FULL STORY SUMMARY
Rated M for mature. Reader discretion advised.
Following her mother's passing, the young Himari Maeda and her father become involved with the ruthless Kato family. Himari endures ongoing mistreatment from the family, but everything takes a turn when she unknowingly falls for Muzan Kibutsuji, The Progenitor of Demons.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
? THANKS FOR READING ?
MEDIA DICTIONARY
* Thoughts
* "Dialogue."
* 'Telepathic dialogue.'
* "Past conversation."
* {Sound}
* [Movement]
HAKUJAKU
"Soaku, you can't do this!" Hakujaku pleaded desperately.
With a roll of her callously emerald-green eyes, she yelled, "Well, I just did! The wedding's off, now go away!" She strained herself to turn away from Hakujaku's pitiful whining.
With a dismissive roll of her cold emerald-green eyes, she shouted, "I've already done it! The wedding is off, so just leave!" She struggled to turn away and avert her gaze from Hakujaku's pitiful pleas.
All this hard work for nothing? No, it can't be! Dear God, please don't forsake me now!
"Soaku, please don't do this! What can I do to make you change your mind? I'd do anything?"
Soaku strained to turn around, breathing heavily. "Anything, you say?"
"Yes, anything!"
With a deviously smug grin, the noblewoman said, "Disown your daughter."
Upon hearing that, Hakujaku's eyes widened in disbelief.
She… This woman must be delusional because of the drugs they're giving her! Yes, that's it!
"Soaku, sweetie… do you feel lightheaded? Any nausea?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"Because you just asked me to disown my only child!"
"Yes, and what of it? She's mature enough to take care of herself, and I'm not naive. There's no doubt that she was with someone the night she didn't come home, the little whore," Soaku remarked casually as he picked up a magazine and flipped through its pages, leaving Hakujaku in stunned silence.
"Hakujaku, If I were you, I'd get to it," Soaku sneered.
HIMARI
As a gesture of gratitude, Himari dedicated the entire day to cleaning the Kato Family estate. She diligently scrubbed floors, dusted shelves, and even prepared a few meals, hoping to earn the family's forgiveness. Her utmost priority was to avoid causing any further problems.
During her housekeeping frenzy, the young woman's mind was consumed by thoughts of Tsukihiko. As she hummed to herself, she reflected on the man's kindness towards her.
No one has ever treated me as well as Tsukihiko, not even my own father!
That specific thought filled her with sorrow but thinking about Tsukihiko's stunning features cheered her up quickly.
He's so handsome; his lips, his hair… God, and those eyes! Maybe moving here isn't so bad after all…
Himari had to stifle a squeal, quickly covering her mouth. She didn't want to give Sara and Yui the impression that she was not only a homewrecker, but also a lunatic.
She briefly recalled the morning when Tsukihiko vanished, and a wave of sadness washed over her. Since then, Himari had not spoken to him, and they had not exchanged numbers. The distraught young woman sighed, wondering if they would ever meet again.
Maybe the chauffeur will tell him where I live? Anyway, I have to see him again!
While scrubbing the hardwood floor, Himari was startled as a splinter pierced her skin and lodged deep into her flesh. "Ouch!" she cried out in pain. She pulled the splinter from her skin and noticed the tiny pool of blood. Intrigued, she pressed her finger until she heard a knock on the door.
Fortunately, Yui rushed to the door and opened it instead. "Father, what's wrong?" she asked.
Himari's bronze-colored eyes widened.
Oh, no. My father is here!
"Yui… where's Sara?" Hakujaku asked in an eerily quiet voice.
Sara descended the steps, saying, "I'm here, Father. What's up?"
"Girls… I need to tell you two something important," Hakujaku said, his voice wavering.
"Himari's here as well," Sara interjected, pointing directly at Himari who was kneeling on the floor in a corner.
Damn it.
"Himari?" Hakujaku exclaimed, rushing to the kitchen with his eyes wide open. "Himari, where have you been? We've been worried sick about you!"
Just as he was about to embrace her, Himari suddenly stepped back. Hakujaku looked at her in surprise, then sadly turned away. "Soaku is thinking about calling off the wedding!" he cried out.
Sara and Yui gasped in unison.
"What? Why?" Sara questioned.
Yui looked like she was about to cry again.
"... Is that it?" Himari said softly.
Bewildered, all three of them turned around to look at her.
"What do you mean by that?" Sara hissed angrily. "Your father needs to marry our mother!"
Himari glanced down at the floor in response to Sara's spiteful behavior. "I didn't mean it that way, I apologize..."
"That's what I thought!"
"I'm sorry about the wedding, Father," Himari replied solemnly.
Nodding, Hakujaku sighed.
"I'll return soon," Himari said.
"Wait, you're leaving so early? But you've just returned!" Hakujaku pleaded.
"I just need to have to handle something..."
I must go to Tsukihiko.
"Oh, all you know how to do is leave when things get tough!" Yui shrieked.
"I don't think any of you want me here anyway, so what's the problem with that? I'm always the blame for everything, right? Ever since I came here, all of you treated me like trash! 'Himari cook this, clean this, get this for me,'" Himari mocked.
