Disclaimer note: All characters in Kimitsu no Yaiba(Demon Slayer) belong to Koyoharu Gotoge. You are recommended to complete the manga first because some plot and spoiler are expected to see in this fic.

This fiction is the story between Iguro Obanai and Kanroji Mitsuri. The real canon of Demon Slayer series I like and root for the most. This fic will focus on relationship of these two. It is my intention to create space and make a story between them to let them to have a happy life by my view and idea. No commercial purpose. Just to enjoy their relationship for fin and complete the void of their relation on the screentime.

I put rate M for safe. There will be future reference of swearing, cursing, violence on fighting demon, jokes etc.

What's more, this fic will be slow burn and fluff

Hello, everyone.

This's my frist fiction - I dedicated to one of canon ship between Obani and Mitsuri. They are so so so so cute together in series till I felt like I want to make their story more vivid, completed and lively. So I decided to write this story.

I have to confessed I started it since late January but I posted very late in late May because re-reading, re-writing and re-checking to have reader got the most quality of my work ( even now we have ending!) by the way, I still want to post for readers who root for them like me!

**** English is my second language, if you would excuse me for some mistakes in wording or misunderstanding - you can send direct message to me.****

Hope you enjoy and celebrate to their journey!

Update 02/08/2020: I re-wrote and fixed the grammatical error.

ACT 1-1

It all started at one normal day: It became day one that we met. Before you became hashira. And you are just normal girl in my eyes.

The thud thud from heavy stepping sound and from several feet came to the one gathering area in one town

This group of people wore the same black uniform, owned one katana with the fatigue line on their face.

They were demon Slayer from Demon slayer Corps. One of the independent organization that worked behind official authority, aiming to exterminate demon and bringing peace to society.

"Aright everyone, gather around here!" It appeared there were two people who stood out the most from the rest of group because they both wore the unique haori. One with flame pattern and another in black and white strip.

Being Demon Slayer hasn't been an a easy, not idle task to complete. Eliminating demon was essential, yet hard to complete it. It became a factor to organize many things from field work, supports or general backup to support each other and to strengthen the organization to the peak. And also to survive under the hardship and life-death situation. To get rid of strange phenomenal and track down root of all evil that had tendency to kill human, eat them and spread this horrible action.

This became a sole and rigid reason why there had Demon Slayers Crops, run by Ubuyashiki family and recruited swordsmans to join force as to elimination of demon. There were lots of rank and unit but being Hashira as the highest rank was a leading role in the Corps.

If there is one thing that he's not regretted from spending every sweat, breathe and minute on, it's certainly working as Pillar. For him, as subtle meaning of strip haori, Iguro Obanai took position as Snake Pillar very serious, straight to point, focused and highly disciplined, which were in his first priority. Love is not a proper word to explain his determination here, it rather be appropriateness. Never let loose, idle or waste any time.

"…." Obanai clicked his tongue. The sun shined brightfully and it made his mismatched pupils contracted. It hurted his eyes so he narrowed his eyes when observing the group of demon slayers in front of him. They were new for field work. He became more persistent and strict to them that cause them looked at him in uneasy.

Every breath of him has been a reminder of living a new day but in same rotten body from past trauma. He had set a resolve to dedicate his life to exterminate, eliminate and destroy demon in order to redeem himself and to cleanse his dirty blood as it had been tinted by his family with dark background.

"Hey, don't get lazy..you ass shit..even after mission, you are still slow and out of focus" his words pinched them. They flinched and lowered their face.

"Come on, Iguro-san relaxed! It was their first time for field work" yellow haired man beside him tried to change the mood.

Since morning in normal day, they had gone for a mission with several members, conducting the action plan step-by-step with less mistakes as much as possible. The target of this mission, received from Oyakata-same, was to track down and survey in particular area. There were reported repeatedly by the local that they witnessed a demon activity there.

The mission had been carried out properly. With a lead of Flame Pillar and Snake Pillar, every member was obliged to their command

"We are sorry to let both of you down, Iguro-san and Rengoku-san" one slayers spoke.

Obanai snorted while Flame Pillar, Rengoku Kyojuro let out a laughed "Ha-ha give it the best! Let's learn together everyone. I believe next time you will be more familiar and more skillful than this day one" Kyojuro injected the positive tone and drew their attention.

"Rengoku-san, don't praise them too much or else they will have been cocky" while Obanai was more realist and persistent to them.

