Honeymoon, Un Deux Trois
Pairing: Kyōjurō x Fem!Reader
Cw: Angst, implied character death
Note: Inspired by the song Honeymoon Un Deux Trois, covered by dongdang
A demon’s dying screech filled the air, shattering the once tranquil atmosphere of the forest.
Kyōjurō sighed as he sheathed his blade, watching as the body in front of him crumbled away into ashes. This wasn’t the demon he’d been sent to kill; it’d been far too weak and confrontational than the reports had described.
Glancing at the starless sky above him, he was relieved to see that there was still plenty of time into the night to continue searching for his assigned target. Not bothering to spare another look at the demon he had just killed, Kyōjurō began walking through the dark mass of trees once more. He remained on high alert, keeping a hand on the hilt of his weapon.
After what felt like a while of trekking without any sign of the demon, he suddenly noticed a small glimmer coming from up ahead. Eyes narrowing wearily, he picked up his pace until he found himself in front of one of the many trees around, neck craned to look upwards. And there, hovering among the lower branches of the tree, was a small orb of light. He could sense a faint trace of demon from it, yet it didn’t seem to be doing anything other than just…being there. It didn’t appear to have any intention of attacking him, so what was it for? Was this perhaps the demon’s way of observing its territory remotely?
He stared at it as he thought over the possibilities, his brows knitted thoughtfully. The longer he looked at the orb, the more he began to realize that it was actually quite pretty and it seemed to emit a rather comforting glow. Then, out of the corner of his eye, Kyōjurō caught sight of another shimmering orb just a few trees down. When he went over to check it out, he spotted yet another one further away. And it continued for the next few orbs he spotted, new ones seemingly popping up out of nowhere every time he neared the most recent of them.
It wasn’t long before he realized that they seemed to be leading him somewhere deeper into the forest. Though he would have preferred to find the demon on his own and catch it off guard, having the demon guide him to itself wasn’t such a bad option either. He was well aware that he was most likely walking into a trap, but he was certain he’d be able to handle whatever awaited him.
And so, he allowed the trail of orbs to guide him. The further Kyōjurō walked, the more orbs began to appear. Soon enough, they decorated the branches of the trees on each side of him, reminding him of a tree he’d seen once in a Western owned shop. A Christmas tree, that’s what the shop owner had called it. However, these golden orbs were so much more beautiful than the multi-colored bulbs of light from his memory. Everything looked so dreamy – the once dark and gloom trees now adorned with glimmering orbs of various sizes that casted a gentle glow, illuminating the path that seemed to have been set out just for him.
One foot after the other, it felt like his body was moving on its own. An irresistible urge to see what lay at the end of the light threatened to overflow from within him.
What was he here for again? Kyōjurō could have sworn it was something important. Yet, the answer seemed to slip further and further away from him as he thought about it. And in an instant, he was distracted by the faint sound of music that drifted through the air. He strained his ears to listen, his steps quickening.
As he got closer, he realized what he was hearing was the light and warm notes of a piano. Though he’d only heard the piano once before, there was no mistaking the distinctive sounds it produced. No sooner had he recognized the familiar tones, another instrument joined in on the melody – a woodwind of some sort.
It was a beautiful and captivating tune, completely foreign comparing to the traditional Japanese music he was used to. A soothing voice began to sing along to the music and it seemed to beckon him forward, towards the break through the trees he spotted up ahead.
Ah, finally. He couldn’t remember whom or what he was looking for, but he knew it lay just beyond. Without any hesitation, he threw all caution to the wind as he stepped through the trees and into a clearing.
"Everyone has gone.
In our very own town,
The mechanized clock
Notifies us of night’s arrival."
Kyōjurō’s gaze was immediately drawn to a woman standing in the middle of the clearing, her back to him and head tilted up towards the full moon overhead. Upon hearing him, she immediately turned around and his breath caught in his throat when he glimpsed her face.
“Kyōjurō!”
While everything around him seemed hazy, as if he were in a dream, he could see that bright smile of yours as clear as day. The same smile that he’d long ago sworn to protect. Donned in a wine-colored Western styled dress and a diamond necklace that shone like stars adorning your neck, you were every bit as beautiful as he remembered.
“You’re late, you know. The music already started.” You walked up to him with an exasperated pout, though the smile remained in your eyes.
"The twilight dyes
The sky the color of wine,
And invites us inexperienced
Two toward the stage."
“Well then, shall we dance?”
His gaze dropped down to your outstretched hand and before he knew it, his body was already moving to accept your offer. His hand slid into yours, fingers entwining with each other. Your skin felt cold and oddly smooth, almost like…porcelain. But he paid no heed to it, instead placing his other hand around your waist and pulling you closer to him. With your lips curled in delight, you settled a hand onto his shoulder.
