The three of us decided-well, more like my condition told them to- to go back to where Shinjuro-sama was. We would be able to see the fireworks there from the porch, and it was there where Kyojuro, Senjuro, and I sat. We each had a cup of tea ready to drink when the fireworks started- Senjuro had suggested that, plus, he also wanted something to go with the sweets from the festival. Needless to say, it didn't take much persuasion for Kyojuro to stop for Senjuro to pick up said sweets on the way back. Now, it was just a wait for the fireworks to start.

Senjuro examined where my right leg used to be, asking, "So...that leg you had on...was fake?"

"Yes, that is correct."

"But you weren't like that when we first met! I remember running with you and sword fighting!"

"You are also correct. Those memories...are the ones I hold close to my heart. After all, I can't do much more, or what happened today will happen again."

"Who did that to you? It wasn't Aniki-"

I laughed, "Heavens no! I...was battling a really powerful demon after my main mission was complete. Unfortunately, despite all of my training...I was still taken down quickly."

"Was the demon and Upper Moon?"

"Absolutely. I don't remember much after his attack because I had fallen. I thought I was going to die out there. Needless to say, it was a shock when I woke up in the Butterfly Mansion."

"Was Aniki there to say hello to you?"

I looked at Kyojuro and raised an eyebrow, "Just what were you doing while I was comatose?"

Kyojuro looked up at the sky and shook his head, "Working more than usual. At first, the only news I heard was from Kaname. All he said was, 'Celestial Pillar down in action and is in critical condition!' I couldn't believe it, and just as I was about to make my way to Shinobu-sama's place...Kaname told me the real reason why he had shown up- someone had to take over the mission. I didn't hesitate to accept. After that...Kaname would just send me on lots of missions, especially when I approached the Butterfly Mansion."

Senjuro gasped and looked at me, "Why didn't you let him come and visit?"

I couldn't help but sigh as I rested my arms on my left knee, "Truth be told...the demon I fought...he's probably going to come after me again. The fewer people that knew the truth, the better, or...so I thought." I sighed softly, "In reality, I was really isolating myself from those that cared about me. I learned that slowly when I met Mitsuri-chan and saw Kyojuro again."

Senjuro nodded, "Did you tell Kaname to not let Aniki see you?"

"Any Pillar, beyond Shinobu-sama. But that didn't work, since they too got injured. Instead...Mitsuri-san took me in and took care of me after she recovered from her injury. I went to live with Oyakata-sama, with her checking in on me."

"So how did you two meet again and become this close?"

Kyojuro laughed softly as he wrapped an arm around me, "I've always had these feelings for Sumiko since you first introduced us. I was just finally able to act upon them."

I shook my head, "I really didn't have a choice, since you volunteered to be my caretaker."

"That is true...but I haven't heard you complaining about it yet." Kyojuro laughed, "Am I really that bad?"

"Not at all. I don't mind being around you. But why...did you choose to reconnect with me again? I know we had met on a few missions prior to my final one after our initial introduction...so why act on your feelings now?"

I swore I saw his face blush a bit as he scratched his head, "Senjuro would have worried himself to death otherwise."

Senjuro piped up, "That's wrong! I just wanted to know she was alive! Tell her the truth, Anaki, or..." He looked at me, and I saw the mischief in his eyes as he declared, "Sumiko, I'll tell you the truth. You see, he was going to act on those feelings after the mission you came back from, but when you got injured-"

Kyojuro placed a hand on Senjuro's mouth, "That's enough from you." Yup, his face was red. It was kind of cute.

I smiled softly as I let my left leg hang off of the porch once more, "I see now. Well, I don't regret it at all. Thank you, Senjuro, for telling the truth. Kyojuro, please let your brother go."

Senjuro was quick to scamper over to me and hug me. I couldn't help but hug him back, but as I looked over Senjuro's shoulder...Kyojuro was somewhat pouting. I chuckled to myself as I opened my arms a little wider, and it didn't take long for him to join in on the embrace. It wasn't too long later when bright flashes of color lit up the sky, making it seem like the stars had descended from the heavens themselves.

Senjuro decided to sit in my lap as he munched on some cookies that he obtained from the festival. I could see the reflection in his eyes- the child-like wonder was still there. Shinjuro-sama hadn't killed that yet and this made me happy. Though, I couldn't focus for long on Senjuro because I felt Kyojuro's breath on my neck.

I turned to face him, and when I did that, I heard the slight ringing of bells. My hairpin was back! I raised an eyebrow at him as I spoke, "How did you get this back?"

"Senjuro gave it to me as a sign of you being in danger. Sorry to scare you like that, Sumiko, but I wanted to see it back in its rightful place. But you know- you look cute when you're flustered."

I quickly turned around to watch the fireworks once more to hide how I really felt, but it didn't matter as I heard soft laughter fill the air around me. Kyojuro was quick to move me to sit in his lap...while I was still holding onto Senjuro. Senjuro barked out, "Hey! I was watching the fireworks and don't want to face the side of the house!"

"You can continue watching them. I just want to keep an eye on both of you." Kyojuro smiled at Senjuro as his younger sibling adjusted to leaning on Kyojuro's left shoulder. Kyojuro wrapped an arm around Senjuro, which prompted the younger Rengoku to smile up at his brother. His right arm snaked around my midsection, which caused me to gasp a little bit. However...he was nice and warm, so I couldn't help but lean my head on his right shoulder.

