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Chapter Text

In the evening air, there is a crack on the tile as a being lands heavy on a rooftop.

Akaza straights himself out as he strolls into the temple that is the headquarters for the Eternal Paradise Cult run by Douma, Upper Moon 2. He was sent by Muzan to check on their wildest upper moon as he is the most likely to expose them. The upper moon hadn’t made an appearance in some months and Muzan didn’t like the feeling of the absents.

In the dark hallways, Akaza can hear the soft chatter or deep breaths of cultists.

However, he couldn’t pen point where that idiot was, and using his demon art wasn’t an option in this space.

As Akaza made his way, he soon realized a weight on his shirt and he looked back to see….a baby?

Bright green eyes look at him before smacking him in the face.

His mouth drops as he continues to watch this human baby grip his shirt. It was unnatural for it to hang on as long as it had and HOW DID HE GET THERE-?!?

“AKAZA~!” Akaza whips around to look at Douma who was a mere hair away from him, eyes crescent, and a fanged smile stretched to its limit. 

“I believe you have something of mine.” Douma easily with his height reached over his shoulder and grabbed the baby that shrieked in delight before hitting Douma on his shoulder and settling down a bit.

Akaza watches a moment and beads of sweat start to form and a pit of mixed emotions builds in his stomach as he watches Douma, the third most feared demon, rub noses with this baby that giggled. 

“Who-?” Akaza receives a quick answer in the form of frost to his hair and Douma raising his finger to his lips.

“Shhhh~ we wouldn’t want to wake anyone else’ Douma then turns to the baby and Akaza nearly gags as Douma changes pitch to baby talk ‘-Isn’t that right my little boar.”

The baby laughs once and Douma is soon walking off into the darkness with Akaza stalking after him. 

HE NEEDED ANSWERS DAMNIT!!

His superior opens a door and he peeks through to see Douma set the baby down to sleep next to a woman that looked much like the child.

Douma was soon next to him opening his fan and humming a tune.

“Now Akaza my good buddy? How can I help you?” The colors of his eyes swirled for a moment and Akaza glanced back at the room where a baby babbled.

“Who…?” Douma tilts his head to the direction of the room and smiles.

“Oh, that’s just my wife and child.” 

A vein nearly exploded and Akaza just knows his skin went paler than Master Muzan’s. 

“Excuse me-“ Douma leaned in once more and frost once again started to build up in his hair.

“Indeed I have a lovely wife and a child! It’s should be exciting news for everyone that I have settled down!” Douma however was only smiling while his eyes held no emotion.

“I however have taken some time off to focus on them.”

He brings a claw to Akaza’s forehead and pushes his peer.

“So do let Master know.”

—

Akaza was frozen in place for a while once he returned and had to throw something and everything as he screamed in his room.

“THAT IDIOT FU-“ 

—

Muzan sighs as Akaza destroys his room.

Chapter Text

Inosuke grips at the bark as he climbs up and over a fallen trunk. He falls on his back and laughs once.

He gets to his feet and crawls his way through the forest as he makes his way further into the wild and away from his safe haven.

The bugs were loud and Inosuke would sit up every once in a while to watch fireflies light up and he would goo.

He hears a huff behind and he turns to see a boarlet oinking its way toward him. He spreads his hands out and the piglet lets out a squeak before coming close. Within arms reach, Inosuke grabs the pig and they roll for a bit in excitement.

The two play for a bit till a snort cuts them off and the two look up.

A demon with yellow eyes grinds his teeth in frustration as he stares down at the baby.

“My hunger really has driven me here.” He sharpens his claws and raises his weapon of choice to strike.

“You should do it for a snack.”

Inosuke was oblivious to the danger but his new friend shrieked and the demon yelps as a full-grown boar attack his side. The boar rounds itself to be in front of the young, shielding them from danger.

The demon huffs before growling again.

“ENOUGH!” He brings his claws down only for his hand to be severed at the wrist. He screams and is slow to regenerate.

“Ah~ah~” A fan swipes to get rid of the blood before closing. The demon tenses as he feels hands come from behind him to grip at his head, snapping his neck in a 180 to look up at his predator. Rainbow eyes look down at him indifferently but his tense jaw shows a different emotion.

“You weren’t just about to kill my son now were you?” The demon smiles and the rogue finally reads the kanji in his superior eyes.

“Son?!?”

The demon’s head is sent flying while the rest of him is frozen.

Douma kneels and watches the boar snort at him.

“I do have to call this play date off. My wife is worried for our son.”

Inosuke was already crawling passed his savior before reaching his papa that scoops him up.
—
Kotoha was pacing, upset at herself for being a terrible mother for leaving her son unattended in the garden only to realize he escape his play area.

“Found him~!” Her husband had Inosuke tucked under one arm and the baby was not uncomfortable and quite enjoyed the experience as his mother rushed over.

“DOUMA! THANK YOU!” Douma perks up as he receives a kiss and is basking in the aftermath as he lets his wife take their escape artist of a child.

“My dear it's my duty to make sure you are never stressed by matters like this.” He hugs her and they both look at Inosuke as he babbles again.

“He did make a friend today when I found him.”

“Oh do I know them?” Kotoha lifts her head and Douma just lays his head on her shoulder, humming a no.

“It was a boar.”

Kotoha stiffens but Inosuke laughs as his father grins down at him.

Chapter Text

Kotoha was a pitiful sight the first time he found her. He had been seeking a meal and had stumbled upon her slump against a tree, trying to hide from the harsh winds of winter. The cold didn’t bother him the slightest but she was shivering and was covered in bruises. Snow was starting to cover her tracks and her body.

He was feeling merciful and he crouches in front of the woman. A clawed hand reaching out to snap her neck quickly.

Only he paused when his hand was grabbed, a hand colder than his at that moment and an eye opening to look at his. She winces before struggling to get to her feet.

“Help.” She falls into him and Douma hums for a moment and strokes her hair. It was a beautiful shade of blue, brightening at the end. If she recovers, she could be a gorgeous sight to behold.

Douma kneels and picks her up properly and wraps her in his cloak.

Can’t have her dying on him

—

Kotoha wakes to a fire crackling and someone humming as they poke at the flames. She sees the back of a platinum-haired man, wearing a long-sleeved red shirt that hugs his figure and hakama pants. She tries to shift, only to get a hand on her shoulder.

“Ah~, I wouldn’t recommend that.” She wants to flinch, the last time a male laid a hand on her, her husband beat the side of her head blind. With her one good eye, she does see the smile on the man and-

Douma watches almost amused as she blushes at his presence. Of course, he was more physically fit than other males of this era and he has seen how his female followers act around him.

Perhaps she’ll say he was handsome or complainant his eyes and how beautiful and godsent they are-

She takes hold of his hand and squeezes it once before letting go.

“Thank you.” She was soon out once again and Douma was….stumped.

—

Douma heals what he can, humans however will be humans and they are slow to recover. It was waiting for cattle to mature before they are put to the slaughter. 

Kotoha stated why she was out in the snow, Douma listening as he was bored and his cult followers were scouting for more members. 

He would nod and cry here and there, to keep his act up as a caring leader.

