ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪʀᴛᴇᴇɴ ᴘᴏsᴛᴇᴅ: 06/12/21
1638 ᴡᴏʀᴅs.

"Good news Kyojuro! Your body is fit enough to start training again! You healed miraculously, but no hardcore training yet ok?" Shinobu looked at the deep scab covering Kyojuro's stomach, it would leave a nasty but honourable scar - one with an interesting story to tell nonetheless.

He smiled brightly in response "excellent!"

"But I will need you to stay here for a little while longer just to make sure" she added, making Rengoku's stomach drop slightly before he agreed again with a nod.

"Thank you!"

With that Kocho floated off again, leaving Kyojuro by himself. The pillar tried to pick himself up and slap some motivation into this tired body. But he just hadn't been feeling the same since his and Akaza's argument.

'Akaza put his body on the line... for my sake' Rengoku stared at his window, imagining the demon crouching on the ceil with a defeated face plastered with anger yet sorrow.

'To allow oneself such weakness to be explored for the sake of another. It baffles me' kyojuro looked at his hands as he picked up his Kantana on the floor.

"I'll train harder... I'll kill that demon. For you Akaza, so please I beg of you to bear it a little longer till we can both fight side by side; and rid the world of that disgusting being you named Douma"

"When I have eradicated the upper moon two, I will be the next to die by my own blade for the crime of protecting and harvesting feelings for him..."

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"I've got a new game for us to play Akaza-dono, are you interested?~" Douma sat on a soft beanbag in the middle of his feasting room, all around him the remains of woman scattered like horrific decoration.

Akaza stood as far away as he could, on the other side of the room with his back almost touching the wall. The horrible stench of flesh filling his nose, Akaza still could not eat anyone other than Kyojuro.

The pink haired demon's head was already light from not eating.

"No"

Douma pouted "ho ho~ as stern as always... I should've loosened you up enough by now" Douma made a dirty joke which made Akaza want to throw up.

"You're so fucked up" Akaza spat, his stomach churning at the feeling of Douma's colourful eyes glazing over his skin.

"Well let's play anyways, come a little closer..." Douma sent out his Lilly pad vines made of ice, a sudden cold air filling the room as he used his blood demon art.

Akaza growled and kicked away each of the slithering ice vines, a new one growing quicker than before "fuck get this shit away from me!" Akaza yelled while ripping one off his arm, jumping to the corner of the room as Douma laughed amused.

"What I just want you to come over here so I can explain the rules of our game"

Without him noticing, one had wrapped around the lower demon's ankle - pulling him to the floor with a surprised thump.

"Fuck!" Akaza cursed as he was slowly dragged towards the blonde demon, trying to break the ice around his ankle but it only thickened every time.

"Now now, you're acting like a scared deer. It's just a friendly game! I won't fuck you today, not in the mood" Douma giggled sadistically, making Akaza's stomach churn in the process - haunting memories adorning his mind.

Oh how he wished to be anywhere but this room right now... even the sun would be better. But where Akaza really wished to be was by someone who was very similar to the sun.

'Kyojuro...'

"Move one more time and you'll regret it Akaza-dono" Douma growled playfully, finally pulling the third moon close enough so he was within arms reach.

"Fucking hurry to then"

"It's not like you can go anywhere, it's day time after all"

"I don't give a shit, anything would be better than staying in this hell hole. It reeks in here" Akaza stuck his tongue out and made a fake gag to exaggerate his point. However Douma seemed to find this behaviour quite entertaining.

"Awe you're so cute!"

Akaza ignored him in response.

"Tsk Tsk... so cold, fine I'll explain the rules of our game"

"Make it quick"

Douma waved his fan with a pout before beginning "First we need to discuss what you want if you win"

"You've done this before. I'm not stupid, fuck this 'game' I'm not doing shit" Akaza hissed, gathering up a lump of saliva on his tongue before spitting on Douma's face.

The upper moon closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to plaster on his fake smile while wiping off the spit using his fan. "Let's not jump to conclusions Akaza."

