Chapter 1
Main Storyline (Meika's perspective)
I had just gotten back from a stroll, staring at the supposed 'potion' in my hands. I had saved an old woman from a robber, and she gave me this as a thank you. All she told me was that it was a love potion, just one sip, and the consumer would fall in love with the first person they saw, only for 5 days though, but drink any more, and they'd be head over heels for about a month. Once the spell would wear off, they'd keep any, and all memories of the time they'd spent under the spell, but they would lose all feelings toward the person. Of course I didn't believe her at first, but then again, I lived in a world where demons existed, so I guessed anything could be possible…
I lived in the butterfly mansion at the time, working under Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira. I aspired to be like her, she was gorgeous, strong, and kind, so I thought, why would anyone not want to be like her, any woman at least… Although I knew I could never be like her, I wasn't half as gorgeous, or strong. I was just a weak kakushi that could do nothing but clean up after battles, and bandage up injured slayers
As I was about to leave for the kitchen to prepare myself lunch, I heard the Wind Hashira's voice echo through the empty halls, along with Ms. Kocho's composed voice ordering kakushi. I put the potion in my pocket, and ran to where I heard it from. As soon as I got there, I saw him getting wheeled in, refusing treatment from anybody, including Ms. Kocho. Who the hell does he think he is?! He's obviously in pain, why refuse treatment from the hashira most well informed on medicines?!! It's just straight up stupid I thought to myself, suppressing a sigh.
As soon as Ms. Kocho saw me, she gave me a simple, easy to follow order… at least for anyone not as stupidly clumsy, and uncoordinated as me. "Meika, I need you to go to my office, and grab me the medicine labeled 'Red Lilies.' Hurry!" As soon as she'd told me what to do, I darted towards her office. Once in, I started searching the cabinets. Where the hell is it?! I thought to myself frantically, still searching.
Suddenly, Mr. Shinazugawa burst through the doors. "Oi, where the hell is the medicine you little brat." He said and, although what he said was worded as a question, his tone was demanding rather than questioning. He stomped over to me, his tall frame towering over my short, petite self. Then, he looked down at my pocket. Once he saw the red liquid in a jar, he immediately snatched it from me, thinking I was trying to hide the medicine from him.
I had been staring at him in shock since he'd burst through the doors of Ms Kocho's office. And once he'd taken my 'potion,' my heart dropped. I tried to stop him from popping the cap open, and chugging almost the entire thing, by jumping up and down, trying to take it back from him. "No! Wait, don't- stop!" But I was too late, he put it down half full, and looked back at me. "I don't know who you think you are, trying to hide this medi-" Then, he just stopped speaking, his gaze softened before he collapsed into a ball at my feet. He was out before I knew what had happened.
As I took a step back from his unconscious form, Ms. Kocho ran in the door. She looked at Mr. Shinazugawa, then at me, and then back at Mr. Shinazugawa. I could see the question in her eyes before she spoke it, so I answered. "I swear, I don't know what happened, he came up to me yelling, and then he took my bottle, and then he was yelling again, then he stopped, then he was on the floor…" I trailed off, hoping that she could understand my jumbled together words. I'd been so nervous, even I had a hard time understanding my own words.
She nodded, and walked over slowly. She picked up the half empty bottle of my 'love potion.' She held it up to me, and I gulped. I could see that she was fuming, even though her beautiful smile never left her perfect face. I took a deep breath, and explained to her what had happened while I was on my stroll, the cuckoo lady who gave me the thing, telling me it was a love potion, and everything else I thought might relate to what she'd want to know.
I'll spare you the details, but she wasn't happy. After I got lectured, I was told to wait at Mr Shinazugawa's side till he woke so I could apologize. I accepted my punishment, knowing that he would be furious with me, for 'poisoning him,' even though he was clearly the one who drank it on his own accord. Even still, I waited, and waited, and waited. Damn! How long does this douche plan on sleeping for?! I've been here forever!! I thought as I looked outside, the sun, already gone, replaced by the beautiful, beautiful moon, surrounded by billions, upon billions, uponbillions of little spots of light. I sighed as I slumped into the chair I would most likely have to spend my night in.
Recently, I'd been having nightmares while I slept, waking me up halfway through the night, not allowing me to get a good night's sleep. Tonight was no exception, although I didn't wake up at all during the night, which was worse, since I had to just sleep through the horrible nightmare.
When I woke up, Mr. Shinazugawa was still sleeping, and I couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked when he wasn't mad. Now that I think about it, he is quite handsome, when he is sleeping at least…Looking at him now, I might enjoy spending time with him if he was always like this. My eyes widened when I realized what I was thinking, and I slapped myself across the cheek. I buried my face in my hands, and rested my elbows on my knees. I sighed, and leaned back again after calming myself down. Seriously thought, how long will he sleep, I'm starting to think he's dead or something! I yawned, still exhausted after my horrible night spent in what had to be the world's most uncomfortable chair.
