Chapter Text
The sun was already high in the sky when Kyojuro and Mitsuri finally managed to leave the Butterfly Estate. Shinobu had mainly preceded them, and although the intention from the beginning had been to leave immediately, in the end, Rengoku had had to wait for the medications which Kanroji had to undergo.
He had tried to convince her to rest - the wound sustained against the Upper Moon 6 wasn’t severe, but her body still needed rest - but the Love Pillar had been adamant: she had to be there to help him. Otherwise, she would never have forgiven.
Kanzaki, despite the nervousness of the presence of a demon, had taken care of Mitsuri, and when the medications on the Love Pillar had been completed, Akaza had taken his place inside Nezuko's box and with a “Good luck, Rengoku-san!” yelled loudly by Kamado, Kyojuro had marched towards the Headquarters.
It had been a busy morning - actually, it seemed to Rengoku that he hadn't had peace for more than twenty-four hours since it all started when Akaza had run away from his house - and only at that moment did Kyojuro realize how much each event had followed one another without leaving him any peace or moment to think. He would have done anything to be able to stop and push away the growing tightness in his chest.
He swallowed almost without realizing it and stroked with his fingers the leather straps of the box that weighed on his shoulders. It was smooth to the touch, and the weight of the box couldn't help but be strange for Kyojuro. He wasn't used to traveling like that, and subconsciously, he feared that Akaza would be uncomfortable or that he would feel trapped .
On the other hand, the demon was locked up between those four walls, they were going towards the Demon Slayer Headquarters, and they were in the sun... from every point of view, that journey seemed like a death sentence.
Rengoku stiffened again, finding it nearly impossible to keep in touch with reality and with that pinch of hope he was chasing. He pursed his lips and tried to put on his usual smile to think at least of the present, not the uncertain future that awaited them.
«Is everything okay, Akaza?» Kyojuro asked, reaching behind him to touch the bottom base of the box.
«Kyojuro… I'll never do it again. It's agony…» complained Akaza, and the Pillar nevertheless couldn't help but burst out laughing at the tone the demon had used.
The situation wasn't amusing, but by laughing like that, Rengoku hoped to cover his fears and uncertainties... but nothing could stop him from realizing, once again, that those could be the last moments he could spend in Akaza's company. And he wanted more than anything for them to be positive.
“Don't think about it!” he cried in his mind.
He had to push those thoughts away and ensure their chances of survival. Rengoku had to do it to encourage Akaza and keep himself from falling into the abyss that was opening under his feet.
However, it seemed impossible because his thoughts didn't want to give him peace.
What would have happened if the situation hadn’t evolved well? What if that little hope was extinguished?
Rengoku wanted to convince himself that the Head of the Ubiyashiki’s family would have been condescending towards them, that Kagaya would be willing to give the demon a second chance… but at the same time, the Pillar couldn't help but think of a future where Akaza was no longer present.
He felt his chest freeze at the thought, followed by the need to reject that hypothesis, but Kyojuro had to be realistic. Ubuyashiki might not be lenient. He could have decreed Akaza's death, and… what would have happened?
Would Akaza have defended himself, making a massacre, or… would he have accepted the sentence just as he had tried to kill himself?
Kyojuro began to breathe more heavily and forced himself to hold his breath to regain control. He knew the answer to those questions because Akaza had done nothing but remind him of what he could never forget: Koyuki was supposed to be his only priority.
If there were no way to save Akaza - and the very thought-sickened Rengoku - then both of them would have to think about the good of the child.
The scenario that was unfolding before him was unmistakable. To not have to cut his throat and thus atone for his betrayal, Kyojuro could have requested the mercy of the Leader of the Demon Slayers, renounced the Pillar’s title, and withdrew entirely from the scene, hiding like an outcast.
The thought made his stomach tighten, but on the other hand, Rengoku knew he had already cast too much shadow and dishonor on his family to continue wearing the haori of the previous Flame Pillars with pride.
It was natural for him to look for Koyuki, who was sleeping happily asleep in Kanroji's arms at that moment.
He was ready for anything for that little girl - for his daughter . Kyojuro was also willing to give up the life he had dreamed of since childhood. It seemed impossible to him, almost a nightmare, but at the same time, it appeared practically acceptable because he had someone to protect at any cost.
The problem, if you call it that, was that Kyojuro couldn't help but include Akaza as one of the people he wanted to protect. He was part of the family , somehow, and he neither wanted nor could accept raising Koyuki without the demon.
He grimaced again, and once again, he tried to push away those thoughts that probably wouldn't have led him anywhere.
«Rengoku-san? Everything is fine?» Mitsuri asked, probably noticing his growing discomfort.
