Independent selective roleplay blog for ʏᴏʀɪɪᴄʜɪ ᴛꜱᴜɢɪᴋᴜɴɪ and other muses of 𝕶𝖎𝖒𝖊𝖙𝖘𝖚 𝖓𝖔 𝖄𝖆𝖎𝖇𝖆. My portrayal is based on the anime and manga and includes headcanons derived from said source material. This blog features content that might be triggering to others: death, violence, cannibalism, murder simply because of the canon nature of these muses. Mun is open to writing with minors but will not ship with them. This blog will also include untagged manga spoilers, please be aware of this. Mun is 19+ she/her, time zone is CEST
This blog is based on request, meaning only those I roleplay with, will be able to request muses. That is because none of these muses are my primary muses but I am more than happy to write for them every once in a while. If a kny muse is not listed, feel free to ask me if I'd be open to writing for said muse. Chances are high i'll say yes. Though Yoriichi is my primary muse on this blog.
I. RULES II. MUSES III. SISTER ACCOUNT IV. CHANNEL DIRECTORY V. VERSES VI. BASIC INFO YORIICHI
I know that it's been 19 days since pride month is over but I kinda like this profile pic pfff. Let Yoriichi have a liddol pansexual flag, go off king.
- in a world where kagaya ubuyashiki is the demon king...everything in michikatsus life transpires the same way... except that yoriichi finds kagaya ubuyashiki before ubuyashiki finds michikatsu (perhaps because kagaya is not as sciency as muzan and as such not interested in breathing users for their unique genetic make-up potentially being capable of withstanding the sun) and so when yoriichi and kagaya fight... kagaya uses his charisma (and differing approach) to turn yoriichi into a demon against his will.
- Michikatsu is devastated by this. Firstly because yoriichis freedom was robbed and secondly because his brother is insanely strong. You don't want to have that facing humanity.
- Whilst Yoriichi would not have been able to be turned into a demon in the original verse, he is one in this one as Kagaya Ubuyashiki has developed a different method of turning demons instead of a simple blood transfusion. He has deployed the help of experts in medicine (whom he has also turned) to create a mixture that will destroy any genes and weaken any immune system to the point that his cells can easily nest into his demons. However, Yoriichi's blood remains strong and kagaya was unable to override it completely. And as the years flow by, Yoriichi's blood slowly but surely regains dominance within his body - eventually turning him back into a human. Kagaya is aware of this...and also is aware that whilst developing a second weakening for Yoriichi's immune system could slow down the process, it would not stop the problem. As such he has decided to convince yoriichi of his course himself.
- he is only doing good after all. Just saving all those poor children from their traumatic home lives. And of course those children need to eat. He cannot bring himself to stop them from eating people. They are simply hungry. He's just giving them the life they have always deserved. And if they happen to want to help him find the blue spider lily well that is just because they feel grateful for his actions of sheltering and nurturing them.
- Yoriichi is morally conflicted. On the one hand he acknowledges that the children do indeed come from terrible circumstances that no child should have to go through but on the other...they still harm people in return. He wishes he could become a human quicker because he wants to bring an end to this once and for all but kagaya watches his every move. And whilst his thoughts begin to be more and more inaccessible for kagaya to decipher, he still has to be careful. As long as he has demonic traces in his blood, he cannot attack kagaya. So he bides his time and watches children commit unforgivable acts, heart suffering quietly.
- Yoriichi has never eaten a human or killed a human. He refuses. At the very least Kagaya never insisted upon it because to force Yoriichi to kill or eat a human would go against his image of a well-meaning father figure for all those in need. He always talks about how 'it saddens me greatly that violence is a necessity to grant you the peaceful existence you deserve, my children.' So he accepts Yoriichi's refusal with no problem.
- Yoriichi's blood demon art is capable of blinding people with the enormous light he can emanate. His physical stats are already the maximum anyone could have so they did not really change. In theory Kagaya should want to make use of Yoriichi as much as possible. But he also knows that forcing Yoriichi to do so would make Yoriichi rather willingly die trying to kill him so they are at a stalemate.
- Michikatsu and yoriichi are born into a family known for its deep entanglements with the corps. Their fathers constitution was too weak to bear a breathing style and he felt obliged to at the least offer up his older child (Michikatsu) to the corps led by ubuyashiki.
- michikatsu noticed yoriichis abilities early on (they spend a lot of time together, especially alone because michikatsu is protective and doesn't feel comfortable to be himself around anyone else in the house) but he has quietly tried to keep them hidden because he fears that yoriichi would be exploited by the corps. Yoriichi has been trying to follow his aniues wishes but it's been getting harder and harder every day with being forced to watch michikatsus labour knowing he could make it better... if only he revealed his talents..
