Training and outing with Douma has been going on for 10 days now. In mornings, she would talk with her parents, take care of lotus, Train for atleast 2 hours, eat delicious food made by her parents and sleep. This was her mornings routine.
She would sleep in mornings and afternoon a lot. Because, at night she would head out to complete her promise and train with Douma. Her parents confused that 'why she choose to go out in night?' "I need to train at night. Because, demon get active at night. It's more beneficial." She half lied.
They were worried. But, they don't try to stop her knowing that this is part of her job as a hashira. She don't feel good while lying. But, she has to. She don't want them to meet Douma.
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She looked at Douma who was uncomfortably staring at her. She raised her brows. He sighed after a long stare. "I don't know how to ask." She stared at him wide eyed. "Are you serious? You, uppermoon 2 don't how to ask a question? Same demon who doesn't know how to read room. He just ask anything without second thought."
He just smiled shyly. Shyly? Douma is shy? She looked more shocked now. What's happening? Is she dreaming? "I finally know what to do. Reader chan, what's your type?" He asked.
She smirked. "Finally. You are asking a good question." She nodded satisfied with his effort and finally figuring it out. His blush remained on his cheek and heart hammering in his chest. "I like the guy who are passionate, respectful and loyal. A man who will treat me equally and love me forever."
He thought about her preferences. "Don't you have some physical preferences ?" She thought about it. "Honestly, i don't have some preferences as such. But, i like blonde long hair, tall, lean build, unique eyes and eyebrows." She teased with lil smirk he couldn't figure out.
His eyes went wide and ears going red. "Is it me?" He asked in disbelief. That all descriptions match him. Does Reader chan also loves him back? Is she indirectly conforming her interest in him?
"You? No. I was talking about my preferences in females. As far as i know, you are not female." She told him this while innocence dripping from her voice. He looked confused and then gasped. "Is that why you were complementing that women from play?" He questioned connecting the dots.
She stared at him confused while remembering the act. Her plan backfired. Instead of getting her sarcastic tone, he is genuinely thinking that she is attracted to women. She started laughing at him confusing him more.
"Ohh my god, Douma !!!" She managed to mutter out him name in between her laugh. Now, tears dripping down her eyes. She reached out to his cheek and pulled them. "You are so cute." She complimented him.
He blinked still confused while his heart ache in denial. "Come on, i was just joking. I was just trying to tease you a little. I am not attracted to women." She confirmed still chuckling. He finally felt relief wash over him.
"What about you?" She crossed question him. "I don't have any. Well, atleast till few days before. Now, my type is only you." He answered back. Despite honesty in his voice, Reader squinted her eyes. "Stop flirting like that with me."
"I am being genuine, Reader chan." He clarify himself while his heart was beating in his chest. She nodded with 'Ok, i get you' smile. She doesn't know how to act with that statement. Because, she never had some experience in this matter. You know, like a demon to be exact.
"Reader chan, why you always say 'oh my god' when you don't believe in god?" He asked. She thought about it. "Good question...Even, i don't know. You see i have been saying this since my childhood. It's like part of my vocabulary. About belief in god? I never really thought about it in details. Maybe that's why, i just say it for expressing my shock or grief."
He listened to her carefully. "Probably humans love the idea of blaming someone for any discomfort or tragedy instead of blaming their own action. Maybe that's why, they created god at first place. I think, that's why i use it. I never tried to get rid of this vocabulary." She shrugged.
He was listening her each word, trying to understand each words. He liked the way Reader chan explain things. It feels very easy and clear. He will be willing to listen Reader chan to eternity. He smiled at her.
Like that they would talk about everything and anything but demon slayer corporation. Still they would talk endlessly never growing bored. They would try out many things market has to offer.
She would pay always for half of the activities and food. Then, fight with douma verbally to let her pay. He didn't like that, she is paying when he is there. But, she won't listen and threatened to end contract. He would always loose.
They would go to the hills where snow happens to be only thing in view. They would start there training, douma would be fine till the end of training. But, Reader would be struggling to even stand straight. She has now started to get used to the routine.
