Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Douma knew he was missing his emotions. He didn’t understand the concept of it. Love, hate, fear was beyond his comprehension. It was as if he was an eternally moving mechanical doll – especially so now that he became a demon.

He never understood why his mother was angry at his father to the point of killing him before committing suicide after she met his distant gaze. All he knew then was the room smelled nasty because of their corpses and they should have done it elsewhere.

He never understood why people revered him because he had rainbow eyes. When he became older, he justified their faith by telling himself that emotions made them weak and lacking, therefore they required a higher being to guide them, yet deep down he knew it was him that was lacking.

Kibutsuji Muzan appeared. Killed some followers in front of him, perhaps expecting some sort of reaction and looked rather disappointed when he failed to show one – which, in retrospect Douma did, well he pretended, so it was really Muzan’s fault for seeing through him.

Muzan sliced off his arms, pulled off his legs, plucked out his eyes and all he thought was, ‘oh, my body parts are gone.’ Perhaps it was his lack of screams then that intrigued Muzan so much at that time.

Muzan proceeded to tell him about the grandeur of being a demon and Douma realized the Muzan wanted to turn him into one and thought ‘why not.’

Douma prided himself in his practical intelligence and realized immediately that becoming a demon was not as great as it seemed, first being the weakness to sunlight, second being the fact that he turned himself from a being a mechanical religious head to Muzan’s slave – for of course, when one offers another power, they always want something in return. But as life held any meaning, he never truly cared.

The longer one lived, the longer one tried to find purpose. His became helping people from suffering, by eating them– of course he knew it wasn’t true. Yet without something to do, a hollow thing like him would wither – besides, at least the one emotion he got after becoming a demon was hunger and satisfying it was so ecstatic, it felt so great actually feeling something.

His followers brought her to him on a snowy day. In her arms was a human child and once she saw him on his throne surrounded with lotuses she placed down her child and prostrated her head fervently on the floor.

He got up from his throne, each step towards her triggered a strange desire in him he had never felt before.

He moved his index finger to her chin, intending to lift up her face so he could see it clearer. Their skins touched and he was bombarded with myriad of emotions. It was as if for the first time in his long life he was truly alive, as if his heart truly ever beat, as if the lotuses were flowering after decades beneath the mud pond.

Soulmates were few and rare it was nearly mythical.

It was said that the gift of having a soulmate was so great a gift the heavens deemed it appropriate that those who do have them carry a curse of equal weight.

Despite how swollen or how beaten up it was, her beauty was clear for him to see, it was even more radiant with her smile.

“This one has never before understood colours and this one’s eye cannot see so clearly, but your holiness eyes must be the most beautiful thing in this whole world, even the so-called rainbow must be in shame.”

Douma could not help but let out a chuckle. This surely must be what people called joy. After all, for the first time in his life, he was smiling without trying to.

He who took her sense of colour, and she, his emotions. And now that he got it back, he felt as if he was the princess in the fairytales, finally awakening after a tender touch from her destined one.

Shouldn’t it be the other way though; he couldn’t help but think.

Douma always prided himself in cold practicality. Yet hearing her story created in him a fiery rage.

She told him how her parents lacked money and it the end sold her a man. The man was often drunk and she was often beaten up by him.

She told him how she was abused and raped and when she thought she could not take it anymore and wanted to die, the heavens seemed to play a cruel trick and gave her Inosuke. Yet for Douma, in his life utterly filled with faithlessness, he couldn’t help but thought that perhaps heaven exists simply because Kotoha was here with him rather than dead.

The man tried to kill her son in his drunken stupor and Kotoha fought back for the first time before she escaped.

She ran and ran until she found a group of his followers who took her to him.

“You poor thing.” Douma uttered, droplets of tears dripped from his eye –it seemed to be a day of many first times. Shedding tears without trying was never something he thought he could do.

He pushed his powers towards her, the magical ice absorbed the pain and healed the damages.

“I-I can see!” She said in great awe before she went to prostrating before him once more.

“Thank you, your holiness! Thank you, your holiness!” She muttered and she couldn’t help but chuckle once more before moving his hands to cup her face.

“Don’t call me that, call me Douma, okay?” He said, smiling at her stilled awed face.

“O-Okay Douma-sama!”

It baffled him that she could still smile despite all the hardships life had thrown at her. Her smile was rather infectious and once more her couldn’t help smiling back towards her foolish face.

For the first time, he thought that life might not be made of only sufferings.

Alas, despite how happily baffled Kotoha made him feel, he was someone who prided himself on his great memory.

In the middle of the night, he entered the house of the man who was the child’s father.

Even in the hallways, screams of pain could be heard and when he opened the door to where the voices originated from, he saw the man beating women in various chained states.

Seeing them triggered nothing in him, it would be hypocritical if it did. After all, he rather enjoyed eating women – they were much more nutritious than men despite Akaza’s misgivings, though let it be said that Douma always went for immediate kill/absorption rather than drawn out torture.

Yet when he imagined Kotoha, his soulmate, the one who gave him a gift so precious in such a state, something within him burned.

A flick of his golden fan sent the man’s hands flying.

As Douma neared him, he shivered in fear. Such a shame really, Douma was giving his best smile too.

“D-don’t kill me.” The man begged and Douma refused to give a reply for such an insignificant insect.

Hmm, Kotoha had many bruises near her right eye, he thought as he reigned in his strength before he slapped the man’s face with his fan– mustn’t be too hasty or heads will fly.

The man did not disappoint and proceeded to scream so loud as if Douma had already sent his head flying. How truly pathetic.

