whirling-fangs

[whirling-fangs]

How many years had it been since he'd last heart that name?

He had left it behind with his friends, with the rest of his humanity. His long years of vagrancy had belonged to a nameless creature, one who didn't need a set of drawn characters to describe who they were. He didn't need a name, or even a title anymore.

He was just another wild beast trying to survive.

It all changed the moment he heard her voice. His body whirred back into function, a bear coming out of hibernation. His eyelids fought back against the dizziness, his entire willpower going into keeping them open, so he could make sure that this wasn't some weird fever dream he was having.

A familiar ceiling. The smell of the bedsheets, the rustling of the curtain flowing by an open window. A gentle touch around his wrist, tight but not painful. A decade of feelings conveyed through one simple gesture.

His mind searched through old memories, for a piece of knowledge that he had learnt late, and forgotten immediately. A fragment of human behavior that would be appropriate for this moment, a few words that would let her know the entire extent of his feelings - the guilt, the shame, the regret. The relief.

His lips parted open in a crooked smile, his voice a hoarse whisper as he spoke up for the first time in eons.

"A... Aoi. I'm... home..."

Her grip on his wrist loosened instantly, hand flying to cover her mouth as he stirred and she prayed silently, begging for him to wake up, to rise from whatever limbo he had been trapped in the past few days.

"Inosuke?"

Her voice was as soft as a touch of butterfly wings, so different than her usual snips and yells. Filled with worry and concern. She gripped his wrist again, fingertips grazing over the bones gently and finding his pulse point... and counting. Fast and steady, a little irregular.

Her blue eyes moved to meet his green hues, holding his gaze for what felt like millennia and her fingertips itched to smack him on the back of the head and yess how could you leave me after asking me to wAIT FOR YOU ALL THOSE YEARS AGO?

But she didn't yell, she didn't hit, she didn't make as much as a sudden movement. This was her Inosuke, her love, her-- Aoi stiffened at her own thoughts, pink blush flushing her cheeks. But it was true, these thoughts reflected the ones that crept in at night when she could do little more than think about him.

"I am still waiting for you."

The words weren't accusatory or even mad. Soft and tender, loving. Slightly desperate. Don't make me wait more.

[whirling-fangs]

An annoyed tsk escaped the demon's lips. He was mad at himself, at his own body, for its inability to improve in great leaps and bounds as he wanted it to. The young demon was an ambitious one, with a hunger that was only surpassed by his desire to climb up the demonic ranks.

"Hah! That's exactly what they are. Pathetic little ants for me to crush!" He stomped his foot a few times to mimick his words. "I won't let them touch me! Even if there's a hundred of them!"

He adjusted his stance once more, his mind already adapting to the advice she'd given him. Broader motions. Heightened awareness. Reflexes that could parry a blow before the slayer was even done thinking about delivering it.

"Try again. With all your arms! That way, it'll be like I'm facing several slayers at once! And if I can't beat you, I'll just get more arms myself!"

@whirling-fangs 🌕 starter call'd!

"your movements are too brash--they're easy to read."

patient correction as they spar, teaching her child just how to defend himself. she knows kiba can handle most slayers just fine on his own, but kokushibō also knows it is matter of time before a hashira turns their attention--and brute force may not always be enough, if she isn't there.

"you leave yourself too many openings, much moreso if they gather like ants around you."

[whirling-fangs]

She could probably feel his heart drumming under his ribs, every time her hand hovered around his chest. Kiba stood calmer than he'd ever been as she worked her magic, transforming the wild beast into an astonishingly handsome young man.

The suit fit him like a glove, almost as if it had been tailored for him. His friend's former shape had been a little skinnier, when he was always the brawns of this team, despite looking rather underfed around the joints and waist. Kiba wondered for a moment if this wasn't part of the curse as well, like all of this wasn't scripted somehow.

Not that he was going to complain about it.

"I trust you." He replied, hardly daring to let his lips move as she applied the makeup to his face. He had seen the changes unfold in the mirror, he had watched this mesmerizing stranger replace the untamed thug that used to stand in his shoes, accompanied by the song of her soothing voice. She may as well have been using an incantation of sorts.

He was putting his looks in her hands, just like he had done with his entire life. She wasn't only helping him, of course, their united front a real weapon in the race to school presidency - yet just this once, Kiba reveled in letting her do something for him. She was showing him a whole new range of possibilities.

She had made him part of her new world. One where he was able to dazzle, to draw attention, to be admired for something else than the strength of his punches.

"It's... it's all thanks to you." He offered her a smile that could have made a young teenage girl faint. "Now we can conquer this prom thing together."

He offered her his hand again, this time with the back facing the ceiling, his fingers slightly curled. A gesture he would repeat but a moment later, wearing his most charming smile as they exited the cab, and faced the biggest challenge of their life.

The red carpet down to the prom hall.

With a knowing smile, she stepped up to him, the suit hanging off her fingers like a cape. "You know what, Kiba?" She began to unbutton his shirt, her eyes never leaving his in the mirror. "You're going to be so much more than just good enough." As she would get to work, she had a suit here, before all of this had happened, meant for herself before .. this had happened, but it was perfect for him, it would be a crime to let it all go to waste.

She got to work as she nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You're going to be the talk of the school, Kiba." She stepped back and held up the suit she had bought for him. It was tailored to perfection, a sleek black number that she knew would make him look like a million bucks.

Leaving it to the last minute to piece it all together that he would be perfect as her date and prom king, they were the best of friends, together always, it only made sense as she continued to dress him.

