Chapter Text
It was late into the midnight as frost picked away at the blond while he let out a small sigh. The difference between his body heat and the cold was noticeable in the air. This mission was quite the hassle, and he was now truly reggrettig not taking the yellow-red scarf senjuro had oh so dearly presented him.
"It's still quite hot! But I'll make sure to bring it with me next time!"
"O-oh... Okay..!"
It ircked his soul that he refused his little brothers hand made gift.
Remembering Senjuro's defeated look, his sad eyes, he couldn't help but feel the need to punch himself in the gut. He was a terrible brother...
That was over a month ago, and he has not gotten the opportunity yet to visit his own estate.
He had been lonely without the smaller Rengoku, and of course he had missed him... But... At least he had the company of an upper moon. Speaking of that demon, where was he?
The blond couldn't help but start to worry and get a bit annoyed at the sudden disappearance. The pink haired demon had given him a visit almost every night, and now, he was gone for almost over two weeks! With no warnings either!
He silently hoped that the golden eyed beast would be okay, -a funny thought for a Hashira-and just continued on through the snow, even though everything had begun to be more and more irritating.
He knew he would soon go into a rut, but right now, the only thing that mattered was finding- killing a demon. That's what mattered the most right now...
The road was filled with white and a few dimmed ochre lights here and there. There were houses filled with people, families, children and alike. It was making the alpha more calmer then he'd like to be.
His mission articulated that the demon was noticeably weak. An easy job for a hashira of his power and skill. He couldn't wait to take his anger out on it, hell, maybe he'd even question it to find out where the hell was Akaza!
And now, Kyojuro continues his search for the upper moon three. Just where had that man hidden off to?
He didn't even realize it, but he had been unknowingly trying his best to sniff out the other, through any means necessary. Through roads that they had been on, through waters Akaza had stepped in or bathed, or anything, really. But he knew it was almost as futile as searching for a single needle in a haystack.
Akaza was a demon. And demons didn't have scents, expect for the one that made you realize the person in front of you wasn't actually human. But Akaza could cover that up too. He was so damn strong, and it slightly ircked Kyojuro's own ego to be bested by him so easily. So effortlessly. It drove him mad.
He was worried, and he drew in a sharp breath while his alpha cried out in sorrow.
He... felt sad.
He missed Akaza.
Only a week had passed, and yet he was already starting to get desperate. In those first few days, he swore he was just worried about Akaza going on a killing spree of sorts and harming others. He didn't want to admit he felt worry for an upper moon. That was just... Silly -And against the corps rules. Of course. Against corps rules.
But soon, Kyojuro realized that could not be the case. He knew Akaza well enough now. Knew the sort of person he was, and how he painstakingly serious he was about not ever letting a single promise fall to dust.
It started off simple, with akaza just promising him useless stuff. Like saying that he'd always give him some sort of refreshments or food after their sparring -when did the fighting turn to sparring?- Sessions. Or maybe saying that he'd try to keep himself clean, no blood or anything when meeting the taller male, since it freaked him out so much all the time.
It was sweet how the demon would do so much for the other, although Kyojuro wouldn't admit that then, he definitely would now.
Akaza kept that promise well, until Kyojuro noticed a slight smidge of dirt under the others nail, he hadn't even mention it, yet Akaza saw it and got so annoyed that he left the evening early, saying he had to take care of something.
Kyojuro was then sure that the demon had rushed off to take a bath, because after a walk in the woods, he found Akaza sitting down in a stream, angrily washing his hair and cursing in the waters.
He let out a quiet chuckle, but the Akaza had heard him and frowned. From embarrassment or anger, he didn't know. Maybe both.
Then, the promises turned more serious.
"Akaza, how long can you go without food?"
The demon piqued his head up at that, and let out a soft hum. He was in his human disguise, and it took everything in kyojuro's body to not say that he prefered his demonic traits then the ones that looked more human.
"Why the sudden question, Kyojuro?"
He had murmured with that same teasing smirk he always had when he felt amusement. It made kyojuro's heart flutter, and he let out a chuckle
"Just asking!"
The alpha answered while shoving down his food like it was his last meal, not taking his eyes off the other. Mother always told him that eye contact was needed if he ever wanted to court someone, so he stuck to her rules.
Light blue eyes scanned over his face with interest, before rolling them away and answering.
