Inori cocked her head to the side, not understanding why Shinobu looked so angry. Sure, the Insect Pillar was smiling as usual, but Inori was someone who also smiled through her anger and sadness. She had already mastered the skill of identifying the different types of emotions hidden behind a smile.
"Is something wrong, Shinobu-san?"
"No, nothing's wrong." But Shinobu's smile twitched almost disappointedly. "I just heard Naho, Sumi, and Kiyo have been calling you 'nee-san' for a few months now. Did you really let them call you that?"
"Oh yeah, I did. They don't mean anything bad by that, so please don't scold them."
"No, I didn't scold them." Shinobu sighed, gathering her courage to say what needed to be said. "It's just, um, the girls...that is, Aoi and Kanao, though mostly Aoi, got a bit...jealous."
"Jealous? Why?"
"Because you never called them 'Nee-san' but allowed the little girls to call you that," answered the Insect Pillar. "I know that Aoi wanted a sister for the longest time. She even tried to convince Kanao to choose 'Kanzaki' as her last name because of that."
"Ah, is that so?" Inori blinked dumbly, letting the information sink in. She suddenly flushed red at the mere thought of addressing someone as her sister out loud. While she did consider the girls as her sisters and they were indeed older than her, she couldn't help but be flustered at the prospect of calling them so familiarly. "What about...what about you?"
"Well, if Inori-chan wants to call me 'nee-san', then that will certainly make me very happy."
How can I say no if you're smiling so hopefully like that? Swallowing the lump in her throat, Inori opened her mouth. But no voice came out. "Shi, um, uh, Shino...Shi...uh, uh...Shino..." Inori felt like her eyes were spinning. Gulping down the saliva and nervousness, she finally blurted out, "Shinobu-nee?"
"Yes, Inori-chan?" Shinobu's smile was so genuine and bright that Inori was put at ease.
"Right, um, I have some free time today, so how about I take the girls on an outing to town? I'm sure it's been a while since they've visited town." Inori smiled at the thought of finally enjoying some time off.
"That's good. I don't think there are any patients right now, so the girls should all be free." Shinobu offered her an apologetic smile. "I apologize, but my schedule is quite packed today, so I can't go out with you but please enjoy your outing."
Inori looked at Shinobu's smiling face blankly. "Shinobu-nee, there's still time, and we have the materials we need. Please don't be too hasty."
Shinobu's smile faltered, and she sighed. As expected, I can't hide anything from Inori-chan. "I'm sure you know this, but there's really not much of a choice for me." Shinobu held Inori's hands. "I have a motto, you know." She smiled bitterly.
"If we can defeat one demon, we can save dozens of people. If we can defeat a lower moon demon, we can save hundreds. If we can defeat an upper moon demon, we can save thousands." Inori felt her eyes going wide at Shinobu's words because they were the same. Those were the same words Kanae once told her.
"It isn't about whether we can or cannot do it, we just have to do it," Shinobu stated, squeezing her hands. "I'm sure you, out of everyone else, understand." Because we're both girls who lack raw strength. Because we're the only hunters who resort to poison, even if you don't rely on it as much as I do...even if you're stronger than me.
"I do understand."
"Which is why I'll keep trying. I'll keep what you said in mind, but I'll keep trying." Shinobu smiled again, a bit more genuinely this time. "Please do enjoy yourselves today."
·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚☆.｡.☆.｡.:*☆ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙
Aoi dropped the laundry basket she was holding, staring at Inori with wide eyes. "Just now...what did you...you...?"
"Aoi-nee?" Inori tilted her head to the side, confused by her reaction. "Shinobu-nee said that you want me to call you that, but if you don't like it, then—"
"No!" Inori jumped slightly at the loud tone, causing Aoi to clear her throat. "No, it's just...I'm just surprised. Please call me that. I mean, if you're really fine with that, then please call me that."
"Then, I'll call you Aoi-nee from now on." Inori beamed, encouraging the other girl to smile as well. "Anyways, what about my offer?"
"An outing, right? Sure, let's do it. I'll grab Kanao and you can wait for us with Kiyo and the others by the gates."
Gathering the little girls wasn't that much of a problem considering how they were always attached to the hips. Naho, Sumi, and Kiyo were more than excited to finally hang out with Inori, already planning on making everything out of their little outing today.
The little girls squealed a bit too loudly when Inori addressed Aoi as her sister, but no one minded. Inori looped her arms around Aoi and Kanao's, dragging them along. "Let's pick up Senjuro-kun from my place." A few months have passed since their encounter with Upper Moon Three, and Kyojuro was already allowed to go on minor missions, but he still stayed in the Star Estate until he was completely healed and discharged, also to finish his recovery training.