Even with his concerns, she continued as she rolled her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. "Trust me, Kiba. You'll thank me later." She began to unbutton his shirt, her movements swift and assured. It was a strange role reversal, but one that he found oddly comforting.

With the shirt off, she handed him the suit jacket, and he slipped into it with surprising ease. It fit like a glove, hugging his broad shoulders and tapering at his waist. The pants followed suit, and she knelt to adjust the cuffs and tie his shoes. As she worked, she talked him through each step, her voice calm and soothing.

The transformation was astonishing. Gone was the scruffy street kid, replaced by a handsome young man who looked like he had stepped out of a magazine. As she would brush out his hair and fix it for him, apply a little bit of makeup for him, just a little in the right places, he was a handsome person, under all the bruises, dirt and madness he unleashes, she just needed to bring it out of him.

When she was done, dressing him, cleaning him and brushing him she stepped back to admire her work, her own heart fluttering in her chest. "You look incredible." She said, her voice softer than she had intended.

[whirling-fangs]

Inosuke may be abnormally tolerant to pain, but the Hashira knew exactly where to press to make it hurt. A yelp escaped the rowdy one's lips, his jaw instinctively snapping as it to make himself look more threatening.

"The fuck you think you're doing?! Stop touching me! I'll chew your fingers o- OW!"

His teeth only missed the Hashira's hand by mere inches this time. Fortunately for both, Sanemi had already walked away, his point made rather clear.

If they were to leave on a mission right away, Inosuke would be nothing but a hindrance. He couldn't risk making a fool of himself in front of his newfound mentor, by showing up to their first fight with only half his available strength.

"I'm not gonna need any saving!" Inosuke barked, his traits once more disappearing under the comforting familiarity of the boar hide, as he hurried after Sanemi. "I'd rather get eaten than get rescued! Especially if your way of rescuing is anything like that dead-fish eyes Hashira, and I end up tied to a tree again!"

Yet another thing they had in common: a certain distrust for the Water Hashira.

Sanemi sat up, staring down at the mask with a raised nostril, blinking a few times while Inosuke celebrated. The Wind Hashira raised a brow, looking at the kid with the amount of bruises all over him. The kid wanted to learn from him and Sanemi tested him to the fullest, after all he has been a Hashira for years with no successor. So, he can take Shinobu's anger about roughing the kid up, he does not go easy.

Though the loudness of his voice was giving Sanemi quite the headache, but he'll let the brat get some confidence from this brawl. Not too much of course, and he took the brat by the arm and pressed a calloused finger into a bruise so the pain can settle into his body. "You feel that? That means you'll be useless against a demon if one gets you on that exact same spot, and I'm not planning on saving your sorry ass."

Of course, Sanemi would save the brat, every. single. slayer comes back to the Corps alive while on a mission with him. He's seen too much death to allow anyone to die while he can avoid it.

"And here too," he presses another finger hard into another bruise so the pain is noticed by the brat. "We'll kill a bunch of demons tomorrow. Kagaya-sama sends me on missions a lot more, so you'll be accompanying me from now on." This way he can see how the brat does on his own, with his swords, against actual enemies. "Hurry up and follow me." Sanemi wastes no time tossing the mask to the brat, letting him go, as he walks towards his estate. He had replaced his strength training area after he broke down every wood pillar.

[whirling-fangs]

Even with the hide covering his traits, it was easy to tell that a large grin stretched across Inosuke's face.

"I will share them with you ... if show yourself worthy of them, my underling! First you'll have to catch a bug that's bigger than thumb!"

"Of course I can do anything! I'm the King of the Mountain! If I didn't know where to find the tastiest bugs, I would've never survived that long all on my own!"

He motioned for her to follow him, and led the way with an excited spring in his step. She was the only one who didn't judge him for his lifestyle, and he was extremely thankful.

"well, duh!" nezuko giggles in agreement; tanjiro told her not to eat bugs, but you could say inosuke is a bad influence on her.

she's excited to be hanging out with him on her own, her hands are shaking rapidly in anticipation. "you better share them with me!"

getting to see inosuke lift huge rocks.... oh, she's excited now. "woah! you're so strong, inosuke!!!! you can do anything, can't you?"

[whirling-fangs]

Never before had Inosuke laid his heart out bare to anyone else. It wasn't that he didn't want to, no - he simply never had the chance to do so.

What interactions he'd had with human beings had rarely gone beyond a few shouted words. Vehement rejection from people who considered him an intruder, a nuisance, another wild beast to hunt or chase off of their territory. It was exactly what Inosuke wanted, of course... yet in the most recent occurences, he had noticed a strange twinge of pain tugging at his chest.

He could not rely on words to properly convey the warmth that filled his chest. Inosuke had never been taught to recognize or understand his own feelings, but the wilderness wasn't entirely devoid of affection. Using his own means, he would find a way to let her know exactly how he felt.

How much he inconditionally cared for her.

He would return after a short while, having left the boar hide on the ground by the campfire. That alone was a proof of trust, his only and most precious belonging left in her care. His arms were loaded with enough wood and rocks to last three days, his eyes visibly redder than they were before - yet his smile had never been brighter.

"Look! I found a stone so smooth, it feels like touching the skin on a baby deer!" He exclaimed, dumping his treasure to bring the stone over to her. "Touch it!"

Emerald eyes sparkled with unbridled joy, locked on her face to better observe her reaction. A way to train his ability to recognize emotions.

