Blood Moon

Chapter 9 - Pave the Path

"Have you seen any suspicious activity going on around here?" Tanjiro asks the two young women with a smile. It's difficult to tell that it's an investigation going on; if he hadn't been wearing his uniform, you reflect, you'd think he's a curious traveller simply just asking about their wellbeing.

"Except for the little girl disappearing the other night? No, nothing at all," the older of the two giggles, abashed by Tanjiro's presence. It would be hard not to be, you muse as he continues to grasp the details of the disappearance. He's quite good-looking, with a nicely shaped face; kind, intelligent eyes - and extremely strong. Although he doesn't look it under the haori, there are certainly muscles hiding under there...

Tsukoni, what the hell are you thinking?

You shake your head to clear yourself of these thoughts as Tanjiro thanks the two girls and smiles at you. "Not much to learn about it here. The girl disappeared a while ago and the demon responsible was killed." You follow him out of the village and into the forest once more. The pursuit of Muzan has, so far, proved to be a cold trail. Every time you think you've learned something, something else comes between you and the conclusion. It's frustrating - as time goes on you become more and more eager to gain information - but not as frustrating with company.

Company.

Thinking about Tanjiro nowadays is enough to bring blush rising immediately to your cheeks, and if that doesn't happen, then it's guaranteed that the thoughts would be on his face, the way he looks... It's taken you a while to realise, but the realisation hits you like a truck.

I'm in love with Tanjiro Kamado. Dammit.

Love is a beautiful thing, you know this. But to fall in love with the one person whose family was destroyed by your father? If he had known who you were, if he were to find out, it would be catastrophic. All of the time carefully letting him feel comfortable around you would evaporate until it would be like it never even existed in the first place. You cannot allow this to happen. You would much rather not allow the relationship to develop further and keep it strictly platonic than reveal your love for him and your nature at the same time.

"Tsukoni? Were you listening to me?"

Tanjiro's voice breaks you from your thoughts. "I said we should stop here for the night," Tanjiro repeats for your benefit; he never seems annoyed at you as he sets the box from his back onto the ground. "We can continue our investigation in the morning."

"OK," you smile, and take off your haori.

"Oh, and, Tsukoni?" You turn around again; Tanjiro's face is as red as his hair.

"Yes?" you urge gently.

Tanjiro opens his mouth as if to say something but thinks the better of it. "Never mind," he says quickly, turning away to hide his growing blush. "Have a good night, Tsukoni."

"You too, Tanjiro."

You lie on the peaty, woodland floor, hands crossed over your chest, staring up at the sky. The moon is rising, bringing an eerie red glow with it. It reminds you of the time you escaped form your old life, the time you spent trying to replace the memories of your father with new memories of your master - and how badly that went. You raise your hands in front of your face to look at them, turning them to look at the palm and then the back. How many times have you used these hands to tear apart the flesh of a human being? And now, calloused from months of training, they hold a blade, daring to call themselves the hands of a demon slayer. Could you ever really live up to that name? Could you ever really prove yourself as safe, as a valuable member of the corps? The answer is uncertain.

You roll onto your side with a huff, staring at the rustling leaves of the trees. The road ahead is rocky; you just hope that your wheels - otherwise known as your mental state - are stable enough not to cause you to careen down into failure.

***

Akaza watches as the demon child finally falls asleep, breathing quietly, blending in with the foliage that they were staring at not a moment ago. The world wraps around him like a blanket as he stands up and gently crosses the perimeter of the other demon's camp, prepared to do anything to appease his master. The endgame is near, Akaza can feel it - and he himself will pave the path to victory, if it's the last thing he does.