B

When she broke things off between the two of you it was a shock to everyone, but mainly her.

Especially when after a couple weeks you fled the country, traveling anywhere and everywhere except for where Shoko was.

Agreeing to meet up with her when she had heard you were in town seemed too good to be true. Almost as if she were being pranked by Satoru.

But when she had shown up to the park bench where you two had agreed to meet and saw you sitting there, she'd be lying if she wasn't terrified.

Sitting next to you, she lit her cigarette nervously, pocketing the lighter with a shakey hand.

"You look different...but well" nervously she says before taking a drag.

Y/n nodded.

"I could say the same for you Shoko, you look well too".

Shoko took another nervous drag before speaking again, looking down at the cigarette in her hand.

"What brought you back here? I thought you'd never come back".

The last line was true. She thought once you had left not only would you never come back to the country, but back to her.

Y/n shrugged, gazing at the trees that loomed around them in the park.

"Just thought I'd pop through, see what's been going on the past three years".

Shoko knew deep down her feelings for y/n still flourished.

She was holding on to the slim chance that y/n felt the same after these years.

It was a foolish thing for her to think.

But why else would y/n agree to meet up with Shoko?

"Do you plan to stay for long?"

Shoko was hoping the answer would be 'yes' but that thought was soon ended by the touch of y/n's arm that now wrapped around her shoulders.

Was this a sign?

Does y/n still feel the same?

Or is this just a friendship type thing they're doing?

"Probably another week, then I'm off to Australia".

Australia.

Shoko's eyes widen slightly before looking up at y/n.

"Australia? What's for you there?"

"A fresh start".

Her stomach dropped.

A fresh start?

That means y/n wants to start over, forget everything they knew from here.

Forget everyone.

Including Shoko.

That's what had begun to run through her mind as she looked down at the now burnt down cigarette in her hand.

She hesitated a moment, her voice tinged with a hint of guilt.

"Why would you want a fresh start?"

Y/n chuckled lightly.

"No one knows me, doesn't know my story".

Shoko's heart broke at what came next, she didn't want to hear it.

"Find someone new".

If there was a glimmer of light in her mind that she could get y/n back it was now fading fast.

Shoko fought the tears that threatened to escape her eyes.

This was something she didn't want to hear.

She tensed slightly after feeling y/n's thumb rub circles on her shoulder.

The thumb attached to the hand that was part of the arm that wrapped around her shoulders.

"What if I could make you stay".

The words left her lips quietly, almost a whisper.

Y/n glanced down at her, a confused expression on their face.

"Stay here, with me".

Y/n pondered for what to say, unsure of what to do.

"Y/n, I'd be lying if I said I still didn't love you".

Y/n's expression softened, a small hint of shock lingered in their eyes.

"Shoko...I-"

Y/n's thought was cut off by Shoko's lips connecting with theirs.

Immediately, y/n cupped her cheeks as they kissed her back.

Shoko could feel herself relax into y/n's touch, knowing this may be her one shot of getting y/n back to her.

Y/n was the first to pull away, catching their breath as they looked at her longingly.

"Please y/n, come back to me".

Shoko looked up at y/n, eyes full of hope and love, smiling at y/n's answer.

"I knew there was a reason to come home after all these years".

But Mr. Ubuyashiki insisted that all corps members meet with him individually once a month.

He had found out a while back from some upper corps members that some members weren't themselves.

Mr. Ubuyashiki was a bit shocked, not surprised to hear that.

He knew the life of a demon slayer wasn't easy.

In fact, he would be surprised to find out that none of the members were themselves.

Anyways, you despised your monthly meeting. Mr. Ubuyashiki knew by now that you were one of many to be on his radar for these checks.

Yet, no matter how hard you tried to get out of these meetings you were never successful.

He would get you to him one way or another.

But this month you really didn't want to go. It was the lowest you had felt in years.

You knelt before Mr. Ubuyashiki slowly, lowering your head in respect before looking up to him.

"Ah, y/n, good to see you again".

A forced smile plagued your face as you responded.

"Thank you Mr. Ubuyashiki, it's nice to see you as well".

"You're worse now, aren't you"?

This man knew everything. You hadn't even told him how you were doing and he was quick to pounce.

Your silence wavered another question from him.

"Y/n, you know I don't like silence, won't you answer my question"?

His tone had shifted slightly, now a bit stern.

You sigh softly, not wanting him to hear you.

"Yes...I am, you know I don't like these meetings".

"They are important to me. I'd like to make sure all corps members are well. Now, tell me what's going on".

You sit for a moment in silence.

Mr. Ubuyashiki was good with letting corps members sit in silence for a moment during these meetings.

"I'm slipping again, and I don't think I can break the fall."

Your voice had grown softer by the end of your sentence, tears resisting the urge to form and fall.

