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trancylovecraft · 9 months

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(KNY) YANDERE PLATONIC! KOKUSHIBO x SISTER READER: You, Shibou. I, Kokoro (CHAPTER THREE)

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CHAPTER THREE: "Achilles, Achilles, Achilles, jump now. You are absent of cause or excuse. So self-indulgent and self-referential, No audience could ever want you"

Aomori is called one of the snowiest places in the world, Often having a twenty two foot snowfall every year.

Snow can represent a lot of things such as youth or innocence but more often than not symbolises death, Snow being often considered an omen of such in some cultures.

Winds rushed and hit against the girls face like the aftermath of a levelled dam, Pieces of snow slamming into her face as she travelled through the blizzard. Tree's hit against each other in the wind, Fighting and bashing into the other within the forest.

Another nightmare, Just like the one last night. [F/N] sighed through her shaky jaw, Letting cold mist blow out into the hailing gale.

Forward, Place. It felt like the thick layer of snow she trudged in was trying to pull her down and swallow her whole, Clinging onto her foot as she put it down once again.

[F/N] wondered how far she'd get this time, How far she would get until her knees gave up on her and signal her end. Maybe she'd find an exit this time, A way to stop the dream entirely.

As she placed another foot however, Her knees buckled making her topple over into the snow.

She hit the white with a thud, Imbedding and enveloping her entire body into the cold freezing slush.

[F/N] cried out. No matter how many times she hit the ground it never got any less painful, It never stopped the frostbite sinking into her skin and reaching her organs.

She now laid in the snow unmoving, She knew it was useless to try and escape, The snow wouldn't let her go no matter how much she might of tried.

[F/N] closed her eyes, Waiting for the darkness to fade in fro-

"GET OUT!"

[F/N] flinched, A voice ringing throughout the clearing she was in. But that was impossible, The dreams never strayed from their pa-

"GET OUT, [F/N]! YOU NEED TO RUN!"

She opened her eyes, So wide that they were almost bulging out of their sockets.

With great effort she lifted her head, Pointing it in the direction of the voice. From beyond the treeline, Shrouded by the snow's mist, Was a dark figure.

"WE CAN'T STAY HERE, WE NEED TO RUN" It screamed, It's voice shrill and hoarse like it hadn't drunken in years. [F/N] tried to squint her eyes and get a better look, Heart racing at the new development.

"DON'T LET HIM CATCH US, [F/N]. DON'T LET HIM FIND US!" The figure hollered once more and suddenly the mist cleared away, Blowing off with the wind. [F/N] focused her eyes once more, Finally getting a good look at the figure.

[F/N] felt her heartbeat stutter and stop.

It was her.

A copy of [F/N] stood within the treeline. She stood in a fighting stance like she was preparing for impact, Hair and haori whipping around in the blizzard. Her face was wild and panicked.. She was terrified.

She was an exact replica, It was her in every physical way.. Except two.

The first was the markings on her face. Ones similar to the ones she'd see on her mask decorated the pained expression on her like a porcelain doll.

In the middle of her chest was a large stab wound, Blood still hot trickling out of it and oozing down to stain her kimono. [F/N] couldn't take her eyes off of it, Like a hypnotists watch swinging back and forth she felt like she was in a trance.

"WE CAN'T LET HIM CATCH US, HE'S NOT THE SAME. WE NEED TO RUN OR ELSE WE'LL NEVER GET AWAY, PLEASE [F/N] LISTEN TO US!" Her copy cried, Sobbing and breaking down now like a young child.

"W-Who.. Who is he..?" [F/N] tried to ask but it only came out as a strained whisper.

However that question was already answered by the shadow looming over her. [F/N] snapped her head up and came into view with the man in the purple kimono, Tall figure hanging over her.

She could see his face now. His face, His damn face..

[F/N] opened her mouth and screamed.

Six golden eyes pierced her, Six sharp bloodshot pupils honing in on her fallen form, All looking down at her like she was a piece of meat to consume. [F/N] tried to get away, She tried moving out from under the snow but it was useless.

His mouth was open to reveal a row of sharp teeth lain out like a collection of knives, Vampiric canines ready to lunge and gnaw into her arm as his own reached out to her, Trying to grasp whatever he could of her.

[F/N] screamed out for help as he tugged on her arm, Digging his two canines into her forearm. Blood burst out from the wound, Splattering all over her arm and his face as he bit into her muscle.

She cried hard, Red was everywhere as she felt him tug his head back. A sick ripping sound ech-

"[F/N]-SAMA!"

[F/N] shot up from her futon with a yelp, Waking up with a cold sweat dripping down her face. She was breathing like she ran a marathon and needed to grip the frame of the futon to steady her shaking.

"..[F/N]-sama? Are you alright?" [F/N] looked up to the doorway to see one of the handmaidens shuffling around awkwardly, Seemingly concerned.

[F/N] inhaled and exhaled, Trying to recollect her breath and thoughts as she tried to find a response amongst her scattered brain.

"..Another nightmare.. I apologise if I woke you up with any noise.." [F/N] said, Wiping off the excess sweat.

The handmaiden stopped, Then slowly nodded.

"I see.. You didn't disturb anyone if that's any consolation. I came because I we have a few more visitors to the shrine and I thought it would be of importance to alert you.." The girl who [F/N] recognised as Seijun, An older handmaiden, explained to her.

[F/N] sighed.

"Yes.. Alright. Go on." She said, Dusting off the stray hairs on her.

"Okay.. Well first of all two more slayers have decided to reside here for the time being along with Kamado Tanjiro and Nezuko, Himejima Gyomei and his tsuguko's. Their names are Hashibira Inosuke and Agatsuma Zenitsu, Both of Tsuchinoto ranking." Seijun explained, A cordial tone in her voice.

"..Really? More slayers..?" [F/N] groaned lightly

Seijun tilted her head lightly to which [F/N] noticed

"No. No..! Don't get me wrong, It's fine if they want to stay here I've just not been in the mood lately to deal with that sort of stuff right now.. Cause of, You know..?" [F/N] said, Adding the question at the end to gauge if she was aware of her other identity.

Seijun nodded.

"Yes, Your 'retirement'." She confirmed [F/N]'s suspicion. "I can bring you some tea to soothe your nightmare if that would please you, [F/N]-sama" Seijun offered.

[F/N] hummed.

"..That would be great, Thank you Seijun. But I would prefer if you could bring it to the desk in the library, I'll be heading there soon." [F/N] said, Swinging her legs over the side of her futon to get up.

Seijun nodded.

"I can do that, Do you need anything else from me?" She asked.

"No, I'm fine for now. Thank you, Seijun, You're dismissed.." [F/N] said, Smiling gently.

Seijun smiled back and bowed lowly before leaving the room, Closing the door behind her lightly with a click.

Then once again [F/N] was left alone to her own company, The silence so loud it felt like it was draining the life out of her.

She sighed before pushing herself up off the bed, Rubbing whatever sleep she had left in her eyes she made her way over to the shoji windows and pulled them open to let in the days light.

"Hm..?" [F/N] hummed. While the light had came in she had realised that it wasn't morning at all, It was in fact late evening when the sun was setting over the faraway mountaintops. Casting a dark shadow in the opposite direction.

[F/N] groaned as she felt the light breeze hit her face from the way in, She had only gotten at most two hours of sleep. It was going to be a nightmare on its own to go back to sleep.

The nightmare. [F/N] shivered both from the thought and the cold hitting her skin, Another reminder of what happened. The meaning of her vision evaded her, For months it had continued on and on without change. So why now did it deviate? Especially in the way it did.

"GET OUT, [F/N]! YOU NEED TO RUN!"

Her doubles words echoed around in her skull like a disturbed bat in a cavern. The wild inhuman look in her eyes appeared every time [F/N] shut her own, A haunting apparition. But what disturbed her the most was the man- No, It was a demon.

It had to be. [F/N] couldn't mistake those eyes for a second, All six of them jabbing into her while his maws ripped into her flesh, Tearing away the bloody meat from her bones and digging in like a pouncing lion to a zebras hind.

Her fingers twitched, Itching to get away from the imaginary threat.

She shut the window doors a little quicker than she should of, Trying to focus on her breathing to pacify her racing heart. It was fine, It was just a dream, Yet it felt so real.. It was just a dream right?

Even if it was just a dream, This wasn't something she could ignore. Something inside her resonated, Something screaming at her not to let this go, Telling her to run.

[F/N] decided she'd go down and pray at the Haiden later, After she had finished what she meant to do and consult Inari on what this meant.

Another throb came from within her chest once she took another breath in, Great. The pain in her chest hadn't subsided. Remembering the position of the sun and estimating the mountain height, Maika must not be back. It takes a lot of time to descend the mountain and get to the village, Especially in winter.

[F/N] coughed out another block in her chest with an ache, Yet decided to suffer through.

She moved quickly over to the closet and got ready. Slipping off her nightwear into puddle in the ground she hastily fastened over the obi on her kimono and tying it into a neat bow at the back, Her dragon blue haori hanging off her shoulders completing the outfit.

[F/N] finished it off by slipping on her blocked okobo sandals, Of which added a good few extra inches to her height.

She checked her form in the mirror, Running over every careful choice in outfit before deciding it was presentable enough.

With that she went over to the door and swung it open, Moving out down into the hallway.

Her sandals clacked against the wooden floorboards echoing out down the passage, As she moved she nodded and greeted several Kakushi, Quick hello's and how are yous as she went by. Small talk.

As the sun slowly set the Kakushi got more and more frequent.

Activity in the base starting to resurrect from the night before as she made her way through winding hallways, Passing tapestry after tapestry and doing the exact same over and over again.

Nearly at the library she turned a corner once more, Head turned away as she said hello before her body slammed into another.

Stumbling back like a new-born fawn she tried to catch her balance, The surprise of the connection dazing her.

"Ah! Apologies, I wasn't watching where I.." [F/N] trailed off, Finally looking up at the person she bumped into with a wide eyed stare.

"Ngh.. You were going, I know" The boy in front of her finished. He was young, Only around fourteen years old and an inch smaller than [F/N] herself.

"I.. Uhm.." [F/N] stuttered looking down at him. His unruly fluffy hair that was tied into small braid, His wide owl-looking eyes and face full of freckles. [F/N] recognised him, The one person she dreaded the most to run into.

She felt her chest throb, But not from her ailment.

"Ne.. Do you have anything to say or.. are you just gonna stand there..?" He drawled slightly, A slightly bothered yet innocent tone in his voice. [F/N]'s eyes darted all over him, examining every point of him before she realised his slayer uniform's top button was slightly undone.

"I.. You're top button is undone, Here let me.." [F/N] exclaimed, Reaching for his top collar before he backed away on an instinct.

"Ngh.. Please, Do not touch me. The feeling of most things disturb me greatly.." He said rather bluntly, Making small noises in between sentances. [F/N] bowed rather quickly in response.

"A-Apologies! I'll keep that in mind if we ever meet again.." [F/N] chuckled, Trying and failing to hide the awkwardness tinting her voice. The boy in front of her didn't particularly care though, Only staring back at her.

"..Ne, I am rather sure we will.. You are the head shrine-maiden and I expect my master will be wanting to greet you soon.." He spoke in a monotone lilt.

"Your master.. Right, Himejima-san. You are one of his Tsuguko.. Your memory is rather good.." [F/N] sighed.

"Yes, It is. Thank you." He replied.

The two stood in silence, Staring back into one and other. [F/N] watching the boy carefully, Like he was a explosive she was about to defuse while he looked back at her without a single care in the world.

"Ne.. Bye then.." He broke the silence before moving around her, Trailing off down the hallway.

"Wait, Hold on!" [F/N] exclaimed, Turning around to him.

He stopped in his tracks and lazily gazed back at her, Tilting a brow.

"Do.. you know my name?" [F/N] asked through a thick tone of hesitation in her voice. Though she was frowning her eyes glinted with a shine, Like she was expecting something great just out of her grasp.

He blinked, Only once.

"No. I was never informed."

[F/N] felt the light in her eyes extinguish, The burning embers of hope being put out by his single flow of words.

"Ah.. I.. I see.." She mumbled "..My name is [F/N].. If it means anything." She added on once more, Bowing down in respect.

He only gazed back at her and nodded curtly.

"Ngh.. I'll remember it.. Since its respectful.. I'll give you mine in return.. My name is Shizuko Himejima" Shizuko respectfully replied, lowering his head once more to her own.

And with that, He was off. [F/N] didn't try to stop him again, Only watched as he walked off down the now empty hallway. [F/N] pleaded to herself, Begging that he'd turn back and say something.

But he didn't look back, And soon enough he was gone.

☆♡☆

Snow danced lightly in the wind like swaying ribbons in gentle breeze. Maika slowly walked through the light layer of snow covering the ground as she searched for a market stall, A Kakushi trailing a few feet behind her.

The village was a few miles away from the shrine, Not too far yet enough distance as to keep it private from the residents who resided here.

Maika tugged her thick fashioned haori over her uniform a little tighter, The cold kept away by the warmth it brought her. She wondered how long it had been since she had left the shrine and descended the mountain.

She needed to get back soon, It was just about night-time and she didn't want to stay out long in case of a demon attack. Not to mention getting the medicine for [F/N]. Even if she was a new shrine-maiden it felt as if she needed to make up for her cowering out on being a slayer.

Getting the medicine for her boss was the least she could do to help out, If only a little bit anyways.

"It seems like they're selling herbs over there, Heihachiro-san." The Kakushi called out from behind her, Casually pointing out a rather crowded stall from within the street.

Maika gasped

"Ah! G-Great eye!" She exclaimed. Despite her chattering jaw, The soft smile gracing her face never left as she finally found what she was looking for.

"It looks rather crowded though.. Maybe we can find another stall the other way?" The Kakushi suggested, Eyeing the crowd hesitantly. Maika shook her head dismissively

"No, No! We're already here.. Come on, Lets go!" Maika didn't wait for a response as she was already off, Leaving the Kakushi back behind her.

"Wait up!" The Kakushi called out. Running after her as she finally reached the back of the small crowd, Where she tried to go on her tip toes to peer over the crowd.

Maika hummed, Trying to find a way through the crowd without disturbing anyone.

The Kakushi finally caught up to her and unlike Maika, Didn't particularly care about the crowd as he started pushing through them, Maika's arm in tow.

"Ah! S-Sorry.. Apologies! Uhm.." Maika stuttered, Trying to apologise to the disturbed crowd for her peer's ignorance as she was pulled along by the arm towards the front.

"Excuse me, Sorry. But we need these herbs here, Do you have them? It's for the shrine a little bit up north so please understand the importance." The Kakushi stated, Letting go of Maika's forearm and slamming his hands on the market desk.

"I-If you could sell us them, That is.." Maika added on.

The old merchant looked back at him, A little annoyed from the intrusion but when the shrine was mentioned his face had brightened.

"Ah right, That old 'Okami' shrine.. Heard you lot exported a lot from here.." The merchant said, Lazily rubbing his chin in thought.

"Yes, We do. Now can you please sell us what we need?" The Kakushi's exasperated breaths shown in the winter air, Quickly pointing at a heap of turmeric impatient to get back to the warmth of the shrine.

The merchant chuckled lightly.

"I suppose I could.. But it would cost you more" He said.

"What?!" The kakushi exclaimed.

"Yep, You type's tend to have a little extra cash on ya' and seeing as you just interrupted my business you wouldn't mind paying a lil' more for it?" The merchant said, Gesturing around to the crowd surrounding the two.

"No way! The price here says 1702 yen for a few clovers turmeric and that's what I'm gonna pay." The Kakushi argued, Pulling out a good few notes of roughly 1702 yen and holding out for the merchant to take.

Instead, He shook his head.

"Going to need at least 3800 yen for it." He said adamantly, Folding his arms over his chest.

"3800?! You've gotta be kidding me..!" The Kakushi exclaimed. But Maika couldn't hear the rest of the argument as she slowly backed away from the crowd, All viewing the ongoing spat like a dog on dog fight.

Maika stumbled out of the crowd, She didn't want to be apart of this. Maybe she should of listened to the Kakushi when he said to go to another stall, The seller here seemed rather.. Unpleasant.

By now the late evening had turned into an early night, Stars already starting to show themselves over the valley the village sat in.

She backed up further into her heavy haori, Asking why she ever decided to work in such an unbearably cold environment.

The argument by the seller stand had started to ironically heat up, Making the majority of the crowd sigh and give up trying to get anything and just go home to enjoy their slipping state of consciousness.

As several people walked past her out into the rest of the village she breathed in, Trying to puff up her chest and build the confidence to step into end the fight.

Maika put her foot forward but the snow she had been expecting to hit never came, Instead it was the feeling of a cold palm wrapping around her wrist and yanking her back.

"AH-" Her yell was quickly silenced by another hand slamming over her mouth.

"If you wanna keep your pathetic little life then you're going to shut the hell up, You hear?" Her assailant hissed lowly into her ear from behind, His voice boyish and full of sadistic joy as his inhuman strength held Maika in place.

She flailed around in the mans arms letting out muffled cries as she felt his claws digging into her skin. His presence was unmistakable.

This was a demon, She was being held hostage by a demon.

She wailed at the realisation. Tears already started to fall down from her eyes, Especially once the demon trailed a talon along her bottom eyelid, Lightly digging in as she squealed about.

"That includes struggling, Hold still!" He laughed akin to a young hyena, High pitched laughs lacing every crack in his voice like he was one too.

Maika instantly stilled in his hold at the drop of his command, Her breathing becoming ragged as if all the oxygen in the world was taken away from her. Who was he? If he was a demon why didn't he already bite into her and tear her limbs apart like his nature would suggest?

"Now here is how this is gonna go.. You're with that Kakushi over there right?" He questioned. Feeling the eyes burn into the back of her head she nodded feverishly in hopes of pleasing him.

"Good! Then you must be with the slayers then…" His sentence was cut off by another burst of manic laughter, Making Maika yelp "This is great..! Only I could've got such a good catch.." He chittered to himself.

Maika felt her heart stop, He was fishing for information. Her breathing picked up, Was he going to torture her? Kill her? She couldn't be here, She couldn't believe it. There was no way.

Yet the feeling of claws circling her neck said otherwise.

"P-Please.." She whispered out through his hand, Voice pleading, Begging to be let go. She watched the Kakushi from the alleyway. It seemed like he had gotten the turmeric and had realised her absence, Calling out her name and looking around.

"Don't make a sound" He threatened.

No.. Maika's stare burned into the Kakushi, To peer into the alleyway, Begging to Inari for him to notice her state and get help.

But he never looked her way, Lightly stumbling in another direction.

She felt her hope shatter into a thousand pieces, He couldn't see her, Not from the alleyway. Maika knew that even if she complied with the demon- No. This monster's demands then he wouldn't let her go, She'd make for a quick meal.

Maika would be forgotten. What had she even done in life? Only finally pass final selection just to cower out and reserve herself to a shrine, If she died here, Nothing would change. Would anyone even mourn?

His claws pressed further into her neck, He'd kill her. He'd kill her no matter what she said.

Maika took a deep breath in. If that was the case, Then she knew that she had to at least try, To try and live another day.

She suddenly unsheathed her Kaiken from her hakama trousers.

Kaigaku didn't even have time to react as it punctured his neck.

"Ack!" He choked out, A spray of blood erupting from his neck as the maiden slipped from his grasp in the split moment he let go.

"OVER HERE!" Maika screamed out as she dashed into the wide open street. The kakushi turned around to see her running frantically towards him.

"Gr.. Ah!" Kaigaku hissed as he grabbed the Kaiken, Yanking it out of his neck.

"Demon attack, There's a demon! We've gotta go, NOW!" Maika yelled at the Kakushi, Who stood their wide eyed. Grabbing him by the wrist they both started running down the rocky pathway.

"You bitch!" Kaigaku yelled after her, Stepping out into the moonlight of the pathway and watching them go.

Maika kept running through the empty streets, The Kakushi quickly in tow. She didn't know how powerful this demon was as she didn't get a good look at it, She wouldn't get one now, She couldn't bare to look back at it.

"We need to hurry, Get back to the shrine and alert a slay-"

In a flash of black lightning Maika tumbled down to the floor, The snow barely cushioning her fall as she yelled out in pain, A skin-deep sword slash cutting open the back of her kosobe.

"Heihachiro-san!" The Kakushi called out, Stopping only a few metres away as he looked out at the scene.

Kaigaku stood over her, His sword drawn as he pressed a foot down into the peak of her back. His face was contorted into a scowl as he glared at the girl, Quite literally an ant under his shoe.

"You little bitch..!" He growled. Maika was winded, The breath completely taken away from her as she turned around to finally look at her assailant.

Her eyes widened, He was only a boy.. Could of only been in his teenage years yet the black whites of his eyes said he was a demon.

But what really disturbed her was two things entirely, The first was his slayer uniform. He use to be a slayer, One of them.. He use to be one of them.

