๐™ฒ๐š‘๐šŠ๐š™๐š๐šŽ๐š› ๐Ÿธ๐Ÿผ - ๐™ด๐š๐šŽ๐š›๐š—๐š’๐š๐šข

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woman let her body fall back onto her knees, her hair falling over her face, shoulders shaking as she wept. Muzan reached his hand towards Ubuyashiki. "Are you done talking?"

Kagaya nodded, still smiling. "Yes, though, I didn't really expect you to listen to me..Thank you, Muzan."

"Number 1, the night passes, oh, so busy, busy~"

The song began once again, the woman hearing the words, one by one as Muzan took another step towards Ubuyashiki. The halfling kept her head low, unable to watch this- she couldn't-



เผถโ€ขโ”ˆโ”ˆโ›งโ”ˆโ™› โ™›โ”ˆโ›งโ”ˆโ”ˆโ€ขเผถ

"(Y/N)?"

A voice called out from my left. I blinked, my mouth parting as I snapped out of my small daze. "Are you alright?" The voice inquired once more.

I glanced to my left, never once leaving my still position, spear in hand, uniform swaying with the cool breeze, face as monotone as ever. "Amane.." I began, silently nodding to the woman as I turned to glance forward once again. "Why wouldn't I be?" It was my turn to inquire the woman, leaving her to do nothing but place a hand on my shoulder.

She tilted her head to the side, hoping to get a better angle of my face from where she stood. "It's just, you looked rather distant...are you sure you've been getting enough sleep?" Her voice turned stern all of a sudden.

I hated when she did this. She wasn't supposed to do this. The only person she was supposed to take care of was Oyakata-Sama, the man I was born to protect, and yet...she still stares at me as though I'm a lost child.

I huffed, looking away from her to stare into the gardens. They were plentiful and wonderful. The jade leaves that cascaded down from the purple petaled trees, only to glide to the ground and slide to the heated stone floor that lay just beneath my feet.

The gorgeous hued flowers that roamed around the small pond that perfectly reflected the infinite blue of the sky that held the soft clouds with grace, guiding them across the sky in kindness. The bushes rustled, and the aromas of the air collided with the hums of the bees as well as the flutters of the butterflies and the small buzz of the dragonflies.

A small group of ravens flew overhead, a lone feather skipping from their coat before slithering through the air and gliding next to my feet with the leaves.

"(Y/N).." Amane continued, her violet eyes reflecting the sun's rays as she held a small book to her chest. "You know what Oyakata-Sama told you..."

I closed my eyes, inhaling the sweetness of the atmosphere. "I apologise. I just can't help but feel as though something is wrong." I spoke, my voice harmonising with the melody of the birds chirps. "I only wish for your health to be in good hands." I finished, opening my eyes as the grip around the spear tightened.

Her mouth parted and without another word she let her hand slip from my shoulder to land at her side. "I see.." I continued to stare forward, unwanted to turn away, not even to face her. Perhaps I was slightly anxious about what she was going to say next? "Well, your intuition is hardly ever wrong, but please." She moved around my body to grip the spear. I only gave her a small side glance. "Take care of yourself before us. How are you supposed to protect anyone if you're not taking care of yourself?"

My lips pursed, looking straight once again. I didn't give any type of response.

All she did was sigh before she lightly took the spear from my grasp and lay it against the wall beside me, allowing my hand to fall to the side.

Amane moved to hold my hand, tugging on it lightly to try to get me to follow her. "Come on, if not I'll turn this into an order. You can't go against those, correct-"



เผถโ€ขโ”ˆโ”ˆโ›งโ”ˆโ™› โ™›โ”ˆโ›งโ”ˆโ”ˆโ€ขเผถ

She couldn't, even as tears continued to run down her cheeks and mix with her own blood on the stained floor of her home.

"Number 2, the two leafed pine put the decorations up, on the pine, on the pine~"

เผถโ€ขโ”ˆโ”ˆโ›งโ”ˆโ™› โ™›โ”ˆโ›งโ”ˆโ”ˆโ€ขเผถ



"You called, master?"

It was my voice that tore through the calm silence.