- before yoriichi is about to crack... a tragedy befalls the tsugikuni household when the twins are only 12 yeafs old...as an upper rank demon/unknown strong demon one night comes to the tsugikuni house - when yoriichi is away - and kills every single member of the family... (or actually moreso tries to turn them into a demon but most perish due to their inability to accept the blood) when yoriichi returns he is confronted with the gut-wrenching sight... he believes his brother dead at first... when he notices his faint pulse. Yoriichi knows very well that his older twin is likely a demon.. that yoriichi should kill michikatsu whilst he is unconscious... but yoriichi cannot bring himself to. Instead he waits.. holding michikatsus unconscious hand in his. Not quite knowing what it is that he waits for. He only knows that the process is incredibly painful to michikatsu... it takes three days.. and three nights.. until michikatsu wakes. Starving and delirious... and very demonic. No longer adorning two eyes... but six. It is yoriichis inhumane strength that succeeds in keeping michikatsu pinned down until the feral state of michikatsus mind subsides.. and he realises that it is yoriichi he is with.. from then on out he recovers his control..michikatsu has always been nothing if not disciplined and restrained.
- knowing that they can not remain where they are now, yoriichi and michikatsu flee into the night
- yoriichi seeks out an abandoned house near a mountainous region where not many individuals live. Although he knows that michikatsu can control his demonic instincts he doesn't wish for them to be discovered (and for michikatsu to be executed)
- because he eats no human flesh or blood, michikatsu simply sleeps whenever his energy is low. (Although they are soon to find out that michikatsu needs blood to keep going and that sleep does not suffice. Michikatsu initially was against it but yoriichi simply was unable to see his brother in such a frail state that he began offering his blood. Just every few months.. not very regularly... yoriichis blood helped michikatsu restore him to a better health ... although the fact that they are identical twins...and their genetic code is nearly identical... and michikatsus consumption of a dna that was literally nearly his own... absolutely did not come with any consequences whatsoever uh-uh)
- yoriichi sees himself forced to start training and to become more decisive to ensure his aniue can survive. Yoriichi never needed help with swordsmanship, it had always come easy to him... but that does not mean that he is familiar with the technical aspects of it or other breathing styles. Talking to michikatsu - whom had studied precisely these things for his entire life - helped yoriichi immensely.
- As the years slowly go by and michikatsu slowly regains his strength through the occasional blood offering from yoriichi...and plenty of sleep.. something... unique happens. Slowly... yoriichis blood that michikatsu has been consuming over the years... is recognised as michikatsus own blood cells.. and whilst his demonhood is not lifted... he begins to mutate... just ever so slightly. This does not manifest in michikatsu being able to withstand the sun... it does however manifest in reducing his hunger... and weakening his long since broken off connection to the demon king.
- as the years grow by, both twins train and michikatsu (at yoriichis recommendation) begins to develop his own breathing technique, the breath of the moon... and then combines it with his blood demon art of creating crescent moons that can cut sharper than any knife.
- Michikatsu and yoriichi are born into a family known for its deep entanglements with the corps. Their fathers constitution was too weak to bear a breathing style and he felt obliged to at the least offer up his older child (Michikatsu) to the corps led by ubuyashiki.
- Michikatsus mother is also rather sickly. Michikatsu spent much of his childhood training and working hard, most of his life dedicated towards preparing himself to one day become a demon slayer to make the contribution to the corps that his father has been desperate to fulfill ever since he had found out he himself would be unable to do his duty.
- whilst the twins were not pitted against one another, yoriichi has voiced his wish to become a demon slayer just like his aniue is destined to be. Because of yoriichis apparent talent, their at first skeptical father, was more than happy to oblige -> this entire sections carries a deeper lore because... michikatsu was aware of yoriichis hidden overwhelming talent for the sword...long before anyone else. You see.. the twins are very close.. and michikatsu is very protective. Michikatsu had been confronted with the environment and ideologies of the corps ever since childhood and .. he doesn't really like what he sees.. and he is very much afraid that yoriichis talents would be exploited.. which was why michikatsu was adamant on concealing yoriichis capabilities for years, viewing it as his duty as yoriichis older brother to shield him from the greedy hands of the corps by letting everything unfold just as their father had planned.. with michikatsu as the sole demon slayer amongst his sons.
Yoriichi on the other hand has been watching his brother lift this heavy weight for years and years all on his own. Has watched michikatsu sacrifice so much of himself for a cause that yoriichi has long since noticed michikatsu is not particularly enamoured with... and yoriichi has seen michikatsus hands bleeding during practice one too many times. He feels guilty for withholding his talents and getting to do whatever he desired with his life whilst his older twin is actively harming himself with how hard he works.. and yoriichi simply could no longer stand back and watch. He voiced his wish to join the demon slayer corps (after a lesson where michikatsus instructor jokingly let yoriichi try to get at him.. yoriichi knocked him out with but a wooden katana ...) and much to michikatsus heart break, yoriichi has now been roped into the path of a demon slayer as well (michikatsu scolded yoriichi rather severely for that)
- yoriichi is deeply familiar with the corps hypocrisy... mostly because he has listened to michikatsu quietly sharing his observations quite a lot over the course of their childhood (michikatsu and yoriichi are quite close as no one is forbidding them from interacting in this time zone. Yoriichi us the only person michikatsu trusts enough to utter his true opinions around) but yoriichi also has his own opinions regarding the corps. Regardless, they both do not become demon slayers out of conviction for the corps' cause.. but to satisfy their father.
