False Prophet

Chapter 26

The dust of Muzan had barely settled when a voice in the distance could be heard.

"Douma!!" The man in question looks up, his fan closing as he tears up.

Kotoha was at the tree line Inosuke in her arms, whimpering at all the events that had gone on in the last few hours. Douma doesn't hesitate to run to her, dropping his fans and jumping over rumble.

"Douma!" Oh, she doesn't need to cry out his name when he finally gets in reach of her. He hugs her to him, burying his nose into her hair as he twirls her in his arms.

Kakushi units make their way on to the field with other arriving slayers like Muichiro, Mitsuri, Gyomei, and Obanai.

Douma doesn't think anything of it as the night ticks by, everyone being tended to.

"Dada!" Oh, his crown has never felt looser, though he doesn't take note of it as he takes Inosuke gently from Kotoha to cradle him.

"Yes, it's dada!"

Kyojuro is being helped by Hakuji, his adrenaline having run its course. The man didn't even realize he was fighting with a fractured femur. The flame Hashira leaning on Hakuji as he hobbles.

"I just we will be postponing our sparring sessions for a bit." Hakuji cracks a smile.

"I wouldn't mind that if it means you don't break." Kyojuro laughs as a Kakushi comes to him.

The Kocho sisters are found and brought to everyone else.

But two parties would join them near dawn.

One came with a gush of wind and Gyutaro and Daki were stunned at seeing Nakime. She didn't say anything, simply coming to stand by Kokushibo. Princess Iron Fan left just as quickly as she came, those who had their backs turned didn't see her.

No, the other party had Douma finally pulling away from his love to see Tamayo and Yushiro.

"Tamayo-san? What are you doing here?" Tamayo was just as confused, her instincts telling her to flee as dawn approached.

Yushiro shields Tamayo as the sun breaks on the horizon. Tamayo and Yuchiro are confused as they are warmed by the rays of sunlight and yet they do not burn. They had no golden artifacts like the uppermoons did.

No, this sunrise only brings gifts.

Douma is the first to perk up, dashing to kneel before the one whose aura was brighter than that of the sun.

"Shiye!" Buddha smiled and some slayers and kakushi who did practice Buddhism knelt. Gyomei was especially streaming more tears through the transparent world, seeing the Buddha in detail like he had true sight.

"Douma, you've done well. " Douma wants to purr at the praise but Kotoha comes to kneel with him. He could take her hand in his as other reunions were happening.

"Guanyin!" The goddess of mercy smiles as her students, the siblings come to greet her. Gyutaro and Daki seem to transform, their skin more healthy than ever before, even compared to their past lives.

A dragon swirls overhead in spirit, picking up dust as two brothers sit facing the sun.

Yoriichi smiles, looking at Michikatsu as he looks down at his blade, armor on even after the battle.

"You were wonderful, Aniki." Michikatsu finally cracks a smile after that, his sword being set down. Yoriichi was solid when the two brothers embraced in a hug.

Douma looks around smiling at all the interactions.

Even Hakuji who is giving a fist bump to his sensei, Kyojuro pushing on the fist next to see if he could move Sandy's mighty hand.

"Douma. " He turns and is met with a kiss by Kotoha, catching him so off guard that his cheeks turn red, warming him up all over.

He doesn't even pay it much mind till he feels Inosuke tugging at his crown. Douma pulls away, his fingers coming to touch his crown.

The crown that had been upon his head for a century.

He smiles before he bows his head to let the only one he trusts with his heart.

Kotoha kisses the top of his head before her soft fingers gently come under the metal. Then it finally lifts it off his head.

His head actually felt light with it off.

Inosuke is all too glad to receive his gift finally, gnawing on the crown when Kotoha hands it to him.

Buddha smiles at the scene before he begins to leave.

"Live a full life now Douma. Suffering as a human."

—
Indeed, they had become human that morning. Warm-blooded and everything.

Yoriichi was the last to leave, wishing his brother a peaceful life and telling him he would wait for him to become celestial warriors together in the next life.

Gyutaro was crying when he realized his ribs weren't showing anymore. Daki would help with the injured slayers as demons slowly began to die off after Muzan's demise.

Tamayo and Yushiro would leave, having become human by the power of Guanyin.

Hakuji was the odd one, coming back and forth from where he visited Kyojuro as the months stretched on. Kotoha would welcome him with open arms, especially when Inosuke got into his toddler years.

He stayed longer in the new cabin that she resides in as Douma was gone.

The former Uppermoon had one last atonement to deal with.

After all these decades away, he knew the land by heart. This time bringing true tears to his eyes at just how he couldn't process what he had been given.

So he walks up the steps of his former cult, watching the people go about their business till they stop and notice him one by one.

When the first one drops to their knees, he gets them quickly back up.

"Please, none of that for me. I'm quite undeserving of it."

He smiles before he gestures for them to gather.

"I have much to teach."

—
When he does return, having enlightened his former cult to true teachings and not the deceitful kind he had once taught, his soul feels less burdened.

Finally, as he enters the cabin his family resides in, he twirls her only to kneel before her. Asking her to marry him.

In the corner, his crown is put on a shelf, Douma ready to put it on again should he feel he is wrong.

He doesn't much think of that as Kotoha accepts him for all his flaws.