Slowly

Warning: FINAL ARC SPOILERS!! Fem! reader, reader is called mom, Mentions of Character death, I changed the ending becuase i hate it :) People are alive some are not, injuries, talk of injury.

It was hard after the final battle, for the whole family, adjusting to new injuries, and missing limbs. It was like time had frozen for your ever-growing household. You stayed at the butterfly estate, helping the girls care for the injured and sick, wrapping and rewrapping wounds. You didn’t have much medical expertise but from what you read and the instructions Aoi had given you, you managed just fine. It was easier since you had been tasked specifically to 2 of the remaining hashira and Genya. You knew Aoi had done it as a favor, for you and herself. You could handle them easier, and now that the surgeries were over aftercare was much easier. The Kakushi and Aoi still checked in and assisted when you needed, thankfully.

“Does that feel uncomfortable at all?” You adjusted the pillow under Gyomei's leg, elevating his freshly wrapped leg. “I’m okay dear, do not fret” You were easing him back into bed after a short walk. He was unsteady on the crutches, still gaining his strength from being bedridden for so long, but his injuries were severe and his body needed time. “How are the boys?” You smiled, knowing how far he had come from when you had first met him, adamant about never having children or even accepting a tsugoku, knowing what could happen. He couldn’t handle losing someone so small and so young dying under his care, every death of his friends and of the slayers he knew, it hurt. But when you met Genya you couldn’t turn him away and once Muichiro became more of a prominent figure in your house his heart had grown wider, slowly the walls that stopped him from accepting had crumbled and the boys took residence in his heart. “Muichiro is alright, his pain tolerance is very high, and he doesn’t complain much, but losing his hands has been a process. However much like your leg, there may be a way to help him. Yushiro has mentioned a treatment that Lady Tamayo was developing for regenerating limbs, she knew after the battle would be rough. It's still in development though, but in the meantime, we can look into prosthetics if you are interested? Muichiro is going for it.” He didn’t respond, just simply rubbed the spot where the bandages that covered his leg ended, trying to soothe the aches that the medications didn’t fully stop. “what about Genya?” “He has good days and bad days. His body is reacting well to blood transfusion. Nezukos blood has only positively affected him. Because he was ingesting demon flesh he regenerated most of himself, but it didn’t work fully because of the medication lady Tamayo had been giving him to help him stay human and stop the progression of becoming a demon. his right arm couldn’t be saved. He also lost vision in his right eye and he is learning how to walk again, his scars are healing well though. There will be a lot of trials with his body. Last I saw though he was with Sanemi in the back gardens.” “ah, I see” He looked contemplative, the fresh scars that crossed his face wrinkled as he organized his thoughts. “Gyomei” At the use of his full name he looked over, you had always used a nickname or a pet name unless it was serious. He wrapped one of your hands in his own, showing you had his full attention. “I’ve been thinking a lot. I know you didn’t want children. But, now that there are no more demons and we don’t have to worry as much about anything happening. Maybe, I was hoping you would consider if it was okay with him, adopting Muichiro, officially?” You took a pause, watching his features for any sign of displeasure or unhappiness, anything that said no. “Have you spoken to him about this?” You shook your head. “No, I wanted to speak to you. I was hoping for Genya and Muichiro but I have a feeling he will be moving into Sanemi’s home and staying with him. They are family after all. But either way. We have room for both, even an extra addition if you wanted.” You were hopeful, he had grown to love them both and you knew he did. Maybe not as much as you but in his own way, he loved the boys. “An extra addition? Like, a baby?” Your face was flaming, it was moments like this that made you glad your husband had no sight because you were probably as red as a tomato. You didn’t want to openly admit you have thought of it, seeing Gyomei hold your own little bundle of love, take naps with a baby on his chest, sleeping the day away. It was an extensive thought. Even with Genya and Muichiro, they would make excellent brothers, always so attentive and caring. “If you would like to I would very much enjoy having one of our own. You are an excellent father figure to the boys and an excellent caretaker. But, not now because we have a lot of adjusting to do. I had a few kakushi ask about building ramps for our house. I ordered the supplies they would need and they are starting today. So when you come home and even Genya, you can get around easily in a wheelchair when you are tired.” The change of subject was carefully planned, but you knew he wouldn’t let it go so easily. “I think we should speak to Shinazugawa about Genya and then approach them both. If you still wish to have a child of our own a few years from now. I would like that. You are a wonderful mother already and I already know our child will be very lucky to have you.” His words were watery, tears slipping down his face as he pulled you into the bed with him, wrapping you in his embrace. “Mei! You are injured you shouldn’t be swinging me around right now!” you scolded, though the words held no malice, your weight was never a problem for him, it wouldn’t change just because he was healing.

“Hi boys, how are you feeling?” Genya was sitting on Muichiro's bed, helping the smaller boy with what you assumed was a letter.

