Akuru could only stare at the sun that was hidden behind thin clouds in wonder.
His eyes remained unfocused as he replayed last night. The sun was bright enough to cause irritation, but the clouds were thick enough to keep his eyes from watering. A gray day suited the mood he was in today. It wasn't warm and a dry breeze forced his eyes to blink.
Akuru had always dealt with the disturbing nature of demons by trying to justify the context. In his own mind, he understood that the demon that stood in front of him was something that could be called 'evil', but it wasn't that to begin with. And many times, without him even realizing it, he started to deal with the situation with a sense of humour. Akuru had accepted it as a personality trait without understanding where it came from. A rather odd joke, considering Akuru had tried to understand demons before he had understood himself.
So whenever there was a demon that he couldn't deal with by using humour, it left an odd feeling in his chest. This he understood as the somber last moments of a human, but even he couldn't grasp that whenever there was a break in the habit he had built up, it broke his rhythm of acception. Which was a mix of the truly heartbreaking nature of demons and the lack of humour he had almost conditioned himself to feel whenever a real somber backstory came up, which always led to a depressing mood.
Akuru, for as long as he was a slayer, only ever reflected on the demons' story and never his own; it had always found a way to keep his attention on it. But as always, Akuru never realized that he was doing this, because as always, he simply led his mind to lead him to the tragedy that befell another human. Letting his mind replay everything until he accepted what happened and motivated himself to further-
*Ahem*
His thoughts were interrupted.
A man in a Kakushi uniform cleared his throat.
"Kobayashi-san?" the man said, politely. His tone was not unfriendly, only efficient; bureaucracy always favored a straight line.
Akuru looked up. Kanae was already standing, leaning on the rail beside him, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea. She gave him an unshowy nod when she noticed the new arrival.
"We need a statement," the Kakushi man said, "A brief recounting of what occurred. We got most of the details from your crows; we just need the finer details now."
Akuru patted down any creases in his clothes as he stood up and quickly drank a cup of water to quench his dry mouth. He filled in any of the holes that their crows had left out, making sure to mention all information they had on lower moon three. Kanae's tea steamed in that small chill of morning; she watched him speak with her own quiet attention.
"You need anything else?" she asked the man when Akuru finished.
"No this is fine, we're going to the metal yard right after this to confirm everything," the Kakushi man said. "We'll also deal with the owner and the damages that occurred during the mission. He's… aggrieved, understandably."
"Will the people who work at the scrap yard be fine?" Kanae asked.
"They'll have to keep the place shut down for a bit," he said. "But nothing from what we can tell is permanent. Trust me, we will deal with all of that. You did your job, so let us handle the aftermath. The corps thanks you for your work; your mission ends here. Go rest. You saved lives."
Kanae put down her now-empty glass and replied with a small bow, "Thank you for your work."
The Kakushi man nodded and left. He moved through the city with the polite speed of someone who believed in procedure. Akuru and Kanae watched him go, both with a small smile on their faces.
They both didn't want to go back to that metal scrap yard again, so hearing that it would be dealt with without their further input was a blessing.
They walked down a lane further into the city. Subdued rays of sunlight lit up their backs as they moved away from last night, both physically and metaphorically. Conversation came easily.
"You look like someone who didn't get any sleep," Kanae said lightly, watching his reflection flicker in a shop window.
"I didn't," Akuru admitted. "My mind couldn't help thinking about it all," Akuru looked straight into her eyes, "But it looks like I wasn't the only one who didn't get much sleep."
She nodded, exhaling a small chuckle, her fingers pressed into her eyes, trying to rub out any exhaustion, "It happens. I feel like anyone who does what we do has their body rest before their thoughts do."
He glanced at her, "How are you feeling now?"
"I feel better now that you've asked," she replied, a small smile touching her mouth. A small lull in a conversation passed between them before she continued on with what she was saying, "It just hurts sometimes, you know. I knew what I had to do and have no regrets for what I did. Just... I wish one time; one time I could get a demon to stop peacefully."
