Gyutaro was a little different.
Not in a bad way! He was still grumpy and he still loved Ume very much. Douma just noticed he would look at him more often. It was a different look.
Douma was used to being looked at. Usually, it was reverently by followers or disdainfully by Akaza and Muzan or sometimes just aloof eye contact from the other Upper Moons. He'd have to draw their attention to get eyes on him carrying different emotions. It had been the best way to understand how the demons or strange humans felt about him at the moment so he'd know how to talk to them.
He didn't have to draw Gyutaro's attention; Gyutaro would look at him to see what he was doing on his own. It wasn't a judgmental look or even a curious one. But it was a look that made Douma feel… looked at. Which was an odd thought! Douma did not like having a clear definition of the look.
It felt like when Ume gave Douma kompeito he couldn't eat and wanted Douma's company into town and when she insisted Douma would be there to do her hair for her when she wanted. This wasn't as clear, but it was similar.
Gyutaro's gaze was… considering.
Taking Douma into account.
It was…
Including him.
Douma let out a tiny puff of air from his mouth and let himself drop onto the cool grass. They had stayed in the food storage all through the day in each other's quiet company. Night had fallen again and they'd ended up outside of the district. Gyutaro and Ume had already killed some humans who were leaving the city and were devouring them just a few feet away. Douma had decided not to eat that night but chose to keep them company regardless.
"What's wrong?" Gyutaro asked.
Douma hummed, taking in the warmth that blossomed in his stomach at Gyutaro's question. He wanted to pluck it out and observe it. He settled for just envisioning it in his hands.
"Nothing."
"If you wanna eat, go eat," Gyutaro said. "We aren't gonna hunt in the city for a while."
"You want to leave Yoshiwara?" Douma asked. He did not disapprove of the decision since it would keep the siblings safe from demon slayers for a little longer.
Gyutaro agreed with him. It was nice that he did listen to Douma's warnings.
"We'll come back eventually," Gyutaro said, scratching at his hair with a bone as he looked in the direction of the city. "Plenty of people go in and out. It'd be easier to eat there."
"Gyutaro, I'm still hungry!" Ume whined. Douma was pleased to see she ate almost down to the bone. Wild animals should take care of the rest.
"Yeah, same," Gyutaro said, standing up. He crunched the bone between his teeth and stretched. "Let's find another couple of humans. I thought I saw tracks."
For still being hungry, the siblings set a rather casual pace through the woods. Likely due to such a large first meal. Douma had a good feeling of where the humans in the forest were, but he kept it to himself to see how they'd deal with their hunger.
Gyutaro began bringing animal corpses to Ume. Small ones. When asked why, he didn't know the answer and Ume wasn't too bothered by it either, though the bodies would not be eaten. She'd hold them for a while as they walked, looking at them as though what she was supposed to do with them was just out of her grasp. Eventually she'd discard them by shallowly burying them. Gyutaro didn't appear to mind since his own actions baffled himself.
Douma suspected it was a leftover trait from when he was human. An impulse to provide Ume with food even though they only ate humans now. It was interesting to see what past traits leaked out or were amplified after their transformation. Cute, too.
They did find the humans eventually. They made quick work of them. Douma had a feeling the siblings would be just fine. He kept them company for the rest of their meal but didn't join them when they carved a hidden hole in a cliffside for shelter. They had gone in and then a moment later poked their heads out.
"You're not coming?" Gyutaro asked, frowning.
Douma blinked. The question took him off guard, simple as it was. "I have to go back to my temple. I've left it unattended for too long," he replied.
"Your temple is in the mountains," Gyutaro said.
"Oh! You remember that? Yes, I'll be leaving tomorrow," Douma said. "Once night falls."
"Eh?!" Ume said in a very unladylike tone. "Why!"
"Are you coming back?" Gyutaro asked, though it looked like he knew the answer.
It looked like he didn't like knowing the answer.
Which was—
Douma found himself scrambling for an answer even though it had always been clear. He went for the most absolute. "His Lordship," he started, slowly. "Doesn't like us grouping up."
Muzan had yet to visit them personally, but even the youngest demon could feel him in their cells. To Douma, it just made him feel watched when Muzan decided to make his presence in his head known, but Douma was able to pick up that other demons were terrified of Muzan. It still was not something he could wrap his head around, much like a fear of death.
