Chapter Text
Akaza spent his time confined to the shadow-shrouded room. Shinobu came to check up on him occasionally, but did little more than that. Akaza still was not entirely certain of how much time passed; he could not get his thoughts to focus long enough to keep track of the time, or even how many times Shinobu had come to check on him. It probably didn’t help that she never said much.
Or perhaps she did, and he simply didn’t notice.
He wondered if this was what his life was going to be now. Nothing but waiting and guilt. Eventually, the Corps would want him to do something, right? He just had to wait for that. He could do as he was told. He was very good at that after all. And Kagaya said they would use him eventually. He just had to wait for that. Sanemi would want him to do that, so if he just—If he just—
The door to the room banged open.
Akaza tilted his head, his eyes going wide as Genya Shinazugawa marched into the room. “Get up,” he huffed.
Akaza blinked, surprised that the younger Shinazugawa was speaking to him at all. Genya had not liked him from the moment they met, that much was obvious. And now, he (rightfully) blamed Akaza for what had happened to Sanemi. What could he possibly want with him?
“I said—” Genya stomped over to grip a handful of Akaza’s vest and haul him to his feet. “Get up.”
“Why?” Akaza rasped.
“Why?” Genya repeated, incredulous. “We’re going to talk to Kocho-san, and then you’re helping me save my sister.” He yanked Akaza forward so fiercely he stumbled.
From what he knew of Sanemi’s past, it made sense that it would produce a person so headstrong, so he supposed Genya being the same way was no surprise, but Akaza couldn’t help but be shocked by how similar the siblings really were.
Dumbly, unsure of what else to do, he let Genya drag him through the door and down the hall.
How laughable. A former Upper Moon being physically dragged by a human teenager.
Well, mostly human.
There was something bizarre about Genya’s scent, and there was nothing human about the way his ears were pointed nor the sharpened teeth he bared in a snarl. But he did not have a purely demonic presence, despite how many times he had consumed Akaza’s flesh and transformed, only to turn back into something mostly human.
Whatever. It didn’t matter. Sanemi wasn’t the same way, so it didn’t fucking matter.
“The fuck is your problem?” Genya hissed over his shoulder. “Are you seriously just going to give up on her?”
Was he? Of course not. But what could Akaza do? He couldn’t save her when she’d been centimeters away, so what was he supposed to do now? And the Corps… Kagaya said not to try searching for her, and Sanemi would want him to serve the Corps.
But…
Sanemi had loved Genya. Even if she couldn’t and wouldn’t admit it, that had been obvious.
Akaza needed a slayer to stay with. Right now it was Shinobu, but she was clearly happy to lock him away until Kagaya specified otherwise. Akaza couldn’t search for Sanemi, but if he happened to find her… it wouldn’t be by sitting alone in a locked room at the Butterfly Estate. And if there was one person Sanemi would have wanted him to protect above all else…
Akaza yanked himself out of Genya’s hold and straightened up. “I’ve been told not to go looking for her,” he said.
“And you’re just going to listen?” Genya demanded. “Of all people, I thought you would be the one to—”
“Looking for her isn’t going to do anything,” Akaza interrupted. “There’s nowhere to look. Muzan’s main stronghold is literally physically impossible to reach without being invited in. We have to wait for her to turn up. For Muzan to send her after me.”
Genya’s lip curled up in distaste. “So you want to just sit around and wait—”
Akaza shook his head. “I never said that. If we go after other demons, we might be able to get some information. At the least, we’re more likely to catch Muzan’s attention. It’s better than just sitting here and waiting. I want to hunt demons with you.”
Genya huffed. “Great. We’re on the same page then. We just have to convince Kocho-san to let that happen.”
Oh.
That… was probably easier said than done. Akaza had not interacted with Shinobu much, but she’d proven she was a stubborn woman and confident in her decisions. If she thought Akaza was to stay in that room until Kagaya specified otherwise, they might have a difficult time convincing her otherwise.
“What about your master?” Akaza asked.
“Himejima-san?” Genya asked. “He’ll be fine with it.”
“You sound awfully sure.”
“He’s busy with some missions that I’m not able to come with him on,” Genya muttered, almost sullen and yet resigned. “It will be fine.”
