Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

She couldn’t take it anymore. Kotoha would endure every beating and every insult as long as they stayed focused on her, but her baby… ‘He went too far this time!’ 

Kotoha ran. She stumbled over tree roots and was whipped in the face by tree branches, but none of that mattered so long as she was shielding Inosuke. Her precious baby boy was still sniffling, whimpering whenever his pudgy, bruised arm brushed up against her.

“Pinky promise, pinky promise. I will protect you, I promise that. Until you get big and strong, your mommy will protect you all by herself. Sorry, Inosuke. You may feel lonely, but I will work hard to protect you in your father's stead. Inosuke, I will protect you even if it costs me my life.” Her whispered lullaby choked off with tears at the hopelessness of their situation. Kotoha was trying to be brave, but she’d made a horrible mistake running into the forest to hide from her husband when the nearest town in this direction was several days away.

She wasn’t sure that she would survive the journey.

“I’m sorry, Mommy’s so sorry, Inosuke! I can’t do anything right. I always end up going the wrong way…”

Kotoha froze in place, unsure of what she was seeing at first. The overpowering smell of blood filled the air, and the mangled deer carcass in front of her looked like it had been torn apart by a bear. It was not a bear that hovered over it.

Pink hair stood out the most, then the navy blue lines that painted the man’s pale, gray body. He whipped his head around faster than her eyes could track, and the oddest eyes she’d ever seen stared directly into her soul. Despite the blood covering this man’s face, the fangs in his mouth, and the reddened claws that still dug into the deer, Kotoha did not feel afraid.

The creature’s face morphed with concern. His eyebrows furrowed, his eyes became pinched in the corners, and his hands released the deer. He awkwardly clenched and unclenched his hands as if he wasn’t sure what to do for a moment.

He physically shook himself before focusing on her entirely. ”What happened? Are you safe?” His voice was unexpectedly soft. The man kept himself near the ground and away from her, clearly worried but trying to remain as nonthreatening as possible.

Despite the scene before her screaming for her to run away, Kotoha found herself trusting the man instead. He felt safe. Tears welled up in her eyes. “M-my husband–”

“Kotoha! Get back here you worthless piece of shit!”

“Ah.” The man’s voice became glacial. “I see.” He turned in the direction her husband’s voice came from with a heavy glare and a rumbling growl building in his throat. “Kotoha, you may want to look away from this. He won’t hurt you ever again.”

She couldn’t have torn her eyes away as her husband stumbled into the clearing if she tried. The being before her, for he was certainly not human but did not act like a monster either, punched a hole through her husband’s chest in a heartbeat. Kotoha watched as he stumbled, wide-eyed with fear, and fell to his knees as he panted for breath.

“How dare you?” the man snarled. “How dare you lay a hand on a woman? How dare you harm your wife? How dare you harm your child?” Blood squelched as the being pulled his arm from her husband’s chest.

“P-please! I’ll go, please–”

“How many times did she beg you to stop? Did you ever listen?” Her husband’s face went pale with fear. “Hm, I didn’t think so.”

Blood arced across the clearing as her husband’s head rolled. The being turned to face her, and his eyes widened when he saw that she’d been watching the whole time. “Shit, I’m sorry. That was unnecessarily gory. Men like that just make me so angry… But it must’ve been scary, and I didn’t mean to make you bear witness to that on top of everything else.”

“I chose to watch.”

“What?”

“It’s okay. I don’t think I ever would’ve really believed I was free of him until… Thank you, sir.”

“Akaza. My name is Akaza.” He stepped forward slowly, as if approaching a frightened deer, held out his hand to her, and murmured, “Let’s go get you cleaned up, okay?”

Kotoha couldn’t help laughing at the absurdity of the situation. “You first, Mr. bathed-in-blood.”

Akaza looked down at himself and blinked slowly, chuckling in response. “You may have a point there. Come on, there’s a river near here. I’ll get a better look at your injuries then.”

She took his hand in hers and followed. Perhaps everyone in the village would’ve called her a fool for it, but they did that anyway. Akaza had done more for her in a matter of minutes than they had in years. Why should she care what they'd think about this?

Even more importantly than that, Inosuke had finally settled down. His wide, green eyes watched Akaza with curiosity but no fear, and her baby was excellent at sensing ill intentions from people. He had cried every time his father or grandmother entered the same room as them.

If even Inosuke felt that Akaza was safe, then Kotoha believed that he wasn’t going to hurt them.

Kotoha was struck by the ethereal beauty of the man before her once again, marveling as the blood washed off and down the stream. “What are you?” She hadn’t meant to ask the question out loud, but there was no taking it back now. Thankfully, Akaza didn’t seem offended by it.

“I’m a demon.”

“A demon? But…” How could a demon defend someone so passionately? It was hard to believe that this righteous man was a demon while her late husband was a human. ‘I thought demons ate people, but I found Akaza standing over a deer. Eating a deer. Do they have a choice? Regardless, he doesn’t feel any more dangerous.’

“Okay,” she decided simply.

“Okay? That’s all?”

“You protected me and Inosuke. I trust you.”

Akaza looked like he was fighting tears. He recovered so quickly that she almost convinced herself that it was a trick of the light, but she knew what she saw. “C’mere. Let me get a better look at those injuries.” His voice wavered despite his effort to appear unaffected, and something about that felt so heartbreakingly familiar to Kotoha for reasons she couldn’t explain.

She did as he asked, and the demon hissed in sympathy when he truly took in the extent of the damage to her face. “He really got you, huh…?” Akaza worried at his lip as he looked her over. “I can heal you with a bit of my blood if you want. Not enough to turn you into a demon, I promise, but enough to make the pain go away and keep this from scarring. Enough to keep you from potentially losing sight in your right eye.”

“I trust you,” she repeated, and as simple as that, two drops of blood landed on her tongue and Kotoha felt better than she had in years. “Can you heal Inosuke too? I know it’s just a bruise, but… I failed to protect him. I don’t want him to hurt because of me.”

“He’s hurt because of his bastard of a father, not you.” Akaza’s voice left no room for doubt on that front. “But I can, yes. So long as it’s just the tiniest bit…”

The demon was exceedingly careful when he ran his thumb over Inosuke’s mouth. His tiny mouth was stained red, but Inosuke only cooed at Akaza, completely trusting.

“You’re very kind.”

Akaza healed in an instant, giving her a sad look. “What I do is the bare minimum, really. Refusing to hurt women or children does not make me a good person.”

“Maybe not, but it makes you better than most.” Kotoha giggled at the dumbfounded expression on Akaza’s face. “Besides, you didn’t have to help us. That is what makes you a good person.”

Clearly flustered, Akaza redirects the topic to something Kotoha hadn’t considered. “What are you going to do now? You’re free, but if you went back home…”

“My mother-in-law is still there, and I have no intention of allowing her to see me again. I should disappear. They’ll probably assume Inosuke and I are dead too.”

“Do you need help disappearing?”

Kotoha knew what the demon was offering her. He was offering protection and kindness that she’d never been shown. He was willing to take on a burden for absolutely nothing in return, and for a split second, she could’ve sworn she heard the whistling of fireworks flying into the sky.

“Take us away, mister demon.”

-

Something about Kotoha felt hauntingly familiar. Akaza couldn’t place what it was, but perhaps he would figure it out in time. After all, he couldn’t, in good conscience, send Kotoha and her baby away; they had nowhere else to go.

His cabin wasn’t much, but it was a roof over their heads and no demon would dare come anywhere near a place that smelled so strongly of Waxing Moon Three. Now Akaza just needed to go buy human food.

“Is Inosuke starting on solids yet, or is he still just drinking milk?”

“Hm? Oh! He’s eating some mashed-up fruits and veggies, but nothing he has to really chew yet.”

“Alright, I’ll go pick some up this evening, then. Do you have any requests? Anything you or he likes in particular?”

