By the time you were done cleaning, the evening sun was already setting, with the sky now a mix of orange and purple. The sound of birds chirping outside added to the peaceful ambiance, signaling the approaching nightfall. As you admired your handiwork, a sense of accomplishment washed over you. Now that the room was gleaming, it was the perfect time to relax and unwind. All that was left to do was lay down the tatami mat and take a bath.
As you strolled along the engawa, you glanced through the sliding doors and caught a glimpse of Shinjuro-sama in the living room, engrossed in a book. Not wanting to interrupt him, you quietly made your way across the dining room only to catch a whiff of a delicious aroma coming from the kitchen.
Opening the shoji, you spotted Senjuro stirring something in a pot. You were surprised since Kyojuro never told you that his little brother can cook.
"Oh, hey, Onee-chan!" The young boy said. "Are you finished cleaning your room? Sorry, I couldn't help you."
"It's quite alright, Senjuro, and yes, I'm finished!" You say, walking up to him.
"Anyways, what are you making? It smells good!" You said, looking into the pot. Inside were a mix of vegetables, noodles, tofu slices, and pieces of steak. The delicious aroma of the dish wafted through the air, making your stomach growl in anticipation.
"Sukiyaki!" He says.
"Oh wow, who taught you how to cook, Sen?" You can't help but ask.
"I-I sort of... taught myself actually!" He confesses shyly, and you couldn't help be in awe at this.
"That's amazing!"
"Yeah, I started learning months after our mother passed, since father was unable and Oniichan was too busy being a demon slayer." He tells you.
"It was a difficult time for our family, and I could see the strain it was putting on father. With Oniichan working hard in becoming a demon slayer, I took it upon myself to learn the skills necessary to take care of things at home," he explains.
His words tugged at your heartstrings. In this time and era, it was natural for children to work and help provide for their families. As you leaned down and gave him a kiss on the cheek, you couldn't help but be proud of him for his determination and selflessness to help his family.
"You're a saint, Senjuro. You deserve gold for providing your family in such a way!" You say, causing the mini Rengoku to blush bashfully.
"Aww, t-thank you, Oneechan! But I honestly don't mind."
"Hmm, I tell you what, how's about I help you from now on? I'll even teach you new recipes and how to make my Obachan's famous curry rice." You say, smiling as the young boy's eyes lit up at this.
The thought of being able to bond with him over cooking and creating delicious meals together fills you with joy. You can already envision the two of you spending quality time in the kitchen.
"R-really? You'd do that for me?" He beams, and you nod.
"Thanks, Oneechan; you're the best sister-in-law ever!♡" He praised.
God, this child has truly stolen your heart! How could anyone be this freaking precious and get away with it? You thought, nuzzling your cheek against his affectionately.
"You're very welcome, Senjuro. Anyways, have you'd seen Kyo?" You'd asked.
"I think he's out on the engawa."
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And fair enough, you did find Kyojuro sitting outside on the engawa. The moon was shining brightly against the night sky; its pale, whitish light was softly illuminating the front yard as maple leaves blew and fell in the crisp, cool wind. He sat there in silence, his gaze fixed on the moon above, lost in thought as he listened to the gentle rustling of the leaves.
You felt your cheeks start to warm at the sight of him. The light from the moon radiated off of him, making him appeared angelic. Evidently, you cleared your throat, getting his attention.
"Oh, hello there my sweet flame!♡" He greeted cheerfully.
"I take it you've finished cleaning your room." He said, flashing that trademark smile of his.
"Yeah, all that is left is putting down the tatami mat."
Kyojuro nodded, "I'll get to it soon enough, my love! Though, I am still a bit discouraged that you refuse to sleep with me in my bed!" He lets out a long exaggerated sigh.
Drama Queen.
You playfully rolled your eyes, ignoring him, before gazing up at the moon. The twinkling stars seemed to dance in the velvety darkness, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that captivated your senses. The gentle rustle of the leaves in the breeze added a soothing soundtrack to the peaceful scene.
"Sure is a beautiful night out." You say in awe.
"It is quite beautiful indeed—even more so since autumn is approaching!" You heard him say, and you looked to see him staring at you lovingly.
Red mixed with gold stared intensely at you with love and passion as you quickly looked away, blushing. The warmth in those eyes made your heart skip a beat, and you couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions wash over you. It was as if those eyes held the key to your soul, unlocking a part of you that you didn't even know existed. You could feel the intensity of their gaze even as you tried to divert your attention.
"What have I told you about cheesing, Kyo?"
"Cheesing?" Kyojuro blinked at you innocently as tilts his head in question.
"Ya'know? Being corny." Your flushed red.
"Corny?" He does it again.
"For goodness sake, Kyo! I mean, you're being so romantic that it's often embarrassing!" You explained.
Kyojuro laughed, "Hahaha, is that so? You sure do have a colorful vocabulary, my love!" He teased.
