Fluttering Lotus Petals

Chapter 2: Growth of a Seedling

Almost two hundred years had passed since [Name] became a demon. He had donned a white cape and hood and acquired a lotus lantern as his weapon.

The Twelve Kizuki had done some shuffling around in the past centuries, although the Upper Ranks did not change as often as the Lower Ranks.

Those demons came and went, too soon to fill [Name]'s heart. He didn't see them very often either. He turned his attention to humans to fill this mundane void he called living.

Kibutsuji had allowed him an unusual amount of freedom. He did not often read his mind or access his memories. He took the chance to venture out and to seek some love for himself.

[Name] spent a lot of time with humans. His favorites were children. So innocent and purehearted. The only thing in their eyes was a burning curiosity, not bubbling hatred and resentment.

Often, he would repay their kindness by healing them or their family of ailments. Curiously, they began to worship him as a god once someone caught a glimpse of his wings by accident. Rumors of his deeds always found their way to his ears and he couldn't help but smile a little.

These humans loved him.

———

On a cold, winter night, a sick child in his futon rested in his house on the mountain. The snow swirled outside the house, landing against the smooth wood of the structure. This particular mountain was named Mount Natagumo. The boy's dark hair curled around his head like the legs of a spider trapping its prey and his eyes were a gentle purple.

The door to his room opened to reveal a man in his twenties, dark haired and one with plum red eyes. Seconds later, a second man appeared, fluttering down from the sky with a pair of wings as white as the snow behind him.

The boy, Rui, wondered if he had died from his illness. After all, an angel was visiting him.

Stepping up to the child, the one with wings knelt down and placed his gentle hands around Rui's head to cradle his face. His eyes glowed white and memories flowed into him like a dam bursting.

"You poor thing," The other man, Kibutsuji, said as he witnessed the memories through [Name]. "I'll save you from this harsh life." The kid willingly drank the blood from Kibutsuji with his cupped hands.

He was immediately hit with so much pain that his vision blurred from tears. The man with red eyes took off after muttering a few words to the other. The latter approached Rui as he struggled to breathe. He wrapped his arms around him, cradling him close to his body.

The man introduced himself as [Name] and whispered sweet nothings into Rui's ear.

Like a true brother would.

He passed out in the demon's arms, succumbing to the transformation.

The next time Rui saw [Name] was when he had just taken his parents' lives with his own hands. His sclera had turned red and his skin a ghostly white. His hair had turned white as well, still curling around his face. Turquoise eyelashes fluttered around his eyes as Kibutsuji and [Name] appeared in front of him.

"It was all your parents' fault for refusing to accept you for who you are. Take pride in your own strength," Kibutsuji said to Rui.

Rui cried out, gripping his hair with his hands tightly. It was then that [Name] pulled him close once more, letting his tears wet the soft cloth he was dressed in.

From then on, even after he had created his own family, he was glued to [Name]'s side whenever he saw him, which increased as Rui was made Lower Rank Five in a few years. [Name] allowed the boy to grip his cape and follow him around, to Rui's delight.