CHAPTER NINE: A GHOUL THAT ISN'T EVEN FROM THIS WORLD

"Tear apart the ichor from your veins."

The crow locked eyes with her, its gaze piercing before its raven-like wings turned, and the creature vanished from view.

Akaza dragged her deeper into the suffocating darkness. With each step, the world dimmed further, the shadows closing in like a predator's jaws. She remained passive, though his iron grip twisted her skin unnaturally, promising bruises that would bloom if his hold lingered.

Finally, he released her, and she stumbled slightly, muttering a soft "ow" as she steadied herself. Her eyes scanned the space. Walls rose on all sides, their wooden textures familiar, but the maze-like structure and dim lighting carried an unnerving quality.

She raised a brow, her gaze shifting to the demon. To her surprise, he made no effort to restrain her with his demonic arts.

Shrugging, she stepped forward and hugged him from behind. "So," she teased, poking his cheek, "are you finally going to introduce me to your almighty father?"

A vein throbbed on his forehead as he deadpanned, "Get off. Now."

Her smirk deepened, a sinister glint flashing in her eyes as she leaned closer to his ear. Her whispered words were soft, yet their weight sent chills down his spine.

"Back again?"

Akaza froze, her tone cutting through him.

Before he could react, a voice boomed from above.

"Prostrate yourself."

Her gaze lifted, finding him standing on higher ground, crimson eyes glowing ominously in the dim light. Muzan Kibutsuji.

The haunting twang of a biwa string echoed through the space, and Akaza immediately dropped to his knees, forehead to the ground, his devotion palpable.

She chuckled softly, shifting her weight to one foot and crossing her arms, an amused smirk playing on her lips. "Salutations," she greeted, her tone dripping with mockery. "Good to see you without your... other... extras. This is a level up from your company the first time I met you. I'm impressed."

Muzan's expression remained impassive as his piercing eyes bore into her. "Long time no see."

"Busy schedule," she replied with a grin, giving a arrogant scoff. "But don't get too attached—moments like these won't come often."

In a blink, he was inches from her face, his presence—suffocating. He sniffed along her neck, his sharp nails grazing her skin. The intrusion would have sent a human reeling... but she stood firm, unflinching.

"If I didn't know better," she mused, "I'd think you're flirting with me."

He didn't respond, his focus unbroken. His gaze eventually met hers, and what he saw struck him silent. Her red eyes, veined and burning with an otherworldly intensity, stole his breath.

And then he bit her.

She barely flinched, watching him with a mix of expectation and amusement. Teeth sharp uncharacteristically, like a true demon from the bible. Biblically accurate. Maybe it was for Muzan to show her this side of him—taunt her. Blood trickled from the wound, the taste surprising him.

Not bitter... he thought, his expression momentarily dazed. Pleasing... Never tasted anything like it... 

She tasted human, but Muzan was still on the fact that she was the opposite. The blood dripped from his mouth to his chin, a straight red line, it dropped and plopped a red circle on the floor. Despite acting like a monster eating her alive, he did not do so like a beast. Prim and proper, still. She had to roll her eyes. 

But unlike what type of composure she's trying to show outwardly, she was still tense about this moment. As powerful as she is, Muzan is but another enigma that she herself want to uncover. Muzan stared deeply into her, sclera gleaming, it was as if the room shone light on his skin, where his paleness were the very thing that made him pearly. And he did not harbor darkness under his eyes. He was simply what you call flawless.

(name) raised her hands, Muzan's eyes did not leave hers as she wiped the blood from her chin. THe blood should've smudge on hi sface bcause of the time it has been there being dried up, but the perfect swipe did it smootha nd clean. 

(name) gave a quick giggle. "You do now that we are the spectacle of the whole show."

She glanced around the other dmeons around them. Each harbouring a different reaction to her being. Some of them were smiling (the blonde one), and some were squinting their eyes in distrust. (name) knew that they were all interested in finding out more about her. 

"It's rude to bite without asking," she quipped, her tone light but biting.

He smirked, brushing her cheek with the back of his clawed hand. "What are you?"

"A pain in the ass," she replied nonchalantly.

