II

****°°°Kokushibou's POV°°°***

I sat on the roof of the building, enjoying the breeze that came with the altitude. Night time was not really 'it' for me.

Even as a human.

As the former Moon Hashira, and the nighttime being my personal aesthetic as Douma would say, I never liked going out at night.But now, I appreciate its hidden beauty.

Being a flesh-eating creature that can sizzle if exposed to the sun really does things to you.

My blood lust was eased for the night. I personally feel I have a problem as a demon. I don't consume humans that much, like I am supposed to as the highest of the ranks of Muzan-sama's moons. For a full year, I stayed away from humans. I became severely weak and so pale that Douma almost defeated me in one of our spars (It didn't happen though).

The crisp night air blew past my features. My dark midnight hair danced in the breeze, with the sleeves of my haori.

They were bloodied.The entire roof of the building was bloodied, with body parts everywhere.

I could eat now, but I couldn't eat everything.

The ground floor was stained with blood. Dripping from the pile of debris from the family I had just eaten. I was going to burn them and bury their ashes before I leave. To at least let their souls have a good burial. Tonight was a fruitful night.I felt my strength returning to its normal level slowly.And all in good time too, Muzan-sama was starting to get worried.

And by worried, I mean suspicious.

I unsheathed my sword from his hilt, and glared at the steel. Two pairs of my eyes were closed, I didn't need to go full strength for the humans. They didn't put up much of a fight.I continued to observe its dark hue, and my mind drifted to my Corp days.Protecting my family, and bringing honor to my clan's name was all I ever cared about.

Now, I only have that idiot Yoriichi to care about.

I didn't just come out here to eat. I also came here to think. My blade's steel suddenly reflected an image that had my dead heart pumping like I was living. I quickly sheated it back and stood up, looming over the carnage clothed by darkness.

I'll have to burn those soon, else they'll give off an odour.

Just thinking of scents had me going back to the waft of lilies and pine.

Her scent.

I sighed and opened the other pairs of my eyes. This was starting to irritate me. Everything I do or think of always traces back to her. Does she have hidden powers which she uses on me when I'm not looking? That can't be possible though, because I would sense it.

Whatever it was she was doing to me, it was getting overboard. And it is affecting my thought process too. I saw a banjo in the house of the family I just feasted on and I went back to the last upper moon meeting we just had.

She looked mesmerizing with her hair up in a ponytail, even if she did hide for most of the time.Daki forcefully dolled up her hair, despite her polite pleas.

I thought she looked like a befitting housewife.

.............

This is exactly what I was talking about.

Totally changed thought process. What is the matter with me?

"Nakime.."

******°°3rd POV°°*****

"I just said ten feet away from me, TEN FEET! Is that so hard to fucking understand?!"

"In a word, yes"

"I feel like he does this on purpose" Gyokko snorts, looking away from his sculpted vase.

That looked like fish shit. Hantengu was too busy crying his eyes out to care anyways. They were called for a meeting by Muzan, which was really weird since he had been stuck in his lab for the past few months. Akaza was constantly decapitating Douma, which led to an endless cycle of regeneration and beheading, topped with Douma's constant teasing. Daki and Gyutaro were busy playing 'rock,paper, scissors', secretly finding ways to cheat each other.

Nakime quietly strummed on her biwa.A light tune, not the ones used to summon and teleport people. Her pale,delicate fingers danced over the strings, electing a sweet melody.

All the upper moons could hear it. They had noticed that she seemed more.....happy these days. They didn't bother questioning her though, she was actually the most likeable and tolerable one among them.But there were exceptions.

"Na~ki~me" Daki says in a sing-song voice, appearing right beside her.

The biwa player gave her a small smile, opting her to sit down, "You're playing your sweet little tune again"

With this accusation, Nakime immediately turned red and stopped her strumming, "....T-tune? What tune?"

"This little scale of yours you keep strumming" Gyutaro explains, standing behind his sister, "It's been going on for months now""If you're going to point it out, at least point it out nicely, swine!" Akaza growls, shoving Douma off of him and into a wall before turning to Nakime.

"It's melodious, Nakime. I personally look forward to hearing it every night"

Douma pulls his body out of the wall, and starts to regenerate his broken jaw, "The real elephant in the room is, what inspired you to make such a wonderful piece huh?"

"Stop prying into a woman's personal matters,you imbecile!" Akaza yells so furiously, the walls of the infinity castle shook.

