ACT 2-2

Hello, everyone!, hope you're doing fine!

I have a lot of free time this weekend so I decided to edit this ACT first before updating the new one. ACT2-2 and ACT2-3 is about Mitsuri and I want to enhance her storyline and make her character more rigid and firm.

Author's note

1. I considered on having Mitsuri's background to make her story more rigid and impactful because for Obanai, he has a firm and impactful background enough on manga and I gave hints about his background since early chapter so I thought it's time for telling Mitsuri-ness and I want her character to have a strong base in my story.

these two chapters, Kyojuro will have his spotlight as her mentor and I guarantee this story's ObaMitsu definitely, not KyojuMitsu!

Enjoy reading! and stay tuned together for the next Chap!

Yofuku updated and edited 19/09/2020

ACT 2-2

"Then I note on your past and what made you troubled from being yourself. You've gone through a hard life. It somehow is your life mission"

One usual day at Demon slayers Crops. It's a tranquil day which was hardly found in Demon Slayers Crops. Birds chimed and landed on the brunch, craning its neck as it observed a few figures present in the room. The overall atmosphere turned calm and helped a certain meeting here to be more personal and deep into thought. It was where Kagaya as master of Demon Slayer Crops seated in calm demeanor and faint smile.

Only his sound echoed in the room.

The sunlight's cut before it reaches inside due to the secured protection from the shoji door and construction work to ensure the wellness of the master. Today he's not present alone. He had an appointment, an abrupt one so he came to a personal meeting by certain request by the most trustworthy Pillar and now he looked at his visitor, sitting not far from him on cushion.

"I understood your feelings. Society sometimes judges you, people become judgmental to everything and they leave wounds without their knowing. It is how society works throughout the century. But this time what made it different because you… you're here today and you never held a grudge against them"

His face appeared to wear a gentle smile, crossing hands with each other on the lap like a sculpture of buddha. His eyes and upper part of his face were damaged by the infection but the gentleness never went far away from his presence. His dilated reflection reflected one girl with long braided hair with an insecure expression on her face. A girl whom he can tell she's unsure, uncertain and unconfident in living.

"You have your own gift inside, that's different from them. You're destined to have something and be someone that they cannot be like you.. ha-ha that's a mystery of life and a miracle... You are blessed by the love of god. They can put you down yet you never go down because you respect everyone with your heart and love. That's why you resolved to not respond back the way they treated you and you still want to seek your own way to live" Those words sent a warm sensation to her like a log amids hrash tide while she's almost exhausted and drowning. Clasping her hand together on her lap with a smile of hope and light, even she's sweating by her awkwardness to have a meeting with the master of the Demon Slayer Corps. Listening to him earned her plenty of feelings through her facial expression.

"You should embrace it and yourself and you may find you can do much more from what you thought." Master paused for a while to look at her "you have god's love and you can use it to help the others to make them happy, to make them appreciate love of living and to make you be yourself"

"I-I.. can be myself? by respecting in myself" Pink haired girl flowned her slender brows, asked him through her curious and worried eyes.

"You can be yourself from your own strength.." he signed out with a smile plastered on his pale face and continued. "Be confident in your own version and show to everyone that you are impersonation from love of God, Kanroji Mitsuri" Even though he's in a weak and fragile state by deadly infection since he was young, able to hear unstable coughing but true power's in his word. His words carried a great deal of meaning and it got to her clearly,It's like he shined a light through a dim room by himself, her eyes brimmed with drop of tear at corner, it smacked her artificial wall to prevent her from being herself.

"Master….er.." Mitsuri lifted her face up with a sudden change in her confidence, her eyes set straight and spoke " I appreciate your words. That's very kind of you and Rengoku-san to see me as a normal girl and I can live in my own version.. I'm very glad to meet you all. You made me feel like this's my..my.. second home. I appreciate you all to see potential in me" Mitsuri paused and looked both men in the room "But I don't know I can do it such good be-because I never fight, touch a sword..I'm not sure I can engage in fighting like Rengoku-san" she fidgeted and hesitated to look at Flame Pillar's eyes for fear of his disappointment on her. She weighed and decided to tell him frankly on this fact. Just seeing people getting hurt also made her heart arch and felt bad. That's why she cannot see herselt in that similar position like Flame Pillar.

