70
(Sorry for the wait I was writing the chapter anyways enjoy! :D)
You pushed open the doors to the Butterfly Mansion, the quiet night air brushing your skin, you barely had time to take a breath before someone launched themselves at you.
“Y/NNNN!!! HEY!!”
You blinked just in time to see a blur of pink and green hair as Mitsuri wrapped her arms around you tightly.
“AHH!—Hi??” you squeaked, arms flailing before hugging her back. “Hello there! What are you doing here, Mitsuri?”
She pulled back with a smile so bright it could rival the moonlight. “I came to visit you earlier! But Shinobu said you went out with Giyuu… so I waited!”
Your head tilted in confusion, then softened. “Waited for me? Awww, you’re so sweet, Mitsuri!”
She giggled, cheeks slightly flushed. “Of course I did! I missed you.”
You slung an arm around her shoulders as you both started walking inside. “Missed me? Girl, I’m about to melt. You’re so freaking cute..”
Mitsuri laughed, her eyes warm but a little shy. “You always say the weirdest things.”
“And you always look like you walked out of a pastel goddess catalog,” you teased, bumping your hip into hers. “It’s unfair.”
She giggled again, but her heart was beating faster than she’d like to admit. “You flatter me too much.”
“Impossible. If I flatter you too much, then I’d be arrested for excessive truth-telling,yk?” you said dramatically, dragging her toward the porch. “C’mon, let’s sit out for a bit.”
The two of you plopped down just outside the doors, the soft lantern light glowing over your faces. Crickets chirped, the wind rustled faintly, and for a second, everything was calm.
Mitsuri leaned against your shoulder.
“Y/N,” she murmured.
“Hm?”
“I’m really glad I waited.”
You gave her a warm, sleepy smile. “Yeah? I’m glad you did too. It’s nice… ending the day with you.”
She smiled back, hiding the way her fingers curled a little tighter in her lap.
You didn’t notice. You were too busy staring up at the stars.
Mitsuri smiled softly, leaning her head just a little closer to your shoulder. The night air was cool, but the lantern light wrapped you both in a comforting glow.
“You always say the funniest things, Y/N,” she murmured, her voice light and warm.
You nudged her gently. “Only for you, Mitsuri.”
She giggled, then glanced up at the stars. “It’s nice… just being here. No missions, no worries.”
“Yeah,” you agreed, breathing in the peaceful silence. “Sometimes, that’s all you need.”
For a moment, you both sat quietly, content with the stillness.
Mitsuri’s fingers twitched, barely brushing yours, but she pulled back before you noticed.
You caught her eye and grinned. “You okay?”
She blinked, cheeks tinged pink. “Yeah! Just… thinking.”
You chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, I’m used to your daydreaming.”
She laughed too, the sound like a melody.
The two of you stayed out a little longer, talking about everything and nothing — the kind of easy conversation that felt like a warm blanket on a chilly night.
When it was finally time to head inside, Mitsuri squeezed your hand lightly. “Thanks for hanging out with me, Y/N.”
“Anytime,” you said, smiling wide. “You’re the best.”
After a few more minutes of soft laughter and shared stories, Mitsuri stretched and yawned, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“I should probably head back,” she said softly..
You nodded, a small smile tugging at your lips. “Yeah, it’s getting late.”
She stood, and you helped her up, their fingers brushing briefly. That small touch sent a quiet warmth through her
As she gathered her things, Mitsuri looked back with a shy grin. “Thanks for tonight,
Y/n!..I really needed this.”
“Me too,” you replied, your voice warm and sincere.
She hesitated a moment, then waved as she turned to leave down the lantern-lit path. “See you tomorrow?”
“Definetly!!” you said, watching her walk away, her figure softly illuminated by the glowing lamps.
After that,you quickly changed out of your outfit and flopped down on your bed, drifting off to sleep.
𝑰𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎...
You blinked yourself awake, eyes adjusting to the light and the sight of Yoriichi standing over you with a full bucket of water.
