She's Kocho Kanae, the eldest daughter and child of the owner of Kocho Pharmaceuticals. Her family is extremely wealthy, one of the wealthiest in the whole of Japan. Her family belongs to a line of pharmacists. Making and creating medicine is their forte.

She is lucky to be born into such a loving family. Her family is wealthy due to their family business, she can tell from the difference of the clothes she and her sisters wear and the quality of the food they eat. Her parents are also wise and caring people, often going out of their way to help others in need. It inspired her to do the same, so she helps whoever she can.

Being the daughter of a wealthy family has many perks but it also has its downside. Not many children her age like to play with her, afraid of accidentally offending her and bringing down the wrath of her wealthy family down on their heads. Every child her age avoided her no matter what school she attended because her family name is just that well-known. As such, she only has her younger sisters to play with, Shinobu and Kanao. It doesn't matter. She will be the best nee-san to her little sisters.

Just her and her sisters. That was her childhood in a nutshell.

She just attended her first day at High School today. Her classmates are all interesting people. There's the flamboyant Uzui, energetic Rengoku, the quiet but adorable Tomioka, the airheaded Kanroji. Even her homeroom teacher is weird in the fun type of way, a religious man with a huge love for cats and cries over the smallest of things. Himejima-sensei is just such a lovable person.

For once, she thinks that she might be able to make some genuine friends.

She continued to walk back home. As the eldest daughter of the Kocho family she could easily have a chauffeur drive her around to wherever she wants to go but she doesn't like the ojou-sama treatment. Already, a few of their classmates had given her that nickname when they heard of her family name. She doesn't want to be different. She's no ojou-sama, she's just like any other ordinary girl.

She knew things went wrong when she found herself in an unfamiliar place. Had she gotten lost?

She backtracked the way she had come from and tried to take a shortcut through a deserted and dark alley. She saw a gang of hoodlums blocking her way and she immediately turned around to leave, only to find that her only way out had been blocked as well. The gang slowly circled her in, lecherous grins on their faces.

"Well, well, look who we have here. Who wants to have a go first?"

"Um, please let me go?" She tried to take the civil approach but it obviously isn't working. She inwardly cursed herself for being so stupid. What possessed her to take this shortcut? How is she going to get out of this bind?

It was then she heard it, a voice that sounded so familiar to her but yet so foreign. It's like she had heard the voice before from somewhere but she could not put a finger on it.

"Oi, what are you shits trying to do?"

"Daichi-kun~"

"What?"

She continues to bug him as he continues to move cardboard boxes and unpack the contents. It's been a week since he had saved her from those hoodlums and knocked their teeths out. He works part time in a convenience store after school. Coincidentally enough, they attend the same High School and they are in the same year. He's in the class next door. She comes here to visit him after school whenever she's free.

"Mou~ why must you be so standoffish?"

"I have work to do, ojou-sama."

"It's Kanae-chan."

He ignored her as he went about arranging the products on display on the shelves. She hummed a tune as she helped him do so, ignoring his scowl.

"Hey, that's my work. If you like to do this so much why don't you apply to be a part timer as well? If you continue to do this my manager will scold me when he sees you doing my work again."

She spun around on her heels to face him with a clap of her hands.

"Why, that's a great idea, Daichi-kun!"

"God, you can't be serious." He groaned out loud. "You are a freaking ojou-sama and you want to work part time in a shitty convenience stall? Come to think about it, what were you thinking, crossing that dark alley like that all alone? It's dangerous there. All sorts of nasty people like to hang out there."

"Well, you appeared in the nick of time, didn't you?" She let out a carefree laugh and poked his cheek with a finger, successfully making him scowl and trying to swat her hand away from his face. He wasn't very successful.

"Whatever."

"So we are friends now?" She asked hopefully.

"Not."

"Why?!"

"You are an ojou-sama. I am just a measly low-class citizen. We live in two different worlds, get that in your head. Our worlds will never collide."

