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The mist hashira comes back looking for him; he still has this uninterested look on his face, but Kotetsu is ready this time, even behind his mask, he narrows his eyes, he hopes the Pillar can feel the hostility coming from him.
But it seems like he doesn't or that he doesn't care.
"The Yoriichi doll doesn't work anymore," the little boy says with a smirk on his face. It's true, he's scared about not being able to repair it, but he's also glad that Tokito won't be able to use it anymore.
That hashira is so incredibly rude and disrespectful and Kotetsu doesn't like him at all.
"I didn't come here for the doll," the mist hashira says and finally it's like light and life glimmer inside his eyes. He's interested in something, focused, although Kotetsu has no idea what that is yet. "I want to see Tanjirou."
"No." Kotetsu puffs his cheeks out, even though it's impossible for the Pillar to notice because of the mask. The boy has decided that Tanjirou is his older brother now, he's his family so he must protect him from infuriating people.
"I want to apologize," Tokito insists, looking slightly desperate this time.
Kotetsu likes what he sees.
"He doesn't like you."
The mist hashira grimaces at that, but doesn't make any attempts to leave the little kid alone.
"It's my fault, I know... For treating him the way I did," he admits, surprising Kotetsu for a moment. "But I promise I'll make it up to him. Just tell me where he is."
Never.
"Apologize to me first," Kotetsu says, puffing his chest out, growing confident, even though the Pillar made him feel bad days ago.
Almost in shock, Kotetsu watches as the hashira nods.
"I'm sorry for the things I told you. That was wrong." Tokito says then.
He really is desperate to see Tanjirou, huh? But why? Kotetsu is a little bit confused now.
"Where's Tanjirou?"
"No."
"Come on! I'm not going to hurt him!" The mist hashira swears, looking even more desperate now. Then, Kotetsu finally notices that he's carrying a bouquet of flowers in one of his hands.
"Are those for Tanjirou?"
Tokito blushes, but nods. And Kotetsu might be ten years old, but he knows what's going on. He's seen that in the village before... Older boys and girls flirting with each other.
"He's not going to like them."
"Why not? They told me they were really beautiful," Tokito says, looking down at his red flowers, now a little bit insecure.
"Because he doesn't like you."
"I'll try to change his mind."
"You won't be able to," Kotetsu assures him, getting a little bit irritated. Well, he already hates the guy.
"So you won't tell me where he is?"
The little boy can tell that Tokito is more than ready to start looking for Tanjirou on his own and the boy can't have that.
"He left the village."
"When?"
"I don't know."
"Did he go back to the butterfly estate?"
"I don't know."
By this point, Tokito looks a little bit irritated as well, but he tries not to show it and he's really good at it because the next time Kotetsu blinks, there's the same neutral expression back on his face.
"Alright, thank you anyway," he finally says before leaving and Kotetsu realizes that the Pillar didn't believe him at all.
***
Fortunately, he sees Tanjirou first and if he keeps him busy, maybe that ridiculous hashira won't be able to find him.
"What if the small boy with horrible long hair came back and apologized to you after what he said?" Kotetsu asks Tanjirou, as they have lunch together.
"You know he's a hashira, Kotetsu," Tanjirou smiles gently. "You should refer to him as that."
"I don't care."
Tanjirou rolls his eyes, but he doesn't scold him, Kotetsu knows the older boy has a soft spot for him; Tanjirou told him he reminded him of one of his siblings.
"So what would you do?"
"If he was being sincere, then I'd forgive him for sure," Tanjirou tells the boy. "Everyone deserves a second chance."
No. That won't do. Then the Pillar will try to flirt with Tanjirou and then marry him! That'd be a nightmare for Kotetsu.
"I don't like him."
"I know. And it's okay, he was very rude to you and hasn't apologized yet. So you have the right not to like him."
At that Kotetsu feels a little bit guilty, but not enough to tell Tanjirou to forgive him.
"Don't be his boyfriend. Okay?"
Tanjirou chokes on his tea and his face turns completely red in seconds.
"Why would you say something like that? He's not even interested in me!" Tanjirou chuckles nervously. "We're not even friends!"
"Just promise me you won't be his boyfriend because I don't like him."
Kotetsu can tell that Tanjirou finds his idea ridiculous, so he doesn't take him seriously.
"Okay," Tanjirou chuckles again, but this time he's genuinely amused. "I won't be Tokito-san's boyfriend."
"Promise me!"
"I promise."
Ha! Kotetsu just won! The rude hashira won't ever marry his big brother Tanjirou!