The gentle twilight sun cast a warm, golden glow over Mitsuri Kanroji's estate, where Bell had been eagerly making his way after a long day of Hashira training. Arriving, he found Mitsuri waiting for him on the veranda, her bright eyes lighting up at the sight of him.
"Bell!" Mitsuri called, her voice lilting as she waved him over with a radiant smile. "I've been waiting for you."
Bell returned her smile, his eyes glinting with affection as he took her hand to help her up. "I missed you, too, Mitsuri. You make even the toughest training days seem worth it."
Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "Oh, you're always so charming. It's no wonder all the Slayers look up to you."
Bell grinned. "I think you give me too much credit. You're the one who's admired, Mitsuri. The way you inspire others, it's hard not to fall for you," he teased, earning another blush from Mitsuri.
They made their way inside, and soon the air was filled with the delightful aroma of freshly made pancakes. Mitsuri had made them herself, and they dug in together, sharing stories and laughs over the meal. Bell caught Mitsuri mid-bite as she babbled about one of the younger Slayers trying to outdo her during training earlier that day.
"...and then he stretched and fell right on his face! Oh, it was priceless! He—" Mitsuri paused, catching Bell's mischievous gaze on her face. "What?" she asked, blinking at him, noticing a bit of a pancake on her cheek.
Bell chuckled and reached over, wiping the morsel from her face with his thumb before popping it into his mouth. "Can't let a bite of Mitsuri's cooking go to waste," he said, grinning as he licked his thumb clean.
Her cheeks turned bright pink. "Bell! You—you're going to make me faint if you keep doing things like that!"
He smirked, reaching to gently brush her cheek. "If I make you faint, I'll just have to catch you," he teased, his voice soft as he held her gaze. Mitsuri's heart fluttered at his words, a warmth filling her chest.
As the evening wore on and they relaxed together, Mitsuri eventually reached over, her hand gently resting on his. "Bell…would you stay with me tonight?" she asked softly, her gaze turning shy. "I'd really like to be close to you…if that's all right."
Bell's expression softened, and he nodded. "Of course, Mitsuri. Nothing would make me happier."
They slipped into her room and lay down together, Mitsuri curling up beside him, her head nestled against his chest as they talked in gentle murmurs. Slowly, their hands found each other's, fingers intertwining. Their breathing stilled as they drew closer, lips brushing in a gentle kiss that grew deeper, both losing themselves in the warmth and softness of the other.
When they finally pulled away, they lay there, Mitsuri sighing contentedly as she snuggled into him. "Goodnight, Bell," she whispered, her voice filled with warmth and comfort as sleep began to overtake her.
"Goodnight, Mitsuri," he murmured back, brushing a kiss to her forehead as he held her close. The two drifted into a peaceful sleep, the comfort of each other's presence soothing their hearts.
The next morning, Bell and Tanjiro returned to Mitsuri's estate for her renowned flexibility training. Mitsuri greeted them with her usual infectious enthusiasm.
"Today, we'll be doing some dance routines and flexibility exercises!" she announced, clapping her hands together. "It's important to stay limber and quick on your feet!"
Bell joined in eagerly, his movements smooth and precise as he danced alongside Mitsuri, the two exchanging glances and smiles as they moved in sync. Tanjiro, however, was struggling, and his awkward stumbles left Mitsuri giggling.
"You're getting there, Tanjiro!" Mitsuri encouraged, her voice brimming with kindness. "Just keep practicing!"
By the end of the session, Bell gave Mitsuri a light kiss on her forehead, leaving her momentarily speechless as her face flushed deep pink.
"See you later, Mitsuri," he whispered, his hand lingering briefly on her shoulder. Mitsuri stammered, lost in a whirlwind of shyness and joy as Bell and Tanjiro walked off toward their next training session.
Tanjiro, with a slight grin, glanced up at Bell. "She really likes you, you know."
Bell laughed lightly. "I just want to make her smile. As long as I'm doing that, I'm happy."
The pair arrived at Obanai Iguro's training ground, a quiet clearing set amidst the trees. Obanai was waiting for them, his intense gaze focused on them as they approached.
"Today's training is simple," he announced without preamble, his voice calm but firm. "We'll focus on pure swordsmanship. Precision, control, and endurance."
Tanjiro and Bell nodded, feeling the weight of his words. They drew their swords, ready to hone their skills under Obanai's sharp watch.