Akaza arched an eyebrow. “You’re not going with your master?”
“Shut up about it!” Genya snapped over his shoulder. “Just because I want to work with you doesn’t mean I want to talk to you.”
“You’re definitely your sister’s brother…” Akaza muttered, though he couldn’t quite help a fond smile. Despite it all, it was nice to have such a reminder of Sanemi. As though it was proof that she had existed at all.
The smile fell as quickly as it appeared. She should have been the one here with Genya, not Akaza. He had no right to have a relationship with her brother, not after what he had done, what he caused.
And yet, he knew that being by Genya’s side was the best place he could be right now.
They reached Shinobu’s office, and Genya took a deep breath as he lightly knocked on the door, much more considerate and thoughtful than he’d been when he banged into Akaza’s room.
“Come in!” Shinobu called from inside.
Though he hesitated for a second, Genya opened the office door. “Hello, Kocho-san.”
“Ah! Genya-san—” Shinobu’s pleasant smile vanished, replaced with a carefully neutral expression as she watched Akaza follow Genya into the room. “Akaza. What do you think you are doing?”
Akaza let out a short breath. “I wasn’t aware that I wasn’t allowed to leave my room.”
“It was implied,” Shinobu said, sickeningly sweet. “It won’t do for the patients or other slayers here to see you. You’ve been docile so I haven’t felt the need to dose you with wisteria, but I will if it proves necessary.”
“You’re the one who told me to get off my ass and do something if I wanted to save Sanemi,” Akaza said. “Now you want to confine me to one room and keep me there for… how long, exactly?”
Shinobu interlocked her fingers and rested her elbows on her desk. “Until Oyakata-sama decides you are necessary for something. I know I certainly don’t want you following after me like a dog while I try to work. Sanemi might have been fine with such things. I am not.”
Akaza’s fingers curled into fists, and for the first time in weeks, another emotion cut through the melancholic grief and sorrow that had overwhelmed him: irritation. “I want to stay with Genya.”
Shinobu glanced towards Genya, her eyes narrowing as she did so. “And you want this as well?”
Genya squirmed beneath her piercing glare. “I—Yes…”
Shinobu closed her eyes and let out a slow, deep breath. “Genya-san, you have to know that I will not permit this. There is a reason Akaza is to stay with a Hashira. Should he become a threat, there is nothing you would be able to do to stop him. You would be torn apart.”
“I’m not going to hurt him,” Akaza growled. “He’s Sanemi’s brother!”
“Regardless, the risk is not one we can take. A Hashira stands a chance against you,” she said. “Not only are they less likely to lose their life, but they can prevent you from killing innocent civilians as well. Genya-san cannot do that. Not to mention…” Shinobu turned her attention back towards Genya. “Aren’t you supposed to be making the journey to the swordsmith’s village? Himejima-san mentioned that.”
“W-Well yes, but—” Genya began.
“You want to bring a former Kizuki to the swordsmith’s village?” Shinobu clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“I’m not a threat to you!” Akaza snarled. “I want to help fight!”
He was ignored. “Aside from all this, say the theories are correct and Muzan wants to use Sanemi to hurt Akaza. Genya-san, what are you going to do when your demonic sister and potentially Muzan himself decide to come for Akaza? You’re doing nothing but putting yourself in unnecessary danger.”
“Sanemi won’t hurt me,” Genya insisted.
“Sanemi was willing to hurt you as a human,” Shinobu said, her voice entirely too chipper for the cruel words that left her mouth. “You think she won’t as a demon?”
“I wouldn’t let her,” Akaza said. Sanemi would never, ever forgive herself if she did something to hurt her little brother. Akaza would put himself in between them and let her gore him a million times before he let her lay a hand on Genya.
“And Muzan?” Shinobu asked.
“Muzan didn’t come for me when we attacked Douma’s cult,” Akaza said. “I don’t think he’s going to start now.” Oh, he had no doubt that Muzan would find him and tear him apart one day, but it would be because Akaza threw himself at the Demon King, not because Muzan put in the effort to hunt him down himself. He was a petty, controlling man, but he wouldn’t lower himself to chasing after Akaza personally. “He’s just going to send Sanemi. And we’re the best two people for getting through to her and helping her.”
