Ali stood still in the middle of the dark room, he had been completely silent since the Upper Moon Meeting. A whirlpool of emotions caused internal turmoil stronger than ever before. He trembled at the memory of the colourless dust, his hand wrist deep into the remains of Akaza. Wrist deep into the fallen ashes of his mentor. The scar into Ali's mind was deep and fresh. Even in the constant buzz of noise, his mind filtered it into eerie silence.
The dense and famous Red Light District, Yoshiwara, bustled with activity, flooded with noise and saturated with lights. The bright appearance could be seen from skies above while other places were shrouded with the expected silence and darkness of night-time. Yet, amidst the evil gambling hotspots, exploitation, and abuse that plagued the district, a far more sinister being slithered in between the cracks of Yoshiwara.
Daki, Upper Moon Six, resided here as a prominent Oiran in the district. Disguised and dangerous. She held dominion over her residence like a dictator, constantly mistreating and harming anyone she saw fit to. Yoshiwara was a breeding ground for nefarious activity, and Daki took that to her advantage.
She stepped outside of her dimly lit room, dressed in traditional wear as usual. Nighttime had arrived, both the peak of human and demon activity in the area. The hallways seemed to go quiet, both those in rooms and out in the hallway could sense Daki's presence. The wooden boards clicked as Daki took slow steps down the hallway, her face covered in makeup to conceal her true skin. Her eyes darted to those who dared to look at her.
"Greetings, Miss Warabihime," A young lady trembled as she stared up at Daki with wide eyes, her throat was dry just from Daki's terrifying glare. The woman's face was slightly blushed and her eyelashes were curled upwards almost perfectly, she was undeniably beautiful. Just looking at her perfectly dark brown eyes and silky hair. Daki's expression soured as a hint of jealously surged in her blood.
Looking beautiful in the face of Daki was the first mistake, the second was having the audacity to bring attention to yourself while looking beautiful. Just as Akaza never consumed women, Daki would never consume an ugly person. This girl now was a target above her head for when Daki chooses to eat next.
Fortunately for the woman, Daki had other matters.
When a Lower Moon died, strong enough demons would receive a telepathic message, encouraging them to try to claim the spot. With an Upper Moon, usually, Muzan would appoint the successor. However, Ali's immediate succession after Akaza's death had enraged Muzan. He knew killing Ali would be foolish. So he sent a telepathic message to every demon in Japan that Akaza had died and the Upper Moon spot was up for the taking. The only obstacle was Ali, who was currently residing at Yoshiwara.
Muzan's message made it seem that Ali was weak. Delusion spread alongside hope and ambition.
Daki's slender fingers trailed along the thin paper of the sliding door. A slow smirk crept up the side of her face, she lightly tapped the paper in a rhythmic pattern. She dug her nails into the wooden frame and slid the door open. The light from the hallway flooded into the dark room, Ali remained still, staring at his own hands as he sat on the edge of the bed. An unfulfilled intensity remained blazing in his eyes. He was still struggling with grief and anger.
Ali's shadowed eyes looked up at Daki with a unique type of silent hatred. He had to put his dislike for her aside if he wanted to get information. Until he got a lead, he would have to tolerate her. His skin shuddered and erupted with an uncomfortable layer of goosebumps as she sat ever so close beside him.
"Demons will come to challenge your title," Daki whispered in his ear, her tone sharp and blunt. Ali could almost picture the sinister grin on her face just by hearing her voice. The strong perfume she wore emanated off her neck and shoulders. There was a malicious undertone as if she had a secret scheme.
"I'll handle it," Ali dismissed her offer quickly, a vein popped out of her forehead in response to the blatant disrespect that Ali shot at her. Ali slowly turned his head towards her, the new words in his eyes almost glowed, a testament to his title. Daki still had her doubts of just how powerful Ali was, but she didn't want to take any risk to fight him. Even a stupidly arrogant demon knew her limits. Regardless, her stomach boiled with dissatisfaction.
"I'll direct them here then," Daki stood up. A glare remained locked at Ali, who returned with his head pointed down at his hands. It was a sorry sight to see a man so broken and disoriented by loss. Of course, Daki didn't feel any pity, she only felt disgust at the fact someone potentially stronger than her could feel any negative emotions.
Her hand moved to Ali's chin, she slowly lifted his face to look at her.
"Demons with beauty and power should be proud of their traits. You have too much of both to keep your head down," Daki's tone seemed as if she was scolding Ali, but her words by themselves seemed like a compliment, "Don't mess up the room too much,"
She left him with this message, swiftly exiting and slamming the door behind her.
Even in the bustling and densely populated city, he felt completely alone. Ali's fists clenched once more. He couldn't handle all the turmoil that ravaged him psychologically. He needed a vent for all this agony and pain, at least until he got his revenge against The Shadow.
He couldn't help but feel utterly and completely defeated mentally. Perhaps he would just let whichever demon come defeat him and take the title. At least he could spare himself of having to live in grief of Akaza, himself and everything else he had lost in his life. Family, love, friendship and above all, his humanity.
His eyes drooped, a crack in his wall of resilience. He took a deep sigh as stared at the ceiling. Even if he was more physically powerful than ever, even if his Blood Demon Art had been awakened, even if he demonstrated power in the top leagues. It was to no use if the spirit was broken.
For the millionth time today, memories flooded his ears, eyes and touch. So many messages flooded into his brain, the voice of hundreds, the praise, doubt, laughter and tears were reminded of him at once. Ali closed his eyes.