Kotoha’s battle spirit wavered with shock and gratitude in equal measure. “You don’t have to do that. You’re already sheltering us…”

“Which doesn’t mean much if you starve in the process,” he snorted. “It’s not like I had a reason to keep human food before, it would’ve just spoiled, but I’ve saved plenty of money. It’ll be no hardship, I assure you.”

“... Inosuke really likes sweet potatoes. I’m not picky.”

Akaza wasn’t going to push her further. Kotoha was willing to be a bit bolder for her son, but after hearing just a few of the words that came out of her monster of a husband’s mouth, it wasn’t surprising that she was hesitant to express any personal desires.

“Sweet potatoes it is. Get some rest. You and Inosuke could both use it, and I’ll stand guard until it gets dark.”

Kotoha’s smile was tinged with weariness but no less genuinely pleased for it. “Thank you, Akaza.”

It was only once she was out of his line of sight that what Akaza was doing truly sank in. ‘What the fuck am I thinking? I barely know Kotoha, so why was I so quick to bring her here?’ He wasn’t truly concerned about the consequences of his actions, him playing house with a woman and her child was a small ask in comparison to Douma’s literal cult, but that didn’t make him any less baffled by his own decisions.

‘It has to be that weird sense of familiarity, right? Am I remembering something from my life as a human?’ He knew that most of the other Waxing Moons recalled their memories, at least to some degree. Akaza had always been an outlier in that regard, but it was odd that a woman he’d never met before could potentially trigger them.

‘Then again, have I really never met her before? Her battle spirit feels familiar. I couldn’t have, right? She doesn’t look any older than eighteen.’

Gratefulness blended with guilt, delicate and gentle hands, and a warm smile offering forgiveness beyond what anyone could reasonably expect. For a moment, when thinking back on what made Kotoha feel so familiar, he could’ve sworn her eyes were pink instead of their actual piercing green.

His memories remained behind an impenetrable fog, and Akaza let the glimpse of something beyond fade away with a sigh. ‘If it’s important, then it’ll come to me in time. If not, then…’ 

Well, it didn’t really matter either way. He still wanted to help Kotoha and Inosuke, regardless of his reasoning, so he would. 

How hard could taking care of a couple of humans be anyway?

Chapter Text

Akaza cursed his inability to feed Inosuke himself. Seeing Kotoha so exhausted from nursing him throughout the night had Akaza searching far and wide for some sort of solution, but it was to no avail.

‘How have humans not created some sort of replacement milk by now? Or at least something that makes it possible to collect milk for later. You’d think that’d be a priority, considering that their babies die without it.’

“Don’t work yourself up over it, Akaza,” Kotoha giggled. “I appreciate the effort. Besides, you’ve been a big help by watching Inosuke while I rest. I can sleep easier knowing that you’re protecting him.”

Her reassuring voice took the wind out of his sails immediately. ‘This kind of trust is precious. I have to prove that I’m worthy of  it.’ 

“I just don’t like seeing you struggle so much,” he grumbled. “Is there nothing more I can do? Nothing at all?”

“Your support is more than enough. This will get easier with time.” Kotoha smiled warmly at him, and Akaza started relaxing despite himself. “But thank you. I’ll let you know if I can think of anything.”

They quickly fell into a comfortable routine. Akaza would venture out to the nearest town once a week, bringing back food, any needed supplies, and more often than not, a gift for both Kotoha and Inosuke.

Kotoha now enjoyed working on a small garden outside their home, growing primarily fruits and veggies so they could be more self-sufficient. Inosuke always clutched onto his new stuffed pig with all the strength the eight-month-old could muster, and he was starting to sleep through the night more often because of it. He enjoyed the other toys Akaza brought him, but the stuffed pig was a clear favorite.

As for Akaza himself, he’d started bringing back a new cookbook on each of his trips to town. He experimented with new dishes and foods, delighting in whenever he could pleasantly surprise Kotoha with the results. Tempura had quickly become her favorite, and Akaza made a point of making it at least once a week.

The smile she gave him every time set his heart aflutter.

Everything was going perfectly. Akaza should’ve known that it wouldn’t last.

Kotoha had a fever that wasn’t breaking, no matter what he did. Cold compresses only offered so much relief, she was steadily getting weaker as she maintained Inosuke’s wellbeing at the cost of her own, and Akaza knew she needed a doctor. 

No doctor was still open by the time the sun went down.

Akaza fretted, attempting to make the journey several times only to be driven back with a hiss and a new burn from the sun once he left the cover of the trees. It took days for those injuries to heal, but he couldn’t bring himself to care about that. Kotoha was going to die if she didn’t get medicine.

He nearly sobbed with relief when a thunderstorm rolled through the area. Dark clouds blotted out the blazing sun’s rays, and Akaza ran off in search of a doctor like death was nipping at his heels. He shifted into the human disguise that had always felt like a second skin to him as he approached the town, and the battle spirits of the humans in their homes around him flared with shock and concern at seeing him in such a desperate state.

“Akaza?” Mayune, an elderly woman who’d shared a bunch of her recipes with Akaza since she had no descendants to pass them onto, looked at him with open worry as she opened her door. “What happened? You’ve always been such a calm boy…”

“Kotoha’s sick,” he managed to choke out. “I’ve been doing everything I can, but she needs a doctor. I know that the weather’s awful, but if she isn’t seen soon, then she isn’t going to make it! Inosuke needs his mother! I…” Akaza needed Kotoha too, but speaking the words aloud felt too damning. 

Judging by the expression on Mayune’s face, she heard the silent admission nonetheless. “Then we’ll be needing Kaiji. Our other doctor is too old to make the trip like this, but Kaiji is young and healthy. We’ll make sure she’s taken care of, okay?”

Akaza wanted to bristle at her placating tone as she led him in the direction of the doctor, but he was too overwhelmed with gratitude to muster the effort to be insulted. “Thank you,” he whispered. “If there is any way I can repay you–”

"Nonsense!” Mayune scoffed. “We all enjoy your visits and company, Akaza. The last thing we want is for you to go through the pain of losing your wife and becoming a single father so young. You love them both so much that it gives an old crone hope for the world again.”

Akaza wasn’t sure where that misconception had come from, but he was too flustered by it to correct her before the moment to do so had passed. Kaiji, a man he now recognized as the one he frequently spoke to regarding the best plants to grow in the area, greeted them with wide eyes when Mayune knocked on his door.

“Mayune? Akaza? What brings you two out here in this weather?”

“Akaza’s wife is sick. You know she’s still nursing that babe, and she needs help as soon as possible. He’s worried she won’t make it.”

Kaiji’s eyes grew even wider, somehow. “If someone with so much herbal and medicinal knowledge is concerned…” He straightened up, shrugging on a coat and asking Akaza, “What are her symptoms?”

“Her fever refuses to break and got even higher overnight. She’s been congested, coughing, and struggling to keep down food and water.” Akaza’s eyes were glassy with tears. “She’s getting weaker. Please, I hate seeing her like this.”

Weak, feeble coughing. A sheen of sweat across her forehead from fever as he tended to her throughout the night. It never seemed to go away, no matter how often he wiped it away with a cold cloth.

He lived in terror for months, fearing the worst was soon to come but determined to never show it to her. She needed someone to believe that she would get better, so he would be that person, even if he had to convince himself of it just as much as he needed to convince her.

And she did get better. A shame that didn’t change anything, in the end.

Dread crawled up his throat as Akaza blinked back into the present, thankful that neither human had noticed him spacing out. ‘What was that? A memory? It was vague and foggy still, but that was the closest I’ve ever gotten to a clear recollection of my life as a human.’ 

He’d lost someone close to him. Akaza couldn’t remember her name and the details of her face were blurry, but it had been a devastating loss, that much he knew. He refused to go through something like that again.

If it weren’t for Inosuke, he would’ve already started begging her to become a demon. But female demons couldn’t produce milk for a human, their kind needed blood and flesh to sustain themselves no matter how young they were, and he knew that she’d never abandon her child to save her own life. 

