Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The air smelled of grilled fish and sweets. The bright lanterns painted the surroundings in hues of gold and red, combining the sight with the sounds of laughter and chattering under the starry night. The sound of a shamisen drifted somewhere near the center square, its melody filling the blather.

Shinobu wandered slowly in a simple yukata with a white, butterfly wing patterned haori through the row of stalls, the sleeve of her haori brushing against the silk of stranger's yukata. She wasn't in a hurry.

Nights like these were rare.

Her eyes traveled to take in her surroundings, smiling faces of couples and children filling her vision, along with the bright colors of the glowing lanterns. Until her eyes landed on a tall man casually leaning by a stall, eyes half lidded in boredom. His pale hair and kimono shimmering in the lantern lights, looking harmless, yet he stood out compared to every other person that passed by.

And that was when her purple eyes met rainbow ones.

Shinobu took just a small glance, and smiled at him as she continued to walk her way, unaware of the head that turned to watch her walk her own path. Just for a moment, he considered of letting her go, Just a fleeting encounter, a pretty memory to keep. But the ache in his chest deepend. The man's figure now turned fully to the direction where Shinobu went, and he slipped into the crowd with silent steps to follow the trail of her presence.

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That night, as the lanterns burned out long ago, along with the noises, Shinobu slept peacefully in her small home. And somewhere deep in the mountains, a cult leader sat cross in the heart of his temple. The chanting prayers of his followers echoed through the halls, each prayer symbolising their silent devotion to him. Normally, this sound soothed him. But tonight, it did the complete opposite.

Why do they bore me tonight?

His mind kept replaying the same scene over and over; The gentle gaze that her purple eyes held, the way the lantern lights hit her face in an angle that made her look ethereal- He has seen countless of beautiful women, but none of them had her smile. He smiled back too, of course, with the usual smile he wore as that could make anyone feel at ease. The ache in his chest deepend the more he thought of her, the more he thought of that smile.

Perhaps a little stroll in the moonlight would be helpful.

The moon was high up in the sky, the stars accompanying the illuminating light that bathed the town. The soft chirping of crickets filled the night, weaving a quiet melody of beneath the silver glow of the moon. The clicks of his geta made soft sounds against the stones as he wandered, smiling and humming a soft melody. He didn't need to search long. The faint scent of Shinobu lingered near a small house on the edge of the district.

So this is where you live, little butterfly.

He imagined her making tea in her small house, or perhaps even comb her hair while she hummed a melody. He imagined how she'd tend and organize her small home, and plan her daily routines. She lived alone, without a doubt. Poor thing, he thought. No family by her side, no kin that she could wake up with everyday in her small house- how lonely she must feel in such an empty space.

That same night, he returned to the temple and sat crossed legged with his hands tucked under his chin, surrounded by limbs and corpses. He didn't remember how many he devoured tonight, but he didn't care. Then, the Upper Moon two whispered words he never thought he'd ever say in his life.

"I think...I'm in love"

His own words sent a shiver down his spine. His hand went to his chest, and for the first time in a century, he felt his own heart beat at the thought of her. His smile curved deeper.

I need to see her over and over and over.

Chapter Text

The sun started to set, casting its last light onto mountains. Shinobu stepped outside her home onto the busy streets with a basket tucked against her side. Days have passed since the festival, but the memory of the shamisen, lights and chattering still filled her mind. It was a rare privilege to distract her from the loneliness that accompanied her for more than half of her life. She wanted to feel a part of the world, even if was just a little.

She adjusted the sleeve of her haori and headed towards the marketplace, unaware of the eyes that followed her since the festival night.
Shinobu stopped by the flower stall, observing the various options of different flower types arranged on each row. Her eyes stopped at the camellias, and a pang of nostalgia hit her the moment her eyes landed on them. She remembered her dear sister, Kanae. She always loved camellias, she recalled how Kanae would always arrange the flowers with their mother whenever their father brought fresh ones. The smell that filled their home lingered in her nose till this day. She crouched down, and picked them up.

