ACT 1 - 3

Hello everyone! Hope everyone is doing fine during the pandemic.

Author's little note

1.I decide to change the name of each chapter to be in a new way. Using Act (+ number) to indicate the scene. Like now you are in Act 1 = that means we're still in the same day, same mainstream of situation.

1 might be a bit long. Please put up with it! The reason why I put much effort on ACT1 is because I found information (maybe from the DATA book).

******* It stated Obanai has 'love at first sign' to Mitsuri. So I tried to make them first encounter to be more dedicated to the level of feeling, exposure, acceptance, learning each other in a mature, realist way as much as possible through writing, their reaction and inner thought.

3.I knew I published this fiction quite late because they're really Canon on manga almost 2-3 month ago(and will be on anime!) but I really love this ship very much, even they're not main character when comparing to other mangas

Enjoy!

Yofuku updated and rewrote 23/08/2020

ACT 1 - 3

He didn't know why he should have refuse her help but his lip uttered "Thanks"

She exclaimed in gladness as if she could find something else did instead of standing alone here. He came here to find a new member of the Demon Slater Corps but he ended up meeting this girl named Kanroji Mitsuri instead. She's a normal girl in his eyes yet what made her different from the others was something that he could not explain.

"Maybe we can begin at this garden. There might be someone else here" She presented her idea. He nodded simply without any protests even though he already knew that only person here in the garden was her.

"We can.."

It started with awkward moments and nervousness in the air between both of them, including Kaburamaru which looked concerned to its owner. By the time, Mitsuri can warm up to his nature and his personality gradually. While Obanai's chewing his lip, faltering from hesitation on his feeling. One thing that bother him was how to treat her, a over-think marring on his face. The fact that he felt he was off his character around her, he knew it but didn't know the reason.

"Ah, Iguro-san. May I ask? (and he nodded) who are you waiting for? you can tell me. I will help you to find that person, if you're okay with it " She looked eagerly at him with full impulse.

"I have to say.. thing is I've been told to fetch someone here but I forgot to ask what he looks like or even the name.. that's my fault so I'm not sure where he is now" said Obanai in an apologetic way, lowering his gaze. He felt very stupid and awful for not asking even least the name of that man. He never thought it would be a problem like this, just to search one person and guild to Flame Pillar estate.

"It's not a big deal, Iguro-san. I think he should be around here" she tried to sooth him and cheered him up.

Mitsuri saw him saying nothing so she in turn asked "Iguro-san, I saw your outfit is similar to Rengoku-san. Have you happened to know him?"

Rengoku? this name echoed in his head. Obani nodded and curiosity kicked in why she knew this man.

"You knew him? I mean Rengoku-san as current Flame Pillar?.. you have an idea who he is? " Obanai paused briefly, unsure before declared "I mean Rengoku Kyojuro" he explained while Mitsuri's nodding to every each detail he gave to her.

"Yes yes yes! that's Rengoku-san whom I mentioned to you. I have a feeling that you should know him at first sight " replied fastly "Both of your outfit is similar but he has a cape with fire embroidment at the edge of it but yours is black and white strip" Mitsuri said and pointed to his haori on his shoulder. Obanai managed to give her a reflexive nod. All her detail was correct but his eyes still fixed on her. Mitsuri walked to him, bent her face to observe his black standard slayers uniform with a certain look on her face. While Obanai stood still, no protest, and let her observe, by walking around him. By chance, he could get a subtle sweet scene from her hair when she's moving around the tip of his nose.

"You also knew him?" Quelling internal conflict and curiosity, Obanai asked and his brows knitted together.

"Yes, I knew him for quite a while and I'm waiting for him now"

"Hah? He is the one who told me to pick someone at his family estate" He explained and it earned a surprised look on her face, her mouth hung but no voice came out.

"Wait..what? don't tell me" She suddenly whimpered with surprised manners, eyes opening wide till he's slightly astonished, nearly halting his breathing following her " I mean I'm waiting for him to fetch me and Rengoku-san also asked you to pick up someone to his personal estate" Shifting her gaze from left to right, pointing finger between both of them, Obanai also struck by thought of her. Mitsuri murmured inside her throat as if using her thought to make up the reason.

