By the end of Douma's third week in Yoshiwara, he had a promising amount of future traveling companions who would be joining him in his cult. Usually, he would travel back with them to his temple, but since his timing was off, he would be staying behind with a few followers until he turned Gyutaro and Ume into demons and left the territory to them.

He didn't mind staying. There was plenty to eat and plenty to entertain him since the nights in the district were active. The more followers he gathered the more he would have to eat at home when he returned as well. Things were a little different this time around, but overall, he thought things were going good!

As long as the siblings turned into demons and became Upper Rank Six, he saw no reason why he might not meet Shinobu in this timeline. She hadn't even been born yet!

Which is why when the siblings crashed the dinner he was hosting, he just smiled and waved at them as the other humans panicked and questioned them.

"We were invited," Ume lied.

"My lord?" his attendant said. They knew the children were lying, but they also knew Douma. They still wanted to check with him just in case. Such good followers they were.

Douma waved a hand cheerily. "Of course!" he said. "They're welcome to help themselves!"

Douma kept his attention solely on the siblings. He saw how big their eyes grew as dishes of rich food were piled in front of them. How they swallowed back their own saliva. Their hands moving quick to serve themselves heaping amounts of food as though someone would take it away if they took too long. Gyutaro couldn't keep his normal bad mood with a stuffed face, even when Douma personally started pointing out dishes for them to try.

The other humans in the room seemed to finally accept that they were simply there to eat as well and dug in. The poorer humans with just as much gusto, while the more well-off took their time, whispering about Douma's generosity and their wishes that the less fortunate would get the help they need without offering it themselves.

Afterwards, his quarters were open for prayers and counseling for any of the visitors. He usually didn't get many, but the offer was always open. He was pleasantly surprised when the siblings were ushered in by one of his followers.

"Did you poison her?" Gyutaro snapped, pointing at Ume. She was clutching her stomach with a look of utter bliss on her face.

Douma laughed. "She's just full!" he said. "Don't worry, it happens!"

"Ugh, Gyutaro, I want to be full all the time," Ume moaned.

Gyutaro winced. Douma didn't miss his eyes darting towards him for a second. It was a shame that Ume wouldn't be full when she turned into a demon. The hunger was always there, just easier to ignore as you got stronger and quieter as you fed.

"What is all this?" Gyutaro asked, eyeing the decorations with undisguised disgust.

"Most of them are offerings and prayers," Douma said. "I am the founder of the Eternal Paradise Cult. It's my job to make sure everyone who worships me is happy! With my insight into the ways of gods I'm able to guide them into peace and Paradise."

"A cult," Gyutaro said dryly. He was quiet for a minute, then snapped his fingers. "Oh, so your brain is broken."

Ume coughed to cover up a laugh and smacked him.

Douma laughed openly. "You don't have to believe it, Gyutaro! I didn't think you two would. It's why I never invited you to my village." He smiled. "Not that I wouldn't want you there. Even nonbelievers are welcome… I just know it's hard being an outsider. My other offer is much better, I assure you."

Ume didn't look surprised to hear about an offer. The siblings probably shared everything with each other. He'd never witnessed such a close sibling bond before. It was different. Most of his worshippers were isolated. The only families that lived in his village were born there and still valued Douma more than each other since they were raised to worship him. If by chance a family did join from the outside, Douma was usually quick to separate them by eating them and the tragedy would inspire more prayer and worship.

Shinobu had a sibling. Kanae? The kind girl with the Flower Breathing. Her death had pained Shinobu so much she had completely transformed herself into a poisoned pill specifically for him. A family connection so powerful that made her feel so much she altered the course of her life to get revenge.

And in the end she got it.

He still remembered her face.

Contentment.

His heart fluttered.

Perhaps it'd be worth observing a sibling bond that could lead to such a strong feeling. A little side project.


The siblings already crashed one dinner. Douma figured he may as well go all in and invite them to all the others. As soon as the sun disappeared the following day, he visited the poor district to give the invitation himself. He stopped right outside of their house, realizing this time that Ume had not been outside beckoning customers that night.

