꧁𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧..꧂

Disclaimer : My AU consists of Akaza, Daki, and Gyutaro as demon slayers / Hashira, yes, I am fully aware of what Akaza has done, and I read the whole entire manga. Zenitsu is like 21 and Uzui is like 22 so legal, okay ? I don't ship them, js wanted to try to write them. Akaza uses Ice breathing as well as Aoi since she is a demon slayer in this but still a nurse too, and is his Tsuguko. Daki uses a sword that is like her Obi, so it's similar to Mitsuri's. She also uses breath of deception or deception breathing and Gyutaro uses poison breathing. As for the upper moons, spot 3 which was akaza's is gonna be taken by Nakime and all upper moons besides 1,2,3, and 4 are dead. 4 is taken by an Oc of mine, Oiwakana Tsukiyomi. Also Zenitsu isn't a scared baby because in my au he got over his fear and became stronger <3
(Still cries though)
——-

The butterfly mansion was on high alert, kakushi ran the halls with towels for the beds, butterfly assistants carried basins full of water and trays of medicines, and one particular butterfly girl was crushing herbs in her medical study room. Aoi Kanzaki, whom knew more about medicine than any of the butterfly assistants and kakushi present. Three small butterfly assistants ran into her study room, letter in hand. "Shinobu-Sama's crow sent you a letter, Aoi-Sama!" They said in unison, Kiyo held out the letter to her. "I see," Aoi replied, taking the letter from her hands. "You may be dismissed. Help the Kakushi with any of the remaining preparations, only what you can handle, though." The three girls nodded and ran out, gently shutting the door behind them.

Aoi unraveled the letter, her eyes widening as she read the contents.

Kanzaki Aoi,

I am writing this with haste, so do not waste time, as we have no time to stall. Both you and Hakuji, seeing as you are his Tsuguko, are summoned to help fight at the infinity castle starting at sundown. Once the Ubayashiki house is blown down, you are to make your way to the back of the forest where we will go into the infinity castle. The rest of the plan will be explained there, make haste.

Kocho Shinobu.

Aoi clenched her fist. It was almost half to sundown, so, she prepared.

She had left her hair down with a butterfly clip on the bottom, holding it together and another small ponytail in the back with her other hair clip. Aoi slipped her Haori on and attached her Nichirin blade to the belt, sighing.

The three butterfly assistants nodded furiously at Aoi's orders as they held back tears. "Please be safe, Aoi-Sama!" They yelled as she ran off.

"Hakuji-San!" Aoi yelled, looking at the long, pink haired man. He turned from where he stood, nodding.

The two made their way to the back of the forest, jumping through the trees and air as they finally reached their destination.

"Aoi-Kun! You're here just in time." Shinobu said, glancing up at the setting sun with a calm smile. Kanao bowed her head at the Ice hashira out of respect before turning back to the sky with a calm smile. "Kocho, what's the plan." Akaza said, getting straight to the point. "Now, now, Hakuji, we still have to wait for Rengoku, Shinazugawa, and the twins." She said, smiling wider. Akaza sighed, "Those blockheads, it's about to be sundown." He pointed at the sky, and Shinobu gasped. "Already?" Footsteps ran towards them, and out came the user of flame, wind, deception, and poison. As soon as they came to a halt in-front of them, Daki jumped off her brother's back. "Otou-San!" She said, capturing him in a hug. Akaza smiled at Gyutaro, who made his way there and joined the hug. Shinobu sighed. "Lovely scene, really, but we have to get to business." Akaza nodded as the three broke away. "So, Kocho, what's the plan?"

———

"These will be the groups. Hakuji, I am sending you with Aoi as she is your Tsuguko, you are also going with Zenitsu." Shinobu said, pointing at the three. Tengen made a strangled noise at the back of his throat, "Wha- why can't he go with me?!" "Well, if you must know, I'm sending you with Inosuke and Kanao. We can't let personal relationships interfere, besides, with Hakuji, he will be fine." Shinobu replied sharply, glaring at the sound hashira. Tengen just mumbled under his breath, pulling the thunder breathing user close. Zenitsu sighed, lightly pressing into Tengen as a silent apology. "The next group will be Iguro, Tanjiro, and Genya. Then, Shinazugawa, Tokito, and Mitsuri. After that, it's Himejima and the twins. Then finally, me, Tomioka, and Rengoku. Any other slayers are required to choose your own groups." She finished, sighing at the end. Akaza glanced at the sky. "Sundown. Let's get going," he glanced at everyone, "get back safe and alive. Stay with your groups. May the gods be with us all."

