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Rating:
Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warning:
Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Category:
Gen
Fandoms:
鬼滅の刃 | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Anime)鬼滅の刃 | Kimetsu no Yaiba (Manga)
Characters:
Tsuyuri KanaoDouma (Kimetsu no Yaiba)Hashibira InosukeKotoha (Kimetsu no Yaiba)Kimetsu no Yaiba EnsembleTwelve Demon Moons Ensemble (Kimetsu no Yaiba)Original CharactersDaki | Ume (Kimetsu no Yaiba)Gyutaro (Kimetsu no Yaiba)Kochou KanaeAkaza | Hakuji (Kimetsu no Yaiba)Kokushibou | Tsugikuni Michikatsu
Additional Tags:
Alternate UniverseFluff and AngstCanon-Typical ViolenceCannibalismDouma is a Little Shit (Kimetsu no Yaiba)BAMF Tsuyuri KanaoDysfunctional FamilyBad ParentingDouma grabs Kanao instead of the Kochou siblingsAnd grabs Inosuke before Kotoha can chuck him off a cliffDouma: I'm not like a regular dad I'm a cool dadSwordfightingDubious MoralityConditioningKanao and Inosuke as siblingsBlood and GoreLoyaltyFamily Bondingno beta we die like the KamadosCultsTsuyuri Kanao-centricCanonical Character DeathHashibira Inosuke Being Hashibira InosukeTsuyuri 'if anything happens to my family I'll kill everyone in this room and then myself' KanaoPast Child AbuseMorally Neutral KanaoProtective KanaoVivisectionAnimal Abuse
Language:
English
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Published:2021-11-21Updated:2026-04-06Words:154,514Chapters:39/?Comments:1,964Kudos:3,613Bookmarks:795Hits:129,182
Iron and Ice
SkilledWarriorKiwi
Chapter 3: Named
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The girl stared at the lotus gardens.
Back at the hovel there was only scraggly grass and tall trees. When she was led towards the town they had passed rice paddy fields and meadows with livestock. There were some wildflowers growing at the edges of the dirt path when her previous master had led her to the village.
But nothing like the lotus gardens at Paradise Faith.
The pond she was gazing at stretched over fifty yards, the majority of the water covered in lush blooming lotus blossoms. The lily pads were vibrant greens, some growing even larger than her futon, while the lotus flowers themselves were of various different colours, shapes and sizes. From flushed pink with thick clumped petals to pure white with broad petals to ones with a deep purple with a golden inner. The girl leaned forward hesitantly, peering over the edge of the small wooden bridge; directly below her was a cluster of lotus flowers that grew larger than her head, the petals white at the tips and changing to a soft yellow at the base. Further below in the water she could see flashes of colourful fish, white and orange with whiskered mouths.
"They're beautiful, aren't they?" the woman seated underneath the shade of nearby trees said. "I remember when I first came here I couldn't believe how beautiful the gardens were. They're so lush, all year around. Our blessed Founder keeps the chill of winter at bay, so the flowers are always blooming."
The girl recognized the woman as one of the three which bathed her the previous day. The woman was currently embroidering a kimono, movements brisk and practiced. Around the garden the girl could see other people moving to and fro, a bustle of humanity she was not used to. They all looked healthy and happy, unlike the starving squalor the girl was familiar with.
When she woke after the first comfortable sleep she'd ever remembered, the woman had come to her room. The girl had been changed into a kimono, just as soft as the robes, though this kimono was a pale violet with pink and purple flowers. She'd been permitted breakfast from her master who'd arrived shortly after she'd been dressed, another broth but with chopped vegetables added. As before and remembering her master's orders, she'd eaten slowly and carefully. Her master then told her she was to accompany the woman, Yoko, around the commune as the master had to tend to the rest of his flock. The girl obeyed and followed Yoko obediently as the woman took her on a tour of Paradise Faith.
