CHAPTER ELEVEN: DOOMED BY THE NARRATIVE

"Fall into obscurity, blind adoration, blind desecration."

I slept humbly at the soft sheets of his bedroom. The night was long and forgiving. The light from the moon and gently passes through the window felt cold and yet the warmth of his body on mine created this comfort. Not heat—but comfort.

I smiled through as I woke up from my slumber. Eyelashes flutter like butterflies then immediately felt the urge to stretch my body. I'll just take a walk from the windows I guess, the view was quite soothing.

The door opened from my hands and the moon who glinted softly like a flower that lit up like diamond, it greeted me like a mother I never had... Wishing me a good morning... I leaned over the railings and looked up at her, hearing her pet my gentle tousles of macha hair with her cold wind, as I softly relish the delight of the feeling.

Hands circled around my stomach, tightening around, and a head laying down on my shoulders.

Muzan's raven hair tickled my pale cheeks. And even in the cold it didn't hide my animosity. I was a Ghoul, that was something that could never be forgotten. Even if my cheeks didn't turn red. But in this stead where a monster comforted a monster under the sphere of night—for once I felt as if I were mortal.

"Good morning love," He muzzled his face onto the crevice of my neck.

"Hmm," I hummed. "You have duties to attend to, hurry up."

Muzan laughed. "Are you deluded?"

"What kind of question is that?" I raised a brow.

"Sometimes that pretty eyes of yours see the opposite of every situation. Find the bits and cracks of ever tile you walk on. Every yellow leaf of a tree in the spring day."

"I couldn't be much sure of that. Maybe it's in my system." And maybe it's everywhere I am, and everything I was.

Muzan kissed my cheek, then laced his arms on mine, moving me to turn towards him while leading me. "Will you be glad for me to show you something you won't regret?"

"You sound as if you don't know if I would like it or not." I gave a cheeks smile.

"Trust me, I've known you for three days. Cut me some slack if you don't," He jokingly rolled his eyes.

Muzan took me away into the Forrest of where they were. Douma was a pests and a two, more so that Akaza is near the place. It was worst when two of them are together, like two monkeys babbling about, Muzan thought.

the trees were a blue in every direction, dark and filtered with light.

Until they stopped. It was a beautiful lake, shining in the diamonds of the moon and the fireflies were the flakes of golden in this masterpiece of a painting.

I glanced at Muzan, I could see his eyes glowing in the dark. But when he stepped forward when I was looking, the moonlight softly touched his face at the right moment. Like a baby's bottom, his skin was pale, but smooth. It grant a softer look on his face with the small smile he has. But it still had that sharp feature of jawline.

I didn't even know I held in my breath for that long. Hell, I was slightly embarrassed, covering my face with my hands to hide my ever noticeable embarrassment. It was no joke, he did really look like a god.

And I slept with that god—Jesus Christ—

"Problem?"

I blinked aggressively, dumbfounded at the thought.

"Ugh, let's just get this over with." You swatted away his hands and walked over closer to the pond and glanced at your reflection, whilst he chuckled under the back of his hand.

"Was it fine? When you were with Demon slayers?"

"Honestly, they were fun to play with..." I touched the surface of the pond.

"And how will I know if you are not playing with me?" He raises a brow, putting a hand on his hips. "Will you even know with that stupid brain of yours?"

"Compared to you, mine is an intellect of the wisdom."

"More like compared to mine, yours is one of a donkey."

"And that leads to the big picture of why you even dared to come to them. It's not even in your level." I gave him a dirty look.

"You're sounding a lot like Akaza." Muzan contorted.

"Did he sing you praises?" I questioned.

"Why so you even keep me alive anyways?" I looked up, quite annoyed at his fascination of me, trying to get me to crack and reveal some shit that anyone would know you can't get from a person who is obviously kept secrets for years. But the silence went questionable, right to the moment where there was no retort, or cheesy remark. I turned to him. "What?"

He had this look.

"Don't tell me you can't kill me—!"

"—Upper moon 2 wasn't lying when he told you you were strong—"

"—And that's why you want me queen! Or something..."

He came forward on my slouched form. "For you to be my queen, you have to get intel on the demon slayers for me, find out what they are planning and direct to me their every move."

"You worry too much." I placed your hand on my hip while facing him. A smirk dangling on your features.

"Do you blame me? Do you?" There was a hint of coldness on his voice.