"I'm no ojou-sama. I'm just Kanae." She spoke softly as she looked at her feet. "I just want to… make a friend."

"Don't make friends with everyone you see. This world is a backstabbing hellhole. Not all people are nice people even if they smile all the time."

"Dai-"

He pushed her out of the little convenience store he is working at.

"Hurry up and go. I really don't want my manager to see me 'slacking off'. I still need this job."

"How in the name of- Your parents actually agreed to let you work part time here?! You are the freaking eldest daughter of Kocho Pharmaceuticals!"

"My parents said that I should go out more to experience what the real world is like! It's nice to work alongside you! Please take care of me!" She greeted her friend cheerily with a bow, already decked out in the staff uniform. She had learnt a few things about her new friend in the few days she had known him, both in school and here when she's bugging him non-stop.

One, the only family member he has left is his sickly father. They are not doing so well financially, which is why he's working part time. Two, he's extremely smart and hardworking. He had the best scores among their cohort who applied to attend the high school which they are now studying at.

As part timers, their shift starts from two in the afternoon and ends at seven p.m. After that, he would walk her home. She had never asked for it but he just did it. She cannot help but smile at the gesture. What a gentleman. He's also really a tsundere, just like Shinobu.

"Those are really pretty." She remarked when they passed by a tree with many purple flowers hanging down, making it a pretty sight. It's night, but the light from the street lamps illuminating the flowers and giving it a translucent glow makes it really pretty.

"Those are wisteria flowers. They are popular among the religious folks who believe that it can help ward off evil spirits and demons." He replied without looking in her direction. "The area near my house is full of those."

"Really?!" She jumped on her feet in excitement. "Can you bring some for me then?"

"You can just take some yourself from here." He gestured to the large number of wisteria flowers around them.

"But it's special if it's from you!"

She managed to corner him at the corner of the staircase in school during recess. She held a hand up to him, palm facing up. He looked at it, sighed, and then placed a small cloth bag smaller than the size of her palm into her hand.

"Thanks for giving me the good luck charm!"

"It's only wisteria flowers. You can get them anywhere." He grumbled and she skipped after him.

"It's different if it comes from you, and an ojou-sama needs to be pampered!"

"A spoiled ojou-sama indeed."

"And what a grouchy old man you are. You need to smile a little more, Daichi-kun! See?" She tiptoed and pulled at his cheeks with her fingers to pull his lips into a smile, only to quickly duck when his hand tried to swat her away.

"Daichi-kun~" She called after his departing figure when he grumbled something inaudibly under his breath and quickly caught up to him, her smile still on her face. "Wait up! Don't leave your ojou-sama behind! It's bad manners to do so!"

"Do I look like I care about manners?"

"Hmm? Are you going to study again?" She asked when she recognised the route they are taking. They are heading to the library where he will do some self-study until the end of the break comes. Does he not eat during recess?

"You don't eat during recess?"

"Payday hasn't come and I don't have enough money at the moment. Now can you just leave me alone?"

"Nope!" She said as she popped the 'P' sound. "I need some help in Biology! You will help me right? Right? For a friend, Daichi-kun?"

"Whatever. I'm too tired to argue. Which chapter do you need help in?"

"Chocolates?"

"Don't you know? It's valentine today! You always seemed so lonely and it's not like you have any friends, so I thought I would make you some chocolates so that you don't feel too left out! I baked these myself too!"

She shoved the box of chocolates into his hands and looked at him expectantly.

"I'm expecting something from you on White Day, Daichi-kun. Don't disappoint, okay?"

She walked away with a skip in her steps, humming a merry tune under her breath and leaving him there not knowing what to do with the box of chocolates in his hands.

"Dinner? Now?"

"Well, there's nobody at home today. Dad and Mum are out and Shinobu and Kanao are all meeting their friends, so that means you have to spend time with me!"

She dragged him along with her. Their shift at the convenience store had only just ended and she knows that his father is working the night shift at his job tonight, which means they can eat dinner together today.

