"Wow, you're fast. Not fast enough to save anyone in the house, but still fast!" Douma said, taking in his new opponent. "It's a good thing! I wouldn't have wanted any of them to live another minute with false hope. Are you a Hashira?"
The man flipped his sword in his grip, sneering. "I am Maruyama Tatsuo, the Wind Pillar!"
"I've never killed a Wind Pillar before!" Douma gasped. "Oh, forgive me, where are my manners? I'm Dou—"
He didn't get to finish. Tatsuo leapt onto the roof with him in a spinning motion, aiming for his neck. Douma had to use both of his fans to deflect each repeating strike. He'd fought weaker slayers who had likely used Wind Breathing, but none were as vicious as this Hashira. Douma would drag this out and see what he could learn from him.
He'd have to be careful though. Tatsuo had almost killed him with his first strike and Douma was only Upper Six. He wasn't as strong as he used to be.
"Wretched monster, did you kill everyone?" Tatsuo shouted.
"It was very quick!"
"They're all dead! You think that's mercy?"
"The biggest mercy I could give!" Douma insisted, deflecting another attack. "Even if these slayers had recovered, it would only be a matter of time before they were slain by a different demon. No more pain, no more suffering. Now they're dead and in heaven. Doesn't that sound lovely?"
"You're insane," Tatsuo said.
Douma put his hands on his hips. "Are such words only insane when it comes from a demon? Demon slayers always curse demons to hell! How is this any different? I used to be human too, you know!"
"And now you're nothing more than a murderous beast. Surrender yourself to my blade so all the souls you murdered will rest!"
Tatsuo spun forward again. Douma thought he'd be too far to actually land a hit he couldn't predict, but the sweep of his blade got wider as he drew closer. Douma slashed his fans forward to meet him, just barely knocking him off balance. Tatsuo twisted and landed right behind him and swung back at Douma's neck. Douma was forced to dodge.
Wintry Icicles
Large icicles stabbed through the roof. Tatsuo avoided each one effortlessly, but their positions kept him from sweeping his sword too widely. He slowed to break past them and Douma put some more distance between them.
Scattering Lotuses
Tatsuo grounded himself and slashed the air around him, shattering each of the ice shards Douma sent at him.
"You're so focused!" Douma said.
He was ignored.
Some of Douma's attacks weren't as effective outdoors at his current strength. The cold spread and dissipated into the surroundings too quickly but they may be worth using just to see the slayer's responses.
Freezing Clouds
Tatsuo parted the cold air with his sword. Douma guessed that was a Wind Breathing thing. His strikes relied on large broad strokes and countered Douma's icy wind brilliantly.
Douma wondered how long he could keep it up.
Cold White Princesses
Tatsuo slashed down at the roof, breaking it and causing Douma's beautiful statues to fall through almost immediately upon their summon. The movement gave Douma enough time for his shards of ice to slice and pierce his skin. Douma darted forward and sliced at him with his fans.
Frozen Lotus
A shard from one of his ice lotuses sunk deep into Tatsuo's shoulder. The Hashira grit his teeth and his breath hitched.
"The whole breathing thing demon slayers have is a very unfortunate technique," Douma said. "What you feel now is my Blood Demon Art freezing the blood cells in your lungs. It'll spread throughout your body. You're destroying yourself at this point. I don't have to do anything now. If I was cruel, I'd stand here and watch. Wouldn't you rather have me kill you now? Wouldn't that be mercy?"
Tatsuo had gone still, but his eyes were glaring straight into Douma's, burning with intense hatred. Douma didn't think he should be wasting energy on being angry if he wanted to try and cut his neck. He should really get a move on.
Douma smiled, showing his fangs. "My Blood Demon Art is what killed all the demon slayers in the infirmary before they could even stand."
That did it.
