Chapter Text
Though the walls of the forest hut were sturdy, the pressing existence of the outside world eventually became too insistent to overcome. Kyojuro had become increasingly restless and Akaza was finding it more and more difficult to ignore the hunger gnawing at him from the inside. After all, the energy he had expended during their fight at the Mugen train, on top of the energy it had taken him to regenerate after the numerous bites Kyojuro had taken out of him, was no small amount.
The evening of the fifth day after they had emerged from the lusty haze that had enveloped them since Kyojuro awoke, they finally admitted that they could no longer stay hidden away from the truth of their situation. They had to face the outside world.
The glow of the early summer sunset was still faint on the horizon when they set out. It was balmy and warm and the ground under their feet smelled alive as the crickets began to chirp. Retracing the path of Akaza’s frantic flight from the Mugen train was easy. They traveled east for a short while and easily located the clearing and the train tracks. No trace of the crashed train remained, and Kyojuro’s sword was long gone, an outcome that they had expected, although they still found it to be worth checking.
Kyojuro knelt, flame-patterned haori fanning out behind him as he brushed fingers over deep slashes in the packed soil, which were the only traces left of the battle they had waged.
“It’s a pity,” Akaza murmured, crouching to examine the ground along with him. “That really was a lovely sword.”
Kyojuro sighed, “Indeed. I carried it with me through many battles and it served me well.” He glanced up at the east-facing horizon, remembering the glimmer of morning that had brought him hope in that final clash between him and Akaza. It was sobering to think that he could never set eyes on a sunrise again.
There was no point in lingering long by the train tracks. As the moon began to rise above the hills, Akaza guided them northwest until they found a narrow road leading them toward more populated areas. Akaza was the first to break the silence, which had fallen over them after leaving the site of their battle. He glanced at Kyojuro, whose eyebrows were furrowed and jaw tense, gaze loose on the path in front of them.
“Is it the loss of your sword that is bothering you? Or something else.”
Kyojuro exhaled, long and belying his discontent. “What isn’t bothering me at the moment.” His eyes met Akaza’s, “Akaza, I know you need to eat. How can I sit by and let you take a life? And what of myself? Will I starve if I don't consume human flesh as well? As I understand it, the demon girl who travels with young Kamado is able to abstain from human flesh and blood without starving because of demonic properties that are unique to her.”
Akaza glanced down at the ground, careful as he gathered his words, “Kyojuro, do you feel hungry now?”
Kyojuro slowed to a stop, blinking at the ground, “I… I don't think so.”
“And,” Akaza continued, “if you imagine eating a human, how does that make you feel?”
Kyojuro paled, hand going to his stomach as he shook his head, “Disgusted. The thought makes me feel sick.”
Akaza’s eyebrows raised, “Interesting. Well, most brand new demons wouldn’t feel that way. Most in your position would be incoherent with hunger, impossible to reason with, and impossible to restrain from hunting down the first human scent they come across.” He glanced up at the sky, “I’ve seen it before, and I’ve felt it myself. It’s an instinct so voracious that there is no thinking around it. No amount of self-restraint in the world can hold back a demon that is starving to death.”
Kyojuro met his eyes again, “But I was like that right in the beginning, wasn't I? I attacked you.”
“You did. But again, most demons would find no benefit from attacking another demon while crazed by hunger, in fact,I've never heard of one reacting as you did.” Akaza’s fingers went to his own neck, where Kyojuro’s fangs had ripped into him again and again, although there was no remaining mark to speak of. “There may very well be something different about you, but we won't know for sure until you are faced with human blood. Until then, try not to let the thought overwhelm you.”
Kyojuro hummed and began walking again. “You have avoided my first concern.”
Akaza acknowledged the blunt comment with a short nod, then, after a moment of silence, responded, “I don't have an answer yet.”
For a while after, the only sound was the crunch of dry dirt under their feet and the whispering of the night creatures that still dared to stir as the two demons made their way along the forest road.
Almost without realizing it, Kyojuro caught himself deep in thought about his first encounter with Akaza. It had been on a road much like this one, although it had happened far to the north of Tokyo if he remembered correctly.
His wounds after that battle had not been insignificant, and he remembered barely making it back to the corps headquarters without collapsing. The other hashira had been astounded to hear that he had met one of the kizuki, and even more astonished to learn that it was upper moon three. In fact, Kyojuro had received the faint impression that a notable few of the other hashira had been surprised he had survived the encounter at all. As strong as Kyojuro was, he was no fool. He knew that among the hashira, his strength was not unique, or even particularly noteworthy. Still, he never was one to feel bitter about it. That was the way of the world, and he was content to continue to work hard alongside his colleagues, who he had eventually come to think of as family.