Mortem watched his reaction closely, knowing this may just be new territory for him. Would he be angry? Would he reject her words? Would he continue to be honest with her? She had no way to predict, for this child was rather unpredictable on most days. But that's what he was, a child. One lost to the forest, like she had been. Though she had her mother for a time, most of what she learned was on her own. That was normal for her kind, though a little more extreme in her household - with a mother that always looked to faraway places. Mortem was never wholly upset by it, she understood the ways of seers... but it also made her focus so much more on the present.

On the young face in front of her now. He was young, he knew so much about specific things and so little about everything else. He was strong in all the ways that have allowed him to survive, but he was weak to all the ways that breathed life into survival. Truly... how long had he been alone out here?

She watched as he reacted, pressing his fingers against his eyes. But she saw it. The water, the instant reaction to her words. He was an honest sort that way, even when he tried to deny the emotions that arose. It told her everything and... she felt relieved. He wasn't upset or angry. He felt it, too.

His words made her heart ache in a way it has never before. Acceptance. It was strange, normally she vehemently rejected familial bonds but here she was. Here they were.

Mortem's eyes widened gently as he bonked her shoulder with his head. He caught her off-guard, enough to let her control slip. Her soft expression revealed one that needed this, too. That cared.

As he ran off, she turned to the campfire, "More food! I'll get started." She echoed, finding her own heart fragile to the reality of their bond. She did exactly as he did, pressed her fingers against her eyes and then moved over to begin prepping more food. It was a cause for a celebration, after-all. They were a pack, officially.

"Find some smooth rocks, while you're at it!" She called to him. Before, she passively kept an ear out for him. Now, she found herself actively paying attention. Always trying to keep tabs on him. To ensure he was safe. Funny how this little boar boy snuck his way in.

[whirling-fangs]

For a split second, Inosuke didn't quite realize what he had just achieved. Part of him had moved with the certainty that he would fail, his brain already preparing another counter-attack, another emergency change of plans.

It wasn't until he was grabbed by the back of his hide that it hit him : he had knocked a Hashira into the ground.

"Hah.... hahahahaha!! I did it!" Inosuke guffawed, pride dripping from every word that he pronounced. "I defeated a Hashira! I'm basically unbeatable now!"

He slipped out of Sanemi's grip with a quick pull, which left the Hashira holding nothing but the empty boar hide while Inosuke leapt to his feet. A gigantic smirk stretched across his features, the crazed expression greatly contrasting with his delicate traits.

"Then let's get down to it right away, scar face! If you teach me everything you know, maybe I'll call you scar boss! No, scar teach! And when we're done with the first lesson, we'll go kill a bunch of demons tonight!"

He spoke as if his body wasn't already battered and bruised from their brawl. For once, and perhaps for the first time in his life, he was excited to do exactly as a human told him to.

"Tch, you cocky little bastard! As if you have--"

Sanemi was mid-kick when the brat grabbed his ankle, surprised as he doesn't land properly. Shame it wasn't his real face, Sanemi got a good kick to the snout of that mask. Eyes widen as he feels himself falling back, purple irises shrinking as his back hits the ground. A grunt escaping him, the wind knocking out of him as he immediately goes to get back up.

Though he's thwarted by the weight of the boar brat working hard to pin him down. No matter what he gets held down and locked, not allowing the Hashira a moment of weakness to escape. Whether using his upper body strength, Inosuke pinned it. Lower body, he has it pinned. Sanemi wasn't making it easy, even trying to lock an arm around his neck in a chokehold, the brat is just too slippery.

He can't go back on the deal, though he truly didn't expect to get bested by the brat. He's gone this many years without a tsuguko, never wanting one or seeing anyone worthy. Deep breaths escape, slamming his head to the floor with annoyance.

Reaching for the scruff of the brat's neck, he uses every muscle in his body to peel him off of him. "Alright, fine. Deal is a deal, I'll train you."

[whirling-fangs]

The passage of time had long escaped Inosuke's notice. The years all resembled each other, an endless string of seasons, of sunrises and sunsets. Old habits had taken little time to return, the nomadic lifestyle forcing him to exploit every ounce of survival skill that he had learnt since his childhood.

He had survived, yes, but the cost of that life was painted all over his frame. His musculature remained lean, but his joints betrayed his malnutrition, skin wrapping around his wrists and ankles, ribs showing above his narrow waist. Old wounds left to fester had turned into nasty scars, his furs clinging to the freshest of them.

Feverish dreams ravaged his body for days. His eyes rolled under the eyelids, his frame shaken by spasms, fingers twitching and lips twisting in discomfort. He looked on the verge of death.

Little by little, cold rag after cold rag, a human being emerged from the near-corpse. Layers of grime gave way to skin, disheveled locks parted to reveal an all too familiar face. His traits had grown a little sharped, his emaciated cheeks helping, but they remained recognizable.

This was her Inosuke.

The night was still young when his eyelids twitched again. They opened with great difficulty, like a door to a dungeon that hadn't been visited in centuries. Emerald eyes took in his surroundings, lifeless for a few moments, while his brain process the sensations that it was receiving.

Bed. Mattress. Blanket. Bandages. Familiar touches. Disinfectant. Food. Flowers. Familiar smells.

White robes. Long hair. Butterfly clips...

Inosuke's heart skipped a beat. His lips parted open, but his throat couldn't make a sound. How many months had it been since he had last spoken up? How many years?

And even if he could speak... was there anything he could say to her that wouldn't make her throw him right back outside?

years passed, and she still waited. she always would, because she promised. she still remembered his green eyes and pale skin, framed by dark hair and blue streaks. she still remembered. she still longed. perhaps she always would, until she was an old lady, still gathering plants to take care of new generations, one day telling a story of her love that got away once upon a time. how beautiful he was, and how strong, how agile. how she knew he would one day become a hashira of the beast, rising in ranks.

but alas. he was too strong and too wild to be held back, too relentless to be tied down.

