okay, we know this is going to disappoint some people, but we’re going to put this blog on indefinite hiatus. to be completely honest we’re a little uncomfortable with this blog as new information has been released about him and other slayers, and we’re not sure how to approach it. if we come back then we come back, but for now, don’t expect us to. we’re really sorry to people who we regularly interacted with here, but our comfort is the most important.
to say that keeping track of the former hashira’s movements had become an interest of his would be an understatement, for the third moon ; there was something about the man he could not shake, even after observing what rengoku had become since their fight.
how tragic, how sorrowful, that such a worthy opponent had not merely died after their battle, left instead as a husk that tried so desperately to race a rapidly declining timer …
he nearly feels pushed to mourn.
(if only he had taken akaza’s offer. if only he had died a
hero of battle. if only he had become anything but this)
“kyojuro,” his heart rings with excitement as his presence makes itself known ; akaza does not come without an offering, blood ignited by the rippling effect of being near someone so defiant. lips part, teeth gleaming in the low light of the moon, he can nearly hide to himself that he, too, has become desperate to challenge the other’s racing hourglass. “do you see now, the frustrating limits of what your body can take? it is not too late for you. there is still time to reconsider my offer.”
“become a demon, before your body breaks down and you become something ordinary.”
and the aftermath of the battle between could have been less pleasant –––– however, with the support of those he loved, slowly but surely, kyojuro was able to salvage what remained of his life. with each passing day, he made sure to be thankful for the breaths he could take, and the sights he could see –––– even with one lung and one operating eye, it was still enough – BEING ALIVE WAS ENOUGH.
however, he would be lying if he presented it as something wholly good. when the sun came to set, he would always find himself peeking outside ––– afraid to rest, lest something be waiting. he’d always brushed it off as paranoia that would fade; it would be okay, nothing waits.
however, a voice comes for him tonight ––– and truly, he could not prepare for the onslaught of emotions that bombarded him. fear, anger, upset –– kyojuro freezes, before the sound of something that had taken away so much (and had almost taken away everything). there’s a grit of teeth, he was still recovering ––– and if it hadn’t been for shinobu’s expertise, perhaps he’d be much worse off.
but he always kept his sword nearby, and it was with an instinctive movement, he takes it and points it in the direction of akaza (how did he get inside?). even now, with little exercise taken outside of the occasional stroll – kyojuro had lost a lot of endurance over the healing process; his sword felt... heavy.
but he still holds it as firm as he could.
“––––being alive is not frustrating!” he tries to sound so brave, “–––being alive is a gift that i will NEVER FORSAKE AGAIN–!!”
“––tell me how you found me,” he was not in the position to be giving orders, and yet, “––have you eaten anyone within this building?!”
emotions so high-strung, and only skyrocketing higher – kyojuro was backed into a corner; once again, he felt so... helpless.
𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃. / mitsuri reaches up to cradle kyojuro’s face in her hands and give him a long, sweet kiss for no reason other than she missed him. / @nightgaled
and he didn’t expect the sudden kiss between the two ––– caught daydreaming, oddly about kissing her, as he often did. perhaps dreams really did come true, but regardless, he’s quick to kiss her back ––– resting a calloused hand to the back of her neck, deepening the kiss between.
as they part, he laughs.
“––––WOW!!” he exclaims, “–––did you know that you’re an amazing kisser? perhaps you should teach me the ropes, mitsuri!!”
and he holds up a hand, “–––one moment, please!” reaching behind the other’s ear, carefully, he combs through their hair, “–––you had something in your hair!”
and as he releases against her, thrusts grow to a gradual slow –––– part of him wishes he could feel her tighten against him, before finally letting go. however, he soon settles for the way her body seems to tense, before gradually coming to relax against him ––– she was beautiful, she truly was. even when he couldn’t see her face, even when his eyes were closed ––– her voice was beautiful, her heart was beautiful.
and he was in love.
as she dots kisses to his cheek, he can’t help but smile to himself; dazed, and adoring. it wasn’t like his usual grin, it was something much more sweet, and subtle. there was a blissful sigh out, as he simply takes a moment to rest with her after a moment of passion ––– it wasn’t like kyojuro to be silent, but he enjoyed the air between them so much.
if he had a choice, if his strength would not fade, perhaps he would choose to stay in this moment forever –––– holding her, pleasure only a breath away. but he knows that the beauty in good things was their inability to last, that’s what made them so special.
and so, carefully, he pulls out, slowly easing her from her previous position. however, he remains ever-ready to catch her if she finds her legs are wobbly.
