Chapter Text
Spices dug into the walls like vermin. Their scent bordering on intoxicating as the restaurant you sat in lost more and more customers. The night dawned, though the chefs never stopped. Stoked fire filled the silence, along with the quiet simmer of rice on a pan. You were determined not to order until he arrived, but it was proving rather difficult with every new cuisine that announced its existence with its mere smell.
You held your chin in your palm, eyes focused on the glass door adorned with a variety of stickers. The stiff wood felt as if its goal was to numb your backside, though you never moved a muscle. Always silent, always stiff, always waiting.
The clock chimed and your gaze flickered to the vibrant emerald bird that poked out and sung. Leaning its beak forward and extending its tiny wings. It was old. And broken.
You licked your dry lips, ignoring the hunger that teared at the walls of your stomach. It was early, yes. You were always early. It made you want to burn from the inside out when you weren’t and you had yet to meet a Slayer with the same mentality. They seemed to always be on time. Not a minute before nor after.
“Still waiting, Miss?” The server approached, his locks of black hair sprawled messily. The tip of his nose was brushed pink, likely due to the chill that seemed to make its home within the oak walls of the establishment.
You smiled politely, “Yes, I’m sorry. I can order something if it’s become troublesome.”
He shook his head, a tiny blush on his cheeks. “No, no, it’s fine.” Your gaze caught on his silver nametag and on the goosebumps present on his thin arms. “Would you like water?” He had a cut on his thumb, stitches on his stomach, and a bruise on his left bicep. Hidden well, of course, but not to you.
“I’m alright, thank you.” You reached into a shallow pocket of your pants, pulling out what was left of the healing salve given to you from a previous mission. You had been left with 4 horizontal gashes on your back, but it had healed fine and you couldn’t care for the scars. The metal tin clashed with the light as you presented it. “For the stitches and bruise. Speeds up the healing time.”
He blinked, tugging his head back as if he needed the space to understand what was happening. Fractions of words left his mouth until he settled on, “How did you-?”
You shrugged and threw him the tin. He was quick to catch it, mind working so fast that it seemed any more information would cause him to combust. You went back to waiting, folding your arms on the table and placing your chin on top. A childish position that left you looking up at the glistening door with paralyzing sparks shooting through your hands.
The server had walked away after he managed to relax his nerves enough that you no longer felt as if you could reach out and touch them. His heart still pounded and the blood that ran through his veins still rushed like a current hoping to drown, but he masked it like second nature. You narrowed your eyes at his deparcher.
Shallow clicks of the broken clock on the wall joined the symphony of cooking and frying. Your patience was an unraveling thread; so thin it rivaled strands of hair.
Two minutes. He officially had only two minutes to arrive and not only were you still unaccompanied by his presence, but you couldn’t even feel the warmth of a new being towns away.
The cold of the estate had begun to double, icing the air until you saw it in front of you. The gray streaks of your exhale left your nose, then your mouth as you blew into your hands. You took in a sharp breath, clenched teeth and eyes closed as you prepared the familiar feel of the burning in your blood and the power in your veins.
You stopped. Fire stemmed from the glass door, as if it was struggling to hold back the flames. He was here.
The dark outline of his uniform was apparent even with the sun down and for a minute, you were filled with the anxious feeling of having failed in everything up to this point. That compared to him, you were nothing, would be nothing. No amount of training or hoping would allow you to reach him.
The silver bells hanging from the metal frame rang and bounced off the empty walls. You stood and fought the dropping of your jaw as you marveled at his beauty. The lightness of his hair, tinged scarlet at the tips. The brightness of his smile and his happiness. That’s what it was. Joy.
He was painted in joy.
Did you envy that? His levelheadedness? His ability to seem as if the whole world was alright? Maybe. Maybe.
You bowed at the waist. “Rengoku-san, it is a pleasure to meet you.” His feet met your line of vision and as you straightened to meet his eyes, you were greeted with a smile to match.
The black uniform struggled to hide the strength you knew laid just beneath. You had to remind yourself that this was to be your mentor. This man who appeared with the beauty of the sun, was your mentor.
He said your family name, testing it on his tongue. “The pleasure is mine. Now, let us see if this establishment is as fantastic as I think it will be.” He sat, pushing the flame of his white cape behind him. The sword he carried, sung lowly as it clashed with the table. “Oyakata-sama informed me you were well on your way to becoming a Hashira. Congratulations, we must celebrate!”
His voice bounced off the walls in a way that made you incredibly aware of the workers and patrons still present. You blushed, trying to take your gaze elsewhere, but it always pulled back to him. “Arigatou gozaimasu, Rengoku-san. Truly, thank you, I am still in shock.”
