ACT 18
The year started to count to the new beginning again. Each season has its own cycle and worked miracles to humans. Right now, a cold breeze has greeted everything, swaying dried leaves, dancing and twirling amid the air. The burned yellow and dried leaves descend to the ground peacefully afterward. Birds, squirrels and other small animals danced around. Some turned their heads to look at the loud sound from the only group of humans in this mountain like they're wondering what business they are doing now.
Demon slayer Corps after getting through thick and thin through several risks, they settled in peaceful action before New Year. They all were granted to have a long holiday to celebrate and made it a memorable year with family or the loved one.
"Ha-ha, Kanroji you are quite good!" A loud exclamation came out from a yellow haired man, moving back and holding his hand upward, grasping a wooden paddle to hit the shuttlecock with his full strength and send it back in the opposite direction. Mitsuri, on the other side, watched the projectile seriously.
"I usually play it with my family every year but Oh no no! Ugh! I nearly lost to you Rengoku-senpai" Mitsuri, at opposite, managed to get shuttlecock before it's down on ground, if she failed to catch it, that meant her lost and be punished by drawing an ink on face.
"I just know Hanetsuki is fun" he flicked back to her casually.
"I think it could be fun playing together with everyone" her word to everyone also reached the ears of other sat silently and fidget because they didn't know how to respond to her offer as what they wanted was sitting, relaxing, watching Flame and Love pillar playing like a sibling. Right now, they just thanked God for allowing them to have free time to idle around full time like drinking hot tea in winter, looking at the garden or even looking at a couple who played Hanetsuki as if they were all parents watching their children play with each other. Only this satisfied them.
"You can't win over me, Kanroji. I set my soul and my heart now that I'm gonna be the best Hanetsuki player in Japan" Kyojuro exclaimed proudly and swung the paddle back. This time he meant it and its was fast and powerful.
"No way! I'm not gonna back down for now because I will be that one too!" she replied, jumped high and fling back
Apart from the sport, Shinobu stood up, put down her cup of tea "alright, I think I have to get going now everyone. See you again at the next meeting after New Year! And don't do stupid things around her cuz Butterfly estate is closed. If you are injured, you have to lick your wound by yourself" she said and received nods from other pillars, not wasting time to make a sarcasm to them before leaving.
"Kachou, you're planning to leave that long?" Wind Pillar asked because Sound Pillar also left before this last week of a month
"Of course, Shinazugawa-san I have to set a journey to distant area where there was a rare species of wisteria flower" she answered quietly like she's fading into her thinking zone before her lip parts again automatically like she realized she should have said something more "Himejima-san please take a good care around them" Stone Pillar nodded slightly as he would stay here.
"But what a good sight…that we still live and still witness this kind of normal scene again" Shinobu murmured with an unreadable smile because she had a flashback if only she still would have lived with her sister and her family. She shook her head, she may ask too much, now she got back to busied herself on studying that special plant in order to crack the missing code to destroy demons, and to get revenge on those sly demons who killed her sister. His gentle but senile smile looked innocent but dangerous. Thinking on this also made her goosebumped; however, she had to keep it low-key, she shouldn't show how nervous and afraid she had been because it might make her late sister and family worried. Urgh..she wanted to get away from this trauma and this damn demon.
Shinobu sighed, looking at a couple "They are having fun and look like they are brother and sister!"
Obanai hummed in response because his eyes only focused on her all the time since he was here. The reason why he's here was Mitsuri dragging him to join a little gathering arranged by her and her teacher. Actually not dragging because he followed her obediently.
"Why don't you play with her, Iguro-san?" Shinobu said and drew a lot of eyes to look at him, waiting for his answer remotely.
"I don't like playing things like that" Obanai said, shrugged off to her advice.
"Hmm interesting, interesting I just think you want to impress her by showing something cool to her" Obanai rolled his eyes sideline, making an leave me alone gesture to Insect Pillar who stood up, propped her Butterfly haori over her body "Look, you will lose a score to Rengoku-san if you aren't making any move" She still made a teasing point.
"It's okay, if you don't want to lose in front of her, you staying here is a better reason" Sanemi snapped in very naturally as evidently, Kyojuro looked more athletic than him. Obanai seethed inside and fumed mildly.
"Stop it, I can play it but let me finish this tea first" Obanai answered simply.
Shinobu decided to give a last note before leaving "... come on, Iguro-san think it as a special occasion to have me as a consultant, because it's New Year so you're gonna keep it cool like this? You'd better show more to her" Obanai put a cup down loudly with twitching brows to her. He felt annoyed to have someone intruding into his private life. Rather be his private preference to that girl.