But she would strike him curious when she would cup his cheek and wipe his tears. 

“It’s okay, I can cry for myself.” She sniffed, emotions have gotten the best of her.

Douma watches and can only stare, his eyes widening like a cat.

She was pure.

.

..

…

His fangs ache as he thought how she was gorgeous on the inside and out. Someone he wouldn’t mind having her for a while for how genuine she was. 

Oh, but her flesh would have been so tasty. Her warmth was enough as he let her wipe away his tears and try to make him laugh.

—

When her husband and mother-in-law came, he hadn’t told her his position in the cult, having only told her that she had made it to the safe haven. It wasn’t till they were enjoying a meal together when a follower ran in, wanting to inform him of newcomers.

“GRACIOUS ONE!!” The cultist bowed and Kotoha flinched at the loud voice and Douma took note of it. It was one of many signs that abuse was real and Douma with this wasn’t going to let anything like that happen again.

.

..

…

?!

 Douma surprised himself. 

He was…protective? No this was him…believing in the heart of a story?! Right?

Perhaps these newcomers can provide a distraction.

“Gracious one?” Kotoha looked at him and then he sees the realization dawn on her and he grabs her shoulders before she could bow to him.

“There’s no need for that Kotoha-chan.” He flashes a smile and her cheeks turn pink at the action. 

“Please wait here while I go and see what is needed of me.” He gently takes her hand and kisses her knuckles, winking before taking his leave.

He can smell her blood and his fangs are aching more as he practically hears the blood rush.

—

His smile disappears and something sits inside him as he hears this fool of a male rant about how Kotoha was his wife and how she will be treated accordingly once they were home. His mother nodded and made remarks here and there.

Oh….

He flashes a smile, fangs having lengthened not that the newcomers notice.

This was going to be fun.

—

His eyes are blank as he tears through their necks and drags their bodies away from his temple.

It was in fact not nearly as fun as he thought as they had died quickly. He accidentally tugs a bit too hard on Kotoha’s ex-husband while thinking about how he died much sooner than he wanted. His arm flew off and Douma switched to dragging him with the other.

He threw them in a ditch to rot.

—

He arrived back to Kotoha’s room only to find her looking at the garden. 

She was singing and in the glow of the moon, she was downright-

Kotoha is stopped short as Douma is by her side, leaning to her space, making her blush hard.

“Kotoha-chan, have I told you just how enchanting you are?” 

With a smile and a shake of her head, she laughs and Douma for once doesn’t force himself to smile.

What has she done to him?

Chapter Text

Rainbow eyes vast in their coloring seem to lose saturation as he held onto the limp form of Kotoha. Blood stained his teeth and he was shaking. Red was spreading more onto her shoulder and his fangs started to hurt as tears ran down his eyes. He started to tremble harder as he curled over her.

Is this what they called a nightmare?

—

Before

Douma didn’t realize he was courting or as his male followers started calling it nowadays ‘wooing’. He would go and find kimonos from his female victim’s houses when he went hunting in his territory. Sometimes taking a hairpin from a noble, chewing on the tender flesh debating if it was worthy of Kotoha before stashing it or tossing as he leaves.

He would clean them himself and then gift them to Kotoha. 

Her smile made him crave to see it more and more. 

So before he knew it, he had started a courtship with her.

Not that either of them knew it. Both haven’t been taught how to do such things. Douma had only been the cult’s leader and never found anyone as appealing as Kotoha before Muzan gave him his blood. Kotoha had been sold to her ex-husband and was never cherished like Douma wanted to be.

So here he was laughing like a child with her at the monthly festival. It was late spring and she was just as enchanting under the lantern light. His own eyes sparkled with something. He was never bored and his appetite improved to just simple cravings compared to slaughter.

It was only for a moment, chatting with a man who was operating a stall that had many beautiful lotus earrings. Douma had only looked away once and she was gone the next. Kotoha was a free spirit but not enough to leave his side without telling him. 

He whipped around, quickly bidding the stall manager well, before walking away at a brisk pace.  His heart…. Was pounding. What was this feeling? His sight jittered as he swept the crowd, trying to find her familiar hair color.

He caught the scent of blood. The hairs on the back of his neck raised as he set a faster pace to find the origin. It was a momentary distraction from Kotoha but when he made his way off the path leading to the forest, he felt his fangs ache more.

“You bitch.” A man drags her head up while another continues to wrap a rope around her wrists. 

Traffickers, Douma didn’t believe they would be active here.

It seems as though she bit his hand and was smacked for it. Her lip was bleeding. 

He should be amused but

“Oi, Oi, What is all this about?” He needed to act meek, he couldn’t reveal himself to Kotoha.

So was his sweat and heartbeats fake?

The burlier one of the two raises a brow and raises kunai to him. Ah, so they were just farmers wanting to make some quick money.

Pity that they chose her.

“Douma-sama!” Kotoha was crying at this point and something cracked. 

“MIND YOUR BUSINESS!!!” The distraction of her was what stopped Douma from simply sidestepping the attack.

Kotoha fell into his arms, kunai digging into her shoulder.

Pain streaked her face and -

They lost their heads and limbs, the one having stabbed Kotoha losing his wrist by Douma biting it off. Ice freezes over their blood, shattering by his own will as he drew the kunai out and chunks it into the night. He held tight to the wound and looked down.

Why - WHY DOES HE CRY!?!?

He curls over her and then-

“Douma-sama, It’s okay.” Her hand was on his cheek, once again wiping his tears.

She then stained her hands in blood. 

He takes her hand, kissing away his sin from her skin. For just a few minutes they are simply there. Kotoha having moved to hold him and Douma kept the pressure on her wound while cradling her.

Kotoha tucks her head in his neck as he carries them away from the bloody scene.

—

He makes quick work of stitching up the wound. She would bite her knuckle but was brave nonetheless. The candlelight flickers as he finishes and brings a warm cloth to clean the leftover blood. Kotoha reaches over her shoulder and takes hold of his hand.

“Douma-sama, it’s okay.” Douma didn’t realize he was trembling. His hand falls and he is looking in his lap. Tears are landing on his stained hands. He usually likes killing to fill the boredom.

It was during that chance encounter that he remembers how fragile humans are. He doesn’t like the feeling. 

Kotoha rolls up her kimono, hiding the evidence of the night away. In the distance, he could hear the fireworks of the Festival as it reaches it climax. 

This was supposed to be a peaceful and enjoyable evening.

His head is cradled in her hands and he sees Kotoha smiling at him, her eyes still bright.

“It’s okay, I’m going to be fine.” She hugs him and he pulls her in his lap, her legs coming to wrap around his waist. She kisses the red of his head before moving to peck his forehead.

She rubs his back as he shakes.

She is still here with him

He lifts his head from the hug and Kotoha meets him in the middle as they are both desperate for comfort.

Chapter Text

She doesn’t leave his side often after that. He doesn’t blame her. It’s in human nature to cling to safety and it’s not like he would allow her to stray from his side for long.

Even when his hunger grew. 

His fangs ache when he catches a whiff of her blood and he would summon a sermon of followers to eat just to satisfy his craving.

