#STALKED IN THE FOREST‚ I’LL BE UPON YOU BY THE MOONLIGHT. (AKAZA)

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it was rare for akaza to don any type of jewelry or accessory -- she had no need too. she was not like kokushibo or douma in that she needed to decorate herself for anyone. but, a rarity has occurred. akaza finds himself staring into a mirror in the temple as she attached two golden earrings to her ears -- they shimmered, and they matched her eyes. for once, upper moon three was dressing up.

for who? she'd never say (not out loud -- not to anyone save for one.) but she was dressing up, changing, actually looking ... decent. it was hard to make an amazing look for herself when she wore what she wore.

but she was focused, staring at herself in the mirror until -- ah. he had snuck up on her, surprising her, and in a panic she had smacked him back. had it been anyone else, she would've been sorry. " don't fucking do that! " a small huff, chest heaving from the surprise. (don't sneak up on dogs, they bite without thinking!)

" what do you want? "

@uppertwo / you get a kaza !!!!

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there is something in akaza's chest that beats at her words. it is not a heart, she doesn't think. akaza has no heart to beat or feel such things, she thinks. but listening to the hashira's rage, feeling the rumble of that anger ... something is stirring. something familiar. something akaza can't remember, but it is a similar flame. the urge to protect, the urge to keep safe. to coil around something and never let any hands touch it.

she thought it would just be their hatred for douma that tethered her to this conversation -- it is more. even if akaza cannot figure out why, it is more. the uppermoon shifts, to sit, to rest chin on palm and just watch.

" why do you hold back? " comes another question, no longer holding that playfulness from other. " i understand that you may not show me that rage -- i did not take from you like he did. but why do you smile for others? why not wield that rage? "

a motion to her. " you are strong. you are quick. you are smart. allow yourself that anger -- you have already lost so much, what else is there to lose? " how strange to encourage such a feat, to encourage a slayer murder a demon.

douma deserved it, if this hashira's rage was anything to go by. it's not just petty disgust that drives akaza's words. it's an understanding. a beast for beast, a rage for rage.

" forge the anger like a weapon. make it grow stronger, make it powerful. strike him down with all your might, and make sure it hurts. "

Pieces weaved together would tell her a story. Hands reached down into the dark abyss, desperate to capture whatever she could find. Even at the expense of her own life. She couldn't afford to lose anyone else, not anymore. Not after what her selfish gains for knowledge would bring them. Her other tsuguko paid the price with their lives... Kanao would be spared that fate, all too late.

' Nonsense, it makes more sense for me to want to see his death, ' To admit to her rage, made her weak and immature. To show her anger, means they've won. Rational and control would slip from her fingers. She cannot make her rage beautiful, it is an ugly and violent torrent of water. Threatening to swallow her whole with one small slip. It shows as the demon circles her like a predator. But, neither prey in their eyes. She is slipping quickly. That same rage in her heart building up, close to boiling over. They were alike in their anger, but only one ever expressed it.

What did he do? Did he take from you?

' That's easy... '

' ...Everything. '

The smile falters from her face so briefly. Anger steaming over, a kettle just before it whistles. It takes everything in her to control. Hands burn while fighting off the scalding liquid. It spills out across the floor. But the whistle never comes, only a soft exhale. Her features soften out, but the smile doesn't return.

' Everything I had left, all that I had built. Taken away from me. To kill him isn't for me, but for her- For them. '

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he is bowed -- not a sign of any of the aggression or disrespect you would find in akaza's normal actions. when he is with other demons (douma especially), he was an aggressive animal. he bites and he fights, he hisses and he scratches. but when he is called by muzan, when he is summoned -- he is an obedient dog. he sits, he stays, and only when asked does he bite. he is loyal, he is obedient, and he is quiet as muzan approaches.

(the obedience comes from fear.)

he doesn't speak, doesn't lift his head, until prompted. only then do golden eyes slowly rise, slowly lift, and his mouth opens; " you summoned me, lord muzan? "

@fallesto / you get an akaza !!

