False Prophet

Chapter 13

Daki had started to whine and they would soon learn that the golden cloth around them would act as a gag, wrapping around the demon's mouth and muting them till they stopped. Gyutaro had shouted and dug his claws into the cloth. It brightened and tightened on him, muting him and for a handful of minutes as they continued to walk. The siblings were dragged along by the power of their artifacts.

Akaza was carrying Inosuke for once, the baby on his shoulders, playing with his hair. Kyojuro leads the way up to the moment when he suddenly stops. A crow sits on a branch above him, leaving.

The Hashira turns to them and smiles.

"We will have to wait for a while." Akaza is indifferent, only a bit annoyed with the struggle of Gyutaro and Daki. Inosuke in the short walk had tired himself out, his hands fisted in Akaza's short hair as he drooled, sleeping soundly.

Douma doesn't mind, offering his arm to Kotoha and soon they are both sitting down. Kotoha was soon laying her head on his shoulder as they waited. Akaza and Kyojuro stood close to each other, the demon looking the slayer in the eye.

It wasn't all that threatening with a child sleeping on one of the shoulders of the most dangerous demon.

The crow would return with three people. Two were what looked to be standard demon uniforms.

The other was a small woman who was instantly glaring in Douma's direction. Purple venomous eyes that had no business glaring at him so harshly. He would think she would be looking at Akaza like that considering how close he stands to Kyojuro.

"Kocho-san! Is the master ready to see us!?" The slayer looks back to the Hashira.

"Rengoku-san, as you know, we have rules and we need further proof that he won't attack." Douma sighs, Kotoha lifting her head from his shoulder as he shuffles to his feet.

He rises to his full height, showing he is the tallest member of this group. He walks into the sunlight, his rank catching the interest of the new slayer. Her hand goes to her sword, ready to pull it out if this turns out to be a trick.

" Kibutsuji Muzan has no more power over me. My devotion is to Buddha and to the safety of Kotoha and Inosuke." His crown tightens when he feels a snarl coming on. "But if you slayers don't believe me, I will leave."

Kotoha comes to his side, holding his hand. He calms down immediately and entwines their hands. Hers were so warm in comparison to his own.

Kyojuro is the only one to break the tension.

"Come now, Master should see him!" Rengoku starts walking and the slayers part to let their superior through. Douma turns to Akaza, offering his hands. The grip was no match for Akaza's fingers as he peeled the little one-off. The demon hands the slumbering baby off to the blond and Douma makes sure Inosuke is comfortable before he begins to walk, Kotoha at his side.

Shinobu glares as he passes, her hand still on her hilt as she follows behind him.
Akaza looks back at the struggling Upper Six demons, their heels digging into the dirt as the pull of staying close begins.

He doesn't care, starting his trek, shifting to be more human.

—
They are kneeling on stones, waiting for the master to come.

Daki and Gyutaro had been dragged off by Akaza, right at the edge of the perimeter so as not to disturb the meeting. Douma almost wished his best buddy would join but this was fine.

He can talk and tell all he knows.

Kyojuro is with them when the arrival of the master of the demon corps is announced. The man was frail-looking and sickly.

The opposite of what Muzan was. The demon lord was pale like him but would never want to hear of how.

He had never seen the demon lord smile so welcoming as the leader was doing.

"Welcome." Two children, twins Douma suspects help him forward till he comes to stand near the end of the porch, just out of the sunlight.

"Thank you for having us today Master! I pray for your health!" Always so vehement when he speaks.

The master nods in the direction of the Flame Hashira.

"Rengoku, I do hope your father is doing well." Kyojuro nods, confirming it with a loud hum.

"May I know the names of the ones who sit before me?" Kyojuro turns to them, allowing the guests to introduce themselves.

Douma straightens his back, throwing up a smile, still holding onto a tired Inosuke.

"I am Uppermoon Two Douma." His title had zero reactions, even the heartbeats of the ones before him didn't speed up.

Perhaps he can see why Muzan wants this family destroyed.

"My name is Kotoha, my son's name is Inosuke." Kagaya smiles at that.

"How old is he?" Douma turns, also wanting to know. Kotoha smiles softly.

"He'll be eight months soon." Douma couldn't believe it. It felt like an eternity already but it had only been a handful of months since they came into his life.

His arm holds Inosuke closer. So big compared to when he first arrived at his temple, Kotoha wanted to save him.

He would do it all over again, even knowing that it would lead to this moment. Meeting with the family that Muzan wanted to kill.

"Soon he will be learning to walk and talk." Kagaya continues to smile. " Our mission is to see that every human has that chance without having to worry about his demons."

Douma can see how the slayers can so easily follow him compared to Muzan. Muzan was so forceful in his orders that only Kokushibo and Akaza would follow blindly and without fear in their minds.

"Can I hear you say it? Can I hear you say his name?" Kagaya's voice had changed, a pinch of uncontrollable eagerness threatening to break free.

All is quiet for the moment but Douma doesn't wait.

"Kibutsuji Muzan is no longer my lord, I am now a follower of Buddha's teachings." Finally, his ears picked up the sped-up heartbeat.

But that seems to be wrong for the man as he coughs. Kotoha tenses beside him and Kyojuro goes to get up when Douma hands off Inosuke.

The children are helping their father as he coughs into his hand, blood so tainted by sickness that no demon would find the man worthy to be their meal.

Douma however still slowly lays a hand on the man. Kagaya has no fear of a demon laying a hand on him. Though from the corner of his eye, Douma does see that one slayer from earlier ready to attack from behind a door.

"Kagaya-san, thank you for seeing us. Please, as a thank you, let me use this gift to ease your pain." His crown glows lightly and he feels the pain of the demon corps leader. It made him weak in the knees. When he lets go, Kagaya seems to have gained a healthy color back to him.

By Buddha, one of his eyes had healed enough to see the demon before him as he stumbled back into the sunlight.

Douma gets to the grass in time to cough up black liquid. Pain was sinking into the pit of his stomach and it was worse than when he had taken it from Inosuke. Kotoha was at his side, holding back his long hair as he heaved.

The children at Kagaya's side both receive a caress of the cheek before he looks to Kyojuro, who looks shocked having not known of the extra abilities.

For the first time in a long time, Kagaya could breathe easier.

It was all thanks to a demon.