"But Akaza-dono, we're curious~" He whines and latches onto Akaza who was getting more irritated by the minute, "Aren't you too?"

"I just want to know if what inspired her is a thing or a person" Gyokko says, leaning into his vase, "I could make a wonderful vase using their features""The world shudders at the thought" Gyutaro mumbles and Daki clasps her hands together in a pleading manner.

"Please Nakime, tell us who it is that's making you feel so happy. Or you can just tell me and it'll be our little girl secret" She whines, shedding tears already."That is just so rude. You seriously don't understand what is called personal space, Daki? I didn't raise you in such a manner" Douma huffs, snuggling into Akaza's hair.

Daki gives him a bored look, "You didn't raise me at all!"

"EMotIOnaL dAMaGE!" Gyutaro hollers and the others laugh at this. Douma pouts at the bullying before he gets thrown into the ground this time."Is your song gotten from that one time Douma was so injured by Muzan-sama that we didn't see him for a whole year?"

"Oh, that was a good time" Gyokko says and Hantengu nods while whimpering.

"The best of times"

"Not you too, Hantengu!" Douma's muffled voice came, since his face was stuck in the ground."U-um, it's really n-nothing. I've just b-been g-getting a lot of free t-time with my biwa" She stutters, holding said biwa tightly.

The others stared at her for a while before accepting her answer and going back to their normal shenanigans while waiting for their master. Daki was not buying it though. Her relationship with Nakime had grown over the few hundred years and she knew her a lot more than she thought she would.

But she didn't want to jump to conclusions.

All the men in this room (apart from her handsome brother of course) lack the rizz needed to get any lady, whether it's a human or a demon.

Well, Akaza is pretty charming when he wants to be.

"I t-think we should let h-her be.." Hantengu mutters through tears.

"Even if there is.." He sniffles a little, "...a reason, we s-shouldn't pry"

"Spoken like a true man" Douma says.

"Yeah, that slobbers all over my pots" Gyokko adds, making Daki roll her eyes at him,"You're still here??"

"Correction, I never left!" He answers with a sneer and steps into his pot, "My beauty isn't deserved by all of you rubes. Good riddance"

"Be quiet and stand"The uppermoons tensed, and stood erect. Gyokko's upper half immediately came out of his pot and he visibly shivered.

He ran his mouth an awful lot a few moments ago.

Muzan quietly observed his company. From the elevated part of the castle where he stood, he looked down on them, raising an eyebrow when he noticed one was missing,"Where is Uppermoon one?"

"Here, Muzan-sama"

Nakime felt her body tremble once she heard that voice.

So deep and melodious.

She was about to fall over but she composed herself. She thanked God for her bangs, she was sure her face was as red as a tomato. She then shook off these thoughts, it wasn't good for her to be thinking such during serious times like these.

For Muzan to call up a meeting like this, something had to be wrong.

***Muzan's POV***

What the hell did I just hear?

Deep and melodious?

On the outside, I had my poker face on as I watched Nakime strum her biwa, transporting the upper moons a step closer to where I was.On the inside, I was wondering if she hadn't eaten enough and was saying things out of hunger.

Because that was weird.

"There has been a small altercation, between some of the lower moons" I spoke as I placed my hands inside the pockets of my trousers, "Because of that argument, what I asked them to harvest in the land where they journeyed to, is in danger"

I kept my eye on Kokushibou as I spoke, to see if I can get a reaction out of him, "There is an annoying amount of corp members there, and they have killed most of the lower moons. It is only a matter of time before they find out what I have cultivated there"

They all paid rapt attention to me and I snorted inside. They act so formal when I'm around, but when they're alone, they act like siblings on crack.

"So, I have decided, that I am going to send two uppermoons there. To stay in close proximity to what I am cultivating and protect it at all costs"

Well, that sounds boring.A snarl almost formed on my face as I heard Gyutaro's thoughts. I held myself, I didn't want them to know I could read their minds. Yet."There will be a small hideout close to the land, it's quite close to the entertainment district as well" I continued and almost rolled my eyes when Douma grinned.Like hell I was going to choose him. I knew exactly who I wanted to choose, because I need to ease my curiousity.

"Nakime"A small smile came on my face when she jumped slightly and then it quickly disappeared. I don't say this very often but she's always been my favorite uppermoon.I then turned to the next person and smirked when I saw the quick glance he gave her, "Kokushibou"

"Come with me" I say and turn to leave. I was smiling throughout because I was sure this is exactly what Kokushibou was trying to avoid. I heard the sound of Nakime's biwa and I appeared in my personal room.I comfortably sat in my chair and relaxed as I waited for the two to arrive.

