Read this shit kinda slowly. It hits different if you do.
She opened her scarlet strawberry irises to the rays of light pouring over his back.
She blinked, once, again, she breathed, but never stopped looking.
They outlined his tufts of blonde which faded to flame. He was unconscious, bleeding on his knees, but he looked so warm. Like the sun, which now peered over his head like a halo.
"I-It's… it's beautiful…"
The demon waited with her eyes set forward. The sun, something she wished she never saw since she was a demon, yet knew of its dangers. Every part of her screamed to run, shade, hide, to tear yourself limb from limb so that even if one part of you survives and you can live on. The only thing that she did was nothing. She only stared at the sun.
The one thing that defined her existence was that. That she could never see the sun ever again. Because it would kill her.
So why wasn't it?
"It's not…" The orb of light kept raising ever so slightly, but she felt no pain. The red of her kimono, the furred collar, her one ram-like horn, her long white hair, didn't burn. "It doesn't hurt…"
"You're still alive…"
She flinched and turned at the sound of the voice now behind her. It was light and familiar, from a red-haired demon slayer. "You're immune to the sun too?"
"Immune?" She responded in a whispered and almost scared breath. Her eyes fell upon the boy in front of her, the same one that she fought on the top of the train. His brown uniform and green and black haori, with a blue scarf. Coagulated slashes across his chest seemed to be his only major injuries.
He didn't seem hostile, the last time they met, he wanted to her to talk with Kyojuro. Tanjirou, she remembered. He seemed okay.
"You're not burning up. That means you must be immune like Susamaru and Nezuko." The boy said.
"Susamaru, Nezuko, who are you… talking about?" Everything seemed so surreal, like everything was slow, but she was watching it at twice the speed.
"Yeah, uh… I'm sorry!" Tanjirou just couldn't take it anymore. He fell down next to her and grabbed his Hashira by the shoulders, before taking his pulse and sniffing for some odd reason, and they laying him down on the dirt carefully. She witnessed him don a fond look before turning back to her, a bit embarrassed.
"I just wanted to make sure he was okay."
"That's fine…" She returned.
"Are you okay? I saw you jump in an save him. You fought off an upper rank…"
"Yeah…" Her daze didn't stop, even in the dim morning light. "I… why are… why am I?..."
She examined her palms, squeezing. Slow, like she was in honey or underwater. She noticed some movement from in front of her. Her eyes went up to see him move a little closer.
"I don't know, but you're not the only one." He assured her.
"I'm not? Who are the others… you mentioned them?"
"Yes! One of them's my sister, Nezuko, and the other is my… friend Susamaru."
He must've been talking about that other demon she encountered with him. That demon wielding the temaries. She didn't look like him, so that was probably the latter name.
"O-Okay…" Her vision absentmindedly turned back to the sun over the horizon. It was bright.
Bright. Very bright.
Tanjirou noticed her looking off, and he didn't really have anything to say before something came to him. He stood up but she didn't seem to notice. "I'll go get them!"
"A-Alright…"
She continued to stare off into the sun. A hypnotic wave of calmness rolled over her demonic skin. The demon didn't realize that she was right next to her once childhood friend.
"Kyojuro… I didn't realize…"
"You didn't realize what?"
Her pupils dilated at the different tone that was directed to her. It was female, not accusatory, like one would expect, curious, but expecting.
The demon's head slowly shifted to behind her, with her eye coming less to an inch of a sword point. The sword wasn't normal, it was like half of it was missing. And the one that was holding it, she was another demon slayer. Her hair, black to purple in a ponytail anointed with a butterfly hairpin, her haori a veined pink of white and purple.
Her body didn't react to the sword.
"Aren't you going to say something?" Shinobu held her poisoned sword less than an inch away from the demon. One thrust and she was dead. Through the kanji written on her eyes.
The demon, the Kizuki didn't respond. The Hashira only kept her eye on the Kizuki and every movement she made. When she caught up to the front end of the train, her feet carried her as fast as she could to her fallen team member in the distance. When she drew her katana, the only thing that stopped her from gouging the demon's eyes out was something she picked up on.
"Your body isn't harmed by sunlight."
"Yes, i-it isn't." Her eyes turned back to his unconscious body, making Shinobu even more paranoid. Everything started to pile up and everything started to give her mixed signals.
The demon was in front of her wasn't hurt by sunlight. There were only two other demons that could do such a thing, but now a Kizuki? And a regular demon, much less than a Kizuki would've devoured Kyojuro's body without hesitation, but she didn't. The only thing she could gather was she needed more info.
