Douma-Shinobu: Twisted Love

Thrumm!

Accompanied by the sound of the biwa string being struck, Douma appeared in the Infinity Castle, gazing at the demons around with a joyful smile.

"It's eerie."

A cold voice spat. Akaza. The handsome red haired demon appeared on another platform silently, staring at Douma with a frown.

"Ahahaha! Lord Akaza, it's been a while, hasn't it?"

Douma laughed, crossing his legs beneath each other like a polite kid.

"Don't talk to me." Akaza said firmly, then turned away.

Immediately, Douma's expression soured. But then, it brightened again when Daki and Gyutaro arrived.

Rising up to his feet, he moved to hug the duo only for Gyutaro to slice off his arms—again. His arms regenerated instantly, though.

"Aahh? Does Gyutaro-kun not miss me?" He pouted.

Gyutaro scowled, spinning his sickles. "Unfair. Look at your face. So beautiful and unfair."

Expressing exasperation, Douma threw up his hands. "You say that every time we meet."

"Don't mind brother. He's just envious." Daki snorted.

After all, Gyutaro and Douma were far apart in terms of beauty.

Beside them, a porcelain vase appeared with Gyokko popping out, his baby limbs flailing.

"Fancy seeing you all. It's been years!" His left mouth spoke, followed by the right. "I haven't been this excited."

From the corners of a stairs, a trembling Hantengu appeared—mumbling fearful nonsense.

The others ignored him, after all, he was too scared to even hold a proper conversation.

Abruptly, they all felt a shift in the air—as if a heavy presence had descended on them. Space itself folding in recognition. Douma crossed his legs, smiling. Akaza's fists tightened. Hantengu began sobbing heavily. Daki clung to Gyutaro, her body shivering softly. Gyokko went silent, staring at the platform above with strange seriousness.

Finally, shadows twisted from the platform above, and a single step echoed.

Muzan Kibutsuji.

He descended with elegance wrapped in dread. Long, jet-black hair framed a porcelain face devoid of warmth. Crimson eyes surveyed his demons with lifeless calculation.

"You're all here."

He said, his voice unnaturally gentle yet deadly. Although the others didn't see Kokushibo, they knew he must be around. Watching, silently.

"I want to hear your reports."

A chair materialized behind him as he sat down majestically, crossing his legs.

Gyokko went first.

"I have amassed seventy new demon slayer masks, increasing my strength into another realm and making me closer to a perfect artist." He spoke with a heavy excitement, trembling all over.

Muzan ignored him, irrelevant.

Akaza was next. "I turned a few combative humans, and I think they can level up to the ranks of Lower Moons."

Muzan nodded. He was in support of anything that spread his influence.

"N-n-n-n-nothing m-m-my lord!" Hantengu stuttered, quivering with tears.

Muzan scowled, finding this particular demon distasteful. If not because of his other siblings, he might have erased Hantengu.

Daki spoke next.

"I have total control over the Yoshiwara Entertainment District."

Gyutaro backed her up with his scary voice. "My little sister is doing what she can with the little brain she has."

Muzan nodded, mildly uninterested.

Finally, all eyes turned to Douma.

"Maa, I have been pretty idle lately, haven't I?" He chuckled. "Well, I'm moving my cult from our previous base to a newly demon-unpopulated region."

Muzan's eyes sharpened. "Yet you've had contact with three Hashiras in the past month."

Everyone looked surprised.

"Yet, why is none of them dead?" Muzan asked, his voice dripping with venom.

"Eto~ I find them fascinating, you see... Their hatred is like a delicacy. I'd rather savor them slowly than gobble them up mindlessly." Douma answered, tapping his chin in thoughts.

Muzan frowned, finding the reason nonsensical but believable since it was Douma. After all, he was an odd demon.

"Your usefulness is not immunity. Don't test my patience. If you don't want to eat them, give them to Akaza." Muzan said, eliciting a frown from Upper Moon Three.

"I'd rather hunt myself than to be fed by him." He scowled, voice laced with malice.

"Aah? Little Akaza doesn't want me to take care of him." Douma cooed, as if hurt.

Muzan silenced their banter with a single glance. 

Just then, Kokushibo spoke, his voice unnaturally serious.

"Nothing worth mentioning."

Although Muzan was disappointed that none of them had mentioned the Blue Spider Lily, he didn't show it, only standing up and leaving without a word.

For a fleeting moment, Douma glanced at the place where Muzan had stood. His smile remained—but his eyes, for just an instant, were hollow. Questioning.

Gyokko flapped his baby limbs. "Aiya~ Lord Muzan is simply a piece of perfection."

Akaza scowled. "Quit your flattery, weak fish."

A vein popped on Gyokko's head but he reigned in his anger. Although he was strong, he knew his limits. Akaza was a no-go.

"Ara, we at the top shouldn't make things harder for those under us. Understood, Lord Akaza?"

Douma's voice sounded polite but was filled with a veiled threat.

Angered, Akaza appeared before him and punched off the upper half of his head.

"I don't remember giving you the rights to reprimand me. Only Lord Muzan can. So, get lost."

Slice!

Suddenly, Akaza's hand was cut cleanly from the wrist, shocking him.

Someone appeared beside him.

Kokushibo.

Instantly, Akaza felt his senses scream. His body shuddered, terrified.

"Akaza."

His name rolled off the demon's tongue.

"You always go too far." He said flatly. "Akaza, if you're unsatisfied with the ranks, why don't you back up your words and challenge him to a Blood Duel?"

At that point, the recovered Douma intervened.

"Look, he's just angsty that's all..." He smiled. "Probably because I became a demon after him. And still got promoted before him. I'd be upset too if I were in his shoes."

"You know as well as I do that if he were to challenge us, he'd only be embarrassing himself. As I said, those of us on top shouldn't be giving our subordinates a hard time, don't you think?"

Kokushibo's attention turned to him briefly, an indescribable emotion flashing in his six eyes. Douma's smile never faltered, but for the first time, it didn't reach his eyes.

"Akaza, from here on, you should learn to have some respect..."

The words struck Akaza like a bell, ringing repeatedly in his head.

"Understood, Lord Kokushibo."