A/N: It's been a while since I read the manga so my characters may seem ooc… let me know if you guys notice anything or have constructive criticism! Thanks.
02. Daisy
Yukio came back exhausted from a particularly distressing mission. This was the third time that he has accompanied father Fujumoto as well as other fellow exorcists into the front line. This was also the first time that he was not able to save a life. A teammate- Yukio couldn't even remember his name- received a fatal blow from a demon. The healers, Yukio included, couldn't do anything to save him in time. Ever since returning from the mission, all that Yukio could think of was the fact that he couldn't remember the name of the fallen exorcist. Father Fujimoto told him to take a break and rest, but of course, Yukio couldn't manage to do that. Instead he decided to take a walk outside. It felt like hours since he began his walk, though in reality it's hardly even been an hour. Before he knew it, he was approaching familiar streets until he finally reached a certain exorcist supply shop. He knocked on the front doors before he even realized what he was doing. Shiemi answered the door.
"Yuki-kun?" she asked as she peeked out from the window.
"Hi Shiemi-chan." he said.
"Yuki-kun, why are you crying?" Shiemi opened the door for Yukio, but he shook his head as a no while he continued to stand in front of the entrance, trying to stop the tears that endlessly flowed down his cheeks.
"I couldn't save him Shiemi-chan! I couldn't save him! I let him die!" as Yukio cried out in guilt, Shiemi ran past him into the garden, quickly returning with a flower in hand. Shiemi went on her tip toes to put the flower onto his ear before wrapping him in a comforting embrace.
"It's not your fault Yuki-kun. You did nothing wrong." her voice felt soothing to him as his crying decreased to a soft sob. "See this? Yuki-kun is like this daisy. Daisies are pure and innocent, just like you are. Don't cry Yuki-kun."
Yukio's tears continued to soak into the soft fabric of Shiemi's kimono. His mind still felt busy and unsettled for he couldn't stop himself from feeling the guilt. However, he felt a sudden weight lifted from his heart, as if somehow, he was forgiven. That right at this moment, he was safe. That things might get better.