It all seemed to make sense for him but Obanai felt something was not that precise right in his head "I think .. Rengoku-san is busy today,isn't he?.. I mean he told me he would pick me up today but I see he's not coming with you right? Iguro-san" Obanai nodded and looked at her face in perplexity.

"I think I have a feeling like he might forget our appointment ha-ha" She said and scratched her head "So Iguro-san, can you give him my message about my appointment or can you keep my accompanied to meet him?" Mitsuri pleaded with him and made a request, It earned him curiosity as to why she looked worried and serious when it came to Kyojuro's matter? what's behind two of them?

Obanai nodded awkwardly "ye-yes, I can arrange that and will tell him about it but I don't think he would not forget his task easily like that" he mumbled alone while Mitsuri nodded to his statement "However, how come you have an appointment with him?..oh.. pardon for my questions. Pay no mind to answer if you felt uncomfortable" he's alerted when she looked surprised by his question so he daren't to look at her straight. He felt he's the one should be blamed for doing something so impulsive like this.

In fact, what he wanted to ask really was what is your relationship to Rengoku-san which may sound strange for women as they just met and knew their name a minute ago. The picture of one pink haired girl meeting with a golden haired man in his personal estate..gave an unsettled feeling to him.

"Oh that's fine" Mitsuri smiled casually "It's okay, Iguro-san. I can give you an answer. That's totally fine by me so how can I begin and where should I begin the story to you..um " she crossed her hand together at her chest, raising one hand to touch her cheek as she was thinking about something. Obanai's waiting for her answer intently and both of them finally seemed to forget their first intention to search someone in Rengoku estate completely.

"The thing is he offered to take me to his personal estate but he's yet here so I don't know what should do next" she said with a pouty face, then slowly, her lip drew into a soft smile as if there was a symbolic connection between them. that could make her brushed in soft pink.

Obanai craned his neck lower in an attempt to catch a sight of her strange behavior seriously. Signed out, Mitsuri huffed and continued " but I will be waiting for him, no matter how. He might be busy now or out to do important stuff but I'm not surrendering easily!" fisting her hand up as an attempt to lift up her spirit while his spirit's drained out by her answer. Her act evidently showed there must be something going on between her and Flame Pillar and over to his personal estate. With her weight of intention to wait for him was also enough to show how important it was to her. No it should not be like what he thought or maybe it should be yes

That stirred him the only idea. Like opening a Pandora box.

"You know, it's actually my fault, I still cannot remember how to get to his personal estate properly, ha-ha so I'm afraid I will get lost somehow so Rengoku-san offered to pick me up and take me there by himself. He's always like this, I'm quite embarrassed to have him taking care like I'm a kid. He's really kind and generous" What reason on earth could be used to explain why she swirled when describing their intimacy shyly.

"Hm..so that means you have to meet him at his personal estate in.."

"A place called Demon Slayer Corps? yes!" Mitsuri answered and it earned him another face. She knew this place and she could have been there before.

"Ah yes..seem you went there before"

"A few time, Iguro-san but everytime he always let me stay here at his family estate"

Oh no…What the.. Rengoku-san..Don't tell me , no ,no you have taken this girl to your personal estate? for that specific purpose of yours? that's why she looked embarrassed when talking about you. You gotta be kidding me Rengoku-san what you did to her! How can you ask her to meet you at Demon Slayer Corps. What did you two do together there? It's a place for business, for practice, for training.. even it's legitimately able to do it but...that's scandalous of you! Obanai let out the big complaint inside his head and it flowed hrashly.

Obanai remained standing as if stucking by thunderbolt while looking at her subtle smile and tinge of bashfulness. He exhaled sharply and happened to have a conflict inside - what if someone.. like her want to meet me like this.. what would it feel like he thought and conflicted within his mind. Why did she make every word from her heart so weightless and freely, unlike him. He felt it's hard to communicate directly like her.

