A few months later, Douma was eating with his new attendant, Saki. He had absorbed Tsuyu after the lady demanded he took her to paradise. Although he suspected she was expecting sexual intercourse, he ignored that and painlessly absorbed her.
"Hmm, Saki-chan. I love your meals."
Despite the disgusting taste of human food in a demon's mouth, he still liked eating them.
The new attendant blushed heavily, hardly accustomed to his praise. Because to her, Douma was like a God. Someone capable of performing wonders like healing and so on. So, receiving praise from him was overwhelming.
"T-thank you my Lord."
Douma nodded, unaffected by her blushing face as he ate quietly.
"I'll be traveling somewhere for a while. Just a few days. I hope you can help me manage the temple while I'm gone." He said, wiping his mouth with a small tissue elegantly.
Saki seemed surprised. After all, Douma couldn't travel in the sun because of a special condition. Was he going to travel in the night? Without any escorts?
"Lord Douma, do you want me to assign escorts to you? They can bring carriages along."
Although Douma pleasantly welcomed her care, he didn't need it.
"I'll be off on my own. You don't need to worry about my safety." He smiled, gently stroking her hair.
"Understood, Lord Douma. Please stay safe."
Standing up and bowing, she watched him leave through the entrance into the cold night.
...
At the Flower Mansion...
Shinobu was training outside in the courtyard, her sword moving gracefully and cutting through the wind sharply.
Kanao was standing nearby, watching earnestly as her master trained flawlessly. Since the death of her sister, Shinobu had always strived to be strong despite her feeble physique. Because of this, she had instead trained in poison techniques, believing a demon could be killed by very potent poison.
And unexpectedly, this method worked wonders, earning her respect among the other Hashiras.
'I'll avenge you sister.'
As soon as the thought passed her mind, she felt it. Those imaginary arms embracing her gently. Pausing, she looked around warily. Why? Because that feeling was accompanied by a feeling of being watched.
Kanao looked confused but quickly got alert—her hand on the hilt of her sword.
'There!'
Shinobu spotted the person immediately. Although it was quite far and she couldn't tell who it was, she knew it was a demon. A strong one at that.
"Kanao, send the crows to alert the mansion. A Moon demon might be around. Also send one to alert the nearest Hashira. Just in case."
Leaving those words behind, she hastily darted after the demon.
Unsurprisingly, the demon was very elusive and fast. However, it didn't run that far before stopping.
Turning to face her was a demon with blood dripping from its lips and crazed eyes. Crouching, it growled and lunged at her, its arm shifting to form a black spike.
Easily, Shinobu sidestepped, her katana flowed smoothly towards its neck but it dodged at the last moment, tilting its head sideways.
'It's quite strong. And it's not even a Moon demon.' She didn't see any kanji in its eyes.
Still, it wasn't strong enough to make her serious. As the demon thought it'd dodged, the sword suddenly lengthened, the curved end stabbing into its neck.
Stunned, it hastily scrambled back, holding its neck in shock. Why? Its neck wasn't healing. It even felt its condition worsening.
"Kuak—!"
Blood spurted from its mouth as it fell to its knees, unable to understand how it died.
Watching the demon turning to ashes, Shinobu sighed, then sheathed her sword.
"I thought I felt a stronger demon. Guess I was wrong."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Her body froze. That presence—she'd felt it before. When her sister had died. That meant—
"Douma."
Sitting on a tree branch, Douma placed his chin in his right palm, smiling at her with his eyes burrowing into her's.
"Shinobu-chan..."
The name rolled off his tongue softly in a tone unfamiliar to him. Was that affection?
Immediately, Shinobu tensed, suddenly filled with blinding rage and anger. The demon who had killed her sister was right here before her. Her end goal. The reason she desired strength so much.
She finally had a chance to meet him.
Did she have a chance to kill him?
She didn't care. Her mind was only filled with bloodlust.
"It's been a while, hasn—"
Douma stepped back gracefully as the branch he was sitting on was split into two.
"Hold on, hold on, Shinobu-chan. We haven't even talked yet."
He whined with a smile, his eyes curving into crescents.
"Hell!"
Screaming, she lunged at him again, spinning around him and delivering several attacks in a single second. Unfortunately, Douma was out of her class. He effortlessly dodged her attacks, only smiling and appreciating the view of her determined expression.
'Shinobu-chan is so cute!'
Squealing inwardly, Douma stepped back, dodging another strike as Shinobu's frustration increased.
"Insect Breathing, First Form: Butterfly Dance."
Utilizing her breathing style, Shinobu blurred and suddenly appeared behind him, her sword poised to stab through his head.
Clang!
Douma retrieved his fans from his sleeves and effortlessly blocked the attack—even yawning lazily. However, he continued to enjoy the fight. His heart felt like it would explode. It was thumping violently since he saw her.
"Insect Breathing, Second Form: Dance of the Bee Sting."
Shinobu immediately pressed on, disappearing and instantly appearing behind the unsurprised Douma with her sword thrust towards his torso. Even if she couldn't defeat him, she'd stall him until the other Hashiras arrived. Unexpectedly, he turned around and welcomed the attack. The small sword coated in poison tore through his skin and exited from his back—covered in blood.
However, he didn't receive the attack for nothing. Now, Shinobu was in close proximity and could only watch as Douma... pulled her into a gentle hug filled with longing. His nose brushed against her nape while her head was forced to rest on his broad chest—listening to his thumping heart.
"Ohh~ Shinobu-chan's poison is so warm…"
He cooed, his voice quivering softly as he sniffed her. His skin had turned purple briefly but recovered instantly, already adapted to the poison.
"I miss you so much I'm tempted to absorb you."
However, he remembered that feeling of loss he felt the last time he killed her. Although the feeling was intriguing, it was unpleasant. He didn't want to feel that again.
"You—!"
Shinobu choked, suddenly feeling powerless. Why was her enemy acting like this? Was he possessed? Was this a plan to disorient her?
By the time her mind cleared, he was gone—only his last words ringing in her head.
"I'll see you again, Shinobu-chan."