𓆩♡𓆪 brought to you by : 𝙢𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 and co.

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// kira's POV // 

ʚɞ

After a grueling training session, Mai, Lady Y/n, and I headed back to her estate for dinner. Lady Y/n always insisted on cooking. She said it helped her relax after a long day. That left me alone with Mai in the main room—a prospect that was both amusing and exhausting.

It's not that I didn't like Mai. He just had this air about him that was...

"Sit down!" Mai snapped, his voice cutting through my thoughts like a whip.

Uptight.

I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms. "Why can't I stand?"

"Because the food will be ready soon!" he said, as if that explained everything.

"Okay?" I drawled, raising an eyebrow. "And?"

The look on his face was priceless. His jaw tightened, his face flushed, and I could almost see steam shooting out of his ears. He was so easy to provoke—it was practically a game at this point.

"Do you have any respect for Lady Y/n?!" he barked, stepping closer. "She's working hard to cook for us, and we need to be—"

"Need to be what?"

Mai froze mid-rant, and I couldn't help but smirk as Lady Y/n walked in, her calm presence immediately diffusing the tension.

"Nothing," I said quickly, cutting off whatever excuse Mai was about to sputter. "Mai was just yelling at me again."

Lady Y/n's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "Mai," she said, her tone gentle but firm, "what have I told you about yelling? You'll ruin your voice if you're not careful."

I stifled a laugh as Mai's face turned an even deeper shade of red.

"But—I—Kira—she was the one—"

"Sit down," Lady Y/n said simply.

Mai gulped, instantly obeying. He sat so quickly it was almost comical. Dinner was a quiet affair after that, the tension dissipating as we enjoyed Lady Y/n's cooking. Afterward, I stayed back to help her with the dishes.

"How did you meet Mai?" I asked as I scrubbed a plate. "He doesn't exactly seem like your type."

Lady Y/n chuckled softly, her eyes distant as she recalled the memory.

"Well," she began, "it was during one of my first missions with the Demon Slayer Corps..."

// flashback : Y/n's 50th mission //

It was my 50th mission with the Demon Slayer Corps, and I'd been tasked with eliminating a demon in the bustling town of Hashibiya. Despite its small size, the town was overflowing with people, making it a challenge to navigate the narrow streets.

By the time night fell, the crowds had disappeared, retreating to their homes. The town was eerily quiet—prime hunting grounds for a demon.

"It should be right around... here," I murmured, turning a corner.

What I saw stopped me in my tracks. A demon loomed over a small, trembling child. Its grotesque features twisted in fear the moment its eyes landed on me.

"You... you're the... the Starlight!" it stammered, its voice quaking.

The nickname still made me smile. It had stuck after I'd taken down twelve demons in one swift strike during a past mission. People said I'd glowed in the moonlight, but I'd never seen it myself.

"Tell me," I said, my voice calm but edged with menace, "were you planning to eat that child?"

The demon shook violently, its fear palpable.

"Judging by your reaction, I'll take that as a yes."

I drew my katana, its blade gleaming in the faint moonlight.

"Spirit Breathing: Fourth Form – Silent Ghost."

With a fluid leap, I soared through the air. Time seemed to slow as I moved, my blade slicing effortlessly through the demon's neck. Its head hit the ground before its body even had a chance to collapse.

I turned my attention to the child, who was huddled in a corner, shaking like a leaf. I approached slowly, kneeling to his level.

"Hey," I said gently. "It's okay now. The demon's gone. You're safe."

"Get away from me!" he shouted, scrambling back.

I froze, surprised by his reaction.

"I'm not going to hurt you," I said softly. "I just saved you from that demon."

"Demons aren't real!" he snapped, his voice trembling.

I raised an eyebrow. "Then what do you call that?" I asked, gesturing to the lifeless corpse behind me.

The boy glanced at the body, then looked down, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"I... I don't know," he mumbled.

I sighed, noticing the scars and bruises on his face. "Where are your parents?" I asked. "Shouldn't you be with them?"

At that, his eyes welled up with tears, and he burst into sobs.

"They're gone!" he wailed. "That thing killed them! I'm all alone!"

My heart ached as I pulled him into my arms, letting him cry against my chest. "It's okay," I whispered, rocking him gently. "You're safe now. Just breathe."

Eventually, his sobs quieted, and he drifted off to sleep. There was no way I could leave him there, so I carried him back to my home.

When he woke up, I was sitting beside him, offering a warm smile.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," I said.

His eyes widened as he looked around. "Where am I?"

"I brought you to my place," I replied.

His panic was immediate. "You're kidnapping me! I won't let you take me away!"

"Calm down," I said, holding up my hands. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"How do I know that?!" he demanded, his small fists clenched.

"Kid," I said, meeting his gaze, "it's either this or a life on the streets. You decide."

That seemed to calm him down. He sat back on the bed, his expression wary but less frantic.

"Thank you for saving me," he said quietly.

"Don't mention it," I replied. "What's your name?"

"Mai," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Well, Mai," I said with a smile, "my name is Y/n. Welcome to your new home."

// word count : 932 //

this chapter has been edited from the previous one