"Will you wait for me?"

The words echoed through her mind, as clear as they were the day he asked it of her and she swore on all that was holy that she would. always and forever, even if she had to grow old and die alone. there was no one else there for her, not now, not then and not another 10 years from now.

10 years. 10 years have passed, and yet she hadn't thought he could be dead, not even for a second. her inosuke, her strength. he would, one day, come back.

and the day came when she least expected it, when her mind was busy counting strands of plants she was picking, trying to sort them. half to use now and half to dry for winter and the seasons when it didn't grow. the fruit colored her fingertips pale pink, and she rubbed them together in an attempt to rid herself of the texture. she didn't want it to taint next batch of plants she planned to pick.

the rustling was what got her attention, and then a frame, so frail she didn't recognize him at all. not until she saw the hide, not until he fell forward and remained unmoving. she bolted, herbs scattering from where she gathered them in her apron. hours of work - lost... but she had to get to him, immediately. desperately.

the next few days were a blur of healing and examinations, stitching and making endless salves- and not leaving his side, not for a moment. having raised to the position of head nurse, Aoi was listened to and respected and the little ones took over her jobs as she remained in his room, not even leaving to eat or sleep. she couldn't. as if frightened that he'd wake up and slip through her fingers again, evaporating into a wisp of blue smoke smelling of her food and wilderness.

she couldn't risk it.

reaching out, she caressed his face gently, pleased to see some pinkness returning to his sunken cheeks. he was so skinny, but she'd fix that. she would make him all his favorite foods, make sure he doesn't go hungry ever again. she felt a nudge into her foot and she looked down into a small boar headbutting her. Chibisuke had slowed down over the years as old age caught up on him. but he still remained small, a dwarf piggy. he remained, he still stole food and made Aoi laugh. he kept her going through missing Inosuke.

She looked over at the man again, adjusting the covers around his middle. "Don't you worry, Chibisuke. You wait and see. He'll awake. He'll come back to us."

[whirling-fangs]

Something broke inside his chest. He felt it crack and split into piece, like it had been struck with a hammer. A storm of feelings wreaked havoc under his ribs, his throat tightening, the air struggling to find its way to his lungs.

His very first heartbreak.

"Your... family..."

He had seen but glimpses of it, back when he had followed her through the well. That bustling, intimidating world was where she belonged. There were people there waiting for her, an entire life that she was supposed to be living. A life that she could not abandon for the sake of one wild boar child.

He didn't immediately notice when the tears started streaming down his face. Their warm touch had him twitch, his eyes shooting upwards to check the roof for a leak. Why was his vision so blurry all of a sudden? Why did his nose itch like he had caught a cold?

"I... I like all those people, but... they're not you..."

He knew nothing else but to be candid. To speak the entire truth, to voice the few feelings that he could identify inside the whirling storm.

He could have tried to reason her. To bargain with her, to plead her to stay, to cry some more until her heart broke for him as well - yet none of these options even brushed his mind. He understood her better than he'd even understood a human being. She had made her decision, and he would respect it.

As much as it tore him apart.

"You... you watch out for big yokai, alright? You know how to kill them now. If anyone ever bothers you, or doesn't show you any respect, you know what to do! You show 'em who's boss! Remember that, alright?"

His voice broke along the end of his sentence. His frame shook with heavy sobs, tears running down her palm as she reached to touch his cheek. He leaned into her caress as would a cat, a wide smile curling at his lips.

"I'm gonna be fine. The old granny's tempura will give me all the strength I need. I'll be strong... and brave... so my underling will respect me! And I bet I can find even more! So you can go home... and not worry about me!"

Haruko clasped her lips together as Inosuke's confusion became more and more obvious on his face -- no, he wasn't confused, he understood something was wrong, and it made it all the more difficult. When she felt his grip shaking onto her fingers, her chest got stabbed by a fit of regret.

"Oh, Inosuke!"

She took both his hands in hers and pressed them against her chest as she shuffled closer to the boar-boy, turning to fully face him and doing her best to keep her tone firm -- but failing right away, her voice shaken by guilt.

"I... I wish I didn't. I truly, truly do. But I must go back home," she finally managed to say, tightening her grip on Inosuke's hands. "My family will be back at some point-- Or maybe they already are, and if they don't find me they'll worry, and..."

She took in a sharp breath, staring into Inosuke's eyes, praying he'd understand. More than anything, she prayed he understood how much she wished she didn't have to leave him behind.

"I feel terrible. I wish I didn't have to go, I really do. I know I'll miss you lots. But at the same time..." She forced a smile on her lips and her hand reached over to his cheek. "I'm sure you'll do great from now on. I'm certain of it."

Was it mean to say so? But it was true. He had grown so much and all he needed was a little bit of trust from one person. Now... Now he had a whole village who trusted him. He was way richer than when she first met him, and way less lonely, too.

"You have so many friends. A whole village who appreciates you and cares for you and will support you," she said. "And you have the old lady, as well, who is happy to cook tempura for you whenever you visit her. You won't be alone. You have Shin, too! He will have to grow up to be a strong warrior for his family, and you gotta help him with that, right? Teach him to be strong and brave just like you are," she said, thumb gently brushing his cheek.

"I... I wish I could stick around and see all of this. Because I'm certain it will happen, even if I won't be there," she stammered, feeling her eyes getting bleary. "But I can't. And I'm sorry. I just hope you understand... Please, don't be mad. I truly wouldn't leave if I could avoid it."

