░『Zephyr』░(KNY OC STORY/ KNY OC X KNY-OLD/DISCONTINUED)

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟸𝟶: 𝙻𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛

"97.. 98.. 99..."

"Oyakata-sama* granted me a Tsuguko!!" Mitsuri exclaims, running through the thick snow. She stops in front of Fukurō, face glowing. Even through the tall trees surrounding her, it was pretty easy to spot Fukurō's dark bronze hair in the shimmering white snow. Fukurō jolts, and takes a few steps back so she doesn't unintentionally scratch Mitsuri with her blade. "H-Hm?"

"I can't believe it! My own tsuguko! Me, Kanroji Mitsuri, having my own apprentice to train?!" She jumps in joy, almost slipping on her way back to the ground from the frost underneath. "I think he's a year older than me, but he just started training! Oyakata-sama*  is assigning him to be trained by me by tomorrow! Ah— But what should I teach him? I guess whatever I train you, right? Do you think he'll like me? What if he hates me?" 

"... Does that mean you'll stop training me, Kanroji-san?"

"Huh?" Mitsuri stops her rambling, and looks at Fukurō, "I-I mean, I guess so. I don't think it'd be easy to train two people at the same time." How could Mitsuri forget? She was so caught up with how happy she would be with the assignment, she didn't even realize her training with Fukurō would be concluded. As far as she knows, she was told to train with the girl by Sanemi because Fukurō wasn't really close to anyone else. All she had was her trainer, Sanemi, and the butterfly girls at the Butterfly Mansion. But they couldn't even train because none of them considered the path of Demon Slaying. Shinobu could, but she was the Head of the mansion. She couldn't just abandon it to train with a girl who lives miles away.Was Mitsuri really going to leave Fukurō just then and there?

".. Oh." Fukurō blinks as she hears her response. She couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. She hated it. She hated how she was being selfish, and how all she could think about was; Why now? She tries not to have her sadness cloud her senses. "Well, I can't really say anything. I can't exactly stop you." She shrugs her shoulders, "I wish you luck. Hopefully they enjoy training with you as much as I do." Her tone sounded irritated, but she didn't want to show it. Maybe she could just play it off as a bad night.

Mitsuri feels hurt by Fukurō's supposed uninterested manner, and decides to question it. ".. Are you okay, Fukurō-chan?" Maybe she was worrying for nothing. Maybe Fukurō wouldn't be angered with Mitsuri's decision. "I'm fine. I just didn't get enough sleep, that's all." She replies, "Do you think we can train together again?"

That question struck Mitsuri to the core. Would they? Would they have another chance after Final Selection? Mitsuri began to tear up, trying her best not to wail. Her arms pull Fukurō in a tight hug, the warmth replacing the numbing cold from the winter. "Of course, Fukurō-chan! Of course we will! We'll train and have fun together like we're sisters! We'll go to festivals together, and buy all types of unique foods to try!" She says, her sclera reddened. Her tears dropped onto the snow, but only reflected the mirrored sunlight from the sky. Her head spun with all the possible outcomes that could claim her own statement false, which made her sob even harder. "We will! Ju-st.. Don't die, alright? Don't le-t.. Don't let some ruthless demon decide your fate, okay? Jus-t don't-..." 

Patting Mitsuri's back comfortingly, Fukurō's causes Mitsuri's crumbling tower of worries to fall. "I won't." She responds, comforting Mitsuri as if the 18-year old was a small child. "But even if I do, I'll watch you, your Tsuguko, Iguro-sama, Shinazugawa-sama, and everyone else wherever I'll end up. Whether it's heaven or..."

'..Hell.' She finishes in her mind, not wanting to upset Mitsuri any further. The cold air that would raid and escape her lungs stung her chest, and Mitsuri's tight embrace didn't exactly help, despite the warmth and comfort transferring between them. "But I won't let that happen anyways." She slithers out of her grasp, and gives Mitsuri a soft look.".. Now, what will you be training me today?"