Searching, investigating, recording came into action for some hours. Fortunately for them, none of demonic activity were found and occured in today. After checking all detail, double check, the result had been confirmed and completed since afternoon.

As received highly respected from members, Kyojuro gave a statement to close mission, each member clapped their hand, smiled happily, wiping sweat with a Hooray sound altogether from a short but intense mission. Their expression had a slight change from fatigue into contentment.

Instead of going back to base to report to master, Kyojuro had come up with spectacular idea.

"Everyone, what about we spend afternoon for eating lunch together before heading back to camp? what do you guys think?" Kyojuro claimed very loud, crossed his arm over his chest and pointing his thumb backward to a small restaurant. It surprised them to hear this. They had made a noise to it as agreeable opinion, replying in a second with cheerful sound to agree and eye beaming like children.

It also caught attention of Snake Pillar to flick his eyes to him with Hmph? and a line of 'what the fuct is this' was drawn all over his upper face. He embraced himself to ready for withdrawal on this social gathering, drew out a heavy breathe.

Kyojuro shifted his eyes to a side and saw Obani acting as he thought that he would not join again. He moved to stop his movement with a wink and nod as a confirmative action to let him know he should join this get-together.

"You should join" Kyojuro asked through his yellow intense eyes to show how determined he was and with friendly iron grip on his shoulder to stop Snake Pillar from moving away. Obanai groaned to deny, half trying to pry his hand off his shoulder while Kyojuro just beamed very bright and friendly. Kyojuro nodded again and point his thumb backward to restaurant.

"Alright! Everyone today is a special day! Not only we finished mission so fast! But also Iguro-san will join our lunch time together!" It arised a second shock from each slayers because they all knew this Snake Pillar's quite reclusive, hardly join outside activity like this

"What the? Rengoku-san, for real? I never said such thing! Cut the crap!" Obanai watched Flame Pillar in unbelief begrudgingly

"Rengoku-san, please leave me alone. I want to take a rest" Obanai was grumbling and deciding to refuse in firm voice, waving his hand slightly as a sign of paying no interest in joining get-together whatsoever meal of him

"Well then you might have a meal with us first before heading back to your estate. We still have plenty of time to take a good nap" But how to refuse Flame pillar was quite hard. Kyojuro laughed and forced Snake Pillar who gruntled in displeasure to entrace without listening to his protest.

"Come on, I still have a stocked food at my estate and I don't have feeling to eat out now, please-" Obanai finally got dragged to restaurant finally.

He sighed in defeat when he knew he could not get away this time "okay okay, Rengoku-san, I'm gonna go get and eat there with you and team" he accepted because now he's in restaurant now

Kyojuro rose his brow and content smile "That's great Iguro-san. Let's have lunch together and cherished every moment together as a team"

"...Whatever.." Obanai shrugged, shifted his weight to another foot in order to walk past waiter and waitress. The sound of chit chatting hit auditory nerve, crank of plate and culinary tool as well as a smell of broth stock in kitchen. He observed this place was sure lively when entering.

Walking in and choosing a quite table for him alone, Obanai sat down. In spite of his preference, there was no way out for him this time to sit alone. He looked at menu that's falling into his table with a sight of Kyojuro, taking a seat opposite to him, giving him an usual smile, energetic one.

"I'm glad you join us this time"

He hummed in response, unemotional but talked back "because you forced me to, traitor", his voice rasped out from line of teeth.

Flame Pillar just laughed with wide smile to him like he considered it as a joke. The reason behind this is, he was not comfortable to eat out in public and afraid anyone to see his face that he kept under bandage. He gazed to a white snake, Kaburamaru which met his gaze ,as if to cheer him up and coiled around his index finger.

"What do you want to eat? I recommend you a Tonkatsu. It's very delicious and I always order it at least 6 bowls" talked exciting Kyojuro. "Iguro-san, maybe you might like tempura here" he still offered Obanai a various choices of food

Then… he ordered Soba

"Look, Iguro-san, everyone seems to be happy to have lunch together. I think maybe we have to relax sometimes. I know what you thought and wanted to do but just give it a try"

"I see and I know it. I'll just eat and get back"

Sitting across Kyojuro, he glanced from a side of his to observe other members in silence. What's the big deal of normal lunch in normal restaurant? He thought doubtful while listening to their conversation and the voice of Kyojuro laughing and answering their question.

