Tamaki descended the staircase, back into the main entry room. I've checked all possible directions, where could Mitsuri and Zenitsu have gone? His question was answered as he noticed another hallway located right at the front of the room, perpendicular to the door.

How could I have been so dumb not to notice that?

Loud footsteps echoed from that hallway. Mitsuri came sprinting down the hallway and into the main entry room, Zenitsu trailing behind her. She gasped when she saw him.

"Tamaki!" She lunged at him and threw her arms around him. "Oh, I was so scared!" she sobbed into his chest.

"It's okay, it's okay," Tamaki comforted her. I thought she was in danger, but I guess she's all right. But then why did she call me here?

Tamaki noticed Zenitsu in the corner, a shocked expression on his face. "Oneechan…you…k-know my oniisan?"

"Huh?" Mitsuri turned around. "Oh, that's right! We need to go find your oniisan!"

"Mitsuri, he's my ototo," said Tamaki.

She glanced back and forth between the two of them. "Huh? Huh? Ohhhh! That's pretty funny!" she giggled.

Zenitsu's face was bright red, his expression unreadable. It looks like he's about to explode.

"Oniisan," he said softly. "Can we talk?"

Ummm… "Alright. We can go outside."

Zenitsu said nothing, turning and walking outside of the house. Tamaki followed him, leaving a confused Mitsuri.

Once outside, Zenitsu suddenly lunged at Tamaki, yelling, "Oniisan! You ruin everything! I thought I had a chance with her! She was perfect! Why, oniisan!?" He threw weak punches at Tamaki, tears streaming down from his eyes.

Tamaki effortlessly dodged them, hands behind his back. What is he rambling about? "Calm down, Zenitsu. Use your words."

"Why do you have to be so damn lucky!?"

I get it now. He's jealous. "Zenitsu, I'm sure that one day you'll find someone." He kept his voice down, hoping to calm him down.

He sniffed, sitting down. "Oniisan, you're perfect in every way. Handsome, strong, and attractive. No wonder a perfect girl like her would fall for you."

"Well, I was the one who actually confessed," said Tamaki. "You really think she threw herself at me and I didn't have to do anything to get her?"

"I wouldn't be surprised," said Zenitsu miserably.

"You could be the most perfect person in the entire world," said Tamaki, "but in the end, love is love. You don't know who you're gonna fall in love with. It's a feeling, not something you choose."

There was a pause. The brothers sat in silence, watching the morning sun rising above the low clouds.

"If there's one person I look up to in this world, it's you, oniisan."

Tamaki's eyes widened with surprise. What did he say? His eyes met his brother's, both of them sharing the same exact color irises.

"Damn it," said Tamaki, punching Zenitsu gently in the arm. "I'm not exactly a good role model." On the inside, a feeling of warmth spread through his body at his brother's praise.

Another moment of silence. Then Zenitsu said, "So when can I become your Tsuguko?"

"I'll think about it. You have to be ready, so train hard. Maybe in a year or two." Tamaki smiled. "We're gonna be such a good team."

"No," said Zenitsu. "You'll always be better than me. Whether it's looks or talent, I can't keep up with you."

These words stung Tamaki's heart. "Zenitsu."

"Huh?"

"Don't say things like that. You have to work hard to get better."

He nodded. "Okay, but you'll be working hard too, won't you? Therefore, if we're both working hard, you're always gonna be ahead of me."

"I've been thinking about quitting the Demon Slayer Corps someday. I want you to take my place as the Rumble Hashira." There was a faraway look in Tamaki's eyes as he said this.

"What are you gonna do then?" asked Zenitsu.

"Well, I might have a family to take care of by then." Mitsuri came to his mind and he smiled. Maybe we could retire young, raise a kid or two. That wouldn't be a bad life.

"Oniisan, you're different." Zenitsu's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"What do you mean?" asked Tamaki curiously.

"Well…you seem a lot happier than before."

Hmmm. Maybe I am.

Mitsuri yawned loudly and leaned against Tamaki. "Can we go home now?"

"Wait a minute. I wanna make sure everything here is taken care of." Kakushi were surrounding the mansion now, going in and bringing out wrapped corpses.

"Utaka-san, everything here is under control. Thank you for your hard work in killing the demons." A kakushi saluted Tamaki.

Tamaki nodded in response. "Well, I guess we can go now."

Mitsuri smiled. "Yay!"

Tamaki turned to Zenitsu. "I'm gonna have a kakushi take you back to Jigoro-sensei's place, alright?"

"Okay," said Zenitsu

"Wait. Before you go…" began Tamaki.