She is trying her every chance to endure as much as she can in order to become more stronger. Douma would always carry her in bridal style to get down to city again in end of training.
She would get exhausted a lot. Still, she could walk on her own if she tried. But, Douma wouldn't listen to her. This is going all good. She would have definitely fall for Douma, if he would have been a human.
Who doesn't like the idea of a person feel emotions only for you? That emotion being love. He is just too perfect in her eyes. But, he is a demon. She wouldn't fall for him as a demon. Right?
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It was 13th day of her contract she made with douma. Before, her final decision. "Reader chan!" Douma called out to her. She walked upto him smiling softly. He started to pull her by hand towards some direction she didn't know where it heads to.
"Woah!! I just arrived. Where are you taking me?" She asked him. Soon they arrived at location, where no human was at sight. "Today, i am going to take you to my cult." He beamed at her. She rose her eyebrow. Already?
She just nodded. She think, she can trust him this muchh. He smiled more after receiving her approval. He quickly pulled her closer to his chest by her waist. "What are you doing?" She asked in panick while trying to back off.
He blinked. "How are we going to reach there if we walk? We won't be there even before morning." He asked. "So?" She asked still struggling. How strong is his grip? He smiled more. "I am going to carry you. That way we will reach in half hour."
Her eyes widened. "Half hour? How am i going to stick with you for half hour? It's uncomfortable and tiring." She asked him frowning slightly in anger. He thought about it. 'It is uncomfortable, she might get tired.'
Without giving any heads up he picked her up in bridal style. Her eyes went wide in shock. She gave him 'wth' look while she wrapped her hand around his neck. He just gigled looking down at her. "It's more comfortable. You can't disagree."
She squinted her eyes and hit him in his chest with her fist. "Ahh!" He started to act like it's too muchh to take. "Stop that." He immediately stopped. "Don't act before asking. Otherwise our contract will be broken by my side." He immediately started acting properly before nodding.
She gigled at his reaction. She squeezed his cheek with her one hand. "Let's go." As soon as said it, she was taken back by speed and force of wind. She shut her eyes close and hide her face in his chest to get rid of wind hitting her face.
How fast is he? It's like she is in train. No, it's more faster than that. She just waited in that position trying to get past through this. After waiting for a while, he finally halted his speed. She opened her eyes after removing her head from his chest.
He was still smiling but it was almost empty. He made her stand on her feet while putting her down. She was about to again scold him for his speed but paused. She looked up at the temple. She was taken by it's beauty. "It's mesmerising!"
He smiled at her fondly, snapping open his fan to hide his half face. "Does Reader chan like my cult?" She nodded at him with very bright smile. She forgot her annoyed and anger state she was in.
"It's my turn." He looked confused. "Douma, i have to agree. You have such a great taste." She told him in exactly tone he had use on their second meeting. She gigled. He smiled at her, remembering the exact scene it happened. A genuine smile.
He took her hand pulling her to enter temple. Temple was huge with pretty lakes surrounded it. Pretty lotus in lakes, making the scene more breathtaking. Temple was coloured in red and gold. Pretty staircases surrounded by every corner to reach the main gate.
She entered the temple with Douma beside her. As soon as she take the step inside, her eyes goes wide in shock. She saw one huge painting in opposite wall to enterance. The entrance was huge, so there was a lot gap in between. But, anyone could see the potrait very clearly.
It was her. It's her portrait with her sword and she doesn't have her usual uniform but one of her favourite kimono on. She stared at it before snapping her head towards Douma.
His smile going wider. "I painted this. How is it? Isn't it weird that i couldn't paint at all. Still, i couldn't help but paint your potrait?" Her eyes going more wider at such question. How should she feel about it? She don't know But weird sense of attachment.
Is she liking this? Portrait is great no doubt. But, in public place like this? Can you call this public place? It's his own cult. But, there are people whom she don't know at all. Before, she could say anything she heard people gasping and murmuring.