With Tatsuo's next attack, Douma felt a few knicks in his skin. They healed in the next instant. The Hashira struck from below, cutting off Douma's wrist. His body twisted and his elbow slammed up to knock the rest of Douma's arm away completely and he swung his sword again. Douma jumped up—
Tatsuo followed; his blade swung in a circular motion. Douma could almost feel the wind itself sharpen and cut at him. He had himself land on the ground in the garden further away to avoid more injury. Tatsuo had landed back on the roof but he was quick to jump and flip over Douma, slashing again, almost pushing Douma against the gate leading outside of the property from the wide arc.
Douma's hand regenerated with a new fan.
Scattering Lotuses
He wondered how many forms Tatsuo had gone through. Very few slayers shouted out the names of their attacks, but some did. Douma could place maybe one of the Wind Breathing techniques names to a move he'd seen Tatsuo do himself. Tatsuo might have gone through about four of them. Maybe five? The spiraling swings had to be some…
He thought it over as he deflected the next string of Tatsuo's attacks. The Hashira's movements were getting slower. He would die soon. He'd die quicker if he'd just ask Douma to kill him. It must hurt to have ice growing in your lungs and blood.
"Are you scared to die, Tatsuo? Is that what this is?" Douma asked. "It's not scary, I promise. It just hurts a little, but I can end that in a moment. You just have to ask."
Tatsuo coughed up blood.
His next step faltered and his grip on his sword loosened.
Douma went forward and knocked his sword out of his hand. It pushed him further off balance so Douma caught him before he could fall. Tatsuo struggled weakly in his grip so Douma pinned his arms against him tightly. Maybe too tightly, he thought he felt something snap.
"If you're worried about your body, don't be! I'll consume it, bone and all. It won't rot in the dirt or be forgotten. I'll be alive for a long while yet after all, so I'll remember you for sure. I learned so much! Thank you for the experience, truly." He ran his claws through the man's hair and stopped at the back of his neck. "Sleep now."
Douma could sense Akaza had finished his fight around the same time Douma did. He could feel him searching the perimeter for any stragglers. Douma took the time to eat the humans he had killed to recover some of the energy he had used during his fight with Tatsuo. That Hashira had gotten a few hits in! Douma was still impressed.
It also told him he needed to grow stronger. It was only a few years from now that he originally challenged Akaza and taken the Upper Two rank from him. He still remembered how he had originally wanted to challenge Gyokko, but then he saw Akaza for the first time. Gyokko had noticed his attention and informed him that Akaza loved to be challenged.
It was a good prank.
Akaza had looked so insulted that such a lower rank challenged him! It was funny.
Until it wasn't.
Douma could see that now. Akaza had not enjoyed the fight at all. Douma had not only survived the fight, but each of his attacks had landed on Akaza. Batting him around their arena. When Douma used his Divine Children, it was clear that Akaza was outclassed. But Douma had been confused. Gyokko had told him Akaza was a good fighter, so why was he losing so horribly? He dragged the fight out longer because he wanted to see Upper Rank Two's full strength.
Muzan had to intervene and stop him.
He had been furious. Akaza too. Even Kokushibo had had an air of frustration and disappointment around him.
The only one who was happy was Gyokko. He laughed and laughed and asked if Douma was going to eat Akaza now. He knew Kokoshibo had permission to do so but Douma had never eaten another demon himself! He didn't think it was fair since he had just met Akaza and he hadn't come to fight him originally, he just thought his stripes looked pretty…
Akaza had lunged at him when he said that.
Muzan stopped them both by stabbing into their eyes. He stripped Akaza of his Upper Ranking and gave Douma Upper Two and banished them all from the Infinity Castle.
Afterwards, Douma heard Akaza challenged Upper Three, slaughtered and devoured him, and took his Upper Rank back. When he tried to congratulate him the next time they met, Akaza struck him and Douma had let him.
And their relationship had stayed that way ever since.
Douma could now see the flaws in it. He wanted a better one. He'd try to be patient this time and he wouldn't fall for Gyokko's prank if he tried it again. The rankings should sort themselves out naturally. Douma was sure he'd be Upper Two again and Gyutaro and Ume would fill the sixth rank. They were both so much stronger now.