"...Seriously?" you mumbled, sitting up slowly. "You were about to throw that on me, weren’t you?"
Yoriichi paused, then casually tossed the bucket aside like it was no big deal.
"Me? What? Nooo," he said, way too quickly. "Why would I do that?"
You squinted at him. "Right."
Stretching your arms with a groan, you sighed. "So… training?"
He gave a short nod. "Yes. Time to begin."
You frowned a little. "Then why don’t you ever train me in real life? Isn’t that, y’know… more effective?"
He crossed his arms, eyes thoughtful. "Because this is your dream. Everything here is shaped by your mind. If you learn to fight in this space, your spirit gets stronger. And your spirit leads your body."
"Okay, but like… I can’t even feel pain here properly. No sore muscles, no sweat. It’s weird."
"Real strength comes when the body and mind grow together. This place strengthens your will. But yes..you’ll need the physical, too."
You groaned again, flopping back down. "Why not both then? Dream training, real-life training… boom, I become the strongest person alive."
That got the faintest smile out of him. "Ambitious. I respect that. We’ll do both. But for now—focus here."
You sat up again, brushing your hair back. "Fine. Let’s get this over with."
He stepped back and raised a hand, preparing to start the session.
You narrowed your eyes. "And if you so much as look at another bucket of water—"
Yoriichi actually chuckled. "Noted."
You stretched your arms above your head, cracking your neck as Yoriichi took a few steps back.
"Alright," you muttered, brushing dust off your clothes. "Physical training first, right? Since I suck at Sun Breathing?"
"You don’t ‘suck,’" Yoriichi said evenly. "You’re simply unrefined."
"Gee, thanks, Coach," you replied, deadpan. "Totally boosting my confidence here."
He gestured to the open space around you. "Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Focus on your core. Breathe naturally."
You did as told, rolling your eyes slightly. "If I hear the words 'breathe naturally' one more time, I’m gonna start breathing abnormally out of spite."
He ignored you.
"The foundation of strength starts with control," he said. "You want to use Sun Breathing. But you can’t even hold your stance for more than two minutes without wobbling."
You narrowed your eyes. "Okay, rude."
But he was right.
Yoriichi stepped behind you, lightly tapping your back. "Straighten. You lean too much forward."
You corrected yourself, legs already burning just from holding the form. "Why does this hurt? This is a dream. Why does it hurt?"
"Because your mind knows what it should feel like. It adapts," he said calmly. "That pain is your spirit remembering the body."
"Yeah, well, my spirit is a drama queen," you hissed through gritted teeth.
The stance held for another minute before your legs gave out and you collapsed like a poorly made Jenga tower.
Yoriichi watched silently, arms folded.
You lay flat on your back, panting. "I literally fought an uppermoon.And this is what breaks me?"
"Posture is often harder than battle," he replied, unfazed. "Now get up."
"Can’t we skip to sword swings or something fun?"
"No. You swing with a weak foundation, you learn sloppily. Again."
Groaning, you pushed yourself up and into the stance once more.
Over the next hour or however dream time worked you repeated the basic forms. Posture. Breath control. Slow movement drills. You were sweating like crazy even though it was a dream, muscles shaking with each rep.
At one point, he finally handed you a sword.
"Now. Try the first form."
You gripped the hilt, exhaled, and attempted a basic arc.
It was… okay. Ish.
Yoriichi tilted his head. "Better. But you hesitated."
"I didn’t—"
"You questioned yourself halfway through. That’s hesitation."
You groaned. "How do you know everything?!"
He was quiet for a moment, then looked at you. "Because I’ve made every mistake you're about to make. Thousands of times. Alone."
You paused. The air felt heavier.
"...That sucks," you said gently.
"It taught me patience." He met your eyes. "Something you desperately lack."
You snorted. "Fair."
You swung again, this time firmer. Cleaner. It felt better.
Yoriichi gave the tiniest nod. "Again."
And so, the training continued. Repetition. Sweat. Pain.
