Chapter 22

Akaza pushed Kyo away once they were inside and sat against one of the walls in the small tatami room. Kyo hesitated but seconds later he walked over and sat on his feet with both knees together, in front of Akaza, who had one of his knees pulled up while hiding his face behind the arm that rested on top of the knee.

The rest of the night passed by slowly and only in the morning when one of the ladies of the inn came by to ask if they wanted breakfast, the silence was finally broken. Akaza sucked his teeth and slightly moved his face to the side not replying, while Kyo was the one who denied the offer.

“We should be talking,” said Kyo, moments after the lady went away.

“Why don’t you just write me a letter?” scoffed Akaza, still hiding his face.

“Don’t give me an attitude,” said Kyo sighing.

“You should be used to my attitude by now,” said Akaza, lifting his face and looking him in the eye, “Oh, was that the reason you left?” Before Kyo could reply, Akaza turned his gaze towards the window.

“Don’t act like this is just my fault. You knew there was a cure for demons but kept quiet about it.”

“Yeah, and then you ran away before I could tell you about it.”

“You avoided me since the festival. You avoided my touch. And then I saw you hugging some man happily. What did you expect?”

“Like you said, it takes two to tango. Just like I avoided you, you did the same. If you are tired of me, why not just say it to my face?”

“I never said I was tired of you.”

“Then why this stupid letter?” said Akaza, throwing the crumpled letter in his hand against him.

Kyo picked the small piece of rolled paper from the floor and smoothed it open. A couple of seconds later he took a deep breath and leaned his back on the wall behind him. He crossed his legs, with the letter in his hand, and stared at the window too.

“Can you at least tell me what happened?” asked Kyo.

“At the festival, the man that bumped into me was someone I know. He told me about Muzan’s death and that there were rumours of a cure,” said Akaza seemly unbothered, “That’s about it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Just…” said Akaza moments later, “It doesn’t really matter now. You already know about it.”

Akaza bent both knees and laid his head between his crossed arms on top of them. Kyo turned his eyes to Akaza and moments later returned to looking out the window. Just hours before he was wishing he could see Akaza one last time to tell him how much he cared before dying, but now, knowing there was a way for them to turn back to humans, he wasn’t sure what to say nor what to think.

“Did you really mean it?” asked Kyo, “Do you regret turning me?” Akaza didn’t reply, he kept quiet for a long time and Kyo didn’t press it.

“Shouldn’t you be the one regretting being turned into a demon?” said Akaza, his face still buried.

“Why should I? I don’t even know the reason why I was turned.”

Akaza realised that he had never told Kyo what happened before he became a demon, and as if giving a report, he told the events of that night. During his report, Akaza kept his face hidden, while Kyo listened to the story quietly, his eyes still on the window. When Akaza finished speaking, Kyo started giggling until it turned into a laugh. Akaza lifted his face and stared at Kyo, worried.

“I acted all high and mighty, but I only showed the worst and weakest parts of me,” said Kyo locking eyes with Akaza.

“I only hugged him because he gave me proof that demons could be turned into humans. They were able to turn Douma back,” said Akaza hiding his face again, “And I was so happy that you could go back to your life that I did it without thinking.”

“Do you want me to be human that much?”

“It doesn’t matter what I want. I just followed you to tell you about it. Whatever you do with the information is up to you.”

That was when reality hit him. Kyo was the only one in love, Akaza just went along with it. Akaza just wanted a change of pace and decided to turn Kyo and confirm whether he could control his demon instincts, and as they played house Kyo become attached, but Akaza just adjusted to him, nothing else.

“Where are you going?” asked Akaza looking up when he heard Kyo moving and walking towards the door.

“To do whatever I want,” said Kyo without looking back at Akaza, “Not that it matters to you, right?”