Chapter Text
Giyuu nearly winced at the sight before him, his nose wrinkling as the ever-familiar stench of blood and rot stained the air. The scent was overpowering the scents of honey and sakura. His gaze hardened slightly as he thought over the scene that met him when he came across the house, fighting back the bile rising in his throat.
A family, a mother and four pups, mercilessly slaughtered and left for dead. The demon that killed them didn't even take a bite out of them, didn't stick around to eat them. It was sick. Even crueler than anything he'd ever seen. It was malicious, almost personal-
Giyuu shook his head, turning his attention back to what was in front of him. A demon and a human, the boy holding the writhing demon close. Pups, and possibly from the same litter, they looked so close in age. Dear Kami, how young were they? Had they just presented? The boy's scent was faintly honey-sweet, perhaps a newly presented omega. He could just make out traces of milk in his pheromones.
He quickly shoved that thought process away, moving closer to do what he was assigned to do. Now wasn't the time to play concerned omega. These two were not his children.
"You call that thing your sister?" Giyuu silently pitied the omega boy, quickly snagging the newborn demon and holding her down while in mere moments as the auburn-haired boy tried to cover her with his body. "My job is to slay every demon I find, which means I have to decapitate your sister here."
The red-haired pup's eyes widened, his honey-sweet scent souring with utter despair and grief as he desperately pleaded for Giyuu to spare his sister and promising to turn her back into a human. Despite attempting to explain to the boy that this wasn't his sister anymore and that she couldn't be healed.
Then the boy swore revenge, tears streaming down his face as he shrieked. "I'll hunt down the one who slaughtered my family! I promise I'll make everything right!" Giyuu watched him, intrigued as he raised his sword and aimed it at the struggling newborn demon.
"Please! Just let her go!" The red-haired boy dropped into a deep bow, barely holding back his sobs. "Please, don't kill my little sister..! Please don't do it! I'm begging you!"
Giyuu frowned. He knew the boy's feelings all too well. He too lost who he held dear, twice over. Gritting his teeth, the omega began to shout, to scold the omega pup for daring leave himself vulnerable and hissing how he'd never avenge his family with his weak resolve. Then he plunged his sword into the girl's shoulder.
Don't cry. Don't succumb to sorrow. This isn't the time to despair.
Giyuu almost scoffed when the pup seemed to attack, only to be caught off guard after he knocked him out and was nearly taken out by the boy's hatchet. Then, when the demon girl got loose, she turned to face him and defend her older brother instead of devouring him like he'd assumed.
Maybe these two were different, he thought as he knocked the demon out.
Giyuu followed the two siblings back to their house once they both came to, helping them bury their mother and siblings. He wasn't sure how he agreed to it. Maybe it was the boy's tired, pleading eyes. Maybe it was whatever instincts lay within his omegan biology.
"What's your name?" the boy asked as they were praying over the graves, and Giyuu looked up to see both siblings peering up at him curiously.
"...Giyuu Tomioka." He kept his words clipped, trying to keep his distance despite something deep within him wanting the exact opposite. It knew he intended to leave, and it screamed at him not to abandon them like this.
The boy beamed despite Giyuu's tone. "I'm Tanjiro Kamado, and this is Nezuko."
Giyuu nodded, then stood up. "Get to Mount Sagiri as soon as possible. Look for an old man named Sakonji Urokodaki. When you find him, tell him I sent you." He turned to leave, knowing he quickly needed to get back to work. This job was never done. "Never let your sister be exposed to sunlight."
He trailed off, internally fighting whatever was raging at him to stay with these two young ones, to guide them to the mountain himself and keep them safe.
They'd be fine, he told himself. If they made it, and his father- master accepted them, then they'd surely be fine.
In the next month and a half, letters arrived from Mount Sagiri, mostly from Tanjiro. His excited ramblings about what he was being taught left a warm feeling in Giyuu's chest. He remembered the old beta's teachings fondly, other than coming down the mountain.
