Chapter Text
⠀⠀⠀ Unsure of why he was summoned here, Rengoku Kyojuro stands alone amidst the pebbles, stones, and trees of the Ubuyashiki estate. Normally, when summoned here, he would stand amidst the hashira he called his coworkers and companions, each pillar representing their respective breathing techniques, each as powerful as another.
⠀⠀⠀ But, at this moment, he’s alone. His zori against the pebbles, a few meters away from the soft, plush grass, he can glance aside and see Obanai’s favourite tree he liked to speak so sharply from. It was calm. Peaceful even. Summoned here by the master, he was sure it wasn’t just to stand here, arms crossed over his broad chest, however, nobody else had arrived and the master was nowhere in sight.
⠀⠀⠀It had been ten minutes since he’d arrived when he heard footfalls to his left, glancing over to watch a young woman, somewhere around his age, perhaps younger, enter the courtyard, walk over to where he stood, and raise the front of her kimono, sitting on her legs barely a stone’s throw away from his feet, facing the engawa where the master would normally sit when speaking to his pillars.
⠀⠀⠀He studied her from where he was looking, trying to not make it obvious he was staring. She was.. a woman. Her hair was intricately done up, pinned with gold pins like an oiran, her clothing was flashy, seemingly expensive. If he hadn’t known better, he would’ve actually thought her to be an oiran. To his discredit, he’d never seen an oiran up close, but, this woman fit his mental idea of one.
⠀⠀⠀Unsure if he should speak to her, he kept quiet, facing forward with his arms crossed over his chest, towards the engawa as he waited for the master to arrive.
⠀⠀⠀Another ten minutes or so passed before two of the master’s daughters exited the manor, sitting on their legs beside the sliding doors, announcing his arrival in synchronized fashion, “The Master has arrived.”
⠀⠀⠀Rengoku raised his head to watch the arrival of the master, dropping to a bow before him as he exited— his hair well groomed, falling above his shoulders, his black kimono with a white lining under a white haori decorated with pink and purple flames. Just as Rengoku had remembered from the last pillar meeting.
⠀⠀⠀The daughters shut the door, announcing, “The Master has arrived.” once again before shutting the doors behind him. They rise, one takes his hand to lead him forward, the other lets his opposite hand rest on her shoulder to steady him. Together, the three move towards the edge of the engawa until they breach the sunlight.
⠀⠀⠀The master takes a moment to breathe before he speaks, “Good afternoon, my children. Thank you for joining me today.” He turns his head, almost as if looking with his blind eyes towards Rengoku, nodding to him, “Kyojuro, thank you for coming so urgently, my child. Though, I assure you, this matter was not life threatening.”
⠀⠀⠀Rengoku raises his head slightly to speak, “You asked for my presence and it’s within my duty to be here at your request. It pleases me to see you in good health, Oyakata-sama, I pray for your continued wellbeing, may it burn bright as a flame,” He tries to maintain a quieter voice so as not to disrupt the peace, but the woman beside him flinches slightly at his words, “It is my pleasure to join you here today.”
⠀⠀⠀Nodding his head softly, “Thank you, Kyojuro,” The master turns to look to the woman, calling out a name to her, his voice soothing as he speaks, “I’d like to introduce you to Rengoku Kyojuro, the demon slayer Hashira, the flame pillar. He is a strong willed child of mine, one I would trust with my life.”
⠀⠀⠀Rengoku’s chest swells with pride at the remark, proud to know that the master trusts him with his life as well as this matter he deemed important enough to speak in person.
⠀⠀⠀The woman, on the other hand, finally turns to look up at him, her eyes raking his form as she nods, eyes falling back to the ground, “I see. Thank you for this opportunity, sir.”
⠀⠀⠀“Of course, my child.” He gives a soft smile, taking a moment to listen to the silence of the world. The birds chirp, the sun falls warm over the skin of the three of them. The master lowers his head to speak, “Now, onto why I have summoned the two of you before me. One of you already is aware.”
⠀⠀⠀Rengoku turns to glance at the woman beside him, her gaze is low on the ground, she does not look at neither him nor the master, opting to stare at the ground with a certain interest.
⠀⠀⠀“Kyojuro, this woman was being sold off for marriage within the entertainment district. Knowing her previous history— of which, I will respect her privacy— my estate opted to purchase her hand in marriage from the man selling her. It is with my highest esteem I entrust her hand to you and ask you to marry her on both my behalf and of your own will.”
⠀⠀⠀Oh. Hm.
⠀⠀⠀The master continues speaking, “I considered this for quite some time, coming to conclusions such as Tengen having enough wives to his content as it is, Sanemi being too hot headed to take a wife, and Obanai being.. previously occupied in his affections. I trust you to treat this woman with respect and dignity, hoping that the two of you will find a mutual respect, if not a relationship you may develop.”
