"You waited?" Douma asked out loud when he saw Akaza sitting in the snow underneath a tree not too far from the warehouse almost half an hour later.

Akaza ignored the question.

"I assume you got something useful out of him?"

"I did!" Lots of flower facts and stories! Douma was definitely going to try to learn how to make incense himself. He had a lot of wisteria. "About Tsubaki! The general area, at least, since it's a very small place, but I'm sure with your experience you'll be able to narrow it down. Even if Sakutarou didn't know about the Blue Spider Lily himself, maybe someone else over there has heard something. You don't happen to have a map, do you?"

"Where the hell would I carry a map?"

"Hm, well, I'm sure I have one where I'm staying. Do you want to come or wait here?"

"Let's get this over with," Akaza said, standing up and brushing himself off.

Douma led the way to his lodgings, noting at how casually Akaza was able to walk along the street and weave through the occasional group of people they passed. He must have interacted with humans more than Douma originally thought. His approach with Sakutarou had been short and rude, but now Douma was suspecting it was solely because he had been there. Akaza was putting up with a lot. Douma had even stopped him from feeding. He had to apologize for that at least.

"I'm sorry for interrupting your attack," Douma said.

Akaza didn't answer for a minute. "Don't do that again unless you have the spine to actually stop me," he said.

Douma cocked his head to the side. Akaza should be able to sense by now that Douma had already caught up to him in strength. Did he still think he'd win in a fight against him? They hadn't come to blows yet. Though Douma had not even considered striking Akaza in that confusing moment.

"I really thought he had more information to share! And he did!"

Akaza scoffed. "You panicked."

"…What?"

"Over a human, no less. How pathetic."

"I didn't panic. Panic is…" Douma hesitated. He felt himself frown. "I didn't… Lord Akaza, I wasn't scared."

Akaza raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say that. I'd have killed him if you were."

This was incredibly intriguing.

"I've witnessed panicked humans before. Are you certain I was panicked?" Douma asked seriously.

Akaza had stopped walking. Douma did as well and looked back at him, waiting patiently for him to either speak or continue walking. But Akaza seemed to be studying Douma himself.

"To be more accurate, you were anxious," he said, finally.

"Anxious," Douma repeated, though it wasn't until several seconds later that it sunk in.

He had been anxious? Over Sakutarou? No, over Sakutarou's death…? Akaza killing Sakutarou? That didn't make any sense. Death didn't matter, not really. But Akaza had more experience feeling feelings than him, even if they were warped from being a demon.

"You didn't want him to die," Akaza continued. "Not right then at that moment."

Not yet.

"Anxious," Douma said again, faintly. "I've felt that before, haven't I."

Akaza was frowning, but it wasn't an angry frown, Douma noted. Douma tried thinking of other times where he might have felt anxious. Worried. Uneasy. He used those words several times but he had never thought he'd actually felt them and yet…

He had been worried. The very moment he had awakened in this timeline again. Worried that Shinobu hadn't been real. When Kunio, Azai and Yuko had been slain outside his room and he couldn't stop it, he had not been curious, he had been worried. When Gyutaro and Ume had been burned in the daylight, he had been anxious because he could not reach them, worried that they might be dead. When he contemplated absorbing them into himself instead of turning them into demons, and when Ume's heart had stuttered…

And now, apparently, over a human he had just met.

"Oh, I don't like that," Douma said, hand over his heart, eyes wide.

"Tch." Akaza shook his head. "You're ridiculous."

"I mean it!" Douma said. He put his smile back up and set that potential problem to the side. "Ah, but we should get going!"

They didn't pass many more people on the way back to the inn Douma was staying at. Most humans were still flocking around the vendors after the parade to get last minute drinks and snacks before bed. When they arrived, the street they were on was empty.

Akaza had stopped short outside of the inn, brow furrowed.

"You rented a room?" he asked.

