[the way genya reacts to him -- or rather, his lack of a reaction -- only affirms akaza's concerns. and as much as he doesn't harbor any true ill will for the kid, it's still a strange feeling to be increasingly worried about him.
having been a focused and purposeful hunter for so long, akaza can't quite get a casual gait to translate well; he tries to approach genya from the side, slowly, but it likely comes across as predatory nonetheless, akin to a slinking cat. still, he settles in a crouch a fair distance from the kid, just out of arm's reach for either of them.]
I was hoping to find that little Hashira with the attitude, but here you are. [... all things considered, genya can't be doing well. once again, akaza is reminded that he's never in all his years been good at this.] ... You still holding onto those beads? They're important to me.
[Somehow, it's disappointing that Akaza settles down so far away from him. This isn't the execution he would have expected, that much is for certain.]
You mean M- [The name catches in his throat. He shakes his head.] He went back to the inn. To - to tell the Hashira what happened.
[Which means Akaza doesn't know. Genya can't tell if that's better or worse. Maybe he doesn't want to know.
Rather than saying anything else, he shoves his sleeve up, and then rolls the beads over his wrist and off in Akaza's direction. They've remained safely tucked away beneath Genya's clothing, and thankfully didn't sustain any damage in the scuffle. Equally relieving is the fact that there's no bloodstains on there. The same can't be said for the cuffs of his sleeves, which he quickly tries to hide away.]
[that makes at least twice that the forest has made good on its word. akaza isn't putting a whole lot of faith in a tyrant that reminds him all too much of muzan, but it's good that genya doesn't have to live with permanently killing his friend.
even if it's old, and even if he hadn't caught sight of the sleeves, akaza can smell the dried blood on them. he doesn't directly mention them, though, as he slips his anklet back on.]
Thanks, for this. [he means that.
that out of the way, though... it feels wrong to just leave genya, but akaza isn't sure what exactly to say or do. he finds himself wishing he was more like his master; even when keizo was firm or even harsh, he came from a place of care. he knew what to say to make hakuji feel inspired or just so much as think about how he should act.]
[Okay? That isn't the right word. He trails off, shaking his head. Even talking about it makes him feel miserable, and so he simply decides not to.]
Don't worry about it.
[Honestly, he wishes that Akaza would leave it alone. He wishes he would be the stubborn asshole, evil demon that Genya thinks of him as. Instead, he acts like he cares.
It should make him mad. But right now... he doesn't have the energy to fight.]
My ability isn't magic. Thought maybe there was a loophole. If I took enough, I could keep everyone safe, in case people got any dumb ideas.
... Didn't get any powers from it. But I sure as hell got your fucking hunger.
[as much as genya hates it, akaza just listens, tries to understand, rather than starting a fight or outright blaming him.
in fact, that last revelation takes the breath from his lungs. akaza hasn't been in the grove terribly long in the grand scheme of things, but even he's struggled to cope with his... cravings, and that's after hundreds of years of learning to temper them. now, more than ever, he sympathizes with how concerned kyojuro is over his eating regularly.]
Seriously? [to suddenly gain an upper rank's bloodlust, and one who's been borderline starving himself at that...] And the Mist Breather -- he's the only human you went after? [far be it from him to sound impressed by such a lowly demon slayer, but his tone is genuine.]
[While Genya expects more of a fight, the fact that Akaza doesn't give it — well. It's enough to keep him from fighting back in kind. He keeps his gaze locked on the ground, not gracing the demon with eye contact but...
Hey. It's progress.]
It's happened before. When I take too much, it's like I start to become a demon myself. [He isn't sure if it's inheriting someone else's hunger, or unlocking his own. It's not like it really matters.] I don't know if I went after anyone else, but... he's the only one I got my hands on. Memory's pretty jumbled but...
He made me chase him away from the inn. And by the time it was - over, the hunger had faded. I didn't even -
[He swallows almost audibly.]
He wasn't even dead by the time I came to.
[Having to witness those final moments might have been the worst part.]
[once more, akaza's brow wrinkles as he tries to wrap his head around genya's ability. it isn't something he's ever had to deal with before, and the way it works is... bizarre.]