The Love Pillar wasn't doing anything to hide her concern, and Kyojuro, out of pure instinct, forced himself to smile again to try to answer her as convincingly as possible.
«Of course, everything is fine!»
«Kyojuro.»
Akaza's voice from inside the box reached their ears low and nervous, and it was easy for Rengoku to interpret it as a: “You don't know how to lie.”
It was absurd how now it was enough for the demon to hear his voice to realize his lies - or rather: his attempts to hide the truth.
He sighed. The Flame Pillar couldn't hide, and it was also stupid to try not to look concerned… he'd tried, but he'd done a terrible job.
«Fine… I know very well that it's not a good situation,» he found himself forced to admit. «I was thinking… about the future.»
«Everything will be fine! I'm sure!» Mitsuri immediately exclaimed to encourage him. «Oyakata-sama is a good man! And it's not the first time he has forgiven someone who committed murder!»
Kyojuro wrinkled his nose, catching Kanroji's hint without any problem.
«I understand your intentions, but Akaza is a demon. Uzui, on the other hand, found himself in a complicated situation. His own family had forced him to do those acts,» Rengoku reminded her.
Even if they didn't discuss it openly, everyone knew what had driven the Sound Pillar to abandon his clan and family. Tengen was still haunted by those memories and the weight of his actions. They were nightmares that would hardly have left Uzui… but to compare him to Akaza? No, it wasn't possible.
Kanroji pouted but didn't seem to want to give up.
«I know, but…» for a moment, Mitsuri seemed tempted to argue, but in the end, she couldn't speak.
They could both cling to justifications such as 'Kibutsuji Muzan forced him', but at the same time, they knew that this was and would remain only a half-truth. Akaza couldn’t be excused for what he had done in the past.
«At least… try to believe that everything will be fine,» resumed Kanroji in a heartfelt tone. «I want to believe everything will be fine for both of us! I'm sure Koyuki-chan wants the same, too, so… don't lose hope. I'm with you, actually: I'm with you two!»
Mitsuri's cheeks had gradually colored red, and Kyojuro tried to give her another smile, grateful for the young woman's courage and trust.
The Love Pillar had always had her heart in the right place. Perhaps Kanroju could appear naïve, but she was among the kindest people Rengoku had ever known, and he was pleased and relieved to have her as an ally in that battle.
Rengoku looked down at the sleeping child's face again and became more serious.
«I'm doing it for her,» he said, immediately hearing a growl of affirmation from Akaza, who seemed determined to remind him that he should always and only think of Koyuki and no one else.
Between brief chatter, they continued the road that separated them from the Ubuyashiki Estate, and the journey, fortunately, turned out to be devoid of surprises or unforeseen events. The two Pillars managed to reach Headquarters in less than two hours - they couldn't afford to go any faster with a little girl.
Koyuki had woken up in the meantime, and Kanroji had done her best to keep her calm. Still, it immediately proved to be a rather tricky task on the trip because the baby was hungry and needed to be changed.
Perhaps it had to take care of Koyuki that allowed Kyojuro, once inside the Ubuyashiki home, to find a sort of mental balance that, for a moment, he had risked losing upon entering the property.
He knew that all the other Pillars were already there, discussing what he had done and how to deal with Akaza. They had probably already found him guilty - Kyojuro wouldn’t have lied: he would have done the same if there had been someone else in his place -, and somehow Rengoku felt he wanted to avoid that meeting as much as possible.
With Koyuki in his arms, Kyojuro gave Mitsuri the baby bottle and the formula milk, requesting to prepare it in the kitchens while he would instead change Koyuki in one of the bathrooms.
Rengoku knew the Ubuyashiki Estate well by now, so it wasn't difficult for him to reach his destination without making encounters.
The bathroom he had chosen as a refuge was located on the west side of the house and was equipped with an internal water system typical of Western culture. Although the Ubuyashiki was extremely tied to tradition, they had begun to provide their home with 'small Western touches' since the Meiji era. They were conveniences that had proved to be almost necessary to facilitate the life of the Heads of families, especially for the final stages of their illness.
Kyojuro had always been intrigued by 'modern discoveries' , but right now, he didn't linger too long to observe the details. He pulled the window curtains, and only after ensuring no sunlight entered - luckily, they were on the west side of the house - did he put the box on the ground to allow Akaza to go out.
The wooden door opened with a slight creak, and, with circumspection, the demon took his first steps inside the room.
He was tiny , Rengoku thought immediately, looking at Akaza's shrunken but familiar body.
