"But isn't that just exciting? You've been crushing on him for a while now , right?"

Amane blushed lightly at the mention , staring down at the plump snow lumps dropping down the pines.The gulp contained were another extract of doubt circling the porch of the warm looking cottage.

"I mean yes , Fuyuki-san," her eyelashes flutter , glancing to the woman in her mid 20s wrapped in a soft peach colored kimono with a blueberry tea served on her lap."But he doesn't seem to...hold the same attraction back,"

"Listen , Amane," the woman uttered , brushing her braided pale blue hair to the side in a rush , gripping young Amane's shoulders with thumbs circling soothingly."This marriage itself won't even be allowed by two families if he didn't catch feelings for you either,"

Amane twirled her white locks flustered , deciding on averting her gaze to the hot puffs of air seeping from her ragged breath.

"Y-Yeah , you're right, Fuyuki-san," Amane chuckled faintly , deepening her smile at the assurance."Ah , i think it's time for me to head back, they're firthering the preparation for the wedding rituals,"

"Yes , dress great and entice him , Akane-chan!! Chances don't come twice!!" The said Fuyuki cheered from afar , smiling at the young girl who ran in bubbling excitement, sparing a few glances in gratitude.

"Is it really that difficult to just tell her that Kagaya also likes her back , Eri?" A deep voice resonated from the doorway of cottage , revealing a red haired man , who stood still leaning on the doorframe , a calm stretch of smile spreading on his slightly tanned face.

"Duh , that's not how it works!! It won't be fun if i just tell them about each other , you know!" Fuyuki Eri puckered her lips , swinging her legs from the high porch.

"Hey , i told you not to sit on the porch near the edgeー"

"STOP RIGHT THERE , KEIJI!!"

The loud creaks of wooden plank Fuyuki made as she twist her body in panic together with her warning scream succesfully made her husband halt before he can step into the sunlight , right at the edge of the shadow line by the door frame.

Fuyuki spent a few seconds in silence before sighing in relief , shaking her head in relief.

"Be careful Keiji , the sun's still up."

Amane huffed he hot air away from her tea , guilt eating her alive as she bore to the remaining snow piles filling wood scrapes on the ground.

The sound of the woman she used to adore rang in her head like a haunted lullaby , a ticking bomb she would never able to throw away with ease.

Her eyebrows furrow.

"I don't even know which ones  worse.."  she pursed her lips , missing Akao's warmth next to her.

"You growing up to be like your mother or you growing up like your father..."

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🕊 T.S.O.T.I.P.🕊
❄ Chapter : 15 ❄
《 Another One ??!》
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*slight reminder : hints are scattered all over this chapter and the previous ones , people should have been able to point out most things abt Akao now lol.
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"Kuroyami Shifuku , huh,"

The said girl were tied laying on the tatami , wriggling subtly as her red blood slitted eyes stare menacingly.

Although , so far it has always been all bark no bite....when it comes in Oyakata's presence.

Honestly it amuses Akao , how the wild brazen creature who happened to be a short girl shrank down in fear upon the presence of an almost blind sick married man.

"How long have you been in the attic?" Oyakata muses , sneaking knowing glances towards his adoptive teenage daughter who merely scoffed in exhaustion."To be able to cower there without Akao's knowledge , that's whimsical , i'll give it to you,"

Hospitality will not immediately trigger the awaited answer, but according to Akao's current impression , the aura reeling off Oyakata's presence that rolls sweetly in the middle of the numbing humidity in the room seems to easily be able to overcome the boulders of wall built.

The series of tiny debates that flashed through the girl's mind seemed to be starting to subside as her brows furrowed in despair.

"A month.."

"Oh so you do speak," Akao murmured , eliciting a click of tongue from the glaring girl."I am even overhelmed by the fact that you can understand us."

"Akao," stretching the name , Oyakata managed to quickly shut Akao's train of sarcasm spurs.His attentive gaze shifted back to examine the detailed feature the girl has aside from her messy mud stained ponytail hair.

Asserting another glare in defense, the girl squirmed , shaking her head in denial.

"...Oyakata-san?" The room truthfully sounded so weird with the sporting silence , that Akao had to make sure the adult didn't drift to sleep right on spot.

Not moving an inch , Oyakata let out a small contented sigh."Akao , if i recall correctly , you had another spare room in the winter estate...or is it not?"

"Right , why is it?" Shrugging her shoulders , a short answer flew out Akao's lips before she caught the implication stirring in his mischievous tone.

"Wait." She frowned late , clearly enthralled by the smile Oyakata offered as he turned his head , flowery aura surrounding his all too blinding man smile.

Yeah , now Akao understood what made Amane-san fell so hard for this one adoptive father of hers.

And with the last blow , his words struck both girls in surprise.

"Then i command you to take her shelter to Winter Estate officially as her supervisor,"

Eyes wide , mouth blown open , and jaws dropping instantly flashed in the room as the temperature dropped.

"Oyakata-san..it is named Winter Estate and not Orphan Estate for a reason..!"

Amane who sat silently next room choked upon her tea.

