𝘋𝘈𝘙𝘓𝘐𝘕𝘎.

iv. kanao kocho

'Kanao kocho'
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"Kanao, you look adorable!" Kanae squeaked, watching Kanao's keen eyes scan the over sized hem of her sleeve. Kanae blinked, fluttery eyelashes showing no emotion, similar to her dead eyes. Kanae just kept her smile, while Shinobu didn't seem impressed.

"When will you talk?" Shinobu snipped, and Kanae shot her a look, as if to say 'be quiet'
Shinobu didn't seem fazed.

"We're going out today, would you like to join us?" Kanae asked

Kanao's mouth twitched. These people were strange, even though they had saved her. Kanao had spent her life bleeding on the cold earth floor. She always used to feel sad, but one day it stopped. It was like her emotions were flicked off by a light switch.

"So?" Shinobu asked, a frown dented in her face as she folded her arms.
When Kanao once again stayed silent, she lost it.

"Why won't she talk?" Shinobu questioned, heavenly eyes shimmering in the light.

Kanae turned around, ever the gentlewoman, "She's been through hardships, Shinobu. Starved. Beaten. Maybe worse, I haven't been able to tell. She's in a bit of shock. It's not like it'll wear off after a few days, it's going to take a while. I've read it in one of my books," Kanae stated matter-of-factly.

Shinobu looked mad, but she didn't say anything, her pink lips pursed in an angry frown. Kanae turned her attention back to Kanao, and smiled softly.

"Why don't you come with us?" She asked, "A nod would be good enough!" she added, playfully nudging the small girl. Kanao felt nothing, but nodded along to please the woman.

"Alright, let's go then!"

--- <3 ---

"Tanjiro! Tanjiro, where are you?!" A girl yelled, her pale green eyes scanning through the crowd. As she continued to squawk his name, little Tanjiro, barely 7, was waltzing towards a fish pond, a smile taking up his face. He reached his hand into the pond, feeling the cool water pool between his fingertips. He giggled as the fish's ticklish kisses reached his hand.

A bright orange one caught his attention, and his bright, red eyes followed it around the pool, until it hit a shadowed corner. Looking up, the young boy discovered a dead-eyed girl, nonchalantly staring into the pond.

Tanjiro hit the water, trying to get her attention, but she didn't look up. He blinked back disappointment, before an idea shot through his head like an arrow. He skipped over to the young girl, and she turned.

"HI! I'm Tanjiro! Who're you?" he asked, ever the extrovert.
Kanao blankly stared at him.

No curiosity, no fright, no enjoyment, no nothing.
Just those deep, purple eyes.

"That's Kanao," Shinobu said, intruding into the conversation with a sweet in her hand, "She's very shy, so please don't mind." she said with a smile, watching Kanae's silhouette come into view. Kanao's eyes were down, embarrassed blush spreading across her face.

"I like that! "Kanao" is such a pretty name!" the small boy declared, smiling at the down-turned girl. Kanae didn't move or look up, taking in every part of the floor rather than look up.

"Tanjiro!" a woman called out.
"Mitsuri!" the boy replied to the sudden voice.

The crunch of gravel got louder, until a long-haired woman appeared from the bunches of leaves and flung herself onto her knees. "Tanjiro! Please don't run away!" she squealed, eyes shimmering.

"Okay!" Tanjiro said, lips curled up into a smile. She nodded, looking up at the other women. Tanjiro turned too.

"This is Kanao!" he stated, pointing his tan finger at the youngest, who was watching him deeply, "These are he friends!" he squeaked, hands shimmying from Shinobu to Kanae. Kanae smiled, "Sisters" she corrected.

The emerald-eyed woman beamed, "I'm Mitsuri! It's a pleasure to meet you, but we must hurry home now! You're parents would be so mad if they knew I lost you, right Tanjiro?"
"Yep!"

Mitsuri smiled, picking up Tanjiro and turning away into the sunset. "Thanks for looking after him!" she called back.

Kanae watched them go, suddenly jolting when Tanjiro turned around and produced an eye-catching smile. Kanao couldn't return it, but she felt that if she could've, she would've.

In those few moments, Kanao noticed that Shinobu and Kanae were bickering. More bickering for Shinobu, and more laughing from Kanae.

"Oh, is that the girl who introduced you to Tomioka?"
"NO, it's not! Shut up!"

Kanae turned to Kanao, laughing. Shinobu stormed away, and Kanae laughed harder.
"Haha!" She said cooly, laughs dying down, "One day you'll love someone like Shinobu likes Tomioka."

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( W/C: 810 ) Ahh! I recently read a tankana fanfic, and it honestly couldn't get over it! Thanks for all the reads,, !! Once again, thanks and kudos

( Love, Avii )