Chapter Text
"Maichi, I'm so tired." Your mother sighed as she held onto your father's hand. Your brother, Yamako, noted that she looked more tired than ever. "What if the baby doesn't even survive?" It was a month too early, and your father dropped everything to help with the delivery.
Your father, Maichi, smiled in response, "you're doing great, Ikumi, just keep pushing. We'll figure out what to do when the baby is born." Still, in his voice, everyone could tell he was worried sick for his wife.
Your other brother, Mou, stood next to Yamako. They were identical to each other, the only difference between the two being the way they wore their hair. Mou kept his longer so he could put it in a ponytail, while Yamako kept his short. They were secretly hoping for more twins to be born. They had done all their gardening chores for the day, and now sat beside their mother, holding her hands while she gave birth.
From the moment Maichi met Ikumi, your family was bound to be strange. Your father was only 32 years old, but your mother had been alive hundreds of years longer.
Yes, she was a demon. It was the reason why she couldn't go outside, and only attended the garden during the night. It was why the entire family was isolated on a mountain; the fear of getting caught and killed by demon slayers was too much for your mother to bear. Your father would prick his finger in the morning and dip it in your mother's tea before she went to sleep, just to make sure she got her nutrients. Others would think it was sickening, a human and a monster, but they truly loved each other. Maichi learned of Ikumi's tragic backstory and was understanding, and Ikumi fell in love with Maichi's purity and kindness.
Her blood demon art was not useful outside of combat, but she was able to pass her strength onto Yamako and her speed onto Mou. The boys both wondered what she would pass onto her next child. Or children, as they were hoping.
Only a few hours later, everyone was shocked, but not surprised. Twin girls laid quietly in their mother's arms as she snuggled with them and sighed heavily. "All that wisteria tea was worth it, Maichi." She smiled to him, "they may be weak and sick, but I can smell it. They have poisonous blood."
The family was devastated to learn that not only were both girls sicker than they imagined, but one hadn't even survived to the end of the week and died of heart failure. Now it was just you, fighting for your life as your lungs wheezed for air, and your heart pumped irregularly. Ikumi was nearly frightened to death of losing her other baby, but Maichi used to study as a doctor, and made sure to have Ikumi drink a special tea to change the formula of her milk.
Personally, she didn't like the taste, but anything to get her baby breathing normally. However, your heart still beat out of rhythm, and sometimes made a whooshing noise, but as long as you were kept well-hydrated, the whooshing would fade away. Maichi frowned as he pulled his head away from your chest, "I'm sorry. I wish I had studied longer; maybe I would've had diagnoses for these symptoms, but I -"
She cut him off with a smile. "I don't mind. Just as long as you know how to take care of her."
He broke into a smile as well, seeing his wife happy. "Are we going to name her Yoshihime? It's been a few weeks now, so I'm sure that with the care we've been giving her, she will continue to survive."
"Hey," Ikumi put on a playful scowl, "you got to name both of the boys, so I think it's my turn to name our daughter."
"Oh, alright." Maichi chuckles. "What do you have in mind?"
Well, truthfully, she had not a single clue. She was too stressed over the baby that she didn't even think about anything else. "Well, before I met you, and I traveled a lot, there was this one name that someone else had, and I thought it was beautiful." She peers down at the sleeping baby in her arms, bundled up warm and snugly, "(Name). I want her name to be (Name) Fujimori."
"Oi, (Name), pass it to me!"
"No, don't listen to Mou, throw it to me!"
At only a year old, you sat on the floor with a ball between your legs. However, you were more interested in shoving your entire fist in your mouth. "Ba."
Your mother comes in with a gentle smile on her face. The sun had barely set, so she was awake and ready for dinner. "She doesn't even know what either of you are saying." She washes up and starts to get the table ready with fresh fruits picked in the forest outside of their home that morning by the boys. Every day, they tended to the garden and foraged nearby while your father hunted. "Now, go help your father prepare the meat and then wash your hands."
They both groan in disagreement, but neither argue, and they do as they're told. Ikumi picks you up and grins in delight as she pushes your upper lip and sees two miniature fangs growing in, just like your brothers when they were your age. "You're so cute." She says to you as you continue babbling. "Oh, I know!" She humors you by talking back. "Mhm, and you're going to make a big mess, aren't you?" More baby noises. "I see, you do make a fair point."
Once you start to cough, she gets worried. "Don't worry, My Baby, I'll make some tea for you, alright? Maichi said you were old enough to start taking some ..." She frets over it, ignoring the vegetables in order to start preparing your drink. Having a sick baby like you was stressful at times, but as she cooled the tea and fed you spoonful by spoonful, she was proud to be able to keep something as fragile as you alive. She was hand-picked by the demon king himself to become a powerful woman, and likely would've made a 12 Kizuki if she hadn't broken from his spell.