He recounted Kotoha’s bruises and started slapping the worm in equal amounts, and oops, by the time he was done, the worm’s left eye seemed to have fallen off.

“M-m-monster.” The insect still had the power to mumble, perhaps Douma should’ve used more strength, but alas, the insect’s face was now rather bloated, a befitting appearance for his behavior.

“Who knows. Perhaps I am an avenging angel.” He said smiling. He opened his fan and with a swipe, sent the bloated head flying.

He realized his heart was still beating loudly. Was this what people called anger? Kotoha’s gift allowed him to experience the light fluttering happiness but at the same time, it gave birth to a crazed anger he had never felt before.

He only noticed then that the other ladies were still inside the room. They were shivering in shock even though he had just killed their tormentor. If left alone they may be noisy and all that. Hmmm.

He broke the chains with his ice, putting his index finger on his lips before shoo-ing them off.

The nodded fervently, prostrated themselves fervently before quickly leaving.

How strange that he let them go. Perhaps this was what people called charity.

Lately Douma had been neglecting his duties – aka eating his followers to free them from suffering.

He had been using his time staying with Kotoha as she raised Inosuke – like now, he’s lying on Kotoha’s lap as she carried Inosuke while singing/teaching him the lullaby.

Apparently, she took offense when Douma said he’d never heard such a strange song when she sang said lullaby to Inosuke. A few hours of her investigating his followers – ah, she would be a skilled investigator despite her naivety - she learnt that ‘the gracious founder is a living god and never required childish treatment. Whilst that was true, it was rather strange for his followers to proclaim such statement since he was probably older than even their grandparents.

She marched right up his throne, declared she would teach him childcare and he can be her test subject as well on the go. He smiled as he nodded throughout it all as it seemed rather interesting and somehow found his head on her lap and she stroked his hair – this was apparently a practice on how to get Inosuke asleep.

Douma found that he quite enjoyed the feeling of having her card through his silver strands.

“I still have not truly thanked Douma-sama for everything.” She said once Inosuke had fallen asleep in her arms. 

“When I was small. Hearing stories about soulmates was one of my life’s few pleasure, since I was born, everything I saw were shades of black and white. Whilst it meant I could not understand many things, it made me hopeful. My life that lacked food and was always uncertain whether I would live to the next day was filled with expectations, expectations that when I meet them, my life would be different. Then I was sold and the hope I had slowly disappeared.” Her eyes were moist and he could feel her tear droplets on his cheeks. He lifted his hand to her eyes and softly swiped them away.

“But then I had Inosuke, ran away and met Douma-sama. And when you touched me and gave me colours, I was so happy beyond words.” She grasped his hands with hers before bringing her head towards it, a gesture reminiscent of a prayer.

“Thank you for allowing Kotoha and Inosuke to be here. In my life, I have never remembered being this happy.”

Douma grasped her sand, softly squeezing his assurance.

Dependence. He’d always seen it as weakness. He’d always thought people who must depend on others were small, useless things. Yet now being depended on by her made his heart flutters.

“Kotoha.” He said, and she looked down at his face in her lap.

“You said you have never remembered being this happy, that you wanted to thank me. But Kotoha, it goes both ways.” She sent him a foolishly cute and confused look.

Taking her hands, he slowly guided them to his chest.

“I have never told you the gift you gave me. Before I met you, for a long long time I was never truly alive. I was like a doll that felt nothing. Kotoha, you gave me emotions, you allowed me to feel joy for the first time in my life. Thank you.”

She gasped, droplets of tears glimmering in her eyes.

“I-I stole Douma sama’s emotions?” She gasped out amidst her crying.

What a silly girl, he couldn’t help but bonk her softly on her head.

“Silly girl, you stole nothing, and you gave me everything.” He got up from her lap and pulled her petite body into his embrace.

“You’re very precious to me, so you're not allow to leave me okay?” He said and could feel her nodding as she cried and fell asleep.

Chapter Text

His parents stood in the darkness of his mind.

They were dead, they shouldn’t be here. Curious, he walked up towards them.

They were not how he remembered them. Whilst they used him for their own ends, they did care for him. A care he never before realized.

Yet now they were looking at him in abject horror. Horror at his bloodstained hands and lips, horror at his gleeful smile.

They tried to crawl away, but their injured blood soaked bodies did not allow much movement.

“Mothe-”

“Monster! Monster!” She screamed, her voice shrilled and pained. Her bloodshot eyes widened more and he moved closer and closer-

He woke up, still sitting in his lotus throne, small beads of sweat lined his body.

Kotoha was holding her baby, the baby that was currently reaching towards him.

She smiled as she moved to him, so different from the parents from his dream. And before he knew it, the boy was in his arms.

It’s a strange and amazing thing that Inosuke, this weak being that he was holding, showed no fear towards him.

A sudden squeeze could end this small life, yet Inosuke was smiling up at him, fearless and untroubled, babbling “da-da-da.”

“Aah, Inosuke, you can’t call Dou-” Kotoha chided her baby, her face blushing in embarrassment.

“Hahaha. Are you trying to call me ‘dad?’ You who share not a drop of my blood?” He laughed in glee, looking down at the small smiling bundle.

“Smiling so carefree, you really are similar to Kotoha.”

The paradise cult was initially developed by his parents to launder money.

But since they were gone, and since he’d become a demon, Douma had changed many of the teachings.

There were of course, moral and good ones, just so the cult may gain credibility and attract followers. By the innermost preaching was that death by the founder’s hand was the only way to paradise.

There were many changes in Japan during the Meiji and Taisho era. The rapid industrialization destroyed the old culture and old ways of life. In the face of these changing times, many people who were left behind felt that dying became a better alternative to living – and thus, many fell into the lures of his Paradise cult’s innermost teachings.

