DISCLAIMER: THIS WORK IS IN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY CANNON TO DEMON BRIDE AND IS NOT AN ENDING. IT IS A WHAT IF IDEA THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE FUN TO WRITE. PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND GOING FORWARD.
WARNINGS: One innuendo and mentions of pregnancy.
The world was a quiet place today. Just alone with his thoughts and own work.
Widdle. Widdle. Widdle.
It was a rarity that nothing was planned for him today. No work. No responsibilities. No training. No plans. Just whatever he wanted to do today. Which again was rare but not unwelcome. He never did like being left unoccupied for too long however so it would be the perfect time to get the project he wanted to do done. Everything shall go precisely as planned.
Widdle. Widdle. Widdle.
No sounds except for the light bird chiros and the small movements of his hand held knife against the wood. The calloused hands continued their own work pushing the carving tool against the wood slicing off piece after piece little by little with precise knowing strokes. The small pieces falling onto his lap or bouncing off his legs to join the others on the floor.
Widdle. Widdle-
...Ah. There she was.
STOMP. STOMP. STOMP. STOMP.
He didn't even bother looking up as the angry footsteps approached. He knew she was coming towards him long before he even heard her. The force behind the angry footfalls for told the approaching woman's anger but again he was expecting that from the start. He felt no fear as the floor thuds stopped directly behind him. Not even bothering to stop his woodworking.
"REALLY!?"
"You have arrived...I was honestly expecting you..sooner." A hand brought up the tiny wooden piece to a maw holding a jawful of fangs. A breath blowing away any small pieces of wood splinters.
"Do you want to explain a few things going on?"
He finally bothered to turn his head slightly. Standing above him was a woman. Purple eyes staring down at him. Her pretty face brought a fragrance of hydrangeas with her, a familiar scent that calmed his senses. Her expression was one of annoyance which he had been expecting.
"What ever do you mean?"
"Oh don't play games with me." She frowned more before pointing at his face. "I wanted something specific from the kitchen for breakfast today and I was denied but I was given options. Options from a diet plan I was told YOU put into place for me."
"Oh yes. That. ...You are correct." His eyes turned back to the work in his hands-
"Kokushibo, don't you ignore me!" You marched around to stand in front of him as he continued working on whatever it is he was doing. "That's not the only thing you've decided to go out and do! I also found out from Akaza that you ordered him to stop training me for the next ten months!"
"Correct...Hand to hand combat is dangerous...for your body right now...It could put stress on you...or you could get struck in the stomach ...and I won't allow that."
"THAT MAKES NO SENSE!! I also found out that you placed Kaigaku in charge of guarding me?!"
"I'd prefer you to have ..extra protection during this time."
"You scheduled me a doctor appointment for tomorrow without asking me?!"
"I need to be able to.. monitor your health."
"You assigned nannies to 'help me with the boy's?!"
"You'll need the extra help for them."
"...When did you stop trusting me?" You gave a desperate ask making the top pair of eyes turn to you but he didn't pause his work. "If I gave you a reason to doubt I can take care of myself let alone the boys then just...Tell me what I did wrong?" Your arms flopped to your sides. "What did I do to make you lose faith in me?"
"Nothing...You haven't done anything...to make me have that opinion of you... You're capable."
You again held your arms up with a major look of disbelief. "Then why all the sudden changes without telling me first? I'm not hurt and you just said I'm capable. If you think I'm pushing myself too hard, I'll try to fix it but you have to tell me why first."
"Hm... You're certain?"
"You're my husband. I didn't think there'd be secrets between us. Koku..." Hands reached out to grab his cheeks making him pause his work and turn up to your worried look. "You promised me no secrets or lies on your vows. Honor that."
There was was from him before he sighed through his nose. "As you wish..You would have found out...from the doctor tomorrow...anyways."
"Find out what?"
"You're two weeks pregnant."
Silence. He stared as your body just... paused as if you were in a picture perfectly frozen in time. Your eyes staring ahead of you at him. Mouth closed in a small line. His bottom eyes peeked down as he continued his woodworking unsurprised by your reaction. There was silence still as you remained still... eventually you opened your mouth slightly-
"Twins", he answered matter of factly, "Both male."
You just sat there..your brain spaced out and there was a ringing in your ears as you blanked. Your thousand mile stare finally slowly refocused. You only managed to yell out one word. "WHAT?!"
"You're two weeks pregnant..Twin boys. I just...told you that."
"I-I JUST-...YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!" Your hands pulled back as your eyes shot down to your middle. It didn't even look like anything changed. You didn't even feel any different or...or... ANYTHING!!! "YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING WITH ME?!"
"I never jest... Especially with something so serious."
"HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW!? IM SUPPOSEDLY PREGNANT AND I DON'T LOOK ANY DIFFERENT THAN I DID LAST MONTH!!"
"I have explained how my transparent world...vision works...Have I not?" You froze as finally all his eyes looked at you seriously. Oh..You forgot about that. "I took the proper... precautions early..to avoid any headaches or danger...later. I was serious when I said...I would take care of my remaining..family."
You only stared.. before you slowly looked back to your middle and a hand shakily pressed against your stomach...still didn't feel any different. "...How did this even happen?"
A hand quickly pressed against his mouth as your face went beat red. "IT W-WAS A RETORICAL QUESTION!!"
He only made your face burnt hotter by reaching up to hold the hand over his face and press a kiss to the palm. "Yes ...But the end results are welcome."
You sputtered like a fish before just groaning and resting on your knees. For a moment neither person spoke as you rubbed your face and he held your hand to his cheek. "..... How long have you known?"
"Three days...I had a hunch and confirmed...it. I figured you didn't know and wanted...to make preparations first."
"Does anyone ELSE know?!"
"Only you and I...I've told no one else yet."
That relieved you at least but then a wave of dread hit you as a thought popped up. "Oh good gods...What are the boys going to think?"
"Our children will no doubt be quite...happy... Yuichiro however will be stubborn in the beginning...but with time he will come..to terms."