"You said you didn't realize something... what was it?"
"I… never mind." The shoulder rub and the avert of her eyes from her only served to confuse her more. She wasn't hostile, and even with death in front of her. This was the one that mission was focused on, correct?
The Hashira continued to stare deeply at the somewhat awkward and somewhat distraught demon. Her body language was completely… inert.
She slowly pulled the sword back into her guard, sensing the shouts and footfalls approaching from several individuals.
"Kocho-san! Wait! Wait! Please stop!" Tanjirou screamed. The two turned group. Three demon slayers and two demons. "Don't hurt her!"
The four got close, but Tanjirou interceded himself in front of the demon and her, much to the Hashira's surprise, and her expectations.
"She's not bad! She saved him!"
"She what."
"Believe me!"
It wasn't that the Insect Hashira didn't, it was just that she didn't have a response. Her guard lowered slightly as she took another glance at the Kizuki and now the adamant and familiar group that were living with her.
The Kizuki looked like she was lost. Lost in thought or otherwise, but she didn't seem like she was the cause of Rengoku's injuries.
She exhaled, shoving a memory out of her mind. A name, a face, a wish that was pushed onto her that she could never fulfill.
Shinobu sheathed her sword.
"Tell me what happened."
[=============]
The Insect Hashira exhaled seeing Rengoku and the Kizuki hug before her. The room was empty and things seemed to be getting a little awkward for her.
"I'll be going now. Please rest Kyojuro."
She turned her back when the Hashira nodded and left the room, leaving the two of them alone in the room of white, sheet-lined medical beds.
Mukago kept silent off to the side of his bed. She parted one of her white strands of her hair to the side, her eyes finding the window on the wall, and the light sunlight and morning day coming through. Her eyes caught a cloud.
"Huh…"
"It's a nice day out. You should go see it. As a demon, you haven't seen it in a while, have you?"
"W-What?" She turned to her friend looking fondly towards her. It was soft look, softer than she'd seen from the first time the met on the train. Like she was actually human...
There was a flash of a memory, a place, with him. A town, the smile he gave her back then.
The memory was gone. And the feeling faded very quickly out of doubt. He probably was just being friendly.
"I can… but I should stay here… with you… your injuries…"
"You should." He sat a bit straighter through some malignant joint and muscle pain, much to her dismay. Though that didn't change his expression. "Much of my body feels numb and I probably won't be walking for some time, so you shouldn't worry. I'll be here."
It took a second to process, but she agreed, and stood, glancing one more time before taking her steps out of the wing to find her way outside.
The Flame Hashira, though she didn't see it, didn't take his attention off of her as she walked away. The small gait and the dark red kimono swayed, and for second, the alabaster hair falling past her shoulders and the one black horn disappeared, shifted, changed, and he saw was his friend long ago, older however.
The short-cut, brown hair made her almost look like a boy. But her strawberry-colored eyes and delicate features… there was no mistake to be made.
He blinked. It all returned. She was about to step out of the open door.
"Wait."
"Huh? Kyojuro?" She swiveled. Rengoku paused, trying to sort out what he wanted to say. There were many feelings he wanted to convey, but one more than others came first.
He thought back to the instant that he realized that she was alive, how sorrowful and bitter she appeared. Heartbroken. It made him want to apologize. For never looking for her, the thought never even crossed his mind that she was alive.
That was something he probably never forgive himself for. And there was nothing he could say that could make up for that.
The memory of the moment that she stood in front of him, being shot through the chest; he barely saw the hole in her kimono. She saved him, so that was easier to say.
"Thank you. For saving my life. Mukago…"
"Y-You're welcome." She smiled. Then left.
When she was gone, he was left alone. The quiet… he wasn't used to it being so quiet. Usually, he was either at home, talking with one of the other Hashiras, or on a mission. But there was always someone to talk to, and he usually would talk about anything, but for some reason, he didn't want to. Not about this, not about what happened on the train.
He examined his hands, one of the wrapped up in bandages, the other going to feel the ones around his head and over the missing sphere in his socket. Worse for wear, but alive.
It was thanks to her. It was all because of her. A demon, a Kizuki, a lower, but that didn't make it any better. She was his friend, and even now, still is, even with how confusing his feelings still may be. But now, no one but a few could know, and especially not his family. Not his father.
He was going to have to face him eventually, and for the first time, he couldn't.
"What am I going to do?..."