He didn’t have to eat per say. Sure, eating slowly increased his powers, but unless he ate a special marechi, the increase would be near insignificant, like adding a drop of water to a pool.

He ate because he wanted to. For Douma, the truly good thing that came after becoming a demon was the hunger he felt. For an empty thing like him to feel a semblance of emotion, it was euphoric and he’d gouged on and on in the past century. But with the gift from Kotoha, the new arrays of feelings he now felt, the hunger became insignificant.

Now, every time a follower appear to beg for death, he couldn’t help but imagine giving that same death to Kotoha. It was something he couldn’t bear thinking about.

“Your time has not yet come. Carry on with your life. Do not let these sufferings obscure you from achieving greatness.” He said, standing from his lotus throne, preparing to leave the confession room.

“Douma-sama! Douma-sama! Please free me from these earthly chains, please free me from this suffering!

With those words, she grabbed the knife hidden in her kimono and slid her throat.

Like a marionette with their strings severed, her body collapsed onto the floor, pools of blood slowly oozing to dye the floor scarlet.

She was twitching, gurgling on the ground in great pain. Not dead but nearly so. Her eyes gaze pleadingly towards him.

Huffing in exasperation, he walked towards the form, and in a quick and smooth slice, he ended her pain – seeing her finally smiling as she drew her last breath.

Taking hold of the dead corpse, he slowly absorbed it into his body.

A familiar gasp from the supposedly closed door caused him to abruptly turn.

There stood Kotoha, shock evident in her eyes.

“Kotoha.” He murmured, taking his eyes off Kotoha, afraid that fear and disgust may soon follow after the shock.

Just imaging her ever kind and joyous face morphing into one of disgust, directed towards him for his inhumane deeds sent a lance of pain piercing through his heart.

“Kotoha, Kotoha.” He murmured, still lost about what he should do when Kotoha suddenly turned away.

His mind went in overdrive. He had to do something. Something to stop her from leaving.

Suddenly, it came to him. People stay because they want something. People do the jobs they don’t enjoy because of the rewards it gives. Followers pray to him because they wanted spiritual comfort. And the first thing he heard from Kotoha were the remarks on how beautiful his eyes were.

Quickly, he moved to embrace her, stopping her from leaving. She struggled but he refused to budge.

Slowly, using his free hand, he raised it towards his left eye and gouged it out – lifting it for Kotoha so she could see his sincerity. He heard her gasping as she stopped struggling.

“Kotoha, please don’t go. I’ll give you anything you want. You said my eye is beautiful, right? I’ll give it to you, I’ll give the other one to you too, just stay-”

Kotoha turned towards him, tightly embracing his body with her warmth, ending his hysteric pleas.

She was shaking, he realized. She was sobbing and shaking.

“Douma-san, please don’t hurt yourself.” She sobbed as she moved her hands towards his plucked-out eye. Gently holding them in her hands as she moved them towards his hollow eye socket.

His demonic body quickly seized hold of its damaged appendage, attaching his eye back on.

“Douma-san gave me my sight. How could I possibly take yours?” She said sobbing as she hit his chest in frustration.

“Don’t leave me.” He repeated, still holding onto her tightly.

“I’ll stay. But we need to talk about this demon problem of yours Douma-san!”

“Okay. Okay, anything you want Kotoha.”

“No more of these death rituals, Douma-san. And no more eating people, Douma-san.” Kotoha was adorably trying to look intimidating as she gave her demands. He nodded but couldn’t help himself from chuckling as he looked at her puffy eyes.

“What about people who try to kill me? Like I said, there is a certain organization determined to kill out all demons.” He questioned, smiling once more now that he was certain she wouldn’t run away.

“T-that-that’s.” She bit her lips, deep in thoughts as tears threatened to once more pour from her puffy eyes.

“Okay, I won’t eat them. I won’t kill them either.” He relented at her frustrated expression.

“Okay.” She mumbled, moving over to embrace him.

“But, Douma-san. Will you get hungry if you don’t eat humans? Will you survive?” The question itself was very much like Kotoha’s character. She was so caring. So much to the point of foolishness.

“If you’re hungry. I can share my blood with Douma-san. If you must eat someone, please eat me first.”

“It’s fine Kotoha. I won’t eat anyone. Please, trust me.”

‘Trust me.’ It was something he’d never asked of anymore. Trust was an illusion born out of sentiment, it was a sure way to failure, yet now he desperately wanted her to believe in his words. Somehow, he wanted to be someone worthy enough to keep her trust.

Days became months, and months became years. And beyond all his wildest expectations. He now had a family.

Their wedding wasn’t a big affair, though it was by no means a small one either.

The large land in the cult was overflowing with lotuses. All of his followers were dressed in colours of the rainbow as homage to his eyes and his new teachings of pride and YOLO.

He embraced Kotoha on the makeshift lotus-like stage before he carried her off, smiling as she screamed in glee as she embraced him.

Now Douma sat along the shielded terrace, watching four years old Inosuke running after Kotoha in the field.

He’d always hated the sun. No, hate was too strong a feeling, feelings which he didn’t have then - he’d always been inconvenienced by the sun. When he was human, he’d disliked how the burning sensation seared his skin.

When he became a demon, who couldn’t go out in the sun, he never minded it. At least until now.

Seeing Kotoha and Inosuke having fun, he couldn’t help but want to join.

“Papa. Why couldn’t you play with us in the sun.” The 4 years old Inosuke asked.

“Papa is allergic to the sun. You don’t want to see papa hurt, right?” Inosuke immediately shook his head to Kotoha’s answer.

