Pretty

Pretty…<3

happy birthday rengoku bb love u

Have you tried putting it in 3 day old potato salad?

not yet, but i’m asian so can a 3 day old rice work?

For the Rengoku stans <3

i love this, im in love with him, im in love with you, so good op <3

Yay! So I'd like to request something with Kyojuro and reader both being the corps but never really friends cause she's a lil grumpy and a loner BUT one day she casually hears it's Senjuros birthday and Kyo is complaining cause can't be home bc he has a mission so she (having already met him on like one quick occasion) decides to visit the estate and cooks him something/brings a gift and then Kyojuro actually manages to come home early and catches her so it's the first time they actually get closer to each other and talk a lil? Sorry if it's long! Thank you!

unInterested

r.kyojuro/reader

genre: fluff, potential love blooming~

warning(s): kyojuro obviously expressing interest, kyojuro accidentally flirting and not even realizing it, y/n is bad with expressions, kanroji is precious, senjuro is precious, tanjiro and the gang visit senjuro bc he deserves buddies, y/n kicks inosuke into the yard approx. twice

w.count: 4.3k

synopsis: not being a very peopley-person, you still got approached by fellow demon slayers and none make quite the same effort as the flame hashira to get close to you. although, when you overhear he may not be able to make it home for his younger brother's birthday, you decide you wont let the younger boy spend it alone

-x-x-x-

a/n: anon im gonna eat your brain also senjuro is baby and i will protect him with my life. (i think i actually got a little carried away ;;)

-x-x-x-

The first time Rengoku met you, he couldn’t really call it a meeting.

He had been on his way to a small village next to a lake that villagers had sworn up and down had become cursed in recent months; what with the sudden disappearances that started when a woman had supposedly drowned. The first step was to investigate and possibly take leadership of whatever demon slayer had already been dispatched to the location. Though, when he arrived, it was the early moments of dawn and there you were, standing on the end of a fishing dock surrounded by lake water.

Your nichirin sword had been lowered to your side and the morning breeze filtered through the air and the air itself was simply serene. There was nothing indicating that a demon was present or had fled, though the scrapped remains of cloth under your feet said otherwise.

“Excuse me!” He called, running towards you in gentle, smooth paces. You turned your head over your shoulder, only taking a small step back to twist further when he came to stand before you. Your face was neutral and it reminded him much of Tomioka and Tokito’s muted expressions. You looked at him as he smiled back at you- much as he does to everyone. “Were you the one dispatched to investigate the demon in this village?”

At first, you said nothing. You looked down at your blade, sweeping it gracefully in front of your chest before sheathing neatly onto its place at your hip. Still not offering him a verbal answer, you took a step back, knelt to the ground, and picked up the scrap of cloth before holding it into a ray of the morning sun that began to peek over the treetops. Spring had just begun so the air was still chilled in the dusks and dawns and you could see your breath cloud at your chin in the sunrays.

Rengoku noticed that wrapped in the thin cloth was a discolored hand, the color of mud; disjointed and veiny like the limb of a devil. In the sunlight, the already crumbling hand set ablaze and disappeared into a huff of morning soot in the wind, burning the remaining cloth along with it.

Dropping your hand back down to your side. You turned on your heel and walked right past his shoulder.

“Does that answer your question?” You ask him before proceeding onto your next mission. He watched your back as you leisurely left. His initial opinion of you was… blurry to put it into uncertain terms.

-x-x-x-

Throughout the course of his time as a Hashira, very occasionally he would bump into you or hear your name passed around among the others. Your skills were apparently nothing short of astounding even with your faults and you were praised by your peers in the same rank as you. Even Young Kamado, who had frequently crossed paths with both himself and you, had launched into the story when he first met you. He explained your strength and calm decorum with stars in his eyes all while.

However, it seemed as though your expressions, or lack thereof, and attitude had not changed throughout your journey as a member of the demon slayer corps. You still wore very neutral expressions, or scowls when irritated, and always preferred to work on your own and have time to yourself. Even among a group of fellow demon slayers, one would find you off to the side not approaching anyone and no one very eager to approach you.

However, he always noticed that if someone did speak to you, take for instance Young Kamado, you wouldn’t shoo them away. Although you weren’t the most interactive conversationalist, you didn’t shun those who you at least thought of as reliable allies.

You weren’t that much younger than Rengoku; in fact if he had to guess, you were about the same age as him. So, he felt a mild sense of frustration that he hasn’t even properly held a conversation with you even as your senior in terms of rank at the very least. It was always short answers with curt endings with no room for additional conversing.

