11

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"Ah~ Why have I never come here before!" I sink further into the warm water, letting it engulf my body completely.

I was made to come here specifically for the healing properties of the onsen here, but even if it doesn't heal my wound this is the most relaxed I've been in a while. I lean back on the rock, closing my eyes with a smile on my face as my hair sticks to my face from my sweat.

I then reach over, grabbing some onigiri that one of the village people so kindly made for me before I came here. I take a large bite, smiling happily at the delicious taste. As I continue to eat and relax, I fail to hear the approaching footsteps towards the onsen.

"Stupid mum and dad... how come they get to just tell me- AHHHHH!" I jump while also screaming, spinning around at the sudden scream. Standing there is a small boy and he drops a towel, quickly spinning around with his back to me as he crouches down to the ground and hugs his leg. I sigh, placing a hand over my chest as I laugh awkwardly.

"Oh... it's just a little kid..." I say softly and he doesn't dare turn around.

"W-who are you!" He yells and I giggle.

"I'm Nakahara Hanako! A demon slayer!" He slowly looks over his shoulder, intrigued.

"A demon slayer?" He mumbles and I nod happily.

"What's your name?"

"...Genji..." He says and I gasp.

"Genji I love that name! How old are you Genji?"

"I'm 6!" He says proudly.

"Uwa 6!? That's the same age as my little brother and sister!" I say and he finally turns around to fully face me.

"Really?" I nod and he stands there awkwardly.

"Were you going to take a bath Genji?" I say and he nods shyly. "You can join me! Or I can leave if you'd like?" Without hesitation, Genji strips and then cannonballs into the onsen making me squeal and laugh. He laughs with me as we both sit in the onsen together.

I get to know Genji a little, and he really is a sweet boy. His father is a swordsmith and the little boy is so excited to be able to grow up and become one as well and learn from his father!

"What's it like being a demon slayer!?" Genji says as we continue to relax in the onsen and I hum.

"Well it's very rewarding! I get to help lots of people and protect people from the bad demons..." I say and he nods enthusiastically. "It is a little difficult at times, and I do get hurt pretty often... but I think that in the end it's all worth it!" He suddenly slumps his shoulders and I tilt my head confused. "What's wrong Genji?" I say and he shrugs.

"I want to be a demon slayer... ever since mama told me about what they do, I wanna help people like you do as well!" I smile brightly, ruffling his wet hair.

"You're a little young Genji!"

"When I'm older! I wanna grow up to be like you!" I gush at his words but he crosses his arms. "Mama and papa said no though. They said that my duty is to make swords, not use them. They said it's just what I was born to do," he huffs and I frown, feeling pity for the poor boy who has a dream to help others.

"How about this... while I'm in the village waiting for my new sword, how about I train you a little and teach you some basics about fighting!" I say and immediately, he perks up and jumps up and down happily.

"Really?!" He says and I nod, matching his excitement.

"We can start tomorrow!" I say and he cheers loudly, hugging around my neck tightly making me laugh.

"Thank you miss Nakahara!" He gushes and I giggle, hugging him tightly back.

We decide to leave the onsen and we walk down back to the village in our robes. I hold his hand as he skips next to me, telling me stories about living in the village. We then make it back to his house and we part ways, and I make my way to where I'll be staying while in the village.

I'm shown to my room and provided with dinner which I eat in no time. I then decide to try and rebandage the wound on my stomach, however I struggle immensely. I clench my jaw in frustration, unable to get the bandage in the right position or keep it tight enough.

Giving up, I lay on my back and stare up at the ceiling with a glare. Not only is this stupid injury annoying me, I'm incredibly lonely right now. I'm not used to spending nights alone, when I was at home I shared a room with Asahi and Emi... and then at headquarters I share a room with Miko.

I don't think I've ever spent a night alone before?

I sit up, looking around the empty and quiet room while hugging my legs to my chest. I then become hyperaware of every single creaky floorboard or slight clutter from outside. My head whips around at any sound as the dim light from the single candle provides me little comfort.

Oh screw this I can't stay here any longer!

Haganezuka is awoken by a knocking on his door. He sits up with a grumble, fixing his mask back on his face and lighting an oil lamp.

"Who the hell is that at this time of night?" He grumbles under his breath. He stumbles over to the door, still trying to wake up as he opens it. He deadpans at the sight, half convinced that he's having some sort of nightmare.

"Hello Mr Haganezuka- W-wait!" Haganezuka goes to close the door on me as I begin speaking, but I push the door open and wedge myself between it to stop it from closing.

"What the hell do you want now!?" He says frustrated and I laugh awkwardly. "It's the middle of the night, leave me alone!" He tries to push me out, but he's only half surprised as my strength allows me to force myself in.

"W-wait just hear me out!" I plead and he crosses his arms angrily. I then hold out the bandage with a shy smile, not knowing what to expect in terms of his reaction. He just stares the bandages in my hand, then to my face, then back to the bandages. He repeats this process a few times before turning his back to me and climbing back into his futon.

"No."

"Please Mr Haganezuka! I need to dress my wound but I can't do it myself!" I sit on my knees next to his futon, but he just turns his back to me and ignores me. I sit there silently, not knowing what else to say to him to convince him to let me stay... not wanting to tell him the real reason why I'm here.

