The blonde and the white-haired demon stood firmly in the dying light of dusk, gazing off into the closed gate that proceeded the both of them. The wall surrounded the medium-sized mansion, enclosing a space off for a large family or two. The slanted roofs and second story peaked over, just in front of the clouds farther in the distance.
Standing still, his mind was racing a million miles a second, attempting to decipher exactly would react, and what he would say to respond. Meanwhile, Mukago beside him was covered with a painted children's oni mask. An ironic choice.
They picked up the mask while they were traveling through town to hide from the occasional person walking in the streets. The mixture of a white base and painted red filigree mixed well enough with the simple contours just enough to be an oni mask. The holes for the eyes were small so she could cover the kanji on her own; plus, her last black rams horn looked like it was a part of the mask. Just good enough of a disguise to hide her demonic nature.
Mukago adjusted her mask, which snapped Rengoku back into present time. "You sure this is going to work?"
He put on his confident and expressive smile, trying to hide the doubt in the back of his mind. "I'm sure. It will at least give us time to explain."
He moved his attention back to the gate. While his face exuberated a sense of determination, he was still anxious about what might happen when he opens this gate. That's been the last couple months really. Uncertainty.
"I've never been so… unsure before."
That was never a part of his personality; he didn't even believe he could think that way, so it was very new to him. The unsureness of might happen and the fact that he felt like he didn't have control over anything. It felt like he'd changed. He had become more… self-conscious.
The train was the first time he had come so close to actually dying that he realized that he never really understood the plight of demon slayers. On top of that, discovering that Mukago was alive and he was supposed to kill her, shifted much of his perspective. Thank god he didn't have to, but still…
He placed his hand on the gate and took a breath before glancing back at the Kizuki behind him. "Come on."
She nodded and followed behind as Kyojuro pushed the door forward and stepped inside into the small front path leading to the front door and around the building. The door shut, creaking slightly as the two situated themselves on the dirt path, surrounded by sparse patches of grass.
"Is there anyone home?" Mukago questioned.
"There should be."
Senjuro was always home, he knew. But his father was an anomaly. The two waited for a few seconds before they heard some shuffling from the front door. They focused on the door sliding open to reveal a smaller and younger version of the once Flame Hashira, with a white yukata and black haori.
Right now, he seemed alright. His eyes lit up when he saw the flamed haori and face of his brother.
"Brother! You're back!"
He stumbled way and latched onto him for a hug. Kyojuro leaned down and returned it immediately. It eased Mukago a bit seeing the interaction.
"Yes. I am." He broke off the hug to see his brother in full. It had been a while since he had seen him. He seemed a little taller than the last time he came back to the house. "You've grown."
"And you've… lost your eye." He returned, seeing the white eyepatch. The cheeriness didn't leave him Rengoku when he noticed.
"That is the price that we pay as demon slayers, and why it's okay you aren't following in my footsteps, remember?"
"I know, it's just sad." The boy took in the other figure a little taller than him standing next to his brother. The mask and the red kimono gave off a creepy vibe. "By the way, who is this?"
"My name is Mukago. It's nice to meet you." She said.
"Senjuro Rengoku. Can I ask you are here too? And why you have that mask on?"
"Well, you see Senjuro…" The boy saw the hesitation as Mukago looked over to her friend who looked sure as he nodded in affirmation. "I have the mask on for a very specific reason."
"And what would that be?" He looked over at his brother who placed a hand on his shoulder. Kyojuro looked him in the eye which caught him a little off guard.
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course brother." His interest was growing.
"She can't show people her face… because she's a demon, Senjuro." He noticed the immediate realization of his words. "But don't worry! She's not going to hurt anyone."
Senjuro couldn't stop himself from staring at her figure taken aback. "Y-You mean… a real demon? The o-ones that eat humans and you f-fight?"
Senjuro inched a bit closer to his brother out of fear and Mukago picked on this, even though she held out her hands and tried to be as friendly as possible.
