Neither of you had said much to the other that morning. 

You’d woken up to silence, your room lit by the soft golden glow of morning sunlight that had crept its way through the soft tatami walls. It wasn’t surprising that Genya laid beside you wordlessly, barely even blinking as he stared a hole into the ceiling. You wondered if he had been that way for long, and if he would even admit it if you asked. He had been uncharacteristically quiet since that Kasugai crow had landed on your back porch a mere month after one had come for his brother. The silence worried you. Genya had a habit of getting lost in his head and a worse habit of being unable to bring himself back. He laid still as a rock, one arm under the blanket that had covered you both, and the other above it resting flat on his chest. You sighed so he’d hear you before you reached for his hand. Without looking away from the ceiling, he lifted your hand to his face, letting it rub against his unmarred cheek before swinging up on to his feet. 

“Let’s go.”

The silence dragged on when you both emerged from the Wisteria Inn in matching black corps uniforms. You hadn’t known he still owned a uniform. His original had perished like he almost had, just as yours had. You caught his eye before quickly looking down. It wasn’t that things were awkward, you just didn’t know how to talk about what was happening, or really, what you thought was happening. Because you didn’t know anything. You couldn’t know anything, Sanemi had been radio silent-

“We probably should’ve tried not to match.” 

Genya’s deep voice filled the space he was quickly closing between you. He looked as resigned as you felt, but still forced a small smirk pull at his lip as he looked down at you. Letting your eyes drop to straight ahead, you took in the standard uniform stretched across his chest. You rubbed your thumb over each button until you made it to his belt. 

“We probably should’ve tried not to match.” You tilted your head up to look at him teasingly. 

Genya hooked his pinky into the leather loop that held your nichirin sword on your hip, tugging you closer, “They sent one crow for the both of us, you think they’re gonna be that surprised by us matching?” His forced smirk melted into the soft smile you had missed so much.  

This feeling, this comforting but all encompassing burning sensation in your center, had been brewing well before the final battle. You had both known, hell, you figured everyone had known by the time Hashira training had come around. But you hadn’t acted on it, merely stayed attached at the hip. There was no room where Genya was that you weren’t, no training that you didn’t share, no walks that you ventured together on. And when missions had separated you, you had filled the void with letters that drove your Kasugai crows insane. Time dragged on between you, and the small little bursts of warmth had grown into a wildfire that you felt from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. A wildfire that burned when he was gone and held you in a comfortable warmth when he was nearby. But you were still slayers, living on borrowed time, walking corpses with an expiration date. Sure, you wanted to be around to see the beautiful after of a world without demons, but you weren’t naive enough to believe either of you would get to see it. 

Then the final battle had come, and the shock of seeing Genya on Death’s doorstep that had smacked sense into you both. 

The image of a frantic Sanemi, the once sharp tongued and impenetrable Hashira, screaming in agony as he’d dragged his broken body with his little brother over his back, was burned into your memory forever. It had taken months to stop hearing his grief, his tortured scream, as he had yelled Genya’s name as he stepped over the corpses of their comrades. Ripped clothing that was mostly red, but partially green and purple, were wrapped over bulging meaty pieces of flesh. The older Shinazugawa had used anything he could get his hands on to knot Genya’s body back together as parts were grotesquely grown back. It was the last thing you had seen before the world had faded to black.

When you’d woken up in your new world, and found out Genya was alive but unconscious, you stood vigil at his bedside. At first you’d tried to ignore the soft echo of pacing footsteps outside the door, but when food began showing up, you knew you couldn’t leave this up to the boys to figure out. When you had finally caught Sanemi in the act of leaving food outside the door, he had sputtered over his words, barely able to respond as you invited him to sit with you. Shy in an endearing way you would’ve never expected, he had politely declined but continued to haunt the hallway outside Genya’s room. 

When Genya had finally woken up, and was able to stay awake for long enough to show real improvement, Sanemi finally entered the room. He’d sat on Genya’s bed and shared his plans to head south to where him and Genya had been raised. Where they could live again, in peace. Where things could be better, according to Sanemi. You had sat stiff as a board and completely silent as you listened to what was obviously an invitation between brothers. 

That ‘sense’ that had been smacked into you was more of an unspoken mutual realization. It had been in his eyes when he’d awoken from his month long coma, in the way he held your hand in his own whenever he could, without shame, and in the way you hadn’t spent a day apart since then. 

But this was his brother, and the doubt crept in fast. This was Sanemi, his older brother who he had spent most of his life chasing, now offering a shared future. The idea filled your heart with dread. Until a familiar warmth had sunk into your palm. It had been the first time Genya had taken your hand in his in front of someone, and the first time he’d spoken without hesitation for the both of you, as a pair.

“We’ll go with you.”

So the three of you had headed South, and you watched the Shinazugawas learn to be brothers again. They healed where they had broken, and now that the hurt had finally stopped, here was the universe dissecting the scars...