Aoi nodded, not minding the slight detour. But Kanao tugged Inori's sleeves, pulling the Star Pillar back. Aoi and Inori looked at Kanao, who was fumbling with her fingers, with a raised eyebrow. Finally, after nearly a minute of silence, Kanao spoke up.
"Call me...Nee too. Please."
Inori blinked a few times before beaming, wrapping Kanao in a hug. She didn't use her coin. "Of course, Kanao-nee." Pulling away, she grabbed Kanao's hand. "Now, let's go."
·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚☆.｡.☆.｡.:*☆ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙
Inori, Aoi, and Kanao, as the oldest of the bunch, were obviously given the task of watching over the younger ones. It wasn't much of a problem since the girls and Sejuro were well-behaved and knew better than to wander around by themselves.
"Huh? Inori, are you sure?"
"It's fine, it's fine." Inori beamed, waving Aoi's worry off. "Buy whatever you want, it's all on me today. Senjuro-kun too, don't hesitate. Rengoku-san often treats me to lunch, so it's the least I can do. Please don't hesitate."
Naho, Sumi, and Kiyo squealed, dragging them into different stores. Inori wasn't lying about spoiling them rotten. The money she got from Kagaya as a demon slayer pillar was enough to last her a lifetime. She knew that there was always a chance for her tomorrow to disappear, so she wanted to spend the money by making others happy. What she couldn't do to her family, she would do to her new family.
"Um, Inori nee-san?" Senjuro sweatdropped at the amount of shopping bags she had looped around both arms. "Is this really okay?"
"Of course it is." Inori beamed. "Senjuro-kun loves to read, right? Reading is good, you know. I never had much of a chance to read many books before, but my brothers or the dead would tell me lots of stories while I danced. I'm sure reading and imagining the story yourself is more fun than listening to others retelling it, so please choose as many books as you want."
"Inori nee-san, let's try that store next. I heard that there are some really good desserts."
"Sumi, don't pull Inori like that," Aoi scolded. "And you three should help us carry the bags too." Despite their little whines, the girls still took a few bags from the Star Pillar.
"Honestly." Aoi sighed, casting a side glance at a smiling Inori. "You really spoil them too much."
"Well, it's fine, isn't it?" Inori, with a few difficulties due to the shopping bags, looped her arm around Aoi and Kanao's. "We should enjoy every chance we have. After all, I'm sure Aoi-nee and Kanao-nee know more than anyone just how dangerous a demon slayer's life is."
Aoi flinched slightly, both from her own trauma and from the somberness Inori now displayed. But the sadness was gone as soon as it appeared, and Inori was back to tugging them toward the café with a beaming smile.
"Let's stop the talk here. I want to eat something sweet."
·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚☆.｡.☆.｡.:*☆ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙
Kanao walked through the bustling streets, searching for the last store they went into. Kiyo had left one of their bags behind, and Kanao volunteered to retrieve it since both Inori and Aoi were being dragged to their next destination. She sometimes wondered how Inori could be so carefree and spend a lot for them, and yet refused to buy anything for herself. But Kanao figured the Star Pillar had her own reasons.
"Excuse me, I think I left something behind. Would you mind checking?" Kanao still felt weird whenever she tried to talk without her coin, but the smiling faces she received from the girls, Inori, and Shinobu was enough to bury her discomfort.
"Ah, you must be one of the sisters in butterfly hairpins that came a while ago. We have your bag here." Kanao accepted the paper bag with a gracious nod, leaving the store.
"Kanao-nee!" If not for her unique haori, Kanao wouldn't have seen Inori's hand waving for her in the middle of a crowd. Kanao swiftly walked through the crowd, standing beside Inori who was pointing her finger at a stage.
"What's this?" Kanao had to clench her fists tightly in order to stop herself from grabbing her coin. She wanted to get used to it. She may not be able to make big decisions without her coin, but she has been doing fine with talking so far, and she didn't want to fail.
"Street performance." Inori beamed with a clap of her hands. "It's like a theatre play, but it's held in the streets where everybody can watch. The quality is obviously not as great as an official theatre performance, but there's a certain charm in this kind of play that makes it fun to watch."
Kanao could understand what Inori meant. When Kanae was still alive, she brought the girls to watch a theatre play once, and while it was different from the one she was watching now, Kanao couldn't help but still be as captivated as she was at that time.
She unconsciously gripped Inori's hand, earning a raised eyebrow from the Star Pillar. But Kanao didn't let go of her hand until the play was finished and the curtains had closed. She didn't let go until Inori called out to her because they were about to head somewhere else.
