Rewind | KNY |

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(Y/n) gazed ahead, ignoring the whispers behind him as they filled in the tiring silence that had taken over the atmosphere.

(E/c) hues held a distant look in them despite their owner not acting like he was.

Amane softly stared at the teenager that was leading both her and her daughters in the direction of the Tokito household that sat comfortably in the woods, with no other building in sight for miles.

The two girls looked at each other for a few moments before looking ahead.

'I should...pretend that I don't know what's happening, so I'll ask what this mission is about.' (Y/n) thought as he mentally shook his head.

"Amane-sama?" (Y/n) piped up, causing the said woman to release a questioning hum from her lips.

The teenager tightened his hold around the hilt of the nichirin sword that Sanemi had let him borrow.

"I hope I'm not rude for asking this, but... I was wondering why you wanted me specifically to guard you?" (Y/n) asked, trying to make him sound confused.

Amane smiled gently. "Will you believe me if I said I wanted to personally for this mission?" She questioned.

(Y/n) sucked in a breath as he nodded his head. "Of course," he answered.

Amane's daughters tilted their heads at the teenager with questioning looks on their faces.

The two girls had heard many wonderful things from their younger siblings about the teenager, and couldn't agree more to see how true those words were.

(Y/n) stared down at the ground as he released the hold he had on the blade's hilt.

'Yuichiro... Muichiro... is it possible to not just save one, but both of them? If I remember correctly, Muichiro told me a lot about his older twin brother when he got his memories back. But, then again... I would probably still be late, even if I did speed up.' (Y/n) mused.

Hinaki, the oldest out of the quintuplets, and the oldest daughter of the Ubuyashiki children, stared at the teenager with child-like wonder.

She was confused as to why (Y/n) was always deep in thought, seeing as her siblings and father had pointed this out to her, Nachika, and Kuina.

The young girl was even amazed about the nonexistent footsteps that she's been told about, seeing as even the highest levels of slayers couldn't even master that sort of skill.

(Y/n) was staring ahead, sweat dripping down his face when he felt the oldest Ubuyashiki child stare at the back of his head.

This caused his nerves to feel like they were squirming inside of him just as little earthworms would act.

The (H/c)-haired teenager looked over his shoulder. "We should hopefully be there by sunrise, Amane-sama," he finally says.

Amane gave the boy a motherly smile as she nodded her head. "Thank you, (L/n)-kun."

(Y/n) sent back a small smile of his own, and turned to look forward once more.

As if his mind knew they were slowly getting closer with every step, his hands started to itch and tingle with small vibrations.

Fear swam in (Y/n)'s eyes when he realized what his mind was trying to do.

'No... no. Not right now, stop it! I can handle this. I can handle this mission... Please, fear. Just go away!' (Y/n) thought.

The small trembles in his hands lessened but were still there.

Fear was running through the boy's mind no matter how he wanted the feeling to leave him.

(Y/n) was scared for what was to come, and he wasn't pleased with it at all.

✧˖*°࿐

Just like the (H/c)-haired teenager had said, the group had made it to the Tokito household by sunrise.

(Y/n)'s nose twitched when he immediately smelled the scent of iron.

(E/c) eyes went wide as their owner laid them upon two figures that lay close to one another.

Amane and her daughters rushed to the injured.

(Y/n) bit the inside of his cheek as he walked up to the small house, his hands no longer clutching the blade he was holding onto just minutes prior.

The said teenager dropped to his knees beside Yuichiro's lifeless body, and placed a hand on the said older twin's neck, just to make sure there was no sign of life.

Amane watched as (Y/n) lowered both his head and shoulders, giving a small prayer to the fallen boy in silence.

She frowned softly as Kakushi came out from their hiding spots in the shadows.

"Ubuyashiki-sama," one of the Kakushi said quietly in a worried tone.

Amane gave a sad smile, allowing one of the Kakushi to take the fallen Tokito sibling that had lost his fight with a demon.

(Y/n) stood up onto his feet, and went over to Muichiro's side.

Amane and her daughters watched with sorrow dancing in their eyes.

(E/c) hues shimmered with unshed tears as he stared at the future Mist Hashira.

Muichiro's body lay unmoving, covered in blood, scratches, and bruises.

'You're alright now, my friend. Let's get you home.' The boy thought as he got up, and walked backward a bit so that the second Kakushi could pick up the severely injured pre-teen.

(Y/n) turned toward Amane, and said the words that he remembered saying to her when he had first met the boy.

"When he wakes up... please let me see him, Amane-sama."

Amane's eyes widened a little, before softening as she nodded her head. "Yes, of course."

✧˖*°࿐

Several days later have gone by since bringing Muichiro to the Ubuyashiki Estate.

Amane was currently sitting inside the room that held a dazed, confused, and amnesiac boy who was as of right now, wide awake.

Amane turned toward the Kakushi that stood inside the room.

"Please, bring in (Y/n)-kun," she softly ordered.

The Kakushi nodded his head as he went out for a few seconds, before bringing in the teenager that had wanted to see Muichiro.

(Y/n)'s eyes widened when he saw how Muichiro turned his head toward him, a strained tight lip blank look on the pre-teen's face.

Biting the inside of his cheek, (Y/n) sat beside Amane, just for her to get up.

He gave a confused look to the older female.

Amane smiled softly. "I'll be back with tea," she reassured the two boys before following the Kakushi out of the room.

(Y/n) turned his head and gazed at the pre-teen that was currently wrapped up with bandages.

Muichiro stared at the (H/c)-haired boy for a few moments, not knowing what to do.

A soft smile sketched upon (Y/n)'s lips as he placed a gentle hand on Muichiro's hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Tokito-kun... I'm (L/n) (Y/n), but please, call me (Y/n)," the (H/c)-haired teen said softly.

Muichiro stared at the physical contact he was being given, before unconsciously leaning into (Y/n)'s embrace.

(Y/n)'s eyes widened in panic as he caught Muichiro's figure so that the younger wouldn't injure himself.

(E/c) eyes softened when their owner realized that Muichiro had fallen asleep in his hold.

The (H/c)-haired teenager just sat there with a sleeping Muichiro curled up in his lap, clutching onto the uniform he was currently wearing.

A single (S/c) hand lifted, and got placed onto Muichiro's head.

'Welcome home, Mui-kun.' (Y/n) thought as he ran his hand through Muichiro's hair, allowing the said boy to cuddle more up into his side.

"Welcome home."