ACT 17

Birds chirping around each other like they're bantering something before flying down as a grain of rice thrown down on the ground by a pair of strong hands.

Exhaling "Then he did tell her, didn't he?" One voice trailed off a bit "he fucking told her right? Finally" the speaker showed the boredom in his sound and it also reflected on his face.

Another man cannot hold his laugh anymore so he openly threw a handful of laughter till his tear forming at a corner of his eyes. Obviously,it was the answer. No. The answer was no. That agitated another man who threw a grain of rice at the bird. He sat down beside whited haired man with a grumpy retort and signaled 'Unbelievable'.

"Man it was fucking fun that night! You want to know what happened. Come on Shinazugawa, you should know it. It's freaking funny! I guarantee it will entertain for many generations''

Tengen told his previous mission with a pink-haired girl in Red Light to Sanemi funnily. Even Wind Pillar seemed to disapprove at his antics and glee as his face always stilled and looked rather intimidating. Including the moment when Obanai and Kyojuro join and meet them, Tengen stated it was the fun part of his story and he snatched his face in order to force him to listen. It earned an irritating sound from Sanemi as his privacy was intruded. He should be customized with this a long time because Sound Pillar knew no boundary on a private matter. He could get in between and scooted out quietly like a Ninja. It never made him very satisfied, however he complied to hear a piece of juicy story. Man.. how come he want to know it?

Tengen mentioned when they came up with a story on their disguise when they had to converse with the oldest son of the west landlord and fortunately, he seemed to like them and wanted to know each one. They came up with a story that related to being a friend, brother to Mitsuri. Because of his wife, Hinatsuru, Obanai was granted to be 'her son' as he cannot come up quickly with the answer to which relationship to Mitsuri. In fact, Hinatsuru never had an intention to make a fun or create a scene, it actually her code of work in that place to not allow ladies had a relationship with the customer so she came up with this excuse as she's afraid Hideyo would have a feeling for Mitsuri, despite the fact she seemed not to know but her and her husband caught a glimpse of that man eyes that he's into her. Then this was a fun night but not great to everyone, like Obanai who went blank and zeroed along the time.

Upon this fact, Sanemi as usually known as the serious and edgy man of the pillar who rarely idle his life in the compound of Demon Slayer Corps, started to snicker before it turned into a big laugh.

Both men stopped, stared at each other, and threw their heads back from laughing.

This was certainly great entertainment. Sanemi held his breath and tried to stop this humor, attempting to shut it away from his head. But damn, it's hard. He gave in and let out the final laughter.

"See I told you" Tengen said and ate one of his Ohagi without asking permission. Sanemi glared at him back but, with that humor, his strong and manly facade thwarted away.

He could imagine what that man's face looked like in that situation. How embarrassed, how bashful and shy he would look. He could imagine it really well.

"So what's his response..I mean what Iguro said after that" Sanemi pretended to not hear the munching sound from Tengen, in order to ask and know the full story. If in the normal situation, he would throw this big man away from his estate because one he ate his Ohagi and second, he ate loudly.

"He just..pff! Hahaha" It earned another curious look from Sanemi. He badly wanted to know it.

"Tell me then" He again asked.

"He went blank like his mind flew off his body and his face just whoooop into the red like a tomato. You know when Kanroji tried to call him 'well my son, I told you to sleep first and I will get at home after my work' he just dumbly nodded to her and pff! " They both shared a heartful laugh again. Sanemi accepted this joke and the story was great. Who could have thought that the persistent, serious and great Snake Pillar who held highly on value and morals, who set his goal straightly on exterminating demons, would succumb badly to that young girl.

He could jolt like being electrocuted, and his brain could shut down then he would be like the idiot who stood still, blank eyes, with evident red face and ears clearly.

Sanemi drank hot tea to calm himself from the story. He reminisced how long did he not witness 'the idiot' and 'the stupid' version of Obanai when downing to that pink haired girl. A piece of story that someone may not know about these pairs. Sanemi swear that dumbass Snake would never tell anyone about his reaction to her in the past, how dumb he look in fornt of her and how unrealistic he tried to act in front of her. It should be more than a year from now. That jerkass Snake would pretend to be a proud man who had a gut to approach her but damn no. In fact. In the eyes of someone like him who used to witness.

Obanai would be that bastard and serious person in a normal situation, since their first meeting which had been a bad one, a cocky little bastard. Until that pink young girl, whom he rarely talked to, Obanai started to change, not drastically but evidently. Everyone noticed that but dared not to get in on them because it's their business.