Rui and Muichiro would be excited for this especially with Rui bouncing off the walls becoming a big brother...But..You gave him a slightly worried look with narrowed eyes. He seemed to instantly know what you were thinking about.
"I will not favor these children...over the previous three," he spoke with assurance. "As someone who has..had a childhood plagued with... segregation I will not subject any..of them to that."
You sighed in relief instantly turning your head down..but paused noticing something that you didn't see before. There was four cylinder shaped pieces of carved wood on the opposite side of Kokushibo's lap. All perfectly aligned in a row. Except these weren't just ordinary sticks. The tops were widdled to a semi point and there was a series of holes carved in a series down their spines revealing the hollowed insides. You stared at them before turning your head and finding a dagger and the makings of a fifth hollowed stick in his lap. Slowly you blinked before pointing them out.
"Kokushibo. Are you making...flutes?"
"Yes. I am...nearly finished with the set."
You looked back to him bewildered. "Why?"
"Gifts for our children." He finally released your hand to reach down and remove the dagger and almost finished flute From his lap despite your surprised look. "I had one...as a child..I intend to pass that tradition on."
You stared at him more .. before smiling. "Aw.~ Really? That's so sweet of you...But all of this aside.." You gave him a stern look. "I'm going to continue what I've been doing so far."
"You will not stress..your body."
You made to stand pulling one knee up. "I won't stress myself out but you can't just stop me-" A hand grabbed your wrist and yanked before you could even blink. "EEP!!"
You gasped out as you were pulled forward, and in a second you found yourself placed in Kokushibo's lap with his strong arms cradling you to his chest. The redness in your cheeks was back instantly as he chuckled.
"Just did."
"Y-YOU CHEATED!!" You casted a glare up at his smile. "I wish you would S-S-Stop doing things without telling me you know!"
"Agreed. ...That is why I did not make... arrangements for a nursery yet..That will be a joint decision."
"Well thank you for that." You deadpanned looked at him despite the red in your face and crossed your arms. "Is there anything else you did I should know about?"
"I have thought of names ...for the boys." You blinked and would've shouted at him again if he didn't suddenly gently touch the right side of your stomach staring at it as if he could see something you couldn't. You blinked at jumped slightly at the gentle touch. "Michi." You blinked as his hand moved to the other side. "Yori."
"Michi and...Yori?" Your rose a brow before looking back at him. "You named one of our sons after you and didn't ask me first? I don't dislike it but you could've at least.." You paused..."Wait.." You narrowed your eyes. "Yori??...As in-"
"Do not say it-"
"Yorichii."
Kokushibo visibly paused...and his eyes looked away. ".... Perhaps we should rethink the names-"
"Nope! Too late!" You smirked. "Mama's decided she likes those names. Their nicknames can be Mi-Mi and Yor-Yor.~"
"Stop."
"Aw. Don't tell me Mi-Mi senior is mad. I think it's cute.~"
(Just picture what your quadruplets look like as in the pic below. I don't know the artist or anything else I found image on Pinterest.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WORK IS IN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY CANNON TO DEMON BRIDE AND IS NOT AN ENDING. IT IS A WHAT IF IDEA THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE FUN TO WRITE. PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND GOING FORWARD.
Warnings: Karaku IS his own warning. Possibly some innuendos.
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Chaos. Noise. Loudness. About as much destruction as you could imagine with four noise makers running around everywhere.
And no. It wasn't them this time.
"Grandpa, tell us again how Papa Sekido got his head stuck in the vase!"
"That story again? You make him retell it ALL THE TIME!!"
You could only sit there and watch amused at the unknown chaos unfolding. But then again that was the regular thing for this family of yours. You barely paid attention to the red eyed boy shooting a scowl to his nearly identical brother. Really the only difference was their attitudes and their eye color matching their colored kimonos. Your eyes only briefly looked up from the kimono you were attempting to sew back together, the tears accidentally left by Urogi's talons from rough housing with the boys again.
"Kido." Said red eyed boy looked at you. "If Kara wants to hear the story again then let him tell it. You don't have to listen if you don't want to."
Said eight year old pouted as his green eyed brother smirked in triumph. "That's not fair! How come Kara always gets to pick what we have to hear!? I want a turn to pick a story!"
You sighed again feeling a familiar fight bubble up but luckily the older man stopped any fight. "S-Stop fighting both of you. I won't t-tell if that's how you're g-g-gonna be about it."
That got both children to quickly shut up despite Kido pouting and crossing his arms. Well at least one problem was solved.
"He has a dam point! Why do you always have to hear about my embarrassment!?" Aaand here we go again as the older version of Kido glared angrily. "Why don't you ask him to explain how Karaku kept breaking things with his dam wind?! Or when Urogi kept crashing into a tree!? Something other than me!"
"Aw. C'mon, Sekido. It's just funnier when you're embarrassed.~"
"NO ONE ASKED YOU, KARAKU!!"
You again groaned and turned to two of the grown children. Sekido was glaring at Karaku from his place sitting as Karaku only smirked in a teasing manner no doubt amused by his daily task of filing up Sekido again. Gee. And you wondered where your kids got their dynamics from?
"Will you four keep it down? Rogi's,still napping and you four are gonna wake him up again."
You were getting really tired of their bickering now. It was getting really annoying and the stirring body slumped against your side gave you more of a reason. A third child identical to the first two slept soundly against your back exhausted from the amount of playtime initiated by Urogi earlier that day. Only difference between him and the first two was the yellow eyes hidden by the closed eyelids. It was a miracle your son hadn't woken up by the yelling from earlier. Either Rogi was a deep sleeper or he was so used by now to his fathers' and brothers' bickering that he could just sleep through it at this point. But you'd rather not have anymore yelling because of the upcoming headache that was threatening to make you rain your wrath upon the bickering adults.
"You're not having to live through the embarrassment daily-"
"You're giving me a headache, Sekido. So help me I'll wring you out like laundry and hang you up on the coat wrack." The red eyed man quickly shut up as you glared at him.
"A-All of you stop fighting. Y-Y-You're all scaring me with your fighting." Said older demon raised a shaking hand up to rub his head.
