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Rating:
Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warning:
Graphic Depictions Of Violence
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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
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English
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Published:2021-11-21Updated:2026-04-06Words:154,514Chapters:39/?Comments:1,970Kudos:3,614Bookmarks:794Hits:129,333
Iron and Ice
SkilledWarriorKiwi
Chapter 16: Upper Moon Six
Summary:
Shout out to the wonderful Sode, for drawing the skull room scene!!! 💓
Chapter Text
The new demon was fascinating. Even just watching him pull himself free from Daki's back intrigued Kanao; it was like the flesh had just slithered outwards to transform into an entirely new person. Kanao wondered if this demon was hungry, as she could see all of his ribs pressed tight against his skin and the severe concave of his abdomen despite his broad shoulders and muscular arms. There were various dark splotches across his skin, as if someone had spilled ink over him.
In all, Kanao found him very fascinating. Both Douma and Daki looked very much like humans besides their eyes and teeth. But this new one did not much resemble a human mimic. Kanao thought he should eat more, if he ate like Otousan maybe his tummy would not be so skinny.
His hair reminded her of Inosuke, as his black hair had started gaining blue tips as he grew it out while the demon's changed to green from black. Kanao's own hair remained a solid dark hue like black satin.
To the side Daki shucked off her lavish kimono, folding it up and leaving her scantily clad and showing a great deal of her pale skin. She did have on thigh high stockings covered in pretty patterns of flowers and the strange pink obi belt was still around her waist.
Kanao decided they must be like Inosuke, who disliked shirts with severe passion, since neither sibling seemed to be wearing much.
"See?" Daki suddenly grabbed onto Kanao's shoulder, gesturing towards Kanao's face as the demoness puffed out her chest, "Look at this. Isn't she perfect? No one else could do it better."
A groan from the other demon, who was rubbing at his eye with a yawn, "Is this only why you woke me up?"
Daki bristled like an angry cat, "Shut up and appreciate it!"
"Fine."
The other demon crouched down in front of Kanao, his slanted eyes studying her closely. Like Daki, written within his iris were the kanji of Upper Moon Six. He also had the same green and red iris though the whites of his eyes were a warm orange.
"Huh, look at you," the demon cocked his head to the side, peeling his lips back slightly to show rows of long sharp teeth.
Kanao noted with interest all his teeth were sharp and pointy, like a sharks. Otousan and Daki had elongated incisors but this other demon had so many fangs.
He reached out and cupped Kanao's head in his hands. His skin was hot against hers as he tilted her face from side to side, saying, "You have such a sweet little face. No scars or anything. Such big, pretty eyes. Hair is all nice as well, so shiny. All tied up, so pretty."
To the side Daki's own hair had started moving like a living thing, the black strands shifting from its elaborate hairstyle as it wrapped around the various kanzashi inserted in her locks and pulling them free. Then the demoness then would tuck them into her obi belt, which sucked them into nothing with ripples of pink fabric.
The other demon continued touching Kanao, grabbing one of her hands in his much larger one. He inspected her nails, rubbing a thumb over the back of her hand, "Eh, all that smooth pale skin. No scars. Same with that kimono of yours, that's the richest silk you can get isn't it? And golden thread, nice...nice..."
His voice was interesting, drawn out and raspy. Even his face, with its sharp angles and eyes like half moons and all those pointy teeth.
"The name's Gyutaro," he said, leaning down further so he was nearly nose to nose with her. "But I bet your name is something really pretty like the rest of you, isn't it? Like Airi or Mayumi or Setsuko? Something pretty and sweet to match that face..."
Kanao continued to stare at him, studying the way the orange of his eyes seemed to shift to black at the very edge. But despite their differences Kanao could see the familiarity in both demons features, of their shared blood, their siblinghood.
After a moment Gyutaro rocked back on his heels, glancing to his sister as he said, "What's wrong with her?"
"I don't know. She's been like that ever since she showed up. Just sitting there like some dumb doll. But she's a pretty one now, isn't she?" the demoness seemed determined to have her brother praise her.
"Yeah, yeah. Painted all up like a cute little kokeshi. My little sis knows her way around a brush."
Daki puffed herself up again, look inordinately pleased at the words. By then her hair was loose and so long it was coiled on the ground around her from where she was sitting with only a few hairpins still skewering the dark locks.
