"You didn't heal." Shinazugawa-san said as I let my sleeves fall and cover my burns. I shrugged, "my face looks better now, though." One look at my face made him grimace. Ok, so my face wasn't any better than this morning. "You look like cooked shrimp. Come on, eat first before we hunt the other demons."
I decided to just ignore him and follow him out. The night was still young, so the innkeeper was fussing about in the lobby. It's just our luck she dropped everything she was doing to come and greet us. "Out for another late-night walk? You two be careful, there's been news of a wild animal attacking people." Shinazugawa-san made a show of wrapping his bandaged arm around my shoulders and telling the innkeeper proudly, "We heard, but I'm not letting any beast touch my Y/N."
"Oh my! What a dutiful husband you have. Ah, I have some glorious news for you two. We ordered some eels and oysters for tomorrow's meals. Not like you two need those very much – what with your youth and energy – but a little help won't hurt!"
"I'm sorry, what?" I was absolutely lost on what she was talking about. Eels and oysters are food items said to increase one's sexual appetite so… oh… ohhh! I guess Shinazugawa-san came to the same conclusion as I did since he made a horrible choking sound.
The older woman laughed at us, looking like she was having the time of her life! "Oh, you two. No need to be coy. You only left your room for your late-night walk; we all know what happens behind closed doors even if it was morning! My husband and I were young and in love too. Of course, we went home from our honeymoon to find out I was pregnant! Maybe you two would have that same luck!"
I could not find the strength within me to look at Shinazugawa-san after that awkward chat. In fact, the moment we left the inn we stood so far apart no one would think we even know each other!
With my thoughts revolving around that, we reached the edge of the town where I could hunt for food. It was easy to find a couple of wild boars. Once I was finished, I made sure I was clean before returning to Shinazugawa-san.
Once I was within reach, he grabbed my arm and raised it to the moonlight. "Tsk, you're still not healing." As he continued examining my burns, I observed his face. There was a large, and dark bag under his eyes. It was a stark contrast to how pale he looked. It made me wonder if he sleeps during the day as I do, and that he may have bled more than usual last night. "What?"
"You look tired." He scoffed. "I don't get tired." I highly doubt that but decided against letting him know what I thought and just walked back to the village with him.
We've been walking around almost the whole night and dawn was not far when Shinazugawa-san let out a frustrated sigh. "Are you sure there are more demons here?" I asked, thinking that he already killed the one plaguing this village. "The crow said there are more." "Demons rarely move in groups, though."
"Yeah. That whole problem in Natagumo was unusual." He explained when I only looked at him in confusion. "The Lower moon five gathered a bunch of other demons and built a community there." Hmm. That was certainly unusual. "Did you know him?" He asked then, nudging me a bit. "Who?"With an exasperated sigh and a roll of his eye, "Lower moon five." He explained. "No. I only ever met two demon moons." At least, that's what I remember. "Upper moon two… and three." At the mention of Akaza-san's rank, he tensed. "The one that killed Rengoku?" It's something I can't deny, nor would I even attempt to so I told him the truth. "Yes. He… I… he was my friend. When I almost lost control and was about to eat a human, he stopped me. Not so he could eat him instead, but because he saw how important it was for me to avoid that step. But after what he did to Kyo-kun, I don't think I could ever forgive him."
"Hmph. That better teach you not to befriend demons. They're scum." "I'm scum?" I couldn't help how high my pitch was when I asked him that, but who could blame me? He turned to fully face me, the beginning of a smile on his lips. "No." He raised a hand to my head, ruffling my hair a bit, "you're different. You're not a monster." The smile that broke out on my face was mildly making my jaw hurt but that was fine. "What's with that weird look?" I laughed a little, "that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
As we started walking back to the inn, I caught a whiff of his scent – it was faint, but him being a marechi makes it smell so amazing. It wasn't surprising considering he still had a fresh wound.
Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one who could smell him.
"He must be the one who offed Gentai!" Said one of the demons, glaring straight at Shinazugawa-san.
"I don't care about that fool! What I want now is that slayer. The last time I had a marechi was four years ago." Declared the second one. And they both looked like they were going to attack when the third demon stopped them, pulling them both back which annoyed them.