"I don't," I looked otherwhere. "But are you sure I want to be queen in the first place? I don't know, but that sounds like someone who is hiding the fact that he is so intent in someone being queen..."

"Are you joking with me...?" He hesitated, his face noticeably crunched up, creases under his red eyes. "What... are you?"

From the reflection of the waters, my reflection.

And my eyes.

Red.

"I am the monster under your bed~" A humourous laugh emitted from my throat with the crinkle under my eyes showing itself to Muzan's view. It was light, and it was lovely. The purest form a human could ever dream to have always. But alas in this world with impurities, darkness comes a long way.

Muzan frowned. the atmosphere just got colder. And two of us stood just by the corners of the fountain. And the moon was watching like entertainment.

"I am also someone who enhances your nightmares," I glanced down at the glassy pond, a smirk slowly moves up my face. "And someday I will be the one smiling behind the demon slayer's backs as they cut the bone beneath your neck's flesh."

Muzan grabbed mine. He forcefully kissed me. I accepted it in spite but he bit off your tongue with its blood dripping down my chin. Muzan made a sipping sound, then bit my neck. What can I say, I was at the verge of mocking his very existence with the comparison to mine.

I grimaced from the pain but patted his back, like encouraging him to do this. "Go then, drink all of it from my system, you won't even recognise yourself after... But who cares! You're you! You won't care if it tear you to shreds as long as your alive! Your just a brat wanting to become god!"

"SHUT UP!" He slammed my body to the other tree without turning his body.

But I caught myself just in time before I come in contact with the bark. I leaned against the tree.

"Are you done?"

Muzan was breathing loudly, his shoulders up and down. Slowly, I observe as he walked over and dipped his feet gently on the waters, his hair disheveled.

Sometimes I wonder how he got them so neat and tidy all the time in the first place.

I sat beside him at the pond, "This is just like the first time I saw you. You were with that delectable girl with her daughter... Say, I want to know," I pulled out a notebook from my pocket, flipping the ballpen from your fingers. "How does a demon, you know... procreate with a mortal? And what happens to the baby afterwards?"

He doesn't speak, his back still hunched and head lowered. You raised your brows. "Serotonin? No?"

I peaked under all the curtains of his bangs and saw his glowing red eyes half lidded.

Muzan eyes snapped wide, confused, then turning towards me, softening my gazed. Purely confused. "Why did you try and make yourself known?"

"What?" I batted my eyelashes.

"Why did you make yourself known?" "Attracting me at the restaurant? Why feeding me a person's flesh on a silver platter? Why appearing before my eyes?"

I placed my chin on my hand, gazing up the moon. I liked the moon for one reason. It didn't hurt my eyes, unlike the sun.

"At first I wanted to know the demon that the demon slayers told about. All my childhood I have been surrounded by a good amount of them. Doesn't mean I keep myself loyal to them, heck, I have killed some of them just for the sake of entertainment. But in truth I have always..."

"...I have always hated me. And Humans. Humans for obvious reasons, and me, because I am half of it," You turned to Muzan. "Disgusting aren't I—"

His eyes were wide when I turned to him. I turned back, abashed. "—...I just... hated the world altogether... But then you were the one who created demons... beings who are the secrets that humans selfishly pushed out. Or things that humans' greed developed from."

"We are made from trash." He joked.

I laughed. "And well, Even if I was some cruel witch, there was some connection to me, to you—all of you." I caught myself.

Muzan raised a brow, but sighed. "My plan was simple. Your power was greater than mine, and since you work as if you are the puppet in this chess piece, then I suppose getting you on my side was the absolute choice I had. To have a world where I am the ruler, I am the king. And I would turn everyone equal."

"Equal when you have upper moons?" I laughed lightly. "And with all of them being demons, what happens to the human food source?"

"Away with the greedy, and open to the understanding."

I hummed, laying my head on his shoulder. "So how did you turn into a demon in the first place?"

There was a lot of explaining to do.

—

In the gentle shadows of the moon, two pairs of eyes glinted in the night.

—

"Do you realize that?" Douma asked his eyes sparkling, his grip on the branches cracking its rind. A small smile coming its way to his lips, showing his inner pearls. There was no hesitation when it came to the two of them. The gentle touch of moonlight illuminated the world around them. They were close, side by side. No extra movements were made and they couldn't fathom what they were talking about. 

