45 The Book

As the two were running, Rengoku said, "We are going to my father's place first! My father was a former Flame Hashira so he might have some records of the 'Breath of Fire'!"

Hiroto nodded at his words, asking him, "You come from a Demon Slayer family?"

Renguku replied, "That's right! Our family has a close relation to the 'Breath of Flames' and the Flame Hashira!"

"That's quite impressive," Hiroto said.

As night descended, they arrived outside the home of Rengoku's father. At the front of the entrance, a young boy with similar looks to Rengoku could be seen carrying a box full of empty bottles. As Rengoku and Hiroto approached, Hiroto could smell a strong scent from the bottles which reminded him of some of the medicine used in the Butterfly Estate.

"Ah, big brother! What brings you here?" The boy said. Hiroto saw that his eyes and hair were extremely similar to that of Rengoku's, however, the look in the depth of his eyes held some sadness within them.

"Senjuro! I accepted a Tsuguko to succeed me! He has an affinity with the flame breathing technique! I brought him here so we can find some of the old records about his breathing technique, 'Breath of Fire!" Rengoku said.

Senjuro looked towards Hiroto and bowed, "Nice to meet you! I'm Kyojuro Senjuro!"

Hiroto bowed back and said, "I'm Kamado Hiroto, nice to meet you too."

Rengoku nodded, and turned to his brother saying, "How's father doing?"

Senjuro paused for a moment, before looking down. Rengoku got the hint, and said, "I see. Let's go in then Hiroto!"

Hiroto looked confused as to why they would act this way at the mention of their father, but he didn't want to pry too much.

As they entered the house, they went to a study room and saw a shelf lined with some books. Rengoku spoke up as he started searching. "Father would always be reading one particular book. Ah! Found it!"

Rengoku then took out a book, on the cover Hiroto saw the words, 'The 21st generation of Flame Pillars.'

"This book should contain all the information on the past from the past!" Rengoku said, passing the book to Hiroto.

Hiroto observed the book for a moment, before flipping it open. "Thi..." Hiroto spoke out, stunned at what he saw.

"This is…" Rengoku was also at a loss for words as he saw the state the book was in.

"It's all ripped to shreds…" Hiroto said. "It's practically unreadable."

Rengoku then spoke up. "I'm sorry Hiroto, I didn't know what it was like this. The last time I saw the book it was in good condition. The 'Generational Flame Pillar Record' is supposed to be preserved well. I suppose my father must have done something…" Rengoku said with an apologetic tone.

*Thud* The door to the room that Rengoku and Hiroto were in swung open, as a middle-aged drunk man stepped inside. He looked similar in appearance to Rengoku, by having the same hair. However, when Hiroto saw his eyes, he saw a lot of anger and agony within them.

"You call yourself my son? You go off to be a Demon Slayer with your lack of talent, and come back here without even greeting your father?!" The old man shouted.

Hiroto could tell the man was drunk, but this behavior was unfit for a father, as Hiroto frowned upon hearing the man's words.

"I'm sorry father, I was going through the records to gain some insight for my Tsuguko!" Rengoku replied with his same straight face.

"Your Tsuguko? Which bra-" *crash* As the old man turned to face Hiroto, he dropped his urn of sake to the ground, staring at the bracelet on Hiroto's wrist.

"Yo-you! You're a 'Breath of the Sun' User right? That's right!" The man frowned heavily as he pointed towards Hiroto.

" 'Breath of the Sun'? What are you talking about?" Hiroto muttered as he watched the man shout at him.

"Father, please leave Hi-" Before he could finish speaking, the man charged towards Hiroto and pushed him against a wall. *Boom*

Hiroto managed to just lift his hand in time to block most of the blow, but the man was stronger than he thought. 'Rengoku said he was a former Hashira, but I didn't know that he would be so strong.'

"Father! Please stop!" Rengoku said, running and pulling his father off of Hiroto, Senjuro also ran in when he heard the commotion.

"Shut up! Don't speak up to your father!!" The man shouted and slapped Rengoku causing him to stumble back to Senjuro.

