AN:

This takes place after the Mugen Train Arc, Kyojuro Rengoku ends up surviving

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Long Past Dawn:

Allowed to do fieldwork after being cleared, When he trying to visualize slicing into a demon with a sword in hand. That was when he knew he needed to get back in the groove of using his core muscles. Stiffness alone was hard at first and reminded him of his younger years. When his father trained him and his younger brother when his mother was still alive. How she spent hours watching him and his younger brother train together. Drew a smile on his face as he waited for Muri with their son in her arms. Like clockwork, she showed up after his last visit with a homemade meal. Just putting a five down and holding a large meal didn't seem like a challenge to Muri.

Once their son's feet touched the ground when let out of her arms. He wandered over to Kyojuro's bedside with his mother following. He successfully climbed on the impression of Tanjiro's body from sleeping there. Sat down like he belonged asking the same questions to Kyojuro like he did the first time they met. When was he going to get better to leave and slay the demons? Smile formed on Kyojuro's face before he made an odd request. Within the courtyard of the Butterfly mansion with a bokutō in hand going through rehabilitation training Kyojuro could be found. Wanting back the feeling or the sensation of using his mended body, He spent mornings from after his first meal to the announcement of the second one. Reviewing his father's old lessons about swordsmanship at the time. Following through the footsteps he once did as a child swinging the blade in the desired direction. Mixed in with learning to work through the ache from his wound and limited sight of one good eye. Image of that demon's taunts about wanting him to become a demon with that heated gaze of his eyes. Raw strength was put into each hit that he counters with his own of his sword. Further fueled each minute he re-trained himself to move. All under the helpful hands of Aoi and her assistants. They made sure to come up with useful training exercises for him. Sometimes they focused on re-strengthening his core or stamina boosting. It was breathing to a gourd that until it exploded with just his breath was something to see. Which he learned first hand not to argue with them when he didn't get visitors.

Most of the visitors he got that weren't Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke checking in on him between their training. Mainly his father and brother beside Muri and his son coming in together or within minutes of each other. The way his brother and father took to roles of uncle and grandfather was completely natural after the first introduction. Told him some thinking needed on a certain topic he wanted to discuss with Muri needed to take place. Having her back in his life was becoming a welcomed surprise on his end. Since she was a lot different from the sad girl he met that summer. Faded images of a 16 old Miru in the standard uniform worn under a dull purple haori with a Japanese Wisteria print. Sporting thigh-high stockings with Knotted Knee-high Long Boots, her black hair done up in half-braid/half-ponytail. Her katana was an Eggplant-Purple in color, complementing her Breathing Style, Dream Breathing. Her hilt was a metallic spider web charm done in rainbow metallic materials with a sheath made of Japanese Wisteria bark. Who showed no mercy in her sorrow toward ANY demon she faced.

The reason she disappeared full time from the Corps back then was watching his cut-through straw mats set up are targets for him. Who's small voice was cheering him on when he moved stirred an instinct within him. He sat in the many laps of a few Kakushi and other medical personnel when his mother become Kyojuro's sparring partner. Showed that under her homely exterior she been known for since visiting him during his recovery. A skilled swordswoman still exposed since she dodged or returned each one of his blows with one of her own. Somehow able to keep up with his inhuman speed and push back twice as hard when he tried to hit her.

"You seem to have never stepped away from the blade." He came to share with her.

"I Try." That was her only answer.

When he got too hot and adjusted the top of his kimono to stay cooler on most days that left some breathless. Didn't distract her when she started tying back the sleeves of her kimono with her own tasuki with her hair pinned up. Had him needing to push back his bouts of nervousness when he saw how much skin she was revealed. Since she was showing she was having a problem with him becoming bare-chested the view of newly healed would be clearly seen. She just made the red streak on his face worst when she brought up how adorable he looked when he blushed.

"Your blushing was always my favorite feature on you," She confessed once. "Way that strong jawline tenses and warm tone of your skin slowly turning red. Twitch in your enthusiastic smile as you just stared with such widen eyes."