He would then slick under the futon, cradling her once again. Douma would take it slow even if they had gotten to the stage of exchanging kisses. Those were only surface deep and he wanted more.

He wanted her devotion.

—

Kotoha would comb his hair into his normal style before he pressed his forehead to hers. His hair pooled and he wants to laugh at how cute their hair looked together.

“Kotoha…” Douma hugs her to him and she returns it, rubbing his back. His nature demands he dig his talons into her back, to draw blood.

But that would bring her pain.

“Can I take you somewhere dear to me?”  

—

Back when he was a child, there was a lake filled with lotuses. He admired their beauty and now over a century later, he was walking the path to it with Kotoha on his arm. He had a dock constructed and so he lead her to the end. 

This was not the end.

“Does Kotoha-chan trust me?” He tilts his head, grinning cheekily at her and she nods with a light blush on her. Under the moonlit night, her hair seem to glow and his own must have been like a phantom.

He takes a step off the dock, an ice platform forming under his step. He holds out his hand to her. Her eyes are wide but no fear of the unknown magic that was him. 

She does hesitate and he takes her by the waist as she falls into him. He grins and she laughs. 

He then covers her eyes.

With a wave of his hand, he constructs a large lotus sculpture in the middle of the lake. He is swift to pick up Kotoha and leaps into the air. 

His dear is quick to wrap her arms around his neck as they fly in the air. He lands with Kotoha hiding under his chin.

“Oi~ Kotoha-Chan, look.” She looks from where she was and her eyes only brighten from there.

In the middle of the lake, the trees no longer hide the sky. From their height, they can see the moonlit landscape. For Douma, he could see much more than that but-

His Kotoha looks on in awe at the grand scale of the land that they call home (his territory).

“Beautiful.” He hums in agreement as she looks.

‘Yes.’

“Isn’t the moon beautiful tonight?” He tilts his head up and watches the big orb in the sky. The closest thing to the sun for him now in his life as a demon. 

Unless-

He sets Kotoha on the ice delicately and kneels before her.

He takes her hand and her shoulders are up and her eyes wide.

“Kotoha, will you marry me?” This feeling in him….was it hope? He only wants her, if she will have him.

He is tackled into a hug, purposely falling over as she hugs him.

“YES, Yes Douma!” He laughs and takes her chin in his hand. 

Under the moonlit, he seals this proposal with a kiss.

—

Their wedding was under lantern light and much grander than any other celebration Douma had thrown.

He took his bride’s hand when music began and he led the way to where they would sit for the reception.

After an hour, he could tell something was about to break as tears were building up in the corner of her eyes.

Kotoha feels fingers on her cheek and she feels him wipe away her tears.

“Kotoha, my dear bride, what has you crying?” Douma wants to know, to drive away anything that would bring her pain.

“I didn’t have anything like this-“ He pulled her into his embrace and shushed her.

“There’s no need to think about that.” Douma doesn’t want her to think about that rat that must be bone now.

“But this is more than I could have ever hoped for.” Douma receives a kiss on his cheek and his chest is warm. 

“Thank you, my handsome husband.” Now that had his chest rumbling.

—

Their wedding night was magical and Douma spent every single last moment erasing every thought of Kotoha’s previous evening with her first husband. Praising, kissing, embracing, and worshipping her like the goddess she is to him.

He knows in his heart he wants to make her a demon but should she pass before him, he would surely make a shrine so she would become a local goddess even if he didn’t believe in others.

—

Muzan had summoned him once during his honeymoon and was appalled by his change in attitude. He was less cheeky but eager to please so he can go back to his wife who was currently enjoying the warmth of a hot spring without him.

“Go and get out of my sight.”

It was a demon slayer snooping too close to the entrance of the infinity fortress and Douma freezes the slayer quickly.

His wife said she had something to tell him that evening.

—

Kotoha enjoyed the warmth but her husband was nowhere to be seen.

He said he would be back soon but the lanterns were slowly going out due to the lack of oil.

“Kotoha~” Arms wrap around her and she laughs as Douma kisses her cheek. She hugs his arms and leans back, his cool body feeling great after spending so long soaking in the springs. 

“Douma.” She takes one of his hands and leads it to her stomach. Her husband is still and she can only tilt her head back and confirm his thoughts

“You’re going to be a papa.”

His eyes get watery and he can only hug her closer.

Chapter Text

Kotoha will admit, her husband became clingy. Especially the evenings when he would return and cuddle close to her smelling of iron. But he was nice to have when she was feeling overheated and he would massage all her sore muscles after barely walking around the temple she called home.

He would pout from his position in the shadows as she soaked up the sun. His sensitive skin not allowing him to join her. However, when it became too much, she would make her way into his lap and cool down. Her husband would then insist on carrying her back to their bedroom.

She would have to tell him to not forget about his duties. He would flash a grin, his cute fangs reminding her of a cat as he told her she comes first. 

Oh, how she loved him in those moments, pushing any stray hairs from his forehead to kiss and then hug him.

—

His knee was bouncing as he listened to another sad soul’s story and he faked his tears and gave his advice. He was bored.

His wife was out with a few of his female followers and he was nearing only the middle of his daily listening. 

He was starting to crave violence to kill the boredom.

Douma perked up as his ears picked up the excited heartbeat he knows well and looks to the doors before its slid open. The poor man before him is waved off as his wife dashes his way and he grabs her by the waist as she hurries to his side. Landing on his cushion throne, leaning heavily on him.

“Douma!” He could tell she must have been running for a minute to find him and didn’t stop her now. Kotoha grabs his hand from her waist and settles it on her stomach that was reaching four months.

It takes a moment but he feels it.

A kick.

He laughs, kissing her behind her ear before knocking his head with her.

Every moment was a joy with her.

—

He does panic every once in a while when he is eating the flesh of a female follower that won’t be missed and hears her from across the way. Abandoning the meal for later, he would wipe his mouth and swiftly leave the room. Cravings and sickness (early stages at least) cause her to look around the temple for comfort.

Douma with his heightened senses could tell when she was close and to both be a husband and to keep his secret behind closed doors, he is quick to attend to her needs.

Kotoha would look so tired at those times and he would offer to carry or an arm at least when she insist on walking around just a bit more.

His meal would be cold and not nearly as tasty with cool blood but his wife was priority.

—

The day came when the sun was high and he could feel the disturbance. His blood ran cold as if Muzan was there but this was something different. An instinctive drive perhaps and it made him worry.

WHERE WAS HIS WIFE?!?!

Douma paced from the porch and the sun was still high in the air when he heard it. He could hear thunder in the distance and that barely raised his hair as much as this feeling.

All his senses blocked any other noises as he hears gasps. Panting in the distance like someone trying to catch their breath. 

He clenches his fists, claws digging in his hands as he continued to pace the porch as the sun was the only thing stopping the caged predator.

If heaven was real, he was grateful the moment the clouds rolled in to block the light.

—

Kotoha was panting leaning against a tree, her kimono is stained from her water breaking and two of the female cultist that had gone with her for a morning walk kneeled with her on the steps that lead to the temple.

Sweat was on her brow and she could feel a drop of rain land on her forehead.

