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

Chapitre 15

  "What a nice hair pin you have, Nezuko." exclaimed Mitsuri, the cheerful seamstress "I am certain it will fit perfectly your costume. Look at this !"

    She went towards her finished works and took out a pink tutu, gold threads forming beautiful shapes on the tulle fabric.

  "There are still some adjustments to make, and it is not exactly finished, nor good, but–"

  - Stop discrediting yourself, Lady Kanroji." interrupted a faint and masculine voice

    She bent down her head having received this compliment — Was it one ? Or simply a fact ? — hastily adding :
"But, I believe you will like it."

    Nezuko eagerly nodded, making the rebellious bangs bounce. She was handed the dress, and hugged it close to her heart. Kanao stepped out in her own, a pale violet, with pink undertones and fabric underneath. She looked so lovely in it that it made Nezuko rush behind the thick curtain.

    When she got out, she felt beautiful. She had not felt such bliss since... since...

  "Would you look at that ! You are gorgeous, dear."

    She plunged into a shy curtsey.

    Looking up, she descried the black haired girl near her harp. She was sitting in front of the instrument, surely checking if the costume would not disturb her if she had to play. She pinched her strings, the sounds resonating. In the room, in the walls, in her body.

    Without attending to, she moved her foot forward. And her figure followed, in a slow turn on herself, the other foot resting higher on the stick that was her leg. Another move, a pirouette, arms high up, enough to arc her back. She bent down, pushing as much as she could her limits, for the leg replace her back. With a fast kick, she rotated in the other direction, the limb lowering lagrimoso before her gaze, continuing with ballonés. Un rond-de-jambe and a plié completed the interruption she made in the room, in front of everyone.

    Mouth agape, the two toned haired woman was watching her in awe, eyes sparkling, hands joined in front of her chin, not exactly hiding her growing smile.

  "That was amazing– No, wonderful is the word. I can understand now why she has taken you. You have so much talent. Plus, now I see where the problems are..." She pinched the edges of the top-part. "You should eat more. If you starve yourself, dearest, it will not do."

    She stepped back, and scribbled down on a notebook.

  "It is so sad that you are a few. I would have loved to make more costumes."

  - Shinobu, Inosuke and Tanjiro went to work. They are going to ask and glue papers, in hope of finding more people."

  - Tanjiro, huh ?" teased the firm believer of the concept of love "You do not talk much, Kanao; nonetheless, you have a lot to say about him."

  - N–no, I do not think so." she replied, starting to show defensive mannerisms, curling into herself

  - No, do not panic. I am sorry. I was not trying to be mean. I–" she sighed "was just joking around. Forget about it."

    She packed away papers and notes, disappearing in the back of the workshop.

  Why the air has gotten so tense ?

    Sitting on a chair, too high for the tip of her toes touch the ground, her legs swayed under the table. Brows furrowed, and tongue sticking out, Nezuko drew and doodled on her notebook, under the sunlight. Sometimes, she wrote to the man joining her on this peaceful afternoon. Lost in his own silent reflexion.

   She snuck a glance at him.

    Blond bangs were partially hiding his shiny, amber eyes, directed at the window. The corner of his mouth were slightly turned downwards, lips parted, showing his overbite. His clenched teeth were making his jaw appearing sharper. Her gaze lowered, and lowered, on his neck and the Adam's apple sticking out, on the muscles of his neck supported by his collarbone and broad shoulders. It fell on the opened shirt, catching sight of the skin of his chest. She took a deep breath, feeling heat spreading in her body, and paid attention to his eyes, oscillating to his lips from time to time. He seemed... melancholic ?

    She would not know how to describe it properly, preoccupied by her emotions and observations. The flashing images in her mind made her skin tingle and, his scent, was slowly driving her crazy. Her grip tightened when he sighed and passed a hand through his hair. She was clearly ogling him — there was no other way to say it —, and, yet, she had no shame.

  "Miss Nezuko ?"

    Finally, he noticed her.

    But, she got closer. Closer, and closer.

    Their noses touching, wanting for their lips to brush, almost getting too close to the sun, because it was what he reminded her of.

    His pupils widened.

    He was still more delicate. Like a flower. Maybe a sunflower. Or a dandelion.

  "Aw... You must dearly miss your brother, Miss Nezuko."

    His palm patted her head. Pollyanna clearly drawn on his face.

  Huh. , she scoffed, Yeah, right...

    His orbs softened, carrying a heavy meaning behind their hazel.

  "I wonder what is it to have a family. How does it feel to have one."

    His hand went down, fingers tangling in her untied, long brown locks. She watched him, asking herself what he was thinking about.

  "Maybe... Do you think I would have been a good brother ?"

    She was surprised to say the least. A smile stretching her cheeks, she imagined him, as a brother. Caring, certainly overbearing, and definitely crying every time someone would get hurt or if they did something to be proud of. She giggled, and nodded at him. Zenitsu chuckled — a bit dryly.

 "You are lucky to have Tanjiro. I... I do not know what happened to both of you, it seems you had it rough, but you will be fine. As long as you are together, I am sure you will be able to face the many trials that life has for you..."

   He left a space between them.

 "As long as you two have each other, you have a team, a home to return to. People here will also help you."

    He closed his mouth. And gulped, shifting on his seat, risking a peek. He had more to say. She knew it. He knew she knew that he knew she knew he had more to say.

    He cleared his throat, tweaking his digits.

  "I envy you, to be honest."

    This avowal was so sudden and full of pain, that for a second, she felt her heart sank with his.

    She felt the need to let him know that he also had them. He jerked his arm, pulling hard on his sleeve, alarmed. She furrowed her brows, and saw him leaving quickly.

    However, as he walked behind her, it had been enough time for her to make out, from the opening, a purplish-green spot on his skin.