✻|| 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮 ||✶ - 鬼滅の刃

【𝓜𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓻𝓸】

Requested by: ukiyio

↠Fluff
↠Fem Reader

Word Count - 826
Rubatosis - Published 1/25/21

Rubatosis: The unsettling awareness of your own heartbeat.
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He found it stupid how humans develop such eager attachments to others—because it was just another weakness to drag him down, use him, and eventually break him.

Maybe it was because he hadn't put much thought into it, but such relationships were so trivial, most being temporary attachments to others. He could gain nothing from it in this line of work, so watching his fellow swordsmen become easily distracted over something so petty only confused him. He just couldn't find that feeling to join them.

Like usual, Muichiro merely watched as you rambled on yet again—like always—to entertain the poor lovestruck Love Hashira before you. Despite sitting only a few yards from you along the engawa, he could only hear the continued squeals of the girl beside you. You both were supposed to be training for the day, yet you easily got distracted by Mitsuri once again.

That was another thing that managed to get under the boy's nerves, because instead of focusing your attention on something as important as your own swordsmanship, you would always delve into those deep lovey-dovey conversations. Love was useless and weakening, so why did you cling to it? Wouldn't you rather devote yourself to training—to protect yourself from the future?

Much like himself, you were an admirable young demon hunter—rising high in the ranks even if you hadn't quite become a Hashira yet. You were strong, merciless and unwavering when it came to your own designated missions, but now out of all times your personality seemed to turn a complete 180. If you already had the talent to delve into a profession so daunting, why didn't you dedicate every second to it?

Muichiro certainly did.

But with each passing second listening to you blabber on, the young boy quickly forgot of his own persistent antics, and unintentionally eavesdropped on your soft voice. There was no doubt that this little conversation of yours would quickly develop into a one-way speech with Mitsuri confessing her secret (but not really) admiration for a certain Serpent Hashira.

Surprisingly, those bubbly words never escaped her lips and instead everything shifted back to you. For once Muichiro found himself lost amongst the soft whispers, his heart painfully clenching at the next words that left her lips.

"Have you confessed to him yet?"

Him? Who were you talking about? Another swordsman? A fellow Kinoe?

Inching just the slightest bit closer, the young boy pressed his back flat against the wooden beam of the engawa, rounding his head ever the slightest to better hear the conversation. He could faintly see your small figure curling at Mitsuri's prying words. Curiosity simply got the best of him.

The grip on his blade went tight, instinctively growing with his unbridled emotion. But what was it exactly? Anger? Fear? Jealously?

"A-Ah, Mitsuri! Hush up! Someone might hear..."

Muichiro liked to think he wasn't one for secrets, but with the pounding of his heart growing heavy in his ears and the sickening feeling coursing through his veins, he couldn't help but lean closer. He could only wonder if this was the reason why you could disregard your own duties. But who was this person—this man?

It was obvious that you both were exchanging your petty little love interests, and he should have expected you to humor the Hashira after all. Yet you had the same fate? Who was this person who consumed each dawdling thought of yours? Who were you so supposedly smitten with? Who was responsible for capturing your love?

Lips curling in a low snarl, Muichiro's misty eyes clouded over with a murky hatred, his fingers gripping tighter around his hilt. Just as his minty orbs dared a glance back in your direction, his muscles froze once he realized the both of you had been staring wide-eyed in return.

Mouth agape, your brows furrowed at the odd expression filling the boy's complexion, having just noticed his idling form. Mitsuri had simply stopped mid-sentence and you could only follow her own perplexed gaze.

"Mui?"

When his name left your lips, that darkened expression dispersed in an instant and you could only watch as he rose to his feet. Hopping from the engawa, Muichiro took quick steps to round the estate, clenching a tight fist to the lapels of his uniform to calm the erratic beating of his enraged pulse. Upon hearing his command to follow along, you shot the woman beside you a quick glance before jumping to your own feet.

Gathering your sword in advance, you gulped at the possibilities of what the next moments would lead. Training with the boy was surely a blessing, but now you had a feeling that a heavy awkwardness could only follow. Your cheeks turned pink with nervousness. Mitsuri could only smile and sneak a wink in return.

"Now's your chance!"

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