Our bliss was short-lived. The only bright side to it was that it didn't happen the moment we woke up. What we did wake up to was a moody and bruised Tanjirou. Apparently, Tokito-san was also in the village and was beating up some poor kid. Tanjirou stepped in and somehow got roped into training with a mechanical doll, so he'd become stronger and won't lose to Tokito-san.
That led to Tanjirou showing us the doll. "Whoa, six arms?" Kyojuro seemed impressed as he moved closer to examine it. A sense of recognition came over me once I set my eyes on the odd-looking doll. While it has six arms, the rest of it looked like it was modeled after a samurai, with its long hair tied up and its earrings… huh? "Tanjirou-kun, this doll has the same earrings as you." Kyojuro hummed his agreement at my observation. That same feeling of dread I always feel whenever I see Tanjirou's earrings crept up on me, coupled with the nagging recognition.
"This doll feels so familiar." I said, which surprised Tanjirou and prompted him to tell me how he feels the same. "Me too! I feel like I know him. Kotetsu said this doll was modeled after an actual swordsman from the Sengoku era. Ah! Perhaps you know this person, Y/N-chan!" The Sengoku era was more than three hundred years ago. Not even my parents were alive then! "I'm not that old Tanjirou-kun. Though, if this doll had six eyes instead of six arms, it looks so much like Kokushibo." And to think Kokushibo has this air of being a swordsman. Could it be?
"Kokushibo?" "Who's that?" Kyojuro and Tanjirou asked at the same time. "Upper moon one." The look of surprise on their faces was expected. "You don't really think that this was based on a demon, do you?" Tanjirou asked, looking at the doll more closely. I tilted my head as a crazy thought entered my mind, "Well, Kokushibo wasn't always a demon. Do you think he was a demon slayer at some point?" Kyojuro hummed in contemplation and Tanjirou turned from the doll to me.
"It's possible." Kyojuro answered, surprising both me and Tanjirou. "Akaza did offer to turn me into a demon. It's possible that has happened to other demon slayers he fought before. Also, I am both a demon and a demon slayer." "Maybe you could ask Kokushibo himself next time." Tanjirou suggested, which he instantly regretted. "There's no chance of that happening. I'm not letting Muzan take Y/N again." We knew how intense Kyojuro could be, but the moment he said that gave me chills.
Tanjirou went to bed – since he's human and was up all day already – while both Kyojuro and I went hunting. "Well, it's about time we start your lessons!" Kyojuro declared the moment we're both cleaned up. Oh, yes. He was supposed to train me. "I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be." Kyojuro somehow procured training swords for us and found a small clearing in the woods where we could get into it. I didn't know what exactly I expected but Kyojuro was strict!
Before anything else, he made sure I was holding the sword correctly, and that my stance was correct. He did have to guide me through it, wrapping his arms around me in the process. It was distracting and I'm amazed at how he was able to focus on the task. After he deemed my stance and grip good enough, we moved on to whacking each other.
"First thing to keep in mind," Kyojuro's voice boomed, "keep your eyes on your opponent!" Okay, easy enough. I nodded and looked at him intensely. "So far, you've been able to hold back demons using your demon blood art. Your sword would mainly be to end them permanently." Kyojuro demonstrated some swings, and I swear it seemed like he actually sliced the air around us. And he was using a training sword too.
"Ah! I … hah… it feels like my arms will fall off!" I managed to say as I tried to catch my breath. It feels like a lifetime ago since I've felt this exhausted, and to think Kyojuro barely dropped a sweat! Demon slayers really are something else. Kyojuro hummed, looking extremely pleased. "That was great progress, Y/N-chan!" he moved to take the practice sword from me and we walked back to our accommodations, not before he declared, "Now would be the perfect time to go to the hot spring!"
"Mmm! Yes, and we'd probably be the only ones still up. We'd have the hot spring to ourselves." It was like my exhaustion floated away and disappeared. I made haste and was washing myself in record time.