Had him pinning her once or twice long before everyone that was watching them left after the sun went down and the air got chilly. Making sure to knock her bokutō just out of her reach and used just enough of his weight to keep her still. His legs were on either side of her waist as she was in an upward laying position to face his Gold with Red Irises.

"Moments like this that I look forward to small admonishments you show," He acknowledged. "Every day in your presence, I learn something new about you besides your kind heart."

Had her ready to push herself up to a sitting position and fill the gap of empty space between them. Pull him into a lip lock to end their spar and have something to remember her by, it wasn't for Aoi. Which always ended those moments for them with them pulling apart and taking separate corners. Smoothing out their clothes and shaking the grass off in between splitting apart. Changed up when Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke started joining in their sparring match to polish their sword skills. Miru usually kept track of who won and lost when she sat on the sidelines with knitting needles in hand. Working on yet another scarf in a new pattern that she ended up giving to Zenitsu upon finishing within a week. This had Tanjiro thanking her for the one he now currently wore whenever he went on a mission with his haori. Sharing as a memory of the one he use to wear back in his home village when his family was alive. This drew tears to his eyes that were wiped away by Miru before one ended up slipping from his Dark Red eyes. Softness of her sleeve loosen from the hold of her tasuki during one of their breaks. Came to an end each day when he joined Zenitsu and Inosuke in reviewing basics with Kyojuro.

Changed out fo the blue, when Inosuke went on to challenge Muri by pointing one of his swords right at her. Zenitsu stepped back and Tanjiro was ready to object on her behalf prior to Kyojuro about to say something Inosuke. Instead she sets down her knitting needles to free her hands to tie back the sleeves of the kimono she worn, that day. Taking hold of bokutō used by Kyojuro as she went on to ignore warnings from Tanjiro about Inosuke's Bringing style. Didn't stop her from relaxing into a loosen stance with her eyes closing and breahting slowed. Rudely ended up being compared to when Zenitsu fell asleep before use of his own swordsmanship. Zenitsu and Tanjiro tried to urge Kyojuro to stop Inosuke from making the first strike with second sword moving. Where that metal blade landed when he came at her with intention of cutting away at her kimono.

"Third Breath," Way she raised the bokutō overhead and slowly brought it down to her side, twisting it back and forth to trace a tight spiral in the air. Missing the edge of his second blade by an half inch in her wandering feet. "Dance of the Sleepwalker!"

Turned into a graceful spin that placed her a foot and half away of his first blade that he had used to point at her from the beginning. Led to him using his First Fang: Pierce by bringing his blades back together and aiming somewhere near her neck or area near it. His angle was knocked off his course when she stepped right once, as she swung the bokutō across her body, low and to the left. Let her still closed eyes and head follow the bokutō right a twisting 360° slash. Power she put into the hit wasn't enough to leave a impact when Inosuke was knocked off his Zenitsu reeling and Tanjiro came running over to his friend's side to access the impact of damage given to him. Inosuke just sat there ready to face Miru again to get a clear victory over. Kyojuro couldn't help but laugh at the spirit of competition that was being shown in such spirited youths. Since that was the mood for the rest of the day until the the last meal of the day was prepared for them.

After dinner was served, everyone was ready to windown for the night by returning to their beds, thing got a little troublesome. Since Miru spent half hour aguring with Kyojuro about being escorted to her home by him. She say as far as the nearest tramcar stop in which he turned down with a simple side ot side nod of his head. He then got on about wanting to walk her all the way to front gate or stoop of her home for her own safety. Always left the two at a standstill until someone suggested he use of the one of the Kasugai Crows. Lessen the verbal aurging between the pair, just a ridiculous assumption of another swamp demon came up. Her being kidnapped without proper protection since she hadn't handled a sword in such a long time was brought up. Had Kyojuro not giving up on seeing her home until she pointed out his lack of sword and he just start rehab.

"I don't want to risk an encounter with THAT demon that wounded you," She brought up a point with her nostrils flaring. "You need to future mend and restore your functional ability more."