Everything, but the wonderful chirps of the birds and the hums of the day, was filled with a prestigious silence that was held above everything else around us. It was so calm, so comforting to be in.

That was one of my favourite things about being here. Everything was calm. Everything was so peaceful, even the gods above would envy my finalised serenity I waited ever so long for. It was well deserved, in my opinion. I mean, it's not everyday you experience what I did over the course of years I couldn't count. I didn't even know if this was my true age.

The room was decorated with the finest walls and shoji panels to decorate the ground beneath our feet. Plants and cushions of all sorts decorated the calm room, whose doors were wide open exposing the greatness of the gardens outside.

Soft willows draping their limbs over the pond, the bamboo stick thumping back and forth against a stone slab as streams of water slithered through it's circled green interior, the cherry blossoms that somehow seemed to bloom all throughout the year, their petals slipping through the air before gracefully sliding to the ground, the koi who made small splashes every few seconds, the red bridge that ran over the pond and reached the others side, it's colours contrasting the gardens in a way it looked as though it was perfectly placed.

It truly was a beautiful home.

"Yes, I did, didn't I?" Kagaya managed to speak out, his body facing the gardens, allowing his form to become engulfed in the kind breeze, his locks guided by the calm, refreshing, winds. He was decorated in his usual attire as he sat on his futon, Amane in the corner of the room, pouring a glass of water from a jug, which sat on a desk in the corner of the room.

I nodded, taking my staff out of its sheath before laying the spare against the wall beside the door. "May I ask what brought you to call me over?" I inquired, releasing a small sigh as I made my way towards the sitting man, inhaling the fresh breeze of the gardens, my feet thudding against the floor. I released a small huff as I lowered myself to my knees and rested my hands on my lap comfortably.

The warm light reflected into our eyes, the reflections of the pond and the trees sparking through his empty pupils and my full (e/c) eyes, our hair blowing with the gentle gust as Amane placed down the jug and held the cup of water in the palms of her hand delicately, her reflection cast into the liquid.

The man only nodded, turning his head towards my direction, a smile plastered on his features. "I called you here because I need your advice on something." He was simple, closing his blind eyes as he inhaled the fresh aroma radiated off the plants around us.

I tilted my head, blinking to turn my face towards where he sat, gazing into his dulled eyes that once held so much life. I used to stare into his eyes all the time before the curse spread. They were so calming, so utterly beautiful that it always managed to take my breath away when I looked into them. "And what would that be, if you don't mind me questioning you?"

I did pity the man. Raised from birth just to fulfil a role until his early death. A curse eating away at his body until his final breath, ensuring a life of pain and unfortunate towards himself when all he does is help others. Maybe in another life he could fulfil all his dreams, see all the wonders of the world, live a long and full life filled with nothing but joy and happiness, because, honestly, that was all this man ever truly deserved.

He shook his head turning back to the wonderful gardens ahead of the both of us as Amane took her rightful place at his side, the cup still in her delicate and smooth hands. "Of Course. I don't mind." He smiled, a hint of sadness hidden behind it. It was a shame I couldn't read his eyes anymore. "I brought you here because I would like to discuss the situation of Tanjiro and Nezuko."

I blinked, my stoic features as calm as ever, even as I turned my face back to the gardens as a flock of ravens swept by the opened doors, a singular one of their feathers slipping down to land on the entrance, only a few metres away from where we all sat. It was as though Kagaya stared at the feather longingly, even though he couldn't even see its patterns and fluff. "Why do you want to hear my opinion?" I inquired, my eyes watching as the water rippled beneath a small leaf that had only just wilted from it's tree.

"Why wouldn't I wish to hear your opinion?" He inquired, Amane silent beside him. "If anything yours is the most important out of everyone else's." He explained kindly, lifting his frail hand for me to take, which I slowly and gently took.

He always did this since his sight got lost in the sand of time. It was his little way of showing he was listening, and if he could, he would be watching, too. It was reassuring, in a way. It showed he truly cared, that he understood what I was saying, and if I ever struggled to respond, he would be comforting me in a way even I couldn't describe how it worked.

