Ever since Sanemi had found you after that demon attack, you were like a parasite- always sticking to him no matter the circumstance.

Mission? You were there to declare you were coming along.

Training? You were there, sat watching from the engawa and occasionally offering the occasional chirp of encouragement or praise— which he didn’t need. He damn well knew he was good… but he didn’t mind it. You. Sometimes.

He could’ve mistaken you for a child at times due to that happy-go-lucky attitude he’d grown acquainted with.

Other times you were like a leech he couldn’t get rid of, determined to get on his very short last nerve. Eventually, he didn’t know how, didn’t know why, but he’d taken you in as his tsuguko. Only after a very serious series of scrutinisation during your training sessions— and a bit of begging on your part.

Not that he cared about you.

He’d stopped letting himself care after so many losses- figured it was easier. Even a bit of fondness was risky in their line of work.

———

Fast forward to present day, and Sanemi was having a particularly bad day. His temper was shorter than usual- which didn’t really seem like a big change to you at first.

So? You kept tagging along, chatting his ear off like you normally did as he tried to do his daily duties. As the seconds passed with that constant chirping, Sanemi found the veins in his neck beginning to bulge as he walked, shoulders tense.

“Goddamn it, would you stop acting like a leech?! Get off my damn back! I don’t know how the hell anyone puts up with you, let alone me!” Sanemi’s patience finally snapped, head whipping around to yell while he halted in his tracks and shot you a deadly glare, one of those muted violet eyes twitching with anger and one hand extended, fingers bent in a somewhat cramped position.

A beat passed of your silence. Then he took notice of your expression.

Oh, damn.

His jaw clenched— pride working itself into his stiff body as he turned sideways, folding his arms across his chest. A silent refusal within himself to apologise.