94
Kokushibo suddenly got up, his towering form casting a shadow across the room.
"Time to go. He is waiting." His voice was low, steady, but there was a faint sigh at the end that made your stomach tighten.
You groaned, dragging yourself up reluctantly. "Ughhh, seriously… I was kinda hoping you forgot about that part." You stretched your arms dramatically before following him down the dimly lit hallway.
The air grew heavier with each step, and just when you were about to make another sarcastic remark to lighten the mood
BAM. BAM. BAM.
You froze, eyes wide as the sound echoed through the hall like someone pounding on drums. Before you could even turn to look, the shoji doors behind you slammed open. A gust of wind rushed in, and you gasped as a sharp pull yanked at your arm.
"AHH-!!HEY!! " you yelped, stumbling forward.
Kokushibo’s hand had shot out, his grip firm around your wrist, dragging you inside the vast chamber. His movements were fast, almost impatient, and the doors immediately slid shut behind you with a loud clack.
Your heart hammered as you looked around the large, dimly lit room. The air was cold, suffocating, filled with an energy that made your skin prickle. Kokushibo finally let go of your wrist, his unreadable gaze flicking toward the figure already waiting inside and Your breath caught.
"…He’s here already?" you whispered under your breath, your tone half-annoyed, half-nervous, as you straightened your clothes and tried to look less rattled
He knocked on the shoji door lightly, and it slid open to reveal Muzan staring down at you.
"Finally you're here. Kokushibo, leave." He waved the sixeyed demon off without hesitation. "And you, come in."
You froze, but when his finger pointed directly at you, a shiver crawled down your spine. Slowly, you stepped forward into the room. The door slid shut behind you, trapping you inside with him.
"Sooo uhmmm... explain..?" you asked nervously, your voice a little shaky.
Muzan didn’t even look at you. His hands were busy mixing strange chemicals together in delicate glass bottles, the clinking echoing in the quiet room.
"How much do you know?" he asked calmly, almost bored.
"Me? Whattt? Know? What’s that? I don’t know anything." You laughed awkwardly, forcing a smile that didn’t reach your eyes
Suddenly, without warning, Muzan grabbed one of the glass tubes filled with his strange experiments and hurled it straight at you.
"AHHHH!! " you yelped, diving to the side just in time. The glass shattered against the wall, liquid hissing as it burned through the wood.
You pressed your hand against your arm, hissing in pain. Even though you dodged, a sharp edge of glass had still cut you. Blood dripped slowly down your sleeve.
"HEY!! What was that for?!? " you shouted, glaring at him.
Muzan tilted his head slightly, expression unreadable. "Testing."
"Testing?? Bro, you could've killed me!!? "
"Not if you were fast enough." His tone was cold, as if your near death meant absolutely nothing to him.
You groaned, clutching your arm tighter. "Psycho..." you muttered under your breath.
But Muzan’s sharp eyes caught the word instantly. "What did you just call me?"
"A fucking psychopath!! That's what you are!" you yelled, your voice echoing against the walls.Muzan’s eyes snapped toward you, a flicker of annoyance crossing his otherwise unreadable face. His voice dropped low, dangerous. "Don’t you dare call me that… useless human…"
He took a slow, deliberate step closer, his presence overwhelming. The air felt heavier, almost suffocating, as if the room itself was shrinking around you. You backed up instinctively, pressing your hand against the wall.
He rolled his eyes slightly, a subtle gesture meant to calm himself but it did little to ease the tension. His cold stare bore into you, sharp enough to make your chest tighten.
"You… have no idea what you’re saying," he continued. "Do you even know who you’re speaking to?"
You huffed, crossing your arms, trying to hide how much his words made your stomach flip. "Yeah, I know exactly who you are, and you’re still a psycho!! You're not better than anyone just because you're stronger alright? Even if you are!! You're still a trashy human who has nothing to do with his life but to kill humans! You think being fast or strong makes you important? Nah, it just makes you annoying! You have no idea what it’s like to live, to feel, to care about anything besides your stupid power! And don’t even try to look all intimidating like that, it doesn’t scare me!! You’re just a big, overgrown, scary kid throwing a tantrum because life didn’t hand you what you wanted!! So yeah, go ahead, glare at me or whatever, I don’t care!! I’m not impressed!! "
After you said all that, you took a deep breath and looked straight into his eyes.
"What…? " Muzan’s eyes widened at your outburst, and he added, "This… isn’t the first time I’ve heard this…"
"What? Fr? What do you mean?" you asked, confused, tilting your head.
He paused for a moment, his expression unreadable, before finally speaking. "I..remember someone..telling me this"
"Are you Y/n L/n perhaps...?" he asked, his eyes scanning you intently. You froze for a moment, then nodded slightly, still shocked.
"Yeah? And how do you even know-!" you started, your voice rising in panic.
He cut you off sharply. "I know you from somewhere. In the past… Just leave, alright? You’ll be staying with Douma tonight until I decide what to do with you."
