This charming fellow here is Ricky Dragonfeathers, and you will be controlling his fate. You will continue his story with a poll, and whichever option has the most votes will be written into the next part. This will go on until I see fit. Feel free to suggest options. :)
The Gnarly Saga of Ricky Dragonfeathers
Early nightfall. Ricky, having been just lost in the woods, pulls himself out of the foliage towards the first sign of civilization he lays his eyes upon, a bar. It looks like a normal bar, except for the wooden, round, carved door. He briefly runs his fingers over the carvings before stepping inside.
The bar is dimly lit and full of interesting characters, like a reptilian lady arguing ferociously with a masked figure at the other end of her table. She clutched a cloth sack with dark liquid dripping out the bottom. A few tables away, a young man is passed out, face in his glass and a knife in his hand.
Ricky sits down in a stool right in front of the bartender and orders an orange juice.
He listens in on the conversations of the patrons. The reptilian lady slams her fist on the table. The passed-out guy is quietly shuffled outside by 2 other whispering men. They seem like they're having fun.
Soft petals of light danced on Tanjiro's checkered haori as he strolled through the wooded area of headquarters. He breathed in the fresh, sweet-scented air and smiled. The sun ducked in and out of the drifting clouds playfully. After a busy day of training, it was good to just exist for a few minutes. Even if all his limbs were sore and his spine felt like it was bending in unnatural ways. It was fine, really. He'd felt worse.
As he admired the scenery, he noticed a clear, grassy area between the towering trunks, glimpses of mountain poking through.
The cloud that had briefly obscured the sun shifted, and the rays struck the ground once again, making it radiant once more.
The light hit something else in the field.
Tanjiro squinted. The small figure of Muichiro was standing in the grass, gaze turned up to the sky. Well, if he was already here, maybe he should say hi! He took a step forward.
Muichiro fell backwards onto the ground.
He didn't get up.
In a panic, Tanjiro stumbled out from the trees and dashed toward him. "Muichiro! Are you okay?"
When he reached Muichiro, he did not look panicked. Calm, even.
Tanjiro knelt beside him.
"Muichiro, are you-"
Muichiro raised a finger to his lips.
"Shhhhh."
He pointed to the sky.
Oh.
He wasn't dying. He was just cloudwatching. Oops.
"Oh. Sorry," he whispered.
Muichiro patted the grass next to him.
Tanjiro nodded.
He laid down on the ground beside him and crossed his arms under his head.
The swirling shapes were soothing to watch. Every now and then, Muichiro would point at a specific one and say "sparrow" or "stretching cat" or "fish with one leg", and Tanjiro would nod in agreement. Muichiro would do the same when Tanjiro identified creatures in the clouds.
They did disagree one one cloud, however. Muichiro insisted that it was a bug, but Tanjiro saw a two-tailed lizard. After much discussion and debate, they both failed to convince the other of their perspective.
"You are wrong. You are very completely wrong," Muichiro stated suddenly.
Info: less angst, less medical stuff, taste of fluff around the end, hair, gyomei and genya are father and son ok it's canon, females appear (very scary), ✨my terrible writing skills✨
Synopsis: Sanemi blinds Genya. Shenanigans ensue.
Notes: haha this is a series now
A soft voice cut through the walls. Genya sat up and strained his ears, trying to determine who it belonged to. With a tiny bit of panic, he realized it was a female voice, and it was getting closer. He quickly laid back down and threw the sheet over his head. The door clicked open, and light footsteps tapped toward him.
"It's good to see you awake, Genya."
Shinobu Kocho.
He did not remove the sheet. He briefly considered making snoring sounds so she would go away.
He felt the end of the bed press down slightly as she sat down, and he scrunched his legs up close against himself.
"Has the disinfectant stopped burning?" she asked calmly.
"Y-yes," he stuttered.
"I'm going to try to heal the wounds as best I can, but I'm afraid you won't be able to see again."
He was silent. She allowed him to be silent for a small piece of time before she spoke again. "Are you able to stand?"
Slowly, he slid both legs out of the covers and onto the ground. Even slower, he stood up. He felt weak. His knees shook, and he reached out to grab the wall with his good arm before he stumbled over.