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he is cruel. this is not information lost on him -- akaza can be cruel. even if he is kinder to giyuu, bits of that still slip out of him. a part of him that longs to be a predator, to bite, to taunt. what akaza could be doing could be equated to playing with his food, being oh so mean for no reason. but in akaza's defense, it can't be helped. giyuu was a strong soldier, a warrior with a deadpan expression. no one ever saw him smile, not unless they dug down far. and akaza has dug down so far.

he is lucky, now, to get to watch the water hashira -- oh mighty lord tomioka -- have to figure out how to plead. all because he wants a kiss (a kiss from oh so awful upper three.) all he has to do is say please. something that giyuu doesn't do, which makes akaza pout. " that's not very nice. " a click of his tongue. " you should be nicer. this isn't doing you any favors. "

" i'm not making you do anything, my darling, " a purr, lion like. " but if you want something, you should ask for it. "

one hand remains to hold giyuu's face, the other shifts to gently run through giyuu's ponytail. " so, once more -- say please. ask me oh so nicely, and i'll kiss you till your lungs give out. "

@distrxst / i just want them to stop saying odd shit.

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@wystirea said: ❛ so, what do i owe this pleasure? ❜ /survival verse kyojuro w/ akaza? 🥺

she's in his window, sitting there, watching him. the room is dark, and the moonlight is blocked by her body. she is staring at him, a face unreadable. it hadn't been too long since their fight -- the flame hashira had gotten away, but left so damaged. a scar where her arm had been, a useless eye, scars all over.

she had done that. (she didn't even feel bad. she was proud.)

" can't i visit you? " voice so sweet -- but so ugly. she was not here to gloat that she remained unscathed, she had told him that would be the outcome. " i wanted to see you. how you were doing. "

and as eyes glance down, towards his bandaged abdomen -- her smile grows. " i wanted to see just what i did to you. "

ASSORTED DIALOG PROMPTS. / accepting!

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" beloved. " akaza's voice is soft as giyuu approaches, so strange. his voice is rough and cruel, loud and bold, and yet -- for giyuu, there's a softness. even stranger is the nickname; only reserved for him (and even then, it's rare that he calls giyuu anything other than his name) as giyuu sits next to him, that is when he shifts, to rest his chin on his shoulder and look at giyuu with those wild golden eyes.

" did you miss me? " the tenderness is broken up, just slightly, by a tease. a smile with fangs on her face as she presses closer. " you did, didn't you? "

@distrxst / you get a kaza !!

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her body is tired. despite the rest, it felt like she hadn't slept at all. her bed was never the most comfortable place to rest -- mattress lumpy and pillows basically useless. but it was how he lived life. in all of akaza's life, he can't recall a moment of comfort. well, there was comfort once ... but his memory is foggy. this was just how life was for akaza. it was painful, it was difficult, and that was how he liked it (did he like it?)

" i feel like a million bucks. " he wasn't too injured for sarcasm it seemed, the reply rolling off his tongue instinctively. as giyuu speaks, the memory of last night float back into her head. having a run around the forest, taking an unlucky turn -- running without realizing they had a better aim. the sudden blinding pain of bullets, the coldness of the forest as he dragged himself away ... and the warmth that came from giyuu carrying him back to safety.

speaking of warmth, akaza flinches from the warm water at first. he settles, letting giyuu wipe at dried blood and dirt. akaza stares at the rag at first, watching as the filth seems to disappear. eyes shift to giyuu's face. he's focused on cleaning akaza -- why? he doesn't know. but akaza will say it feels ... nice. it felt ... familiar.

(you should be more careful, hakuji-san.)

he shakes his head, ignoring the dull pain of memory. " they'll have to get smarter first. " comes the cocky retort. this was her woods, her home, they'd have to burn it down to get rid of her. " besides, if you're so worried about 'em, why not just let me bleed out? could've saved a lot of lives that way. "

@distrxst / saving the wolf.

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@distrxst said: " what did you do ? " his hands are usually eager when he gets to see akaza , ready to pull him into a spar , pull him into an embrace ( into his home , his heart ) - but now , they grip that vest with both a need to push him away , to hate , to make him leave ,, and a pull - a need to look him in the eyes and prove himself wrong - to see the kanji gone from his eyes and blame it on anyone else .

but it isn't . he holds the devil in his hands , a demon to kiss him goodnight , and when hands intertwine , they share that hell , that crime . it doesn't mean giyuu enjoys that faction ,, but he's still here . he'll be here until one ( or both ) of them die . it makes this no less difficult .