Gyutaro grunted, looking both exasperated and fond before directing his attention back to Kanao. He touched her face again, small smears of white makeup dotting his gnarled fingers.
"Pretty pretty eyes..." his lips peeled back into a sharp smile, so wide his gums were showing. His hand cupped her face and he moved his thumb, pressing onto her eyelid-
"Don't hurt her!" Daki snapped, slapping aside Gyutaro's hand. "She belongs to Douma."
"Eh?" Gyutaro made a face. "Thought he liked older ladies..."
Daki grimaced, her features twisting into something ugly as she said, "Not like that, he called her his 'darling daughter'. He's playing house with her for some stupid reason. It's not even like the rest of that human farm he has."
"Ehhh, he's a weird guy," Gyutaro blinked once, slow and indolent like a cat.
"That girl is weird as well. Just sitting there and doing nothing," Daki said, giving Kanao another nasty look. But the demoness wasn't trying to hurt her so Kanao didn't care.
The siblings seemed rather content to largely ignore Kanao and talk amongst themselves which she did not mind. She would also prefer interacting with Inosuke over strangers.
"Thought you'd like that," Gyutaro teased, sitting back on his rump with a grunt. "Since you complain all the time about all those other noisy little shits."
"Hm. She was easy enough to paint up so she isn't ugly but as I told that dumbass, I'm not a nursemaid! Why would he just dump his kid on me? And there was his whole 'oh she's such a sweet darling girl teehee oh here's some boring crap for you my lovely Daki dear-' ugh you know how he gets when he'd being annoying," Daki grumbled, flopping onto her back with her hair strewn about her.
"Yeah but what's with the girl? Why is she..." Gyutaro made a motion towards his head, giving Kanao a odd look as she continued to stare at him. He was very interesting to watch, looking so different from Daki and Otousan. His teeth were so sharp and his voice scratchy, almost wheezy.
"I don't know. She's been like that the whole time, with Douma just cuddling her like a puppy or something when he showed up. At least she's obedient and not crying like those other stupid bitches in this house. They piss me off so bad, I need to give them something to actually cry about."
"She ain't crying."
"She's messed up. There's something broken in her head. Douma did something to her. She doesn't even care, didn't even care about you showing up. Her eyes are different as well, she could see the kanji in mine," Daki said, tapping a talon on her cheek. "She sat there staring until Douma told her to speak. It's like she's dead already."
"Huh."
Gyutaro shuffled over to Kanao, his movements oddly jerky like an insect. Daki rolled onto her side, propping herself up on an elbow and resting her chin on her hand. Kanao watched as the demon fished out the skull from the bag at her side, his features twisting up quizzically as he held the skull in his hand.
"The fuck is this?"
"It is a babirusas skull," Kanao said. "Their tusks can grow so long they punctured their own brains. It is a pig. Pigs and boars are the same but one is domesticated."
"Some ugly fuckin' thing though. Why would a pretty little girl have it, eh?" Gyutaro's voice grew nasty and Kanao did not know why he was getting annoyed. Maybe he disliked skulls? Otousan liked them but then demons must have different tastes. She wondered what Gyutaro's powers were and what he liked. Maybe he liked green things, like his hair.
"Otousan said you would have pretty fabrics to wrap it in," Kanao intoned. "It is a birthday present."
"Oh did he?" Daki seemed amused. "Is that why your daddy brought you here? To dress up your little brother's present?"
Kanao said nothing, just continued to stare mutely at the demoness until she scowled. Gyutaro meanwhile was still poking at the skull, running a finger along the curve of the tusks.
"So that's the only reason Douma is even in Tokyo?" Daki said, her obi belt shifting around her waist like a living thing. "To what, buy a damn birthday present for one of his human pets?"
"Yes."
Kanao wasn't sure why the siblings were annoyed with her answer but she knew Otousan knew them both and she would base all her behaviour on supporting Inosuke and Douma. Therefore she felt that Otousan would want her to speak to the two demon siblings. It would make sense if they were associates, especially since Upper Six were part of the group Douma spoke of unlike the other half dozen that he could not even remember the names of. So it would be best if she tried.
