Honestly, was it even about my appearance? Or was I just wrong about him liking men? I'm pretty sure he's at least somewhat Homosexual. I mean... I can usually sniff out a Homosexual like a mile away. For example: Tanjiro, he's a little bit fruity. Dare I say it but, Senjuro too. And honestly, I smelled a lot of Gay tension at the Hashira breakfast this morning. Mostly between Sanemi and Gyomei.
Akaza: "Sure, I guess."
I rubbed my forehead and sighed. I'm sure my mind is just playing tricks on me. I stared at their food as the boys took their final bites.
Nezuko, telepathically: "Mr. Akaza."
I looked over at her.
Akaza, telepathically: "Yeah?"
Nezuko, telepathically: "..Are you okay? You're looking a bit sad."
I hesitated a bit.
Akaza, telepathically: "..Nezuko, am I pretty?"
Nezuko, telepathically: "Very pretty. I like your eyes."
I smiled a bit from her compliment.
Akaza, telepathically: "Thanks.. but.. do you think Kyojuro thinks I'm pretty..?"
Nezuko looked over at Kyojuro for a few seconds before looking back at me.
Nezuko, telepathically: "Well, I don't know."
I went back to my normal expression with a slight frown. I looked down at myself.
Nezuko, telepathically: "But I definitely hope so."
I went a bit wide eyed and looked back up at her.
Nezuko, telepathically: "And even if he doesn't, I know Miss Kanroji thinks you're absolutely beautiful. And if she thinks that, I'm pretty sure she's gonna convince Mr. Rengoku to think like that as well."
I scoffed.
Akaza, telepathically: "I guess you're right."
She looked at the porch leading to the yard.
Nezuko, telepathically: "It's safe to go outside now."
I looked outside as well. The sun had gone down and the sky was a dark pink to dark blue color.
Akaza, telepathically: "Mm.."
I sighed and stroked the thick lines on my arm. Sometimes I question how I got my tattoos. They've been with me as long as I can remember. Since everybody claims all demons were once human, I assume that I had these tattoos before I became a demon. I heard chopsticks being put down and looked over. Of course, Kyojuro was the first to finish his food.
Akaza: "You really are a fast eater.."
Senjuro: "He's won several eating competitions in the nearby town."
Kyojuro smiled proudly.
Tanjiro: "Isn't it risky to eat that fast though? Couldn't you choke?"
Kyojuro: "I've eaten this fast my entire life, and I've never once choked."
Senjuro muttered something under his breath.
Senjuro: "That's a lie..."
We chatted for a few minutes, when Senjuro yawned. He leaned on his brother's shoulder. Kyojuro looked at him.
Kyojuro: "Tired?"
Senjuro: "..No.."
Kyojuro raised an eyebrow at him.
Senjuro: "Okay...maybe a little bit."
Kyojuro: "Well, you've had a long day."
Senjuro: "Mm.."
Kyojuro wrapped his arm around Senjuro, and kissed his head. He then proceeded to lean his head on Senjuro's. Damn, I wish I was Senjuro right now. Yet at the same time, I knew Senjuro needed Kyojuro's affection a lot more than me. Nezuko walked over and leaned on Kyojuro's other shoulder.
Kyojuro: "Huh? I
Tanjiro: "Is this becoming a group hug?"
Nezuko, telepathically: "He's warm."
Akaza: "She said he's warm."
I scoffed.
Akaza, telepathically: "Damn, that's my spot."
Nezuko, telepathically: "You snooze, you lose."
Then, Tanjiro walked over and hugged Nezuko and Kyojuro from behind.
Tanjiro: "Wow, he really is warm."
They all had peaceful expressions on their faces. I just sat off to the side and stared at the 4 of them.
Akaza: <:7
Kyojuro looked over at me. I blinked. We stared at each other before Kyojuro sighed.
Kyojuro: "Fine.."
He glanced back over at me.