The thought made his heart clench as he remembered that, at the moment, the corps and his father and brother thought him dead.
He glanced at Akaza, walking beside him, evidently also lost in thought. Kyojuro was under no delusions as to their immediate future. Akaza would starve without human flesh, a thought that still sickened Kyojuro, in spite of the fact thathe’d always known it to be true. Even as they walked, Kyojuro could see the slight tension in his companion’s movements that belied his concealed hunger. Akaza needed to eat.
Kyojuro averted his eyes, staring down the dark path before them. Akaza had killed scores of humans, without a doubt. Was there even the slightest chance that the demon slayer corps could ever reconcile with that fact? The more Kyojuro considered it, the more difficult it became to imagine any scenario where the corps might spare Akaza, and Kyojuro as well, once they discovered that he had not died but rather been turned into a demon. It was a fate far more cruel than death in their eyes. They would assume death to be preferable, and Kyojuro would have agreed with them not too long ago.
Had he died a human death, they would have mourned him and then continued on with a renewed vengeful passion to destroy demons, but as it was, Kyojuro feared that if he revealed the fact that he had chosen to live on as a demon, his once-family would never look at him the same again, even if they allowed him to live. Even Senjuro might fear him for the rest of his life.
The thought of losing Senjuro was a stab to the heart that easily rivaled the pain of Akaza’s fist in his gut.
But even so, Kyojuro was sure about at least one thing, although the thought brought him little comfort. Until he could no longer swing a sword, he would continue on as a demon slayer, whether the corps accepted him or not.
~~~
Akaza shivered. The night had become blustery as they walked, skittish clouds obscuring the moon and turning the air damp and cool. As the starlight became dappled, the wind changed, gusting from the north, and Akaza froze. The salty tang of blood was heavy on the air. Akaza felt his companion jolt at his side and Akaza shouted, grabbing for Kyojuro, but he was just a breath too slow as Kyojuro leaped into motion. The very hem of Kyojuro’s haori slipped through his fingers and out of reach.
Akaza spat out a curse and gave chase, but Kyojuro easily evaded his attempts to grab him and swiftly outpaced him as the road broke free of dense forest and gave way to wide open rice fields. Akaza wrinkled his nose, swallowing back a mouthful of saliva. The overpowering stench of human blood wafted from a small house on the opposite side of the fields, muddled by the smoky musk of demon.
“Kyojuro!” Akaza shouted, desperation bleeding into his voice as he realized he stood no chance at all of catching Kyojuro. “Stop! You don't want to do this!” Kyojuro didn't so much as glance back, even as panic began to well up in Akaza’s throat. “KYOJURO, STOP!”
But again, Kyojuro seemed not to hear him. Akaza could feel the vibration of Kyojuro’s dangerous growl wafting back on the wind, and, as the moon broke free of the clouds for a heartbeat, he thought he could see the glisten of his bared fangs for a moment, slick with drool as he snarled.
The two demons closed on the little farmhouse in mere moments, and Akaza could see the prone form of a dead human sprawled in the grass just feet from the half open shoji doors. A dark figure was crouched atop the human, blood dripping from its snarling mouth as it whipped its head towards them. Its yellow eyes widened as it beheld Kyojuro, appearing almost to be haloed in flames as he leaped from the road and fell towards the innocent body, where it lay in the grass. The strange demon swore and cursed, ducking and rolling away from the corpse as Kyojuro pounced.
Akaza skidded to a stop at the path to the house and watched in horror as Kyojuro landed on top of the human with a force that gouged the damp earth and blew the long grass flat. He hunched over the prone form, flame-patterned haori settling in the dewy grass and obscuring Akaza’s view of the body.
Helpless tears welled suddenly at the corners of Akaza’s eyes. Kyojuro would never be able to live with himself if he ate a human. Akaza knew it as well as anyone. He prepared to shout again, to run to Kyojuro, to pull him off the human, even if it meant fighting Kyojuro again, but before he could do any of those things, before the tears could so much as fall, Kyojuro stood.
It happened so quickly; Akaza nearly missed it. Kyojuro rose to his feet, fighting spirit flaring wildly, and struck at the yellow-eyed demon, who had been about to lunge at whoever had dared disturb its meal, slamming him to the ground. The wretched creature whimpered and gasped, curling in on itself and trying to crawl away. Kyojuro’s shoulders heaved, lips still drawn back in a ferocious snarl, and Akaza could see then that he had not so much as touched the human body, having carefully planted his feet on either side of it as he landed so as not to disturb it further.
