Sorry for the wait, but I've got good news! I got accepted into the course at my job! Hurray! It starts in April and lasts 6 months. My boss literally told me: "enjoy your last month to socialize" ._. Anyways, please enjoy!

Chapter 7

There was a five-second silence in where all three flame heads looked at her in shock. Especially Senjuro since he had his mouth wide open. No one had talked to his father like that. Ever.

"What did you say'" a vein got visible on Shinjuro's temple. He dared Kumo to repeat it, waiting for the teen to change her words. But of course, she wasn't going to back down.

"I said, you sound like a real jerk for someone who is just scared. I'll say it as many times as you need me to" she said matter-of-factly.

"You think you know me?!...h-how dare you talk to me this way!" he took a threathing step towards her. Kyojuro intended to stop him but Kumo placed her hand on his shoulder and met Shinjuro half-way.

"I dare because you just mistreated my friends. I don't care who you are, I won't stand it" she had to look up to made direct eye contact with him. Angry blue meeting furious red-orange. "I also dare because you said I'm gonna die, twice! How dare you, old man!"

Senjuro gasped as he saw his father raised the tokkuri and crashed it on Kumo. She quickly raised her arm. Shattered pieces went flying all over the place. Some getting incrustated on her skin but she ignored the pain. She had to stand her ground.

"Because you are going to die, stupid girl! You're both weak! Don't you see it's pointless?!"

"Defending people isn't pointless! I'll just become stronger and I'll show you! I won't die that easily" electricity crackled around her mouth as she breathed "I'll become the Thunder Hashira and protect lots of people! Even assholes like you!"

"Ha! Don't make me laugh! I don't need-"

"And even if I die!" Kumo interrupted him. "those who risk their lives to protect people are amazing! Strength or talent has nothing to do with it! For me, there'd be no greater honor! » Kyojuro's eyes widened at this, looking at Kumo in a whole new light.

Shinjuro wanted to hit her again, but the fire in her eyes...reminded him of-

No. Must be the hangover.

"Bah! Fine with me! If you want to die so heroically, by all means, go!" He turned around to leave. He was too drunk for this "Just don't show your face in my house again" He threatened her as he left the kitchen.

"Pfft, as if. I'll come back everytime I can just to show him how alive I am, right boys?" she turned to the Rengoku brothers, who were still in place, stunned. Senjuro had unshed tears in his eyes while Kyojuro looked at her in wonder.

"K-Kumo-san, your arm!" the little brother cried while pointed to her bloody arm. Yeah, it wasn't a pretty sight. Her yukata's sleeve was drenched in blood that had started dripping on the floor.

"Ah, damn" she muttered "Sorry for the mess, I'll help clean up!" Blood was hard to clean on any surface and well, there were shattered tokkuri's pieces everywhere, which made walking dangerous, especially without shoes. "Do you guys have brooms? I can-"

"No, stay here" Kyojuro said firmly while jumping outside the kitchen with Senjuro in his arms. "You've done enough. Senjuro, please bring the first aid kit. I'll bring the broom"

"Hai" the boy said as he hurried away. Kyojuro left as well leaving Kumo alone with her thoughts.

…she had fucked up, hadn't she? She could apologize but she didn't regret it. Even if it meant Kyojuro not wanting to be friends with her anymore (which hurt), she strongly believed that someone had to tell their father just how wrong he was.

The older brother came back first and started sweeping in silence, which made Kumo nervous. She really didn't want to lose his friendship. She was mentally preparing herself for heartbreak.

"Hey..are you- " Kumo started quietly.

"Here's the first aid kit!" Senjuro came back panting, he had rushed.

"Just in time!" Kyojuro had just finished getting rid of the last pieces of broken tokkuri "Come Kumo-san. Sit down, I'll fix your arm" Kumo kneeled down at the table and Kyojuro gently rolled up her sleeve.

"I'll take out the incrusted pieces first. Sorry if it hurts" he said while grabbing a pair of tweezers.