- Yoriichis natural talent has him coming up with a new breathing style (sun breathing) and michikatsu has been analysing every single existing breathing style for years... upon yoriichis suggestion, michikatsu too begins to work on inventing a breathing style that fits his constitution the best (the breath of the moon)
- at the age of 17, the twins are sent to the final selection... (now knowing the twins capabilities usually every single demon would have been destroyed during the first night... but michikatsu remains cautious of the corps exploiting yoriichi... and so he asks yoriichi to hold back.. and yoriichi has never been good at saying no to his older twin.. especially with how concerned michikatsu seemed...so they each end up killing only a handful of demons.. mostly out of self defense)
- over the years they slowly climb the ranks to hashira, yoriichi remaining careful of hiding his true capabilities.. just as michikatsu. Only ever slightly better than the demons they face... So that nobody will notice.
- now both sitting at the rank of hashira... neither michikatsu nor yoriichi have a plan for a future outside of the corps. Michikatsu Dislikes how constricted the entire situation feels.. and he feels bitter towards it.. but there is nothing to do about it but to carry on and to endure. As long as nobody realises the true extent of their abilities... they will survive.
The admission was simple. Too simple. It escaped his lips with an ease that bordered on indifference.
Perhaps another person might have looked upon this second life as an opportunity for reinvention. A chance to bury the past in exchange for some manner of redemption.
It would have been easy to provide a perfect facade of this; to fashion himself into the image of a man who had discovered remorse and learned the error of his ways. The effort required to provide the illusion of a changed heart was insignificant for someone like him. After all, he had spent centuries mimicking human emotions without ever feeling them, walking amongst humans like one of their own.
Eyes averted in shame. A quiet voice. Carefully placed words. It would be so easy.
But he had no desire to do so in front of Yoriichi. Perhaps because the other still had a way of unsettling him. Perhaps because, when confronted by that impassive gaze, Muzan knew that nothing he could create would obscure what he truly was—- the irreversible, blackened void that sat at his core.
❛ The suffering I caused was not my objective, but I will not insult either of us by pretending that it mattered enough to stop me. I wanted an existence that could not be taken from me by any means. If others had to suffer and die for it, then that was fine with me. ❜ There wasn't an attempt to soften the words, merely the cold hand of honesty.
He had a new life, not a new conscience.
❛ I only regret that I was defeated before I could achieve my goal. ❜
The words were received with a certain numbness. He had just been about to take a bite of his Aniue's cooking. It should have been something that brought him a quiet sort of enjoyment. To be able to once more eat his brother's quiet care. Something he had missed for centuries. He should have been preoccupied with being touched by his Aniue's mindful preparation and heart put into the dish.
Instead Kibutsuji's words rang hollow in his heart.
The chopsticks containing the food halted in the air, as though unable to move on from what had just been said.
It had not been easy to pretend everything was okay for his Aniue's sake but he had done it. Had wanted to do it because for the first time his brother looked well and truly happy. Even if he had to be around the incarnation of evil to be able to spend time with him.
And perhaps it was even facilitated whenever Aniue made him leave with leftovers, or when Aniue sat next to him in quiet companionship or when Aniue's expressive maroon eyes were all filled with worry or love. That was the trouble with his Aniue, his heart was so big it was far too easy to get lost in it, distracted by it. So that the other person he shared it with disappeared behind it.
Not that he thought that Aniue had done such a thing deliberately. Yoriichi understood very little of the hidden truths of others but what he did know was that Aniue did not think of himself as kind - for he had once told him that himself. So he could not weaponise something he did not believe he had.
It was just that Muzan Kibutsuji had decided to stop hiding behind his older brothers deep well of love. Was it because he felt safe enough? That his Aniue's love was all the protection needed to trample all over it and use it for his own gain?
Why else would the source of all evil decide to tell him this? It was not news that the other held no weight for human lives. Yoriichi had once asked him that question and had been faced with the other escaping. Once Yoriichi had regained his memories in this life, he had literally set out to kill the other once and for all. He had never held any illusions about who Muzan Kibutsuji really was.
It did the other no favours to go out of his way to remind Yoriichi of his true nature. It made no sense.
"I know who you are, Muzan Kibutsuji." His usual soft spoken cadence nowhere to be seen, voice instead holding a firm gravity, a certainty that brook no argument - the only time his own voice could be mistaken for that of his older twins.
"I had accepted your presence as a necessary evil for Aniue's sake. But to use my Aniue's love as a shield?"
Maroon eyes blitzed with danger, calmly staring down the other as they began focusing on the other's blood flow, and weak constitution. It would not be a challenge to make that heart stop right here and now, and if it would be to spare his Aniue the pain of being used, he would gladly bear losing his Aniue forever. He would do anything to protect the man who had sought him out despite their father punishing him for doing so, despite thinking Yoriichi could not hear or speak. Anything.