Kyojuro was upon the demon before it could so much as rise to its knees, slamming it face-first back down into the dirt with a foot between its shoulders. Akaza could hear ribs snap and the demon under Kyojuro’s food wheezed.
Kyojuro paused then, staring blankly at the demon for a moment before turning to Akaza, who approached cautiously, still reeling from the sharp turn of events. He thought he knew what was the matter though, as he beheld Kyojuro’s hand on his empty sword sheath which was still strapped tightly to his hip.
Kyojuro blinked up at him, as if nothing at all alarming had just taken place, and motioned to the empty sheath.
“How can I kill it without my sword? How is it that demons usually kill each other?”
He said it so sincerely that Akaza burst out into hysterical laughter, nearly doubling over and clutching his stomach as relief finally flooded his every vessel and vein. He didn't know what he would have done if Kyojuro had truly been trying to eat a human, and he decided firmly not to think about it any longer as he wiped a mirthful tear from the corner of his eye.
“Hah, I’m sorry.” Akaza choked back another borderline manic giggle. “You still truly aren’t tempted by that human?”
Kyojuro wrinkled his nose as he glanced back at the corpse. “The thought of eating a person is still as unappealing as it was when I was human myself." His expression softened, eyes gleaming like a tiger’s in the dark and lips quirking in a teasing smile as he looked back up at Akaza. “You're much more appetizing.”
Akaza felt his face heat rapidly. Maybe he shouldn't have derived so much pleasure from Kyojuro’s enjoyment of his flesh, but he decided not to bother himself overthinking it. He quickly looked away, clearing his throat and returning to Kyojuro’s initial question.
He tilted his head to the side, considering the demon weakly struggling below Kyojuro’s foot. “Most demons only really have one way of killing each other, and that is to expose the other to sunlight. But, it's still early in the night and I don't think we should linger here until sunrise.” His brows raised and he added, in a teasing tone, “I suppose you could try eating him, if you love demon flesh so much, or is it really just me that you want to eat?”
To Akaza’s surprise, and perhaps slight envy, Kyojuro actually appeared to consider it for a few long moments.
“Well,” he started slowly, “this pathetic wretch certainly doesn't smell as good as you, but he does smell like food, unlike those poor souls over there.” He motioned to the dead body in the grass and also to the half open front door where Akaza could faintly make out the shapes of two more bodies just past the threshold that he had not noticed before.
Akaza turned back to Kyojuro, “You really aren't even a little tempted by the humans? What do they smell like to you?”
Kyojuro shook his head impatiently. “I already told you. They smell just the same as when I was human. I know good food when I smell it, and they just smell like death. This demon–” he nodded at the creature trapped under his foot, “–smells like plain steamed rice. Boring, maybe, but still food.” Then he glanced up at Akaza through his long eyelashes, smiling a little, “Don't worry. It’s nothing compared to you. Eating you is like eating all of my favorite things at once but better.”
Akaza blushed at that, but still managed to roll his eyes. “You're good at flattery, I'll give you that. Fine, if you want to try eating it then I have no problem with it. We can tie up whatever is left over and leave it to burn. I doubt a demon as weak as this one will be that good at regenerating.”
The demon below Kyojuro’s knee whimpered pathetically, stinking of fear and attempting once more to wiggle free, but it hadn’t even gained an inch of ground when Kyojuro took hold of an elbow and ripped its arm clean off at the shoulder. The demon screamed, blood splattering the crushed grass, and curled in on itself, snarling and yelling obscenities.
“YOU FUCKING TRATORS! LET ME UP AND I’LL KILL YOU, YOU PIECES OF SHIT. If only HE knew what kind of disgrace to demon-kind the two of you are, he’d rend you into a million pieces each!”
Kyojuro sunk his teeth into the meaty part of the arm as the demon raved and cursed them with the worst insults it could muster. Akaza sighed, sick of the sound of its scraping voice. He had guessed correctly. Although Kyojuro continued to rip out the demon’s muscle and sinew, it seemed unable to regenerate as Kyojuro mangled it, arms, neck, and mouth quickly drenching with gore. Akaza crouched near the demon’s head, entering its line of sight for the first time. The demon froze, trembling eyes meeting Akaza’s own and pupils shrinking in terror as it beheld the characters 上弦 and 参 engraved into Akaza’s luminous irises.
Akaza smirked. “What bold accusations to throw at an upper rank and his companion. Do you remember your place now? Bugs like you are no more intimidating than humans to demons like the two of us.”
The demon opened its mouth to respond but choked wetly as Akaza’s thumb pressed suddenly down on its tongue. His fingers curled around the ridge of its jaw bone, and with an easy flick, Akaza ripped the demon’s lower jaw and tongue clean off of its face, reducing its noises to wet bloody gurgles.