(He was so proud of them! He should visit again soon…)
Douma continued to think it over as he went through the rooms one more time for bodies to eat or humans to kill. He did not expect Akaza to be in the building already.
"Oh, you're back!" Douma said cheerfully. "Did you have fun?"
Akaza twitched and glared at him.
He wasn't alone.
Douma's eyes slid over the women huddled against the wall. Terrified, but alive. There were two left, Douma must have missed them. Only one was a demon slayer. She was missing her legs and barely clinging to life, likely from the fight with Lower Moon Four. The other was either a doctor or nurse.
Akaza really should eat them and get stronger. It was such a shame how weak he made himself in the previous timeline. Douma almost told him so.
But then he remembered when Gyutaro would bring gifts to Ume. Dead animals that they could not eat. Blankets to shield from the cold they couldn't feel. He remembered that although the siblings didn't remember their time together, they did remember their feelings as humans.
Clearly, Douma thought, there must have once been someone Akaza cared about very much. So much that the quirk stuck for two hundred years. He felt bad for him. Whoever that person was would be long dead by now. Did Akaza remember them?
Akaza was staring straight into Douma's eyes. Waiting. Douma knew he wouldn't stop him from killing the women, but Douma had no reason to! One wasn't a demon slayer and the one who was would clearly never fight again.
Douma clapped his hands together. Akaza blinked.
"Well then, that's everyone! We should report to His Lordship!" He tilted his head. "Did you eat the Hashira? Do you eat Hashira? I can wait if you want to."
Akaza scoffed and walked past him to leave the mansion. "Tadashi wasn't food."
Tadashi must have been the Hashira's name. Did Akaza leave his body to the wilderness? How sad!
"I ate Tatsuo," Douma said, following him. "I try to eat everyone I kill if I can. Their deaths are less meaningless like that, you know?" He touched his chest. "They become part of me and contribute to my power! They live on in me, in a way, while their souls are reborn into their next life."
Akaza looked at him strangely.
"You didn't kill the women."
"Oh, you didn't either! I assumed there was a reason. I killed the others in the house when I first arrived though." He just barely restrained himself from mentioning how tasty they were. Akaza wouldn't like that, right?
Akaza didn't answer. He looked like he regretted speaking at all. Douma smiled at him and continued walking.
"Does His Lordship send Upper Moons on missions together often?" Douma asked, tapping his fan against his chin as he gazed up at the stars. He wasn't expecting a response, but he could feel Akaza's eyes on him.
"No," Akaza replied after almost a full minute of silence.
Douma hummed. This was the longest conversation he had ever had with Akaza that didn't end with a piece of his head blown off. It'd be best to end the conversation now while it was still going well. Patience was key. Douma was capable of being quiet.
It was Akaza who broke the silence.
"What?" he snapped a few minutes later.
Douma's smile faltered for the briefest second. "Ah, pardon?"
"What is there to smile about? It's unsettling."
Douma pouted, though a small part of him was pleased Akaza had been watching him. "Plenty!" he said. "A successful mission! A new companion! A beautiful night! A full stomach!" Akaza sneered and Douma raised his fan to hide his smile. "If you'd like, Lord Akaza, we can try calling for that biwa woman. She can deliver us to His Lordship faster."
Akaza frowned. "I thought you didn't know my name."
"Mm… His Lordship mentioned it. I was just trying to be polite by asking you yourself. Should we call for the biwa woman?"
Akaza didn't answer; instead, he turned away and darted through the trees.
Douma stared after him.
How disappointing that his new companion left! It was silly, didn't Akaza know they were heading to the same place?
He chased after him.
It did not take too long to catch up with Akaza! Douma always had been rather fast, but he thought being Upper Six and having been struck by a Hashira, it meant he was still quite weaker in comparison to Akaza. That might not have been the case. Maybe Tatsuo was just really strong? What a shame! If he'd known that he would have saved him for Akaza!
"Lord Akaza is quick!" Douma said with a light laugh as he stopped at his side. He brushed his bangs out of his eyes. "I didn't expect you to run!"