"I see, so I will escort you to meet him there but let me find someone here.. he's the one who's gonna be a new member of Demon Slayer Corps..and Rengoku-san suggested him to enroll in as well" He explained.

"Oh actually I went there for my training as well" Obanai gasped faintly as if he misheard something.

" Rengoku-san will train me when he has free time...Huh? Iguro-san, why do you look at me like that. You heard correctly. Rengoku-san trained me there" She confirmed her word in glee, as if she knew what reaction of him would look like and also talked to him confidently with a flicker of softness morphing into determined smile and prudent pose, which's similar to the determination and eagerness of Flame Pillar.

"Train?" It's likely a new face swung into his head.

"Of course, Iguro-san!"

"You mean.. you mean you train with Rengoku-san? train sword?" his sound was unsure.

Mitsuri nodded and proudly answered him that she trained with Flame Pillar "He's my mentor. Iguro-san. He accepted me as his student for quite a time and trained under him. I'm very glad he acknowledged me and gave me a chance. He also told me that one day he would make me become slayer like him"

Obanai wheezed by the face. Ok first they are not in some kind of man-woman relationship as he pictureed, checked and then he took her as a student and trained her to be a demon slayer? What the fack are you thinking? He said and struck by the thought of what Flame Pillar told him previously, the picture slowly pieced together "Oh that mean..." His sound faded off with a deliberate look appearing on his feature.

Mitsuri spoked "Ha-ha, I got you, Iguro-san. It looks strange for a girl to train sword or even to train for being slayer too but Rengoku-san gave me a special chance so I don't want to waste it" her answer appeared and it clicked.

He stole a glance to her hand, palm, finger and wrist in which all exposed out of her long kimono. He found she obtained some bruises, scar and even has band aid around some fingers as traces of sword practice, he also got all of these. That evidently showed she had gone through training as he experienced.

"Eh..ano.. Iguro-san ...Iguro-san" Her foot took a step closer to him, waved her hand in front of his eyes, trying to wake him "um..I saw you remained still so what are you thinking?" Mitsuri bent her face closer to him with a smile and playful expression. Obanai gasped without a sound, suddenly woke up from his own thought and seeing her in this nearness, almost dangerously closed, his breath hitched. He flinched by her sudden move toward him. His feeling was stirred, his heart nearly skipped as he looked into her eyes. His cheek flushed red so that he could sense the heat over his face.

"Oh Are you okay, Iguro san?. You seem off" she took out a sign, asked innocently while he took a large gulp, snorted to refuse and shook his head slightly.

"I'm thinking about something, Gomen" His eyes still were on her beautiful face, adorable cheek with warm smile before she got back to her own position. Then he hummed "I have to say, I'm thinking of something when you said you trained under Rengoku-san..sorry for my rudeness and.."

Mitsuri shook her hand constantly, trying to sooth him as it didn't bring her down. Obanai cleared his throat and spoke "That means..I think it is you whom Rengoku-san asked me to fetch and drop you at his personal estate "

"Oh.. That means ..Oh So It's you.. the one who came to fetch me instead of Rengoku-san.. so you're trying to find me and I'm trying to find you too? and we have no idea how to get things done until we meet each other here " she let out a wow and chuckled, grinning sheepishly to him.

Obanai silently nodded to confirm "It might be this way" All's resolved, it's understandable why he cannot find her and she had to wait so long. They trailed and misled each other like moving in a circle motion, unable to meet their own point till the rotation wung them together and clicked. Now he's standing in front of a person whom Kyojuro asked him to fetch and she's standing in front of a person who would take her to Flame Pillar estate. Their endless trailing in the circle ended.

"Amazing! I'm relieved to find you, Iguro-san. I nearly decided to back home"

"hnn.. good we made it though" He thought It's clear now Rengoku have me fetched her to Demon Slayer Crops. Who knew it would be her. He never mentioned anything that his guest would be a girl. I thought it suppose to be a man, Ugh unexpected and it made me like a dumb now " ..and what's about training under him?" offered her a brief question to exchange their view. Now he took a step to start conversation by himself, and felt okay to be around her. He found Mitsuri seemed to be excited when he in turn asked her.