The demon's eyes in his small face looked almost giant, and the lashes seemed even thicker than usual. His musculature had adapted to that new shape, erasing all traces of muscles to make room for more delicate and softer shapes.
He looked like a child, a bit like when Nezuko assumed that form, and Kyojuro had thought it even before leaving the Butterfly Estate, and he couldn't help but think it even at that moment: Akaza was cute.
Even in his adult form, the demon had delicate and youthful features, but Akaza was almost adorable in this condition.
Rengoku kept those considerations to himself but tried to imprint that aspect in his mind as much as possible, aware that Akaza would no longer accept travel that way.
“Always if there will be a way to travel together again,” a small voice suggested maliciously. Kyojuro, even if sickened by that thought, tried to concentrate again on Akaza, who had moved away from the box, holding his pants with both hands.
He was wearing his usual clothes - the little pink haori and the wide cream-colored trousers - and it had been a surprise for both Rengoku and Kanroji to discover that those clothes were an extension of the demon's body. Akaza didn't know exactly how it worked - or so he said - but he explained that he had always been able to regenerate his clothes with a little concentration.
Koyuki resumed crying, perhaps annoyed by the silence and the tension created, and without speaking, Akaza immediately resumed his adult form. Kyojuro had to admit that seeing him again with that familiar aspect was almost reassuring. The only note out of place - but no less pleasant or fascinating - were the scars and golden marks that had remained on Akaza's body even after recovering from the curse by Muzan.
He opened his mouth but realized he didn't know exactly what to say or ask. In reality, Rengoku had many questions on his mind and just as many thoughts that he wanted to share with the demon, but at that moment, nothing seemed important to him.
«… Kanroji is heating milk in the kitchens,» commented the Pillar at the end, cradling the baby.
Akaza nodded, remaining silent, then approached him. His serious expression softened as he looked at the little girl, and Kyojuro couldn't help but be almost fascinated by the demon's eyes, now devoid of kanji.
"They're not just yellow," Rengoku realized as he took a closer look at them.
Without those marks, it was possible to see shades in Akaza's irises, such as orange and amber. They were warm, pleasant colors, contrasting with the cool blue sclera and pale skin.
«If you want... can I take care of her?» the demon asked, glancing at him and rousing Kyojuro from his thoughts. The Pillar read numerous implications in that simple request that, usually, Akaza would never have made.
During the demon's visits, it was Akaza who was in charge of changing the baby, which had become a kind of silent agreement between them. However, being in that place, with a sentence weighing on both their necks, made Akaza almost more insecure.
«You are better than me, aren't you?» Rengoku answered, instinctively trying to ease the tension.
Akaza smiled, almost relieved, and after taking the bag with the extra stuff for Koyuki that Kyojuro had brought with him, the demon could get to work washing and changing her. He moved with his usual confidence, and Rengoku couldn't help but find it reassuring to see him perform those gestures that had become familiar to both of them.
Koyuki, in turn, showed herself satisfied with the treatment. She immediately began to mumble, continuing to address the demon calling him “ Papa” .
Kyojuro couldn't deny it: hearing her say that word had been a surprise.
For some time now, Senjuro had started trying to teach the child sounds and words, and his brother often indicated Kyojuro using that term.
He had been waiting for that moment for weeks, and even if Akaza had been the recipient of that word, Rengoku didn't feel offended or disappointed. On the contrary, he had found it exciting.
Nausea, however, made him tense again.
It would have been nice if that moment of intimacy with Koyuki - her first true word, the fact that she recognized one of the two as a parental figure - had happened at another time. While they were alone in his room, playing with the little girl and chatting... without the other Pillars watching them and without the fear that all of this might end.
«Kyojuro, stop thinking so hard,» Akaza commented without taking his eyes off the little girl.
«Forgive me if I'm worried,» he complained.
«Don't worry,» answered the demon. «If you and Koyuki are safe, I can accept everything.»
«The part of the tragic hero doesn't suit you!»
Akaza finally looked up at him.
«What can I say? That I'm ready to kill everyone in here? To kidnap you and the baby to live with you?» Akaza asked with an almost malicious smile. «I would be able to, and no one could stop me. You know this very well.»
«I didn't mean that!» Rengoku retorted, shivering. He didn't doubt Akaza's words, and he was sure that if only the demon had wanted no one there, he would have come out alive… and somehow Kyojuro knew that he was the one who had the power to make him or not to make a massacre.
His stomach clenched at the thought.
«Kyojuro, I made my choices. I got a second chance, and I intend to use it to keep you and Koyuki alive,» the demon resumed seriously, and the Pillar passed a hand over his face.
«I wish this survival plan of yours also included yourself,» he commented, exasperated.