But his eyes were the most terrifying.. Lightning blue irises with the kanji 'Upper Six' ingrained deep into them, Making Maika's heart feel like it was choking up her throat.

This was Uppermoon six.

"Ballsy move there.. But did you really think that pathetic little blade could stop me? Come on! Wound's all gone now anyways, See?"

Kaigaku said. Gesturing up at his neck to find that the puncture had already disappeared, Not even a speck of blood remaining.

"P-Please.. Just let us g- AH!" Maika was cut off by a sharp kick to her side, Making her scream out in pain.

"Shut up!" Kaigaku hissed, Leaning down to her level he showed off his row of sharp, tigerish teeth. Sadism near radiated from him in that moment when he lowered his clawed hands to her eye.

But then he jumped back in order to avoid the swinging nichirin blade, Neigh slicing at his neck.

The Kakushi stood in front of Maika in a defensive stance. He was terrified, Maika could tell as his knees almost buckled under him from the shaking. Yet he still held up his sword to the upper rank anyways.

Kaigaku finally took notice of him, Seemingly too invested in getting back at the maiden who put a hole through his neck before even realising he was there at all.

"Ah, The Kakushi! There you are.." Kaigaku exclaimed.

"Heihachiro-san.. Run.. Get out of here, I'll handle this!" The Kakushi proclaimed, Yet his voice was as shaky as the hold on his sword. He wouldn't take his eyes off of the demon in front of him while motioning for her to go.

"B-But you.." Maika stuttered.

"Just go!" The Kakushi said, Finally taking a quick glance at her. His stare was the finality.

Maika only nodded as she scrambled to get up from the frozen pavement, The wound on her back starting to bleed only a little as she quickly caught her balance, All before taking off in a mad dash towards the start of the mountain pathway.

"Oh no you don't! You're not getting away from me!" Kaigaku yelled after her. Swiftly drawing his sword once more but was stopped by the Kakushi, Who took another slice at him down the middle. Once more Kaigaku dodged, An easy task for him.

"My duty as a demon slayer, I won't let you get to her.. E-Even if it costs me my life" The Kakushi said, The dawning realisation of his imminent death finally coming upon him as tears started to dust his eyes.

Kaigaku grinned, Wide and toothy.

"You said it, Not me!" He laughed, Charging at the man with his unsheathed nichirin.

He didn't even realise that his arm was lobbed off until his body hit the ground, A wide spray of blood coating the pavement like paint.

The Kakushi screamed, A loud primal noise erupting from the deepest chords in his throat as he watched his tendons and ligaments be torn from its sockets. Blood still spurting out from the wound as he cried out into the night.

He writhed around on the ground, Screaming out in pain as he kicked and flailed about. Kaigaku laughed at the sight, As he slowly approached the man once more.

"Not so high and mighty, Are you? You thought you could protect that pathetic girl and.." Kaigaku paused.

The girl.

He quickly snapped his head up, Looking back and forth to try and find where she had ran off to, Yet it was no use, She was nowhere to be found.

Kaigaku let the realisation hit him before yelling out in rage.

Completely ignoring the maimed Kakushi on the ground in favour of breaking a group of barrels, Letting the pieces break and shatter into a thousand pieces on the floor.

"Damnit.. DAMNIT!" He cursed, Stomping the last of the pieces of wood under his sandals with several hefty thuds as he gripped his hair, Almost ripping it out from his scalp.

His breathing was heavier than his anger in that moment, His body rapidly trying to calm himself down. How could he let an insignificant, Cowardly little shrine-maiden get away? It was unfathomable. How could the cat let the mouse slip through its paws?

He needed to chase after her, She couldn't get away! It would be a disgrace to him, An absolute embarrassment.

He was brought back to reality by another groan of pain from the Kakushi, Who was trying to crawl away with what arm he had left. Kaigaku felt his heartbeat start to steady, The rapid pace mellowing down into a slow thump.

It didn't matter, He got what he came for. The Kakushi would of had more information than some nobody anyways, There was no reason to chase after her. After all, The Kakushi had the information to lead him to wherever she went. Two birds with a single limb.

☆♡☆

The sound of lead scribbling away at paper seemed to fill the room, Such a miniscule sound yet it felt so loud within the confines of the library.

[F/N] groaned. Putting down her quill and grabbing the paper she scrunched it up in her hands and tossed it aside with all the other ones.

She placed her face inside her palms and started to massage her temple. The irritation inside her started to build like bacteria multiplying with the illness of it peaking into frustration.

The library was rather empty. The walls and rows of books stretching to the ceilings were only walked past once or twice, Either by the odd handmaiden or [F/N] herself, Going on a walk to try and calm her nerves.

She tried once more, Picking up the warm cup of sake-infused tea Seijun made and taking another quick sip. [F/N] felt the warm liquid go down her throat, The tea doing nothing to soothe herself but instead remind her of the state of her chest as she lightly coughed.

Setting the tea down [F/N] chided herself for feeling like this. She didn't know why she felt the way she did. Was it the nightmare? Was it the chest pains? Or could it be Shizuko.. The sudden meeting still fresh in her mind, Clear as day.

Maybe it was all of them. A combined effort of built up inconveniences that left such a sour aftertaste in her mouth, Tea doing nothing to wash it down.

[F/N] looked down at the desk she was writing at. The library was large, Probably the biggest room other than the haiden in the entire shrine. While it mostly consisted of tall ceilings and open shelves for people to pick out a book, [F/N] sat in a little nook tucked away at the very back of the library home to only a desk and a candlestick to illuminate her writing.

It was something she had been meaning to do for a few weeks now, A single piece of paper she had been meaning to write yet had put off like a chore. Even when she started to write down the first few letters the meaning would muffle, Causing her to get annoyed and scrunch the paper up and throw into the ever-growing pile.

[F/N] pulled out another blank sheet and placed it out in front of her. She sighed, Trying to gather her thoughts of what to say.

She needed to get this just right. She couldn't be too emotional but she couldn't exactly be too uptight either, There was a sweet spot she was hoping to hit, A perfect balance for her to write with.

This was stupid, She thought. Why was she even doing this in the first place? Maybe it would be better if she just didn't write anything at all. It would be easier for her anyways, But if she left things unspoken then how could there be any closure?

No. She needed to do this. Maybe not for her or not actually for the closure but there was an explanation that needed to be said, Something she at least owed to her. Ironically she didn't think she could live with herself if she didn't say something.

Picking up her quill once more she lowered it towards the paper. She knew she needed to say something, But what? There was so much yet so little at the same time, Where would she start? How would she say it?

Thoughts rushed in her mind and circled around her head like storm clouds. Everything from earlier still striking with them inside her. Shizuko.. How would he feel about this? Would he be disappointed in her?

If he actually knew, That is.

[F/N] paused the movement of her quill.

She shouldn't be thinking about him, Not after all this time. He doesn't even remember who she is.

[F/N] placed the tip of the ink dipped quill onto the paper and began to write once more. No thought went into the strokes and the lows of the quill, Just mindless word spill as it danced in her hands.

It was the culmination of the past few hours, Days, Months to years. Everything she had been wanting to say overflowed on that single sheet, Every word thoughtless yet held such weight to it as it finally got spoken.

The quill circled, The final period written down.

[F/N] picked up the piece of paper lightly, Bringing it up to the candle to read over her writing. Her eyes softly examined every word, Every letter and paragraph was carefully read over.

She set the paper down.

It was good, Good as it will ever get.

[F/N] took the piece of paper and a tea-stained envelope. Folding it up delicately she placed the paper inside of the envelope, Licking it and folding it with care she took the candle holder from the side of the desk.

She grabbed the candle and tilted it slightly, Letting the wax drip onto the core of the envelope.

Once she was satisfied she pushed it down with a little fox stamper, Creating the wax seal and completing the letter.

She tucked it away in an embedded pocket of her haori, Neatly settling it inside. She had finished. A sudden hit of serenity washed over her, A calm peacefulness finally filled the oxygen around her, A kind of feeling that was few and far between.

Picking up her half-drunken cup of tea she placed it up to her lips, Intending to finish it as reward for her work.

She let her mind drift off as she tasted the sugar and sake mix together on her tongue, A bittersweet taste ruminating as it went down her throat and fill her stomach with a comforting warmth. However it didn't last long as a sudden coughing fit interrupted her, Making her spit out the tea in her mouth.

She coughed harder, Placing her head into the inside of her forearm she set down her tea. The pain in her chest had kicked up without warning, Making the tea in her throat go out the other way.

She grabbed a tea towel and wiped her mouth with it, Finally getting the last of the residue out of her throat. The annoyance finally rising up inside her once more.

It reminded her, Where was Maika? Looking at the little pocket watch sat on her desk it had been two hours since she had woken up, Making it exactly five hours she had been out. While the mountain was hard to traverse it surely wouldn't take this long, Would it?

It was winter, Maybe the markets had a low stock and she had to search longer for a stall actually selling herbs. Maybe it was a little snowier than usual and they had to be a little more careful.

[F/N]'s brow quirked. Even though there was a myriad of reasons why she could be taking longer than usual, She still couldn't shake off the bad feeling underlying it all. A feeling that made her feel like she was drowning..

She finished off her tea, Sipping down the last of it and setting it down.

As it didn't before, It couldn't calm her nerves.

She could only hope that Maika was alright.

☆♡☆

Run. Just keep running. That's what Maika told herself as she rushed throughout the snow like a madwoman, Desperate and begging to reach her destination.

Her lungs burned from exhaustion yet she kept on going. The slash made at her back had cut open her kosobe leaving her vulnerable to the elements, The cold seeping inside of every pore on her body and soaking up every little bit of the frostbite.

The wound itself wasn't as skin-deep as she thought since she could feel the droplets of blood coming up and running down her back She supposed she was lucky however, If it was any deeper she doubted she'd of been able to make it this far.

Traversing through the forest was something she did often, Just not in the winter. In the summer it was a common activity for the handmaidens to run around and pick the local produce: Nuts, Berries, Flowers. They did it so much that the layout of the entire forest was ingrained deep into Maika's memory.

Though she couldn't deny the difficulty in the winter. The frost had made it slippery, Making it a task in of itself not to trip over and bash her head in on a rock. The light fog concealed her vision too, Only a good few metres in front of her being perceived at all.

She pleaded to Inari, Begging that the Kakushi she had left behind would be alright. That he would somehow survive, Be in one piece at the very least. But she knew in the back of her mind, By the number in that demons eye she knew what would become of him.

Maika kept going, Stumbling only a little as the mountains terrain got a little rockier, Just a little steeper as she kept going. The fog got a little thicker as she went along too, Eventually to the point where it was neigh impossible to see.

By the time she knew she was lost her legs felt numb, Cold to the touch.

But she kept going anyways, Determined in her goal.

☆♡☆

The dark hallway of the inn was only illuminated by the dim embers of the candles lining it in holsters.

Heavy thumps of both footsteps and the dragging of the Kakushi's body was the only noise in earshot, The rest as silent as a killer.

The Kakushi was barely conscious, His vision a messy blur as he felt so much lighter than before. His mind was in pieces too, Barely registering objects he bumped into and the tiny light from the candles seemed blinding to him, Making him writhe around.

Kaigaku had a firm hold on the mans neck, Claws itching to wring it but refrained from the sheer opportunity he held in his hands. A crudely made bandage stopping the bleeding going any further.

Kaigaku stopped in his tracks once he reached the end of the hallway, Standing face to face with a door not unlike any other they had passed. Just a simple, Mahogany wood door.

But Kaigaku took in a deep breath, Interrupted by nervous jitters. He looked himself up and down adjusting both his uniform and his hair just before reaching a clawed hand out and lightly knocking.

Knock

…

"Come in."

The voice called out from behind the door. Kaigaku took one more breath in before turning the knob and pushing the door open.

It revealed a wide open bedroom, An expensive one that the inn owner would only rent out to high-paying customers. Though it would be impossible now as her mangled corpse lay on the table, Limbs spread out like a religious painting.

"M-Master!" Kaigaku called out. His previous arrogant and cocky demeanour now washed away into a nervous and skittish behaviour as he cowered in the doorframe, Looking back at the other man. A complete switch in a single second.

Kokushibo sat at the table on his knees. The corners of his lips smudged with red as he held the inn owners leg in his hands, A large chunk already gorged out from the bone and down the gullet of her killer.

"What do you want, Tsuguko?" Kokushibo asked. His deep voice as stoic as ever, Even while holding the severed arm of his meal it never wavered in the slightest.

"I-I apologise for interrupting you sir but-!" Kaigaku didn't finish, Just hung up the maimed body of the Kakushi like meat on a hook. Grinning with nervous joy, Pleased at his catch.

Kokushibo stared dead eyed at the incapacitated body of the Kakushi, Watching him loll his head to the side and squirm around in his Tsuguko's iron grip.

Kaigaku looked back at his master, His grin however pleased it was still shook at points. Feeling his heart throb in his chest he could only wait.

Finally, Kokushibo put down the severed leg of the inn owner to be absorbed later. He got up from the tatami mat and dusted off his kimono, All six of his eyes never leaving the body for a second.

Kaigaku watched him walk over to them both. The Kakushi, Despite his head and his body in pieces was somehow acutely aware of the shift in the air, Seemingly going still in Kaigaku's grasp as Kokushibo now stood only about a foot away from him.

His hand reached out, The Kakushi barely recognising the clawed hand examining his uniform. Tugging and feeling the consistency of the fabric.

He hummed. A deep gravelly kind of reverberation came from his throat, Reminiscent of what an animal would make while cornered.

"A Kakushi.. This is good work… I congratulate you on your efforts, Tsuguko.." Kokushibo said, The tension finally broken Kaigaku deflated. Shoulders slumping as he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, All in favour of smiling like a madman at the praise.

The Kakushi groaned at the sudden speech as he lightly tugged his head up, Only to come face to face with six blurry golden eyes staring him down.

"Ggh-!" The Kakushi yelped, Only to be cut off by a sputter of coughs and gags like something was lodged inbetween his throat, Which was now squeezed tightly in between a single palm.

Kaigaku let go of the Kakushi and let Kokushibo handle it now, Watching as he was raised to reach his masters own towering height. The Kakushi quickly blinked his eyes as he continued to cough, The fuzz in his vision clearing away.

Kokushibo's terrifying visage was now on full display to the man so unfortunate to gaze upon it. Six eyes, Six golden bloodshot eyes pierced and stung at his skin like a thousand wasps as he widened his own.

Uppermoon one.

This was Uppermoon one.

The Kakushi couldn't look away from the kanji in his eyes, Like a horrible wreck he was faced with he couldn't bare to take his eyes off him for a single second. Even as he felt the demons talons dig into the skin of his neck he never felt a single bit of it.

"And you found him doing..?" Kokushibo queried, Drawling out every little syllable.

"B-Buying stuff from a merchant." Kaigaku responded.

"And in his uniform.. Interesting." Kokushibo mumbled under his breath, Seemingly lost in thought.

Suddenly his claws jagged in a little deeper to the Kakushi's neck, Making him groan out in pain as he felt blood start to trickle down the demon's fingers.

"He is conscious… You can hear what I am saying, Yes?" Kokushibo asked.

The Kakushi nodded slightly. The undertone of the demons voice contained a low threat, A small warning. A warning for what he might do to him if he didn't answer him back with what he wanted.

Kokushibo brought the man down.

"Good.. Then you will be able to answer as well.." Kokushibo said. Kokushibo suddenly reached to the side of his waist and gripped his sword hilt. The Kakushi finally pried his eyes away from the demons only to see the sharp of a flesh forged blade, Pointed straight at his jugular.

The Kakushi cried out as he started to flail around in Kokushibo's grasp, Desperate to get away from the blade.

"Now.. I understand that you slayers are not very.. Compliant with us." Kokushibo started.

He pressed the tip of his sword just a little further into his neck.

"So to act as a bit of encouragement.. I highly suggest that you start talking.. Otherwise it wont just be an arm you'll lose.."

☆♡☆

"Thank you again.. [F/N]-san. There are no words I could say to appreciate your generosity and kindness.."

The room sat high on the second floor of the shrine, One of the bigger ones housed within the walls. It had tall ceilings and a wide open floor plan, The only furniture was a simple large tatami mat and hanging tapestries depicting Shinto lore.

It gave the room a long kind of look. The tapestries were overlain like paint on a portrait making the room seem wider than it really was, Not a bad look. Just mildly clustered.

Gyomei sat along one side of the room, The one with the door. Behind him sat a menagerie of different people, All of them slayers.

Some of them [F/N] recognised. Genya sat beside Gyomei, Sitting appropriately on his knees and intently listening in to the conversation. The other she recognised was Tanjiro, Who sat a little behind the Hashira with another girl she didn't quite recognise.

There were a few others too that she didn't know of. A boy with a boar head struggled to stay still on the tatami mat while another boy with canary coloured hair held his head low, Not looking up at all.

And then there was Shizuko, Who sat to the other side of Gyomei. His wide eyed stare was ever there, Examining the entire room top to bottom to commit it to memory.

[F/N] tried her hardest not to look at him for too long.

"It's alright. We here have opened up our shrine to you slayers for a reason, You are completely free to come and go as you like.. As long as you stay respectful to the integrity of this place, That is." [F/N] said, Her soft tone matching her smile as she thanked the Hashira.

[F/N] sat at the opposite end of the room facing the group of slayers, Seijun sat beside her. She had tried to avoid Gyomei all throughout the day yet she supposed that it was bound to happen eventually. Gyomei, As much as she rather disliked him, Was always a cordial and respectful man. So it basically threaded in fate that he would want to thank her.

Gyomei rattled his beads

"Thank you.. [F/N]-san. However I must apologise for my college, Fujimori.. I've been searching for him around the shrine but I am unable to locate his whereabouts. So I would like to thank you on his behalf and apologise for his disrespect.." Gyomei said, Bowing his head lightly.

[F/N] felt herself let out a tiny relieved sigh, Despite his impeccable senses he was completely unaware of her little Jekyll and Hyde charade. She lightly thanked Inari under her breath.

"Ah, It's fine.. I honestly don't mind, It's not a necessity to thank us for our hospitality but I do appreciate the effort. I'm sure Fujimori is thankful" [F/N] said, Bowing her head straight back to him.

"Even so.. It would of been more respectful to your shrine if he did offer thanks." Gyomei replied, Silently crying over the disrespect from Fujimori, Assumedly at least. It was always hard to tell.

"No, No. Really, It's nothing that I- Ack!" [F/N] keeled over, A sudden coughing fit burst out from within her throat.

Seijun quickly got up from her position behind [F/N] and to her side.

"[F/N]-sama.." Seijun said, Lightly patting the centre of her back as [F/N]'s sputters died down into low wheezes. Gyomei was already across the room in a second, Now kneeling down in front of the two.

"[F/N]-san.. Are you alright?" Gyomei asked.

"Y-Yes.. I'm fine. My chest is just a bit painful right now.." [F/N] said however strained her voice was.

"How long has it lasted?" Seijun asked, Using her hands to examine the low of her back to the peak of her neck for any damage.

"Since a few hours ago.. We were out of anything to use as a remedy so I sent a shrine-maiden down to the village to buy some more.. But.. She hasn't come back yet." [F/N] replied. She warily lifted her head towards the clock.

"About five hours and thirty two minutes ago to be exact.." [F/N] said.

"That is.. Not normal.." Gyomei replied.

"Correct, She should of been back by now.. I would've gone to check on her but with both my duties and my chest pain I'm not fit to." [F/N] explained.

It was true, The speck of worry she had felt before only grew into bigger and bigger every time she was reminded of her pain. Maika should of been back by now. She was a shrine-maiden and had most likely committed the mountain's layout to memory, It was a given. But with the winter it could of been made tricky.

What if she had dismissed [F/N]'s orders of wearing warmer clothes? What if she didn't find a Kakushi to help escort her? [F/N] bit her tongue, She didn't want to know what could've happened to her.

While they were never that close, The shrine-maidens here were one thing of three that she cared for dearly. She didn't want them to die, Not any one of them.

"If you desire, I will go and search for the shrine-maiden." Gyomei offered, His ever-sombre voice breaking [F/N] out of her thoughts.

She smiled lightly.

"If you could, That would be amazing, Himejima-san." [F/N] nodded. It was good, Gyomei despite his blindness was rather extraordinary at tracking down people, But more often than not it was demon's.

Gyomei nodded.

"H-Hey!"

A voice called out from the group of slayers. [F/N] peered over Gyomei's shoulder to see the younger canary haired kid. He was rather short and wore a nervous expression that never seemed to fade, Something that [F/N] noted.

"If you're gonna go down the mountain.. I'd like to come along, No offense but this place is pretty creepy.." The boy said. He was eyeing a specific tapestry depicting several creatures with rather ugly expressions. He shivered like a wet cat while looking at it.

An irrational coward to an unbelievable degree, Something [F/N] also picked up about him. The tapestries were everywhere around the shrine and if he was uneasy by one of the smaller ones then [F/N] could only imagine what happened when he saw the others.