Giyuu caught himself staring at the invitations often, a part of him longing to see his teacher and the two Kamado siblings again. He clutched the checkered half of his haori. Could he really go near Mount Sagiri again? After everything? After giving Urokodaki no word for years on end?
Apparently so, as after much internal conflict, he found himself just outside the little house he once called home. He could smell dinner over the fire, inviting him closer.
"Tomioka-san!"
Tanjiro's excited call, plus essentially slamming into him with a hug, snapped Giyuu out of his musings as they both tumbled to the ground.
"Whoops! Heh, sorry." Tanjiro crawled off with an awkward smile.
Giyuu sat up, slowly reaching out and hesitating for a moment before giving the pup a gentle pat on the head. "It's fine."
"Tanjiro, back to your repetitions!" A familiar voice barked, catching both of their attention. Urokodaki. His hair had gotten greyer, but that comforting scent of firewood and autumn leaves hadn't changed a bit. As Tanjiro yipped before scrambling to his feet, the young omega rushing to get back to where he was before, Giyuu slowly stood up.
"Listen, I-" The old beta cut him off by pulling him into a hug, a soft purr rumbling in his throat.
"You've come back," Urokodaki whispered, his tengu mask doing nothing to hide the heavy emotion in his voice. And for once in a long time, Giyuu allowed himself to melt in his former teacher's embrace as if he were a pup again.
After a few moments, Giyuu was guided inside and told of how Nezuko had fallen asleep and hadn't woken up since. He found the girl in a half-built nest, the muzzle he made the day they met untouched.
"I hope you wake up soon," he muttered. "Your brother is worried about you."
That was supposed to be the only visit, as he'd originally told himself. But then Giyuu found himself visiting between missions whenever he could over the course of three months, helping with Tanjiro's training and taking the time to catch up with Urokodaki. He even started bringing a couple soft items from towns where his missions had taken him, slowly but surely making the Kamado pups a proper nest.
They deserve a proper nest, that inner voice insisted, and Giyuu agreed with it. The life of a Demon Slayer wasn't exactly a pleasant one, and these pups deserved what comfort they could get before the real work started.
Giyuu happened to be watching a lesson between Tanjiro and Urokodaki when his Kasugai Crow, Kanzabura, clumsily landed on the ground in front of him. He almost bent down to check and see if the old bird finally bit the dust, when he hopped up with a croak.
"Tomioka Giyuu! You have been called to headquarters!"
Ah. Duty calls, it seems.
Giyuu knew he was in trouble from the moment both he and Shinazugawa were put on the same mission. Every time the two were placed together, it never went well. The battle-scarred alpha just seemed to have it out for him from day one, and never let him forget it. But that was typical, and this mission left a churning feeling deep in Giyuu's stomach, as if every fibre of his being could sense that something was going to happen.
He would've much rather been back at Mount Sagiri with his former teacher and his... wards? Despite what he wanted to refer to the Kamados as, he couldn't just call them his children. Even if Tanjiro eagerly came running every time he stopped by, trilling excitedly in greeting. He doubted the young omega saw him as anything more than someone to look up to, a mentor.
"Oi! Tomioka! Pay attention!"
Giyuu sighed, turning to face the white-haired man. "Sorry. I was thinking."
The scarred alpha growled, pushing ahead through the forest and cursing under his breath.
"...okay then." Giyuu moved faster to keep up with the Wind Hashira. They'd been sent to investigate a series of disappearances in the woods surrounding the town. All they had to do was seek out the demon, end it, and move along. Giyuu had hoped to inspect whatever blankets and fabrics the town had to provide, but was practically scruffed by Shinazugawa and dragged away before he could give anything a second glance.
Continuing silently through the forest, trying to keep a respectable distance from his travel companion, Giyuu kept a sharp eye out for any sign of the demon. Shinizugawa was right. Now wasn't the time to be distracted. Not that he'd admit that aloud.
"You see anything?" Giyuu's voice was low as he glanced over his shoulder.