Inori, you're a pillar like them. Kanao stared at Inori, who was being pulled by Naho into another café. Pillars are strong but they still have a risk of dying, especially at the hands of the Twelve Demon Moons. She would know. After all, the pillar with the highest number of demon moon kills was also the pillar who got injured often. I don't want you to die. I will pray to the stars if it means there's a chance for you to continue being my sister for another day. I don't want another one of my sisters to die at the hands of demons ever again. Aoi called her name, and Kanao followed them into the café.
So please, stay alive to see the sun tomorrow and the next too.
·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚☆.｡.☆.｡.:*☆ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙
"Shinobu-chan!" Mitsuri engulfed the Insect Pillar in a hug, squealing in her usual excitement. "It's rare for the Butterfly Estate to be so empty. Where are the other girls? I went to visit Rengoku-san at the Star Estate, but Inori-chan wasn't there either."
"Inori-chan is taking the girls on an outing," Shinobu answered calmly. "The number of demon attacks has been going down a bit lately, so we were given some time off during the day. Inori-chan is seldom free, so she took the girls to town. I'm sure she's spoiling the little ones right now."
"Kyaa! Inori-chan really is good with children. How cute. I want to hang out with her too."
"Yes, she really is. Although I'm pretty sure the only children she likes to spoil are my girls and Senjuro-kun." Shinobu suddenly had the urge to brag. "By the way, did you know? Inori-chan called me 'Shinobu-nee'."
Mitsuri, frozen by surprise, tripped on her own feet and crashed onto the floor. She hastily scrambled back up, grabbing onto Shinobu's shoulder, and leaning until their noses almost touched.
"She called you what?"
"Shinobu-nee." Shinobu beamed, not at all bothered by the flustered Love Pillar who was shaking her shoulders. "She called Aoi and Kanao 'Nee' too. And Naho and the others also call her 'Inori nee-san'. It's very cute."
Mitsuri wailed into Shinobu's shoulder. "Senjuro-kun also calls her Nee-san. I want to be called 'Nee-san' by Inori-chan too." She balled up her fists with determination. "Alright! I'll find Inori-chan and ask her to call me Mitsuri-nee too!"
"Good luck." Shinobu waved, chuckling at the disaster that would probably happen soon.
·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚☆.｡.☆.｡.:*☆ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙
Mitsuri did indeed cause some disaster, and that disaster came in the personification of one Uzui Tengen.
"Woah, Kanroji! What's up?" Tengen saluted, his three wives peering curiously at the Love Pillar. "My flamboyant wives and I were just about to head out for lunch. Anyways, what's got you so flustered?"
"Uzui-san! Hear this! Hear this!" Mitsuri flailed her arms. "Inori-chan just called Shinobu-chan 'Shinobu-nee'! Isn't that just unfair? And the butterfly girls and Senjuro-kun also called her 'Inori nee-san'. I want to be called 'Mitsuri-nee' by Inori-chan too."
"Hold up, hold up, back up." Tengen held his hand up to stop Mitsuri's babbles. "The kid called Kocho what? Nee-san? This is unacceptable!"
"I think it's perfectly reasonable, Tengen-sama." Hinatsuru tried to reason. "After all, Kocho-san and the girls at the Butterfly Estate were the first ones to reach out to her when Inori was first rescued. It's only natural for Inori to feel close to them."
"Well, that's true." But Tengen didn't want to admit defeat. "Are you three sure you don't want to hear her call you 'sister' or 'mother' or something?"
His statement made his wives perk up. It was quite noticeable with Suma and Makio, but Tengen had known Hinatsuru long enough to know that she was currently rethinking her choices
"If Kocho-san gets to be called that, then we can too. Let's go find Inori and demand the same thing." Suma tried to drag an equally enthusiastic Makio and a slightly flustered Hinatsuru in a random direction before turning to look at her husband.
"Uh, where is Inori?"
·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚☆.｡.☆.｡.:*☆ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙
Inori sneezed.
"Are you okay?" Aoi asked, handing a tissue over to her. "Gosh, this is why you need to sleep normally, Inori. If you're sleep deprived, your body's immune system will be weak, and you'll get sick easily."
"Yes, Aoi-nee." Inori would most likely still force herself to function on minimal sleep, but she would give Aoi the benefit of the doubt. "I'll try my best to sleep normally, but it's not really my fault demons only roam around at night. Stars, what I would give for them to burn in the sun."
"Well, no use thinking about it." Aoi ended the conversation by shoving a caramel sundae in front of her. "I still stand by what I said to order a normal lunch instead of all this dessert."