"I guess you'll need some extra support while I guide you out," she remarked. "What?" "Gyomei wanted to talk to you. He wanted to visit as soon as he heard, but..." He swore he heard a touch of amusement in her tone. "I don't think he'd fit."
The bed creaked as she got up. She picked up the good arm, putting it around her shoulders, and wrapped her other arm around his torso, essentially giving him a mild heart attack.
"We're going to meet him just outside. Try to be conscious of where your feet are so there aren't any accidents, okay?" He nodded.
Hunched over awkwardly, on account of their noticable height difference, Genya stepped forward.
Sounds of chatter and general busyness sprinkled the air as he was escorted through the mansion. Maneuvering was easier than expected, with Shinobu's assistance, but their trek was not without the occasional running into a doorframe or knocking shoulders with passersby.
The already high amount of respect for his blind mentor was steadily increasing.
Shinobu stopped and let go of him briefly, and the sound of a shoji sliding open signaled that they were about to be outside.
The fresh air was welcome, and Genya wished he could take off his bandages so the rest of his face could feel it.
Without familiar landmarks to touch like doorframes and steps, her couldn't tell where they were anymore. How does he get around like this? he thought.
"Almost there."
After a minute or two, a deep, muttering voice was audible. Beads clattered softly. "He's here," Shinobu called out to him.
The muttering stopped and gravel crunched as he turned to face them.
Shinobu guided Genya to a tree and pressed his hand against the trunk.
"Stay standing for as long as possible," she told him. "I'll be here to take him back in about half an hour," she addressed Gyomei.
It was quiet until Shinobu's steps had completely faded out.
He heard Gyomei take a breath before he approaches him, heavy steps rattling his prayer beads.
"We've already questioned your brother and Kamado. Their stories were... wildly different. It's important that we know what really happened."
Tanjiro. He must've been that voice he heard screaming his name.
Genya sighed. Thinking about the events that occurred just a few days ago put a weight in his soul.
"I... I just wanted to fix things with him."
I wanted my brother back.
"I tried to apologize. I told him I worked so hard just to get to him. I even told him that I ate demons. And... that's when he attacked me."
Gyomei rubbed his palms together. "Curious. Strangely, your brother's story is the more accurate of the two to yours, but neither of them mentioned the involvement of your ability. I believe Kamado must have been trying to protect you by making up that ridiculous story."
Tanjiro.
Genya felt a surge of gratefulness for him. Even so soon after he was so hostile to him, Tanjiro was willing to lie to everyone just to preserve him. Sanemi confused him, though. After threatening to kill him twice and maiming him, why would he hesitate to expose him? If anything, he could potentially get the other hashira to side with him by telling the truth.
There was a long pause.
Genya knew what he was thinking.
"Will you regenerate?" Gyomei asked quietly.
There it is. Genya had been thinking about it for a while, but he still had no idea how to answer. He doubted the Corps would execute him, but Sanemi still might. The few people he cared about might get in trouble for keeping his secret. He could get removed from the Corps entirely.
"I don't know. I don't think it's safe right now. The Corps could take issue with it, Sanemi could follow through on his threats, you could get in trouble for not reporting my powers..." he trailed off.
Beads rustled. "These are all within the realm of possibility. However..." His usually stoic voice was accented with a hint of determination. "Whatever you decide to do, I will protect you."
***
Genya was entertaining himself by opening the window and listening to birdsong. It was peaceful, but pretty boring.
If I'm going to be blind for a while, maybe I should take up a musical instrument or something.
He heard the familiar fairy-like footsteps and the door opened soon after.
"You have a visitor." Without a doubt, her voice definitely held amusement in it this time. He soon learned why when he heard the pounding feet and frantic yelling.
Someone burst in and the door smacked against the wall.
"Genyagenyagenyagenya!"
"Tanji- oomf!"
The wind was knocked out of him by an aggressive hug.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for eavesdropping and not reacting quick enough and-" His voice was almost tearful. He kept gradually squeezing harder as he went on.
"Ow."
"-would've done something if I was conscious!"
