I smiled widely as Mitsuri effortlessly beheaded the demon with a slash once I kicked it her way. There was a beat of silence as she clearly let what she just did sink in.
Then she jumped up happily and jumped into my arms with a happy smile.
"I did it Satoru! I made my own breathing form!"
I hummed and returned her hug with a smile on my face. I did my best to ignore the softness that was pressing onto me or the scent of her hair as she held me.
She quickly pulled away with a blush on her face when she reality caught back up with her and she realised she had been hugging me for a solid minute.
"S-sorry… I hugged you so suddenly." She stuttered while looking sheepishly at her feet.
"Good job Mitsuri." I waved her off and patted her head.
She smiled widely, her smile sending warmth crashing through me like a sledge hammer.
'GUHHHH, cuteness right to the heart.'
She stepped away to relay that the demon had been dealt with to her kasugai crow. It would report back to headquarters and the Kakushi would be deployed shortly.
With the demon crumbling to ashes, life seeped back in to the village. People poked their heads out of their homes and the boy we had saved came running followed by an older woman.
"Nii-san, Nee-san!" He waved before stopping to catch his breath in front of Mitsuri.
"Are you okay little one?" Mitsuri smiled as she patted his head.
"Umu! I knew you guys would win. Shiro-niisan said he was the strongest and I believed him!"
'S-Shiro-niisan?'
Mitsuri giggled as the boy looked at me with wide eyed awe. I chuckled helplessly and put away my sword before crouching down to be eye level with the boy.
"My name is Satoru kid, don't call me Shiro."
"B-but you have white hair?"
"Hah? Just cause I have white hair doesn't mean my name is Shiro… this ain't some anime."
"Huh? Anime?" The kid looked at me with a puzzled look.
"Never mind that kid, your great grandkids will definitely love it though."
The kid nodded, seemingly taking my word for it before running back to his grandmother. The elderly lady thanked Mitsuri and I before leading the young boy away back to their home.
Mitsuri stood next to me, a gentle smile on her face as she watched the kid walk with his grandmother.
"So… what are you going to call your style?" I asked her after a moment.
"I- I think I'll call it, Love Breathing."
"Hmm… a fitting name, was that what you used to land the finishing blow on that demon?"
She turned to me, her eyes bright with emotion.
"Mm, the first form… s-Shivers of First L-love."
A blush worked its way onto her face as she continued to glance my way.
[Scene Break]
We rested at an inn, the innkeeper was all but happy to give us a room free of charge once he learned that we had dealt with the 'criminal' kidnapping children.
Mitsuri was fast asleep, snoring softly in with her blade laying next to her. I smiled at the sight. Aftershutting off the light, I took a step out of the inn.
The street was more alive, especially with the small celebration that the villagers were having. The Kakushi did quick work, they even managed to find and recover a few of the missing kids.
Unfortunately not all of the missing kids were found. As sad as it was, there wasn't much I could do. Not even my unique powers could resurrect the dead.
My thoughts wandered back to the demon. I was unsure if it taken inspiration from the popular urban legend, or did the urban legends start because of it.
Urban legends manifesting was something I didn't want to think about.
I stopped at a stall, a sleepy looking man stood behind a counter. It was one of the few shops that opened once the village had realised that the 'criminal' plaguing it had been 'apprehended'.
Various fabric goods were displayed in the stall. From colourful clothing, elegant looking hairpins, even books in different languages. The shop seeming sold stuff from around the world.
A familiar item drew my eye, the shop keeper seeming to notice took it out and placed it on the counter.
"It's a new arrival from overseas. Made out of cotton and a new synthetic material from America. Stretchy and durable."
"I'll take your entire stock."
I didn't even think of what I was going to pay with. I wasn't going to lose out on getting such a unique item.
"Don't worry, I'll let you have them free of charge. You're getting them for that pretty lady right?" The shop keeper winked.
'Huh? What a cool guy.'
He bagged them up for me and gave me a small bow as I left the shop. I peeked in the bag. He had given me three sets, I wouldn't need to worry about damage. I turned around to thank him one more time but froze in place when I noticed that the entire shop had vanished.
'Nani the fuck?'
[Scene Break]
The sun had barely risen, spilling soft golden light into the small dining area of the inn. The innkeeper had prepared a modest breakfast for us. A few bowls of rice, grilled fish, some pickled vegetables.
I sat across from Mitsuri as she nibbled on some fish. I smiled, despite clearly opening up a little, she was still hiding her huge appetite from me.
I slowly pushed my share of the meal over to her making her eyes widen. She went to say something but I raised my hand.
"I know you love eating, don't worry about it 'kay? Besides, I love a woman who can eat properly."
She coughed, choking slightly before patting her chest and downing her tea.
"L-love?"
"Yeah… and who cares why anyone else thinks. I think you're the cutest and anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot."