You swallowed hard, your heart hammering, but nodded, stepping back cautiously as he turned his gaze elsewhere.
You were just about to turn and leave, your legs moving on autopilot, when Muzan’s voice stopped you cold.
"Wait."
You froze, glancing back at him with wide eyes. "W-what now?"
His dark gaze was fixed on you, sharper than before, his tone calmer but carrying a weight that made your stomach twist. "I....don’t think Douma should handle you tonight."
You blinked, confused. "Uh okay? So..what does that mean?"
He took a slow step toward you, the air around him heavy. "It means...you’re staying here. With me."
Your heart skipped a beat. "W-what? Here? Alone..with you?"
Muzan’s expression didn’t soften, but there was something in his eyes that made you pause. "Yes. I need to see..understand something first, Y/n."
You swallowed nervously, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. "U-uh...okay...if you say so.."
He nodded slightly, his dark gaze never leaving you as you stayed rooted to the spot, unsure whether to be terrified or… something else entirely.
You shifted awkwardly, rubbing your arm where the glass had cut you earlier. "Sooo..what exactly am I supposed to do here? Just..sit and look pretty?"
Muzan’s eyes narrowed. "Don’t flatter yourself. You’re here because I haven’t decided what to do with you yet."
You scoffed, crossing your arms. "Wow. Thanks for the hospitality."
His gaze lingered on you, unreadable. "Most would beg for their life in front of me. Yet you… you keep talking back."
"Yeah, well, I don’t care..."you muttered, glancing at the strange bottles lined up on the shelves. "Besides, if you were gonna kill me, you would’ve done it already."
For a moment, his lips twitched almost like the shadow of a smirk but it vanished just as quickly. "Careful. That confidence of yours won’t protect you forever."
You tilted your head, studying him. "You talk like you know me."
Muzan’s eyes flickered, the faintest trace of something softer crossing them before hardening again. "Maybe I do."
You blinked at him, caught off guard. "...What’s that supposed to mean?"
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he turned back to his table, picking up another vial, his voice low. "Sit down. And be quiet… for now."
You sighed dramatically but plopped down anyway. "...You’re terrible at small talk, y’know that?"
His hand stilled mid-motion, and without looking back, he muttered, "And you’re far too comfortable for someone in the presence of their enemy."
You leaned back on your hands, tilting your head at him. "Enemy, huh? If I’m really your enemy, then why am I still breathing right now?"
Muzan’s eyes flicked toward you, crimson and sharp, but he didn’t answer immediately. He set the vial down with careful precision, the faint clink echoing in the room. "Because…" He paused, his jaw tightening. "You remind me of someone I once knew."
You blinked. "Oh great. So I look like your ex or something?" You let out a nervous laugh, trying to shake off the weight in his tone.
But Muzan didn’t react the way you expected. His gaze lingered on you, longer than before, unreadable but heavy, like he was holding back something. "Not just look like," he said quietly. "The way you speak..the way you glare at me as if I’m beneath you.."
You frowned, feeling a shiver run down your spine. "You’re acting weird. Like, really weird. I thought you were supposed to be scary,cold and a nonchalant dread head..not whatever this is."
His lips curled into the faintest smirk, but his voice stayed low. "Don’t get used to it. You’re still alive only because I allow it."
You rolled your eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Big bad demon king keeping me alive out of the goodness of his heart. Totally believable."
For a second, you swore his shoulders stiffened, like your words struck something deep. He finally turned fully toward you, stepping closer, his shadow falling over you.
"Careful with your mouth, Y/n," he said, his tone low but not quite as sharp as before.
You looked up at him, swallowing hard but refusing to back down. "Then maybe you should stop looking at me like you’ve seen a ghost and explain what the hell you mean."
"Oh? You really want me to explain?" Muzan asked, folding his hands like he was amused.
"DUHH??? JUST TELL ME!!" you snapped, stepping forward so your face was only a foot from his.
He raised one pale brow and for a heartbeat the room was only the two of you breathing. Then he sighed, slow and careful. "Fine. But not everything. Not now."
"Bro, all of this just so you won't talk??" you groaned, crossing your arms. "Like why make me sit through your whole creepy lab for, what, the suspense? That is so extra."
Muzan’s mouth twitched, a movement almost like a smile but colder. "Do not mistake patience for theatrics. I prefer facts to noise. You will listen when I choose to speak."
You huffed. "Wow, what a mood. Alright then. Give me one thing. One little thing. Why do you keep looking at me like I owe you money?"
He studied you, slow and precise. "You are the last echo of a life I once had. Hearing the same words, the same stubborn tone, revisits what I buried." His voice was quiet but it carried. "That is inconvenient."
"Inconvenient?" you echoed, stunned despite yourself. "So because I remind you of some old drama, I get kidnapped and prodded? Genius plan, honestly."
