Chapter Text
“That— that’s it!”
Her sword drops onto the damp earth of the ground below her, its colorful hilt landing with a soft thud.
“I did it!”
Crumpling down on one knee, Mitsuri looks through blurred eyes towards the body of the demon she’s just dismembered—the embers and fine ash of its severed head whispering faintly on the barest currents of an autumn breeze.
A glorious and perfectly full moon is beaming down upon them, its light casting her skin in a brilliant gold-silver.
Mitsuri pants as she lifts a hand to wipe at the sweat gathering at her brow—then turns it over to find a fine scratch across her wrist. A knowing chuckle erupts from the demon’s mouth just as what’s left of its head fizzles into a thinning cloud of dust.
Straining against her rapidly darkening vision, the Love Hashira can just make out the thin strands of black and purple veins emerging from the line of the scratch. She inhales sharply, eyes squinting.
Poison—?!
Her head suddenly grows heavy and she lurches forward, unable even to use her arms to brace her slump onto the ground. Somewhere not too far off, there’s a faint sound of flapping wings—maybe.
Urara— if that’s you—
—get help. Please.
“—will be alright. Thank you.”
Slowly, Mitsuri blinks her eyes open—her vision still blurry.
“Ah! You’re awake, Kanroji-san.” Shinobu’s bright and gentle voice drifts into her awareness. “Wonderful.”
The Insect Hashira closes her caring hands around Mitsuri’s wrist, now bandaged—with the scent of a bitter ointment growing thicker and more apparent.
Dazed, Mitsuri turns her head on the pillow and could just barely make out her friend’s familiar silhouette.
This… must be the Butterfly Mansion.
“Shinobu…? I…”
Sweat is beading on her brow as she breathes her friend’s name. A chill flutters through her body, rising up from the bottoms of her numbed feet towards her face. Mitsuri sighs as her teeth click and chatter. Her eyes blink closed again.
“Kanroji-san… stay with me. You’re going to be okay.” Shinobu coos, gently frowning in concern. Her small hands cradle Mitsuri’s wrist even more closely as she continues, hoping her voice would help her friend remain conscious.
“You’ve been poisoned, Kanroji-san. I’m still waiting for the blood tests to finish but—“ Shinobu’s steady voice falters for just a moment. “—based on what we know about the demon you fought, it’s likely the effects are hallucinogenic. And… possibly aphrodisiacal.”
Hallucinogenic.
Aphrodisiacal.
The words echo in Mitsuri’s swimming mind.
Hard to think…
“Am— am I going to die?” She wonders aloud, under a labored breath. Through the flutters of cold enveloping her body, a gentle warmth is pooling around her heart. Between her legs—and all through her wrist, where Shinobu’s hands surround her. She chuckles quietly.
Maybe not a bad way to go.
“No, no—“ Shinobu chuckles too, but her brows softly furrow. “I’ve given you a light sedative that will calm you, and likely also slow the poison while I get the exact formula for the antidote together.”
“Ah.” The corners of Mitsuri’s parted mouth turn up in a soft smile. “Thank you— so much, Shinobu.”
I love you so much, Shinobu-chan.
Mitsuri weakly turns her wrist, bringing Shinobu’s hands closer to her chest.
You’re so good at what you do—and beautiful. Inside and out.
Her cheeks growing flush at this new closeness, Shinobu smiles down at the dazed Love Hashira.
“Of course. It’s nothing, Kanroji-san.” The corners of her eyes crinkle sweetly. “If there’s anyone you ought to thank, it would be Tomioka-san. He rushed you here when Urara found him nearby.”
Tomioka-san…
The barest images of him—carrying her over his back as he ran, looking straight ahead—return to her.
That was maybe the closest they’d ever gotten to each other.
Ah, and the clean scent of him too.
His hair was coarse—a bit scratchy against my cheek.
Mitsuri’s eyes squint as another chill ebbs through her—gently rattling her bones this time. Her hand is still warm, near where Shinobu holds her. She moves to pull her doting friend even closer.
“Shinobu-chan… “ she whispers. “C- can you please hold me? It’s cold.”