"Wait. Let's go to that hospital first." Reader stops Douma by grabbing his hands. Soon, Reader went inside of the hospital while Douma waited outside.
She went on to find her family doctor. She informed her about eisho and his father's condition. She instructed them to help them completely without worrying about money.
Soon, she was done with their little meeting. She went on to find Douma who was outside waiting for her. "Did you went to talk about that boy?" He asked despite knowing very well.
She nodded. "Yes. That boy really deserves better life instead of worrying about things like this. Life is very short. He should be cherishing life with his whole family without worrying about choosing food or his father's health." She sighed annoyed at cruel fate of lifes.
After that, they went to sit in flower feild, making flower crown with varieties of flowers. They made it competition. Prettiest crown will win over and looser will have to treat whole day tomorrow. They both made very pretty crown.
They liked each others crown. Hence, it was a draw. So they decided tomorrow both will pay 50-50. They really had a lot fun. Sitting in peace, just looking over moon and stars in middle of flower field. It was like a dream.
She was heading home and he was also gone for his cult. They had a great day today too. As she was moving forward, a vase appeared out of nowhere in front her.
It was a demon, she sensed it. She was wearing expensive kimono which Douma gave her. So, demon must not know that demon is dealing with a hashira. Her katana was very well hidden as she couldn't move around city with katana.
She quickly withdraw her katana, the demon appeared out of pot. "Upper moon 5" written on his eyes. Her eyes widening at the upper moon. It was very weird looking demon. It has lips in place of eyes and lips in place of eyes. He didn't had any legs, more like a merman. Weird.
"My! Such a pretty girl with a katana. You would look good in my art." He said with his one of the lips. He launched at her but she quickly withdraw taking help of trees behind her to dodge the demon.
Is he sent here by Douma? Was is this all trap? She don't know why but, she doesn't want to even accept this as a possibility. As if her heart is trusting Douma with it's all. But, why would he send upper moon 5? He can just kill her himself if he wants.
"Are you demon slayer? I never thought, i will stumbled upon a demon slayer here." He asked. "None of your business." She spat relief wash over her.
He is not here because of Douma. She tried to slice his head off but, he was moving around in an instance with pot. He created 6 giant fishes with his blood demon art.
To his surprise, she figured out the blood demon art. She slashed all 6 giant fish's pot on top of them. They were all gone. Upper moon 5 was laughing now. "Are you hashira? Muzan sama will be happy. I will definitely take you down."
She just scoffed. "We will see about it." She launched at him trying to match or exceed his speed. "Ice breathing: fourth form, illusionary flakes." This form helped Reader to create some illusions.
Her form created different images of her. It was confusing upper moon 5. He wanted to capture her in his water prison. He started using his claws and pots simultaneously.
Upper moon 5 was ready to capture her, waiting for right moment. Before he could slash her, her image shattered. He was confused before he could think anything more. He felt clean cut through his neck, his vision now upside down.
He is down? He couldn't believe this. "Impossible. There's ain't no way. You are weak and pathetic. I am perfection. You can't defeat me." He started his denial with his pathetically annoying voice.
"Shut up you stupid fish. You must be very dumb. You are already defeated and will die just wait." She said not being able to take his annoying voice anymore.
Soon, his body evaporated leaving nothing behind. Was he really uppermoon 5? Did she really defeated a upper moon? Are they this weak? Did it happened because Douma trained her?
This is unbelievable. She was so proud of herself. All thanks to Douma though. She have to inform demon slayer corporation as soon as possible. She have to wait some days more then she will tell this news herself.
She returned to her home. As she reached home, she saw her parents seating in hall. She went to hug them. They were relieved when she returned.
Even though they know her job and behaviour. Still they are always concerned and worry about her. She comforted them explaining she went on a short mission. She lied. But, it's because she can't tell the truth yet.
---------------------------------
Infinity castle-
Thrum~ biwa rang
Every Upper moon moon was summoned in infinity castle by Nakime. Every Upper moon was present except for Upper moon 5. Douma was last one to arrive. He was expecting last Upper moon to be summoned.
Not only him, everyone did expected same.
But, to everyone's surprise he didn't arrive. "Biwa lady, where is Upper moon 5? Everyone is supposed to arrive in meeting." Akaza was questioning the audacity of Gyokko to not show up and disrespecting demon king.
"I couldn't locate him. Muzan sama has ordered to summon others." Nakime answered in her usual soothing voice. "I am really concerned about him. Is he ok? I will be very sad loosing any of us." Douma used his 'sad' voice.
Akaza scoffed. "Don't act like you care." He muttered in anger. Douma didn't care but still pouted. He would have pestered his 'best friend' more. But, now he simply doesn't care enough. He has found a real friend.