"267 days."
That answer... Was quite specific!
"Yeah, well, when I was still turned early, I thought that eating humans was just..."
Akaza looked away, seemingly washed away in a blanket of confusion and nonchalance.
"Mm, below me."
He answered with a sigh and placed his hands on the table which were now spotless of any markings or ink.
"I thought that if I could just eat animals or the like, I wouldn't be stealing power's from others, because, as you know, Kyojuro,"
His eyes were now fixated on the man in front of him, burning into his gaze while the other swallowed with a little quirk of his eyebrow.
"The more humans a demon eats," the kanji glowed in his eyes, as his demonic eyes returned and washed away his human disguise. "The stronger they get."
The chatter of the restaurant continued, and Akaza's human cloak returned. Acting as if nothing happened. A few seconds had passed, and finally Rengoku spoke his word.
"That's sad."
The black haired male reeled back.
"Hah!?"
Later that night, when the two had returned to an inn Kyojuro had rented, he had asked Akaza to not eat anyone. it was absurd, sure, but Akaza just gave him that smug grin and shrugged.
"Alright Kyojuro, let's see how well this ends..."
And unsurprisingly, he kept that promise. It had been five months since, and Kyojuro swore Akaza hadn't eaten anyone, he gave the Hashira daily, or more likely, nightly visits. Each visit was when the sky had turned to dusk, right after an hour or so. And Kyojuro was sure the demon couldn't have found his prey, took a bath, and came to him in that one hour, to sometimes even less.
Akaza was always eager to meet him, to spar and to annoy. It had turned into a routine just after a month they had meet.
With his mind focusing on the pink haired demon, the Alpha hadn't even noticed that he gotten out of his patrol route.
He looked around, and noticed that the wind had severely picked up, almost dangerous.
Stupid.
that's what the current flame pillar was, and felt like.
Stupid!
He couldn't even Get the thoughts of Akaza out of his head, and got distracted daydreaming on the job! This has been happening too much, Too frequently. And yet, the flame pillar had no idea how to get rid of those worry some feelings.
He just hoped that Akaza would return to him one night, and not let him fret so much...
His inner alpha let out a small whine, Akin to hurt and kyojuro's mind almost went blank.
Akaza, Akaza, Akaza...
Akaza...
...Akaza!?
He swore he just felt the demonic scent of Akaza, a cold yet nice smell, somewhere not too far away, carried by the wind. but... It was strange. It was more... Citrusy and burnt. Kyojuro almost felt his theeth rattle at it. What happened to Akaza?
Was Akaza in distress...?
Was... Hold on.
Kyojuro's inner alpha almost lept out of his skin when he felt the dawning realization while he almost felt himself physically stumble backwards.
Akaza wasn't a beta.... He had a scent. A specific scent that felt like an...
"An omega..."
But no. That wasn't possible.
A demon, as known, was not allowed to have a second gender. Every single demon that kyojuro's blade has sliced, was a beta, not an alpha, nor an omega.
Just a simple demon.
It was a fundamental rule, that demons were just superior in that trait. (Of course, kyojuro felt like it was more of a inferior trait, given that demons didn't have friends, nor family.)
So what was happening? Why did Akaza's scent feel so much like his little brother's when he went into heat?
Kyojuro felt himself start to frantically worry. Was Akaza in heat? did he have somebody with him? What was he doing outside of a village in such cold? What made him think that being out here was a good idea? And why was he hiding from Kyojuro, did he expect the male to not take care of him? Kyojuro could perfectly take care of him! Was he seen as weaker? Was that the reason Akaza was avoiding him!?
Kyojuro's mind swiveled with countless questions and possibilities. His alpha raging in his body like a spark lighting up in a gas filled house.
Without even knowing it, he followed the Akaza's scent, and it had gotten even Stronger then before. It smelt of rotting citrus, winter and...
Blood.
The cave walls were covered in blood.
Kyojuro stilled, his mind clearing From the fog as he took a single step back. His hand had already reached for his sword as he furrowed his brows.
He didn't realize that he was so lost, like in a trance of sorts.
It was maddening how easily he was falling for Akaza's smell. What was wrong with him?
kyojuro shook his head and pulled out his sword. He took a close look at the blood and suddenly, within seconds, it sizzled away.