"What do you think?" The white-haired alpha grumbled, his sour scent filling the entire area.
They were alone. No comrades to intervene this time. Maybe now was the time for some answers.
Wrinkling his nose in distaste, Giyuu stopped in his tracks. "Are you ever happy? Or are you stuck like this?"
Judging from the harsh, wide-eyed glare that was rapidly sent his way, perhaps that wasn't the best thing to start with.
"What are you talking about?" Shinazugawa's lip curled back, baring his fangs in warning.
Giyuu stepped closer, hardening his gaze. "You smell like rotten beans in the sun. All the time. Is this just your scent, or are you genuinely always angry?"
"Why are you sniffin' me in the first place?!" The alpha snapped, turning on his heel and marching away. "We're on a mission! Focus on that!"
With an irritated sigh, Giyuu gave chase. "Fine... fine."
Oyakata-sama was right to have more than one Hashira sent on this mission. It may not have been a member of the Twelve Kizuki, but it was powerful nonetheless. And fast.
Diving out of the way of a gnarled hand coming his way, Giyuu glared at Shinazugawa as the demon managed to avoid another attack. "Any time now!"
"I'm not the only one here with a sword! Use it, you idiot!" The Wind Breather kept his gaze focused on the demon as he dove down at a blinding speed, becoming no more than a blur as he cut off the demon's arms.
"Agh!" The demon jumped away with a hiss. "Can't you two deal with your courtship issues another time? Preferably in the afterlife?!" Limbs quickly regrowing, it lunged at Shinazugawa.
"Hah?! I'm not courting that bastard!" The alpha met the demon halfway, slashing again and again.
"The way you two were arguing like an old bonded pair? I don't believe that for a second!"
They were both distracted. Now was Giyuu's chance.
Water Breathing First Form: Water Surface Slash
Shinazugawa had the demon right where Giyuu wanted. That attack was all it took for the demon's head to separate from its body.
"Damned mates!", the demon choked out as it began turning to ash. "I should have killed you both when I first saw you!"
Shinazugawa stomped on the head before it could keep cursing at them. "We're not mates."
Giyuu nodded in agreement. "We could never be." He didn't spare the Wind Hashira another glance, intent on moving along.
"Hah?!" Shinazugawa sounded mildly offended by that, which was both a surprise and not. The white-haired alpha seemed offended by anything that came out of his mouth. "You too good for me, Tomioka?!"
Giyuu stopped, looking over his shoulder. "You're mean," he answered nonchalantly. "You start fights with me all the time for no reason. And your scent is too sour."
"Mean? Sour?! Oh, I'll show you mean and sour!" Giyuu quickly sidestepped to avoid being tackled by the alpha. "You think you're a catch with your stupid sea salt and morning glory smell?! Or that stuck-up personality of yours?!"
Stuck up? What did he mean stuck up? "What on earth are you-"
Shinazugawa snarled, stepping closer. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about! You think cause you're some pretty omega that you can-"
"You think I'm pretty?"
That shut the alpha up. Shinazugawa looked scandalized at his own words, and he jerked his head away with a growl.
Giyuu's eyes widened. "You actually think I'm pretty?" He didn't know what to say himself. He was sure the alpha hated him.
The alpha cleared his throat, almost saying something when lightning flashed in the distance. Squinting in the direction it came from, he rumbled, "Storm's coming. Well, isn't that just great?"
"I saw a cave during the fight." Giyuu tilted his head in the direction he saw it in. "Truce? Until the storm's over?"
Shinazugawa eyed him for a moment. "Truce," he agreed a heartbeat later.
It was a long, cold night. They didn't say much to each other. Shinazugawa's true scent did shine through as they kept each other warm throughout the night. Ohagi. It was ohagi of all things. Never in his life did Giyuu think this alpha would smell so sweet.
The next morning, they left the cave in silence. Shinazugawa never looked back at Giyuu once. The air around them felt different despite that. Much clearer than it had been before. Their respective scents intermingled wonderfully now.
