ֶָ֢ 𝖑𝖊𝖝 ֶָ֢

"The sun has already set," Kyojuro hums, shoving his hands in his pockets. Sanemi's pace doesn't slow. "It's been six months, Sanemi! Genya has come home every night, I'm sure he'll make it tonight too."

Sanemi still keeps marching towards the bakery, unwilling to turn around and go home after coming so far, but he does whip his head around to shoot Kyojuro an incredulous look. "Of course he won't try anything, since we're always coming around! You saying you believe his little act now?"

"Of course not!" Kyojuro laughs. "I'm just saying..."

"Saying what?"

"I'm saying that I do believe he won't hurt Genya. I know that he isn't human, but..."

Finally, Sanemi does stop, whirling around to stand in front of Kyojuro. "But what? He's not human. He might be pretty and he might be nice, but he's had centuries to learn to be that way. Just because he isn't going to hurt Genya doesn't mean he isn't a man eating demon."

A sigh heaves out of Kyojuro. Sanemi is correct, he knows. The Flame Chronicles that they've spent hours poring over together had only once hinted at the possibility of demons being able to survive without killing and consuming humans, and only as a hypothetical. Hakuji, for all the kindness he's shown, simply cannot be a human. And that... means that he's a killer. They might not have proof yet, and he doesn't like to think about what will happen if when they get it, but he knows they cannot leave it alone.

"You're right!" he says with a tired smile. They start walking again, rounding the corner and both pausing at the sight of light spilling into the street from the open door. "I thought it had been closed for half an hour?"

"Who's that in there?" Sanemi mutters, eyes narrowed as he begins to cross the street. As Kyojuro follows, he glimpses two silhouettes briefly. The short stature and spiky hair of Hakuji are easily recognizable to him, but the only thing he can parse about the other is that he's at least a full head taller.

"I've already told you, there's nothing for us to talk about."

"Listen to me," the other says. His voice is heavy, with an almost pleading edge. "I know things ended... poorly, between us before-"

"Oh you don't say?"

"Akaza-"

The voice is abruptly cut off by the sound of glass shattering. He and Sanemi freeze, and he feels fingers curl into the sleeve of his jacket.

"That. Is not. My name." Hakuji's voice has an almost shaky quality to it. "Get out."

Then he and Sanemi are scrambling backwards and flattening themselves against the front of the flower shop next door. The man steps through the doorway and sighs heavily before turning the other direction and walking away. Without windows for light to come through, he quickly disappears from sight, and the only thing Kyojuro learns is that his hair is very long.

As soon as the man is out of sight, Sanemi's fingers are curling around his wrist and pulling him through the door. Hakuji is kneeling next to the door, gingerly picking up pieces of one of his coffee cups.

"Genya already went to the bus station," he says without looking up. "And he took the leftovers. Sorry boys, you came for nothing."

"Who was that?" Sanemi doesn't beat around the bush, doesn't level any usual insults or accusations. As always, Kyojuro finds his directness endearing, if not exasperating.

Hakuji sighs, sounding worn down and defeated. He keeps gathering the shards of the cup, standing and squaring his shoulders before looking up with a forced smile.

"Oh, you heard that. I apologize, I assure you I wouldn't have thrown this if Genya were still here." Sanemi grimaces, and Kyojuro mimics the expression.

"Yeah, you better not. But that isn't what I asked." They follow Hakuji into the bakery and watch as he lets the cup slide off his hands, a line of blood blooming at the tip of a finger. Kyojuro's eyes track the sluggish drop of blood before Hakuji clenches his fist. "Who was he?"

Hakuji grits his teeth, a vein popping in his neck for a moment before he drags in a deep breath and looks--almost mournfully--looks towards the door.