Raindroppi

Rin Itoshi x Katie Mikage

Part four - Katie is everywhere

Kaite somehow always managed to appear next to Rin.

***

Suddenly she’s around during hangouts, waving at Rin like they’re old friends while he’s mentally preparing for combat.

She ran up in a soft pink dress and hugged his arm dragging him towards her friends “Guys this is Rin.”

“Katie the poor guy looks miserable, where did you find him?” her friend said, laughing at her antics.

“I found him at the beach. Hes Reo’s friend!”

She turned and looked up at Rin with that same intoxicating smile “You want to go get cake?”

Rin sighed “No”

She stuck her tongue out blowing a raspberry with her thumb down.

“Come on Katie the cake shops gunna close soon” her friend called.

“Bye Rin, I will eat some cake for youuu!” she said dashing off grabbing her friends hand giggling.

***

After a game Rin swore he was seeing things until his suspicions were correct and something pink suddenly tackled him.

“Boo!” Katie chuckled as soon as she made contact with Rin who managed to steady himself.

Katie was hanging onto him like a koala at that point.

“Katie, why are you here?” Rins face was already showing his annoyance.

“How come you didnt fall? You're really strong huh Rin?” Katie looked like she was trying to solve an intense math problem.

“Katie, get off of me.” The tips of his ears were already pink.

“Okay! You were really good! Like you were out there all like pow! Whoosh! Boom!” Katie beamed.

Rin’s heart stopped for just a second but Katie didnt notice because she was still doing poses and making sound effects.

“…How did you get in here?” he sighed.

“I told Ego I would donate a bunch of money to the facility if he let me come visit,” she said proudly. “Apparently I’m good for morale.”

Rin stared at her.

“You bribed Ego.”

“I prefer the term support sponsor.”

Before he could respond she suddenly gasped.

“Oh! Which reminds me…”

Katie ran toward the giant bag she left near the benches and yelled, “I brought fresh cookies! Come get ’em!”

The entire room immediately turned toward her.

“You brought snacks?” Bachira asked excitedly.

“Dang,” Shidou laughed, throwing an arm around Rin’s shoulder, “and she bakes too? Might just have to steal her from you, Rin.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Rin said flatly.

Katie blinked up at him innocently.

“Not yet, but in my head you are.”

Why did Rin almost find it cute when she said that? He shook the feeling off.

Nope. Defintley not.

***

The next day she was back again.

Rin walked out of practice sweaty, irritated, and already exhausted from listening to Shidou yell for the last two hours only to stop when he spotted something pink waving aggressively in the hallway.

“…Katie.”

“Rin!” she grinned brightly, jogging over to him like she belonged there. “Look, I learned soccer terms.”

She pulled out a tiny notebook covered in glitter stickers and flipped it open proudly.

Rin stared at it in disbelief.

“…Why.”

“So I can understand when you’re being dramatic during games.”

“I am not dramatic.”

“You literally yelled ‘use your eyes’ at someone today.”

“Because he wasn’t looking.”

“And yesterday you called someone an ‘offside merchant’ like it was the worst insult imaginable.”

“It is.”

Katie hummed thoughtfully while scribbling something into the notebook.

“Interesting. Defensive aggression linked to emotional instability.”

Rin looked offended. “That’s not what that means. Stop psychoanalyzing me.”

“Oh!” she gasped dramatically. “So when you kicked the wall after practice that was normal and emotionally healthy?”

“I didn’t kick the wall.”

Bachira suddenly appeared behind him. “You totally kicked the wall, Rin Rin.”

“I hate all of you.”

Katie beamed at him completely unbothered.

“It’s okay, I still think you did a really good job today.”

Rin paused.

It was stupid how easily she said things like that. No teasing hidden underneath it. No expectations. Just honest praise delivered with the same casual warmth she carried everywhere.

“…We lost,” he muttered.

“And?” Katie tilted her head like the answer was obvious. “You still played well.”

For a second Rin didn’t know what to say to that.

Thankfully Bachira ruined the moment immediately by leaning over Katie’s shoulder.

“Wait, why does your notebook say ‘Rin insults translated’?”

Katie quickly slammed it shut against her chest.

“Trade secret.”

Rin narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “What else is in there?”

She grinned. “Page seven is just ways to tell when you’re annoyed.”

“I’m always annoyed.”

“Exactly! See? I’m learning.”

***

One morning Rin walked into the kitchen half awake only to stop dead in his tracks.

Katie was standing there in an oversized Blue Lock hoodie flipping pancakes while Bachira sat at the counter cheering her on.

“Good morning, Rin!” she smiled. “I made breakfast.”

“Why are you in the facility kitchen?”

“Your security guards know me now.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“They let me in because I brought strawberries.”

Bachira pointed at her dramatically. “She bribed them with fruit. It was incredible.”

Rin stared at the plate she handed him. It was shaped like a soccer ball.

“…This is stupid.”

“You’re still eating it though.”

And he did, worst of all, it was actually pretty good.

***

It got worse after she learned his schedule.

Somehow she always appeared exactly when practice ended. Rainy days? She had an umbrella. Long training sessions? She had sports drinks. One time Rin came out after an especially terrible loss ready to snap at everyone only to find Katie sitting on the curb beside the bus with a tiny handheld fan pointed at him.

“You looked overheated,” she explained.

Rin blinked slowly. “You flew to another country… carrying a fan?”

“Well yeah. You’re meaner when you’re dehydrated.”

***

The team accepted her existence disturbingly fast.

“She’s like a stray cat Rin accidentally fed once,” Chigiri said.

“A really rich stray cat,” Braou declared.

“She keeps bringing snacks so I support this relationship,” Nagi stated without looking up from his phone.

“It’s not a relationship,” Rin snapped immediately.

Katie looked up from where she was braiding little ribbons into Bachira’s hair. “Aw, he’s shy.”

“I’m going to kill all of you.”

***

Their game overseas was supposed to be focused entirely on training. Finally somewhere Katie-free.