"Himari, please do us a favor and just leave," Sara said. "Your presence has only brought trouble since you arrived! You have caused harm to us, our mother, and even your father! Himari, no one wants you here. We don't want you to be part of this family!"
A tense and eerie silence filled the air. After a few moments, Himari broke the silence with her words.
"... Is that how it is? Fine. You win, okay? I'll leave but before I do, I must say something to you, Father! Father, you are the worst because you let them treat me so horribly!" Tears began to well in Himari's bronze-colored eyes as she cried out, "Are you going to choose me or the Kato's?"
"Now, now, let's not divide ourselves! We're a family and I will convince Soaku to marry me!"
"No, Father, you're not listening to me! I'm asking you to choose between me or the Kato's. You can't have both of us anymore. You heard what those two said; I'm not welcome here, and you know Soaku feels the same way. I'm tired of being treated so cruelly, so you must make a choice!"
Hakujaku violently shook his head, saying, "But I don't want to choose between anyone, Himari! We're a family. I just need to—"
"Father, choose which side you're on!" Sara shouted. "She's the reason we're in this shit to begin with!"
Yui nodded in agreement, glaring at Himari with pure hatred in her emerald-green eyes.
Hakujaku lowered his head down in defeat and paced around. Minutes later, he stopped pacing.
"Who do you choose, father?" Himari said, her voice quivering.
"... Himari, I'm sorry but... I… I— I choose my wife."
Suddenly, Himari couldn't breathe. Her father's words lingered and echoed in her mind. Their voice became terribly muffled and she felt faint.
"I think she should be disowned from the family, Father," Sara suggested. "We can't let her use the Kato name!"
"Yeah, she doesn't deserve to hold our name!" Yui agreed. "Tell her she's banished, Father!"
Visibly gulping and bracing herself, Hakujaku slowly approached Himari. The man lacked the courage to meet her gaze.
This can't be real… This can't be happening! Please, I didn't do anything wrong!
His lips were moving, but Himari couldn't hear anything; everything was muffled.
'... I'm sorry,' were the only words she could make out. Understanding his meaning, Himari quickly left the house and ran into the twilight. She heard her name being called in the distance, but she paid no attention.
"Himari? Wait! Himari, come back! Himari! HIMARI!"
As Himari ran deep into the woods, her raven hair and tears flew in the wind. Her heart faltered as she realized that she was now truly alone in the world.
Until she remembered someone in particular.
… Tsukihiko! I must find him but where could he be? Maybe in the nearest marketplace?
The distraught, desperate woman began her journey to the metro.
MUZAN
A couple of hours had passed since Muzan instructed Akaza to murder his human family. If it had been someone else, Muzan would have been furious due to the time it took. However, considering Upper Moon Three's sensitivity, he chose to be lenient with the demon.
Akaza will go through with it; he just needs time.
Muzan found his thoughts drifting to the young human woman he was infatuated with. It had been several days since he last saw her, and he couldn't help but wonder about her welfare. "Nakime, what is the girl doing right now?" he inquired.
Nakime sat cross-legged by the wall, holding her biwa, with her head lowered. One of her detached eyeballs had been keeping a close watch on the young human woman, allowing her to always be aware of her whereabouts. Raising her head, Nakime reported, "She is currently running in the woods, Master Muzan-sama."
"The woods, you say? Why? Where is she going?"
"The girl had a disagreement with her family that visibly upset her, so she has run away. I don't know her intentions, but she seems to be heading towards the metro station."
Pleased to have something to keep him occupied, Muzan stood up from his chair, intending to return to the human realm.
HIMARI
Once Himari arrived at the metro, she boarded a subway to the marketplace. Throughout the entire ride, the girl couldn't stop sobbing. Her legs ached, and her head throbbed with pain. All she wanted was someone to confide in, someone to assure her that everything would be alright.
With a pitiful expression on her tear-streaked face, Himari left the subway and walked into the endless crowd of people. The night sky was devoid of stars, which somehow only deepened her sense of sadness.
Why did I even come here? There's no guarantee that he's even here! God, I'm so stupid!
Sobbing, Himari quickly ran back to the subway area. There were long lines of people waiting for the next departure, which was scheduled to arrive in a few minutes. Himari felt like she couldn't breathe and trembled with emotion. As she sobbed even harder, a couple of bystanders gave her strange looks.
Suddenly, Himari's mind was filled with dark intrusive thoughts. Venomous voices echoed and began speaking to her.
'Look at the railroad. Why don't you go down there and relax?'
… What? Who said that? Am I hearing things?
'Jump! No one will miss you anyway!' another voice hissed.
What? No, that's not true… it's no—
Yet deep down, Himari knew it was true. Her own father had just disowned her, and she didn't have anyone else. A newfound feeling crept into her soul. Himari had never contemplated suicide, but now it seemed like the only solution.
'Jump onto the railroad.'
'Do the world a favor and just end it all.'
'What do you have to lose?'
"Nothing... I have nothing to lose," Himari muttered, attempting to calm the various voices she heard. She glanced at the service screen and noticed that a subway would be arriving in less than nine seconds.
Eight…
'Here's your chance.'
Seven…
'Jump!'
Six…
Five…
'Just end it.'
Four…
'JUMP!'
Three…
Two…
In a foggy haze, Himari rushed to throw herself in front of the oncoming train.