Chapter 29

He had to think this over.

Suiryu wondered to the hillside that overlooked the village, there he took a seat and stared out upon it. There was something eating away at him too. When he first found this place, and the people he let go to their final rest, he wondered, why did Sukuna keep it? The people, this village, there was more to this than what he saw. Not to mention, the temple made for him to prepare his human flesh offerings. Suiryu had always assumed he kept the people alive to eat for later, yet with what he sensed and smelt, there was no scent in that temple that belonged to the villagers.

"What was this place to you? You bastard…" he muttered.

But now, it was home, it was freedom and it was a sanctuary.

Now, his mind wondered, wondering what has become of himself. "What am I?" he whispered. "Why… why did Ryujin want to save me for this? What's the point? Did he really think a part of Sukuna is worthy to become a dragon? The bastard wanted that power for himself, why give it to me?" he asked aloud.

"You really ought to come and see me if you need help."

He turned and saw Choso lingering. "How… wait brother connection right?"

"More or less, however, I saw you leave Yua's abode rather quickly and you appeared upset. Were you unaware of the changes happening to yourself?"

Suiryu froze. He turned around fully now and stared at Choso who continued to merely linger there. "You… you knew?!" he demanded. "How!"

He came a little closer until he took a seat next to Suiryu. "In truth, my connection to you and Yuuji is becoming strained, and more so by the day. The stronger you two become as dragons, the more distant I feel from you. As of late, I have felt that connection to you also stress, just like Yuuji when he was first becoming a dragon. That sensation… I knew then and there that it was happening as well. Yet, you never spoke of it or brought it up. So I didn't. After all, if this was something that you didn't wish to expose or share with the others, I respect your wishes."

He shook his head to it all. "Choso… the thing is, I didn't even know until today I was. How could I have known? I didn't ask for this…"

"Nor did little brother," he said offhandedly. "Suiryu, I have come to accept things I cannot change. As well… I have come to accept that various things happen for a reason, my birth for example. A curse womb and existence of never knowing a loving mother's touch, being a child, learning as I grow, being a family… all of that was taken from not just me, but my brothers as well. And yet we are together as a family, we are learning how to become one as well as accepting others into the fold… it's been nice. At the same time, the reason for our births, despite the original intention; as of now, I see that I am here to be a guardian, an older brother, and a voice of reason."

"Huh?" Suiryu asked in confusion. "That's your take away from all this?"

"In my perspective, yes." Choso looked out over the village. "In truth, I never thought of a life like this for myself. For not even I knew what it was for, why we were given such a gift and yet, also burdened with curse energy. But, I consider little brother's words and his reasoning. Power that can be used to help others, never really crossed my mind before. I was so upset and full of anger towards the sorcerer who created my brothers and I. Only to never let us live, to be who we are or know what life is. Still…"

"Choso… I get it that you have been thinking about this for a while. For me, I didn't give a shit as to how I came to be in a sense. All I know is that I came from a deplorable bastard, my body and most of my soul energy came from Yuuji. My power isn't my own. Nothing is mine. I am just a living parasite. Taking what I need from others to feel whole… which I don't think I will ever become."

Silence befell them. Suiryu was rather relieved that he was able to shut Choso up for the time being, the silence was nice for a moment until he heard. "If nothing is yours, then you are nothing."

He froze and turned to Suiryu. "What?"

"You just said so yourself. Nothing is yours. Therefore you are nothing, are you not?" he asked once more. "Suiryu, Sukuna isn't the kind to reflect upon himself to wonder where his place is in the world. Yuuji goes with the flow in hopes everything will work out. You… you look at everything, think over aspects that would benefit not just you, but everyone around and close to you. Sukuna wouldn't have considered us brothers. He wouldn't correct people every chance he got in stating he was Yuuji's brother… he accepted you as a sibling far faster than any of us. You do know that, right?"

"Tch…" He didn't answer him, but he was right. It took a while for Yuuji to accept Choso as a brother from when the first met. Yet, when he came into this world, Yuuji accepted him without hesitation. Despite where he came from, his voice and power. He knows he is much like Sukuna, and yet, Yuuji never compared him to the king of curses.

"I think it's wonderful that you will be a dragon with little brother." Choso said offhandedly. "Now, he won't be alone when he becomes one. It would be terribly lonely for him, being the only one on earth… He would feel as he did before, left alone to figure things out and try to make sense of it all. Yet, with you, Yuuji will have another to speak with, to share his concerns and burdens. Both will learn from each other, will they not?"

He was silent.

Suiryu had no argument to Choso, he sighed aloud with defeat. "Why do you always have to make sense?" he muttered. "For an older brother, you got that down to a science"

Choso smirked as he stood up off the ground. "Older brothers walk the paths before their younger siblings, so they learn from their mistakes and ensure they don't make the same ones. But even now, this path I cannot take with you. But I will certainly be there to ensure you have the support you need. Same with Yuuji."

"I still don't deserve this…" Suiryu muttered.

"No, perhaps you don't." Choso said offhandedly as he was about to leave. "Yet, you have the opportunity to show you do."

When he was gone, Suiryu sighed aloud. "That son of a bitch, how come he makes sense out of this and I can't…" he fell back on the grass and stared into the sky. "Why am I having trouble making sense of this? I mean…" he paused for a moment. Does he regret being alive? No, he's lives a good life so far. There have been hardships and yet, there have been joys he never thought he could experience before. He has learned despite his power, he can be happy just the way he is. He found joy being human, but also knew how much of an asset he was to those around him.

The pain of loss is still fresh in his mind. People matter to him, those who have come to call Yuuji a friend are slowly warming up to him as well. But it isn't enough in his mind. Suiryu knows he has to do better, and perhaps what Choso said was true. He may not deserve this, but he has the chance to prove that he does. "Yuuji needs all the support he can get, he was happy to know I was on the same path as him… perhaps that's the reason why I am also becoming a dragon… I can help guide him and learn from all this… is that my purpose?"

It was confusing to him, but there is time to figure it all out. After all, he has no idea how he is going to be a dragon like his brother, let alone how a soul fusion works. At the same time, he wants to find a way for Ryujin to have control. "I came from a bastard, why should I be given this kind of power… is this not just playing into Sukuna's hands? No… I'll find a way for Ryujin to take over, that way. Yuuji will have the best guide on his journey to becoming a dragon…" he said with great determination.