“We need to kill her,” Shinobu said.
Akaza bared his teeth, and he noticed Genya curl his fingers into fists. “I’m not giving up on her like that. If even I can break away, then of course she can.”
Shinobu shook her head. “None of this changes that Genya-san is meant to go to the swordsmith’s village, and I do not feel comfortable sending Akaza somewhere like that without a Hashira to interfere should things go poorly.”
Akaza opened his mouth to argue, though he had no idea what the hell he was going to say, when Genya beat him to it.
“Kanroji-san will be there.”
Shinobu’s mouth pressed into a thin line. “How do you know about that?”
Genya shifted uncomfortably. “She’s kept in contact with me after what happened. She’s—She’s very kind and says she’s doing it as a favor to ‘Nemi.”
“My goal was to keep Akaza away from Mitsuri,” Shinobu muttered.
“Why?” Akaza demanded.
“Am I the only one who recalls what you did to her?” Shinobu asked with a harsh glare.
Oh. Right. Akaza had broken her ribs, what felt like lifetimes ago. “I didn’t want to hurt her.”
“But you did,” Shinobu said simply. “And I don’t appreciate it when someone hurts a dear friend of mine.”
“I’m not going to hurt her again,” Akaza said. “All I want is to do what Sanemi would have wanted, and she would have wanted me to protect her brother. I—I will listen to Mitsuri if that is what I need to do in order to stay with him.”
Shinobu’s grimace deepened, and she went silent for a moment, before she leaned back with a resigned sigh. “I will allow you to accompany Genya-san to the swordsmith's village under the requirement that you meet with Mitsuri once you are there, and you stay by her side and listen to her instructions while you’re there. After that, I cannot guarantee I will keep allowing you to work with Genya-san, but for now… you can make the journey with him. There is probably not a safer place from Muzan and other Kizuki aside from headquarters itself.”
Relief flooded through Akaza, and he noticed some of the tension leave Genya’s body as well.
“Thank you, Kocho-san,” Genya said. “Thank you so much.”
Shinobu hummed. “Be careful, Genya-san.” She did not specify what she thought he should be careful of, but it was obvious.
She wanted him to be careful of Akaza.
As if he would ever, ever harm Sanemi’s little brother. Hell, he couldn’t even let something else harm him.
Sanemi would never forgive him if he did.
Mitsuri shifted from foot to foot as she waited at the entrance of the village. Genya was lucky that her specialized sword needed so much work done to it, otherwise she never would have been here long enough for this to work. Already, she had “wasted” too much time ever since the raid on Upper Moon Two’s cult. First she had gone to headquarters with Kyojuro and Akaza, and then a couple weeks later, her sword broke. It had just been a standard mission, and she had done nothing extreme to the weapon. It simply snapped in the middle of a fight! Thankfully she had enough of the blade left to decapitate the demon, but it had been a mildly harrowing experience. Apparently the ice from fighting Douma had damaged the blade, so it had only been a matter of time before it would break. She felt rather foolish for not realizing that sooner, but there was little to be done about it now.
And it did mean she could be here in the swordsmith's village for Genya’s sake. She was sure Sanemi would appreciate that someone was around to look after her little brother. She supposed she could understand why Shinobu wouldn’t want Akaza traveling with Genya alone, but personally, she thought there weren’t very many people who would be safer with Akaza. Genya was in a very special position, being the person closest to Sanemi. In Akaza’s deranged mind, he was probably associating Genya with Sanemi in inconceivable ways.
Blurry silhouettes appeared on the horizon, and Mitsuri squinted as she watched the kakushi lead two figures towards the village, one very tall, and the other with glowing eyes.
Honestly, they were here earlier than Mitsuri was expecting, but she was glad for it. The sun had only set a couple hours ago, and she wondered if she could convince Genya and Akaza to join her in the hot springs. She’d grown fond of them during her stay here, and she was sure both of them could use the opportunity to relax…
“Akaza!” she called as she lifted her arm above her head to wave at them. “Genya-san!”
As they got closer, Genya refused to meet her eyes, and he ducked his head as his cheeks darkened. Mitsuri felt bad for stressing him out, but she had to admit, it was rather cute seeing a Shinazugawa get so flustered. She’d try to avoid making him feel that way, but from what she had noticed, Genya just had a difficult time with women in general.