—

You knew you’d made it to the Master’s compound when the smell of wisteria carried in the wind. 

The Master’s compound was as gorgeous as you remembered. The wisteria trees towered over the well followed stone path, making way for a dreamy, cool breeze that swirled around you and Genya. The wind gently lifted each delicate, purple petal, and sent them twirling around every step you took. 

Paradise. 

Two years ago, you would’ve felt comforted by the sweetness in the air, the beauty, the peacefulness of a compound run by a man equally as gentle. It was the cocoon from which a better world would come from. It was the promise that if this little piece of land could encompass these things, it could spread beyond it. You would’ve dared to call it home. Two years ago, The Demon Slayer Corps had realized that dream. You had defeated the king of demons, and all his upper moons. You had almost died, so many actually did. All in the name of peace. It was supposed to be a done deal.

But peace seemed to be just another passing season in your lives. 

Because here you were, making your way steadily towards the Master’s main house. Not your Master, because he’d sacrificed himself. His son, your new Master. The one who had led you all through that nightmare, who led you all to victory on that night. Who now summoned you as if the last two years meant nothing at all, dragging you both right back where it all started. 

Genya’s gentle rumble of a voice broke the silence, “If you don’t pick up your feet,” he mumbled, “you’re gonna trip.” 

You sighed. “How bad do you think it’ll be?” 

“Bad.”

You looked down at your sandals. They brushed against the stone path, while Genya’s black boots barely made a sound. Annoying, you thought, his feet are like twice the size of mine. You kicked a pile of petals on the stone in front of you. 

Genya groaned and swatted at the petals that threatened to land in his mane of hair. “He summoned Sanemi a month ago, and now us.” He rolled his shoulders back, his face pinched, “All this,” he rolled his hand through the air as he came to a stop, “wouldn’t be happening unless we were needed again.”

And there it was, the truth that the two of you had been dancing around for the past week.

Genya was still looking up at the trees when you pulled yourself out of your memories, “Fucking hate that smell.” his nose scrunched, “Always have.” 

“Come on,” you pulled him beside you, “let's not keep the Master waiting.”

-

“Ah, there they are!” The booming voice of Tengen Uzui rang across the courtyard, “Took your sweet time getting here.”

Tengen Uzui, former shinobi and Sound Hashira, stood tall on the porch of the Master's estate, his bejeweled eye patch dazzling in the afternoon sun. He looked exactly the same. Same mismatched painted nails, same magenta kimono. He wore his retirement like he'd worn his uniform- like a main character’s costume. For a man who had spent his life learning how to be in the shadows, he had a true knack for creating his own spotlight. The center of attention was where he thrived. You couldn’t find him more endearing, and giggled at his teasing while Genya huffed beside you. 

“How have you been, Tengen? You look well.” 

It wasn't a shock to have the Sound Hashira receive you. He had always used the Demon Slayer Corps land as a home base, especially since Master Kiriya had taken such a liking to him. From the letters you exchanged with his wives over the years, it sounded like they'd spent more time there than anywhere else, with Tengen taking on the role of mentor to the young Master. 

"About as well as yourself." he winked at you. 

Genya dramatically rolled his eyes, to Tengen’s absolute pleasure. 

“I thought you would’ve already dropped all that attitude, Shinazugawa!” Tengen grinned, “What with you traveling with such a beauty beside you.” 

“Pay attention to your own wives.” Genya growled out.

Your breath hitched and body temperature sky rocketed. Wife? You definitely weren’t married, but you’d acted like a married couple, didn’t you? Aside from the things married couples do, you hadn’t-

“Oh, I do.” Tengen laughed as he gestured for you both to follow him, “They’re around here somewhere,” the giant man nodded at you over Genya’s head, “My girls actually wanted to go to the hot springs with you tonight.”

“Oh, hot springs!” You happily clapped your hands together. 

"I'll let them know to come find you tonight." Tengen slid open the door that led to the washitsu that overlooked one of the master’s garden. “But this is where I leave you. Good luck you two…” He began to drag the door shut before he stopped it just short of the doorframe, “oh, and try a smile, Shinazugawa.”

“Fuck off!”

The door slid shut with a quick thud, and you could hear Tengen’s laughter carrying down the hallway as his footfalls got further and further away. 

“He can be so unbearable.” Genya groaned as you both kneeled before the closed entrance on the north wall. 

You shrugged, “I think he’s charming.” 

“Yeah, I got that.” He huffed, “Awfully nice to him, aren’t ya?”

You leaned over and placed a heavy hand on Genya’s muscled thigh, “M'nicest to you.” 

Before Genya could answer, the chimes signaling the master’s arrival rang and you instantly found yourself face down, bent forward in a polite bow. It struck you how you could go two years without any of this formality, and yet a single sound could trigger a movement like muscle memory. When you looked up, the master and his two sisters sat before you. 

