ACT13

Having a weird coincidence to take a nap on her lap, Obanai still cannot shake the warm sensation, giving the electrocute jolt to his body. Who knew laying a head on her lap would prove this kind of positive sensation. A soft, her sweet scent and a shade of her hair, her gently humming some lyrics. Obanai definitely would keep this on his head. Also rethinking every night till he felt like he longed for her.

Mitsuri was one of very few people he opened to. Everybody in Demon Slayer Corps could answer that absolutely. Their interaction always had been different than the others, only Snake-san but Love-san usually treated everyone the same, full of love and energy.

Obanai said to himself he didn't mind seeing her always pouring her love on everyone. However, he also never knew he always shot the jealousy, deadly and murdering glare at every man who tried to cope with her.

Obanai sat, looked out from the window, seeing the starting night. A calm breeze waved his shoulder-length hair. Kaburamaru also stayed with him. He was rethinking about her. He felt like he's lonely and needed her company every time if there's a free time. He want to book her time in advance. He sighed. Beside his sitting, on his desk, there were a pile of letters which were signatured by Kanroji Mitsuri. These were their letters.

They still exchanged letters from time to time when they were away from each other. Obanai kept each letter in a perfect form, often re-read it and smiling in content as if he could hear her voice.

Obanai made a wish, he hardly accepted to himself that a person like him made a wish in the night - I want to spend more and more time with her.

"Iguro-san, I am so excited to have a mission with my mentor but I also afraid I would cause him a problem"

"You will not, I believe. Rengoku also believe in you, I am sure"

Now a couple were walking through the serene garden in the Demon Slayer Corps. She's holding a stick of colorful dongo, chewing happily beside him. That dongo was not a typical sweet at the Demon Slayer Corps. It had been brought by Snake Pillar who ordered his subordinate to buy it for him when he's out on mission.

"Thank you, You always treat me so well. I'm very happy!" Mitsuri said.

Obanai could sense the happiness by walking along her. He hoped this moment would not last so soon. However, fate always played a bad trick on him. God never gave Iguro Obanai a rosy way for him.

"Uzui-san! Hello" There, a large, tall and muscular white-haired man walked into the scene. Ninja greeted them back and in a flash, he appeared in front of them.

"O Uzui" Obanai simply greeted him in short. He was a bit annoyed to have a man steal his time from her. Now her attention shifted to him.

"Have you been well? Hope your life is as flamboyant as mine!" Mitsuri answered him back "It's flamboyant as yours!" She giggled. Obanai swollowed a seed of envy to see that Ninja stood towering her and it made her face flushed. Ugh.. I want to be taller than him..

"Hm" was his short snort to Sound Pillar. Visually perturbed by his entrance.

"umm.. Is it just my imagination? I have a feeling like you two getting along so..closer, I would say" Tengen said in a cryptic tone, rubbing his chin in thought without giving no mind to a person next to him, The Wind Pillar who made a flat with a tinge of annoyance in the air.

"Ah yes! right Iguro-san! We went out for a trip together" Mitsuri said and nudged her elbow to him playfully and made a secret note.

"Hnn" earned him to snap his forehead. It's a very bad idea to let this white-hair man keep a secret.

"Interesting, interesting! It makes me wanna know what you guys got into together" Tengen laughed and stretched his large arm to envelo both of them in a friendly hug, patting their shoulders slightly. Obanai groaned in displeasure.

But if one asked why they became so closer than before in an open way. It drifted his mind back to when they were on the trip to temple last time when his body and soul was warmed and cleansed by their interaction. For Obanai who rarely considered the interaction among people as something unnecessary and untrusted, he took a big leap to her in another new level.

At the temple, after Obanai woke up, pretending to be shocked why and how long he slept on her lap. "It doesn't much, you don't have to over think about it, yeah I'm sure I'm really fine. I also had time to rest a bit as well because both of us woke up so early" Mitsuri made a comment. "Then what would you want to do?" Obanai asked with a stern demeanor, hiding and concealing the hard blush of blessing on the very face to have lean on her lap, soft and smooth, be able to took her sweet and feminine scent as well as his adjacent, be able to see her perfect body that all men could stare at her all day long.

