botanical garden [ muzan x reader ]

01: witch hazel

A few dabs of Hamamelis extract, or better known as Witch Hazel.

Hamamelis is great for skin. It reduces inflammation, and tightens pores for better looking skin. It's an antioxidant and controls oil production.

You put it on every morning, particularly the mornings you work with you and your fathers client, Lord Kibutsuji.

A spritz of rose water.

Rose water has anti-inflammatory properties, reducing redness and puffiness. Not only that, it has anti-aging properties since it reduces wrinkles.

Not that that was a concern for you, but it may prevent them in the future.

Lastly, a few drops of hazelnut oil.

Hazelnut oil has lots of vitamin E. It's great for moisturizing, and it's packed with astringents which are powerful antioxidants that remove bacteria, cleanse the skin, and balance health and beauty.

"Y/n, are you finished?" Your father said on the other side of the screen door.

"Just a minute!" You said as you applied your facial powder, adding a lighter complexion to your skin.

You walked out and accompanied your father. "Are you ready, dear?" He asked with a smile.

You nodded your head and linked your arm with his.

Upon arrival, Lord Kibutsuji's servants escorted the two of you into his bedchambers where he laid on a futon, a wet wash cloth on his head to combat a high fever.

Although Lord Kibutsuji was harsh, demanding, and cold, he was still your favorite client.

A blush crept to your cheeks as his plum eyes fell on the two of you approaching him.

His black hair was a bit disheveled, curls in his eyes as his skin was glistening in his sweat that his fever was producing.

Although it was pitiful, he still looked beautiful to you even if he was sick.

His pale and jaded complexion didn't strike you as ugly, and his thin body wasn't sad to see. He was beautiful.

Lord Kibutsuji scoffed at your arrival, leaving a sour feeling within you, but you understood his displeasure with having to see more doctors.

At this point, his detest wasn't a sign of disrespect but rather a sign of exhaustion from failed treatment plans.

You bowed alongside your father.

"Good morning, Kibutsuji-sama. How are you feeling today?" He asked.

You pulled the concoctions out of your fathers case since today was the the first day he'd try a new medicinal remedy to help alleviate his current ongoing symptoms.

Muzan's eyes watched you as you carefully  laid out the vials of liquid.

"The same as when I first saw you. If not worse." He mumbled.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Are there any new symptoms? And which have been worsening?" He asked as he poured the contents of one of the vials of liquid into the hot steaming broth that was on a tray beside Lord Kibutsuji's futon.

"One: I've developed a fever," He pulled his pointer finger out, beginning to count his new and worsening symptoms on his fingers.

"Two: I've noticed I'm dizzier then usual, and three: I can't keep anything I eat down." He said.

You gazed down at him in pity. All you wanted to do was help him feel better.

Butting in, you said "It sounds like you have caught influenza. Yes, the viral infection is often deadly especially in high risk patients, but no worries, father and I have a great remedy that is almost guaranteed to keep those who fall ill from the flu alive."

Your father watched at you explained his herbal medicine, gleaming with pride. He had taught you well.

"This is a traditional herbal medicine my father had learned about during his travels to China. It's called Andrographis, or also known as King of the Bitters. It exerts its anti-microbial—"

"I don't care to hear about it just give it to me." Muzan demanded before he went into a coughing fit, body recoiling at his own violent coughs, causing him a great amount of pain in his chest.

Your eyes widened in concern, quickly slipping your hand behind his back to support him, and adding another on his chest as he his coughs subsided.

Blood was on his hand as he coughed into it. That was a normal symptom of his.

"I'll get you cleaned up, Kibutsuji-sama." You said as you sat up to fetch him a towel.

When you came back, he snatched it out of your hand and said "I can do it myself."

Your father nodded his head in disproval, not liking the way Muzan was talking to you. Lord Kibutsuji was not a client he particularly liked, but oh boy, was his family paying a pretty penny for his experimental treatments.

You flinched as he snatched the towel out of your hand, and small frown fell on your face. Your father furrowed his eyebrows together.

He didn't like to see you hurt, and he knew you fancied Muzan.

"M-My apologies, Kibutsuji-sama. I was just doing my best to help." You bowed your head lowly.

You could see a flash of regret in Muzan's face, but he quickly changed his expression back to his stoic self.

You perked up a bit, smiling at the small shimmer of humanity in Muzan. You knew behind his cold demeanor, a lost and kind hearted soul was somewhere hidden beneath his shell.

At least, that's what you told yourself.

He handed you the towel, avoiding eye contact because deep down Muzan felt a bit bad snapping at you like that.

And he did it often. He snapped at everyone. Compared to the way he treated his family and servants, he treated you like a saint.

He would throw things, yell and threaten his siblings and the household staff on a daily basis. He was just so angry. All of the time.

He was exhausted. He was in unimaginable pain. He was dizzy, nauseous, and parts of his body would go numb for hours on end.

He was in agony.

Who could really blame him for acting out so often?