Akaza adored her for it, but he was terrified for her in equal measure.

“Could be a lot of things. A cold, sinuses, maybe even the flu. You’d probably be sick by now if it was the flu, though. It’s more likely that the stress her body is under from taking care of the baby is exacerbating a milder illness, but I’ll come prepared for either outcome.” Kaiji continued muttering lowly under his breath as he got his bag together and they all set off into the storm.

‘Please hold on, Kotoha. We’re coming.’

Akaza would never forgive himself if he came home too late once again.

-

Everything was a blur of heat and colors. Kotoha’s head pounded with each of Inosuke’s distressed whimpers, and she held him close as glazed eyes searched the room for the demon she’d come to love.

How could she not have fallen for him? She’d never felt so treasured, so loved, or so protected in her life. Akaza made it abundantly clear that he’d do anything for her, so it made no sense that he wasn’t here now.

‘Something… Something is wrong.’

The front door swung open, and Kotoha gritted her teeth as she lifted her head to see what was happening. All the breath in her lungs immediately left her. Black hair with pale pink eyelashes and ice-blue eyes. This man was clearly Akaza in disguise, there was no hiding such a kind and expressive face, but another name escaped her lips.

“... Hakuji?”

His human companions turned to him with confusion, but Akaza only looked like he’d seen a ghost. “Yeah,” he whispered. “Yeah, I think…” He shook his head, blinking tears out of his eyes. “That’s not important right now. Kotoha, I’m sorry for leaving you. I brought a doctor, so everything is going to be fine now.”

Kotoha’s eyes watered at the desperation in Hakuji, Akaza, no it was Hakuji’s voice. It reminded her of distant memories, of years that he spent at her bedside just like he had these past few days. It reminded her of steady arms carrying her to the bridge just so she could watch the fireworks. It reminded her of promises and marriage and parting far too soon.

It reminded her of things that happened over a lifetime ago.

“I can’t lose you again,” he whispered at her side as the doctor took her temperature, so lowly that no one else would be able to hear. She knew then that he remembered too, at least parts of it. “I wouldn’t be able to bear it.”

“You won’t,” she promised. She was stronger as Kotoha than she ever had been as Koyuki, and even back then she’d been able to fight off the illness for him. Kotoha would not leave Akaza behind. 

She would not allow the fates of Koyuki and Hakuji to repeat themselves when they’d been given a second chance like this.

“It’s just a bad cold,” the doctor sighed with a smile. The elderly woman by his side sagged with relief. “Some medication to keep the fever down, plenty of soup, and bedrest should curb the worst of her symptoms within a week. If it persists beyond that point, come back to get me, but everything should be alright.”

“Thank you. I will forever be in your debt. If there is ever anything you need–”

The doctor waved his hands frantically as Akaza bowed to him, laughing nervously. “There’s no need for any of that! I’m just doing my job.” He smiled at them both, passing a bottle of medication over to Akaza. “I’m glad that it wasn’t as serious as we feared. You three are a beautiful family.”

Kotoha’s giggling filled the room as surely as joy filled her. “We are, aren’t we?”

Akaza looked at her like she’d hung the stars in the sky. He looked at her like Hakuji always looked at Koyuki. He looked at her like she was his whole world.

She didn’t need to see her reflection to know she mirrored that look right back at him.

-

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Akaza pressed a kiss to the top of Kotoha’s head with a fond smile, looking down at a happily babbling Inosuke as he crawled around the room. The boy was a little menace who was determined to explore as much as possible, and Akaza had learned very quickly how important it was to baby-proof their home.

“... You know, I never asked.” Akaza tilted his head at Kotoha with a curious hum. “How did all of this happen?” She gestured vaguely to him. “Weren’t you already…?”

“He found me shortly after you were killed. I went on a bit of a rampage against that kenjutsu dojo for poisoning you, caught his attention, and he was curious to find out if a demon who was previously a halfling could withstand the sun. I cannot, obviously. But I can still survive solely on animals, so it’s not all bad.”

“Huh.” Kotoha idly traced up and down the markings on his face. “And what’s with the kanji in your eyes? What does Waxing Moon Three mean?”

“It means that I’m the fourth-strongest demon in the world, despite my unconventional diet and methods.” Green eyes widened in shock. “It means that I can protect you this time, Kotoha, I swear it. You and Inosuke both.”

“I have no doubt of that,” Kotoha giggled. “We’re in your care, mister demon.”

“I won’t let you down,” he vowed. Akaza would keep each and every one of his promises this time. He refused to let anything happen to the family he was building here.

“I know you won’t. You never did.”

Akaza really needed to get a handle on this whole crying thing.

Chapter Text

Akaza wasn’t sure why he was so nervous. This was more of a formality than anything else, but even still, his heart was pounding out of his chest and it felt as if his mouth was filled with cotton. He had been reading up on marriage proposals lately, certain that traditions would have changed after a couple of centuries and even more certain that Keizo had been entirely nontraditional in the first place, because Kotoha deserved the best, and the best was what he would give her. 

The hard part was keeping Inosuke from tearing into any of the nine gifts that were wrapped in delicate rice paper. He knew that Kotoha wouldn’t be upset if he did, Akaza doubted that she expected an approximation of a yuino ceremony in the first place, but he still kept a close eye on Inosuke as he toddled around the room.

There was a gentle knock at the door. Akaza took a few steps back, and Kotoha swiftly closed the door behind her, ensuring that the sun’s rays did not creep far into the room. “I was able to get a priest to come out here in a week’s time. He has a reputation for being discreet and having a soft heart for young couples, so we shouldn’t need to worry about him spreading rumors about us not being married to begin with.”

Kotoha darted forward to press a kiss to his cheek with a wide smile that always left Akaza breathless. It wasn’t until afterward that she noticed the gifts sitting on top of their dining table. “Oh? What’s all this, Akaza?”

“I… I know we don’t have parents to do this with, but I still wanted you to have a yuino ceremony. To show you how serious I am about this. It’s not just because you were Koyuki once, you know? I love you , Kotoha.”

Delicate hands cradled his face as Kotoha whispered, “And I love you , Akaza. Thank you. I got something for us too, actually!” She sat down a small box that was also wrapped in rice paper on the table, holding onto one for herself. “But do you mind if I open yours first? I feel like it’ll lead into these well.”

“Of course not! Go ahead.”

“Inosuke? Do you want to help Mama open her presents?”

“Yes! Yes!” Their son nearly fell over as he rushed toward her, and Akaza steadied him with a hopelessly fond smile.

“Which one should we open first, baby?” Kotoha pulled Inosuke into her lap with a smile, giggling as he babbled and smacked his hand against the table. She lifted the gift closest to him and asked, “This one?”

“Yes!”

Yes was Inosuke’s favorite word by far. He also knew Mama and Papa, and Akaza had not cried when he first started saying the latter.

Kotoha’s eyes widened as she opened the first gift, and her hands trembled around a familiar snowflake hairpin. “You… You kept it? For all these years?”

Akaza’s face flushed a bright red as his eyes trailed to the floor. “Even when I couldn’t truly remember you… I could never forget. You were important to me. It only seemed right that you have this back, you know? I don’t need a memento. I’m not going to lose you this time.”

Green eyes watered with tears, and Inosuke patted Kotoha’s face with a worried, “Mama?”

“Mama’s okay, baby. She’s just really, really happy.” She turned to him with a sniffle and asked, “Will you…?”

Akaza gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before fixing the hairpin in place. “There you are,” he murmured before brushing his lips against her forehead. “Beautiful as the day I met you.”

“Oh, stop it, you!” Kotoha giggled, and, satisfied that his mother was fine, Inosuke began making grabby hands toward the gifts again. “There’s nothing delicate in these, is there?”

“There are a couple of things he could tear if he really got ahold of them, but I’m pretty sure he only wants the paper anyway. Just don’t let him get the one closest to the middle; I put it there for a reason.”