Part of him pondered why your case irked him specifically.

When it came to Tokito and his absentmindedness along with his aloof nature, he found it quite endearing as his junior. Tomioka was a quiet man, but he wasn’t so off putting that he avoided Rengoku, in fact when Rengoku would strike up a conversation the water pillar would at least stick around and offer a nod here or there to signal he was at least half-listening. Even one sided conversations among his fellow quiet Hashira were enjoyable to him in some way, shape or form.

“Maybe that is it,” he muttered to himself as he went on his way to his next job location. “Is it perhaps because she is not a hashira, yet I compare her to them in terms of personality?” If he were to distinguish the two as separate circles, would it stop grating on him? But that still didn’t explain to him why he thought the way he did. There must be others like you among the rest of the corps, so still the question remained- why you? His momentary personal interrogation was halted when his name was called from behind.

Stopping and throwing on his natural, lip-lifting smile, he turned and saw- coincidentally- a fellow hashira as he was thinking of them. Although, this particular pillar wasn’t as soft spoken as the two that were on his mind. No, this was the young, pink-cheeked and affectionate Kanjori. And behind her shoulder was you, much to his surprise.

It was a duo he never much saw coming.

Even more surprising was the gauze plastered onto your cheek and what appeared to be tight bandages wrapped around your dominant hand. Some minor bruising formed in the corner of your mouth and base of your nose like it had been previously broken. Just under your buttoned collar he could catch the small sliver of even more bandages around your neck and quite possibly upper torso. Not to mention the small limp to your gait. Compared to the injureless Kanroji waving and cheerful, you were practically pitiful in sight.

“Oh my,” he loudly announces as the both of you approach him. You don’t make your displeasure of the way he was looking at you verbal, but the way you scowl at him more than makes up for the lack of words. The duo stopped in front of him as you turned away, not even looking in his direction anymore. “It is quite the surprise to see you two together,” he opens.

“Truthfully, I ran into y/n while visiting one of the wisteria manors!” Kanjori explains, looking over her shoulder to you who still wouldn’t look towards either of them. “She had been injured on her last mission and was sent to get treatment, but before she could fully recover she was already being sent back out.” Kanroji brought her hand up to her chin as she turned her brows up in concern. Rengoku mirrored that expression, his smile dropped considerably.

He knew that the demon slayer ranks numbers were dropping by the day. Not all members were sufficient enough in skill to fulfill the roles of killing demons and found themselves done in without so much as ten kills under their belt. Though, he wondered if the numbers and general lack of skill were so dire that they needed to send a fighter that was still recuperating back into the field.

“You are still not fully recovered yet,” he said to you over Kanjori's shoulder. You said nothing, but your chin dipped and you turned further away, he could barely see your other cheek over your nose from how far you were turned. It was like you thought if you twisted your neck enough you'd disappear and escape their little conversation with you at the center.

“I was worried, so I decided since I have not been assigned a new mission yet that I’d go with her, just to make sure she’d be okay.” Kanjori then became uneasy and began to fiddle with her lip. “But, just as we came into this area I was assigned something in the opposite direction. I’m worried about leaving her on her own but-”

“I’ll be fine,” you cut her off. Although, unlike with the tone Rengoku is familiar with, you spoke gently to Kanroji- even if you were rude by interrupting. The Love Hashira looked like she was ready to stamp her feet and argue with you; like she’d already had this conversation before.

“In which direction are you traveling, y/n?” You finally flicked your gaze back to the Flame Hashira to see his smile return to his lips. Although, it was a smaller smile, one that wasn’t up to his cheeks but still showed he meant no harm or tease.

“South West,” you mutter.

“What a stroke of luck then!” He shouts as Kanjori and you both look at each other then to him. “I’m heading in that direction as well. Kanroji can part with you here and I will accompany you the rest of the way to your destination. On top of that, I will make sure you do not get into further trouble with your injuries.”

Truthfully, he didn’t even process the emotion that may or may not have flitted across your face because it was overshadowed by Kanroji’s shining aura. Smiling and tinted in her cheeks at the fortune and overall scenario. It was simply the best outcome that could’ve happened.

“That’s wonderful!” She cheered. She spun on her heel, snatching your hands and brought them up, getting closer to you in excitement. Your mouth opened and your eyes widened at her seer enthusiasm and sudden lack of personal space. If she wasn’t so starry-eyed she’d see the fluster written in your eyes. “Rengoku-san is a very trustworthy man! He took great care of me when we trained together, so you’re in capable hands, y/n!”

