Chapter Text
Kyojuro POV
Kyojuro had always been an early riser, waking up not far behind the sun. Light sun rays shone into the hospital room he was sleeping in, and Kyojuro slowly roused awake. He vaguely registered a weight around his middle and a warm presence to his side. Kyojuro slowly looked to his side to see a soundly sleeping Giyuu. A burst of fondness and adoration bloomed in his chest, heat rising to his face.
God, he is so perfect. Arms wrapped protectively around Kyojuro as if he was trying to ward off nightmares, lips slightly parted breathing in soft breaths, a sense of peace and warmth radiating off of him. Kyojuro felt his heart speed up, feeling a deep longing for this type of domestic comfort every moment he could take it. Kyojuro turned slightly to face the sleeping raven, bringing a hand up to brush some hair off of his face. Giyuu shifted, reacting to the touch and slowly blinked awake. He locked eyes with Kyojuro before humming happily and leaning into the touch
"Did you have any nightmares?" Giyuu murmured sleepily, trying to keep his volume up high enough for Kyojuro to hear over his hearing loss
"No, I didn't, I slept very soundly. What about you my dear?" Kyojuro asked, still drowsy enough to drop the term of endearment before registering what he said, going a bright shade of red. He quickly cleared his throat nervously, "Ah, sorry, I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"You get so sappy when you're tired. It's alright, it was sweet." Giyuu calmly replied "I slept very well, thank you for asking. It was a nice change from the chair."
Kyojuro laughed softly "I'd imagine it would be. I believe we will have visitors soon, we should probably get up and get ready."
"Do you need me to call in any nurses? Any bandages need changing, pain meds, anything like that?" Giyuu asked as he slowly started to rise
"It's probably fine, but I think you can call them if it would make you feel better."
Giyuu shot him a grateful smile. Kyojuro could tell that he was worried and had tried to not be overbearing about it, plus he worried what Shinobu would say if he was not fully on top of his recovery
After a check from the nurses who gave Kyojuro a couple of medications, some food, and changed the bandage around his middle, Giyuu informed Kyojuro that most of thier friends would be there in a half hour
---
"KYOJURO!!" The door burst open somewhat suddenly as a sobbing Mitsuri launched herself at Kyojuro. Obanai, Shinobu, Muichiro, and Tengen followed after. Mitsuri was tightly clinging to Kyojuro while she expressed how grateful she was that he was awake and Kyojuro was laughing with fondness and reassuring her. Shinobu was quick to look over Kyojuro's injuries and the instruments hooked up to him, telling Kyojuro he was healing up well before handing him a salve she had made for a quicker recovery. Obanai sat in the chair next to the bed, exchanging pleasant conversation with Kyojuro and trying to calm Mitsuri down. Once she had stopped hanging off of his side, Tengen swooped in for a tight hug before expressing his plans for helping Kyojuro find a flashy eye-patch. Muichiro was talking with Giyuu and Shinobu while the other 4 were chatting animated about their lives and some new TV shows they were looking forward to watching. The friend group went from games to talking to silence with ease, a grateful feeling in the air for how they were all able to spend some time together. They facetimed Sanemi and Gyomei for about an hour, both expressing how they were sad they could not go and see Kyojuro but were very glad to see he was recovery quickly
Around dinnertime, Senjuro came in with a large basket of food, quickly followed by the Kamado siblings and Kanao. The food was delicious, some of the best Kyojuro has ever had. Whether that was the food, the circumstances around it, or the company, it didn't really matter. Mitsuri was quick to praise Senjuro for his cooking skills, the rest of the group chiming in their compliments and hums of agreement. Perhaps, most surprising, was watching Giyuu's eyes sparkle as he ate. He finished his entire plate before asking Senjuro how he made it so tasty
"Can't tell you, it's a family secret, but if you come over every once in a while to have dinner with us, I'm sure Kyojuro wouldn't mind." Senjuro replied with a lilt of mischief as he looked at his older brother. Kyojuro's jaw dropped open at how bold his brother was being, half grateful that Senjuro was getting so comfortable around Giyuu, half cursing because that could mean a load of embarassing stories and trouble. Giyuu laughed a little out of shock
"I might have to take you up on that Senjuro, but mostly for your cooking. You're cooler than Kyojuro anyway-" Tengen chucked a pillow at Giyuu's head
"How dare you insinuate that Kyojuro is not the peak of flashiness!" Tengen gasped dramatically as Kyojuro burst out laughing
"I dunno Tengen, I'm kinda on Giyuu's side." Obanai interjects, still savoring the tasty meal
Before long, they were play fighting, pillows were flying, light bickering and laughing filled the room. Kyojuro was laughing so hard, so full of emotion, his injuries starting flaring up. He let out a hiss of pain, which was immediately noticed by everyone in the room. Giyuu rushed to his side, looking very concerned as he put a hand on Kyojuro's forehead before shifting it down to his cheek to inspect his face
"What hurts? Should I get a nurse? Shinobu, maybe you should-" Giyuu was cut off when he felt Kyojuro's hand cover his as Kyojuro's eyes started to water
