#akaren

Of course, he has always known. He has always known that Akaza held back during their battles. Only once has he felt the demon’s full strength behind a single strike, and it was a punch that should have killed him. Now, through the mirror demon’s twisted art, he has endured a second full-powered blow. He cannot help but wonder whether he will be fortunate enough to survive this one as well.

Muffled shouting reaches his ears. His senses are slow to return, still dulled even as his healing surges to repair the damage. He barely registers strong hands taking hold of his arms and pulling him onto his knees. The movement sends a fresh wave of pain shooting through him, and had he been capable of more than shallow breaths, he is ashamed to realize he might have cried out.

When he steadies, the hands move to his face. Cool fingers press against his clammy skin as his head is lifted upward. Disoriented, he blinks against the weak light, struggling to focus on the blurred, pale face before him.

He recognizes the eyes first.

The shouting stops. Akaza reaches through their link instead.

‘Kyojuro!’

The rage is gone from his voice, replaced with undisguised concern.

‘I didn’t mean to! I… I…!’

A rough palm hastily drags across Kyojuro’s mouth, wiping away the blood. When his vision clears enough to see Akaza, distress is contorting the demon’s features.

‘I’m sorry!’

Regret bleeds through the link in a bitter drip. Kyojuro fights through the agony, forcing the words from his mouth.

“M-Mirror!”

‘What?’