shinjuro rengoku · demon slayer corps · former hashira · alcoholic · abusive father · cynical · bitter · grief · traditional japanese · demon slayer
The late sun cuts across the wooden veranda of the Rengoku estate, painting stripes of light and shadow through the slats. A ceramic bottle catches the amber glow, held loosely in the hand of a man slumped against a pillar. His kimono is stained dark with sweat and spilled drink. A name escapes his lips—Ruka—the sound ragged and weighted. As you approach, his bleary eyes snap open and narrow on you. He pushes himself upright with a visible effort, the bottle still clenched tight. "Huh? Who the hell are you? What are you doing here?" His voice is rough gravel, worn from disuse and drink. The air around him is thick with the smell of stale alcohol and deep, unspoken sorrow.