"Kamado, there is something different about you today, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

Kyoujurou watched his little demon with a scrutinizing gaze. He had burst into the Pillar's room and glued himself to him, but that was nothing new. Yet there was something particularly strange about his demeanor that day. It felt somewhat off .

"Aaaaa…"

"Did your hair grow longer?"

The Flame Pillar idly passed his hand through the boy's ponytail. Soft as usual, same length. Must be something else then.

"Aaaaa!"

"Did you grow taller?"

Tanjirou often spent time in his small form but when he entered the room, he was neither short nor tall. Perhaps Kyoujurou's eyes picked on that. He stood up and urged the boy to do so too, in order to grasp the height difference.

"AAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Kamado angrily lifted the Flame Pillar's hand and slapped it over his own mouth.

The muzzle ! The bamboo muzzle was missing! Kyoujurou blinked a few times as the gears in his mind turned and burst into a fit of laughter. He felt like the biggest fool in the Slayer Corps. His poor boy moaned with his mouth open and bared his fangs for him but the Flame Pillar chose to analyze everything but his face.

"What happened to you? Did you take the muzzle off?"

Kyoujurou cupped his face gently and studied his features. Now that he thought about it, it was the first time when he actually got to see Kamado fully. It felt a little odd, similar to meeting colleagues in undercover missions or someone changing his hairstyle drastically.

But as the Flame Pillar expected, everything about his lover's face was breathtakingly beautiful. From the soft rosy lips that just begged to be ravished, to his big sparky red eyes filled with so much adoration, that Kyoujurou couldn't help himself but nuzzle Tanjirou's cheeks. He placed soft pecks on each one as the boy's breath hitched.

Ah, the muzzle! Don't forget what's important!

"Tanjirou, what happened to your muzzle?"

His sweet boy was watching Kyoujurou with the cutest dreamy expression. Lips slightly open, glassy eyes and burning cheeks. He looked absolutely delightful.

Tanjirou eventually snapped out of his haze with Kyoujurou's gentle nudging. The boy ghosted his fingers around his face as if he was trying to recall where exactly the muzzle disappeared.

Suddenly he put his palms together and did a few slicing motions. He also perhaps tried to sound threatening, but his cute growls sure had the opposite effect. Nonetheless, it still concerned Kyoujurou greatly.

"Did someone attack you?"

The Flame Pillar frowned as he checked Tanjirou over for injuries. He knew he was acting irrationally. The regenerative powers would have already healed any wounds. But just thinking of his boy crying in pain soured his mood. Fortunately, Kyoujurou didn't find any marks on the boy's haori. Perhaps the attacker didn't target Tanjirou on purpose. But still, to cut his muzzle would require a very close range attack.

The mere thought of the nichirin sword flying near his lover's neck made Kyoujurou's blood boil with fury. He was going to unleash hell once he found out who dared to put Tanjirou's life in danger.

Where was Nezuko? Why didn't she keep an eye on her brother? But perhaps Tanjirou had once again snuck out of his box while she was busy training. This mischievous little bug always found himself in trouble. Had he angered a Pillar? Kyoujurou swore that if he found out Sanemi had once again run after Tanjirou to teach him a "lesson", he would lose his mind and go avenge his lover. He hated engaging in mindless violence, but if his fellow slayer knew only the language of fists, the Flame Pillar would make himself understood.

If Kyoujurou hadn't heard faint sobs, he probably would have continued to fume. But the sight of Tanjirou's frightened eyes jolted him back to reality. The boy seemed to fret over the tense atmosphere. How awful of Kyoujurou to let his emotions cloud his thinking like that. Tanjirou probably believed he was furious because of the destroyed muzzle.

"Sweetling, why are you panicking? It's okay!" Kyoujurou cupped his cheeks once again and tried to use his softest tone. "Nobody is mad at you! I'm sorry for scaring you. Later we will find Nezuko and we'll get you a new muzzle. Now just try to calm down."

"Aaaa?" Tanjirou mumbled as they locked eyes.

The Pillar opened his arms with a kind smile. Hugs always cheered Tanjirou up. And this time proved no different. The demon managed to almost knock Kyoujurou from his feet with the force of his jump.

"Aaaaaaa!"

"I missed you too!"

Tanjirou's little nose eagerly caressed his neck as Kyoujurou wrapped his arms around the boy's back to support him better. What could he have done in his former life to be rewarded with such a loving partner? Kyoujurou had no idea, but he would cherish and adore him forever.

Tanjirou paused briefly and the Pillar didn't miss the opportunity to glance at him. The determined look on his cute face made Kyoujurou shudder in anticipation. What did his little troublemaker have in mind?

With nimble fingers, the boy worked his collar open and nuzzled his face on the small strip of exposed skin. Where had his naughty demon learned that? Observant little thing. Kyoujurou moaned in encouragement as soft lips danced on his shoulder. It felt so much better to not have that pesky muzzle scraping at his skin.

"You are so wonderful to me! It feels so good!" Kyoujurou praised him lovingly and Tanjirou looked like he couldn't get any redder. "But we can't let ourselves get carried away like that in the middle of the day! Not proper at all! What if Nezuko walks in right now and sees all this?"

She has walked in on much, much worse but sweet Tanjirou, of course, wouldn't disagree with him. He reluctantly let go of him in disappointment and Kyoujurou placed a chaste kiss on his forehead.