"Then I have a goal to work toward." He mentally noted.

He ended up having her step just close enough to him to lean toward him with her lips forming a o- shape as she moved. On the corner of his own lips, she placed a straightforward, light kiss before stepping back. Taking in the sight of his face turn red with heavy breathing and parted lips as he watched her disappear from his range of view. He lingered in place for another half hour before coming back in had Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke. until one night they played rock, paper, scissors to figure who would ask him. Loser ended up being the one that learned Kyojuro just didn't like when she alone. Minutes he had to wait for a crow return later the night with word she got home safely. Made going to sleep for him imposseable until late night when light went out.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

One particular day, when Miru was dropping off vials of pure Wisteria extract before making her way to visiting Kyojuro. She was scooped up off her zori clad feet and pulled 198 cm into the air when a voice spoke startled her. Way he described her mediocre beauty being somewhat passable for his on going mission in entertainment distract. She had her no peculiar or outstanding features pointed out in such a way just soured her mood. When he saw upon her face when she glared at him in turn for laying hands on her without annoucing himself. He bitterly had to put her down when he recalled she was the sister of a retired Hashira and fellow demon slayer. She held back her urge to attack one of his pressure points in his legs to send him crashing to the ground.

She qucikly dismissed when she watched Sumi Nakahar,Kiyo Terauchi, andNaho Takada get snatched up one by one. Aoi with her limited strength tried to fight back in stopping the Sound Hashira by a form of one sided tugging. Her loud objecting and girls being taken made a loud ruckus that had Muri stepping in the Hashira's path. She kept kept her posture straight and head held high when he would get closer to closer to her. Breath she took to start whatever verbally disagreement never told place as Kyojuro, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke came running to find the scene.

Led to a one sided fight that Miru and Kyojuro resolved

Down went the girls while a solution was figured out, being Tegen deciding on using Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke for his misson. Thought of those three being used as bait to gather information on demon in the entertainment distract. Had Kyojuro and her butting in, when caw of a crow with a metallic spider web charm was the attention getter. Miru gave alternative to Tegen's plan by having Kyojuro and herself coming along as back up. Got Tegen's seal of approval and left Miru to greet the crow for a few seconds with one of her ears to his beak. Whatever was whispered between them had the crow beign sent off as she asked when they were leaving. Raised eyebrow she got from Kyojuro and Tegen's looking from her to the crow with his eyes shifting. Had her explaining the crow was sent by her nephew as a form of checking in with her and his father.

"Just his way of keeping me informed about his life and demon related activity," She went on. "He's way of keeping me in the loop."

She would've gone on, if not asked about her nephew's availability by Tegen . She answered with one of her own about what was rolling around in his head. Settled in a weird staring contest until Tanjiro spoke up about when they were leaving. Had Kyojuro and others agreeing in their own ways, loudest was Zenitsu due to lingering tension in the air. Led to little time they were given to prepare and gather for the journey. Kyojuro when dressing found a hand sewn eye patch in white-yellow gradient pattern. Careful detail of colors and measurements told him the work that went into it. Just made it came in form of an almost faded scent of a flower. He proudly held for a few minutes before the sight of Miru holding a standard Nichirin sheath sword that was white and grey in color. Hilt was worn in appearance and looked like old one that had been recovered from his orginal sword.

"I made a request of the Kakushi and your brother for what was left of your old blade when they were cleaning the train wreck. I then sent everything back to have new..." Her fingers fidget with the sword's scabbard. ""

He simply ended up tucking his hands within sleeves of the kimono he pulled on, still holding the eye patch as he gazed upon her. Listening to how she gathered his ruined blade and messaged swords smiths about reforging. Wiling to pay for special orre and other materials that went into making a Nichirin katana for a Demon Slayer. Besides the long wait period that went into personal delivery, all resulted into what he was being presented.

"I don't know what your decision is about The Flame Hashira legacy," She lifts Nichirin sheath sword toward him. "Whatever your make, I support you."