He could smell blood.

Curious, he thrust the door sheet to the side and stepped into the house, uninvited.

"Ume- Oh!"

A man, bleeding heavily from his eye, had Ume pinned on the ground. Her face was bruising and something was shoved into her mouth to keep her from screaming. She was trembling in a mix of fear and rage and was struggling against the man with all her strength.

(She could not have had much strength. They did not eat much.)

The man met Douma's eyes. "Get me something to tie her down with!"

Douma blinked.

The man was a splatter of blood against the wall.

Ume struggled up onto her knees and pulled a dirty cloth out of her mouth, standing and throwing it against the wall with a furious scream.

"Ume, what did you get yourself into?" Douma tutted.

Ume massaged her jaw and glared at him, then back at the crumpled body of the man. She didn't seem disturbed that his head had blown apart when he'd been smashed against the wall. She sneered and suddenly looked very much like the Daki he knew in the original timeline. She lowered her hands and clenched her fists to her side, then turned away and sprint out the door.

Douma hummed and followed her.

"Why'd you have to kill him?" Ume hissed when they were alone closer to the woods.

"Are you upset he's dead?" Douma asked doubtfully.

"No!" Ume snapped. "I'm upset because now there's a dead body in my house and once someone finds out he's missing they're going to know it was us! He was a samurai! People are going to notice!"

Somehow it had slipped Douma's mind that someone was bound to realize he killed a man since he was a frequent visitor. That may be troublesome. Being a sovereign might keep the rumor from spreading too quickly out of fear of retaliation, but it'd be best to clean up as soon as possible. He could easily also pin the crime on Gyutaro if it came down to it. The boy was already well known for his violence while Douma was known for the opposite.

There was also the body itself and what to do with it. The most logical course was to eat it, but that didn't set right in his stomach. He wanted the body to rot out in the open wilderness where no one could find a grave.

"Don't worry about it, Ume, I'll take care of everything! Wait here, alright?"

He had returned to his temporary home quickly, to the confusion of his attendants. After some quick reassurances, he took two of his followers, Senju and Youji, to the side and explained the situation. How Gyutaro came to his sister's rescue when a samurai tried to take advantage of her. He wanted to save the siblings and needed them to help move the body somewhere discreet. One of the men was also a murderer and the other had been in the cult since he was a young child. They were easy to convince and obediently moved the body while Douma went back to the woods.

It was unfortunate to discover that he was being watched as it was just another thing he had to trouble himself with. Ume found him a few moments after his discovery.

"Is that a crow?" Ume asked.

Douma tilted his head to look at the dead bird. "Ah, yes, it seems so. Poor thing."

Ume frowned and touched it with her palm. Her eyes widened and she used both hands to pick it up. "It's frozen to death!" she gasped.

"How strange!"

"…Do you think it's ok to eat?" Ume asked.

Douma opened his mouth, then clicked it shut.

"I mean- It'd be a… a waste to…" Ume's face flushed and she looked away. "Gyutaro wouldn't throw it."

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Douma said, smiling reassuringly. "You're welcome to return home now! I had someone clean up the mess."

"Are you coming?" Ume asked.

Douma shook his head. "I only wanted to extend invitations to you and Gyutaro to any future dinners I have! As for tonight, I have places to be so I can't stay with you."

He had to eat Senju and Youji tonight. He was very grateful to them so it was the least he could do. He also had to investigate any rumors of more swordsmen who weren't samurai that might be lurking about. It'd been a while since he'd eaten a demon slayer.


Obviously Douma had messed something up.

Because it was week six and Ume was still unburned and Gyutaro still unstabbed and everyone seemed to be doing great, honestly. Which was nice but it wasn't how things were supposed to go. Was it because he was feeding them? He didn't see why he shouldn't! At this rate he was going to just have to turn them into demons without a life-threatening situation, which he was prepared to do. He was! It was just… unsettling to know he changed something without meaning to.

Gyutaro knew Douma killed the samurai so he probably knew that the job Douma was offering wasn't something exactly pure. Would he be willing to turn into a demon? He didn't need to be and Douma hadn't exactly asked their permission last time but…

Douma nibbled the tip of his claw.