"Sorry, Mr. Hantengu."
Said protest seemed to end any and all arguments between Sekido, Karaku, and their little mini mes as Rogi just continued to snore away noisily at your side blissfully unaware of the daily arguments between your kids and their fathers. Sigh. You definitely had your hands full didn't you? Speaking of which..You were wondering where your other two children and their fathers were? Urogi and Aizetsu had taken Zetsu out for some quiet time away from his other rowdy brothers and they had been gone for a few decent hours. Rui was still out too so you were starting to wonder where he was too. As if the universe answered your questioning thoughts, the sliding door opened making all six of your heads turn to the door except for Rogi who still slept away.
"Heeeyy! Guess Who's Back! Did you miss us?," sang a familiar voice as none other than a harpy walked through the door. He waved one taloned hand at you while he held your fourth and final child in his arms clinging to him.
Aizetsu walked in right behind Urogi and silently closed the door behind him. Your brow rose not seeing Rui among them. Where was your oldest? "Where's Rui?"
"He and Zoha decided to train some more. They'll be back later," Urogi waved you off with a shrug before spotting the sleeping yellow kimono wearing child leaning against you. "There's my boy!"
Aizetsu blinked as Zetsu was quickly handed over to him and Urogi excited dove for Rogi- Only to land flat on his face when you quickly scooped up the sleeping boy away from him. Immediately two children and Karaku started cackling at the sight of Urogi dazedly looking up. Rogi being suddenly jostled tiredly blinked his yellow eyes open with a yawn.
"Urogi, be careful!", you scolded the harpy that looked up at you with a kicked puppy look. "You need to be careful with your talons! You could accidentally hurt him!" You cradled the boy in your arms. Seeing your face, Rogi opted to slot himself against your shoulder shuffling against you before tiredly closing his eyes again. You sighed. "You keep forgetting that."
"I only wanted to hold him," Urogi whined sitting up and pouting. "I would've been careful! I always am!" Your rose your brow at him. "...Ok. I'm careful MOST of the time!"
"Debatable."
"Mama!" A blue eyed boy quickly wriggled around until Aizetsu placed him down. Zetsu immediately ran over and threw his arms around your right side which you welcomed with a smile. "Did you miss me?"
"Yes I did." You smiled wider. "I'm also almost done patching up your kimono. You should have it back soon."
Blue eyes lit up at you in excited. "Really?!"
"Hey, Zetsu! Come sit!" Zetsu turned to where his brother beckoned him to join them. "Grandpa's gonna tell us a story!"
"Is it the one where Papa Sekido gets his head stuck in a vase again?"
"WHY CAN'T ANYONE JUST LET THE PAST LIE!? IT WAS ONE TIME!! JUST. ONE. TIME!!"
You only sighed as you felt another fight coming on.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WORK IS IN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY CANNON TO DEMON BRIDE AND IS NOT AN ENDING. IT IS A WHAT IF IDEA THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE FUN TO WRITE. PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND GOING FORWARD.
Warnings: Douma IS his own warning. Possibly some innuendos.
The cold silence pursed from a smile once faked and forced but now oh so full of life he never thought he'd ever be able to feel before now. Before he met HER. Sure the navigation was still rocky and if he was being completely honest, there was still a long way for him to go before he does make any one Hundred percent clear sense of it all.
"Let me get this straight. So you're upset that your fiance wants to call off the engagement but you say that because the engagement was made by her father that she can't call off the arrangements? But she says that because her father died it's not up to him or you anymore and she can break it off if she wants to?....Am I understanding this right?"
Emotions sure were tricky. Previously he could just sit down and listen to hundreds of rambles without being ....Annoyed? Yes. That was the new emotion he was now able to feel. Suddenly faking and mimicking everything became genuinely harder. Sigh. He really needed to schedule in more vacation days with Master Muzan and Kokushibo-...No. No. He'll ask Mistress Rei instead. She'll be more sympathetic to his requests. Meanwhile he was staring at a young couple in their early twenties sitting in front of him from his compound demanding that he help settle this annoying matter.
The man nodded firmly before pointing at him. "Yes. You even blessed this engagement yourself two years ago, Lord Douma."
"Oh riiiiight. I remember that." No he didn't. He blessed so many marriages and engagements and divorces that he literally lost count of them all at this point. He waved a hand and forcibly smiled wider. "Such a happy time."
"Not anymore. She wants to leave me to marry another man! Surely you can see that we're meant for one another! You blessed our marriage so surely the gods see that too right!?"
Oh gods it was one of these days. Sigh. The woman had remained mostly silent throughout this entire ten minute rambling and just stared surprised at his chest. Usually he'd be flattered but he was too annoyed with this to care. Instead his hand reached up to shift something further up on his chest.
"And has your fiance tried talking about this to you already?," he asked tilting his head. Platinum blonde locks of hair shifting with him. "Maybe she didn't even want this. Surely she's given her reasons."
"She has! But they're all nonsense! If she didn't want this marriage then she should've said so at the very beginning!"
The woman finally looked away from the thing on his chest and glared at him. "I DID!! But my father wouldn't listen! I wouldn't be engaged to a man like YOU otherwise!"
All the yelling was starting to not only annoy him but make a fuss of another. He couldn't deal with this anymore. He had an appointment to keep and he wouldn't be late because of a petty lovers' quarrel. So he smiled widely at them.
"I have a perfect solution for the both of you." Both instantly stopped and looked as he pointed at the man. "You're a young healthy man. I'm ordering you to consult my compound's matchmaker to find you a new engagement." The man looked shocked as he then pointed at the woman. "And you go marry whoever you want to. Now that that's settled, this meeting is now over!" He quickly stood up from the large comfortable pillows and plucked up a big bag with him. "Excuse me. I have an appointment to keep somewhere else."
"But-...B-But Founder!," the man called after him but he ignored it in favor of walking over towards the side door leading out of the room and to his private courters.
With his brisk legs it didn't take too long to step outside of the room and close the door behind him. A sigh of relief escaped his cold lungs as soon as he heard the door slide shut behind him. A chuckle to his left gave him another but smaller twinge of annoyance.
