"I must be too early," Douma sighed, tapping his fan against his chin. It was such a hassle remembering what events happened when in the past century or so. Still, he supposed it was better to be early than to be late. It wouldn't do for Upper Rank Six to perish before turning into demons. Well, future Upper Rank Six.

Douma wasn't quite strong enough to rise back to his former position. He'd need to devour a few more humans before then. He also needed to recruit his replacement.

Which brought him to the Yoshiwara district in Tokyo.

Gyutaro and Daki were here.

…Somewhere.

Being around so many humans, even after existing as a demon for a few years, was taxing on his senses. Mentally he was fine, but his younger body craved the blood and flesh of the humans crowding the streets. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to sense the siblings amongst the temptations. He also… may have forgotten they would be human as well when he set out on his search.

"Yoohoo! Sir! You look like you could use some relaxation!"

"Come in, come in!"

"Refresh yourself over here!"

The street was not nearly as bright or colorful as it would be a hundred years from now, but there was still plenty of people up and about. Plenty of women. All beckoning him from their Houses. He smiled at them, adopting a bashful look as he waved at them and imagined ripping their soft flesh between his teeth.

A few giggled and cooed.

Perhaps some relaxation could be arranged if he could not find the siblings tonight.

Hours later, he knew he arrived at the poorer side of town because the buildings were shabby and the smell of sick and sex was heavy in the air. It was incredibly late at night but a few women leered out from their houses and beckoned at him. They must have saw him as a wealthy customer who came to gawk at what the poorest district had to offer.

He considered saving a few women. The ever-present hunger would be sated, and the women would no longer suffer in such poor conditions. He didn't get the opportunity the first time he had been here, transforming the siblings almost on arrival and then leaving the territory to them.

"Are you looking for some company, sir?" A woman asked, pulling herself close to him and brushing fingers against his sleeve. Much bolder than the others. Much too close and too warm. He swallowed back his hunger.

Douma softened his eyes and smiled at her. "You poor thing," he sighed.

"Wait! Sir, please help me!"

Douma gasped when he felt arms wrap around his waist. He recognized that voice!

"Scram, brat!" the woman hissed.

"Hush now," Douma said, dismissing her with a wave of his fan. He focused on the younger girl whose voice was very familiar.

The older woman scowled and retreated home. The younger had her face buried in Douma's side but pulled away as soon as they were alone. She looked different, but he recognized the sharpness in the shape of her eyes. He recognized the voice.

Daki!

She said she needed help?

"Please sir," she said, tugging him towards a particularly worn-down house. He followed her with no resistance.

Inside, it was much easier to see her features. She was…

"Ah! You're pretty! Much prettier than I thought you would be!" Douma cried. He could not resist crouching down to her level and cupping her face with both hands. He always thought that maybe her appearance had changed when she turned into a demon due to some deep desire to be beautiful in her human life, but it wasn't the case! She was actually pretty! And not burnt up! This was great!

Daki, tiny, pure, human, Daki, appeared caught off guard. She quickly composed herself and smiled a sweet, fake smile and placed her hand on the back of his own as if to keep it there. Her body, however, was tense. He did not think she enjoyed the contact at all.

He squeezed her face.

Her cheeks puffed up.

He laughed and released her.

"So pretty!" he said again, cupping his own face with his hand and giving her a bright, fond smile.

"You're a customer?" Daki asked.

Straight to the point! And perhaps not as pure as he thought!

"Ah! No, no, I'm afraid not!" he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was passing through and got caught up in all the offers for company! So disorienting, I'm embarrassed!"

She eyed his outfit, taking in the expensive cloth and tassels and weighing it against his words. "Why would you be passing through here at night?"

"Hm?" Douma tilted his head. "What are you doing here at night? You're so small! Don't you have an escort?"

"I have you now," Daki said. "Can you stay with me? Just for a little while?"

"Of course!"

He really wanted to see Gyutaro now!

He abruptly recalled the district he was in and what she was asking and laughed. Daki looked at him strangely, then quickly wiped the expression away. She busied herself by unhooking a busted up kettle from over a fire and setting some cups up for tea.

She scooted closer to him, head bowed but eyes still fierce and determined. Douma watched her over his splayed-out fan, curious as to how far she'd go. When she placed her hands on his arm to pull him down to take a seat, he smiled behind his fan and spoke abruptly.

"Were you born here?" he asked.

Her hands withdrew immediately.

"Um. Y-yes."

"Where are your parents? Do you have any siblings?"

She flushed. "This isn't really… I- no, my mother died…"

"Poor thing! And your father?"

"We never…" Daki shook her head. "This doesn't matter! Don't you want to…?"

Douma tilted his head. "Want to what?"

She was beginning to look angry. Douma fanned his face and smiled sweetly. She grabbed his arm and pulled him down to sit. He blinked innocently as she sat on his lap and put her hands on his collar. Before she could make a move to lower it, he leaned back.

"Oh, do you like my haori? It was handmade in my village," Douma said. "A gift!"

Daki stared. Douma lifted his knee, knocking her off his lap. "My hakama too! Almost all of my clothes are made in my village! Everyone is so skilled!"

"I see," Daki muttered. Her voice was flat. "You want to talk."