⠀⠀⠀Rengoku spares a glance to the woman beside him. Her legs are folded under her, hidden within her kimono, her hands in her lap, one hand rests on top of the other, her thumb brushing idly over her knuckle. She’s nervous about his response.
⠀⠀⠀How to phrase this..
⠀⠀⠀“With all due respect, Oyakata-sama—!” He raises his head, voice booming and excitable as usual, “I cannot accept this! I am not looking to take a wife and am previously occupied with my duties as a Hashira! I must reject this proposal of marriage with my being!”
⠀⠀⠀The woman beside Rengoku turns her head away from him, her hands gripping at the fabric of her kimono, yet, she is still silent.
⠀⠀⠀The master gives a soft sigh, “I anticipated such. I appreciate your devotion to your duty, my child, however this woman is aware of the horrors of demon slayers. She has nowhere to stay as of right now and I had hoped you would accept my offer as a friend.” His voice is still steady, but he briefly pauses, “I hope you do not find my wish to be cruel, but I ask this of you: As the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps— and as the one you serve under—I would like you to be betrothed to this woman for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks you two may make a decision and, if you come to a mutual agreement, you may either be married or you may part ways and I will not suggest such an idea again— I ask this of you as both my child and my devoted Hashira.”
⠀⠀⠀Hesitation takes the words from Rengoku’s mouth. However, he is aware he must make a decision. The master asks this of him as a member of the Hashira. Two weeks. That’s all.
⠀⠀⠀“Very well, Oyakata-sama. I accept your arrangement.” Rengoku bows his head, catching out of the corner of his eye as the woman’s fist loosens from the fabric of her kimono, “I will return alongside her in two weeks with an answer for you.” He straightens himself, crossing his arms over his chest.
⠀⠀⠀A smile graces the master’s features and he gives a soft sigh, “Wonderful. I am thankful for your consideration, Kyojuro, my child. I will make the proper preparations for her to live in your estate with you in the meantime,” he turns his attention to the woman, calling her name, to which, she looks up to meet his call, “You may not believe yourself worthy of it, but you also maintain a say in this marriage. You may insist on being married to whoever I choose, but I believe you may choose whether to take Kyojuro’s hand as well. I also ask that you give yourself two weeks to consider it— to really choose if Kyojuro is the man you’d like to marry or if you’d like to love another. Your decision is of no consequence or inconvenience, please understand.”
⠀⠀⠀The woman gives a nod, clearing her throat softly before she speaks, “Thank you, sir.” her voice is far softer than Rengoku’s, and immediately her gaze turns back to the ground in front of her, “I understand and will make a decision of sound judgement.”
⠀⠀⠀“Then, with that matter settled, I dismiss the two of you from this meeting and I wish you all the best in your marriage.”
⠀⠀⠀The master spoke as if they’d already agreed to it. But, nevertheless, they continued to remained bowed until the master exited the courtyard.
⠀⠀⠀Rengoku is the first to rise, turning and offering a hand to the woman, one that she takes as she rises steadily from the floor. She avoids eye contact with him. Her gaze is downcast towards their feet, her hand still resting in his before she remembers it’s there and she drops it from his grasp.
⠀⠀⠀She’s timid as she speaks, looking anywhere except his face, one hand folded over the other in front of her stomach, “I.. appreciate your acceptance of my hand.. despite your reluctance.”
⠀⠀⠀Oh. A repercussion to his initial denial. Rengoku looks aside, clearing his throat, crossing his arms tightly over his chest, “I hope you don’t take a personal offense to it. I… never entertained the idea of taking a wife.”
⠀⠀⠀“I never entertained the idea of taking a demon slayer to be my husband but it appears we’ve arrived at this impasse.” She remarks, surprising Rengoku with a sharp witted tongue before she realizes what she’s said, bringing a hand to her mouth quickly as if to cover it for it’s disobedience, whispering, “..sorry.”
⠀⠀⠀A beat of silence passes between the two, the woman drops her gaze from his, back towards the ground.
⠀⠀⠀Rengoku laughs. It’s a loud, hardy laugh that rings through his chest and the sudden laugh scares the woman, making her jump. He apologizes after, a hand reaching out to touch her arm, catching her gaze, “Don’t apologize. I deserve it.
⠀⠀⠀“Should we take a walk? If you are to live with me, you’ll need to know about my family beforehand.” He offers, his hand dropping from her arm, offered to her, palm up, an open request.
⠀⠀⠀She seems a bit taken aback, but, ultimately, she nods softly and puts her hand in his, “Oh, ah.. of course, if that’s what you’d like.. Mister Rengoku.”
⠀⠀⠀“Please, call me Kyojuro.”