If You Dont Accept Requests Then Feel Free To Ignore This, I Just Saw You Answering A Few So Decided

if you dont accept requests then feel free to ignore this, i just saw you answering a few so decided id ask

since you said you enjoy it, could you maybe write a piece for the rengoku-lives-au, and show a confrontation between shinjuro and him, where they start to heal and kyojuro gets to hear him apologise and see his father making changes? its what he deserved

again, if not thats ok! im just curious as to how you think something like that might go :)

I'm sorry this sat in my inbox for so long! It took a very long time to figure out and to write in a way that I was at least semi-satisfied with. I really wanted to try and actually write out the whole being wounded and gradually healing thing but no matter how hard I tried I just kept thinking of “Message Recieved” by shyfoxes and they did such an amazing job I can’t write my own spin of the healing process. 

So instead I’m going to start somewhere different. I hope that’s ok anon. I hope that you enjoy it, and if not I'm sorry 😭

I will be posting more, to show Shinjuro making changes like you asked but I wanted to post as soon as possible and again I'm sorry for the long wait!

*In this AU Kyojuro started with ninth form Rengoku and cuts Akaza open within the inferno, but instead of going back into an above head strike Kyojuro dodged behind Akaza and attacked from a low strike, cutting off Akaza’s arms. Akaza regenerates but punches Kyojuro through the kidney instead of the solar plexus.

When he woke up, all he saw was white. His eye was barely open. Kyojuro thought he could hear movement, but it sounded so far away he couldn’t be sure. Where was he? He wanted to know, but he was so tired…There was a rumble that sounded like voices, but he couldn’t make out the words or who it was. Trying to focus on the sound made his mind feel heavy. He saw the outline of a large purple butterfly’s wings slide into his sight that made him think of Kocho’s face and then he fell asleep. 

He fell in and out of sleep frequently, sometimes he knew he was asleep because he dreamed of his mother, but most of the time he couldn’t differentiate the two and it was too exhausting to try. Except when Senjuro and Kocho were there. He would feel Kocho’s cool hands as she worked efficiently on his injuries, her voice ever that upbeat and playful tone but soft. Kanzaki would be there also, responding promptly to Kocho’s direction.

He would feel the warmth of Senjuro holding his hand, the familiar pressure of him pressed against his side and his head resting on his chest. He knew when he could feel Senjuro there he was awake and he tried to focus on Senjuro’s words--tried to stay awake longer. He caught snippets of what Senjuro told him: the newest subject he was learning in school, recipes he had learned, about the Kamado boy--he was still healing but doing better. There was someone else in the room when Senjuro was, or at least he thought there was. They barely moved and never spoke so Kyojuro may have just imagined it.

Perhaps it was due to his years as a Demon Slayer and a Hashira, but he found he woke up most often during the night. For a couple seconds he would feel awake before the exhaustion hit again, and it was the one time he seemed to have the energy to open his eye--just a small enough sliver to make out the ceiling, before dropping back into slumber. 

It was during one of these nights that he saw his father standing at his bedside and looking down at him in the darkness when he opened his eye. His parent wore his usual scowl but his eyes weren’t hostile, Kyojuro wasn’t sure how to read his expression. 

When was the last time he had even seen his father’s face? “I wish…you were with…me…Chichiue.” 

 “Go back to sleep, Kyojuro.” The apparition whispered and pulled the cover back up over Kyojuro’s chest as he faded back into sleep. 

 Shinjuro sighed and ran his hand down his mouth seeing Kyojuro’s eye close again. He looked down at Senjuro to see that Kyojuro talking hadn’t woken him, thankfully. He pulled Senjuro’s blanket up over his shoulder and walked to the chair beside the bed and sat down. Kyojuro’s words, and the words he had spoken to him before leaving on the Mugen Train echoed in his ears.

