It was almost midnight. Reader was still in douma's cult. She was loving the environment and douma's company. For some reason, people from this cult are looking happy and content with their small limited life they have.
Right now, everyone is asleep except for Reader and Douma. They are still at her room which Douma prepared for her. The shrine is quiet, thankfully her room is far away from everyone. So, they won't disturb anyone's sleep.
"Reader chan!!!" She looked at him in disbelief. "No!! Douma, you are acting like a child. Get up." She nudged him to get up from floor and stop hugging her waist. "Please, stay here for one day. I want to stay with you on daytime."
"What are you even talking about? You can't even go out in sun. So, how come meeting in darkness during daytime is different than night?" He started throwing more tantrums at her. He is really trying to make her stay with him.
"Douma? Get off!! What do you think your followers will think of you, when they will see you whine like this? Your image will be damaged forever." She is getting embarrassed for him. Seriously, what's up with this demon?
"I don't care about that. They can think whatever they want. Only person i care about is you. Please, Reader chan just this once. Only one time. Stay with me." He started his whining again.
She sighed. "Ok! Whatever." She finally agreed accepting her defeat from demon who whines like a child. He beamed as radiant as sun. Instead of getting up and letting her go, he hugged her waist more tightly.
"Are you going to crush my ribcage?" She asked annoyingly. He immediately let go and stood up. Now, he is hugging her from front. Great!! She sighed and rolled her eyes. But, returned hug. Hug was actually very warm and gentle.
After a while, she realised he is not in mood of breaking hug. So, she pulled away looking at his smug face like he won a war. "Just to let you know. I decided to stay because we still have training left to do. Tomorrow, you have to train me for some hours. Right?"
"I don't mind, if that means i can be with you for a whole day." He answered smiling. She nodded. Soon, they sat at the table back. They started their usual routine. Which is talking nonstop.
In middle of conversation, she started arguing with him. "I don't think that your job is that hard. My job is way harder. Imagine, fighting with demon with human capacity."
She argued. "But, isn't it boring to listen to everyone's rambling about their misery? Giving them advices."
"No, it's not. I can prove you wrong. It cannot be that hard. You can't even be annoyed, so it's more easy for you." She stated. "How ?" He asked being totally interested. She smirked. "What about switch up? I will be consulting with your followers tomorrow and you can sit beside me to judge."
He was genuinely interested in how it will turn out so he immediately agreed. "But.... what do i get in return if i succeed?" He thought about it. "You can become demon." He teased her. She deadpanned at him with look that could kill. "I was just joking."
"Better be. Now answer me." She demanded. "What do you want?" She shrugged. "I don't have anything in my mind yet. But, if i suceed then i will ask you for something when i need. Not now." He nodded immediately.
"You are listening? I can ask for literally anything." Still he nodded with 'trust me' smile. She sighed before smiling. "Deal then." He immediately forwarded his hand for hand shake. She happily complied. "Deal."
"Reader chan, did you had any suitors before? " She thought about it. "I did. But, i won't call them suitors. There were a lot of boys who were intrested in me at first glance. They all said they are interested in me. But, they all ran away." She laughed at memories.
"Why? Why Anyone would run away from you?" He was genuinely confused. 'How can anyone miss the chance to be potential suitor of such pretty and strong lady? Even a emotionless person like me, is falling for her.' He thought in pure shock.
''They were all scared by my personality. You see, i am too loud and opinionated. If i don't find something good or comfortable, i just call that out. Maybe, they just liked my face at first. My mood flips are also problem for them. One guy even told me to lower my tone and be more 'feminine.' Tchh." She rolled her eyes.
"There was one...uhh, should i tell you? ....Umm, i don't think so it would be problem. So, There is one fellow hashira. You see, he is really flashy. He have some wives already. He did ask me to be his fourth wife. That was really embarrassing the way he asked me. Don't even ask." Her face soured while remembering that particular day.
Douma was still smiling but it was faltering. He was finding it hard to keep that smile on. Why his heart is hurting with mention of her suitors? That too different kind of hurting. Like his heart is burning in weird sensation but it's not Pleasing at all.
"Why? What he did?" He asked with perfect stable voice, while his heart is going crazy with weird and foreign emotion. He never felt that. "Can you guess? Nevermind. I'll tell you. He told me to be his fourth wife. I asked why. So, he said because i have good hips and perfect 'child bearing' body." She said that line in pure disgust.
Douma was not really sure what's wrong. But, he really don't want to meet this guy ever. He really don't want him anywhere near Reader chan. "First of all, he have already three wives. I don't want my potential man to be with someone else than me. I want him to be loyal. Second of all, why is he reducing me to a perfect 'child bearer' body? Its disgusting. Even though, he was only person who accepted me as myself while proposing. But no."
After a minute of silence, she shook of those embarrassing moments of life. Tengen san is great person. No wonder in that. He is caring and strong. Surely, flashy too. But, the way he proposed was out of line and most disgusting thing she ever listened in her life. That's why, she just talk to him only when it's necessary.
He was one of the few people who helped her with her skills. He even tagged along with her for some missions. He even saved her and covered for her couple of time. She surely respects him. But, she particularly find his behaviour towards women unsettling.
"What about you?" She asked him. He reached out to his chin and started to think. "There are many women who wanted to be my suitors. But, i would never understand their feelings. I think i do know a little now. As i have fallen in love with you, i do understand a little. I am really sad that i couldn't return there feelings."
"Don't be. Love goes two way. Doesn't matter if someone loves you. If you don't feel the same, it's completely normal. No need to be sad." He was little taken a back with her response. Still he nodded while smiling. She nodded along matching him.
