False Prophet

Chapter 14

Douma had to take a moment, his lungs healing slowly and his vision focusing once more. He heard the soft gurgles of Inosuke by his head as Kotoha rubbed his back. Douma could hear a soft hum of thought from Akaza.

It appears he didn't know about this ability of his. It wasn't a false power like he had before. A fake miracle he did on his followers. This was an equal exchange, he would have felt the pain of the one he healed.

"I thank you, Douma. Though I would have preferred to carry the burden of my illness on my own. I am thankful for the relief this gift of yours gives me." Douma spits the last of the vomit from his mouth to look up and finds Kagaya standing with much more strength than before.

He flashes a fang-fill smile.

"I am but a vessel in which Buddha operates through. First trying to teach me a lesson and getting others to join my class." Douma throws a thumb to an annoyed Akaza who sits side-eyeing the meeting. The siblings had since stopped struggling upon seeing his healing ability at work. Though Gyutaro seems to be disgusted seeing that the illness he took in didn't last long.

"Buddha you say. I would love to hear more about him."

—
He tells his tale with no filter outside of the moments with Kotoha that would have Akaza attacking him.

He told in detail how much Akaza struggled when he was bonded with his artifact.

Kagaya and him were talking till Inosuke couldn't take it anymore.

"DADA!" Kagaya would watch as one moment the demon was smiling with his sharp teeth to his face being buried in the rocks. Kotoha sets her son on Douma's back as the demon lays limp.

Akaza finally turns his back on the situation, not wanting to make eye contact with the active child.

Kagaya looks to Inosuke, an amused smile showing.

"It seems as though your little one holds more power than I." Kotoha nods, watching as Inosuke tugs on Douma's locks, babbling before taking one into his mouth.

"If you don't mind me asking, what is your relationship to Douma?" Kyojuro turns on that, wanting to get a clear answer. He had his many suspicions.

Red crosses Kotoha's face as she looks down at her hands that remain on her knees.

"I would like to think we are close."

Kagaya continues to smile at that. A human and demon together in a way that was unnatural. The only outcome could ever be death.

Perhaps they can break it.
—
When Douma wakes, he is in front of Buddha once more. He was smiling and nodded in the direction of the demon.

Douma grins in his direction.

"I did well."

"Yes you did, but you still have a long way to go Douma. Everyone that comes your way has a way to go." Douma blinks when it seems that a golden glow happen around Buddha. His master deepens his smile.

"Soon you will gain yourself another companion." For once, Buddha stands, bowing slightly to Douma.

"I must go and make a visit to a few people." Douma nods and since he is alone, he decides to mediate for now.

—
Douma lands with a thud on the futon as Akaza drops him. Kotoha comes to the demon's side and Inosuke is set down on the floor. The baby is quick to smack Douma in the face, tugging and pushing on his crown. Akaza goes to leave.

"Thank you." Akaza looks back and nods to Kotoha, leaving them.

—
A few days would pass, mostly peaceful.

As peaceful as it can be with only one well-behaved demon and the other three not knowing how to shut up.

Luckily all were taken care of by one child learning his vocabulary.

Daki was the most whiny so her golden cloth were almost always on her. Gyutaro would begin to swear only for his artifact to activate. Douma would of course laugh and that's when Inosuke would call for him. The sickening snap could be heard from anywhere in the estate they were currently staying at.

During this period, when they were knocked out, the siblings would spit venom at their teacher Guanyin.

Then in the waking world, they would tell of their teacher and how much she expected from them.

Douma would be amused, Kotoha at his side and listening to their rants like a good patient mother.

Akaza would listen, his brow crunching upon hearing this.

The other demons had teachers, why didn't he have-

As he thought, his hair would gain black roots.

"I have a teacher..." Akaza looked up to find Inosuke at his knee, bouncing on his shaky legs.
Kotoha would cry out and Douma would look over to find Inosuke taking his first steps. Akaza would watch on and for a moment, he would think about helping the young one. But with each step, he gets more and more confident.

Then finally he came to Kotoha's knee, reaching up to her.

"Kaa-san! Tou-san!" Douma's crown glows even when the title is slightly different he still bows his head to show how proud he was to see the little one succeed.

A baby that is an easy target.

Akaza frowns at that thought. He had never targeted women or children. For they remind him of-

His frown deepens.

The next morning, when Kyojuro comes for a visit, he is greeted with a punch coming for him. He blocks with his sword a moment before it lands. The dust had risen but it didn't block his smile at his opponent.

"You've finally accepted to be my sparring partner! Thank you Upper Three!" When the dust does settle, i the usually pink-haired demon has more dark roots.

Even his eyes had changed to blue.

The glee and thrill he felt for battle was there.

"Call me Hakuji."

Kyojuro gets into his ready stance.

"Then let's begin Hakuji-san!"

--

Buddha has crossed realms before but this was one of a different land. Still, he knew what he sought here. He only needs to find it.

He already had the support of Bai Longma.

But he has read the universe and events that will come. It seems foggy where paths diverge.

He only need to ask and all will be well for his student.