"That's OK" she turned to Senjuro who looked worried with watery eyes "Don't worry, Senjuro. It's not as bad as it looks!" she reassured him.

"B-but Kumo-san..."

« What you did was dangerous » Kyojuro finished the sentence while using the tweezers, not meeting her eyes. "Father is not a person that can be reasoned with and...he hurt you for it. For that, I apologize."

"No, no, don't give me that" she shaked her head hearing the sadness in his voice "Don't apologize for him. You're your own person. He'll have to take responsibility for his own actions. And that means, seeing me as many times as I can just to annoy him! He owes me that much!" Senjuro let out a small laugh at that.

"Also, he kept saying all those mean things just to make you give up but pay no mind! Senjuro and I will double, no, triple support you into becoming the Flame Hashira, right Senjuro?"

"Y-yes, of course! We believe in you aniki!" the kid with as much passion as possible.

"And you won't be alone. You'll make lots of friends and save lots of people who will support you as well!"

Kyojuro just stared at her, trying to understand. This girl had stood up to his father for both of them, got hurt and now she was trying to make him feel better? Shouldn't it be the other way? His face softened as he looked at her, giving her a soft smile that made her blush slightly.

"You're...weird Kumo-san" Kyojuro lightly laugh as he wrapped her arm in some bandages. He didn't know whether she was extremely brave or silly but he didn't care since he had just witnessed how kind she was. "Thank you very much! Let's become strong together!"

"Hai!" she hoped he meant weird in a good way "We should have a toast to that! Oh yeah the tea!"

Senjuro jumped and went inmediately to the cooker, where the pot had been boiling for over 10 minutes. "There's still some water left!" He poured the hot water on three cups and added some herbs.

"Alright, to us not dying, getting stronger and becoming future Hashira!" Kumo said excitedly lifting her cup « Kanpai! »

"Kanpai!" both bothers said back.

"Wah! Senjuro, you make really nice tea!" she praised the kid as she went for another sip "It's my first time drinking tea that isn't bitter!" She always left the herbs far too long.

"I-It's nothing" the child's cheeks went pink and gave Kumo a small smile. Having people (apart from his brother) compliment him made him really happy. It made him feel useful.

"Haha! I know right! He makes the best tea and snacks! Always fixing up something for me whenever I'm training!"

"Mou, now I'm jealous. I wish I had a cute brother like Senjuro » it did feel lonely growing up alone after all « Kyojuro-san, I'll take Senjuro for a week and then bring him back, what do you say?"

"Ah, I'm afraid I can't. I'm very protective of him as you can see » the elder brother put his arm around Senjuro's shoulders, whose face resembled a tomato at that point. "but I agree, he's very cute indeed!"

"I-I'll go and...c-clean my room!" the blushing kid quickly stood up, very embarrassed but pleased deep inside "Thank you again, Kumo-san!" he bowed before running away.

"Heh, cute and reliable. You must be very proud of him"

"Of course! It's an honor to have him as my brother" Kyojuro said while looking at the door with gentle eyes "I just hope he finds his own path" Kumo smiled at that.

"I'm sure that with you guiding and supporting him, he'll achieve anything!" she lifted her cup to him "So far, he could have his own tea shop!"

"Haha! You're right!" he said with a soft pink cheeks. "So! In a week, we'll be sent to our first mission. Are you excited?"

"Yes but also nervous. First missions are usually solo but I believe I'll manage. What about you?"

"Same! It's the first step towards becoming stronger. And the stronger I become, the more people I can protect!" Kyojuro said with a determined voice. Kumo could only smile at his noble words. After a few seconds, she spoke.

"Hey, I know you probably already know this but...don't take your father's words to heart" she didn't know if what she was saying was necessary but she felt that her friend needed to hear it "He really sounded scared, deep under all that anger And drunkness. He cares about you and..is scared for you"

Kyojuro met her gentle eyes before turning his gaze down to the table. His hair fell over his shoulders, making a stricking contrast against his white haori.

