The Demon Queen

Disbelief

I made my way over to the Eternal Paradise Faith Cult as fast as I could without attracting any unwanted attention. It was morning. People were starting to awaken and go about their daily lives. I couldn't use my full speed as a demon. It was extremely important to try to blend in as a human as much as possible.

When I got there, the sun was fully risen. It was starting to feel bright to me, though it still wasn't becoming too uncomfortable. Still, I was relieved to finally go indoors, and I was even more relieved to be securely away from Muzan, at least for now.

The main doors to the temple were unlocked. I pushed myself through them and sped down the hallway leading to the Lotus Room. As I ran inside the silent temple, I was reminded of coming there with Gyutaro. My intense feelings of being distraught caught up with me. I was silently crying as I reached the door to the Lotus Room, mentally reliving both Gyutaro's death and what Muzan did to me.

I put my hands on the golden doors and pushed them open.

"Douma!"

I stepped inside to be met with the eyes of 10-15 people. Douma's followers had turned their heads to look at me. They were all kneeling, as if amidst prayer, each of them wearing the same identical white robe. Their eyes widened at the sight of my state.

Douma, who was seated in his throne-like chair at the back of the room stared at me with stunned, wide eyes. I saw him mouth my name.

"I -- I'm sorry that I've disturbed something." Feeling pressured under the eyes of Douma's followers, I bowed. "Douma-sama, I didn't mean to intrude."

Douma stood up. "My children, I will have to end our sunrise prayer today," he announced. "This woman is clearly in terrible distress and I cannot turn away a dear soul in need." He made a gesture with his hand for his followers to stand up. "Rise, my children. We will continue this evening."

His followers all stood up. They looked at Douma in admiration and bowed to him.

"Douma-sama, we must thank you for your unconditional dedication to serve the lost and fallen," one of them said.

"It is our duty to take the strength you have bestowed upon us and give you our blessings to comfort this girl," another one said.

"Douma-sama, please guide this lost soul on the path to paradise," another one said.

With that, they all bowed again, uttered a short prayer, and made their way out of the room. As they passed me by the door, each of them spoke another soft prayer under their breaths.

A second after the final follower exited and closed the door behind them, Douma was in front of me. His jaw dropped very slightly from the sight of me close-up. He looked into my teary, bloodshot eyes, then down to my clothing and back up at my face.

"Sakura-chan ..." he said softly, almost in disbelief. "Sakura-chan, what are you doing here at this time of day, and -- and why are you wearing Kokushibou-dono's kimono, and at your neck, too?"

I fell to my knees, grabbing Douma's hakama, and started to cry, this time vocally.

Douma was silent. He was completely speechless.

"Gyutaro --"

Douma still had nothing to say.

"Gyutaro is dead!"

My words echoed throughout the room. Each time they returned to me, they came with a dagger each sharper than the last. I felt Douma's energy plummet. His breathing grew heavier and he looked at me in horror.

"They're both dead!" I panted a couple times. "And Gyutaro, I -- I couldn't save him ..."

Douma got down to his knees and pulled me into his arms. "I -- I don't know what to say," he said weakly. "I -- How? How can they be gone?" He started to sob, earnestly, from the depths of his heart. His aching was pulsing out from his body. "I can't believe this! I have sweets waiting for them in the back room. They can't be dead! Sakura, they can't be dead!" His head fell to my shoulder. His entire body shook as he cried. "Sakura-chan ... tell me this is a sick joke. Tell me it's a bet you made with Gyu-kun. You did, didn't you, you two sickos ..."