❝ if you've lost your way,
i will leave the light on. ❞

- leave a light on, tom walker.

[so... this might be the only update for the week, i'm gunna be extremely busy and i'm going to the netherlands for the weekend and all my assignments are due next week, i'm so sorry.
if i can, i'll definitely try and upload something saturday/sunday for you guys.
if i can't, expect a double update on the same day next week, okay? <3
i'm sorry once again, but it'll only be like this, this week! i finish uni year on the 12th may :)]

━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━

The next few days continued in the same way. Except with the added bonus of being able to stay at their own estate now, Y/N continued to train with Yoriichi, and was slowly beginning to get their peak back from way before they had been injured in the stomach. It was a slow type of progress, but one that Y/N needed to get back on track with. In their current state, they would be able to put up a fight against a Lower Moon, but it would be a struggle (Y/N would say they would still come out the victor) but it was just something they had to work on.

Every day was near enough the same; waking up early in the mornings, eating breakfast, working out, lunch. After lunch, they'd relax for a few hours by reading a book, or hang out with their friends who randomly came over (Giyuu had come over on their first day back at the estate, saying he didn't want them to feel lonely which was super sweet) and decided to bother Y/N.

Every day was the near enough the same, yet it wasn't.

Akaza still hadn't come back, and it had been nearly over a week since he had disappeared, and Y/N knew he could handle himself, but it had been gone for a suspicious amount of time and they were starting to get worried for the demon.

There was also the fact that their friends were starting to ask if they were okay, showing that their worry was becoming more apparent. Y/N was even more thankful that Obanai hadn't muttered a word about Akaza, not even to Mitsuri and that made them love him even more - as much as he despised demons, he still kept their secret until they were ready to say something

Y/N woke up at same time they do everyday, got ready and did their training.

The day continued like normal; lunch with Gyomei this time, the father-older-brother-like figure wanting to know how they were getting on with being back at their estate and how they were feeling.

They trained with Yoriichi, which made the score now 354-1 to Yoriichi. The little score was something the two had made as a little joke, but they kept it up ever since it started. Even if Y/N was losing... horrendously. It's not like they expected to beat the first breath user, so it was all fun.

They trained well into the night, it being one of the times Y/N was able to keep up longer than usual, with their newly improved stamina from training so hard.

The Moon Hashira wasn't expecting a knock as the moon was at its highest after training, especially from one of their friends - if they were awake during the night, that meant they were on a mission, and wouldn't be around this area.

What Y/N wasn't expecting was for Akaza to be standing there in all his glory, chest shown off to the world, his cream-coloured pants, with the red beads on his ankles. His aura that had dimmed back at the entertainment district, now much lighter - possibly due to not having to worry about Kibutsuji, Y/N assumed.

"You're back."

Akaza grinned, the ends of his eyes crinkling along with it. "I'm back."

Y/N wasted no time in bringing the demon into a hug, letting all the worry seep out of their body and into the hug, the demon reciprocating the action.

"You had me worried for a moment, you dumb demon."

"Sorry. There were a few things I had to take care of first."

With that, the two spent the night talking until they both fell asleep, happy to be in each other's presence again.

-

The first thing Y/N did in the morning was send a letter to Amane and Kagaya, letting them both know Akaza was back and that it was time to decide what to do with the other Hashira.

Y/N also took the day off of training to visit Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke, who were still asleep, but their faces were far less pale than before, so that meant they were healing and would hopefully wake up soon.

It wasn't long before they got a letter back from the two Ubuyashiki's, stating that Kagaya had officially sanctioned the situation and Akaza as a demon as long as he didn't eat humans anymore, to which Y/N wrote back and reassured that since Akaza had taken them to Tamayo, he hadn't eaten a human, nor even tried to attack one.

The hard part was what was next; telling the others - apart from Obanai and Tengen, who both knew about Akaza, and the trio, who were still asleep - about Akaza. The only reaction that Y/N worried about was Shinobu and Sanemi, knowing their hatred for demons ran deeper and far more vocal than the others. They were lucky with Obanai, who almost took it easy on them back at the entertainment district, considering his own past with them.

The Moon Hashira didn't want to lose their trust.

"Do you think they'll hate me?" Y/N had whispered to Akaza (and Yoriichi) that same day, all three laying on Y/N's larger-than-normal futon (they liked having space to move around in their sleep). Y/N laid in the middle, with Akaza on their left, and Yoriichi on their right. Akaza did question why there was a space left open, to which Y/N just shrugged and smiled at him, not giving a direct answer... How would you explain having a ghost friend?

"They won't," Akaza had answered, "In my eyes, you saved me. If the others can't see you doing something out of the kindness of your own heart, especially when you were young, then they don't deserve you."

"I agree with him, Y/N-san." Yoriichi had added, but didn't elaborate further on his answer.

"But they all have valid reasons to not agree with what I've done. Akaza-kun, you're literally Upper Moon Three, there's bound to be backlash."

"Then show them why you did it, tell them why and how. Tell them everything."

Y/N slept roughly that night, plagued with nightmares of their friends hating them, even after the reassurance from their demon friend and ghost friend.

-

It took another few days for Y/N to actually gain the courage to even send a letter to Amane (who was now technically in charge due to Kagaya's unending suffering from his familial illness) to set up a Pillar meeting so it could officially be made aware to the others.

Once Y/N had confirmation from Amane that a meeting could be held the next day, Y/N began to send out letters (since Amane said it would be better if they did it, considering the matter of the topic that would be discussed). They had also sent a different letter to Tengen, asking for him and his wives' input and what they thought. The letter they got back that same day gave them enough confidence to sent letters to the rest of the Hashira an hour later, telling them about the Pillar meeting, persuading them with food cooked by Y/N.