[whirling-fangs]

A thousand questions rushed through the teen's mind, his lips wide open in a flabbergasted gasp. He was such an obvious choice, yet his mind had refused to consider him as a candidate. Never had he imagined himself to stand by her side as an equal.

Was it because he owed her a lifelong debt, for getting him out of the slums and offering him another chance at life, here, in this school? Or was his perception so warped that he failed to realize what he was in her eyes - not a lackey, not a hindrance, but a real friend that she could rely on?

His cheeks had taken a shade of red so vibrant that it rivaled her eyes, bright enough that it was visible across his pale cheeks despite the faint lighting.

"A couple..." He repeated, allowing the idea to dance inside his mind for a few extra seconds. He chased it off with a shake of his head, urging his thoughts to focus back on what mattered.

"R-right. We'll dazzle them so much that they'll realize we're the only logical choices! We'll show them that we're a great team, a much better team than that scar-face and his bunch of worthless followers!"

As she moved out of the way, her hand placed on his shoulder, Kiba caught a glimpse of himself in the full-body mirror. She, a creature from another world, her perfect frame so delicately emphasized by the gorgeous dress. He, a disheveled, wild creature, the face of a top model plastered on a lightweight boxer's body.

If he showed up like this, he would jeopardize their entire plan.

"Before we go... Can you... make me look better?"

He needed a full makeover, his hair combed and smoothed, his clothes ironed and spruced up with an elegant tie, his features cleared up and highlighted with mere hints of makeup. He was a rough diamond waiting to be polished by her expert hands.

Kiba's voice was high pitched and incredulous, it brought a small smile to her lips as she stared at herself for the moment and waited, it seemed to take a little big longer than most, for the gears to begin to turn in his head and for him to piece things together. She turned to look at him in the mirror with a smirk.

"Yes, you, Kiba. Who else would I ask?"

Her chuckle was like a bell, ringing sweetly through the room as she lit a cigarette with the elegance of a seasoned smoker. The end glowed like a miniature sun in the dim light of her room, casting a warm glow over her features. She took a deep drag, watching the smoke dance around her like a lover's caress.

He was the only person she fully trusted.

She took a drag on her cigarette, watching him in the mirror. "You're the only one I can trust, Kiba. Plus, it'll keep people guessing. They'll think we're a couple, and it'll drive the competition crazy."

Her smoky laugh filled the room, and she could see the blush rising to his cheeks. He had never been one for the spotlight, but she knew he was more than capable of holding his own. After all, he had always been her rock, the one person who had never judged her for who she was or what she wanted to become.

As he was the only friend she had …

That was by choice, everyone else got on her nerves, annoyed her as well, bugged her to no end, she had idiots all around her, always, she had no time for them, like she was cursed again, almost to live and repeat to have a bunch of running fools who cannot even do the most simple of tasks that she would ask from them, but he was different.

With a flick of her hair and a wink in the mirror, she turned to face him. "Come on, Kiba. You're going to be the most charming prom king this school has ever seen."

He was going to be her date. Her. The girl he had always had feelings for, even before the transformation. But she had never seen him that way, had she? Her eyes closed for a moment as she held her head down and would fix up her hair and then run her hands down her sides to tidy up her dress.

When she was done, she stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You can do this easily, and you will. Trust me, Kiba. You'll be perfect."

[whirling-fangs]

Inosuke had spent the better part of his life fighting for his own survival. Years upon years of a life amongst the wild beasts, the raging elements and the harsh realities of a lone existence had prepared him for the worst battles.

Except for a battle of wits.

"HAAAAAH?! Who are you calling a kid?! I'm a fully grown boar! And if my voice is such a weakness to you, then I'll just keep talking! I'll talk and talk 'til your head falls off, you dumb piece of trash! You should've kept YOUR mouth shut!"

Convinced that he had found a fatal flaw in the demon's defense, Inosuke adjusted his stance. He may be wearing nothing but the lower half of a uniform, yet his demeanor betrayed reflexes that he shared with the rest of his fellow Corps members. The focus of his breathing, muscles tensing, preparing a Breathing art unique to this odd specimen.

"If whining is all you can do, then you don't stand a chance, you worm. I'm the great King of the Mountain!"

He dashed forward, his stance kept low until his arms exploded upwards. Second Fang. A slash of each blade in opposite motions, drawing a large X into his enemy's chest.

▒ ANSWERED ᴹᴱᴹᴱ ! "Keep pushing, and you'll regret it." ➳ @whirling-fangs

What an ill-mannered, ARROGANT brat. Expression quick to sour, as if she wasn't the instigator ━━ callous in her mockery, looking down upon him with an air of superiority. Oh will she now? This boarish kid should learn manners.

“  I doubt it. ” What little INTENSITY he held in his presence despite his BARK, no uniform to indicator the boy was qualified to fight let alone slay a demon. Nothing but those weapons of his. Those would be dangerous in the right hands. Instead, all Laura see's is a loud-mouth child wearing a stupid carcass. It's giving her a headache, it's entirely ridiculous. “  What? Will you cut my head off? Will you kill me? What a farce. Your voice is going to make my ears bleed. ”

The cracking of her fingers with each, irritated flex. She looks the boy up and down in distain. “  So quiet down. A kid like you such learn your place. ”

[whirling-fangs]

Kiba knew no such pessimism. His energy was boundless, and when he put it into a project that he was passionate about, he became virutally unstoppable. As long as his body was fueled with the occasional snack and a rare nap, he could keep going for days without a proper break.

