MANGA

SPOILERS

LONG

ONESHOT

~~~~~

"My sun sets to rise again."

—Robert Browning

~~~~~

Such fleeting memories.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

The promised ring that symbolized the eternal bond and love of two beloved glinted on their ring fingers.

"Will you stay by my side forever?"

"Yes!"

The cheers of congratulations and felicitations echoed in their ears.

"They finally reached it."

"We wish you all the blessings!"

Despite the constant risk of being killed, they managed to cling onto life; they never choose death. Lady luck was on their side. They were celebrated by the Demon Slayer Corps as the perfect couple. No sole person is against their relationship and no one ever will. Fate tied them together with its red string.

Often than not, Fate is so sadistic it decided to play with their destinies.

"You're not strong enough," Akaza whispered in her ear.

An ear-piercing scream echoed throughout the field; one that sent shivers down the Flame Pillar's spine. Tanjirou's eyes widen in horror. Crimson blood splattered mercilessly across the grass.

"(Y/N)!" Her vision was darkening at a rapid rate. She forced herself to stay awake despite the pain. The stinging and searing pain spreading in her head like wildfire. She could feel her brain burning, as if someone set a fire in it and her fluids were nothing but gasoline. It continued to deflagrate her nerves. The burning sensation is enough to make her body weak.

Kyojuro brought her trembling body close to him. Blood was streaming down her face to her hands and body. He could hear her tormenting gasps of pain.

"That's what she gets for being weak," said Akaza, an (E/C)-colored eyeball rolling back and forth in his hand.

Kyojuro never felt this angry before. No one had dared to cross the line of his wrath. This is far too much for his kindness and patience to handle. How could someone hurt and berate his fiancee at the same time?

"K-Kyojuro..." she managed to stutter out. "I-I can't see anything."

He kissed her head in attempt to ease her worries. "It's alright."

Kyojuro couldn't contain his anger anymore. He can't take the sight of his lover losing her eye. (E/C) eyes that stared back at him compassionately and full of love.

"(L/N)-san..." muttered Tanjirou, helplessly watching from the side. He wanted to move, but the Fire Pillar's warning had him stuck on the ground.

He watched her search for her Nichirin Blade. She was chanting, "Help, Kyojuro," repetitively like a prayer.

"(L/N)-san!" shouted Tanjirou. She fell down to the ground with a thud. Inosuke immediately went to the Pillar's side. He was so close to her when she was stolen away by someone else.

"Come on, Kyojuro. Pick yourself up," taunt Akaza, holding the unconscious Pillar by the throat. The Fire Pillar was enraged. He gripped his sword, taking a stance. His body was screaming in pain, but he paid no mind. He'll do anything just to bring her to safety.

"Get your filthy hands off her!" he yelled, launching himself at Akaza. The demon smiled, "That's the spirit, Kyojuro! You love her, right?"

Kyojuro couldn't fight at his fullest in the fear of harming her with his attacks. She'll get caught up in their fight; that's an inevitable fact. He just needs the Upper Moon Three to release her.

Akaza was beyond happy at the sudden realization he had. "I'll turn her into a demon so you can be a demon with her!"

Tanjirou and Inosuke saw a drastic change of disposition of the Fire Pillar. He was very angry. Just looking at the dark expression on his visage left chills down in Tanjirou. It was very contrasting at the heavy warning he gave to him earlier. Kyojuro and Akaza were almost on par with each other. That is, until Akaza noticed dawn breaking from the horizon.

Kyojuro's movements didn't falter in the slightest despite the fatal injury he just received. He descent his blade to Akaza's neck; the revenge of hurting his soon-to-be wife invading his mind. "I'm taking you down!"

Tanjirou yelled at Inosuke, "Move, Inosuke! For Rengoku-san!"

As Tanjirou tried to chase Akaza, Kyojuro had her unconscious body in his arms. As he sat on the ground, he held her body. He held it so tight he was so afraid of letting her go. He whispered the words, "I love you," before placing an affectionate kiss on the crown of her head. His chest was aching at his fated death. He wanted to cry, to mourn at the broken possibility of their marriage. But, he can't—he mustn't—for the sake of his juniors. He interlaced his hand with hers; both hands stained with their own blood. His fingers caressed the wedding ring on her finger. A fond smile displayed on his lips as he reminisced his proposal.

Kyojuro can't feel the pain anymore. He was running out of time.

He placed his lips on hers. He poured all of his feelings into one kiss. One last and final kiss before he took his final breath. His mind flashed all of their memories. The hardships. The affections. The laughs. Her smiles. Her cries. All of it. He was ready to die for others, but he can't help to think:

I don't want to die.

I don't want to leave.

I want to stay.