Kotoha slid the next gift over to Inosuke’s eagerly awaiting hands, and he tugged and pulled at the paper with delighted shrieks as he ripped it to shreds. A small pouch of wisteria flopped over on the table, and Inosuke ignored it entirely to continue tearing the pieces of paper clutched in his hands.

“Protection,” he murmured. “Most demons will know better than to go after you, but the newly turned and starving ones… The wisteria will ward them off.”

“And it won’t bother you? I don’t want you to be uncomfortable in your own home.”

“It’s our home.” Kotoha huffed softly at his teasing correction. “It won’t affect me, darling, I promise. Just keep it on you, please?”

“Okay, I will. Thank you, dear.” Kotoha carefully tucked it within her bag, pulling the string tight to keep it secure and settling a thread of anxiety within Akaza that he hadn’t realized was so strong. “This is all so thoughtful. You really didn’t have to do this, you know…”

“I know. But you deserve it.” Akaza slid the next gift over with a fanged grin before she could protest. “Please? Let me take care of you, Kotoha.” He needed to do this. He needed to prove that he could do this right.

“You don’t have anything to make up for, you know?” Kotoha whispered. “I appreciate this, but please don’t beat yourself up over the past. It wasn’t your fault, Akaza. None of it was. And we have each other now! It’s a new start, so let’s treat it like one, okay?”

He really shouldn’t be surprised that Kotoha could see straight through him as well as Koyuki did. “Okay,” he murmured softly. “Our new start…”

“Papa?” Inosuke craned his head up to look at Akaza with a pout. He started making grabby hands again, and both he and Kotoha were startled when he firmly said, “Up!”

“Well, you heard him!” Kotoha laughed with disbelief, holding a very smug Inosuke out to him. “Someone wants to cuddle with his papa!”

He was never going to say no to that. Inosuke immediately tucked himself beneath Akaza’s chin, clutching onto his vest while babbling happily. Akaza could feel the weight melting off his shoulders as he held his son close, and Kotoha gave them both a smile that made butterflies swarm in his stomach before returning to her gifts.

“Akaza… This is beautiful .” Kotoha’s voice shook as she lifted up a sunflower-patterned obi. Its white background ensured that it would go with almost any kimono, especially single-colored ones. “I only mentioned liking sunflowers once! You remembered?”

“Of course I did,” he whispered, running his hand through their son’s hair as he slowly drifted off into sleep. It was his nap time, and now that he’d gotten to have his fun, it wouldn’t be long before he passed out. “I try to pay attention to these things.”

“Always so attentive.” Kotoha tilted her head at the next present she picked up, humming softly. “This one is heavier. Huh…” Her eyes widened once she pulled the rice paper away. “Is this…?”

“You said that you didn’t have the opportunity to get much of an education.” Akaza rubbed at the back of his neck sheepishly. “I know that you can read some, but I thought it would help to have a more comprehensive guide. And we can learn how to write together! I never did bother with that…”

Her next gift was another book, a collection of lullabies for children, and given how fond she was of singing them, he wasn’t surprised by the smile that tugged at her lips. “Now I have even more motivation to learn.”

“I can sing any that you’re not sure about the words for until then,” he promised. “That way you can still learn them.”

“No.” Kotoha shook her head with a laugh. “Thank you, but I want to learn how to read them on my own. And there are a few of these that I can read already, I promise! I really do like this, so you can stop being so nervous,” she teased. “You didn’t have to get me anything at all!”

Akaza could feel the heat burning in his face as he slid the next present over to her, figuring it was best to keep quiet and not dig the hole for himself even deeper. Kotoha’s pleased gasp made him feel far better. “Akaza! I didn’t even tell you that I liked these, I know I didn’t, so how did you know?”

Several seed packets for Kotoha's garden were spread across the table, and though there was a large variety, there were three packets that he had gotten three times more of: sweet potatoes for Inosuke and daikon and melons for Kotoha.

“There’s a reason that I experiment with such a wide variety of dishes, you know?” Akaza winked with a chuckle. “I just paid attention to what you liked best.”

“I’m glad that it’s you I ran into,” she whispered. “I never would have dreamed of having a life like this, but I am truly so grateful.”

“I am the fortunate one.” Akaza carefully sat down by her side, holding a softly snoring Inosuke steady as he whispered, “To have found you again like this after so long is… It is more than I could have ever asked for.”

Kotoha’s head rested against his shoulder as she opened her next present, so he could feel the instant her body tensed with shock. “Akaza. Dear, darling, the light of my life, this is too much. How much money is even…?”

“It’s traditional!” he insisted. “Typically you give it to the bride’s family, but… I still wanted you to have this. You’re putting a lot of trust in me. You were in an awful marriage just last year, and I never want you to feel like you and Inosuke are trapped so… This is for you. Just think of it as a safety net.”

“How much is in this?” Kotoha repeated firmly.

“... A million yen. It’s really not that much compared to what I’ve saved over the past couple of centuries, honest! I was determined to not spend an eternity struggling, even if I didn’t remember why I wanted to save up money in the first place. I just want you both to still be comfortable if you ever decide to leave for any reason.”

“You are… impossibly sweet, Akaza. Thank you. I’m not going to need to use it, but I can always set it aside for when Inosuke gets older. A million yen, honestly,” Kotoha muttered disbelievingly. She seemed incredibly relieved when the next gift was a simple package of noodles. “Is this another traditional thing?”

Akaza nodded eagerly. “These are tomoshiraga somen noodles! The kanji for tomo means together, and an alternate translation for shiraga means white hair. It’s basically a blessing of sorts for a wedded pair to get to grow old together. I figured that it couldn’t hurt after last time…”

“We’ll have to keep these close then.” Akaza’s heart pounded as Kotoha reached for the final gift, nerves buzzing with a combination of fear and relief. Her eyes blew wide as she pulled out a single vial of blood. “Is this…?”

“I’m not asking you to become a demon,” he promised. “At least not now. It would have to wait until Inosuke stopped nursing, and this is not a decision to make lightly. You probably wouldn’t be able to survive on animals like I can, and even if you did manage to, it would be an extremely difficult and miserable experience. But… I wanted you to keep this close just in case. If something were to happen, if it was a matter of life or death and I wasn’t there for whatever reason… So long as you keep it out of the sunlight, you will have a backup plan. I can’t lose you like that again, Kotoha, I can’t.”

Kisses stole away every one of the tears that trailed down his face. “You won’t,” she promised. “I will keep it with me always. Why don’t you open your present, hm?” Kotoha passed the small box over to him, and Akaza’s breath hitched at what he saw inside. “I’ve been saving up too, you know? We never got to have these last time, so…”

Delicate fingers lifted the silver band out of its case and slid it onto Akaza’s finger. They then opened the box that Koyuki had held onto, revealing a smaller, identical ring that he slid onto her finger in turn. “Wedding bands,” she whispered. “I know people normally don’t start wearing them until after the ceremony, but everyone already thinks we’re married anyway and… I’m serious about this too, Akaza. I’m not leaving you again.”

“I love you,” he whispered. “Now, forever, and until the end of time.”

“I love you too. Now, forever, and until the end of time.”

Chapter Text

“Ah. Now I understand why you two wished to do this privately.”

Kotoha laughed nervously as the priest smiled down at Inosuke. Her son was being spectacularly stubborn today, insisting that he could walk outside all on his own, but she’d managed to talk him into a compromise that had him holding hands with Akaza.

Inosuke’s free hand was clutching his favorite stuffed pig close to his chest, and while he was mostly babbling, the word papa was said several times. ‘He’s so attached to him,’ she mused. ‘It’s adorable.’ Kotoha wondered if, subconsciously, Inosuke associated Akaza with safety and that was why he clung to him so tightly. He was sweet to her too, he learned to say Mama before Papa too, but he was practically attached at Akaza’s hip. ‘Then again, he is usually home with him. He’s basically a stay-at-home dad, so they’re bound to be close. Not that it matters, really. He’s safe and happy. I don’t have to be his favorite.’

