It has been four days since she started training and going out him douma. This has been working out very good. She found a upper moon who is willing to train her. She even enjoys going out with him.
Even though, many people wouldn't want to go out with a emotionless creature let alone a demon. She still likes his company. She don't really mind his emotionlessness. Though, sometimes he suddenly starts to be genuine.
They always try out new things. Douma really is a great planner. He planned out so many things. During days she would be busy with lotus, more training, food and sleeping. Douma also seems to like lotus genuinely. Tomorrow, her parents will come too.
It's very entertaining and adventurous. She lives for adventures. Only reason she became a demon slayer. Now, she even consider Douma a friend. She will consider him as only demon she won't kill.
Only if, he won't give her a backstab. If this is only a trap then he is done for. She don't care if she has to fight him till her last breath. She won't hesitate. She have genuinely considered him as a friend. Despite his emotionless condition, he is still good to her.
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She sat in her light green kimono inside a restaurant. She had her ice lotus necklace on her neck. She stared at douma who was staring back at her with a smile hiding behind his golden fan while sitting infront of her. Only table between them. "From tomorrow onwards, you won't visit my mansion. I will meet you at the market lane." She said.
"Why?" He asked genuinely. Did he upset her? But, he didn't pulled any stunt on her these days. Is she mad at him? "My mom and dad are coming tomorrow morning. I don't want you to meet them."
"Why?...My followers told me meeting parents of your lover is good thing. It means girl is sure about you." She rolled her eyes. "Exactly. I didn't fall for you yet. So, i am not your lover. They will definitely find something off about you. You shouldn't come to my mansion at all. I will meet you at lane."
He smiled and nodded. But he felt.... hurt? Why is she not letting her parents meet him? He have to work more for her to fall in love with him? This is unpleasing. But, they continued talking.
"Close your eyes." She demanded with smile. He complied happily. He felt Reader chan stand beside him and something on his head. Her hand carefully caressing his head with some kind of cloth he guess. "Open your eyes."
He opened his eyes. First thing he saw was her smiling at him crouching infront of him. She pulled out a small palm size mirror from her kimono. Looking at his reflection, he was shocked at cute crochet hat matching his cloths perfectly.
She squealed at his reaction. She took both of his cheek in her hand and squeezing them after putting mirror away. "You look so cute. I knew this would look cute on you." He was shocked but he felt....happy? Why? This is not the first time someone have gifted him something. In his cult, people would gift him anything and everything of them. Why her gift is making him happy? He never felt this.
"Is this for me?" He asked despite knowing very well. She nodded while smiling. "You gifted me this very pretty necklace. It's only fair, if i gift you something. I don't know how to make hats. But, i made someone i know custom made this for you. She specially crotchet this as per my instructions." She answered slightly embarrassed.
"Do you like it? It matches your clothes too." She asked him with expectant eyes. He genuinely smiled and nodded at her. "I do. It's very pretty. It looks good." He answered.
He was so happy. How can this simple gift from Reader chan make him so content. He thanked her and genuinely smiled at her. This made Reader also happy. She returned to her place back. They continued their talk.
"Reader chan, can you tell me about your childhood?" He asked smiling with genuine interest. She nodded after thinking a while. 'It wouldn't hurt, right?'
"Me and my family are not from japan. My dad migrated from himalayan region when he was a teen. He established his own business. Me and my mom used to live in small town there on hills till i was three. Then my dad came and took us with him. We have been travelling most part of asia and western countries for business. Mostly we stay in japan. Still, i have been in japan for 8 Years in total. That's why, i mix up a lot culture. I guess, i'll stay in japan for a while now for obvious reason." She answered gigling at her memories.
He never noticed that she may not belong to japan. "Is that why you are name sounds different?" She nodded. "China, western countries, our hometown, japan, other more countries have been part of my life. Even now, my dad and mom are returning tomorrow from china." She smiled missing her hometown.
After seeing Reader smile, a genuine smile also plastered over his lips. He started adoring her smile. He want to watch her smile every day. As he is starting to spend time with her, he is realising his feelings more clearly. It's still not fully sorted. But, he is realising a lot.
