(Third Person)
An hour earlier.
"You would come to save me… right?" Makima said with a controlled tone. For all intents and purposes, it should have sounded like a normal conversation between lovers… if not for the fact that Makima was deliberately saying the exact words Reze had once spoken to Aleks.
Her golden eyes never left him, watching with quiet amusement as he froze, his words stuck in his throat.
Seeing him like this…helpless, lost for words, it brought a smile to her lips. It was exactly what she wanted. Every phrase she spoke had been carefully chosen with care, and was designed to make him feel uncertainty.
She wanted to see how the man she had come to love would fare in a moment like this, when a crisis tested not his power, but his spirit.
Gaslighting him into believing that every precaution, every plan he had made with Reze, was already useless.
Makima had made two choices. She would pick one depending on the outcome of this event.
If Aleks proved strong enough to resist her, to face everything with utter indifference and overcome every threat, she would accept him as her equal.
But if he failed, if he succumbed to despair, then whatever will that remained in him…
She will break him.
Strip him of his free will, make every choice for him, and keep him by her side forever.
Regardless of the choice she makes…whether as her equal or something broken, Aleks would belong to her. Because love, in Makima's eyes, meant never letting go.
But then—
Aleks leaned forward and, without hesitation, flicked her forehead. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Is that something you even have to ask? No one can take you away from me… especially not those rejects." His tone was calm, but carried a quiet, unshakable confidence.
The sudden shift almost caught her off guard. For a moment, surprise flickered in her eyes, but she didn't complain. In fact, she liked it.
Feigning ignorance, huh…? Let's see how long you can keep up that act, Aleks-kun. Makima thought to herself, her smile returning, sharper than before.
Aleks understood it was his time to do what he was asked for, finding a weakness in this city-spanning barrier.
Yeah, I don't buy this task bullshit. You just don't want me to be there for some reason, Aleks thought, finally making his decision.
"I guess this is my cue to leave," he said out loud.
Makima's smile widened, just enough to betray a glimmer of satisfaction. "Give it your best, alright?" she said sweetly, yet beneath her voice was an unspoken authority.
And as Aleks reached for the door handle, she added, almost too softly to hear:
"…and remember, I don't want you to be influenced by these dogs. Don't let them get to you."
Her words echoed in his mind, almost clogging it with one thought:
The control devil is finally awakening huh.
***
The world was as wonderful as ever… but not for Yasaka.
After learning Makima had kidnapped Kunou, her soul left her body, it felt as if a part of her had already been ripped away. Kunou, her precious daughter, was her weakness, and she would do anything for her. Anything. Even if it meant becoming a slave.
"Yasaka-sama?" A young Kitsune approached, leaning closer so she whispered something in Yasaka's fox ears.
"Youkais from the Karasutengu clan have breached Kiyomizu-dera. Do we have your permission to proceed with Fushimi Inari-taisha as well?"
Yasaka's expression hardened. Every order she had carried out under Makima's command now felt like an invisible chain wrapped tighter around her conscience. She had sent her youkais to terrorize Kyoto's important locations, their target were the people, the living heart of the city. The weight of it pressed down on her chest.
Even if she stopped serving Makima tomorrow, she had already made enemies out of Shinto Pantheon. Her future was bleak.
Goddess Amaterasu might appear benevolent, but she would never tolerate such vandalism or assaults against those faithful to the Shinto religion.
Her fist clenched involuntarily. The unfairness of her situation, helplessness, Makima's audacity, it all ignited a wave of hatred within her.
"No," she said sharply, her voice cutting through the tension. "Do not touch that location. We would not want to be on the bad side of goddess Inari."
The fox youkai lowered her head in a bow, acknowledging Yasaka's orders. Yasaka's mind still raced, every step she took under Makima's authority left a scar on her conscience. Something she had never be able to forgive herself for.
***
Present.
The meeting was supposed to be about alliances, strategy, a united front against a looming threat that could threaten all the factions in Japan.
Kyoto Youkai Faction, representatives of the Five Principle Clans… and Makima herself.
Under normal circumstances, it should have ended peacefully. It should have.
But peace was never an option was it?
Blood.
It coated the tatami floors, a dark crimson stain spreading across the room like water. The scent of iron hung heavy in the air, mingling with that faint, uneasy tension.
Bodies lay motionless across the floor, frozen mid-motion. The humans who had come seeking alliance now paid the price they had never asked for.
Casualties:
Byakko Shinra.
Yoiichi Shinra.
Nakagami Nakiri.
Ouryuu Nakiri.
Yoshida Doumon.
Seiya Kushihashi.
Suzaku Himejima.
Suoh Himejima.
The air was heavy and an unspoken question lingered: Why?
Amid the carnage, Makima knelt, her golden eyes soft as she reached out to pat a white tiger cub, who purred and nuzzled against her hand.
"I like dogs," she said with a soft smile, "but cats… aren't so bad either."
To anyone else, this would been the worst mistake of their life, and here she was, casually patting a white tiger cub, who in reality was one of the five sacred beasts, tamed by Makima herself.
Yasaka observed from across the room, her chest tight with a mixture of shame and disbelief. She had carried out every one of Makima's orders, slaughtered humans whose only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And for what?
Makima turned her gaze to Yasaka, golden eyes sharp yet amused.
"You did well," she said softly, almost approvingly. "I'm glad you complied willingly."
Her tone was almost playful, but beneath it lay the weight of absolute control. She could have enslaved Yasaka with a thought, but where would the fun have been in that?
Makima preferred her obedience to be earned through fear and manipulation.
She had taken the one person Yasaka cherished above everything, and it had worked perfectly.
Yasaka lowered her gaze, unable to meet Makima's. The enormity of her actions pressed down on her like a tsunami.
