KHR Hell because fuck

[warmskies]

Comments

[kokuyoyo]

[Chikusa refuses to answer that first question. After all, what he thinks will be apparent as he meets those narrowed eyes and straightens his shoulders.]

[His answer is short and sweet.]

You went against our contract.

[possedere]

[Now that was interesting. It hadn't been because the priest had come to his senses or because the guilt was weighing too heavily on him. No, it was almost business-like in a way, and Mukuro had to huff out a small laugh. Perhaps there was a way around this then, if that was the reason.

He took a sip of his tea, canting his head to the side slightly.]

You'll have to be more precise, Chikusa Kakimoto. How did I do that exactly?

[He wouldn't insult the priest's intelligence or waste their time by asking how he had found out. The priest was smart, after all, and while he might be entangled in lust, his methodical nature had been something that Mukuro had been drawn to.]

[kokuyoyo]

[He really has to explain it, does he? Chikusa lets out a breath. Fine. If that's how he wants to play it.]

You took your payment before you did anything. You then lied to me that you did.

[The response to that is something he's already expecting, so he keeps going before Mukuro can interrupt.]

I know it's in a demon's nature... but I don't have to put up with it.

[possedere]

I considered it an advanced payment. Doing good deeds isn't exactly easy for me, priest.

[My, my, of all the things that he thought would turn the priest off to him, he had never believed it would be a simple small white lie. It seemed ludicrous in the face of everything else, but he supposed this sort unpredictable reaction was why he had been drawn to the priest in the first place.

He straightened in his chair, taking a sip of tea.]

I've done enough to cover that incident and the next. I'll require that payment as well, before we break the contract.

[Mukuro set his mug down on the table, smirking.]

Since I don't expect you to believe me, I'll let you verify this until you're satisfied.

[kokuyoyo]

Of course you did.

[He's not even surprised. Lie after lie, excuse after excuse- this is why he has to stop this agreement in its tracks. Things like this start out small, inconspicuous, but how long until bigger truths are being hidden from his face?]

[Of all things, he thinks of his mother, and purses his lips down at the mug set in front of him. He'd rather have nothing than falsehoods.]

...I'll look into it tomorrow, then. That's the only other meeting I'll allow like this. After that, I'm not going to go along with this anymore.

[possedere]

Let me know when you've verified everything to your liking, then call for me.

[Mukuro took another sip of his tea, sitting back in his chair, posture immaculate.]

Though this seems rather harsh for one white lie, priest. Are you this way with others who've strayed from the truth or am I just that fortunate?

[It was a cheap card, but Mukuro had never claimed any of the higher ground for himself.]

[kokuyoyo]

[Oh, is that how he wants to play? Chikusa raises an eyebrow coolly.]

When that white lie forces someone such as a priest to break one of their vows...

So yes, it is you who is so fortunate.

[possedere]

Is that how you see it?

[It was asked softly, Mukuro's tone almost deadly. He resisted the urge to make any sort of violent movement, instead settling for flicking his gaze fully onto the priest's face, red eye practically aflame.]

Let me remind you then of the facts, priest. After the first few meetings, you called me to you, not the other way around. I didn't threaten or harm you until you drafted that contract, merely suggested it. I certainly didn't spend a painstaking amount of time crafting that contract, I merely signed at the bottom. You were free, as you are doing now, to break it at any time.

[Mukuro's mouth was a thin displeased line, his eyes narrowing.]

So forgive me priest, if I find it laughable that you say I forced you to do anything. But if it helps you, blame me all you like.

[kokuyoyo]

[As Mukuro speaks, Chikusa draws in further in onto himself. His clutched hands draw a little closer, and his shoulders pull in a little further.]

[What else can he say?]

I know.

[A slow deep breath that only shakes somewhat.]

But you lied when you knew I wouldn't go along with that encounter otherwise. What else am I supposed to call it?

...I'm not going to let you have a chance again. Simple as that. That's what happens when you lie- everything else becomes suspect. You had the odds against you from the start.

[possedere]

You wouldn't have?

[Mukuro canted his head to the side, one eyebrow raised pointedly, but he would leave it at that for now. He had already made his point, and Chikusa Kakimoto was pulling away from him even further. This was delicate territory, and he doubted continuing to badge the priest would help his case any further.

He got up with a small sigh, going to the sink to dump out the rest of his cup, leaving it there. No point in playing house in a dream.]

If you can find me someone who will always tell you the truth, I would find this punishment fair.

[He turned to face the priest fully, mouth downturned.]

But it is as you say. One lie is enough to undo all else that I've done, and I should have known that this was a temporary arrangement from the beginning. If only that knowledge would have saved me from becoming invested.

[kokuyoyo]

["Becoming invested". Even now, more pretty lies. Lies Chikusa knows he wants to hear, wants to believe in.]

[He thinks he really hates it.]

I'll call you when I'm done making sure you've done as you've said.

[Yet when he wakes up, funnily enough, Chikusa finds that he feels worse than any time he's woken up after the demon's hands have been on him. It's that empty hole in him, now, something that's been pointed out to him and which he can never ignore again. Playing along with those dreams, thinking someone was actually interested in him...]

[Donning his usual wear, all Chikusa can do is sigh at his reflection- the same one of a tool for the church doing his duty.]

