withinstarrynightskies

[withinstarrynightskies]

"Yes, yes! Now you're getting it!" Seeing Inosuke understand the function of the promoted pawn, pride pools in her chest; it warms up her heart, spreading to the rest of her body and enveloping her in the sweet sensation. It's a familiar feeling, but nontheless, it is an embraced feeling.

"The others, hm..." Nezuko picks up six pieces- a rook, a bishop, a gold general, a silver general, a knight, and a lance- placing them in front of Inosuke for him to read the names of each piece. "Well, you could say that. Each one has their own function. "The rook can go any direction, but in a straight line. The bishop does the same as the rook, but it can only move diagonally. The gold general can move one square in any direction, except for two." They point down two fingers on the bottom-left of the piece, and the bottom-right.

"Meanwhile, the silver general can move any direction, except for left and right, and also behind it. Now, the knight..." Nezuko hums.

How can I explain this...?

"Well, it can move any direction in two squares, but it also has to go a square to the left or right of the direction it moves. It's kinda like how the English letter 'L' works." Hopefully that made sense....

"Now, the Lance can only move forward, but it can move any amount of squared forward. Everything from the silver general to the pawn can be promoted."

@withinstarrynightskies || cont.

Maybe Nezuko was optimistic when trying to teach Inosuke about Shogi; she wasn’t thinking he’d be able to grasp the rules easily, no, but she was thinking there wouldn’t be any eating of the pieces. Apparently, they had too high standards for him. However! More than anything, Nezuko is determined. He will make his classmate learn shogi. For the reason Inosuke wants to learn, she’s not sure- but by the end of the day, she gonna make sure he knows the rules. Their expression turning into a calmer one, the younger person sighs. “This-” Deciding he’ll start with the easiest piece to comprehend, Nezuko picks up the king, showing it to Inosuke. “Is the King. It’s the piece you don’t want captured by the enemy; it can only move one step, but can do it in any direction.”

Inosuke made a mental note to refrain biting at any more pieces. He assumed that this sort of behavior might get him a one-way ticket out of the shogi hall his grandma attended, too.

"The King..." He repeated, with sudden great interest for the piece Nezuko presented him with. "Why can it only move one step? The King should be the strongest piece of all! It should be protecting its minions, not the other way 'round!"

His knowledge of royalty had been rather skewed by his self-appropriation of the "King" title. Inosuke sighed, and made sure to print the character drawn over the piece into his mind.

"There's more than one of those." He noticed, pointing to a pawn. "They've gotta be the weaker minions, right?"

[withinstarrynightskies]

@fallesto [x]

Pity?

"I didn't even know..." Trailing off, Zenitsu cannot help the words dying on his tongue, fading into the thunderstorm of his mind.

Nearby Kaigaku, the violent weather in her is normal- expected, even. The harsh words, biting comments coming their way, although true, hurts. It's a hurt that's become routine, a hurt that's been taken inside of himself.

Upon seeing her brother fall down, she pauses. "Hey-" Wanting to get up, to move over and reach out at an attempt to help him up, he does exactly that, moving over to Kaigaku's side of the bed and trying to help his brother up with his shrunken arms. Under the effort, he huffs and pants, not having the strength he used to.

Curse these limbs and curse the demon who made them like this! Curse them a thousand times over!

"Don't-" They grit out, "-kill yourself! If Kocho-san sees you out of bed, she's gonna kill you!"

A rage way beneath her heart, coming to the surface; the chaotic symphony of anger, directed to a singular person- how scary, how scary! Zenitsu'd rather not see it again.

[withinstarrynightskies]

What is this, a ballroom-?!

She's not taking this seriously. They know. They know she's not taking this seriously, and that she's doing this for fun; that she's acting as if this is a sort of game, that her life isn't in danger.

That Genya isn't to be taken seriously.

"Shut the fuck up!" They snap, lifting their leg to aim a strong kick to one of her knees.

What the-

The corpse disintegrating into smoke, blown away by the air engulfing it.