Everyone nodded, tears prickling some eyes as they said their goodbyes, unaware if they'd make it out alive. Zenitsu glanced up at Tengen, "Be safe, I'll see you soon." Then pressing a kiss to his cheek and then a peck to his lips before running off towards his group. Tengen made his way towards his group, who was also saying goodbye. "Be safe, Kanao." Tanjiro said, hugging her. Kanao nodded, hugging back then walking off. "Inosuke! You'd better make it back alive." Aoi scolded as she smiled lightly. "Hah! Of course I will, you should be worried about yourself." He laughed. Aoi shook her head, smiling still. "Be safe." And with that, she walked away. The two made their way to Tengen, looking at other groups before leaving.

"Kyojuro, be safe. I'll be waiting to see you, so you better come back alive." Akaza said gently, patting the taller's cheek. Kyojuro grasped his hand gently and nodded, "You too, Kaza'. I'll be waiting." Akaza nodded and glanced at the twins. Kyojuro nodded, kissing the other gently before pushing him towards the twins. "Otou-San! Please be safe!" Daki pleaded, hugging him tightly. Akaza patted her back gently, "I will be, you two need to be safe as well, protect eachother, okay?" Daki nodded furiously as tears rolled down her cheeks, Gyutaro hugged them both before nodding, holding back tears. "Daki, we have to go. Be safe, Otou-San." Akaza pulled away, patting both their heads before turning to his own group.

"Zenitsu! Be safe, okay?" Tanjiro smiled at the blonde. Zenitsu nodded, "You too, Tanjiro." The red-head smiled at that and ran off towards his group. Zenitsu glanced at where Tengen and his group were running off, and he glanced up at the moon, a silent prayer on his lips. "Hakuji-San, we should get going now, no?" He asked, glancing up at the slightly taller. Akaza nodded, and the three ran off.

———-

"This is the infinity castle?" Aoi asked, glancing around wearily. Akaza nodded. "Keep your guard up, you don't know who we could-" he was cut off by the floors changing and walls moving around them as he pulled them close to him. They fell into a large room that looked similar to the red-light district but confined into one room with stars adorning each small lamp. "Oh! A hashira and his Tsuguko?~ How curious." A voice cooed. Zenitsu gripped his sword, gritting his teeth at the noise. Akaza and Aoi gripped their own swords, glancing around the large room. "How rude of me, allow me to introduce myself," a figure jumped down infront of them. "I am Oiwakana Tsukiyomi, the 4th uppermoon, and the cause of your soon to be deaths." She giggled. Oiwakana had light-purple hair with white and green tips, a haori with Daki's Obi pattern and a polearm in her right hand. (Similar to Raiden shoguns but with stars and moons.) Along with that, her outfit looked similar to a demon slayer's uniform. "Oiwakana.. Akuma!" Akaza gasped, eyes wide. "Akuma..? Who is that?" Aoi asked, glancing at the older. "Akuma. She was once the Deception Hashira before she died at the hands of an uppermoon." Oiwakana laughed. "Always smart as ever, Hakuji!" Zenitsu grit his teeth once more.

"Well this has been fun, but I think it's time for you to die." She smiled, a flick of her hand made large, sharp stars and moons fling at them at a rapid pace. The three slayers jumped and dodged them as Akaza leapt on each one, getting closer to the demon. Oiwakana laughed at that, "Nice try, Ha-ku-ji!~" she cooed. Akaza's eyes widened. "Huh-?" He was then flung off and into a wall as she flicked her wrist once more. "Hakuji-San!" Aoi yelled, her gaze now on him. "Don't worry about me, stay out of striking range and attack from there!" He choked out. Zenitsu looked over at the demon, then grabbed the hilt of his sword. "Thunder breathing, first form, thunder clap and flash." He mumbled under his breath, leaping towards the demon with his eyes closed. "Huh-?" Oiwakana was taken aback by his speed, allowing him to graze her ever so slightly before she regained herself, flicking her wrist, another sharp moon came his way.