Unfortunately for Rin, the moment the team stepped into the city, Isagi noticed something horrifying.

Bachira followed his line of sight and gasped really loud “WAIT!”

Everyone looked up as Bachira pointed dramatically toward one of the massive digital billboards downtown.

Rin followed his gaze and immediately regretted it.

Katie’s face was staring down at the entire city.

She was dressed in some designer gown, soft pink lights glowing around her while giant letters advertised a new luxury fashion campaign. The ad looped across multiple screens lining the streets.

Then Rin noticed there were more.

One across the intersection.

Another wrapped around the side of a building.

One plastered across the bus stop they’d just walked past.

It was like she’d taken over the entire country overnight.

“…What,” Rin said flatly.

Meguru burst into laughter immediately.

“Hey Rin, look! It’s your girlfriend on the billboard!”

“She is not my girlfriend,” Rin muttered automatically.

“I didn’t even know she modeled,” Reo admitted, still staring up at the screen.

“Honestly it makes sense though,” Eita said casually. “She’s hot.”

Reo looked genuinely disgusted.

“Ew. Gross, dude. That’s my cousin.”

Eita just smiled micheviously. “Still hot though.”

“Seriously!” Reo pointed accusingly at the billboard like somehow this was Katie’s fault. “Stop looking at her like that.”

“I was looking respectfully!”

“There’s no respectful way to say ‘she’s hot’ while staring at a thirty-foot photo of my cousin.”

Meanwhile, Bachira was absolutely losing it.

“Rin, this is soooo funny. Your situationship is famous.”

“We do not have a situationship.”

“Then why do you look less annoyed about her picture being up but more annoyed at the people looking at her instead?” Chigiri asked.

Rin opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

Honestly the modeling itself wasn’t even shocking. Katie somehow managed to do everything. She showed up to practices, charmed security guards, bribed Ego, baked like somebody’s grandmother, and apparently modeled internationally on the side.

At this point Rin wouldn’t have been surprised if she casually revealed she owned three companies too.

Still, seeing her face blown up across an entire city without warning was unsettling.

Especially because she looked… different.

Not personality-wise. The smile in the photos was still unmistakably Katie. Bright, playful, warm.

But the styling made her look elegant in a way Rin wasn’t used to seeing. Sophisticated. Untouchable almost.

Which made it even weirder when his phone buzzed in his pocket.

Katie :)

did u guys land yet??

A second message appeared immediately after.

Katie :)

WAIT DONT LOOK AT THE BILLBOARDS ITS EMBARRASSING

Rin stared at the giant screen towering above him before typing back.

Too late.

Three dots instantly appeared.

Katie :)

…oh no

Meguru leaned over Rin’s shoulder trying to read the messages.

“OHHH look at him texting his celebrity girlfriend.”

Rin shoved him away.

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Sure,” Tabito snorted. “And Reo is poor.”

***

At some point, Rin realized he’d stopped asking why she was there.

She just… was.

Curled up on the blue lock couch during movie nights. Waiting outside practice scrolling through her phone. Sitting beside him on the team bus humming to herself while he pretended not to notice her leaning against his shoulder whenever she got sleepy.

Rin itoshi x Katie mikage

Part three - Teasing

Katie somehow dragged him back to the group of boys after walking around for three hours commenting on everything she saw.

Rin was not having a good time.

Not because of the beach.

Not because of Blue Lock.

Not even because Shidou had attempted to start a wrestling match with Barou ten minutes ago.

No.

Rin was having a bad time because Katie was currently laying on her stomach beside him in the sand, kicking her feet in the air while staring directly at his face like he was a painting in a museum.

“You blink really slow.”

“…What does that even mean?”

“I don’t know.” she admitted easily. “I just noticed it.”

Rin stared at the ocean harder.

This girl was a menace.

Around them the rest of Blue Lock was scattered across the beach. Isagi and Bachira were trying to throw a frisbee while Aryu posed dramatically near the water for no reason. Reo looked one inconvenience away from developing a stress disorder.

And Katie?

Katie had somehow attached herself to Rin for the entire afternoon like this was the most natural thing in the world.

“You’re doing it again.”

Rin looked at her sharply. “Doing what.”

“The staring at the ocean thing when you don’t wanna answer me.”

“…You talk too much.”

“I know.” she smiled brightly. “You don’t talk enough so together we make one functional person.”

A horrifyingly accurate statement.

Rin hated that.

Next to them, Nagi glanced over from where he was half buried in sand.

“She’s kind of amazing,” he said lazily.

“She’s insane,” Rin corrected.

Katie gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest. “Rin, that's so mean. You said that with your whole heart too.”

“You keep appearing out of nowhere.”

“You’re just easy to find because you sit alone looking all gloomy and beautiful.”

Rin physically recoiled.

Karasu immediately started wheezing in the background.

“Oh she got him again.”

“Can someone muzzle her?” Rin snapped.

“Nope,” Katie answered for them. “But you can hold my hand if you want.”

“…Why would I want that?”

“You seem stressed.”

“I wonder why.”

She ignored the sarcasm completely and grabbed his hand anyway.

Rin froze instantly.

Katie blinked at him. “Oh my gosh your hands are cold.”

“Let go.”

“But now I’m warming them up.”

“Let go.”

“No right now.”

Rin looked genuinely stunned someone had just told him no so casually.

Bachira nearly collapsed laughing. “This is the best day of my life.”

“She domesticated him in twenty four hours,” Isagi said in disbelief.

“I think Rin might actually short circuit,” Otoya added.

Rin shot them a murderous glare while Katie continued holding his hand like nothing unusual was happening.

Then she frowned slightly. “You know, you get quieter every time someone teases you.”

“…And?”

“And I think you’re shy.”

The entire beach went silent.

Even the waves felt quieter.

Rin looked offended beyond comprehension. “I am not shy.”

Katie tilted her head. “Then why are your ears pink again?”

Shidou hit the sand laughing so hard he started coughing. “OH THIS IS GOLD.”

Rin looked ready to commit homicide.