“But mum. What if bad people attack us during daytime? Papa won’t be able to protect us.”

“Then you’d have to be strong to protect both of us Inosuke.” Douma chipped in, his answer immediately caused Inosuke to burst out an excited grin.

“Yeah! I’ll be the strongest in the world so no one will mess with us!”

Chapter Text

The illuminating lanterns, the fragrant smells from the various food stalls along with varieties of street games were objects of fascination for Kotoha and Inosuke as they strolled through the night festivities. Their smile infectious smiles and exuberant joy made Douma thankful for the emotions he now had.

During their stroll, Inosuke saw a boar mask hanged as the 1^st prize of a dart stand and immediately wanted it.

The shop owner was soon in tears, as darts after darts, Douma cleared all the prizes with graceful precision, ready to present them to Kotoha and Inosuke.

Yet, instead of seeing their cheering faces, he turned to find that they had disappeared.

“Douma-san! Douma-san!” He heard Kotoha’s screams sounding further and further away with each utterances.

But Douma was prepared for this kind of situation. He’d discussed with her the probability of demon slayers trying to kidnap her from him, so he’d given Kotoha his miniature ice doll that contained fragments of his own powers – and through it, the ability to track where Kotoha was.

Sensing where the ice doll attacking Kotoha’s kidnapper, he quickly followed.

After passing through many the city and the farmlands near the city’s edges, he found them in a nearby forest.

He saw a white-haired boy trying to fend off his doll’s assault while a black-haired woman was trying to explain things to Kotoha, who was embracing Inosuke in her arms.

“Miss, you must run. The man whom you and your child are with is not who you think he is. You have to leave before he kills you.”

“Ehh, you mean Douma-san? Yes I know-”

Before Kotoha could finish her words, Douma sent a wave of icicle crashing at the woman, separating her from Kotoha as he quickly moved to snatch both Kotoha and Inosuke into his arms.

“Douma-san!” “Papa!” Were the cries of delight at his appearance.

“Aree, aree. To think that some other demon dare to steal my Kotoha from me.” He said, smiling sinisterly at the pair, a smile that promised a world of pain. Perhaps a hand in her check as he plucks her eyes out would satiate his anger.

“An upper moon.” He heard the woman gasped as she saw the appearance of the letters on his eye, a result of him calling upon his powers.

“Tamayo-sama, what should we do?” The boy who was still struggling with the ice doll gasped.

“We’ll have to escape Yushiro. Try and get the woman and her child. I’ll follow.”

In a swift motion, she scratched her arm to draw blood. Wisps of smoke floated from her blood before turning into a floating spiral of flowers.

Aaah, he suddenly realized who this woman was. She was the one Muzan had been trying to find for a long time. The first demon who escaped his grasp.

A battle between demons was either a long drawn out battle, fighting until one ran out of regeneration powers. For stronger demons, a fight could last a whole night.

But a trick to overcome this was already in his sleeve. It was the same trick Kokushibou used – using a nichirin blade to kill other demons. Nichirin blade which he had melted to create his golden fans.

With a strong swipe, he froze the frozen flowers along with the ground between them. Another swipe created a wall around Kotoha and Inosuke to prevent them from being taken again.

Normally he could simply overpower most demons. But with Kotoha and Inosuke near him, using his powers unrestrained could indirectly hurt them.

She sent a stream of flowers at him, he blocked with a wall of ice roses. And taking advantage of the collision, he jumped to her side, ready of slice off her head.

She nimbly dodged, jumping back to create some space between them.

Again, she sent a spiral of flower streams at him which he countered with blasts of icicles. However, Kotoha was suddenly screaming as she ran towards him.

“Please stop, Douma san.”

Realizing the blast from the collision would hurt her, he jumped towards her, embracing her to shield her from the effect of the blast.

A smog of dusty mist covered the whole area, and when it lifted, Tamayo was staring at them with a doubtful expression.

Not unnerved by the effect of the collision. Kotoha wriggled herself out of his grasp, moving to stand facing Tamayo.

“Tamayo-san, Douma-san won’t hurt me. Douma-san’s my soulmate, he saved me when no one else lend a hand and we’ve been together for the past 3 years. Please don’t worry about me Tamayo-san. Douma-san will never hurt me.” Kotoha explained, her voice without any fear nor doubt reverberated amidst the destroyed trees.

“But that’s not possible. That man-”

“Muzan hasn’t been in Japan for the past decade. Now don’t look so surprise. If you can free yourself from his grasp, do you think members of the upper moons couldn’t do the same if they wanted too? I know what you’re researching and I know you want I blood. If you’re willing to listen and refrain from abducting my Kotoha, I think we’ll have a wonderful partnership.”

Ever since Kotoha came into his life. The issue of Muzan had always been on his mind.

Once human became demons, most were overcome by bloodlust, unintentionally harming their loved ones in the process. The emotional seizure then became too strong that they blocked away memories when they were human – exactly the way Muzan wanted it.

Demon regaining their memories was a rare case and Muzan normally would not permit it.

But Douma, being emotionless as he was, was allowed to keep them.

If Muzan were to know he’d somehow attained emotions, somehow attained Kotoha and Inosuke, they certainly wouldn’t be safe.

Yet sometimes, he couldn’t help but wonder. Ageless as he was, he did not want to imagine a day when Kotoha and Inosuke would grow old and leave him behind. Sometimes he couldn’t help but wonder whether it would be better to turn both of them to demons. That way, they would never have to part.

Yet those ideas were quickly shot down once he imagined Kotoha and Inosuke overcome by bloodlust and forced to harm and eat humans. Turning them to demon would be the same as torturing them for eternity.