"Yes. She is Senjuro, but again, don't worry." He crouched down making sure to get his attention again. "She was my friend before you were born. She got turned into a demon a long time ago, and it was only a few months ago before I found out she was alive. But now that she's with me, she won't devour any more humans."
He seemed to calmed down when he said that, but was still partly fearful. He looked back at the demon. "Are you sure?"
Rengoku didn't say anything, he just motioned over to her to come closer, which she did. Senjuro instinctually flinched, but stayed as Mukago came up to the two of them.
He watched as the demon removed her mask to reveal her soft face and strawberry eyes. Her expression didn't look scary like he thought demons looked like; she looked normal, human, aside from the eyes and horn. When she removed her mask, Mukago donned a light, comforting smile.
"I made a promise to myself to never devour another human again. So please don't be afraid of me, okay?"
She didn't know what she was expecting, but Senjuro stepped up to her and with a quick inhale he extended his hand. Incredulously, she took it and shook it gently, which calmed him. He turned back to his brother.
"If you're a friend of Kyojuro… then you're a friend of mine." He poised. She beamed at the gesture before remembering the real obstacle for her presence.
"Do you know where your father is?"
"He's supposed to be back any minute now." Senjuro returned reluctantly.
It was then the three turned their heads back towards the gate, hearing it open. They all froze seeing the large, rough, and calloused hand peer through followed by the flame hair, furious visage, and dark grey yukata. Shinjuro Rengoku, holding an unopened bottle of sake.
It was a second as he entered before he noticed the three already waiting for him. His brow and expression deepened seeing Senjuro first.
"Senjuro, why the hell are you out here?"
His eyes then focused to the figure next to him, his other son, and recently injured Flame Hashira. A part of him sparked out, another uncorking the sake to get rid of his soberness as he took a swig.
"So… you're finally back Kyojuro… I can see that your worthless sword skills have finally caught up with you."
Kyojuro unconsciously grabbed his eyepatch, taking the insult with a grimace. Senjuro looked away and Mukago, well, she felt her heart begin to race.
When he finally moved his eyes to the final figure, he wasn't sure of it at first. Seeing the red kimono and childish demon mask wanted to make him yell at whoever the hell was on his property. However, even though he hasn't practiced or honed any of his skills for years, his instincts have never dulled.
His eyes widened at the black horn, the long white hair, the aura…
His body tensed and froze up as his muscles locked up in fear. He didn't expect a demon to ever show up in front of him ever again.
By instinct, he threw the sake he had to the side. His hand, by reflex, attempted to reach for the handle of a blade that was never there and he cursed. However, that didn't stop him.
The three could only watch as the retired Hashira began to charge the demon, yelling out in fear, not recognizing the content of his yell.
"KYOJURO, SENJURO, RUN!"
"No! Stop!"
Mukago was about to jump back when he was about to collide with her before he was stopped suddenly by someone who jumped in between them. Kyojuro, without thinking, shoved himself in front of her. He grabbed his father by the chest, preventing him from moving forward while his hands violently tried to pry himself off to reach forward at the demon.
"F-Father! S-STOP! Agh!"
He winced as he used his strength to throw his father forward onto the ground. Shinjuro hit the ground with a thud, barely recognizing through the full might of his rage. His breathed heavily and Kyojuro echoed it, as seconds of pure silence resonated.
It was a minute before Shinjuro subdued his rage to take in what the fuck just happened. He got to his feet examining the scene in front of him. Senjuro was scared as always but there was a demon right there! Right fucking there! In front of Kyojuro… who was defending it.
"What the hell are you doing, Kyojuro?! Can't you see you're defending a demon?!"
Kyojuro could only bite his tongue. "Father please! Just give me time to explain!"
He gritted his teeth. His son was obviously brainwashed.
"Get the hell out of the way!"
He was about to stomp forward the demon itself moved up by his son, causing him to stop. It was small, but he could tell it wasn't a regular demon, especially if it could brainwash someone like him. He was especially surprised when it spoke to him.
"Please sir! Calm down!" She held out her hands, but the man only shook his head, his anger growing by the second.
