#daemoni

“W-will you grow up?” Sakura’s hand shot up to cover her lips, suddenly embarrassed over having asked such a rude thing.

However, the blonde Demon girl didn’t blink, instead causing those long pigtails to sway as she slowly shook her head. “I don’t think so… this body’s reanimated, not alive. But I don’t mind. I’m happy to have more time with my family.” Elise’s unflinching eye caught hers as she asked in turn, “What about you? You’re so small… how old are you?”

The heat of a blush covered her cheeks as Skura answered, “A l-l-little under a century. My growth has b-been slow, because of m-my sickness.” Most Oni children matured at a rate similar to humans until mid-adolescence was reached and aging slowed… yet her childhood development had seemed stunted, as slow as those later stages. She knew her family had often worried it might be a sign, of health bad enough to possibly fail. It had her mumbling, “S-s-sometimes I think I won’t m-make it to adulthood.”

Yet the Byakuya clan took care of her and with immediate family trying so hard, which motivated Sakura in turn to try and keep living. She cherished the time they’d had together, and as her new friend expressed—she looked forward to making even more memories together, no matter how long or short.