Akaza didn't answer, instead preferring to remain silent to continue dealing with Koyuki. Kyojuro observed the little girl in turn, without, however, being able to speak again because, despite the absurd desire to express all his feelings and fears, he feared that any sentence could have turned into a goodbye.
He sighed once more and watched the demon lift Koyuki into the air as he finished changing her. The little girl started laughing, and Akaza gave her a small smile back - he was sincere and happy, but Rengoku immediately noticed a hint of sadness.
«Papa! Papa!»
«If I'm Papa , then who is Kyojuro, Koyuki? Mama?» the demon asked, pretending to be thoughtful.
The Pillar, despite the situation, couldn’t refrain from emitting an almost scandalized verse.
«No!»
« Ma-ma !» Akaza syllabuses, directed at the little girl looking at him with her mouth open, perhaps trying to understand what was being said to her.
«Akaza!I don't want her to call me Mama!»
«Papa! » Koyuki exclaimed instead, ignoring both of them.
Akaza giggled and pulled her back to his chest to hug her, then addressed the Pillar with a smug and mischievous smile.
«It was worth trying,» he decreed, and Kyojuro, perhaps because of that familiar exchange between him and the demon, couldn't help but laugh.
Rengoku found it liberating to allow himself that laugh, but unfortunately, his heart couldn't take the silliness, and soon his chest was no longer shaking with laughter but with sobs. He brought his hand to his mouth, trying to still the sound, and his vision blurred from the ever more copious tears.
Why did he have to fear so much for his happiness? Wasn't he allowed to be happy at least once in his life?
«Hey… Kyojuro…» Akaza immediately joined him and started stroking his back with slow circular movements.
Rengoku didn't push him away or try to stop him.
«Akaza... we have to get out of here together ,» he murmured, trying to appease the tears, which gradually seemed more hysterical and nervous than sadness.
He fully understood the implications of his statement, and he was sure that Akaza had somehow sensed them as well. He would never have had the courage to pronounce them openly because it was still so complicated to come to terms with that situation… but Kyojuro didn't want to give up his happiness.
His entire world was locked up in that bathroom, and he didn't want to lose it.
«Rengoku-san! Can I come in? I brought milk for Koyuki-chan!»
Kanroji's cheerful voice thankfully broke the moment, and Kyojuro, wiping his face with his uniform sleeve, tried to make himself presentable again.
«Yes, come in,» he said.
The door slid aside, and Mitsuri, baby bottle in hand, crept into the bathroom. She closed the fusuma behind her and addressed Akaza directly, her lips drawn into a nervous smile. The tension of the young woman towards the demon was evident, Kyojuro noticed once again, but Kanroji's need to show herself as their ally and not an enemy was equally clear. Mirsuri handed the baby bottle to Akaza, and the demon immediately muttered an embarrassed thanks.
Akaza settled the child better in his arms, and hungrily, Koyuki pounced on the bottle's spout as soon as it was close to her mouth.
«Everything is fine?» Kanroji asked apprehensively, obviously noticing Rengoku's red eye.
«I hope… I hope it gets better,» the Flame Pillar admitted, unable to hide his discomfort.
Mitsuri nodded.
«Everyone is there except Uzui-san for obvious reasons, and I think Shinobu-chan has already told what happened,» she explained.
«But I guess I also have to tell my version of the whole story…» Kyojuro commented, removing the patch from his eye to be able to wash his face and chase away the last traces of tears.
«Yes, and I will also tell what I saw and heard this night!» Mitsuri added decisively.
Rengoku closed his eye and nodded.
Their best defensive line was mainly based on the information Akaza had given about Muzan and the other Upper Moons. Sure, having Kanroji and Kocho as witnesses were helpful, but… would that be enough?
Kyojuro took a deep breath.
At that point, there was no turning back.
He opened his eye again with a more resolute expression and slammed his palms hard against his cheeks. The sound of that slap filled the bathroom. With his face tingling both annoyingly and pleasantly, Rengoku turned back to Akaza, who was staring at him with a serious and almost incomprehensible expression.
The Pillar tried to give him a more trusting smile, and, putting on the bandage again, he told himself that he had to face that mission head-on, as he always did. It wasn't like him to back down or let himself be put down, especially when he had too much to lose.
«I'm ready!» he declared.
«Are you sure?» Akaza asked him.
«I have to ,» the Pillar nodded, and the demon cocked his head to look at the little girl.
«Kyojuro. We're getting out of here together . You said so.»
..••°°°°••..
Akaza let himself be guided by Kyojuro and Mitsuri along the corridor of the Demon Slayer Headquarters, the home of the Ubuyashiki.