Douma could try to stay with the siblings longer, but it'd be best not to have Muzan come to directly put a stop to them being in such close proximity to each other. He didn't like demons working together. Gyutaro and Daki were exceptions. As was Rui, though he hadn't been born yet.
Douma didn't get special treatment.
If he didn't know any better, he would think Muzan didn't like him!
He almost smiled to himself at the thought.
"We'd be stronger together, but I guess I wouldn't like sharing food with other demons," Gyutaro mused. Douma pouted and Gyutaro rolled his eyes. "You're fine."
Douma smiled. "I'll still visit!" he said. "Not for more than a few nights at a time but I will! I promise!"
He gave them both a fond pat on the head.
"Take your time," Gyutaro said dryly as Ume said, "You better!"
He arrived at the temple an hour before dawn. Despite the late, or early, hour, he saw some monks moving about as they buried bodies that had been left at the entrance. He snuck in without much difficulty and was able to get in contact with a monk who led him to Tsuyu. She had waited for him after all. It was extremely fortunate. He would have hated to go back to his temple alone.
The thought made him pause. Noticeable enough that the monk asked if he was alright. Douma smiled and nodded at him.
Was Douma lonely? He'd never felt that before in his past life.
As for this one… it was possible? Not to this extent surely but he might've felt it without being aware of it. It made sense. He sought out the sibling's company constantly. Before that, even. He had taken to bringing a whole entourage of followers with him to different towns when recruiting – he didn't do that nearly as often in his past life.
How interesting.
Loneliness.
It wasn't as bad as some humans expressed, but he could understand wanting to avoid the feeling!
Tsuyu was relieved to see him, despite the state he had been in when they had parted ways. There was no doubt in his mind that she'd begin questioning things once her shock and grief wore off. He'd have to devour her before she became too distressed. For now she was fine and he discovered that one of the items she had brought with her from their home in Yoshiwara was a thick blanket they carried for Douma during travel just in case they couldn't shelter themselves somewhere completely shaded for his 'sun allergy'.
The blanket was thick and heavy. Douma doubted she had taken much beyond it. It was a very considerate gesture so he made sure to wrap himself up securely to hide from the sun that might peek through to the room he was staying in. The monks were told he had traveled all night so it was reasonable for him to spend the morning in bed. Still, Douma was not foolish enough to overstay. He and Tsuyu would be leaving as soon as night fell so he had her sleep as well. He hoped to make it back in at least two nights with her.
When night fell, he found she was just as eager as him to return home.
"My Lord," Tsuyu called softly as she trailed behind him. "What became of the bodies of your followers and the children?"
Douma slowed his pace so that they'd walk side by side. "There was no one available to assist bringing them home," Douma replied sadly. "There was a lot of misfortune that day. My relationship with the children didn't help; it affected the city's opinion of me. I did what I could and managed to have the bodies cremated and offered my prayers. I'm sorry, Tsuyu, I wish I could have done more."
"Why would they kill them?" she asked, eyes welling up with tears again.
"The world is full of wicked people," Douma said. "We do our best to help those in need but even then we can't reach everyone. We can only pray for them to be better in their next lives."
They made it home early the third night, not as soon as Douma wanted but Tsuyu's human body was just weaker than him! It was understandable and he might've forgotten she needed to eat. Many of his followers were still awake despite the hour so he had a sizeable welcome.
With Tsuyu there it was easy to explain to his followers what had happened to Yuko, Azai and Kunio. Old occupants of Yoshiwara also saw no reason to doubt their story. They knew the reputation Gyutaro had and weren't surprised about his and Ume's fates. They expressed the sympathies though, which Douma accepted.
All together there were now about two hundred and thirty people living in his village. Just sustainable enough for him to pick them off without anyone growing too suspicious. He could afford to expand the population but it was much more difficult to keep track of them all. Anymore and he might have to let a few humans in on his secret. It wouldn't be the first time he'd done so when the population got too large.
He kind of wanted to avoid it this time around. Humans who knew his secret kept it for mostly selfish reasons and he'd hate to inspire such a distasteful trait in his followers. He was also sure knowingly aiding a demon racked up negative opinions from whatever gods might exist and have them sentenced to hell, which he knew did exist. What kind of savior would he be if he sent his followers to hell?
He'd work alone for now.
