ARC III-ACT IV

                                    

                                          


When you wake up the next morning it's due to loud snoring, loud enough to make your head spin and your body to bolt upwards in alert. - you live alone, so what on earth would make a sound like that within the safety of your walls? 
It only takes you a couple of seconds to get your memory back, glimpses of the day before flashing past you in the dark void of the apartment. It must be no later than five, for six is when the sun rises, but it was enough to make you stand silently, conscious of the noise you were making. 
Within your living room laid Himejima, Inosuke, Zenitsu, Tanjiro, Nezuko and Mitsuri. All spread out across your couch and floor, loose pillows and makeshift blankets softening their spots on the floor - they had mentioned before that as Demon Slayers they had learnt to find comfort in the worst places to sleep, but you still tried to make it at least somewhat soft for them. 
That however, left you to sleep on the hardwood floor, no blanket and no pillow. Yet, your head surprisingly didn't hurt despite the time spent laying. 
Looking down you reach out to blindly feel the floor, nearly jumping when grazing a smooth and cool fabric. 
Slowly you shut the door of your apartment, making sure to make as little noise possible. Outside within the open hallway of the complex, the flickering white light gave view to the fabric in your hands. Long and white, a satin haori reflected the bright white above you. It didn't take long to realize this was none other than Mitsuri's haori, the sweet girl most probably having given it to you when she saw you asleep on the floor.
Your eyes close and you take a deep breath in before letting it out. The night breeze feels relieving to your skin, the apartment having made you feel hot and stuffy around so many people but the recent nights had always felt so freezing cold. It was both a blessing and a curse having people around to keep you warm, if only it wasn't the single group that would hate you the most out of anyone in perhaps the entire world. 
Sanemi's punch still feels fresh across the chub of your cheek and Obanai's words still sting your heart. If you think too much, your nose aches after the violence having taken place within the room that was once your claimed safety space. 
The door behind you opens causing you to jump, turning to stare wide eyed at Tengen who walks out with his arms resting over his head - eyes closed and posture relaxed, you didn't bother reminding him that he had left the door open. He takes his sweet time to open his eyes, magenta irises staring you down with no emotion, no hatred and no malice but no peace either. It wasn't hard to tell that even within himself, he was unsure what ground he stands on with you. 
"Do you need anything?" You ask, unsure of how to approach him. 
Flashy and flamboyant, even to yourself Tengen seemed unapproachable. He was energetic and extroverted but not one for vulnerability, one wouldn't know whether you were on his good or bad side until you truly went through hell with him. 
Curse the way you wrote your characters. 
He shrugs, dropping his arms to stuff his hands in the pockets of his pants - looking away and sighing as he stared down the still wake streets of Tokyo, cars lighting up the streets. 
Nodding towards them, he asks; "are those vehicles?"
You take a moment to look away, watching them roll down streets and disappear through alleys. In their story, vehicles did exist, but they were rare and scarce - something for the filthy rich. "Yes." You nodded. "Though, we call them cars now. A shortened name in replacement of vehicles." 
"There's a lot more than I'd ever think I'd see." He hummed. "You must live in a rich area despite the..." turning back to look into your small apartment, he scoffed. "Tight space." 
A snort couldn't help but escape you, finding humor in his words. "No, this area is a little lower than working class if I'm being honest. Cars- vehicles, are much more accessible now though." 
"Do you have one?" 
"No." You sighed. "This apartment complex doesn't offer parking space and the streets are always full. Plus paying for gas and maintenance would be too stressful, I don't have that type of money." 
The pillar blinked, once, twice. Wine eyes still staring so far away from you as if it was his silent protest against you - a sign that he was not on your side. "So many meaningless words. How the world has changed, with shortened terms made for lazy people." 
Your mouth parted wanting to voice out your confusion; where was this coming from? 'Shortened terms made for lazy people'? As times change terms must as well, it's not because of laziness, but rather because of expanding vocabulary and understanding. 
However, as the sound pillar silently turned and walked back into the apartment you realized that there was no way to convince someone from the earliest twentieth century days. 
———————————
The design of your characters was destructive, confident and skilled. Birthed from pen and paper, your characters knew nothing but to hide fear behind a stern face - with the exception of Zenitsu. In the scene of danger they had no time to stop and think and breathe. 
Rengoku turned in his sleep - something rare for a trained swordsman and fighter such as himself. His thick brows furrowed and his jaw clenched, for such a tiring day this was supposed to be his time to rest, but his dreams let him to anything but that. 
In the depths of his unconsciousness the echoes of a trains engine echoed. Steel wheels against the devils train tracks and an unmissable stench of demon filling his nostrils. His senses blared with danger sirens and red blinded his closed lids. 
With a startle his body bolted upwards, panting and sweaty as his eyes looked around frantically - trying to find any hints of the prior danger. 
However he was met with darkness. Stillness and darkness, bodies around him sleeping peacefully with the exception of wine eyes staring at him through the open doorway. 
"Nightmare?" Tengen asked calmly, broad arms crossed over his chest. 
It took him a second but eventually the flame pillar nodded. "Not sure whether that nightmare was worse than this reality though." 
The other man scoffed. "At least a century away from home, away from family, away from our job and the life we once knew? I'd say this is much worse than some dream." He looked away. "One can only pray the corps is doing alright without the pillars." 
A moment of silence followed between the two, comfortable but solemn. Finally Rengoku followed with; "Should we speak to the author?" 
"Now why would we do that? As far as we know, they're our enemy." 
"Yes but... perhaps we can convince them to change the story to our favor. They could help us return too... maybe." 
Sighing, Tengen stood from his spot on the floor. "Fine. I'll go out and try conversation, after that you gotta switch places with me and keep watch though. I'm getting tired." 
Giving the other pillar no chance to reply, Tengen made his way out of the small apartment - not once bothering to close the door behind him as he stood outside with you. Rengoku watched, he watched as the awkward silence enveloped you both before you finally asked; "Do you need anything?"