"It's fine once in a while, right?" Inori beamed, gesturing towards Naho, Sumi, and Kiyo who were drooling over their strawberry parfait. "It's been a while since I've treated myself like this, so let's just enjoy it." She winked. "Just for today."
"Fine." Aoi truthfully didn't need much persuasion. Despite Inori's delicate form, heavy eyebags, and sweet tooth, she knew that Inori had her own diet and routines that kept her in shape. Even a sleep-deprived human with minimal regard for personal health like her knew better than to be incapacitated by something as stupid as a fever. "But don't get used to it. Sweets are bad for your health."
"Yes." Inori saluted, humming as she scooped up the treat. She wasn't lying about it being a while since she last let herself indulge in sweets. She had been busy training with the Kamaboko trio, as how Inosuke proclaimed them to be, and practicing the Hinokami Kagura.
Right, the Hinokami Kagura. Inori unceremoniously released a small sigh that luckily went unnoticed by the rest. The more I do it, the more tired I am. No wonder Tanjiro-san couldn't do it continuously. Her muscles still ached from her training session this morning, a reminder that she also couldn't finish that dance. If I didn't have the Crimson Dance training as my foundation, I probably wouldn't be able to move much either.
She unconsciously clicked her tongue, earning a confused look from Aoi which she ignored. No, even with the Crimson Dance training, I still couldn't do all the forms consecutively. She would collapse midway if she was lucky. The Hinokami Kagura is more draining than the last form of Star Breathing, and that's saying something, considering that I created the last form by doing all thirteen forms consecutively without any set pattern or break.
Inori drummed her fingers on the table, staring blankly past the windows that overlooked the busy streets. All in all, I'm still lacking. Her body was used to the Crimson Dance, not the Hinokami Kagura. I feel like I can master the Hinokami Kagura, but it might take longer than I initially thought. Additionally, I'm using two swords and more footwork than the original Hinokami Kagura. But the modification process shouldn't take that long as long as I already master the original. Tilting her head back towards the desserts laid out on the table, she reached out for a plate of strawberry cake.
Well, I'll just have to train harder and see for myself.
Inori suddenly choked on her cake, staring with wide eyes at the five familiar figures walking down the street. Why are they here together? That doesn't sound good. She hastily scrambled to hide under the table, earning confused looks from the others.
"Inori nee-san?" Senjuro peeked under the table, watching as Inori tried to crawl from table to table. "Are you okay?"
"Senjuro-kun, if Mitsuri-san and the Uzui family come in, tell them I'm not here please." Inori continued to crawl away. "Those two hanging out together is unusual, and unusual things are usually bad. If it involves Uzui-san, bad turns to worst."
"Inori nee-san, just what kind of grudge do you have against Uzui-san?"
"He tried to make me a sacrificial bride for a demon, my grudge is justified."
"Nee-san, that's a bit—"
"Yo, Kocho's girls and Rengoku's little brother." Tengen looped his arm around Senjuro's shoulders, slightly startling the younger boy. "Say, have you seen the kid—I mean, Hoshizora? My flamboyant wives and I want to talk with her."
"Inori isn't here," Aoi answered without batting an eye. "She left earlier. You just missed her."
Aoi-nee, I will kneel on the very ground you walk on. Thank you very much. Inori silently crawled her way through, not wanting to be heard by Tengen. She tried to sneak out of the restaurant, but to no avail, Tengen wasn't a former shinobi just for show.
"Aha! I spotted the flamboyant kid!"
Oh, stars. Inori ran out of the restaurant and leaped onto the roof. "I'm sorry, Aoi-nee, Kanao-nee, but please take Senjuro-kun and the other girls back when you're done. I have to bolt," she yelled, dodging an incoming Tengen who decided to lunge at her.
"Come back, kid!"
"I am not dealing with your flamboyance! Not today!"
"Inori-chan! Please wait!"
"Mitsuri-san! Not you too!"
Meanwhile, Tengen's wives sat down on the table with the others, watching as the three pillars hopped from roof to roof and gathered a crowd.
"I'm surprised Inori can keep up with Tengen-sama," Hinatsuru commented. "It kind of reminds me of the first time she started training with him. She was already fast back then, but her speed now amazes me."
"Brother said that in a straight race, Inori nee-san ranked second," Senjuro replied, sweatdropping a bit when he saw Inori landing beside the window, rushing away with Tengen hot on her heels. "Although he did say that she stepped on the Wind Pillar's head and tried to do the same to Uzui-san, so her official ranking in speed amongst the pillars is third."
"You're kidding." Makio laughed, slapping the table as tears formed in the corner of her eyes. "She stepped on that guy's head just so she could take second place, and survived! That girl sure is something else."