“Hey, Mom! Look! Genya is really good at drawing! Even with his left hand!” The bandages that covered Muichiro's forearms were smeared in ink. And the papers with blotches you assumed were his ‘paintings’ You looked over the papers scattered over the bed after placing down the tray of gauze, antiseptics along with other various items needed for their wounds and scars. Muichiro’s hair was pulled out of his face, braided down his back so it wouldn’t get in the way of his bandages and wounds.  Genya had his hair tied off and out of his face, a purple butterfly clip holding it in place. You shook your head as you adjusted it, knowing that Kanae probably let him borrow one of her most treasured possessions, you would have to thank her for her kindness later. “You did beautiful! Is that Rice cake? She looks so cute!” There was a soft smile on Genya’s face at the thought of the black and white cat that he found one night, bringing it home with him from a mission. Gyomei was ecstatic to have another furry friend be brought home. “Yeah, how is she?” You hummed in thought, trying to remember what was in the letter from your sister who had offered to watch the house while you stayed at the butterfly estate. “She’s good, I guess she keeps going in your room looking for you. But she’s being cared for. They started on the renovations, adding ramps to and from the house, into the gardens.” Both boys were nodding along as you spoke. “Are you done painting so I can change you out of those disgusting bandages?” You looked at Muichiro who was analyzing the ink patterns covering the gauze. “It's not that bad, right? Its art. Uzui would call it flashy” “And I would call it an infection waiting to happen. You haven’t fully healed yet please don’t get an infection when you have probably less than a month before your skin finally finished healing.” Genya was collecting the paper, stacking it so it could be moved and you could sit down and change Muichiros bandages.

The boys talked as you changed their bandages and helped Muichiro into lighter clothes, the days were getting warmer and you didn’t need him dying from heat stroke. “So, mom” Genya started “Did you talk to him? About our question?” You were surprised it took them this long to bring it up, you had already changed Muichiros bandages and were finishing up rubbing scar cream over Genya’s freshly healed facial scars. “Yes and no. I didn’t tell him you two asked. I asked him if he would consider officially adopting you two. He wants to talk to Sanemi before approaching either of you. We love you both but Sanemi is your blood family Genya and you have worked so hard to try and reconnect we wouldn’t want to tear you away from that. There is no rush you two. Let’s get everyone healed and back home before we make big moves, alright?” You finalized the talk with a kiss on each of their foreheads before returning to your husband.

The former sound hashira and his wives were crowding the room as you returned. “Ah, the Uzui family. Hello, how are you?” You greeted, carefully shutting the shoji doors behind you. “Y/N! Oh, I’m so glad to see you! Your house is all done! We added ramps all over your home, and we even helped clean up. Your sister is a wonderful woman, I can’t believe you never mentioned your family!” Suma was bouncing on her heels as she spoke a mile a minute. Relaying her entire day of helping with the maintenance to update your house for wheelchairs. “oh, and even better! We brought presents for the boys! Since were sure they were gonna return home we bought them cute little outfits, kind of western but they will look so handsome! And look, I brought it because I know you’ve been pinning his hair back, but look at this clip I found for Muichiro? Isn’t it beautiful, I thought, oh he would look so cute in this! With his outfit! How young can he get married? He will be the talk of the town.” She was still rambling, pushing a large hair clip in your hands as she spoke. It was a beautiful Cyan, with silver embellishments and a unique leaf design etched into it. It looked expensive and high-class. This couldn’t have been a cheap gift. “Thank you, Suma, all of you. I’ve sure he will love it. I’m not sure about marriage but I will keep it in mind for a future talk” That talk wouldn’t happen anytime soon as you placed the clip on a table that held various items brought from your home for Gyomei. “How are you feeling dear? Pain?” “I am at ease” he grunted, patting a smoothed-over spot on the bed next to him. “Gyomei and I were discussing the funerals. They plan on finishing the burials in a few days with the hashira. Many of the kakushi were wondering if the two of you would be in attendance, along with Tokito” Tengen looked at you from his seat next to the bed. Hinatsuru and Makio were sitting next to him, silent as they waited for an answer. “I will be there” gyomei finalized. “I will talk to Mui about it. His recovery has been good so I don’t imagine he wouldn’t go. Have you spoken to Sanemi about this? Has he said anything?” Although he was severely injured, his recovery seemed rather fast. He slept for a month straight but that seemed to be when he did all of his healing, only waking up with weakness and some sore spots. It was a miracle you thought because he looked rough for a while. You had switched off watching him with Aoi and the three little ones. “We spoke to him and Tomioka, they both will be in attendance. You and Muichiro were the last two we had to confirm. We were going to visit him but I figured since you two are his unofficial parents I figured I would just ask you.” Tengen finished. You and Gyomei both nodded. “How are you all doing now, after everything is over? How are you feeling?” Hinatsuru changed directions addressing you both. “Healing well. My nurse seems to be giving me special treatment I believe. She is good at her job!” Gyomei chuckled, leaning into you. “A joke Gyomei? You must be feeling better today. It’s a slow process but it's going well. The boys are healing and Sanemi is fully healed. So we're getting by, slowly but surely.” You smiled at the Uzui’s, they were worriers, even if they didn’t seem like it they stopped by quite often to make sure everyone was okay. Hinatsuru often sent letters and gifts from their garden. “That is so wonderful to hear. Most everyone seems to be almost if not fully healed. After everyone is healed I would love if all of us to spend a week or so together. To reconnect after such a hard battle. We have been through a lot as a team and I think it’s time to properly bond as a family. We have been the ones to end it. We shall celebrate and reminisce about our departed friends and family!” Tengen announced, all three of the girls nodded with him, bright smiles on their faces at the announcement. “That is lovely” Gyomei noted. “If you would like, we can have everyone at our home! We have plenty of room! We can have Muichiro and Genya stay in our room while everyone stays over. It will help me keep an eye on everyone! Easier to change bandages if everyone is already there!” There was collective laughter at your last statement. “Of course just name a date and we will be there” The Uzui’s stayed until it was rather dark out, talking throughout the dinner you brought them and even as you changed the bandage wrapped around Gyomei’s calf. They didn’t leave until Suma fell asleep on your lap and you were close behind, struggling to keep your eyes open after a long day.