Raised by the darkness ||Kny FanFic||

Chapter ten: Rises the Moon

Kokushibo had been in the middle of listening to Tanjirou babble about birds (and learning about the fact that apparently Tanjirou could understand birds) when he heard the sound of a biwa string being plucked.

Kokushibo paused as the sound of the biwa string filling the air, signaling the opening of a portal to the Infinity Castle. He knew what it meant, that he was being summoned by Muzan.

As he glanced down at Tanjirou, he felt a pang of guilt at the thought of leaving the child alone once again. He knew the boy would be safe, either in a nearby village or in a hidden spot, but he still couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at leaving him behind.

However, this time Kokushibo didn't have enough time to leave the little one behind. The shoji doors opened and Kokushibo had enough time to realize that either a new meeting or a new mission was about to happen. Then Kokushibo was standing inside the Infinity Castle with a very confused and startled Tanjirou in his arms looking around the place.

This had been the least expected thing, and Kokushibo was taken by surprise as he found himself standing inside the Infinity Castle with Tanjirou still in his arms. The young boy's confusion and panic were evident as he looked around the unfamiliar surroundings.

The Upper Moon felt a jolt of protective instinct surge through him as he realized that Tanjirou had been brought along with him. He held the child close, trying to reassure him with a soothing voice.

He couldn't go back into the outside world to place Tanjirou into a safe hiding spot. Kokushibo's thoughts raced as he realized that he couldn't take Tanjirou back to a safe hiding spot. The little one was now here with him in the Infinity Castle, and there was no escaping that fact.

He took a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check. The last thing he needed right now was his own worry and protectiveness overshadowing his duty as an Upper Moon.

If that were to happen, Muzan would make sure that it would not happen ever again.

Tanjirou looked around the Infinity Castle in confusion, his tiny hands clutching onto Kokushibo's kimono tightly. Kokushibo closed his eyes for a moment, his senses reaching out and searching the depths of the Infinity Castle. He could feel Nakime's presence nearby, the ever present sound of her biwa string being plucked. Muzan's presence was elusive, not yet arrived at the castle.

One by one, the other Upperm Mons began to be summoned. The situation was clear - a meeting was being called. Kokushibo's mind immediately began to prepare itself, and so did his grip on Tanjirou.

"Stay calm." Kokushibo told himself. "Tanjirou's precense in this meeting is surely done on purpose. Muzan-sama most likely wants to see if the boy won't be a distraction."

In the past he has been given enough time to place Tanjirou somewhere where the little one would be safe until Kokushibo was done. The fact that Tanjirou was brought with him today wasn't a mistake. It was intentional.

Kokushibo's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Upper 3, Akaza, getting riled up at Upper 2, Douma. This was nothing new. In fact, it was becoming quite predictable. Every time the two Upper Moons were in the same room, Akaza would get provoked and start a one-sided fight, while Douma blithely failed to grasp the fact that the other Upper Moon utterly despised his guts.

As Kokushibo watched the predictable scene between Akaza and Douma unfold, he couldn't help but inwardly roll his eyes at their childish behavior. Over 130 years old, and yet they acted like bickering children. In comparison, Tanjirou, a mere five years old, displayed far more maturity and composure in his actions and behavior. The irony was almost comical.

As the two Upper Moons continued their childish bickering, Tanjirou's attention was pulled towards them. The young boy stared at Akaza and Douma with a mixture of confusion and curiosity, his innocent red eyes wide as he took in the chaotic scene unfolding before him. Meanwhile, Kokushibo watched silently, his expression unmoving but his mind already tired of the routine behavior of the two demons.

The other Upper Moons present did not lift a finger to stop the ongoing fight between Akaza and Douma. Upper 4, Hantengu, cowered in fear, too afraid to intervene. Upper 5, Gyokko, had learned from experience that it was better to stay out of it, most likely fearing that his precious pot would get damaged. Meanwhile, Upper 6, Daki, simply sat on the edge of a platform, watching the spectacle with an amused expression, clearly enjoying the free entertainment.

The chaotic situation continued, with Akaza and Douma still locked in their one-sided fight. Yet, amidst the chaos, Tanjirou remained quiet and calm in Kokushibo's arms. Kokushibo glanced down at Tanjirou, a hint of approval in his gaze. The child was much better behaved than the two Upper Moons currently brawling like children.

And no Kokushibo definitely didn't feel a hint of pride at seeing how well-behaved the little one was.

Normally, Kokushibo wouldn't bother paying much attention to the squabbles and fights between the demons lower than him. However, it was incredibly infuriating to see how easily Akaza caused disorder within the ranks. The ranks existed for a reason: to reflect the strength and status of each Upper Moon. For Akaza to disregard all of that and continuously challenge Upper 2 was blatant disrespect, and it was starting to get on Kokushibo's nerves.

Luckily Akaza seeminly had enough of bashing Douma's skull against his fist and he turned to look at Nakime. "Biwa woman! Where's Upper 1?" Akaza questioned.

"I summoned him first." Nakime answered.

The other Upper Moons, not including Hantengu who was too afraid to look at anyone in the room, turned their attention towards Kokushibo. Their eyes snapped to look at Kokushibo who stood on a platform a bit away. Then they all immediately spotted Tanjirou. Most of their expression showed either confusion or irritation at seeing a human child, though Douma simply kept his unusually cheery smile on his face.

Tanjirou tensed up when the attention turned towards him and the little one buried his face into Kokushibo's kimono.

As Akaza was about to ask about Tanjirou and the situation, Kokushibo sensed a change in the atmosphere, indicating that Muzan had entered the scene. In response to the shift, Kokushibo spoke up. "Muzan-sama has arrived..."

The arrival of Muzan silenced any further questions, and the air in the room turned serious. The other Upper Moons, although curious, refrained from asking further questions. They fell onto a bowing position and waited for Muzan to speak.

Muzan's gaze flickered towards Tanjirou for a brief moment, but he said nothing about the child's presence. Instead, he proceeded with the meeting, addressing the assembled Upper Moons and launching into his usual tirade of expectations and commands. Throughout the meeting, Tanjirou continued to cling to Kokushibo's kimono, his face buried in the fabric. Meanwhile, Kokushibo did his best to appear as calm and composed as always, carefully monitoring Tanjirou and the reactions of the other demons around them.

Finally, the long and often tedious meeting came to a close. Muzan departed without saying a word, leaving the Upper Moons to their own devices. Tanjirou remained in Kokushibo's arms, still tightly clinging to his kimono. The atmosphere in the room had shifted again, and the other demons just stared, unsure of what to do with the child present.

Seeing how Muzan had left the meeting without any further comment about Tanjirou, it was evident that the boy had passed the test. This brought a slight sense of relief to Kokushibo, knowing that the Demon King had no apparent reason to eliminate the child. As a result, Kokushibo couldn't help but feel a bit more relaxed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.