That shouldn't even be possible. [and before genya can argue --] And I don't mean it morally or something stupid like that.
[without getting too much into the logistics, though...]
I'm glad it wasn't worse. But no more snacking on me, kid. My Blood Demon Arts wouldn't even be worth it to you at the best of times. They just supplement the martial arts I've already trained in -- if I understand it correctly, you're not going to get anything like poison or elemental bullshit or some special weaponry.
[thankfully, he seems to realize on his own that this probably isn't the best time to beat a dead hashira.
akaza, too, glances at the ground as he sits back on his heels. there's a heavy pause before he forces out the next words.]
... I shouldn't have forced you to be my executioner. I didn't think the bloodlust would affect you, but I haven't fed very much since I got here, so you got hit worse than you were ready for. If you need someone to blame for this whole thing, blame me, not yourself.
[Deep down, Genya knows that Akaza is just trying to play nice. Maybe he should be grateful for the comfort that he tries to extend. In a perfect world, Genya would love to blame the demon for all his problems. But as it stands.]
Seriously? Go to hell with that shit.
[His head whips up, as the loathing within his chest — self-directed though it may be — begins to crackle to the surface.]
You don't know shit about how my ability works. None of this has anything to do with you. Same thing would have happened if some low-ranked piece of shit wandered over. I was the one who lost control
[With a scoff, he pushes himself upward, in favor of turning his back on Akaza. He shambles back to his corner, thunking his head on the side of a stall.]
But - whatever. You got it. I'm not touching the stuff again, that much I can promise you.
[should he let it die? probably. will he? absolutely not. here's this kid, desperate to be of use to the people he cares about, but who very clearly has all the dignity of a pile of garbage and the self-loathing to match. it's uncanny. it's uncomfortable. it scares him -- the idea of where this path could lead genya.]
Doesn't it? This didn't happen the other times you had a bite, just when I couldn't stop you from taking too much.
You're just a kid -- kids do stupid shit. I get you're mad at yourself, but at least this mistake isn't permanent.
[Considering the fact that only half of Genya's face is visible, the way he rolls his eyes is probably lost on Akaza. That doesn't keep him from doing it though.]
I made the choice. I knew how I could get on less, but I thought it was worth the risk.
[It didn't happen every time. Maybe he'd get a little more pissy than usual, but actually losing control? It was rare. He'd managed to keep a grip on himself from what little he'd taken from Akaza before. Pushing the limit just a little bit shouldn't have had such a disastrous impact.
Guess they knew better now.
Still, the way Akaza tries to excuse his behavior as childish — it makes him gnash his teeth all over again.]
That's bullshit! I'm not a kid. Not anymore. I stopped being one when - [He cuts himself off with an audible clank.] Since I learned better.
[at the very least, akaza can imagine the annoyed face genya makes; the kid doesn't make his feelings a secret, especially not when it comes to a demon. but genya isn't the only one stubborn between the two of them.]
You had to grow up too fast. [it isn't a question, but a statement. one he's sure is true of many, many demon slayers, and knows for a fact is true of many ordinary humans, too.] But you still haven't had very many years on this earth to learn, so give yourself some slack.
[Genya's flinch is visible, even as curled up as he is. He lifts his head, glowering at Akaza for even daring to draw that conclusion — true as it might have been.]
So has every other slayer. You don't see them doing stupid shit. [The way he shakes his head is almost violent.] People like Muichiro. And Tanjiro. And all his friends. They wouldn't do something like this.
Yeah, and that isn't unique to your corps, either.
[he doesn't feel it necessary to react to the dagger of a gaze. it's more important that he gets something across to genya rather than take the bait to starting another fight.]
I've seen Tanjiro and some of his friends do stupid shit, so forget that. They're no more perfect than you or I, and they've failed people just the same.
[Who had Tanjiro ever failed. He was the reason half the corps had been changed, all because he believed in something that was supposed to be impossible. The rest of his friends might have been idiots, but they were still accomplished. Genya couldn't claim to bring any of that to the table. In fact:]
Even if they did, they make up for it by being halfway decent slayers. Not a fuck up that gets his friends killed for being -
[Well. Akaza gets the gist. As for Genya, he focuses on punching the nearby wall. Splitting his knuckles sounds a hell of a lot better than acknowledging what he's done all over again.]