After cleaning the sweat off my body, I walked towards the spring wrapped only in a towel. Kyojuro was already lounging against the edge of it. Shyness came upon me so suddenly, which really didn't make much sense when you think about what we did last night… ugh. The thought made me feel hot and embarrassed, and I wasn't in the hot spring yet. I took a deep breath to calm myself down. Dropping the towel, I finally get in wading over to where Kyojuro was.
His eyes were closed, face completely relaxed. I can't help but smile at the sight, wishing that our days will be like this… just peaceful and relaxing. "Y/N-chan, you took your time." Kyojuro commented, eyes still closed. "Hmm, well you made me sweat like a pig. I can't really rush washing up like that." He hummed and said nothing else. It was quiet and we truly were the only ones up. It felt like the whole village was empty except for us. I sighed as I stretch and looked up. "It really is beautiful here. Maybe tomorrow night we could walk around. Instead of training!" I know we just started with the lessons, but I really can't help but want to slack off.
Kyojuro laughed at that, finally opening his eyes which looked at me with his signature sincerity and intensity. Despite being in a hot spring, I felt a shiver come all over me. "You know, swordplay isn't the only thing we should be practicing, Y/N." Now, that wasn't something I expected. He moved closer to me, hand resting on the spring's edge over my shoulder. Kyojuro's cheeks were red – from the hot spring or what he was about to say, I do not know – but still sounded his usual, confident self. "Last night was over too quickly, we should practice so we get better at it." Was he really? Oh my. "Right here, right now?" He nodded, one hand moving to cup my face. "No one's around… everyone's asleep. It's quite romantic, is it not?"
I looked around us, and everything was still quiet aside from the nocturnal animals. And Kyojuro… I do want him, too. I nodded and made the first move and kissed him. He responded immediately, making a sound that made me feel something new… not in my chest but down there. "Ngh!" It was like hearing him moan made me do the same. His hands dropped to my shoulders and further down, resting on my chest. We broke from our kiss to breathe, but his lips traveled down my neck not only kissing my sucking a little. "Kyojuro!"
"Was that okay?" He asked, not even stopping his ministrations. I nodded because my goodness, that felt so good! My hands experimentally explored his chest, feeling his muscles that's been thoroughly developed over the years. "Wow." I didn't even notice saying that out loud, but Kyojuro sure did. He laughed almost breathlessly right beside my ear, nipping at it playfully. "You like touching me that much?" I whined, burying my face on his neck. "Yes." His hand moved lower on my body, finally touching me where I needed him most. "I..ah! I also like it when you touch me."
I can feel him stiff against me and decided to repay the favor and touch him there, stroking him a few times before he started breathing faster. I know I have my hand on him and his finger in me, but somehow the sounds he was making were more intimate. It made me want him right away, and I told him that. I wrapped my legs around his waist the moment he lifted me, feeling him align himself where I needed him the most. And –
"Ah!" That was not something I wanted to hear right now! "Who – " Kyojuro began to ask but was cut off by the guy who screamed. I can't find it in me to turn around and see who it was, all I could do was further bury my face on Kyojuro's chest, wishing the stranger would go away.
"What – ? Ah who - ? In the hot spring, really?" A frustrated grunt and then heavy footsteps walking away from us. I whined, due to a completely different emotion now. "Ah. Maybe we should head inside." I couldn't agree more.
Shinazugawa Genya. The man that walked in on us was the Shinazugawa-san's younger brother. Though, my embarrassment about how we met him was held at bay by his scent. It was human, but also demon.
"You're both demons." Genya stated, still blushing a little. See, he waited for us in the hall beside the hot springs. What for, I have no idea. Maybe to lecture us? He sure looked like someone who'd do that. He's got a huge scar on his face, and that same I'm angry at everyone look that his older brother has. Kyojuro seemingly took everything in stride, but the red tips of his ears were a dead giveaway. "Yes. I'm Rengoku Kyojuro. This is Y/N."