Shinazugawa-san's blade was already drawn, his stance ready when the third demon spoke. "I know her!" He was shaking, pointing a finger at me; "She's a demon moon!" What? I inspected his face, and there wasn't anything familiar about him. I'm sure I've never met him, but the fact that he knew I'm a demon moon was alarming. I looked at Shinazugawa-san then, only to find him already looking at me. An understanding came between us. You better explain this later, his eyes told me.
"Oh? She's probably the weakest demon moon if she needs a marechi."
"I know. Let's get rid of her, then we could be a demon moon!"
And with speed only a demon could muster, two of them rushed toward me and dragged me from Shinazugawa-san.
"Y/N!"
I was scared and confused, but I knew then that it would be very dangerous the farther they drag me away from Shinazugawa-san. I willed frost to wrap around our feet and the ground, making us stop. And with frost wrapping around my fist, I punched one of my assailants surprising us both. "AHH!" It was not my intention, but I just punched his jaw off! I felt the other demon pull my hair so strongly I had to lean back so he wouldn't rip my scalp off, and his face was looming over me when the powerful aroma of marechi blood hit all of us.
"Leave her alone!" I heard the swish oh Shinazugawa-san's blade right by my ear before I fell to the ground. The demon's hand that was holding on to my hair was severed and lying by my head before turning into ash. But the demon was unfazed, already going for Shinazugawa-san who was bleeding profusely. He made a really deep slash on his bicep, his blood free-flowing down. All three demons went for him at the same time and!
It was over in a flash. All three demons' heads were cut off and rolling before their bodies followed. As they all turn into ash and smoke, Shinazugawa-san began walking towards me, sounding as tired as he looked. "Y/N… are – you okay?" He made a few steps towards me before dropping to the ground in a thud.
Rushing towards him was like an out-of-body experience. It reminded me too much of the train, Akasza-san, of Kyojuro, and of death. He was unconscious – his exhaustion finally becoming unbearable – and was still bleeding. Simply putting pressure on it was not stopping the blood, so in desperation, I spread frost over the wound. Help… He needs help! Mustering all my demon strength, I lifted Shinazugawa-san onto my back and rushed back to the inn.
I did not know how I managed to drag him back to our room with no one noticing, but that wasn't important. Images of Kyojuro's last moments kept flashing in my mind. No. I can't let Shinazugawa-san die too! I rushed back down to the lobby, seeking the innkeeper who screamed once she saw me covered in blood. "We need a doctor! Shi – my husband, he's hurt."
She paled yet answered, "the only doctor lives at the other side of town!" I turned to look towards the entrance, seeing the early rays of daylight already spreading its warmth made me stop waste precious time thinking. If she runs for the doctor herself, it might take her thirty minutes just to get there. Thirty more or longer to get back… Shinazugawa-san would lose too much blood by then! But with my speed, I could make it in less than five minutes! The sunlight… I'll stick to the shadows. I was able to do that the day before, I'd do it again.
"I'll get the doctor." I told the innkeeper, "Please make sure he won't bleed to death while I'm gone!"
"Please, hurry!" We were making good time, but I couldn't help but urge the doctor to run faster. I was already carrying his bag to make sure he'd move faster. He grunted, "Yes! But you're smoking, are you sure you're alright?" I didn't answer, choosing to just continue going back to Shinazugawa-san. I was so tempted to just carry the doctor on my back, but the sight of the inn made me calmer.
"We're here! Is he –" I could see that he was still breathing. The doctor started working on him, and I moved to his other side, grabbing hold of his hand as the innkeeper fuss over me, saying I was smoking.
Shinazugawa-san… is a complicated person. He is rude, violent, and crass. But he is caring. He can also be sensitive. He's fighting to save people. And he knows my name. I didn't realize how important he had become to me.
"Shinazugawa-san! Shinazugawa Y/N-san!" Oh. They meant me. I turned to look at the other people in the room, catching the doctor casting a suspicious glance at the sword I just threw earlier. "Your husband's going to be fine. Exhaustion and blood loss aren't a great combination. What he needs now is plenty of rest and nutritious food."
Once the doctor left, the innkeeper began fussing at me. "Dear, you better change out of that." She moved to assist me, "I got it… uhm, thank you." "All right. I'll make sure to inform the cook and make his food extra nutritious."
Shinazugawa-san was still asleep once I got back. Once I was calm, and no longer worried about Shinazugawa-san I finally examined myself. My burns had gotten worse, and I was indeed, smoking. It's like I could burst into flames at any moment.