"There is a place and time for everything, love. Don't be too discouraged. Now, I have something else in mind. "

Kyoujurou sat down cross-legged on the tatami floor and Tanjirou mimicked his action. He had a happy little curious expression on his face now that he realized the Pillar wasn't actually going to kick him out of the room.

"Tanjirou, I want to hear your sweet voice. Can you say my name?"

Kamado cocked his head to the side surprised. His rosy lips quivered as they tried to form letters but he seemed to struggle. Kyoujurou couldn't help but stare at his cute mouth opening and closing silently. The boy's lips would feel so soft against his, no doubt.

"You know my name. Kyou-ju-rou. Say it with me. KYO-"

"Kyoo-"

God, he's really doing it!

"JU-"

"Shuu-"

So adorable! Just like Senjurou when he learned to talk.

"RO!"

"Ooooo..."

So close...!

While Kyoujurou continued to daydream, Kamado repeated his name numerous times. Or at least something close to it. In the end, he only managed to properly voice "Kyo". It still made Kyoujurou squeel in excitement as he heard his lover's beautiful voice. Oh, he couldn't wait for the day when he could talk properly. The man would certainly get weak in the knees every time Tanjirou whispered his name.

"Kyoshhh..."

The poor thing really tried his best. Perhaps his name was indeed far too difficult for his current speech. His cute little cross expression almost made the Pillar lose himself in laughter, but thankfully he managed to keep it together. After all, he didn't want to hurt the boy's feelings. Kyoujurou should have thought better and start with much easier names such as Tanjirou or Nezuko.

"You're doing so great, love! Kyo is just fine! Say Kyo again, please!"

"Kyo...?"

"Amazing!"

Tanjirou happily chanted his name as Kyoujurou petted his hair with fondness. He could dote on him like that all day and night, but unfortunately, both of them had places to be. And one of them had a sister that didn't need another heart attack from Tanjirou's lengthy absence.

"I think it's time to tell Nezuko of your muzzle incident. Do you know where she is? Also, you have to show me who cut it!"

Kyoujurou tried to get back to his feet, but Tanjirou quickly stopped him, with both of his hands gripping the Pillar's. Count on him to be as dramatic as ever.

"What is it Kamado?"

"Kyo! Kyo!"

Kamado's big sparky pleading eyes tried to work his magic on the man. But Kyoujurou was no fool. He had learned to block some of this little demon's spells. Yet he still paused and scrutinized his lover just in case something else was bothering him.

"You don't want to leave?"

Tanjirou rocked his head in a definitive no while Kyoujurou weighed his options. He was used to a level of clinginess coming from his boy. But he also didn't want their parting to be filled with sadness or bring him back to Nezuko upset. Fortunately, Kyoujurou had learned to appease his troublemaker.

"How about a compromise? We play one more time and then we go find your sister! How about that?"

"Aaaaa?"

The boy paused while the Pillar sat back down on the floor.

"Yes! And we'll do whatever you want! Doesn't that sound nice?"

Tanjirou nodded happily and in no time he straddled Kyoujurou's lap. The Pillar chuckled as he cocked his head to the side. There was no question that the demon was trying to continue their naughty game from before. But so be it. The man promised to indulge and he would deliver.

Kyoujurou waited patiently but he felt no arms hugging his neck or hot breath caressing his exposed skin. When he looked at Tanjirou, he lifted his eyebrows in confusion. His boy kept gazing at him, no, at his face . His eyes lingered lower and seemed far too focused to notice the Pillar's stare.

Slowly, Tanjirou brought his face closer. There was a curious little devil inside Kyoujurou that ordered him to not move. And he obeyed all too easily.

Now Kyoujurou's heart started to beat fast in anticipation. Would he try to kiss him? Their first proper kiss? Was this really going to happen?

Smooch .

Kyoujurou waited and waited, but in the end, he furrowed his brows as he realized Tanjirou was not going to move. They had connected their lips but he didn't do anything. AT. ALL. Not even when the man had tried to take initiative. He stood there like a little blushing doll frozen in time.

The Pillar couldn't help himself but chuckle as he broke the... kiss .

"Kamado, is this a kiss? Or have you fallen asleep on me?"

Unsurprisingly, he heard annoyed growls coming from his lover. He tried to leave the man's lap in embarrassment.

Perhaps he had gone too a little too far with his joke. Kyoujurou cupped Tanjirou's face gently and stared into those beautiful red irises. His boy tried to avoid his piercing gaze while his cheeks burned red.

"I'm so sorry for teasing you! You're just too cute! Will you forgive me?"

Tanjirou closed his eyes in utter rejection. Perhaps that would have stung a little if his boy wasn't still accepting the soothing fingers that cupped his cheeks. Kyoujurou smirked as he created a new attack plan.

He placed a soft peck on Kamado's nose. Tanjirou fluttered his eyes open and moaned his name when Kyoujurou threatened to get up. Once again he found himself in the boy's grip, who was determined to keep the Pillar from abandoning their game.

Well, well, well, someone seems eager to forgive now.

Kyoujurou's laugh filled the room as he hugged back his favorite demon.

"How about I teach you how it's really done? I'll make a fine kisser out of you by the time Nezuko comes looking."