Mr. Ubuyashiki stepped down from where he was standing and met you at your kneeling level.

"Being a corps member isn't easy, it takes courage and strength"

You listen in silence not saying anything.

"Why did you become a corps member y/n"?

You weren't expecting this question but knew he would tie it in to something.

"I became a corps member to protect those who can't protect themselves, and to help rid the earth of demons".

You wipe a tear from your now pink cheeks that had escaped your eye.

"You became a corps member for all the right reasons, a selfless thing to do"

Mr. Ubuyashiki placed his hand on your shoulder, something he wouldn't have normally done.

"When you feel this low, remember why you are here. Remember how you felt when you became a corps member"

A small sniffle escapes as another tear falls down your cheek.

"You are here for a reason y/n. I know you don't favor these meetings for the fact you don't want to burden myself with your feelings"

Your eyes widen a little knowing he spoke the truth as you wipe another tear away.

"All corps members are important to me, which is why I do these monthly checks with you all".

Mr. Ubuyashiki stood and took his place again on the porch.

"I know you will do great things y/n as a corps member. Just remember why you're doing it all".

You gave him a reassuring nod before standing slowly.

"Yes Mr. Ubuyashiki, I will. Thank you".

"Remember y/n, you can always come to me, even if it isn't your regular check".

Giving him a small nod, I bow to him.

"Thank you again. I will remember what you said today. I think it might help".

Mr. Ubuyashiki gave a warm smile before giving a small nod.

You knew it was just a check.

A check you despised.

But maybe, just slightly you thought a little differently of them.

------

You had become Sanemi's Tsuguko after months of begging. He wasn't one to take people under his wing. Yet, your persistence eventually wore him down and he gave in with a "Fine! You can be my Tsuguko. Now leave me alone for the day!"

Safe to say you did what he said.

He would stand off to the side and watch you train quietly, letting out small grunts of irritation when you did something wrong. He didn't have to say anything.

Actually, he never said much to you. But you persisted under him and continued training, gaining only a small smirk from him one day.

That was the only time.

He'd be lying if he said he didn't like you being his Tsuguko. In fact, he loved the fact that you were his Tsuguko.

It meant someone actually looked up to him and wanted to be like him.

Well, maybe not exactly like him, but close enough.

Everything was going smoothly training under him. He looked forward to training you after some time.

You were his.

He grew a little anxious one afternoon after you hadn't returned from your mission.

He wouldn't admit that though.

The anxiety of his only grew when you didn't return, but your crow did.

Thoughts raced through his mind.

Maybe you were trailing behind a little.

Maybe you decided to stop and sit for a moment.

Maybe you got lost.

None of those things happened.

Sanemi didn't want to believe what your crow had said to him. There was no way it was true.

Once nightfall hit he went out looking for you, to see if what your crow had said was true.

Your crow wouldn't lie though, would it?

Sanemi tried to push the thought away but he couldn't. It was eating him up inside.

Again, he wouldn't admit that.

Slowly, you made your way in front of him a few feet back, stepping out from the trees.

He froze.

You were no longer yourself. Your crow was right.

You had become a demon.

"Y/n..."

Sanemi didn't know what to say. He continued to stare at you.

A grin slithered across your face but fear remained in your eyes.

He could see the fear.

The fear you had of being a demon.

Your human side was fighting for its life in your own body, in your own mind.

And you couldn't win.

Sanemi could tell you were begging him with your eyes to end your life. To slice your head off.

To put an end to your suffering.

You weren't suffering.

Your body would have thrived as a demon.

Sanemi knew that wasn't what you wanted. You wanted to be a human.

To be like him

"Y/n...I'm so sorry."

His voice was shakey as his hand slowly moved to the hilt of his sword.

Your eyes following his every move, ready to strike at any moment of his being.

Slowly, Sanemi drew his sword, holding it out in front of him.

"My my..what-emi! End me!"

Even out loud you were fighting to take control of your own body.

You would never win.

And Sanemi knew that.

"I'm so sorry y/n. Please, just know I'm not mad at you"

Sanemi tried his best to remain calm, to remain his normal self.

Deep down he was breaking. He didn't want to have to do this.

To end your life.

And here he was, about to slice your head off.

You looked up at him, practically begging with your eyes as your demon body forced itself at Sanemi.

He acted quickly, stepping to the side and beheading you with one swift move of his blade.

Sanemi didn't dare turn around yet. He couldn't muster the courage to see your head lying on the ground.

"Sanemi..."

Slowly, he turned to see your body slowly disintegrating, your head on it's side.

"Y/n..."

Tears formed in his eyes as he watched you draw your final breath and release the last words before vanishing.

"Thank you...for everything"

You were gone.

Nothing remained of you.

Sanemi stood there, staring at the blank space on the ground where you had once stood.

He couldn't fathom anything in that moment.

All he knew was that you were no longer his.