ACT 1 - 2

Hello everyone.

This Act will focus entirely on how Obanai start to have a feeling for Mitsuri as Data Book said he fell in love with her at first sight so I used this to create this Act. It might be a bit long for someone, I made it for a reason that be realistic – I felt like when someone fall in love with another one had to take time before realizing like hey I have a feeling for that person. Hang in there, believe me, after their first encounter it's going to be more cute and fascinating between these two.

Author's note

1.I might use word 'Corps' to replace for 'Demon slayer corps' sometimes

2.I read data book that Obanai considered Kaburamaru as his friend but I was hesitant on choosing pronoun to refer him so I decided to go with 'It' instead for most neutral way, and not confused in reading

to Rengouku Kyojuro, our Flame Pillar. I decided to use this version of his name 'Kyojuro' instead of 'Kyojurou'. Reason is it's easy to type in this way hahaha

4.Open for any mistakes found in the fiction because English's my second language.

5.I put disclaimer note on first opening chapter as a statement to respect the author of Kimetsu no Yaiba. While next chapter, I will use free heading space to inform something else to you guy

.

Hope you enjoy this and wish this story will fill in your imaginary gap between Obanai and Mitsuri as much as it can.

Yofuku updated and edited 12/08/2020

The nostalgic scent was in the air. Iguro Obanai looked at the Rengoku estate with calm demeanor. His life after getting out of his clan began at this estate. But today he had to visit here for specific mission.

The scene before his eyes showed the large façade with the big stone, engraved Kanji chatacters of Rengoku and a wooden gate at the entrance, which was opened wide. Behind its, there was originally traditional japanese house with hint of conventional architecture from roof to base as well as small detail on fence and tree. But at entrance gate was not alone, it had a company, because someone was now sweeping dried brown-yellow crispy leaves, collectting all into swelling big pile.

From a crick and crack sound of leaves was heard to all parties. Obanai found the little Rengoku, Rengoku Sanjuro, little brother of Kyojuro who now was sweeping leaves on ground, identical brow furrowed together to signify the expression of hesitance of him. Looking down on the ground without realising his presence and surrounding, as if he submerged into own thought.

Obanai decided to clear his throat to show his presence. Sanjuro flinched by the sound of newcomer. Sanjuro looked at the shadow of visitor casting over him, looking upward from chore. The flash of surprise crossed on his feature form seeing Snake Pillar "Iguro-san Good afternoon" he greeted with unsettle demeanor.

Obanai gave a slight nod as a visual greeting to him. Noting he grew up a bit than last time he saw.

Obanai nodded "Sanjuro, hello" Obanai walked closed to him. Sanjuro bowed his head and stood politely with faint smile on his face.

"Iguro-san, what bring you here today?, you want to come in and have a tea first?" Obanai shook his head to refuse. It made a line on Sanjuro's face twisted to unsettled and worried one. Because he cannot predict what matter Obanai brought today.

"I visit your estate because I have some business here" Obanai began "Rengoku-san asked me to pick up someone at his family estate so do you know about this? He said to me I can ask from you and your father about someone who will be a new member of Demon Slayer Corps" Obanai spoke in calm manner while Sanjuro heard that, then his face and brows began to relax slowly and his mouth lift up into 'o' shape and nodded instantly.

"Then I come here instead of him. Rengoku-san had important matter to discuss with Oyakata-sama today" informed Obanai.

Sanjuro put a broom down and gestured his hand to let him follow "I thought my aniki would come by himself as he told us the day before yesterday so you may come in, Iguro-san, I will escort you to garden to fetch.." He heard a key and made a move to halt his movement.

"No need " Obanai decleared, holding his hand up to stop Sanjuro "He is in garden right?, you don't have to Sanjuro. You have to do chore so I will pick him by myself, don't worry" and walked past him with a swift step and strode to garden in haste. Without listening to the protest and calling from Senjuro who attempted to tell him something.

"Don't worry, Sanjuro I can handle it by myself" He mumbled and shrugged from Sanjuro's voice.

Walking along the sideward path that led another section of estate. Turned around at the corner. The architecture was disappeared and found only the Japanese garden.

His feet stopped at the destination. Entering into garden of Rengoku estate, a scenery before him appeared to be very stunning and fascinating garden with tall big tree and bushes in well-trimmed and shaped. it also had a big pond at left corner, with several colorful fish. Adoring with various kind of plants both leaves and flowers.

