I could only watch, silent, as the demon circled around my form, head tilted and his beady eyes hovering over each and every part of my body, leaving nothing untouched. From the way my obi pants fell just below my belly button, exposing the muscles I had adapted over time to the way the bandages over my chest were just tight enough but still holding a few loose strands. Even from the way my (h/c) locks hung from my head and glimmered in the warm and dimming lights of the fortress and the way my (e/c) beady eyes watched his every move, my claws sharp and ready.

"You've certainly grown up." The demon spoke through Ichika's lips which used to hold the most kind and warm words, now replaced by a harsh and cold tone not even the snowy mountains could match. Oh how I missed those mountains...

"No way. I never could've known, thanks for telling me." I scoffed, shaking my head before marching my way forward as the demon woman paused and tilted her head, eyes seeming curious, but all that was truly in them was malice and the thirst for blood.

She smiled beadily, appearing beside me as I walked through the podiums and the lights began to dim. "Oh come on, (Y/N). Didn't you miss us?" She inquired.

I stopped my tracks, leaving her to pause moments after me with expecting eyes. I looked to the ground, brows furrowed, mouth parting to give a response.

"No."

The woman froze as I continued on walking forward, her eyes wide and her lips releasing a small hum. "You can't expect her to do that Ichika." A new voice called out through the temple, its tone echoing through like an out of tune trumpet. "She's always been like this." A form appeared beside me and (e/c) eyes met one of their own kind as Sora's demon form appeared at my side. "In denial, I mean."

My eyes narrowed dangerously before an arm slung itself around my shoulder, holding me in place from moving. I blinked, furrowing my brows as Hora walked towards me and Hayato, who had a gentle look cast along her gaze as her arm readjusted itself around my form, pulling me tighter towards her as her fake persona slipped for just a moment. "So that's why you were the favourite." She spoke out before she gave a sly cheshire grin. "It was because mother felt sorry for you." The demon let out a cackling laugh in my ear.

I scowled, fist clenched and ready to fire, though before I could manage that, a booming voice spoke out through the scene and everyone was left silent. "That's enough." Everyone snapped their heads towards Isamu, who was perched on a higher platform, his slick eyes narrowing and illuminating through the dim lights. "Remember who you are."

I shrugged Hayato's arm away from my shoulder before I ran a hand through my locks and wandered away from the scene, and instead to the edge of the platform, where I sat to the ground and threw my legs over the edge. "This is who they are, Isamu. You're too hopeful." I muttered as I sat down, eyes staring down the infinite caverns. "You always were too expecting with them."

A silent and soft presence appeared beside me, to which I turned and watched as Yua fiddled with her hands and a bead of sweat travelled down the side of her face, pupils slit, and teeth grit. Her whole form was shaking as though she was stuck in the ice and I couldn't help but furrow my brows at that. "(Y/N), that's enough." Isamu's booming voice once again caught everyone off guard and Yua flinched as the man appeared behind me and crouched so his eyes just peeked over my shoulder.

I met his gaze at once.

"No, I don't think it is."

He was quick. He was about to strike the tip of his sword through my shoulder, but something stopped him. Something quicker than the both of us.

And that something was Muzan.

His sword was missing from his palm in an instant and all he could do was stand there in shock as the demon lord appeared upon the highest platform, tip of the katana held in the tips of his middle and index finger. "What were you trying, Isamu?"

His voice boomed over even Isamu and without another second, the boy fell to his knees, head touching the ground in a bow as tears began to hurry down Yua's features, her shoulders shaking as her pupils slit. "My apologies, master."

The demon lord didn't acknowledge it, instead turning his crimson eyes towards me and locking me in his gaze. "Well? What do you have to say?" He inquired, eyes sharpening as he plunged the katana into the ground and puffed out his chest.

I could only remain silent, eyes casting over with a shadow and lips painted into a frown as everyone else watched me with expecting eyes.

"Nothing to you. From what I'm concerned I don't need to speak a mutter to you. It's a little thing called free will, you kno-"

My chin had been captured in a deathly grip and Yua's cries shrieked across the temple, a gust of wind blowing my hair behind me as sharp nails plunged into my skin and made me bleed out a river.

The man's eyes pinned me in my place, forcing me to stare into deathly pools filled with infinite pain and anguish, stained with blood. I only blinked, brows furrowing. The man hummed. "It seems Akaza taught you everything but respect."

I gripped his wrist and scowled at him through my teeth. "No, he did. I just refused to listen."

And then his eyes plummeted into oceans of rage before I grunted out in the purest of agony.

༶•┈┈⛧┈♛ ♛┈⛧┈┈•༶

All I could ever do was sigh, spear thumping beside me with every step of the path scoured with daisies that brushed at my ankles, gracing the world with their wonder and curiosity as they followed the orders of the wind, as though they were small little dancing soldiers, humming with the melody of nature's battlecry.

I shook my head, shaking away any thought of violence that plagued my brain before I looked to the sky, taking a soft glimpse as a flock of crows slipped their way overhead, a single feather getting plucked by the wind before it slowly slithered through the air and fell to my feet, where i stared down at it, tilting my head.

I was just about to crouch to the ground to pick it up, however a voice cried over the serine silence, the voice of a very familiar bright spirit crafted by the sun herself. "Hello, (L/N)!" The voice cried, and all I could do was raise a brow and spin on my heel, still hovering in my spot, the crows feather beside my foot.

I watched as the man strolled his way over towards me, his usually bringt grin decorating his features, the sun almost illuminating him like a glow stick. "Rengoku-san." I nodded in respect, my eyes closing as he made his way beside me.

The man only tilted his head at me. "What are you doing here at this time of day?" He inquired, eyes wide, mouth split into his smile.