“Yes, we’re… An unconventional pair, but I love her and want to do this right. You wouldn’t mind quietly filing this into the town records, would you?” Kotoha wouldn’t care if word of this did get out, but Akaza was adorably concerned for her reputation and she found it too endearing to mind much.

“I don’t see why I couldn’t. You’re not even technically residents, so no one needs to know. I doubt anyone will bother to check the date on it.”

“Thank you, Shindou-san,” Kotoha murmured with a bow. “We appreciate this very much.”

“Of course. Were there vows that the two of you wanted to say to one another, or did you just want to sign the paperwork?”

“If you don’t mind…” Kotoha’s voice trailed off with a whisper, eyes shining as she looked up at Akaza. “I do have something I want to say.”

Shindou nodded, and Kotoha took Akaza’s free hand in hers as a smile lit her face. “Akaza, you are my light in the darkness. You gave me hope in my darkest hour, and it is because of you that I can face each new day with a smile. You are a brilliant father, better than I could have ever hoped for, and I am so glad that you adore Inosuke as much as I do. I love you. Now, forever, and until the end of time. Thank you for coming on this journey with me.”

“Kotoha…” Akaza sniffled, and a watery chuckle escaped him. “You are the most brilliant woman I’ve ever met. You are as warm and nurturing as the sun and as serene and peaceful as the moon, and I find myself hopelessly enraptured by you in my every waking moment. You are a wonderful mother, and I never want to hear you say otherwise. You’ve done so much to ensure Inosuke would be safe, and I’m proud of you for how far you’ve come. I love you. Now, forever, and until the end of time. Thank you for allowing me to walk alongside you.”

Once everything was signed and sorted, the priest gave them both a warm smile. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hashibira. I wish you many happy years together.”

“Safe travels, Shindou-san!”

Akaza simply nodded, but he tossed the priest a small pouch filled with wisteria before he could walk away. “The roads are dangerous at night, Shindou-san. This talisman will ward off any evil spirits that may try to lead you off course.”

“... I thank you for your kindness, Hashibira-san. I will hold it close.”

It wasn’t until after the priest was well out of earshot that her husband whispered, “Do you think he would pass out if he realized I was a demon?”

“Oh without a doubt,” she snorted. “Even the more open-minded priests have their limits, and that would trample right over all of them.”

They both devolved into laughter, and Inosuke joined them with a squeal of delight as soon as Akaza dropped his human disguise. “Papa! Papa, Papa, Papa!” Her baby boy could always tell that it was Akaza in his other form, but he still seemed mildly perturbed by it. He was measurably happier to see navy tattoos and bright pink hair, and Kotoha shared the sentiment.

Akaza seemed so much freer than Hakuji had ever been, and though he was always beautiful, there was something truly breathtaking about this form. ‘It’s the smile,’ she decided. ‘It’s not tinged with fear anymore. He knows that he’s strong enough to protect us from whatever may come, and with that weight off his shoulders, he is able to smile truly, genuinely.’

“Let’s go home, husband.”

“Right after you, wife.”

-

It was amazing how quickly humans grew. Inosuke’s steps grew steadier by the day, and before long his unsteady walk became a full-on sprint. Into tables, chairs, walls… There was much more baby-proofing done to the house once he started running. Inosuke did not seem to care about the bruises that he gave himself; he didn’t even cry.

“Are you sure he’s completely human? Because I grow more uncertain by the day.”

Kotoha snorted sharply at that. “He certainly reminds me of you back then. If I didn’t know any better, then I’d say he was yours, but he is in every way that matters anyway.”

He could feel the lovestruck smile tugging at his lips and quickly surrendered himself to it. “I love you.”

There was a gentle press of lips against his own before Kotoha pulled back and whispered, “I love you too.”

“Wub you!”

Both of them immediately whipped their heads around, and Akaza felt like his heart was pounding out of his chest. Inosuke had a sunny grin on his face, and he barely managed to stutter out, “Inosuke? W-what did you say?”

Inosuke’s grin only grew wider. “Wub you! Wub you Papa! Wub you Mama!”

They both rush forward with watery eyes, pulling Inosuke into a hug that had him giggling with joy. “Oh, I love you so much! My precious baby boy.”

“I love you, Inosuke! You’re growing up so fast…”

“Wub you! Wub you!”

Akaza would set the entire world ablaze to protect this. 

-

The past few years had gone by so quickly that it was difficult to believe. Inosuke was a fiercely independent four-year-old, but he was equally clingy when the mood struck him. It was adorable, and both she and Akaza helped teach him how to do anything he was determined to do on his own.

Watching Inosuke grow up was an incredibly bittersweet thing. Kotoha adored everything about him and the person he was becoming, but it was still sad to see her baby beginning to flap his wings. He would be flying off on his own before she knew it.

“Yes! Bwahahaha! Inosuke is da best!” Her baby boy puffed up with pride, holding his handmade onigiri to the sky with a wide grin. “Look Mama, look!”

“I see, baby! Good job!”

Akaza ruffled Inosuke’s hair, which was starting to get longer since he absolutely refused anything more than a trim, with a playful chuckle. “You’re trying to put your Papa out of business, huh?”

“No!” Inosuke immediately cried out, aghast. “Papa’s food is da best!”

“But I thought you were the best?” he teased gently. Inosuke’s face blanked, struggling to comprehend the paradox he’d created for himself as they both fought back laughter. “Tell you what?” Akaza whispered, leaning down as if he was telling Inosuke some great secret. “How about we’re both the best?”

Inosuke nodded, seemingly appeased by that logic. “Mama too! Mama’s hugs are da best! Songs too!”

Kotoha was smiling so widely that her whole face crinkled with it. “Aww, thank you, baby!”

“You’re so smart, Inosuke.” Inosuke beamed at his father’s praise, eyes sparkling as he nibbled on his onigiri with a pleased wiggle. “Your mama is the best too. Now, sit down to eat, okay? We don’t want you to choke.”

Inosuke had a tendency to get too excited and run while still chewing, and though most things didn’t deter him, even he gave a sheepish nod at that. “Yes, Papa.”

“And let me know if you want another one! You can have one of mine or make one with the leftovers if you want.”

Inosuke nodded eagerly around his mouthful of rice, swallowing harshly before saying, “Yes, Papa!”

Kotoha walked into the kitchen with a smile, watching how the candlelight flickered over her husband’s face for several long moments before murmuring, “Have I mentioned lately how much I love you?”

“Once or twice,” he teased before kissing her softly. He pulled back with a fanged, mischievous grin. “But I never get tired of hearing it. Why?”

“You’re just so… You’re such a good father, Akaza. We live comfortably, even if we are a bit isolated, and there’s always someone here, so I guess I was just wondering… Did you want more?”

Akaza tilted his head with a hum. “What do you mean? We’re living the dream! I couldn’t possibly ask for more than this.”

Kotoha laughed at that, pulling him in for a hug before she whispered, “I’m asking if you want more children, dear.”

Black kanji almost completely engulfed gold irises. “Really? Darling, you mean that? You would? It’ll probably be harder than a normal pregnancy; I don’t want you to get hurt–”

“If my life is ever in danger, then I will just become a demon. Your mother gave birth to you just fine, and our kid would be half-demon anyway. They won’t need me to remain human like Inosuke did if push came to shove.” Akaza blinked rapidly as his face grew redder by the minute. “So? Do you want to have more?”

“Y-yeah!”

Akaza was so easy to fluster. Somehow, he managed to be even more expressive than he used to be as Hakuji. She didn’t think she could ever grow tired of it.

Kotoha sauntered off with a wink, giggling as her husband’s face became nearly crimson as a purr rumbled in his throat. “We’ll start trying tonight then.”

-

Akaza knew he was hovering, but he couldn’t help it. Kotoha had been throwing up a lot lately, and he couldn’t rest easy unless he checked her for any signs of fever at least a couple of times a day.

“I’m fine, dear, I promise.”

