Chapter 12: Three Years Passing Like the Flowing River…
The seasons passed and cycled three times over. Flowers wilted and blossomed once again, ushering the world into a new fragrance. Once again, the Autumn trees were filled with vitality as the river's flow could be heard throughout a rowdy village.
Away from the sound, a young man who stood a bit over five feet tall, he had ahead of thick black hair and eyes as the night sky but with a will that shuns brighter than any star. The young man wore a white gi which gradually became a beautiful violet at the bottom of the clothes. In his hands was a sword.
"Hya!"
"Hya!"
"Hya!"
The eight-year-old boy slashed away with a single move. The wind ripping apart could be heard with his every slash as the ground was soaked in a puddle of sweat. The sun stood high in the sky as the boy continued to slash away—every strike with the exact same power and extreme precision.
Sitting under the shade of a golden willow tree, a young girl held a basket in her hands as she silently watched her little brother, who continued to slash. The scene was so peaceful that she immersed herself in admiring the stunning performance of her brother as she ignored everything else. 'Although it's such a simple move, It's been refined to such a strange degree.'
"Can I join you, little miss, Or am I interrupting something special." Hayate walked up behind, breaking her focus.
"It's nothing at all…" 'How could you do this. It was so much better without you hmph'.
"Alright, could you spare some food for your poor Father? Your Mother has been quite angry recently, and I wouldn't know half of the reason" 'Could she have possibly found my secret stash… It's likely since I haven't found my Limited Edition Signed Icha Icha Paradise.' Hayate thought that he smelt smoke coming from the house and saw his wife with a devious yet furious smile. 'She burnt it, didn't she?'
Hayate cried internally, but his sad mood was slightly improved.
"Here, a rice ball…." Yuki stretched out her hand and gave her Father a rice ball as he hugged her, praising her to the heavens above.
The duo sat under the willow tree's shadow as they stared at the slim yet muscular man. He had an athlete's body without too much muscle concentrated in a single place but was spread apart throughout his body.
"He has grown a lot throughout the past three years. Since his forging, his body has become far stronger, and he has been practising basic sword moves every day. His senses are extraordinary, and so are his reaction speed. Your brother is quite talented and hardworking."
Yuki wore a smug smile on her face as if she was being praised herself.
"Well, he is my son. He has his Fathers extraordinary genes." Hayate gave a cheeky smile.
Yuki giggled a bit. "Then why haven't you taught him more advanced moves? Since he is so talented, is hardworking and has your almighty genes, why haven't you?" Yuki questioned why he hadn't taught more advanced techniques, saying the last point with hints of sarcasm covered by her gentle giggle.
Hayate's face went solemn. "He is missing something…."
"Yuki cocked her head. "What could Shoku possibly be missing?"
"A goal. An intent, a dream. Something must fuel his sword for it to become stronger. I know he will one day find that goal, but right now, he is lost. And until he finds his way, he won't be able to become truly strong even with the greatest techniques. Sounds weird, doesn't it?"
"Then why don't you ever help him find the way out?"
"Maybe it's because I haven't found my reason. It is strange, right? I'm an adult, and you'd expect me to have all the answers, but the truth is I'm just as clueless as any other Tom, Dick or Harry. But I do know one thing, Shoku is restricting himself. Instead of embracing the sword, he is using it to distract himself. Distract himself from the ruthless hands of cruel reality which tore away his fantasy world." As Hayate said that, he muttered under his breath, "It also took my world away from me too."
Hayate got up and yelled to Shoku that training was over, unaware that Shoku had heard the entire conversation.
'What is my goal?' The same question rang in his head, taking over his thoughts. "Aaaargh", Shoku yelled, venting out his frustration by throwing his sword to the ground as he ran somewhere.
"Shoku! Are you ok?" Yuki yelled, chasing after him.
As the chase went on, the two siblings arrived at the Cemetery, or at least where they buried their Grandmother. Besides the Cemetery was a wooden statue that had been preserved throughout the years.
