17

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crash!

Genji falls onto his bum yet again, and I stand above him with my hands on my hips and a stern face.

"You're still off balance!" I scold and he groans, falling onto his back with a huff.

"This is annoying! No matter what I do you just keep knocking me over! It's pointless!" He whines, and I just sigh, crouching down in front of him.

"Genji, you've only been training for a week now... and you've shown an amazing amount of determination and improvement for your age! If you just keep trying and keep working hard, I know that you'll be able to achieve amazing things!" I say and he sits up. I smile at him, gently patting his hair. "C'mon, let's try again ok?" I help him up, directing him to the correct positioning.

We go head to head with wooden sticks, and of course I go easy on him. Our sticks bang together as he tries his best to disarm me, or at least knock me off my balance somehow. The entire time we've been training, he's been unsuccessful... but I've been encouraging him to not give up. Of course it'll take maybe years before he's able to knock me off balance... but I don't think I should tell him that just yet...

Since we're both so focused on our training, I fail to notice Haganezuka leaning on a tree watching with amusement.

He hasn't seen much of her the past week. He's been busy forging her a new sword and she's been spending lots of her time training Genji in secret. However, she still stays at his house with him and they eat dinner and breakfast together every day... occasionally visiting the clearing at night together and sharing dessert while talking... well while she talks and he just admires. Each passing minute he spends with her his feelings grow more and more confusing. He's never felt this way about anyone before and he has no idea what to do about it. Sometimes he wishes Takahashi was still here... at least then he could ask the old man for some advice.

He hasn't been wanting to admit it, but her sword is nearly finished. Maybe two more days and it'll be complete? He knows though that as soon as her sword is finished, she'll have to go on another mission. Maybe he can argue she hasn't healed properly, even though he knows fully she's capable of returning... He'll tackle that problem when it arises, for now he just wants to poke some fun at her.

As I smirk, Genji still being unable to get the upper hand on me, until I hear someone clear their throat from behind me.

"Miss Nakahara?" Haganezuka's voice says, and immediately I turn around confused. However, because I lost my concentration Genji takes the opportunity to strike my wrists with the stick making me yelp and drop my own stick. I rub my sore wrists with a pout as Genji triumphantly runs around, jumping up and down with excitement.

"I won I won! I knocked Miss Nakahara's stick from her hands! I won I finally won!" He cheers and I blink in shock.

"E-eh!?" I yell, hearing Haganezuke laugh from behind me, finally piecing together his childish plan. "M-Mr Haganezuka!" I gasp, running over to him and hitting his arm as he laughs harder. "You cheat! You distracted me on purpose!" I whine and he just pushes me away from him, crossing his arms proudly.

"I don't know what you're talking about?" He says and I glare at him.

"Yeah! I won fair and square! I'm ready to go fight demons!" Genji yells as he runs to my side, holding his fists up and I giggle while pulling his collar back.

"Ok big stuff... I think you still have a bit of a way to go before you face demons, but you'll definitely be there in no time!" He laughs proudly, still jumping up and down with excitement.

"I have the best teacher in the world and soon I'll become a Hashira and take down the demon slayer!"

"Well when you do, make sure you tell people that Nakahara Hanako was the one who taught you everything you know, and that I'm the best demon slayer in the world! After you of course," I wink and he giggles, nodding his head.

"Yes ma'am!" He salutes me as I laugh.

"Ok, I think we can call it a day. Well done young swordsman!" I bow to him and he does the same, before running off through the forest home while still rejoicing over his... accidental... win. I just softly giggle to myself as Haganzeuka and I begin to make our way through the forest together.

"Distracting me so that Genji would win? I don't know if I should be angry that you betrayed me... or proud that you're finally getting along with Genji," I nudge his shoulder gently with mine as he scoffs, shoving me gently.

"Don't look too much into it... I just wanted you to lose!" He says and I laugh. "The fact that the brat won was coincidental!" I smile, looking down at the ground as we walk together.

"I think Genji will become an amazing demon slayer one day. He has lots of potential!" Haganezuka hums.

"You really think the kid can become something... other than what he was born into?" He says softly.

"Of course! It's not like I was born into a line of demon slayers... my family was poor and I was often told that the most helpful thing I could do for our family was to marry a wealthy man! In the end though, I became a demon slayer instead!" I laugh and he looks down at me intrigued.

"Why did you decide to become a demon slayer?" He suddenly says, and my mouth goes dry at the question. I never actually shared with anyone the reason I became a demon slayer... I haven't even fully accepted what happened myself. I've been running from it even since it happened. Maybe one day I'll share my past with someone, but that day isn't today.

"It's a long story!" I say with a smile plastered on my face. "I won't bore you with the details, let's just be happy I did become one! Otherwise I would've never met you Mr Hagaenzuka!" I say grinning, before running ahead as we come closer to his house.

He watches her as she runs off, his eyebrows furrowed. Of course he noticed how she avoided his questions. He's been watching her so much this past week that's he's sure he's learnt nearly all her mannerisms and how to tell her true emotions from them. There's something she's avoiding talking about... and he hopes that one day she'll trust him enough to share the truth.

We walk into his house, and he sits down to immediately begin work on my sword as I decide to boil some water to make some tea for us. As I do so, I hear a familiar chirp and I happily look over to the window sill to see Piiko. I run over, letting him perch on my arm as I stroke his chest lovingly.

