The One We Couldn't Save

.+* Chapter 15 ~ A Large Turn of Events *+.

PoV: Kanao

"Zenitsu, I can't believe I'm saying this, but you're a genius." Kanao said to the tall blonde who was sat next to her. "I am? I-I mean of course I am-.."  He responded, letting out a nervous chuckle after finishing his sentence. "Mhm." Aoi said from across the room, "Of course you knew. Definitely." Even if Kanao couldn't see, she knew Zenitsu well enough to know he'd stuck his tongue out at Aoi. 

"Anyway, how will we tell the other Hashira about the plan?" Inosuke asked from next to Aoi. Kanao assumed they were cuddling or something, since they sounded so close together. "My question exactly." Zenitsu responded in a mater-of-factly way.

"We could just tell them about how Tanjirou and Nezuko are immune to the sun, meaning their nichirin won't do any significant damage." Aoi suggested. Kanao nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that's probably the simplest." Zenitsu agreed.

"So, how will we convince them to use the cure on Tontoro and Beziko?" Inosuke asked from where he sat. "That I also don't know. Also it's Tanjirou and Nezuko you idiotic boar." Zenitsu said again.

"Why not tell them it's poison? You use poison all the time, Kanao." Senjuro spoke up from the side, Kanao had completely forgotten he was there. "That.. Actually might work!" Aoi added to the conversation, actually sounding happy. Kanao smiled. She liked it when her sister was happy, that made her happy.

"The Great Lord Inosuke agrees with this plan!" Inosuke yelled out, Zenitsu sighing with annoyance. "Well then it is settled, that's our plan. And we will get them back." Kanao said with a slight smile. She was going to hear Tanjirou's voice again. She missed him so much. And even if she couldn't see him, Kanao was happy just at the thought of being near him again. The love of her life.

PoV: Zenitsu

"Zenitsu here will be explaining the plan to each of you, listen carefully for this mission will be deadly." The young Master spoke from the raised patio, the tall blonde stood next to him. "Thank you Master." Zenitsu nodded and stepped forwards.

"Each of you will be given two vials of poison created by Kanao. You are to use them on Uppermoon One and The Demon King." He glanced at Aoi, who nodded, urging him to keep going. He disliked standing up here and talking to everyone with their eyes on him. He wondered how the young Master did it and sympathised with the teen.

"The reason the poison is reserved for those two demons specifically is because both have conquered the sun." Zenitsu braced himself, expecting an outrage but was instead greeting with a ripple of shock passing through the small crowd below him.

"So.. Kanao-San's poison is to kill the two demons?" Kyo asked, "Exactly that." Zenitsu responded. "Uhm, I don't believe there is anything else to discuss… Except that we plan to launch the attack in two weeks. Enough time to prepare and get as many higher ranked slayers involved as possible." The young Master said, keeping his usual smile. "And with that, you are all dismissed." The hashira nodded, quickly dispersing, off to train themselves and younger or less experienced slayers.

Zenitsu entered his estate, yawning. The sun was beginning to set and "public" speaking had taken a toll on him. He opened a window and began getting undressed, slipping on more comfortable clothes in place of his uniform.

PoV: Nezuko

The Uppermoon appeared in the forest in a burst of taffy pink flames. She glanced around, looking for the familiar building. She caught sight of it and rushed over, being careful not to make a sound. Now perched on the windowsill of a foolishly open window, she could see the love of her life getting ready for bed. 

Aww, Dandelion is just so CUTE when he's tired! She thought to herself with a wide grin. When he fell asleep, his guard would be down, then and only then could she carry out her plan. For now, she just had to wait.

After around 30 minutes, she heard light snoring coming from inside the building and she climbed inside, dropping silently and gracefully to the floor. She crept through the hallway, making sure to avoid the creaky floorboards. After coming in to watch her love sleep many times now, she knew exactly where to step. 

She slid open the door and peered inside, and there he was. Beautiful long blonde hair now untied, flowing around his sleeping figure like a golden waterfall of sunlight. She loved him so, so much. That's why tonight she'd make him hers. Forever.

Gently, careful not to wake him, she scooped up the sleeping man who simply grunted. "Hehe, you're so adorable when you sleep, Dandelion!" She giggled, planting a small kiss on his forehead, then a deeper, yet still gentle one on his soft lips.

She walked out the sleeping blonde's estate with no worry of being caught, trotting off into the nearby woods. She came back to the same spot she'd appeared in and disappeared in yet another spurt of rose-tinted flames. The blonde man awoke, startled, and began struggling in her strong grip.

"What the-" She placed a finger on his lips and he looked up, an expression of shock and then pure fear as he realised who was holding him. "Ah, ah, ah~ Stay quiet now Dandelion, we couldn't want anything bad to happen to you, would we now?" She purred down at him, gently brushing a lock of his golden hair away from his face. He shook his head, "Good, then stay quiet."

They were in a different forest now, this one snowy with tall fir trees and a steep ascent into the peak of a mountain. The demon girl chattered happily as she carried the shivering man up the mountain, her haori wrapped around him in her attempt at a blanket. She talked about how they would live together and get married and have children, and how they'd love each other forever and ever and ever.

She eventually reached a small house at one of the lower mountain summits, and quietly entered, placing the man down. She pulled out two sets of metal cuffs and cuffed the man's wrists and ankles. His wrists were held up behind him on a coat hook on the wall. She shoved one cloth into his mouth, and wrapped another around it to keep him quiet.

She smiled at him, getting down to his level and pushing her head into the crook of his neck, kissing and licking around until she felt him shiver and heard him groan. She smirked and whispered into that spot. "You're mine now Dandelion. All mine~"