Puzzled || Kimetsu No Yaiba • Kamado Tanjiro x OC

04

That same day, at the crack of dawn the duo departed towards Mount Fujikanase.
But before that, the duo was getting prepared.
Tanjiro got dressed in the shared living area, whilst Kioko dressed in their shared room. She carefully dressed herself with some old rags she had modified while learning how to stitch clothes up, some hand-me-downs from a pass pupil of Urokodaki's.
Over that she brought over her light green haori, a small smile now grazing her lips as she took in the memory of living with that pass student. She didn't mind the hand-me-downs, in fact she found them comforting, she felt protected.

Kioko carefully brought half her hair up into some pigtails, leaving the rest of her hair down as she placed the warding mask on her head, securing it into place with the ropes and using her pigtail as support.

A knock on the sliding door became audible, Kioko humming in response as a way to let the boy know he could come in.
"You can say goodbye to your sister now, Kamado" Kioko smiled leaving the room so they could have some moments together.

She took it upon herself to talk to her former master, her smile not hiding the giddy she was feeling in the inside as she approached him, "Sensei,"
Kioko was beaming at the news, almost skipping as her normally composed self faltered from her excitement.
"Kioko" He nodded in acknowledgement, "I'll make sure to come back alive with Kamado" The girl repeated her promise from last night, winning herself a headpat from her teacher.
"I'll be waiting"

The duo bid their last farewells to Urokodaki, him wishing them luck as he kept on telling Tanjiro useful tips for the journey.
After a slight bow, they parted walking down that one path they've grown to know a bit too well.

"Say hello to Sabito and Makomo for me!" Tanjiro called out, waving one last time as he kept a smile on his face, the female student choked on her own saliva, still keeping silent about their story.

---

"Kioko, you seem unusually happy" Tanjiro commented, an innocent observation on his part, but a mistake in Kioko's eyes as an irk mark appeared near her head, "Are you implying something?" She asked in an almost threatening voice, making Tanjiro startle up a bit "Nothing! It's a nice change— You didn't really talk much before" Tanjiro explained, keeping a safe distance from the impulsive female, she stayed silent, as if she were in thought, a small smile growing on her lips again, "I see..." She hummed to herself before cracking into a grin towards the boy, "I guess it is kinda nice" She confessed, calming down her excitement as she took in the moment.

"Hey, Kamado-" The girl started, "I already told you, you can call me Tanjiro" He corrected the female, a small chuckle escaping his lips, Kioko brushed the comment off, a smirk replacing her small smile, "Well then, boy, aren't you scared?" the girl teased, her hand playing around the handle of her blade as they kept on walking.

"Of course I am, I'm not some kind of emotionless monster" Tanjiro replied, ignoring how he was addressed, Kioko giggled upping the pace of her strides, trying to get a head start and annoy the boy.

Yes, she might be uptight, but she's still a child in the inside.

"That's childish! Miyazaki!" Tanjiro yelled out, keeping up with her pace before both of them broke into a run

---

As night time fell, the duo arrived to a wisteria blossom forest, Tanjiro looking around in awe as they walked down the path, "They're so many, even when they're out of season.." He mentioned, stopping for a bit to take in the scenery, Kioko hummed in return, keeping her eyes opened as she noticed the staircase in front of them, "Yeah, yeah, yeah— Hurry up! I can't wait any longer!" She groaned, grabbing onto the boys wrist before pulling him up the staircase.