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The dynamic between the upper moons was a peculiar one. To the outsider it appeared as if every moon despised the others. And while that held truth for most of their dynamics, a few demons actually got along with one another.
Akaza, Upper Moon Three, did indeed detest upper moon two, douma, for a multitude of reasons. Just as he harbored a sort of grudging respect and hatred for upper moon one, kokushibo.
Douma personally was incapable of feeling any type of sentiments and thus if you were to quiz him on which upper moon he could not stand, he would simply laugh, amused at your serious question.
Kokushibo for his part, was hard on akaza due to his approval of the others work ethic, he tolerated douma, but only barely.
All in all, most upper moons were actually pretty much neutral towards one another. This dynamic changes with the inclusion of the demon king, muzan kibutsuji.
Douma has a blast testing the demon lords limits on a daily, akaza respects lord muzan greatly, gyokko
worships the ground he walks on and hantengu - in his typical cowardly nature - is immensely afraid of him. Daki adores muzan-sama, basking in his praise, oblivious to the fact that muzan only sees her as a bratty child. Gyutaro, her older brother, respects the demon king greatly and enjoys the status of being one of muzans favourites.
Kokushibo however, is a different case.
Being the oldest demon in the upper ranks, the ranks treading into effect only a few decades after his turn, he has always been the upper moon one. With his over 400 years of life experience as a demon, he is the person muzan has spent the most of his long life around.
Not much is known about kokushibo. He is a quiet, obedient individual that does not shy away from interfering should he be of the opinion that someone is disputing the hierarchy. He does not talk much, a man of few words and of even fewer expressions.
But the most mysterious aspect of kokushibo, one that is even more elusive than the first moon, was his relationship with the demon king.
On the rare occasion that the upper moons would meet up across the centuries due to a meeting, the moon's liked to gossip about kokushibos origins. They speculated about how long kokushibo must have known muzan-sama. Some like daki getting jealous at the thought.
However, aside from akaza who next to kokushibo, was the oldest upper rank, nobody really had access to much information and even akaza merely recalled that kokushibo had already been the first upper moon when he had entered the competition, a hint of frustration in his tone any time he shared that fact - his desire to grow stronger and one day beat kokushibo shining through once more.
Douma would always laugh lightly and then tease akaza with words that went a little along the lines of: "Oh my akaza-dono.. you sure are determined. To have such ambitions despite its fruitless task! What character!".
That is also when their meetings would typically draw to a close, doumas goading having actively triggered akaza into leaving angrily. The other moons would quickly follow, hantengu being afraid of having to be in the same room as douma on his own, would be the next to go- or rather sprint out of the room with whimpering noises.
Gyokko would often take his leave next, daki and gyutaro staying behind a little for daki to chat and gossip a bit more with douma, gyutaro often awakrdly just standing next to them, unwilling to leave without his sister.
After a while, daki and gyutaro would commence their journey to the entertainment district to continue their duties and douma was left alone to wander off to his cult.
The meagre rumours about kokushibo and muzan-sama were a collection of speculations and ideas - some with actual credentials- others simply the product of the upper ranks creativity.
One rumor stated, that kokushibo tended to reside within the Infinity Castle in his designated area, this rumor, was correct.
Another rumor claimed that kokushibo was muzan-samas "secret weapon" and only to be utilised in larger scale missions, that rumor held some truth. Muzan did indeed prefer to send kokushibo on tasks that required a reliable and very precise hand, but he did also send kokushibo on more miniscule missions.
Another, more ridiculous exclamation - kudos to douma - was that kokushibo was something akin to muzans lapdog. That he was something like muzans personal assistant. The other demons had regarded him with great skepticism at that.
Akaza had retributed by claiming that muzan-sama did not treat kokushibo as his secretary but rather like an Upper moon just like all of them were.
He had even argued that muzan did not like kokushibo because he tended to ignore the upper one during meetings, not once directly talking to him.
Douma had laughed slightly at akazas words and had proceeded to ruffle his hair - only to have his arm cut off by the hot-headed moon.
He had then simply chuckled good naturally, regrown his hand and and stated that: "Oh but akaza-dono.. have you never noticed how muzan-sama never discussed kokushibo-donos tasks in front of us, yet our dear moon somehow knows exactly what he's supposed to do?", douma had thrown into the room. Douma, akaza had noticed then and there, was more observant than he let on.
Daki, to their surprise had nodded, her facial expression treading of annoyance: "Of course he is meeting up privately with muzan-sama! He is the first upper moon after all.. doesn't mean that it's fair though that he gets to spend more time with muzan-sama and I don't!" She complained before turning to look at gyutaro, who was standing next to her: "Do something oni-chan!" She ordered, her voice sounding more whiny.
Gyokko had gushed: "Private meetings with muzan-sama.. what a lucky demon he is!" His skeleton white cheeks rosy with admiration - and that had been that.
As the centuries went on, the moon's gossip mill grew bigger, more compassing and more bizarre.