"Are you feeling better, my (Name)?" She smooths your hair down and kisses your forehead. "I hope so. I love you so much."
Your mother stood by the door. "Carry her if you're going to run!" She scolded them.
"We know!" Yamako called back as Mou gave you a piggyback. He then turned to his brother. "I bet I can beat you to the river this time, especially since you're carrying Stinky."
You leaned over to hit him, "I'm not stinky!" He laughed in response, as you started to swing your legs. "You're the stinky one. Come on, Mou, faster!"
Being the more responsible brother, he grunted and tried to stay balanced. "Be careful, or we'll both fall down the cliff, and you can't swim."
"Yama can carry both of us out if we fall." You respond with a grin, laying your head on his shoulder.
Mou rolled his eyes in response. "And if you get water in your lungs? Mother will kill us. You're her baby." He speaks as he carefully steps over a root, and hops down to a rock.
You pouted, making a kissy face, "aww, you're no fun."
"Hey, (Name)," Yamako got your attention, "look at that bird."
"Yeah? What about it." You huffed, staring at the Toki ahead of you.
"It looks like you." He started laughing.
"IT DOES NOT!!" You yell in his face, startling the bird and causing it to fly off. "I'm telling Mom!" You start to wiggle to get off Mou's back.
"Yamako!" He hisses, trying to keep you from falling as he puts you down. "Don't rile her up."
His twin chuckles, "but it's so easy, and so funny." The two watch as you crawl back up the mountain yelling for your mother to tell her what happened.
"Yeah, and if she starts coughing, we're going to get in trouble." He doesn't say anything else, and sighs.
Meanwhile, Ikumi finally comes outside. "What's wrong, My Baby?" She bends down and pets your hair back, "where are your brothers?"
You point back down the mountain, where the twins were gathering water. "Yama said I looked like a bird!"
Your mother chuckles softly, "oh, (Name), he's just teasing you." Smiling, she cups your right cheek to rub away a forming tear, "although, when you were little, you used to make a little chirping sound when you were hungry. It was very cute."
"But he said it mean! Put him in time out!" You insisted, and she relented for you.
"Oh, alright. After the three of you bathe, though. You've been playing in the garden all night, and now all of you are covered in dirt." She stands back up and takes you inside the cabin to prepare the bath. "Quite honestly, I'm surprised you aren't even wheezing tonight."
You shrug, "I dunno, I just feel stronger at night."
Furrowing her brows, she quickly comes to a conclusion that it had to do with being part demon. "Is that so? How odd." However, she is happy for you. You breathe easier at night.
"Dad!" You called first, jumping onto his stomach.
"Ouf!" He grunts, sitting up. "You're getting to be a big girl, (Name). You can't go jumping on me anymore!" He laughs as he picks you up and sets you down. "How old are you, now?"
You hold up your fingers, "I'm six today!"
"Is that so? Happy birthday, (Name)." He ruffles your hair and yawns. "Let your father get dressed, and I'll be out soon, okay?"
"Okay!" You yelled, rushing outside. It was nighttime, so you were more energetic and didn't wheeze as much. You went to the main room, but no one was there. "Hello?" You asked, suddenly feeling weird. You couldn't name the emotion, but all your hairs were standing on end, and your heart was palpitating, and it felt hard to breathe. You'd never felt anxious before. "Mom? Yama? Mou?" Asking one by one, you opened the door to go outside.
"Surprise!" The three of them called.
You were startled so badly that your heart stopped, and you crumpled to the ground.
Instantly, your mother began shrieking. Both of your brothers began to cry as well, Yamako bursting into tears crying about how they killed you, while Mou knelt down beside you and shook you.
Luckily, as soon as it happened, your heart started beating again, and you rolled over. "Ugh ..." Groaning, you sat up.
"What happened?!" Your father demanded, stomping outside and looking around. He sat down next to Mou and leaned down to listen to your heart and lungs as your mother explained.
"We don't know! We were going to surprise (Name) with a picnic, and the next second she fainted! Is she alright?" She was fretting over your condition. "My poor baby, I thought we killed her."
Maichi sighed, then smiled gently. "The good news is that she's alright. Let's just try not to scare or surprise her in the future, okay? Her heart is weak, and likely couldn't handle the fright. She won't die if you scare her accidentally, but she could get hurt if she falls, okay?" He adds to warn his sons. They both nod quickly as he stood up.