"Do you love my brother at all?"
One final chance. One last opportunity to prove himself worthy of his Aniue's affection.
It is a quiet day. He is not usually in the swordsmith village - always taking good care of his katana to not need any attending to from the hard-working people here. His steps however have found him walking along this path and there was little reason they shouldn't. He enjoys the way the sun shines upon his face, his heart and soul at peace with the surrounding nature he does not even pay attention to the people walking down the streets.
His senses continue to register them but he does not focus on it, which allows him the freedom to simply be.
He is glad to help prevent the demons from spreading of course... but he is aware of the corps' tendency to recruit children. That is an aspect he agrees with Aniue on. Aniue is far more wary of the demon slayer corps than he is - for Yoriichi cannot ignore the benefits they bring to the world and civilians - but he also knows that some aspects are not without oddity.
He would reveal his true capabilities in a heartbeat- would give everything to protect those in need even if it meant being asked to do so every minute of the day - but Aniue would be horrified. "You have to rest, Yoriichi. They would not let you if they knew."
He can't exactly disagree. The corps do implore a lot of children whose families have been victims of demons.
Caught within his zen like state, he does not instantly prioritise that a smaller presence has made his way to him and is standing in front of him. The sun breather's gaze travels down to take a better look at the green-haired boy - assessing his bodily constitution instinctually: "Can I help you?" His tone a soft-spoken baritone.
It is with light steps that the demoness risks a walk outside to where the training grounds are. Now that the sunlight no longer stings her, she is no longer confided to her room in the butterfly mansion. It is nice...to be able to see the world that has been their home for quite a while with her own eyes without it being nighttime - and without having to ask someone to supervise her.
It seems, the kind people who have given her Oni-chan a chance don't feel the distrust towards them that they used to. Though her mind and body are caught in a tug of war without an end in sight, she finds hope in the fact that her big brother seems to have found a home here. With people that care about him.
Speaking of her brother... pink eyes spot the the other swinging his katana. She moves to sit down at the enagwa, content to watch. Feeling no need to disrupt him. Observing takes up much of her time spent awake. Her mind having trouble focusing for more than a few minutes at a time. Even now her grasp on more complex thoughts is strained. Not too soon will the vague recollections of her family dissipiate once more without knowledge when she will be able to understand once more that she used to have a family that consisted of more than just Tanjiro.
OPEN TO SHIPPING?: not at all my priority for her as she's a minor and there's not really a ship of hers that I'm crazy about. It depends on chemistry I suppose (and would need to stick to hand holding) I won't be aging her up for the sake of shipping nor will I write NSFW things for her at all‼️ she's pretty preoccupied but if someone does come along that vibes with her I'd be open to an innocent teenage romance 💕
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Nezuko's final form does not increase her age or physical development, it just makes her look taller and stronger. I'm not comfortable with how the manga focused so much on her figure when that was entirely unecessary.
I also do not find a liking in the manga's decision to take away her ability to talk completely. My rendition of Nezuko is instead not able to talk for the first few years but eventually develops the ability to speak in basic sentences around the time that tanjiro is on his first few missions. However it takes a lot of energy for her to say these basic sentences and her vocabulary and the content of her words are rather child-like (very simple) to respect the effect demonhood had on her mind. Though her speech is very bare-boned, her mind still retains her emotional maturity though it is not always accessible to her. There will be times where nezuko will say something in very simple terms and become frustrated for being unable to say more clearly what she means - displaying her discomfort and the loss she feels about her forced demonhood. There will also be times where she has access to the inherent information every demon carries but is unable to state that info out loud because of her own verbal restrictions and because both muzan would not have allowed it + tamayo severed the connection to him so Nezuko might know the sensation of the information and the feelings associated with it but wouldn't be able to put them into words. Successfully trapping her between demonhood and the remnants of humanity within her that both she and tanjiro are clinging onto.
Yoriichi loves his brother deeply. But he didn't always see him. Though Yoriichi can read the emotions of other people well due to his unique ability to access the see through world, he doesn't always recognise why they are feeling the emotion they are feeling or what precise emotion they are feeling. For example: he did not understand that Muzan was terrified of him after Yoriichi nearly killed him. ('The man seemed confused over the fact that he wasn't regenerating. He was holding his severed head so it wouldn't fall off but it wasn't connecting. I knew that my red blade would work instantly on the progenitor of the demons. But I really wanted to ask him somerhing.' "What do you think lives are?" 'The man didn't respond. He just looked at me.')
