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Sanemi would laugh if he saw his friend in this situation: All 163cm of him carrying several boxes of dango, mochi, and whatever other treats Mitsuri decided to add, on the way to make a delivery to the Uzui residence because of course he could never deny her anything. He imagined the next time he was near her residence they would go out to eat, or he would make something for her. Instead, her latest letter detailed another rough encounter with several demons before her sword finally showed signs of wear and tear.
I’m bringing my sword for some repairs so I’ll be away for a few days :(. Please bring these treats to Tengen as a congratulations! Suma told me you were rude to them! You don’t want them to think you’re mean, do you?
"I don’t care if they think I’m mean." Obanai grumbles to himself as Kaburamaru coils around his neck, hoping to get comfortable while his friend runs his not-girlfriend’s errands.
Not one to disappoint Mitsuri, Obanai makes a quick detour to Tengen’s mansion so he could drop off the boxes and move on. As he came upon the residence, he could see the long-haired wife (Hinatsuru?) arriving at the same time from what he assumed was the nearby marketplace. He was hoping to drop these off with nothing more than a note, but she noticed him and gleefully waved him over.
‘Well, if she’s upset with me for my comments a few weeks ago she’s not showing it.’
“Iguro-san, yes? What are you doing with all of these boxes?” Hinatsuru asks.
“They’re from Mitsuri. She sends her congratulations to Uzui for his victory and retirement.”
Tengen’s wife gave him a kind smile and led him into the house towards their kitchen where the blonde-haired and short black-haired wife were waiting. Obanai similarly explains that he is doing a favor for Mitsuri, and all three of them look at each other and giggle, quickly moving the boxes out of his possession to the countertops as they whisper among themselves. It seems all three of Uzui’s wives were willing to let bygones be bygones as they marveled at the numerous treats Mitsuri packed for them. Uninterested, Obanai slowly made his way to the exit, knowing he should be able to get out of there quickly so long as-
“Iguro! Come and have a drink with me!”
‘Shit.’ Obanai internally curses, and Kaburamaru hisses at being disturbed from his rest. "Uzui I don't really have time to-"
"Nonsense! Suma just finished making tea and I was about relax and enjoy it." Tengen says as he rounds the corner into the kitchen. Obanai notices he's still covered in bandages, although the ones on his face are now replaced with a gaudy bedazzled eyepatch.
"While the girls look at the boxes of goodies you brought, we can have a chat!" Tengen cheers, dragging the reluctant serpent hashira to the back patio to sit. Not too far behind them, Suma carefully sets down a tray of two cups with a teapot before pouring a cup for them both, giving Tengen a kiss just under his eye patch before leaving the hashira to talk. Tengen grabs his cup with his right hand and slowly brings it to his lips while Obanai just sits, not in the mood to remove his bandages. They sit in a brief moment of calmness as the afternoon sun reflects on the small pond Tengen has in the back of his estate among a field of grass.
“So what’s up?!” Tengen exclaims, breaking the calmness. “No one’s really come by to see me yet while I’ve recovered. I’m surprised you were carrying all that by yourself. Where’s Kanroji?”
“She’s off at the swordsmith village for her break this time.” Obanai explains. “Sword finally broke on her last mission.”
“Ahh you must be hurting then.”
Obanai looks at Tengen confused. “Me?”
“My girls are always close to me, especially these days.” Tengen winked. “You and Kanroji’s districts aren’t even near each other’s, but when you get together you’re attached at the hip. The distance must weigh on your relationship a bit.”
“We’re not-”
“Kanroji is one of the best hashira we’ve seen in several generations.” Tengen continues. “Created her own breathing style, one of the few to survive Kyojuro as a teacher and is even flashier than I. She frequently gets dangerous missions, and unlike when I was a Hashira, you can’t always be there when your heart fights.”
“I don’t love-”
“I didn’t mention love, now did I?” Tengen smiles widely, enjoying the flushed look on his fellow Hashira’s face. Of course, he knows about the two lovebirds. As the only married man among the Hashira, he could easily spot a budding relationship; and the immediate change in Obanai's personality from the day Mitsuri joined was so severe it nearly gave him whiplash. He would tease him about it more if Obanai would talk more. And he gives great romantic advice!
Luckily Suma took a shine to Mitsuri immediately (he'll admit being a little jealous at first), and the Love Hashira found companionship in his wives. From going out to restaurants and hot springs to writing each other letters, his wives treated Mitsuri like a sister they never had. He recalls several occasions where the girls have blown him off to hang out with Mitsuri instead. Of course, they would never share the exact details of their conversations, but they would mention the frequency at which she brings his fellow pillar, and Tengen would frequently share his gossip about their interactions. Rooting for the two to figure out their relationship quickly became an Uzui family pastime.
Blushing and agitated, Obanai raises his voice. “Are you going to let me speak, you oaf?”
To Obanai’s chagrin, Tengen laughs loudly at his outburst but puts his hands up in surrender, letting Obanai know he won’t interrupt. The Serpent Hashira calms for a moment then sighs, looking wistfully over the water.
“Even if she does, I don't deserve her. You’re wrong about me deserving that happiness.”
“As I’ve been told several times: isn’t that for her to decide?”
Obanai shakes his head. “I can’t let her near me.”
“A little late, don’t you think?”
“You don’t understand. I’m...tainted.”
Obanai expects Tengen to interrupt him again, but the former sound hashira looks at him expectantly, allowing Obanai to take a breath before continuing.
“My family was a cult of only women. They lied, stole, cheated and killed all under the direction of a demon, and that demon made sure they did what it wanted in exchange for protection. No matter who they sacrificed it didn't matter so long as the Iguro thrived. My clan was nothing more than a blight on the region.”