"Douma? How was your childhood? As you heard about mine, it's only fair if you also tell me about yours." She asked while he stare at her.
He started his story with empty smile. "Since i was born, my mother and father considered me divine being because of my appearance. They made me founder of 'church of eternal paradise'. They only addressed me as lord founder. Douma is the name i got from muzan sama after i became demon. Before that, i didn't had a name."
Before he could continue she raised her hand to stop him. "You are telling me your mom and dad didn't give you name? Whose parents do that?" She asked confusion evident in her voice and frown in her face. She couldn't believe something like that. This is weird.
"Yes. They didn't named me." He confirmed. Still empty smile in his lips. "And how do you feel about it ?" She asked. "Honestly, I feel nothing about it." He answered. 'Hmm. That means he was genuinely emotionless since birth. Still he feels nothing about his parent's emotional neglect towards him.' She thought.
"Continue, please." She requested. He was just happy that she is listening to him. "I always had to listen to problem of people coming to me. They always had some weird problem. I always smiled and give them suggestions. They asked me 'how to reach heaven?' I always guided them."
"How? As far as i know, people only seek help when there emotions are all over them. They can't regulate their emotions. So how could you help them for obvious reasons. You couldn't feel." She asked. He just pouted. "Reader chan is so mean."
She rolled her eyes. "I am just stating a fact." He answered with empty smile. "Easy, I would grant them paradise. Although when i was human, i couldn't do anything. But after i became demon, i always helped my followers." He stated.
She started to laugh and he was genuinely confused. 'What is funny about this?' He thought. After calming down, she asked. "How come you can grant anyone paradise? You are a demon not god. There is no paradise."
He just smiled like always. "I created one for them. According to their description, heaven is a place where people don't feel sadness or agony. They are painless and emotion free creature there. They only feel peace." She nodded confirming. "Yes. As far as, i heard."
"Only death matches there description. Hence, i would give them peaceful death." She stared at him like she saw ghost. "I know you eat humans. But, never thought you would have some twisted reason." She exclaimed, not knowing what to say next.
He blinked. "Why it's twisted? This is exactly what they want. I free them from there agony. They say 'i don't want to feel agony or sadness.' There is nothing like heaven. Even, you agree with that." She sighed.
"Obviously, i do. But, that does not mean what are you doing is right. Look douma, i know for you emotions don't mean a lot. Hence, you take everything literal. When a human say 'i am tired of my life.' It means that i want something new in my life, Like a hobby, a trip, or a new friend. Humans are complex. They don't mean half the thing they say. Even i say a lot of time. 'I want to die.' Or 'I wish, i never existed.' But, that does not mean i want to die. That's how human are."
He thought about it. "But, everyone seems to be tired of their suffering. They wish it will end one-day. Isn't it good to just end it ?"
She looked at him dead panned.
"Douma! Look. When people say that 'i want to end my suffering.' It doesn't mean they want to die. It means they want to experience happiness, with their family, with their friends, with their ownself. Even though death is permanent, every human wants to run as far as they can." She explained.
He still look confused with this information. Is it true? Did he misunderstood his followers desire? Was he not fulfilling their wish? Reader stood up and reached to upto douma. She put her hand on his shoulder while crouching down to his level as he is sitting.
"I don't want you to held this divine personality. I want you to think about yourself. Think about your feelings. Don't try to be something you are not. Be happy, Douma." She said to him while wrapping her hands around his neck.
His heart started beating again. She wants him to be happy? But, how? Isn't he supposed to help others? But, killing them isn't the way. Then, should he shift his priorities and have new mission ? To be happy. To be with Reader. Yes, that's it.
He hugged her back with genuine smile and non stop beating heart. He started patting her head and hummed to her side. After some time, she pulled away and cupped his face with her hand. She didn't say anything but started smiling at him.
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"How is lotus so close to you and not me?" She asked pouting slightly. He just gigled at her while lotus played on his lap. "This is unfair. I feed him and take care of him. But, you seems to be his favourite." She complained but deep down she was loving them play with each other.
