───

     THERE WAS PRACTICALLY NO FOOD, and it was beyond devastating.

     "w-would you like some bread?", rumi offered, handing a half-eaten, almost on the verge of molding, bread to the girl.

'nani?!'

"is this...it?", himari asked, pointing at the bread, as she realized that there was basically no one else around this empty household.

"unfortunately yes...I believe master hotaru should be sending over some food right now. but I'm not sure when it'll arrive, so please have some bread to help yourself, lady himari!"

"then what about you, rumi? what are you supposed to eat?"

"I'll be fine, lady himari! really!!", the maid smiled, offering the bread once more, as himari squinted her eyes.

"can you...just give me a second? I'm going to walk outside for just a quick second", himari informed, as she already sprinted out the door, slamming the shoji behind her.

     the auburn-haired woman skimmed her surroundings, snapping her head back and forth as she looked for any vegetation, or any living thing.

     "well...there's some trees...which means the soil's okay. I need seeds, but there doesn't even look like there's a market nearby!"

     himari then squatted down in her white kimono, pondering what she should do next.

"AHHH!! WHY THE HELL WAS I EVEN ENGAGED TO A MISOGYNIST IN THE FIRST PLACE?! WHAT DID I EVEN SEE IN HIM?!"

it was as if himari's intense dread had suddenly summoned a demon, because she damn well felt a presence looming over her, making her freeze in her spot.

     "why the fuck did you summon me?"

     himari had to deeply breathe in and out, as she could recognize that insulting, yet undeniably attractive voice anywhere.

     "I...didn't?", the woman squeaked out, leisurely turning around as indeed, the king of curses was standing right behind her, wearing a pissed off expression with his four arms crossed.

     "are you fucking with me right now?! you clearly did, which is why I'm here! now tell me what you want, so I can devour your soul!"

     himari made a face of confusion.

     "devour my what now??"

     "your soul! are you deaf?"

     'ugh, you'd be more attractive if you lost two arms and shut your mouth', himari bitterly thought.

     "well? hurry the fuck up!! who even are you? damn, I was really hoping for one of those rich nobles...", sukuna muttered, making himari gasp.

     "EXCUSE YOU! I AM RICH!"

     "tch! like hell you are! LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE WEARING AND WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW!", sukuna rebutted.

himari then curled up into a ball, pouting.

"you don't gotta come for me like that...", the woman depressingly huffed, making sukuna grin.

"how about we make a contract? I help you become rich—"

"I AM RICH!"

"become more rich", sukuna corrected, rolling his eyes. "and once you achieve all your goals, you give me your soul".

himari made a weirded out expression.

"can't you just eat other people's souls? why do you have to make a contract with me first?"

"hah?! are you complaining that I'm offering you a once in a lifetime deal? I'll have you know that I'm hard to come by, okay? and there's rules to using my demonic powers!"

"rules? you're ryōmen-sukuna! since when did you abide by rules?", himari scoffed, making the king of demons raise a brow.

     "oh? you talk as if you know me. what are you, my worshiper or something?", sukuna snorted, to which himari had stared intensely at the four-armed demon.

     "oi, why're you looking at me like that? stop it", sukuna demanded.

     himari shrugged, standing up as she scratched the back of her head.

     "yeah okay, let's make a contract. it's not like I have anything to lose", the woman sighed.

     "really? you're losing your soul, woman! and you're not even going to give it a second thought? oh no, I might've accidentally stumbled upon a deranged one", sukuna sighed, making an irk mark appear on the woman's forehead.

     "DO YOU WANT A CONTRACT OR NOT?!"

     "fine fine~ since you're so desperate and not many have been able to summon me. I suppose I'll just have to stick with you", sukuna hummed, walking over towards himari, who suddenly realized how tall and wide the man was.

"sooooo...how's this supposed to wor—KEH!"

himari felt a pinch on her neck, to which it was equivalent to a mosquito trying to suck the blood out of her.

     "huh? that's it?", himari asked, feeling a small circular mark with an intricate pattern form on her neck, as sukuna just nodded.

     "yeah. what else did you think there was?"

     "oh well I don't know...maybe a kiss or something, but you know, it's fine. it's whatever", himari casually dismissed, making sukuna snort.

     "a kiss? you think you're worth it? what a funny human you are".

     himari daringly shot sukuna a glare.

     "fine. I'll just get a kith kith from gojō or something", himari bitterly muttered.

"anyways, can you make this land flourish with vegetables and stuff?", himari asked, to which the king of demons had grinned.

"of course I can! who do you think I am?", the male proudly boasted, as with a snap of his fingers, the land around the woman had turned fresh green, with nature of all kind, making himari drool.

     "woah...you weren't lying", the red-haired woman praised, wobbling over to the instantly grown corn and tomatoes.

     "pft! this is easy! please, at least give me a challenge", sukuna bragged, to which himari had nodded.

     "okay! what can you shape-shift into?", the woman questioned.

     "practically anythi—"

     "perfect! can you transform into a human then? it'll be easier for you to blend in", himari smiled, gathering the vegetables, meanwhile sukuna gasped.

     "ABSOLUTELY NOT! I'M A DEMON KING! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU AR—"

     "you get my soul afterwards", himari interrupted, to which sukuna had flipped the woman off before transforming into a more normal appearance.

himari then clasped her hands together.

"ah yes, that's the handsome sukuna that I simp for~"

"you what now?"

"I said, come help me bring these vegetables in!"