At Nightfall, An Akaza x Reader

7. Don't Die on Me

The days had become much kinder to you. You still trained on a daily, but you saw more of the demon. He wouldn't leave immediately after sunset, taking the time to train with you, and leave once you were too tired. When he did leave immediately, he'd leave a note, and every morning, you awoke to a different flower on the floor beside your bed. When the sun was up, he'd occasionally tell you of people he fought and subsequently ate or killed- his recollection of their names never ceased to amaze you.

Akaza never told you where the men you fought went, or rather what happened to their bodies. But you knew, you knew full well. He ate them. There was no other explanation for it. It's been a week since that event.

You looked over the picture you had just picked up from the photographer and smiled at how it looked. You were glad your eyes were open. You carefully tucked it in your journal. It was almost sunset. You stretched in preparation for another round of training, despite the rain. You knew you would still have to spar with him- and you did.

"Y/N, Y/N! If you're going to be a demon you have to fight in any condition!" He called to you as you pulled yourself from the ground.

"Eugh..." you grumbled as you shook as much water from yourself as you could. You readied yourself before you charged him, only to get striked down in your back.

"Again! Try being quieter."

Quieter?! how would you be quieter with water all over the ground?!

By the time Akaza left for the night, you were soaking wet and covered in dust and mud.

-
The two days later, you awoke to a pink tulip on the floor next to you. Your head was throbbing as you stood up, but you thought nothing of it. You figured you were just dehydrated and made your way to the kitchen, crossing into the largest room to get there. Akaza stood in the center, it looked as though he were about to practice on his own when he heard your footsteps. "Akatsuki Y/N, you're up."

You paused and opened your mouth to respond, but your vision blurred. Before you realized it, you were falling to the ground, the last thing you saw was Akaza running towards you.

-
"Y/N, Y/N?!"

He caught you before you could smack your head on the ground, cradling your waist and holding you up as he knelt. He moved the hand not holding your head up to your forehead, placing the back of it to your skin.

You were burning up.

You were gasping, which meant you were still alive at least- but you weren't in good condition either.

He didn't know what he could do, or what was ailing you. He rose to his feet slowly as to not jostle you too much. He couldn't take you to a doctor, the sun was still up. He placed you back into bed, brushing the hair from your eyes. His hands balled up into fists as he loomed over you. You were incredibly weak still. Would you ever be strong enough? Or was simply being a human hindering any kind of growth in strength for you?

He gritted his teeth, unsure of why he felt so angered. Was it being in the presence of someone so weak? He had begun to storm out, in need to break something when he was stopped in his tracks.

"W....water," You croaked quietly, barely opening your eyes.

Akaza paused before nodding slightly, walking smoothly out of the room. He returned with a cup of water, which he forced into your outstretched hand, making sure you didn't drop it.

You drank as though you never had water in you life.

"What is happening to you?" He pressed once you were done with the cup.

You paused, looking down at what little water you had left, "I'm just sick, Akaza kun. " Was he worried? You couldn't tell. "It'll pass, okay?" You assured. You begun to move out of the bed. You had always been painfully stubborn when it came to being sick. You didn't like resting, it made you feel trapped.

A firm hand was placed on your chest and pushed you down into the bed. "Where are you going, then, Akatsuki Y/N?" His gold eyes were stern, gluing you in place.

"Akaza-" you started, only to get cut off.

"You need to rest. I don't want to see you out of this bed." His voice was commanding and cold.

You knew you weren't going to be able to convince him into letting you move and merely nodded in defeat.

"Call out my name if you need anything. " He paced out of the room, his hands balled up into fists as he left.

You watched the door until your lids became too heavy for you to keep your eyes open.

As you fell more and more out of consciousness, you began to have nightmares. First, of you Father and Hide, blaming you for their deaths, then of the people you had killed. They surrounded you, pawing at your limbs and slurring horrid words of nothingness.

"Murderer, Murderer, Murderer," is what you could hear clearly. It caused you to toss and turn.

"No, please, no.... I-I didn't," you pleaded with them, only to be pulled into the dark pool beneath you.

The dream then shifted. You were in a dojo, it was different and looked nothing like the one you and Akaza were currently staying in. You tried to move, but your body felt so heavy. You were sweating as you gasped for air- but then someone came in. A boy with black hair and white eyelashes.

"Koyuki," He addressed you as he rushed to your side, placing a cool towel to your forehead. "It's time for your medicine. I'm sorry I wasn't quicker," he murmured.

"Ah, its okay," you found yourself saying. It was as though you were looking in on someone else's life. It felt too real, yet too familiar to you, as if you lived it yourself.

"What were you doing today, Hakuji?" You inquired. You opened your mouth as he placed the spoonful of medicine in.

"I was learning new moves with your father," he said simply, making sure you swallowed. "I think I'm getting the hang of it."

"I'm glad," you smiled at him as you wiped tears from you eyes.

"Eh? Koyuki, are you hurt?" He fussed at the sight of your tears.

"No, no. I just- I just really enjoy talking to you, " You sniffled, smiling happily at him.
-
Akaza came back into the room once he was sure you were in a deep enough sleep. He loomed over you once again. Something so weak shouldn't worry him. It made him weak in turn, right? He was to crush weakness- only strength was to survive. He could do away with you so easily, even if you were well enough to fight back. But when he raised his fist- he couldn't follow through. Why? Why couldn't he? He sat on the floor beside your low bed.

He gently brushed the stray hairs from your face, frowning a bit as he studied your features. He Didn't want you to die.

"Don't die on me, Y/N," he whispered quietly, leaning in and gently met your lips with his.

As he pulled away, your eyes slowly opened, "...Hakuji?" You whispered, a little dazed from your fever, reaching towards him.

"It's Akaza, Y/N," he murmured taking your hand into his and squeezing it gently.