A Blood Demon Art?!

Of course this wouldn't be that easy- even if they'd shot the demon, the slayer managed to miss the neck; so either way, she'd still be alive.

Where is she now-

Right behind.

Hands on their shoulders, voice echoing from behind Genya-

There!

Without a second thought, a tight grip is encased onto her hand, jaws of the slayer opened wide.

Ready to take a bite.

[withinstarrynightskies]

@zanpakutohotspring x

Masaharu’s no kid.

Despite looking older than they are, he is twenty-three years old, much past the age of adulthood and in the stage where somebody should be taking care of themselves without any help from other people.

It’s what he’s been doing for ten years, ever since he inherited the title of the Kasugai Crow Caretaker. He knows how to think for himself, take care of himself, as well as defend himself.

"'In your way'?" Masaharu echoes, clenching his Wakizaki a bit tighter. Blood coats the weapon- demon blood, the liquid also painting their body. It dyes on their skin, their kimono, their bandages- seeping through the cloth, staining their injured eye, the organ irritated by the liquid touching it. He can smell it, the sickening stench of iron; he can practically taste it, with how much it invades his nose.

I'll need a thorough shower after this.

"We're surrounded. I can't get out of your way unless I decide to walk right into one of their mouths and get eaten."

Is this guy a Slayer?

Probably not. He's not wearing anything close to the uniform.

That makes the situation more complicated, then.

God dammit. If he's not a slayer, then he doesn't know how to kill the demons; if he wants to go hack and slash at them, the demons will know he's not a threat, and then they'll kill him. Masaharu's not in the mood to see a dead body today.

"Just-" They click their tongue. "-stay here, alright? These guys can't be killed through ordinary means, so whatever you wanna do isn't going to help. I'm currently waiting on Tsuki to find something of mine, and once I get that, we'll be home safe."

He's glad he decided to bring that crow on his excursion. With sharp eyes, the bird'll be able to locate his wisteria pouch in no time.

Hopefully, this guy'll do exactly as Masaharu says, and not make his life more difficult than it needs to be.

Hopefully.

The caretaker prays to the gods this situation goes as they want it to.

[withinstarrynightskies]

@thehealerhairpin x

A demon?

Upon seeing this stranger do whatever magic bullshit she just did, that's the first thought running through Masaharu's mind.

If it is, then that's a damn good disguise.

No horns, no narrow pupils, or long teeth... then again, Masaharu's not a Demon Slayer; he doesn't go out on the field like the rest, so he can't exactly say how advanced a demon's disguise can be.

Also, it's night. What're they doing out in the night? One of his crows escaped, so like the stupid idiot he is, he decided to chase it in the dead of night.

Fucking idiot.

All in all, he has no idea how to tell if she's some sorcerer, a demon, or Masaharu's high. Somehow.

As the girl gets up to wave her hands around, the crow caretaker takes a step back, keeping a careful eye on her movements. Just in case she'll do anything, they lay a hand on their Wakizashi- a form of comfort for them, and a warning for her.

It's best to play it safe. Try to not agitate her.

She may seem nice, but then again, demons are deceptive beings. They can act like the nicest person on the planet and have you form the closest bond with them, but still see you as nothing but a food source.

"How did you do that?" He tries his best to phrase it as a question, but he can't help the edge that slips into his words- the slight bit of hostility, pointed to the other person (?). "Healing their wounds so fast, and without any sort of medicine?"

[withinstarrynightskies]

Ugh-

They're all the same!

These self-sacrifcial idiots would rather let themselves be ripped limb to limb then allow their comrades get a scratch on their bodies.

Honestly...

As Aoi hears the squad captain talk, she cannot help the ire that bubbles up in her heart.

"Protecting others is one thing, but sacrificing yourself? You could've died!"

Aoi doesn't know how how many more dead bodies she can see before she's sent over the edge.

"Seriously, one day this behavior of yours will get you killed. How can you expect to protect your comrades if you aren't alive, huh?"

