Winter was approaching, and winter meant warm clothes. Putting his knitting needles down, Giyuu assessed his somewhat crudely made woolen hat. At least it didn't have a second opening on the top of the head like one of his previous attempts. Nagi was sprawled out on their futon, chewing on a toy the kind vegetable lady had gifted him, unaware of his father's intentions. Cautiously making his way over to his distracted son, as soon as Nagi was within his reach he picked up the little boy and laid him down in his lap. Nagi, of course, became fussy. He knew what was coming and didn't like it one bit. He wanted to play but his papa kept making him try on different, scratchy things.

Taking the small woolen beanie in one hand, Giyuu carefully held Nagi still and put it on his head, making sure to cover his little ears. It was a little loose and he spotted at least four random astray threads but it was doing its job. He booped his son's scrunched up nose, "Don't take it off again, you'll get sick if you don't stay warm."

Though there were bigger issues that winter brought than your local sniffles and colds. Winter meant less sun, less sun meant more demons. More demons, of course, spelled a mountain load of trouble. There was only so much he could do with a normal blade and Urokodaki sensei wasn't getting any younger. Granted he was as fit as a bull but old age had its effect one way or the other. His thinning hair, the cracking of his joints, the dark smudges under his eyes and that slight near-constant trembling of his hands; Giyuu noticed them all no matter how much his guardian tried to pose otherwise.

Nagi thumped his hands on his father's chest, wanting his attention.

"Aren't you a demanding little boy hmm; want to play?"

In answer Nagi fisted his father's yukata and promptly stuck his mouth on the cloth, humming delightedly.

"Hey now Nagi, you've your chew toy right?" As gently as he could, Giyuu pried his son's sharp fanged teeth from the cloth he was mutilating. Nagi whined, gurgling something intelligible but fully expressing his dismay.

"You can't keep putting holes in my clothes," All he received in reply was a head butt on his chest before the baby ungracefully tumbled down from his lap, thumping around on the floor to find his play-place.

Giyuu smiled, watching the crudely made wool ball on top of the beanie bounce with his son's movement. Cute was an understatement. He crawled over to Nagi's side, silently guiding him by tapping his fingers on the matted floor. Nagi visibly perked up at the sound, babbling and laughing when reached where the sound was coming from and found his futon. Two warm hands grabbed him from the back and he once again found himself in his father's arms. Now that was just rude, he had worked so hard to find his play-place and his father just had to pick him right now. He puffed his cheeks out, preparing to give the mightiest of screeches he could when one of the hands pushed his head against his father's chest, followed by a peck on his forehead. So he went quiet, still like a lake, focusing on the strong beat he could hear and feel.

"You did so well Nagi-ah, papa is proud of you."

Another peck on his cheek and Nagi smiled, toothless gums on full display. Has Giyuu already mentioned that cute was an understatement for his son? Because it is. Nestling his head comfortably in the crook of his father's neck and shoulder, he breathed out, his body going lax, fully supported by Giyuu's hold.

Carefully, Giyuu stood up, taking care not to jostle Nagi around too much. Erratic movement frazzled the baby up. Giyuu guessed it was most probably due to their time surviving in the wilderness. God, it hurt just thinking back, how much fear Nagi must've felt, unable to make sense of the world, constantly cocooned in the sheets and always on the run from danger. Heck, the first "people" he ever came in contact were those ruthless demons who didn't provide them with milk just to see how long and loud the newborn would cry. Unconsciously he pulled the little body closer to himself, hiding his watery eyes against the woolen garment.

He wanted to do everything he could for his son, give him a happy life, tons of toys to play, sweets to eat, play in the grass, chase random bunnies as he and Sabito used to do, maybe adopt a cat? But all he had managed to do was nearly starve him to death, got thrown off a mountain, pursued by demons and the list just went on and on and on. What a great father he was.

Uncontrollable shudders rankled through his body as he unwillingly let his mind down those memories. Those nights spent chained to the wall in that dark, cold, damp cell. The demonic energy constantly suffocating him, those strong demons with their sharp teeth, the hits, stabs, burns, the shame- "Oh no, no, nononoono,"

Giyuu tried to shout for Urokodaki in hopes that the man was nearby but all that came out was a wheeze. Nagi shuffled in his trembling hands so he tightened his hold, "I'msorry, sorryI'msorry," His knees buckled under him, and unable to steady himself, Giyuu fell down in a heap. Nagi cried out, dissolving into wet sobs.

He had hurt his son, his son was crying because Giyuu had hurt him.

A sharp sting in chest spread throughout his body, leaving a numbing prickly sensation.

"Nagi," he tried to say but nothing came out. His son was sobbing in his arms, holding Giyuu's hand, wanting comfort, but all Giyuu could do was lay there useless and angry on himself.

Multicolored dots danced in his vision so he tried to wave them off, but his body wasn't co-operating. A whine of frustration left his gasping lips, how much more could he fail? As if to answer him, he heard growling come from somewhere outside. He felt Nagi go still on the tatami mats, his little body constricting in fetal shape just like how he used to do back there, back when those demons took Giyuu away from his son to-to-

A strangled cry tore out from his throat. He didn't want to remember, he wanted to forget all of that, erase it.