"Can I get up now?" You asked. "I want to go on a picnic!" You grinned, not phased by what had just happened.
Your father scooped you up and put sat you on his shoulders. "Yep! All good to go! I can't wait to see what goodies your mother made."
"Soup! Soup! Soup!" You chanted eagerly, swinging your legs.
You were crying, "but Mom, if Kibutsuji died, would you die too?" She had just finished telling her kids the story of Muzan Kibutsuji, and how she was turned. Her sons were indifferent, but you were in tears and holding onto Mou's arm.
Your other brother scoffed. "Don't be stupid, she'll just be human."
"Yamako! Don't call your sister stupid." Your mother scolded as she rapped him on the head with her knuckle.
He winced and held his head with a frown. "Sorry, Mother. Sorry (Name)." You only 'hmph'ed at him.
Ikumi smiled at you. "I believe that if he did die, then all demons would turn back into humans and continue to live. Even if it does kill them, then there wouldn't be demons anymore, and humans can live in peace."
"Mother, I wish all demons were as nice as you." Mou frowned. "It's not fair that they kill humans without a thought."
She smooths down his hair. "Yes, that would be ideal. However, I do faintly recall another demon was able to break Muzan's curse. Her name was ... Tamayo, I think? I've never met her, but I hope she's kind."
"Will we ever meet Miss Tamayo?" You ask with bright eyes.
"Maybe, but I hope not. Remember, we're secluded in this forest so your father and I can keep you three safe from demon slayers. We can't have anyone finding us, okay?" She stands up, "now, it's way past your bedtime, and the sun is about to rise."
"Yes, Mother." The three of you chant, before snuggling up together under the covers.
"I love you all." She kissed each of her kids' foreheads and tucked you all in. "Sweet dreams."
The moon was bright tonight. Three kids were planning on surprising their father with presents for his birthday in a few days. "Yama, I'm scared." You reached your hand out to him, and he took it. "What if we get lost?"
"We won't." Mou assured you. "I've been out with father plenty of times, so I know my way back from anywhere."
"Yeah, (Name), trust him. He's really good at navigating." Yamako added. "Now, what sounds better -"
"Food." Mou interrupted him. "Always food. Last winter, we barely survived because (Name) was able to stay at the garden so we could hunt."
You grinned and nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Plus, he'll be super happy if we find a large animal to bring home!" Then you began to frown. "What about Mom and Dad, though? We snuck out without telling them ... will we be in trouble?"
The stronger twin scoffed, "it's fine. We're 15, and you're 11. We're old enough to be out on our own for a while. Besides, if anything happens, Mou is fast enough to get you to safety, and I can beat any human!"
"What about demons?" You asked curiously.
"Mother said we smelled like demons, so they'll think we're one of them, and aren't likely to bother us." Responded Mou.
"Ohhhh, okay okay." It's quiet for a bit, and the three of you keep an eye out for anything to eat. "Hey, look!" You pointed to the right, showing off juicy berries gleaming in the moonlight. You let go of your brother's hand so you could run up and gather some.
"(Name)," Yamako called after you, "those won't last long after you pick them, so don't take too much."
"Okay, I won't!" You yell over your shoulder. However, the very next moment, something steps out from behind some shrubbery, and you collapse after being frightened.
Yamako from behind you can't even move; staring at the person ahead. Luckily, Mou was brave enough to come to your side, and helped you sit up. There next to you stood a demon, and your heart nearly stopped again. Whoever he was, he stood tall, staring down at you and your brother with a serious face. His hair was a similar shade to the twins and your father, a sword was sheathed at his hip, and all six of his eyes were assessing the situation. Two of which read 'Upper Rank One'. Whatever that meant, it wasn't good.
"Sorry," Mou was the first to speak, "we didn't mean to get in your way, Rank One. We're leaving now." He bows politely, and grabs your hand to pull you to your feet.
Still silent, the demon reaches out and lays a hand on your brother's shoulder. He seems to be inspecting the two of you, even glancing at Yamako a little further away, as he stares the three of you down. None of you know what he wants, but he finally moves his hand from Mou's shoulder to touch the side of your face. "You even have his eyes." The way he says it indicates fondness, yet his tone of voice sounded hostile. You forced the muscles in your throat to close as you tried desperately not to cough. Your body trembled as he continued to stare with his unreadable expression, and you had squeezed your eyes shut.
Finally, his hand drops as he whips his head around to look at something in the distance behind you. Instinctively, you and your brothers do the same.
"Mom!" You cried, breaking down first and trying to run towards her. However, Mou stops you again with a hissed 'wait'.
