"Doma, how much longer do you plan on messing around with your human pet?"
Something churned in the demon's guts. It was uncomfortable and it left a sour taste in his mouth, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was. It was more tamed than anger, but nowhere close to joy. Strange, he thought he'd feel happy upon seeing his demonic brethren after such a long time, but it would seem there was something else. He didn't know what, though, which made him scratch his head. Sakura was usually there to tell him whatever it was that he was feeling but, for very obvious reasons, he hadn't brought her along in the other dimension. So, since he couldn't put a name on whatever emotion he was feeling at the moment, he simply plastered on his usual fake smile.
"Akaza~! It's been so long!" Even if he was smiling, though, the strange feeling wouldn't go away. "I missed you, and everyone else, too~!"
"Tche. You say that, but you've been gallivanting around with that pet of yours for quite a while, now. She's becoming a distraction. Why don't you just eat her already?"
"Ooh?" The feeling was stronger, now, bubbling in his stomach and rising in his chest, and his smile finally dropped. "What does it matter to you, Akaza?"
There was a tension in the air, now. Apparently noticing it, the older demon stiffened, carefully examining his fellow Upper Moon. He'd never seen Doma so serious before and, frankly, it made his skin crawl with legitimate fear.
"… it doesn't," he finally answered, turning around. "Just don't let your pet get in the way."
.
.
When Doma returned from the demonic dimension, he found Sakura waiting for him by the window, like she always did whenever he left her to accomplish his own business. When he came to sit beside her, though, she chuckled, apparently amused.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Because it's the first time I've felt you feel this way," she admitted.
He perked. As expected, she knew! "What way?"
She chuckled again, patting his head. "You're annoyed."
"Annoyed…?" At last, something clicked into place. "Aah, that makes sense. Annoyed… You're so bright, my Little Blossom~!"
She let out a startled yelp as he suddenly picked her up and placed her on his lap. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he then placed his chin on her shoulder, his nose falling in the crook of her neck as he inhaled her scent.
Blood and cherry blossoms… How fitting.
"… he called you a pet," he finally said, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them. He pouted a bit. "I didn't like it."
"Why?" she asked curiously, glancing up at him. "Isn't he right?"
"He's not." His hold around her tightened. "You're not a pet."
"Then what am I?"
"… I don't know."
He didn't say anything else, and they both fell silent again.