Gentle Old Eyes

by Yun-chi

Zeno soothes her, telling her it's okay. But her cries only intensify, as she hears the tragically gentle and kind sounds in the voice of an old soul. -Zeno from Akatsuki no Yona in Kimetsu no Yaiba. Drabble-ish, atleast 1 update per week(?) and a long time before actual plot comes to play. Editing and changes in story as the manga updates and new information is revealed.

36. Chapter 35 Exhausted

Kareki is sitting, letting his wife Akari slowly comb through his hair that is usually pulled back in a tight ponytail but is now falling free behind the man like a waterfall. Zeno stays silent, watching them silently while pretending to read the book opened on his left hand.

Kiriga is asleep, after another lesson that the heir has to go through the 9-year-old practically fell asleep in Zeno's arms. Zeno had proceeded to lay the boy more comfortably on so his head rested on Zeno's lap as they enjoyed the setting sun on the engawa.

Akari had entered the room a while ago, to help the currently resting in bed Kareki go to sleep properly. Their other children that Zeno hadn't interacted with much were already tucked in. Akari had proceeded to go over things she had discussed with the current plant hashira Kusashima Daiki.

Daiki was going on a mission to an area in Hokkaido, which was a dangerous job in winter, considering just the weather on the human side of things. There was also the chance Daiki could get arrested just for possessing a blade. Because it was winter and the demon that was rumored to be there was apparently in the upper moons so, they were all aware the young 27 year old hashira was unlikely to return.

Just like how Kuroshi Junpei never came back from that mission.

Zeno personally thought it would be wiser to send him if they wanted to cull demons in Hokkaido during the winter.

Hokkaido has been the place where the most criminal activity has happened and so the Japanese samurai deployed there were very alert in the area. Additionally high crime rates also raise's the amount of the area's usual demon population. If there is havoc all the time and many street criminals it's very easy for demons to blend in.

So it was basically suicide for young Daiki to go there. Zeno will start begging for Kareki to give him all the missions in Hokkaido if that is what it takes to prevent the unneeded deaths of these people.

Zeno sighs and slowly runs his fingers through a sleeping Kiriga's hair. Ignoring the fond smile Kareki send over as Akari puts his hair back into a tight ponytail, careful not to touch any of the areas she just re-bandaged.

Kareki is frailer than his father.