"I love you, Ali," Asumi's voice echoed in his head, the statement made his throat choke. He took a deep breath in and covered his face.
"It's ok to cry," Akaza's whisper lingered in Ali's mind.
"Can you promise me… You'll stay strong? You'll never bow down and give up?" For a while, Ali forgot who had told him that. Then it came back to mind, Ali Junior the old and grey-feather crow. He hadn't been a part of Ali's thoughts for a while but remembering him was pleasant nevertheless.
Emotions weighed heavy on Ali's head, and he had no idea how to control them or deal with this relentless grief and anger that tore his mental well-being. He had never been alone in times of great grief. Even when he became a demon, he had Akaza. But now he was alone.
Outside in the hallway, a hulking figure stepped slowly, the timber floorboard rattled with every step. A grin was etched forever into the monster-like demon's face. The large body was jagged with spikes and protruding edges as tough as stone. The poor workers had to witness this monstrous creature out of a nightmare and slowly saunter towards the end of the hallway. Screams flooded the hallways and fear saturated the building. A poor lady, petrified out of fear, had fallen backwards and was attempting to scramble backwards as the demon continued its march towards the end of the hallway. The monster had no regard for her. A quiet yet terrifying chuckle echoed in the evacuated hallways. Its large foot slammed onto her small body, blood oozed out of her as if the demon's foot was a juice press. The red liquid seeped into the wooden floor, forever marking her death at that very spot. Her entire skeletal system collapsed and was crushed into pieces as the demon halted in front of Ali's room. The hulking shadow stopped whatever little light was entering Ali's room in the first place.
A giant fist dug into the wooden frame and ripped apart the door, the giant demon had to lean down to peer into the dim room where Ali sat.
"You're the new Upper Moon Three?" The large demon's deep and gravelly voice irritated Ali's ears in addition to the demeaning comment. The demon couldn't believe that this pathetic demon, who sat covering his face like a small scared child could be the new Upper Moon Three. A small chuckle exited its mouth as it stepped into the room, weaving under the wide door frame and standing tall.
Ali was silent as he remained still. He slowly lifted his head, his face painted with annoyance at the demon's remarks. The hulking figure chuckled once more as it stood in a position of power.
Ali's heart accelerated rapidly as he took upon the sight of this monstrous demon, perhaps it was his internal turmoil, but he hated every single thing about this idiot.
His grey skin with a certain polish to it, which made it look like he had stone skin. Ali hated it.
His small yellow eyes. Ali hated them.
His rough, jagged structure made him look like a cliff edge. Ali hated it.
He hated everything in front of him, but the final trigger was the blatant disrespect and underestimating. Ali was not weak.
Why did people always think they had a chance in beating him?
Why did people always come up to him and challenge him as if he was weak?
Why was Akaza the only one who could see Ali's strength?
Eira, Asumi, the demon who called Ali a rip-off, Kammu, and this mountain-looking demon. Why did they all think Ali was weak?
Ali's entire body flexed as his markings began to transform across his body. His jaw clenched as he slowly stood up.
"Yes, I am," Ali glared up at the hulking demon. The events of the past few days had reduced Ali's self-control and rational mind. He had little sympathy for this demon's ignorance, he was tired of it. Ignorance.
That same chuckle made Ali's ear bleed in annoyance. His skin crawled. . A soft wind began to swirl around the room.
"I am here to honourably challeng-" The demon didn't get a chance to finish his statement of 'honour'. There was no mercy in Ali's wrathful fists. Ali shouted in exertion as he slammed a fist into the demon's chest and blasted him backwards, his body skidded through the long hallways floorboards and finally halted once he crashed into a thick wall. He felt a powerful wind rush into his face.
It was an imminent warning that Ali was coming. Just as fast as the breeze, Ali flew through the hallway and crashed his heel into the demon's face; there was no technique or style to his attacks. It was a heavy contrast to his training with Akaza. Instead, Ali was just rapidly slamming his fists into the already pummeled body of the mountainous demon.
Ali's hand tightly grabbed the demon's large neck, his fingers squeezing so hard they sunk into the rough flesh.
"I'm sick of all of you acting like you can defeat me," Ali spoke with his jaw clenched, pure anger coursed in his blood and he began to absorb the struggling demon. The once hulking figure was now reduced to dust.
Ali panted as he stared at the dusty remnants of the corpse on the floor. His fists clenched and punched the floor underneath him, he screamed in anger.
Ali's head snapped to his left. Another demon stood there, completely paralysed in fear and horror. The demon gulped and quickly turned on its heel. Ali could hear the demon scream something along the lines of:
"He defeated Yama! It's suicide!" The statement echoed through the entire building, and a loud thunderous sound of footsteps began to take over everyone's ears as the demons evacuated the building. Their hopes crushed. The demon's fearful sprinting away triggered paranoid humans to scatter and run in unison. Soon, people were sprinting across the hallway, and the windows outside showcased the streets were also rampant with running figures, unsure of the danger but not wanting to risk their lives. Amidst the stampede in Yoshiwara, Ali was still crouching in the position he killed the demon.
"Now that was more like a demon of you," Daki's voice pierced the crowd's screams and fear. Ali's head turned towards Daki, she stood out from the crowd, standing completely still and grinning widely.
Ali's stomach sunk as her words reached his heart. Brutality, rage, and ruthlessness, the values that Ali swore to lay off, now were painted on the forefront of his fighting. What has Akaza's death done to him?