"We looked for gifts," Kanao said, staring at Gyutaro who squinted at her. "I looked at many things for my otouto. None were good. Otousan looked at some things. Then I found that skull and Otouto likes skulls and he does not have a babirusas skull. Then a lady took it and called me a brat and Otousan a horrible father. So we found her in her house and Otousan cut her open and showed me how inside humans are like pigs, and taught me about human bones, organs and their functions. I got the skull. And then he took me here."
The two siblings were staring at her before Gyutaro burst out into giggles, nearly dropping the skull as he laughed a high, wheezing laugh.
"Oh, oh he slit open the belly of some lady in front of you, eh?" Gyutaro said, eyes nearly shut as he covered his fang-filled mouth with a hand.
"No. He cut open her chest and opened her ribs," Kanao said. "The heart is the size of your fist. Slayers have the most delicious of lungs. Otousan liked to eat them best."
Kanao didn't know what a Slayer was but guessed it was another type of humanoid spirit Otousan had met and eaten before.
"Shit, I take it back. This kid is hilarious," Gyutaro was still laughing even if Kanao didn't know why. Daki just looked repulsed.
Still wheezing, Gyutaro flopped down on the tatami mat in front of Kanao, his long limbs bracketing her. The skull was shoved onto her lap and Kanao took it without protest, pleased that it was safe. She also did not care that Gyutaro was essentially nose-to-nose with her, his bright eyes boring into her.
"What else, eh? What else did Douma teach you?" Gyutaro jeered, mouth still split in a big toothy smile.
Dutifully, Kanao recited all she learned in Douma's lesson. About the eyes, the marrow, the skin, the muscles, the arteries. The organs from the liver and kidneys to spleen and uterus. The brain and the different lobes and the brainstem.
By the end Gyutaro was in another fit of laughter, all high and wheezy while Daki looked disgusted from where she was sprawled out on the floor.
"Urgh would you stop speaking to her? Her head is messed up, there something wrong with her. She's creepy," Daki said in distaste as she jabbed Gyutaro in the side with a foot, the nails black like her fingernails.
"Nah, she's funny. Hey, is that why Douma keeps you around?" Gyutaro poked Kanao in the forehead. "Because you're funny?
Kanao stared at him. His breath smelled like ash and blood.
"Or maybe he'll turn you into a demon? Then we could be friends," Gyutaro leered at her.
She was unsure of that. Though she would not mind if she could carry Inosuke around in her skin, like Daki had done with Gyutaro. Then she could make sure her otouto was safe with her always.
Gyutaro hummed, watching Kanao with a half-lidded stare before he smiled. It was sharp and pointy and Kanao thought Inosuke might like teeth like that. Gyutaro straightened up, his vertebrae clicking before he raised a hand and with a slick noise a kama appeared in his palm. The sickle looked as if it were made from flesh, the handle almost in the shape of a bone while the blade was a glowing crimson that burned with an eerie light that combated against the warm gold of the lamp.
He tipped it towards her, the sharp point a hairsbreadth from her left eye, saying, "If I cut you with this, think he'll do it? If you're dying?"
Kanao stared at him.
Tipping his head to the side, he said, "It's poisoned, so it'll feel like fire eating you alive from the inside out. You know about organs, right? You should be able to feel yours breaking down as you choke to death on your own blood. Then Douma could turn you. Would you like that? So you can be with your dad and little brother forever?"
Kanao stared at him.
With an annoyed huff Gyutaro leaned back, mouth twisted into sneer, "Man, never knew it would be this boring to threaten someone who doesn't care. 'Cause you really don't care, do you? You don't give a shit."
Daki grumbled something, sitting up and the long trails of her obi belt moved like serpents to squirm underneath a screen door. Kanao wasn't really sure what either of them wanted her to do. Though she did not know Otousan could make people into demons. She wondered what magic she or Inosuke would have if they were demons.
"Quit being silly with her, Oniichan," Daki scolded as her obi belt returned. "I don't want to have to deal with how annoying Douma would be if we killed his creepy little pet. You know how he gets."
"Ugh," Gyutaro seemed to suck the kama through his skin until there was nothing at all.
"Whatever. She's going to be my little doll until he gets back," Daki got to her feet with a toss of her gleaming hair. She kicked out a foot and suddenly a pair of tall black koma-geta appeared on her feet as if they had always been there. Then she pulled out a far smaller pair from the curling ribbons of her obi belt.