He thinks muzan is simply confused instead of downright terrified. This shows us that Yoriichi does have a certain amount of perception but he tends to miss a lot of subtext too. Michikatsu, who primarily communicates through subtext was as such not easily understood by yoriichi. And michikatsu's own inability to talk about his feelings and needs enabled the miscommunication between them. And often made Yoriichi assume michikatsu was of the same opinions as he was (as Yoriichi tends to view the world in a certain way and has difficulties grasping that other people have a different perspective. It took him uta telling him that not everyone could see the world he saw for him to realise that what he could see was not normal. )
That being said, the influence Michikatsu had on his brother is immense even if Yoriichi doesn't always consciously notice it. Most of the more complex emotions in others Yoriichi picks up on because Michikatsu once explained them to him. A lot of the social norms he is aware of is because Michikatsu told him. Though Michikatsu has no idea that Yoriichi actually remembered his explanations.
Yoriichi admires his brother for many reasons. He admires his intelligence, his hard-work, his social skills and his resilience though he tends to be rather biased as he had a hard time understanding why Michikatsu would betray the corps as he had no idea that his brother felt resentment towards him (due to Michikatsu never voicing it out loud) he does know that Michikatsu's nervous system was very reactive when in proximity to him but he never connected the dots in that direction.
As mentioned above; yoriichi does know that his brother is quite sensitive because he can literally see the processes happening in Michikatsu's body and how reactive his nervous system is. He also has a good read on what things cause a strong reaction in michikatsu and which don't. Though he doesn't always know how to help or what Michikatsu needs in those moments - or whether he needs anything at all.
His hand fiddled with the wooden surface of the desk, enjoying the way the texture brushed against his skin, his maroon eyes utterly transfixed by the simple sensation. Though many areas of the university had been renovated, there still remained a few older rooms. Though he had chosen physics as his focus - and for the sake of experimental installments it was better to have a less affected surface to work on, he still preferred the more nature related installments. It made him feel closer to nature even during lectures.
Muzan's remark was reacted to with nothing more than a blink. It was true after all. How else did students get to university apart from walking, public transport...or by car. There was nothing to really say - no reason to perceive muzan's words as something other than their literal statement.
Yoriichi did not stop in gently brushing fingers against his desk even as he paid attention to the words that next left the other's mouth. It seems Muzan was talking about an award the physics department wanted to give to him. There was no reason to do so, Yoriichi had simply solved a few equations after all. The groundwork had been laid out decades ago by renounced physicians and other scientists. Without their relentless efforts, Yoriichi's numbers would have been simply that: numbers. If anything, it was quite beautiful how their thoughts and theories had been carried forth by the minds of the future - such as they would even now. Yoriichi had played a far smaller part compared to those that had come before him. As such, it was quite confusing why Yoriichi would be the one rewarded for it.
Muzan, it seemed, appeared to share that perspective. The little whisper he released seemed certain of Yoriichi's reception of such a prize. "I don't deserve it." A truth easily acknowledged, tone unchanging: "Everyone played their part. We wouldn't be here today without those that have come before us." A slight pause followed before he once more resumed speaking: "Other students worked very hard. They should have gotten the acknowledgement."
His gaze drifted towards the shapes that made up this particular piece of wood, entranced by the unique forms, tracing them with his finger. Muzan's gaze once more directing upon him was noticed but left the Tsugikuni unfazed, though the other's question was acknowledged.
"Yes. It is the least I could do." Just because he did not think he should have received such an award, did not mean he simply could ignore it. It would discredit the hard work the university put into these ceremonies. Though Muzan's second comment was quite confusing: "I don't think the university cares that much..." his gaze turning to look at Muzan - expression not giving away his internal befuddlement.
How predictable—- the refusal to allow any form of recognition to settle where it belonged. The obstinate tendency toward redistributing the credit for one's own achievement. That display of modesty seemed so carefully cultivated that if it weren't coming from Yoriichi, Muzan would have thought of it as performative and deliberate. The kind of humility people adopted when they wanted to appear indifferent to their own success while at the same time quietly ensuring they were never separated from it; outwardly refusing praise simply for the sake of social theatrics.
But he knew Yoriichi wasn't prone to pretending, much less to trying to manipulate others' perception of him. His words were simply a direct reflection of self-effacement, without deceptive embellishments.
❛ How charitable of you, ❜ he began, the observation lacking any detectable emotion. ❛ You were better than everyone else. What exactly is so objectionable about that? When the gap between you and the rest is so evident, even humility can sound like an attempt at vanity. ❜ Such open display of unpretentiousness without ulterior motives wasn't exactly something Muzan understood, prone to shifting tone and behavior for his own gain as he was. He was much more fluent in calculation than in honesty, particularly the self-diminishing kind.
His attention soon shifted to the other's apparent failure at understanding what had been nothing more than a sarcastic remark; a deliberate exaggeration. Though Yoriichi's expression remained as unfazed as always, his words alone served to reveal this.
❛ I was being sarcastic. ❜ The explanation fell from his lips, tone regaining its prior amusement. Not that he believed the university to be indifferent to Yoriichi's achievements. But surely they could survive one award ceremony without him.
Yoriichi's confirmation regarding his attendance though, once more made his attention focus elsewhere.