"I see." I spoke, his thumb rubbing small circles on the back of my hand. "Well, if I were to say anything about them, they seem kind. Kinder than most people, even the girl. I can't guarantee we can trust them, but, that doesn't mean I won't be willing to give them a chance..." I paused, taking a breath before I spoke out once again. "Just like you did with me."

Kagaya hummed, moving to lay his other palm atop of my hand, sandwiching it with his warm touch. "I thought that would be the case." His smile widened, his eyes soft, even though they weren't fully visible to read. "In that case, I guess that means you wouldn't mind spending some more time with them, right?" He tilted his head looking up at me and into my eyes as though he could fully see once again.

I blinked, my brow raising, almost hesitant to understand what he meant by that. "May I ask what you mean?" I inquired, Amane turning to meet my eyes on the other side of the male. She simply gave me a slight smile, nodding to my form before she placed the cup beside her and turned back to watch the gardens.

He gave out a slight chuckle. Oh dear. Whenever that man chuckled, nothing good would come out of it. "Well, I was wondering if you may be able to watch over them." Before I could speak up about it, he continued. "That doesn't mean you will be joining them on missions, but maybe you could just take care of them while they're here. Maybe try to get along and understand them better?"

I pursed my lips, my brows furrowing. "Kagaya, with all due respect, I doubt that role will be suited for me." I spoke out, my voice holding a hint of concern. "Not to mention, that would leave you unguarded-" I was interrupted as soon as the man gave my hand a comforting squeeze, his smile only widening warmly.

"I know no such person better suited for this role than you, (Y/N)." He began, taking a breath as he turned his head to look out into the gardens, not that he could look. "Not to mention, I believe it would be good for you. Amane says you haven't been getting enough rest lately." I turned to look at Amane, who only gave me a side glance and a small smile.

Damnit.

"But I-"

Without warning, the man moved our hands until my palm was held to his chest, holding it directly over his heart, to which I could feel the warm thump of his chest, his smile growing emotional, a sense of longing reflected into his features. "Do you feel that, (Y/N)?" He spoke out, leaving me to blink. "That is the best of my heart, a heart that won't beat for much longer at this rate."

"Please don't say that-"

"I want you to keep theirs going." He interrupted, his hair falling over his features as he sighed, the rhythm of his heart growing slower, calmer. "That will be your new mission, from this point on." My lips parted. "You will continue to guard this home, you will continue to be a part of this family, but I want theirs to continue on until Muzan has been crushed. Train them. Train them as you see fit. Keep them alive." He paused, a bead of sweat running down the side of my face. "I'm asking you because you are the only one who can do it. You can relate to them like no hashira. You can understand them." He sighed, rubbing this thumb against the back of my hand as he held it to his chest. He looked into my eyes, his empty ones reflecting all of the wonderful light of the world even though it never really reached him fully.

"Take care of them. In the future, they will need you, and maybe, you will need them."



เผถโ€ขโ”ˆโ”ˆโ›งโ”ˆโ™› โ™›โ”ˆโ›งโ”ˆโ”ˆโ€ขเผถ

The halfing heard Amanes small breath, the soft movement of cloth, and the thud of the demon's step. Slowly, for the final chime, the halfling whispered the final words of the song to herself.

"Colours, colours, the three-fold pine is mount Kazusa, mount Kazusa~"

เผถโ€ขโ”ˆโ”ˆโ›งโ”ˆโ™› โ™›โ”ˆโ›งโ”ˆโ”ˆโ€ขเผถ



I was snapped out of my small daze as the man cried out over my impossibly loud thoughts. "I'll make sure to bring you back something! Take care of yourself while I'm gone!" He gave out a hefty laugh from his chest.

I simply stood and watched, my eyes widening slightly before I nodded and raised my palm modestly to give a small wave back. I watched his eyes sparkle down the path before he gave one final nod and lowered his arm from above his head and turned away, soon leaving nothing more than his memory.

I looked to my left, looking down slightly at Kagaya, who kneeled on the ground, his children either side of him as his eyes wandered into the abyss of the gardens, almost as if he could see clearer than any of us. "You're not going to wish him luck?" The man inquired.