@hirak0s

The smell of blood is something Aoi’s gotten used to.

Iron-like, thick, and heavy; as part of the fourth division, the Soul Reaper’s seen all of it.

Gushing out of faces, pouring out of arms, spurting out of stomachs- she’s seen these things more times than she can count.

After all, living for hundreds of years desensitize someone to these things.

Or, at least, they should.

Sitting next to the hospital bed, blue eyes staring at the bandages on the patient, Aoi resists the urge to throw up; opting to bite her tongue, focusing on the pain of her teeth digging into the flesh, rather than the injuries of the one in front of her.

“You need to be more careful!” She scolds, trying her best not to force the words out, trying her best to not sound guilty.

After all, in that mission, she was the one who was useless- who couldn’t do anything, resulting in these injuries from the other person.

Aoi should be the one who’s more careful- stronger, so something like this doesn’t happen again.

…she hates this job.

“Seriously, what were you thinking- running in like that when you were already injured? Are you reckless or something?!”

[withinstarrynightskies]

Boring, boring, boring.

It's all so boring.

When Nezuko thought she'd finally get some fun, that she's finally be able to stave off the boredom that eats at her skin, gnawing all the way down to her bones and settling themselves there, the promise of delight soon turned out to be a lie, only making the bugs of boredom eat at her bones more.

They chitter and chatting, humming and buzzing and it's taking all of his willpower to not dig into her skin and rip those damn bugs out herself. It's so loud, so concistent that she needs something to make them stop, to make the bugs stop their song, and when he thought he'd finally get the opportunity to make it stop, to make them stop, it was all for naught.

Now, they have to figure something out. Now, they have to walk away with disappointment in their heart, wearing it down heavy and withering it like a burned flower.

She hates it.

They hate it so, so so so so so so much-

The voice of the tiny thing calling out to him is not processed; it's nothing more than the distant chatter of townsfolk, ebbing in and out of his mind, never truly heard and taken in for what it is.

It's only when the fly enters their sight is when they pay attention, when she's so close Nezuko cannot do anything except for turn to the child-shaped being.

Child... shape...

Faraway laughter, hands tugging at her kimono; bright eyes, smiles full of innocence; skin of warmth, clothes of love.

The memories come to him, fuzzy images and hearing all that's taken in; it is the desert of recollections, where if more is grasped, more will only slip through one's fingers.

It's still there, though, the memories, the comfort when takin in the tiny thing.

So, Nezuko's eyes slightly soften, a hum passing through their lips to let the other one know they're listening.

Like a cockroach hit with a slipper multiple times, the attack from both those people doesn’t kill the demon.

Like a cockroach that refuses to die, the attack only proves ineffective to the near-immortal being.

The ashes of Nezuko’s lower body combine together, soon transforming into a pair of legs- then, his midsection, and finally, his head; hair sprouting out from the scalp, gracefully flowing down to the demon’s legs.

Seeing the two people yell at each other- it was more one person yelling at the other- Nezuko blinks, blankly staring at the interaction.

Her friend?

So she’s going to have to fight two people now?

…that’s kind of boring. Nezuko’s bored now. They’ve already gone through this type of situation before- having to fight two people at once- so there’s no point in running through it again.

It was interesting at first- fighting someone with an ability Nezuko didn’t recognize- but now that it’s 2v1, the fight doesn’t really… matter anymore.

So, the demon turns around, starting to exit the scene.

[withinstarrynightskies]

@bruisedbluberries [x]

Dangerous?

The words thrown at Genya’s face are like a sword to the heart.

Dangerous?

It’s been something they’ve been told, time and time again, yet no matter how much it is said, it still hurts all the same.

After all, didn’t Sanemi say the both of them need to take care of the family? Together?

Where did that go? Is Genya just a liability now, to Sanemi? A leech? A parasite?

“I-” The younger stammers, “That you’ll train me. That you’ll let me become a Demon Slayer, and help you for once!”