It was strange to be in a place that Muzan had sought for centuries, and however special and important it might appear, the demon couldn’t help but think of how much that house was... expected .
The house was undoubtedly rich and elegant but didn’t convey grandeur or danger. The sliding panels of the fusuma were painted with floral or animal motifs, and the air smelled of fresh fruit and flowers - not wisteria, though. The hardwood floor was clean and creaked only slightly under their footsteps.
It was the exact opposite of the Infinity Castle, whose labyrinthine structure had the task of oppressing those summoned inside.
On the other hand, this house seemed welcoming and warm to him, not threatening .
However, that feeling of peace didn't seem strong enough for him to banish the apprehension and tension completely. Akaza knew what he was getting into, but simultaneously, he felt like he was about to face the unknown.
The demon could clearly feel the fighting spirits of the other Pillars and their hostility, and just as intensely he felt his instinct kick and quiver at the idea of being in front of such strong warriors… but at the same time, he was also vaguely sickened by it.
Akaza didn't understand what was going through his head, but he was sure that the fear for Kyojuro's fate was much stronger than any other wish he had.
Much more important than stopping to think about the aftermath of those last twenty-four hours.
They found two young girls - probably twins and daughters of Amane, seen by the strong resemblance between them and with the wife of the head of the family - waiting for them in front of a sliding door.
They wore lavender floral patterned kimonos, and their faces wore relaxed and calm expressions as if they weren't the least bit concerned about the presence of a demon in their home.
They were weird, like Amane , Akaza considered. But he didn't care too much about their attitude or appearance. Because beyond the fusuma he could hear the voice of the Noisy Pillar and the presence of the other Pillars much more clearly.
They were separated only by that simple, flimsy sliding door.
Akaza pursed his lips and held Koyuki more securely to his chest - he had refused to leave her to Kyojuro, partly because the little girl helped him to keep calm and partly because he felt the need to protect her from those people who, for him were strangers as well as enemies.
«Kuina-sama, Kanata-sama,» Kyojuro greeted them with a bow, being immediately imitated even by Mitsuri.
The two girls, in turn, responded with a composed and polite bow.
«Oyakata-sama and the other Pillars awaited you.»
Rengoku straightened up and nodded. His face was resolute and courageous, but Akaza could see the tension in his movements.
The two girls let the fusuma flow, announcing their arrival to their father and the Pillars, closed inside that environment.
The room was large and lit by many scented candles. On one side were the Pillars, who had instantly stiffened with their entrance, and on the other, seated on a futon, was a pale-complexioned man flanked by Amane.
Although the instinct suggested Akaza look towards the Pillars and their fighting spirits, the demon's gaze was invariably attracted to the man. He immediately felt his stomach tighten and his blood freeze in his veins because, for a moment, he thought he could almost see Kibutsuji Muzan's face.
He instinctively took a step back, allowing a moment of panic to paralyze his body, but it was enough for him to continue observing the man's face to realize that there was no way he could have been Muzan.
The resemblance was great, but the features, although similar, were different.
In any case, the man needed no introduction. Akaza knew he was facing Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the general in charge of all the Demon Slayers... and, if he had to be honest: that wasn't the look the demon had imagined for such a prominent and vital figure for the Demon Slayers.
That man was weak.
The skin was pale, and the upper part of the face looked scarred with sores that seemed almost more profound due to the candlelight.
He was blind, Akaza also noticed, but that hadn't stopped Kagaya from turning his face towards them, assuming a welcoming and calm expression.
How could this man be in charge of the Demon Slayers?, wondered Akaza, surprised and confused.
«Thank you for coming so quickly,» Ubuyashiki welcomed them with a soft and relaxed voice which, however, didn't seem to hide the weight and tiredness that the body was feeling.
Although Akaza was still trying to understand how that man could be the Leader of the Demon Slayers, he couldn't help but immediately feel a sickness in his soul. He didn't believe it was possible, and honestly, it also seemed silly to him, but it almost came naturally to him to superimpose the weak figure of that man on that of his father.
He should have laid down, rested, and not exhausted himself like this, yet he sat and faced his duties with all the dignity he possessed.
Physically he might be weak, but not in spirit. That may be why he was able to command the Demon Slayers.
«Please take a seat,» continued the man, and then made the necessary introductions by addressing Akaza directly. «I’m Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the ninety-seventh Leader of the Demon Slayer Corps. I know you've already gotten to know my wife, Amane Ubuyashiki, at the Butterfly Estate.»
The demon nodded and then forced himself to voice his answer because he knew that the man, due to his blindness, would never be able to see him.