Your arms were dead. Your legs were shaking. And yet, you were still standing.
Barely.
Yoriichi finally stepped forward, his expression unreadable as always. "We’ll begin with Sun Breathing now."
You blinked. "You mean I earned the right to struggle at the next level?"
"You’ve built enough discipline to attempt the First Form."
"Yay. A reward in the form of pain," you muttered, brushing your sweaty bangs back. "Let’s do this, sensei of suffering."
He handed you your sword again, the edge shimmering faintly in the dreamlike light. You inhaled slowly, already overthinking.
"First Form: Dance," Yoriichi said. "Let me show you."
And then he moved.
You didn’t even see the swing.
One second he was there, and the next there was a flash of light and warmth—like the sun itself had been drawn in a perfect arc. Silent. Blinding. Glorious.
You stared, jaw slack.
"What the actual—? How do you expect me to do that?! I literally tripped walking up the stairs this morning!"
"Try it," he said calmly.
You inhaled and took the stance. Your hands were sweaty. You overcorrected your grip.
"Focus on the inhale. Feel the fire in your lungs."
Your nose scrunched. "I am feeling fire. It’s called ‘I can’t breathe when I’m stressed out and holding a blade.’"
But you tried.
You exhaled, swung—
and completely overshot, stumbling and spinning like an off-brand ballerina before crashing into a bush.
Yoriichi was silent.
You rolled over, face half in leaves. "...Nailed it."
"Again."
You grumbled and stood up, brushing dirt off your clothes. "If I get impaled by my own sword, tell the others it was cool and majestic."
He didn’t respond. You were pretty sure he was suppressing a sigh.
Over and over you tried it. The First Form. Sun Breathing. It was supposed to be divine, full of grace and power. But it felt like your limbs were rebelling.
Sometimes you swung too hard. Sometimes not enough. Once, you accidentally let go of the sword mid-swing and nearly decapitated a tree.
"Okay that one doesn’t count," you mumbled, jogging to retrieve it.
"It all counts," he said simply.
After the twentieth try, you collapsed again.
"This is impossible," you said, sprawled out. "I’m not you. I wasn’t born for this."
Yoriichi knelt beside you. His tone was soft, but firm. "And yet… you're here. Trying. That matters more than you know."
"...What if I can never do it?"
He looked at you for a long moment. "Then you’ll find your own way. But give the sun a chance to rise first."
You looked up at the sky, golden dreamlight filtering through.
"...You talk like a poetry book."
He raised an eyebrow. "I don’t know what that means."
"Good," you muttered. "It was an insult."
But slowly, quietly, you got up again.
"But wait... I can't do it now. How did I do it before? I used it against Daki and Gyutaro!" you said, frustration bubbling in your chest as you stared at the space where your sword should’ve caught flame.
Yoriichi’s expression remained calm. He walked over, slowly crouching beside you, gaze steady.
"Because in those moments," he said gently, "you weren’t thinking about the form itself. You were thinking about who you were protecting."
You blinked, confused. "But I was scared. Angry. I wasn’t calm or focused like you are."
"That’s exactly why it worked," he said. "Sun Breathing was born from purpose. It’s not just movement or breath. It’s emotion. Intention. Your soul lit the flame… not your technique."
You looked down at your hands, your fingers curling slightly. "So I have to feel something big every time I want to use it? That’s exhausting."
Yoriichi gave a small hum of amusement. "At first, yes. But over time, your spirit won’t need to burn quite so bright. It will simply glow."
You paused. That poetic nonsense made a little too much sense. "So basically, I need to stop overthinking and feel it instead?"
"Exactly."
You let out a groan and flopped back onto the training ground, staring up at the dream-sky. "God, you’re so annoying. How are you wise and cryptic and somehow right all at once?"
He leaned over you slightly, calm and unreadable as ever. "Years of practice."
You sat back up again with a grunt. "Fine. What now?"
Yoriichi rose to his feet. "Now we train your body. You can’t wield the sun if your frame can’t carry the heat."