She saw many people looking at her, mostly women. Looking back and forth between painting and her. She felt embarrassed. She is not used to such attention. She suddenly heard all drop to their knee. "Welcome, lord founder. Welcome, Reader san." She flinched at their action.
"Ahh, Rise up my childs. It's great, you all recognised Reader chan just by glance. Please, get up and prepare her room and meal for Reader chan." They all happily complied and went to their routine. Reader was just shocked at what she just witnessed.
He chuckled and held her hand once again. He went on giving her tour around the cult. Explaining how things work and how he helps other. She was shocked to see people roaming around so carelessly, at the same time she was not at all shocked.
After all, it's Douma. His charming persona is really deceiving. She feels bad for this people who are serving him. They would end up dead any day. He won't even feel anything. In his twisted logic, he is helping them.
Soon, they went inside a room. Room was huge, bigger than others. It was almost according to her taste. But, it was different then other aesthetic. Did he prepared this for her? It's very similar to her taste. She looked at him with a knowing smile. He returned her smile.
Soon, he excused himself claiming he has some work. She sat on bed's edge looking around. He would return in a few minute. She heard people wispering from gate of her room. Whispers like some people are arguing.
She walked upto the gate, she saw four women around her age and little older than her. She smiled at them, while they were shocked. "We are sorry we disturbed Reader san." Reader was shocked at their unison voice.
She pulled them inside with food trays in their hands. They rested food on the table attached in this huge room. They looked at Reader with nervous gaze. Reader looked at them realising their nervous gazes.
She sat on the table beside and motioned them to sit opposite of her. They hesitated a bit before sitting. "You all know my name already. But, hello to you all. What's your name?" She tried to sound as friendly as she can.
"Hello, Reader san. My name is mina. This is miyu. This is fuki. This is miko." Mina answered, introducing everyone while bowing. Reader smiled. "You all have pretty name. You are all very pretty girls. But, don't bow at me." They smiled at the compliment and nodded.
Just like that they started talking. Soon, girls loosed their nervousness. They talked about their life and cult. They were praising Douma a lot. They claimed that he is very kind and support them and other followers financially without asking much in return.
Reader's heart was filled with mix feelings. Even though douma was helping them without muchh in return, it's very hard to neglect that one day they'll be dead. Douma might consume them. But again, can she really blame him? He is emotionless.
It's his nature. 'Wait. What am i thinking? I don't think like this for other demons. Then, why about him? Why am i neglecting his sins? It's his fault, even though he can't understand it. Still, the damage is irreversible. People won't come back to life.'
She continued talking to them. She realised that miyo and miko are actually sisters. Their parents were abussive and were trying to sell them off in red light district. Until they found out about this cult. They eloped together and started living here.
They are living here for 5 years now. Her heart ached for them. She was angry at her parents. She realised that there are actually so many people with somewhat similar stories living here. Though many of them elope from this cult too.
She knows what it means. Douma ate them. Soon, they excused themselves and leave the room hurriedly. She sighed. A lot of information to take in. It's been a while and douma is still not here.
She looked at food growing impatient with hunger. "Where is he? He said 'just a few minute.' Aghh!!" She sighed. She wandered in her thoughts.
'I wish douma had a good set of parents. The parents he had only saw him as a business idea by making him a divine figure. I do agree he was born emotionless. But, not all emotionless people end up becoming monster he had become. He still thinks he is doing them favour by killing them. I wish he had received good parenting.'
She looked up sensing someone. She smiled at Douma, who sas now standing tall beside her. She pulled him down, making him sit beside her. "Come, i was waiting for you. Where were you? I am hungry." She complained.
"Sorry. I was catch up by some important work." He apologised to her. "But, if you are hungry. Why didn't you start your dinner?" She looked puzzled by his question. Why is she waiting for him? She can eat without him. He can't even eat with her.
She chuckled to herself. "I think, i am getting used to eat dinner beside you all this days." He nodded while smiling at her. They start their rambling about their day, Training, his cult, lotus, etc.