"Whao whao, I'm gonna stay on the sideline from now on" She pretend to hold her hand up in surrender, acting like she's afraid of him "Go ask advice from the wise-guru of women relation, The Uzui. He may help you get through this" Ninja made a proud smug to them.
"Come on, leave me alone. Stop making a mess. You are messing with her life" Obanai said, trying to act collected even if, his mind rallying with the fact, how much they were gonna messing with him. He didn't want someone to make a move into this..he's not ready to make a picture of what she will respond or look like if she knew what he thought about her. "And..I don't know what you are talking about. Just focus on your business" He heard some snickering from them afterward, glad they could stop bickering on his life.
Suddenly, oddly enough, the shuttlecock was hit in the flash and downward to Mitsuri's side. She yelped by the abrupt occurrence, still couldn't grasp why she missed it.
It's because of Shinobu "Ara ara Kanroji, think it as my new year gift. See you later" Insect Pillar before she left, just jumped and hit that shuttlecock in order to make her lose on purpose. Time for the cry of victory from Kyojuro.
"Thanks Kachou!" Kyojuro said, waving to thank his companion who walked away with an unreadable smile.
"Oh no! Shinobu-chan why are you mean to me!"
"Bye then! I wanna see you face painted, Kanroji-san" She answered back delightly before walking away. However, Kyojuro held a can of ink and stepped closer to her.
"Come on then Kanroji-kun! Now you lost to me"
Obanai felt obligated to get in "Oi Rengoku-san, it's not fair, call it off. Kachou's not in the match"
It earned a quiet woo from the rest of group as he began to stand for Mitsuri. She looked at him grateful for his help with 'Iguro-san' and her dreamy eyes.
"Really? But I don't see anything" Tengen made a point and received the nodding on approval from the audience. As a conspiracy theory among them, Tengen smirked at her. "Sorry, Kanroji, I think you lose now and prepare for the flamboyant punishment from you very own mentor. I hereby summoned Rengoku Kyojuro, the executioner, on the stage with the ink" He deliberately made a big and larger scene like a melodrama in order to shut the protest from Obanai who tried to scoff and fight back for his girl.
Obanai walked in and felt bad to be unable to help her "that's not 1 vs 1 match because Kachou helped you. Then let's rematch for a fairness" announced and got many eyes on him while he approached them forcefully.
Kyojuro made a nod with a question all over his face to what should we do then.
"Rematch for 2 vs 2. If Kanroji lost, she would be painted as a rule" They nodded, even Kanroji made a nervous shrill from his example. "I will help Kanroji this time"
"Iguro-san..you can play this?" Mitsuri asked.
"Don't worry" In fact, he never played since his childhood, but he remembered them a while ago and made a mental note on how to play and how to make a better hit. "Rengoku-san, let's make it 2 vs 2 match. You play with someone and I will play with Kanroji. Let's see who will lose then" exclaimed proudly and confidently. He never felt more fires up like this before, this's a revenge for her. He never felt more confident than this time. He concluded a little plan to use his swiftness at the hand to gain advantage.
"Alright, it's a deal! So who will be my partner in crime? I start getting fired up!" Tengen volunteer in Kyojuro's team.
"I have to say I'm not gonna back down. I have the name and reputation of the King of every sport in this world" Tengen said with a gleeful smug.
At the end, Obanai and Kanroji lost every set of a march from a robust and eager burst of another powerful pair. Obanai gritted his teeth in fury as Sanemi and Giyuu from a sideline chuckled at him intently because he directly showed how confident he was about to win. But he lost and couldn't get any points from his team.
Now he watched her punished by that pair. They giggled and drew a circle over her right eyes and Tengen drew a heart shape on her left cheek. She's still fine with that ink. She rather looked adorable when she made an upset and challenging look. She tried to show them she's not afraid of any punishment even though, she never knew what they drew or how she looks now. She left a comment to get revenge on them in the next round.
When his turn came around at the corner with a snickering from that pair, Obanai intently closed his eyes and exhaled in a readiness to accept his unfortunate fate of today.
The touch of brush was on his face with a cold liquid of dark ink. He never knew what they were drawing on his face. Upon a surprise, he heard Mitsuri said "I wanna draw too, can I? It looks kind of fun" He said back, still closing his eyes "hey, Kanroji, we're on the same team, don't you remember?"
She giggled and replied "I still am but I want to try drawing after them"
He found out later that she drew a whisk of a cat on his cheek. A small thin line. Okay, he didn't have anything to argue back to her but the hard stroke of brows and third eyes on his forehead were shit. A shit from them totally.
After that they called it a day suddenly. They were all in a not good state, covered in a pool of ink, splayed over their shirts and hair, sweat and dirt. They let themselve to be a kid again at the end of the year.
Obanai exhaled in tiredness and rubbed his finger over Kaburamaru's head as it wiggled back.