"Not easy to get through today's meetings, Sir?" Kaleidoscope rainbow irises turned to an older woman. Her wrinkled face smiled amused at the younger man. "You've been taking more breaks than usual."
For once in his life he frowned. "Your words wound me. I thought my top helper would know better than to criticize hard work." A hand reached up to pluck a hat from his head. "Cancel anything else for me this week. I'm leaving for the Infinity Castle for a bit."
"Another meeting with Master Muzan? Or .. perhaps something else more familial?" She chuckled waving a hand to the object on his chest making him frown (pout-) more.
"Neither! I'm simply on my way to see my wife!" He finally smiled lighting up more. "My Happy is surely expecting me as we arranged it in advance."
He was so happy to finally get out of there for a while and ask (pester-) Nakime into teleporting him to the Infinity Castle or more Specifically the Dwell. It felt like a breath of fresh air as he stood in front of the familiar giant home one sound of a biwa strum later. He was happy to practically skip up to the door that instantly opened and a servant greeted him. But he paused seeing the object he carried with him... Before turning away to hide a snort. He rose a brow..but didn't bother with him to just skip a long... However he did notice all the amused or awestruck faces he got as he walked along the fancy corridors.
This had been going on for the entire month. Why wasn't anyone taking him seriously!?
He frowned(pouted-) and continued along with the bag in hand until he came across a familiar corridor and briskly walked faster Until he stopped in front of the door smiling wider then ever. A hand reached up and knocked loudly on the fancy oak wood door loud enough to echo throughout the hall. It did not take too long for him to get an answer.
"Come in," a woman's voice called from within.
He wasted no time sliding the door open fast enough to almost slam it open and practically jump into the room locking onto a woman inside. "Oh my darling, Lotus Bloom!~"
You lazily rose a brow and looked up at the tall demon in the doorway closing the book in your hands. "You're three hours late."
Douma ignored you dropping the bag in his hands and persisted in rushing in, dropping to his knees next to you, and affectionately grabbing your hand in his hands. "My Angel.~ My light.~ My colors.~ My Happy!~ Oh how I missed you so!"
"It's only been a month," you deadpanned.
He ignored that in favor of pressing his head against yours. "I was so loooonly without you. I wanted my wife so baaaaaad. I missed you so much!" A pucker of his lips followed as he puckered up and leaned in for an obvious kiss but stopped when a hand pressed against his mouth and pushed him back.
"You're over dramatizing things again, Douma. What took you so long? We agreed on a time and you promised to show up then."
He pouted again. "It wasn't my fault! My meetings take up so much time! Oh Y/n! Everyone's been so mean to me all month! They all keep looking at me like something's funny and no one's taking me seriously! I don't know why!" He whined.
You rolled your eyes before holding up a hand. "Maybe THIS is why." Your finger wiggled and was instantly snatched up by a chubby little hand.
Douma blinked before looking down at the platinum blonde haired infant strapped to his chest. His son giggled again and stared at you both with eyes of different shades of blues and purples. ".....Oh. Why would they be amused by this?" He gestured to himself. "I'm a good daddy! I always make sure he's with me."
You finally snorted amused. "Well seeing someone intimidating like you just walking around with a cute chubby baby on your chest would make you look a bit funny."
He pouted harder. "I'm a good dad!" He retorted crossing his arms. "I take care of, Lotus. And spend time with him! I'm good at daddy-ing!"
You again snorted at his choice of words and finding it easy people would be amused by his attitude on top of being a new dad but you both were still getting used to the custody arrangement. Douma can't be here all the time because of his duties and you didn't want to live in his compound, and you weren't going to force Rui to live there with his dislike of Douma already and his old family there. So you two formed an arrangement. You'd both take turns taking on Lotus until he can decide where he'd rather live once he was old enough. Each of you taking him for an entire month until the last day where you switched. It'd been five months now and so far it seemed to work out fairly well for everyone aside from Douma's pouting. You two hadn't made a big deal of telling a lot of people about Lotus yet still getting used to it so it was a bit surprise for a lot of people to find out that Douma was suddenly a father.
You patted his cheek peeking him back up instantly. "Yes you are. And people finding you cute being a dad isn't a bad thing. It just means they know you're doing the best you can."
He smiled leaning in closer as Lotus cooed mindlessly. "Yes...So where is the young one?"
"He's training with Akaza today. Although I think they'll be back soo-"
You didn't even get to finish talking before the door slid open again and you both looked up. Both of you met the eyes of Akaza and Rui. No doubt Akaza had come to bring Rui home. All four of you stared silently at one another awkwardly before Douma sat back up to wave a hand excitedly at the link haired demon with a big grin. Akaza's eyes bugged out of his skull seeing the cooing baby strapped to the blonde's chest. He stared before looking at you, then at the baby, then at Douma, and then at the baby again.
"Hi, Akaza-dono! Did you finally come to see your best friend's son!? I'm AMAZING at daddy-ing!"
Akaza looked utterly, clearly, absolutely, so matter of factly, terrifyingly so, so, so, so HORRIFIED. "Oh dear gods no. THEY'RE MULTIPLYING!!"
DISCLAIMER: THIS WORK IS IN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY CANNON TO DEMON BRIDE AND IS NOT AN ENDING. IT IS A WHAT IF IDEA THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE FUN TO WRITE. PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND GOING FORWARD.
Warnings: Douma IS his own warning. Possibly some innuendos.
If you get the references for Gyu's kiddos you get a cookie.
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How did his life come to this again? He wasn't exactly sure himself...
He certainly wasn't expecting to be sitting here cradling such a small life in his arms. A small perfectly wrapped up combination of blue blankets. A small head nestled outside of them. The small defenseless thing completely asleep to the cruelties of the cold world. Little breaths taken as he knew nothing but slumber despite the messy curls of green locks threatening to accidentally get sucked into the open mouth. A small innocence in the chaos of the man holding him-
"Ni,Ni! Gyutaro, you're not balancing his head up right." A blue nailed hand reached over to push his elbow up higher cradling the infant's head. "Here. You're supposed to hold a baby's head leveled with or higher than their feet. Try this." He let go and rainbow eyes smiled happily at the slightly scared man in front of him. "There you go! I knew you could do it!"
