Day & Night

Akumu

"What are you doing here?" I asked, the fear still present, but my emotions were my own this time; there were no signs of Akumu tampering with them.

"What? Not happy to see me? I'm disappointed, Kajiura," Akumu said, walking closer to me.

I couldn't move; I didn't want to move. Akumu placed his hand on my cheek, and my body tensed.

"Your body is telling on you." He said that sickening smile is growing. Of course, he was fucking amused. "Is it because I look like my grandson?"

He wasn't wrong; he looked precisely like Kyojuro, just older. Granted, the Rengoku men had distinct features, but the facial features were slightly different. And, of fucking course, Akumu had to be the one that looked like Kyojuro. My Kyojuro.

An overwhelming feeling of dread washed over me, and a tear fell out.

"Fucking stop!" I yelled out, moving my body away from Akumu.

"Aw, I was having fun," he said, but the humor left quickly.

"How did you get here without-"

"Being detected? Really? That's your question," he said, looking at me in disbelief. "Come now, Kajiura, you know my powers…the useless ones, at least."

Knowing that Akumu saw his abilities to detect lies, amplify emotions, and make himself to the point of being invisible as being useless was the exact fear I had about the power he was still keeping a secret from me.

"You, of all people, should know that this location is under heavy surveillance of not only my men but the Rengoku as well," I said, watching the door, praying that no one came in because Akumu wouldn't leave any witnesses.

"I have my ways," Akumu warned.

"Fuck you," I mumbled, crossing my arms.

"Oh, I know you would. Your feeling of need deep within you slithers around, waiting to be released. Obviously, you can't feel it, but since my grandson and I have almost the same features, your body craves him, even if it isn't him.

"I hate you so much," I said, feeling so weak, but if I sat down with myself, I knew that he probably was right. "I'll ask again, why are you here?"

"Shadow told me that you needed my help," he said with amusement.

"To see which demons were on our side and which were on Akazas, this didn't need to be a face-to-face meeting," I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

Akumu looked at me, the cat eye slits of his pupils, the only thing indicating that he was a demon other than his elongating k-nines.

"I have information that I couldn't trust even shadow with," he said sternly. "This information affects my family directly, and since I love to torture you with my presence, I had to see you."

I hate this demon. I don't even know the story of why or how he became a demon, but even a Rengoku, demon or not, will always protect their family. I hate to admit it, but it's what I secretly admire about Akumu.

"I'm glad you admire me," he said, and that emotion was smothered out by anger and annoyance with still a hint of fear. "One of the higher-level demons will be going after Kyojuro in a few weeks. Number Six, this Twins."

Those words shatter me. Why would they go after Kyojuro? Did Akaza know where he was? So many questions ran through my mind before I felt a hand on my shoulders. The thoughts stopped as I looked at Akumu.

"Focus, Tsukie," Akumu said, and I was taken aback by his use of my name. You know the information; now use it and protect my grandson, your soulmate. Only the twins realize he's there. Akaza doesn't have a clue he's there."

The shock washed away, and panic set in. I reached out and pulled out the shirt Akumu was wearing, pulling him closer to me. A slight blush on his face at being grabbed like this.

"Akumu, please show yourself to the other slayers to master. They will understand and help us destroy Akaza. I know this doesn't defeat the demons for good, but it will give us-"

I stopped when Akumu grabbed my hands, and I released him without fighting back.

"You know why I can't do that," he said, a softness to his voice. "The shame I feel even being this way I could never face my family or Master. You know this."
I did, and I couldn't help but fear Akumu a little less and respect him for not losing all of his humanity. However, I was so desperate to have powerful help to save Kyojuro. I knew that when the time came, I would need to do something I knew deep in my soul I shouldn't, but it was to save everyone. A chuckle sounded, and the asshole was back.

"Oh, the many deals you could make with me are endless," Akumu said, picking a piece of gut out of my hair and eating it. "Mmm, an adultier. It's not my favorite, but it's still tasty.

"I'm starting to think that mind reading is one of your powers," I said.

"I would never tell you," he said, grinning. "When my grandson wakes up, the first time you intimate with each other, I could hide and heighten-"

"The fact that you would watch your grandson have sex is disgusting," I said, feeling grossed out.

"You're the one wanting to make a deal," he said, inspecting his nails. "But before we make deals, you must do something for me."

"Of course, I fucking do," I murmured.

"Get your team together and inform Master about what will happen. You need to train and act quick. You need the fastest Hashira you have; I know you can be quick, but they need to be quicker than you," he said as I nodded. "Now, from the request and this information, I need 6 bodies to eat. Get your little police buddy to get me the good ones, you know, the ones I like and someone to sleep with. No humans, you know-"

"No witnesses," we said together.

"Can't you sleep with Shadow? You two have always gotten along great," I said, not knowing how to fulfill this part of the exchange.

"Animal drinkers aren't my style; you know my style. Like every Rengoku man, a powerful woman on top and on the bottom," he said, eyeing me slowly.

"You know I fucking hate you, and I'm-"

"Loyal to my grandson, I can respect that. I really want Tamayo, but that fuck boy always gets in the way," he grumbled.

"I don't know where she is. I've looked for her for almost a year now," I said.

"Damn, I guess Shadow will do; at least we have a mutual understanding," he said, looking at me and smiling. "Now…about this juicy deal we're about to make."

I groaned, knowing this deal was going to cost me, but I was ready for Akumu to fucking leave me alone and for me to get this blood and guts out of my hair.

"I'm all ears," he said, his eyes glowing with his power behind them.

Fucking Akumu.