Akaza didn't even glance at him. He was focused on the building that Muzan was currently residing in. Douma could feel the dark overwhelming presence from outside. He wondered if others felt it more heavily than him. It had never bothered him but appeared to cause other demons to cower in fear or reverence when they sensed it. He wondered if Akaza feared or revered Muzan.
"What form do you think His Lordship is in?" Douma asked.
Akaza scowled.
"I thiiink, scholar," Douma said. He pointed at the plaque on the gate that had a professor's name on it. "There's an old family name on here. I don't think he'd be an old man. A scholar or student would make more sense so he can ask questions and stick his hands into some funding!"
"Shut up," Akaza hissed.
Douma smiled and tapped his finger against his own lips.
He followed Akaza as he jumped over the gate and entered the building. Muzan was waiting for them in the form of a young man about eighteen years old. He was sitting on a chair alone in a room with a single lantern. Douma and Akaza went on their hands and knees to bow before him.
"Master, we've arrived to deliver our report," Akaza said. His voice was flat and dull, lacking any inflections or personality. Nothing like when he fought the Hashira or like when he even spoke to Douma. His face was also a complete blank slate. Perfectly composed.
The question of whether Akaza feared or revered Muzan entered Douma's mind again.
"You've done what I asked?" Muzan asked.
He said this while looking at Douma.
Douma straightened from his bow and linked his fingers together with a smile. "His Lordship will be pleased to hear that all demon slayers involved in Lower Rank Four's death have been killed!"
The flame in the lantern was snuffed out.
Muzan's dark presence multiplied tenfold.
It pressed into all sides of his body. He could feel it in his head.
Akaza had gone even more unnaturally still. It was only this that clued Douma in that he had said or done something wrong and that he should be acting scared.
Douma had barely sucked in a breath to speak again when in the next moment, his vision and hearing disappeared. Blood dripped from his neck and down his chest, soaking and weighing down his clothes. His torso fumbled and for a moment his hands scrambled along the floor, sliding over what he was sure was his own blood before regaining their grip. Carefully, he maneuvered his body back into a bow.
Muzan had destroyed his head.
Douma's body instinctively attempted to regenerate. Of course, as long as Muzan willed it, he would not be able to. He was instead forced to wait patiently and focus on the feeling of the floor beneath his palms and knees. It was fortunate that Akaza made him very accustomed to this state.
Time ticked by.
…He hoped Muzan wasn't speaking because he couldn't hear a thing if he was. That would be awkward for everyone.
He was possibly talking to Akaza. He didn't think Akaza did anything wrong in this mission so hopefully he wasn't being punished as well. If he was, it was likely due to a mistake Douma made. He'd be mad at him for a while then. How disappointing. Things were going, well, not well, but better. Maybe. He wasn't sure.
Something cold that felt a lot like flesh pressed around his arms and legs, curling slowly. Threateningly.
Huh.
Was Muzan going to absorb him?
He must be really angry.
Just as quickly as it had been taken away, Douma's eyesight and hearing returned. His body regenerating quickly at Muzan's will. He made sure to have a bashful smile on his face when it was complete. As much as Douma wanted to look at Akaza, something told him the more appropriate response was to focus completely on Muzan.
"Why do the Twelve Kizuki exist, Douma?" Muzan asked.
"To serve you, my Lord," Douma replied, gazing at him as adoringly as he was able. It was easy to ignore the thick contorted arm lined with eyes and teeth pushing against his limbs. He wondered if Muzan was trying to scare him. Would that please him?
Douma searched within himself to feel the fear his Master likely sought.
The closest thing he could find was discomfort, and that, very specifically, was at how uncomfortable blood-soaked clothes were. A mild discomfort, really. So sticky.
Muzan's eyes narrowed.
"Do not presume to know what pleases me. You appear to be under the impression that being a member of the Twelve Kizuki would protect you from my anger. That being an Upper Rank made it safe to act as you please and lie. You say you did what I ask? Then why were there two surviving members of the demon slayer corps willingly left behind?"