He ran to a public toilet for men at the back of one building in Demon Slayer Corps around the canteen. Most of the working buildings in Corps, there was a utility like this for usage. He still felt a bit of luck because he never ran across anyone until here as well. He can't stand to see someone laughing on his face now, slightly bowed down to hide from anybody.
Ink moved down to his lashes and eyebrows. Obanai wheezed through his teeth, tried to wipe it out but it seemed to splay moreover. Now he was half-eyelid trying to wash it off as fast as he can before it destroyed his bandage. He winced in agitation. Then, the odd luck never let him free. Suddenly the water went on and off till it became only a drop that's impossible for washing. He moved to another basin but it's broken.
Obanai snorted and swear under his breath. Why everything seemed out of order! He stomped outside toilet in anger. He intent to walk straight to his estate to clean himself. Who fucking hinder or try to get over his skin, he set his mind to slaughter that one immediately!
One hand caught his arm and forced him to slow down, he groaned "hey what! Are you kidding me? I'm going to use water, don't you see it!" But he couldn't see that person as ink work its way downward so he had to half close his eyes.
Before he let out a swear, his face experienced a fresh chilly water instead. His face was being washed, that palm moved around his eyes, his cheeks and around his temple with a soft texture of blanket.
A pair of mismatched eyes opened in annoyance, attempting to see who dared to touch his face and violate his privacy; however, he wondered as well why Kaburamaru also not threatened or hissed to that person. Under normal circumstances, it would do it.
"Iguro-san, it's all cleaned now. Phew! You can't walk when you can't see things like this" it's her that he saw. Her face was cleaned and he still was able to see a drop of water around her cheek trailing down to her chin as well as a damped moisture from water over her face.
"Kan-Kanroji why are you here?" He asked stupidly and stepped backward. His heart floated like the way she cupped his face in her hand as if trying to check one more time on her doing.
"I washed my face at the next toilet and I noticed you also went to the men 's toilet so I waited outside and saw you" Mitsuri let go her hand and smiled to him.
"Er.. thanks .. I mean er I'm sorry to say something bad earlier" Obanai fidgeted like every time when it came to her feelings, he didn't want her to get hurted "I thought I was pulled a prank by someone.. I d-don't mean to.." he stopped, met a peace by the way she shook her hand.
"It's okay, Iguro-san you don't have to do it. I might throw that one to the ground if I were you ha-ha" she let out a joke to smoothen the mood.
"Oh okay so we're good now" Obanai felt off-balance to spat on her but luckily, she never held a grudge against him. Or it should be that she never did to anyone.
"Yeah, we are so where are you going?" She asked and craned her neck in a cute and curious way to him.
"I have no plan and what's about you"
"Oh I thought you were going with Rengoku-senpai. He said he's going to take a day off to stay over with his family so.." Mitsuri answered and he hummed in refusal.
"I declined his invitation. So what's your plan? I thought everyone's gonna leave and take a long holiday. At least to stay with family" she blinked, trying to form an answer.
"It should be that way, right? Then aren't you going off now? I might join my family gathering"
"I have no home to go" they paused for a while as to let silence sooth his calm demeanor but his words were sharp and impactful. "My clan, they'd been massacred by demon long time ago because of their sin, ah..sorry to let the mood down" Mitsuri poked her finger together fidgetly.
Her face dropped and shook hastily "oh no no! I have to say I'm so sorry. I don't mean to ask you but I got carried away by my curiosity. Sorry Iguro-san"
Obanai made a shrug "let aside it, Kanroji. You've done nothing wrong. It's my clan issue and I'm reluctant to share to you or someone else.. it's quite personal and don't overthink about it I meant I don't want to make it a big matter.. because right now, my big issue is working in Corps to get rid of demon"
Mitsuri managed to have an awkward laugh and nodded to him. She had a hunch about it as he never slipped out family topics to her or anyone, even her mentor asked her to let it aside of it.
Obanai sure saw her uneasiness that she should not experience "and what's about you Kanroji. When are you off? It's going to dark soon" Obanai suggested, looking around the sky that's getting dark orange hua and it's going to paint into a new indigo and dark blue palette.
"I-I still don't know when..Maybe I might..." Mitsuri said nervously.
"They might have missed you so bad, Kanroji. Especially your sibling, I guess. I remember you told me you have 6 siblings"
"Ah yes, you still remember? That's sweet of you, Iguro-san. I also missed my cats" Mitsuri replied, clapping her face in a manner that she want to hug and kiss her cats.
"Sound great, take your time with them" then the silence made a presence around them that's hard to the suffocating point. As she realized, this man is so caring and gentle but why this kind of good man had a nightmarish-past experience about family. She felt bad to the point that she wanted to hold him and cuddle him to console him. However, she knew he would not let her do that easily.
