Chapter 43: Training (1)
'Twins, a rare phenomenon where two children will be produced from a single womb. An even rarer phenomenon would be twins that would become sorcerers. Twins were always considered to have a deep meaning, but in the Jujutsu world, that meaning is a curse.
The world considers twins as one individual, two parts that are separated but connected. One needs the other, so to become stronger, the two would need to put the same amount of work. A way to get rid of this would be to wipe one of the twins of the face of the earth making the other not burdened by their partner.
I was going to do just that when I heard of Maki but now having known about Mai's technique, it would be a shame to kill her. The two have immense potential, all I need to do is figure out a way as to make the world consider them separate entities. To have them be able to fully unleash their power.'
Arai pondered over the training ground watching the twins train. They each had been assigned their individual training. Right now, the training wasn't that intense as they were just children. Frankly, he himself thought he was being too soft but for the first day this would be fine.
Maki was running laps around the neighborhood while for Mai, Arai had told her to simply continue bringing out her cursed energy.
The most important thing right now is to bring out their potential not to make them fighters. Maki just needs to grow in strength and Mai just needs to control her cursed energy better to make use of the limited amount that she has.
While they were training, Arai's thought came back to yesterday's event. After enslaving the assailants, he had gotten wind of the hidden plot. Before he had adopted Maki and Mai, he had one more stop.
He sat down and took out his phone dialing in a number.
Soon someone answered the call.
"Hello? Who is this?"
"It's me, Arai. I need to have a chat with you, Masaru."
This man was Masaru, an underworld boss who had a lot of power. He and Arai had working together for two years, Masaru may not himself be a sorcerer but had knowledge about them. His power came from his money, hiring sorcerers to do his dirty work. Arai had been his best mercenary until he had retired.
"I thought you said you weren't going to get involved in the underworld anymore?" The man said in a surprised tone surprised that Arai contacted him.
"Someone is targeting the cursed tool I stole for you and I don't mean Amari Kayo. Someone else is in this and they killed the assassins he sent. I'm not exactly sure how strong they are, but they are very skilled."
"So you're saying that Amari Kayo has sent men after you and that a third party was involved? Although I expected it, I thought they'd target me not you."
"Yeah, they probably thought that since I was on your side then taking care of me would take priority but I already left the underworld."
"Haii... I'll look into it. I'm going to auction the item anyway so that Amari doesn't need to target you nor me anymore. And well since you killed all his men."
'Killed? That would be a waste of manpower.' Arai smirked at Masaru oblivious to the truth.
"Do you want to come? It will be the last time I'll contact you but I'll make sure it will be worthwhile and this doesn't have a second agenda. I'm not crazy enough to make you angry at me."
"I'll go, just make sure no dumb bastard causes a mess of things."
"That's great! I'll make sure it will be worthwhile, until then."
The phone call ended there leaving Arai in his thoughts. 'Since Masaru is going to auction the cursed tool, Amari will need to get it by betting. Even if he loses, he'll target the winner of that auction not me so that's one less annoyance but... that assailant. I need to find out if they were after the item and not me. I know most first grades sorcerers and none of them were like them. Letting an unknown figure out in the open... doesn't sit well with me.'
While Arai was talking on his phone, Maki glanced at him. The training that she was given couldn't even be called training. Running laps? Was this all? Even the training from the Zen'in clan was better. She wanted to get stronger, not stay lax and get weaker.
This was not what she wanted and she was going to tell him that. She walked up to him, the two were face to face now that Arai was sitting.
"Hey 'dad', if you frown that much you'll get wrinkles... well more than you already have."
"Calling me dad for the first time just to ask something of me, so... what do you want?"
"I want better training. Running? Is that it? I thought you said we would become stronger, at this rate I'll grow weaker!"
"I'm going easy for the first day."
"Easy? Do I look like I want the easy course?! Show me what training you did to become a first grade so that I can get stronger!"
"*Sigh* You don't have cursed energy, the training I did won't work for you."
It was understandable for her to be mad, slacking around just wasn't something she'd ever consider. To grow stronger, she'd go through the necessary training to do so. With that in mind, Arai changed his mind and stood up.
"Alright then, let's have a change of pace."
Arai went into a storage shed and got out carrying two wooden stick. Maki's eyes brightened as she realized what his intentions.
"Are we gonna spar?"
"That's right. Though I don't know if you should be happy about it."
Maki smirked as she grabbed the stick from his hand and took her stance with both hands holding the stick vertically. It was clear from the way she positioned herself that she was familiar with it. If one ignored her age and looks, she would fit all a fighter's description.
Rough hands filled with scars, a well trained body, sharp eyes analyzing their opponent.
'I guess Toji's successor should at least have that.'
Arai took his own position with one hand on his back and one on the stick holding it diagonally.
"Rules are simple, the last one standing wins. Of course I won't use my cursed technique and won't use any reinforcement."
Maki who heard the rules tilted her head. She was confused as to why Arai would do something like that. Sure she was young but she was still someone with a heavenly restriction. He of all people should know how powerful someone like her. Not seeing her accept the duel, Arai smiled and added something.
"How about an incentive, if you win I'll personally teach you everyday and bring out a cursed tool of your choice and if I win you need to start calling me dad."
The moment he finished talking, Maki immediately rushed at him with a wide grin on her face. Wielding a wooden stick as a weapon she slashed down at him making him forced to parry it. As the two clashed, Arai could tell the strength she was exerting was getting stronger as she pushed him back.
Pointing the head at him, Maki smiled as she took her posture. "It's settled then, don't break your promise!"
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{AN: Goddamn do I feel motivated to write with the new chapter. Sukuna vs Gojo is hype.}
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