━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Chapter 26 ━☂

❁ཻུ۪۪ ━ ❝ Punishment

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊

┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ˚⋆｡˚ ⋆

┊ ┊ ┊ ⋆

┊ ┊ ★⋆

┊ ◦

★⋆ ┊ . ˚

˚

'Shing!'

Blood splattered the cold, dirty ground as the vanishing body of the beautiful demoness met harshly with the ground, their claws scratching uncomfortably loudly against the flooring as tears full of despair flowed from her eyes. As all of this was happening, (Y/n) felt... different.

"You... you bastard! M-My head?! My beautiful, beautiful head..."

The demoness's last words were that of her pride as she soon turned to ash, flying away against the harsh, bitter wind as the sun was still held captive behind the dim clouds. Staring blankly at the dissipating body of the ex-demoness, (Y/n) did not bow their head in respect, or even whisper a prayer for a peaceful passage to their new destiny—(Y/n) just stood there, still like a frozen statue of despair. Their (e/c) eyes held no pity or regret, no shame—he just felt... different. Yes, different; but, why different?

Glancing down at their clenched hand that held tightly around the hilt of his Nichiirin sword, he only tightened his hold around it, fearing to let go of his destiny. His meaning—his existence.

Behind (Y/n) stood Sabito, their hidden eyes staring worriedly at their love as he didn't seem to know as to why (Y/n) was being so quiet. Usually, from what Sabito had observed from all of (Y/n) past encounters with others, they were always so chirpy or just... responsive to the dead in a respectful and justifying manner.

But now...

"Hey... Sabito. As a former Demon Slayer... what are your thoughts on me just... I don't know... ignoring my duty?"

Surprised by (Y/n) question, Sabito took a step forward, recognizing that his voice was a lot more shallow but thoughtful as that seemed to worry him. 'No... no, he cannot know... I am alive... for him, I must be...'

"What... what do you mean? I am still a Demon Slayer, just like you... you know that, right?"

With their clothing instantly mending back together like a spider web, their gashes and cuts from the demoness's earlier attacks remained ever-present in front of Sabito's confused, hidden eyes, wishing to so desperately reach out to him and cling onto him—to take away his thoughts and leave (Y/n) free from his worrying feelings; but before they could even take another step a soft, choking laughter escaped from (Y/n) lips, their grasp on their sword tightening as his blood continued to trickle down from his wounds and gashes as if there was a crack in the sky.

"Do you... do you think I'm stupid? That I wouldn't figure out your little disguise? I am Katsuo (Y/n)... and I am not a child."

Turning around to face Sabito, (Y/n) smiles tiredly down at him, their (e/c) eyes red and glistening like a glazed mirror—their expression blank like an untouched canvas to a forgotten muse. "Whether or not you're dead doesn't matter to me... but, as someone who has time to think, tell me... is this the right track for me?"

Looking into and observing (Y/n)'s blank, cold eyes, Sabito could only think of one thing at that moment, and that was that they shouldn't stay here for that long. Taking a quick look around, Sabito looked back up at him, biting down his lip behind his mask as he replied, albeit hesitantly. "Come on... let's go, you're tired... you must rest—"

"I don't need to rest!"

In a flash of light, a whirlwind of fire encircled Sabito's figure, hanging over his head like the licking tongues of hell. Finally, Sabito caught a good glance at (Y/n)'s face only to see a disturbing sight... his face showed a thin, black crack spreading from the middle of his left cheek to his trembling lips.

"I am the chosen one from the gods! Do you not understand?! I. Must. Be. Perfect!"

Taking another step, thunder rolled through the already darkened skies, playing rythmaticly along with the footsteps of (Y/n) as they neared closer towards the entrapped ghost within the tornado of fire that seemed to lick closer towards Sabito like a teasing magnet.

"What? You think I'm weak? That I can't defeat a single demon and be well afterward? I was chosen from the gods for a reason—and that reason is law!"

Taking a step back, Sabito felt the heat of the fire licking and caressing at his back, instantly backing away and staying inside the center as he was having trouble seeing the approaching figure of (Y/n) through the scorching flames. Sabito was a ghost. No attack that they would permit could possibly harm them... so why was he feeling so heated? Frowning behind his mask, Sabito soon recognized the thunder outside resonating beautifully with that of (Y/n) footsteps allowing him to know when he was close enough to Sabito's firey cage.

Taking a deep breath, Sabito spoke, their voice slightly shaky as he tried their best to take away from (Y/n) state. "You're not weak... and, you have no obligation to be tied down to the expectations of the gods—"

"But I must! I owe them—I owe my family—and I owe my friends everything of me! That is my purpose!" Cutting off Sabito's words, (Y/n) screamed out their thoughts, the crack across their cheek beginning to slightly grow in length, now spreading slowly and agonizingly onto his temple as (Y/n) finally began to feel the crack.

