Wishful Thinking (Shinobu x Fem Reader)

Love.

I wake up tied tightly to some sort of wooden post. As I look around, I notice I'm completely surrounded by members of the Wisteria Society, though none of them seem to acknowledge the fact that I've woken up. In the distance, I can see that it is close to moon down, meaning the sun will be up in a few hours. I gotta get out of here...!

I attempt to wriggle myself free from the bindings, though quickly find them to be much too tight for that. My eyes begin scanning the ground for something I can use to break myself free, though not before I observe what these bastards are up to; they seem to be preparing for some sort of ritual, as they are setting out rows of benches decorated with wisteria flowers. This. is not. fucking. happening.

Suddenly, something on the ground catches my eye; a jagged chunk of rock. I extend one of my legs, reaching for it with my foot. I jump a mile high as a pale, weathered hand grabs ahold of the rock. "And just what do you think you're going to accomplish with this?" asks Fujiwara in a condescending tone.

At this point, all of my masquerade bravery has dissipated, leaving behind a gut-wrenching feeling of fear. I keep my mouth shut, though I can't stop my bottom lip from quivering. "Not so brave without your pathetic Hashira bodyguards now, are you?" Fujiwara spits.

"They're not pathetic..." I say softly.

Fujiwara lets out a deep cackle, followed by a hollow cough. "Not only were they defeated by a smoke facade, but they parade alongside the exact creature they were commissioned to exterminate. It's laughable!"

"At least they don't have to hide behind smoke screens and shallow betrayals," I reply to him flatly, "The only thing that's laughable is your ridiculous excuse of a cult."

I can anticipate the feel of his fist before it makes contact with my face, though that doesn't make it hurt any less.  "How dare you talk to me in that manner? Perhaps if you can't hold your tongue I'll have to carve it out for you."

Another member of the Wisteria Society approaches the two of us, a young man with short blond hair. "Sir, we've finished all the other preparations, shall we begin prepping the demon?"

Fujiwara smiles. "But of course."

"Yes sir, we'll get started right away," the blond man nods. Fujiwara nods in return before turning to leave, though he stops dead in his tracks.

He turns around and walks right up to me, grabbing me roughly by the face. He whispers in my ear, "You know, one of my scouts told me something very interesting. He said you and the one they call the 'Insect Hashira' have grown quite close. Perhaps a little too close. It seems to me you're a disgusting beast in more ways than one. It would be a shame if that demon-loving whore came to a mysterious demise while out on a mission alone. No one to help her, no one to hear her scream— and you'll be long dead by then. Alas, that would be quite a shame indeed."

The pain from Fujiwara's fingernails on my cheek is nothing compared to the pain I feel at the thought of losing Kocho. The red I'm seeing in this moment matches the blood dripping down my face, my anger flooding me completely. "You can do whatever you want to me, but you stay away from Kocho, you hear me?" I growl.

Fujiwara turns back to blond man and commands, "Prepare the demon to be sacrificed."

The blond man nods to him and then quickly scurries away, approaching a small cluster of other members. It's now or never, I have to get out of here...!

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Think, think, think... I tense up every muscle in my body before using all my might to try and break myself free.

And it works.

It must have something to do with becoming a demon, unexplored territory I've tried my best to ignore. A woman nearby turns around at the sound of the heavy ropes dropping and catches Fujiwara by the sleeve. Fujiwara and I lock eyes, almost as if he's daring me to move another inch; well guess what, bitch, I do dare.