She took a long hesitant pause. "Say what you want to say, Kanroji" Obanai insisted and it earned her lip smoothing into a shy smile. Her sheepish grin captured his heart, how can he refuse what she wanted and what's she going to ask for? "Actually I want to take a walk at the market place but I don't know is it bothering you or not"

"Mnn, we can go, if you want to..just say to me" Obanai's a man of a few words. His voice was rigid but inside so hesitant how to communicate with her but seeing her face blooming into a sweet flower, it warmed him as she got what he meant. It's hard to refuse her request even though he hated going into a crowded area like this.

Mitsuri played with a strand of her hair. "So..are you okay to go with me?" Mitsuri scratched her pinkish cheek to alleviate her fidget on asking his permission again.

More than fine "I can go with you, Kanroji, you made it sound like I'm a kind of mean person"whatever she said, he could get it for her.

After clearing everything, they began their trip again in order to complete a day with her. Which he found interesting to spend time with her, outside the compound. They were on one lane that lined with several stands and vendors along the way. So festive with the smell of many foods with a bust of sound which was so lively.

Mitsuri looked around excitedly, turned back to a man beside her as to signal him something "Kanroji, here's so crowded but why are you walking so fast" Obanai whined after seeing a girl who seemed so active in looking at vendors, parlors and booths for children's games.

Obanai just made it like he warned her but he felt it's a cute sight to be noted. She looked really fine with this kimono apparel and the look she wore was priceless.

"Hurry up, we won't make it through the market" Mitsuri called him back cheerfully as Obanai moved, following her with hardship as the visitors of the temple increased minute by minute. "Hai hai'' responded by Snake Hashira trying to sneak a way to reach her.

Then a sudden time.

Something's strange. At that particular moment. When Obanai caught her stature, standing still, gasping with the twisted face as if she'd not been prepared for this moment and she didn't know how to react, he could tell so he stepped up to her faster.

"Kanroji" Obanai called her one more time though her receiver's not responding back immediately like she used to, it's really strange now. In his eyes, Mitsuri is a girl who will respond back to whoever is talking to her and ready to contribute to the conversation all day long. It made him worried. A stinge of nervousness and the ping of anxiety crept over him.

Obanai called her again but no replied back from her. Then he called her with the loud and certain tone until she snapped.

Mitsuri, in turn, shifted to him "o-oh Iguro-san" with a weak smile. She stayed uncomfortably in front of someone whom Obanai never saw before. Looking very perturbed, Obanai walked beside her to let her know he's ready to stay close to her no matter what happened.

By the way, Who's he? Is he having such an impact on her. To shake her liveliness away. He didn't like it at all.

"Are you alright?" Asked Obanai.

"Um yes-yes! I'm really fine and well" replied in a hurry and fuzzy Mitsuri. It's coverage, he could tell when she wanted to appear as okay there's no problem!

"Kanroji, what happens? Tell me" Obanai started with a firm voice. Boring the mismatched eyes to opposite, there's a man with a glass with the demeanor of arrogance, folding his hands together, posturing like an elite. Two men seemed not to be affected by each other's presence, not her.

"Iguro-san.. here is.. um.."

Before his eyes, She was looking at one man in a short haircut with an eye-glass, wearing a judging graze over her, a conservative and traditional style of Haori with a hakama pant. It's all told this man is a man of high social rank, It's like he suited up for this sole event in a full garment. Whatever he was, it didn't matter as he seemed to be a course of effect on her uneasiness.

"Sorry. You seem to have a company, haven't you?" That man spoke with a tint of fake surprise, Obanai snorted quitely. "Kanroji" Obanai whispered her name in a low tone to assure her he's here.

Mitsuri snapped to him with a nervous smile. "Sorry you two, I should introduce you to each other."

"Iguro-san, this's Yamamoto-san, he's an acquaintance of my family and this is Iguro-san" Mitsuri introduced both men. They simply nodded and stood in their own zone while a pink-haired girl stood between them. A bit unsettling, Mitsuri scratched her head nervously.

"How do you do"

"How do you do" both men exchanged the formality of greeting and let it disperse into the nothingness of the air. Except for her, Mitsuri stood nervously between these two.