“Are you sure? We haven’t seen any other symptoms, but it could be subtle and–”

“Akaza, sweetheart, I’m sure. This is like clockwork. I’m getting sick almost every single afternoon, and I was the exact same way with Inosuke. I haven’t had my period for the last couple of months either.”

His breath got caught in his throat. “You… You mean?”

“We’re gonna have a baby!”

Akaza’s heart soared. It felt as if he was walking on thin air as he pulled Kotoha in for a kiss, smiling so widely that they both devolved into laughter as they pressed their foreheads together. “We’re gonna have a baby…”

“Mama? Papa?” Inosuke shuffled into the room while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, yawning as he struggled to wake up fully from his afternoon nap. “What’s a baby?”

“Well…” Kotoha started, humming softly. “A baby is like you when you were really little. Back when you needed Mama and Papa to do everything for you.”

“Inosuke’s not little no more!” he exclaimed with a huff.

“No, of course not! You’re a very big boy,” Akaza reassured him. He wasn't sure how to explain the concept of babies to their son when he had never seen one, but he would try his best. “You know how one of you finds a bird’s nest sometimes when your mama asks you to help her in the garden?”

“Yeah?”

“And how when the eggs in those nests hatch, little birds come out of them?”

“Yeah!”

Kotoha smiled, breathing a relieved sigh now that Inosuke was starting to understand. “Those are baby birds! And, well, those nests usually have more than one baby in them, don’t they?”

“Huh… Yeah, they do!”

“Well, humans and demons don’t usually have more than one baby at a time. We’ve gotta dedicate all our time and effort to raising one baby until they’re a bit older, so we space them out more. But… we still usually have more than one baby.”

Inosuke’s eyes widened slightly. “There’s gonna be another baby?”

“Yep!” Akaza ruffled his hair with a fond smile. “You’re gonna get to be a big brother! You’ll be able to play with your baby brother or sister, tell them all sorts of secrets you won’t tell us, and even help us teach them how to be a big kid just like you.”

“That’s so cool!” Inosuke’s face lit up with a smile. “Inosuke is gonna be the best brother ever!”

“Of course you are, baby,” Kotoha giggled as she pressed a kiss to his forehead. “You’re Inosuke. You’ll be the best at anything you put your mind to.”

Chapter Text

Sachiho Hashibira was born in the dead of night, and her cries revealed the sharp fangs that both of them expected. Kotoha slumped back on her futon with relief. “Oh, thank the gods,” she groaned. “Would you mind feeding her dear? I think I’m going to pass out.”

Akaza could not blame her for that. She’d been in labor for hours, and the force of her grip on his fingers was enough to break them a couple of times throughout the process. “Of course I can! Get some sleep, darling. You’ve done so well. She’s beautiful…” He cradled his daughter to his chest with a soft smile, and glowing, golden eyes stared up at him. “Look at you,” he cooed. “Let’s get you fed, hm?”

Little fangs dug into his fingertips, and he only laughed as he went to grab a bag of blood from their icebox. He’d been hunting for weeks in preparation for today, ensuring they’d be stocked up so that he could take care of Sachiho while Kotoha recovered. “Here you are, sweetheart.”

Sachiho sank her fangs into the edge of the bag immediately, drinking with sleepy, half-lidded eyes. “We’ll get you on meat once the rest of your teeth grow in,” he murmured. “You’re gonna be sleeping a lot until then, baby. Mama’s gonna appreciate that, don’t you think?”

“The baby’s here?!” Bright green eyes shone with glee as Inosuke slid into the room. “Wow! They’re so tiny!”

“How did you–?” Akaza shook his head with a soft laugh. “Never mind, that doesn’t matter. Yeah, this is your baby sister, Sachiho. Let’s talk quietly though, okay? Your mama’s sleeping. It’s really hard to bring a baby into the world; she needs her rest.”

“Okay.” Inosuke nodded eagerly. Sachiho drained the bag of blood and unhooked her fangs with a wide yawn, snuffling softly as she curled into Akaza’s chest. “Hello, Sachiho,” Inosuke whispered. “Inosuke is gonna make sure you grow up big and strong just like him. He promises!”

‘I have the cutest kids.’ Akaza couldn’t have hidden his smile if he tried. “You’re gonna be a great big brother, Inosuke.” He held out his hand, and Inosuke quickly laced their fingers together, though he averted his eyes after doing so. “Just promise to still have fun, okay? It’s your mama and I’s job to take care of the baby. We appreciate any help you want to give, but the Great Inosuke needs time for himself too, doesn’t he?”

“Nuh-uh.” Inosuke shook his head, sounding more serious than Akaza could ever recall him being. “I’m a big brother now. I’ve gotta protect the baby.”

‘He picked that up from me, didn’t he?’ Akaza thought with a sigh. ‘I’ll keep an eye on it. So long as he’s not exhausting himself, it won’t hurt to let him be a bit protective.’ He gently squeezed Inosuke’s hand with a smile. “Do you want to come lay down with me and your mama tonight? You and Sachiho both need your rest too.”

Inosuke nodded shyly, and once they were all settled on Akaza’s futon, both Inosuke and Sachiho were quick to fall into slumber. Kotoha blinked her eyes open from across the room and shot him an exhausted, loving smile before quickly drifting off once more.

Akaza kept guard. And as he watched over his sleeping family, the warmth burning in his heart only grew stronger.

-

‘My husband is a godsend,’ Kotoha thought blearily, yawning as she nursed her tea before daring to attempt eating breakfast. ‘Who decided that demons were evil again? They need a reality check. Mornings are evil.’

Akaza was currently cooing at Sachiho as she ate her breakfast, keeping a careful eye on Inosuke as he transferred an egg from the frying pan to his plate. “Yes!!” Inosuke hissed once it was successfully moved, quickly scampering off to sit by her side. “Good morning, Mama!”

“Good morning, baby. How’re you?”

“I’m a big brother!”

Inosuke had been repeating that almost nonstop lately, and it was heartwarming and endearing in equal measure. He was such a headstrong child that she had worried he might struggle to share the attention at first, but he didn’t seem to mind at all. “Yes, you are! Are you still excited about that?”

He nodded rapidly. “Uh-huh! Thank you, Mama!” Inosuke hummed, kicking his feet slightly as he dug into his food. He kept glancing between her and his plate for several moments before whispering, “Mama?”

“What is it, baby?”

“You’re the best.” Inosuke nodded decisively, mind made up. “Papa didn’t give me a little sister.”

Akaza made a wheezing sound from the kitchen, sounding near-hysteric as he scrubbed the pots and pans. Kotoha could see the tears building up in his eyes from how hard he was trying not to laugh.

“Thank you, baby,” she giggled, and that was all it took for Akaza to nearly collapse on himself in laughter.

“What’s so funny, Papa?”

“N-nothing. “Don’t worry about it, Inosuke. I’ll explain it to you once you’re bigger.”

-

Sachiho dozed against Kotoha’s chest, belly full and content as Akaza cleaned the blood bag out with a content smile. Inosuke was curled into his mother’s side on the futon, humming softly as she sang. 

“Rising, rising is the moon,

Large and round, large and round, round, round one,

Plate-like full moon will rise soon.

Hiding, hiding, is the moon,

Behind the clouds, dark clouds, black, black clouds,

Plate-like full moon will hide soon.

Appearing, reappearing is the full moon,

Large and round, large and round, round, round one,

Plate-like full moon will rise soon.”

“One more Mama? Please?”

“Alright, alright,” Kotoha chuckled. “One more. But after, we have to go to bed, okay?”

“Okay!”

“Color your fingernails with the balsam flower,

Color your soul with the teachings of your parents.

Although we could count all the stars in the sky,

We could never count all the things our parents teach us.

As the ship sailing the night sea depends on the North Star,

So my parents who gave me birth depend on me.

Even a gemstone loses its luster if it is not polished,

Morning and evening, let us polish our hearts and walk through the world.