"I'm staying in town for a while and with several guests, so I actually rented three rooms," Douma said, holding up three fingers. "It's an easy way to take shelter from the sun! I do pay extra to stay undisturbed in the daylight hours… Just the one I'm in, though!"

"Seems wasteful," Akaza murmured. "This isn't a cheap inn."

What a curious thing for Akaza to say!

"I prefer to rent houses, but Kasato prioritizes their businesses which includes inns. Does His Lordship not give you money for boarding?" Douma asked. He could have sworn Muzan gave Akaza money to assist him with his search for the Blue Spider Lily.

Akaza's eye twitched and Douma suddenly wondered if he had just never thought to use it for such. "Does he give it to you?"

"No, he doesn't like me much, I think. It's alright though, I'm not wanting. I have enough money to stay comfortable wherever I am," Douma said. "And I may liberate it from the pockets of those who I guide into paradise!"

Akaza mouthed the word 'liberate' and shook his head, then walked inside.

"I think it's important to have somewhere safe to stay in the day," Douma said. He showed Akaza to one of the rooms where he and his followers kept their traveling supplies. Two of them, Fuyumi and Yukime, were in the room already, setting out some tables for a few of their late dinners. When they saw Douma, they bowed and left the room after a subtle gesture. Douma turned back to Akaza. "I have money to spare if you'd like me to add to your funds! For an emergency."

"It's not difficult to hide from the sun," Akaza said dismissively.

"The offer is always open." Douma rummaged through a small chest until he pulled out one of his older maps that his followers kept on hand for backup. He unfolded it and laid it on the floor for Akaza to see. He pointed to where they were. "So, Tsubaki is not very far at all! It can't be, otherwise the flowers would have died on the journey over here from the cold. There isn't heat to dry them out either, but if they wanted them to be displayed in their prime they'd get them here as quick as possible and not risk killing them on the way."

Akaza had sat down and was listening to his explanation patiently.

"Sakutarou implied it's not in the mountains and I've been to almost every village from here to my temple," Douma continued, drawing a large imaginary X to the west. He circled the area east of them where the terrain was forested, but more level. "So it's east of Edo. You're bound to find it even if you lose your way after trying to track them. I also have reason to believe that the methods they're using to grow the flowers are from overseas which is, of course, illegal, which explains his secrecy! But it's not too secret, otherwise Kasato would not have been able to commission them at all.

"Which is another idea! If you can contact the headsman of the village, you can ask how and where he ordered the flowers. If it's not too secret, he might just give you the information!"

Akaza gave him a look that said he'd be strangling him if he needed air to breathe. "And you didn't just lead with that?"

Douma clapped his hands together. "Well! There's a chance he'll say no, so I wanted you to know ahead of time that it wouldn't be a dead end if he did! It's nice to have options and backup plans, isn't it? Especially for such an important search!"

Douma did not recall hearing anything about Tsubaki in the previous timeline. This meant Akaza hadn't discovered it, or it had been a dead end and was not worth bringing up. The Blue Spider Lily was never originally found either and none of the demons Muzan created even knew why he wanted it so badly, though they could guess. This was honestly already the most involved Douma had ever been in its search. He only remained in Muzan's 'good graces' previously due to his strength and high amount of Hashira killed.

If getting involved in the search for the elusive flower meant he had more chances to befriend Akaza, Douma would do it!

Well, he'd try harder, anyway. He really wasn't great at investigations.

Akaza stood up. "Then I'll go ask the village head," he decided.

Just as Douma was about to offer to go with him, Fuyumi poked her head through the door, bowing.

"Lord Douma, is your guest joining us for dinner?" she asked. Douma had forgotten! He shouldn't neglect his followers so suddenly…

"Lord Akaza?" Douma called, looking at him. "Did you want to join us?"

Akaza stared at Fuyumi for a minute, then back at Douma. "No." He turned around quickly and left the room.

"Ah- Goodbye, Lord Akaza!" Douma reached the doorway but at human speed he was just a moment too late to catch Akaza leaving.