"Zenitsu!" Aoi yelled, catching his attention. He was caught off guard, and caught in the path of the sharp moon. "Ice breathing, second form, icicle illusion." She mumbled, flinging herself towards him and pulling him away as icicles formed him getting hit aswell as herself. As soon as the moon hit them, the icicles shattered. Oiwakana was caught off guard by the illusion, looking around quickly for the two, and even losing sight of the Hashira. 'Oh dear, this is bad.' She thought, gritting her teeth. Her ears picked up the sound of movement above, and watched as the three slayers leaped from above her. She panicked, slicing the air above her with her polearm, sending small sharp stars and moons at a rapid pace. As the sharp objects cut at their skin, blood dripping with cuts deep enough to leave scars, they were unaware of the large, sharp star coming at them. Oiwakana laughed at their obliviousness, gaining the upper hand once more. The three slayers were flung towards the walls, getting cut on sharp objects and even getting glass stuck in their wounds. The sharp star had left deep cuts in their bodies, and could be fatal if not treated properly.

"Aoi.." Zenitsu coughed, reaching for the unconscious girl before slipping out of consciousness himself. Akaza, on the other hand, regained his composure rather quickly and glanced at the two. He grit his teeth. "Ice breathing, first form, fatal snow shower." He leaped towards her, leaping on every object he could, getting closer and closer, and dodging each object she threw at him, blinded by rage, he leaped down and swung his sword at her neck as snow surrounded the two in a painfully cold circle. She jumped out the way, and he struck the ground. He quickly regained his composure, catching her off guard as she was out of breath, he swung once more, faster and quicker, ice and snow surrounded and piercing her skin, he grit his teeth and smirked, "goodbye, you delusional prick." Oiwakana brought her hands up, blocking it, but with the amount of force he had, and the small cuts formed by the ice, he cut right through them, to her neck. Another push. Another ice shower. Blood splattered on his cheek and uniform as he smirked wider. Oiwakana's eyes widened as she watched her body fall to the ground and start reducing to dust. "No! How could this happen! I-I was always stronger! H-How.." she was cut off as tears welled up, then faded away to nothing. Akaza landed on the ground with a bloody cough, gritting his teeth at the taste, he ran towards the two slayers, picking them both up, he ran.

———-

"Uzui-San, are you sure this is the correct way?" Kanao asked, her voice small. Tengen laughed. "Of course it is! We should reach the room in no ti-" the room was jumbled, walls switching and floors moving as they dropped into a room looking like another plain room in the infinity castle. "Kanao, Inosuke, are you two alright?" Tengen asked, wincing a bit as he got up and watched the other two get up as well. Kanao nodded, "Uzui-San, do you think this could be the work of another demon?" She asked, glancing around. Inosuke just laughed loudly, "Of course it is! The room wouldn't just shift by itself." Tengen sighed. "Yes, but what uppermoon?" Kanao pondered for a bit. "Perhaps the fourth? If all it can do is change rooms it can't be that dangerous." The sound of a Biwa rang out. "Wrong. I am Nakime, the 3rd of the uppermoons." Tengen widened his eyes and laughed. "You? The 3rd? Please, all you can do is change the rooms shape." He leaped towards her, but the room shifted with another play of the Biwa. He was back down next to Inosuke and Kanao. Her hair grew obnoxiously long, sticking to the wall behind her, connecting to each little crevice it could. "Uzui-San, try a different approach, her eye may be sharp, but perhaps a delusion will work." Kanao thought, glancing at Nakime. Tengen laughed. "Hah! Good plan, I can see why you're Kocho's Tsuguko." Kanao blushed under the praise, quickly regaining her composure.

