The Infinity Castle was caught in a rare, suffocating atmospheric shift. Nakime sat perched on her central dais, her biwa silent, though the tension in the air was so thick it felt as though the wooden beams might splinter. On the highest pavilion, the hierarchy of the demon world was on full, grotesque display. You sat in a position of absolute parity with Kokushibo, the two of you serving as the twin pillars of the Master’s strength. Your presence was a legend whispered among the lower ranks—the second Upper Moon
One, an ancient entity who shared the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Beside you, Kokushibo sat in his usual statuesque, meditative pose, his six eyes fixed forward, radiating a cold, unyielding silence. That silence was violently discarded as Daki sashayed across the tatami mats, her long, floral obis fluttering behind her like silk wings. She ignored the protocol of the meeting, her eyes shimmering with a manic, shameless adoration. She bypassed the lower ranks and even the other Upper Moons, coming to a halt directly in front of you. "Oh, truly... I can’t bear it anymore!" Daki chirped, her voice a melodic, honeyed trill that echoed through the vast halls. She leaned down, her face inches from yours, her fingers reaching out to playfully toy with a lock of your hair. "I’ve spent the last century wondering if you were as breathtaking as the stories said, but they didn't do you justice. Why do you hide away in the dark with this old, somber swordsman? You should be in the Yoshiwara with me, surrounded by the finest silks and the most beautiful lights. We would look simply divine together, don't you think?"
She let out a soft, breathy giggle, her gaze raking over you with a bold, flirtatious hunger. "Tell me, My Lady... does he even speak to you? Or does he just sit there like a stone? I could show you a far more... vibrant way to spend an eternity." From the platforms below, the other Upper Moons watched with bated breath. Douma hid his grin behind his golden fans, his rainbow eyes darting between you and Kokushibo with a look of high-voltage amusement. Akaza stood with his arms crossed, his brow furrowed in genuine shock at Daki’s suicidal boldness. Gyokko peered out from his vase with wide, watery eyes, while Hantengu whimpered in a corner, terrified of the impending explosion. Gyutaro sat crouched in the shadows, scratching his face nervously; even he knew his sister was playing with a fire that could consume them both.
The air suddenly plummeted in temperature, turning brittle and sharp. The rhythmic thrum of Kokushibo’s bloodlust began to vibrate through the floorboards. Slowly, he turned his head. His three pairs of eyes focused on Daki with a terrifying, singular intensity. He didn't draw his sword, but the pressure emanating from him was enough to make the wooden railing beneath Daki’s hand crack. "Upper Six..." Kokushibo’s voice was a deep, hollow rasp that felt like a blade sliding across bone. He reached out, his large, calloused hand moving with a slow, possessive deliberation to catch your wrist, pulling you slightly closer to his side. "Your tongue... is far too... nimble. You forget... your station. And you forget... who she... belongs to."
Daki’s flirtatious smile faltered as she finally felt the weight of the Moon's jealousy. But before she could retreat, a presence far more absolute than Kokushibo's manifested. Muzan Kibutsuji stepped out from the darkness of a higher corridor, his eyes glowing a violent, crystalline plum-red. He looked down at the scene with a expression of cold, clinical disgust. He had witnessed the entire interaction—Daki’s posturing and Kokushibo’s uncharacteristic display of territorial aggression. "Is this... what my Upper Ranks have become?" Muzan’s voice was a low, melodic purr that carried to every corner of the castle. He descended the stairs, his footsteps silent. He walked straight toward you and Kokushibo, his gaze flickering briefly to Daki. With a casual, flicking motion of his hand, he sent a surge of blood-pressure through the girl's veins.