"We used to attend festivals together, but now it seems like a bittersweet memory instead. It was always crowded around the shrine, and we would hold each other's hands tightly so that we wouldn't get lost in the crowd and stick close to our parents," they spoke out, with a bitter chuckle erupting from their throats.
"It was always enjoyable, we get to watch the fireworks. We get to draw our lucks and eat all those delicious food. But it seems now, things are different. I can't remember the last time I went to a festival. It seems to be years ago," they whispered out, holding onto the hands that were placed onto theirs' tightly.
"Though, would you like to go to the festival with me?"
☾
"Huh?" Gyutaro mumbled out, a confused look on his face as he scratched the side of it. He stared at Kokushibo, already perplexed when the Upper Moon One arrived at the usual spot he and Daki would be around after their meal for the day.
"Festival? You are asking me about going to a festival?" Gyutaro added on, getting more confused as each second passed. It was already odd that the Upper Moon One is being attached to a human being, not even having the slightest thought of devouring her.
But it was getting a tad bit too much for the other Upper Moons when Kokushibo has weird questions in regards to the way the humans are living now, which wasn't that different as to how he lived previously.
But he wondered if there was something that must be done at festivals now as compared to hundreds of years ago. Which led him to arrive at where Gyutaro was, questioning him and causing the Upper Moon Six to continue to look confused before him.
"You must be out of your mind..." Gyutaro muttered out but was intrigued that the one before him has yet to crumble due to the soft side he has for a mortal. He could only wonder what the Demon Lord thought about his actions.
"But whatever. I heard that there is an upcoming festival nearby here. You could go check it out, but don't bring me into your problems with him if he decides to act," Gyutaro added on and watched as his younger sister was smiling happily after a full meal.
"I want to go to the festival too!" Daki pointed out and Gyutaro remained silent, listening to the tantrum she was throwing at him. Something he was used to all those years of being with her. Muttering under his breath, and his eyes widened as he heard his voice at the back of his head.
"We will go too," and Kokushibo's eyes widened slightly at what was spoken. He could sense the disappointment coming from the demon lord, but he chose to ignore it. It felt as if curiosity was getting the better of him rather than the mission he needs to accomplish.
Would he make it out alive? But somehow, that question didn't linger for long. All he could think about was going to a festival with the human he had been spending time with. It was questionable indeed, something that ought to be put to a stop.
But, why wasn't the demon lord stopping him?
"Oh, the festival near the Entertainment district? It's happening already, better make your way there the moment you get your off days or if you intend to patrol the area too," and Haizaki raised an eyebrow at what Tengen had said.
"You are just hoping that I would be in the vicinity so that if your supposed flamboyant ass decides to get into trouble, and I'll be there to save you," he commented and the Sound Hashira chuckled, shaking his head slightly.
"Who knows? Maybe your younger sister might be th-,"
"If you dare finish that sentence, I'll rip your throat out and ensure your wives find someone else to get married to," he threatened and the woman next to him giggled slightly at his enraged self.
"Calm down,"
"I'm perfectly calm,"
"Not you trying to pull out your nichirin blade," Uzui commented, chuckling as he dodged the stone that was thrown towards him with a flick of Haizaki's thumb.
"You ain't got the rights to be pointing that out. If you are gonna need help, in the end, I'm gonna end up tying you against the tree and have Sabito and the others hurl your mice at you,"
"Woah, calm down already,"
.
.
"Huh?" she whispered out, confused at what Kokushibo had said. She wasn't sure if she had heard it right, or rather she was in denial. She took a few little steps to the side, the scent of unfamiliar demons were close to her.
Though she felt like shrivelling up when a cold finger brushed past the back of her neck. She quickly turned, hand covering the back of her neck despite all she could see was darkness. But the way she could sense such a murderous aura lurking before her, she broke out in a sweat.
"Ack," and she heaved a sigh of relief when the murderous aura was gone within a second. The way Kokushibo had placed a hand against Gyutaro's face, shoving him back with minimal force, allowing him to stand before the human.
"Not cool man," Gyutaro muttered out, rubbing his face, looking towards the side and frowned. Noticing how his younger sister was hesitant in getting closer to the woman, which was odd indeed.
"We are... Going... To the festival..." Kokushibo repeated what he had said, watching as her eyes widened once more. She reached out, hand upon his arm as she tried to figure out what was wrong with him.
"Do demons get sick?" she asked.
"No," was all Gyutaro answered, intrigued and somehow found it amusing to watch what was going on before him. The way a blind woman was looking confused while the emotionless expression was still visible on the Upper Moon One's face.
"Are you alright, Kokushibo-san? You are telling me you want to go to a festival, a human festival in fact," she spoke out and Kokushibo remained silent, but noticing the way she was feeling his arm where he bends down slightly.
