Raised by the darkness ||Kny FanFic||

Chapter nine: Time

For Kokushibo, time is irrelevant. He's nearly 500 years old, 480 years to be exact. Kokushibo recalls many times he has lost track of time and soon discovered that it had been weeks or months that he spent training and not hours.

However, even though today is just as any normal night, Kokushibo recalls easily what happened a year ago. Exactly a year had passed since he first met Tanjirou, and Kokushibo remembered it vividly, as if it had happened only yesterday.

It wasn't a significant date. There was no special occasion to celebrate. But a year had passed nonetheless, and it held great significance to Kokushibo. For an entire year, Tanjirou had been safe, living a peaceful life. With each passing day, the boy was growing stronger and healthier, and Kokushibo couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and satisfaction, knowing that he was able to provide the little one with a safe and secure life.

The change in Tanjirou was subtle yet notable. His once very thin and sleepy form was no more, replaced by a more healthier and energetic one. It was clear that his improved diet and the lack of need to save energy due to poor nutrition was taking its toll. The boy was now always brimming with energy and joy, a stark contrast to the lethargic and sleepy state he used to be in. Kokushibo couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, knowing that the boy was thriving under his care.

And not once has Tanjirou ever held him back from doing his actual responsibilities as Uppermoon 1. Not once has Muzan been given an excuse to get rid of the young boy. Kokushibo couldn't help but smirk slightly at this fact. Tanjirou has actually never been a hindrance to his duties as Upper Moon 1. Not even once had Muzan been able to claim that the young boy was slowing him down or holding him back.

Every day played out the same way: Kokushibo and Tanjirou would spend the daylight hours in hiding to prevent him from getting burned, and during the night, the demon would disguise his demonic aspects so they could visit a village and Tanjirou could eat. During the nights, Kokushibo would also feed on humans, with Tanjirou still plugging his nose and averting his gaze from the corpses. And on certain occasions, Muzan would assign Kokushibo missions to complete.

This routine had continued for a whole year now, yet it never seemed to lose its effectiveness.

Tanjirou never once lost the bright and cheerful demeanor that he possessed. His every evening was filled with wide, gleaming smiles, joyous giggles, and curious glances at the world around him. Despite being exposed to the dark and dangerous nature of the demon world, the boy maintained his innocent and exuberant personality.

He couldn't deny the fact that Tanjirou possessed a level of adorableness that could possibly lead to someone's heart exploding from cuteness overload. The way the boy's eyes sparkled with curiosity, his innocent and gleeful grins, the way his nose would scrunch up when he was particularly happy or confused - all of it was just too endearing for the demon to handle.

Kokushibo had pondered, many many times, the possibility of Tanjirou becoming a demon himself, and what his potential Blood Demon Art might be related to. It was a curious and intriguing thought, as the Upper Moon considered the possibilities of the little boy's potential powers.

The thought of Tanjirou becoming a demon had been on Kokushibo's mind for a long time now, nagging at him relentlessly. He couldn't shake the thought, no matter how much he tried to ignore it. The possibility of the pure and innocent Tanjirou transforming into a blood-thirsty demon was both fascinating and terrifying to the Uppermoon.

In the past, Kokushibo had often caught himself analyzing the pros and cons of turning Tanjirou into a demon. On one hand, the benefits were clear. Tanjirou would gain immortality, feeding him would be much easier, and he may retain his adorable and innocent nature. But on the other hand, the cons were daunting. The possibility of Tanjirou's death, either by the hands of a Demon Slayer, Muzan, or the sun was a very real threat. There was also the possibility that the transformation would completely change Tanjirou, altering his sweet and cheerful nature.

However, the biggest con loomed over the transformation. The chances of Tanjirou surviving such a painful transformation were extremely slim, if not entirely impossible. After all, he was still a young and fragile child, and the transformation process could prove to be fatal. The thought of Tanjirou dying during the transformation weighed heavily on Kokushibo's mind, and it was one of the main reasons he had never seriously considered turning the boy into a demon.

Kokushibo mulled over the logistics in his head. It was true that the chances of Tanjirou surviving the transformation process would be higher if he were older. And if the boy were to become a powerful demon, he could possibly shape-shift his appearance into that of a child.The thought of Tanjirou's potential as a demon intrigued Kokushibo. He knew that the boy had a strong spirit, and with the right guidance and training, he could become very powerful. The Uppermoon couldn't help but wonder just how powerful Tanjirou could become...

But then, another thought crossed his mind. The idea of Tanjirou turning into a demon was indeed fascinating, but what would it mean for their relationship if that were to happen? Would Tanjirou still want to stay with Kokushibo as a demon? Would the boy still see him as a guardian, or as a mere comrade?

The memories of Tanjirou's accidental slip-ups - calling him "oto-san" in the past - came rushing back to Kokushibo's mind. The Upper Moon couldn't help but feel a pang of conflicted emotions. On one hand, it amused him greatly when Tanjirou would accidentally call him "oto-san," as it showed just how much the boy trusted and regarded him. But on the other hand, it also made him feel a sense of trepidation. If Tanjirou were to turn into a demon, would he still see Kokushibo as his father? Or would their relationship change?

Kokushibo's eyes softened as he looked down at Tanjirou. The boy was blissfully unaware of the Uppermoon's inner turmoil and continued to play with the strand of Kokushibo's hair, a wide and innocent smile on his face.

The sight of the young boy's carefree demeanor was a stark contrast to the heavy thoughts that were swirling in Kokushibo's head. It reminded him of the importance of cherishing the present moment and not letting doubts and fears consume him.

Kokushibo pushed aside his conflicting thoughts and focused on the present. His primary priority was the safety and wellbeing of the young boy in his arms, just as it had been from the beginning. He knew that Tanjirou's safety was the most important thing right now. Anything else, including the idea of turning Tanjirou into a demon, could wait.