I just sat. Sat and stared, on my knees for the very demon who started this all- destroying my home- taking my mother- torturing me and the people kneeling beside me, all of them holding features of the people I once knew, but now much more demonic, each holding a defining feature from the demons who crafted them into the machines they are today.

My eyes shifted, Sora. He was all grown up, and yet he still held the same eyes- mother's eyes. He knelt, body wrapped in a hakama, the bottom a cruel purple filled with twisting and warping designs as the top remained a solid obsidian. His (h/c) hair had grown out, falling to his waist, obviously slightly unkempt, but it seemed good enough for him to cope. His eyes were drawn to the ground, shifting only once or twice to watch in front of him as his features held cracks around his skin, resembling none other than the facial defaults of the upper moon 4, all while a small horn poked from the side of his skull, slightly bending at the top. 

He still held his curiosity…

Next, along the line of forgotten children was Hayato. To say she looked beautiful was an understatement. She was dressed in the finest of kimonos, stained from the hues of pinks and reds all the way to blues and purples, all while a solid black pattern traced along the entirety of the silky, and obviously expensive, cloth. A small image of a small flower was embedded into her cheek, mostly covered by a barrage of smooth, well kept, makeup, almost as if it were embedded into her skin at this point. On her back lay two small patterned pink ribbons, though with a closer look at the material, it wasn't even proper fabric, small blades etched into the sides of the weapon that hung just beneath her long hair, which at this point hit the ground. 

My gaze turned to watch as Yua, who now was covered in a snow coloured haori, fiddled with her fingers…she always was the nervous type…her legs were softly decorated in a hakama red as blood, all while along her skin lay fish scales, which glistened softly within the soft, warm light of the fortress, her short hair sitting at her shoulders elegantly. My eyes travelled down, watching as her coloured and delicately painted nails scratched at her skin, occasionally drawing blood every now and then.

Without another glance, I turned to my right, turning to the next two halflings beside me. Ichika was beside me, her posture almost perfect and her body decorated with elegant, almost royal, robes stained with the colours of crimson and black. She had long hair, and her sharp eyes had shifted their colour, instead settling with the colours of yellow, blue, red, and green, just like the upper moon two…the one who murdered our mother. 

And finally, next to her sat Isamu. His kind and warm gaze long forgotten, and now replaced with a cold stare at the ground of the purest of respect to the demon king, as most called him. He was decorated with a haori, as dark as the night with blue chequered patterns, open to reveal his broad chest, while his bottom half was decorated with the same format I wore.his hair was held up in a ponytail, blue tips at the ends of each strand, that all fell to touch the ground. His soft features seemed as though they had been sharpened by a blade. 

These are all my siblings. 

These were my siblings.

I didn't have time to dwell, instead being interrupted by the demon in front of us as he narrowed his eyes at all of us almost with a hint of pride. "You have all done well, surviving this long. However, the real challenge begins here." 

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"Hey, (Y/N)-Sama!"

I turned, my previous silence disturbed by the loud cries of the burgundy boy above me, his form sitting on a rooftop, Shinobu right next to him as he waved his arm over his head and held his other hand around his lips, boosting the tune of his cries.

All Shinobu did was sit beside the boy, her normal smile plastered over her features, all while she gave me a small wave, signalling me over. However, there was a glint of amusement shining through her pupils, likely catching onto how I had just escaped the uzui house alive, even with eyebags that only grew by the day.

I was just on my way back to the Ubuyashiki house, just like I told Hinatsuru, however, due to the many, and I mean many, disturbances such as wailing kakushi, Mitsuri trying to chase after me, her form waking as soon as I stepped out the house, the threats from Shinazugawa, accusing me of following him, and too many more to even count on my ten fingers alone.

I looked up to the boy, about to leave him with just a wave, but soon Kagayas words flashed through my mind, almost as if he were here to remind me as he stood by my side and I released a small, tired sigh, shoulders slumping in what I could only assume as annoyance.

I had to be kind to this boy. I had to get along with him, become his friend, ensure his survival. Even the last one is a stretch for me. I cannot control the boy's actions, even if I used fear as a motive, the boy doesn't seem the type to fear those above him. He sees everyone as human, as equals he must treat fairly. If put in a situation where he must protect those around him, I have no doubt he would rush into danger without second thought.

All the more reason for me to dislike this job…

Before I jumped on the roof, I took one glance at the skies above, staring out into the vast infinity of black, stained with stars as though they were small daisies adorning a clear sage field, holding nothing more that peace, even as the moon hung so loosely above everything else, shining it's kind light into my dark eyes, purifying them to the best of it's ability.

I closed my eyes, jumping up, and as soon as I reopened them, my feet were seen to have landed on the rooftop, only a shift of the air showing evidence of my movement, just on the other side of where Tanjirou was sat, all before I turned to meet the boy's kind gaze. One I doubt I would ever hate. "You wouldn't mind if I joined you, would you?" I spoke out, my voice tearing through the silence previously left.