"How about this one!" She pointed at an eatery that she knows won't blow a hole in his wallet. They were about to walk in when they both spotted the sign hanging outside the eatery.

WHITE DAY SPECIAL! 70% DISCOUNT FOR COUPLES!

Discount

She immediately glanced at him. Their eyes met within a split second. In that same split second, she quietly mouthed to him.

"Face, or money?"

"Money."

Without further ado, she wrapped her arms around his to portray the couple image and dragged him into the eatery. She felt his body stiffening up from the contact. Hahaha! How cute!

"Yes, the discount is still available!" The waiter responded when they asked about the White Day Special. "All you have to do is to take a couple shot right here at the photobooth to enjoy the discount!"

"We are leaving." She heard him hissing into her ear. She pretended not to hear him as she dragged him into the designated area labelled 'photobooth' and with a snap of the shutter, a polaroid of them was taken and hung on the walls in the eatery. They were both given a copy each as well.

"Mou~ Will it kill you to not act so stiff, Daichi-kun?" She whined as they both ate their dinners at their table, the polaroid lying beside her plate. They are both doing the heart sign with their fingers but he really is too stiff! Just look at the way he stood beside her in that photo!

"This reminds me. Tomorrow's White Day. I got something for you but I might as well give it to you now." He said as he rummaged through his bag and brought out a plastic bag, giving it to her.

"This is…?" She asked as she received the gift from him.

"Open it up."

The first thing she saw were a pair of green and pink butterfly hairpins. There's also a white, light green and pink butterfly wing patterned dress in the plastic bag.

"I don't know why, but I feel that you would like those hairpins." He mentioned as he continued to eat his food. "As for the dress, I honestly don't know if it is your size but I think it will fit. If it doesn't, let me know. I will see if I can go exchange it for something else."

Her face lit up into a smile.

"Thank you, Daichi-kun!"

"Eat your food before it gets cold, annoying woman."

"Daichi-kun~"

She ran up to him and jumped onto his back the moment she got to his side, uncaring if anybody else saw them. Let them gawk all they want, it's normal for a girl to act all clingy towards her boyfriend, right?

"Kanae, I almost fell down just now." He half-sighed as he continued to carry her in a piggyback. They are now in the final year of university. She's studying pharmaceutical science because she wants to help her parents in the family business one day. He's training to be a doctor. His father had passed away some years ago and his death had spurred him to study medicine, so that nobody else has to lose their father like he did.

What a kind hearted man. A big softie too.

"Say, shall we go on a holiday when summer break arrives? Remember the pair of tickets to Okinawa that we won from a lucky draw? We haven't used them yet!"

"Sure. You just want to visit the beach, don't you?" He exposed her true intentions immediately and she laughed. Only he would understand her so well.

"Alright, down you go." He dropped her back to her feet without any warning. She pointed an accusing finger at him as she kicked up a childish tantrum.

"That could have seriously injured me if I fell, you know?"

"Somebody has to make the spoiled ojou-sama walk a little and exercise and get people to stop pampering her. Guess who volunteered for the job?"

"But I'm such a delicate flower!" She continued to whine as they slowly strolled through the university's grounds hand in hand. "How could you bear to stomp such a pretty and delicate flower like me into the dirt? How cruel of you, Daichi-kun! This ojou-sama is so disappointed in you!"

"Delicate? You sure?"

"Ah, so you are not denying the pretty part? I knew it! You find this ojou-sama pretty!"

"You are my girlfriend. Of course you are pretty to me."

She cannot hide the smile on her face even if she tried.

"Say, Daichi-kun."

"Yeah?"

"What kind of swimsuit do you like to see me in?"

"Let's see. How about... no swimsuit?"

"D-D-Daichi-kun!" She pounded her fist against his arm but it did nothing but to tickle him. "Y-Y-You-! Pervert!"

"Who else would I perve on? It's not like it is the first time."