❛ And your brother? I wonder if I'll finally get to meet him. ❜ The small curve upon his lips became more perceptible, accompanied by the slightest tilt of his head. The mention of the other's older sibling was simply to test whether it would provoke any reaction. It wasn't that Muzan particularly cared to meet the man. But it was curious how Yoriichi, who regarded almost anything with a serene sort of openness, became almost carefully restrained whenever his elder brother entered the conversation. It had never been lost on Muzan, after all, the way the other happened to resort to single-word responses or vague references when speaking of his brother. And in particular, when doing so with him.
❛ You always seem intent on keeping him a mystery, ❜ he continued. ❛ I've grown curious. ❜ It wasn't a complete lie. It did intrigue him if only because of Yoriichi's attitude, coupled with the unnecessarily formal and old-fashioned word Yoriichi used to address his brother.
He continued looking at his classmate, reacting to his next words with not even a blink. He did not understand what the other had meant with charitable. How could it be charitable when there was nothing to be charitable about? His contributions had had the same gravity as everyone else whom had added something to the creation of the equation and its subsequent solving. Muzan often made strange comments like this. Seemingly of the opinion that success was something that belonged to one instead of the community. Did they not all want to help bring humanity closer to understanding the universe? Was that not why others chose to study this field? It made very little sense.
His Aniue had once told him that motivations were not a one-size-fits-all. That people had different backgrounds and as such different needs. "You can't expect everyone to feel the same way you do, Yoriichi. For some success is survival, for others it is status... some people want to get there on their own...and some prefer to work together. Humans are complex. But don't let that change who you are, okay?"
Perhaps Muzan didn't like working with others. He did seem very focused on doing well and despite talking to people he didn't seem very interested in them.
Nevertheless, it was not a perspective Yoriichi could understand, preferring to stick to what felt right and logical to him instead of questioning other viewpoints further. It felt wrong to ignore the hard work of other's for the sake of saying you did it all on your own.
Muzan's next words caused for maroon eyes to avert themselves in discomfort. He couldn't tell why, but sometimes when the other spoke of some people being better than others, he would feel uneasy. It clashed so much with his own belief and it felt constricting to think in such a way: "I was not better. I just noticed something at the right time. Anyone involved could have had the same idea." Everything that had been thought of once, could be thought of again. Individuals were not as unique to be able to have revelations no one would have after them - or before them. It was luck that decided whose voice would go down in history.
His gaze only returned to Muzan when the other spoke of having been sarcastic: "Oh. Good." It was relieving that Muzan hadn't actually thought that the university cared that much about Yoriichi. Plenty of people had won these awards before - each of them worthy - just as their fellow classmates likely had been. There was nothing special about him. It was good that Muzan recognised that.
His discomfort had had time to slowly recede over the course of their conversation, ready to let the other's unsettling impression pass...when Muzan suddenly mentioned his brother.
He should have seen it coming. He had not exactly hidden the way he avoided talking about his Aniue although they were in the same year - though in different faculties and subjects. He hadn't meant to keep his Aniue from this part of his life. Moreso, he had wanted to keep a certain part of his life... from his Aniue.
Muzan was... he was mostly harmless but...he still made some weird comments here and there that made him think the other's intentions were not as straightforward as Yoriichi's own. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but the thought of having his Aniue anywhere near the other made his skin crawl.
Aniue was kind and giving, strong in body and in heart. But he was also... someone who needed to be handled with care. And Yoriichi knew that not everyone would understand that about his Aniue - nor were willing to. And Muzan...Muzan was a lot. But gentle was not one of those things.
"Aniue will drive me." Though cautious about sharing too much about his Aniue with Muzan, Yoriichi was not a liar. And Muzan would likely recognise his Aniue easily enough given that they were identical twins so denying that he wouldn't be at the ceremony wouldn't matter anyways. Still, he was reluctant to share even that.
The comment about Muzan's curiosity did not mean anything. Muzan wanted the things he could not easily have. All the more reason to keep his Aniue separated from the chemistry student.
There had been a time when something like this would have been unthinkable. Though it wasn’t just solely the passage of time (and lifetimes) that had brought him to this point. After all, having Michikatsu at his side also meant standing within the very same orbit of those who mattered to him. And though Michikatsu had never asked him to make amends with the man who had once hunted him, or tried to force a reconciliation, Muzan had no interest in remaining a source of conflict.
And so, he entrusted the small box to Michikatsu. A set of unkaku and yugen matcha from Marukyu Koyamaen, deemed an appropiate gift for Yoriichi's birthday following a somewhat time-consuming selection. The quiet understanding between Yoriichi and himself still felt too tentative for a gesture like this to be delivered in person, thus why he opted to leave it in Michikatsu's hands.
The box of teas were an unexpected weight within his hand. One that had maroon eyes staring down at them with a certain sensation of aberration. Although today marked the day of his birth - of both of of their births - Yoriichi couldn't prevent the deep feeling of dissonance felt at the box Aniue had handed to him. Not so much due to the tea itself - though Yoriichi had never been one for rewards especially not material one's - but due to the person whom had bought it for him.