I suppose I don't have a choice... do I.

"I-It's not just that..." I whisper, staring at my lap but he makes no movement. "I don't want to stay in my room alone... in the dark... I'm afraid," my voice breaks in the middle of my sentence and I clutch my yukata tightly. It's silent for a little longer, and I accept my defeat. "I'm sorry for bothering you... goodnight-" Just before I go to leave, Haganezuka suddenly sits up with a groan. I watch as he grumbles something to himself, beginning to light numerous oil lamps to provide a dim but comfortable orange glow in the house.

"You're so annoying," he huffs, sitting back down and snatching the bandages away from me and my eyes widen with happiness.

"I can stay!?"

"Where is the wound I need to dress?!" He yells making me flinch. My smile then fades and I stumble over my words, knowing that this situation isn't exactly an easy or... normal one. "Well?!"

"It's... my stomach..." he's silent as I smile awkwardly.

"How the hell am I supposed to bandage that!?" He suddenly yells and I cover my face in my hands embarrassed.

"I'm sorry I didn't think about that!"

"No way do it yourself!" He throws the bandage back at me and I frown.

"I already tried but I can't! That's why I'm asking you!"

"Well go to the village doctor or something because I'm not doing that for you!" I groan, grabbing onto his hand but he quickly pulls it away from me.

"Please Mr Haganezuka!" I beg and he glares at me from behind his mask. I fully expect him to say no once again and shoo me away, but instead he just slumps his shoulders and grunts in annoyance, almost as if he's putting himself in pain by doing this.

"Use this to cover yourself!... annoying brat..." he grumbles the last part under his breath while throwing a blanket at me, but I just beam happily. He turns his back to me while I quickly strip my top half of the yukata, covering the bottom half of me with it and the top half with the blanket so that only my stomach is revealed.

"Ok..." I whisper and he turns around making me look away with a soft blush.

He wastes no time and says nothing, beginning to clean the wound gently. I wince a little at the pain, but shiver every now and again when his hand brushes against my skin.

Haganezuka has his breath stuck in his throat the entire time. This whole situation is so weird, and he never would've expected to be doing something so indecent like this with a client of his. I mean sure all he's doing his helping her out by dressing her wound... but for some reason it feels like more than that.

He can hear every small wince she makes, and every time she gulps. He's trying to ignore it, but how can he? Her scent from this close is a lot stronger and he can still smell the remaining onsen smell on her.

He also noticed the harsh wound on her stomach. Regardless of the fact it's been stitched, he imagines what must've happened for her to get such a severe injury such as this... and how much pain she would've been in.

"What happened?" He suddenly says making me jump slightly. I hug the blanket tighter around me, trying to think about something other than the pain.

"I guess I underestimated that demon!" I say giggling before yelping as he pulls the bandage tighter around me.

"Serves you right for breaking my sword," he hisses and I roll my eyes. "I'm done," he says turning his back to me again and waiting as I get dressed.

"Thank you," I mumble before tapping his shoulder to tell him he can turn around.

"Now go home." With that, he lays back down and I deadpan.

"E-eh!?"

"Go home!"

"B-But... the dark and... I thought you were going to let me stay here!" I whine and he waves his hand at me in dismissal making me glare at him.

"Stay here? Yeah right. As if I would let some kid stay here!"

"Kid!? I'm not a kid!" He sits up and I can feel his glare through his mask.

"What kind of demon slayer are you!? You fight man eating demons who give you wounds like that, and you can't even sleep in a dark room by yourself!?" I cross my arms.

"I've never had to before! I'm not used to it!" I say and he rubs his temples while groaning.

"You're so irritating."

"You won't even know I'm here! Please let me stay!" I hold my hands together begging and he huffs. He then stands and begins to get an extra futon for me and I watch clapping my hands happily.

"I better not see you at all tomorrow! I let you stay here tonight and you leave me alone tomorrow deal!?" He hisses as he throws the futon at me, letting me set it up myself.

"Understood!" I say saluting him, but he ignores me and climbs into his futon. I quickly set up and settle in, grinning to myself like an idiot. "I'm really hap-"

"And don't talk to me!" He quickly shuts me up and I nod, closing my eyes still smiling.

Haganezuka lays there with a frown on his face. Now because of her he has to sleep with this mask on and be uncomfortable... and he'll have to make sure no one finds out about this otherwise it'll cause a scandal... So much he has to think about now.

He then hears her gentle snores and he deadpans.

"Seriously? Not even five minutes and she's knocked out," he whispers to himself, sitting up and looking over at her.

She sleeps peacefully, her black hair sprawled out underneath her and her hands underneath her head as a pillow. He scoffs, even as she sleeps she's smiling. What a strange creature. As he just observes her a little longer, and he tilts his head.

She's actually quite beautiful... in a strange way.

Whatever, beauty won't change the fact that she's annoying.

He shakes his head, laying down and closing his eyes himself and falling asleep. The oil lamps continue to cast a yellow glow amongst them as they both sleep peacefully, and arguably better than they ever had before...