Chapter 12

{5 months later}

I had spent a much-needed five months relaxing from everything I had been through. I cherished this time with my family, strengthening our bonds. I tried to teach my brother, although I still couldn't instruct him in the ways of the blade. This was a source of disappointment for both Grandma Kaoru and Grandpa Yamato. Speaking of Grandpa Yamato, we had an interesting spar just two months ago.

{flashback 2 months ago}

"I know you're probably stronger than me, but I still want to fight you," Grandpa Yamato declared, conviction resonating in his voice.

"Okay," I replied, a hint of amusement in my tone. "But I do need a handicap, considering I'm much younger and have a tougher body than you, Grandpa."

"No, I want to experience your full force," Grandpa Yamato insisted.

"You need a handicap, even if you were younger, and you're already 77. Don't be so stubborn," Grandma Kaoru chimed in, playfully hitting Grandpa's back.

We made our way to the dojo, and I set the terms. "As a handicap, I won't move from this spot," I declared, pointing beneath me. "And I won't use any of my breathing styles or techniques."

"That seems acceptable," Grandpa Yamato grumbled under his breath.

Grandpa Yamato took hold of a wooden sword, and Grandma Kaoru handed me one, since I had vowed not to move from my designated spot. With Grandma Kaoru standing between us, she raised her hand and yelled "Begin" and then swiftly moved out of the way.

Deciding to deactivate my X-ray vision, I recognized it wouldn't be a fair match otherwise.

Grandpa Yamato charged towards me with surprising speed for a man of his age, delivering a diagonal slash. I deftly parried, a smirk gracing my face. He followed up with a series of attacks, skillfully employing the fundamentals of swordplay, yet each time, I parried effortlessly, maintaining my confident grin.

After a particularly intense exchange, Grandpa Yamato took a step back, panting heavily. "Come on, Grandpa. You used to beat me in seconds before," I teased.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and retorted, "You little brat." With renewed determination, he launched another assault. This time, he initiated with a downward slash, likely attempting to throw off my balance. However, with my tougher body, his efforts were in vain. I pivoted in place, effectively blocking each strike.

In a moment of weariness, I failed to notice that Grandpa Yamato had cleverly left himself with ample leverage. Executing a feint, he caught me off guard, appearing fatigued enough that he wouldn't be able to swing again.He started to let his blade fall to the ground but swiftly, he redirected his blade, striking my left leg, causing me to involuntarily step back an inch. My arm responded instinctively, deploying my full strength to meet the strike. Thankfully, I managed to redirect it, the blow landing on the dojo instead. The wooden blade exploded into fragments, and a crack appeared throughout the floor dojo.

"Well, that was close," Grandpa Yamato remarked. "You possess some truly impressive power."

"Yeah, sorry, Grandpa. Reflex," I replied.

"Yamato has won!" Grandma Kaoru proclaimed with the enthusiasm of a smitten teenager.

{Present}

I could come up with all sorts of excuses for my loss. I could say I was deliberately holding back my physical strength, or that my movements were restricted, or I couldn't utilize my breathing techniques, or even that I didn't use my X-ray vision. But the straightforward truth is, I was overconfident. I hadn't encountered anyone I couldn't defeat, and my grandpa cleverly exploited his own characteristics, like his age, to feign fatigue. That event made it crystal clear that I still had a lot of room left for improvement.

So, following that battle, I resolved to recommence my training in earnest. Besides spending quality time with my family, I dedicated myself to mastering all the constellation forms. With each passing day, I delved deeper into the intricacies of these techniques. My X-ray vision, became an invaluable tool. It allowed me to scrutinize the details of these forms with unparalleled precision, surpassing the limitations of my regular vision.

As I practiced, I began to uncover subtle nuances and refine my execution. The constellations seemed to come alive, each movement becoming more fluid and precise. The impact of my training was palpable. It was as if I could sense the very essence of the forms, their rhythms and flows becoming second nature to me. I had finnally mastered all forms of the primary 12 constellations the only ones I could see move in the night sky.

Kusakabe Takashi POV

I couldn't have asked for a happier moment than this. Our family had grown, and we were all reunited. Hoshi, my son, had truly found his calling as a demon slayer. By the age of 14, he had risen to become the second-highest ranked slayer, bringing great honor to the Kusakabe name. His remarkable skills even opened up opportunities for us, securing contracts with villages he had saved. Through these contracts, we began selling silk, further bolstering our prosperity.

Then there was Tsukiko, a different kind of brilliance shining within him. While he may not possess the same intellectual acumen as his brother, his dedication and passion for the family business were unmistakable. After discussions with my father, we made the decision to appoint Tsukiko as the next heir of the Kusakabe family. As for Hoshi, he was now slated to inherit Aki's family, the Mononobe clan. Although not as financially lucrative as ours, it still held a significant wealth, specializing in the training of bodyguards and entry-level demon slayers.

Kusakabe Aki POV

While I would never say it out loud, I cherished both my sons equally. However, Tsukiko had a way of showering me with a love that was uniquely his. Hoshi, on the other hand, always appeared more mature for his age, his mind often lost among the stars until his formal education began. As a child, he seemed emotionally distant, a trait less prominent in Tsukiko, who embodied the joy and exuberance of childhood, always giggling and laughing, unable to contain his boundless energy.

Now that Hoshi had returned, it mattered little how he behaved as a child. Alongside his physical growth, I noticed a deepening of emotional connections. He didn't exude the same aloofness he did in his younger years. I can only imagine the challenges he's faced along the path he's chosen. Yet, as his mother, it's my duty to stand beside him, offering unwavering support for the journey he loves.

{Kusakabe Mansion 9:00PM}

As we all gathered around the dinner table, a solemn decision weighed on my heart. "I am leaving tomorrow," I announced, shattering the hushed ambiance. The words hung heavily in the air, and then my mother, concern etched on her face, asked, "Why, dear?"

"I made a promise to someone to slay a demon, and I've postponed it long enough. My duties and promises need to be fulfilled," I explained.

"But I don't want big brother to go!" Tsukiko's voice rang out, filled with desperation.

"I'm sorry, Tsukiko, but I must," I gently replied. He leaped from his seat, and climbed ran to his room.

"I'll go get him," she offered, but I stopped her, urging her to stay seated.

"While it's true that I don't want to leave yet, it's not only because of duty and promise. There's also a debt I have yet to pay," I added, revealing a layer of complexity to my decision.

"Well, I guess that settles it," Grandpa Hajime commented, his voice reflecting a sense of resignation. The table fell back into silence, the weight of my impending departure lingering.

The following day, as I descended the stairs, my entire family awaited me, including Tsukiko, who clung to my legs. Through his sobs, he pleaded, "Please don't die, big brother."

"Don't worry," I reassured him, "I won't die. After all, big brother is the strongest." With a heavy heart, I bid farewell to my family, leaving the Kusakabe mansion without looking back. I donned my face mask, concealing my mouth and nose, and activated my X-ray vision. With a determined gaze fixed on the horizon, I declared, "Time to slay an upper demon." And so, I set off, the rhythmic clinking of the chain on my left side and the whistling wind accompanying me on my journey.