The kakushi halted before Mitsuri, both of them bowing low as they greeted her. “I believe these two are to be left with you, Kanroji-sama,” one of them said.
“Ah, yes!” Mitsuri clasped her hands together. “They’ll stay with me within the village. Thank you for bringing them, though. It’s very much appreciated.”
The kakushi quickly took their leave, leaving Mitsuri alone with Akaza and Genya.
“Do you want to come to the hot springs with me?” she asked with a hopeful smile.
The blush on Genya’s face darkened, and he snapped a hasty, “No!”
Mitsuri did her best not to let her disappointment show, but she’d really been hoping to go…
“I just—” Genya cleared his throat, and his eyes drifted up towards the star-speckled sky. “I need to meet with my swordsmith…”
“It’s a bit late for that, isn’t it?” Mitsuri asked with a tilt of her head. “I think most of the swordsmiths have retired for the night. I’m afraid you might have to wait until tomorrow morning.”
Genya turned a fearsome glare towards Akaza. “If you could travel during the fucking day—!”
“There’s not much I can do about that,” Akaza said in a dull, flat voice. It was not quite as emotionless as he had sounded during the meeting with Ubuyashiki, but it was far from the energetic lilt that Mitsuri recalled from her past encounters with the demon.
She hadn’t even spent that much time around Akaza, but it was odd experiencing him be so quiet.
At least it wasn’t the utterly lifeless state he had been in immediately following Sanemi’s disappearance though…
“So… hot spring?” Mitsuri suggested hopefully as she stepped in between both boys and snaked her arms around their waists, ready to guide them there if necessary.
“Fine,” Akaza muttered, clearly not caring at all about what happened.
Genya shot him a look of pure and utter betrayal.
Genya stood at the edge of the hot spring, unsure of what the fuck he was supposed to do and how he got here.
Kanroji sank into the water with a delighted sigh and raised her arms above her head in a languid stretch. Genya was just glad that the water… covered everything. Not that he was looking! He would never look! But—But she was—! It was hard enough to talk to Kanroji normally, but now that he’d been around her while she was naked? How the fuck was he meant to do that? And it was like she didn’t care at all!
And Akaza… He offered Genya absolutely no backup at all! He’d just gone along with this whole hot springs thing! And while he certainly didn’t stare at Kanroji, he looked at her like this was completely normal. He didn’t say much of anything, but that wasn’t unusual for Akaza. He just sat at the edge of the hot spring, his legs crossed, and gave Kanroji half-assed vague answers when she asked him any questions.
“Aren’t you boys going to actually get in?” Kanroji asked. “The water really is so nice!”
Genya glanced towards Akaza, who slipped his vest off with a sigh.
He’s actually doing it?! Genya was depending on the demon staying out of the water so he had an excuse not to get in himself! It wasn’t that he didn’t want to get in the hot springs (Kanroji was right, the steaming water looked very inviting), but with the Love Hashira present? She was so pretty, and she was older than him, and she was—she was—
Akaza glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. “She’s not going to bite.”
Horrifyingly, Genya felt his cheeks grow even warmer, and he hoped it was dark enough that Kanroji didn’t notice. If she pointed it out it would get even worse…
He almost regretted asking if he and Akaza could stay with her. It’d been easy enough to ignore her at the cult compound with everything that was going on, but right now? When it was quiet and still…? It was much harder to ignore that she was a very cute girl.
It made it even worse with a demon next to him pointing his issues out!
Within a few seconds, Akaza had stripped, and he stepped down into the hot spring.
“Isn’t it nice?” Kanroji coaxed.
Akaza shrugged.
Kanroji’s expression softened. “We’re going to find her, Akaza. It will be okay. I know Oyakata-sama is looking into leads on other Kizuki, and when we find them, we can ask about her, and—”
“It’s fine,” Akaza murmured, voice dull. “You don’t need to try and reassure me.”
“She wouldn’t have wanted you to be miserable,” Kanroji said.
Akaza huffed, but didn’t respond beyond that.