“I-I don’t need-”

You didn’t have your chance at arguing before she was releasing you, thanking Rengoku and rushing off in the opposite direction in which her next job was. You were left speechless- although not out of the ordinary for you- with Rengoku still standing behind you as you watched her go.

“This may not be what you want,” Rengoku starts, making you turn to look at him, “but it may be for the best. We cannot have you risk further injury. For the time being, please rely on me.” You said nothing, back to being the quiet woman he had known before being wrapped up in Kanroji’s worry and excitement.

As the two of you set off in the same direction with Rengoku as your unofficial, temporary shield, the nagging feeling of wanting to be able to pull out expressions out of you like Kanroji did ached in the back of his mind.

-x-x-x-

After that first mission where he escorted you to your job location, Rengoku found himself running into you more and more. It is like the gods were testing him since he still hadn’t been able to fully grasp your character yet. It’s not like he probed anyways, you were you and he had no business getting into it. However, you had started greeting him first when he ran into you and to him, that was a magnificent victory.

Currently, he was chatting with Tanjiro after having been assigned to check on him and his party of Inosuke, Zenitsu and Nezuko after another hard fought battle that left them in the temporary care of one of the wisteria marked estates. The two of them had been sitting out on the engawa, sitting in the midday sunlight while they gleefully exchanged words and stories.

Tanjiro enjoyed spending time with the Flame Hashira, feeling like he was speaking to an elder brother; and the senior swordsman felt fond of the forehead scared boy just as much.

“That’s right,” Tanjiro speaks with a sharp voice, bouncing his fist lightly in the palm of his opposite hand. “Rengoku-san, Senjuro-san’s birthday is coming up soon, isn’t it? He wrote about it in the last letter we exchanged,” Tanjiro said, taking out the latest letter from the younger Rengoku son from his uniform and unfolding it to read through the ink strokes. Rengoku’s smile broadened at the mention of his precious younger sibling.

“That is correct!” The smile he wore dipped just a tad as he continued. “Though, it seems as though it will be difficult to return home when the day comes.”

Tanjiro frowned, neatly folding the letter back up and replacing it back into his uniform pocket. “Rengoku-san?”

“I was recently assigned a new mission, and once I leave here it’s expected to take about a week between travel and completion. I may have to make it up to Senjuro when I return afterwards.” Though he still spoke fondly, there was no mistaking the melancholic tone his voice had taken on. He didn’t want to miss his younger brother’s day of birth, it was something to celebrate! It seems this year, however, he may have to spend it alone. The thought ate at the elder Rengoku son.

“What if I stop by and visit him!” Tanjiro was shouting, taking on the golden haired man’s trait of overall loudness. The shock on the younger boys face was proof enough that he spoke without thought before he started backing himself up. “Wait- I mean- what if I go by and visit Senjuro-san in your place? NO! Not that I’m a placeholder- but, so he isn’t alone!” Rengoku’s smile relit.

“If you did,” he spoke softly, something that made Tanjiro settle and look almost concerned back at him. “If you visit my younger brother in my stead, you’d have my gratitude.” As quickly as the topic came, it left as the boys got to their feet and discussed leaving on their own respective missions. Unknown to them, you had heard the entire conversation.

You had met the younger Rengoku son before- not that it was anyone else's business. You had been traveling through Rengoku's home town on the way to your next hunt when you passed by a particular home, you saw through the main gate a boy sweeping the stone ground.

Golden hair with red tips identical to that of Rengoku’s and relaxed, if not mellow, red centered eyes that faded out into the warmest shade of yellow. You stood in awe for a moment at the sheer uncanny resemblance, you were so lost in though you were unable to see that he had noticed you. He approached you and spoke to you briefly, obviously recognizing your demon slayer uniform.

You had made your way through that town several times since then, and you try and stop by the Rengoku estate to attempt to catch him sweeping to at least greet him. Perhaps it was because you had grown used to Rengoku speaking to you as often as he tried that you were able to easily speak to the younger version of him. You had even accompanied him to the market a few times when he seemed down due to whatever his father had or hadn’t done.

You placed your hand on your gut, underneath the robes the wisteria estate had lent you were more thick bandages from your last job. Just a few broken ribs you would soon recover from. You wouldn’t be permitted back out to battle until they posed no further threat to your health and performance.