"Hmmm?"

Tamaki stepped in front of his brother, staring down directly into his identical eyes. "Promise me something."

"What?"

"Promise me that you'll surpass me one day."

Zenitsu's expression shifted into a determined one. "I promise!"

Tamaki nodded in approval. "Good. Now keep working hard, and I hope to see you one day soon in the same uniform as mine."

Zenitsu suddenly flung his arms around Tamaki. He stumbled backwards, a little surprised.

"Oniisan, you're the best brother ever!" exclaimed Zenitsu.

Tamaki chuckled, patting him on the head. "See you 'round, ototo."

"Hey, Tamaki," Mitsuri said, poking him in the shoulder. "Can I ask for your opinion on something?"

Tamaki was barely awake, shuffling along the road. Must…get…home… "Huh?" he murmured.

"So do you think I should say "Love breathing" instead of "Breath of love" when I use a breathing form? It's shorter and I think it sounds better." She looked up at him, waiting for a response.

"Yeah…whatever…" said Tamaki, rubbing his eyes. I want to sleep.

"Really? Okay, I'll start doing that now." Mitsuri skipped forwards happily. "Come on, you're moving so slow!"

"Meh," was the only thing that Tamaki could murmur back. His head suddenly collided with something, and he stumbled backwards, a large bruise forming on his forehead.

Mitsuri hurried to his side. "Tamaki! Are you okay? Do you need help?"

"Tired," he breathed, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"We're almost home, come on. Just a few more minutes." She took his hand, shepherding him forward.

Tamaki hit his head again on the doorway to his house, but was too exhausted to even care. He stumbled into his room and collapsed on the bed, falling asleep immediately.

Tamaki's eyes opened and he sat up. Mitsuri tumbled off of his chest, causing her to wake up as well.

She sat up next to him, rubbing her back. "Tamaki, my body is sore," she complained. "Could you give me a massage?"

"Uhhh…okay."

She began to unbutton the front of her shirt. Tamaki began to blush, and he looked away quickly.

"Tamaki, stop looking away. You can look."

"Just lie down."

She lay down on the bed facedown. "Start please."

"Where are you sore?"

"My entire back. Just hurry up and do it!" She squirmed impatiently.

Tamaki sighed, placing his hands on her shoulders and squeezing gently. "I'm gonna go from the top down, alright?"

"Mhmmm," murmured Mitsuri, her body relaxed as he worked her shoulders.

After a few minutes, Tamaki moved down to her upper back. Mitsuri moaned contentedly, making Tamaki uncomfortable.

"Quit moaning!" he said, his face beet red.

"Aha…harder," said Mitsuri, making Tamaki even more uncomfortable.

There was a snort of laughter from behind the closed door, followed by two hurried shushes. Of course they're eavesdropping.

What made it worse was that Mitsuri continued to moan, Tamaki's face getting progressively redder and redder as he continued down to her lower back.

"A little lower," said Mitsuri softly.

Tamaki began to lower his hands, but realized where "a little lower" was, and quickly moved back up, flustered.

"Lower, please," repeated Mitsuri.

"I can't!" said Tamaki, embarrassed. "I'm already as far down as I can go!"

"Awww," said Mitsuri, disappointed. She rolled onto her back, sending Tamaki stumbling backwards with shock and embarrassment. "Do my front now, please."

"N-no! I can't!"

"Why not? My chest is sore too," complained Mitsuri.

"Put your shirt back on," said Tamaki, determinedly not looking at her chest.

She sat up, her breasts bouncing from the movement. "Pweease?" she pleaded like a small child, pressing her index fingers together.

Tamaki sighed, the perverted side of his brain completely overtaking the sensible, reasonable side. I'm turning into Zenitsu!

His hands trembled nervously as they reached towards her chest, but as soon as they made contact, they froze.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" said Mitsuri.

He began to squeeze, Mitsuri squirming happily as he did. "Oh, Tamaki, that feels so nice!"

"Quit enjoying it so much!" said Tamaki, his face as red as it could go from forehead to chin. I think I feel something swelling in my nether regions, thought Tamaki embarrassingly.

So…soft! His hand couldn't even wrap around her entire breast. I think this is the best thing I've ever touched…damn it, you pervert!

"Okay, that's enough," he said, hurriedly pulling his hands away before he could get any more turned on. I enjoyed that a little too much.

Mitsuri's body relaxed, and she lay there, eyes closed. "Mmmm…that felt so good…" she sat up again. "Okay, time to get up."

