"Shin – Sanemi you don't have to do this." I complained as he tucked me in like a child. With a very exaggerated roll of his eyes, he started lecturing me, "you haven't slept yet and you volunteered to do the chores? What were you thinking?" Well, I wasn't really thinking when I volunteered but I'm not going to tell him that.

Sanemi reassured me he'd do the chores in my stead and that I should just go to sleep. It was hard arguing with him so I did what he said and just gave in to the sleepiness that crept up on me.

I woke up to the strangest sight; Nobu and Sanemi chatting like old friends while little Sutan – in Sanemi's arms - laughs as her tiny hands play around with Sanemi's huge one. They both greeted me as I emerged from my room, both acting as if this was business as usual. Before I got to sit with them, Yori called me over to his room. I was so sure he was going to lecture me yet again… and I was kind of right.

"Really, a boy? That boy?" Yori calmly said. The kind of calm that is scarier than if he was screaming. I felt stupid defensive at that, "I don't know. Nobu looks more like a boy. Sanemi is a man… I mean – " I just let my words hang in the air. What was I trying to say again?

"Boy, man, whatever. Those scars of his gave young Sutan a fright! Poor thing screamed when your man peered at her. I don't blame her at all. But the strangest thing was how easy it was for him to calm her down – and to completely tame Nobu enough to let him hold his baby!" Yori shook his head in disbelief before he continued, "I don't know how you made him do all the chores in the house, but everything's in order, Sutan's not fussing letting Nobu have a moment of peace. I guess I can see a shadow of what you liked about him."

My brother really had a roundabout way of praising someone, huh? And Nobu was tamed by free labor, it seemed.

"He really is good with kids." Was all I could think to add. "I'll be completely honest with you…" Yori started, "I don't like him. And – oh, don't make that face!" I tried to look indifferent, but the knot between my brow just won't go away. "He talked to me while you were asleep."

That caught my curiosity. "What did you talk about?" Yori set his lips in a thin line, face absolutely giving nothing away. I could tell right away he wasn't going to tell me so I rightfully complained. "You said you'll be completely honest!" "I did, but what we talked about is between us. Though I expect he'd tell you that anyway." Hmm, I really could just bother Sanemi instead of him. Still, the thought of them having some kind of secret bothered me.

After we both settled into silence, I voiced the thought that ran through my head the moment we entered his room. "Am I right to assume you called me here to tell me not to go?" A deep heavy sigh answered me then. "No. Of course, I don't want you to go but… Shinazugawa was it? He's an improvement compared to your fiancé. Do whatever you want. Just know, you have a home here, and don't forget to write every once in a while."

"I won't forget this time, I promise."

Once it was dark enough for me safely travel, Sanemi and I left. We decided to go back to the house we stayed at during the mission since it was closer. And I think he was trying to make up for how we weren't able to walk around the other night as we considerably took our time walking back. At some point, he took hold of my hand, and I happily held on and squeezed his every now and then.

Sanemi said he loved me. I felt like it all happened too fast that there were things I forgot to ask, like the girl. Ugh, I felt so stupid thinking about her again! But her stupid laugh kept playing in my head. I turned to Sanemi; breath stolen by the sight in front of me. His face was bathed in moonlight making his hair glow a beautiful silver, almost like a glowing halo. Despite his scars, he looked beautiful. Yes, Sanemi and the word beautiful don't really seem to mix. Yet, it's the only one I could think of that would perfectly describe him at that moment.

A beautiful moment that I stupidly destroyed with my stupid mouth. I forgot how I phrased my question exactly as there was a strange ringing in my head, but I got my message across. And he laughed in my face, little tears at the edge of his eyes even.

"You really did run away because you were jealous, huh?" He poked my nose, "I told you. I won't make the same mistake twice. You will never have anything to be jealous about." He squeezed my hand, a reassurance of his promise. But that's not enough, so he swooped in and pecked my lips as if it was the seal we needed.

"I told her I already have you. The witch laughed at that; she did convince herself you were my maid. So, I told her she could fuck right off. She went home crying; you should've seen her."

I hummed. I was pleased, and disturbingly more so after hearing she cried but I just could not hold my stupid tongue. "That's stupid… She's a human. I'm a demon, Sanemi. I might not eat humans but I still can't walk under the sun; I don't age anymore. Goodness, Yori… you met Yori, and Yusuke and you saw them as old men and they're my younger brothers! I'm an old lady who's just stuck. You make me happy, but I'm not sure I could do the same for you. I'm a monster." I thought back to how we met, it was clear he despised demons. His life experience was sure to make him loathe demons. "Don't you hate demons?"