Akaza glanced back up at Kyojuro, dropping the disembodied jaw on the ground and absently wiping blood and demon spit onto his pants. Kyojuro looked vicious in the moonlight, fangs gleaming red and eyes glinting as he devoured the demon. Akaza couldn't help but marvel at him for several long minutes. Still, it was strange.
He sat cross-legged, propping his chin on his hand. “Kyojuro, I don’t think I got the chance to fully answer when you first asked if it was normal for demons to want to eat other demons. The short answer is that it's not. We can, of course, just like a human could eat rocks if they really wanted to, but it's about the same flavor and nutritional value as rocks would be for humans, for most of us at least. There are very few high-ranking demons who can absorb other demons, but that's not the same as eating them. You seem to be one of a kind in that regard. If you can survive on demon flesh alone, then I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a completely new ability, unique to you alone.” His eyes narrowed as he watched Kyojuro sink his teeth into the demon’s thigh, briefly flashing back to what it had felt like to be in that demon’s position and momentarily fighting the urge to insist that Kyojuro eat him instead before he reigned in his thoughts and continued. “I am curious if consuming demons will increase your power, the way eating humans does for most of us.”
Kyojuro looked up at him, dropping the demon’s now limp leg and attempting to wipe his mouth with the back of a gore-smeared hand, to no end. He blinked, regarding the slight downward tilt of Akaza’s lips and the slight tension in his forehead as he watched Kyojuro eat. Although he appeared at ease, Kyojuro knew him well enough to see the underlying tension. He sat up straighter, kicking the twitching remains of the demon away and shuffling closer to Akaza on his knees.
“I am sorry. If it’s hard to watch me eat while you are starving, then you don’t have to stay.”
The set of Akaza’s jaw seemed to loosen slightly. He glanced away, staring absently at the dead human for a long moment, pondering the best way to address the topic. He started slowly, keeping his tone carefully casual and not meeting Kyojuro’s eyes.
“You need me to stop killing humans.” He felt no need to even phrase it as a question. The answer was obvious, as clear as the cold moon on a cloudless night. Akaza didn't wait for a response before continuing, “But, I still need to eat, especially if you are going to keep taking bites out of me. Otherwise, I will become worse than useless to you. There will eventually come a point when I will lose control. Not even the kizuki can stay above our hunger forever.” He paused, finally meeting Kyojuro’s worried eyes. “I know you aren't going to like this suggestion, but I may have a compromise.” He nodded at the bodies of the dead humans, quickly cooling in the sharp night air. “If I ate one of them, then I won’t have to kill anyone, since they’re already dead.” He rushed the words slightly and then waited, breath held, for Kyojuro’s response.
Kyojuro glanced away from him, staring down at the demon blood drying into a thick crust on his fingers, then sighed, long and heavy. “You are right. I do not like it. No one deserves to have their body desecrated like this.”
Another long moment of silence stretched between them, and Akaza could see the troubled lines of Kyojuro’s face deepen as the moon peeked out from behind the clouds again. The freshness of rainclouds battened down the stench of blood somewhat as the air became damp with the promise of a light drizzle soon to come.
Kyojuro lifted his head slowly, staring into the house, where the bodies of the two other humans, a mother thrown over the small body of her young daughter, lay. He took another deep breath and then looked back at Akaza, sorrow anddissonance creasing his brow.
“Even so… I can't think of any better solution for us right now. As distasteful as I find it, it is better than killing, and furthermore, I do not want you to have to suffer starvation.”
Akaza bowed his head. “Alright, I'll take what I need from the man then, and I'll help you bury all three of them after.”
Kyojuro’s brow furrowed. “Why just the man? Not that I want any of them eaten, but wouldn’t it make sense for you to take full advantage of this opportunity? You may not get a chance to eat again for a while.”
“No.” Akaza shook his head. “No, I don’t eat women. No doubt it's something left over from my life as a human, but I don't remember any of it so it's no use asking. I just can't eat them.” He glanced away uncomfortably, shifting and tugging on the fabric of his pants as his fingers fisted in the material. “I know it's weird. The other upper ranks, Douma especially, gave me a lot of trouble for it but…”
He trailed off as Kyojuro rose up on his knees and shuffled close enough to take Akaza’s face between his hands and kiss his forehead.
“It’s not weird.” Kyojuro brushed the words against his skin before pulling back to meet his eyes once again. “It's more than okay to have values that you won't violate, even if you don’t know where they came from. In fact, it's very human of you.” Akaza’s eyes widened a bit, wet in a way they normally were not. “I know you might consider that an insult, but to me, it's the highest praise, so don't take it lightly.”
