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—⚡︎
There had been an increase in cases of missing citizens in a secluded village far north of Japan. Countless slayers have been sent by the Corps to take care of the demon that lurked in the shadows, taking the lives of unexpecting townsfolk. However, slayers were only left to be pronounced dead or miraculously return with only a few injuries. But those who have returned were left with sunken eyes, dull, expressionless faces, refusal to eat or drink, and were unable to speak. Those factors have diminished the potential to build a strategy to defeat the demon or an idea of the creature’s blood demon art to hopefully counter it.
A crow was sent to deliver a letter to the two female hashiras of the Demon Slayer Corps straight from the Master himself. The letter was sent as a summons to the Ubuyashiki Estate regarding a mission for the two. Upon receiving the message, the experienced slayers wasted no time and set foot to the mansion. And despite both being situated far from the mansion, were able to make it in less than an hour.
The Love Hashira now stood outside the grand estate, the environment filled with a sweet aroma of wisteria that intoxicated the wind, she would have stayed and admired the breathtaking scenery for much longer if she wasn’t reminded of the reason she was here in the first place. She proceeded to walk into the mansion’s courtyard, the pebbles emitting a crunch-like sound beneath her feet as she stepped in.
If it hadn’t for the fact she was summoned for a rather urgent and sudden meeting, she would have tackled the purple-haired slayer that kneeled in front of the engawa in a big— likely bone-crushing— fervent hug. The hashira traipsed next to her female acquaintance with a skip in her each step before kneeling right beside her. “Shinobu-chan! It’s really good to see you again!” She ended with a bright smile and a slight tint of pink covering her cheeks.
The Insect Hashira who awaited for her to be the first to speak returned the greeting with a small curve to her lips. “Good afternoon, Mitsuri. It’s certainly nice to see you too.”
Before Mitsuri could get another word out, the mansion doors were opened by Nichika and Hinaki and led their father across the engawa. The two hashiras quickly in bowed in veneration when they saw the Master walk out.
“Good afternoon, my children.” Ubuyashiki greeted, his voice mellifluous and eased the shoulders of the two. “I’m delighted to see both of you once more, healthy and well.” His welcoming panegyric words fueled the warm and pleasant aura that surrounded him.
The two returned to their previous stance and were quick to exchange pleasantries with the head of the Demon Slayer Corps. “Let’s not waste any more time, shall we?” The Master spoke once the pair had their heads raised.
“Discussing the matter written in my letter, this demon proves to be a problem among the more callow slayers. And if I’m not mistaken, Shinobu, those who returned under your care, seem to have the effects of what we could assume as the demon’s curse?” He turned to the much more experienced hashira among the two.
“That is correct, Oyakata-sama.” Shinobu concurred with a firm nod.
“With that, I’m assured that going into this mission will benefit your study to concoct a cure for these slayers. And because we do not know what power this demon holds, it is better to proceed with two hashiras. I will ask Mitsuri to accompany you, and I have a feeling that the both of you will be delighted to work together.” The Master smiled. He always had a knack for being right.
Mitsuri had practically been vibrating on her spot, her thrill evident once she learned she’d be tagging along with the younger hashira. And Shinobu bit back a laugh when she saw the former fettering next to her. “Yes Master, rest assured that we will deal with this matter accordingly.” She bowed.
“That’s right! I’ll give it my all to help Shinobu!” Mitsuri bowed after.
“My children, I do not doubt that this experience will bring you two closer together.”
—⚡︎
The expedition to the remote village in the north took the hashiras the entire afternoon, with another hour spent navigating through the dense woods to finally locate it. Thankfully, their journey was lively; conversation flowed easily between them as they reconnected after months apart. Their expedition for the two wasn’t filled with footsteps from their march, instead was filled with lively discourse, the occasional banter and playful hitting, mainly from Mitsuri, filled the forests they glided by.
Unfortunately, they had been left with little clues as to find the hidden village. They spent an hour hopping from one village to another to pinpoint the location of the hamlet of missing civilians. Thankfully, a run in with a fellow who lived in the exact vill they were looking for had led them there and both were quick to thank the man. Dusk had deepened, and the sun’s glow had long since faded when they arrived, so they began to search for the demon.
“Missing people? It’s all anyone’s talking about around here.” The man that seemed to be in his thirties perturbed. “As far as I can tell you, just avoid going into the forest, especially on the western side of this village. Most had gone missing from there, so I highly advise you ladies to stay away.” He cautioned, scratching his nape.
“Thank you for the warning. See to it that we will handle this accordingly.” Shinobu replied, disappearing right in front of the man to continue the search in the place she was advised not to venture. And Mitsuri followed after bowing to him with a quick ‘Thanks’.
Shinobu positioned herself high in the trees, ensuring she had a broad view of the surroundings to detect any incoming demon threats from below. Meanwhile, Mitsuri remained on the ground, attuned to the faintest sounds that might suggest an inhuman presence, while also keeping a vigilant watch on the trees for any potential dangers. It stayed like that for a few minutes until a quiet cackling overthrew the soft ambience of the forest.
The two quickly noticed the demon. Draped in a long white haori that concealed its limbs, the creature's pitch-black skin contrasted sharply with its dark red hair, which was adorned with heart-shaped antennas. “Kekeke, just a few more humans and I’ll be a part of the Moons in no time.” The demon cackled, happily trotting to the direction of the village.
The Insect Hashira was quick to sprung into action, leaping from above to deliver a swift thrust with her sword. However, the demon was quick to react, sensing her attack and deftly jumping out of the way to evade her lethal blow. “Tsk tsk, you slayers are always so impulsive.” He landed on his feet, covering his mouth with one hand, pretending to hide his amusement. “Aren’t you trained to think before you act?”
The Love Hashira, having been hidden behind the bushes, made a sudden leap and gracefully landed next to Shinobu, her sword already drawn and ready. “Although, I really don’t mind. It makes it easier for me to—,” he paused, observing the slayers in front of him, noticing the golden buttons on their uniform. He raised both hands up to his chest and clapped, “They really needed to send two hashiras? Why, this night really couldn’t get any better! How pleased will the Lord be if I take out two hashiras in one night?” He snickered, tensing his muscles, preparing to fight.
The two hashiras exchanged glances, their hands tightly gripping the handles of their swords. Despite her irritation with the demon’s overconfidence, Shinobu managed to conceal her displeasure behind a small smile. “My my, this demon is quite the loudmouth, wouldn’t you say Mitsuri?”
“His voice is also really irritating,” Mitsuri replied, whipping her swords and eyeing the demons neck.