He turned to face me completely, eyes so intense it made me shiver. "You're right. I hate demons. I still do and I'm not going to say anything cheesy and say you changed my mind." A hand of his moved to cup my face, his warmth was irresistible prompting me to nuzzle to it. "I don't care. At this point, I just don't care if you're a demon, or a monster, or whatever you think you are. You're Y/N. The woman I love and want to build a life with."

He blessed me with a smile and moved closer that I could feel his breath on my face. "It's ridiculous, I never planned on a future… a house with a wife and brats." A light laugh escaped him, "it hit me out of nowhere. Wanting a future like that… with you. Human or not I still want you. I love you. I do, so please… let me love you."

"Is that really something I could do? Are you really someone I deserve?" He took my hand towards his face, kissing my palm before shaking his head. "I'm not special. Heck, I'm not someone whom you'd have to deserve. It is as you said; I have a lot of negative traits. I even treated you horribly and... if you'd let me, I'd spent the rest of my life repenting for that. It is me who doesn't deserve you. And I feel like I'd die if I keep this all to myself.

The tears that begged to fall from his eyes were almost shining in the moonlight. When I realized he was about to cry I tried to wipe his tears. The texture of the scars that decorated his skin took my attention instead prompting me to caress every scar. I couldn't believe someone like him even saw me… and saw me as just me. Seeing the affection in his eyes helped me decide to let go.

Let go of my doubts and insecurity, knowing that Sanemi would be there. It was only natural for us to kiss then. And it felt different from the other times yet again. It tasted sweet from mutual affection, and a little salty from tears that flowed freely from both our eyes. I couldn't help the light, relieved laugh that bubbled from my chest. God, I love this man… was the only thought in my head.

Pulling apart, we could help but laugh at the glossy sheen of our tears on our faces, and how strange we must seem crying and kissing in the middle a road. Once we calmed down enough, we both promised to have better communication. All this mess with me running away and him following me was because of a silly misunderstanding.

"Oh, thank you for the ohagi."

"You're welcome…"

"Yes, it was delicious… but there's something else I'd rather eat."

Sanemi isn't really fussy with food, so that took me off guard.

"You."

We were almost running once we reached the village as the sun was threatening to rise in a few minutes… and who did we run into? The same lady who thought I was Sanemi's maid looked to be leaving town, judging by her heavy load. She scoffed the moment she noticed us and saw our interlocked hands. Maybe it was Sanemi's influence but I waved as if we're good old friends and greeted her good morning. I guess Sanemi thought that was not enough as he turned me towards him, kissing me full on the mouth and making a real show out of it.

Of course, he would be showy like that. But him acting like that… did something to me. It made my body feel hot and for some reason, my head thinks that the only solution to make the heat go away was for him to touch me… and as if reading my mind Sanemi pulled me after him towards the room I stayed at, carelessly pulled and laid the futon on the floor.

His hands on my waist, "Is this okay?" I almost felt dizzy with how fast I nodded. Our clothes abandoned somewhere in the room, Sanemi hovered over me and started kissing me. I could not get enough of him; opening my mouth into the kiss and letting his hands wander all over me as I did the same to him. It was as if every shy bone I have suddenly disappeared.

When he moved his attention towards my neck, I finally had the chance to ask, "What did you – ah! Sanemi…"

"What?"

"What did you mean when you said you'd rather eat… ah, me?" He raised his head, completely hovering over me and a very attractive yet mischievous smile broke out on his face. "I'll show you." He winked and kissed me… on my lips, down my jaw, then my chest… stomach, and then – "Ah! Sanemi -!" The sounds that escaped me made my cheeks burn. Sanemi just kissed me… down there! And it felt good. It felt unbelievably good.

I could not help but close my thigh on his head, but then his tongue started poking out towards – "Ahhh, mmhm" I felt like crying. My hands took hold of his hair, and I think I pulled a little too hard, making him growl… a vibration that shoots up straight through my core and into my whole being.

