[Another long chapter! Sooooo, this one contains a little smut. Not overly explicit. It's my first time trying to write something like this so forgive me for the quality. I'll try to edit this soon. But, yeah,]
"Ahhh!" The wind was knocked out of me when I fell hard on my back. "Ungh… Kyojuro?" I called, almost desperately but found myself alone. I knew where I was. The labyrinth of hallways, ladders, and several doors looked the same as it did years ago and in my most recent vision. Of course, Kibutsuji would use the Infinity Castle to take me. What about Kyojuro? I need to get back to him!
I tried to walk through some doors, despite knowing it was futile. Maybe the biwa woman would let me go? No, that's impossible. Kibutsuji obviously commanded her to bring me here. What do I do?
"Hyo!" Said an unfamiliar voice, prompting me to look around. I was alone – no, there was also a vase with a floral design. Huh? Were there decorations like this here before? "I'm right here." The voice said before a monstrous sight appeared before my very eyes.
Like a ghost, someone – well, more like something came out of the vase. It was white and grotesque. Where the eyes should be were mouths. Large, mouths, and green-colored lips. His eyes were oddly placed as well, one on his forehead, the other where his mouth was supposed to be. Upper-Rank Five etched on his eyeballs.
The demon began waving its many baby arms – all positioned where arms are not supposed to be at – and greeted me. "You're new, you're new! Are you supposed to be here? I'm Gyokko. What an ugly little thing you are!" Well, that's something he and Yushiro could agree on and bond over. I could sense bloodlust coming off of him, and I wondered if he would try something.
Then a sound took both of our attention, him acting as if he wasn't just talking to me. I followed him towards where the sound of a biwa came from. I figured that's where I should go. Maybe I could try and convince her to bring me back to Kyojuro. Okay, that's highly unlikely, but nothing would happen if I just aimlessly wander. I stayed far behind the vase demon, letting him enter the room where the sound came from first.
"Well, well. Akaza-sama!" A sharp intake of breath was all I could do at the mention of Akaza-san's name. He's here? He… hatred I've never felt before consumed me. "Dear me, you seem to be looking swell. How've you been after ninety years?" Gyokko said, which Akaza-san completely ignored. "The mere possibility of you dying made my heart leap with jo – oh, it made my heart cringe with pain. Hyo hyo."
"This is quite terrifying." Said by this other demon – ugh! He does look like a demon with this huge bump on his head and two horns sprouting from his forehead. "Gyokko has forgotten how to count during our long absence. We haven't been called here for a hundred and thirteen years. An indivisible number… an unlucky number. An odd number! Terrifying indeed." Despite his scary appearance, he looked to be scared of everything else, numbers included.
Akaza-san ignored them both, addressing the biwa woman instead. "Has Muzan-sama arrived yet?" Oh, no. No, no, no. I swallowed, my saliva feeling a little thick. Kibutsuji and his upper moons seemed to be gathering at the same time he successfully took me back? Was my vision – the fight that would happen here – would be happening sooner than I thought? I believed the trigger for that would be Nezuko being able to walk under the sun… did that happen already?
"He has not arrived yet." The biwa woman answered. I did freeze Kibutsuji's hands and feet, after all. Oh no! Maybe he's doing something to Kyojuro! "Then where's upper moon one? There's no way he'd get killed." Huh? So, does that mean they meet up like this when a demon moon dies?
"Hold up, hold up!" That voice… Doma-san? "Hold on a minute, Akaza-dono! Aren't you gonna show concern for me? I was super worried about you guys! You're my precious buddies. I don't want anyone here to wane out now." He sounded so cheerful that it was obviously fake. He seemed to be trying too hard. "Hyo! Doma-dono!" Of course, the two of them were friends.
"Hey, hey! Long-time no see, Gyokko. Is that a new pot? It's pretty. The pot you gave me is in my room. I planted a girl's severed head in it for decoration! Oh! Y/N-san! I haven't seen you in a long time, you're looking delicious!" "Y/N!" Thanks to Doma-san, Akaza-san was now aware that I was there. "Oh? You two know her?" In an instant, Akaza-san was by my side, hands on my shoulders.
"Get away from me!" I pushed him away, feeling nothing but anger for him. "Oooh, sounds like she really hates you, Akaza-dono! There, there-!" Doma-san made a move, to comfort me maybe? However, Akaza-san was quick to stop him. And since he's a monster, he did it by punching off Doma-san's jaw. "Don't you dare touch her!" Akaza-san stood in front of me, taking up a protective stance. Was he trying to shield me from them?