Now that took him by surprise. He quickly deducted that it was demon blood, but not Akaza's. he knew Akaza's was much more potent with it's smell and looks. It looked more red, more beautiful.
Cautiously, Kyojuro stepped deeper into the cave, his heart pounding in his ears with excitement and fear. Excitement for Akaza, and fear if something bad were to be happening to him. His movements were slow and steady, not fast or hurried.
The further he went inside, the more he could smell the overpowering scent of burnt bitter citrus fruits, coldness and the least worrying factor: blood.
Everything that should not be smelled around an omega in heat. Spiciness, yes, but fire that burned and turned everything to ashes? No. No no no!
Rengoku felt like he was going to throw up. He felt so awful, his mat-friend! Friend! Was going through such a though time, and yet... Yet they didn't reach out to him. They didn't ask to be helped. They didn't ask to be taken care of. Instead, they ran off to some cave and were probably taking their hurt out on a demon.... Or... Or...
Kyojuro tightened his grip on his sword.
No. That option shouldn't even be thought of.
Kyojuro slowered his pace, and specifically made his steps louder. He hoped that Akaza wouldn't be too mad at his intrusion in his nest. Or his heat helper. Kyojuro felt the need to scowl and hold down his noise of possessiveness.
The sounds of blood splatter and bone braking could be heard more acutely now. Kyojuro kept his head leveled and professional, trying to not let the pheromones get the better of him. But those sounds eased him, it meant that whoever Akaza was with, it probably wasn't enjoyable.
A low growl could be heard, and Kyojuro stopped in his tracks. His heart pounding in his ears with mixed emotions. The most prominent one was definitely excitement.
His alpha practically purred out as he waited for another sound. There was another corner, and the need to see and protect was getting the better of the flame Hashira, so, he decided to peek inside a little.
And there he was, in all his glory. Akaza, sitting down while violently pulling away at a random demons internal organs, while being fully naked.
kyojuro's breath hitched, and he found himself at a loss for words.
The demon was a bloody lump on the floor, and the face was barley recognizable, expect for the eyes that were apparently crying. The body was barely there, it was just a flayed mess of drying blood and other bodily fluids. Kyojuro felt his stomach drop at how gruesome everything seemed. Blood was everywhere.
Then, suddenly, Akaza turned his head up and froze his actions.
"..."
"..."
Akaza looked as if he was about to murder Kyojuro.
"I-"
Kyojuro Tried to stumble out a sentence.
"GET OUT!"
Akaza cried out as another crunch of a bone could be heard. His eyes were full of tears, beads of sweat decorating his body while he clutched his legs together as tightly as he could. He looked like a feral animal, ready to pounce if need be.
Kyojuro just stood there, frozen like a deer in headlights while Akaza growled, leaning against the cold wall.
Kyojuro felt his gut wrenching at seeing the omega in such pain, his pheromones were going haywire and surrounding the place like flies. The smell of bitter burnt citrus didn't go away, just intensified almost tenfold. The feeling was not nice. It was more horrid then anything.
Akaza took a deep breath in, and placed his hands on his face, Blood smeared all over.
"...are you okay?" Kyojuro asked dumbly, taking a small step forward and-
"Yes! I'm fine!"
He stopped his next step.
Akaza was not fine.
"...you don't look," he pointed at the bloody mess on the floor. "...Fine to me, Akaza." He spoke with a gentle tone, something unfamiliar. He could bearly hear himself speak.
Akaza felt like a furnace, burning up and leaving nothing behind. Expect that he could regenerate, and everything felt on fire once again. He wished that Kyojuro would just, just leave.
"...where are you clothes?"
Rengoku asked tentatively, not wanting to disturb the omega too much.
"Don't know."
Kyojuro raised an eyebrow, and then looked around, trying to spot anything in the darkness. It was probably in akaza's nest, but, where was the nest itself...? It definitely wasn't beneath Akaza. So, was it deeper into the cave? No, the end was here... So...
"Where is your nest?"
Kyojuro asked while looking confused. Did Akaza leave it outside? Inside a broken down house maybe. Or perchance inside an inn, though that was more unlikely.
"...a nest?"
Kyojuro looked at the upper moon for a few good seconds, and then let a sudden gasp inside him.
"You don't have a nest!?"
It came out louder then he expected, because out of nowhere the weaker demons face came hurling straight towards him.
