Butterflies' Dance - [A Kimetsu No Yaiba Full Story]

Chapitre 14

  Why is it beating so fast ? Why is it restless ?

   They explained it to her. Once, or twice. Still, she felt estranged in her own body.

   She did not realize she arrived so fast. Turning the corner, she started running. She had to talk to Aoi. If only it was not for the two voices she heard in the kitchen.

   She abruptly stopped, sliding on the floor. Peaking, she saw the girl she wanted to talk to, lifting a full bag of groceries on the counter. The boy behind her, actually covering the spy's vision, was pestering her. His hands hovering around her frame, not daring to touch her, twitching, getting closer, before being pulled away as she moved.

   She smiled.

   He was trying to get her attention.

   Unfortunately, the twin tailed girl was as sharp and direct as usual. Did she not take the hint after so many attempts and quarrels ?

   Kanao stopped her train of thoughts, thinking she was no better than her friend on the topic of love.
   A memory of a tall woman, with long black jet hair, telling her about this. Her heart tightened.

 "Inosuke !" An alarmed shriek was heard.

    A bag of purchases was on the ground, said purchases rolling away from their protector. She sighed, putting her fist on her hips, watching the disaster. They exchanged a look, and — as if on cue — he crouched and caught the fugitives. She followed soon after — although not as hastily. He collected the scattered products, and put them back in the bag. His hand touched hers, as they reached for the bottle of milk which — "Thank heavens," according to the cook, "had not broke.". He retracted his hand, and the blue, long stare surely paralysed him, if it was not the texture and heat of her skin against his. Her eyelids opened wider when she saw the pigtailed girl addressing him a smile.

    Aoi. The so-serious, always thinking and scowling girl, addressing him a smile. Him, the boisterous troublemaker. The world would be ending soon, would it not ?

   She cleared her throat, getting up. He copied her. In Kanao's mind, when the two of them were present together, one was always mirroring the moves of the other. Whether it was crossing arms defensively, or watching the other a bit longer than what was normal between friends. Even less between people who did not have the same opinions and kept fighting to prove the other they were right.

 "Inosuke." she called his name with a rare softness

   Her fingers pushed gently his chin for their eyes to connect. She brushed a strand of his hair, and continued :
 "I wanted to thank thee for accompanying me to run errands. Thank you."

   She proceeded to fetch for something in the second bag.

 "This, is for thee. I saw how much thou wantest them."

   His expression illuminated his face with glee. He lunched forward, kissing her cheek, not being able to contain his excitement, and grabbed roughly the delicate box, running away with his reward.

 "Oh, hey, Banao."

And, with that, he left.

   Crossed arms, tapping foot and glaring waited for her.

 "How long hast thou been standing there ? Spying ?"

   Her thin smile could not leave her lips. It had been so adorable, and her interlocutor's eyebrows had trouble staying furrowed. Herself was radiating with delight.

   She shook her head and propped her figure on the counter. Swaying her legs, she gave her a knowing look.

   "This is not what thou thinkest." The other one assured, red cheeks betraying her words. "He is like a child, I do not see him that way." She snorted dismissively.

   - Sure, Aoi." Kanao let out, pensively. She toyed with her reminder. Biting on her lower lip, she threw it, and asked : "What was it anyway ?"

 - Pastries." She uttered, before arguing. "See ? His one, and true love, is food. Undoubtedly, food..."

   The coin stayed on the ground.

   For the second time in such a short time, they had all been asked to come on stage. With the exception of some of them, the group watched Miss Kocho talking to a round man, wearing a powdered wig, dressed in a blue jacket, sewn by golden threads. It was apparently the orchestra they all waited for, and it had been worth it. Nezuko had felt tears pricking in the corner of her eyes, hearing the gracious music. She had been transported by it and would have had let her body move on its own.

   In order to restrain a laugh, she kept her hand in front of her mouth as she saw the pony tailed girl, perfectly still with her sister's hand on her shoulder, while the blond boy was trying to escape the firm grasp on him, forcing him to bend at her level. And let us just say she was smaller than him, smaller enough for him to feel uncomfortable after a few minutes.

    She must have been presenting them as the musician of her small class and from where she was, she could hear the grunts of the oldest. He gave them a pleading stare, to which they responded by an unsure smile, for Tanjiro, and thumbs up from her.

    The woman finally let him go, and he rolled his head and straightened his back. She hit him with a smile, before asking if the condescending man could make a musical arrangement for them. He raised an eyebrow, and shrugged. That should have meant "Surely.", since the smile was genuine this time.

   She was about to walk away, having nothing more to do here for now.

 "Nezuko ! I mean– Miss Nezuko."

   She turned to her left; her brother was gone, then to her right, watching him approaching with long strides.

 "I–" He stopped. His features fell lightly, and he asked, he had to ask. "Am I disturbing you ? Or being–" She stopped. Her ears went shut, as she saw a man, from the concert, observing her intently, winking at her from afar. She felt her cheeks tingle, after he laughed with his comrades.

 "Miss Nezuko ?" A hand, a soft, yet calloused hand rested on her bare skin. She blinked at the owner of this palm spreading warmth in her stomach and heart. He jumped, his hand with him. "I–I am sorry. I should not have touched you. How improper. I–I..."

   Then, again, her sakura searched for the young man, but could not find him with each and every one of them looking so alike. She faced the stuttering one, who had another hair pin. This time it was arched, with pearls and cherry blossoms engraved in gold. His trembling digits, tried to show her — sensing he had caught her attention — that it was in fact two hair ornaments, exact replica of the other, and that she could wear it as she liked.

   She took the gift from him, a low sound emerging from her throat.

 "You have a beautiful sound." She shot him a gape, feeling her ears burning of shame. "I–I mean– It was weird, was it not ? I–I am sorry, I just– Forgive me ?" He begged.

   She had to oblige. And despite what she wanted to think, she was happy to.