"Whoa! Nice punch there. Did you get a little stronger since we last met, Akaza-dono?" Doma-san's regeneration was amazingly fast. His face was whole again in the blink of an eye. "Upper moon one was the first to arrive. He has been here this whole time." Biwa woman declared, completely ignoring the bloodshed that occurred.
Upper moon one, the strongest of all demon moons. He was sitting a distance from us, and all I was able to see was his long hair and the sword at his waist. He has the air of a samurai. Maybe he was a samurai? I wonder how old he truly is? "I am here. Muzan-sama has arrived." He's here?!
I knew that the Infinity Castle defies all logic, but the sight of Kibutsuji on the ceiling was still surprising. He no longer looked like a boy. "Gyuutaro is dead. The upper moons have waned."
"Oh! Is that why she's here? Is she the replacement?" Gyokko asked, answered by a glare from Akaza-san. "She's already a demon moon." He stated, and Doma-san supported that. "Yup, yup! She's the seventh moon!"
The horned demon squealed, suddenly so afraid. "Seven is a lucky number. But that would make her the thirteenth demon moon. Very unlucky! Eeeep!" "Well, that just means Y/N-san isn't Gyuutaro's replacement. Which I'm very sorry about, Muzan-sama! I was the one who introduced Gyuutaro here after all. How can I apologize to you? Will you gouge my eyeball out? Or will you – "
"I don't need your eyeballs. I'm not expecting anything from you guys. Akaza already had Y/N last night, yet I still had to make the move to actually take her back. The Ubuyashiki family has yet to be entombed. And after hundreds of years, none of you could find the blue spider lily! Only Y/N did." He knew? "Of course, due to Akaza's failure, Y/N finding the flower was useless to me. You should have brought her back with you all those years ago, yet you just walked away. Don't really know why you guys exist anymore."
All the demon moons began kneeling down, asking for Kibutsuji's forgiveness. "I have nothing to say. Ubuyashiki cleverly hid himself." Upper moon one said. "And I'm not very good at detective work myself." Added a dejected-looking Doma-san. "But of course, all of you are useless. Only Y/N ever did find where an Ubuyashiki was holing up. And she knows where to find them today."
In his excitement, Doma-san almost jumped at me but was pushed away by Akaza-san. "Are you –" I didn't let him finish before pushing him away, and stepping far from him. "Ha! She hates you the most, Akaza-dono!" Declared Doma-san. I expected Akaza-san to hit him again, to be angry at him. That's why the look of hurt on Akaza-san's face took me by surprise.
Out of nowhere, upper-rank one appeared beside me and asked me where to find the blue spider lily. And he didn't ask me nicely. This only agitated Akaza-san, telling him to back off. I took a battle stance, ready to duke it out with upper moon one, or even Akaza-san if he continues trying to touch me. "Stop it." Kibutsuji commanded and they all obeyed. "Y/N is my wife...in practice, if not yet by law. Not that human laws matter much to me. You don't get to just ask her like that, Kokushibo. There's also no need to do so since I'm still privy to her visions. The rest of you find the flower yourselves." My head started reeling from what he just said.
"I'm not your wife. I won't ever be your wife." He hummed, seemingly unbothered. "You say that, but you were happy when we were together. Remember? Before Akaza left you in that village you grew up in?" What was he talking about? We weren't together… right? I mean, yes, I was with him for eight years. Eight years that went by in a blur; spending my time looking for that blasted flower. Eight years that I don't exactly remember... Was he telling the truth? Wait – he said he sees my visions? He knew about the flower… The flower that Tanjirou crushed in his hand… Oh no.
"The Kamados…" Did I bring Kibutsuji to them? "Hmm, them? Well-deserved fate, seeing as they crushed the flower that you found. It never did grow there again when I dropped by for a visit." It was my fault! Nezuko was a demon because of me. Tanjirou and her were orphaned because of me. What else happened because I unwittingly led Kibutsuji to it? Kyojuro?
"Muzan-sama! I'm not like them. I have some information that can get you one step closer to achieving your dreams. Just a moment ago –" Gyokko's head was suddenly gone, droplets of blood falling from Kibutsuji's spot on the ceiling. He was so fast! This… I should take note of everything happening here and everyone in here. This might help Kyojuro and the others, I'll worry about getting out later. I mean, Gyokko was just talking about important information that he has!
