Icy Flames- Rengoku Kyojuro-Demon Slayer/ Kimetsu no Yaiba

78

The warmth of the hot spring had lulled me into a state of tranquil contentment, the steam rising in gentle swirls around me as I fed the last of the fish to the baby snow monkey still cuddled against my side. The other monkeys, now gathered around, were enjoying their treats, their soft chattering filling the otherwise quiet air. The scene was peaceful, almost surreal in its simplicity—just me, the warm water, and the gentle creatures that seemed so at ease in my presence.

But suddenly, the serene moment was shattered by the abrupt creak of the door sliding open. The monkeys froze, their chattering silenced as they turned towards the source of the noise. Their eyes widened in shock, and with a chorus of startled cries, they scattered, scrambling away from the spring and into the surrounding trees, their movements a blur of fur and panic. The suddenness of it all left the space eerily quiet, the only sound the soft rustle of their departure echoing in the air.I turned slowly, my golden eyes narrowing into slits as I shifted my gaze toward the door, my expression as cold and composed as ever.

There, standing before me, was Kyojuro, his figure framed by the light spilling in from the open doorway. His flame-colored hair, usually so neatly tied in a half-updo, now cascaded down in wild, thick spikes that reached his shoulders, framing his face in a halo of fiery brilliance. The sight was striking, a reminder of the untamed strength and energy that defined him.But what caught my attention even more was the fact that he was stark naked, standing there with easy confidence, completely unbothered by his lack of clothing. The steam from the hot spring curled around him, almost as if drawn to the heat radiating from his body. His eyes met mine, filled with the same warmth and intensity I had come to know so well.For a moment, I simply stared at him, my expression unreadable. The contrast between the tranquility of the moment before and the sudden appearance of Kyojuro in such a state was almost absurd, but I refused to let it rattle me.

I was stoic, composed, and unyielding in any situation. My face remained a mask of calm, betraying nothing of the thoughts running through my mind.Kyojuro, however, seemed entirely unperturbed by my silence. A broad grin spread across his face, his eyes crinkling with amusement as he took a step closer to the spring, clearly intending to join me."Good morning, Y/N," he said, his voice carrying that familiar, cheerful warmth. "I thought you might need some company."I continued to hold his gaze, my golden eyes never wavering.

"You're naked," I stated, my tone as flat and emotionless as ever, despite the absurdity of the situation.He chuckled, completely unfazed. "So are you," he pointed out, his grin widening as if this was the most natural thing in the world. "I figured, why waste time?"There was a brief pause, the steam from the hot spring curling around us as I considered his words. Then, with the barest hint of a sigh, I turned my gaze back to the water, my expression unchanged.

"Next time," I said coolly, "knock before you scare off the monkeys."Kyojuro laughed again, the sound bright and unrestrained, as he stepped into the spring, the water rippling around him as he settled in beside me.

His presence was as warm and overwhelming as ever, the energy he brought with him filling the space like a fire that refused to be ignored.For a moment, we simply sat there in silence, the hot spring wrapping us both in its soothing embrace. And though I refused to let my expression betray it, there was a small part of me—buried deep beneath the icy exterior—that found the situation amusing, perhaps even endearing. But I would never admit that, not aloud.

I kept my gaze focused on the surface of the steaming pool. The ripples danced around us, but even the serene beauty of the moment couldn't distract me from the situation at hand.

"You shouldn't be here," I said, my voice cool and composed, cutting through the soft bubbling of the water. "Even if our actions mimic those of a married couple, we must respect the sanctity of the Wisteria Mansion. This isn't the place for such... intimacies."