He never believed in the concept of heaven and hell, and he never was one who shy away from killing. Yet the thought of seeing Kotoha and Inosuke kill, the thought that they might go to hell for such killings unsettled him. He could never allow them to become the monster that he was.

But perhaps. Perhaps when they are gone from this world, he too will finally expire himself from this life.

Again, an incident happened in one of their nightly festival walks.

And again, it happened because Inosuke wanted the board mask hanged as a prize in one of the game stands – he really did not understand where the fascination with boars came from.

When he’d gotten the prize. Kotoha and Inosuke had disappeared.

Sighing in exasperation, he sensed the location of his ice dolls on Kotoha and Inosuke before he quickly followed.

He found himself facing 3 girls, one who was donning the demon slayer costume – clearly a hashira from the power she was radiating.

“I think I know why you’re kidnapping me. But truly, Douma-san won’t hurt me. He’s my husband-”

“Please miss, he might have been you husband but now he’s a demon who can’t control his urges. He’ll kill you.”

Kotoha’s explanation was ignored by the hysterical younger girl whilst the older one was fighting with his ice doll.

The youngest girl was trying in vain to stop Inosuke from raging and biting – her troubled expression was too much and Douma couldn’t help himself from chuckling, giving away his position in the process.

“My my, I believe you have something of mine.” He said, moving closer to their position. The older one that was still occupied in dealing with his ice clones managed to glare at him even whilst she was fighting.

“An upper moon.” She gasped once she saw the symbol in his eyes.

The other two were holding Kotoha and Inosuke tightly, but couldn’t stop themselves from shaking.

“Let’s not have any quarrel. Return me my wife and son to me and I’ll let you go.” It wasn’t the wisest of decisions, but Kotoha would give him an earful if he accidentally decapitated them.

“No! We won’t let you harm these innocent people.” Screamed the second oldest one as she launched a piercing thrust.

The attack was fast, and would definitely be a threat to other demons, but Douma was the upper moon 2 for a reason.

He was ready to immobilize the girl with his fans when Inosuke threw all his plans right out the window by running in between them.

“Stop hurting dad!” Inosuke screamed as he put his body in the way of the blade. There was an alarmed look on the girl’s face once she realized she couldn’t stop her maneuver.

Douma could’ve used his ice powers to block her attack, but with Inosuke no near, there was a high chance that the freezing temperature would hurt him in the process.

Seeing no other alternative, her moved his body to shield Inosuke, feeling the coldness of the sword piercing into his body.

With Inosuke secured in his arms, he quickly jumped back, disarming the demon slayer in the process - seeing that the sword was still stuck in his body.

“Douma-san are you alright?” Kotoha seized the opening from the shock and quickly ran over to Douma and Inosuke.

The eldest girl was still having trouble with his ice doll, and judging by her worried glances, she now realized how outmatched she was.

“Now, are you going to let us go or are you going to forfeit your life?” He said, pulling the sword out of his stomach, brandishing it with his golden fans.

“Don’t kill them Douma-san, you promised.” Douma winced as Kotoha’s chided him whilst he was carried away in the situation.

“See this as my wife’s mercy. Be sure not to appear before me again. Otherwise, I won’t be so kind.” Douma said, smiling sinisterly, willing a mist of ice to over them as he left the demon slayers in their confused state.

Leaving them alive wasn’t the most clever nor logical reason. He’d never left a demon slayer who’d seen his face alive, but he could never go against Kotoha when she put her foot down, and unfortunately killing was something she was very against.

He woke up to find the 3 girls chatting with Kotoha in the reception room of the paradise cult.

“Aah Douma san, Kocho-san bought gifts as apology for yesterday.”

He really should’ve expected this. His hair and eyes were quite unique. If someone knew who they were looking for, finding him was no difficult task.

He moved to the table, smiling threateningly to the 3 girls that barged into his home.

That being said. He was quite surprised that they had not notified their ring leader and bought over more people.

As he sat down, the eldest bowed her head.

“Douma-san, I truly apologize for yesterday. I’d always told my siblings that demons all used to be humans and would feel the same things we feel. Yet when we saw you with Kotoha-san and Inosuke-kun, I couldn’t help but think they were in danger and panicked.

Douma thought it was naïve for the demon hunter to have these kinds of thoughts. Even within the 12 moons, not all remembered their past - their original love so twisted that most forgot the times when they were humans. But it was rather refreshing to have some optimism directed towards him and Kotoha.

It was how his family became acquaintances with the Kanao siblings.

Kotoha was beyond shocked once Kanae shared stories of the demon slayer exams, and they found themselves taking a trip to the Fujikasane mountain.

If the demon slayers hoped that the forest of wisteria can protect them against the stronger demons, they would be highly mistaken, Douma thought as he led Kotoha into the Wisteria forest. They gently strolled along the forested path as they enjoyed the unearthly sights of the nightly wisteria under the glow of their lantern.

It did make a nice picnic spot thought – with all the shrubbery shielding them from all the sunlight.

Also, as he’d expected, Shinobu handled everything that came towards her with ease. He’d told Kotoha that she would be passing the exams with flying colours, but Kanae stories frightened her so much that she was determined to stay for 7 days until she was really sure Shinobu was safe.

As for the other candidates, a peach haired boy was doing a splendid job at keeping them safe.

It wouldn’t do for Kotoha to camp around in this forest with low ranked demons crawling around everywhere, so Douma used his ice powers and conjured up an ice palace for them to rest comfortably.