"The one thing I hate is change. Changes in circumstances; changes in the body; changes in emotion. In most cases, every change is degradation. It is decline. The one thing I like is permanence. If something doesn't change for an eternity, it's in a perfect state." Kibutsuji… seemed very set in his ways. "I am at the height of my displeasure because it's been a hundred and thirteen years since an upper moon was killed. Don't get all excited and give me information if you haven't confirmed it yet." Eeek! He casually dropped Gyokko's head at that, and I was the only one surprised.
"From now on, you guys should serve me with more suicidal devotion. I seem to have spoiled you guys too much because of the mere fact that you're all upper moons. Gyokko, if you can confirm your information head over there with Hantengu" The horned demon whined before bowing so low his bump was touching the floor.
"Y/N!" The sudden call of my name took me away from observing the frightened demon. "Learn to be obedient again. Don't take too long or you won't get to see your brothers again." The moment Kibutsuji left, Doma-san began bothering Gyokko about the information he said he had. This angered Akaza-san, prompting him to slice half of Doma-san's head off. "Did Muzan-sama give you orders? Get lost."
It was horrible, but I can't say I was surprised. What did surprise me, though, was Akaza-san's offending hand falling off his arm a bloody mess. Upper moon one, Kokushibo, stepped in. Apparently, you can go up the ranks by applying for blood battles. Something I also discovered was how Akaza-san absolutely hates everyone, even going as far as threatening to kill Kokushibo. Akaza-san then looked at me, face unreadable before getting out of the room. The other demon moons following suit, aside from Doma-san who was dropped somewhere by the biwa woman due to him being so annoying.
Then it was just me and the Biwa woman. I didn't even get the chance to ask Gyokko some questions. "Muzan-sama asked me to prepare a room for you. Any door you choose would lead you there." It sounded a lot like I have nowhere else to go but that room she was asked to prepare. I walked away from her, deciding to see just how infinite this castle was. Thoughts of Kyojuro kept running through my head. Was Kibutsuji failing to mention him at all a good thing? Or should that make me feel more scared than I was?
I started to feel like crying, so I stopped to calm myself. "It's going to be okay… He's okay." I'm sure Kyojuro was looking for me. I have to look for a way to get back to him. I need to -! A hand suddenly covered my mouth, pushing me back to one of the castle's many walls. "Shh!" Akaza-san? "I'm getting you out of here." I didn't even get a chance to tell him that I didn't trust him when he pulled me through a door and we were out of the Infinity Castle. Just like that. How could it be that easy?
He finally let go of me, and everything I wanted to say won't come out of my mouth. "You… helped me?" Why? Akaza-san was a very confusing man. "Come on." I recognized the place where we emerged as the place where I was taken. There weren't many people around now since it was very late into the night. Where is Kyojuro?
We continued walking in silence, approaching the richer part of the town where I began to smell the scent of flesh burning. The smell of a dying demon! I ran towards the source of the smell, fear taking over me. If he's…
"Ah! Kyojuro!" The relief that I felt upon seeing his bright hair made me want to cry all over again. "Y/N!" He was surrounded by piles of ash – did Kibutsuji send demon after him? Yeah, he'd do that.
"You're safe! Y/N…" I tackled Kyojuro in a hug, his hold on me so tight, I doubt he'd let go. I don't want him to let go.
We were interrupted by Akaza-san clearing his throat. "I thought you didn't want to be a demon?" Kyojuro's hold only tightened when he heard Akaza-san's voice. "I will be anything and everything Y/N needs me to be." Looking up at Kyojuro, I could see that he meant it. It… oh it made me love him even more. "I see. You better be able to protect her better this time. If you need Y/N to shield you again, I'd kill you again and make sure you stay dead." Tighter. I held Kyojuro tighter. "You better get her out of here. Mu - He wants her back so bad…"
"Akaza-san," I called him, surprising us all. "I don't know when or if I could forgive you for hurting Kyojuro… But I really appreciate you bringing me back to him." I don't think I've ever seen Akaza-san looking so lonely as he did at that moment.
"Something happened within those eight years?" Kyojuro asked, after I told him of everything that transpired. "It sounded that way. I don't know why I don't remember. Ah! I should've asked Akaza-san about it." Kyojuro sighed, looking as if he's in deep thought. "He also called you his wife." He then laughed, but he didn't seem happy at all. "I never expected Kibutsuji Muzan would be my love rival." Oh. I thought he was going to be infuriated.
A breath of relief escaped me, and I took one of Kyojuro's hands. It was rough – a swordsman's hand – and it was the reason many people are still alive. It's amazing how every single part of Kyojuro reminded me of what an amazing person he is. "He's not your rival. There's no way I'd ever choose him. There's no comparison at all. I want you, Kyojuro. It'll always be you." I was rewarded with that brilliant smile of his.