Across the street, the same rainbow eyes watched the way she hesitated before picking the camellias as he was pretending to inspect a lacquered comb. The faint crinkle at the corner of her lips as she carefully observed the flowers with small, gentle steps. She didn't see him yet, that was fine. Watching her every move and memorizing her careful and gentle movements became a ritual for him the past few days, following her without her awareness each time she left her small house in a perfect, human disguise that hid any of his demon trace. But today, the ache in his chest was unbearable. Curiosity and watching her wasn't enough anymore.

He needed to hear her voice.

His geta clicked softly against the stone as he crossed the street, her frame becoming more clear as he approached her closer and closer.

"What a lovely choice."

Shinobu turned around at the sound of a male voice, and saw the same man she smiled at those nights ago. Those same, rainbow eyes that gazed into her purple ones.

"...Oh, it's you." She murmured, taken back a bit by the sudden approach.

She inspected his features now that he was much closer, he was quite tall. Taller than any man she's ever seen in her life. His irises possessed different shades of colors, giving them a rainbow like hue along with long, dark lower eyelashes and thick eyebrows. His hair however, didn't match the darkness of his eyelashes and eyebrows. The snow white hair fell over his shoulders, down to his back like a waterfall. She never saw anyone in her life with such features that stand out, yet so beautiful at the same time.

The man tilted his head and his smile widened
"So you remember me? That makes me very happy."

Shinobu brought the camellias she was holding closer to her face, as if they could shield her from the intense gaze that was lingering on her smaller frame. Despite feeling nervous, she still held a polite smile.

"We met at that festival, and you smiled at me. Such a sweet, little smile. I've been thinking about it."
Shinobu blinked, unsure what to say. Compliments weren't foreign to her at all, but something about his tone seemed different. It was too genuine.

"I didn't catch your name that night." He folded his hands behind his back as he leaned in slightly closer, softening his smile, as if he sensed her nervousness. "Would you tell me?"

She hesitated for a moment, her breath hitching before parting her lips to give him an answer.

"...Kocho Shinobu." She said softly in a polite tone.

Shinobu.

"Kocho Shinobu..." He repeated it to himself softly in a tone above a whisper, as if he was savouring her name. Her name slid into his ears like music. Then, the man looked at her with a gentle expression before slowly bowing to her politely.

"It is an honor to meet you Shinobu, I am Doma. Your name is very beautiful, it suits you perfectly."

She felt heat rushing to her cheeks, but she gave a small, respectful bow back. "Thank you" She murmured, shifting the basket on her side. He tilted his head again, studying her with childlike curiosity. He felt his heartbeat quickening the more he looked at her. She was up close to him, closer than he has been to her when following her these past few days.

"Do you live nearby?"
She hesitated again for just a slight moment. She should be greatful that someone cared enough to stop her for a small conversation, since he seemed like a harmless man; the one everyone would trust. But something in her guts told her to be careful.

"Yes. I do." She said simply and casually, not wanting to give information directly to a man she just met.
"How lovely. Then perhaps we'll see each other again."
He stepped back with a graceful bow. "Until next time"

You'll see me over and over, Shinobu. Until you belong completely to me.

Shinobu was left stunned as she watched the tall man walk away in the evening lanterns. She remembers him as the man that stood out at the festival, yes, but why would he be eager to start a conversation with a stranger he only saw under lantern lights for a brief moment? Shinobu shook her head, as if wanting to clear her thoughts. She didn't realize that the moon started to peek out from behind the mountains, so she purchased the camellias and started to walk her way home.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —–· · • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Despite her attempts to try and not think about that man, she felt her chest tighten each time her mind replayed their encounter at the marketplace. She slid the wooden door to her home open, the faint scent of tatami greeting her. As she stepped inside, she slid the door behind her closed, and began arranging the camellias. As she arranged the flowers neatly, her mind drifted back to that man, Doma was it? There was something he wanted from her if he simply approached her like that, she thought. She remembered how men around her age in the past approached her for her looks mostly, most even offering her money to spend a night with her, to which she accepted. Not to please them, but for her own living. Unease crawled in her chest as she remembered how much she struggled a few years ago as a helpless, orphaned girl who wandered the world without a home, destination or guide ever since her family has been slaughtered. The night where her life turned upside down.
She stopped mid movement as she realized how deep she was digging into her thoughts, each one of them being responsible for different sensations building in her chest.
But what else could she do? This is nothing new for her. Loneliness and her own thoughts have been her companions for years, she should have been used to it by now.

