[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.
[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.
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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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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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