“Oh, don’t worry. You’ll love my voice soon enou–AHH!" When the demon momentarily closed its eyes, Shinobu and Mitsuri sought the opportunity to strike. With precision, Shinobu aimed for the demon's upper abdomen while Mitsuri targeted its neck. However, the demon sensed the imminent danger and opened its eyes just in time to face two blades poised for attack. Reacting quickly, it sprang into the air with all its strength, narrowly evading the sharp weapons and landing on a sturdy branch above. “I didn’t know you hashiras were that fast,” he stated, his voice filled with mild terror that surprised him.
The female hashiras looked at the male demon above them, watching him carefully with Shinobu the first to reply. “So you’ve noticed! If you surrender your life now, then we’ll certainly give you a quick death.” Her voice was cheery yet rightfully unsettling to the red-headed demon, causing him to shiver in place.
“As if! This just means I have to actually try this time around!” The demon gleefully shouted and released a toxic gas from its salivary glands as it jumped down, cackling wildly. The pair quickly covered their mouths and nostrils, holding their breaths to avoid the red toxin from going into their system.
The next few hours turned into a fast-paced chase, exchanging attacks among the three of them. Shinobu and the demon exchanged sharp banter, with Mitsuri supporting her. As time passed, the demon and the Insect Hashira became increasingly frustrated by their opponents’ relentless persistence.
As the demon observed the two slayers, he quickly recognized a notable power disparity between them. The slayer with purple hair displayed speed, being the faster one of the two and sharp intuition. While the pink-haired slayer had inhuman sheer strength, serving as the muscle of their duo. Sensing this dynamic, the demon decided to use this knowledge to his advantage.
Ignoring the constant pursuit of malice aimed at him, he turned around and sprinted as fast as he could. As the sky slowly shifted from dark blue to a lighter hue, the pair trailed him, assuming he was fleeing out of fear. They were mistaken as they continued to follow him deeper into the woods; fortunately for the demon, Mitsuri tripped on an exposed root and fell face-first onto the soil, inducing a loud thud behind the two.
Mitsuri’s mishap caused Shinobu to pause and turn her head toward her partner, thinking there might be another demon nearby. As Shinobu became distracted, the demon quickly activated their blood demon art. Just then, Mitsuri, who had just gotten back on her feet, noticed the demon aiming their power with both hands at Shinobu.
“Shinobu— look out!” She alerted, gesturing to the demon they were chasing not too long ago.
The alerted hashira raised her blade to her chest, hoping to deflect or at least weaken the impact. Unfortunately, two attacks were launched: one aimed at her head and the other at her body. The shot to her head hit with powerful impact, but she managed to hold her ground, gritting her teeth. The second attack easily passed through her blade, striking her chest, causing her to emit a red aura momentarily and forcing her to fall back.
Mitsuri came to her aid, kneeling in front of her and holding Shinobu’s right hand with her left while assessing for any major injuries. “Are you okay, Shinobu?!”
“Yes, I’m fine…” Her sentence had a tone of questioning rather than stating, wondering whether she was really fine to herself.
The former watched as Shinobu's breaths quickened, sweat pouring down her face, her haori slightly falling off her shoulder, revealing her uniform and a deep red hue that spread across her cheeks. “You don’t look fine at all! What happened?”
The latter bit her lip, thinking carefully about the current situation she was in and the recent events that occurred before making a conclusion. “I think… I’ve been affected with a love curse.” Just then, her pupils turned into hearts as she gazed at Mitsuri.
Mitsuri immediately understood what she had said and evaded her gaze, unaware that Shinobu was about to pass out from the impacts dealt to her, along with the bleeding on her head, where the demon had struck her. “I-Is that so?” Her voice was rushed and her face turned bright red.
She glanced over her shoulder, watching the red-headed demon leap from tree to tree, his cackles fading into the distance. Mitsuri heard a thump beside her as something lightweight hit her knees. When she turned, she saw her partner passed out and laying on her knees. “AHH! SHINOBU!”
It took a few seconds for her to compose herself. Once she had, she propped Shinobu’s unconscious body against a nearby tree. Finally noticing the blood on Shinobu’s forehead that dripped and covered a side of her face, continuing to breathe heavily with sweat dripping off her. Mitsuri placed a hand on her cheek, gently circling her thumb over the area as she watched the other person’s face continue to turn a deep shade of red. She didn’t have time to dwell on her mistake. After giving the unconscious person one last pat on the head, she set off to confront the demon with newfound determination.
The love demon, who had created some distance between himself and the two slayers, was now muttering curses under his breath. He felt satisfied to have weakened one of the slayers and escaped from them. However, he was unable to make eye contact with the Insect Hashira, which meant that the curse he had planted on her would not be directed at him.
Despite the great distance, the Love Hashira managed to reach him and almost sever his neck, but unfortunately, the demon ducked just in time. He clicked his tongue, realizing that she was likely filled with rage over her injured friend. Angry slayers were always the hardest to deal with.
He scanned the surroundings, trying to find a way to throw the experienced slayer off his trail. Once he did, he chuckled mischievously, “I wouldn’t leave my partner if I were you. The sun has yet to fully reach the horizon, and even then, you left her under the shade. I’m not the only demon in these woods, y’know?”
Mitsuri snapped her head to the injured slayer and came to a halt. Her grip tightened on the handle of her swords, there was a chance that the demon had lied but she couldn’t gamble on her friend’s life. She didn’t hesitate to run back to Shinobu and the last thing she heard of the demon was a manic laugh leaving his mouth.
Once she reached Shinobu, a sigh of relief escaped her lips as she found her in the same position she had left her. Although her expression was now more relaxed, her flushed cheeks were still noticeable. When she noticed the forest floor streaked with golden light, she realized they needed to momentarily retreat. She strapped the sword on the ground to her belt and picked Shinobu up in her arms, cradling her in a bridal carry, surprised by how light she was.
She debated whether to return to the village or the Butterfly Estate. From what she could recall, the village lacked a suitable place to care for injured individuals. She glanced at her friend, who was sleeping in her arms, and made her decision: she would head to the mansion. After all, she was not only injured, but also cursed by the love demon.
—⚡︎
The journey to the Butterfly Estate took all morning, as Mitsuri was careful not to run too fast and risk dropping Shinobu. Occasionally, her thoughts drifted back to what Shinobu had last said. If she was indeed under a love curse, what could that mean for her? Every time that thought crossed her mind, she quickly shook her head, trying to escape the heat rising to her face.
Once she arrived at the estate, she let herself in, having been there many times before. Standing in the corridor, she looked around for someone who could offer assistance. Hearing footsteps below, she glanced down to see Kiyo staring up at her with her mouth shaped into an ‘o’. There was a moment of silence until the little girl began tearing up at the sight of the master of the mansion, who was unconscious and had dried blood on her face.
