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And to think that a few days ago I was still training with the former Hashira and that Weak-minded crybaby. Now? I'm going to be a part of the Demon moons, after having shed my humanity like a shell. Now, under the command of the Demon Lord, I will show everybody that I am not to be taken lightly.
They will respect me.
But for now, a stroll in the woods around my former home is at hand. Looking down from the safety of the night, upon my former stomping grounds. It's hilarious. Thinking about the number of people who judged me, for how I treated Zenitsu. Their problem for having sympathy with somebody who couldn't even fight himself out of a paper bag.
In the meantime, I, Kaigaku. Am able to break people with little effort! Right on cue a carriage began to make it's way out of the village. From afar I could tell that a couple of lower ranked demon slayers accompanied the small trader, trying to protect the other from Demon's no doubt. No doubt they wouldn't be prepared for me.
And with that I planned to drop down from my elevated scouting point, beginning to intimidate everybody there with my presence alone!…but then everything went black, and I came to myself a nanosecond later. Kneeling down at the side of a stranger, all eyes on me.
Where the hell am I?
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"-And why did you decide to give this eyesore of a pest your blood? I told each and everyone of you what may be done, and what I forbid."
Silence. The man who was responsible for Kaigaku's current state simply peering back at the being standing tall next to Kaigaku. And after Realizing that Kokushibo, the most powerful thing he had ever encountered, was being looked down upon by the person next to him, Kaigaku freaked out. Trying to desperately wrestle himself free so he could have the honor of defending himself
"What's wrong with you?!"
He retorted. Immediately being shut up by having his head snapped up, cold and slender digits grabbing ahold of his jaw and forcing him to look into the mesmerizing red of…them. Judging from the veins emerging and the haunting glow of those irises his death was soon to come.
"Come again?" It was a pale face, long dark hair bound up into a Bun on top of their head. Something about this figure was exerting a lot of pressure onto him.
Kaigaku was left speechless, feeling fear for the first time since coming across the Upper Moon 1.
From across the room he could hear Chuckling. It infuriated him to no end. Which seemed to be the same as the person holding him as they released him.
"I wouldn't start laughing yet. Regrettably, Kokushibos little pet project could take the position of any of you." Adding to the sentence the Person shook Kaigaku around, holding him up by the back of his collar.
Hearing that sentence should have been reassuring. So why did it feel like he just got stabbed? On the other end was a woman, tilting her head to the side. Black hair bound up by fancy golden ornaments, mimicking a sort of crown. Those eyes of hers were already staring holes into the embarrassed Kaigaku.
"Him? He might replace that lower moon. Hasn't drawn the blood of a pillar, even a slayer in years. What's his name again? K-…ka….Ko?…you know, Tambourine man."
The other figures didn't react, merely staring at the rambling woman. It seems none of them really had any clue what she was going on about. Causing her to push out a sigh, putting on a deeper masculine voice. Sounding clumsy and foolish. Mocking the Demon she was talking about.
"Nobody ever respects my writing, waaah! No, please don't banish me! What about my mediocre scribbles?!"
And at that moment a hulking 7 foot figure of a man let out a silent, drawn out "ohhhhh!" Something about him is…odd. Everything was screaming at Kaigaku not to ever approach him, something about his presence set off all of his alarms. But at the same time that reaction of his was weirdly handsome. Like a child, discovering what money was for.
Immediately after, a figure aggressively shot out of an artistic pot stationed off into some corner in protest. Kaigaku immediately looked at what seemed like the grotesque mix between a fish and what was once a human. Big red Lucious lips where eyes should be, one eye on his forehead and another placed where a mouth should be. Add to that the scales over the exposed muscular upper body, shimmering in all colors of the rainbow as a finger pointed at the Woman. She scoffed, anticipating what's to come. But Kaigaku was just thinking about the bizarre sight that's come to him.
"At least he appreciated art you silly Harlot! You wouldn't know about the subtle nuances of good writing!" Crude and bluntly honest, respectable.
It was clear that the Upper 6 wasn't just going to take that talk. Her tired, agitated expression could kill a man where he stood. But before a peep could escape her mouth, Muzan spoke.
"Quiet." A haunting biwa note was played, sounding throughout the empty room, catching the fresh demon off guard as everything went black again. When be came to himself once again he was once again on his knees. But this time when he looked around, the figures from before were an awful lot closer to him.