"Was that a friend of yours?" Fuyumi asked.

"Oh yes, best friend!" he laughed. "Well, I want him to be! He's very secluded. It's all work with him! I was surprised to see him here at all to be quite honest."

"Is he part of the Paradise Faith?"

"A branch of it," Douma said. "You won't see him coming to me for anything."

Fuyumi looked towards where Akaza disappeared pityingly.

"He'd be lucky to have you as a friend, Lord Douma."

"Right?"

Day seven featured another round of ceremonial dances and music, but the night featured fireworks. Douma could still sense Akaza in the area which led him to believe the questioning of the village head led to no results. He concluded that Akaza was hanging around until the end of the festival to track Sakutarou and his companions when they went back home.

Douma's plan was to finally find something to eat (all week! He hadn't eaten all week! He'd never gone that long before) and then find Akaza and invite him to do something together before he left. He did not expect Akaza to instead find him in a narrow space between an abandoned house and a shed. Douma had been too hungry to sneak the body into either building and he could tell Akaza was judging him for it. At least he caught him towards the end of his meal and not the beginning. Douma got a bit too enthusiastic when he ate for the first time in a few days.

"I didn't expect you to come find me," Douma said honestly.

Akaza didn't say anything.

"Not that I want you to leave! This isn't my territory after all."

"Why are you still here?" Akaza asked.

"I have business here, actually," Douma said. He lifted the ribcage of the man he ate and pushed it against himself, absorbing it.

"A mission," Akaza concludes.

"No, just my business! I'm trying to bring more humans to my village. It can take a while to convince people to pack up and move into the mountains, so I tend to stick around for several days."

"Your village."

"Where my humans and I come from, yes."

"You live among humans."

Douma's smile widened. "Lord Akaza, I can explain it quite plainly if you just ask!"

Akaza closed his eyes and sucked a breath in between his teeth. "Explain," he ground out.

"I have a village up in the mountains where I founded a religion centered around His Lordship. I help the humans with their hurts and woes in my temple… Over time, I eat them, but I can't do that too long without arousing suspicion and causing a panic, so I bring in new humans every once and a while to restore the population!"

Akaza was glaring at him again. "I see," he said. "So, the human you're eating—"

Douma lifted the man's head towards Akaza. "This one is from Kasato! I take advantage of being in another town as well. His name is Makoto. He had a bit of a gambling problem that he wanted me to help him with." He set the head down between them and gave it an affectionate pat. "Poor thing! He's in a much better state now, I think."

"You target the stupid and useless? The weak?"

"It bothers you that I eat the weak?" Douma asked. Was that the problem?

Akaza scoffed. "The weak are meant to be eaten," he said. Guess not. "The way you ensnare them, however…"

"You think I'm lying about their salvation." Douma snapped a femur and absorbed it between his hands. "The only thing I hide from them is how they'll die," he said. "I help as much as I can, but all humans die, Lord Akaza, whether I'm the one who kills them or not. They'll go to heaven or hell and be reborn and I eat what's left behind. Is it truly any different from how other demons eat? How you eat?"

Akaza looked like he wanted to argue but he also didn't want to be dragged into a longer conversation. Which Douma found odd, since it had been Akaza who had shown himself this time around.

"You should visit sometime!" Douma added. "Though you wouldn't be allowed to eat my followers, unfortunately. Maybe a nonbeliever? I'm sure there's some that won't admit it."

"Not interested."

Douma shrugged. "Alright, but if you find yourself in the area seeking shelter from the sun, my temple is always open." He picked Makoto's head back up and absorbed it into his chest, then looked around for any leftover body parts. When he was sure he got everything, he stood and smiled back at Akaza.

"Hey, Lord Akaza, do you want to do something?" Douma asked.

"…What."

"Do you want to do something together with me?"

Akaza looked at him. "You do have a mission?"