"The flame hashira?" Genya was understandably surprised. "Was. I'm still a demon slayer, just not a hashira." Genya nodded and stayed quiet. There really was nothing to say. "Well, good night." Kyojuro said after enough silence passed us, grabbing my hand as we started walking back to our room. To our surprise, Genya started walking behind us. "I thought you were heading into the hot spring."
"Like I'm gonna take a dip in that after you guys… ah, it's not all spring water now, is it? Ugh." The insinuation was just so… "Ngh." Another whine came from me, leaning my forehead on Kyojuro's shoulder as we walked. "You know there is more than one spring? Besides it's not like it's stagnant." Kyojuro answered. I squeezed his hand, "And of course it's all spring water. What else would be there?" Genya just grumbled something, continuing walking behind us.
We soon parted way, entering our rooms. Once inside the four walls of our rooms, relief washed over me and I started laughing. Kyojuro asked me why "I can't believe that's how we met Shinazugawa-san's brother." Kyojuro started laughing with me. "Definitely not ideal." Once we calmed down, we laid down our futons, Kyojuro's arm wrapped around me as I cuddled close to him. "Kyojuro-kun… do you still want to do it?" I asked because, goodness, I really do. "Surprisingly, yes." And so we did, earlier embarrassment totally forgotten and completely focused on each other. I remember hearing Kyojuro whisper that he loves me as he kissed my shoulder before falling asleep that night.
While that was blissful, the next night was not. I woke up with a start, smelling a faint metallic smell in the air. But that wasn't all, I think I can smell someone I met recently. The horned demon in the infinity castle! "Kyo-kun, wake up!" He was up right away, "I think upper rank four is here. I can smell him!" He was alert right away, moving quickly to his sword. We walked out of the room, eyes looking all over the place when we both heard Tanjirou speaking. Not even caring to announce ourselves, Kyojuro slid open the door to Tanjirou's room, finding Tokito-san already there.
"Oh! Y/N-chan, Aniki… huh? Is someone else here?" Tanjirou said. We didn't get a chance to say anything when Tokito-san commented, "looks like it." Then Hantengu slid open the door from outside and casually crawled inside. In barely a blink of an eye, the demon slayers around me assumed battle stances, Tokito-san making the first move. He was so fast, but Hantengu was even faster! "Stop it! Don't bully me. Eeeeeek!" Kyojuro and Tanjirou both attacked at the same time, which Hantengu managed to avoid yet again. Nezuko took advantage of Hantengu's move and went in for a kick, Tanjirou warning her to not transform.
Tokito-san moved in to slice off the demon's head and was successful in doing so. But it was not over. "What the hell?" Hantengu's severed head grew a body while his body grew a new head. "We'll take the one behind. Y/N!" Kyojuro said and we moved towards one while Tanjirou and Tokito-san moved towards the other. Before I knew it, I was flying in to the night as Kyojuro and Tanjirou screamed.
I was not alone. Tokito-san was blown away with me and we were blown out really far. "We have to get back now!" He declared, running almost inhumanly fast. The smell of a demon and human hit me like a punch, and turning towards the source granted me the sight of a child fighting a demon. No, it's not quite a demon, but that's not really important. "Tokito-san! There's a child." I saw the creature grab the child and made a run for it. Tokito-san still beat me to it though, slicing the monster's arm off as I moved to catch the child. "You're getting in the way, so can you just get out of here?"
Up close, I can see that the creature looked like a fish with four legs with a pot on it's back. No, a vase. Gyokko's vase! "Tokito-san! That's upper rank five, Gyokko stays inside that floral vase!" Tokito-san nodded, slicing Gyokko's vase and completely destroying it. The child, who was told by Tokito-san to leave, went on to hug me and thank me before doing the same to Tokito-san. "I thought I was gonna die! I thought… I was so scared, waahhh! Sorry for calling you a kelp head. Sorry!" Kelp head? "You called me a kelp head? Now's not the time for this. We're going now, so just do whatever you want. Y/N, let's go!"