A truthful person will be granted peace and happiness,

Your wishes will come true and you will live happily for a thousand years.

With determination, one can accomplish everything,

Only when you give up will you fail.”

“I love you, Mama,” Inosuke murmured softly.

“I love you too, baby.”

“I love you, Papa.”

He tucked the bag away with a smile, joining the rest of his family with a content sigh. “I love you too, Inosuke. Sleep tight.”

“You’ll protect Sachiho?”

“I’ll protect all of you, I promise,” he murmured. “So get some rest. You’ve gotta take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else. Otherwise, you’ll be too tired when they need you most.”

“... Okay, Papa. Night night.”

“Goodnight, son.”

-

“Akaza, darling?” 

He immediately jolted to attention at the tone in his wife’s voice. For once, it was just the two of them in their bedroom. Sachiho was old enough to sleep through the night without issue, and Inosuke was vigilant and, as they recently discovered, had an enhanced sense of touch that would tell him if anything went wrong. He insisted that his baby sister could share a room with him, and since half-demons were practically invincible and Akaza would also know the instant something went wrong, they allowed it. That didn’t mean that they didn’t both crawl into bed with them most nights, but they were well and truly asleep tonight.

“Yes?”

“What do you think about just one more?”

“I can do one more!”

They wound up having twins, and Akaza honestly thought Kotoha might kill him after that entire ordeal. He was extra doting and ensured that she wanted for nothing both during and after.

Shigeo and Fuuna Hashibira were born shortly after Sachiho’s second birthday with eyes as green as their mother's, and Inosuke had shot both of his parents a thoroughly unimpressed look when he was introduced to them before saying, “I thought you said people only had one baby at a time.”

He’d been too excited for more younger siblings to truly mind, though, and he was eagerly telling a confused Sachiho about what it meant to be an older sibling within an hour. She nodded along, inserting a “Otay!” or “Weally?” where appropriate.

Things were going smoothly. Akaza did encounter one hitch with this whole situation, though.

“Hmm… I’m gonna need to go hunting sooner than I anticipated. Neither of us expected twins, so we’re going to run out of blood fast.”

Inosuke visibly perked up at that. “Can I come? Please, Papa!”

He couldn’t see the harm in it. So long as Akaza was with him, nothing and no one was going to get to Inosuke. “As long as your mama says yes. Make sure you take Sachiho when you ask, okay? Your mama will wanna look after her if we both go.”

“Okay!!” 

Inosuke grabbed Sachiho’s hand just as she asked, “Onii-chan, where going?”

“Papa’s gotta get more food! Shigeo and Fuuna eat lots and lots, and he doesn’t want us to run out. I’m gonna help.”

“Oh, otay. Can get boar?”

“The Great Inosuke won’t let you down!”

“Yay!” Sachiho clapped with a squeal, happily trailing after him with a smile. Inosuke came barrelling back into the kitchen only minutes later with a triumphant grin, and Akaza chuckled at the sight of it.

“I take it she said yes?”

“Mama said yes!!”

“Alright, then make sure you put on your good boots. And you have to wear a shirt, Inosuke! You’re not protected from the branches and thorns like I am.”

Inosuke heaved out an aggrieved sigh, suddenly sounding far less enthusiastic. “Yes, Papa…”

It turned out that bringing Inosuke along was a fantastic idea. His sense of touch told him both where the animals were and what kind of animals were around them, even as he grumbled under his breath about everything being muffled through his shirt. Inosuke was still able to pinpoint the general area of both a boar and a deer for Akaza to take back, and Inosuke snagged a few rabbits as well.

“You did really well, Inosuke! Do you wanna help more often?”

“Really?”

“Really! You’re even better at pinpointing their location than I am!” The battle spirits of animals were always dim and close to them, so his extra sense did him no good unless he was already right on top of them. Akaza was often stuck relying on his sense of hearing and waiting for something to move before tearing off after it.

Inosuke puffed up with pride and nodded his head. “Then the Great Inosuke will help you, Papa!”

They returned home to Sachiho’s delighted cries of, “Onii-chan! Onii-chan!” She tore into the boar with terrifying gusto for a girl her size, half-demon or otherwise, and Akaza finished off what was left with a laugh. He drained the rest out of the deer and rabbits they brought home and cured the meat to make jerky with it, humming merrily as he gave both Shigeo and Fuuna bags of blood from one of the rabbits that Inosuke brought home. He’d been watching Akaza closely, so he absolutely lit up when they took to it eagerly.

“Yes! You see that, Papa, Mama?! Inosuke is the best big brother ever!”

“That you are, baby,” Kotoha chuckled. “That you are.”

Chapter Text

“Dad? Look at that!”

Dark metal gleamed beneath the moonlight, but that was not the first thing that drew his attention. Blood. Blood pooled around a still, unmoving body, and Akaza was thankful that he trained himself out of drooling at the sight long ago.

‘A demon slayer, huh? That means…’ Akaza sighed. He hadn’t noticed any demons lingering around the area lately, but they had gone farther out than usual today. He would need to remain vigilant. 

“What happened to her?” Inosuke was not unfamiliar with death, they hunted together too often for him to not understand what it meant to take a life, but he had never seen another person like this before. 

Akaza had hoped they wouldn’t need to have this conversation until Inosuke was older, but he supposed that this was better than what he’d gone through at eleven. Small mercies. “You know how I have you, your mama, and all your siblings hold onto those pouches of wisteria?”

“Yeah. They make you sneeze sometimes!”

“This is why. Most demons aren’t like me or your siblings, Inosuke. They hurt people. They hunt people, and they eat people. I can only guess that another slayer chased this one off before they could…” Akaza cast his Blood Demon Art out, breathing a sigh of relief when the only prominent battle spirits anywhere nearby were his and Inosuke’s. “We should bury her. She fought well, and she does not deserve to be picked apart by scavengers.”

Inosuke nodded solemnly and helped him make a small clearing in the underbrush before Akaza started digging. A demon’s claws made it easy to do that sort of thing, and it hardly took any time at all before he was lowering her body into the dirt and covering her back up with a heavy sigh.

“... Dad?” Inosuke lifted the nichirin blade with a hesitant motion, reflective in a way that he typically was not. “Would you… Would you be mad? If I wanted to be a demon slayer? If I wanted to protect people from… that.” He gestured to the newly dug grave with the sword that once belonged to the girl buried within it.

“No, Inosuke,” he promised. “I could never be angry with you. Not for that. Never for that. There is nothing wrong with wanting to protect people.”

“But… You’re a demon.”

Akaza chuckled at that, ruffling Inosuke’s hair with a fond smile. “And I don’t like most demons either. If you want to be a demon slayer, then we’ll make sure you’re the best damn demon slayer Japan has ever seen.”

Inosuke tightened his grip on the katana with a sharp nod.

He might not be allowed to wield a nichirin blade, not that Akaza would ever want to, but there were absolutely no rules forbidding his human child from doing so. 

“Come on then! We should head back home. Training starts tomorrow!”

He would need to talk with Kotoha about what she deemed an acceptable amount of training for an eleven-year-old first, but he had no doubt that she would be on board with Inosuke learning to defend himself. He had a bit of a tendency of running headlong into trouble.

-

“Now, one of the greatest pitfalls that swordsmen fall into is becoming predictable. The way you shift your feet and move your blade can tell your opponent everything they need to know about where you plan to strike next, and that can be deadly up against opponents that are faster than you. Demons are going to be faster than you.”

Kotoha watched on from her garden with a fond smile. ‘I always knew that he would have made a good mentor, but it’s still nice to see it.’ Inosuke was thrilled beyond measure to be learning how to fight, and despite this taking up a large portion of the day, thank the gods for how dense the forest surrounding their home was, Akaza still made sure that the rest of their children didn’t feel left out.

It helped that Inosuke was the only one other than her who needed regular sleep. Their half-demon children often went weeks without it, so the nights were their time with Papa. They didn’t mind giving up the days for their big brother.