"Chasse ‘n’ Whisk ‘n’ Natural turn
I will do magic for you.
Throwaway and Oversway
The name of that is honey mead."
Kyōjurō had never danced before, at least not any kind of waltz. And yet, somehow, he knew exactly what to do. As he stepped forward with his left foot, you smoothly stepped backwards with your right in response. The two of you began to dance across the open space, seamlessly following along to the rhythm of the music.
"Honeymoon, Un Deux Trois,
We entwine each other’s fingers.
Singin’ Swingin’ Sweetest Song
And play the dreams of us two."
Even in that clearing, all the trees that lined its edges were bedecked with glowing orbs which bathed the area in a soft, romantic light. But its beauty was left unappreciated by him, nothing but a blur as his gaze stayed on yours. All he could see was you and the way you looked at him with such overflowing love, as if he were your entire world. No words were spoken between the two of you, because no words were needed.
"Chasse ‘n’ Whisk ‘n’ Natural turn
I will cast magic on you.
Throwaway and Oversway
The honey of fascination. Honey mead."
The two of you danced as one, each movement he made perfectly complimented by yours and yours with his. The skirt of your dress flared out as Kyōjurō spun you around, briefly giving you the appearance of a flower in perfect bloom. Pulling you back into his arms, time seemed to stop for a moment as he dipped you back, leaning in until your noses were almost touching and your breath ghosted across his lips. You stared up at him with eager anticipation and unable to resist that endearing look, he pressed a soft kiss against your mouth.
"Honeymoon, Un Deux Trois,
I put my lips on those of yours.
Singin’ Swingin’ Sweetest Song
And play the dreams of us two."
It’d been so long since he’d last felt your lips upon his and though they were as cold as your hands – giving him a slight sense of unfamiliarity – he still relished every moment of the kiss. By the time he had pulled you back onto your feet, the singing had faded away and only music filled the air. So instead of going back to dancing, the two of you simply swayed to the quieting tune. Kyōjurō held you in his arms while you rested your head on him, and caught up in the moment, three words spilled past his lips before he even realized it.
“I love you.”
It came out as no louder than a whisper, but you heard him clearly, nuzzling his neck as you echoed the phrase back to him. It was such a simple exchange of affection between lovers, but to him, it meant everything. Up until that point, to hear you utter those words to him even for just one more time was something he could only desperately wish for.
“We can stay like this, you know.” You murmured, placing a loving kiss against his jaw. “Just the two of us. That’s what you’ve been yearning for, right? So stay with me. Promise me you won’t leave.”
Your voice was like honey to his ears, a smooth and sweet temptation that took every ounce of his will to resist. He swallowed hard, arms tightening around you. No matter how much he wanted to give in and remain with you, he knew that he couldn’t.
“…Please forgive me, my love.”
With a pained expression, Kyōjurō forced himself to let you go and gently push you away. He ignored the confused and hurt expression on your face, instead whirling around to face the demon that he'd sensed sneaking up on him. It was dangerously close, arm partially outstretched with its clawed hand aimed at his throat. But its eyes widened in shock when it met his.
“How-“ The demon had only been able to utter a single word before Kyōjurō unsheathed his sword and swung it up in an arc, beheading it in one smooth motion.
Both the body and head dropped with a dull thud and no more than a few seconds later, the orbs began to flicker and distort all around him. The hazy fog that had clouded his mind the entire time began to clear up as well. Something loudly clattered to the ground behind him and he couldn’t help but flinch at the sound, already instinctively knowing what it was.
Bracing himself, he slowly turned to look. You were nowhere to be seen and instead, a life-sized doll lay crumbled at the spot you had been. The red dress you had danced with him in only moments ago now hung loosely from its frame as its glass eyes stared blankly ahead. Seating himself next to it, Kyōjurō carefully took the doll’s cold hand into his own. With the glow from the orbs now gone, only the moonlight was there to shed light upon the cracks that'd begun to form along the doll's porcelain limbs, and his heart clenched painfully at the sight. He took a shaky breath as he averted his gaze, choosing to look up at the moon instead.
“I’m sorry, but please wait for me a little bit longer.” He whispered, praying that his words would reach you somewhere up there. “I.. I cannot join you just yet.”
He could feel it now, the way the hand he held had begun to disintegrate. He looked down just in time to see the remaining fingertips crumble away, his hand left grasping at nothing but air.
This was almost too much to bear. Kyōjurō hadn’t expected this to be as painful as the first time he had let you go. It was just a doll, the mere product of some demon’s Blood Art. And yet, he felt so empty and powerless as it slowly vanished in front of his very eyes.
He watched as the last of the ashes rose up into the sky, leaving him with nothing but the shattered fragments of an already fading dream.
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