Of course, Tokito-san would still be bossy in a situation like this. But he's right, we do need to go back to Kyojuro and the others. I know he's more than capable, and he'd heal right away but being apart from him after was making me worry. "Wait! Kanamori-san's under attack too! Haganezuka-san's been working non-stop on the blade, so please help!" I'm awfully worried about Kyojuro… but I do trust him and his skill, so without hesitation, I asked the kid where this Kanamori-san was.
The moment he did, Tokito-san grabbed him and carried him as he ran with me following right behind. The sight of more fished creatures signaled that we've arrived at our destination. Tokito-san went after one and me on another. Surprisingly, my blood demon art was enough to get rid of it. Huh. "Whoa! Thank you both."
The child jumped off of Tokito-san screaming Kanamori-san as he ran towards the man we just saved. "Young Kotetsu! I'm glad your safe. I honestly thought I was gonna die." Tokito-san began asking him about his sword, and I chose that moment to look around. Where is Gyokko? "That went pretty quick." I heard Tokito-san say, sounding unsatisfied. "It's not. That wasn't Gyokko. He's still out there." I continued looking around, then Kanamori-san started to run off but was stopped by Tokito-san. "It's coming." He said. And then that smell… Gyokko's smell!
"You noticed me, huh? I guess that means you're a pillar. Oh, Y/N-dono? You're here, too? That's bad, that's bad you ugly little thing! This was my chance to please Muzan-sama. I can't have you steal this from me. Hyo hyo. Hashira! Nice to meet you. My name is Gyokko. May I have a minute before I kill all of you?" He asked but did not wait for an answer. "My dear guests, would you like a look at my artwork tonight?"
"Art? What are you talking about?" Tokito-san asked, genuine curiosity on his voice. "Let me show you." Gyokko summoned a pot, blood spewing out of it followed by a macabre… thing. Dead residents of the village attached together by swords as if it were bamboo skewers and the people pieces of meat. I hate to admit that the smell did make me salivate, but the sight made my stomach twist. "Presenting, "Lagonie des Forgerons!" Horrified gasps were all we could say to Gyokko's art. "Behold these hands! They're full of blisters, unique only to sword-smiths. Intentional, mind you! That's why I put them upfront."
It was already horrible for me, seeing how they were senselessly slaughtered. But I know it hurt more to Kotetsu and Kanamori-san who knew them personally. Gyokko said more despicable things, but I was done listening. So was Tokito-san. "Hey. Cut it out fuck face." He went it for Gyokko's neck, but he evaded it by moving back inside his vase and the vase actually jumped up onto the roof of a nearby shed. Gyokko summoned more of his four-legged fishes, sending them away from where we were. I was dumbfounded for a bit before realization dawned on me that he sent them in the direction of the village. "Oh no!"
We had no choice… Steeling myself, I decided to run after the grotesque creatures. "Tokito-san, I'll protect the villagers!" "Go ahead, I'll handle this!"
They're fishes! How could they be so fast! Ugh. The village was overrun with those when I got there. It was total chaos – villagers scrambling to get into safety, monsters making horrible noises, and people screaming. The warning bell rang all over the village, and I could see the one ringing it getting attach by one of Gyokko's minions. Pushing myself to move quicker than I ever did, I reached the creature and dragged it away from the man ringing the bell. Wrapping layers upon layers of frost over my hand – It looks like a thick coat of ice -, I slammed it down on the creature's head effectively smashing it. That worked well!
"Augh!" While my attacks were effective, there were just too many enemies and I was not fast enough. Fortunately, help arrived. "Sorry for being late, everyone! I'll make sure to beat them all up!" "Mitsuri-san!" Together, we made quick work of the creatures wreaking havoc around the village. The villagers around us were talking about how they should go help the chief, so Mitsuri-san decided to do just that. She might be human, but she was much faster than I am. I really need to train more.
