Chapter Text
When he first sees you in the forest, he isn’t quite sure of what to make of you. Yes, you are a human, but he doesn’t feel any anger toward you as he watches you carefully walk through the tall grass. Noting how you take care not to step on any flowers or disturb any tree branches. Perhaps that’s why he doesn’t want to kill you.
He can sense that there’s something…off…about you as he watches you gently stroke your fingers across the top of the grass. There’s this gentle smile on your face as the sunlight warms it, a soft contentedness that he doesn’t want to disrupt. So he simply watches you, curious about your intentions in this forest.
Hanami has seen people come here to camp and leave their trash behind, he’s seen hikers callously trample the plants that are in their way, watched humans throw rocks at the wildlife or chase birds. From his experience…humans only bring destruction when they come into the forest. So what sort of malevolence will you be bringing with you?
There’s a quiet humming as you continue forward, your smile still intact. It’s a song, he soon realizes. Though he has no way of knowing what sort of song it is, the sound is melodic. He moves just a little closer as he continues to keep pace with you, leaving several trees between you both so he can remain hidden.
You don’t do any of the things he’s accustomed to seeing humans do. No, you’re very cautious about where you step and you even pick up any trash you happen to see. When you settle on a large rock to rest, Hanami watches you reach into your backpack to retrieve a water bottle and a smaller bottle that rattles. He ventures a few steps closer, curious about what you’re doing.
With a small shake, a few tiny pellet-like things fall into your palm and you swallow them whole. There are beads of sweat clinging to your skin and your breathing is just a bit uneven; he can even hear it from this distance. Still, you look so happy when you admire your surroundings.
Hanami thought it to be a one-time visit. That you might be a tourist that just wanted to hike in this forest. He was faintly surprised to find you there again only a few days later and then again a few after that.
Each time you came to the forest, you were always respectful of the flora and fauna. So careful not to disrupt nature and simply appreciate its beauty. You would always begin on the trail and then slowly drift away from it so you could fully immerse yourself in everything the woods have to offer.
He would follow you; either keeping pace or walking behind you at a distance. There’s just something about you that draws him in, every time he sees you. It could be the way your fingertips so gently caress the grass as you walk or it could be the warm smile that draws at your lips when you see something new. At the same time, he can’t deny this odd feeling that’s beginning to form.
Never in all of his life has Hanami felt protective towards a human. He’s despised them for so long, hated what they’re doing to the world, so it stands to reason that the thought of protecting a human has never once interested him. The feeling begins when he notices that over the several times you visit, you seem to be growing weaker.
It didn’t raise any concern at first, when he saw you stumble a bit. That could be blamed on human clumsiness. It’s when he sees you double over, a hand to your mouth, that he realizes that there’s something wrong. Hanami can see the blood leaking between your fingers, hear the wet rasp of your cough as you struggle to not let your blood dirty the grass below.
Leaning against a tree trunk for support, you close your eyes and draw a ragged breath as you try to stabilize yourself. Your palm and the back of your hand have a wet, crimson sheen that you use a handkerchief to wipe away. There’s blood on your lips and chin, which you try to wipe away to the best of your ability, but a little bit lingers at the corners of your mouth.
What’s wrong with you? Hanami watches you shove the bloody handkerchief into your backpack again, your body still reliant on the tree trunk for support. You’re shaking as you try to catch your breath, eyes holding a wet shine to them with unshed tears. He’s never seen you look this way before.
You can sense that you’re being watched, as you always are when you go into the forest. Since the first time you visited, you were able to feel someone’s stare directed at you. Though they didn’t actually approach you. For the entirety of your first hike, they simply joined you in silent companionship and you didn’t sense any malicious intent from them.
This forest, with its peaceful beauty, makes you feel happy. It makes you feel more alive than sitting in your room, waiting for your disease to consume you completely. So you returned and found yourself joined again by your silent new friend.
Day after day after day, you’ve been coming to the forest to try to enjoy some time away from your dark reality. When you’re out here among the trees and flowers, you don’t have to think about your imminent demise. You don’t have to be afraid of him while you’re here, either. There’s nothing in the forest to remind you of what awaits you at the school once you return.