He grinned, giving me a close eye smile as Shinobu hummed, a tilt in her head. "Of course not! We wouldn't mind at all." He patted the spot beside him and I only now took notice of his hospital clothing, likely provided by Shinobu. I nodded, wasting no time in slowly lowering myself to sit next to the boy, releasing a small sigh as I came to a halt.

I then glanced up once again, however, now there was little to no light obscuring my view of the stars and moon above, leaving my eyes to silently remain glued to the wonders above. The stars cast light into my dim eyes as they hung loosely from the sky like a trapeze artist delicately and gracefully swinging through the air.

The stars that held themselves up from their own gravity seemed so close to one another, yet they were millennia away from companionship. The moon that glided through the night, around the clouds, was lonely, always on the brink of meeting its counterpart that is the sun, yet it always leaves when the light of the night attempts to reach for it. It couldn’t comprehend that they were opposite, never once meeting, never once touching, yet they are always in perfect view of one another.

The night of the beaming sky shone down on my gentle features, the jewels that glistened with the moon that hung loosely in the sky watched me like a mother caring for her child as the ebony of the night kept me safe, hiding me from all the dangers in the world and from those who sat just below me. My closed eyes were clouded with obsidian that hugged me tight, never once letting me go as I basked in its warmth, even though the nip of the night touched my exposed skin. 

The roof tiles that dug into my lower back, added pain to the experience of sleeping on a roof, yet I didn’t care. I got to see the moon in all of its beauty, I got to see the true, kind nature of the stars, and I got to experience the softness of the dark. While others run from dark ebony black, too afraid of what's within, I welcome it with open arms, for it offers me safety that I had never been able to experience before.

It brought me a sense of peace the sun could never bring.

However, even in peace, there is torment. It wasn't long before my mind wandered further than it should ever reach. It wandered to what I truly was, what form I could shift to in the dead of night, all with just a taste of my own blood.

As much as I loved the night, the moon, the stars, I could never truly hold it close. Not ever.

It was all silent, everything was so calm even as Shinobu stood to her feet and dusted off her haori, allowing Tanjiro to turn to her with a tilted head of confusion. I, however, remained motionless, not once moving my sights away from the distant constellations that had been showered over us by the gods themselves.

"I'd better get going. It's far too late for me." Shinobu spoke, smiling at the boy before appearing at my side and laying a soft hand on my shoulder. "I wish you both a goodnight." I lay my palm above the back of her hand, leaving her to squeeze my shoulder in response, all before Tanjiro nodded.

"Ofcourse. Good night, Shinobu-sama." The child grinned as the woman slipped her hand away from my grip and smiled one more time before disappearing into the abyss of the night, only leaving behind a soft gust, which blew my hair and slipped through my locks as though they were being stroked by the gentle melody of the wind.

I heard the boy sigh, seeing him from the corner of my eye turn to me with intrigue shining through his pupils. "Hey, (Y/N)-Sama?" He began, only receiving a small hum of acknowledgement. "Why does Shinobu smell angry?" I blinked, turning my sight to the boy and tearing it away from the field of stars.

My stoic appearance remained, however, I couldn't help but allow my brows to furrow. "Smell…?"

He flinched, scratching the back of his neck, almost as if he were ashamed, though it was most likely out of embarrassment. He chuckled. "Hehe, well, yeah. You see, I have a really good sense of smell so I can smell how people feel…" This piqued my interest, my brow raising almost challengingly, however I refrained from speaking anything out of place, leaving for me only to reply simply.

"I see. That's quite incredible."

He tilted his head, looking almost shocked about how quickly I accepted that fact. He blinked, tilting his head and leaning forward. "You aren't questioning it?"

I shook my head, turning back to the stars above as the big beside me kept his sights glued on my features. "Of course not. I once knew someone who had an incredible sense of hearing. They could hear over three times better than the average person." I retorted, my voice calm, my breathing calmer.

The boy grinned, leaning back to stare at the stars. "Wow, that's amazing! My friend has something like that! His name is Zenitsu. I think you saw him back when you came to visit. You know, the one with the yellow hair." He grinned, moving to point at his hair, a soft look plastered over his features.

He was comfortable.

I didn't really understand why. I mean, he just learnt I'm half demon, yet he still acts as though he trusts me completely, without fault. This boy really was mad…

I hummed, nodding silently, my pupils still glued to the skies above. "Yes. The one who looked like he was about to cry, correct?" The boy could only deadpan, scratching the back of his head as he nodded. "I see."

He hummed, adding onto his previous comment. "And the other boy, the one with the boar mask. That one is called Inosuke. He can get a little out of hand at times…" I could tell he was tired of the boar boy's tendencies, especially by the way his shoulders deflated as well as the slight dimming of his pupils. He was tired, too.