Shinobu was very much unimpressed when she saw the out of place ice palace surrounded by ice lotuses in the middle of the dark forest. She was more unimpressed when she saw Kotoha and Douma enjoying tea and sweets in the nearby wisteria patch (which Douma plucked many plants to create). She was most unimpressed by the fashionable hat and a pair of sunglasses which he was using to disguise himself.

She still couldn't refuse when Kotoha invited her to their picnic, where Douma’s small clones served them tea and sweets.

The other kids that passed by assumed the lodging was a safe area in the exam. And Kotoha, kind person that she was, was happy to accommodate them and provide them with food.

One might question where all the food was coming from. It was quite simple, Douma used his small clones to procure them. Demonic powers were convenient like that.

It was on the final day of the exam when they found their picnic disrupted when a panicked cry of “Sabito” reverberated near them.

Kotoha quickly ran to find the cause as Douma shadowed her.

He found the peached haired boy in the hand-hands of an ugly looking many handed demon as his friend was shouting out his name.

“Douma-san, please help them.” She tugged his sleeve as he asked. Aah, he truly couldn’t refuse Kotoha’s wishes.

Throwing his golden fan at the hand demon, he immediately decapitated it.

The disintegrating hand demon looked up at him in shock, but couldn’t say anything as Douma had frozen its tongue.

“Sabito!” The injured black-haired boy quickly ran up to his equally injured peach-haired friend.

“Thank you for saving us Mr. Proctor.” He said gratefully to Douma as Kotoha was nursing the boys’ wounds. Douma smiled back, thinking about how confused the demon slayers would be once they realized someone had infiltrated their exam to play proctor, with an ice mansion to add!

“You’re welcome umm-”

“I’m Giyu, Giyu Tomioka.”

When they returned home. They were greeted by a jumping hug from Inosuke, who was donning one of his many boar masks.

He could see that Inosuke was again playing with wooden swords. All which occurred because he saw Shinobu training with hers, resulting in him wanting to play with swords as well.

Apparently, their slow detour home, allowed the Kochos to arrive before them.

The Kochos didn’t want to want to stay idle and brought out the training swords, starting Inosuke’s new obsession.

“Dad! I wanna use your ice powers! Teach me how to make them with swords!” Inosuke shouted, eyes glimmering with hope.

This caused Douma to be in a dilemma. Whilst he had memorized all the techniques of the people he’d killed. The problem was that he’d never tried to use these breathing technique, preferring the greater flexibility offered by his blood demon arts.

He thought the Kocho siblings could help, but their breathing doesn’t allow them to control ice, or even water.

He tried to remedy this by teaching Inosuke the basics of kenjutsu and tessaijutsu, but try as he might, breathing was rather difficult – seeing that he’d never had to actually breath for the past century.

His problem solved itself when the Kocho siblings appeared with 3 other people in tow – the peach-haired boy and the black-haired boy he’d saved and a man donning a red tengu masked, whose posture alone suggested he was powerful, perhaps a pillar even.

The masked man made a gasp when he saw Douma. All those stronger or more experienced demon slayers seemed to have a way in identifying demons. Yet he cordially accepted Kotoha’s invitation and entered the residence.

As they sat around the tatami mat, the masked man offered a deep bow.

“Thank you for saving my disciples. I, Urodaki Sakonji is forever in your debt.”

“No no, we were just there by chance. Kanae-chan wasn’t allowed on the mountain and I was so worried about Shinobu-chan that we decided to go and check.” Kotoha quickly moved to lift the man up from the floor, explaining what they were doing.

“Nevertheless, your actions saved my disciples from my error.” He said, relenting to Kotoha. “Though I need to ask, you were there for 7 days?” He continued, looking at Douma with a shocked expression.

“I know wisteria cannot stop the stronger demon, but to think that one could just vacation there for 7 days…. And to think that one of our newest pillar member is friend with such a strong demon.” Urodaki stated, staring at Douma as if challenging him to refute.

“I’m surprised you didn’t turn up with a bunch of demon slayers at our doorstep once you realized the location of our house. Surely when you were told about a mansion built from ice, blood demon arts must come to mind?”

“Truthfully, it is something that I should’ve done. Yet towards someone who saved my disciples from the mistakes I created, I simply couldn’t.”

“Even when I’m an upper moon?” Douma teased, revealing the symbol on his eyes.

There was a small glimpse of disbelief in Urodaki’s eyes but only sighed.

“Even so. And honestly, with everything I’ve just heard, I’m not sure I’m surprised. And if another pillar is already keeping a secret of your existence. I’m certain that you are not a danger to anyone.” Douma smiled in return, thinking that he should keep the fact that he’d killed other water pillars a secret from this man.

“If you have a request, I’ll do everything in my power to fulfill it.” Urodaki insisted, after they had chatted more.

“Actually, there is one thing….”

Whilst water breath was not necessary ice. Once Inosuke learned it, he should be able to adapt it to create something similar to Douma’s powers.

Inosuke was beyond pleased once Douma told him he’d found someone to teach him, jumping around the premise with unbridled glee.

Kotoha, on the hand, hit him on the chest as she wailed how her baby boy was leaving. Stopping only when Douma assured her that Urodaki’s mountain was quite close and they could always make weekly visits.

Chapter Text

Akaza hated the weak. He hated the weak humans and he hated the weak demons.

He, who was blind, managed to remain an upper moon for centuries. For others who were complete, they had no reason to be weak. They only had themselves to blame for their weakness.

It was known within the upper moon that Muzan-sama had not been in Japan for a long while. Away on his quest to find an elixir that could conquer the sun.

The upper moons had been unchanging for so long, and perhaps that was why Muzan-sama didn’t see it coming.

Akaza himself couldn’t have foreseen it either.

