9

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"... there was even this one time when screamed so loud our neighbors thought she was dying! All because mother and father told her she couldn't eat any more of the food they made!" I listen fondly as Haku tells me about his childhood stories with Miko. We just finished a mission and now we're taking this opportunity to wander around a village on the way back to headquarters.

It's been a few weeks since Haganezuka delivered the news about Takahashi's passing. I haven't seen him since then, but I've continued to write to him every day. Even though I have yet to receive a response. I admit, I have been missing him. We shared such a close moment with each other that night and I feel closer to him than before... but I just hope he feels the same. I cannot be sure about whether I'm over thinking this, but I like to think one of my greatest strengths is not thinking and just doing!

"Hanako? Are you listening?" I'm snapped out of my daydream by Haku shaking my shoulder gently.

"Hm? Sorry what were you saying?" I say with wide eyes and he raises an eyebrow. He then sighs, handing me an onigiri with a perplexed look on his face.

"You've been so distracted lately, has something happened?" He says and I quickly shake my head.

"Nothing at all! Keep talking I'm listening this time!" I try and reassure him, taking a large bite of the onigiri and he shakes his head with an amused grin.

"As I was saying... one of my most recent missions left my sword in such a bad shape that when I went to the swordsmith village it was the first time I was actually scolded by my swordsmith!" I took a while for his words to sink in, but when they did my eyes practically popped out of my head and I nearly choked on my onigiri. He looks at me confused as I cough violently.

"W-what did you say!?" I say with a shocked look, and he leans back slightly confused by my actions.

"I was scolded by my swordsmith for the first time?"

"No no before that!"

"...I went to the swordsmith village?"

"You've been!?" I grab his shoulders tightly and he winces slightly from my strong grip.

"Yeah what of it?" He says, trying to squirm free out of my tight grasp.

"What's it like!? Tell me tell me!" I pester him and he deadpans.

"O-OK! Only if you let go because I think my shoulders are about to bruise..." I laugh awkwardly while letting go, dusting off his shoulders for him while waiting eagerly for him to tell me about the village I've been dying to visit.

"Why do you want to know about it so badly anyway?" He grimaces, rubbing his shoulders while wincing and I shrug beginning to walk with my hands behind my back.

"I'm just curious!" I say smiling and he rolls his eyes.

"Well you'll be disappointed then... it's really just like any other village," he looks at me, expecting me to drop the subject, however I just remain with wide and curious eyes so he sighs and tries desperately to think of something interesting to tell me about it. "Well... I was blindfolded so I couldn't see the way... and a Kakushi carried me on their back so that I wouldn't remember the way either. When I got there, it was surrounded by mountains and forest and everyone there was wearing a Hyottoko mask to conceal their identity. Each person has their own duty, whether it's forging swords or making training equipment for demon slayers..." He describes the place and I listen with awe.

"I wish I could visit..." I say dreamily and he scoffs.

"I'm surprised you haven't been heaps of times!" I look at him confused and he snickers. "Usually demon slayers go there when they need a new sword and their swordsmith won't deliver one for them, or they're awaiting for the sword to be finalized. Judging from how many swords you've broken, I would've thought you'd become a frequent visitor!" I furrow my eyebrows.

"Mr Takahashi always delivered my swords to me... I didn't even know I was allowed to go to the village!" I say and he shrugs.

"Well they prefer to have few visitors for safety reasons, but one or two visitors didn't hurt. Besides, the higher ranked demon slayers often go there to use the elite training equipment!" I frown, trying to think of a reason to convince them to let me visit. "Who knows, maybe if you break enough swords your new swordsman will be a jerk and refuse to deliver them and make you go get them," he says, making my eyes light up.

"Hey you're right-" I then pause, remembering what happened last time I broke a sword on purpose... and how angry Haganezuka was with me. "N-No... I shouldn't break another sword..." I huff, kicking a rock with a glum face and Haku furrows his eyebrows confused.

"I mean... they have a lot on onsen's around their village which are said to have very strong healing properties so sometimes demon slayers go there after battles to relax and rejuvenate? Of course I'm not encouraging you to get hurt! But you are quite clumsy and it is a pretty common occurrence so... that's another option?" My eyes light up once again, and I look at him with a smile.

"Really! I'd be allowed to go then!" I say happily and he nods. "Haku thank you! You're so smart!" I squeal, flinging my arms around his neck and hugging him. He stumbles over his words, his arms firm by his side as he laughs awkwardly as I pull away. He looks away with a red face as I hurry back to headquarters, excited for my next mission and the potential of being able to visit the swordsmith village!

-

Miko and I assist in the kitchen as the workers are preparing dinner. We all giggle, cooking together which is a common thing most nights that we're here.