"Umm then enjoy your long holiday, Kanroji and say hello to your family as well" Mitsuri flinched as he begun to speak because her head was drawing a plan busily.
"And you're staying here alone?" She asked.
"Sure" they both turned stoned as Mitsuri felt bad in this way. She felt unsettled and uncomfortable by this pure fact. Her face slumped after his sole and cold answer.
"Then good bye, Kanroji. We shall meet again after new year" Obanai turned back, waved to her and walked away from her. Trying to not think what was the meaning behind her eyes because she looked sad. But he also didn't want her to feel sad for his matter. She should spend time with her family and her life when she still had it.
Upon the freetime, Obanai decided to make it a potential and effective one. Catching a breath, he stopped as the sun was going to lower from the horizontal line. He put down a practice sword, looking around and saw no one was here, except Kaburamaru, sleeping over his haori, draped on a chair.
Obanai exhaled and wiped sweat over his face, felt pleased for spending free time to the utmost usefulness. He finished paperwork around afternoon and practiced sword fighting with a dummy, alone. Okay it sounded weird and isolated but he could focus and stayed in his zone. He ran into a few slayers around the compound.
Obanai collect his things and put Kaburamaru over his shoulder, headed to the general toilet at the back of the cafeteria.
He saw no one around, therefore he carefully pulled out the bandage, tugged it inside haori, opened the faucet and washed his face to refresh himself. For a while, he got up, intent on not being aware of his reflection in the mirror. Obanai managed to cover his face again. Back to normal as if there was no permanent scar around his lip.
Everything darkened again when he saw the reflection of scare at both corners of his lip. Obanai looked to the ground and sensed there were the miasma and devilish invisible hand, from his kin, trying to pull him down to atone of his sin in the hell, in particular with them.
"Hello Iguro-san, what's your plan for long holidays? You may join us on hiking. It's nearby mountain there"
It's a bad timing. It became his bahit. A bad one. When he saw his scare, he would always be gloomy and dark. Desperate, Obanai felt unattached to everything around him, can't even hear somebody greeting him. He walked past them like they're the air. Said slayers looked following him and turned back to each other with an awkwardness as he gave them only silence.
One thing clicked to his mind and pulled him from his nightmarish reverie. It's his katana. The shaft swung to a nearby log. His eyes followed it downwards. Unpleasantness pooling inside, Obanai felt an urge to hunt down the demon. He will at least feel at ease on himself. He felt the heaviness of the past and he wanted to lift it off. Killing demons could at least make a better world. Clenching, his fists turned white and the vein popped around his hands. Ah shit, here we go again. The cycle of shitting past.
Obanai tried to shrug it off, shook it off his head and threw it behind. He realised along the way, the past trauma held him and pinned him down till he didn't have a inch of feeling of talking normally to anyone. It's a bad decision and he should change or else a good thing might fly away.
After he broke from his zone, Obanai turned and called a pair of slayers back with the answer "Oi you there, thanks for inviting me but I think I'm gonna pass. Good luck then" He saw them caught off-guard and their faces showed the unbelievableness as he answered them back casually.
"What's it?" Obanai asked, stared back at them, cocked his head in the demeanor of asking is there any problems? They shook their head and let out an awkward laugh before both parties departed.
Obanai rolled his eyes and sneered after them. What's their problem after I answered. It's annoying. He tried to change.
Along the way to his estate, another thing clicked into his mind after seeing a peddle of rock. It's where she always jumped and hopped on it like a rabbit every time she passed through, a pink haired girl with a bright smile, her hair would bounce and her haori as well. It reminded him of her. Positively, he felt warm and welcoming.
Obanai could see her here and there in his vision. Oddly enough, he gave a soft chuckle and shook his head slightly.
He would find her running around, greeting everyone and caring for anyone. When someon talked to her back, she would be glad in glee and start a conversation seriously. He now felt a middle between loneliness and something was missing as he could not see the pinklette in a few days. He felt desert and sad at the same time but for her own good, she should spend time with her family. He had no wonder what made her as Mitsuri because of her family. A warm and caring family. While he had none except from Kaburamaru.
He felt really weak and vulnerable this time. He thought he could live in solitude. Strangely, she were seasons that made him feel like there was a colorful thing in every corner and every time when she was around. It's temporary, not permanent but it's enough to fill his life into another story. Different tale of his life.
He felt a smile coming across his face, which no one was able to see. It's behind his bandage but it really existed because of someone who is now celebrating over her family, snuged every member into her wide bear hug. But one thing he concluded was if he had his own new family, he would give utmost care and attention to every member. Rise and nurture them. And he would sit and look at them from behind with a smile on how happy they were, it satisfied him.