We also talked about how Kibutsuji was able to see my visions. I'm not sure if he sees it at the same time that I do, but considering the gap between the vision and his attack on the Kamados, that's a long gap. Though, Kyojuro thought it best that we inform Oyakata-sama about this, and that when I get important visions, we do something about it right away. I'm not sure what qualifies as important, so I'll just make sure to tell him whenever I see one.
Kyojuro ate his first meal as a demon with me. He really ate less than me, which made me ask him again and again if he was really full. I was in the middle of doing just that when another blinding light hit me.
It was a vision of Shinazugawa-san screaming, saying "What did you do to Oyakata-sama?" Then the other hashiras, calling for Oyakata-sama. Did I just see his death? Then the vision changed to the battle that has almost been constant in my visions; a white-haired Kibutsuji Muzan landing successful attacks at several demon slayers. And then Nezuko walking under the sun in what looks like a wide, grassy field. She looked disheveled, but she was smiling so brightly.
"Kyo-kun, I think I just saw Oyakata-sama's death." He nodded before calling for his crow, "we should inform Oyakata-sama right away." The thought of Kibutsuji being able to pry into my head was something I can't shake off, but maybe this vision – death of Oyakata-sama and several other demon slayers – would make Kibutsuji overly confident. Ah! I should have taken note of the people who'd die, so we could warn them.
"We should get you a sword." Kyojuro said out of the blue. "A sword?" I really don't see the need for it, considering my strength as a demon, and how my nails can be as good as blades. "Yes. A nichirin sword. You need a way to stop demons aside from just waiting for the sun." "I understand, but I don't know how to use a sword." Smiling brightly at me, he declared that he'd teach me. That's how we decided to head into the Swordsmith Village.
"We're here!" Kyojuro said, removing my blindfold and earplugs. Kyojuro didn't want to put these on me in the first place, however, with my connection to Kibutsuji I insisted that he do. The Swordsmith Village is a secret even amongst demon slayers, and Kyojuro only knew of its location due to him being a hashira. The Ubuyashiki estate is similar to it being a secret. It was what Kyojuro used to convince me from wearing the blindfold since I've been there and Kibutsuji didn't attack it. He's got a point, but my recent interaction with Kibutsuji was still making me nervous.
"I didn't expect the village to be this big! Are all the citizens here swordsmiths?" The houses were huge, and there didn't seem to be any western influence at all. "I believe so. There are also hot springs here!" I squealed in delight at that. "I've always heard how wonderful hot springs are! Are we allowed to use it?" Yet another thing I've never experienced, hot springs.
We first paid our respects to the village chief when we arrived, Tecchikawahara Tecchin. He told us he'd be nervous about letting more demons into the village, but he knows Kyojuro. "More demons?" Asked Kyojuro. "A very good boy named Kamado Tanjirou arrived here today. Now, what can we do for you?" Kyojuro then told him about getting a sword for me. It's hard to tell how the chief took it since I can't see his face, but then he perked up and said "no problem", a swordsmith would work on it right away and that we're free to enjoy our stay as we wait for the sword to be ready.
We were welcomed by a mountain of empty dishes. The sight doesn't really surprise me now, since Kyojuro eats almost as much as that in one sitting, but finding out that it was Mitsuri-san who ate all of it was shocking. I guess all hashiras have huge appetites. "Ah! Tanjirou-kun!" He and Nezuko really were here as well! He smiled as he saw us, then that curve of his lips dropped into a frown. "Aniki… you're a… demon?!" "Eh? Rengoku-san, what happened?"
"It's my fault." I confessed before Kyojuro could say anything. "I'm clueless when it comes to treating injuries, and Kyojuro was…" I turned to him, and while I do feel guilty, I was still thankful that he's still alive. "Mhm! Love really does make people do extreme things at desperate times." Mitsuri-san commented, looking so sure that she was right. "Eh, love?" Tanjirou asked, surprised. But the sight of Kyojuro's hand grasping mine seemed to be a sufficient answer to him.
Ahh! "I cannot believe how amazing and relaxing hot springs are!" I said, flopping onto my futon, feeling as light as air. Kyojuro chuckled, dragging his futon closer to mine. "You almost didn't want to leave. Ah! That felt great. It's too bad we couldn't eat eggs. Because if there's a hot spring, you have to boil eggs in it!" I can't help but laugh at him. "You say a lot of things like that, huh, Kyo-kun?" "What do you mean?" Moving so that I was laying on my side and faced him I continued. "Things like if there's a hot spring, you have to boil an egg or if there's smoke, there's fire. Remember when we were on that train and you also said if there's a hole, I want to go into it? What does that even mean?"
