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echantedtoon · 30 days

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Waning Obsession(Yandere Kokushibo x Reader) Ch1 Fated Encounter

When the shadowed moon turns to a full eclipse that blocks out even the stars, the monster comes out to claim the maiden. The wound Cupid's arrow caused by piercing his dark heart bleeds out for her, so he would seek what his body needed to heal. The waning desire pangs him so.

This is a semi rewrite for In The Moon's Shadow/ Eclipsed Starshine. I wasn't very happy with how either turned out so I'm reediting the old chapters to be better and adding new ones and getting rid of some completely. With new plot points added in and a few other things. Again there's a few things that you need to know about so please read the points below!

1. This is a Yandere-ish story. I in NO way support any of that kind of relationship in real life!

2. This is a story with Demons from Demon Slayer so expect there to be some fighting, cussing, blood, mentioned killing, and other such things. Although they WILL be way toned down.

3. Kokushibo isn't going to be much of a yandere and more of having no idea how human relationships work but that's because Im not used to writing full blown yanderes. So the relationship will be non-toxic.

4. This IS an AU. So barely anything will be cannon.

5. If any chapters have warnings please read and heed them.

(Warnings: Some Hate and discrimination against demons. Demons don't eat humans in this au but most aren't very pleasant.

EDIT: Fixed previous spelling errors plus added one or two details.)

To say the least you had a pretty consistent, normal life.

....

......

No. Really. You did. There really wasn't anything else to describe it. Just that. Normal. Plain. Average. But calm and quiet. A normal every run of the mill life. As simple as that. Your life wasn't too different than the other average woman's. There wasn't anything that stood you out from another person.

And that's EXACTLY what you loved about it.

For as long as you could remember it had always been pretty peaceful. You were raised by a kind older couple along with many other children they took in. You had a happy normal childhood, and when you turned fourteen you were offered an apprenticeship by your tiny village's local fragrance maker. It wasn't the most exciting life but as you grew older into adulthood you learnt to appreciate the calm and quiet of your job. Learning from your tutor to carve the carefully crafted hand made soups and candles into different shapes, learning the best ways to store incense, and slowly learning how to make perfumes. Although you hadn't gotten a hand for the liquid scent sprays yet. But you didn't mind. You were always surrounded by delightful fragrances.

Overall your life as an adult was everything you could've asked for. A peaceful village with plenty of good people. A calm life away from waring clans and big crime. A job that pays well. And a small home you could call your own. There wasn't much for you to really worry yourself over except for the stares. You couldn't pretend that you didn't get many stares from the men in the town. Many offers of marriage declined. And many more people becoming angry but only a select few had gotten violently aggressive and they were all taken cared of one way or another. So there really wasn't anything much else in your town to worry about-

"The fighting has gotten worse to the east of here."

The sounds of broom bristles sweeping across the floor stopped in their actions. Your hands paused in their task of cleaning the shop entrance to look up and over. The small shop was quiet again today. There was hardly any customers in at all other than sweet old Mrs.Tenshi whom had stopped by to by a few rose scented candles for her study. Not a sound to be heard except for your body stepping around to sweep the floors and the wind chimes hung just right outside of your boss's shop. You figured today was a perfect day to sweep and mop the store front and dust the shelves to keep the store looking clean and enticing to customers. But hearing the words of the older woman sitting just in front of a small table had made you pause and turn to her.

"What?"

Her wrinkled face frowned harder in a scowl aimed at nothing in particular but clearly upset very much at something troubling her. "The fighting to the east of here has gotten worse. The peace talks between the warlords hasn't provided anything. Soon their fighting will continue on."

That's right. The war. You nearly forgotten about that. Two of the biggest nations there was around here had been fighting for almost three years now. Wars were full of death and misery and destruction and chaos. However your little village nestled away in the hills and forests had remained entirely unaffected by anything the two nations had done being just outside of both. Far away enough to escape any negative side effects but close enough to still hear news of what was going on with the wars. Sometimes you'd even see soldiers walk through town to buy supplies or sake from the local markets before leaving. Their armor and swords clanking heavily. Their bodies usually covered in scars and healing wounds. And their powerful war horses stomping down the paths. You've always made it a habit to avoid interaction with those men as much as possible even if most of them had been actually quite friendly to who they spoke to. You just didn't want any trouble with anyone. So you always played it safe. But even the soldiers visiting was a pretty rare occurrence. You hadn't seen any for the last year now even. So you were never really too concerned about what what those men did miles and miles away from you. It wasn't affecting you so you didn't see any reasons for concern.

"Oh my. That is awful. Those poor men must be very tired by now."

"It is not the men who concern me." The older woman rose a shaking hand out to place down a small bar of lavender scented soap she'd been mindlessly fiddling with for the past ten minutes as her mind wondered off on its own. "A human I can have no qualms against but it's the beasts that make me feel concerned."

"Beasts?" Was she perhaps referring to the soilders? You heard these warriors could be ruthless in battle and blood thirsty enough to rival a bear's appetite.

Her eyes flashed dangerously at you. "Demons you naive girl! Demons! The blood lusting animals that dare walk amongst us and act like we are equals when they are nothing but mindless savages!"

You had nothing to say against that. Mostly because you didn't know what to say to that.

Demons.

Yes. Yes you've heard of such people. People who were not human. Beings with horns like dragons, fangs like a wolf, multiple eyes and arms like spiders, and all kinds of other rumors. Everyone always pointed at demons for things that went bump in the night. Rumors said that they were supposed to be nothing but bad news for anyone. Blood thirsty and being able to harness dangerous powers. But you'd never met one before. Oh you knew they existed alright. How did you know? Well you never saw a demon before but you HAD seen a man that claimed to have demon heritage. He had the truth written all over his face..Or quite plainly his forehead where a third eyeball had been stationed in the traveler's face. All three very much real moving and blinking at everyone. The town's people hadn't taken too fondly of the traveler with most of your village giving him stares or out right ignoring the man asking about any inns nearby. He had gotten the unwelcoming hint and left before nightfall. You felt bad for the poor man but never spoke to him since you both hadn't interacted one on one. That was the closest thing to excitement you had gotten around here. The closest thing you'd ever seen to a real demon. And you weren't sure you actually wanted to meet one.

"It's rumored that one of those warlords are paying for the beasts to be mercenaries for war!," she spat continuing on with her disdain for the demons.

"Well that's only rumored right?" You changed the subject politely not wishing to continue listening to her ramble on her hatred. "You shouldn't believe gossip about something like that if there's no real proof. Otherwise you'll be worrying about nothing."

You turned back to the hardwood floor and started up your broom again making your boss scoff at your words. "Rumors or not you'll soon learn that being vigilant about these things can and will save you later on in life. It's how I survived for so long."

"I'm sure it is," you politely said back not in the mood to argue about such things.

It was stupid to argue with someone so bullheaded anyways. The old were stuck in their ways and would die on their hill before admitting defeat. Energy was better spent in productivity and getting work done now rather then letting it build up later.

Days of beautiful cloudy skies and warm weather transitioned to warm nights with the moon shining brightly in the dark. Blissfully life went on. Peaceful. Hard working. Serene. And safe from any harm that might've been taking place mere miles away and hopefully it would stay like that. The thoughts of danger and of Demons wasn't too concerning but it always looked in the back of your mind like a pesky fly not willing to buzz off but as always life goes on. Summer was in full swing, and the enjoyable warm weather would not be wasted on worrying about what ifs or possible scenarios that might not even come to pass. The warm weather should be taken advantage of. To be enjoyed to the fullest. To be appreciated and enjoyed.

"Will you be going night fishing again tonight?"

The smell of lavender fragrance filled the air as your hands carefully guided a small carving tool over a purple hunk of soap. The hands holding it currently in the process of carving the small soap hunk into the shape of a flower, to be placed on the shelf later for a customer to buy and take hone. Your eyes blinked up at the older woman. She was already grabbing a few previously carved soaps in different shapes, patterns, and forms up in her arms to place on the shelves as you finished up the one you were currently holding. But you had stopped to look up at her as she spoke.

"Yes. It's less crowded that way." Your eyes followed her form as she slowly stood up and walked over to a nearby shelf her older form shuffling along slowly. "The waters are always crowded with men and boys during the day. It's a favorite past time for them....and not many of them appreciate a woman intruding into their 'territory.'"

The elder hummed. "It's a dangerous thing to do, walking around at night by yourself. Especially for a girl."

"I only do it when the nights are clear and warm." You smiled widely at her back before the hands continued their task of carving. "I'll be safe near the village. A few good meals of fish will be worth losing a few hours of sleep."

She hummed placing a cat shaped soap bar on the shelf. "I still say it's foolish...but if you're insisting on going out tonight, pick up some wild basil for me. I'm starting to run low."

Your lips smiled wider. "I will. There's some near a small pond not too far outside of the village."

"Hm. I just hope you know what you're doing."

"I'll be alright. You'll see."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You should have heeded the warnings.

Warm blue skies faded to make way for her dark sister to claim for night. The sun kissing the horizon good night as it's last few rays of light disappeared from sight. Mothers called their children inside their warm houses to sleep in their cozy beds safe and sound until the next morning. The silence was peaceful on the warm summer night breezes. The calmness soothing the crickets to sing their lullabies to the dimming lights of the homes. Lantern lights being put to sleep after a long usage. The bustling town settling down and falling asleep soundly.

Your door opened quietly and you stepped out of your house and into the quiet, barren streets. The moonlight shining down and kissing your form. A shiver running down your spine from a warm breeze ghosting over your form. It would be a good night to fish. The door closed softly as you started walking towards the woods outside the village, fishing line curled up within your right hand. The moon shown down upon the forests illuminating the night bright enough for you to see and watch as the trees swayed im the warm breezes and hear the peaceful rustling of their leaves and lullabies of the crickets. It was just so beautiful and lively. You always loved doing this. Free from crowds of people and being able to peacefully just live in these moments.

The sweet smells of flowers and grass were encouraging your lungs. Combined with the warmth of the summer air warming your muscles and urging them on. Both made you feel as light as a feather on your mere feet and the ground felt soft under you. You were smiling. Arms out splayed against the wind blowing around your hair like crazy and cooling your body against the warm heat beaming down on you. Step after step. Faster and faster. You joyously started to run through the pathways and around a corner of a house as soft dirt pathways turned into grassy floors of forests as you excitedly entered the beckoning woods. The moonlight being blocked out a bit because of the swaying trees and branches but you could still see perfectly fine. The small pond so many people liked to fish at during summer wasn't too far from where you entered. It was just nearly a quarter of a mile into the woods. You loved coming out during these warm months and gathering the natural resources the forest provides your small village. It really was a perfect place to live being so abundant in resources and stationed within such a secluded and safe location. The way you found the decently sized pond was walking through a bush and having to blink when a flurry of sparkling lights glared your eyes for a second.

Blinking your eyes adjusted to the beautiful and wonderful sight of a dark beautiful pond reflecting the moon on its surface and sparkling as if the reflection had its own stars and consolations within its ripples. Completely untouched and waiting for you to touch its soft silence. Soft footsteps approached the gleaming water and a carbon copy of a woman appeared in the gleaming reflections. She smiled up at the original mirroring the actions of the woman above. The woman's fiddled with her line and the small contacts she brought along with her. A hook with a big, juicy worm stabbed on the end of it dangled over the woman in the dark reflection before dropping into the water and rippling the reflection woman away back into the darkness of the waters.

The night was a beautiful thing if you needed it to be, or if you wanted to make it become that way. And in a way, it was both to you in the end. The sweet smells of flowers and grass filling your lungs. Combined with the warmth of the summer season warming your smaller body as you walked along the forest back towards your small home. Tonight was the perfect night to go fishing within the woods as it was warm, full of food, and a wide variety of other items that you could harvest. Wild berries to be picked. Old fruit trees long forgotten. A small pond with plenty of fish that only you knew. It was perfect for someone like you who loved these nights. Even taking time to pick up a few stems of basil and what fruits were left by the hoards of hungry men who flocked through here during the day. You could just harvest and hunt whatever you needed even if you lost track of time and it was fairly dark now. It shouldn't take you too long to get back to your village, but even then it'll be darker and later before you got back anyways. Not that you were too worried about still being in the woods when night fell, after all there wasn't really anything dangerous like bears or tigers where you lived. They usually didn't go near human settlements. The most dangerous predator in these woods was the hawks and owls with the occasional fox here and there. You doubt a bird or tiny fox would even want to bother you, you were much bigger compared to them and it wouldn't be worth the fight for the food you carried when they could easily hunt their own. So no. You weren't worried at all. And it was beautiful outside tonight, a warm breeze in summer and the moonlight being your companions for the long trip back home.

You had nearly made it out when a curiosity caught your eye. A light within the darkness ahead of you. One that wasn't the moon or stars in the sky and it certainly wasn't the fireflies. A flickering dancing light that was blocked by a wall of tall bushes. That... wasn't supposed to be there. It had caught you so off guard that you nearly dropped the few fish you caught on your line in your hands. The bold brightness of the light was mysterious but... enticing. Enough to get you walking forward towards the wall of bushes. Hand slowly reaching out to grab a handful of soft leaves on the bush to pull back. You were expecting perhaps a start of a forest fire or perhaps a hunter camping out here enjoying the warm weather like you were.

However you were not expecting seeing was a fluttering purple and black haori coat moving with the cool breeze or the man who was using the fire as his companion for the night. The woman's body ran cold as she realized he was standing just a few inches away from her own face and loomed above her form and it took you longer to figure out one thing. He had been staring in your direction this entire time. It took you off guard once the realization hit you, and it caused you to pause staring back at the still chest of the man. For a long time there was nothing but silence not even the crickets dung. Only the fire behind the dark figure, the wind, and the rustling of leaves to save you from total silence.

"A woman."

You flinched at the Deep monotone voice above you. There was a clicking sound in the dark that had your eyes darting to the right in search of the source, and ice flooded your veins when realization struck you. Two strong looking hands had let go of the familiar sight of a sword tied to the side of the flowing purple and black checkered haori. This man, whomever he was, had been gripping onto that weapon with intent to strike. The clicking noise had been him resheathing his sword.

Dark fear enveloped in your mind as your eyes darted away and back to the middle of the man, one hand still clutching onto the hilt of the weapon. "I-Im sorry. I-I had no idea s-s-someone else was out here. I didn't m-mean to scare you."

You couldn't make out his face entirely, the fire was too small to produce enough light and he stood mostly in darkness so you couldn't make out exactly what color the eyes that looked back at you were, not that you could anyways refusing to look up at his face. But you could tell he was young, maybe mid or late twenties by the sounds of his voice.

"A weak thing like you did not scare me." You flinched at his blunt, harsh words. "Who are you?"

"I'm from the village. I wasn't expecting anyone else to be out here hunting," you somehow managed to stutter out from the intense atmosphere this man radiated.

"I am not hunting." His head tilted slightly and bore into the sight of the line of fish still strung in her hands. "Is that what you were doing?"

"N-No ..I-I was fishing."

"Fishing?" You nodded. And finally the other hand slowly dropped from his sword much to your relief. "A woman should not be in the forest late at night."

"I-Im ok. I d-dont live too far from here. H-honestly I didn't know another hunter w-was out here."

"I am not hunting."

"But if you're not hunting, what are you doing all alone out here?"

"That is none of your business." Again you fell silent from his blunt tone that left no room for arguing but he did seem to pause taking in the sight of the woman before him. "...Is there a town nearby here then? Or does your family live out here alone?"

"T-There's a town," you squeaked out.

"With businesses?" You nodded quickly and silently making the man above you hum. "... Excellent."

He spoke strangely. Very slow and with pauses between his words. Strange. Maybe he was tired from traveling. It was turning night after all.

"Oh. Well I won't disturb you then-" A gurgling growling noise stopped you in your tracks from backing away as the man stiffened up. You both stood there. You slowly blinked and your eyes lowered to his mid section. "....Have you eaten anything?"

"No."

"Then here." The man seemed surprised when you reached out to the line you were holding, snapping off one of the fish, and held it out to the darkened figure. "It's not much, but traveling on an empty stomach isn't good for your strength. Take this and make some food out of it...Wait. You do know how to cook fish, right?"

You finally looked up at his face and.... couldn't make out a single feature of his face. It was too dark and the hat he wore blocked out even more light cloaking it further from view, although you could make out long hair poking out from his hat and pool near his neck. Bangs maybe?

The stranger remained silent for a long moment just looking at the fish dangling from your hand seeming to contemplate for a long moment. "No and I Don't need it but I will take it since you offered." A hand reached out and grabbed it from the darkness. You noted how much larger they were compared to yours and the strange pointed nails but didn't comment as the hand pulled it back into the darkness and away from your sight. The man's head turning away downwards to you assumed to look at the food you had offered him. "...This will suffice for now." He then turned back to you. "What will you do now?"

"Go home of course." Your head nodded further up into the woods back towards your village and his head turned following your direction. "Wait. Did you just say you couldn't cook fish?"

"It is unnecessary-"

"No it's not!" Your rise in volume made him turn back to you, not surprised or anything but his brow rose at your frown. "Don't you know eating raw meat isn't good for your body? Or are you trying to save it for later?"

"I will reserve my hunger for later travel-"

"By then the meat will be bad and unsuitable for consumption. That'll just make you even more sick regardless if it's cooked or not!" You wanted to facepalm this stranger despite your earlier fear. It was instead replaced with a ridiculous feeling at this situation. You didn't know him at all, but he wasn't the brightest it seemed, or being tired and hungry is clouding his judgement. You extended your hand. "Here. Give it to me. I'll cook it for you then."

The darkened face tilted more at you. "YOU will cook for me?"

"Yes. Because I gave you the fish, if you refuse to eat it properly then it'll be on me if you get sick. There's a fire here and plenty of sticks from the trees, so I'll be able to cook it for you the same way I cook it for myself."

He didn't say anything, but after a couple seconds, a hand slowly held out the fish back out to you and you took it back, only to drop your small bag and other fish to the ground and wonder off towards the woods still carrying the fish in one hand. All the while his head followed your every movement from your form walking into the darkness, to your hand picking up a stick and jabbing it into the fish, to you walking back and just placing the entire thing into the fire with a part of the long stick safely out of the way of flames. And then the silence resumed for what seemed like hours as he just watched your actions which included using the stick to flip the fish over onto the other side after a long while. After a long while more, you completely pulled the now fully brown fish from the fire and held it out to him with a smile.

"Here. It should be good to eat now, and don't try to save it for too long or else it'll go bad." There was another pause from the man who just stared at the food you offered before the same hand reached over and took it from you once again. Seeing it as your job being done here, you quickly grabbed your things, thanked the gods for a chance to leave, and turned away from him. "Will you be leaving soon?"

"That is none of your business and neither is my travels."

Ah. So another traveler heading up there. There was a few in your limited years of living here and they all traveled past your village on their way over the mountains ...Although it was a bit strange this stranger was armed. He might've been another soldier and that thought frightened you. It was best if you distanced yourself. Either way it was none of your business. Your business was to get home now and get some sleep before you had to work again tomorrow. But still....he seemed hungry.

"Is your destination far? You might need some more food if you're stomach is growling."

"I will be fine."

That was a no then. You contemplated something in your head and picked up your remaining fish and bag only to toss it at his feet with a thud. He looked at it, then up at your face in obvious question. "It's full of wild fruits and vegetables. They might taste a little bitter, but they'll last you a couple days. I can just come back and get more for myself. And if you need more, you'll find some around the pond back there-" you pointed back from where you first came from. "-if the men hadn't all gotten it first." He didn't say anything, not that you were expecting him to, but you took that as your cue to leave, so your body bowed at the waist. "May you have a safe journey."

With that you turned and began walking back off towards the direction of your village, with less food for your hungry self, but you could always come back and get more. Right now you wanted to do nothing more than to get home and put distance between yourself and the man. The strange man watched your form until it disappeared from his sight and slowly turned back to the fish in his hand....And taking a rather large bite with his inhuman fangs.

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yuki2sksksk · 2 years

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I am not particularly fond of how some people portray Yoriichi to be obsesses with Mitchikatsu/Kokushibou.

Like, yes, he really loves his brother. Mitchikatsu and their mother are the only ones who shows him family affection and love. Of course Yoriichi loves them both dearly. But to the point of obsession? Yeesh.

I don't like how some portray Yoriichi to be super clingy with Mitchikatsu/Kokushibou, or tries to make his brother stay with him all the time, being a yandere to his brother and glare at others who try to get close to him. Not to mention some even ship them! They're brothers!

#demon slayer #kny #kimetsu no yaiba #anime #kokushibou #Yoriichi #tsugikuni twins #Mitchikatsu

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zasaka-studio · 2 years

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I would like to see two headcanons in a (separate) relationship of yandere yoriichi and yandere michikatsu please :)

Title: 理想的な

(made in heaven)

(Risō-tekina)

Part 1 / 2

This kinda drifted into a one shot... I'm gonna be splitting the two up, this one is Yoriichi’s next is Mitchikatsu's.

Sorry this is practically a one shot- i couldn't help it >:| i love dis sun man

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TW: obsessive behaviors, semi-lucid, stalking, tiny amounts of blood,

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Yoriichi Tsugikuni :

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The first thing you'll know is that he's horrifyingly patient, to the point where you'll never see it coming. Though that doesn't mean he gets irritated at things or people.

He's- distant, you'll probably never really know him as much as he knew you. As for the most of the time he stalks, checks up on you, you're mostly unaware. Which also has been made a favorite pastime for him- just watching you move about. Doing you're daily duties, it's calming. Though he can imagine if he were to be apart of it.

There's also this habit of daydreaming, it's been so long since he felt so warm inside. He can't help but fantasias about if he were your lover from time to time.

He can't get you off of his mind. After the first, and regrettably, the last time you two interacted. He had saved you from a demon. After getting you to safety he had finally got a good look at you. Which took his breath away. He didn't have any words but he doesn't need anything, his heart had already told him.

Your puffy doe eyes, just the right shade of color, soft- scratch less skin so satisfying to hold. You were shaking though. Were you cold perhaps? He was lost in thought as the past events were forgotten about. This was the effect you had on him.

“Sir, are you alright?”

That cute voice of your's, he would give anything to hear everyday. Soft and sweet is how he would describe it. All he did in response was nod his head before you had to leave. Gifting something oh so important to him, it was a simple flower shaped hairpin as a thank you gift. Saying that he could come by if he so desire. But he couldn't- he doesn't want to get even more attached so he stays away. If watching through the windows of your little cottage counted.

He’s hard to pin down if he's delusional, lucid or both. As he doesn't see this as weird, horrible or wrong. It's just a tale of forbidden love to him. Something that he could never get to in fear of losing it. But he also scolds himself for being so selfish, but he can't help but return to the place that makes his heart skip a beat. The only reason why he hasn't ripped himself away from this lifestyle, is because he wants to see you- hear you, just to be content with this. But he cant.

Which causes him to worry constantly if you were alright, if the next time he went by would be his last time seeing you're radiant figure from afar. Twirling the one thing that he holds as a reminder of you.

This soon turns into a crushing longing and loneliness. Sometimes during this period of time he thinks that he should take you're offer. Going to see you in person, finally hearing you're angelic voice up close once more. He can imagine your smile- as bright as it will ever be. Maybe he can even woo you... No- he can't, not after what happened last time. He doesn't want to risk this. But the pot of suppressed feeling's and longing had come to it's boiling point.

And once that hits it peak he feels if he's about to explode if he doesn't see you for an extended period of time, which cane range from an hour to only thirty minutes. He gets anxious, and insatiable. Everything that kept his patients together had shattered, as he desperately tries to fix it- it just gets worse and worse.

Then one fateful day you had to go get some groceries, he fought internally to not March up to you and confess everything, he doesn't know why it's effecting him so much it burns...

But he doesn't even catch himself as he walks along the same path, already making up his mind.

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“ Oh! It's you again- uhh? What would be your name sir?”

You said as you shifted the empty straw basket. Nervously intertwining you're fingers under the basket as you gazed at your mysterious savior. More or so looked up as he was quite a good distance taller then you. It was nice seeing him again, you wondered what he's been doing all this time. It was hard to believe that nine months ago he had saved you from what you have heard as a demon. Still after all of that time- you worried if he was alright. Now this fateful interaction had cleared you of you're worries.

The man had looked down at you, seemingly contemplating you're request. But gave a very calming smile.

“ Yoriichi... ”

He said almost inaudibly, shocked by the smooth yet deep voice you've just now heard. Your face turning an adorable shade of red in response. Making his smile ever so slightly wider. You're just as cute as he remember you were.

“ Oh uhm- Yoriichi correct? I've been wondering if you've been well since you saved me...” fumbling with the loose edges of the basket, feeling as if your question was a bit stupid. As he was walking just fine.

Yoriichi had turned his gaze away from you, in an attempt to hid his reddening face. This is what he's been fantasizing about- a peaceful life like this, just enjoying each other's presence. Smiling at himself as he noticed you're heart rate has increased.

“ I've been doing well. How have you been? ”

He asked despite already knowing the answer.

“I could be doing better” You said as you had finally looked back towards the path you two were on. But there was this odd feeling in the back of your throat, like the day you were almost killed by that demon. But you shove the thought to the back of your mind- because nothing was wrong, so what could be enticing this feeling?

But Yoriichi was looking through his memory, did he miss something? Because from what he's seen you've been doing fine. Shure there was this annoying friend you had that made him want to strangle him. But nothing else could be happening right?

“ why's that? ” Yoriichi asked, and you sighed as you looked towards the forest surrounding your remote home. You don't know why you said that- it's just that, you had to at least tell someone about this. You have a suspension that something or- someone is stalking you. You don't have any proof of this it's just your worried another demon had found your remote home. So asking Yoriichi, the one who's saved you from the exact same thing, would be a good idea.

“I don't know how to say this... But I think I'm being stalked- ive been feeling watched for a while now.” Your voice wavering as you thought of the possiblity of it being yet another demon. You're great full that you've yet again in countered the slayer. “-Im scared that it may happen again...” You continued as you felt the man put his hand on your shoulder.

Flinching at the unexpected contact, looking back into his deep maroon eyes. “ Dont worry, i can stay over to make sure that it's not a demon. Or anything else. ” Yoriichi offered with a soft smile, lying through his teeth. “No no! It's fine! I could just move if it gets worse!” You frantically tried to explain why he didn't need to come over for such a small thing. “Also your a demon slayer! So you probably don't have time for this-”

“ No, if you feel threatened. I want to help, so how long has this been occuring? ” Internally smiling at how well this is going. Feeling a bit relieved that he didn't have to do this himself. Though, he would've done it anyways.

Sighing in defeat, shaking off his hand as you felt a bit bad that you were wasting his time. “Alright, if you insist...” Saying as the two of you finally reached the village. Not many people were out, but Yoriichi seemed to tense. For whatever reason- maybe he didn't like public spaces? “Oh yeah, I'm here to pick up some stuff.” Just remembering why you were out here anyway’s. Looking up at Yoriichi again, “Wanna come with me?...” You gave out your hand. But you were surprised when he immediately took it. “ Sure, I don't have anything... Else to do... ” You were confused at his turn in tone. Was he- nervous.

Then you tried to move further into the village. But you were stopped, jerked a bit by Yoriichi- you just realized that he's still holding your hand. Tighter then before. “Hey, are you okay? Uh your holding a bit tight there...”

But Yoriichi was a bit out of it. Your skin is so so soft.

Softer then he's fantasied it to be. Forgetting that you had to do something, but you're voice snapped him out of his trance. “Hey! I asked if you were alright?” Your worried expression was also cute. “ Oh... Sorry I was lost in thought... ”

More or so he was mesmerized by you- but you've never noticed...

─────────────────────────────

This was the spark that caused him to go from mild- to moderate obsession to a full on infatuation. That his heart when you asked him if he was alright skyrocketed. After the trip, and coming back to your cottage. Seeing you so happy as you prepared a dinner for the both of you made all sense fly out of his thoughts.

It was ment to be, all his tragedies and losses. It led him to you.

Just being around you made his mind muddle, something that has never happened in his whole life- he's not gonna distance himself anymore. Because he's Shure that you're where he's ment to be. To settle down with, and maybe have kids.

Also if you haven't noticed he's become more delusional, though he still knows what he's doing- he just doesn't care.

Since he's here, no better way to confess then now? Isn't it?

This can go one of two ways, either you decline or accept his confession. Let's go with the one where you don't accept his feelings.

He'd probably not know how to process this- normally that is. He would probably just be extremely calm with it. His visible expression not changing at all. But he's just processing this through his diluted mind. He can't understand why- so he probably miss heard you. Though this doesn't make any sense he tries to make a reason why you said that. It could be stress, someone else, or it's that he didn't say it clearly.

Though he'd never blame you directly, your just too stupid to actually understand yourself because that's why he's here.

Accept when after only three days you ask him to... Leave?

Oh no no no no no no no no no.. no!

He didn't even realize when he knocked you out, and put you on an extra futon on the ground of your and his living room. You've always been so calming to look at while asleep.

But he understands your panic when you wake up with him sitting over you. That it's almost- is impossible to leave because he'd always fallow or find you in a matter of seconds. Trapped in a home with him for all eternity, because he's never gonna let you go now.

He's waited long enough

He's doing this-

all because he loves you...

─────────────────────────────

Sorry this took so long-

#yandere demon slayer #dark themes #demon slayer angst #yandere core #yandere kny x reader #yandere x reader #yandere aesthetic #yandere kimetsu no yaiba #yandere yoriichi x reader #yandere yoriichi #yandere mitchikatsu #yandere michikatsu x reader

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echantedtoon · 21 days

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Waning Obsession(Yandere Kokushibo x Reader) Ch10 Deeper The Rabbit Hole Runs

(Warning: Referenced spicy-ish stuff, death mentioned, death threats, Kokushibo being yandere, etc, Yns boss tries to harm her.)

Cold.

The bed felt colder when you awoken. The warmth you felt only came from the blanket that covered your body and the dim embers in the fireplace as your eyes slowly opened up. Delicate turquoise blinked awake at nothing before you realized that your back was cold. Twisting around, you flipped onto your back head turned but paused seeing that the other side of the futon was barren. Nothing but the cold air hitting your body. Your eyes blinked at the empty space before slowly sitting up.

"Kokushibo?"

A hand reached up to rub your face as you looked around the space of your home. The sunlight cascaded down through the windows and lit up the entire place however not one trace of the demon could be seen.

"Kokushibo?," you called again a bit louder in case he was in the bathroom and didn't hear you.

"You are awake."

You nearly jumped out of your skin seeing the demon sitting right above your head. His stoic, calm aura was as unchanging as another other time they both interacted but there was something else added now. Something more..focused. More serious as the six eyes focused on you, an unusual small smile on his face. It sent an involuntary shiver down your spine before you shook it off and smiled at him..

"You're still here. I thought you were going to leave as soon as day broke." She stifled another yawn as she gently covered her mouth and tiredly blinked.

B E A U T I F U L

"Hardly. I'm afraid I have not yet had my fill of this place...Or you."

She gave the most attractive squeak as a strong hand found itself suddenly holding her hand. A deep hum escaped the demon as he pressed a closed eyed kiss to the delicate skin. Strong calloused fingers slipping between smaller delicate ones covered in scars. Warm breath sending goosebumps along the soft flesh giving way to a shiver as he smiled wider against the flesh. Again. Again. His lips were pressed against the hand until eyes opened and found themselves Goosebumps spread under his touch as a hand gently placed itself under her chin, claws gently dragging along the skin as he directed her head too him. A shiver from her body, warmth caressing her face as orbs shrouded by deepened desire and half lidded by selfish want.

"You'll forgive me for being so bold today." Warmth enveloped in a deeper raspier tone wafted over her face. "But I have become quite addicted to the honeyed taste of your lips."

Your face reddened to a shade that rivaled that of an apple, he leaned forward enough to kiss your lips- Before his head changed direction and instead went upwards to place a kiss just above your brow.

"Although I do find your flushed face just as pleasing.~"

"Y-YOU JERK!," Your voice was an embarrassed pitch way too high for your liking. A hand reached up to push away the demon away from your face. All that accomplished was a chuckle from him as he didn't even budge. "Y-Y-You can't just tease me like that!"

"Oh I can and I fully intend to do that again."

"EEP!" An embarrassed squeal left your throat as strong arms enveloped you and pulled you back against him, his chin resting on top your head.

"Your body is so much warmer compared to the harsh outside. A fire in the midst of the cold war."

A red still coated your face but gave a shaky sigh and settled into his hold. It's clear you would not be getting away anytime soon. "Shouldn't you be getting back then?" He hummed. "To the war."

His smile vanished. The arms around you tightened up slightly. "Yes..But I fear that I don't want to go back empty handed."

"Oh?" Your brow rose as your eyes looked up at him. "I'm feeling that's it's not candles or soaps you were hoping to receive."

"What gave it away?" His lips found themselves kissing the top of her head. "I want you to return with me. You'd be treated like the lady you are with enough gold to fill endless pockets and fine silks adorning your body." He hummed deeply pulling her further into him. Her body radiated a warmth that was comforting to his senses.

Turquoise eyes blinked as they looked upward. "Return with you? You're asking me to leave my home."

"Isn't that obvious? You'd be taken cared of for the rest of your life, and I'd fill whatever wish or desire you would ever ask of me. Whatever you want. Silks, precious jewels, ..Me."

Her head pulled away from his, bed head still present as her eyes turned to meet his own. "You know I can't. I've built my entire life here. I've worked very hard to get to where I'm at and I don't want to throw it all away for nothing-"

She stopped as a much larger hand grabbed her cheek gently. Dangerous golden red orbs half lidded stared at her, like gold coins having fallen into a pool of blood. The imagery should've been a cautionary tale but instead she found herself leaning into the look.

"You wouldn't be throwing anything away. You'd just be moving up in life. I want to be that turning point for that moment."

"I.. don't know." Her voice softened unsure but she was in his grasp. All she needed was persuasion. "I still don't know so much about you. Your life outside of our interactions are still a mystery, your family a bigger blank."

"You would learn all of that. Marry me and become my wife."

Warmth spread across her face and a moment later lips melted into a kiss. He made no comment back. Embracing the woman against his chest tightly and deepening the kiss, his embrace increasing slightly. Smaller hands found themselves gripping the front of his haori. Everything blurring and unimportant, the only thing that mattered was this woman in his grip. Her everything.