Master Kiriya had gotten taller. 

It was almost a happy moment, seeing him and his two sisters. They were older, and while they still held themselves in such a regal, proper manner, just seeing how they’d grown, how they’d been able to grow past the children who had been so doomed, made a shock of affection run through you. Motherless, fatherless, and missing two fifths of themselves, but now here they were: grown and thriving by the looks of things. For a moment it was easy to pretend this was just a reunion overlooking their garden, you and Genya bowed as a formality for the sake of tradition. But then Master Kiriya opened his mouth, and the beautiful illusion you’d built in moments shattered. 

“Thank you both for coming. I'm sure you're wondering why we asked you to come here today, so I won't keep you waiting. As you know, my father had theorized that once Muzan Kibutsuji was defeated, all demons would cease to exist.”

This was it. 

“It seems that theory was wrong.” 

Your heart squeezed in your chest, the air in your lungs pressed out of your body as a simmering heat and biting cold raged across your body. There was no way, not after this time, not after everyone had done so much. Flashes of chopped pink and green hair whipped through your memory like lightning, body parts and blood smeared across the ground, the screaming-

“There have been reported occurrences of animal attacks far north, coupled with reports of strange beings. There are some that accuse forest spirits of being to blame. But what is most puzzling,” your whole body tensed, “is all of these sightings are reportedly happening in multiple neighboring villages, but when you map the area…. The village in the epicenter has not reported any activity.”

“A base.” Genya mumbled.

“We need seasoned slayers like you and Genya to verify these accounts and gather further information.” Master Kiriya held up his hand, keeping you both quiet as he stepped down the wooden steps until he was a mere yard away from you, “Please listen closely, this is not a mission. The Demon Slayer Corps have long been disbanded. You are under no obligation to accept this request, and I understand if you could not accept.”

The idea of refusing wasn't an option. Your shared response was instant, “We’ll go.”

You both glanced at each other, your bodies mirroring each others. You were both leaned forward, shoulders tensed and ready to leap forward. Genya had that intense furrow in his brow, a slight snarl in his upper lip. It was the kind of aggression that promised action… a look that was admittedly your favorite. 

Master Kiriya’s voice disrupted your straying thoughts, “Then it’s settled. The two of you will head to the north side of Mount Natagumo.” Your stomach rolled. “That’s where you’ll find the village without any reports. Go, talk to locals, send your crows back with any information you may gather.” The two of you sat perfectly still at the feet of the master, holding on to his every word, “If you find things become unmanageable, send for help.” 

You both nodded. The rest of the meeting passed in a blur. Locations, victims, witnesses, all of it had been shared with your crows already. You only had until morning, then you would officially be demon slayers again. The thought alone had you bowing in autopilot. The two of you had made it just outside the barrier gate to the Masters compound when Genya had gently grasped your elbow and steered you until you were both leaned against the stone wall that lined the estate. Genya’s shoulders slumped inward as he curled in towards you.

“Are you- do you” you felt the pit in your stomach grow as you watched Genya trip over his words in a way you hadn’t seen in years, “A-Are you alright?” 

"I just- I can't believe this is happening. I just keep thinking of her-" You squeezed your eyes shut as another flash of pink rippled through your vision, "After everything we sacrificed-"

“If they’re really back,” Genya interrupted softly, “if this is really happening, when we're on that mountain, I want you to leave." His face softened, "Let me handle it, baby.” You almost didn't react because of how softly he addressed you, but when his words hit you you started shaking your head. Genya gently cradled your cheek in his hand, “I don’t want you there-“

“I want to be there.” You told him firmly, “We promised. Where you go,” you gently pulled his hand from your face so you could hold it in your own, “I go, right?”

You both looked at each other, a small wave of relief rolling over the raised edges of your anxiety. Genya’s fingers wiggled their way between yours until your hands were clasped together between the both of you.

“Hey!” You and Genya both jumped at the loud familiar voice, “Haven’t you heard it’s against corps rules to fraternize with your fellow swordsmen?” 

Behind Genya, Sanemi walked towards you both. Surprisingly, he was still in his civilian clothes: a blue kimono and dark grey hakama pants. While the sight had been a usual one at home, it felt out of place now. You weren't sure why you expected his hashira uniform, but given the circumstances you guessed you were just falling back to your older mindset. 

You swallowed the lump in your throat and stepped around Genya, pulling him by the hand towards his brother, “Do rules still exist if the Corps are disbanded?” You teased. 

The former Wind Hashira smirked, “I don’t know, sweetheart, doesn’t feel very disbanded to me.” When he got within arms reach, he poked your forehead, “Kid.” 

“Nemi.” Genya cut in, still holding your hand but stepping in front of you so both boys could press their heads together like a pair of cubs. 

You cooed at the display of affection, “I think he missed you, Sanemi.”

Sanemi snorted, “You two just miss my cooking.” 