-lemon ahead-
"What? I was just being adventurous." I wasn't sure that answers it, but I smiled at him anyway. He smiled at me, and soon silence enveloped us. His hand then moved toward my face and caressed my cheek. I couldn't help but close my eyes and focus on how good it felt. "Y/N…" I opened an eye and was pleasantly surprised to see Kyojuro's face extremely close to mine. It was a silent plea for permission, his nose nudging mine to make it even more obvious. In a sudden surge of courage, I was the one to bridge the gap and laid my lips on his.
The warmth spread steadily from there and all over me. Every breath I take was full of his scent, and it made me feel even warmer than before… it was a very new feeling and I love it. Despite changing into a yukata after our dip in the hot spring, I felt overdressed. I don't know what came over me, but I had this insatiable urge to touch his skin. A want to do things… well the things you do when you're in love. The need to be as close as possible; the need to become one. And judging by how he moves, he seemed to be undergoing the same thing.
Without breaking our kiss, Kyojuro moved and hovered over me. My heart was beating so hard, it's like it wants to jump out of my chest. I was forced to open my eyes when Kyojuro broke away from me, lips swollen red due to our activities. "Y/N… is this okay?" I could see a hunger burning in his eyes… and it pleased me very much. I nodded frantically, my voice sounding so foreign to my ears, "yes. I want you."
It was all he needed. He straddled me and began working on my sash. It seemed like it was just a flimsy strand of thread as my yukata fell open in no time. I think I should have felt shy then, even just a little. But as Kyojuro kissed both of my shoulders and up on my neck, I felt excited. Still, my hands were shaking a little when I tried to do the same to his yukata. His continued kissing on my face, jaw, and neck was not helping with my task. It took forever, but then he was as bare as I was.
Faint white lines – scars – littered his body. "Does it bother you?" He quietly asked. I moved to kiss the one on his chest before answering, "no. You got these because you were saving people. I'm so proud of you, Kyojuro." I knew how important his role was to him. And I truly am proud of how dedicated he's been. I can feel him smile with every kiss he left on my skin. He murmured the softest words I've ever heard from him; telling me how much he loves me; how thankful he was and even just calling my name.
While we did take a dip at the hot spring together, we still made sure to not look at each other's naked bodies. That was not the case now since Kyojuro was openly admiring me. I felt myself flush, and while there was a small part of me that felt shy, I mostly felt happy. Hands explored skin; places we were seeing and touching for the first time. His hands found their way towards my chest. His caressing my breasts was a foreign feeling but was something I found that I really liked. "Ah! Kyo… hngh…" His mouth felt like tendrils of flame licking my skin. He found the most sensitive spot and focused there, making me produce sounds I didn't think I was able to make. It only egged him on, and I felt a certain stiffness begin to prod at my thigh.
While his mouth was busy lavishing attention to my chest, his hand traveled down my body… and it encouraged me to do the same to him. I didn't think he could get any hotter, but he did. Sounds that weren't our gasps and breathing began to bounce around the room, and we both know what was going to happen next. In true Kyojuro fashion, he looked me straight in the eyes as he asked, "can I put it in?" Despite the whole situation, and my body's need to be ever closer to him, I laughed. Kyojuro is Kyojuro, whatever the situation. His passion for what he does is ever-present, and really, I shouldn't be surprised. "Yes." I answered almost breathlessly.
He kissed me again and pressed forward with his hips. I can feel him push against me, and for a second nothing was happening despite the almost overwhelming pressure coming from him. Maybe we're doing it wrong? Maybe we should – "Ah!"
"Hngh… Y/N, was it… did I hurt you?" It wasn't exactly painful. It was new. But the thought of this being Kyojuro was making my heart swell. "No… It's just…" Trying to test the waters, I pushed to him myself and – "you're, erm… big." He chuckled, face moving closer to my ear and whispered reassurances on how he'd be gentle. And he truly was. We found our rhythm, and soon was moaning into each other. Breathing became harder, and soon Kyojuro started moving faster and I felt like I was going to explode. With a yell of my name, Kyojuro did explode… uhm, you know how… and I found myself digging my nails onto his shoulders.
It was over too soon, but both Kyojuro and I had smiles on our faces that I doubt could ever be erased. With me in his arms that day, Kyojuro promised me that the rest of our days would feel like this – blissful.