Katie meanwhile looked completely unbothered by the chaos she caused.

“You do this thing,” she continued thoughtfully, still holding his hand, “where you act mean but then you still help people anyway.”

“I don’t help people.”

“You helped me yesterday.”

“You fell into the ocean.”

“And you looked worried.”

“I was making sure you didn’t drown.”

“Awwww.”

“That was not a compliment.”

“It felt like one.”

Rin exhaled slowly through his nose like he was fighting for his life internally.

The worst part?

She genuinely meant every word she said.

No manipulation.

No embarrassment.

No weird hidden intention.

Katie simply looked at him and said exactly what she thought.

Which somehow made it infinitely worse.

“You’re thinking too hard again,” she informed him.

“…How would you know that?”

“You get this line between your eyebrows.”

Before Rin could react, she reached up and pressed her thumb lightly between his brows.

Everything in Rin’s brain stopped functioning.

Katie smiled softly. “There. Better.”

Rin forgot how to breathe.

Unfortunately for him, everyone else witnessed it.

“Oh he’s DONE done,” Bachira announced.

“Pack it up,” Karasu laughed. “Itoshi Rin has fallen.”

“I have not.”

“You let her touch your face,” Reo pointed out immediately.

Rin opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

No words came out.

Katie looked delighted.

“Oh my gosh,” she whispered dramatically. “Did I win the argument?”

“There wasn’t an argument.”

“There was in my head.”

“That explains a lot.”

She beamed at him like that was the nicest thing anyone had ever said.

Rin was starting to understand why people gave up arguing with her.

It was like trying to fight a golden retriever powered by absolute sincerity.

And somehow…

When she tugged lightly on his hand and pointed excitedly toward the shoreline –

“Rin look! That shell looks like a heart!”

– he followed her immediately without even thinking about it.

The rest of Blue Lock watched him go in complete silence.

Then Reo spoke.

“Guys.”

“Yeah?”

Rin Itoshi x Katie Mikage

Part Two - You need sun

The next day the guys at blue lock decided to go to the beach again.

Rin and Barou were forced to attend again because Ego said something about their moods being depressing and them need sun.

Rin was minding his own business listening to the guys be loud. He couldnt wait to get away from them.

“Oh yeah, my cousin just moved up here recently so she's coming along.” Reo said and then stared daggers at shidou, karasu, and eita “Dont do anything stupid.”

“Is that the one you said is an airhead?” Nagi asked.

“Yea that's putting it lightly. I think she would lose her head if it wasnt attached.”

“Reoooooooooo!!!”

Suddenly a flash of blonde hair crashed ontop of Reo propelling him into the sand right infront of Rin.

Rin immediately froze and the shock was evident on his face. “You are joking.”

Katies head immediately popped up from the crash “Oh, it's you again! Hi Rin!”

All the guys stood there looking back and forth at Katie sitting on Reo’s back, with his face still in the sand, staring up at Rin with a huge smile on your face.

“I think Reo died,” Bachira was pointing at Reo’s lifeless body in the sand.

Katie hopped of Reo and turned him facing up and brushed sand off his face “Umm wake up Reo”

He didnt react so she pinched his nose so he couldn’t breathe and Reo jerked upward and gasped. Katie clapped with a big smile looking at the group of guys infront of her “He's alive!”

“What about you, pretty girl are you okay?”

She looked up and saw a boy with white hair with a green stripe through it offering her a hand. “Im fine, Reo broke my fall.”

Nagi and a few others stifled a laugh at the comment.

“I'm fine in case anyone was wondering,” Reo commented weakly, still laying on the sand.

“Im Eita. You must be Reo’s cousin”

“Hi, I’m Katie. Nice to meet you guys.” she beamed.

“Katie, that is a pretty name. Can I take you to go get some ice cream?”

“Oh, there he goes again,” Karasu smirks while laughing “Man didnt even last five minutes.”

“Are you flirting with me?” Katie asks the question genuine and doe eyed.

Eita just smiles “How could I not?”

“Not interested, I like Rin”

The silence is deafening and instant.

Everyone freezes and looks at the girl like she just casually said she committed arson on blue lock’s facility.

Then Shidou falls to the ground cackling “Oh my gosh, she can't be serious. That was so savage. You just got wrecked by a princess”

Rin looks like he just saw a ghost which made Shidou laugh even harder.

“You can't say stuff like that, you dont know me.” Rin said flatly but his ears were pink.

“Yes I do, we met yesterday. I think you're interesting and pretty. So I like you now.” she stated like it was the most obvious thing.

Rin started choking on air.

Meguru was laughing at the chaos unfolding “Look at Rin, I think he just choked on his own spit.”

“Katie what are you doing?” Reo sounded like a dad scolding his child.

Katie got up, stood next to Rin and tilted her head “What?”

“Katie you can't just say stuff like that outloud!” Reo screached.

“Why not he's cute and sweet and kind of funny. So I like him now.”

All of the guys' mouths were on the floor.

Funny? Sweet? Cute?

Rin?

“Anyways I got to know him a little bit yesterday and now I want to know him more.” Katie stated.

“Is she always like that?” Isagi asked.

Reo sighs “Katie has always said what's on her mind without thinking of the consequences.”

“I do think about what I say, I just say it anyways” she huffs.

She looked up at the group of guys then paused then lit up.

“Katie whatever you are about to do, dont.” Reo warned. He knew that face. She was up to something.

Katie ignored the warning “Be right back im going to grab my friends!” she yelled while running away before anyone could respond.

She came back a minute later with eight girls in towe.

“These are my friends. We just finished doing a photo shoot. They are pretty, you should talk to them” she beamed.

The girls looked at her and smiled like this was normals until one spoke up.

“Who are these guys Katie?” the girl laughed at her friend's straightforwardness.

“My cousin's teammates.”

Each girl she brought over was completely different. It was kind of impressive how Katie befriended people so different from her.

“Byeeeee!” she walked up to Rin grabbed his hand and took off running.

“What are you doing?” Rin was following her lead.