“I never said I missed you.” You poked at his blue kimono, “Although. It is really hard to find good oha-“

“Shut up!”

— 

Genya smiled as he watched you go back and forth with his brother. He would never get tired of the way you two bickered. 

When you had first agreed to go south with them, Genya had been worried. Things between the two of you had been easy, as long as you didn’t count your first meeting. And while Genya had never really forgotten the warmth that Sanemi had once radiated, you had met Sanemi when his rage had been in control. When he was callous, cruel and terribly impulsive. He had scars from head to toe that he happily displayed, and now he was missing part of a hand. Genya had worried you’d be afraid of his brother, afraid of what you might think of Genya when you realized all that they shared, that you might not find any comfort being surrounded by the Shinazugawas. But as effortlessly as you had seeped into Genya’s heart, you had wormed your way into Sanemi’s. At first it had been bittersweet, seeing Sanemi take to you so playfully reminded him of how he’d been with their smallest sister, Sumi. But now, with Sanemi so close and so familiar again after almost half a lifetime without him, Genya watched you two with a sense of pride, a purpose. 

You two were his family. 

“Look at them!” Your laughter warmed Genya as he watched you point up at your Kusagai crows playing with each other over your heads.

“Yeah, why don’t you three show us home!” Sanemi yelled up at the bird trio, “Come on, we’re staying at the wind pillar estate.” Sanemi slung his arm over his brother’s shoulder and pulled him along behind you. You walked ahead, following the Kusagai crows happily. “I’m guessing you accepted the mission.” Sanemi lowered his voice, “Feel up to the job?”

Genya gave him a sharp look before he rolled his eyes, “Tengen.” 

“Ah, don’t say it like that.” Sanemi poked his cheek, “You would’ve had to tell me.”

While you would have blamed it on something as ridiculous as jealousy, Genya would say that his general lack of trust in Tengen was rooted in the seemingly questionable relationships he had with his fellow surviving Hashiras. Genya knew that Giyuu had stayed surprisingly close to the Sound Hashira, the two of them choosing to stay in their estates full time. The Water Hashira made the trek south to visit Sanemi from time to time, and always had jokes and stories from the wives. You and Genya had figured it was a stray cat situation. The water Hashira had been void of any happiness or affection, and the marriage of four was so warm and welcoming. But with Sanemi and Tengen, they always seemed to bring out the worst in each other. Thick as thieves. Especially the few times they'd visited: they gossiped, they competed and Genya wasn’t sure how wrong he was about the way the Sound Hashira looked at his older brother. He wasn’t a fan of the way Tengen looked at you either, or the way the ex-shinobi was always picking on him. 

There was just a lot about Tengen to dislike!

“You two gossip worse than old ladies having tea.” 

“I’ll have you know Hina makes a delicious matcha.”

“Hina?” Genya raised an eyebrow at his brother. 

Sanemi acted like he hadn't said anything at all, “When do you leave?” 

Still baffled but unwilling to prod anymore, Genya allowed it, “We leave in the morning… Might be nothing, might be something.” He leaned his head towards Sanemi, his eyes fixed on your back as you giggled at something the crows did, “What do you think?” 

“He has me training survivors.” Genya flinched, “Can’t wield a fucking sword, but can still kick the shit out of some of these bastards.” 

“Hey!” You stood on the hill ahead waving your arms, “You’re falling behind!” 

“I’m an old man!” Sanemi shouted back.

“You’re 23!” 

“I’m a war hero!” 

The way you rolled your eyes and huffed as you turned on your heel made Genya smile. Sanemi squeezed his shoulder as he leaned in, his voice lowered as the boys trailed closer to you.

“You could-“

“Don’t.” Genya cut him off, “I know what you’re gonna say but you won’t change our mind. We have to.” 

Sanemi dropped his hold on Genya to cross both his arms behind his head, “Just look after each other. You still have that future ahead of you.” 

Genya scratched his cheek to cover his blush.

By the time they'd arrived at Sanemi's estate, the sun had retreated behind the surrounding mountains. The older Shinazugawa had always refused to refer to this home as his own, he always had, but everyone knew the wind estate would always belong to the Wind Hashira. Even the Master. After the war, Master Kiriya had kindly gifted each estate to their prospective Hashira. The estate would be Sanemi's for as long as he lived. 

When you rounded the corner, you waved to the Kakushi sweeping out front.

“Welcome home!” The happy chorus of voices echoed through the entrance of Sanemi’s estate. 

You bowed politely at them, and made small talk as you waited for the brothers to catch up. When they did, Sanemi kept his head down and stepped up the small few steps to land on the porch.

“Everything in order?” Sanemi asked. 

The Kakushi nodded eagerly, “Yes sir, we’ve prepared two bedrooms for their stay. One for your brother in your wing and one in the east wing for her.”

