The first time he had transformed the siblings they had been alone in the middle of the night. He had left them to their transformation and hadn't looked back for a couple of years until the siblings had entered Lower Moon status and he remembered their existence.

This time it was earlier in the night, just past dusk and there was a lot more bodies around, dead and alive. Though distant, their presence and stares made the back of Douma's neck all prickly again so once he was sure he gave them enough blood, he tossed Gyutaro over his shoulder and Ume under his arm and went back to his house. Humans fled from him almost immediately upon sight.

He did not expect his remaining follower, Tsuyu, to be waiting there. She was sobbing on the ground with her hand on the shut door, face bruised and a pool of sick at her feet. She must have found the bodies of Kunio, Azai and Yuko. When she saw him, she tripped over her own feet to get to him, stopping just short when she realized his state and what he was carrying. Her hand went over her mouth to stop herself from throwing up again.

"Lord Douma," she choked. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I tried to explain to the magistrate that… that they should wait for you before sentencing him! They wouldn't listen! And now they're both…"

Unfortunately, Douma's hands were full so he couldn't comfort her physically.

"It's ok, I'm taking care of it," Douma said as soothingly as he could with the two seemingly dead children in his arms and blood down his front. He stepped closer to the door and she quickly stepped in his path again. He pouted. "Tsuyu?"

"The others… my lord, they're dead. Someone-"

"I know, but I need to get the children inside," he said seriously. He was about to tell her to wait outside for him but he hesitated. Humans had seen him walking back. One was bound to call the authorities. The other three had been killed just for being associated with the siblings and if Tsuyu's bruised faced was any indication, she had already been punished once. He was positive there weren't any other demons in the area… He softened his voice again. "You trust me, don't you, Tsuyu?"

"Of-of course!" she said, her eyes on his face instead of the blood.

"Outside of the city there's a temple, do you remember it? Stay there with the monks until I come for you."

"But why?"

"It will be safer there than to be seen with me," Douma said. He felt Gyutaro's body suddenly jolt, and the blood was beginning to run through Ume's veins so quickly he could feel it through her skin on his palm. Their transformation was beginning and he'd rather Tsuyu not be around for it. "Please do as I say, Tsuyu. I'll be okay. I'll fetch you soon and we can go home together."

Tsuyu's eyes flicked towards the siblings, fear clear on her face. Douma wasn't completely sure if she'd be waiting for him or not. Finally, she nodded, surprising him by sliding the door open for him and darting inside herself. By the time he had settled the siblings down on the floor in his room, she had fled with what he presumed were some meager belongings. At least one of them would live.

The siblings' transformation was going well. Already their burns were healing and hair regrowing. They would be starving when they woke up from using so much energy to heal. He still had a few bits of the man he'd killed left over. As for his followers… he wouldn't be sharing them. He made a promise to them he'd guide them to paradise himself. He'd have to absorb them quickly before the siblings woke up. He closed the door behind him and immediately set to work.


The door to the house was slammed open just as Douma finished offering a brief prayer to the followers he absorbed. Three men burst in, appearing very upset.

"There's really something to be said about people not announcing themselves before entering homes," Douma sighed, flipping open his fan. "No matter! I was expecting you anyway."

He fanned himself lazily as he observed the three men. One was older than the other two and stayed near the door, his arm in a sling. The two in front were large and well-built, wearing armor. Possibly officials of some kind. Law enforcers. A laughable title in Yoshiwara. They were both holding long poled weapons.

"Witnesses say they saw you carrying the corpses of the convicted," one of the men said. "Another said you were drenched in blood."

"Ah, corpses? I wasn't carrying corpses. Children, yes. Very much alive children." Douma hummed. "Well, I suppose Gyutaro could be considered a young adult. They're just both so much smaller than me—"

"Shut up, you lunatic," the second man snapped. "We know you murdered everyone in your household! The entire city knows you liked the little girl. Gods know what you did with her body in here. We're taking you in."

Douma blinked. "It's rude to interrupt me when I'm speaking. Ruder still to accuse me of something I didn't do."

The men completely ignored him and one reached towards him with the pole.

Douma shattered the weapon, the bones in his arm, and slit his neck before the other two could even blink. Before the other official could say anything, Douma realized he didn't care for it and waved his fan so that he'd be stabbed by ice shards and pinned to the wall to bleed to death. He huffed in satisfaction as he watched him struggle in vain.

That only left the older man. Douma was certainly curious about him. His presence was out of place.

"Demon!" the old man sputtered. "Gods, it's true, you're—"

"Wow! You're the second person to say that! What gave it away?"

