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[tempurahair]

HELLO. IT IS RENGOKU. PLEASE WRITE MY NAME IN HERE IF YOU NEED MY ATTENTION!

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the night of his arrival :)

[bluebasketballed]

[akaza had very deliberately not given his word, not verbally agreed to kyojuro's proposition. why is it, then, that it feels as if he did? had he unconsciously promised it to himself, or is it simply the right thing to do?

gods, he misses not giving two shits about what was right and what was wrong. but he can't just forget everything again, and he isn't sure he would want to if given the choice. so it is that once night falls, he does as kyojuro instructed -- mostly. he does make his way to the inn, but he doesn't seek out a room for himself; he follows the light of kyojuro's fighting spirit, not a wildfire as it had been in battle, but an unmistakable blaze nonetheless.

once he's certain of the door kyojuro is behind, akaza stops. rather than disturbing him, though, he simply folds his arms and leans against the hallway wall in front of his room. he has no doubt that the slayer is just as aware of his presence, and can initiate... something if he so chooses. putting the basketball in kyojuro's court, so to speak.]

[tempurahair]

[For better or for worse, Kyojuro has swiftly realized that — thanks to his honed senses — Akaza's presence is like a beacon, an ever flitting light dancing at the corner of his vision. It should have been easy enough to ignore, considering the fact that Akaza didn't seem keen on moving throughout the day, but... No, that fact alone only proved to intrigue Kyojuro all the more?

Or did it worry him? Certainly not. Tentative deal or no, Akaza was a demon, and Rengoku Kyojuro simply did not worry about demons. Nezuko had been an exception, given her ties to humanity.

But something in Akaza had shifted, and that shift had turned into a pyre that Kyojuro felt drawn to. For some reason, he felt relief when that chilling presence began to move in his direction. Akaza had decided to heed his advice, to enter the inn and...

Come to his door? How interesting.

Certainly, Kyojuro could have kept it at that. Leave Akaza to his task of... guarding the door? It was hard to say what exactly was happening there, only that the demon simply wasn't moving. And that sense of curiosity burned ever brighter within Kyojuro's mind.

Besides, at this rate he was bound to scare the other citizens of this town, wasn't he?

When Kyojuro opens the door, he does so with a quirked brow. His haori has been carefully hung up, while the top button of his uniform had been allowed to come undone.]

You know, this was not what I meant when I encouraged you to seek refuge at the inn. Do you need assistance in finding a room?

delivery <:}

[bluebasketballed]

[early some morning or other, just before dawn, there's a soft clunk outside kyojuro's door. even if he would be able to tell it was akaza who stopped by, the demon is holed up in his room long before he can be confronted.

a terra cotta pot, sun motifs painted all around it, housing an aloe plant, sits on the floor. a label from the general store denotes that this plant is enchanted, and having it nearby will aid one's healing.]

[tempurahair]

[Kyojuro is, predictably, up early. He doesn't think twice as he feels Akaza's presence meander by. It's become normal for them — the demon returning before the rays of sun could possibly burn him alive, and slayer rising to greet said rays with a smile.

He doesn't expect the pause outside his door, however. Still half-dressed and blinking away sleep, he hefts himself from his bed expecting a knock, but instead hears only that tell-tale clunk. With no reason to really expect or suspect anything, he goes about his morning routine, tucking the strange little moment into the back of his mind.

He doesn't think about it until an hour later when he opens the door once again, ready to start the first of his many laps around the village, and nearly stumbles over the plant. He kneels down, lifting it up and inspecting it like it's the most precious thing in the world. Only in that moment, does he remember Akaza's hesitation and wonder —

but surely not. They might have established a truce, perhaps become allies, but this was bordering on friendship. It was kindness. And so he cannot help but wonder if there were gifts for everyone, and that the demon had simply stumbled over Kyojuro's when walking past.

But there are no other pots along the hall.

Retreating, Kyojuro brings the pot in with him. He thumbs over the leaves of the plant, feeling something strange and warm begin to well up within his chest. The pot is set by his bedside, closest to him, before he heads out to truly tackle the day.