This should be very interesting.

3rd POV***°°°****

"What?" Nakime thought as soon as she transported Muzan away. "We'll be on a mission......together??"

"Eu- fucking- reka!!" Daki screamed and the others looked at her like she was crazy. Well, everyone except Kokushibou."What the hell is wrong with you?!" Gyutaro snaps and she shushes him and tells them to huddle up. Kokushibou drowned out their conversation. The thought of spending an unknown amount of time with the woman he needed to stay away from, was nerve-wracking.

He felt so confused and shocked and suspicious as to why his master chose the two of them, and not Akaza and Douma like he normally does.Despite that, he sighed and walked towards the platform where the biwa player sat.Nakime almost erupted in flames when she saw him approach her. Her heart started to play bongo drums when he disappeared and then reappeared right beside her.

"Will you not take us to Muzan-sama?" He asks and she realizes she had been frozen for a while. She peeked up at him through her bangs( she had learned how to look at people even if her hair was in the way) and gulped, looking away. She had never been in close proximity to him.

"Apologies" She whispers and strums her biwa, making them disappear from the room.As soon as they left, Daki slapped Gyutaro in the head making him yelp, "Did you see that?!"

"See what?!" He hisses back, swallowing the urge to slap her right back. The rest look at the two crazy siblings until Daki squeals and starts clapping happily."Daki, are you on crack?" Douma asks cautiously and she glares at him, "Alright, who gave my daughter weed?"

"I'm not on crack!" She defends and grabs Gyokko to shake him around, "Don't you see what I'm showing you?""How can I see when you're shaking me so much?!" He yells back and wriggles out of her grip, "You see, this is why I don't like eating women""As you should" Akaza mumbles.

He then looks back to Daki, "Is that about Muzan-sama choosing Nakime and Uppermoon one?"

Daki points at him and nods vigorously, "Did you see the way she behaved when Muzan-sama said that? She was speechless""She's always speechless, she barely says anything most of the time" Gyutaro says, rubbing the aching spot on his head where she hit."W-what exactly a-are you trying to s-say, Daki?" Hantengu asks, peeking from his ghostly fingers. Daki sighs and rubs her temples, they were so oblivious.

"I know what made her start playing that wonderful tone"

"It is quite melodious, a beautiful art piece" Gyokko chuckles and shuts up when Daki glares at him.

"It's him" She says.

The rest of the upoermoons blink at her and Akaza breaks down in laughter, "Are you serious now, Daki?"

"Maybe she is on crack" Gyutaro says and she whines.

"What's wrong? Is it so hard to believe?"

"Yes dear, yes it is" Douma says before chuckling, "That's like saying Muzan-sama wants to join the demon slayer corps. It's just not possible"

"But that's where you're wrong. Because I noticed it! You know how Uppermoon one always shuts all three pairs of his eyes during every meeting?"

"He does have a lot of eyes" Gyutaro mumbles and Douma grimaces.

"As soon as Muzan-sama called her name, he opened all three of them. And glanced at her! It was just for a little while but I saw it! I know I did!"She says with a determined tone.

Gyutaro and Akaza look at each other and Douma pats her head, "I think you need to eat, Daki. Usually people are delusional when they're hungry"

"I'm not hungry!, and I'm definitely not delusional either!" She protests and groans before slapping Douma's hand away, "You'll see, I'll prove it to you"

"Good luck with that" Gyokko snorts and slips back into his pot. Daki pouted and sat down on the platform where they were, she was going to wait for them to finish and then she would investigate.

Because if it was what she thought it was, then she shipped it so hard!

"I'll be in the district if you need me, Daki" Gyutaro says and pats her head, "Don't stay too long"

Daki nods at him and Douma attaches himself to Gyutaro with sparkles in his eyes,"Ooo, are you going for a meal? Can I come?" Douma says and Akaza slaps his head.

"I swear, if you eat one woman there.."

***°°°°****

Muzan looked up from the files on his desk when he felt the two's presence in the room. The two were at the door, standing a few feet apart and respectfully looking down."Come closer" He beckons and the two walk to him so that they were right in front of his desk.