H I S E V E R Y T H I N G.

Her sweet lips. Her beautiful smile. Her shining eyes. Her soft touch- A shiver ran through her under his hands when one hand found the small of her back, a rumble from his chest showed amusement much to her embarrassment. He had her right where she was supposed to be, in his arms and his own-

Until a distant woman's scream sounded out.

You turned away from the warmth slightly to peer up startled at the window although that didn't deter the demon who continued trailing kisses from the corner of your lips to the bottom of your left cheek, burgundy bangs tickling the left side of your face.

"Did you hear that?" He hummed in question trailing another strong of kissed back up your cheek. "I thought I heard someone screaming."

"Ignore it." A hand gently tugged your face back towards him and once again your lips met-

Until another scream pierced the air making you turn away from him again as he trailed after you but stopped when you placed a hand over his mouth. "Kokushibo, wait. There's clearly something wrong."

He didn't fight her when she removed herself from his embrace even as he exhaled annoyed mentally cursing the person who took her attention from him. It was a rather quick job to get yourself presentable enough to go out. She grabbed a homemade coat to throw over her shoulders but paused when she noticed Kokushibo standing up and placing the familiar hat om his head.

"What are you doing?"

"Obviously I'm not about to let you go alone out there where wails persist. If danger is about, then you'll be needing protection. I won't be taking a no for an answer."

You decided not to argue with him and instead just turned back to the door, the sounds of a door sliding open and closed echoed throughout the silence.

A shudder ran down your body as you pulled the coat tighter around your shoulders. Fall was starting to come to a close and soon winter will be here. You never did like the cold weather all that much. The cold wind wafting over you and making you shiver and shake. It was one reason why you liked working at the fragrance store. The constant making of soaps and candles made the building warm a lot of the time and it was an ideal place to work in winter. Your legs carried your shuddering from down the path with the tall demon following right next to you before turning the first corner to get to your workplace but slowly came to a stop once you saw a curious sight. A decently sized crowd had gathered in front of a house. Not just any house.

The undertaker's residence.

A small crowd of about ten to sixteen people were gathered silently staring at the home and whispering to one another in hushed tones. Being a small village, there was little excitement in the town and one of the only times any excitement happened was whenever one of the residents passed away. You guessed one of the elders had passed away and now there was the usual temporary buzz of limited gossip around it. Curiosity got you to walk forward slowly until you got near enough to merge into the crowd and stop by to stare into the house's window. Inside you could sorta make out the forms of a man and woman with their backs to you. The man had an arm around presumably his wife and the woman looked to be shaking in sobs. Another person, the undertaker, remained calm and stood still. The family of the deceased no doubt making burial arrangements for whoever had passed away.

Eventually you turned to a girl next to you and asked, "What happened?"

She looked at you wide eyed and blinked. "You didn't hear? Nori was killed." You stiffened. "A hunting party went out for deer last night, and one was mauled by a bear or wolf. Tore him completely to shreds. His body was brought back early this morning."

Shock littered your body like leaves on the ground. "N-Nori was..."

Stiffly your head slowly turned back to the grieving family in the window. Nori was...DEAD?! HOW?! WHY?! A wide range of emotions hit you all at once. Shock, fear, doubt, confusion, and guiltily enough relief hidden under all of that. And he had been killed by a...bear?? Or w-would?! But...there hasn't been any giant predators near your town for the last five years! And someone was mauled by one last night?! That... didn't make any sense at all. Nori was an asshole but he was genuinely a good hunter. You remembered seeing him dragging back fat deers and large rabbits and once the beautiful hide of a single wolf he caught raiding a neighbor's barn but that was over five years ago. There hasn't been any big predators since then and the thought of one killing him was.... shocking to say the least. You briefly wondered if that's what you saw in your yard a few days ago before Kokushibo arrived.

The girl nodded. "A group of men went out to try and track it down. If you ask me, I bet this cold has made the beast hungry and desperate for a big meal! You certainly won't catch me out in the woods now."

You opened your mouth to question further but jolted when a large hand grabbed onto your shoulder. Turquoise eyes looked up at the disguised demon. "We should move. It is... disrespectful to view the mourning family as a spectacle."

You gulped down and nodded before giving one last look at the window- And then leaving quickly with the demon ushering you forward casting his own internally satisfied look at the mourning parents before taking his leave. He was right. It was disrespectful to watch the family mourn Nori despite your own opinion about him, you only hoped that the beast was caught or moved on from here now. Your hands shook lightly and your body felt light, Thoughts swimming like a single fish in an endless ocean.

"You're trembling." You jumped looking up at the demon. "I thought you would've been happy after hearing of his death."

We're you trembling? Trembling hands gripped the coat around your body and squeezed down to force the trembling away. "I-...I just.. I-It's unbelievable is all. He was so good at hunting.." You shook your head at nothing. "How could this have happened?"

He stared at you brain calculating something in his mind before he spoke again carefully. "I did break his hand." Her head snapped to him wide eyed so fast. "During our confrontation a while ago, back when he gave you that cut on your cheek." She shivered when a hand reached up to run across the healing small cut on her face. "That could greatly weaken him against a great beast like a wolf, and he is-.. WAS very overconfident. Fool probably thought he could take it on regardless."

"I...I guess that makes sense." To some extent it did. Nori WAS overconfident but he genuinely (you hated to admit it) had the impressive skills to boast about. He WAS an excellent hunter. Possibly the best hunter your village has ever had...but it still seemed so bizarre. Even if he only had one good hand, couldn't he have taken the wolf down?? "...Do you smell smoke?"

You stopped dead in the middle of the road making the demon stop by proxy. "Smoke? Many of your town's houses have chimneys with fire or smokehouses making use of the jerkied meats."

"No. It smells much stronger.."

Furrowing a brow, her head looked up and saw smoke. ..Wait. That couldn't be right. Why was there smoke billowing in the air?! Your eyes followed the pattern where it came from and a pit formed in your stomach when you realized the direction it was coming from. Worried you broke away from the demon's hold who blinked, quickened your pass and made it to your boss's home only to not find her there. Instead of asking questions, you squeezed through the alleyway between two homes to follow the smoke in the sky, the smell got stronger than before. Coming to the other side you immediately froze. A much bigger crowd than the one at the undertaker was there covering the streets. What was going on here?! After a moment you pushed your way through this crowd and stopped once you caught sight of it. Frozen and jaw dropped.

Sabo's house was burnt to a crisp.

There was nothing left but half a burnt shell of a house blackened by fire. Men were still going back and forth passing each other buckets of water and double pouring over everything despite the fire being long since burnt out. And there in front of the crowd was your boss and her family. The old woman was on her knees face buried in her hands sobbing uncontrollably. Sabo's parents were right behind her. His mother just... staring with this absolute shocked expression as if she couldn't process what she was seeing. While his father could only silently look stone faced continuously shaking his head in disappointment. Whisps of thin smoke trails still rose as the men still hurried to pour as much water as they could on everything...but no Sabo could be found. After a moment you turned to a man next to you dread filling your mind and body. Stomach feeling like you'd vomit your dinner from last night any minute.

"What... happened here?"

He blinked looking at you but then sighed. "The house caught fire in the middle of the night. Apparently during the night he got cold and placed his bed closer to the fireplace, but his bed caught on fire and burnt down the entire home with him in it."

Your eyes widened. Sabo was...deceased?

You supposed you shouldn't be surprised Sabo was the soft to not heed the warnings of a fire..but..shock enveloped your body in a way you've never experienced. You had to clutch your stomach and turn away, breathing in cold autumn air in attempts to not vomit. Head spinning. Everything suddenly blurred out until a ringing formed in the eardrums and grew in high pitch. The world dizzy and watering with salt tears. The ringing growing higher and higher in pitch. Knees felt weak about to give away. Ringing getting higher and higher almost like a woman shrieking, writhing in absolutely agony right next to your face. Time seemed to slow as you looked up, and the feral image of the grieving grandmother lunged herself at you-

A large angry hand clamped itself down around her neck stopping the woman of knashing teeth and lashing arms. Turquoise eyes frozen in shock and fright.

"It's your fault!!" A shriek aligned with that of a banshee out for blood came forth from the old croaked up maw. A rabbid dog in place of the elder. "If you had just taken your place under him this wouldn't have happened!! IT'S YOUR FAULT HE'S DEAD!!"

The weight of a thousand eyes turned onto you. A thousand thoughts of judgement. A thousand mixed looks.

"T-...T-That's not t-t-true." Your voice was small and shaking in the hole all the eyes and stares dug for you. "I didn't-"

"YOU'LL NEVER BE ANYTHING BUT A WALKING GOOD FOR NOTHING BI-"

"Finish that sentence and I will kill you."

A threat. A warning. A promise. All three rolled up all into one. A voice that commended attention less the unfortunate be ended for their crimes. The rapid thrashing woman screeched in rage, agony, contempt despite the clear danger against her skin.

"You vile bastard!! You did this!! You did this!! I know you had a hand in this somehow!! How dare you come here and insinuate yourself in our lives!! Who do you think you are to do such things!?"

There was a tilt of a head. "My name?..I go by many names. My enemies know me as Death. Strangers as Kokushibo. My men as their Lord."

A straw hat built with care for specific deception needs dropped. A feeble weak thud lined in the silence of the woman's own. Contorting from rage and wrath to fear and frozen with each lid raised to reveal each individual or on the face of silent ending.

"Widely accepted as Michikatsu Tsugikuni."

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echantedtoon · 30 days

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Waning Obsession Masterlist

SUMMERY: When the shadowed moon turns to a full eclipse that blocks out even the stars, the monster comes out to claim the maiden. The wound Cupid's arrow caused by piercing his dark heart bleeds out for her, so he would seek what his body needed to heal. The waning desire pangs him so.

INFO:

1. This is a Yandere-ish story. I in NO way support any of that kind of relationship in real life!

2. This is a story with Demons from Demon Slayer so expect there to be some fighting, cussing, blood, mentioned killing, and other such things. Although they WILL be way toned down.

4. This IS an AU. So barely anything will be cannon.

5. If any chapters have warnings please read and heed them.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

OTHER RELATED CONTENT

In The Moon's Shadow

Eclipsed Starshine

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echantedtoon · 6 days

Text

Waning Obsession Ch12 Where We Go

(Warnings: mentions of killing, etc.

Important Info here on our most of the rest of the chapters might be mostly in Kokushibo's pov. Also this chapter will also be a bit shorter than the others.)

The rain showered down from above. The droplets hitting the trees. Seeping into the cracks in their bark and dripping from the leaves down to meet the wet ground. Usually rain was very peaceful. Sometimes even scary. But for now it was very cold.

Both literally in temperature and in sorrow.

He rarely if ever paid attention to the coldness of late autumn around him. He was far used to the sting of cold and the numbness of ice against his skin. His body had been hardened by years of brutal training to ensure that he never let it cross his mind as nothing but a passing thought and nothing more. Hands have gone numb in the cold. Calloused by hardened souls and minds.

'Forget. You must forget what pain feels to you. Forget about what makes you feel pain. Do not let cold freeze you. Do not dare let fire burn you. Tired is not but a state of mind. Push on. You must block out what makes you weak. Do you wish to fail?'

A chestnut tree did not provide the best of shelters. The rain drip dropping from it's curling bars branches and running along golden brown leaves already about to fall. A single bead of water shined in the dim light and tumbled down down down from the rough bark. It's travel ended the moment it hit softened strands of mahogany hair. Running down the long strands going going going to the very ends. It's journey coming to a close as fabric swallowed it whole again. It's cold not getting to the one underneath the soft fabric.

'Block out emotions. You must make yourself invulnerable to any feelings. Emotions make you weak, Michikatsu. Fear causes hesitation. Anger irrational minds. Curiosity stupidity. Happiness creates distractions. Love..Love Is a liability. Liabilities are weaknesses. Weaknesses are FAILURES! You must learn nothing but rational thoughts. Use your mind to make decisions instead of emotions. Use everything you are taught to make the right choices. Only then will you truly be invincible.'

Movements shifted underneath. Warm. It was warm. And safe. Eyes opened to peer in numbed bliss. Her warmth was like a dagger being stabbed into his chest and twisting until the outside was pierced through to the inner most deep depths and injected with warmth he never knew existed. It was..

A D D I C T I N G

'Do as you're told. Become the ultimate weapon. This is your fate. Your destiny. The entire reason you were placed here.'

"..Fuck your destiny."

A hand caressed her head against his chest. Her breaths soft but consistent. Curled against him now satisfied that shadowed monster inside him. Content whenever he got what he wanted. Finally. He had what he needed. All right in his grasp. Everything is completed. He sighed heavily gripping her close. His lips grazed the top of her head, placing a small but warm kiss to her head.

HIS. This was his.

His life. His reason. His purpose. His love. His future wife. The woman who will be by his side. The one who will give him children. Y/n Tsugikuni. Haruhime was a name unworthy for her, but that was ok. It would be remedied soon enough. He loved her.

'Do you even know what love is?! You've never even experienced love! Your father treats you as nothing but the best option! He only values your strength and nothing more! Your mother barely knows her own son! And can your own twin really say he cares about you when you weren't even raised together?? Even your own people fear you! So how can you know what love is?!'

The eyes closed pressing further into her warmth. "No. Stop it."

'How do you even know that she loves you?! You destroyed her entire life in a matter of seconds because you were selfish and greedy! Even if she stays with you it's not out of love! It's only because she has no where else to go because you ruined everything just as you always do!'

"Your heart is beating irregular."

He froze. There was movement under his form and something pressed on his chest. So soft. Heart hammering away from where the palm pressed onto the skin. So warm. Her essence was intoxicating. Her touch scorching but burnt in a good way. He sighed in content. The thoughts were becoming too much.

"Let go."

"...What?"

"Let me go."

"It's cold. Your body needs warmth-"

"Michikatsu, let me go."

He flinched as her lips spoke his name. It wasn't so much her voice as it was her tone that had him flinch but the tone it was spoken with. It was demanding and blunt. Not suitable for a woman her size but it was one that demanded attention. One that convinced him to reluctantly release his hold and allow her to lean up and away from his hold. Her face rang all the emotions that he dreaded to see in her.

Deep hidden anger. Regret. Guilt maybe?? But mostly exhaustion and sadness.

A small wind had her shivering and pulling that sorry excuse for a coat tighter around her. He hated that old garb she had to wear just to keep warm. He'd gladly hold her and shield her from the elements but if he attempted to do that again now that she was awake, she'd only become angry at him again.

Turquoise eyes looked up at the dripping sky. "... It's raining. It sounds so.. peaceful." Her eyes did not again look back at him. "How long have we been traveling?"

"Five days."

"Where are you taking me?"

"There is a small campsite where my father is currently residing in. It's not proper for a woman, but I can arrange better accommodations for you from there."

Now she did look at him. Wide eyed in fear and shock. "Lord Tsugikuni?! You never said anything about having to meet him!"

"I must. By now he must be very angry with me." No doubt his father would be VERY angry indeed but he'd bare the anger for the long term results after.

"I don't want to go anywhere near the Tsugikunis."

"You can bare to be around me."

"That was before you revealed yourself as Michikatsu Tsugikuni." Her eyes narrowed. If they were knives. He'd be dead. "You lied to me. You've lied to me the entire time I've known you!"

"I've never lied!...I keep my true identity a secret for safety. Would it have made you see me differently if I had told you who I was?" She did not answer and that was the deadliest blow of all. "I see..My name usually comes in the form of hatred. Why must you hate my clan name so?"

"Your family is ruthless in ruling, and cruel in nature."

"My father's rule yes, but his actions are not my own." Please don't compare him to his father. Please do not hate him. Please don't leave him! She CANT leave him!! "You did not seem to believe me to be like him before."

"Perhaps I could have believed that you were not the same before you took the lives of two men in the same night you shared my home and my bedside."

This again. He never regretted his actions but he was regretting the hastiness of his actions. "I do not regret that night with you. In fact my time with you only solidified my fondness in having you."

Her frown deepened. "Do you regret your other actions then? Taking those mens' lives."

His answer was simple, blunt, quick. "No. I don't. If given the chance I'd do it over the chance." A single knuckle pressed to her cheek taking her by surprised. "If they had not threatened you then they would have survived."

..Her head turned and she leaned away. "You did not have to kill them."

"..One made you clean his home like a pig and cut your hand. The other threatened to harm you and could have killed you if that knife had been stabbed into your cheek." If that disgusting pig had stabbed forward instead of swiping right with that knife, then she could've died and been taken from him! "If I hadn't what else would they do to you?" The hand lowered. "Everything I do is for survival Whether it be survival for myself or someone else." He slowly stood up and she almost forgot about how tall and imposing he was. "Come. We should be there within a few hours shortly."

"And if I refuse to go?" Her pout was as adorable as it was annoying. Lips purses in a way that he wanted to taste their sweetness on him again. "Then what will you do."

"I'll carry you."

"You wouldn't dare. What if I don't want you anymore?"

She should not have challenged him. It took no effort to lift her up by the back of her kimono and toss her up bridal style within his arms. Her squeals and shocked face afterwards while settled in his arms.

"I'm afraid that is no longer an option. If our union did not already seal us then fate has."

You somehow managed to convince Koku-.. Michikatsu to put you down on your own feet, but somehow that didn't make things better. At some point he dropped the haori coat over your shoulders as the rain picked up like that was supposed to make it better. Five days. You both had been traveling on foot for five days at most counting today. Most of it had been spent in a numb blurry state. You'd lost how many hours you've walked and how many you actually slept. But you haven't been treated badly by him. Many times you were given water collected from a stream, and you hadn't gone hungry. Michikatsu as it turns out was quite the skilled hunter and was able to skewer a quail flying through the air with ease just by throwing his sword in the air and standing still in the water long and silent enough to snatch fish out of the water with his bare hands cooking everything his hands caught over a homemade fire. You got the impression that he does this a lot. Was that why he always took so well to your food?

The charm of the stoic but shy demon you liked was shattered along with your life all in one night. And you were a numb unsure mess just wondering aimlessly after him for now- You blinked out of whatever stupor you were in when he suddenly stopped and you ended up bumping into his back. Blinking you stared at his bare back before looking up to his head. He didn't say anything but stood still. For second there was nothing but the rain still dripping down from the sky with the occasional thunder clap, it had picked up a little bit while you both walked. Then he spoke.

"You have to listen to what I'm about to say very carefully." The blunt and deep tone in which he spoke sent a shiver down your spine. "There is a camp just past these trees. You are to stay by my side and not leave it. Do not speak to anyone. Do not look at anyone. And do not acknowledge they're there. The only reason you're here is because I have business and then we're leaving. Don't speak to my father unless he directly acknowledges you first which is unlikely. Am I clear?"

You gulped. "I-..Y-Yes."

"Good. ..I promise you once this is over we will discuss your situation more properly. For now do as your told."

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echantedtoon · 18 days

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Waning Obsession(Yandere Kokushibo x Reader) Ch11 A Demon Over All

(Warnings: Mentioned killing, yandere themes, Koku having a panic attack, etc.

Apologies for short chapter. Will be more in Kokushibo's pov.)

The first scream rang into the air.

Terror. Fear. Danger. Get away. Get away! All the emotions scream. Like an accident, terrible yet one couldn't look away from the incoming storm of tragedy. He was so used to such actions as he came with the reputation. The woman who continued to shriek in his hands meant nothing to him. She was merely just an obstacle. An annoying hindrance to what he wanted-..No.

What he N E E D E D.

And he always dealt away with obstacles. The old body was easily chuckled to the side, he not caring about where it landed or how the other ended up. Screaming. A true testimony to his being. Power. Force behind it and he knew that as screams filled out his eardrums and killed him into the comfortable lullaby of chaos incarnate. Arms rising and head tilted back in display for the passionate dance of bodies scattering blurred to his vision footfalls thundering like a rain dance of nature. A true place a demon would find peace. Eyelids fluttered shut as the sounds blurred out around him until he heard nothing. Saw nothing. Felt nothing. But-

P E A C E

A shaking breath exhaled. Arms lowering head lulled back comfortably.

B L I S S

Eyelids slowly opened. The sky was beautiful. Greying clouds opening up to scattered light that shines on the temporary eternal numbness he felt. Is this what Yoriichi felt when he looked at the sky? Peace and beauty and light? If yes then for once he finally understood what he saw in the sun. It was beautiful...But despite this peaceful bliss it was nothing like that happiness that the moon would shower him in. The mother of the night bringing him quiet and sparing his person from the presence of others who wish to hurt him. Akeno was his mother but the Moon was his guardian. It was what guided him to now. To his happiness and he would thank her every night for gifting him this feeling until his dying breath. For guiding him to her. To his- Head lulled back more twisting around at unnatural angles until the visage of beauty stared back to him.

L O V E

Body turned and eyes opened full. An arm extended. 'Join me.' It said. 'Come here and embrace. Join me in the world I hail. You were meant to be mine. I am all that you need. You are all that I need. Let us transcend this plain of existence and carve our destiny in blood. You cut open my soul and yet came back to bandage it while leaving it to bleed out and fill his heart.'

"You killed them."

A knife entered his heart. Reality shattered around his carefully held up foundation. Hands squeezing down and around his heart and threatening to tear away all he had ever come to have and hold dear. A visage of anger, disbelief, betrayal, fear, sorrow, shock, confusion- All at once the face held- No-

"You lied to me."

No, no, no-

"You tricked me. What have you done?"

PLEASE GODS NO!!

"Get away from me!"

Shaking. A happiness so powerful yet a fear so wrong settled in where calmness did not. Worlds collided. Hell rejecting his still tender heart while heaven rebuked his tainted soul, living his torn numbed body in some sickened joked limbo. Pathetic. Denial. Denials all his life.

'You will never get anything you desire.' Fate taunted him pulling his by the strings of fate like the pathetic puppet he was. 'Your father sees you as his only choice for an heir and you're only useful to him for your strength. Your mother barely knows her own son. Your brother is the only one people love since he isn't hideous like you. Your own kind rejects you while everyone else will always fear you. Even the ones who care about you most will eventually come to see the demon over all.'

...N-No...

'Yes.'

N-No...

'Yes.'

N O

'YES! ALWAYS AND FOREVER YES!'

"NO"

Claws dug into fabric. Knees hit ground. Desperation. Formed between agony and pain.

F E A R

"Don't leave me!"

Worlds collided and evaporated. Taking all rational thoughts with it. Please clouding judgement, pride be damned.

"Youcantleavemeyoucantleavemeyoucantleaveme!! Please I beg of you do not leave me! I can't lose you!"

Lungs burnt in panic beyond comprehension. He couldn't think clearly. He felt like he was burning in a fire while also frozen so numb in ice he lost all feeling.

"I have nothing else. I don't want to lose this. I can't lose you! PLEASE! You're the only good thing I've ever felt!"

She was the only thing he could love. He didn't want to lose the light that had finally shined into his heart.

"I only wanted you safe! I swear...I'm sorry. Imsorryimsorryimsorryimsorry! Forgive me. Please don't leave me!"

Please don't leave him. Please don't leave him like so many others had before.

"I LOVE YOU! I love you, I love you, I love you so much you don't understand!"

Don't reject him. Please accept him for him. Please don't abandon him.

"I want you. ONLY YOU! I've never felt this way before in my entire existence! I want to be by your side as your husband! I want to raise children with you! I want to be with you until time collapses!"

He wanted to marry her! To lay beside her as they grew old together. Watching as their children grew. He wanted that. A family. He never realized that he wanted one so much until he met someone he could be vulnerable with.

"Please. Anything...Just don't leave me alone."

Pathetic. Utterly pathetic. The demon wept for the second time ever since he was a babe in his mother's arms. The weight of how he looked now did not matter. The fabric clutched in his hands and buried into his face would be enough for shielding for now.

"Kokushibo.....Get up."

He couldn't! Hecouldnthecouldnthecouldnt- He did not want to see the rejection. The disgust. The anger.

"If you don't someone might come kill you."

A fate he didn't care about in this moment.

".....Please." A gentle touch to his shivering pathetic head. "Let's go. Alright? I don't want you to get hurt."

"I don't want to lose you to them. The- they'll kill you because..."

Because of YOU. YOUR CURSED BIRTH.

"Then I'll go with you. Alright? But you must move."

"...Thank you."

5 notes · View notes

echantedtoon · 26 days

Text

Waning Obsession(Yandere Kokushibo x Reader) Ch9 For Which The Heart Darkens With Want

(WARNINGS: Kokushibo is in pretty rough shape with bad wounds and some blood loss, mentioned blood, Kokushibo murders two rivals later, koku gets stabbed, mentioned killing/attempted murder, Y/n gets cut when someone tries to attack Kokushibo, Kokushibo breaks someone's hand, mentioning of a corpse, someone gets burnt to death in a house fire, yandere possessive themes, etc. Again I don't support toxic relationships this is pure fiction.

The song Y/n sings is A Thousand Years (Lullaby Version) by Christina Perri.

MAJOR EDIT: Spelling errors have been all fixed and I got rid of the spicyish bits instead Koku Reader just share a kiss. From here on our the story will be completely different and more Yandere will be added to Kokushibo so be warned.)

Your breath hitched in your throat.

Quietly you stepped closer as and closer and CLOSER to the bush silently. Slowly behind the henhouse you went and stopped right in front of the bush. The wind blew swaying it's branches creepily and looked like thrashing arms. You grabbed a handful and silently and slowly pulled them back.

And you froze at what you saw-

The winds howled as the darkness crept across the skies. The darkness behind the bush shielded your form from the moonlight which cascaded down between the trees and clouds in the sky. The shadows danced and branches creaked as the wind blew them about. Like arms beckoning you closer to grab you away in their rough grip. Drag you into the shadows never to be seen again. You cracked an opening in the branches and looked out. The darkened sky looked out over the entire area. Tree branches swayed and night fell upon the ground. However you froze as your eyes met a sickening sight.

R E D.

The coldness of the air bit down hard on your skin, like painful bee stings pricking your skin. The terror far greater than seeing a thousand wolves sunk in. A hand flew to cover your mouth as a foul urge to vomit rose and a sickening copper smell filtered through the air.

RED!!

That was the color painted everywhere on the ground displayed before you. And there...lying face down slumped over was a man's body. A canvas for the color. Your eyes shrank in terror and your ears gained a ringing sound all on their own drowning out any noise.

A DEAD BODY.

In your backyard and lying right in front of your face. How-...How did this happen?! Where did it come from?! You wretched yourself away from the bush in shock and leaned over slightly. The urge to vomit riding as you did everything you could to keep it down. The bush branches snapping back into place hiding the sight from you. Automatically you gave a few coughs and gulped down air in an attempt to calm yourself head spinning. There was a dead man on your property! Oh gods! What if someone thought you were responsible for this!? You could be tried for murders-

Wait...

How did you know he was actually dead?

That one thought made you freeze in your tracks instantly. That's right...How did you know for certain that he was dead? You just merely saw him covered in blood with a gash on his back. Your head turned back to the bush. He...he could've been hurt and tried reaching your house for help. What if he was laying there suffering?! That thought perked you back up into going back to the bush and cautiously reaching out to slightly pull the branches again. The body was still there unmoving. It...sure LOOKED dead but you couldn't tell in the dark. If he was still alive..you had to help him. You couldn't just leave someone to bleed out. The unmoving form still remained unmoving even as you noisily pushed through the bush and stood right next to the head....It was definitely a man. You could tell by how Large the body was and how muscular the exposed skin was. In the limited moonlight you were able to make out long hair and bangs that mostly covered his face and he laid in a position that suggested that he'd collapsed by himself. But the question still remained...Was he still alive?

You hesitated again ...but slowly you reached over to the face laying on its side and touched the long bangs covering his eyes. It was .. surprisingly soft and silky to the touch and you slowly pulled it away from the face to examine it. The right side of a man's face greeted you. You nearly jumped back at what you saw.

"Oh my gods...KOKUSHIBO!!"

The demon that you had seen many times before, who had been patient despite the stigma and rudeness of the people who hated his kind, was before you. Splayed out on the cold unforgivable ground unmoving. His right eyes exposed from pulling his bangs back was closed obviously either unconscious or dead, and read streaks ran down his face in water dripping patterns from a cut on his forehead. However...that wasn't the strangest bit. Your hand instead went to almost touch his lips and flinched back feeling a weak warm breath blow across your fingertips. You reeled back in shock, hand to your chest, and jumping

HE WAS ALIVE!!

Hands grabbed his right shoulder and HEAVED. Barely moving an inch, but slowly the body turned, and with a thud he was collapsed onto his back. A shocked gasp escaped from your throat upon turquoise eyes seeing his front body. Oh gods...So much blood. His body was practically DRENCHED in the red color! And you found out why. He had the front of his shirt ripped to pieces to where it was barely hanging on over his shoulders. A large gash across his front from his left shoulder and ending just above his right hip was exposed to you. Definitely bigger than the gash along his back. And there was a third smaller gash along his right collar bone ending near his bicep. There was so much blood..How was he even still alive!? Wha-..What happened to him?! What caused him to get like this?! You reached out to touch it his neck for a pulse- But froze as a strong hand snatched you hand.

Six eyes opened up and gazed up at the blurry figure above him. Not making any sense of the blurry, spinning vision. Until the eyes rolled up into the back of his head and the last thing he saw was a glimpse of turquoise.

**************************************************

Warm.

Everything was warm once feeling returned to his body. Which was odd. He was lying on the cold hard ground last he remembered. Logic was of course the first thing to return to him. His thinking was always faster than his reflexes. Then the feeling of his body settled in. Warmth...but incredible aching, throbbing soreness. It throbbed and pained his body. Hmm..So he wasn't dead after all. It was too painful to be heaven and not painful enough to be hell, and too annoying to be purgatory. So he was still alive but had passed out for a short while. An acceptable fate. Now...where was he?

Eyes slowly opened themselves up to the world blinking rapidly at the light and his vision blurred until he could see...A one roomed house? It was mostly empty. A coffee table square in the middle, a picture frame or two holding a painting of someone on the walls, a basket in the corner, a shelf full of dishes and other small items, a fireplace with a fire currently going, and a few other bland things. Nothing that really stood out as anything important to him. But who lived here? Why was he inside? How did he get here? And who touched him?

Wait...This place looked familiar but his throbbing head couldn't pinpoint why or how.

His question was answered when the door opened and the figure of a woman in a blue kimono walked in. The smell of wood drew his attention to the logs she was carrying. Silently he watched as she slid the sliding door back closed with a foot before continuing on to the fireplace and proceeding to feed the fire the wood. He laid there silently staring at her legs as she worked, feeling too weak to look up just yet and not wanting to give himself away just yet. The sounds of a metal poker scraping against the fire appeared for a little while before it too went away and the legs turned to face him. They didn't move again for a long moment before he felt a hand touch his blanketed shoulder- Faster than either expected his left hand shot up to tightly grip a much smaller wrist and squeezed down just enough to get the other body to freeze.

"Who are you and where am I?"

His eyes turned upwards slowly tilting his head...and he gave pause at the shocked face staring at him. The soft features looking as if sculpted by an angel. Soft, warm, and very beautiful. Definitely a woman.

Wait a minute. He knew this troublesome woman.

You stared at him in shock at how fast the man moved despite the fact that he was still extremely hurt and had blood loss. He was extremely trained if he could react this fast. You jumped as he lightly squeezed your wrist. It didn't hurt, not at all, but you couldn't move. This man was obviously serious and probably still on edge from whatever happened to him. So taking a breath..you exhaled slowly to calm yourself.

"Calm yourself," you spoke holding up your free hand despite his face already being an odd calm, "Relax back. You might reopen your wounds-"

"Must we always meet at such ridiculous times?," he asked annoyed slightly, "How did you even move me?"

"This is my home. I found you unconscious outside last night and brought you in here, and let me tell you it wasn't easy. You're very heavy and I had to drag you foot by foot. I was so scared I'd open your wounds more."

You watched his eyes looking you up and down.. before he slowly let go of your wrist and lowered his arm back down but paused when he saw the white wrapped around his palm and held his hand out to look at the bandages wrapped around it. Before his eyes slowly looked down at his now uncovered torso and saw even more bandages snuggly wrapped around his entire upper body, over his right shoulder, and part of his upper right arm. A hand reached up to feel his head and again found more bandages wrapped around his forehead. The throbbing soreness he's been feeling throbbed from most of the bandaged spots. And a deep inhale made him aware of some kind of ointment or herbal treatment under them.

"...You have treated my wounds."

You nodded finally smiling at him. "I did."

He slowly looked back to you and blinked. "I wasn't aware that you had medical training."

"I don't. I only know so much because I accidentally cut my hands a lot when I carve soaps and candles." You held up your palms displaying the years worth of scars from cuts of all sizes you've gotten over the years from your job.

He hummed. "My sword. Where is it?"

"It's by the table. You were passed out so I didn't know what to do with it otherwise." He looked back to you. "Your shirt was also ruined but I managed to save your other clothes. They're washed and drying outside so you should be able to get them back soon."

"I see." Again he looked back to his body. "What of the state of my injuries?"

"You have a few large gashes across your back, chest, and shoulder here," you gestured to his torso. "But they're not deep at all and should heal rather quickly. You have a few cuts also but they're even smaller and should heal faster." You then frowned. "However I am worried about how much blood you managed to lose. There was so much. I honestly thought you were dead when I first saw you."

"I'll live," he said simply before sighing through his nose. "Is there anyone else that lives here?"

You shook your head. "No. Just me-"

"Where does that door there lead?" He pointed out the Smaller sliding door near the shelf.

Oh right. You never told him that whenever he was here. "Oh. That leads into my bathroom." You blinked before looking at him. "My house isn't that-"

You blinked at the man who was sitting up. ... Kokushibo was .. sitting up. The man was sitting up despite his blood loss- He sighed through his nose before pulling the blanket to drap around his shoulders and slowly struggled to stand up. Your jaw dropped in disbelief as he was able to stand up and turned keeping the blanket draped over himself. Eventually you shook you head and snapped after him.

"Hey! W-Wait a minute!" He stopped when you grabbed the blanket around him and tugged back. "Where do you think you're going?!"

"To bathe." He turned his head back to you. "Please bring me my clothes." He then tugged the blanket out of your hands and continued on his way. Grabbing a towel from the shelf and entering your bathroom.