[=============]
The Hashira put weight on his feet for the first time in a few days.
"Careful! Don't hurt yourself." The Kizuki beside him held her hands out ready to catch him if he fell, but his body was steadily on the crutch that Shinobu had given him.
"I won't fall. Don't worry… but can you come to the other side?" He politely asked. The demon did as requested, moving around to the other side of the bed, allowing him steady himself.
He hesitated placing his arm around her, but did so. The slight blush that came over her as he started to place his weight on her eased him a bit as he took his first step.
A small amount of joy arose from the two as he began taking more steps, just around the room they were in, back and forth. Nothing complicated. It didn't take long before he could walk with just the crutch. The pain was bearable.
Mukago beamed. "You're walking. Does it hurt?"
"No, no that- agh…"
There was a slight contraction in his chest and he doubled over and almost fell before the demon caught him. His gripped it through his medical robe. It soon subsided, but still hurt as he was moved back to his bed. "Can you ask Shinobu for more medication?"
Mukago nodded fervently before stepping out of the room as soon as he was okay. The hallway echoed some sounds of some less important shouting from the other occupants of the mansion. She made her way quickly down to the Insect Hashira's work room where she should be. The demon peeked in to see the Hashira already facing the doorway.
"Yes?"
"It's Kyojuro. It's his chest. He needs more meds."
"Oh, of course." She got up from her chair and walked over to a shelf with various pills, herbs, and other substances. She pulled a box free and began searching through labeled names in it, absent mindedly speaking. "Many of his organs need time to repair themselves. He needs to take it easy."
"Right. I'll tell him."
Shinobu pulled the jar and walked back to the Kizuki in the doorway. Mukago took the pills and the Hashira stepped away back to her desk. She was about to leave before she stayed for a second.
The Hashira, who sensed her not leaving, again swiveled back to her. She watched the demon think and debate in silence for several seconds before she interrupted her.
"Do you need something else?"
"Yeah, um…" Mukago looked at the pills in her hands, thinking of the Hashira back in the medical wing. "Is he going to be okay?"
"For the most part, yes. His body was strained and injured to the point where he won't be able to take another mission without sustaining more injuries, so he's going to retire soon."
"Retire? From the Corps?"
"Yes, he'll probably return to his family compound with his brother and father."
"Oh." A part of herself began to shrink.
"Did he not tell you?"
"No. Not yet."
Shinobu expressed a quick laugh, both intrigued and amused at the fact that Kyojuro hadn't spoke to her about it yet. He always was willing to discuss anything. He never had any barriers, which was something she admired. It was something she couldn't do. Her demeanor shifted to a mix of understanding and that of pity.
"I see…"
"He'll tell you about it when he's come to a decision I imagine. But I can see you're worried."
"It's that easy huh?" She slightly retreated.
Shinobu sighed before turning to face her directly. Against her own judgement, she looked the Kizuki in the eye to see the words Lower Four, shaking the memories from her mind.
She got a good look at the girl now; especially how unsure she was. She's been monitoring her ever since the morning they met. Mukago was her name, and it was still hard for her to call her that over calling Susamaru or Nezuko by their names, but that was just because she was a Kizuki. A disdain she couldn't get rid of. A shred of humanity she couldn't see.
But now, actually looking at her, she seemed so scared. It's easy to read people when they're afraid or they're anxious. You can tell what they're going to do, what's important to them. And that was a trait of humans. Not demons. They were much more… animalistic.
But her, Mukago, the more she interacted with her and talked and observed, nothing about her mannerisms, her speech, indicated that she was a demon. She was honestly more human than she'd seen some people. And that was truly something. Maybe she was closer to what Kanae saw.
"Maybe. You're not hard to read."
"I guess." Mukago fiddled with the bottle in her hands.
"But he is worried about you."
Shinobu stood up and surprised the demon as she moved up to face her, serious. A change from the Hashira's constant state of playful teasery and caring side.
"The reason that he's having trouble deciding if he should confront his family is you. You're someone that he deeply cares about, that much I can tell, and he doesn't know what to do because of that. Normally, it wouldn't be difficult for him."
Mukago was in partial disbelief.
"He wants to protect you, but his family is important to him, and lying is something he won't do, so that's why he might have not told you yet. It's hard for him to choose."
"I… should've known."
Shinobu shook her head.
"That's not what you should focus on. You need to focus on helping make that decision. Demons are man-devouring creatures, so there are very few that will ever see differently from that. Kyojuro is one of those people now, and it's up to you whether you matter to him more than what you are."
