Mao panted heavily in front of the trio (If you want to count Nezuko then we can say group) glad she'd made it. "Are we.. hah.. early..?" She panted out. Tanjiro who was concerned, reached for her. "Are you okay? You're out of breath." He asked.
"Uh-huh.. I'm.. hah... fine." She said. After she caught her breath, she grabbed Tanjiro's and Zenitsu's hands. "Let's go explore!" She cheered. Zenitsu felt like his heart was pierced by cupid's arrow.
Tomioka stared. His heart panged with something. What was it? Ah yes. Jealousy. "Wouldn't you like to hold my hand instead? You don't know where his hands have been." He asked looking at Zenitsu. Then he looked back at Mao. Mao let go of Zenitsu's hand and grabbed Tomioka's instead. "Okay!" She beamed. "Now we can explore!"
-_-_-_-_-
Mao gasped softly as she looked at all the candies before her. She wanted some but she didn't want them to waste their money on her. "You want some?" Tomioka asked. "N-no." She lied. Tomioka rose a brow a small smile making its way onto his face as he didn't believe her.
"W-well yes- B-but I don't want you wasting money on me!" She exclaimed. "I'm not wasting it on you, I want to buy this for you." He said and walked into the shop still holding her hand, he dragged Mao along. He stood before the woman behind the counter. "Ah hello!
Are you two a couple?" Mao blushed furiously. C-couple? Tomioka shook his head. "No, I wanted her to see the fireworks festival for the first time. I'm her friend." Mao sighed of relief.
He turned to her. "What do you want?" He asked. Mao gazed at the candies. "Well I— T-that's hard. I don't wanna choose just one."
She responded. "Some of each then." He said looking at the lady. The lady nodded and grabbed different colored bags and started putting candy in them. She tied the bags up and put them all into a brown bag. She sat it on the counter and Tomioka paid for it. "Have a nice day!" The lady said, handing Tomioka the bag, which he took and the two left.
-_-_-_-_-
Mao ended up separating from Tomioka, who'd promised to meet her back at the candy shop in a couple of hours. She'd ended up bumping into someone. She grunted a little and looked up to see the wannabe basketball. "Oh, Akaza-san! Hello." She greeted. Holding her brown bag in her hands.
Akaza smiled down at her and patted her head. "Hello, Master came with us to the festival." Mao gasped. "Father's here? Where?" She asked. "That, I'm not ware of, but if I find him I'll tell you, okay?"
She nodded. "For now, tell me about what you've been up to." Mao beamed. "Okay!"
-_-_-_-_-
"And then this one time, Zenitsu-kun got chased by a bird because he got angry at a baby bird he'd found and kicked it!" Mao giggled. "It was really funny!" Akaza snorted. "Sounds fun." He responded. Mao glanced past him seeing white hair.
"Daki-san?" She asked herself. Akaza rose a brow. "Daki's here?" He asked trying to see what she was looking at. And there she was. Arguing with her brother about something.
Mao stood up waving. "Hello Miss Daki and Gyuutaro-san!" She yelled. Daki turned to her and walked up to her. She looked down at the small girl. Mainly at the bag. "What's in there?"
Gyuutaro asked. Mao tilted her head to the side not understanding what he meant at first. Then she glanced at the bag and then back at him. "Oh. Tomioka-san bought me candy!" Daki was confused. "That's a lot of candy."
Mao nodded. "Mhm!" Daki was honestly happy to see her smile. She'd opened up some. Mao sat back on the bench and reach into the bag. She'd grabbed a pink bag and opened it. She popped it into her mouth saying 'Nyom'.
"Mm~ Cherry~" She purred. Gyuutaro gave her a smile with his sharp teeth. She smiled back tilting her head to the side a little. After eating a few more, she closed the bag back up and stood up cutely. "Okay!
I'm gonna go find father! I'll see you all soon!" She said holding her bag and skipping away. "She's adorable, isn't she?" Gyuutaro asked. The two nodded in agreement.
-_-_-_-_-
Mao giggled skipping around until she bumped into a man. "Oh sorry. Forgive me." She apologized bowing down apologetically. "Are you alright?" She asked. The man scoffed.
