False Prophet

Chapter 18

Kokushibo would go back to his spot, only for Inosuke to make it one of his stops as he made his laps for the day. Douma would watch, Kotoha following Inosuke before stopping short, wanting to see what her son would do.

Most times, he would toddle up and smack Kokushibo on his back. Douma would hold back a grin, watching as Inosuke continued to try and get his senior's attention.

"Oji!" Would be heard when he doesn't respond. The golden dragon lights up and Kokushibo is forced down. Only it's a deep bow before the elder demon turns. Douma would blink and find that he had only a single pair of eyes this time.

"Young master, what do you want?" It was a term he had developed recently. Inosuke would cry out, happy at being acknowledged.

Douma would come up behind Kotoha and take her away with a kiss under her ear. Kokushibo doesn't pay it much mind though the siblings and Hakuji would join them in a few minutes.

Inosuke would walk in between the four demons, calling their trigger words should he get frustrated. It would soon be noticed that it was only if they were 'deserving' that was it worse.

Hakuji would get the short stick when it became too long and Inosuke had wanted his attention.

Kokushibo had taken hold of the little one as the impact made quite a large crater.

Douma and Kotoha would look up from where they were. Douma had lifted his head from Kotoha's neck, having focused on leaving his own marks on her. He hums before going back to work.

When Inosuke did call him later, Buddha must have been disappointed in him because he was knocked out for the evening.
—
The Hashira would make frequent appearances at the estate.

Rengoku would be their friend and peacekeeper, most often coming with his Hashira to meet the Uppermoons. Gyutaro and Daki would hide away from the more aggressive ones.

Especially the Wind Hashira that had marched up the Kotoha, glaring at Douma before asking if any had hurt her or her child.

She would confirm not since they had gotten their artifact. Sanemi would then look Douma dead in the eye, not breaking contact even when Douma could smell him pierce the kill of his palm with his nail.

A marechi scent comes to his nose but he only fakes a sneeze. Grinning behind Kotoha in Sanemi's direction, he sticks his tongue out.

The Wind Hashira gains a tick mark but bows to Kotoha before walking away.

The Stone Hashira doesn't stay long, only coming to stand in front of Kokushibo, who held Inosuke at the time. Both had looked at each other before walking away from each other. Douma didn't know what had gone down but when Kokushibo made mention of failed matchups.

The Flower and Love Hashira were the only ones of the bunch that were truly odd, coming over for Kotoha and not at all afraid of the demons nearby. Mitsuri approached Daki and asked how she was and told her how beautiful she was.

Douma would argue that Kotoha was the most gorgeous of their bunch.

The small slayer that would follow the Flower Hashira would especially glare at Douma. Douma didn't know what he did but he was forever on her bad side.

The Serpent Hashira only came at the entrance of their estate before leaving.

The Sound Hashira was the loudest of all that even Inosuke went quiet, hiding away in his mother's bosom to get away from his intense stare.

"Flashy." Tengen would make note as he gestured to their golden artifacts. Douma grins but frowns when the man leans into Kotoha's personal space. The demon feels the tightening of his crown when he wants to reach out but Kotoha steps back. Right into him and Douma would wrap his arm around her.

The Water Hashira was the quietest of all. Walking up to Kokushibo and studying him before going on to the next. The siblings did have him pausing for a moment before proceeding. Hakuji would already start his sparring match with Kyojuro. The Water user would watch for a time before moving on.

The only word he would say was to Inosuke as he stomps around a corner and nearly falls after going too quickly.

"Careful." It was so soft-spoken that Douma almost doubted he heard him.

Then he left.

—
It was a rainy day when he came.

Inosuke was kept inside. Kotoha didn't want him getting sick again and Douma had a moment of thought, remembering when he took Inosuke's pain. It was so much pain in a small body.

Outside, Kokushibo was getting drenched when he unsheathed his sword to block a strike.

A short fight would continue as Kotoha recounts what had happened to her son. Douma had wanted to break her ex-husband's back after hearing how neglectful he was to his newborn. Leaving the poor child too close to the open window and leaving him in his damp blanket.

Oh he wanted to find the man again and-

His crown tightens and he pouts before Kotoha pats his hair.

The fight wasn't of any concern as Kyojuro watched on from the porch with Hakuji. Hakuji would be drenched on one side as Kyojuro shook violently to shake off excess water.

Mist Hashira Muichiro had finally come to the estate. Targeting the strongest demon.

Hakuji thought Kokushibo was a bit amused, even by the smallest of a percent.

He was being prideful about something. Hakuji would spot the tattoo shift during the fight, showing more of its body and coiling more around Uppermoon One's neck.

Hakuji rolls one of the beads of his necklace. He has long since gotten used to it. The weight was his own now. If he was given a chance to take it off, he probably put it back on with how much it feels a part of him.

It's so odd how much they've changed.