"Are you suggesting that I make him choose me over my family?" The demon shot.
"No, I'm not." Shinobu turned her back and walked back over to her desk before sitting back down, speaking over her shoulder. "I'm only saying there's no other real alternative. He's going to have to make the choice eventually. Just be there to help him make it… Maybe you two will figure something out."
"Okay." Mukago shook her head in disapproval before turning to leave. As she was, as shout caught her attention, but she considered it as she exited.
"Think about it. The garden is a good place to think if you need it."
"Sigh…"
The Kizuki considered the choice brought her, the situation in front of her own eyes. It plagued her the more she thought about it, even handing Rengoku his meds and putting him to bed, she only kept wondering about it. It wasn't long before she found herself in the garden.
The sunlight hit her first, as she calmed at the warmth after covering it with her hand. When her eyes adjusted, she fixated on the large bushes and blooming flowers of the nearby walls. She followed them out, simply walking by them. She followed them into a space with more than she'd seen. It seemed she was in a patio of some sort. There was a table and two chairs, surrounded by large bushes and potted and grounded flowers. But that wasn't the standout, it was the butterflies.
There were so many of them, all different colors, blue, purple, yellow, green, but the amount didn't seem overwhelming. They simply passed from flower to flower.
The demon found herself in front of a large rosebush, staring at a particular butterfly that caught her interest. She moved closer and saw it in its entirety. It's color was white, but its edges bled a vibrant orange, like flames.
"It's beautiful." It was. It looked like him.
She carefully maneuvered her finger to the flower and held it close. She couldn't believe when the insect paused, noticing the intrusion, then examined it, before climbing on.
It flapped its wings slowly as it stayed on her, and she fell incredibly still. She remembered reading about butterflies when she was a kid. They were such fragile creatures, yet this one didn't see any harm.
It didn't see any harm, any danger, any number of reasons to fly away. Maybe it was a sign.
However, she flinched at the sound of footsteps to her side and it flew off. When she turned, she noticed a familiar red-haired demon slayer coming to greet her.
[=============]
She stood a few paces away from the blonde man leaning on his crutch as he stared into the training area. From her position, she could see the demon known as Susamaru repeatedly swinging a wooden bokken leaving wisps of flame in her wake.
The demon swung and slashed the air in front of her while the Hashira looked on in intrigue. While she stood a few feet away from him, she could tell she wasn't the focus.
"She's getting better with a sword day-by-day."
"Yea, it's kind of scary honestly."
Mukago witnessed firsthand the audacity of the demon, now a few weeks in the past. It was hard for her to remember her past as a Kizuki without retreating into some bad memories, but surprisingly day-by-day, she was reconciling with it, or at least, forgetting.
For the termari demon however, she seemed stronger than her. Their first meeting was less than adequate but a simple conversation made up for that. The demon was quite different from herself. She held herself with pride and wielded her nature like a sword. It was like nothing, not even the Hashira or even Kibutsuji, scared the girl. Very different from herself. She was a coward.
She caught the Hashira in front of him staring somewhat longingly at her. He could tell she was lost in thought.
"Are you okay Mukago?"
"Sorry." Mukago apologized looking away. She must've worried him. What caught her off guard was the flamed blonde move closer with his crutch.
"You don't have to say sorry. You didn't do anything wrong… unlike myself..."
She was unable to formulate words when he said that. She could tell that he needed to talk with her. He looked off into the training yard towards Susamaru.
"Susamaru, keep going and give it your all for each swing, understand?"
The verbal shout of approval made him nod before turning to the Kizuki. He gestured to follow, and the two walked into a secluded part of the hallway, stopping once they recognized that no one was around.
Mukago, standing in front of him, gained a serious feeling of worry, for him and what he was going to say. He stood over her a solid few inches, but he felt so small with his one eye squinted almost expressing his apology for him.
"I should've told you about my retirement."
"No, no, it's fine that you didn't. You had your reasons." The Insect Hashira said so, but he shook his head.
"It's more than that, it's…"
"Your family?"
Kyojuro nodded.
It had been a long time since she had met his parents. His mother was nice, kind, his father though, a stern type. He didn't like her very much.
"My family compound is the only place I have to live. You've been there, right?"
"Yeah, but I don't really remember what it looks like." Mukago averted her eyes.
"My father is still master of the house, and…" He sighed, thinking over the options he had in front of him. Binary, clear cut, black and white. There was no room to negotiate. Mukago, now that she was here, that she was alive, he wanted her to be in his life, but that contradicted so many things.
