He looked at the woman infront of him as though she was the center of his universe. He looked at her as if she was the reason he was existing.

"Hello, Yuu." She smiled a smile that wasn't a smile. It hurt but his mind that had long deteriorated mistook it for something else.

Something like a long awaited greeting between two lovers.

"Let's go home..." He extended his clawed hands as if they were harmless decorations and not  tools used to end lives. He outstretched them harmlessly as though they haven't been soaked with blood a countless number of times.

"Nao-sama! Please step away from him!" Tanjiro yelled before he suddenly gasped and held his stomach, his wound throbbing in pain.

"You won't come with me..?" Yuu asked while tilting his head at her prolonged silence.

He slowly encircled his hand around her delicate neck. One wrong move and he could snap it in half.

"You do realize that everyone here is going to die...? The moment you refuse me, I'll make sure that this whole place and everyone here burns to the ground."

Nao's smile remained. Her eyes were shining with clarity as if she did not hear him say those threats.

"Nao-sama..! Please get back! Run! I'll.." Nao stepped towards Tanjiro calmly.

"Tanjiro-kun." She said in a soft voice.

"I'm going with him."

Tanjiro's eyes widened.

"You can't protect me. You can't protect that girl, Aoi. You are too injured to fight and your face is so pale that any drastic movement is going to cause you to faint. You have lost too much blood from your previous battle." Nao smiled sadly, resignation evident in her tone.

"You cannot beat Yuu at your current level."

"Mimi-san is right. " Yuu said, stepping behind her. His looming figure gave Tanjiro the chills. Not only was this demon tall, his presence and aura was ridiculously strong.

"Boy, I am not like the original demon. I don't harm humans without any valid reason. There are only two reasons why I would be forced to kill them." He lowered his head so that he was looking down at him.

"The first reason is when they get in my way. The second reason is.." He whispered the next words into his right ear.

"... when they're preventing me to be with Mimi-san."

Tanjiro was frozen and so was Nao. She had a grim look on her face. Against a powerful demon who has lived for one thousand years just like the original demon, there was no possibility of winning when Tanjiro is injured while Nao was as harmless as a fly.

Nao gripped her sleeves, the clothes wrinkled in response.

"Tanjiro-kun.. tell my brother that I was happy to see him again....I was really happy. "

She carefully placed a hand on his cheek, her lips smiling.

"Can you please tell him that..?"

Even her voice sounded beautiful despite her sadness.

♤♡◇♧

Heian Period

"You're too precious, Yuu-kun! You really need to improve your social skills. You're good looking and really handsome. You don't have to be so nervous and awkward when you have so many strong points!" She cheered.

"Mimi-san..... Did you just told me how pathetic I am in a nice way?" Yuu asked with a frown on his face.

Mimi chuckled a little at his accusation. She ruffled his messy white hair in an affectionate manner before placing both hands on his shoulders.

"No! You're the one who's weird, Yuu-kun. I don't think you're pathetic. In fact, I think you're an amazing person. You just need to believe in yourself more. If you believe in yourself, then you can make a lot of things possible!"

Yuu responded in a soft manner. "Does that mean you'll marry me if I try hard enough..?"

His question was said in a very innocent way but Mimi simply thought he was joking like all the times he asked her if he could marry her.

She smiled at him. "You're so sweet, little brother. But I'm sure you'll be able to find a better woman than me. Besides, I'm older than you! You're still young and youthful. There would still be a lot of opportunities for you."

Yuu frowned before his eyes stared down.

"Didn't you tell me that age doesn't matter in a relationship as long as they're in love with each other?" He muttered in a depressed tone.

Mimi blinked and eyed him curiously. "Yuu-kun, what are you muttering?"

♤♡◇♧

"If you stay with him, sooner or later, you're going to die as well."

"I'm sorry.."

"Don't apologize.. Tell me you will leave. Tell me you would escape and live your life far away from him. Tell me that and stop smiling..!"

"Yuu-kun.."

"I don't want Mimi-san to die! Your father died because of him! So please.. run away and live. "

".."

"If you run away now, then Mimi-san won't die! He's the man who ordered your father to be poisoned! He's the person who planned it..! He told a servant to swap your father's medicine for poison! He.."

"....."

"Hic.....he's an evil person.. he.."

"I know. "

"......"

"I was the one who made the request."

"....."

"I'm sorry. "

"That can't be.."

"Otou-sama knew as well. He was the one who asked for it."

"No... It's a lie. Stop defending him! Stop trying to carry someone else's burden!"

"But I couldn't do it. Even though it was Otou-sama who asked for it to happen... I couldn't kill my father with my own hands. Muzan-sama was the one who helped me. "

"Why are you lying?"