And with that, he handed you a heavy log—like a very heavy log.
You stared at it. "This is a tree."
"Correct."
"...You want me to carry it?"
"No, I want you to run with it."
You laughed. "You’re insane."
He didn’t deny it. Just started walking calmly ahead.
You stared at his back, then at the tree, then muttered under your breath, "God, I hate it here," before hoisting it over your shoulder and stumbling after him.
A few hours had passed in that strange, sun-drenched dream world. Your limbs ached. Your forehead was pressed to the ground, arms sprawled out uselessly.
“Can I wake up now?” you groaned, voice muffled against the dirt.
You heard a soft exhale behind you. His footsteps approached, calm and quiet.
“You’re really still the same,” Yoriichi murmured. “Same face, same voice. Same way you collapse when you’re frustrated.”
You blinked up at him, lifting your head just a little. His expression was calm, like always, but there was something in his eyes now. Something warm. Something heavy.
“You don’t remember everything yet,” he said as he knelt beside you, “but I do. And it’s still you. Even now.”
Your throat tightened. “You mean… I really am—”
“Yes,” he answered gently. His fingers reached out, brushing a leaf from your hair with care. “You’re not just similar. You’re her. The same Y/N I married. The same one I…”
He paused, eyes flickering downward for a moment. “The one I loved.”
Silence.
Your heart thumped hard against your ribs. His gaze lingered on you, filled with that same quiet sadness that had been there since the first moment you met.
“You even nag me the same way,” he added, almost teasing except it wasn’t really a joke.
Your mouth parted to speak, but nothing came out.
You sat up slowly, brushing dirt from your palms, trying not to look too shaken. But it was impossible to pretend like nothing just happened. His words hung in the air, thick like fog, refusing to leave.
"You… really loved me?" you asked softly, eyes narrowing as if squinting through a memory you couldn’t quite grab.
Yoriichi didn’t answer right away. He just nodded. Once. Simple. Heavy.
"I still do," he admitted, voice low but steady.
Your chest squeezed tight. "That’s kinda unfair, y’know. Saying stuff like that when I barely remember anything."
"You will," he said. "Even if it takes time. Even if you hate me once you remember all of it... I’ll wait."
Your throat went dry. For a second, all you could do was stare. His face hadn’t changed not even in this dream world but now it felt different. That calm look of his wasn't just discipline or detachment. It was restraint. Like he was holding back everything just to not scare you off.
"I don’t hate you," you mumbled. "I just… don’t know what to do with this."
"You don’t need to do anything," he replied. "You’re allowed to rest. You’ve carried more than you should."
You hesitated a moment, then without thinking, you reached out and pulled him into a hug. His body was warm and steady against yours, familiar and comforting. He stiffened just a little, then wrapped his arms around you tightly, as if afraid to let go.
You pulled back just enough to look up into his eyes and pressed a soft, quick kiss to his cheek. His lips parted slightly, surprised, but he didn’t pull away.
"You’re the worst," you teased, smiling through the lump in your throat.
He smiled back, a rare, gentle smile meant only for you.
"I was holding back," he said quietly.
You chuckled softly and rested your forehead against his."I'm gonna wake up now..!!"
His fingers brushed yours, warm and reassuring.
Then your eyes opened.
𝑬𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 :𝑫
You groaned as you woke up to see Tanjiro right in front of you, staring at you like you were some kind of work of art.
"Tanjiro, what the fuck are you doing?" you asked, grumpily.
He blinked, startled, and shook his head embarrassed. "Uhm—I—I…"
"Mhm?" you pressed, narrowing your eyes.
He swallowed hard and looked away, cheeks burning red. "M-Mitsuri and Obanai came to pick you up. They said they wanted to hang out with you. And… about the staring—I just got lost looking at your face."
You raised an eyebrow. "Lost, huh?"
He bit his lip and admitted, "It's just that you're always yelling, smirking, or frowning. I hardly ever get to see your peaceful side… except last time, when we slept on the same bed."