He watched her fingers curl around his own, her heartfelt words streaming straight into his heart. He felt it flip and dance around inside his chest, like it was floating on a little cloud, his ribcage filled with a thousand fluttering butterflies.

"Y-you don't have to thank me!" He stuttered, his body frozen in place. "I'm just happy to help you make your dreams come true!"

The touch of her palm against his own was almost unreal. He had always felt an immense loyalty for the only person in this school to have ever looked his way, but ever since the curse had changed her, so had his feelings. It wasn't about her appearance, no, probably not just that... It was her unabated confidence that truly made Kiba's heart beat faster.

Being raised on the streets had made Kiba into quite the reliable addressbook. He had no issues finding some motivated band players amongst the bar-goers, some decorations from the bars themselves, and enough alcohol to make a boat float on top.

His biggest pride came inside a box, in the shape of several dozen plastic cards. Fake IDs for every single student in the school, a gift from their future Queen and President.

The students would be making unforgettable memories until sunrise.

Kiba stood behind her, his own attire made to remain conspicuous. He had exceptionnaly traded his uniform shirt for a clean one, and his hair was devoid of little leaves or branches. Even his nails looked about clean, for the first time in a decade and a half. Just enough to belong amongst the party goers, pulling strings from the shadow to make this evening magical.

The dress had probably been the hardest part of all the planning, and had required the input of many a lady amongst his crew. The result was so spectacular that it utterly took Kiba's breath away, so much that when she spoke to him, his poor brains were too fried to understand her whole sentence.

"Right... it won't look good if you walk in there alone... oh, I could ask at that bar, I think some famous people go..."

His sentence died in his throat. Click, clack, went the gears of his mind.

"Wait. You mean ME?!"

The high five was met with a smack that echoed through the room, and she couldn't help but laugh at Kiba's unbridled enthusiasm. It was contagious, and she found herself getting more and more excited about the prospect of being prom queen. For a moment, she let herself get lost in the fantasy of it all. The crown, the dress, the way everyone would look at her with a mix of awe and envy.

This was all going well, too well? She was waiting now for the penny to drop, for something bad to happen, because something bad always happens, someone always manages to ruin what she has planned, but as of right now, there was nothing, she knew that she was on the verge of greatness here.

But she also knew that it was about more than that. This was her chance to make a real change in the school, to show everyone that she wasn't just some quiet nerd in the background. With Kiba by her side, she had the power to do something big, something that would make her mark on the school forever.

So, she laced her fingers through his and gave them a firm squeeze. "Thank you, Kiba. I couldn't do this without you."

As she would nod her head at him and begin to get to work.

They spent hours planning, her mind a whirlwind of creativity and strategy, his a toolbox of connections and chaos. They were a perfect pair, each bringing something unique to the table. And as she sat there, her hand still intertwined with his, she couldn't help but feel a strange warmth spread through her. It was more than friendship, it was something deeper, something she had never felt before.

The days leading up to the prom were a blur of activity. She had to balance her schoolwork, her campaign, and the meticulous planning of the prom event. She had never been so busy in her life, but she thrived on the challenge. Every time she felt overwhelmed, she would look at her poster-covered walls and remind herself of what she was fighting for.

The night of the prom finally arrived, and she stood in front of her mirror, admiring the stunning dress Kiba had picked out for her and delivered. It was a deep blue that made her eyes pop, and it hugged her new, curvy figure in all the right places. She felt like a million bucks. As she stared and narrowed her eyes, something was missing, something had slipped her mind, something important, prom queen .. it needed a prom king.

“Kiba, I have something to ask for you, I never put thought into it, but I need someone to be my date for this event.”

[whirling-fangs]

It was only one guy standing between her and her destiny. The seat of student president was her birthright, and so was the title of prom queen, yet to earn the second wouldn't necessarily win her the first.

Not if that disgusting worm stood by her side on the prom crowning stage.

"Then we'll have to make sure he doesn't get to be prom king either. We'll have someone steal the title from him, and make sure you're the only one in the spotlight!"

Kiba had never cared much for his own appearance, and it showed. His perpetually disheveled hair danced lazily with each of his motions, his pale face often hidden from view, his uniform torn and ever stained with grime and dried blood. Yet under the rough shell, hid a hidden gem that begged to be polished.

Had he been hit with the same curse as his friend, no one would have been able to see a difference. Such was the extent of his raw beauty.

He was utterly unaware of it, of course.

"I'll also get some booze. All these idiots will forget about their shitty morals once they've had enough drinks. They'll realize that being nice is fucking lame, and that they should vote for someone who'll bring a real change! Someone who's not afraid of showing them just how much better she is than all of them! A real model!"

He followed her motions across the room, almost as if they were sharing a dance. Excitement bubbled in his chest, the party already shaping up in his mind, with her utter victory at the end of it. He held out a hand with the palm facing her, a high five to seal their plan, a bright and charming smile stretching from ear to ear.

"It's gonna be fucking awesome!"

She remained still for the moment as she leaned forward and stared at the photo of her last rival, the prom king hopeful and school president dreamer, with a contemplative look on her face. Her hands found their way to her hips, one thumb rubbing the edge of her thumb ring, a nervous habit she hadn't had before. It was a peculiar sensation, feeling so... exposed, in a way she never had as a guy. But she had to admit, it was also a bit exhilarating.

The prom was also only a week away, and she knew that if she could win over the hearts of the student body as prom queen, the path to the presidency would be a cakewalk. But this boy was a challenge. He had a reputation for being kind and charming, and he had a following that was just as devoted as hers was growing to be. She needed to find a way to outshine him, to show everyone that she was the better candidate.