"I had been training with him for a while but each session has been so taught! I nearly ran out of energy everytime" Mitsuri chuckled from her joke and sticked her tongue out, closed her eyes and scratched her head "but Rengoku-san is such a good mentor, super good one but I still have no impressive progress but now, I set my mind to do the best! I hope one day, I can meet his standard and oh! I think we never met there before right, Iguro-san"

"Yeah, he is and he's a inspirational figure of Demon Slayer Crops and good swordsman, you will learn a lot from him" he paused "and I'm mostly out for missions, a lot, so I stayed not long at Demon Slayer Crops"

"And you know, I considered him as my big brother! He always acts like I'm one of his siblings and we happened to have a lot in common as well" Absorbing her detail, Obanai had a revelation that they both might consider each other as brother sister. It's strange for him to see when she explained and described the story, she also looked happy and excited as well.

"Because he loves eating and i also loves eating and I used to try cooking for him and he can finish all by himself and he praised my cooking skill too. That's why I have confidence in my cooking skill from that time and if you fancy to join, you could come '' Her invitation was from her pure intention and he sensed warmth in it. How long someone ever asked him to join for a meal. Oh that's not long, someone used to. Like lunch time with Kyojuro after today's mission. With unknown reason, he appreciated her offer. Home made food, eating around with familiar people, hot tea, under a tatami mattress, tranquil atmosphere and view, under the same roof. All these pictures seeped into his ideal image.

Obanai nodded silently but firmly.

Even in some part of his mind telling him that she should not be in the Corps, even trained under a Flame pillar. No, it's not about position or person matter. The reason was she looked like a very normal girl, ordinary, fragile, getting excited about everything around her and she's the type of person who was the least should be found in Crops or even imagining her holding a sword. Why does she want to train to be demon slayers?

"But before we go..Thank you so much for your care, Iguro-san. You are truly a kind person, I knew at first glance that you're a kind and good person" Mitsuri said openly and made his face twitched by confusion.

Obanai cannot grasp why she thanked him. Because he just did it from Kyojuro's request " you think that? why?"

Mitsuri looked into his eyes, took a confident smile "Yeah, because you're going to take me to Demon Slayer Crops, even it's not your duty and we just knew each other and you also treated me well too, Iguro-san, I am.. I am a bit glad to know a person like you" her last sentence showing her bashfulness, color on her cheek, around her face. He averted his eyes in an attempt to avoid her eyes.

She gave him the sweetest answer which was unexpected and unprecedented. It's pure and he never thought she would consider things that many people tend to overlook, but she didn't. It's like a drop on oasis that he really meant to someone beside his duty and work. At the same time, deep down, he feel very special.. and warm that someone, in particular of a girl in front of him, thought of him like that.

Obanai cleared his throat, simply changed the subject "Hnn.. and we have a long way to go. Do you want to prepare something before we left" he changes the subject sharply. Keeping it down in the bottom of his mind.

"Yeah, I'm ready now"

"Any luggages?"

"Nope, it's all at Rengoku-san estate"

After everything settled down in a good way. Obanai found her and she found him. They both were walking out of Rengoku-estate after bidding farewell to Sanjuro and asked him to say hello to Shinjuro-sama.

Along the way, their step was consistent. Mitsuri walked behind him silently, stole a glance at Obanai sometimes, her eyes moved from his hair, which is the shoulder range of him in black raven color and white snake was on his neck, turning its head to her, she waved her hand to it friendly.

Obanai consciously knew her eyes staring at him several times with strange shy action or not? He cannot tell and cannot comprehend her gesture: touching a cheek, hiding her face on her palm or whirling. The reason why he spotted her stealing a glance at him was because he also gazed at her, using a particular angle of his hair and Kaburamaru to look back at her without her realising.

Until one funny moment of fate from supreme god. Their eyes met by coincidence and it drew them apart from a shock and surprise pang. Both of them were startled and jumped slightly, averting their eyes altogether.

