Till The End. // Kokuzan.

12

[ Wow it's been a while. Hello!! ]

[ I'll try to finish this book over the summer. I plan to end it at maybe 15 chapters, and I'm getting back into Demon Slayer, sooo... ]

. . .

Muzan had thought that being in hell would free him from the sickness he'd faced centuries ago as a human.

Oh, how very wrong he was.

Hell was not a good place to have such an illness, either. A violent coughing fit seized the former Demon King.

Warm arms tightened around him. Kokushibo was holding him tightly. As the violent coughing subsided, Muzan looked up into quiet purple eyes.

“You're safe,” was all Kokushibo said. But it was enough to soothe Muzan's pounding heart. He leaned against his partner with a thin groan.

“This sucks,” he hissed. Kokushibo nodded wordlessly, running one hand along Muzan's side. The former Demon King relaxed under his partner's touch. Even if he was sick again, he was safe with Kokushibo, and he knew it.

Secretly Kokushibo was hoping it wasn't the horrible illness Muzan had told him he'd had as a human. If it was, then Muzan would be suffering for eternity.

Eternity, Kokushibo thought. I have eternity to be by his side. I have eternity to help him feel comfortable and safe.

I have eternity to make up for my past mistakes.

Being with Kotoha again made Douma realize just what he'd lost when he'd killed her. She was a truly amazing woman. She made being in the barren land of hell more bearable.

And she was helping Douma figure out how the hell emotions worked.

“What do you feel now?” Kotoha asked. She was sat comfortably in Douma's lap, curled up like a cat. Her head rested against one of his large forearms, while his arms wrapped around her.

“...Giddy,” Douma confessed. “I feel like someone is both tickling my heart and melting it at the same time, while simultaneously forcing me to eat butterflies.”

Kotoha laughed softly. “That is... a very interesting way to describe being flustered.”

Douma shrugged. “I'm describing it the best way I can.”

“I know,” Kotoha hummed. She moved slightly, wrapping her legs around his waist and her hands on his neck. She pressed her body against his and hummed softly. “How about now?”

“Foggy,” Douma answered, moving his hands to her hips. “I feel like going feral. What is this?”

“Lust,” Kotoha answered. She shifted again, leaning against him and massaging his back gently. “Now?”

Douma let out a quiet hum. “...Calm,” he murmured. “I recognize this feeling. It's... happiness. I'm happy.”

Kotoha gently kissed his jaw. “Good job,” she praised softly. “You're getting the hang of this. I'm proud.”

Douma beamed softly and hugged her tightly. “Can we stay like this? I like being genuinely happy.”

“Of course, sweetheart,” Kotoha said softly. She loved this Douma a lot more. The human Douma, the one who actually had feelings.

[ not me accidentally misspelling feelings and autocorrect going, "Melinda" 💀 ]

Since discovering that he could, Kyojuro spent a lot of time as a spirit on Earth. He didn't want his brother or father to be alone. He'd showed his mother how to come down, too. And now their family was whole again.

Currently, Kyojuro was watching Senjuro color. It was adorable, really. Senjuro, despite being the one to do everything in the house for a while, was still such a child. Kyojuro wished his adorable little brother would never grow up.

“What are you coloring?” Kyojuro asked after a moment. Senjuro looked up and showed his brother his page. Kyojuro was taken by surprise for a moment. It was a beautiful, detailed picture of their entire family.

“What amazing work!” Kyojuro praised. Senjuro beamed. “Do you think mom and dad will like it?”

“They will love it!” Kyojuro assured him.  Senjuro smiled bright and went back to coloring. Kyojuro found himself somehow loving his brother even more.

Tengen missed the thrill of being a Demon Slayer. He really missed the thrill. But he enjoyed being with his wives all the time.

Currently, he had Makio and Suma on his lap while Hinatsuru massaged his shoulders. Makio and Suma were asleep against his chest; Tengen was sure he'd all asleep soon.

Hinatsuru's hands were warm. She was humming softly, as if trying to lull Tengen to sleep. Tengen was overwhelmed with how much he loved his wives.

Occasionally, he got accused of favoritism. “You treat them all differently! You obviously have a favorite!” a civilian would accuse.

Every time, Tengen had sighed. “I don't have to explain myself,” he always said. “But if you must know, I treat my wives differently because they're different women with different thoughts, feelings, personalities, and needs. I'm soft with Suma because she's more sensitive. I'm energetic and aggressive with Makio because that's her vibe. I'm calm and honest with Hinatsuru because that's how she is.”

Every time the girls heard Tengen acknowledge that they were in fact different women with different needs, they fell harder for him. They worked together to pamper him and make sure he knew he was loved deeply.

And in return, Tengen made sure his wives knew how deeply he appreciated their work and how much he loved them. It was a good life.

. . .

[ Tengen and his wives >>>>> ]

[ I don't see enough people talk about the fact that Tengen actually doesn't play favorites. They just assume he favors Hina. But like, we know he gives someone the same energy they give him. For the most part. He doesn't play favorites; he treats his wives differently because they're different women. I love Tengen, I just hate what the fandom has made him. I wanna contribute to fixing that. ]

[ Sorry for that rant. I'll try to post more chapters soon <3 ]