I've decided to create a timeline to imagine what Kokushibo & Nakime's relationship would be like if they were to be childhood friends. For the sake of consistency of Kokushibo's story, Nakime would be born in the Sengoku era for this au. All the ages below are purely based in headcanons. Each stage will be explained.

-In this au, Michikatsu first met Nakime when he was seven and she was three. Nakime's father was the new farmer for the Tsugikuni family. Unlike the og!world, Nakime was a lot more involved in her father's occupation, serving as his helper. While on break, Nakime was practicing singing to an uguisu. Michikatsu was playing nearby and just so happened to hear Nakime singing. He was wondering where the singing is coming from until he found Nakime singing with a bird on a tree stump.

-For a few years, these two were inseparable. Michikatsu and Nakime would often try to play together as much as possible, such as whenever they're taking breaks at the same time. They play a variety of games together such as hanetsuki, menko and taketombo, as pictured above. Before Yoriichi got sent away to be a monk, Nakime did play with him a few times. Michikatsu got to be a normal kid around Nakime and Nakime gets to have a friend who supports her singing. Nakime would tend to Michikatsu's wounds whenever he gets beaten by his father and Michikatsu would praise Nakime's singing.

-During his adolescence, Michikatsu was subjugated to more serious lessons since he's the clan heir. Thus, he and Nakime unfortunately have less time to play together as they used to. Surprisingly, Michikatsu's father didn't mind Michikatsu playing with a commoner girl. This is all due to Michikatsu keeping his promise to not let his peasant friend interfere with his studies and to only play in the gardens where no one outside of the family can see them together.

-From bad to worse, Michikatsu & Nakime's friendship came to an initial end in adolescence. Michikatsu's father didn't expect their friendship to last this long. Worried that his son would get easily distracted by the only girl he's ever friends with (especially with puberty kicking in), Michikatsu's father forced Michikatsu to end his friendship with Nakime. Sadly, Michikatsu & Nakime had a nasty falling out. Nakime was especially hurt by Michikatsu spewing classist statements against her. After that, the two avoided each other as much as possible. -When Nakime entered her teen hood, she became an apprentice under Itsuki. The distance between her & Michikatsu exponentially grew as Nakime takes her biwa playing more seriously and Michikatsu prepares to get married to a daughter from another wealthy family. The very last interaction these two ever had was Nakime congratulating Michikatsu on his marriage. A year after Michikatsu got married, Itsuki passed away.

-As expected, Michikatsu initially lived a quiet, boring life with his wife and only son at the time. When Nakime was 14, her father lost his job from the Tsugikuni manor due to an accident he caused to the crops for the very near winter season, thus angering Michikatsu's father. Michikatsu's father went as far as to blacklist Nakime's father from getting any kind job. When Nakime was sixteen, she was forced by her parents to marry a man almost a decade older than her since her father lost his job and was desperate to get as much money asap.

-Upon meeting Yoriichi for the first time in so many years, Michikatsu's jealousy reawakened. Thus, he abandoned his family in hopes to become a demon slayer who can surpass his brother. Meanwhile, Nakime's toxic marriage with her husband amped up to an eleven. There were screaming matches, financial trouble and even sexual assault. Nakime's the one who's financially contributing to the household, with her husband almost always gambling away her earnings she makes from her average biwa performances.

-At 24, Michikatsu awakened his demon slayer mark from an encounter with a demon. Fearing that he may die soon, he just so happened to meet Muzan, who offered him to become a demon. Wanting to be superior to his brother, Michikatsu (now Kokushibo) accepted Muzan's offer. Later on, the straw broke the camel's back for Nakime and she murdered her absuive husband in cold blood. Like the og!world, she went on to have a 6-month serial killer spree before meeting Muzan.

Warning: The following post contains explicit themes