«Yes, I've known her,» the demon answered. «I’m… Akaza,» he added then.
It was strange how Ubuyashiki's voice had managed to erase much of the tension Akaza had felt upon entering that room.
Kagaya didn't possess a commanding or suffocating presence. He didn't inspire submission like Muzan, but the demon recognized a different strength in him and felt he had to respect him even if he wasn't a warrior - it was in those moments, Akaza thought he understood what Kyojuro meant when he spoke of different types of strength.
«Kyojuro, Mitsuri, I hope the trip went well,» Ubuyashiki continued calmly.
«Y-yes! Thank you, Oyakata-sama!» the Love Pillar exclaimed, sitting beside Shinobu.
Ubuyashiki coughed a little, and Amane, composed and elegant next to him, gently stroked his back. It was a familiar scene for Akaza, so similar to his life as Hakuji that he almost felt nauseous that he couldn't do anything.
«Shinobu has already told us what happened at the Butterfly Estate, but I think it's fair to ask you two to explain the events that led us to this night as well,» the man said, then allowing himself a long pause to catch his breath.
Was it really necessary? , Akaza wondered. He didn't want to escape the interrogation - and even if he wanted to, he knew it was inevitable anyway - but he was directing that thought to Ubuyashiki, whose health was corrupted by that disease.
He didn't have to get tired.
«Yes, Oyakata-sama,» Kyojuro replied, then turned to Akaza.
The demon pursed his lips, and only after looking down at Koyuki - who was staring at him in turn with her big innocent eyes - did he decide to speak. The Pillar could have done it, but they both knew that Akaza was the one who had to earn their trust.
«Months ago, I found this little girl and took her to Kyojuro,» he began.
«Found? Or did you kill her parents?» the Noisy Pillar immediately intervened, which seemed most combative and ready for combat.
Akaza stiffened, but Ubuyashiki's hushed voice immediately calmed the discussions in the bud.
«Sanemi, allow Akaza to tell his story. Questions are welcome, but I ask that you allow him to speak,» he said.
The Noisy Pillar wrinkled his nose but nodded.
«I apologize, Oyakata-sama…»
«Go ahead, Akaza,» Ubuyashiki encouraged him, and the demon tried to be a little more detailed in his story.
He wasn't good with words, he always preferred to make facts count more, but it was clear that it wouldn't be enough.
«I found the little girl because another demon had killed her parents,» he explained. «Koyuki's mother was a marechi , and this attracted the attention of a demon… I approached the house because I had heard that woman's screams and tried to save her.»
His statement generated an apparent wave of astonishment in the Pillars. It was Mitsuri, who already knew part of the story, who asked for further explanations - she was trying to help him, as she had done since they were at the Butterfly Estate.
«Why did you want to save her?»
In the past, Akaza wouldn’t have been able to answer that question, but in that instant, he had all his memories, and all those unanswered questions seemed to have found their place.
«I've never killed a woman since I became a demon,» he resumed. «Muzan has… granted me this privilege because there is no way I could even consider hurting a woman.»
«Impossible,» another Pillar contemptuously commented, his face hidden by bandages and an albino snake coiled around his neck. «Why couldn't you have killed women?»
«Because in the past, when I was still a human, I had failed to save… the woman who was to become my wife,» the demon admitted with difficulty.
Kyojuro jumped next to him. Akaza hadn't had the chance to tell him that story - he would have liked to, but there hadn't been time, and maybe Akaza wasn't even sure that he would be able to tell his whole story - but it was still clear that he was surprised by that claim as much as the other Pillars.
However, the demon tried to ignore them and started talking again.
«I wasn't with her when she was murdered, and… while I had no memory of my past, I always had the instinct to protect women in need. I have never killed or eaten women. Not even in the ranks of the Demon Slayers,» he repeated, trying to give more emphasis to that detail.
«Bullshit,» the Noisy Pillar muttered. Ubuyashiki instead nodded in sympathy.
«Several women in our ranks have reported in the past that they were spared by a demon whose skin was marked with lines resembling ink ,» the man commented. «At this moment, the stories handed down by my predecessors seem clearer to me. It was always you, Akaza. Right?»
Akaza couldn't help feeling vaguely embarrassed by those words and also by having to bare his most controversial actions, but Kyojuro's presence next to him continued to be somewhat reassuring.
«Yes… but I still came too late to save Koyuki's mother,» he continued, looking at the little girl again. «But I could save the little girl, and I only knew one person so good that he would surely take charge of a new mouth to feed. That's why I took her to Kyojuro.»
«Why him?» asked a boy in a calm tone.
He was very young, and his presence in that place undoubtedly made him one of the Pillars.
