𝑅𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝑀𝑒 [ ObaMitsu fanfic/ R-(MA)] Kimetsu No Yaiba

Chapter 87 - Deal with the Serpent

Chapter Song: Escape The Fate - "Bad Blood" (Obanai and Hakuji talking)
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The cold gnawed at Hakuji's skin as he walked Koyuki home, the icy air stinging his lungs with every breath. She spoke softly beside him, her words as delicate as frost on a winter morning. He held onto her voice for as long as he could, knowing he'd have to let it go soon. His mind was elsewhere, swirling with thoughts of the earlier encounter.

Mitsuri. The pink-haired girl had been holding a bottle of saline spray and a pack of cotton swabs when he saw her. Innocent items, but they sparked a possibility. Tattoos. It wasn't hard to piece together. Her kind always did things like that, trying to mark their freedom on their skin. He replayed the moment over and over in his head as he kissed Koyuki on the forehead and promised to return soon.

Once she was safely inside, he pulled out his phone. The bitter wind numbed his fingers as he scrolled through the map, searching for tattoo shops near the convenience store. One stood out: The Serpent's Ink. Its name slithered into his thoughts, wrapping around his suspicions like a vice.

He made his way there, the freezing air biting through his thin jacket. The streets were quiet, shadows stretching long beneath the dim, flickering streetlights. When he reached the shop, the neon sign buzzed faintly, its green and yellow hues casting an eerie glow on the cracked sidewalk. A serpent coiled around a tattoo needle—a fitting image, he thought. He tucked himself into a dark corner across the street, his hood pulled low to obscure his face. And he waited.

Minutes stretched into an hour, the cold seeping into his bones. Just when he considered leaving, the door opened. His pulse quickened as Obanai and Mitsuri stepped out. Mitsuri clutched a small paper bag, her cheeks pink from the chill. Obanai walked beside her, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings.

Hakuji stiffened, retreating further into the shadows. His breath came slow and steady, visible in the icy air. He followed them as they walked, keeping a careful distance. The streets were empty, their voices muted by the oppressive silence of the cold night.

Every so often, Obanai glanced over his shoulder. Hakuji ducked into alleys and behind parked cars, his movements fluid and deliberate. He took pictures when he could, the faint click of his phone camera drowned out by the wind. Each image was a piece of the puzzle, one step closer to knowing them, to understanding their weaknesses.

When they turned onto a quieter street, Hakuji realized they were heading toward an apartment complex. His eyes narrowed as they approached the building. So, this is where they're hiding. He raised his phone, zooming in on the pair.

But just as he was about to snap another photo, Obanai stopped.

Hakuji froze. Obanai's head turned slightly, his gaze sweeping the street. For one chilling moment, their eyes seemed to lock.

The air around Hakuji felt suffocating. His fingers tightened around his phone as a wave of unease washed over him. Did he see me?

Acting on instinct, he slipped into a nearby alley, pressing his back against the frozen brick wall. The cold bit into him, but he didn't care. His breaths came shallow and quiet as he strained to hear anything—footsteps, voices, anything.

But there was only silence.

Peeking out from the alley, Hakuji's stomach dropped. They were gone. He scanned the empty street, his pulse pounding in his ears. The apartment complex loomed in the distance, but there was no sign of Obanai or Mitsuri. It was as if they'd vanished into thin air.

His jaw clenched, and he slipped his phone back into his pocket. He lingered in the shadows for a moment, replaying the encounter in his mind. Had Obanai really seen him? Or had it been a coincidence?