"Your father is not going to let me stay there. I know."
He shook his head staring at the floor between them, caught on what to say.
"Maybe your mother can- "
He flinched, and Mukago saw it. A painful memory, regret and sorrow. She felt immediately a wash of guilt.
"Oh, she's… never mind."
The Hashira shook his head again. "She died from a disease when I was young, but I'm sure that she would've wanted to see you again."
The demon smiled at the thought, but that didn't take away from how much she didn't know. It had been years, more than a decade since they had seen each other, so much had probably changed for him.
He managed to look her in the eye again.
"My father hasn't changed. He's gotten worse actually." The self-deprecating laugh afterward was something he never thought he'd do, but he did. "My little brother is different though."
"You have a little brother?"
"Senjuro." Rengoku noted. "He's kind-hearted."
"That's… good."
Once again, Mukago looked around before picking up on the man in front of her. The crutch, the bandages, and the eye patch made her feel bad already. He was going have to deal with that his entire life. And his family… It all made her question everything, especially now.
She was a demon, a Kizuki who's killed more than she could count. She may have been scared, wanting to live to see another day, but there was no way in hell that she was worthy of the life she was living now.
Why was this even an issue for him? Why would he even choose her over his family? There was only one right choice to make.
She interrupted the silence.
"You should stay with them… and forget about me."
"What? Why?"
His one eye went wide staring at the woman. A clear difference from before. Not a single ounce of regret or pain. Some part of him started to grow angry that she even said that.
"You can't just say that. Not after all that's happened. Not now."
"Why do you care about me so much? I'm a Kizuki Kyojuro. A demon! You should've just… cut off my head."
"Don't say that!"
He wasn't expecting himself to lunge forward and disregard his crutch to embrace her, but he did. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him, as hard as he could with his limited strength. And that caught her off guard.
Mukago froze. Her legs almost weakened as much as her resolve from a few seconds ago. The second, the moment, the instant that he threw his arms around her, she felt her entire world fall way as he became it. None of her promises, the reasons that she convinced herself of, mattered anymore. She barely registered returning it and the seconds they spent embraced. She was still frozen, in shock.
"You can't say things like that… not anymore. Please…"
Her body started to shake.
"You came back to me. You… You can't just leave…"
Her breathing labored as she felt heat begin to spring up in her cheeks. She shoved those feelings as hard as she could away by gripping the back of his medical robe. We winced feeling the pressure, but endured through it as they stayed together.
A few moments. Maybe a minute. Nothing more. Before Mukago spoke.
"Then what are we going to do?" She broke the hug and looked him dead in the eye. He contemplated before an idea came to mind.
He still didn't know what decision he should make or supposed to, but he did think of one person who might be able to make that decision for him.
"I'll talk with the Master of the Corps about it." Kyojuro said, waiting for a response from the teary-eyed girl.
"Can I come with you? To meet him? I want to be there, if that's okay." She sniffled.
This way, she could at least be there for him when he did make the decision. No matter what it was.
"Of course. I'll ask."
A wave of melancholia washed over him as he stepped away to grab his crutch before returning to Mukago. The demon clasped her hands together as he looked back down the hall.
"I have to keep training Susamaru before that happens however. She needs me to, plus I'm thinking of making her my Tsuguko, my apprentice."
"Will she replace you? As Hashira, I mean."
"Hopefully." He looked once more down the hall towards the door to the outside.
Mukago beamed lightly. "Then train her well, for me alright?"
Mukago looked upon him, waiting for a response. The only thing that the Hashira could do was nod before they couldn't stop themselves from embracing once more.
[=============]
Kyojuro looked upon the demon training in the courtyard. As her toned upper body held one of her temaries aloft, she focused on the wooden training posts in front of her. Her body stilled as she waited patiently.
"Go!"
Susamaru barreled all of her intent towards the three posts standing a dozen feet away. The second the sound of his voice reached her eardrum, she inhaled, grinned, and expelled the sudden rush of burning flame in her blood straight to the ball in her palm.
Demonic Flame Breathing Art: Flame Shot!
The temari alit when it left her hand and traveled in a line of flame towards the first pillar.
*Crack*
*Crack*
*Crack*
The first impact was the same as the other two as they splintered in an instant, a double ricochet. The grin widened to a cheery smile.
"Fuck Yeah! Did you see that?"
Rengoku chuckled lightly to himself. "I did."