"How do you even know so much about holding babies?" Sickly yellow eyes blinked at the more colorful ones.
"I hold them all the time to bless the newborns and welcome them to the compound."
He didn't question that but the yellow eyes turned to the other infant Douma held in his arms. A mirror image of the son he held only his daughter had a black splotach pattern across her cheek. His scared him at first that one of his offspring had been born with such a marking but found comfort in that her only marking looked so much like a flower unlike the ones that lined out his own body. They were beautiful. Just as he had hoped they would be. Relief flooded him, but with newborns it always was very stressful to handle. Twins were even more of a stress. He was grateful for the constant helping hand of the more experienced Upper Moon.
"Scary Dad!".
Both men's heads turned to a familiar sight. Ah. The white haired boy. Rui walked in ignoring the obvious presence of Douma in favor of walking right up to the skinnier upper moon. His pale hand holding the hand of his one year old brother and technically Gyutaro's firstborn son. The toddler toddled along being led by the eleven year and stopped when Rui did as his older adopted brother looked at Gyutaro.
"Douma and I want to go outside and play. May we?," the spider child asked him.
Douma's smile got incredibly wider from right across from Gyutaro and Rui frowned. Yeah...In hindsight maybe it wasn't a good idea to name his firstborn after someone his eldest disliked but at the time he thought it was a good idea. Naming him after someone who practically raised him and Daki and got them so far in life...Douma was never going to let him live it down however. Always bragging about being 'Grandpa Douma.' The toddler next to him only blinked up with big blue eyes and unruly black hair covering his face.
"No...I'm exhausted trying to watch all of you." Rui pouted and Douma looked at his older brother... before mimicking his pout. He could call it cute if he wasn't so busy trying to watch four kids under the age of twelve. "You heard me. Is Daki back yet?"
His sister had INSISTED on giving Y/n a girls' night out saying that 'she needed a break from mother duties for a bit' and 'he could use a day bonding with his kids.' No way he was ready to handle watching four kids with three being a toddler and two infants yet. Thank the gods Douma was always willing to help him with anything he needed.
In his own words saying, "If you ever need or want any help, just know that you can come to me. I've dealt with many children in my compound and there's many other parents and midwives that would be more than welcome to help teach you."
He definitely has taken up his old mentor's offers of help more than once even if Y/n didn't Always like him spontaneously dropping by Upper Moon Two's domain for surprise visits. But she relented seeing how much he was still struggling with the life of being a new dad.
"Then can I hold Ume or Yushiro?" He held up his hands towards him and the infant he held with newfound awe. "I barely get to hold them anymore."
He sighed. "Fine but sit down and do it. And be careful!"
"I'm always careful!"
Despite him raising a brow he rolled his eyes and relented, gently sliding Yushiro out of his hold and into the awestruck arms of Rui who perfectly cradled him from hours of practice by his mother and plopped himself down right there in front of them. A big smile on his pale features. Hm..Well he'd admit the kid was a pretty good big brother. Douma followed Rui's motions like before and also mimicked him plopping down only to tumble over on accident and then giggle at his mishap like any happy one year old would. Despite himself the actions of the children made him huff and smile the slightest bit-
"Uh oh. Did someone wake up from her nap?," Douma's voice cooed and it made him look over. In his distraction his daughter had woken up and up on seeing that it wasn't her father, mother, or older brother holding her had started to kick up a fuss in Douma's arms. Whining and moving her limbs under the blankets. "Aw. Someone's cranky. Looks like someone wants Daddy."
"Wait. What?"
He didn't even get a chance to say anything else before the smiling blonde was already hoisting the fussing girl out of his arms and plopping her right into a slightly panicked Gyutaro's whom practically froze when the squirming infant was suddenly in his hold. Ume continued to move around making whined of protests before looking back up and pausing meeting his usual terrifying face. She slowly paused seeing him and both just stared at one another for a long moment before the derpy chubby face gave a lopsided smile at him followed by a giggle. Something warm swelled up in his chest and she was held closer to himself.
"Do you need help there?"
".....No." He smiled. For once in a very long time in his long, hard life. A sense of domestic normalcy and pride only he could have. "I'm fine."
DISCLAIMER: THIS WORK IS IN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY CANNON TO DEMON BRIDE AND IS NOT AN ENDING. IT IS A WHAT IF IDEA THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE FUN TO WRITE. PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND GOING FORWARD.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The 'What If' chapters are not cannon. Every other chapter that isn't labeled a 'what if' chapter is. These 'What If' characters are also probably going to be pretty short. Sorry if this is so short. Working on some things while trying to write the next chapter of Monster Bride and irl things. Thanks to everyone for understanding and the patience you've all given me for these Demon Slayer Works.
If you can guess the references of the triplets names you get a cookie.
The sounds of the day's rain went by dripping down the roof and flowing down into the soft earth. Slow footsteps approached the front door of the simple home wet and stained with mud by the outside of the home. Without alerting anyone inside, the figure slunk inside the sliding door making a soft click behind them. There they stood for the longest time before shaking much like a dog the cold droplets expelling from his body and scattering them about the house before the man stood there. Silence creeping in before a hissing breath was sucked in through hissing fangs, his powerful lungs expanding for the task at hand-
"I'M HOME!"
The loud voice bounced off the walls and echoed throughout the home in waves carrying the voice all throughout the home until it faded away. There was silence for a long moment until little squeals and a fast approaching small pair of footsteps rapidly approaching from the left. His blue ear twitched and he turned to the right as a white blue came peeling around the corner. Bright smile on his face and rapid running towards him.
"FATHER, FATHER, FATHER, FATHER!!," the younger form chanted excitedly arms up in the air.
He kneeled down with a gigantic smile, arms out, and easily caught the white haired boy as soon as he was close enough. Standing rapidly he threw him up in the air as proud as a father like him could be. The younger form erupted in laughter at the affection given to him.