"Haku and mine older sister is getting married!" Miko whines and we all gasp in excitement.

"That's so exciting!" I gush and she grimaces.

"No it's not! I'm already 17 and because I'm a demon slayer, I have no hope of ever finding a husband for myself!" She huffs and I roll my eyes at her. "I mean what man wants a swordsman as a wife! Not to mention how tall I am and how big my arms and legs are, I'll probably scare all of them away!"

"Miko! Don't say that you know that you're beautiful!" I say and she huffs, pushing her hair from her face. "Besides, if I was a man I'd be on my knees and begging for your hand in marriage!" I say winking and she giggles.

"Me too!" The other girls chime in and I snicker, rolling up my sleeves and crossing my arms.

"Oh yeah? Well you'd have to get through me if you ever wanted to get to my beloved Miko!" I draw my imaginary sword, pointing it at the young girls as they giggle. "It would be a fight to the death!" I yell and the squeal as I begin to playfully chase them around the kitchen. I catch the youngest girl and she laughs as I scoop her up into my arms, tickling her making her squirm and yelp. "Do you surrender?" I say with a smirk and she shakes her legs while crying from laughter.

"I surrender I surrender!" She gasps and I grin proudly, letting her onto the ground as she pants. Miko giggles at the sight before frowning slightly.

"Even as a demon slayer Hanako, I'm sure all the men you meet would gladly take you as their wife," she says and I shrug. "I mean you're 18, even older than me... don't you ever think about getting married and having a family?" She says and I hum, beginning to cut the vegetables before giggling.

"Of course I do! I would love to... but my duty as a demon slayer is to protect humans until I die. How can I raise a family if every day I cannot guarantee my safe return?" I smile and her and she frowns.

"What about before you joined the demon slayer corps... I'm sure at least one man asked for your hand... I mean you're beautiful and kind and everything anyone would want!" She says and I blush shaking my head.

"Well I'll tell you a secret... back in my village a lot of the men turned their noses up at me," I whisper as all the younger girls move in closer with wide eyes.

"Eh!?" They all yell at the same time and I giggle.

"You're lying!" Miko says and I shake my head.

"It's true! My village thought that I was a strange girl. I was always adventurous and would come home with torn and muddy clothes. I was also very careless and would often break things and cause trouble... People would say I acted more like a boy than a girl, so even if I didn't become a demon slayer I doubt I would've had any luck finding a husband!" I giggle and the girls look at me in disbelief.

"But big sister! You don't remind me of a boy!" The youngest girl says and I giggle, picking her up and hugging her as she giggles.

"Thank you Yumiko!" I gush and she smiles brightly at me.

"That's so cruel of them to say!" Miko frowns and I ruffle her hair with a reassuring smile.

"I don't mind! If I got married then I never would've become a demon slayer and met all of you! Besides I don't need a family of my own, you all are like my daughters and little sisters!" They all look at me with teary eyes, and before I know it I'm being tackled by all the young girls as they hug me tightly... even Miko joining in. I laugh being suffocated by them as they laugh as well.

"What on earth is going on in here?" Haku says coming in with wide eyes and I sit up, still being smothered by the girls.

"Oh hello Haku! We're making dinner!" I say and he raises an eyebrow.

"Are you sure... it doesn't look like it?" He says and we all giggle. He then sighs, coming over and helping me out of the group hug and back onto my feet and I dust myself off. I smile at him as a thanks and he rolls his eyes, fixing up my haori back on my shoulders while rolling his eyes.

"Uwa~ Haku and Hanako are like a couple!" One of the girls say and we both look at her shocked. Haku quickly brings his hands behind his back and I giggle as Miko gags.

"Yes yes! They look like a mum and dad!" Yumiko says and I put my hands on my hips as Haku blushes while looking to the side.

"Come on you guys! Just like you all are my little sisters, Haku is just like my little brother!" I pinch his cheek while laughing and he deadpans as the girls all laugh at him.

"I'm only a year younger!" He hisses and I continue to ruffle his hair until he smacks my hand away with a huff.

"Haku Haku! Come help us cook!" One of the girls say as she grabs his sleeve, dragging him over. He gives in, smiling as he begins to help the young girls with their chores. I watch with a smile, and Miko joins my side.

"Was everything you said really true? Was your village really that cruel to you?" She whispers and I shake my head.

"They weren't cruel to me... they just didn't understand me! That's why I'm so happy to have a family here, who I can be myself around with no judgement!" I say and she smiles, leaning her head on my shoulder.

"You'll find a man one day who loves you for you Hananko, trust me," she says and I hold her hand tightly.

"So will you Miko. I know it."