His tongue… then a finger… and then another one. Oh, they were not enough. I wanted to feel more of him. I completely embraced my selfishness and desired all of him. I managed to tell him that in between catching my breath and all the moaning I did. The sight of him, mouth almost glistening, was one that made my insides melt.

"I want you…" I pleaded – no, begged! And I was lucky he obliged. He crawled up my body again and captured my lips in his giving me a taste of… me. The thought only spurred me on more. I felt him line himself up, before he moved to look me in my eyes and ask, again, if I was sure.

"Yes!" And he pushed and I saw white.

Suddenly, Sanemi was gone and replaced by… Nezuko? Only this time she's human. She looked absolutely human, eyes and hair different. Then my vision changed to that of a child pulling at my sleeve. A small white-haired boy looking at me as we walked at the riverside, the warmth of the sun touching my skin. And he called me mother… And waiting for us on a bench was Sanemi.

Suddenly, I felt Sanemi kiss my face. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked, halting his movements as he took in my face. I nodded, feeling a little too choked up to talk. A playful smile on his lips he asked, was I too big?"

"Yes, but – oohh that… ah!" It was hard to tell him about my new vision. And it really was not the time for talking. Sanemi made me feel a lot of things that I never even imagined.

Sanemi made a specific thrust that made me see stars and let go of a very obscene sound that would make my parents roll in their graves, "shit! Y/N… You're getting so tight."

It was simply exhilarating! I felt light-headed but my chest was heavy with deep emotion towards Sanemi. He's made me felt so good, and the sounds he was making made me take comfort in the knowledge that I was doing the same to him.

A peak. A high. I reached a level of euphoria I never had before and after light cursing, Sanemi followed suit, his warmth shooting in me. Rolling off me, he started to catch his breath. But a smile was on his face… he looked absolutely breathtaking in the aftermath of our pleasure.

I turned on my side, my body aching deliciously. "I think… I saw our future." His brows shoot up. "A vision… when we –" Despite having done what we just did, I could not help but feel a little shy talking about it. Still, I continued eager to share with him what I saw. "A vision… Like when I saw the battle? I saw us… and a little boy who looked like you. And I think… I know I was human again."

"You could be human again?" He said, excitement taking over his features. "Yes. Tanjirou told me of another demon – Tamayo-san – who was making a cure… so Nezuko could be a human again. Judging by my vision, she succeeded." I then told Sanemi what Tanjirou told me then, how getting samples of demon blood would hasten the process.

"That's what you want, right?" Sanemi asked. He continued after I nodded. "Then I'd do everything I could to make it happen." It was like a tradition already by then, sealing promises with a kiss. Only this one turned more intense and soon Sanemi and I parted only for him to ask; "another round?" That was something I could not say no to.

"Shinazugawa, don't tell me you're another moron slayer now who has a demon for a pet?" Iguro-san said in lieu of a greeting. Sanemi was not pleased. "Say anything more about her and I will pull out your tongue." Iguro-san, being a strong hashira himself, was not intimidated at all. "Oh, I was mostly insulting you and not her. You're just –"

"Iguro-san, Shinazugawa-san please stop it. Oyakata-sama will be out anytime now." Thank goodness Shinobu-san was there to stop them.

There were only us four. The Kakushi who greeted us said the other hashira are out on missions. "Ah, good evening my children." Greeted Oyakata-sama, starting the meeting.

I told them my vision of the big battle. Every single detail of it that I saw. I felt Sanemi stiffen whenever I mentioned Genya – especially his death. And what fun it was, telling them who'd die and how. My mention of marks appearing on the hashiras and Tokito-san's red sword was something that Ubuyashiki-san found extremely interesting. In fact, that was mostly where he focused his questions on. Sadly, I didn't have the answer for those. Afterward, I was able to tell them more of the events that would unfold, including Nezuko being able to walk under the sun; and then her becoming a human once more.

That put focus on Shinobu-san, as it turned out that Oyakata-sama knew Tamayo-san and he suggested they work together to develop the medicine. In the middle of our meeting, a crow came asking for assistance as Uzui-san turned out to be fighting an upper moon. Iguro-san left to aid him, leaving us to come up with a plan. All I hoped for is that we could change that future that I saw.

Sanemi didn't seem too happy with the plan we came up with, considering I was tasked to fight. "When the time comes, stay away from Muzan." He told me, probably still thinking about how Muzan has the ability to absorb us other demons. "Don't be stupid and die or something."

"I won't."