"Not for me! These demons don't scare me in the slightest!" The boar headed kid beside him suddenly yelled and jumped up onto the soles of his feet.

"I could take any of them on easily, Especially that one! It's no match for Inosuke, God of the mountains!" Inosuke yelled once more, Pointing towards some unknown point in the tapestries.

"It's just a banner! It's not real, Inosuke!" Tanjiro called out to him.

"Heh?! Of course they're real! Why else would they be made into hides?" Inosuke retorted, Which seemed to start a full on argument across the room as the other kids joined in.

[F/N] watched over them and groaned, Pinching her temples.

"Listen, Himejima-san. Thank you so much for doing this, Just get the slayers who want to come along with you and try to find her." [F/N] spoke, Returning the conversation to the two adults as the argument went on in the background.

"Alright.. Do you have any description of what this maiden looks like?" Gyomei asked.

[F/N] hummed.

"Her name is Heihachiro, Maika. She's pretty small, around 5'3.. Erm.. Blonde hair and dark eyes. She's assumedly wearing the shrine-maiden uniform.. With ribbons in her hair too." [F/N] said, Trying to give as much details as possible.

"Understood. I'll try to recover her as soon as possible." Gyomei got up from his kneeling position and bowed in front of her. [F/N] returned the gesture, A genuine display of gratitude.

"Thank you. Stay safe, Okay?"

☆♡☆

Splatters of red crimson painted the corner the Kakushi's body was slumped in. His limbs numb, So numb. It felt as if they weren't even there anymore, Like that they were torn from the sockets and were laying on his lap on display.

But that wasn't true, Was it? What time was it, He didn't know. Where was he, As well? It was so dark where he was that couldn't even see a foot in front of him, Only feeling it severed from his ankle.

He was so tired, As if the weight of the entire world was collapsing on top of him, Unable to carry it no longer. He couldn't even feel the tears in his skin, Thousands of them adorning his skin like papercuts bleeding him dry.

The tilt of his head, The feeling of a flesh forged blade titling his head up to meet the face of his assailant.

He wanted it to end, His life. He couldn't go on anymore, He didn't care. The pain was too much for him to bare that he just wished the curtains could close and never open up again. Everything hurt so much, Everything.

"Now.. Are you ready to tell us..?" His assailant asked. The shine of his eyes like lighthouses in a storm-ridden night, Looking down at the broken wreck of a man in front of him.

The Kakushi opened his mouth, Saliva mixing with iron he finally spoke out in a raspy whisper.

"F-Fine.."

☆♡☆

Candles lit up. Small embers growing from the wax as they met with the other creating a dim yet comforting light in the haiden.

Baskets of weaved straw bustled around the entire hall. All of them were filled with some sort of offering: Flowers, Fruit, Bottles of Sake and rice grains. All in favour of pleasing the deity enshrined here.

[F/N] walked slowly along the long drawn carpet. Moving past the lit candles, Hanging tapestries and woven baskets as she finally reached the altar.

It was the heart of the haiden, The pandemonium of the entire shrine.

The offerings grew heavier here with candles sprinkled in between the cracks, Ever burning bright in the dark shadows of the hall.

She dusted off her kimono and settled herself down in front of the altar, Making sure to get comfortable on her knees as she knelt before the wooden haiden. She took in a deep breath, Ready to speak The nightmares, The thing she had came to ask about. [F/N] had prayed to Inari before about them, Mostly praying for them to stop during ceremonies or on her own personal time.

They never did stop however. [F/N] often wondered if Inari was listening at all, If her prayers really were getting heard.

Or maybe it was because her nightmares were meant to happen. It wasn't exactly unheard of people getting prophetic visions through their dreams, It was actually a rather common story among demon slayers.

Insight of a past life, Views into future events. It was all rumours spread around the metaphorical water-cooler, Tales of visions spread through dreams. While [F/N] was rather sceptical of these claims she knew how the kami were said to work, She supposed it wasn't out of the realm of possibility.

And now as she knelt at the altar she had supposed that maybe they were true after all.

But still, The newest dream still fresh in her mind ate away at her bit by bit. If they were visions, They were rather subtle before. Maybe not even serving a higher purpose but remembering the primal scream of the voice and the raw look of terror in her double's eyes made her stifle her breath.

She couldn't make sense of it, Not in the slightest.

Letting out the deep breath she was holding she clasped her hands up into prayer. Closing her eyes she prepared to ask.

"Ō-Inari.. Please, Hear my call."

☆♡☆

The crunching of snow came out from under his sandals, Heavy thumps making their way through the endless gale as he ascended upwards.

Kokushibo marched forward, The cold being nothing but an annoyance coming in from around him. His eyes narrowed as he felt something else crawl up his spine, A reminiscent emotion. One he hadn't felt in centuries as Kaigaku followed him close behind.

The Kakushi had finally given up information to the two, All in exchange for his torment to finally end. Kokushibo thought it was pathetic, Such a weak little human he was. Both in strength and in mind.

He had spoke of a Kakushi base, The place where the majority of slayer operations originated from. It was good information, One of the best leads any of them had had in years.

"T-The Kakushi said that it was somewhere up here?" Kaigaku asked.

The chilling temperatures didn't bother him either as he stood strong with his sword drawn. He had hoped to hell and back that the Kakushi didn't give them false information, If so then it would be impossible to interrogate him once more.

Kokushibo just kept moving, Not acknowledging his Tsuguko's attempts of conversation as he kept going.

That feeling, That feeling once more crawled up the dip of his back. He couldn't recognise it despite how oh so familiar it felt. His eyes finally targeted on an object through the mist, A dark shape settled within the cold mist.

Kokushibo squinted his eyes to try and get a better look at it.

Kaigaku gulped as he started to fiddle with his thumbs, The worry of misinformation starting to come up once more.

"What if.. What if he gave us wrong info? What if-" Kaigaku stopped mid-sentence as he saw Kokushibo pause.

His steady stride through the snow had halted all of sudden. If Kaigaku didn't know better then he could of sworn he saw a jolt go through him, Like a static shock making him still in place.

"M-Master..?" Kaigaku muttered as he moved around to Kokushibo's side to get a better look at him.

All three sets of Kokushibo's eyes were wide open, Stretched to their very limits. His mouth was left slack open. A complete visage of what could only be described as shocked horror as he stared forward.

In front of him, Was a stone lantern.

There was absolutely nothing special about this lantern in particular. Just a wide stone block with a small carved roof on top of it. It was not unlike any kind of lantern he's seen before yet it finally clicked in his mind once he saw it.

It was a shrine lantern.

No.. Not just a shrine lantern..

It was the shrine lanterns used in his sister's shrine.

The air shifted around him in this realisation. As if he had suddenly became of the entire atmosphere, Every tree and every rock he was now acutely aware of as he glared down at this lantern.

It wasn't just the lantern.. It was everywhere, He recognised it now. This was where his sister's shrine is…

"M-Master…?" Kaigaku whispered, Reaching out for his masters shoulder.

As soon as it was connected, Kaigaku's arm was lobbed off from his shoulder making him yelp out in surprise as he backed away.

"Do not touch me.." He hissed, Finally coming back to his senses. Kaigaku nodded quickly as he stumbled a few steps further away from the man.

"We are here.. Go.. Go find another entrance to attack from.. It will be harder to defend from two sides.." Kokushibo commanded, His voice was firm. Borderline irritated as he watched Kaigaku quickly rush away in another direction, Quick to follow his orders.

He paid no more attention to him however as he took a few strides forward and kneeled down in front of the lantern.

It was lit. A small spark of ember had been lit between the barks of wood placed in it. The little flame was fighting against the blizzard to stay alive, And it held on. It had been recently lit.

Kokushibo felt anger rise up inside him like a boiling pot. He traced the stone of the lantern with his hands. This was [F/N]'s shrine, No doubt.. And if what the Kakushi had given the right information then.. They were using her shrine as the Kakushi base..

The boiling pot overflowed, The stone he was tracing with his hand was now crushed within his grasp and crumbled down like it was absolutely nothing to him. Even after the crushed particles of stone fell down into the slush below he wasn't done, As he swiftly levelled the rest of it with a single sway of his hand.

For all these centuries he couldn't bare to go back to her shrine, The lost memories of her life played out every time he even dared to think about it. It felt like a fist squeezing out the bloody juices from inside his heart, It was painful, He could never go back, Never..

At least not to the real thing anyways.

But that feeling inside him, The one that felt like his heart was about to burst was now replaced with absolute, Concentrated rage. In the time that he had left and abandoned [F/N]'s shrine the slayers had infested it like mice and claimed it as their own.

His teeth clenched. Canines and molars grinding against one and other as he cursed out the slayers under his breath.

It was just like that night. That awful night, One of the worst days of his life as he remembered the feeling of holding her frozen over corpse in his arms. The warmth left her body, Never to return.

Her dried tears.. The stab wound through her back.. She was covered head to toe in her own blood. She had tried to find help, She was fighting to survive in her last moments and he was too late to be there for her.

The memories of that night went through him. He had thought of them before, He had never stopped. Every waking moment he would be called back to that one stupid little night yet now as he knelt in the exact same place she had perished it felt so, so much worse.

But within the flurry of emotions he felt it was anger that came on top. The slayers had desecrated her shrine, His sisters shrine. They had turned it into a base without any respect given to her while he was gone.

It was unacceptable, It was truly down to the very last bone in his body a disgrace. The only remnant left of her and they ruined it.

Getting up from his kneeling position he rested a firm hand on his sword. The tears starting to speckle his eyes were quickly shook off.

He wasn't going to let them get away with it. They'd pay, Not for him but for his late-sisters sake.

How would she feel about this? About her precious shrine turned into nothing but business operations for the group that slew her? She'd be horrified, Disgusted too. He imagined it in his head, Her reaction to the news of what happened played out so clear it was if she was standing in front of him.

She'd cry as she listened to the tale of what happened to it, She'd hug him in search of comfort and he'd try his best to provide it. He imagined it happening..

All as if she was still alive.

"Don't worry, [F/N].. Michi-Nii will deal with this.."

☆♡☆

"I don't understand, Inari.. I don't know what it means.."

[F/N] sat rambling off to the shrine. She had done the proper incantations and rituals to perform her prayers, Now all that was left was to consult them. See if they answer and if they do, She'd finally get her closure.

"The snow.. The man and those words. I don't understand it, Inari. Please, If you want to give me a message I beg of you, Be more direct with me.." [F/N] pleaded, Her hands still were clasped in that same prayer position just a little more desperately this time.

"For months I've been given these dreams, Either by you or by something else that's wrong with me. I know you are listening, That I do not doubt.." [F/N] continued as she lowered her head, Now bowing down to the altar.

"I just want to know.. What do they mean?" She said, A finality in her voice as she went silent. Waiting on eagerly for a response. It was quiet, Deafeningly so. Nothing made a single sound, No echoes travelled around the honden like they usually would.

[F/N] felt her hands clench up, Her body tense as she waiting for something. Anything.

Suddenly the candles flickered, The flames stuttering on and off.

[F/N] sensed it and raised her head, Watching as they moved about in a swaying motion.

"W-What th-"

BOOM!

An explosion of noise erupted from behind her like a dam being broken down by a raging tsunami. A rapid gush of wind and cold air hit her like the strormsurge as she yelped out in surprise.

She fell over, Holding onto one of the wooden pillars for support so she wouldn't be knocked over once more. The entire shrine's structure seemed to shake at the force of some unknown cause.

As the wind finally settled and she could lift her head. From outside the honden she could hear yelling and screaming of several groups of people, Panicked frenzied noises muffled by the shaken walls.

But what really caught her attention was the noise of the Kasugai crows coming out from their aviary on the third floor. It sounded like they were coming out in flocks, Croaking and screaming one single phrase over and over again.

"EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! ATTACK! ATTACK! THE KAKUSHI BASE IS UNDER ATTACK! CALLING FOR ALL NEARBY SLAYERS!"

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cherrykamado · 10 days

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𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐘 — 𝐂𝐇.𝟎𝟒

previous. | next. | masterlist.

☆ pairing: yandere kamado tanjiro x reader.

☆ summary: Tanjiro and Y/N meet "gentler" demons, but Y/N can't help but distrust them. Tanjiro will gain an insight into Y/N's past to understand, empathize and add her pain to his reasons to bring down the Demon Lord, Kibutsuji Muzan.

☆ warnings (general): yandere themes, toxicity, gore, manipulation, smut, delusional thoughts, unhealthy relationships. All characters are aged up.

☆ warnings (as for ch. 04): violence, unhealthy love perspective, idolization (story is told from tanjiro's perspective.), traumatic past allusion (gore, death).

☆ notice: minors / ageless blogs do not interact.

☆ comments: yearly update!! i'll try to be more consistent but inspiration suddenly came in and i sat down to finish it hehe. one day it came back (again)! thank you for the infinite patience and all the support throughout the years!

A blink of his eyes and Tanjiro is encountered with a different kind of scene: flowers swirling around him, as if covering him from the outside crowd. He looks around but he can’t find you. Where are you? What’s all of this?

“You use the term person to refer to one that has turned into a demon.”

His head snaps to the direction of the source; as his nostrils become full of that smell he has grown to hate so much. Her smell, she’s a… That’s right, she is a demon — she brings her now healed forearm to her chest— but she’s also a doctor.

“I also wish to see that man, Kibutsuji Muzan, obliterated.” She resumes, and now he’s gained his full attention.

Her statement causes his eyes to widen, orbs tinted with shock. His gaze shortly flickers between the face of the mysterious woman and her hands, where nails, sharp as claws, elongate and fade into a darker color. Underneath them, the torn skin, once bleeding, quickly closes up and heals, as it though it has never been torn in the first place. Unbelievably so, the dichotomy is evident, confusion reigning. Good demons? Tanjiro asks himself.

Is there even such a thing?

“W-wait, Tanjiro!”

Your voice makes him turn immediately towards you, his gaze tinged with concern as he notices the shakiness in your voice. He can sense it, your scent tainted with fear. He knows just how much you do not trust demons.

“You’re… Y-You’re not really thinking—”

“I assure you, neither me nor Yushiro mean harm. In fact, we want nothing more than to help.” Tamayo clarifies.

As he sees your gaze averting from his, there’s a bit of hesitance. As much as he wants to take your side, he believes she is telling the truth. Taking your hand in both of his own, he causes you to bring those gorgeous eyes of yours back onto his.

“It’s okay.” He softly says, burgundy eyes showing nothing but determination, as he then points to his nose. “I haven’t picked any scent of dishonesty from them yet.”

Yet — the emphasis in such a word that leaves the implicit more than explicit; given the premise becoming a reality, that if anyone were to turn against them, he swears, with just one look, that he will protect you no matter what.

Remembering Nezuko’s back at the Udon store, you both return to see her. In the way, so uncomfortably silent, Tanjiro is obviously stealing glances at your form. Your sweet scent is mixed. He notices how you’re trying to hold your hands together in an attempt to make them stop shaking but it’s pointless.

“[Name]?” He calls, but he doesn’t get to see your lovely face, fully looking at him. He decides to tend a hand to you and so it caresses your angelically soft skin. Only then does he notice that, just as soft as it is, your skin is humid too.

Whatever could have been so tormentuous, that your lovely face is contorted that way? In a way that makes Tanjiro wish he could just brush it off, and in return see your smile once again. Whoever is the one responsible for that alienating fear you are showing so overtly?

“ [Name]...” Tanjiro decides to try once again. “It’s alright… I’m here. You can tell me anything, you know?” He adds, in a nervous attempt to console you, to let you know that he is here for you. That you can confide to him anything that is discomforting you so much.

He watches how your eyes blink your tears away, and how your teeth hurt your lip in an attempt to get that fear in control. Yet, how little does this do, as he watches you shake like a fallen angel, who’s lost its way back to heaven.

“I-it’s just… Why did you have to do such a thing?”

“Why… did I do w-what?”

“That man— H-he’s monstrous… He’s… h-he’s the w-worst…” He notes how your start to stammer, but his heart has already begun racing as he noticed how your eyes, pleading humid eyes, reciprocate his gaze. From your lips come the words that would fuel Tanjiro’s infatuation more than ever, making it feel as though his heart was doing backflips inside his ribcage:

“What if he hurt you? He’s way too strong! I’ve seen what…”

In his mind, only the question lingered and repeated, just as if there was a parrot inside his mind, mimicking your voice, mimicking… your worry towards him.

So, you care.

“I-I see… I promise I’ll be more careful next time.” He smiles at you, trying to conceal his inner turmoil by bringing you the reassurance you need. However, amidst all this, there is an important question that arises:

Why are you so afraid of Kibutsuji Muzan? What happened between you and him?

What did he dare do to you, thought a darker voice at the back of Tanjiro’s mind.

“Did you already know him?” His thumbs ever so delicately brush away your tears. “Kibutsuji Muzan, I mean.”

And what came from your mouth… Tanjiro swears that he could feel a ripping void inside of him.

His burgundy eyes widened tremendously as he heard his angel tell him about the hell she had gone through. Had his gear been a person’s wrist, for sure he would have broken it. It hurt him especially so that it was you who had to witness such a scene, the brutal murder of your loved ones. The magnitude of a trauma that made you pass out right then, only for his face to have been the last thing you saw. Only for the first thing to feel, smell, and afterwards see, to be the pool of the blood of your loved ones.

But he snaps out of it, and goes back to you when he notices your upset expression, and it tugs at his heart. He notices how you squeeze your hands, and how your lips are still quivering, how your beautiful eyes are yet once again shedding tears of despair. The anxiety, the fear coming from you is insane in amount.

“I…I’m very sorry. I— couldn’t think.” He confesses, “That smell… That—”

A flashback comes to him the moment he closes his eyes. No, he doesn’t want to remember. Not now. He doesn’t want to face those memories now.

You seem to notice this, and you’re quick to apologize. You seem to get it, more or less. He promises to himself that he’ll tell you one day, but he’s not ready. The way his expression had changed must have warned you.

“T-that man…” You mumble out, between hiccups. “I wish… I wish for him to go down like the m-monster he is.”

Tanjiro knows this very well. But he wants to push all those thoughts away, he doesn’t want hatred to get to him. He has to think about you, his beloved, who’s suffering right now. Something in him tells him to think about you, and to comfort you in some way.

He doesn’t think much when his offer rolls off his tongue, yet his hand is shyly reaching out for yours.

“Y-You can hold my hand if you want…” He risks.

And when you take it! oh, to feel such delicate fingers, intertwined with his once again. Your gentleness, holding him, how your soft skin brushes against the hardness of his rough palms; it’s like small pangs running from his hand to his heart, which skips a beat, and makes his cheeks heat up.

A small smile then escapes his lips, and his gaze softens on you, whose gaze is fixed on the road ahead, the small udon store already showing up, as well as nezuko’s pink kimono.

All bad feelings and thoughts vanish from his head, and the once turbulent river in his heart starts to slowly calm down. The effect you have on him, he can’t tell. The only thing he knows is that he’s so fond of it. So fond of you .

Tanjiro has just faced one of his worst and biggest fears, and almost got killed because of that. But then you appeared, you saved him, and you comforted him. This is the least he can do for you.

Don’t worry, [Name]… he thinks to himself, but his gaze on you, thinking as if he was talking to you; this silent promise, another oath. As long as I’m here, I won’t let anything happen to you.

That is the oath he swore to himself from that very same night.

“Uhm...Tanjiro?”

Your voice is the one that snaps him back to reality. Releasing his hand gently, almost politely, you wipe the sweat off your palm; the redhead hasn’t noticed that it was his sweat until you point it out for him. Embarrassment sneaks into plain view and coats his cheeks with a dust of pink; immediately, he’s wiping the sweat off his palms furiously against his haori, cursing himself in his mind.

Gaze turning at a muffled voice he knows so well, he’s greeted by the innocent look of his beloved sister, Nezuko. Tanjiro smiles, and offers her an apology.

“I’m sorry for leaving you here, Nezuko…”

“Actually!” You interrupt, in your usual cheerful voice, “It’s me who should be sorry… I shouldn’t have left her like that! But when you ran away, I-I freaked out! So I asked Mr. Toyo to look after her in the meantime.”

You did that? For him?

His breath is shaking, and his heart is pounding in his ears.

You ran… after him.

“T-thank you very much!” is all that he can say; his voice comes out loud, unintentionally, but he couldn’t help it.

And your smile… That cute smile you send him, while scratching the back of your neck. That giggle that jingles from your lips, dances into his ears to travel down toward his chest, and shakes the core of his heart. Why you are so cute is a question that doesn’t cross his mind at the moment. At this point, he has stopped asking himself questions; he allows himself to feel it, because you are warm, because you are light. Because you remind him of something so precious to him.

