IT WASN'T OFTEN MUZAN stayed beside kanna for days unless it was for sexual purposes. however, there were exceptions, for in the rare occasion that muzan is tired of the incessant search for the blue spider lily, he'll choose to stay with kanna until he grows bored.

     though with a woman like her, it was impossible to be bored.

     muzan's stare followed the demoness like a lion with its prey, silently observing every movement and little noise that she made.

the demon progenitor laid sideways on kanna's futon, propping his head up by leaning against the palm of his hand. little clothing remained on his body, as his black yukata barely even covered his chest.

kanna, who had slipped out of bed to get ready for the night, had been calmly brushing through the knots in her hair after a few rambunctious nights with the man.

while her attention was focused on detangling the ends of her hair and brushing it back into a low bun, muzan was simply enjoying the simplicity of the woman's actions.

     there was something about the way kanna's nimble fingers skillfully managed her long locks, displaying the nape of her neck without any fear of being attacked.

     muzan lazily slipped out from under the covers, sitting beside the kneeling woman who was just about to pick up a brush to paint her lips.

     the demon king stuck out his hand, to which kanna immediately understood to hand her brush over to the demanding man.

without a need to speak, kanna had voluntarily leaned forwards, placing her chin into muzan's grip.

the demoness's plain white kimono was loosely tied around her waist, to which the top had pried open a little upon her shifting her weight forwards.

muzan sparingly dipped the brush in some red lip stain, swirling it around a bit before neatly painting it across kanna's bottom lip.

like igniting a small spark within a large forest, muzan's desire for kanna had quickly spread like wildfire. his eyes didn't dare stray away from kanna's amber-red lips, and neither did kanna divert her gaze from muzan.

"you're staring, my lord", the woman breathlessly muttered, her gaze shifting from muzan's eyes down to his lips that seemed to stay unmoving.

muzan continued painting kanna's lips until they were plump red, striking against her pale skin and gunmetal-blue eyes that held clouds of mysteries.

     kanna was quick to smile, showcasing his beautiful work of art.

as the woman slipped from his grasp to change into a red gown, one that was more in fashion with the time period, he had noticed that the zipper was only zipped up halfway.

kanna slightly twisted her head back towards the entranced man, her eyes pleading for his help.

the demon king spared no time standing behind kanna, his hands resting on the edges of her waist. they seemed to linger there for a while before snaking upwards, to where the zipper was still hanging.

with a quick zip upwards, muzan had earned a reward for his gracious assistance. lipstick stains were pressed against the demon progenitor's jawline and down to his neck.

had muzan been just another man, he would've caved once again.

once kanna's burning touch had left his cold skin, she was back to getting ready for the night.

slipping on a pair of white gloves and black heels, little accessory was needed to accentuate the woman's beauty even more.

muzan didn't need to say what he thought, for his eyes told kanna everything.

     "I'd love to have my lord accompany me. it's dangerous for a woman like me to walk alone at night anyways", kanna smiled, already preparing muzan's suit and tie.

     the dark yukata was already half way off, barely staying on muzan's shoulders, as the demon king had shedded it off and threw it to the side.

     "dress me then".

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it wasn't unusual for people to stare when the two demons passed by. after all, they were the closest to perfection amongst those imbeciles.

however, perhaps kanna was gaining a little too much attention tonight, for there were multiple men ogling at her whilst muzan was still beside her.

animals, they were. muzan scowled in disgust, as the two strolled down the night market of asakusa.

muzan's arm tightened around kanna's waist, making sure to keep her close for she was no one else's prize but his.

"my dear, what do you think of this pearl necklace?", kanna asked, as the stall owner was trying her best to flaunt the necklace's beauty.

     "it matches your complexion extremely well", muzan smiled, fooling nearly everyone but the demoness.

     "you two must be newlyweds to have such great chemistry!!", the stall owner fangirled.

     "we've been together for a long time actually. you'd be surprised", kanna chuckled.

     "really?! what's the secret to being happy together for so long then?"

kanna glanced up at muzan, who seemingly already had an answer prepared.

"it's simple. if you keep your wife happy, naturally you will be too".

the stall owner awed at muzan's response, to which kanna had softly snickered too until she felt muzan place the very necklace that had caught her eye, around her neck.

"a gift from me to you", muzan mumbled, paying the stall owner while kanna had thanked her master.

"even I was almost fooled, my lord. I must say, I'm impressed", kanna whispered.

as the two distanced from the jewelry stall, muzan had cracked a slight grin.

"my practice has paid off then", the demon king haughtily replied.

whilst kanna shook her head with a smile on her face, muzan had spotted another stall that would most likely pique the demoness's interest.

"the people over here are crowding me. let's head somewhere that's less densely populated".

muzan didn't like making his intentions obvious, for he did a great job at shielding his true colors with sweet words that strung women like bees to honey.

however, with kanna, he didn't need to be sweet. he could be harsh, and he knows she'll take it regardless. though in a sense, he was more careful and cautious with her, as flying too close to the very sun that he craves so much can end up burning you.

much less to say, it was complicated.

kanna eyes immediately brightened upon seeing the stall selling various colored strings. she adored the vibrant colors, but especially the pastels.

"this would look great for my new project", kanna gleamed, picking up a sapphire-blue bundle of threads.

"do you sew often, ma'am?"

"lots", kanna answered, "it's my favorite pastime".

"how lucky of you to have a husband that supports your hobbies!!", the old lady chuckled.

"yes, lucky indeed", kanna agreed, glancing towards muzan who was already holding out some cash to pay.

"thank you sir! you both have a great rest of your night", the old woman waved.

     kanna's arm looped around muzan's once again, thanking the demon king for spoiling her tonight.