A soft purr rumbled from Giyuu's throat, and he reached out towards the alpha-
Only to have his hand smacked away.
"Listen here, Tomioka." Shinazugawa growled, but the bite to it wasn't the same. "Whatever happened back there, stays in that cave. As far as anyone else knows, it didn't happen."
Giyuu frowned, squinting at the Wind Hashira's face. The alpha wasn't looking at him, and he almost looked scared. But scared of what?
"We're not going to speak of this again, do you understand? This meant nothing." Shinazugawa didn't wait for an answer, storming off without another word.
A part of Giyuu was hurt, but he quickly pushed that feeling down. The alpha wasn't entirely wrong. One night didn't change anything.
So why was a part of him longing for that night back?
Two months. Two months spent between missions and visiting Mount Sagiri. Two months after spending a stormy night with Shinazugawa.
Perhaps Giyuu knew what was happening to him, and was in denial. Perhaps he would have chalked up his feelings of nausea and fatigue to simply overworking himself, had it not been for Tanjiro.
"Giyuu-san! You're pregnant?!"
Everyone else within Urokodaki's house, save Nezuko, froze at those words.
"Tanjiro," Urdokodaki started softly, as if trying to gently chide the boy for making an assumption. Giyuu would have believed that, had he not felt his former master's gaze burning into him.
The younger omega ducked his head in apology. "Sorry for being so loud but..." The boy looked between Urokodaki and Giyuu. "I'm the eldest of six, and my mother's scent changed like this every time she was pregnant with my younger siblings." He grinned brightly, somehow missing Giyuu's growing distress. "Either way, congratulations! Does the sire know?"
The sire?
Giyuu doubted the Wind Hashira wanted to speak to him ever again. The one meeting after that mission, he seemed content to go back to the way their relationship was before, his overpowering rotten bean stench stronger than before. But, he had the right to know, didn't he?
First, a visit to the Butterfly Mansion was a must. Better to get official confirmation before blindsiding Shinazugawa.
Kocho looked up from her work as he walked in. "Tomioka-san? This is a surprise. You don't typically come in unless you're dying or out of suppressants."
Giyuu winced at the mention of his medication. "Well, that's the thing. I think I've built up an immunity to them," he mumbled, shifting his gaze to the floor.
"What do you mean?" The short-statured alpha tipped her head to one side and gave the air a sniff, only for realization to flash in her dark purple eyes. "Tomioka... don't tell you you're-."
"I don't know for sure, that's why I came here." Swallowing heavily, Giyuu brushed a hand over his stomach. "I just want official confirmation."
Kocho hummed, gently guiding him to a bed. "Let me take a look at you."
After a thorough examination, as well as a rather awkward conversation regarding his cycle and who he was last with, Kocho clapped her hands together with a smile.
"Well, judging from the symptoms you've stated you've been having and what little you've given me details on with your last... partner, you've been pupped! Congratulations, Tomioka-san. If you choose to keep them, you're going to be a mother."
Pupped. It was typically regarded as a crude term by society, but it hit just the same as a simple 'You're pregnant'.
Kocho laid her hand on his, squeezing reassuringly. "Now, just to satiate my curiosity. These pups... their sire?"
Giyuu pursed his lips. "I'll need to talk to him about this."
The Insect Hashira nodded understandingly. "Do come find me after. I do have plenty of options regarding what choice you make!"
"Thank you, Kocho." He offered her a small smile as he sat up, quickly pushing himself off the bed. He had an alpha to find.
"Don't you have anything better to do?" Shinazugawa kept walking, snapping at the Water Hashira whenever he got too close.
Giyuu was chasing after the alpha, trying to get him to stop and listen to him. "Will you quit being so stubborn? We need to talk."
"We have nothing to say to each other. There's nothing to talk about," The Wind Hashira spat.
"Yes, we do!" Giyuu launched himself forward, grabbing the alpha's hand. "It's about that night in the cave."
Shinazugawa whirled around in an instant, slamming Giyuu against the nearest tree.