« What you heard today, I've heard several times the past years: people you care about end up killed by demons»

Father of the year.

« But! My passion won't disappear that easily! » he turned back to Kumo with fire in his eyes « I'll set my heart ablaze and fulfill my duty! »

The girl couldn't help getting inspired herself. Kyojuro had probably been told countless times to give up, that he wasn't good enough by his own father. Nevertheless, there he was, full of passion and determination.

"You're...something else Kyojuro-san" if she were him, she would've given up already. Having someone you love and is supposed to love you be mean to you for so long, would've probably broken her spirit eventually. But apparently, not his. "I think you're amazing!"

"You think so? Thanks!" Kyojuro smiled brightly "I think you're amazing too!"

"Thanks! We'll be amazing demon slayers then! And we'll do amazing on our first mission too!"

"Haha! Yes!" the boy agreed his excitement dying down after a few seconds " ..and, we'll laugh again like this, many other times after, right?"

"Of course!" she extended her left hand halfway towards him "Let's kill lots of demons together!"

"Hai!" he took her hand as a sign of promise. Both teens felt glad that they had found a friend in their not-so-conventional job so early on. They were grateful for it. Kumo noticed how rough both of their hands were thanks to training intensely.

A comfortable silence fell over them after that. It was very peaceful compared to an hour ago. The orange rays of the sunset made it even more serene...

Wait, sunset?!

"Damn! My parents!" Kumo shoot up, knocking her knee on the table. Fuck "I should've met them hours ago! Gomen, Kyojuro-san. I'll see you around!" she quickly bowed and started running towards the door but was stopped by a hand that grabbed her good forearm.

"Wait, Kumo-san! I'll go with you!" Kyojuro said as he stood up.

"No, it's OK. My mom is probably going to murder me as it is and this wound isn't going to help " Telling the truth wasn't really an option, Kyojuro coming with her would only complicate things. "I appreciate your offer though!"

"Hm but your wound was- » He frowned in concern. She noticed he sounded guilty underneath his worry so she decided to interrupt.

« My fault! for...helping an old lady who had her grocery bags stolen by… a very, very strong looking gang of eight bald men with...beer bottes as weapons" she struggled to formulate the story but continued nonetheless "So, of course, I fought to defend that poor lady's food. It was tough, they surrounded me but my fast relexes helped for the most part. However, just as I was about to defeat the last thug CRASHH!, a ninth man, their leader, appeared out of nowhere and slammed the bottle down on me! How did I know he was the leader? Well, he was the baldest of them all! It hurt but I didn't back down! After a few punches, he went down and I got my victory. The end! »

Kumo finished with a bow after having acted most of her story. She knew it was silly and had probably made a fool of herself but she believed laughter was the best way to ease tension. And avoid certain topics.

She kept bowing for 10 full seconds before hearing someone laughing loudly. She looked up and saw Kyojuro doubling in laughter. It was quite contagious so she laughed as well. It took them about three minutes to calm down.

« You're...not seriously going to tell that story to your parents, right? »

« As tempted as I am, I won't. I'll figure something out though so don't worry » she reassured him. « Now, I really have to go. Good luck on your first mission! »

« Good luck to you too! Happy hunting!" he said back brightly as he saw the girl rushing out. He felt the built up tension of today's event leaving his body. He would usually train until he couldn't move in order to de-stress and even then, it wouldn't completely work. It was a nice change for once.

"Aniki, Kumo-san left?" Senjuro asked, half-hiding behind the door frame.

"Yeah, her parents are waiting for her. She told me this incredibly funny story before leaving though, would you like to hear it?"

"Hai!" the boy said in excitement coming in the room « Do you think she'll visit again soon?" Kyojuro could sense his brother had taken a liking to his silly friend, and to be honest, so had he.

"I'm sure of it! Anyway, she make up this crazy story about... "

And with that, both brothers spent the rest of their evening laughing.