"LET GO OF MY FUCKING SON YOU BASTARD!"
He stood his ground, glaring with every fiber of his being, unable to do shit. The demon had his son as hostage, and he didn't have a weapon on him. He cursed himself for being so damn careless.
Mukago, bearing the intense stare, started to feel a mote of rage build within her too.
"I'm not controlling him!"
"Don't you fucking lie to me! I don't want to hear it demon! What the hell do you want?! Just leave us alone!"
The anger started to rise. Why he can't just listen? "I'm not going to hurt anyone! I just want to talk!"
"Yeah right! I'm not a fucking retard!" The rage and desperate shouting growing.
"Father, it's true! She- "
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" The quick spit interrupted him as he moved his attention to the only thing he should be focused on. "You fucking bitch…"
Mukago herself, was beginning to fume. She absentmindedly took a step forward, causing Shinjuro to get into a defensive stance for anything that might come at him.
"Can you PLEASE just listen to me!"
"I WILL NOT! Not to a demon! I will FUCKING end you!... RAAAA!"
Kyojuro and Senjuro stared in horror as his father charged again. This time, Kyojuro wasn't close enough to stop him.
Mukago stood with the fire simmering and the painful memories returning. Every single time she was despised, hated, every word one could yell at a demon. She winced, braced, out of terror and reflexed.
His fist winded back and time slowed.
Their jaws dropped as Shinjuro closed the distance. And the fist flew.
*CRACK*
A large crack sounded as his fist came and shattered the mask into a million pieces.
Mukago's head jerked to the side with a sharp pain ricocheting through her face, recoiling back. While she stumbled, and his next strike was coming in fast, something inside of Kyojuro switched.
It was like you twisted something too far, or shattered glass inside in your hands. Something snapped inside of him. The memories and painful recollection of each time he was spoken to. Every demeaning comment and disregard of him entirely broke through to the surface at once.
The force between his teeth grinded. And for once the flame within his heart, the absolution of legacy and pride, nobility and morality, gave way and burned its way to hatred.
Without thinking, and before he could react, his own hand pulled and let go.
*CRACK*
The punch collided with his father's jaw and he hit the floor. Mukago, recovered now, saw the collision. She lunged forward. Kyojuro wasn't going to stop; he was going to pummel him. She gripped him from behind by his arms and pulled him back onto the ground.
Senjuro instantly shot his eyes open to see what hit him, only to see the image of his raging son and the demon trying to hold him back.
"What have you done to him?!"
She must've done something. Kyojuro never lost his temper! He never acted out turn or acted out of rage. It was her! It was her fault!
"I- "
"SHE HAS DONE NOTHING!"
Vitriolic miasma rooted into the heart-wrenching scream. Her grip was broken and he rose with nothing but fury in his eyes.
"She has done nothing wrong! I AM COMPLETELY SOUND!"
He towered over his own father on the ground.
"For the longest time! FOR THE LONGEST TIME! I'VE PUT UP WITH ALL OF IT!"
His clenched fists shot to his hair as he gripped and attempted to pull it from his roots. The rage mixed, washed in with an impeding sadness.
"ALL. ALL OF IT! WHY CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND?!"
He could swear a tear fell as he cried a moan of pent-up anger and recollected despair. His voice waivered ever so slightly, as the tone changed.
"F-For the longest time… you have never cared about me or anything I have done, as Hashira or otherwise…."
His fists, balled, clenched.
"And now… you still d-don't care…"
He inched closer and his father flinched for the first time at the rage in his own son that he thought he'd never see.
"This demon is my friend! SHE'S MY FRIEND! But you don't care! You've never cared about anything! Not since mom died!"
Everyone's jaw dropped.
"Ever since mom died, you've been acting like a pathetic, piece-of-shit FATHER! That's right, ACTING!"
He gestured wildly, back to the demon behind him in shock.
"The first time I come back in months, MONTHS! After nearly dying to an Upper Rank and this is how you treat your own son?! She saved me! She stopped an Upper Rank from killing me! I owe her my life!"
"What… this demon did what?"
