Chapter 20

“Stop!” yelled another young man, running towards them. Right behind him, two boys and a girl followed, “Rengoku-san. It’s really you.”

Kyo’s heart skipped a beat and his body stopped. That name brought him unwanted feelings. Feelings he had no memories of.

“You’re standing up for a demon?” said the man without an arm.

“Rengoku-san saved my life,” said Tanjiro, “He did it to save me, my sister and my friends. If it weren’t for him, we would’ve died on that train.”

“A long time has passed since then. He has killed humans, are you going to protect him knowing that?” pressed the armless man.

“Because he turned his back on us, a lot of our friends died,” said another one.

“Don’t pin that on Rengoku-san,” yelled Inosuke, “We were weak and that’s why so many of our friends died. Rengoku-san had nothing to do with it.”

“I know he hasn’t killed any humans,” said Tanjiro, “I believe in him.”

Belief and trust are heavy words. Even heavier when others believe and trust you, but you can’t do the same for yourself. Akaza also believed in Kyo and at some point he also trusted him. Despite not wanting to kill humans at first, Kyo only continued to follow it through because Akaza believed he wouldn’t. Kyo took a deep breath and put his intrusive thoughts at bay.

“It’s fine,” said Kyo, “I… I can’t remember what happened before I became a demon. But I can promise I haven’t eaten any humans.”

“Do you expect us to believe that?”

“No,” said Kyo, sympathising with the angry man. Kyo turned his eyes to the children he saved, “If I was able to save you, then I’m glad. But like they said,” continued Kyo, now looking back at the other group of men, “Because of me a lot of people died. So take your revenge, I won’t fight back.”

Kyo kneeled on the floor and grabbed his sword again, running his fingers on it. Even though he barely used it, his sword felt precious to him. That and the nameplate he took from the little cabin he shared with Akaza.

“No!” cried Inosuke, “Why are you always sacrificing yourself? If any of you dares to attack him, I’ll kill you.”

“It’s okay young boy,” said Kyo, “I made my peace. I lost someone important to me as well, and if my death can bring some peace of mind, then it’s worth it.”

While the two groups yelled at each other ready to fight, Kyo’s mind wandered to his memories with Akaza and regret clogged his throat.

I should’ve waited and talked to him. If I could see him before I die, I would tell him how much he means to me.

Kyo heard the heartbeat of one of the men spike and his muscles contracting, a second later the man jumped at Kyo aiming for his neck. Just before the sword made contact with his skin, Kyo disappeared from the spot he was kneeling. Steps away, Akaza was pinning him to the floor. One hand pushed against Kyo’s chest, while the other hovered over his face ready to strike.

“Why?” asked Kyo dumbfounded, seconds later.

Akaza punched him in the face. “Wrong.”

“What are you doing here?” insisted Kyo, unfazed by the punch.

“Wrong,” said Akaza after another strike, his eyes red.

“Let go of Rengoku-san,” said Tanjiro, stepping closer.

Akaza didn’t move an inch, his eyes stuck on Kyo, waiting for another cue to punch him.

“It’s okay,” said Kyo glancing at Tanjiro, “He won’t hurt me.”

“Wrong again,” said Akaza, going for the third punch, “Tell me…why did you leave?”

The group of men that watched the macabre scene trembled when they realised the other demon was an Upper Rank Three. Stuck between fear and anger the five men kept quiet and stepped back.

Kyo blankly stared at Akaza, whose eyes could pierce a hole through him, unsure if that was a dream or a nightmare in disguise. This time when Akaza was about to punch him, Kyo caught his fist and quickly pinned Akaza to the ground.

“Aren’t you the one with something to say?” asked Kyo, pressing both of Akaza’s hands to the floor. Akaza kneed Kyo on his side making him lose balance and weakening the grip on his hands, then he quickly got up and Kyo followed right after. Akaza swung a fist at him but Kyo evaded his attack, and as Akaza continued to attack, Kyo only evaded or defended himself against it.

“Fight back!” yelled Akaza, “Stop running away.”

Kyo couldn’t bring himself to lift his fist against him, but each of Akaza’s strikes became harsher and colder.

“I shouldn’t have turned you,” said Akaza, “You’re weak. You keep running away.”

“I’m not running away,” said Kyo about to strike Akaza, his fist inches away from Akaza’s face.

“Why are you here then?” said Akaza punching Kyo, without wasting a second. Kyo began defending against Akaza’s punches while his hands were balled into fists with his jaw clenched.

“I regret turning you. I regret spending time with you. I regret believing in you. I hate you,” spit Akaza.

“Then why are you here if you regret it so much? Why aren’t you with your new boyfriend instead?” said Kyo stopping Akaza’s punch with his hand.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

This time, when Akaza swung his other first at Kyo, he avoided it and retaliated. Kyo’s fist struck Akaza’s face, and right after his stomach. Akaza smacked Kyo’s hand that was holding his punch and stepped back.

“Why did you keep me by your side? I left so you could be happy with him,” said Kyo stepping closer and punching Akaza in his face with a left hook. As he aimed straight at Akaza’s face, Kyo stopped himself just before it made contact. Akaza unable to contain his tears let them run free, his arms hanging by his side not even trying to defend himself. Kyo pulled Akaza into a close embrace, hiding his tears from the onlookers.

Seconds turned into minutes as Akaza continued to silently cry into Kyo’s clothes, the latter just silently holding on to him. No one broke that silence, either because they were confused, afraid or both.