I want to have a family with you.

I want to grow old with you.

I want more time to express my love for you.

I want to be with you forever.

He pulled away, stroking her cheeks. He whispered, "I promise. We'll be together in our next life."

He turned to Tanjirou. "Come here, Tanjirou, my boy. Let's have a final chat."

* * *

She doesn't even know why she is in front of Rengoku Estate.

Glassy (E/C) eye looked down at her hand. She could barely see through the blur. Her missing eye caused a great deal of impairment to her sense of sight. She was almost blind.

"(Y/N)-san?"

Her gaze followed the origin of the voice. She immediately recognized the voice belonged to Senjuro. Her eyes could make out his figure. His voice broke at the slightest. She assumed he had been crying.

She wasn't aware of the tears that she spilled. As his younger brother, Senjuro has many traits that resembles Kyojuro. She couldn't help but be reminded of her deceased lover's appearance. He was smiling kindly in her hallucination.

"(Y/N)-san. I..."

She sensed Senjuro had stopped sweeping and was standing in front of her. She could feel the loneliness and the grief she shares with him.

She collapsed to her knees. Her head was buried in her hands in shame. She apologized, "I'm very sorry, Senjuro. I couldn't protect your brother."

Her chest was aching again and her throat was thickening. Once again, reality had crushed her. She'll never taste his loving kisses nor the comfort of his presence. She'll never have his warmth again. She'll never feel the happiness of being in love. She'll never taste the feeling of getting married and growing old with him. She will always be alone.

"(Y/N)-san, it's not your fault."

"I'm very sorry I'm too weak."

"It's good you know!"

She inclined her head to the direction of the rough voice. She held back a grimace. She knew too well who was talking to her now.

Senjuro intervened, "Oto-san—"

"You couldn't even put up a fight against a demon! Let alone protect that idiotic Fire Pillar! What are you if you couldn't even protect your beloved? I was right to oppose your marriage! I don't know what that man sees in you to choose you to be his wife."

She felt Senjuro's grip on her tighten. His inhale signaled her he was about to refute. With a hand on his shoulder, she held Senjuro back.

In a firm voice, she spoke, "I know very well that I'm too weak and my missing eye will always be a reminder of that, but..." She gritted her teeth. Her tears had long dried on her cheeks and the feeling of grief was replaced with anger. "...You have no right to insult Kyojuro!"

"I have every right to! Kyojuro's a pathetic son. A fool!"

She growled, "Take that back."

"Who are you to tell me?"

Senjuro reached out, "(Y/N)-san!"

She gripped on the Former Pillar's collar. "Take that back."

When she sensed a punch coming, she skillfully evaded it. She was shoved on the dirt.

"Oto-san! Please stop!"

Her head was being hammered. It was pounding once again. Even though it was a signal for her to back down, it only fueled her anger instead. "WHAT KIND OF FATHER ARE YOU?!" She delivered a kick to his jaw. The Rengoku patriate stumbled back. (Y/N) knew his father is a stubborn man, so she knocked him out with a strike to his neck.

Her sight was trained on the man on the ground. Her eye spoke insults.

"(Y/N)-san, are you alright?!" asked Senjuro. She turned to him and offered him a smile, before falling to the ground.

* * *

"I guess I don't have any tears to cry anymore."

The cold breeze passed her by. The leaves rustled and the grass danced. Her hair swayed along the calm melody of the environment. It somehow eased her grieving soul. A grave stone stood before her, with a name "Rengoku Kyojuro" engraved with delicateness.

She looked down at her palm; a ring resting upon it. It was Kyojuro's ring. She let the ring traversed within her hand before putting it down on the grave, along with a fresh bouquet of flowers.

A letter was in her other hand. Senjuro had given it to her accompanied with the ring. Her (E/C) eye looked down on the letter. Her name imprinted in black ink and written beautifully. She knew very well whose the letter from. It made her want to cry again.

She took a deep breath.

Delicately, she opened the letter. A neatly folded paper welcomed her sight. She pulled it out and discovered the paper wasn't alone.

She took another deep breath.

She unfolded the letter and started reading:

To my dearest (Y/N),

I have never felt so happy and grateful to meet you. You changed my life and no one can say otherwise. You are the only thing that is constant in my/this life. I'm very excited at the fact you will be my wife and I will be your husband. No words can describe the bliss I felt when the word "Yes" answered my proposal.

If you receive this letter, then I suppose something unfortunate has happened.

She bit her lower lip in attempt to hold back the tears the pricked her eyes. The nameless wind tried to confort her.

I love you, (Y/N).

I'm very sorry I left you behind. I never intended to. It's just fate. Still, I'm happy. I'm very happy I met you. I'm happy I love you. I'm happy you return my feelings.