Everyone was quite now, only Hantengu was sobbing. "Bad...it's bad. Something is very unfortunate....Bad." he was repeating this lines between his sobs.
Daki and Gyutaro were simply standing waiting meeting to begin. While Gyutaro was cautiously avoiding unnecessary trouble, Daki simply didn't wanted to make conversation with anyone.
Kokushibo was simply sitting on different platform deep in thought. Probably he was thinking about possible reasons and absence of upper moon 5. After sometime, biwa rang in their ears.
Thrum~
Everyone fell to their knees, bowing down to their one and only demon king. Everyone could feel a heavy aura from their master, indicating a huge issue to disclose. Every Upper moon was scared to their core, but not Douma.
"You have failed so miserably that it's really pathetic." He began his long speech with voice so chill that almost gave Upper moon's Heart attack.
"You have failed to locate demon slayer corporation head's estates. You have failed to find blue spider lily. You have failed to become more stronger. You all have disappointed me so much that i regret wasting my blood on you."
"But, today every limits has been crossed. Your patheticness is disgusting me so much. How come you all have become so weak instead of growing stronger? Do you know the reason you all have been summoned here?"
No one had guts to say anything. Hantengu was now shivering and sobbing more frantically in fear. Daki and Gyutaro were also shivering. Douma was normally sitting on his knees feeling nothing.
Kokushibo was still sitting but he was now giving all his attention to demon king. Akaza was not shivering but was frozen in one place because of threat Muzan sama's voice was carrying.
No one dared to speak. Douma would've said anything but even he don't have any idea. "I suppose..... this have to....do with Gyokko. " Kokushibo let out his guess.
Muzan sama nodded calmly. "Gyokko is dead. He was defeated by a single hashira. How pathetic." Aura densed even more. Every one was surprised that one hashira was able to not only defeat but kill an Upper moon.
"That is not the main reason. I want all of you find this hashira who uses ice breathing. I want her alive. Surprisingly, she is able to regenerate her body in an instance. I want to study her. She is obviously not a demon created by me. Is she human? No one knows."
------------------------------
Reader was in her bedroom sitting on her bed. Her thoughts kept running back and back to one specific thought. What will happen tomorrow? She haves to tell Douma her answer. Should she just turn him down?
But, it won't be fair. If she doesn't even properly think and understand her heart before rejecting him, it is unfair. But, she doesn't want to know what's in her heart. What if she really fell for a demon?
A demon who doesn't even think twice before hunting down humans for his hunger. He is Upper moon 2, he have killed and ate countless humans. What if she loves him?
Can she ever forgive herself if she does love him?
How will things go? Isn't she supposed to fight for innocent people and protect them? How will she protect people when she is deceiving them by loving a demon?
She sighs. This is so difficult. Why did she made contract with him? But, she would have been dead if she had fight him that day. But, that is better than what she is facing today.
She can still deny her feelings for him if she has any. She can bury them in her heart and tell him she has decided that she doesn't love him. But, is it unfair. Who cares?
'I care. I can't do this. This is against my own set of principles. I can't break a fair deal and abuse someone's trust. Even if that someone is a demon. A emotionless creature who fell for her.'
She decided to sleep tonight. She will think about it tomorrow. She went outside of her bedroom to check on lotus. She found him by the corridor of her mansion which connected kitchen to main hall.
He must be hungry. She went on to give him milk. He started to drink milk. She started admiring little guy. This is only thing which is giving her a little comfort. After drinking enough, he started to rub himself on her legs and began purring.
How cute he is? So pretty. She wanted to grab him and let her cuteness aggression out on him. Why does cats look so adorable? Lotus reminds her of Douma-
She sighed. Her smile dropped from her face. It is so hard. Why is she remembering him now? She shook her thoughts and headed to her room to sleep. Finally, she will stop thinking about him if she is asleep.
As soon as she reached her room she felt someone- wait, it's him. She quickly closed her room shut. "Come out." She whispred shouted to the person. Blonde demon came out after a while.
Something felt off. She quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the window. "What are you doing here?" She asked annoyed at the fact that he broke one of her rules.
To her surprise he didn't said anything. Now that she is giving more attention. He don't have his usual cheery smile. His features are some what tensed up. Moonlight shining on his face, making him look more heavenly looking creatu- *cough* focus.
He didn't said anything. She stared at him expecting some answers. But, he stared down at her looking puzzled. "What's wrong douma? I am scared looking at your face."
Should she tell him that she encountered Upper moon 5? That she killed him? Will he be happy for her or more unhappy because of losing fellow Upper moon.
Not because he will be sad. She isn't naive. She knows he doesn't feel anything for his fellow Upper moons. But, it might be trouble for him if they find out any link between him and her. Especially, that muzan.
Before she could ask anything more or think anything, she lost her vision and consciousness. Her mind went blank deep in slumber.