Then something closer to a snowflake lands and her husband is there.

“Dou-!” He is quick to kneel to her level and scan her before picking her up. 

“Gracious one!” He ignores them and is taking two steps at a time when Kotoha flinches at the pain. 

Something he can’t stop.

He smiles and kisses his love’s cheek. Kotoha returns the kiss but cringes and that only makes the demon quicken his pace.

“You’re doing great. Just breathe.” The rain has started to come down along with the flashes of lightning, followed by the rumble of thunder.

—

At the height of the storm that had engulfed the region, Kotoha was nearing the end. Midwives were instructing her through the last stages. His wife held his hand through the delivery. 

Her strength reminded him of the last-ditch effort of many slayers as they try to cut him down. He would only hope that’s not the case for her.

“You’re almost there, Kotoha-chan.” He hugs her shoulders and she screams once. His heart clenches as light flashes outside-

It goes silent as a deafening thunder stops him for just a moment before he hears it.

A cry of a baby.

He could only grin, his eyes glowing in the dimming of the light as their child is cleaned and handed off to Kotoha. Douma wipes her brow and lays next to her looking at the newborn.

He was beautiful, just like his wife.

So unlike him, a monster.

He sniffs curiously and his smile widens. The child smelled like her too! 

Then their child open his eyes and he froze.

Breathtaking emeralds look at them and finally, Douma closes his smile to just his lips. Relaxing his head on top of Kotoha’s, simply watching the child.

This was paradise.

His family is in his arms.

He flexes a bit when the baby sneezes, not expecting it but laughing afterward as Inosuke cries from his first violent action. 

Upper Moon 2 brings his loved ones closer later that evening and rumbles in his chest. 

He would quite literally murder anyone who took this away from him.

Chapter Text

Inosuke was a chaos-bringer and Douma loved every single moment of it. Where Kotoha had their child in the day, he would take night watch. The little one after about two months learned to crawl and would escape whatever room he was trapped in. His cult members were outclassed by the child crawling away and Inosuke seem to only want to be where his mother or father was.

Douma was never bored when he had his son all to himself, taking great joy playing hunter and prey, seeking his baby boy wherever he found himself. In cabinets, under the porch, or one time on the ceiling pillar(Douma was still curious about how he got up there but was impressed nonetheless.)

It’s nights when he feeds that he struggles to keep the boy entertained as he sates his hunger. He really should just put the boy to bed with his mother but Kotoha was feeling exhausted those days and Douma didn’t want to burden her. Inosuke would insist on being up for a few more hours at night and so Douma took him away from their chambers.

Thank good genetics Inosuke was a hybrid as he was more durable than the average baby.(Douma and Kotoha had both panicked one day as he tumbled off pillows but laughed even when he landed on his head.) Hence why Douma currently was entertaining the child by dangling him by his foot, an upside-down Inosuke blowing raspberries watching his father munch on a leg.  

Douma flashes a blood-stained grin at his son before setting his food down and putting Inosuke in his lap. He watches as Inosuke tries to reach for a stray finger to gnaw on. The demon is swift to pick it up and swallow the piece.

Even when he is only supposed to get his mother’s milk, Inosuke looks up at his father, lips starting to tremble and eyes getting watery before he pouts. Something about his face being an exact copy of his mother makes his heart tighten and before his son can get too loud, Douma lifts him up.

“Oh my sweet boy, that kind of food isn’t for you. Only for monsters that come at night.” His poor son doesn’t understand and he was on the edge of crying. So as a good father, he twirls his fingers in front of Inosuke. The baby is infatuated by the appendages as Douma uses his power to make an ice finger instead for his son.

Inosuke gladly accepts the gift and Douma digs his claws into a shoulder and chews on the meat. Inosuke is suckling all the while continuing to watch his father eat.

—

The first time someone tried to take his family from him was a human. 

This particular follower was new and he had been summoned by Muzan for a week away from his family. (He kissed his darling wife and son before leaving, saying it was only going to be a short while.) It was a mission to scout the location of the possible sword-smiths of the demon corp but it was a dead end.

Upon his return, he gets a hurried hug from Kotoha once she spots him. He feels her tremble in his arms and flinched when a door opened, a follower welcoming him back. The demon narrowed his eyes at the actions, his veins were popping and he craved justice.

Who would dare spook his wife into reverting to her state of panic when her first husband still lived?

The follower in question was an outcast of his village seeking to belong somewhere. Kotoha had simply been nice to the man, welcoming him to Paradise.

He saw it as her way of showing interest.

He had leered at her when she would feed Inosuke and when she had told him to stop, he had revealed the reason he was an outcast. The man had quite the temper when he wasn’t able to get what he wanted. Having slammed his foot on the wooden floors and getting red in the face.

With Kotoha shaking in his arms, he was quite possessive and livid at the thought of a simple mortal man striking fear in her heart even when the one who did is dust now.

He tuck her in that night, smiling and reassuring her that he would take care of the matter.

The matter was taken care of by his lips being frozen and Douma slowly sinking his talons into the side of his head. His fangs bared and hissed at the man in a primal way that he wasn’t expecting. The man died pitifully and Douma swiped his claws clean.

The body was taken to the same part of the woods and he tossed him down the same ditch as the previous home wreckers.

As he slip into bed that evening, his wife was relaxed and Inosuke was softly drooling. He wipes the drool before placing the baby on his chest and laying back to close his eyes to just enjoy the silent company of his family’s slumber.

— 

At three months old, Inosuke started to learn his own way of expressing love. He had watched his parents and was trying his best to mimic what they did.

With Kotoha, he had watched Douma kiss her on the cheek plenty of times and had given his mama one. Kotoha had laughed, even though it was wetter than usual she kissed her baby on the cheek, Inosuke giggling at the return.

With his father, it was different.

Douma was loved, but Inosuke learned where his mama was soft and sweet, his papa was rougher. Giving him challenges that his poor baby brain couldn’t understand(What do you mean I can’t have that white ball?! (Douma : No eyeballs for you.) 

So many times, he had seen his mother knock heads with her husband.

Douma was holding Inosuke close one evening, encouraging him to burp on his shoulder when he felt a smack on his cheek. The demon looks to his son and -

Inosuke slams his forehead into his chin.

If Douma was human, it may have hurt but he was unfazed for the most part. Only having a stunned look for a moment.

He laughs and gently returns the action, receiving a giggle from his son.

Chapter Text

Muzan was almost impressed. 

Akaza kneeled before him, trying to keep his composure but not in loyalty towards him but to hide just how startled he was. 

Douma had somehow fathered a child and Muzan was curious to see how this progressed. Not enough to check on the child himself but intrigued to take notes.

Akaza is dismissed, grateful to go destroy his room to let out his emotions.

—

Douma watches from the porch as his wife and son sit in the garden, enjoying the sun. Their eyes sparkle in the light and sometimes he wonders if that’s how his parents saw him.

He frowns.

No, they never saw him as a child, only a godsent miracle to run their cult on false promises. His eyes dim a bit but laughter is heard.

His heart picks up and his eyes brighten when Kotoha comes to his side and Inosuke is handed off to him. Both are warm in his embrace.