"It didn't happen," the alpha hissed, sounding more terrifying quiet than he ever did screaming. Giyuu found himself frozen, staring wide-eyed at the angry alpha before him. "Now I'll say it again, whatever happened meant nothing, so don't you dare start thinking anything else. You will not speak of this again." And with that, he walked away.
But... you're becoming a father...
Giyuu tried to speak, but all that came out was a pained whine. He... he used his alpha voice on him. Shinazugawa had used a command to reject whatever had had to say, and moved on like nothing had happened. It took far too long to let out any vocalizations, and all Giyuu could manage was keening to try and call the alpha back.
Giyuu stayed there for Kami knows how long, trying to pull his thoughts together. Fine then, he coldly thought as he made his way back to the Butterfly Mansion. If Shinazugawa wanted nothing to do with him or the pups he'd help create, then he wouldn't be in their lives at all.
Swallowing down whatever hurt was left, he placed his hand over his currently flat stomach. "Don't worry. We'll be fine."
Kocho quickly informed the master once Giyuu returned, who, in turn, invited them both to his mansion. However, before they set foot outside the Butterfly Mansion, they were met face to face with a familiar flame-haired alpha. Rengoku was staring at them both, his seemingly permanent smile replaced with a look of pure shock.
"Tomioka," the Flame Hashira greeted after a while. "Kocho." His gaze lingered on Giyuu.
Kocho smiled. "A pleasure to see you, but I'm afraid we're in a bit of a hurry. Summons from the master."
"I heard." Rengoku's smile returned, seeming not to notice how Giyuu tensed up. "What I need won't take long, I promise."
The two alphas engaged in a brief, soft-spoken conversation before Kocho nodded and stepped back inside.
Uncomfortable silence filled the area rather quickly. Rengoku opened his mouth as if to say something, then quickly closed it.
"How much did you hear?" Giyuu asked after a while.
"Everything." The Flame Hashira offered him a smile, his voice softer than he'd ever heard it before. "Congratulations, by the way. Is...", he trailed off for a moment. "Is there a sire around by any chance?"
Giyuu turned his head away, slowly wrapping his arms around himself.
Rengoku's eyes lit up with understanding before he shifted back. "Ah. I understand."
"It's for the best that I raise them alone." Giyuu didn't need Shinazugawa. He could raise his children just fine with no sire in their lives. Him, Urokodaki, and the Kamado pups would be enough.
The Flame Hashira set a hand on Giyuu's shoulder, red eyes shining with an emotion he couldn't recognize. "You don't have to, you know. Who cares if the sire walked out? The other Hashira would be happy to help you with them, especially if you ever needed a break." Rengoku's cheeks were a light pink now.
Giyuu squinted slightly. Why would Rengoku be flushed? It wasn't that hot out. Was he-
"Sorry!" Kocho interrupted. "Took longer to find it than I expected!" The smaller alpha handed Rengoku a small pill bottle. "Now, we really must be going!"
"Of course!" Rengoku quickly stepped out of the way. "I'll see you both another time!"
"Bye," Giyuu called softly as he and Kocho went on their way.
Kakushi provided him with a raspberry leaf tea after they arrived at Oyakata-sama's mansion, quickly darting out as he explained what happened without divulging who his pups' sire was.
"So you are keeping them?" Oyakata-sama's smile seemed more sad than usual, and Giyuu frowned as the familiar scent of wisteria changed with his mood. "Congratulations are indeed in order, but I must ask; are you okay, my child?"
Giyuu was quiet, his gaze on the tea in front of him. He took a sip, then answered, "I will be. Eventually."
Kocho kept her gaze locked on him, but said nothing.
"I see." The master had long since gone blind, but it felt as if he could see right through him. He could see every ounce of internal hurt clear as day. "Well, you can always send a message to my wife and I should you need advice." The Omega Prime purred with amusement. "Five pups at once will certainly teach you a thing or two."
Giyuu knew he only meant to crack a joke, but the idea of a litter of five sent a jolt through him. "Hopefully not that many."