You and Genya’s heads snapped towards each other, confusion on your faces. Genya took a step up on to the porch, “But-“

Sanemi turned around from behind the Kakushi and dragged his thumb across his neck. When the Kakushi turned around, Sanemi had dropped his hand and nodded. 

“Great, we’ve got it from here.” Sanemi waved his hand at the pair of Kakushi who stood wide eyed on the porch, “You’re dismissed.”

You forced a smile as you quickly scurried past the visibly confused Kakushi who stood frozen on the doorstep. Genya glared at Sanemi as he followed you both inside, completely oblivious. You knew what was coming so you stepped back, letting Genya pass you in the doorway so you could quickly shut it behind you. Sanemi had already started on Genya before you got a chance to turn around. 

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” You leaned back against the wall, ready to watch them go at it. “You can’t just come to a pillar estate and demand to sleep with someone who’s not your wife. Have some fucking decorum. What’d I raise, an animal?”

Genya crossed his arms and looked away from you both, “Didn’t have a problem with it at home.” He grumbled.

“What was that?”

“I said,” Genya petulantly raised his voice, “you didn’t say shit when we were at home!”

“Look,” Sanemi pointed his finger at Genya and poked at his puffed up chest, “I think the two of you are real cute, so I don’t say shit. Especially since it’s clear to me you’re doing nothing but sleeping.” You made a sound reminiscent of a wounded animal as you turned and cringed into the wall, “But here, you’re gonna show the manners I raised you with and not give those goddamn Kakushi anything to gossip about.”

“This is soooooo-“

“Don’t like it?” Sanemi had a wild look in his eye as he leaned into Genya's space, “Get married.” When the two of you looked anywhere but at the Wind Hashira, he barked out a laugh, "That's what I thought. Now come help me prepare dinner." 

-

After dinner, Genya and Sanemi walked around the backyard, surrounded by fireflies as they set up the training yard for the next day's exercises. The house behind the main compound had a lone light flickering in it, and Sanemi frowned when he noticed it.

"Those goddamn idiots, complained all day about being tired and now they're in there awake at this time." 

Genya grinned, "Want me to go in there?" 

"Don't start." you called from where you sat on the porch, "Let them do it to themselves, they'll pay tomorrow." 

Both Shinazugawas yelled back at you in unison, "That's no fun!" 

"HelloOoo!" Suma's voice carried through the training yard, "Anyone home?" 

"We're back here!" you excitedly leapt off the porch, your feet crunching over the gravel. 

The large gate swung open, and an excited Suma Uzui came charging through with her arms outstretched. With a scream of your name, she threw herself at you. You laughed as she shook you back and forth in her arms. Suma was shockingly strong for being so small and adorable. 

"You're going to suffocate her, Suma!" 

Looking over Suma's shoulder, heat filled your cheeks as Makio and Hinatsuru caught up to their overly excited wife. When Makio finally reached you, she barked at and dragged Suma off of you, just to launch herself at you. You laughed as you hugged her tight, Hinatsuru’s soft palm stroking the arm you had wrapped around her wife. 

"Hi, Sanemi and Genya!” Suma happily chirped while Hinatsuru waved to the boys. 

The Wind Hashira shyly waved back, not quite lifting his head to either woman. 

Makio finally let go but held you arms length away, "Heard you could use some girl time, you know," she gestured to the two men in the center of the yard, "since you've been stuck with those two."

Both brothers grumbled. 

"Yeah," Hinatsuru smiled at you, "we're way overdue for a hot spring soak. Will you come with us?"

"Of course!" you agreed. 

“Just you girls?” Genya called over his shoulder as he shoved another dummy upright.

Makio grinned, “Maybe Lord Tengen too. He just loves his hot springs.” 

Genya's head snapped right back in her direction.

“Makio!” Hinatsuru waved her hand at Genya, “She’s kidding, it’ll just be the four of us, honest.” 

“Yeah, we'd rather keep her all to ourselves!” Suma giggled as Genya looked between each woman like they were a code he had to decipher. 

You wanted to die. “Okay, great, let’s go!” Spreading your arms, you pushed all three women towards the gate, "Don't wait up!" you called over your shoulder. 

When you were finally outside of the gates, you fell easily into step with the charming Uzui women. You caught up, heard all about the crocheting that Suma was trying to learn, the tea smoked duck that Hinatsuru was trying to perfect and the new swordsmanship that Makio was training in. 

The three women were not only stunning, but incredible in their ways. You could easily see how they complimented each other. Suma, with her sweet curiosity and impulsiveness, Makio with her headstrong confidence and protectiveness over those around her, and Hinatsuru with her gentle touch and diplomatic nature. There was something incredibly endearing about each wife, and how they loved not only the same man but each other. By the time you'd made it to the hot springs and stripped down, you felt like you hadn't lost any time at all with the three women. 

"You look good." Hinatsuru softly told you as you walked down the stones that slowly lowered you into the water. 

