Chapter 24

“You came at a bad time. I just gave the last one I had,” said Yusuke, eyeing Kyo and Akaza, “It will take me a couple of days to make more.”

Kyo nodded, distracted, and even though Yusuke and Tanjiro were discussing sleeping arrangements, he didn’t register anything. Instead, his eyes looked at Akaza, who was teasing Inosuke, rilling him up for a fight.

During those days, Akaza and Kyo stayed in a small shed near the main mansion. As the time for another batch of cures to be ready came closer, everyone in the mansion started to feel the tension. Even though Kyo had a high chance of surviving, he had something weighing down on him, which made the talk about him becoming a human awkward. On the other hand, Akaza looked unbothered and spent his time sparring with Inosuke, completely sure about his decision.

“I promise,” said Akaza,” Unless you want me gone, I won’t leave you.”

“You make it sound like I’ll be the one leaving you,” said Kyo.

“You do have a track record for it.”

“Still salty about that, huh? Who was the one running away after our first night together?”

Akaza’s face turned pink like his hair, and Kyo teased him about it. Both laughed to hide their thoughts, and the conversation ended. Every passing day, they reminisced about their moments together as if waiting for the inevitable ‘goodbye.’ They didn’t talk about the future or their dreams. When they were alone, they embraced each other closely in a painful silence. Wishing that time would stop. Wishing they could go back to their little cabin in the woods. Wishing they could forget that a cure existed. When Yusuke announced that the cure would be ready in two days, the tension inside the mansion spiked. Their ‘goodbye’ now had a set date.

“Tomorrow is the day,” said Akaza, trying to look upbeat, “Time flew by.”

Kyo stared into Akaza’s eyes, but when he opened his mouth to speak, Akaza covered it. A pained expression showed through Akaza’s eyes, and he quickly looked away.

“No need to say anything, right?” said Akaza, avoiding Kyo’s gaze, “Don’t be nervous. Everything is going to be fine.”

‘If everything is going to be fine, why are you avoiding my eyes,’ thought Kyo.

Akaza pulled Kyo’s face closer and kissed him. When Kyo tried to speak, Akaza kissed him again. And again. Kyo surrendered to Akaza when he saw his eyes pooling with unshed tears. Kyo pinned Akaza to the floor with his body and kissed him back, his hand by his face, gently caressing it. They embraced each other for the entire night. Only moans and grunts erupted from their mouths.

When they woke up, the sun was setting in the distance. They got ready together, not uttering a word, and walked to the mansion where Yusuke, Tanjiro, and his gang were waiting for them. Akaza and Kyo sat across from Yusuke while the rest sat by the sidelines. Kyo eyed the small basket with vials filled with a purple liquid, and when Yusuke handed one over to him, he rejected it.

“What?” said Akaza, enraged, looking at Kyo. Everyone was surprised, but no one dared to speak.

“I’m not going to take it,” said Kyo, bowing his head to Yusuke, “I’m sorry for troubling you with this.”

“What the hell are you doing?” asked Akaza, grabbing Kyo by the collar.

“The second I turn human, you are going to leave. That was your plan all along. I would rather remain a demon if it means you won’t leave.”

“Why would Akaza leave if both of you become humans?” said Inosuke, confused.

“I’m not going to take it,” said Akaza, still holding Kyo, “I never said I would. I’m just here to make sure he does.”

“You have to take it,” yelled Inosuke, standing up. Tanjiro and Nezuko tried to calm Inosuke, telling him it was Akaza’s decision and they had to respect it.

“I’ll respect it once he stops running away,” yelled Inosuke, taking a step forward. Then, in a split second, he jumped and punched Akaza away from Kyo. Inosuke quickly closed the distance between them and pinned Akaza to the floor, ready to hit him again.

“Why are you so afraid to be a human? Every time Rengoku-san talks about you, he tells me how strong you are, but it just seems like a lie,” yelled Inosuke, “So why are you running away, you stupid demon?”

“What do you know?” said Akaza, kicking Inosuke away and standing up to confront him, “I have been a demon for God knows how long. What will I be as a human? What will I have? What right do I have to become one since I have killed thousands of you?”

“So what?” said Inosuke, headbutting Akaza, “Others have killed thousands of humans and are still considered humans. Human or demon, you will still be you.”

Akaza and Inosuke started fighting angrily, and Akaza was caught by surprise when Inosuke lowered his fist first.

“I don’t want you to leave,” said Inosuke, sobbing angrily, “I like sparring with you. I won’t let you leave.” Tanjiro stepped closer and tried to comfort Inosuke, patting his back lightly.

“Akaza-san,” said Tanjiro, “I don’t know how you’re feeling, but try to consider Rengoku-san’s feelings and think about it together.”

“Whatever you choose,” said Kyo, stepping closer to Akaza, “You will still have me.”

“You will have me, too,” said Inosuke, bawling while punching Akaza lightly on the chest. In sync, Tanjiro and Nezuko giggled and told Inosuke that Rengoku-san meant it differently.

“What do you mean differently?” asked Inosuke, looking confused at Kyo and Akaza. The pink-haired demon was startled, and his cheeks turned red, but before he could reply, Kyo held his hand.

“I love him. Demon or not, I want to be with him,” he said.

Yusuke and Inosuke blushed profusely, almost as much as Akaza, whose face was hiding behind his hand. Inosuke stuttered, trying to say anything, but nothing went through his mind. Moments after, Inosuke kicked Akaza in the stomach out of nowhere and sent him rolling back. Inosuke tried to punch Akaza immediately, but he blocked it and hit him back.

“Y-you n-never said you were dating,” said Inosuke while fighting Akaza.

“It’s not like I had to.”