"Hey, Iguro-san. I just want to say we have to cherish every minute of life. It's hard for us to have a normal proper meal like this with the others so let's change atmosphere to make our life more colorful!" He made a sweeping gesture to let him see atmosphere around restaurant, craning neck to glance all over. It seemed like the way he explained.

"You are too pressured sometime, that's what I want to say, Iguro-san"

"hmph..I know Rengoku-san but I want everyone giving the best to Demon Slayer Corps"

Obanai stopped looking across the room when his food was served. Hot steam with clean scent of light soup. He began to eat as well as Kyojuro who started digging very fast and exclaimed Yummy Yummy.

"Iguro-san, you might want to try one, here you are! You are one of my closest friend and college here!" Kyojuro ended with giving one portion of tonkatsu and dropped on his bowl

"No! that's not going well together! Who will eat soba with that!" Obanai tried to get back but Kyojuro put in down to bottom of the bowl.

Obanai whined and could not do anything to let that portion floating on soba. He then looked at reflection of himself on the soup, a silhouette of his face with bandage. It looked strange, very strange, he can tell by himself and the others would tell like him too. Unlike normal person, to wear bandage on face, he knew , deep down, he's not similar to the others. And he cannot go back to the past to change things.

I can't be. Can't live like normal people. Can't redeem himself. Can't get rid of his blood. He thought on this every time when he saw his reflection.

He sensed a twist of knot in stomach and it made him uneasy, shed this poisonous thought and thought to what Kyojuro told him a second ago, there is some part of him to admit that Flame Pillar was right. He had been through the mass massacre of his clan, with miracle, then brought back to live a normal life again from head of Rengoku family, Rengoku Shinjuro the previous Flame Pillar. So he should give it a try.. Hopefully he can do this, and be familiar with ordinary life, even if his soul and blood were impure.

Can I be normal? like everyone? or my mind was tinted by impure too?

"Iguro-san! I want you to do a favor to me!" A loud voice was booming from a yellow haired-man, woke him up from reverie but it's also served as a good stinging to let him off from horrible past. Obanai closed his ears with deadpan face.

"Rengoku-san, I'm here, in front of you eating soba. You don't have to speak so loud like this" clicking his tongue and shifting a position of sitting, Obanai reassured his ability of hearing to Rengoku Kyojuro who laughed from sarcasm and still ate Katsudon at the same time.

"So what's it, Rengoku-san". He also used chopstick to pull up a soba with another hand pulling down his bandage around his mouth for enough space for eating.

Looking up from a bowl, Kyojuro spoke "I have a request for you" continued eating Tonkatsu, a new bowl. When it comes to food, he is one of person that has high food appetite and never back down. As Obanai could ever recall his nature since this current Flame Pillar was had been what he's grown accustomed to it because they are quite closed since they were child.

Resting elbow on table, Obanai opened his mouth "What do you want me to do your favor? speak then, I'm waiting" Kabaramaru also flicked its tongue following Obanai statement. Kaburamaru was also a closest loyal friend to him, tabbing its head with finger while waiting for answer.

"Oh for my request. Before heading to the point. I'm not sure you're okay or not, but I need your help!, Iguro-san" Kyojuro announced and looked at him pointedly.

"But before you will give me an answer, you should order something more! I see you eat very few, you still need lots of portion. Something like meat and pork that is a good for our body!" he rolled his mismatched eyes, with faint chuckle because in fact, he's older than Kyojuro but he always treated him like he's one of his little brother, but he's actually older than him at least 2-3 years.

"It's enough, Rengoku-san,only this soba is enough and I am full now" He refused with faint hissing voice of Kaburamaru. He noticed Kyojuro was now in a fifth bowl.

"Okay then.." he swllowed lost one before pulling down chopstick and drank a water.

"Alright, Iguro-san, you are free in this afternoon right? I don't want to bother you if you want a break", line in his face deepen from a tinge of seriousness.

Obanai nodded "I'm free and I don't have anything to do. You can tell me what you want me to do..it's okay it doesn't bother me at all" Kaburamaru purred after Obanai.

"I see, good!" clapped his hand and grinned, Kyojuro and he also turned to order a sixth bowl in advance with one of waitress.

"If you're free, so I want you to pick up someone at my family estate. Can you do it Iguro-san? If you are not comfortable, just tell me" Rengoku asked in whispering tone to signify it's important to him. His optimistic and enthusiastic feature disappeared and replace with hardened serious one.

