–––––––––
chapter fourteen
☁️ first mission ☁️
––––––––––
▪︎
"say yes to heaven.."
"say yes to me?"
▪︎
IT WAS A SUNNY SUNDAY morning and Kaori attached her nichirin sword to the white belt of the corp's uniform. She stared into the tall rectangular mirror, seeing how her shoulders down to the detached sleeves of her uniform were a little too revealing.
'Ah... the sleeves are a bit...'
'I bet this is Kanroji-san's idea... there's no way Kocho-san would let this pass... and the pants...' She looked around, trying to find something to cover it up and that's when she spotted something in the corner of her eyes.
It was the haori that she had for a long time, the familiar black and crimson red fabric. Her eyes turned hazy and blank when she saw the haori. 'Ah... that...'
"It's cold you might get sick. You should wear something that covers your body during nighttime, Kaori."
"You can have that," The six-eyed demon exclaimed, coating the small figure of the girl with the oversized haori.
"Really?? It's very pretty so no takebacks!!"
"Sheesh... I thought I got rid of everything related to him..." Kaori sighed, crossing her arms as she eyed the haori. "But I don't have anything else to use at the moment so..."
Kaori grabbed the haori and tried it on, it still fit since the haori was big. The haori isn't that long, it only reached her upper thighs, covering her belt and a small portion of her pants.
However, the sleeves were still loose and big but they only reached slightly above her wrist – it was still comfortable for her to move around. "Ah well... I could use this for the meantime..."
The once small white ragdoll cat that the girl owned had grown bigger, he pushed his soft furry head against Kaori's leg while meowing softly. Kaori gazed downwards – seeing the adorable feline's face.
"Hmm, Sho?" She hummed, crouching down and petting the feline's head as it purred. "Wah... you've grown quite a bit now~!"
She giggled softly when the little feline dropped onto the floor, rolling on the ground – showing her his furry belly. "You better eat well, alright? You're so cute~"
Kaori rubs the cat's belly, feeling the soft vibration of his chest due to the purrs. She got up with a relieved smile, "Well then, I'll go greet Kocho-san. I'll play with you later, Sho!"
Kaori got out of her room, closed the door behind her and started walking to the entrance. "Tomioka-sama!! I'm going to go to the butterfly mansion!!"
She yelled, knowing that the water hashira could hear her from upstairs with his keen hearing. She put on her zori which has dark crimson wood and black straps. She opened the door of the mansion and got out, closing the door behind her.
As she headed out, light flutters turned into heavy ones as they got closer towards Kaori who glanced to the side – seeing the familiar crow flying towards her. She brought he index finger up as the crow landed there.
"Caw! Caw!!" It cawed, "Tsugikuni-sama!! First mission!! Caw!! Head to the west, a village called Embella!! Young women of the village have gone missing!!!"
Kaori nodded, a small tug on the corner of her mouth as the bird cawed. "Caw! You'll have a mission with the other young slayer!!! Caw! Tokito Muichiro!!! Head to the butterfly estate!!!"
"Huh?" Kaori hummed, surprised by the familiar name mentioned by the crow. "Muichiro-kun? Is he going to be my partner for this mission?... oh well..."
"Right, crow... I haven't come up with a name for you yet, did I?" The kasugai crow nodded its head, causing.
"Hmm... are you a male or a female?"
"I'm a male!! Caw caw!!!" He responded, fluttering his wings – annoyed that the girl didn't recognize his gender.
"Male..." Kaori hummed as she started walking, "What about... Kuro? There's a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
The kasugai crow's eyes widened a bit, "I love it!! Caw!!! Thank you Tsugikuni-sama!!!"
It chimed before finally flying away from the white-haired girl who continued to walk towards the butterfly mansion.
When Kaori arrived at the mansion, she spotted the familiar long-haired boy gazing blankly towards the sky and a familiar black-purple-haired lady who stood beside the boy with a small smile.
The boy's long black hair that ended with mint green tips hue draped over his shoulders down to his back as he gazed upwards at the skies. His hazy mint green irises locked on the blue skies blankly.
'It seems like Muichiro-kun had received his uniform and nichirin sword too...' Kaori told herself as she observed the loose and oversized uniform that had a slight navy blue tint to it. It was just a bit oversized.
"Oh! Kocho-san! Muichiro-kun!!"
