Heart Of Fire; Veins Of Ice | Kimetsu No Yaiba Fanfic (Kyojurou's POV)

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The two of them continue talking through their meal, Kyojuro finding him to be a pleasant man to talk with, and he found out that Nobu had a younger brother who loved to skate on the ice over frozen ponds and lakes, who loved summer as much as he did winter, a boy who could make the most fickle of flowers bloom under his touch.

As Nobu spoke, there were moments where the man would seem to gaze into his eyes for long periods of time, and sometimes down to his solar plexus, which gave him an unsettling chill along his neck when the man did so. Did he know?

That was impossible. Chalking it up to the paranoia he had gained from being under Her influence for such a long time, Kyojuro brushed it aside.

They talked well into the night, and Kyojuro realising that it was time for him to leave, before the sun rose. In the three hours he had been there, he had consumed...about six bowls of food. Nobu himself ordered another set of food for himself halfway through, and even treated him to some sake, which Kyojuro had tried to refuse, but Nobu said it was for payment for helping him two nights before.

Returning just as dawn was about to break, he found Masahiko-san waiting for him outside his room, stroking Ren's head as he stood outside the room.

"Kyojuro-kun?" Masahiko asked him, and Kyojuro saw that he wore a pair of goggles, with a layer of reflective silver over the lens, and he wondered partly what its use was.

"Masahiko-san! Sorry to keep you waiting for me!" Kyojuro replied loudly, unsure and yet still glad that he was there, especially after having not seen the man for quite some time. Ren squawks, as said man held his hand out, letting the large black crow step onto his palm and he gently brought the crow over to him.

This time, Kyojurou noticed that he did not have the bells tied to his wrists.

"No, no, it's my fault I couldn't return to visit you or tell you about Ren's current state," Masahiko smiled at the crimson haired individual before him, as Kyojuro took Ren from his palms.

"He can see you now!" Kyojuro looked up at the eyes of the man standing across him, who nodded softly.

"I see that you've managed to overcome the snow demon. I'm proud," Masahiko speaks, voice light and warm, as he sets his hand on his shoulder, to congratulate him on his success.

"Thanks! But you can see me now? How?" Kyojuro replies as he sets Ren, still with his splints, onto his shoulder, making sure that the black bird was comfortable with the fabric and his position on his shoulder. Didn't want him to get injured again, of course.

"This would be best explained with some tea and snacks, wouldn't it?" Kyojuro smiled, even though he had just finished his dinner, more food was always good.

"Sure!" Following behind the man, the two of them entered a different room, this time with the door of Genbu, or the black turtle, one of the four legendary animals representing the four cardinal animals.

Genbu stood amongst the raging waves of the sea, of which went from a deep blue to that of the pale white sea foam, utterly calm and stoic. With a posture and stance of absolute patience against the raging elements, it merely calmly gazed at the waters around its feet and body, even as it rained and poured.

A few moments later, Kyojuro found himself looking around Masahiko-san's room, even though it was slightly intrusive, but he couldn't help but be curious about this man's past.

The room had warm tones of earth brown and nature green, with a small desk at the corner of the room facing the window.

Other than that, the layout of the room was largely similar to his own, with the exception of the colours or the painting of the door. Still, there was something about the atmosphere of the room, the warm, muted scent of cherry wood as well as the faintest scent of incense that made him feel extremely comfortable.