Tamaki slid open the door to his room. As the courtyard came into view, so did Misaki, who was sitting outside of his room, completely naked.

"Tamaki-kun, impregnate me!" she squealed as he came out, throwing herself at him.

He sidestepped her easily. "What the hell are you doing?"

She came at him again, this time catching him and wrapping her arms around him. "Please make a child with me, Tamaki-kun!"

"No. Go away," he said, shrugging her off.

The evening sky was a variety of colors, with deep indigo towards the upper sky, and pink and orange further down. The moon was just starting to make an appearance.

Hana and Makia were both also in the courtyard, looking a little too casual. They were definitely eavesdropping earlier.

"So," began Makia, "what happened in there?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know, in your room, with Mitsuri," said Makia.

"She wanted a massage," said Tamaki. "That's all, nothing else happened."

Hana's eyes narrowed. "What kind of massage?"

"Why are you guys asking me all these dumb questions? I just gave her a back massage and that's it." He was careful not to mention the part where she turned over and he squeezed her breasts.

They all exchanged a look, and nodded. What is this all about?

Mitsuri stepped out of the room, her shirt back on. "Tamaki, let's go out today!"

"Huh? Okay," said Tamaki. "But where?"

"You'll see," said Mitsuri mysteriously. "I have something fun planned today!"

The train station?

Mitsuri was glancing at the board of departures. "Hmmm…I think this one is the one we need to take." She pointed to a train headed to Tokyo.

"It's leaving in two minutes, we better hurry on board," said Tamaki.

They got on the train just before it was about to leave, but there were only two seats left on the train, and they were not next to each other, requiring Tamaki and Mitsuri to sit with strangers.

As he sat, Tamaki made sure to keep a careful eye on Mitsuri, and when the man next to her reached over and touched her breast through the opening in her shirt when she wasn't looking, Tamaki was there in less than a second, grabbing the front of the man's kimono and holding him up in the air.

"Don't touch her," he said calmly and coldly, instilling more fear into the man than if he had yelled. His eyes were a different shade of blue, now a chilly, ice-like color.

The man hurried over to Tamaki's seat as he let him go. Good. Now she won't have that disgusting pervert next to her. But then again I'm not any better, am I?

Tamaki sat down next to Mitsuri, whose face had been chalk-white with shock that whole time.

She suddenly flung her arms around him, her face returning to its normal color and tears streaming down her face. "Tamaki!" she wailed, burying her face in his chest. "You saved me! Thank you, thank you!"

"Hey, hey, you're making a scene about it. Pipe down a little bit," said Tamaki, noticing the stares of the passengers around them.

She pressed against him tighter. "You're the best boyfriend ever."

Mitsuri didn't detach herself from him until the train came to a stop. They stepped off the train, and into another station.

"So where to now?" asked Tamaki.

"Just follow me," said Mitsuri, taking his hand.

She led him out of the station and into a large and busy food district of Tokyo. Resturaunts lined the streets and many people walked around with some type of food in their hands.

Crowded evening, thought Tamaki. "So are we gonna eat here?"

"I'm thinking," said Mitsuri. "All of these resturaunts are so good, and I'm not sure which one to go to."

"What else are we gonna do?"

She giggled. "You'll have to wait to find out!"

He continued following her, hand in hand down the road. We look like a couple out on a date, thought Tamaki pleasantly. But that's what we are.

Mitsuri gazed longingly at a sakura mochi in someone's hand through a restaurant window. "I want one…"

"Okay, I'll buy you some," said Tamaki. "Come on."

They walked into the restaurant. "Two sakura mochi please," said Tamaki.

A small bundle was handed to him a few minutes later, with fresh sakura mochi inside. Mitsuri took one and began eating it as they continued down the road.

"Delicious!" she exclaimed happily.

Tamaki chuckled. "I'm glad you like it."

Taking the second sakura mochi, Tamaki unwrapped it and began to eat it, putting half of it into his mouth, but Mitsuri suddenly jumped up and clamped her mouth around the other half.

"What are you doing?" mumbled Tamaki through the sakura mochi in his mouth.

"I wanna share with you," said Mitsuri.

We probably look so strange, two people in the middle of the street with a sakura mochi in between both of our mouths. "Let go," he said.

Mitsuri did not. "Just bite down."

Tamaki obeyed her, splitting the mochi in two. Tamaki swallowed his half, while Mitsuri ate hers.

"Mmm," said Tamaki. "That was good."

"That was a weird way to share," said a voice behind them.

Iguro Obanai. The Serpent Hashira.

"Iguro-san, you made it!" said Mitsuri happily.