Akaza wanted to get out of here. He wasn't there for any reason at all. There was a slight inkling sensation of what may be the reason for their "coming together", but will it help him further to their objectives? No it will not. His feet already hesitant on turning and walking back, his eyes darted anywhere but to the prospect in front of them, framed by the leaves of the trees and bushes. 

He wondered, as of now, why they weren't sensed yet. In what carnation did they talked about to the point they cannot be sensed? Because to be sure, they were two of the most powerful beings he has ever met, but their capabilities was drowned by a single conversation?

"You have that look in your eye, Akaza." Douma smiled, his fangs showing as he fanned himself. "Is something the matter?"

Akaza scoffed. "This is childish, we should have never gone here in the first place. He will have our heads. And as for you, I expected more from you, to not for once act like a gremlin--child when we have so much to do! What would he do to you if he found out we did sneaking around the bush when we should be finding the blue spider lily?"

Douma stared at him for a little while, taking in his state. There was definitely something with Akaza, Douma didn't want to admit out loud as he wasn't too sure. But what planted itself on his gut did not feel too good as well. If it had been more or less about the little flesh-eating queen in front of them, he might as well criticize even himself for being affected by a mere emotion. In a sense it was- in this moment- what he and Akaza have in common.

"Realize what?" Akaza finally grumbled, turning his head to the side, curiously ashamed. 

Douma closed his fan with a 'clack!'

"More fun, if the two of them got together!"

"Are you being serious right now?" Akaza balled his hands into fists, before shaking his head and thought about why he even bothered to care in the first place. "Tch, whatever. Do what you want I want no part of that."

That's when he got the courage to nudge his feet and turn away. Probably off to go back to the base or find that blue spider lily that he's been obsessing about for Muzan's approval.

Douma gave a scoff and turned back to the two of them. Did he cared about the consequences of his actions? No, not really. But he was careful not to touch the bushes when he squinted his eyes, to be invested once more in this doll game he has made inside his head. Pushing down the feeling of that seed in his gut, drowning it with the river he once felt.

"Hmm... lets see what we can do with both of them."

-

"So that's why you got into this mess," Muzan whispered, deep in thought. "It wasn't your fault."

For some reason, those words made more impact to her that it should. There was a small smile on her cheeks, reflected by the ripples of water on the river below her. The gold fishes swam past her calves, swimming with a speed not impressive to the watcher. She leaned her head back, a small lump built in her throat. 

"Right." --was all she could utter.

"I suspect you aren't all different." Muzan quickly glanced to the her. 

"Caught me red handed," She shrugged. "I was an orphan. No mother or father, Dad abandoned me. We already and it wasn't worth it tying up ends with him. My mom died because of dad's kind. My dad died then because of mom's kind. From dad's death I met him"-She laughed-"at least, that's what that caretaker told me. I never really asked for his name, nor did I really cared for him that much when I was young."

Muzan furrowed his brows. "Who was he? Didn't you find it weird he have taken care of you with the knowledge of you being a ghoul?"

With eyes half lidded, she already knew the answer. "At that time, I had not cared for that much. Until now I have not had a single care in my body for that man. He did raised me, but... he's dead. I killed him. Maybe he was the last of the people that truly cared for me. Maybe he didn't care at all. Judging by how he raised me... I could not care less."

Muzan hummed in understanding. The two of them had similar perspective. He knows that she had a lot of things hidden from him. But the transparency of what she just said resonated with him on a different level.

"And who's him?" He asked.

"Ubuyashiki."

Muzan wanted to barf at the name. Ubuyashiki was his number one enemy. His face visibly soured a the name that was uttered. But he was oh so curious, what made him become a part of her narrative? His lips frowned upon the thought of her getting close to her, him understanding things Muzan did not about her. How long do they know each other for?

"That's how I learned their existence," she said, turning to Muzan who still trained on his thoughts. "He found me and brought me there when I was still a babe. Well-- not that young, but still younger than eighteen."

She sighed. 

"I have been here for a so many years now. I don't now how you demons do it, but for me, time here on earth prolonged are just a waste of it. It loses its purpose, the reason for its value. And I know you won't agree with me on those sayings. But... I know you can respect it-"

When she turned her head, his face was inches away. Her eyes blown wide opened. She couldn't breath at the proximity. Her chest heaved up and down, but she could not help but stare right back. Red was her favorite color, and green was her least. She compliments the man with his appearance, but...

"For once... I have to agree with you. Time is significant. But right now, it is what I value the most." He held her hand, and placed a chaste kiss on it. 