Sighing, Mitsuru gave a little worried frown. One was in her history book, a matchmaking tradition brought her to meet him. Another man was the unlikely company in the Demon Slayer Corps who could allow her to eat as much as she wanted and also allow her to be herself. Even though he would give a little snap on his forehead when she did the childish behavior. The absence of Mitsuri-ness made him dissatisfied.

Clearing his throat "I never thought you would visit this temple with him" Yamamoto said, without giving any social glance to Obanai. However, Snake also did not either as if each one never had any impacts on their lift or even a slight from socializing.

"Hai, I'm on day-off and I want to get into the festival and Iguro-san is so kind to be my company. What's about? you? and I hope your study and business are going very well" Mitsuri replied in a slightly shaken tone. Obanai secretly grunted her manner. Why is she acting this way? He didn't like it, he admitted. It annoyed him to see the shattered version of her before someone he never knew. Rolling his eyes, Obanai sensed the anger towering up from the pit and it sent toward that man.

"Everything is fine, thank you for your concern. I hope the best for your family as well" Obanai want to vomit for his formality. It agitated him to his bone. He rather accepted now that he didn't like this man.

"Thank you! Thanks for your kindness" answered Mitsuri in a subtly delighted tone.

That said man turned to Obanai, pushing his glass back to the nose bridge, said "Well Iguro-san, nice knowing you. I may say you seem to close to her to go out in such event"

"Hmm" this was all Obanai gave him as a responding manner.

"Forgive my curiosity, have you been with her through matchmaking?" Mitsuri jumped in shock as he brought the previous incident from the unforgettable past that she wanted to scratch away. Mitsuri tried to voice something but it all went like an air, unformulated one.

"Matchmaking?" Obanai pretended to raise his voice before exhaling and gave a dead-fish look to him "I don't care about that notion. Not at all, We knew each other for many years at the working place. Adding to your curiosity, I knew her very well" Obanai could see the unexpected surprise and shock from opposite man. Even he didn't know before they met each other at matchmaking.

Obanai continued on the flow "We work together, spend time together and I think it's more than you spending time with her. Matchmaking? Please no it's not helping someone get to know another well. Knowing someone is beyond taking and seeing her face or her appearance, everyone has the distinctive soul and spirit and if you excuse me I'm going to take her to have a wonderful lunch at the restaurant" ended the lecture. He did well in talking back to someone, he's proud of it to make that glassed man gapped and stunned, almost losing his calm demeanor that he detested.

Right on your fucking face, Obanai thought

As unexpected, he never expected to get this kind of answer from any men spending time with this girl. Yamamoto sure was shocked. His mouth hung down as witnessing the mismatched eyes of a man taking her hand and walking past him.

"Excuse us, we have to hurry before there is no seat in the restaurant" Obanai led the way out of this suffocating area. He needed fresh air to breathe and stay with her. "Sayonara Yamamoto-san" Mitsuri gave him the abrupt bow before moving with him. It was supposed to be a perfect mood, to go out with her for the first time.

Him going out with a girl, a cute girl for the first time in his life. Thinking this, Obanai felt a hot blush over his face. Damn, he felt lucky. So it should not have any pests to stay in their path. And he's good at taking it off.

When he made sure, they were distant from that judgmental look from Yamamoto. Obanai sighed slightly before releasing her hand awkwardly.

"S-sorry Kanroji! I didn't mean to intrude your body and privacy. I mean I intend to take you out of there in haste" Mitsuri chuckled softly as she watched a man in front of her turn into another person. Obanai's face turned hot red. He looked like a kid trying to not get punished by making a mistake. "I assumed you're not comfortable around that man so I took liberty to say some subjectivity of my perspective to him and took you out" He went on and was stopped when she held her hand up.

"It's okay Iguro-san but thank you it gave me the strength"

"It?" Obanai questioned with a confused look over his face. What does she mean?

"I mean your hand. Your hands are very warm. I feel very flustered when you're holding my hand" Mitsuri answered and made a shy but happy indication to him. So he dumbfoundingly gapped. "I almost feel like I need hand holding from you everyday" and she squeaked like an innocent little girl who tried to get attention from her man.

Obanai stared at her, blankly before slapping right on his right face in full force. Its aftereffect sound echoed around and gained attention from people.

Is he hallucinating or drugged? It could be the sweetest drug he got.