You stood there stunned for a very long time opening and closing your mouth like a fish before you looked at the empty futon and then back to the door as the faint sounds of running water started up. ....HOW WAS HE ABLE TO STAND AND WALK RIGHT NOW?! HE SHOUDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO SIT UP!! But there he was. You were absolutely stunned to say the least, but did as he asked and got the clothes you cleaned from the line. You ended up just quickly shoving them inside closing your eyes and slamming the door back shut to give him respect of privacy. He still took his sweet time however and the next time he opened the door he was fully clothed minus a shirt. Steam escaped from the room behind him as he approached your sitting form at the table but he didn't even acknowledge you. Just reaching out to grab the sword off the table. He stood there examining the sheath of the blade with a calm face... before he paused. His eyes went wide as his arm flew to clutch his stomach as a wave of pain and dizzying nausea came over him. He stumbled two steps to the right before something grabbed onto him barely able to lift him up.

"I TOLD you! You're body's too weak to stand yet. C'mon. Come lay back down." You some how managed to hold up his heavy body just enough to make it back to the futon and help him sit down but he refused to lay down no matter how hard you pushed him to lay back so you gave up and just looked at him breathing heavily. "There. Now don't try that again. You need to recover."

His hair was down now completely cascading down his body and slightly wet covering most of his back but he still turned to you peeking through his hair. "It seems...so. I must take some time to recover."

"I also need you to remove your coat." He raised a brow at you. "To replace the bandages you removed. It'd be better if I treated them properly."

He remained silent but placed the sword on his lap and reached up to silently remove his black and purple checkered coat. You blinked but quickly looked away with red rising to your cheeks. Right! You'd better get those bandages. You were surprised at how silent and calm he was. Not once did he flinch or make a hurt face when you retreated his injuries. Only silently raising his arms and moving his hair when you wrapped new clean bandages around his torso red faced. He was...very physically fit. When you were finished he just silently pulled the coat back over his shoulders.

"You should be fine now but you should rest." He hummed in response. ".... Why were you behind my house?"

"Why do you need to know?"

You rose a brow. "Well considering I found a demon bleeding near my home and treated him without asking for payment in return I think an explanation would be the least you could give me."

"I owe nothing."

"Maybe not but it would be polite."

There was silence again before he said one word. "Fine."

You blinked before smiling. "Well good. Now-..Would you tell me what you were doing outside my home?''

He hummed again cracking an eye open at you. "Nosey aren't you?"

"Concerned is more like it. You'd be too if you found a bloodied man outside your home." You then glanced at the sword on his lap. "...Were you fighting?"

A large hand clasped around the sword in an instant. "....Yes." He settled on saying carefully after studying your face for a long moment. "I was engaged in battle before coming here."

Your brow rose. "Combat in the middle of the woods?"

"I prefer traveling without trouble following. The forest provides a peaceful cover. However I miscalculated an ambush. I will not make the same mistake."

Who attacked him? Other samurai? You've seen these men a few times while in town from the waring clans but never spoke to one until Kokushibo. "....But do I have to worry about trouble coming here?"

"...No. I have already assured that I wouldn't be dealing with them again."

You decided not to delve further into that. Wasn't your business anyways. At least you didn't have to worry about trouble showing up on your doorstep. You slowly closed the box containing your medical kit. "I'll have to buy some more supplies in town. ...Are you hungry? A full stomach would help you feel better."

He hummed again. " You're cooking beef stew in the fireplace." He nodded. "I will take it."

"And water." He again looked at you. "You lost a lot of blood. You need fluids and get rehydrated fast or else something bad might happen." You stood up and turned away from him. "I'd rather not have my guest collapsing on me again." Walking over to the shelf, you placed the box back. "You can stay here until you recover, but I think it might be a good idea if I had the village's doctor come look at you-"

"NO." You turned around blinking at him as he narrowed his eyes at you. "I won't have anyone else seeing me or knowing I am here. I will stay until I am well enough to walk within a week but until then no one else will know I'm here."

The intensity of the state he was giving you reminded you of a wolf staring at a rabbit. ..And you suddenly had a thought that perhaps you had better stay out of whatever business Kokushkbo had. So you nodded and he relaxed back but still stared at you. Watching as you set about getting him a plate stuffed full of rice and beef and whatever else you decided to give him.

"Thank you." He said plainly before just grabbing a pair of chopsticks to start eating.

"I hope you don't mind such a meager meal. I don't have exactly have access to top meat."

"This will be enough for now but I will need more later to fuel my body's regeneration rate." He said before just silently putting a chunk of the food in his mouth...and pausing before just looking at the food.

You noticed that and tilted your head. "Is something wrong? It's too hot isn't it?"

He was slow to respond. "No... It's quite good. I rarely have home cooked foods." Mostly he feasted on prey he caught these last few months between the battle fields and missions and home cooked meals like this were rare these days.

You smiled at him. "Thank you. If you're still hungry later then you're welcome to take more of it. If you can't move just ask me and I'll get you more." A jug full of water and a cup was placed next to him. "Here's some water. Drink some. I'm going to clean up the mess you made of my bathroom. Next time don't leave your old bandages next to the tub."

"My apologies."

He did not say anything else as you left to clean up the bathroom and dispose of the old slightly bloodied bandages he had wrapped around himself.

"Burn them."

You paused in the middle of carrying the small pile of bloodied bandages in your hands. "What?"

"Burn them in the fireplace." His eyes glanced to the fire. "It'll better for any trace of me to be cloaked for now." He took another sip of his tea before looking at your face calmly but seriously. "When you are finished, I want you to take the ashes from the fire pit and go outside. Cover any pools of blood I might've left behind with them. It'll mask the scent until the dirt fully absorbs the blood away."

"Mask the scent from who?"

"Anyone wishing to find me and finish what the others failed to do. Try not to let anyone see you do it."

You weren't exactly sure who these 'people' were, but you'd rather not risk it considering the spike of fear from his words. So you did what he asked with an approving hum from him. Throwing the old bandages into the fire until they burnt into ash and collecting the burnt out ashes and logs in a metal bucket nearby. He only watched silently still eating as you heaved the heavy bucket out of your house, around back, and where you found his collapsed body. Sure enough there was some red blood stained there from where he laid for who knows how long before you found him. Taking the still hot ashes, you made quick work of it looking around yourself to be sure no one else was watching you before all the red ground was covered up. Leaving you to scurry back inside to him.

He seemed pleased with your work and just finished eating silent before you began collecting the dishes he set aside once he was finished with it. He stayed like that for the rest of the day, just silently sitting there and looking like he was in deep meditation. You didn't disturb him still feeling strange from the intense look he gave you earlier. However you did comply with him when he asked for more food before retiring to the futon you set up. Not wanting to disturb him, you just pulled out a spare set of blankets from the shelf and curled up near the front door just in case you needed to jump out for whatever reason. However you woke up the next morning in surprise to find him sound asleep still.

Seeing as you still had a quiet morning to yourself, you quietly made your way out to go to work which wasn't too long a job but you thought that the man would've been awake by the time you came back. You were surprised to see that he wasn't. Instead he remained there in the same position you saw him in when you first got up. Long hair splayed all around him. But what caught your attention towards him was the twitching of his eyelids. He looked incredibly bothered by something. So when a hand touched his forehead, his eyes snapped open immediately to look at you.

"You're running a fever...It doesn't feel too high thankfully. I have some fever medicine in my kit. I'll give you some and you should feel fine later."

He merely hummed before closing his eyes back shut. "Do what you must."

You smiled and made to move..but paused. Removing your hand you stared at his bare forehead in confusion. ".... That's strange. Didn't you have a cut on your forehead?"

"You're mistaken." He didn't bother opening his eyes.

You stared at him before opening your mouth. That's not true. You DID treat a cut on his forehead but again you decided not to bother fighting him and again treat him with a herbal tea infused with the medicine. He opened his eyes and would've sat up to take the drink from you, but blinked as all of a sudden a hand pushed itself under his head and lifted him with extreme gentleness he'd never felt before. As if he was cracked glass and at any moment could shatter. Something warm and herbal smelling wafted over his lips as you cradled his head and held the cup to his lips.

"Here. Drink."

The eyes stared up at yours and how soft your features were... before they glanced at the cup, and slowly opened his mouth. It was enough for you to tilt the cup for him to drink taking great care to not spill any on him. Making sure to also give him breaks between gulps to allow him to breath until it was empty. He'll also need something solid in his stomach. Good thing you still had leftovers from dinner last night. He didn't make any moves to stop you from cradling his head and feeding him until he seemed to be full enough and you gently encouraged him to sit back up. You needed to treat his wounds again. He seemed to struggle to sit up by himself so you had to push him up into a sitting position before you could again treat him. He just remained silent and compliant throughout the entire process until he was laying back down and a cool wet towel was being pressed against his forehead.

"There you go. You should feel better soon. Is there anything else you want?"

"No. This should suffice."

You smiled at him again. "Well you should be well for now. I'll come back later and get you some more water after I finish cleaning the house. For now rest."

He looked at you closely. "You're doing your duties even while caring for someone else fully?"

"Well ..Yes. You're my guest, and I should be a good hostess but I shouldn't neglect my chores either."

"Hm. The markings of a devoted housewife." He nodded. "Your future husband will be pleased."

You paused blinking.. before slowly looking at him with a look. "I'm not seeing anyone for the last time.." His eyes looked back to you. "Really. I'm not. I clean my home and provide for my own person because I like independence."

His brow rose higher than before. "A woman living alone and supporting herself?" The eyes scanned you up and down. That was unheard of. "With how young and beautiful you are? A woman by your age is usually married or engaged to be married soon. It's unheard of to hear that you're not."

You paused. Before your face lit up a light pink at his words but despite that you shook your head with a frown. "No. I like living by myself and providing for just me. It's simpler and more peaceful."

"You do not want to be married? Or start a family?"

You gave a thoughtful look. "Well..I think it would be nice to settle down eventually, but it shouldn't be forced. Marriage is supposed to be about love for one another, not just what I look like."

"You haven't gotten any suitors?.. Outside of the man calling himself Sabo."

You shook your head picking up a bucket. "No. I have but most of the ones I've gotten have always been pushy or only wanted to marry me because they thought I was pretty or for some other selfish reason. Living on the edge of town helps but sometimes someone still comes here and try their luck. Some more pushy than others. A lot of the time they don't like hearing no."

Kokushibo silently seemed to be giving a thoughtful, considerate look to what you had to say. "I see."

He said nothing else as his eyes closed once again and you left to fetch a pail of water from your bathroom. If he wanted to rest then you wouldn't disturb him. Only rolling up your sleeves/bottom of your kimono before starting to scrub the floors. He remained still as you worked even as you moved furniture and pushed him and the futon over at one point to clean under him. He merely perked an eye open, before immediately closing it again unbothered by anything. Made no difference to you. You just continued to go about your business dusting, sweeping, mopping, etc. You again changed the towel on his forehead and fed him more later in the day but it wasn't anything special. However come the third morning he was there you started to think maybe demons were more supernatural than you thought. You had woken up as usual and gotten up but froze when you found the back door open and he was just sitting there already helping himself to what must've been the last of the large pot of stew and rice you made. How the heck was he able to eat so much? He noticed you before you could even say something.

"Apologies for devouring your food. If I wish to regenerate fully faster, I need more sustenance to sustain the energy my body uses to generate the healing process. But rest assured this only means I won't be a bother for you sooner."

You blinked looking at where he had been resting the day before then at him opening your mouth.. before just closing it. "It's..not a problem. You must be really hungry. I'll cook you a few eggs."

He only tilted his head slightly as you silently went over to make his bed, without complaining about it to him, before exciting the home to begin your work. A woman who didn't complain about things he did and just offered him more food without a second thought. The markings of a good woman who'd take good care of her husband and the home when he was away. However she seemed very stubborn minded about remaining single. She'd most likely die alone. He'd just finished the food you'd given him and you took his plate away with a smile when a knocking noise from the front door caught your attention. Kokushibo merely cracked an eye open from his meditative state. Neither of you moved and then the knocking came back again but louder.

"Who could that be?," you mumbled putting the plates to the side.

"A man." From the presence he sensed and by the smell, it was a male around the same age as you and from the smell of animals, he was either a hunter or was wearing some kind of animal pelts.

You hesitated looking at him both wondering how he knew that and a bit concerned. He said he didn't want anyone to know that he was here, but he didn't make any moves to hide or move out of sight...You supposed it would just be ok to answer the door, you just had to make sure to not accidentally show Kokushibo was there. So with a sigh you steeled yourself with a smile and walked on over to the front door, just sliding it open enough to peek your head out... before you blinked and your face frowned.

"What are you doing here?" Kokushibo's head perked up at the heavy distaste in your tone.

"I came to see the love of my life.~ Isn't it obvious?~ I missed you so much.~", came a gruff but young male's voice he'd never heard before.

Behind the door you placed a hand on your hip. "You're not allowed back in town. You were banned after you almost killed that elder a year ago."

"It was an honest mistake-"

"You got drunk and picked a fight with that poor old man for no reason! On top of that you dishonored your family and that was on top of the pile of horrible things you've done!"

"You don't live in town. This is just outside it, so I'm not breaking any laws." Kokushibo's head turned to the side and rose a brow seeing a hand caress the side of your head through the doorway. "I missed you.~"

SLAP!

The hand was harshly slapped away from your face. "GET OFF MY PROPERTY!!" You bellowed out at him in a tone that surprised Kokushibo could come from such a soft lady especially since he's never heard such a tone come from you. ''I don't know who you think you are but you're not welcome here! You're NEVER welcome here! You disgust me to no end! Now get off my property! I don't want to see you again!"

There was an instant reaction to your words. One of which being that you were shoved back harshly. Enough to send you stumbling back and falling to the floor as the sliding door slammed open and someone stepped inside. The someone was a man about her age maybe a year or two older with a few scars and clothing made from animal skins. Ah. That explained the smell of animals. He walked in initially with a smirk on his face but paused upon seeing the face of another man staring back at him calmly and silently. Except Kokushibo made sure that he kept his eyes under his hair, concealing his true identity. You shook your head scooting back from the new man entering your home and glared at him. The two men silently stared at one another before finally the first one sneered in anger and pointed at Kokushibo.

"Who the hell are you?!", he demanded.

"Who I am is not important for you to know," he responded back calmly only making the newcomer angrier.

"What?! Did you get married or something while I was gone?!" He snapped to you in question.

"So what if I did?!"

"SO YOU GOT MARRIED!?"

"Again that's none of your business! I don't owe you any explanation on what goes on in my life! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!"

The man didn't. Instead he snarled at Kokushibo who took his sweet time standing up and turning to face him. His calm expression beyond repair making him even more so.

"I believe she had asked you to leave this house," he spoke more calmly half lidded eyes staring at him. You looked up at him. Holy crap...he was a lot taller than he looked.

"Tch. And what right do you have to it?," he asked silently sizing the samurai up.

"None. I am nothing but a mere guest to this household however you are not. Now you had best be on your way. I would find it improper for you to stay any longer."

Perhaps it was the previous blood loss that had dulled his senses or the fact he didn't take this man as a threat (and to be perfectly honest he wasn't a threat at all) but when a hand shot out he stiffened awaiting the blow- However it-...Never came?

The smell of blood filled his nose after a body flew up and something metallic and shiny slashed across your face. A cut formed on your cheek. Pain exploded as you yelled out stumbling back until you collided with a body. Kokushibo blinked as you fell against him easily catching you in one strong arm as you gritted your teeth and clutched your cheek as a cut bled out on. Kokushibo slowly blinked as you felt tests start to stream down your face. Kokushibo slowly let his eyes grow wide before looking at the man who also seemed surprised as he held up a dagger.

"Leave him alone!," you bellowed out at the other man, "He's hurt enough! Just leave us alone! GET OUT! GET OUT!! GET OUT!!"

Well..that escalated rather quickly. He stared at the woman starting to cry in his arms then back to the man holding the knife. Her body was slowly slid until she was gently placed on the floor. Turquoise eyes blinked as he easily stepped over and placed himself between her and the other man. An unusual feeling of anger bubbling from his surface and he found himself wanting to do nothing more than smash this man's head open like a walnut. ..The sobbing continued behind him which made him give pause. Hmm. That would possibly escalate the situation to a much worse scale. Kokushibo decided he wouldn't be ending any lives.

Not now. Not today at least.

He chillingly looked back to the man. "You have been told to leave. If you don't wish bodily harm upon you, you'll honor the request."

The other man stared at him before daring to growl. "Who's gonna make me? You?"

"Obviously. Normally I wouldn't care of what business or purpose you have with her, but you attacked my hostess. I can't simply let that slide."

"I'm not going to let a woman order me around like a weakling. And I'm sure as hell not going to let you get between me and my business!"

An arm was raised up high and the dagger was raised only to be swiped down- And grabbed by a large fist faster than either could comprehend. Shocked eyes stared into the calm face, eyes hidden by burgundy hair.

CRACK-

Your body curled up on itself as a man's shriek echoed throughout the home. Pain wailing through his hand and up his arm shooting off like fireworks. The knife fell to the ground with a clatter by their feet as Kokushibo effortlessly and calmly crushed the man's hand. It was all a quick blur. His hand swiping from the hand to his neck, grabbing him by the throat and lifting up. You watched shocked as Kokushibo was able to effortlessly lift up the dangling man like he was nothing and walk him to the open front door struggling and wheezing for air grabbing at the calloused hand clamped around his throat. Until the samurai stopped just in the doorway.

"A man's place is to protect and provide for the woman he devotes his life to. Your proclamations of love are as empty as your threats. You are neither a man nor a worthy lover. It's only because I'm being courteous to my hostess that you live. She just cleaned last night and I'd hate to make a mess and ruin all her hard work. But make no mistakes. Should our paths cross again for whatever reason..." The calm eyes narrowed as the grip increased. "I will be the last thing you see before death claims you."

The man's body dropped like a ragdoll with a thud and a large gasp left his mouth followed by a current of coughs as sweet oxygen filled his lungs. He simply watched him wriggle and struggle like the pathetic worm he was before he was able to scowl and struggle himself away. He stood there until he was no longer in sight and then some before closing the door in front of him. Silence resumed for a long moment.

"...That was incredibly stupid of you." You blinked as he turned to look at you. "I didn't ask you to defend me and if you do it again I'll be sure it's the last time you do."

You ...just blinked. Staring at him as tears continued to roll down your cheeks before you scowled. "I-"

"Should be the one protected," he stated bluntly, "It's a man's job to protect the women not the other way around. You've already done me a great deed by feeding me, giving me shelter, and treating my wounds without a thing in return. I owe your safety at least in return." You said nothing as he walked on over to the shelf and grabbed the box you kept your medical supplies in. "Now treat the wound. It will be better if you did."

You wiped at your face before nodding. "F-Fine. But remove your coat so I can care for your wounds in return.''

"There is no need. They will be fully healed by tomorrow anyways."

That wasn't true. The gashes on him weren't deep but they'd take a long time to heal fully. "Even still, it'd be better to treat the wounds until they heal fully and I said I'd take care of you until you healed fully."

He regarded you for a long moment. "A woman who insists on treating others before herself...You would be an ideal wife if the right man wished to court you." You deadpanned at him. "Nevertheless I agree but treat your cheek first."

You didn't argue against that or when he suddenly pressed a cloth to your face to wipe off the tears and blood from your cut. Your eyes just widened as a hand tilted your head up to look at him and he continued working...a redness spreading across your face much to his inner amusement.

"Who was that man?" His voice made you jump.

"W-What?"

"He seemed to know you. Was he a past lover?"

You scowled in his hold. "He wishes. No. Not even remotely."

He hummed. "He seems to think otherwise."

"His family owns a successful fur trading business in town. Because of that he's very spoiled. He thinks he can get away with anything but last year he was exiled from town because he almost killed an elderly man after he got drunk and picked a fight with him for no reason. Everyone was tired of his selfishness."

"What is his business with you?"

"Nothing. His parents tried to convince me to make an arranged marriage between us as children and I guess since I've told him no he can't seem to get over it. But I'm afraid he might make good on that loophole." He hummed wiping around your cut. "Technically I don't live in town. I live just on the outskirts of it. So if he comes back here then he wouldn't be breaking the law.''

"And they never asked your parents for that?"

"I don't have any parents." He paused giving you a look of interest. "Years ago there was a wild fire in the area that burnt down a quarter of the town. A few people were killed in the flames. My parents were two of them." He watched as her eyes sadly looked back down to her work. "I was taken in and raised by a very nice older couple who didn't have any children. I'm forever grateful for their kindness especially concerning my boundaries. However now Nori has returned-"

"If he returns, he dies." You blinked as he seriously spoke. "I warned him. If he so chooses to not listen to that warning then he'll face the consequences of his own actions. I never go back on my word."

You blinked at him before pulling away red faced. "Y-You didn't have to do that."

"I did what my role entails." The rustling of clothing had you look over and freeze as his purple and black checkered coat dropped to his feet and exposed his torso to you. "Now you may treat me like you wanted." Your eyes stared at his toned chest- "It's rude to stare."

Jumping you scrambled grabbing your medical kit as he just calmly raised an arm to allow you to quickly pull away the old bandages and trying (and failing-) to not stare at his torso and his scars-...Wait. The bandages fell away from his skin and you froze staring at his wounds. Except..they weren't wounds. They weren't even scars! They were just light markings that looked extremely faded to the point that they were barely present. You just...stared at them.

Wounds don't heal that fast.

Staring silently you slowly looked up at his eyes. "Is something the matter?"

You opened and closed your mouth but quickly shook your head no. "N-No! You're healing up quite nicely! You were right when you said you'd be better in a week!" You offered a smile. "After this I'll make you some more food and drink. Do you like tea?"

"That's fine....You mentioned that you had no lover?"

You shook your head busing yourself by just removing his old bandages trying not to think too much about the mysterious scars. He... probably just had a rare healing rate. Or the wounds weren't as serious as you thought at first

"No. Nori was very selfish and any others weren't really what I was looking for. I'd rather make my own way."

"Would you ever accept a courtship?"

"Well...Yes. I might if the man wasn't interested in my looks or any other selfish reason. Like you for example. You don't seem to care much about those things. If someone as materialistic as you proposed to me or if I asked I would hope he said yes.Uh...N-No offense."

"None taken." He raised his arm higher looking over you carefully before closing his eyes with a hum. "Like me?"

"Y-Yes. But that's rare to happen-"

"I see."

Kokushibo did not leave when he stayed an entire week.

Your shock of seeing Nori near sun down left you just finishing bandaging him and cleaning up the small mess Nori left behind. Kokushibo took the dagger Nori left, but you had no idea what he did with it. He only returned to what he had been doing before Nori showed up, which was meditate for the rest of the day until it was finally nighttime. Kokushibo insisted on you taking back your futon and you still bring in shock just laid down staring at the ceiling until you fell asleep. You awoke the next morning to once again finding Kokushibo silently meditating in the corner helping himself to what must've been a full jug of water. Yesterday's events shot through your mind and you got up sitting up immediately.

"I see you're awake," he stared plainly, "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to sleep in the entire morning. I'm quite hungry."

You only gave him a look of annoyance before nodding with a sigh. "Alright but then I need to head for work."

"Is that wise?" He asked watching you stretch and get up. "Your cheek is still wounded. Someone might ask questions."

"I'll just say that I accidentally made a wild fox angry or something." You yawned again and he couldn't help but blink at your figure stretching out gracefully. "It would be more suspicious if I didn't show up to work."

"Hm. Understandable. Will you be cooking me a meal?"

You deflated only looking at him before sighing and moving to get him the food he asked for. If he was still recovering from the blood loss then he shouldn't push himself until he was fully recovered. He mentioned it would take him a week to recover right? Today was the fourth day so he'll only be here for another three days at most. Maybe he'd forget about you once he left. But for now you'd keep your promise and care for him. It was the least you could do after he drove Nori away. Hopefully that would keep him away too...

Oh how wrong you were about that.

You ended up serving him more eggs and fruit from the wild trees. He didn't seem to mind however and thanked you before taking it. Leaving you to just go about your work until retiring that night. As suspected your boss asked about the cut on your cheek, but she only scoffed and called you clumsy when you told her you had just fallen on sharp rocks. The next two days were relatively the same. He'd meditate or watch as you went about your own chores after you got back from work or to ask you to cook for him which you obliged. You also checked over his injuries only to find they had healed to the point that there wasn't even any scars left behind. You'd never seen anything like in on another man. Even your had small scars from burning himself on a stove or cutting himself on a carving tool. Perhaps he was born with fast metabolism that fueled his body's healing? Would be why he ate so much. You didn't bring it up. You were feeling relief on the seventh day. It'd be his last day here before he left apparently and you wouldn't stop him. However you weren't expecting him to ask you for a brush for his hair. Huh... come to think of it his hair had been worn down outside of the ponytail he had when you found it.

"I'll fix your hair for you if you'd like me to," you offered which caught him off guard as he blinked at you in light surprise, "I can style hair a little bit. My mother showed me how to, so I can put your hair back up if you want."

Kokushibo just slowly blinked again before closing his eyes with an exhale through his nose. "Do as you wish."

You smiled in return at him and went to fetch your brush. He didn't move but did lightly open his eyes when he heard you return and grab a strand of his long soft hair. It was soft to the touch and you took gently care in pulling apart the small knots you felt before even pulling the brush through the very bottom of the long fall of hair. He found the treatment acceptable so allowed it to continue. There was silence for a while as you hesitated until you spoke again.

"You have beautiful hair... You're a very handsome man."

He froze. Something soft and gentle touched his head which automatically made him freeze. His body instinctively standing on end and a thumb and finger curiously tugged gently at a strand of hair....But no hard metal comb yanked through his scalp. Instead two gentle hands caressed the strands and gently began to weave out the tangled big and small so slowly it didn't even pinch. A hum of a woman's patient voice sneaking through as she worked. The murmurs of a lullaby echoed and gentleness wafted with it.

Silence. Other than the lulling memories of melodies and the soft touch that was left behind.

"Heart. Beats. Fast. Colors and promises. How to be brave? How can I love when I'm afraid to fall? But watching you stand alone?" You gently pried apart two strands of burgundy hair as Kokushibo remained still. "But watching you stand alone, all of my doubts suddenly go away some how."

hands gripped into the fabric. He fell silent and didn't make any moves to stop her. When was the last time he ever felt such a gentle touch? He couldn't remember? Perhaps when he was a babe still in his mother's arms before he was snatched away into the harsh care of his father. Perhaps whenever His brother insisted on being kind to him. Maybe when he even indulged himself for the company of a woman when nights were particularly cold and hard. But this?..No. Never this. Never something so...intimate. A thing to share between lovers. His body went into absolute shock as tears weld up in those eyes and freely flowed down his face from the gentle treatment.

"One step closer. I have died everyday waiting for you. Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years. I'll love you for a thousand more. " You continued working through the hair which was surprisingly easy to brush through. "Time stands still. Beauty in all she is. I will be brave. I will not let anything anything take away what's right in front of me. Every breath. Every hour has come to this."

Arms lightly shook as she nearly completed her work and red eyes watery glanced at the blankets that covered him.

Pathetic.

That's what his father would call him if he saw this. The state he was in. The emotions his body shook and caved into. Stop it, stop it! Regain control of your body!! Do not allow your useless emotions to conquer your mind!

"One step closer. I have died everyday waiting for you. Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years. I'll love you for a thousand more. And all along I believed I would find you. Time has brought your heart to me. I have loved you for a thousand years. I'll love you for a thousand more."

You finished up and leaned back to look at your handy work. However he just slammed his eyes shut from view and snapped his head away so you didn't have any clue he was even crying. Instead you rose a brow. Wow. You weren't expecting a thank you but that was a bit rude of him.

"I'm finished," you told him even though he probably already knew that by now, "But I would like to get your bangs too if that's ok?" You leaned over more causing his body to visibly stiffen. "Oh. Are you alright?"

"..I am fine." He forced his body to relax with a sigh through his nose. Quickly picking up his haori he had taken off earlier and slipped it back on over his shoulders, briefly wiping his face off to cleanse himself of the proof of his weakness. "You may proceed and finish but do so quickly. I intend to leave tonight as per my plans."

"Do you think you'll be ready? I mean you were so hurt just days ago," you mumbled in concern shuffling to sit in front of him and gently grabbed the hair framing his face before running your brush through it too. "Why don't you stay one more night? You might feel better."

"No. I will leave once it's sun down. It's almost time anyways." She sighed and he cracked his eyes up at her. She was sitting in front of him now but looked at him once he grabbed your hand gently. "I have a question to ask you." She blinked her big shiny eyes at him. "That man from earlier this week, he wanted to marry you. I can see why you haven't accepted him, but why not anyone else? Why not just give someone your companionship already?"

You gave him a look before sighing. "Because there's no one who's shown me respect or at least interest in an equal partnership."

"And you would let that stop you how? I would see no benefits in waiting so long."

"Respect is earned not given." You firmly stated reaching out to again brush aside his bangs. "I hope for someone can get me to respect them not by intimidation, but by mutual respect. I want a good man. A strong man who doesn't see me as just a woman or a wife or something just to give him children. I want a man who sees me as an equal. As a person with my own mind. Someone to share our lives together. Not to put one above the other. I want someone better than what I was offered before."

"... Interesting. What would you say would make someone better?"

"I don't think anyone is better than anyone else unless they chose to be a bad person." You rose a brow. Why was he asking you this? "I don't think I'm better than you or anyone else. It's not that simple either however."

His gaze on you intensified. "Explain."

"I just said it's not easy to explain. You may have a higher position than someone like a homeless person but I would still treat you as an equal and with respect as long as I see you treating others with the same respect and equality. If you believe something like strength or wealth makes you better then that's your own flaw." What would be a good way to explain this in a way a demon could understand a human? "...A painter may not have the strength of a blacksmith but that doesn't mean they both can't create beautiful masterpieces. A florist may not know how to till the land like a farmer but that doesn't mean they can't grow beautiful plants. A teacher may not be able to win against the strength of a samurai but that doesn't mean their different skills makes one more important than the other.," You explained making him look up in awe at you. "You can lose skills, you can gain skills. There's always going to be people that do things better than you, and there's always going to be people that do things way worse than you. But that shouldn't define the worth of a person. Whether it be a man, woman, child, or even a demon."

He regarded you for a silent second before humming. "Then how do you define who is a good person?"

"That isn't as simple either."

"What do you mean?"

"Some people are just good. Some people are just bad....But a lot of times it's subjective to different people. Good people can do bad things especially if they think what they're doing justifies the greater good. Bad people can do good things if they want to, whether that's because they still have some kindness or because it's to get what they want I can't say. ...But most people I believe aren't inherently bad or good. Most fall in a place between."

"Then....What traits do you use to judge others if you yourself have done wrong?," he spoke to you.

You blinked surprised at all the sudden questions from Kokushibo but it was interesting to know that he wanted to know your opinion. "Well...Firstly Id admit what I did was wrong and not deny it. Secondly, I would judge someone else by what makes up that person." You gestured at him. "Their actions, their words, their morals, their personalities, and how they apply all of those things when interacting with me or anyone else. I'd also think about their point of view if I thought it would help me know how or why they would treat someone in a way."

There was silence afterwards for a long, long moment. You could feel him looking directly at you calculating, as he was trying to figure out how he felt about what you just said to him. You wordlessly went back to brushing through his bangs silently. That was another thing about Kokushibo you liked. From all of your interactions he never really pushed anything when you said no. He never yelled at you the way your boss did calling you foolish and naive. He never did anything Nori did. Oh definitely not. Sure he called you troublesome but it seemed more because of the strange ways you both kept meeting up. Ironic. The first and only demon you've ever met and he treated you better than a lot of people already did by being silent and just listening.

Your eyes gazed over at his still observing you and you really took a moment to really look at him closely. He really was rather handsome. If it wasn't for the fangs and extra eyes, he would've been no different than any other man. It's sad these simple features were ridiculed by everyone else. His eyelids closed on instinct when a hand reached up to touch his face but he stiffened shocked. Her delicate fingertips soothing over the soft skin, reaching over to trace the mark on his forehead. His open eyes instinctively darting to your hands caressing his features.

".... You're different from all the others." He visibly stiffened at your words. "Your structure is beautiful that way."

He stopped fully just ... looking at you yellow irises expanding wider.

You smiled. "Just by looking at you, you're very strong. I guess that's why you're so power-" You stopped once as two large hands just grabbed yours within their grip. The brush dropping to the floor with a thud. "-ful. Uh..K-Kokushibo?"

"Your eyes." He mumbled leaning closer holding your hands within his grip. "I have..never seen such color before on any woman."

You stopped in front of the lights shining on you just the right way to give him the impression you were an angel. A sight he was hesitant to leave when he bent down. Huh. And you were both closer than he remembered. Just a few inches from one another twinkling under the fire pit 's lights. And you blinked at the sudden closeness too. Face going a dim pink and a few chuckles from the moment escaping you. No one was here too. So it was just you two. Alone out here with nothing but each other for company. His mind felt completely blank and numb but in a good way, compelling him to reach his hands up and cup a cheek of yours something his rational brain wouldn't allow himself to do. Inches away now. You didn't move away.

He stared at the woman in front of him, this strange, strange woman with the beautifully flowing hair and the cute smile. If he was watching this as an outsider, he would've laughed at how they were literally just strangers less than a while ago, but right now it didn't seem any of that or anything else mattered. Not even the topic they had been discussing just a few seconds ago. The draft blew some and blowing some of that pretty hair into his face, which she immediately reached to pull away and Kokushibo made no move to stop her from doing that. Or removing the hand that now cupped his cheek. Maybe it really was a mutual madness they both shared or some form of chaos in their lives, but right now....With them being so close...And so vulnerable. It was only natural of course-.. It's what soulmates do-.. Of course they would since-...

Your lips just pressed for a few wonderful seconds before Kokushibo suddenly pulled himself away looking at you and breathing heavily. His grip on you tightening and untightening in waves as if restraining himself. His warm breath ghost over your lips and face warning them as he stared half lidded.

"I need to know that you know the consequences of being seen with a demon." his usual monotone voice whispered out, "I need to know that you know fully what the implications of being with a demon will do to your reputation if they found out you let me stay here let alone kiss me. If anyone found out... You'll be exiled. Ridiculed. Shamed wherever you go if they know-"

His answer was her death gripping his head and pulling him close. Soft lips collided with his as he was again taken off guard.

