"No, that wouldn't be..."
Akaza, fuelled with hate, started to march towards the two.
"Can't you let me in on it? Please, I'm beggingβ"
Akaza sliced his hand, cutting the top of Douma's head clean off, who still continued to have a grin on his... half-cut head.
"Did Muzan-sama give you any orders?" Akaza rasped out, "Get lost."
A millisecond later, Akaza's hand was cut off in one clean slice.
"Akaza..." Akaza's eyes widened at how close Kokushibo's voice was, "You always go too far."
Even with spending a lot of time with Kokushibo, Akaza never got used to the intimidating aura he emitted, it was almost as overpowering as Muzan's.
"It's all right, Kokushibo-dono." Douma's head regenerated as he turned to stare up at the two, "I don't mind in the least."
"It's not for your benefit that I speak. Disrupting the hierarchy... which, in turn, undermines subordination... That's what dismays me."
"Oh, is that right?" Douma grinned, hand holding a peace sign, "I see."
"Akaza..." Kokushibo focused on the pink-haired demon, "If you're disgruntled, you should battle for a replacement."
"Well, well! If I may, Kokushibo-dono," Douma interrupted, again, "Even if he were to challenge us, Akaza-dono could never defeat us." The icy-emotionless demon got comfy, crossing his legs to sit comfortably, he continued, "And in my case, since I became a demon after Akaza-dono... yet was promoted before him. I'd be angry, too, if I were in his shoes. Don't be so hard on him! Especially since he was much..." His face turned sour for a second, but was wiped off too quickly for anyone to noticed, "closer to a certain individual."
'How careless...' Was all Kokushibo could think.
Douma crawled on all fours closer to the other two, "And besides, I didn't dodge that blow on purpose." Waving his hands in a dismissive manner, he sat with his legs crossed again, grinning, "It's just a little harmless horseplay! This is how you nurture friendship, you know. Those of us on top shouldn't give our subordinates a hard time. Don't you thinkβ"
Kokushibo grit his teeth together. He didn't want to hear Douma anymore, "Akaza... Do you understand... what it is... I'm trying to say?"
"I understand." Akaza responded, venom in his words and turned towards the red-haired demon, "I'm going to kill you, if it's the last thing I do."
Kokushibo stepped forward, away from the pink-haired demon, "Is that right?"
The two of them knew he wasn't actually challenging Kokushibo for once, no. The two knew this threat was indirectly targeted towards Kibutsuji Muzan.
"Then do your best."
With that, Kokushibo vanished into thin air, leaving the other four demons (excuding Nakime).
"Goodbye, Kokushibo-dono, goodbye!"
Douma pouted, "It kind of feels like I got shut out of the conversation. But that's just me overthinking it, right, Akaza-dono?"
Akaza rolled his eyes and began running out, blue light trailing after him, ignoring Douma's yells of "Akazaaa-donoooooo!"
He had to get back to someone.
"...Hey, I was talking to you." Douma muttered to himself, frowning.
Gyokko ran towards to edge of the platform, looking at Nakime, "Please send Hantengu and myself to the same location!"
Two pangs were heard, the two demons disappearing with the sound.
"Wait! Can you send me too?" Douma pointed to himself, looking at Nakime hopefully.
Silence.
Douma stood up and waved at her, "Hey! Biwa Lady! If you're interested, would you join me for..."
"I respectfully decline." Nakime denied politely, strumming her biwa once more to get rid of the demon.
Douma blinked and he was back at his cult.
"Huh..." He pouted to himself, "You're all so cold to me. Y/N-chan was never this cold to me... but perhaps if I killβ"
"Lord Founder," a servant of Douma's interrupted him, bowing to him as he opened the door, "Your disciples have arrived."
"Oh, is that right? Sorry to keep everyone waiting. Here we go," Douma grinned with faux cheer, and lent over to grab his hat, "All right, let me put this on first."
Douma placed his hat on his head securely and neatly, getting into position, "Ready when you are! Please send them in."
-
Akaza blinked and he was standing in the wreckage that was the aftermath of the battle with Upper Moon Six, and he realised he may have to spend a few days away from trying to find Y/N now that Muzan knew they were alive.
It was about to be a tedious and gruelling few days, but it'd be worth it after seeing Y/N again.
Even as the throbbing phantom-like pain in his eyes slowly grew.