Kyojuro: "You can join in the hug."
I went wide eyed. Without hesitation, I practically teleported behind Kyojuro and Senjuro, wrapping my arms around them. The two brothers looked at me spooked. I closed my eyes and smiled.
Akaza: "Thank you."
We sat like that for a while. I knew I was the odd one out, but as the hug progressed, I felt this nice warm feeling in my chest. I'd only felt this way once before, and it was when I joined the Kizuki. It was like a sense of familiarity. A sense of belonging. I wanted to stay like this forever.
...
But of course, that feeling didn't last. I opened my eyes and suddenly coughed out blood. Kyojuro went wide eyed as he turned his attention towards me. Senjuro shrieked.
Kyojuro: "!!"
I let go of them as an overwhelming pain washed over me. I heard a voice in my head.
???: "Akaza."
I went wide eyed. I got up and stumbled away from them, falling over on my side. It felt like someone was piercing my lungs, and squeezing my neck.
Senjuro: "AKAZA!"
Kyojuro: "Akaza, what's happening!?"
I held my neck, coughing out more blood. Senjuro started panicking. Kyojuro rushed over to me and got down.
Kyojuro: "Akaza, what's wrong!?"
Nezuko held onto Tanjiro in fear.
Tanjiro: "What do we do??"
Kyojuro: "Akaz-"
Akaza: "I-I'M F-FINE!"
I curled my body into a ball and clenched my chest. My nose started to bleed too. I was definitely not fine, but I didn't want to scare Senjuro and Nezuko too much.
Kyojuro: "What's happening to you!?"
Unfortunately, I knew exactly what was happening to me.
Akaza: "P..Punishment.."
I coughed, looking up at Kyojuro. He was horrified, which started to make me scared too. I didn't want to die like this, not in front of him. I felt my eyes gloss over. I looked away from Kyojuro and gritted my teeth as I held back my tears. Damnit..
Suddenly, the voice spoke again.
???: "I would like to have a word with you."
The voice rang loudly throughout my head. I gripped my ears. My entire body throbbed in symphony.
Akaza: "M..master.."
Finally, the pain stopped. I coughed, before gasping for air. My breathing has ragged and my body trembled. I was terrified that Muzan had figured out what I had done. I gripped my palms. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up.
Kyojuro: "Hey, take it easy."
I breathed heavily as I started to return to reality.
Kyojuro: "Take deep breaths, you'll calm down faster."
Akaza: "..Aye.."
As instructed, I sat up and slowed my breathing. I wiped the blood off my face.
Kyojuro: "Are you alright, Akaza?"
Akaza: "..I think so. Yeah."
Tanjiro and Senjuro let out a sigh of relief.
Kyojuro's POV:
What in the gods' names was that? Was that Kibutsuji's doing? Does Kibutsuji know about Akaza's betrayal? Oh god. Akaza could be in grave danger. What is he gonna do?
Akaza: "I'm sorry you guys. I ruined the hug."
I scoffed.
Kyojuro: "It's alright."
Senjuro jumped on him and held him tightly.
Senjuro: "I was so worried!"
Senjuro wailed.
Kyojuro: "Careful, brother. He's still in shock."
Akaza: "No, It's alright. I'm okay now."
Akaza hugged Senjuro back. I'm glad Senjuro thinks of him as a friend. I looked outside and saw that the sky had turned dark.
Kyojuro: "Senjuro, we should get you to bed."
Senjuro pulled away from Akaza. He yawned again.
Senjuro: "Alright."
Suddenly, Tanjiro yawned too. I looked over at him.
Kyojuro: "You tired too?"
Tanjiro: "Uhh.. No, I'm alright."
Kyojuro: "You can stay here for the night."
Tanjiro: "..Really?"
Kyojuro: "Sure. I'll go get the spare sheets and you can sleep in Senjuro's room."
Senjuro gasped.