But.

There was a 'but' there.

But what?

But they had a life? They were finally eating well? That wasn't anything special.

They weren't even nice to him. Not really. They hadn't even thanked him for the money, the food or the murder! There should be no 'buts' here.

Then, they never asked for those things either.

He shook the thought away. He'd ask Gyutaro tonight, to be polite. He would turn them regardless. No 'buts'.

Unfortunately, Gyutaro wasn't home. Which meant Douma would have to find him. Ume said he went to collect from some people who were staying at a house in the middle-class district. When he went to the house, he found out from the owners that it was two swordsmen who had paid for temporary lodging. They saw them and Gyutaro leave towards the woods.

Douma thought of the samurai and the few minutes he and Ume had left the body unattended. Had somebody seen it? He wasn't sure if Gyutaro could handle more than one samurai. He didn't have time to be mindful of his speed as he made his way to the forest. Gyutaro's scent was familiar and strong so he was able to find his trail.

They weren't samurai.

Douma did not know why humans liked to pin each other down so much. First it was that samurai, now it was some random demon slayer who was holding Gyutaro down like he was a wild animal. Gyutaro looked almost completely unharmed, but the demon slayer had blood pouring from the back of his legs.

"I'm trying to help!" the demon slayer snapped at Gyutaro. "Stop struggling!"

"Are you sure he's not a demon?" the other slayer asked, sword drawn.

"He's just some criminal. He doesn't know anything after all. He was lying."

"We'll just have the proper authorities handle him. We need to find that demon. We can't waste time. Tie him up!"

Normally, Douma would use his Blood Demon Art to kill them instantly, but with Gyutaro there, he didn't want to hurt him accidentally.

Instead, Douma aimed where he heard the rustle of leaves and the flutter of wings. With a swipe of his fan, icicles shot out and killed two crows, causing the demon slayers to immediately turn towards him as he revealed himself.

He knew the exact moment they read the writing in his eyes. Their faces had completely drained of color. The one holding Gyutaro's hands had gone slack, so Gyutaro wrenched himself free and slid his blade across his neck violently, spraying all three of them with blood and killing the slayer instantly.

The other slayer dodged Gyutaro's next strike, swearing.

Douma licked the droplets of blood that had hit his fan and observed the remaining slayer. He doubted he was a Hashira. Even with the threat against his life he was avoiding harming Gyutaro. Which was stupid if he wanted to live since the boy proved he was more than capable of murder.

"Stop this!" the slayer shouted. "I'm not here for you, you bastard! The biggest threat is that de- that man! He's been murdering your neighbors for weeks!"

Gyutaro's next attack ended with him meeting Douma's eyes. They slid away quickly as he continued to pursue the slayer and Douma smiled, curious. What was Gyutaro doing? He was tempted to see how this played out but he could see the slayer was reaching the end of their patience. Gyutaro was strong but the slayer was better trained. He raised a fan and prepared to rush the slayer as Gyutaro was pushed back by a strong blow.

Two swords cut into Douma. One in his wrist and the other into the side of his neck. He had been able to sense the weakness behind the strikes and simply flexing kept the blades from going any more than a centimeter deep. Enough to kill a human if their neck was struck but nothing for a demon.

The blades were pulled out, but before he could take in his two new opponents and get to know them, Gyutaro lunged forward, stabbing his sickle into one's eye. She screamed and stumbled backwards the same time Gyutaro pulled back, ripping her eye from its socket. He rammed into her, knocking her to the ground and stabbed into her stomach with his sickle multiple times.

Not a Hashira, then. Neither was the fourth slayer, considering Douma was able to kill him with a simple strike that cut the top half of his head off. The original slayer Gyutaro had been fighting was screaming curses at them both.

"What a rude mouth," Douma said. "Be quiet, please!"

Right on cue, Gyutaro's sickle pierced the slayer's jaw and ripped it open. Douma finished him off with a slash to the throat and a laugh.