"Thanks, we keep up with our training." you grinned, "More out of habit than anything." 

You looked over at Makio as she stretched just above the hot springs. Her body was as flawless as her wives, the hard planes of muscle holding together the softness of her hips and supple chest. 

"Stop showing off and just come in already!" Suma whined.

"Or you could stay right there." Hinatsuru called out.

You lowered half your face into the water as Makio squatted down with her legs spread before she slinked off the smooth bedrock into the water. Your cheeks burned as Suma whistled like a man on the street and Hinatsuru grinned.

"I can't believe you, you just want to rile up everyone tonight." you joked.

“Oh please, I was doing you a favor.” Makio pulled herself up to sit on a rock shelf that left her in the water from the waist down. Her wet tits reflected the moonlight. “You’re gonna get ravished when you get home.” 

You let out a squeak, shaking your head, “No!” 

“No?” Suma whined, “What do you mean no?” 

Hinatsuru leaned forward, “You still haven’t…” 

“No.” You choked out.

Makio cursed while Suma whined about how unfair and unbelievable it was that Genya hadn’t “manned up”.

“He sure acts like he’s all up in it.” Makio rolled his eyes, “Not married, not sleeping with you, what’s the hold up?” 

“I mean, we do sleep together, just not like that.” That was definitely not something you ever wrote in a letter. All three women shared a look, but it was Hinatsuru who gently pressed. 

"How did that start?"

"After the final battle," you shrugged, "we started having nightmares. Really bad ones," you looked down, away from the softened faces of the Uzui wives, "and it got worse, cause we'd wake up and be alone and then we'd panic-" you shrugged, "if you're dreaming that everyone is dead and wake up in alone in a dark room-" you shook your head, "One night, after we'd made it south, I heard Genya screaming in the middle of the night and I'd-" you chuckled, "I went right through his door." The other women chuckled with you, "He was having a bad dream, and when he'd woken up, panicked- He grabbed me and we just stayed like that. Come morning, Sanemi actually found us," you still blushed at the memory, "I thought he was going to kill him. But when we explained, he just walked away." 

"You slept through the night together?"

"Yeah!" you nodded, "That's how we got 'caught'," you curled your two fingers above the water, "we'd slept right into the afternoon."

“Have you guys talked about marriage?” 

“No!” You looked down into the water as you explained, “We haven’t really talked about us.” 

“Not at all?” When you shook your head, Makio went from annoyed to concerned, “Have you tried?”

“No.” 

“Are you going to try to talk to Genya?” Suma pressed.

“I don’t know!” You whined, “We just… work. And I know it sounds absurd but we know how we feel. We just haven’t- you know.”

“Fucked?” Makio laughed when your face twisted, “Sorry, made love?” You groaned and dropped your head back, “Have you at least seen it?” 

You thought Hinatsuru would’ve hissed at Makio by now, but when the silence dragged on, you opened your eyes to find all three women staring at you. 

“Have you?” Suma pushed. 

“What?” You laughed, “I mean…” all three women grinned. “I’ve seen… part of it.” 

Under the water, you rubbed your thighs together. You had seen part of Genya’s manhood before. The thickened root of his cock visible when he’d walk around with his pants unbuttoned in the morning. Flashes of you on your knees in front of him filled your mind instantly. You could picture yourself nuzzling that clothed bulge between his legs as you delicately sucked on the exposed skin at the base of his cock. Gods, you loved when he took long to get ready in the morning. Those slivers of pelvis. Just knowing he wore nothing under his clothes did it for you. It’d be so easy to just open his pants and take hold of him. And there were a few times where you’d bathed in a river during your travels. You'd definitely seen somethin' dangled between his legs as he stepped over rocks with his back to you. You didn’t know the complete shape of him, but you’d seen enough to fuel your fantasies. 

And Gods, his ass.

You swallowed the drool in your mouth, “He looks… thick.” 

“A man that big?” Makio winked at you, “Gotta be proportional.” 

Suma giggled and poked at your heated cheeks, “Yeah, we know all about that.” But her smiling face dropped into a pouted at Hinatsuru and Makio, “Now I want some.” She whined. 

Makio splashed Suma as she pushed her way towards her, "Always such a perv." She grinned as she reached out and dragged Suma in to kiss her. 

When you looked over at Hinatsuru, she was watching both women with a small smile, “Have you kissed?” she asked softly.

You nodded, “Not like everyday, but we have a few times.” 

“Oh!” Suma squealed as she broke away from Makio, “You could kiss him more, maybe he’d get the message since your thing is not talking.”

"We mess around, from time to time," you tried to ignore the way Makio was holding Suma from behind, pressing soft kisses into her shoulder, "we just don't... talk about it."

"So you just exist sexually frustrated?" Makio asked as she rubbed her cheek against Suma's shoulder. Suma suddenly squealed in Makio's lap, her cheeks flushed. 

