𝒟𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝓇𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓂𝑒? [[Inosuke Hashibira x (fem) reader]] (complete)

𝟛𝟘

Phase three of the plan. I can handle this

You told yourself, knowing full well you couldn't handle it

Not long after your little discussion with Kai, Soichi returned home and got straight to work at dressing you up like a 'normal' citizen

Soichi allowed you to bathe that night and was the only good thing he'd done for you; afterward, he forced you to replace your uniform with a classic floral kimono and even painted your face a little

"You finally look worthy of a man's hand in marriage. I'm proud of my work!" Soichi said when he was done. You squirmed in discomfort and rage

"Why do you insist on this? I can do other things. I can work for you" You grumble

"Nonsense. This is the quickest way for me to benefit," Soichi shrugged "And besides, I've already gone to all of this trouble. If I don't get rid of you quick, people will talk."

"Bullshit.." You groan to yourself, wiping at the itchy paint on your face

"Hm? Don't wipe your face (Y/n)." Soichi laughed "You'll be ugly again."

Ugly..? You frown as he walks off

Just as Kaisei said, you and Soichi left home at nightfall. Unfortunately, because you were to travel on horseback, Kaisei wasn't coming along.

This left a huge hole in your plans

While you sit on the back of the steed behind Soichi with your wrists bound in your lap, you recall your final moments with Kaisei

It was a heartfelt goodbye, but she said something odd

"Good luck, (Y/n)-chan...you were my very first friend. All of my siblings hate me because I'm afraid of pa. He is an alcoholic, so that's why we don't have any money"

"There's...one more thing. He can't see in one eye" Kai covered her eye with one hand "like this!"

You stared at the back of Soichi's head in silence, thinking again and again about what it meant

Soichi...is he blind in one eye? A literal blind spot?

"I just thought that you should know," Soichi spoke up, catching you off guard "That your sword is not here. I've tossed it, since you'll have no use for it now."

What a damn pest. He may as well be a demon; he's just like them

"I know." You frown, weighing your options

If you jump off of the horse, you won't be able to outrun him, not even if you try.

If you attack him, he'll just kill you. Out here in the woods, no one will think twice about a dead girl with no family.

My only option...is to break out of this bond and knock him out. That way, neither of us will die.

You swung your arms out to his right side, testing to see if he could see that way

Sure enough, he didn't notice. Didn't even flinch

Kai was right. This is going to work, I just need to be careful

You swallowed hard, leaning into his blind side to gnaw on the rope. It's not ideal; disgusting, actually. But, it's effective.

"You know what? I don't like you at all," Soichi mused "But, I'm truly happy for you. I'm so glad you've finally taken interest in something that benefits both of us. So sweet of you to give in."