The 10th Hashira - Rengoku X Reader

Chapter One - Where it All Started

Living on the streets isn't that bad. It means you don't have to work for a living, but that you can rather rely on your personal abilities at being stealthy, strong, and cunning. All abilities that also help you with other qualities of life! Such as, well, mainly getting food and acquiring a place to stay for the night. 

This last part being the most important. At night, well, at night strange things happen. It's hard for me to explain without being seen as a total nutcase, or a child that is simply seeking attention. All I know for certain is that if I do not have a solid hiding place for when night arrives, I may as well be putting myself on a platter with a large blinking light that says "Get your free meal here!" or "MMM, don't I look tasty!" So, other than the creeps that appear at night and cannibalize anyone in sight, living on the streets is just dandy.    

How did I end up on the streets at such a young age you ask? Well, quite simple actually. My parents, needing the extra dough, decided that selling me to the entertainment district would put them ahead. Did it? Who knows! But, I knew one thing, no way in any whole grain hell would I be staying in a lustful place such as that. So I hightailed it out of there before they could do whatever it is that they do to children in such a place. 

Anyways, for this evenings meal, what do I have to eat other than a lovely sweet potato! Nothing strikes the stomach as warm and cuddly as a sweet potato does!  Ah, how I can not wait to take the most glutinous bite out of my reward for thieving like a true hero. 

As I open my mouth wider than any normal person on a diet should, someone with my similar stature runs around the corner and bumps into me, making the sweet potato, my, my beautiful sweet potato, fall flat in the dirt. What can I do other than watch the fruits of my labor be brushed over with a layer of bottom foot dirt. 

I can feel the anger of my loss boiling up to my face, making it hot, making the tears begin to cling to my lids. Ah, who dares trample on my sweet potato feast! They will now face my starving wrath! I may become a cannibal tonight just to eat this fiend and make them disappear from the face of the Earth. 

I turn to look at them, to take out every ounce of my being onto their soon to be bloody and swollen face, only to bear witness to a face already streaming in tears. The eyes so swollen I am surprised they did not run into anyone else on their way. Wow, they sure are an ugly crier as well, not to mention their gentle wails really do hit on another nerve. 

"Hey, what's the big idea?" Is all I can muster in the face of someone already so depressed. 

"I, *sniff*, lost *sniff*, my mooom," he could barely manage to get out. 

"Oh jeez," I muster up as I bend down and snag the potato from the ground to wipe off the dirt, "you're such a big boy now too, aren't you supposed to be making sure that your mother is safe?" 

After getting possession back over my dinner, I turn to him and hold out my hand, 

"Here, take my hand and get up off the ground before your kimono gets anymore dirty. We want to return you to your mother in tip top shape right?" I say, trying to piggyback off of his apparent love for his mother to make him calm.

"Mmm, thank you," he takes my hand and regains his posture, then he immediately begins brushing the dirt from his back and butt. 

"You-" *gurrrgrgrgrgrgle*, the sound of his stomach interrupts my question. 

"How long have you been looking for your mom?" It must have been awhile, considering the state of his appetite.

"It's only been a few minutes, but she is sick right now and I do not want to leave her alone!" he justifies himself for his state of appearance. 

"Ahh, I see. Well," I break the sweet potato in half and blow gently on its contents to make sure it is cool, "while we are in search of your precious mother, I guess I have no choice but to share my dinner with you."

"What is it?" 

"What is it?? A sweet potato of course! Have you never had a sweet potato before?" I swear to the heavens.

"No, I haven't," he answers shyly. 

"Wow, you have not lived yet then! Here, try it," he takes the sweet potato from my hand and looks at it suspiciously. "C'mon then, if you don't try new things, how will you know if you like them or not!" 

He brings the sweet potato up to his mouth and takes a light nibble. His face brightens immediately.

"It's delicious!" he exclaims happily.

"See, what did I tell you? Now you have lived," I can not help but smile. He has the most handsome smile, it's quite contagious. 

For the next short while, we sit and eat our halves of the sweet potatoes. Occasional mmm's and ah's, and tasty's, escape his lips. I'm glad he has both calmed down and is enjoying it. I strike up many weird conversation topics casually, including ghosts, whether there may be another being is living in the stars, which vegetable could he beat in a fight, and what was the longest noodle he has ever eaten. He is a very charming young boy, one I hope never has to witness the cannibals of the streets. 

Soon, however, the gentle yet concerned voice of a mother can be heard through the crowd of people that has been flowing through the main streets. 

"Kyojuro! Kyojuro! Where are you?!" He immediately shoots up from his spot next to me.

"Mother! I'm over here!" He runs into the crowd, all I can do is watch as he disappears among the mass of people. Not only do I notice that, but I see the the sun has gotten quite low, creating an illuminating shade of red and orange over the buildings and hills. I best be on my way to a hideout for the night. I am glad he finally found his mother, she seems like a lovely lady. 

I stand up, my back against the building, my stomach full, and my heart very content. As I push off from the wall I hear a gentle yell, and the young boy appears out of the crowd again. 

"Hey, thank you so much. Could I get your name? I would like to meet you again soon," he says as he reaches out and takes my hands in his. 

"How flattering you are to a beggar and a thief like myself. Please though, do not bother with me, I am very young, and will probably stay very young. But, for now, you can remember me as a simple candle flame, one that hopefully helped you become a strong storm of burning passion in the future," I say with a toothy grin. These were words similar to hero's mentors I remember reading in the storybooks that my parents could not afford, but the ones I would take with my great skill of thievery, and practice my deep desire to learn the ability of reading on.  

He only looks at me with awe, not realizing that these words are ones said from someone that is hinting at their most likely soon demise. So, to make things even more powerful, just so that I could know I would at least live on in the memories of one person, I pull him in down by his hands clasped around my own and plant an innocent kiss on his cheek.

"Tell your mom I say hi, and that I hope she gets better soon," I say as I stand on my tip toes to gently pat the top of his fire like hair. Wow, how can such a baby be taller than me, that is not okay at all, especially when we seem to be around the same age. 

"I will!" he smiles as he squeezes my hand and exudes a perfectly red and innocent face. "See you around then!" he runs back into the crowd. I know though, I will most likely either never see him again, or not see him for a very long time.

Either way, it is high time I find a nice and comfortable hideout for the night before the creeps appear.