Stopping in their tracks, (Y/n) let go of their sword, its strong metal clanging loudly against the harsh ground as he brought his now freed hand up to his cheek, their (e/c) eyes wide in horror and shock as they slowly and hesitantly glanced down at their fallen sword, the glistening flames illuminating it's smooth surface as it reflected their sweaty, bloody, and black cracks that now began to spread.

Letting out a scream in horror, (Y/n) took frantic steps back, their hands now shaking above their cracked cheek as tears of confusion and fear spread further down like the pouring stream of a waterfall. "What... what's happening?! I-It hurts!" Their voice seemed to go weaker through the end, their body collapsing to the cold ground and becoming immobile as the black cracks that spread across their face like roots began to grow at a more alarming rate. Thunder escalated as well—its booming laughter almost deafening now as no rain could be heard over it.

Hearing the collapse of their love, Sabito's eyes widened in alarm, their hands immediately outstretching through the fiery cage that held him captive as he ignored the pain—ignored the flickering flames of hell that seemed to try and encase around his waist, dragging him closer into its hot soul. With tears of struggle threatening to fall at seeing his love in paralyzing pain, Sabito finally fell forward, out of the hands of the fire as they immediately scrambled towards the fallen (Y/n), their pale hands hovering over the face of his lover, unsure as to what to do.

"(Y/n)! (Y/n), please, tell me what's happening? Is this some kind of allergic reaction? But, I thought you weren't allergic to anything—have you eaten?" Seeing no reaction from (Y/n), Sabito observed his blank face, their screams going into silence as his beautiful (e/c) were set straight towards the ceiling. Confusing to yell his name desperately for a reply, Sabito slacked down, their trembling hands not daring to attempt to touch (Y/n)'s skin as Sabito felt tears begin to roll over his skin, some of it seeping out of his mask.

"(Y/n)... (Y/n), please, please... say something... I... you were right... I-I'm dead! Okay?! I... I can't touch you... I'm sorry. (Y/n)..." Sobs breaking his words, Sabito leaned further down closer towards the frozen (Y/n), eyes set in a tearful hope filled with fear as they awaited for a response; but none came.

Silence contained to cricket the air, its buzzing silence almost maddening before Sabito saw a small trickle of a tear escape from one of (Y/n)'s eyes, falling down onto the dirty floor before more began to fall—its quantity exceeding far beyond what his eyes could hold; but throughout that, (Y/n) remained still, laying on the ground as they continued crying in absolute silence.

Watching as (Y/n) wept, Sabito cried out in glee, relieved that his love was alive and breathing as they remained hovering over (Y/n) face, careful to not touch his face as Sabito seemed to be overflowing with happiness. "M-My love! Oh... oh you're alive! You scared me when you fell... are you okay? Do you need some water?" His words sounded so sweet, so comforting—so real. Though nothing that Sabito said or tried to even do made (Y/n) move a single inch, whisper a silent whimper, or even breathe. Only the tears that flowed across his tears as if it was his blood pouring out of his heart could be of reassurance to Sabito that (Y/n) was even alive. 

Sabito remained kneeling before him, their hands ghosting over his wet face, afraid to even lay a finger on the poor and fragile man before him "Oh... don't, don't cry... (Y/n), please, speak to me. Please, speak to me... just do anything. Please... please don't die." Sabito's voice cracked, their blank kistune mask hiding the reddened face of his as hot tears brimmed their lavender eyes like a dying day. With their trembling pale hands hovering over the cracked face of his love, Sabito felt useless. Nothing he could do would help. Every single muscle in his body seemed to disobey the urge to hug (Y/n). Something that ruined him in closer to the brink of insanity. To not touch his love,  his life, his (Y/N)... it was an unimaginable thing. It was inhumane. However, that was the price he had to pay to the gods in order to even remain by his lover's side. Anything for (Y/n). 

Anything for his man. 

Even as his worry and anxiousness skyrocketed, none of it seemed to help better the state of (Y/n) as he remained still and motionless on the blood-coated wood flooring, their (e/c) eyes holding an ocean as streams of tears poured down his face, coating the dark cracks that spread over his cheek and eyes like the roots of a tree. His scruffed hands, no longer holding onto the handle of his sword as it was now sprawled on the ground a few feet away, its steel no longer marinating in the dissaptating blood of the demoness. The thunder from earlier seemed to have gone and was now replaced with a heavy downpour of bullet-like rain as it hit punches on the crumbling ceiling, but it still held strong. With worried, wide lavender eyes, Sabito glanced down at his love, their eyes clashing with the blank watery eyes of (Y/n). 

