Coming to a Conclusion

Mizuki POV

"Sato-san?" I call out as I knock on the door to Sato's study room. "Come in." I hear him as I pushed open the door and saw him sitting down at the table reading a book.

Unconsciously I gripped onto my shirt that I was wearing as I walked over to Sato. My head spun with questions, previously I had calmed myself down with training and had gone over some things that could happen here. But I was still nervous, I didn't know what to expect.

I could feel my hands sweat as I sat down on the other side of the table across of Sato.

"Mizuki." I hear Sato call out my name as he put the book down and looked straight at me. I avoided eye contact as I fiddled with my fingers.

A silence befalls us, as I could feel Sato's stare as he examines me. "Hahh. Mizuki, yesterday. I didn't mean for it to sound as if I'm kicking you out. You've been of great help since Michi brought you in. However, you should also think about yourself." I hear Sato-san say causing me to lift me gaze and now meet his eyes.

"What I had told Michikatsu wasn't something new, we had discussed this years ago. I could see that it was quite shocking for you, but I don't plan on canceling this marriage either. The way I see it, is this is something Michikatsu needs to do as the next head of the family. He is strong and he would be well off with a lady like Kira Ochiro, she comes from a well family and is a good lady for him. Her father and I made an agreement that our children would get married at the agreeable age, which is around this time." Sato continues, as he tells me this I could feel my heart clench and tug. I could feel my heart beating in my chest as if it's shaking in fear, as if I was hearing something I wasn't supposed to be.

A part of me wanted to get up and leave the room, to sort out my thoughts which I haven't yet done. A part of me wanted to cry, and yet a part of me wanted to stay here and finish hearing everything. I wanted to hear.....I want to find out why these feelings and these emotions mean to me. This unforgettable feeling that continues to crawl and make my heart tug like this.

I force my face to hold back on showing any emotions of sadness and uprising feelings. But I really.....

"So as Michikatsu's marriage comes up, I would want you to get married as well." My eyes widen in surprise. "Me? Marriage?" I repeat as I was confused and didn't like the sound of getting married at 16.

I furrow my brows as I remember that back in the modern world, most don't get married until their late 20 or early 30s.

Though in this time period, I knew that you had to mature early, as death and things came earlier, with the lack of resources and knowledge. Like health issues and just the world that I live in right now with demons made the life span shorter. Marriage and contract marriage was the custom and the norm here. But I don't want that...

Seeing my face in distraught, Sato spoke up, "I'm not going to force you to marry anyone of my choice or marry anyone right now. It's not my decision because you're not my daughter after all. But I also have a feeling that you still have things to sort out....." Sato says as he looks into my eyes as if he's reading my expression and all of my emotions. It's as if he knows something I don't....

He continues on "But if you'd like you can stay here until you are ready to leave or get married. I know that you are becoming strong with the sword, as well as you can for a woman. But I feel that it's something you shouldn't advertise to your future husband. He may or may not disagree with it. But your training, if you'd like you may continue. I will not cut you off until you decide to leave, that is your choice."

I blink and nod my head as I clench onto my pants even tighter that as I look down I could see that I made wrinkles all over. "I-I see.....I-I'm not planning on marriage just yet. But as you said, would it be okay if I continue staying here and training until I sort things out on what I want to do?" I ask as I look up to meet his gaze.

Sato nods his head as he takes a sip of tea. "Of course. Michikastu and I do appreciate what you do for us. But you need to start to think about your future as well, you are at the age where opportunities of happiness and life await you. You shouldn't trap yourself here." he tells me. I could feel his sincere in his words, he cared about my future, but I felt that he was telling me I should let go. Let go of-

"That is all." Sato speaks causing me to nod my head and stand up. "Well I'll be seeing you in a bit. Lunch will be done in a few." I say as I bow and make my way out. Just as I close the door I walk down the hall and stop. 'Just what...'

Feeling worn out, I walk briskly to my room and close the door. The moment I entered and closed the door, I fell to the ground. 'I know.....I don't want to be stuck here forever. I also want to go back home. I want to see Testu, mom, dad, and Sarah. But what can I do, I reverted back in age and ended up here in a world that shouldn't exist. A world of fiction, an anime world. But that's reality now, this isn't some simple life where I can live freely and carelessly like I did.