Yet...a tiny part of her hoped that this rainbow eyed stranger would not be a fleeting memory in her life like all the others, but someone who'd play a role in her life.
As Shinobu finished arranging the flowers, she hummed in satisfaction. The lantern lights in her home slowly started to dim until darkness settled in as Shinobu tucked herself into her futon, eyelashes growing heavy as each second passes by.

As time passed, Shinobu stirred at the faintest sound outside her home. The whisper of wind? A distant creak? She told herself it was nothing and curled beneath her blanket, unaware of the figure crouched on the roof, rainbow eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.

Doma rested his chin in his hand, smiling as he watched the light in her window fade. He whispered her name like a prayer, over and over, as if it were a blessing to do so. The sound of it made something inside him spark and ache at once.

"Sleep well, Shinobu," he murmured, his voice sweet and soft.

How beautiful she was, so delicate. So soft. He could still see the faint blush on her cheeks as he complimented her name, the tremor of her voice like the melody of a song he never wanted to end.

Oh, how he wanted to keep her, wrap her up and shield her from the world and its horrors. Humans were so fragile, so quick to break. If he left her like this, she'd wither and die like everyone else. The thought clawed at him with a sharp, choking pain he never knew before.

No... no..I can't allow that. I won't ever allow it.

His fingers tapped against his knee, his smile widening, as he got a solution to the horrifiying thought.

He could fix this. He could make her perfect-- make her last forever. A perfect little demon, just like him. They could smile together for eternity.

The idea bloomed in his mind like camellia: bright and beautiful. But first, he needed her trust and warmth. That smile that became the first color in his world.

"I'll come back for you, my dear Shinobu."

A breeze blew, carrying his silent vow along with it across the sleeping town.

Chapter Text

Shinobu's eyes slowly fluttered open, the morning light filtering through the thin curtain of her window. She sat upright, and stretched her arms while yawning. She looked at the direction of her window for a moment, motionless, letting the stillness of the morning settle into her mind. Eventually, she slowly stood up, dressed herself in a purple yukata, and tied her hair with her signature butterfly hairpin.

Just as she finished getting ready for the day, her stomach grumbled, a reminder that she hadn't eaten. With a small sigh, she made her way to her kitchen and began preparing breakfast. Shinobu didn't eat much, she never did.

Her nourishment relied mainly on her own vegetables that grew in her small backyard garden. But now that the colder seasons came, The soil would harden, making it nearly impossible for any plant to grow. Winter was the season that was the least to her liking. It reminded her that it made even the simplest things difficult; staying warm and keeping her belly full. That was the reason why she didn't eat as much; to save food whenever it becomes necessary.

Ever since she had to figure everything out by herself, she collected as many herbs as she could incase she ever got sick. Chances were that she'd always catch a cold, or a flu whenever it was cold. She hated being sick, and being skillful in medicine was a trait she was thankful to have. It always guided her to what she has to do whenever she was sick.

Shinobu cleaned up after the small mess she made from eating, and stepped outside her home with a basket tucked underneath her arm as the sunlight hit her small form. As her geta softly clicked against the stone ground, she took a deep breath to breathe the fresh, cold air in. The air was slightly colder than the previous days, a common sign of harsh cold and snow approaching, she thought.

The sun sank gently beyond the hills, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose. The basket that was tucked underneath Shinobu's arm was now filled with mountains of herbs, its form casting a long shadow on the plucked plants over the ground.

Shinobu crouched down the pluck the last herb from the ground before throwing it into her towering basket. She turned her head to look at the plucked field of plants, then her basket. She collected more than she actually planned, but perhaps it was better that way. It'll last her for a very long time.

After a several attempts to pick up the heavy basket, she finally lifted the heaviness in her arms. It took a lot of her strength to keep the basket from falling, so she wasted no time and picked up a fast pace to get to her destination as fast as possible.

It felt like forever to even reach halfway back to the town, she underestimated how challenging it would be to do a simple thing for someone so small like her. It was one of the things she despised about herself; her lack of strength.