"And yet you won't even give her the light of day to tell you how much she's changed! Not a single WORD!"
Shinjuro, in his own awe, finally saw the reflection of Kanji in her left eye. The rank of a Kizuki. Lower Four.
.
.
.
"Y-You're not my father… you're just a washed-up piece-of-garbage pretending to be human…"
[ It was the last part of the statement that hurt the most. ]
"I never want to see you again."
.
.
.
He stormed to the gate and threw it open before leaving.
The three stayed in silence as the orange light of the sky began to darken even further, signaling it was night. Mukago was the first to react.
"Kyojuro wait! Come back!"
She didn't hear any contest as she ran past the two out of the gate after him. Peering both ways down the street, she could see him stomping off down the street. Her feet caught up to him and she latched herself to his back.
"Please Kyojuro. Stop!"
She clenched his chest as he slowed him down. She felt her own dam beginning to burst and shut her eyes, so she didn't see the stream of tears and pained and utterly broken expression on his face.
"…stop…"
His steps slowed, but he continued forward, but his steps kept slowing.
He slowed to a halt in the setting light of the sun. When he did, he couldn't hold back against the dam behind his eyes.
"…why?..."
That was his only thought. His hands went up to his eyes. His knees buckled and he fell onto them. He couldn't stop himself from them, the tears.
They were the only things present in the street. The two began to cry, together, and alone.
The two were alone.
The two were alone as the sun set.
[=============]
.
.
.
*rrrrkkkk*
Kyojuro scratched the table that his head laid on. It was a small table with only two chairs, and it wasn't his.
*crrcckkk*
It had been a day since they left his father and Senjuro. Once they left, they didn't come back. It took a lot of his strength and he barely remembered anything after that incident to where he was now. Now, he was in a small hotel room in the next town over. There was only one bed and small table for whatever. The window was blocked, so it was dark, but he knew it was morning.
*crrckkk*
He blinked slowly, scratching the table, sitting with his head down. He felt terribly lethargic. Maybe it was he hadn't eaten anything since yesterday morning or a worse sense of depression creeping in. Either way, he was alone to deal with it.
"She should be coming back soon."
Mukago was out, getting food for the two of them. She could tell that he didn't have the strength to do it, nor did she want him to. He still had enough money saved up to provide for them for a little while.
*crrk creak*
He sat up slowly at the door opening. It was Mukago. And it looked like she had a bag of some kind. "Hey Kyojuro."
"Hello." He smiled, and he tried to put up his familiar expression, but now he failed at it entirely. It was much more depressing from what she could see. She sighed as she got into the other chair opposite of him. She set down the bag and pulled out some items. Some bread, dango, and a couple of rice balls. It wasn't much but at least it was something.
Mukago pulled a part a piece of bread and handed it to the Hashira, expecting him to eat it. He held it in his hand and reluctantly ate. She put the other half in his mouth surprised at its taste. She wasn't expecting something horrible, but she didn't think human food was good anymore, but that it wasn't it at all. It tasted like bread.
When she swallowed, she pushed a large half of the food over to him. A part of her sunk seeing him so… sad. "Come on… you need to eat."
"Alright…" He reluctantly began eat some of the food, but even Mukago could see the regret on his face as he did.
She could tell he didn't want to, like he didn't deserve it. Not after what he'd done. But that wasn't true. She knew it.
She grabbed one of the rice balls and held it, but didn't eat. The silence started to grow, but she spoke out of it. Something that needed to be said. "It wasn't your fault… please don't blame yourself."
Rengoku hung his head, stopping his bite. "But I… it was. I struck him. I struck my father. Senjuro must hate me for doing so..."
He reacted when Mukago slammed her fist into the table.
"It was for a good reason! You can't just say that you did it for nothing. Your father has treated you and your brother like shit for so long. You told me that, so don't beat yourself up."
"I know…" He just couldn't justify it in his mind. Whatever that was, yesterday at his home, that wasn't him. It was a rush, saying all those things, pent up over years and years of mistreatment. On the surface, it was deserved, but deep down it hurt him to think that he could even do something like that.