Practically speaking, the six upper moons had all accumulated enough strength to break free from Muzan-sama’s whenever they wanted.

Yet why break free at all. It had never happened in centuries. Staying with Muzan-sama meant greater power. Staying with Muzan-sama meant near autonomy except for the task of finding a fantasy flower. There was no better alternative.

So, when his telepathic link to Douma was cut, rather than thinking of betrayal, he thought the demon slayers had killed Douma.

Muzan-sama concluded that the demon slayers must’ve found out about Douma’s cult and stormed it. And ascertaining whether this was the case became Akaza’s task.

He hated Douma. Hated how the other demon took his position, hated how the other demon looked down upon him, hated him for thinking Akaza was weak.

Yet he hated the weak demon hunters who grouped together to fulfill their mission more. Besides, it was a job from Muzan-sama and refusing him was not an option.

Arriving at Douma’s cult, Akaza was surprised to hear the sound of celebration. Noises that shouldn’t be associated with the passing of their cult leader – but who knows, Douma wasn’t right in the head, he couldn’t expect sanity from his followers either.

Sensing the surrounding, Akaza deemed Muzan-sama’s assessment to be correct. There were at least 5 demon slayers prowling throughout the place.

He moved towards the two strongest presence and heard them arguing.

“Kocho, I did not expect to find this when my hunch told me to follow you and Urodaki-san.”

“Then you shouldn’t have followed me Rengoku-san. It was awfully rude of you. It goes without saying that whatever you saw here will remain a secret.” She said, giving him no room for any arguments.

“Kocho, you can’t tell me you haven’t sensed it. He’s the strongest demon we’ve ever met. He’s dangerous, perhaps even an upper moon.”

“I know that. He could’ve killed me and my sisters when we first met. Yet we’re still here and he had been with Kotoha-san for years. I think that alone warrants some form of trust.”

In that moment, Akaza sensed Douma’s presence, surely smiling as annoyingly as Akaza imagined him always doing.

It sent Akaza’s thoughts haywire. For if Douma was here among the demon slayers, it meant that the cutting of the telepathic link was Douma’s doing. Douma had betrayed Muzan-sama.

It was inconceivable, yet it was happening. He needed to immediately report this to Muzan-sama.

Yet as he turned to make his exit, he could feel that a large wall of ice was blocking his way.

“Well well well, it seems like we have an uninvited guest.” Was Douma’s annoying drawl.

“Douma. To think that you would betray Muzan-sama” Akaza sneered at the other demon, preparing to attack.

There were surprised noises around them once the activation of his powers revealed his rank.

“Upper moon.” He heard a male voice said.

“Akaza-sama, are you sure you want to fight?” Douma softly said, surely in a laid-back manner, as if telling Akaza that he could never beat him.

Akaza gritted his teeth, deploying his kill compass before he launched a punch at Douma.

Yet instead of being intercepted by Douma’s usual ice powers, it was a flaming sensation that was blocking his fist.

His opponent was strong. Give him a few years and he might be a challenge for Akaza, but now a human could only be so strong.

He sent another punch at the flame demon slayer, and though his opponent dodged it, Akaza’s fist grazed his cheeks to draw blood – and then it all happened at once.

The fiery sword in the hand of an equally surprised blonde, the greeneries, the people, the annoying smile that was certain Douma and the blazing flare of the heat.

Akaza realized he could see.

Kyoujurou had never felt pain.

The doctors had said with was a curse, a dangerous condition that made it unlikely for him to live long.

Yet thanks to his strong body, he’d persevered. He’d made use of it, turning that weakness into strength.

“It is the obligation of those born strong to defend the weak. Don’t ever forget that.” Were his mother’s words that always rang in his head. Were the words that Rengoku took to heart as he honed his abnormally strong body to utilize his symptom.

Having this sense of duty in mind, and already having his father as the flame hashira, it was a done deal that Kyoujurou would be joining the organisation.

He’d been a demon slayer for a few years when strange rumours were heard.

First was the strange rumour of a guardian spirit in Fujikasane mountain. One whom protected the young demon slayer recruits with his ice powers while his wife nursed their injuries.

The start of the rumour corresponded with the exam year where there were no participants’ death.

Kyoujurou summarized that perhaps there was one master who was so worried for their disciple, ignored the rules, sneaked in and ensure their disciple’s safety.

Yet those sayings that the guardian lived in a mansion made of ice made no sense. He’d never heard of a breathing technique that could build a mansion made of ice. In fact, that sounded much more like a blood demon art. Yet, he’d never heard of a demon staying in a mountain covered in wisteria for 7 days straight.

The second strange thing was the sudden friendship between Urodaki-san and the Kocho siblings. Something that happened soon after the examination.

The Kocho siblings, whilst impressive, were rather strange.

Kanae, the current flower pillars always promoted talks and understandings with demons who can contain their hunger – despite the fact that her parents were killed in a demon attack like so many within the force.

Whilst Kyojuro admired her courage in trying to build bridges, he’d never heard of a demon that could contain their hunger.

Yet suddenly, a few weeks after that selection exam, Urodaki-san was supporting her opinions.

Then came that news that the Kocho siblings and Urodaki-san’s students had recently been taking the same holiday dates.

So, while Kyoujurou knew it was bad manners to stalk people. His gut instinct was screaming at him to follow them and find the reason for this abnormality.

The moon was shining bright when they arrived at a large premise near the forest in the suburbs of Kyoto. A suspicious sign of ‘Paradise Faith’ labelled the entrance, yet the group of six entered the site without any signs of doubt.

Perhaps he should go back. Whatever his colleagues wanted to do with their free time were up to them, even if that was joining a suspicious ass cult.