His grin widened, but his tone darkened. Suddenly (name) to feel the sensations of everything around her. Where she was, the demons that surrounded her, where she could have been in the map, what time is it— "No, really. What are you?"

"A Ghoul, your majesty," she revealed, her smirk unwavering.

His curiosity deepened. 

"You were the one who sent me the letter, weren't you?"

She feigned surprise before nodding. "Guilty."

Muzan's interest only grew. He turned to Akaza. "Take her to Douma."

Akaza stiffened. "With respect, my lord," His tone with Muzan more composed and polite, "Douma won't be able to handle her."

Who was this Douma? Silently, (name) tried to scan the room for any hints of who this Douma was.

"Is that so?" Muzan murmured, his tone intrigued, while she chuckled softly.

Muzan's hand closed around her neck, pulling her attention fully. "Where do your loyalties lie?"

"To no one," she answered plainly. "Nothing."

"Then you have no choice." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Join me. Together, we'll erase this pathetic human race and rule side by side."

Her smirk turned wicked, a shadow passing over her features. 

"You've got a deal," she purred, flipping her hair. "Usually this isn't that all easy, to be playing me for fools. I know who you are, Muzan. And before you can get them all to pounce on me— you. You have no idea who... or what... I am."

She walked towards him is a slow fashion, hips jutting up as she did. Her fingertips gently whispied on his cheek. Muzan stared straight forward, not wanting for her to read him... thinking about what else she could be planning.

"And I know so much about you already. And what do you feel about that, huh? THE notorious Muzan, who lies, cheats, kill, devour. You're practically transparent!"

(name) got closer. Other demons watched in anticipation, especially a certain three.

Her lips were an inch close to his ear. 

"Doesn't that make you feel weak?"

Muzan's grin stretched wider. Akaza, however, looked stricken, his expression a mix of disbelief and dread.

"Take her to Douma," Muzan repeated, his tone final. "And if you defy me again, you will face execution."

Akaza clenched his fists, his reluctance evident.

As Muzan disappeared, she turned to Akaza with a teasing smile. "Well, that went well, didn't it?"

"Shut up," he growled.

She was in a good mood, swinging her hips her and there out of the middle of this castle, humming a tune he did not recognize. Muzan stared at her, wondering what her fuss is all about.

"You dragged me here, so you're stuck with me now." She gave a cheek grin as she bent over to make her face visible.

His frustration boiled over. "I should kill you," he muttered, "but his orders forbid it."

"Guess you'll just have to deal with me," she taunted, her voice dripping with mock innocence.

The air between them grew tense as they squared off, her Kagune flaring to life, tendrils of crimson flesh weaving through the air.

"I'll enjoy breaking you," he snarled, charging.

Her laughter echoed, dark and intoxicating. "Likewise."

She did.

She was cursed with the cold behind her at all times.

But she managed.

And here she was right now, digging up anything valuable in trash bundles to see if she could find any money. Little hands dug their way through the piles and piles of disposed garbage to find some coffee. Anything she could find to satiate her needs.

When she  stuck out your head from the top of it, stunk with rotten food and urine, her eyes wide as mirrors looked around.

"Hmm..." You moved out of the trash bundle and peaked from a corner of a house.

It was the darkest of night, you found out.

There was a man that was struggling with himself as she could hear the loud groans, who looked like he was restraining himself.

(name) blink in surprise. There was a woman. Fair skin and wavy locks that framed her frame, the other locked in a bun. The woman gritted her red tinted lips she closed her eyes that held one of the purple hitotsu-mon.

Her hand was over his shoulder as they walk rather slowly, slightly tripping, the man overweighing the woman.

(name) stared at it like a spectacle.

"It's okay, it's okay you can do this, just a little bit more--!"

"GARGHH--!"

Tamayo sighed as the man shook within the transformation of becoming a demon. She tried to take him away from civilization as far as possible and there they were, at the back of houses and surrounded by trees.

How did she get into this situation? Oh right, Upper moon six had to mess with another human.

Her blood just boils thinking about it. As if her blood isn't suffering enough.

Her shoulders are starting to hurt from carrying the shaking demon. She took a step forward, but got bumped by a figure half her height.

