The Demon's Apprentice || Rewrite

Annoyance

It took a while for Tanjirou to wake up, several hours infact. In that time Kokushibo had managed to go out, hunt, and even bring back a recently killed human for Tanjirou to eat when he woke up.

It was the scent of the fresh kill that eventually stirred the young demon from his slumber. Tanjirou's nose wrinkled, and his eyelids twitched as he sat upright, rubbing his eyes. Tanjirou blinked the sleep from his eyes and noticed Kokushibo, and the fresh kill laying on the floor between the two.

"Sensei?" The boy mumbled out, voice slightly sluggish from just waking up.

Kokushibo nodded at Tanjirou's greeting, definitely not holding back a light chuckle. "Slept well?" Kokushibo gestured towards the dead human infront of Tanjirou.

Tanjirou, noticing the gesture, dragged the corpse closer and started eating with a nod to answer Kokushibo's question. "Mhm. Did I sleep for too long?" Tanjirou asked after the first bite.

"You didn't... sleep for too... long. "Kokushibo shook his head. "You did sleep... rather deebly."

"Oh." Tanjirou mumbled before wiping a stream of blood from his mouth. "I thought demons didn't sleep?"

Kokushibo nodded. "That is true. Most demons... including me... don't require sleep. We don't... feel fatique... as humans do. However, it seems... like you possess... the unique trait... to sleep, little one."

Tanjirou hummed before going back to eating. As the boy slowly ate, his body grew back to its original size, and the previous drowsiness dissappeared. By the time Tanjirou had finished eating, he was back to his usual size and his eneregetic and eager demeanor returned. Tanjirou stood up, grabbed his wooden sword, and was about to speak until a loud crash echoed in the distance, startling him.

Kokushibo didn't need to go check the source of the sound, as he already had a good idea of what had caused it- Upper 3, Akaza, had started yet another fight with Upper 2, Douma. The crash was likely the result of Akaza punching Douma through a wall or two.

Their constant fights disturb the hierarchy, and that irritates Kokushibo. But he has no time, or the energy, to deal with their foolishness again.

"Sensei, what was that?" Tanjirou asked.

"That was... the sound of Upper 3... punching Upper 2's head off... again." Kokushibo explained with a sigh.

Tanjirou tilted his head in confusion. "But... isn't Upper 3 below Upper 2? So isn't attacking someone of higher rank... just basically a challenge for a Blood Battle?" Even Tanjirou saw just how foolish these constant fights between the two demons were.

"Yes, you are correct..." Kokushibo responded with a nod. "Attacking someone... of higher rank... does imply... a challenge for... a Blood Battle."

"...And Upper Two doesn't acknowledge the challenge?" Tanjirou asks. The boy has been present once or twice to see one of Akaza's and Douma's pointless fights, and has seen Douma's carefree behaviour. It seemed to unnerve Tanjirou. "Does he think of the challenge as "friendly banter" rather than a fight for his rank?"

"Upper Two doesn't... seem to take... the hierarchy... or the consept... of Blood Battles... seriously, which only... adds to the... irritation and disturbance." Kokushibo nodded, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

Tanjirou is silent for a moment. "...That sound... tiring to deal with."

Kokushibo allows a dry and tired chuckle escape his throat. "You've got... that right, young one... Dealing with them... is more than... just tiring. It's... downright irritating. It's challenging to... maintain order... among the Upper Ranks... with their constant squabbling. But it's something I've... learned to deal with... unfortunately."