The demoness stalked over to Kanao, nudging aside her brother who moved aside with no protest beyond an eye-roll.
"I'm the most beautiful oiran here," she told Kanao haughtily. "Men will spend an entire years salary for a single night with me. Oiran are the highest ranked of courtesans, we must be exclusive and expensive. Well versed in the traditional arts like singing, classical dance and music. Intelligent and wily conversationalists."
Kanao listened intently even as Daki manhandled her, taking off her tabi socks and zori as a tendril of obi belt kept her in place like a vine. Daki's skin wasn't cold like Douma or overly warm like Gyutaro, instead it felt like any human.
"Since you're my little doll I'll teach you how to walk in the oiran douchuu," Daki said as the coil of obi belt deposited Kanao on her feet. "Here, watch me."
Carefully Kanao adjusted her balance in the geta; not as tall as Daki's own but enough she had to think about it. Though years chasing Inosuke around Paradise Faith, running along the fences and scrambling up trees and jumping across rooftops had left her nimble and agile so she adapted quickly.
Daki went to one of the ends of her room, her pale skin highlighted in gold with the flickering lamplight. Gyutaro just squatted down, elbows resting on his knees to watch while Kanao kept her attention on the demoness.
"Usually the parade has an escort of dancers, musicians, nightwatchmen, lanterns, the shinzou, and other such things. But the oiran is the true pride and focus of it," Daki said sternly.
Straightening her back, Daki swung her foot forward and making sure the geta curved in a graceful, fluid arc. Then she settled it, slid it back slightly before taking a step. Then she repeated the process with her other foot, taking the slow, widening steps in her tall footwear.
"You don't wear anything on your feet besides the geta," Daki said, back straight and head level as she moved, but her green and red eyes were fixed upon Kanao, "It's tantalizing, to see the bare skin. But make sure you keep your foot inside, when you take a step. It's to show your poise and grace. See how beautiful and graceful I am? I don't even need a support, I can do this on my own because I'm better than the rest of them."
Kanao studied Daki's walking intently as she crossed the room, keeping with the curving, shuffling steps. It was almost like a figure eight but Kanao could see the bones shifting in Daki's ankles, how she took care to never let the geta slip despite how heavy they were. Kanao concentrated on the movement the demoness did, the way her leg muscles flexed and how straight and level she kept her torso and neck.
The moment Daki reached the other end of the room she whirled around to face Kanao, inky black hair flaring out behind her, "See? Like that. Now you do it. Get up, Oniichan. Be her support."
A groan but Gyutaro obediently got up. Kanao missed the twin incredulous looks the siblings gave her when she accepted Gyutaro's hand without hesitation. Shaking himself off like a wet dog Gyutaro obeyed his sister's demands, taking Kanao to the side of the room and letting her use his hand as a support. Then she did her best to mimic Daki's walk.
It was difficult, as her kimono was of rich silk that wasn't made for abrupt movements so Kanao had to compensate for the tightness of the fabric. She could not do the very exaggerated curve Daki had done, as the demoness had far more movement clad in so much less, but Kanao did her best to copy it.
Taking smaller steps and making the curve shorter, closer to her body, especially since Kanao had never worn such high footwear before. She kept the geta on the floor, the edges still against the tatami mat as she tried to mimic the curve Daki had done. The demoness watched like a hawk, fluttering around her brother who had a profoundly bored expression on his face but didn't drop Kanao's hand.
"Keep your back straight," Daki said sharply and Kanao obeyed.
"Stop looking at your feet, keep your gaze level and straight ahead!" Kanao obeyed.
"Don't move so quickly! You look like a harlot!" Kanao obeyed.
Her feet and shins ached by the time Kanao had reached the other side of the room but she hadn't fallen over or stumbled so she thought she did quite well. In the distance she heard someone yelling before just as quickly it stopped. The low constant noise of the district beyond was like a beehive.
"That's....acceptable," Daki said after a long stare once Kanao had crossed the room without stumbling, the demoness looking angry for some reason before she said, "I guess I'm just such a superb teacher you're picking up on it so quick-"
A wheeze of laughter from Gyutaro and Daki punched him in the shoulder.