"You look like shit." I turned to look at Shinazugawa-san, and despite what it was he said, I laughed in relief. "You're awake! Oh, you're okay!" I rushed and hugged him, making him grunt. He moved his arms, and I thought he was going to push me away… he only pulled me closer.
"Oh! Excuse me, I'm just dropping off your breakfast! You young ones can get back to it, but remember to be gentle for now." I heard the door shut close before hearing and feeling Shinazugawa-san laugh below me. It was a contagious laugh. And in no time at all, we were both a laughing mess. It stopped, though, once I rolled to the floor to face him.
"Why do you have more burns? What were you doing, dance around under the sun?" His hand gently caressed the burns on my face, a gentleness he'd hidden well. "I was the fastest, so I went to get the doctor." His frown was so deep, then he flicked me on my forehead. "Don't do that again." "You could have died." I protested. "Promise me, you won't risk it again and walk under the sun." He looked at me with the same intensity he wears when he fights. But there was a gentle pleading underneath it all. "I promise."
I helped him sit up to eat, watching closely to make sure he eats everything on his plate and mine. "Stop watching me like a hawk! And no, don't even think about feeding me yourself." "I do not think that! Just… you need your strength."
"You look worse than I do. Why aren't you healing?"
"I don't know." I should've healed, especially since I ate last night. So why, indeed?
"Maybe you need to eat a human." I hummed, "maybe." He kept looking at me, making me itch. "Why are you looking at me like that? Ugh–I will not eat someone!" "What about just blood?" I thought back to the only moments I've ever had blood, one stuck to my mind; that time I was with Akaza-san. "I lost control when I swallowed blood. And it was just a small amount, just a few drops."
"How long ago was that? When you just became a demon?" My nod was good enough for him. "Then let's try it."
"What? What if I lose control?"
"You won't. You've been around me long enough and haven't lost control once."
"You'd kill me when I lose control, right?"
He frowned a little at that, but continued, "I told you before, I'd kill you if you… become a monster. But you won't."
"But I don't want to lose control and kill you to eat you."
He scoffed, a smug look on his face. "You think you could kill me?" He flicked on the forehead before I could nod. "I trust you?"
"You do? Why?" He flushed bright red, a stark contrast to his hair. "Shut up and just suck." "Suck what?"
That was not a good thing to ask, I realized. In order to avoid the awkwardness, I took out the dishes. The moment I got back to the room; I began preparing to sleep.
"That's it!" Shinazugawa-san declared, proceeding to bite the pad of his thumb making blood seep out. The aroma of his blood was tantalizing in the small room, but I stood firm. "No." He grabbed my hands, making me face him. Like a fool, I gloated. How was he going to feed me blood if none of his hands are free? In answer, he bit his lip. Bit it so hard it bled. Oh… Oh no.
It was odd—like time was flowing slowly and faster at the same moment. His eyes fluttered close slowly, but I felt his breath–his lips on mine quickly. The taste of copper flavored the kiss, the warmth burning my lips.
The moment I swallowed, I felt the burns on my skin began to stitch back and smooth over – healing me. Then a vision, Tanjirou's little sister, still a demon but standing in an open field bathed in sunlight. And a battle. A future we should avoid. Kibutsuji Muzan was unleashed, slaughtering dozens of demon slayers. Doma absorbing Shinobu-san before dying from the poison she stored in her body; Shinazugawa-san's younger brother – the demon slayer who eats demons – fades away as Tokito-san dies with half his body cut off; more hashiras die, Himejima-san, Mitsuri-san, Iguro-san… I saw it all. I saw how it happened and I saw Tanjirou become a demon who conquered the sun!
My vision of the future was then pushed aside, and a long-buried memory resurfaced. The taste of marechi blood was not something new. "I told you you'd love it." Kibutsuji Muzan said. When was it?
A hand holding mine slid up my arm, shoulder, to the back of my head. I felt him pull me closer, and I let him. I don't know if it was the blood or the kiss but I felt good. At that moment, I felt at peace.
As Shinazugawa-san leaned back, he examined my face. He smiled, "You should never doubt me, Y/N." That was the third time he said my name. "You really do know my name."
"Of course, I know your name. It's you; how could I not?" I swear, he started blushing then. Such an adorably soft look on him. Saying nothing, he went back to his futon and buried himself in the sheets. "You should go to sleep, too!" So, he gets shy too. Smiling, and face burning, I decided to go to sleep as well promising myself I'd tell him about my vision later tonight.