"Doumo arigatou Nemureru bijo." His eyebrows soften as he addressed her by her old nickname.

He grasped his chest where his heart pounded away as he recalled a name that had to do with way she looked when she used her family's Breathing Style. Picture of a slumbering beauty wielding a eggplant purple colored blade against a demon. Some how stirred happiness in him as he took the blade being lifted to him from her. Some how having a blade back in his hand after so long felt right as he barely unsheathe the blade so the color changing process took place. Noticeable flame pattern lit up with the rich red before his eyes as he proudly cheered. He re- sheathed the blade when he saw nimble fingers about to take the eye patch from his fingers.

Just he ended up moving faster then her when he was reminded of the kiss she gave him. He cupped the side of her face that was once her injured cheek. Barely touched the skin that felt like smooth Wisteria petals of a newly blooming flower on first day of spring. Had him stepping closer to her with his head dipping toward her own as to bring their lips closer to her own. Not caring about the height different they two of them shared as his Gold with Red Irises sought her Sapphire ones. Soon connected as he breathed in the sweetly scent that he knew he would never tire of. Before his lips tardily, mildly, and with light pressure upon plump and full lips of the softest skin. Somehow she returned the pressure by returning his gesture with attention focused on his top lip. She made sure to add just enough by taking a step closer to him while forgetting what was in her arms in those seconds. Tilting her head to the side and slowly getting on her top toes to get more of the kiss taking place. Some how he ended up placing the eye patch into her hands when he pulled his head away

"My juniors. My friends. I. Would be honored, if you continued your support us with you presence as a fellow alley and friend. As past few weeks, have shown me the blazing fire of a women you've become, since that summer." He didn't draw his hand away from hers. "I am still amazed by embers of a Demon Slayer that live on in you. I want to experience, no witness the blaze in your heart grow into a raging fire. If you'll allow?"

"Each burning step at a time." She felt his hold on her hand tighten. "Now, can we put this on you?" She drew attention to the eye patch now tangled up in their fingers.

She ended up being allowed to reach toward eyes that hasn't stopped watching her. Pass the harden swirl that told all of what he seen. Mixed in with caring heart toward his family, that now looked forward to guiding and watching Musōka grow. Besides over flowing positivity he carried with him everywhere he went and shared with people he met. Would come to have one of those eyes covered by an eyepatch. Not like the fingers that place the covering completely with drew. They stilled for a second as their owner recalled how she heard he lose that eye. Details of the fight that had her slowly moving her fingers down the contours of his face. Taking in the outline that had changed so much in past five years to her eyes. Stopped at his strong chin as she took in intensity of his stare with one mixed of curiosity, angry, and many more emotions. About to say something more when she noticed a pair of eyes.

"I think we have a visitor." She whispered to Kyojuro.

Up he looked to find Nezuko with her eyes covered by Tanjiro. Way she struggled to his hands off was quite humorous. Brought a grin to Muri as Kyojuro took on the hint to release her. Didn't mean he allowed to leave his side completely when took a few steps away. Watching her introduce her self to Nezuko while taking in uniform Tanjiro wore.

Reminding Kyojuro that Muri and her family were incharge of production of clothing Demon Slayers wear. From the plain white haori to the decorative cloth leggings the Hashira wear. From way she ask Tanjiro about what he was wearing to pulling parts of him. She daughter of the seamstress was still alive in also. Brought back the memory of when they first met when he passed final selection. When she delivered his uniform in to his family's household. When his first laid eyes on blacken hair with darken purple tips in a braided bun. Natural way her eyes stayed widely opened as they has carried a innocence within in.

"What is it your here to inform us about?" Kyojuro asked Muri when was done poking and probing Tanjiro.

"My sister wondered off and I was looking for her." He uncovered Nezuko's eyes fir her to look the women speaking to her.

Rest of the time was taken up by Kyojuro pulling the rest of his clothing on. While Muri stepped outside his room with Tanjiro and Nezuko.