Chapter Six

Akaza found himself falling back as the three demon slayers raced ahead of him. It wasn't that he was afraid. He wasn't even nervous.

But he had to steel himself for the battle that was to come. Even if multiple demon slayers fought Muzan...even if every demon unhappy with his rule joined in with the battle...there was no guarantee that they would win. And Akaza's confidence wasn't as strong as it had been when he'd fought against Rengoku.

The crows were still winging their way overhead, every so often cawing their observations. No matter how quickly they moved, their reports about the layout of the infinity castle didn't change. There was no sign of where Muzan was.

But the crows continued to report the different demon slayers who'd died. And while Akaza didn't know most of their names...he could see the tightness around Rengoku's jaw. He saw the tears that shimmered in Tanjiro's eyes. And he saw the way Giyu's fingers tightened around his sword's hilt.

"Muichiro Tokito has fallen," one of the crows cawed from high above. "Muichiro Tokito has fallen against Upper Rank One."

Tanjiro's steps slowed. He faltered. He bowed his head and his fists clenched at his sides.

Rengoku stopped and turned to the younger demon slayer. He reached out and placed a hand on Tanjiro's shoulder, squeezing it firmly. "He fought bravely," the Hashira said solemnly. "If we survive this battle, we will honour his memory. We will honour the memories of all who have fallen in battle today." He paused for a moment before continuing, gentling his voice even more. "But we cannot linger here. We must press our advantage."

Giyu had paused when Rengoku did, but his face was turned away from his fellow demon slayers. If he felt anything...if he grieved the loss of their number...he didn't show it. His face was as calm and stoic as it ever was.

A sharp cry of pain caused Akaza's eyes to snap towards an area ahead of them. As soon as he saw the figure with long platinum hair stumbling into view, he was moving. He charged forward, darting between Rengoku and Tanjiro, heading towards Doma with his fist raised and a wild, ragged cry escaping his lips.

A hand landed heavily on the back of his neck and pulled him back, like he was a disobedient cub being dragged by the scruff of his neck.

Akaza growled low in his throat and twisted away from the hold, turning to face Rengoku with narrowed eyes. "What are you doing?!"

"He's injured." Rengoku motioned past Akaza.

Akaza turned slightly, narrowing his eyes as he saw that Doma was...stumbling. His face was even more pale than normal, and blood was trickling down from the corner of his mouth.

"It's a trick," Akaza whispered, moving to stand in front of the demon slayers. He readied himself to fight.

"It's not a trick," a woman's voice said.

"Kanao..." Tanjiro took a hesitant step forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword...although he was moving so slowly, it was obvious he was feeling the effects from his long battle with Akaza.

Akaza watched Doma carefully, searching for signs that the Upper Rank was acting. He watched as Doma fell to his knees, bowing his head, letting out a tiny, broken sound, and whispered, "What happened to him?"

"Shinobu-san. She poisoned him," Kanao whispered. "He can't fight. He's..." Her voice trailed off, as if she didn't have the words to describe what was happening to him.

Akaza slowly walked over to Doma and stood in front of him, staring down at the other demon.

Doma lifted his head, staring up at Akaza. His eyes were wide and shimmering...as if he was close to tears. He reached out and gripped Akaza's ankles, whispering in a low, almost desperate voice, "Please...kill me."

The words were so close to Akaza's own despair when his memories had returned that he trembled. Next to him, he felt rather than heard Rengoku move towards his side. The Flame Hashira didn't say anything...didn't advise Akaza to do anything. Instead, he just stood there...offering silent support.

Akaza looked down at Doma, at the hands gripping his ankles...at the shimmering eyes that made him look so very different from the cruel, charming expression he'd worn in every one of their interactions. And he made his decision.

Akaza stepped away deliberately. He turned to the demon slayers who he'd allied with. And he whispered, "We need to continue on if you want to find and battle Muzan before he completes his final goals."

Giyu's eyes shifted towards Doma, still kneeling on the ground. He looked like he might want to say something...but in the end, he just shook his head and turned away, heading deeper into the infinity castle.

Tanjiro looked after him, then at the kneeling Doma. Finally, he cast a quick glance at Akaza before he nodded slightly and began to run after Giyu, Kanao running next to him.

Rengoku paused next to Azaka. He didn't say anything, but he did reach out and gently squeeze Akaza's shoulder, giving him a nod. Then, he turned and began running after his fellow demon slayers.