It felt like Kyojuro went in and out of sleep for years, but based on the passing pieces of conversation he would hear between Kocho and Kanzaki, his healing was going as intended. 

The other Hashira came to visit him, Kanroji would sit by his bedside, holding his hand between both of hers and tell him about her missions, she would wash and brush his hair for him, apparently having asked Kocho how to do it. Iguro was usually with her and would add to whatever Kanroji was currently telling him about, he occasionally felt Kabaramaru brush against his hand. 

Uzui would lightly touch his forehead as a greeting whenever he came before he sat at his bedside. Sometimes he didn’t say anything at all, and just sat in silence. Other times in the still quiet Tengen assured him he was trying to keep the Slayers in order, and shared with Kyojuro the things weighing on his conscience.

 Then one morning Kyojuro awoke, blinking his good eye he stared at the ceiling and wasn’t overwhelmed with bone-crushing fatigue. He moved his fingers experimentally before sitting up, he winced and put his hand over his side as a searing blaze of sharp pain exploded from it.

“Ara ara, trying to move already?” 

Kyojuro looked up to see Kocho smiling at him behind lidded eyes from the doorway. “Kocho.” The word felt like lead on his tongue. She walked over to him and firmly pushed his shoulders so he was lying back into the pillows. “I’m afraid you can’t get out of bed yet Rengoku, you still have a lot of healing to do. But it’s good to see you awake. Do you remember what happened to you?” 

His eyebrow furrowed and he tried to remember, he closed his eye, he saw yellow inscripted eyes and could hear laughing. “Upper Moon Three….he tried to attack young Kamado after the Mugen Train crashed.” His voice sounded hoarse. He tried to remember more and his head began to hurt.

“Don’t strain yourself Rengoku, that’s enough for right now. You’ve been out for a long time, everything will come back, but your brain is focusing on recovering your body at the moment.” Shinobu got some water and brought it over to him. “Tanjiro Kamado is fine, he’s fully recovered now.”

Kyojuro smiled softly, his eyebrow creasing upward, “Good, I’m glad he’s doing all right.”  

“Here, drink slowly.” Kocho held the bottom of the cup with one hand to help him steady it as he grabbed the cup and took some sips. “Your ribs and internal organs are still healing. We had to take out your kidney but as long as you follow proper medical instructions you should heal. I’m afraid there was nothing I could do about your eye.”

Kyojuro shook his head, as he allowed her to take the cup back, “That’s all right. I can manage without it. Are Senjuro and my father here now?”  

“Senjuro is still at school, but your father is here. I’ll go find him, you rest Rengoku. I’ll have Aoi bring you some food.” She set the cup on the nightstand and started to get up. She paused as Kyojuro squeezed her hand.

“Thank you Kocho.” He whispered. “Really, thank you.” Remembering the conversation they had had before he left.

She hummed, and put her hand over his, “But of course, I would never just let you die, Rengoku.” She closed her eyes with a smile before getting up. “Now rest, you still have a long way to go before you’re fully recovered. I’ll send your father in shortly.” 

Kyojuro gave his confirmatory hum in response and Kocho left the room.

Kyojuro grimaced and took in a tight breath at the searing hot pain through his torso, it had been quite a while since he’d had to deal with broken ribs. He exhaled slowly and focused on releasing the tension in his body. He opened his eye and heard the flap of wings and felt taloned claws rest on his leg, “Lord Kyojuro, you’re awake! C’aww, we were very worried!” Kaname tilted his head up at him, turning his head left and right, making soft clicks and coos. 

“Kaname,” Kyojuro smiled softly and rubbed his index finger under the black bird’s beak, “I’m sorry for worrying you my friend.” Kaname cawed and flapped onto his shoulder, picking at the red tips of his hair. Kyojuro stroked his smooth black head, “Could I trouble you to tell Senjuro I am awake? I would like to relieve his worries as soon as possible.”

