Father Gyutaro (AU)

Father, And Sun

Toddlers.

Oh god- toddlers. 

One would think that being a demon would make parenting somewhat easier, demons had more strength and energy, surely that would make things easier, right?

Oh what a fool he had been.

As it turns out, demons can get tired.

For the first time in a little over a hundred years, Gyutaro actually felt the need for sleep.

These kids absolutely exhausted him. They were loud, even Nezuko, who, while still not having said her first word yet, loved to either laugh or shriek, there was no in between, Gyutaro learned. Now that she was old enough to walk, Gyutaro had two little shits to chase around the house.

These brats were messy too. Throwing things, spitting up substances that Gyutaro, while used to it by now, still did not wish to describe, and rolling around in dirt and other muck. 

He couldn't even bathe them without some sort of struggle. They'd splash and paddle about, getting soap in Gyutaro's eyes on multiple occasions. 

And Tanjiro, while still sweet, was just old enough to start developing a bit of an attitude. 

...

"Oi Tanjiro! Get back in the damn tub!" 

Gyutaro barked as the child climbed out of the tub. He slipped away from him, running down the hall naked, covered in soap suds and water.

"I don't wanna!" The boy spat, sticking his tongue out.

"If you don't, you'll stay filthy and reek!" He barked back, gaining on the child.

Just as he grabbed Tanjiro, the boy threw a curveball at him. "So!? You stink too! You don't take baffs!" 

Though the boy had mispronounced the word "bath", Gyutaro loathed the fact he was right. He didn't bathe often enough, it was an...undesirable habit he had acquired during his human life.

Though, there was no one stopping him from bathing now, was there?

So, he started bathing himself regularly, and while Tanjiro still had aversions to baths, he seemed more willing to take them since.

...

Then, there was Nezuko, who had developed an obsession with putting things in her mouth that didn't belong there. 

Basically anything she could fit in her mouth, went into her mouth. 

Gyutaro's fingers? Chew toys in her eyes. Random pebbles? Apparently snack material. Sticks? Crunchy salad as far as she was concerned. 

Gyutaro still remembered the days when she wouldn't even drink milk, yet now she'll eat dirt.

Toddlers.

Messy, loud, filthy brats.

But for every frustrating, infuriating, exhausting memory, there were these little moments…

Moments that made Gyutaro feel things he struggled to describe.

He wasn't sure what it was at first, it was familiar, yet so new.

It was the little things at first.

Tanjiro once found a pretty yellow rock, and gave it to Gyutaro because it "looked like his eyes".

Or the times Nezuko would try to share her favorite candy with Gyutaro. 

Or the way the kids fell asleep in his lap after playing.