Akaza slumped slowly into Kyojuro, leaning up against his chest and feeling the warmth radiating off of him like from a stone kiln, feeling the rise and fall of his breath. “I know it isn't an insult coming from you Kyo.”
After several long and strangely peaceful minutes, they began to pick themselves up and go about cleaning up the mess that they, and the disemboweled demon, had made. Kyojuro busied himself stringing up the chunks of demon that he had strewn across the grass using a roll of clothesline that had been hanging around the side of the house.
He tied them tightly and hung them along the eastern eve of the building, where the morning light would burn them in an instant. Although the demon was still alive, it was too weak to put up any fight at all. Kyojuro almost felt bad. He would have, if not for the fact that Akaza was busy around the back of the little building digging graves in the shade of a few trees for the demon’s victims. He had eaten as much as he could from the man, as quickly and respectfully as possible, and then began on the graves. Not too much longer after, Kyojuro finished with the demon and joined him in completing the last grave.
By the time the moon reached its peak in the sky, the two of them had carefully lowered the three bodies into the ground and covered them up. They stood in silence for a moment in front of the freshly turned soil, and then slowly and quietly turned and walked back to the house. It had begun to rain lightly as they worked, and the blood was thinning on their skin and seeping further into their clothes and under their nails.
Kyojuro paused before the shoji front door, still partially ajar.
“Come on, let's look inside for clean clothes. We’re a mess.”
The inside of the house was dark, but it didn't take much rummaging for Kyojuro to find a small matchbox and revive the hearth at the center of the room. Lit by firelight, they could see that the interior was modest and cozy, with clean tatami and three rumpled futons where the family had been asleep before the demon had slaughtered them. A side room with a packed earth floor, hidden behind more shoji doors, revealed several wood storage chests and a well with a bucket and rope beside a tub just large enough for a single person to sit in.
Kyojuro, being the filthier of the two, stripped first and climbed into the tub while Akaza drew up bucket after bucket of water for him. The water was cold, but it did its job, softening the crusted blood so Kyojuro could scrub it away. Akaza helped with his hair, pouring the water carefully over him and helping to comb through the tangles of red and gold with gentle fingers. When Kyojuro was finally free of bloodstains, they switched places and Kyojuro took his turn drawing up clean water for Akaza, who was able to clean up much more quickly.
Their clothes, unfortunately, were beyond saving. Both sets had been torn and slashed repeatedly during their battle at the Mugen train, and although Akaza had done his best to salvage them, they were not worth the trouble they would have to go to in order to remove the bloodstains. Fortunately, they found that one of the wooden trunks contained spare clothing. They each took a pair of clean white cotton pants, not dissimilar to the style Akaza usually wore, and Kyojuro took a loose white shirt as well. The shirt fit him well, tying around the waist and framing Kyojuro’s neck and chest in a way that made Akaza want to bury his face in the V of the fabric.
Kyojuro’s flame-patterned haori was the only thing he insisted on trying to salvage, and after several minutes of scrubbing in cold water, Kyojuro managed to remove the majority of the demon blood. He wrung out as much of the water as he could, then hung it by the fire to dry. The only part of Akaza’s ensemble that he cared to salvage were the beads he wore around his bare ankles. After a moment of indecision, he left the vest and old tasseled belt in favor of a new piece of soft white rope and an undershirt that he tore the sleeves off of and left untied.
Although they both knew they could not linger too long, they were content to sit by the hearth for a while to let Kyojuro’s haori dry. For a short while they talked quietly, watching the fire devour the logs, but soon a comfortable silence fell and Akaza allowed himself to lean into Kyojuro, who indulged him by guiding Akaza’s head to his lap and running fingers through his short hair. Akaza nuzzled close to Kyojuro’s stomach and allowed himself to drift in the feeling of warmth all around him for a while before sitting up and wrapping his arms over Kyojuro’s shoulders. Their breath mingled as Akaza rested their foreheads together, meeting crimson and gold eyes, breath hitching slightly as Kyojuro’s arms wrapped around his waist to pull them closer together.
Akaza closed the distance between their lips with an impatient rumble, catching Kyojuro’s bottom lip briefly between sharp fangs and eagerly opening his mouth to Kyojuro’s warm tongue. He whimpered slightly as Kyojuro’s claws dug into his waist, and slung a leg over Kyojuro’s lap as he blissfully pressed into the strong grip.
Kyojuro relished in the feeling of Akaza’s strong little body flexing under his hands and he panted into Akaza’s mouth, licking up the soft underside of his chin before turning away from the fire and pushing Akaza down on the tatami.