"Watch where you're going!" Mao huffed. "I apologized didn't I?" She asked. "So what? That's not gonna fix the fact that you've just wrinkled my kimono!" Mao's eyes had a soft glow to them as she was starting to get pissed.
"Sir, I apologize but I have nothing to do with your kimono. I can replace it if you want me to." She said trying to stay calm. "I don't want your damn money!" That was the last straw. "What do you expect me to do!" She yelled not noticing the stares of some people in the crowd.
"Aw such a cute couple~"
"Tch. Now, look at what you've done." Mao glared at the man. "At what I've done?" Mao scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Please. It's your fault. It's not my fault you can't treat a woman right!"
She yelled. "For your information I can, I just choose not to." Mao rose a brow. "Really now? Then tell me where your little girlfriend is? Probably running around frolicking with other men because you can't treat a woman right." She said poking his chest at the last five words.
The man rolled his eyes and smacked her hand away. "Whatever." He said walking away. Mao huffed. "Rude." She muttered. walking in the opposite direction.
-_-_-_-_-
Mao was walking around and spotted Douma. Mao blushed, moving a hand up to her lips remembering the kiss they shared. Mao turned on her heel to avoid him seeing her but she was too late. He was in front of her grinning. "Hello Doll~" He greeted. "Ah hello, Douma-san."
She greeted. "What are you doing here by yourself? Akaza-dono and Kokushibou-dono said they were going to accompany you." He asked. Mao tilted her head to the side hearing 'Kokushibou'. "Ah, sorry but who is Kokushibou?" She asked.
"That would be me." A deep voice interrupted. Mao yelped and turned around to see a very tall man with maroon hair in a ponytail, muscular, torn kimono, hakama pants of some sort, and a nichirin blade strapped to his side. Mao relaxed seeing the kanji in one of his six eyes. "H-Hello there. I didn't sense you." She awkwardly greeted. Kokushibou bowed apologetically.
"Forgive me. I didn't mean to scare you." He apologized. "No, no. It's my fault for being so jumpy." She said. "I don't think I remember you when I first saw all of you in person though?"
She questioned. "I was there, you just didn't see me." Mao smiled. "It's nice to meet you Kokushibou-san." She said bowing, her soft curls falling in her face. Kokushibou snorted at the sight. Once she fixed her hair, she smiled at Kokushibou who gave her an awkward smile back.
Mao giggled and grabbed his hand. "Would you like to explore with me?" She asked tilting her head to the side and smiling at him. Kokushibou felt his cheeks heat up. "That sounds nice, yes." Mao grinned and pulled him along. "Come on then!" She exclaimed.
-_-_-_-_-
Mao and Kokushibou talked about many things. Mao was really curious about him. She never let go of his hand unless she had to go to the bathroom or she got tired. "Kokushibou-san!" She called out looking up at him grinning. He looked down at her confused. "Yes?"
He asked. She giggled. "Piggyback!" She yelled. Kokushibou felt his cheeks heat up. His heart was melting. Here an adorable 18-year-old woman was asking for a piggyback ride.
"Okay," He said. He couldn't resist it. He knelt down and allowed her to climb onto his back. Mao giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck swinging her legs as he held onto her legs keeping her from falling. She had a tight grip on her bag. He stood up and started to walk in whatever direction she pointed to.
Mao was having so much fun! She'd never had a chance to do this back home! She loves this. "Wow! I feel so tall now!" Kokushibou chuckled.
"Are you tired Kokushibou-san?" She asked. "No, you're very light." He said. Mao's brows furrowed. "I still think we should take a break. Let me down so we can sit down."
Kokushibou nodded and knelt down allowing her to slide off his back. She grabbed his hand and led him over to a bench. The two said down as Mao rummaged through the bag for candy. She grabbed a bag and opened it popping a piece of candy into her mouth. She turned to Kokushibou her eyes sparkling as she examined his features for what had to be the 20th time that night. He turned to her feeling her stare. She blushed and squeaked quickly looking the other way.
Kokushibou rose a brow in confusion. "Are you okay? Your face is red—"
"I-I'm fine!" She interrupted. He was even more confused. "Okay." Mao's face was red as she played with her hair. "W-what do you want to do now?" She asked.