Her crimson eyes narrowed as she studied the photo of her rival. He was handsome, no doubt about it, but she had something he didn't. She had the element of surprise, she had transformed into someone completely new and captivating. It was time to play to her strengths.

Her mind raced with ideas, thinking of ways she could win over the student body. She knew that she had to be more than just a pretty face. She had to show them that she was capable, that she had substance, and that she truly cared about their needs and concerns.

She turned to Kiba, her expression determined. "We need to throw the biggest and best prom event this school has ever seen. Something that will have everyone talking about me for days. It has to be perfect."

As she nudged him, her mind already racing with ideas. They had always been a great team, and she knew that together they could pull off something amazing. "You have to use your connections you have.” She began, a mischievous glint in her eye. "You have to get us the best band, the best decorations, and even some fireworks if you can."

As she would spin around for the moment, give the people what they want, and they will give her what she wants. “We'll throw a prom that's so amazing, no one will be able to forget it. And when the time comes to vote for school president, they'll remember the night I gave them magic and vote for the queen who can bring more of it to their lives."

[whirling-fangs]

What memories of the past remained within Kiba's mind had been carefully selected. Some were intact, others were twisted to fit the storyline that had been chosen for him. Old instincts disconnected from new memories, leaving the young demon at a loss.

He had never answered to a Lord before, yet he could no longer imagine his life without one. A figure to look up to, to adore and fear, to revere and envy. An almighty figure, a goal to reach, someone he wanted to equal... but one he would never, ever surpass.

He was unable to even dream of it.

"... no. I'm not patient. And I don't have any damn mercy for these pathetic worms!" The thought infuriated him so much, for a moment he forgot who he was addressing. His eyes burnt with a wild fire, as they glared into the progenitor's crimson gaze. "I'll make them regret the way they treated me! I'll look them straight in the eye as I rip their guts out, and make sure they recognize me!"

Pain shot through his skull, his hands reaching up to squeeze at his own skull, clawed fingers digging into scalp. The demonic curse was allowing him a glimpse of old images, like a prophecy for him to follow. Faces that looked less blurry that the rest, crooked smiles, no doubt fake and mocking. A woman... a uniform with golden buttons.

"I... I know... which one I have to kill first. I want- no, I... I will devour her, and everyone she holds dear!"

His head snapped back, claws digging into a socket to pluck out one of his own eyeballs. He would hold it out for Muzan to take, only remembering to lower his head in respect after a few seconds of insistent staring.

"I'll come back to collect it when I'm done. You won't see it turn to dust."

Sculpted in stone, the progenitor’s countenance remained unmoved by such bold proclamations, his implacable gaze regarding the other with suffocating and paralyzing intensity. Words of such kind were neither the first, nor would be they be last to be uttered by a young demon. The eagerness of fledglings was often a delusive thing, their promises of greatness fueled by the newly-acquired power that thrummed with a viciousness through their entire being. But their pledges were commonly of the ingratiating sort and their ambitions were fleeting—- their worth, in the end, reduced to that of serving as mere experiments to the demon lord. Disposable. Only a few managed to prove themselves capable of rising to something worth a glimmer of Kibutsuji's attention, of carving a place for themselves in the progenitor's brutal hierarchy.

Kiba's place within that unforgiving system was yet to be determined.

❛ Devour them all? Then begin.  ❜ Commonplace callousness swirled in his voice, words cutting with a commanding edge. ❛ You speak of remarkable achievements, yet you are still crawling—- scavenging the remains of the insignificant. 'Want' is a pitiful word. The weak want. The dying beg. You are expected to rise above that, to prove yourself of value to me.  ❜ This one had not delayed his hunger, having instead eaten to his heart's content. Yet, his prey of choice were often the powerless—- the bottom strata of what the demon slayer corps had to offer. The number of victims was of no consequence or merit, when their identities were of no relevance. It was time he aimed much higher, to grow stronger than he was now.

❛ You have begun to stall. Is this what your anger amounts to? Is it patient? Is it merciful? It should be neither. As you've stated, the slayers turned their backs on you, they discarded you without a second thought.  ❜ Subtle venom laced the words, akin to a snake whispering into his ear, apealing to the mind Kibutsuji had so carefully tampered with. Human memories were such a feeble thing, after all. They were guided by emotions—- so easily manipulable.  ❛ Words hold no weight unless they are followed by action. When your hands are soaked in the blood of the pillars and your gut is heavy with their entrails—- only then will you be entitled to more.  ❜

[whirling-fangs]

Clawed fingers wrapped around the man's throat. They squeezed a little tighter with each passing second, preventing any air from travelling to the man's lungs.

"You think you're being funny?"

The demon population had grown to cover the entire world. They hid in the shadows, they hunted at night, preying on the weak and the helpless. Literal monsters lurking where the light could not reach, some evolving to the point where they could walk amongst the humans, don their clothes, mingle with their daily lives. Infilitrate their families, steal their hearts, until said hearts were ripe for the picking.

Yet the biggest scumbag on Earth was human.

A vein popped across Kiba's forehead. His limbs easily tore through his binds, every muscle pulled across his body as he lunged at the man, knocking him against the fridges that surrounded them from all sides. One hand still clapsed around the man's neck, his other hand lashing out to slice across the man's stomach. It plunged into the opening and pulled, pulled and pulled on the string of entrails that unfolded like a ribbon.

He broke the man's jaw with a quick pull, claws shredding through the man's tongue, grabbing the entire chin to force it open. Entrails shoved down the man's throat, to make a knot of his own guts, to feed him his own putrid flesh. Shit eating shit.