"Why… why did you make me do all this, Miss Makima?" she stammered. "I… I don't understand. Except for the hosts of these sacred beasts, humans ate worthless. What was the point of targeting them?"
For a long moment, Makima said nothing. She cleaned her coat, using her magic to erase bloodstains, casually disregarding the massacre that had just occurred few moments ago. Then, finally, she spoke:
"Think of it as a test," she said, her tone light, almost teasing. "A test for someone I've come to-"
BOOM
Before she could finish, the roof collapsed in a violent explosion, sending shards and debris everywhere.
As the dust began to clear, a figure revealed, tall and muscular with four arms and four burning red eyes. Black markings coiled around his body like tattoos, jagged lines cutting across his face, shoulders, and torso. His presence was monstrous enough, but what drew every eye was the gaping mouth on his midriff.
Yasaka's eyes widened in terror. She knew that figure instantly.
Her body collapsed into a bow before her mind could catch up. "K-Kurogami-sama?!" she stuttered, her voice quivering as she pressed her forehead to the bloodstained floor. Fear clawed at her chest, she didn't want to die.
God of Darkness, Murder, Youkai and Sacrifices.
Kurogami.
Long ago, he had walked among men. Born as a hybrid of human and youkai, his name had scarred the Heian era. The demon whose legend spread like plague, whose existence even the Shinto gods dared not cross.
In those days, he was known by another name.
Ryomen Sukuna.
The monster who had drowned Japan in chaos a thousand years ago.
Kurogami's grin split wide as he ran a hand through his dark hair, red eyes burning with amusement as he gazed upon Makima. "Man, I'm disappointed. Seems like devils still don't know how to respect their god."
His hand fell with a simple downward gesture casually. And yet, Makima's body crumpled to her knees instantly, as though gravity itself hated her.
He strode forward, and then his hand seized her face, tilting it upward. Golden eyes met red.
"You keep your head too high, devil," he murmured, voice dripping with disdain. "I'll give you one more chance."
His command came heavy:
"Worship me."
For a moment there was silence.
And then, Makima laughed."Hahahaha… A fraud is ordering me to worship him? If this isn't funny then I don't know what is."
The word "fraud" felt like a blade grazing through him.
Kurogami's expression darkened, his grin widened, became something more cruel. He preferred obeisance and submission from everyone without exception.
But this woman, she resisted him. Mocked him even.
"…Your arrogance truly amuses me," he said at last, voice low, and dangerous. "For that, I'll make it quick."
And with a single word, he sentenced her:
"Die."
SPLURT.
Makima's body jolted violently. Blood splattered across the tatami mats. Her head slumped, golden eyes still wide open yet utterly lifeless.
Makima… was dead.
***
Kurogami was a god of many legends, but the most notorious, perhaps the most sickening was the one where he killed Tsukuyomi and Susanoo, two of the most revered male deities in Shintoism.
They were the brothers of Amaterasu herself.
He had grown in power ever since, but because of his heartless actions against the two deities Amaterasu cherished as her family, he was hunted down and eventually defeated.
Since he could not be killed by mortal or divine means, Amaterasu had no choice but to seal him away in a secluded region hidden beneath Kyoto.
And so, he remained sealed for millennia—until today.
Freed by a human wielding a holy spear, a weapon strong enough to kill even him. Forced into a contract for being freed from the seals. Kurogami agreed to grant the man's demand if the man agreed with his demand first of course.
He wanted to isolate Kyoto, to cut the city off from the outside world so the Shinto pantheon could not interfere with what was about to happen.
In exchange, the spear-wielding human asked for the death of a certain devil. That human even claimed his target was a very dangerous woman who also happened to be immortal.
Immortality meant nothing to Kurogami. His true power was his divinity, especially the Divinity of Murder. It allowed him to inflict permanent death on any being, mortal or divine, so long as he was strong enough to strike them down.
Kurogami turned his gaze toward Yasaka, who was still trembling in fear, her forehead pressed to the ground.
"Raise your head, fox," he commanded.
Yasaka slowly obeyed, voice shaking. "It is an honor to meet you, Lord Kurogami. My deepest apologies that it had to be like this."
He smirked. He quite liked this woman.
"Fret not. Care about those useless things later. What matters now is one thing. And you will do it for me." His words were not a request. They were law.
Yasaka bowed her head again, trembling. "I would die for you, my lord. Your words are everything to me."
Kurogami's grin widened.
"Good. Then listen. That wretched goddess sealed me for a millennium, and in that battle I was weakened. To regain even a fragment of my power, I will need sacrifice."
His voice grew colder, heavier.
"A million human lives. That is the offering I require."
He leaned forward, his presence suffocating.
"Tell your youkais to kill them all. Drown Kyoto in blood, and let them put their faith in me."
Yasaka's eyes widened in shock. Now she understood. Makima had planned this all along.
Kurogamai stepped closer, and for the first time in centuries, offered Yasaka his hand, a rare gesture of acknowledgment.
Hesitant, Yasaka took it. Following him felt safer than being trapped under someone like Makima.
But just as she began to get up, a voice cut through the room…It was soft, controlled, and impossibly calm.
"Funny. I ordered her to do the same thing an hour ago."
The words froze everyone in place. Kurogamai's red eyes narrowed, disbelief twisting his expression. He turned around and there she was.
Makima. Standing perfectly unharmed even after being subjected to violence thatt would put fear in Gods.
Her golden eyes with concentric red rings, were cold yet gleaming with amusement, fixed on him. Then, she lifted a hand and leveled a finger at him.
"Bang."
***
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Author's Note:
Like this chapter ? Then please leave stomes! And let me know your thoughts in comments. See you next time~