Even though it has only been a few encounters since he properly met you, Tanjiro doesn’t think about whether this isn’t going too fast. Oh no, that’s another question he won’t ask himself. Time doesn’t matter to him; He feels he’s known you, because he feels he can trust you entirely. He trusted you with his little sister, and you had made the right call. You had rushed to his aid — you protected him.

You’re an angel. A guardian angel. You’ve been sent to him. And, oh, does he want to give everything to you.

At that moment, he can’t help but to feel how his expression softens, how another smile escapes him. You have developed the ability to steal the most sincere smiles from him, it is contagious.

Your stomach growling brings your giggles to a stop, and Tanjiro can’t help but to puff his cheeks at how cute you are when you look embarrassed.

“Are you hungry?” He asks, smiling, to which you burst out laughing in pure embarrassment.

“A-A little bit...S-sorry!” You answer, your eyes looking glossy from all the laughing. Tanjiro could hear your laugh for hours, if it was up to him.

“Now listen to me, you! This isn’t about the money” The owner of the udon store, Toyo, beams all of the sudden. Storming at the redhead, the man looks so outraged, but only takes it out on him, not on you.

“I can’t forgive what you did!! Not even wanting to try my udon!”

“I-I’m so sorry—” Tanjiro’s body stiffens, “P-please serve us another bowl!”

“So, you gonna eat?”

“Y-yes!” Tanjiro retorts, and you echo with a nod.

“You’d better eat this time!”

“Y-yes!”

You and tanjiro eat up all the bowls; Tanjiro had to make up for the portion Nezuko didn’t eat, devouring bowl after bowl, insanely fast. Once he finishes, his red wine gaze looks at you, so lost in a world of your own, slurping on your own noodles with a bright smile on your face, delighted noises coming from you as you eat up.

“Is it good?”

You nod frantically, noodles still in your mouth. Can you get any cuter? He would buy you as many bowls as you’d want, no matter how hungry he can be, only to see you smile.

Just the moment when you’re finishing your plate, Nezuko’s growl brings his attention to a tree. The scent of a demon hits his nostrils; the moment he turns his gaze, however, he meets the demon that was standing next to the woman who defended him and you from the policemen.

It’s then that his intentions are revealed: reluctantly, you follow them to a house hidden behind a dead end, in which you not only meet the doctor demon again, but also one of the victim’s from Muzan’s attack.

Hopefully, she was alive, being treated by her. Lady Tamayo, as you both learned her name was, was treating the victim’s injuries. She is asleep, but she is going to get well soon.

“Isn’t it difficult for you to treat human’s wounds?”

Tamayo’s partner, Yushiro, doesn’t like Tanjiro at all. At least, that’s what he shows. Tanjiro doesn’t understand why, but he’s received a hit to his chest, knocking the air out of his lungs.

“You think that we’ll treat humans while choking on our drool at the smell of their blood, just because we’re demons?” Yushiro hisses, and Tanjiro immediately regrets having misjudged them.

He doesn’t notice how you hesitantly have stepped right ahead, standing near tamayo. Not so close, but not so far, still loud enough for her to hear what you were saying.

“Will she… Will she be alright?” He hears you ask, making him stop fighting with Yushiro, looking at you with curious burgundy eyes.

Tanjiro’s cheeks feel warm, seeing you so concerned for the woman.

“Yes,” The demon doctor answers, “Although it is her husband who is in a worse shape than her. We had to lock him down in the basement,”

Tanjiro’s eyes squint in sorrow, seeing how awful it would be. To be hurt by Muzan, to be stripped of humanity, to be a demon. To betray what you once had known and loved, and to hurt what is most precious to oneself.

Thinking about the word precious makes Tanjiro’s eyes travel to you. His mind also resorts to his little sister, but his sight, the windows of his heart, of his soul, are fixed on you. The way you look in concern, how your expression is turned into one of sorrow and hurt. Would you be feeling that too? Are you thinking the same? Who might you be thinking about? Is it about him, or is it about someone else?

The sole action of considering there could be someone else in your life is something Tanjiro couldn’t bear with. So, he is optimistic. It’s him you’re thinking about. Your family maybe?

Please, say something. Please, he longs that your heart has a little place reserved for him.

“How sad…” Words roll off your tongue and dance into his ears. It’s then than the blueish scent —if he could see that, he thinks that scent would most certainly it would be blue-ish, mixed with the amber color of your usual, enticing honey scent—

And his heart clenches. It is really sad to be like that.

His heart clenches. He would never forgive Muzan.

His heart clenches. He will protect you from everything.

His heart flutters. You’re looking at him.

“Tanjiro…” You start, and his sight travels down to your extended fist, held out towards him.

“Promise me we will kill him no matter what.”

He didn’t need to feel your scent to know you’re upset. Angry, beyond mad, to say the least. It’s shown in the way your fist is clenched, knuckles white from the pressure; it’s in the glint of your once cheerful eyes.

His fist gently connects with yours, a silent nod is his response.

But when he meets your gaze again, he notices that your eyes... they do not only hold anger. They hold determination .

And that smile confirms it.

“I promise I will do everything I can to help you turn Nezuko back into a human.” You pledge to him, stealing his breath away.

His cheeks heating up, glossy burgundy orbs pointlessly blink back tears, tears that stream down his cheeks. He’s not oblivious at how you’re looking at him, in concern, as if you have said something wrong. But he’s feeling all the opposite: it’s joy, it’s happiness. Knowing that you got him, that you understand him . That you understand his pain.

As if your soul and his have been forged with the same material. You and him were the same — you were one. Either that, or you had been splitted into two parts of the same soul when you were created. It just had to be true.

Arms wrap around you and don’t let you go; for the first time, they feel your warmth and, god, he loves it. You feel like something he hasn’t felt in a while. Even if he can’t put his finger on it, it feels pleasant, it makes his heart flutter, and it brings every single inch of his self bliss. Tanjiro feels reassured, Tanjiro feels…

“Thank you—” He sobs, breathless, while nuzzling his head in the crook of his neck, “You don’t know how much this means to me…”

And it feels like heaven when you wrap your arms around him, enclosing him full in your loving embrace, in your kind warmth. How you gently pat his head, as he gradually calms down. He doesn’t care that everyone’s looking —they can look all they want, because Tanjiro’s never been afraid to show himself as a sensitive human being. He’s not afraid to show himself at his rawest before you.

Embraces are always bittersweet: when you unwrap his arms, certain that he’s calmed down, there’s nothing more that he wants than being held by you again.

But your kind gaze just does, the lovingness of your touch as you brush his tears away is reassuring enough, the nod you give him while your smile shows itself before him again is enough.

He promises —again— himself that he will always protect you. Just as much as you want to protect his little sister.

Just as much as you want to protect him.

Because you’re out of this world. Because you’re an angel in disguise.

And to have an angel like you in his life…

He shakes his head, seeing things really as they are — he’s finally found it. His angel.

The very same angel that has faith in him.

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animetrashlord-007 · 2 years

Text

A Knock At Midnight;; Tanjiro

Word Count;; 1.1k

Genre;; Yandere

Pairing;; Demon!Tanjiro x Reader [Demon Slayer]

Summary;;

There's a monster hunting you. Every night it comes knocking on your door, pressing your limits and toying with your sanity.

Request;;

Anon said: Can I request 15 in the summer creepy prompt with Tanjiro

Prompt 15 = The Knock!

Warnings;;

Demon!Tanjiro, horror elements, predator / prey, branding, blood

Notes;;

I'm not a fan of making characters into the thing they hate but it also just kind of wrote itself that way

My Masterlist

It comes every night.

Heavy knuckles rapping against your door, sharp nails scraping the log panelling of your cabin, open palms eliciting moans as the windows threaten to shatter beneath them; it comes every night, emboldened by your passivity. No matter how still you are, hands clamped over your mouth to prevent even the tremble of your lips, it always knows where you are. Shadows do little to camouflage you. When it wants you, it finds you.

The first knock came at midnight – one loud bang that rattled the door on its hinges. Harrowed by the appearance of a stranger so far into the wilderness, you pretended you weren't home. It seemed to work, and silence fell across your property. Not a single animal dared make a sound. Not even you.

When the sun rose and your restless sleep came to an end, you had planned to move on from the whole incident. There was no reason to dwell on it. It wasn't scary unless you allowed it to be. That had been your mindset when you swung your front door open but your resolution wavered once you saw the scorch mark branded upon the dark wood.

It came every night henceforth.

Even now as the clock strikes midnight and bile rises in your throat, you know it'll come. Sometimes it waits until your guard is down, arriving early or waiting until dawn is near, but it always comes. Without fail, it haunts your every night.

And it's growing more brazen with every passing day.

Ravenous growls flood through the crack beneath the door, followed by incessant inhalations as it sniffs you out. Your eyes flicker to the trembling wood. Groaning under the pressure of the body pressed against it, hairline fractures materialise.

The knocking begins. It reverberates inside your skull, rattling your brain until your eyes sting. Covering your ears does naught to dampen the sound. The beast pounds against the walls without reprieve as it creeps toward your hiding spot. Past the main hall and living room and around the corner to your bedroom, taunting you all while closing the distance. Fists loosen to open palms and it's the screech of nails against wood that breaks you.

"Go away, go away, go away," you whimper, the words wet with tears. "God, please, just leave me alone!"

It pauses and the silence is heaven-sent.

Taking a deep breath, you hold the air until it burns. Shivers tear down your spine. Releasing a shaky exhale, you repeat the process, willing your nerves to settle. For the first time in weeks you're able to think with some clarity. Did it leave? Did your cries satisfy it for the night? A glimmer of hope passes through your mind as you look toward the bedroom window.

Darkness.

There's only darkness.

Standing on unsteady feet, you wipe away tears and snot with the back of your sleeve. You've never seen the beast, always too scared to face it. Would it be monstrous and grotesque? Would the mere sight of it petrify your very soul, sealing you within this endless nightmare? Only something truly hideous down to the core could be so relentless in its torture.

You need to see it.

You need to know what face it wears.

When you reach the windowsill you expect a jumpscare, for it to reach in and rip you away from the sanctity of your home. There's nothing. No movement, no marks, no trace of the monster. You strain your eyes to catch sight of anything abnormal. It should be easy to tell – it's your own land after all – but everything looks wrong.

Finger-like branches lurch toward you, eager to snatch you up the moment you flee. The garden pulses with a beating heart. Clouds open wide to swallow the moonlight, allowing shadows to expand along the tree line.

If it's anywhere, it'll be there. Watching. Waiting.

You squint into the distance.

All is quiet.

Leaning forward, your breath fogs the pane. With a quick swipe of your arm, you scour the landscape. Forest stretches for miles in every direction. A thick ball of saliva threatens to stick in your throat. You gulp it down before propping yourself up on your tiptoes. Your hands rest against the sill to support your endeavour, old paint flaking under your fingertips.

Pressing your cheek against the cold window, you search the distance for any sign of movement. Moisture slides up your face. You're still, not moving even when you gasp, and yet the glass continues to lick your skin. A chilled breeze wisps past your stomach. The deafening silence of the great outdoors invades your bedroom.

Dropping your gaze, a scream tears past your lips. Claws snap forth from shadow to wrap around your wrist. Tight enough to break skin, the hand yanks you forward. Fissures explode across the window as your face slams into the glass.

"Caught you," your monster purrs.

Searing pain etches into your skin where it holds you. It burns through the muscle all the way down to the bone. Your shoulder threatens to dislocate when you try to pull away. It's too strong, unnaturally so. There's a loud crack and for a moment you fear it's your wrist snapping in two but the stench of iron is coming from your cheek, not your arm. Warm blood stains the glass, creating a kaleidoscope of reds and pinks as your tears mix with it.

Splinters break off into your hand as you push against the window, creating some space between your eye and a shard large enough to blind. When your leverage gives way you yelp. To your surprise, the beast's grounding hold is gone, and with nothing to keep you upright you crash toward the hard ground.

Squeezing your eyes shut, you await your next dose of pain.

It doesn't come.

Your chest shakes as you cry, knowing what you'll see long before you force your eyes open. One limb at a time he invites himself in, bending at angles that defy the laws of nature. Your shirt tears under his jagged claws as he holds you upright. His second hand reaches for you, petting the top of your head like one would a puppy. Sharp teeth protrude from his widening lips.

Your monster is like you, young and human and far from menacing.

Or he was at some point at least.

There's nothing humane in the way he regards you. To drive this point home he grabs both of your wrists, indifferent to how you wince as he inspects them. Small drops of blood trickle down one hand while the other throbs.

Twisting the limb within his grasp, your eyes widen when you catch sight of the damage he’s left behind. The same symbol scorched upon your front door now decorates your wrist like a brand.

"Caught you," he repeats, licking your bloody hand. "Now the real fun begins."

– If you enjoyed this, please consider liking, commenting, reblogging, and/or following! Thank you! ♡ –

#yandere tanjiro #yandere demon slayer #yandere kny #demon tanjirou #tanjiro x reader #demon slayer x reader #Kimetsu no Yaiba #kny x reader #kny fanfic #kny x you #demon slayer #tanjiro kamado #tanjiro x y/n #yandere au #kny

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yandereaffections · 2 years

Note

Good evening!

May I request Sebastian (or Tanjiro, Eren, or Agapito if this req doesn’t fit right) with a “s/o” who has been using a dating app. They were either unaware or uncaring of his feelings and have gotten several exciting matches.

Thank you very much for your time and have a wonderful day!

Tanjiro isn't an in your face kind of guy, he'll let you have space and try to hint at the emotions he feels towards you without too much emphasis. At the same time he can't sit back and watch your attention be taken by these online rivals

While he appears sweet and patient to you tanjiro is keeping himself updated via your friends and making a dating app account himself to see what your doing, the kind of guys you match with and what your bio looks like

Appealing to your interests is easier this way when he has your account as a set by set guide on what you like, gain your attention and make you forget all about that ridiculous app, all you've ever needed is right in front of you, just put down the phone and make eye contact with him please

#tanjiro kamado #tanjiro x reader #tanjirou #tanjiro x y/n #tanjiro headcanons #yandere tanjiro #demon slayer #demon slayer imagines #demon slayer headcanons #demon slayer x reader #yandere demon slayer #yandere #yandere x reader #yandere headcanons #yandere imagines #yandere imagine #yandere x you #yandere x y/n

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dear-yandere · 4 years

Note

Yandere Tanjirou x fem reader with this request “I will protect you from everything.” Or “Scream all you want. They’ve all given up on you anyway. ”You can choose either. Please ^w^

Tanjiro Kamado

Love at first sight.

Tanjiro had always dreamed of something like that – it seemed so far off, something out of the fairy tales his mother would tell his siblings. But that only made him want it all the more, for his parents had met the same way and still found true love. Yet, he thought he’d left behind such childish naivete as he grew older and the responsibility of taken caring of his siblings became more pressing. He was the man of the family, he couldn’t afford to believe such frivolous stories. The reality of life wasn’t always so puerile, not when Tanjiro had so many lives on his hands.

It wasn’t until he lost everything besides his sister, wasn’t until he met you that those childish dreams came rushing back. He was instantly smitten – your eyes which shone with the innocence he was robbed of, your skin which glowed with the purity he could no longer have. You were beautiful, you were everything he wasn’t, you were vulnerable and he wanted to protect that.

He needed to protect that.

“H-help…” You stirred in your sleep, his warm and calloused fingers harshly brushing against your skin at the sudden movement. Your eyebrows furrowed and stiffened, hand gripping onto as you slept. Another nightmare.

His heart sunk into his stomach, a still-beating pit that made him want to throw up. He shouldn’t have convinced you to join the group, to travel with them as a healer. Everyone knew you would just be a burden, a hassle that couldn’t defend herself, but he’d insisted. He couldn’t leave you back there, in a village that could be overrun by demons at any moment. It never even crossed his mind, but then again, neither did the consequences of bringing you along.

He just wanted you near.

“Shh, it’s alright my love…” He curled his fingers, using the soft skin of his knuckles to softy caress your cheek, like a knight looking at his princess with such adoration. “Nothing can harm you when I’m here. I will protect you from everything.”

#yandere tanjiro x reader #yandere tanjirou x reader #yandere tanjiro kamado x reader #yandere tanjirou kamado x reader #yandere kamado tanjiro x reader #yandere kamado tanjirou x reader #kny x reader #yandere kny #yandere kimetsu no yaiba #yandere kimetsu no yaiba x reader #*scenario #vanya #yandere x reader #yandere x you #yandere #yandere scenario #yandere imagines

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sublieu · 3 years

Note

Reader tries to murder yandere Tajiro, Yoriichi and Rengoku (Separate) in his sleep with a knife but kinda breaks down in between and starts crying? Fluff please if possible and TYSM :)

A.n: Alrighty! and if you don't mind this will take place in the modern au :)

Yoriichi

-He never thought that you'd actually try and kill him until now, he woke to sound of your crying. Only to find out that you had a knife.

-Reading the puzzle pieces he took the knife away from you, being careful enough to not startle you.

-"Y/n sweety calm down ok?" he whispered softly as he held your hands. He placed the knife under the bed, making sure it was far enough that you couldn't reach it if you were tricking him.

-"There there sweety it's ok, just calm down" he whispered as he hugged you, giving you soft forehead kisses as you slowed your heavy breathing.

"M'sorry yoriichi" you whispered as you felt your tears build up, hugging his arm as you wept softly. You felt his other hand pet your hair as you continued your silent weeps.

-You fell asleep a few hours later. Your weeps finally stopping as he hugged you tightly.

-When dawn approached he woke you up with soft kisses and praises. Making sure you woke up with a happy mood.

Tanjiro

-Tanjiro expected you wanted to kill him but he never expected to find you sitting atop his chest with a knife in hand. He woke to the sound of you crying, he looked up and saw that you had a knife in hand.

-He held your arms as soft as he could to not startle you, taking away the knife and hiding it under his pillow and got up slowly.

-You were whispering 'I'm sorry' over and over again as he hugged you, your tears non stop as he kissed your head.

-"It's ok y/n I'm here calm down" he whispered back, humming softly as he kissed your head. Your breathing finally slowing down enough for you to breathe properly, you fell asleep shortly after. your flowing tears slowing to a stop, making the red haired boy smile softly as your sleeping figure.

-As soon as dawn hits the first thing he did was put back the knife and made (or well tried) breakfast. Trying his hardest to come back to the room without making any loud noises. only to see you awake (mainly from the loud frying noises

-He apologised and gave you your breakfast, sitting beside you and eating as well.

-He gave you good morning kisses on your cheek too as his way of saying good morning, making you giggle as you continued with eating.

Rengoku

-Even while he was asleep he knew something was up. Waking up to find you weeping over his chest with a knife in hand.

-Scared and cautious he took the knife away from you and hid it in the bedside table drawer. Hugging you shortly after

-"I'm so sorry rengoku" you whispered, breaking down into a loud crying mess under him, he hugged you tighter, whispering soft nothings into your ear as you wept

-He felt your small form fall limp, he looked down, smiling softly as you fell asleep under him, his warmth soothing you softly as he adjusted himself to sleep properly.

-As morning hits he made you breakfast and tea. He left it on the bedside table and went back downstairs to clean up the living room and kitchen.

©𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐛𝐮𝐯_ 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏; 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝

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kimetsu-no-yaiba-writings · 2 years

Text

Demon Tanjirou Kamado x (FEM) Reader - Prologue: In the Shadows

Pairing: Tanjirou Kamado x (FEM) Reader

Word Count: 1693 words

Warnings: None - this chapter

Notes: This is a Modern Demon AU that will be incorporating yandere themes later on in this series - I’m not 100% on how many chapters I’ll have and I think it’ll probably be dependent on how many people actually enjoy this....

Anyway!

Hope you enjoy this prologue chapter

Prologue - here. >> Chapter 1

Your ten years-old and its summer, there’s a field with wildflowers and butterflies that comes to mind, a feint breeze plays with the gentle fabric of your dress and the ribbon in your hair.

You can remember running with someone – a boy of the same age – laughing with bright smiles. A small warm hand is clasped tightly with yours, tugging you along the dirt path, sunshine dusting your forms.

There’s a peach tree in bloom – pretty pink blossoms vibrant and gorgeous against the vibrant greens of the surrounding oaks – that catches your attention.

Your memory blurs.

Things become distorted and the shadows grow long – it scares you.

And then your standing in front of the peach tree, facing the boy, back towards the path home.

“(Y/N)! (Y/N)! We’ll be together for ever, right?”

A boy spoke so warmly towards you, his tiny hands clasping yours tightly, a bright smile present on his face – even though his face was a blur of overlapping and constantly changing shadows

He made your little heart thump loudly.

“Of course! I love you lots and lots -------” You proclaimed with a smile “Forever and Always!”

Peach blossom swirled past you both prettily as your chubby cheek was kissed.

He made you so happy, this warm child that played with you whenever you could leave the house, who gave you wildflowers, trinkets and snacks.

Your memories were warm whenever he was there…

But why couldn’t you remember his face or name?

