Chapter 9 - The Morning Sun

After the showcase in the backyard, everyone regrouped inside for lunch.

"Mom, Kozaburo-sensei wanted me to bring Yuugata to him, is that okay?"

Hana melancholically stared at the heirloom hung on the wall after hearing her son's question. After a few moments, she let out a deep sigh.

"Yeah, take it. Yuugata is yours now."

Hana then put down her bowl of food and started fidgeting with her fingers. She spent a few more moments in silence before starting to speak.

"All I've ever told you about Yuugata is that it's our family's heirloom. The truth is, Yuugata is a reforged sword. Originally it belonged to your grandfather, as one of the fifty Skillful Grade Swords, Yugure(Twilight)."

Hana then griped her hand tightly, closing her eyes, recalling something from the past.

"Five years before you were born, I was challenged by a wandering swordsman. He was just a kid, probably no more than nine years old. I didn't take him seriously at first, but he was a master swordsman. He wielded one of the twelve Supreme Grade Swords, Yoru(Night). In that fight, although he spared my life, he severely damaged Yugure. Uncle Kozaburo reforged it for me into Yuugata but it had dropped a grade."

Hana sighed deeply.

"After that, I retired Yuugata and married your father who I had been dating at the time."

Terumi was shocked and shaken at the revelation that his mother just told him.

'Yoru? There's only one swordsman in the world that can wield that sword in this era.'

"Dracule...Mihawk."

Hana kept her eyes closed and simply nodded.

"Since then he has become famed as the best swordsman in the world. Before him, that title belonged to your grandfather, Kenzaki Keisuke. My only solace is...that he had already passed away the year before, so he didn't have to see me destroy his reputation."

Hana's grip tightened with anger and she started shaking.

"Mihawk came to challenge him, but since was already gone, he settled for me instead."

Terumi didn't say anything, there were no words he could find that would comfort his mother. That was when Kuina who had been listening silently this whole time spoke up.

"Aunt Hana, don't be angry. So what if he beat you, one day, I will avenge you and take his title of the best swordsman in the world!"

Hana's heart was warmed by Kuina's words, and she somewhat calmed down and smiled.

"Thank you, Kuina."

Terumi thought to himself quietly as the two resumed their lunch. A slightly uncomfortable feeling started building in his chest.

'Mihawk...the best swordsman in the world. It's Kuina's dream to have that title so one day they would have to clash, but...what is my dream?'

Terumi peaked at the two sitting next to him, as he quietly ate his lunch.

'I've grown too comfortable here, surrounded by people who love me. The guide wanted me to find true happiness, and I thought I found it with my family but that is not all there is! I still haven't even left this small island, seen the world. This can't be all there is that the guide wanted me to find! This can't be all there is, that I wanted to find.'

Terumi looked at his hand, covered in blisters hardened from his sword training. A new, burning sensation came bursting forth from his chest.

'Yes. That's right. What I wanted was to never feel regret again. Regret that I didn't do my best, that I didn't do enough. If just hearing the name of a powerful opponent is going to break my spirit, then I will have wasted my second chance at life.'

Terumi gathered up the courage to ask his mother a question.

"Mom, when you were young, did you have a dream?"

Hana hummed as she thought back upon her youth. A wry smile appeared on her face.

"When I was your age, I spent all my time training. Your grandfather wanted me to take his place and succeed him as the successor to the Kenzaki family, one day returning to Wano to restore our glory. I always admired him, I didn't mind the training, I always thought that his dream was valiant, a dream that I too shared."

Hana then sighed and continued.

"But I wasn't good enough. I could never match up to what he wanted me to be, what I wanted myself to be. It wasn't until I met your father Akira that I learned to accept my shortcomings and move on."

"Father never spoke ill of me, he came to accept my decision, but I can't say I didn't have some regret."

Hana sighed once more before shaking her head with a tired smile.

"Enough of this depressing talk, what's done is done. I don't feel so bad about it anymore. I'm happy here, with you and your father."

Terumi contemplated his mother's wisdom before looking up, with a fire in his eyes.

'I know exactly how you felt, mom. That pain, that burn that kept churning in my chest, even after I had died. It's been so long I've forgotten how it felt, but now I've made my decision.'

"In this life, there can only be one strongest swordsman, and that person will be me. I will join the Marines and get strong, absorb all the knowledge and training I can, and one day, I will show the world that the Kenzaki family hasn't died out yet. I will carry on your dream for you, for my grandfather, and for myself. I don't want to live a life of regret."

Hana shone with a wider smile and tearfully nodded at her son's declaration.

"I know you can do it, son. I will support you, in what ever you want to do."

Kuina chuckled after hearing Terumi's resolute claim.

"Nii-san, don't forget about me! If you want that title, you'll have to wait your turn and take it from me after I defeat him."

"Ha, cheeky kid. Tell me that again after you go through my mother's training."

Terumi smiled, a true bright wide smile, perhaps for the first time in either of his lives.

"Okay, okay. Hurry up and eat! I need to do the dishes."

""Okay!""

...

