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Rating:
Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warning:
Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Category:
Gen
Fandoms:
鬼滅の刃 | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Anime)鬼滅の刃 | Kimetsu no Yaiba (Manga)
Characters:
Tsuyuri KanaoDouma (Kimetsu no Yaiba)Hashibira InosukeKotoha (Kimetsu no Yaiba)Kimetsu no Yaiba EnsembleTwelve Demon Moons Ensemble (Kimetsu no Yaiba)Original CharactersDaki | Ume (Kimetsu no Yaiba)Gyutaro (Kimetsu no Yaiba)Kochou KanaeAkaza | Hakuji (Kimetsu no Yaiba)Kokushibou | Tsugikuni Michikatsu
Additional Tags:
Alternate UniverseFluff and AngstCanon-Typical ViolenceCannibalismDouma is a Little Shit (Kimetsu no Yaiba)BAMF Tsuyuri KanaoDysfunctional FamilyBad ParentingDouma grabs Kanao instead of the Kochou siblingsAnd grabs Inosuke before Kotoha can chuck him off a cliffDouma: I'm not like a regular dad I'm a cool dadSwordfightingDubious MoralityConditioningKanao and Inosuke as siblingsBlood and GoreLoyaltyFamily Bondingno beta we die like the KamadosCultsTsuyuri Kanao-centricCanonical Character DeathHashibira Inosuke Being Hashibira InosukeTsuyuri 'if anything happens to my family I'll kill everyone in this room and then myself' KanaoPast Child AbuseMorally Neutral KanaoProtective KanaoVivisectionAnimal Abuse
Language:
English
Stats:
Published:2021-11-21Updated:2026-04-06Words:154,514Chapters:39/?Comments:1,970Kudos:3,614Bookmarks:794Hits:129,331
Iron and Ice
SkilledWarriorKiwi
Chapter 7: Hashibira
Chapter Text
"Pinky promise, pinky promise. Little bird, red bird, why oh why so red? Because it ate a red fruit. Little bird, white bird, why oh why so white? Because it ate a white fruit. Little bird, blue bird, why oh why so blue? Because it ate a blue fruit."
Dutifully Kanao wrote down the words as Kotoha sang softly to Inosuke. He'd been freed of the sling previously but that had resulted in him nearly escaping several times or nearly knocking over the ink stone or the vases or trying to climb all over Kanao, until Kotoha caught him and quickly bundled him up again. He moved very fast despite being a chubby baby that was only on all fours.
They were in a quiet room with the shoji doors wide open, looking out to a small tsuboniwa garden. The midday sun reflected off the little pond and occasionally Kanao could hear the faint splash from the koi. The trees were small and green, matching the moss lawn.
Kanao had written down the kanji for each item when Kotoha pointed out each object to her. Much like her master, Kotoha was full of praise for Kanao's diligence in getting the correct and she was pleased the lessons were going well.
"I know Douma-sama likes his lessons with you," Kotoha had said when she first appeared to take Kanao after a light breakfast. "But he's had a summon and must attend his meditation to listen to the gods and their wisdom. So I don't mind volunteering."
Kanao didn't mind. The commune was fairly subdued following the festival, even if she didn't remember what happened after she fell asleep. She hadn't even woken up when Kotoha had taken Inosuke back and her master had moved her to her rooms. She'd just woken up tucked in her futon.
Even the few people wandering about the commune the morning after seemed rather tired and groggy when Kotoha fetched her. Kanao felt much the same, a bit more sleepy than usual. She had liked the festival, especially when her master had taken her with him and she was allowed to hold Inosuke and watch the fireworks.
But Kotoha was bright and attentive as she ran through the list of things for Kanao to write down. There was the hint of dark circles beneath her eyes but the woman didn't show any sign of fatigue as she issued instructions.
"Alright, now how about your name?"
Kanao wrote down her name. She liked her name.
"Good! Now, how about mine and Inosuke's?"
Kanao wrote down the two names, attached together with their family name.