The grip around my spear tightened almost accidentally before I removed my gaze from him and to where Kyojuro stood only moments ago. "Why should I need to do that? He has the ability to make his own luck." I paused, looking down and my voice wavering slightly. "..I wouldn't doubt him for a moment."

The man hummed. "You sound pretty uncertain about that." His hand slowly moved away from his own body and instead it reached out towards me. I wasted little to no time, moving in front of him and kneeling before his frame, where I lay my palm in his. "Would you mind telling me why?" His palm slithered around my own before snaking it's way up my arm, around my shoulder, following the pattern of my neck before finally trailing up to my cheek, where it lay still for a few moments.

I placed my hands to my lap and gave out a small sigh, my eyes gently closing.

I didn't doubt him. I didn't doubt anyone in the corps because I know the potential everyone can reach if put in the correct situation, so why did I feel a pit of dread clawing up my stomach, scratching and dragging it's claws through my throat until I was left to suffocate silently? Why did it feel as though the pit in my stomach grew and the depths of my mind began to wonder to places it shouldn't go.

Doubting my comrades.

Feeling unsafe in the one place I would call home.

Understanding nothing as if I were a mere child...

Why...?

"(Y/N)?" Ubuyashiki called out, his voice snapping me out of my daze. My eyes reopened, only to stare down at my lap. "What's wrong?" He sighed, his thumb rubbing my cheek affectionately as his other palm slowly reached towards me until it landed on my shoulder. "I hear you haven't been sleeping. Why?"

It took a moment for me to respond. It wasn't as though I didn't trust this man, not at all. In fact, he was one of the only people I could ever think of trusting, and yet, I was still hesitant. Why was I hesitant?

Oh, right.

It was because I felt weak, pathetic. Dreams have been plaguing my mind, and my performance is showing results that they are slowly eating away at my brain until I am left useless. Dreams of my family, my friends, my enemies...everything is slowly coming back bit by bit and I had no idea why.

I tried to avoid sleeping to get away from them, but it seemed as though I couldn't escape it no matter how hard I tried. Whenever someone did a simple action it felt as though I knew someone who did the exact same thing all those years ago... But I knew that wasn't true.

"I..." I sighed, eyes closing once more as I savoured the warmth from Kagaya. "Ever since that boy and the demon arrived...I just-" I paused and he sat silently, awaiting my words. "I've been remembering things I shouldn't..." I finished, lips pursing as I awaited his response keenly.

For every moment he hadn't answered, it felt like a few hundred years had passed. Was he disappointed in me? Did he feel as though I wasn't ready for any job he has set me recently? Was he mad-

"I see. I am very sorry this is happening to you." I froze, eyes snapping open to stare into his dull ones in shock. "You could've told me earlier, you know that, right?"

I paused, looking away from him because all of a sudden it was as though eh was looking right through me. "Well, I-"

"Or you didn't tell me because the last time you had many issues it was with demons." I blinked. He was staring into me like a fresh, clean window. "That must've been difficult, I bet." The man sighed and said nothing more before using what was left of his strength to pull me into his chest. The palm that held my cheek was now cupped around the back of my skull and the hand that lay on my shoulder has slithered around my back, gently keeping me in his soothing embrace.

It was warm, just like Rengoku's smile..

I tripped his garments, my body now tense as my teeth grit. I was being weak. I was showing too much weakness. I couldn't do that, not even here, so why am I letting this happen so easily. Without the need for persuasion...

I could pull out of his embrace any moment I wanted, and yet my body refused to move. It was stuck in place as if it was begging to never leave, as if it was held in place by a thousand soldiers crawling and crying to keep me in place to ensure their own safety on the battlefield? It was as though I was the enemy, their main priority to take down, and so, in a desperate final attempt they reached to hold me down after the climax of the fight.

"Why?" I inquired, eyes softening and teeth unclenching, though the grip I held on the man's garments never faltered. The man hummed, head tilted as his palm began to stroke through my locks. "Why are you being so kind to me?- to everyone?" I heard the birds hum a sweet melody over my words, and yet I continued, even though it felt like the world wanted me to finally experience peace. "What have we done to deserve this? I've

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