"I expected some sort of surprise for my change in choice earlier" He said, mostly to Kokushibou. The only thing that made Muzan understand this man was his thoughts, otherwise he was like a blank page.

"I apologize if I didn't react as expected" Kokushibou answers, folding his arms. He knew Muzan was talking to him, they've had this conversation before.

"Not a problem" Muzan says and looks at Nakime, "Are you fine with him as your partner, Nakime?"

Nakime shrinks into her haori a little and twiddles with her fingers under her sleeves. The ball was in her court now, she could say no and save herself from repeatedly embarrassing herself in front of him, especially since they were going to be alone.But the thought of being alone with him......

"......Yes, Muzan-sama" She says in a small voice. Muzan nods at this and from the corner of his eye, he sees Kokushibou slightly stiffen.

Oh, he was loving this. Never had he thought he'd be playing cupid for two of his upoermoons.He knew he couldn't just do this for anyone. These two had a somewhat soft spot in his heart.

"And what about you, Kokushibou?"

The dark haired demon looked at the wall beside him with a blank face.

He was deep in thought. He didn't want to venture into this, he didn't want to water the seeds of this old emotion he buried long ago.He couldn't afford caring for someone as much as he used to.

But his courtesy took over.

"I see no problem, Muzan-sama. I accept."

Muzan nodded at him and smiled widely.Kokushibou blinked at this.Yes, he had seen Muzan smile when they were both alone but it was only once or twice. This smile looked so genuine, and almost happy. He had never seen Muzan smile at anyone like that.Nakime however, had seen it one too many times.She lived in Muzan's quarters of the infinity castle, so she was always with him, giving him information and teleporting him where he needed to be. She knew he was a ruthless, evil demon in sense, but he had his pure moments.

Kokushibou almost, keyword is almost, choked when he broke into a full grin and then rubbed his hands together excitedly, "Alright then. The garden has a small house close to it. That is where you will stay, and since it is hidden, humans will not notice you"

"Nakime's biwa also has control of that house, Kokushibou, because it is linked to the infinity castle" He adds, before smirking, "If I were you, I wouldn't anger her"

Nakime blushed at this and blushed even more when Kokushibou looked at her. Not a glance, a full on stare.She looked down, even if no one could see her eye. They could still see her face.

"Noted" She hears him speak in that voice she's come to love so much.

Muzan wanted to explode in laughter.This was too good (and quite adorable, but he would never admit that) to be true, "The plant there is a species in very close relation to the spider lily. Cater for it, and let nothing happen to it"

"Yes, Muzan-sama" They chorused and he smiled.

"You both can journey tomorrow night. Take today to ready yourselves, you'll only return when you receive word from me" He says and almost coos when Nakime glanced at Kokushibou and looked away with another blush.He knew she had learnt how to look at people with her hair in the way so no one could see her eyes. It was quite impressive actually, "You may go"

The two bowed slightly and then disappeared at the strum of Nakime's biwa. Muzan smiled victoriously to himself and laid back in his seat.He knew that plant would grow much faster in the hands of those two. And he also knew that something would surely happen between the two of them in that house.And he couldn't wait to find out.

He marvelled at how much he actually shipped them.

"I'm done with them, you can come out now!" He yells in the room.

A few seconds passed and then the door behind him opened up and someone came into his office, "Why exactly didn't you let me stay when they came?"

The person walked towards one of the seats close to the bookshelf and sat in it, crossing his legs."Nakime was here, she doesn't know anything about you"

"Are you afraid she'll tell your little ones?" He smirks and rests on his palm, "That's even more cowardly of you, Kibutsuji"Muzan frowns and gives him the middle finger, receiving a chuckle in return.

"She looks very trustworthy" He adds, taking a book from the shelf, "And adorable too. I see why aniki likes her"

Muzan shrugs at this and reads a file, "It's certainly 'loves' at this point. They've been having these thoughts about each other for the last hundred years or so"

"Nasty ones too" He adds and shivers at the weird thoughts he read from Nakime one night.

Yoriichi snorts at this and opens up his book, "That's for being an paranoid and PTSD'd moron"

Muzan purses his lip and raises an eyebrow at him, "And whose fault is that?"

Yoriichi only bats his eyelashes in a mocking manner and goes back to what he was reading, "Oh yeah, what was it about this plant you are cultivating that's closely related to the spider lily?"

A cold sweat covered Muzan's entire body and he buried his face in his files, hiding himself from Yoriichi's piercing gaze.

Well, he knew he messed up.