“Yes! I will tell Lord Senjuro you are awake!” Kaname made light clicking noises and rubbed his head against Kyojuro’s hand before spreading his wings and launching off Kyojuro’s shoulder and through the door.

Kyojuro leaned back against the pillows, looking at the window where golden sunlight was pouring in. He remembered feeling that warm morning sunlight on his shoulders as he called Kamado over to him. 

“Mr. Rengoku is stronger than you’ll ever hope to be! Much stronger! You didn’t win against him! He kept everyone safe! He fought to the very end so no one would die! You’re the one who lost! Rengoku… is the true victor!” 

The young lad had said those kind words on his behalf, and cried for him. He would have to ask his father about the records for him--Kyojuro stopped in his thoughts sensing someone at the door, he faced it and saw Shinjuro standing in the frame. 

Kyojuro remembered Kocho saying his father was there, but seeing him there was different. And abruptly Kyojuro found that he didn’t know what to say. He went with the first words that came to him,  “I’m glad to see you Chichiue! It looks like we’ve had good weather while I’ve been asleep!” 

Shinjuro walked over to the bed, “Yeah…it’s been sunny for the past couple weeks.”

A silence fell over them and Kyojuro felt his heartbeat spike at the quiet, “You don’t have to worry about telling Senjuro I’m awake, I sent Kaname to tell him!” 

 “All right, I’ll be going and getting him from school in a little bit, and I’ll bring him over.”

Kyojuro hummed his confirmation hum again and the two eldest Rengokus sat in silence that would make skeletons uncomfortable, until Shinjuro excused himself to go get Senjuro. 

*“Aniue!” Senjuro cried, he dropped his bags on the floor and ran into Kyojuro’s open arms. He buried his face in Kyojuro’s shirt, “I’m so glad you’re awake Aniue.” Senjuro sobbed as the valve in him broke. Kyojuro smiled and softly pet Senjuro’s head. 

“Forgive me for scaring you Senjuro, and for making you so worried.” Kyojuro whispered. 

He felt Senjuro shake his head, “It’s okay Aniue, I’m just glad you’re alive.” He answered softly. 

Kyojuro hummed and leaned back, wiping Senjuro’s tears away with his thumbs, he gave him an encouraging smile, “Tell me about your school! I could hear a little while I was asleep, you started new readings in one of your classes! Do you like them?” He put his hands down and held Senjuro’s hands, giving them a little squeeze as Senjuro told him his thoughts on the new subjects and readings he was learning about in school. Senjuro tightened his grip on Kyojuro’s hands as he talked. Kyojuro glanced over at their father and gave him a small smile of acknowledgement before turning his focus back to Senjuro.

 Shinjuro sat quietly while the boys visited, answering Kyojuro when his eldest would suddenly turn focus to him but for the most part being quiet. But that was okay with Kyojuro for the moment, because his father was there. He was there, and he was sober.

And Kyojuro continued to tell himself that. Told himself that when Shinjuro would leave the room just before Uzui came to visit him, or any of the other Hashira. He would come back with Senjuro from school, and sit in the chair out of the way. His father was here, they were all here together, and they were okay. But in the back of his mind Kyojuro felt the word, -except…- creep in like a shadow, every time he thought he and his family were okay. It scared him, and he pushed it away, not wanting to think about the thoughts and feelings attached to that word. Thinking about those things didn’t help him in the now. He had been asleep for a long time, been absent from Senjuro’s side for--Kyojuro heard Senjuro shouting distantly.

“Aniue?! Aniue!” 

“Kyojuro!” He heard his father bark.

“Yes!” Kyojuro shouted, his father’s voice yanking him back to the present, he looked down at Senjuro who had his hands on his own. Kyojuro had started digging his nails into his left bicep where he rested his hands when he folded his arms. He saw his sleeve was wet and red with blood, Senjuro had apparently been trying to pry Kyojuro’s fingers from his arm. Shinjuro was over beside them now, also reaching to grab Kyojuro’s arm but stopped when Kyojuro shouted.  Kyojuro relaxed his fingers and pulled his hand back, “I’m all right! I zoned out for a moment, I apologize for not paying attention, Senjuro!” 

