[Tribute] Rengoku Kyojuro x Reader

[3] Departure

TRIPLE UPDATE LMFAO

Reader POV

The sound of burning of incense was the only thing that could be heard in the Rengoku household.

Well, besides a crying Senjuro and a drunk Shinjuro.

Rengoku Ruka had just passed on the night before due to an untreatable sickness.

I was holding Senjuro, Kyojuro pacing back and forth in the hallway.

None of us knew what to do but we knew better than talk to Shinjuro as he was drunk and acting out.

I eventually put a now calm Senjuro down in his crib and walked outside to where Ruka was buried, a brand-new gravestone marking where she lay.

I dusted some snow off and sighed.

"Three years ago you took me in and raised me as your own," I said quietly, leaning against the granite. "I can never repay you for your kindess, Ruka. Mother, Father? Welcome her with open arms."

The snow fell gently around, dusting my (color) hair with snow.

Time seemed to slow down as I stood up and gripped the necklace I always wore.

"I'm sorry, Senjuro. You'll never remember her."

When I walked back into the house, Kyojuro stopped me from entering.

His gaze was dark. "You aren't welcome here, (y/n)."

"What-?"

"She spent her time looking after you," he said lowly, refusing to look at me. "She was busy taking care of you instead of herself. If it wasn't for you, she would still be here."

I gave him a shocked look and was about to protest, but he shoved me away.

"Don't come back," he spat. "I don't want to see you ever again."

His voice got higher, cracking even.

"Everywhere you go, you just bring death with you! No one wants you here. Go away."

I stared at the boy whom I've lived with for three years. "This is how you truly feel?"

"Yes." There was no hesitation.

"Then I'll go." I turned away. "Take care of Senjuro."

And I left.

He didn't follow me and I didn't expect him to.

I walked out of the village, not knowing where to go.

But somthing inside me told me to follow the north star, the one that glowed brightly in the sky.

As I walked in the cold, I kept hearing a woman's voice, telling me where to go.

I passed a beautiful lake and as I walked near it, the water nearby thickened in ice.

I gave it a curious stare and stepped closer.

Sure enough, the ice made a path for me.

I walked to the middle, a bridge made of ice beneath me.

"What...?"

This is one of the winter's gifts, the woman spoke to me through the wind. Use it to your advantage, my child.

"But how did I do it?"

You pictured a bridge, right? The woman asked.

"Yeah..."

There you go. Your imagination is your key.

I smiled. "Ok."

I thought up a huge house and sure enough there was a huge house at the end of the bridge, made entirely of ice.

Then I thought of the lake before and the ice all vanished, including the bridge.

I sank into the water and resurfaced easily, giggling as a huge horse made entirely of ice trotted towards me and helped me out.

These are just some of the gifts, dear one. Use these gifts to protect yourself. The night isn't forgiving to anyone, even a princess of winter.

I didn't care that my clothes were wet as the cold didn't bother me so much anymore.

I fell asleep on the horse's back as it trotted through the forest, alert to any danger.

Kyojuro POV

It's been two hours since (y/n) left.

I began to worry about her as I knew she didn't know how to defend herself and the demons were always nearby.

Especially at night when the sun wasn't out.

I began to peel some veggies for dinner, trying to hush a crying Senjuro.

My father eventually came out for dinner, his face grim and eyes red (more than normal). 

"Son, where'd the girl go?"

"Gone."

"Gone? What do you mean?"

I didn't face him. "I sent her away."

He grabbed me by my collar and shook me violently. "What do you mean you sent her away, boy?"

I said nothing and he scoffed, throwing me aside.

"Follow me."

He left the nanny in charge of Senjuro, me following my father into the basement that could only be accessed by him.

"Look at this." He motioned for me to come towards him. "Look at the symbol."

"It's the same as her snowflake,"

He nodded. "Yes. Before I put her father and mother at rest, they made me promise I would give this gift to (y/n) on her 16th birthday."

He moved the stone lid off, taking out a beautiful ice blue sword. "It is her father's sword."

Beside that were a bunch of other things like a blue cape, snowflake hair pin, and a strange looking pair of gloves made entirely of ice.

"What is this?"

"All of this was found in the old Fuyuhito residence." Papa blew some dust away, coughing a bit. "She will come back."

But she never did.

Hours turned to days. Days turned into months. And months turned into years.

I would constantly pass her room and sit on her bed, wondering if she was alive.

Fuyuhito (y/n) was never seen again.

Papa's training got harsh and I eventually took his place as the flame pillar, hoping to see if (y/n) was there.

When I came home from the hashira ceremony, I stored away all her old things.

"Kyojuro?"

I looked up and saw Senjuro looking at me with curiosity. "Hm?"

"This door is always closed and I've never been in it. Who's that?" He pointed to a painting of (y/n) my mother did before she died.

I hesitated to answer. "Someone who used to live here."

"Oh really? What happened to them?"

I looked outside where the snow was falling gently. "I don't know."

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