His eyes darkened, dangerous and unreadable. "You are not merely a reminder. You are an answer I did not expect. Answers should be handled carefully."
You let out a sharp laugh that had more nerves than humor. "Right, because nothing says 'carefully' like almost killing someone with a glass tube."
Muzan’s gaze flicked to the shattered glass mark on the floor, then back to you. "That's enough" he said firmly, his tone final.
But you didn’t stop. "Bla bla, I ain’t gonna stop yapping until you fucking tell me!! I deserve to know!! Plus, you keep saying it like it’s some huge deal, like it’s gonna ruin you-"
His composure cracked, his voice rising like a whip. "BECAUSE IT WILL! IT’LL FUCKING REMIND ME OF MY HUMAN LIFE! AND I DO NOT WANNA REMEMBER! YOU FINALLY GET IT?!"
The room shook with the force of his outburst, his eyes burning red as if the words themselves had ripped something raw open inside him.
You froze for a second, your mouth hanging open. Then you let out a shaky laugh. "…Oh. So that’s it. You’re scared of yourself."
Muzan’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing, his breathing sharper than before.
You stepped closer, eyes narrowing as you stared him down.
"All this power, all this control, and yet the second someone mentions your past, you lose it. Pathetic."
His head snapped toward you, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel. "Careful what you say, human."
"Why? You’ll kill me?" you shot back, tilting your head mockingly. "Go ahead. But then you’ll never get the answers you’re so obviously running away from."
His lips pressed into a thin line, and for the first time, Muzan didn’t respond immediately. His silence almost felt heavier than his rage.
You crossed your arms, refusing to back down. "Yeah. That’s what I thought."
Finally, he broke the silence, voice low, almost trembling beneath the fury. "You… sound exactly like her."
You blinked. "Her? Who the hell is ‘her’?"
Muzan looked away, his jaw tightening. "Someone I killed a long time ago."
Your breath hitched, and you felt your chest tighten. "Wait… what do you mean you killed her?"
Muzan’s eyes flicked back to you, cold and sharp, yet behind them was something unreadable, something almost… human. "I didn’t mean to. When I first became this… thing, I couldn’t control it. She was the first."
You froze, your mouth dry. "You’re saying… the first person you killed… was someone you actually cared about?"
His silence was deafening, but his clenched fists and the faint twitch in his jaw said more than words ever could.
You took a shaky step forward, your voice softer this time. "And… you think I’m her?"
Muzan’s gaze bore into you, his tone low and strained. "You don’t just look like her. You act like her. The same defiance. The same reckless mouth. Even the way you look me in the eye, like you’re not afraid."
You swallowed hard, your hands curling into fists at your sides. "So… what does that make me to you now? A ghost? A m-mistake?? "
His eyes darkened, and he hissed through his teeth. "Don’t twist this. You don’t understand what you’re talking about." His eyes darkened, and he hissed through his teeth. "Don’t twist this. You don’t understand what you’re talking about."
You scoffed, crossing your arms even though your heart was racing. "Then maybe you should make me understand instead of acting all mysterious and broody."
His glare sharpened, the weight of it enough to make most demons crumble. "Watch your tone. You’re only alive because I allow it."
You stepped closer anyway, lifting your chin stubbornly. "If you really wanted me dead, you would’ve killed me the moment I called you a psychopath. But you didn’t. So clearly, I matter to you somehow."
For the first time, his composure cracked. His lips curled, not in a smirk, but in something rawer, almost pained. "You sound exactly like her."
Your breath caught. "…Her? You mean-?"
"Enough." His voice thundered through the chamber, but it wavered for a fraction of a second. "Leave it alone. If I speak of her...if I remember too much..I’ll lose what control I have left."
You didn’t back away. Instead, you whispered, almost gently, "Maybe that’s what you need, Muzan. To remember."
His jaw clenched, veins pulsing at his temples. "You don’t know what you’re asking for," he muttered, turning his head just slightly so you could see the flicker of something softer in his eyes grief, buried deep under centuries of rage.
Muzan’s gaze hardened again, the flicker of softness gone in an instant. He straightened his posture, his voice cold and sharp as a blade.
"You know what? If you’re going to keep bugging my ass, then you’re staying with Douma."
Your jaw dropped. "EXCUSE ME-WHAT??"
He waved his hand dismissively, already turning his back on you. "At least he enjoys noise. Perhaps your endless yapping will amuse him instead of irritating me."
"Bro, you’re seriously pawning me off like some annoying pet?! To Douma of all people?!" You threw your arms up, your voice echoing in the chamber. "That guy is literally a cult leader clown-!"
"That’s enough." Muzan’s tone cut like thunder, final and absolute. "Be grateful I’m not tearing you apart myself."
You glared at his back, fists clenched. "Ungrateful bastard…" you muttered, but loud enough for him to hear.
His head turned slightly, one crimson eye locking onto you with quiet menace. "Careful.. "
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