“Do not be. I have heard of your feats. There is no need to be shocked, it was only a matter of time.”
His grin widened and the word ‘pretty’ came to mind as you watched how his eyes squinted.
It startled you, the warmth of him. Not through his power or strength, but his soul felt as if it seeped from his pores and laid cleanly on his skin. Whispered at everyone that he was pure and kind and good.
“So, tell me of your tales. The ones that do not get spoken in the wind.” He crossed his arms, bright eyes staring at you in wonder. You had the sudden urge to pour out all your thoughts and finally feel heard. “Your style is quite peculiar. A rare one correct?”
You nodded and shunned the familiar fear of being feared. Of being rejected. “It is Blood-Breathing, Rengoku-san. Odd, yes. Not fully understood, though I am trying.” You laughed. An awkward sound that hid the way you hoped this wouldn’t be ruined. That he would still assist in these days to turn you into a Hashira.
His brows rose by a fraction. “You will have to tell me more.”
Shock wormed its way into your bones. Reality felt as if it was a string tying you together. Urging you to sing to him every word that burned on your tongue. Your breathing style had often made you a pariah. Someone watched but never engaged. His willingness to listen was unfamiliar lands, though it was an opportunity to draw up a map and make his friendship your destination.
A subtle grin crossed your face and you nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, of course, but we should eat first. Celebrate correctly.”
“Exactly!” If it was possible, his smile seemed to grow at your words. Rengoku called over the waiter, placing an order that you weren’t sure he’d finish completely and by the look of the waiter, he thought the same.
The scribbling of pencil on paper filled the silence as the boy from before copied down what you said. You could tell he had already used the salve, that it had begun to alleviate the pain that burdened him when you entered. “It is working well, I hope?”
“Yes, yes.” He bowed thankfully, the corners of his eyes filling with a sense of gratefulness. “Arigatou, Miss. I’ll be sure to make this meal on the house!”
You waved your hands. “No, there’s no need.” Your focus centered on ensuring this boy did not give away the food to you. With their lack of patrons, it worried you. All your attention was on convincing him, so much so that you missed the way Rengoku curled his head to the side in question. Or the way his gaze seemed to trace the way your lips molded to pronounce every word you said to perfection. You caught the shake of his head and turned to him, “See, even he agrees.”
“Nonsense, Miss! Your medicine was like magic, it is the least I can do.” He bowed again, mouth wide with happiness. “Just a few minutes.”
Words died in your mouth as he disappeared. Rengoku looked at you in silence, a small humor swam in his eyes yet you matched it with a blank look. “We’re still paying.”
He clapped his hands together as a wondrous laugh left his lips. A sound so beautiful that you wanted to compose it as a musical piece, but what instrument would compare, would come close? Impossible, surely.
The evening passed like a breeze, accompanied by the Hashira’s tendency to yell “Umai!,” after each bite.
It startled you at first, as eyes in the restaurant wandered towards you, but it was an easily likable trait. An action that made your cheeks hurt from smiling and compelled your brain to do the same.
“Umai.” You copied. “Is that right? Did I do that right? It feels like it wasn’t as good as yours.”
“You have to say it with your whole heart. How much do you love this food?”
You paused, analyzing the way his brows raised and the eager lean of his body towards you. “Oh, that’s a genuine question. Alright, I would say it’s very good. Too good for their lack of customers.”
He crossed his arms, eyes blazing into yours as if kindling a flame within your bones. You suppressed a shudder. “Then you must say it. Show your gratitude!”
“Okay.” You lowered your head in understanding.
“Not ‘okay.’ ‘Yes!’”
“Yes.”
“Yes!”
“Yes!” You grinned.
“Umai!”
“UMAI!”
“EXACTLY!” His voice vibrated the table. Slight giggles traveled from the kitchens and you joined. A laughter you held hidden in your chest managed to blossom like a sunrise. You felt it when his added towards yours, not because you heard it, but because the sunrise turned to sunshine and your happiness paralleled that of a child.
The evening rolled, carrying an easy melody that held something deeper than that of a mentor and a student. You pretended not to feel it. You imagined that the warmth in your stomach that mixed well with what felt like the hurricane taking place there was due to you meeting a man that felt close to an idol for you. Of course you’d be nervous to meet him. His family is legendary in the Demon Slayers; his father even more so.
It was an anxiousness about meeting him. That’s what it was. The light tingling hovering beneath your skin was simply due to how eager you were to impress him, not because his eyes glowed like molten lava and his stare copied it; not because his delicate fingers seemed to rarely join him in enthusiastic conversation, yet when you’d glimpse them, your blood turned warm. Rengoku was too important for anything you felt to go beyond what was meant.