Finishing the last of the creatures, I made my way back to Kyojuro. An uneasy feeling settled over me. Hantengu was able to split himself into two when his head was sliced off. What if every slice meant more would be added? They could be fighting ten more of him by now, and it's only Tanjirou, Nezuko, and Kyojuro there! Quickly, I kept telling myself. The closer I get, the heavier my heart felt. The accommodation we were staying at was completely destroyed. I felt another gust of wind, the same kind that blew me and Tokito-san away. "Gahh!" Tanjirou?!
I ran towards the noise and saw Tanjirou on the ground. The demon with the fan was preparing to blow Tanjirou further into the ground, but Kyojuro jumped into his rescue slicing the demon's hand off. "Genya!" Tanjirou screamed suddenly, "Right side! He moved south. Get him?" I had no idea what was happening but moved to help Kyojuro with the fan demon as Tanjirou left – probably to go to Genya.
"Y/N!" I moved immediately to encased the demon's wrist in frost, preventing him from regenerating. He was not happy about that. "I'll support you, Kyo-kun!" I told him, trying to encase more of the demon's body in thick frost. Kyojuro nodded and we moved together to defeat the demon. With my frost and Kyojuro's skill, it was quite easy but then the demon was sucked towards the direction Tanjirou ran to. Sharing a look, both Kyojuro and I rushed off after it.
There was a sixth demon. And there was a tree that was also somehow a dragon. Nothing made sense, but we fought it anyway. Mitsuri-san arrived and she and Kyojuro were truly leagues above me, Tanjirou and Genya. The two most experienced demon slayers were truly amazing, then Genya started eating barks of the tree which was also part of Hantengu's body. He's a human who eats demons and is able to use demon abilities such as quick regeneration.
While Kyojuro and Mitsuri-san busied themselves with the demon, I helped Tanjirou and the others in looking for the demon's real body. Hantengu turned himself real small and was hiding. Well, he was hiding but when we cut open his hiding place he wasn't there. We ended up chasing him towards a cliff where Nezuko began burning him. Genya and I had to move away as Nezuko's blood demon art was extremely painful! "Ah! Nezuko-chan! Tanjirou-kun!" Genya and I screamed. Everything happened so fast after that; Hantengu walking away with Tanjirou's sword; Tokito-san appearing and throwing a sword for Tanjirou; Hantengu's headless body going after escaping villagers; Kyojuro running towards me, screaming dawn was coming and covering us both with his haori as I willed my body to shrink so he'd have more cover himself; Nezuko staying in the open field as the sun rises and it's rays begin to reach her.
This… it's my vision! Nezuko chose to stay vulnerable to the sunlight, kicking Tanjirou towards Hantengu's headless body so he could be stopped. Tanjirou succeeded in killing Hantengu, but his grief was setting in, believing that Nezuko burned. "Impossible… Nezuko is not burning?" Kyojuro said, and if it weren't for my visions, I'd be this surprised too. "This is great, isn't it?" Genya asked, moving closer to us and effectively blocking more sunlight as several villagers began to look for something to cover Kojurou and me. "Maybe the two of you won't need to hide from sunlight soon." Genya added.
"No. I mean yes, it's great that Nezuko didn't burn, but this is what Kibutsuji wants. It's what he's been waiting for." I felt Kyojuro tense behind me at that. "What do you mean?" "Kibutsuji's goal is to be able to walk under the sun. And Muzan knows everything. I'm sure he's aware of this. He knows Nezuko can withstand the sun."
Genya looked horrified, and rightfully so. "But that's not going to happen, right. I mean, Nezuko can't exactly teach Muzan how to walk under the sun. Right." It wasn't me that answered him. "Teach? Muzan will do what he does best. He's going to eat Nezuko."