Mitsuri laughed dryly from being caught red handed so she changed this moment, approaching Obanai closely with hesitance "Um.. I want to say since we first met at the estate. When I look closer at Iguro-san's face. I can see your eyes clearly, Iguro-san, you have an unique beautiful eyes" Obanai opened his eyes in disbelief and could not believe what he heard from her.

Obanai stuttered, averted his face from her. Mitsuri gasped slightly from his reaction as she thought she did something wrong to him.

"why do you think that.. Kanroji" He asked with uncertainty. "A lot of people took at it as a disgusting and bad omen kind of thing" he explained sadly, his voice sounded gloomy but Mitsuri made a disagreeable noise. "Some said it's not the eyes of a normal person.. some said it's bad luck so they tend to stay away from me because I'm different" as if, she could sense his insecurity.

"No, they're not at all, even they's dissimilar but its both look calm, deep and mystics at the same time, I can see no bad thing on it, Iguro-san and I want to say..." she gave a hesitant pause and took it serious because she saw him gloomly.

"I think It looks good on you, Iguro san.. it's what you are and who you are.. I-I" She stuttered a bit "I don't see a problem here and I like it..I really meant it.. see nothing bad happened to me even we just met. I also feel great to hang around with you" Mitsuri let out large courage for explaining to him expressively. Her face beated red from her rushed blood in determining to clarify things to him.

Obanai suddenly felt his heart start to have a throb. They both halt their step suddenly. No one ever told me this before. It's warm inside him. A shower of warm rain and bath of sunshine. Strange warmth flew throughout his vein and plucked into his heart. Even Kaburamaru seemed to be happy when perceiving its owner's body temperature went higher.

Obanai realized his face turned red till the bandage may not cover it all as it spread. She made him feel like he didn't have to hide or change something. That's why he felt really comfortable around her.

"I um..I'm kind of.. appreciate that you li-like my eyes" taking a side glance, Obanai found just this word also made her face relaxed into a soft smile, one with radiant happiness. She never saw me as a monster or freak. She never asked me why I have to wear a bandage.. she might know it's a sensitive personal question of mine but she still accepts me as who I am.

When they continued a walk, Mitsuri stopped at the play field "Look! they're playing a kite" Mitsuri pointed her finger at the sky, drawing his attention upward. Heard laughter of children in front of them.

"Hnn they look fun" he replied.

"You used to play it, don't you?"

"Rarely.. when I was young" when he lived under Rengoku. He hardly thought of his childhood experience, it's dark, dystopia and indignation. He just had a chance to spend his time doing ordinary things like other kids after living under Rengoku family. So he rarely played it, only once and since he grew, had his own resolve.

"I played a lot with my little brother but when I grew up, I didn't have much time to think about playing like kids and wondered why I don't find time to play even if it's fun" beside a group of children, another thing that he laid eyes on was none other than her. She seems to dive in her thoughts now.

Speaking about life, Obanai wondered what her life would look like because she embraced an aura, which's different from anyone. Thinking on something very positive to her past, present and maybe to her future. That made her different from those he met. She might have gone through hardship in her life that's why she respects very dedicated things of herself as well as people around her.

And it drew him in as well. Some parts of thought, he felt attached to her without reason. From this point, Obanai could see the difference between him and her but was it worth it for her to hang around somebody like him?

"Kanroji, let's get going. We have a long way to go" Obani turned out and started walking, hand in pocket.

"Hai, Iguro-san. I'm coming" she followed his step and walked behind him.

"Until next time "

"Hah? what're you saying?" She asked after she hurried to him.

"I mean you might find a free time to play it if you want to" he said

"And you want to join? I can teach you how to play it, Iguro-san it's more fun to play more than one person and it's very fun to play in windy like this" she spoke and looked at him in anticipation of the answer.

What she got was his nodding and "Hm..maybe I can try"

Obanai answered and watched her exclaim in radiate. She seemed so content to have him joint her. Playing kite, as one of regular play of children, looked uninterested and distant for him to laid an eyes on, however, He felt like he might give it a try with her. Her cheerful giggle rang to his ear and it made him also feel good to, at least, made her happy by accepting her.