Chapter three: Persistence
Trigger warnings // violence, gore? //
Side note: I’m proud that I’ve been able to write this much in less than a week
Chapter two | Chapter four
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My blade skated across the floor as I hit the wall, the power behind his swings were enough to level a small forest but he was holding back. I’d learned over the month the difference between his battles with other demons and me. He showed no patience and no mercy, with me he’d only pretend he was using his full strength. I grunted as I pushed myself back up, reaching for my sword in the same motion. “That’s enough for today, you need to have a better grasp on the breath style before you can try taking me in battle.” His blade had been sheathed and it looked, for a moment, like he was about to help me up. “My, my, that was an impressive battle. I’m surprised you’re still alive, Kaiyo.” I sucked in a breath and tensed up. Why had Douma come to me now? “Well, it seems you don’t need me anymore…” not that I ever had. His feigned sorrow made my anger boil, my jaw tightened and I’d subconsciously adjusted how I’d held my blade. My breathing grew heavier and I felt as if I was frozen, I didn’t notice Kokushibou began speaking with him or that he’d left. A hand, hesitantly, landed on my shoulder and I remember I’d yelped, like a beat dog. The hand stayed on my shoulder for a moment before slowly sliding away. My breath had calmed and I wiped my eyes, I hadn’t noticed that I was crying. Kokushibou stood in front of me for a moment before walking away. He wanted me to follow. I stumbled a bit before I started to jog after him, my blade now at my side in its sheath as I caught up to him. I cleared my throat as I stared up at him, my thoughts returning to his words earlier. Breath styles were usually used by demon slayers…. “Were you…” the words died on my tongue as I realized that it was most likely a bad question and it’d anger him. “Was I what.” It came out sharp, like he knew what I was asking, “You know it bothers me when you do that. Refusing to finish your questions.” I looked down for a moment, I had no choice but to ask, “were you in the corps when you were human?” I’d already braced before the words left my mouth but he had only kept walking… “Yes, and rather powerful. I was one of the first Hashira.” The words were calm, arguably even soft. His answer surprised me. Not because he was in the corps but because he’d actually answered. I stared at him as we walked, my mouth slightly open. “Why did you become a demon?” That one struck a nerve. He’d stopped walking and his hand twitched, like he’d wanted to reach for his blade. “I.. I’m sorry, sir-“ His hand flew up in a dismissive manner, telling me to stop talking, before he began walking again…
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In the time I had between training, I would draw. One night he’d gone out of the castle and upon returning he dropped graphite in front of me. He didn’t say anything about it, just dropped it and went to sit as he always did. The drawings in question were of me and him, usually us training, sometimes us just sitting together. He would watch as I drew, not usually reacting much. As the time we’d been near each other went from months to almost two years, the way he treated me changed. When he would go out, I would be given more paper, more graphite and raw meats. It was confusing the first time he dropped a butchered cow in front of me but I ate what was offered to me. I never said it but I was grateful that he’d go out of his way to bring me animals instead of humans. He had also sit near me as I’d draw, his six eyes trained on the lines as they pulled across the paper. He’d often wait for me to be finished with my scribbles before we went off to train. I wish I’d spent more time on those drawings.
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“What is it?” The words snapped me out of my thoughts. I hadn’t realized I stopped drawing. He knew I was thinking of something, it was strange how he could tell. “You won’t like the question, sir.” Sir. I didn’t hear the sigh nor the expression that’d flashed over his face. I’d never know that he had kids at one point or that he’d started to see them when he’d look at me. “Ask.” Though it was a command, it was gentle. I picked at the edge of my paper before answering, “Why did you become a demon?” I’d braced as the words left my mouth but instead of reaching for his blade he… sighed. Like the question brought back memories that he hated… or even grieved… “I was jealous. I wanted to be the strongest but, my brother had always been stronger.” I looked to him, about to ask another question but he’d beaten me to it. “Yes, I had a brother. We were twins.” He shifted how he sat and then continued. “It was as if he’d been born to wield a blade and I was always chasing after his abilities, reaching his level when he’d long surpassed it. When the opportunity reached out to me, I took it instantly. I rejected my humanity, my weaknesses, my title.” His eyes were trained on a specific mat on the floor as if he was reliving the past. “You… were both Hashira.” My expression had only grown more curious, it was almost impossible to believe that anyone was ever stronger than him. I watched his hand move to his sheathed blade to pull it half out, eyes extended over it along a strange red pattern, “This was my blade.” I’d seen it before, yes, but not up close while it wasn’t swinging. “I used my blood demon art to change it.” I frowned at him. I didn’t know what blood demon art was and I knew he knew that when he’d let out a very small laugh. “I didn’t realize I’d failed in teaching you of that.” I was a bit more focused on the fact that he’d cracked a, albeit small, smile and even laughed… this was the first emotion I’d seen from him other than the usual anger or stoicism. I’d long forgotten my graphite on the floor while he explained blood demon art, showing me how he wields his and how it works. I’d caught onto it rather quickly and we’d found that if my blood touched anyone it would glow and they would burn… much like how demons did under the sun. My focus shifted to how he used to be a Hashira… yes, he was a human before then…. But, what if a demon joined the corps…?