And if he has a bit more energy today? It's probably just the aloe, already starting to work.]

are you sick of me yet

[bluebasketballed]

[kyojuro is in a far worse way than earlier this month. actual bed rest. because of that stupid circus, because of his stupid inability to --

the entire way back to the inn, akaza is silent and scowling. he stops at kyojuro's door only to ensure he makes it to bed, then immediately turns in the direction of his own quarters.

somebody is grumpy from being holed up in a broom closet all day. totally that and nothing else.]

yea get out of my house

[tempurahair]

[Likewise, Kyojuro is silent as they make their way inside. It's hard to say if it's because of the way he focuses on their surroundings, searching for more monsters. Who knows if they've been told about the rescue convoy, or anything like that. Even if they have, it's the least of his concerns. Not when the eyes of his father, or the woman from Akaza's past, could be lurking in those woods.

When Akaza turns to leave, though, Kyojuro's attention finally snaps to him. He sits up in bed, wincing as some of his wounds pull.]

Akaza. Will you stay?

Lil guy House Call

[love_swan]

[ He said he was coming over and he meant it. Akaza got to have cute and now it's your turn sir.

He has come bearing Things as well. He raided the library for manga on the way over, and he also brought a sketchbook along. And he also brought along a couple bentos because the netbook made him very concerned for both of them. Kyojuro's has omurice that looks like a sleepy teddy bear. Good luck bringing yourself to eat it. ]

Rengoku-san? Are you awake?

a lil guy all for he!

[tempurahair]

[Unfortunately, Aira doubts this man's ability. It's truly a loud and horrifying sight for anyone involved.

But anyway, Kyojuro is indeed awake. He's currently pouring through the netbook, likely for the third or fourth time. It's difficult for a normal person to stare at a wall for hours on end, to say nothing of a man raised to always be moving, always pushing forward.

Still, when he hears that little voice outside his door, he sets the netbook to the side and straightens up. If his voice is subdued, it's solely because he's trying to avoid aggravating his wounds by yelling with his whole chest.]

Come in, Shiratori!

after meeting past lives

[bluebasketballed]

[as akaza had said, it isn't right away that he goes looking for what hakuji had hinted at. he has a lot of his own thoughts to sift through, before he even begins to consider an outside perspective.

still, one day he finally works up the courage to go digging in koyuki's writing drawer. it seems the best bet for "finding her thoughts on the matter," and that turns out to be true. he comes across an envelope tucked safely in its very own slot, by all appearances carefully preserved. the handwriting on the label has a bit more flourish than usual, but he still recognizes it as koyuki's: our wedding vows.

though he is curious and tempted to open it, to read them and give him a chance to process the words in solitude... giving himself a leg up over kyojuro would feel wrong, he realizes, in this case. so it is that he, envelope in hand, approaches kyojuro's room when he's certain the man is alone, and knocks gently on the wooden frame of his door.]

Kyojuro? I found something, if you have the time.

[tempurahair]

[Akaza happens to catch Kyojuro at a good time. He's returned both from his training and his consequent bath. His hair, still slightly damp, sits loose at his shoulders as he sets to sharpening and tending to his blade. The door is kept open, inviting company as he works. Naturally, those finely honed senses pick up Akaza's approach, and by the time he knocks on the door, Kyojuro is already setting the weapon aside.

Admittedly, there is still some residual tension deep within Kyojuro's heart. It's nothing Akaza has done, but more a hesitation on his own part. He worries that he may, unconsciously or otherwise, try to push at the man and his choices. Still, he's opened himself up to company, and hasn't been avoiding him by any stretch. It's just a gnawing thought at this point.

Which is why he's able to smile as easy as ever, brows lifting at the sight of his friend.]

By all means. Come in! [He pats the ground beside him.] What did you find?

A few nights after goddess field trip begins

[chonomai]

( she's had time and space. but she's still not quite ready to bring him so wholly back into her life. she's not sure she ever will be. which hurts, when she was so prepared to give him what future she may have had.

but she's been unfair, in a way. and she must rectify this, at the very least. she's happy that she finds him alone, somewhere in the grand halls of the divine mansion. )

... This isn't an end to my request for space. ( it's a blunt, cold start. ) But I realized that you had given me context for your behavior, but I have not done the same.