"Shut up! No, I don't! I'm just saying." You made a pouty face, as Kyojuro only laughed even more. His contagious laughter filled the room, bringing a sense of joy and lightness to the atmosphere.
Despite your initial annoyance, you couldn't help but smile at his infectious happiness. His enthusiastic, thunderous laugh was contagious that it warmed your heart and his eternal hero-like aura, looking unbeatable with his straight posture and crossed arms.
The love you had developed for him only grew inside you so much that it prevented you from staying angry at him. In truth, it was nice to see him enjoying himself, especially when around you. This man, whom you've fallen deeply in love with, was just so beautiful for his own good that, deep down, you thanked whatever God was out there for blessing you with such a man.
You still couldn't believe that you were going to share your life with someone so wholehearted yet so energetic. A person like that was difficult to find, and you knew Kyojuro would do everything in his power to provide the best life for you and the future family he longed to have with you. His unwavering dedication and boundless love filled your heart with joy and gratitude, knowing that you were truly blessed to have him by your side. With Kyojuro, every day felt like a new adventure, full of laughter and warmth that made you feel cherished and loved beyond measure.
'I love you,' You inwardly said in your head over and over again as you stared at him. Kyojuro had successfully tore down the icy defences you'd put up through years of being alone, even dismantling your hesitation to fall for him.
Brick by brick he got to you and you were content to let him in. Despite your best efforts on the contrary, and without anything of the sort being explicitly stated, you started considering yourself his.
"Is something wrong, my love? You're looking at me funny." Kyojuro said, and you quickly snapped out of it.
Your cheeks heated up after realizing you had been staring at him longingly. "S-sorry...I was just thinking." You say, looking away from him.
The flame Hashira smirked before shifting and moving closer towards you.
"About what?" He questioned, leaning closer until his lips were near your ear.
His warm breath sending shivers down your neck, the tingling sensation causing your skin to become goosebumps. You could feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as his breath brushed against your skin, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement.
Oh, the amount of thrill the Flame Hashira got from teasing you is beyond explanation. The mischievous glint in his eyes as he found sheer delight in seeing your reactions to his teasing, relishing every moment of it.
You were such a treat!
You hesitantly bit your bottom lip, (eye color) eyes blinking back and forth at him, knowing full well it was the little actions he did that aroused you.
Kyojuro's eyes then narrowed, now giving you that same slutry look, before leaning towards your neck slightly. The warmth from his body mixed with the cool night air, made you shift.
"What're you thinking about, my sweet flame?" He asked, voice husky and filled with affection.
"Y-you." You responded a little too quickly.
"Oh? And what of me?" He purred and you had to shift again, avoiding his gaze.
"K-Kyo, please I-"
"Does it bother you?" He suddenly asked and you looked up, catching his eyes.
"D-does what bother me?"
"Me being this close to you." He answered simply, tilting his head slightly.
"N-no, why would it?" You mumbled, cheeks becoming warmer.
Kyojuro smirked before placing his hand on yours. "Your face is red, you're breathing heavily, and you're avoiding eye contact." He pointed out as he leaned even closer towards your face.
"W-what? N-no I'm n-AH~!!" You gasped, blushing harder as Kyojuro pressed his lips against your neck. His warm breath sent shivers down your spine, causing your heart to race with excitement. You could feel the heat of his body against yours, making you melt into his embrace.
"K-Kyo s-stop!" You shuddered as Kyojuro gave your neck small pecks. The action causing ticklish sensations to course through your veins.
Kyojuro grew bold and trailed his warm tongue over your neck, causing you to squirmed immediately.
You quickly slapped a hand over your mouth when his lips found the sensitive tender spot of your neck.
"Answer my question, and I'll stop." He whispers huskily, before lightly dragging his teeth over your skin.
"I w-was thinking of how much I love you." You confessed, as you moaned softly. Mindlessly, tilting your head when he started sucking on your neck.
No doubt he'll leave a hickey.
Evidently, he eased up on his minintrations and glanced at you. Your face was completely flustered as you tried to calm yourself.
He had to control himself from doing "dirty things" to you. Images of your keening moans still haunted his dreams. Your desperate pleas for him to continue, for him to take you harder—he looked away from you to keep the thoughts from coming again as he took a deep breath.
"I love you too, my lovely snow flower," he said, his voice soft and gentle like a lullaby. The way he looks at you, with such adoration and warmth, makes your heart swell with happiness.
Suddenly, the shoji slide open, revealing Senjuro.
The young boy eyes quickly widen as a faint blush dusted his cheeks the sight of you and Kyojuro so close together. He hadn't meant to interrupt your moment as he quickly announced,
"D-dinner's ready."
With that, he slides the shoji back, leaving you and Kyojuro flushing with embarrassment. The awkward silence lingers in the air, as you both chuckled.