While Mitsuri was trying to calm down Kiyo whilst carefully holding Shinobu, she heard another set of footsteps approaching down the hallway. Looking up, she saw Aoi with Sumi and Naho, who likely heard the commotion. Kiyo ran to Aoi and hugged her knees, while the other two girls were about to do the same once they saw and knew the reason why.
Aoi tried to balance comforting the three girls along with talking with Mitsuri on what exactly happened. After a few minutes, they moved her into a private room. Aoi, along with Kanao—who was thankfully not on a mission—assessed the injuries while Mitsuri waited outside the door.
Some time passed, and the door opened, revealing Kanao in the room, watching over her master, and Aoi, who shut the door afterward. “Thankfully, her skull was only chipped at, along with a cracked rib that will heal in due time. And so far, we don’t see any effects of the demon's curse on her like on the other slayers. What exactly is the curse, Kanroji-san?” She turned to the hashira, whose face was slowly heating up.
The Love Hashira struggled to form a coherent sentence, feeling too flustered to speak. She waited for a distraction, but when her stomach growled, it wasn’t the interruption she had hoped for. “Would you like to eat lunch with us?” Aoi asked, having heard the noise.
Mitsuri felt even more embarrassed; she knew she couldn’t refuse the offer either. Sensing her hesitation, Aoi sighed and added, “It’s the least we can do after everything, and not eating for what I assume has been a few hours for you.” With that, Mitsuri obliged and followed Aoi to the dining hall.
Aoi prepared a meal for herself and the three girls, as well as for Mitsuri, whom she made more times the usual quantity, knowing how much the girl could eat after her previous visits to the estate.
The three girls sat together, while Mitsuri and Aoi sat across the table. They quickly gave their thanks before digging into the food. Aoi gave the hashira next to her a questioning look and asked about the curse. The girl knew that she couldn’t avoid the topic and proceeded to explain what had happened.
After the meal, Aoi gathered the wooden bowls and plates, taking them to the sink to clean. Mitsuri offered to help, but Aoi politely declined and chose instead to talk more about the demon. The hashira reluctantly agreed and continued the conversation.
Once sharing everything she knew, Mitsuri excused herself to return to the village to find the demon, but Aoi stopped her. “I don’t think you should go. If anything, you should stay close to Shinobu-sama.”
Now it was Mitsuri’s turn to give Aoi a questioning look, prompting her to explain further. “It’s just a hunch, but she will likely need you now that her curse is directed at you.”
Mitsuri wasn’t sure what to make of what she said, but she took the advice given to her and settled into a room across from Shinobu’s to rest. Eventually, she fell asleep, knowing that the rest was necessary.
After a few hours, she was awakened by a knock on her door. It was Kanao, who told her that Shinobu was awake and asking about her partner.
Following Kanao into the room, Mitsuri leaped to hug her friend, who was still healing in bed, with an excited squeal. “I’m so glad you’re okay!” She rejoiced, not noticing the bright pink cheeks on Shinobu’s face that were definitely targeted towards her. “I’m so sorry! If I hadn’t tripped you wouldn’t be here!”
“It’s alright, dear. I’m already grateful that we both aren’t severely hurt,” she replied, her voice sweet and reassuring.
Aoi, who walked in after Mitsuri, quickly noticed her Master’s heart-shaped pupils directed at the cheerful girl, along with the blush spreading across her face. Sensing the atmosphere between the two, she coughed, pulling Kanao by the collar of her uniform, and excused both of them before leaving the room.
Shinobu, surprisingly grateful for the absence of her attendants, focused her attention on Mitsuri, who had just finished apologizing to her.
“What do we do about the demon now?” Mitsuri asked, retracting herself from the girl and pulling a chair to sit by her bedside.
Shinobu, clearly disappointed by the girl pulling away from her, cleared her throat to speak. “The previous night wasn’t a complete failure. We were sent to slay the demon, but I also needed to gather intel on the demon’s blood demon art to concoct a cure for the slayers under its curse.”
Mitsuri nodded, relieved that the night hadn’t been a total waste. “Slayers like yourself, right? After all, you were shot too!”
The experienced hashira was caught off guard, momentarily forgetting that she herself was cursed. “Err, well yes, of course,” she replied, wondering why she felt so hesitant.
There was a brief silence between them as they stared at each other. Shinobu had thoughts she had never experienced before. She knew Mitsuri was an attractive girl, but something felt… different as she admired her. It was as if a pink filter with bubbles surrounded the girl. Had she always been this beautiful? Heat spread across Shinobu’s cheeks as she realized she had been staring for too long; the sheets tortured as she gripped them tightly in her hands.
Mitsuri, returning Shinobu’s gaze, began to feel flustered. It was as if Shinobu’s eyes were taking in every detail of her face. Avoiding Shinobu’s gaze, she focused on the sheets, now the most interesting thing in the world.
The silence was broken when Aoi knocked and entered the room, carrying two trays—one for Shinobu and one for Mitsuri, who had a copious quantity of food. Aoi placed a tray on Shinobu’s lap and another in Mitsuri’s hands before heading for the door. Both hashiras expressed their gratitude, and Aoi responded with a nod before closing the door behind her.
—⚡︎
Outside, Aoi let out a heavy sigh, relieved to escape the tense atmosphere she felt. She noticed Kanao standing in front of her with a curious expression and approached her, simply saying, “They’re just getting closer.”
Then she felt a hand intertwine with hers, the innocent expression ached Aoi’s heart as she held the other girl’s hand tighter.
Aoi, quickened her pace and got ahead of the taller girl so she wouldn’t see the heat growing on her face.
—⚡︎
Back in the room, Shinobu raised her chopsticks to grab a portion of her food until—
“Should you be moving that much? Don’t you need help?” Mitsuri asked, genuinely worried.
Shinobu was dumbfounded and bit back a laugh, “Sweetheart, my arms are perfectly fine for me to use.” She replied.
Mitsuri pouted. “You’re still healing! Why don’t I just feed you myself?” She offered already setting her tray down and moved closer to Shinobu.
“Mitsuri, my injuries aren’t severe for you too—” She felt a weight leave her hands as the bowl was taken from her and was met with chopsticks held up to her face. One any other day, she would have declined the offer, but she couldn’t help but feel fond of the moment and reluctantly received the bite.
Much Shinobu’s dismay and oddly enough, delight, Mitsuri continued to feed her, bite after bite, until her bowl was empty. Afterward, Mitsuri left Shinobu to drink the medicated water given to her, a bitter taste she had grown accustomed to. Once Shinobu finished, Mitsuri gladly picked up one of her many bowls and began to eat her own dinner.
The time Mitsuri spent eating was left for Shinobu to continue admiring her features, something she had never done before. The way Mitsuri’s bright pink hair faded to green at the ends bounced as she enjoyed a particular bite of food, her mint green eyes seemed to shine brighter than usual, and her light pink lips looked to be the tastiest thing in the room. Shinobu swallowed, her mouth slowly falling open as her gaze wandered further down. She choked on her breath when she remembered that Mitsuri’s uniform revealed her chest. Quickly averting her gaze, she felt heat creeping up her cheeks. When had she started having those thoughts?