I can die. I can really die. If I die, I don't know if I can even go back home. This world...The Demon Slayer world, is much more harsh and unbelievable. I had always joked around saying it would be good if I could go into Demon Slayer and if I did I would save lives. Just like the pillars, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Tanjiro.

I clench onto my chest as I bend over. Tears begin to fall and stain the tatami mats below me as breath heavily. But can I really say that confidently that I can save people's lives. Can I really say that my being here is something useful. I had always had these thoughts that lingered at the back of my head. But all thoughts, everything, every single idea of doubt, the world, my feelings are pouring out right now.

But there's something more than just wanting to go home and see my friends and family. The idea that my friend, Michikatsu, is getting married. The idea of him leaving me behind, the thought that I would be alone in this world, makes me upset. Perhaps more than just the simple upset, but I can't tell what it is.

I don't know what these feelings are towards Michikatsu other than feelings of kindness and adoration as friends. But even at the thought of these feelings which I'm describing how I feel, hurts my heart.

I slowly lift my head off the mat and take a deep breath trying to calm myself down. I think I'll find what these feelings mean eventually, but I don't think it'll help me now or in the future. Whatever, it has to do with Michikatsu, I can't do anything about it. He'll be here still, he'll be living a happy life with his wife, and I'll be just there. I clench my chest again at this painful pang in my chest.

'I want to stay with Michikatsu and Sato. I'm grateful but like Sato said...I can't stay here forever. Michikatsu is already getting married and he's going to have a family of his own eventually. And I'll just be a maid for the rest of my time, if I decide to stay. I won't be acknowledged...' I think to myself as more tears fall.

I shake slightly as I become overwhelmed. I close my eyes as my eyes feel puffy and irritated. Suddenly an image pops in my head. 'Ah- Didn't I just think that I wanted to go home? What's the point of crying now? It won't do me any good to getting back home.' I think to myself as images of my family flash through my head. My parents are waiting for me to come home and Tetsu is waiting. Sarah is just waiting for me to spill all my fun and details when I get back.

I open my eyes and stare at the tear stained tatami mat below me. I slow my thoughts down as I think things over again.

But that's okay....That's his life, not mine. I know that I won't be able to stay here forever. I just want to go home at this point, it's sad that I won't be able to see Tanjiro or the pillars. I smile slightly at the thought of seeing them and meeting them. How fun would that be...

I wipe my tears as get off of the floor and walk over to my closet. Opening the closet door and dug through the stuff to find my belongings. Pulling out my small bag that I had, I opened it to find the items I brought when I appeared here in this time period. Seeing the Japanese style bracelet that my parents had gifted me, I brought it up close and admired it.

'It's been a while since, I took you out. I think I needed to see you again, it comforts me knowing that I at least have something that my parents gave me. I feel better already.' I inwardly say to the bracelet. I feel homesick, but this bracelet reminded me that I had a home to get back to, no matter the cost. I had to see my parents and Tetsu.

A small flash of light sparkled within the bag which I had pulled out. Furrowing my brows I reached it and pulled out a necklace. My eyes widen remembering it. This crystal necklace back at the house and had shined before I came here. I had forgotten about it.

As I continue to stare at the necklace and bracelet, my eyes widen. 'Will the necklace take me back home? It might've brought me here...'

"Mom, Dad, Testu....." I mumble out as I clench onto the two items in my hand as I carefully put them back in the bag. I can't be wearing them when I'm fighting or training, or else they would get damaged. Mostly with the necklace, I can't afford to break something that can be my only clue to getting back home.

As I securely put my items back in the closet. I rub my eyes harshly and smack my face. 'I can't be crying over this. No matter how much these feelings hurt me, no matter what this feeling is that I have towards Michikatsu. I may not know at the moment, but surely I'll know when the time comes.

I need to take priority, if I want to go back home and survive this world so I can find a way home. I need to get stronger. Stronger than where I am now, I need to be able to defeat demons and survive this world.

"To get stronger, that means training." I mumble to myself as I pull my hair up and wipe my eyes once again. With a deep breath in I walk over to my door and slam it open.

"No more crying and being pitiful." I tell myself, trying to hype myself up. I close the door softly this time and make my way through the hall to reach the training ground. 'Just wait....I'll become stronger.'

___

"Mizuki....." Michikatsu mumbled out as he moved out of the room and stood in the hall watching her figure leave. He clenched his hand and looked down.