Right after the young Demon scampered up onto his feet. Bearing his fangs as a hand went to the hilt of his sword. Quickly Kaigaku was listing off the steps, steady breathing, concentrate, wait. Wait for one of these cowards to make their first move, they would feel the prickling sensation of having their limbs torn apart by strikes as vicious as lightning striking a copper rod.
...The Demon's were humored at best.
This was the most insulting thing that they have done to him yet. But not to worry, he'll show them, he'll show them real good that they shouldn't underestimate him.
"My!!!! What a cute little fellow when I look at him up close! Koku!!! What's it's name?" A cheerful voice rang out right next to him, looking up to confirm it's the same silver haired freak that made all his alarms tick off. He must be 7 foot tall at least, and currently he's just casually pricking his chest with one of those sharp finger nails repeatedly. No sign of empathy shown, acting rather curious in the face of Kaigaku.
"STOP, YOU SHITHEAD" Screaming at the top of his lungs, feeling a certain sense of dread come over him. Now that he's so close to another upper moon…he doesn't feel any less powerful than Kokushibo! Are they all this powerful??? He wants to survive this, but as of now it's looking like he'll end up as some sort of play thing for the upper moons.
What truly hurt was that the fallen Samurai didn't even turn towards the situation, simply remaining knelt towards the Demon King. This caused Kaigaku to snarl, snapping at the arm draped over his shoulders, placing one hand on the elbow, then on the other's wrist before chomping down on his forearm. He could feel his sharp canines sinking deep into the tough muscles, beginning to taste the iron tang of blood…to no significant reaction. In fact Douma just seemed to have a giggle fit.
"My!!! He's a fighter too! Hey, Hey Akaza! He's just like you! Want to beat him up?"
And at that moment, there was a stark reality presented to him. And that is that either Douma is just this completely loony or that all of the upper moons think of him as an interesting critter on a stick. Merely showing off their findings to one another.
"Piss off." Once again, unfamiliar, hostile, somebody new introduced themselves. A hunched figure, staring down at the upper moon two from the top of a staircase, Seven light blue stripes made their way across the pale figures face, three going over each of his Eyes in a radius, a lone one went down his forehead and over the bridge of his nose. And then there were those eyes…were they actually made of shattered glass?
"Kind of rude, Akaza-Dono hm?~"
The painted figure already turned a blind eye, and for once the Demon next to him shut up. Closing those prism looking eyes with a thoughtful sigh. Being this handsome must've brought lots of people against him.
"Well then…more for me~"
No Help in sight, and once again the same finger pierced his chest. Screwing deeper, unbearable pain. It didn't help that this man's hands were icy cold. One thing was for sure, Kaigaku wasn't going to give the other pleasure through his pain. And so he'll just grit his teeth, determined not to scream. Eventually his healing factor will get the hole sorted out…hopefully.
Was nobody going to help out? Is everybody just fine with this? With rage, his eyes shot open. Scanning over the demons who just watched, bored out of their minds. He'll find their respect! Kokushibo himself said that he was going to aid them in their cause! Was this really how they all treated eachother if they were to casually cross one another? Talk about brotherly love . . .well, he wasn't necessarily one to preach about any kind of affection either way.
"Douma..." Upon hearing the voice of the Demon lord, the blonde ceased. Yanking his finger out in a simple tug, clueless rainbow eyes staring up at the only person he would ever consider taking commands from. The other upper moons seemed to be having a grand old time, seeing that Douma was silenced.
After being let go, Kaigaku collapsed onto the ground Kaigaku to hold the hole that's been drilled into his chest . . . With a grin. Pain subsided rather quickly, now just feeling rather exhausted, but he felt greater than ever. This just serves as an exploration of his abilities. How much pain he can bear, just how mortal he truly is, how fast his healing factor is. Feeling around a little around the brim he was satisfied to find out that his flesh writhed. Growing back together to form anew, mere seconds after it's like nothing ever happened.
Scars that came from rough housing with other orphans, Marks which were brought about by being training, all gone.
This whole Demon schtick may have been useful.
Speaking of Demons, the figurehead raised their voice.
"Although I haven't approved of his miserable existence, he is the product of Kokushibo. He has contributed enough to where I'll grant him this rare chance of taking on this protege. Do not exprect another warning."