He's at the door of his estate. Back to reality. Obanai gave out a heartfelt sigh. It's his life after all.
Obanai went in, wondered why it's unlocked, let it aside but what's that scent. His nose sniffed, working to find the source of smell. Some boiled vegetables and maybe meat. He wrapped, it might be somewhere but he felt like it's in his estate because there's no building around him. He made an understanding hmm after concluding.
Another thing he noticed, why is the light on? He turned left to right and inspected something that was really off.
He smelled it. It was a scent that he never had in his estate. This aroma floated around playfully and he now was getting hungry by it, in fact, he also ate anything since afternoon. He wrinkled his nose, catching it's meat and maybe vegetables.
While he decided to close the door, the pang echoed through his estate, louder than he expected and the intruder could have known his presence. He sensed someone moving, hearing the shift of cloth and the stepping sound. His hand moved and grabbed at the shaft of the katana in a reflexive manner fastly, his every sense jolted wakingly and alert to the point that his breath was in the controlling state and aimed to launch an attack to whosever..
"Iguro-san, you come back! Where did you go? I haven't seen you since afternoon" Her voice rang from behind and it's what made him relaxed. "I have been waiting for you so long though I thought you're not gonna come back tonight" her voice trailed in relief with a tint of upset if he didn't show up.
"There, you come back in time. I prepare something for you" Mitsuri walked toward him. It's almost like a dream having her cook something after a long day. The white and light blue apron suited her very well.
"Kanroji?" Obanai called back after realizing it's not a place she should stay, and watched her running to him sunnily."why are you here?.. you have a plan to visit your family, haven't you?" He shot several questions
They paused for a while as if they were trying to form a word inside their head. The unexpected meet drew them awkwardly. His reaction didn't met on her imagination and her presence also shouldn't be in this scrappy place.
"You should go back. Your family must be waiting" he simply said, for a sake of her.
"I don't want and will not" her cheek puffed in upset. She felt sour after seeing no expected reaction from him "I set my mind now and you can't change it though because I.." she stopped after he held his hand up.
"Listen Kanroji, I'm glad you did many good things to me. I never regretted it but you should think more about yourself" his pointed pressured on her body "you should go and see your family when you still have a chance. You have someone waiting for you, at your hometown, at your province" his face was stern after telling the truth. His voice showed the rigid seriousness.
Mitsuri gulped when it didn't turn to her favor. At all.
"I made my point clear now and..I'm fine to be alone actually. I have been learning and experiencing it since I was very young. You don't have to feel bad or worry for me. It's my destiny, you could say that after all" his statement alone still made her slumped in sadness. She shook her head slightly in protest.
"I know. I know the facts of your childhood" Mitsuri opened and closed her mouth, intending to omit the rest of the details. "But why it should guide your life? Now it's your life. You should live freely" his eyes snapped at her in protest. He didn't want her to continue.
Mitsuri inhaled a big one before letting it out. "I want to make a good experience to everyone around me, including you, Iguro-san. I knew it must be a tiny little thing but I want to give it to you. I just.. I want it to be a part of your current life"
Obanai avoided eye contact, snarting in mild frustration to be able to go against her.
"Please Iguro-san, spend this time with me. I want to do something good to you and you totally deserve it. I don't see this as an obligation. I just want to do it for you especially. That's all. My heart told me to do it" She emphasised please again and again in hope of his approval. "You're one of a precious people in my life so I want to spend time with you..please"
No reaction from him, just a still look on his face and cold aura that she felt freezed unlike any other circumstances with him.
Mitsuri breathed out in surrender. She admitted she wasn't familiar with his cold stance. Every time, they would warm up to each other, though this time was different obviously. She also knew she couldn't dissolve him at the same time. He's a man of action. And his action told enough that she should go.
A moment Mitsuri pulled the apron out, folded it in half, his heart jolted in despair like his decision wasn't right at all. Obanai shook his head slightly. He made a mistake. He hurted her by his own stupid judgement and viction.
"I made something for you then in the living area..enjoy and see you Iguro-san" What he should do to avoid this mistake? he didn't want it to happen.
Before she left his side, his hand grasped her wrist. He made the struggling noise and felt overwhelmed by the unsettled decision.
"You got me wrong" he cleared his throat before meeting her almost teary eyes "I don't mean to throw you away. I feel like the place you should go is your family home but..if you resolve to stay here then..do what you want to do. I'm sorry to not acknowledge your decision. I just forced my thoughts onto you. That's not proper. Sorry" his statement made her lip slowly blooming into a soft smile. She wiped her tears and smiled brightly.