Honestly, Douma thought his preference was listening, but he did not mind speaking about where he came from. There were plenty of humans to talk about and overall, he'd rather talk than whatever Daki had planned. She was very small.

An hour into his ramblings, Daki had resigned herself to sitting with her hands on her lap, looking put-out, relieved and bored at the same time. Douma thought that was unfair.

It was only a few hours before sunrise. He knew now that Gyutaro must not be coming home that night. In retrospect it made sense if this was Daki's job. At least Douma knew where they lived now.

"Your company was lovely but I-"

Daki started like she had been dozing off.

"You'll stay the night!" Daki said, cutting him off and gripping his sleeve tightly. Embarrassment and desperation seemed to be catching up to her.

Douma allowed the contact. He eyed the cracks and holes in the walls where the sun would peek through and smiled. "Hmm, noooo. No, I don't think so."

"You will!"

"I won't!" He tapped his fan on her head gently. "I'm very sensitive to my environment! It would not be healthy for me to stay in this building!"

She glared at him disbelievingly. "Then why did you come here!"

Douma laughed. He stood up and reached into his pockets to pull out a pouch of coins. He wasn't sure how much he kept on him, nor how much he would pay anyone for, ah, services, so he plucked out a random amount. "For the tea!"

She looked like she wanted to point out he did not drink a drop but wisely kept her mouth shut and hands open to accept the money. He left her home and was relieved that she didn't follow or call him back.

He walked down the path away from Daki's home, noticing there were less women poking their heads out to watch him. The one from before who grabbed his sleeve was staring at him intently from her doorway. Douma walked towards her.

He still had time before sunrise.

The woman gave him a sultry smile and pulled him inside.


It was six nights later during his third visit to the district when Douma caught sight of Gyutaro. He had just been getting comfortable with his latest meal in a neighboring house when he saw a scythe flipping through the air outside the window. As eager as Douma was to meet him, he had his hands full at the moment.

The woman in his arms, Kasane, was sobbing. As with his other one on one meals, he had coaxed her into speaking with him. She had a dream to one day get a husband and move to another town, but her father and older sister had her working for them instead. She wasn't very pretty. They could not afford makeup or nice clothes. No House would buy her. She was doomed to stay in the poor district, unloved, unwanted and bullied by her family.

So Douma held her close and stroked her hair and cried with her.

He told her she deserved to leave and feel peace.

As her hands moved to wrap around his shoulders, he dug his fangs into her neck and used another hand to silence her scream. He made it quick. He hoped it wasn't too painful…

He was grateful to have died before. Now he knew for certain that there was a place for those poor souls to go. Surely those who suffered would go to heaven. They'd get their second chance when they're reborn and live much happier lives.

He really could only afford a few bites. The rest he absorbed. It was quicker and neater and an ability he had regained recently so it was best for him to have this body practice it. He cleaned himself of any blood and slipped outside just in time to catch Gyutaro standing at the doorway to his house getting greeted by Daki.

"Gyutaro, that's him! That's the man!" Daki whispered loudly.

Gyutaro gave Douma an ugly look (or was that his face?) while Douma smiled pleasantly. He walked closer and waved. He decided it wouldn't hurt to talk to them before turning them into demons.

"Hello! You must be siblings! You look alike!" Douma cooed.

Both children stiffened and Douma's smile widened.

"It's the eyes."

Both relaxed.

"Can I come in?" Douma asked.

Gyutaro's glare could kill.

"You can join us!" Douma added cheerfully.

Gyutaro's mouth opened and closed. He swore.

"He's probably just talking again," Daki said. She raised an eyebrow at Douma. "Aren't you?"

"Of course! What else would I do?"

Daki rolled her eyes and held open the sheet that served as their door.


Human dinner was boiled radishes. Douma couldn't help but stare at the shriveled things and compare it to the meals served to the humans at his temple. So tiny. No wonder Gyutaro's ribs poked out and Daki had felt so weightless on his lap. They didn't even bother offering him any.

"You never told me your name," Daki said as she poured tea that Douma would not drink. "What is it?"

Douma noticed Gyutaro listening closely.

He fanned his face and laughed. "My, we never did introduce ourselves! I'm Douma! What's your name?"

Gyutaro took a huge bite out of a raw radish, chewing loudly. Douma felt judged somehow.

"Ume," Daki said. Douma tilted his head. Ume? "And that's my big brother. He goes by Gyutaro."

"Ume," Douma repeated tapping his fan against his temple. "And Gyutaro." He did it again, this time with a wink and a smile. "A pleasure to meet you!"

"What's your deal?" Gyutaro asked bluntly, disgusted.

"Hm?"

"Why are you here?"

"Dear Ume invited me, remember?"

"You wanna marry my sister or what?"

Douma spread his fan to cover half of his face. "Ah! No, no!" How awkward. "I just thought we could be great friends! I've never been to this district before. I just wanted some company!"

"You and all the men who visit," Gyutaro said, unimpressed.

Douma fanned his face, averting his eyes.

"Was my payment sufficient?" he asked, instead of replying. Surely, they could afford more than radishes with what he had paid?

"It'll be double this time. My brother is here too," Daki – Ume – said quickly.

Douma laughed. The little hustler. "Of course! Of course!"