Chapter 19

Disclaimer: The following couple of chapters may contain spoilers about the manga. So anime watchers bear that in mind before proceeding. The possible spoilers are not major so you can still enjoy the anime once it comes out even if you decide to read it.

................

“What do you want?” said Akaza harshly, “I told you not to make contact unless there was an emergency.”

– – –

“What do you mean?”

– – –

“No way. That’s impossible. Muzan can’t be dead. He is the strongest.”

– – –

“That must be a lie.”

– – –

………..

Akaza saw that Kyo had been running when he left since his strides were far apart however, Akaza didn’t run because if he did and he caught up with Kyo, he would kill first and ask questions later. Instead, he walked fast while battling against his thoughts, trying to decide what he would do once he found him.

‘I’ll rip his legs so he can’t run. And then I’ll beat him to a pulp. Only after I’m satisfied I will hear his excuses.’

As the rage he was trying to restrain steadily seeped out, Akaza started running towards his goal. However, minutes later, the voice that was on Kyo’s side helped him digest part of his rage and he went back to walking.

Three days went by since Kyo had run away. He kept thinking about Akaza and what he left behind – what he had to leave behind. As a demon, his first and only memories were with him at that little cabin in the middle of the woods. And as sweet as they were, the aftertaste was just as bitter. Akaza said that he turned him on a whim however, Kyo had a feeling there was more to it than he let on. The more he thought about it the more questions he had, and he just made himself walk and try to bury the feelings he had.

‘This is just imprinting. This feeling is just instinct. It’s not love.’

This was the mantra that Kyo kept telling himself, trying to let go of Akaza. But that didn’t make it any easier. Whether love or instinct, he still cared about Akaza, and he meant what he wrote, telling him to be happy. Even if his happy, was with someone else. After the sunset on the third day, Kyo walked through a village letting his feet take him somewhere far away.

“You,” said a man a few feet behind Kyo, “Where were you?” Kyo looked back at the young man without saying a word, assuming the man had the wrong person.

“How can you show yourself like this?” said the young man, tears and anger on his face, “Do you know how many of us died because of you?”

The man had a scar across his face and was missing an arm. But nothing about him helped Kyo remember.

“The Flame Hashira who begged to be turned into a demon instead of fighting demons,” said another man stepping closer, with him another three men joined in.

“While your friends and comrades fought for us, what were you doing?”

“They died because of you.”

“Betrayer.”

“I’m ashamed you once were one of us.”

The five men around Kyo kept belittling him, and even though their words hurt to some extent, he didn’t care all that much. At the end of the day, he had no memories of when he was a human.

“Can you tell me what happened?” Asked Kyo, intrigued by his past.

“You don’t have the right to know. You turned your back on us.”

“Your destiny is to end up like Muzan. Any last words?”

The men all unsheathed their swords and put a foot back, ready to strike. Kyo put his hand on his sword, but he knew he didn’t need it. He knew could kill them with his bare hands.

Why not kill them then?

He couldn’t remember what made him so against killing humans. His soul rejected the thought of it, but the one person that took him accountable for it was no longer next to him.

There are just five of them.

Kyo’s bottled rage slowly began boiling, the steam threatening to shoot the lid off. Two of the men dashed towards him and tried to strike him. Kyo used his sword to defend against it, his body moving instinctively. Another one came for him and slashed him on his side, but within seconds the wound healed up.

They attacked me first.

Kyo’s inner thoughts got louder, even louder than during his nightmares. And like his nightmares, there was a banquet ready for the taking. He just had to reach for it. He felt his saliva build up threatening to spill from the corner of his mouth. His stomach begged for food as if it hadn’t eaten in forever.

Just a bite.

Kyo’s ears tuned to the heartbeats of the five men around him. The sweet melody in crescendo as each man prepared for the next attack.

This is self-defence.

Kyo relaxed and a smile showed on his face. As he waited for the next fool to attack him, he moistened his lips remembering what happened next during his dreams. One of the men behind him stepped forward, and Kyo’s grin became bigger as he turned towards the man and dropped his sword.