"Wh-what are you doing, Iguro-san!" She tried to stop but he hit another side of his face again. She called Kaburamaru to stop him but forgot he left it onto his estate so it's like no one who could put a break at his sudden behavior, in which she found it's rather cute but can't explain what it looked like. His face turned a hot-red to his ear like a ripe tomato.

"It's not about you. It's about me. I feel wrong" He hit again then this time his face turned left from a right hit of his trained hand. "I'm not supposed to do that. I don't mean to take advantage on you but I just.." Obanai flattened his lip into a thin line and earned a shrill voice of hesitation. From the fact that he would say he wanted to make her feel secure from that garbage kind of man to have a damn gut to make her uncomfortable in front of his real eyes.

Mitsuri suppressed her urge to giggle, aware of the attention they gained from people because the sound of his hit was not soft at all. She also wondered where he took a raw strength from a thin hand of his.

Another mysterious thought picked on her nerve. It made her flinch in shyness. She felt totally warm and the sincerity of this man showered her. She felt rather good and honored to have a really good treatment from this gentleman. Her heart's going to explode and kill her inside out. She prayed silently demanding him to decrease this kind of cuteness before she would be suffocating into bliss.

"Please Iguro-san, you did nothing wrong at all," Mitsuri said.

"I think I am.." He groaned, dare not to look into her eyes.

Mitsuri scooted toward him "nooooo believe me! I'd rather feel good to have you today!" She cupped his face, slowly lifted up to make eye contact with him.

"Thank you.. thank you Iguro-san. You really made me feel secured" Mitsuri began "Not with that, you also protected me..aww you're so good to me" Her face went super red instead of him as if, she absorbed his bashfulness.

Mitsuri took a new dish that she had ordered gave a brief pause again "it's a long history" She began to tell him about the desire of her family for putting her into matchmaking tradition as they were afraid nobody would accept her due to her unique body, especially hair color, and she found him there. He made a satire on her hair color, her food appetite, even he made a sarcasm that she would end up with a boar or bear so she decided to dye my hair in black, made herself look fragile, and tried to eat less. "Then even I succeeded in making a man appreciate me but it made me unhappy very much. I didn't really feel like myself at that time!" She made a solf dry laugh "I decided finally to not live in this kind of fake identity so..here I am! I met Kyojouro-senpai who has been encouraging me since the first day we met! I also feel like myself when being in Demon Slayer Corps. Everybody accept me and I feel so happy"

"Good for you. I'm glad you made a way to walk past it, Kanroji"

"I'm glad to be surrounded by everyone in Demon slayer corps. They mean a lot to me" She said after taking a big bite of Tonkatsu.

"You also mean to everyone there, I believe..so eat as much as you want" Obanai finished his lunch and just sat there watching her eating in happiness.

The scene should end here like a fairy tale. However his tale was not that kind of utopia fantasy. He admitted he could be tolerant to take an attack from a demon or from training rather than this. He's embarrassed.

"The hell here?" Sanemi spat in annoyance when he was walking past a group of three pillar there, noticing Snake Pillar stood dumbly. Obanai rolled his eyes in a nervous way. As a shrill voice of joy came, Mitsuri closed her face.

"This is a trip of us, Uzui-san, Isn't it good?" Mitsuri asked

"How flamboyant and wonderful it is!"

"We have the most wonderful time, right? Iguro-san" Mitsuri said with a wink. Normally he would let his heart racing wild by her cuteness but this time, it's different and difficult in doing so.

"You did it Iguro! You damn finally did it!" Tengen screamed and showed the praising gesture toward him.

"C'mon… don't make a loud noise" Obanai softly grumbled. He closed his face in a bashfulness, hiding his grave dark-red. Because she said she would tell Sound Pillar the reason why they were being too closed like this. He thought she would give a brief hint, in turn, she told him all the story line.

"Pain in the ass and ear.." Sanemi announced and left them no attention. He had zero wish to be involved in it. Because it's not that he could not take a guess, he knew that Snake had a thing for the Love. Everyone could see with naked eyes.

Sanemi also spotted the unique hairstyle of Rengoku. Something funny was about to begin.

"Oi Rengoku, Iguro took your student out" Wind Pillar stated loudly and pointed backward to them.

"Hmm? Where are you two going? Let me join you!" Obanai had a wish to dig a ground to hide from them completely.