" why ? why'd it have to be you ? "

it wasn't intentional. truly, it wasn't. akaza doesn't have premeditated kills, he finds battles and enacts them. simple as that. but he knows what this has caused. he felt it the moment he forced himself to retreat from the sun. something has shifted. not just in the air, not just in the world. in them.

he knew it the moment he arrived. golden eyes catch sight of giyuu, and a smile comes onto his face instinctively. of course he's happy to see his giyuu -- but giyuu cannot say the same for him. suddenly, hands are gripping his vest, forcing him close. golden eyes meet blue, and there's a shift. they are a bit colder, a bit harsher. not unlike when they first met.

" it's not like i planned this. " ice in his words, in his face, in his expression. it was not akaza that spoke, but upper three. " i didn't plan to kill him, giyuu. it was an accident. " a bloody accident. how rare to have killed without originally meaning too. " i tried to save him, giyuu. i told him demonhood could save his flame. he didn't listen. "

hands reach up to giyuu's wrists, holding him in place. " why do you care? i've killed hundreds -- thousands, giyuu. he's no different. " a pause, then a smile (ugly. cruel.) " are you just upset it's someone you knew? is that what this is? "

UNPROMPTED ASKS. / always accepting!

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" your's are. " comes the retort. it was true, akaza didn't really pay attention to the beauty of corpses. he focused on the taste, on the need to consume, on the hunger. but for giyuu? he does focus on the beauty. there is beauty in giyuu. in the blue of his eyes, the black of his hair, the tan of his skin -- and the red of his blood.

it's the next words that make her eyes widen. " oh, don't say that. " he purrs. he shifts closer, fangs in plain view as her smile grows wider. " you'll get me all excited. would you want that, giyuu? for me to devour your heart like a snack? "

she hopes he says yes.

" organs aren't typically pretty . "

giyuu's brow raises . what an odd thing to say , normally , but akaza is far from the standard of normal , not even close . she's definitely seen many guts and organs , but does she really have a standard of beauty on them . he likely doesn't , it's an unlikely exaggeration , but the mere thought is enough to make giyuu huff . he leans up on his elbows , blinking down at the demon curled up on him . uppermoon three , poised like a housecat .

" that means nothing . " he argues back , but his tone is light . a small flush is brought to his face , and his gaze softens .

" you're prettier .. but , i can see it . i think my heart would look nice if it was in your teeth , you know . "

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@distrxst said: glass crashes , shatters .

"ah , not again . " it's low , quiet , a bit blank . he doesn't look to akaza , instead to his shaking hand , then to the fragments on the ground . why did he drop it ? why did he let go ? he knows he is getting weaker , it's everyday now , harder to do even simple things . it's stressful to see himself fall behind so fast , to grow frail so quickly . he really does hate it .

his gaze , warming now , finally meets akaza's - quick to dart away from the mess he's made , towards someone beautiful , a refrain from the stress . she's still so strong , it's admirable . no cracks , not like him . akaza's hands work . muscles are far from as deteriorated as giyuu's own . a visage that giyuu both adores and envies .

"embarrassing , huh ? you can laugh if you'd like . "

the crash makes her flinch. their home was rarely ever filled with such sounds. the sounds of sparring and rough housing never turning into anything as loud as the sound of glass shattering. blue eyes shift to the glass on the floor. a mostly empty pitcher, the glass engulfed by some water that had been inside. it was on their floor now, in pieces, in water.

... why had he dropped it? giyuu could be strong enough throw akaza off him, even years since they seriously fought. giyuu was not weak. he could throw akaza around and carry him and hold him safe. so what had happened? why did he drop it?

giyuu's gaze finally meets hers, there's something unidentifiable in it. there is warmth (her warmth, reserved for her, for her. she loves him.) there is love (giyuu couldn't hide that for anything. he loved her. it made her head spin.) and there is ... envy? why?

then he speaks. oh. oh. that is why.