Mitsuri who finished her meal, turned to see her female friend bright red and couldn’t help but worry. “Shinobu, are you okay? You’re really red.”
“It’s nothing you should be concerned about. I was merely thinking about y—” Shinobu slapped a hand over her mouth, cutting herself off. When had she become so bold? When had she begun to think such things?
The damage was done. Mitsuri heard the last word before it was silenced and blushed furiously. “O-okay!” She gathered the bowls and trays, using it as an excuse to leave the room, and quickly excused herself before closing the door.
Left to reflect on what had just happened, Shinobu furrowed her brows and pressed a palm to her forehead. It didn’t take long for her to put two and two together on what was going on. This was going to be one hell of a curse.
—⚡︎
The morning after, Shinobu had already recovered and felt… stable. Health-wise, she was fine, but she couldn’t help but feel tired. She had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. Her body felt colder by the second, her eyes seemed devoid of life, and her heart had never felt so heavy. She knew the cause of it all, and it was echoing her name down the hall.
Shinobu didn’t have time to fully process her name being called until arms suddenly wrapped around her shoulders. She felt warmth beginning to fill her again. “You’re okay!” the cheerful girl exclaimed.
“Not if you keep choking me, sweetheart,” Shinobu replied, feeling the strength in the other girl’s arms. She would always be envious of the girl’s strength, but she was content with it being wrapped around her.
“Oh, sorry!” Mitsuri apologized, loosening her grip.
“It’s alright.” Shinobu turned to face the taller girl once she felt her arms pulling away. “It’s good that you’re here with me right now. There’s something I need to tell you.” She started, making eye contact with Mitsuri.
Normally, Mitsuri would feel nervous and worried when Shinobu adopted a serious tone. But the heart shape pupils in the girl’s eyes diverted her attention as she tried to wonder what she needed to tell her.
“That demon’s curse. Whether intentional or not, we’ve been avoiding this topic ever since I was shot. I won’t dance around this anymore, so listen closely, Mitsuri.”
“Y-yes?” Mitsuri squeaked.
“I like you.” Shinobu paused before adding, “In a romantic sense.”
A long moment of silence hung between them, neither daring to speak. Mitsuri stared at Shinobu’s heart-shaped pupils, feeling her face grow intensely hotter by the second. And Shinobu already knew what the heat forming in her own face was as the taller girl continued to stare down at her, and after what felt like an eternity of silence, Mitsuri nodded vigorously, hoping the other girl would continue.
Shinobu cleared her throat and looked away to compose herself. “Unfortunately, this means I cannot be separated from you, as I would figuratively and quite literally lose my life.” She noticed the worry evident on Mitsuri’s face and reached for both of her hands, caressing them with her thumbs. “I need you, Mitsuri.” She was surprised at how she had been able to keep herself composed ever since this conversation started; her heart has never beat so fast before, not even for any demon.
Realizing she might have probably broken Mitsuri, she decided to end the conversation and move on to another subject. She withdrew her hands and cleared her throat once more. “With that being said, I’ll be in my lab developing a cure for this curse. I’m sure I’ve already troubled you enough.”
She turned to leave but felt a hand wrap around her wrist. “You haven’t eaten breakfast yet…” Mitsuri’s tone was filled with concern, still nervous from the girl’s earlier words..
“It’s alright, Aoi will have it delivered to my office,” Shinobu replied, hoping that would suffice.
“But… don’t you need me?” Mitsuri persisted, recalling back to what Shinobu had just declared.
“I…” Shinobu shook her head. “I managed to get through last night without you, a few hours won’t significantly affect me. Plus, I may have made you uncomfortable with my sudden confession.”
Mitsuri pouted. “That’s not fair to you! You can’t control your feelings because of this curse. If I hadn’t tripped, you wouldn’t have had to worry about me and get hurt yourself! It’s only right that I stay by your side.”
Shinobu was taken aback by Mitsuri’s little outburst, now knowing what she wanted to voice out the entire time. She was about to decline the offer, but Mitsuri cut her off. “I’ll stay with you from now on!” she declared.
—⚡︎
The events that followed were… anticlimactic, to say the least. Mitsuri had done well to follow Shinobu to the lab like a dog wagging its tail, following its owner. The physician remained focused on creating a cure, while Mitsuri talked nonstop about her cat.
When breakfast arrived, Mitsuri quickly thanked Aoi and opted to spoon-feed Shinobu, who was too concentrated on her work to eat. Much to the other’s dismay and pleasure.
Shinobu believed she only needed to adjust the formula she had developed from a demon with a similar Blood Demon Art. However, no matter how many adjustments, recalculations, or fine-tunings she made, nothing seemed to work. Apparently, serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin were completely different chemical reactions.
Their entire day together was spent in the lab. Whenever another attempt at making a cure failed, Mitsuri could be heard cheering in the background, surprisingly lifting Shinobu’s spirits every time.
Eventually, the skies were encapsulated in darkness as stars began to appear. Mitsuri had surprisingly, run out of things to say, that or she was just too tired to talk.
“Mitsuri, you can go back to your room and sleep for the night. I’ll be fine here,” Shinobu said as she placed a test tube filled with a purple liquid back in its rack and turned to face Mitsuri.
“No, I promised I would stay by your side,” Mitsuri replied, shaking her head, as a response and to wake herself up.
After a moment of contemplation, Shinobu hummed softly and walked to the other side of the room. She pulled out a futon and laid it down on the wooden floor. Having spent many nights in the lab creating poisons and cures, she found it useful to have bedding on hand for when her mind was too hazy to function properly.
“This way, you’ll be by my side, and you can get a full night’s rest,” she said, clapping her hands after laying it down.
When Mitsuri didn’t respond and appeared to be deep in thought, Shinobu drew her own conclusions.
“You needn’t worry about me pouncing on you while you sleep. As a hashira, I’m more than capable of withstanding this curse and any unwanted desires for you…” But as she spoke, she noticed Mitsuri flailing her hands and blushing, prompting Shinobu to close her mouth.
“I know you wouldn’t do that to me! I trust you completely! I just thought it would be unfair for me to sleep soundly while you stayed awake,” Mitsuri replied, her face hidden behind her hands.
“Ah.” Now it was Shinobu’s turn to blush, realizing her earlier reassurance had definitely been unnecessary. She turned back to her experiments, hoping to hide her bright pink cheeks. “The sooner I make this cure, the sooner this whole ordeal will be over,” she said, the sounds of glass and pouring liquid now filling the room.
