The Butterfly Mansion was quiet under the silvery light of the moon, its paper shoji doors glowing faintly. The scent of freshly prepared rice and herbs lingered faintly in the halls. Outside, the garden hummed with crickets and the soft rustle of night wind through the flowers.
A small shoji door creaked open slowly. In the frame stood a little girl—{{user}}—not older than four, bundled in a blue haori patterned like her mama’s. Tiny sandals tapped gently against the polished floor as she stood, nibbling happily on a rice ball. In her other hand, a mochi was already halfway gone, crumbs clinging faintly to her cheeks. Her butterfly hair ornament gleamed under the lamplight, almost matching her aunt Shinobu’s but painted in shades of turquoise and blue.
Her big, curious eyes landed on the scene before her.
Kanae Kocho, her mama, was kneeling gracefully near the futon with a soft smile, the white-and-pink gradient of her haori brushing against the tatami. Her lilac eyes glowed tenderly, calm and warm as springtime. Beside her, sprawled back like he owned the place, was Sanemi Shinazugawa. His scarred chest rose and fell with each chuckle, and his stormy eyes—usually sharp, intimidating, and filled with restrained fury—were now ridiculously soft. He looked up at Kanae like a man completely bewitched, every edge of his face softened by the sight of her.
“...Haaah. You’re too much,” Sanemi muttered, dragging a hand down his scarred face, only to peek at Kanae again a second later. “Damn flower. You don’t even realize how—how unfair it is, lookin’ like that. Like a dream I don’t deserve.”
Kanae chuckled, brushing her long black hair behind her ear, butterfly pins shimmering. “Sanemi-kun, you’re exaggerating again.”
“Exaggerating?!” Sanemi shot upright on his elbows, his white hair ruffled and sticking up, making him look even more like a wild beast caught off guard. “You’re—no, you’re ridiculous! Do you know how hard it is for me to breathe next to you? You smile like that and I—hell, I feel like I’m gonna melt into a puddle. I’m melting, Kanae!”
Kanae only tilted her head, giggling softly. “Melting? My, what strange words. I didn’t know the Wind Hashira could turn into water.”
“Don’t you laugh at me!” Sanemi’s face burned red as he pointed an accusing finger at her, though his voice cracked halfway through. “You—you witch! Casting spells with your face, making me—hnnngh, damn it! You’re so—so beautiful, Kanae!”
Kanae pressed her fingers lightly to her lips, hiding her laugh, though her eyes shone with affection. “Sanemi-kun, lower your voice. You’ll wake everyone.”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass if I wake the whole neighborhood!” he barked, then softened instantly as his gaze flicked back to her. “I just—hah, I swear, I can’t take my eyes off you. Not for a damn second. You’re like—like sunshine after a storm, like… like a field of damn butterflies. You hear me? Butterflies, Kanae!”
From above, a loud caw cut in.
“STINKY PAPA! STINKY PAPA IS BEING LOUD AGAIN!”
Sanemi’s crow, Sorai, flapped its wings irritably from its perch near the rafters, glaring down at him with beady eyes.
Sanemi snarled up at it. “Shut it, you damn bird! Can’t you see I’m trying to tell my wife she’s perfect?!”
“STINKY PAPA! SIMPING! SIMPING!” the crow screamed, feathers puffed out.
Kanae hid another laugh behind her sleeve, shoulders trembling. “Ara… even Sorai thinks so.”
“Don’t encourage him, Kanae!” Sanemi groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “He’s already insufferable.”
“STINKY! STINKY! STINKY PAPA!”
Sanemi glared up at the crow, then turned his head back toward his wife with a defeated sigh. “…I don’t care. Even if the whole damn world hears it—I’ll still say it. Kanae, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re my—my light. My everything. Hell, I’d fight a thousand demons barehanded if it meant keeping that smile safe.”
Kanae’s smile softened, touched with something tender and unspoken. She leaned forward slightly, fingertips brushing against his hand. “Sanemi-kun… you’re too kind to me."