"How many times is this woman going to surprise me?"

Yes. Then he had a few more things to take care of after.

***********************************************

Beware of things that go bump in the night.

Moonlight peeked out through clouds chasing the darkness away a little. Enough for someone to have a little sense of sight in the somber darkness. Most living creatures hiding away from view all warm and snug in their homes inside dens and hollowed out trees. Or if you were a human, you'd be found safe and sound in your house. Snug cozy and warm inside their soft beds in slumber until the safety of the sun next morning.

However one would not survive this night.

The walls didn't provide a sleeping man shelter. A door didn't stop the Moon's Shadow from sliding it open and stepping inside. Blankets couldn't hide the identity of the person within it's grip. The darkness didn't stop six eyes of hatred from seeing his form.

Oh look. He wasn't fast asleep like he expected to be in fact he was barely asleep at all. He was moving around in his sheets. Stacking two extra blankets on him for extra warmth against the cold. Even moving the futon ... dangerously close to the fireplace. The fire was small enough that it'd be out before morning but if it was even slightly bigger than it would surely catch the whole bed and eventually the house on fire.

Six orbs maneuvered to the stack of many logs by the fire pit.

Yes. Truly it would be a tragedy if the fire was bigger.

The shadow loomed over the now terrified looking man. Too shocked to speak out of fear, but not scared enough to grab a nearby pen and thrust it at the approaching abyss. The item successfully sank into flesh but the shadow hardly flinched. No screams or noises were had when a clawed hand wrapped itself around the terrified man's throat and squeezed.

"Quiet. You have no say in what you've brought upon yourself."

Hands uselessly grabbed at the clasp around his neck. Legs uselessly kicking out.

"Between us both, I was actually going to spare your life. Only place you outside and burn everything you hold dear to the ground and watch you have to struggle to actually work for it back like she had to do since your entire bloodline treated her so vile...but then you attacked me-"

Again the pen was sunk into him. This time the eyes did widened as pain fell from the still timid flesh that just finished healing.

"R-Rot in hell!" A hoarse voice wheezed out from under the fist. "She deserved everything that happened to her. If you weren't here I'd have her doing-"

A tighter squeeze ceased all air from his lungs. A different hand slowly reached down to pull the pen from his chest. "The moment you dared to get in my way, was the moment that sealed your fate."

Struggling was useless. Futile even. No matter. His fate would be the same as the other then. A hand brought him closer by the neck. This man disgusted him. His claims of having her to himself only furthered that disgust. He remembered her soft hands holding him, the same soft hands THIS PIG harmed.

"H E R L O V E B E L O N G S T O M E."

A warmth spread throughout the entire home as fireflies flickered around growing flames slowly moving from a futon to other parts of the home. Step after step a shadow took disappearing entirely from view. Their sights already focusing on another important fire burning brightly as the first scream of the town's people awoke.

A fire crackled in a bit of rocks. Feasting upon wood that melted into ashes in its grip. A sloshing of liquid heard as a gourd was passed exchanged from one hand to another. Warm skin of a hand warmed by the fire brought the sickly sweetened alcoholic drink to his lips. It burnt his throat in a good way that left him licking the burning sweetness from his lips with a snack, a sleeve wiping at his face as he did so.

"We shouldn't be out here," one man out of the six gathered around the fire commented. His face illuminated by its flames casting dancing shadows among them. "I don't like how quiet it is tonight. Listen...Not a bird. Not any beast. Not even the crickets sing their tunes tonight. I tell you it is a bad omen."

The man with the burning sweetness on his tongue sneered at his comrade. "Don't start giving me that talk about devils and inhuman monsters. I've hunted and camped in woods more silent than this since I was a child. The only danger you'll face out here is nothing but the usual teeth and claws of a wolf or a bear if you're really unlucky. I don't believe in such things."

The rest of the men only muttered in agreement with him or gave glances of weary. "Then we all share in your incompetent thinking by being out her while the moon wanes ordering bloodlust. And for what? A couple of measly game that hasn't even shown themselves." A stick was tossed in frustration to the fire. "I tell you the beasts were scared off by something far scarier. I say we take their warning and head home while we still have light to see by."

Another scoff. "A single fat deer would fetch more gold than two giant grizzlies on a good day! Are you really letting your fear blind you from what you could have?!"

"Perhaps he's right, Nori." Heads turned to the second oldest man of the group whom was staring at him with a thoughtful expression. "We haven't seen any hide or tail of the herd. Not even a footprint since we got here this morning. Even if there's no monstrous beast, it's obvious that the herd has moved out of the area. We should be home comforting our wives' worries and protecting our families from the dangers of others this night. We'll not be seeing anything here."

"BAH!!" The fire hissed in protest as liquid was spilt on thrown from the gourd splashing it as hot the ground. "You all are nothing but a lot of whimpering dogs catering to a woman's stupid fears! We should be looking more instead of lazing around where nothing is happening!!"

"You're lucky your parents hired us to tolerate hunting with you! After you got yourself exiled last year, you've done nothing but lust for a woman and then act like an ass when she rejected you!," the second youngest man sneered

The older man sighed once more. "Alright...We will give one last look around the area-" He said defusing the situation between the angry men. "-but afterwards we go home. I would rather have the warmth of my wife than that of the fire."

Grumbled were had. Murmurs were said. Footsteps crashed through the otherwise silent night. The light of the moon distorting everything with an eerie red hue as different men headed different directions. Splitting up to widen the search and make it back to dose the fire faster. Perhaps an unwise choice they would make.

Bushes and branches of the trees did not stop the ambition of one man whom stepped his way forward to a direction where the beasts drank their full of water. And the place he'd find a strong stallion or beautiful mare to take for his own. A good horse would put quite a good amount of gold in his pocket. Bushes and leaves scrapped against his body clinging for the briefest of seconds before letting go. No match for the body that marched onwards and onwards and onwards through the dark. Until he got nearer to his destination. A small sound reached his ears. The calming sounds of a running river. A few yards further away from was a break in the brush. Ah. A good place to hunt for the beasts. Lower now his body crawled along and closer towards the edge of the water. A clear view of the entire area.

The moonlight shown up on the deep moving water. Water so deep that the blackness cloaked how deep it was. There he sat as still as a rock. As quiet as a mouse. No noise but the water moving along to break the silence. No beasts could be seen however on the bankside. Irritation made a curse stir from his throat.

To hell with this! He'd get no prize tonight. The only prize he'd get was the woman in the morning. He made to move but a single sound stopped him in his tracks. A pair of eyes looked over and widened in manic glee.

"There you are."

The bushes rustled slightly making his eyes widen and approach. Surely there was a deer in there. A big juicy fat one he could sell for money. Oh the juicy meat and tender fur that would make a fine coat. Antlers big to decorate his wall with. Gold in his pockets. Food in his stomach. He finally stood just in front of the wriggling brush. Knife in hand ready to pounce. The bushes rustled. Eyes turned. His body froze. A torso of a man arose from the bush. Tall and strong looking and a mane of burgundy cascading down over his shoulders. A head turned with an eerie bone crackling noise as a frown embedded itself on its face. The moon illuminating deadly eye as horror beyond belief sat in.

"Spare the comments."

He watched the man's face contort into one of horror as he realized his mistake and became trapped as a large hand made quick work of grabbing the injured hand sti wrapped around in bandages, squeezing tightly making him cry out. In a panic the hand holding the knife struck out, the monster didn't even try to get away. The knife sank into his chest, and the monster didn't even flinch. The man stared in horror as a large hand reached up to yank out the knife without even a flinch. His breathing became more irate as his body struggled harder to free his hands. He chuckled at the useless endeavors.

"W-What the hell?!"

"I'm afraid that won't work. I don't feel pain easily." The knife was tossed to the side. Useless.

"W-What are you?!" A voice of horror yelled out. "WHAT ARE YOU?!"

"Oh. There's no need to explain to you who I am. It's of no importance. However you do know of my location and for my safety I cannot allow you to live." The pressure increased on his hand making him cry out. "And I despise how you treated my hostess earlier in the week. With your meddling in my affairs...I can't chance you taking her away from me like you threatened."

Horrific realization flooded the pale figure. Blood freezing in his veins. "Y-You..."

"Yes. Gaze upon me for it'll be the last thing you see tonight. For tonight you're life is m I n e."

A metallic noise rang out as a glimmering sword of moonlight was unsheathed. Six eyes glaring at them with an unmatched burning hatred.

He still remembered how she looked when he had woken up. Still early in the night. Curled up sleeping against him tired and snug under the blanket. The warmth he felt when he pressed a single kiss to her forehead and slipped out without her even stirring. It would be the last time he would see her for a good while. She was weak, kind, and so so so vulnerable. How easily she was hurt by this pathetic worm of a man. Veins bunched up as a raged face of eyes bulged out at him.

"S H E I S M I N E."

A man shrieked alongside the deadly cry. Minutes later there was a rush of footsteps as bodies crashed through the brush. Five men eventually made their way to the river bank where the deadly cries rang from. But not a trace of a beast was seen. Nothing but a discarded corpse with his face twisted in horror.

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echantedtoon · 26 days

Text

Waning Obsession(Yandere Kokushibo x Reader) Ch8 Fulfilled Promise

(This will span over a few months.

EDIT: Spelling errors are corrected.)

Kokushibo left her standing there watching until his form completely disappeared and she couldn't hear his footfalls anymore. The wind blowing around her body and the summer air heating up her face to the point of boiling, clutching the hand he had kissed goodbye to her chest. A warmth speared through her, heart pounding a mile a minute, and shock running through her.

....You rushed back home and yelled out into a pillow laying there for the rest of the day.

"Until I can see you again."

Kokushibo would not return for quite some time. You were flustered every time you thought about your interactions with him. Which was often and it usually left you flustered and red in the face to your boss's constant annoyance. You couldn't help it but at the same time you knew you had to forget it. Kokushibo and you were practically strangers. He probably only kissed your hand because he was a gentleman. You two didn't know each other enough for him to have feelings for you beyond maybe a kinda friendship?? But you also doubted even that. You had only met a handful of times-...Ok. You had met him a LOT of times over the span of the month he stayed and the two weeks he had stayed previously before that..but you didn't know if that eben counted as friendship let alone anything more. You needed to keep your mind off of anything unrealistic and focus on your life. After all even if you did hypothetically develope feelings for him, there was no way he'd return any feelings. He was too serious. And he was a warrior. He'd always put his duties first, so any romance probably wouldn't be on the table

Days passed. Days slowly turned to weeks. Weeks passed. Weeks slowly turned to months. And months slowly trickled past. Day turned to night. Night into day. Seasons changed. The end of Summer came and started to slowly transition into fall. The warm weather started to slowly become cooler and the leaves on the trees slowly began to turn beautiful shades of oranges, yellows, reds, and browns.

Still. Life went on in your peaceful village. In your peaceful life. You still lived your life alone in your house. You liked living alone.

No one to order you around. No one to say what you shouldn't and should do. No one scrutinizing yourself. It was a good life. Just you, nature, and the people in your village. It was a good life. Your parents were a bit concerned about you wanting to buy a house and live alone but they had passed away long ago so you supposed it was up to you now. Your home wasn't that bad. It wasn't too big. Just two rooms including the bathroom and just a small space in the back for a small garden and space for firewood to be stacked. Just it was perfect in your eyes. And it was just on the outskirts of town. Close enough to visit whenever you wanted but far enough to give you complete privacy. Which was EXACTLY what you wanted.

Unfortunately your life wasn't very easy now that rumors had spread around the town now that both Nori had been vanquished and you had 'completely insulted Sabo's family so much that he wouldn't even go near you.' ...Yeah. That was definitely a rumor spread by your boss and her family in a vain attempt to save face. You didn't mind. It might actually keep others away from you.

Unfortunately it seemed to have the opposite affect now that everyone knew that YOU, the only single woman of marriage age in town wasn't being courted.

From the moment you were born it seemed your life was going to be a problem for you. Mostly because it was almost like you had a spell casted over you to just have the worst of luck with men. Oh no. They weren't repulsed by you. Quite the opposite actually.

THEY WOULDN'T LEAVE YOU ALONE!!

Your parents must've had at least had offers from other parents to arrange a marriage between you and their sons. Thank the gods above they were amazing and kind and always asked if you wanted any of the marriages. You refused so they refused. And you would still be bombarded with offers of other parents to boys just attempting to court you any chance they could get. It was one of the reasons why you chose to live all the way out here instead of in town where you'd just be bothered. Although men still occasionally showed up here. And sometimes an older man or woman would trying to talk you into marrying their sons. You always refused and made them leave no matter how polite, persistent, or rude they are. And boy. You've gotten a few rude guests you had to kick to the Kirb. But you also had the ones who couldn't take a hint like Sabo and Nori. Then they were married off to other girls and you thought you could finally get a break once Sabo made an exit. Seemed like you wouldn't be so lucky when one of the older men in the village, came to your work. Mr. Tamaki was middle aged around the age of Sabo's parents and was widowed for about two years now when his wife fell sick and passed away.

"Good morning, Mr. Tamaki. How can I help you today?"

"Y/n..I actually wanted to ask you something but I hesitate as it might be too personal."

"Oh? Go ahead! I promise I won't be offended."

"Would you be willing to marry me and be a mother to my children?"

"....Beg pardon?"

He wasn't the first one but by far he was the most polite and understanding when you turned him down and he went on his way. Apparently now many people were considering the possibility of wooing you as you heard through the grapevine. Now you had the same people come to you and ask you to consider marrying their sons or themselves as the only unmarried woman in a town of more single men. At least once or twice a week now it was happening but as it slowly trickled into fall, the amount of wooing courters died down. Thank goodness. It was slowly getting chillier and chillier now with a cold winter being emanate. You had to resort to using the old coat you owned on your way to work now. However..your fate would change forever on one fateful day-

With a sigh you woke up that morning and did yours chores which wasn't a lot. Feeding yourself and cleaning your house. Neither of which took very long because of how small your home was and then you started on the laundry. Again it wasn't much and you were just scrubbing a blanket in your home when there was a noise outside that made up you jump and whirl your head towards the back of your house. A weird scratching noise. Raising a brow,you placed down the sheets you were cleaning and slowly made your way to the backdoor. Sliding it open-

"AH!!"

A black blue too quick to make out what it was ran through your backyard and went crashing through the bushes separating your small backyard and the woods.

CRASH!! THUD!! RUSTLE!!

Your body stood there stunned as..as..Well as whatever it was crashed through the forest until you couldn't hear it anymore. You blinked just seeing the bushes move and hearing whatever it was crashing through the woods away from you as quick as the wind. Leaving you standing there blinking.

What in all the heavens just happened?!

The last few crashing sounds made their way into the woods before it was silent all around. You stood there and just...blinked. What was that?! A bear? No, no. A bear was too big and bulky and couldn't run off THAT fast?! You looked around noticing that...Hey. YOUR GARDEN WAS A MESS!! Your once small and cute garden was torn to pieces with holes dug in all around it and dirt flung everywhere. Long claw marks in the dirt made you feel like what it was was looking for any leftover vegetables buried in the cold dirt. But what could've done this around here? Whatever it was you must've scared it off before it could make off with one of them. But what was it? Couldn't have been a fox. It was too big and it wasn't a red color...

"A wolf," you mumbled having finally deduced what it was before scowling. "It must've been a wolf! Or a stray dog!"

Scowling you marched on over to the bush where it disappeared through. Grabbing the bush branches, you pushed the thing apart roughly but saw... Nothing. The back of your house sloped down a hill to where a lot of wild berry bushes and a few fruit trees were ending in a stream that came up to your shoulders almost with how deep it was. Another reason you chose to live here. Easy access to your village's resources Free food! You scowled looking around more but there was no signs of any creatures. No wolf either. Curses! It must've ran off before you could see it... You'd buy a trap in town. You were going to head there after you finished laundry. Letting the bush go back the way it was before you angrily turned and stomped off back to the house.

"I'll be damned before I let a wild animal tear up my garden but first I'm finishing my laundry."

Unbeknownst to you, eyes opened up from the shadows and followed your form back to your home. You stopped in the doorway pausing... before turning around to fully face the backyard and the eyes widened. A shiver went down your spine as you narrowed your eyes looking around.. before going back inside and continuing inside before closing the door behind you. Yeah. You'd finish up before you left for town and buy the BIGGEST trap they had. The eyes way he'd awestruck at the beautiful figure walking into the house and closing the door. A neighbor's chicken wondered close to a different bush unknowing. A hand reached out. The chicken only gave out a muffled squawk before it was yanked into the woods never to be seen again.

You finished hanging up the laundry inside and went back out to heard all your chickens back into the henhouse and locked up your house just in case. You thought you heard a twig snapping in the woods behind you before you left down the road into town but you were sure it was just the wind. You weren't as paranoid as the others in your town. After all nothing bad ever happened here. You started down the road..but kept looking over your shoulder thinking you heard someone...but nothing was ever there. No one but your usual neighbors you saw every day. You got the feeling something was watching you from your home and the feeling didn't go away until you couldn't see your house anymore. Then you felt more at ease. Probably was the wild animal, or your paranoia that was thrown a bit since you weren't expecting it. However unbeknownst to you it was something much, much more strange than that.

The rest of the trip passed by without incident or without that sixth sense of something watching you. An hour later you arrived at the town. It looked as busy and crowded as you remembered and it was then you realized something. You might as well probably get your shopping done since you were here. You'd be needing some more supplies. So off you went to the first spot which was the butcher, then a library, and a few more places. While at a certain book store however you again felt eyes on you, and this time you turned and found the source of them this time. Four men working on building the side of a new house were staring at you as you skimmed over some books near the doorway. Upon realizing that you saw them, two of them looked embarrassed and sent back to work quickly, one man smirked and winked at you, and another one politely smiled and waved. You frowned but did politely wave at the one polite man before quickly retreating into the store further.

Why did this happen EVERY TIME you went into town nowadays?!

You just wanted to get you some supplies and be on your way. On the way back through you stopped by the blacksmith. He sold hunters they needed from bows and arrows to knives to bear traps. You walked right in gaining a few looks from a few men in there looking over the knives and two of which were asking who was presumably the owner which one would be the best for deboning large fish. Amongst the swords and horse shoes, and other items you found the traps. Big ones. Obviously those were for hunting BIG game like bears. But there was others of a more reasonable si- You froze as someone leaned on the wall next to you. Arm above and out. A face smiling down at your head. You turned to see one of the hunters smiling down at you.

"Hello, Little Lady.~"

NOPE!!

You didn't even give him a chance to speak. You turned on your heels and RAN like the wolf itself was chasing you. NOPE NOPE NOPE!! NOT DEALING WITH THAT TODAY!! Besides you saw the prices written above the traps. Too expensive and you didn't want to waste all the gold Kokushibo gave you. You'd have to use the old rope tied to the tree trick. Running down the street with basket in hand, you just happened to look up and noticed that the sun was setting. If you didn't want to walk alone in the dark, you'd better head home now. So that's exactly what you did. You veered quickly through the streets as people headed home quickly as the day's work came to an end. You didn't fear any fake darkness. You were more afraid of that wolf! But you needed to get back so you wouldn't be caught out in the dark with whatever it was. So leaving the dark behind you veered down the path leading you back home.

The light was quickly disappearing and you ran faster and faster down the road. Shadows danced across the pathway before you as you went down the pathway. Trees blew creepily and creaked as if their branches were trying to reach out and grab you. To take you captive. It made a shiver run down your spine. You didn't reach your house until the last rays of light left the sky and plunged the world into total darkness. The moon high in the sky and crescent shaped like a sadistic grin. You ran right up to the front door, pulling it open but stopped and looked around you real quick. You saw nothing but the creaking wind and trees. You shivered again before you stepped inside and closed the door. Finally. You were safely home. With a sigh you leaned against the door for a long moment before reaching out to flip the lock. With the door safely locked you pushed yourself off the door smiling and carrying the large basket over to place it gently by your-....Wait a second. Blinking you turned to window and blinked. Your window's shutters were... Open?

YOU DIDN'T LEAVE THOSE OPEN!!

You always closed your shutters before you left anywhere. Why were they open now? Especially when you KNEW you closed them before you left!! Stunned silence filled the dark house as you stared at it silently. Before slowly approaching it and looking out the window into the backyard. The moonlight hit everything in the yard. You saw nothing on the other side. Your brows furrowed. This was... strange. You remembered locking it shut before you left but you must've not locked it properly in your haste to get the trap. Which meant you had to go outside to close it again. ...your form slowly approached the back door and you grabbed a hold of the sliding door at the same time something was walking through the forest. Neither of you two noticed each other. However when you silently opened the door you froze when you heard it. The sounds of something coming from the other sides of the bushes.

The SAME bushes the wolf disappeared into. But they sounded a bit farther away from the henhouse! That stupid wolf was back!!

THUMP. TH-THUMP!! THUMP!! THUMP!!

You flinched as the sounds of footsteps...HUMAN SOUNDING FOOTSTEPS. Made their way faintly through the woods behind your home closer and closer and CLOSER to your house.

THUMP. THUMP. TH-THUMP. THUMP.

You couldn't move. Couldn't speak. As fear gripped your neck tightly and your eyes stared at the cold wind blowing the bushes around. The footsteps sounded..BIG. POWERFUL...But also-

T-THUMP. THUMP. DDDRRRRAAAAAGGGG!! THUMP. THU-THUMP.

Sloppy sounding?? As if a drunken man was stumbling around trying to keep his balance. Wait..what if it was just a drunken man? Just from the tavern? But then why would he be in the woods behind your home? And why so... ominously quiet?

TH-THUMP....THUMP.....

T H U D- ! ! !

You jumped as SOMETHING BIG. Collapsed.

Collapsed. JUST. BEHIND. YOUR. BUSHES.

You still didnt move. Panicking internally. What were you supposed to do?! Get your neighbors?! You wanted to go back inside...but what if it was someone who did need help? Or what if it was that wild animal? Your eyes flickered to the shovel you used in the garden by the house. If you scared it away by threatening it then it would be unlikely to come back again. It worked once when a fox wouldn't stop trying to bother your tomatoes. It should be work on a wolf too. And if comes down to a fight, you'd have a nice fur to sell in town tomorrow. Slowly you stepped out of the house and back towards the bush. Your bare feet touching the ground gently and quietly enough to not make yourself known.

Step after step after step.

And you froze at what you saw-

4 notes · View notes

echantedtoon · 27 days

Text

Waning Obsession(Yandere Kokushibo x Reader) Ch7 Until I Can See You Again

(The pattern for the purple hydrangea scented candle is linked below.

pin.it/BubBAQAPD

This will also be in Kokushibo's P.O.V.. Also someone asked me if demons are immortal in the story. No. No while demons have supernatural powers, they're just like regular people otherwise. They are not cannibals, immortals, etc. So Kokushibo despite being a demon will grow old like any other person. I also debated on whether or not breathing styles exist in this plotline or not. They do exist but only to those whom are 'blessed'.

EDIT: Spelling errors are corrected.)

"What are you doing?"

She was confused when he sent the crow away and made his way from the home rather quickly making her blink and follow after him confused. He briskly walked his way back through town and all the way back to the little shop she worked at. He didn't bother knocking at all. Only slid the door open and walked right in. She heard the sounds of her boss squealing in fright and running away from the samurai walking inside. She naturally followed quickly and poked her head inside only to find the demon standing in front of the shelf of candles again, his hand quickly skimming across the wide selection until coming across a purple candle. The hand grabbed it and brought it to smell what scent came from this one. Hydrangea flowers. That'll do.

He turned back to her and held up the candle to her. "I have one last job for you, and I'll need it done quickly."

She blinked before slowly taking the candle from him. "Oh. Sure. I can do that too."

"I want it covered in stars. How soon can you get it done?"

"Stars?... It'll take me a few days but I can do it. What's this one for?"

"I can not go without a wedding gift for my brother and his bride. It would look disrespectful of me if I didn't at least gift him something to show my congratulations to them."

It would mean he'd be late in seeing his father again but his father was actually a very capable commander. He'd be able to hold his own until he returns. He was most likely not going to be able to attend Yoriichi's wedding, not that he wanted too in the first place, but not at least giving him a gift would again spread rumors between them further. He didn't need anything like that trouble him when there was a real problem going on.

"I need you to finish it as soon as possible for me. I've been called back to aid in battle soon. How soon can you get it done?"

She blinked her big eyes at him before looking over the candle calculating. "..Three days. I can have it done for you in three days."

"Then you must get started at this very moment."

She did. She started immediately. In the meantime he took to gathering all of his things and preparing to leave as soon as she had finished up. His father would no doubt be angry with him for taking so long, but fulfilling his mother's request and his obligations to Yoriichi's wedding ceremony on both his and their father's behalf would be a good enough excuse. After all, he'd be seen as a laughing stock if neither of them even congratulated Yoriichi or were too stuck up to gift him anyway. The things he had gotten him would again be acceptable without being too tacky or anything else. Three slow days had passed. Three sun rises. Three sunsets. And then another knock on his door. He opened it up to the woman again standing there panting like she ran the entire way there, purple candle in one hand and a small bag in the other.

"I'm so sorry I took so long," she forced out between gasps of air leaning against the door frame. "I'm*gasp* finished."

"Perfect." He was quick to accept the candle from her looking over the beautiful star shapes along the twilight purple like it was really the sky. Yoriichi would like this. "This is also acceptable...What is in the other bag you carry?"

She held it out to him. "A few more baked sweet potatoes and some dried deer meat. It should last you on your travels."

He accepted it. Food for his travels would be good. "I thank you and apologize for any troubles I may have caused you."

"Oh no. You didn't t-trouble me at all."

She smiled wider at him making him feel an unusual beat in his chest. He ignored it in favor of quickly just stuffing the candle back with the others and picking up everything he needed, holding both bags and walking towards the door. She blinked and backed out of the way to allow him to walk out and stop in front of her before he also held up something. It was a-...Holy cow!

THAT WAS THE BIGGEST PHEASANT SHE HAD EVER SEEN IN HER LIFE!!

It had enough meat on its bones to last three days if she cooked it right, and it looked freshly hunted as if he had gotten it just that money. In question she looked at him.

"I already paid you for the first job, however I have no money to pay for a second rushed job. Instead of money, take this as payment for springing everything on you last minute. I'm sure you'll make great use of it."

She slowly took it from his hands almost dropping it at first. It had a decent weight to it. "I..T-Thank you but I can't take this. You caught this yourself."

"I will not accept free labor from you," he bluntly interrupted making her look at him again. "You have done enough for me, you deserve compensation for your work. ..Do NOT let that old woman or her family take anything from you. I must leave now."

"Back to the war." It wasn't a question but he nodded anyways before silently stepping around her and walking away without another- A hand grabbing his made him stop and turn to stare at longing turquoise eyes. "Will I be able to see you again? I mean..will you ever do business here again?"

He stood there silently staring at her for a long moment..The demon bowed to the maiden at the hip, a grip lifting her hand to his eyes. The bandage was gone now but a faint scar still remained amongst others. A dangerous claw ran across the space where it used to be making her body shiver, her skin was still soft despite all the work she does.

A warmth breath hit her palm followed by soft lips pressed against the flesh. "A wound inflicted may disappear from one's body but the cause of it is remembered till the end." Lips murmured against her skin. "I shall not soon forget this or anything else." Gently a kiss was placed against flesh before he pulled his body reluctantly away to stare down at the beautiful red but shocked face of hers. The sunlight making her eyes sparkle and the warm wind blowing her hair around. The hand let go of hers before it reached out to pull the annoying strands from the red face, slowly sliding them away before sliding down her face and cupping the chin. "Until I can see you again."

The hand left her warm flesh and he turned to silently leave. Leaving behind the maiden that stared after him in flustered shock. Yes he would see her again. Soon. After he convinced his father to take over this part of the forest as new Tsugikuni territory.

----------------

Step after step. Day after day.

His legs carried him closer and closer towards the destination. He heard the sounds of loud laughter a mile before he even saw the outskirts of the city and was hit with the scent of many people merging together long before he even stepped foot inside the city and made his way quickly through the throngs of people and towards the center. His senses were attacked by the strong smells but thankfully it was absolutely NOTHING like last time thank the gods, although he feared what it'd be like when Yoriichi's wedding did happen. He was thankful he had an excuse to miss it. The crowds were terrible. Pushing against his body uncomfortably so and bumping his arms annoyingly so. And his father wondered why he preferred meeting outside his home city but that was just calm normal city behavior.

With a sigh he pushed through the crowds faster, wanting to get this done sooner. If nothing else he's only here for his mother and nothing else there. Yes. He'd see what was going on here, but then he was leaving right after. The closer he got to the main building, the annoying feeling of seeing his brother again filled him up with dread, which was why he was glad that at least the guards stationed at the entrance of his home weren't drunk and complete stone faced and serious. A perfect result of his brother's hard training. Which both angered and relieved him to no end. It took no time at all for them to recognize him even before he lowered the cloth over his face to stare at them.

"Open the doors."

They did so immediately, silently without even saying a word. One guard giving a specific coded knock on the door before a loud clicking noise of a thick lock undone before the thick doors was opened from the other side allowing him in and away from a lot of the noise. Not all but a good portion of it was blocked by the fifteen foot walls and the distant smell of alcohol was slightly dulled by the lush gardens stationed in and maintained throughout his home. Beautiful flowers blooming everywhere, some exotic and only grown within the confines of his home. Some relief flooded out of him but there was still the lingering dread of what was to come. A half growl left his lips.

"*Sigh* Let us be done with this."

The hat above his head was removed allowing him some freedom from him for a while. Six eyes popping open one after another in view of everyone and everything around him. Terrifying to most anyone who saw him. And most did cower or look away from him as he began walking straight through the garden and towards the main building. More guards were stationed around the estate or walking around on patrol. Most bowed as he walked past trying their best to not look him in the eyes. Good. Meant he was still largely received as stronger than them. Let them be afraid. He paid no attention to any of them making his way inside the building in search for his mother.

If he knew his brother, he'd be clinging to their mother's side as usual.

The large man caused many a servant and guard to keep to themselves as he made his way through finely furnished walls filled with paintings and other fine things only they could afford. Fine life for him to live outside of the battlefield. The only thing he could do for now was make his way to his mother's bed chambers and push open the door once he arrived there. The door creaked open loudly as he looked into the room...Ah. Just as he suspected.

"Aniue?"

Three figures sat down at inside the beautifully decorated room all looking at him in wide eyed surprise. His mother laying in the bed he had often begged her to lay down in for once. Finally. His brother right next to her sitting cross legged and that woman whom would soon become his sister-in-law sat right next to him. His fists tightened up and eyes became half lidded staring at them..before he noticed the almost horrified look on the woman's face. Uta? Yes. He remembered her name now. Uta was her name. Uta was staring at him with eyes so big they might've been an owl. Ah. Right. She hadn't seen him in this form before..he supposed he should revert back to his more human appearance for this brief meeting. He wouldn't be staying for long anyways so there was no need to frighten her. Two pairs of eyes closed and disappearing melting back into flesh and disappearing from view, and two purple human pupils blinked at them from a single pair of eyes on his face. A similar shade to his brother's eyes, but while his eyes were similar Yoriichi's eyes had a more reddish tint to them. Uta seemed to watch in utter shock and complete awe at his face transforming into a more human face.

A face that looked so much like his twin's.

"Forgive me for frightening you like that, Miss Uta," he strained to remain polite in front of his mother and offered her a bow of his head. "I had assumed my brother would've told you about me by now."

She didn't saw anything at first but then gave an awkward smile and wave. "O-Oh no. It's o-ok. I just.. wasn't expecting to see you a-again so soon, Brother."

"Yes. I do apologize for dropping in unannounced like this but I am here for a reason." Wanting to get out of there as soon as possible, he bluntly held up two bags. "I have brought a few things as I previously promised." His mother struggled to sit up as he walked over to her so Yorichii reached out to pull her into a sitting up position. "Mother..." He slowly knelt to rest on his knees and presented the biggest bag to her. "Here. I have brought you what you requested."

Akeno weakly smiled at him, her face despite looking old and tired was still beautiful. "Michikatsu. My son." Weak hands reached out to him and he leaned over to allow her to cup his face. "You were always such a good boy." A hand patted his cheek. "Your father could never fully stomp that part out of you." The hands left his face before she turned her attention to the bag he offered. "Oh. I'm excited to see what these are. Are they all from the same carver?"

He nodded. "Yes. She's beautiful." His mother stopped and just looked at him for a second. His brother and Uta looked at one another suddenly. OH SHI- "She's beautifully CARVED you many things." He quickly clarified as casually as he could earning him a confused look from Uta and a..hopeful smile from Yoriichi. What the hell was he smiling about now?! His mother only gave him an all knowing smile. "Open it. You'll find it to your liking." He quickly changed the subject.

"Mm hm." His mother gave him a teasing smile that had him feeling more dread but she only went to opening the bag he gave her much to his relief. A hand reached in and the scent of cherry blossoms filled the air as the first thing she pulled out was the pink candle decorated with carvings of sakura flowers in bloom. His mother's face fell open in delighted surprise as soon as she saw it. "Oh my goodness.." A hand slowly ran over the flowers in the wax. "I've never seen anything like this before."

"Oooh! How pretty!," Uta gushed looking fondly at the candle too.

"There's many others." He nodded at the bag. "Go on."

He took great delight watching his mother's awestruck, happy smile as she slowly kept pulling candle after candle out of the bag and gushing at the colors, and smells, and artwork etched right into it. Happily passing them between herself and Uta and Yoriichi whom also took great pleasure in admiring Y/n's skills. His mother especially seemed to enjoy the small lavender soap bird and the sage scented maple leaf soap he had also gotten her, the bird no doubt reminding her of her beloved little Ebony. Good. Maybe his mother's uplifted attitude will help her health get better. They saw laughter was the best medicine, but maybe being happy would be a good substitute? He caught sight of the small blueberry candle and it briefly reminded him of the same plain candle he had given her...he forced his eyes away as his mother continued to gush about them. However of course his brother would have to notice.

"Michikatsu?" He stiffened at his brother's voice. "Brother, you seem bothered by something." His brother's calm but concerned voice asked. "Is something the matter?"

Yes. A troublesome woman kept invading his thoughts.

