Unexpected Demon Encounters

Chapter 10

After I finish eating, Muzan takes my tray, setting it aside. His back is turned towards me. I lay down on my side as I watched him. I yawn. I reach out towards him and I'm suddenly standing outside my house.

This can't be real. I was just with Muzan. Did I fall asleep? "Hello? Mother. Father." No answer. I slide open the front door and I hear a tree branch break behind me.

I'm suddenly standing deeper in the woods. It's cloudy. I look back and my brother is standing a few feet away. He's a demon. "Kai?"

He blinks, looking up at me. He walks towards me cautiously. I run the rest of the way to meet him, wrapping my arms around his waist as his arms wrap around my shoulders. I cry into his chest. "Big brother! I missed you." We fall to our knees and I just hold him tight. He leans back and cups my face. He looks down at me. He wipes my tears away. I cup his cheek. He feels real.

"Lyla." He starts to say. He smiles. "I hope you know I've always loved you. No matter if I'm a human or a demon. Nothing will ever change that. I love you. Follow your heart. Stay safe."

"Thank you, Kai. I love you, too."

When I open my eyes, I'm back in bed. Muzan is holding my hand. He has a worried expression on his face as he gazes down at me. I sit up and he touches my cheek. "Why are you crying, Lyla?" He asks quietly. I reach up, touching my other cheek.

"I had a dream about my brother. We had been deep in the woods near our home. He felt so real. Does one of your demons control dreams?"

I know it's a far-fetched idea. I don't know much about demons yet...I still have the feeling to ask.

He nods at me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "Yes. Enmu. The demon I tasked to find your parents' killer. Did he give you a pleasant dream?" He looks down at me, curiosity on his face.

"Yes. I think so. I know it wasn't real...but it definitely felt real. I'm grateful." I smile. "It was nice to hear his voice again," I say, as I recall the dream.

"Your birthday is in four more days. I have to leave again. I will have Akaza out there waiting to entertain you again. If that's alright with you?" He seems to gauge my expression. "I don't know how comfortable you are around the others yet." He gives me a small and questioning smile.

"Akaza is fine. We can play tag." I smile. Muzan cups my cheek and leans towards me. Moving slowly. Our lips are so close to touching. Do I want him to kiss me? He moves back suddenly. He pats my head, making me feel like I've done something wrong.

Maybe he doesn't want to rush me. That's the only reason I could come up with. That's considerate.

"There is a bathroom through that door." He leaves the room and I assume he vanished. I bite my lip. Why did he stop himself from kissing me? I take off my socks, throwing them on the bed for later. I use the bathroom and walk out into the platform area. Akaza is sitting on the platform.

I walk up to him. "Hi, Akaza." I smile down at him. He looks up at me and nods in greeting. "Can we play tag?"

"Sure. I should warn you about Doma. Try not to be alone with him. That bastard likes to torment me with images of you being held against the wall in your previous home." He looks up at me, waiting for a reaction. "Perverted bastard. Thinks I'm into that." He mutters under his breath.

My face goes red. Either with anger or embarrassment. Maybe just a mixture of both.

"That's a demon power?" I ask with slight anger in my voice. Akaza looks up at me, slightly taken by surprise by my reaction to the news.

"Yes. It's because he is a higher rank than me. It can be thoughts or images." He stands up. "Start running. Nakime will transport you around. If I catch you...you have to massage my shoulders." My eyebrows raise at his bet. He smirks as if he's already won the bet.

"If I catch you...you have to...massage my shoulders instead." I giggle. He steps closer. He has a playful scary aura.

"Who said you're winning, mouse?" He smiles down at me and my heart almost stops when he grabs my shoulder, lightly squeezing it.

"I-I did. I w-will win." I stutter nervously. He leans down and whispers in my ear, making goosebumps form on my arms. "Run, mouse." His voice is quiet, but still teasing. I involuntarily shiver.

That's when I take a step back and offer my hand. "Shake on our bet, Akaza. No take-backs."

At those words, he grabs my hand, smiling wickedly like I'd just made a deal with the devil. In some sense, I technically did. He lets my hand go and nods.

"You get a fifteen-second headstart, mouse." He tells me. I take off running as fast as I can. I look back as I turn a corner and he's got his arms crossed, counting in his head.

With my heart beating faster, I look down and jump onto a bridge, skipping down the next few floors. I go into a room and hide. I hear the sound of feet running across the floors higher up. I stay quiet and listen. Do demons have a good sense of smell? Or maybe better senses in general. Everything is probably enhanced.

This isn't tag, it's turning into hide and seek. Or worse, a game of cat and mouse. Now I understand the nickname.

I listen and then I hear his voice. "I know you're here, mouse. I can smell you." I shiver a little at his words.

"Nakime. Teleport." I say quickly. I'm suddenly in a different room entirely. I listen. The door opens and it's Akaza. "Teleport!" I'm suddenly teleported back on the platform. I hear him behind me. 3.2.1 dodge. I dodge to the floor and he flies overhead. That was too close. "Now!" I yell. Akaza is lying on his stomach, rolling over.

I'm suddenly teleported a few feet above Akaza. I wrap my arms around him first. "I win!"

When I sit up, that's when I realize what position we're in. I'm straddling his waist. My face turns red and I quickly get up, blushing. "I'm sorry."

Akaza just chuckles and sits up. "Good job, mouse. You win."

Author's Note

What do you think so far?

Apologies for the late updates.