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"remember, when you see his majesty, make sure you bow with us okay?", kiyo reminded, to which the two half-demons had excitedly nodded as they couldn't wait to enjoy the end of the year feast.
even nagi and uraume tagged along as the shogunate suggested that the more the merrier.
obviously, that had meant that everyone had to dress appropriately, to which nozomi was thrilled because she had gotten a new kimono out of it.
sukuna scratched the back of his head as he annoyingly grunted, hating how restricting the fabric was as he also didn't appreciate how attractive kiyo looked, especially for tonight.
"can't you wear a less flashier jūnihitoe?", sukuna scowled, to which kiyo had slightly tilted her head to the side.
"why? does this one not look good on me?", the priestess asked, now feeling a bit self-conscious.
"no, that's not—"
"papa's just jealous, mama. no need to be worried", nozomi assured.
"oh?", kiyo hummed in amusement, a small smile playfully dancing on her teasing face as sukuna had pinched the little fox demon's cheek.
"brat", he muttered, making nozomi shrug, as she was used to it.
"we're here!", the coachman announced as that was the cue for the four to get off the carriage.
nozomi and hakaku's eyes widened in shock as they've never witnessed such a lavishing palace, decorated with red lanterns ten feet away from each other as many palace maids and eunuchs walked in a straight line with their heads slightly down, carrying trays amongst trays of foods and drinks.
"let's go now", kiyo softly chuckled as she held hakaku and nozomi's hand, meanwhile sukuna just stuck his arms in his sleeves.
satoru and the rest had already arrived and been seated, waiting for the four as they chattered amongst themselves.
"itadori, wipe your saliva away!", kugisaki quietly reprimanded, trying to make a good impression amongst the others, as there were many important and influential guests here today.
"but look at the food!! ugh, when can we start eating?", itadori whined.
"it's okay. I'm sure the feast will start soon", yoshino assured, trying to ease the tension.
"I'm so hungry though..."
"I am too, but manners, itadori, MANNERS", kugisaki harshly whispered.
itadori just rolled his eyes as fushiguro and uraume kept an eye out for kiyo and the rest.
"greetings, your majesty!", kiyo bowed, along with the two half-demons.
sukuna just stood there, gaining all the attention if possible, as anyone could tell by his presence that he too, was a king.
"welcome, welcome!! and I see you two have brought two little ones. what are your names?", the shogunate questioned.
"u-umm....I—"
"I'm hakaku, your majesty!", the boy answered first.
"and I'm...nozomi...", the girl shyly followed up, clutching onto kiyo's leg as she slightly hid behind the girl.
"I didn't know you had children already, lady kiyo".
"I adopted them, your majesty. I do hope that you don't mind my brazen actions", kiyo respectfully replied.
"not at all, lady kiyo! you possess such a kind heart at such a young age. it's truly condemnable", ashikaga complimented, to which kiyo had thanked the shogunate before heading to the table where satoru and the rest were waiting at.
"megumi, you're wearing the haori I gave you. is it to your fitting? I hope it doesn't look too silly", kiyo smiled, running her fingers across the two small dogs that were sewn onto the chest of the haori.
"it fits very nice, and...I like it", fushiguro admitted, to which itadori and kugisaki had raised a brow, wondering if this was actually fushiguro.
"that's good", kiyo chuckled as she heard the shogunate suddenly clear his throat, successfully gaining everybody's attention as he made some announcements.
sukuna yawned, making kiyo gently nudge at the demon king, who just smirked at the priestess.
"anyways, we shall now enjoy the feast blessed upon us by the gods!", ashikaga proclaimed, as many cheered meanwhile the entertainment had also begun.
women dressed in identical kimonos held fans up to shield their face, beginning to elegantly dance meanwhile everyone had dug in.
"eh? she's most definitely my type", itadori stated as kiyo looked at who itadori was staring at, to which a particular dancer with light brown hair and a charming smile was standing at the front, dressed differently than the other dancers.
"itadori, finish chewing first", kugisaki commanded.
"I do agree. she is very pretty", kiyo smiled. "perhaps you could congratulate her after her performance", the miko suggested.