"It's okay, really. You're kind of crushing me, though."
Tanjiro jumped off him. "Sorry, again!"
"Don't damage him too much." Shinobu had a smile in her voice. "I'll leave you two to talk." The door closed.
"How are you feeling right now?"
"...Not the best."
Tanjiro made a worried noise.
"Are you going to... y'know..." he lowered his voice.
"No. Not right now, at least. There's too much risk for myself and everyone involved."
"What if you just healed and left?"
Genya straightened up. "I can't do that. What if they think Sanemi killed me and they put him in prison or something? And I don't want to leave the Corps, either. I have nowhere else."
"I don't want you to leave, either," Tanjiro said sympathetically. "But it would be hard to stay like this forever when you know you have the power to fix it."
Genya sighed. "I know. But if Gyomei can figure it out, so can I. Maybe one day I can even be useful again."
He laid down and turned away. "Shinobu says I still need rest and she'll get mad at you if you stay too long."
"Alright, I'll s- visit you later. We'll figure it out. I know we will."
His earrings rattled as he left.
After ignoring Shinobu's warnings and poking at his eye bandages just a little, he let sleep take him.
***
A small hand was gently shaking his shoulder.
"Mmm?"
In his drowsiness, it took him a minute to realize that the hand had claws.
Wait a minute.
He bolted up. "Who's there?" he snarled.
The hand flew off.
"It's Neh-zu-ko."
He froze.
"I have some-thing for you."
She took his hand and put something soft in it.
"W-wha-?"
"My hair. For your eyes."
She patted the side of his face. He flushed.
"Just in case."
He managed to stammer out a "thank you" and put the hair in his pocket.
"I'm sorry," she said sadly. "He is MEAN."
She gently put her arms around him. "Get good soon."
He didn't respond. His brain was malfunctioning.
"Good-bye, Geh-nya!" she called.
From the odd thumping sound, she must've gone out the window rather than the door.
Well, that simplified things a little. At least he didn't have to try taking down a demon by himself to get a piece.
Now all he had to do was worry about when, or even if, to use it.
Info/warnings: Genya pov, angst, !!hurt-no-comfort!! (in this part at least), !!eye trauma!!, a little bit gross bc yk eye trauma, physical and verbal violence, Sanemi's really a jerk in this one, !!one semi-suicidal thought!!, probably medical/anatomical inaccuracies, ✨my terrible writing skills✨
Synopsis: Sanemi blinds Genya. Shenanigans ensue.
Notes: Decided to chop it up bc it's a little long. I promise it gets better for him later on lol
Part 2
One of the last things he saw was a flash. Fingers thrusted through his eyes and scraped the back of the sockets.
Genya shrieked as he felt his eyes rupture and struggled wildly against Sanemi's arm as he tried to push him off. He could just barely register someone screaming his name and a thump of something hitting the floor closely following before his mind disintegrated into panic and searing, gritty burning.
He too was thrown to the ground and jerked back up before being violently slammed into the wall. He felt a bone crack in his right arm.
A rough hand covered his mouth before he could scream again. Between gasps, he heard his brother snarl in his ear.
"Listen. I will kill you if you stay here. I don't give a crud where you go, but..." his nails dug into Genya's cheek as he squeezed his face.
"I don't ever want to see you again."
He shoved his head into the wall before letting go. Unable to stand anymore, Genya slowly crumpled to the ground. Tears mixed with the falls of blood on his face dripped onto his shaking hands. The last of vague shapes were fading away.
Knuckles cracked. His head lolled to the side and he saw Sanemi's aggressive form advancing on a red-haired blob on the floor. Then the dark red tint of his vision darkened to complete and endless black, and silence soon followed.
***
A familiar clean scent guided Genya through unconsciousness and into reality. He was in the infirmary. His ribs ached and his eyes burned, but his arm was totally numb.
He felt something wrapped around his head, and he reached up to touch it. He pulled back immediately.
They were bandages.
Wet bandages. Right over where his eyes had been.
He tried to sit up, and pain shot through his chest.
Repetitive action.
He chanted to himself and eventually managed to sit up. He felt around with the hand that worked.
