Stand by... That's what Kagaya told me but isn't one week too much? Shinobu is coming back already. What have I even done during that time? Let me think...
Training with Tengen and Gyoumei. Teaching Bell how to wield katana and asked Jigoro for help. I've read a couple of books from Shinobu's room. What else...
Isn't that it? That's all I have done in this past week! Such a boring lifestyle I have...
I was now staying hidden and looked at Bell who was trying to hide herself from me. We were training on the mountain where I trained since I was familiar with this place more than others.
I had Bell run around the mountain while I chased after her. There were also traps laid around the mountain but not deadly. This was meant for Bell to learn the Breathing Technique. Just like I had to.
This is an easier training method of Jigoro's training method that I created. I'm not that cruel as Jigoro after all. If that old man wanted to give the same training method for Bell, I would have destroyed that cane of his...
"There, I caught you~." I said cheerfully and lifted Bell from her armpits. She pouted and swung her legs in the air slowly.
"Unfair..." Bell said quietly.
"What is?" I asked and set Bell down. She kicked a nearby rock away and was still pouting. If I say she looks cute, she will get angrier for sure...
"You always catch me in the last minute..." Bell said while still kicking nearby rocks.
"Maa maa. If you learn to send oxygen around your whole body, then you will be much faster than you are now." I told her and went to grab two wooden katanas. I gave one to Bell and took a good distance between the two of us.
"Next is sparring. Get ready." I told Bell and raised my wooden katana. She didn't get into a stance and was still pouting.
"Bell, if you don't want to do this, you can always tell me. I'm not forcing you to do this." I told Bell and she quickly shook her head.
"No! It's not because of that!" she shouted at me. I was surprised by the sudden shouting.
I lowered my wooden katana and went to sit on a log. Next to me was another log and I gestured Bell to sit on it. She sat next to me and looked down sadly.
"Is something wrong?" I asked and she shook her head.
"Do you want to talk about it then?" I continued. I didn't hear nor see Bell doing anything, so I waited.
"...I don't like how weak I am..." she said sadly. I patted her head and she looked at me.
"You are not weak. I can tell you that at least." I told Bell with a smile. But then it changed into a smirk.
"And I have trained much more than you have. Of course, you can't beat me yet." I ruffled her hair and went back to where I stood. I raised my wooden katana.
"Back to sparring?" I asked and Bell nodded.
=====
"So the trick in the Thunder Breathing is to feel the energy inside you. After that, learning all the styles is easy." I told Bell who was breathing oxygen inside her and trying to do the Thunderclap and Flash.
Bell looked like she was struggling and couldn't summon any energy from herself. I waited for a few minutes until she gave up.
"I can't do it..." she told me. I chuckled a little and gestured her to come close to me. She did as I asked her and stood in front of me.
"Give me your hand." I told Bell. She raised her hand and I held it with my own. I took a deep breath and gathered the energy into my hand.
After I felt enough energy gather into my hand, I let it out and sparked Bell a little bit. She let out a cute squeal and I chuckled again.
Bell looked a little bit embarrassed when she saw me chuckle.
"That is how it feels like." I told Bell and she nodded. She went back to where she stood and did her stance.
Bell took a deep breath and I started to advise her.
"When you feel the energy, gather it around your whole body." I told her and could see some sparks coming from her body.
"Remember to gather most of the energy into your legs." I continued.
"After you're done, release all the energy at once and dash." I finished and Bell did what I told her. She did the dash and I was proud of her.
Bell looked behind her and was surprised to see the results. She ran back to me happily and hugged me.
"I did it! I did it!" Bell said cheerfully. I hugged her back and smiled proudly.
My child is slowly growing... Ah! This feeling... is the best!
"Well done, Bell! Next time we will learn other styles." I told her and ruffled her hair. She let go of me and pouted while fixing her hair.
"Why not now?" Bell asked me.
"Because Shinobu is coming back." I answered happily. As I said these words, I could see a familiar person walking towards us. The person waved at us and we waved back at her.
"Shinobu-san!" Bell shouted happily. I think she is happy to see her big sister. I wonder how will she react to Kanae. Or how will Kanae react to Bell... I don't want to think about it...
Bell ran towards Shinobu and they both hugged each other. I didn't want to a leftover so I also went in for a hug. Because of my and Bell's weight together, Shinobu fell with her below and Bell in between us. I laughed while the two girls pouted.
"Heavy..." Shinobu said and tried to free herself from the weights.
"How rude! I'm not that heavy!" I told Shinobu with a smirk. She looked at me strangely and giggled.
"Isn't Bell supposed to say that?" Shinobu asked me and was still trying to free herself.
Bell, who was still sandwiched by me and Shinobu, didn't do anything and enjoyed being in between us. She was smiling brightly and giggled. I couldn't help but also smile.
