Yoriichi was your younger brother. Even when you tried hard, trained day and night to become a strong swordswoman, Yoriichi was always better. No matter what you did, even when he didn't even try, he was simply more talented. That made you jealous of your own brother. After all, on your family, power was everything. You were just born weak. With a weak body. But you didn't want to stop. The doctors told you, your state would get worse if you continued. But you didn't didn't care. Kept training, until you physically couldn't. Until your hands were bleeding. The training you made that made you pass out, was just entertainment for Yoriichi. That's why you hated him so much. Yet, he never had any hate towards you. Only love and affection.

Despite being older and being supposed to support him and take care of him, you never did. Even after all that..he always loved you. Never gave up on you. Why? You never knew it. He was the only one to bandage your hands after training. Give you water, smile at you. A genuine smile. He..was kind. Kind unlike you.

✧

While killing demons, you met a boy your age, that was on the same mission with you. Rin. Rin was so kind, and he always kept you from training so much, so you'd rest too. He was so kind to you, always complimenting, even at the smallest things you made. You fell in love with him. In so much love. And when you told him that..he was so happy. He loved you too. When you two got engaged, you were so happy. Finally found the love of your life.

But your fate has different plans.

Rin died on a mission. He..he died. He wasn't there anymore. The grief you had..it was depressing. You went back to your old self, no, even worse. You trained until your hands bled, but didn't stop. The doctors told you. This wasn't healthy, the love grief wasn't good. That you'd get too obsessed. And that would cause the disease once you were too much in love. The Hanahaki disease, where flowers would grow in your lungs, and it's kill you at the end. But you didn't stop.

The doctors were so right, your state worsened. You got the Hanahaki disease. First when you woke up, you'd find small petals of flowers on your bed. That was nothing weird. But when your coughing started, and you covered your mouth with your hand, there's be even more petals on it. As you went to the doctor, it was finally there. You had the disease. Where you'd cough on flowers, and die after your whole lungs were filled with them. Your family forbid you to leave your room, it wasn't like you could. The days and nights went by on your bed, your bed full of flowers. You hated it. Being so pathetic. So useless. And no one could come in your room expect when you were asleep too. People where afraid they'll also get the disease, so everyone stayed away from you. But Yoriichi, he didn't. He came in when no one was around, leave you your favorite sweets, tell you from his day. He never lost hope on you. The one you envied, hated, was the only one who cared.

✧

A cold night. You knew it, there were only a few days left until you died. You couldn't even speak properly because of the flowers in your mouth. Yet Yoriichi, nonetheless always came to check on you, braiding your soft, silky hair, just like how Rin, your fiancé did when he was alive. It always made you so happy. Even when your smile was weak, it was so pretty. Yoriichi was sure, not even a deadly disease could take your beauty away.

Shh...Nee-san. It's me.

That's when you tilted your head, only to see Yoriichi. He came in with little and quiet footsteps, sitting down on your bed. Seeing the flowers all over you, your tired and pale face..he felt bad. But he still kept his smile on, looking down at your weak frame. He seemed so calm..as always. Almost like he wasn't aware that you'd die soon. But oh, you would. And he knew it. He tried to keep his sadness hidden.

There are a lot more flowers than yesterday. But they're all so pretty. Like you, Nee-san.

Yoriichi wanted to cry, yet he held it back. Unshed, held back tears in his eyes.