riptide | kyojuro rengoku

XXV | villain

YOU WADED IN THE water, anger ripping at your heart. The Flame Pillar had survived (unsurprisingly) and you wanted him dead. At this point, you knew everything was a sham. Senjuro was a sham, the nights were a sham, everything he had ever done to gain your trust and kindness was nothing but a lie.

He never cared about you; he only did it because he lived in fear of what you would become. And ironically, you didn't fear this at all. You had spent so long being cautious of others that you had no time to be scared of your newfound abilities. If this is what it took to let you gain control of your own life, then so be it.

The Isonade ignored you. You locked eyes with one, but it hadn't done anything, more focused on Kyojuro who had just risen for air. Your own lungs started to burn and you coughed, feeling a push underneath your feet as your face hit the surface. Breathing deeply, you turned to look in Kyojuro's direction, knowing he was just as out of breath as you.

"FUCKING TRAITOR!" You cursed.

They felt it. The Isonade felt your anger. One of them let out a roar and all of a sudden, Kyojuro disappeared, pulled underwater. You disappeared under the surface, kicking your feet as you watched him swing his sword, cutting off the barb that had hooked onto his cape and torn through it.

He opened his eyes to stare back at you, his form stiffening before he was taken by another Isonade. Kyojuro spun around, moving his sword in an arc as flames followed its movement, evaporating the water as the shark-like creature let out a pained scream. You didn't do anything, watching silently.

They continued to bash him around, dragging him underwater only for him to swing forward or to the side with his sword following his movements. It wasn't until you saw him move awkwardly that you paid closer attention. Something had disappeared from his hold, slipping from the pocket of his pants as it floated away into the water.

He reached out to it, but was bashed again by another one of the barbed sharks. As long as you were furious, they weren't going to let him go. You rose for air once more before diving back under, reaching for the very document that Kyojuro had just lost. Your heart stopped in your chest, the map floating to sit in between your fingertips.

You recognized that handwriting. The dots. The dashes, bold black X's, the thin lines that traced out islands that you had visited when you were young. And at the very top right, your last name in Braille. Scrawled in your father's handwriting, the map held all the places you had explored with your father and his loving crew.

All along, for the past few months, Kyojuro had held your childhood in his hands. He had selfishly kept it from you. You realized now, Kagaya had never been more right. Rengoku Kyojuro knew you more than you knew yourself. Now, only one question plagued your mind: had you ever known him?

Your grasp tightened on the old paper and you floated to the surface, noticing the scared look Kyojuro had given you. You were never supposed to find out. You weren't supposed to know. And now, the Flame Pillar was as good as dead. However, he was even more shocked when one of the shark-like creatures pushed his feet upward, helping him to the top.

There, he met you. He looked at you and you said nothing, quietly holding your hand out. The Isonade moved at your silent request, dispersing and disappearing from your sight. Yet, the ocean had never moved faster. The waves parted, suddenly stilling with an eerie calm that made Kyojuro's heart pound.

His lungs burned; he had used so much Fire Breathing in order to fight off the Isonades. He was sure if he hadn't earlier, one of them would've stabbed a vital organ. The waves pushed you two to shore and you tightly grasped the map. "You," You coldly spoke, eyes narrowed. The tides pushed close enough to the shore at your request, letting you make out his slumped frame.

He was laid against the sand. You were tired. You were done being someone else's pawn and in this moment, you had never felt more control in your entire life. "You knew everything about me and refused to do something. Was your only plan as a village to kill me? I hardly knew anything and your only solution was to end my life?!"

"Forget what you said," You threw your hand out and Kyojuro flinched, feeling a tide rock the island itself. "Fuck being human; you are so sickeningly inhumane. All of you Fire Villagers are! I'm tired of being someone else's pawn and all that you people feared was me being able to discover my true abilities!"

You dryly laughed, "Senjuro's not even lost, is he? He's probably at home at the fucking village. Rengoku Kyojuro, you're the bane of my existence. All of you are so selfish and although I called you beautiful, you have the ugliest heart I've ever seen." You sneered, throwing the map to the side as it hit the sand beside you.

Kyojuro counted. Under his breath, he counted the amount of seconds you stayed silent. 327. You were dead quiet for a little over five minutes. He was taking quick breaths, trying to save his burning lungs from the painful sensation. Hell, he was sure that if he coughed, only ash would leave his lips.

"Do you know why I refused to let them kill you?"

More water blanketed him and he coughed, keeping his gaze steady. He tensed again, willing himself to get up as the sword clinked in his hands. "Because, Rengoku Kyojuro, I want to kill you myself. So, go on, you Flame Pillar fool," You called out, knowing full well he was at a disadvantage.

Kyojuro's chest heaved and his legs were still slightly shaking. His heart hurt at the sight of you. He wasn't a fool; he wasn't a liar, he never wanted to be. This was what the world made him and unfortunately, the world had made you his victim too. His hands trembled and he swallowed. Not out of fear, but out of pain.

He didn't want to kill you.

Yet, you teased him, curling your fingers towards your palm in a motion that beckoned him to gather the courage to swing his sword.

"Set your heart ablaze."