“Nevermind that Aniue, what were you thinking about?” Senjuro asked, with concern lacing his voice, reflecting in his gentle eyes.

“I was just remembering my battle with the Upper Moon Three, he was a very unpleasant demon.

I’m not sure why my mind wandered off!” Kyojuro gave Senjuro a reassuring smile, closing his eyes, refusing to look Shinjuro in the eye. His expression had slipped, and he didn’t want to see the look of frustration on his father’s face---and because he didn’t look at him he did not see the worry that was actually on his father’s features. 

“You need to sleep.” Shinjuro huffed. 

“Chichiue’s right, you need more rest Aniue.” Senjuro looked at Kyojuro’s arm worried, then looked back to his eyes, “I’m going to go get Miss Kanzaki so she can look at your arm.” Senjuro climbed off the bed, “I’ll be right back!” He ran out of the room. 

 Kyojuro went to fold his arms and then stopped and put his hands in his lap so as not to accidentally touch his bicep. The silence was starting to settle in again.

“What do you think of Kocho’s flower paintings Chichiue?”

“I hadn’t really looked at them.” Shinjuro admitted. 

“She’s gotten new ones since I was here last, that red one, and that blue one were not here!” Kyojuro pointed out the different paintings of yarrow and borage flowers and Shinjuro nodded, his eyes following where his son was directing. “The blue ones remind me of the painting in your mother’s room.” 

“You’re right! They do look similar!” Kyojuro agreed, smiling as he tried to figure out a way to keep the conversation going. Shinjuro was engaging with him and he did not want to lose it! So why was he feeling the sickly jab of irritation in his chest alongside his eagerness? He tried to push it aside, it was just leftover irritation towards Akaza…it was just misplaced….

Kyojuro noticed his nichirin blade on the nightstand beside him and gently picked it up, “I will have to thank Miura and give him a gift when I ask him to make me a new blade. It did a very impressive job during the battle.” Kyojuro traced the flame ridge with his thumb, thinking of all of the blows that had vibrated through it from Akaza’s strikes, and yet it never broke. Not until the very end. “I hope he isn’t displeased, I’ve never broken my nichirin sword before. Perhaps I will be done healing by the time he--” he looked up to engage with his father, who was still standing at his bedside, and saw the expression on his father’s face. It was shock; as if he’d just been slapped across the cheek.

 “Chichiue?” Kyojuro said softly.

 “You’re…still planning on staying a Demon Slayer?” 

When Kaname had come to tell Shinjuro and Senjuro the news of Kyojuro’s fight the former Hashira honestly hadn’t really been listening. In his drunken haze he remembered blaming Kyojuro, he was talentless, of course he wouldn’t be able to handle an Upper Moon Three, and shouldn’t have foolishly tried. He didn’t want to go but changed his mind when Senjuro said he’d go alone if his father didn’t want to join him. 

When he and Senjuro arrived Shinobu ushered them into Kyojuro’s room, Shinjuro heard her but it didn’t fully register until he saw his eldest son.

Right ribs: shattered.

Kyojuro’s entire torso was wrapped in bandages. But the horrible bruising crept all the way to his chest in a ugly dark purple and black splotch.

Kidney: Pierced.

 Shinobu had to take it out.

Left eye: Smashed.

Half of his face was practically hidden away underneath the bandages, his skin slightly paler. And Shinjuro for a brief second saw Ruka’s face hidden beneath the white funeral cover. Here was his eldest child, slipping between his hands just as his wife had done, while he’d been shut in his room drinking--pitying himself. The thought of seeing that happen again scared him, and with Shinobu’s direction he started lowering his alcohol intake. They still didn’t know if Kyojuro would live, and if he didn’t Shinjuro wanted to at least be aware and present when Kyojuro passed, the way he hadn’t been for his wife. He stayed in the corner out of the way, watched from a distance. It didn’t feel right to try to interact.

