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It started off small.
A week had passed, and Kotoha had been recovering at Uzui’s estate, her master and his wives greeting her and giving her some exercises to do.
She felt fine after a few days only limping on the tender injury but one thought she should still rest.
“My bride shouldn’t feel the need to burden herself when her husband is here.” Kotoha sighed as the demon scooped her up and brought her back to her room. Douma had snuck over the wall of the estate, having followed her back and found her master’s home. He hadn’t been pleased at finding out her master was a man with multiple wives.
What’s to stop him from trying to court her, his own student?
“Douma, he loves his wives and sees me as a little sister.” That didn’t stop Douma from puffing out his cheeks and crossing his arms.
The first night he had appeared, he simply grinned while offering her a lotus.
She didn’t know how to react, seeing a glimpse of how Douma was back when they first met at the entertainment district. A charming man who just wants company.
She had long since figured out she had gotten lucky, not knowing just how many souls had died there because of his ravenous appetite.
Kotoha accepted the gift, adding it to the pond of the Uzui estate. Suma had made note of it first, thinking it to be cute. Makio thought it to be interesting. Hinatsuru believed it should have more lotuses added soon.
Her master narrowed his eyes at it.
“Where did you get it?” Kotoha answered from her last mission, keeping a straight face and her heart steady in the lie.
The Sound Hashira hummed for a moment before turning away, his jewelry jiggling.
Douma’s second gift was hair oil. He applied the first coating on her hair himself, running his claws through the threads of her locks. It was nice and overall, she couldn’t complain about this one.
Once again, Tengen’s wives made note of it, wanting to know where she got it from. Luckily this time, she could show the brand at the bottom of the bottle. Makio and Suma had left immediately to go get some, the town in which it came from being only half a day away by walking but as kunoichi, they came back within the day.
Her master would find it odd but didn’t question the hair product for it brought a smile to his wives' faces.
Douma’s third and final gift had her taking pause as he appeared in her room, sitting down next to her and giving her a box. It was a craved box that could hold the gift.
It was the way Douma held himself this time that had her taking pause.
She opened the box and there inside was a device. She had seen it once, at a festival where they played music by turning the crank. This however was a miniature version.
She raises a brow, looking to Douma, who only nods, gesturing her to crank it.
As she did, after a few notes, the speed becoming normal, her heart swelled. Each strike was a note she knew well.
It was her song of Pinky Promises.
Tears were running hot and a cool hand came to her cheek.
“There’s more Kotoha-chan.” Douma lifts the music box, placing it to the side.
His talons reach into the very bottom of the box and her heart jumps as a silver chain is lifted. Where the weight was heaviest was a ring.
A silver band that reminds her so much of the surface of water during a full moon.
“This-‘ Rainbow eyes are sparkling as Douma holds the chain for her to see clearly. ‘ is nothing to the value you have to me, Kotoha-chan.”
Douma’s smile was wide, his features becoming blurred as her tears blinded her.
She didn’t speak of how she ended up in the house as a courtesan. But it made her feel worthless and pathetic.
Now, a demon who had seen many cross his path decided she had the most value to him.
“I could give you the world and it still wouldn’t be enough to show you your worth.” Douma brought her into a hug, kissing the top of her head.
“Do you accept this ring, Kotoha-chan?”
Her nod was all he needed before he slipped on the chain. He had wanted her to wear the ring on her finger but battles would happen and he would rather the chain break than her lovely finger being lost.
They kiss as he departs, a short one that ends with her elbowing him when he asks for a bite before he goes.
“I’m still raw from last time.” Another evening of going hungry but he can survive off of their love.
He easily leaps over the walls and makes it about two kilometers away from the estate before stopping. A smirk was on his face as he pulled one of his fans out, opened it, and turned around.
“I was wondering when you would confront me.” Rainbow eyes were twinkling, where no amusement was held in maroon eyes. Chains rattle as the grip on twin cleavers becomes firm.
“There was no way Kotoha got that lotus on her last mission. That kind of flower hasn’t been seen in this land for ten years.” Douma had brought it from his own garden at his temple. His followers had told him how he must have the last of the variation. He kept some in his area of the infinity fortress but outside of that no where else could it be seen.
However now there’s one in the possession of his bride.
“And what would a slayer know about such a flower?” Douma tilted his head and a shift in posture and then the slayer spoke.
“As a Shinobi, we used to make an antidote for poison from it.” Douma now remembers why the flower had become scarce, it became a popular cure but poor management and overuse made it rare.
A cleaver was pointed at Douma.
“As a master, I can’t allow my student to become dull because of a demon.” Douma nearly laughs.
“Dull? No, Kotoha is not-“ A cleaver comes for his head, and in just a few movements they are fighting before stopping once more.
“She wasn’t the slayer she is today. No, she was a frightened and traumatized woman.” A painted finger raises. “ There was one name she had screamed the first night she was at my estate.”
The finger pointed at him.
“Douma.” A hand is then gesturing to his shoulders and collarbone. “Litter all around her flesh were scars. Bite marks like a dog chewing on a bone.”
A raising of his hair was happening, an emotion that had often been directed at him was building in him.
“I won’t allow such a demon to come back to her, to dig his filthy fangs in her.” A cleaver is brought in his direction.
“Just to kill her one day.”
His second fan was opened. His gaze is icy as frost leaves his mouth.
“You misunderstand our relationship, Hashira. If you dare think I would ever kill my bride. I would rather die than do that.”
In one sweep, Tengen was surrounded by Ice clones and Douma jumped to a branch, to get a higher viewpoint.
In a span of a few seconds, his anger was gone and a grin reappeared on Uppermoon Two’s face.
“I however am grateful that you taught my bride so well. I won’t allow you to slay me today but I’ll certainly let my Kotoha-chan do so when the time comes.” Tengen throws his bombs in the direction of the demon and when they go off the rest of the clones are dealt with.
Tengen huffs, finding Douma gone.
—
More nights like that would happen, a small truce between Douma and Tengen being to attack only once outside of the estate, to leave the women out of their quarrels.
It never stops Douma from giving more gifts to his bride.