You blinked, the corners of your mouth twitching. "Oh? And how did that peaceful side look?"
He scratched the back of his neck, still blushing. "Really… nice."
You smirked. "Well, aren't you a smooth talker today."
He chuckled nervously. "I guess I am."
Before you left, you glanced at him with a sly smile. "Also, Tanjiro, what do you have planned for today? Like, any important stuff?"
He hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. "Uhm, I have training."
You crossed your arms and said flatly, "Well, cancel it. You’re coming with us."
His eyes widened in surprise. "W-what? But!!"
"No buts," you interrupted firmly. "Today’s for fun, not work."
Tanjiro blinked, then slowly nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Okay... if you say so."
You grinned. "Good. Now, let’s go before Mitsuri and Obanai get tired of waiting."
He laughed quietly and fell into step beside you, the two of you heading out together toward whatever the day would bring.
You stepped outside, the warm sunlight hitting your face as you walked beside Tanjiro. He glanced over at you, his usual earnest expression softened by the unexpected break from training.
“So, where are we going first?” he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
You shrugged casually. “Who knows? Mitsuri’s the one who invited us. She always has something fun planned.”
Tanjiro chuckled, shaking his head. “I guess I’ll just follow your lead then.”
You spotted Mitsuri and Obanai waiting near the entrance, their faces lighting up when they saw you.
“Mitsuri! Obanai!” you called, waving.
Mitsuri bounded over, her energy contagious. “Y/N! I’m so glad you’re here!”
Obanai gave a small, polite nod but kept his usual calm demeanor.
Tanjiro greeted them with a respectful bow, then turned to you with a teasing grin. “Looks like you’re quite popular.”
You rolled your eyes playfully. “Only with the best.”
Mitsuri giggled, then quickly linked her arm with yours. “Come on! Let’s not keep the day waiting.”
The four of you set off together, laughter and light conversation filling the air. For once, the weight of missions and training felt miles away, replaced by the simple joy of good company.
As you walked, Tanjiro glanced your way again, a soft smile playing on his lips. You caught it and smiled back.
Mitsuri was chatting nonstop, her arm still looped around yours like it was her rightful place, while Obanai hovered protectively close behind close enough to be noticeable, but not enough to touch. His mismatched eyes flicked between you and anyone who dared look your way.
Tanjiro walked beside you, trying not to look as awkward as he felt. But he was practically glowing with quiet affection, even if he was trying to act casual. Every few seconds, you’d catch him glancing at you, then quickly away like he’d been caught.
You suddenly slowed down, causing the whole group to stop.
"Hold on," you said, turning to Tanjiro. "You didn’t actually cancel your training yet, did you?"
"Uhh…"
He looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
You crossed your arms. "Tanjiro."
"I was gonna send a crow!"
Mitsuri giggled. "He was totally gonna ditch us!"
"I wasn’t!" he said quickly, holding his hands up. "I swear I wasn’t!"
You narrowed your eyes at him for dramatic effect, then broke into a grin. "Relax. You’re way too easy to bully, Kamado."
"I’m not!" he mumbled, cheeks turning bright red.
Obanai cleared his throat. "You’re wasting time."
"Oh? You got a hot date, Iguro?" you teased.
Obanai stiffened, muttering something under his breath.
Mitsuri pouted and leaned close to you, whispering, "He gets flustered when you talk to him like that… he’s not used to girls like you."
"Like me?" you said, grinning. "What, beautiful, bold, hoes like me?"
Mitsuri giggled again, nodding like you’d just said something profound.
Tanjiro looked at you for a beat too long again, until you turned to him and raised a brow. "What."
He panicked. "Nothing! Just… you’re really something."
You stepped closer to him, so close he had to tilt his head slightly down to meet your eyes. You grabbed his haori gently, leaned in, and whispered with a little smirk
"Damn right I am."
Then you kissed his cheek.
Mitsuri gasped dramatically behind you. Obanai looked like he was ready to explode. And Tanjiro?
