything up and air out the room. I cried for them as I should've."

"You.... didn't..." You continued to stare at him. His expression even as he looked at you and smiled did not change. Not when he spoke of death. Not when he spoke of hope. Emptiness glossed over my clever masks and pretty faces.

"I didn't what, Dear?"

You didn't feel.

You didn't answer. Standing up abruptly to leave as a new spike of fear came over you. Reminded of that fact as those empty orbs followed you with a tilt of his head. Douma was a dangerous man. You should keep that in mind going forward. But at the same time...He never really put you in any outright danger. Just the opposite. He went out of his way to try and get you out of harm's way by messing with your letter to Sakura and personally visiting her, even almost killing her at one point. You saw the clear shifts in his body language when speaking to her. 

But was he doing that for you or for Daki whom it seemed he almost had some kind of fatherly or brotherly bond with?

You noticed that whenever you got him to speak of either siblings he would actually spark a tiny bit of interest in his eyes but it wasn't happiness. It was more of a fondness like how someone would have a fondness for a book or a song. But that was it. There wasn't really much else despite how much of how we'll be pretended on the outside.

"Nothing. I just don't have enough sleep. Go to sleep now. No more visitors and no more mail until you get better. I'm going back to bed."

He blinked as you silently left but smiled and waved anyways. "Alright then. Good night, Darling."

You did sleep well for the rest of that night. And as a result you were grumpy all day yesterday as you sent for a healer to come to check over Douma. By now it had been two weeks since he last gotten poisoned and he was a bit better. The purple veins on his body had already shrunk in size and he was able to feel again in his legs and even move them, but the other symptoms like the lightheadedness and feeling weak were still very much present. You couldn't get a healer to come see Douma until three days after you sent for one. I'm the meantime you made sure he ate and drank enough but he was still having trouble sleeping. You couldn't understand why other than he said he felt hot, but every time you felt his forehead he didn't feel very warm. You needed that healer and finally you got one. It wasn't Enmu, but an older man decked out in gloves and a mask. Thank the gods. Douma made no objections to the doctor's examination and the results should've relieved you.

"He has a normal temperature and other than his lack of sleep, you have nothing to worry about. I would recommend he tries to sleep in a different position and keep up his regular eating habits until the wysteria fully leaves his system."

Like said, that should've relieved you but it didn't. Douma seemed to be getting worse and worse by the day despite his body getting better and better. He stopped waking you up by yelling out. He seemed more groggy and his mind seemed to have a hard time focusing. You tried talking to Akaza about it whenever you two had some time together but of course the link haired demon shrugged it off.

"Douma acts up when he wants attention. If the healer says he's fine then he's fine. He's probably just bored out of his empty head and faking it to make everyone fawn over him as usual. Don't worry about him. Let's focus on having a peaceful time between us for once."

You wanted to believe both of them but...then there was a too big of a bad feeling in the back of your mind. And your worries were confirmed when you opened the door one day to Douma's room. The tray of food fell from your hands. Food and water spilt all over the floor at your feet. Douma peered up weakly at you from his Shaking sitting up position holding his wheezing chest as he forced a smile.

"L-Little Lotus.."

"SOMEONE GET A HEALER!! SOMEONE GET A HEALER RIGHT NOW!!"

It was almost a blur as you found yourself clinging to Douma as he struggled to breath which what it certainly sounded like. He had a coughing fit so massive it wracked his body and shook him to the core. You hadn't seen a cough this bad since Rui had that fever on the train. Eventually Douma was able to stabilize himself and you managed to push him back into the pillows as he heaved but seemed to breath easier now.

"Easy! EASY!" You grabbed his cheeks as he continued to breath out of sinc and patted his cheeks making his eyes open at you. "Breath slowly. Steady your breath. In through your nose, and out of your mouth. Like this. Do what I do. Ok " You weren't sure why he chose too, but you were glad when he actually listened to you and copied your movements. "There you go. Relax. You're doing good." You gave him an approving pat to his cheek as he huffed a chuckle.

Where was that stupid healer?! Not surprisingly the same healer as the one from before was the one who came back and reexamined Douma... before just getting up and leaving without another word. It stunned you enough to follow him out and catch the man just as he was exiting the Dwell. 

"Hey, hey, hey!!" You ran out the door and grabbed him by the arm, forcibly turning him to face you. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Why didn't you say anything?!"

He sighed annoyed. "Because clearly there's nothing to say. He's clearly fine."

"Fine?! Uh...No he's not! He's not sleeping well and he just had a massive coughing fit. It's getting hard for him to function!"

"Your paranoia is getting to him obviously."

"Excuse me?!"

He sighed as you glared in anger and reached a hand up to rub his head. "Lady Y/n. There's absolutely nothing wrong with him other than his lack of sleep. I can recommend a sedative for him to take before bed but otherwise he's fine. He's diets perfect. His body is getting better. And he's not running any fevers. He's the same temperature as you or me or any other average man his age. There's literally nothing else wrong with him but a case of common insomnia."