“okay we are far enough now”

Rin sighed “you just used your friends to escape.”

she looked thoughtfully “Yea, but now everyone’s happy so it’s okay”

He somehow spent the whole day with her. She dragged him around commenting on shells and funny looking clouds.

Rin wanted to say it was annoying yet his body continued to follow her, not fighting as she led him by his hand from place to place.

“I have never met anyone like you. Do you always look grumpy?”

She poked his cheek as he was about to speak and then giggled “You're even cuter when you're not analyzing everything.”

Rin choked on air again as she looked up at him like she didn’t just do something devastating to his health.

She looked like she was studying his reaction, but wasn’t expecting an answer like she just stated a fact.

Then she continued on walking on the beach, expecting Rin to follow her and he did. He does not know why he did.

“Why did you do that?” Rin questioned

“Becuase I wanted to see your ears turn pink again. Its cute.” she replied instantly. No hint of hesitation.

Rin Itoshi x Katie Mikage

Part One - The Beach

Rin was sitting on the sand looking violently unpproachable. Headphones on, staring at the ocean, finally enjoying peace and quiet from escaping the other blue lock boys.

But that peace didn’t last long—

A girl appeared almost out of thin air dressed in a pink sundress. He saw the flash of her golden waves adorned with bows shooting past him towards the ocean.

Then she fell flat on her face into the sea.

Idiot.

He would have just left if it weren’t for the fact she wasn’t getting up.

Rin walked over to see if she was okay and as he got closer she finally raised up and laughed.

She looked up at him with big green sparkly eyes “Wow, ur pretty.”

Rin immediately stiffened and decided he didnt have time for this and turned to walk away. He didnt get very far though.

He heard a cheerful voice getting louder towards him.

“Hey cute guy who saw me fall, wait for me”

Rin just sighed and turned around to tell her off only to see her fall face first into the sand again.

“How have you survived being this clumsy” it wasnt a question he just said it as if he was genuinely shocked reaching his hand out to help her up.

“I dont know.” She seemed puzzled like she was genuinely thinking as to how she's here today. “I fell that time on purpose though. So you wouldnt run away too far”.

Rin stilled, was she always this honest.

“Anyways im katie, well actually katherine but I like katie better. I just moved here from Switzerland. What's your name?”

“Rin Itoshi,” he replied flatly.

Honestly he didnt know why he was entertaining her but he had a feeling she wasnt going to stop trying to talk to him even if he walked away.

“Rin Itoshi” she paused then lit up “That's fun to say. Rin. Rin. Rin. Itoshi. I love Japanese names.”

Rin was flustered at this point. Who just says someone's name over and over again like that?

“You look mean” she said with no bite, just like its a fact “But like a pretty mean, not scary mean”.

“...What?” Rin already wants this interaction to end but insead she pulls him down on the sand with him and starts talking.

“You have sad eyes. Are you famous?”

“No…”

“You're pretty enough to be famous, you could probably be a model if you wanted to.”

Rin doesnt reply but for some reason she keeps talking to him like she's known him for years. No hesitation whatsoever. Asking invasive questions in the most harmless tone imaginable.

“Whats your favoirte food?”

“Why do you look annoyed all the time?”

“Do you know your eyelashes are long?”

“Do you ever smile? I havent seen it yet. I bet your smile is pretty.”

Rin is experiencing psycholgial warfare at this point until she suddendly stands.

“I got to go” she dusts herself off and smiles “I like you by the way”

“...You dont know me.”

“I know enough” As she runs off Rin just looks at the ocean infront of him.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

Fan fics i’m writing bout to hit so hard opposites attract with the blue lock boys got me in a chokehold rn

Flames resolve (Sanemi x Fem reader)

Spoilers for Sanemi and Genya backstory

Chapter 6

You didn't sleep.

Not really.

The old house creaked and sighed like it remembered everything you were trying to forget. Moonlight slipped through the paper windows, painting pale stripes across the floor—and across Sanemi's cot on the opposite side of the room.

He lay on his back, one arm thrown over his eyes. Awake. You could tell. The way his breathing stayed shallow. Controlled.

Hours passed like that.

Finally, you shifted, the cot giving a soft protest beneath you.

"Tch," Sanemi muttered. "You're gonna wear a hole in the floor if you keep tossing around."

"Sorry," you whispered automatically.

Silence again.

Then, quieter than you'd ever heard him speak, "You always blame yourself?"

You swallowed.

"Yes."

He turned his head toward you. Even in the dark, you could feel his eyes on you. sharp, searching, not judging.

"That demon," he said. "You killed it before I even got inside."

"That doesn't matter."

"It does," he snapped, then caught himself. His voice lowered. "You saved those kids."

You clenched your fists in the blanket. "Their father is dead. Their mother might not make it."

Sanemi sat up abruptly, swinging his legs over the side of the cot. "Listen to me."

You did.

"Demons take. That's what they do," he said, jaw tight. "If you start counting everything you couldn't save, it'll eat you alive. Trust me."

There was something in his tone that made your chest ache. Not anger. Experience.

"You sound like you know that firsthand," you murmured.

He laughed once, short and humorless. "Yeah. You could say that."

He stood and crossed the room, stopping a careful distance from you. Close enough that you could smell iron and pine and wind.

"You think you should've died back then," he said bluntly. "I heard you."

Your breath hitched.

"That kind of thinking?" His hands curled into fists. "It's bullshit."

You looked up at him, eyes burning. "How dare you—"

"I dare because I've said the same damn thing," he cut in. "Over and over. And it never brought anyone back."

The words landed heavy.

Sanemi exhaled slowly, then did something that stunned you.

He sat down on the floor.

Not looming. Not pacing. Just... there.

"I lost my family too," he said. "Most of them. And some days, I still wake up pissed that I didn't die with them."

Your throat tightened. You'd never heard him talk like this. Ever.

"But if I had?" His eyes lifted to meet yours. "I wouldn't have killed the demons I've killed. Wouldn't have saved the people I have. Wouldn't be standing here talking to you."

