Chapter Text
The sparring becomes a new routine for the two of you, training together rather than spending daylight separate. Progress comes much quicker this way, learning with ease having him as your mentor.
Still, you know he’s taking it easy on you.
Too easy.
It becomes increasingly apparent as your skill begins to rise that he’s reluctant to get too rough with you. Regardless of your healing capabilities, his hesitancy regarding harming women must run deep, perhaps even to a subconscious level from his long forgotten time as a human.
Of the things you have in common, a lack of memory tied to seemingly integral facets of yourself is one that silently frustrates the both of you. Neither of you discuss it, knowing there’s nothing to gain from it, but there’s certainly something at your very core as a human that translates directly to your tendencies and power as a demon.
Master had made it very clear… focusing on your strength and the mission at hand should remain priority, for both of you.
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Over the next few weeks, agitation borders anger, your sessions with Akaza seeming to have hit a brick wall thanks to his reluctance to cause any real damage. With your progress, you’d been able to keep up with him better and better, meaning you had moved to a more direct approach in attacking him, growing more confident in yourself.
However, instead of rising to the occasion, he STILL holds back, moving to a more defensive and reaction-based tactic rather than really pushing you. Now landing only minor blows.
You’ve had enough.
You give it everything you’ve got, pressing him further back with each hit, dealing more and more damage. It heals almost instantly, of course, but his eyes still widen in surprise as you swipe towards his throat.
He tips his head back, narrowly clearing his neck as your fingers instead slice through his jaw, sending it flying across the floor.
You give him no time to rest, launching another swift attack with an array of quick hits to his chest in succession.
His jaw grows back as his eyes shift, that familiar glint igniting that makes your chest tighten and a broad grin blossom across your face.
He blocks a hit and grips your arm in the process, refusing to let go.
You refuse to let him pin you, refuse to let the session end – not when you finally seem to be making some kind of breakthrough with him.
Instead, you plant one foot and spin in place, feeling the muscles tear from your shoulder as you land a harsh kick to his ribs.
He flies back across the room, smashing through one wall before he composes himself and skids to a halt in the next room.
You leap through the hole, grinning defiantly as a fresh arm juts out from the bloodied stump, good as new.
He blinks and glances to his hand, turning your previous arm over curiously before he tosses it aside and straightens his posture. “That’s enough for today.”
You rush forward anyway, but he has you pinned to the floor by your throat before you can even process that he moved.
He leans over you, his nose almost brushing yours as his hardened eyes soften with a light chuckle. “You’re growing bold. That’s good. But still…” He pulls you upright with him, his other hand moving to your waist as you almost bump into each other upon the abrupt lift from the floor. “You still need to learn to listen to me.”
“Maybe if you weren’t holding back so much I wouldn’t have to push you.” You back away from him a step. “I’d learn a lot quicker.”
He hums as the corner of his lips twitch up, but he silently turns on his heel and walks out.
You sniff the air, sensing a shift in the atmosphere and temperature. Rain is coming, meaning you’d likely be able to head out early…
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He seems to take the training more seriously from then on, your words ringing true as your progress increases tenfold. To both of your elation, he actually has to start putting in a bit of effort to spar you, your speed, skill, and wit allowing you to hold your own, even getting the upper hand at times.
Still, even not knowing your true age, it’s abundantly clear that he has far more battle experience over the years.
You can only imagine how it’s been for him. It’s hard enough to keep track of time together, even though you’ve admittedly been enjoying it … It pains you to imagine how long he’s been alone.
Demons are more prone to extreme, primal behavior, but it seems as though the sentiment of humanity can’t fully be erased. At least, not yet.
Something has shifted between the two of you, something akin to friendship. The quips and sarcastic comments don’t stop, but they’re always accompanied by a subtle smirk. A compliment even slipping here and there, though hastily overlooked and ignored after.
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Akaza POV:
She challenges me at every opportunity, insisting that I don’t hold back. With the way her spirit glows, the way it shimmers and rolls off of her in waves when we spar… seeming to grow stronger each day… I find myself looking forward to her snide comments and our training sessions.
Her competitive nature pushes me further, especially as she improves.
Tonight is no different, racing through the dimly lit grassy plains. Clouds shift over the moon to shine one last glint across her fangs as she grins, making my chest tighten briefly as I realize my lips had turned up of their own volition.
She’s hungry again, her need still being rather difficult to keep satiated and suppressed. Whether it’s her age, or just the recent acquiring of Lord Muzan’s blood remains to be seen – not that it truly matters, we’re able to find meals rather easily.
We wasted quite a bit of time searching, leaving little for the hunt before dawn threatens to peek over the horizon.