"I've heard your bold judgment and steadfast action to help the others. You brought your strength to help the others. You set your heart to help the others to have them returned to their loved one, to live on and do a good deed.. maybe you could do more than I pictured you but I believe your quality could reinforce you to be more potential than you thought" Master confirmed her with a slight nod.

She broke into a sniff of tears but it's a tear of joy "I never meet someone so sure and confident in me like you all!" Mitsuri tried to stifle her hiccup and tear. Another strong hand reached to touch her shoulder, patted her from backward and squeezed very gently to form her confidence to signify she's not alone and there's someone beside her.

Mitsuri turned back and saw Flame Pillar, her mentor, sitting there behind her and gave her a bright smile with hmmp sound in his throat.

Until they excused for their leave, walking outside the meeting room. Mitsuri felt a warmth throughout her body as she discovered a place that someone accepted her. The feeling of acceptance was something that she's seeking for a long time and it's here at the Demon Slayer Corps. She somehow felt out of place because she's new here, didn't know anyone except her mentor and master.

Mitsuri spoke "Rengoku-senpai, I am very grateful to have a talk with the master and thank you for everything" She spoke so soft, not want her to disturb this estate as the habitat of master and his family.

Kyojuro nodded as he could see his student be more confident and able to smile openly

"I'm glad you find it wonderful, Kanroji-kun. as I said you're special in yourself, no need to hide or change it and don't forget you're also my student!" yellow bright eyes shot a real sincere but warm glare to her. His words warmed her heart, his determination confirmed her existence and her potential.

"Thank you, I got many good support from you, from the master and from a lot of people here. I'm grateful to be here and at least I can be useful to someone" Mitsuri said.

"You deserved it, Kanroji-kun!" Kyojuro confirmed her.

"I'm glad to meet you and decide to follow you here ha-ha I don't want to imagine if I decided not to… and I would like to say you're like big brother to me, Rengoku-senpai" Mitsuri said shyly as she's the oldest sister of family and she never gain a firm and rigid support like this before. It warmed her heart.

"Well, it means I have another little sister this time ha-ha!" Kyojuro laughed as she chuckled.

This's a first time beside her father and brother that one man could accept her and made her confident like this, as if she can be herself, the real one without faking the new version of her. This was why she felt at ease here. The new chapter of her life started here. Mitsuri looked at the back of Kyojuro in an admiring way. she thought how her life changed after meeting him and deciding to follow him here.

"Wanna start the day with a delicious meal? Kanroji-kun" Kyojuro changed subject and asked, patted his stomarch to show he's now hungry.

Mitsuri gasped by his invitation and a smile appeared on her face "Hai! Absolutely yes! How can I refuse to have a meal with my mentor!" As both had high food appetite, Mitsuri felt comfortable having a meal with Kyojuro since she found out one day at a restaurant that he never ordered one plate but a number of it.

Kyojuro noted how she turned happy was a good sign to begin with. Yes he's also hungry and has a stomach going to protest him for skipping a breakfast as well as her.

"Well it's on me but are you okay, if I would like to visit my family first?" Kyojuro asked and Mitsuri agreed with a nod fastly "I got off-duty day to prepare you for joining Demon Slayers Crops but just between us.. it's hard for Hashira to get this kind of day so I decided to go out and meet my family for a while" Kyojuro whispered her in secret for having an excuse to leave duty off his shoulder for a day. "If you are okay, the treat's on me"

"Whatever it is, I cannot betray my mentor! Zip it" She pretended to use her finger to close her lip and both of them chuckled together. She felt really glad to have him as a mentor and also her seem-to-be brother. At least she could have someone to lean on.

"So then the treat's on me! But don't ever take a bribe for anyone next time, you know Kanroji-kun" He said in a teasing tone with a wink.

"I won't and I never .. except from my mentor!"

They both walked to Rengoku estate. It's not her first time to be here. Previously, Kyojuro had always taken her here for doing beginner pact as she had decided to train under him. That's why Rengoku's family had been familiar with her naturally and welcomed her as if she's one of the family members every time; moreover, she refused to come here as a guest because she volunteered to help with chores and cooking when she had time left.