"Sorry, sorry, I'm fine. I got a little emotional. I'm alright." He smiled reassuringly, talking loud enough for the whole room to hear, but talking to Giyuu. He had a deeply sentimental look in his flame colored eyes and was keeping eye contact with Giyuu, forgetting the large audience around them
"Welp, I think that's our cue to leave," Tengen says, standing up
"TENGEN!! YOU RUINED THE MOMENT!! DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I HAVE WAITED FOR THIS MOMENT?? IT WAS JUST GETTING GOOD!!" Mitsuri whined but got up
Everyone took turns saying thier goodbyes and giving tight hugs. Kyojuro thanked them for all the gifts, well wishes, and time and bid them good luck in their endeavors. Senjuro gave a tight hug as Kyojuro kissed his temple. He was about to leave before doubling back and giving Giyuu a hug
"Thanks for taking care of my brother." After getting over the shock, Giyuu ruffled his hair and hugged him back
"Of course. Take care of yourself Senjuro. Thank you again for the delicious food." Senjuro smiled before leaving
Kyojuro felt another wave of emotions hit him, so much warmth and fear and joy and gratitude swelling in his chest. He doesn't know when he started crying, or when Giyuu moved to bring him into a hug
"Seriously Kyojuro, you're making me worried. Was that too overwhelming? What's wrong?" Giyuu was rubbing circles into Kyojuro's back. Kyojuro pulled closer to the hug, basking in the warmth
"Seeing everyone. You were all laughing, playing, being so comfortable with each other. So many people I love having fun together, getting to see it. I guess I just got overwhelmed with how happy I am that I'm still here for it. Us all eating together, seeing all my old friends, being able to laugh so freely, Senjuro running to hug you. That might be one of my favorite memories ever, two of my favorite people..." He laughs wetly, "I guess I was feeling sentimental. Like, maybe my life could be like that all the time."
Giyuu pulled back slightly to look at Kyojuro, "I wouldn't mind that."
"I wouldn't either. I could wake up with you every morning, we would eat breakfast with Senjuro, our friends would come over for tea. I would kiss you goodnight, every night."
Giyuu's eyes widen slightly, "That sounds... so nice Kyojuro. I'm honored to be a part of your dream someday."
Kyojuro brought a hand up to Giyuu's cheek, rubbing softly against his cheek, "What if... I started now? Can I kiss you?"
Giyuu smiled so sweetly up at Kyojuro before nodding, slowly leaning in. Kyojuro met him where he was, feeling soft lips on his. The kiss was gentle and kind. The two got more more comfortable, leaning into the kiss, feeling a little lightheaded with euphoria. Kyojuro couldn't stop a smile before breaking away but staying close, bringing thier foreheads together
"You have no idea how happy that made me, or how long I've wanted to do that." Giyuu said breathlessly, laughing lightly
"I think I can hazard a guess." Kyojuro answered before pulling him in for another quick kiss. Breaking away again, Kyojuro started to pepper kisses all over Giyuu's face, forehead, cheeks, nose, jaw, lips. Giyuu couldn't help but laugh, so amazed that this was actually happening and how good he felt
"Giyuu," Giyuu hummed in acknowledgment "I love your eyes, I love your laugh, I love your strength, your kindness, your voice, your intelligence, every part of you. I love you, so much." Kyojuro finished, one hand staying on Giyuu's face, the other wrapping around on of Giyuu's hands
Giyuu placed a kiss to his lips, "God I love you too Kyojuro. Your smile, your hugs, your spirit, your determination, your bravery, your warmth, I fell in love with every aspect of you Kyojuro Rengoku. Thank you for being my friend, for living, being in my life. I don't know how I could have lived with myself without ever telling you how much you mean to me."
"I'm glad I pulled through then, just to hear you say it. And maybe a few other reasons." Kyojuro gently added, causing Giyuu to laugh
The two settled in to sleep and drifted off, hopeful for the future
---
TIME SKIP
It had been about a year since the shooting. Kyojuro had healed as much as he could and was released from the hospital. He started to go to classes again, tried to mend some things with his father (though that was a long and difficult journey, it was a start), and got used to living life again. Giyuu had surprised Kyojuro with a Service Dog to assist with PTSD as well as his partial sight and hearing impairments. They named her Ember after her fiery coat.
Giyuu and Kyojuro were able to go on that date they promised each other, followed by many others before Giyuu asked Kyojuro to be boyfriends, which he aggressively accepted. Senjuro was equally happy at the news, squeezing them both in tight hugs and making a special meal. The rest of their friends were not surprised and very happy for them. They would visit often and the two would sometimes travel to go visit them
Kyojuro lived everyday to the fullest he could, keeping those he loved as close as he could. He had a habit of taking pictures now, as his vision was not as good. Thousands of pictures were littered around his house and in his phone. Some with friends at tea, playing basketball, holding pet playdates, some with his younger friends at high school sports events or sleepovers at the Rengoku house, some with Senjuro and his cooking or holding academic awards. Most of all, pictures of Giyuu, Giyuu smiling, Giyuu with Ember both asleep on the couch, Giyuu watching the rain, Giyuu with Kyojuro on dates or giving kisses or even just watching a movie. Kyojuro treasured every snapshot of moments with the people he loved the most. He would hold on to it for as long as he could