"Alright! Let's get to the plan then. Kanao, you jump from below, Inosuke, jump from above, I'll go from the front. Whoever gets to her first, slay her." Tengen said, grinning. Kanao nodded and Inosuke laughed, "I'll be the one getting to her first!" He said. Tengen laughed, "Sure you will! Make sure to do it flamboyantly!" Kanao sighed, "Let's get going."

As Kanao approached from below, Inosuke quickly jumped from above as Tengen jumped to the front. Nakime, however, was observant, switching the room around and harshly throwing them around, leaving bleeding wounds and splinters.

Kanao regained herself, as did the other two. Just as she was about to leap once more, a seal across Nakime's eye appeared, showing Yushiro with the seal, blinding her and taking away her power. "Now! Slay her while she is immobilized!" He yelled, teeth gritting. Tengen leaped, he swung his sword down on her neck, severing it from her body as Yushiro fled. "Well that was quite unflashy and easy." He frowned. Tengen turned to look at the two. "Well! Let's get going!" He grinned.

—-

"Say, Tomioka, do you have an idea on where we're going exactly?" Shinobu asked. The two had formed a great bond, and thought of eachother as siblings. "No, I can't say I do." Giyuu said, looking around. Rengoku just laughed loudly. "No worries! We should find our way in no tim-" floors shifted, walls turned, another drop into a room. This time, a room with lotus ponds surrounding bridges and small shrine. Corpses draped over the edge of some bridges, dipping into the water, tainting the clear water with blood. Shinobu tensed. "This room.. be careful. I know this place all too well." Giyuu knew exactly what she meant. She had told him all about this, and he was about to experience it first hand. "Oh my, oh my! A woman? How wonderful!" A voice said from infront. "Who are you?" Giyuu demanded, voice unwavering as he watched Shinobu shake with barley concealed anger, and Rengoku stopped smiling, instead frowning, glaring at the demon. "I am Douma, uppermoon 2. You must be three Hashira's? Oh wonderful, truly amazing. That girl, she reminds me of someone, truly a beauty if I must say." He smiled wickedly, and Giyuu gagged. "Who are you, girl?" Douma asked, pointing at her with his fan. "Who am I? Who am I? Don't you recognize this Haori?" Shinobu seethed, clutching at her haori tightly, her facade crumbling with each word. "Oh! Oh yes, you're Shinobu-Chan! Truly a shame I didn't get to eat your sister." He laughed. Shinobu grit her teeth as Giyuu scoffed. "Enough. You will pay for what you've done!" Shinobu yelled, her sword in her hand. Giyuu put his hand out infront of her. "No. Don't strike without a plan. That's suicide." He then reached for his own sword. "Kocho. Weaken him with as much poison as you can, stay out of range from attacks. We don't know what he could do. Rengoku, back her up, I'll try to go from behind." Shinobu nodded, and so did Rengoku.

The fight with uppermoon 2 had begun.
Shinobu leaped, "Insect breathing, dance of the dragonfly, compound eye hexagon!" She aimed for douma in six spots, his weakest ones, injecting them each with a large dose of poison. Shinobu was quick with her work, leaping to each spot within a second before going back to her original spot next to Giyuu as she watched douma bleed purple. As she took deep breathes, Rengoku's turn was next as he watched Douma frown and prepare to strike. This time, Rengoku leaped. "Flame breathing, second form, rising scorching sun!" As he dashed toward douma, striking his left arm, attempting to sever it. Douma lifted his right arm with his fan, bringing it across the air, cutting Rengoku in the side before he jumped and returned next to Giyuu. "Rengoku, are you alright?" Shinobu asked, concerned. Rengoku only nodded, "Yes, I'm fine. It just grazed me." A flash of movement made Giyuu look away from the two. "Watch out!" He yelled, jumping away as Douma sent ice sculptures and other various attacks at them. Rengoku swung his sword at each ice sculpture, melting them or breaking them as Shinobu dodged them in the air, like a butterfly would. Giyuu winced as his cheek was cut, he wiped the blood off his cheek and landed on another bridge, looking at the back of Douma. Shinobu grinned as she saw Giyuu's position from where she was upside down in the air before landing on a bridge infront of Douma, Rengoku stood on the bridge to her left, grinning too. Giyuu smirked, preparing to leap into the air, and the other two preparing to back him up.