He stepped down from the porch and walked up to her. His crutch was mostly a formality. He did have his uniform and haori on now to signify that. A new eyepatch to match.
He gleefully took in the proud and smug aura.
"You've progressed so far Susamaru. You've managed to learn all the nine forms in just a couple months, not to mention how you combined them with your own blood demon art. You are an amazing disciple."
"I know right! That isn't even my only one!" She said crossing her arms confidently.
The confident laughter that came afterward was deserved. While she spent hours every single day training and learning to become stronger, he knew that there were nights that she spent in the same way. The perks of having unlimited stamina he guessed.
He wished that he could see just how far she could go. But most of all, he just wished that when she got even better, and he knew she would, that she would accept his Hashira position. Of course, that require some serious convincing of the Corps and other Hashira members, but that could be done.
He was about to speak when he was interrupted by a large shout which they could tell came from the front entrance to the mansion.
"Let them go this instant!"
They both turned their heads to the sound of the voice. It sounded like Tanjirou. The demon and the Hashira glanced at each other with a look of recognition before darting into the building.
As they darted their way through the hall towards the front entrance, the door wasn't far, but Mukago was between them. She blinked as they darted past worried.
"What's wrong? Guys?"
The temari demon turned back and yelled. "We heard a shout. Come on!"
She carried herself quickly behind the two who made their way to the gate. They gathered at the closed frame before the temari demon threw it open. The three of them standing there focused into the sight of the courtyard seeing Tanjirou staring at the gate to the compound and someone on top of it.
Rengoku's eyes picked up on the shiny accessories on the man on top of the gate. He instinctually pushed Mukago to the side, out of the doorway.
"What are you- "
"Shh. Stay here. There's another Hashira." He whispered. It was Tengen as well. His hearing was better than anyone's. "Don't talk or move. He might hear you."
Mukago nodded slowly placing her back to the wall as Susamaru and Rengoku moved inside. She stayed there, listening to the conversation take place.
"I guess they're all leaving."
A few more minutes passed before the conversation died down instead for the rapid footfalls elsewhere. She waited until Kyojuro entered back through the door, shutting it to face her.
"Did he leave?"
He nodded. "It was Tengen. He's the Sound Hashira. He could've heard you."
Mukago downcasted and exhaled, to the Hashira's dismay.
"Don't worry. I'm sure he didn't notice you." He assured her.
"But what if he did? What would've happened then?" She pushed. If she was there in the doorway for a second longer, she would've been spotted. And nothing good would've come of it.
"I can't- I can't stay here any longer Kyojuro."
"She's right." It was chance that Tengen didn't notice her. One wrong step and she would've been discovered. If he came in unannounced again, or if a different Hashira shows up, they couldn't keep her secret anymore. Their time was limited.
"We can talk to Shinobu when she comes back tomorrow."
.
.
.
"You're leaving? So you've decided."
"Yes. Sort of."
Mukago stood in front of the Insect Hashira with Kyojuro by her side. The light of the morning shined on the garden. Kyojuro had his full uniform and haori, with no crutch, and she had her familiar red kimono.
"We're going to see the master… and then I'm going to decide. But until then, we'll take our leave." The Flame Hashira walked up to her and shook her hand, bearing his signature smile. "Thank you for taking care of us."
"It's no issue really. Take your retirement easy, Kyojuro."
"I will." He affirmed.
Shinobu was about to step away before Mukago grabbed her arm, stopping her. She looked inquisitively at the Kizuki as she let go. She waited patiently for an answer.
"I wanted to say thank you."
"T-Thank you?"
Thank you. She said thank you. For some odd reason, she didn't know why she was caught off guard.
"Thank you for everything. For taking care of Kyojuro, for giving me enough blood to live, and keeping me secret and… just thank you."
She blinked. Maybe it was the first time that a demon thanked her, but for some reason, the words 'thank you' resonated inside her head as she stared at the Kizuki. It echoed over and over and over, quietly, more than expected, and with it grew a feeling, a warmth that began light like a warm breeze standing on a beach at sunset, a flame in the dead of night when you were freezing…
Or an embrace from a sister that you once had.
"Wha- "
She didn't know why but she held her in her arms. She was actually hugging a Kizuki, a demon. It was unreal. When the soft pull came to return it, she almost crumpled right there.
Even Kyojuro looked on in disbelief at the uncharacteristic display from his fellow Hashira. He watched on as they began to talk, but he couldn't hear.
