Wild Flower (Bleach × Demon Slayer)

11 - Coincidental of Familiarity

(Chapter unedited.)

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Coincidental of Familiarity

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Kagaya had asked Hara to escort him back to his room when he came out from the room where Kanao was resting, which she had accepted without question. She was a bit curious what their conversation was but she decided not to. It would be nosy of her and it wasn't really her business to know. She wasn't a gossipmonger or any sorts of that. And even if she knew, she wouldn't tell anyone anyway. It wasn't in her place to do so especially here in Red Light where rumors (both good and bad) about Oyakata-sama is forbidden as an unspoken rule among the Oiran, and maybe the whole Flower District as a whole. But despite that, it still doesn't stop them wondering and talking what kind of person this Oyakata-sama was.

Her experience felt surreal, escorting the Oyakata-sama that others had talked about as if he was only a figure, not a person. Assisting him to his office (which might be his room too, she realized) because of his failing eyesight, she couldn't believe what was happening and wondered if she was currently grounded in reality. What people had talked about this person beside her was all so wrong. Definitely wrong. The Founder of Flower District was not a perfect figure that everyone thought. Ubuyashiki Kagaya had a life before he became a person called the Founder of Flower District and somehow in the previous life or another, she was his wife formerly known as Ubuyashiki Amane. A life she had no memories of.

It gave her a time to think since he had entered the room and lounged herself in the nearby chair. The humming silence around her gave her a chance to contemplate the words Kagaya had supplied to her earlier. About her previous life, about her choice of identity and how he had respected for it, and the fact that her lost memories he had implied to her wasn't supposed to be lost at all. It gave her a respite to muse about it.

"This is far enough, Hara." The voice of Ubuyashiki Kagaya snapped her out of her daze as she noticed they had arrived at the familiar door. "And I hope this isn't much to ask of you but can you look after Tsuyuri Kanao?"

"I will." Who in the right mind would actually refuse him? Besides, that was her intention in the first place.

He directed a smile to the space beside her. "That's good. Please take good care of her. If she forced herself to stand up, stop her. Kanao can be stubborn and a bit ignorant of the workings of her own body. She needs all the rest for her own sake."

She nodded. "Leave it to me."

Kagaya entered the office after he gave her a grateful smile and closed the door behind him. Hara wasted no time and retraced her steps where they had come from and arrived at the door where Kanao was resting. She turned the doorknob and opened the door, and was met with a sight of darkness inside that almost startled her. She groped at the nearby wall for a light switch.

"Hara...-san?" a familiar voice in the darkness made her jump in surprise.

"K...Kanao-chan...?" she asked slowly while glancing left and right. A sharp 'click!' echoed and the room was suddenly basked in blinding light. Hara gaped at the girl in front of her who had flipped the switch, already on her feet. "Kanao-chan! Why are you standing up?! Go back to bed!" she dragged the younger girl back to the bed in the corner. The lilac-eyed girl didn't pull a resistance against her and she let herself get tugged before sitting down. "Next time I see you standing up, there would be no food for you." She scolded.

"You didn't see the switch so I had to lend you a hand." said Kanao. "I have no intention of leaving in this room if that's what you're thinking."

Hara looked at Kanao who laid down at the bed and lifting the blanket to her body, and turned her head at the wall where the light switch was welded. See? I didn't see it because it was dark, she thought as she returned her attention to the girl who had her eyes closed. Despite the darkness around us, she still saw it? She supposed that Kanao had her eyes opened in this room of darkness while she and Kagaya had their conversation.