Kocho smiled at him. "Well, how many are you hoping for?"
"I'm not sure." He took another sip of his tea. It had started to grow cold. "But no matter how many I have, I hope that they'll be healthy."
Oyakata-sama nodded. "I'll inform the others of the good news. In the meantime, you need to rest and eat more Giyuu. You're caring for more than just yourself now, after all."
"You shouldn't be alone during this, either." Kocho- no, Shinobu piped up. "You're more than welcome to stay in the Butterfly Mansion. It would certainly make it easier to monitor you."
"I appreciate the offer, but I won't be alone." He looked back to Oyakata-sama. "I'll be staying with the beta who raised me, the former Water Hashira."
The Omega Prime nodded, shifting closer. "Just make sure to keep us regularly informed."
"Of course. Thank you, Oyakata-sama." Giyuu set the cup down to bow, only to feel the master's hand reach out and caress his cheek.
"No need for that," the older omega crooned. "We're pack, after all."
Giyuu subconsciously leaned into the comforting touch, purring in response. The master somehow always knew what to say, what you longed to hear.
"Now, you'll introduce them to the pack after they arrive, yes? I'm sure the others will be excited to meet them after they hear the news."
And while most of the Hashira were excited about the news of pups being introduced to the pack, a certain someone stayed eerily quiet, especially when Rengoku made a dig against whatever alpha got Giyuu pregnant and then abandoned him.
Rengoku was quick to notice, and anyone who was paying attention could see that he narrowed his eyes slightly in the direction of a certain Hashira.
Day after day, sunrise followed by sunset, things changed. Adjusting to pregnancy wasn't easy in the slightest.
Giyuu continued to help Tanjiro out in his training where he could, as long as he could. He would mostly watch, as Tanjiro and Urokodaki insisted that he rest. As annoyed as he felt, this did allow him to spend more time with the Kamados.
Nesting became a more frequent thing for him, making the nest in the old cabin bigger and more comfortable. He was heavily out of practice, and operated on instinct in regards to where to put everything. As a Demon Slayer always on the move, Giyuu hadn't nested since before his Final Selection. Back then, he had Sabito.
Sabito. What would he think?
Giyuu missed the young alpha dearly, no matter how much time had gone by. What would he have thought about him taking in two orphaned pups, one of them a demon, and expecting his own?
A mewl stopped his train of thought right then and there, and Giyuu looked to see Nezuko's face scrunched up. Her scent was beginning to sour with distress. Was she waking up, or was this a nightmare?
Either way, he needed to calm her down. Crawling over, Giyuu pulled Nezuko to his chest and nuzzled his cheek against the top of her hair as he released calming pheromones. "It's ok, pup. I'm here. You're safe."
Nezuko whined softly, snuggling into his hold. She was trying to say something. It almost sounded like-
"Mama..."
Giyuu paused, looking down at the sleeping demon as she relaxed again. He waited in silence, wondering if she'd say it again. Then the door opened, and in came an exhausted Tanjiro.
The young omega let out a yawn, but paused when he saw the expanded nest. Red eyes scanned the entire room before he looked back at Giyuu, gesturing to the nest and patiently waiting to be allowed in.
"You don't need to ask," Giyuu hummed, following up with a soft chirp. Tanjiro seemed to perk up at that, crawling into the nest and tucking himself against Giyuu's other side.
Giyuu smiled softly, nuzzling the boy with a purr which was quickly reciprocated. He watched as Tanjiro drifted off, his thoughts from before returning with an answer.
Sabito would've loved them both, whether or not Nezuko was a demon. And he probably would've adored the little lives Giyuu was carrying.
"Of course I would've."
Giyuu almost sat up in surprise, lifting his head and looking around the room for the source of the voice. "Sabito?" he croaked, only to be met with a breeze from the open window, carrying a familiar scent.
Oh, Sabito...
His dear friend was watching. Giyuu refused to believe otherwise. How else could that scent be carried in on the breeze?