And, in that moment, it was like the both of them were two. Both knew of death⎯both felt death. They were tied to each other by what cruel part of nature decided it to be so. Even so, Sabito wouldn't have it any other way. With pale, trembling hands, Sabito hovered his almost solid palms over (Y/n)'s cheeks, grasping the air only an inch between his grasp before he leaned down, their peach-tinted hair slowly flowing over his shoulders before his eyes closed in contentment, and his lips gave a sweet, loyal kiss to the breath of his lips. So close, but so far. By then, Sabito kept his eyes closed, refusing to open them as he simply remained there; loving him from afar. 

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The pain was unfathomable as everything broke down in front of him. At first, all his sunken eyes could see was the sight of his friend caged in a firey hell of his own creation, and then nothing. Even before he realized he saw nothing, the only anything that he felt was that sensation. That prickling sensation that seemed to dig deep into his skin, burrowing into his veins and tugging at every nerve until he bled out from the inside. Even then, the only sign of pain before the darkness eventually overtook every single sensation was his wails of sorrow and pain and the cracks that spread across his face as if they were trying to punish him for the damage to his beauty. Fumio would be raging. Unable to see himself, feel himself, or even feel like he was even a self at all, (Y/n) felt as if... he was just an unborn baby. Floating around, or just lying down──not even he knew what was happening. 

Trying to open his mouth to let out a sound to reassure him that he was still something of a solid being, he couldn't. (Y/n) felt nothing at all. Not the feeling of his jaw opening wide as if it was trying to show off that he was still alive, or the way that your tongue would feel exposed by the air. He just felt... there. So, with his loneliness as the only reassurance of his existence, he pondered. 

'Why... am I here? Where is, "here"? Have I died? Such a pathetic death──I thought it would be more fitting. Not so anticlamitc like this. Perhaps the gods found out of my incompetence and decided to kill me; instead opting to find another suitable hero. Another savior. I would understand... I should understand. But why can't I bring myself to?' His thoughts went along his head, filling him with ideas and unstable conclusions about everything around him and beyond. 'I shouldn't have been so harsh with Sabito before my death like that... I should have left the discovery of his identity a secret. Why did I have to open my stupid mouth? Why? Why? I can't even be a good friend... at least I'm good at failing. That's... comforting. I guess.'

Keeping his thoughts going on and on like a never-ending circle, it all seemed to have gone on for hours. Maybe even days. Only darkness and the swallowing silence was the only thing to ever be the same. Just him, his thoughts, and his regrets. 

"You know... you're kind of funny when I put aside the fact that you're such a crybaby."

Instantly, like the rays of the bright and warm sun breaking over the clouds of a thousand-year-old snowstorm, hope was a feeling like a drug to (Y/n). As if his very own tattered soul was lifted from its pit of misery, (Y/n) stopped thinking, and their thoughts went to relief. 'Tsukiyomi...?'

"Bingo! My... took you a while. Let's cut this sweet talk and get straight to the point, okay? You know... my boss ain't too happy with you right now. You could even say he could just die from anger! Haha... yeah, not even a little giggle? Tough crowd. Anyway, so he sent me here to tell you that if you don't learn on how to become a true warrior and get rid of things distracting you like friends and stuff like that... he will kill you. I'm being serious. You do have a streak of being too weak, even with that cheat sheet we gave you. We blame it on your soul. Too weak, too soft, too... human. Get rid of that. It's weak."

'Tsukiyomi...? What... what do you mean? I'm trying my hardest to be what you want, I really am. I'm sorry if I've been weak. I'll... I'll be stronger. I promise. I almost forgot what I was doing all of this for... I shouldn't be considering selfish things like⎯'

"Freedom? A life? Yeah, I know. Remember your place and what sacrifices we had to make to keep your pathetic self alive, human. My boss doesn't like disobedience. Once you wake up, you'll see what he does if you even dare to disappoint your saviors. Farwell, (Y/n)."

'Wait, Tsukiyomi, wait⎯'

"Bye!"

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

And what came after that was even more pain. It was like a vacuum was sucking out the skin and bones off of his flesh before rearranging them back in its place, and then, it was like he was born again. 

When he came to, the smell of fire and smoke was all that he could taste as the sight of Sabito was completely ignored as a small shard of glass lay next to him, and as (Y/n) turned their bloody head to the side to catch a glimpse of his reflection, the only sight to greet him wasn't pleasant, but instead it was the scarring image of a large, black jagged line cross his upper lip to the side of his cheek, and never before did he feel so ugly. 

𑁍┊𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐑 ˎˊ˗ +

⠀ ⠀________

⠀⠀┊ ┊ ┊

⠀⠀┊ ┊ ┊

⠀⠀┊ ┊ ✫

⠀⠀┊ ⊹ ⋆

⠀⠀┊. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀✧ ⠀

┏━━━━━━❂━━━━━━┓

ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴅᴀʏ/ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴍʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇꜱ!

┗━━━━━━❂━━━━━━┛