He shook his head no stiffly. "No. I'm only reminded of why I'm here." He finally bothered to look at his brother's face. "I had gotten your message but I...regret that I cannot attend your wedding."

Yoriichi's calm smile saddened a bit at that. "I see..Any particular reason why?"

"I'm sure you heard about Father's peace talks not going over well. With the war about to continue and how sudden you sprung this on everyone, I will not be able to attend. My place is ensuring our territory isn't completely taken over."

"Ah. Well if that's the case then Im glad you were able to visit us in person before we had the ceremony. I appreciate you taking the time to come tell me in person."

He came for their mother not him! No matter how kind he treated him. No..matter how..living he treated him.

"However I do intend to fulfill my obligations still." The second much smaller bag was tossed into Yoriichi's lap making his brother blink at it. "A wedding gift from Father and myself to you and your bride. You have our.. congratulations. I assume you also sent Father an invitation as is courtesy?"

Uta's eyes went wide with wonder as Yoriichi let her take the bag from him and open. "Yes. He didn't say anything in return to us." He looked saddened but also relieved in a way before he looked at him again. "But I know you both are very busy. Still I am more sad you won't be there, Michikatsu. I had hoped things would finally be calm and I could celebrate my union with you and Mother."

"You know I can not. It's how things are."

"Even still...I am happy you responded to my message, Brother. Seeing you makes me happy knowing you're alright."

.. Again he looked away from his brothers eyes. What did he know? He knew nothing about his struggles or what he had to endure every day! Uta's gasp thankfully got the attention off of him and back onto the things she held. More specifically the lemon scented sun he....He bought that for Yoriichi anyways...It wasn't planned to be a wedding gift but it was a convenient way to disguise his intentions. His brother like the first time was also in awe and smiling fondly at it all.

"These are beautiful gifts." His hand carefully ran along the soap sun in his hands. "It looks just like the real thing."

"And look at how cute this is!," Uta gushed over the flower smelling candle, "So pretty! I love it! Thank you so much, Brother!"

"It is the least I could've done. I can not stay longer however. Father wants me back east."

Yoriichi nodded still smiling. "I understand fully. Please be safe." His hands closed around the sun in his hands. "And please tell Father to be safe as well."

"You just take care of Mother-"

"Michikatsu." He paused when his mother looked at him knowingly. "Are you going to marry soon?" He paused completely. "I figured with the war going on, your father might push you to marry sooner."

"....That is not a priority for me right now. You know that."

"I know but I just thought that perhaps.." Her smile widened cheekily. "You might have a candidate in mind at least."

"No. I do not." He calmly stood up. "I must leave now. Continue to care for things here, and this time listen to the doctors and rest."

He bowed before turning on his heel and walked out of the room-

"Elder Brother!" He stopped in the doorway as Yoriichi stood up. "I understand that you and Father might be angry with me, with Mother, about my marriage being done the day it is..but I am only doing this because I want to be happy. I love Uta. If Father had it his way we all know he would've never had let me have this." A hand of Uta's slowly reached out to grab his hand and Yoriichi shakily held it tightly. "He never would've let us be happy. If you find yourself in the same situation.. don't let Father take away your happiness."

He said nothing but stood there for a long moment before he silently left. Fists clenched and jaw stood firm.

Dam Yoriichi! What did he know!?

HE WOULD NEVER DISGRACE HIMSELF BY MARRYING A LOWLY WOMAN!! AS HEIR HE HAD AN OBLIGATION TO FIND A SUITABLE WOMAN TO GIVE HIM THE STRONGEST HEIRS POSSIBLE WITH THE BEST CHANCE OF BECOMING LEADERS!! YORIICHI WOULD NOT KNOW THAT BECAUSE HE NEVER PUT DUTY BEFORE HIS OWN SELFISH WANTS!! IF HE HAD TO MARRY THE MOST COLD HEARTED WENCH IN THE LAND IN ORDER TO GET STRONG CHILDREN THEN SO BE IT!! THAT WAS WHERE HE FATE AND DUTY LIED! NOT CHASING WORTHLESS FANTASIES!

He would forget about the woman with turquoise eyes and soft smiles. Some time away and heat from battles would do wonders to help him retain his control. He was not be controlled by senseless feelings and will return to his own destiny. He was more than happy to get out of that estate. To leave that dam crowded city. To be by himself for a while so he could focus. He should focus his attention to what mattered most! His duties to his clan. His fate as further heir. His destiny to his father. And his obligations to his bloodline.

... Against his own wishes his brain conjured up a sight of beauty.

Of a beautiful maiden with turquoise eyes peering shyly up at him from under the hood of a beautiful silk white kimono. Her hair beautiful done up despite being hidden by the kimono's hood. Soft face framed by the beautiful locks of silky hair. Cheeks a rose red. Turquoise eyes sparkling as large lashes batted shyly up at him. A smile gracing her face as lips pink with lipstick aimed at him. A series of giggles left her as she fiddled shyly with his hand pulling him closer.

"I love you, Michikatsu."

A demonic cry cascaded through the valley. Animals of all kinds scattered away for their lives as the raged volume echoed throughout the sky. A horrible crackling sound wafted out. Bark splintered under his hands. A once mighty tree lost its life from the blow to its trunk. It's body crackling before a loud boom of soft dirt cathing itself stopped it. A squirrel losing their home.

Michikatsu stood there panting. His lungs heaving for air like a drowning man. Desperate hands trembling as he looked at them. His palms covered in pieces of bark from where they collided with the tree... before they slowly closed tightly despite his shaking.

"Get a fucking hold of yourself. She's just a woman who you met only for business. I will not give in to these mad delusions like Yoriichi. I WILL SURPASS HIM IN THIS!!"

His voice carried over as with a growl the demon disregarded the damage he did and continued on his way hands still likely shaking. Shaking from rage ..or fear of these increasingly difficult to control thoughts he didn't know.

"I am to forget her! Besides...she would never want me..."

Eyes stared at the claws of the trembling hands. For once regret and a bit of disgust filling the spot that once held rage. At least he was nothing more than another customer to her, at most just an acquaintance who happened to be a demon.. He was meant to look powerful and feared by all. No sane woman would willingly marry him if it wasn't for his status. There was a clear reason he wasn't married yet..and why women fawn over his brother far more.

"No woman would ever be with a monster."

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echantedtoon · 27 days

Text

Waning Obsession(Yandere Kokushibo x Reader) Ch6 To Which The Emotions Uncoil

(This will mostly be from Kokushibo's P.O.V. and spand over about a month.

EDIT: Spelling errors are corrected!)

The sounds of the peaceful town was delightful to his ears. After dealing with the annoyance of his city and dealing with months of death littered battle fields, a place like this was perfect for a break in the schedules. Like the last time he came to this town he settled down in the cabin in the woods near the exit of the village. The place like Y/n said was indeed abandoned. No one had lived in it for quite some time judging by all the dust and cobwebs settled into the walls. But that's fine. The home was still in decent shape and it sheltered him from the weather outside. So it would suffice. He's had worse living conditions before.

Things were going well.

His mother would be pleased with her gifts. Yoriichi would no doubt be married like he wanted, after all he already had their mother's blessing and even if their father disagreed with the entire situation, he had a single soft place for his wife. As long as she was so ill and fragile, their father wouldn't dare argue with anything that could possibly cause her stress. So more likely than not, Yoriichi would be able to fulfill his dreams. The peace talks although delayed looked promising and once his father was able to set a time to talk, perhaps this long useless war would finally end. News was that the head of the Kibutsuji Clan was ill and this might not survive until the end of this year which would leave his son, Muzan if he remembered the name right, the one who would take over. Rumor also had it that they were also tired of fighting so perhaps it will also finally stop.

Then he could finally go home for some well deserved rest.

Then perhaps he could finally focus on the duties he's been neglecting for so long. Being ready to take his father's place in the future. Taking over the care of his mother since his brother hasn't been listening to the doctors and making her rest. Finally get his territory back in order. Do something about the resource issue. Build his troops back up to standards.

But most importantly become married.

His prospective marriage was put to the side as soon as this war started three years ago now. Only a small handful of noble women and women whom his father considered to be high enough status had been brought to him (four to be exact) and none of the four women were anything he found any interest in. The first had been rather beautiful, but she had been rather vain and spoiled only ogling him and not so subtly seducing him or trying to just for his status. He dismissed her immediately. They were terrible traits in a wife, and a mother. The next two barely spoke at all and all they did was cower before him. Fear was bad traits to pass down to his heirs and he was tired of them not looking his in the eyes as he spoke. The fourth was actually not too bad. Nice and polite and managed to at least look at him when he spoke...but she was too naive. She literally didn't even get the fact he was a demon until he literally pointed it out to her. Ugh. He still remembered the moment she asked him.

"Why do you have six eyes? Is it a new medical condition?"

".... I'm a demon."

"No. Really?! I never would've known! You hide it so well!"

"....."

His children were absolutely NOT going to have...THAT as a mother. He was supposed to meet another woman but shortly after his land was overtaken in the far east where most of the valuable resources like meats and weaponry came from. It was almost a blow to their entire territory.. Almost. But he'd soon be meeting them again once this war ended. He'd find a woman who'd bring dignity and pass down strong traits to his children. Someone-

Someone who could be firm but calm. Doesn't treat him like a lesser being because of a single difference. Someone who worked hard and someone who had turquoise...eyes..

....oh ....

OH NO-

He was always quick to vanquish those thoughts from his mind. The sparking turquoise. He was only fascinated by the color. It was a rare color. One he hadn't seen before on anyone else. Man or woman. He just needed to get his head straight and focus on what was important. Which was his mother and then getting back to his post, which meant that he couldn't let obstacles get in his way. The girl needed to work. Her wench of a boss was in the way of delaying her work. Therefore logically the best course of action to ensure her best working pace would eliminate the obstacle in her way to eliminate the bigger obstacle in his way. Yes. That was the only reason why he threatened the old woman into treating her normally again. Surely. The old woman would think twice now before causing such headaches for her-..HIM and stop especially when he was around.

But to be sure he walked past the shop a few times to check on her the first week....HER PROGRESS. To check on her progress.

A quick peek through the window of the door they left open due to the summer warmth, had confirmed his theory. Everytime he gave a quick look, she always saw her sitting peacefully at the table with one of the six candles and a small metal pencil like tool working on carving into the wax. Her peaceful face and calm smile reassured him that everything was fine. At one visit the old bat caught sight of him looking through the door from across the street. Her face paled and as fast as her old legs could carry her, she ran for the back. Her sudden movements caught the attention of the working woman who's head turned to watch her boss flee before she then turned to peer out the door. Their eyes made contact. She smiled brightly at him and waved. ...He quickly turned his head and walked away. It'd be best if he didn't distract her from her work.

He did not bother coming by the second week. She'd be fine anyways. He'd be busying himself with training in the meantime and hunting for food. The forest nearby did have a few nice fat pheasants, and a decent fishing hole. If only the fields up east were this plentiful with food...Too bad this wasn't Tsugikuni territory. Hmm. That's a thought. He'd bring up the idea of claiming this part of land to his father later, after all there was a lot of beautiful-... BOUNTIFUL things here. It could aid their resources until they stabilized. However the home he was currently staying at would hold a surprise for him once he returned. He senses the second presence within the home's walls before he even got close enough to the the door.

Now who would be foolish enough to trespass in his temporary home?

The wild pheasant from his hunt was dropped to his feet with a thud. A hand gripping the hilt of a weapon. A woman's shriek echoed throughout the home as the door was quickly slammed open weapon aimed and raised. ... But then was lowered.

Turquoise eyes met six red and yellow ones.

"My prediction about you being troublesome proceeds itself." The long sword was slowly returned to its sheath with a small click. This woman was no threat. Even if she was very troublesome as stated before. "How do we keep meeting in the most inconvenient of ways?"

Large sparkling turquoise eyes blinked up at him from the floor. It was a woman. The same woman who was SUPPOSED to be working like he paid her to do, and yet here she was. On her knees with a scrub brush in her hands and a bucket of water next to her, near her also against the wall was a broom and a few other things too.

"What is your purpose here?"

"I-..I came to deliver a few things to you but you weren't here," she slowly spoke.

"Clearly I wasn't. What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm cleaning." She blinked at him like it should've been obvious to him.

"I can see that. Why?"

"Because I don't think it's fair for you to live in such conditions."...He slowly blinked. "This place was pretty filthy when I came inside. There wasn't anyone around so I..." Her gaze turned to the side and a hand shyly fiddled with the scrub brush in her hands. "I figured it was the least I could do after all your help. No one deserves to be forced to live in a dirty home."

The demon did not say anything but looked around the home. The cobwebs and dust was gone. What little furniture the previous owner left behind looked cleaned. And by the looks of her, she was almost done with the floor.

A sigh escaped his lips. "I did not ask you to do this."

"I know but I wanted to. No one made me. Just let me finish up and I'll show you what I brought with me."

He only sighed and reached out to pluck the pheasant back off the ground. "Very well. But next time I would like to be notified of your visit to me beforehand."

She chuckled. "Fair enough."

He sat to the side patiently watching as she finished with what she was doing before tossing the bucket of water out and then returned to him with a smile. "I'm so happy you're back! I think you'll like what I brought you." He remained silent but watched as she brought over a few things. A pillow and a semi thick blanket being the first things handed to him. "Here. I have extras. It'll be better than sleeping on the hard floor." He silently took them from her lightly surprised. "Here. I also made you some food. I figured you might be hungry."

A rather large bento box was also given to him. Upon opening it, he found a rather decent amount of cooked rice and a meat and vegetable dish he hadn't seen before but it all certainly was home made. He just..stared at all of this unsure of how to feel about it but she wasn't done gifting him things. She also gifted him some soap for use during his stay there and lastly-

"I also brought a few candles I finished."

Already? It's only been almost two full weeks yet she was done with a few? He silently continued watching as she reached into a pocket sewn into her kimono and brought out two of the candles he had requested. The other things were pushed to the side so he could slowly take the two finished ones from her soft hands. It was the blueberry scented one and the pink one that smelt like cherry blossoms. Each one had detailed work carved all around their surface. Rolling clouds floating across a blue waxy sky while their neighbor occupied Sakura flowers blooming so fiercely that he felt any moment real petals would come falling off their stems. Sparkling eyes watched anxiously as they were turned in his hands as six eyes carefully examined them.

"I-I started on a third. The design is simple so I'll quickly be done with another. ...Do you like them?"

He remained silent and still before a sigh left through his nose. "These are both acceptable." He nodded. "They'll do." She smiled brightly at him making him tighten his grip on the candles slightly. "How is your hand?" She blink. His head turned down to her hand. It was still bandaged so he couldn't tell how bad the wound was. But her eyes went even more wide as he reached out to gently grab it with surprising gentleness pulling it up to his eyes. "Is there any pain?"

Her eyes blinked before her face lit up a light pink. "Oh. It's healing W-Well." She gently pulled her hand away and he stays still.. slowly closing from the lack of warmth from her soft skin. "T-There's not really too much pain." Her eyes shyly looked away. "It just stings every so often."

"That's good. I trust you haven't had trouble from that man then?"

"Sabo?" Her pretty smile scrunched into a frown. "Thankfully no. He hasn't been around since you told him off, but it is curious. My boss seems to have changed her mind about my punishment."

"I suppose she's not stubborn enough to keep up the bluff...You should return back and finish the task I entrusted to you."

She had left soon after and he was left to stare at everything before him. The food, the sheets, the clean living space-...Is this what came with being taken cared of? Well he supposed that he was always taken cared of this way. The maids always took care of everything he needed and the cooks always provided him with food at a snap of his fingers. Or in more recent years he's resorted to hunting and forging for food during these last three years because of the war and slept wherever convenient. If he was lucky he'd be able to sleep on a soft patch of grass with a rolled up animal hide for a pillow. He never complained about it. He never saw the point of complaining, it wouldn't change a thing and only make him look like a fool. Everything was always either handed to him without question by his birth right or he had to struggle to obtain himself.

....It was unheard of for someone to choose to do this for him.

Yet...she did. She chose to cook for him. To clean for him. To care for him. He supposed it was just all out of thanks for helping her even if he did it unintentionally. The candles were placed to the side. The food smelt..good. Chopsticks were used to shove into the dish and slowly raised it too a fang filled maw before it disappeared within. It tasted..good. AMAZING. Perhaps it was only because he hadn't really had a home cooked meal for almost three years between the battlefield and home but it did taste delicious. Especially the vegetables and boiled beef. It was covered in spices and some kind of sauce he was unfamiliar with but he did enjoy it after eating plain roasted animals. ... Perhaps he should get her to cook the pheasant? No, no. She was already busy and he couldn't have anymore delays. He was already testing his father's patience with fulfilling his mother's request. A blanket was unfurled with a whoosh sounds..it was very soft and so doubt would keep someone warm. Spread onto the cleaned floor it went followed by a pillow just thrown down, and a body slowly sinking into it's soft surface. The pillow dipping to accommodate the head laid across it's surface. Six eyes stared at the ceiling free of cobwebs now. It had been so long since his body had the comfort of something soft to rest on.

It would be a nice change of pace.

Perhaps if she didn't have anything tying her down here or was married by the time the war was over, he should offer her a job as a maid in his estate. She'd certainly be a good addition to the staff. Hard working, focused, kind, caring, responsible, actually spoke to him as a person- Hmm. Or maybe she'd fit in better with the cooks? She could certainly make a good home cooked lunch. He could make her his own personal cook. Or maybe he'd make her his mother's personal maid. If she was able to care for that old wench so well then surely she'd care for his own mother better.

Or maybe...she could be his own aid.

Eyes closed banishing the thoughts from his mind. Turning his head to the left facing the empty old fireplace. He already had a few maids assigned to care for his room while he was gone to was. He didn't need another. Besides all of these were only based on a what if scenario if he actually decided to extend a job offer to her and only if she said yes. There was also plenty of other candidates that could make a better maid or cook than a woman he's only known for less than a year. There wasn't even any jobs that needed women in his estate other than a maid or cook..

Except for being a concubine.

The very thought of him having one disgusted him. He didn't see the point of having an endless amount of women annoyingly bothering him or trying to seduce him when he just wanted to get things done or have some alone time. It was too much hassle for something he didn't even need. However his father had suggested the idea of just having one for if nothing else just to bare an heir for him. He supposed it was a solution for his bloodline and would save him the hassle of finding a wife, but even so he'd need to find one that'd be a suitable mother so in the end it didn't solve anything other than he didn't have to marry her. He hadn't found any woman suitable for a concubine let alone a wife. What woman would do?

A brief picture of his ideal woman passed in his mind. A woman who smiled at him with wide sparkly turquoise eyes, draped in beautiful silks matching her beautiful soft eyes, her body adorned in the finest jewelry, her silky hair framing her gentle face, and soft lips letting giggles escape as she gave him a shy look with a smile gently holding his hand-

CRASH-

He sat up panting, heaving for air. A nearby vase was sent flying across the home making contact with the wall from a throw, leaving spiderweb cracks in the wood and clay pieces all over the once clean floor. His eyes blinked one by one as he stared at the mess, only now becoming aware that his free hand had sunk into the wooden floor splintering it. Silence sank in the longer the demon sat there slowly processing his situation and what had just happened...A slow exhale left his mouth before a hand rubbed at his face.

"Troublesome woman. AWAY WITH YOU FROM MY THOUGHTS!!"

Gods was he this starved from any real affection that his mind is tormenting himself with impossible scenarios with the first lady that showed him decency?! Sigh. Alright. First order of business after the war...Find a wife. He wouldn't allow himself to drag himself down to the level of a degenerate!! He decided to occupy his thoughts by going out and harshly training himself for the rest of the day to cleanse his thoughts.

He decided to visit her again at work about halfway through the third week. Not because he was concerned about anything, but he was genuinely curious if she had finished anymore of his mother's candles. The door was still left open considering the extremely warm summer weather, and sure enough he saw her sitting there in her usually spot but no signs of her boss anywhere. Good. A rest for the ears.

She didn't notice him standing in the doorway at first until his shadow fell over her making her pause and snap a look over her shoulder... before smiling. "Well hello! I wasn't expecting you to come here today. Are you in need of anything?"

His head slowly shook no. "No. I simply came to see your progress. The timeline you gave me is almost over."

She smiled brightly at him and gestured to two candles set to the side. "I have two others finished and a third one nearly done. If you'd like to see them, you may."

He was already reaching out for them before she even finished her sentence. She did pause though when he leaned over her to grab both in one hand, his soft bangs brushing against her cheek briefly before leaning back up to inspect the two candles set in his hand. It was the green mint smelling one and the darker blue one that smelt like his mother's violets. Vines reached out and swirled within the mint's surface blooming realistic looking leaves. Waves rolled and crashed throughout the blue ocean in his palms. Beautiful work.

A hum left the demon. "These are also acceptable. I will take them."

She smiled wider. "I'm glad you like them! I will admit, carving waves wasn't easy as I'd never done it before but I think I managed really well."

He hummed looking at the candles in his hands before glancing back to her hands. Her hand was still bandaged and it it was the peach scented candle. On it's surface was half a beautiful dove mid flight on its curved cylinder surface. This one probably wouldn't take too long for her to finish as it was a single picture instead of patterns all around it's sides. She started back onto it despite him still standing there watching. She seemed at ease despite the looming demon casting a shadow over her. Curious.

"...May I watch you work?"

She looked up at him surprised but soon smiled calmly. "Of course. I don't mind." Her eyes followed him as he slowly walked and chose to sit down to her right. He was still wearing that hat and moved his bangs to help hide his face. "Are you hungry? I made a pie earlier today."

"I do not want to interrupt your work only observe."

She was already getting up placing her tools down. "It's not a problem. Wait here and I'll be right back."

She left before he could even protest, blinking at her retreating form before a sigh escaped his throat with a shake of his head. She didn't have to and shouldn't have bothered but she did anyways. Ten minutes later she returned and placed both a warm red berry pie in front of him and a cup of hot tea with a smile.

"Here. You're probably hungry just walking around town waiting for me to finish."

"I busy myself by training constantly. Meditation also helps pass time."

He slowly picked up two chopsticks and the plate that was given to him. Hmm. Smelt good. When was the last time he had a pie? He gave it another smell, determined that it was fine to eat, and then just took the tools left to him to chop off a piece to lift to his mouth. The taste of sweet cooked berries, sugar, and the crunchiness of the crust filled his senses. All six eyes widened.

It was delicious.

His mouth despite his usual control watered as fangs chewed and swallowed.

"I hope it's alright. I haven't baked a pie in a while so it might not be as-"

She blinked as despite his usual composure and control, he dug into the delicious food. Bite after bite was had. When the sweet pie was already long disappeared into his stomach, it seemed to finally dawn on him on how rude he might've looked, he looked at her with slight embarrassment in his eyes about ready to apologize for his manners. To his surprise she was giggling holding a hand to her cheek.

"Well I never suspected someone would like my cooking that well."

"My apologies. I must've been more hungry than I realized. I'm ashamed of my rudeness-"

She waved him off. "It's alright. Eat slowly next time. You have a bit of berry on your face."

The demon blinked and raised an arm to clean off the wrong side of his mouth. The girl giggled again and just reached into her kimono pocket to pull out a napkin. He rubbed the side of his face and looked at his sleeve annoyed that nothing came off his face but paused when he felt something soft pressed against the other side of his mouth. The demon's eyes stared into turquoise ones, and he felt something stirring within his chest.

"There." He still didn't move as the plate was taken away with a smile. "If that's the case I'll get you another piece. There's plenty enough." She left again and two minutes later came back to him sipping on the tea she gave him. "Here." She said sliding the second piece in front of him.

He nodded. "I thank you. Forgive me for my behavior earlier. It shall not happen again."

"It's alright. By how fast you ate, it looks like you never had a pie before."

"I assure you I have. It has just been a while. Almost three years now."

She blinked. "That was about as long as the war lasted." Her eyes again glanced at his katana before she slowly sat down. "...Does that mean you fight in the war?"

He was quiet for a long moment before the cup was placed down and he again picked up the plate. "Yes but I don't like to discuss it with those who are not involved and who are innocent. It could only bring trouble...I would appreciate you do not tell anyone of this either."

She immediately nodded her head. It wasn't any of her business what he does and it doesn't involve her plus it wasn't her place to pry into his private life. They were acquaintances at best, and customer and employee first. Her hands silently picked up the candle again. Silence resumed for a while as he silently ate and she carved away on the candle. Eventually he took a moment to look at her.

"The owner is not here. Where is she?'

"My boss went to help her daughter-in-law with cleaning out her son's house today. So it's just me and you right now."

"Hmm. And has THAT man returned to bother you at all?"

"You mean Sabo?" His grip slightly hardened on the chopsticks. "No. He hasn't been back since you told him off thank the gods."

He relaxed. "Good... However I am curious on one thing. How did you come to work here?"

"My boss needed someone to help around her shop so she took me as an apprentice when I was a teenager and taught me how to make soaps and candles although she definitely has a knack for me being her maid too, but I would still rather work here than around drunk men at the inn. What about you?" Her eyes briefly glanced at him as she worked. "Why did you become a samurai?"

"It is an honorable family tradition passed down. I take pride in my path in life."

"You certainly seem to have the skill for it. How did you come to fight in the war?"

"Family duty. How did you come to carve?"

"I wanted to be a woodcarver but there wasn't any real opportunities for me to do that. I discovered that wax and soap was way softer than wood and I thought it would be good to practice carving on them so I can one day be a carver. It was just a hobby really but my boss noticed and she thought it would be a good addition to the store."

He completely stopped. "SHE thought it would be a good addition? So she didn't ask you if you were comfortable with doing it professionally?"

"No...Not really but I don't complain about it. It's still fun to do."

Disgusting greedy wench! If it was up to him, he'd arrest her entire bloodline! Unfortunately he needed to keep his cover and this wasn't his territory...Hmm. Asking his father to claim this territory sounded more tempting to him by the minute.

"I see..How is that candle coming along?"

She smiled again as she kept working. "I'm almost finished with it then I'll only have one last candle to carve for you."

"Perfect."

By the end of the day he walked out with three more candles finished and a small wrapped up pie she insisted he take with him to eat later. She just had one last candle to carve and then he'd be able to get back to his mother. She also seemed to be finishing a few days earlier than expected so he'll be able to leave sooner than later. On the last week of the month long time line she gave, he was meditating. Meditating with a head clear of thoughts until something knocked on his door. Six eyes snapped open. A hand instantly grabbing his weapon as his head snapped to the door.

"Kokushibo?," a woman's voice called from the other side. "It's me. May I come inside?"

...His form relaxed. Oh. What a troublesome woman. "You may enter."

The sliding door went open and the turquoise eyed woman stepped inside. In her hands was a small cloth bag and a pure white candle. "I finished so I thought I would come give it-"..She paused. Blinked. Before her face lit up a red and she looked away instantly. "W-W-WHY ARE YOU SHIRTLESS?!"

His brow rose. "Because it is summer and very hot. I prefer to meditate without sweating. I'm not indecent."

"P-PUT IT BACK ON PL-PLEASE!!," She squeaked out flustered at the sight of his toned upper body visible.

An amused huff left his throat before he reached for the discarded haori coat. "I assume you are completely finished?" She nodded still looking away. "Excellent."

The coat was tied around him quickly as he stood up and walked over to her. She shyly looked up at him and seemed relieved to see him fully covered again. The rosiness of her cheeks were soft compared to her sparkling eyes and the shy stance she took looked so-

B E A U T I F U L

He shook his head. "Let me see the candle." She handed it over without saying anything. The smell of sweet vanilla filled the air as he grabbed it and saw dancing snowflakes across it's surface. "...This is acceptable. Your obligation to me is done...What is in the bag?"

She cleared her throat. "W-Well, I heard you were leaving as soon as I finished everything so I brought you something to eat before you left." She handed over the bag to him. "It's a few baked sweet potatoes. You can eat them here or while traveling."

He took the bag from her and brought it close to his face. Indeed he was able to smell the food she described. "Hmm...These will also be acceptable. I thank you."

"Oh it was no problem." She smiled sweetly as a fluttering noise erupted behind him. Something black stopping on a window. "I was more than happy t-"

CAW!!

She squealed out and whirled around. He calmly turned his head behind him. Perched on an open window sill was a complete black bird with a purple ribbon around its next. It tilted its head at him before opening its wings and flapping them.

CAW!!

It shrieked again at them making her blink. "A raven?"

"Messenger crow," he corrected. His mother's personal messenger crow. And around her leg was a decently sized note rolled. "Hello, Ebony." He placed the objects in his hands down before walking over to her. He reached out and the crow happily let him scratch her neck. "Were you bringing me a message? What a good girl you are." The crow ruffled her feathers pleased and held still as he untied the message from her leg.

"Oh she's beautiful." The woman next to him smiled at the bird. Ebony puffed up ruffling her feathers more in pride. "May I pet her?"

"Certainly. Hold out your hand. If she doesn't move, then she's allowing you to touch her." He pulled the message away and unfurled it. "If she backs away, leave her be."

He didn't pay attention to her as she reached out to pet the crow...nor did he notice when the crow suddenly hopped onto her shoulder. His eyes scanned the message his mother sent and-...Oh no. This was not any kind of good news. As he suspected, the peace talks did NOT go well. His father wanted him back as soon as possible. Yoriichi was also taking the opportunity with his father absent and marrying Uta at the end of summer. This message was also a formal invitation for his brother's wedding ceremony...Which he won't be able to attend because of his father's demands to come back and help him with the next upcoming battle.

....It would be improper to not at least give Yoriichi a wedding gift unless he wanted rumors to spread.

He looked back up but..blinked seeing Ebony perched on top of the woman's shoulder. She was happily thrumming as the woman gently stroked her head. "She's very friendly isn't she?"

"Not .. usually. I've only ever seen her let two other people besides myself hold her like that." Which was his mother and Yoriichi.

She giggled. "Then I feel honored to be in her good graces." She looked back to him. "What did the letter say?"

"..My brother is getting married soon."

"Oh. What does that mean?"

"It means I have one more job for you before I leave."

3 notes · View notes

echantedtoon · 27 days

Text

Waning Obsession(Yandere Kokushibo x Reader) Ch5 All In A Lable

(Warning: Kokushibo threatens someone. Y/n gets a cut on her hand. Mentioning of scars on her hands. Mentioning of discrimination against demons.

The patterns for the candles Kokushibo wants is linked below. Pics not mine, they're all found on Pinterest:

Pale White-Blue blueberry scented Candle:

pin.it/68rfj8GYM

Green mint scented Candle:

pin.it/1H0fAWex8

Pink cherry blossom scented candle:

pin.it/62SIvvgnP

Baby blue violet scented candle:

pin.it/1uhbbKt9l

White vanilla scented candle:

pin.it/ELGQDvXq9

Beige peach scented candle:

pin.it/65y6gUwD0

EDIT: Spelling Errors are corrected.)

"He was real."

"I KNOW THAT! STOP RUBBING IT IN MY FACE!!"

"I'm not-"

"DON'T TALK BACK TO ME!!"

You sighed and only rolled your eyes before just going back to carving small lemon scented soap into a sun. A few more of your little soaps had been bought since the mysterious samurai had finally left nearly three weeks ago now. A feeling of relief flooded you after that for one because finally the demon was gone, and because he had showed up on time proving to your boss that you'd been right all along. Since that day things were awkward and oddly quiet around work with your boss only speaking to you about work related things..Until you decided to finally address the elephant in the room and quietly brought up the man, only for her to snap back to her old self again and bark orders. She muttered to herself now not looking at you and busing herself by dusting off the lower shelves.

It certainly had been an experience.

You had never expected to run into a demon. You never expected to be paid in gold. And you certainly wasn't expecting to ever see him again after this. After all why would he even come back here? He had gotten what he wanted from you and didn't need anything else if he was passing through to his brother's engagement party then there really wasn't any reason for him to come back. He stayed around kong enough anyways. He paid, he took what he wanted, and then he left. Nothing more, nothing less. Life resumed as usual as soon as he left. Your regular local customers came and went. You smiled at people and waved at them. It was as peaceful as it had been before you met the demon.. Although you had forgotten his name. He only said it once and the situation had been overwhelming enough for you to not focus on that small detail.

However life went on as normal.

You weren't sure what to do with the gold you'd gotten so for now you put it in a small hiding spot in your home for safe keeping. Never knew when an emergency might pop up. For now you were content with just going about your life and carving your cute little soap sculptures. A sun hadn't been one you were planning on carving but you were reminded of the red candle you carved the sun on when you saw your boss making more of them. This particular soap bar was yellow, so why not carve it into a sun? You got halfway done that particular day and you weren't in any hurry. It could be worked on more tomorrow.

"I want you to meet someone for me. Please."

Well....That was certainly something you weren't expecting this morning.

You had just arrived back to work that morning, your boss requested you cook for her which you obliged. It wasn't out of the ordinary for her to request you to do things like her laundry or cooking. And you had just grabbed the broom to start sweeping the front again. However you had looked up briefly hearing the familiar shuffling footsteps of your boss as she came in. At the time you didn't pay her too much mind other than saying good morning but when she spoke that sentence you were so taken aback you ended up silently staring at her. Did ...Did your boss just say please? YOUR boss? To YOU of all people?! You stared at her for what must've been forever before she rolled her eyes and sighed.

"I need you to make a delivery for me," she clarified holding up a box covered by a cloth. The fain scent of food came from inside.

...oh..OH. A delivery. Of course it was involving something work related. Silently you leaned the broom against a shelf and reached out to take it from her. ".. Isn't this the good I made for you just a little while ago?"

"Yes, but it doesn't matter. I need you to take it to my grandson." She waved you off as you blinked confused before pointing towards the door. "He lives on the street just behind my home. You can't miss it. It's the only home with a bush next to it."

You weren't sure what to think about this. She wanted you to make her food only to go give it to her grandson?? If she wanted you to cook some food for her grandson then why didn't she just ask you to cook for him in the beginning? Instead of arguing with her you just decided to take it from her.

"Right...Is there any reason why he wanted this?"

"He's busy working and I simply promised to send over food to him. He already knows you're making it for him."

You slowly nodded. "Alright."

