"Where are we going?" A girl asked, her little legs try to match the pace of the older boy. Concerned was shown all over her face, at-least he thought it was. The darkness covered most of her face, that Giyuu could barely sees her expression.
He smiled, hoping that the girl could see it. "Don't fret, I'm just taking you somewhere that I think you might like." His soft voice calmed the little girl down, he walked at a slower pace after noticing her struggling and sending her an apologetic look.
"If you say so, I trust you." Her frown turned upward, her eyes lit up so brightly that even in the darkness, he saw them.
"I'm so glad." He sighed "We're just about there."
In the next couple of minutes, they walked in almost complete silence, the only thing they could hear was the sounds of their feet slapping the ground with leaves flying away with every steps they took.
Their hands clasped on together tightly, as if they were afraid that they might accidentally let each other go and gotten lost somewhere.
"G-" the girl opened her mouth to say something but was stopped by the boy before she could.
"We're here." He suddenly said, cutting her off. He let go of her hands for a moment, before stepping away to spread the hedges in-front of them apart. While she watched curiously.
She then gasped loudly at the sight in-front of her, hundreds of little dots of lights dancing while surrounding a big Wisteria tree. Another dot gently flew in-front of her, curiously, she took out her palms cupping the gentle light.
"Wow!" She breathed in the strong scent of wisteria, while admiring the scene before her "This place is beautiful, I never knew we have something like this in the village."
His smiled grown wider as he watched the scene before him. His cheeks started to grew numb.
"My older sister found this place a couple of years ago and she'd been taking care of it ever since. She assured me that no one else knows but her and me."
"Since it's a secret place..." she stared at him worriedly, the light still hovering above her palms. "Why would you bring me here? Wouldn't she'd be angry?"
He pat her head assuredly "Don't worry about it, I have already asked her and she agreed to it, only if I promised her that the place will look the same as the day she last saw it."
"If you say so." Her worries lifted off her shoulders as she slowly took off to the wisteria tree.
"Beautiful isn't it?" He asked while she quickly nodded. "It reminds me of you, the way the colour of the petals shares the same shade as your eyes, and how ethereal it is, just like you."
"Ethereal?"
"Delicate, light." 'and out of this world', he wanted to say.
She gasped jokingly "I'm not delicate! I'm strong and healthy." She pulled up her yukata's sleeves and flexed her nonexistent muscles, he tried not to laugh but failed miserably.
The younger girl laughed along side him, clinging to his cornflower coloured haori while their legs put them to rests underneath the wisteria tree.
No dreams could ever make him felt fulfilled as much as when he was actually with her. No dreams could ever be amount to the real thing.
He could only lay there, enveloped by the comfort of his thick blanket after being awakened from his peaceful slumber, or what was a memory he once shared with her being played in his dream, like a set up to torture him once he opened his eyes to the real world.
Overwhelmed by a sense of longing, he felt his eyes getting dampened. He was submerged in a sense of despair once again as another day rolled by.
He forgot how to laugh or smile since the last time he saw either of them, the girl from his memory and his older sister but alast, he'd lived on doing neither.
He hasn't forgotten about this day either, the day where he had been dreading for the last few months. Where he'll get to meet his "wife".
Arranged by the Yokai's reps, he was chosen to become the next Yokai to be married to a human. Naturally, one who was made to be married to a human, and to be rid of their ability to continue their bloodline, would instantly reject the arrangement, but he who do not care for it wouldn't need time to think before accepting.
That does not mean he still doesn't have the rights to dread the actual day. What made him continue on was the thought that the chosen bride could the woman he was waiting for.
She would be at the age of nineteen now, at the right age where she should be considered for marriage. He knew her well enough to know that she would be fighting her parents against that thought, but he truly hope that if the Gods would ever be kind to him, he would get to be beside her again.
He glanced at the clock on the wall; seven in the morning, it said. His new wife would arrive in a few hours, yet he couldn't be bothered to get out of his futon.
At least, his house isn't messy that he had to get up and spent the rest of his time cleaning (which he isn't very good at doing anyways).
As the man continued to wallow in his own misery, loud knocks against the main door echoed throughout his whole house like a song, finally snapping him out of his own thoughts. He could recognised that sequence of patterns from anywhere.
"-GET OFF YOUR ASS, GIYUU." A recognisable voice called out to him, that voice was so loud, it almost shook the clock on his wall. He hurriedly threw the blanket off him before sprinting towards the door, in fear that that person will end up knocking his door down.