[withinstarrynightskies]

They could.

They really, really could, but every tutoring session ends with tears on Genya’s end, or they’re simply too prideful to ask for help.

“…sure.”

Shamefully, Genya stares at the test in their older brother's hands.

"...I'm sorry, nii-san..."

Your apologies won't help you to get good grades. We've went over this five times last night, Genya... What don't you understand?

[withinstarrynightskies]

Mm?

Seeing the other demon come down, Nezuoko questioningly hums, head tilting to the side and eyebrows furrowing.

That… was not what she wanted, but perhaps the close proximity will help her understand the other better.

So, they patiently wait for him to come down.

Immediately, when being offered the fruit, Nezuko shakes her head, waving her hand dismissively as a short hum leaves her mouth- happy and short.

He’ll be fine without the fruit- after all, his appetite is already fine with how much he sleeps throughout the day.

…come to think of it, she’s never seen a demon who eats fruit…

With a questioning look on his face, Nezuko points to the tree, a hum leaving them- tone lifting at the end.

[withinstarrynightskies]

@fallesto [x]

Who is he?

White flecks of snow falling into his eyes, Masaharu can only make out blurs of colors for the person in front of him.

They cannot see the way they’re being beckoned to like a dog, or how they’re being lured with a waggle of a finger.

The man can only hear echoes, from the being before him, encouraging the caretaker of crows to a place of safety of warmth.

And so, they follow the sound.

Wisps of noise tickling his ears, driving his feet forward to plant in the snow, Masaharu forces himself to go forward.

They force himself to go towards the promise of warmth.

Even if his body screams at to rest, even if his mind is on the verge of shutting down, the man continues forward.

Step by step, breath by breath.

Once in front of his soon-to-be host, once in front of safety, only then does he allow his body to shut down.

Going limp, they fall to the floor; yet, they do not fall unconscious, for their brain has not yet failed on them.

At least, for enough time for him to catch sight of this stranger’s eyes, an odd inscription atop of it.

Uppermoon two.

A pain, other than the numbing cold, starts to prick at him.

Shit.

[withinstarrynightskies]

To his question, Nezuko giggles; not to be mean, but rather, she’s reminiscing on all the other times she’s been asked that.

Teaching their younger siblings shoji, hearing them ask one after the other why the king’s gotta be the weakest peace… Inosuke’s question remind them of that.

How nostalgic.

“Well,” she starts, “A king cannot exist without his subjects. If he does not have people to rule over, then he is just an average man. He does not learn how to fight, but how to rule, and with learning how to rule his subjects, he can fulfill all their needs and desires. In turn-” A finger is held up. “The subjects, out of appreciation for their king, protect him, so he can continue to please them.”

Looking down at their friend’s finger, Nezuko nods. “Yes,” is their answer. “These are pawns. They can only move forward one square at a time. However, once it moves to the end of the other side…” as they speak, they slide one of the pawns over to Inosuke’s end of the board. “It gets promoted.” They flip the piece over. “Now it’s a stronger minion, which means they can move one space in any direction.” They slide the pawn back to its original space. “Does that make sense?”

@withinstarrynightskies || cont.

Maybe Nezuko was optimistic when trying to teach Inosuke about Shogi; she wasn’t thinking he’d be able to grasp the rules easily, no, but she was thinking there wouldn’t be any eating of the pieces. Apparently, they had too high standards for him. However! More than anything, Nezuko is determined. He will make his classmate learn shogi. For the reason Inosuke wants to learn, she’s not sure- but by the end of the day, she gonna make sure he knows the rules. Their expression turning into a calmer one, the younger person sighs. “This-” Deciding he’ll start with the easiest piece to comprehend, Nezuko picks up the king, showing it to Inosuke. “Is the King. It’s the piece you don’t want captured by the enemy; it can only move one step, but can do it in any direction.”

Inosuke made a mental note to refrain biting at any more pieces. He assumed that this sort of behavior might get him a one-way ticket out of the shogi hall his grandma attended, too.