I bet you're crying over my death. If only I could wipe your tears away, then I would. Don't waste your tears for me, (Y/N). You have a job to fulfill. This pain will only be temporary. You will overcome this. After all, you always find the good in the worst things.

Don't berate yourself anymore. Don't blame yourself no matter what. It's not your fault and never will be. It's just that time has come. I will never blame you, please remember that.

I may not be around, but always know I'm there. I'll always watch over you. We will be together forever even in our next life. I'm sure of it.

I love you, (Y/N). I love you so much.

From your beloved,

Kyojuro

Teardrops stained the letter. Her delicate grasp was slowly tightening as it lightly crumpled the paper. Her eyesight was blurred from the tears and muffled cries and sobs escaped her lips. She covered her mouth as she crouched; stripped of the strength to keep herself upright.

"Kyojuro," she mumbled his name in hopes of him replying. She knew too well he won't answer her calls anymore, but she couldn't have the courage to face the harsh reality of living without him. It was painful. Too painful for her to bear.

Her eye glanced at his tombstone. A bittersweet smile graced her lips. "I love you too."

Her hand grasped the envelope. She pulled out a necklace. She gawked at the sight. She had no idea Kyojuro bought the accessory that day.

Her (E/C) eyes were studying a necklace displayed on one of the stores. Its gold appearance reflected the rays of the sun, but what's got her attention is how intricate the pendant of the sun and moon are. It was mesmerizing.

"(Y/N)?" Kyojuro curiously peered over her shoulder, immediately spotting the necklace that caught his attention. He turned to her, asking, "Do you like the necklace?"

She nodded. "Yeah. It's pretty."

"Not as pretty as you."

She snapped her head to the Fire Pillar. His beaming close-eyed smile was blinding. Her cheeks were burning. The comment caught her off guard and subjected her to a blushing mess. Even though the line was cheesiest it can be, it never failed to make her heart race. She puffed her cheeks. "T-thanks."

Kyojuro laughed. "You're adorable!"

After the awkwardness and amusement died down, he declared, "I'll buy the necklace for you!"

"You don't have to!" She hooked her arm around his and started to drag him away from the store. "We don't need it."

"But I'm sure it will look good on you."

A smile appeared. A fond one. Her eyes studied the harmony of the sun and moon. It never failed to amaze her. It was still beautiful.

She whispered, "Damn. You still give me a gift even though you're gone."

A warm breeze flew past her.

* * *

"(Y/N)-SAN!"

He was smiling. Tears pricked her eyes. She didn't dare to blink as she witness the Upper Moon 3 self-destruct in front of them. If Giyuu and Tanjirou weren't in time, she would've been caught in the explosion.

He was smiling an apologetic smile. She didn't know why she felt this way. She felt the sympathy in the demon's smile. His eyes. They conveyed emotions. It was like he remembered something and somehow sees himself in her. She didn't know why, but she felt relieved.

Maybe, because she was dying.

"(Y/N). Stay awake."

Giyuu's firm voice brought her back. Her body was numb from pain and she could feel the life seeping out from her. Dark spots started to appear in her eyesight.

"(Y/N)-san, don't die, please," Tanjirou begged. His tears streaked down his cheeks dropped on her face. She was trying her best to keep her eye open. She smiled a little. She couldn't even find the strength to speak. She simply offered them a very weak smile.

Unconsciously, she grasped on the pendant with a fell clutch. She almost lost it while battling with Akaza.

Her eyelid was gradually closing.

"(Y/N)-san."

She was glad Giyuu and Tanjirou stayed with her until her last breath.

"We'll defeat Muzan for you. For everyone," were the words she last heard.

Kyojuro. Did I make you proud?

* * *

"You look beautiful," complimented Kyojuro. He slid the ring on her finger.

She was smiling brightly at him. His eyes couldn't stop studying and memorizing each of her features in a stunning white gown as she stood before him.

"How many times did you say that?" She asked, slipping his other half of the ring on his finger. She didn't think he will look so ungodly handsome in a suit. It took her breath away.

"I lost count."

She stifled a laugh, not wanting to distract the priest in front of them. The priest said his blessings to the newly-wed couple. The two turned to their subjects. The priest declared, "I solemnly declare you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Kyojuro didn't waste a single milisecond. He removed the veil covering her face. He brought her to his arms and kissed her lips passionately and lovingly. She was startled at first, but she soon melted away at the realization. The two were smiling like idiots in the kiss. How could one not smile? They felt bliss.

Both of them pulled away with gentle smiles. Their foreheads meet as he placed a hand on her cheek. He swore, "I promise we will be together in our next life."

"Yeah."

Fate fondly played the red strings.