I'd like to fix that, if you'll listen.

[tempurahair]

[She'll find him just finishing up within the pottery studio, painstakingly trying to shape what looks like little spheres. Many have come out lumpy and frustratingly oblong. Though there is a pinch in his brow, he still wears a faint smile through his heavy focus, even as he smashes another poor attempt.

That said, the moment Shinobu appears, his expression shifts. At first, there is hope, a lift to his eyebrows, a glimmer within his sole remaining eye, and a steadily broadening smile. The first words bring him back down to reality, and that expression smooths into something more restrained.]

I will always be willing to listen to you, Shinobu. [He nods to a nearby stool, before standing himself. He goes to wash off his clay soaked hands, before returning to her side. They are, blessedly, alone in the studio.]

Whenever you wish to begin.

during goddess field trip

[bluebasketballed]

[at some point, akaza spots kyojuro somewhere out and about, looking like he wants to turn in for the night and... speedruns getting back to his room. since he has to take the long way around to keep from being caught, he has maybe thirty seconds in the room to set things up before kyojuro enters.

this isn't a whole lot, so the red rose petals he nabbed from the garden are pretty haphazardly thrown in clumps around the bed. the stem of the single intact flower gets hastily bitten between his fangs just before kyojuro opens the door, so that the first thing the poor man sees inside is akaza strewn across the bed like a concubine, with a snapped rose dangling out of the corner of his grinning mouth.

suave.]

this was going to be a gagtag but instead.

[tempurahair]

[Kyojuro opens the door

... blinks three times

and immediately closes it again.]

backdated to end of november, before field trip :)

[bluebasketballed]

[so... akaza sees ydalir's magically constructed eye disappear, and gets instantly gutpunched (literally, lol,) with the splitting of the wound that killed kyojuro. he deliberately kept this endeavor a secret from kyojuro, but the suddenness of the effects make him... not regret it, but worry.

he scurries out of the trader's tent pretty quickly in an effort to go find kyojuro and check on him. by now, he's more than attuned to the feeling of him in town, so wherever the slayer is, akaza will soon be. his expression flickers between relief, excitement, and anxiety as quickly as blinking -- can kyojuro actually see? is the severity of his wound actually lessened?]

Eye-adjacent Horror (it's close enough to eye horror so be careful)

[tempurahair]

[It isn't pain that Kyojuro feels, but it is something that's wholly alien. Pressure builds within the socket of where his left eye had once rested. At first, he thinks nothing of it. He's heard of phantom sensations of other limbs from retired slayers, so perhaps -

But that's when the blurriness and stinging begins. He doubles over, clapping a hand over the eyepatch. It's a sensation not unlike going cross-eyed, his vision doubling, then going partially dark. The only thing he can think to do is grab the fabric over his eye and cast it off. Perhaps he had bumped a strap and it had tightened itself? He isn't sure.

But that presents an entirely new sensation. Where once his vision was blurry and dark, it abruptly whites out. It begins to sting, then stream with tears he has not been able to shed since the entire region was smashed.

It's only then that he realizes what's happened.

He has been blinded in one eye for so long that both he and his body forgot what it was like to see. It upends everything — his balance feels off from the adjusting depth perception, and so he finds himself kneeling upon the ground as he tries to get the world to settle. And while it doesn't hurt, the pressure is odd and pulsating enough that he cannot think of anything else. He places a hand over it once more, hoping that counteracting the sensation might do him any good.

He certainly does not notice the way his chest hurts so much less than before, nor the fact that he is no longer alone.]

hi again you'll never get rid of me

[bluebasketballed]

[whether or not kyojuro likes it or approves, akaza has definitely been in and out this month to pummel some shitty stickbugs, and has the lasting wounds (such a weird fucking sensation to him) to show for it. this evening, however, he returns not just with a new bandage, but also a book and a little pouch. both objects get shoved into kyojuro's hands as akaza looks away with a scowl. tsundere.

the book is from the local library -- a history of the crescent islands, which strongly resembles that of japan's. as for the pouch, if kyojuro opens it to find the blackberries...]