“When I was born, I was the first male in almost 300 years. The demon took special interest in me, but wanted me to be…bigger once I was finally sacrificed. When I finally escaped, the demon killed the entire clan. Shinjuro saved my life and one of my cousins, but she didn’t want to see me. She said I had no purpose other than to be a sacrifice, that had I just accepted my fate the demon wouldn’t have killed so many people. She was right, I’m responsible for their deaths."
Obanai feels Kaburamaru coil closer around him, as if the animal can sense his distress and is trying to offer comfort.
"I love her. I love her smile, her laugh, the way she cares so much about everyone even if they don't fucking deserve it. I love seeing her happy and carefree, I love seeing her after every mission and that feeling of relief when I see her. Her light..." He swallows. "She is the light in my life. Being with someone like me would only dim it. I can’t do that to her. I don't deserve to be with her in this life. Not with the mark of such a terrible family on me. Not as a murderer.”
Obanai expects another pep talk from the sound hashira but is met with a silence that nearly makes him believe the sound hashira finally left. Obanai looks up then, surprised to see Tengen more solemn and contemplative than he can remember, looking out across the water. The former shinobi turns and smiles sadly at him, before turning his gaze back to the pond.
“The training we went through to become shinobi was grueling. Surviving is already a show of potential in my old village. I had nine siblings, and three died from the training before they even turned ten. Just before my marriage, my father put the remaining number of my siblings and I through a test of sorts. We were to kill some shinobi that were seen sneaking around the Uzui territory, at least that’s what I was told. It’s possible we were all given different orders that night. I was told to kill the ones in red masks, so I did. I didn’t realize until after I’d killed two of them that they were my brothers. One of my younger brother’s killed my remaining brother and sister, then it was just us. I remember trying to tell him what father had done, but he lunged at me.” Tengen bowed his head. “He knew the whole time.”
Obanai didn’t want to interrupt him, but he had to ask. “Did you kill him?”
“No.” Tengen answers. “I bested him in combat but refused to kill anymore. I should have killed them both that night, but I just couldn’t. My father only let us both live so he could have some kind of insurance in case one of us perished on a mission.” Tengen gives a rueful smile and laughs. “He was confident his test had chosen the best among the Uzui, and that my brothers and sisters were nothing but fodder. He had us married off soon after that.”
“He tricked you.” Obanai said quietly. “That’s…fucked.”
Tengen sounded like he was amicable with his family at least, minus his father. To be tricked into killing the only people you had close to you. Very fucked.
“I killed them, and like a coward I ran away instead of avenging them and clearing the world of the Uzui line forever. I only took the girls with me because I knew what would happen to them in response to my deflection…wouldn’t be positive.” Tengen shakily exhales. “The village would see them as “used” despite the fact we hadn’t done anything, married them off to someone like my brother, and forced them to produce children quickly.”
Whereas the Tengen made it through the entire account of killing his family with a calm that would startle even Gyomei, he finally starts the shake thinking of the cruelty the village subjected the kunoichi to, even more, so that he nearly left his girls to this fate because of his cowardice.
“I resolved to care for them for at least a little while, but I assumed they would find lives and leave me. I myself hadn’t committed to living very long. I was too much of a coward to end it myself. Too scared to go to hell, but I assumed something would get me after I made sure the girls were taken care of. I resolved to live until then. I only told them what happened a couple years later. I broke down, told them that I was a murderer and not the person that should be taking care of them, and yet they stayed anyway.” Tengen pauses, then a smile slowly forms on his face as he continues to gaze across the water. “Even as I fell in love, that shadow hung over me and I was afraid my father or brother would come back for revenge, or I would somehow hurt them or any children we had.” He quietly laughs. “I made them really upset with those thoughts. Makio beat that out of me quick.”
It’s at that moment, Obanai realizes Uzui’s gaze never wavered during his story. He follows his line of sight until he notices Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma across the pond, laying out a small picnic to eat Mitsuri’s treats while they gossip amongst themselves. Tengen takes in the scene with a smile on his face, content to watch them while Obanai continues to digest what he just heard.
“I’m not going to pity you or diminish what you said in comparison to mine, but before you condemn yourself, give the girl a choice, okay? I know you’re freaking out about what may be, or potentially messing up what you have. But don’t you think Mitsuri deserves to make that decision herself?”
The Uzui were likely no different than the Iguro: people that lied, stole, cheated, and killed. Both of them were condemned thanks to the actions of their families. Unworthy, unfit, and undeserving. Yet Tengen was able to find the confidence to live and love freely. Obanai admired him greatly for that. He can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, with the right amount of time, he could find it in himself to live as freely.
‘But not now, not until I defeat Muzan. If I survive, if we both survive, perhaps I can come to Uzui for more advice.’
Rather than give Tengen the satisfaction that he’s made him think positively about their talk, Obanai sneers at him. “There’s no way an oaf like you thinks about all this yourself. Your wives must influence you greatly.”
Tengen puts a hand to his chest, feigning being wounded as he chuckles. “I’m hurt that you believe I can’t think deeply.” He smiles. “But yes, Hina, Makio, Suma; they are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Probably the best thing that ever will.”
“Do you think you deserve them?” Obanai asks.
“Deserve? No.” Tengen responds. “But my girls deserve happiness and love, and I’ll be damned if I don’t deliver.”
Yes, Mitsuri does deserve happiness and love. But can that be him?
Can it ever be someone like him?
“I’ll…consider it, Uzui. Thank you.”