"Oof--!"

She opened her eyes and realized it was a child.

Her eyes widened.

"Leave! Leave now!"

But it was too late.

Her eyes was as wide as the stars tonight. But even tonight was too dark.

"Hello..."

"Please! Leave!" Her voice cracked for a bit, hand raised to the child to push her out of the way.

The demon beside her shot up.

Her hand tightened.

The demon speed past away from her grip and lunged at the child.

She couldn't.

She closed her eyes.

"GEUGH--!"

It shot open with the sound.

"Huh?"

And there she saw a organ-like-tendril thrust through the stomach of the demon, more blood drip from the wound. The tendril extracts back and removes from the body and it fell to reveal the blood drenched face of the child, the blood splatted and dripped a waterfall on her face. Was her tongue out?

It held worries with her hand shaking for just a bit. She ran up to her, and for a moment she wanted to back away. But she didn't.

Because it was a child.

A child.

How in Kami's name?

But fear were not evident in her eyes. It made Tamayo much more terrified.

"Are you okay miss!?"

(name)'s small hands gripped corners of her kimono as she kneeled to the ground after what happened. Her eyes close to tears

"I-I..."

Tamayo looked back to the body behind her.

There are people mumbling from the back alleys. She grabbed her.

"Come, it is not safe here."

(name) tapped her fingers on the table as she looked around the place, turning her head to take a good look.

"So... why aren't you dragging me like before?"

"I'd be idiotic to think that you couldn't just escape my grasp," Akaza replied. "I admit, you are stronger than I am."

The problem is by how much. Is she stronger than him?

"Mhm... but you could still try."

"Where are we going?"

"To the demon who is going to babysit you, who else?"

"Oh?" (name) smirked. "And what made you think he could handle me?"

Akaza went silent. She tilted your head.

There's something in his mind.

"Afterall..."

(name) paused.

"There's nothing I need to sacrifice just to beat your number one."

Yes, Kakoushibou, she learned the name from Akaza when she first laid eyes on him for the first time in fifteen years.

And how did she felt when she saw him?

Absolute disdain for the gentlemen who created that bitter memory in your head. (name) despised ever bit of it, despising the taste of men as it reaches her taste buds, and to the absolute confusion she had when she woke up one day sprayed in that familiar red paint which until now she cover yourself with.

Nothing but red, she realized. Nothing in her life have ever been constant than the color red.

So what happened next?

She almost crushed him, speeding towards him with her tendril on her stomach.

It wasn't at all painless. She could see it in her own memory the priceless twist of discomfort that painted the finest art in the city.

And ain't it deja vu.

But ultimately, (name) had to stop herself so her plans couldn't be foiled. To the heart of the darkness, she thought. All angel's thesis coming to crash down from her hands.

(name) smirked earnestly in front of him then turned to face him while still walking, rather, childishly, "What makes you think I won't kill you now?"

"You won't?"

"Is that so?"

"If you did you would've done so already."

Akaza's face is already so grim and dead. If he wasn't a demon, she would assume he was a zombie. Like he was done. Done with this interaction. Even though she took amusement from it, there are still a few answer she needs to know.

"Let's get going then!" (name) skipped forward with a jolly look on her face. It was always her default. "Before I kill you!"

"What is your intention?" Akaza shook his head in disbelief. "Why even accept my invitation like a bitch?"

"Isn't it obvious?" She skipped a few steps.

She paused, turning her head to him.

"I adore Muzan." she whispered with a gentle smile as the sun dipped below the horizon. Tanjiro, immersed in his missions, would have embarked on yet another. 

Akaza, reacting to (name)'s words, furrowed his brow and continued walking. Unaware of their destination, she sensed it was a secluded spot, accessible only to those like him.

It was clever, every place that could indicate where she could run, it was totally blocked off. She wonder who was the pundit behind the architecure of the place.

Where there are trees intercrossing with each other, (name) sees an opening. A path of gravel and mossy stone, there lay a base wooden and old. Even though it was an old looking aesthetic structure, it still looked as if it was build just a year ago.

His face scrunched up. "Follow behind me."