No, his parents were simply that, parents. They brought him into this world and didn’t properly nurture him. 

Inosuke smacks his cheek and Douma nuzzles his nose into his hair before feeling Kotoha leaning on his shoulder.

This was his family and he wasn’t going to fail them as his parents did him. 

His eyes shift to Kotoha.

He could never kill her or betray her like his parents did each other.

—

Akaza knew he shouldn’t have come, only just a few nights after his last visit. 

He drops to the ground and only transforms his appearance to hide his eye color and tattoos, should he not be able to escape before being notice.

Akaza should have known better as soon as the child was launched his way. Akaza is quick to jump in the air and catches the baby of six months as he laughs.

“AKAZA~!!” Douma appears and the baby is happy to see his father to the point of smacking the fourth most powerful demon on the nose. Akaza felt his mouth curl and his brow twitch.

“WHY DID YOU THROW ME THIS -?” He holds out the baby that lolls his head to look back at him with big eyes and tongue sticking out. “-CHILD?!” 

Douma smiles and laughs. Akaza feels his vein explode and it took all his will not to just throw the baby at him.

“My dear Inosuke loves rough play and I knew you would catch him.” Douma grinned his way and Inosuke was tossed his way. Douma laughs, spinning around and his son laughs with him.

“DON’T SPEAK LIKE YOU KNOW ME!!” Akaza stomped once and pointed a finger at Douma, who currently was throwing Inosuke in the air at higher and higher heights till-

Akaza heard the baby's laughter go farther and farther away as the two upper moons look to the sky. The baby was but a speck in the air for a normal human but as demons they can see the child's smile as he starts to fall once he can't go any higher.

“First one to catch him doesn’t have to babysit him-!"

The ground breaks as the two leap into the air and Akaza is only a finger away from the child when Douma zooms passed him and both land on the roof of the temple. Inosuke is clapping his hands in excitement and Douma smiles cheekily in Akaza’s direction.

Akaza drops his disguise and flashes his fangs.

“DOUMA!!!” 

Douma waves him off with a fan.

“Oh don’t worry-‘ He flashes a grin to the demon. ‘It shouldn’t be a challenge for you.”

Akaza’s eyes blow out and he screams into the night as he leaves. 

Douma takes a seat on the roof of his temple and watches the stars before looking down at Inosuke who seems tired now after all the excitement of the last few minutes. The baby yawning and gripping his shirt as he fights sleep.

“Let’s get you to bed.” He lets his son rest his head on his shoulder as he jumps down to retire for the night.

Chapter Text

Kotoha was seating on her husband’s cushion throne, Inosuke in her arms, and was hearing the cultists as they went about their duties. She is unbothered as she softly sings to her dear son.

“BITCH!!” She flinched and the cultist seem to have disappeared when she snapped her head up to see her first husband. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her up. Inosuke for the first time cries out in fear. His cries are loud in her ears as she watches the man that haunts her morph his face into disgust as he looks down at her baby.

“YOU WHORE! YOU LEFT AND HAD A BASTARD!!” Kotoha trembled and tried to pull her arm from his grip when he raised his other hand to hit her.

An arm wraps around her and a fan blocks her view as she hears him scream. She hears a thud but the fan hides the aftermath, platinum hair pooling over her being her hint of who saved her.

“She is not any of those.” The scene fades black and before she knew it she was back on the cushioned throne, Inosuke in her lap trying to reach out to the one that kneels in front of her.

Douma gently takes hold of one of her hands and that of Inosuke’s. She wants to ask him what happened but his face showed it all.

His lower half was stained in blood, his fangs dyed crimson as they are shown in a smile and his rainbow eyes only focus on her and Inosuke.

“No one will hurt you as long as I’m here.” His eyes flash and for just a moment, she sees those same kanji she had seen briefly that night when Douma saved her from those traffickers. The night when he revealed himself just to protect her.

He was not human but a demo-

—

Kotoha sits up sharply, her heart beating against her chest as tries to catch her breath. She looks to her side and Inosuke snuggles more into the arms of his father that are curled around him. Douma had one hand reaching for her in his sleep and she relaxes.

She wasn’t all that smart or favored by others and sometimes she wonders how she got here. 

Kotoha lays on her side facing her two loves. Inosuke’s and Douma’s soft snores were synchronized and she thought it was adorable. She reaches out and bushes a strand of hair away from her husband’s face.

A flash of his bloody face and smile and she hesitantly pulls back. She takes hold of his free hand and traces his nails. They are blue and sharp, gentle when he caresses her face before kissing her. 

She can’t see him as a monster because he is only Douma. A mysterious being that has fangs and the power to control ice. Beautiful rainbow eyes and yet he can’t take a step outside of his temple during the day. Strange habits that raise eyebrows for normal people but not his followers.

She questions little because she doesn’t care. Douma is her precious lover and he had asked for her hand, not forcefully taking it. He was charming whereas her first one was not. If she broke a dish she wasn’t scolded, he would rush over to ask if she was injured.

Her husband wasn’t him. She doesn’t think about that awful man she thought she would have to spend the rest of her life with but then Douma took her in. Appearing before her like a local deity of myth before she woke up to the warmth of a crackling fire.

If he was truly a monster, then so be it. For he was only her husband Douma that cared for only her and Inosuke. 

She took a better grip on his hand and she finally closed her eyes again.

When her breathing evened out and her heart was steady, Douma opened his eyes. He reaches out and brushes a strand of hair from her brow before tugging her closer to him. Inosuke would soon turn and bury his way into her chest and Douma didn’t mind.

She was comfortable and she felt safe. She was safe as long as he was here.

Inosuke throws a sleepy fist in the air as he goes to lie on his back, nearly hitting Douma on the cheek. The Upper Moon sighs, smiling softly at the scene, and rumbles in his chest as he settled to listen to them breathe, delicate white noise to pass the time.

—

It was winter when he is reminded of that night as Douma is sitting watching outside with his wife. His ears hear the heartbeat in her quicken. He just assume to warm herself better.

Inosuke slumbers deeply this night, the eight-month-old snores can be heard and Douma can be swift to attend should he awaken.  

Kotoha snuggles next to him as the snowflakes fall and he brings an arm around her. His cool body does nothing to warm her but she accepted his embrace nonetheless.

“Douma.” Her voice was soft and dusted in hesitation as he looks down at her. He sees she is pale in a way she is anxious.

“Kotoha, did someone hurt-?” He was wanting to be quick to comfort her but she shakes her head no.

“Nothing has happened but I don’t want secrets between us.” 

Her heartbeats are increasing and Douma can feel her curl tighter into his side, looking down afraid of how he’ll answer.

“Are…you a demon?”

The snow slowly falls outside in the garden, swallowing all the sounds and making the world quiet.

Her heart is so loud in his ears and a few years ago his nature would ask him to tear her and eat her to the bone. His teeth ached but not because of hunger but holding back his reaction.

Douma feels Kotoha tense under his arm and he slowly brings her to his lap. He doesn’t quicken any movement as he hugs her close and rocks her.