Hiroto's eyes widened as he saw how Rengoku's father treated his son. "You damned abomination! How dare you raise a hand to your own family?!" Hiroto said, punching the man in the face.

The man raised his arm and blocked the blow, however, he was thrown off from the force behind it, causing him to lose balance.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?! He's your son! How could you raise your hand against him?! You're a disgrace of a father!!" Hiroto berated the man loudly.

"Hiroto stop, it's fine," Rengoku spoke up as he approached Hiroto.

"You, shut up!" The man shouted towards Rengoku. "You're just here to make fun of us, aren't you?!" The man shouting at Hiroto, his pupils dilating.

"What the hell are you talking about?! I have no idea who you are! So don't go out spewing such nonsense!" Hiroto yelled out.

"Because you're a 'Breath of the Sun' user! I recognized that bracelet! Although you're not wearing the Hanafuda wearing, it was written that all 'Breath of the Sun' users would wear those bracelets along with the earrings!" The man yelled, like the veins on his forehead bulged.

"What? What do you mean by that?" Hiroto said confused.

"You heard me, the 'Breath of the Sun'. It's…" The man's words trailed off as he rubbed his forehead, and pointed at Hiroto, shouting out.

"It's the original Breath! The godly breath that was the first one ever created! And the one which every other breath is derived from!" The man shouted.

Hiroto, Rengoku and Senjuro's eyes widened in surprise at what he said.

"Every other breath is nothing more than an imitation of the 'Breath of the Sun'! They're not only blatant copies but also an inferior version! Flames, water, wind, everything!!" The man shouted, getting emotional.

"How? Our family has been coal burners for generations. We even have a family tree!" Hiroto said back.

"Who cares about that?! Don't you dare get full of yourself just because you're a 'Breath of the Sun' user you damn brat!" The man yelled out.

"Father, please that's enough. He's my Tsugoku, I came here because he wanted to know more about the breathing technique that he got from his father." Rengoku said, trying to calm down his father.

"Damn his father! Damn his family!" The man shouted out.

Hiroto's eyes shook at the man's insult. "You... You can curse me all you want. But don't you dare insult my family!!" Hiroto yelled out, launching himself at the man extremely quickly, and launching a punch to his gut.

*Boom* "Gack!" The man gripped his stomach, as the punch sent out a shockwave, causing the books of the shelves to fall onto the ground and forcing the man to kneel.

Rengoku then quickly ran to Hiroto and grabbed him from behind to restrain him. "Hiroto, please restrain yourself! Father isn't himself right now, he didn't mean anything by that!"

Hiroto ignored his words and shouted, "What the hell do you know about me?! How dare you curse my father and family!! My father was a great man, a loving husband, and a father unlike you! My family was all killed, only my younger brother and sister survived! And you're cursing them?! Who the hell do you think you are!!" Hiroto shouted out, as tears started to build up in his eyes at the mention of his dead parents and siblings.

The man's body shook, as he looked up into the eyes of the 16-year-old boy. The man looked into Hiroto's eyes and saw how much agony, pain, and suffering was behind the eyes of such a young boy. The man slowly stood up and left without uttering a word.

Rengoku let go of Hiroto, as he stayed silent after hearing his words. Senjuro looked down in shame and sadness over his father's display.

Rengoku then faced Hiroto and kneeled, bowing his head to the floor.

"Brother…" Senjuro spoke up.

Hiroto was surprised at what Rengoku was doing.

"Hiroto, I apologize in my father's stead for what he said. He's been a troubled man for a long time, please do not hold it against him. I apologize in his stead." Rengoku said somberly, as he put his head on the floor.

Hiroto quickly moved and brought Rengoku up from the floor. "No, you shouldn't have to apologize in your father's place. I let my emotions get over me there, I have to apologize as well."

Senjuro then spoke up, "No, big brother is right, we're sorry for what father said about your family. He didn't mean to disrespect them like that."

Hiroto shook his head. "It's alright, what happened, happened, there's no point dwelling on it."

Rengoku patted Hiroto's shoulder and said, "Thank you, Hiroto. I knew it was a good choice to make you my Tsuguko!"