Akaza gasped, arching to try to lift his hips, needily seeking touch, but Kyojuro kept him pinned with heavy hands on his waist. He nuzzled roughly into the clean white fabric between Akaza’s legs, heady on the feel of him hardening under Kyojuro’s tongue, even through the cloth. Hastily he pulled the waist of the pants down just far enough to tuck underneath Akaza’s balls, and Akaza whimpered and grabbed hold of Kyojuro’s horns as he dragged hot tongue and fangs teasingly up Akaza’s length.
“Kyojuroooo,” he panted around the words, “come on, come on please.”
Akaza tugged on his horns, hard, and Kyojuro’s eyes nearly rolled back at the sensation, still so new. His mouth dropped open and Akaza took the chance to thrust up into his mouth, whimpering as Kyojuro closed his lips around him and sucked hard and rough, sliding Akaza’s shaft between his long fangs.
The precum that dribbled into the back of Kyojuro’s throat was like honey, all the more brilliant in comparison to the bland flesh of the weak demon Kyojuro had eaten earlier. Akaza’s body brimmed with flavor, overwhelming Kyojuro’s senses and luring him deeper like the call of a siren. Akaza moaned, deep and unrestrained, one leg wrapping over Kyojuro’s shoulder to pull him even closer, and Kyojuro felt Akaza slide deeper down his throat until he could go no further. It took everything in him to resist the urge to bite, drool sliding from the corners of his lips as Akaza began rutting into his throat, using his grip on Kyojuro’s horns to pleasure himself.
He tossed his head back against the tatami, quickly reaching his peak and groaning loud and long as he spilled thick liquid against the back of Kyojuro’s throat. Kyojuro’s growl reverberated through Akaza’s core as he swallowed, throat constricting around Akaza, wringing every last drop from him before Kyojuro allowed him to slip free of his mouth.
The moment Akaza loosened his grip, Kyojuro pounced, slamming him back against the tatami. Akaza could feel Kyojuro, hard against him and as immovable as a stone pillar as he shoved his face into the crook of Akaza’s neck. Akaza gasped, tipping his head back, and only had a moment to brace himself before Kyojuro’s fangs tore into his neck. Kyojuro groaned happily, keeping his fangs locked in Akaza’s body, nearly deep enough to scrape bone, for several long moments before severing the muscle and swallowing down the short burst of blood that followed before Akaza was able to heal. Kyojuro sucked at his neck for a moment longer, then sat up and shuffled forward to straddle Akaza’s chest, pulling his cock out of his pants as he did.
He leaned forward, taking hold of his cock and tapping the head against Akaza’s swollen lower lip as he squeezed himself. Akaza’s eyes were hazy from the shock of orgasm and then Kyojuro’s teeth, and he struggled to keep his eyes on Kyojuro’s cock as it dripped a pearly bead of precum onto his lip. Akaza opened his mouth willingly, but Kyojuro did not take the offer, instead stroking himself firmly several more times before groaning and panting and shooting white across Akaza’s face and neck, so that it mixed with the traces of drying blood from where Kyojuro had bitten him.
Akaza grinned lazily, fangs flashing as he licked a few droplets of Kyojuro’s cum from his lips, then leaned up to suck the head of Kyojuro’s cock clean.
“Well? Pleased with yourself? I'm going to have to wash again now.”
Kyojuro leaned down, humming happily and licking up the side of Akaza’s neck. Akaza groaned as Kyojuro buried fingers in his hair and tugged his head back to give him more room. Akaza’s claws dug hard into Kyojuro’s shoulders, and he whimpered at the feel of Kyojuro’s teeth flirting with his skin again.
“Fuck, Akaza.” Kyojuro mumbled into his neck. “Stop sounding so pretty or I’ll get hard again. We can't stay here all night.”
Akaza laughed at that and shoved at Kyojuro’s shoulder. “Kyooo,” He whined petulantly, “that's not fair. It's your fault for biting me.”
By the time they had finished cleaning up again, midnight had departed and the rain had ceased in favor of a soft chill to the still air that made Kyojuro's breath billow and cloud, like steam from the maw of a great dragon, when they stepped back out into the moonlight, this time clear of any clouds.
Akaza shivered slightly as they reclaimed the lonely northbound road, passing beyond the rice fields and plunging back into the forest. Kyojuro took his hand as they walked, warming Akaza’s fingers with his breath as newly formed dew seeped into the ground under their feet.
It was that hour of the night when nothing at all stirred and time seemed to stand absolutely still, as if nothing else existed. Therefore, Akaza and Kyojuro both startled badly when a sudden battering of feathers and clattering of branches broke the tranquil silence. A black form swooped from the sky, diving at them with a shrill call, and then flapped hastily out of reach.
