Seventh Moon

Akaza: Our Path

[AN: It's been a while. As usual, thank you for reading! The comments and votes are well appreciated! I'm just going through something right now... ugh. Anyways, I hope you guys are having a better time than I am! And I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

tsuzumi - is a hand drum of Japanese origin. It consists of a wooden body shaped like an hourglass, and it is taut, with two drum heads with cords that can be squeezed or released to increase or decrease the tension of the heads respectively.]

It was bloody. Akaza's, mine, and Kibutsuji's blood. The quickest way to replace Kibutsuji's cells with mine was to have Akaza bleed out and consume mine – flesh, and blood both. Then it was my job to flush out whatever remaining within Akaza's body. It wasn't the most pleasant of sights; my hacked and bloody limbs were being force fed to Akaza. Those that didn't make it to his mouth littered the ground around him. It was like I was murdered, over and over. But I'd do it again. I'd do it with a smile on my face if it meant saving him.

I understood what Tamayo-san meant once Akaza has consumed a significant amount of my cells. I could almost visualize the interior of his body and see the remaining cells from Kibutsuji. It was like a battle within him, where winning rests in my hand. I commanded every part of me to fight – to push away Kibutsuji and to not let him have his way for once. To stop him from taking away someone important to me.

It seems that interacting with Kibutsuji's cells brought out some long-buried memories. There was always blood and gore. In most memories, I was covered in them. Not because I was hurt and injured, no. I was like a child looking messy after a meal. What? That's not right – it can't be right. Still, in each of those memories, I was slumped and my shoulders were heavy with guilt and remorse. Akaza was always there to lift me and help me carry those emotions.

He always extends a hand my way. This man who exudes danger; a man who has killed many with his bare hands somehow chose to comfort me. And this was the only time I got to repay him.

It was already morning when it was over. While my body was already healed, Akaza was still unconscious. Anxiety was eating away at me and it felt like there was nothing I could do. I just wanted him to wake up and to hear his voice. "Y/N-san, you should rest. If you need to feed... well, we only have blood bags." Tamayo-san offered. "Blood bags? Human blood?" It was only then that I wondered what she and Yushiro eat. It was Yushiro who answered me, tone almost full of contempt. "Of course, human blood. What else could it be?"

"I, uh... I only eat animals. But I'm fine. I'll just rest here." I was still seated by Akaza's bed, with no desire of leaving. I hoped he'd open his eyes... call my name and then I'd know for sure that the procedure worked. I found myself caressing his face, just to feel that he was still alive – that he was still with me. "We did everything right, so he's going to be fine. Right?" Despite the heavy emotions in my chest, my voice came out soft and weak.

I felt Tamayo-san's hand on my shoulder, prompting me to look away from Akaza. "Yes." She didn't look too sure. "But Y/N-san, you really should rest. Your body has overworked itself, healing and regenerating all night. I promise to wake you up when he does." I sighed and yawned. She's right, I really don't feel so good. "Alright. Thank you, Tamayo-san." I finally relented.

I'd like to say that I had trouble falling asleep, but my body really was tired and I was out the moment I laid my head down.

I felt myself being shaken awake, and instantly sat upright before my mind was fully awake. I was so sure it was Tamayo-san, so hearing Akaza's voice was a pleasant surprise. Sleepiness suddenly disappeared and seeing Akaza smiling at me was possibly the best thing I've ever seen.