"The King..." He repeated, with sudden great interest for the piece Nezuko presented him with. "Why can it only move one step? The King should be the strongest piece of all! It should be protecting its minions, not the other way 'round!"

His knowledge of royalty had been rather skewed by his self-appropriation of the "King" title. Inosuke sighed, and made sure to print the character drawn over the piece into his mind.

"There's more than one of those." He noticed, pointing to a pawn. "They've gotta be the weaker minions, right?"

[withinstarrynightskies]

🌺 Send this to ten blogs you think are wonderful. 🌺

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[withinstarrynightskies]

I LOVE U I LOVE U I LOVE U I LOVE U I LOVE U I LOVE U (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) /p

I LOVR YOU TOO I LOVE YOU TOO I LOVE YOU TOO I LOVE YOU TOO I LOVE YOU YOOO!!!! /p

[withinstarrynightskies]

Ah, the cute little giggle from the cute little Nezuko.

Shrine bells swaying to the wind; the comforting heartbeat of another…

Hearing her laugh always manages to cleanse Zenitsu’s brittle heart, providing an extra shield to the organ.

She makes them want to brave the most hellish cold, the most freezing heat.

Oh, beloved Nezuko…!

It doesn’t help she asked if he needed a hug.

Soft words brushing sensitive ears, they feel their muscles jumping against the skin holding it.

Hug?

He stiffens.

HUG?!

“Yes, please!” Zenitsu practically cries, “Your hugs are the best, Nezuko-Chan… they’re the only things that can heal me…!”

“Oh, Nezuko-chan!” The scarred slayer sobs, “It hurts- it hurts so much! I don’t know if I’m able to take it anymore!”

There’s so much pain; it’s as if millions of tiny bugs are sinking their teeth into the slayer’s skin and setting their body ablaze, from the inside out- how awful! How awful is this, for her to have this pain forced upon her?!

“Training was too harsh. Too harsh, I say! Everyone was going at it- it was like a bloodbath out there! And-” He sniffs, “And I got beat to a pulp!”

[withinstarrynightskies]

This time, it takes longer before Nezuko can come up with a response.

The words this stranger speaks are nothing but echoes to the demon, muffled like his own words when he tries to speak.

Eventually, though, they’re able to grab onto the echoes with tight hands, forcing words out of those sounds- understanding coming from the pink-eyed thing.

As a response, Nezuko nods, an affirmative hum coming from her.

A few seconds pass- seconds of processing, translating what the other person is saying into words that Nezuko can understand- and the demon shakes his head, a bit too confident for being in the middle of the forest.

Then, they raise a finger; pointing it to the stranger, a questioning expression on the demon's face- as if asking the same question back.

[withinstarrynightskies]

All that answers the big man is silence.

A deep silence, that stretches on for a long amount of time, Nezuko just blankly staring into her new friend’s helmet holes.

And then, she nods.

The demon excitedly nods, jumping up and down as his hands raise up high, almost… celebrating the fact that his friend got the correct answer.

Good job!, they seem to say, I’m proud of you! You got it right!

With the nodding, also comes humming, her voice muffled by her bamboo!

Good job! Good job! Good job!

As soon as the bigger man guesses, Nezuko freezes; their eyes widening in shock, entire body freezing.

She didn’t explain it clearly…

Soon, the demon’s eyes slide up, head tilting to the side as a long hum leaves her lips; thinking of a way to make this man understand what Nezuko is trying to explain.

Why didn’t he understand it last time? Nezuko most likely explained it wrong… so how would she do it right this time? What gestures should they make? Noises that could emphasize anything?

…all this thinking is frying their brain… the ends of their nerves absolutely damaged by this big brain-

Ah!

Figuring it out, the muzzled one’s fist comes onto her empty palm, a determined look taking his features over.

He then points at the tall man, making a gesture of ‘tall’- his two hands vertically far apart from each other. Then, she points at herself, making that same gesture.