Don't eat them. [he huffs, crossing his arms as his the line in his brow deepens.] ... They're for your stupid-ass bird.

WHY WOULD I WANT TO

[tempurahair]

[Kyojuro decidedly doesn't approve, or at least didn't the first time Akaza tried. After he saw a woodcrawlers insides on the outside despite the imposed limitations, however, he found he didn't have much room to argue. Akaza could still defend himself well, and Kyojuro himself would be a hypocrite for saying that his partner could not. After all, the hashira had made his own ventures outward himself.

All the same, he looks relieved when Akaza does return. That relief switches to delight as the gifts are handed over. Indeed, he does reach to pop a few of the blackberries into his mouth before being scolded. He pouts, but otherwise tucks them away.]

Thank you for thinking of my dear Kaname! [He pats the book.] And of course, for thinking of me.

[For now, though, both are set aside. Kyojuro rises to his feet, hands coming to rest against Akaza's shoulders. This has become something of a tradition in these unprecedented times. He may not protest his partner's efforts, but given the danger of even mere contact with the monsters outside, he cannot help but worry.]

May I check?

[Any sign of the roots would need to be removed quickly, after all. And he can't bare the thought of losing Akaza to that wretched curse.]

guess who's back, back again

[bluebasketballed]

[coming from a guy who's died at least once (twice, if you count the hand lobotomy), this death is... surprisingly boring. akaza hasn't been in the grove long enough or risked his neck enough to die and suffer a consequence for it, so he has nothing to gain from the lady gargoyle.

no, the hardest part of dying right now is the coming back.

when he doesn't see kyojuro outside, the first place akaza thinks to check is the man's old inn room. it's so strange to stand outside the door and not be able to sense his human's fighting spirit, not know beyond the shadow of a doubt whether kyojuro is inside...

... akaza lifts a hand -- one with a markless wrist -- to knock meekly on the frame. he fully expects kyojuro to be cross with him at best, and furious at worst.]

[tempurahair]

[Kyojuro is not a fool. He had seen Akaza's writings within the netbook and feared the worst. That fear had only grown as the hours had worn on. In the end, Muichiro's own writing within the netbook had been the nail in the coffin. He had heard enough of the dealings between the two men to know what had reasonably happened.

All that could be done was wait. Wait, and hope that the forest kept its word.

The second someone knocks, Kyojuro is on his feet. He is dressed down for the evening, and wrenches the door open with an incredible amount of force. Wild eyes search Akaza's form for any lingering damage. He doesn't need to look to his wrist to confirm. He knows

But so long as Akaza doesn't look worse for wear, Kyojuro pulls him in with as much force as he dares to muster. Make no mistake, a deep seated anger runs deep down within but... it can wait.]

on what is presumably valentine's day

[lilyberation]

( a bright red box of chocolates is waiting for him! it's combined with a very warm and fluffy muffler and gloves. it's cold out when you're killing buggies, and mom worries-

there's a scent of lilies in the air. )

bug murder date

[chonomai]

( it's not conventional in the slightest, but then- very few things in a demon slayer's life are! and that's the beauty of it, isn't it?

shinobu is particularly excited to get some fresh air, or as fresh as woodcrawler-and-nature's mockery laden air can be. she's eager to stretch her legs and show her skill and watch her lover do the same. )

We shouldn't be too reckless, of course, so what say you we set a route to follow before returning to the inn?

[tempurahair]

Of course!

[Kyojuro is quick to nod, and even quicker to begin scanning the environment for said path. He is just as eager to be outdoors as she is, despite the fact that this is far from his first foray outside. Dangerous, perhaps, but no worse than his duty back home.

He'd came back relatively unscathed each time. This would be no different.]

Any sights you would like to take in, my dearest pill bug?

a note tucked into his haori after the game

[chonomai]

You have always been my first and only choice. Whatever happened before has not changed this.