“–––i... love you,” he finally breaks the silence after her words, “–––i... cannot wait until we do this again...!”
his words are a little strained, in an endearing way. he’s obviously tired, but he tried so hard to retain his volume ––– he enjoyed being energetic, he enjoyed being passionate, and she made it easy for him to want to be like that.
“–––was it good? i mean! it was the first...” cheeks suddenly grow dark, and he’s a little bashful, “–––it was the first time i have ever tried using a...”
he laughs some, quietly. eyes avert, before he looks back to her. he did not want to be rude!
and he holds up a hand, “–––one moment, please!” reaching behind the other’s ear, carefully, he combs through their hair, “–––you had something in your hair!”
going to be taking a semi-hiatus on this blog ! i’ll still get to queued drafts when i’m able, but with uni i’m only really able to fully focus on one blog at a time and i don’t want to turn replying to stuff on this blog into a chore. i’ll be mostly active on @uppertwo
going to be taking a semi-hiatus on this blog ! i’ll still get to queued drafts when i’m able, but with uni i’m only really able to fully focus on one blog at a time and i don’t want to turn replying to stuff on this blog into a chore. i’ll be mostly active on @uppertwo
The motion came naturally. He knows, that the man he once called friend, was once like a brother, is probably all but forgotten besides the book that had been left behind, but such a resemblance still–a comforting warmth of fire that allowed Yoriichi to feel comfort, to relax somewhat, as flower was placed in hair almost as soon as the thought had crossed sun-breather’s mind.
“…it suits you. It matches your hair.”
As if he needed to offer explanation for unusually bold behavior.
and there was another blink of his eyes ––– it suited him? such terminology wasn’t something he would often apply to himself. he didn’t know what suited each person ––– he only knew of what represented their inner selves; their hearts and their souls.
truthfully, if it weren’t for his uniform, perhaps he would be caught looking incredibly silly in regular attire. he never knew what to wear, and colours often clashed. so to hear that something matched his hair was... new. but not unappreciated.
“––––ah, thank you!!” he’s a little embarrassed, which bleeds into his volume. then comes his natural tendency to reciprocate, “–––would you like a flower for your hair, too?”
chills travel up his spine. pleasurable ones. feeling strong arms wrap around his body. he moves closer. bodies flush together. he tucks his head under their chin.
it’s peaceful. like an eye of a storm. the sun peeking out of the clouds. for a little while. just to warm him up.
his jaw still aches a little from last night. but he does something surprising. he smiles. it’s small. but a smile nonetheless. private. and only meant for the sun.
“ no. ” answers quietly. “ i’ve never been this warm. it’s… nice. ” said like a confession. doesn’t want this fantasy to end just yet. just one more minute. he agrees.
and while he can’t see his smile as the other’s tucked ‘neath his chin, there’s still a sense of tenderness that comes; something he holds onto with both hands, never to let it go. a finger draws slow circles to the other’s skin, a gentle look encompassing kyojuro’s features. it was like he belonged here, in his arms.
and he was glad to have such an opportunity, to simply appreciate the company of the water pillar.
“––––you deserve to feel nice,” is confessed from him, “––i am glad i can bring that feeling to you.”
and likewise, he was a little achy. however, he wears such aches with pride – for it was the aftermath of something truly special.
“––––we do not have to stop holding each other yet,” he continues, “–––but when we get up, would you like me to make you something to eat?”
the idea of divine punishment
is a JOKE. wicked people going
to hell after death? if humans
didn’t think like that, people
with weak spirits couldn’t keep
going, right?
i truly believe…
…that humans are pathetic.
She couldn’t believe it when the crow had told her. Mitsuri had frozen solid and thanked god that he spared Kyojuro’s life, he’d not yet claimed his lovely, peaceful soul. Her mission that she had just completed was discarded entirely and she had practically ran the entire way back to the headquarters, out of breath and tripping up the stairs, around corners and falling in the process. So when she burst the door open to the room he was in, tucked safely in the butterfly mansion, the love hashira felt her eyes burn hotly.
“Rengoku-san-! Y-You’re alive!” Unable to even answer his question, she stumbles and trips her way over to him as best as she can before collapsing onto the floor by his bed, fresh hot tears pouring from her large, bright hues. “I-I was so scared, I-”
Leaning up and onto the bed, she reaches over to ever-so-gently hug his legs through the sheets. “Of course I came to visit! I’m so happy you’re okay! How are you feeling? Is there anything I can do- or anything you need?”
and her fretting was both a comfort, and a burden. not because he did not appreciate her kindness, but it felt heavy, because he had almost abandoned her. he tells himself he’ll be more careful next time, but in the end, will he be able to meet that promise? he hopes so, for her sake.
but he was always so stubborn, in his mission to protect those he loved.
but he smiles, regardless. for her. always, always for her.