     "did something heighten your mood, my dear? you're awfully lovely this evening".

     "how cruel of you to speak of me this way. only you would have the galls to say such a thing", muzan scoffed.

     "no matter what I say to you, I'm sure you've been with me long enough to know what I truly mean".

     yes, that was the thing that perhaps boosted muzan's ego even more. the fact that he had known kanna the longest, and that he knew everything there is about her.

     or at least that's what he thought.

     "my dear", kanna suddenly spoke, stopping in the middle of the road, as there was something amiss.

     it was then that someone had placed their grimy hand onto the shoulder of muzan kibutsuji.

irritated, and slightly aghast by the sheer audacity of this random human, muzan had slowly turned his head towards the stranger.

hatred as desperate as muzan's desire to conquer the sun — swirled in his maroon eyes like a brewing storm ready to be released.

"my dear, do you know him?", kanna asked, breaking the clear tension that had enthralled muzan for a split second.

     the boy who's eyes held such disdain for muzan was suddenly overcome with disgust, for he could not decipher whether kanna was a demon too or not.

     though judging from the woman's pale complexion, similar to the demon king's, the fifteen year-old boy could only assume that kanna was one of muzan's creations as well.

"no...I think he might've gotten the wrong person", muzan calmly replied.

     the two did not dare overlook the hanafuda earrings that the young boy wore, reminding them of none other than muzan's greatest enemy: yoriichi.

     "I see", kanna hummed, "perhaps we ought to get going. there are still some shops I wish to visit".

     just as the two demons were about to turn their backs to the rookie demon slayer, muzan had hastily scratched a random civilian, incidentally inserting some of his blood into the poor stranger.

     the man's body started to tremble, hunching over as he begun his traumatizing transformation.

     people around them started to gasp and gawk in fear, as the man transformed into a demon with no self control, biting his significant other that stood beside him.

     "STOP!!", the fifteen year-old shouted, pushing past the other civilians as muzan and kanna weaved through the crowd, away from the commotion.

     muzan gave the boy one last glance, before escorting kanna towards an alleyway, where unfortunately, a drunk man had brushed past them.

     "hey, watch it!", the drunkard yelled, "gosh, I hate snobby rich people like you two!"

     a vein nearly popped had kanna not ushered the demon king deeper into the alleyway.

     "my lord, don't waste your blood on—"

     "shut it", muzan snapped, his vexation getting the best of him.

muzan's emotions were like the ocean's waves, calm at times, yet formidable when the tides rise above land. they could swing from being neutral to being chilling in an alarming manner — almost as if he were bipolar.

"my lord, if I may speak..."

"quickly", the demon progenitor cautioned, for his mood was certainly dampened after witnessing a potential sun breathing slayer.

he was sure that he had killed all of them, so why is it that there was another one standing before him?

"perhaps we should send upper moon four to capture him", kanna suggested, "we can test to see if he can overcome the sun".

     muzan was almost hesitant on sending hatengu for someone with such a weak caliber, yet kanna's idea didn't seem half bad. in case he was anything like yoriichi, or even partially like him, it was probably best to send a demon of higher rank than susamaru and yahaba.

     "fine. handle it well and you shall live to see tomorrow", muzan stated, to which kanna had bowed.

and like the swaying of his emotions, muzan left as quickly as his annoyance rose. kanna understood that the man needed some time to compose himself before seeing her again.

     as the demoness clapped her hands twice, four shadows had appeared right before her, all kneeling on one knee.

     "lady kanna, you called?", sekido (anger) spoke first.

"I have a task for you all...", kanna stated.

"anything for you, lady kanna!", karaku (pleasure) instantly answered, lifting his head up as he grinned at the demoness.

kanna stepped a little closer to the four, patting karaku's head.

"I need you four to bring me back a boy. he wears a pair of hanafuda earrings. he was here not too long ago", kanna informed.

"a boy? is that all, lady kanna? do we get a reward if we bring him to you?!", urogi (joy) excitedly asked.

"shut it, you two! don't bother lady kanna with your idiotic nonsense", sekido reprimanded.

how dare they even suggest such a thing to kanna? his anger was getting the best of him, for sekido believed that he alone was the only clone worthy of speaking to the woman.

"don't be so hasty, sekido. karaku and urogi aren't necessarily wrong...good boys who complete missions without fail, do deserve good rewards", the demoness egged on.

urogi and karaku's eyes lit up, whilst aizetsu (sorrow) sunk deeper into his kneeling position.

it was always those three that hogged all of kanna's attention, especially urogi and karaku. how pitiful of him to even think that she'd look his way.

"aizetsu, are you pouting?", kanna noticed, lifting the blue-eyed demon's head, as the upper moon had only diverted his gaze in response.

     "you didn't think I'd forget about you now, did you?", kanna lightly chuckled, caressing the side of aizetsu's cheek.

     sekido frowned even more, whilst glaring daggers at the sorrowful demon.

     "lady kanna, were you on a date? you're dressed so beautifully!", urogi exclaimed, bringing the attention back to himself.

     "indeed! I'm almost jealous of our master", karaku whined.

     "no. you're pleasure", sekido stated, not having any of it with the rest of his brethren.

     kanna snickered a little, before reeling the four back to focus once more.

     "like I said, bring the boy back alive, and you all shall be handsomely rewarded".

"rewarded like in be—"

sekido slapped the back of karaku's head, interrupting the pleasure demon once again.

kanna simply flashed the four her usual smile; full of mystery and uncertainty; making one want to pry open her beautiful lips to hear even more.

"who knows~"

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: i can take all four—

karaku definitely gives off ✨ 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝔂 ✨ vibes,, which is why he's my favorite /hj 🧎