You laughed weakly through tears. "You make it sound so simple."

"It's not," he said immediately. "It's hell."

A pause.

"But you don't walk through it alone."

Before you could overthink it, he reached out not touching you yet, just hovering, giving you time to pull away.

You didn't.

His hand rested on your shoulder. Solid. Warm. Real.

"You're strong," he said quietly. "Not just with a sword. Don't insult that by wishing yourself dead idiot."

Something inside you cracked open.

You leaned forward before you could stop yourself, forehead pressing into his chest. For a heartbeat, he froze.

Then his hand shifted awkward and hesitantly settling between your shoulder blades.

He didn't pull you closer.

He didn't push you away.

He just stayed.

You cried silently, fingers clutching the fabric of his uniform, while Sanemi stared at the shrine across the room like he was standing guard over both it and you.

After a long while, your breathing evened out.

"Sanemi?" you whispered.

"Yeah."

"...Thank you."

His grip tightened just a fraction. "Don't make a big deal out of it."

You huffed a tired laugh. "Still grumpy."

"Told you," he muttered. "That's not changing."

But when you finally pulled back you saw his expression was soft and his ears were slightly pink.

"How's it feel being the first guy to meet the parents?" you said trying to ease the tension.

"Tch, you are a menace." Sanemi said gruffly.

Your voice got calmer, more serious "My mom died when I was two so I don't really remember her. But Dad did the best he could to take care of us. He was a really good man. Always joking around with us to make us smile. I remember one time he was trying to juggle and ended up falling flat on the ground." you stifled a laugh, corners of your mouth tugging upward.

"But the night before i turned six dad forgot to buy candles so he was out later than usual. When he came back home he was reading us all a story when it came in.

It killed my sisters and brother in one blow. My dad tried to fight it, but he lost. I don't know why it didn't try to kill me. I just sat there watching it rip my dad to shreds. When I finally spoke the demon tried to grab me, leaving gashes on my leg but instead Rengoku had grabbed me. They took me in and raised me.." the happiness had slipped away from your voice. Now cold and sharp.

"When I was little, we grew up with nothing. Thanks to our crappy father. My mom was all we had. She took care of us and when she wasn't home i took care of my six younger siblings. One night mom hadn't came home yet. We were all worried so I stepped out to find her and told genya to watch them. When I came back she was a demon and had killed everyone except genya. I had tackled her out of the house. I had to kill her. As the sun rose and she started turning to ash genya saw me. He saw me over our mother's body. He didnt understand." Sanemi sighed.

Silence settled again, but it was different now. Not heavy. Just... full.

Sanemi lay back on his cot, one arm draped over his eyes like before, but his breathing finally slowed. The house still creaked. The wind still slipped through the paper walls. None of that had changed.

What had changed was the space between you.

After a while, his voice cut through the dark, rough but steadier than before.

"...I still see Genya's face looking at me like i'm a monster, calling me a murder."

You turned your head slightly. Listened.

"Now he's a demon slayer. I wish he would have picked anything else." A pause. "I can't keep him safe, i'm hoping if i ignore him long enough he will just move on with his life. Forget about me, about the demon slayer corp and just live a normal life."

Your fingers curled into the blanket. "I think...that ignoring him won't make him stop."

Sanemi huffed quietly. Not a laugh—more like agreement. "Yeah. Guess so."

Another stretch of silence. Comfortable this time.

"You know," he added, almost grumbling at the ceiling, "Rengoku taking you in like that? Sounds like him. Annoyingly good bastard."

You smiled into the dark. "He burned pancakes every Sunday."

That got a real snort out of him. "Figures."

The room breathed with you both. No pressure to fix anything. No promises. Just the shared understanding that the past was sharp but survivable.

Before sleep finally dragged him under, Sanemi spoke one last time.

"...If it ever gets bad again," he said, quieter than the floorboards, "wake me up."

You didn't answer right away. You didn't need to.

When you did, it was simple. "Okay."

And for once, the night passed without either of you standing guard alone.

Flames Resolve (Sanemi x feisty jokester fem reader)

Chapter 5

Your crow instructed you to take a different route on the way to the next village. As the path grew familiar, your stomach dropped.

Your body went cold.

This was it.

Your old home.

The house where you lost everything.

“Oi, smart-mouth—what, your legs stop working?” Sanemi barked from ahead. “Come on. Let’s go.”

His voice snapped you back to the present. You weren’t a small child anymore. You weren’t helpless. You were a Demon Slayer—someone who protected others so no one else would have to endure what you did.

A scream—high and broken—cut through the air.

For a split second, you thought it was your mind playing tricks on you.

Then Sanemi turned sharply toward the sound.

Your feet moved before your thoughts could catch up.

“Don’t rush in, idiot—!” Sanemi shouted.

You burst through the door.

Nothing could have prepared you for the sight inside.

Four children were huddled in the corner. The oldest stood in front of the younger three, shaking but defiant as they sobbed behind him.

A demon stood in the center of the room.

Eating their parents.

“Get away from them!” you yelled.

Your blade flashed. One clean strike. The demon’s head hit the floor before it could even react.

You rushed to the children, immediately lowering your voice.

“Hey. It’s okay,” you said gently, kneeling. “The monster’s gone now. You’re safe. I promise.”

“Th-thank you…” a weak voice rasped.

You turned.

The mother was alive—barely. One leg was gone. Blood soaked the floor, but her eyes were open, glassy and fading.

The father beside her wasn’t breathing.

You swallowed hard and moved fast. Sheets. A belt. Your hands worked on instinct as you made a tourniquet, pressing down hard.

“Just breathe,” you said calmly, though your hands were shaking. “I’m going to help you.”

You looked up sharply at Sanemi. “I need you to find a doctor. Now.”

The surprise on his face vanished instantly.

He was gone in a blur.

By the time he returned, the woman’s head rested in your lap. Two of the smaller children clung to your sides, while the oldest held his mother’s hand as you spoke softly to them, steady and soothing.