"Er, no… I was just…" Douma hesitated. "I wanted to do something together! Something fun! Or relaxing. We can eat if you haven't already. I can always eat more…"

Akaza's nose wrinkled. "I ate."

He turned as if to walk away and Douma's heart jumped again. Akaza looked over his shoulder before he could call out.

"Lord Akaza is very strong," Douma said, changing course. Akaza's face relaxed, though he still looked a little suspicious. Douma pushed some more sincerity into his voice. "I admire you very much! I'd like you to like me too, so I want to do something together." He linked his fingers together and smiled at them.

"Fight?" Akaza now looked more confused than anything.

Douma laughed. "If you want!"

"A Blood Battle?"

"Erm, not that. I'm still Upper Five." Even if he could pummel Akaza now. Easily.

"Then why fight?" Akaza scoffed.

"You like fighting!" Douma reminded. "We don't have to try and kill each other, you know. It's like… sparring!"

"You're not a fighter," Akaza said dryly.

Douma opened his mouth. Then shut it. He took a moment.

"Um, Lord Akaza, I've fought before."

Akaza made a skeptical noise.

"I have! You were there!" Douma whined.

"Your Blood Battle with Gyokko was hardly a fight. You both threw your Blood Demon Art against each other. There was no technique or skill involved and Gyokko was obviously just overpowered by you."

Was that Akaza's way of calling him a brute? Douma had never been called that before! Quite the opposite, in fact.

"Maybe so, but it would still be a fight on your end, wouldn't it?"

"It'd be a waste of my time."

"Are you busy?"

"I'm always busy."

"Well, what are you doing? Can I help?"

"Don't you have better things to do?"

"Eh? What do you mean?"

Akaza's mouth went into a straight line. "Nothing," he grumbled.

"Are you asking if I have hobbies?" Douma asked, amused. He knew he wasn't.

"Why would I care about that?"

"I do like collecting flowers," Douma said, ignoring him. "I don't know much about them like Sakutarou, but I appreciate having them and tending to them. That's a good thing, I think. If the Blue Spider Lily is a flower, then that could be helpful! Wouldn't it be funny if a human just strolled into my temple with one?"

"I didn't—"

"I used to dance too! Not so much anymore though, so I suppose that isn't a hobby. I should pick it up again. Do you dance, Lord Akaza?" Douma flicked open a fan. "Do you want to?"

"I do not," Akaza sighed, resigned. "I'm busy tonight, Douma."

"Hm. Really?"

"Really."

"Alright then. If you find yourself not busy, feel free to join my followers and I to watch the fireworks later tonight!"

Akaza blinked and met his eyes suddenly. "You're going to watch the fireworks?"

"Mhm!"

"Why?"

The intensity of the question startled Douma and it took him a moment longer to respond than usual. Akaza didn't sound angry exactly. Just. Intense.

But he was staring unblinking. As though Douma's answer was important. It reminded Douma of humans who were at their lowest, looking for anything to tie the last threads of their will, beliefs, and hope onto. Usually, it ended up being Douma himself and he made a point to devour those poor souls quickly. For a moment, he wondered what Akaza would taste like.

"Simply put, such displays are meant to be observed! That such a destructive substance could be used to make something so beautiful is truly stunning. I think we should appreciate the beauty in the moment. It makes for a wonderful memory, even amongst an eternity of them," Douma said.

The intensity slipped away from Akaza's eyes. Wrong answer. He looked away and Douma suddenly wished he had had the answer Akaza was searching for.

He liked it when Akaza looked at him.

"Enjoy your fireworks," Akaza said, leaving him alone once again.

Douma watched him go with a pout. He would see him again before the night was over!

Akaza had made it clear that he would not visit his temple and would not fight him anytime soon, so Douma was determined to try and do at least one memorable thing with him before they didn't see each other again for a while. Fireworks meant something to Akaza! That had to be something they could share!