" it's ... it's not funny. " maybe she would've laughed, a long time ago. when she and giyuu would bare teeth and tongue and bite each other with no love under it. maybe then she'd cackle, call the water hashira a weakling. then he'd stab her with that sword, and it would be the closest thing to love for either of them. but this is not that time. right now, akaza is reaching for his hand. " did you cut yourself at all? are you alright? "

she brings his finger tips to her lips, soft kisses. " it was just a pitcher giyuu. it's okay. we can buy a new one. " a tired exhale. " let me clean it up for you, okay? let me clean it. "

UNPROMPTED ASKS. / always accepting!

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@distrxst said: [ irresistable ] sender taunts receiver by easing closer, promising a kiss, and then backing away, making receiver chase their lips -u know the drill

there were many words to describe giyuu tomioka. strong, no one could deny the retired hashira's strength. kind, even if he could be a little off-putting. warm, warm enough to keep her loved through the winter.

tease, however, was a word only akaza used to describe him. within their home only akaza would know of the push and the pull of giyuu's tides. an ocean that threatens to drown the previous upper-moon. and now that he's human, akaza thinks it'd be a pretty good way to go. a sparring match, to keep the bodies limber (neither of them were quite content with just sitting around -- akaza liked to keep giyuu from getting rusty)

giyuu pins him down -- like old times, this time without any need to hide from other demons or other hashira. a pant leaves his lips, watching as giyuu inches closer. their breath mingles, and akaza's eyes become half lidded as he expects and wants and yearns --

and is denied. there's a torturous giggle from the siren above him as he pulls away. akaza sits up, looking at giyuu almost angrily. but then his own smile returns, and quick as a flash, she's wrapping his arms around him. there's laughter from the siren now, knowing he's entrapped akaza once more (he steps on the trap every time -- giyuu tomioka is excellent bait)

gently, a hand tilts giyuu's head -- so their lips meet. it's sweet, slow, and then akaza bites down on giyuu's lip (just enough to draw blood, like the good old days)

she pulls away, tongue swiping at the blood (her craving for human blood has long since gone, but giyuu will always be the most irresistible meal in the world)

" don't ever deny me, " no bite to her words, no actual anger, just yearning. " i want to kiss you all the time, so that was just mean. "

DIFFERENT KINDS OF KISSES. / accepting!

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@distrxst said: ,, what ? me ? jealous ? never . " -freak to freak communication

" mm. "

oh, he hadn't meant to cause a stir. a simple conversation about training -- giyuu mentioned something about some corps members, no one important enough for akaza to care about. and, in turn, akaza speaks of her past. previous slayers that showed even an ounce of interest. it isn't until, finally, a topic is landed on: a previous water hashira. it wasn't like akaza hadn't fought previous warriors, some too boring to remember. but there was one -- a water hashira from a long time ago, interesting enough to keep akaza remembering.

interesting enough to make giyuu jealous. the other would deny it, but she could see it. a flick of bitterness, a frown that wasn't his typical deadpan expression, and the way his arm gripped his sleeve. oh. oh that's adorable. that's delicious.

" then you're not jealous of the way i still remember how he fought me, yeah? " egging him on, trying to uncover the beast within giyuu's ribs. of course none of it mattered, that hashira was dead and gone (and akaza had feasted like it was the first time) but for giyuu? it can matter. just a little. " he had chopped my arms off -- could you imagine it? he got so close. " and failed, he failed. but it's fun to watch the expression on giyuu's face as she comes closer, a purr on her lips. (show me that animal, tomioka.)

" he told me his name, before i killed him, " inches away, breath on giyuu's lips. " masahi. but i'm sure you're not jealous of that, are you, beloved? "

A LITTLE JEALOUS. / accepting!

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akaza's hand is held tightly in his as giyuu walks him through the house. this human body was something to get used too, and sleeping again was something new entirely (he'd never been so tired before.) he's thankful that giyuu's house is so darkly lit, it left him with a nice place to dream. the blanket from the futon was still over his shoulders. tired blue eyes (once gold, once marked.) glance up as giyuu opens the door to the veranda at his estate. a shade atop it, and a sunny backyard. he feels giyuu walk towards it -- towards the sunlight.

and akaza pulls back, quickly shifting away. he was human, he knew that now (and he would thank tamayo everyday if he had too.) but there was still terror, the fear. what if he turns to dust, what if it burns? what if it didn't work?

akaza must look pathetic as he hides in the shade, the blanket over his shoulders now a hood over his body (as if that would save him.) his eyes look too giyuu, and looks for guidance.