“––––it really is good to see you...!” he tried to think of something she could do, for he knew it helped him feel a little better, if he could be of use to someone else. there’s a moment of silence, as he takes the time to think.
“–––my throat is a little dry... could you bring me some water?”
❝ kyojuro… ❞ she speaks his name somewhat haltingly, the sound of it gentler than it had been on the lips of other demons. her fingers are pressed into the earth beneath her, laced between blades of grass as similarly green eyes stare up at the slayer before her. it’s been ages since the last time she came across a hashira.
how many years? she’s lost track.
❝ are you frightened of me? ❞ as though the concept itself hurts her to her core, her fingers curl as she speaks the words. grass tears from the dirt, pulled up by the motion and imbedded in her fingernails. ❝ slayers are scared of demons, even those who would never do them any harm. even if they won’t admit it. ❞ // @9thform
and against a demon, it was always difficult to smile. sometimes he found reason to, like if someone was watching ––– however, it just remained him and her, and thus, no smiles came. he listens to her, and even now, remains painstakingly aware of where his blade sat (it felt uncomfortable, not having it point at her neck).
but she does not charge. she does not bare her teeth. it confuses him, but he was raised to retain common curtesy –––– she would make the first move, if a first move was to be made at all.
“––––it is difficult, knowing your head is still on your shoulders.”
The tension was rather conspicuous, weighing heavily on the air around them. Hekima was used to trying to lighten the mood, tell a story or offer a calming distraction from the unease. She had learned to be cheerful to cover up everything else, and perhaps even to mislead herself. She’s stuck between where to go, but all she wants right now is to support him.
“I’m glad, too, because I got to meet many wonderful people like you,” she offers with a gentle laugh.
Her hand twitches and there’s a moment of hesitation, hand reaching out and hovering over his own in a questioning manner. Waiting before she allowed herself to touch.
“I’m sorry, Rengoku-san,” comes the words, falling clumsily out of her mouth. It was clear to her that he was in pain and it made her heart ache. “Would you… like to talk about it? I’m here for you, always, if you ever want to talk or… just tell someone what’s on your mind.”
His last question causes her to falter. It makes her throat feel tight and she wants to lie, but how could she ask him to be honest if she’s not with him?
“It’s… complicated, I suppose. I was never what she wanted from me. Too ugly, too unruly… she always used to tell me since I was so unfortunate looking that the only way to make me appealable to suitors is if I was smart and talented enough to distract away from my features….” She says with a bitter scoff, fixing her eyes down at her feet as the swayed idly.
“Even then… nothing I ever did was good enough. Trying to live up to what she wanted from me was… seemingly impossible. So, I decided to do what I wanted to do and I think that made her hate me even more. She tried arranging marriages for me and I chose to do this instead. I’d rather fight demons. Why marry some wealthy noble that I don’t even like? To carry on some stupid lineage that I don’t even care about? To wind up just like them?”
At last, she bites down on her lip, realizing that she was trembling, her face flushed with anger.
“S-sorry, that was… too much to burden you with….”
and sometimes parents could be so ugly –––– not in the sense that hekima described, but in the sense that their hearts seemed so rotted. her explanation was enough to stir within him, and it is only then, that his smile disappears.
“––––i hate her, then,” and perhaps it was a childish answer. he quickly catches onto it, and straightens up ––– looking to hekima apologetically, “–––ah, i apologise!! i hope my own feelings are not too burdensome!!”
and then, he quietens.
“–––it is just... frustrating. i find reason to forgive many – no matter how much they hurt me, no matter how much they break me – i even find it difficult to be angry with akaza, for nearly robbing me of so much.”
and it was the truth; one working eye and one lung left, kyojuro was lucky to survive. however, he still couldn’t find hatred in his heart for akaza –––– not when he was the one who was injured. however, when hekima described misery at the hands of her mother, it fostered something... unforgiving.
so, so unforgiving.
“––––i hate parents who cannot give their child unconditional love,” he decides to expand on his previous statement, “––––i think it is cruel, when they are the ones who chose to bring them into the world. the child had no say – they were forced to exist, no matter how you frame it.”
“––––it is not fair, when the parent turns on them,” and perhaps, this came directly from his heart. his hands ball to fists, shaking under the pressure, “–––children are not meant to worry about if their parents will love them. they are not meant to worry about if they will feed them, clothe them, house them ––– they are meant to worry about scrapes on their knees, and knots in their hair.”