The growling came again, now louder and multiple.

His son was scared, he could feel it waft off his body, from the way he was so quiet. Giyuu forced his breathing to a somewhat normal pattern, still gasping but not feeling like he was thrust out somewhere with no air to breathe. With all the power he could muster, he pushed his trembling, sweat-slicked body off the damp mats.

Nagi whimpered pitifully, urging his father to come and comfort him. He was feeling so scared, he wanted his papa to hold him, to tell him that he was here for Nagi and that he loved him. The growling came again but, thankfully, so did his father's hand on his cheek.

Giyuu smiled tiredly, watching his son nuzzled into his hand, holding onto his fingers with his small hands and visibly calming down. "I'm sorry for being so-ow!" He was barely able to repress the instinct to pull his hand back lest his son's head hit the floor with a thump. He had already hurt him enough, he thought angrily to himself.

But coming to the situation at hand, literally, Nagi had just bit him and there were potentially human eating hounds out there. Joke's on them though, because no one present in this house was human. Well, entirely human.

Looking at his trembling legs he knew that trying to stand up was going to be a futile effort since he was going to just tumble right back down. Nagi was starting to fidget, pushing his body up and crawling over to Giyuu's lap. He laid his head on his father's thigh, sighing in relief when a hand came to adjust him in a more comfortable position.

Now, the hounds. Noting the absence of growls and barks, maybe they went away or…

The opening of the main entrance signaled the arrival of their guardian.

"I'm back! Are you and Nagi okay Giyuu? I heard some howls and barks on my way back,"

"Welcome back sensei,"

Placing the bag containing groceries on the small kitchen table with the other utensils, Urokodaki went to the room that was now designated as Giyuu and Nagi's.

"Tomorrow night there is- Giyuu? What happened?"

Rushing over to his student's side, he inspected his disheveled state, taking in his messed up hair and the dried tear tracks on his face, "Giyuu?"

The man in question ducked his head down, rubbing Nagi's back to keep him calm. A nap was overdue anyway, he thought, drying away the moisture still clinging to his son's eyelashes.

"I hurt Nagi,"

"What?"

"I-yeah. He-I made him cry, I-,"

Urokodaki clamped his hands down on Giyuu's shoulders, urging him to face him, "Giyuu, look at me," When he didn't; he held his chin and gently raised his student's head till he could clearly see his eyes, "What happened? Was it the hounds Giyuu?"

"…No,"

He had a fairly good idea of what had happened since it had happened before too. These attacks, they came at seemingly random times, out of nowhere and left his protégé a withering mess. He breathed in deeply, waiting a bit before letting it out. "Giyuu," he started, not continuing till the other made eye contact with him, "It isn't your fault,"

"I-Nagi, he- I nearly crushed him under my weight!"

Ah, so he must've been holding Nagi when the attack came, Urokodaki could understand why he was blaming himself but he was also aware of his student's stupendous tendency to self-loath, "But he didn't get hurt did he? You protected him right?"

"I-,"

"Giyuu,"

Giyuu fell silent. Urokodaki heaved a tired sigh, using one hand to brush Giyuu's unruly bangs back, exposing his forehead and the scar that marred it on the side.

"Whatever shall I do to make you understand,"

They had had this conversation, multiple times.

Giyuu felt his breath hitch.

"Let yourself have the time you need to heal. I understand what you want to say, I do and I know Nagi could've gotten hurt but kid, you're healing, cut yourself some slack, please." As if to drive his point home, he ruffled his hair up into an even bigger mess making his student squawk in surprise.

Nagi giggled from where he was lying half on his father's lap, squealing loudly when a finger lightly poked his belly where it tickled.

"Aren't you an energetic little boy, huh Nagi? Oh! Is that a new little hat? Did your papa make it Nagi-chan?"

Nagi babbled in equal enthusiasm, punctuating his words with waving arms and kicking legs.

Giyuu watched the scene with a sense of relief. Sensei was his anchor, tethering him to his sanity. Watching him play with Nagi as a grandfather would with their grandchild; he swallowed past the growing lump in his throat. It was a strangely pleasing thought.

"Ah right, tonight there is a lantern festival in the village. I was thinking maybe we should go, hm what do you think Giyuu?"

"But Nagi," he left the sentence hanging because what he wanted to say was already conveyed. His son was a half-demon, or maybe more or maybe less, yet still, a demon. Taking him amongst other humans? That didn't sound safe.

"Will be alright. He is such a calm, and nice boy, aren't you Nagi?" a gurgle was all he got in reply. Giyuu took the little cloth piece attached to his son's yukata to wipe off his rampant saliva, "And we do need to get him accustomed to other humans,"

Giyuu knew his teacher was right yet still there was a growing sense of unease in the pit of his stomach. Though with a sense of renewed confidence he thought, what more could happen to worsen the day?

Answer? Shinazugawa fukin Sanemi.