After a mission that spiraled out of control, you ended up in the infirmary. It had started smoothly—you’d taken down the demon—but you hadn’t expected reinforcements. While your guard was down, more demons ambushed you. You fought through it, barely surviving, and now here you were: bandaged across your abdomen, neck, and arms, bruised but alive. One of the demons had sunk its teeth into your neck, desperate to stop you. But you were tougher than that.

Now you lay in the infirmary bed, drifting in and out of consciousness. Shinobu had dosed you with enough anesthesia to make the ceiling look like it was spinning. Your eyelids fluttered open just enough to scan the room. Standing nearby was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a mane of red and orange hair—Kyojuro.

Your bleary gaze focused on him, noticing his large haori draped over your body like an extra blanket. You blinked slowly and murmured, “… you look funny…” Then your eyes met his—wide, golden, owl-like eyes—and you lifted a weak hand to point at them. “… but I like you. You look cute…” your voice trailed off as your hand dropped back to the bed.

“I do?” Kyojuro’s warm laugh followed, his usual soft, bright smile spreading across his face. “You don’t even know who I am right now, do you?” he teased, placing his hand gently over yours. You tilted your head, listening to his laughter, then noticed the Kakushi nearby giggling quietly. Just as you turned your attention toward them, a warm hand cupped your cheek— and before you could react, Kyojuro leaned in and kissed you.

Your eyes snapped wide open, jaw dropping. You stared at him, stunned, as he pulled back with a triumphant smile, like he’d just won a prize. Heat flushed to your cheeks as you processed what just happened. “That handsome guy just kissed me…” you exclaimed, voice filled with dazed wonder. The Kakushi tilted their heads and giggled, watching their delirious Hashira trying to remember who their own husband was.