She yawned after covering her mouth. "Come on. Now i need to sleep." He pouted. "Reader chan, not now. I wanna talk with you more." He whined. Again? "Douma, i am still a human. I need to sleep. Go away." She tried to lift him up after standing.
He didn't budge even a little. "It's ok if you want to sleep. But, can i sleep with you?" She stared at him like he is crazy. "Are you serious? I am a women and you are a man. We can't sleep together. Only married couple sleeps together."
He finally got up. "Reader chan!! We can get married. I bless and approve marriage contract between couples. I can quickly do that." She is totally speechles with this demon. How come he survived century and still doesn't know the intensity and value of marriage.
"Douma, you don't get married to anyone like that. You marry someone only if they love each other and want to spend their rest of life together. I know you love me. But, i still have two days of contract." He pouted more.
He don't want to be separated from her. If she is really in his cult. Then, she should atleast be with him every momment. This is unpleasing. But, he have to let her sleep. It won't be healthy for her.
She started pushing him out of room while he is rambling her to let him be in room. "Douma, go to your room. Rest up, tomorrow we will have long day. Go." She finally pushed him out. She shut the door at his face while giving him cheeky smile. She locks the door from inside.
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She Wakes up with heavy eyes and messy hair. She sighed and scans the room. She mistook the room for her mansion room. She was shocked to be in another room. Then, she remembered she is in Douma's cult.
She got up and went to mirror to see her self. Mirror is huge identical to hers. Her face and hair is total mess. She dragged herself to attached washroom and freshen up. She takes bath and wears on the beautiful lilac silk kimono.
Looks like Douma has prepared so many things for her in this room. She went upto mirror and sits down to chair. She brushed her hair. She lets her long hair down and takes two strands of hair tie them behind with pretty lotus shaped hairstick.
Kimono she is wearing is going really well along with ice lotus necklace which Douma gave her. "Ohh my!!! i am looking so good." She self complimented. "It's good to praise yourself when you look good. Isn't it?" She gigled at her stupidty for talking to herself.
Now, she is hungry. She opened the door and walked out. It's so dark in here. But, she is loving the vibe. She always admired a lil bit darkness. She remembered the outlay Douma had given her. She finally met twin.
"Hello!! Miko chan and miyo chan. How are you?" She greeted them with radiant smile. They immediately bowed. "Greetings, Reader san. We are good and how are you?" Miko replied. She smiled more. "I am also good. But, don't bow to me."
They nodded. "Reader san, your kimono is really complimenting your figure. You are looking pretty." Miyo complimented Reader. She blushed and waved them off. "You are looking pretty too. You both are."
They smiled at returned compliment. "I wanted to ask where is douma?" She asked the twin. "He is in his personal room. Should i show that to you?" She shooked her head in denial. "I know room. Thanks." She waved them bye.
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Finally, she reached the room. "Douma, open up door." She called out while knocking on door. Soon, door opened up. Douma was smiling at her but soon was taken a back by her beauty in this pretty lilac silk kimono he bought with ice lotus necklace he gave her.
"You....are looking so beautiful." He muttered out. She leaned forward while her hands at her back holding each other. "Thanks." She beamed. He couldn't help but feel his face burn up and ears going red.
"You wouldn't ask me to come in?" She asked acting like she is offended. He quickly came back to his senses. He let go of door frame he was covering with tall figure. He invited her in with smile. She stepped inside while still carrying soft smile.
She looked around the room. She was shocked to see everything, well most of it covered in red and golden with lotus design. Sometimes black in middle. Room is so muchh her taste.
Did he renovated this to match hers or did he already had this room like this? But, only thing different is there is no sunlight souce. No windows at sight. That make sense even.
He smiled knowing what she is thinking. "Reader chan, i already told you when we had our second meeting that we have so much in common." He gigled at her reaction. She remembered this. She even replied. 'There's ain't no way you and i have something in common.' She gigled with him.
"Douma, i am hungry." She complained to him while wrapping her hands on her stomach. He smiled genuinely at her. "I will right away make food come in our room." He booped her nose with his finger while gigling. He called out to some followers and ordered them.
They both sat at the tables sitting opposite of each other and started chatting while food come. "Douma, yesterday when you were gone, i met your four followers. They are very sweet. I liked them a lot." She told him her experience. He nodded with smiling.
"Of course. My all followers are very sweet and kind. Sadly, they have so much misery in their life." He said in 'sad' tone. She ignored his comment and let it slide. Soon, food came. She started to dive in. They continued talking.
"Reader chan, i want to thank you." She was shocked. "For what?" She asked in confusion. As far as she remembers, she didn't gave him any favour. He stood up and walked till he was beside her and kneel down.
He took her hand in his. "Thanks for coming in my life. Thanks for making me feel love as my first emotion. Thanks for giving me chance. Thanks for talking to me everytime. No one ever talked to me as much as you do. They always wave me off."
Genuineness in his voice made her stop right in her track. Like the time froze and so does her brain. She finally process everything he said. A genuine smile broke onto her lips. She hugged him.
Douma melted in her arms. She started caressing his blonde hair with her hands. "You don't have to thank me for anything. I already told you i am glad for what happened with your emotion. I am also happy that i met my demon friend."
He was happy knowing that finally having someone as real friend. If he is lucky enough he will be more than that. He is genuinely happy for the first time in his entire lifespan.
Soon, they headed for training after she finished her food. They trained for more than 4 hours with lil breaks in between. She started complaining to him, that how she is missing lotus.
That she is worried about him. Even though he recovered a lot still he is comparatively weak and not growing as he should. In return, Douma reassured her to wait patiently and he will be fine.
Soon, they would go on for their challenge they set up last night. Believers will start showing up to consult with leader after midday as they have businesses to cover up first in mornings.
This is going to be fun.