*Timeskip to when Douma get's poisoned from Kocho's poison.*

"What the-" Giyuu said, watching as Douma melted. Shinobu grinned from where she leaned on Rengoku as he stabilized her. "That poison I struck him with has kicked in, and so has the wisteria poison in my blood." Giyuu widened his eyes at her. "Wisteria poison-!?" Douma held his face as he melted, completely dazed. He grinned, before completely melting away, reducing to nothing. "Kocho, are you alright? You took a nasty hit to the chest." Rengoku pointed out. "I will be, I stopped the bleeding for now, let's make our way to the Kakushi." She said, smiling a genuine smile. Giyuu let out a small smile, too, happy that Kanae and Shinobu could be put at ease knowing that Kanae's killer is gone. Giyuu picked Shinobu up, weary of her wounds and walked as she rested her head on his back, drifting away from exhaustion. "Sleep well, Kocho." He said softly.

————
(I'm skipping to the end since I've lost interest in this and it's really long so fluffy and healing time !!)

Tengen paced the room as he waited for Akaza's group to return. He hadn't heard or seen anything about the Thunder breathing user yet, and it seems both Kanao and Inosuke are restless too after not hearing anything about Tanjiro or Aoi. The door opened and Sanemi walked in with Mitsuri. Mitsuri grinned from where Sanemi was stabilizing her, and Obanai softened at her, glad she was alive from where he lay injured in the bed. The door opened again, and in walked Giyuu and his group. Giyuu was bandaged around the head and had tons of tears and bandages and a sleeping Shinobu on his back, littered with tears and bandages from the battle. Rengoku followed, bandaged around the waist and arms mostly with a tired look. Giyuu laid Shinobu down on the bed before he glanced at Sanemi, who ran up to him and hugged him softly but tightly.

Giyuu hugged him back. "Yuu' how are you feeling." Sanemi muttered, frowning at all the injured the water breathing user had. "Tired and exhausted with lasting pains, but mentally? As good as it gets knowing he's dead." Giyuu smiled tiredly, Sanemi laughed softly and returned the smile. He led him to a bed where the two laid down and started to doze off. Mitsuri and obanai had dozed off too, as she laid her head by his laying body on the bed, and he was holding her hand. Rengoku and Tengen caught up, although envious of the people who had their partners with them. A crow came by. "Kaw! The deaths have been evaluated! Kaw! Genya Shinazugawa, Himejima Gyomei, Tokito Muichiro!" The crow listed off tons of more names, but only those three mattered to them. Sanemi felt tears drip down his cheeks at the mention of his brothers name. His only family, gone. Giyuu held him close as he sobbed, and Mitsuri cried as Obanai held her, she mourned over Muichiro, Genya, and Gyomei. She'd taken a liking to the three. Giyuu silently cried and mourned over Muichiro the most. He'd thought of the younger as a sibling, and before he mended his relationship with the other Hashira, Muichiro was his only friend for that whole time and stuck with him no matter what.

Tengen mourned without tears, but sighed at not hearing the name of his lover. Rengoku tensed at first, but mourned at the names, still glad his lover wasn't on there.

——

Once Shinobu was awake, she was immediately treating the lightly injured with help of the assistants. That was until the doors opened, bringing in the final groups. Akaza, Aoi, Zenitsu, Tanjiro, Daki, and Gyutaro walked in. Well, Daki was on her brother's back and Zenitsu was on Akaza's. Aoi and Tanjiro stabilized eachother. Shinobu ran up to them and each of them were immediately treated.

"Settle down! You'll wake him." Shinobu scolded at the sound breathing user who was fussing over Zenitsu's state. "He'll be fine, he must've overused his first form." She sighed, dipping another cloth into warm water and washing dirt off his face and wounds. Tengen sat next to his bed, waiting for the other to wake up.
Once he did, Tengen held the thunder breathing user close as he muttered apologies for not keeping him safe. "It's okay. You're alive, that's all I want." Zenitsu muttered.