Tanjiro just froze.
Like brain shut down. Completely gone.
You turned back around like nothing happened and started walking ahead again. "Hurry up, lovers. I want snacks."
Behind you, Tanjiro was still standing there, dazed, hand slowly touching his cheek.
"Did she just…?" he mumbled.
You continued walkiny,hands behind your back, swinging them a little as you went. The sun was already up, the light making your hair look like it was glowing.
Behind you, three pairs of eyes followed.
Tanjiro walked a bit behind, his cheeks red even though he tried not to show it. Mitsuri was chatting happily beside you about some sweets shop nearby. Obanai stayed silent on your other side, walking like always quiet but alert.
You didn’t notice how Mitsuri kept glancing your way when you laughed. Or how Tanjiro almost stumbled every time your hand brushed his. Or how Obanai shifted closer when someone passed by, like he wanted to protect you.
You just enjoyed the walk.
"This is nice," you said, stretching your arms up. "Perfect weather for snacks."
Tanjiro smiled but his voice sounded a little tight. "Yeah... perfect."
"Obanai, you’re really quiet today," you said, looking at him. "You okay?"
He nodded a little. "I’m fine."
"He’s just shy!" Mitsuri said quickly, like she was covering for him. "He doesn’t talk much unless he feels comfortable."
"That’s kinda cute," you said, meaning it.
You didn’t see Obanai’s jaw clench just a bit.
"Tanjiro," you said, turning your head, "do you always look at people like you did with me this morning?"
He almost tripped over his words. "N-no! I mean—that!!!was different!"
"Hm," you said, blinking. "Weird."
Mitsuri’s smile faltered for a moment. Obanai shot a quick look at Tanjiro, silent but serious.
You clapped your hands. "Alright, sweets first. Then we find a field or something to stare at the sky like sad main characters."
Mitsuri giggled. "That sounds... kind of romantic."
You blinked. "Romantic?"
Tanjiro’s face went bright red.
Obanai looked away, shoulders stiff.
You just grinned. "Yeah, like the kind where one person dies and the other swears revenge."
Tanjiro coughed awkwardly, trying to keep his face serious but failing miserably.
Mitsuri laughed softly, looking at you with sparkling eyes. “Y/n, you really say the funniest things.”
Obanai’s gaze flicked between you and Tanjiro. “You always surprise us with what you say.”
You grinned and nudged Mitsuri. “What? Someone’s gotta keep you guys on your toes.”
Mitsuri smiled warmly. “You definitely do.”
Tanjiro scratched the back of his neck and looked away. “So, uh, what sweets do you want to get first?”
You thought for a moment. “Something sweet and crunchy. I want to try everything.”
Obanai, still quiet, glanced at you but didn’t say much.
Mitsuri leaned closer and whispered, “I know a place nearby that makes the best honey cakes.”
Your eyes lit up. “Lead the way.”
They all smiled, a little too quickly maybe, but you just kept swinging your arms and chatting happily, completely unaware of the little sparks they all tried to hide...
𝕋𝕀𝕄𝔼 𝕊𝕂𝕀ℙℙ :𝟛
After the hangout, everything had gone really well, and you and Tanjiro were walking back toward the Butterfly Mansion in comfortable silence.
“Uhm, Y/n?” Tanjiro finally broke the quiet.
“Yeah, Tanji?” you replied, turning to him.
“I’m going to the Swordsmith Village tomorrow,” he said.
You blinked, then said casually, “I’m coming with you.”
He looked surprised, stumbling over his words. “E-eh?! No! You haven’t finished recovering yet, and Shinobu-san, Aoi-san, and Kanao-san definitely won’t let you.”
You shrugged, unbothered. “Well, I’m still going. I’ll talk to the master later.”
Tanjiro’s face lit up with a mix of relief and happiness. Inside, he thought, Oh god, Y/n is coming with me! We’ll get to spend more time together, hopefully.
He smiled softly, trying not to show how much that thought excited him.
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