“I found one,” Sanemi said. His voice wasn’t rough this time. It was low. Careful. “Doctor and his wife. They’ll take over. Let’s go.”

You helped settle the children onto a cot beside their mother.

“You’re safe now,” you told them gently. “Be good for the doctor, okay? He’s going to try really hard to save your mom.”

You hesitated, then added, “We’ll be at the old house on the corner until sunset. If you need anything—come get me.”

They nodded.

Outside, you turned down a familiar street without thinking.

“Oi,” Sanemi said after a moment. “There’s no inn this way.”

“My old house,” you replied. Your voice was firm—but it wavered at the edges. “We’ll stay there tonight. Leave tomorrow at sunset.”

He didn’t question it.

You’d paid someone to maintain the place once a month. Clean it. Lock it. Leave. You couldn’t bring yourself to let it go.

Inside, you pulled out two cots and set them on opposite sides of the living room. Sanemi watched but said nothing.

Then you moved toward the back room.

The room where you lost your sisters. Your father. Your older brother.

Their photos sat neatly arranged, a candle still standing beside them. Your mother’s picture rested at the center.

You collapsed to your knees.

Sobs tore out of you before you could stop them.

“Why is life so cruel?” you whispered. “If I’d gotten here sooner… maybe those kids would still have a dad. Maybe their mom would still have her leg.”

Your voice broke.

“It’s my fault. I should’ve died with you. I miss you so much.”

Your words dissolved into quiet, broken sounds.

Then—

A presence beside you.

You looked up.

Sanemi was kneeling in front of the shrine.

Bowing.

When he straightened, there was no glare. No sharp edge. Just something raw and unguarded in his eyes.

“Let’s get some sleep, y/n,” he said quietly.

He held out a hand.

You took it.

He helped you up, then turned and walked to his cot without another word.

Flames Resolve (Sanemi x feisty jokester fem reader)

Chapter 4

You were discussing combat techniques with the Mist Hashira, Muichiro, when your crow appeared screeching.

"You and the Wind Hashira are going to track a demon down in the forest town west," it squawked.

You shot Muichiro a despairing look. "I don't even think the demon will get to see me. Shinazugawa will kill me on the way there," you muttered, shuffling to the gate.

You saw the Wind Hashira leaning against a tree, eyes closed. Perfect opportunity.

"Sneak attack," you whispered, lightly karate-chopping his head.

He opened one eye slowly, unimpressed. "Really? That's your opening move?"

You grinned, stepping back. "What can I say? I like to startle the enemy."

""Enemy? You're talking about me, aren't you?" he muttered, clearly annoyed.

Tilting your head, trying not to laugh. "I guess I'm in double trouble today."

He scowled, arms crossing. "We have a job. Focus."

"Fine, fine," you said, mock-saluting. "Lead the way, oh scary Windy."

He blinked, then muttered, "Don't call me that."

"I'm going to call you that forever," you said, smirking, and off you went.

The forest was quiet, too quiet. Leaves rustled underfoot as you and Shinagawa approached the village where a demon had been preying on travelers.

"Stay alert," he muttered, voice rough, eyes scanning the treeline. "These things aren't patient, and neither am I."

"I've noticed," you replied, crouching into position. "But don't worry. I can handle myself."

"Don't get in my way," he warned, sharp.

"I'd never dream of it," you said, sidestepping past him. "Mostly because I enjoy watching you squirm."

His glare sharpened. "Squirm? You'll be the one squirming if you get too cocky."

"Oh, you wound me," you said dramatically. "Here I thought we were partners."

"I didn't say that," he muttered, scowling. "Partners don't usually get in my way."

"Well, lucky for you, I'm predictable," you said, hopping over a fallen branch. "Mostly predictable. Kind of like a cat... but faster and way cuter."

"You are so insufferable," he growled, wiping sweat from his brow.

"And yet, here you are," you teased, flicking a leaf at his face. "Still alive. Still grumpy. Still hot."

He froze, eyes narrowing. "What did you just say?"

"I said... keep your hair out of your eyes. You look stupid when it's plastered to your face." You grinned innocently. "Also grumpy pants, but mainly the first part."

"You're impossible," he growled, taking a sharp step forward. "I swear, one more word and—"

Three demons chose that moment to lunge from the shadows, claws out, teeth bared.

Shinagawa moved first, a blur of wind and steel. You matched him, sidestepping and striking in rhythm with his attacks.

Two down. One to go.

"You're fast," he growled.

"And you're sloppy if you don't expect me," you replied, striking the remaining demon's shoulder. It screeched, staggering back.

He glanced at you, scowl still on his face but something like begrudging admiration flashing in his eyes. "You... you actually know what you're doing."

"I told you," you said lightly, dodging his next swing that severed the last demons head off. "I can handle myself. But thanks for the vote of confidence, grumpy."

His jaw twitched. "I'm not grumpy!"

"You're definitely grumpy," you teased, stepping around him to attack a demon sneaking up from another angle. "But I like that about you."

"Don't say that!" he barked, swiping at the demon while trying not to meet your eyes.

The fight ended quickly, coordinated and efficient. The four demons fell, and you both breathed heavily, side by side.

Shinagawa's usual scowl was still there, but softer now, like a mask he could not fully maintain. "Huh. You... you really are as strong as Rengoku said," he muttered.

You tilted your head, faint smile tugging at your lips. "Strength is nothing without control," you said. "You've got plenty, but sometimes you forget that."

His glare softened into a spark of acknowledgment. "Control, huh? Yeah. Maybe you're worse than I thought," he admitted, voice rough, almost teasing.

You grinned. "Worse? You're lucky I am keeping you around, Windy."

He scowled, but the corner of his mouth twitched. "Sure."

You snorted quietly. "Yeah, yeah. But admit it. You like fighting with me."

"I... don't," he said quickly, then groaned when you rolled your eyes. "Shut up mouthy brat."

“Awe, you love me. Just admit it muscle brain.” you said while ramming an elbow into his side and skipping off.

“Damn women” Sanemi grumbles.

