𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 // Akaza x reader (+18)

Chapter 28 | Exposed

As moonlight seeps into the dojo, the wooden floorboards creak underfoot. You face Akaza, the conflict from earlier not forgotten. His sharp, intense gaze tracks your every movement as you practice your stances, sweat beginning to bead on your brow. It's weird acting like nothing happened, like you wouldn't like the Upper Moon in front of you.

"Focus", he snaps, his voice cutting through the silence. 

You straighten, trying to shake off the weight of your humiliating conversation earlier. However the warmth of Akaza's touch lingers in your chest.                                                                                                    Training with Akaza has become an exercise in contradiction; the thrill of pushing your limits clashes with the confusing feelings he stirrs within you.

Just as you regain your focus, the dojo door bursts open with a crash. Your heart skips a beat and your eyes widen in shock. Tanjirou, eyes as wide as yours but with determination, stumbles in, katana drawn, catching sight of Akaza.

"There you are!", he shouts, his expression shifting between you and the demon. "I smelled you from a mile away!"

Instinctively, you step closer to Akaza, feeling the familiar magnetic pull. But as Tanjirou's attention sharpens, Akaza reacts, one arm wrapping around your waist and pulling you tightly against him while his other hand closes around your throat. Tight enough to scare you but not tight enough to leave marks. The gesture feels both protective and threatening, as if he intended to use you as a shield.

"Stay back, or I'll kill her",  Akaza hisses, his voice low and dangerously calm, laced with menace.

A chill runs down your spine.                      Is he for real?                           

It's been foolish of you to think that no one would find you or Akaza in the dojo. Of course other demon slayers could track him down if they found a trace. Which Tanjirou obviously did. Which might be because of you.

"You're nothing but a coward hiding behind a human!" Tanjirou shoots back, fists clenched, determination flaring. 

You notice the wooden box on his back, wondering if Nezuko is inside or hiding somewhere else. Can she tell if Akaza is being serious or faking? Can she tell that you were having a great time with Akaza when instead you should kill him? What does she know?

Akaza tightens his grip around your throat, tension radiating from him. There is a flicker of something in his eyes—a mix of annoyance and dark amusement.
And you as well can't quite decide if you're panicking due to the situation or liking the physical touch.

"Coward? You have no idea what you're talking about", Akaza growls, narrowing his gaze.

Tanjirou steps closer, unwavering. "I will avenge Rengoku's death, and I'll do it alongside her," he declares, voice filled with conviction, his eyes darting to yours. "You think you can intimidate us? You're wrong!"

Your heart races at Tanjirou's words. The mention of Rengoku ignites fresh grief within you. The purpose you once had begins to waver, leaving you torn between Akaza's lingering hold and Tanjirou's fierce resolve.

In that split second, Akaza's demeanor shifts. He turns slightly, a wry smile crossing his lips, and without warning, he releases you. The moment of contact vanishes, leaving a disconcerting emptiness behind.

"Cowardice is merely a matter of perspective," he murmurs, his tone dripping with disdain. With a flick of his wrist, he turns away from you, the tension in the air palpable. "I have no time for foolishness."

Before you could react, he darts past Tanjirou, his movement a blur. Tanjirou lunges forward, shouting after him, "Run all you want, but you can't escape your fate!"

Akaza vanishes into the shadows, leaving the dojo eerily silent. Tanjirou turns back to you, determination still evident in his eyes, but confusion flickered beneath the surface. He rushes towards you, eyeing the parts of throat Akaza touched.

"Are you okay?", he asks, his voice steady despite the chaos that just unfolded. You can see the tension in his shoulders as he scans the empty space where Akaza had just been.

"I'm fine", you reply, trying to shake off the lingering adrenaline. "But what just happened? He moved so fast... How do we even follow him?"

Tanjirou's brow furrows in thought. "We need to regroup and figure out our next move. Akaza won't be gone for long; he has his own plans." He clenches his fists, a fire igniting in his gaze. "We can't let him get away with whatever he's plotting."

You nod, feeling the weight of the situation pressing on your chest. "What about the others? They need to know."

Tanjirou exhales deeply. "Right. We should inform Zenitsu and Inosuke. Together, we have a better chance of confronting him. You really shouldn't try to fight that monster all by yourself. Who knows what would have happened if I hadn't interfered. Though I understand your motivations."

He glances back at you and you respond with a single nod.

Right... what would have happened?

As you both head toward the exit, you can't shake the feeling that Akaza's escape was just the beginning. The thought of facing him again sends a shiver down your spine, but you know you can't let your fears show. You care about Tanjirou and the others too much to risk letting them face this alone.
And although you seem to know the Upper Moon you aren't certain he won't take his chance killing the kid that called him a coward multiple times.

"Let's hurry," you say, urgency creeping into your voice. "We can't let him gather more power."

Your words taste bittersweet as they leave your tongue.

"Agreed," Tanjirou replies, courage etched into his features. "This time, we fight as a team."

You step into the stark light of the moon , the path ahead shrouded in uncertainty. Deep down, you know you don't want to fight Akaza; there's a part of you that sees the pain behind his actions. But you can't voice that now—not with Tanjirou's unwavering resolve beside you.

Tanjirou sends his crow off into the night to look for his friends, the small bird disappearing into the dark sky. You take a moment to gather your thoughts, then release your own crow to inform Oyakata-sama, knowing he needs to be kept in the loop to avoid any suspicions.

Before long, Inosuke and Zenitsu arrive, the sound of their footsteps breaking the tension in the air. Zenitsu looks worried, his eyes darting around, while Inosuke, ever brash, charges in with his usual bravado.

"What's going on?" Inosuke demands, hands on his hips. "Did that bastard Akaza get away again?"

"Yes," Tanjirou replies, his voice steady. "But we can't let him go far. I've caught his scent, and we need to track him down before he gathers strength."

You nod, feeling anxious. Tanjirou's nose has guided you through countless battles before; you trust him completely. Which is exactly the problem.

As you scan the ground for Akaza's prints, a chill runs down your spine. You hope you won't find him, but the reality of the situation weighs heavily on you.

Zenitsu glances between you and Tanjirou, his expression serious. "What if he's already plotting something? We can't let him surprise us again."

"We'll be ready," Tanjirou assures him. "We need to stick together. If we find him, we confront him as a team."

You step forward, focusing on the ground. The prints are faint but distinct, leading deeper into the forest.

"Let's move," you say, glancing back at your friends. "We'll find him together."