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"This is your fault..!"
"I told her to move out of the way, and she didn't listen. How, may I ask, is this my fault?"
"Guys..."
"Everyone, please, calm down..there are patients-"
"You were sent on a mission together. That means looking out for one another!"
"Then she should've listened to what I had to say. Just be grateful I had the kindness to carry her back all that way."
Iguro scoffed, pulling his arm away from Mitsuri's grip, of whom was in a bed in the middle of a small room in the Butterfly estate.
After Mitsuri had passed out at their mission, the other hashira had carried her back all the way from the butterfly estate, to where they found Iguro, Sanemi and Shinobu. When she arrived with Mitsuri in her arms, immediately she was questioned by Iguro.
When the duo began arguing, Mitsuri had woken up and was helped to sit up by Shinobu as Sanemi stood at Iguro's side, his arms crossed over his chest. He scoffed. ""The kindness"? What, you think you're above us, or something?"
She turned to him harshly, meeting his glare of irritation and speaking without hesitation. "In fact, yes. I'd say I'm far more useful than any of you in this room." she scoffed at the thought, rolling her eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled.
"Wanna test that theory?" Sanemi growled, cracking his knuckles and making his way towards her, ready to fight. The woman remained where she stood, staring him down and refusing to show any sort of reaction to him as he approached.
"Shinazugawa!" Kanroji cried out from her place on her bed, flinching to step in, but knowing she would be useless. "She's right! She told me to move, and I didnt!" she cried out, waving her hands and trying anything to get his attention.
"There. You heard it from her." (y/n) spoke up, raising a brow and gesturing to the girl lying in the bed. "At least she doesn't have the foolishness to question me."
From a nearby window, three young boys watched with their heads poking up to watch the scene, all curious about the commotion inside the building, to which they could hear outside.
Tanjiro was the first to speak up, brows furrowing. "Who is that woman...I've never seen her before." He mumbled, humming to himself in thought.
Zenitsu turned to him and tilted his head. "You don't know? She's the new hashira that had to replace Rangoku..." he soon sighed, turning to look through the window and give a small glare to the woman. "Though, I doubt she is a worthy replacement..Acting all high and mighty above others.."
"Must you simpletons be so thin minded to think any of you have the capabilities to face me?" (y/n) gave a mocking laugh, shaking her head with a cruel smirk on her face. "Utterly ridiculous."
Sanemi flinched, letting out a small cry and trying to launch himself at her, but as he did, Shinobu stepped between them, a deadly glint in her eye as she watched the duo. "I believe that is quite enough." she spoke, looking between the two of them in annoyance. "There are patients in this estate, and they certainly won't heal any faster now that you have gotten into a quarrel." she sighed. "Out. All of you."
(Y/n) scoffed, immediately moving past all of them and brushing shoulders with the white haired man with a huff. "I would've left earlier if not for the imbecile standing in my way." she muttered as she pushed the doors open and walked through, leaving the door to close behind her with a thud. Sanemi felt his brow twitch.
As she left, Tanjiro watched, a sense of disappointment flooding through his mind. She was the one to take Kyojuro's place in all this? Tanjiro wasn't one to judge character- not at all- but, something about this woman filled him with a pit of dread filling his stomach, and yet...he could still smell sadness as she left. In fact, he smelt it through the whole argument. But by the way she was speaking, she knew how to really hide her feelings...he couldn't determine if that was a good or bad thing..
"I kinda feel sorry for him, you know.." Zenitsu suddenly spoke, causing Tanjiro and Insosuke to turn towards him and tilt their heads.
Tanjiro furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"
Zenitsu shrugged, turning away from the window and letting out a sigh. "I guess...to have someone like her to replace someone like him...it kinda puts shame to him, dont you think?"
"Well, we don't know that for sure.." Tanjiro spoke, following after the Yellow boys' actions.
Inosuke remained staring through the window. "All of them...so strong.."
Zenitsu felt his brow twitch at Tanjiro's words. "Did you see what I saw!? She spoke down on them like little slaves for her to toy with! How do you think she'd treat us if she saw us, huh- HUUUUH?!" he cried out, grinding his teeth and gripping at his hair.
"Well, we can't assume. That would be rude..." he sighed out, looking to the ground. He had to admit, she was quite rude to the others back there. But, at the same time, she was completely in the right. If she told Kanroji to move and she didn't, really, the blame is not hers...but, morally, she is on very thin ice. "I suppose we just have to see what happens, right?" he smiled.
Zenistu sighed, staring at Tanjiro. He was too kind for his own good. "Yeah, yeah.."
Suddenly, the trio paused in place when they heard a young girl call the name of the woman they were just mumbling about, and they all turned to where the voice came from.
From across the garden a young girl stood under a wisteria tree, a big grin on her face as she waved out into the gardens, a look of excitement flashing through her (e/c) eyes. Her (h/c) hair was tied into a bun at the back, one decorated with jewellery and accessories only beheld by the rich. The girl seemed to be the trio's age, and yet she looked so much...more innocent than any of them. She still had a bright light in her eye, and she wore only the finest kimono.
The boys couldn't help but stare.
"(Y/n)! Over here!" she cried out, a grin over her features as she called.
And, from the path, the woman emerged.
The trio immediately snapped out of it, Tanjiro flinching and grabbing the other two boys hands to try and get them to leave, but he couldn't help but freeze at the sight he witnessed between the two girls before they left.
The woman, who was just yelling at another with a tone of spite and the most nonchalant look Tanjiro had probably ever seen, was grinning.
She smiled widely, opening her arms wide for the younger girl to jump into, wrapping her arms around the woman's neck and hugging her close.