Kokushibou's cheeks started to turn red noticing her flustered movements. "I don't know, what do you want to do?" Mao giggled making his face redden even more. She turned to him her cheeks still red. "That's why I asked you silly!" She exclaimed. Kokushibou couldn't help but stare at her.
The way the moonlight shined on her so beautifully. Her lips looked so soft. She stared back at him entranced by him. Mao leaned in closer, and closer, their lips almost touching. They were interrupted by Muzan clearing his throat. Mao sat up and turned to her father. "Oh father,"
She paused and glanced at Kokushibou pushing some hair behind her ear. "Hello." She greeted. Kokushibou stood up and bowed. "I'll be going now." He said and left. Muzan smiled at her and walked up to the bench.
"Mind if I sit beside you?" He asked. "Not at all." He sat beside her and turned to her. "So, what have you been up to lately?" He asked. "Not much.
Tomioka-san took me to lunch today!" She said with blush on her cheeks. That didn't go unnoticed by Muzan. He was going to have to be cautious around the demon slayers from now on. If he were to send his demons to exterminate one of the people she cares about she would be devastated. "Oh! And Nezuko-chan let me braid her hair!"
Nezuko? Kamado's sister? He thought. "And me and Zenitsu-kun went to the hot springs together! I went with miss Kanroji as well!" She said. "What have you been doing father?"
She asked. Shit. He had to think of a coverup fast. "Oh nothing, just traveling." Mao smiled. "Where'd you travel?" Now this, was a conversation he liked.
"I went to Korea to do some business." Mao gasped. "Ooh! I heard they have wonderful pastries there! How did they look?" She asked suddenly hungry. Muzan snorted.
She's always thinking of food. He thought. "Although I can't eat them, they looked wonderful. I'll bring you some next time I go to Korea." Mao gasped excitedly. "Oh, that sounds wonderful thank you!" Mao giggled. "What else have you been doing?" She asked. "Well, I've.."
-_-_-_-_-
Mao giggled as Muzan placed the fedora on her head. "You can keep it. I have lots more. I'll see you again soon." He said. "Goodbye!" She said smiling.
He waved and jumped into the night sky. Mao had time to think about her almost-kiss with Kokushibou. She can't deny that he was stunning, it was more of his personality she was attracted to. "Mao-san!" Tanjiro yelled waving at her as he, Nezuko, Tomioka, Zenitsu, and the other hashira ran to her. She giggled and stood up still holding her bag. "Hi!"
She greeted being tackled into a hug by Nezuko. Nezuko hummed happily as she snuggled her wildly. Seemingly, this was how Nezuko planted his scent on her, to claim her. To let other demons know that harm would come to them if they attempted to plant their scent on her. Mao giggled and kissed the top of Nezuko's head. "Hi, Nezuko-chan." She greeted.
Nezuko's cheeks flushed as she shook with excitement. "Are you happy to see me?" She asked. Nezuko nodded. "Aw, so sweet Nezuko-chan~" She cooed. She gently stroked Nezuko's head.
Nezuko leaned into her touch. "I wish I was Nezuko right now-" Inosuke muttered. Tanjiro turned his gaze away from the girl. He looked at him with confusion. "What—" To be honest he was kind of envious of his sister.
She got way more attention than they did. He had to be honest, he gained a crush on the girl at first glance at the Entertainment District. He guessed either Inosuke liked her too, or he secretly loved to be touched. I mean— Not like that, but take it out of context if you want. He couldn't deny the girl was stunningly beautiful. She was kind and sweet.
She was selfless. She wasn't afraid to stand up to others even if it meant getting hurt in the process. One thing he loved, was how she loved sweets as much as she loves them. She was addicting, like a drug but worse, he crave her touch every moment he saw her. He snapped out of his trance when Mao placed a candy in his hand. "There. Now you have one too.
Hmhm!" She said tilting her head to the side smiling with a little giggle. He smiled at her. Maybe Tanjiro has a little obsession, but that won't stop him from winning her over.
-_-_-_-_-
Ah yes, the sweet, sweet smell of yanderes. This is a slight yandere-ish book. I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing.
Goodbye!
