Written by @realityphantom

⌒➴。NOTES:

• Requested by @CelestiaIsLost
• Kokushibou X Reader
• Female reader
• Fluff to angst
• No manga spoilers
• 3rd POV

—Warning(s): Cheating/adultery (non-sexual)

TRYST
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Romeo and Juliet was a fairytale he did not share interest in, for the popular plot of love's tragedy was cliche at best and downright annoying at worst—at least, in Kokushibou's opinion, it was.

So when meeting (L/N) (Y/N), a frail human whom he could've easily killed, felt like a fairytale on its own, he did not hesitate to deny it. That sad gleam in her eyes, the extraordinary lack of fear she had facing the Upper Moon One, and the way her skin glowed against the moonlight—it all felt surreally fantasy-like.

But he was hooked the moment she raised her hand to the night sky, showcasing an unmistakable wedding ring around her finger. It was plain and nothing breathtaking, which was quite unlike (L/N) herself, in Kokushibou's opinion.

That was their first meeting, and Kokushibou did not miss that look of hopelessness and regret lining her eyes as she gazed upon her own wedding ring.

Was she shocked or relieved that he had not killed her that night?—Kokushibou was never able to tell.

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Their second meeting was also unintentional.

But he found her at least a little interesting, so he decided to humor her just one night more.

"I don't know whether you're lucky or just damned for eternity, dear demon," she said in a pathetic laugh, once again eyeing the moon. Like before, she had not a drop of fear in her despite standing next to the threatening presence of the strongest Upper Moon.

Her statement was quite random, but what else was there to say between them? In regards to it, Kokushibou definitely understood the general human perception of demons as the latter option from her words.

"What makes you think demons are lucky?" he almost scowled, for no sensible human thought that way.

"Because you're free," she sadly smiled once again, and Kokushibou was now fully convinced she had lost her touch with reality. But when he noticed her saddened line of sight connected once again to that silver band around her ring finger, he figured what she meant.

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He'd like to call their countless of meetings after that also "unintentional," but he'd be lying to himself.

In truth, he wanted to see her, and she clearly showed interest in him despite being a married woman—in retrospect, he was a married man when he was still human.

But on one certain meeting, when they stood alone together atop a platform over the ocean, he subconsciously could not take his eyes off of her ring. The mere sight of it itself was the one barrier that positioned in him in a place where he could not have her all to himself.

And in a flurry of choices and instinctiveness—though he did not know how it even happened—that small silver band was suddenly clutched in the palm of his hand, and then released out into the deep blue of the ocean in front of them. He had thrown it without a second thought, and only when the shout from (L/N) herself rang through his ears, had he come to realize what he'd done.

"No!" she screamed, reaching out to the flying ring in a grand state of panic. Kokushibou had to stop her body from moving, for she almost fell into the freezing water just to retrieve it.

Her body went tense and her eyes became frenzied, and Kokushibou could only assume that throwing that ring only spelt trouble for her back at home with her spouse.

So in another rush of instinct, he hushed, "Come and stay with me."

"What?"

Of course something so bold would sound so preposterous—he should have known. But there was a clear light behind her eyes that held hope in his words; that itself gave him to push to move forward.

Without another word, he pulled her body flush against his and kissed her deeply, pouring out all oh his bottled up passion for her onto her lips. Though he expected her to reject his advances, she easily fell into the kiss, accepting all the love he gave her, and even giving him all her love in return.

The forbidden apple seed was planted, the scarlet letter placed, and the two lovers ran away that night, hoping to achieve their happily ever after.

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"I though I'd find you here."

"Shocked" was an understatement of the emotion Kokushibou was feeling at the moment. When he had walked into the small shelter—the one he had been hiding (L/N) in after they ran away together—he did not expect to see none other than Kibutsuji Muzan standing at the center of the room.

The demon progenitor had a stare of daggers and bare disappointment on his face.

"So this is what has been taking your time."

The rush of blood in his veins spiked Kokushibou's internal panic, and his thoughts were racing as he could no longer sense (L/N)'s living soul in the shelter. The presence of the man before him did nothing to calm his unhinged worries.

"Luckily, I am here to steer you back in place."

His statement only confirmed what he had done. Kokushibou's mind clouded with loss, hurt, pain, and curses—and if Kibutsuji was reading any of his thoughts, then he did not comment on it.

It did not matter either way, however, as the deed was already done.

(L/N) (Y/N) was dead—killed at the hands of the demon progenitor himself. And it all happened before Kokushibou could even see her a final time.

"I see it fit that you have no more distractions after this, Kokushibou."

Kibutsuji heartlessly made his way out of the shelter and into the cold of the night, leaving the Upper Moon One to stand there alone. The stillness was uncanny, and it did not even register that tears were streaming down his cheeks for the first time in centuries.

But as much as he wanted to, Kokushibou couldn't blame Kibutsuji for this outcome. In retrospect, he was right—a demon and a human could not, and should not be together. And as the one who decided to become this wretched creature in the first place, it was Kokushibou's own fault.

For being a demon was the poison that damned Romeo and Juliet.

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Written by @realityphantom

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