'Okay reign it in buddy… no need to overdo it.'
Her blush slowly fading, she went and devoured both shares of the breakfast. She let out a satisfied sigh just as I slid over what I bought the previous night.
"These are for you." I said casually.
Mitsuri looked up, then down. Tilting her head curiously she picked up the folded item. Her eyes went wide, then actually sparkled when she realised what they were.
"Are… are these…"
I nodded, "I heard your mother the other day. She said your legs were getting scratched up… these should hel-
I was cut off as she practically leapt over the table and put me in a crushing hug. "S-Satoru… these are so pretty! Thank you so much…"
She quickly let go of me with a blush and went back to her spot. She looked at me like I had just given her treasure.
I shrugged with my normal smile on my face, "It's not a big deal… I just saw them and thought they matched you hair."
Mitsuri's blush deepened, a radiant almost mischievous smile formed on her lips. My heart did something like a flip, something fluttery. I gulped and looked away.
'Damn it… keep it cool Satoru. You're not a blushing virgin protagonist.'
"I love them, Really, thank you Satoru." She beamed at me again. "I promise to cherish them forever." My heart skipped a beat.
'Guhhh, so cute… gonna have a heart attack.'
I feigned passing out, I caught Mitsuri's look morph into worry as I 'collapsed' forward.
"Satoru? Satoru!!!"
[Scene Break]
After having a little laugh at her pout, we left the village and headed back to her family home. Her kasugai crow had given her orders to report back to headquarters.
I had a feeling that Kagaya was going to promote her soon. Sure that demon we fought wasn't a Moon but she had just invented a new Breathing Style, and no doubt, she had defeated plenty of demons already.
We arrived at the Kanroji estate just as the sun reached its peak in the sky. Her mother and father greeted her at the gate. Her mother took one look at her new stockings before giving me a knowing look.
We spent the rest of the day at Mitsuri's home. With her parents all but giving me the green light to court their daughter through subtle hints and looks.
Mitsuri, seemingly having built up an immunity to my teasing just smiled along.
The next morning after breakfast, Mitsuri bid her siblings and a tearful Nanami goodbye while her mother and father pulled me aside.
"Satoru-kun, take care of her okay?" Kaname said with a serious look.
"…and make sure she eats properly… she's gotten so skinny." Ayame added.
I replied with a smile, "She will be safe with me, I promise Ayame-san, Kaname-san."
Kaname nodded, Ayame giggled behind he hand. "Fufufu, just call me kaasan, you're going to be our son-in law soon right?"
'Heh… hear that Mitsuri… your mom just gave me her blessing.'
"Kaasan!" Mitsuri shouted as she dragged me away.
"Fufufu, be safe you two…" Ayame waved, "make sure I'm not a grandmother too soon."
Mitsuri blushed even harder as she practically dragged me through the air as she ran faster. Despite her blush and embarrassment, I saw the small smile on her face.
'This really ain't so bad.'
[Scene Break]
Several days later, thanks in part to my teleportation ability, Mitsuri and I returned to the hidden demon slayer base. Only Kanae and Shinobu were there, the other Hashira were busy doing whatever duties they had.
Mitsuri took a knee and bowed as Kagaya appeared with his family. I sat down cross legged next to Mitsuri. The head of the Ubuyashiki household smiled at the both of us.
"Welcome back, Kanroji-san, Satoru-san… you have returned victorious and unharmed once again."
"Obviously… I am the stro—
"Thank you, Ubuyashiki-sama." Mitsuri cut me off with a small glare that had no heat behind it.
Kagaya chuckled, "Kanroji-san, you reported that you have created a new Breathing Style derived from Flame Breathing?"
"Hai, Ubuyashiki-sama. I call it Love Breathing."
I didn't miss the subtle glances everyone sent my way while I feigned sleeping behind my sunglasses.
"Very good, you have also slain over fifty demons with the last being your fifty first. It brings joy into my heart to welcome you back as the Love Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"It would be my honour, Ubuyashiki-sama!" Mitsuri happily said.
"Now… Satoru-san… I heard you displayed some sort of new breathing style as well?"
"Huh… you were saying something Kagaya?"
The man just smiled his serene smile and waited for me to answer. Kanae and Shinobu shared the same calm smile, though I saw a bit of annoyance behind Shinobu's smile.
"Alright, fine… it's not really a breathing style or whatever. It's a iaido style I created in preparation for receiving my nichirn blade."
The silence was deafening, Kanae, Shinobu, Mitsuri, the Ubuyashiki family was looking at me with bug eyes.
"What? I didn't want to just flail around with a sword so I went and learned a few kendo moves then made my own style."
Kagaya chuckled, seemingly back to normal. "Satoru-san, only you can create a whole new sword style in a matter of weeks."
I chuckled casually, "Eheh… it only took me two days actually."
"E-Ehhh?!"