Not all, as the commune extended a fair distance around the mountain and Yoko commented she did not wish to exhaust the girl. The girl did not understand why that would be a problem. Perhaps her master could pick her up again. His arms were strong.
They had stopped in the gardens, Yoko pausing to speak with a group of women beneath the shades of the trees and decided to help with some sewing work. The girl had sat down on the side of the bridge, looking over the lotus garden. There were stone paths and pavilions around the pond. Numerous birds and insects flocked around and upon the water. It was so alive and the girl found it difficult to focus upon a single thing. Even the sun seem soft, unlike the baking heat she remembered.
The master couldn't walk outside in the sun. According to Yoko, he gave up his ability to walk in the sun in exchange for the power to heal his followers of bodily hurts.
"It shows his devotion to us, to sacrifice such a thing," Yoko had said, her eyes sparkling.
Though it did not seem a hindrance as the girl had seen other lotus gardens inside the large compound when she'd been led outside, but they weren't as lush and flocked with wildlife as the one outside.
She leaned down further over the bridge edge, her eyes watching the fish below as they swam about in the clear water. Their scales were small and their eyes beady and black. Smaller creatures fluttered through the dirt at the bottom of the pond, with tiny gnats darting over the surface. A soft wind tugged at the lotus blossoms and swayed the trees, the rich scent filling her nostrils. In the distance she could hear people laughing and talking, along with the occasional bleat of sheep and goat.
Then the green eyed woman from last night knelt down next to her, her kimono folding gracefully around her svelte form as she settled in place beside the girl. Her kimono was a lighter green compared to her eyes, covered in patterns akin to roses. She was wearing a sling, a baby swaddled against her chest and her arms cradling it. Soft grumbling was coming from the baby, the girl seeing tuffs of dark hair sticking up from the bundle.
"You look like you had a good rest," the woman smiled at her. "Sleeping for an entire day! But you look better now and Yoko said you ate everything this morning. I'm glad you're settling in. I know how nervous I was when I first came here. I could barely hold anything down."
The girl watched the woman, with her long dark hair, delicate face and green eyes. The woman's smile faltered slightly before she cleared her throat, hefting the bundle against her chest.
"Do you want to meet Inosuke?" the woman asked.
She didn't know what an Inosuke was. Without waiting for an answer, the woman leaned forward and gently tugged down the edge of the blanket to reveal the plump round face of the baby. Big green eyes, the exact same shade as the woman, blinked at her.
Oh. It was the baby's name.
She and her siblings had no name.
The baby was very active, squirming in his blanket with chubby arms flailing and little gurgles spilling forth as his mother gently rocked him back and forth in her arms. The girl remembered her siblings, some being that small. But they had been quite still, occasionally coughing or whimpering but beyond that they did not move much. Now the baby was wiggling enough it seemed like he was attempting to escape from his sling.
The woman leaned forward more and the baby's grasping hands found the girl's jagged hair, tugging at the inky strands as he made soft little snorts. The girl stared at the baby, eyes tracing his round chubby features. The flush to his cheeks and big eyes and the little teeth in his mouth. The baby stopped wiggling and proceeded to stare back at her, his mouth open and eyes wide as he stopped his attempts to squirm out of the blanket.
"He likes you," the woman cooed, her delicate face shifting into a bright smile. "He doesn't like many people here but look! He already likes you even though you've just met."
She was unsure of that. The baby didn't seem to think of anything and seemed more interested in tugging on her hair while gazing up at her. But still, some strange instinct made her tentatively touch the chubby fist curled in her hair. It didn't hurt, certainly not compared to her parents punches. The baby's skin was warm and soft, limbs plump and uncoordinated. His eyes were so big.
"You're just so cute, Inosuke," the woman said to the baby, her face a radiant smile. "What tiny, little strong hands. So warm, my precious little treasure. You and her can look after one another, can't you? Everyone is like a family here."
