Seventh Moon

Rengoku Kyojuro: Demon

[This chapter is the longest I've written for this title so far and let me just say that we're almost done with Kyojuro's route. GOOOOOSSSSHH So, I already have a plan about whose route to write next... but uh, maybe you guys would like to request? Or should I just go ahead with who I was planning on? Anyways, I'm very thankful for the kudos and to everyone that gives this little story their time. Truly, thank you so much!]

"I guess I can't really stop you." Yori said as he crossed his arms looking very serious. "Why are you staring at me like that?" He released a deep sigh at that, which reminded me so much of our father. "You're awfully close to Shinjuro's boy. Maybe you two should take Nobu with you." I almost could not believe my ears. "Are you really acting like... like you're my father?"

Yori sighed again and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yukiko-nee. Goodness, it feels so weird to still call you one-san!" I have never been more offended in my life at that moment. "But I am your one-san." "I know that, but look at me. I'm more than fifty years older than you; you look younger than my grandchildren and soon enough my great-grandchildren will be older than you, too. They'll see and experience things you never have and – "

I couldn't stop the tears. This is what my brother was thinking? "You think I don't know anything?" He was right, though. If I wasn't summoned by Oyakata-sama, I wouldn't have left our village. I wouldn't have seen how much the world has changed. And I still don't know what it's like to have a family of my own; a husband and children. I don't know anything. "No, I – that's not what I mean."

"But that's why I'm leaving, Yori. To be human again. So, I could see and experience things. So, that I get to grow older, too." Yori moved, taking both of my hands in his. His hands that were much bigger and looked awfully brittle – like if I squeezed a little his bones would break. The skin loose and wrinkly. Time is such a cruel thing, but I found myself yearning to be this old too someday.

"How long will that take? I'm old. I don't want to die while you are away." The sight of tears flowing from my brother's eyes took me back to when we were children. Yori rarely cries, but when he does... I wrapped my arms around him. After our parents' death, I was so scared that one night I'd wake up and my brothers won't be around anymore. But I have to do this now.

"My blood is needed to find this cure. And I know you're strong, Yori." I leaned back to look at him before continuing. "Yusuke still hasn't forgiven me. I want to talk to him again, and meet his children and their children. I'm sorry but I don't want to wait. I can't wait anymore." A small smile of understanding appeared on my brother's face. "Well, you did spend a very long time just here at home. I'm still not sure about you and that Rengoku boy spending so much time alone."

I hated how small my voice sounded when I replied to him, "there's nothing to worry about." And my brother smirked at that. "Mhm! It's true." He shook his head, "I don't really know him." "You can get to know him! He's with Nobu right now. I'm sure you'll like him. Kyo-kun can be a little loud but he's very kind. He really took his job as a hashira seriously. You know, the mission that we went on didn't have any deaths because of him. He said he'd protect everyone on the train and he did. He said he'd find a way to turn me back into a human and I believe him."

"You like him." It wasn't even a question. "Of course, I like him." I answered without missing a beat and all I got from him was this look. The look he gave his children when they asked for his blessing when they chose their spouses. "I don't like him like that!" I mean, that was a lie, but I felt like I needed to say this to my brother anyway.

"Is that right? I have this feeling that you're lying to me, one-san." I gulped. At that moment, Yori reminded me a lot of father. That stern face of his that would make you confess to everything. "I do like him." I was more surprised by my answer than he was. Is it the experience that he had that made him so sure he was right?