Kyoujuro's letter was the first one to be sent, knowing he deserved the explanation the most, then the rest of the Hashira soon followed, including Obanai.

Gyomei had wrote back saying he would come but he knew what it was about - the weight on Y/N's shoulders somewhat lifted, and assumed Kagaya had told Gyomei a butchered version of it, seeing as Gyomei knew all about Y/N's missing memories and the demons who taught them when they were younger, before he found them. Gyomei and Kagaya had also known each other far longer than anyone else, so it wasn't a surprise to them.

So the day when Y/N was finally going to tell their friends everything, they created a big batch of food that included everyone's favourites food; ohagi for Sanemi, a lot of sakura mochi for Mitsuri, vinegar soaked kelp for Obanai. Ginger that's simmered in soy sauce for Shinobu, furofuki daikon for Muichiro, simmered salmon for Giyuu. Sweet potato miso soup for Kyoujuro, and takikomi gohan for Gyomei, then making some f/f for themselves.

It was a lot of work and it took the whole morning and nearing into the end of the afternoon for all the dishes to be properly cooked and prepared, but it would be worth it. Y/N was thankful to have Akaza help, even if he had no idea how to cook, to which Y/N left him with cutting vegetables and stirring.

Once it was nearing the time when the Pillar meeting would start, Y/N had Akaza turn into a miniature version of himself, stealing the idea from Nezuko and hid him under a blanket that had been around the estate that had been stitched up by Kyoujuro's little brother, Senjuro. It was a half-and-half mix of suns and moon, one side being yellow, with a sun, then the other being a dark blue with a moon.

Y/N treasured the blanket a lot.

But it couldn't stop their heart from beating a million miles per hour when they had finally gotten to the Headquarters (ahead of time) and set Akaza down so he could turn into his adult form and sort through the food before the other Hashira got there.

Amane had helped with the food, along with Kuina and Kiriya (even though they were quite shy with Akaza, which was to be expected, even if they knew Y/N's past themselves) whilst Y/N went to speak with Kagaya.

The man himself was laying in his futon, most of his face completely covered in the purple-like illness, his eyes a paler lavender than a few weeks ago. Even with his blindness, Kagaya smiled as soon as he sensed Y/N had come into his room, a gentle presence biting away at the Moon Pillar's nervousness.

Just being in Kagaya's presence gave Y/N a sense of peace.

"I suppose today..." Kagaya stopped speaking to cough into his hand, Y/N already having a cloth ready to help him, "Today is when Akaza will meet with my other children?"

A breath escaped Y/N, "...Yes."

The black-haired leader coughed again, this time coughing blood onto the cloth that Y/N held up to his lips. Once he'd stopped, he took a moment to catch his breath before speaking, putting a shaking hand on top of Y/N's head, his other hand holding himself up on his knees. "Do not worry so much my child. I trust in your judgement, and I know my other children trust you too."

"But you know how they can be... How Sanemi-kun can be." Y/N responded lightly, one hand on his back and the other still holding the cloth near his lips. "I was lucky with Obanai-kun... he only stopped because Tengen-kun and his wives were able to attest to Akaza-kun helping."

"I believe the others would have reason to believe and not speak out against you, my child." Kagaya spoke softly, like low waves rolling in at shore, "Just as you helped them, they would help you now."

"...I didn't help them with anything, though?" Y/N responded, confused, making Kagaya smile at the Moon Pillar.

"You've helped them much more than you really know, Y/N-san."

The h/c haired only sighed and nodded, resigning to the fact they wouldn't be able to rebut against Kagaya.

"I can only hope."

A few seconds of silence passed when Kagaya and Y/N heard Amane call for them.

A hand held their own, a scroll of sorts placed in Y/N's hand. Kagaya looked down with a small smile, "If it comes to it, read this. It's a letter from myself, a different but similar letter that was said during Tanjiro's trial, but I doubt you'll have to use it."

Y/N could feel the telltale signs of tears welling up in their eyes. Bringing the leader of the Corps into a hug, they sniffled, "Thank you, Kagaya-kun."

"I believe you'll be a core member in bringing in down Kibutsuji, along with the other children." Kagaya whispered, "You're all stronger than I could ever be."

Y/N let out a watery scoff, looking up into Kagaya's pale lavender eyes with a small smile, "We wouldn't be half as strong as we are right now without you, Kagaya-kun. Some of us wouldn't be here without you."

They placed a hand on his clothed chest, right where his heart was, "Believe more in yourself, just as you told me. You are our leader, just as we are your swords."

Just as Y/N had finished speaking, Amane had opened the door ajar, telling Y/N that the other Hashira were here. The Moon Pillar nodded, and stood up.

One last glance at Kagaya, Y/N opened their mouth to speak, "We're your willing soldiers, Kagaya-kun. We believe in you, and we believe in your cause, and that everything you do benefits us. You're just as strong as us, and we all recognise that."

With that, Y/N left him with those words resonating around his mind. "I am lucky to have such children with me today..."

Amane guided Y/N to the room that led to the outside engawa and garden. Y/N begun to wring their fingers together, nervous, even after Kagaya's words.

A hand on their shoulder brought them out of their stupor, "Do not fret so much, Y/N-san. We who know your story, accepted it, the others will be the same. If not; then give them time." Amane murmured, a caring twinkle in her eye.

Y/N took a deep breath and nodded, "Is Akaza safe?"

"Akaza is in a similar box to Kamado's, but less stable. It'll do the job for today, at least."

"Okay... All right. Let's get this over with then," Y/N whispered, determined.

Amane opened the door, and let Y/N out first. The two children calling out that Amane had arrived, making the Hashira kneel in respect.