As (name) entered the place, there was like a throne room, still placed and connected to the whole aesthetic of wooden and old, but the fact that there was a chair empty at the middle of it sparks an aspect of eminence.

And awfully good taste. But I would prefer dark furniture. It's classy that way.

"Tell me, why did you want to do this?"

"Is there any more specific question?"

(name) paused in the middle of the throne room.

"Why stay with him? What do you plan on doing?" Akaza continued the conversation. And honestly he was feeling hopeless. He was speaking to a madwoman. A ghoul that isn't even from this world.

"Do you think you deserve an answer? Pest?" (name) pouted. She would pay to stop being asked these questions. 

"I am a pest. And I think he is too, to you. I know you have the world in your hands and could crush it in any minute if you desired," He stressed. "Muzan may be a potentate Megalomaniac, but seeing as your position is tenths of divinity above him, why even bother?" It was a question he wanted her to answer truthfully. He was still so under the standards he wanted to achieve. 

But what happens when you've done it all? What happens when the world caves in because you are nothing more than a god?

And (name) laughed. The hardest one that ever left her lungs. It was... melancholic.

She bend over and clutched her stomach, led Akaza an expression of both confusion and irritiation.

"It's not all about Muzan, my dearest demon," She let out a few more before wiping a tear from her face. "Oh my dear, dear, demon of mine, you are so right. But so right—! So much that in fact—isn't it obvious? The concept of being a god, once revered and sought after, holds no allure! To ascend to such a state is to relinquish the very essence of humanity, trading it for an insurmountable weight that cannot be carried lightly... The illusion of godhood paints a picture of omnipotence and grandeur, yet in reality, it shackles one to an unending responsibility, unable to partake in the fluidity of existence. As I stand amidst the realm of mortal beings, I've come to the undeniable conclusion that there are no gods... The assholes you worshipped? They are all down here... But its as if you worshipped anyone else."

Akaza closed his eyes and considered (name)'s words and what she could have mean, for some speck of the knowledge there was some part in him--in his mortal--knew what that could've mean for him. And now he partially understood. Why she's here, why Muzan out of all else, why this clown façade, why this carnage.

"Are you telling me that you plan on stabbing him in the back?"

"Honestly," (name) rolled her eyes, walking pass Akaza and stopping just behind him with a shrug. "Whatever's on schedule I guess."

Akaza opened his eyes with a different kind of determination, not one too upfront but with a sense of comfortable resistance. "If only you were weaker than me in terms of strength. I would have killed you."

"Oh! Akaza! What brings you here?"

Both turned to the voice that echoed in this large mansion. A man with his hand waving and a face smiling walked towards them. His clothes and hair had this dripping pattern, black shade with his blonde hair and same goes for his skin tight shirt with the color red. She directs her attention in the middle and you could see every color be seen in his eyes. The insignia of the upper moon two.

"And look at that!" His golden fan with lotus carving and a green tassle opened with a 'clack'.  "Isn't that the human he has been talking about for almost weeks now? How cute."

"And you must be the new custodian--" 

"More like the new babysitter."

"--It's great to meet you." (name) commented back glaring at the side.

She dodged it.

A swift force of air ram through her right. It was just a ballet practice when you had to dodge the next remaining.

And his eyes.

He took his time moving toward shim in careful strives, but his smirk was ever clearer.

"(name) (last name), but I guess you already know that." She raised her hand.

Douma shook it with his larger hand, despite having long claws he did not dare to scratch her skin. He still kept his smile, which to (name) realized is fake. He was analyzing her, to which she only showed the same smile. 

"Douma. Don't bother with the courtesies, I'm getting tired of receiving them." He released the shake. 

"Oh really?" She raised a brow.

"What's the point? I already know who you are, admittedly, what you are. But words and rumors won't dictate who a person is, am I right, (name)?" He teased. "would you mind showing me what you are?"

Her Kakugan appeared in a blink. "Vice versa."

He placed his mouth closer next to your ear, breath caressing the skin. "Let's be good friends..."

Oh.

Oh!

Her fangs starts to show up and bare from the corners of her lips. She glanced dangerously to the side, to Akaza, and gave him her last warning.

Second battle's the charm.