"Knock it off, you two." Hinatsuru spoke sternly before she turned back to you, "Are you?"

"Huh?"

"Sexually frustrated?" 

You blanched, "Well, I- I mean... yes." you sighed.

"Are you at least getting yourself off?" Suma talked like she was asking about the weather, "Cause you know, you never did answer that letter of mine about how to make yourself cum."

"Suma!" You groaned.

"She does have the best dexterity out of us."

"Hush, Makio."

Makio grinned at Hinatsuru, "Aw, sweetheart, don't worry, you know you have the best mouth." 

You felt lightheaded listening to the three of them. 

Hinatsuru made a face at Makio before turning back to Suma, "That's what you wrote a letter to her about?" She laughed.

"What!" Suma yelled, “I knew she’d left with the Shinazugawas, but it had been a while until Lord Tengen said she was with Genya. Either brother would have been fine, but c’mon- Genya would definitely be a bit more forward than Sanemi would ever be-"

"Ohhhhhh, no." you groaned.

“We all know he's a bit of a prude- Ow!“ Suma growled at Makio who was already giving her a look to get on with it, "So anyway, I figured even if Genya was up to the task, Sanemi was probably a huge cockblock-" Makio and Hinatsuru's laughter filled the air as Suma babbled on, "so naturally, she'd have to take care of herself!" 

"You thought she might’ve been with Sanemi?" Makio cackled into the night air.

"I didn't know!" Suma yelled. 

"No, no, no." you muttered over and over as you squeezed your arms around yourself. 

"It's not like there's a wrong brother. Sanemi wouldn't be a bad choice," Hinatsuru leaned back on her elbows, "He can take direction well from a woman."

Wow, fuck. 

"I'm gonna head home." you stood to the chorus of whines and 'come back's from the Uzui women.

"At least reread my letter!" Suma called after you, "Or stay and watch!" 

You squealed and speed walked out of there, quickly tying a robe around yourself. When you looked over your shoulder, they were crowded together in the water. 

Nope, not watching.

-

Laying in the dark of your room, your mind felt like a muddled whirlpool of the Uzui wives and your own thoughts. You still felt heated, a mixture of the hot springs still steamed into your skin, and the heat of your body reacting to so many thoughts of Genya.

I am all alone, you thought to yourself. 

Biting your lip, you dragged your finger tips along the side of your soft sleep kimono so you could get a good fistful of the fabric. Shimmying it up your legs, you spread them until your knees were tucked up at your sides. Heat and want thrummed between your legs. Reaching down, your sighs dragged into a moan. You were so wet, your fingertips glided between your dripping hole and swollen clit. Flashes of Genya filled your mind. Moments where he’d put that big body to use. Moments where he’d stood over you, placed a heavy hand on you, or shown off the strength in that defined body. You couldn’t get the picture of his burly abs out of your head. You wanted to drag your wet pussy across them and grind your name into his skin. You wanted to slide down and take his manhood right to the hilt. You wanted to grope him, to squeeze him through his pants while you’d tell me him how you need him. Genya loved to be helpful, useful, to please you. You knew he could make you cry in the best way. 

“Genya…” you sighed to yourself as you pressed the tip of your finger against your entrance. 

You were so hot and slick, your finger slid to the first knuckle easily. Curving it upward, you pressed your finger into your flesh. A soft gasp left your lips as you gently worked your finger in and out of your pussy. Kicking your bed sheets off, you let the cool air brush against your heated skin as you pulled at button that secured your kimono, the material parting open and letting the cool air harden your sensitive nipples. Feeling impatient, you twisted one to add to the ache. It wasn’t hard to imagine Genya being a bit rough with you. You knew he had a bit of an aggressive streak to him, and nothing was hotter to you than imagining his teeth gently nipping at your tits. You kept pulling at your nipples, trying to quickly switch between the two with your single hand. Your other still had a finger deep inside your pulsing pussy. 

You nearly jumped out of your skin when you heard a soft scratching at your door.

Quickly rolling on to your knees, you winced as your finger slipped out of you. You struggled to hear over your own soft panting as you quickly pulled your kimono back in place, and toppled over when two quick knocks rattled your door. Your cheeks burned as you tried to stand on your shaky legs. When you threw the door open, the subject of your fantasy stood tall in the doorway.

You gasped as Genya squeezed your hips and hefted you over his shoulder. 

“Shhhhhh! Could you have been any slower?” He hissed as he quickly stepped in and shut the door behind him.

You giggled upside down against his back as he walked over to your futon. Standing on the soft bedding, he dropped to his knees, carefully laying you down just so he could drop himself on top of you. 

“Genya!” You groaned.

A happy rumble vibrated against your chest where he laid his head, his heavy chest pressed into your stomach. You prayed he couldn’t feel your hard nipples poking out from the fabric that covered you. Desperate to distract him, you reached for his hair but cringed and quickly changed hands when you noticed your wet finger. Closing your fist around the glistening digit, you laid it against his back as he wrapped his arms around your waist and pressed your completely dry but not innocent hand into his hair. Completely unaware, Genya happily nuzzled into your collarbone. 