He laid his head back down with a contented sigh and held the pups, his pups, close.
Sometime in early to mid-autumn, a month after Tanjiro was given his boulder, it happened. Giyuu went into labor. Urokodaki pulled the Kamado siblings out of the room and tended to Giyuu for an entire day and a half, until two newborns were nestled against Giyuu's chest.
"A son and a daughter," Urokodaki whispered, the smile in his tone clear as day. "They're beautiful."
Yes, they were. Giyuu faintly felt tears of joy running down his face.
"The pups are here? Can we meet them?" Tanjiro's voice was hesitant as he waited outside the door.
Giyuu chirped, a warm feeling in his chest as he called out to his older pup.
Slowly, Tanjiro crept in with a sleeping Nezuko on his back. He gasped softly, setting Nezuko down on the other side before moving closer.
"Hi," the red-haired boy whispered, his eyes trained on the newborns. "I'm Tanjiro, your big brother."
Giyuu could see resolve in his eldest's gaze, the silent promise of protection. He knew that Tanjiro would fight to the ends of the earth to protect his new baby siblings.
"Did you have any names in mind?" Tanjiro glanced up for a moment.
Shifting his body slowly, careful not the jostle and startle the little ones, Giyuu first nuzzled his son. "Kaito." The little boy squeaked in response before settling back down. Then Giyuu adjusted his hold on his daughter. "Kasumi."
Sea and Mist.
Urokodaki chuffed softly, staying where he was at the edge of the nest. "We'll have our hands full for a while."
Giyuu hummed softly. Yes, they would, but no one would go through it alone.
In the months gone by, Tanjiro kept working hard trying to slice that boulder. Once Giyuu was able to move around without pain, he went out to see what exactly his eldest was dealing with. He possibly had cornered and scolded Urokodaki for purposely giving his pup that boulder.
When Kaito and Kasumi were eight months old, Giyuu decided it was time to introduce them to the other Hashira. He had been procrastinating on it, not wanting to stir up drama in case either one took after their sire in looks, but it seemed they'd inherited his black hair and dark blue eyes.
"We'll be back as soon as we can." Giyuu thoroughly scent-marked Tanjiro and Nezuko before they left. "Keep working hard."
Any feelings of doubt or anxiety were pushed aside, all in attempt to keep his little ones settled during the trip. Pups were very sensitive to scent changes for the first few years of their lives.
Once they'd arrived at the manor and gone inside, all eyes were on them. Shinazugawa was purposefully ignored by the omega mother, no matter how much he stared.
As per pack tradition, Giyuu brought them to Oyakata-sama. He was the pack leader, after all. After proper introduction was done, the others were allowed to come see them.
"Oh, they're so cute!" Kanroji scooped up both pups and spun them around, causing both to squeal in delight. "I hope the pups I have someday are just as cute." She seemed not to notice Iguro choke in surprise.
Uzui barked out a laugh. "You should've brought these little rascals sooner!" The Sound Hashira gave Giyuu a hard pat on the back, causing him to jerk forward. "Any of us could've given you a break if you needed it."
Giyuu offered him a weak smile. "I had my family helping me, but thank you. I'll think about it."
Kaito and Kasumi were content to wander from person to person, always going back to Giyuu, but he always called them back whenever they started getting curious about Shinazugawa. Said alpha picked that up right off the bat, and was glaring daggers at Giyuu. If anyone else did, they didn't say anything.
Shinazugawa likely would have stayed distant and quiet, if it hadn't been for Rengoku. The Flame Hashira was sitting right next to Giyuu, quietly offering him food and asking him questions about his pups.
"Yeah, these two have older siblings," Giyuu explained softly, calling Kasumi back to him with a chirp. "I adopted two orphaned siblings, one of them is currently training with my former master."
Rengoku nodded along eagerly, holding a wriggling Kaito. "You must be very proud, Tomioka! When will they-"
A deep, menacing growl sounded and cut the Flame Hashira off. The pups whimpered and squirmed over to Giyuu, hiding their faces in his haori as all heads turned to look at the culprit.