She settles on one meal each to be taken back to a hideout we had established before venturing into the village, far enough on the outskirts to avoid potential nuisances, and of course acting as shelter from the sun.
I could do without feeding, but it’s nice to keep steady snacks like this.
My chosen course attempts to struggle, though in vain, it still triggers my impatience. Normally I’d be a bit neater, but tonight I simply rip into their throat with my teeth, allowing the warm blood to spurt into my mouth. Much of it drips down over my chin to cake at my chest, but I can’t be bothered to care, focusing instead on finishing my meal and leaving cleanup for later.
However… One simply wasn’t enough to suffice her tonight.
The predatory glean still sharp in her eyes even after offering her the last half of my own kill.
She needs more.
We would need to indulge upon nightfall. My lips pursing, knowing how uncontrollable she would be if I don’t allow her to gorge herself soon.
Luckily, this village is rather secluded, making it a great area to clear out as soon as we’re able to leave the shelter. Not that consuming an entire village is ideal… Demon Slayers would certainly be called once it had been noticed, but I don’t see much choice in the matter. Besides, Upper Ranks don’t really have to worry about Demon Slayers, especially not these days, and Lord Muzan had equated her potential to that of an Upper Rank… no need to worry then, right?
I eye her again, finding her much closer than before, that same primal hardness leaving her expression somewhat blank.
I mutter her name as she takes another step, her gaze fixated on my neck.
A subtle glance down reminds me of the blood I’d allow to spill over my skin. An admittedly careless action given her state, but I hadn’t realized it was this bad…
She’s on me before I can even react, her tongue trailing over my jaw as she grips at my collar.
I swallow thickly, gripping her waist with intent to hold her at arm’s length; to snap her from this trance.
One of her hands hastily slips up to tangle in the back of my hair, tugging my head to the side as she begins to lap at the blood coating the … rather … sensitive skin along my neck.
My breath hitches and hands unconsciously grip her tighter, pulling her flush against myself with a slight shudder. The heat of her mouth moving against my neck like this, a shiver running through me as her fangs graze.
Everything feels so blurry… hazy… and warm. The temperature of the room increasing unbearably as my heart races and breath comes in quicker, labored gasps until she pierces my skin.
I can’t hold back the groan any longer, my own lips parting and mouth hanging loosely as I struggle to focus on anything other than how she feels against me and the sudden stifling discomfort of these pants.
She presses her body harder against me, gripping onto me desperately as she whimpers, making my hips roll in response.
I can’t… we can’t… shouldn’t… be…
I manage to grip her hair, wanting nothing more than to hold her firmly in place, but somehow I’m able to pull her from myself. Her eyes are still distant, her lips flush and coated with my blood…
Fuck, this isn’t good. I can’t bring myself to push away from her, only wanting to feel her again.
Something finally snaps, bringing her back to reality as she suddenly becomes aware.
“I – I’m sorry.” She pulls away, taking a large step back as I hastily sit on the floor.
I need to think, to clear my own head, and… to hide the painfully hard erection that I can’t seem to suppress.
“Don’t um…” I shake my head and blink a few times, trying to focus my mind on literally anything else… anything other than grabbing her and pulling her on top of me. “Don’t worry about it.” I mutter, running a hand over my face.
She moves to take a hesitant step forward, but I scoot away, not trusting myself with her. Whether it’s the right move or not, I’m uncertain. There’s clear conflict in both of us, each experiencing something primal that we’re struggling to restrain.
Her hunger isn’t unusual, and something I should’ve anticipated, but my urges… these need to be suppressed, she can’t find out.
I want to comfort her, but my racing heart refuses to subside, even after watching her sullenly rinse off her face and lay down.
Thankfully, she falls asleep quickly. The steady rise and fall of her chest putting me at ease.
Well… as much as I can be, given the continued discomfort of these fucking pants that refuses to go away.
I wish for sleep, wanting nothing more than to be done with this damn day, but even sleep doesn’t provide an escape…
Her warm body presses to mine again, hovering over me as she straddles my waist, grinding herself against me as my neglected cock throbs against her. Our clothes are gone, making me pant desperately beneath her as she continues to tease me.
I can’t take it anymore… I roll with her, guiding my length to her entrance and finally claiming her, finally filling her, finally coaxing those beautiful noises from her lips as I worship every inch of her.
My heart threatens to beat out of my chest. She feels so good, so right, so –
I jolt upright, my chest heaving and cock pulsing painfully in my pants as I struggle to steady myself. Even my hands are shaking… it’s subtle, but startling.
A quick glance over reveals her still sleeping form in her makeshift cot.
