Papa Douma

Chapter 10

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.