Mitsuri soon prepared for bed, the rustling of sheets mixing with the clinking of beakers. With Mitsuri now asleep, and Shinobu left awake, she found herself stealing quick glances at the peaceful girl. Mitsuri’s serene expression only fueled Shinobu’s determination.
—⚡︎
The days stretched on, eventually leading to two weeks. By that time, Mitsuri was practically living in the Butterfly Estate, not that the residents minded. They’d long been accustomed to her before then, especially the three girls who enjoyed the cheery girl’s presence.
Kanao grew fond of the older girl, and their conversations—though Mitsuri did most of the talking—were peaceful. Aoi, on the other hand, found Mitsuri’s presence increasingly unsettling. Not that Mitsuri herself was unsettling—far from it. It was just that her presence significantly affected the head of the house’s behavior, and that behavior was what unsettled Aoi. For instance, when the Water Hashira visited due to some injuries, he was clearly disturbed by Shinobu’s behavior, and even more so when she didn’t even tease or provoke him during his entire visit!
Meanwhile, Shinobu had come to a concerning dilemma. The physician had a hard time focusing on her process of concocting a cure when a certain pink-haired hashira was breathing down her neck, watching her work. Even when Mitsuri wasn’t directly beside her, there were just moments when she couldn’t help but compliment or full-on flirt with the taller girl. It took a few days for her to realize that her feelings had steadily been growing for Mitsuri. Why hadn’t she considered this as a factor in the curse?!
This realization prompted another “talk” between the two. After yet another failed attempt at creating a cure, Shinobu placed a vial on the table, pressed her index finger and thumb to her temple, and sighed heavily. She turned to face Mitsuri, allowing her customary smile to drop.
“Mitsuri, there’s something that has been concerning me these past few days,” she began, watching as the other girl approached her, nodding and listening attentively.
“A factor I failed to consider regarding this curse is that my ‘love’ for you would continue to grow. I’m sure you’ve noticed the more frequent displays of affection I’ve shown you.” Frustration mounted within her—as much about the curse as about herself. She was annoyed that she couldn’t find the right formula for the cure and worried that she had made Mitsuri uncomfortable with her advances. It didn’t help that Mitsuri didn’t push her away.
Mitsuri had never seen Shinobu angry before, but the curse was forcing her emotions to the forefront and it was already difficult for her to restrain herself from pursuing Mitsuri. Not that Mitsuri minded, for some reason, but she was sure that if Shinobu was in her right mind she definitely wouldn’t want to court her.
“I don’t mind at all!” Mitsuri exclaimed, taking one of Shinobu’s hands in both of hers. “Shinobu, you’re always so composed, careful with your words, and incredibly smart! Seeing you vulnerable like this, working day and night to create a cure? It makes me admire you even more.” Mitsuri held tightly to Shinobu’s hands as she continued.
“Whether it’s the curse talking or not, I’m still here, and I’m not leaving. I promised you that.” She concluded with a determined expression.
Shinobu was taken aback by Mitsuri’s words; it felt almost like a confession. A crimson hue flushed her face, and her mouth fell slightly open in surprise. She stared at Mitsuri, her purple eyes locking onto green ones. The beating of her heart quickened, and unironically, the butterflies in her stomach fluttered with increased intensity.
Unbeknownst to her, her heart-shaped pupils dilated noticeably—a fact that Mitsuri noticed but chose not to mention. Shinobu lowered her head and sighed heavily. “Mitsuri, if my advances ever cross a line, please don’t hesitate to push me away if you need to.”
Before Mitsuri could respond, Shinobu continued, “With that said…” She took Mitsuri’s hands and quickly spun her around, trapping Mitsuri between herself and the table. Gripping the edge on either side of the girl, she went on her tippy toes to lean in close.
“Sh-Shinobu?!” Mitsuri squeaked, caught off guard by the girl’s bold actions. She was taken even further aback when Shinobu leaned in so close that their noses were almost touching. Mitsuri’s lower back pressed against the table, and her hands fumbled with the glass beakers, test tubes, and vials placed there. Fortunately, nothing spilled or shattered.
She stared into the heart-shaped pupils that were drawing nearer, a reminder that this was the curse’s doing. Although, she didn’t want to push Shinobu away, the girl’s unwavering demeanor made Mitsuri relent. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the distance between them to close
Shinobu felt a rush of pride knowing Mitsuri was waiting for her, and she was about to clash their lips together—until a knock interrupted the romantic tension.
“Shinobu-sama! I have the herbs you requested!” Aoi shouted from outside. She had been careful the past few days not to barge in when the two were alone together, afraid she would intrude on them. Well, so much for that.
The moment was shattered as Shinobu reluctantly pulled away and moved toward the door, while Mitsuri scrambled to find her words and composure after the unexpected event.
Aoi handed the basket to Shinobu, closing the door behind her but not before shooting a suspicious glance at Mitsuri, who was bright crimson. Now holding a basket filled with herbs, Shinobu placed it on the table next to Mitsuri. “Nothing happened,” she stated abruptly.
“But you—”
“Nothing at all,” Shinobu insisted, her gaze sharp as she expected her to take the hint.
“Yup, nothing happened,” Mitsuri finally agreed, accepting the situation.
—⚡︎
It had been a few days since that incident, and ever since then, Shinobu had significantly restrained herself. She limited her words when speaking to Mitsuri, fearing she might accidentally hit on her.
She bit her tongue whenever she had the urge to say something to her, and she curled her fists tightly when she felt the desire to touch her. Of course, it didn’t take long for Mitsuri to notice.
Not only that, it was the way her hands hazily worked when she was mixing liquids or when she was on the drawing board, and her hand made random lines as she was falling asleep. And the bags that grew under her eyes, seemed more prominent day after day as she had her entire focus and attention on making the cure.
Mitsuri knew she had to intervene and braced herself before approaching Shinobu.
“Shinobu?” Mitsuri tapped her on the shoulder, jolting her awake from whatever squiggles she had been writing on the board.
“Yes, Mitsuri?” Shinobu replied, attempting to maintain her composure, though her worn-out voice and exhausted expression told a different story.
Mitsuri swallowed, not wanting to annoy Shinobu since she was already tired, but knowing that talking to her might benefit the situation, especially given her dilated pupils ever since she started talking to her. “I think you should stop trying to make a cure.”
Shinobu’s eyes widen momentarily until they shrink back into an unamused expression. “And what, pray tell, makes you think that?”
Mitsuri shook her head, realizing she couldn’t convince Shinobu to stop if she hesitated. “Shinobu,” she began, placing her hands on the girl’s shoulders, “I, of all people, know you’ve been working hard to make this cure. I’ve been by your side ever since you started on it. But look at yourself! You’ve been neglecting your health because of it!”
