FANFIC BY MAYABLANCHEFLEUR (TWITTER: m_blanchefleur)
ORIGINAL STORY AND CHARACTERS BELONG TO KOYOHARU GOTOUGE
SORRY FOR ANY MISTAKES. ENGLISH IS NOT MY NATIVE LANGUAGE.
WARNING: AFTER CHAPTER 204/SPOILERS
MEMORIES
In the living room of our house I still treasure this vase of flowers. Small white flowers with a sweet fragrance. I take care of them with affection since before I moved to this mountain. It brings back memories. Always when I remember my chest gets warm. The kindest person in the world gave it to me. It was like rays of sunshine. That day I had caught a cold and stayed in bed for a day. Tanjiro had returned to Butterfly Mansion very early in the morning. It seems he had heard from Shinobu-neesan that I was in bed and came to see me in the infirmary. "Kanao! How are you? Shinobu-san said you caught a cold." He kindly spoke to me with that same smile. I hesitated to answer. My coin was out of my reach. I think what I'd forgotten in my room before I was transferred to the infirmary. It was at that moment that I realised, I would never be without my coin, how could I have forgotten?
"Kanao, are you all right? Your face is very red. High fever?"
He put his hand under my forehead without hesitation bringing his face closer to mine in a worried expression. He still says my first name as if we were already close. So direct that I feel as if I'm being invaded, but it wasn't as if I didn't like it, on the contrary. It was a strange feeling that I couldn't decipher.
"I'm fine... Just a little dizzy."
Without realising it, I answered. I'd forgotten to use the coin again. It seemed as if his other hand was holding something, but because of my dizziness I couldn't see very well.
"Just rest, Kanao. You're strong, but don't try too hard."
"..."
"Look, I brought this for you. I found it on the way back here. When I heard from Shinobu-san that you were sick, I went back to pick a few."
Finally I could see, they were little white flowers. They looked very delicate, but I couldn't smell their perfume because of the cold. After showing me, Tanjiro arranged them in a vase that was in the window behind the bed where I was lying.
"The name of these flowers is lily of the valley. It has a sweet perfume that I like a lot. Actually it's the flower I like the most".
"I see... I like flowers too." Again I spoke without thinking, despite my low voice.
"How nice! I imagined you would like it! You use the breath of flowers after all! When I saw those flowers... ahn... They reminded me a little of you."
Suddenly his voice went down too, his face turned a little red with his hand on the back of his neck. He stopped looking into my eyes. "Always so open and direct and suddenly he's avoiding me." I had thought. Really at that time I didn't understand anything. At least I needed to thank him.
"Well... If you need anything, you can talk to me, Kanao. I'll help you in any way I can."
"Ah, okay. I..."
"Hm?"
"Tanjiro-san, Aoi-san is calling. Breakfast is ready."
Kiyo-chan showed up with my part of the breakfast. "Ah, I'm coming! Thanks Kiyo-chan. So I'm leaving, Kanao. Take care!" He said to me and started to walk away. I still didn't want him to leave, I wanted to thank him, I had to call him.
"Hey... Ah... Ta-Tan... Tanjiro! Thanks for the flowers!"
I let myself be carried away by him. I really called him. Surprised he turned, looked at me and gave me that smile again. With that alone my heart raced, my temperature went up and everything went black. I don't remember so well what happened after that. But since then these flowers have been with us.
"Uaahhh, Uaahhh!"
"Ara, Ara, you're awake! Did you sleep well? You must be hungry."
I put down my kimono and start feeding our baby now three months old. At that time I would never have thought it would be like this today. Married to the person who gave me these flowers and this baby.
"See? Mum is always here with you, no need to cry. Dad will be back from work soon too."
Come to think of it, that was the first time I called him by his first name. Since then we've been getting closer and closer. I felt invaded, but it was a key opening my heart. Those sunshine rays were the key. Is there greater happiness than that today? I lost my family and got a new one. Wherever I go he always appears to rescue me.
"..."
I understand now, Kanae-neesan, Shinobu-neesan. This is love.
