47
(Before we start I have to re watch kny because I don't remember that much ngl)
After dinner, Kyojuro had helped you get settled in one of the spare rooms. Senjuro had brought you extra blankets, and even offered you his favorite manga to read while you "healed faster."
But of course, at 2:43 a.m., your stomach had other plans.
"Ugh... should've asked for a second bowl," you mumbled, tiptoeing (or limping, rather) your way down the hallway.
As you entered the kitchen, flipping open one of the cabinets in search of snacks, you froze.
There.
Big. Brooding. Drunk. Angry.
Stood Shinjuro Rengoku. Kyojuro's delightful father.
He didn't even look up at first. Just mumbled under his breath while nursing a bottle of sake.
"Tch. Another useless brat in my damn house..."
You blinked. "Excuse me?"
He looked at you. And squinted.
"Oh. You're that kid. The one Kyojuro was carrying like a sack of rice."
"Wow. Rice sack? I was carried princess style, thank you."
He scoffed. "Hmph. Doesn't matter. You're just another leech, clinging to the back of someone stronger than you."
...
"Y'know what?" you said, cracking your neck dramatically. "I was gonna just grab some crackers and go back to bed. But now I'm invested."
You limped your way into the kitchen fully, arms crossed, standing in your oversized pajamas like a gremlin of justice.
"Kyojuro is literally out there risking his life for people-for you. And what are you doing? Drowning in alcohol like it's some Olympic sport?"
"Watch your mouth, brat," Shinjuro growled, standing up.
"Nah. You watch your life choices, crusty flame man."
His eye twitched.
"Bro you're out here blaming the world for being weak when your son your literal SON is out there making the Flame Hashira name mean something again! Meanwhile, you're standing here smelling like a hot garbage fire dipped in depression and old ramen broth."
"...Ramen-?!"
"Oh I'm not done."
You limped closer, holding up your pinky.
"Kyojuro is sunshine in human form. That boy smiled while his ribs were broken. He smiled after I got stabbed saving him. You know what he said?"
"...what?"
You stared him dead in the eye.
"'She's going on a date with me. It's an order.'"
And then you smirked.
"He's got more fire left in him than you ever did. So either support him, or get out of his way."
Shinjuro was stunned. Silent. For once.
You, satisfied, grabbed a bag of sweet crackers, flipped him off behind your back like a true menace, and walked (okay, limped) right out the kitchen.
As you passed Senjuro's room, the door creaked open just slightly.
"...That was awesome," he whispered with awe in his voice.
"I know," you whispered back, stuffing a cracker in your mouth like a boss.
______ 𝗍іmᥱ skі⍴
You were peacefully munching on the crackers you heroically earned last night when the door to your room slid open violently.
"Y/N!!"
You choked. "COUGH-HUH-WHAT?!"
Kyojuro stood there, wild bed hair, eyes full of panic.
"I HEARD WHAT YOU DID!"
"...Define 'what' because I did a lot of things yesterday-"
"You called my father a crusty flame man?!"
You blinked.
"...Okay yeah that one's accurate."
"Y/N!!!"
Senjuro suddenly peeked in from behind his older brother, nodding like an enthusiastic background dancer. "She told him off like boom pow and then walked away like a boss!! She even called him ramen broth-!"
"Senjuro please," Kyojuro said, holding his forehead like a single father of two.
You shrugged, still chewing on a cracker. "What? Your dad needed a verbal ass-whooping."
And as if summoned-a deep voice rang from the hallway.
"So you're the brat with the mouth."
You turned and saw Shinjuro, arms crossed, face unreadable. The tension was palpable.
Kyojuro stood protectively between you two, voice stern.
"Father-"
But Shinjuro held up a hand. "Stand down."
He walked up to you... and just stood there.
You, sitting up straighter, narrowed your eyes and said, "If you're here to insult me again, please wait till I finish this cracker-"
"...I was wrong."
You froze.
"...Huh?"
Shinjuro scratched the back of his neck, visibly uncomfortable. "You've got guts. Stupid as hell-but guts."
"Wow. Thanks?" You tilted your head. "That... almost sounded like a compliment?"
"I ain't repeating it," he growled, walking away. "But... thanks for not letting that idiot son of mine die."
Kyojuro's brows shot up, surprised.
Before Shinjuro disappeared completely, he added, "And if he ever breaks your heart-I'll beat his ass myself."
"DAD-"
Door slam.
You looked at Kyojuro.
Kyojuro looked at you.
Senjuro from the hallway whispered: "Did y'all just witness emotional growth!?"
You whispered back: "I think we did..? "
After the thunderstorm that was Shinjuro left the hallway, the silence in the Rengoku house was almost unsettling.
You blinked at the door.
"...Did I just tame your dad orrrr-?"
Senjuro sprinted inside and tackled you in the most wholesome hug known to mankind.
"Y/N!!! THANK YOU!! That's the first time I've seen him act even slightly like a human being since mom died!!"
"H-Hey-Senjuro! You're gonna make me drop the rest of my crackers-"
"You deserve a shrine," Senjuro mumbled dramatically into your shoulder. "An actual shrine, with candles and offerings and a golden plaque that says, 'Made Shinjuro Touch Grass.'"
Kyojuro walked in behind him, lips twitching into a fond smile. He crouched down in front of you and placed a hand gently on top of your head.
"Thank you, Y/N. For being yourself. For having the courage to speak up. And for caring enough to do it-even if he didn't deserve it."
You blinked up at him. His voice was calm... but his eyes were soft. A little wet.
"Flame boys are so dramatic," you mumbled, flicking a crumb off your lap.
Senjuro let go and nodded, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "It's genetic."
"I heard that," Kyojuro muttered, looking personally offended.
You smiled and looked at both brothers.
"Well... someone had to slap him with reality. Verbally. And maybe spiritually."
"You did more than that," Senjuro grinned. "You might've saved all of us."
"Okay stop," you held up a hand. "Y'all gonna make me cry and I'm still sore from being kebab'd."
Senjuro wiped his eyes again and stood up. "I'm gonna go make breakfast-you rest!"
Kyojuro looked at you for a moment longer, then gave you one last, quiet thank-you before standing up.
And just as he was about to leave the room-
"...Also, you're grounded."
You gasped. "HUH?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M GROUNDED?!"
"No reckless fighting demons with holes in your stomach," he called out with a teasing tone. "Rengoku's orders."
"YOU CAN'T JUST-"
"HASHIRA PRIVILEGES, Y/N!" he shouted from down the hall.
You flopped dramatically back onto the bed.
"...He's lucky he's pretty."
(Also sorry about finishing the rest with bold style I forgot to change it)
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