[Maybe something like that isn't in fate's hand for him.]

[Diligently, Chikusa makes sure to go check in on families and his information. It'd almost be a relief if the demon was lying again, but no. Everything clears out. He could go more indepth, make the demon wait, except where would that get him? He's so tired, he just wants it all to be done with. So, at the end of the day when he comes home, Chikusa doesn't even wait. He merely writes the demon's name on their contract, calling him, and immediately goes to sleep in the very same thing as he's wearing.]

[It's surprisingly easy to fall asleep so quickly.]

[possedere]

[There was really nothing left to do but wait. Mukuro followed the priest along throughout the days, searching his face for any expression of his thoughts, but he was oddly unreadable. No detectable sin or dark emotions that he could use to help further his cause. It was as distressing as it was interesting. It was hard to believe this was the same priest who had pleasured himself so shamelessly in front of him or who had moaned his name with true heat.

Mukuro considered playing coy and waiting a few days in order to postpone the next conversation, but as if truly summoned, he found himself sitting in near the windowsill, thumbing through the priest's sketchbooks.]

What should I request for this last time, priest?

[kokuyoyo]

Have you ever really requested anything...?

[Ah. Even in dreams, there's that sense of exhaustion weighing him down. Chikusa stays where he is for a moment, eyes closed and his body still, before reluctantly pushing himself up. He dusts off his cassock as he stands- it's a little shameful that he fell asleep in it, really, but it can't be helped.]

You're always the one who's decided what we'd do.

[possedere]

All the more reason to listen to you, if this is the last time.

[Mukuro flicked his gaze up to the priest's face, smirking slightly. Well, he could think of exactly what he wanted to request when the priest was wearing his uniform, but he could behave for now. He was confident that this wouldn't be the last time, even if that confidence might be a bit misplaced.]

I'm curious as to what you might want to do. Surely there's something.

[kokuyoyo]

[Curious... Yes, Chikusa is sure he is. But that's a problem. Crossing his arms, he stares impassively down at the demon.]

Should I make it that easy for you?

[possedere]

My, my priest, I should have known you would prefer things to be hard.

[Where was the holy water when you needed it.

For the record, Mukuro was going to look entirely too pleased with himself.]

If you insist, I have no objections.

[kokuyoyo]

[And that's when Chikusa just straight up left the room]

[No, really, he's making right for the door]

[This is why we can't have nice things, Mukuro]

[possedere]

[So damn rude that Chikusa Kakimoto.

Mukuro just had a good little cackle before he followed after him, mouth curled upwards in amusement.]

Should I come back when you have an actual answer? Though you can't tell me you haven't given it some thought, priest.

[kokuyoyo]

[That seems to be enough to make him stop, twisting around on his heel to face Mukuro again and not caring how close they are when he does it.]

Perhaps I have. But why does it matter? I want this done with. Stop playing coy with me.

[possedere]

Then tell me priest.

[Mukuro leaned forward, close enough that just another few centimeters would have their mouths brushing against either, his eyes flicking up to Chikusa Kakimoto's face.]

I told you, didn't I? I was interested in you. That includes your desires.

[kokuyoyo]

My desire is for you to leave me alone.

[Amongst many other things, two in particular were imprinted into Chikusa at a young age: have good posture and stay out of the way. Just because he'd grown to be impressively tall had not changed the latter lesson, and it shows in many of his more subtle movements.]

[Keeping a distance, avoiding contact, holding his hands together or at his sides...]

[Never has he ever used his height to intimidate or coerce people into doing what he's wanted.]

[Yet, subconsciously aware of the advantage he has in that area, he starts to press forward against Mukuro with one hand rising up to press against his chest in an effort to guide the demon up against one of the apartment walls.]

Simple.

[possedere]

Is it really?

[Forgive him, if he didn't look too convinced, his mouth curved up mockingly as always. Perhaps this once, when he wanted to win the most, he'd be proven wrong, but he sincerely hoped not. Or at the very least, that this wasn't the priest's sole desire.

While he was sure there were mortals who might be intimidated by that show of height, Mukuro knew who was really in control here. He let himself be guided towards the wall, stopping only when his back hit the wall, canting his head to the side.]

I want to hear you say it if it's so simple.

[kokuyoyo]

[That things aren't going as smoothly and quickly as he wants is... infuriating. Waiting for the demon to contact him again after the realization of his deceit had been bad enough. Now that he's so close to being done with this whole affair...]

...Touch me. Like you have before.

[Leaning down, he brushes their lips together.]

You can do that much, can't you?

[possedere]

[Rare, how rare that the priest would take initiative. If one could call it that. Sighing, Mukuro turned his face away from him, closing his eyes pointedly.]

And if I don't want to? The mood is hardly good enough for it.

[Wow Mukuro be more of a shit why don't you? If it was even possible.]

[kokuyoyo]

[...He quite literally swears to God, Mukuro.]

[For a moment, Chikusa can only blankly stare, wondering how on earth this can possibly be his life. All that saying he wanted that last payment for services rendered, trying to pester him to make a move... and now this.]

[Taking a slow deep breath, he pulls away and exhales into his palms as his fingers nudge at the bridge of his nose.]

...Then leave. And stop bothering me.