You can remember your childhood in a vagueness of washed-out colours, sometimes there was sharp contrast – a memory – that’d bring things back in a wave of nostalgia, much like overlapping water and foamed bubbles.

Certain smells, tastes and a particular shade of red gave you nostalgia for a boy who you remembered but not fully, his face and name lost to you.

Maybe it was because it was almost summer – almost the time to sit around and eat ice-cream – but those feelings of nostalgia and an unknown yearning filled you, got stronger with every year you weren’t in that childhood town or house….

Part of you was glad that your father was so understanding about your wanting for change from the big city, his demeanour calm and warm as he offered up your childhood home as your new place – a glint of something in his eye – over afternoon tea.

“I know it’s a lot to ask dad…” You murmured “But I could pay you rent if you wanted? I’m sure that there’ll be a job that I coul-“

“Don’t be daft (Y/N)!” Dad chuckled, mug partially raised to his lips “I still own the house, so I can take care of the water and electricity bills and you’ll only have to pay for groceries”

Dad smiled, crow’s feet and laughter lines becoming prominent and wrinkling his face. A stranded of peppered black hair fell loosely in front of his face as he giggled quietly at your surprised expression, reminding you briefly of the younger man your dad uses to be – the one who’d put his hair into a ponytail whenever he cooked or gave you a piggyback ride – before the stresses of life and your mum got too him…

Reaching over the table and clasping your dad’s hand with a smile made you happy (even if it was a little bit) and gave you a small bit of comfort, afterall, you could count on one hand the amount of times dad had been dismissive and/or rude. He’d always been kind.

Dad was just like that.

“Thanks dad…”

Dad squeezed your hand in return, gentle and warm and calloused from work.

“Stop ya thanking kid” He huffed with a twinkle in his eye “I’ll drop you off there myself in a couple of days, you reckon you can get packed by then?”

You simply nodded, a hug of agreement slipping past your lips.

Time passed quickly after that, afternoon tea turning into staying for dinner with dad – a faint lingering memory from your teenage years of helping make food with him, of laughter and music – and a couple of episodes of a tv programme.

With the passing of time came the lengthening of the shadows.

And the need to go home.

Part of you was surprised at how quickly time had slipped past and changed from afternoon into evening; in fact, you were back at your flat – illuminated by the orange neon glow of streetlamps outside – both earlier and somehow later than expected.

Your flat wasn’t huge nor was it small and you couldn’t even call it medium sized, it kinda fit somewhere in-between the realm of cosy + friendly and gets messy quickly if you put too many things down – e.g., shopping.

It was home; had been for a good number of years but it was time to move on, the yearning for something that you couldn’t place your finger on having set in once again,

“The show must go on…” You murmured to yourself “…I guess?”

You went about your business of checking you had indeed locked the door, having a drink and then grabbing pyjama’s and taking a shower, taking a little time to relax under the semi-warm water before going through your routine of moisturising and dressing.

With a huff you threw yourself back into the warm embrace of your duvet, rolling yourself up like some sort of demented little human caterpillar as your eyelids opened and closed slowly + tiredly before letting you drift off into the dark embrace of sleep.

That night you slept fitfully, dreaming – or maybe remembering? – of something that happened in your confusing childhood once again.

You were eleven years old and its winter.

The house is cold, its wooden floorboards echoing a loose warmth from the copper pipes beneath and its dark and windy outside.

You’re wearing your mum’s apron, radio playing faint music as you stir a bowl of cake mix while the blurry faced boy hums to the tune, swinging his legs as he sits on the countertop – he’s not meant to sit there, mum will go mad if she saw him….

The atmosphere is warm. You feel warm even though its slightly cold, you feel warm whenever you’re with him... Maybe you’re in love?

The oven hums as it preheats.

What were you baking again? Was it cake? Or was it cookies? Maybe Macaroons?

Either way you didn’t care – the kitchen became a mess of shadows and stained with blood as you felt sick… the kitchen was normal, everything was ok - had your head always felt fuzzy? – you were spending time with your best friend, who’s form stood stirring a different bowl of unknown mixture – strange, had he always been there?

“Hey, -----,” You murmured, turning towards him with a smile “You reckon we could finish these in time for dinner?”

The boy remained with his back to you, he hummed, head tilting to the side in thought before looking over his shoulder at you – face a gapping hole of inky black with eyes redder than sin staring at you, no, you didn’t remember his face… what did he look like again? – with an expression you couldn’t see, but you knew it was warm and kind.

“Hmmm, maybe?” he said with a ‘smile’ “Actually I think by the time these are done, dinner will have already be in progress…”

You replied, but the words never made it to your ears.

The boy laughed.

The radio still played – was this song backwards? It doesn’t sound right…

The oven still hummed with a warm glow – what was in the oven? Something’s cooking… whats cooking? – and the faint ticking of the timer he twisted into time.

Something was wrong.

You felt like mush.

Weak.

Brain a honeyed mush as you went through the motions of a memory that you couldn’t quite remember and was clearly being twisted and distorted by you dreaming. How strange, had you always been aware that you were dreaming?

Something flickered.

Fingers were being clicked in your face, you were brought back into it as the warm figure of your childhood friend stood in front of you, his head tilted cutely to the side as his earrings glinted under the light of the kitchen – what strange earrings….

“(-/N)! Hey (Y/N)!” His voice was a honeyed worry as his hands clasped yours and the bowl “You ok? You kinda spaced out on me there”

His words were warm, they trickled in and set themselves heavily in your bones and echoed in your skull.

What was happening?

And in that moment, you became deathly aware of something.

You couldn’t speak. You couldn’t move. You couldn’t look up from the bowl.

He was standing there, still holding your hands, still warm…no, he was hotter then warm it wasn’t comforting anymore, his touch was heavy and heated instead as you suddenly became aware of the eyes – molten red and filled with something dark – that drilled into you.

So dark.

Had his fingernails always been that length? Had they always been so sharp?

“Hey (Y/N)….” He murmured

Where was the bowl?

“(Y/N)…..”

A chill went up your spine as you were embraced as his breathe tickled your ear.

“(Y/N)” His voice sweet “I’ll find you again, I’ll think about you always after you’ve moved…”

You caught a glimpse of elongated canine in his mouth – when did he get a mouth?! – yet his face remained a blur, pearly whites a sharp contrast to the muddled thing that clouded his face.

“I’ll find you (Y/N)! It’s a promise”

You were aware of your pinky finger latching into a promise with his as your distorted voice said something that you couldn’t hear.

You woke up in a sweat, in the darkness of your room.

Pyjama top clinging to your skin as you tried to calm your frantic heart, breathe coming out in barely controlled pants as the hazy fog of sleep clung to your brain. A honeyed voice clung to the barely solid thoughts of your brain, as something crept up your spine and in the coming days, weeks and months, you’d come to realise that the feeling was fear…

#yandere kny x reader #kny x reader #demon slayer x reader #yandere demon slayer x reader #kimetsu no yaiba x reader #yandere kimetsu no yaiba x reader #kny tanjirou x reader #kny tanjiro x reader #tanjiro kamado x reader #tanjirou kamado x reader #demon tanjirou x reader #demon tanjirou kamado x reader #demon tanjiro x reader #demon tanjiro kamado x reader #x reader #In the Darkness lurks love Masterlist

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kizzaii · 2 years

Text

‼️So for the “Veronica! Open the door!” Trend I tried some yandere tanjiro and well…just see for yourself 👀 for my Demon Slayer fans👀

⇢➤ ᴸⁱⁿᵏᵗʳᵉᵉ

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lovelyyandereaddictionpoint · 10 months

Note

What would it be liked to be Tanjiro and Nezuko eldest sister who their parents adopted then when they found them in a bamboo forest as a toddler

Eldest Kamado Sibling Reader | Yandere Kimetsu no Yaiba

It’d feel like perfect harmony

Helping your mother as you take care of your sister and brothers

You see yourself as just another member of the family

And so does everyone in the Kamado family

Just one trip down the mountain leaves you and Tanjiro in devastation

Guiding you both on the journey to avenge your family and cure Nezuko

But don’t ever think Tanjiro lets you out of his sight

seniority be darned

And neither does Nezuko

Their both hurting and they won’t stand to let another member of their family die

Or let you run off with the various hashira and demons that can’t seem to leave you alone

Known as the eldest sibling to the demon slayer that carries a demon on his back demonslayers and demons alike just can’t help but try to sway drag you from your mission to save Nezuko and avenge your family

The Hashira fight to make you or Tanjiro their tsugoko

You guys travel in a pack so it's a given they’d take either one of you for their advantage with you in the long run

As the eldest, you need to be more than acquainted with your senior’s right

And the demons that have the honor of having your weapon pointed in their direction

Report to their master about the beauty that travels with the traffic light earrings

And at this rate, he’s got to meet you

Perhaps history will repeat itself and he’ll be given the next most loyal servant

#yandere kny x reader #yandere kny #yandere demon slayer #yandere demon slayer x reader #yandere kimetsu no yaiba #yandere kimetsu no yaiba x reader #yandere x reader #yandere x you #lovelyyandereaddictionpoint #yanderexrea #yandere #yanderes #kamado reader #yandere tanjiro kamado #yandere tanjirou #yandere nezuko #yandere hashira #yandere demons

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4izawas · 2 years

Text

yandere!demon!tanjiro makes sure to bite down on your shoulder to ground himself as he fucks into you from behind, the fat knot at the base of his thick cock catching against your sensitive rim with every thrust.

#tanjiro kamado x reader #tanjirou kamado x reader #demon!tanjiro kamado x reader #yandere!tanjirou kamado x reader #kamado tanjiro x reader #kamado tanjirou x reader #kimetsu no yaiba x reader #demon slayer x reader #kny x reader #late night thoughts.💤#tw yandere #character: kamado tanjiro !!

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trancylovecraft · 9 months

Text

(KNY) YANDERE PLATONIC! KOKUSHIBO x SISTER READER: You, Shibou. I, Kokoro (CHAPTER FOUR)

Previous Chapter ☆♡☆ Masterlist ☆♡☆ Next Chapter

AO3 link

CHAPTER FOUR: "Achilles, Achilles, Achilles, come down Won't you get up off, get up off the roof?"

NOTE: THE SONG OF THE DAY IS "Two Birds on a Wire" BY REGINA SOMETHING. LISTEN WHILE READING IF YOU WANNA HAVE FUN IDK YOU DON'T NEED TO. oh right btw pls send me aesthetic pics for my moodboards, im running out and almost resorted to quotes 😭✋ (which i did but shhh)

oh right, shit also gets real this chapter LETS GOOO.

Suicide notes only accompany in 25-20% percent of cases, Sometimes reaching 50% in some cultures and areas.

Reasons for writing a suicide note can include easing the pain of those known to the victim, To express thoughts and feelings that the person felt unable to express in life or to set out their reasons for committing such an act.

Murders of crows escaped in flocks, Flying high into the air in a wild panic as they hollered that one single phrase over and over again like a broken record player.

"EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! ATTACK! ATTACK! THE KAKUSHI BASE IS UNDER ATTACK! CALLING FOR ALL NEARBY SLAYERS!"

The sheer number of them was carrying the sound so far, Their call could be heard for miles even all the way to the village. The song of their screams frantic as they all flapped in different directions, Disappearing into the dark horizon.

Tanjiro couldn't see anything, He couldn't smell anything either. The sheer amount of dust made from the debris had blocked up all of his senses making him uncontrollably cough within the smoke.

He stumbled around, The shock hadn't even hit him yet. One moment he was walking around the base and the next he had been flung to the tile roof, All due to that gust of wind.

The tall stone walls surrounding the shrine had suddenly been destroyed all within a single moment, Throwing chunks of rock and wood hurtling into the main body of the shrine and its people.

The screams and shouts of panicked crowds rung in his ear like a church bell reverberated to the nines. It felt so loud, So bloody loud that he thought his head might explode from the raw volume of the wails.

Tanjiro was dazed, It was all a blur moving in slow motion as he tried to catch his footing on the flat of the roof.

It was only then once his foot was steadied that he could finally sense an overbearing presence. Somewhere in the mist.

"Someone is here.."

A voice like faraway thunder jolted Tanjiro out of his stupor, A voice that shook Tanjiro deep down to his very bones. It was nothing like any kind of voice he had heard before, It didn't sound human and certainly didn't smell like it either.

A putrid stench had hit Tanjiro, A sudden smell had came to him and it almost made him drop his sword. This was no ordinary demon, The scent was overwhelming his senses of nothing but pure and utter power.

The gale's sole blessing had manifested in the clearing of the smoke. The after breeze lifting up the thickest points of dust and blowing them away, Yet some still remained as a dark figure was now made clearer.

But it was the figure's six medallion eyes, One's that shone like headlights through the fog that really caught Tanjiro by surprise.

His eyes widened as his arm went to the hilt of his sword on response, Yet when his hand went to grab it he felt absolutely nothing there.

He snapped his head to his empty belt. His heart seemed to stop in his chest.

He still hadn't gotten his new sword sent to him yet, It was still being sharpened. He was absolutely defenceless.

By the time he had looked back up at the figure the fog had cleared completely, The dust long cleared as his eyes settled upon the demon in front of him.

Tall. He was towering in height, Well over six foot at least. His hair tied into a dark spiked ponytail with red whisking at the tips as it flowed in the wind, His hexagonal kimono oversized in the arms as it moved with his hair.

But it was the kanji in his eyes that made him freeze.

"You.. Boy."

His voice rang out again as he turned to Tanjiro. He stumbled back, Despite the demon being a few metres away on the other side of the roof he was still too close, Way too close.

His eyes glared down to the younger slayer, Stabbing into every point of him. Scrutinizing him from afar before finally landing on the piece he feasted his gaze on. Two hanafuda earrings dangling from each ear.

Tanjiro watched as his expression went blank, Only for a couple of seconds before flinching when he saw the demon's mouth contort into a snarl. An angry visage that showed off his lion-like canines protruding from under his lips.

"I.. You.." Tanjiro stuttered. He tried backing away once more but the heel of his foot hit the tile railing. He watched as small bits of debris fell off the roof down to the floor below, It was a long drop. If he fell there was little to no chance of survival.

"Those earrings.." The demon drawled. It sounded like something was stuck within his throat, Something he was holding back. "How did you acquire them.."

Tanjiro tried to steady his heavy breathing as he stared him down. "I.. T-They're a family heirloom.." Was all that he was able to muster up, His voice shaking as much as he was.

Kokushibo felt himself tense up, All six eyes scrutinizing the earrings as he tried his best to calm down the building sense of rage starting to burn inside him. A family heirloom? His brother's earrings, A family heirloom. The idea of it sounded so stupid to him, Not to mention the mere reminder of his twin brother made his fingers twitch and grasp onto the hilt of his sword from instinct.

"A family heirloom.. Disgusting.." Kokushibo jeered. Feeling the words on his tongue he felt the previous anger inside come to a peak, This wasn't acceptable. Yorichii, Do I really need to be reminded of you even five hundred years later?

The sword from his hilt slid out of the sheathe with ease. The eyes embedded into the flesh of the sword darted around wildly, All examining its surroundings as the muscle pulsated.

He drew it to his side. Tanjiro's heartrate started to pick up, Feeling as if it would burst out of his chest as he watched Kokushibo get into a fighting stance. What would he do? He had no sword and there was no exit. What can he do? What can he do?!

Kokushibo pushed his foot forward, Lunging himself forward with his sword ready to slice. He was so fast, Tanjiro could barely raise his arms to his face. A weak attempt to defend himself as the blade drew nearer and nearer towards his neck

CLASH!

It was over in an instant.

Dust from the broken walls and ceiling tiles blew out out into the high night air, A whirlwind of smoke covering anything and everything in sight as pieces of stone and splinter flew off.

Tanjiro coughed once more, The dust blowing hard into his face. He moved his hands up towards his neck to check for any damage. Feeling it over and patting it a few times it felt.. All intact.

"What the.." Tanjiro muttered. His eyes widened as he watched the demon from before jump back into his original position, Landing a few metres away from Tanjiro in a crouched stance.

Tanjiro looked up and gasped.

"Fujimori-sama-!"

[F/N] stood only a few inches away from the younger boy. His position was low and his sword was drawn like a shield, Both it and his body creating a block between him and the demon.

[F/N] looked back towards him from the side, That old fox mask's mouth quirked up into the most reassuring smile it could. The eyes of the mask looking down at him in kind.

"Tanjiro Kamado… That was a close one, Eh?" A light chuckle came from him, Tone dancing in the air like the weight of the whole situation was lost to him entirely.

Tanjiro didn't even think to ask him why he knew his name, Something unimportant in that moment.

"Fujimori-sama.. The demon-"

"Don't worry about the demon. You don't exactly look like you have the proper weaponry to fight back so I suggest you start evacuating the shrine with everyone else, Alright?" [F/N] advised.

Tanjiro shook his head.

"What about you?! This.. This is Uppermoon one! He's strong, I can smell it! You can't take him on by yourself!" Tanjiro cried.

It didn't affect [F/N] in the slightest, Only making him raise a single brow.

"..Really?" He hummed, A playful tune lilting in the air to contrast the dire implications of his words. He seemed to stay there in thought, Only for a moment as Tanjiro watched the mask stare off into the night sky.

"He was able to sense me coming.. Not to mention block my attack.." He muttered, The mask contorting back into a thoughtful visage. An incomprehensible babble to the boy behind him as his eyes finally lit up, An unrecognisable emotion sparking inside his eyes.

The dust cleared once more, Kokushibo stood up to examine the sight.

His eyes landed on the Hashira a few metre's away, Crouched in a defensive position. In a split second that man was able to get himself in between him and the boy, Able to attack in that single moment.

It would of been impressive, Something he would of respected if not for the mans garments.

He wore his usual slayer uniform, Tight fitting and finished with a belt with open arms to show off tattoo's. But the haori draped loosely around his shoulders, That accursed haori drooping from his shoulders was one that shocked his heart like a amateur defibrillator.

The dragon pattern.. That cerulean blue.

"Michi-Nii!"

The grip on his sword hilt got tighter, Almost crushingly so.

How fucking dare he..?!

Kokushibo felt his nose twitch, Eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets as they trailed across the rest of him, Prying at every little detail of him. The kitsune mask resting upon his face, The medieval sword propped up in front of him like a shield.

"And does it work?" Michikatsu asked, Studying the mask.

"Haven't tried. It's a sacred artefact of the shrine. It would be a disrespect to Inari if I did." She stated.

A disrespect to her.

Two reminders of his late siblings, One beloved one despised. Both side by side with each other in such a short time frame. It made him absolutely furious, Outraged both by the resurfaced memories and the sheer dishonour towards his sister.

Both the renewment of the shrine and the man parading around with her haori..

It made him absolutely livid.

"You.. What is your name. Tell me it.. Now" Kokushibo pronounced through gritted teeth. It took every inch of his willpower not to pounce and tear him apart limb by limb, Bite into his jugular and rip his voice box out with his molars.

[F/N] finally seemed to snap out of his realisation as his mask's eyes landed on Kokushibo, That burning glint shining bright as he looked at him. The first time getting a proper look.

"Wow.. Uppermoon one, What a pleasure to meet you." [F/N] drawled, Yet it wasn't condescending. Standing up to his full height he matched Kokushibo perfectly, Both men locked in a stare down as [F/N] ignored his question.

Kokushibo didn't answer him, So [F/N] took the opportunity to speak once more.

"I see what Kamado here means about powerful.. Your soul certainly gives off that aura alright." He chuckled again, Taking a few drawn steps to the side.

"Kamado.." Kokushibo pondered. It only took a second to click in his head. The Kamado girl, The one his master had talked about during the meeting. If this boy was here then that would mean the demon girl was here, The one who conquered the sun.

[F/N]'s eyes narrowed.

"Ringing a bell?" He questioned, Cocking his head lazily to the side. Kokushibo didn't answer once again.

[F/N] examined him head to toe. His fingers, His ears and his sword. From his eyes to the soles of his sandals he simply radiated power. A feeling that permeated in the air making molecules shift in his presence.

A wild grin appeared not on his mask but on her face, A wide toothy grin that felt so foreign, So alien to her. It was a smile she hadn't made in years, One she couldn't supress even if she tried.

[F/N] peered back around to Tanjiro, Who was still behind him.

"Tanjiro. I need you to do me a favour, Alright?" He asked. His tone still containing that playful tint yet it held something different now, Something more serious.

Tanjiro nodded

"Y-Yeah, What do you need?" He asked.

[F/N] reached a single hand into the inside of his haori and slipped out a single pristine envelope, Perfectly packaged with a blue fox seal. He presented it to the younger boy, Who hesitantly took it into his hands.

"I need you to deliver this to Mitsuri Kanroji, Alright? Promise me that you will deliver this to her and place it in her hands personally yourself." [F/N] asked. That tone of importance growing ever stronger in both his voice and his mask's eyes.

