⎣Demon Slayer: Yōkai Wife⎤ [雪花] |Kyōjurō Rengoku x Yuki-onna!Reader|

80: Inviting Them

"That's wonderful, Rengoku-senpai!" Tanjirō praised, before changing the subject.

"So, is it true she's also the famous Yuki-onna?!" Tanjirō asks, stars twinkling in his eyes.

From where he came from, tales of yokai, ayakashi, and mononoke were common. Aside from demons and vengeful spirits, urban legends have always intrigued him, ever since his grandmother used to tell him old stories as a child.

"Gonpachiro, what's a...Ichukimona?" Inosuke asked.

"It's pronounced Yuki-onna, Inosuke and it's a female spirit said to have control over ice and snow. Hence her name meaning 'Snow Woman'." Tanjirō explains.

Of course, the boar-headed warrior doesn't get it. However, the idea of someone having ice powers made this Kubikionna lady sound like a worthy opponent for him to challenge?

And if their mentor was a force to be reckoned with, then surely his wife is no exception and must be strong also...right?

"She sounds strong. I'd like to challenge your snow wife, 'ol googly eyes-sensei!" Inosuke says.

"You idiot!" Exclaims Zenitsu, "You would dare challenge a woman to a fight? I won't let you!"

With that, the two immediately began to bicker back and forth as Kyōjurō couldn't help but release a brouhaha laugh at his young kōhais' altercation.

"Bwahaha~ I don't think that's a wise idea, my wild friend. She may freeze you to death." Kyōjurō says, before glancing at him.

"But, if you wish to challenge my Snow Flower, then I'm afraid you'll have to go through me first." He adds, flashing Inosuke a friendly, yet menacing smile that immediately had chills shooting down both Inosuke's and Zenitsu's spines.

As much he hate to admit, Inosuke knew he wasn't no way near strong enough to go toe to toe with the infamous Flame Hashira, despite Rengoku coming off as a goofball. So with that in mind, the young demon slayer backs down.

"I'm good." Was all he says.

"Don't be discouraged, my wild friend. Just keep training to get stronger!" Kyōjurō encourages, which seems the lift the wild young warrior's spirits.

"Well, we won't keep you, then." Tanjirō smiled, "we have to get to the ryokan by sun down."

"Umm, d-do we even have enough money to rent a room?" Zenitsu asked Tanjirō.

At his friend's question, Tanjirō quickly searched pockets and eventually pulled out an old and worn coin purse.

"Let's see..." Opening it, he started to count his currency, "I got 9000¥." He says.

"Only 9000¥?! That isn't enough!"

"Well, not if we put our money together? How much do you have?" Tanjirō asked.

Zenitsu then reaches into his pocket and pulled out his own coin-purse that had the Japanese hiragana for "nu" (ぬ) written all over it.

After opening it and counting his own currency, the blonde give a disheartened sigh, "I got 7000¥?"

The two then shared a look, before slowly glancing at their boar head wearing friend. The chances of Inosuke having money on his person is unlikely, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

"Hey Inosuke, how much yen do you have?" Tanjirō asked.

Though a bit confused, it didn't take long for the beast warrior to understand as he reached into the thick fur of his belt. Minutes of searching, he finally pulled out his hand and showed them his findings. In his palm were two twigs, a rubber band, a stone, some lint, and a 100 yen coin.

Seeing this, the two merely sighed in defeat. Even with their combined savings, they still didn't have enough to stay in a ryokan, let along for per person, per night.

"Well...we could find a cheap one to stay the night at?" Tanjirō suggests, "how about the Ibukaru Inn, it's only about 9100¥ for one night?"

"N-no way, they have rats and c-cockroaches! And the villagers say the owners are slumlords." Zenitsu trembled in both fear and disgust.

"But, what other choices do we have?"

Kyōjurō, who had been watching and listening to the young slayers ordeal, couldn't help but express sympathy for them. It seems they'd hit a brick wall and didn't have no place to sleep tonight?

How unfortunate for his young kōhais? However, it's short lived when an idea suddenly popped into his head.

"You guys are welcome to stay with me, if you want?" Kyōjurō says.

Tanjirō, Zenitsu, and Inosuke quickly glanced at him in awe.

"B-but Rengoku-san, wouldn't your wife be angry? I mean..we don't want to be a burden." Zenitsu says nervously.

At that, the Flame Hashira briefly remembered the last time that he'd brought a guest home. (Y/n) had been furious; not because she was selfish, but because he failed to tell her before hand, which led to not having enough food for the extra mouth to feed.

It was embarrassing. But now Kyōjurō learned from his past mistakes.

"Rengoku-san?" The aforementioned man was shaken from his memory by Tanjirō's voice.

He blinked rapidly to get his head out of the clouds, before turning to the three young slayers.

"Nonsense, I'm sure my beloved wouldn't mind? Besides, it wouldn't be kind of me to let my kōhais stay at some dirty inn?" Kyōjurō smiles.

"Now, come along!"

With that, he turned on his heel and started on the road towards home.