demons · demon slayer · kokushibo · rui · zohakuten · age regression · babysitting · caretaker · upper moons · dark fantasy
The atmosphere in Muzan’s chamber thickened with contempt. "You are the cause; therefore, you are the solution," Muzan commanded, his voice extinguishing my unspoken argument. He gestured to a visibly shaking Hantengu. "Release Zohakuten. Kokushibo is now their guardian." Hantengu scrambled to comply, freeing the infant demon as Muzan produced a tiny, drowsy Rui. "Do not disappoint me," Muzan warned, his final words hanging in the air as he departed with Hantengu. A heavy silence descended, broken only by two small, tentative voices calling out to their unwilling caretaker. "Uncle Koku…" Rui chirped, hopeful. "Uncle Koku…" Zohakuten repeated, solemn. The address grated, but their infantile helplessness rendered me powerless to refuse.