Tanjiro's eyes widened as he looked down at the envelope, He nodded his head, Ignoring the scent that was coming off his elder. [F/N] turned back towards Kokushibo.

"Go now, Tanjiro. Find a handmaiden named Seijun, She'll help you and the rest down the mountain." He said, Not looking back at him for a second. Tanjiro nodded as he took off, Carefully scaling down the tiled roof's of the shrine.

Kokushibo looked back at the two, Readying his sword once more.

"No.. You're not getting away from me." He hissed, Raising the blade high in the air as he pointed at the two slayers.

[F/N] returned the gesture, His own heavy-weight sword lifted with ease as he pointed it straight back at him.

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" [F/N] exclaimed. The excitement returning to the tune of his voice, A wild primal excitement as he stared the demon on from behind his mask.

Kokushibo prepared his own stance, [F/N] did as well in turn.

As they finally charged at each other, [F/N] yelled out

"Soul Breathing, First form: Psyche Cutter!"

☆♡☆

Heavy footsteps hit the snow with a crunch, The large stature of the Stone Hashira leaving deep footsteps behind him as he traversed throughout the woodland mountainside.

Zenitsu, Inosuke and Shizuko. The younger slayers behind him trailed along with Gyomei's stride in search of the lost shrine-maiden.

Luckily the snow had stopped a little while ago, Making it easier to see throughout the vastness of the tall winding tree's.

It had been only half an hour since they started searching, Yet in that time they had made their way a few miles out from their starting point.

"M-Man.. Is it cold out here, Now I wish I just stayed at the base.." Zenitsu said through a chattering jaw, Keeping his arms folded to try and conserve heat as he warily looked for the maiden.

"Not for me! The mountains I ruled over got real snowy, So of course I evolved to be cold-blooded!" Inosuke announced in his march. It was true, Despite him being eternally shirtless in the blistering cold he didn't shake once despite all odds.

"T-That's impossible! You can't just evolve to be cold-blooded!" Zenitsu cried out, Annoyed from both the cold and his comrades announcement.

"Can too!" Inosuke argued.

"N-No you can't!" Zenitsu yelled back, His words eventually snowballing into a larger quarrel between the two boys. Both seeming to believe whoever yelled louder was correct.

"Ngh.. Can you two shut up? You're giving me a headache.." Shizuko groaned, Cupping his ears with his hands in annoyance.

The two boys ignored him and continued their argument as they trailed behind Himejima. Zenitsu and Inosuke not backing down for a single second while Shizuko gritted his teeth. Gyomei didn't seem to particularly mind, If he did he didn't show it, His stoic expression painted on him like a portrait.

They hadn't found the shrine-maiden, Even though they had been searching for a fair amount of time there no trace of her prescence.

There wasn't any footsteps or any blood, Absolutely nothing.

The rattling of Gyomei's beads slowed as his whitened eyes narrowed in thought. Gyomei had assumed that the most likely scenario was that the maiden had trouble either getting down or getting back up the mountain, Though now that seemed a dwindling possibility.

He sighed, Letting cold mist escape from his mouth.

"Seems like the maiden isn't here.. It's probably for the better that we move down towards the village and check in with the locals." Gyomei announced as he turned around to face the younger slayers, To whom were still fighting.

Shizuko groaned once more before raising his flat hand and bringing it down hard onto both their heads.

"Ne, Stop arguing and start listening to Himejima-sensei! You're giving me a migraine and we're no closer to finding the maiden.. No thanks to you.." He scolded. A rare angry expression appearing on his face with those same perpetually wide eyes glaring daggers into the boys.

"Ack-! W-What the hell man! We are looking!" Zenitsu yelped out, Hands rushing to the quickly forming sore spot on his head.

"I am! I can see a lot of things. Snow, Tree's, Shrubs!" Inosuke butted in. Shizuko groaned once more, Even though they had stopped their spat never quelled.

"Birds, Twigs, Red Fabric, Flakes of snow!" He continued.

Both Gyomei and Shizuko's heads snapped round to face Inosuke, A sudden movement that made his rant pause in its tracks.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?!" Inosuke questioned, His vision rapidly darting to both Shizuko and Gyomei in seconds like a cornered animal.

"Red fabric..? Where do you see that?" Gyomei asked.

"By that tree over there, To the left!" Inosuke said. Arm pointing up straight to a tree just off to the side of the trail they were going down. And sure enough swaying in the wind was an untethered piece of crimson cloth, Blowing in the breeze.

Zenitsu was the first to get over to the fabric, Catching up with it and snatching it away from the wind.

"You're right.. B-But this could be any random piece of fabric.. It doesn't really mean much." He muttered. The piece was too small to make out any defining shape, So small that it was only as big as his thumb.

"Shizuko.." Gyomei ordered an unspoken action, Nodding his head forward towards the boy.

Shizuko nodded back as he quickly moved over to Zenitsu without a second thought and put out his hand.

"Ne, Give it here.." Shizuko commanded, Impatiently shaking his hand as he beckoned Zenitsu forward.

"O-Okay.." Zenitsu muttered as he placed the cloth into the palm of Shizuko, To which the latter shuddered as soon as the fabric brushed at his skin.

Shizuko took the sanguine felt into both of his hands with an obvious reluctance as it looked like he was holding back his own puke. He ran his nimble fingers along the surface of it, Nose scrunching up in disgust as he spoke.

"Ngh.. It's mostly Linen however I can feel a minority of cotton as well.. Ne.. Fairly thick, 0.73 inches.. But judging by the weavement of the fabric it's most likely worn by someone of shorter stature.." Shizuko explained.

"Ngh.. So in other words, It fits the description of the lost maiden.." He concluded, Instantly dropping it back into Zenitsu's hold as he finished his last syllable.

"I see.. And is it fresh?" Gyomei asked.

"Felt like it.." Shizuko replied.

They stayed silent after that. Gyomei seemed to furrow his brows as his mind worked away at the next possibility. Both Shizuko and Inosuke seemed lost in their own world as well, The former following his master in thought while Inosuke seemed to trail along as well.

"She must be somewhere around here.. We must circle back around, She may already be-" Gyomei stopped out of the blue, His words cut off as his senses picked up a change in one of the slayers.

Zenitsu had frozen up, And it wasn't from the cold atmosphere.

"Child.. What is the matter?" Gyomei asked as his tone grew only a little more serious as he stopped the rattling of his beads.

Zenitsu seemed to be sweating bullets as he seemed intently focused on some unknown force. His eyes were shot open and he started to shake, Teeth barren and fingers twitching as he raised his hands up to his ears.

"I.. I-I hear it.." Zenitsu mumbled out an uneasy lilt, Jaw shaking.

"Hear what?" Gyomei prodded.

"T-The Kasugai crows.. The Kakushi base.. I-It's being attacked!" Zenitsu yelped out, Stumbling back a few feet.

A unanimous shock washed over the group like a tidal wave to a sandy shore, The news startling everyone on edge.

"What?!" Shizuko yelled in disbelief as he moved over to Zenitsu. Lowering his head to meet eye to eye as he searched for any sign of doubt, An unsure gaze, Anything he could find to try disprove his declaration.

But he came up empty, Only staring back into shaking saffron irises. The hands over Zenitsu's ears tightened as he howled out in pain. He fell to his knees, The sheer volume of the crows combined with his hearing was too much as he felt ichor start to trickle at his fingertips.

"Zoritso!" Inosuke called out as he instantly rushed over to his friend's side.

Gyomei at this point had unsheathed the axe and chain from within his overbearing haori, Already given enough confirmation from his Tsuguko's reaction as he tightened the grip on the wooden handle and chain.

He ignored the suffering of the younger slayers, His expression firming up.

"We must go at once then, No time to spa-"

"Blood Demon Art: Electrokinesis, Third form: Thunder Swarm!" A voice suddenly yelled out from within the storm and as soon as it finished, The attack commenced.

Black bolts of lightning shot out of nowhere, Bursting out from the blade of Kaigaku, Leaping down from the tree branches.

☆♡☆

"I'll see you soon, 'Tsuri"

Those words. Those five simple words echoed in every little corner of her mind. On paper they seemed so little, So obscure. Small talk to the normal ear, In a normal conversation it would be such a normal farewell and by all means it was.

But it just didn't sit right, Not with Mitsuri.

She ran fast through the snow, Her legs were burning as she tried to focus her total concentration breathing. She maneuvered around rocks and over fallen logs, Carefully but quickly ascending the tough terrain with ease.

Her heart pounded so rapidly in her chest so much so that it was painful yet Mitsuri continued onwards. She had to keep going, She needed to get to the shrine as fast as possible.

Keep going, Don't stop. Not for a single moment.

Mitsuri had been running for who knows long, Hours maybe, She hadn't stopped for a second. An awful feeling sat dormant in her chest, A foreboding omen that unsettled her for too long.

As soon as she had heard those five little words she'd known that something was wrong-

No. Mitsuri had always known something was wrong. A draining parasite that sat in the back of her mind, Eating away at her for years now. Those words.. It was just those five little words that made her realise what that something was.

The parasite had been nibbling away at her, Planting little ideas of possibility and doubt into her passing thoughts every time she and [F/N] talked. Back then she had brushed them off, Not completely of course but enough to where there was plausible deniability. Just enough to where she could push it out of her mind.

But when [F/N] had muttered those words, Spoke them in such a normal tone of voice there was absolutely no more avoiding it. Her doubts, The possibilities.. She needed to face them.

Or maybe it wasn't those words specifically, It was the way [F/N] had looked at her when she said them.

Her stare, Her blank doe-eyed gaze permeated into Mitsuri's mind. The picture in her mind vivid as it was as she first saw it.

The smile [F/N] had on her face just didn't quite reach her eyes, A small little smile that felt so wrong looking back on it. The dull stare that pleaded to Mitsuri's own, Begging her no matter how unconsciously it may have been.

It was such a melancholy gaze, A sad little smile. She remembers now the tiny quirk of her lip.

Mitsuri should of done something sooner.

Back then Mitsuri herself couldn't process the deeper meaning. But she remembered her body reacted sooner than she herself should of, Grasping onto [F/N]. Holding her hand as she tried to get inside the carriage.

Subconsciously she had recognised the meaning. She should of said something, Should of done something. Ask her to stay the night, Go with her, Or even just offer her a simple hug then maybe [F/N] wouldn't think that way.

But in the end she did nothing. She just let go of her hand, Feeling the warmth slip away from her grasp.

Only a few hours later did the true meaning really render inside of her mind, And when it did it hit her like nothing else ever did before. What it meant, She knows now.

As soon as Mitsuri knew she had taken off, Running off into the streets without a second thought. Something bad would happen, Something terrible would happen if she didn't get there to her on time.

Mitsuri knew she shouldn't of let go of [F/N]'s hand. The regret pounding throughout her bloodstream as she felt tears involuntarily drip down her cheeks. She shouldn't of let go.

Even though she didn't do anything back then didn't mean she couldn't do something to stop it now. Mitsuri needed to, She wouldn't let [F/N] slip away once more. Never again, She will be there for her this time.

And as she heard the call of the crows, Mitsuri knew that this would be her last chance to do so.

☆♡☆

"Moon Breathing, Fourteenth Form: Catastrophe, Tenman Crescent Moon"

Siphoning ultraviolet crescents flew out haphazardly into the fighting ground, Crashing down onto the nigh-derelict rooftops throwing rubble out everywhere. Several stray crescents hurtling past the slayer, Barely able to avoid the attack.

It was absolute chaos, Pandemonium. A spectacle of whip-like half-moons striking at it's enemy so swift that any normal person would be severed in half in an instant.

By chance however [F/N] was no ordinary person as he dodged and weaved throughout what very little openings were given, Body contorting and swimming through the gaps as he tried his very best to land his own attacks.

"Soul Breathing Second Form: Seven Separate Spirit Slashes"

"Moon Breathing, Seventh Form: Mirror of Misfortune, Moonlit"

"Soul Breathing Sixth Form: Apotheosis Blade o' Ascension"

"Moon Breathing, Ninth Form: Waning Moonswaths"

Kokushibo never gave much of a chance however, His movements or slashes of his sword never strayed from what could be considered perfect form. The closest so far [F/N] had come to severing his head was when he had lobbed off an arm, Which regenerated within a split second.

It was enough to frustrate anyone, Anyone but [F/N].

The wide smile he had worn at the prospect of a fight had grown into a euphoric grin stretched ear to ear. For the first time in years, [F/N] had felt alive.

Though the several cuts on his arms and legs bled, Though he had been fighting for several hours he had never gotten tired. Not once did he falter or stumble, Not once did he succumb to exhaustion.

Not even the aching in his lungs, Which grew more painful with every breathe he took. The adrenaline made him feel nothing.

Kokushibo on the other hand felt the same way, Yet the anger in his chest only seemed to infest inside him more and more as the fight went on. He wanted this one to suffer, He wanted to watch this one bleed out on the ground while he crushed his windpipe.

The disrespect he had shown, Both to him and his sister. The careless attitude The Hashira had towards him, The haori he was desecrating. It made him absolutely furious. Even more so when he found more difficulty than normal when attacking him.

His transparent world showing his body to be at it's peak potential, Though oddly enough he wasn't able to see through the porcelain mask on his body. Kokushibo had to admit this was the longest fight he'd had in centuries.

The man he fought having zero fighting spirit, An oddity. Something he had never came across within a human, Combined with the mastery of the blade and his repetitive action movement he made a formidable combatant.

Even though he despised his opponent, He had to lend a begrudging respect.

[F/N]'s sword swayed along with his own movements. White wisps of translucent mist danced along the blade and left a shivering trail as it went. It was beautiful, Glowing so softly in the moonlight yet it struck so hard it burned like fire.

[F/N] landed in a crouching position after dodging another attack just by the hair on his back. Pushing both his hand and foot forward he launched himself towards Uppermoon one at high speeds.

Yelling out his next attack he readied his sword

"Soul Breathing Fifth Form: Noumenon High Dragon!"

The wisps tailing the edge of his blade were set ablaze, Picking up in velocity the trail formed into a tail as [F/N] rushed towards Kokushibo.

The demon readied his own attack in turn as The Soul Hashira's technique bursting into the shape of a gigantic jaw-opened dragon speeding towards his form, Twisting and swirling around the demon ready to swallow him whole.

"Moon Breathing, Sixth Form: Perpetual Night, Lonely Moon - Incessant"

Kokushibo swung his own sword down as soon the dragons gaping maws were about to bite down on him, An array of hyper-violet crescents exploded from Kokushibo's blade.

The sheer kinetic energy caused by the clashing of their swords erupted from the centre of it all like an immovable object to an unstoppable force. The energy hit the ground below them, Blasting both of them apart by the raw force.

Flying off of the tiled roof, [F/N] was shot up far into the air with Kokushibo in the opposite direction.

[F/N] yelled out in surprise as he flailed around in the air, Spinning and swooning around as he started to fall downwards.

Wind rushing through his kimono as he watched the ground grow larger and larger. He raised his sword and took a deep breath in, Ready to counteract gravity with the force of an attack.

"Soul Breathing Third Form: Soul fire, Burn bright!"

Just as he was about to hit the ground he struck his sword, His breathing technique bursting out into a bonfire as it connected with the dirt of the courtyard.

It was successful. Enough to stop the fall but also enough to throw him back up.

Luckily however he had hit one of the lower roofs of the shrine. And thankfully due to his recovery breathing the damage wasn't serious, Only a few scratches and later bruises to decorate his skin.

"Ack-.." [F/N] coughed, The dust from the impact hitting him as he lain sprawled out on the roof. His chest moved up and down, Breathing in and out while only feeling a tiny bit of pain in his ribs.

"Wow.. That could of been bad.." He heaved, Voice hoarse and rough. He raised his upper body so he was now in a hunched sitting position, Completely still except from the movements of his lungs.

[F/N] sat there for a moment not moving in the slightest. He could no longer sense Kokushibo's powerful aura, At least not nearby anyways. It seemed like the force of their blades clashing sent him flying to the other side of the shrine.

That's fine. It gave [F/N] time to recuperate from the non-stop attacks they threw at each other, He needed to savour these moments as best he could.

[F/N] looked around at the destruction of the shrine, It hurt. It felt like his heart was wrenched out of his chest every time he came across levelled rooms, Broken walls and fallen statues.

The home [F/N] resided in for years, One that had provided warmth and comfort when nothing else did had been destroyed. Memories long gone played out in his mind as he came to terms with his loss. It didn't matter now though, He supposed.

He ran his hands down his body to examine for wounds. Feeling along the torn fabric of his uniform and the dips in his flesh [F/N] figured that he wasn't too badly injured. While there were a few points where his fingers came up bloody he had judged it wasn't too bad.

It didn't hurt anyways, Not to him.

Settling his hands onto the roof he pushed himself up with only minimal effort. Stumbling a little to gather his balance he finally steadied himself upon the roof's wooden structure in the middle, Walking on it similar to a tight-rope.

He stalked along the middle beam, Movements similar to a feline's as he put one foot in front of the other.

Rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck [F/N] decided it was time to go back into battle. He needed to at least buy enough time for the last of the residents to evacuate the building, Afterwards there was only one thing left to do.

As he strolled along the edge of the roof he made his way to the end, Lowering his knees and k-

"[F/N]!!"

He froze in place.

That voice, No.. She wasn't supposed to be here. This wasn't how it went in his head, Not at all.

"[F/N]! P-Please.. Turn around.. Alright?" The voice yelled, A high-pitched tone that sounded so desperate in that one moment that [F/N] couldn't disobey.

And once he did turn around, The expression on Mitsuri's face hurt more than any wound inflicted on his body.

"'Tsuri, Hey! You're not suppose to be here.. You know?" [F/N] chuckled, A practiced sound that seemed so strained now as the façade he had tried to build up for so long crumbled down around him along with the shrine.

Mitsuri was sobbing. Tears leaked out from her face like a faucet, Her eyes were bloodshot like she had been crying for a while. Something that was most likely true. Every so often she let out a small choked wail from within her throat, Gasps for air following it close.

It looked as if her knee's would buckle under her weight. It was such a painful sight that [F/N] couldn't bare to look at her.

It felt like his heart was beating a hundred miles per hour, Thumping madly in her chest like a metal drum. He tried to keep a straight face, Some kind of mental barrier he could place between him and the woman he called his best friend.

"D-Don't act like that.. Just.. P-Please just don't act like that right now, [F/N].." Mitsuri yelled out, Her voice pained and shrill.

"'Tsuri.. I.." [F/N] couldn't find the words to say, His mind blank. No words could explain himself, None at all.

"I-I don't wanna hear an excuse.. Please.. I.. I just want to talk.. N-No excuses or lies.. Just the truth." She cried.

[F/N] stared back at her through the mask, Guts turning at the sight. However the porcelain face held up as he wore a blank face, One you might see at a poker table. He mulled over her words, An unnoticeable cold sweat suddenly dripping down from the side of his head.

"..Okay" [F/N] whispered. It was such a low tone but in that single moment it felt like it was just the two of them in the world, Making his mumble seem like a deafening scream to her ears.

"[F/N].. I.. I'm so sorry.." Mitsuri cried. She brought her shaking hands up to cup her face as she cried into them, A fleeting attempt to hide her grief.

[F/N] shook his head.

"Mitsuri.. What do you need to be sorry for?" [F/N] said. A levelled tone playing in his voice.

"I.. I s-should of done something sooner.. I should've known that you were feeling like this, I.. Why couldn't I notice.." She shook her head warily, Trying her best to hold back the choked sobs from her throat.

[F/N] steadied his breathing, He couldn't break.

"Mitsuri, I'm fine. You don't need to wo-"

"[F/N] I'M NOT STUPID, JUST LISTEN TO ME!" Mitsuri screamed.

[F/N] flinched, The sheer volume of it catching him of guard. In all of his years knowing Mitsuri, [F/N] had never seen him act like this, Like a completely new person stood before him now.

"I-I'm not stupid.. I can see how everyone's feeling.. I can always tell how angry Shinobu is or- or how unhappy Giyuu is all the time.. I can see how everyone is truly feeling, That's always been my talent.." Mitsuri lamented.

She wiped off the tears with her sleeve

"A-And just because you hide behind a mask.. That doesn't make you an exception, [F/N]! It never has..!" Mitsuri shouted once more, Now staring up at her best friend. The person she's known all her life freeze in place like a statue at her words.

"It's just.. All the time you're so.. So sad.. I-I've known you for so long and it's been going on.. F-For the same length of time.. S-So much that I just took it as normal but looking back now I feel so- so stupid!" She cried out.

[F/N] couldn't respond, He felt like a spotlight had been shun directly on him now. Like he stood in front of an unwanted audience as he stared her down.

"Y-You're scaring me, [F/N].. Y-You're really, really scaring me.. Just please.. T-Take off the mask.." Mitsuri broke down into a quiet sob, Soft cries aching her throat.