Maroon eyes blinked, and then shifted to gaze at his older twin: "This is from Muzan?" He was not usually one to ask the same question twice, but his disbelief was simply too great. It was difficult to grasp the notion that the former demon king would ever...give him something.
His Aniue's face took on that particularly confusing expression it did whenever there was something Yoriichi was missing. Eyes brimming with feelings and words unsaid - his blood flow and muscles belying a tension. The only reason why Yoriichi knew this to be his Aniue's -There is a layer you're missing here, Yoriichi- face was because he had seen this face many many times...usually followed by the literal words of 'there is a layer you're missing here, Yoriichi'...and often an explanation about a hidden nuance that made a lot of sense in retrospect - but not one Yoriichi would have ever thought to come up with on his own. Perhaps his Aniue would want to help him with this too. He did know Kibutsuji best after all.
"Yes. It is from him... I did not ask him to..." the deep resonant baritone of his Aniue repeated itself with a patience and a direct implication. So it had come from Kibutsuji without even his Aniue's influence... "huh." The quiet exclamation leaving Yoriichi's lips in its typical soft-spokenness as he once more gazed down at the tea set. "It's nice."
A beat passed.
His Aniue blinked.
"Yoriichi. You did not even open it."
Oh. Right. In all his confusion he had forgotten to take a look inside. He did his best to express his reproach through inclining his head in a regretful bow: "I apologise, Aniue. I had forgotten."
Another beat passed between the two. "Right..." someone less accustomed to his Aniue's disbelieving sarcasm would not have even caught it - Yoriichi sometimes missed it too. His Aniue's eyebrows raised with a quiet exasperation that came from knowing him too well. Yoriichi could have received an empty box and still referred to it as nice and meant it.
The sun breather set to finally open the box, curiously inspecting the kind stored inside. Matcha... ukaku and yugen. He knew the flavour, of course. Memories from days spent amongst his fellow hashira drinking many different kinds of tea came to mind, it had been a taste he had liked. Having reminded him of nature. It seemed Aniue also approved of the choice - with how the other quietly nodded to himself.
"What do you...think?" The words clumsily leaving the sun breather's lips. Foreign on his tongue. It was question he had missed out on asking his Aniue more often instead of relying on the belief that everyone around him wielded the same impressions. It was hard to notice...when to best ask that question, but he was trying.
It seemed that change was also still new to his older twin, for Aniue's eyes slightly widened at being asked. It hurt that it had been that rare of Yoriichi to inquire about his brother's thoughts, it was something Yoriichi could not help but regret - amongst many other things. Though his musings were cut short by the other's response.
"It is fitting...it smells...like you..." it was not something his older twin would have never said before - the moon pillar had always been so private after all. Yoriichi watched as a slight rosy hue graced his Aniue's cheeks and eyes averted themselves. Yoriichi had had no idea just how much attention his brother had seemed to pay to small things such as these... his heart felt warmed: "It does?" Followed by a quiet little nod of the other that brought a deep well of warmth to Yoriichi's eyes. There was no reason to be this shy about knowing what Yoriichi smelled like, and yet his brother was so anyways, Aniue was truly one of a kind.
His gaze once more trailed off towards the specific names of the matchas: "Yugen...and unkaku...what do they mean?" This was something Yoriichi had always known how to do. The finer aspects of tea servings had never been accessible to him but it was likely a part of what his Aniue had been involved in...back in the sengoku era. And surely enough...
"They belong to a more modern brand... although...both are from a more modern time...
Yugen...is the kanji tied to taoism" fondness spread through Yoriichi as he carefully listened to his Aniue's explanation. "Reflecting Laozi's beliefs of the Universe consisting of that which has not been named and that which has been named."
Yoriichi nodded in understanding...though the relevance of that context was lost on him: "Yugen...symbolises contemplation...as well as mindfulness..."
"Unkaku... delves into similar themes of longevity, peace and spiritual elevation."
Yoriichi remained deep in thought. What had made Kibutsuji give him these two brands? Was there a deeper reasoning behind it? Perhaps he had simply chosen two he thought might be to his liking? Yoriichi certainly had not expected the other to present him with a gift in the first place.
Another glance at his Aniue revealed even more pulsating. Huh. There was definitely something he was missing then. However...: "Thank you...I think that's all I needed to know" some things did not need more contemplation to be appreciated for what they were. "I am grateful that he thought of me. He had no reason to."
Kokushibo's/Michikatsu's and Yoriichi's birthday is the 9th of July so if you feel like sending either character something like a gift or just something birthday related for their birthdays, feel free to! It would make them very happi hihi :3 feel free to send things in prematurely too <3
Michikatsu on this account, and Yoriichi over on @sonnestanz
Calm. Unadorned. Deprived of even the slightest scintilla of perceivable emotion. And yet, that voice struck deeper than it had any right to, settling upon him with the unwanted familiarity of something half-buried and violently unearthed.
