Blood in Flame and Water

A Life Saved

Notes:
Warnings
Blood & Injury
Gore
Wound Description
Child Abuse
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"How do you know that name? "

Akaza glared at Mitski, his fist held in mid air right above Rengoku's face. The Hashira glared up at the oni, but his opponent's attention wasn't on him for once; worse, it was on the children instead. Building up a glob of blood and spit in his mouth, Rengoku spat out the mixture and hit the demon's chest. Searing topaz eyes landed on him. Kyojuro sneered, "Pay…attention to…me. You…wanted me. Not… them. "

Growling, Akaza reached up with his free hand and flicked away some of the blood. Eyeing Kyojuro in disgust, he threw Rengoku to the ground, receiving a pained grunt from the injured Hashira as his face collided with the soil. The oni stalked towards Mitski, the child having tears running down their already stained and puffy cheeks, but eyes alight with defiance. Inosuke hurriedly hid Mitski behind him, raising his swords to defend both himself and the child but froze when Akaza got closer. The oni's aura was all encompassing, weighing him down and pressing into him from all sides. His lungs spasmed, his breathing freezes and unable to take any new air in. Tanjiro could only watch helplessly on his knees where he had collapsed with Akira in his arms as Akaza walked closer and closer.

Rengoku looks up from the ground, gritting his teeth as blood and spit dripped from his mouth to the floor. Planting his hands on the ground, Kyojuro struggled to push himself up to his knees. Grunting painfully, one arm gave out, forcing him to his forearms. His voice was hoarse as he called out, "Leave them… alone! "

Standing only a mere foot in front of Inosuke, Akaza reached out and set his hand on the teen's shoulder. Pressing his hand down with little resistance and strength, Inosuke grunted as he was forced to his knees. Mitski gasped, frozen in place, unknowing if they should run or hold on to Inosuke instead. Opal eyes stare up at written topaz irises, blurry with tears but defiant nonetheless. Tanjiro watched, lungs locked with Akira in his arms as Akaza stalked past a shivering kneeled Inosuke and stepped right in front of Mitski.

Bending down, Akaza's stone cold glare was set on the young child, "How do you know that name, child? "

Mitski's hackles wrinkled and their nose scrunched, "Who wants to know? I think that's my business. "

Growling, Akaza set a firm hand on the child's head and gripped dirty silver hair. Yanking back the strands, Mitski gasped in pain and their hands shot up to grip Akaza's wrist with their nails. The oni sneered, "I don't have time for your games, child. I asked you a question, and I expect you to answer it. "

Mitski hmphed with a teary pout, "It's none of your business how I know Ya-chan! "

Akaza paused and raised his pink eye brow at the kid, "Ya-chan? Why become so close to a demon and give them a nickname, when you will eventually die by his hand? "

Mitski scoffed, "He'd never kill me! Why doesn't anyone believe me?! "

A curious and apprehensive twinkle appeared in Akaza's eyes; a look Tanjiro did not like at all. Tanjiro quickly shushed Mitski before they could defend the demon in question further.

Akaza sent a glare towards Tanjiro, one that had Akira gasping and clutching the front of the elder boy's uniform tighter within their frail hands, and leaving Tanjiro to snap his mouth shut with an audible click of his teeth. Turning back towards Mitski who now showed no willingness to open their mouth again, Akaza's hand instead of tangled in silver locks of hair, swiftly swooped down to curl around a soft neck. Gasping in fear and shock, Mitski's teeth clenched and a worried shout came from Rengoku who was still downed to the ground. The oni lifted Mitski into the air, keeping a firm grip around the child's throat even when small feet pounded against his chest and ribcage while blunt nails scraped at his tattooed hand.