Akaza instantly crouched, ready to leap and snatch the attacker out of the air, but Kyojuro grabbed his arm, laughing, loudand relieved.
“Kaname!” He called to the bird, grinning and holding out an arm. “Kaname, no need for violence!”
The crow shrieked again as it circled them once more, then fluttered to Kyojuro’s arm, claws digging into the sleeve of his new shirt as it perched, wings staying warily half raised and sharp beak parting in another ear-shattering caw.
Kyojuro winced at the noise. “Ahh, Kaname, I can see you are not nearly as pleased to see me as I am to see you.” He raised a hand to pet the bird’s head, as he usually would, but Kaname ducked away skittishly.
“Off demon! Off!” The bird squawked, ruffling his lustrous feathers in displeasure.
Kyojuro dropped his hand, pouting. “It really is good to see you, my friend. I am glad you’re alright.”
The crow cocked its head, staring at him through one shiny black eye. “Four weeks! Four weeks it has been. The master thinks you are dead.”
Kyojuro bowed his head. “I am truly sorry for the anguish I have caused everyone.” He looked back up at the crow, bright-eyed. “Although I have become a demon, will you still consent to carry a message to the master for me?”
The crow shifted testily from foot to foot, ruffling its feathers again and glaring at them both for a moment before bobbing its head and croaking, “Very well. Very well. What is your message, demon?”
“Will you please tell him that although I am now a demon, I have every intention to continue on as a demon slayer and hashira, if he will still accept me as one, and that I swear on my life to never eat nor harm a human in any way, nor allow any human to be harmed when it is within my power to prevent it. I am willing to prove my loyalty to the demon slayer corps in any ways that he sees fit…” He glanced at Akaza before adding quickly, “...save for one, and that is that I will not kill the demon Akaza or allow him to be killed.”
Kyojuro opened his mouth, as if to say more, perhaps attempt an explanation, but the crow flapped his wings and squawked, loud and raucous. He cackled as he took off from Kyojuro’s arm, cawing a word that sounded suspiciously like ‘fool.’
“I will carry your message to the master.”
Then Kaname soared away, vanishing into the darkness of the surrounding forest.
“Well…” Kyojuro broke the silence as they both stared after the crow. “He doesn't seem to think I’ve got much of a chance. But I suppose I already knew that…”
Akaza shrugged, reaching down to take Kyojuro’s warm hand again. “You can still kill demons, with or without the corps, can’t you?”
Kyojuro bumped their shoulders together as they began to walk once more. “I suppose, but I am, or was, a part of their family, and I don't want to lose that if I can avoid it. Maybe that is too optimistic to hope for though.”
They were silent for several long minutes, listening to the dirt crunch under their feet, before Akaza glanced at Kyojuro out of the corner of his eye, asking quietly, “You really wouldn't kill me? Even to earn back the trust of your family?”
Kyojuro squeezed his hand. “I don't think I could, even if I wanted to.”
Akaza laughed dryly, “I’m sure you could, you know. You were always so impressively strong and fast and skilled as a human. With the speed and strength of a demon on top of that, you must know you could easily behead me now, once you have your sword back that is.”
Kyojuro shook his golden head, eyebrows furrowed. “No, that’s not what I meant. I think I have begun to see you as too human to entertain the thought of killing you.” He glanced at Akaza for a moment before looking straight ahead and continuing. “Of course, I know you are a demon. I know you have killed countless humans, so maybe it is a bit irrational, and maybe it's partly because of my… personal attachment to you, but I cannot see you the same way I used to see all demons, the same way I still see most of them.”
Akaza hummed, absently stroking the soft skin on the back of Kyojuro's hand with his thumb. “I think I understand. It's the same for me. Before meeting you, I thought all humans were little more than dumb, weak prey animals, but you proved me wrong, you showed me that humans can be deserving of respect, even if it was only you that I felt that way about at first.”
Kyojuro’s eyebrows raised. “At first?”
Akaza’s lips twitched into a small smile as he met Kyojuro’s surprised glance. “I suppose you rubbed off on me a bit after a while, after all your speeches about the value of humanity and how the strong should protect the weak. I started noticing it when you weren't around, how humans act and treat each other. They are surprisingly courageous at times, even when they stand no chance at all.” He paused, expression darkening slightly. “Douma… He always thought my resolve as a demon was weak. I suppose he may have been right.”
Kyojuro’s grip tightened, and he growled at the name. “I really am going to kill him, you know.” A vicious light glowed in his eyes. “Maybe I’ll eat him too.” He looked down at Akaza. “Do you think your master would make me upper moon two if I did?”
