The Sound Hashira's Apprentice // tengenuzui x reader

Chapter 4 Part 2

Kuwajima-sama was much shorter than I imagined. As I bowed my head respectably upon meeting him, I found that I needed to bend my back a bit lower than normal to feel like I was genuinely and metaphorically lowering myself in honour of the old Hashira's presence.

Tengen-Sensei on the other hand seemed casual. I was grateful he had been the one to do most of the talking, whilst I scrambled to find my voice in the midst of being awe struck.

"Uzui, my have you gotten taller! You are looking well-fed as well." The short, elderly man stated matter of factly, stroking his moustache.

The older Hashira was draped in a striking kimono, triangles scattered all over the yellowy-brown fabric that almost distracted me from the prominent scar etched onto the man's skin just under his eye. I almost missed his prosthetic leg too, prompting wandering thoughts on the stories behind these souvenirs evidently from being in the corps, only rumours had ever confirmed such things.

"You flatter me Master Kuwajima, and you look as youthful as ever."

This guy.

I felt almost like I had to call Tengen out for how carelessly he was speaking but when the Roaring Hashira boomed with genuine laughter, I realized that this was much appropriate to their relationship.

"Well who is this then? A wife of yours?"

"What!"A pink coloured veil washed over me. Why do old men always think we're a couple?

"Definitely not. Y/N is my tsugoku!" My Sensei replied calmly whilst patting my head like a dog, earning him some side-eye shots from me.

"Oh, yes I heard you have taken in a trainee. I've actually taken on another tsugoku of my own- ZENITSU GET DOWN HERE AND MEET OUR GUESTS!"

I jumped at the sudden volume Kuwajima-sama used as he called for his tsugoku.

Me and Tengen were still standing outside at this point, as light yet frantic footsteps could be heard coming from inside.

"Taking in two tsugoku, now that's very flashy but quite hard work I daresay Master Kuwajima, " Tengen commented as the newcomer approached.

The young boy looked like he was in a permanent state of shock, his jet-black hair uneven and disheveled to match. As he came closer to us he immediately locked eyes with me, seemingly boring his gaze into my skin. I raise an eyebrow and stared back curious at this strange demeanor.

Kuwajima hit his head with a balled fist making me jump for a second time in that span of 2 minutes. "Zenitsu its rude to stare! These are very special guests. Uzui Tengen, the Sound Hashira and his tsugoku."

Zenitsu seemed unphased by Kuwajima's beration and continued to fix his peripheral upon me.

"Hi, I'm Y/N,"I greeted bowing my head once more. When he didn't reply I prompted. "It's nice to meet you Zenitsu,"

Immediately the young boy dropped to his knees taking one of my hands. He looked at me with conviction, tears seeming to brim on his eyes as his cheeks grew rosy. "I cannot fathom the honour to meet a woman with such ethereal beauty. How you say my name, it dances on your lips like a spell to put a hopeless man like me in a bind of love. WILL YOU MARRY ME?!!"

It wasn't just me whose mouth came ajar in shock, as me and the two Hashira stared in disbelief at Zenitsu. I couldn't believe how ridiculously chaotic the span of the past 5 minutes played out, not only had I met the Roaring Hashira, but his own tsugoku had proposed to me as well. I looked over at Tengen, trying to calculate what the hell just happened and for some help but he was still staring at the boy with the same amount of shock drafted over me.