“I am… But I am your love and husband first before I am a monster. I am Inosuke’s father before I am a creature of the shadows.”

Kotoha wants to relax but feels something wet in her hair. She feels him shake for once.

She moves to look up and sees those beautiful rainbow eyes fill with tears, most having already escaped. But most of all, the dropped disguise of his hidden kanji.

“I didn’t mean to hide my nature as much as I did.” He chokes and Kotoha sits up more and pulls his head to her chest. She has seen him change, his tears are much heavier than before. 

“Shhh…” She holds him and for just a moment, Douma gets how his son can sleep so easily and she begins to hum a tune.

For once, in a motherly embrace, Douma falls asleep, knowing he is accepted.

—

It only lasted a few minutes but felt like an eternity when he woke up again, more refreshed than ever before. No amount of feasting or killing could fulfill him as this moment did.

Though there was no entertainment he wasn’t bored, he was satisfied.

A hand strokes his hair and he pulls back from his wife's embrace as she looks at him, a spark of guilt showing in her emerald-green eyes.

“Show me where you put them.”

—

Douma has his arm around her to keep the hanten and his cloak tight around her as Kotoha stares down the ditch that he had carelessly thrown plenty of people the last few years that have done wrong against his family. The snow and thin layer of dirt hid most of the evidence except for the stray cloth that sticks out.

“He’s down there isn’t he?” Kotoha looks at him and his eyes are blank, staring at the unmarked final resting place of many. Oh, how he wanted to do so much more against the man that caused her fear. 

“Yes…does that worry you?” He takes a glance at her and feels her shake her head.

“No. Though I didn’t wish death for him, hoping he would maybe recognize his wrongs or at least forget me.”

A strong wind kicks up and blows her hair wild, his own is heavy compared to hers, barely shifting at the breeze.

He wraps his cloak’s collar closer to her and she takes the opportunity to hug herself to him.

“Please…don’t kill anyone else for mine or Inosuke’s sake.”

He nods, his arm keeping her shielded away from the view but his thoughts are his truth.

‘They surely have earned it if I do.’

Kotoha doesn’t protest when her husband picks her up and he leaps from the ditch. 

Chapter Text

Inosuke was watching them strangely one day. He would crunch his brow and make a face. It didn’t look like he was in any pain or was doing business. (Believe Douma when he wishes some days he could scratch his nose off, he knows the smell.) 

It was a day that they were in the study he used to learn many things. Books from far away but just enough to educate himself better than the ones he advises. To show knowledge is to have power.

But his wife deserved a chance to learn basic reading and writing, having come far from when they first started shortly after she had recovered.

They were reading Princess Kaguya on this particular day. Not the first time Kotoha is reading this story since Inosuke was born. The story of the princess born of a bamboo stock was something even he remembered reading as a child and it was warming when Kotoha focused on reading to him, Inosuke was in his lap looking up at him with that strange look in his eye.

Not that Douma was paying attention to anything else as he had his eyes closed listening to his wife sound out the kanji that was still strange on her tongue. Douma helped every once in a while when she was stumped on a word.

“Kaguya would call out -“ Douma knew what was about to come, Kaguya would show her parents how much she had grown and had just received her first gift from a possible suitor. She had just found her father.

But it wasn’t Kotoha’s voice he heard.

“TOU-SAN!!”

His eyes snapped open and Kotoha look sharply at him and he look towards her. They looked at each other and then down at Inosuke, who was now on his feet, clinging to his red shirt and reaching up for his face.

“Inosuke-‘ Douma was in disbelief and Inosuke laughed.

“Tou-san!”

Kotoha was on the verge of tears and sniffed once before Inosuke looked toward her.

“Kaa-san!” Inosuke tilted his head as he was picked up and cradled. His father held him close and Kotoha was at his side and had the biggest smile on her face.

“Yes, Inosuke! Tou-san and Kaa-san!!” She cried, happy and overjoyed that her son finally spoke. For all the advanced stages that made him abnormal compare to a normal human baby, he didn’t speak till now.

“Kaa-san! Tou-san!” Inosuke was laughing and Douma was quick to stand. He twirled around and Kotoha giggled watching them. 

“Yes, you’ve done it!” Douma praised his son and was quick to open the door.

“HE SPOKE!!” Kotoha could only cry and smile as she heard Douma dash down the halls showing their son off. She did hear the congratulations and cheers and of course the excited shrills of Inosuke.

Of course, Douma wanted to have a celebration for this development but Kotoha stopped him before he could and just said let’s have just a feast so as not to pressure his followers. He just nodded eagerly and she gave him a kiss on the cheek for understanding.

“Kaa-san!” Inosuke patted her shoulder and she laughed, giving him a kiss as well. 

“Inosuke! Where’s a kiss for Tou-san?!” Douma pouted and Kotoha sees Inosuke pull his head back and as much strength as he can, hits his father in the chin with his head. His father laughs it off but Kotoha takes note of needing to try and break Inosuke of the habit before he got in trouble with the wrong person.

—

Akaza was the wrong person.

Akaza had just challenged the current holder of Upper Moon 2 to a match to revoke the babysitting task he would eventually have to do.

Douma was over the moon and was quick to greet his fellow demon with Inosuke in his arms.

“AKAZA-DONO~!!” Akaza wanted to step back as Douma landed on the roof with the overly happy child.

“MY BOY SPOKE TODAY!!” Douma held out the child that flashed a grin and Akaza can see that most of his teeth are there with matching canines like his sire.

Oh lord Muzan, there are two of them now.

“Fight me now!!” Douma only smiles, bringing Inosuke back to his chest, the baby blowing raspberries, watching the furious demon challenge his father.

“Okay~” Inosuke was tossed to him and Akaza catches the child by the back of his shirt and the baby smacks his forearms.

“Let me just kiss my wife good night and we can fight till sunrise!” Douma jumps down and Akaza brings Inosuke closer to his face, studying him.

“How your father had you -“ Before Akaza can finish his statement, he watches the child pull his head back and slam it against his nose.

They are both still for a moment and then a vein pops on his forehead.

“Is that a challenge you little shit?”

It was at this moment, Akaza would regret for the first time in his demon life.

“SHIT!!” Inosuke cried out a dopey grin on his face, eyes bright with innocence.

Akaza feels the dread build in him.

Oh no.

He kneels with the child and shakes his head, using a finger to his mouth.

“Shush Don’t say that-!” Akaza can feel sweat begin to build as the toddler points to him.

“Shit!” 

His sweat turns cold and Akaza can feel the temperature drop around him. From his kneeled position he slowly looks up at Douma. The upper moon had his lower face hidden from view behind a fan and his blank unreadable eyes focused on Akaza.

Inosuke points towards him.

“Tou-san!”

Douma crouches and holds out his free hand for Inosuke. Akaza is slow to hand the child to the upper rank. Douma still focused on him shrugs off his cloak and wraps Inosuke in it. Once properly cocooned and tucked into the crook of his arm, Douma stands before glaring at Akaza.

“What did you just teach my son?’ He tilts his head and Akaza hears his neck crack at the movement, the fan is closes, showing a wide smile as his eyes narrow. ‘Akaza-dono~”

—

Kotoha looks outside to see something fly over the temple.