"Me? Living with that walking dry popsicle?" The girl by the floor seethed , baring her short fangs in offense."I am not following this.Let me go!"

Shaking his head , Oyakata let out a confident sigh , then to both of their fray started undoing the tight rope encircling the legs.

"Kuroyami-san," Oyakata addressed politely , taking in the sight of the wild unruly girl's confused face."How old are you?"

"...fourteen." the slight pause and how her walls of mask waver under Oyakata's infamous soothing gaze gave out the fact that she is not somehow used to affection...or attention.

The thing amusing Akao the most was that the girl who seemed to have lived like the other vague nature creatures still remembered her age.

Was she abandoned?

"Listen , Kuroyami-san," Oyakata informed , setting the ropes aside , finding the girl's gaze dart towards her neglected free legs."You get to live in a proper household , eat a proper meal , and interact like a proper living being , how about it?"

To say the girl's gaze glinted in interest was an overstatement.Her muscles are burning ready to leap and run.

No use.

Oyakata's gaze settled on a piece of  striking purple cloth , draped and tied around her neck with red butterfly patterns painted under the strikes of mud.

Although he can't really see it for sure , but he seemed pretty confident knowing what it is.

"Akao , what does the cloth around her neck look like?"

Flickering her gaze downwards a bit , Akao ignored the silent hiss the wild girl emitted.

"Purple cloth , red butterfly pattern and streaks of dust and mud , torn marks on two sides," Akao puts it simply , wondering where this is taking them.

"Okay , how about this..?" Oyakata switched over , pointing the said cloth."You got to know what happened to your parents , interested?"

Akao jolted in place.

The girl paled , breath hitching in horror.

She bared her fangs.
"Youー"

By the time she raised her arm and slashed towards Oyakata with a sharp plucked piece of wood , Akao's legs were ready to kick her by the wrist and pin her on the floor , sitting on the girl's back with her arms gripped strongly behind her back.

The groan she elicits were conducted by slight pain and shock of the slam Akao performed on her , but soon settled aside as she growled at Oyakata.

"What do you mean by that?! Just who the fuck are youー

Oyakata let out an ah. desperately as Akao grabbed the nearest cloth in her reach which is a napkin , balled them and shoved it hard to the girl's spilling mouth like she had some lifetime grudge towards the one she started calling nicknames in her head.

"Watch your language, you little piece of shit."

"Akao,"

"What?"

Oyakata eyed the two blindly , chuckling to his heart's content before tipping his head to the side.

"Kuroyami-san," Oyakata added."I suppose you are the only one who actually knew where your parents are."

Akao felt the girl under her flinch.

"But in case you are interested in finding out everything else about your parents and how they are acquainted with me," He stood up , quickly finding himself surrounded by his daughters and son , linking their fingers around the brim of his outfit for lead.

He presented a last assuring smile.

"You are welcomed to visit me , after you get a proper rest,"

And before the girl whose face seemed too enthralled opened her mouth to spit out the crumpled napkin , Akao's chop landed harshly on her nape , instantly sending numbness to her senses , her head and muscles falling limp and her eyes closing immediately.

Kiriya let out a small chuckle.

"Akao-san , aren't you too harsh on her?"

Akao huffed , raising an eyebrow in disapproval.

"You know Kiriya , this girl just said swore words toー

"A.KA.O." Oyakata interuppted , turning his head sharply with the all too knowing smile still evident.

"Okay." Akao groaned silently."Okay."

Diverting her gaze to the girl , she can't  help but to notice how peaceful her face looked when she's not screaming threats to people's faces.

"Oyakata-san...do you really know something about her parents?"

Oyakata nodded in discomfort, glances fleeting unpredictably , almost in guilt.

"I used to know them.To put it simply , they were demon slayers too." He walked away , emphasizing on the use of past words , a troubled sigh leaving his mouth."If you look very closely , Akao , you'll see that she has a trace of breathing use apparent within her breathing pattern,"

Akao widened her eyes , furrowing them in annoyance.

How could she not notice?

Shoot , i need to sharpen my senses.

Akao was about to ask for more , if only Oyakata didn't shook his head , arduous frown following after.

A cue for Akao that it's a border she shouldn't cross.

But she couldn't help but wonder.

Does he know anything about my biological parents too?

Shuffling on her feet , Akao followed Oyakata's gaze , averting to the boring tatami in guilt as if he knew what she was about to question.

Why won't you tell me anything?

Why won't you let me know?

Why are you...

Akao felt sick to her stomach as she remembered the face Oyakata made when she discovered her breathing style.

..so scared of me ?

On Masayuki Akao's 16th birthday , she had started to grew impatient with the lack of information given in her own accord.

And she won't sit still prettily like she did for the past 16 years.

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Im alive , but im dead.🤡

Oh yeah , which one do yall prefer better :

○● Less filler and straight to important events and fights and to ending

OR

○● More romance , comedy , and filler but also with important events and fights but it'll take a long time to reach the ending ??

Make your vote heheh

Critics and opinion appreciated!!!