"There you are! I was thinking you had forgotten all about me! Oh you've grown so much since I last held you in my arms!" His smile softened the more he stared at the smiling child. "Are you sure you're the real Rui?"
"It's me, Father!," Rui cheered smiling widely enough to Expose his teeny but sharp fangs. "I've been training hard everyday!"
He couldn't help but smile fondly at the child before maneuvering Rui to be held on a hip before walking his way up a hall. "Is your mother in the kitchen?"
Of course he already knew the answer to that. From even before he stepped inside he could smell the faint smells of roasting fish along with strong spices and other vegetables. Judging by the shuffling noises and the tiny trolls and cries, his oldest wasn't the only one who was awake. But of course the boy nodded happily at him.
"Yeah! You're just in time for dinner, Father. Mother's making roasted fish." He then proudly puffed out his chest and pointed at himself. "I caught it myself in the lake this morning! It was this big!" He chuckled as the child stretched his arms out as wide as they could go.
"Oh wow. That big huh? Then we'll be eating good tonight. I'm so proud of you for providing so well for us." His oldest awed as he offered soft praise. He was proud. His boy was growing stronger, and stronger every day. He'll be a good man once he was all grown up. "I can't wait to see the beautiful dinner you caught us."
"I can show you how I caught it!," Rui immediately offered excitedly grabbing his shoulder. "And then we can go hunting and fishing together!"
"Deal! I have the next two weeks free from Mistress Rei, so we'll go hunting everyday if that's what you want-"
"YES!!" He didn't even get to finish his sentence before Rui was happily beaming at him. "Yes! I'd like that a lot! And I can show you how strong I became and how smart I got! And you can read all my new books and-"
"Whoa. Slow down there l, Son." He smiled at the excitement of his oldest approaching the doorway now leading to the small kitchen. "I love you and I'll love spending time with you but I need to spend time with your sisters and brother too. And your mother. Ok?"
The boy pouted but nodded. "Oh alright. But we're going hunting together!"
There was another chuckle as the child was slipped from his hip and safety put on the floor just as they reached the doorway and already a figure had their hands on their hips and looking at them. "But first things fi-"
He was cut off by a small group of squeaky coos and squeals from the left of the kitchen caught his attention. The squeals reacting to the sounds of his voice. He paused looking at the woman who rose a brow at him in a 'really' look and he chuckled as the squeaky voices calmed down upon not hearing him anymore.
"Oh my. I wonder WHO THAT could be?" His smile grew with each excited squeal from the left of the kitchen. Faking a curious hum he tapped his chin and waited for the new coos to die down. "I wonder if it's my babies. Where's the babies?" With a smile he quickly lean forward finally showing himself and smiling. The loudest little excited shrills came out. "*GASP* There you are!"
The warmth the kitchen provided gave the perfect safe feeling to set up the play pen. A few toys were seen stationed within a long with three tiny handmade futons. A perfect little safe haven for a child to rest under the watchful eye of their mother and father. But it wasn't the toys or beds that drew his attention. It was the bobbing motions of three pink haired babbling squealing infants. All three pairs of purple eyes locked onto him as soon as he made his presence known. The first to squeal loudly was the boy followed by his sisters. The trio of tots squealed out and babbled and waved their teeny hands about as their father stepped in ignoring the woman giving him a deadpanned look, he went straight for them with open arms. Sliding to his knees and easily reaching inside to them. His hard calloused hands were soft and gentle as they caressed his little ones.
His little ones. His beautiful children. His family. His boys will grow up being the strongest. His daughters the most beautiful. He could feel it so as they happily filled in the spaces in his empty arms. One by one. Bring held against the warmth of their father's calming body.
"Keizo. Amaryllis... Koyuki." Each squealed babbling about in reaction to their names before he just nuzzled into them. He couldn't help it. They were so precious to him. "We're you good for mommy while I was gone?" Keizo squealed being the closest enough to touch his nose. "Did you get to sleep today?"
"They were asleep until you woke them up with your yelling." A lady's voice behind him made him turn to look at the woman before she sighed. "I JUST got them to sleep, Akaza. It took me HOURS with the thunder and lightning scaring them. And..and ..Why are you wet?"
He chuckled again and stood still holding the three cooing infants and having Rui holding onto his pants leg also seeking attention. He smiled widely at her. "Sweetheart. Honey, Im sorry." He loved how beautiful she looked when pouting like that. It was cute. Although he'd never disrespect her by saying so. "I was so excited to see you all that I forgot it was raining outside."
"You tracked water into my house." She pointed out the water trail at his feet.
"I'll go dry off immediately and clean it up." Little babbles made his attention go back to the four young children. "Well... Maybe not immediately-"
"Oh no you don't." She immediately stepped forward to reach out and grab Amaryllis from his arms. The chubby girl cooing in curiosity as she was picked up and settled in her mother's arms instead. "You're gonna get them wet and you'll give yourself a cold. I don't need to worry about a sick husband and three infants."
He chuckled at her as she plucked them all one by one from him and sat them back down in the play pen much to their babbling protests. He didn't fight it. She was right as usual. He should go dry off. If he got sick, then he'd be no use to anyone. But he did want to do one thing before he left. She paused as he gently grabbed her hand and brought it to press it against his cheek with a soft purr from his throat.
"I missed you so much. Your touch..I forgot how soft and warm you are. And I can't ever forget about how beautiful you are too....Y/n, I'm sorry I took so long on my last trip."
You blinked before sighing and finally smiling. "It's alright. I'm just happy you're home safe and sound. How did it go?"
He groaned."I had to stop so many men from taking unwilling brides. I swear I hate January."
"Well I'm sure all those girls appreciated it." He froze as she leaned forward and a soft kiss was placed on his mouth before she pulled away just as quickly. "Now go clean up. You're probably hungry and I can't wait to spend time with my husband."
A caress to his frozen cheek had him blushing a deep red and sent a shiver down his spine from the effect she had on himself. But he smiled nonetheless. Because this was his family. His happiness. His world. Precious to him. To love and cherish. And he'll ensure everything is safe. And loved.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WORK IS IN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY CANNON TO DEMON BRIDE AND IS NOT AN ENDING. IT IS A WHAT IF IDEA THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE FUN TO WRITE. PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND GOING FORWARD.
