KHR Hell because fuck

[warmskies]

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[possedere]

I may not enjoy doing good deeds, but I do have some pride in my work. Not unlike yours.

[Deciding cookies would be a good accompanying snack, he set them down on the table, as well as the two mugs of tea. He wondered briefly if the cold water was going to help the priest find any sort of peace or clarity. He highly doubted it, if the sound of his sluggish movements were anything to judge by.]

What is the next task you have in mind for me?

[kokuyoyo]

[Pride in his work... Chikusa muses on it as he clasps damp hands on the back of his neck, letting the trickle of cool water down his spine stop the heat in him. After turning off the water and drying his hands, he drifts back to the apartment only to pause.]

Next task...? I... didn't think you'd want to do this more than once.

[possedere]

My, my, you only know one such innocent family that might benefit from divine intervention?

[More like Mukuro was more interested in continuing to drag the young priest farther and farther along the path of no return, but saying so would only be met with scorn. One kiss wasn't enough to get a man such as Chikusa Kakimoto to sell his soul, even if it was from Mukuro's own lips. He would play at this bargaining game until he no longer had to in order to get what he desired.]

Or was my payment too steep?

[kokuyoyo]

[Just like that, it feels as though they're back into their usual back-and-forth, and Chikusa's mouth turns to a frown.]

It seems disingenuous to refer to your actions as "divine", even with your background as it is.

[Crossing his arms, he glances towards the table where the tea has been set but doesn't go to sit down yet.]

...There's... plenty of people who could use help...

[possedere]

We must be making progress if you're fine with the knowledge you sent in a demon to help out an innocent family. While your contract was rather stern and lengthy, I couldn't help but notice a few interesting loop holes.

[Mukuro smirked at him from underneath his long lashes, before turning away to select an acceptable cookie.]

Then our bargain can still stand. Unless you'd like to renegotiate the terms?

[kokuyoyo]

[Immediately, his shoulders jerk up.]

That's.... only because I thought you wouldn't agree to do it at all if it was too strict. If you truly like, I can always close those loopholes.

[possedere]

My, my, is that the only reason? It has nothing to do with seeing sinners and heathens and terrible human beings getting away with their misdeeds without so much as a slap on the wrist?

[He bit into the cookie, chewing for a few moments as he watched Chikusa Kakimoto's face.]

It's not because you sometimes wonder if god is blind, to turn away from such injustices?

[He finished off the cookie, licking the crumbs off his gloved fingers absently.]

While it was an admirable attempt, priest, demons can always find loopholes. Whether you want to close them or not depends on whether or not you want to waste more of your time on your contract.

[kokuyoyo]

[Every word seems turn more of Chikusa's expression stonier, until he's standing there as still as a statue with gray cold eyes to match. Pursing his lips, he looks away.]

I don't wonder that at all. [He's gone so many years holding on tightly to that belief, after all.] But... if someone is going to get hurt regardless... It's better if it was someone who was already purposefully doing cruel things to others.

[It's not a lie, either, and he finally glances back to him from the corner of his eye.]

...There's still people who need help.

[possedere]

['Are you going to wonder that now?' It was a cruel question on the tip of Mukuro's tongue, but he managed to keep those words caged. For now. He would have his answer soon enough, and there was little reason other than his own satisfaction to ask it.

He let the priest make up his justifications, turning his attention idly to his tea and taking a few idle sips.]

There are.

[Mukuro reached for another cookie, reaching over to dunk it into Chikusa Kakimoto's tea if he wasn't going to drink it, letting it sink to the bottom of the mug.]

I'm always open to negotiations. Draw up another contract like this one, if it pleases you.

[kokuyoyo]

...Most of the contract is suitable enough for this as well, besides the situation and people who need help.

[He goes to sit, not at the table, but the couch. It's probably darkly humorous, he reflects. Just a few minutes ago, and his body had wanted to be closer. Now, he wants space.]

Money problems, as with the other case. This time related to medical bills.

[possedere]

Just tell me their full names. I don't need the whole sob story, priest.

[It was said idly enough, Mukuro selecting another cookie to dip into Chikusa Kakimoto's untouched tea.]

Even my payment is still acceptable?

[kokuyoyo]

I'm telling you what to do, I'm not telling you a story.

[A quiet scoff before that question, and he licks his lips, thinking of that again.]

...It's fine.

[possedere]

[That authoritative tone in the priest's voice was enough to make Mukuro laugh as well as send a lazy tendril of warmth down his spine. He leaned forward, elbows on the table smirking mockingly.]

What else would you like to tell me to do, Chikusa Kakimoto? Depending on the order, I would be more than eager to carry out your commands.

[He resisted the urge to laugh even harder as the young priest licked his lips, wondering if it was a subconscious gesture.]

Then I'll come for you again once my task is complete. Good night, young priest.

[kokuyoyo]

Good night.

[And with that, even as the dream starts to fade, he hastens back to his room, red faced at the insinuations and laughter of the demon. When he wakes, the heat still hasn't left his face and only the freezing chill of a cold shower helps get rid of it.]

[This is absolutely a problem.]

[Chikusa deals with it the only way he knows how: prayer and confession. The first he can do on his own, but the other requires him to find time to slip into a confessional at some point in his day. The tight space has never been something he's truly noticed before. Whenever he's attended confession before, on either side of the screen, it's been a simple duty like anything else in his life. He's paid it about as much mind as preparing meals or getting dressed- an automatic habit. This time, however, the small space is comforting in some way.]

Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been six months since my last confession. In the past few weeks, I have had lustful and impure thoughts, and have purposefully looked up pornographic images...

[It's a weight off his shoulders to confess to it, although... He knows he's not entirely being honest. He refer to the demon as merely an individual he must deal with in his line of work instead of what he truly is, for example, in admitting the cause of such thoughts. Not untrue, but...]

...I am sorry for these and all my sins.

[And he is, really.]

[He's given penance in the form of prayers to do and, even more of a relief, spoken to. The things the priest on the other side of the divide tells him makes sense- that it's common for a young man to be preyed on by such thoughts, especially when he is single, and that Chikusa should not find it a personal failing but that of human beings. By remembering his love of God, he should stay on the right path.]

[When contrition is said and absolution is given, Chikusa leaves the confessional feeling relieved. Even with such a heavy feeling lifted, however, he still remember to keep an ear out on the family he'd told the demon to look out for... and to wait for whenever his dreams would be intruded upon next.]

[possedere]

[As amusing as the young priest is, Mukuro had other duties to attend to as well.

There were other souls to tempt into sin, as easy and boring as it ever was, but after doing a good deed, and signing up for more, well. Mukuro wouldn't want to attract the attention of other demons to what he was doing, so he sauntered around for a few days, said the usual barbs, and did what he pleased. If he was truthful, he might be relishing how the young priest had been so torn over his desires and his righteousness, and he would like him to stay in that state for a little longer. Not to mention, he didn't want the priest to get the wrong idea. That he was going to be at his beck and call.

He took a few days this time to help the family in need, digging deep and finding a long distant relative who had sold their soul to a lower demon in order for wealth. Now alone and close to death, it was easy enough to convince them to sign over their estate to their last living relatives.

After a few weeks, more than enough time for the news to reach his young priest, he settled lazily into Chikusa Kakimoto's dreams. It was getting easier and easier each time, and he had to wonder if it was because the mortal was warming slightly to him or if it was just because he had tread here so often now.

He appeared once again at Chikusa Kakimoto's desk, signing the contract with a flourish.]

How many more do you have lined up, priest?

[It might be better to do a whole batch at once if only to get it over with, like ripping out stitches or sprinting across glass.]

[kokuyoyo]

[It takes a moment for Chikusa to answer, sitting up and rubbing at his eyes as he 'wakes'. For possibly the first time in these dream meetings, he reaches for his glasses set to the side.]

I could go on endlessly. You should know there's no small number of people who need help.

[Getting up to his feet, he loosely wraps his arms around himself with his hands cradling his elbows.]

...How long do you want to have this arrangement?

[possedere]

As long as necessary.

[He turned his gaze back towards the priest, chin lifted slightly. He let a smirk form slowly and lazily over his face, raising an eyebrow.]

Unless you have something else in mind?

[kokuyoyo]

[Something about that look makes the hairs on the back of his neck rise up, but Chikusa breathes in deep and thinks a brief prayer. He's fine. This is nothing.]

No.... This is fine by me as well.

[Yet despite his best efforts, some of that shyness from their last interaction returns as he tilts his head slightly and looks up at him from beneath his bangs.]

...Kissing, again?

[possedere]

[The question was met with a soft, low chuckle as Mukuro stood, making his way towards the bed, resting his knee between Chikusa Kakimoto's own. He looked down at him knowingly, leaning in slightly.]

Liked it that much, did you? Or would you be disappointed if that's all it was?

[kokuyoyo]

[The pink which spreads across the bridge of his nose isn't anywhere as intense as last time, but it's present. Chikusa forces himself to meet the other's eyes, even as his breath hitches at the brush of that leg against his own.]

It's merely what we did the last time. That's all.

[possedere]

Then is that permission to go further, Chikusa Kakimoto?

[He leaned closer so that he could practically feel the heat from the mortal's flushed face, brushing his mouth lightly against the priest's.]

Lie back.

[kokuyoyo]

[Automatically, without thinking, he starts to lean in as well. The order snaps him out of it, blinking free from his daze.]

What are you going to do?

[possedere]

[My, my, so the young priest had been eager, more so than Mukuro could have hoped. It was definitely an ego booster, and he had to resist the urge to chuckle.

He let one hand trail along Chikusa Kakimoto's side, barely a touch.]

Nothing you won't enjoy.

[It came out as a low purr, his eyes flicking up to the priest's face.]

Nothing too serious. Or have I not proven to be a demon of my word yet?

[kokuyoyo]

[Prayer. He just has to think prayer, and he'll get through this. Chikusa tries to remind himself of this, even as that faint touch sends chills down his spine.]

...Calling yourself that seems to be a bit of a contradiction...

[Even as he says it, he starts to shift back to put his weight on his elbows. Perhaps with more than a little nervousness lighting up his stare, he watches Mukuro carefully. This seems like an impressive leap from kissing... but surely he can put a stop to anything that's too much, can't he?]

[possedere]

[That small tremor was enough to make Mukuro's smirk widen, almost predatory as he leaned in, brushing his mouth against the side of Chikusa Kakimoto's, nosing his way towards his ear.]

Aren't humans full of contradictions? Nature? Your precious holy book? Just because they're juxtaposed doesn't make it impossible.

[He smirked against the young priest's skin as he leaned back slightly. He would have liked him to be flat on his back, but he supposed he could make due and he would get what he wanted soon enough. He pressed a few soft, open mouthed kisses along Chikusa Kakimoto's neck, letting his body rest lightly against the taller mortal's, entangling his legs with his.]