"Exactly! You're so smart. Now, how about Douma-sama?"
Kanao wrote down her master's name.
"Yes that's D- ah, wait, what's this kanji?" Kotoha frowned, leaning forward to squint at the paper.
Kanao looked down at it. She had written them correctly, she was quite sure.
However Kotoha looked slightly distressed as she spoke, "No, it's Douma-sama. That's his usual term of address, the honorific we use for him. Since he's to be respected and he leads us. Or he's addressed as the Founder. Gracious Founder, even."
Kotoha shuffled around until she could take the brush, quickly painting out the appropriate kanji next to Kanao's own writing.
"Like this," she said.
Kanao didn't understand. Since the master was the founder of Paradise Faith it meant he was the master of them all as well, since everyone obeyed him. She took the brush and painted down her master's name again.
"No, He isn't..." Kotoha's face creased even more as she read over the kanji Kanao had repeated, her body language becoming tense. Her hands anxiously patted down Inosuke's hair, where the baby was dozing against her chest. She sucked in a breath before saying, "He isn't our owner. That's what you-We aren't his property or pets. He...is that, is that how he found you? Someone owned you? You think Douma-sama owns you now?"
Kanao nodded. Her new master was much better than her last two ones.
"Oh, you poor thing. I knew something was horribly wrong."
A moment later Kotoha's arms wrapped around her, squashing her up against the woman's chest and Inosuke. The baby immediately stirred to full wakeness and she felt little fingers grab at her fringe as snuffly grunts sounded.
"Is that why you didn't eat at first as well? Because you thought Douma-sama would be angry?" Kotoha asked her as she leaned back.
Kanao thought about that. It was in part, but also she had not been given permission. But her master had told her she was free to eat when she was hungry, after they'd gone through several meals where she'd refuse to eat until he intervened. He told her the food within Paradise Faith was for everyone so if she was hungry she had his permission to eat at any time she wanted. The level of freedom made her wary but she did not disobey her master's orders. She ate each time she was given food, at each meal time. Eat until she was full, even if it was still mostly broths, stews and soups. And the mooncake, which had been tasty.
She nodded.
Kotoha looked even more distressed, "I'm sorry that happened to you. I escaped a terrible situation but I wasn't, it didn't start out like that. I didn't realize he must have taken you from such a place."
Kanao watched the woman carefully, unsure as to why she was so upset. Was it because she called their master that? It made no sense. He was their master. But he was a nice one who gave her food and baths and a bed, and Kanao was pleased.
"I know it must be hard," Kotoha said. "But Douma-sama doesn't own you. He isn't a slave owner. You aren't a slave here. He won't get angry with you. None of us will."
Kanao just continued to stare. She already knew the master wouldn't get angry. She spilled ink and he hadn't cared. Just thrown the ink at the wall and then gave her the hairpin. That was why she liked him.
Kotoha must have read something on her face, or overall bland expression, so after a moment she took a deep breath and, taking a fresh piece of paper, wrote down the master's name.
"See? You can just address him as this, yes?" Kotoha said, gesturing towards the kanji. "He isn't your master here. You don't belong to anyone. You can even ask him when he returns, I'm sure he'll explain it to you that you don't need to call him your master."
She looked down at the washi and the black characters painted upon it. Kotoha didn't seem to like it when she called her master exactly that. Did he want that other address? Would he be displeased if she called him master? She did not know. Then she remembered when her master had asked her if she would like Inosuke as a little brother. Did that mean he was like Kotoha, and wanted her to see them as family? One like Kotoha spoke of? Neither of them yelled or hit so she already liked them a lot better than her original family.
Kanao looked over at the other sheet of kanji where she'd written Kotoha's and Inosuke's name. After a moment she thought of her master's suggestion about Inosuke. This was what he would want, wouldn't it? He had the habit of giving orders as suggestions, or open ended that sometimes confused her.
After a moment of thought she reached out and took the washi and, as Kotoha watched, tapped on one of the characters.
