"That is not how you start a fire!"
If anyone ever said that his widower of a father could find love again, Kyojuro was sure he wouldn't have believed it until he actually saw it for himself.
It wasn't that he didn't want his father to ever find love after losing his mother. In fact he was happy he managed to find someone he could care about again and it seemed to help him reduced the amount of sake he drank. His father has suffered so much in his life, some hardships he knew others were a mystery to the oldest son. Either way all he wanted was for his father to be happy and safe.
However the last thing he ever expected was for the person who had attracted his father's attentions to be his best friend Uzui Tengen.
The scarred, retired Hashira sits quietly in his home with his younger brother, watching the snow blanket the world beyond the porch. It looked very tranquil out there.
The complete opposite of how he felt about what was going on.
He had missed so much while recovering from his injuries and he had so many questions about how any of it happened. How did Tengen grab his father's attention? How did they end up getting so close to begin with? Did them being together also mean his father would marry Uzui's wives as well? What did all of this mean?!
"Aniue?"
He blinked and turned to look at Senjuro with his good eye and smiled, "Yes Senjuro?"
His little brother shifted a bit where he sat before he sighed, "..Are you...upset about father and Uzui-sama?"
Kyojuro blinked at the question before he tilted his head back with a sigh. He can't say he was angry so to speak. In all honesty he doesn't know how to feel other than shocked. Especially by Shinjuro actually going through with it.
"..It's complicated Senjuro. But...as long as Father and Tengen are happy I'm not going to say anything on the matter," he huffed softly and crossed his arms.
Even with one eye missing, and a terrible scar from his battle against Upper Moon Three, he still somehow maintained his smile and warm nature. Senjuro smiled sheepishly before he leaned his head on his shoulder with a sigh.
"I'm glad you're here, Aniue."
Kyojuro's eyes soften as he reached up and gently ruffles his little brother's hair with a soft chuckle, "Now then. The new year will be here soon. What do you hope to happen next year?"
Senjuro blinked then he hummed in thought, "Hmmm...I'm actually not sure yet. I think when it gets closer I might know but for now..."
"Hey hey~"
Both turn back at the greeting to see Tengen there. He smiled at the two of them with his headband covering his scarred eye and his arm stump hidden under his sleeve as he walked to the two brothers and sits beside them. Kyojuro tilted his head at him and hummed softly. In all honesty he couldn't quite look his friend in the eye without risking opening his mouth to spout out all his questions.
Senjuro is the one who smiles at him, "Hello Uzui-sama."
"Now now, no need for formalities Senjuro," Tengen patted his back with his good hand from Senjuro's left, "How are you two holding up hmm?"
"Oh fine," Kyojuro tilted his head back to look at the moonlit sky, "I feel phantom pains from time to time but other than that nothing too serious. Did father send you out?"
"Well yes. He asked if we could light a fire to cook some nabemono tonight," he hummed, "He's getting the ingredients."
Now Kyojuro turns to looks at him, blinking in stunned silence. Nabemono? He can't remember having a good home made Nabemono since...since he was a child. He took in a deep slow breath before standing up slowly.
"Well there should be a good cord of wood since Senjuro helped me chop this morning! You get the flint and we'll bring the wood in."
"Oh i have something better than that," Tengen smirked softly as he stands back up, "Meet me inside and we can get started! Shinjuro should be back soon."
Kyojuro watched him walk back inside and then shared a look with Senjuro. What did Tengen even mean by that? What would work better than the flint and rock to help the fire start?
Senjuro sighed as he stepped down from their porch and took in a deep slow breath. He himself was unsure of what to make of everything. He wanted to be happy for his father but he also worried about Kyojuro. Then there was Tengen himself who seemed to act like nothing was weird and although Shinjuro wasn't the most affectionate man he certainly seemed a bit softer now.
He didn't throw the sake bottles at him. There wasn't as much shouting. There wasn't as much rage and sorrow as before. It was like watching someone slowly putting a mirror back together despite the cracks still in it.
All he can hope is that no more cracks with show.
...
Shinjuro had barely stepped into the house while holding a satchel of food in his hand when he heard very loud shouting.
Then when he started towards it, he saw smoke coming from ahead, his eyes growing wide when he can see it was coming from the kitchen. His eyes watered from all the smoke and there was a soft crackling sound like something burning.
"That is not how you light a fire!"
Oh that sounded like Kyojuro. What was he doing up? He is supposed to be resting as his doctor ordered!
"Hrrrk...!" then came Senjuro gagging that was then followed by horrible coughing.
"Well I am not used to cooking indoors Kyojuro! My wives and I usually cook big meals outside! Besides it is a very flamboyant way of lighting the firewood!"
"Tengen I swear to the gods and buddha if I was not still recovering...!"
"I was just trying to get it ready for when Shinjuro came home so we could cook right away-"
"WHAT IS GOING ON?!"
As the smoke cleared, what greeted Shinjuro was Kyojuro, Senjuro and Tengen covered in soot and ash. Senjuro's hair was sparking a bit as he coughed rather harshly. Kyojuro looked quiet angry actually without the smile on his face as he was glaring at Tengen before turning to sheepishly look at his father.
Tengen..Tengen just looked annoyed.
"..What the hell happened to the kitchen?!"
Senjuro twiddled his fingers before he puts out the flame in his hair by covering it with a loud squeak.
Kyojuro pointed at Tengen, "He lit a firecracker under the stove with the wood."
"It was to make it light up in style dammit!"
"Curse you and your style! You could have gotten us both seriously hurt!"
Senjuro sighed and then he moved between the two, "He didn't know Aniue, please I'll be okay once we all have a bath and clear out the smoke! Please..."
Tengen huffed softly before he pushed his white hair back and grumbled something to himself. Honestly he wouldn't have done it if he thought it would be that dangerous. It was an accident! He would never intentionally hurt his lover's sons!
Kyojuro opened his mouth to snap something...when he heard something like a snort. He blinked and then looked at his father. Shinjuro was covering his mouth and looking away while looking to be struggling to contain something.
"Chichiue...?" Senjuro tilted his head, now curious. He has never seen him like this before...or well wasn't old enough to see him like this before.
Shinjuro bowed his head and finally let out a laugh at the sight before him. It honestly was funny to him as he covered his eyes. Kyojuro's own eyes widened at the sight of his father in such a way. He blinked at him a moment...then he feels it in his throat. It slips from there and comes out a small snicker before it is followed by more laughter. He covered his mouth. The sight of his father just laughing...it made him feel happy seeing it.
Tengen started laughing himself.
"A firecracker...! You lit a damned firecracker?! Are you mad?! I have a madman as my lover...!" Shinjuro laughed harder.
"That I am...but...I'm your madman," Tengen moved to wrap his arms around him gently.
Senjuro was smiling now and he held his older brother's sleeve as it feels like a weight has been lifted from them. Seeing their father reduced to this state was a strange but not unwelcomed occurrence. Even though the kitchen was a mess it could still be salvaged and they could always save the ingredients for when it was better.
A kiss is pressed to Shinjuro's temple by Tengen as he started to calm down a bit and for a moment shared a look with Kyojuro.
Kyojuro was really smiling since he came home. Maybe...this wouldn't be so bad.