"Actually I should be with them hehe but I thought I should do something cool for you instead this year because we both have a free time together" She scratched the back of her neck with an apologetic smile, the trail of her sadness was gone and replaced by the clumsy laugh "I actually told the technician that I forgot something inside your estate so I asked him to unlock your door" Mitsuri lowered her gaze, nervously meeting his eye contact. "B-but I have a reason, please listen first" she's afraid he would bombarded on her for sure. She stuttered and held her hand in a pleading.
If she took a look and listened closely, she would not act like this. Because Obanai seemed to not hold any grudges against her at all. His face relaxed as well as his eyes. He felt like his decision was not wrong, he didn't commit a mistake but made up for it afterward.
"Hmm what's it then" He pretended to follow her and let her continue. Obanai crossed his arms over his chest.
"I want to prepare something to surprise you when I heard you rarely spent time in New Year party, I felt like I should do something for you in order to be a complete new year's eve" Mitsuri said in a loud voice, her face reddened from her nervousness and seriousness at the same time. She went " I want to make a small party for you before New Year. That's my intention…er.." She scratched her cheek. "I hope you don't misunderstand me but take a look at your living area" Proudly, Mitsuri threw her hand to the living quarter in excitement.
Obanai watched her in muse. He nodded and followed her.
"I never meant to complain anything though"
"Err..I'm just afraid " Pinklette said and tugged her tongue out with a nervous laugh.
"You can tell me that you want to come in and prepare something so that you don't have to lie to him" Obanai said and mused as her face turning to him in misbelief.
"No way, it will not be a surprise if I told you" Mitsuri answered and pointed her finger to the room.
She slid the paper door open. It's when he knew what the smell from. "I prepared a yakiniku set for you. Here I also brought the charcoal grill from my estate. I spended lots of time to light the coal as well" Mitsuri proudly presented on her preparation, he could see the dark spot of coal over her hand - she might have had trouble with it. Mitsuri continued talking about her seasoned and marinated meat, when she's out to buy fresh vegetables and how to make her special signature dipping sauce. "So I think it's all set for your special pre-New Year party" She winked at him with a toothy grin.
Obanai listened and watched her in muse, with a soft smile over his face, gave a curt nod at some points "I don't know you did too much like this…I kind of don't know what to do Kanroji..er..I don't have anything prepared for you" slumped,Obanai felt considerate on her offer while she waved and laugh shakily at his action
"Oh no you don't have to. It's my idea after all"
"Hmm…so thank for your doing. Let me repay you next time then"
"Please stop Iguro-san! You don't have to!" She said with a gleeful smile, hit his shoulder slightly from the ecstasy of his offer but it's hard enough to nearly make him trip down. "All you have to do is let's have a feast together!" Sparklingly, her eyes showed how long and exciting she was for.
"Yeah" Yakiniku, he used to have a few times. Barbecue in Japanese style; nonetheless, Yakiniku with her is his first time. They ate several meals together until he felt comfortable to pull bandage down slightly in order to have a bite on the food.
"Ta-daaaa! I don't know isn't it too much for meats or not but I want it to be a big feast for you" She push a door and waved her hand to the living quarter. There were severals plats and dishes and the center of table was occupied by charcoal grill. "I wanna make it memorable and funny!"
"It's..it's wonderful Kanroji, I never in fact, had a big yakiniku like this before. I used to have a small one with your mentor. It's amazing" Obanai admitted his thoughts to her directly - it made her feel good as he felt content to what her did.
"Then what are you waiting for Iguro-san come come" She held out her hand to him - the left one that didn't dirt to him. He followed her obediently and nodded at her invitation. Oddly enough, it's like a dream - he came back to estate and have her cooked something for him.
He's so pleased for what she did. She chose to cancel her trip to reunite with her family and stay to celebrate with the hopeless one like him. It's beyond what he should have so Obanai resolved it finally, he would also try to cherish this moment to the utmost. To the point that she would feel it's a valuable moment, he would try.
Her presence, in fact, alone compliments his estate so much. From silence and solitude thwart into the liveliness and vibrat. Even though she got everything done, he still saw the fire under the grill was so low and can't grill any meat, he presumed. He could see she didn't add any dry leaves or paper inside to make a better fuel.
"Ready to eat?" Mitsuri asked when she saw him still standing but got the disapproval noise from him instead.
"I think you forgot something Kanroji" She stopped and her face dropped very fast so he had to say "not a serious thing, I mean the grill. The fire is low so I see you didn't add any fuel into the coal .. so it's not burning rightly.." He pushed the grill up with the small rod and added a piece of paper with a small drop of oil, fanned it with the cardboard and it worked to his account. The charcoal grill lighted up and ready for its work.
When he turned back to her, she let out a toothy smile with an awkward laugh. "Actually I don't know what to do, I just try to mimic what my mentor used to do"
"You should add more fuel, not just put the coal and light it up in the fire. It works but the flame will be low" Obanai instructed and both of them took a seat across the table.