Shinobu was almost convinced, but she could feel a familiar guilt eating her up. “I’ve been working on this for weeks, I can’t just stop.”
“Mitsuri,” Shinobu continued, “a slayer lost their life in my care because of this curse. I can’t possibly stop, especially when the lives of other slayers depend on me.”
With clenched fists, she thought about the slayer who had died from the curse. His eyes had been empty, his body weak and malnourished. Despite his state, he couldn’t find the will to eat, likely consumed by thoughts of that love demon. He couldn’t think about himself.
Shinobu clenched her jaw. If she stopped trying to make the cure for a measly rest time, who knows how long those slayers could last.
“We don’t have to stop trying for them,” Mitsuri said softly, enough to jolt Shinobu out of her thoughts. She looked at Mitsuri, tilting her head, curious about where this was leading.
"Let's go back and find that demon." She said with no hesitation, with so much determination that Shinobu nearly gave in.
“But the cure—!”
Mitsuri cut her off, “Who knows when you’ll be able to make it?”
“And if the demon left?” Shinobu countered, pointing out that it was highly unlikely the demon would stick around the village after two highly skilled slayers had been sent after him and that he had barely managed to escape.
“It beats spending another month trying to create a cure that you’re not even sure will work!” Mitsuri retorted, stepping back from Shinobu when she sensed her wavering disposition.
Shinobu felt the corners of her mouth twitch upwards before she chuckled. She hadn’t seen this side of Mitsuri before. Of course, she knew the girl could get serious, but she didn’t expect to witness it firsthand, aimed at her of all people.
“Ah! But you should definitely rest first,” Mitsuri suggested, noticing the dark circles under Shinobu’s eyes.
Shinobu shook her head. “We should go now. If we leave right away, we can reach the village before nightfall and gather intel.”
Mitsuri considered her words for a moment. While gathering information about the demon’s whereabouts would be useful, Shinobu’s exhaustion could hinder her performance in a fight. Not that the girl was incapable, heavens no, she at least wanted the physician to have a few hours of rest—not that it would repay her debt for sleepless nights.
Then she thought of a solution, though the other girl might not be so keen on it. "I have a solution where you can get some rest and we can maybe reach the village before nightfall!"
“Maybe?” Shinobu raised an eyebrow, waiting for the older girl to present her idea.
“Trust me! It would be much better this way!” Mitsuri exclaimed as she crouched next to the futon she had recently been using, given by Shinobu, and patted it for the other girl.
Shinobu didn't bother resisting this time, walking over and lying down. Had it always been this soft? No, she just hasn't touched a bed in several days and napped on her desk.
“You surprised me earlier,” she yawned, already starting to drift off to sleep. “I didn’t know you could be so astute, Mitsuri.”
A slight tint of pink covered the older girl's cheek when she was complimented. “I was just worried about you.” It was often when Mitsuri felt concerned for those she cared about that she became serious.
That sentence was the last thing Shinobu heard before succumbing to exhaustion and falling asleep before she could respond. A faint blush covered her face, but it wasn’t too prominent this time.
Mitsuri waited for a few minutes before deciding to carry the shorter girl in her arms, bridal style. She didn’t want to tell Shinobu that this had been her idea; she figured that if she revealed it, Shinobu would oppose it. Or not, who knows.
Quickly, Mitsuri made her way out, doing her best to ignore the curious stares of the people in the mansion. Who knew that carrying the head of the house would attract so much attention?
—⚡︎
"I'm certainly glad that you didn't tell me your idea would be me in your arms." Shinobu chuckled; she could feel her face heating up at the thought of her in Mitsuri's arms. However, she was disappointed that the times she was in her arms were when she was unconscious. "I would have been the shade of vermilion if you told me."
"I thought that would happen, so I didn't want to tell you. Sorry!" Mitsuri pressed her hands together and faced Shinobu with an apologetic smile.
Shinobu shook her head, bringing the girls hands down with one of her own. "I understand. If you hadn't, I'm sure we would have spent longer with you trying to convince me than searching for the demon." She fanned her face, turned back to the trees, and kept walking.
The sun had long dipped beneath the horizon, its golden warmth was replaced by the cold foreboding of the crescent moon that hung delicately in the twilight sky. The leaves of the trees rustled in the crisp evening air, creating a gentle melody that danced through the forest. An enchanting stillness enveloped the scene, and an unexpected sense of romance infused the atmosphere. Oh boy.
When they arrived at the village again, they were met with the same man they'd questioned before. "Not sure what you two ladies did, but I have to thank you. After you two left, the people stopped going missing when going into the forest.
Sadly, we could only assume what happened to the ones who had gone missing before. But I reckon you two tried your best, huh? And I thank you for that." His face shifted into a sad yet thankful smile directed at the pair. He was shocked when they left him after he gave them a clear warning about the forest a few weeks ago, but he was thankful for whatever they did.
The pair looked at each other with vexed expressions. They knew the demon wasn't dead and instead probably escaped to another remote village. They chose not to welcome the man as they only drew away the demon from one village to another; they asked him if there were other remote villages nearby, and once they got just that, they left.
So far, they had searched two villages with no signs of the demon anywhere. No lovesick people, no missing residents, and no corpses in the forests that could've been left behind. After the third village, Mitsuri could feel her heart sinking with guilt, already eating her up. Was this a bad idea? Should they have stayed back at the estate?
Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt as she and her partner heard the sounds of rustling grass and… possibly chewing. They both looked at each other and nodded before hopping onto a treeline to investigate the noise.
The two hashiras spotted the demon they had been searching for, gnawing on what appeared to be a severed leg. Disturbed by the gruesome sight of its meal, they made their presence known by jumping down from the treetops.
Hearing the grass crunch behind him, the demon swiftly discarded the leg from his hands and assumed a fighting stance, anticipating an attack from the slayers.
"You two again?!" He grits his blood-stained teeth, his hands curling into fists as he is enraged that he was met with the pair again. Their last encounter had him so humiliated, no way in hell was he going to let that happen to him again.
"Haven't you had enough since our last fight?" He barked.
Shinobu felt the pulsating vein on her forehead but paid it no mind and replied to the demon. "Pardon my memory, but I recall you running away from us instead of fighting."
The demon clicked his tongue, several veins protruding from his neck. "I was running away from the sun! Not from you two!" He yelled, desperately trying to save his ego.
"Either way is quite cowardly, is it not?" She giggled, and make no mistake, she was anything but amused.
"But if what you say is true, then you certainly don't have a reason to run away now. The sun won't come up for the next few hours."
Mitsuri watched the two interact, choosing to stay quiet. She could tell Shinobu wanted to pump the demon across from them with a chock-full of poison and be done with it.