Muzan warned Douma, causing that menace of a man to back off of Kaigaku. The only unranked demon in attendance staring daggers into him over his shoulder…before moving closer to Kokushibo. Because that's where he felt the safest at the moment. He's a swordsman as well, who had just about enough pity left in his body to spare Kaigaku of a swift death. Now, as experienced as he is there's no doubt he'll hand down lots of knowledge to him…That worthless rodent, Zenitsu wishes he could find somebody as strong as Kokushibo.
"Hehe. . . So uhm . . . When are you going to help train me?"
Kaigaku asked, kneeling down out of respect towards the upper moon.
... He didn't even address the young Demon, which sort of wounded his pride even more, instead simply keeping himself bowed down in the presence of Muzan. A loyal Warrior, determined to aid in any which way. His thoughts about the situation remained a mystery, Kaigaku felt insulted, but that's life around here. Nobody respected him.
Then, the woman from earlier began to laugh, looking down at Kaigaku getting ignored. To her, seeing somebody get humbled so swiftly was the highest grade of entertainment.
"Hmpf, What a brat.~" but then she stopped to think, usually Muzan doesn't even think a death with the lower moons was worthy enough to call them all together. So why was Kaigaku, by all means somebody who never came close to proving himself, that important?
"So why did you show us this unranked demon again? Just because-" Daki immediately shut up, seeing how Muzan just gave her a merciless glare in return. Signaling that another word in a disrespectful tone would be the death of both Gyutaro and her.
"…Kokushibo decided to graze him with him with the chance of serving you and only you?" She corrected herself the woman terrorizing the red light district stated mirroring Kokushibo and kneeling down infront of her master. Hands gripping onto her knees with a lowered head.
Now, it was Kaigaku's turn to be entertained by somebody else getting mercilessly humbled. Especially if it was somebody who talked shit earlier. Working with her really won't be a pleasure.
But the sight of her, Kokushibo and him kneeling got him to think…did every other demon have that much respect for Muzan? Akaza, Douma, even a yet unknown woman found themselves kneeling in the presence of the Demon Lord.
Silence. Muzan merely narrowed his eyes at the other, looking way more masculine than just a few minutes ago. He clearly doesn't feel the need to answer his insubordinates. Rather shifting back to some new disguise to lay low in plain sight. A Fedora was thrown into the top of his head, tie adjusted to look nice and tidy . . . Is this really the same person from before? This ability to subtly change their appearance was amazing.
Just who has he pledged his allegiance to? They wouldn't even have to say anything so that these almighty beings would bow down to him like peasants in the presence of a God.
"It's getting late, ... Nakime." The man addressed, looking to his side. There knelt the woman, a biwa resting in her lap. Giving a subtle nod, long bangs which covered her face barely moving at all. Her hands felt up the instrument, then picked at a single string.
Another haunting note, and everything went black.
Kaigaku woke back up where he was picked off. Unsure if this was all some weird dream or not. Hastily he felt around his chest, feeling a burden come off his shoulders as no sort of injury was felt there. . . Wait. There should have still been scars. Just to check, Kaigaku lifted his kimono to check it visually.
There was nothing, the dream was real. The Demon Lord has the power to just pick him off whenever he wants. . . That's scary.
…It's best not to think about what had happened. ...But just to make sure, there's a new goal. Muzan himself said that one of his most valued members of the Demon army would take him under his wing. The man responsible for him ending up in this position, Kokushibo.
He's gonna find him, and by any means he will make sure that Kokushibo trains him whether he wants to or not. Once he learns the secret techniques that man learned over the past centuries he'll be unstoppable. He has to get stronger, to fulfill the goal he's vowed himself to.
Eat people, Destroy the Demon Corp, find some weird flower. However doing those first two things well sounds like the ideal way to gain respect. Don't seem too dangerous either as long as he's careful. Maybe Zenitsu will be his first target! Just to ensure that he's the only one who can use all of the relevant forms of Thunder breathing.
Down the hill, the carriage he preyed upon earlier seems to have returned from it's business trip, a few low ranking Demon slayers still flanking the wares to protect the merchant from other beings like him. It's unlikely they are prepared for him though. . . Unless they have a pillar with them because then he'd have to retreat. But the lack of Haoris told Kaigaku not to worry about a thing. The Demon took a hold of the wrapped hilt of his sword, time to start the night off right.