Two Hearts Set Ablaze || Kyojuro Rengoku x Reader

Chapter 1: First Meeting

-This chapter is from the meeting in the Demon Slayer Stories of Water and Flame, this is for some background knowledge ig lol-
This is also a pretty long chapter, so buckle up.

This was their first meeting as a hashira. They had just barely been put on the team. The wind hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, seemed pretty pissed about it. Nobody thought it helped much that Shinjuro Rengoku, the flame hashira, hadn't shown up "once again".

Kagaya decides to start his meeting, nevertheless.

"It has been six months, my demon slayers. Have you all been well?"

"Yes, sir!"

"And we are glad for your health, sir!"

Kagaya takes a short pause, then continues with, "Our numbers dwindle... even as Kibutsuji's strength grows. Thus, I have greater need of your services... and I ask you to support each other on your missions."

"As you wish. But master, why is there a non-hashira here?" Sanemi chimed in as we all turn to look over at the young man with yellow, red-tipped hair. Looking at him, Y/N felt a bit charmed by him. They wonder what it is about him that's so appealing...

"Where is the flame hashira, Shinjuro Rengoku?" Sanemi's question had interrupted Y/N's thoughts. Y/N stares at the ground, trying to regain their thoughts. No... gotta focus on the meeting at hand...

"Father-"

"Hey!"

Sanemi had once again interrupted someone.

"Can you fill in for a hashira?"

The question seemed to slightly phase the boy. Any person would be overwhelmed by Sanemi's intimidating personality. Y/N remembers their first meeting with Sanemi... they got punched in the face. Sanemi never apologized because this didn't happen in front of Kagaya.

"Sanemi, don't bully Kyojuro. I invited him here to give us an explanation on his father's absence."

Almost immediately, Sanemi bowed to Kagaya, and became very silent.

"We are concerned for Shinjuro," Kagaya continued. "What is his condition?"

Kyojuro stayed silent for a moment, his face becoming solemn. Y/N could see the pain in his face. They could tell a loved one was lost.

"... I don't fully understand, but... ever since my mother passed away, I feel like he has lost his heart," he finally said. "He started bringing sake with him on his missions. At night, before his missions, he drinks alone in his room."

Gyomei suddenly has tears pouring down from his eyes. "Ahh... how sad. Shinjuro is a veteran hashira. He should be working to pull everyone together."

"It sets a bad example and has a dulling effect on his morale," Tengen piped up. "I recommend he retires."

"We don't have enough hashira, but master can't send him on missions drunk." Sanemi remarked.

Y/N sighs, wondering how hopeless this situation may be. "Then what are we to do?" Y/N asks.

"Don't worry!!" Kyojuro suddenly yells out. "If I become flame hashira, he's sure to regain his motivation!"

He has a very bright and strong aura... could I possibly be warming up to him already? Y/N thinks. Maybe I should talk to him outside of the meeting.

Tengen laughs at this notion. "Oh, really?"

"Hey... Kyojuro Rengoku... You're pretty cocky!" Sanemi challenged. "But it isn't that easy to be a hashira, you know."

"Actually, I know the criteria for becoming a hashira!" Rengoku chimed.

"Okay then, show us what you got!" Sanemi suddenly stood up.

"Oh my..." Y/N facepalms.

"Shinazugawa-" Gyomei started.

"Let me do this Himejima.... Forgive me, master." Sanemi said, before charging towards Kyojuro.

Y/N feels worried for Kyojuro. Sanemi is currently one of the strongest hashira, and could crush anybody as easily as crushing a bug. It took Y/N a year to heal from when Sanemi punched them. They remember how bad it hurt, and how much blood gushed from their nose.

Kyojuro continuously blocks Sanemi's attacks, knowing the taboo for fighting with other demon slayers.

"Shinazugawa!!"

"Hurry up and make hashira!! Get out there and go find a demon!" Sanemi yells as he continues to punch Kyojuro. "We've got empty seats!! When you gonna come and fill one?! Get moving!"

Y/N silently watches this from next to the other hashira. Sanemi seems to lose his temper a lot, might as well get used to it.

"What's your problem?! Fight back!!"

Kyojuro suddenly grabs Sanemi's arm, keeping him from punching him any longer.

"I will not fight back!" he said, defensively. "Fighting amongst corps members is forbidden, and hitting people is bad anyway!"
"Besides," Kyojuro says, patting Sanemi's shoulder. "I don't even want to hit you! You've got a bad temper, but I like your spirit! Thanks for the encouragement!"

Sanemi, absolutely mortified, "You're thanking me for beating you up?!"

Y/N is surprised at Kyojuro's bravery, even they themself couldn't stand up to Sanemi like that. Every time he'd ask them to do something, they'd quickly oblige. Kyojuro is so cool... they thought.

"They are really at odds..." Shinobu remarks.

"He held up against Shinazugawa, and he's got flashy hair! Not bad at all!" Tengen excitedly exclaims.

"Truly impressive." Y/N says, not being able to take their eyes off of Kyojuro.

"Sanemi," Kagaya butts in, and Sanemi instantly falling to the ground on his knees.

"Forgive me. I lost my temper."

Words Y/N has never heard from him before.

"Indeed."

Y/N takes in Kagaya's soothing voice. No wonder Sanemi becomes calmer whenever being spoken to by Kagaya. That, and Sanemi has a deep respect for him. Kyojuro seems surprised by Sanemi's sudden calmness, but I think he may see why.

"Kyojuro, you are familiar with the criteria for promotion to the hashira rank, and we happen to have information about a demon near the Imperial Capital that may be one of the Twelve Kizuki. I would like you to go defeat it."

Sanemi's eyes widen in absolute shock, and Rengoku's with surprise.
The Twelve Kizuki? They are demons directly under Muzan Kibutsuji' s command, and they're able to slay hashira. But he wants me to go?

"May I speak, master?" Shinobu asks. "If it's one of the Twelve Kizuki, shouldn't one of us hashira go?"

"I need you to defend the territory usually covered by the missing hashira." Kagaya replies. "Besides, it is in Shinjiro's former territory." Turning his attention towards Kyojuro, he says, "You insist you are worthy, so earn our esteem through action, and not mere words."

Y/N knows Kyojuro can do it. They knew from when he arrived to this very moment that he's able to do it. His personality is strong, and he looks strong. It's obvious they've been staring at Kyojuro this whole time, studying his appearance... maybe even slowly falling in love?

"Go demonstrate your skill, Kyojuro."

"Yes sir!" Kyojuro cries as he beamed his bright smile.

Y/N can feel their face getting hot. He's so cute...

Tengen snickers at Sanemi as he takes his place next to Tengen again.

"Master, do you see a future in which he defeats one of the Twelve Kizuki? Or is it just your instinct?" Gyomei questions.

"More than instinct... I feel certainty."

Y/N does too.

To be continued...