That leaves just enough time.

-x-x-x-

Rengoku ran at a leisure place into his hometown, making sure to avoid all people and not run into anyone or cause a scene. Those who knew him waved in passing and welcomed him home before he was shouting regards back without slowing his pace.

With a stroke of luck the time it took to get to his job destination was shortened when the demon he was assigned to cut down made his way closer to the hashria by nearly a day and a half. Dealing with said demon took a much shorter amount of time than he thought it would; though, half of that may have been his internal remorse about not being able to be with Senjuro on his birthday. He must have over thought the initial time it would take to deal with it.

So now, at midday of his younger brother’s birthday he was rushing home with a proud smile. Surely, Tanjiro and the other two would be there. Perhaps even Nezuko would be there with the three boys, content in her strapped box until the sun dipped behind the horizon.

His level-stride running was brought to an easy gait as he approached his residence. Walking easily past the front gates and into his home, he slid the door open and saw the discarded shoes of Senjuro’s guests.

There were… four?

He quirked his thick brow at the extra set of footwear. Perhaps they had brought along Kocho’s tsuguko? Or maybe Senjuro had a friend in town Rengoku wasn’t aware of yet? Whatever the reason, he smiled.

“The more the merrier,” he reasoned as he stepped inside. His sock-clad footsteps softly padded along the wooden interior before he heard the commotion of voices.

“Inosuke! Settle down!” Tanjiro’s voice voice was the first heard and it was enough to make the older son chuckle. That boar-headed lad was always a problem causer. Though, he’d be less problematic than a fly if the hashira settled him. “Ah! W-wait, y/n-san!” Rengoku’s stride stuttered.

“Y/n?” He whispered?

“Tanjiro!” Zenitsu cried, overly fretful of causing such a scene in someone else's home. “Someone else is-”

“Y/n-san!” Zenitsu’s cry of distress at the fact he could hear Rengoku coming was covered by the urgency Tanjiro took over calming you down from whatever you were doing. The sounds of the three messing about was drowned out by the overly loud, ego-boosted boar’s laugh before it was cut short. It sounded like he was choked, winded maybe, before the sound of his groans were heard further away.

“She threw him! She kicked him into the yard!” Zenitsu cried as Tanjiro could be heard rushing around. Among all that, Rengoku heard his younger brother laughing.

Rengoku finally entered the room all the commotion was coming from and found his brother sitting peacefully on the tatami with Tanjiro half kneeling on the floor mid-rise, Zenitsu crawled over to the open door that led outside to the engawa and yard, Inosuke in said yard on his back and you, stood just before the threshold to the engawa.

All eyes, aside from Inosuke's of course, went to the newcomer before Senjuro’s smile widened.

“Elder brother!” He announced, although everyone could see clearly who it was. He got to his feet and greeted his brother at the door who had crossed his arms and smiled down to him. “I though you wouldn’t be back today.”

“Things managed to work out!” He looked at the scowl on your face before it mellowed out. You dusted off your uniform and retreated further back into the room again. “I see you have some rather entertaining guests!” Tanjiro’s face pails as he sits unevenly on his knees.

“I apologize for the noise!” Rengoku laughs loudly. The two boys rush out in the yard, Zenitsu taking Inosuke by the shoulders and shaking him awake as Tanjiro tries to settle him down while still being concerned for the mountain raised demon slayer. Among the room, he notices that you had disappeared and when he turns to look out into the hall he still stood in, he sees your form retreating down it away from the party.

“Senjuro,” he called his brother’s attention. “If you don’t mind my asking, do you know y/n?” His spoke softly to his brother, just as he usually did. Senjuro nodded. Just when had the two of them met?

You had never brought it up before, though he supposed that you weren’t exactly inclined to. He took a step back before twisting slightly at the hips. “I’ll be back,” he told his brother with an accompanied pat on the head.

“I’m glad you’re back,” was the reply he got along with that smile he wanted to protect so dearly. He nodded before he was following the way you had gone. You found yourself in the kitchen, A tall, multitiered bento from a cloth bag. He watched you for a moment setting the bentos on the counter after separating the layers.

“Would you like any help?” He asked. You hadn’t heard him coming, so your shoulders jumped at his voice. He stepped into the kitchen to stand beside you. “Although I must warn you, I’m not very good in the kitchen,” he joked.

“It’s all already made,” you tell him as you take the lids off of the box lunches. He looked down at the food with his hand cradling his chin, nodding.

“This looks like a fine meal!”

