[ugh... he's starting to see a pattern with the adult demon slayers; they shove down so much. fine, fine, he won't keep pressing her to drop the act. it's probably helping her cope, or whatever.
akaza tilts his head to the side and blinks at shinobu.]
You can just call me Akaza.
I'm here for the same reason you are -- some shithead "god" decided that us being tortured for eternity in someone else's realm wasn't fun enough for him.
[he'd guessed that's what she really means, but can she really blame him for answering her literally when every sentence he speaks seems to irritate her more...]
For the record, I can go hungry for months without acting like a starved dog.
[there is clearly a but... although he glances down and away before speaking it, as if admitting it out loud shames him.]
... But seeing as I don't want that to ever happen, I have to make do. The shopkeeper's assistant can procure... fresh meat... from sources outside of town that died of natural causes.
[been there, done that, lady. akaza... sighs, and lifts his hands up in a flippant shrug.]
It sure doesn't smell like anyone around here. Or like fear, or anger or adrenaline.
[you know, most things a human would taste like when killed violently. anyway, hilarious that adrenaline was discovered relatively recently to their time period and akaza knows what that is but not common "modern" foods.
similar to when he'd started opening up to kyojuro, akaza feels a deep-seated reluctance to show any weakness to this slayer. between the two of them, she's infinitely more likely to take advantage of it and try to execute him. unfortunately... if he doesn't, he's aware it makes him look yet more suspicious.]
... There are some people I care about, living here. Even the ones I don't, I would protect. It's only right to defend human life after all those I've taken.
[yet again, his instinct screams not to tell her too much, but... he's getting better about fighting it, these days.]
Being a demon was all I knew, since I lost my memories upon transforming. Giyu and Tanjiro helped me remember. [and, well, clearly whatever he remembered made him regret what he'd done. that's a whole thing, though, and he's curious...]
Somehow, you don't seem keen on being friends with a demon.
[his head tilts to the side as he returns to her previous... threat? it certainly sounded like a threat.]
Then what would you, Insect Hashira, consider atonement for an Upper Rank? [funny, that he uses a title for her and not any of the men they know.] For a demon guilty of three hundred years of slaughter?
( she smiles and it's razor sharp and gentle all at the same time. warm and inviting, except it's clear to anyone with a brain that if they accept that invitation, it'll just lead to a bear trap. )
I think any demon who's open to befriending humanity must experience the suffering they've inflicted, first. The agony each and every one of their victims felt. It's only fair. And after all that is done... then they can become our friends.
( she expects him to turn his head away just like all the rest. give her a reason, demon. )
[each and every one, huh? that's almost... laughable. akaza's already told shinobu that kyojuro felt he had already paid the price, simply in being beheaded. and this was even after the demon practically begged to be punished.
having to quantify it, though... somehow that's the more difficult part. he's been alive for so long, and only remembers the names and faces of the opponents he found worthy. those who had been insects to him were far more numerous. surely it's in the thousands, maybe tens of thousands. he's never been one for math.]
... You'll have a hell of a lot of work ahead of you, if you want to pursue that.
Of course they do. What living creature wants to be tortured? [since that's really what they're describing, wrapped politely in nice wording.
he says that himself, and yet...]
I already told you I don't feel like I've been properly held accountable. [and maybe, maybe shedding blood, losing limbs, damaging organs, breaking bones, will relieve some of the unbearable pressure built up in his mind and heart. akaza can only fucking hope.]
Permit me to recover in full, and I will give you the judgement you desire. And should you have turned out to be lying, or harm anyone in this village... I shall have your head.
( an ominous thing to say when you can barely stand because your lungs are ribbons but its fine. we're fine.
she hopes her recovery is swift, not out of a sadistic glee or anything of the sort, but because she doesn't trust his ass as far as she could throw it, and wants to be sure. )
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shinobu simply laughs. )
Oh, I don't think anyone wants me to stop smiling right now. ( that's not what he fucking asked!!! )
So tell me, Upper Three... just what are you doing in a village of humans?
