影と風 | Kage to Kaze | Shinazugawa Sanemi

6 - Wildflower

"I've been thinking about getting some decorations for my room. Do you know of any good markets nearby?" I asked the white-haired Hashira seated across from me. His eyes were closed, but his non-existing eyebrows were metaphorically twitching in annoyance.

"..."

"And what about clothes? Usually, my sisters handle the shopping, but since they're not here, I'll have to do it myself," I continued, barely acknowledging his mounting annoyance.

"..."

"Maybe I should grab some food while I'm out? I'm craving onigiri. What do you thin—"

"How about you get out of the damn onsen, you pervert?" Sanemi snapped, his eyes still closed, but his patience clearly evaporating.

"That's hurtful, Sanemi. I've been looking forward to using the onsen for a week now, but I couldn't because of all the missions—" I feigned innocence in my voice.

"I don't care!" he bellowed, the water in the onsen practically bubbling in response to his anger.

"Fine, fine, I'll leave you be. But remember, the onsen is sacred, so don't do anything suspicious in here. Bye-bye~" I chuckled arrogantly as I stepped out, wrapping a towel around myself. I knew Sanemi wouldn't peek—despite all his faults, he wasn't that kind of man.

~*~

"That old man, I swear his hair is white because he's always so angry. I only slipped into the onsen because he was practically asleep, and I really, really, really wanted to bathe. He'd been in there for like thirty minutes—seriously dangerous, you know" I pouted.

"Are you going to pay, or keep complaining about your boyfriend?" the vendor asked dryly, his mouth set in a thin line.

"Here you go." I handed over the money and took the beautifully decorated shelf from the table. It was as tall as me, but I lifted it with ease.

"Do you need a hand with that, miss?" a strange man with a sleezy smile offered.

"Get lost," I coldly replied, brushing him off as I headed to the clothing stalls nearby. The clothes were exceptional, and I nearly bought several items, but one haori in particular caught my eye. It was blue with a delicate floral pattern, and the fabric felt light and fine.

"How much for this one?" I asked the lady tending the stall. She looked at the haori, calculating in her head.

"It's—wait, are you with the Demon Slayer Corps?" she whispered, eyes widening. I nodded enthusiastically.

"Then it's yours, free of charge!" she beamed.

"No, no, it's too beautiful to take for free," I protested, cheeks flushing as I tried to pay.

"I insist," she said, practically forcing the haori into my hands. Smiling, I bowed in gratitude. "Check your left pocket," I called back as I walked away, having secretly slipped the money into her pocket.

I heard her laughter as I walked on, my heart light. I placed the haori into the shelf and folded it neatly. My stomach growled, and I spotted a ramen shop nearby. The shop owner greeted me warmly, and I quickly ordered the number five on the menu. Beside me sat a young woman with pink hair and green tips, surrounded by empty bowls.

"Your hair is so pretty," I said, eyes sparkling with admiration. The young woman turned to me with a bright smile.

"Thank you! Your hair is lovely too!" she replied.

"You're the Love Hashira, right? I recognized you from your description." I slurped my ramen eagerly, savoring every bite.

"Yes, I'm Kanroji Mitsuri. Nice to meet you," she tilted her head with a kind smile. I introduced myself and showed her the things I had bought.

"Are you Sanemi's tsuguko?" Mitsuri asked after a while, picking up a bit of wasabi with her chopsticks.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "No, no, nothing like that. I just train under him. I actually used to work for Shinobu until she kicked me out of her house."

Mitsuri's eyes widened in surprise. "Eeeeee? Kicked you out? Shinobu?! But why? She's usually so sweet!"

I shrugged with a playful grin. "Yeah, she is, but I think I was getting on her nerves."

Mitsuri giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "But if you're not a tsuguko and you're just part of the Demon Slayer Corps, how come they let you live at the Hashira estates?"

I paused, tilting my head as if deep in thought. "You know, that's a really good question. I never actually thought about it."

Mitsuri leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "Maybe they secretly like having you around? You should ask Shinobu next time you see her!"

I laughed softly, nodding. "Yeah, maybe I will. But I think I already know what she'll say."

Mitsuri raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what's that?"

"'You're like a persistent weed—hard to get rid,'" I mimicked Shinobu's tone, causing Mitsuri to burst into laughter.

"Sounds like something she'd say," Mitsuri agreed, still giggling. "But I think you're more like a wildflower—unexpected, but you bring life to wherever you go."

I smiled warmly at her words. "Thanks, Kanroji. That's much nicer than being called a weed."

"Well, it's true!" She beamed, her cheerful energy shining through. "And if anyone gives you trouble, just tell them you're with me!"

"I'll definitely keep that in mind," I said, grinning as we continued our meal. Already, I felt a close bond with the strong Hashira. She gleefully showed me her purchases and even told me where to find the best ohagi.

"Bye-bye, Kanroji! Hopefully, we'll see each other soon," I waved as I left, after spending over an hour chatting with her.

"Call me Mitsuri! Take care!" she called back, already ordering more bowls.

~*~

As I approached the Wind Estate, I slowed my breathing. The sun was just beginning to dip behind the mountains, meaning Sanemi would likely return soon from his mission. I quickly slipped into my room, placing my things down, and decided to find a cabinet to hide in.

An hour passed, and there was no sign of him.

Two hours passed. Still, I sat in the cabinet, focusing on my breathing. Finally, I heard the faintest footsteps approaching. I exhaled slowly, calming my heartbeat. Sanemi entered the kitchen, likely starved from his mission, and I tugged on the small string in my hand.

The string triggered a bucket to fall from the counter, causing a commotion just as I had predicted. As Sanemi turned toward the noise, I sprang from the cabinet, launching an attack. In slow motion, I saw him react, sidestepping me, but I had anticipated this. Twisting in mid-air, I pulled a second string, sending a vase hurtling toward his shoulder. He caught it with his right hand, just as I landed on my hands and kicked him squarely in the stomach.

Sanemi didn't budge. He didn't even seem hurt, despite the force I had put behind the kick. Clearly, he had expected it and braced himself.

"I did it! Sanemi, I did it!" I cheered, bouncing on the balls of my feet. The Wind Hashira sighed, grabbing the rice that had been prepared for him, and retreated to his room.

"We start when I wake up," he said simply, his voice less harsh, heavy with fatigue. It caught me off guard, and only then did I notice that his uniform was soaked in crimson red likely due to his mission.

Poor guy.

Oh well, I still got him though. 

~*~

Taisho-Era Secret

~ Kiyomi's rank is Hinoe even though she has not mastered her own breathing style yet. Shinobu did a good job teaching her.

 ~ Kiyomi and her sisters do not have a surname, so people just call them by their first names