Zenitsu slowly turned to Tanjiro, a look of pure shock over his face and his jaw practically hitting the floor. He glanced at the woman, then back at tanjiro. To the woman, back at tanjiro. To the woman, back to tanjiro. "WHA-"
Tanjro was quick to cover his mouth, pushing him behind the closest bush for them to hide behind, and dragging Inosuke down with them, causing the boy to let out a small cry before he thudded to the ground.
The two females paused in their hug, the older one narrowing her eyes at the spot the boys had just disappeared behind, letting out a small hum before turning back to her sister and smiling once more.
"(y/n)! Do you like my new Kimono! Its the one you always used to try and get me to buy!" she exclaimed, pulling away before doing a small spin and letting out a giggle, a grin on her face.
The woman nodded, crossing her arms over her chest and looking down at the girl with a soft gaze. "Yes, I think it looks lovely." She took a step towards the girl and then leaned down to softly adjust a small clip in her hair that had faltered in her spin. "But, try to be careful. Wouldn't want it to get dirty, Himari."
And, in that moment, all Tanjro could smell was the scent of love- a sisterly bond- stronger than one he had ever felt before.
"But, Himari...why are you here?" the woman inquired, tilting her head and tucking a small strand of hair behind her sister's ear. "Surely, you're busy with your new role.."
Himari let out a small nervous chuckle, scratching the back of her head and turning away from her sister's gaze. "well...I heard what happened on your mission, and I needed to see if you were alright.." she sighed, giving her sister a glance of empathy. "you cant do this all by yourself, you know.."
She sighed, shaking her head and softly grabbing Himari's nose, forcing the younger girl to let out a gasp through her mouth, now unable to breathe through her nose. "What did I say about doing this...I'll be fine. You have to take care of yourself and the work. You know It's a great honour." she hummed, raising her brows to give a knowing look.
Himari struggled, her hands trying to pull her older sister's hands away for her to breathe properly. "W-well, you know how boring it can get-!"
The woman raised a brow, all before letting go of the girl's nose, allowing her to breathe freely and properly again. The girl huffed. "Yes, but it isn't so bad when you get used to it." she gave a reassuring smile. "Sometimes, you can even find things that can help you."
The young girl gasped out, her grin returning. "Like how you managed to find a way to create explosions like you do!"
"..sure..." she deadpanned, but then snapped back into reality when she noticed something off. "Himari..?"
"Hmm?"
"Where is your necklace?"
"...."
"....Himari..."
Himari let out a whine, pouting at her sister. "Oh, come onnnn! It's so heavy!"
The woman put her hands on her hips, looking down at her little sister and giving a stern look. "And, it's a family heirloom, worn by the leaders of each section of our clan. You know this..."
The young girl looked away and huffed. "But...mother never wore it..."
At the mention of their mother, Tanjiro felt a sudden shift in the air, and the woman didn't speak for a moment, as if trying to find the words. "Because she didn't have the strength to." she mumbled, moving to slowly take her sister's hand and sigh.
"What about Daichi?"
The woman blinked at the name, before shaking her head at Himari. "Because your older brother didn't have a chance to. You know what happened, don't act dumb, Himari.."
The young girl puffed her cheeks in a pout, looking away as she felt her older sister give her hand a small squeeze. "It's so unfair.."
(y/n) smiled, nodding her hand before she let go of her hand and patted her head. "I know." she gestured to the path towards their home and cupped her sister's cheek. "Now, go home. I'll be home tomorrow afternoon, okay? I bet Saito is worried sick."
Himari chuckled softly, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, he probably is.." she giggled to herself before she jumped into her sister's arms one more time, giving one small hug and then turning on her heel to run down the path, only to stumble over her feet, and then moving in a speedwalk.
Tanjiro took this time to think to himself at what he had just heard, paying no mind to Zenitsu beside him, who was silently gushing over the girl named Himari and how cute she was.
Tanjiro couldn't help but think...they reminded him of him and Nezuko. It was clear that the older one of the two wanted nothing more than the best for her sister and her family, and, not to mention, she acted like a completely different person when around others...just like Tanjiro, they both wanted to protect their younger siblings-
"What are you doing? Why were you listening to me and my sister?"
The trio froze when the suddenly felt a very harsh chill run down their spine, a shadow slowly making its way over them. They looked up, meeting a harsh (e/c) gaze, to which they all flinched.
Zenitsu cried, gripping onto Tanjiro and hiding behind his body. "AAAAAGH! DON'T KILL USSSS! I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!"
Meanwhile, Inosuke finally stood to his feet, placing a thumb to his chest and puffing out his chest. "FIGHT ME RIGHT NOW, HASHIRA! PROVE TO ME YOU DESERVE SUCH A TITLE! OR, ARE YOU TOO WEAK?!"
(Y/n) grimace at the actions of the other two boys, a look of disgust crossing over her features before she turned to Tanjiro, seeming to be the only normal one in the group. "Well?" She crossed her arms.
Tanjiro flinched at her gaze, and struggled to get Zenitsu away from him and met her gaze (very reluctantly). "I-Im sorry, miss! Truly, we meant no harm!"
She raised a brow. "Hiding behind a bush doesn't help your story."
Tanjiro flinched at that, Zenitsu trembling behind him. "I-Im sorry! Truly, we didn't mean to eavesdrop!"
She only scoffed, rolling her eyes and turning on her heel to walk away. "I recommend you don't do it again."
And, in a blink of an eye, she had disappeared from sight.
Zenitsu cried. "AND I WAS STARTING TO THINK SHE WAS NIIIICE."
"HEY WHERE ARE YOU GOING?! FIGHT MEEEE!"
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