Inosuke's limp form on a riverbank would be found by a grown boar, that had boarlets following her. She cautiously comes forward and sniffs his hair.
She remembers this scent. The human was a baby like her at the time but she recalls the experience. A predator had come to attack them and her mother was going against the monster. Then his father had come to defend them.
The boar smelled blood in his hair and snorted. He'll live but he needs to wake up.
She bites into the back of his shirt and begins to drag the boy away from the river.
—
The boy awakens and is confused.
Where...?
He looked down at his hands and tried to remember. A pain races through his head. He winces and reaches for the back of his head and flinches as another spike goes through him. The lump on his head was swollen and the bleeding had stopped.
He shook his head and tears pricked his eyes.
WHO WAS HE?
A flash of green eyes and a soft smile as he listens to a beautiful voice.
"Inosuke~."
A snort cuts him off and he looks up to see a boar in front of him. Pushing her head into his space. He could hear the soft oinks of her babies as they come to study him.
Something comes over him and-
The boar pushes back when he lets his forehead touch hers.
This was comforting.
—
Inosuke was discovered by an old man one day at the age of ten when his boar companion died. The old man didn't expect to see him, worn down pants and no shirt, curled over the form of the passed boar but nonetheless comforted the boy as he cried.
Inosuke was cautious as he was served something solid and cooked for the first time in who knows how long.
He didn't know.
But when the crunchy flakes reach his tongue, he gets a flash of that woman again.
"Is the tempura good Inosuke? "
He could remember nodding and the woman smiles.
"Can you go and get-?"
"What is your name?"
He didn't understand. Inosuke understood feelings, vaguely. Physical shows of affection and yet-
How did that woman love him so...softly?
"Takeshi." Inosuke looks up from his food. Watching the old man gestured to himself.
"Takeshi." He reaffirms and Inosuke allows him to lay his hand on his shoulder for he gave him food.
"Inosuke." He spoke, his voice while still, a child was rough and squeaky from ill use. The old man smiles at his answer.
"Nice to meet you, Inosuke."
—
Takeshi was generous and would gift him the mask and pants made of his passed friend. Inosuke wore it so his friend could fight on even in death.
Soon he learned human speech and how to read. Something he picked up quickly. Like he had known before but it was only just coming back.
—
Takeshi had a grandson that didn't approve of him. Takaharu would complain about his feral behavior and he would soon learn to swear. No amount of gentle scolding from Takeshi would stop him.
His aggressive behavior led to him being horrified and scared as he slashed out at Takeshi instead of Takaharu. Newly minted claws vanished as soon as his spike of anger passed. Horror crossed his face at the sight of blood running down the old man's arm.
He fled from humans and hid on the mountain where his ego of being the strongest grew.
—
Ice was covering the walls of the alleyway and frost leaves his mouth. He closes his fans, the blood collecting at the end and spilling to the ground.
His eyes are blank as he looks down at the dying Hashira. She was actually quite cute and would have been delicious.
Pity she was Kanae Kochou.
"You know, you earned your death." He circles her and she coughs on her blood, eyes unfocused on the sky, slowly becoming brighter.
"For your sins, I kill you." He gives a smile down at her.
"I would love to stay and watch you take your last breath but alas, sadly, I must be off."
He jumps to the rooftop.
Douma doesn't notice the young slayer that discovers her sister and sees his backside as he leaves the scene.
A vendetta was fulfilled but another revenge was promised that night as a flower withered and died.
—
The Infinity Fortress has become his more permanent residence. He has fallen back into his attitude from before his life with Kotoha and Inosuke.
Muzan seems to like him less without the distraction of his family or cult to keep him busy.
Not that he interacts with his lord all that much outside of simple tasks and missions.
He enters his new sanctuary and enters the temple that sits on top of the water filled with lotuses.
In the darkness of his chambers, his mask finally falls. In this room, he lets his emotions free to mourn. Off to the side, he has a Tamaya. He takes a seat, and lights an incense stick, before praying to the shrine.
Please, please be resting easy.
He never believed in heaven or hell and he never had a reason before to practice the Shinto ways of mourning. His parents never earned it but Inosuke, he needed to be remembered and he received Douma's wishes....hopefully.
Douma slowly gets up and makes his way to the bed that is on the other side of the room.
Laying there was his wife Kotoha. Her hair was the only notable difference from her human self as now her hair had white frosted tips along with her blue hair.
He runs the back of his hand on her cheek before combing her hair with his claws. Douma's shoulders slump.
She's been asleep for years now. No matter how many times he kisses fresh blood to her lips or the times he speaks to her, she doesn't awaken.
Not that he blames her.
His hand trails down her abdomen, briefly stopping before hugging her waist.
He hugs her every time he comes back. Letting her know he's here now.
"Kotoha....Please wake up...." It was a plea he makes every time but she continues to sleep.
Douma can only sit and wait, only allowing hunger or Muzan to pull him away from his slumbering wife.
YOU ARE READING
Prodigal Son
Fanfiction"Of course, I have to be strong for Mama!" The demon boops his nose. "Good. Keep getting strong till you can beat your old man." He hopes that day never happens. Inosuke smiles and nods eagerly. Douma sets him down and kneels for a moment more. His...