“You have a mission here, correct?” Empty plates were stacked beside his arm, so many that you chastised yourself for thinking he’d fail.
A proud gleam entered your eye as you began to talk about your missions. “Yes. It is a village not too far from here. That is why I chose this spot.” You gestured at the oak wall of the restaurant, tone quiet enough as to not disturb the citizens who had decided it would be their resting spot as well. “The demon in this area, I’ve been told, has been quite silent with it’s attacks. The way in which it fights, is quiet as well. 27 victims as of now. 11 having been children and all of them having been women.”
“How does it leave them?”
“It takes the heart. Poisons them and in their sleep, breaks open their chest. No sightings of it, as if it’s invisible.”
He bit the inside of his cheek. A look of contemplation housed itself on his features. “It could very well be invisible.” He smacked his fist to his palm and his aura felt as if it glistened with a thought. “This is a great time to perfect the training of your senses. Hunting a demon you cannot see.”
“I agree. I’d be honored to learn anything you teach me.” Truthfully, that’s all you really wanted. Being good was easy. Being good came with practice or talent or precision, but you didn’t want to be good. You wanted to be exceptional. You wanted to reach hights your small life never knew existed. Hunting demons was not a role you thought you’d wander upon, but there was no doubt in your mind that you would hate yourself for settling on mediocrity.
Rengoku grinned as his hand wrapped around the hilt of his katana. He made no noise as he stood. No vibration from his sword, no swivel of cloth skittering above a wooden surface. It was the silence of a predator, but no one would guess that from the welcoming touch that seemed to be active at all times around him. “Come. We can start tonight.”
“Tonight?!” Your grace was much different from his as your knee hit the top of the table, followed by your katana almost slipping from your grasp. Part of you hoped the demon would make you his next victim, that way you wouldn’t have to relive the memory of this moment ever in your lifetime. “That feels soon, I mean of course it is in fact soon, but aren’t you tired?”
If you weren’t so enraptured by him, if your heart didn’t feel like it was hit by lightning every time he eyed you, you were sure you’d be aggravated by his calm air. You know your envy would spill over at the lack of worry in his cheeks. “This is the best time to catch the demon. Your mission may not start yet, but no one will ever be angry at you for saving lives.” He crossed his arm. You began to notice that it was a common state for him. “Is it the village north of here?”
“West.”
“Lead the way!” He smiled
Unfortunately, you could not melt away at the confidence he directed at you and you could not stop the small hue of pink beneath your eyes. You looked away.
The door chimed as you both exited. Moonlight chased you like an artist does a muse; you understood if that was actually what the Universe was doing.
There must be some higher power that recognized the Flame Hashira with a positivity so strong, it blinded you and the blood-breather who was so dark, it evaded you. That god was watching, waiting.
You planted your feet firmly on the dirt ground, breath pushing through your lips like the wind offered to be a tool in your power. Rengoku seemed to do the same beside you, waiting eyes lingering over your figure until you felt the touch of your breath throughout your body. In seconds, the view was a blur; trees were blotches of green and the stars were running past as if hoping to match your pase. You turned your head, as you always did, to observe the movements that slowed and a smile traced your lips when you met his gaze instead. You laughed, a surge of heat striking in your legs. “Would you like to race, Hashira?” You yelled, fighting over the air that tormented your hearing.
Again, that molten roar of his laughter. The sound that wanted to bend your wills to meet his. You resisted. “You want to race your Mentor?”
“Scared?”
Your ears twitched as they caught the fall of the leaves around you. The cherry blossoms that had been thrown off circuit with the speed of your run. Rengoku smiled so brightly that you were sure light had ceased to exist. “No.” The ground cracked at his next step. Branches splintered as if a storm ripped them to pieces. It wasn’t a challenge, not really. You’d never beat him right now, he knew that, but he would pretend and you would pretend, and for a second, you’re only purpose would be being alive.
“Cheater!” Air streamed into the muscles of your legs as the image of you turned into nothing but a streak of color. The animals that woke at night knew better than to interfere with the vibrancy of Rengoku and the others stood to watch what was beside him. What darkness.
The burn in your feet felt like fuel. You were close to him. So close you could grab his kimono and pull him back. “Aren’t you meant to be leading?” He teased
You strengthened your form, targeting every ounce of your energy to attempt meeting his. A head away now. You could turn your eye and see the waves of hair he kept tied back. “It’s rude to disrespect your students, Rengoku-san.” The tips of the village’s clock tower reached your eyes, but you prayed you would receive one more wave of joy from him. Hear that sound that puts singers to shame.
And you did.
“I shall keep it in mind.”