If there was one thing I wanted to remember all throughout eternity, this would have been the moment right here. Feeling loved and surrounded by those who care about you, no matter what condition you're in...this is true happiness here.

This will be one of the moments I hold close to my heart. Muzan...you'll never take this away from me.

____________________________________________________________________________

The wind caressed my hair as I lay on the soft grass. I looked up above me and saw the sky full of stars. I even made up all sorts of shapes in the sky beyond the ones I knew, and for once...I was truly at peace.

The silence was broken by a voice saying, "Sumiko, sorry I'm late for our meeting, but Senjuro was hungry. I couldn't leave him alone." I heard the soft crunching of the grass as the person approached me and lay down.

I looked over and saw Kyojuro in a formal red yukata, and smiled softly, "You look nice tonight, Kyo. What's the occasion?"

"You'll see soon enough." His right eye peered at me, amusement dancing in the night's calming light.

Before I could respond, I was quickly moved to where I was laying my head on his chest. I picked my head up at him, raising an eyebrow, "I was comfy there!"

"I don't want you to catch cold. Besides, since I can only see out of one eye...I'll need your help spotting these oh-so-mythical meteors."

My hands clenched onto the top of his yukata as I felt tears in my eyes. The guilt that I carried with me since that mission was eating me alive. I bit my lip as a way to stop the tears from falling. Kyojuro sensed this, so he lifted up my chin to face him and spoke softly, "I know you. You feel guilty for my condition, but I should thank you. You...saved me from death." He laughed softly, "Besides if I wear an eyepatch, I'll be a pirate. The first ever Pirate Hashira."

I couldn't help but laugh, "Are you sure that fight didn't knock out a few of your brain cells?"

"C'mon, don't you think I would look hotter like that?" I was quick to turn away and face the sky once more, but my anger melted away quickly as I heard and felt him laugh. It wasn't long before a smile was on my face.

Both of us were silent as we gazed up at the sky, looking for the bright streak across the sky. When we finally saw a bright one, I gasped as I spoke, "Isn't it breathtaking?"

Kyojuro was quick to respond, "Yeah. I can see why you use a meteor in your Breathing Style. So now that we've seen one, what am I supposed to do?"

"Well, a legend says that if you make a wish after seeing one, your wish will come true. But, you can't tell your wish to anyone."

"Why the last part?"

"Well, it wouldn't be so much be a wish between you and the heavens above now. It would be something between you, the heavens, and whoever you tell. They could take that wish away from you, and then you would be sad again, right?"

"But what if my wish is something that I want to share with everyone?"

"Do I look like a wish-making genie to you like those stories?" I laid my left hand across my torso and smiled, "Well, I suppose it's up to you on what to do there. But if it's something important-hold it close to you." I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as I wished for all of my friends to be able to come home to me. However, I was quick to snap out of my trance as I felt Kyojuro move my left hand.

I opened my eyes and gasped as I saw what Kyojuro had just placed on my left hand- a simple golden ring, with a crimson jewel in the center of it. This time, I was tearing up for a different reason. Kyojuro smiled as he spoke, "I don't mean to break a part of that tradition, but my wish...is to be with you and protect you, no matter what. For all of eternity. Sumiko Hoshiko, will you be the one to grant my wish?"

I quickly nodded as the tears fell down my face. Kyojuro was quick to capture my lips, and I tried to convey my happiness and joy to him at that moment. I had finally found someone to spend my life with- and I couldn't have felt more alive.

____________________________________________________________________________

"MISSION FOR THE FLAME HASHIRA, KYOJURO RENGOKU! MISSION FOR THE FLAME HASHIRA!" I groaned as I curled into what I thought was a warm blanket. Can't those damn crows wait?

Wait a second...how did I...? I opened my eyes and saw that the blanket that I curled into was actually Kyojuro's right shoulder. I quickly moved away the best that I could, and this allowed Kaname to squawk into Kyojuro's ear, "WAKE UP, MISSION TIME!"
Kyojuro's eyes slightly opened up as he heard this and spoke, "Where is the mission at?"

"In your territory! People keep disappearing and only black feathers are being left behind."

"I just defeated a demon with that description last night at the festival, so there's no need to worry anyone!" It didn't take long for Kyojuro to seek out me and pull me in close to him. His eyes quickly shut, while my eyes were wide open.

Kaname looked at me and spoke, "Is this true?"

I nodded, "If the Master needs proof, please let me know. I am now unable to walk normally due to Shinobu-sama's apparatus breaking in the battle." I pointed over to where the shattered apparatus was leaning, "I'll have to send her an update too about that."

Kaname came over to me and bowed, "Leave it to me." He then flew back out of the window in which he came in, and just like that, silence fell over the house again.

I sighed as I closed my eyes once more, laying back down to where I was before the crow interrupted. I felt a set of soft lips on my forehead, which caused my eyes to fly right open. Kyojuro only had one eye open, his right one, as he whispered, "Go back to bed. After all, you fought it off too."

"But I have to deal with an angry Shinobu now, and it will take me a while to get to the Butterfly Mansion."

"We'll get there later. For now, just relax." His right arm wrapped around me, and I couldn't help but smile to myself. Kyojuro chuckled softly, "Good night, Sumi."

"Thank you...Kyo." It didn't take me long to fall back asleep at all. A relaxing day...does that even exist for Demon Slayers?