Icy Flames- Rengoku Kyojuro-Demon Slayer/ Kimetsu no Yaiba

79

As the warmth of the hot spring continued to envelop us, I let out a soft sigh, the tranquility of the moment making it all too easy to forget about the passage of time. The steam curled around us, blurring the edges of the world outside, but even in this serene setting, I knew we couldn't stay here forever.

"We should probably get out before we start pruning," I murmured, my voice low and steady, though the thought of leaving the soothing water was admittedly less than appealing. "And besides, we need to get a meal in and you need to get ready for your mission before the day slips away completely."

I began to shift slightly, preparing to rise from the water, but before I could fully make my move, Kyojuro's hand slid up to gently cup my chin, halting me in place. There was a playful glint in his eyes, one that sparked a flicker of curiosity in me as I met his gaze.

"Wait a moment," he whispered, his voice carrying that familiar warmth that never failed to soften the edges of my composure. Before I could respond, he leaned in closer, and I felt his breath against my skin, warm and teasing, just a heartbeat before he caught my lower lip between his teeth, giving it a gentle, teasing bite.

The sensation sent a sudden jolt through me, a spark of electricity that traveled from my lips down to the very tips of my toes. My breath hitched, and before I could stop it, a deep blush spread across my cheeks, the warmth of the water now nothing compared to the heat that flared up within me.

Kyojuro pulled back slightly, his eyes dancing with amusement as he watched my reaction, clearly pleased with the effect he had on me. "You always look so composed," he said, his voice a soft murmur that held an unmistakable hint of teasing. "But I really love seeing you flustered."

I tried to summon a retort, to say something—anything—that would allow me to regain my composure, but the words seemed to escape me. Instead, I found myself staring at him, my heart beating a little faster, the lingering tingle of his bite still making my lips feel warm and sensitive.

"That wasn't necessary," I finally managed, though my voice came out softer than intended, betraying the intensity of my reaction. I could feel the heat in my cheeks, my usual stoic expression faltering under the weight of my blush.

Kyojuro only chuckled, the sound rich and filled with genuine affection. "Perhaps not," he conceded, his thumb brushing lightly across my lips as if to soothe the spot he had just bitten. "But I couldn't resist. You're even more beautiful when you blush."

The compliment, delivered with such ease and sincerity, only made the heat in my cheeks deepen. I averted my gaze, attempting to refocus on the task at hand, though the memory of his lips on mine lingered stubbornly in the forefront of my mind.

"We should go," I said again, though this time my voice was less sure, the firmness of my earlier statement undermined by the way my body still responded to his touch.

Kyojuro smiled, the warmth in his eyes never wavering as he nodded in agreement. "As you wish," he said softly, though the playful edge in his voice made it clear that he wasn't entirely done with his teasing. He stood first, the water cascading off his form as he extended a hand to help me up, his touch gentle and reassuring.

As I took his hand, allowing him to pull me up from the water, the cool air outside the spring was a sharp contrast to the warmth we had just shared. I couldn't help but glance at him, still feeling the lingering effects of his bite, the blush that had settled into my skin refusing to fade entirely. Kyojuro, of course, noticed—he noticed everything—and his grin widened as he wrapped a towel around himself, still radiating that easy confidence that made him so infuriatingly charming.

"Come on," he said, his voice light as he began to lead the way back towards the mansion. "Let's get that meal before the day truly gets away from us."

I followed, still slightly flustered, but unable to stop a small smile from tugging at my lips.