The 10th Hashira - Rengoku X Reader

Chapter Fourteen - Becoming a Dictator

Okay, so he's mad. Upset, angry, and maybe a little furious. I mean, those all mean the same thing just a different level. So which one is he really? 

Rengoku grabs my upper thighs, not controlling the strength behind his grip, and pulls me to the edge of the bed where he is standing. He leans himself between my legs and grasps my chin, forcing my face to raise to his eye level. I make eye contact with him, only to see a crazed passion burning in them.

Okay, so he's furious. I can work with this. Can I work with this? Or is he working with it? No, no, no. I just need to ask why he is so angry, maybe smooth the tone, clear any misunderstandings. Easy peasy. 

I prop myself up a little with the back of my hands and open my mouth, ready to put my scheme into action, but am immediately shut up by Rengoku's hand covering my lips. 

"Shh." He keeps eye contact with me, making me feel a loss of power. I lay myself back down on the bed, facing upwards towards Rengoku while he slowly takes his hand away from my mouth. 

"So, I feel like there may be some sort of-" his hand regains control over my mouth, ceasing my sentence in a muffled mmph! 

"So disobedient," he leans himself so that his chest is pressing against mine, "what am I going to do with you?" 

I feel like I should be swayed, but he is acting so selfishly and not like himself that it is making me kind of pissed. So, of course, my lack of holding back first thoughts forces me to rip his restrictive hand away from my mouth with no remorse. 

"Excuse me, sir, but just who do you think you are? First interrupting me, then proceeding to pin me to the bed like a helpless child. What do you take me for? At least hear me out before overreacting! I don't even know why you are acting this way in the first place. Use your words please. Seriously, you make me so riled up sometimes. In both a good and...well, you, you!" I push myself up slightly, causing Rengoku to pull himself up as well, making sure all the while to maintain a strong eye contact with him. He was not going to get away with trying to schmooze me. 

I suddenly feel something snap in the back of my head. Oh, oops. I am back into reality. Did I just lecture Rengoku?! The man who has done nothing but been there for me since I have gotten to know him? What is wrong with me? Hold up, calm down, this is fixable. I just need to gently explain to him what I meant, and how my frustration stemmed. 

"So..umm..." I lean myself back down onto the bed and cover my face with my hands, "what I really mean is, you know, I think you're really nice, and I would like to get to know you better, along with also, maybe, getting to know you better through words...I'm sorry for lashing out, I..I just am not the best with expressing myself through words. I, I want to know you, I want to...how about dinner? Tea? I-I don't even know what you like when it comes to food yet, and I really would like to," I tighten my hand's grip on my hair, feeling my face begin to boil over with embarrassment. 

"I really like sweet potatoes. I was introduced to them when I was younger, and have been in love with them since. I would also really like to explore different and new foods with you," I feel Rengoku's hands wrap around my torso while he lays his head on my stomach, "I want to train with you and go on missions. I love seeing everyone's smile, especially yours. I feel anxious when you are not smiling, so I hope to learn how to make you smile. I wish to hear from you what you enjoy doing, how you like to take your tea, or coffee, and where you would like to have dinner. What are you future goals? I want to hold your hand and let you lead me where it is you want to go." I feel his grip tighten as he snuggles his face into my stomach.

I bring my hand away from my face and gently place it into his hair, curling the ends between my fingers.

"I do not wish to lead you anywhere. I want to walk alongside you," I bring my hand down to touch his cheek, rousing him from hiding. He peeks up at me and, for the first time, I can feel his smile reaching my eyes honestly. "So, please, do not just go with what I say, I want to go with what you want as well." 

Rengoku lifts himself up so his face is hovering over mine. 

"I just want you to be yourself around me. I want you to let loose your wildest of words, even if they may be unseemly, I want to know. I want to know because it makes me fall that much more in love with you," his face lowers slowly. I reflexively close my eyes as his lips embrace my own. I feel a gentle exhale from his nose caress my cheek. Sheesh, he makes things so hard. He pulls away, but not far enough for me to not feel him breathing.

"So, if you would like to also know what I want, in this very moment I want to, I mean, I-"

"No. Do you know how sore I am from your constant persistence? I am invoking law for this single moment. And that law is you, lay next to me, I lay next to you. You wrap arms around me and I wrap arms around you. And we sleep. I am tired, and for some reason I do not know why you are not tired, but this is the law of tonight I am enforcing." I grab Rengoku by the collar and flip him over to one side of the bed where I proceed to pin him between my arms. 

"O-oh! Well then, I guess I must follow your dictation, my liege. Not that I really oppose any moment I get to hold you in my arms," he wraps his own arms around me and rests his head on top of my own. 

I can hear his heart beating gently. It's very soothing. I open my mouth to let out a yawn when I am interrupted by Rengoku's own innocent yawn. I tilt my head upwards to make notice of his tired face, but the moment I set eyes on his chin I feel his soft lips plant on my forehead. 

"H-hey! You tricked me!" I bring one of my hands to my forehead while Rengoku lets out a light chuckle.

"I do not deceive! I yawn in all honesty. I did happen to witness you about to yawn and I felt it come onto me as well and could not resist. Just like when you began to look up to inspect me, I could not resist showing you some pent up affection before my eyes are  too heavy." Wahhhhhhh! What a sweet talker he is! I can't compete with his smoothness. Was he born with this? Sly, sly dog. 

"W-well, goodnight!" I place my face back into his chest, hiding away out of embarrassment. 

"Goodnight my love, I hope to see you just as cheerful and honest when you wake up."