"W-W-Wait!" She felt herself blushing up a storm. "T-There was a first time?!"

"Remember when you came over to visit me a week ago?"

"Y-Yeah?"

"You insisted on trying to drink all the alcohol in my fridge and then you ended up getting yourself so drunk that you puked all over the place and all over your clothes. Do you know how long it took me to get rid of all the vomit? Who else do you think changed you out of your soiled clothes?"

She stood rooted on the ground, face a bright red and she could feel steam gushing out from her ears. He gave her a mischievous smirk as he leaned in closer to her ear and whispered into it.

"It's soft. I mean, your chest. And those pink nipples are really cute too. Don't worry, I will take responsibility, so you don't need to worry about not being able to get yourself married off."

"DAICHI-KUN!" She tried to pound her fists at him for that embarrassing remark, only for him to dodge it with a laugh. She ran after him, determined to have him beg for her mercy when she finally caught him. She ran while shouting at him to get back here the entire time, the butterfly hairpins that he had given her so many years ago fluttered with the wind from where it is pinned to the sides of her head.

They were twenty-five when they got married. She is now helping out in her family's business. He is on the way to becoming an accomplished doctor. They live in an apartment not far from her home. It's not very big, but they have no need for a lot of space anyway. At least, not at this stage of their lives. When they decide to have children then that will be another story.

It's late at night. She fell asleep beside him. Somehow, tonight feels different. She had a dream.

She dreamt that they once lived in a world of Demons.

"Are you two going to… uh, be Demon Slayers too?"

"We are. You?"

"Of course I am signing up for it. If I'm going to be a Demon Slayer, then I will be the best. Demons. I… I will kill them all."

Demon Slayers, what's that?

"Say, shall we make a promise?"

"What promise?"

"That we will smile no matter what! Even in death, we will smile!"

"Childish."

Where are they walking to? Why is it that the haori she's wearing look so much like the dress he had given her on that White Day when she was fifteen years old? Even the butterfly wing patterns look the same.

"Say, Daichi-kun?"

"Yeah?"

"If one of us dies before the other, the one who left first will wait for the other before heading to the afterlife. This ojou-sama is kinda afraid of making the journey alone, you see."

"You won't die."

"Aww, I didn't know you have so much confidence in my abilities!"

"Keep quiet, annoying woman."

"Say, Daichi-kun?"

"What is it now?"

"If we both cannot live past twenty-five in this life, how about you take responsibility in the next life? You can take this ojou-sama as your bride! This ojou-sama wouldn't mind!"

"Go away."

"Say, Daichi-kun?"

"Yes, what now?"

"If we are both lucky enough to be born into a world without Demons in our next life, you must come find me, okay?"

"Fine. If I go before you I will wait for you. If there's a next life I will come find you. If by then you still want me to take responsibility I will marry you."

"E-E-Eh? D-Daichi-kun! Y-You c-cannot just say s-something like t-that out of the blue!"

Where are they? Why does the place feel so familiar? There are wisteria flowers all around them. Where is this place? Why is she holding a sword? Why is he wielding a kusarigama? Why are they fighting?

Why is she running? Why… Why is Daichi covered in blood and dying down there?!

"Daichi! Daichi! It's me, Kanae! Daichi!"

"Ka...nae…"

"Y-You are g-going to be alright. You are going to be fine! I-I don't care about the next life, I will marry you in this life! This ojou-sama demands this of you so don't die! You got to take responsibility, you hear me?! Don't you dare go before me! Promise me this!"

"Sorry, Kanae… I… I don't think I can make this promise. It's too strong, the Upper Moon One… I… I cannot defeat him alone… I tried to fight till sunrise but… I…"

"I DON'T CARE! JUST DON'T DIE ON ME! WHO ELSE WILL GIVE ME WISTERIA FLOWERS IF YOU'RE GONE?! WHO ELSE WILL I ANNOY IF YOU ARE NOT AROUND?! SO DON'T DIE! I WON'T LET YOU DIE!"