Do not doubt that I love you.

the intrusive thoughts win

[bluebasketballed]

[you know how sometimes you shoot awake in the middle of the night, possessed by A Thought™? well, akaza doesn't sleep and it isn't the middle of the night, but he still has such a moment. cue sprinting to kyojuro to grab him by the shoulders, wide-eyed and frantic.]

Kyojuro. If the Trader can give us anything from home, and there's a rare plant that that man sought out above all else -- would it be funnier to ask her for it so we could grow it or stomp on it?

[tempurahair]

[Kyojuro happens to be asleep, thank you. And jolts from the bed as if they are under attack. He reaches for his sword, ready to move to protect Akaza if need be.

He stops short when he hears those words.]

... What are you even talking about, Hakuji?

You know what this is. [Thread probably very nsfw very quickly]

[souninind]

[Kyojuro staggers, gapes, flushes so brightly, and the willpower it takes to not follow him immediately should win Tengen some kind of award. It would be pretty awful if they both disappeared at once, though, so he gets that minute to cool down as the sound hashira returns to the little party, listening to quick, retreating footsteps and mapping out the dojo for later.

Not that much later, ultimately - just enough they won't be caught by the wrong person, asked where they're headed off to together, forced to answer with damning honesty. Shinobu would be one thing - but Senjuro would be another.

So maybe Kyojuro will assume he won't be followed.

And maybe when Tengen does, inevitably, seek him out, he'll wait quietly and listen for the best moment to make his presence known.]

[tempurahair]

[Naturally, Kyojuro has deigned to take shelter in his room. Even with Akaza having abdicated for the evening, he feels awkward trying to collect himself in a place where anyone might spot him. Besides, the risk of Senjuro coming in to grab more food was always there. And what if someone needed to use the restroom?

No, it was better to sneak into his room. The shoji door is left slightly cracked, easy enough for someone to peek through, or slide on in.

Kyojuro does not consider this, though. Instead, he makes his way to the opposite side of the room, cracking the door to engawa to allow a little air in. It's enough to cool him off as he settles down, sitting seiza as he takes a few deep breaths.

It is... a good thing to know that his affections are returned. That, in time, things will mend themselves. He tries to focus on that, and not the feeling of Tengen's lips against his skin, or the heat those promises had invoked. He was the master of Flame Breathing, after all. It should be him causing such a reaction, right?]

Pull yourself together, Kyojuro! Surely you can handle this much!

Camp mess hall shenanigans!

[purifyingwind]

[ More than a few days after his initial brush with Kyojuro, Sanemi is… attempting to fall into this newfound routine. It has proven exceedingly difficult given his cabin assignment and the slew of difficult conversations he’s had to navigate, but at least the food was consistently delicious.

Today finds him unceremoniously seating himself across from Kyojuro. Though he was on dangerously thin ice, he was still more tolerable than dealing with complete strangers. By a significant margin. Not that Sanemi would admit that.

By this point, he’s also torn his shirt a glorious v-shaped rip down the center of his ridiculous camp outfit, a la his Hashira uniform. Because why the hell not. He has free will.

He doesn’t actually… say anything to Kyojuro. He just starts eating. ]

[tempurahair]

[Why Sanemi decides to sit next to the guy still loudly shouting praises to Mrs. Bone-Jangles nearly a week on is anyone's guess, but Kyojuro isn't complaining. He finishes another bite, shouts another compliment toward the kitchen, and then turns his attention to his companion.]

It's good to see you! [Which... somehow, must be true, if he's able to say it? It's hard to say whether or not he's heard the details of Sanemi's fight with Akaza but, let's be real. He probably expected it to happen.] You look like you are adjusting well! How are you settling in?

[At least he has the decency not to pin Sanemi with that dumbass, bug-eyed gaze. He returns his attention to his food, diving in once more. At least he's quieter now?]

It’s me again. Sometime after wet t-shirts.

[purifyingwind]

[ So maybe waiting outside for Kyojuro to emerge from his cabin is mildly creepy. Sanemi, at this current juncture, does not really give a shit.