But then he sensed it.

Something in this place screamed danger. He could feel his hair standing up from his intuition.

He sneaked in, trying to blend in with the cult members that were currently organizing some sort of celebration.

Upon entering the centermost building, he heard familiar noises behind a shoji door. With great care, Kyoujurou slowly peeked in.

The group was engaged in a conversation as they sat around a rectangular table. On one side was Urodaki-san with his top disciples, Giyuu and Sabito. On the other were the Kocho siblings.

And at the head if the table, there was a blonde-haired man donning a rhombus like hat. Beside him was a kind-looking lady. And on his lap was Inosuke, Urodaki san’s newest disciple, famous for his uniqueness in running around wearing a boar mask.

In a single look, Kyoujurou determined that the blonde man was dangerous. He was powerful, perhaps the most threatening existence that Kyoujurou had ever felt. It was very likely that he was a demon, perhaps even one of the fabled ‘upper moons’ that was used a tale to scare young demon slayers.

Yet this highly-likely-to-be-a-demon was just sitting there, enjoying tea and snacks with a hashira and an ex-hashira.

Calmness was never his nature, and with so many questions he required answers to, Kyoujurou couldn’t help himself from barging into the room, turning all eyes towards him.

“Oh my. I guess he must be a demon slayer too. Shall I prepare more tea and refreshments Douma-san?” The lady next to the highly-likely-to-be-a-demon man asked.

“I don’t think that this require me telling you, but I’ll do it anyway. Urodaki-san, Kocho, you do realize that this man is a demon?” Kyoujurou stated. Said demon was waving his hand at Kyoujurou as he guided Inosuke’s hand to do the same.

At that point. Kanae had gotten up from her seat and proceeded to drag Kyojuro out of the building.

“Rengoku-san, it was very rude of you to follow us here. It goes without saying that whatever you saw here will remain a secret.” She said, her smile promising retribution should he not agree.

But Kyoujurou had been a demon slayer in order to protect people, such attempts at cowering him was never going to work.

“Kocho, you can’t tell me you haven’t sensed it. He’s one of the strongest demon we’ve ever met. It’s highly likely he’s even an upper moon!” 

“I know that, we’ve fought. He could’ve easily killed me and my sisters, yet we’re still here. Then is the fact that he’d been with Kotoha-san for years. I think that alone warrants some form of trust.”

“If the other pillars were to know of this, you and Urodaki san will be branded as traitors.” He argued, trying to make her see reason.

“That’s why we’re trying to convince them the possibility of co-existence. And until then, they shouldn’t know about this. So, I expect this to only be between us.” She affirmed, untroubled by Kyoujurou’s troubled situation.

It was at that moment when the demon in question appeared. With a wave of his fan, he created a large wall of ice, preventing a pink haired demon that hid nearby from escaping.

His already exotic rainbow eyes shifted with the usage of power. The symbol on his eyes confirming Kyoujurou’s suspicions.

Seeing the pink haired demon in a clearer sight. Kyoujurou saw the ‘upper moon’ symbol appearing in his eyes as he formed an ice-like structure below his feet before he launched an attack on the blonde demon.

Kyoujurou’s protective instincts kicked in, before he knew it, he’d propelled himself to intercept the demon’s attack.

He dodged another punch, but not completely, feeling it grazing upon his skin.

Then it sunk in. Kyoujurou had just felt the sensation of pain.

Akaza went still.

For the first time in his life. He was finally seeing.

Yet seconds after he saw the group of people he was meant to kill, he was overcome by a blinding light.

A frail and petite woman was standing in front of him.

“Hakuji-san.” She said a name. A name he’d known, a name he’d thrown away centuries ago. A name he’d fully forgotten.

He’d remembered a kind girl. A kind girl and her father who wasn’t afraid of the ‘blind demon.’

A kind family who took him in and offered him warmth. A kind family who took him in after his own father committed suicide because of him.

Koyuki took him to many places and described to him the many things he couldn’t see.

She often said that perhaps, perhaps his sight was simply the curse of the red string, that when he finds his right person, he would finally see.

Hakuji responded by saying he would punch this person through the chest for stealing his sight. A response that made Koyuki giggle endlessly before saying that she should’ve expected such a reply from him.

He didn’t need a soulmate, not when he’d already found himself a family in Koyuki and Keizou.

Then suddenly his family was no more. Killed by underhanded weaklings. Killed by poison from those weaklings.

He got revenge. He killed everyone responsible, turning them into pools of blood. Yet it only left him hollow. Hollow from the void that Koyuki and Keizou left behind. Hollow enough to give up his life. To live under the mantra of becoming stronger so that can eradicate all the weak and disgusting weeds.

He rushed up to the Koyuki in front of him. His hands so close to touching her, yet his hands, his trained hands, his bloodstained hands could only pass through her.

He screamed and begged for Koyuki to come back, yet none of his words seemed to matter.

Helplessly, he could only collapse onto the foor.

Her fleeting self moved closer to his collapsed body.

“Hakuji-san. Won’t you give life another chance?” She smiled, her voice asking and pleading.

Then she was gone.

When he opened his eyes. He was lying on the floor. The blonde flame demon slayer was sitting by his side, whilst Douma stood smilingly on the other.

Reaching deep inside himself, he sensed the bond to the one who was his master for centuries.

He seized hold of it, feeling the deep stain of darkness, and in a single grasp, he tore it. It was gone, the bond he had with the demon king Muzan.

Douma seemed to realize what he’d done too, if the widening of the annoying smile was any indication.

“So how would you like to destroy the king of demons?” Douma asked.