The man looked terrified, but there was something in him that gave him the confidence to shout, "People notice when strangers go around asking questions about demons. We figured it out when those swordsmen disappeared! That brat was the last one with them and we all know how much you liked following them around!" He barked out a laugh. "A man who looks as crazy as you running around only at night? Could you be more stupid? We knew something was up! This city isn't going to just let monsters wander our streets! If you kill me, everyone will know for sure and those slayers will come tenfold and slaughter you!"

Douma snapped his fan shut.

The man looked incredibly smug.

Douma tilted his head, brow furrowed. He waved his closed fan in the direction of the two dead men. "Mister old man, I'm curious, why did these two think I killed my own household?"

"Did-Didn't you hear what I said? The demon slayers are going to come! You should be running!"

"They haven't been dead very long. No one witnessed their murder," Douma mused. He gasped dramatically. "Oh! Mister old man, did you order them killed? Did you order them to be killed with Gyutaro and Ume? They left early, you see. But how fortunate that Gyutaro walked right into your hands! That's what happened right? He attacked you and you got him arrested…"

"That boy was practically a demon himself! He had to die, no one could control him, not even me! We should have done it sooner. He ended up working with a real demon, hell—"

"So, you are Gyutaro's boss!" Douma said, clapping his hands together. He took a step back towards the door to his room. "I wasn't sure, to be honest! Oh, I think he'd love to have a word with you!"

The man flinched back. "What? You're insane. He can't be alive."

Douma slid the door open.

Two bodies threw themselves out of the room and upon the men. Ume at the corpses and Gyutaro to his former employer, ripping into his throat. The man bled out, hand clawing at his neck as Gyutaro moved lower and dug into his torso, carelessly pulling out shredded organs and stuffing them into his mouth.

"I guess he wasn't feeling chatty," Douma said with a laugh.

Watching the siblings devour the humans so eagerly reminded Douma of when they first crashed one of his dinners. How absolutely starved they were. There would be no more kompeito, but now they would always have plenty to eat.

They didn't look anything like the Gyutaro and Daki he knew from his original timeline, but this was likely due to being newborn demons and still children. As they got stronger they would develop into their prime, older forms. For now, they looked almost as they did as humans, though their eyes had changed colors and their skin was a touch pale. There were also noticeable bulging veins from the constant adrenaline running through their system and evidence of muscles struggling to develop on Gyutaro's skeletal form. Ume had a few cracks along her skin that looked painful, but she wasn't reacting to them.

Had he given them too much blood? They appeared to be adjusting fine, but he couldn't help but wonder if he'd overdone it in his eagerness to turn them. Eating more should help, regardless.

"Are you in any pain?" he asked Ume, surprising himself with the question. It didn't matter, really. She'd heal.

She didn't respond.

They hadn't said a word yet to each other, much less to Douma. They looked to be working well together though. Douma had a period of time in his first life where he'd met other, weaker, demons and they had seemed very territorial, even without Muzan's direction to not work together. He had been concerned that something would keep the siblings from being linked to one another in this timeline, but things were looking good! Very promising!

"You really should eat more," Douma said, pouting at the waste of human parts they'd left behind. He tapped at a corpse with his foot.

He did not expect Gyutaro to whirl around and snarl at him.

"Oh. Well, I suppose there is more outside. You left plenty out there." He brightened. "You should get stronger much faster now! That's such a big first meal!"

Apparently, they had no interest in what Douma had to say. Well, maybe they did. Once he said there was more outside they left the house immediately. Fortunately it looked like a large part of the city was being evacuated due to the fire so the path back to the carnage Gyutaro left behind was clear.

They sampled from each body left behind and left the rest untouched, to Douma's disapproval.

"Ah, so many bodies left behind is sure to alert the demon slayers," Douma said. He shook his head and tapped his temple with his fan. "Mister old man was right, this is so careless. I'm Upper Moon Six! I should know better! I should be guiding you two… Where are you going?"

How rude! The siblings were ignoring him again. He knew they could hear him. Again, they had wandered to other bodies, ripping out the tastiest and bloodiest bits. Douma knew their hunger would be intense for their first time but they could at least say hello!

Douma pouted.

"Gyutaro?"

They did just turn. It was very possible that they hadn't quite gotten the hang of speech yet. New demons, especially those that had been lethally injured before their transformation, tended to be a bit feral and…

Oh.

Douma felt himself frown.

"Gyutaro. Gyutaro, do you remember me?" Douma asked. He slid in front of Gyutaro so he could get a better look.

Gyutaro snarled again.

Douma had not considered that they wouldn't remember him. Which was foolish. He knew of no other demon retaining all of their human memories aside from himself. They either forgot immediately or over time. Another case in which Douma was an outlier.

He realized now that the only reason Gyutaro wasn't outright attacking him was because he could sense Douma's power.

"Not to worry! I'll introduce myself again!" Douma said, clapping his hands together.

