Prodigal Son

Chapter 4

Inosuke didn't know what this final selection was but he knew he could get another sword.

The boy cackles as he charges another demon.

HE CAN HAVE BOTH HIS TUSKS NOW!!!

It was strange trying to wield the blade when he was always used to attacking straight forward like a boar. Having it in the center felt weird and having it only on one side made him feel exposed.

THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN EASY AND FUN SEVEN DAYS!!

Of course, he doesn't pay attention to others and charges off the mountain once it was confirmed the test was over, he wanted to find more demons to fight.

He doesn't really think too much about how once that second blade was delivered to him that he got a flash of something gold. Inosuke shook his head before immediately smacking a stone into the blade to make it serrated.

—

The gold surface of his fans reflected his image back to him and all he saw was someone he didn't recognize anymore.

That's right...He doesn't know what to do anymore.

But...

In this dark room, he can see something else in the reflection that has his lip twitching into a curl.

When Inosuke was about four years old, he had motioned for Douma wanting to see his fan. Of course, always wanting to please his son, he gave him one.

Then he urged for the other.

—

Those small hands now gripped at both fans. The young child's eyes were bright and he stepped into a clearing in the garden and Douma took a seat on the porch of his temple. The lanterns gave a soft glow enough for humans to look out but he could see everything clearly as Inosuke started to play.

"What's he doing?" Douma looks up, Kotoha in her jinbei, only coming from their room to wish her two loves good night as she retired for the evening.

Douma looks back as Kotoha sits with him. He tilts his head and crosses his arms, confused as to what indeed the child was doing with his fans. Both continued watching as their son spread the fans out and -

Kotoha starts to laugh as Inosuke holds one in front of his face, his other arm behind his back, and starts walking around in a controlled manner so unlike his usual wild movements.

"He's trying to act like you." Kotoha states as she giggled more when Inosuke tried mimicking how he would close his fan and tap the tip of his chin in thought.

He propped his head onto his fist, leaning on it as he watched him.

His son would never be him.

His son was full of energy and life. Inosuke grew up in the sun and-

Douma side-eyes Kotoha as she finally stops laughing and smiles as Inosuke plays on in the garden.

Inosuke had the love and adoration of a mother.

His shoulders slack at the lack of childhood he truly had.

Inosuke would never have to deal with any of his burdens, duties, or responsibilities imposed on him.

He wishes for a day to abandon this life and just find a place where they can live normally.

—

His fan closed with a snap.

Normally was never on the table for him.

His rainbow eyes had cursed him the day he was born. Muzan only sealed his eternal damnation.

But the moment Kotoha was found, on accident, it was a gift that had many layers that kept on giving and for once, he got some form of love and happiness that wasn't a forge mask.

His shoulders tense and he grips his fan tightly before lightening his hold.

At least Kanae Kochou was dead and perhaps Inosuke is running around in a clearing, still happily innocent till they-

No....

Douma looks at Kotoha's sleeping form, his wife as still as the day he set her on that bed.

Kotoha would join him, walking in that clearing with Inosuke.

He would be going somewhere different without her.

The handle finally cracked under his hold.

He should have held on longer to Inosuke that day if he knew what was to come. Douma should have stayed in his territory. Defending it of all threats to his family.

He sighs and goes to rest his head on the bed. The demon took hold of Kotoha's hand and placed it on his cheek. Her warmth was there compare to his temperature but there was no affection behind the weight.

It just wasn't the same.

—

Nothing was right after that day.

Demons had taken their parents. There was some semblance of peace of mind once they trained and Kanae gained ranking of Hashira.

Shinobu should have known better. She knew Hashira never lived passed 25. Usually retiring by then or dying protecting the innocent.

Which made her death so much more cruel.

When Shinobu saw that demon leave, she knew it couldn't possibly be of a low rank.

It must have been of Upper Moon rank. There wasn't any other way her sister died without it being a demon of that strength.

The thing she couldn't wrap her head around was why.

WHY HER ONEE-SAN!?!?

Shinobu wears her sister's butterfly haori and smiles truly only in Kanao's presence.

What made her death cruel is just how savagely beaten she was.

Like the demon had something personal against her sister. There was no other way to explain why the demon's presence lingered as long as it did. Even when he was long gone.

It was like they wanted to know he did it to her and to never cross him again.

Shinobu focused on the poison before her. It would be a while before she can concentrate it into an even denser form to be more potent.

There were many times her sister wished peace for demons and humans.

Which made her decision years ago all the more painful. Never before had Kanae had to make a questionable solution to an impossible situation.

Setting the temple in a blaze was the only way to make sure none of the sicknesses spread.

This is why it was more of a tragedy upon discovering the slayers dead, violently cut down that the problem was worse.

Shinobu narrowed her eyes as the vial sloshed with the added ingredients.

Her theory was the sickness-causing demon wasn't the only one in the area. The temple must have been the stronger demon's home. The weaker must have stumbled into the territory not knowing it was a larger predator's area.

But that still didn't explain why the demon came after her sister only. Even if he knew she ordered the fire, he couldn't have possibly cared.

Demons don't cherish anything in their life.