“Couldn’t do it.” He mumbled against you. 

Your dry hand pulled at the curled, spiky ends of his soft hair, “Hmm?”

“Couldn’t sleep without you.”

“Me either.” You assured him softly. 

He squeezed you again for a moment, “You smell so good.”

Your cheeks heated. Genya’s nose had always been good, his senses heightened by his abilities. But right now you could only guess what he was smelling, and it was beyond mortifying. You sunk your fingers into his hair so you could massage his scalp, hoping the distraction was enough. But it wasn’t, because Genya was only quiet for a moment before his voice broke the silence again. 

“Does it bother you?” You stayed silent, unsure of what he was referring to, “Us, uh, sharing a room?” he huffed as he suddenly sat up to look up at you, “I’ve never asked if it made you uncomfortable. I never really thought what others could, what they would think.”

You could feel your lips part, “Genya, I-“

“I don’t want to stop.” Genya told you sternly, before he looked away “I-I just want to ask, is it okay? Because if it's not-”

You scoffed, “No, it’s not okay.” You giggled at his shocked face before you dramatically told him, “I can’t fucking sleep without you now, so now we’re doomed to sleep together forever!” You threw your arms over your head. 

The smile that spread across Genya’s face made your stomach fill with butterflies and you happily squealed when he yanked you down beneath him. He happily hummed as he pressed his lips to your cheek softly. Melting into you, he let you pull him down into the cradle of your hips. You wrapped your legs around him as he pulled his lips from your cheek. When you looked down at his mouth, it was closer to your own, and yours eyes slipped shut as he softly kissed you on the mouth. When he pressed another kiss to your lips, he shifted and gasped against your mouth. You could feel the heavy heat of him pressed to your bare core. You both laid there, wrapped in each other, seemingly frozen in place. 

Genya finally broke the silence between you, your lips brushing against his own when he spoke, “We need to leave early tomorrow.” His voice was deeper and rough, closer to the growl you loved, “We need to sleep.”

“Uh huh.” 

“Cmon, baby.” He whispered as he wrapped one of his large hands around your ankle, “gotta let me go.”

“Don’t wanna.” you whined as you rubbed your nose against his.

Genya chuckled, “Brat.” 

His hand squeezed your ankle, the length of his fingers easily wrapped around you. But when you thought he was letting go, he instead dragged his fingertips up your calf until they landed where your kimono had bunched up on your thighs. He pressed his large hand flat against the expanse of skin, the heat of his palm searing. You bumped your nose against his again as you squeezed his hips with your thighs. He was still pressed against you, and you could feel the pulse of his length through his pants as it hardened against your clit. Surely he could feel that he had the only layer in the way. There was no reason for you two not to take things further. Especially now, being back in the field where your lives had an unknown expiration on them. If you could just-

Thud. 

You both jumped back from one another like you’d been electrocuted. Your legs snapped shut the second Genya was kneeled in front of you, hunched over so his forearm could be pressed over his lap. You looked at each other, bracing for impact. Both your faces burned a furious shade of red.

“If I hear a single peep.” Sanemi’s deep voice rattled through the door, “If I hear a single Kakushi gasp tomorrow… I will beat you, Genya.”

Your hand flew to your mouth to muffle the laughter at what you knew to be an empty threat. Especially when Genya's face told you a part of him believed it. 

“Do you hear me?” Sanemi growled. 

“Yes, sir.” Genya obediently replied. 

Sanemi’s heavy footsteps stomped away as he hissed, “Fucking degenerates.” on the way back to his own room.

The second his stomping was out of ear shot, you both burst into laughter.

“Holy shit.” Genya rubbed his eyes with his free, the other still pressed over his lap, “He’s such a mother hen.” 

“He is so desperate to protect my virtue.” 

Genya sputtered as he struggled to crawl over your futon, not even bothering with answering you. Neither one of you looked at the other as you awkwardly shuffled under the blankets. Genya, desperate to not to make his own problem known, and you desperate not to flash him. You somehow managed to stick your legs into your futon while keeping your knees firmly together, while Genya managed to keep half a foot between you. You laid there for a few minutes, willing the heat on your cheeks to settle as you heard Genya's soft breathing behind you. Rolling over, you found him facing you as usual. His long mohawk fanned on the pillow above his head. You could tell from the way his lips were pressed shut that he wasn't anywhere near asleep yet.

“You look like a peacock.” You whispered. 

“Go to sleep.” He grumbled, but you could see a smile twitching on his lips. 

“Fine.” You leaned forward and gently pressed your lips to his, “Hey,” you whispered against his cheek, “We can do this.” 

Genya’s thick forearm wrapped around your waist and dragged you to him until you were snug under his chin.