Akaza laughed loud and full at that, leaning against Kyojuro as he did. “That would be an incredible paradox, to be a hashira and also Muzan’s upper moon two at the same time. You know, if he thought it would let him control you, then he might. Having a hashira as one of his upper moons, at his beck and call, would certainly appeal to him. He only wants the best of the best, the most impressive and powerful demons to serve him, and you are certainly that. Besides, it would be entertaining. All the upper ranks like seeing Douma knocked down a peg or two. It’s not a common occurrence, and he really is not that likable when you get to know him.”
“Hah, I don't doubt that.” Kyojuro growled darkly.
Akaza squeezed his hand back. “But really, right now we should avoid my master at all costs if you wish to live. Without a carefully thought out plan, he’s sure to kill you the moment he realizes you will never serve him.”
Kyojuro stopped at that, turning to face Akaza and caressing his cheek with gentle claws. “Don't worry Kaza. I have no intention of dying again.”
Then he kissed him softly, just once, lingering on the feel of his lips.
As daybreak neared, they arrived at the outskirts of a small town. An empty temple some ways off the road proved to be adequate shelter for them as the sun began to rise, casting the eastern horizon in pink and yellow hues and melting away the delicate mist that had formed overnight.
Kyojuro lowered himself neatly to the floor before the old altar and took a short moment to dust off the cracked wooden surface and light a few sticks of incense in the incense burner. Akaza watched quietly, standing a bit behind Kyojuro and keeping an apprehensive eye on the shadowy corners of the room until Kyojuro was done paying his respects to the guardian gods of the old shrine. Finally, he rose to his feet and led Akaza to a corner where they could both sit comfortably against the wall, out of the path of the sun that would soon be beaming through the warped glass of the windows.
It was a quiet day for the most part. They spent a little time softly discussing what they should do next, but mainly they spent the long hours listening to the calls of the birds and watching the bright patch of sunlight traverse the tatami mats before the altar. Akaza leaned against Kyojuro, head tilted onto his shoulder, and Kyojuro found himself subconsciously attuning to Akaza’s breathing, matching his pace as they waited out the day. Although at times Kyojuro found impatience rising in him, anxious to continue on, he forced it down. There was nothing to be done. They had to wait.
As soon as dusk fell they abandoned the small shrine, leaving behind nothing but the faint scent of fresh incense. They had decided it would not be wise to pass through the village, so they skirted the perimeter and continued along a winding eastward road through the forests towards Tokyo. Their pace was quicker than the night before, the day of waiting having spurred on their sense of urgency, and they soon left the town far behind.
As the moon began peaking its bright head over the treetops, they heard the familiar swish of dark feathers and Kaname once again dropped out of the evening sky.
The crow swooped around them, cawing, before landing heavily on Kyojuro’s outstretched arm.
“The master wishes to meet with you, Kyojuro Rengoku, and the demon Akaza, at the wisteria rest house in west Tokyo at dawn. They are expecting you, so make haste.”
Akaza gaped at the crow. “The leader of the demon slayers wants to meet us?”
Kyojuro appeared equally shocked and addressed the crow. “He’s agreed to meet both of us? Akaza as well? Are you sure?”
Kaname cackled, flapping his wings and buffeting Kyojuro so his hair flew in every direction.
“You will not go untested, nor will he be without protection. Make haste demon Rengoku and demon Akaza, make haste to the wisteria house in West Tokyo.”
Then the crow took flight, ascending rapidly and blending seamlessly into the star-strewn sky.
After a long moment, Akaza looked away from where the crow had vanished. “That’s quite bold of your master, especially to invite me, upper moon three, when most members of the corps don't even know who he is.”
Kyojuro nodded. “It is. But like Kaname said, he'll have protection, and I am assuming they will weaken us when we arrive as well.”
“Oh?” Akaza appeared wary of the prospect. “How so?”
As they returned to their previous pace along the forest road, Kyojuro sighed. “I imagine they'll use wisteria. One of the hashira, Shinobu Kocho, is an expert with wisteria poisons.”
“Ahhh. Sounds fun.” Akaza grimaced. “It won't actually kill us, right?”
Kyojuro shook his head. “Not likely. Shinobu is an expert, so if the master wants us alive, she'll keep us that way. But I doubt it'll feel good. She hates demons after all. Shinobu may have known me as a hashira, but I do not think that will earn us her favor or mercy in the slightest.”
“I see…”
After several more minutes of silence, Kyojuro glanced up at the moon, now well above the trees. “We still have a ways to go. If we wish to reach the wisteria house by dawn then we should speed up.”
Akaza agreed easily and they broke into a swift run, footfalls light on the packed earthen road, moving eastward as quickly and quietly as the wind, through the night and into the misty bluegrey of early morning.