When Snow Falls | Tanjiro x Kanao | {Completed}

Chapter 1 - Misery to Anger

Trudging along the winding narrow road, Kanao scraped the ground with her boot. Rain patterned against the sidewalk, forming puddles where the concrete dipped or cracked in places. The blue glow of the street lamps and soft pink sunset light peeking through the stormy clouds reflected off the water at her feet.

The rain had been coming down hard all week. This only proved to annoy Kanao further as she heard the rain pounding against her and felt the water drench her cloak. 

It was like the weather was trying to make a point - look how miserable your past is, remember how miserable that day was. Let us cry you a storm like you did yourself after he rejected you.

Two years ago today. Had it really only been two years? It felt like yesterday that she had been standing knee deep in the soft white snow while the man of her dreams crushed her heart. His eyes giving her a deep, regretful look. His warm hands gripping her cold and pale ones as he shut off his heart to her while she'd been pouring out her own.

Tears pricked her eyes, threatening to spill over, but Kanao shook her head and glared at a pidgeon sheltering from the rain as though it were her ex-boyfriend. Why was she feeling this way again? Any regrets and heartbreak she had felt had been stamped out of her heart months ago. What was the point of mourning someone who didn't feel the same way? It was a waste of time, and she was sick of fauning over a past she couldn't change.

Even if it was one of the worst memories of her life.

Honestly girl, pull yourself together, Kanao thought angrily, moping won't bring him back. And you don't want him anyway.

She ought to be over him, only cursing his name once in a while. Not all the time as she was now, and constantly spending time reading in the library and throwing shards of ice at the photo frames on her wall to be rid of her sadness. It was downright pathetic. Other girls didn't do this.

Kanae and Shinobu had told her that the guy just wasn't worth the tears Kanao was giving him. But she had a feeling they had been lying just to get her to woman up.

"A beautiful and capable girl like yourself shouldn't moping over a complete jerk," Kanae had said, "just go and get yourself a new man. One who won't dump you on your one year anniversary just because he wants to 'live his life'. I mean, come on Kanao, he's nothing special....awww darling, you know you would have been miserable out on the battlefield, or even if he left you here. He would be gone for months, maybe years on end. And what if he died? Then all that effort would be for nothing."

"Totally. Plus, you'd be truamtised by that life, Dear. Just come with me this weekend - I know a bunch of guys who would be all over you, girlfriend. Someone who'd value you and love you properly," Shinobu said.

Despite the encouragement from her sisters, Kanao hadn't been on even one date since the fateful day. Which goes to show how pathetic she was, not bothering to move on after she vowed never to think about him again.

Urgh, why? Why did he have to ruin everything like that?

She had thought they'd been perfect for each other. Everytime he looked at her, her heart fluttered. Everytime he smiled she read their future in that smile. The smile that made that slight dimple appear on his left cheek and made his eyes crinkle up and-

Good heavens. She really needed to stop. Frustration flashed through her as she stomped down the streets of the city. The rain was slowing to a stop but her misery wasn't.

Was this what it was like to feel powerless?

Kanao clenched the folds of her cloak and tucked her catalyst book closer to her. It was at times like these she felt like a tiny mouse in an ocean of giants. There were other fish in the sea - far better fish too, who were prettier and nicer.

Her thoughts cycled through all the men she knew. Her co-catalysts - all of which were a little too nerdy for her taste. There was this one guy who always seemed to know when and where all her meetings were. Shivering, Kanao reflected that she'd never been interesting in dating another catalyst anyway.

Maybe some of her academy friends? She only kept in touch with a few, but the only one she'd felt any attraction for was dating her sister, Aoi. Kanao pursed her lips. He was a little too energetic and loud for her taste anyway.

The more she thought about it, the more she realised how perfect he had been for her. He'd always treated her like a lady, and she'd never even see him raise his voice except at a certain two friends who were sometimes a little too much.

Kanao smiled as she remembered the time he'd literally smacked their heads together to get them to stop. And she'd been even more surprised when it had actually worked.

Suddenly, Kanao frowned. There she was again, reminiscing about him and their relationship. Why was it so hard to stop doing that? He didn't want her and she didn't want him. He had moved on and that's how it was. End of story.

Thinking back to the day he'd broken up with her always made her queesy and teary. But not anymore - she decided to summon the anger that she'd felt at his words.

"I want to move on," he'd said, turning those large, sad eyes on her, "I don't want you tied down by me or the life I've chosen. Being with me won't make you happy anymore."

What did he mean? For the love, she'd have followed him to the fields of World War if she could be with him.

But no.

He didn't want to be tied down by her. He didn't want her trailing behind him while he went and saved the world. He'd rather die alone than have her with him.

Well, then that's how it would be. Letting the anger sit in, Kanao heard the rain cease the and thunder start to roar. As she ran to reach her cottage sooner, the thought how fitting this weather change was.