I grabbed a novel from the bedside table placed conveniently next to me, and opened it to the first page. I had made it about half way through when I felt somebody grab my wrist. I put the novel down, and saw that Mr. Shinazugawa was awake. Fina-fucking-ly! It only took you over half a day, but you did it, you woke up! I thought to myself sarcastically. I tried to pull my hand away, but he wouldn't let go. I knew then that I was in deep shit. "Mr. Shinazugawa, I apologize for making you believe that what you drank was the medicine that you needed. It was my fault, and I apologize deeply, and I will take whatever punishment you see fit."
He furrowed his eyebrows, and puckered his lips slightly, leaning closer to me. Then he whispered something. "I don't think you need any punishment, you did nothing wrong, love.~" My eyes widened in shock at his words, I looked up at his eyes, and saw in them something I had never seen before in anybody's eyes. Love. Oh shit! The potion really was a love potion!! Fuuckkk!!! Oh my god, I'm screwed. I'm chin height in shits creek right now. I thought as I looked into his loving eyes. A fake love that was.
I tried to yank my hand away again, with more force this time, but to no avail. I glared at him through my face covering that all kakushi wore. I guess he finally decided that I'd had enough and let my wrist go. I stood up, put the novel back on the bedside table, and quickly shuffled to the door, but before I could open it, I felt arms wrap around my waist, and a hand restrain me from grabbing the door. Then, I felt his free hand move the cloth from my neck. I could feel the hot breath of Mr. Shinazugawa as he spoke, "I'd rather you didn't leave." He said softly against the skin of my neck. I struggled against him, but it was useless. He was far stronger than me, so I don't know what I expected to accomplish. "MS. KOCHOOO!!! HELP MEE!!!!" I whined loudly, not liking the touch from this intimidating Hashira. I heard Ms. Kocho's running feet as she made her way to the room quickly. I could only guess what she was thinking Mr Shinazugawa must've woken up, and tried to attack Meika! or something stupid like that. Sadly, that's all I could imagine her thinking if I screamed for her help.
When she burst through the door, and saw Mr. Shinazugawa holding me so tenderly, I could only imagine the shock she felt. She froze, and gestured toward Mr. Shinazugawa. I shrugged, because I truly didn't know, I only had a small idea of what might've happened. It was most likely the potion, as I'd thought earlier, or he was doing this for fun, as a joke maybe?
His arms squeezed me closer to him, and he breathed in my scent. "Mmmm, you smell so nice." I got goosebumps at that moment. All my hairs stood up as his warm breath fanned across my neck. I gave Ms. Kocho a begging look. Get him off of me!! I thought as Ms. Kocho just stood there in shock. Then she darted out of the room, to fetch a sedative… Or at least that's what I guessed.
When she came back, Mr. Shinazugawa was still holding me tenderly, making no effort to hurt me in any way whatsoever. Still, she stuck him with the needle. It took a second before he went limp, and released me, but when he did, I immediately stepped away from him. I was still shaking as Ms. Kocho had me help haul Mr. Shinazugawa back to his bed. After that incident, I was given permission to sit out of training for the whole day. I took it happily, deciding I might have time to finish the book I had been reading earlier. The second I laid on my bed, any idea of reading vanished. I remembered how tired I was, due to my nightmare ridden sleep. I pulled the covers over myself. Just 5 minutes, that's it, then I'll get out of bed… But I knew that I wouldn't be awake after 5 minutes, I didn't care, I was tired.
I slept peacefully that afternoon, thanks to the fact that I didn't have any nightmares… As I started waking up - at around what I thought must be dinner time- I noticed that my pillow was too warm, and my blanket held me too tight. Then I felt somebody's breath on my bare neck… I immediately shot up out of bed, knowing who it was. When the fuck did he get in my room??! And why?! I thought as I backed away from my bed. Mr. Shinazugawa sat up, and crossed his arms, "I wasn't going to do anything to you…" He mumbled as he stood up, and walked over to me. I backed up, until my back was pressed up against the door. As soon as he took another step, I threw the door open, and darted out of the room.
I ran all the way to Ms. Kocho's office, threw the door open, and slammed it shut. I turned around, and saw Ms. Kocho sitting down at her desk, looking confused. I immediately broke down, and told her everything that happened from when I went to sleep, to when I woke up, and then now. I blubbered the words out, hating all the attention that he was giving me… I had never been one for public affection, especially with a man under a spell… My eyes were red, and puffy when I finished explaining, then there was a knock on the door. I let out a yelp when I heard it. I shot up out of my seat, thinking it might be Mr. Shinazugawa, and hid behind Ms. Kocho's desk. She shook her head disapprovingly, and went to answer the door. She opened it, and I braced myself for his fake affection, but it just turned out to be Kanao Kocho, the adopted sibling of Ms. Kocho. I sighed in relief, and leaned up against Ms. Kocho's desk.