She could get along with Senjuro easily as a little Rengoku always did chores and she came to help him every time when she's there and also share tips for cooking. She also gained acceptance from Shinjuro, head of Rengoku, after knowing she's his oldest son's student, able to get through the test and practice as well as soon to be Hashira one day, he admitted her as one of strong women, welcomed her and glad to have another potential young people studying sword practice in Rengoku style.

As they arrived, Kyojuro exclaimed his presence very loud and tint with excitement to meet his family even though he's too busy. Hard thud thud sound directed to them immediately and his father and his little brother gasped by his loud voice, startled and ran out to meet Kyojuro at the entrance together. They both waved to greet the Rengokus

"Kyojuro! why don't you tell me before you will come!" Shinjuro shouted with a coat of surprise in his sound.

"Brother! Mitsuri-san!" Senjuro greeted them happily

They're marveled by his sudden visit with no advance notification. Apart from a flash of delight over his face, his father, Shinjuro, tried to remain calm, cleared his throat and nodded to greet a pink haired girl who stood beside his oldest son. Mitsuri greeted each of them with her usual smile.

"Let's say it's kind of an urgent decision of mine to pay a visit at home! otousan and Senjuro!" Kyojuro answered them.

"We're glad to find free time and I want to accompany Rengoku-senpai to pay a visit to both of you too!" Mitsuri supported him.

As they're moving inside with a warm welcome from the Rengoku family. Senjuro appreciated their visit and willingly cooked something for them with his reason that "Let's eat together at home, aniki. I'll prepare a meal for everyone" But Mitsuri also volunteered to help him at the kitchen too. "I'll help you Senjuro-kun!" Before Senjuro could protest, she just slipped past them and went to the kitchen.

Shinjuro had a conversation with his oldest son in the living room while Senjuro and Mitsuri prepared everything in the kitchen. "Everything is fine! Otousan. No need to worry about it. I've done everything in order and also trained Kanroji-kun constantly and I hoped she would get a position in Hashiro soon!" With this talk, his father felt very proud of his oldest son and felt completed as he could rely on him to carry on the legacy of both Demon Slayer Corps and Flame breathing.

"Take care of yourself too, Kyojuro" He said in a warning tone, tried to act tough in front of him.

"Roger!, father! I will take the most care of my body! I exercise everyday, do sword practice afterward!"

During that time, Senjuro and Mitsuri carried several foods and placed them on table and set table for everyone. All of them said thank you for the meal first. Shinjuro tried to hide his tears by seeing his oldest son come back to the family and though if his wife's still alive, she would have made a special for everyone. He glanced over them and found both demon slayers began to dig in very fast till he thought every restaurant could be bankrupted by these two.

"Ahh.. I'm so full and thank you everyone for inviting me to have such a special meal for today!" Mitsuri said after having a clear table and helping Senjuro cleaned all.

"Glad you like it! Kanroji-kun. Let's take a short break before we head back and practice!"

His father voiced "Why don't you train here? I still have a wooden sword in the store room" Kyojuro flicked his eyes toward his student to ask if she's okay or not. Since she became his student, she came over to this estate and became familiar by nature. Mitsuri nodded and smiled back at him.

"If so, as you said, otousan! I and Kanroji-kun would like to train here. Thank you so much for your kindness!" Kyojuro bowed his head down very fast, nearly touching the floor. The rest of the room's freaked out by his certain and sudden action. Shinjuro pleaded with his son to get up. "Get up oi get up, that's too much Kyojuro!"

After a while of relaxation, Mitsuri came out of the toilet, wearing a normal white cloth and long hakama pants as Kyojuro lended it to her because he's afraid her uniform would get dirty. She tightened a strip around her waist with an inhalling to discharge her energy before meeting Kyojuro outside the lawn. They both nodded together and Mitsuri also took Senjuro to join both of them. At first, he refused because he never did it great like his big brother and more pressure from his father. But Mitsuri persuaded him just to do exercise with both of them and at least his father's gonna see it and appreciate your effort so Senjuro made up his mind and joint them nervously.

They began with running.

