The Rainbow Eyed Devil and His Songbird

Ice Hashira Douma and Medic Kotoha

The Ice Hashira had a habit of getting injured.

The young man of the age of twenty-nine would get wounds that did need attention but he seem insistent on not getting them looked at by any Kakushi. Saying something along the lines of checking the civilians before making his way off back to headquarters to report his mission.

Douma of course would only send his crow over with his report before actually receiving treatment.

"Douma-sama, please be more careful." Douma doesn't even flinch at the last stitch that is put into his shoulder.

He smiles over his shoulder to look at the young lady that anyone with eyes can see he has taken a fancy to.

"I will, Kotoha-chan." He states as he leans on his fist to get closer to her as she walks in front of him.

"Please do, if not for yourself, for me." Kotoha takes his free hand, squeezing it and Douma brings it to his lips.

"Of course, my dear." Him then kissing her knuckles made her blush.

—

"AAAAAAUUGGGHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, just retire already old man and marry her." Gyutaro groans as he talks about just how beautiful Kotoha is to his Tsuguko.

Douma just throws him a smile, waving his fan at him.

"Oh, I can't possibly retire yet when you are still weak." That had Gyutaro blowing up as they continue their walk to their next assignment.

"I'M NOT WEAK !!" The teenager is aiming his sickles at him in protest.

—

"Do you like Douma-dono, Kotoha-san?" The test tube nearly slips from her hand at the question.

Ume watches her mentor as her face goes red in embarrassment.

"Of course I do!" She squeaks out. "What's not to like about Douma-san?"

Ume gets a mischievous grin to her but she leaves her thoughts to herself.

—

Gyutaro would come with the help of Kakushi later that week, Douma being carried on a stretcher and breathing heavily. His usual pale complexion was red from a fever.

He had a run-in with Lower Moon 1 Shinobu that should have been an easy kill for the Ice Hashira but he had been poisoned by her venom before striking her down. Even exposure to the sun still meant damage was done to the affected tissue.

When surgery was done, he was set up in his own private room.

—

He wakes to the chirping of birds and the soft weight of something holding his hand.

Douma slowly sits up, uncaring for the spike of pain that runs through him as he sees Kotoha sleeping in a chair, clenching his hand. Brushing her hair from her face showed the bags under her eyes, red streaks from dried tears.

He frowns lightly.

Douma should wince at the pain he was feeling but he wasn't normal in that regard. Never taking into account the wounds he receives in battle. This was a different feeling though.

Pulling the sheet back he sees why.

It seems he has lost most of his left leg below the knee. The poison must have made infection easy and it wasn't worth saving that part of the limb. While with modern medicine he could walk again with a prosthetic but the likelihood of him returning to duty was not there.

Douma does bring a hand to his chin in thought.

Maybe he can commission a hidden sword leg from the swordsmiths-

"Douma-san..." He looks back to see Kotoha slowly lift her head, not actually expecting him to reply.

"Good morning, Kotoha-chan~." Douma smiles, a cheerful response even in the current state he was in and the doctor snaps to attention.

Her eyes are wide and Douma is surprised when they start watering and he is pulled into a hug.

"Douma!!" She is crying into his chest and he just strokes her hair, wrapping his free arm to pull her into the bed. He kisses the top of her head before laying his cheek on it.

"I'm sorry for worrying you, Kotoha-chan."

Looking to where his left foot should be but was just a stump has him sighing.

"It won't happen again."

—

The Ice Hashira retires at the age of 29 and his Tsuguko would take his place after slaying a Lower Moon with sound-related powers.

His recovery was in the company of his fiancée, though they wouldn't be engaged till his new leg came in, with him testing it by taking a knee and causing his bride-to-be to cry on the spot.

They still worked with the Demon Corps as mentors, though Douma became more of a househusband once they had their son Inosuke.