Genya grit his teeth, ignoring the slight ache in them, and quickly stripped himself of his clothing. He stomped down into the hot springs, water splashing around him, but he would do anything to interrupt this horrible conversation that was unfolding.
“Ah! It’s so warm, isn’t it, Genya-san?” Kanroji asked with a smile.
“Yeah,” he grunted as he sank down into the water. It was very warm, and in normal circumstances, would probably be very nice. But with the Love Hashira and former Upper Moon Three? Genya would rather be literally anywhere else.
He grit his teeth tighter.
“Do you—” Kanroji began.
“Shut up,” Genya bit out before he even realized it. But he just couldn’t take it anymore. Not the forced friendliness, not the pretending like everything was fine, not the treating things like everything would be okay.
Kanroji’s eyes went wide, and her mouth snapped shut.
“I don’t want to talk right now.” Not to Akaza, not to Kanroji, not to anyone. He just…
He just wanted his sister back.
A coppery flavor oozed over his tongue, and Genya grunted as one of his canines popped loose.
Fuck. He reached into his mouth and pulled the tooth from his mouth, a string of bloody saliva coming with it.
“Genya-san!” Kanroji exclaimed. “Are you okay?!”
“Fine,” he muttered as he glared down at the tooth in the palm of his hand, how disturbingly fang-like it was. Ever since he’d spent three days transformed, this kept happening. His teeth would randomly fall out, only to be replaced with a more demonic tooth than the last. “They just do that sometimes.”
“Have you talked to Shinobu about it?” Kanroji asked as she leaned forward in concern. “That’s not normal!”
Genya curled his fingers around the tooth. “Yeah, she knows.” Of course she knew. Kocho was his doctor, and was the person who knew the most about his abilities. Of course he told her when his teeth started falling out only to be replaced with bigger and sharper fangs. Annoyed, he threw the tooth over his shoulder, uncaring for where it landed.
The three of them lapsed into awkward silence.
Until the last voice Genya wanted to hear in the world shouted, “Genya-san!”
Genya whipped around, teeth bared, as Tanjiro Kamado rounded the rocks that divided hot springs, his demonic little sister right on his heels.
Oh gods.
“Fuck off!” Genya snarled.
“Genya-san, that’s not very nice,” Kanroji attempted to scold.
Tanjiro Kamado was not deterred. “Are you doing okay?” he asked, the concern disgustingly genuine. “I heard what happened and—”
Genya squeezed his eyes shut and shot to his feet. He couldn’t do this. He wasn’t going to listen to bullshit condolences from fucking everyone about what had happened to Sanemi. “I said fuck off,” he snapped as he loomed over Kamado. “Leave me the fuck alone.” He stooped to snatch up his clothes, and left the little group behind.
He didn’t want to talk to a single person there.
Akaza wasn’t quite sure how he ended up having an incredibly late dinner with Mitsuri and the Kamado siblings. He should have gone with Genya, escaped while he could. He didn’t have the energy to match the smiles of the three people he was suddenly surrounded with. He almost missed his locked room at the Butterfly Estate. But Genya had rushed off faster than he really cared to process, and then next thing he knew, Mitsuri was agreeing to dinner, and Akaza was technically required to stay with her…
He sighed.
“You’re sure you don’t want any, Akaza-san” Tanjiro asked as he nudged some rice and a grilled fish towards him.
“Don’t use san for me,” Akaza muttered. “And no.”
“If you’re sure,” Tanjiro said, though his expression was a bit sad. “Nezuko doesn’t eat any food either. It’s such a shame that you have to miss out on so many yummy things.”
Akaza honestly couldn’t say that he cared.
Beside him, Nezuko flopped onto her side and wriggled closer until her head rested on his thigh. She grunted behind the muzzle and Akaza felt a vague discomfort settle in his chest as he regarded the bamboo.
Why hadn’t he been muzzled like her? He was surprised he hadn’t been.
If they found Sanemi, would the Corps muzzle her…? It was difficult to imagine her allowing such a thing.
Then again, given how she had howled for her own death for the sake of keeping everyone else safe, maybe she wouldn’t mind the muzzle at all. Maybe she would want one.
“Oh, Nezuko-chan!” Mitsuri leaned over the table to smile at the little girl. “You’re so cute and sweet!”