"Don't ever touch my kids." You've never heard her voice come out so venomously before, as if she was trying to curse the demon with just words. She was in an offensive position; her claws longer, teeth sharper, and her blood art causing her bones to jut out of her skin like defensive spines. She then speaks to her children. "Get to the river. Your father will be there waiting for you."
Yamako didn't hesitate this time, scooping you up so you wouldn't have to run as he booked it to the house, where the river would be close by. In the blink of an eye, the demon stranger had unsheathed his sword and raced towards your mother. "Mom! What about you?!" She didn't respond as Yamako carried you further and further away, Mou leading the way home. "Mom!!"
"She'll be fine!" Yamako snapped. "We should focus on ourselves for now, like she said!" Nothing else was said as you were rushed to the river.
"Father? Dad, where are you?" Mou called, scouting ahead and searching down the banks. He suddenly halts. "Yamako, don't come any closer. I don't want (Name) to see this."
"Suh-see what?" You were already in tears, making it hard to breathe as your body shuddered through sobs. "What?"
Ignoring his twin's instructions, he brings the two of you closer so you could see behind the rocks.
Whoever that demon was, he didn't come alone. Whoever this demon was, he was feasting on your father's corpse. Your brother put you down and began to roll up his sleeves, stomping towards the busy demon. "Yamako, don't." Your other brother warned through a sharp whisper. The demon hadn't noticed any of you yet, and seemed a lot weaker than the other demon.
However, he didn't listen. "Get off our father!" He screamed, balling his fists together and slamming them over the demon's head, crushing it. However, even as it began to regenerate, he didn't stop, and kept pounding on it.
Mou tried to grab him as he snapped. "Yamako, stop! There's no point! Only sunlight can kill a demon, and we don't know how many more have invaded the mountain! We have to leave!"
"No!" He yelled, wrenching his arm out of his brother's grasp. "This thing, this thing killed our father! I'm going to make it pay!"
"You're going to scare (Name)!" Mou yelled back. "We have to get somewhere safe!"
"There is nowhere safe! This is our home, this is our safe!"
Ignored, you finally got your brother's attention when a second demon came up from behind you and grabbed you up by the neck. Your screams were gargled as he dragged you across the river, kicking and scratching.
"(Name)!!" Mou cried out to you, ditching his brother and splashing into the river to get to you. Struggling to make a decision, Yamako quickly decided that saving a living relative was better than revenging a dead one. Mou grabbed onto your ankles and pulled with all he had to try and stop the demon from pulling you farther away, but now you were starting to choke. "Help me!" He called out to his brother, who was already racing towards the demon with a readied punch.
He hit him in the ribs, causing him to cough up blood from the force, and let go of you. As he did so, Mou lost his footing and fell down, the current sweeping him away with you. "No, dammit!" Shouted Yamako, pushing through the chest deep water to try and get to his siblings. Mou was a more experienced swimmer than you, so he decided to focus on saving you first, as you were flailing about in the river, and your light body was easier to float down the river. "Mou, try to grab (Name)!"
It was a race against time, as both boys knew there was a waterfall somewhere close by. Your head went under a few times, worrying them, until you resurfaced a second later, coughing and crying. "I can't touch the bottom!" You cried.
"We know!" Yamako yelled back, "just kick! We're coming!"
As the waterfall came into view, you screamed your lungs out, then sunk again. Mou was getting desperate, and swam diagonally towards the shore, so he could start running ahead of you. "(Name), I'm right here!" He called out to you as he ran back in. However, he'd never been this close to the waterfall before, so he never realized how deep it really was. His feet couldn't even touch the ground anymore, and he was nowhere near where he needed to be to catch you. He wasn't strong enough to swim with you, either, but he was surely going to try tonight.
Once you got close enough to him, he used one arm to grab you, and the other to keep swimming. "I got her!" He cheered to Yamako, who replied that he was coming as fast as he could. You maneuvered your way around his body so that he could let go of you and focus more on swimming, so you clung to his back. It weighed him down, so he was wasting a lot of energy trying to keep afloat.
"Yama! Faster!" You sobbed.
"I'm almost there!" Yamako reached out, just as the three of you were about to fall over the edge. "NO!!" But his fastest just wasn't fast enough. He felt it; felt the wet fabric hit his fingers as he tried to grab onto his brother's kimono, but it just slipped through them as you both fell over the edge. And without thinking, he followed right after.
You were the first to go unconscious due to the falling, but the impact with the water below took out your brothers as well. All three of you were swept down the rest of the river; the farthest you've ever been from home.