[unfortunately, akaza has never had a terribly deep reserve of patience, and genya's beginning to get on his nerves, whether either of them like it or not. the human trying -- or succeeding -- to hurt himself is the last straw for akaza, and he quickly moves to grab genya's wrist and hold it as tight as he can without harming him, too. his previously level expression is replaced with a barely contained scowl.]
Cut it out. Feeling sorry for yourself isn't going to fix your mistakes. Instead of hurting yourself, you should focus on actually making it up to the people you wronged.
[Though Genya snarls at Akaza in response, he doesn't attempt to pull away. His brows lower, and his eyes narrow, but he doesn't so much as pull at the hand holding him in place.]
What do you think I'm doing? [As if it's somehow obvious.] The only reason I'm not with him right now is because he's talking to the other Hashira first!
[He bows his head down, hair sweeping in front of his face.]
[so long as he has a grip on genya, akaza tilts his arm to get a good look at the damage. the fresh blood scent burns in his nostrils, and the very hunger that genya only just succumbed to makes akaza's teeth ache.]
So let him explain it calmly, and do what you can for him afterward. I'm sure if he intended to have you punished, it would've already happened. [he knows for a fact genya hasn't died about it, because that mark is still present on his wrist, which akaza gestures to.] They're not going to come down harder on their ally for one single fuckup when they've tolerated an Upper Rank this long.
[Thankfully, though the skin is shredded and bleeding, the damage will heal quickly enough. It isn't as if his knuckle bones are showing clean through. He's not that stupid. Probably.]
I will [His words come out as a hiss.] As long as they let me stay, I'm not going anywhere. It's... the least I can do.
[He has his doubts on what they'll let slide but... Genya doesn't vocalize that.]
Calm down, I'll keep them off your tail. That'd defeat the whole purpose, wouldn't it?
[genya you little shit.
... he cares you. and he will indeed be back with a little first aid bundle, which he will toss to genya before heading back outside. to smash some more bugs and fake people. just because he feels like it, and definitely not because he's trying to defend the barn or anything.]
[Considering how insistent Akaza had been about Genya cleaning himself up, he half expects the emon to be the one doing the job. The fact that he tosses the first aid kit and leaves actually goes a long way to soothing his frazzled nerves. A wounded animal doesn't want its vulnerabilities on display, after all. And while it takes some time to properly clean and bandage himself up with his non-dominant hand, it's a hell of a lot better than having a demon lick his wounds.
Eventually he does pop his head out of the barn. The first aid kit is tucked under his arm as he searches for Akaza in the fray. When he does find him, though, well...
... He's Genya Shinazugawa. Thank you doesn't come easily. Throwing the kit at Akaza's head, however? That's much more palatable. Hopefully he turns fast enough for the demon to miss the grateful smile he wears, one barely disguised as a smirk, as he ducks back inside.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2026-02-12 06:17 am (UTC)having been a focused and purposeful hunter for so long, akaza can't quite get a casual gait to translate well; he tries to approach genya from the side, slowly, but it likely comes across as predatory nonetheless, akin to a slinking cat. still, he settles in a crouch a fair distance from the kid, just out of arm's reach for either of them.]
I was hoping to find that little Hashira with the attitude, but here you are. [... all things considered, genya can't be doing well. once again, akaza is reminded that he's never in all his years been good at this.] ... You still holding onto those beads? They're important to me.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-12 06:32 am (UTC)You mean M- [The name catches in his throat. He shakes his head.] He went back to the inn. To - to tell the Hashira what happened.
[Which means Akaza doesn't know. Genya can't tell if that's better or worse. Maybe he doesn't want to know.
Rather than saying anything else, he shoves his sleeve up, and then rolls the beads over his wrist and off in Akaza's direction. They've remained safely tucked away beneath Genya's clothing, and thankfully didn't sustain any damage in the scuffle. Equally relieving is the fact that there's no bloodstains on there. The same can't be said for the cuffs of his sleeves, which he quickly tries to hide away.]
no subject
Date: 2026-02-12 06:48 am (UTC)[that makes at least twice that the forest has made good on its word. akaza isn't putting a whole lot of faith in a tyrant that reminds him all too much of muzan, but it's good that genya doesn't have to live with permanently killing his friend.
even if it's old, and even if he hadn't caught sight of the sleeves, akaza can smell the dried blood on them. he doesn't directly mention them, though, as he slips his anklet back on.]