"Senjuro would never hate you for protecting him or me from your father." Mukago got his attention again. "And one day, I'm sure you'll make up with him, okay?"
He nodded and another moment of silence fell over the two of them as they continued to eat. Kyojuro, finishing up, found himself asking a question.
"Do you know what we do now?"
"We can…" She stopped herself. What do they do now? Shinobu was right, he did pick her after all, but at what cost? And the master's words. Now thinking about it, maybe the master knew his father would've never accepted. That's why he laughed and said to remember what was important to him.
"You know what's important to you."
"What was he talking about?" His family was extremely important to him, so what now? What could be more or as equally important? There was nothing except herself. "Wait… if he really… huh…"
She guessed that she really did care about her, enough so where he was willing to throw away his home for her, to accept a mission to protect her for the rest of his life. The one other thing that was important to him.
She was an idiot, a blind idiot. She was trying to convince herself for so long that he was only caring for her because of long ago, because she saved him, but it was more than that. Maybe he actually… "Hmm…"
She locked eyes with him. When she did, she spoke and finished her previous thought. "We're going to find a new home."
He partly confused. "Come again?"
She looked more determined than ever as she started deeply into his eyes.
"If your father won't let you have a home, we'll just fine a new one! Anywhere. Anywhere you want. We can look tomorrow. We can get an apartment together, work a normal job, live a normal life. Just you and me."
"A normal life…" He got stuck on those words which did distract him from his own despair. That was good.
"For now, you just rest okay. Yesterday was hard on you. I'll draw a bath, get you dinner, and we can just relax, got it?" She proclaimed, stepping out beside him.
Her strawberry eyes sparkled and that sparked something else within him. A long feeling forgotten of waves of jitters and butterflies, small but subtle.
And for a second, he forgot everything that happened and just agreed.
"Okay."
…
And the rest of the day passed in the blink of an eye.
It was… nice. Simple, nothing more.
A quick nap and rest. He talked with her. Got dinner. Night set in. And it all felt… normal.
It wasn't his normal routine, but spending the day resting with her didn't feel any different, or wrong. She was demon, but it didn't change anything. Like it never mattered.
Kyojuro stared out the window to the small motes of lights in the street, thinking. His complete silence and still body drew the only other one in the room beside him. Mukago looked as well, seeing the golden lights and the occasional shadow of a person cross.
After a few seconds, she got an idea.
"Do you want to go out?" Her question peaked his attention.
He looked back at the lights in the street. Now that he was looking at it, there was more light than usual. And right now, his body wasn't hurting, his mind was mostly alright and he still had some energy left. He turned to her beside him.
"Sure."
She smiled and two exited the building. They had to dodge another couple leaving as well, but they made their way onto the street. The crows cawed and the moonlight reflected off of some of the clouds in the sky, and it contrasted with the golden lights strung about the streets.
"There's more lights than usual, and more people." Now that they were on the street, he could see the lights hanging from the buildings leading down the street. They were obviously placed and people were coming out slowly. Actually, many of them were in nicer dressed, kimonos of different colors.
"Is it a holiday?" Mukago wondered, seeing a group of children playing further down.
Rengoku shook his head. "I don't think so. But everyone seems to be going somewhere."
The lights were leading somewhere and he could see the direction that everyone else was walking.
"Come on."
Mukago followed with him, curiously stepping in line with him. It didn't take long, passing by the string of lights, until they found themselves in the town square. Both of their eyes widened.
"It's so bright."
It was like it was daytime as their eyes adjusted to the now slew of lights scattered around poles and carts and everything else to light up the square, which was also filled with people. Smells and sounds littered the air. People of every age were wandering around, a low conversation filled the air, as where they were now standing, was livelier than ever.
Rengoku could only watch in amazement before he couldn't stop himself from asking a man in front of him a burning question.
"Excuse me. What is all this for?"
The man turned with a smiled. "It's the day town was founded. You must not be from around here, huh? Well, make sure to enjoy yourself!"