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akaza tilts his head to the side and blinks at shinobu.]
You can just call me Akaza.
I'm here for the same reason you are -- some shithead "god" decided that us being tortured for eternity in someone else's realm wasn't fun enough for him.
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...
I suppose it's my fault for beating around the bush.
How many humans in this town have you eaten?
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None. I'm not interested in harming these people.
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[there is clearly a but... although he glances down and away before speaking it, as if admitting it out loud shames him.]
... But seeing as I don't want that to ever happen, I have to make do. The shopkeeper's assistant can procure... fresh meat... from sources outside of town that died of natural causes.
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... Through that impenetrable fog.
Sure.
And your attachment to this village?
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It sure doesn't smell like anyone around here. Or like fear, or anger or adrenaline.
[you know, most things a human would taste like when killed violently. anyway, hilarious that adrenaline was discovered relatively recently to their time period and akaza knows what that is but not common "modern" foods.
similar to when he'd started opening up to kyojuro, akaza feels a deep-seated reluctance to show any weakness to this slayer. between the two of them, she's infinitely more likely to take advantage of it and try to execute him. unfortunately... if he doesn't, he's aware it makes him look yet more suspicious.]
... There are some people I care about, living here. Even the ones I don't, I would protect. It's only right to defend human life after all those I've taken.
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( that is not an answer she had expected at all. )
... Is that regret?
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... Yes? Is that a trick question?
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I've never seen a demon regret anything, save when they're about to die. Oh, but they still never accept my offer of friendship...
( because it isn't an offer, but a threat and promise of unending agony, but still. so mean of them!!! )
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Being a demon was all I knew, since I lost my memories upon transforming. Giyu and Tanjiro helped me remember. [and, well, clearly whatever he remembered made him regret what he'd done. that's a whole thing, though, and he's curious...]
Somehow, you don't seem keen on being friends with a demon.
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They just~ never~ are~.
( tanjiro and giyu... she doesn't like how casual he's being, but that's a nitpick for later. )
Are they the slayers who killed you, then?
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and... regardless of the technicality...]
They are.
[his head tilts to the side as he returns to her previous... threat? it certainly sounded like a threat.]
Then what would you, Insect Hashira, consider atonement for an Upper Rank? [funny, that he uses a title for her and not any of the men they know.] For a demon guilty of three hundred years of slaughter?
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( she smiles and it's razor sharp and gentle all at the same time. warm and inviting, except it's clear to anyone with a brain that if they accept that invitation, it'll just lead to a bear trap. )
I think any demon who's open to befriending humanity must experience the suffering they've inflicted, first. The agony each and every one of their victims felt. It's only fair. And after all that is done... then they can become our friends.
( she expects him to turn his head away just like all the rest. give her a reason, demon. )
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having to quantify it, though... somehow that's the more difficult part. he's been alive for so long, and only remembers the names and faces of the opponents he found worthy. those who had been insects to him were far more numerous. surely it's in the thousands, maybe tens of thousands. he's never been one for math.]
... You'll have a hell of a lot of work ahead of you, if you want to pursue that.
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( there's a lot of doubt in her mind, but...
... good lord, what is she even going to think if he agrees to it? she never once thought a demon would agree it.
... better get to stabbing lots once she heals, she guesses. )
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he says that himself, and yet...]
I already told you I don't feel like I've been properly held accountable. [and maybe, maybe shedding blood, losing limbs, damaging organs, breaking bones, will relieve some of the unbearable pressure built up in his mind and heart. akaza can only fucking hope.]
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( she smiles. )
Permit me to recover in full, and I will give you the judgement you desire. And should you have turned out to be lying, or harm anyone in this village... I shall have your head.
But you already knew that, didn't you.
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I will hold you to that, Hashira. [they both know kyojuro would at the very least hesitate, and none of them want that.]
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( an ominous thing to say when you can barely stand because your lungs are ribbons but its fine. we're fine.
she hopes her recovery is swift, not out of a sadistic glee or anything of the sort, but because she doesn't trust his ass as far as she could throw it, and wants to be sure. )