This is a little shorter than the others so I do apologize for that. But I promise it's still sweet all the same.
Scribble. Scribble. Scribble.
The light was always the one combating the darkness away. The blight fuming with hatred forever more from its pure enemy. No one shall ever again be harmed within the festering books of darkness. Until one dared to give gateway to the-
"Read me a story?"
The room was silent. Very silent. Nothing but the sounds of the quill scribbling against paper filling in the silence. Peaceful. Quiet. Unbothered. A perfect night for writing his own little world on paper. Until the door slid open and tiny feet toddled in stopping in front of him and a tiny hand poked his arm. A sigh escaped his mouth before red-blue eyes turned to meet smaller red-green ones and a pale complexion.
"Aren't you supposed to be in bed? It's already sun down."
The child shook his head. "I can't sleep. Can you read to me?"
He sighed. "Can't you ask your mother?"
"Don't be so mean, Kyogai." His eyes turned to the second adult figure in the room. You leaned against his back and held a half read book in your hands but reached one hand out to feel around for his hand. Finding it and then giving it a squeeze in return. "He just wants the attention of his father."
A sigh escaped the maw of the taller demon before squeezing the smaller hand back and dropping his quill. "Alright. But only one story. I want to at least get this first chapter written out before I half to go back to work tomorrow."
Rui happily ignored anything he said after 'alright' and just climbed into the bigger Demon's lap. Kyogai only watched him stumble around until settling down and shoving a thick hardback book up to his face. He took it from Rui and rose a brow at the title written on the cover. 'The Empress and the Frog and Other Tales.' Ah. He remembered this one. After all he DID write it. One of the more popular fairytales he published under the disguised name. He was surprised however that his own child would pick this one for him to read when his mother had already read it to him all the way through but if that's what he wanted then he'll indulge Rui. Whom was sitting there in wait looking at him expectantly. With another sigh the book was opened. Rui snuggling closer to his warmth as the words were exposed to their eyes.
"Once there was a young Empress who was the daughter of a powerful emperor. They lived in a prosperous country and ruled very well and were very good to their people. But the young Empress had one problem. She didn't always keep her word. One day the young Empress was playing in the royal garden near a koi pond with her favorite object, a golden fan given to her by her father-"
DISCLAIMER: THIS WORK IS IN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY CANNON TO DEMON BRIDE AND IS NOT AN ENDING. IT IS A WHAT IF IDEA THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE FUN TO WRITE. PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND GOING FORWARD.
Warnings: Rui has a nightmare, Rui, Kaigaku, and Y/n get blown away and crash-land in flashback.
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The Infinity Castle was always a place that rarely any humans would be graced to see even once in their short lifetimes. Oh how he reveled in that fact and the fact that HE had such high privileges even amongst other demons. And why shouldn't he be proud? He had everything going good in his life right now
He bested Enmu earning him the title of Lower Moon One. Earning him a higher rank. He was the one who could order all other lower moons. He obtained a powerful position all due to skill. Every lower person bowed to his strength. He had a high position. Respect. Power. Money. A beautiful badass fiance. Any luxury at a snap of his fingers. What more could he ask for? Why a day just between them of course. Just him and his woman. He didn't (beg-) ask Kokushibo for a day off just to waste it. It'd be nice to finally have a day off. Just him and his fiance-
"Thank gods you're here. I nneed you to watch Rui for me today."
His perfect fantasy for the day shattered in his hands as soon as the words tumbled out of your mouth and landed on his lap. Kaigaku had just arrived to the sight of you walking around frantically getting fancily dressed up. Ar first he thought that obviously it was for him, but any reality of THAT was also shattered.
"Ms. Rei invited me to hang out tonight," you said putting your hair up, "I think she wants to spend time with another woman that's in a similar position to her. You showed up just in time to help me."
"WHAT?!," he demanded with a scowl and pointed at you. "Aren't you forgetting that WE were supposed to go out sometime this month?! I had to ask Kokushibo Sensei for literally days before he let me have today off!! I didn't sign up to babysit the shrimp!"
You turned raising a brow at him deadpanned. "I remember but we didn't agree when we'd go out. You didn't even tell me you were coming until after I made plans with someone else."
"Then let me go with you! Problem solved!" It'd be annoying to go on a date while with the Master's wife and the shrimp but it'd be better than babysitting all day.
"No. I already made plans and it'd be rude to just invite people along. If you didn't want to come to this then next time give me a heads up. You ARE going to watch Rui for me today and THAT'S FINAL." He hissed in anger holding up his hands in frustration. "It's not going to be so hard. It's only for today and Rui's going to spend most of today in school anyways. So I'm only asking you to drop him off at school and watch him when he comes home. I should be back by then."
"Why do I fucking get roped into these things!?"
"Because you love me. Now come in. He's still asleep right now but he'll wake up soon. Just make sure he gets to school." You finished up with your hair before walking over to him and patting his shoulder as he scowled. "It's only for today. I'll talk Ms. Rei into giving us tomorrow together. Kokushibo won't argue with her. Alright?"
He scoffed rolling his eyes. "It's still annoying."
"I know. Just deal with it."
He bristled and lit up a bright pink when you gave a quick kiss to his cheek before just leaving. Leaving him standing there by himself with just the sleeping shrimp in the next room over. After a moment he just mumbled some curses and stomped over to plop himself in a nearby sitting pillow head in his hands. This couldn't be any worse- His ears perked up. His head turned. Blue-black eyes stared at a sliding door against the other wall slowly slide open. He blinked as a pair of red-green eyes timidly peered out from the other side. Kaigaku watched as a pale child shakingly gazed out and around the room before him. Tears lightly staining his cheeks.
"Ma-..M-M-Mama?'
The sky was close to him. The trees were below him but they were approaching faster and faster and FASTER. And there was no way for him to stop it! There wasn't anything to latch onto, no safety webs, and no one to hold his hand and stop his tumbling and twisting and turning. No sounds but the wind and no feelings but the panic in his heart.