The pink haired demon felt the urge to run just because of how Douma spoke. His low voice and the disregard of not putting 'dono' after his name now. Akaza knew he was being serious.

"F-fine I'll hear you out. No promises"

"Good. Now I've become a little curious about that hashira you're seeing every night... what was his name again? Kyojuro right?" Douma took pleasure in seeing Akaza's face darken by the mansion of Rengoku.

"Don't even think about it"

"Come on you haven't even listened! Let's do a competition Eh?"

"And what's this competition? If it involves hurting Kyojuro then it's a no" Akaza was set in stone.

"Psh... you might have to participate if you want to save him. I'll use that hashira as my own doll if I win - he is rather interesting. I've taken a liking to him"

Akaza's eyes widened, his heart rate spiked as his teeth grew in size. He felt the sudden urge to rip Douma limb from limb, but something was holding him back.

In a blind rage, Akaza swung his free leg and kicked Douma away with brute force; sending the demon flying back into the opposite wall - the concrete rippling like water around him.

"Don't fucking think about it! I'm doing this shit so Kyojuro won't get involved! We had a deal you bastard!" Veins popped on the demon's head, his eyes lit with fury as Douma coughed and pushed himself to a stand.

"Well you just ruined your option to even have a chance at saving your precious 'Kyojuro'. I'll use him as I please then kill him, and that's your fault Akaza." Douma growled while slowly walking up to the other demon. He looked malevolent and angry, Akaza hadn't seen him like that before.

It chilled him to his core.

"Good luck protecting him now"

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Back at the butterfly mansion, a certain pillar was having the most fun he's had in probably about a month. With the sun high in the sky and not a demon in sight, Tomioka Giyuu decided to pay his companion a little visit.

The water pillar hoped he could get closer to Rengoku somehow...

Out in the butterfly mansion training garden, Kyojuro was swinging his wooden training sword against several training models with several arms to impersonate a demon. Due to the harsh heat Kyojuro had left his cape and top half of his uniform inside - making for quite a splendid view.

Giyuu stood silently watching the male, he managed to sneak past Shinobu without her teasing or taunting him.

'What do I say... ah I remember what Tanjiro told me. He said to just be myself..'

Tomioka had resorted to one of his friends the other day to ask for help in a way. Tanjiro was one of the only people who talked to him so Giyuu didn't have a choice, not to mention Tanjiro was almost like a pro at making people love him.

Tanjiro had made Giyuu recognise and come to terms with his feelings. The pillar was a little scared at first that the boy would find him weird for liking another male, but surprisingly Tanjiro was over the moon that Tomioka had opened up a little - and in the process the burgundy haired teen let it slip that he had a slight crush on Inosuke himself.

So Giyuu felt accepted and at home for once.

'Alright... just ask to train with him nothing else. It's fine if Tanjiro can do it I can'

Tomioka imagined the young boy's bright smile and friendly demeanour, giving him courage as he mustered up enough confidence to speak out.

"Kyojuro-san.."

'Louder Tomioka he can't hear you'

Rengoku was so absorbed in his training that he didn't hear Giyuu's faint voice call out from the shady part of the garden.

"Kyojuro..!"

The pillar's head whipped around, his long fiery hair tied in a high ponytail to keep out his face "Tomioka! It's a pleasure to see you here! What can I do for you?!" Rengoku smiled brightly, his bare toned abs and chest laced in sweat and commendable scars.

Tomioka walked closer to him "are you fit enough to train already?" He asked in a mellow voice, face calm as usual.

Rengoku leaned his wooden Kantana on the training dummy "yep! Just enough to be able to train but you see it's still not healed properly! I'm almost there though haha!" Kyojuro pointed to the large scab adorning his lower stomach.

"That's great. Mind if I join you?" The water pillar picked up a spare training sword "we can practice against one another if you would like?"

Tomioka hoped he would say yes.

"Sure! Let's get improve our skills together!" Kyojuro placed his hand on his friend's shoulder with a grateful smile - the sun shining on his face to make a for quite a beautiful spectacle.

Tomioka couldn't help but stare in awe and admiration, his heart rate spiked but he wouldn't show it on the outside.

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