Shinobu waved her hand calmly, closing her eyes as she smiled at the white-haired girl who approached them. "Hello Kaori-san... I heard that Tokito-kun have a joint mission with you?"
"Yeah, we do," Kaori replied, staring at the long-haired boy who was still inside his la-la-land.
"Anyways Kocho-san, thank you for the uniform! It's nice~"
Shinobu let out a soft chuckle, "Don't worry about that, Kaori-san~... the design for the hole on your pants and the sleeves is Kanroji's idea- hoho~ although if you're not comfortable..."
"Tell me so I can burn it again." A dark aura appeared from the small lady who grinned calmly towards Kaori who smiled sheepishly.
"No, don't worry, I like it."
"If that's so..." Shinobu sighed, "By the way, Tokito-kun here has a slight problem from an accident back then. He suffers amnesia so he might forget things easily, so please don't get offended if he doesn't remember your name..."
Kaori's crimson-red orbs widened as she looked at the air-headed boy, "Amnesia? No wonder... but I met him back then before the exam and he still remembers my name, isn't that right Muichiro-kun?"
Muichiro who heard the familiar voice mentioning his name quickly snapped away from his la-la-land and looked at her – gazing into her familiar gorgeous red eyes that he remembered.
"Kaori-san?"
Shinobu widened her eyes when the long-haired boy mentioned the white-haired girl's name correctly without thinking further.
Kaori waves her hand shortly, "Hi."
"Hello..." He responded.
"Oh wow... you're right Kaori-san..." Shinobu gasped silently, "That's a miracle..! To this day he still doesn't remember my name even though I told him many times... but he remembers yours when you told him once!"
"Wah... how did you do it, Kaori-san?" Shinobu asked the white-haired girl who pursed her lips.
"I don't know, Kocho-san... maybe Muichiro-kun is getting better? I simply told him my name."
"Ah... is that so..." Shinobu sweatdropped, closing her eyes with a small smile that she always puts on.
'I've tried all sorts of things and methods to try and get Tokito-kun to remember at least one name but he can't.'
"Ah, Muichiro-kun." Kaori turns to the boy, "Let's go now... Kocho-san, we'll get going now!!"
Kaori took the boy's hand – catching him by surprise as she guided him.
"Where are we going..?" He asked, feeling unbothered by how the girl's holding his hand.
Kaori turned her head slightly to look at the boy who was already looking at her, "Embella Village, West."
"Oh..." He murmured, "I thought it was east..."
Kaori smiles, "It's alright, eventually you'll learn to remember things again, Muichiro-kun."
Muichiro stares at her, blinking once in a while. Kaori looked upwards as she heard faint wings flatterings, just as what she thought – Kuro came soaring towards her, landing on her shoulder.
"Nice Kuro, I was looking for you~!"
"Caw!! I'll guide you there, Tsugikuni-sama!!" He cawed, fluttering his wings to adjust it slightly.
"Kuro, do you have a keen sense of hearing?" Kaori asked out of the topic that took the bird by surprise when she asked that question at first.
"Well... caw!! I do!! I have the best hearing!!! I can hear things from miles away!! That's how I know things about missions!!" Kuro replied, squawking. "Why ask?"
"I have an idea, so you can come whenever I need you to." Kaori hummed, letting go of Muichiro's hand – making him look at her. "I'll whistle this tune."
Kaori placed her thumb and index finger into her mouth, making a circle as she let out a clean and quite loud whistle that rang a certain tune she made. Kuro nodded, "I got it, Tsugikuni-sama! I'll lead you to the village now!"
As the crow soared into the sky, leading the way from above the sky – the two young slayers followed the bird from below.
'I'm excited and nervous... this is my first mission and I can't make a bad expression for Muichiro-kun...' Kaori gulped nervously as the boy stole glances towards her.
Suddenly, warm fingers made their way to her hand – engulfing her hand. Kaori turned her head towards the unbothered boy who continued walking. Muichiro looks at her from the corner of his eyes.
"I'm nervous." He lied, wanting to have an excuse to hold her hand but his lie seemed to work as Kaori nodded. He was too unfazed that his lie was not detectable.
"I see... I'm nervous too..."
"Hmm..."
——— ☁ ———
author's note:
hi everyonee, this is the first scene where mui shows his interest towards kaori physically~~ do you guys like these kind of things?? recommend me scenes for the next chapters if you guys have any ideas!! enjoy the book y'all
——— ☁️ ———