Before he could so much as grant his body permission to react, a shiver had already run down his spine. The involuntary disturbance, though not dramatic enough to be mistaken for fear, couldn’t be dismissed as nothing. It was most irritating, how despite their prior encounters in this life —whether civil or hostile—, said repetition had not bred indifference, his mind having yet to adapt to the other’s presence enough to avoid such instinctual reactions. And the other's tendency of phrasing everything in such an ominous and cryptic way certainly did not help matters.
Regardless, he refrained from allowing even the smallest fracture of expression to bloom upon his countenance. Instead, he tilted his head ever so slightly with rehearsed imperturbability, plum red eyes silently observing the utterly impassive man in front of them. The gesture was so measured it bordered on disdain for the need to make it at all.
❛ Yes. ❜ His voice was carefully leveled into something that might have passed for ordinary courtesy. Civility took over his features like a finely tailored garment, worn correctly and convincingly enough. But it was a pretense, of course. All the way down to its core. ❛ I was aware of that. ❜
It was true that this had been arranged beforehand. One of those ‘familial get-togethers’ that Muzan never accepted willingly nor comfortably, but instead with a reluctant sort of acquiescence, knowing well that refusal would create its own kind of inconvenience. Michikatsu and him had only recently navigated the rather disastrous aftermath of their memories returned in full, the conflictive sorting of identities they had not been prepared to inherit having come close to causing a permanent rupture between them. Muzan had no intention of risking further strain over something as occasional as a meeting with the man who had threatened his existence centuries ago and whose presence, even now, continued to unsettle him.
There was, however, one small issue this time: Yoriichi had arrived too damn early.
So early, in fact, that Michikatsu had left moments ago, deeming the time safe enough to permit himself a simple trip to the convenience store. Something about completing the ingredients to prepare whatever it was he was cooking for the occasion.
The thought formed immediately and was almost spoken: an acerbic remark about the early hour. But though the biting comment lingered like poison upon the tip of his tongue, Muzan did not voice it aloud, knowing it would only serve to introduce more friction into a situation already balancing on a tightrope.
Instead, his gaze shifted briefly past Yoriichi and into the corridor beyond, plum red eyes expecting to find a certain bubbly someone whose endless reserves of cheerfulness would surely be the saving grace in this whole moment.
Uta.
She wasn’t there. In fact, she was nowhere to be seen.
They were very much alone. This realization felt akin to a bucket of ice-cold water emptied over his head without warning.
❛ I was under the impression that you would not arrive alone. ❜ It became harder to conceal the disgruntlement this caused him behind the mask of politeness. Though, for the most part, he succeeded. ❛ Is your wife not joining you? ❜ As the question was voiced, he stepped aside in a silent invitation —though not particularly enthusiastic— for Yoriichi to come into the apartment. The motion itself could qualify as hospitality, but it carried none of the ease such a gesture implied.
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?"
He remained motionless, seeing no reason to change his outward stance as he continued to stand in the middle of the room, only passively registering Muzan's words because the words didn't really sound like they wanted to be responded to. His sharp hearing making it impossible not to hear the other even though an entire corridor had stretched between them.
Well, not anymore - as the former demon king was making his way over to the living room, his steps not overly loud but still grave in presence - even as a sickly human, belying his true nature. Yoriichi had been in this very apartment countless of times, so he saw no reason to acknowledge how much hard work must have went into keeping it this clean and maintained. Perhaps it had been his Aniue who tended to clean it, perhaps it was Muzan himself...Aniue had always liked cleaning things and the demon king... Yoriichi really did not know enough about Muzan to really decide whether he was the type of person who cleaned things. In the past there simply had never been a reason to bother to know more about the epitome of evil, and even now...that he had agreed not to slay the other he didn't really know whether he wanted to know these more mundane things about the other in the first place.
The answer to that question would come in time, flowing towards him - he was sure. There was no reason to stress about it now.
He watched as Muzan took a seat in one of the chairs, still making no attempt to sit down. The next sentence the other uttered gained his attention. It was not surprising that Aniue wanted to cook, Aniue had cooked for him a handful of times back in the day too. It was simply a very Aniue thing to do. It was comforting...that that action seemed to still be here: "Aniue is very nice." His features remained indecipherable though they did give off the impression that he was smiling on the inside.
Then, the offer came. Sit... he was allowed to sit. But where. He was fairly neutral on sitting. He didn't really feel the need to sit. But it was ...something...that the other had offered. Perhaps he should sit down... Aniue would have wanted him to because it was the polite thing to do. And Aniue also got along with Muzan...for reasons Yoriichi couldn't quite grasp...so maybe it would be wise to follow his brother's advice. But...he still didn't know where. Muzan hadn't said. As such, he did the best he could: "okay."
No motion of movement followed. A mere acknowledgement that the offer to sit had been given. There was no haste or discomfort in his decision not to sit just yet. As though awkwardness had never been a realm he was capable of perceiving in the first place. He simply didn't know where to sit and Muzan hadn't told him where so there was nothing to do but to stand here.