They looked at each other, with a hint of smile, pronounced Itadakimasu altogether and started their night treat.
As usual, their meal went joyfully and mirthfully. They reviewed some kind of funny experience of this year together from the mission or from fellow pillar - in particular of Giyuu who always did strange and laughable things or Tengen who would come up with prank story.
They finished their night treat together, cleaned everything and got up to the roof.
They sat in silence while watching the star together. It will not be long until the New Year.
"Kanroji, as you love eating and cooking so if this is..umm let's say if it's ar..em…" Obanai struggled to find the correct words. His brain was jammed by a sudden thought that he recently always splitted it when she's around "what's it Iguro-san? You're killing me to know what you are thinking right now! I want to hear it" She said as passionate as ever.
"I think..what's about opening the restaurant? Maybe an eatery or a small shop that served hot-made food?" Mitsuri blinked, tried to catch him.
"Like we open together" Obanai could feel the slump on his throat. How can he say that? It sounded very weird. He almost clapped his mouth to spurt something nonsense out.
But her face beamed shyly in a return and it made him awkward and felt his face turned scarlet in contrast to the dark "it totally and surely would be the most fun! I love the idea"
"Just my random thought, sorry if I spill some nonsense to you" Only her could see this side from him in fact.
"Not at all, I used to think that too" Mitsuru scratched her chin in thinking "As you love making food in kitchen and I love food, decorating plates and eating so maybe it will be the perfect place! What do you think?" Even she added other characters like Kyojuro in the story. It didn't matter because her answer melted into his heart. She became a reason that he learned, in a harsh world, there's always a light and hope at the corner of darkness. He learnt, in the world with frightened demon lurking in every corner, there's a dream.
"It sounds great, you could taste all the menu and adjust the favor" Obanai exchanged his ideas and listened to her heartful laugh and it also made him smile as well.
Despite the fact that, the night hadn't lasted long as he prefered, this night, right here and now, was the total opposite. It lasted very long, agony and stressful. Lots of casualties and sacrifices were made in the wrong way. Blood, crater, dust, scattering pieces and chaos fumed over the area.
Those scenarios were from his head. The pleasant event of the past that Obanai tried to recollect with her as the last moment that he wanted to remember before his last breath. With the running and shouting sound, it were buzzing throughout the area and it drived him out of his zone.
His eyes were damage, left alone Kaburamaru who watched its master with teary eyes. He can't see anything except those past event. Those were the most precious experience of his life. And it's worth remembering and recollecting it even in the last chance because he knew he cannot withstand that long enough. The time when he first met her, when he tried to talk to her first, when he collected his will to ask her out, when he learnt how to write a letter to her, when he bought her a pair of green socks..damn her reaction was priceless. Her sunnily smile and gleeful action, she would normally pour her care to anything and laugh in mirth. When they cooked together, when they went out to temple together, when they went out to mission together..fuck it if he can traveled back to that time he swaer he would make those time more valuble than it occured. When she played arm-wrestling, when she made a snack to everyone, when she fixed his haori, when she wore his haori, when she smiled or acted shyly..she's so cute.
"Ah…Iguro-san…"
"Mm I'm still here" Obanai paused ."You still remembered that night? When you suddenly slept after we were stargazing together..I'm so shocked when you suddenly lie down, I almost couldn't catch you. I was so worried at that time how to get you into bed. I don't know my futon would be soft enough for you but that night was so great to stay with you"
The pinkette made a shaky chuckle at his decentness, her breath was unstable and looked like she tried to speak it out. It became an airy and hollowed sound "Kanroji, stop doing it" Obanai tightened his hold.
"I..wanted to say thank you..you're so good to me. I'm grateful to know you and ..have you in my life..even if" Mitsuri coughed and he could sense the iron smell and warm liquid over his arm. It should be blood "even if we have known each other not too long but I'm so happy to have you.."
"That's good...Iguro-san, you are badly injured, you have to let them treat you. Leave me here.." He tightened his hold to deny her request. It startled her.
"My body doesn't feel anything..I think I'm gonna die soon" Obanai lowered his face slightly, his nose faintly touching her forehead. "Don't say such a thing, you're not alone. I'm gonna join you soon" With that words, it earned her a hitch as if she felt responsible for his wound.
"I want you to live on, Iguro-san, I'm sorry I can't help you and the others, I want to be more useful but.." she felt sad to see his state covered in blood and wounds. He tightened his hold again, till her head rested on his chest.
"That's not true, that's not totally true. You remembered the first time we met? At the Demon Slayers Corps after you became Hashira" Obanai felt she faintly nodded.