Shinobu's smile hardened, and everyone could catch the scent of her anger in the air. "Now, Shinazugawa, you're scaring the pups. What has you so angry that you'd willingly frighten them?"
Shinazugawa stood up, fists clenched and fangs bared. "I'm sick of this! Sick of you all acting like Tomioka isn't purposefully keeping those pups from me!" He zeroes in on Rengoku. "And you! You're just courting him in front of everyone?!"
Iguro narrowed his eyes at his friend. "I thought you hated Tomioka. Why are you so pissed?"
Tokito, who'd been silently watching the pups with interest, blinked a few times before inspecting the scene. "What's going on? Why is everyone upset?"
Himejima muttered something, placing a hand on Tokito's shoulder.
"Sanemi," Oyakata-sama called, concerned for the Wind Hashira.
"Why am I pissed?! Cause those are my pups, damnit!" Shinazugawa snarled, pointedly ignoring the shocked expressions of everyone but Giyuu and Rengoku.
"I had a feeling," Rengoku huffed cooly, moving to shield Giyuu and the little ones behind him.
The two Hashira were glaring at each other, and the overpowering scent of angry alpha filled the room. Giyuu tried to reassure his pups with a purr, but it wouldn't do any good until things settled down or they left.
"You knew, huh? You planned to claim my pups as your own?" There was a challenge behind Shinazugawa's words.
Rengoku stood up, his voice level despite the anger in his gaze. "If Tomioka allows. You didn't want those pups in the first place, from what I understand."
"I never said that! I didn't even know he was pregnant until the master said something!" The scarred alpha took a deep breath. "They're my pups. I have a right-"
"You lost that right when you used your alpha voice to force me not to talk about what happened."
The room's temperature dropped several degrees, and everyone went quiet. Shinazugawa flinched, recognizing how much trouble he was in.
"He did what?" Kanroji's voice was quiet, horrified. The use of a command on an omega that you weren't mated to was forbidden.
"Giyuu, go on and take your children home." Oyakata-sama didn't sound angry, more so heavily disappointed. "I'm so sorry you had to go through this. I'll speak with Sanemi about this."
Giyuu quickly thanked him before exiting the manor, holding Kaito and Kasumi to his chest.
"Tomioka, wait!"
Giyuu had made it a good distance away before he heard Rengoku's shout. Turning, he watched as the Flame Hashira skidded to a halt once he reached them.
"Forgive me, I just couldn't stand letting you walk all the way home by yourself."
Glancing down at his two little ones, who were eagerly reaching out to Rengoku, Giyuu retorted, "But I'm not by myself."
Rengoku chuckled lightly, his face flushed. "Technically no, but demons still come out at night and I'm sure it takes quite some time to return home."
"Are you saying you wish to escort me?" Giyuu tipped his head to one side. "Why?"
The flame-haired alpha gave him a smile that was softer than any other Giyuu had seen on him. "I care for you, Tomioka. I'd like to get to know you more, as well as meet your other children you mentioned."
"You- I just- me?" Giyuu felt his face begin to heat up as Kaito finally managed to wriggle out of his hold. Rengoku was quick to scoop him up, laughing good-naturedly.
"You've got quite the little explorer." The Flame Hashira patted the boy on the back, his expression soft when he met Giyuu's gaze again. "I understand we are not very close, but I want to change that. At the very least, if you're not interested in a potential mate, I can be there for you and all four of your pups."
Giyuu stared, taking a moment to think. Rengoku was another Hashira. Would he understand Nezuko's situation? By bringing him back to Mount Sagiri, Giyuu was risking the death of one of his pups as well as punishment and exile for himself. Could he truly take that chance? Could anything between them work after this, professional or not? Would it work?
After moments of silence, Giyuu adjusted his hold on Kasumi before meeting Rengoku's gaze. Whatever choice he made, he'd do anything for the sake of his children.