The girl did not like that. So far, she had been liking the place because it was not like her family. Her family just meant pain and starvation, the cold and damp and bugs crawling on her and rats biting her toes. Her new master let her be bathed, be cleaned and dressed in soft cloth, let her eat hot food and sleep in a comfortable bed. He didn't tie her up or make her sleep on the floor or hit her.
"Ah, I realize I never asked for you name. I'm Kotoha, if you remember?" the woman spoke directly to her, finally dragging the girl's gaze away from the baby.
The girl said nothing.
"What is your name?" the woman tried again. In her arms the baby began fussing, releasing the girl's hair to start flailing his chubby fists.
"She hasn't talked once, not even today," Yoko said from the shade as the other women muttered to each other. "I wonder if she hurt her throat. Could be from an infection or injury, she had scars and old bruises on her, the poor thing."
"Douma-sama could heal her, such as he did me," the woman said, determined.
In her arms, the baby began to fuss even further. The starting gasps and whines before it would dissolve into crying. The woman got to her feet, strands of long black hair falling over her shoulders as she stood before hugging the baby bundle closer to her chest.
"Pinky promise, pinky promise," Kotoha cooed, the baby's whining steadily easing as she sang, "Open up, open up. What flower has opened up? A lotus flower opened up just when I thought it opened up. Before I knew it, it closed up."
"Honestly Kotoha-chan, you should write a nursery rhyme book of all your little songs. They're never the same," Yoko laughed in her shaded spot.
"Well it always soothes my little baby so perhaps I will," the woman smiled. In her arms the baby stopped his fussy snuffling and Kotoha offered a hand to the girl. "Now, come along little one. I'll take you to Douma-sama's temple and he can fix any injuries you have. He's very attentive to our worries and pains."
The girl didn't move. She had not been told to go with the green eyed woman. Instead she had been given to Yoko by her master for the day.
Eventually Yoko had to be the one to take her with Kotoha, rising from the sewing circle to take the girl's hand in hers while the green eyed woman took the other. They both led her back through the gardens, occasionally greeting other people with familiarity. Some even fussed over the girl and the baby even if she did not understand why.
The temple her master was in towered over the rest of the buildings, standing high above and made from thick dark stone. Inside it was lavish and heavily decorated, numerous carvings and sculptures and statues and potted plants. Filled with the ever present scent of incense and flowers. There were no windows but it was still lit well with lanterns and candles.
Before long they approached a bald man who was kneeling next to the sliding door, seemingly deep in thought. He straightened up when he saw them approach.
"Kenji-san, we request an audience with the Gracious Founder," Yoko said with a bow which Kotoha mimicked.
The man nodded, sliding open the screen to call out to the master. After a moment there was an affirmative reply and the man ushered them inside.
Her master was seated upon a rise that was encased with shimmering silk veils and drapes, the wall behind him covered in lush carvings and paintings of blooming lotus blossoms. He almost seemed to be dozing when they entered, his rainbow coloured eyes snapping wide when he spotted them, jaws opening in a toothy smile.
"Ah, come in come in! I hope you three have been having a good day- ah my mistake, you four since I see you have your little one with you, Kotoha."
The woman flushed, her grip briefly squeezing the girl's hand, "I uh, yes Douma-sama. It has been a kind day. But we have come to ask you to look after her. She still doesn't speak and we worry she may have a throat injury."
With a languid movement her master got to his feet, pushing aside the gossamer drapes as he hopped down from the rise. The girl kept herself calm as he approached; she had not done anything wrong, she had stayed with the lady her master told her to follow. The two women dropped her hands and knelt down next to the girl as the master reached down to her.
Sharp nails brushed against her chin, tipping back her head. This time when his hand encircled her throat she felt a strange, chilly sensation radiate from her neck. It was like cold water seeping through her flesh. Her master blinked once.
"Hm, well she isn't injured. At least no damage to her throat, she should be capable of speech," he tilted his head to the side, the long ribbons of his headdress swaying with the movement.
"But why won't she speak?" Yoko fretted.