Shinobu lightly clenched the back of her kimono as she pulled her in. Touching the demon didn't feel any different from a human's embrace. She should've known.
"No, thank you." She whispered. She could tell that Mukago didn't know what that was for, but that was okay. She didn't have to know. All that she did have to know was one thing.
It was easy to see. Mukago probably knows it deep down in her heart and Kyojuro too. So she whispered it in her ear.
The Hashira broke the hug and smiled at the demon and now the two in front of her. One more dumbfounded than the other. Honestly… she couldn't stop herself.
"You two make a nice couple."
"What!"
"Excuse me?!"
The two blushed.
[=============]
The two moved step by step quietly up through the courtyard strung with pebbles. The afternoon sun fell over them as they waited patiently for the master to come out. And the anxiety was growing for the both of them, oddly.
"Don't worry. It'll be okay Mukago."
It was quiet, and Kyojuro was sure that no one else was around to see her. He was ensured by the master when he received word from his crow. But that wasn't the issue. It was quiet, and the waiting. The possibility that he was going to say no and that was the end of it. But hopefully not. Hopefully.
The minutes ticked by before a sound was heard nearing the closed porchway where the master would come to address them. The door slowly opened and the two immediately tensed. They expected to see the master himself, but it wasn't, it was a small child with purple hair and eyes, in a small purple kimono. His son.
"Come in."
He pulled open the door to the dark room. From behind him, they could see an outline of a figure of someone sitting on a futon inside. Rengoku immediately stepped onto the porch, and Mukago followed, gulping.
She made sure hide her eyes from the young child as she stepped into the room. The door closed behind them, leaving the two now standing alone with the figure. His light smile expressed gratitude, that was for sure. There was an air of calmness that began to wash over the two as he gestured for them to sit down. They did so.
"This is the master?"
He looked incredibly sick. His face was pale and the parts that weren't were colored in a deathly sick purple. But even so, he was completely serene. It was his stature, the way he carried himself like he wasn't in pain. Complete and utter peace. She didn't even recognize that he was staring straight at her. Into her eyes.
"Thank you for coming to see me, Kyojuro. This is her I presume?"
She uncontrollably flinched and averted her gaze, but Kyojuro responded in his respectful manner as he always did. Even with the immense respect he did have however, the worry was starting to show with the tiniest bit of sweat.
"Master, you are correct. This is the demon I wrote to you about."
"I see." The master turned his attention back to the girl who seemed restless. He could tell she wouldn't look at him, the low light reflection of kanji in her eyes. A demon, but more curiously… a Kizuki, brought to him by one of his own pillars who wasn't hostile, but rather… shy.
When he had first heard from Kyojuro, that he wished to see him alone and a demon was going to be accompanying, he was incredibly intrigued, but he made no mention of the fact that she was a Kizuki. Not that it mattered really, he already knew.
"You didn't tell me that she was a Kizuki." He stated.
"I know, I…" He stuttered, and it was the first time that the master saw him without his boastful confidence and comradery. The master stopped him before he continued.
"Why is it that you wish to see me? I assume it has something to do with her. You must know of the consequences if the Corps or the other Hashira found out you brought let a demon live or even worse, a Kizuki."
The Flame Hashira didn't have any words to speak with in the moment. He was trying to recollect and understand why he wanted to see the master in the first place, remembering.
"I wanted to ask you, master… for the same protection that you granted Susamaru and Nezuko to be given to Mukago."
The master endearingly turned his head. "You know that cannot be done."
The two depressed, but then picked themselves up at the sudden movement. Mukago, in her unabated silence, watched in trepidation and fear as the master crawled over to her, only a foot or two away. She instinctually tried to recoil and move backwards, but she was stopped.
"Do not be alarmed. Can you show me your eyes?"
It was like she didn't have control of her body the way she stared back into the master's eyes. Her breathing labored partially, but she couldn't look away. Obviously, the Flame Hashira began to feel more anxious.
The master didn't look away, but spoke to his subordinate. As lightly and calmly and as soothingly as he always did, if not more.
"Kyojuro, you have brought a Kizuki, a Lower Rank to me, in an effort to save her from her fate at the hands of Corps. Why have you?"
"I did so because… she was my friend, master."
"Your friend?" He examined her further. The horns, the long white hair.
"A long time ago, before I had become a Hashira, she was my best friend growing up. One night, we were attacked by a demon and I thought she had died. The tragedy had pushed me to where I am today, but I had no idea that she was alive until I was sent on the Mugen Train mission a couple of months ago, where I found her."
