Kny •《Bury Me, My Love》

8. Freedom

Douma sat down rather painfully on the cold stone floor.

His good leg hurt from supporting his weight all alone for so long. His other leg hurt even more, for obvious reasons.

Gods above, he felt utterly humiliated. Even if he managed to break free from that cell, how would he escape from the dungeon?

Something as simple as standing up and moving was now a task that seemed beyond his capacity.

As much as Douma knew he should never give up... Sweet Budda, sometimes he wished he could just surrender and be done with that.

Surely, he could ask Shinobu to bring him new crutches, right? If she wasn't willing to smuggle them to him, then she could at least try begging her boss to give Douma some dignity.

Right?

Ah, Shinobu. He didn't trust her, not even a little.

But she could be useful, regardless of her actual intentions. Just like how Douma had managed to find that book detailing the fate of his comrades.

Helping him probably hadn't been her goal back then, but her instructions did serve him somehow.

Besides, his current situation only made the slayer even more convinced that killing Kanae was the only way to end that madness he got caught into.

That is, if Kanae didn't put an end to him first.

An overwhelming presence flooded the prison.

Douma tensed up, but couldn't quite find the strength to get up.

The oppressive cold energy made him feel like he was on the bottom of the sea, or buried underground again: it made him feel as if he was suffocating.

It threatened to crush him, to flood his lungs and never let him go.

Back when he fought Kanae, her presence didn't seem that horrifying. What had changed now?

"Douma," said Kanae, simply, as she crept up to the cell. As if she had no idea of how to start a conversation with him - which made sense, because Douma himself also had no idea of what to say.

He didn't even answer.

What could they say to each other? Douma just wanted to wrap his hands around her neck until she dropped dead, and he was sure that Kanae thought a similar thing about him.

"What do you want?" Asked the slayer, then noticing how the demon just stood there.

"Don't be a coward. If we're going to fight, I want you come in here so I can properly kick your ass."

Kanae sighed, clenching her fists. She had just arrived, and her patience was already dangerously close to its end.

"Even captured and injured, you're as sharp as always," she said. "I'm not sure if this makes me admire you, or hate you even more. Either way, I'm not here to fight you, Douma. Face it. You're done now."

Douma huffed, crossing his arms.

"If you're not here to finish that battle, then what do you want? I was having a great time in my cell until you got here..."

The kanji in Kanae's eyes glowed. Before Douma could even guess what she was about to do - and more importantly, make a plan to counter it - the uppermoon walked towards him.

Kanae passed through the thick metal bars as if they were made of air. That sight, along with the sudden intrusion into his cell, made Douma's heart skip a beat. 

He instinctively tried to move backward, pressing his back against the stone wall, adrenaline kicking back in and numbing all of his pain.

Why did Kanae suddenly appear so much more threatening.

Her wings remained half open in a threatening manner, along with the glowing kanji, which they served to remind Douma of Kanae's otherworldly nature.

"I'm not in the mood for your provocations, Ice Pillar. If you address me in a mocking manner, I'll close your mouth by telekinesis. I was kind enough to fix the crack on your head made by Kyojuro, but I won't hesitate to split your skull in half if I find it necessary."

Douma glared at her, pressing his back against the wall, both in unconscious fear and to keep his balance, as pain coursed through his good leg again.

"Well, I'm sorry my words can hurt such a powerful demon. I'm already locked up in prison, and I can't even walk anymore. Is there anything you still want from this worthless human, Kanae? Or are you just going to shove me back inside a coffin again?"

Douma swore he could see Kanae' wings tensing up with a deep breath until they relaxed back as she exhaled.

"I suppose this is as respectful as you're capable of being for now," whispered Kanae, briefly looking away.

She sounded like he was using all of his power to remain calm. Turning her attention back to the former Hashira, she raised her voice: "Just listen to me, you vermin. I'm here to negotiate your freedom."

"My freedom?" Douma let out a nervous laugh. Kanae' scowl intensified.

For a moment, Douma feared that Kanae would simply obliterate him on the spot. "Alright. Let's pretend I believe you. Where's the catch?"

"You know I don't joke around. Just think about it for a moment, you mooncalf. You escaped from a buried coffin even though you have no powers left. You spread mayhem across Hell. Kyojuro spent hours rearranging his face after you disfigured him. You're a danger to all of us, and I can't forgive you about our fight... but I can recognize your wit and your strength."

Kanae approached, and Douma had to contain the urge to attack her.

Kanae's wings opened a little more, and they seemed about to swallow the slayer into an ocean of darkness. The uppermoon whispered:

"Don't get me wrong, throwing you back into a coffin sounds absolutely delightful, and it would make my existence a little happier... but it would also be a waste of potential."

"Uh, I don't like where this is going..."

"What I mean, Douma," said Kanae, her fangs a little too close to Douma's neck.

As if she almost felt tempted to take a bite out of the flesh. "Is that I'm willing to pardon you for your crimes and most of your disrespect against me... if you renounce the Kibutsuji clan and the Demon Corps. You'll also be granted your freedom and your powers back if you do so."

Douma narrowed his eyes, asking:

"You want me to renounce Kibutsuji and the Corps... for what?"

"Why, isn't it obvious?" Said Kanae, backing away just to properly stare down at the human. "So you can serve me instead.