"I was on my way to meet Aoi," I said.
Nezuko tilted her head, a gentle curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "Should I come with you?"
I considered for a moment. There was no reason she couldn't. Things had changed. Nezuko had changed. She wasn't the girl who needed sheltering anymore.
I nodded. "Sure. Let's go together."
We walked side by side through the corridors of the Butterfly Estate, our hands still loosely entwined. The soft scent of medicinal herbs drifted through the air, mixed with the distant sound of water trickling through garden fountains. It had been a while since I was last here, but it still felt like a place of peace—maybe even more so now, without the looming threat of Upper Moon demons.
When we reached the courtyard where Aoi often supervised the other attendants, I spotted her almost immediately. She stood at the edge of the stone path, organizing bundles of freshly washed bandages and issuing instructions to two younger girls. Her presence, as always, was calm, efficient, and somehow reassuring.
The moment her eyes met mine, the expression on her face changed instantly. She paused, lips parting slightly in surprise before a smile bloomed.
"You're back," she said, stepping forward.
Without waiting for a word more, Aoi walked right up to me and placed a soft kiss on my cheek. It was a gentle gesture, but full of meaning—warmth, relief, and affection all wrapped in one. She lingered for just a second longer than necessary, her hands brushing briefly against my chest before she stepped back.
Nezuko, still holding my hand, blinked at Aoi. "You kissed him," she said bluntly, voice tinged with something unreadable.
Aoi gave a calm, knowing smile. "Yes. Is that a problem?"
Nezuko pouted slightly and looked up at me. "I want one too."
I chuckled at her unexpected forwardness. "You're getting bold," I said.
She nodded, lips pursed in a silent demand. There was a faint blush on her cheeks, but she didn't waver—her eyes were clear, confident.
I leaned down and kissed her gently on the forehead.
She blinked, clearly expecting something more, but said nothing. Instead, she hummed and closed her eyes for a second as if savoring the contact. When she opened them again, she seemed… content.
Aoi, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. "Not on the lips?"
"I didn't want to spoil her first real kiss," I replied with a faint grin.
Nezuko didn't object. If anything, she seemed quietly pleased.
"I assume you've already seen Mitsuri?" Aoi asked, folding her arms lightly as she gave me a once-over. "You look like you just left her room."
"Am I that obvious?" I said with a dry chuckle.
"To someone who knows you, yes," she replied. "But I don't mind."
There was no jealousy in her tone, just a serene acceptance. She had long since made peace with the nature of our relationship, and her calm confidence always struck me as one of her most attractive qualities.
"Where's Shinobu?" I asked, glancing around.
Aoi tilted her head slightly toward the far hallway. "She's in her laboratory. She's been spending more and more time there ever since Tamayo joined us."
"Huh," I nodded.
Aoi nodded. "She and Shinobu have been collaborating—developing ways to reverse demon transformation permanently. Apparently, they've made progress."
"That's good to hear," I said. "I'll pay her a visit later."
"Make sure you knock," Aoi warned with a knowing smile. "She's not always alone. Sometimes she and Tamayo get so deep into their research they don't notice anything else."
Nezuko looked thoughtful at that, but said nothing. Her hand remained in mine, fingers resting softly like she didn't want to let go.
Aoi turned her attention back to Nezuko. "It's good to see you walking around like this."
"Thank you," Nezuko said shyly, bowing her head.
"I'm glad you're still by his side. But you wait her, Alex and Shinobu have lot to catch on." She said as she winked at me.
Nezuko smiled faintly. "Okey"
"Good." Aoi's gaze returned to me. "You're not staying long, are you?"
I hesitated. "No. I'm just visiting… tying up things before I move on to the next world."
Aoi nodded slowly, her expression softening. "Then make sure you say goodbye to everyone. Properly."
"I will," I promised.
A moment passed in quiet understanding before Aoi gave me a little shove on the shoulder. "Go see Shinobu. I'm sure she'll want a proper reunion too."
Nezuko giggled softly, and I gave a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am."
~~~
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