CHP 2: Abnormal Start

[6 years ago]

In the Rengoku household, seated opposite each other, were Hina and Shinjuro, peacefully drinking some green tea while taking in the pair of children, outside the wide open sliding door, legs apart and back straight, swinging a wooden katana. Despite the sweat basically dripping of their brows, muscles screaming in extraordinary pain. Both kids, pushed through and swinged with short, hard breaths.

In their black and red gi, Both boys had grown quite significantly, with long hair going to their shoulders. Being the older by 2 years, Kyojuro stood at 128 cm, 3 inches taller than Kijiri, who standed at 121 cm. Even though smaller in height, when it came to body frame, Kijiri was more broad and muscular.

Hina found it quite odd, unlike Kyojuro, who had trained since 4 year old, he had started it just 5 months ago. You would expect Kyojuro to be bigger, than Hijiri but that wasn't the case. Furthermore, when both children sparred against each other, Hijiri with no training beat Kyojuro, almost under a minute.

Thankfully, Kyojuro didn't take it personal or influence his opinion of Kijiri. On the other hand, made the boy more motivated to be stronger and become as strong as him or more. Since that day, Kyojuro effort sky rocketed, even Kijiri. Although not the competitive type, boosted his efforts to not lag behind.

Weirdly enough, no one could really get a response that wasn't aggressive, quiet or bored. He was an odd ball, his moods would swing suddenly without a single indication. He would either refuted doing anything, turn the other way or suddenly go angry if someone went into his room.

The main reason, even Kijiri tried training was due to Shinjuro pressuring him into joining. As such, why the first day, Shinjuro put both boys against each other. To light up a fire within Kijri and to push each other to higher levels.

But, the unexpected happen, Kijiri mopped the floor underneath his child without the littlest of problem. It was abnormal. Too abnormal for Shinjuro, who had seen many Swordsman in his career as a Hashira. Kijiri hadn't even swinged his sword more than 3 times and beat Kyojuro.

Shinjuro knew Hijiri wasn't normal from the beginning after his wife called him to check his neck when she noticed instantly a red mark that looked like the same as cracks on a stone. It was quite thick as well, going from the left side on his jawline to his shoulder.

(Gymoei demon slayer Mark, but red in colour and on his jawline to chest and shoulder)

Months after, Shinjuro, Hina and Ruka monitored little Kijiri to see if he showed any signs of illness or physical problems. But, in the end, nothing showed up to make them cautious.

Midst their monitoring, Shinjuro went into seclusion to go through family documents or anything to give a conclusion about Kijiri circumstance. He had read and read until 15 days later, he couldn't find nothing until something caught his eye.

In one of the family documents that orginated way back to the Sengoku Era, best know as the 'Golden Era', a child was birthed with a unusual mark on their face. This chiild would later out to be the Creator of the first breathing style, Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

Why did iit appear now? Is this a sign for something bad to come?

Shinjuro couldn't put head to tails about what was this supposed to mean. Yet, he was only able to be astonish and prideful that someone that shared his blood had the possible potential to become someone like Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Creator of the greatest breathing style.

To say he would force Kijiri into training wasn't a lie. To waste such potential was unheard of, so he doubled Kijiri and Kyojuro's training immediately after seeing their spar.

Shinjuro had also made a very good analysis of both kids weaknesses and Strengths. They really didn't have any weakness, just some excelled more in certain categories than others. Kyojuro most significant trait was his willpower while Kijiri was his unpredictability. Both traits good for a demon slayer.

Unlike Kyojuro, whom had started to establish a benevolent philosophy by the influence of his mother. Kijiri had zero reasons to push him to becoming one. Hina tried to explain to him about his heritage on his 5th birthday. However, he reacted unlike your usual 5 year old, simply dismissing it.

And of course, Shinjuro's gas tank exploded with the disrespect given to his cousin and brother-in-law, out of Anger he brutally shouted at Kijiri until he stopped, came to a halt when Kijiri yelled back. Anger. Resentment. Overflowed in his voice. When he was finished yelling, Shinjuro had no time to argue back when Kijiri suddenly dashed leaving everyone.

Through the help of Ruka and Hina, Kijiri came back bowing and apologising an hour after. Shinjuro didn't how what he would do without Ruka saving everything. It was joy when he found out about her being pregnant two months later.

Both of them were over the moon of the prospect of having another child. Not as much as Kyojuro. Once Ruka announced it to the rest, Kyojuro eyes had practically stars in them throwing questions after questions with utmost excitement while both Hina and Kijiri happily congratulated them.

But, throughout pregnancy, unlike before when she had Kyojuro, she seemed severely weak, mentally and physically. Her cheeks were sunken, skin pale like a ghost and weak to even stand. Thankfully both himself and Hina took the maximum care of her. As much as possible without showing both kids what was going off.

It was easy to hide from Kyojuro, however Kijiri wasn't as easy persuaded. Shinjuro saw the worry in his eyes, Ruka state clearly bothered him, as much as he tried to hide it, Shinjuro knew it was about her. As strong as the boy seemed, he knew the child quite well despite their lack of bond between each other. It was thanks to their spout that he saw Kijiri as he was truly.

He kept his emotions hidden under a facade, not well but good enough so hina and the rest couldn't see. He seen confusion, and a weak vulnerable child trying to hide his weakness to everyone fearing of being abandoned. To keep himself strong in case of such events happening, he withdrew little by little but as much as he attempted to. Kyojuro, Ruka and Hina was there.

Shinjuro, easily capitalised on this, when he discovered the secret about the mark on him. As scum bag as it was, Shinjuro didn't do this for Kijiri only, it was also to appease the guilt of being not their for him or more importantly, for Kumiko's child.

His gaze didn't leave the form of both children, scrutinising each swing they commit until like something was acceptable, subtly nodded his head.

'Good. This should do. We'll start the real training soon.'

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(Sorry for the small chapter, I'm quite lacking when it comes to manga especially since I've only watched the anime and seen spoilers given to me because of other platforms. To get ideas going when I know not really that much is hard, it takes literally roughfully 4 or maybe more to get it all done.)