He waved as he made his way off into the square, hiding amongst the crowd of people, leaving Kyojuro and Mukago alone. She looked back towards Kyojuro, and then back at the stalls filled with different foods, games, vendors, and more.
For some reason, she felt like she was a kid again, before she fell off that cliff. The days where she would wander the streets at night against her parents' wishes just to see everything that went on. All that the night could offer.
Her heart started to speed up, like playful anxiety. Even though, she wasn't wearing a mask or anything to hide her, her mind started to convince herself that it was alright. No one would be put off with the presentations that others were putting on.
Her feet picked up from a step to a light jog, causing Kyojuro to quickly fall behind her.
"Wait, what are you doing?"
"Having fun!" She grabbed his hand and strung him along to the first series of carts on each side of them.
Before he knew it, he was dragged along for a night he'd never forget.
[=============]
"He's already gone! But I wanted to see him!"
The pink-haired Hashira pouted as her face turned slightly red out of annoyance. It was more cute than anything as she stood in the doorway. The one she was talking to was the owner of the house. Shinobu again swiveled her chair after seeing it time it was. It was already dark out.
"You know what time it is right?" She responded.
Her words didn't turn the girl away, standing in her full gear. A white haori over her overly-revealing uniform and lime green knee-highs.
"I know. But I just got back from a mission, and I never got to see how he's doing!"
Mitsuri exclaimed happily to her, and she returned the jovialness, hiding the more pressing issue.
She had stumbled her way in looking for Kyojuro, obviously, since he returned and was recovering from his injuries from fighting an Upper Rank. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but of course, issues just seemed piling up these days.
Mukago was with him. A Lower Rank Kizuki. A Kill-On-Sight demon.
Even though it had been a little over twenty-four hours since they left, she didn't know how or what they were doing. They said they were meeting with the master, which was baffling that he agreed to meeting a Kizuki. Then again, Mukago wasn't really a Kizuki in that sense.
Nevertheless, her teammate was putting her in a tough position. If she found out that Kyojuro was with her, then she wouldn't know how she'd react. It could put him and Mukago in danger unintentionally.
The Love Hashira continued to pout, causing her to sigh. "Maybe… she'll accept her. She did seem okay with Tanjirou and his little demon girlfriend back at that meeting."
She brought her hand up to think about it and Mitsuri picked up on it immediately, getting more excited.
"Are you thinking about it? You know where he went?!"
Shinobu stared at the floor between them before locking eyes with the Hashira. When she thought about it, she knew that even if she didn't tell her, she probably would find out where he was anyway, so it was only a matter of time. She mentally sighed before finally succumbing to the wiles of the girl.
"He went to go see his family. He's retired if you didn't already know."
"He is?!" She brought her hands up to her face in shock. "Already?!"
"Yes." Shinobu swiveled her chair back and went back to the book she was reading. "I hope that's enough for her."
She heard a couple of giddy noises that were incomprehensible before she actually heard some more words come from her.
"You sure he's with his family? Is he going to live there? You said see! Is he not going to live with them?"
"How did…" She picked up on such a small verbal nuance that it was both creepy and now worrying. She grimaced.
"He's…" Shinobu couldn't stop herself from hesitating which, even with her back turned, could tell Mitsuri was boring an attentive hole through her. How did she make this worse? Maybe she could fix it. She could turn her away, maybe if she spun what she was thinking.
She cleared her throat. "He's with his girlfriend."
Shinobu actually flinched at the random assortment of surprise and reaction to the news. Hopefully, this would-
"He has a girlfriend?! I HAVE TO MEET HER!"
She couldn't stop the sound of distant footsteps back down her own mansion, leaving her stunned.
"Well… that didn't work."
She swiveled staring at the book of poisons she was reading before she shut it. Her eyes moved to the ceiling.
" I hope you have everything figured out, Kyojuro…"
[==]
Holy shit this chapter was a rollercoaster. This chapter is a rollercoaster and I'm Jschlatt getting banned from the Rollercoaster Tycoon subreddit for posting his own rollercoaster park for impersonating himself.