Back to earlier, when I woke up, Mr. Shinazugawa hadn't removed my face covering, and I never really thought about it until now, when I could think straight… I wonder why that is…
After I was sure that I wouldn't bump into Mr. Shinazugawa, I left her office, going back to my room. I locked the door, and went back to my bed. I was still tired, so I snuggled up, and remembered that I should change out of my uniform before going to sleep… I didn't want it to get dirty, because then I would have to wash it an extra time. As I changed out of my uniform, there was a knock at my door. I knew Mr. Shinazugawa had left, so I was sure it wasn't him. "One second, please!" I shouted, not done changing quite yet. As I finished up, the person outside my door waited patiently. Once I was decent, I walked over to the door, unlocked it, cracked it open, and peeked out. Standing there was Aoi, with my dinner. I'd assumed that she'd heard about what happened earlier today… I took the food happily, and thanked her before closing, and locking my door once more. After I'd finished, feeling stuffed from the filling meal, I went back to sleep. That night, I had the worst nightmare yet, it genuinely terrified me to the point that I couldn't fall back asleep.
I had been wandering through the woods outside of the butterfly estate, when the sun started to set. I had thought I'd known the area, so I turned around. And when I did, what I saw wasn't the forest I'd grown accustomed to... It was so foreign, I doubted it was from the butterfly estate, let alone Japan..! I started walking back the way I came, though the woods kept getting darker, and darker, more foreign, and more foreign. Clouds started to cover the brightly shining moon, letting no light get through. That's when I started running, feeling what felt like 1,000 auras surrounding me. Then, there was the soft pitter patter of agile feet running towards me, and I felt this strange sense of helplessness envelop me, along with a strong bloodlust getting closer, and closer, and closer. Then I shot up, awake, but the feel of the uneasy aura stayed inside of me.
I had tried to go back to sleep, but I couldn't. So, when morning came, I was visibly exhausted… Constantly yawning, eye bags, fatigued movements… The whole package deal! I changed into my uniform, and made my way to Ms. Kocho's office to see if she had anything for me to do, because, frankly, I needed something to keep me awake. She told me to go to the mountain and recover some Reishi and Maitake mushrooms, that she was running low… but I knew she wasn't, I had seen her collection a couple days ago! Still I agreed, hoping that the activity might keep me awake. Even still, I went and started picking the mushrooms. After the hike, I was especially tired, so when I saw a tree that looked awfully comfy, I decided to go and take a nap on it
Sanemi's perspective (SHORT)
I had been following Meika, making sure she didn't get hurt, - because it seemed as though she was too fragile to be left alone - when she sat down and laid against a tree, I knew I couldn't just leave her there, alone. Once I was sure she was asleep, I walked over to her. I stopped for a second to just watch her. I've never seen Meika's face, although I bet it's just as beautiful as I'd expect… I thought to myself, continuing to watch her sleep peacefully. I slowly moved my hand to where the edge of her face covering was resting on her chest, but I hesitated. Why am I stopping, I want to see her face, don't I…? Yes, I do, so I will.. After telling myself that it would be fine if I did look, I sighed, and grabbed the edge. I slowly lifted it, pausing slightly before fully revealing her face. Her beautiful, impossibly perfect face. I smiled softly, admiring her, and savoring the moment for as long as possible, before I put the face covering back down.. I lifted her body into my arms, and started walking. I made sure to avoid Shinobu's line of sight as I walked out of the forest, Meika in my arms. I only stopped walking to open the gate to my estate, and to close it. I carried her through the winding halls, and to my bedroom. I didn't place her down, not even when I got out my futon, and a few more items to make her more comfortable. The only time I did place her down was when I laid her down softly on the futon. I thought she must be much more comfortable than when she was sleeping up against the tree in the forest outside of the butterfly estate. I thought that if she were to wake up, and find me cuddling her again, she might freak out like the last time, so I left the room, and went to my office. I had nothing to do, obviously, so I just waited for her to wake up. I waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. She was taking a long time, but just her presence made me okay with that fact. As the day wore on, I became less and less aware of all the sounds going on around me. I was counting the grains in my wooden desk when I heard the gate near the front of my estate scraping open. I sighed, and shook my head, disappointed in myself not being able to hear Meika leave the room right across the hall to my office. I sighed, before walking out of my office, my silent footsteps making them towards my estate's entrance.