What? "You invited him? But I thought this was just a date between us!"

Obanai glared at him, pure hatred in his eyes. "Who invited you? I thought it was just gonna be Kanroji-san and I!"

I never got along with Obanai, but I think I'm starting to hate him, thought Tamaki as he glared back.

"I invited you both," explained Mitsuri. "I wanted us to all go out together!"

"No, I don't wanna go if he's here," protested Obanai. "Could it just be you and I, Kanroji-san?"

"What makes you special?" asked Tamaki curtly. "I'm her boyfriend, it should be me and her."

Obanai's eyes widened. Did Mitsuri not tell him?

Mitsuri glanced back and forth between the two, watching them fight. "Why can't you guys just both go with me?"

Tamaki and Obanai glared daggers at each other again, but remained silent as Mitsuri led them into a restaurant.

"I'm sitting next to Kanroji-san," said Obanai as they got to their table. "You can sit over there in that far corner."

"Why don't you go sit over there," retorted Tamaki. "No one likes you, so you should go sit alone."

"Tamaki!" Mitsuri swatted his arm, upset. "Stop being mean to Iguro-san!"

Rolling his eyes, Tamaki sat down next to her before Obanai could. He shot a smug look at the Serpent Pillar.

"No Tamaki, I want Iguro-san to sit next to me," said Mitsuri, wiping the grin off Tamaki's face.

Tamaki got up and sat across from her grumpily, as Obanai knelt down next to her.

As they ate, Mitsuri and Obanai made small talk, leaving Tamaki to silently chew his food.

What the hell? Why'd she invite that idiot? Aren't I her boyfriend? He stabbed his chopsticks into his food furiously.

Out of the corner of his eye, Tamaki noticed there was no food in front of Obanai. He isn't eating? Does it have something to do with that stupid mask he wears? I thought he wore it because he thought it made him look cool…what a dumbass.

Tamaki surprisingly finished his food before Mitsuri, although that may have been out of anger and lack of talking. As Mitsuri finished, she sat back and rubbed her stomach. "Ahhh, that was a good meal! Did you enjoy it, Tamaki?"

"Huh? What? Oh, yeah," he said, caught off guard by her sudden question.

She giggled. "I'm glad you did."

"I bet I woulda enjoyed it more if I had eaten," cut in Obanai, his eyes narrowed with contempt at Tamaki.

What is this guy's problem? "Then maybe you should have taken off that dumb mask and ate with us."

Obanai's eyes widened with fury. "Don't ever mention my mask again, you stupid bastard! Why don't you go back to your mommy and daddy…oh wait, they're dead!"

Something clicked inside of Tamaki, and he found himself lunging across the table, fist colliding with Obanai's jaw. The mask began to come loose, just enough for Tamaki to see what was underneath. His eyes widened as he saw the long scar across the Serpent Hashira's mouth.

It was as if it had happened in slow motion. Obanai's fist caught Tamaki in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He jabbed back with a punch to the face, directly in the nose. The impact sent Obanai flying into the wall.

Tamaki clutched his stomach while Obanai pressed his hands against his mouth, covering it. There was blood flowing from his nose, dripping onto his hands.

"Stop!" Mitsuri's cry cut through the air, drawing both of their attentions.

She had been watching with horror as the two fought, and tears sparkled in her eyes. "Please, stop," she said softly.

The image of Obanai's scarred mouth was still stuck in Tamaki's brain, but it seemed like Mitsuri had not seen it. What did that to him? A demon?

Obanai stumbled backwards, towards the door. "Kanroji-san, I'm gonna leave now. See you." He slammed the door shut, leaving Tamaki and Mitsuri alone.

Mitsuri turned to Tamaki, and the expression on her face made his heart stop. It was the first time he had ever seen her genuinely furious.

"What was that!?" she yelled, tears flowing from her eyes. "You don't get along with any of my friends! Why!? What's wrong with you!?"

"Mitsuri, I-"

"No! I don't want to hear your excuse! Why did you have to do that to him!?" She sniffed, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. "You insulted him and then proceeded to beat him up! Why would you do that!?"

Tamaki didn't know what to say. "I…" He trailed off, unable to form words.

"I hate you!" Mitsuri suddenly burst out. "You know what? I don't wanna be your girlfriend anymore!"

It was as if a blade had struck Tamaki in the chest, right through his heart. "Wh-what?"

Mitsuri stormed past him, slid the door open, and slammed it as she left, leaving him now completely alone, all by himself.

To be continued…

Next chapter releasing 5/16/23