Tears welled up in her eyes. She did not know how to respond to it. Muzan was but an enigma. But did he know how to make her well up inside. The beast, the monster, the stories they would tell to little children... told to a person like him. Maybe because he felt the same. That instead of that higher being he thought himself as, others see him as a beast. 

And they both knew inside that it was tried and true.

Their fangs knew of no mercy, and their tongue knew more than to lie, the faces they played have covered itself into new, and their hands never dried from the blood.

Long have they accepted this. The moon have watched every crime they have committed. 

"How long have you tried to live?" She couldn't help but let out a sob, "how many times have they forsaken you?"

Muzan took the hands he was holding and let it lay on his cheek, cupping it. He close his eyes. And finally he didn't have to feel like he was someone else. The petals of the flower in his garden fell, and he finally appreciated the gentle warmth of the moonlight, the gentle warmth of another.

"Many times... I was doomed by the narrative before I was even born... It wasn't... It wasn't-"

He had a sharp intake of air, hands flew to his face, and felt a pressure on his forehead. He never opened his eyes, for he feared of what he will see. What emotions lingered in her eyes that were directed towards him. No- he would die if he sees it.

"It never was fair," she whispered, laying a gentle kiss on his forehead. "It never was."

She rocked him- back and forth. To someone else, this was ridiculous. But Muzan could not have cared of what they could see. What he felt in this moment was bigger than the both of them to control. They both don't know when they are going to have this same moment again, but Muzan was happy, for that moment (how time have left him open), that he was able to share it with someone. 

And here he thought he was going to be alone. Forever.

Devoid of any emotions he had since day one, but it wasn't in his intentions to lose his humanity. He was human. He detested human flaws. But the decision that made him want to be indestructable, to be immortal, to be a higher being- he did not detest any of that, along with the pleasure with being alive. Perhaps he was selfish. He knew it the moment they touched. That pleasure was prolonged, and opened, just for him. 

By none other that her. She brought it out. And now he doesn't know if he could be devoid of it now.

—

The wind danced with the clovers. Tanjrou tried with his sword and his sweat, a dummy head in front of him as he swung his nichirin blade over and over again. He gritted his teeth, thoughts plagued his mind as he was left alone by his comrades to let this thought fester more. 

"I don't get it. Is there something that she does? Does she, Nezuko?" He raised the hilt and descended his blade. "I can't keep doing this. Keep trying to find excuses to make her seem like a good person in my mind!"

"Mhm." Nezuko said from the box. She was inside, but she laid comfortably inside, with the door latched open for her to watch her big brother.

Tanjirou was getting desperate. For any person he could change his perspective in a minute, but she did not leave any explanation or reason on how she betrayed them. He asked the crow time and time again, denying every 'caw!' that left its beak. But when it explained it in detail-  why would a crow lie in the first place? The error of the flow would be too complicated and wouldn't make any sense. 

"I don't know too," He pursed his lips, unintentionally pouting, he swung his blade again, finally cutting through the straw of the scarecrow's head.  "I just know there's something else that I'm feeling that is not quite right. Do you know what it is, Nezuko?"

"Ngh..." She replied. Not looking like she understood what her brother way saying, her eyes staring straight into her soul. Tanjirou's mouth formed into an 'o' as a reaction, then glanced to the side. 

"I know..." He sheathed his nichirin and pumped his fist up. "There has to be something else that can give me the answer!"

"mhnn..." 

"You're right Nezuko..." Tanjirou sighed as he dropped his fist, dropping entirely beside his sister. "It's warm. And when she looks at me, I feel like I drank tea. And soup. O-Or noodles. And I miss her every time she's gone."

Nezuko finally stopped her staring, and glanced to the side, she could see her brother's worried expression, and she finally wondered why he was acting this way. In a short moment of focus, she already knew what the answer was. "Unngh...!"

Tanjirou sat back up immediately. "What? What are you insinuating, Nexuko-chan, that's simply barbaric!"

"Nghh.."

A blush crawled up to his cheeks immediately, and his hands went up to them to stop it. This... this was bad. The times when she stopped to smile at him, her teasing, the way her body moved, sensual and on her own nature, side glances that would leave you a-trance- no!

He slapped himself hard. He gave the horizon a determined look. "Don't worry Nezuko-chan, I appreciate your input but I need to figure this on my own... there are still blurry pictures in the frame, but..."

Nezuko glanced at him in worry.

"I'll find out the truth."