ʟᴇꜰᴛ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ//ᴋɴʏ (ᴀᴜ)

T w e n t y - s i x

Kota's POV

"It's simple." Yasu starts, crossing her arms. "We spent a day together but that was enough for me to know you. I didn't want to suspect you right away. Also, you kind of saved me from dying."

I sigh. "Thanks for defending me... I guess."

She stays silent for a moment. I turn and head towards the door, my arm reaching for the handles.

 "You... wouldn't betray us, would you?" Yasu stops me in my tracks. I slowly bring my arm down. I smirk slightly. 

"Of course not." I answer, opening the door. "I'm going to go see Rengoku-san now."

When I'm out the door, I can hear Yasu say "I like your new hairpin-!" 

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"Rengoku-san." I call him as I sit beside him. He raised his hand and placed it on mine.

"Kota! I'm so glad you're safe." He smiles. "I'm getting better now."

"I'm glad to hear that, Rengoku-san. Maybe I should let you rest?" I offer, because he is yawning. 

"I guess so. Thank you for visiting me, Kota! Have a good night." he ruffles my hair and slowly closes his eyes. 

I get up quietly and blow out the candles in his room. When darkness fills the room, I finally feel safe. I walk out of the room, closing the door behind me. 

When I step out into the open, the dim light of the moon greets me. Suddenly a high-pitched noise attack my hear, and my head starts to hurt. I groan as I put my cold hands on my forehead.

'Kota.'

I suddenly hear Muzan-sama's voice lingering around me. I quickly stand up and look around. "S-sir?"

'No need to look around, Kota. I can speak with you through your brain now. Thanks to the hairpin Douma made for you.'

"Oh! That's why my head hurt... so sir, if you don't mind me asking, how does this work?" I ask quietly, tapping my hairpin.

'It has some of my blood in it, which makes anyone who wears it able to communicate with me. I can't hear what you are thinking, though. I'll be able to keep up with you now. Now, no more questions.'

"Thank you for the answer, sir." I say, not asking more questions. I silently head back to the water mansion. 

I enter the mansion and sigh in relief. It's good to be back. 

"Kota?" Tomioka-san's voice is heard in the kitchen. I hurry over there.

"Yes?" I answer, entering the kitchen. I find him holding a tray of onigiri. My favorite.

"..here" He finally manages to say, holding the tray out for me. I gladly take it. 

"Tomioka-san!! Thank you!!" I laugh, looking at how cute he made them.

"You have another mission next week. This time you'll go with Uzui and the trio. Get some rest now." He says, shooing me away to my bedroom.

I groan as I'm being pushed away. "Another mission? I'm going to dieee..."

"You won't die. Good night." He says, pushing me inside my room and shutting the door. I frown and plop down on my futon. I lay on my side and before I remember to change, my eyes slowly close and I drift into deep sleep.

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I rubbed my eyes as I sat up from my futon, reaching for the window for some fresh air. I wobble my arm around carelessly, pulling on the window when I managed to find the handle. The breeze rushes into the room, refreshing the air inside.

I spot something in the corner of my room, and scream my soul out. 

"GAHHH!! TOMIOK-SAN, TOMIOK-SAN!!! SAVE ME!!!!!" I cry, scurrying back. I hear footsteps and Tomioka-san enters the room.

"I hope you're not having a heart attack," he says, turning his hand towards the horrifying creature I'm pointing at.

He sighs. "A spider. Really?"

I whimper, standing up. "Yea! It was about to eat me alive!!"

He calmly places the spider out my window. How does he hold that thing?

"You're going to let it live?" I panic, grabbing my clothes and rushing out of the room. "I'M MOVING OUT OF THERE!!"

"You're fine," he says, following behind me. "Get changed and I'll take you to Kocho. I don't want to deal with you today."

Wow. I place my hands on my heart and whine. "Tomioka-san! I'm hurt!"

My words fall into deaf ears. He pushes me into the bathroom and tells me, no, orders me to change. 

I quickly change, and put on my hairpin. Walking out I grab my haori. "Tomioka-san, will you take me there?"

He nods, putting on his sandals. I grin and start putting on my sandals, too. 

We arrive at the butterfly mansion shortly. To be honest, Kocho-san is not my favorite. Something about her makes me feel awful.

"Tomioka-san, do I really have to go?" I beg for the last time, hoping he'll change his mind. He shakes his head and shoves me in. 

"Bye." He says, walking away. He's so frustrating to talk to sometimes.

I turn around and enter their front yard. I spot a girl holding some butterflies. I've never seen her before. 

I walk over to her and wave. "Hello. I'm going to stay here for a day. Do you know where Kocho-san is?"

The girl looks at me blankly, and pulls out something under her cloak. A coin.

She flips in perfectly and looks down on it. Then, she looks up at me.

"She is in her office." 

I tilt my head. "Why did you flip the coin?" I ask, and she brings out her coin again, makes another perfect flip. This time, she is silent.

"Okay... what's your name?" I ask another question. The same process is repeated and this time she opens her mouth.

"Kanao."

I smile slightly. "Nice to meet you, Kanao. I'll get going now." I walk away and step into the house. 

I knock on Kocho-san's office, wait a few seconds before opening the door. "Kocho-san?"

"Konnichiwa! Kota, you arrived!" She smiles with her dull eyes. My stomach immediately flips upside-down.

I keep calm, breathing in deeply. She walks up to me, but stops. "Kota, where did you get that hairpin? It gives me an uneasy stomach."

"Just some friend of mine from childhood," I lie, smiling. 

She giggles. Is that a good sign?

In a blink, she has her blade resting on my neck. My sweat drops onto my uniform.

"Kota~! You were the person that was in the fight with the lowermoon, nee?"