With a sudden request from Flame Pillar, he noted on the fact that it's a rare occasion of him to ask for help that also stirred up his curiosity. He narrowed his eyes in thinking and answered "Rengoku-san, I can do it and I just pick someone at your house that's it?" Kyojuro nodded in return.

"Really? I thought you would ask me to do some serious business" Obanai looked at him for another confirmation because that's not what he thought about his actual request. It should have been more dread and bigger issue as Flame Pillar personally asked for his help. "Are you kidding?"

Kyojuro nodded to confirm "Of course! This is my request. You heard it correctly, so you accepted my request?" Obanai nodded with hmm to response but still unbelieved.

"Iguro-san! Thank you so much to do this for me. All you need to do is going to my family estate and asked my father or my brother about this person and take to my personal estate at Corps. That's it. I want you to know that I appreciate for your help. I will not forget to compensate this gratitude next time to you!" Obanai hummed in response with a bit of hesitation in his voice

"That's it for your request? I mean fetching up some guys at your estate could cause you a problem now?"

"Ha-ha no, I think it would be better to have someone help me and I am so sure you could do this"

Kyojuro paused "The reason why I asked you because you are my closed colleague that I knew I can count on you, and I also have something to discuss with master as soon as possible and it can't help to ask for your help"

"That's a simply task Rengoku-san, don't have to worry. I can do it so see you again at your personal estate " he muttered while Kyojuro smiled very cheerful and halt when spotting Obanai stood up suddenly.

"Hah? you're going out now?" Kyojuro protested

"Of course, I think I should get going before it's late, please give my greeting to master"

"I will and I will send you at entrance." yellow-haired man stood up as well, sighed in surrender when Obanai turned to pick up strip haori and brought it over his right shoulder. They both moved as they knew one of them going to get going.

"let me take a guess, you just find an interesting guy and recruit to Demon Slayer Corps, right?" Snake Pillar predicted and it surprised Kyojuro, opened eyes wide in surprise.

"Yes! Iguro-san, you always have such a sharp intuition! so that's why I asked you to fetch our guest to my hashira estate because I will discuss this with master on having another new hashira too!" After telling him, there is no thin line of him between telling and exclamation because everyone could hear and register on this issue. They broke from current activity into curious gesture and asked curiously

"Who's it Rengoku-san"

"And Which pillar he's in?"

"What's his specialty, Rengoku-san" - They spoke in surprise and excitement to welcome a new hashira into Demon Slayer Corps

While walking, left Flame Pillar to answer all of that questions, Obanai tabbed Kaburamaru before leaning to the tree in front of restaurant "It's easy to take a guess...Why the hell normal people will be in your estate" stuffed his hand in pocket and turned eyes to a side noticing yellow haired man following him.

Snake Pillar spoke suddenly "You always have a sharp eyes on choosing potential people"

"Thanks for your words, Iguro-san! I will do my best to strengthen our Corps and I believe you and the others will do the same and will be looking forward to meet a new member of our family, family of Demon Slayer Crops" Kyojuro showed an expression of faith and crossed his arm across his chest, which made his stature to be more confidently powerful, uttered a loud voice as usual.

"I'm counting on you this time for my errand"

"Okay, that's not a big deal for me either so I have to go"

After leaving from eatery with goodbye, take a good care of our guest and also you too from Kyojuro, Obanai was walking toward Rengoku estate along with his snake friend which purred and slithered out to see surrounding. The afternoon walk was not a bad idea.

He chanced it to relax, spent time outside his estate to another world. Because hardly he's willing to walk out at the town, where now surrounded with Spring atmosphere, warm and pleasant, observing people who came out, did their activities. He could see the difference between them and him. It maybe true that he's too obsessed in the exterminating job and it motivated him to put much effort more till he felt like he lacked the normalcy of living.

He sighed and his ears caught a hissing sound from kuburamaru "You don't have to worry, we will pick up that guy and after that we will come back to my estate"

Obanai spent his afternoon walk with letting his mind to rest from his work. His body relaxed as well as his expression unknowingly. A long walk had ended when he could see the image of large wooden gate with a old traditional character on a stone engraving in Rengoku on it "There we go, we finally reach here" turned his eyes to white snake, which gave him an was where he would meet a new member of Demon Slayer Crops.

ACT 1-1