"Hashibira is my maiden name, the one I had before I was married," Kotoha explained, seemingly relieved at the topic change. "I...took my husband's name. But when I left, I decided I don't worry that horrid thing attached to me any more. So I'm Hashibira Kotoha again."
Kanao looked down at the kanji as she thought over her master's words some more.
"Once, shortly after I arrived, my husband found me along with his horrid mother," Kotoha's grip tightened slightly around Inosuke, and she kissed his dark hair before saying, "Douma-sama protected me from them. He sent them on their way, told me I would never have to worry about them finding me ever again. Inosuke was only six months old when I ran, so I hope he won't ever have memories of that horrible time. He's my precious little treasure."
Still, Kanao had keen eyes. Even with the conversation of Kotoha coming to Paradise Faith, before the conversation over the master's address. Kotoha had seemed anxious. Was Kanao the reason? She did not want to ask the question in her mind if Kotoha was upset with Kanao. Was it from the festival, since Kanao held Inosuke for so long?
After a moment Kanao painted down a kanji in quick, neat strokes before pushing it towards Kotoha. She picked it up, squinting slightly as she read the characters. In the sling, Inosuke was chewing on a strand of her hair.
"'Upset'? Are you upset about something?" the woman asked.
Kanao shook her head before pointing at Kotoha.
"Oh. You think I'm upset ? I uh, well perhaps I am, just a little bit." Kotoha's smile faded, her expression becoming drawn as she stared down at her hands. "I'm sure it's nothing...I just haven't seen Kesai or Yura since the Harvest Moon festival. I'm just a tad worried. Especially since Kesai is pregnant, she is only a month from giving birth. I mean, I know it has only been a day but usually they help with the cleaning in the morning and I know Kesai went to bed early. I don't know, maybe they went down to the village at the base of the mountain for some things. But there could be bears or wild boars in the woods. Or maybe they talked to Douma-sama and...I might need to ask him. I don't know, it feels different this time. Like something is wrong."
Kanao stared. She didn't understand.
"Ah I'm sorry," Kotoha hastily flailed a hand, delicate features becoming flushed, "I'm must be fussing over nothing. But it has nothing to do with you! I'm not upset with you. I'm just over thinking other things and if I seem worried now, it's just because I'm upset at the things that has happened to you but please, I'm not angry or anything. I'm just unhappy that these things happen to people. Especially little babies like yourself. You deserve love, not being treated like that."
Kanao didn't think she deserved anything. That would be up to her master. Or however he wanted her to address him, she had not yet asked. She would do so in their next lesson. Paint down the kanji and see what he would say. Kotoha had not been happy but her master was the one that Paradise Faith belonged to.
But he had said that Inosuke could be her little brother. So maybe she should start there, so he would be pleased when she asked her next question.
So after a moment she dipped the brush upon the ink stone, and, after a brief pause, she painted down a new series of characters.
嘴平カナヲ
Kotoha leaned against her side, expression soft as she studied the kanji intently. Kanao wasn't sure if she should be nervous and silently set the brush aside before putting her hands on her knees.
"You don't have a family name do you?" Kotoha said softly, a sad tilt to her lips, "If you were...if your parents sold you. Do you even know your parents names?"
She shook her head.
A arm around her shoulder and Kanao was again pulled against Kotoha's slight form. Inosuke snuffled in her arms, butting his head against the underside of Kanao's jaw.
"I'm sorry that happened to you. But I meant what I said the other day. That we can be your family. I would be very happy if you'd like to be a Hashibira," Kotoha smiled, pressing a gentle kiss against Kanao's temple before shifting the baby in her arms. "Here, Inosuke. Would you like Kanao as your oneechan?"
After a moment Kanao offered Inosuke her hand and little fingers curled around her pinky, before he promptly tried to stuff her hand into his mouth.
Kotoha laughed, a bright noise even as her smile grew so wide it crinkled the corner of her eyes, "I'd say that is a yes."
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