Strange but nothing too out of the ordinary. In fact you found it kinda sweet she'd care about her grandson like that. So you were off. Carrying the small bento box wrapped up in your hands and you slipped between two houses to make it quicker. After all it was just the street right behind your boss's house. You popped right out and stopped in the middle of the dirt road. Scanning your eyes around, you easily spotted a house with a bush by its door just two homes away from you. It took no time at all for you to walk on over, hop up the steps, and then knock loudly on the door. There was silence were a few seconds before footsteps approached and a second later the door slid open. You smiled..but paused when you saw who it was.

"O-Oh...Are uh..Are you the grandson of the later that owns the fragrance store?"

Before you stood a...man. About your age. He lazily looked at you with glasses that made his eyes look too tiny. He yawned in your face and rubbed his neck. Hair a mess and clothes wrinkled like he had just crawled back out of bed. Wasn't he supposed to be working? He took his sweet time staring at you before finally answering.

"Yes." You visibly winced at his voice. It sounded like a cross between a chicken with a cold and a raspy old man who smoked for the past forty years. "What do you want, Woman?"

...You rose a bold brow at him but wanting to get this over with you just held up the box. "Your grandmother asked me to bring this to you."

He stared at the box before looking back at you with a frown. "Oh. You must be the girl. Well it's about time you showed up!" He snatched it away from you harshly. "I expect things from now on to be on time! I'm busy copying important documents."

From now on? It's not like you worked for him! With an inhale you stepped back. "Well. It was..nice to know you got your food. Excuse me. I have to get back to work." With a grimace you turned and walked off quickly grimacing. "Oh. I really see the family resemblance." You muttered under your breath.

"Well?" That was the first thing your boss said to you as you stepped back into the shop.

"Oh. He got his food like you asked."

Her brows furrowed. "Is that all? What did he say?"

"Well...." He was incredibly rude. "He said he was working on copying important documents." Even though you didn't believe him.

"That's my Sabo!," she gushed proudly. "Such a hard worker. Just like his grandfather."

You grimaced at her. "He certainly is... something else."

"Yes he is. He's not like other men."

You briefly wondered what poor woman married her son and was unfortunate enough to give birth to that 'something else'. "Right. I'm just going to finish sweeping now."

You assumed that would be the last time her grandson would be brought up but you were again surprised by the fact he was brought up three days later.

"You want me to clean his house this week?"

You were absolutely not expecting her to be assigning this task to you at all. But your boss just nodded confusing you further. Why would she want you to clean her grandson's house?

"And everything else he might need done. Windows, dusting, laundry, dishes- I want it all done by at least sunset tomorrow."

"Doesn't he take care of that himself? Or have his family help him with that?"

She scowled. "You'll do as I say. Poor Sabo is taking a well deserved break from work and spending some well deserved quality time with me and my son today. You're to go over immediately and get started!"

You gave her a deadpanned look. Now you were cleaning up her grandson's home today? Sigh. Ok. His home was a two roomed house and not very big. It shouldn't take too long. However you severely underestimated the state of the home. You opened the door to an empty house...And a very MESSY house. Where was dishes and laundry strewn about EVERYWHERE!! Crumpled up papers, apple cores, and other forms of trash were littered the floor alongside the dishes and laundry. And the whole place STANK!! A mountain of ashes was stacked high in the fireplace as if it had never been cleaned out after winter! And his bedsheets...You turned your head and coughed trying not to be sick. How could one person let their house be this bad? Sucking in a deep breath you braced yourself and turned to walk in.

The first thing you did was open up all the doors and windows you could find letting in fresh air to filter through the place. The second thing you did was the laundry wanting to get that done before tackling the floor. If you did all the laundry before you cleaned the floor then they'll dry before the end of the day...and they seemed like the worst part so you might as well do it and get it over with. Out went the whole futon pillows and all along with any other laundry to be washed. The next thing you did was to pick up the dishes and throw them aside to be washed before grabbing the broom and sweeping any and all trash just put the door and onto the streets with the ashes. They could deal with the trash if they didn't like it in front of the house. You were only told to take care of the house not the roads. The floors were scrubbed clean from any leftover grime before you could move onto the less stressful tasks of actually cleaning the dishes and dusting off what little furniture that was actually in the house which wasn't a lot. So you were making excellent progress.

The bathroom was the worst to clean out though. You were NEVER doing it again. A shudder ran down your spine just remembering what it looked like before you cleansed it from the pits of hell it was drowned in.

You were just finishing up cleaning what windows the house had when the door was suddenly wretched open causing you to jump as someone stomped in. That someone was your boss's grandson. Sabo if you remembered right. He just came right in and paused looking around everywhere. Behind him shuffled in the form of your boss as she suddenly clasped her hands and pushed at her...'precious' grandson.

"See? What did I tell you?"

His eyes looked around the place. A hand reached out to run a finger along a shelf before examining it and humming when he saw no dust. Then he look at you in the middle of cleaning the windows ... before scowling. "She still hasn't finished! You said everything would be finished by the time we got back!"

"I'm almost done with the windows," you calmly assured him even if you were completely annoyed on the inside. His stupid voice hurt your ears. "Then I can go bring the wash in. It should be dry by now."

"Where's my dinner?!," he rudely demanded ignoring everything you completely said. "A man expects to come back home to a clean house and home cooked meal waiting for him!"

"No one asked me to cook for you."

"I shouldn't have to! It should already be common sense!"

You gave him a deadpanned look before just turning and finished with what you started. "I'll get your laundry in just a moment."

"Why you-!"

"It's alright, Dear." His grandmother cooed at him patting his arm. "I'll make you dinner tonight. Let her finish taking care of you."

He huffed and crossed his arms. "Hmph. She has a lot to learn still. My porch hasn't even been scrubbed."

"It's alright, Dear. I'll take care of it." She shot you a dirty look. "How could you forget something as important as the front of the house?!"

"You just asked me to take care of the inside of the house and most of the chores. The only thing outside I was aware that I needed to do was clean the outside of the windows."

"Forgive her, Sabo. She's always like this." You gave her a look as she continued to scold you. "Finish up and go clean off the porch! You've wasted enough of our time!"

You only sighed and continued finishing up the last window. This would indeed be a long day. You didn't get a chance to even go home until around sundown. You just silently brought in the cleaned wash up, listened to them both complain that you didn't fold them before bringing them inside, and then just went out to scrub the porch and steps. You left right after without telling either of them. If they didn't like it then his grandmother could cook for him and fold his laundry, of he could not be a lazy dirty pig and clean it up himself. He was a grown man for crying out loud. Also if your boss was so worried about her precious grandson then why doesn't she just take care of him? Or get his parents to do it? Whatever. You did what was asked of you, you shouldn't be bothered with it anymore.

Oh how fate loved dealing you a bad hand.

"You want me to what?"

"Restock his firewood supply."

You ended up staring at her like she was crazy. "And how exactly am I to do that?"

She scoffed. "There's already a pile of firewood behind his house. Bring some inside to place by the fire pit and take care of anything else you see that needs to be dealt with before you come back."

"... Didn't I just clean his entire home yesterday? And why doesn't he do those things himself?"

"I'll let you have the rest of this week off. WITH pay."

"...."

Well...When she put it like that. You could use a few days off for relaxing by yourself, and she'd still pay you too! Guess she didn't want to do everything for her lazy grandson as well. But-

"Won't be be home?"

"He's with his father conducting business with the Kadashi family up the road. So he won't be in your way."

Well if he wasn't going to be there then you guessed it would be fine. You're also getting a reasonable compensation out of it so it wouldn't be so bad. Besides it was just bringing in some firewood.

...It was not just bringing in some firewood.

You got there and opened the door and found a small pile of dirty dishes leftover from the night before from what you assumed your boss made dinner with, and all the clean laundry from yesterday just dropped in a pile by an unmade bed. THEY HADN'T FOLDED THEM AT ALL?! OR AT LEAST DID THE DISHES!? Your anger rose as you shot a scowl back towards your boss's home. Why those greedy people! They must've left these for you to do for daring not to do it yesterday. Rotten people! At least the rest of the home was still clean. You made quick work folding, washing, making the bed, and bringing in enough firewood to last him for a few days leaving the chopped logs by the fireplace before returning to finish what work you had to your boss.

"Well?" She asked you as you came back in and grabbed a small crate of sage incense bundles to put on one of the shelves. But for some reason she had a..hopeful smile on her face.

This time you didn't bother to hide your annoyance at the situation. "Everything is in order like you asked but he could've not have left a giant mess for me to fix."

Immediately her hopeful smile at you frowned. "Is that it? Nothing else to say?"

You rose a brow at her in the middle of putting another bundle on the shelf. "Yes. What else is there to say about it?"

She scoffed and waved you off looking angry. "Nevermind. Just finish restocking that shelf and then mop up the front here."

Your brow rose higher than before but you were already annoyed so you just decided to finish the work before you could go home. You didn't feel like fighting with the walking headache anymore today. What was that about anyways? Whatever. Her weird family was none of your concern. You just hoped she didn't think you'd put up with taking care of a man child on top of your job here and already doing things for her. However you'd unfortunately run into them again a lot sooner than you thought.

It had been a two days into your peaceful little vacation away from work. You decided to go to one of the local farmers and see if you could buy a pound of rice from him. So...there you were. Minding your own business. And then you turned to leave once you gave the money to the farmer and got your rice. And you saw them. Or more correctly they saw you. Your boss stopped walking and stared at you for a long moment before turning to bark at a two men and a woman behind her, pointed out you, and then all four walked over to you.

Oh no .

What did she want now? She better not ask you to do anything for her on your days off. You'd DEFINITELY not be doing anything else for her grandson. Especially now. A tired sigh escaped your body before you braced yourself as they stopped in front of you.

"Y/n!," she barked your name loudly.

"Oh hello. It's...nice to see you today," you politely greeted despite how you felt. "What are you doing out today?"

The old woman proudly pointed behind her. "I'm going to lunch with my family. My son has just finished his business with a tenant and allowed his wife to join us."

'Allowed?' You didn't like how that sounded. You looked behind her. There was a middle aged man and woman, not as old as your boss but definitely a lot older than you. The man looked exactly like his mother. Resting annoyed face and looked incredibly annoyed just staring at you as if you were the cause of it. The woman standing next to him just looked bored and uninterested in anything. And the third man was Sabo. He looked a little more presentable but like his father and grandmother, wore an annoyed face. Yep. They were all definitely related to one another.

"Oh yes. I see them around town sometimes." You nodded at them. "How do you do? It's a nice day today. Don't you think?"

"Yes," the man said rudely and bluntly as his wife just...stared.

You waited for them to say anything else...but they didn't do you awkwardly smiled. "Well it was nice to meet you but I have some chores to do at home-"

"She's taken adequate care of Sabo's house as of late," your boss interrupted you, "She even cooked him a meal."

"She could've been more precise," Sabo complained with a scoff crossing his arms, "It took her two days to get everything done and didn't even cook me dinner!"

"Well, I am not working as a maid, Sir," you spoke up with an annoyed narrow of your eyes, "I am an assistant at a fragrance store. I'm sure cooking and cleaning doesn't come with the job."

"Women working," his father spoke up annoying, "A laughable reality really." Your brow twitched annoyed. "A woman's place is at home with the children."

".... Doesn't your mother own the shop and employ me?"

"I own the house."

Yet he allows his mother to run a shop and at the same time demean other women for working? You decided that you didn't like any of these people. "WELL...It was certainly a surprise to see you all again but I need to go home and make lunch-"

"Good. You can show them how well you cook."

You looked back to your boss. "...What?"

She looked at you like it should be obvious. "You need to show your possible in-laws how well you can take care of house and husband obviously. Cooking is one of the most important skills a wife needs to know."

Silence.

You stared at them blankly. Going to each of their faces before back to your boss. You didn't say anything processing the words that she had had just spoken to you. "...I'm.. sorry. Come again? I don't think I heard you correctly."

She scoffed. "How naive are you?!" She crossed her arms looking at you with a scowl. "Obviously if you're going to marry Sabo you need to show worth to your in-laws first!"

"WHAT?!" You nearly dropped the bag of uncooked rice in your hands out of shock. Jaw dropping and eyes going wide. There's no possible way you heard that right! Who in their right mind would think that you two were together?! "WHO SAID THAT I WAS GOING TO MARRY HIM?"

"Well obviously you would," she said matter of factly like it was obviously her fantasy world would come to life if she demanded it enough. "After you turned down that nice Nori boy for years, there's hardly anyone else your age in town for you to marry. My Sabo isn't going to be young forever and he's graciously agreed to do you the favor of offering marriage when clearly you won't be able to find anyone else." She sighed. "He's such a sweet boy."

"Whoa! Wait a moment!" You held up a hand frowning deeply. "When did I ever agree to marry him or even shown interest in that?!"

Again she scoffed. "You were supposed to take initiative when you brought over his food and saw what good things he could provide you in his home!"

You ...you just blinked. "Are you serious? ...I made that food for YOU because you asked me too, and then I brought it to him because YOU asked me too. I didn't cook it for him!"

"It was a test for you so he can see how well you cooked. You obviously need more lessons but he found it edible enough."

'Edible enough?' "I didn't assume it was a test! And about the other thing, I only cleaned his house the first time because again you asked me too! I wouldn't have done it otherwise for any other reason!" You still had nightmares about cleaning that bathroom. "And I only went back a second time because you made a deal with me for my break off! I wasn't cleaning his home to show off my cleaning skills!"

"Yes. About that, you still need more practice to be more thorough and quick," Sabo piped up again annoyed, "And then you left without finishing up or making me dinner. That reflects bad on a prospective wife."

"I'm NOT your wife!" You all but bellowed out causing a few people on the street to look at you. "I'm not even interested in you! You're rude to me and can't even clean!"

Your boss gasped clutching her kimono offended as if you called her grandson every curse word under the sun. "HOW DARE YOU?! MY GRANDSON IS THE MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR IN TOWN!! IF ALL THESE OTHER WOMEN WEREN'T ALREADY MARRIED, THEY'D ALL BE FIGHTING FOR HIM!!" Oh yeah? Then how come he wasn't already married off then? "YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL I'D EVEN CONSIDER TAKING YOU AS A GRANDDAUGHTER-IN-LAW!!"

"I'd be more grateful if you didn't." You bluntly spoke deadpanned before bowing. "It was very nice to meet all of you but I'll have to decline your offer. I'm NOT interested. Excuse me. I have to go home now. Please have a nice day. I'll see you again at work next Monday, Ma'am." With that you quickly turned and walked off leaving them floored.

"HOW DARE YOU?! YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT BEING PAID FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR THEN!!"

You walk faltered. Slowly coming to a stop... before you suddenly inhaled and continued walking. Fine then! If she wanted to play that game then fine. You could survive by gathering food from the woods and there's not many things you had to actually buy anyways. You already learnt a long time ago how to spread your money thin to survive. You could survive the rest of the year like that if you had to. She continued to curse you out as you stomped away feeling frustrated, annoyed, and so, so angry!!

What was seriously wrong with these people?!

Making you take care of her grown adult lazy rude good for nothing grandson with the ulterior motive of you just magically falling for his repulsive personality! It sounded like a bad romance novel! Oh yes! Surely you would enjoy cleaning up his filth so much that you would have no choice but to dedicate the rest of your life to being a second mother to this man child- WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING!? And the nerve of trying to matchmake you without even asking! You may tolerate a lot in order to survive around here but that doesn't mean you're going to just marry someone because they want you to! THAT'S LUDICROUS!!

AND WHAT THE HELL DID SHE MEAN BY POOR NORI!?

That guy was never a good man to begin with!! He nearly killed an old man last December after getting drunk and picking a fight with him because he bumped into him!! There was a reason why he was exiled by everyone else!! Thank the gods too. You didn't know how much more you could take of him bothering you. He was almost as bad as your boss and her family. But you weren't surprised that she didn't see anything wrong with another terrible person. With annoyance you stomped off back towards your home. It looks like instead of relaxing you'd be busy planning out the rest of the year's budget with what money you had.

"You'd be set for life! You're making a foolish mistake!" That was the first thing said to you when you came back to work on Monday.

Set up to be someone's caretaker for life she met. "Thank you for the offer but I'm not interested."

And again a little while later you met Sabo. Or more like he showed up to his grandmother's home as she left. Although by the wink she gave him before going out to 'run errands' you doubted it was a coincidence. He proceeded to drone on and on and ON about nothing but himself-

"So my family makes pretty good money in town. My father practically owns all of it." He leaned against the shelf as you picked up the many things he knocked off but didn't pick up. "He gained even more property when he married my mother. Now he rents all the buildings out to everyone else who uses them. I don't have to work a day in my life thanks to his fortune and I'll just inherit everything when they die-"

"Fascinating.. Really." Your sarcastic blunt tone went right over his head as you shot him an annoyed look still picking up the mess he made.

"I know. So you wouldn't have to do anything but tend to my needs."

"I'm really not interested-"

"Did I mention that he owns those people? If he wanted to he could demand half their crops as payment!"

You tuned him out and ignored him after that. He didn't even notice you left to go back home at the end of the day too busy complaining that you didn't cook him anything while you were busy working (duh you were WORKING) and his grandmother hadn't left him anything to eat either. You just went home. The next day you were scolded for not dropping everything to cook her precious grandson lunch and dinner... Despite the fact she left you alone to run the ENTIRE store by yourself all day AND Sabo kept making messes you had to clean up. Constantly knocking things over, moving things around from their rightful place, and anything else else he did. It was like he was a literal walking natural disaster! Like Sabo, you tuned her out and just did what you had to do before going back home. The next week was the same. Sometimes Sabo would visit only to talk at you about himself or to just complain about everything. He never bothered to talk to YOU about stuff YOU like. He only ever asked how well you could cook and clean and raise hypothetical children if he ever bothered to ask you anything at all. You had tried ONE day to try and talk to him putting in a lot of effort. But he always either somehow always steered the conversation back onto himself, ignored what you said completely, shouted over you for 'interrupting him', complained, and insulted you. You gave up halfway through and went back to tuning him out which is what he seemed to want the most.

Until one day things changed and got a lot more complicated.

You had been sitting there in the middle of carving a blue violet scented soup into a small fish. Ignoring him and tuning him out as usual except the door was open with how warm it was. He never seemed to notice the difference anyways. Well today he seemed to finally notice because he scowled. Then suddenly you felt a hand grabbed your shoulder making you jump.

"WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU I EXPECT YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!"

And he yanked you back by the shoulder. And your hand slipped. And a cut was made right across your your hand. You screamed out in pain dropping the carving knife and soap to clutch your wrist! Immediately he let go and the sounds of your scream attracted your boss who shuffled out of the back.

"What is with all that racket?!," she demanded.

"Your stupid helper was clumsy and cut herself!," Sabo spat pointing at you annoyed.

You paid them no mind clutching your hand hissing as a stinging pain throbbed from it. You slowly opened your alm and saw a three inch cut along your calm up and down. Thank goodness it wasn't deep at all but that doesn't mean it still didn't sting-

"It seems not only are you an annoying wench, but incredibly stupid too."

All three of them stopped and turned to the doorway. Your boss froze and her face paled. Sabo looked annoyed and confused. And you went wide eyed. A very tall man stood in the door, long burgundy hair and a large hat hiding his upper face. A black and purple checkered haori coat around his shoulders and a katana secured to his side. All the color drained from your face as your eyes widened and a pit formed in your stomach.

The demon had returned .

He casually took a step inside when no one spoke and turned his head towards. "... You are harmed."

...You blinked. "I...I-Its not a deep cut." You managed to softly speak out.

A second later a large hand holding a white cloth was held out to you. You blinked looking at it before looking up at him. "Stop the bleeding and clean the wound. You'll be needing your hands."

You looked between him and the handkerchief.. before you slowly took it from him. "T-Thank you."

"You also had a cut hand when we first met. Has that healed correctly?"

Surprised you blinked again. You didn't even know that he noticed that. "Um." You nodded. "Yes. I'm alright. Thank you for asking. I cut myself by accident all the time-"

"This was not an accident." His harsh tone made you stop talking as he slowly turned now to Sabo. "You are at fault."

Sabo scoffed. "If she wasn't so clumsy then she wouldn't have gotten hurt." He crossed his arms sneering at the demon. "She should've listened to me from the start. A wife needs to learn her place-"

"I AM NOT YOUR WIFE!" The demon tilted his head back to you as you stood up with a scowl. "For the last time I'm not marrying you, I never agreed to have anything to do with you, and I want nothing to do with you!"

"Shut up and know your place! If we're courting-"

"We're NOT courting! You just bother me at work!"

"Yes we are! Now why don't you shut up and actually be useful by making me some lunch you-"

SHING-

Sabo. Froze. As a shiny metal blade was pressed against his throat where the jugular was. It happened so fast no one saw it coming. The demon blankly stood firm, holding the sword to his neck.

"Hold your tongue or I will cut it out to shut you up." The demon spoke calmly.

"How DARE you! My father owns half this village and-" He was silenced when the sword pushed further into his skin.

"I will not repeat myself. Get out now. If I should hear you came to bother this woman again, I'll keep my promise and be sure that you never speak again." The sword was removed from his neck. Sabo nearly collapsed hitting a shelf and knocking multiple soap bars and bags of bath salts down before he scrambled to his wobbly legs and ran out the open doorway. You watched Sabo disappear before a hum got your attention back onto the demon. "You are very troublesome aren't you?"

You blinked before frowning. "It's not my fault. He's a stubborn man that couldn't take a hint."

The katana was out away with a small click. "It seems like you two know each other."

"Only as acquaintances. His family tried to set us up for a marriage but I refuse."

His head turned to you and you saw one of his lower eyes peek out at you between his bangs. "You didn't accept his offer? If his family owns half this village then that would mean you would marry into a well off family."

"He wasn't interested in me for that." He hummed in question at you. "He's lazy, spoiled, and self centered. And that's me putting it nicely. I was paid to clean his house and a literal pig pen was cleaner than it."

"Disgusting."

You nodded. "I'm not marrying a man only to become a second mother to him."

He didn't comment on that. "Go treat your wound and come back. I have more business for you."

Business? He came back here for more business from you? Wonder what he wanted. You silently just turned to walk past him and your frozen boss into the back to take care of your hand leaving the two there. After a moment of silence his head tilted at the pale woman.

"That man has the same disgusting smell as you. Your entire family disgusts me. Away from my sight."

The sword was quickly popped up enough to show a glint of the blade making her squeak like a mouse in fright and shuffle as quick as her legs could carry her. You weren't surprised finding your boss cowering in the back, even if you didn't know that he had threatened her. You only slowly shuffled back into the room where the demon still was waiting. Staring directly in your direction even before you stepped back in. Pausing in your steps, you took a breath, and smiled at him with a customer smile.

"I-It's a surprise to see you again," you greeted him with a small bow. "What brings you back to our store?'

"... I'm here to see about your wares."

"Oh..Did you not like ones you bought?," you asked slightly worried.

"They were acceptable. My brother and his bride found them quite to their liking," he confirmed making you sigh in relief, "However our mother saw their gifts and was interested in having a few of her own."

Oh...OH! He was just here for some more candles! That was a huge relief. "Of course. It's very sweet of you to get so many things for your family."

He hummed. "How is your hand?"

"Oh." You held up your bandaged hand with a smile. "It's much better now! It's not very deep so it should heal really quickly, but I thank you for your help."

He glanced over at her. Her sweet smile and soft looking lips aimed at him and those eyes-...Those turquoise eyes that had plagued his thoughts catching the morning sunlight through the windows just right and making them sparkle like diamonds. She looked the same as the day he met her. Instead of commenting on her compliment, he instead turned back to the colorful variety of pleasant smelling candles. Unlike his city's festivals, this shop didn't overstimulate his senses. On the contrary he found the mixed scents of different herbs and flowers delightful. However now what he liked didn't matter. What he needed to think about was what his mother would like...

A slight fruity scent his attention and guided him to the bottom of the tall shelf. He knelt down to look and found his curiosity drawn to a few pale blue candles. They looked a milky blue almost white and it carried the fruity smell of blueberries. A hand reached out to grab the biggest one out of all of them and leaned back up.

"Those were made just yesterday," she spoke up behind him. "They're some of my favorites so far." He looked at her. "They smell almost good enough to eat." She giggled at her own humor, and he felt his heart jump ahead two normal beats.

A small of his head turned from her. Claws sunk right into his palms leaving small cuts that easily healed instantly once he breathed in and out slowly relaxing his hands. Off guard. ...Yes. He was just caught off guard by a woman other than his mother so freely laughing and acting so casually around him. ... Someone so beautiful- He forced those thoughts from his mind but couldn't help but look back at the candle he just picked out.. before kneeling down to grab another sweet blueberry scented one. One after another he picked up five more. Taking his time to slowly scan the shelves and picked ones he was sure his mother would enjoy.

A grass green one that smelt like mint. A pink one that smelt of cherry blossoms. A darker blue one that smelt like the violets in his garden. His mother would definitely like that. A pure white one that smelt like sweet vanilla. And lastly a beige candle that smelt like the wild peach trees he'd visit. After looking over each and every one carefully deciding that he indeed wanted these ones specifically, he turned and walked right up to her. Her big, sparkly eyes blinked at him before speaking.

"Are you finished choosing?"

"Not yet. I have more work for you." She gave him her full attention as he held up one of the seven candles in his hands. The blueberry scented one. "I want you to carve clouds into this one as it reminds me of the sky." She nodded and it was carefully placed on the small table next to them before he held up the green one. "Carve plants into this one. I do not care what kind." Again it was placed down with the first before he held up the pink one. "Sakura flowers." The darker blue one. "Ocean waves." The white one. "Snowflakes." And finally the beige one. "I do not want a pattern for this one. Instead I wish for you to carve a dove on it's surface. Can you do all of this?"

He watched those beautiful eyes carefully regard the candle in his hand before glancing at the other five on the table still thinking. Calculating. But never loosing that soft smile. Before she nodded. "Yes. I can do all of that but it'll take me about a month to finish everything."

"That is acceptable."

He already thought of what he wanted for the candles before he got here. His mother loved nature so it would only make sense for him to pick patterns based around that. The peach scented candle was placed down with the others but she seemed confused as he still held the other blueberry scented candle. He walked back over to the place he remembered finding carved soaps and sure enough found a few more. His mother expressed interest in wanting a few of these too and what his mother wanted she got. A few caught his eyes and automatically he reached out to pick up one purple lavender scented one carved into the shape of a bird, and a second grey one that smelt of sage and caved into a maple leaf. However he paused when his eyes saw something else.

A SUN

A bright yellow lemon scented sun stared up at him...A hand hovered over it for a moment before slowly enclosing itself around it and picking it up to silently stare at it.

"I carved that one last week. I was reminded of the candle you had me first carve, and the color seemed to fit so well."

He didn't respond to her at first but did eventually turn around and walk up to her again with everything he wanted. "I want these."

She still smiled at him and smiled. "Of course. If you want I'll-" She didn't get a chance to speak before a bag big enough to hold a single full sized cantaloupe was held up to her, a metal jingling coming from inside it.

"As said before, money is no issue. This should be adequate enough pay for everything."

She blinked-Before slowly reaching out to grab the bag and nearly dropped it from the weight behind it. "I-Is this-"

"Gold. Yes." She looked at him wide eyed. "Take it. I have enough of it to buy everything in this entire town if I wanted to." He watched as her eyes filled with a mix of disbelief and awe looked at the heavy bag in her hands.

"I..I don't know what to say." She eventually smiled. "This should last me all year." A relieved sigh left her soft lips. "At least now I won't have to worry about having to support myself and struggle."

He perked up at that and tilted his head. "Struggle? Did you lose your home?"

She looked at him before frowning again. "No. Thank goodness I didn't. But I'm afraid I had accidentally made my boss very angry with me. She's making me work without pay for the rest of the year."

"What?"

She nodded her head to the oddly stiff man. "I..might have offended someone close to her and she took great offense to it. B-But I'll be alright especially now with your generous job!"

He continued to stare. "...It is none of my business but why do you stay and receive such treatment from her?"

Her smile turned sad as she stared at the bag. "I wouldn't feel comfortable working at the tavern when the men go and get drunk. For a single woman in such a small village, my options are limited. Especially without being married. As you probably witnessed, not many people around here like the idea of that."

"Is that so?" His eyes narrowed slightly but otherwise his stance did not change. "That is petty."

She shrugged. "It's just how it is in a small village like this."

Multiple eyes scanned her saddened features for a long moment. It shouldn't bother him that a woman he barely knows was going through something like this. He's had more devastating things happen to him before. He's had to go days without food and water fighting constantly on the battlefield. He's had wounds so bad he had to bite down on his sword as they treated him to repress his screams. He's nearly been killed on multiple occasions. He's grown separated from his mother's warmth. His own twin kept away from him like the plague. And he had to endure severe punishments from his father if he so much as even questioned him. A stranger suffering from just being poor and having a pushy suiter should mean nothing to him but yet-...

It was just because he was doing business with her. Yes. He didn't want the woman he was doing business with evicted or dying of hunger before she completed the job he assigned to her. Yes. That was it. He doubted he'd find someone else to complete this job like she would so he'd have to remedy the fact to protect his investments.

The scent of blueberries caused her to look back up and blink her eyes in surprise as the pretty candle was extended to her. "Take it."

He waited patiently for her to place the bag down on the small table and take the seventh candle from his hand. "Oh. What did you want me to carve in this one?"

"Nothing. It's for you." Turquoise eyes blinked at him. "Take it as a thank you."

She blinked bewildered. "Thank you for..what exactly?"

"I take it that you have not revealed to anyone who or what I actually am. Otherwise I would have been treated with disdain as soon as I stepped foot into town." He nodded at you. "I would like to keep it that way. It just makes it easier for everyone."

She stared at him again- "And I thought I told you that it doesn't matter to me what you are. You're a man. Just like anyone else I've seen."

BU-BUMP-

She flinched as he quickly snapped his head away from her eyes. "... Pardon. The sun was getting in my eyes."

Her brow rose. The sun was in his eyes?? His eyes that were covered by his bangs and the hat he wore?? He paid no mind turning to leave. He already got his business over with and he'd gotten what he paid for. His father was still incredibly busy. With their forces being restless and resources being scarce in their areas, he's been having to deal with a few problems on the inside and out. So the peace talks have been pushed back until the men could be pushed back in line which he didn't see happening anytime soon. He had time to fulfill his mother's reau-

He froze from a pressure on his hand. ...His head turned. His lower eyes looking down. A much tinier bandaged hand had grabbed his own. It's nothing special. Weak really. If he wanted to he could easily throw her hand off of his and yet- His looked up at her in question. Her smile was back directed at him.

"Thank you." His entire head turned to her now. "I mean it. Thank you for everything. You don't know how much I needed this money, and I appreciate your kindness so much." Her smile softened. "I-...I know this probably won't make a difference to anything, but I don't think you're as bad as people assume you are, and I'm sorry for that."

There was a longer amount of silence before she looked down as his own hand enclosed around hers gently to avoid hurting her more. "..Your name?"

"What?"

"Your name. ..What is your name?"

She smiled wider. "It's Y/n. My name is Y/n."

Y/n....

B E A U T I F U L

"And your name? I know you told me before but I'm afraid I've forgotten."

He gently pulled his hand away from hers. "You may call me Kokushibo."

He turned without saying anything else and walked out the door.

Night fell upon the town. She had long since left for home and others were already snug in their houses for the night. Most lights were off except for a few working late. One of which was an old woman putting a few last overstock candles into a crate when she paused by the sounds of a door opened. Her resting scowl looked up ..but quickly fell in fear as something stared at her from the darkness. A single gleam of metal glowed reflected from the fireplace. Their face hidden from view.

"Don't bother screaming. You and I will be talking very briefly."

The door closed silently as they stepped inside.

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echantedtoon · 27 days

Text

Waning Obsession(Yandere Kokushibo x Reader) Ch4 To Go Back

(Warnings: Some drinking in the background.

Yes. Kokushibo is demon while the rest of his family is human. In this timeline one of their ancestors was demon and Michikatsu just happened to be the only one who inherits it, which also implies to any further children he might have.

EDIT: Spelling errors are fixed plus I have changed how Yoriichi acts towards the end since I was told he does act a little ooc near the end.)

Step after step. Day after day.

His legs carried him closer and closer towards the destination of the festivities. Music played. Many people celebrated. Lots of guests coming forth to celebrate the creation of a new union. The birth of a new family soon. The joys of holy matrimony and true love.

"Shameful behavior."

He commented to himself watching as one of the men drunkenly pulled his laughing wife into his lap, giving her a big kiss to her cheek, and holding up a large mug. "TO LORD TSUGIKUNI AND HIS NEW WIFE!! MAY THEY BE HALF AS HAPPY AS ME AND MY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE LADY HERE!" The wife busted out laughing high pitched giggles in her husband's lap as he pulled the mug back chugging down the sake.

A loud laughing fit emanated throughout the crowds followed by wolf whistles as the man went back to smothering his wife back with affection as she just laughed. It made his eyes roll and a sigh escape his lips at the sight. Truly degenerate. Now he remembered vividly why he preferred staying away from celebrations and festivals if he could help it. However this one time he couldn't stay away. It was required for him to at least make one appearance. If he didn't then he'd be looked down upon and get punished later by his father. Although by the scent of alcohol in the air as the sights of his father's men acting like drunk idiots everywhere, he already was being punished.

He wanted to arrive the day before the celebration but he had underestimated how long the woman with turquoise eyes would take and despite him hurrying, he was too late. He heard the sounds of loud laughter a mile before he even saw the outskirts of the city and was hit with the reek of alcohol long before he even stepped foot inside the city and made his way quickly through the throngs of people and towards the center. His senses were attacked by the strong smells to the point he had to place a cloth around his nose and mouth in a dire failed attempt to fill it. The crowds were terrible. Pushing against his body uncomfortably so and bumping his arms annoyingly so. And his father wondered why he preferred meeting outside his home city.

He was hoping to at least wait until the day after the official celebration but he knew lateness would also be frowned upon if he didn't have a good excuse for it and unfortunately he had none. So he'd have to brace himself and push through it like every other uncomfortable experience of his. The bright lights sent his eyes' sensory vision haywire with all these lanterns hung about so he only had the middle pair open for now. He'd deal with the headache later.

