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"may I borrow mai and maki for a moment first before you all head off please?", kiyo requested, to which the two girls had glanced at each other before slowly following the priestess into her room.

"is something the matter, kiyo-san?", maki asked, watching as the white-haired girl dug around a locked chest.

"I have a cursed tool I want to give the each of you", kiyo replied, pulling out a three-section staff connected by three rings in between the joins of the weapon.

"what, are you sur—"

"I'm positive! you two would put good use to them", kiyo smiled, handing the first weapon to mai, who was quite surprised by the sudden gift.

"playful cloud; I'm sure you two have heard of it before", kiyo stated, as getō once used it to fight against okkotsu.

"and the inverted spear of heaven; it nullifies cursed techniques. while you're a strong woman by yourself maki, I believe this will help you in the long run", kiyo explained as she handed the dagger with a jute-like shaped blade and black handle, along with a circular link that could connect to a series of metal chains, to the slightly older twin.

"kiyo-san, thank you so much. I promise that I'll master this weapon and put it to good use!", maki bowed, meanwhile mai had just softly hummed.

"I look forward to it then", kiyo smiled, as the inverted spear of heaven used to belong to fushiguro tōji — who used it to stab satoru in the throat and to fend off getō.

the priestess debated passing the weapon down to his son, but decided against it as she had her own nightmares of the close resemblance.

plus, fushiguro was a talented boy with his ten shadows technique by itself.

"now, have a safe trip back home", kiyo waved as she walked the two girls out the door, where the rest of the edo and heiankyo students were waiting.

"VISIT US AGAIN, NANAMI~", satoru aggressively waved, to which the blonde had continued walking as if he didn't hear anything.

"and thank you for the present kiyo", satoru grinned as he very much so appreciated the beautiful kimono that he had received.

"no problem. time does goes by quickly doesn't it", kiyo softly sighed, to which satoru had nodded before leading his sister back into the warm house.

"funny enough, I got you a kimono too. you should wear it tonight after you shower", satoru suggested.

"but why would I—"

"just do it!", satoru rushed, shoving his twin into the washroom as he swiftly laid the kimono on a small nearby table and slammed the door shut.

kiyo confusingly scratched her head as she just shrugged, filling the tub with warm, steaming water as she hopped in to enjoy a relaxed bath.

∞

kiyo's footsteps could be heard as the pitter pattering echoed down the halls.

the priestess arrived swiftly at her and sukuna's shared room after she had checked up on hakaku and nozomi, who were already snoring away.

"eh? uraume-san? may I help you?", kiyo asked, as the monk was standing by the shoji, holding a blindfold.

"sukuna-sama has instructed me to blindfold you and take you to him, so my apologies", uraume stated as they covered kiyo's eyes with a thin black fabric, holding the priestess's arms as they guided her outside.

it wasn't until nearly ten minutes of walking that the two had stopped, to which uraume had unsheathed kiyo's eyes, allowing the girl to take in their surrounding.

"uraum—"

the monk had already disappeared, leaving kiyo alone in the middle of the field as she was encircled by the full blossoming of blush pink magnolias.

kiyo hesitantly took a few steps forward, as she vaguely spotted a short table with sake and a bowl of wasabi peas.

"I see that we're matching", a voice suddenly commented, to which kiyo had snapped around, seeing the great demon king in a full black kimono, less flashy than hers.

sukuna's usual grin was plastered on his face as his pink hair was messily combed back, with the hairpin that he previously gave to kiyo, in his hands.

"why'd you take it back?", kiyo asked as she inched closer to the male, with her train trailing behind her footsteps.

"I wanted to put it in your hair again. now turn around", sukuna commanded, to which kiyo had complied, as she wondered what the yōkai was planning.

sukuna's tattooed fingers grazed the priestess's neck, cradling all her locks of hair — except her bangs and a few shorter pieces — as he wrapped it around the magnolia hairpin.

with the girl's hair tied up, it had exposed the nape of her neck, as the defined black collar of the silk kimono dipped quite a bit, revealing the flushed shoulders and sharp collarbones of the miko.

kiyo turned around as sukuna absolutely adored the view before him.

a mellow smile that flourished onto the girl's paper-like thin face was showcased, as the red outlines of a flower blossomed along her dark kimono, complementing her pastel skin.

"thank you. now can you tell me what all this is about?", kiyo asked, to which sukuna had took off his sandals, motioning for the miko to follow.

kiyo let out a soft chuckle as her toes met the cool grass, as even though it was winter time, many living things were still in full bloom.

sukuna extended out his hand, to which kiyo's lithe hand had reached his, letting the demon king escort her to the small table.

the two sat moderately close to each other, their fingers still intertwined as sukuna poured two cups of sake.

the pristine liquid glimmered under the scintillating moon, accompanied by its best friends: the stars.

"cheers to twenty-nine I guess", kiyo faintly laughed, raising the cup along with her sleeve as sukuna just chugged it, letting out a soft sizzle from the savory aftertaste.

kiyo leisurely turned her head towards sukuna as her head tilted to the side a bit, with her bangs dangling to the right.

her dampened lips curved upwards, as her cerulean eyes daringly studied the demon king in front of her, who could feel the priestess's curious gaze as he took another sip of sake.

"well?"

sukuna had finally set the cup down as he adverted his gaze at kiyo.

"marry me".

kiyo hesitated for a moment before cracking a small smile.

"ryōmen, are you still jokin—"

"do I look like I'm joking?", the demon asked, his face devoid of any cockiness or playfulness.

he was dead serious.

kiyo's eyes widened ever so slightly as she suddenly adverted her gaze, feeling a bit embarrassed to look up.

"but...what happens once I die? it'd be a miracle to live past a hundred...more so eighty...", kiyo mumbled, worried as sukuna would leave once she became all old and unattractive.

"huh? isn't that obvious? I'll wed another", sukuna answered, making kiyo dejectedly hum as she suddenly heard a snort.

"is that what you imagined me saying?"

"h-huh?"

"obviously when you die, our children will live on with me since they're half-demons, no? and those two little runts too", sukuna said, snarling at the thought of grownup hakaku and nozomi.

"wouldn't it be lonely to—"

"I have those brats and uraume", sukuna interrupted.

kiyo couldn't help but feel a spark of felicity overcome her, as she displayed a smile so pure it almost made sukuna wonder whether he was tainting her with his presence or not.

"if you'll have me as your first brid—"

"my one and only bride", sukuna corrected as he cupped kiyo's pleasing face, leaning in as their warm breaths conjoined against this wintry night.

for once, kiyo allowed herself to indulge in her happiness, to which she could taste the sweetness from the demon's alcoholic breath as her back slightly arched, allowing sukuna to support her body as his other hand cradled the nape of her neck.

the two parted for a gasp of crisp air as the priestess's cheeks flushed pink, a complementing detail to her pale complexion.

"you mean that?", she asked.

"I promise", he answered.