The love demon noticed the other on the sidelines not talking and decided to prod at her. "Y'know, I wondered why you two didn't come back sooner. I expected at least one of you to chase me down to kill me, but..." His gaze drifted away, landing on the girl with heart-shaped pupils. "I guess you two were busy with each other?" He teased, quietly cackling under his hand.
The innuendo did not slip past the two, each giving their reaction. While Mitsuri was flushed at the assumption, Shinobu's rage was only fueled by it. "Why yes, of course. I was busy concocting a cure for this wretched curse you planted on me and the other slayers. But I was at an impasse, your curse is quite tricky to deal with.
And I am by no means complimenting you. I'm merely giving another reason why we should end your pathetic existence in this world."
Her passive-aggressive tone sent shivers down the demon's and Mitsuri's spine. Though the threat was not directed at Mitsuri, that didn't make her any less terrified. And the demon took a step backward despite the considerable distance he had between the pair.
"And it starts with me plucking your eyes for every life you've planted your little curse on, manipulating and torturing them with your presence is truly unacceptable. Next, I will pump your body with poison for how much false love you've filled those people, but don't worry, I'll make sure it doesn't kill you. Because then we'll cut off your legs so you won't run away when we watch the sunrise together." She ended, her smile making everything ten times more horrifying as she failed to notice the terror on even her partner's face. The restless nights burdened her immensely, and she almost forgot to keep her smile curved. But right now, it didn't matter to her, she just wanted to see this demon dissipate into dust.
Mitsuri's mouth was slightly agape as she stared at Shinobu, the demon nearly forgotten. Had she always been so sadistic?
"FUCK THAT!" He shouted before running off into the forest, not wanting to stay any longer. His pride was long forgotten because now, he just wanted to escape.
Being the one who placed the curse on her, he could tell just how much it had grown now that their distances weren't too vast. But he was also to feel the other array of emotions within her. And her anger was terrifyingly overwhelming.
The duo wasted no time and caught up to the demon once they saw him trying to escape. Mitsuri severed his leg with a swift movement of her sword, and he wailed in shock more than in pain as he got accustomed to several parts of his body being severed.
His face was planted on the grassy terrain, and he knew the other wasn't far and prepared his blood demon art to aim at the shorter girl after him.
Shinobu saw this and hopped on a treeline to avoid his attack. The love demon rolled on his back and shot from the palm of his hand as well, to Mitsuri, who also dodged. With his leg finally sprouting back, he scrambled back to his feet and started running again.
This led to another chase scene... or more like hide and seek. As the love demon hid from his assailants, holding his breath and hoping they wouldn't find him. Only to be found out and forced to another hiding spot.
At some point, he started wishing the sun would rise faster to end his feeble demon life in just a few seconds rather than being tortured to death by that butterfly and her sadism.
After an hour or two of hiding, he peeked his head out in search of his assailants. He saw no one but instead noticed the lighter shade of blue in the sky, signalling the rising sun. In that moment, he never felt relieved to be free from slayers and started to search for a cave nearby to rest in, thinking that the two had stopped their search.
He leapt from tree to tree to find a place for cover from the sun. Under a denser forest, he leapt down in cover of the trees shade, the grass crunching below his bare feet.
The village he hid in was far, very far. Hours of running in the woods, directions disregarded by him when his head was on the line. There was no point in going back, the slayers would likely be behind his tracks, and even then, the trees were sparse near the village which meant no shelter for him to refuge in until the sun went down once more.
Step by step, avoiding the tiniest ray of light that slipped by the leaves. In search of a pathway, a small house, a village, or anything that indicated human life. If he kept moving maybe, just maybe, he would—
Sounds of fabric being torn, skin being pierced, muscles tearing and bones cracking filled his ears before his sense of touch could process what had happened.
"Oh my, did you think we'd let you go for a second time?" She mused, pushing her sword deeper, puncturing other organs until it appeared in front of him. Blood was staining his white yukata, his eyes contracting at the sight on his abdomen.
He snapped out of his empty thoughts and grabbed the tip of her blade, planning to crush in his hand as it would have hooked him if he tried to run.
Shinobu caught on, but let him do so as she placed her hand on his shoulder, lifting herself close to his ear. Her voice low and degrading, "You've probably noticed, my blade is not meant to slice a demon's neck, it is meant to puncture. Because, I am simply too weak to do so."
Supposedly, her next words were going to be a short explanation for the wisteria she filled his body with but she couldn't help but imagine his fallen expression as he realized what she was inciting. His breath hitched, his mouth dry from having it open for too long, he swallowed heavily as he took in her words and what she implied.
Silence filled the air between, with him never replying to her statement, she assumed that he already figured it out. Oh, what she'd give to see the look on his face. "That's right. No matter how much you run or hide, you'll cease and be nothing more than dust."
There was nothing he could do. His life—human life, that is, flashing before his eyes. Right now, he felt weightless, likely because the hashira was now carrying him up to the trees, where the sun pierced right through him just as her blade did.
The rising sun burned his skin, turning it into ashes as the poison melted his insides. He choked on the wisteria mixed with his blood, his organs and veins popping and his body only producing blank cells, failing to regenerate itself.
As the dark purple liquid along with his blood tainted the leaves and bark of the tree, only for it to dissipate into ashes blown by the wind, he remembered his human life. A life devoid of love, just like this life he chose for himself.
She held the collar of his yukata the entire time, watching him writhe and twitch as the poison took effect. His exterior scattered into the air, until there was nothing left to hold on to.
—⚡︎
The Insect Hashira stood atop the tree for what felt like an hour, though only a few minutes had passed since the demon disintegrated. She sensed the curse, which had been planted on her, vanish along with the demon that planted it.
Warmth was the next thing she felt. After splitting from her partner to search for the demon, a coldness crept up her shoulders, heavier and more invasive than she had anticipated. It felt as though the very embodiment of winter had chosen her, and her alone, as its home. The feeling of loss should have weighed her down, slowed her down, but she’d be damned if she hadn’t already endured enough of that.
Surprisingly, it was not hatred that pushed her forward; it was something else—something of the opposite. And she didn’t want to delve into it.
Then she heard it, that cheerful, chirpy voice calling her name, echoing through the trees and leaves. It wasn’t loud enough to shake the leaves, but it sent a shiver down her spine. Soon, the source of that voice was in front of her, radiating the warmth she so desperately needed—like the sun that had failed to do its one job.
“You killed it…” Mitsuri pointed out, staring at the other hashira with curious eyes.
Shirobu expected the former to be more joyful, ecstatic even, but her calm and satisfied expression was… odd. On a more confusing matter, how did she know the demon was dead? Then, she lifted her blade to her chest level, staring at her own reflection.
Her eyes were empty, those pupils— those heart-shaped pupils were gone, a void of amethyst irises to be left. Ah, so that’s how she knew. A constant reminder of her ever-growing love, now gone, was hard to miss.