"Of course." He looked one final time and saw it. The regret.
Kyojuro was about to continue before he was graciously cut off. He retreated from the demon to give her some breathing room and sat back in front of the both of them. As they looked on at him, he spoke with absolution. He knew why they were here, he just wanted to confirm something for the one called Mukago himself.
"Kyojuro, initially, I was the one who prevented the other Hashira from knowing that she had survived."
"Wait what?!" They both said in unison.
"When I received the mission report, I was intrigued that she saved you from death, and that alone was enough for me to give her time, a chance to explain herself if it were to be true. You're lucky the cards fell the way it did. However, that still does not grant me the power to pardon her."
The two smiled together happily knowing that the master had been on their side from the beginning, but still sad at the rejection.
"Mukago."
"Yes!" She suddenly perked up at the master's attention on her.
"I cannot offer you the Corps' protection like I have done in the past. Unfortunately, your circumstances are different, and those under me would not make the same allowances for you as did the others."
They both saddened. It was the truth.
"But…" He moved to the Flame Hashira. "I can give you something more. A mission. Your last one, which will carry on through your retirement."
Rengoku turned his head wondering what it could be. The beautiful and purely soft and confident resolve began to pour from the man as he explained.
"This mission is incredibly simple Kyojuro. Have no doubt that her being alive isn't a mistake. You care incredibly for her, and I can see that she does for you as well. That is why it would be best for you to accept it."
They both listened attentively.
"Your mission is to protect her."
Both of their eyes partially widened.
"For the rest of your life, you are to live for her. You are to ensure that no one who already doesn't know of her existence as a demon doesn't learn. You are to protect her from devouring another human again, offering your own blood as penance."
Her breathing hitched, while his resolve steeled.
"And if someone were ever to come after her while she has done no wrong, then I give you my permission to defend her at all costs. Do you understand?"
The Hashira nodded. "I do."
"Then do you accept your final mission, Kyojuro?"
"I do."
He wouldn't have it any other way. As for a Kizuki, she was lost in a memory of before. Yesterday. The voice of short and especially strong Hashira.
"When he picks you, protect him for me… okay?"
"Good." The master straightened himself and the tension in the room died. Of course, a certain Kizuki still very tense and in disbelief at the past few seconds. "Now, is there anything else that you wish to ask of me?"
"There is." This time, Kyojuro straightened himself and asked it straight up.
"My family compound is the only place I have to live, but my father will not approve of her. I ask you for your guidance. What should I do?"
Kagaya, seeing the desperation behind the question, only could smile and exhale lightly. He turned his attention to him, remembering back to the conversations he's had with his young flame. Particularly, the problems he held with his father.
"Your father is a stern figure, and I have told you before that he is stricken with the death of your mother. But that does not mean he is immovable. Talk with him. Explain to him the situation and I'm sure he will understand in his own way."
Mukago approved quietly but Rengoku wasn't. He was more concerned. "What if he doesn't? What if I can't convince him?"
The master only laughed, taking him by surprise, but it wasn't a laughing laugh. It was empathetic. Like he should've already known the answer.
"If you cannot, then it is not the end of the world. You know what is important to you."
He was left stunned at the master's solution. That was the part that he was most worried about. If his father didn't, or when he didn't approve of Mukago, and even got violent. The enigmatic answer that he received he didn't know what to do with, so he hoped it never came to it.
The master coughed which caught both of their attentions worryingly.
"Don't worry children. I am fine. But for now, is there anything else?"
"Y-Yes, one more. But I can send you a message later, it is not important right now. It concerns my replacement."
"You have a Tsuguko?" He questioned.
"I do. But right now, she is not ready, but she will be. I assure you. I will let you know when she is."
The master looked to the roof, almost like he was looking past it to the sky. "That is very good. I am glad you have finally found someone that can succeed you. But if that is all you have for me, then I bid the both of you, good day."
And as fast as they entered, they exited. The left the master's home and ran so that no one approaching or nearby could sense or see their presence on the open road. The two stopped and regarded one another after the experience they both shared, the Hashira the first one to speak.
"The master is certainly someone, huh Kyojuro?"
"He is." He agreed.
A second of silence washed over the two. It took another couple seconds before Mukago was the one to finally say it.
"Are you ready to see your family?"
The Hashira didn't speak. He only nodded.
"Of course I'm ready to see you. Father…"
[==]
*Record scratch accompanied by time freeze*
He was not ready.
Domestic abuse incoming.