"Hello Piiko!" I coo as he nuzzles into my touch. Haganezuka walks over out of curiosity, exchanging a glare with Piiko making me giggle. "C'mon Mr Haganezuka, don't be afraid pet him!"

"I'm not afraid! That bird is just a flying rat that's all!" He hisses and Piiko squawks angrily as I gasp.

"How could you say that! I'm sure you two can get along if you just make an effort! C'mon... for me?" I say and he glares at me, before slumping his shoulder. He slowly reaches out to Piiko, and Piiko tries to peck him making him quickly bring his hand back.

"See! Flying rat!"

"Piiko!" I scold as the bird glares at Haganezuka. "Be nice!" I say and the bird ruffles it's feathers disapprovingly before giving an obedient chirp. Haganezuka then tries again, slowly reaching out to Piiko. Piiko however, doesn't retaliate and instead lets Haganezuka gently stroke his feathers. I watch with a wide smile as the two interact, feeling a sense of warmth as I watch Haganezuka slowly relax. Once he brings his hand back, only then do I take the letter around Piiko's neck.

"A letter from Miss Kimura Miko and Mr Kimura Haku!" Piiko chirps before flying off. I gasp happily, immediately unrolling the letter and sitting down at the table to read it. Haganezuka tries to ignore his curiosity, sitting back down to resume his work as she reads silently.

Dear Hanako,We both miss you so much! We hope that you're recovering well at the swordsmith village and that you weren't given too much hassle from your swordsmith! We are eager for your return and can't wait to go on missions with you again!Piiko has been giving us your letters, we love reading them! It sounds like you're having a fun time and we can't believe that you're become friends with your crazy swordsmith! Haku is totally jealous! (I am not!) I heard that you are the demon slayer that's stayed with him the longest because his temper was just too much for others to handle... that's why you're currently his only client!Miko is such a gossiper. She has been driving me crazy, and believe it or not I miss you as well Hanako. I didn't realize that having you around made it slightly easier to put up with Miko (hey!). Anyway, hurry and return otherwise I might strangle Miko myself (not if I strangle you myself). He's right Hanako! We await your return eagerly and hope your sword will be finished soon so we can be together once more!Miko and Haku.

I giggle at the bickering even through a letter, already wanting to send a letter back.

"Mr Haganezuka?" I say and he hums. "Do you have any paper and ink I can use? I'd like to send a letter back to them!" I say and he points to where it is. I retrieve it, sitting back down to write my response.

"What... was it?" He says softly.

"My friends Haku and Miko! They were just saying that they miss me and cannot wait for my sword to be finished so that I can return home!" I say and Haganezuka feels a pang of guilt in his chest.

He didn't want to admit it... but he's been taking longer on her sword. At first he just told himself it was because he wanted it to be perfect, but he knows that the real reason is that he's just trying to keep her here longer... because she's been the only company he's had in a very long time.

"Mr Haganezuka?" I say once again and he nods, his back still to me. "Am I... your only client?" I whisper and his movements stop for a moment.

"What gives you that impression?" He quickly retorts and I look up from the paper with a slight frown.

"It's just... I heard that you don't have many clients because... you're temper?" I whisper, and I see his fists tighten around his materials making me feel horrible for saying such things. "I-I don't believe a word of it because-"

"It's true, so what?" He says and I go silent. "All the demon slayers I've been assigned to request a new swordsmith in less than a month. All because I'm rude, violent, hot-headed... intolerable. Is that a surprise to you?" He looks at me over his shoulder as I look down at the table.

"N-No-"

"Does that make you feel relieved? Now you don't have to feel like you have to keep trying to 'be my friend' or something because you're obliged to. Everyone else couldn't handle me, so go request a new swordsmith if you want!" I look at him in shock as he waves his hand in dismissal.

"Mr Haganezuka that's not-"

"You don't have to keep pretending! I know this has just been a chore for you. I'll finish this sword for you, and then we can make arrangements for a transfer. It'll make things easier for me as well because I won't have to deal with a ditzy child all the time anyway," my eyes well up as I grit my yukata.

"Is that... really what you want?" I whisper and he's silent for a bit.

"Yes."

"...Ok... I understand..."

With that, I open the door... but not before looking back at him over my shoulder. He remains seated, and I hold back my tears until I'm out of his house... and slowly making my way back to the demon slayer housing.

Haganezuka grits his teeth, hitting his head angrily. Why did he say all that? He doesn't know what came over him... just hearing those things come out of her mouth filled him with so much anger. He didn't want her to think of him that way, he didn't want her to find out that truth. So when she said all that it just made him snap and revert back to his defensive tendencies... and he might have pushed her away for good now.

His house has been silent for the rest time in awhile, and he turns to look at the paper on the table. He slowly walks over, picking it up and reading the few words she had begun to write... his stomach twisting into a knot of dread as he does.

Dear Miko and Haku!I miss you two as well so much! I also cannot wait to see you and go back on missions, but I admit I've been having so much fun here! Everyone is so friendly and welcome and I've made so many new friends, including Mr Haganezuka!I don't know about those rumors you heard... but that doesn't sound like the Haganezuka I know at all! Sure he can be a little aggressive sometimes, but he is one of the kindest people I've ever met! He's very kind to me and I love talking to him and spending time with him. I am very happy that he's my swordsmith, and I couldn't ask for a better one

His hands fall to his side, as he's convinced he's just pushed away the best thing to ever happen to him.