Thanks, for this. [he means that.
that out of the way, though... it feels wrong to just leave genya, but akaza isn't sure what exactly to say or do. he finds himself wishing he was more like his master; even when keizo was firm or even harsh, he came from a place of care. he knew what to say to make hakuji feel inspired or just so much as think about how he should act.]
... So what happened?
no subject
Date: 2026-02-12 07:05 am (UTC)[Okay? That isn't the right word. He trails off, shaking his head. Even talking about it makes him feel miserable, and so he simply decides not to.]
Don't worry about it.
[Honestly, he wishes that Akaza would leave it alone. He wishes he would be the stubborn asshole, evil demon that Genya thinks of him as. Instead, he acts like he cares.
It should make him mad. But right now... he doesn't have the energy to fight.]
My ability isn't magic. Thought maybe there was a loophole. If I took enough, I could keep everyone safe, in case people got any dumb ideas.
... Didn't get any powers from it. But I sure as hell got your fucking hunger.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-12 07:14 am (UTC)in fact, that last revelation takes the breath from his lungs. akaza hasn't been in the grove terribly long in the grand scheme of things, but even he's struggled to cope with his... cravings, and that's after hundreds of years of learning to temper them. now, more than ever, he sympathizes with how concerned kyojuro is over his eating regularly.]
Seriously? [to suddenly gain an upper rank's bloodlust, and one who's been borderline starving himself at that...] And the Mist Breather -- he's the only human you went after? [far be it from him to sound impressed by such a lowly demon slayer, but his tone is genuine.]
no subject
Date: 2026-02-12 07:22 am (UTC)Hey. It's progress.]
It's happened before. When I take too much, it's like I start to become a demon myself. [He isn't sure if it's inheriting someone else's hunger, or unlocking his own. It's not like it really matters.] I don't know if I went after anyone else, but... he's the only one I got my hands on. Memory's pretty jumbled but...
He made me chase him away from the inn. And by the time it was - over, the hunger had faded. I didn't even -
[He swallows almost audibly.]
He wasn't even dead by the time I came to.
[Having to witness those final moments might have been the worst part.]
no subject
Date: 2026-02-12 07:48 am (UTC)That shouldn't even be possible. [and before genya can argue --] And I don't mean it morally or something stupid like that.
[without getting too much into the logistics, though...]
I'm glad it wasn't worse. But no more snacking on me, kid. My Blood Demon Arts wouldn't even be worth it to you at the best of times. They just supplement the martial arts I've already trained in -- if I understand it correctly, you're not going to get anything like poison or elemental bullshit or some special weaponry.
[thankfully, he seems to realize on his own that this probably isn't the best time to beat a dead hashira.
akaza, too, glances at the ground as he sits back on his heels. there's a heavy pause before he forces out the next words.]
... I shouldn't have forced you to be my executioner. I didn't think the bloodlust would affect you, but I haven't fed very much since I got here, so you got hit worse than you were ready for. If you need someone to blame for this whole thing, blame me, not yourself.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-12 07:56 am (UTC)Seriously? Go to hell with that shit.
[His head whips up, as the loathing within his chest — self-directed though it may be — begins to crackle to the surface.]
You don't know shit about how my ability works. None of this has anything to do with you. Same thing would have happened if some low-ranked piece of shit wandered over. I was the one who lost control
[With a scoff, he pushes himself upward, in favor of turning his back on Akaza. He shambles back to his corner, thunking his head on the side of a stall.]
But - whatever. You got it. I'm not touching the stuff again, that much I can promise you.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-12 08:13 am (UTC)Doesn't it? This didn't happen the other times you had a bite, just when I couldn't stop you from taking too much.
You're just a kid -- kids do stupid shit. I get you're mad at yourself, but at least this mistake isn't permanent.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-12 10:33 pm (UTC)I made the choice. I knew how I could get on less, but I thought it was worth the risk.
