( yeah you walk away, bastard. walk more. off a cliff. shinobu's smile tightens as she tilts her head slightly. )
Ah, I assumed this was Hell, if the likes of you and I are here... I would appreciate it if you wouldn't lie to me, Mister Upper Three.
( she can't keep the posturing up, though- another wet, bloody cough wracks through her body, sending her stumbling- not now, not in front of a demon-!! )
Hah -- so did I, you know! [there is so damn much to explain, so much that sounds outrageous even though he's experienced it... and no way in hell she'll believe a word he says, is there?
as much as her ferocity sends him reeling, her inability to stay upright makes him want to reach out. his body closes half the distance between them before he can even stop himself, but he does. maybe he's just within striking distance, if she reaches, and certainly if she uses a breathing technique, but...]
I may be a killer, but I'm not a liar. Your Mist Hashira is here, too, and so is a tiny Kyojuro and a delinquent with a gun.
What can I do right now to demonstrate my goodwill? [there's nothing, he knows. words alone will never convince a hashira, and a demon's "goodwill" is, in itself, a laughable concept.] Your allies will be very cross with both of us if you bleed out in the forest, you know.
( this is strange, isn't it? what does a demon like him even care? and yet... what choice does she really have? this place is too unfamiliar and she doesn't know where en is-
... )
Give me one of your eyes. Preferably your better one, if you can tell which it is~. A strong demon like you should be able to function like that, right? And if you betray me, I'll take your other eye myself.
( she is, frankly, fast enough that he wouldn't be able to stop her. )
[an eye. of course. that's only fair -- akaza himself had tried to convince the trader as much.
fine. neither one is better or worse, in his opinion, but gods, will it feel cathartic to finally be able to offer someone the left, just like kyojuro's. akaza hears out the hashira's demands, and wastes no time in complying; he plunges a couple of fingers between the socket and the eye, crushes the connective tissue, and pops it out without an ounce of pain showing on his face. akaza hopes that the lack of display isn't a dealbreaker for her, even if there is a steady flow of blood from the socket before he manipulates the flesh of his blood vessels enough to close them off for now.
well, she asked for this, so he finally steps close enough to offer it out to her. if she chooses to attack him now, he's done all he could have, really.]
... You realize it'll just regenerate in a few minutes, right?
Then you'll either have to keep removing it, or get me to where you want to take me fast enough.
( it's that simple, isn't it, upper three? of course it is. shinobu accepts the offering with no change of expression, loudly sheathing her sword as she does so. )
[well. throwing her over his shoulder would just be rude, and also hurt like hell. somehow, akaza doesn't think she'll take kindly to a bridal carry, but he isn't raring for it, either... ugh. it'll have to do; it's the best way to keep her as still as possible without irritating the already torn flesh.]
Sorry. [that's all the warning he gives before swooping to pick her up and making a break for town. at least the lack of depth perception doesn't seem to impede his ability to move accurately.
it isn't far to the clinic, not at his speed, yet he still can't seem to shut up even for that long.]
Muichiro told me Upper Two is dead. Your doing, right? [his tone is as complimentary as it is amused. all in all, a much more subdued reaction than he'd actually had in front of muichiro.]
( it's all they can do and yet she can't help but freeze at the touch, has to resist her every instinct to claw and scratch and get away get away get away don't touch her-
...
she's fine. we're fine. she's clutching her own chest with strain as she tries to track their movements, but we're gucci. the question is actually distracting. )
... Not my final blow, but... I had a plan. He was going to die to my blade, or to my blood.
[wow, she hates this more than he could have even imagined. akaza picks up the pace yet more, for her sake.]
Your blood? [that's a peculiar detail that he'd love to hear more about, but -- they break into the grove proper and are soon after on the steps of the clinic. akaza doesn't exactly dump her out of his arms, but -- he can tell how uncomfortable she is, and she's within reach of the healers now, so he doesn't waste time carrying her inside.]
You want me to get lost, or stay nearby? So you can keep an eye on me.
[that... is not an answer he could have ever expected. this tiny, frail-looking woman -- gods, not now -- turned her very blood into poison aimed specifically at demons?
his skin crawls, his throat itches, but... he still has self-control. he sits down on the outside steps of the clinic to wait as instructed, as if his separation from muzan frees him to be the loyal hound of whoever comes along next.]
( eventually, lily quietly informs him that her new patient would like to see him. she seems a bit tired, but satisfied that the life is saved-
shinobu waits, sitting up patiently in the bed in fresh clothes and bandages. truthfully, sitting up hurts. but she will not have this conversation laying belly up for the wolves. no, she will be dignity and steel. )
There you are~! And look at that, your eye has healed just as you said. How wonderful!