As the door opened, a man with pale orange hair rolled his eyes. His wings tucked behind his back and his arms were crossed. He raised his eyebrows while looking at Giyuu up and down.
"Did you just woke up?" He asked, walking inside the house, the other man moved over to the side, leaving rooms for him to walk past.
"Not really... I got lost in my own thought for awhile. I'm not sure how long I have been awake." Giyuu responded, feeling uncomfortable when the other walked closer to him to stare at his face.
"Were you crying? Are you alright?" The other tengu watched his expressions in concern. Fearing his best friend would break down, Sabito walked up to Giyuu to swing his arms around him.
"Don't worry about me, I weren't crying." Despite his words, his arms gripped tightly around the other Tengu.
"If you don't want to be married, you can just decline, I'm sure the master will understand." Sabito suggested as they broke away from each other, Giyuu thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"It's too late, I've already agreed. There's no going back." He walked back to his bedroom, leaving his friend behind occupied with his own thoughts.
"I wish I bought Makomo with me..." He sighed softly.
An hour later, Giyuu sat in his living room all dressed up, with Sabito by his side keeping him company, chatting his life away.
He glanced at the clock on the wall again, how many times had he done that since he woke up from his slumber? Even Giyuu didn't know the answer.
Sabito noticed after awhile, "stop staring at the clock Giyuu." He said, his chin propped up on his hand, his eyes filled with boredom, while Giyuu just shrugged his shoulders, causing Sabito to feel agitated.
"You can't just spent the whole day just watching time go by, when your bride comes you have to say something, do something." Sabito sat closer to his friend, his hand went up to rest on Giyuu's shoulders, shaking him a little.
"Who knows... maybe she might be the one you've been wanting to see." His contained a slight hint of amusement.
"To see her again, is it selfish to wish for that?" Giyuu wondered out loud, not even wanting to know the answer, but he couldn't help but question it. He caught himself playing with his fingers, ripping the edges of his nails in nervousness.
"Selfish? What a daft question." His best friend patted his back in comfort. Giyuu leaned a little closer, reacting to his touch.
"Just because you wish for her, doesn't mean that you're being selfish, because you're not. Giyuu, I have known you for years, you have never been the one to ask for things. It's not selfish of you to want something for once." The hand on Giyuu's shoulder flew up to his hair, gently ruffling it.
"I always wanted to see this day coming!" Sabito's laugher rang loudly against his walls, his laugh brought up a little smile on Giyuu's lips.
The mountain stood proudly yet frightening, towering over her village, so tall that the top went past the now formed graying clouds. It enveloped with trees the size of at most two to three houses stacked on top of each other. Shinobu took the sight in with an awe yet nervous gaze.
Haven't even took five steps up the mountain, her body felt as if it's starting to shake from her nerves.
Kokushibou's gaze burned holes into her back, not helping her case. "Well?" His deep voice rang through her ears.
"I'm going." She simply replied, before taking her first step. Her body felt heavier with the more steps she took.
If I run away, would they catch me? Mother always said that I'm a fast runner. Could I put that into good use?
She shook her head, resisted the urge to turn back. No, I couldn't. No matter how fast I run, Muzan's men will find me. He won't rest until someone had been sacrificed. I don't want other girls to be ripped away from their families like how my sister was.
Kanae... maybe my husband to be might know who you are.
The weight of her wedding kimono felt heavier with every steps, tiring out her tiny frames even more.
This damn kimono!
With her eyes glancing down at her torso and her hands fussing around with her kimono, she didn't realised someone was standing infront of her, watching as she messed around.
Maroon eyes widened with interest at the young women before him.
Giyuu-san's bride, she's certainly not the kind of woman I expected. I hope they'll get along.
Shinobu finally noticed the other person from the corner of her eyes, her eyes widened in shocked as she straightened her back.
"My apologies... I didn't noticed you there. I'm Shinobu Kochou... and you are?" She introduced herself slowly, her words filled with doubt, but the boy's eyes glancing down at her with such kindness that her doubt slowly faded away.
"Good morning, my name's Tanjiro Kamado! Nice to meet you Ms. Kochou!" The boy introduced himself enthusiastically.
"Just Shinobu is fine."
"Shinobu-san then." Said Tanjiro with his wide smile.
"Fair enough... So...?" Shinobu awkwardly gestured towards him. His eyes widened in realisation, like remembering why he's here.
"Ah, right! You've probably been wondering why I'm here." He scratched his head awkwardly.
"I guess you can call me a guide."
"A guide to the after life?" She joked, while Tanjiro chuckled.