"Perhaps she's been traumatized," Kotoha suggested. In her arms Inosuke grumbled and she shifted her attention to the baby.
"Well how about this," her master said to the girl, "You can nod or shake your head whenever I ask you something, since you don't like talking. Do you understand me, little mouse?"
The girl nodded.
"Perhaps we just weren't asking the right questions," her master rocked back on his heels, brawny arms crossed.
Kotoha spoke to her then, "Do you have a name?"
The girl didn't respond, not even looking at the woman and instead keeping her focus on her master. Both Kotoha and Yoko exchanged worried glances over her.
Her master repeated the question, "Do you have a name?"
The girl shook her head.
"As was said before, she must only trust Douma-sama," Yoko said.
"What type of parent doesn't name their children?" Kotoha said, sounding angry as she clutched Inosuke close. "How terrible."
Her master clapped his hands together, smile wide even if his eyes never changed, "We can't have that, can we? You need a name. So why don't we help you pick one?"
It was how the girl found herself sitting down with Yoko, Kotoha and her master. Trying to ask for preferences yielded nothing as the girl had none. She knew enough she couldn't just pick her master's name even if she thought it was the best one. They tried suggesting names aloud but after some failures her master suggested they write some examples for the girl to pick directly. Yoko fetched some ink and washi and, after some discussion, she and Kotoha used the brushes to quickly paint out the kanji.
Then they slid the sheets in front of the girl, seven of them covered in kanji she could not read. As Yoko explained, they only offered that many so she was not overwhelmed by choice. Her master agreed quite happily even if his gaze remained as watchful as a hawk.
Her master gestured towards the washi and their lines of kanji, saying, "Pick whichever one you like and that can be your name. Even if you can't read, just pick which one you like the look of best."
"We can read them out for you, if you like," Kotoha smiled at her. Against her chest, Inosuke was letting out little snores.
The girl stared at the characters, trying to think which would be best. Her master had ordered her to pick the one she 'liked' but she was unsure. She wished she could see how her master's name was written so she could base it on that.
"Kamasu, Suzume, Hakobe, Tanago, Kanao, Tobiko, Reina," Yoko sounded out each name loudly and slowly, tracing the characters with a fingertip as she spoke.
"Go on. Pick one."
Her master had given her an order to the girl focused intently upon each and every kanji. She tried to think upon which she liked best. Which brush stroke pleased her, the combination of forms. It was difficult as she did not have many likes. She thought about her current ones. She liked the warmth of her futon, the softness of her clothes, the food her master gave her. The lush lotus garden her master had allowed her to sit by, in the sun and watching the koi. She liked her master. But the kanji within his rainbow eyes did not match the ones before her and she did not know how his name was spelled.
But she was ordered to pick one so after some deliberation she pointed to one that reminded her of the trees outside, the plants and the lotus blossoms.
カナヲ
"Kanao?" Yoko picked up the paper, showing it to her as she said the name loudly and carefully. "Is this the one you like?"
She nodded, eyes fixed upon the dark lines of kanji.
Kotoha's face eased into a genuine smile as she leaned forward, green eyes warm as she said, "It's a good name." Yoko made a noise of agreement next to her, her own face just as soft.
Then her master reached out so a clawed hand landed gently on her head, his voice calm and sweet while he spoke, "Welcome to Paradise Faith, Kanao."
Notes:
So the way Kanao chose her name is how it's said she did so in the manga via the Taishou rumours. I used the names supplied in canon along with her VA haha. I'm working under the impression Paradise Faith is a big cult, since Douma regularly eats his followers but still kept a sustainable population for over a hundred years. And Douma's healing powers on humans are only mentioned once in canon, when he heals Kotaha's beaten face and partial blindness when they first met, but I presume he'd just use that to bolster his 'chosen by gods' image with his followers. Maybe fits with his absorption abilities. (or just Gotouge pulling things outta their ass, could be that too lol)
And there's a bit more of an age difference between Kanao and Inosuke, around four years or so compared to the one year in canon.
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