"Kyo." Akaza said, smiling softly at his lover. Rengoku ran up to him and gently picked him up before putting him down, kissing his forehead. "You're alive." Is all Akaza muttered into his chest, holding him as Rengoku stoked his head. "So are you." The pink haired man frowned, "Are you okay?" He gestures to the bandage around the taller's waist. Rengoku laughed. "I am! I feel just fine." Akaza sighed, "fine. But tell me if you feel in any pain." Rengoku only smiled, "I will, don't worry. But you have too as well." "Hm. Deal."

————

"You mean that really happened?" Kinuo asked Daki, amazed at the story. Daki nodded, "Yep! And they all finally lived peacefully, just like now!" Gyutaro walked in, "Hey sis, dad's calling ya'." He yawned, waving lazily to the young girl. "Kay' thanks!" She got up, Kinuo following. "Yeah, Dad?" She asked, looking at Rengoku as he washed clothing. "Go help your mother with the food, lord knows your brother can't cook." He laughed. Calling Akaza their mother or mom started off as a joke with how much akaza acted like one, and just kinda stuck. Daki laughed, "okay!"

——-

"Tengen! Put me down! I need to finish washing the laundry!" Zenitsu protested, pounding at the taller's back. "Nope! You've been working all morning so you need rest." Zenitsu pouted, he was tired after all. "Don't worry, I'll do the rest, plus if I need help Hina can help or something." Tengen said dismissively. "I don't want to bother them, they have their own lives to deal with ya know." "Eh, don't care right now, just sleep." Tengen said setting the toner down on a futon. Zenitsu grumbled. "Fine, but only for a bit." He curled into the sheets, dozing off almost immediately. Tengen laughed at the endearing sight.

———

"Aoi, the patient in room 206 needs you." Kanao said, carrying a basin full of water. "Okay, thanks Kanao!" Aoi said, walking towards the room with small towels. "Hikari, you needed me?" She looked at the small boy in the bed. "My head hurts." He whined. Her heart ached at the sight of the six-year old, remembering how he'd shown up infront of the mansion and fainted. "I'll give you some medicine, just let me put this on your forehead, Kay?" She said, dipping the cloth in water. "mkay." He said softly.

After she gave him the medicine, she noticed it was time for lunch, and she made her way to the kitchen. As she started cooking, she noticed that she needed more carrots. "Inosuke!" She called out. The beast breathing user rounded the corner, peeking his head out. "Yeah?" He asked. "Pick some more carrots for me would you? I'll make you extra." She bargained. He lit up at the sound of food, "leave it to the mountain king!" He exclaimed, quickly nodding and running off. She smiled softly. 'Some things never change.'

———

Tanjiro sat with Kanao outside, talking softly and giggling and laughing. Kanao rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes as she smiled. She'd opened up a lot more towards them, her friends of course, and especially towards Tanjiro, but sometimes words weren't needed. They understood eachother no matter what. Tanjiro continued the story softly, stopping once he noticed she drifted off. She smelled content, happy, and that was all he needed. She was alive, and so was Nezuko and his friends. That's all he needed.

—-

"Nemi', don't be so harsh on yourself." Giyuu scolded, patching up the small wounds. Sanemi grumbled, "I'm fine, relax, Yuu'." Giyuu huffed. "I asked you to gather fire wood, not fight a bear." Sanemi tsked. "The bear was in my way."  The water breathing user huffed again, putting away the medical kit. "Just be careful next time." The white haired male nodded, pulling the shorter into his arms as they laid down on the futon. "I will be." He mumbled into his hair. "Good." Giyuu said, smiling softly.

——

I love you's were never needed between the love breathing user and the snake breathing user. They knew, and that was all that mattered. As they held eachother under the soft glow of the setting sun, they laughed and talked and ate small snacks. Kabaramaru slithered off Obanai's neck and onto the small cloth and soft bed Mitsuri made for Kabaramaru, dozing off as he watched the other two doze off as well.

——

This life was something they never knew they'd accomplish, but they did. And those who they'd lost were just as happy as they are, glad they had accomplished such a thing. In the end, they would meet again. In another life.

End.

——