With no time to spare, he sliced it in half, bearly avoiding it's blood while leaning to the side. If he had been a second slower, he'd probably have a concussion.
"...you, you have a sword."
Akaza spoke, his body language showing momentary distrust his expression dark. Kyojuro swallowed.
"No, no sword."
He spoke while immediately kicking the katana away. It made a loud clattering sound which made Akaza cringe and morph his face into one of disgust and discomfort. Kyojuro raised his hands in the air in submission. His heart was almost busting out of his ribcage at the tense atmosphere. His alpha screamed at him to comfort the other, to scent him and make sure everything was alright with him.
Akaza kept staring at him, before letting out a sudden mewl as he curled around himself. Tears came out of his eyes as he shut them closed, letting out small breathes of air while doing so.
He felt pathetic.
And even more so when Kyojuro just kept looking at him.
He must be such an embarrassment.
Kyojuro didn't know what to do, expect try to console the omega, try to protect, try to help. It was rooted in his body, like a spell. Like an incarnation.
"Akaza.."
He let out a low murmur, hoping it wasn't too low because he couldn't hear anything he himself was saying. He didn't know how to help, so he diversed a plan.
He could pick Akaza up, help him get rid of his discomfort, take him to a rundown house or an inn, give him a nest, because the demon apparently didn't have one, and try to help him out as best as he could. He would help. He would. And he will.
"Hey... Akaza."
He spoke again, fearing the other didn't actually hear him. He got slowly closer until he was at arms length, and crouched down.
"Mmm..."
Akaza just let out a low groan as he slowly looked up and almost jumped out of his skin. too close. Too close. Too close,
yet not close enough.
While Akaza was trying his best not to grab the Hashira by his neck and ride him right then and there, Kyojuro pulled his haori off of himself, and wrapped it around Akaza. Kyojuro felt himself purr. He gave Akaza his haori, which was filled to the brim with his own scent. He wondered what type of reaction this would cause the other, but quickly got rid of tat thought.
Akaza growled, trying to contain himself. but the pulsing in his lower half just kept persisting.
Kept wanting, needing and whining.
So in light speed, he grabbed the slayer's collar, and bit his shoulder. Hard.
Kyojuro let out a quiet hiss. He expected this reaction, and was ready for it.
Akaza was starting to shake, and his body heat was begging to turn non-healthy. Usually the demon was too cold, too chilly or too frozen. Now, it was just like hot coal, burning kyojuro's shoulders as the upper moon clutched onto them for dear life.
Kyojuro felt the pain, and he knew that Akaza was holding back. Thank god, really, otherwise his arms would have been ripped off by now. So, he didn't do anything to pull the demon away. Instead, he slowly circled his arms around Akaza, and pulled him closer to him.
At the contact, Akaza let out such a sound that it made kyojuro's eyes flutter shut. It felt so hard to keep his own damn hormones shut, to not let them come out of his scent glands at all costs. If he did, he would probably make Akaza want to strip him right here, right now. Which was not his goal. Even though it was quite the temptation.
With slow movements, he cupped Akaza's entire body, and held it flush against his. Akaza shoved his fangs a bit harder at the contact, desperately needing to distract himself from the entire situation.
The omega shuffled and wrapped his legs around kyojuro's waist, and pulled at his uniform. He let out another growled, and kyojuro swore he felt something inside of him starting to brake. He needed to get Akaza a proper nest.
"Akaza, look Akaza, I'm going to carry you outside, okay? First shelter we see, we're going inside, and I'll wah-!"
Akaza bit harder, drawing more blood as kyojuro shivered, but didn't do anything else but try to ease the demon. He petted his back, drawing smooth circles while letting out small sighs. In these types of situations, total concentration breathing was truly a savior.
"And I'll warm you up a nice bath... You'll- you'll be safe, and I'll give you everything to make a good nest..."
He spoke, and then, slowly started to pull himself off his legs, and stand while carrying the demon.
Akaza wrapped his legs tighter around kyojuro's waist, and with a crushing grip he pulled himself closer. His eyes looked dazed and confused while slow, soft tears streamed down his face.
Kyojuro knew, that there was no way he was taking advantage of Akaza now. He was in a state of mind where he would regret everything if need be.
Slowly, the scent of burnt bitter citrus and cold, started to thaw away...