"Well, I said it so I guess the answer is no." I told Shinobu and got off from the two girls. I pulled Bell back onto her feet and Shinobu was the last person to stand.
"So, how did the exam go?" I asked a pouting Shinobu and her mood changed into a bright one.
"It was good! There was this small girl, smaller than me, and she used her speed as her strength!" Shinobu told me excitedly.
A small girl who is fast...? That sounds kind of familiar.
"Isn't that you?" I asked with a smirk which made Shinobu stab my side with her sheath. I heard Bell giggle at our antics.
"The girl was smaller than me. She was also wearing a kitsune mask." Shinobu continued with a pout.
A fox mask? I feel like I know this person.
"Did she have black hair?" I asked Shinobu. She nodded and this confirmed my question. The person who Shinobu is talking about is Makomo.
"I might know that girl." I told Shinobu and her pout turned into a glare. Did I say something bad?
"So you know this girl... May I know why?" she asked me and I could feel bloodlust in her glaring smile.
Is it just me or did the adorable glaring Shinobu turn back into scary glaring Shinobu?
"You may not know the person but she is a former Water Pillar's disciple. I met them with Nee-chan." I said quickly and prepared for a run. I saw Shinobu's glare fade away and I sighed in relief.
"Is that so. With Nee-san..." Shinobu said quietly. She acted like a puppy whose owner left her for a short time... Simply said, adorable.
I pat Shinobu's head and gave her a grin. She looked at me with her sad puppy eyes.
"Don't be sad. I will ask Nee-chan to come back home so I can travel with you." I told Shinobu. Her sad look didn't turn completely into a happy one but it did disappear.
Bell tugged Shinobu's sleeve and got Shinobu's attention. Bell looked at her big sister worriedly. Shinobu understood Bell's gesturing and hugged her again.
"Don't worry, Bell-chan. Your Onee-chan is fine." Shinobu told Bell with a smile. I almost felt crying as I saw this.
Sibling moments are such a beautiful thing. Is this what Kanae felt when she stalked me and Shinobu? Kukuku. I should ask her if I could join her.
"Un." Bell said with an innocent smile. Shinobu looked like she almost fainted of the cuteness and I almost did the same.
"K-Kawaii..." we both muttered at the same time.
=====
"So what that girl did was just amazing! She couldn't cut the demons' heads off but she weakened them little by little until she finally used one of her Breath Styles and cut the heads off!" Shinobu explained excitedly. She took a deep breath and drank some tea.
We were sitting on some logs and Shinobu took out a lunchbox that she brought with her. Surprisingly the lunchbox didn't get broken or didn't spill all the food.
"I wonder if I could do the same thing..." Shinobu asked herself.
"If you have a katana that can slash, then you can." I told Shinobu while eating some of the food.
"But what will I do with the poisons?" she asked me with a frown.
Why is she looking at me like I told her to throw her kids away? I never said anything about her poisons, right?
"Hmm... You could have a katana that can not only stab but also slash or create poison bombs." I told Shinobu. Her frown turned into a surprised one.
"You didn't think of this?" I asked with a smirk and Shinobu shook her head nervously. I wanted to chuckle at her but it would get me stabbed or hit by her scabbard.
"But I'm not sure how to do it..." Shinobu admitted. She went into a thinking pose and muttered something.
"Do what? Bombs?" I asked and Shinobu nodded.
"Do you know how to make them?" Shinobu asked me hopefully. Her puppy eyes helped a lot in the asking. Kukuku. Since I am a nice brother, I can help you!
"I don't know how to make them but I know a person who uses bombs." I told Shinobu. Her eyes were kind of disappointed but she looked glad.
Ugh... I should have learned to make bombs... I feel bad for getting Shinobu hyped for nothing...
"Next time I meet him, I will ask if he could tell me how to make bombs. Okay?" I told Shinobu and she nodded.
My position as a dependable brother is on the line here. If Tengen won't tell me how to make them, I will beat the crap out of him. Kukuku. I could also threaten him somehow.
=====
"Uzui-saan~. Where are you~?" I said loudly while searching for the Sound Pillar. He had disappeared somewhere completely. Nowhere to be found at all. Even his girlfriends are gone. Did he get a mission? If so, he got it at a bad time...
I wonder if Kagaya knows how to create bombs with poison. It doesn't hurt to borrow some of his knowledge, right?
I left the usual Tengen's date spot and made my way to Kagaya's estate. With all the time I have spent here, I didn't get lost and found my way to Kagaya's estate.
Kukuku. Kanae and Shinobu would be proud of me.
And as usual, Kagaya was in the backyard enjoying the weather. He saw me and gestured me to sit right next to him. I did what he told me and we were quiet for a while.
"Is there something you need now?" Kagaya asked me with his smooth voice.
"I wanted to ask you if you know how to make bombs infused with poison." I told Kagaya and he hummed in response.
