Limitless (KNY X Reader)

Twenty-Two

Sliding open the door, you're met with the sight of Rengoku sitting up in bed, a bandage over his injured eye and a tray filled with food resting over his lap. The second he sees you he smiles brightly, glad that you finally decided to visit him. "Ah, (Y/N)! Come in! I have plenty of food if you're hungry!"

You enter the room and slide the door closed behind you before moving over to sit in the chair next to his bed. Almost instantly a bento is pushed towards you with a pair of chopsticks resting on top of it. You quietly thank him for the meal before opening it, instantly digging into the food as you haven't eaten all day. He watches for a moment, glad you accepted his offer before he returns to his own food. The two of you eat in silence for a few moments before he finally speaks up.

"I wanted to thank you for saving my life in the fight against the demon Akaza." He pauses as he closes his empty bento and sets it aside. "I was fully prepared to give up my life to protect the others in that fight, but because of you I didn't have to. Because of you, I can keep fighting and I can return home to my brother."

You didn't realize he had a brother. You knew his father, but that was only because you were present when he retired from being a Hashira due to his wife passing away. It makes sense that he would have kids and you're curious if that's the reason why he retired- to take care of his children in the absence of his wife.

"You don't have to thank me." You state for what feels like the millionth time in the past few days.

Rengoku reaches over, gently grasping your hands which thankfully were no longer holding anything as you had finished your own bento. "It would be unbecoming of me not to thank my savior." Shifting in the bed, he moves to where he's facing more towards you before bowing as deeply as he can. "Thank you! I promise that I will not let your kind act go to waste! I will work hard to train so I can return to my duties as a Hashira so I can continue to fight alongside you as your comrade, and hopefully as your friend!"

You sit there for a moment caught off guard by his declaration. As you stare at him, you can't help the sudden bubbly laughter building in your chest. It seems it's your turn to catch him off guard as he looks up in shock at your sudden laughter, finding your mouth split into a large smile, one he has yet to see from you. It takes a few seconds for you to calm down, your laughter dissipating but your smile remaining. "Ah~ You want to be my friend? I'm honored, Rengoku. Say, if we're friends, can I call you Kyojuro?"

"Of course!" He eagerly accepts, glad that you're willing to be his friend. After the Hashira meeting, he thought you would forever hate him so this is certainly a welcoming surprise. It wasn't until after you saved him that he wanted to be your friend, though. Before that he simply wanted to at least be on your good side since Oyakata-Sama held you in such high regards. But now he knows that you truly aren't like other demons and he's more than happy to be friends with you.

"So, Kyojuro, what did Kocho have to say about your injuries?" You question, curious about how bad the damage was.

Kyojuro lifts his hand towards his face as his fingertips gently brush against the bandage covering his eye. "She said it was unlikely that I'll be able to see out of my eye once it heals. If that's true, then I will need to train hard to get back to my old level as fighting with half my vision will certainly be difficult."

"If you ever want someone to train with all you have to do is ask."

Kyojuro stares at you, one eye widened in surprised. After a few moments he smiles brightly. "I would be honored to train with the strongest."

"Ah~ you agree that I'm the strongest?" You tease, figuring he was just joking since you say it so often.

"It took everything I had just to land a few hits on the demon Akaza. Yet, when you fought him it looked like you were simply toying with him. He never even landed a single hit on you and yet he did so much to me. After that, how could I not think you're the strongest?" Kyojuro looks at you in admiration, obviously not upset at all at the thought of you being stronger than him. It admittedly makes you a bit flustered.

"I think you're extremely strong- probably stronger than me. Even when knowing you likely wouldn't survive, you fought with everything you had in order to protect the others. You were willing to give up your life for them. It takes someone extremely strong to be so ready to do something like that. While I may be physically strong, you're spiritually strong, and that makes you infinitely stronger than me. I'm strong because I can fight without the risk of dying. You're strong because you fight despite the risk of dying. You're truly admirable, Kyojuro."

"It means a lot to hear that. Thank you." For the first time since you've met him his voice is soft, barely above a whisper. The fight against Akaza must have really hurt his view of himself. He probably began to view himself as weak and incapable of protecting the others properly. After all, he couldn't really do much to Akaza.

You're glad that your words could help his view of himself, even if it's only a little bit.

———————
🤞TAISHO SECRETS🤞

🌌 Rengoku actually wasn't allowed to eat a whole lot, but he still asked for a lot of food since he knew you enjoyed it and was hoping you'd eventually come visit him

🌌 You genuinely find it awkward when people thank you and would prefer them to just give you daifuku instead

🌌 Your conversation with Rengoku really lifted his spirits as he had been feeling upset with himself for failing to end the demon Akaza which forced you to reveal yourself

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