She was confused for a moment but shrugged it off as a shooting star.

—

On the side of a hill, Akaza coughs up blood and tries to breathe.

Douma appears before him, Inosuke patting his hair as he is now secure on his father’s back. 

Both fans are drawn and his sweat returns as he realizes the look in the ice demon’s eyes.

“Akaza~ Didn’t I say we could fight till sunrise?” Douma charged him and Akaza did his best to summon his demon art to defend.

Chapter Text

Douma was yawning by the time he and Inosuke returned. He was walking quickly from the rising sun. The exhaustion was fleeting but still a feat. His shirt was torn and his pants had a tear or two, something to throw anyway.

 Inosuke had fallen asleep on his shoulder hours ago even when the battle was still going on. Akaza soon letting his despair be replaced by the thrill of battle once Inosuke laughed. Seemly mocking him for being unwilling to fight back.

The sun however approached and they both left without saying goodbye.

Douma sniffs himself and Inosuke, mentally declaring that a bath is in order. Crashing through branches and receiving blows(Douma would be extra fierce the only time his dodging lead to Inosuke losing a baby hair.). They smelled of blood and dirt.

Inosuke pouts from being awoken to warm water but Douma holds him in the water nonetheless. The tub was one of the few luxuries he had gone to get himself after Muzan returned to Japan. It was large and could easily hold five people.

At the moment it was just him and Inosuke, soaking and bubbles keeping the toddler amused.

The last major gash had healed by the time he began to clean Inosuke. The baby was splashing the water while Douma busied himself with Inosuke’s hair. He let the soap help him shape the boy’s hair. His own style worked but he shook his head. Akaza’s style was a bit better with how short it was but overall his mother’s style won him over.

He held the boy and laughed.

“Inosuke you’ll be beautiful just like your mother when you grow up.”

He hears a hum and a pair of arms wrap around his neck from behind.

“I would hope he would be handsome like his father.” Kotoha’s voice was laced with sleep but she was awake enough to kiss him on the cheek. Douma teasingly nipped her on the chin in return, giving her a smile.

“He wasn’t too much was he?” Douma tilted his head and Inosuke followed but yawned.

“Not at all. He was a treat.” Douma was debating on telling her Inosuke learned a new word but since Akaza left, Inosuke hasn’t said it. Or the poor baby was too tired. 

Inosuke yawned and was starting to fall asleep on his shoulder. Kotoha started to stroke the baby’s back and hummed.

Inosuke was out and he still hasn’t done his own hair.

“Kotoha?” He looks over his shoulder and she seemed to read his mind and was soon getting the rest of his hair wet and started to massage the soap into his mane.

This was nice and soon he was drying himself off and Kotoha took Inosuke for the day. He dressed in a new set of clothes and he soon was ready for his daily routine.

The normal sermons were bullshit but they brought some clarity to some of his followers. He listen to a few cultists and took note of any worries of others.

Of course, his priority is going to be his family than his cult as they are on spare time. Douma bites the inside his cheek, taking a bit of flesh.

That was a conversation he’ll have to have with Kotoha. She is a young mother but he wouldn’t want her to age while he remains unchanged. As much as he would love to see her age like fine wine, he is terrified of the day she stops breathing.

He usually takes that opportunity from people but he wants her to decide.

And he’ll have to….

He stops when he hears a Biwa and he was in the infinity fortress.

Douma has never feared Muzan. He smiles and gets to his knees when his lord glares at him.

“Douma.” He continues to smile and Muzan studies him.

“You’re feeling.” Muzan narrows his eyes at him and Douma has nothing to say, shaking his head in a nod.

“Hmmmm.” Muzan and he stared at each for a few minutes.

“Why did you fight Akaza?” Douma already knows that Muzan has the answer to his own question but Douma smiled nonetheless.

“He taught my son ill manners.” 

Red eyes narrow at him.

“Anything to note about your spawn?” Ah, so that’s what he wants.

“He’s a lively boy. Minor scratches heal in a matter of hours and have pearly fangs like his father.” Douma starts to rant and Muzan only watches the demon start to move his hands as he tells in detail a great many other things about his son.

After an hour, Muzan is done with the upper moon and dismisses him. Douma leaves with a smile and bows before leaving.

Muzan sits down and sighs.

That was more than he was wanting to hear but it seems as though that hybrid was more human than demon. Even though it seems as though this one was developing intelligence slower than a newly transformed demon.

He hisses a sigh again and leans back.

At least it’s keeping the dumbass busy and that’s better than sending him on missions.

Chapter Text

Akaza knew this day was coming but it came too soon.

Standing at the doorway of his room in the Infinity Fortress is the menace of his life and the soon-to-be headache.

“So my boy has started to run.” Douma held up Inosuke, the boy was grinning at the demon, kicking his legs as he hung in the air. Akaza narrowed his eyes at the kid.

“What happened to walking?” It literally had only been a month since their last encounter and there was no way the child couldn't have master walking. Douma laughed, holding a fan in his hand and waving at him.

“He wasn’t getting around fast enough.” His son patted his shirt and Douma set him down. Inosuke sits on the ground before crawling away from his father. “I just wanted to take my wife away from my temple, it’s been a while and she’s been getting restless. We need someone to watch Inosuke for the night.”

“But don’t worry Akaza-dono, keeping an eye on him shouldn’t be a challenge for you.” Douma knew how to press his buttons as he felt a vein pop on his brow. The Upper Moon Two wasn’t paying attention to him, only following Inosuke as he explored the room.

“Fine.” Akaza watches as the demon throws him a grin. Those rainbow eyes finally left the toddler.

“Goody! Just remember-‘ Douma made his way out and turns to look over his shoulder. ‘Don’t lose sight of him.” 

The door closes and his aura fades away, telling Upper Moon Three he was gone.

Akaza sneered at the advice.

“Who does he think I am?” Akaza finally looks away from the closed door.

“It can’t possibly be that hard to take care of a -.” Akaza studies his room. He looks and then whips around.

The toddler was nowhere in sight.

—

Inosuke looked up to where he could hear a roar and a smile comes to his face. He throws his hands up. It was the man that his Tou-san played with.

“Shit!” He however didn’t appear. Inosuke crunch his brow and looked at the place he currently was in. The hallways moved and he was thrilled to explore.

He did wonder when Kaa-san would get Tou-san to take him home so he could hear her sing.

But for now, he would love to see where this floor went.

Inosuke took a step forward and laugh when he fell.

—

Akaza was sprinting, leaping, and crashing through walls trying to find the toddler.

“Lord Akaza!” Hantengu was quick to bow when he barreled into a platform the smaller demon was on but Akaza ignore him. He didn’t smell of blood so that could mean the kid was fine.

Don’t lose sight of him.

He could already feel the coldness sinking into his bones.

What would Douma do to him?!?

Akaza froze in place.

Oh no. 

What would happen to the child if Muzan found him first?

Perhaps he was out, playing the part of one of his alibis. Maybe he was far away.

That would leave only a few more worries.

He can already feel the shiver down his spine.