After training for three hours, they started to play with lotus. There is still time for them. Lotus was now more energetic and was playing around whole mansion. He seemed to be more interested towards Douma. He would always go to Douma, if he spot him.
"What can i do?" He question backed her while shrugging. She just rolled her eyes playfully. "Can i ask you one thing ?" He asked sounding hesitant. Reader blinked. "What's that ? Is mighty douma being hesitant?" She gasped dramatically and gigled.
Douma also started gigling. This was rare for him to find things funny. He would just fake his laugh. But, now? He was genuinely laughing sometimes, Surprising him too.
"Do you ever want to marry someone and have kids?"
She was shocked not at the question but how the question was asked. She knew douma really well in this few day, he would ask 'will you marry me one day and have kids with me?' Not this. "Douma, what's wrong?" She asked in serious tone. He smiled at her weakly struggling to fake it.
"I heard that for a female, kids are really important. Every women wants to have kids. But demons can't have biological kids. Any demons living for hundreds of year never had kids. It is something against demon biology." His voice sounded somewhat scared. Scared of losing her.
She just looked at him and started gigling confusing him. "You were scared about this? Well, you were misinformed. Not every women wants kids. I never ever thought about marriage let alone kids. To be honest, it won't be big deal, if i don't ever have kids." She explained it to him.
He felt a lot of pressure removed from his chest. He thought due to this, he may loose Reader. He sighed not even knowing he was holding his breath. She just smiled at him reassuring him. "Don't worry, i won't reject you for some silly reason, like this." She teased him.
Soon, they start talking about other things. Douma talking about his followers and cult. He promised her that he will take her to cult with him. She in return talked about her days and lotus. Lotus was getting really notorious, biting her hand and scratching her while playing drawing blood sometimes.
Douma was not happy, but Reader explained him about cat behaviour. How, they are just like that and play in that manner. Soon, topic shifted to their training. "I think, Reader chan is getting more powerful. In just five days your improvement is a lot. In coming 11 day, you will be able to fight really great against upper moon 3."
She looked at him wide eye. "Really? Have i really improved that much?" Her eyes shining in excitement. He nodded while smiling. "You are really exceeding my expectations a lot. I never knew you could be this great." She just started blushing at genuine praise and started to hit his arm playfully.
"I wish you would have been a little bit taller." He teased. She glared at him. "Say that again." She dared him. He just chuckled at her reaction. "However, i don't think upper moon 3 would be fighting you." She was confused and asked. "Why?"
"Because, you are a women. Akaza dono avoids women and don't even eat them." He answered. She thought about it. Isn't it same demon douma compared her to? Why he doesn't eat women? Whatever that doesn't matter. She sighed.
"What do you think? will i be able to match your strength one day?" She asked in a sad tone probably knowing the answer. He just smiled and wrapped his hand around her other shoulder giving her a side hug. "Obviously, you would. I believe in you." His voice and word both genuine bringing smile to her lips.
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It's again morning and today Reader's parents will return. But, she is not going to talk to them unless they apologies for their act. Soon, she was ready and heading to her practice. When she heard door bell of main gate rings.
Her heart started aching. She rushed to open the door. As soon as she opened the door, she crashed her hands to both person standing there and started sobbing. In return, they started sobbing more.
Despite her plan to not talk. She couldn't held herself from breaking. It's been years since she cried. But, today she couldn't control herself from crying. For a long moment, they cried together.
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If was almost afternoon, she was making conversation with her parents non-stop. She was telling them about her hashira life, demon slayer corporation, about lotus, her personal life, about her friends in demon slayer corporation, and much more.
In return, they apologies her for their sudden trip. They told her about business growth, family, city, and muchh more. They also loved lotus a lot. To her surprise, lotus was acting all gentleman in front her parents. Only she knows, he is mini tiger.
Her mom made some lunch for her with help of her dad, which was full of her favourite dishes. She was enjoying food while complementing both her parents. Her both parents are such a great couple. They always stick together.
She told them about her hashira training she was going on every night. They were concerned at first, but they knows her. So, didn't ask a lot questions. They just told her to be safe. She again lied to them. But, she doesn't have any choice. They can't know about Douma.
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