Water and Moon Contract
Ten days passed in a flash. The Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, transformed from its usual austere atmosphere, was now adorned with elegant white wisteria blossoms and soft paper lanterns. The main courtyard was meticulously decorated as a ceremonial venue. Though simple, it exuded a solemn and warm atmosphere.
Besides the nine pillars, Kamado Tanjirō, Agatsuma Zenitsu, Hashibira Inosuke, and the Chouya team's Aoi Kanzaki, Naho Takada, and Kanao Kurika, all arrived early. Tanjirō led Nezuko, who was now able to briefly move outside a specially designed box. Zenitsu nervously adjusted his finally smoothed uniform. Inosuke, for once, wore his boar mask obediently, glancing around curiously.
Everyone held their breath as Shiro, dressed in the traditional white wedding gown, slowly entered the courtyard, supported by Shinobu Kocho and Mitsuri Kanroji. Her pure white wedding gown accentuated the brightness of her silver hair, her lightly powdered face faintly visible beneath the veil. Her dark eyes shone with a mixture of happiness and shyness. She held a small bouquet of fresh wisteria flowers in her hands, her steps light yet determined.
Giyuu, wearing a black haori with patterned patterns, stood at the end of the courtyard. His usually stern face softened considerably at this moment, and his deep blue eyes closely followed the pure white figure walking towards him. There was a deep affection and concentration in his eyes that anyone could understand.
Ubuyashiki Kōya sat in the main seat with the support of his family. Although he could not see anything, he was "looking" at the newlyweds with a smile on his face.
There were no complicated Shinto rituals. Under the gentle presidency of the lord, the wedding was simple and solemn.
"Tomioka Giyu, are you willing to marry Shiro Ujiji and cherish her and protect her in health and sickness, in good times and bad, until the end of your life?"
Yiyong stared at Bai, his voice clear and firm, echoing in the silent courtyard: "I do."
"Haku Yinji, are you willing to marry Tomioka Giyuu and be with him and support him in health and sickness, in good times and bad, until the end of his life?"
Bai raised her head and looked through the veil at the man who gave her a new life and a home. Tears of happiness welled up in her eyes, and her voice was gentle but firm: "I do."
A simple oath, yet weighing a thousand pounds.
Next came the "Three Three Nine Degrees" (三三九度) drinking ceremony. Giyuu and Bai took turns sipping sake from three stacked lacquer cups, each symbolizing a bond between them, stretching from the past, present, and future. By the time Giyuu finished his final drink, the tips of his ears were a deep red, while Bai's fingers, gripping the cup, trembled slightly. Yet, both performed this ancient ritual with utmost reverence.
As soon as the ceremony was over, warm blessings broke out in the courtyard.
"Congratulations!!" Rengoku Kyojuro was the first to offer his congratulations loudly, smiling happier than anyone else.
"Be happy, Shiro, Mr. Tomioka." Shinobu Kocho smiled, with a glint of relief in her eyes.
Mitsuri Kanroji was already moved to tears, and Iguro Obanai gently put her arm around her shoulders.
Fuzukawa Miyabi said "Congratulations" awkwardly, his voice was not loud, but he did say it.
Yu Xingming shed tears and clasped his hands together as he chanted scriptures and prayed for them.
Tokito Muichiro seemed to finally understand what was happening and clapped his hands lightly.
Tanjiro shouted loudly: "Mr. Tomioka! Sister Shiro! Congratulations!" Nezuko also made a happy "Mmm" sound beside him.
Zenitsu murmured enviously, "They're actually getting married...", while Inosuke shouted, "Gonpachirou! When can we have the banquet?"
Amidst the crowd's cheers and blessings, Yiyong gently lifted Bai's veil. Their eyes met, their affection unspoken. He leaned over and placed a solemn yet gentle kiss on her lips.
Bai closed his eyes, feeling the kiss that declared his sovereignty and love, and finally the tears fell, but they were sweet.
A simple wedding banquet then began. Though lacking in luxurious food, it was filled with laughter and joy. Shiro changed into a more casual red attire and, along with Giyuu, toasted the guests. When she reached Tanjiro and Nezuko, she knelt down, gently hugged Nezuko, and said sincerely to Tanjiro, "Thank you." She thanked them for their acceptance and for strengthening her resolve to remain in the Demon Slayer Corps.
As night fell and lanterns lit up, the wedding drew to a close in a warm atmosphere. Yiyong and Bai stood in the corridor, watching the people in the courtyard still chatting and laughing.
"Senior Yiyong..." Bai called softly.
"Hmm?" Yiyong looked down at her.
Bai smiled and shook his head, then changed his words to: "Husband."
Yiyong was slightly startled, and then an extremely rare, clear, and gentle smile bloomed on his face. He tightened his arms around her waist and whispered back:
"Yes, my wife."
The moonlight is like water, the wisteria is fragrant, and at this moment, a new chapter gently opens its first page.
The flickering red candles cast a warm, ambiguous glow over the newlyweds' bedroom. The white wedding dress and the haori hakama were carefully folded aside. Now, lying on the double futon, the two, wearing only thin undergarments, felt a heart-pounding tension and anticipation unlike any previous sleeping together.
Bai could clearly hear his heartbeat like a drum, his cheeks burning, and he didn't even dare to look directly at Yiyong beside him. Yiyong seemed calm, but his slightly rapid breathing and flickering eyes also revealed his nervousness.
Silence spread in the room, but it was not awkward. Instead, it was filled with a kind of sweet tension.
In the end, it was Yiyong who moved first. He leaned over, his deep blue eyes like a deep ocean in the candlelight, reflecting her figure. He slowly approached, and a kiss as soft as a feather fell on Bai's lips.
This kiss was like a floodgate that opened.
…
The next day, the sunlight had already shone brightly through the paper door, illuminating the room.
Bai awoke to a feeling of warmth and comfort. She slowly opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Giyuu's sleeping face, close at hand. He was still asleep, his arm possessively wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly in his embrace.
The slightest movement brought a distinct soreness to her body, especially around her waist and legs. She quietly lifted a corner of the quilt and saw her fair skin dotted with purple marks, like red plum blossoms falling in the snow, silently telling of last night's madness and intimacy.
What made her cheeks burn even more was the strange feeling of fullness in her lower abdomen, even a subtle bulge. She thought back to the last moment of last night, the burning heat that seemed to burn through her soul...
Yiyong's eyelashes fluttered as he woke up. As soon as he opened his eyes, he met Bai's sly gaze.
Bai leaned close to his ear and said teasingly in a voice that was hoarse and a little shy, yet bold, just as he had just woken up:
"Husband...you seemed to have tried too hard last night." Her fingers gently stroked her slightly swollen belly, her eyes flickering. "This place...feels full. Maybe...there will be a baby living in here soon."
“!”
Yiyong's handsome face flushed instantly, even his neck stained crimson. He abruptly pulled the quilt up, almost covering his head, revealing only a pair of blue eyes filled with embarrassment and helplessness. His gaze drifted, not daring to meet Bai's gaze. Muffled, meaningless syllables emanated from his throat, leaving behind no trace of his majestic presence.
Seeing him in this rare state, Bai couldn't help but burst out laughing, and took the initiative to get back into his arms, hugging tightly the man she loved deeply, who looked cold on the outside but was extremely gentle on the inside.
The warm sunlight filled the room, and the new married life officially began in this shyness, sweetness and infinite expectations.
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