Sachiho was currently munching on a strawberry at her side, old enough that she was beginning to become capable of eating a wider variety of human foods. She would always prefer meat and need far more of it in her diet than the average child, but she was no longer strictly limited to it. 

Shigeo and Fuuna, on the other hand, were rolling around in the dirt with low, playful growls. They were vibrating with energy from tearing through the boar Inosuke had brought back for them, and she had to keep a close eye on the four-year-olds or they would hurl themselves up trees to try hunting squirrels and birds on their own.

It would not be long before they started dragging their spoils inside to show her. At least Sachiho had grown out of that phase. Watching Shigeo and Fuuna, who made Inosuke seem utterly tame in comparison, Kotoha wasn’t sure that they wouldn’t be trying to hunt for her until she was old and gray.

“Then how do I win?!” Inosuke cried out.

“First, you’ll need to figure out Total Concentration Breathing. Every powerful demon slayer uses it, I’ve yet to meet a Hashira that doesn’t, and it will make you as strong and fast as most demons. At least the typical ones! Reach deep within yourself like you do when you’re sensing your surroundings, okay?”

“Okay…” Inosuke took a deep breath, closing his eyes and furrowing his eyebrows in concentration.

“Now, do you feel anything different? Really focus on how you’re breathing. Search for a shift in energy there. You should be able to sense it far easier than most.”

“... Yeah. Yeah! I feel it!”

“Focus on that. I want you to practice that until you can do it in your sleep. You shouldn’t have to think about maintaining it at all. Only then will we start training with your sword, okay? Your fighting style will change once you incorporate Total Concentration Breathing regardless, and it’s best not to learn habits that you’ll have to unlearn later.”

Inosuke groaned at that, but he still conceded with a nod and determination gleaming in his eyes.

“Mama?” Little claws tugged at her kimono, and she turned to face Sachiho with a soft smile. Shigeo and Fuuna peered around their older sister with little giggles, hiding their hands behind their back. 

“What is it, baby?”

“We got you something!”

Sachiho held out a handful of strawberries, a truly touching offering considering how much she loved them, while Shigeo and Fuuna eagerly presented fistfuls of blue wildflowers with wide, fanged grins. They were only a tiny bit trampled from when they were rolling around in them.

Kotoha smiled from ear to ear even as tears welled up in her eyes. “Thank you! You’re all so sweet. I love you.”

“We love you too, Mama!”

She truly was blessed.

-

“This feels wrong,” Inosuke grumbled. “I want to be using both hands.”

Despite Akaza’s best efforts, Inosuke utterly refused to wield his katana with more than one hand. He insisted that he didn’t need to, and to be fair to him, it was clear that he didn’t. Akaza’s fighting style was based on mobility and utilizing both hands effectively, and though Inosuke was replicating it with a sword, it was clear that he intended to fight similarly.

“I’ll see what I can do. I’m sure I can find you another sword somewhere.”

It did not take long for him to stumble across one. He buried the slayer that was once its owner next to the last, taking the time to plant a few chrysanthemums by the burial sight now that he had a spare moment to do so.

“May you be at peace,” he murmured, briefly glancing over his shoulder as he walked into the night. There was nothing else he could do for them, no way of finding out if they had friends or family that missed them and wondered where they had gone without endangering his own, but it was better than being left to rot.

He presented Inosuke with a second, paler blade come morning, and he dual-wielded his katanas like he was born to do so, laughing and smiling from ear to ear. Akaza watched him with wide eyes, watched as he took something with remnant traces of Wind Breathing hidden within it and truly made it his own. He hacked and slashed with utter glee, living for the adrenaline pumping through his veins just as much as Hakuji once had.

“Hey, Inosuke?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve noticed that you use your swords more like claws and fangs than anything else.”

“The Great Inosuke takes inspiration from the creatures of the forest!” his son declared with a nod. “But… He also takes inspiration from you. I’m trying to be as strong as you one day, after all!”

“And I have no doubt that you’ll get there.” Inosuke beamed as he ruffled his hair. “Did you know that some demon slayers modify their blades? Not everyone uses a standard katana.”

“Really?”

“Really. Say, what do you think of making yours serrated? Then you’d really be able to use them to rip and tear rather than slice.”

Inosuke’s eyes widened like saucers. “You’re the best, Dad! Let’s do it! Let’s do it!”

Akaza probably should not have taken so much joy in damaging these one-of-a-kind swords beyond repair. But it made Inosuke happy, so he wouldn’t beat himself up too much about it. 

-

“Fourth Fang: Slice ’n’ Dice!” Inosuke whirled around the forest with an echoing laugh, leaving purposefully shallow cuts in the trees around him as a way of practicing aim more than strength. The absolute joy radiating from him reminded her starkly of her husband, and Kotoha couldn’t have kept the smile off her face if she tried.

“What did he decide to name it again?”

“Beast Breathing. He wanted to call it Demon Breathing, but I managed to convince him that that would raise some alarm bells within the corps,” Akaza answered with a snort. “It’s definitely an offshoot of Wind Breathing. I’ve never seen anything like it, though. You know, it’s always the sign of a powerful demon slayer when they have to create their own form to truly fit them.”

Kotoha’s hand clenched where it was laced with his, leaning into him with a sigh. “You think he’ll do well?” Inosuke had used his sense of touch to track down another demon slayer and discover when and where Final Selection was being held. She had no doubt that he’d be able to hold his own, but it was hard to see him off.

It was hard to remember that he was fifteen now. He wasn’t the same little boy that ran headlong into walls; he was a warrior. He moved like he was meant to fight, and she did not want to take that from him.

“I think he’ll take the world by storm,” Akaza murmured. “I’ve never met anyone with more potential than him.”

Despite her husband’s words, he still firmly pressed a vial of his blood into Inosuke’s hands on the night he was preparing to leave. “Don’t use this unless you have no other choice, but keep it close, okay?”

“I know, Dad!”

“And don’t take your mask off while fighting demons! It’ll be dangerous if they know who you are.” It was still surreal seeing her son wearing a boar’s head, but it was better than him winding up dead by that man’s hand by far.

“I know, Mom,” Inosuke murmured before puffing his chest in an exaggerated show of confidence. “You have nothing to fear! The Great Inosuke will always emerge victorious!

“You better write, onii-chan!” Sachiho’s eyes watered with unshed tears. She had always been closest to him, and though the ten-year-old was closer in age to the twins, her big brother going away was hitting her hard.

“I will, I promise.” A calloused hand ruffled Sachiho’s long, dark hair as she sniffled. “I’ll write all sorts of letters about the demons I fight, and I’ll never, ever forget that I’ve got the best little siblings in the world waiting at home for me. I’ll visit whenever I can!”

Twin shocks of bright pink hair blurred past her vision as they tackled Inosuke in a hug. “Beat ‘em up, onii-chan!” Fuuna demanded with a pout. “Beat up all the meanies so you can come home!”

“Yeah! Show ‘em why you’re the Great Inosuke!” Shigeo shouted with an extra little growl as emphasis. 

Inosuke held them both close, trembling slightly as he took in a deep breath and said, “You bet I will! Those demons won’t know what hit them!”

“Yeah! Yeah!”

‘I’m going to miss him.’ A tear trailed down her cheek that she wiped away with a sob. Akaza wrapped his arm around her with a sad, understanding smile and watery eyes, and Kotoha buried her face in his chest in a desperate attempt to get ahold of herself.

A second pair of arms wrapped around them both, and Kotoha melted into the embrace before they all had to look back. Inosuke’s mask was lying on the ground, and he took one of her hands in his as he said, “I love you, Mom. I love you, Dad. I’m gonna be alright, I promise! One way or another.”

His free hand trailed down to the pocket that held his vial of blood, hovering there in a simple declaration. Kotoha mirrored the action, pulling her bag closer with a nod as the delicate clink of glass sounded from within it. “One way or another," she echoed.

It was a promise. Her family took those very seriously.