In his memory, that bastard would eventually went soft to her. He would always talk gently and nice to her, treating her better than anyone. He heard her green stocking was his gift to her as well. It's unbelievable, right?. That bastard made a good deed to her. Oh my kami, who would have thought! No one believed or imagined this kind of treatment sprung from Obnai. That pickle bought her a stocking. At first, Sanemi admitted this Snake Pillar might not be interested in any sex, asexual, maybe as he never showed interest onto a women, rarely talked with as he had led his life only to destroy demon, or at very least he might be a gay. He never mind to have such a fellow pillar because the value is on the work and contribution on demon slayer corps and he's done very well. His vision of this little man turned upside-down when there's an introduction to Love Pillar. That was when his mismatched eyes bore onto her idly. A sweet conversation between them. Mostly she treated everyone that way, but for him was beyond strange. To see that bastard talked to her nicely was a new encounter.

Of course, this man was not normal. Not a hopeless and loser little guy. He made a move. Sanemi snickered at this thought, he had a goddamn gut. He had heard Obanai took her out to restaurants and many places. Ironically, he never mentioned or spoke anything about her toward other fellow pillars. That bastard thought their relationship was secret? Everyone had goddamn eyes!

"By the way, why are you asking this?" Tengen spoke after finishing his sweet.

"Just want to know. That's it"

"Hey hey, I think we should start at 'just want to know' how much you know it. I mean between them" He shrugged.

"A long time ago" he answered shortly and earned an annoyed look from Tengen.

"How long"

"After she's appointed as Hashira, maybe..no it should be that time"

It reminded him years ago. After that pink young girl named Kanroji Mitsuri was appointed to Love Hashira.

His first impression to her had been 'an annoying girl' with that cheerful smile, laugh to everything and everyone, and tend to care about everyone. It's an eyesore and pain in the ass...he always rolled his eyes when she blurted something funny out or tsk to her when she did something clumsily. How could this girl be hashira? She had tried to talk to him several times but he always had snapped her back. Speaking about, Obanai, the main protagonist on his account, he must say and guarantee that this snake might boast that he gathered his courage and talk to her directly. Hell no. Absolutely no.

A few knew about this fact.

And Sanemi was a few people.

Back in the past, rarely a few dared to talk to him or knew about his life. Sanemi had looked at himself as a lone wolf at that time. Work alone, wind by his side and gale broung death like his technique. Apart from that, only a fellow pillar of the same age could barter with him a bit. Not much or else they would snap to each other again, like Obanai or Giyuu.

"Oi Shinazugawa after my recent mission, I found one shop that makes delicious ohagi and sweets in a traditional style. The old lady of that shop wants to thank my help by inviting me to have a taste of sweet and tea" Sanemi' ear twitched slightly at the word Ohagi, exhalling to let Obanai continue "but I'm not a fan of sweet so I think I should take you there instead and I don't want to refuse her kindness either."

Okay, it may look weird for someone like Obanai asking him out to the sweet shop. One he never saw this man eating a sweet, perhaps, do he hit on me?. Second, he still didn't know this man's sexual preference, maybe he wanted to spend time together? Man I want to eradicate demons, not finding a partner here. Fuck, whatever

He had a lot of spare time so Sanemi gave in and wanted to take his mind out of a katana and demon for a short period of break.

Until a pair of Pillar reached the shop around a corner of a quiet street, no words came out from their lips and only silence prevailed on the walk. They were greeted by a familiar figure. That pink haired with a green on a tip, optimistic smile and gleaming eyes of enthusiasm. Kanroji Mitsuri was present on one table. Stood up and waving, she seemed to be there before them.

How? Coincidant? The hell. Sanemi didn't want someone or anyone knew how much he like Ohagi. And she's there. A new member of hashira!

"I forgot to tell you. Kanroji will join us as well.. Kanroji, how are you?" Obanai snapped at him a few second like he knew he want to hear the explanation, giving a plain answer, then strode to her casually, leaving him behind without asking to join on the table or generating a brief conversation between him and that girl.

Sanemi nearly scoffed Obanai because he didn't know how to cope with this kind of girl as she seemed to be a polar opposite to him.

"Shinazugawa-san, mind to join us? Come and sit together" She started. Sanemi made a grumble voice, reluctantly followed as he's still not familiar with this girl. It made him uncomfortable.

"Shinazugawa, what're you waiting for come here" Obanai said. Sanemi rolled his eyes and walked toward them, Obanai signaled him to sit beside her and he took a seat beside Sanemi afterward.

They ordered a set of tea and sweets but she seemed to order double.

During their free time, the scene went by Sanemi eating and drinking alone, answer a few time in short if she asked something like 'how are you', 'how's your mission' or 'what food do you like', while Obanai and Mitsuri speaking joyfully between them mostly with him sitting in between them. They were exchanging lots of questions, answers and stories.