"I was headed towards the training grounds. I would like to practise." I spoke out, blinking to reopen my eyes and stare down at the dancing daisies as my hair was carried by the smooth breeze that held the man's cape.

Rengoku beamed, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me close with a close eye smile. "Isn't that a coincidence? I was just headed there for the same reason!" The man bellowed before he moved away from me and instead moved to grip my hand and stand beside me. "How about we go together? We could both train with one another in that case!"

I blinked, looking down to our conjoined hands, then to his eyes, which were already expectedly glued to my own. He only smiled. "Why not." I nodded, stoic features flashing a hint of amusement through my pupils.

The man wasted no time, dragging me beside him down the path tha soon became overshadowed by trees, the leaves leaving only small gaps to provide a soft light, although, why would I need the light of the sun when this man is beside me? "I do have a request, however." The man began.

I blinked, brows furrowing slightly as I turned my eyes to glance at him. "What would that be?" I inquired, grip tightening slightly on the spear that thudded to the ground with our steady steps. I knew what he was requesting. He had asked for it time and time again, of course respecting my response, however still persistent.

He simply wanted me to attack him at full force. To do that, however, I would need to turn into a demon, during the day, in a training ground, surrounded by an entire corps of demon slayers...

Not the best idea, honestly.

I was about to refuse, however, the man beat me to it. "Even if it's only for a moment. I just want to see how I can improve, then you can turn back immediately." He paused, giving a wider smile before he squeezed my hand. "Only if you want to, of course."

I looked away, staring at the ground as we walked, leaving us in a soft silence as he waited for my reply, which I was contemplating. Even if it was just for a moment, he just wanted to see what to improve. All I need is a moment.

The area itself is covered over by trees, so sunlight won't really be a problem. Not to mention, if its just a moment, not many people will realise, and those who do will quickly come to the conclusion that it was just me.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Fine. Only a minute." His eyes brightened with glee and his lips parted in joy. "But only a minute, understand?" I switched my gaze to his eyes, looking through them deeply, only seeing the purest intentions and the kindest of respect as he nodded.

"Ofcourse!"

༶•┈┈⛧┈♛ ♛┈⛧┈┈•༶

We quickly reached the training grounds, where Rengoku unsheathed his katana and made his way over to the other side of the area to where I stood, staff in hand and hand held to my face as I stared down at my flesh.

"I'm ready when you are!" The man cried, obviously giddy that he finally gets to fight me at full power, while also finally seeing what I was truly like. I knew he was curious, from the moment I met him I knew he was. He would excitedly ramble on about it, and questioned Shinazugawa about what I looked like (Since he's the only one I've ever agreed to fight except for Gyomei), which only resulted with blank stares and scoffs.

I sighed, shaking my head with annoyance before I wandered over to a nearby tree and stabbed my spear straight into the ground, some dust fragents pooling around the fresh dent in the earth. The man rose a brow as I made my way over to my position and held my hand up to my face.

"One minute." I began, lifting my thumb to my lips before biting into my flesh and leaving a few drops of fresh blood to slither down my skin, holding direct eye contact with the man before me. "That's all."

Without further warning, my pupils slit and my left eye shifted colour as small patterns suddenly faded into my skin. My nails sharpened dangerously and my crannies sprouted into sharp fangs, all while I I pulled one arm back and one forward, my feet following as my palms flattened and my eyes narrowed.

The man was stood there in awe for a solid moment, but was slapped out of his thoughts as he soon realised I had vanished from view. He lifted his katana into a defensive position and waited.

And waited.

Without warning, I appeared behind him. I sprant forward, jumping up before I spun midair and slammed my fist down. The flame hashira could only manage to step to the side, holding his katana in front of his face. My fist slammed down into the ground, denting the earth and forcing a cloud of dust to suffocate our view.

I didn't waste any more time, appearing beside the man. He flinched, unable to react as I spun to kick, the top of my foot landing on his blade and forcing it to the ground under its weight. The man was left stunned with wide eyes as I swung behind me, fist only pausing millimetres in front of his face.

Time seemed to pause. Everything was silent. Nothing moved.

That was all stopped, however, when the blast from my last attack finally struck the earth, and everything behind the man blew into a gust of wind. The ground became misplaced under the dust cloud, trees and their roots were struck from their place and left bare and naked, all while we stood in silence.

Soon, everything settled, and without warning, my skin began to heat up. I winced, eyes widening as I watched my outstretched arm become enveloped in sunlight that was no longer blocked by the trees and their leaves. I froze, teeth gritting with panic before I moved away and stumbled my way towards the trees desperately.

I, however, was paused as what felt to be a blanket land over my shoulders and a capeless man crouched in front of me, wrapping his arms around my body and hiding me away from the sun's deadly touch.

I blinked, mouth parting to speak, but the man beat me to it, holding me closer and adjusting the cape that now covered my body so that no light could touch me. "I was not expecting you to amaze me, but once again, I am blown away." My eyes widened with surprise as his palm landed on the back of my head. "I never thought I would ever consider a demon beautiful, but you just proved me very wrong."

My breath hitched, the wound on my thumb healing and my pupils softening with the rest of my features as I returned back to normal, though still under his hold, as though he was never going to let go.

He was so warm, even as he rubbed my head over his cape and grinned down at me, almost lovingly. "Th...thank you."

༶•┈┈⛧┈♛ ♛┈⛧┈┈•༶

Taisho Secrets!

. During his time with (Y/N), Akaza would always manage to keep her away from the other upper moons for her own safety.

. According to (Y/N), her least favourite upper moon is Doma!

. Every time a demon slayer is killed in action, their blood is retrieved and given to (Y/N) in order to continue their memory, and also improve her overall abilities.