As you walked back to the village, side by side, the forest felt lighter. Shinazugawa did not speak much, but the occasional muttered insults and eye rolls were almost endearing.

Flames Resolve (Sanemi x feisty jokester fem reader)

Chapter 3

The next day, the training grounds were alive with the sounds of clashing blades and shouted instructions. You were paired with Shinagawa for sparring. From the moment he stepped forward, there was that familiar sharp edge in his eyes—a dangerous intensity that made everyone instinctively take a step back.

“You’re gonna regret stepping up,” he said, his voice low but brimming with aggression, swinging at you with more force than necessary.

You dodged lightly, letting your blade tap against his, teasing him with a small grin. “Oh? I think you’ll regret underestimating me more,” you replied, voice calm but playful. “Besides, shouldn’t you save all that anger for the demons?”

He froze, jaw tightening, clearly not used to someone matching his ferocity with humor. “You think you can joke around with me?” he snapped, lunging again.

This time, you met his attack head-on. You danced around his strikes, deflecting, countering, and slipping past his guard with a fluidity that made him grunt in frustration.

“Damn it!” he growled, trying to pin you with a forceful swing. But instead, you sidestepped, spun, and in one swift movement, ended up on top—pinning him to the ground.

His hands pushed against your shoulders, struggling, chest heaving, eyes wide in disbelief. “W-wait! What the—get off me!”

You leaned down slightly, a teasing smile tugging at your lips. “I’m not moving until you admit that I can hold my own,” you said sweetly, your tone almost sing-song, but the firmness in your stance left no room for argument.

You couldn’t deny anymore that he was handsome. Shinagawa’s face flushed, a mix of embarrassment and frustration. His purple eyes glimmered in the light and his white hair tosseled from training.

“I… I’m not saying anything!” he barked, squirming, but the effort was useless. You held him with ease, your playful grin widening.

“You know,” you said, lightly poking his chest, “for someone so aggressive, you really don’t handle being pinned very well.”

His ears burned red, and he snapped, “I-I’m aggressive! That’s… that’s my business!” His voice cracked slightly at the end, betraying the tension beneath his bravado.

You tilted your head, playful but sharp. “Your business, huh? Then maybe you should learn to control it instead of yelling at everyone and expecting them to tiptoe around you,” you said. “Because I won’t. Not me.”

He froze. His usual snark faltered under your calm, unwavering gaze. “Ugh… fine… you win this round,” he muttered, his voice low, a little flustered, eyes avoiding yours. You could catch the faintest twitch in his jaw, like he was half-annoyed, half-impressed.

You booped him on the nose “Yay, he listens, good boy.” teasing him and patting his head before you finally released him, brushing the dirt off your uniform. He scrambled upright, still glaring, still flustered, but the way he avoided meeting your eyes made it painfully obvious—you’d rattled him. “I’m not a damn dog” he mutters under his breath.

Flames Resolve (Sanemi x feisty jokester fem reader)

Chapter 2

The next morning, you arrived at the training grounds. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and dew. Today was your first session with the Hashira.

Your sparring partners greeted you warmly. The Sound and Love Hashira laughed easily as you exchanged blows, offering pointers with patience and good humor. Their movements were precise but relaxed, and for the first time in months, you felt a small smile tug at your lips. Training could be… fun.

Well, that was until it was time to train with the Wind Hashira.

Sanemi was already there, arms crossed, hair messily sticking out in every direction as usual. His eyes scanned you critically, sharp as a hawk. “Alright,” he said flatly. “Show me what you’ve got.”

You squared your stance, calm and steady. “Noted,” you replied.

The moment he lunged, everything changed. Wind, speed, and raw power—they hit you all at once. Every strike demanded precision, every feint tested your reflexes. Sanemi’s expression didn’t change, but you could feel the weight of his expectation pressing down like a storm.

“Again!” he barked, as you barely sidestepped a spinning kick.

You wiped the sweat from your brow, heart hammering, and lunged forward, matching him as best you could. It was grueling, exhausting, and exhilarating all at once. Every fiber of your being screamed to push harder, to prove yourself—not to him, but to yourself and to Rengoku.

And as the sun rose higher, burning through the morning mist, you realized something: surviving his training wouldn’t just make you stronger physically. it was shaping the steel inside you.

A month training with each hashira and going on missions. But everytime you had to be with the wind hashira it felt impossible. Everyone else had praised your skill in their own way except for him. So the training with him was brutal.

Hours passed, and the training didn’t let up. Sanemi’s strikes came like gusts of wind—relentless, sharp, and punishing. Each time you blocked or dodged, he would immediately counter, testing your limits. Sweat stung your eyes, your arms ached, and yet, you refused to give in.

“Focus! Faster!” he barked, spinning around in a blur. You ducked under his elbow, rolled, and countered with a strike aimed at his side. He barely moved, smirking as if it had barely touched him.

“Not bad,” he muttered, almost begrudgingly. “But—ugh—don’t get cocky.”

Again and again, you clashed. Each strike, each block, each maneuver tested your stamina, your precision, your mind. And slowly—bit by bit—you started to anticipate him. His wind-like movements, his sharp feints—they were no longer completely unpredictable.

Then, it happened.

Sanemi lunged with his usual speed, expecting you to dodge. Instead, you sidestepped and delivered a quick strike that tapped his shoulder. Another strike, another, until finally, a small but clear blow made him stumble back.

“Ughhh!” he growled, the sharp edge in his voice betraying his irritation. His hair fell into his face as he wiped sweat from his brow. “Hah… how—how are you even doing that?”

You didn’t say a word, just met his glare with steady eyes. “I’m doing what I need to do,” you replied, breath heavy but calm.

Sanemi’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, he looked almost… impressed. “Don’t think this means I’m going easy on you,” he snapped, but there was a hint of something else beneath the frustration—respect, begrudging and hard-earned.

The training continued, but now the dynamic had shifted. You weren’t just reacting anymore—you were taking the fight to him. And for the first time, Sanemi’s gruff exterior seemed just a little less unshakable.