"Oh Kanao, don't you look beautiful! All painted up and pretty. I know Daki would do well with you," Douma said cheerfully.
The dual twitches was the only giveaway the siblings had been completely caught off guard by Douma's sudden appearance in the room, one arm slung over Gyutaro's shoulders and bright eyes focused on her. Kanao did not react, well used to her Otousan's abrupt appearances.
Douma reached out and poked Kanao on the nose with a sharp talon, saying, "You do look a right proper geisha, don't you? You even have the shoes."
Daki recovered the quickest, snapping, "How many times have I told you, oiran and geisha are not the same thing dumbass-"
Gyutaro dropped Kanao's hand and edged his way out of Otousan's grip while his sister continued arguing with Douma. Though it was more of the demoness telling the difference between a geisha and oiran which Kanao did not know.
Kanao was pleased her father had returned, especially with he started fussing and cooing over her. Daki's rage got pushed aside for flattery as Douma praised how she had done Kanao's hair and makeup. Kanao did not care about either and got distracted with Douma scooped her up in his arms easily.
"You better not have made a mess," Daki said, though Kanao could tell from her body language she was annoyed but not genuinely angry at Otousan's appearance.
"Oh you should know by now I can be very neat when I want to."
"Ugh, better than Hantengu I suppose. It was like a rabid wolf pack moved in that week."
"Why'd you even keep that girl?" Gyutaro asked, jerking his chin to Kanao in Douma's arms.
"Well why wouldn't I? She's such an interesting, smart wonderful little girl. The best daughter anyone could ask for. Did she tell you about our trip tonight?"
"Yeah yeah, gutting that lady..."
At least with Otousan's reappearance Inosuke's present was finally packaged. Daki insisted on doing it herself, outright hissing at Douma to shoo him away as she slid open a small cabinet in the room to fetch supplies. Silk inlaid with dragons and clouds, gleaming thread to tie it together. She all but threw it at Otousan when she was done but he easily caught it and gave it to Kanao who hugged it to her chest. She liked it when he held her, though usually she would be holding a squirming Inosuke as well. She hoped he was sleeping well.
Though it then settled into the three demons speaking to each other and Kanao ended up falling asleep, head resting against Douma's chest and feeling the soothing vibration of his voice against her when he spoke. They had walked a lot in Tokyo so she felt tired. It seemed more plant things or hungry things the three were speaking of so Kanao did not mind sleeping. Daki seemed like Otousan, liking to speak a lot while her brother was more quiet. The opposite of Kanao and Inosuke.
Sometimes she would stir, distant and groggy. Once it was to see Daki curling around one of her obi sashes, this one having a strange pattern of people within it. The next time was to the smell of blood but Kanao was used to that so she easily fell asleep again.
It was only when Douma started jostling her in his arms that she jolted fully awake. Gyutaro was gone and only Daki was left, sitting on the tatami mat and grooming her long nails while steadfastly ignoring them.
"It's a few hours from sunrise," Otousan smiled down at her, all glowing rainbow eyes and sharp teeth. "How about a quick tour of Yoshiwara before we head home?"
"Yes." Kanao found herself enjoying their trip to Tokyo, despite how busy and strange and foreign it was to the commune. Her nap on Otousan meant she was not too tired anymore and Inosuke's present as safe and secure. Then she would have more things to tell Inosuke.
"I'm certainly not one to turn down more meals after all," Otousan joked as he got to his feet. "And who knows, maybe I can find a special young lady to finish the anatomy lesson, hm?"
"Would you stuff your face somewhere else?" Daki snapped, looking up and her eyes glowing like a cats in the lamplight.
"And miss my favoured meetings with you and your brother? You're the highlight of the district, you are."
"Oh go and annoy someone else, would you?"
The irritation mixed with flattery but Daki just rolled her eyes, making a shooing motion with her hand before going back to her nails. Kanao wanted to ask Daki what her magic was, but instead she let Otousan slip back on her socks and zori. Then he scrubbed her face clean while making an offhanded comment about not wanting people to mistake her as working, whatever that meant. Kanao wasn't sure if there were any rice fields nearby.
But then she thought of other things, as they were suddenly outside in a flurry of speed and she was surrounded by the loud, colourful bustle of the district beyond.
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