[F/N] looked back at her, An indescribable emotion etched into the porcelain of the mask. He felt his fingers twitch before raising them towards the straps. Lightly unlocking the clasp at the back she pulled the leather down from her head, Lowering the kitsune mask into the palms of her hands.

[F/N] stood there, The blank expression she wore was flooded with tears flowing free from her eyes as she gazed down at her best friend breaking down. Her lip twitched, Unable to say anything as she barely held back quiet cries of her own.

"'Tsuri.. Please, Just don't look at me like that. Just.. Just don't" [F/N] said, Swallowing back her pain.

"I.. I just.. I.." Mitsuri babbled as she clutched the centre of her chest, Trying to soothe the ache of her heart.

"You've got to leave.. 'Tsuri, It's not safe here, Alright..? I've got to get back to the fight.."

"N-No!" Mitsuri yelped out, Cutting off [F/N] prematurely.

"P-Please.. 'Tsuri, You've got to go.." [F/N] said. Her breath was growing more laboured by the second as the tears dripped down her eyes.

"N-No, You're not going back to the fight, [F/N].. Y-You can't go, You can't.. I.." She bit down on her lip, The thought trailing with her words were cut short.

"Why..?"

"B-Because when when you go into that fight.. Y-You're hoping that you won't come out of it.. And it terrifies me.." Mitsuri cried.

Her words felt like a knife jabbing into [F/N]'s heart, Like a blade was eternally twisting and turning inside of her arteries. It hurt, Out of everyone she had ever met, Mitsuri was the last one she would have wanted to say that to her.

"J-Just please.. G-Get off the roof, Come down.. D-Do not waste yourself on this roof, [F/N]. D-Don't you remember our promise..? Please.. J-Just come to me..?" Mitsuri pleaded, Reaching her hand out for [F/N] to take.

Her words felt so enticing, Like an oasis in a scorching desert.

Something she had been searching years for, Only to turn up in a gift wrapped box sitting on her doorstep. [F/N] felt her fingers twitch, So desperately wanting to reach out and take her hands.

But the letter had already been sent, Her mind had already been made up so long ago. As much as she wanted to hold her hand, Run away and never look back [F/N] knew that it wouldn't be enough.

"'Tsuri.." [F/N] mumbled. Mitsuri caught on quickly to her tone and her eyes widened.

"N-No, [F/N]! Please.. Come down, P-Please just take my hand.. PLEASE!" She cried out as she watched [F/N] place the mask back on the now his face.

"'Tsuri.. Do not feel guilty over me, You were the best friend I could of ever asked for. You did your best.." [F/N] smiled.

The mask was now matching his expression as it looked down on Mitsuri, Who rushed forward but her knees finally buckled making her fall forward.

"Ah-!" She cried out. [F/N] tried to resist the urge to go and help as he spoke.

"'Tsuri.. You still haven't recovered from the swordsmith village attack.. Not to mention it looks like you've been running for hours.

"Please, Don't exert any more energy." [F/N] said as he turned around back towards the direction Kokushibo would be in.

Mitsuri screamed out for [F/N].

"P-PLEASE, [F/N]! L-LET ME COME WITH YOU, PLEASE! A-AT LEAST LET ME COME WITH YOU. W-WE GO TOGETHER, L-LIKE WE ALWAYS HAVE! TOGETHER!!" Her voice was so painful it tore a hole into [F/N] as he tried not to run to her side.

"I'm sorry, 'Tsuri.. Between the two of us, You have people that will miss you. There are a lot of people out there who love you, Adore you not just for your strength but just for yourself. Between the two of us.. You'll have people who will mourn your loss." [F/N] said.

Mitsuri didn't even have time to scream out as Seijun rushed over from somewhere south. She had been put to help with evacuations and Mitsuri's screams had alerted her over.

"[F/N]-sama! Kanroji-san, Are you both alright?!" Seijun asked, Alarmed by the incoherent babble of Mitsuri in front of her as she desperatley tried to pull herself to her feet. A futile attempt as she just fell back down.

"..We're alright, Thank you.. I hope evacuations are going well?" [F/N] asked. Cocking his head to the side as he tried his best to focus on the maiden instead of the mourning.

"Smoothly. Due to the combined efforts of the slayers and the handmaidens, The first round of escapee's have successfully gotten away… Though there are quite a few many still around.." Seijun said, Quickly bowing down to her superior.

[F/N] nodded.

"Seijun. Thank you for helping out with the evacuations, I sincerely appreciate it.. All I ask of you now is that you could escort Kanroji-san out of the area. She's in no state to fight and is delirious." [F/N] turned back to look at the two, A reassuring smile sat uneasy on the mask.

Seijun nodded as she started to pick up Mitsuri by the armpits. At the touch of the handmaiden Mitsuri instantly started to scream and flail around in her grasp, In complete hysterics as she cried out [F/N]'s name.

"Kanroji-san, Please calm down-"

"[F/N]! [F/N]! PLEASE! L-LET GO OF ME, LET ME GO! [F/N] COME DOWN, COME TO ME PLEASE- I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!" She screamed. Despite her inhuman strength her muscles were so tired from both her injuries and the marathon here that she could barely even struggle in Seijun's hold, Just scream and scream as she tried to get out of her grasp.

[F/N] turned back, Walking on the roof like a lamb to the slaughter as he tried his best to ignore the gut-wrenching pain in his stomach. He had made up his mind, And as much as [F/N] adored Mitsuri it wasn't going to change anything.

Her screams got further and further away as he drew his sword once more.

As they did, He raised his head high and smiled.

☆♡☆

"Blood Demon Art: Electrokinesis, Third form: Thunder Swarm!"

Black bolts of ebony struck down from Kaigaku's blade, The steel conducting the movements as he brought it down onto the group of slayers he had been tracking for quite a while now.

Several yells called out into the vastness of the forest, Snow exploding into the air once the thunder whipped at the ground. Kaigaku cackled as he heard the screams of his prey, The game of cat and mouse had begun.

He had leapt out from one of the tree branches, Ones he had been carefully maneuvering on as he quietly trailed along with the group.

Kaigaku had struck at the right time, They had taken the bait. The red cloth was a carefully placed lure he had swiftly placed in order to lead them into a honey trap, It was easy. Especially once he knew who he was dealing with.

He was shocked at first. Not in a million years did he expect to come across them, Not at all. It was something that seemed impossible to him, But here he was pouncing in for the attack.

Gyomei, Zenitsu, Shizuko. Along with that boar-headed kid they were well-known targets, Once he had lain his eyes on them his heart seemed to soar in his chest. A sadistic kind of glee bursting up from inside of him.

People who had looked down on him in the past, People who had treated him like he was just another person and not the prodigy he really was. The kind of people he truly despised were right in front of him, All grouped together.

Even though he was ordered to attack the shrine from the other side, He had to take this. It was an opportunity he couldn't pass by on, Not for a single second.

They group was launched into the air. The force pushing them away from the focal point as Kaigaku watched the boar-headed kid land into a tree, Hitting his head and passing out while the other two kids were pushed off a steep hill.

He laughed like a closing in hyena. His body falling close to the ground as he prepared to land, All before a chain launches out of the snow dust, Hurtling straight towards the demon.

Kaigaku swerved. Only dodging the metal by a hair as the mist finally cleared, Revealing The Stone Hashira standing strong in-between the snow. Chains in hand he swayed them about as the axe in his hand started to swing between his fingers.

Another chain shot out from beneath his haori sending it straight towards him at nigh-impossible speeds.

Kaigaku breathed in to steady his style. Tossing his sword up into the air he threw out a hand and wrapped it tight around the chain. Tugging once he screamed out into the night

"Blood demon art-"

An explosion of electricity erupted out from his palms, A black current travelling down the steel chain as it quickly developed into a shockwave heading straight towards Gyomei.

Sensing the incoming thunder he let go of the chain and threw out the axe as it hurtled towards Kaigaku.

Catching his sword in a single hand Kaigaku brought it down with a clash! The metal hitting together with hot sparks bursting out from the sheer force of their connection.

Kaigaku landed on the floor. Gyomei's axe successfully deflected as he hit the ice, Steadying himself with a single hand as he peered up at the Hashira with a Cheshire grin.

"Gyomei.. You've bulked up a bit since I last saw you." Kaigaku sneered. A condescending drawl drawing out every syllable as he peered up at his former peer.

Gyomei halted in his actions, A sudden stop to his quick movements. Grasping the unelectrified chains it pulled on the axe, Catching it in a single hand as he froze in place.

"That voice.. It cannot be.." He muttered. Memories seemed sing out inside of his mind, Voices he remembered coming back to him for the first time in years. Ones he had pushed away, Hidden and ran from yet all coming up within the brutal song of the demon's voice.

Kaigaku's grin grew bigger.

"What? It's not the kid you let be thrown out? The person you discarded so easily? The one whose gonna put this blade through your skull?" Kaigaku cackled, Raising his sword and pointing to the sharp metal.

"Oh.. Right. My bad, You're unable to see the thing that's gonna to kill you. How sad!" Kaigaku laughed as he gripped the side of his head, Tufts of ebony hair sticking out as he hollered like it was the funniest thing in the world.

Gyomei's frown got sharper.

"A low hanging insult.. Even for you, Kaigaku.. It pains me to know how badly you've fallen.." Gyomei lamented as he recalled back on the time's they shared together.

Kaigaku, An orphaned child. One of nine who he had taken in at his temple, One of nine who he cared for like his very own. One of the children who he had worked himself down to the bone for, Tried his hardest everyday to provide for. Even going as far as to starve himself just so they would have enough food to satisfy them.

Even though he was blind, Even though he was starving almost every second of the day making him frail and scrawny he worked to provide.

He had considered them all family, Even if they had no blood connection it never mattered. The covenant was stronger than the womb, They loved each other no matter how bad it would get.

But that one fateful day, That one day was like carved stone in his mind. The wisteria incense put out, The betrayal he had known as he heard the screams of terror from the children he considered family.

Kaigaku had been a thief, He always had been. But when he had gone so far as to sneak out at night, Run into a demon and sacrifice the peers he had known just for a chance at survival that wasn't even guaranteed.

They were all slaughtered by the very thing Kaigaku chose to become. It proved how little he cared, How little humanity he had in the first place.

In the end, He could only save two. And it cost him his freedom, His chance at a normal life.

All because of the demon in front of him.

"How badly I've fallen? Gyomei, I'm upper six now! I've been risen to such great heights, By a man who could actually see my worth!" Kaigaku proclaimed, Raising his hands out as if to announce this to the world.

Gyomei paused, Letting the words sink in.

"Then.. I doubt that man was a good judge of character.. You've always been such a weaselly little boy." Gyomei stated. Even though he couldn't see he could practically feel the sudden drop in Kaigaku's smile.

Kaigaku stood there, The hands he had raise shook. This wasn't the answer he had been expecting from the man.

"..How dare you.. My master is an honourable man! He knows my worth!" Kaigaku yelled out. Baring his canines out towards The Stone Hashira who stood there motionless, Starting to rattle his beads once more.

"No.. You've always been such a pitiful little thing.. Such a selfish child.. You have as much worth as a rat in the gutter." Gyomei announced with such a sad and nostalgic tone, Yet it held so much weight that it felt like a stone to the head to Kaigaku.

His jaw fell agape, Displaying his rows of sharp teeth. From the way Kaigaku was imagining this day in his head, He didn't expect this of all responses.

He had envisioned the sheer pain drown out the features on Gyomei's face, Tears drip down from his eyes as he begged for forgiveness under the sharp point of Kaigaku's claws. He'd cry, Yell in pain as he was slowly mutilated in the slowest way possible.

He didn't expect to be fixed in place, Feet feeling so heavy he was unable to lift them. Unable to do anything as he stared him down. He felt helpless, So helpless. And that made him angry.

"I-I am powerful now! I am strong! You just can't comprehend how powerful I am now, Y-You're the one that's weak! You just can't believe how great I am now!" Kaigaku yelled, His voice suddenly sounding hoarse as he gripped the hilt of his sword tighter.

"Really.. Are you really that great?" Gyomei asked quietly.

"O-Of course I am!" Kaigaku yelled back in response.

"Then.. If you truly are.. You would know a distraction when you see one.." Gyomei finished.

Kaigaku's brow raised before a sudden prescense- No, Two presences appearing from behind him at nigh-impossible speeds.

He only turned around in time to see the two boys, Zenitsu and Shizuko, The two boys he knew so well raise their swords in a prepared attack.

"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash"

"Earth Breathing, Second Form: Seismic Shake"

They screamed in unison, Only a few feet away from Kaigaku's stunned body as they raised their respective weapons. Thunder started to crackle at the metal of Zenitsu's katana while the murky smell of fresh compost emanated from Shizuko's machete as they charged towards him.

Kaigaku lowered his knee's and jumped back just in time to avoid the massive crater left in the place where he stood.

"You bastards-!" Kaigaku screamed out as he was flown out into the air. He looked down at the horrified visage of Zenitsu, While he scowled at the enraged Shizuko as they jumped up towards him once more.

"Ne, You're one to talk..!" Shizuko screamed as he used the tree branches to throw himself up to Kaigaku's level.

"K-Kaigaku.. How could you!" Zenitsu cried as he followed in his peer's footsteps.

"Oh shut up you wimp! You know exactly why!" Kaigaku screamed as he watched the two slayers come up towards him, Preparing another attack.

Just as the two were about to swing their weapons a metal flail flew out from beneath them all, Shooting out towards Kaigaku.

This isn't good, This isn't good at all. Kaigaku was seething, This moment was suppose to be glorious with him on top and those below quivering under his iron fist. But he had no more time to daydream as he was about to be attacked on three separate fronts.

Zenitsu directly below, Shizuko from the front and Gyomei from the side. He couldn't lose, He was special.

Quickly, Kaigaku had no time to think as he activated his blood demon art. His sword igniting as he yelled out his attack.

"Thunder Breathing, Fourth Form: Distant Thunder!"

Kaigaku screamed out as bolts erupted from the cold steel of his sword, A versatile attack reaching in all directions. Below, Front and side thunder crackled out in response to the attack.

He wouldn't let them kill him, Anyone but them. He knew he was worthy, But also knew he had to prove it.

And this was the perfect way

☆♡☆

Kokushibo stood in the middle of the rubble, Standing in the midst of broken wood, stone and clay as he examined his surroundings.

He had been thrown to the other side of the shrine, An unexpected force from the joint impact pushing him off the roof. Kokushibo had meant to get back to the fight, Get back to that accursed Hashira.

But as he looked around, He found himself hesitating.

He took a deep breath in, Inhaling the cold night's air into his lungs as he reminisced on old memories. It would be the last time he would ever get to experience this after all, The shrine was in complete disrepair now.

It was bittersweet, The memories he had here played in front of him like a reeling tape. How he'd come back from a mission only to be greeted with the smell of stewing vegetables and sweet berries. He'd smile and walk inside only to be greeted by [F/N] and Yorichii.

Now the mere scent of human food disgusted him.

The shrine would be destroyed, Not like there was much to save in the first place. The slayers had desecrated it, Infected it like parasites and transfigured it into something unrecognisable from its original state.

And just like a parasite leeching on the flesh of an arm, The only solution was to cut it off. It wasn't her shrine he was destroying, No. It was already gone, He was just levelling another base of operations. Nothing more.

Kokushibo was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of footsteps hitting the tiles, A slow pace as they walked up to his location down below in the garden

He turned, Looking up to see that slayer on top of a roof point, Balancing on a single foot. The moon shone down from behind him, High in the sky to illuminate their oncoming brawl as his haori danced in the breeze.

A neuron clicked within Kokushibo's mind once his sight connected with the mans stance, A realisation dawning on him.

"You.. I remember you now.." Kokushibo drawled as he fully turned over to look up at him.

"Really? I don't remember us ever meeting." [F/N] said carelessly, Yet there was still a hint of curiosity in him as he waited for the demon to go on.

"No.. We have not met.. But you, You are the slayer who killed one thousand of my kind.. In a single year.." Kokushibo said, Eyes narrowing as he stared him down.

He remembered his the notice from his master ringing inside his mind, The announcement demanding the death of this slayer for the crime of efficiency. This one single demon hunter had managed to cause such alarm in Muzan, A feat never done before.

They had never managed to catch him, The slayer was rather tricky.

Moved about place to place and never lingered long, Never slept in any inn's or districts. Any demon that did come face to face with him however was instantly shot down and killed in seconds.

Normally, Kokushibo would hate to see a waste of talent die out. He never understood why slayers would prefer staying human, Instead of becoming a demon to perfect and hone their technique to perfection.

But knowing the weight this man had, Knowing the haori he disgraced and the artefacts he wore with no care. Kokushibo had no bargain to present to the slayer, Instead enticed by bringing his head back to Muzan for the reward.

"What is your name.." Kokushibo asked.

"Fujimori." [F/N] replied, Shrugging his shoulders.

"Your full name.." Kokushibo prodded.

[F/N] wondered why he wanted to know, Why it was necessary information. But in the end he supposed that the demon wanted to know what name to write on the trophy stand.

"It's just Fujimori." [F/N] answered back, If that was the case then he wouldn't give him the satisfaction. If he was going down then he was going to make it as inconvenient as possible for his killer.

Kokushibo breathed out hot air from his nose. The careless tone in the slayers voice angered him, How could he be taking this so casually? A fight with Uppermoon one and he took it like child's play.

It was infuriating.

He drew out his sword once more, The flesh pulsating as it grew out in length. [F/N] in turn drew his own blade from the sheathe on his back, Pointing it at him like the judge to the accused.

"Alright then. Don't hold out now, Better give me all you've got!" [F/N] laughed as he jumped down from the shrine spire, Sword raised as he swung it down.

"Soul Breathing, First Form: Psyche Cutter!" He screamed, Sword alight with white wisps as it hit down onto the place Kokushibo once was, Rocks erupting out leaving only a crater.

[F/N] turned around, Seeing Kokushibo about to pierce into his back he raised his sword in response.

Metal on flesh connected with a clash! Both swordsmen's blades pushed against each other, Battling for that single opening to end the fight once and for all. [F/N] struggled, Letting out little groans as Kokushibo's strength was unmatchable.

Kokushibo yelled out, A pained scream. He swung out a forceful attack making [F/N] back up as their swords rapidly connected back and forth, Withdrawing and crashing right back into each other. If [F/N] stopped for a single moment, He'd be cut down.

[F/N] could barely dodge the oncoming breathing techniques as he tried to let off his own, It was one after the other so much that he couldn't take his mind away. He supposed it was a good thing.

Mitsuri's face, That desperate expression. Her hysterical screams for him to come back, To not do what he needed to. It was all set into the stone of his mind, Appeared when he blinked and hallucinated her voice.

[F/N] was thankful he had no time to think about it.

Their blades made sparks burst out like a faulty lighter. [F/N] started to struggle, The grip on his sword beginning to fall despite his iron-clad grip. His grin never faltered though, This was what he had been expecting.

[F/N] was only human, His stamina was bound to run out eventually and he knew this.

Jumping back up onto the roof to avoid another attack, Kokushibo quickly followed after. It was labouring as [F/N] tried to balance both his feet and his continued slashes at the same time, Being pushed back by the force of the demon's blade.

He felt his breath get heavier with each inhale, The pain in his chest doing nothing to help him as he felt his fingers ache. He only had so much left to go before his body finally gave up, Before he collapsed. This was [F/N] chance, To go out in one single blaze, Hopefully taking down the Uppermoon with him. His final action as a slayer.

Ever since he saw the kanji in his eyes, Ever since he felt the raw power coming off of him [F/N] knew what action to take.

The Eighth Form of Soul Breathing. The most powerful of them all, An attack that left [F/N] bloodied and beaten into a coma the first time he used it. Hospitalized for months in critical condition.

The year onwards he hadn't used it, He didn't dare. It was an attack only supported by the blade he was wielding, The Soul Sword. An attack that utilized the trapped spirits in the blade, Using the power of them all in one devastating move affecting both the user and target.

He felt the trapped souls of one thousand course through the hilt of the blade as they continued to duel against each other in rapid motions, The concentrated spirits radiating through his skin. If he used this attack, It was bound to kill both him and anyone in the surrounding area.

But Kokushibo? He wasn't sure.

Thankfully however the evacuations were successful, [F/N] had made sure to check. Everyone was out and at least a few miles away from the shrine, It was just the two of them now fighting to the death.

[F/N] smiled lightly. No one would get in the way, Not the hand-maidens, Not Mitsuri, No one. There would be no casualties on [F/N]'s hands, That was good.

[F/N] needed to try. To end it all and try to bring at least something good out of his death, To bring something good out of his life for once.

But then, He caught the faint hue of carmine red.

The mask's eyes widened as it caught the vivid colour tucked hidden within the rubble, It was barely there but [F/N] could make out a face. One that sparked up his own in recognition.

It was Maika.