Akaza cast a glance at Doma, taking note of the other demon's bowed head...his defeated posture. And he felt a stab of empathy, something he'd never felt for Doma before. Quietly, he whispered, "You don't have to die for what you've done." He hesitated, but only for a second, before he began to run after the demon slayers once more.

It didn't take him long to catch up with Rengoku and the others. As he took his place beside Rengoku once more, the Flame Hashira nodded respectfully to him, a smile crossing his face. "Let's find Muzan and destroy him for good," he declared, reaching out and placing a hand on Akaza's shoulder. He grinned brightly, then turned towards the other demon slayers, his eyes narrowing slightly in concern as he looked at Tanjiro. "Are you all right?"

Tanjiro nodded, although the signs of exhaustion were visible on his face. "I just need...to catch my breath," he admitted.

Rengoku exchanged a glance with Giyu that Akaza found difficult to read. The Water Hashira's face was grim...impossible to read...but that wasn't any different to the expression he normally wore, even when he'd been fighting against Akaza.

Rengoku turned to Tanjiro. "Stay here. Rest," he ordered. "Once your body has sufficiently recovered, continue on. If we find Muzan, the crows will inform you." He turned to Kanao. "Stay with him."

"Rengoku-san..." Tanjiro whispered.

Rengoku didn't reply with words. Instead, he turned to Akaza. "You will come with us." He paused, then gentled his tone slightly. "Not because I do not trust you, but because we will need your strength when we face Muzan. If you have strength enough left, that is."

Akaza's first instinct was to bristle, assuming that Rengoku was calling him weak. But when he looked into the Hashira's eyes, all he could see in that golden gaze was a mixture of concern and care. So he pushed down the response that naturally sprang to mind and closed his eyes, taking a moment to scan his own body...to see what condition he was in.

The effects of the battle against Giyu and Tanjiro were still making themselves known, but while his body was stiff and sore, neither of those feelings were enough to keep him from carrying on.

When Akaza opened his eyes again, Rengoku was still watching him. The Flame Hashira hadn't moved. Despite the urgency of the situation...in spite of the fierce battle still to come...Rengoku's attention remained fully on Akaza's face.

"I can continue," Akaza said finally.

Rengoku's smile spread across his face, lighting up his eyes. He clasped Akaza's shoulder in a firm, tight grip, then turned to Tanjiro and Kanao once more. "We will see you next in battle against Muzan," he promised.

Tanjiro had slumped to his knees, breathing heavily...nearly panting. The mark on his forehead stood out vividly against his skin, and Akaza found his eyes drawn to it. A brief memory sparked inside his mind...another time he'd seen that very same mark. But the image was gone as quickly as it had appeared, slipping through his fingers like grains of rice.

Giyu moved over to Tanjiro, crouching down in front of him. When Tanjiro raised his head to meet Giyu's solemn gaze, the Water Hashira spoke in a calm, quiet voice. "I will protect Rengoku." His eyes shifted towards Akaza...a mixture of a challenge and a promise in their depths.

Akaza might have said something...might have retorted, or said something that made it clear he didn't trust them either. But Rengoku was still watching him with those golden eyes, and once again, the words didn't pass Akaza's lips. And he saw the smile touch Rengoku's own as the Flame Hashira nodded to him, the action respectful and filled with pride.

Giyu waited for Tanjiro's nod of acknowledgement. Then, silently, he rose to his feet. He glanced once at Akaza, eyes narrowed slightly in warning, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he continued running through the infinity castle without a backwards glance.

Rengoku gave Akaza a firm nod and a smile, then began to follow the Water Hashira.

"Akaza-san," Tanjiro whispered from behind him.

Akaza hesitated, then turned slowly to look at the kneeling Demon Slayer, half-expecting to receive a warning...a promise of pain and destruction if he chose to betray them.

Tanjiro's eyes were soft...gentle...kind. He held Akaza's gaze for a long moment, then finally...exhaustion filling his voice...he whispered, "Be safe." Then his body slumped forward.

"Tanjiro!" Kanao quickly knelt beside him, her hand resting on Tanjiro's shoulder.

"He needs rest. Long enough to recover before the next battle." Akaza's own voice surprised even him, with the reassuring tone he barely recognised from himself. He gave a quick, sharp shake of his head, then turned, his gaze catching the forms of the two Hashira just at the edge of his vision. And he began to run after them.

He couldn't lose sight of them.