Steam drifted lazily over the surface of the hot spring, curling into the crisp morning air. You sank into the warm water, letting it seep into your tired muscles after another long day of training. Mitsuri floated in beside you, her hair damp and sticky against her shoulders, a bright smile on her face.

“Ah… this feels so nice,” she sighed, stretching her arms. “I could stay here forever.”

“Yeah,” you murmured, closing your eyes for a moment. “It’s… nice to just… relax for once.”

Mitsuri tilted her head, smiling softly. “You push yourself so hard, Y/N. You really should rest more. Even the strongest fighters need a break sometimes.”

You let out a quiet laugh, letting the warmth of the water calm you. “I know. I just… training is all I really think about these days. But yeah, this… is good.”

There was a pause, the kind that wasn’t awkward, just… easy. Mitsuri’s gaze lingered on you, sparkling with curiosity.

“So… um…” she said after a moment, her tone light, teasing just a little, “do you… think anyone’s… cute?”

You froze, the question hanging in the steam. “Uh… I… nobody,” you said quickly, shrugging, trying to make it casual.

But in your mind, your eyes immediately flicked to the Wind Hashira—ugh, gross… no, don’t think that… he’s infuriating, impossible, a total pain—and you flushed at the thought, quickly trying to shove it away. Why is my brain like this?

Mitsuri’s grin widened slightly, reading your subtle flinch. “Nobody? Really?”

“Really,” you replied evenly, keeping your voice calm, though your brain was racing. Gross, gross, gross… how am I even thinking about him right now?

Mitsuri tilted her head, still smiling, clearly enjoying the tiny reaction. “Mm-hmm… alright, if you say so.”

You let out a quiet sigh, leaning back into the water, thankful the topic seemed to drop—for now. But even as you sank into the warmth, your thoughts betrayed you, circling back to Sanemi. You clenched your fists lightly under the water. I don’t like him. He’s… he’s the most annoying, infuriating, impossible… attractive idiot I’ve ever trained with.

Mitsuri splashed lightly in your direction. “You’re quiet now… hmm. Something on your mind?”

You shook your head, forcing a small, neutral smile. “Just… enjoying the water. That’s all.”

Flames Resolve (Sanemi x feisty jokester fem reader)

Spoilers for past mugen train and for sanemi’s backstory

Chapter 1

You look down. Blood. Blood is everywhere. You hands, your bed, the walls. You can’t move. All you hear is the repeated thud and crunching coming a few feet away from you.

“Daddy?” is all you manage to say with your voice breaking.

The humanoid creature over your father’s body turns its head toward you. Bones cracking. Your father’s leg in its hands. Then it lunges towards you, you feel a sharp pain on your leg. You squeeze your bunny and sob.

But the thing holding you right now isn’t the monster, it’s a man who shone brightly like the sun.

You sit up, gasping for air. Just another nightmare. You get ready for a day of training when your crow arrives “Go to the main estate, special training for the advanced. I repeat go to the estate for training.” You head on your journey saying goodbye to the sweet older lady that owns the ramen shop on the edge of town as she gave you a look of pity.

On your walk you begin to think about everything. The house that once felt so full and bright was now empty. Kyojuro Rengoku was dead. You had locked yourself away in the dojo training mercilessly for two months. You couldn’t stop or slow down otherwise your thoughts would haunt you. Memories would suffocate you.

You remembered how kind he was. How he immediately treated you like a little sister.

His father had taken you in, hes the one who saved you that night. Juro was basically your older brother, your best friend. Now that was taken away from you too.

You were his Tsuguko, you couldn’t throw away all he taught you. You must remain strong.

When you entered the gates, your eyes were already puffy and red. You were sure you looked tired, but this was the first time you had left town since it happened.

Two young daughters escorted you to a room with the Hashira. Everyone looked at you, clearly surprised to see you.

“Y/N, thank you for coming. Please, sit,” said Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

You bowed once. “Thank you for inviting me, Oyakata-sama,” you replied and took a seat quietly at the back.

“I know Rengoku’s death has affected everyone deeply,” Oyakata-sama began. “However, we need someone to fill the position of Flame Hashira. That is why I invited Y/N today. She trained under Rengoku and is highly skilled.”

Your jaw tightened. “Oyakata-sama, I will not replace him,” you said, voice steady and eyes calm. “I can honor him. I can continue what he started. But I am not Rengoku, and I never will be. His strength, his courage, that was his alone.”

Oyakata-sama nodded. “No one asks you to be him. You were chosen because of your own skill and judgment.”

Sanemi slammed his hand against the wall, startling everyone. “What the hell is this?” he barked. “You think sitting there quietly and saying ‘I won’t replace him’ is enough? That anyone will respect you just because you say so?”

You met his glare evenly. “I’m not pretending, Wind Hashira. I don’t need to be him. I’ll do what needs to be done.”

“Don’t give me that calm, measured crap,” he snapped, stepping closer, eyes burning. “He was the Hashira. And now you think you can just sit there like it’s nothing?”

You tilted your head, voice low but sharp. “Sitting quietly is called listening. You might try it sometime.”

Sanemi blinked, caught off guard, and his lips pressed into a thin line. “Bold words for someone your size,” he muttered, still glaring.

“I’m not trying to impress you,” you said, meeting his stare evenly. “I’m trying to do my job. And yelling at me won’t change that.”

Sanemi’s jaw clenched. He looked like he wanted to argue, but after a long pause, he muttered begrudgingly, “Fine. Let’s see if you can actually handle it.”

Oyakata-sama’s gentle smile remained. “Go forward, Y/N. Do your best. The Corps trusts you.”

You nodded once, expression unreadable but firm. The weight of the title settled on your shoulders. Heavy, but steady.

Sanemi fell into step beside you as you left the room. “Just so we’re clear,” he said, voice sharp, “if you screw up, I’m dragging you out myself.”

You let out a humorless chuckle, faintly amused. “Noted, Wind Hashira. But if you want to keep up, you’ll have to try harder than that.”

He smirked, a little reluctantly. “We’ll see.”