Her hands were on either side of his face, where his body tensed up slightly. Gyutaro took notice of it, finding it rather hilarious as his younger sister joined him by his side. He turned to look at her, wondering what was wrong with her.
Did Kokushibo give a threat without him knowing to his younger sister? He doubts so. If the Upper Moon One did do that, he would have known immediately, given how his younger sister would start complaining the moment something doesn't go her way.
"If you don't explain to me right now, I'm going to poke your eyes. You know well that I'm extremely capable of that," their attention returned to the human woman whose hands continued to remain on either side of Kokushibo's face.
"Woah," was all the siblings could whisper out as Kokushibo started to explain what he meant by going to the festival with her. They listened, not wanting to whisper a word. Till they watched as the human's lips curled up into a smile, a soft chuckle escaped her lips as well.
"Aren't you being a sweetheart right now? But wouldn't that mean you are in trouble if you get caught?" she asked, and [name]'s attention returned to looking out of the estate. Where she turned her body, starting to walk out with ease.
"Eh?" Gyutaro muttered out, realizing his younger sister wasn't next to him but out in the front yard where [name] was headed to. Kokushibo watched with a cautious gaze as [name] got off the patio with ease, heading to where Daki was.
Where the demon was squatting with her knees together, a finger gently rubbing against the petal of one of the flowers that were going to be in full bloom. Gyutaro frowned a little more, a sight he had never seen of his younger sister before.
Where Daki watched as the flower was soon harvested gently, cleaned with a small cloth. She turned to look, noticing the way [name] was holding onto the stem of the flower as she reached out. She whispered a soft apology as she located Daki's features.
And soon slid the flower behind Daki's ear. Whereas Kokushibo was prepared with his hand gripping the handle of his nichirin blade tightly, somewhat ready to strike if anything were to happen to the human.
"This flower has a sweet scent, and it represents long life and never-fading. Its sweet scent seems to be please most women. I'm sure it looks good on you," was what she had spoken and Daki's eyes widened.
The reason why Daki was hesitant in getting close to [name] was because of Kokushibo, though she hated to admit that she was afraid of what the Upper Moon One would do. She was ready for Kokushibo to let his guard down, where she would find ease in taunting and mocking the mortal for being blind.
But with such actions and words coming from the mortal before her, she grabbed hold of her wrist in her hold and turned to look where Gyutaro was.
"Onii-chan! I like her!" and Gyutaro along with Kokushibo's eyes widened at what she had just shouted. Whereas [name] had on a confused look, unsure if she should be worried about another demon like her.
"Don't say that!" Gyutaro snapped, afraid of whatever was going to happen to them. He waited, feeling the chills down his body. But nothing happened, where he started to breathe as he forgot to do so.
"Life is on the edge right now. Are we going or nah?" Gyutaro asked, arms crossed against his chest. Watching as Daki nodded her head vigorously as she pulled [name] along quickly, causing her to trip a few times before Kokushibo eventually got her out of Daki's hold.
"Be... Careful..."
"I'm trying to? Not like I can honestly control it," she whispered out, gripping onto his arm tightly as he guided her back to the estate quickly.
"Let's... Go to the... Festival..." he spoke out and listened as she chuckled at his persistence in going to the festival with her. Whereas Gyutaro and Daki watched, curiosity burning through their veins as they noticed.
A small smile is present on the Upper Moon One's face.
"Hai, hai. We will go. But how do you intend on going? Your features aren't exactly human-like enough to be blending in," she spoke out and Kokushibo shuts his top and bottom pair of eyes, where he bends down.
"My dear, I can't see. But I know your face is right before me," she commented and soon felt his face, where she laughed as her thumbs gently rubbed over his closed eyes. Where she continued to giggle slightly at the faint memory she had of poking him in the eyes by accident.
Another way for her to figure out what are his demon features like. This was why Kokushibo was afraid of having her hands on either side of his face whenever his eyes were opened. Afraid that she might poke them by accident again.
"Not cool man. She is right. You can't blend in even if you close your eyes," Gyutaro pointed out and watched as Kokushibo turned to look at him. As if the Upper Moon One was judging him by looking at him from head to toe.
"What's that look for?!" but Kokushibo didn't answer as he turned to look at [name] once more as she started to walk away from him. Hands were out and he frowned slightly as Daki rushed towards her side, holding onto her hand in hers.
"Hm?" [name] hummed in response as she stopped walking and faced the direction of where Daki was. Her lips curled up into a smile and Daki couldn't help but find the urge to stick by the woman's side.
"What... Oi, your human. Is she a drug or something?!"