He walked past all the leaves and bushes and turned around to see if someone was here but he found no one.

A chill breeze swung every leaves and petals to dance in harmony, slowly and calmly. Obanai have been wondering where that new recruited guy is, as he entered in garden for a while, he cannot catch any figure here. He took a glance to meet eyes of Kaburamaru to tell where is that guy nah a pain in ass.. come out quickly I want to back, while folding his sleeves up with a hint of agitation.

Speaking of target, "huh?... what are you doing?, Kaburamaru" Somehow, he caught a certain action from Kaburamanru, which is unsual.

Kaburamaru was sticking its tongue out and pointed its head to left-side, acting like trying to point him to see something. So Obanai followed Kaburamaru and finally he spotted someone under the shade of tree.

There was a stood tall and large trees in right corner, with a bamboo seat under the tree. And that he got a glimpse of someone standing there with a set of tea. Idea stuck to him that could be his target. The new member of Demon Slayers Crops.

Patting Kaburamaru for his help, Obanai narrowed his eyes and walked off to a figure in front of him.

As he approached to get a good look, Obanai raised a question in his mind when walking closer and closer because he detached that figure was in a pink-red kimono with floral pattern. That's different from his expectation. He turned around, looking left to right.

First thing clicked into his mind, a woman?, He judged her in silence. Obanai saw only the back of this person. That's definitely a woman as thought from her wooden geta shoes visually as well as her curve under kimono that was appeared by obi as fabric structure. His feet halt from walking to her. A bit of hesitance.

He looked back at Kaburamaru with accusative glance because he can tell from this view that she maybe a guest of this family. Observing, he found her lifting her hand tugging a strand of her hair behind ear. This also drew his attention to her hair.

It stood very noticeable for him - it's a long pink braided hair with a tip of green color. That combination of color mesmerized him. He never see such hair color before, plus when it swayed from wind, dancing in the air with the petal, like a living thing. What clicked into his mind was Cherry blossom he thought of it when witnessing her hair color.

Who's she.. why's she here? he thought, was half curious and half pondered attentively on her appearance in the garden. It drew his attention to and it seemed like she's a center of this garden. With coincidence of her existence here, he also had to find someone here too. He never saw a member of Rengoku have this kind of hair. In particular of pink hair, which was off from main picture of Rengoku. Plus he came up skeptically that this kimono was too colorful for this family.

His brain worked a few assumption on her quietly, as if afraid to bother her sightseeing because she seemingly enjoy watching the scenery of garden

His eyes moved around to see if someone else here butI found only this woman. What's she doing here? and where is the guy that Rengoku-san refered to? and Sanjuro told me he's in garden but I see only this girl. Should I ask her if she had found someone else here, he thought in conflict, crossing arm over his chest and grunted quietly till Kabamaru seemed to not satisfy in this state, it hissed to call him back in stubborn look. Obanai after lost in thought, snapped to reality and tabbed Kaburamaru's head, while he was going to walk off to discover someone who should have been new member.

Meanwhile, the hissing sound from Kaburamaru also reached to her ear. She was jolted slightly as she knew someone was behind her. Making a move backward to see the newcomer. That moment drew their eyes met, locked together in that particular second.

They both were stranger. A girl in kimono and a man in uniform were looking at each other. Both of their irises reflected each other existence. No hurry and time seemed to pass slower than it supposed to be. His mismatched eyes found her fair skin, big emerald dole eyes with a bright sparkling, round shape of face with puff of cheek, small nose and well-shaped mouth.

Just a voice of wind and song of leaves and flower enveloped both of their hearing.

Time passed lingeringly and slowed to let a couple absorbed each other. Her green eyes bore to him attentively and also welcomingly. It earned him a warm feeling inside his chest and throbbing sensation that he never experience before.

The feeling of head turning blank was hit him hard, remained standing and imprinted her appearance on his head by unknown reasons. He tried to scrunch a word to greet her but fail. It seemed there was a wall in front of him, an invisible one. He cannot break it by his will and effort.

Yet it broke by her. A girl in kimono raised her eyes to him in unsure demeanor as her lip pressed into a thin line before it curled into a soft and gentle smile.

"Good afternoon, mister" Her smile went wider and waved to him lovingly. She seemed mixed between nervous and cheerful toward him.

Obanai gulped once before articulated "Hi.." This was all he could utter out to her. Her smile and her glance made him felt losing air out of the lung and his heart skipped a beat. Obanai felt his lip dried and throat tightened as in this situation he didn't have any idea what should do next.