"really?! I can do that?!", itadori asked, to which satoru had laughed.
"pluck one of the palace flowers while you're at it", the white-haired male advised.
"satoru, you know that's not allowed. don't try to get him in trouble", kiyo denied, as she helped get some more vegetables for the two half-demons.
"if you really want to impress her, be a gentleman and invite her out for some sweets or something", kiyo suggested, to which itadori had nodded as he kept an eye on the dancer, who was happily twirling around the center of the open space provided.
"hah? just ask her to fuc—"
kiyo immediately covered sukuna's mouth, giving the demon king a warning look.
"there are children and others here, ryōmen", kiyo whispered, removing her hand as sukuna just shrugged.
"the boy's gotta know the real way of—"
"you should eat more", kiyo smiled, sticking a steamed dumpling into the male's mouth as she attempted to shut sukuna up.
"maybe if you feed me, I'll eat more", the demon king grinned.
hakaku made a gagging noise.
"ewww! I'm only six, but even I can eat by myself", the boy stated, making sukuna glare at the boy as the rest laughed.
"sleep with one eye open tonight, brat".
"ryōmen!", kiyo gasped, kissing hakaku's forehead as she assured that he didn't need to go to such extremes.
naoya kept on a fox-like smile as he interacted with the rest of his family, bitterly biting the insides of his cheeks as he occasionally glanced over at the gojō table.
"naoya, are you not hungry?", his mother asked, to which the man had snapped out of his ill thoughts.
"I don't have a very big appetite as of now", naoya answered. "though please excuse me, as I need to go to the lavatory", naoya stated as he immediately stood up and left.
"do you think he's okay?"
"I'm sure he's fine. he's always been a rational and slightly queer kid. nevertheless, the perfect heir to the zenin clan", naobito replied.
naoya's mother only hummed as it wasn't her place to interfere with any of the men's business.
however, she couldn't help but feel that something was a bit off. call it a mother's intuition, but perhaps she was indeed worrying too much.
∞
it wasn't until halfway through the feast that agonizing screams had started ringing throughout the palace walls.
maids, eunuchs, guards, and any living person were being slaughtered left and right.
"EMERGENCY REPORT: DEMONS HAVE INFILTRATED THE PALACE AND ARE ATTACKING FROM ALL AROUND", one of the commanders stated, to which the sorcerers had immediately stood up, protectively shielding the shogunate.
"where's the majority of them entering from?", kiyo asked, to which the commander had hesitated, as he refused to answer to a woman.
"I grant lady kiyo ultimate superiority to protect us all!", ashikaga announced, to which the commander had immediately replied with, "the back of the palace".
"satoru, can you go take care of that?", kiyo asked, to which the male had nodded and swiftly disappeared.
"ryōmen, if you don't mind, please head to the east side with the first years", kiyo said. "I give you permission to go full out, but to not harm people from our side".
sukuna sighed. he had desperately wanted to stay beside kiyo, but he supposed that it was fine.
"alright, whatever", sukuna lazily huffed as he transformed into his original form, making many gasp.
sukuna then grabbed each of the first years with one of his hands as he headed off.
"naobito-san, please head over to the west with the rest of the zenin clan and the second years from both kyoto and tokyo high", kiyo commanded, to which the old man clearly didn't want to follow orders, but complied nevertheless.
"nanami, please go with the kamo clan and head towards the front of the palace. I will stay here and protect the shogunate".
"take care then", nanami replied as he quickly headed off with the rest of the sorcerers.
the remaining shamans stayed with kiyo, to which the priestess had gathered all the dancers, daimyos, and other guests that didn't have special powers into a huddle.
the miko then created a barrier, one that kept all of them safe from harm as she suddenly heard a demon shout at the top of its lungs.
"GOJŌ SATORU HAS FINALLY BEEN SEALED. EVERYONE, IT'S OUR TIME!"
kiyo's eyes widened as she processed the words.
"no way", she breathlessly mumbled out.
however, it was indeed true, as with gojō satoru being sealed, the world's balance had immediately started shifting.