Fɪʀᴇ ɪɴ ᴍʏ Hᴇᴀʀᴛ || 𝕋𝕒𝕟𝕛𝕚𝕣𝕠 𝕩 𝕄𝕦𝕚𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕣𝕠

ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪsᴛ ᴘɪʟʟᴀʀ

Shinobu was caught off guard by Tanjiro's question, she didn't expect him to be so concerned with who her fellow pillar was. Inosuke spoke up "Yeah! I've seen him around this place before! What's his deal?!" He shouted. "Yeah, I've seen him once and he was just staring off into the sky and talking to himself about something," Zenitsu added to the blue eyed boys strange behavior. Shinobu gave them a soft smile. "Tanjiro, sit down and I'll explain."

As instructed, Tanjiro sat down beside Inosuke and Shinobu sat down in front of them, her legs folding underneath her. "Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitsu, That boy is the mist pillar, Tokito Muichiro."
Tokito.. Muichiro..
Tanjiro thought to himself. Shinobu continued "He's 14 years old, just a few months younger then you Tanjiro." Tanjiros eyes widened "He's younger than me and he's a pillar?!" He exclaimed in shock.Shinobu put her finger to her lips to tell Tanjiro to quiet down. "Yes, Tokito became a pillar not to long ago, just under a year." She stated. "As for his strange behavior, he has amnesia and often forgets things." Tanjiro thought for a long moment, when did he get his amnesia? Why? What was he like before? Zenitsu interrupted his thoughts "Why does he have amnesia, Miss Shinobu?" He asked almost timidly. Shinobu smiled "I don't know, no one but our master does. We've tried to get on friendly terms with him but he forgets us after a week or so. We've asked our master if we can know more about Muichiros past, but he refused."

Tanjiro eyes shined with and intense curiosity. So many things made this boy.. Tokito.. So interesting to him. His heart was burning with intrigue, why did he have such a strong want to know about him? What made him so intrigued?

After their training session, the boys were allowed to wonder, or train some more. Tanjiro did like to train more.. to become stronger.. But his mind was clouded with the thought of that boy. Who he could really be, what he was really like, what his past was. His mind was like a twisting maze of different scenarios, different versions. It was confusing, he wanted that confusion to be resolved so he can go back to training like normal.

Tanjiro told his friends and the residents of the butterfly manor that he was going to go on a walk. Really he was going to go to Oaykatas garden and find someone who can tell him where he can find Tokito Muichiro. Maybe he could find Giyuu and ask him.. Gods he hoped he didn't run into thoses two pillars that almost killed Nezuko. That thought sent some small shivers down his back, but he brushed them off quickly.
Don't be afraid of them! They may be pillars but that doesn't mean they're invincible!
Tanjiro reassured himself, remembering how he headbutted Sanemi, the wind pillar. He straightened up and put on a cheerful smile
Alright! Let's do this!

Tanjiro walked to Oaykatas garden. His pace was still kinda slow from the soreness of training every day after so long, but he'd get use to it soon enough! On his way to the garden, Tanjiro would stop and look at the beautiful scenery around him. Butterfly's would often cross his path. This place felt so surreal and peaceful. The Ray's of light shining through the leaves of the trees reminded him of summer back at home.. He missed that place. The warm feeling of his mother's embrace, the villagers being so kind and friendly when he can down from the mountain top. He didn't want to associate that place with just the murder of his family. It was a place of warmth and happiness. That's how he wanted to remember his beloved home

As Tanjiro stepped into the garden, he took in the present smell of the wind and flowers. He even smelled honeydew. What a lovely scant! He took a few more steps into the garden and caught another scent. A human.. mostly female, and the scent of.. Sakura Mochi..? He walked tword the scent and saw that green and pink haired woman.

The woman was admitted a little shocked by Tanjiro's sudden appearance "A-Ah!!" She yelped out. She quickly composed herself and looked at Tanjiro for a moment. "Oh! You're that boy! Tanjiro-Kun!" She exclaimed. Tanjiro in return gave her a smile "Yes, and your the pillar of love.. Mitsuri.. Kanroji, correct?" He questioned. Mitsuri nodded "Yes! What brings you to the garden Tanjiro?" She asked, her lips curled into a sweet smile. "Well.. Actually I could use your help if you don't mind. I'm looking for the mist pillar, Tokito Muichiro." Mitsuri stared at Tanjiro for a moment. "Muichiro-Kun? Hm.. I normally see him in the garden.. but I've been here all afternoon and haven't seen a trace of him. So he may be at his residence! Why do you want to go see him specifically?" She asked curiously as she stood up and lead Tanjiro down the rocky pathway. "Ah- well.. I don't know.. I just can't get him out of my head recently.. I guess I thought maybe talking to him would help."

What?! Tanjiro-Kun! Do you have a crush on Tokito-Kun!? Is it some secret forbidden love? Oh how romantic!
The love pillar thought to herself, but she kept her thoughts private. "I see! Well let's hope he's here and not on a mission then!" She said excitedly.

Mitsuri lead Tanjiro up a steep mountain, past a few more residents. When they finally arrived to Tokito's home, it was surrounded by a light fog and trees were all around his home. It reminded him of his old home much more then the garden did. He wondered.. if Muichiro ever got lonely up here, it seemed to be so far from the others. The pair made there way up some stairs and to a sliding door. "Hello! Tokito-Kun! Are you there!" Mitsuri called out in hopes the boy would respond.

It took a moment, but there was a faint smell of pine forest, and before Tanjiro could even tell where the smell was coming from, Tokito Muichiro had slowly opened the door. "Hm..? Do I know you..?" The boy asked. Tanjiro was finally face to face with thoses blue eyes that had been haunting him.

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