Feeling the basket get heavier and her arms growing weaker and more tired as each second passes, she stopped and lowered the basket carefully to the ground. Her arms started to ache the moment the basket left her arms, and she rubbed them gently to easen the pain as a soft frown twisted her features.
Her head tilted a bit up, and she immediatley recognized where she was the moment she saw a large sakura tree next to a river. The great sakura's petals flew freely into the flowing water of the neighbouring river, as Shinobu came closer and closer with each struggling step.

She lowered the basket beside onto the soft grass beneath the sakura, then she sat down on the bench and let the petals drift onto her shoulders as she caught her breath.

She looked at the sky, stars were starting to show up and the moon too.

"It's a wonderful evening, isn't it?"

Her eyes snapped open and her body stiffened as the sound of a voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Her head turned towards the direction of the voice.

And she saw him again.

Her breath caught. she didn't hear a sound of him coming, as if he's been here the entire time already.

"My apologies. I must have startled you. I was taking a stroll till I saw you here. Fate really wants us to meet every time, hm?"

"It's you again. Good evening." Shinobu smiled politely.

"Good evening to you aswell." Doma replied with a smile back.

"May I sit here?"

"Of course." Shinobu scooted a bit to the edge of the bench, giving him some space to sit down. She watched as he sat down next to her in a smooth motion.

"Do you come here often?" he asked, tilting his head at her.

"Sometimes. It's not so far away from the town, but it's far enough to let me have peace."

He hummed. "I see. I understand that very well."

Did he? Was he a troubled person just as she was? Consumed by loneliness and self draining thoughts whenever everything felt too heavy? She wondered.

"If you don't mind me asking....Why me?" The words slipped out before she could stop them.

"Why did you even bother to talk to me in the first place...? Is there something you need from me?" She tensed internally as the sentences left her lips.

"Because, dear Shinobu," He turned his torso now to her aswell.

"Your smile melted the ice in my heart that I never thought I had."

Her breath hitched.

"Your smile became the first color in my world, Shinobu. Do you know what that means?" He spoke in a soft voice.

"It means I can't let you go." His hand reached out to her stunned face, and he brushed a stray lock behind her with long, pale and slender fingers.

"My intentions are pure; Shinobu. I wish to protect you from the darkness that waits to consume as all."

She stared at him stunned with her big, hazy purple eyes. Studying his face, as if searching for any hidden truth that his features might mask.

"What...what makes me so different from all the others?" She asked as she felt her fingers tremble lightly.

His smile didn't disappear. If anything, it held more delight.

"You are the first to see me. Not as a god; but something more. Your smile broke the emptiness that lingered inside of me. You are my light, Shinobu. And I am yours, if you let me be."

He moved closer to her, she noticed it but didn't move a muscle.

"Let me take you away from the pain and loneliness that tortured you for years, Shinobu. You'll never feel a hint of sadness ever again, not when I'm with you."
His eyes didn't leave hers. They held a gaze so gentle as if it were meant only for her.

"I...I don't know if I can." She said in a tone above a whisper, as she turned her head away from him to the petal covered water.

Could she trust a man she met not long ago? Could she truly believe in the warmth he offered? Nothing about him seemed dangerous, in fact, it was the complete opposite. Shinobu yearned for a kin, for warmth, for a companion.

And it seems like fate finally answered her internal cries. But she wasn't stupid. She wasn't stupid to let a man she barely knows so quickly in her life. He could hide ill intentions behind that gentle smile, he could mask it with sugar sweet words.

But a part of her wanted so desperately to believe him. The same part that made her chest ache lightly in his presence.

"That's alright." He answered in a sweet tone.

"I'll wait for you. No matter how long it takes."

Shinobu stared at him for a long time before once again turning her head. "Forgive me, but I must go. It's getting late."

Doma's smile did not falter. He watched as Shinobu stood up, and as she looked at her basket for a moment before she took a deep breath.

She slowly lowered herself, and tried to pick the heavy basket up. Much to her embarrasment, she struggled to lift it. She felt his eyes on her and her cheeks turn into a shade of red now that he saw how she struggled.

She kept on trying to lift it, until a strong arm effortlessly lifted it. She blinked and looked up to him, she didn't even hear his footsteps. At all.
He smiled down at her as the tucked the basket to his side, then he extended his large hand towards her, offering it to her to help her up.