He felt strange as he never saw Obanai seemed to give in the conversation like this before. Especially, the topics were things outside exterminating demon. With a squint of his eyes showing he maybe smiled under the bandage and that Kaburamaru never hissed to her at all. He also noticed how Obanat start to be rigid when he first met her at the shop before warming up and being able to talk to her normally.

He threw this thought away, as it would not affect his life or work. Now let him enjoy Ohagi and a moment.

When they had to left the shop, another thing that's worth to witness was Obanai paying a bill for her as she had ordered several sets of sweets. And he insisted to pay for her as 'it's my treat Kanroji, eat as much as you like'

Yet

Why the hell did he have to pay for his three Ohagi by himself? He put the money to the old lady of the shop and followed the pair out of the shop.

He was curious and wondering on his status and position. He's been invited to have a snack treat but he had to pay by himself. Nonetheless, he's a man of a few words. He kept that in his mind and shit it because it's minor and it couldn't do anything to the future for sure.

Later on, he found himself popular, saving that to Giyuu who would have been jealous, as Obanai still invited him for a treat in different shops or restaurants. Everytime, it would end up by seeing a pink-haired girl waving cheerfully to them in front of the shop. Again and again.

"Oi why she's here?" Sanemi asked silently, not wanting her to hear his curiosity, seeing she's standing quite far from them.

"Why? What do you mean" Obanai asked back.

"Kanroji join again?"

"You got any problems" Obanai seemed to scoff and snare on him. Sanemi kept his mouth tightly shut to not cause any scenes.

"Iguro-san thank you for inviting me again. I'm glad you asked me out for lunch and hello Shinazugawa-san, are you interested in having good food again today? I never know you're food-lover" me? Me? Shinazugawa Motherfucking Sanemi is a food-lover.

"I'm not. Who told you that" He snapped back annoyingly.

"Iguro-san told me that" She answered innocently, Sanemi snapped to Obanai who seemed to fidget.

"Let's get in the shop before we have no table. Kanroji come" He didn't give a damn answer but walking past him to the shop.

"Iguro..what do you mean by that.." Sanemi felt strange on this occasion.

Obanai turned back abruptly "what's it now. Don't be a jerk here. Kanroji's also here. Behave yourself and don't make any troubles" what! What the hell! What in the world! What the kami! Why he's the one to be lectured and blamed when Obanai left him and walked closer to that girl.

He's set to sit in between them again during a lunch. They were speaking to each other delightly. Obanai never talked or looked at him. Just a strand of his hair's not in his eyes at all. After that meal, it ended up by Sanemi paying his lunch by himself again while that girl got a privilege 'it's on me, Kanroji. You don't have to worry about it..yeah it's okay. I can't let you pay'

That privilege urged him to see those two not the same.

It happened a few times per month like this on and on. Sanemi always felt strange and out of place to sit between those two. It's like he's a brick wall separating both of them.

Until one day

Tengen met him after training with a story that he insisted to tell whatever Sanemi wanted to hear or not.

"I have a gut. My flamboyant gut tells me there's something about Iguro going on with Kanroji' his interest peaked, looking at him as a permission sign to continue.

"I think our Iguro like Kanroji" he straighted to the point.

"Why do you think that" he's not into gossip or getting in on other business. However, it's what he occasionally had a feeling on the same path but no proof. No need to get in on. No reason to butt in. Just okay at least, there's someone who asked out for a food. It rather amused than asking to fight demon solely. Then this Ninja aroused his suspicious.

"Hmm let's say your opinion to them. You think they're into each other?"

"Oi Uzui, answer me first" He snapped back with an irritating voice.

"Come on, man why're you so serious! It's about love between two people. You should celebrate it! not grimence like this" Tengen hurled a reply in hurry "I think Kanroji, she's like a girl in love with everyone. At first I thought she's flirty but it's her personality to care and admire everything and everyone yeah an that's great as her poppularity rose up so fast among men. On the other hand, Obanai, I'm sure, does like her like falling head over heal on her. I have been noticing it for a long time. He tend to get closer to her especially, talk to her umm..let's say nicely and humbly to her. He seemed soft around her and you know what…he also asked me about exchanging letters with her… Nahhh it's not like he revealed it but he indirectly implied like what's to write in a letter to a girl, some sort like that. I wondered if this man was gonna hook up and hit some girl but who know! One day, I was on a mission with Kanroji and she received a letter from her crow. I secretly watched the content and it's from Obanai! From fucking Obanai! You got my point? Shinazugawa! That bastard Obanai sent letter to her asking about how's the mission..take care…don't act reckless… and we will go to that restaurant together after that… see! See! See! That Iguro matherfucking Obanai asked her out for a treat!'

Sanemi felt he's being used by that Snake Pillar. The plot was connected. It seemed he used him in order to get near that girl. As an excuse. As a reason. To be with that pink haired girl.