His mind is reeling. He needs to have – some sort of discussion with someone. For some godforsaken reason, Kyojuro seems his best bet. ]

[tempurahair]

[Kyojuro emerges bright and early, just before the wake-up call goes out. If he's at all startled to see Sanemi, it doesn't show on his face. Rather, a delighted smile spreads over his lips as he bounds on over to his counterpart.]

Hello, Sanemi! Have you come to see me? Or are you looking for Uzui?

Helping Shinobu time

[infinitemist]

[ Generally speaking his visits to the Rengoku residence are to visit Senjuro more often than Kyojuro- less because he's avoiding him and more due to the simple fact that Kyojuro's more likely to be out and about doing things than at home. During the day it was also more likely to run into Akaza, and... While he's never really had a super negative interaction with him, it still puts him on edge. This time he's made the decision to not only visit, but to wait there until Kyojuro came back or found him waiting there. He looks up when he does arrive, seeming unbothered regardless how long he's been waiting there ]

Rengoku. I have something to ask you.

[tempurahair]

[Thankfully, Kyojuro has been keeping relatively close to the dojo over the last few days. There is something to be said about being home after a long-lasting journey. Thus, he only takes a quick job around the southern half of the perimeter today, and finds himself back within an hour.

As he steps into the walls of the dojo, a hand lifts in greeting.]

Good morning, Tokito! Are you waiting for Senjuro?

[He's seen you two hanging out. He knows what you're about!]

before Ebent

[chonomai]

( it's rare for shinobu to come to the compound uninvited, for many obvious reasons- but here she is today, seeking out her love. when she finds him rather quickly, she considers announcing herself, but

why do that when she can be. annoying?

which is to say, she just pops up at his side, gently poking his side repeatedly. )

What are you doing, Kyojuro?

[tempurahair]

[Mid-practicing his forms as he is, and secured within the compound as they are, he does not expect guests.

Which is precisely why he jumps when those fingers prod against his side.

(And certainly not at all because he's ticklish).]

I - ah! Shinobu! It is good to see you! I was just getting my training in for the day!

vaguely around kyojuro's bday but not at the party

[bluebasketballed]

[akaza waits for a relatively quiet moment some time in early... may, he's pretty sure, since it was just april. when he can sense kyojuro inside his own quarters, he approaches the door and stands outside it, hesitating just a bit. truth be told, he's pretty nervous, in a fluttery, human way that he hasn't quite gotten used to again.]

Kyojuro...? Do you have a few minutes?

[tempurahair]

[Kyojuro has just returned from the baths, hair wetted down and body clad in merely sweatpants. He's relaxing on the engawa when he perks up at Akaza's voice.]

For you, I have many minutes! Come in!

[He pats the space beside him.]

The morning of his birthday. Like, at the crack of dawn.

[purifyingwind]

[ When Kyojuro awakens on the day of his birthday, a quick-winged Kasugai Crow will swoop down with a small, wrapped bundle in his claws. There will be no note attached, and little signifier of the mysterious gift giver's identity.

Inside will be a handsewn heko-obi in brilliant, vibrant red. The stitchwork is intentional, if notably clumsy. Halfway through, the angle of the stitching will have changed direction, almost as if the maker had switched hands. ]

5/11

[souninind]

[Relatively late in the evening on the day after Kyojuro's birthday, a certain flashy crow will wing in, deposit a box, and... actually won't leave, because he wants to make sure the gift is recieved and that the Flashy-But-Not-Flamboyant Kyojuro actually figures out what the gift is.

Inside the box will be tied and woven ribbons, attached to what look to be bent wire rings or bracelets, but they're too large for the former and too small for the latter. What they are for - and what Nijimaru will helpfully demonstrate by picking one up in his beak and hopping up onto Kyojuro's head to put it on him for him - is to decorate his new horns.

Though after showing the man how to accessorize, the crow will fly out quickly!]

[tempurahair]

[Well, great news. After getting a little tangled here and there — and being sorted out by Nijimaru, of course — Kyojuro manages to properly adorn himself. They will not be coming off any time soon. Kyojuro will be wearing these things proudly, thank you!

Especially when he gives Tengen a thank you kiss, the next time they meet!]