So bizarre that akaza sometimes found himself being the voice of reason - kokushibo usually being the responsible and mature person in the room, not that akaza admired that about him, of course not, in such moments he simply found himself missing the clear structure kokushibo brought to the table -.
No, kokushibo and muzan-sama did not have a secret love child that they had conceived in hopes of their extraordinary genetics creating the perfect fetus for an army of demons - no kokushibo and muzan-sama did not secretly invested in the stock market - what even was a stock market gyokko?-
No, muzan-sama did not simply hire kokushibo-dono for his impressive pecs douma - and how do you even know what kokushibos chest looks like douma??
At the end of it all, akaza found himself at the end of his patience. These claims were getting more ridiculous the more time went by, he was surprised that muzan-sama had not noticed their escapades so far, that or he was simply too tired of his moons behaving likechildren - not that akaza would blame him at that point. He found himself rather embarrassed by their little get togethers in which they discussed kokushibos and muzan-samas relations.
However akaza was rather relieved that kokushibo and muzan-sama had seemingly not noticed any of the rumors going around.
●●●
"What is their newest speculation?"
"Hm? Oh.. they think I turned you because of your glorious chest"
Kokushibo blinked, leaving the fact uncommented: "I see..", he closed his mouth and glanced at muzan with a less than subtle gaze as if he was waiting for something.
Muzan took in his upper rank one, having known him for such a long time now, that he knew exactly what his moon wanted even without taking a peek into his mind: "Whilst that is definitely not the reason, I must confess they are rather commendable", he indulged him graciously.
Kokushibo hummed quietly: "Thank you muzan-sama", his voice coming off as neutral as ever but the way he only tightened his hold around muzan belied of his true reaction - he was secretly happy because of the praise even if he would never say it out loud and that was just perfectly fine with muzan.
It was rather ridiculous, muzan mused to himself, as kokushibo continued to use him as a body pillow, to assume that he was unaware of the rumors regarding his person and kokushibo. He was not an amateur nor was he naive. He knew that his treatment towards the other moons and kokushibo differed greatly.
He preferred to remain distant when meeting his other moons. It was rather difficult to stay professional when you were the very person who had made the first move on kokushibo, the very night of their first meeting.
Those maroon siren eyes - the black long spiky locks, the gentle yet sharp curves of his significant other had instantly had him hooked. Maybe it had been his looks, maybe it had been the firm way he had talked, maybe it had simply been in the way muzan had been able to spot the quiet resilience within him, perhaps it had been the fact that he had been sitting on a rooftop during the middle of the night because that was when he had felt the safest, but muzan had fallen for michikatsu that sacred night.
Maroon had met blood red and it had.. simply clicked.
It was a dichotomous existence, for someone as cold and cruel as muzan to be completely enchanted by a mere human.. the thought of it alone, was beyond ridiculous. Had muzan heard himself ponder over these very thoughts before he had michikatsu, he would have laughed at himself, considering it to be a joke, the notion too ridiculous to comprehend.
Him and love? That was the most preposterous thing he had ever heard.
Yet, here he was.
Michikatsu had been so much like him, and at the same time was so different. When their eyes met, it had felt as if they had already known each other for their entire lives - for a being that had been over 500 years at that time, that had been an utterly terrifying occurrence- and they were both not very romantic, but even two souls as cold as them, could not dispute the way they had wanted to simply melt into each other, could not argue with how easily they fit together, with how easily they completed one another.
Muzan had known that very day, that he would do anything to keep michikatsu by his side forever. And michikatsu had known that as well.
Their partnership had been strong from the very beginning. The two of them had known exactly what they wanted from the other, there were no questions left to answer, nothing left to discuss when you seemed to be able to read your partners mind as if it was your very own.
Their union was deeper than the silly act of loving someone, the simple act of sharing their existence with one another was enough to bring them eternal happiness, there was nothing they wouldn't do to be together. It having been the reason why michikatsu had granted muzan permission to turn him in the first place.
Destiny had brought them together despite being born half a millenia apart from one another, and thus muzan would not allow for a silly little curse to get in the way of their ability to be together.
During the time it took for muzan to assemble the demon moons, he and kokushibo had embarked on many missions together, their dynamic making way for an effortlessly competent and efficient team.
Muzan was so fascinated and satisfied with how the two of them seemed to balance out each other's weaknesses and strengths that he had unofficially started to ask for kokushibos guidance and advice in many areas, trusting him with information and tasks that no other demon would ever have the privilege to be granted.
No, they did indeed not have a secret love child, and they also did not invest in the stock market to increase their budget but they did cherish each other deeply in the steady calm way that helped anchor them. Their affections were just as they were, reliable, effortless, silent.
They would let others speculate about their relationship, would amuse themselves with the ridiculous ideas their fellow demons could come up with, the true answers to these rumors however, would always stay between just the two of them. Just like it was supposed to.
Just them.