"Yeah, it's when I lost to find Oyakata-sama's place but you helped me, Iguro-san. You always help me till the end" her voice lowered and lowered, as if it was taking by her diminishing life. Normally she would be active, loud and passionate more than this. It hurted him to see her in this fragile state.
"Not at all, you helped me because you're the normal girl so you saved me. You will smile brightly everyday when we meet. You got exciting to everything around you that's why everyone around you will get happiness hanging around you..you must have gone through the hardship in training but you never show it out, you always radiated with warmth and happiness" Obanai gulped and took a moment "I..I had a lot of fun hanging around with you. You made me feel like a normal young man again So Kanroji, you've helped lot of people's heart with your care and kindness and..I don't want anyone to hurt you"
"I-Iguro-san" She cried hard, broke into tears like she never did. Her tears also could not wash his blood "I am! I'm so happy to meet you. You are one of the people that I felt good hanging around with. I'm so happy! The meal you made for me is the most delicious meal I ever had in my life. Every meal with you is valuable in my memory and I...I… I feel really warm because you always looked at me with that sweet eyes of yours. I feel like I can be myself around you and feel happy"
His body was on the verge of breaking but he's aware of his heart racing in his chest. It seemed like he could let all his feelings out to her, unknowingly that she also had this view toward him. He felt over the moon to have her such feeling and sentimentalism, never believed her would have looked at him in this way.
If we can reincarnate into another life, without a demon, can I say, I love you? Obanai thought and snorted under his breath for his own stupidity. He felt like he didn't have that chance.
"Iguro-san, Iguro-san please if we ever reborn again in the next life..will you make me your wife" Again, Obanai flinched because it was her again who expressed straight to him. He had a hard time saying he loved her till the end. Even her kind of confession was abrupt, let's get married and take me as your wife. He knew that's her dream to marry and have a happy family. It's irony, it should be his blast for someone like him to totally know what she thought of him even though he secretly had a feeling for her for a long time but kept it deeply under the facade of his own judgement.
He forced a smile and hoped she could see it, with his true face "If you're fine by someone like me..yes, I am...I will make your mine, I will make you happy, I will protect you for sure"
"I promise, I promise..I will protect you with my life. I will make you happy everyday" Obanai cannot hold his tears anymore. He let it out and it descended down to her face. It's a mixture of water and blood. Nonetheless, it's likely the holy water for them. They felt bliss at the last moment for them telling the truth and let the blood and water made a pact with them and became their sole witness on their declaration of love.
"I'm so happy..I love you"her voice wasn't shaking anymore but it lowered and lowered.
"I love you, Kanroji..I love you Mitsuri"
"Obanai..san" Calling by their real name put a faint smile to both of them, it's strange the torturous pain was gone and it allowed them to straighten and hold onto each other in a fine position again.
"I will make you food everyday..don't you remember when we promised to open a restaurant together. I will be the chef and you will have to taste all my menu before we open it..I will make something delicious for you everyday. I..will take care of you and ..love you with all my life"
Obanai knew her body went cold for a while and no reaction from her body, meanwhile, his conscience started to fade. Laughable, he still had a lot to confess to her, alas, he should make it before when he had time. This was the terror of time and the punishment of his weakness and his cowardness. The hollowed sound erupted in his head and ear. He cannot move finger anymore, even his hands. He cannot..
Another world shut down, like a flicker of firing fry.
Obanai still holds Mitsuri in his arms in the most gentle and caring manner. They bodies were frozen by the demonic poison and sculpted into the liveless creation. Mitsuri resting her head over his chest to be able to feel she could be a real woman and real wife of him, is the utmost achievement of her and the last minute of her life. His head slowly fell onto her head, resting together without the breaths.
Only Kaburamaru watched them back and forth with teary eyes.
For a while, a group of slayers came on the rescue. They witnessed their last embrace, stunned and they wanted to cry, some fell on their knees. They felt defeated to lose many slayers. Most of them sacrifice so much.
Only their prayer and hope could amend their heart-broken to see the amount of death. It's also hard for somebody to live on normally yet, had to witness the loss of someone precious in their life.
Only their wish for them being reborned and living a wonderful next life could motivate them to see the brighter future. They thought and wanted to make a better place for each of them. To live like normal people in the next life. To not trouble by any means of danger.
The picture of a couple; pink-haired girl and shoulder-length dark hair man, holding each other peacefully and openly. They shared their tears seeing this couple. It's beautiful but sad. They could show their affection to each other and to the others but it's their last chance in doing so.
Ironically, a group of slayers looked at each other and nodded. They draped a large blanket over them softly as if they didn't want to bother their time. Still, they wished them congratulations silently and lots of best deeds to a couple because in their eyes, it seemed like they both married and they were so sure that in the next life.
These two will find each other and have a chance to live and love as a couple.