The first time Kyojuro opened his eye during the night Shinjuro hadn’t been sure he really had, so he decided to check one of the nights when he thought he saw Kyojuro’s eye open so he could inform Kocho-- when Kyojuro spoke to him and he realized Kyojuro could see him but thought he was dreaming. That simple child-like plea haunted him. 

Kyojuro would live, but he was already running back to the very thing that would put him in another situation where he could die and probably would. 

Kyojuro gripped his sword hilt, remembering his father telling him to not return if he was going to continue in the Corp, “I am. Upper Rank Three appeared because of young Kamado just as the Master predicted, after we had just dealt with a Lower Rank. Kibutsuji will most likely continue to become more aggressive.” 

Shinjuro frowned, “You’re body’s not even half-”

“I will be fine!” Kyojuro exclaimed, lifting his head but looking straight ahead, “Kocho said as long as I follow her instructions I should make a full recovery so there is no need to worry!I would like to let you know however, that I also cannot follow through with your request to leave the estate if I remain a Hashira, Chichiue.”

“....I had forgotten about that.”

“I haven’t.” Kyojuro said softly, his eyes falling to his broken nichirin blade, “I won’t abandon Senjuro and allow him to be subject to further loneliness by leaving. I don’t want to leave you either or separate our family by taking Senjuro from the house. You’ve both been home this whole time, but you ignore him, you won’t even hold a conversation with him Chichiue. Even though he tries so hard in spite of the weakness he feels he has…he has been there and taken care of both of us, of our home, he’s taken care of Hahaue’s grave. I know that you have dealt with a great deal Chichiue, but so has Senjuro, and I wish you would be kinder to him.” Kyojuro continued to look down at his blade, waited for the outburst he thought was coming, Shinjuro may have forgotten about telling him to leave, and he said he wouldn’t, but he was still afraid of hearing that rejection. 

 “I have been rough on him, on both of you. And neither of you deserved it. I’ve been wallowing so much in my own incompetence that I completely ignored both of you, or just ordered you to leave me alone, and took you both for granted. I haven’t been a good father to you boys. Tch, and it took you almost dying for me to realize how wrong I’ve been.” 

Kyojuro looked up in surprise at the apology, his eyes widened as he saw his father was bowing to him. His face went bright red and he hastily reached over and grabbed Shinjuro’s arm to pull him up, “Chichiue please! You don’t need--” he winced and inhaled sharply with a pain shot through his body from the movement, he bent over. 

“Kyojuro don’t move around like that!” Shinjuro grabbed his arm, catching him and moving him back to the pillows. 

“I accept your apology! You don’t need to bow, Chichiue!” Kyojuro said, still gripping Shinjuro’s arm. “Your apology is enough, and I appreciate it, please don’t bow, it’s not necessary!” 

“It is necessary, but thank you.” Shinjuro softly put his hand on Kyojuro’s wrist that was holding his arm. “Are you okay?” His eyebrows creased upward.

Kyojuro nodded rapidly, “I am fine!” He smiled, closing his eyes and letting go of Shinjuro’s arm. 

Shinjuro hummed, disbelieving him. “I’ll talk to Senjuro today after dinner.”

“Hm!” Kyojuro nodded with a big smile. “When did you stop drinking Chichiue? You do not smell like sake!” 

“Shortly after you arrived at the hospital, Rengoku.” Shinobu said coming into the room with Senjuro in tow, “Senjuro says you hurt your arm?”

“Yes! But it is not bad!” 

Shinobu chided him and he took off his shirt so she could clean his arm but Kyojuro’s thoughts were already on later that night, wondering and hoping that Shinjuro and Senjuro’s conversation would go well.