Maika sat hidden behind a torn wall, She looked wounded with her kosobe being stained in thick ichor. She stared wide-eyed at the fight, Looking absolutely horrified. Her hands cupped over her mouth, Not daring to speak for a second.

But what concerned [F/N] the most was her legs, They were trapped under a large wall crumbled down onto her. She was unable to get out.

No.. No this wasn't good. [F/N]'s heart beat faster and faster by the moment, Losing concentration from the fight as he stared the injured girl head on trying to make sense of the sight in front of him.

Maika was still here, She had somehow gotten back to the shrine only to get caught within the destruction. Did the evacuation team miss her? Did they not find her? [F/N] felt his jaw shake, He couldn't use the Eight Form. Not while she was still here.

[F/N] dragged his eyes away from the girl, Trying not to alert the demon of her presence. Before he had taken this fight with a careless grin but as he saw the young girl there, Injured and terrified the stakes had finally hit him.

Her life was at stake, And somewhere deep inside him he wasn't willing to let that life slip through his fingers.

He can die any other day, But she needed to go on. Maika was too young.

[F/N] pushed himself up into the air, Sword readying itself above his head as he ignored the implications of his thoughts. He couldn't use the eighth form, Not while Maika was here. So [F/N] had to settle on the next best thing as the wisps grew into a blazing inferno.

"Soul Breathing, Seventh Form: Takamagahara's Wrath, Divine Judgement."

Moonlight danced around his sword as gravity pulled him down forward straight to the demon. Spirits trailed along as energy picked up. He felt the air shift around him and the energy pulse in his sword.

Kokushibo raised his own sword once again, A counterattack ready to happen.

"Sixteenth Form: Moonbow, Half Moon"

His sword moved up and before he knew it, [F/N]'s sword was at his neck, Sharp side pressing into the side of his neck. [F/N] screamed out, Exerting his energy as the fibres of Kokushibo's neck started to tear-

SLASH!

[F/N] landed on the other side of the roof, Sandal soles lightly touching the ground as he steadied himself.

[F/N] stood there completely still, The only movements of his figure was the light breeze passing through his clothing. He sheathed his sword, All before his knee's shook and [F/N] stumbled hard.

Copper was tasted at the tip of his tongue as he stumbled around on the roof losing his balance. He could only feel the sudden burn in his abdomen as his foot pressed down onto nothing, Letting him tip off the roof.

That speed, That blinding speed. Kokushibo didn't utilise it before, He had been formidable yet.. [F/N] felt the dawning realisation rise.

Kokushibo had been toying with him.

He had drawn out this fight, Holding back his true strength. Those cuts placed onto [F/N]'s body were a way to torture him, To let his blood be drawn and to feel agonising pain in the highest degree.

[F/N] never stood a chance.

[F/N] knew this was what he wanted, The thing he had been craving this entire time. This should of been a sweet release, Yet there was such a bitter aftertaste that it filled his mouth along with the blood. Overwhelming his senses.

He still wanted this, He did. It was a happy finality, It didn't matter whether he was in an immense amount of pain or not. It didn't matter at all. Yet the thought of Maika's fate was the one to spoil that moment.

Would she be okay? Would she be discovered by the demon?

He could barely comprehend the question as he hit the ground, World going red.

☆♡☆

Hack, Slash, Hack, Slash!

Kaigaku had barely any time to dodge the unrelenting slashes of Zenitsu, All while dodging the bloodthirsty hits of Shizuko's machete. Both desperate to get to his neck, To sever it and take it as their reward.

It wasn't even the most difficult part. Gyomei had still not moved an inch from his stance on the snow yet he kept sending out axe then flail, Ones Kaigaku couldn't even dodge at times due to the velocity at which they went.

Even then Kaigaku asked himself why Gyomei didn't dare to move from his position, This wasn't like the man he knew. The one who would charge head first into a problem and tackle it head on. It made him angry, Gyomei should be trying to kill him yet he chose to refrain.

And it made him absolutely livid when he found out the reason. Gyomei Himejima, The man who he had lived with for several years, The man who was his family only to be abandoned and ruined the life of all because of Kaigaku was holding back.

All because he still harboured love for him.

Kaigaku yelled out in frustration as he prepared another blood demon art, This time focusing off of the two boys who were still hurling attacks and insults at him as he targeted Gyomei instead.

The thought of him holding back infuriated Kaigaku to no end. Stupid human feelings.. It was disgusting. The notion of it, The action of it, The feelings that rose up inside Kaigaku himself were all absolutely disgusting.

"You fucking bitch!" Shizuko screamed as he charged at Kaigaku once more, Machete wildly trying to hack away at his neck.

Kaigaku dodged. Completely ignoring him in favour of charging at the other man as he got behind Shizuko, Pushing his foot into the dip of his back he used the forced momentum to launch him forward towards Gyomei.

"You absolutely worthless human being!" Kaigaku screamed His sword was raised as he charged at the blind man. Kaigaku ignored the way Gyomei's frown got deeper, Ignoring the way his own grew deeper as well as he got closer and closer. Black sparks jolting out from the metal.

"Himejima-san!" Zenitsu cried as he gave chase, Doing all he could to ignore the past both him and the demon shared as his blade charged up.

Shizuko joined in, Screaming his master's name as Kaigaku got closer. It was clear, Gyomei couldn't kill Kaigaku, He wouldn't. The memories they had shared together were too strong to be cut down for him.

He would rather die than kill one of his kids.

Despite how much Shizuko respected his master, He chided him for letting that get in the way. Even though Shizuko shared the same memories as Gyomei did with Kaigaku, He never let it get in the way.

Not in the way of his work.

Kaigaku was only a few inches away, Sword lightly grazing the skin of Gyomei's neck about to be cut down in an instant.

Come back, Now.

Kaigaku's eyes widened. The voice of Kokushibo, His master, Rang throughout his head. The telepathic link connected to him sounding an indescribable tone in his voice, Something he had never heard off his master before.

Emotion..

Kaigaku jolted away from Gyomei, Landing a few feet away from him as he skidded on the ground.

Zenitsu and Shizuko rushed over to Gyomei's side as he stood there frozen, Kaigaku had stopped. His senses told him so but for what reason.

Kaigaku looked back at the group and snarled at the feeling so persistant on bubbling up inside him. It was weakness, Human emotion. He had no time to think it over as he took off in a single shot of lightning, Leaving the group behind.

Shizuko snapped his head over to the sound of faraway thunder only to realise that the bastard was gone, Escaped while he was concerned over Gyomei's safety.

He gritted his teeth and screamed out into the night after him.

"Ne, Come back and face us! You're a coward, You've always been a coward.. COME BACK AND FIGHT US!" Shizuko hollered out, Voice echoing through the vast treeline surrounding them.

Shizuko could only hope that the demon he once called his brother could hear his yells as he was chased off into the night.

☆♡☆

Erratic sputters of blood erupted from [F/N]'s throat, Making ichor drip out of his mask and down his chin, Staining his already drenched uniform.

Everything hurt, Everything hurt so bad unlike before. [F/N] kept telling himself to breathe, In and out. It would be over soon, Everything will be over soon. He wouldn't need to worry anymore, He had got what he wanted.

[F/N]'s body made spasms, Wild jerks of motion as his back was propped up against fallen stone.

When he fell he had landed into a pile of rubble. Jaded rocks jagged into his flesh, Opening wounds and bursting blood vessels. If his vision wasn't blurry enough, The dust that came up from his heavy landing had made it nigh-impossible to see.

It was a miracle [F/N] was holding on as long as he was. The wound cut so deep into his abdomen that you could near see his guts. He had lost a lot of blood too, More than a normal person could survive losing.

He could barely make out the shape of the maiden only a few feet away cried quietly.

"F-Fujimori-sama.. Fujimori-sama.." She wept. Tears were left unashamedly flowing down her face as [F/N] lolled his head to meet hers.

He had to blink once to remove the visage of Mitsuri appearing on her face. It was funny, [F/N] had never noticed the visual similarities between the two until now. If his lungs were in shape, He might of laughed at the thought.

"Mi-Maika.. Listen closely.." [F/N] rasped out. Voice hoarse as dry as the maiden nodded quickly, Intently ready to hear his final words.

"Y-You need to trust me here.. Y-You won't be able to get out in time.. So.. I need you to get under the rubble.. H-Hide yourself.. Alright?" [F/N] coughed up more blood, Staining the inside of his mask as Maika's eyes widened.

"D-Don't make a noise.. No matter what happens to me or.. Or what you see.. O-Only until sunrise are you to come out.. Only once you know its safe.." [F/N] wheezed as he watched a shape in the mist start to form.

"Q-Quickly.." At his final word enunciated Maika quickly pushed herself under the rocks, Burrowed her small body into the tight space until all [F/N] could see was the moonlight's reflection on her eyes.

[F/N] smiled weakly, He hoped it would be enough to keep her hidden. Enough to save her life as he watched the figure in the fog take shape into his assailant, The man who would be his executioner.

"Pathetic.. Really.. You were able to take out one thousand of my kind.. Yet you fell to me, Even when putting in your all you just couldn't win.." He drawled out, Making sure to pronounce every syllable. Mocking the man, A sharp frown etched into his face yet [F/N] could tell he was enjoying this. Every last second.

[F/N] felt his vision double, A dark haze appearing over the horizon of his eyes. He could barely hear what Kokushibo was about to say next, All blurring into white noise.

He felt the dark haze thicken, He didn't hesitate to let it swallow him whole.

Kokushibo breathed out air from his nose, Returning his blade back to its hilt as he took slow strides towards the fallen man. He watched as his head lolled from side to side, Most definetly in a state of semi-conciousness from the blood loss.

It really was pathetic. If this man didn't bring up such horrid memories, If his very cells didn't make his blood boil he might of offered this man to become a demon. A way to forever hone his already impressive skills.

It was a waste, But it didn't matter now. This Hashira will die by his blade, It was near-written in the stars.

Kokushibo stopped in front of his incapacitated body. All six of his eyes taking in the sight before him as he crouched down to the mans level.

He was sprawled out, Body black and blue in so many places.

Kokushibo knew he was still somewhat awake, In between death and life. Even in such a spot he should've been able to move, Say something at least.

But the man never said anything. Kokushibo lowered a brow, It was if his body was fighting tooth and nail to stay alive yet his mind was ready to give up. It puzzled him, Any other slayer would be fighting whole heartedly to stay alive yet this one decided to go out without complaint.

"You.. Fujimori. You are such a miserable creature.. Everything about you is simply.. enraging" Kokushibo seethed as his eyes moved onto the rest of him. Kokushibo reached a single hand out to grasp the soft fabric of his haori.

"This haori.. How you were able to get a hold on it confuses me.. Yet angers me all the same. The way you wear it.. The way you no doubt have stained it with blood of those you've killed.. The way you wear it is a disgrace to it's true owner.." Kokushibo lamented. His voice growing only a tone drier.

He trailed a thumb over the pattern. The scales of the dragon were soft under his touch, It made a chill go down his back. How he was able to get his hands on this homemade pattern he didn't know, He had buried it with his sister's body.

Yet here it was, Caressed under his claw.

"The gods may be punishing me.. Making me look at it again.. But I suppose it does not matter now, Not to you.." Kokushibo said. His hand trailed up the man's body, All the way up to the rim of the kitsune mask.

He trailed a talon along his jawline, Deep enough only to make his body twitch at the touch.

"Not to mention the precious artefacts.. One's you wear and wield like your everyday kimono.. Disgraceful." His talon moved up to dig under the brim of the mask. Kokushibo watched on intently as his claw played with the leather strap wrapping behind the mans head.

"I am unsure whether you can hear me.. yet.. If you can.. I want you to watch as I tear out your intestines.. A fitting punishment for your crimes.." Kokushibo whispered.

His claw started to rip the leather slowly. The hide easily coming apart as he tore it down once.

It broke.

The fox mask fell to the floor, A loud clatter hitting the floor.

Kokushibo's heart stopped in his chest.

What.. What is this?

The smoke around them seemed to settle down back to where it came from. The moon was raised high in the sky, Looking down upon the scene from the heavens.

Kokushibo's hand retracted instantly, His body jerking away like he had just touched hot coal.

All sets of eyes went like saucers, All fixed down to the young woman in front of him.

It.. It was [F/N].

His little sister..

No- That was impossible. It couldn't be.. She had perished in his arms over five hundred years ago. He held her cold corpse, He cradled her cadaver begging any god who could hear him to bring her back to him. His tears wet her corpse.

Before this was a man, A man of stature unlike his little sister's. Yet when he took off the mask.. One moment it was the man he had defeated, The next it was her.. But.. It couldn't be her, He was hallucinating again. It couldn't.. It just couldn't!

Yet Kokushibo nudged forward. He reached out a hesitant hand. His fingers lightly cupped her cheek, So delicately as if she'd break from a single touch like a porcelain doll.

He felt the fading warmth in her cheeks, He felt her skin corporeal in his hands.

She was real but..

He heard a soft whisper come out from her throat, Something repeated over and over like a broken tape.

He moved his ear closer to her

His eyes only grew wider once he made out what it was

"M.. Mi-Michi..Nii.."

She mumbled softly, Blood still leaking out of her mouth. Kokushibo's jaw fell agape, His grasp of her cheek growing shaky.

There was no doubt

She was real, She was here.

But how.. How could she be here?

Kokushibo felt his vision start to blur yet never felt the hot tears leaking out of his eyes.. He was crying. She.. She said his name.

His jaw shook as he looked down at her, He saw the red ichor leak out of her gut. He saw the thousands of cuts placed onto her skin, All the bruises and the blood.

Did.. Did he do that?

Memories hit him. Back to that day in the snow, The day almost identical to the present. The day he saw the wound in her back.. The day she died..

Kokushibo yelled.

His body moved for him. In a single second he wrapped his arms around her and hoisted her up onto his shoulder, Carefully cradling her body like a small child in his hold as he started sobbing.

He felt her blood stain his kimono, He felt a panic shock him to his very core.

She was going to die.

That thought on its own was enough to send him into a bloodlust. It didn't matter how she was here, How she was reunited with him once more. It all faded into the back of his mind as the one task came clear in his mind.

He couldn't let death take her away from him, Not again. He couldn't lose her, He needed to keep her alive.

The one person whose ever loved him more than Yorichii. She needed to live.

Kokushibo yelled out to Kaigaku in his mind, The telepathic link connected from him to Tsuguko calling out to him. Telling him to come back. They needed to go, He needed to save her life.

The shrine didn't matter, It was if it never existed to him anymore. Going after the evacuees nor searching for useful information throughout the ruins were not a thought going through him.

Carefully making sure she was secure in his hold he pushed her head into the crook of his neck, Made sure her arms were locked around his neck as he watched Kaigaku run up on the horizon.

"M-Master..!" He called out to him as he ran. However his pace skidded to a halt once he came in front of the event unfolding before him.

His master was holding a maimed girl.. And he was crying.

"Wh-What is-"

"Quiet." Kokushibo hissed, His tears still fresh and flowing down his cheeks as he let out a harsh silence.

Kaigaku didn't push him any further. Shut his jaw and listened, The curiosity killed on his tongue yet the incredulous expression still played out on his face.

"We are leaving. Now." Kokushibo said.

Kaigaku nodded quickly. Bowing down low to show respect as he watched his master turn away, Softly running his fingers through the hair of the girl he held. Kaigaku was baffled, He couldn't understand it.

"Nakime!" Kokushibo yelled out.

And in a single strum of a biwa, They were gone.

☆♡☆

The sun rose up in the sky. Clementine skies painted like a tapestry, Only stopped by the misty clouds adorning the atmosphere. Cold air dancing on passer-by's skin as soft sunlight shone down towards the butterfly mansion.

It was lively. Crowds of escapee's and refugee's flooded into the gates of the mansion desperate for medical attention as the staff ran around trying to tend to them all. They all arrived on wagons, Coming out in groups.

As several people walked by they were lightly pushed out the way. Mitsuri ran like hell through the crowds, The lime hue of her eyes scanning every wagon. Every person who resembled [F/N] even if only a little bit.

She asked around. Asking any person she could find to see if they know of her whereabouts, All came up empty. None knowing where she was.

Mitsuri was in the middle of talking to a shrine-maiden when she heard her name called out from the side of the mansion.

"Kanroji-sama!"

She snapped her head over, Only to be met with Tanjiro.

He was standing in one of the nooks in the garden, The one next to the shed with several trays of plant life growing along the windowsill.

Mitsuri rushed over to him. A glimmer of hope rising up inside her, Tanjiro. If anyone was to know where she was, It would be Tanjiro. He was apart of the rescue team after all

"Kanroji-sama.. I'm glad I found you." Tanjiro greeted her, Bowing once. Mitsuri returned it rather hastily with a last-minute smile. "No. I'm glad I found you, Tanjiro.. I've been all over.. But.." Mitsuri huffed, Her injuries still severe as she had to take a breath.

Tanjiro laid a hand on her back, Patting it lightly as if to relieve her pain.

"Thank you, Tanjiro.. I came to ask.. H-Have you seen [F/N]? Was she able to evacuate or.. In fact, Have you seen Fujimori?" Mitsuri said. She grasped Tanjiro's hands into her own, Hope shining in her eyes as she looked at him.

Tanjiro frowned a little.

"N-No.. I haven't seen [F/N], Nor have I seen Fujimori-sama.. I'm sorry." Tanjiro apologised.

The grasp on his hand felt lighter, Mitsuri's smile faltering only slightly as she gulped down the overhanging feeling in her gut.

"I.. I see.. Thank you anyways, I.. I better get back to searching." Mitsuri said. She tried to keep her normal tone, Her normal bubbly tone that she wore everyday without effort yet there was an undeniable fumble as she walked off.

"Wait!" Tanjiro called out.

Mitsuri turned back around to see Tanjiro search his pockets, All before fishing and holding up a folded envelope in his hands.

"I haven't seen [F/N].. But, Fujimori-sama gave me this letter.. He told me to deliver it to you.." Tanjiro announced as he presented it to Mitsuri.

A letter.

A sudden cold sweat washed over Mitsuri. A bad feeling came up in her gut as she walked over.

Mitsuri took the envelope in her hands. The soft paper feeling like sandpaper in her touch. She steadied her breathing, Trying not to break down in front of her Junior.

Taking in a deep breath she carefully picked off the wax seal and unfolded the envelope. Watching as the folds came undone only to drop a pristine piece of white paper in her hands.

She started to read.

To Mitsuri, My dearest friend.

This probably isn't the letter you wanted from me, I know that and I've tried to make it better so it won't hurt as much.

This is about the fiftieth time I've tried to write this letter, Over and over again I've tried to find the right words to say to try and make it perfect, But every time I just end up throwing it out.

So I've decided to just speak my mind, Let it all out. No more redo's. Alright?

First off this isn't your fault, It's not at all. I've been feeling this way for as long as I can remember and I've tried and tried to find a way to feel something else other than monotony or subservience. Sake and such. but nothing has ever worked for me. So I want you to know that however I died, Whether I found someone strong enough to kill me or that I finally found the gut's to do it myself. I want you to know I did it I did on my on volition. I chose this, You have nothing to feel bad over.

Life just isn't worth living for me. I remember getting asked a short while ago what my purpose in life was, What my motivation was. It ate away at me for a while trying to find an answer. But In truth I have none except for protect those I hold dearest to me, Yet once I found out that my single motive became obsolete I now realise that what we call a reason to live is also an excellent reason to die.

I'm living a lie, Everyday I go to work as someone I'm not because of myself. It's pathetic. There isn't any meaning, I'm sorry for saying this but as these are my last words I feel like it's necessary.

I feel like I missed out on a lot of things. A family, My childhood, A normal life. All of these things I feel like have slipped out of my grasp away from me, And I can't get them back and that hurts me more than I can put into words. Everyday it haunts me and I just can't take it anymore.

But, I lied earlier when I said nothing made me feel something other that monotony.

The truth is its you. You were the only thing that made me feel like I had a family, Like I had my childhood, Like I was a normal person for once in my stupid little life. I adore you, Tsuri. I really do.

Do you remember that day on the porch? You probably don't but I do, I know it was just a one off thing you did for me but at the time I felt like a little girl for once, I felt so happy in that single moment and it meant the absolute world to me. It was probably the first time I ever had a genuine smile on my face. I treasure that memory so very dearly.

Please don't feel sad over me, I don't want that. I love you so so much and I know you probably don't feel the same. I'm sorry you had to put up with me, You deserved a better friend than me.

If Shizuko ever finds out the truth, Tell him his big sister is sorry she couldn't be there for him and that I'm so proud of him for becoming a slayer.

I love you, And I wish I said it sooner

-[F/N] Fujimori

"Kanroji-sama..?" Tanjiro asked, Taking a step towards her.

The letter shook in her grasp, Letting the envelope fall to the floor as she gripped the letter in both hands.

"Kanroji-sama.." Tanjiro watched as wet splotches started to stain the letter, All before the woman he looked up to fall to the floor

And scream.

Next Chapter

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