This, though? Coughing up blood and being forced to lean against a tree for support? This is a terrible reminder of your fate. Your chest feels like it’s burning and there’s still that tickling sensation deep within it, prompting you to cough into your sleeve and let the fabric soak up your blood. Legs trembling, hands shaking as you wince at the lingering taste of blood on your lips, you force yourself to take a few steps forward.
“I’m okay!” Calling out this reassurance, you don’t look around for your companion. If they wanted to be seen, they’d approach you. You’re not going to push them to do something they don’t want to. You’ve…experienced that enough in your own life to never want to do that to someone else.
Pressing onward, you can feel that they’re following. Even though you haven’t spoken and you don’t even know what they look like, this presence feels like a new friend. It’s just the two of you on a nice nature walk, admiring the flowers and enjoying this sunny weather. Something you were never able to do before and now that your time is limited…
“Do you have a name?” The words slip out before you can stop yourself. You keep your head facing forward, not willing to push them further. If they don’t answer, you won’t try to pressure them to tell you. It’d just be nice, right? To know their name.
Why do you want to know his name? Will you be able to hear him if he tells you? It’s perplexing, when he considers it. The fact that he doesn’t mind giving you his name, that there’s a part of him that feels pleased that you’ve acknowledged his presence.
There’s a strong possibility that you won’t be able to hear him. Even if you can, he has nothing to lose by giving you his name. “Hanami.”
Your steps slow and your head lowers. “Hanami?” you repeat, a warmth to your tone. “That’s a really nice name. I’m Y/N.” Taking another few steps, you continue. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Hanami doesn’t go to your side, but he does walk a little closer behind you. If you can hear him, you can probably see him. What would you think, if you saw him? Would you be terrified? Would you scream and try to run?
The pace you set is beginning to falter. He can see you swaying a bit and watches as you slump against another tree. Not coughing as you were before, but hanging your head low. Your hand presses tight against the tree bark, but you don’t let your fingernails sink into it; still wary of not injuring nature.
“Ah. Sorry, Hanami-san. I’m just a little light-headed today.” You still don’t look his way. As if you’re trying to respect his wish for anonymity.
“I wasn’t supposed to go out, but I couldn’t resist. It’s such a nice day, don’t you think? I’d rather be here than be stuck in my room. Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed myself, though. It usually isn’t this bad, but lately…it just feels like the life is draining out of me.” There’s a quiet laugh from you, but something about it sounds far sadder than expected. As if you’re just trying to reassure him.
This becomes his new routine when you visit. Following behind you and listening to you talk about the forest. Soaking in your comments about how the flowers look, admiring the way you stroke their petals with such gentleness. When you perk up at the sight of something like an animal or a plant you recognize from the books you’ve been reading, he has a warm sensation in his chest that borders on affection.
You’re eager to tell him about the botany books you’ve been reading when you’re stuck in your room. Hanami patiently listens and enjoys your enthusiasm for learning about nature. The way you talk about it, the way you treat every plant with dignity and respect. He finds it all so endearing that he eventually realizes that he has, indeed, developed a fondness for you.
While you admire the plants and the birds that you see during your walks together, he’s admiring you. Either from the side or behind, he’s watching you and finds so many little things that he considers…endearing. The way you grin when you’re excited, the color of your eyes, the way you walk, the shape you have, how you hum to yourself without even seeming to realize it, how delicate your hands are compared to his own. Though he can tell that your strength is draining more and more with each visit.
It’s during a light rain that you stumble and collapse to your knees in the grass. A soft yelp escapes you as you fall and when he sees it happen, Hanami reaches a clawed hand out toward you, but he’s too far to steady you. He sees you sink down into the grass, your breathing labored as he draws closer step by step.
When he speaks your name, he’s met with a quick reassurance that sounds forced. “I’m okay, Hanami-san! Nothing to worry about! I’m just feeling a little light-headed again.” You keep your head down as you say this, respectfully keeping your gaze off of him. You’ve told him before that if he doesn’t want to be seen, you won’t force him.
“You should go home and rest. The rain will only make you feel worse.” Hanami doesn’t usually say much to you, but he doesn’t want you to push yourself.
