eternity.

snowfall.

— dialogue prompt : "breathe. you're too tense." "i'm fine. i'm fine, everything is fine." "it's a baby, not a bomb. you're cradling a baby."
( probably ooc, events happen after the final battle, kinda cringe 😨, ignore typos )

IN ALL HIS MANY YEARS OF LIVING, yushiro never expected to find himself pacing outside the closed door of the butterfly estate's surgery room, heart beating so loudly he felt as if his ears were going to fall off from the defeating sound. he bit at his thumbnail, brows furrowed as sweat dripped down his temple, lavender hues finding the floor beneath his feet ever so interesting. the groceries he was out buying lay tossed to the side of the floor, messily spread out as some kakushi tried to salvage what was untainted by the slightly dusty floors.

he had been out buying food to satisfy his love's cravings, when a crow had suddenly been sent to him screaming on how his wife was giving birth. if he hadn't been reminded by the kakushi beside him that he was no longer a human who could walk out in the sun, he would've burned to death if he had tossed his wagasa aside in his panic. he wished he would've listened to the former pillar's insistent nagging on how he shouldn't leave and let a kakushi go, but he was determined to get her the food she desired himself. he regret going.

it took a worried tanjiro and panicked zenitsu to calm him, and that was after the young butterfly girls failed at holding him down from entering the room while akane cursed and screamed. it was quite a comedic sight, especially with the way akane's curses on how she'd deal with yushiro for shoving a demon (literally and figuratively) baby in her made a passing by inosuke burst out in laughter.

yet as he relay what had happened a few hours ago in his mind, the opening of a door caught his attention and he looked at aoi with nothing but pure concern. "is she—" he was cut off by the woman nodding, a soft smile replacing her firm expression. "she wants to see you." without another word, the demon rushed into the room, the curtains pulled over the windows to ensure no sunlight entered the room. on the bed there lay a tired and softly panting akane, in her arms a beautiful baby wrapped in a mint green blanket, the same color as yushiro's hair.

yushiro's swift footsteps slowed as he neared the person he called his, his eyes softening as his worried expression vanished, all that lay on his face now being a soft smile and tear-filled eyes. he sat on the chair aoi had prepared, hearing the door of the room close and muffled noises of chatter outside. hearing the chair creak lightly, akane opened her eyes, instantly landing them on her husband. she smiled tiredly. "where were you?" she whispered, leaning into yushiro's hand which he had placed gently on her cheek, his touch so light making her feel like she was glass. "i was at the market when i received the news. . . i'm sorry i didn't come home sooner. . ." the mint-haired male whispered, a look of regret adorning his stunning features. the woman gave a soft giggle, shaking her head softly showing she didn't mind. the man beside her flushed red.

no matter how long they would stay together, he would never not feel like he had a cute little crush on her. he was obsessed with her, and he knew he always would be. her voice, he wished to hear it for eternity. her eyes, he wished he could get lost in them and never find a way out. he felt like he was drunk when they kissed. he loved it when she called him his. when they married, he felt like he was dreaming and never wanted to wake up. and as he sat beside her, watching the young baby boy in her arms breathe softly, huddled up to the woman he called his wife, he could only shed tears of joy. he had a family. he was a father, who was married to the mother of his child. their child.

"would you like to hold him?" her heavenly voice guided him away from his thoughts, and he sniffles softly, wiping his tears with his sleeve. "i'm afraid i'll drop him." he whispered, but his body betrayed him as he reached out to the bundled baby, gently lifting him into his arms. the sight was rather comedic, yushiro holding the child rather stiffly. he resembled a rock with how tense he was. akane laughed, her joyous voice bouncing against the walls of the operation room. "breathe, you're too tense." she giggled, yushiro's cheeks now a soft tint of cherry pink due to his embarrassment.

he awkwardly moved his arms to fix his hold, muttering quick "i'm fine. i'm fine, everything is fine."s like a prayer. his only two concerns were one, waking up the sleeping baby, and two, making said baby uncomfortable. the tired woman deadpanned at her husband's mutters, giving an exasperated sigh. "it's a baby, not a bomb. you're cradling a baby." she said. before yushiro could reply, the woman pulled the covers of the bed closer to her, making herself comfortable and closing her eyes. in seconds she was peacefully asleep, leaving the demon to deal with the baby.

yet, instead of feeling annoyed, he felt happy. she trusted him to care for the baby. his embarrassed expression turned soft, a few tears managing to escape his eyes once more as he looked lovingly at the baby in his hands. such a fragile and innocent being, a product of him, a short-tempered and arrogant man, and his love, akane, the definition of heaven on earth.

placing a hand on the baby's small, chubby cheek, he gently caressed the skin with his thumb, careful to not wound it with his sharp nail. despite being a demon, he felt like he was blessed.

if having to live for hundreds of years as a demon meant meeting the woman of his dreams and starting a family with her. . . he would do so and wait for her reincarnation every time.