I shook my head, wanting to slowly fall into a calm silence-

"Why do you smell strained?"

I blinked, turning to the boy with a questioning gaze, my lips parting and my stoic facade slipping slightly, but only slightly. "Huh?" I almost demanded, my voice was stern yet soft at the same time, the type a mother would use when scolding her child in a delicate manner.

The boy flinched, shaking his head and waving his hands in front of him, almost protectively. "I'm so sorry! It's a habit of mine, please ignore what I just said!" His teeth and eyes clenched, bowing his head profusely in apology, but my lips didn't fall back into place.

If I was to get close to the boy as Kagaya instructed, I would need his trust, and, if the point comes, I would need to place my trust in him. I've never been a fan of trusting others, especially at this stage in our relationship. You never know when they will turn their back on you, reveal your secrets, try to get you killed. That was the problem with other people.

They always expected your trust, but when you refuse it-

Oh. This is why Kagaya assigned me to do this…I see..

I cleared my throat, hesitant to answer the boys question, but I knew this was my mission. No matter how stubborn of a halfling I am, I cannot refuse his orders. He saved me more than anyone ever could have. He was one of the only people I let into my heart, and he didn't hurt me. He didn't even try to attempt anything on me. All he has done is try to heal me and take care of me, Amane too.

If anything, I was doing this for him.

"Muzan can feel my emotions."

I spoke out before I could even register what I was saying. It seemed as though I was more surprised than the boy. A bead of sweat slipping down the side of my face, even as the boy's mouth fell to the floor and his eyes widened. I swear I could hear his breath hitching.

I finally turned to meet the boy's gaze, to which I clarified my precious statement. "You may not know this, but Kibutsuji can read any demon's mind if he wishes to do so. However, since I am only a halfling, the only thing he can get out of me are my emotions…it was the same for my siblings." Never once did my eyes leave his own, even as his hands shook at his sides by just the name of the man being mentioned. "I wanted nothing to do with that man, and so, at first, I tried to be rageful. Scare him away from me...." I paused, heaving out a silent breath. "Let's just say, it backfired." I paused, turning my eyes back to the night sky. "So, I resorted to this. I refuse to feel emotion. I refuse to be linked to him in any way."

"Regret." He spoke, after a while. "Regret. That's what you felt when you mentioned your siblings." His pupils shook, even though they remained kind. All I could do was sit and watch as the boy leaned in, a bead of sweat running down his temple. "May I ask, why?"

I scoffed, turning my head away from him as I straightened out my collar. "You smelled my emotions, huh?"

He shook his head, pointing at me with a soft glance. "No. It was in your eyes. I have never been able to smell your emotions, even from the moment we first met." I just turned back to the moon. I often wondered if she had a hand, would it reach out to me? Would it take me away from this dreaded life and hellish world? If she did, I would clutch it with all my might and follow her to the ends of the earth, if she did, I would run, I would fly. I would fly away, far away, where the cold nor the warm could reach us. I would fly with her, away from the selfish and the greedy. Away from pain and suffering.

The moon was kind, selfless. She is behind the clouds and sun so we never know when she cries. She sat in the sky, shining her light on those who needed it most, to those desperate for her light. She was with those hearts who cried in front of her and she comforted them, she eased their pain and always kept herself awake just to save those souls who needed saving. And though she was surrounded by stars, she was in solitude, not a soul helping her. She pleads for comfort, yet no one gives it to her and it breaks my heart, or what's left of it. Away from people, away from pain, she hides, she hides in plain sight and allows not a single soul to see her struggles. She is beautiful, and she is kind, who wouldn't love her the way I do?

The moon is almost...human, at least, more human than I. She is lost, she is eclipsed, she is tainted, but so are human hearts. They have brought pain to everyone, and everything, whether that being nature, or even other humans, they have brought pain and reckoning to the earth, but the moon doesn't reflect that. No. It reflects the kindness of humanity, yet the selfishness of souls needing redemption. She was perfect...in my eyes at least.

I closed my eyes, basking in the light of the moon as I stood to my feet. Leaving the boy with a mesley sentence to spare his questions. "My siblings…?"

"I murdered them all over one hundred years ago."

༶•┈┈⛧┈♛ ♛┈⛧┈┈•༶

Taisho Secrets!

. When Mitsuri first got her uniform and (Y/N) noticed her outfit, she paid a visit to the creator...lets just say he wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Uzui...

. At first, (Y/N) considered wearing a mask when she first joined the corps, but the idea was soon scrapped once Amane assured her otherwise!

. The first time Sanemi saw (Y/N)'s demon form, he soon came to realise how much of a threat the woman could actually be if she wasn't with the demon slayers.

I created a playlist for this story on Spotify!

Check it out on the link right here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2sUDJi5HZwyKVLZIt4mA4W?si=nYdV1CX-SEeiGctW_uMn1A