As he made his way to find Akira, Kokushibo's thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions. He was worried about what his master wanted with her, and what he might do to her. But he was also strangely eager to see her again, to be close to her. He tried to push those feelings away, knowing that they were dangerous.

Akira was sitting by a tranquil lake, her feet dangling in the water. The moonlight reflected off the surface, turning the water into a silvery mirror. She seemed to be deep in thought, lost in her own world. She hadn't noticed him approach, and he paused for a moment, not wanting to disturb her.

Oddly enough she was waiting for him. She knew he would find her. The thought filled her with anticipation.

As Kokushibo approached her, Akira turned to face him, a smile on her face.

"I knew you would come." She said, her voice soft and sweet.

He was taken aback by her words, surprised that she had been expecting him.

"You're not as difficult to read as you think you are." She added, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

She was happy to finally see him .

"I missed you." She said with a slight blush.

"I missed you too." He replied, his voice a little hoarse.

It was strange, admitting such a thing. He was not used to letting his emotions show, to revealing his true feelings. But with Akira, it felt natural, like he could be himself without fear of judgment. He sat down beside her, letting himself relax in her presence.

"Is there something on your mind?" She asked, noticing how he seemed to be a little more tense than usual.

"Yes, actually." He said, taking a deep breath.

He knew that he had to tell her the truth, even if it was difficult.

"My master has summoned me, and he wishes for me to bring you to him." He said, his voice was low.

Akira's expression turned serious, and he could see the concern in her eyes.

"Are you worried about what he wants?" She asked, her voice gentle.

Kokushibo wanted to reassure her however he didn't want to lie to her. Not when he was in fact scared for her.

"I do not know what to expect." He said honestly, his gaze meeting hers. "I only know that my master is unpredictable, and that he has his own agenda." He added, his voice full of uncertainty.

He could feel her hand on his, and he squeezed it gently.

"But whatever happens, I will do my best to protect you." He said, his eyes full of determination.

"Thank you, Koku-san, I know you would never let anything happen to me. " She said as she smiled gently at him.

His heart melted at the sound of her calling him that, a name that only she had ever used. He felt a rush of affection for her, something that was new and unfamiliar.

"Akira..." He started, his voice hesitant.

But he did not know what to say, how to express what he was feeling. So instead, he leaned forward and kissed her, his lips soft against hers.

She was startled at first but she eventually kissed him back.

The kiss was warm and sweet, filled with an emotion that was indescribable. It felt like a promise, a promise of something more. They pulled apart, their eyes locked on each other. There was something unspoken between them, a connection that was undeniable.

"I do not know what this is." He said, his voice hushed. "But I do not wish for it to end."

"Neither do I. I - I have never felt this way before about any man ." She replied blushing hard.

"It is the same for me." He said, a smile on his lips. "You are unlike anyone I have ever known. I feel as though I have found something that I never knew I was missing." He said, his words honest and true.

She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I feel the same way." She whispered, and they sat there for a moment, simply enjoying each other's company.

After a while of the blissful silence, Kokushibo decided it was best not to keep his master waiting any longer. He hated the thought of putting Akira in danger but he knew he had no choice.

"We must go to my master." He said, his voice full of regret. "I do not want to bring you with me, but I must do what he asks of me." He added, hating the thought of being separated from her.

She nodded, a sad smile on her face.

"I understand. "Will you take him to me now?" Akira asked, her mood souring.

"No." A voice said from the shadows, and they both turned to see Muzan standing there, his dark eyes fixed on them.

He seemed to be amused by the scene before him, a sly smile on his lips.

"I have decided to come to you. You've kept me waiting for far too long." He said, his tone dismissive. "After all it seems you are in no hurry." He added, a hint of arrogance in his words.

Akira felt a chill go down her spine as she instinctively hid behind Kokushibo. Now that he had appeared before them , she realized they had already met. He was the same demon who had bought her the red kimono at one town she had passed by. The same man she had met when she went on a mission with Kyojuro.

Kokushibo could feel Akira trembling behind him, and he reached back to take her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. He could feel the fear coming off of her in waves, and he hated that he was unable to protect her from this.

"You do not need to be afraid." He said, his voice low and gentle. "I will not let him harm you." He added, his eyes narrowed in determination.

"The fact that you would make such promises to your little human is appalling." Muzan said as he glared at his Upper Rank.

"She is not just a human to me." Kokushibo said, his voice cold and dangerous. "She is far more than that, and I will not allow you to harm her." He added, his expression unyielding.

