In the name of love

Close but no cigar

Chapter 4
"The sooner the better." Nezuko said turning the door knob.

The couple made their way into the kitchen. Mrs. Kamado was putting away the groceries while Mr. Kamado and Tanjiro were discussing Tanjiro's last soccer victory meanwhile the younger Kamado siblings were taken to the park by their babysitter. Nezuko was overcome with fear when she saw them that she tried to make a mad dash for her room but Muichiro just held her hand tighter.

"Nezuko , I'm making spaghetti for dinner. Will you please set the- Oh hello, Muichiro . I didn't know you were here. Do you want to stay for dinner?" Mrs. Kamado asked.

"Sure, Mrs. Kamado . I'd love to." Muichiro replied with a fake smile.

As Nezuko set the table, the smell of spices filled the air and Nezuko's stomach suddenly lurched. Muichiro put a bowl of salad on the table and noticed the look on her face.

'Oh shit!' Muichiro's mind screamed.

"Nezuko , are you okay? You look pale." Mr. Kamado asked.

"I'm fine, Daddy." She answered trying to regain her composure.

He got up and checked to make sure she didn't have a fever. "No fever. Are you sure you're alright?"

"I said I'm fine." Nezuko snapped, surprising everyone including herself. "Sorry. I guess I'm just tired."

"S'okay, Nez! So, Mom, when will dinner be ready?" Tanjiro asked. Leave it to Tanjiro to think with his stomach.

During dinner, Nezuko just stared at her food trying not to dart to the bathroom while Muichiro pushed his around on his plate, looking at Nezuko out of the corner of his eye. This didn't go unnoticed by her parents and lucky for them Tanjiro was obliviously eating his dinner. When everyone finished, Mr. Kamado asked Muichiro and Nezuko to wait on the couch while they cleaned up.

"Are you sure we should tell them now?" Nezuko whispered.

"Yeah. I think its best." Muichiro replied, squeezing her hand for emphasis.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Mr. Kamado, Mrs. Kamado , and Tanjiro came and sat down on the other couch.

"Kids, we noticed you two acting strangely and we want to know if something is wrong." Mrs. Kamado started. "Did you two have a fight?"

"Um...N-no Mom. W-we didn't have a f-fight." Nezuko stuttered.

"Did you have a test that you're afraid you failed?" Mr. Kamado asked.

"Well..." Muichiro shifted his feet "There was a test..."

"And I got an A!" Nezuko interrupted, quickly standing "Come on, Muichiro . We have to go finish our homework."

"But Nezuko -" Muichiro tried. Nezuko sent him a pleading look and he just sighed. "Okay."

They left everyone else in the living room and into her bedroom. As soon as they shut the door, Nezuko collapsed into Muichiro's chest silently sobbing.

"Nezuko , what happened? I thought-"

"I couldn't do it! I just couldn't!"

"Nezuko , we have to. It's important."

Nezuko started to calm down and loosened her hold on Muichiro Sitting on the side of her bed; she patted the spot next to her signaling him to join her.

"I know, I know. But," she laid her head on his shoulder "I just want to be absolutely sure before I break their hearts."

"What do you mean? You already took 3 tests." Muichiro said pulling her closer.

"I wanna make a doctor's appointment. I want to be absolutely, 100%, doctor confirmed sure."

Muichiro looked down at her and saw her wiping the rest of her tears away. How can they make an appointment without their parents finding out? They're underage so they would have to have someone over 18 make it for them. When Nezuko started mumbling 'I'm sorry' over and over again into his neck, Muichiro pulled her completely onto his lap.

"Shh Shh Shh. It's okay we'll make the appointment."

Nezuko pulled her head up and looked at him. She placed a kiss on his cheek, then jaw, then neck.

"Thank you. And Muichiro ," He looked down at her meeting her gaze "I love you. No matter what."

He smiled and captured her lips in a short, sweet kiss. "I love you too. No matter what."

They moved so they were in a more comfortable position with Muichiro lying on the pillows and Nezuko lying next to him, head on his chest. It wasn't long before Nezuko fell asleep and Muichiro carefully got up. He quickly opened a document on her computer and typed a quick message ("Good night, Nes. I love you. I'll call you in the morning.) before giving her a quick kiss on the forehead and heading towards the front door. He said his goodbyes to her parents and Tanjiro. When he got out to his car, he took a quick deep breath, took out his cell phone, dialed a number and waited for an answer.

"Hey, Yuichiro? I need your help."