“I’m glad you think so. My culinary skills aren’t anything special.” He pauses before he watches you uncover the other tiers of the brought lunch.

“You made all this? For Senjuro?”

“Of course I did,” you answered simply. “It’s a special occasion. There’s more than enough, so you’re welcome to help yourself as well.” He smiled at you. “I know that Inosuke will eat a lot, he’s a bottomless pit, so I made a lot more than usual just in case.” He was silent as he let you speak. It had been a long time- perhaps even the first time- since he had some sort of conversation with you to this extent.

He didn’t want to ruin it.

"Have you know my brother long?" He asked, hoping your conversation would keep rolling. And thankfully, it did.

"Not much longer than the others. I've run into him a handful of time before. I wouldn't call us strangers at the very least." He chuckled to himself softly. Senjuro wouldn't just let someone into the estate that he didn't consider a friend on such an auspicious day. You didn't give yourself enough credit, he'd have to find a way to change that.

As you set aside the lids to the boxes, you noticed the lack of one pair of chopsticks. You had brought enough for the four boys and yourself since you didn't foresee Rengoku making it back in time. Already seeing your silent dilemma, he worked swiftly.

He had smoothly moved from your side to behind you to reach on your opposing side to a draw at your hip. You weren't sure if he was aware of just how close his chest was pressed to your back as he moved. “Pardon,” he softly excused before he pulled it open and removed a pair of wooden chopsticks for himself. Sliding the drawer back, he returned to his place at your side. While you were turned away momentarily, he pinched a fluffy, rolled, yellow omelet between his utensils and popped it into his mouth.

He'd ask for Senjuro's forgiveness of taking the first taste of your food later.

You nearly tripped over nothing as you grabbed onto the countertop for stability at his loud exclamation of ‘delicious!’. The sound boomed in the small kitchen space like thunder trapped in a cave. You looked over your shoulder at him, your mouth open and brows slightly furrowed.

“Rengoku-sama?” You address. “What in the world-”

“I’d prefer it if you do not address me so formally, y/n,” he interrupted. “Much like your cooking, I like the way you say my name.” Your down-turned brows flip up-right again and raise further up your forehead as your eyes widen. “In fact,” he huffs, crossing his arms and leaning closer to you. Whether or not he’s conscious of what he’s doing is beyond you, “while you’re at it, you may call me by my given name! At home, members of my family are all ‘Rengoku’.”

“B-but, the other’s call you-”

“I did not mention the boys,” he cuts you off again, softer this time. “I want you to call me differently.” Standing back up to his full height, he takes three bento tiers from the countertop, leaving the remaining two for you to grab. “Come! The boys’ must be hungry after kicking up so much of a fuss.”

You silently nod, grabbing the two remaining tiers of food before following his back down the hall and returning to the room with the four youngsters. You set the food down with Rengoku’s help and before you could even tell them to behave and let Senjuro eat first, Inosuke was pouncing like he was some wild animal on a hunt. Well, before you planted your heel into his gut for the second time that day and kicked him right back out into the yard.

Senjuro scooted over to his brother before he asked for his ear. Leaning down, Senjuro whispered a question to his elder.

“Did something happen?”

“What do you mean?” His brows quirked up.

“Well,” Senjuro drew out before looking at you standing on the edge of the engawa. Honestly, no one around you had seen you so worked up before in a single day without the company of battle. You pointed out into the yard where Inosuke sat silent (for once) as you yelled and reprimanded him. “Y/n seems a bit worked up ever since you both came back.” Rengoku smiled before laughing at your scolding addressed at the boar-headed boy.

“I’d hate to be on the wrong end of your temper!” Rengoku seemed to dismiss the question his younger brother asked him. After all, he didn’t think that trying your food first and asking to be addressed a certain way would work you up to the point you were at.

He chalked it all up to you trying to come out of your hypothetical shell.

Although, as you sat with all the boys (Inosuke finally included) and ate, the warmth on your back from where he stood so close to you in the kitchen earlier, as well as the heat on your face, wouldn’t go away.

Sunrise. 

I had the hc that Wil could access and enter the place Celine made for Damien (My prediction came true when it’s proven from Lixian’s game for Mark’s bday :D) But with a slight twist where time starts moving again after Celine went to sleep and the sun finally rises. I’ve talked about this hc before in this comic and this art, so I’m sorry if you’re bored! I just really like this hc because it’s as if he gets a rebirth, a new life, as a new person, despite how tragic it all were.