Muzan scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief.

"You would choose her over me? A mere human?" He asked, his tone incredulous.

Akira could feel the sudden shift in the air. She could feel the tension as the two men glared at each other and the tension made it hard for her to breathe. She worried about Kokushibo. Whilst she knew he was the strongest Upper Rank, she didn't know if he would fare well against his sire.

"I would choose her over anyone or anything." Kokushibo said, his voice fierce and resolute. "She is more important to me than you could ever imagine." He added, his eyes blazing with intensity.

He had never felt this way about anyone or anything before, and he was determined to protect what was his. Muzan's eyes narrowed, his features darkening.

"Are you challenging me?" He asked, his tone low and threatening.

Kokushibo knew that he could not turn back now. He would stand firm by his conviction.

"You and I have been good business partners until now, Muzan-sama. But if you hurt Akira then our partnership will seize to exist." He replied with a stoic expression.

A tense silence filled the air, the two demons staring each other down. Muzan's face was a mask of anger, his eyes flashing with fury. He seemed to be weighing his options, calculating his next move. Finally, he let out a long, slow breath, his features softening ever so slightly.

"Very well." He said, his voice smooth and controlled. "I will not harm the girl." He added, his eyes fixed on Kokushibo. "But know that you have gone against me this day. And I will not forget that."

Muzan's eyes flashed to Akira for a second as he regarded her curiously. Akira held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel Muzan's gaze upon her, intense and unnerving. She wanted to run, to hide from his piercing stare, but she forced herself to stand her ground. She would not show any sign of weakness, not in front of Muzan or Kokushibo. She would not give him the satisfaction.

Muzan smirked at her boldness. No one had ever  been so bold as to look him straight in the eye.

"You are a curious thing, aren't you?" Muzan said, his voice a low purr. "You show no fear, even in the face of one such as me." He added, his expression one of intrigue.

Akira swallowed hard, her throat dry. She knew that she was taking a risk, but she refused to back down.

"I have nothing to fear from you." She said, her voice was strong and steady. "I will not cower in your presence." She added, holding his gaze.

She watched as he eyed her curiously. The way he looked at her made her feel uneasy. It was the same way a predator eyes their prey.

Muzan's lips curled into a sly grin, his eyes glittering with amusement.

"Brave words for someone who is so small and fragile." He said, his tone teasing.

Akira squared her shoulders, refusing to be intimidated.

"I may be small, but I am not fragile." She said, her tone defiant. "And I will not be prey for you or anyone else." She added, her chin held high.

He continued to smile at her as his eyes shifted to the earrings she wore.

"Nice earrings. They must have been quite - expensive." He said with a teasing voice.

This made her tense up a bit as she knew what it was he was instigating. She decided not to entertain him and continued instead to glare at him.

Kokushibo's hand clenched into a fist, his jaw clenched tight. He did not like the way Muzan was looking at Akira, and he did not like the way he was speaking to her. She was his, and no one else's. He did not know where this possessive feeling was coming from, but he knew that he would not give her up, not to anyone.

"She is my responsibility." He said, his voice hard. "And you will not interfere." He added, his eyes blazing with warning.

Muzan narrowed his eyes in annoyance at his Upper Rank. Kokushibo sure was testing his patience. But he knew it was because of this woman. Akira. What made her so special such that his strongest demon was now choosing to openly defy him?

"Is she worth it, my dear Kokushibo?" Muzan asked, his voice smooth and dangerous. "Is she worth risking our partnership, our alliance? Is she worth risking your very life?" He added, his eyes boring into his Upper Rank.

Kokushibo hesitated, his mind racing. He knew the answer, but he did not want to voice it. But he had to be honest, even if it was to his own detriment.

"Yes." He said, his voice was low but clear. "She is."

Akira looked up at him with love in her eyes. She knew he was risking everything and it made her more. Of course Muzan found it annoying how they were all lovey dovey in front of him. He didn't want Akira to look at his Upper Rank with such devotion. Strange enough he found himself wanting her to look at him in the same way.

Muzan's eyes flashed with anger, but there was something else there, something he could not identify. He studied Kokushibo and Akira, their faces so close, their eyes locked in a moment of perfect intimacy. He felt something inside him, something that he had not felt in a very long time. Something that he had never thought he would feel again. But he shoved it down, refusing to allow himself to feel such weakness.

"I will be going now." He said. "You better not forget the Blue spider Lily whilst you're here playing husband and wife." He warned.

His eyes flashed to Akira one last time. He promised himself he would get her alone.