A palm on her hand made her lower the blade, and she was met with strong arms wrapped around her, a face buried at the side of her neck sought solace, and then intense vibrations accompanied by quick gasps were felt. Was she giggling?
Nonetheless, Shinobu gladly returned the gesture.
—⚡︎
The slayer repeatedly raised his upper body and lowered it, bowing to show his respect and gratitude to the head of the house, thankful that he had fully recovered and the unwanted feelings he had for the demon were finally gone. Before the hashira could reply, the slayer already said— or more appropriately, shouted his goodbyes, ran outside the room, and likely ran out of the mansion; a scene she had seen many times before and had grown used to.
Most of the slayers affected by the demons' curse had fully recovered and had already been assigned to missions. However, some still felt uneasy because of the curse's impact on their mental state. They remained wary and uncertain about their own feelings, after everything that had happened.
It's only been a few weeks since then. Shinobu returned to her mansion to recover— or, was actually tending to the patients and concocting potions for her sword rather than resting. And Mitsuri was sent on a mission the day after day, after their joint mission, which meant the pair hadn't been able to fully discuss that night.
—⚡︎
Mitsuri anxiously walked through the halls of the Butterfly Estate. She had come here unconsciously after her crow had stopped giving her missions, wanting to visit her best friend. Or perhaps… a part of her wanted to talk about their last mission together as it had been lingering in the back of her mind. However, she only later realized that they had left on awkward terms— at least to her, it was awkward.
As she walked, she thought about what to say to Shinobu on how to approach the topic, or just saying anything to avoid it altogether.
Whenever she’d see any of the butterfly girls, she greeted them with a false bravado, hoping they wouldn’t notice her nervousness. Her fingers would twitch at her sides, her voice would shake when she hesitated to ask about Shinobu’s whereabouts. Her eyes drifted to the side as she absentmindedly thought back to her eventual conversation with her.
Aoi would notice, but having just been freed from the pair’s obvious pining over one another, would choose to go back to her millennial task at hand, but not before telling the hashira in front of her where Shinobu was.
Noticing Aoi’s raised eyebrow and unamused expression, she took it as an obvious sign telling Mitsuri to just go see her.
With long inhales and exhales, Mitsuri made her way to the other side of the mansion, trying to calm her racing heart. Her hand rested on her chest and her eyes shut as she continued her breathing exercise. In her concentration, she failed to notice the shorter figure walking in her direction.
“Ah, Mitsuri, what a lovely—” Shinobu began, stopping in her tracks when she saw the taller girl in front of her, but the other did not. Engrossed in her breathing, Mitsuri bumped into her. Due to their height gap, her chin and by extension, her lips pressed against Shinobu’s forehead.
Realizing her mistake, Mitsuri quickly stepped back, her eyes widened as she took a few steps back from her. She opened her mouth to apologize, but Shinobu was quick to tease.
“My, if I had known we were to greet each other with a kiss, I would have certainly done it first.” She coquetted, rubbing her fingers against the spot on her forehead that Mitsuri unintentionally kissed, or more so, brushed her lips against. But Shinobu had wanted to call it as she wished it had been, a kiss.
The now bright red Mitsuri, floundered with her words as she chose to ignore the others’. “Sorry, Shinobu! I didn’t see you!”
“It’s quite all right, dear. Just try not to walk with your eyes closed next time.” Shinobu, quick to accept the apology, stifled a chuckle at how she had to make such an obvious remark.
She couldn’t but notice Mitsuri fidgeting with her fingers, her redder-than-usual face, and how her eyes evaded Shinobu’s gaze. Just when she thought Mitsuri couldn’t be any more adorable. “What prompted this visit, hm?”
“Ah! I just, um…” Mitsuri hesitated. A part of her just wanted to tell her that she missed her, which wouldn’t be a lie, but it wouldn’t be the whole truth either.
Shinobu’s gaze wandered to Mitsuri’s body, examining and assessing her physical form for any injuries or wounds that brought her here, knowing she likely came here after a mission. It was unlikely that the other girl was harmed as she stood in front of her, looking and acting perfectly fine and healthy. There were a few noticeable scrapes and cuts, but none of them required her immediate attention.
“It’s about our mission together…” Mitsuri finally admitted, her eyes returning to the empty amethysts she always adored.
Now it was Shinobu’s turn to find her words. She wasn’t an idiot nor oblivious to romance, she was simply inexperienced. Her time apart from Mitsuri after their joint mission allowed her to process everything she was feeling. What was before an uncomfortable and forced feeling of infatuation for a friend, was now a sickeningly sweet heartache of longing for a potential lover.
All that remained was to wonder if Mitsuri reciprocated the feeling. Judging from the way the girl was already flustered from just being in Shinobu’s presence… she had a good hunch that the feeling might be mutual.
“Hm, the mission where I was unjustly courting you?” Shinobu recalled, a playful smirk on her face. She couldn’t help but tease, it was practically her love language after all.
Mitsuri quickly opened her mouth to rebuke— or tell Shinobu that none of her actions made her remotely close to being uncomfortable. But when calloused yet soft and gentle hands rested on her shoulders, her words were caught in her throat.
“Mitsuri,” her voice was soft and teasing, but more gentle than playful, like she was testing the waters.
Oh, was Shinobu always that close?
“I couldn’t help but notice that you weren’t averse to my advances.” She whispered, her lips brushing against Mitsuri’s ear, making her shiver.
Mitsuri nearly squeaked, her eyes squeezed shut. If she was feeling warm before, she was burning now. She waited for Shinobu to do something that would prompt her to set the entire estate ablaze.
Shinobu wasn’t wrong, even now she wasn’t. Mitsuri found herself freezing in her hold, though she wouldn’t have pushed her away even if she could.
On her tiptoes, Shinobu’s breath fanned against Mitsuri’s lips. She noted the girl’s expectant expression, how eager she was. As tempting as it was for Shinobu, a course of déjà vu filled her in the moment. Feeling rather merciful, she kissed the tip of Mitsuri’s nose before reluctantly pulling away.
She waited for Mitsuri to open her eyes, which took a few seconds longer than she thought it would. The sight of Mitsuri’s tense and visibly flushed skin filled Shinobu with a strange sense of pride that she had felt once before.
“Please allow me to court you in a better light,” she ended with a slight tilt of her head as she closed her eyes for a moment.
Without allowing Mitsuri a moment to gather her thoughts, Shinobu breezed past her, seamlessly returning to her previous task like nothing had happened.
Left standing in the aftermath, Mitsuri burned crimson red whilst beads of sweat formed on her hot skin that she desperately tried to fan.
Several steps away, Shinobu could feel the familiar heat rising to her cheeks, a telltale sign of her flustered state as she had so desperately tried to keep calm and poised.
—⚡︎