«Kocho-san said that you spied on him while he was hospitalized and that you continued to do so even while he was at his house,» continued the boy.
«I was intrigued,» Akaza admitted, it seemed like a silly question to him, but he still made an effort to answer. «I had never faced someone like Kyojuro before. In my eyes, he is an almost perfect warrior: his fighting spirit, style, and determination. The only step that separated him from perfection was his humanity. I wanted him to become a demon and fight me again.»
«So you were waiting for him to heal to fight him again?» asked Shinobu, who, like Mitsuri, Akaza knew he should consider her an ally.
«Exactly,» indeed, he replied. «But what I was doing was against the Muzan’s rules. I had orders to kill all Demon Slayers, but instead, I was spying on one... and when I brought Koyuki to him, the situation changed even more.»
He took another moment before he could continue with his story.
«Bringing Koyuki to Kyojuro, I had crossed the border imposed by my nature and by the orders given to me... but every night, it was always easier to continue to cross the door of his room,» he explained.
«And I admit I was always the first to open that door,» added Kyojuro. «I initially wanted answers, but I got used to his presence over time. And Akaza never acted violent or made me feel really in danger… it was easy to get used to his presence.»
«It was easy to get used to not being treated like a monster…» Akaza murmured in a lower tone, realizing how easy it wasn’t only to admit that detail and accept what had happened.
«What changed last night?» another Pillar asked. He was the most physically imposing, and the demon recognized him as a Stone Breather. In the past, he had faced several Demon Slayers capable of using that type of breathing, and all were characterized by the same fighting spirit that seemed as immovable as a mountain.
«The death of an Upper Moon,» Akaza answered promptly. «Somehow, perhaps due to a punishment by Muzan aimed at all demons, I recovered my memories and… for nothing in the world I could have remained at that being's side. I promised to protect Koyuki and Kyojuro, and when Muzan directly threatened Kyojuro… I acted accordingly . I betrayed Muzan and gave Kyojuro all the information I had.»
«Are you willing to provide them to us as well, Akaza?» asked Ubuyashiki.
«Yes,» nodded Akaza, and with a bit of nervousness, he began to repeat to everyone present what he had revealed to the Flame Pillar.
He spoke of Muzan's plans, the other Upper Moons, and all the details that might seem meaningless or that he needed to remember to add. The mention of Blue Spider Lily generated a slight hint of surprise in Kagaya, perhaps because of his dream that night.
When Akaza finished speaking, it was the Insect Pillar who said.
«I feel I can confirm some of Akaza's information regarding the Upper Moon 2,» she said, sharing with the others the identity of the demon who had killed his sister.
«Thank you, Shinobu,» Ubuyashiki commented in a soft tone. «And thank you, Akaza, for giving us all this valuable information. But I want to ask you a few more questions. Do you think Kibutsuji Muzan knows about your betrayal?»
Akaza pursed his lips. He was sure he had broken the bond, but… what had Muzan heard?
«I think he knows about it,» he replied, albeit uncertainly. «But he could also think I'm dead… I can't say for sure. The bond has broken, and it's as if I no longer exist for him. Mine is only a hypothesis, but he could think that instead of following his order, I preferred to kill myself. Then he would know of my betrayal and believe I died because the curse was supposed to kill me.»
«So you're ruling out that he knows about the information you just gave us?» Kagaya asked again.
The demon took a moment to think about it, then nodded.
«I can't say for sure, but I think so,» he declared aloud.
«Consequently, the attack on the Swordsmiths Village will take place in any case,» Ubuyashiki concluded gravely.
«Muzan is… superb . He believes in the superiority of demons. He would attack the Village even if he knew of my betrayal,» Akaza added.
«Thank you, you've given me a lot to think about,» Kagaya answered, and Akaza barely refrained from thanking him for allowing him to speak up.
It was clear that most of the Pillars there were hostile, but Ubuyashiki's calmness seemed to put a damper on everyone's agitation.
«Oyakata-sama! What are we going to do with the demon?» however, the voice of the Noisy Pillar broke that apparent stillness.
Kyojuro and Akaza both tensed at that direct question neither dared to ask.
They were also there for that reason, to find out their fate would be… but unconsciously, Akaza had hoped to postpone the sentence as long as possible.
«He should die,» declared the Pillar with the albino snake in a disgusted tone.
«I… I wish he were allowed to redeem himself!» Kanroji managed instead, raising his voice for everyone to hear clearly.
«I'm not saying this because of the demon or because I believe he can help us,» Shinobu intervened instead. «But I'm on Rengoku-san's side too. Also, I may add that Akaza-kun refused marechi blood , even when offered to him.»
