♤♡◇♧

"Hey, Genya-kun. Is your brother always this rude?"

"I dare you to repeat that again, you gaki!"

"He's so loud and obnoxious. He doesn't care much about personal space. He stalks little girls as if it's normal. Are you sure that you're related?"

"R-Riri-san! Nii-chan is actually a kind person even if he's loud and obnoxious! The only reason why Nii-chan stalks you is because he l-likes you..! And Nii-chan is my Nii-chan, t-there's no doubt about that!"

"Ehh....? That's so creepy. I knew he was a pervert. "

"I'm still here you know! Stop talking about me like I'm nonexistent!"

I sighed before turning towards the subject of my frustration.

"It's precisely why I'm doing it."

"What does that even mean?!"

"It means what it means."

♤♡◇♧

I opened my eyes very slowly as I let out a small sigh. My dreams are no longer dreams.

But instead, I have come to realize that my memories are slowly surfacing one by one.

Almost a year has passed.

Almost a year or...

Has it really been a year?

It could have been a mere few days or weeks, even months yet I can't seem to keep a tight grasp on time ever since I left the Demon Slayer Corps.

As I turned towards the moon from the branch where I was perched on, I could not seem to take my eyes off of it.

I was not sure.

But the moon calms me down.

It calms the rage in my heart, for I know that there has always been something deep and dark that has resided inside me ever since I met him from all those years ago.

How could I forget?

It was those plum red eyes that has always haunted me.

♤♡◇♧

"Obanai, if you like Mitsuri so much, why don't you propose to her already? It will solve a lot of things." I said in a bemused tone as I tilted my head.

The snake pillar hissed at me.

"That is none of your business!"

I giggled. "You really need to calm down! I'm just teasing you!"

His glare did not left me and I could actually see the annoyance behind his mispaired eyes.

"We're not that close, Riri."

I snorted.

He glared deeper at me.

"Only my close friends call me Riri."

I clapped my hands together as my smile widened.

"The fact that I'm allowing an introverted, self-conceited and solitary individual like you with a rude attitude to call me Riri, means a lot!"

"Are you really trying to pick a fight with--"

"Iguro-san! Riri-san! I was looking for the two of you!"

Grinning, I immediately went to embrace Mitsuri and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

"You were looking for the fiery goddess of fire, my beautiful goddess of love?" I teased, making sure to sound as seductive and as charming as possible.

I could feel Obanai glaring holes on the side of my face but I could care less. I like Mitsuri as a friend.

The love pillar giggled.

"Well yes, I was actually looking for you and Iguro-san! You did promise that you would treat us both to a homecook meal?"

I blinked.

"Riri-san?"

Crap I..

"Don't tell me you.."

... forgot.

♤♡◇♧

A low groan escaped my lips and I opened my eyes once more, an attempt to free myself from the dream.. no.. from the memory.

A reminder.

Or is it taunting me?

Telling me that I'm no longer who I used to be? No longer the person who can walk under the sun, enjoy its warmth and feel its heat?

My hands will forever remain the same, this pristine features and blemish free skin. My eyes will never fade nor waver, the color more prominent, more dangerous as if the beast has awakened.

I am no longer Riri, I know this.

I don't cry anymore.

I hardly feel pain, or any emotions no matter what kind.

This body has changed, different and borderline inhuman, no longer the weak and fragile mortal body that would rot and decay as time pass by.

"I told you to stop dwelling on the past and just accept that you've been reborn into a perfect being who is much more stronger and faster than  the ants that roam this city." The voice boomed, sounding angry, I know it sounded angry, I was sure of it.

Even as I kept my gaze on the moon--so, so beautiful--- the voice kept talking.

"I've given you power and yet you sit there, wasting every moment, every second that has passed just to admire the moon. Useless! You're useless!"

Lazily, I turned towards his direction, eyes watching his form. I wonder why he's here, why he has taken the risk to come to me.

I leaned much further to the tree, letting my nostrils flare as I inhaled the scent of the flowers and the leaves, how it made my body more whole and more alive than I could ever remember.

"If it weren't for your use, I wouldn't have hesitated to end your pathetic life. "

I sighed heavily as I shifted my gaze back towards the moon.

The flowers are so pretty.

"Riri!"

Growling, I snapped my head to face him.

"What."

His eyes narrowed dangerously while I bared my teeth and hissed at him.

Taking refuge in one of the wisteria trees has calmed me down.

Only for this man to let my rage bubble back into the surface.

I hate him.

I hate those eyes.

His words full of lie and the atrocity he created.

I hated him with all my might.

♤♡◇♧

"Riri.. Why do you keep eating the leaves. Aren't they poisonous?"

"Well yes but I've been doing it for so long time that my body is practically immune to it by now."

"You're an idiot, tch."

"Are you worried, Nemi-chan? That makes me really happy you know!"

"Tch. So what if I am?"

"Nemi-chan... I could kiss you right now!"

"Don't come near me!"