He was going to die.
But...he just got a mother. He finally got someone else to notice him...HIM-him. Not -his father's heir' him. And as soon as those trees get close enough- That's it. No more stories. No more hugs. No more family. No more mother...No more anything. He couldn't regenerate from the damage this big of a fail would cause. His weak body could barely heal a cut within an hour. He would die before he even knew what happened. Why wasn't he born with a stronger body? If he was so special then why was he suffering so much? Why was everyone after him just to inflict pain? It wasn't his fault. All he ever wanted...All he ever asked for...Was someone to take notice...And tell him that-
A pale hand reached out to the moon getting smaller and smaller.
That everything would be ok.
A grey hand wrapped itself around that wrist and YANKED!! He found himself suddenly pulled against someone as black as night. A powerful arm pushing painfully against him pressing him further into something black breathing heavily. His fists clenched around the black fabric as he looked up into the one who was shielding him from the upcoming crashes. A pair of blue-black eyes gazed at him before the first crashes of branches caused the man to cry out.
"Yeah.. She's not here right now." Kaigaku wasn't sure what to respond with other than that seeing the sight of the small child trembling and standing in the doorway staring at him..Well..This was incredibly awkward. What the hell happened to the shrimp? Nightmare maybe? Dammit he had no idea how to navigate around kids!! This is why he didn't want to babysit! "Uh..Yeah. So go blow your nose or whatever. I'm dropping you off at school." He tried to just...push the awkwardness aside.
Instead of doing literally anything he said, the child laser focused on his form silently enough to make him squirm. The gaze he gave him felt as if he was looking directly into his soul. Creepy. What was he supposed to do? Baby him? Yeah. Not gonna hap-
"P-Papa."
"Hey, Shrimp! What's making you perish over there? Get up and follow me. We need to reach that town!"
Rui wheezed but managed to speak out between gasps. "Can't. My body's going in on itself again."
He stayed there wheezing and gasping for breath even as Kaigaku came back over and pressed a hand on his forehead. "You're running a high fever. Can you walk?" Rui wheezed and Kaigaku groaned. Rui blinked as something strong wrapped around his middle and a moment later he was pressed against a black coated back, held there by Kaigaku's tail. "Try not to get sick on me or else you're not being carried in comfort...And not a word of this to anyone! You hear me!? I have a reputation to keep!"
Rui didn't say a word but snuggled into his colder skin sighing in relief it have his hotter body.
"What? AH!!"
Kaigaku threw up his hands and bristled as a white blur suddenly rushed him. Latching onto his middle and burying his tear stricken face into his chest. The sudden hug forced onto him made Kaigaku squawk out a noise before just staring down at the boy frozen.
"I-I had a nightmare again," the shrimp sniffled against him wetting his coat with his tears, "I-I was falling t-through the sky...A-And I was g-g-gonna die ..and Y-You saved me. I love you, Papa."
Another glass shattering noise went off inside Kaigaku's mind as the utterly horrifying realization hit him. The shrimp for whatever reason...Had Imprinted on him.
".....Fuck my Life-"
Many looks were given to Lower Moon One as he stomped down the path towards a large menagerie of buildings together circling and constantly rotating. The school all demon children attended in this hellscape. However it wasn't the fact that a Kizuki Lord was present. It was the fact that he was a Kizuki Lord with a child happily holding onto his tail with a bright smile on his face. It was fucking embarrassing!! He told the shrimp to let go but he didn't, only gripping onto his tail hader. Many other parents and other children looked on in silent surprise or awe at the sight of him leading a child to school. He has to get out of here as soon as possible.
"Alright! We're here." He immediately stopped and turned to stare at the child still holding his tail. "Get going." Gods this was so embarrassing he felt his own reputation already crashing around him.
The small fry frowned at him. Why wasn't he going already? Rui stared at him before looking at the school, then at him again before both hands grabbed his tail now.
"Oh no! Absolutely not! You can go in there by yourself! I'm not pandering after you! And that's final!"
"Now class, today we're reviewing your knowledge on the great betrayal over two thousand years ago. Now who can tell me the name of the three generals that made the most impact against the war with humans?"
Kaigaku sat there awkwardly sitting in a chair too small for him and meant for a child to sit in. Many young children staring at him in awe despite the teacher's instructions. Next to his awkward form Rui calmly shifted to his book according to his teacher's orders like the obedient student he was. His tail resting on the desk next to his hand. He was never more embarrassed in his dam life! This was SO HUMILIATING!!! After a few more minutes he turned feeling the grip leave his tail as Rui wrote something on a piece of paper. Taking the chance he silently removed his tail from the desk and sighed as he finally got a break from the kid- Rui's hand reached over to feel the space on the desk where he left Kaigaku's tail. Patting around a few times he finally blinked and looked over noticing that the tail was gone. Kaigaku groaned as Rui just reached out of his chair grabbing the end of his tail again in one hand, and just went back to his studies like he wasn't holding onto him.
Screw his life.
"So...Did something happen while I was gone?"
He scowled hard at you as you smiled amused at the fact that Rui had STILL refused to let go of his dam tail this entire time. He'd literally went LITERAL HOURS just sitting in a classroom awkwardly being stared at by awestruck and confused kids as Rui held his tail and followed him around holding onto him refusing to let go for more than two minutes!! And even after quickly retreating back here to meet you, you were ungrateful enough to mock and coo at his embarrassment. CAN'T YOU SEE HOW MUCH PAIN HE WAS IN!?
"Papa spent the day with me," Rui answered busy with whatever assignment the teacher gave out AND STILL REFUSING TO LET THE HELL GO OF HIS TAIL!! Acting as if he wasn't holding onto Kaigaku with one hand.
"Oh? Is that so?" You gave him an amused look. "What a good deed 'Papa' did today.~" You cooed making him bristle and hiss.
"Don't patronize me, Woman."
"Papa. When are you going to give me siblings?"
Kaigaku gave out a louder flustered squawk as you snorted and started laughing.