After finishing up his meal, Terumi ran up to the living room wall and grabbed Yuugata into his hand, and then left to go towards the Shimotsuki household estate. Kuina stayed behind to talk to Hana about her training that's starting soon.

"Yuugata...Yugure. I can feel it. I know you aren't satisfied with being a wall decoration. Please trust in me, trust in Kozaburo-sensei. We will restore you to what you once were."

Yuugata slightly shook in his hand, as if responding to his declaration.

As soon as he made his way into the compound, he found Koushirou talking with his wife Kasumi. Koushirou noticed him and beckoned towards him.

"Terumi-kun, welcome back. Where's Kuina?"

"She's spending some time with my mom, they wanted to talk about her training regime that starts soon."

"Ah, I see."

Koushirou smiled and nodded.

"That's good. I know she will flourish under Hana-san's training."

Terumi smiled and then looked around.

"Have you guys seen Kozaburo-sensei? Is he still fishing?"

Kasumi shook her head and then pointed towards a direction far behind the main house.

"No, he went to the forge, he told me to expect your arrival. You'll find him over there."

"Thank you!"

Kasumi smiled but as soon as Terumi left, it turned into a frown.

"Koushirou..."

"I know honey. This is my father's decision. We must respect it."

Heading over towards the forge, Terumi found the door open, with the sound of rummaging inside.

Entering in, he saw Kozaburo dragging a heavy bag.

"Sensei! Need some help?"

"Ah, there you are, kid. No, it's fine, I need to loosen these old muscles."

Terumi gleefully walked over and handed Kozaburo his sword, Yuugata.

"Here it is, mother says it's mine now."

Kozaburo examined the sword with nostalgia in his eyes before accepting it.

Unsheathing the sword, a beautiful white sheen with a winding black Hamon pattern appeared. Although Yuugata had stayed at its resting place for over a decade now, the Meito had not rusted at all.

"Did your mother tell you?"

"Yes, she did."

Terumi answered with resolve in his eyes. Seeing that look Kozaburo grinned and nodded.

"Good, you've got the eyes of a real man now."

Kozaburo then opened the large bag, a variety of ores were stored in it.

"I had some leftover materials that I had saved all these years that I brought with me from Wano. This is a special ore that only exists in our home country. Originally I wanted to use it to repair Yugure, but your mother refused."

Kozaburo started removing the ores and placing them next to him.

"Tell me, kid. What will you do with your family's sword?"

Terumi took a deep breath before answering clearly.

"I will reclaim the title of the best swordsman in the world to the Kenzaki family!"

Kozaburo grinned widely, a fire burned in his eyes.

"Gahahahaha! Yes! That's what I wanted to hear. Now, go outside. Do not interrupt me, no matter what. I will be done with your gourds and sword in a week."

"Yes! Sensei!"

Terumi headed outside to see Koushirou and Kasumi waiting for him, he closed the door to the forge behind him before greeting them. As soon as he did, he felt a sudden wave of pressure emanate from the closed door behind him.

'What is that? Is that...Haki?'

Koushirou and Kasumi felt it as well.

"Terumi, there's something we have to tell you."

Terumi turned back to face the two and looked inquisitively. Kasumi had a grim look, while Koushirou bore a resolute expression before speaking.

"My father's health has been declining recently. The doctors told me he only had a few more years to live. Originally, that would be true, if he were to rest and live responsibly, but..."

Terumi's eyes widened, he immediately turned back to go open the door in a panic.

"Don't."

Koushirou's soft-spoken singular word stopped him.

"This is his will. Please, watch over him. It's your right."

Terumi stood shellshocked, tears started to well up in his eyes.

'This wasn't how this was supposed to go! Why must I lose in order to gain!'

Terumi bit his lip as he hung his head. Kasumi came over to hug him.

"Over the years, before you joined, father became increasingly despondent as the years went by. Until you came. It felt like he got his cheerfulness back, and today, I saw a fire in him I've never seen before. Please, don't blame yourself. This is what he wanted."

Terumi wiped his tears, his downtrodden expression replaced with one of absolute resolve.

"I swear to you, Sensei, Kasumi-san. I will not let it go to waste. Please, allow me to wait here for him to finish. Inform my mother for me."

Terumi knelt down in front of the forge, refusing to move.

Kasumi simply nodded.

"Okay."

...

A week went by, the door to the forge did not open once, and neither Terumi did not move from his position. Kasumi regularly came by and provided him with food. Sounds from the forge rung out regularly from dawn until dusk, now the morning of the final day, the sun hung overhead as the sounds from within the forge had stopped.

The silence was deafening. A few minutes later, the door creaked open, revealing Kozaburo in a dreadful state.

"Sensei!"

"Oh good, you're here. Come, take a look."

Kozaburo shakingly raised a katana sheathed in its scabbard.

"This will be my life's greatest work."

Raising the sword high into the sky, he unsheathed it, bathing it in the morning light. It's Hamon waves colored red.

"Let this be the rise of a new legend. The dawn of a new generation. I name this blade, Asahi! (Morning Sun)"

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A/N: If you're reading this on Christmas, Merry Christmas! I hope I was able to provide some entertainment for you.