«And even if it were true? He killed thousands of people!» retorted the Noisy Pillar.
«Rengoku is no fool. If he trusted that demon, he must have had a valid reason,» commented another Pillar that Akaza, through his fighting spirit, recognized as a Water Breather.
The Noisy Pillar tried again to assert his position, but a cough from Kagaya silenced him.
«My children… the information that Akaza gave us corresponds with that already in our possession. He has provided us with additional elements to help us against Kibutsuji,» patient Ubuyashiki declared. «I understand this goes against all Demon Slayer rules, but like I said… everything happening is bringing us one step closer to defeating Kibutsuji, and I don't intend to lose any of you in this war.»
«But the demon…»
«I can’t forgive him for his crimes, but I intend to give him a chance at redemption. If he wishes, he can join us in this battle.»
« I want to help ,» Akaza exclaimed promptly, attracting the gaze of everyone present.
Ubuyashiki smiled, but a new coughing fit forced him to silence, and once again, the demon felt the urge to join him and support him during that moment of pain due to his illness, as he had always done with his father.
«It will not be easy to gain the trust of the other Pillars, but I’m sure that… your support will be essential to lead us to victory,» Kagaya finally added, and Akaza nodded, feeling almost speechless.
«… thank you, Oyakata-sama,» Kyojuro murmured instead, unable to hide his relief.
Akaza, in turn, felt moved by that same feeling, but at the same time, he still felt too confused to understand what was happening entirely. Akaza turned towards the Flame Pillar, searching his face for answers, and was almost surprised to see him smile.
Did that mean… he and Kyojuro were safe?
He still felt the hostility and suspicion of the Pillars, but Kyojuro wouldn’t die for treason.
Akaza’s heart leaped into his throat at that thought. Wasn't he dreaming? Wasn't this just a cruel joke meant only to make him let his guard down?
«And what do we want to do? Let him go free? Oyakata-sama! We can’t!» the Noisy Pillar insisted, drawing Akaza's attention back to himself.
«You’re right, Sanemi,» Kagaya commented in a slightly more tired but thoughtful tone. «Akaza needs shelter.»
«Wha-? I didn't mean that!» the Pillar retorted, but Ubuyashiki didn't seem to care.
«You’re free, Akaza, but as a personal favor , I ask you to agree to stay in one of our safe houses . I don't intend to imprison you or limit your freedom, but I intend to win this war at any cost. And if your betrayal isn’t known to Kibutsuji Muzan, then I intend to hide this information from him as much as possible.»
«Are you… offering me a house?» the demon asked incredulously.
Honestly, he hadn't even thought about what would 'happen next' . His sole purpose was to ensure that Kyojuro and Koyuki were okay. Akaza had never included himself in the family picture - although he realized he wanted that more than anything.
As a demon, he had never had a home, and the only home he could think of was Kyojuro's, but it was apparent they couldn't live together.
«Exactly,» Ubuyashiki confirmed a few moments later. «My family owns some protected properties. You would have your freedom while remaining hidden from the eyes of our enemy.»
Our enemy.
Akaza could not describe the sensations he was experiencing, but he was sure he felt a vague spark of excitement at the idea of having found a common enemy.
«Obviously... I'm extending the offer to you too, Kyojuro,» added Kagaya. «From what you've told me, little Koyuki is as fond of you as she is of Akaza.»
The Pillar jumped upon hearing that proposal and looked first at the little girl and then again at the Head of the Ubiyashiki’s Family.
«I accept!» he exclaimed.
Akaza almost wanted to fight back, but Ubuyashiki started talking again. He didn't have the heart to stop him, given the effort, the man was making - the sooner they finished, Akaza told himself, the sooner Kagaya would rest.
In a calm and tired voice, the man spoke of the measures to protect the Swordsmiths Village, and Akaza, albeit still estranged from the evolution of events, allowed himself a deep breath.
He looked down at Koyuki and brushed a lock of her hair away from her face - Kyojuro had put the hair clip with the snowflakes the demon had given her. The little girl giggled at that soft cuddle, and the demon couldn't help but smile.
At that moment, Akaza wanted to say it was over, that he had nothing more to fear, but the demon knew he couldn't do it. Not as long as Muzan was alive.
That man was a threat to his child, and Akaza wouldn’t rest until Muzan died. However, it was almost spontaneous for him to slightly loosen the muscles he had kept tense up to that moment because he almost felt like he had won the most crucial battle of his life.
He closed his eyes, and the now familiar faces of people he'd loved in the past came back to him.
“I promise I will never disappoint anyone again.”
