Written by -CHEWIE-

⌒➴。NOTES:

• Requested by @Lovely_Neo
• Rengoku Kyoujurou X Reader
• Female reader
• Angst
• Manga spoilers
• 3rd POV

—Note(s): Since the requester didn't specify anything specific, the prompt was Kamado Tanjirou telling Rengoku's wife that her husband is dead.

BURDEN
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Nights were usually lonely, but you didn't mind. Senjuro visited you regularly and Kyojuro made sure to come home to you at least twice a week, no matter how short it was the company was always nice. Lonely weeks were long, but no matter how unmoving the moon seemed to be in the night sky the night always had to come to an end one way or another.

Tanjiro was unusually sullen, it was understandable after getting pushed to the ground by the head of the Rengoku family and having to tell them about the loss of their eldest son. His stomach ached, but not from the wound that his previous battle had left him. The burgundy boy looked around the houses that were laid out in front of him, the closer Tanjiro approached your estate the more Kyojuro Rengoku's words reverberated through his ears.

"My wife, please tell her I love her. Tell her to love after me, no matter how reluctant she may be at first."

Tears began to well up in his crimson eyes.

"My only regret is not spending enough time with her, tell her I'm sorry for being such an irresponsible husband."

The kanji of Rengoku's family name engraved on the front of your estate mocked Tanjiro and his wet cheeks. After a minute and half of gaining his composure, he huffed and stepped inside. Calloused knuckles tapping the corner of the shoji door.

"My name is Tanjiro Kamado of the demon slayer corps, I am to relay Rengoku-san's last wishes to you! Please pardon the interruption so late at night."

His throat felt tight as the sweet smell of you seemed to almost choke him, grief and salt radiated off of you. He could tell that before you even opened the door.

"It's no issue, please come in."

Dark circles were under your eyes, the muscles in your cheeks sore as you tried your best to smile for the boy.

"I'm assuming you went to the original Rengoku Estate first, due to how late it was," you had mentioned as Tanjiro slipped off his zori.

He bobbed his head, "Yes ma'am, it was surprising how harsh the father is. Is that why you live in a separate estate?"

"My name is (Y/N), no need for a ma'am. Please make yourself at home, I'll brew some tea." You rushed down the halls, ignoring his question.

Tanjiro looked at the poorly lit place and glanced down the dark hallways. Everything had a nice atmosphere of it, but the smell of grief seemed to weigh him down. The burgundy boy didn't want to stay, but at the same time he did. The thing he probably needed the most was a decent bed to spread out on, but he also wanted to give you time by yourself to mourn. With a heavy sigh he sat himself at the low table you poured hot tea into tall bamboo cups.

"I will relay the message..."

"He loves you, very much. He told you to love after him no matter how unwilling you may be at first," he started.

The lump in your throat prevented air from entering your lungs, biting the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from breaking down again.

"He called himself an irresponsible husband, but-" Tanjiro stopped mid sentence when he looked up and saw the small bullets of sweat run down your forehead.

Before he knew it, he was choking on his own sobs. Palming at the handguard Senjuro gave him earlier that day buried in his pocket. He wanted to apologize, he felt responsible for your pain. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't bring himself to speak to you, it was too hard. He didn't know what to say, to ease the ongoing burden on your shoulders.

Breathlessly, you spoke, "Thank you, I'll... try to mourn him the way he'd want me to. He wouldn't want me to cry, he'd worry."

"It's okay to cry, it makes you human."

Those words broke you, quietly as possible you wailed. Your cheeks stained with tears, desperately trying to apologize to your guest. His own eyes glossy, trying not to cry for the upteenth time about your husband. Tanjiro couldn't do anything but sit there, he felt helpless but he came to do one thing.

Voice cracking, he continued, "He regrets not spending much time with you, he wants you to be happy I'm sure of it."

An orchestra of emotions flooded inside your chest, your body shaking. Everything was loud inside your head, all of the memories of Kyojuro to when you first met him and when you kissed him goodbye for that mission. You should've convinced him to stay, you should've fed the bad feeling in your gut at the moment.

With a heavy heart, and a stone in his stomach Tanjiro took his leave. He could only endure your image and smell for so long. His knees buckled after taking 20 steps out the door and crying all over again.

You were used to long nights, nothing but staring at the moon until it disappeared over the tall trees and the roofs of houses. No matter how unmoving the night seemed to be, everything had an end and the nights' end would come soon enough.

The longest night took your voice, and your husband. Allowing you to do nothing but bathe in your own grief.

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Written by -CHEWIE-

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夢の店
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