Although he supposed he should be grateful that he made it on time considering it took him a few days travel to get here. The small village was one he discovered on his way back home from the latest battle grounds, and honestly he hadn't known that it was even there. Didn't know it even existed until he made camp one night and had been disturbed by a woman with big turquoise eyes bumping into him in the middle of the night. The plan was to originally arrive a few weeks early in the city, find a gift that was acceptable quickly, then deliver it to his brother with a quick congratulations and leave right after to see his father for future battle plans against the Kibutsuji forces. However his plans changed when he stumbled upon the small secret village in the forest pass. Why stay longer in the city he hated when he could just buy something from the village and present it to his brother and leave right after? Even if he was a little late he could avoid the stupid crowds for a while longer. However he would no doubt he dealing with the aftermath of a massive headache later.

The loud laughter, music, and other blurring noises blending together from the crowds was mixed together in a vile assortment of stupidity. The only thing to remedy this would be to seek shelter at the one place he was dreading a lot because of a certain burgundy haired man the same height and weight as him. He always hated his meetings with family. Always so...

Self depleting. Tiring. Dreadful.

With a sigh he pushed through the crowds faster, pushing a drunk shoulder aside harshly as the idiot tripped and fell face first into the dirt, his comrades howling in drunken laughter at the sight. He hated this! Despicable behavior. And most of these men would be troupes in the upcoming years if his father's peace talks with the head of the Kibutsuji Clan failed once again like it had a couple months ago. Dammit. He should be back there accompanying his father instead of wasting time with this stupid celebration. He almost wished someone had struck down the messenger bird that carried the news about his brother getting engaged. He had been annoyed with the news but his father had been down right furious.

Furious at all of them.

Furious at his brother for getting engaged without his permission or even consulting him. Furious at his mother for going ahead and giving his brother permission as the matriarch of the Tsugikuni Clan. But most of all furious at him. For not already being married before his younger brother even got engaged. He was the eldest. He should've already been married off with at least one child on the way. As heir to the entire clan he should've been doing these things. To succeed. To excell long before his brother did. However the long and hard war had taken up much of the time he had for the last three years. It was his existence and trust his father had in him that called him to the war. His brother was left to train the troops and only be called to the battlefields if both of them were preoccupied with important matters or needed the extra back up. Otherwise it was training or going back to spend time with their sickly mother. He didn't want to be here. He should be at the peace talks to balance his father's temper but-

"Go home! See what Yoriichi has been doing while we're out here bleeding in the dirt!"

"I would be more use to you here."

"DO NOT ARGUE WITH ME, BOY!! You will do as I tell you without question! I won't have the entire Clan humiliated by having people think I can't control my own sons and wife! Go see to that message and make it seem like I had a say in it!"

"Then would it not be more effective if we both attended the engagement ceremony?"

"I have to attend the peace offering Kibutsuji extended. If I left then I'll be seen as weak, and I am not weak! Go attend and see what treachery is going on there without me. If neither of us shows up, then I'll become a laughing stock in front of my own people! I will not have it!! ......And check on your mother while you're there. If your brother is neglecting her needs while running whatever fantasy he's dreaming of, there'll be hell to pay."

"Of course."

If nothing else he's only here for his mother and nothing else there. Yes. He'd see what was going on here, but then he was leaving right after. The closer he got to the main building, the more annoying things became. Possibly because of the pounding headache he had now. Which was why he was glad that at least the guards stationed at the entrance of his home weren't drunk and complete stone faced and serious. A perfect result of his brother's hard training. Which both angered and relieved him to no end. It took no time at all for them to recognize him even before he lowered the cloth over his face to stare at them.

"Open the doors."

"Let us finish this."

His brother could wait.

Empty.

The bed laid bare and empty. Neatly made blankets covering the soft futon. It had looked completely unused and unslept in. It looked like his mother was up to her habits again and not resting like she was supposed to, and his brother wasn't doing anything to make sure that she did! Again! His anger rose as his soaring headache throbbed from his head, although he did not show it outwardly.

"Where is my mother?"

A passing servant girl no older than sixteen jumped in shock at his sudden voice looking wide eyed in fear at him. She had been trying to just speed walk by without him noticing looking down at the basket of laundry she held but it seemed she'd be spoken too after all. Her eyes shrank as a hard gulp swallowed down her throat.

"Answer me."

"L-Lady Akeno is in the west garden w-with Lord Yoriichi, Sir!," the girl squealed out of fear like a mouse trembling like she had been dunked in ice water.

His body stiffened up. His fist nearly crushing his hat from the sudden revelation. "...I see."

The girl whimpered out in fear, curling up on herself more as the man turned silently and stiffly walked out of the room and down the halls. Of course she was there. Of COURSE HE was with her. OF COURSE HE HAD TO RUN INTO HIM SO SOON!! He felt dread and anger filling up his veins like boiling water the closer and closer he walked towards the west garden. The west garden was the most beautiful part of the giant garden surrounding the estate with a large koi pond and a few statues, so of course his mother would choose there to relax. Where else would she be but there?! With every step closer and closer to the west garden, he became more and more angered. His father would be seeing a lot more blood shed from him on the battlefield after this! His anger would be taken out on whatever unfortunate enemy soldiers that crossed his path later-

"Aniue?"

He froze.

...no...No. NO!!

"Michikatsu, my son. Is that you? I fear my sight might be going too."

He didn't move. Didn't blink....But he had no choice in the end not to look. His head turned. Three wide eyes stared. Pupils shrank. Before he snapped his head away, two pairs of eyes closing and disappearing melting back into flesh and disappearing from view.

"It's been so long. Come here and greet your mother."

He could hear the smile in her voice. The happiness of seeing him after months on end in the battlefields. That's why he granted her the comfort of a normal face. It would put her more at ease. Her comfort was something that he wanted especially now. So when he turned to her, a face of a normal man now, he tried his hardest not to make his anger known outright.

"It's been a while..Mother."

An older face smiled at him. Her soft features worn and tired with wrinkles and eye bags showing her age. Her long black hair already leaking grey strands through them. Yet despite all of that, she was still one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen. Her long silk robes trailed the floor and pooled around her feet as she smiled at him. On either side of her was another younger woman around his age...and another man whom bore a striking resemblance to-

"Elder brother!"

A soft smile on a face mirroring many of his own features smiled back to him in the same happiness as their mother. Plume red eyes softly crinkled up in a smile as burgundy hair the same shade as his own framed them handsomely.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

It's no wonder why many women fawned over him more than himself. His soft nature, and handsome features was a more desirable one compared to his usually frightening one. Now thinking about it, it's not a surprise that his younger brother actually managed to get engaged first. His earrings swayed annoyingly as he tilted his smile at his brother. His hands held their mother's body up on her left side while the strange woman he'd never seen before stayed next to her right doing the same.

"I'm so happy to see you here, Michi!," Yoriichi greeted.

He bristled up at the nickname before frowning. "Don't call me that."

"Are you still insisting on being called 'Kokushibo' outside of the battlefield as well? The kanji for that is blank death, and that doesn't suit my aniue at all." He smiled warmly at him making an embarrassment arise in him.

"If I had it my way, you'd call me by my fighting name."

"Enough." Their mother wriggled one hand out of the woman's before motioning for him to come closer with a smile. "My son. It's been too long. What brings you back home?"

Despite his body screaming at him to stay away, he approached anyways and took the hand extended to him. "I returned to check on your health while Father attends the peace talks. You should be in bed resting instead of walking around this late." Yoriichi should've made sure of that!

Her expression soured before she sighed. "That man. All he ever thinks about is his own wants. It's a miracle he hasn't died from his blood pressure yet. I'm perfectly fine to walk around my home as I please. I'm sick not dead."

"You should listen to Father and the doctors. You'll only get worse pushing yourself. He won't be happy to know you aren't obeying them."

"Well you let me worry about your father." And he often wondered why Yoriichi didn't listen to him. "Did you just come home to see only me?"

Ah. She must've been referring to the hell storm outside. A.k.a Yoriichi letting the entire city get wasted for this stupid celebration. He stiffened up his jaw but held his composure in front of their mother.

He nodded. "Yes...Father insisted that I come and see who Yoriichi decided to wed." His hardened gaze finally looked into the patient eyes of his brother and his anger flared anew. "He was very displeased by the sudden news. Strange you never mentioned anything about this before."

"Not true. I told him that I was in love but he dismissed me as he usually does," he spoke calmly with that smile, "I took that as he wouldn't care if I married her either, but it's customary to let all our family know about my engagement."

"And you'd let out people get drunk and act like fools?" He challenged with a deeper frown. "It's a disgusting and disgraceful sight out there! Our men acting like vile pigs! What if there was a surprise ambush? Or an emergency that called for more troops being called out? They wouldn't be able to do anything being more useless than a blinded three legged horse!"

Despite his anger cracking through, his brother's smile never wavered. "There's no danger right now, Michikatsu. Everyone has been so weary and tired from all this fighting. They can use one night of celebration and joy after three years of war. Besides we have something worth celebrating don't we?"

Aren't you happy for me? That's what his words and eyes were secretly asking him but he wouldn't give him that satisfaction.

"One night is all it takes for us to lose everything! Do not allow something like this to happen again." His brother's smile wavered. "You still haven't even told me who you intended to marry. Father would like to know at least that fact."

"You've already seen her." Yoriichi's head turned. His head turned. And both stared at the woman beside his mother he hadn't recognized. "Michikatsu, this is Uta. I've chosen her to be my bride."

The woman seemed to look slightly nervous when he stared at her but smiled nonetheless. "Hello! You're Michikatsu! Yoriichi's told me so much about you. I'm so glad we could finally meet."

This woman...This woman was both what he DID ...and didn't expect Yoriichi to fall for. Didn't expect her because judging by how she looked, she was a mere commoner below their social status in her plain clothes. Something their father would NOT be pleased with or would have permitted. Did expect because honestly...he absolutely looked like someone his brother would fall for. Someone not bound in politics. Her big dark eyes made her face look cute and the cloth tied around her head gave her a soft of homey look that could get someone to relax easily.

He couldn't help but sneer at her in his mind and think of how much more prettier she'd be if she had more color in her eyes. Turquoise to be exact. That was such a lovely and unique color. With rosey cheeks and a polite smile and an attitude that could put him in his place politely without losing her cool and didn't treat him differently despite being a demon-

He shook his head upon realizing the strange looks he was getting from the three of them before clearing his throat. "I see..And where did you meet her?"

"We met two years ago." His brother smiled fondly at the woman, Uta, in front of him. "Kibutsuji's forces had wiped out most of the east side of our territories. Uta was one of the survivors we brought to the city for sanctuary. We've bonded since, and fallen in love."

He could almost gag on how sickly sweet this was. Nothing like he'd ever interact with his wife whenever he did get married as heir to the Tsugikuni Clan.

"Dear, have you visited a bakery before coming here?" He hummed looking back at his mother. She gazed at him in a confused manner. "You smell strongly of foods."

Foods? What could she- Oh. Oh right. He's almost forgotten about the entire reason why he was here. Silently he reached into the folds of his haori coat and pulled out a small cloth bag before bracing himself from anger and held out the bag to his brother who blinked in surprise.

"Here. An engagement gift to you and your bride. You'll find it acceptable."

Yoriichi gained a look of surprise but then smiled widely at him before taking the bag from him. "Brother...You got me a gift."

"It would've been improper of me if I didn't give you a customary gift." He bluntly said. It's nothing more than a mandatory custom to be upheld to avoid any unwanted drama.

They all watched his beaming brother just smile fondly at him before opening the bag and reaching his hand inside. The strong smells of cinnamon and mint rolling through the air as his hand grabbed something and pulled out a green object. They watched as Yoriichi held up the green rose shaped object that smelt like mint instead of a rose.

"How curious."

"What is it?," Uta asked taking it from him to ponder in her own hands. "....It smells of mint but looks like a green rose."

"It's a carved soap," he explained making them all look back at him. "I came across a carver whom carved soaps and candles into interesting shapes. I thought it'd be appropriate for a small gift."

"Aw. It's cute," Uta gushed looking at the little mint rose as Yoriichi went back to curiously rummage into the bag.

His own eyes widened when a wave of cinnamon hot them pulling out the red candle and pausing as the carved in pattern of the sun. Yoriichi stared at the object in his hand for a long while before dropping the bag and reaching his other hand out to run his fingertips delicately over the patterns. No doubt taken aback by the detail of it.

"Yoriichi?" Their mother questioned turning her attention to the candle he held and was also taken by the sight of the beautiful sun pattern. "Oh my. How lovely, and what a pleasant fragrance."

"It's what they call a 'scented candle'. Apparently they mix oils and spices into the wax in order to produce a desired aroma. The carver whom carved the soap also carved artwork into candles. I had her customize it just for the occasion."

His mother looked back to him blinking. "She? Are you telling me a woman made these?"

"Yes. Two women, but the only one who deserves praises is the one whom carved them into artwork. The other...was highly unpleasant."

His mother hummed. "Strange. Usually you don't see young women doing such work-"

"I love it." All looked back to his brother as he looked up with a bright, fond smile. "It's beautiful, Michi. I'll cherish it always."

He had to force his eyes away from the softness of his eyes before he could be embarrassed. "Tch. It's just a candle and some soap. Don't treat it like gold."

"It's better than gold. You obviously put a lot of thought into these. I'm so lucky to have you as a brother."

He didn't dare look up at him. He wouldn't allow himself to be embarrassed anymore than he already was. He fulfilled his obligations, and he would leave right after he made sure his mother got back to bed. His mother however was still looking over the candle in fascination, Yoriichi letting her run her own hands across the carving. So pretty. Such detailed work.

".... Michikatsu." He looked back to his mother. "Who's the name of the woman who carved this?"

"I do not know. She didn't say and I didn't ask."

"She does fine work. ..Do you perhaps think you could get me some like this? I think they would look so lovely decorating the book cases. I've never seen anything like this before and they would be such a nice addition to the home."

He blinked. His mother..wanted more of these candles as well? He continued staring at her for a long moment before nodding. "I can certainly get you as many as your heart desires, but it's getting late. You should be getting back to bed."

His mother sighed. "I swear you boys worry too much about me."

"And you worry to little." His eyes narrowed down to his brother despite Yoriichi never loosing his smile. He loathed absolutely everything he allowed to go on. Disgraceful. "...I will send you a report later after I alert Father of my visit here." He turned without another word placing the hat back on his head. "Get this city straightened out or else it'll be your hide to be hung out to dry."

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echantedtoon · 28 days

Text

Waning Obsession(Yandere Kokushibo x Reader) Ch3 A Job To Be Done

(Warnings: Y/n's boss treats her horribly.

For context the sun looks like the picture above. Pic not mine. Found on Pinterest.

EDIT: Fixed previous spelling errors.)

You didn't remember when you collapsed.

It must've been sometime during the middle of the night because you woke up the next morning collapsed on the floor just behind the table of perfumes. You woke dizzy and confused. Why weren't you in your bed? Where was your house? You had sat up confused. It was still raining outside although not quite as bad as last night. You remember that part at least. It was only when you moved. It was only until something red fell from your lap. When a red candle rolled across the floor. That you remembered.

A demon had visited you last night

Disregarding everything else, your body managed to get to the front door of the shop and opened it up to poke your head out and look up and down the streets. Rain pelted everything in sight as grey clouds filled the sky and thunder continued to clash overhead every few minutes. The winds continued to blow the trees but not as bad as last night. The streets remained empty as they had did yesterday. No human in sight. With no one around, you closed the door and backed up into the safety of the store. After a moment of standing there, your head turned and stared at the candle. A moment later feet approached and a hand picked the rather large red candle off the floor holding it up to turquoise eyes. The smell of cinnamon rolled over your senses before a sigh escaped your lips.

"So it wasn't just a nightmare."

A man had been here. A man that you had met before in the woods, and who now wanted you to do a custom candle carving for him. His voice from last night echoing in your mind the longer you stared at the cinnamon red candle.

"I want you to carve a sun into this. Make the sun look as if it was made of dancing flames."

For whatever his reasons were, he wanted you to do a custom job for him on the candle. It was such a surreal experience. .. Turquoise eyes glanced at the table. A few bottles of perfume was still knocked over. On instinct a hand reached out to start neatly pushing the bottles right side up, however it paused when eyes caught sight of a green soap bar. The green soap smelled of mint and was partially carved into a blooming rose. It was a bit strange to carve a green mint soap into a rose shape when it didn't even smell like the flower but it was unique and that's what you liked about it. You liked it's scent and spending so much free time carving as much detail you could into it as a hobby. You thought it looked beautiful but then again so did someone else.

"Then I want this also, looking as if it was in full bloom."

The man had taken interest in it also and ordered you finished it along with the candle. Within two weeks no less. All that hard work you put into it down the drain. But we're you going to argue with a six foot man that looked like he could rip you in half with a single hand?

No. No you were not.

You could always restart on making you another one. No little piece of soap was worth your life. The surreal day was very quiet aside from the rain, lightning, thunder, and wind. Leaving you alone in the home. Not knowing what else to do, you walked around your boss's home and tided up her living space and doing some chores around her home. It'd be something to help you get your mind off things. In reality you were stalling on returning to your home. It's not that you didn't want to go home to your own house, but you were afraid. Afraid to go outside in the storm by yourself and running into that man. Or worse. Running into another samurai that wasn't so...nice?? You wouldn't say the one you met was friendly but rather him than an unfriendly one.

Eventually after some time you say down at the table and picked up the red candle again looking it over before fetching a small metal stick about as thick and big as a single chopstick, and setting to work starting on the wax. A sun made of dancing flames...You had an idea of what it should look like but it would take at least three maybe four days to carve out such a detailed design on a big candle since you usually didn't do such big designs and so detailed. But you supposed now would be as good as any time to get started you guessed. No one else showed up that day, neither did your boss although you kept glancing out the window for any signs of life. None made themselves known. At the end of the day, you managed to find some food in your boss's food you borrowed and slept on a few spare pillows and blankets you found for the night not wanting to walk home right now. Well..she also said you could stay so you didn't have to walk home in this weather. You awoke the next morning to the sounds of a door opening and the sounds of footsteps shuffling around. It jolted you awake out of fear of the approaching figure, but instantly calmed down as the surprised face of your boss shuffled into her home.

She looked surprised seeing you laying there on the ground but soon scowled at you lying there. "Just what are you doing here?"

You should've known it was here from the shuffling and tiny fast footsteps but you guessed in your sleepy stare hadn't registered it. But you were relieved seeing that it was her. "I-I was tired and fell asleep."

She scowled harder at you. "You slept here? I said you could stay for one night not two!"

"I'm sorry," you apologized to her.

"You used my blankets, and you ate my food!" Her hands rested on her hips in annoyance. "You completely went against what I said!"

"I said that I was sorry-"

A hand was held up to your face. "No excuses! You took advantage of my kindness and I won't have you trying to defend such vile actions!"

"But I cleaned for you-"

"Talking back to me? You don't know when to stop do you?! For that you'll work the rest of this week without pay!," she proudly and angrily stated puffing her chest at your stunned look. "Perhaps that'll teach you not to talk back to your elders! Now get off my floor-" She roughly pointed a hand out the door. "-and go clean those sheets! I won't sleep in them after you used them!"

"But-"

"Talking back again? You can do my entire futon then and make yourself useful!"

You just shut your mouth and decided not to argue with her anymore in order to avoid anymore scolding and possibly more chores thrusted upon her. Under her angry gave, she followed you gathering sheets and laundry before essentially kicking you out arms full of clothes. You stared back at her angry look as she gripped the door.

"And don't return until your finished with it!"

SLAM!!

You flinched when the door slammed shut in your face and you were left standing in the middle of the street. The mud and puddles from the previous two day's showers squished under your feet as you just stepped back..and looked around. The streets were barren still and muddy and wet because of the rain. Water droplets dropped from the roofs and branches of the trees making a faint sound of rain even though it currently wasn't raining. The skies above were littered still with grey storm clouds but they were spaced apart from one another. Hopefully that met the storm was leaving soon. The wind gently blew across the empty streets giving it an eerie feeling. You felt a shiver run down your spine before you turned and started quickly walking down the road towards your home. You'd do the laundry there and change before coming back. Hopefully by then your boss would've calmed down.

The safety and warmth of your own home greeted you with glee and you were happy to be back. Happy to run a quick bath. Happy to do laundry. Happy to clean up around a little bit before just stopping to just take a breather and eat while waiting for the laundry to dry. Some time to yourself for a change before gathering up the sheets and folding them neatly. Gathering them in your arms before leaving your home again back down the quiet streets and back towards your boss's house. Turning one corner- And ramming into what was practically a wall of purple and black. Startled you jumped back and blinked nearly slipping on the muddy ground and looking up before completely freezing-

"Aren't you supposed to be working?" Your eyes stared widely at the looming figure of the man you saw two night ago. His eyes glaring down at you under the hat sat upon his head. "It's still rude to stare."

Immediately you froze. A cold feeling running through your veins before immediately your body bowed. "I-Im so sorry, Sir! I didn't m-mean to run into you! That w-w-was my mistake."

He didn't move but did tilt his head at the sheets and blankets you carried before humming. "Yes. I forgotten women must take care of their households. I suppose your husband has you running laundry."

You blinked. "Huh?" You glanced up to him in confusion before leaning back up and shaking your head. "N-No. These are for my boss."

The eyes shifted back up to you making you flinch. "I was under the impression that you were employed at the business I visited two nights ago."

"I am. But my boss ordered me to clean these for her."

The eyes continued to stare at you but became half lidded. "I wasn't under the impression that you were also her personal aid."

"I'm not, but I might as well be with everyone else she's had me do for her. But I have a job and I can't complain about it.'' Your eyes wondered from his face to his haori coat which was soaked and clinging slightly to his body. "You're soaked."

"I know."

"Have you been out in this weather since I met you?"

"Since before I met you," he corrected calmly but bluntly, "I made to stay in your village's inn but it seems no one wanted to answer my knocking."

You glanced over his soaked body for a long moment before looking back up to the sky. The grey clouds were still trudging along slowly. He's been outside in the weather for who knows how long. With everyone still terrified and in hiding, it's unlikely that he'll be able to get proper shelter especially if anyone else knew he wasn't human. You felt a pang of pity for him but.. Turquoise eyes glanced back to the sword on his side. You weren't going to chance anything. Who knows who this man was and what he did for a living? You'd have no part of it...But-

"If it's shelter you want," you spoke slowly making your eyes look back to him, "-there's an old abandoned cabin just outside town where the exit leads further into the mountains." You gestured to the far side of town and the complete opposite of where your home was. "No one's lived in it since the owner died a few years ago. Nowadays it's just used by a few men when they go hunting in the woods."

He did not say anything but just stared at you in silence. You stared back feeling more nervous, the more he bore into your eyes. The mud under your feet squishing as you shuffled uncomfortably.

"...I see," he settled on saying making her jolt slightly. "You should be working. I will not pay if I don't believe that Im not getting my money's worth."

You blinked and bowed- Or .. That's what he was expecting her to do but instead she frowned upon him, her brows furrowing.

"For your information, Sir, I am working on what you wanted," you calmly stated, "My work entails more than just carving so you'll have to understand that I just can't drop my other duties to tend to your order alone. I will get it done how you'll like, but that doesn't mean you will undermine my job."

......He blinked-

"Please give me patience. I understand you want it done within a certain timeframe and your agreement shall be met. Do not rush me for the detailed work you want will take time. I pride myself on not being sloppy." You politely stepped around him. "I'll try to be done by next week's end. Good day to you."

Your shoulder lightly brushed his by accident as you passed his form. He continued to stand there before a hand reached out to where her shoulder lightly brushed his own. Fingers gripped the fabric bunching up his haori sleeve. A head turned silently towards the retreating woman's figure. ...A simple hum escaping his throat.

Your boss was happy when you arrived back a few hours later with the clean sheets, however she then yelled and scolding you loudly over dragging mud onto her porch and onto her home. Demanding that you immediately clean it up then and there, on top of cleaning the floors and mud she HERSELF dragged in when she came back. You didn't argue. You deflated and grabbed a bucket and scrubbing brush from the back, not in the mood to fight and argue with her anymore today. She sat comfortably in the corner painstakingly looking over each and every sheet as you just swept the floors.

"..... There's a stain on the top one here!," she unfolded the top blanket and pointed out a smalL acorn sized stain in the corner of the blanket that would otherwise have been unnoticeable to anyone. "I told you to CLEAN them!"

"But that stain was there long before I cleaned them. It's sauce from one of your lunches you spilt remem-"

"Talking back to me again?! For that you can clean ALL my floors then and I expect you to move furniture! That should teach you for doing an inadequate job and talking back to your elders!"

You wanted to yell at her, but only frowned and returned to your sweeping and biting your tongue. You didn't feel like gaining a headache further from this stupid situation. You found yourself nearly getting spooked by her when she shuffled into the front of the store. Your knees bare from rolling up the hem of your dress and sleeves to better scrub the floors with. Dipping your brush into the water filled bucket next to you before pressing it back against the wooden floors and scrubbing it clean. She stayed to scrutinizingly glare over your shoulder as you did so, but you weren't expecting her to leave for a moment. You felt relieved for only a second before something red blurred in your face. You instinctively jumped back dropping the scrub brush with a thud.

"AHA! And what's this?!," she demanded holding up a red cinnamon scented candle at your face. The very same candle you had left on the small table by the perfumes. "What's the meaning of this? I didn't give you any permission to touch any of the candles! It's a candle to be sold, not a canvas for your hobbies!"

You just stared tiredly letting her finish her yelling before giving an inhale. "I'm not using it for a hobby. Someone asked me to do a custom carving for them."

"Who?!," she demanded squinting her eyes unbelieving at you.

"A man. He came a day or two ago and asked me for a few carvings for him."

"Do you really expect me to believe that?"

"He said he'll be back sometime within two weeks. If you don't believe me, you may wait until he arrives and I'll show you him."

"Don't tell me what I may or may not do in my own home!!," she spat at your tired face, "For that you can scrub the porch too!" She hissed before whipping her hand to the candle and the beginnings of a carving on it... before huffing and turning to drop it back onto the table. "But if you think it will amuse me, I certainly will wait and we'll see this 'man' you speak of. If he exists."

"If? But he does-"

"TALKING BACK AGAIN!! YOU CAN DUST THE SHELVES TOO!!"

You turned back around and just went back to scrubbing the rest of the home's floors. You would not be getting any work done today it looked like. Unbeknownst to the both of you someone saw. Someone who had gone to hunt while you swept and was just now making his way back to a certain cabin with a plump pheasant in his hands from a successful small hunt. Passing yell got his attention briefly on the yelling woman and the young lady scrubbing the floors but he only passed on by with nothing but a hum to the situation.

You in fact did not get anymore work done that day too busy with cleaning everything while the angry older woman continued to scrutinizing you until it got dark enough for you to go home, and by that, your boss made you make her dinner before kicking you out for the night. You went back home exhausted and frustrated at the situation but returned the next day with the intentions of finishing up your work. This time you paid no mind to her angry ramblings or her glares as you just sat back down and began carving into the surface of the red candle. One day turned to two. Two to three. Three to four-

"It's been half a week already. There's still no sign of any man," your boss chastised you while putting more incense bundles she dried up on the shelves one day while giving you a suspicious look as if you had deliberately lied to her.

"I said he was returning in two weeks time, not half of one week." Small shavings of red wax fell to your lap as you began adding the final finishing details into the candle. By the end of today at least one job will be done. You paused to blow the smaller shavings off the wax for a clear view of the patterns etched around the body of the red candle.

The older woman paused narrowing her eyes more. "Are you talking back to me?"

"Not at all. I'm only telling you what he told me," you said politely to avoid anymore arguments.

"Hmm. To me it sounds like you're talking back."

"No. Please not again." You stopped tracing the very last detail in to look over your shoulder at her tiredly. "I promise you I'm not."

"You're definitely talking back to me!" Her expression soured as she crossed her arms and scowled at you again. "So once you're done with that candle, go clean my bathroom before you start on anything else he supposedly asked for. Clearly you haven't learnt your lesson."

"But-"

"Anymore back talk and I won't pay you next week as well!"

You decided to bite your tongue again and just go clean the bathroom after finishing up the candle. It wouldn't have been the first time you cleaned it and you didn't want to lose another week's pay over an old woman's anger. However you supposed you should've went into more detail about what exactly he wanted because she practically flipped when she saw you continuing work on the green soap rose.

"What are you doing?!," she roared as soon as she saw you push the small carving knife into the green soap to continue carving the fake petals. "You're supposed to be working! Not wasting time with stupid toys you're making for yourself!'' she demanded angrily pointing out the objects in your hands.

You didn't even bother looking up this time and only focused on your work. "He wanted this too."

"WHAT?!"

"He saw this and decided that he wanted to purchase this from me too. I told him it'd take me a while and that's why he said he'd return within two weeks time."

She sneered almost instantly. "Now I know you lie! You're only saying that because you want to laze about like a lame cat and fiddle with your own stupid hobbies than put in real work and expecting to be paid still!"

"I never said that I expected to be paid if I lied-," you ever patiently said politely to avoid making her further angry, "-but I did not lie. I'm not doing these things just for myself but genuinely because I am working. And I have put in a lot of real work. I have done everything you have asked me to do."

"Well, since you want to insist on this little charade and lie about this, I'll indulge you only so I can catch you in your lies! But since I know you're lying, and you continue to talk back to me, you can just finish restocking all these shelves yourself while I go visit my grandson." You gave her a look and opened your mouth- "Don't you dare give me that dirty look! For that you can just wash the windows too!"

You decided not to argue as she dropped the last of the incense bundles on the floor and stomped away. You only tiredly glanced as the bundles thudded onto the floor before looking at the soap in your hands still needing to be carved and you sighed. You would not be getting it done as fast as you hoped. You only turned paused your carving and stood up to carefully pick up the incense bundles off the floor to neatly stack them back onto the shelf before turning to walk towards the kitchen in the back. You'd be needing some water to clean up all the windows. A bucket and cloth later, turquoise eyes glanced out of the window towards the outside. A moment later a damp rag was pressed to the glass and started wiping away any dirt and dust. You'll do the inside first before cleaning up the outsides of the windows. Thankfully there wasn't very many so you'd be done quick and be able to get back to work. Turquoise eyes watched the rag on the window.. before glancing up and pausing as they stared into the multiple eyes of a tall demon. The man was there again just on the edge of the porch looking directly at you. Both of you just stood there for a long moment unmoving-

"What are you doing?!" A loud voice made you jump whirling around to your annoyed boss. "I'm heading out now, that doesn't mean you can slack off."

"I-I wasn't! I was just-" You looked back out the window and paused again. He was gone- He was literally standing just right there feet away from you! How did he move so fast?! Your head leaned into the window to look around more. Where did he go?!

"Uh huh. Well if you're done with your daydreaming, get done! I want them spotless by the time I come back!"

You didn't make any complaints as she left. You did not see anymore demons that day.

The town had slowly gone back to normal over the last few days as you continued on your carving. People started coming out again cautiously at first and only the men to gather supplies for their families. But they soon fell back into routine which was enough reassurance for their women to go out too followed by their children like the scare a week before had never happened. You supposed it should've been comforting to you to see life back to normal but you knew there actually was a demon about. A very tall demon with a sword...

But he hadn't made a move to harm anyone.

The most he's done that was even remotely threatening so far you've seen was that night you first met, when you realized he had been gripping his sword in defense, but you had snuck up on him so you couldn't blame him for being on the defensive and he had stood down as soon as he saw you didn't mean him any harm. And he also hadn't shown any other aggressiveness from the few other times you saw one another. Sure he might've been a bit rude and blunt but that's hardly dangerous. So you decided to keep it to yourself. That...and you didn't know what your boss would do next if she had found out that the man you were doing business with wasn't a human man. One more day. One more step closer to finishing. You were almost done with it now cutting each little fake petal into the soap until it looked like a little green rose. You left your finished work next to the red candle with the bright swirling sun carved into its red wax. Your boss continued to scrutinize you as the end of the time frame approached. Often looking outside and commenting that she never saw anyone.

"No one came in for you today."

Or whenever there was a customer, she'd comment on how they weren't there for the carved items.

"That was Mr. Sako. He bought some bath salts for his wife, but I see he didn't even mention anything about your work."

Or just plain accusations.

"I'm starting to run out of patience for your game! Make yourself useful and get me some tea!"

You were starting to get worried. It was almost the end of the week and you hadn't seen this demon yet. You'd thought about going to the old cabin and seeing if he was there, but the thought of going to see a demon alone didn't sound like a good idea even if he hadn't done anything to anyone. You only hoped for him to show up soon.

With another day coming to a close you just went about minding your own business sweeping the floor when a huff made you pause in your movements and look over. The older woman could be seen at her little station in the back pulling a blue candle out of a small cauldron in the fire where bubbling wax was boiling. The process of candle making warmed up the home a lot, and as it was already a warm summer, the windows had been opened and the door left wind open to help regulate the heat.

"It's getting close to sundown," she commented holding up the candles above the cauldron by the wicks, watching as the wax dropped off then and back into the pot before she'd let them cool a bit and add another layer by dipping them back in. Repeating the process until they were the size she wanted them to be. "The day will be over soon. Don't you think you should head home?"

"I will after I finish sweeping like you told me," you politely said with a smile.

She only huffed before turning back to her work. "I'm surprised that you're insisting on getting back on my good side. After all, after this week is over and Im proven right, you won't be getting any pay for at least a month for lying to me for so long."

You frowned before just sweeping the floors again. This really wasn't your best time. The bristles swept the small pile of dirt closer and closer towards the open doorway as your focus was mainly on the floor pushing the dirt along until the broom bumped against something in the way. Turquoise eyes followed the thing on the floor before pausing in sudden realization as a foot stood there right next to another. Your head snapped up. A gasp escaped your throat and the broom dropped from your hands with a clatter. The noise had caught the attention of the older woman who turned with an annoyed look but also paused shocked seeing the looming tall figure in the doorway.

The demon had returned.

He stayed inhumanly silent as you both stared back at him before he decided to speak. "I'm here to see if you have finished." His voice was as monotone and blunt as ever as his head tilted at you. "I did tell you that I would be back."

Your boss froze seeing him letting the wax drip out onto the floor no doubt making a mess. You stood there blinking before slowly exhaling and giving him a smile. "O-Oh. Of course. I'm sorry. I didn't hear you walk in. You startled me."

"Apologies."