"Come on, Kanroji-kun!, just 9 out of 20, hurry up! Senjuro,my brother, hurry up?" They used an open space around the lawn to be the training ground. Mitsuri ran and ran till her throat went dry and replied back with a broken panting sound to her mentor as well as Senjuro who lagged behind her. She panted hard and knew well that it was just the beginning as basic exercise before sword training and her special feature on her body didn't help much in training like this. The struggle was real.

"Alright! Mitsuri-kun, you can do it in just 4 sets!" Now she laid down on the floor and tried to sit up, biting her lower lip while Kyojuro caught her feet and cheered her on when she raised her body up. Then she had to perform Push up and next was Sit up. He's doing very fine, no lagging like her and his little brother. It's not her first time to do basic exercise with him because she'd been gone through it almost a year. But everytime, she still cannot match her mentor who now cheered her up beside her, helping her count number before she completed with sharp exhaling.

"Take a short break, Kanroji-kun and we'll start with sword practice and Senjuro, my brother you could join in!" He said eagerly and walked to get a towel to wipe his sweat.

"I wonder if Rengoku-senpai's a really great swordsman in the Demon Slayer Corps,isn't he? Senjuro-kun" Mitsuri asked little Rengoku who sat nervously beside her, hand trembling around the wooden sword as he had zero confidence in it, even though he used to want to quit it.

"Y-yes, he sure is. My big brother's the best swordsman" his voice soft but strong on his own belief toward his big brother.

"One day, you would be as good as him for sure" Mitsuri giggled while Senjuro made a refusal noise to her statement.

"It's a long way to go to match him..Mitsuri-san" Senjuro spoke in dismay and gloomy. Mitsuri patted his shoulder and squeezed softly like her mentor always did to her.

"Nah don't say that. I started as a beginner too and you still have lots of time to train!" She fisted her hand up to state how strong she meant to him.

Senjuro let out a dry laugh "th-thank you Mitsuri-san, my pleasure to hear like that but in fact, I knew it's really hard to climb up to be Hashira like my big brother and my otousan... and each one of them have a talent and the best among the best" Senjuro craned his neck from his self discouraging thought.

"Hah? them.. you mean Hashira has a lot of members?..I thought there's only Rengoku-senpai" Mitsuri asked innocently and her eyes showed a certain doubt.

"Y-yes, Mitsuri-san.. I have a chance to go to my aniki personal estate and saw some of them have a spar with my aniki and wow.. they're a really talented group of people and had own special style and their technique is refined"

"Is that so..I never had a chance to meet them but what if I have a chance.." She took a moment in thought. She was thinking about it's a good opportunity to meet great people there and she also wanted to find who's the strongest man in the Demon Slayer Corps. Because..

"Eh! Why is your face red like that? Are you okay? Kanroji-san! Are you catching a cold? I'm going to prepare medicine for you" Mitsuri flinched when Senjuro anxiously spoke to her because she was now bashful in a certain red under her imagination that she wanna find the most strongest and suitable husband in Demon Slayer Corps.

"No! No need to! I'm just thinking about something ha-ha" Senjuro watched her again to check if she really was okay or not. "Are you sure? I can get you medicine, it's not good for your health" He still worried about her.

Mitsuri waved away "I'm very fine! Don't worry about it. I just got lost in my thought!" She cannot let her goal slip out or else her mentor would know it and then what's about her future? With this thought, it gave her a hollowed feeling inside her head that is she suitable for this position and this society.

As she recalled, her mentor had a promising goal to eliminate demon and brought the peace within human society while, about her, was to find the suitable husband.

"Okay and..Mitsuri-san, T thinkl you could be one of Hashira for sure.. I'm sure my big brother's gonna make you a new Hashira in one day" Lowering his head, Senjuro confirmed her but his face showed a sign of disappointment to his lack of talent to match his big brother. Her mood disappeared immediately.

Mitsuri started to sooth him "If I can be, I'm gonna wait for you to become the next Flame Pillar one day too Senjuro-kun. You could make it certainly. Rengoku-senpai will give you a hand! We're gonna be trio of Demon Slayer Corps"

"Th-thank you Mitsuri-san" Color appeared on his cheek from her words to make a picture on three of them being trio squad but for kid like him, it earned him an smile and his face relaxed into a soft smile "and Mitsuri-san.. how come you want to be demon slayer?"