Disclaimer (Please read): Demon Slayer characters belong to Gotouge obviously. Hotaru and non KNY canon characters belong to me. Events and details in story may not be fully canon compliant or accurate please do not read if you are easily bothered by such inaccuracies. Additionally how these characters act in my story may be considered OOC so if that bothers please do not read. *if you happen to see 'Name' in the story it's because I forgot to add my OC's name there

With that being said I hope you enjoy.

Cover art provided by the awesome genyastoes on IG

*TRIGGER WARNING FOR THIS FIRST CHAPTER REFERENCE/IMPLICATION OF AN AB0RTION PROCEDURE

Hotaru (my OC)=firefly

Kyojuro pressed his forehead against his lover's.

"How am I to bear it when you are gone?" Hotaru asked in a quiet voice trying to hold back her tears. "What if you don't come back?"

"I will come back," Rengoku said in a determined voice, embracing her close to him. However he sensed something was a bit off with her.

"I always come back don't I?" he asked in a lighthearted tone.

"But this time it's different-" Hotaru said, then realizing what she said she covered her mouth. She was afraid to tell him what had been going on with her but now she had to.

"Wait, what?" Rengoku asked, thrown off by her statement. "What do you mean by that?" He asked again concern evident in his voice.

"I'm carrying your child," she said with tears in her eyes. She was afraid of how he would react which is why she hadn't told him until now.

Awhile ago

Hotaru had noticed subtle changes in her body. At first she brushed them off as maybe feeling under the weather.

However as time went on the nausea and the tiredness didn't go away. In fact it was accompanied by vomiting at the sight of food and lightheadedness. It made it hard to focus while she was at work.

"I don't feel good," Hotaru moaned to her friend.

"I'm worried about you. Perhaps you should see a doctor," her friend said, holding her hand. She had suspicions that Hotaru was seeing someone but had remained quiet about it.

"Listen, the men that come around here are here for a good time and then they go home to marry the girl their family picked out for them. It's best to not get attached," her friend said with some sternness in her voice.

Hotaru lived in a working class area that could be considered somewhat seedy when nightfall came. She managed to survive by working at a nearby inn as well as odd jobs wherever they could be found.

"Why does it have to be that way though?" Hotaru asked.

"Because it is," her friend said with a sharpness in her tone. She knew Hotaru was a bit naïve in the ways of men. However, she didn't know Hotaru was involved with a hashira, otherwise the lecture would have been way more severe.

A trip to the healers the next day confirmed her fears.

Once the older woman finished her examination she said with a suggestive look, "I won't charge extra if you would like to go through with the 'procedure'."

Hotaru was well aware of the 'procedure' that the older woman was referring to but she wasn't sure she wanted to go through with it.

"I don't know," she said in a quiet voice.

"Let me know if you change your mind later. Be sure to eat well, you're eating for two now," the woman said with a smile.

"Thank you," Hotaru said as she exited the woman's home.

In the end the expectant mother couldn't go through with the procedure because she had become attached to the baby she was carrying.

After telling Rengoku the news, his face initially registered shock and surprise but then broke into an elated smile.

"I'm going to be a father," Rengoku embraced her closer to him, his voice filled with emotion.

Hotaru couldn't hold back her tears and let them come out.

"I was afraid you'd be upset with me," she said tearfully.

Rengoku cupped her face making her look at him.

"Why would I be upset with you? This is unexpected news but I can't help but feel happy," he said sincerely, brushing a tear away with his thumb.

Kyojuro got down on one knee and wrapped an arm around his lover's waist to bring her closer to him. He pressed the side of his face gently against her abdomen.

"I cannot wait to see you my dear child!" he said enthusiastically. He pressed a gentle kiss against her belly. Hotaru couldn't help but smile. Kyojuro brushed his hand tenderly against her stomach.