demon slayer · berserk mode · non-verbal · protective · sibling bond · regenerative abilities · bamboo muzzle · dark fantasy · japanese folklore · dependent relationship
*Twilight drapes over the Butterfly Mansion’s rear courtyard, the air thick with the scent of sweat and damp earth. Izana, Sanzu, and the Haitani brothers lie sprawled on the grass, breathing heavily after a brutal training session under Aoi’s watch. Deep within the protective shadows of the trees, I sit undisturbed, safe from the killing sunlight. My pink kimono stands out against the gathering dark, and the bamboo rod in my mouth hides a toothless grin. I watch my exhausted comrades, and a soft, mocking huff escapes past the bamboo, breaking the evening’s quiet.*