"I promised… that I will wait… for you so that we can go to the afterlife… together… I will find you and then… I can take responsibility… I will take you as my... bride…"

Don't die don't die please don't die-

"Nee-san."

"I'm fine, Shinobu."

Why is she and her sisters standing in front of a grave? Why are they wearing these weird uniforms?

What is this? Where are they?

Why is his name on the tombstone? Why is she standing in front of his grave? Why is he dead?!

"Stand up, Flower Hashira Kocho Kanae."

Why is she fighting this person? Why is she so injured and puking blood? The Demon's an Upper Moon Two. Wait, what is an Upper Moon Two? What is this place? Why is she fighting?

"If you decide to be a Demon Slayer, then slay Demons. If you decide to defeat a Demon, then defeat it. Once you decide to win, then win, whatever the cost. That's the ojou-sama I know."

She woke up with a gasp and sat up in fear, her breathing ragged and cold sweat clung to her body. She didn't know how long had passed. All she knew was that when she finally calmed down she was in her husband's arms with him hugging her close and rubbing soothing circles on her back, murmuring comforting words for her to hear.

"Kanae? You alright?"

"Yeah, I'm…" She took another deep breath and looked at her husband. He's here, still here with her and alive.

Still, what was that dream? It felt too realistic.

"Had a bad dream, that's all." She shook her head and closed her eyes, leaning into his chest and hearing his heartbeat to calm herself down. "What a weird dream."

"How weird? Would it be better if you talk about it? I'm always here to listen."

"Like, I dreamt that I was… a swordswoman or something? Can you imagine it, me, swinging a sword? And we were… part of… something called the Demon Slayer Corps? We actually fought Demons?"

"Sounds like a story out of a fantasy. Has my ojou-sama ever considered writing a book about it?" He half-joked in an attempt to cheer her up as he gently rocked her in his arms from where they were sitting on the bed.

"It ended in a tragedy. I dreamt that you… you died." She grimaced at the thought. That scene felt too real, the emotions that she felt in that dream felt too raw for her to be comfortable with it. In that dream, she remembered crying his name in the rain as she hugged his dead body close to her, his body turning colder and colder by the second. That scene really was something out of a nightmare.

"I followed soon after. We did make a promise beforehand that you will marry me and take me as your bride in the next life though." She mentioned before giving a sigh. She looked up at him.

"Do you think that we had met in our past lives? Or if something like a past life or an afterlife even exists?"

"I don't know." He admitted as he looked down at her with a smile. "But all I know is that I like this life pretty much. If us being those… what did you call it? Demon Slayers? If that were indeed our past lives then I'm glad I went through on my promise and married you in this life. I always go through on my promises, you know that. You said that you used a sword? What about me? What kind of sword did I have?"

"You use a kusarigama."

"Huh, weird."

"I know, right?" She let out an amused laugh at the thought of her husband actually swinging one of those dangerous pointy things about. "Say, Daichi-kun."

"Hmm?"

"In that dream, you were very inspiring, you know that?"

"Are you sure this is me you are talking about?"

"Stand up, Flower Hashira Kocho Kanae." She recited from the memory of that unexplainable dream as she leaned into her husband, enjoying his warmth. "I don't know why, but those words gave me a lot of strength when I heard them. Back in the dream, and even now when I simply think about it."

"Flower Hashira?"

"One of the nine strongest swordsmen in whatever organisation that we were a part of in that dream. I think you were the… Earth Hashira? In that weird dream, at least."

"Flower and Earth… I like that. Flowers can only bloom if there is earth, right?"

"Cheesy." She accused before she looked up at him once more.

"Say, Daichi-kun?"

"Yes?"

"Can you make another promise? That no matter how many lives we lived, no matter where we go, you will always come and find me and you will marry me."

He gave her a light kiss on her lips.

"Of course, anything for my ojou-sama."