[It didn't happen every time. Maybe he'd get a little more pissy than usual, but actually losing control? It was rare. He'd managed to keep a grip on himself from what little he'd taken from Akaza before. Pushing the limit just a little bit shouldn't have had such a disastrous impact.
Guess they knew better now.
Still, the way Akaza tries to excuse his behavior as childish — it makes him gnash his teeth all over again.]
That's bullshit! I'm not a kid. Not anymore. I stopped being one when - [He cuts himself off with an audible clank.] Since I learned better.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-13 04:48 am (UTC)You had to grow up too fast. [it isn't a question, but a statement. one he's sure is true of many, many demon slayers, and knows for a fact is true of many ordinary humans, too.] But you still haven't had very many years on this earth to learn, so give yourself some slack.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-13 04:52 am (UTC)So has every other slayer. You don't see them doing stupid shit. [The way he shakes his head is almost violent.] People like Muichiro. And Tanjiro. And all his friends. They wouldn't do something like this.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-13 05:55 am (UTC)[he doesn't feel it necessary to react to the dagger of a gaze. it's more important that he gets something across to genya rather than take the bait to starting another fight.]
I've seen Tanjiro and some of his friends do stupid shit, so forget that. They're no more perfect than you or I, and they've failed people just the same.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-13 06:08 am (UTC)[Who had Tanjiro ever failed. He was the reason half the corps had been changed, all because he believed in something that was supposed to be impossible. The rest of his friends might have been idiots, but they were still accomplished. Genya couldn't claim to bring any of that to the table. In fact:]
Even if they did, they make up for it by being halfway decent slayers. Not a fuck up that gets his friends killed for being -
[Well. Akaza gets the gist. As for Genya, he focuses on punching the nearby wall. Splitting his knuckles sounds a hell of a lot better than acknowledging what he's done all over again.]
no subject
Date: 2026-02-14 03:07 am (UTC)Cut it out. Feeling sorry for yourself isn't going to fix your mistakes. Instead of hurting yourself, you should focus on actually making it up to the people you wronged.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-14 03:12 am (UTC)What do you think I'm doing? [As if it's somehow obvious.] The only reason I'm not with him right now is because he's talking to the other Hashira first!
[He bows his head down, hair sweeping in front of his face.]
They need to know.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-14 03:38 am (UTC)So let him explain it calmly, and do what you can for him afterward. I'm sure if he intended to have you punished, it would've already happened. [he knows for a fact genya hasn't died about it, because that mark is still present on his wrist, which akaza gestures to.] They're not going to come down harder on their ally for one single fuckup when they've tolerated an Upper Rank this long.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-14 03:40 am (UTC)I will [His words come out as a hiss.] As long as they let me stay, I'm not going anywhere. It's... the least I can do.
[He has his doubts on what they'll let slide but... Genya doesn't vocalize that.]
no subject
Date: 2026-02-14 03:44 am (UTC)[at least the kid isn't fighting him on this. akaza will let the matter lie for now, but in the meantime...]
... You look like shit. Get up out of the dirt so we can clean this. [wiggles his wrist again.]
no subject
Date: 2026-02-14 03:53 am (UTC)I'm not going anywhere near the inn until he's back.
[Still just... avoiding that name. Oops.]
no subject
Date: 2026-02-14 03:57 am (UTC)Fine, you stubborn ass. But I'm bringing you stuff you can clean it with yourself.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-14 04:21 am (UTC)Just make sure the woodcrawlers stay away. Otherwise I'm gonna have to move again.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-14 12:04 pm (UTC)[genya you little shit.
... he cares you. and he will indeed be back with a little first aid bundle, which he will toss to genya before heading back outside. to smash some more bugs and fake people. just because he feels like it, and definitely not because he's trying to defend the barn or anything.]
no subject
Date: 2026-02-14 08:05 pm (UTC)Eventually he does pop his head out of the barn. The first aid kit is tucked under his arm as he searches for Akaza in the fray. When he does find him, though, well...
... He's Genya Shinazugawa. Thank you doesn't come easily. Throwing the kit at Akaza's head, however? That's much more palatable. Hopefully he turns fast enough for the demon to miss the grateful smile he wears, one barely disguised as a smirk, as he ducks back inside.]