Yoriichi continued his existence as was normal. His breath relaxed and his eyes blinking when it struck their fancy, entirely oblivious to the fact that what he had said had spiked any negative reaction in the other. After all, it was merely a fact and the former demon king would likely have remembered their scheduled meeting - Aniue would have made sure of it.
Family meetings - Yoriichi was not quite sure who had started this tradition amongst them. Perhaps it had been uta, whose warm eyes and bubbly smile wanted everyone she knew to get along - maybe it had even been Aniue himself as Yoriichi's older brother had always liked subtly designing a five year plan that led to the outcome he had originally desired, where he laid out small puzzle pieces that would let the people around him build the road that led to his goal themselves. It could have been both of them, with how well Uta and Aniue had complemented each other - as Yoriichi always knew they would.
It was bittersweet to see them interact. The two most important people in Yoriichi's life. Enjoying each other's company as much as Yoriichi enjoyed theirs. It was heart-warming.
To be able to see his family up close so often...sharing presence...it fulfilled his dearest wish. And it was something Yoriichi had never envisioned possible ever again. Having believed his Aniue lost - at first because Aniue had not remembered the past...and then because he had once more found his side by what could only be categorised as evil incarnate.
But that was not quite the truth - as Yoriichi had been forced to realise. Truly, Yoriichi should have never underestimated his Aniue's capacity to love. He had always been so kind at heart after all. And aniue had made it rather clear that his heart in all its fullness - was enough to hold on tightly to both monster and man alike.
Yoriichi could never be as selfish as to make him choose one over the other.
And it had seemed, that Muzan Kibutsuji - despite his many cruel ways - could not ask that of his partner.
Because that was what they were. Sharing space, sharing their most vulnerable parts of themselves - and it was weird. Very weird. To imagine someone like Kibutsuji to have vulnerabilities at all, to have a shrivel of care for another in that all-consuming void of his. Even moreso that it was his Aniue that was the recipient of that single droplet of love. But Aniue was happy, and Kibutsuji was not actively harming people, not anymore. So who was Yoriichi to judge his older twin's happiness?
If being able to spend time with his family had the price of including muzan Kibutsuji in it, then that was a price Yoriichi would gladly pay. For Aniue.
Muzan's reply was precise and correct, so Yoriichi merely continued existing in response. It was good to know that the other had been aware of his arrival. He took his meeting times with Aniue very seriously, having never once missed one.
Muzan seemed to be looking for something - Yoriichi distantly noticed- the way his eyes shifted to the entrance was interesting. Was he waiting for Aniue?
Yoriichi's flicker of curiosity was answered when Muzan spoke next.
Yes, Uta usually liked coming with him. She loved spending time with her brother-in-law and people in general, her sunny smile and gentle demeanour simply melting the heart's of those around her... but Uta had been so busy at work today that she hadn't been able to make it. Her textile business overrun with customer orders that she hadn't been able to ignore - although she had been very sad about it.
"Uta was busy." That deep soft-spoken gravitas his voice tended to carry ever-present as Yoriichi wordlessly followed the unspoken permission to enter the apartment- though once he had done so, he remained standing in the middle of the living room, seemingly entirely oblivious to how utterly awkward such an action was.
It was not out of discomfort but simply because Yoriichi did not know where Muzan wanted him to sit. This was after all, the former demon's place and Yoriichi had no interest in unintentionally disrespecting the other - because then Aniue would likely have to do damage control. And though Yoriichi trusted his Aniue to sort out any perceived slights, he also did not want to make him do more work than he already was.
Speaking of Aniue... where was he? It was unlike him to not be around even a few hours prior to agreed meetings: "Is Aniue okay?"