He had been pretty sure of this until one hour before the fireworks started and Douma couldn't detect any trace of Akaza. He searched everywhere until he expanded his senses enough to brush against his link with him. There was a gentle reaction of irritation, then Akaza shut him out. Still, it was enough for Douma to find him.

It was just outside of Kasato where none of the lights or noise from the festival hit. Akaza was alone on a snow-covered bridge, hunched over the railing and staring down vacantly at his reflection in the partially frozen river water below. He wasn't disguised as a human, freely displaying his unique stripes and pink hair. The kimono Douma had given him had been draped over the railing, folded neatly.

He wasn't moving and he didn't speak even though he surely must have detected Douma's arrival.

The back of Douma's neck prickled. He couldn't get himself to call out and announce his presence.

For what he was sure was the first time, he felt like he was intruding.

The distant high-pitched whistle of a firework sounded and Douma turned his head up to look at the burst of colors against the dark sky, swiftly followed by another and another. A rainbow of distant explosions so bright they danced across the ice and snow, bringing Douma's attention back to the ground and on Akaza once again. He still hadn't moved, not even as the whistles and pops of the fireworks grew in number and volume. He was still staring down at the water, this time at the distorted reflections of the fireworks.

There was an eerie blankness in his eyes. Upper Rank Two had never seemed to be displayed so clearly.

This felt wrong.

Douma had made it back to his followers on the side of a hill, head buzzing so loud he barely returned their greetings.

Why had he left? It felt like he had run away from something. That didn't make sense. He hadn't been scared or threatened. Had he been anxious again? Worried? But why? Akaza hadn't been in any danger. Whatever he was feeling was surely a negative feeling. Negative feelings were so bothersome. He much preferred the more positive ones. At least they usually made sense.

He flexed his fingers, resisting the temptation to blow off his own head so his brain could restart. How could he possibly identify what he was feeling if there had been nothing to feel anything over! He had just found Akaza! He should have been thrilled. He shouldn't have fled.

Douma frowned and cupped his chin, staring at the ground, distantly aware that the firework show was drawing to a close. If anyone, it was Akaza who was feeling something. At first glance it was as though Akaza had been completely apathetic, but Douma knew that wasn't the case. Akaza felt things strongly, Douma knew that even in the past timeline.

Douma was different this time around. Even if he still wasn't quite normal, he knew that Akaza had been feeling in that moment. He was certain that what he was feeling wasn't good either. Maybe Douma had reacted instinctively to what Akaza was feeling. Even if he couldn't understand it completely yet, maybe his body just did what it thought it should have.

How troublesome.

"Oh, it ended just in time!" Yukime said, pointing up at the sky. Douma looked up. The clouds had rolled in, bringing with them a gentle snowfall.

Douma wondered if Akaza was still there on the bridge, unmoving and getting covered in the cold snow. He wasn't wearing it, but he still had the kimono Douma gave him— he shook his head. That didn't matter, as Akaza had said, demons didn't get cold. But Douma was struck with the feeling that he shouldn't have left him.

"Lord Douma, is something wrong?"

Douma blinked. It took him a moment to realize it had been Fuyumi who had asked the question. She looked worried. "Uh, no, why do you ask?"

"You look upset."

"Ah." Douma smiled. "Everything is alright, thank you for asking!"

Very troublesome! Douma liked feeling things. He liked that he could like things, but to have his body react without his permission and for his face to show what he didn't want it to… Those were things he'd have to fix right away! He was sure it was possible; it was just about composure. He could maintain composure and still care about his friends.

And he was sure he cared about Akaza!

If Akaza was upset about something, then Douma would be there for him to talk to. He had a lot of experience listening. He could help him. Really help him. That's what friends do. They didn't run and leave each other behind. He'd have to find him before he left town.

As soon as Douma finished walking his followers home, he went back to the edge of town near the bridge and spread out his senses to try and detect Akaza. All he could feel were the few humans closer to town. No one else, not even another demon.

Akaza was already gone.