Douma became a Hashira at age twenty-one, defeating lower moon one Kanae. A butterfly-like demon that had a sick sense of unity in the form of absorbing dissolved bodies after they stay in these cocoons. Douma had saved a few slayers that had been trapped, with only minor injuries.
The demon had looked up at him, tears in her eyes.
"I had a sister...She was a sweet girl..." She fades away after that and Douma does a quick prayer for her. The past tense makes him believe she had killed her sister.
He would be wrong.
When he leaves the area, a demon emerges from her hiding spot and purple poisonous tears escape her eyes.
She would make this slayer pay.
She would just need to find out his weakness.
—
Kotoha would be hugged from behind and twirled. She gasps and is grabbing at the firm arms that hold her. Only one would be so bold to do this to her.
"Douma-san!" She was getting flustered as he puts his chin on her shoulder. He is smiling at her and his grip on her waist is tight. Kotoha was off the ground with his height and he laughs as she tries to get him to put her down.
"Fine, but Kotoha-chan must promise to go with me to town tonight!" He sees her blush hard at that statement and she is nodding.
He becomes bold and kisses her cheek, which had her gasping before he puts her down.
"I'll see you then Kotoha-chan~" He winks and Kotoha shyly waves as he leaves.
Around the corner, Gyutaro fist-bumps his sister as they call the mission a success.
—
Douma would wait for her at the entrance of the estate before they made their way to town. By the time they had made their trip through town, they settle on a hill. Douma was enjoying a dango and Kotoha a moon cake.
They sat close, shoulders almost touching.
The sun was setting, summer making it so much stronger in color.
Its dying rays complimented her eyes so nicely. The orange glow with her blue hair was gorgeous.
Kotoha could say the same for his beautiful hair and colorful eyes.
"Douma-san?" Douma hummed and she swallows, his eyes catching the movement and waiting for her next action.
It came in the form of a cautious lean-in on both their parts.
—
Gyutaro had to tackle Ume before she could let out her squeal as they saw the two.
—
They had both kissed at the last of the sun's light and Douma couldn't be happier. He pulls back and touches foreheads with her.
"Please, just Douma , my Kotoha-chan." He kisses her again. She nods when he pulls away and they enjoy the sight of the darkening sky.
Douma would share his cloak with her as night settled in, holding her to his side and they watch the stars appear overhead.
Perfect is what he called it, as he looked down at her.
—
She found his weakness.
Shinobu watches the Ice Hashira kiss the woman good night and leave with a smile on his face.
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—
Douma would go on more dates with Kotoha. Gyutaro would groan during training sessions but Ume would ask for more from her sensei.
He of course would open his fan as he sat down to continue his praise about his beautiful Kotoha.
Lower Moon Three had found them like that when they were camping, having been too far away from a wisteria house.
"Oi, look Gyutaro-chan, you can kill him then I can recommend you to become a Hashira with me~." Douma flashes a grin as he blocks an attack from the demon.
"That would be an unflamboyant way to go out!" The demon loses his arm from Gyutaro finally joining the fight. Ume was off to the side, readying her whip as her sensei comes to her side.
"That woman you talked about, is she your courtesan? If so, I should go visit her and devour her!" The demon flips his silver hair and Douma decides to join the fight again.
"KOTOHA IS NOT A COURTESAN FOR YOU TO HAVE!" That shocked the siblings as their sensei chases the demon but his speed was great and he escapes.
They find their sensei at dawn returning to camp.
Douma would return to hug Kotoha close and praise how wonderful she was, how priceless she was to him. Kotoha confused about what had happened happily kissed him for each comment.
He would ask her to sing to him and soon he was sleeping in her lap that afternoon. Her voice was angelic in his ears.
—
It was a trap.
Douma had just finished a mission the night previous when he was just a kilometer away from the estate that had his beloved working hard.
Night had come again and he had not been worried.
Till he felt something light landing on his shoulders. It was hands and a sickly sweet calling out to him.
"Ice Hashira Douma~." His fans came out and he spins to attack. Golden fans barely miss the female demon that gets out of his reach.
He is lunging and darting after her.
Why was a demon so close? The wisteria trees should have kept demons away.
Unless-
Purple eyes don kanji he reads as Lower Moon One.
"You will suffer tonight." The demon was fast but had no strength as she kicks off him, flipping and landing a few paces away.
He laughs. "You can certainly try, I take pain well."
Douma spreads his arms out." You're welcome to strike me!"
The female demon smiles showing off fangs and a grip is taking hold of his left leg. Douma, unfazed, looks down to see a vine has taken hold of his limb.
Spikes are then going through his muscles and injecting him with poison.
"Oh, that's a nice trick, lower one." He smiles, even when purple spider webs start spreading on the infected areas. She only needs to come closer for him to finish her.
She however is stepping back.
That's fine, the sun would come and then he would be in bed for a few days, and the poison would be slowed with his breathing. His heart had been steady this whole time and would remain as such.
The female demon is laughing and he lets out a chuckle.
"What's so funny demon?" What could be so humorous to her?
Those poisonous purple eyes glow and then a wicked smile forms.
"Oh, this isn't what I meant when I said you would suffer."
Douma tilts his head confused. Only for him to tense when he sees her look in the direction of the estate.
"I wonder if she will sing as wonderful when she's in pain."
His eyes widen and he was trying to lung after the demon as she fled. The vine tightened and made him faceplant into the ground. He is quick to snap up to yell after the lower moon.
"NO, YOU FACE ME!! SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!! LEAVE HER ALONE!!" Douma roared after the demon. His vision blurred as his heart and breathing became more rapid.
No, not his Kotoha.
Douma snarled before snapping to his captured leg, the vine tightening. He takes a glance at his sharp fans.
He knows what must be done.
Douma doesn't hesitate to raise his fans and bring them down.