[oh, akaza absolutely looks at miss lily like a kicked puppy and thanks her for looking after... that lady. now go rest!! please.
anyway,
he's familiar enough with the clinic, but still finds himself glancing around. it might come off as conniving, but really... he's morbidly curious to see if she kept the eyeball somewhere. she seems the type.]
Is it wonderful? Even though you're smiling, I can tell you despise me.
[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.
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off a cliff.shinobu's smile tightens as she tilts her head slightly. )Ah, I assumed this was Hell, if the likes of you and I are here... I would appreciate it if you wouldn't lie to me, Mister Upper Three.
( she can't keep the posturing up, though- another wet, bloody cough wracks through her body, sending her stumbling- not now, not in front of a demon-!! )
Damn it-
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as much as her ferocity sends him reeling, her inability to stay upright makes him want to reach out. his body closes half the distance between them before he can even stop himself, but he does. maybe he's just within striking distance, if she reaches, and certainly if she uses a breathing technique, but...]
I may be a killer, but I'm not a liar. Your Mist Hashira is here, too, and so is a tiny Kyojuro and a delinquent with a gun.
What can I do right now to demonstrate my goodwill? [there's nothing, he knows. words alone will never convince a hashira, and a demon's "goodwill" is, in itself, a laughable concept.] Your allies will be very cross with both of us if you bleed out in the forest, you know.
cw: eye trauma
( this is strange, isn't it? what does a demon like him even care? and yet... what choice does she really have? this place is too unfamiliar and she doesn't know where en is-
... )
Give me one of your eyes. Preferably your better one, if you can tell which it is~. A strong demon like you should be able to function like that, right? And if you betray me, I'll take your other eye myself.
( she is, frankly, fast enough that he wouldn't be able to stop her. )
cw: eye trauma, self mutilation
fine. neither one is better or worse, in his opinion, but gods, will it feel cathartic to finally be able to offer someone the left, just like kyojuro's. akaza hears out the hashira's demands, and wastes no time in complying; he plunges a couple of fingers between the socket and the eye, crushes the connective tissue, and pops it out without an ounce of pain showing on his face. akaza hopes that the lack of display isn't a dealbreaker for her, even if there is a steady flow of blood from the socket before he manipulates the flesh of his blood vessels enough to close them off for now.
well, she asked for this, so he finally steps close enough to offer it out to her. if she chooses to attack him now, he's done all he could have, really.]
... You realize it'll just regenerate in a few minutes, right?
Re: cw: eye trauma, self mutilation
( it's that simple, isn't it, upper three? of course it is. shinobu accepts the offering with no change of expression, loudly sheathing her sword as she does so. )
Shall we, then~?
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I don't suppose you'd allow me to carry you? You can barely stand. [it isn't an insult, but something tells him a slayer will take it as such...]
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( she'll submit to it. she'll hate it, but she'll allow it. )
Do hurry, breathing is very difficult through shredded lungs.
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Sorry. [that's all the warning he gives before swooping to pick her up and making a break for town. at least the lack of depth perception doesn't seem to impede his ability to move accurately.
it isn't far to the clinic, not at his speed, yet he still can't seem to shut up even for that long.]
Muichiro told me Upper Two is dead. Your doing, right? [his tone is as complimentary as it is amused. all in all, a much more subdued reaction than he'd actually had in front of muichiro.]
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...
she's fine. we're fine. she's clutching her own chest with strain as she tries to track their movements, but we're gucci. the question is actually distracting. )
... Not my final blow, but... I had a plan. He was going to die to my blade, or to my blood.
In my opinion, he chose the worst option.
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Your blood? [that's a peculiar detail that he'd love to hear more about, but -- they break into the grove proper and are soon after on the steps of the clinic. akaza doesn't exactly dump her out of his arms, but -- he can tell how uncomfortable she is, and she's within reach of the healers now, so he doesn't waste time carrying her inside.]
You want me to get lost, or stay nearby? So you can keep an eye on me.
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If I won, I could continue living and fight Muzan. If I died... I would ensure he came with me.
( it's also a warning to him. she knows that wisteria is still inside her. a part of her, now. )
...
Stay put. I don't know what you're doing here or why you helped me, but I will find out.
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his skin crawls, his throat itches, but... he still has self-control. he sits down on the outside steps of the clinic to wait as instructed, as if his separation from muzan frees him to be the loyal hound of whoever comes along next.]
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shinobu waits, sitting up patiently in the bed in fresh clothes and bandages. truthfully, sitting up hurts. but she will not have this conversation laying belly up for the wolves. no, she will be dignity and steel. )
There you are~! And look at that, your eye has healed just as you said. How wonderful!
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anyway,
he's familiar enough with the clinic, but still finds himself glancing around. it might come off as conniving, but really... he's morbidly curious to see if she kept the eyeball somewhere. she seems the type.]
Is it wonderful? Even though you're smiling, I can tell you despise me.
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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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