Gyutaro's chest was heaving. He was a good fighter but so much action was still a strain on his malnourished body. He was covered head to toe in blood. Douma felt some satisfaction that none of it belonged to Gyutaro himself. As Gyutaro caught his breath, Douma took the chance to make sure no other slayers or crows were in the area.

He did not expect for the female slayer to still be alive and on her knees, staring at him with blood pouring from her stomach. Blood was dripping from her mouth and her remaining eye was crazed and bloodshot. She tried to speak but all that came out was a choked gurgle and more blood. Douma smiled at her sadly. He usually preferred to make deaths quick. He knelt in front of her.

"You did your best," he said. "I'm sorry it was so painful for you-"

With a pained roar, she lurched forward and swung a smaller nichirin blade. Her aim was terribly off and instead of hitting anywhere near his head, she sliced vertically up his stomach and chest.

Douma had not expected to be attacked so the blade spilled some of his intestines. Gyutaro was suddenly in front of him and sunk his sickle into the girl's skull with a crack. For a mere human, he improved quickly. He was faster than before. It was no wonder he got so strong as a demon.

He looked at Gyutaro and opened his mouth, but before he could say a word, Gyutaro leapt and swung.

The sickle dug into his temple, halfway into his brain. The surprising amount of force actually causing him to tumble through a rotten fence. He would have died instantly if he were human. Gyutaro pulled it out with a twist in his next movement, taking a few steps back so he could, presumably, watch Douma die.

It wasn't lethal, obviously, but Douma always marveled at his injuries. No one had dared harm him until Muzan and the novelty had never quite worn off. He had let Akaza harm him several times and he was not against inflicting it on himself either. It was something his body, human and demon, instinctively recoiled from. Almost as natural as emotions.

One day he'd find out what emotion injuries felt like.

He stood and raised a hand against his bleeding temple and brushed his claws through his hair, spreading the blood and pushing his hair back. The wound was healed in the next moment. The one across his stomach had healed long before.

"You're good with a weapon. At such a young age too!"

He licked his blood off his palm. Not nearly as tasty as a human.

Gyutaro's eyes were wide.

"Oh no, don't be scared, Gyutaro! Not of me! I want to be friends!" He smiled down at the dead demon slayers then back at Gyutaro. He understood now. "You saved me! I'm honored!"

"You're alive," Gyutaro said. Quite stupidly, but Douma understood he must have been surprised!

"Mmhm!"

"You're… I saw them cut your neck… split your stomach. You were gonna… I thought- How are you alive?"

How touching! Gyutaro had been trying to kill him mercifully! Who knew he was so sweet?

Douma waved the question away. "You need to get cleaned up, Gyutaro! You can't go home like that!"

Gyutaro blinked dumbly and looked down at his clothes.

"It would be very awkward to explain, you see," Douma said.

Gyutaro still didn't respond.

"The blood. It's all over. Most people aren't covered in it."

Gyutaro's eye twitched. "Yeah," he said. "Yeah, I'll wash at the river…"

Gyutaro didn't question Douma's obvious inhuman nature. He seemed to have realized that saying it out loud would be pointless. His posture was stiff on the walk back into town from the river and he kept to the side of Douma, rather than in front, but the longer they walked, the more he seemed to relax and Douma could hear his heartrate return to normal.

Usually, Douma would kill anyone who found out his true nature, but it was different with the siblings. It was nice to see that even some humans understood. Or at least knew better than to bring it up.

"Why in the world were you fighting demon slayers, Gyutaro?" Douma asked. "You aren't a demon!" Yet.

Gyutaro grimaced and didn't answer right away. "One was poking around and asking questions for a few days. He started talking about you and mentioned bringing reinforcements… They had swords so I thought…" He looked away. "I thought they knew and… thought they were gonna kill you for killing that samurai," he grumbled.

Douma stopped walking.

He could feel Gyutaro getting more tense by the second. Out of anticipation rather than fear.

"Gyutaroooo!" Douma cooed, lunging forward.

Gyutaro swung his sickle into his shoulder just as Douma grabbed him for a hug.

Douma didn't mind.