"You thought you could use me?! Fuck around with my flesh, like I'm just some sort of cash-grabbing toy to you? Well guess what? You're not the only one who likes fucking around. And I've always loved playing with my food!"

He would keep an entire fist shoved down the bastard's throat, his other hand plucking a fresh eyeball from its socket. Call it an appetizer.

An unpleasant buzz tickled at Kiba's stomach as he swallowed, reminding him of the foreign body within his own chest. A quick jab of his claws through his own torso, and the slimey phone was pulled out.

"Oh. You forgot this."

Good thing he'd already opened a pocket inside the scumbag's own gut. He shoved the phone where the entrails should have been, and opened the door to the next fridge, keeping the man pinned in place while he threw the boxes to the ground. The bastard should fit in there just fine.

He'd only have to fold him in two.

Snap, went the butcher's spine, as Kiba tugged on his neck to make his skull touch his ankles. Now he'd be a perfect fit inside the freezer.

The door slammed shut. The cooling system whirred into action, accompanied by the faint buzzing of the phone.

"Have fun freezing to death, asshole. I like my food better when it's fresh, anyway."

That’s right I am also the cities organ harvester and butcher as well, go figures, I’m a lil minx. Teehee.

[whirling-fangs]

As her hand reached for his, slender fingers delicately removing his own calloused digits from her clothes, Kiba could swear he felt his heart skip a few beats. He spent a few extra seconds staring down at his own palm, carving this sensation into his brains.

Her words tore him from his contemplations, and urged him into a strong nod. They had to beat the iron when it was hot, and mold all these idiotic minds into the shape they wanted.

The rest of the day flew by in a blink. They were both working hard, harder than anyone ever had for a position so low on the grand scale of things - but it was merely a beginning. If this curse she had received was meant to last forever, they might as well enjoy its effects to the fullest.

Or was it actually a blessing?

The lighter clicked between Kiba's fingers. He mechanically held out the pack for her to grab a cigarette, for a moment forgetting that she had a status to uphold now.

Her request came as a slight surprise. He was convinced that she could win this without any trouble, but this tactic of hers would give him a crucial role to play. It was the best gift she could have offered him.

"Noted. The less choices they have, the more easily these morons will make the right decision." He chuckled to himself. "You're going to win by a landslide."

Her request would produce some rather spectacular results. Over the course of the following days, three candidates dropped out from the race. An unfortunate girl failed to realize that the mushrooms she had picked for her lunchbox were poisonous, albeit not lethal. She earned a hospital trip and a long bed rest. A third-year student had the misfortune of using a faulty Bunsen burner in chemistry class. Facial surgery, a month away from sunlight to prevent scarring. The last of the fallen did actually fall - into a river on a field trip. Pneumonia would keep him in bed for several weeks.

Kiba drew a large X over the third picture. The pin board she had prepared in her room was looking more promising with each passing day.

"It's all down to the two of you now." He poked at the only other picture that wasn't crossed out. A boy of her age, whose face was half-devoured by a gruesome pattern. Rather than spurring disgust into the highschooler's heart, his illness had made him look more sympathetic, greatly helped by his pleasant, altruistic personality.

"This one's giving me trouble. He's never alone. There's always one or more of his little buddies hanging around, like they're his guard dogs, or something..."

She looked at him and she nodded, smiling at his enthusiasm. The glue was sticky and annoying from her making more posters, but she couldn't deny that it was a small price to pay for the chance to change the school for the better. She had never wanted to be in the spotlight before, but now she craved it. Not for herself, but for the power it would give her to make a real difference. 

"Sounds like things are going my way for once without any issues." She said, gently peeling his hand off her shoulder. "But we can't just sit around and wait. We need to keep pushing, keep getting our name out there."

They spent the rest of the afternoon in a flurry of activity, posting flyers, talking to students, and planning their next moves. She found herself enjoying the rush of campaigning, the thrill of convincing others to believe in her vision. It was like nothing she had ever experienced before, and she was good at it. Really good. 

The other candidates were starting to take notice, their eyes narrowing as she swept through the halls, surrounded by a growing entourage of supporters.

"I knew it." She murmured to herself, a smirk playing on her lips. "This is going to be mine."

The hallways were ablaze with her image, her glamourous posters a stark contrast to the dull grey walls. Everyone talked about the mysterious newcomer with a sharp mind and a kind heart. The whispers grew louder with each passing day, her name on everyone's lips. It was intoxicating, the power she wielded without ever having to say a word.

“Kiba.” She would walk with him. “The other candidates, if some accidents where to happen to several of them, I would be very thankful to whomever, happened to make such a thing happen.”

[whirling-fangs]

The irony wasn't entirely lost on the observant child. A pout tugged at his lips, but it wasn't out of grumpiness, for once - rather out of concern for the man before him.

"You say that, but you never eat with us at the meals... You just take a few bites, and you always look like you're hating it! Aren't you hungry all the time?"

His smile was quick to return, curling at the corners of his lips at the young Lord's offer.

"... okay. I'll ask you next time. But you have to promise that you'll take good care of yourself too! We can have a biiiiig glass of water together, then we can help even more people than usual! I'll help you!"

“of course, but you mustn’t ignore yourself in the wake of caring for others,” dōma gives an understanding smile, “otherwise you’ll be too weak to help them — that would be terrible, right?”

“you know, you could always ask me for food when you’re hungry,” he lightly guides, “no need to be sneaky. you know i care for you, little inosuke.”

“and dehydrated is what happens when you don’t drink enough — which is just as important!”