Under unknown reason, he automatically attempted to avert his eyes sideward "Mister.. you need some helps? Are you here for some business?" She said and he had to draw his eyes on her again, stuttering and unsure. Obanai simply nodded and scratched back of his head.

beautiful.. she's beautiful, he thought alone and loud in his own mind. she maybe around at his age. She was captivated, looked very lively and a flesh of breath in the air to him. The way she sent a sweet smile and friendly aura toward him warmed him up, the heat was on his face till Obanai used his hand to clap on the side of his face, trying to contemplate what's going on his face, why was it hot like something was boiling inside.

He could not explain when he was in front of her, an unknown girl.

Until Kaburamaru could not stand its owner, It nibbled his arm and that was when he woke up from a pang of pain. He hissed slightly from the bite.

Thanks to Kaburamaru, finally he could gather himself while Kaburamaru looked displease at its owner. Obanai patted on the mark, soothing it down but it gained him more conscious to face her again, now she looked at him in confusion. Yes he felt like he was a jerk, gave no reply or state anything to her, just stand and stare at her.

"Hi.. hello mister, may I help you?" beautiful small voice rang from her tiny mouth and rang him up. It pecked on Snake Pillar. Craning her neck a bit to look at him in an anticipation of his answer with her adorable smile She smile again..that's cute.

"Mnn.." Obanai stuttered before uttering "thanks I have some business here" He walked and stopped in front of her.

He peered her up close, able to spot that she was taller than him a little bit. Obanai found pink flush on her cheek naturally with charming freckles under her eyes area that looked surreal cute for him. Yes, when looking her this closed, she seemed to be more charmed. the pair of mismatched eyes were wandering to her well-framed lashes and obi around her waist that lift up her upper body to look more bosom and full of femininity. If he was Yin, she would be Yang. He could feel the difference between her and himself. She was like a reincarnation of something brightful and cheerful in every life.

His eyes drew to her lip which started to form words "let me escort you to wait in the guest room" she informed him.

Obanai scrunched "You live here? What are you doing here " Silence hovered between them suddenly as his attempt to state his purpose fail miserably. He let out a low groan and griped his fist.

Baka! What a nonsense question he clapped his face to sting up his sense. What he asked didn't articulate from his brain, but from his mouth solely. Clenching his jaw hard, Obanai let out a heavy breathe, felt terrible, crushed and dread on how stupid of his question. Placing one hand over his temple to close his face from an embarrassment. What a question! what can I do something very reckless like this.

A small noise, He heard it, slowly dropped his hand and looked back and found she giggled to him, putting her hand around her mouth to frame it. A girl shook her head and said "ha-ha I'm not resident here mister but I am here for just some business too" He nodded.

"By the way, you want to meet someone here? I can escort you to" She paused, gave him a space to think about it before continued

"Perhaps Are you looking for Shinjuro-sama?. He went out to the town for a drink. It's a while he would be back but I can take you to meet Sanjuro-kun instead, would you like to meet him? he may help you" gestured her hand to direction of house, step a brief pace as though to guide him into the house.

"No, no need to. I come here for specific reason. I have.. have an.." he stuttered while talking and looking into her sparkling eyes with a gleam of friendliness.

"some kinds of mission?"

"Y-yeah I have some errands here" Obanai replied in calm, remained collected.

"What an coincidence! Me too! I have some business here as well ha-ha so mind telling me what's your?" she asked excitingly, bent her face toward him while Obanai, as a reflexive mechanism, he stepped back slightly.

"I have to find someone here but he seemed to not be here" She made a noise to response his story and seemed into every detail of his telling. He conjured an idea being nervous and uneasy because of her gesture. She's different in some way that he still cannot pinpoint.

"I see, I'm waiting to see someone here too but it turns out he didn't make it on time" She replied with smile dryly. "And who are you looking for?"

"I- actually I have been told to pick up someone at Rengoku estate" He gave a short pause before continued "and Sanjuro told me that person is in garden but I meet you here instead.. I think I might misunderstand something, forgive me," raised his hand to scratch back of head.

She made a long noise in her throat in thinking "Ah I see, I still have lot of free time here so, if you don't mind, I will help you find that person" her lip curled up into toothy smile, her eyes squinted together. She's cute, definitely cute, and she's very nice.