(Shoku POV)
"Grandma, I'm here to visit you again." Kneeling on his knees, Shoku sat before the gravestone. His previous frustration washed away as his mind cleared up. 'Grandma… I miss you.
Sitting there for a few moments, I reminisced, remembering all the good memories and the bad ones too. 'The past three years had been quite difficult ones yet also fulfilling. I've been visiting Aunty Kotoha and Inosuke quite a lot, I've trained my body, and I'm really strong due to my forging training. I've become somewhat strong in terms of swordsmanship and even sparred Father quite a lot. However, I was always beaten. I know if you were here, you would definitely beat him up for me. Oh, it would be so great to wipe off his smirk and destroy his ego.' I chuckled at the thought.
'Grandma, a I just want you to know… I'm doing alright.'
Clasping my hands, I took a final glance at the statue… 'Ironic. I carved my dreams. But it was merely stripped away in an instant.'
Walking away from the Cemetery, my feet were heavy as a cold chill came. "Hmmm, Winter is Coming."
Arriving at my house, I ate a meal consisting of fish and soup. It was scrumptious and satisfied my taste buds. "Hey mum, dad, I'm going to go visit Aunty Kotoha." After coming back from Dreamy Mountains last time, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep sneaking there to see them, so I told my family about Aunty and her child, but not Doma.
I guess I always went over because I loved her voice, it was soothing, and Inosuke was fun to play with, although he was only three years old. He was like the little brother I never had.
"Alright, but wear a coat and take this." She passed me a coat and a basket with some baby clothes and food. "For Kotoha and her child." Kotoha had also visited us, and although we invited her to stay, she said she was happy.
Now walking off towards Paradise Faith Cult, I brought my wooden sword tied to my waist. 'I will show off how cool big bro Shoku is to Inosuke', a coldness bit me again. 'What's going on?'
The trees swayed, and the sky darkened. The melodious chirps of birds couldn't be heard, replaced by the deafening screeches of crows and ravens.
Rushing off towards Paradise Faith Cult, I see it was quite normal like they had always been. I calmed down, but something wasn't sitting right with my heart. "Inosuke! Aunty! Doma! Where are you!" I yelled out, then walked towards the ladies and asked them, but they all replied with no clue.
Running back towards the forest, I concentrated my senses and discovered something which shattered my heart. "Please, please let me make it…."
____________________________
Meanwhile…
"Hayate, what are you doing?" Ichika shouted, walking towards the smithy.
Holding a letter in his hands, Hayate looked towards a mask that stood above him. "I can't teach Shoku anymore; I'm going to let an old friend of mine help nurture him."
Cracking her knuckles, Ichika wore a fierce grin… "Who do you think you are to send my little baby away?" Giving her husband a beating, Ichika sadistically smiled.
As he was rubbing his wounds, Hayate pleas for mercy. "Oh, come on, Ichika, it's not like our baby is going to be taken away forever. My friend lives nearby. Only two days away by normal standards."
"What do you mean, normal standards?"
"I mean, he is mighty. He will be able to protect Shoku. You know he is talented, and even if we are secluded in this village, one day, someone will find out." Hayate gripped her hands and then stuttered, "I d-don't know if I will be able to p-pr-protect him."
"Ok, but how will we break the news."
"I don't know, but I will send the letter through another friend of mine." Whistling, a bird came from the distance and perched on Hayate's shoulder. "Here, take this with you to Yato."
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A/N: Well… I'd say it's not my best chapter in terms of writing quality. Anyways Yato is not an OC neither is he going to be a character from the Demon Slayer series, so don't try to search him up on the wiki. Also, I don't think he will be the same Yato in a different anime, so yeh.
By the way, this is an AU, and I don't have enough information about how old Inosuke was, so I made him three years old right now. As for why I made him older than the original, I think well its because I wanted him and MC to interact quite a bit : )
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