Your body froze, eyes widening, and slowly you looked back to him. "...Say that again."

"Hm? I said that it's a good idea to get him some fresh air-"

"NO!! What you said before that!" The healer flinched as you grabbed him by the shoulders and snarled giving him a shake. "What did you say!?"

"I-I said he wasn't running a fever!," he quickly sputtered out holding up his hands, "He's as warm as the next healthy man!!"

You paused breathing heavily and looked off at nothing in thought.. before a moment of horror passed over. ".....Yes he is."

The healer blinked. 'W-What?" Your voice was so small barely over a whisper that he didn't hear you.

"That's it." The horror sunk in as you looked up slowly. "He is running a fever...A very, very high fever."

"Wha- Madam Y/n." His arms reached over to pat yours. "I assure you as a doctor that he is in fact is not running a fever. His temperature isn't even high."

"Yes. It is. For him it is." Your face pale and panicked looked at the doctor. "Douma's going to die."

The healer yelped as hands threw him to the side and a form quickly ran across the docks back towards the Dwell. Footsteps hard and quick flew across the wood and carried the worried form away. Heart pounding away in your chest and panic spiking down your back as a terrible realization of reality hit you harder than if Akaza punched you.

Douma WAS running a fever!!

Every other time you touched his skin, he was always as cold as death. But now he was as warm as an average man. He was running a fever all along and no one even suspected it! How could you be so stupid to not notice!? Douma was sick and nothing was done about it!! He could die if nothing was done. It could already be too late!! Servants left and right all scrambled out of your way as you went running down the hallways at an insane speed. Heart pounding, body pumping in adrenaline and body twisting in ways that you couldn't have done back when you were human. Hallway. Hallway. Room after room. One door in particular being targeted out and one door found.

SLAM!!

"Douma?" You found him there half leaning to the side and lightly sweating. Sweat dropped off his head and down his face as he forced a smile your way. "DOUMA?!" You feet moved before your brain could react. Running up to him and grabbing his face. "it's ok! You- you're gonna be ok!'

Your brain panicked as you looked around. Cold. Cold. Douma had to get colder fast! There wasn't any snow or anything that you could use to get his temperature down. There had to be something!! Purple eyes landed on the open entrance to Douma's bathroom and the giant tub, and the solution was clear. 

"C'mon! We need to get you to the tub!" Without thinking about anything else, you threw one of his arms over your shoulders and wrapped your arms around his torso pulling him up into a sitting position. Gods he was heavy and this was barely half his body.

He breathlessly Chuckled. "N-Now you want to b-bathe with me?"

"NOT ANOTHER WORD OR ILL KILL YOU MYSELF!!" You continued to pull up on him and in the direction of the tub. "C'mon Douma! Move please!"

A shaking hand did move, reaching down to pull away the thick layered blankets to expose his lower half, legs, and tail. Before he hummed. "I'm ..... not very certain if I can be able to walk. My body is still very weak."

"Then we'll make do by crawling and dragging you over there." It felt like trying to move a giant boulder. "Douma please! Do it for Daki and Gyutaro!"

Douma moved. You almost tripped over as he did. Raising shakily up to his knees and the arm around your shoulders clutched onto you. "Very well! I know they would be devastated if I were to die. We can try walking me on my knees."

You blinked at his dumb smile...but ignored it in favor of tugging him along. Whatever made him move. The tub was only a few feet away and while this was annoying it would work. Slowly but surely you half dragged half walked half crawled Douma's shaking from all the way painfully slowly into the connecting bathroom and eased him to the edge of the tub before briefly setting him down to start the cold water. Pulling the lever for cold and stopping up the drainage pipe quickly before turning and yelping as Douma dangerously leaned to the right and went crashing down into the quickly filling tub of water with a giant splash sending water spraying everywhere.

"OH FOR FUCKS SAKE!!" 

it was a huge tub as big as the one you hid from him in. He could drown. So without thinking you dove right in the water rippling. A moment later you both emerged you now completely soaked again and your hair clinging to you as you dragged Douma up by his shirt towards a small flight of stairs leading up out of the pool and dragging him up enough to sit down on some of the emerged steps and pull Douma's head to lay on your legs. The idiot had the gull to smile at you from his new position as he laid on your lap.

"Well...N-Now what exactly I had in mind for us two, but I'll take what I can get."

You shivered from the cold water already as you scowled at him. "You're lucky I don't want you to die. You idiot."

He cooed eyes half lidded as he smirked at you. Your hand reached into a side pocket on your kimono and pulled out a bottle. "What are those?"

"Rui's fever medicine. I had Enmu give me more when he was here." You shook the bottle of small pills. "They work amazingly and get rid of his fevers so well it's like he's never been sick. I want you to take one." You then opened the bottle.

"Is that right?" ...His eyes shifted and he smirked wider. "Well..If I can have this kind of view then I wouldn't mind being sick MO- ERK!!"

You shut him up by shoving one of the pills into his open mouth. "SHUT UP OR I'LL DROWN YOU MYSELF!!"