"and I am Mitsuri, Kanroji Mitsuri" She introduced herself. Extending her hand forward for hand shaking, she suddenly jerked back suddenly and bowing to him instead. Obanai nearly extended his hand out as well, seeing that he took a step back and bowed to her as well, Mitsuri.. he said in the back of his head.

Obanai cleared his throat and was going to follow her next "my na.." but Kaburamaru, his snake friend, suddenly bent its body out of his shirt like trying to greet her with manner of snake, flicking its tongue out and stared at her with big red eyes.

"What are you doing! Kaburamaru! " He whispered in fury, trying to grab its body back.

But Kabamaru seemed not to focus on its owner, seemingly trying to greet a girl instead. Kaburamaru hissed and slowly stretched out to a girl named Mitsuri who was now staring Kabamaru in wide eyes and pulls her hand up, touching her lip in surprise. He expected that and was afraid she would freak out and faint, trying to pull Kaburamaru back hurried as he began to hear a gasping voice from her What a first impression tho Oh man, I'm screwed this time.

"Oh hello there little one" He gasped in marvel.

But she in contrast, made a move toward white snake, walking closer and bent her head toward it. "Hello, I am Mitsuri" it responsed her with purr, reaching out her index finger to pat its head , no frightening or shocking "wow he let me tab!, look! he is so cute. isn't he? Hi there" spoke delightly Mitsuri.

Obanai surprisingly watched his pet - letting her pat its head without snarling or threatening. Normally no one ever was able to do this, it would grimace with hissing sound and coil its body in fighting stance. She's not afraid? She's not afraid? Unbelievable, he managed to quell the fear of her being afraid of seeing a white snake, and then stopped scoffing his pet and kept staring at her when she bent her head to get closed to Kaburamaru with expression of excitement to make a new friend.

"Yes ..he is and his name is Kaburamaru.. he is my friend"

His last sentence is faded in soft tone, in order to make it as unimportant thing, at the same time, he was afraid she might have an idea that he's weird to have a friend as snake Half expect her to accept and not afraid of him.

"Oh hi Kaburamaru-kun! I am Mitsuri, nice to meet you and let's be friend together" exclaming in delight "He seems to love you a lot" said Mitsuri.

"He's my companion and we grew up together"

"He's gonna remember me next time when we met,isn't he? Ha-ha" She said adoringly.

"There, there little Kaburamaru-kun" He noted on how her face blissed with sparkle of happiness when Kaburamaru stretched long body to coil around her finger and hand, Misuri laughed cheerfully as he sensed she's sure happy and not afraid of Kaburamaru.

In a sudden, their eyes met coincidentally, he flinched a bit from being caught red handed from peeking on her. She raised her eyes up to him.

"And what's your name? You still don't tell me" Mitsuri asked and there was a light in her eyes litting up positively that could confirm her intention. me...She wants to know my name too? he felt like he's choked when she asked directly. She waited intently for his answer with her dole curious eyes.

"Iguro Obanai"

"Nice to meet you, Iguro-san" Mitsuri gave him the best sweet and sincere smile that would never leave his mind at all.

That right moment when he uttered his name. This time he knew it's different than any times. It's like a moment of unlock something inside of him to her. The feeling of something throbbing inside his chest began, he held his hand and placed over his heart. He could feel it on the surface.

"Pleasure to know and meet you here" she managed to rearrange her word to be more formal to him again with a toothy grin to him.

His mismatched pupil dilated, it glowed up when she expressed to him. Sighed out in a huff of slight joy to see a new light and hope. Being locked up, his mind had been closed since he's young to fear another human being, trying to get away and stay far from any contact. But being shaken by unknown reason and the whys. he felt his mind opened slightly. Enough to let her shine and radiate in. He's tempt to sort out and understand this phenomena but is it worth, was still be a big question in his mind.

"Hmm.. nice to see you too, Kanroji"

"Then where should we start, Iguro-san I will help you as much as I could help you" A girl named Mitsuri lift her hand up, gripped her hand into a fist to show her determination.

She is a normal girl but why he thought, tried to scratched his idea together while making a mental note that she looked alike a normal average girl around her age, but he seemed different in his eyes. She poured every inch of excitement in doing anything, her sparkling eyes shined to every detail and her cheerful smile. She put all of these to him as well. Even after seeing him and after seeing his bandage, which must have been strange for ordinary people. However, she still treated him normally, talked to him casually without action that spoke he's a strange man. Unlike the others that would give him a suspicious look to him or stare at him from head to toe with judging glance but she's not. She's different.

"Thanks"