Oh. That. It took a lot of Douma's willpower to stop his true explanation from presenting itself too clearly in his mind. Muzan would not be happy if he knew Douma was attempting to inspire bonds with other demons.
"I did not think they were a thr—"
Muzan struck him, removing Douma's bottom jaw. He felt his tongue loll out and more blood pour down his front. This time, Muzan allowed him to regenerate immediately.
"I've disappointed you, my Lord," Douma said dejectedly as if he hadn't been struck at all. "Does His Lordship intend to devour me?"
Muzan's eyes were slits. "No."
"Then how shall I make it up to you? Would you like me to cut my fingers off one by one? Slice my belly and pull out my innards? What punishment would be most suitable?"
"No punishment is suitable for you, Douma," Muzan said. "Do not forget I see every thought in your head. Every reasoning behind your frivolous actions. I am well aware that you are nothing more than a bottomless husk shielded by flesh and strengthened by my blood. You're hollow. You feel nothing in your flesh or in your soul."
Douma blinked. Something in him had— His attention on Muzan lapsed for a moment as he concentrated on the feeling that had sprouted – no, the feeling of something in him wilting. Curled up. Hiding. It felt familiar. Hadn't he felt this when Gyutaro had snapped at him?
What was it? What was it?
"You may not fear death, Douma, but this does not protect you from it. Wiping your existence from this plane would affect no one. You are replaceable in my rankings. Serving as a member of the Twelve Kizuki is the closest you'll ever get to finding meaning in what you can hardly call a life."
Douma remained silent.
"Why do you exist, Douma?"
He felt breathless. Which was odd, because he didn't need to breathe.
"To serve you," Douma replied. After a beat, he smiled. "I thank you for your correction and will endeavor to grow more powerful and exceed your expectations!"
"Do not fail me again."
The dismissal was clear. Douma left first and Akaza was not far behind.
…Not far behind at all.
Akaza had joined him near a few trees past some rice fields. He decided not to point out that their mission was over. Afterall, Douma didn't know what he might have talked about with Muzan during the time he had been headless. Maybe he had been assigned to tail Douma. He wouldn't mind!
How curious that Muzan was so violent this time around with him. He hadn't really interacted with him as much when he was Upper Moon Six in the previous timeline. This mission had never been assigned to him either. Surely Douma hadn't changed so much? The only notable thing he could think of was his visit to Yoshiwara. Though on reflection, that did end with quite the show, didn't it? As did Douma's first slaughter when he turned. Several followers had escaped… A lot more humans were dead this time and a lot of different ones survived. Had the effects truly spread so far and changed so much?
He hadn't killed Tatsuo in the previous timeline either. Hashira were important figures, weren't they? Douma cupped his own chin as he thought. That was the wonder of humanity that other demons shunned so easily. One human can make the biggest difference in their world simply by existing and inspiring others. Douma really should have considered it before. Look at the lengths he had gone just for Shinobu who was just one, tiny human! Though it wasn't as if he could just go against Muzan's orders. He had to kill Hashira. He had to grow stronger. To do that, he had to eat humans.
Which brought his attention to the ache in his stomach.
"Ah, regeneration from His Lordship's punishments makes me so hungry!" Douma moaned, clutching his stomach and leaning his head against a tree dramatically. "I didn't want to eat anyone when I got home tonight!"
"Why are you still Upper Six?"
Douma perked up immediately. Akaza was speaking again! "Oh! Yes, I plan to challenge Gyokko soon!"
Akaza narrowed his eyes at him. "Just Gyokko?"
Douma tilted his head. "You don't think I should? I'm strong enough, I'm sure."
Akaza stared at him. Strangely, he seemed to be looking past him. His eyes glazed over just a little. Was he seeing something Douma couldn't?
"Yeah. You are."
For the third time that night, Akaza ran. Leaving Douma alone. The odd feeling returned. He didn't like it.
The night, at least, was still beautiful.