Cold metal bed frame.
Smooth wall behind him.
Soft sheet on top of him.
Wet... wet bandages.
He was starting to freak out.
Why did I try to say anything? He hit the wall softly with his fist. I'll never amount to anything. I'll never be good enough for him.
And...
He wants me gone.
The inklings of spirit he had left died.
Everything up to this point was for a chance at reconciliation. A chance he now realized had disappeared long ago.
He wants me gone.
He will never forgive me.
He slid back down into the sheet.
Asleep was the closest to dead he could get right now.
Info: HachiMilo, fluff, light teasing, giant boyfriend using his powers for evil
Tagging: @larz-barz :D
Milo had just been standing there, minding her own business. Back turned. Unaware.
Hachikazu snuck up behind her and lifted her up. "Ah!" she squealed in alarm.
He tossed her up ever-so-slightly so he could hold her in both arms. She was so light, it was almost unbelievable. "You're so little!" he kissed her on the forehead.
She squeaked in protest. "Maybe you're just big!"
He grinned. "Most demons I've known were pretty tall. You, on the other hand, are the tiniest yokai I've ever seen."
"I'm the only yokai you've ever seen!"
"Still. All the way from your tiny ears..."
He gently rubbed one of her soft ears.
"To your tiny hands..."
He took one of her hands in his.
"And..."
He booped her nose.
Milo squealed again and covered her reddening face with her aforementioned tiny hands.
***
Hachi definitely makes up for his teasing right afterward with cuddles.
Info: silly fluff, Muichiro and Mitsuri (not a ship), cute kitties, Mui having a black belt in deadpanning
"Um, Muichiro? Can I ask why you have so many cats following you?"
Mitsuri had been taking a morning walk when she'd noticed Muichiro with at least 10 cats padding behind him as if he were their mother, their ears perked expectantly. Muichiro's cloudy gaze lifted to look at her. "It appears I have been chosen." He turned back to face the furry assembly. "I am their god now."
"Oh? That's interesting!" Mitsuri giggled.
His flowing sleeves dropped below his elbows as he raised his hands above his head, revealing that he was holding a nigiri in one of them. This was probably why they were tailing him, but he'd clearly forgotten he was holding anything. He spread his fingers and it dropped to the ground. He looked at his hand with confusion, then addressed his troops. "Behold. I have procured food from my hand." Almost at once, a swarm of paws and teeth pounced on the nigiri. It was gone within seconds.
The cats, having no more incentive to follow him, padded off in all directions.
"See, they are off to do my bidding. Slay and conquer, my legion."
An orange tabby turned back and rubbed up against Muichiro's leg, purring. Muichiro leaned over and picked it up under the arms.
"You will be my second-in-command."
He put the cat on his head.
"Aw!" Mistsuri strode over to pet the cat. "He's just a little sweetie!" She scritched him under his chin and he purred.
The cat stretched his front legs forward and jumped onto Mitsuri's head.
Muichiro looked up at him with an unreadable stare. "Traitor."
"Give him a second chance! I'm sure he'd be the best underling in the world if he could do it over!" Mitsuri cried dramatically.
She thought she saw a flicker of a smile on his face.
"Very well. I am feeling merciful today."
Mitsuri leaned forward and the cat jumped into Muichiro's arms. He stroked the cat's back and the cat nuzzled into the crook of his arm.
"We will begin our training immediately, Second. If something were to happen to me, I need you to be able to command the others with strength and confidence."
Second purred.
***
When Mitsuri found Muichiro next, he was lying on the floor of his training room with Second curled up on his stomach.
"How did training go?" Mitsuri stroked Second between his ears.
"Excellent," Muichiro replied. "He's learned 3 different napping techniques already. He's a worthy student." He gently booped Second's nose. Second mewed in what Mitsuri thought was a pleased tone.
"If he keeps this pace, he can become a Hashira within a few weeks."
Mitsuri giggled at the mental image of a cat wearing the uniform.
Second snorted and buried his nose in his legs.
"Time for more training. He works very hard."
"Have a good session," she whispered, smiling as she slid the door closed.