It had just been a dream. A far too real one…
I swear I could still feel …
I stand and quietly begin to move around, exploring further sections of this abandoned little shelter we had occupied for the day.
The intention had been to distract myself, to simply walk off whatever hormones were coursing through me, but it does no good.
I can’t fucking think. I can barely pay attention to where I’m walking!
With a soft grumble to myself, I lean back against the cool stone wall, feeling it’s soothing chill against my heated skin, still flustered as my heart refuses to slow at all.
I can’t let her see me like this, can’t just… walk around like this…
I close my eyes and trail a hand down, allowing my palm to lightly graze over the front of my pants.
Fuck, how did she get me this worked up?
I barely even touch myself through the cloth, barely make any contact, and already my cock twitches painfully in response, making me bite back a moan.
Fuck…
I can’t… can’t let her… see me… like…
I untie my pants and begin pumping my fist over myself, keeping my eyes closed to imagine her and doing my best to make this quick… and quiet…
Everything is so sensitive, and I’m already so worked up, it takes no time at all for everything to build up.
I have to bite into my other forearm, my fangs piercing my own flesh to muffle the string of moans that comes with the intense, pulsating finish as my entire body twitches in release.
A few moments pass before I fully come down from the high, my body raking with an after spasm and another muffled moan before I trust myself enough to drop my arm. The wounds heal instantly, making me chuckle quietly before I look down at myself.
What the fuck am I doing…
I shake my head in disappointment, unable to control even a basic urge such as this.
And yet… the urge hasn’t subsided in the slightest. If anything, I only need her more, craving the real thing as I remain rock hard and unbearably flustered.
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Your POV:
You feel guilty, but when you had tried to apologize, he just seemed to want to be alone.
So, you left him alone… doing your best to put it out of your mind as you rinse off and lie down.
Something about the whole thing just exhausted you. The uncertainty of it all… had you done something bad? Taboo?
It didn’t feel like he had been angry, but it also felt like he couldn’t bear to look at you.
You want to peek over at him, but instead roll to face away and focus on falling asleep as best you can.
When you wake some time later, you find him perched nearby on one of the ceiling beams.
Wordlessly, he drops down and moves to leave, dusk having just passed and making it safe for you to leave.
“You’re going to need to gorge yourself.” He states plainly, already walking towards the village and expecting you to follow. “Your hunger is going to get you in trouble if you keep spacing out like that.”
“I’m sorry.” You reiterate, knowing you had already apologized when it happened, but still.
He stops shy of the treeline, pausing to look at you briefly, his brows knitting together above softened eyes. His mouth parts for a second, but he shakes his head and continues on. “Don’t mention it again. We need to focus, both of us.”
You know what had distracted you, but what about him? Why would he need to focus? Had what you done really been that bad?...
You follow him silently, keeping your thoughts to yourself as he continues to avoid looking at you.
It shouldn’t bother you, but it does.
Still, you won’t bug him by pressing him further.
Instead, you take his advice and focus.
You both clear the men from the village in no time, but he doesn’t eat, he only drags them to you, helping to ensure you’re as satiated as possible for the time being.
The hunger never really goes away, but rather than a gnashing, clawing need, it steadily becomes a dull, lingering thought somewhere in the peripheral of your mind. Much easier to ignore, and to control.
Still, he doesn’t say a word, even as you leave the traumatized town in your wake and head towards the next destination.
Although, you do manage to lock eyes along the way. A subtle glance as you race through the trees timed perfectly to catch him looking at you, that gleeful smirk you’ve become accustomed to spread brightly across his features, making you grin in return.
Perhaps that was it? And things would be back to normal now?
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Akaza POV:
I can only hope this will tide her over, but we may need to find a more substantial source of food for a few days to build up her strength. It must just be Lord Muzan’s blood, it has to be. It’s likely just her body needing more fuel to compensate for the power, even after these months together, she’s still growing accustomed to it – as is apparent in her steady progress with training.
Still, I can’t risk this ever happening again.
I can hardly look at her without my chest tightening and thinking what her lips would feel like on mine, or exploring her skin instead.
We run through the trees as usual, searching along our way to the next destination in hopes of any clues or direction for our mission. Always seeming to make it a competition… she presses forward, taking lead, but I refuse and keep pace with her.
She glances over to me, a subtle glow of her spirit flickering lightly around her. It’s nothing compared to when she spars, but it’s just enough to make me grin broadly without thinking.
Her features turn up in that… gorgeous… smile… making my heart skip.
Before I can even think to correct myself, she darts forward, taking the lead again, making me chuckle and race after her.