"I'm not sure if I would call it that." Tanjiro shook his head with a slight smile, before pointing up at the mountain. "I'll explain it while we walk to your destination."
"Alright." She nodded along before following him.
"Are you human?" Shinobu asked, her gaze moving up on down, observing the boy beside her.
"Yes, I am. My family are the only humans on this mountain." Her eyes widened in surprise.
Humans on this mountain? I haven't seen him around the village before, does his family always stay on the mountain?
"Does the yokai don't mind that humans resides with them? -Humans that aren't sacrifices, I mean." Her curiosity grew stronger, her eyes widened, glistening with interest. Tanjiro couldn't help but smiled at her curiosity.
"When my ancestors moved up the mountains, it was a complete scandal. The yokai was never fond of humans. I don't know much about their side of this piece of history unfortunately, but the former yokai representatives managed to come to an agreement that we could live among them as long as our male family members were to guide the girls who were sacrificed safely to their new homes."
"For about thirty years, my father was the one who handled that title until he passed, so now I am the one to guide the girls to their new home, and you are first one I get to meet!" He explained.
"Guide the girls safely? Was it not safe before? And for them to somewhat dislike humans, they have shown some care." She cupped her chin, her eyes seem distant, lost in her own thoughts.
"Despite what the human had perceived, most of yokai have always been friendly and understanding. It could be because I was raised among their company, but you have any trouble with them, I will do my best to help!" He grinned. His words had put her mind at ease. Not that she had planned to interact with any of them.
"Thank you Tanjiro-kun, that's very kind of you." She gave him a small smile which he gave in return.
She ended up letting go the sides of her kimono, feeling a strain in both of her arms. The mud staining her kimono with the more step she took, she winced, feeling it splashed on her clothes. Silently wishing that they'll be fresh clothes for her to change to at wherever she'll end up.
Contemplating her future, she felt her body slammed into someone's back. Tanjiro turned back to look at her.
"I'm sorry, Shinobu-san. Are you alright? I should've said something before stopping." Concerned filled his eyes, she felt overwhelmed as he fussed around her.
"I'm fine, don't worry about it!" She waved her hand dismissively before looking elsewhere, finally noticing a worn out wooden gate infront of them.
"What is this gate, Tanjiro-kun?" She asked, confusingly. A gate in the middle of nowhere, how suspicious, but then again on this mountain everything seems strange.
"An opening to the village where all yokai resides, the whole area is protected by a spell so no passerby could see the village it self. Once we stepped in, you'll be able to see."
Even if Tanjiro telling her what was gonna happen, she still couldn't be able to hide her surprise at her surroundings. The bustling crowds around her filled different kinds of yokai alike, most of them with human-like appearance while the others look out of this world, the sights of them filled her with an awe yet alarmed her senses.
No one seems to notice her which she was grateful for, Tanjiro carefully guided her through the crowds. Once escaped, she let out a sigh of relief.
"This is going to be hard to get used to." She commented, a little hint of amusement showed through her smile.
"It's a market day, that's why there's so many yokai outside. I should've warned you beforehand, my apologies." He rubbed the back of his neck while letting out a nervous laughter.
Their moment was interrupted by a tall woman approaching them. Her yellow eyes stared deeply at her, almost made Shinobu uncomfortable.
She then noticed a tengu mask resting on the side of her head. First tengu I have seen... she doesn't look like any of the tengu's illustrations that I have seen. Perhaps that is a good thing.
"Young Kamado, is this the sacrificial woman?" The mysterious woman asked, her stern voice seem to not be intimidating to Tanjiro as he beamed from one ear to another.
"That's right! This is Shinobu Kochou, she is to be Giyuu-san wife."
"Good, best be off now." The woman nodded before walking a way, a small trail of black feathers floating away from behind her.
"That's Sara Kujou [1, she isn't a big talker but she is really nice so there's no need to be afraid of her for she's one of the yokai guarding the village." Tanjiro explained as they walked towards their destination,
Not noticing a pair of pink eyes watching them from a far.
"Shinobu..."
Author's note
Hey... Hey... how y'all doing...? Look- I'm sorry it took too long to update, okay??? I got stuck- Not a good excuse, I knowwwww. I did say it'll be slow update tho so you kinda have to see that coming anyways...
[1] Kujou Sara cameo She's one of my favourite genshin character so I have to add her. I called her Kujou Sara but here I switched it around because I already put everyone's first name first and I didn't want to go change them all.
The next update gonna take a long time so don't come and demand us from me-
I'm outa here, see you next chapter.
[I haven't proof read it...]