"Have I ever lied to Yuu-kun?"

"........."

"Otou-sama told me to set him free. He told me to live my life and to learn to be more selfish. He told me that even though all of my family had died except me, I could still make one in the future. I wouldn't be alone..."

"..I can be your family.. I can--!"

"Don't kneel, Yuu-kun. I'm not worth it.... Someday, you will find the right person for you. My heart already belongs to someone else."

♤♡◇♧

"Forgive me."

"...."

"I have done what is needed to be done. Do you think I am heartless?"

He lowered to meet her sad gaze.

"I would have killed your father if he hadn't volunteered. Do you think I am heartless?"

She laughed at the irony of his question while tears slowly spilled from the corner of her eyes.

"Aren't we perfect for each other?"

He closed his eyes before pulling her into his arms. She laid her head into his shoulder and cried without holding back.

He didn't say anything for a while.

But there was a fierce thumping that could be heard inside his chest.

"I'm going to die soon."

♤♡◇♧

"My lord, this is only a prototype medicine...It is incomplete. I cannot guarantee anything!"

"Foolish.. Death is the punishment for failures."

"Ackk..!!"

♤♡◇♧

"Come with me. Let's leave this place and go far away. "

"My marriage is tomorrow. "

"That's why I'm telling Mimi-san to run away before that happens! He's a monster! He killed people with his bare hands! I saw him! His eyes turned bloody red!"

"Please go... I don't want our friendship to dissolve because of this. So please..Yuu-kun, leave."

♤♡◇♧

"Do you think I wouldn't know?"

"...Stay away from Mimi-san!"

"She doesn't love you. That woman has already accepted to marry me. Tomorrow, she will be my wife."

"Because you forced her! You killed her father! What other threats did you say so she could agree with this absurd marriage?!"

"Impudent. You aren't even qualified to be in the same place as she is! You are nothing but a lowly peasant who's status is lower than that of an ant!"

"This ant is someone she cares about!"

"And this ant will die tonight."

♤♡◇♧

"Mimi-san..huk...Mimi-san. You said that if I believe in myself then anything is possible.."

.....

...

..

.

"How come this is happening..?"

♤♡◇♧

"Ah..? Why is your hair wet? A night bath at this hour is a bit..!"

"..."

"Oh... Why did you suddenly kiss me?"

"Tomorrow, you'll be my wife."

"Yes, yes. I'll be Muzan-sama's wife. And Muzan-sama will be my husband."

"So you understand."

"Of course. I've made Muzan-sama wait for so long. I'm a bit excited myself. But why did you take a bath at this hour? Ah...There's a strange metallic scent.."

"...."

"..wait.."

"...."

"Kya...aaah..?! Muzan-sama, please wait for tomorrow! We only have to wait for one more night so this is a bit-- ah?! "

"One night is too long. You will be my wife soon. I don't need to wait."

"Oohh..I don't think.."

"Are you going to refuse me?"

"Um..This.."

"A kiss won't suffice anymore."

"I'll definitely work hard tomorrow! So please wait one more night!"

"....foolish woman."

"I promise to work hard!"

"....."

♤♡◇♧

"Miss, are you excited?"

"I'm so nervous...I didn't think the wedding dress would be so heavy. And the fabric is a bit expensive. I feel guilty wearing such a beautiful dress as this."

"It's the lord who ordered to make this for the young miss. Miss, you don't have to worry. You will be the lord's wife after this!"

"I suppose.. Still, I'm really nervous. I feel like something will happen."

"Miss! Don't speak like that! This is your wedding day! Please be more optimistic!"

"Ah.. yes. Thank you very much."

"The lord is waiting. Miss, we'll have to--"

"Mimi-san."

♤♡♧◇

"Where is she...?"

"My lord! It's an emergency! The young miss is..."

....

...

..

.

♤♡◇♧

"Yuu-kun...What are you doing here?"

"Mimi-san looks beautiful in a wedding dress."

"What are you doing? This is the Miss' private quarters! How dare you enter!"

"...Mimi-san, you can come with me. It isn't too late."

"Yuu-kun, I don't know why you're here but I already told you that--ah! Why is there blood..? Are you injured?"

"Miss, this man is dangerous! Don't come over!"

"That's right. I was injured. So please.."

"Who's blood is this?"

"...."

"Miss.."

"Ah.. Mimi-san, you don't seem to believe me? You look like I'm going to swallow you up."

"Hurry up and get out of here! Stop bothering the young miss! You--"

"I'm hungry. "

"Ack!!"

"....Yuu-kun.."

♤♡◇♧

Author's Note:

SOb...sob..

I kinda feel bad for Yuu..