@distrxst / get owned.

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akaza had always been angry -- quite frankly, not a day went by where he wasn't angry. there was always something or someone (often a freak with rainbow eyes) to piss him off. with giyuu, she managed to push that to the side. the anger would subside, and there would be a fluttering love in her chest. there would be flowers where there were graveyards, and life where there had been death. giyuu turns her into her opposite -- and akaza feels human when he does.

but this offhanded comment, a comment that shouldn't matter (when had akaza started to care what any human was doing? when had that changed?) that someone was oogling him. that someone was looking at giyuu with the urge to claim him -- to sink their own claws into him. akaza had felt anger. not anger, rage. not rage.

possession.

giyuu was his own person and akaza knew that -- she knew that. but giyuu was hers. giyuu had her claws in him, her eyes locked on him, and he came to her. he didn't go to any women who beckoned him with sweet words, or any man willing to exchange battle strategies, he went to her. he went to a creature full of blood and vile, a creature with more teeth and claws than any animal, and he chose her. every time. he was hers. he was hers.

so yes, maybe she had gotten mad. maybe he had slammed him into the dirt below, dirtying that pretty corps uniform (she hates that damn faction -- if he wasn't traveling on those damn missions this wouldn't have happened.) and maybe her claws dug into the dirt next to him.

his fangs are bared, drool dripping down as he pants heavily. maybe her claws had dug into him at one moment, she couldn't say. what she could say, however, was giyuu baring his neck to her was dangerous. on all ends, it was a terrifying idea. her fangs are large, and they've killed men and demons bigger than giyuu. he was offering meat to a starved animal. did he know? did he know she wouldn't be able to control herself?

with the smile on his face -- that damned smile -- he knows. and when akaza lowers her head, her mouth snaps open, and bites down. just enough to break below the skin (just enough to taste the crimson on her tongue -- intoxicating.)

she pulls her mouth away, now dripping with his red, and licks over the wound (an apology of sorts? he couldn't say.) a huff leaves his lips, claws dig into giyuu every so slightly.

" mine. " animal.

@distrxst / x.

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@distrxst said: ,, tell me you didn't think about me too . "

golden eyes glance from where he sat atop a rock, towards the water hashira. his stare holds little emotion, as if he's thinking. tell me you didn't. it's a statement that holds some hope. tell me you stopped thinking of me, and that i stopped thinking of you. tell me my claws aren't as deep within you as yours are in me. this is a terrible idea. it's worse that they met up again at all -- giyuu should've killed him, and akaza should've devoured him.

but she didn't. and he didn't. and now they're here -- touched by moonlight and hidden from view of anyone (there's no hashira, there's no upper-ranks -- just them.)

" i wish i could. " now it's time for a confession. he stands, walking slowly towards the other slayer. now would be a perfect moment for giyuu to stab him with his sword, or for akaza to swoop in and rip out his throat. the moment never comes. instead, akaza stares at him, closer now -- as the light from her eyes reflects on giyuu's face. (mm. pretty.)

" but there is not a moment, not a second, that i'm not thinking of you. "

GET OWNED / unprompted ask.

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@distrxst said: " do you remember pain ? it kind of tickles , doesn't it ? " -from fishband ......... kind of based inspired by that one drawing i made

" only somewhat, " akaza mutters into skin. how strange to be so intimate. laying on the floor of the forest, giyuu's arms wrapped around him. warmth was engulfing him, intimate and domestic in ways akaza was unused too. but he loved it. loved this, love the way giyuu's scales felt against his skin. loved the soft chirrs and squeaks he would let out. gods, forget blood -- this is what he needed to survive.

gently (or, as gentle as he can be) his teeth sink into giyuu's neck, before pulling out. " i know what pain is meant to feel like. i feel it when a slayer gets close enough to cut open skin, i know it's supposed to hurt. but it just feels ... thrilling. "

tongue licks up the small amount of blood, watching as giyuu's wound heals over. " you said it tickles? does it tickle when i bite you, dearest? " and, as if to test his theory, teeth sink in once more.

A.GATHA ALL ALONG SENTENCE STARTERS. / accepting!