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“What do you mean I can’t slay demons?” Sanemi growled, struggling to remove the retrains that kept him tied to the bed.
“You’re in bad shape Shinazugawa-San! We wouldn’t want you to get more injured. It’s for your own good!” Kochou cheerily explained that as if it would help his situation.
“Fucking untie me! I don’t have time for this ‘recovery’ shit! I’ll be fine!” Sanemi tried to explain to the flowery sunshine in front of him. She just smiled at him giving him no response.
He didn’t have time for this shit! He could be using this time for something more useful but no matter how much he struggled he couldn’t move. Sanemi sighed, he wasn’t getting out of this anytime soon. Maybe if he was complacent she would remove the rope, that would be his chance at escape.
“Alright, I’ll stay here and ‘recover’. Just remove the stupid rope. It feels suffocating.” Sanemi said, watching Kochou. She didn’t move for a while, her face staying the same until she gave a nod.
“Alright! We wouldn’t want you to worsen your wounds! Oyakata-Sama did give the order to have you rest. You wouldn’t want to go against him. Right, Shinazugawa-San?” Kochou spoke while undoing the restraints. Well, at least he could move now. That didn’t help the fact that now he was bound by an order Oyakata-Sama gave.
He didn’t have to listen, but it would be disrespectful if he didn’t. Sanemi didn’t want to do that, it would make him feel worse if he did that. Sanemi could do this, he could heal up by himself and get back to hunting demons in no time.
Groaning he rolled over, at least this couldn’t get worse. He could have some peace, for now.
“Oh and Shinazugawa-San? I’ll be the one looking after you. Shinobu is a bit busy training.” Kochou smiled at him and he regrets his previous statement.
It just got worse.
He wants to shoot whatever god he offended. Sanemi has been stuck listening to Kochou talk nonsense for the past hour.
You would expect a pillar to be doing some more convenient shit but no. Here she is babbling about an orphan? What the hell?
He frankly doesn’t care but won’t voice his opinion anymore. Last time he did Kochou’s face turned all sad and it did things to him watching her face fall. He quickly amended it by saying he was joking, he doesn’t think that’ll work a second time.
Sanemi did not want to be the cause for invoking Kochou’s little sister’s wrath. The little shit was way too overprotective over her older sister. Not that he had any right to say that, considering he’s the same with Genya.
“Shinazugawa-San!” Kochou yelled in his ear, giggling as he flinched from the sudden noise.
“You’ll have to drink this.” She handed over a cup filled with a dark green liquid. His nose scrunched in disgust, he didn’t like medicine. Taking the cup he sniffed it and glared at it.
“It’s not poison.”
“It might as well be with the way this shit smells.” Sanemi bit out holding the cup at a distance. He didn’t want to drink it. He preferred to stay injured.
“Shinazugawa-San, stop being difficult and drink it.” Kochou huffed, was she frustrated?
“If I drink it will you leave me alone ?”
“Yes.”
Staring at the evil liquid in front of him he frowned. Well, if it’s poison it will put him out of his misery for good.
He brought the cup closer to his lips and downed in one go, the feeling of the cool liquid soothing his throat. He gave her the cup and laid down the aftertaste of it on his tongue.
Disgusting.
“Good job!” Kochou voiced, he almost wanted to do something so he could deny it. Instead, he closed his eyes and dozed off to sleep.
By the third day, it was routine to have Kochou come in and talk to him and then leave after he ate or drank something.
It seems she hasn’t gotten any new missions recently and he found that strange.
When he asked her if she was busy she would reply with something along the lines of ‘Shinazugawa-San, are you worried about me? I’ll make sure to stay right by your side then !’, and offer no other explanation.
It bothered him that she wouldn’t give him a straight reply. She talked about everything and anything except what he wanted to know. It bugged him for some reason. It had also recently started bugging him how she would disappear for a long time now.
He frowned thinking that he might’ve just been tired from everything.
He didn’t mind her company as much anymore. Kochou genuinely seemed to care about him, well she cared about everyone but this felt different somehow. Her talking would put him to sleep sometimes, it was soothing. Sanemi would never admit but it was nice to have someone around him.
He looked at the door, she should be arriving soon.
On cue, the door opened and a Kochou walked in, just not the one he was expecting. He pushed the disappointment far away as he stared at the younger one. This one had a frown set on her face and glared at everything as it bothered her very being.
“Where’s Kochou?”
“None of your business,” the younger brat said in disdain.
Alright, Kochou would just have to forgive him if something happened to her younger sister for having that mouth on her.
“Nee-San said to drink this and eat that after.” The younger Kochou said placing food and that horrible drink beside him before turning to leave.
“Brat, I asked where she is!” Sanemi grunted, watching as Kochou’s sister stopped and turned to look at him.
“Ask Nee-San when she comes back if you care so much.” She replied leaving before he could say anything.
Is this how Genya acts? He hopes not, it would probably piss a ton of people off.
Turning to the food and drink in front of him he sighed. Sanemi still swears that green medicine shit is poison.
Sanemi had finally recovered according to the Kochou brat and he could leave whenever he wanted. He was thankful for that, if he had to spend any more time around with the younger Kochou he would have to apologize to the older Kochou for not having a sister anymore.
Sanemi frowned thinking about the older Kochou for a bit. She hadn’t returned for the rest of his recovery and it bothered him.
Every time he asked the younger one she would ignore him or tell him to ask her older sister as if she were around.
Sighing, he gathered his belongings and got ready to leave before he encountered the younger Kochou again.
Kochou was a pillar so no matter what happened she would be fine. He had to believe that or else Sanemi’s chest would get this weird weight settling into it.
Kochou seemed to be happy around him and next thing he knew he got a little angry insect buzzing at him in annoyance.
Next time he saw her, he would ask what happened. For now, he had to go and be the wind pillar he was.
Finishing up he walked towards the exit to finally leave. Sanemi couldn’t wait to go out and relive all the tension that had been gathering in his stay.
Opening the door he saw two Kakushi carrying someone. He wouldn’t have cared if they weren’t carrying the person that had been on his mind for a while.
Staring at Kochou his heart clenched and his lungs lurched for air. She was badly injured, blood streamed down her delicate face dripping down onto her uniform.
Whatever fucker did this would pay if she hasn’t taken care of them already.
Moving towards the Kakushi he took her from their grasp.
“Shinazugawa-Sama?” They questioned, looking hesitant to ask anymore.
“I’ll take her.” Was all Sanemi said as he carried her away to the infirmary ward where he just escaped.
Sanemi has known Kochou was small but holding her confirmed it. He doesn’t think he’ll be letting go anytime soon. He’ll even battle the butterfly brat for it.
He laid Kochou down on the nearest bed when he finally reached the infirmary ward. Sanemi looked her over, frowning. He’ll have to go fetch Kochou’s sister. Sanemi just hopes they won’t argue... again.
He turned to leave when a hand grabbed onto his own. Sanemi looked down to face Kochou awake.
“Shinazugawa-San? It seems like I’ll be in your care now, huh.” Kochou smiled tiredly.
Sanemi sighed, “I’ll look after you, you’ll be better than fucking ever.”
Kochou giggled, closing her eyes once more. “I’ll leave it to you then. Sanemi-San.”
Sanemi froze hearing his name coming from Koch-Kanae’s mouth. It didn’t sound bad.
“Guess I’ll be seeing you recover this time, Kanae,” Sanemi replied watching Kanae fall asleep.