"I don't know about bombs infused with poison, but I do know how to make one." Kagaya told me.
"Really!?" I asked happily. Kagaya nodded which made my smile widen more.
Yes! My position as a dependable brother is close! Now I just need to know how to do it!
"But why do you want to know?" Kagaya asked me curiously.
"So Shinobu and Bell will know that they can depend on me!" I said proudly with my chest puffed out. Kagaya stared at me for a while and then laughed softly.
"Don't laugh! This is a serious thing!" I scolded Kagaya who tried to calm himself down.
"Sorry... I think it is a great reason." Kagaya said while chuckling. This is the first time he has laughed this much.
"As long as you understand." I finished with a huff and chuckled.
"You really like your sisters, don't you." Kagaya said with a smile.
"Of course. I love them." I said with a grin.
It's kind of embarrassing to admit this but I don't care. I am an honest man. But I don't know if I can say this in front of sisters...
"I will have someone send the papers for you. Please don't make a mess." Kagaya told me.
"Don't worry. If something's exploding, it's going to be my own house. I think." I told him back while chuckling nervously.
=====
Kukuku. I'm feeling great now. And since I'm feeling great, let's go and tease some people! My first target, of course, is Shinobu.
I was making my way towards the Flower Estate now while thinking a great plan against Shinobu. She's a sneaky person. It won't be that easy to spook her or surprise her.
"Why are you grinning like that?" a voice asked right next to my ear.
"WAH!!!" I shouted in surprise and jumped away from my attacker. The said attacker was laughing at me.
"That was not funny at all, Shinobu." I scolded my twin sister which made her giggle.
"Kufufu. But I can't help it. Shin-chan, you are too cute." Shinobu said as she tried to calm down.
"If I am cute then you are adorable." I crossed my hands and glared at Shinobu. It's not that I'm angry at being called cute but I'm angry how Shinobu could easily surprise me like that.
"Eh~, adorable? Me? Shin-chan you charmer!" Shinobu said happily and jumped around. She was cupping both of her cheeks with her hands.
And this is what I meant by adorable. Why is it that I have to wait 6 years so I can meet Nezuko!!! But I'm meeting Kanao at some point so I can wait... I'm a patient man, after all.
"Shinobu, if you are done with jumping, let's go train." I told the cheerful Shinobu. She looked at me and frowned.
"Is training the only thing you want to do?" Shinobu asked me. Hmm... Well, if I want to beat Doma then that is the only option for me.
"Yes?" I answered confusedly. I crossed my hands and started to think other stuff to do instead of training.
...
Nope. Nothing comes to my mind at all.
I heard Shinobu sigh and I looked at her confusedly. Did I just say something strange?
"Why don't you take a break? Your life will be boring if you only train." Shinobu told me with a worried tone.
"But I don't know what to do while having a break." I said and Shinobu smiled to me as an answer.
"What is with that smile..." I asked Shinobu who continued to smile and dragged me somewhere.
I should be suspicious about this but if it helps me get a proper break, then I should be quiet for now...
=====
"Shinobu... Where are we going?" I asked but didn't get an answer. Is she... Is she ignoring me!?
Shinobu had dragged me to a mountain. This wasn't the mountain where I trained or Bell trained. It was a completely different mountain. And it's not that far away from our headquarters.
Hmm... Is it just me, or does this place have many mountains?
My surrounding was filled with many trees. Two different trees. Cherry blossom and wisteria. I could smell something nice and I knew this smell did not come from the trees. It came from something else.
"Flower?" I muttered loudly. This smell is definitely coming from flowers. I just don't know what flower.
"I found this place with Nee-san and it became our favorite spot." Shinobu told me while still dragging me from my hand.
I saw a house and two chairs outside in front of me. The house looked big enough for three to four people to live and the chairs were facing at our headquarters' way.
I'm pretty sure there's a beautiful view and I can't wait to see it.
The whole place was almost filled with many different flowers. And surprisingly none of the flowers smelled too strong. It was just the perfect amount of smell and I felt really calm.
Shinobu let go of my hand and looked at me with a smile.
"What do you think of this place? I know you like quiet places like us." Shinobu said and I couldn't help but smile happily.
"I like it. I really like it." I answered and hugged Shinobu. She was surprised by my actions but hugged back.
"Thanks for showing me this place." I told Shinobu and she giggled.
I let her go and made my way to the chairs. As I stood next to one of the chairs, I could see how beautiful the view was.
I couldn't mutter out any words but smile happily. This was one of the beautiful things I have ever seen in my life.
"Next time, let's bring Bell here." I said to Shinobu. She frowned a little but still nodded. I chuckled at her reaction and pat her head.
"Was this supposed to be our little secret?" I asked Shinobu who looked away.
"Hmph. Nee-san already knows, so it's not." Shinobu said back. I laughed at her answer which made her glare at me but also laugh with me.
Today was a nice day.