"Let me help you carry this home. You shouldn't walk in the darkness alone, especially carrying something heavy. You'd get hurt, Shinobu. And I couldn't bear that."

Something in her chest fluttered, faint and fleeting. The words caught in her throat, light and yet heavy. Her heart gave a quiet termor before she forced a smile back and hesitantly accepted his hand.

The moment her soft skin brushed his, he felt a wave of ache in his chest. Her skin was softer than he imagined, much more delicate than he thought. His large hand dwarfed hers as he gently helped up to her feet. Shinobu's face was fully red at this point, and her hand was still in his before she gently pulled back.

"Thank you...But I managed before."

He chuckled softly "Still, it suits you more to relax beneath the cherry blossoms rather than struggle against them." He turned slightly, his smile still painted across his face as he cast her a sidelong glance.

"Lead the way."

Shinobu nodded and they began walking towards the glowing town. They walked in silence side by side. Shinobu glanced up at him, for a brief moment he stared at the path they were walking, until his eyes caught hers. She looked away shyly the moment he caught her taking a glance at him.

Cute.

When they finally reached her home, she broke their shared silence.

"This is my home, I live here."

I know.

Shinobu bowed deeply. "I thank you for carrying my basket for me and accompanying me all the way home."

Doma smiled, before he gently set the basket down near the entrance of home.

"You musn't thank me. I told you I want to protect you, didn't I?"

Shinobu felt heat reach her cheeks, and she looked a bit until she saw him reach for something in his sleeve. He pulled out a small, silk blue pouch with a red string ribbon that kept it closed together.

"For you." He gently took her hand and placed the pouch in it.

"Open it once you're ready." He stepped back with a bow.

"Until next time, Shinobu. Sleep well tonight." He turned to walk away, leaving a speechless Shinobu with her hand still extended where he left the pouch.

"Wait!"

Doma turned his head. "Hm?"

Shinobu's lips parted slightly, before she spoke again. "Will I see you again?"

For a moment, a gentle breeze caressed their skin as it traveled freely through the moment of silence. Then, he spoke.

"Do you want to?" He asked gently, as if any tone above would destroy their shared moment before parting ways for tonight.

Shinobu hesitated for a moment, as if thinking of a better way to put her answer. She clutched the fabric of her kimono, and let out an exhale.

"...Yes."

Doma's smile widen faintly. "Who knows then? Perhaps if you wish hard enough, You'll see me." His tone shifted to something new, something she didn't hear in his voice before; teasing.
With a final smile, he started to walk away, disappearing into the dim street.

Shinobu stared at his form fading away. She looked at the pouch in her hand for a moment before she opened the sliding door of her home, and brought the basket inside. She gently slid the door closed behind her and began to get herself ready for bed.

As she plopped on her futon, a smile spread on her face. How good it felt to finally rest on comfortable softness all clean after working hard. She breathed in the scent of camellias that greeted her when she entered inside her home, and just for a moment, she forgot the world around her.

Until her eyes landed on the pouch that she put on her low table.

She sat upright and reached for it, carefully, she undid the ribbon and a small gasp left her lips when she saw what was inside.

A beautiful, lacquered comb in the shades of red and gold crystal on its oval shaped edges. It looked like it was supposed to represent a butterfly, each small crystal shimmering faintly in the lantern light. Its quality matched with what only the rich could afford. It was beautiful. Too beautiful.

Carefully, with delicate care, Shinobu placed it back on the lower table, afraid as if one wrong move might shatter it.
She layed down flat on her back, staring into the ceiling. She thought of Doma's words, his silent vows that made her stomach tickle and make heat rush to her cheeks. She wondered if he thought ill of her the moment he saw her vulnerable weakness as she tried to lift that heavy basket. Perhaps he helped her out of pity and kindness.

The moments she recalled from earlier resulted in a flushed face, Shinobu flopped on her stomach and buried her face in her pillow. She didn't realize that today's tiredness settled in, so she relaxed her body on her soft futon as she covered herself with a blanket.

Her eyelids grew heavy, and the last thing she saw was her dim room before sleep embraced her.