Both siblings tensed at the action and Gyutaro went in front of Ume, shielding her. That was good! Gyutaro was protecting his sister. Douma supposed he was dangerous, technically…

"I'm Douma! You don't have to fear me! We're friends!"

They didn't look very convinced.

He pointed at Gyutaro. "You probably don't remember your names! You're Gyutaro!" He pointed at Ume. "And you're… Ume! Of course, you're welcome to change them! Most demons do, but that's usually because they don't remember them."

It was very strange to see how they barely reacted to his introduction. It was inhuman, which made sense, but Douma spent far more time with humans than any other demon. He was also used to the siblings having every emotion easily readable on their faces. He had grown rather fond of spending a few hours every night with them. It was beginning to look as though those nights were over.

"This part of the district is evacuated so eat to your heart's content! Every bite if you're able! But make sure to find a good shelter before daybreak," Douma said. He lifted a finger. "Something strong. Somewhere secluded! You don't want a human to accidentally stumble across you and expose you to sunlight. It doesn't matter how strong you are or how weak the human is, you will die."

Douma tapped his finger against his chin as he thought of any last-minute advice. If they didn't remember him, it'd be best to just cut ties now and wait for them to get stronger before interacting with them again.

"Be wary of demon slayers and their swords. Grow strong, then you won't have to worry about them at all," he decided. He pointed at his eye and gave them a wide smile. "Aim to be an Upper Moon if you can! I believe in your strength!"

Gyutaro had slowly been nudging Ume further and further away as Douma spoke. Douma crossed his arms, smile falling as he bit the inside of his cheek. He really hoped they were taking in what he was saying. He didn't want them to be killed by a demon slayer. There had been quite a fuss this time around and it was very likely some would be drawn to the area. Four slayers had already come and he only remembered killing three crows. Word could spread and there was a chance a Hashira could be sent to investigate. The children would not be able to handle one yet. They needed to eat well and grow strong quickly.

There wasn't any point in sticking around them much longer though. Killing demon slayers and Hashira for them would not help in the long run.

He should just leave. Now.

Douma bit the inside of his cheek harder. He didn't move.

He snapped his fingers. Tsuyu was waiting for him! He had to go. He could afford to wait one more night but that was it. He'd check on the siblings again tomorrow night and then go home. He'd visit later too! Just to make sure they were getting along fine.


Douma was aware of which houses were vacant. He had to be just in case situations ever arose where he was discovered or needed to shelter from the sun after a botched hunt or had an encounter with a Hashira that lasted a bit too long. The house he chose belonged to a food vendor who had traveled to a different town temporarily for better business. No one would search there so he made himself comfortable in the house's empty food storage.

He did not expect the company that stumbled in a few hours later just before sunrise.

It was Ume first, eyes wide as she took in his presence. She ducked into an empty corner, quiet. Had she wandered in on accident? Gyutaro followed right after her, shutting the door and making brief eye contact with Douma. He didn't look surprised. Not an accident? They both smelled heavily of blood. He had no doubt that they feasted all night.

Douma did not mind sharing the space, especially with the siblings. Even if they didn't speak yet, he was content to observe them. Gyutaro had rummaged around the room which was already intriguing enough, but when he pulled out a sheet and wrapped it over Ume's shoulders, Douma was fascinated. Demons did not feel the heat or the cold and they did not sleep, but Ume accepted the sheet as a blanket anyway.

'You fall in the order of who has the most human parts remaining.'

Douma wondered if there was any truth to that statement. Just hours ago they had been acting feral and now—

"I know you."

The voice was low and cracked. It sounded uglier than it had when Gyutaro was human. But it didn't matter, Gyutaro was speaking! To Douma! He banished all other thoughts from his mind.

Douma beamed. "Yes!"

"From before." Gyutaro looked down at his pale skin, brow furrowed. "Before…Yeah. We were humans. You said you were… Douma," Gyutaro said slowly. His head jerked up. "Yeah, Douma. It's you. You turned us into this. We were dying."

"Yes, that's right," Douma said, voice softer, but he didn't know why. "Do you remember anything else?"

Gyutaro's head cocked to the side and he scratched at his hair as he thought. Finally, he frowned. "…Nah."

"Oh."

"I don't remember my sister either," Gyutaro said, pointing at Ume who was curled up in the blanket she didn't need. "I know she's my sister and I know my feelings for her." He pointed back at Douma. "S'kinda the same with you. We're not related but I know you."

"Oh! Is that a good thing?" Douma asked.

Gyutaro shrugged. The gesture was far more human than Douma expected. "You want me to remember you, don't you?"

Douma hesitated, then smiled again and leaned forward to ruffle his hair. "Remembering me would be more convenient and more fun! It's ok if you don't. I still like you, Gyutaro. We have plenty of time to make new memories with each other!"

Gyutaro grimaced. "Did I like you?"

Douma laughed.