The meeting ended with Muzan punishing Gyutaro and Daki with his curse engraved in their blood for hours before sending the tormented siblings back—all which Douma watched silently.
'Why does my heart itch so much?'
He wondered with calm curiosity as he was transported back to his cult. Closing his eyes, he sighed. He hated thinking. It was such a stressful thing to do. Especially after Shinobu's words and Muzan's reaction to him saving Gyutaro and Daki.
"Lord Douma..."
He heard Saki's voice outside his room.
"Yes dear, you can come in."
He sighed, mildly amused. Was the young lady scared by his earlier act? Probably.
The lady came in, her hands fidgeting at her side.
"Uhm, your food is ready, my Lord."
Douma smiled, then sat up straight. Saki flinched, slightly startled.
"What did you cook?"
Saki tilted her head, surprised. Douma wasn't that picky about food. Infact, he never asked about what the food was. He only ate with a smile, always.
"We cooked rice and veggies with chicken broth." She answered, feeling the tension roll off her shoulders softly.
"Ehn? That's interesting." Licking his lips, he signalled her to come closer.
She complied and set the food before his beanbag which he started eating slowly with his usual smile. A few minutes later, he was done eating and turned to her.
"Saki... Are you happy?"
The lady frowned in thoughts, then answered honestly.
"I am. I'm serving my lord whom I deeply admire. It's an honor, really..."
Douma stared at her some more, then sighed.
"I see. I'm glad I can make you all happy."
....
Over the past week, Shinobu had been expecting Douma to show up like usual but he didn't. And something similar to worry gnawed at her. Especially after she learnt about his intervention in the fight between the Upper Moon Twins and Tengen's group. The fact that the fight had forced Tengen to retire stung her deeply. Even more so, when they failed to kill the demons responsible.
'Why did Douma intervene? Is it because he didn't want other Upper Moons to die? I'm so confused!'
Holding her hair in her hands, she frowned heavily.
Suddenly, a soft knock startled her.
"Hashira, the Water Hashira is here to see you."
Shinobu hurriedly controlled herself then went to see Giyu.
As usual, the guy was standing under a tree shade with his placid expression not shifting as he watched the moon.
"Giyu-san! I didn't expect you to actually visit me." She teased, holding her hands behind her back.
"Khm." Clearing his throat, Giyu spoke in a rough voice. "I came because I was having cold."
Hearing this, Shinobu's expression turned serious. "Ah? And you didn't let me know? When did it start? Yesterday?"
She asked as she reached out to check his pulse. It was painfully slow and cold.
"A few weeks ago." He answered shortly. Shinobu's eyes widened. Weeks ago? Was he trying to kill himself?
"You're such a hassle."
She complained, then dragged him into her lab.
Giyu's lifeless blue eyes roamed about, taking in the view. It was quite a sight.
"You must work a lot."
He commented.
Shinobu stiffened slightly. Then resumed checking for medicine.
"Sure. I'm an Hashira after all."
Moments later, she found the right medicine for him and delivered it.
"Use it two times a day. Whenever you want to sleep and when you wake up. Okay?"
She instructed, smiling.
Giyu only nodded, then began walking away.
Shinobu made a shocked expression. "You won't even say thank you?"
Giyu froze, then slowly turned to look at her. "..ank you." He whispered.
Although amused, Shinobu didn't want to delay him and sent him off with a wave.
As she walked back to her lab, she nodded at her workers, encouraging them with a smile and tending to the injured when her attention was called.
Finally, she arrived before the door. And immediately, she felt it before she saw it. That particular demonic signature.
'He's here.' she thought, suppressing the rage and hate she harboured for him, then entered.
As usual, he was dressed in his usual clothing and the purple sash hung on his neck.
"Ah! You're here, Shinobu-chan."
He clapped happily, mimicking a child happy to see his mother. A vein popped on Shinobu's head.
'Curse him!'
Walking towards him calmly, she spoke.
"You've been absent for quite a while."
He nodded. "Hmn. I've been quite busy with demon stuff."
Shinobu didn't press. She knew better than to ask. Ignorance was bliss. And she also didn't want to know the number of people he'd eaten during the week.
"Today, we're testing something different."
She said, holding a vial filled with dark purple liquid.
"Isn't that wisteria?" He asked.
"Partially. It also contains a very rare component." She answered, drawing the content into an injection. She smiled mockingly, "I worked on it in your absence anyway. Should be more potent than the others."
Instead of being wary, Douma only continued to admire her.
'Shinobu-chan is so cute!'
"Here we go!"
She injected him.
For the first few minutes, Douma continued to stare at her, not even feeling anything.
"It didn't work? I guess I was wrong." Shinobu sighed, disappointed. She had put a lot of effort into it.
Just as Douma was about to console her, his body jerked violently.
Before Shinobu could react, he fell to the ground, blood pouring from his mouth, nose and ears.
"*Cough* *Cough*"
He wheezed, large amounts of dark blood spilling from his mouth and eyes as his skin turned paler.
Shinobu was stunned, but secretly happy. It worked. She had added something an old man had sold expensively to her, claiming it was Blue Spider Lily. When she thought it didn't work, she was very disappointed. Now that the poison obviously worked, she was happy. Finally, she had made a poison strong enough to kill Upper Moons and she could finally get revenge for her sister. Even if she was beginning to understand him as a twisted demon, she wasn't ready to forgive him.
At least she thought so...
"Douma! Are you okay?"
Even as she said this, she was inwardly shocked. She suddenly found herself kneeling beside him, concern visible in her voice.
And when she touched him, her body instinctively shivered. He was so cold. Too cold, even.
Taking a deep, painful breath, Douma tilted his head and looked at her. Although his face was contorted in pain, he still smiled—eyes filled with twisted joy.
"*Cough* Although slightly different, it's just like last time. *Cough* Really amazing!"
He shivered, feeling his regeneration deteriorating.
Shinobu frowned, confused. Just like last time? She didn't understand. Had he ever been poisoned? To this level?
Suddenly, his eyes glazed over, and he collapsed.
Shinobu's hand quickly darted to his heart. It was still pulsing. Slow and steady. However, something else startled her.
His pale skin was regaining color. And he was no longer bleeding.
Was he... changing?