"No it's alright." You held up a hand making him blink. "I'm sure you didn't mean to do don't apologize." That...wasn't something he expected her to stay. You smiled wider before pointing at the inside of the home. "I finished every just today so you came at a great time. Come in and I'll show them to you."

You walked on over to the small table in the middle of the room and he slowly followed silently stepping over the broom on the floor. He watched as she smiled and lifted two objects in her hands before turning back to him with a smile and presenting them out to him. The smells of cinnamon, cloves, and mint filled his senses and he was almost taken back when he first saw them, six eyes widening.

"I hope you're pleased with them." The eyes looked back to turquoise ones. The unusual pretty color of them catching the lantern light above her making them sparkle like two clear pools of water making them go even more wide. "I tried to put as much detail as I could into the designs without making it too complicated. I hope that's alright."

He didn't speak for a moment. Taking in the sight of her sparkling eyes... Turquoise. Strange color. He'd never seen another woman with such a specific color eyes. It seemed like a perfectly calm and cool color matching her soft features, especially her soft lips smiling at him and the slight rosiness of her cheeks no doubt caused by the heat in the house, but it was such a soft pink one could confuse her for blushing. Blushing at him-

BU-BUMP-

A clawed hand harshly dug into the front of his haori as the rest of his body, including his eyes stayed motionless and fixated on you. The sudden grip of his arm made you jump and blink at his hand gripping his chest.

"A bee." She blinked back to him. "There was a bee flying about. Forgive me." His hand slowly lowered from his chest to reach out to her hands holding the objects. "I would like to examine the objects before I decide on any payment."

She nodded holding them out to him. "That's perfectly fine. I'd want to be sure you're getting what you're paying for."

She watched him pick up the candle first, his calloused hands brushing against her scared palms. ..Soft. Her skin was softer and warmer than it looked- He forcibly pushed those thoughts to the side and just looked at the red candle. Again eyes widened. Carved with the curve of the candle was a spiral circle twisting around itself, on the outside of the strange spiral circle was flames reaching out and dancing in different directions. It was...Lovely. His brother would no doubt definitely like this. She didn't say anything when he reached out and just took the other object from her hands and looked at it. The smell of mint was added to the spicy cinnamon, as he stared at the green soap carved into a rose. It wasn't the real thing, but it looked rather close to it. This should suffice for his wife.

You felt a slight nervous feeling the longer he stared at them before he bothered talking. "These will suffice."

A breath you didn't know you were holding escaped your mouth in a relieved sigh before smiling again at him. "I'm glad you find my work acceptable."

"What's your price?"

"Uh..." You.. hadn't really thought about that. You were too busy trying to get the work actually done and doing whatever your annoyed boss ordered you to do. "I..I haven't really thought about that actua-"

"Fifty ten!" You jumped and turned as your boss confidently shuffled up beside you both and proudly smiled at him. "No more no less! I charge a decent amount for my wares!"

You stared at her in shock. How could she stand there and dare yell at a frightening looking demon?! But then you realized. She must not know he's a demon. His long bangs hid most of his eyes and the darkness of the low hat he wore disguised anything else that might've peeked through, so unless you pushed them out of the way, you'd have no idea he wasn't human. Otherwise he looked completely normal like any other man. Nevertheless his head tilted at her... before silently looking back at you.

"How much did you want?" You looked back to him. "Money is not an issue."

"I just said-"

"It's rude to interrupt a conversation, especially one where you're not involved in, Woman." Your boss stopped shocked by his tone and you also looked surprised by his sudden slight annoyed tone. "I'm speaking to the one who actually put in the work."

Your boss stared slack jawed, obviously caught off guard that she'd dared to be talked like this before she again scowled and pointed at him. "I'll have you know that the candle and soap you're holding was made by my hands!!"

"And yet you're not the one who's made them into beautiful artworks. You did nothing but leave them to be used for anyone else to enjoy. My business is not with you."

"I put my hard work into those things! Who do you think you're talking to, Boy?!"

"A nagging wench who should learn to hold her tongue." Your jaw dropped and eyes went wide as your boss turned a deep red and so angry you were expecting steam to pop from her eardrums. "I refuse to do business with one who refuses my existence. Your wailing is so obnoxious that I could hear it in my sleep. You're position of owner doesn't apply to authority over her like a slave."

You were stunned to say the least. Watching silently as he just told your angry boss off like a child before his hand reached into the folds of his haori coat. The sounds of metal jingling filled the air as a decently sized bag was pulled out and held out to you.

"I believe this will cover the expenses for each of them."

You only continued to stare at the bag before shaking hands reached out to take it from him and good gods!! It had a bit of weight to it. Automatically you reached up to pull the strings lose and pull the cloth back- Only to almost have your eyes bug out of your skull at the sight of shining yellow.

"I-Is this-"

"Yes. And it's only for you. If anyone else should try to take it for whatever reason-" He spoke while putting his free hand on the hilt of his sword. "-I will not be so kind then." His actions got the old woman to go wide eyed before gulping and taking a step back.

"I-I don't know w-w-what to say." You stuttered out looking back at him. "I-I can't accept this much. T-This is much too much. I-Id be taking too much from you." Your hands held it back out to him. Your actions in doing so surprised him as he leaned back surprised. "At l-least take it back so we can work out a more appropriate payment."

He stared before turning his head from it. "No. You'd offend me more if you refused my offer." His words had you lower the bag. "Take it to make up for the lost wages my presence here has cost you." Wait. How did he know about that? "My business here is concluded. Will you be leaving soon?"

You just...numbly nodded before on autopilot reached down to pick up the broom again and just made back for the dirt pile that was still in front of the door. "I just need to finish the floor here." You mumbled.

"Then I shall wait and walk you home as it's late." He silently watched for a few seconds as you numbly finished your sweeping before turning back to the still pale old woman. "...Your wax is boiling over."

Her head snapped around and a screech left her mouth as the candle wax left unwatched boiled over and dropped messily into the fireplace the smell of burnt wax filling the air.

Her screech had snapped you out of your stupor and you made to help her but a strong hand grabbing your wrist had stopped you. "She can fix her own mess for once. Leave her and head home."

You could still hear her cussing and wails as you chose to walk down the street with a demon still holding your wrist, being too nervous to argue with the tall demon. The bag of gold coins firmly in your other hand as you awkwardly started walking down the road like this. A few people still walking around despite the setting sun stopped to give you both some curious looks but you only looked down red in embarrassment. This was incredibly strange and awkward for you and you had no idea what to think of this or how to feel. The best you could do was to just walk faster hoping to get to your home faster and get this over with. He said nothing during the entire duration of your traveling until you had tugged on your wrist and stopped in the middle of the road. He obliged and let you go as you looked at him.

"I-I live on the end of this road. You can part ways w-with me now," you spoke still politely as he looked at you, "T-Thank you for...for...for everything however. It was a pleasure doing business with you."

He only gave you a half lidded look. "That woman. She is the owner?"

You blinked as he just blatantly ignored anything you just said but slowly answered, "Yes?"

He hummed. "Hm. I am surprised that she's able to keep her business running the way she does ordering everyone around her like that."

You shrugged. "She's always been that way. People around here are just used to her by now. I'm used to it too."

"That is why you are a pushover?"

You frowned. "I'm not a pushover. I just don't have many options for a job being a woman especially in such a small town like this. If I quit or get fired then my only other choices would be to either settle down with one of the men as a wife or became a maid in the local inn."

"Do you not already work at that woman's maid?"

"Yes, but at least with her I know what I'm dealing with. The inn is also the local tavern where men like to drink. Id rather not deal with the drunk shenanigans of men...Ah. No offense."

He blinked. "You apologize to me as if I were a man to be offended-"

"Aren't you?," she asked innocently tilting her head and blinking her large eye almost...cutely. "I may not know a lot about you, but you are a man. Aren't you?"

"I am a demon."

"How is that relevant? You are a man, and I don't think you should be treated differently because of the small fact of being a demon or not."

He didn't say anything. Just stared at you with those eyes studying your figure for a long moment. Turquoise eyes blinked back at him sparkling from the retreating sunlight.

"....You should go home to your husband before it gets dark."

"I'm not married." He hummed at you. "I don't have a husband. I'm not seeing anyone."

A beautiful woman like her without a husband? Doubtful. At the very least she was already being courted and closed to being engaged.

"Hm...You should go inside before it gets dark. Women shouldn't stay out at night where it's dangerous."

You took that as your chance to leave. With another bow, you quickly turned and practically sped walked down the street until you got to your house at the very end of the road. You turned back once, made eye contact with his form, smiled and waved at him, before turning back around, and quickly opened the door. He watched her form fully disappear inside her home before turning and starting to walk away towards the exit of town.

Shame...She was rather lovely. Such unique eyes as well

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echantedtoon · 29 days

Text

Waning Obsession(Yandere Kokushibo x Reader) Ch2 Amongst Us

(Warnings: Some Hate and discrimination against demons. Y/n accidentally cuts her hand a bit. Mentioning of a few scars on reader's hands.

Demons don't eat humans in this au but most aren't very pleasant. Y/n has no cannon design and can look however you like except for her turquoise eyes which is plot related.

EDIT: Fixed previous spelling errors.)

The scent of burnt flowers is the first thing that greeted you when you came back to the little shop two days later.

You had slept in late because of your nightly escapades and by the time you woke up and rushed back to the small shop, it was already mid-day. But you had found your boss there. And the older woman was. NOT. Pleased. The opening of the door was greeted by her form sitting down near a shelf looking to be rearranging some candles by color, and had given you the dirtiest scowl you'd ever seen on an old woman.

"Where have you been?!," she demanded rudely as you gasped for air from running all the way there. Her arms crossed and she scowled harder. "I've been up all morning trying to rearrange these shelves all by myself and I can't reach most of them!"

You immediately bowed still gasping for air. "I-...I'm s-so sorry. I-I overslept b-by accident." You gasped out between breaths.

"Excuses, excuses! I don't suppose you brought me the basil I asked for?" Her brow rose as your body stiffened up, remembering that you stupidly left the small bag of wild herbs by your bedside. She hummed. "Mm hm. Well since you think that staying up last night would give you a good excuse for lateness, you can just come in early tomorrow morning and help clean out the storage in the back!''

"I-I can just go b-back and get them-"

"And give you the idea of just falling back asleep? Not likely. Now get in here and get those green candles off the top shelf."

It seems fate decided to be a cruel lady to you. You had no choice but to sigh and obey, forcing your tired body to just work the rest of that day away before being granted permission to finally head home and rest more. Totally exhausted by the time you got home and just collapsing into your futon with a sigh. Tomorrow... Tomorrow would be better after you got lots of sleep and weren't feeling sleep deprived.

The first rays of day kissed the skies good morning and woke her up enough to bring out the cheerful smile of morning from her slumber. Glass shined as the light passed right through the window panes and chased away the darkness in the home. The rays of light passed up the body stopping among the head and shining directly into the soff eyelids. They fluttered and moved from the light's gleam until they opened slowly, squinting and blinking at the light until they adjusted.

Turquoise irises gazed softly out at the world.

You blinked before groaning in annoyance at the light shuffling around under your blanket but ultimately decided to get up from how too warm it was. The summer beat and the sun's light baring down on you on top of the thick blanket covering you made your body too irritatedly hot, so the blanket was kicked off in order for you to get up. Your torso sat up arms reaching above your head to stretch out, your mouth yawning. A hand reached up to wipe the sandman's kisses away from your eyes. Another morning to live. Another day to work. You slowly got yourself up and got yourself ready despite your still groggy state to get ready for work to ensure you'd not get another earful from your boss for being late again. So you were quick to make yourself look presentable and made sure to grab the small bag of herbs she wanted to avoid any scolding concerning that as well. With a final look in the mirror and grabbing a nearby apple for breakfast, you smiled at yourself before you opened the door and headed out your door into the morning sun.

You held the bright red apple in your mouth as you closed the door to your small one bedroom home behind you and turned to start walking down the sunny street. The sweet taste of apple tainted your senses as you are the delicious fruit on your way down the road. There was a nice breeze again today and a lot of clouds in the sky providing you shade from the harsh sunlight as you walked which made it a nice day to walk around. No doubt there would be countless people taking advantage of the nice weather. Your turquoise eyes wondered around lifting the fruit again to your mouth...but lowered it as you noticed that-...Wait a minute.

Where was everyone?

Your eyes wondered around the nearly empty street as you walked down the dirt road between all the houses and small businesses slowing down your pace as you noticed that the streets were.. unusually barren. Usually you would see young children running around playing and laughing loudly in such nice weather but you didn't see any of the young children around or their laughter. The elderly would be seen relaxing on the shady porches but they too were gone. No men and their sons were walking past you to the forest to fish and hunt like they did every morning. No people were walking around the roads. No one was tending to the various small gardens around the homes... Nothing. Well no. There WAS a few people. Although they seemed to be walking quickly and keeping their heads down whenever you watched them pass. You tried smiling and waving at a few people but they either ignored you or didn't notice making you raise a brow at their strange behaviors. What was going on? This was highly unusual. You couldn't help but stare at the strange occurrence. Turning a corner you were pleased to see at least two child playing outside. A little boy no older than five playing with no doubt his baby brother as the barely toddler boy squealed in delight as his older brother played peekaboo with him. You smiled softly at the cute sight before a slamming of a door caused both to look up.

"What do you think you're doing?!," an angry older woman demanded. She had thrown the sliding door open in the house right across from the two boys that looked at her.

"We're playing?," the older boy asked back.

"When there's death lurking about?! You're in big trouble!!"

The woman(their mother no doubt) continued scolding them as she stomped over. Effortlessly scooping up the baby in one arm while the other harshly grabbed the young boy by the back of his kimono. He was forced up and quickly marched back into the house, the door slamming back shut just as you were walking past their house. You continued to stare at the door for a long moment as you passed bewildered more before continuing on your way towards the small shop. Seriously what was going on? It was like if the a plague had combed through the town scaring everyone into hiding overnight. It wasn't like this just the other day. You decided to get to work quickly and see if things were better there instead. The apple core now eaten was tossed aside into a nearby tree patch before you hurried on your way down the rest of this street before turning left and going down three more small homes. The third home being the small shop that doubled as your boss's home. The streets were still practically empty but at least the shop looked calm. The eerie silence was getting to you so you quickly walked up to the shop and opened the door-

Only to reel back as the smells of burning wysteria and smoke and ashes hit your senses.

The stinging of the smoke hit you first as your eyes stung from smoke. The smell of singed wysteria burning your nostrals and making your lungs involuntarily cough and instincts drove you to sharply throw your head to the side. Your coughing fit in the open doorway to allow most of the smoke in the house to escape instantly and allowing the wind still blowing to blow it away.

"What are you doing?!," an older voice sounding like nails on a chalkboard screeched. "You'll letting our protection out you foolish girl!"

A hand suddenly grabbed your arm and tugged harshly. Your coughing firm gasped out as you were thrown inside stumbling a few feet before falling to your knees and continuing to cough. There was a loud slamming sound behind you as someone closed the door quickly and then shuffled around you. You coughed and fanned away any leftover smoke away from your face, rubbing your watery eyes before you turned and stared at the old woman shuffling around to look at you with a deep scowl.

"W-What *cough* was that?," you asked between coughs looking at her. "Did something catch on fire?"

"No you naive child!," she spat pointing at you harshly, "You just jeopardized what little protection I have against these beasts!"

You blinked at her bewildered even more. "W-What are you talking about? Protection from what?"

"How could you not know?!"

"Know what? What's going on?"

"FOOLISH GIRL!!" The pointing finger poked harshly on your chest. "A demon's been spotted outside of the village two nights ago!" Her face turned from anger and annoyance to fear quickly as she gave a quick look outside of the window. "As far as everyone knows it's still out there."

Your body froze as her words slowly seeped into your brain and your eyes widened. "A what?!"

A demon. The rumored cold hearted killers everyone feared. And one was spotted near your peaceful village?! How- No. WHY?! It didn't make any sense for a demon to be here. Demons lived in large towns and cities and were attracted to buzzing crowds and wars and fighting. It wouldn't make sense for them to come all the way out here. It was literally in the middle of nowhere and was as bland and simple as can be. There wasn't any treasures or valuable things to attract them. So why was there one lurking about? You blinked looking around you and finally located the source of all the smoke and smells. Many small sticks of wysteria incense had been lit and burning. Around them was all the wysteria scented candles you had lit up and filling up the home with more wysteria smell. The amount of smoke and wysteria was overwhelming and made your head spin. Eventually you reached up to pinch your nose to protect it from the scent overload.

"Why are you burning so much wysteria?"

"Because demons hate the flower. They won't go near it. It's the only protection an old woman like me can have but because of you most of it went out the door!''

"Don't you think you're taking it a bit too far?," you asked ignoring her insults.

"Absolutely not! When it comes to a demon I won't take chances! Now go in the back and see if there's anymore wysteria candles quickly! We need to light more to replace the heavy scent you lost me!"

You would've sighed at her yelling again but given the circumstances you'd thought it'd be better to play it safe. So you only got up and obeyed silently. There was not anymore wysteria scented candles in the back or on any of the shelves when you looked nor was there anymore wysteria incense. She had burnt all of it. The closest thing you could find was a single small bottle of wysteria perfume that your boss immediately grabbed and dosed herself in making your head swim more from the overpowering scent. You started to develop a headache the more you smelt it, and with her refusing to open any doors or windows, you had taken to just sitting in a separate room and covering your nose with your kimono. Safe to say that you didn't have any customers that day. In fact most of it was spent trying not to cough, calming down your boss, and watching her obsessively looking out the window in fear but every time you looked out, you saw absolutely nothing out of the ordinary other than the eerily silent streets, and you missed the tall figure walking slowly down the road. He stopped, took a few seconds to gaze around carefully,.. before slowly walking back down the road away from the shop. You were too busy with your back towards the window trying to calm the old woman's rambles for the fifth time to notice. But at least you knew why everyone was acting strangely at this point.

You also alternated between trying to carve a green nice smelling mint soap into the shape of a rose flower in bloom. However this one wouldn't be for sale. Oh no. You were planning on taking this one home for yourself. Unfortunately it wasn't done yet and you had to leave it on the table by the perfumes to tend to your boss's panicked episodes.

Nothing changed except for the sky. The clouds that were blowing across the sky now darkened from white to dark grey and increased in number. The wind picked up shaking your wind chimes like crazy, moving the trees at an alarming rate. A rain storm was coming without a doubt. Hours slowly crept past. The sun moved across the sky near sunset now. And you were surprised to see your boss come out of the back dragging a big bag with her.

Curious and confused you pointed at it and asked, "What's that for?"

"For me of course," she huffed back. "It's too dangerous for a defenseless old woman like myself to stay alone while that monster is roaming about. I'm going to stay with my son and his family until the danger passes! Before dark too." She shivered giving a look at the setting sun. "They always get more active during the night. I'm not going to be stuck alone waiting to see what happens."

"You're leaving now?" You glanced back at the home. You noticed the melted wax all over the floor and the candle stubs and all the ash everywhere. "And leaving the mess?"

"My life is worth more than a mess! It'll be here when I return."

You rose a brow at her and then again at the mess thinking. "Why don't I clean it? It's the least I could do."

The older woman gave you a look like you were crazy and looked you up and down. "Are you still sleep deprived?"

"No. I'd just rather not leave a mess. It usually brings bad luck."

"And you'd do that despite the dangers?"

"There hasn't been any dangers. No one has shown up all day and we haven't even seen anything. For all we know, that sighting might've just been a misunderstanding. Or maybe the demon already left."

She still looked at you like you were crazy but eventually looked away shaking her head. "If you want to clean so late I won't stop you, but I still say you're nothing but foolish." She nodded towards the back of the home. "Although I won't leave you to wonder back home alone if you don't have to. If it becomes too dark, you can just spend the night here and spare yourself the dangers of walking alone at night."

You smiled at her before nodding. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."

"Hmm. Just don't say I didn't warn you if something were to happen." With that last grim warning, she left with her bag. Carefully pulling the door open, looking up and down the road, and shuffling out as quick as her old legs could carry her up the road.

You were left standing there staring at the door before you also slowly approached the door and slid it all the way open. The eerily quiet streets met you as you gazed your turquoise eyes up and down the empty dirt road carefully but yet again did not see anyone other than the quickly retreating form of the old woman before she took disappeared around a corner. Truly leaving the streets empty and devoid of life. You continued to stare a little while longer before sighing and allowing the door to remain completely open to allow the remaining burning wysteria smell to escape the house. It was giving you a big headache at this point so fresh air would be just what you needed. So allowing it to remain wide open, you got to work grabbing the broom to sweep up the ashes. You sighed seeing all the wax dried all over the floors and tables. You'd have to get a knife to scrape the wax off everything. You would not have an easy night.

Twilight soon began to fall and the more you stayed the more quiet it gotten and the less people you saw until the streets were completely bare of any living creatures and no lights other than the occasional street lantern or candle in the window and the setting sun leaving only a little sunlight to spare. It would soon be complete night, and you were left all alone. You felt almost like a criminal gazing around back allies, hiding from sight, and keeping secret. The darkened skies completely filled up with dark clouds and the wind blew fiercely making the trees shake and groan scarily. The wind blowing in making you shiver and decide now would be a good time to close the door soon. Countless minutes were spent on hand and knees using a carving knife to scrape wax off the floor until you had finally finished. Although not without consequences. During the last few bits, the knife slipped from your hand and sliced across the palm of your right hand. It wasn't a deep cut. Nothing life threatening to you, but it still stung as you wrapped a spare bandage from the back around it. Today was definitely not your day.

You gathered the wax pieces and quickly went outside to throw them out before returning to grab the broom and started to sweep all the ashes across the floor and out the door. As you were doing so, the first drops of rain started to pour down and hit the roof and outside. The broom bristles scraped across the floor pushing the ashes outside the door and onto the porch. You took a moment to stand there and look out into the stormy dark night. Rain pelted everything and you jumped as the first clash of thunder crashed throughout the heavens- A sudden noise made you suddenly jump and a cat yowled out from the inside of an overflowing crate full of garbage and scurried away into the night leaving you spooked. You felt on edge from your boss's warning and you couldn't help but feel like you were one of those unfortunate victims you always heard in ghost stories. The ones who always meet their early demise in the dark. If you weren't offered shelter here for the night instead of walking back in this weather, you would've felt more on edge. The last rays of the setting sun was dowsed by the watering night and all light finally left, making the shadows more powerful. More bigger. The outstretched hands of darkness caressed the world in its grip. You quickly swept the ashes off the porch and onto the muddy ground before quickly turning to go back inside.

The broom retired against the wall. Your hand rested against the door as you gave one last look out. The streets were completely dark, no houses had anymore lanterns or candles inside to light up the houses. Only the lightning to flash everything awake for a brief second. Your shop was the only one with a candle in the window.... Perhaps you should follow suit and put it out and retire for the night. It was already getting late and your worries were starting to make you paranoid about nothing. Your legs took you a step back, your hand slowly slid the door closed-

Only to meet resistance once it was almost closed.

"Hm?"

Your head turned to the door. A light whistling noise was established by the wind blowing through a small space. The door was cracked open just about an inch. You tried pushing it closed all the way but it didn't budge. What the- Your other hand reached up to try and push it shut with both hands. It didn't budge. You started to push harder and harder to try and get it closed. It didn't move. Soon you were pushing it as hard as you could with both hands and a shoulder pressed against it but still it did not budge. With a grunt you stopped and stared at the door before looking at the very bottom of the door. There wasn't anything jammed there blocking the door from closing. So why wasn't it shutting all the way?... Perhaps the outside of the door was caught on something? You decided to open the door again to see if an outside factor was causing this problem. Your hand grabbed the door once again but instead of pushing you pulled...and was again met with the same unmoving resistance. You started pulling harder and harder. Nothing. What was going on? You reached out to slip your fingers through the small crack in the door to grab the door and began pulling with all your might. The door was still resisting. Why wasn't it budging? Surely it couldn't have gotten stuck. It was perfectly fine a few hours ago! With a grunt you scowled at where your hands gripped the front of the door.

Only to freeze ice cold at what turquoise irises saw.

Your fingers gripped the doorway, but under them a third pair of fingers gripped the door, slipped in through the small crack from the outside. The large fingers ended in sharpened nails jabbing themselves into the wood embedding themselves into place firmly. You gazed at the third hand silently and in shock. The ice cold washing over your body as if ice had been injected in your veins-

CLASH!!

You let out a yelp and jumped back in surprise as another crash of thunder crashed overhead. Your hands released the door as you stumbled back until the back of your legs hit the small table in the middle of the room. Your bumped rattled a few perfume bottles on display and a few thumped against the wooden surface tipping over. Rain bear against the roof. Wind howled. Thunder crashed. And lightning flashed as you froze up. Your eyes shrinking to the size of pins as you stared at the hand clutched onto the door. It stayed like that for a long,long time. You couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Only stared in an unholy horror you've never felt before as the hand and yourself remained unmoving as if in some staring match.

The. Hand. Moved.

It physically tightened it's hold on the door before pulling back the door slowly. The door opened wider and wider and wider revealing the outside. Your jaw fell open. Your eyes shrank as small as they could go. The door made a soft thud sound as it opened all the way and revealed the entity lurking on the other side.

CLASH!!

A bolt of lightning lit up the dark figure now revealed to you in the doorway. Wind blew around mahogany colored hair wildly both cascading down his back and framing his face. Pale skin skin to a corpse. The black Hakama pants and purple haori coat blew around straining against the tall body that wore them against the wind. A flash of lightning. Bolt of thunder. And the lighting up of six irises sent you stumbling back further around the table knocking over more glass bottles that clinked against one another some more toppling over as you quickly moved around the table and farther back into the house. The figure remained unmoving for a solid second staring inside and watching you panicked almost falling over on the floor before stopping to stare wide eyed at him again. Silence aside from the elements resumed...The large figure took one step into the home, the door slid all the way closed behind him.

Which meant you were alone. Staring at this....this....You didn't know who or what this was?! The light from the flickering lanterns lit them up enough for you to see his face that was once cloaked in darkness. The hat he wore was dripping a few drops of water from his head. The sparkling drop briefly reflecting two golden irises that stared back at you. Before a second pair opened under the first. And then a third opened above them. Six yellow irises staring at turquoise irises. The long hair framing his face helped hide whatever features you couldn't make out. But your brain nearly fainted from the realization of what was standing before you.

D E M O N

A demon in flesh and blood was just mere feet across the threshold of your much smaller body. His form and height was imposing. As was the claws his hands held and the long katana in clear view tied to his side. Turquoise eyes glanced at it briefly before turning back on his face-..And blinking as he had turned his head away from yours. You were met with the side of his head instead. His eyes averted away from you and staring at the left far wall. Which was lined up with shelves filled with scented oils and plenty of incense. You couldn't see his eyes because of the long mahogany bangs but jumped as his head turned all the way over to stare at the other far wall. The shelves on that side stocked up with scented candles, and soaps, and nice smelling bath salts ready to be bought and used.

"What kind of store is this?" A deep gruff voice spoke out making you jump ..and blink- "It's rude to not answer when spoken to." The blunt, monotone voice came again and it took you a moment to realize it was coming from his mouth which was moving. You jolted blinking at him. He wanted to know..what shop this was? "It's also rude to stare."

"I-Its a f-f-fragrance store," you quickly squeaked out in a high pitched voice of fear.

"Fragrance...store?" The monotone voice sounded..confused almost as he took a moment to look around before humming. "Never heard of one."

"W-W-We sell f-f-fragrances of all kinds." You gestured a shaking hand at the shelves. "I-Incense. Oils. Perf-fumes. W-We have them all."

He hummed again. "Curious."

You remained still anf silent as he turned his whole body and walked over to the shelves on the right side of the small home. Afraid to move and catch his attention. He stopped in front of the shelves specifically stacked up with soaps and scented candles. His head moving slowly from side to side examining the colorful candles and soaps carefully. His head stopping at one of the middle shelves where the carved soaps were. Most of the soaps were in fact NOT carved into shapes. In fact most were just plain square-rectangle bars. However the few that were carved was all placed in the middle shelves for easy access. They caught the eye of a lot of people especially travelers and it seemed the demon also seemed to take interest in them. Staring intently at the few carved into fruits, flowers, and one of two animals. His hand reached out to curious pick up a pink soap carved into the shape of an apple. It sat in his palm for a second before he slowly put it back down before turning back to the colorful candles. He stared at them all with his back Towards you.. before his head tilted at them.

"These candles do not smell of just wax." Again he sounded slightly confused but.. interested.

"T-T-Those are s-scented candles."

"Scented??"

You nodded your head despite the fact he wasn't looking at you. "T-That 's right. They're made with d-different herbs and oils and flower petals mixed into the w-wax. When they burn and the wax melts, they g-give off a pleasant scent."

He hummed interested. "I have never heard of such a thing before." A hand of his reached up to lightly touch a bigger blue candle with clouds carved lightly into the outer wax. "...Is the owner available?"

You blinked looking at him before shaking your head again despite he wasn't looking at you. "N-No. She went home. B-But if you n-need help finding something I-I work here." Maybe if you could help him find whatever he was looking for he'd leave.

He didn't say anything at first before retracting his hand from the shelf and speaking. "I'm looking for a gift." You just blinked. A gift? "My brother is getting engaged. I wish to purchase a gift for his engagement ceremony."

Wait...he came in here to find a gift? For his brother's engagement? So he wasn't here to try to tear you apart or rob the store? You immediately let your body relax in relief sighing. Oh thank the gods! Still didn't make this any less scary but it made it more understanding.

You finally offered an employee smile you usually gave customers and gestured to the table you had previously bumped into. "Well if it's an engagement ceremony then perhaps the bride to be would like one of our perfumes?" He turned and all six eyes targeted the table you pointed out. "They're all made from local flowers."

He silently stepped forward until he was standing before you staring at the table. You once again tensed up under his shadow as he practically loomed over you. His eyes scanning the labels on the bottles, some still knocked over, before you heard him snort and turn his head away shaking it no.

"They are too strong. Smells terrible." You blinked. He hadn't even opened them and they weren't that strong. You actually thought they smelt nice- "However...That is pleasant." You blinked and watched as he leaned over, reached out, and grabbed the half carved mint soap rose from the table. "Details are... suitable." You froze more as all size eyes turned to you. "How much?"

Ooooh crap. That was the one you were hoping to bring home! You liked it and worked hard on carving such great detail into its fake petals. But we're you really going to say no to this imposing figure?

You gulped as he still bore his eyes into yours expecting an answer. "I-I...D-Dont know."

"Don't know?"

"I-I'm not done carving it yet," you quickly replied pointing at it, "I can't sell something that's not finished yet."

Each pair of eyes slowly blinked at you before looking at the half carved rose soap with newfound interest. "You..carved this?"

You nodded. "Yes. I carve a few c-candles and soaps."

He hummed before placing the soap back down on the table. "Do you do custom designs?"

You blinked. Was a demon seriously asking you to do a custom job for him? You shook your head before nodding. "Yes. Sometimes."

He didn't say anything at first. Turning he turned back to the shelf of scented candles and walked right up to it. His eyes scanned the shelves before stopping on one candle in particular. It was one of the biggest candles you had. About as big and wide as a small jar. He picked it up and brought it to his face. The scents of cloves and cinnamon filled his senses and he hummed pleased at the pleasant smell it had. The candle was turn delicately in his palms twisting this way and that.

'Yes. This would be work perfectly. The red reminded him of his eyes and hair almost. The strong cinnamon smell wasn't bad either but pleasant. He certainly hadn't seen anything like this before and surely neither did his brother. It would be an acceptable gift without being too sentimental or tacky.'

He turned back around and walked right up to you. You blinked as he held out the large candle. "I want you to carve a sun into this."

You blinked at him before slowly taking the cinnamon red candle from him. You shivered brushing against his hands that felt cool to the touch. "A-A sun?"

"Yes."

You opened your mouth..but closed it looking back at the candle. "Oh. I ..I can do that. Is there anything specific you want me to add to the design?"

He blinked again before staring at the red candle in thought for a moment. "...Make the sun look as if it was made of dancing flames."

Dancing flames? A sun made of dancing flames. Ok. Not the worst order you could've gotten. "I can do that but it'll take me a few days to finish it."

He hummed before looking at the half finished rose shaped mint soap again before pointing at it. "And how long will it take you to finish that piece?"

You looked where he pointed and a disappointed feeling filled you. It looked like you wouldn't be able to keep it after all. "I'm mostly done with it but again it'll take some days especially since I'll also be doing this job for you."

He just closed his eyes and nodded. "Will you be able to finish both within two weeks?"

"Two weeks?...I think so. Yes."

"Then I want this also, looking as if it was in full bloom."

Yep. You definitely weren't going to be able to keep it. His eyes opened slightly and finally took the chance to really look at you... before all six eyes blinked in surprise and he fully turned his head at you.

"I can do both of those."

You tried not to sigh as you looked back to him and blinked as he was full on staring at you. Being so close you finally got an expert look at his face. His six eyes were yellow with red veiny sclera. Mahogany bangs framing his face. But what was most strange was the flame like markings on the upper corner of his face and the lower part of his face going down his neck. There was a long pause as you both just took each other in, especially him. He seemed to stare especially hard at your eyes before his eyes became half lidded and he hummed.

"You work late at night as well?"

You blinked. "Huh?"

"Women shouldn't be in the woods late at night. Not should they be working alone late at night either."

You stared.....Wait a minute-

"Do you make it a habit of being nocturnal?"

It was as if a glass shattering sound went off in your head as your jaw mimicked a hold fish. Staring wide eyed at him. Your head looked him up and down. Stopping on his sword and the purple and black haori coat.

Wait a dam minute-

"YOU-"

"Yes." He bluntly cut you off uninterested in the unexpected reunion before sighing. Of course he'd run into the strange woman in town. Figures with his luck. "Since your work has been established, I'll be staying nearby until you finish. Money will not be an issue but I do expect what I ask to be done within the time frame."

You could only stare gobsmacked at him as he simply turned to make back towards the door and opened it. The sounds of wind and heavy rain filling the space again as he stepped out-

"W-Wait!," you called arm out. He paused turning his head slightly. "C-Cant I at least have your name please?"

He stood against the blowing wind for a good moment before turning back. "You may call me Kokushibo."

The door slid back shut behind him and leaving you staring after him in the flickering candlelights.

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