Akuru scratched the back of his neck, "I can see where you're coming from," he sighed as he looked up to the cloudy sky that now let hints of blue past its gray fortress. The sky always was there to help him organize his thoughts, and as always, it delivered. With a grin, he continued, "You know what. I want to hope with you. That one day there will be a demon that we can convince with words. I believe that one day your wish will come to fruition. And I want to be there to see it with you."
She straightened in surprise as she stopped walking, her eyes wide as she looked over to him. As she saw his silver eyes grinning back at her in sincerity, she felt warm; she could see that he truly meant what he said. Her smile now stretched from cheek to cheek, which were sprinkled with a soft blush. Her eyes squinted and sparkled as she said, "That's kind of you," A small laugh escaped her before she could help it, "I also want you to be there if- No. When it happens!"
For a moment, neither spoke.
Before they both broke out into a laugh. Laughing at their grand promises, knowing others would call them insane for what they just wished for. Neither knew what was destined for them, but their moods had lifted, and thoughts of last night seemed less dark in comparison. They continued onwards in their walk without a destination.
Kanae finally spoke out after the laughter died out, "What are you going to do now?"
"Keep moving," Akuru said, "Train when I can. Maybe sit down for a while and just paint, I've been trying to do for a minute now. Oh, also polish my piano skills, I mean, I did promise I would play for you."
Her eyes widened slightly, before she smiled the same gentle smile that he had gotten used to, "Of course, I have to listen to you play one day. My sister would love it too. You should meet her someday."
"I'd like that," he said, meaning it.
They walked on, the city humming quietly around them.
Akuru let her words turn over in his mind. He tried to picture a smaller version of Kanae standing by her side. Oddly enough, he couldn't really imagine a younger Kanae. Eventually, curiosity won over him as he spoke out.
"How old is she? Is she just a smaller you?" curiosity bleeding into his tone, "Your sister, I mean."
Kanae's steps slowed by half a pace. Her body seemed to have been charged with excitement; to Akuru, it looked like she couldn't wait to talk about her.
"She's turned ten this year," Kanae said quickly, warmth rushing into her voice, "And no, she's not a smaller me. Not at all."
Akuru blinked, caught off guard by just how excited Kanae was.
"She's nothing like me," Kanae continued, clearly delighted by the thought, "My sister Shinobu is the most blunt person I know. She'll look at a problem, tilt her head, and speak what comes to her mind without care. She's always exasperated at my impulsive behavior. Always worrying about me."
She gestured vaguely in the air as she rambled on with a smile on her face.
"I like flowers," she added, amused. "She likes medicines. Poisons, mostly. Never stops complaining about her short height," Kanae shook her head fondly, reminiscing about a private memory, "She's also always telling me I make too many lighthearted, whimsical decisions without ever thinking it through."
Akuru let out a quiet laugh before he could stop himself, "She sounds… formidable?"
"Oh, she is," Kanae said proudly. "She's clever in a frightening way. Stubborn without fault," her smile softened. "But she's also kind. Doesn't like to show it, acts a bit like roses and their thorns. But she is most definitely, one of the kindest person I know. Always worrying about everyone's health, she's gotten quite good at healing people you know!"
She glanced back at the street, then at him again, excitement still humming under her skin.
"We balance each other, I think. Or at least, we try."
Akuru pictured it now more easily, a sisterly bond that was built upon their differences instead of similarity. How beautiful.
"I think I'd like talking to her," he said.
Kanae beamed, entirely unapologetic about it, "I think she'd like talking to you too," she said, "Though she'd pretend not to at first."
"It seems you really love her," Akuru replied gently, looking fondly at her joy when she talked about her sister.
"I do," a small pause before she continued on, her voice steady, but quieter now, "She's all I have."
Akuru turned his head slightly, attentive but not intrusive.
"Our parents were killed by a demon," she didn't give details, and he didn't ask. The absence provided more support than any words could have, "After that… it was just us for a while. Everything I do, every choice I make, it's for her. The only thing that would make me happy is knowing that Shinobu would be able to live a full, happy life and die peacefully as an old woman."