—

It had only been a few hours and Douma couldn’t shake the feeling that something is wrong.

Arms are around his neck, pulling him away from his thoughts.

“Is something the matter?” Kotoha asked and Douma can only smile down at her. His hands are on her hips and the place he had taken her to a festival that was happening. He wanted to try again after many years since the first time they came to one. (Douma faintly traces where an old scar lay on Kotoha's shoulder.)

They were currently enjoying a slow dance, enjoying the music that encourage other couples to be with their partners.

“I don’t know if my friend can handle Inosuke,” Douma told her truthfully and Kotoha places a hand on his cheek. Douma presses more into it.

“He’ll be fine.”

—

Inosuke hollers as he slid down a diagonal floor as it shifted into place to be horizontal.

He is however suddenly on top of a door that opens and he lands on a squishy surface. Inosuke lifts his hand and notices it was mud. He slaps his hand down and grins at how it morphs.

Inosuke looks around the room and notices the transition from mud to mud shapes to pots. He looks into the nearest one and something shoots out.

In the dimly lit room, Inosuke watches as something slithers its way out of the pot. It's something that made his young heart stop. He’s seen a demon once or twice but his papa was always there.

His papa wasn’t here when teeth flashed where eyes should be.

Gyokko watches as the toddler cries before a door appears under it and it's falling once again. He could hear the cries as they grow further away.

“Awwww-‘ His arms slumped, ‘I was hoping for a snack."

—

Douma’s ears twitch and his rainbow eyes shift to look over his shoulder.

There’s that feeling again.

“Douma-“ He flashes a smile, to hide his building stress

“It’s fine.” Douma holds Kotoha in his lap and they continue watching the night sky. Mount Fujiyama was ghostly in the background lit by the pale moon light.

It was beautiful and enchanting and Douma wouldn’t care to share it with anyone else but her.

Even when his instincts were telling him something was wrong.

—

Akaza broke through another floor when he heard sinister laughter. He lands with a flip on the floor that Gyokko has his workshop of pots.

Gyokko looks in his direction.

“Akaza-Dono! You would not believe it. A human child is here and I was wondering if you would like to play -“

Nope. Akaza is quick to leave.

—

Inosuke sniffs swallowing his tears as his stomach rumbles. The poor boy had been running around for some hours now and no one had fed him.

He looks down another hallway and jumps. The toddler was falling only for a moment when he passed a window.

An arm shoots out, grabbing him by the back of his shirt and he yelps as he is pulled into a side room.

—

No….He can’t blow it off anymore.

“Kotoha.” Douma breaks the sweet kiss he was having with his wife and she can see the worry in his eyes.

She holds his cheek once again and gets to her toes to kiss his forehead.

“It’s okay. Go get Inosuke.” Douma nods, kissing her once more before departing for the infinity fortress.

—

Akaza couldn’t find Inosuke when Douma arrived with cold winds and a smile.

“Akaza~, Where is my son?” Douma had started to unfold his fan and Akaza can feel the growing aura from upper moon two

“So he’s yours.” Both perk up in surprise as another joins them.

On top of his shoulders, Inosuke waves to his father but Douma is almost hesitant to step forward to the one that holds him.

Six eyes study the two, not revealing anything. He brings a hand to grab the back of Inosuke’s shirt once more and sets the toddler on his feet.

“Tou-san!” Douma crouches and scoops his son up before perking back up.

“I greatly appreciate and apologize Kokushibo-dono.” He bows, so out of character for him but it needed to be done

Upper Moon One doesn’t say anything before vanishing as quickly as he came.

Akaza however feels frost in his hair once more and he slowly turns to Douma. Rainbow eyes bore into him before Douma flashes a smile and looks to Inosuke.

“Say bye-bye to Uncle Akaza!”

A vein pops and Akaza can only look at the toddler with an open mouth.

“Bye-bye, Akaza!”  Inosuke is smiling while his father hugs him closer.

—

Kotoha waves to them when Douma returns with Inosuke. Dawn was about to break and Kotoha had checked them into an inn for the day.

He cuddles with them for the day but couldn’t help but worry about Kokushibo.

—

Earlier

Kokushibo was in a deep meditative state when something disturbed his normal rhythm. Before even he knew it, his hand shot out and came back with a child.

He opens his eyes and sees a teary-eyed toddler looking at him with wide eyes. Upper Moon One brings the child closer and hears the rumbling of his stomach.

Debating for a second on what to do with the child was all it took for Inosuke to rear his head back.

In the next moment, the boy smacks his head into his chin.

.

..

…

Stupidly brave.

Kokushibo takes the child to the domain that Douma would usually hang out in, munching on female remains. The oldest of the upper moons walks to one of the many lotus patches near the water walkway. He sets the child down and takes a lotus from the waters. He pops the seeds out, offering them to the toddler and the child happily munches on them. He repeats the action for a while.

A flash of past times comes and ….

It doesn’t matter.

His brother is long gone.

Once the child was full of lotus seeds, Kokushibo picks the child up and carries him on his shoulders for a while.

Lord Muzan had mentioned the child but he didn’t put much thought into it.

He then heard Douma speaking in the distance.

Soon he was gone from the waterside with Inosuke.

—

Elsewhere

Nakime hums.

Finally, the toddler was gone. She had been trying to lead him anywhere but to her.

Chapter Text

Two years pass and Inosuke is three years old.

Douma smiles as he watches his son run up to him, he takes off his sovereign hat and puts it on his too-small head.

“TOU-SAN!!” He laughs as he sees Inosuke look up at him with his hat lifted enough for him to see his brilliant green eyes, a pout on his face, and cheeks puffed out. Douma picks up his son and starts walking with him.

Inosuke however makes it clear that isn’t all he wants from his father.

Douma always sees it coming now and actually stops Inosuke from smacking his head into his chin. His palm is flat on his temple and Douma laughs at the frown on his face.

“Come on, don’t do that. Didn’t your mother say that’s rude?” Douma questions and he sees Inosuke look down as they continue their way down the hallway.

His son mumbles something under his breath and Douma lifts him higher to his eye level.

“What was that my little boar?” His eyes trained on every little detail of his son.

Every day, he is changing and it hurts him to think he is growing old when he is static. Same with his love Kotoha but what can he do but wait for their decision to leave the sun and become a demon?

Not now but perhaps sooner rather than later. 

He would hate for Inosuke to be mistaken as his older friend than his son.

His son shyly looks over at him and answers slowly.

“But you're Tou-san and you can take it.” Oh, how his vocabulary has expanded in this past year alone but Douma loved to tease.

“And why is that?” He pokes his squishy cheek and he receives a smile.

“BECAUSE INOSUKE LOVES PAPA!!!” 

Douma lets out a hearty laugh and Inosuke blinks as Douma gently gives the action he is usually the receiving end of. His forehead barely moves his son's chin before he kisses his cheek and hugs him closer.

“And Papa loves you too.”

Douma smells the air and can tell dinner is ready. Kotoha must have thought Inosuke was a good boy today cause the air was thick with the smell of tempura.

“Come let’s go see your mother.”

Inosuke nods and wraps his small arms around his father as they make their way to the dining hall.