You were playing hide and seek in the grand room of the Butterfly Mansion with the sickly children, offering them a brief escape from their reality, even if just for a little while. Their joy was infectious, and as you called them over for the next round, a sense of peace settled in the room.

The children gathered around you, debating about who should be the next seeker when the door slid open, revealing the familiar figure of Kyojuro Rengoku. The Flame Hashira, wrapped in bandages from yet another mission, strode in with his usual exuberance. But it was his eyes that caught your attention—bright, intense, and unwavering as they locked onto you.

Despite being known as one of the strongest Hashira, it became a routine for him to visit the mansion, often for the smallest injuries. Everyone else thought it was just his dedication to his health, but there was only one reason Rengoku visited so often: you.

“Ah, what are we playing today?” He asked, his voice a deep, warm rumble that seemed to fill the room.

You smiled softly. “Hide and seek.”

Rengoku’s grin widened, and he held up a blindfold, his eyes sparkling with a mix of playfulness and something deeper. “Then I’ll be the seeker this time.”

The children cheered, bouncing with excitement at the thought of being chased by a Hashira. But Rengoku’s gaze never left you, and for a moment, it felt as though the two of you were the only ones in the room. “To make it fair, I’ll cover my eyes.” There was a pause, his smile turning slightly more serious, a promise hidden beneath his playful words. “But I won’t go easy,” he added, voice lowering just enough for you to hear the subtle edge. “I’ll make sure to catch all of you.”

The children didn’t seem to notice the way his words hung in the air, like he wasn’t talking about a simple game anymore, but you did. There was a warmth in his eyes, a fierce desire. it wasn’t lust or possession; it was something purer, deeper—a need to keep you safe, to hold onto the light he saw in you.