“No way! I’m not going back yet! I’ve only been here for an hour. Besides, if I go back then I’ll just be forced to stay in my room again. I don’t want to spend the rest of the day staring at the ceiling! If I’m here, at least I can feel alive. And if I go back, I’ll be alone again for most of the day. I’d rather stay here with you.”
With the raindrops soaking into your hair and wetting your clothes, grass stains on the knees of your pants and on your palms, you look even more fragile. That growing protectiveness is activated and with little thought, he approaches you. His right arm slips around your waist and he carefully lifts you over his shoulder, allowing you only a short glimpse of his face in the process.
Your eyes widen when you realize just how tall your new friend is. He has to be around two hundred and twenty centimeters tall! Planting your hands against his back, you begin to realize something else. He’s not wearing a shirt.
Under your fingertips, you can feel the toned muscles of his upper back tense beneath his skin. Hanami’s flesh is a sort of light tone with dark lines decorating it like tattoos. You could almost believe he was human, if you look at his back alone, but you saw his face a moment ago.
In the places of eyes, your new friend has a pair of thick and short branches. His lipless mouth displays blunt teeth and his skull has an almost helmet shape to it. This is no man, but a curse! The very thing you dedicated your life to ridding the world of! The reason why…so many years of your life were wasted.
“Thank you, Hanami-san!” Calling this over your shoulder, you try to gage his reaction. You can feel his thick fingers pressing at your back to keep you from falling off his shoulder, but he doesn’t say anything.
Despite now knowing that Hanami is most definitely a curse…you don’t feel any shred of malicious intention from him. If you had encountered him in the city, before your diagnosis, maybe you would’ve exorcised him. Instead, under these circumstances, you’ve developed this odd friendship.
Hanami brings you to a spot where the branches overhead are so thick that they act as an umbrella. Setting you down with unexpected gentleness and lingering a moment with his face right in front yours. It’s perplexing to finally be face to face with you and you’re showing no hint of fear. Instead, your hand lifts to his cheek.
“I know I said it before, but I want to say it again. Thank you for carrying me, Hanami-san. And thank you for always walking with me.” There’s a grin on your lips as you look at where his branches are.
“You are welcome.” The curse can feel the warmth of your fingertips against his cheek, the rapid thump of your heartbeat beneath the skin. No one has handled him this way before and he feels envious of the flowers, if this is how your touch feels. “Do I scare you?”
“Of course not! I think you look amazing!”
The moment is shattered by the sound of your cellphone ringing and you wince. “I’m sorry. I usually turn my phone off before I go into the forest, but I must’ve forgotten.” All it takes is one look at the screen to know who it is. If he knows your phone is on, he’ll be upset if you don’t answer it. “I need to answer this. I’m sorry, Hanami-san.”
He sits in the grass a short distance away, staring out at the rest of the forest. The rain is still falling gently on the grass and between tree branches. Hanami seems content just to keep you company.
As soon as you answer your phone, you’re greeted by his voice. “Hey, Y/N. Where are you right now? I just finished class for the day. We should get dinner.”
“Satoru. I’m staying in my room today. I don’t feel well so just grab dinner without me.” Saying this, you roll your eyes. The last thing you want is to spend what little time you have left cooped up in your room, waiting for his visits.
“Really? Because I’m standing in the doorway and I don’t see you anywhere. Want to try again?” Despite speaking in a playful tone, there’s an underlying threat there. One that you know all too well; Gojo will look for you if you don’t reappear soon. You can practically see the grin on his face when he continues. “Come on, Y/N. You know you’re not supposed to wander out of your room. Are you going to make me look for you?”
“I’ll come back after the rain. That’s good enough for you, right? You don’t want me to catch a cold on top of what I already have.” Even as you say this, you can feel a tickle in your throat. You’re afraid to cough again, afraid to see how much blood you’ve lost.
It takes some negotiating and reassurance, but you eventually manage to convince him to let you stay out longer. Once the rain dies down, you’ll have to go back to the school. Back to sitting in your room as your demise grows closer with each day. Gojo is the only one that visits you anymore, but you both know your fate. He’s trying to make it less horrible and that just isn’t possible.