“Did you get more blood?” The blonde couldn’t help but inquire as he looked at them. Demons were forever stuck at the age they turned- their beings nothing more than fleshy time-capsules as the eras rolled by. Eternally beautiful, but that didn’t mean a demon’s skin couldn’t grow dull over the years; especially if they hadn’t had a good feed in awhile.

Muzan’s blood though- it was like liquid stardust in its own right. It seemed to make whomever received it especially dewy; their lifeless skin glassy, their eyes shinier. There was a rejuvenated feel to it, like you’d just turned. It showed on Emnu now- even their hair looked shinier!

“Oh, you noticed? Yes! Lord Muzan was so kind to give me a taste of his blood!” Their cheeks pinkened, making them look even more radiant. Douma felt something brush the surface of his repressed emotions at the sight. “I feel brand new- powerful! It’s like he put his faith in me- a humble lower moon! Oh!” Enmu blushed more, covering their mouth delicately as they looked up at Douma. “Forgive me- I spoke out of term. I shouldn’t boast before someone of such a higher rank than me.” They dropped to the ground, bowing so low their voice muffled. “I humble myself before you, Lord Douma.”

“Now now, no need for all that.” Another strange feeling brushed by. It made his skin crawl and his stomach churn, and he dropped to the ground before Enmu could notice. “Rise up. Lord Muzan wouldn’t have given you so much had he not recogized…”

His eyes lingered on Enmu’s neck. What a strange mark- it must have been where Muzan injected them. The veins around it pulsed and bulged, fighting to smooth out against their skin. Before he could stop himself, Douma reached out and trailed his nails along the skin. “How curious..”

“Ehheeheh?” Enmu squeaked and ducked, shoulders shooting up to protect their neck. There was a pause. They slowly looked up, eyes wide as they stared at Douma. “L-Lord Douma…?”

“Oh?” The blonde grinned. “What do we have here?”

Enmu blushed scarlet, frozen before their superior. Douma didn’t break eye contact as he swept his fingers upward, trailing Enmu’s neck and ears with the precision of a surgeon. The highest ranked lower moon squeaked again as they ducked, balling their fists up in their lap as they giggled. “L-Lord Doohohohuma!”

“Tch, would you drop the Lord part? It really is only us here.” He pouted as he continued trailing fingers along Enmu’s neck and shoulders, wondering if this is what Akaza felt whenever he played with Rui. He couldn’t deny it was rather fun, teasing the Lower Moons. Though while the spider was clearly enjoying himself, Enmu…

“Do you like this?” Douma stopped briefly, watching Enmu’s laughter die down. “Be honest with me.”

“Lord Douma I…” The Lower Moon began, then trailed off at the intense look Douma gave them. Squirming beneath his gaze, they pulled on their sleeves. “With your permission to be honest…do. I rather enjoy the attention all of you give me.” All of them? Who else was teasing Enmu? That earlier twinge was back. Envy must be a persistent thing.

“Of course, I don’t mean to make you feel like you have to!” Enmu mistook Douma’s silence as disapproval, shooting forward with teary eyes, hands to their chest. “I enjoy it, but please don’t feel like you have to spare any of your eternal life on me! It’s an honor to be noticed, but that’s all I-”

“Shush.” Something finally broke in Douma, and he pushed Enmu on their back. His fingers worked up their sides quickly, making the Lower Moon shriek with mirth. “I’m not Lord Muzan. You don’t need to gravel at my feet. I’m tired of people groveling at my feet- just take the tickling!”

“Eheheheheheehe! Lohohohord Doohohohouma!” Enmu’s laugh was like a tea kettle, high pitched and wheezy and pleasant on the ears. They seemed even more ticklish than usual- perhaps the blood makes them extra sensitive? Douma would have to investigate that more later. “Ehahahhahhaha, fohoohohorgihihive meheheehe! I dihihihidn’t mehahhahan to grhohhhoovel!”

“Oh enough of that. I’m not mad at you, just relax into it. Enjoy the tickling you love so much!” He kept his touch light, seeing that Enmu reacted better to that. “And drop the ‘Lord’ part- I just want to be Douma to you. You’re Enmu, and I’m Douma. No Moons, just demons.”

“Eheheheheheh! Ehehehahhahahah! Buhuhuhut thahahat’s so hahahahhard, thohohohguh! I cahhhhaan’t droohohohp thehhehehe hohohohonohohoriihihic-EHEHHE!” Enmu squeaked and curled up when Douma tickled along their chest. Oo, a good spot it seemed. Just above the heart. Noted.

“Fine, fine- I suppose you can’t undo everything in a single tickle fight. But really- don’t stress this so much. Just…let me have this.” What was this, he didn’t know. He just knew the sound of Enmu’s giggles and squeals did…healing things to his mind. The sound was so clear, like it was chasing away shadows of a memory. Was this what happiness felt like?

Even though they didn’t need to, Douma eventually pulled back so Enmu could breathe. The smaller demon rolled on their side as they coughed on giggles, shoulders twitching with mirth as they wheezed and snorted. Their cheeks were so red, and their eyes were lined with mirthful tears. Oh to be able to blush and cry like that…

Douma reached out, patting Enmu on the shoulder in what he figured was a comforting touch. The other demon startled, but didn’t pull away. Instead, they looked back with a happy smile, rolling until they were facing Douma properly. “Hehe..hehehe…thahat was rather nice. Thank you, Lord Douma- oh!” They squeaked, covering their mouth. “I mean-”

“It’s fine.” The blonde reassured, and Enmu visibly relaxed. “We’ll work on it.”

“Oh? You mean…?” They sat up, eyes widening. “Lord Douma…are you offering to take me under your wing?”

“Oh? You view me as a bird now?” Douma teased, grinning at Enmu’s flustered face. Screw it! If Akaza could have Rui as his little buddy, why couldn’t he have Enmu? Of course, Enmu wasn’t really a child- not like Rui. They must have turned in their early twenties at the oldest- maybe even eighteen. 

It didn’t matter. “As of today, you’re officially my Tsuguko!”

“Lord Douma!” Enmu’s eyes filled with tears, smiling brightly. Then they looked lost. “What’s that?”

“Hm..you know- I don’t actually know.” Douma blinked. “But whatever! You’re with me going forward! I’m gonna teach you all the ways to drive Akaza crazy! We’ll be the menaces of the Moons!”

“Oooo!” Enmu clapped, delighted. “Thank you for choosing me! I am honored-” They winced when Douma narrowed his eyes. “I mean…simply, thank you.” That got a proper smile, and Enmu’s face warmed with joy. “So..now what do we do?”

“We hunt down our first targets, that’s what.” Douma stood up, taking Enmu’s hand. “Lesson one in becoming my Tsuguko. I’m going to show you how to take down Akaza!”