There was no bitterness in her tone. Only resolve. The kind that had weight behind it.
Akuru felt something tighten in his chest. He exhaled slowly.
"That dream of yours," he said, choosing his words with care, "it... it feels even more noble now."
Kanae looked at him, surprised. He met her gaze openly.
"Not just because it's kind," he went on, "but because it comes from wanting to protect someone else. After what you went through, that type of wish doesn't come easy."
Her lips parted as if she might respond, but she didn't right away. Instead, she nodded once, a small, grounding motion. She was thankful for his words of support.
"What about you?" she asked quietly, aiming for the question to come out as gentle as possible; she could already guess what the answer was going to be.
Akuru's eyes drifted back to the street ahead. The question didn't feel sharp. Just honest.
"I had a family," he said.
Kanae waited.
"They didn't die violently," he added, almost apologetically. "It was an illness. Both of my parents, one after another. They had two different sicknesses; the doctor could never tell me what happened. Never had any siblings, and me and my parents were never too close to my extended family, so that was that. It's been a few years now, so I'd say I've come to terms with it. But I do still miss them."
The words came easier than he expected. He had never kept his past a secret, but the tough words came far more easily when he spoke them to her.
She smiled softly at that as she rested a hand on his shoulders, understanding settling between them like shared ground.
Nothing more needed to be said, in the field of demon slayers having your family alive was more surprising than not. Everyone understood the feeling, and thus everyone knew that the heartfelt comments came from a true place of love.
They continued on with their conversations moving onto more happier topics, side by side, the city carrying them forward. Two paths briefly aligned, not by accident, but by choice. The shared truth settled between them, heavy but not painful. Something understood.
Eventually they slowed near a crossroad, they had reached the border of the city. Neither was eager to choose a direction.
Both of them looked over to each other, their eyes getting lost in each other. The gap between them closer than friends, in both sense of the word.
The city seemed to quiet around them, as if in respect for the two young people saying their heartfelt goodbyes.
She reached into her sleeve and pulled the wooden frog she had gotten for both of them, "Make sure you keep your own, as a reminder."
He pulled his own one out to show her and closed his fingers around it, "I'll keep it. Promise."
"Promise me something else too," Kanae said quietly.
"What?"
"That we'll meet again. Not by accident. And not because of orders."
Akuru nodded, "I promise."
They didn't mention what it would take to make that promise true, or how much they wanted it to be true. Both of those thoughts were swallowed by the uncertainty in their feelings they had for each other.
They only trusted that the other would try just as hard as they would.
For them that was enough.
They stood there a moment longer than necessary, a quick hug, then, both parted at the same time, each walking away with the same unspoken hope, carrying it carefully into whatever came next.
* * *
Winter arrived quietly.
It did not fall all at once, nor did it announce itself with drama. Instead, it crept forward in small, almost polite ways. Mornings grew sharper. Breath lingered longer in the air. Rivers slowed as the edges began to freeze over. More layers of clothing as Akuru moved to complete his missions. Every single thing slowly adding up.
Time moved on.
Akuru definitely felt it past. Letters came and went, their paper worn soft at the folds from rereading. Words grew fewer as duties piled higher, yet never felt emptier. Each message carried promises from certain people, and recounts of their improving battles from other people. Each one warmed him against the weather.
When he trained, he trained harder. When he rested, he allowed himself to rest fully. He never found a day to just sit down and paint, but he did get time to practice his musical skills. He kept the wooden frog in his pocket, thumb brushing its smooth surface whenever his thoughts threatened to spiral too far ahead. Huginn followed him from above like always, happy enough to deliver any letters for treats.
Life in winter continued without pause.
When the first true snowfall came, it softened everything it touched. Sounds dulled. Sharp edges blurred. The world looked for a moment, briefly forgiving.
The future remained uncertain. Paths twisted. Seasons changed.
But some things endured.
And with that knowledge Akuru confidently stepped forward.
Carrying his promise with him into the winter.