After many years, the meetings became very infrequent; there was no longer a sufficient reason to gather. And if Muzan did summon them, it was only to reprimand them for failing to fulfill the objective of the search.
Douma: Oh Muzan-sama, I think no matter how much I search, I can't find anything. I'm a terrible detective, but I've sent my followers to look for more information. I'll tell you as soon as I know!
Muzan: ...Your mere presence bothers me, now get out, I don't even know why I summon you if your stupid answer is always the same
Words weren't something that hurt him honestly; he had even offered to cut off his arm as punishment for not giving him anything, but he refused. Oh well, what could he do?
Kokushibo: You have so little respect and an incredible level of confidence for the way that you disrespect Muzan-sama.
Douma: Oh, Kokushibo-Dono! Don't tell me you were eavesdropping on our conversation. I wouldn't consider it disrespectful; I'm just telling the truth. I'm not good at searching, and besides, I'm busy. I'm not lying about it and he knows it; for some reason he still keeps me here, so he must have some affection for me, and it's mutual.
Kokushibo: Even so, you must maintain respect; he is our master and we must respect him.
Douma, for his part, merely shrugged as he nodded and watched his superior walk away so quickly that he disappeared from sight in a single step.
Although he assumed he had a point, he wasn't putting in that much effort; perhaps there was a way to do more work with his BDA.
---------------------------------------
Later, he finally perfected his technique. His ice clones had only been adapted for battle, but he thought that perhaps he could give them another use.
Douma: You guys look cuter than you should, I mean, technically you look like me. But when you fight you're different, why now you seem less threatening?
Perhaps he hadn't quite perfected it; it seemed he needed an outside opinion. But who? Clearly, Akaza wasn't an option; Hantengu would be scared; Gyokko would be a good choice if his perception of "art" weren't so distorted...
Douma: Kokushibo-Dono, I have a very important question for you and I hope you can help me, what do you think?
Kokushibo: What would that question be? I hope it's not something that will waste my time.
Douma: Of course it will be worth it. Remember when you told me I should put more emphasis on finding the flower and meeting Master Muzan's expectations?
Kokushibo: Get to the point, don't waste time with unnecessary introductions
Well, Douma spared no words and decided to take his fans, thus forming two ice clones. They were smaller than the ones he usually wore when fighting; they looked like little kids, but much colder.
Douma: Soooooo, what do you think? I think they could be useful, but what do you say? I'm asking because you always say I should respect the opinions of those above me, that's why I'm asking.
Kokushibo: They're just ice sculptures; I don't see a "special" function for them, nor do they seem to help much in the search for the lily and the location of the Ubuyashiki.
Douma: So they have to prove to you that they can do a good job? Because I'll bet you a date with me all night if they can.
Oh yeah, you heard right, Douma had bet on a date. Well, perhaps not a romantic one, but he figured his superior would be very annoyed by him being with him, "disobeying" Muzan's orders by doing nothing.
Since Kokushibo had nothing to lose and that he considered it a doomed plan, he simply agreed. What could he do to him, after all?
Douma: (okey, this will be a huge challenge. Of course, I can't hurt him, because he'll regenerate immediately. It has to be something no one expects, something no one has done before, something humiliating...)
Kokushibo: Well? Don't waste my time. If you don't do something worth my attention, I'll leave immediately. You have 10 seconds, and that's being generous.
Douma: Oh, I know exactly what I'll do...
Since Kokushibo hadn't expected any fatal attack from Douma, he had slightly lowered his guard, but it was enough for him to be taken down by the ice clones.
For being small, they were quite strong, since even when Kokushibo tried to raise his arm, it seemed as if he had some rock or chain holding him to the ground.
Kokushibo: Mmm, amazing.
Douma: I know! They're very good at deceiving people; no one would suspect such adorable little things. Besides, you let your guard down, and now...
Kokushibo: What are they doing? They're touching me and it feels cold.
Douma: Oh, innocent and clueless Koku-Dono...~ what do you think they'll do to you~?
Kokushibo: ...are you going to tickle me? I can't think of anything else that fits your personality. But I'm telling you right now, you'll be wasting your time. What makes you think I have that weakness?
Douma: Because you were human once, and if you're not afraid to prove otherwise, then just do it. You'll see how stupid you look. Oh, and that way we'll have a date!
Needless to say, Kokushibo rolled his middle eyes. Well, there was no way he was going to fall for that. What were they going to do to him?
But he soon swallowed his words when a strange yet familiar sensation came over his body, causing him to tense up slightly and let out a small gasp.
Douma: That was a really good reaction, obviously I was right, as always. You're ticklish in a certain way, how adorable.
Kokushibo: Nonsense, it just took me by surprise... I'm sure you did something...
Douma: Well, could this count as a spell? Because it doesn't seem like it to me, heh, come on, you can laugh, it's just us...~
Kokushibo: Take that damn tone of voice off your lips... It's making me uncomfortable...
Douma: Hmm, is that my voice? Or is that just the feeling you get? Does my voice give you goosebumps, making the tingling sensation intensify and making you want to laugh and just laugh...~?
He was so hateful, the worst part? He was right. His tone gave him goosebumps, though he attributed it to the fact that his BDA was made of ice and that was transmitted through his little "clones," but that didn't make sense.
Douma: I can tell you're having a hard time with this, because why don't you just laugh? Stop humiliating yourself...
Kokushibo: F-fuhuhuck y-y-you...
Douma: See? You can laugh without any problem.... Oooooh, do you want me to cover your mouth? My clones can do that, so you'll see you don't have to be embarrassed anymore~
Kokushibo: I-I'm g-gohon-... GRK...! STOP IT!
Douma: Oh come on... Aaaah, I think I know where I have to go...~
With a snap of their fingers, everything changed. The touches, once bearable, were now completely more precise, and in that one spot... The only spot that, even when he became a demon, remained sensitive to those touches
His middle eyes widened in astonishment, while the others closed, showing his struggle to try and push away those feelings, not to laugh and to appear strong, although of course, his smile betrayed him.
Kokushibo: D-Do-Douma... S-stahahap... STOP!
Douma: Aww, look at that, you can't anymore? Who would have thought... A man, I mean, demon, so strong, so powerful, and majestic, defeated by a few tickles on his sides.
You’re working on an Ever After High crossover AU too?!
Lmao it’s more of a passing daydream of mine but I have been considering it. I’ve done a rough sketch of douma as apple and kokushibo as raven but I probably won’t be writing the actual fic any time soon.