"Oi where are you going! Shinazugawa! Come over here I haven't finished yet!" Tengen shouted in angry.

How in the hell in that name of friend, of fellow Pillar, used him to get a girl! He glowed in fury, a smirk with a deliberate murdering intent, a vein popping around his head, jaw clenching in stressfulness.

Sanemi stopped his pace at Snake Pillar estate. He needed to talk to Obanai. He's not pleased at all for being used, that a part of reason while the main reason was he felt he's a obstacle and hindrance to their relation or whatever it was. Because Obanai talked to him in the morning about sweet treat on tomorrow. He wanted to stop on the track on this business. At least, he wanted to make himself clear that you should fucking have a gut to make her a girl by yourself. Damn his pride was shuttered as he's being used.

"K-kanroji"

Then another voice came 'Mitsuri'

A-ha! He caught them red handed. They should be together in his estate! How fast they are. They are in heat? On their mating cycle? For fuck's sake, stop using me then.

"Iguro are you home? We need to talk-" Sanemi thought he would pretend to ask and open window in order to cough them. He took the liberty to pull a window open. Forcefully and with a furious stance. 'Mitsu—ri' a sound morphing into a hoarse and groan. Stunned, Sanemi was still a few seconds at the scene before him. They both made a short eye contact.

"Later bye then" He closed a window fastly but it followed with a scream of Obanai calling his name to come back and listen on his reason. Who know, his scream's loud and be heard by many slayers.

Why did he have to witness something obscene before night time. That's something he also usually did before sleeping;nonetheless, it couldn't be compared to a time when coming across someone doing it by chance or by accident. Okay, he concluded it's not a right time to talk with this man because he enjoyed himself in a private time.

"Shinazugawa! Please I beg you come back! I have a reason! Please I beg you! I fucking beg you come back and listen my reason! You misunderstood!"

"What the hell! Tomorrow then, I don't want to disturb" the scene he saw was Obanai jerking himself off, at a right time, he moaned her name in husky tone, and lean finger grabbed a hold of his manhood and moved in a vigorous speed, at that particular time, when he ejaculated white seed out and it dripped onto his toned muscular stomach. He saw that with his two damn eyes. Right in front of him. Why he had to see this.

Why did he have to see something like this!? It's kind of awkward to found this. Masterbation, he did this always before going to bed, he admitted it because it's kind of relaxing, muscle and nerve. However, he never be exposed to anyone, plus he never stroked his cock and moaned a girl name, he just used imagination silently to a random woman. Yeah it's a man after all, by nature to masterbate to relieve tension and enjoy themselves. The feeling of tension accumulating in the stomach and exploding afterward, it brought the utmost pleasure when the come undone. What made it weird was that he unfortunately came across someone doing it in their private estate.

But this man, just hurled a girl name out clearly, it obviously showed he thought on her!

"Please!"

"Hell no!"

"Don't tell her!" Obanai stood a ground firmly with determination in his eyes, well dressed before following him out of his estate. "Do not tell her, please"

"Don't know, up to the mood and up to how annoying you can be" He felt regret he should take Tengen with him as a true witness to see this great Obanai beg for his mercy.

"Please don't! I beg you" Obanai clapped his hand together into a begging position, with head hung low. "I don't want her to know it. It's dirty and she don't deserve it. I .. I did it out of my impulse. She's in my head and everywhere and I cannot let it out. Please! I will do whatever you told but no don't tell her" who would have thought, that great Obanai bowed to beg his mercy.

"Oi stop doing this shit and listen" Obanai halted and looked him into the eyes, breathed hard and heaved "Man up.. you go and eat with her alone, together, don't ever dare to use me to get close to a girl. You hear that?" Obanai showed a shock a few minutes before it vanished into his normal facade with a nod "damn..it's annoying… and tell her how you feel to her. You're so desperate that time and don't ever fucking dare to refuse my statement" they both started to have a brawl again.

In morning, Sanemi felt fresh after finishing his self training and set his goal to train a group of slayers in the afternoon. He sat down and began to sharpen his katana for better use.

"Shinazugawa-san!" His view was met with a cherry pink haired girl. He nodded slightly as a greeting and decided to shut his mouth from a previous night encounter.

"What brought you here? I don't have much time. Speak" She yelped like a small animal.

"Today you will go to a shop with Iguro-san right?"

"No"

"Ah! Why?"

"You go with him. I don't have free time today"

"Please, Shinazugawa-san, go with me" his brows twitched and he bit inside his mouth in agitation.

"Why?" Asked he and scratched his head

"I don't have enough courage to go with Iguro-san. He's so gentle and nice to me everytime we see each other and it makes me feel bashful. If I happened to be with him just two person, I don't know what to do or say!"

What in the world! Please kami, grab their hollow heads and push their lips to each other!