"𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐲"
♡︎
As the days passed in a blur of relentless battles against demonic forces, each night filled with the adrenaline-fueled dance of life and death, I found solace in the brief respite of daylight, using it to recuperate and steel myself for the next inevitable confrontation. And now, as the final selection draws to a close I emerged from the dense forest, weary yet resolved, my gaze fell upon a figure standing before me, someone from my past whom I had once cherished deeply.
The sight of them stirred a whirlwind of emotions within me, a mixture of nostalgia, apprehension, and perhaps a glimmer of hope.
Kanao.
Her widened eyes, filled with disbelief and shock, bore into mine, her lips parting as if to speak, yet no words escape. The air crackles with unspoken emotions, the weight of our shared history hanging heavy between us.
As Kanao takes a step forward, I remain rooted to the spot, my heart torn between the desire to embrace her and the fear of what she might become under the curse's influence. Though I've missed her dearly, I can't afford to take any chances.
Kanao's gaze pierces mine, her eyes stained with emotion as she fights to hold back tears of joy. With trembling fingers, she reaches out and tenderly strokes my cheek.
"Is this really you, y/n...?" Her voice quivers with hesitant hope.
My heart aches with guilt as I contemplate the painful truth. Despite the warmth in her touch, I see the same darkness and obsession in her eyes that I see in Tanjiro's.
For both our sakes, I know I must keep my distance.
"I'm sorry, but I think you've mistaken me for someone else. I don't know anyone named y/n," I say gently, taking a step back, allowing her hand to fall to her side.
She also takes a step back, her hand slipping into her pocket, perhaps searching for her coin.
"Excuse me then. I'll be going,"I says, my voice barely above a whisper. As Kanao frantically searched her pocket, she doesn't notice as I take my leave, walking toward a corner, far away from everyone.
The two girls from before made an appearance and congratulated us for surviving. They took our measurements for our uniforms and informed us about our ranks.
The boy with a Mohawk asked in slight agitation, "Where's my katana?"
"Today you will choose the ore of your Katana then it will take up to two weeks for the Katana to be finished." The white-haired girl answered.
"After that, we will assign you your Kasugai crow," the girl finished. As she spoke, a group of crows flew down and perched on the contestants' shoulders.
Glancing behind me, I noticed a white dove perched on my shoulder, its gaze fixed on me.
"Huh?... A crow? But this is a sparrow?" The orange-haired boy muttered, clearly puzzled, as the small sparrow chirped happily.
'Hmm, I guess not everyone gets a crow...' I thought to myself, observing the dove.
" I don't care about crows! Katana, I want my Katana and I want it now. The color-changing Katana!" Mohawk boy exclaimed as he swatted away his assigned crow and roughly grabbed the white hair of the smaller girl.
'Is he acting like he's five or something? It wouldn't shock me if he actually was. So immature.'
Amidst the heated exchange, Tanjiro grabbed the boy's hand, his face contorted with anger. They bickered incessantly, while I watched on with a sense of boredom creeping in.
Eventually, the Mohawk boy relented, stepping back, and we resumed our previous activities.
"Please choose the ore of your Katana." said the ravennette with no emotion.
Approaching the table, I surveyed the array of ores before me. Amidst the selection, a soft baby blue ore captured my attention, reminiscent of the one I had seen in the shopping district.
Memories of the past flooded my mind, casting a melancholic smile across my face as I reached for the blue ore.
Glancing over my shoulder, I noticed Tanjiro and Kanao watching me, their expressions unreadable. Their gaze sent a shiver down my spine, and I hurriedly made my choice before either could intervene, eager to escape their scrutiny.
Kanao♡
As the final selection concluded, a familiar emptiness settled in my chest once more. My gaze lingered longingly on the path she had disappeared to.
She insisted she wasn't y/n, but I found it hard to believe. Everything about her, from her appearance to her mannerisms, reminded me of my beloved y/n. There was no way she wasn't her.
With a heavy heart, I retrieved the blue necklace from deep within my pocket. It was meant to be a gift for her before she departed, but my attempt had been in vain.
Sighing, I gently returned the gem to my pocket, knowing that the moment had passed. With one last lingering glance in the direction she had gone, I turned and walked away in the opposite direction, carrying with me the weight of missed opportunity and lingering regret.
"The next time I see her, I won't let her slip away so easily," I vowed to myself. "I'm certain Shinobu-sama will be pleased with the news I'll bring her." With determination fueling my steps, I set my sights on the task ahead, resolved to seize the opportunity the next time our paths crossed.
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