Senjuro: "Like a sleepover?"
Kyojuro: "Like a sleepover."
Senjuro smiled. He's never had a sleepover with anybody before. My father didn't really like us having friends over for the night, nor did he like us sleeping over at anybody else's house. The 5 of us cleared the table and left the dining room. Akaza helped me carry the spare sheets out from the closet and brought them to Senjuro's room. I made the bed next to Senjuro's.
Kyojuro: "There you go."
Tanjiro: "Thank you, Rengoku."
He set his box down and got into the bed. Senjuro was already under his covers. Akaza shut the sliding door. Nezuko shrank down and laid next to her brother. I kneeled down next to Senjuro.
Kyojuro: "You gonna be alright?"
Senjuro: "Yeah."
Kyojuro: "Good."
I kissed his forehead.
Kyojuro: "Night, kid."
Senjuro: "Goodnight."
I hopped onto my feet.
Kyojuro: "You too, young Kamado."
Tanjiro: "Goodnight, Rengoku!"
I chuckled. Akaza waited next to the door for me.
Kyojuro: "If you three need anything, we'll be in the other room."
Tanjiro and Senjuro: "Alright."
Akaza: "Aw, I want a kiss on my forehead."
I rolled my eyes.
Kyojuro: "In your dreams."
Akaza pouted and left the room. I followed him. We walked back into the dining room. I sat down and sighed. I looked at Akaza. He didn't sit down, he just stood next to the table.
Kyojuro: "?"
Akaza: "Kyojuro."
Kyojuro: "Yeah?"
Akaza: "I..."
I turned towards me.
Akaza: "I have to return to the castle."
Kyojuro: "Huh? Why?"
Akaza: "While I was having that attack, I heard a voice in my head. The boss's voice. He told me he'd like to have a word with me."
I went wide eyed. Akaza grabbed his old clothing out of the bag and walked outside. I quickly got up and jogged after him.
Kyojuro: "What if it's a trap? What if he figured it out?"
Akaza: "If he knew I had betrayed him, I'm sure I would have been long gone by now."
Akaza jumped onto the roof.
Kyojuro: "Akaza!"
He looked back down at me.
Akaza: "..Are you worried about me?"
I blushed a little.
Kyojuro: "..Of course I am. Senjuro is too. We all are."
Akaza: "I'll be fine.. hopefully."
I rubbed my forehead.
Kyojuro: "Turn that hopefully into a definite yes. I don't wanna tell Senjuro that his new friend died."
Akaza: "I'll return, I promise."
Kyojuro: "Good."
Akaza looked into the distance.
Kyojuro: "How long will you be gone?"
Akaza: "At least two days."
Kyojuro: "You think you'll be able to find this place again?"
Akaza: "Yeah, I've memorized the smell of this place."
Kyojuro: "Alright."
Akaza looked down and smiled at me.
Akaza: "I'll see you in two days, Kyo."
Kyojuro: "Yeah. Night, Akaza."
He leaped off the roof. He jumped over the wall of trees and off into the night.
Kyojuro: "..Stay safe."
I sat down on the porch and stared at the sky. The moon was out tonight, but it was only a tiny crescent, so you could still see the millions upon billions of stars in the sky. I yawned. I should probably get some sleep myself.
Akaza's POV:
As I ran through the forest, I already started to miss that feeling of belonging, since I didn't feel like I belonged to the Kizuki anymore. I longed to hug Kyojuro again. But for now, I'll just have to be patient. Besides, my life is on the line, so I can't afford to think about him or the others. I groaned.
Akaza: "These next two days are probably gonna be the longest days of my life."
I sighed.
Akaza: "So be it."
——
Hello there. 👀
Is that a Renkaza Simp I smell!?
If so, would you like to check out my other book, "Into The Darkness"?
Into The Darkness is another Renkaza story, but a bit fruitier. I hope you enjoy.
~ Yours truly, Akazocial