"Still, should they really be chasing each other around like that?" Aoi deadpanned as the three pillars continued their game of cat and mouse, now back on the rooftops. "Why are they searching for Inori anyway?"
"It's because she calls you guys and Kocho-san 'Nee-san'!" Suma banged her palms onto the table as she leaned forward, pouting at a stunned Aoi and a confused Kanao. "We want to be called that too."
"I don't think Inori nee-san minds," Kiyo said. "But since it's Uzui-san, then I think she minds."
"Does she hate Tengen-sama that much?" Hinatsuru sweatdropped.
Sumi nodded. "Yeah, Inori nee-san often complains to Shinobu-sama about being harassed by a tall flamboyant monkey who couldn't even dodge her kicks. It's funny."
"I see that Tokito-san has been a great influence on her." Makio chuckled. Much like the pillars, Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma were also participating in the bet of when Inori and Muichiro would go from friends to lovers. Makio bet they would get married as soon as they reached a legal age.
They only needed to wait for about twenty minutes for Tengen to return with a pouting Inori dangled as far away from him as possible. Seeing Inori continuously kicking Tengen with the nichirin part of her boots, they could guess that Tengen's arm wasn't long enough to stop Inori's legs.
"Uzui-san, Mitsuri-san." Inori smiled venomously with veins popping out of her neck. "Stars tell, why are you suddenly harassing me like this? I don't think I've done anything to you yet, so I'm quite confused here."
"Because, because, because!" Mitsuri flailed her arms, nearly slapping Inori in her frenzy. "I want Inori-chan to call me Mitsuri-nee too!"
"That's it?" Inori raised an eyebrow, not understanding the Love Pillar's desperation. "You could've just said so instead of chasing me around, Mitsuri-nee."
Kya! Inori-chan just called me her sister! So cute! So cute! Mitsuri snatched Inori from Tengen's hold, nearly crushing her spine in a tight hug.
"Oi, kid! What about me?"
"What about you?"
"Don't I get a flamboyant title too?"
"No." Inori deadpanned, relishing the priceless expression Tengen had for display. "Mitsuri-nee is fine, but Uzui-san likes to harass me, so your title is either pervert or trashy old man."
Tengen dropped to the floor in despair, looking as if he had been stabbed multiple times. Inori could somewhat hear him mumble something along the lines of 'trash' and 'pervert' but was too occupied by his swarming wives.
"What about us, Inori?" Hinatsuru leaned forward with a smile. "We get a special title too, right?"
"If it's Hinatsuru-nee, then of course." Inori beamed, showing her blatant favoritism among the Uzui family members. "Of course, Suma-nee and Makio-nee too."
"I've lost to my flamboyant wives, which is still flamboyant but not flamboyant at all." While his three wives were beaming and hogging Inori in a hug, Tengen was still mumbling in despair. "Kid, it's not my fault you're short. I mean, you're still a kid, so you're obviously short, and it's fun to mess with short kids like you."
"Uzui-san, don't make me call you a creepy trashy pervert for the rest of your life." Tick marks appear all over her forehead despite the smile still plastered on her face. "I don't hear you making fun of Shinobu-nee. As I thought, is it because of the poison? Should I try and poison you?"
"Let's not do that." Hinatsuru, calm as ever, patted her head. "Tengen-sama is just jealous." She lifted her head to look at her husband. "Tengen-sama, stop pouting and come over here. You did agree to spend today with us."
Tengen begrudgingly plopped himself beside Inori, ruffling her hair. "By the way, kid, how's Rengoku?"
"Rengoku-san is already allowed to go on light missions again. He's in recovery training right now," Inori answered, scooping up whatever remained of her sundae. "It's been four months and all, and he's mostly healed. He just needs to regain his stamina and pass the recovery training, then it's pillar duties for him again."
"That's good." Tengen crumpled her head. "By the way, I heard you took in that headbutting brat and even gave him some technique development training. What's that about?"
"Yeah, I've been quite busy with the three of them." Inori snapped her fingers. "Oh, but I did manage to learn two new breathing styles, so I guess that's my win."
"Two more? Amazing!" Mitsuri complimented, hugging her tighter.
"By the way, I heard that you three are planning on going undercover?" Inori asked, her brows furrowing in worry at the three kunoichis. "Please be careful."
"We'll keep that in mind, but let's not discuss that here." Hinatsuru gestured towards Naho, Sumi, and Kiyo who were looking at them in confusion. "Let's just enjoy some more desserts."
"Then, Hinatsuru-nee, come by my estate later." Inori clapped her hands, smiling gleefully that everybody raised an eyebrow at her. "I have a present for you."
·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚☆.｡.☆.｡.:*☆ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