"She is, isn't she?" Tanjiro smiled, before it slowly fell. “Is Genya-san always so angry?” he asked.
Mitsuri sighed and leaned back, resting her weight on the palms of her hands. “Honestly, I don’t really know. I don’t know him well. Maybe he gets it from Sanemi.”
Akaza couldn’t help the little smile that curled his lips. How many times had he thought the same thing?
“I didn’t even realize they were siblings at first,” Tanjiro admitted. “But I guess it makes sense. I got in a fight with both of them when we first met.”
“Yes, I remember,” Mitsuri said with a soft laugh. “You’re lucky Oyakata-sama was there to deescalate things. But… what happened between you and Genya-san?”
Tanjiro awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. “I broke his arm, but that’s because he was being mean to a girl. But maybe he’s just a bit mean to everyone… I wish I could convince him to be friends.”
“That would be nice,” Mitsuri said. “I think he could use some friends, especially now. Don’t you think, Akaza?”
Akaza hummed. Sure. Probably. But Tanjiro Kamado? He just didn’t see Genya accepting Tanjiro as a friend any time soon.
“I’ll keep trying then!” Tanjiro decided. “I’ll invite him to breakfast tomorrow!”
“Oh! Come to think of it,” Mitsuri said. “What are you doing in the swordsmith village, Kamado-kun?”
Nezuko pushed herself up, and shuffled over to sit next to Mitsuri instead. She settled on her knees before the older girl, and without missing a beat, Mitsuri took Nezuko’s thick hair in her hands and began twisting it in braids, as if it was second nature.
“Ah, my sword broke on a mission,” Tanjiro explained. “Normally it just gets delivered to and from here, but apparently my swordsmith is refusing to work with me now… I’m here to try and talk to him.”
“Oh dear!” Mitsuri shook her head. “Well! I’m sure things will sort themselves out. Some of the swordsmiths can be a bit eccentric, but they’re all very good at their jobs. You’ll have a new sword in no time! Mine should be fixed relatively soon, but it requires so much special detailing. Oh! Remember when you broke my sword, Akaza?” she asked with a teasing smile.
“Oh. Yeah, I did do that,” Akaza said. “It was an accident. I was trying to see how it worked.”
“It is difficult to use if you don’t know what you’re doing,” Mitsuri said with a nod. “I had it developed for my breathing style!”
In normal circumstances, Akaza would love discussing and learning about such a specialized fighting style. He never got to truly bond with another martial artist besides Keizo, so it would be fascinating to know more about Mitsuri and how she fought. But…
Right now, he found that he just didn’t care. So he merely hummed in response.
The conversation dragged on, fading into nothingness as Akaza stared straight ahead.
Blood pattered onto the tiles of the roof, the only sound in the complete and total silence of the early hours of the morning.
Something about this place… something about it made her skin crawl. They were supposed to attack tonight, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to yet. She wanted to know why this place made her feel the way it did. She needed to know more. She needed to eavesdrop on more conversations, she needed to creep through more shadows, leaving behind nothing but a trail of blood that would fade with enough time.
The last of the humans walked through the halls of the inn. Well, two humans and two demons. She couldn’t quite wrap her head around that either. What were two other demons doing here? They hadn’t been sent from Him, otherwise they would have come here with her, Gyokko, and Hantengu.
She tried not to dwell on it. Doing so made her head throb with pain. The other demons… the other demons—
She hissed and rose to her full height. Fuck this. She hated this. She hated being told what to do. She hated—
Searing pain shot through her body, and she crumpled to her knees, hugging her arms to her sticky chest.
Fuck. Shit.
Do not disobey me.
She blinked, her mind going fuzzy at the edges, and the pain slowly began to ebb.
Right. Right. She was here for… a reason. A reason…
She shook her head, hair falling into her eyes as she sucked in a sharp breath. What… had she been thinking about again…?
Demons…
Something to do with demons…
Ah, it must have been Hantengu and Gyokko. She needed to make sure they did what they were fucking supposed to. She should probably go find them and make sure they didn’t reveal themselves until tomorrow night. Yeah. Yeah, that was it.
She bounded down from the roof, blood trailing after her.