☾
"So many... This is a feast," Daki spoke out as she linked her arm with [name], standing before the entrance of the festival. Whereas her older brother and Kokushibo were up on the top of the buildings, watching their every move.
"A feast? It seems there are lots of food being sold here," the human spoke out whereas Daki forced a smile on her face as she realized that [name] didn't understand what she was saying. She looked around, watching and memorizing most of what was being sold or displayed out.
It wasn't the first festival Daki had gone to. She had gone to multiple, only for the festival to end with a blood spray as she and her older brother feast upon those who were of exquisite taste to their taste buds.
"Takoyaki!" [name] listened to some kids yelling and she couldn't help but let her lips curl up into a smile as she tugged onto Daki hand, pointing towards the direction where the takoyaki scent was coming from.
It looked as if two best friends were having the time of their life, walking around and getting food from various stalls. Till Daki stopped when she noticed someone else had joined them, where she turned to look.
It wasn't the first time Gyutaro had partaken in such a festival, allowing his younger sister to enjoy it before they wreaked havoc. He dressed with the yukata covering his upper body, where one wouldn't be able to tell if he was a demon unless they looked into his eyes.
"Kokushibo-san?" [name] whispered out as she reached out, easily finding Kokushibo's arm. How the man had on a mask like everybody else in the festival, allowing him to blend in as well.
"What's... That..." he asked and listened as [name] was explaining the food she had bought. He lifted his mask up slightly where his mouth would be exposed, and helped her out by taking the takoyaki into his mouth.
"Hey, it's hot. Are you sure you are supposed to be eating this?" she asked, and Kokushibo couldn't answer as the food was indeed too hot for him to consume, where he placed it towards the side of his mouth instead.
"Onii-chan," Daki whispered out as she stood next to Gyutaro who was fixing the mask he had stolen together with Kokushibo so that he wouldn't stand out too much.
"Yeah?" he mumbled out and watched as Daki was pointing towards where [name] and Kokushibo was, walking away from them. Their hands held together tightly with their fingers intertwined.
Watching as [name]'s shoulders would shake from time to time as she would laugh at the way Kokushibo would reply. Gyutaro could feel it at the back of his head, including his younger sister.
Yet the Upper Moon One paid no attention to the anger that was being felt.
An emotion that didn't belong to him as his eyes continued to lay upon the blind woman, who was speaking about the times she had gone to a festival with her family and what they would usually do.
"I'm sure nii-san would enjoy this festival," and unbeknownst, did someone's eyes widened slightly. He turned to look in the direction as he heard a faintly familiar voice echoing at the back of his mind.
"Haizaki?" Kanae called out, wondering what was wrong with the Shadow Hashira. Noticing the way he broke out in a sweat as he turned towards the direction of where the voice came from.
"Get back!" someone yelled out and screams were heard, how his eyes widened along with Kanae's as they drew their nichirin blade out, pointing towards a demon who had been starving for how long, nobody knew.
Watching as it attacked the innocent lives.
And her eyes widened as she felt herself being carried in Kokushibo's arms. How within the mixed scents of fear, pain, demons, but one stood out a familiar scent. But it was too faint, that it disappeared within seconds as she was carried away to safety.
"Nii-san?" and Haizaki's eyes widened as he looked past the demon before him and Kanae. How he noticed figures disappearing, where the movements were of experienced fighters. His lips parted as he tried to comprehend what was going on.
But his attention could no longer be fixed on his curiosity and assumptions, for he had a demon to get rid of before more innocent lives were taken away.
Gyutaro lets out a sigh, clearly displeased but he listened to the words of the Upper Moon One that they ought to retreat before [name] gets hurt. His head was hurting at the curses that the demon lord was muttering into their mind, causing him to find the need to hit the side of his head harshly.
"Are you alright?" Kokushibo asked as he continued to hold [name] in his arms. Watching as she nodded her head but a confused look was present still.
"I thought... Never mind," she whispered out as she pinched her nose harshly before letting it go, where she took a sniff and soon raised an eyebrow when she smelt something sweet, to which Kokushibo was holding out.
"I don't know if we are here to babysit or just get sour about what's going on before us," Gyutaro muttered out as his younger sister sat on his shoulders, watching as [name]'s lips curled up into a wide smile at the food that Kokushibo had brought for her.
"Stealing is terrible, Kokushibo-san,"
And back at the festival, everything was in chaos. The way Haizaki stood still along with Kanae as their blades were dripping with blood. Civilians were afraid of going close to them, but the look on Haizaki's face was the reason why.
He was certain he had heard her. He was certain about it.
"Haizaki? Are you alright?"
"So near... So fucking near..." if only he could still hear her.
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To be continued...