Chapter 6

He thought for certain it was his end.

Yet, Toshi somehow woke up once more, still in the soul space and yet… he felt as if he had a body! He was able to sit up and take everything in, yet, as he looked over himself, he was oddly different than before.

"You finally woke?"

He peered up to the massive dragon before him, he kept silent on the matter though.

"Noritoshi Kamo… now Toshi, former head to the three great families of the Kamo clan, born out of wedlock, mother used as a concubine to secure and heir to the technique of blood manipulation…"

He froze to this as he peered at the dragon.

The beast smiled. "I know everything about you, Toshi. But the fact remains you should have told me everything yourself! I had to extract information out of you."

"You ate me!" he protested.

"Next time cooperate." He said rather casually. "Are you not going to ask WHY you are still alive at this point… considering I did consume you…"

Toshi took a moment, yet he nodded. "Why… why did you do that?!"

"To get to the truth, when I consumed you, I took everything that makes you, you. Your thoughts, emotions, memories, they all became mine considering I was about to claim this body…"

He paused for a moment. "Was?" Toshi asked.

"There is some… information that has come to light recently, I understand and see now how you obtained a dragon wife. The fact that Tiamat personally introduced you… I have no right to complain and at the same time, I am now in your debt." The dragon sighed. "For your wife, is my only living child."

He froze to this.

Staring up at the dragon, Toshi couldn't believe what was just said!

"Syrax, is your daughter?"

"Yes, and I saw what my uncle had done to her… But, you freed her from such a fate. In fact, you took your time and never forced yourself on my daughter. Thus, the conundrum I face now. As much as I wish to live again, I cannot in good conscious take your life in order to do so."

Toshi was in aw of this. The dragon was reasonable?

But then…

"You said Tiamat… do you know Lady Tiamat?"

He snickered. "Did you not pay attention? Syrax is my daughter. Tiamat… is my younger sister"

Younger…

Toshi gulped nervously.

"Ah, it appears you are aware of Tiamat and her power, yes? Now then, we need to strike some sort of agreement, don't we?"

Toshi took a deep breath and nodded. "I won't back down on my offer, you did what I asked of you." He said with great determination.

"Noble of you… however the more I speak with you, the more I see the path needed. Now then, let's make an arrangement. Child, you noticed how different you are correct? I consumed you, yet, after learning of your connection to the children and that of my daughter, I regurgitated you… when you absorbed my power. Thus why you are whole right now."

Toshi peered over himself, he gave off a warm orange aura but he indeed appeared whole. He nodded to the dragon on this development. "Yes, thank you for your generosity"

"But this is just a fragment."

"Fragment?"

"Yes, for you see, you have but a taste of my power. Your body is already conditioned for you to wake as a dragon, but you are not going to be complete… not until I see how you use my influence, treat my daughter and that of the children. Is that fair?"

He was taken aback by the proposal. But Toshi nodded to it all. "I will show you my worthiness," he said without a doubt in his voice. "However…"

"Huh?"

"I… don't think I can become a dragon… you see…"

"Oh, the blood of Ryomen Sukuna is gone."

Toshi froze. Looking at the dragon, it nodded to him. "When you were trapped in the device, it took your curse energy and blood first, before it stripped the flesh. In all honesty that machine destroyed 73% of your original body. What had hindered you before, will no longer do so. Your connection to him is severed. In fact, his heart stopped the same time yours did…"

"What!?"

"At ease, he lives, I sense him from here. But now, I think it is time you woke up, yes?"

Toshi nodded.

"Just so there is no pressure and I see you for your actions, not for the sake of my words, you are going to forget that I am even here! I wish you well…"

"Wait…"

#

Suiryu was doing his rounds, he checked on Yua first and found nothing had changed in four days. Satoru appeared to be just as empty as Yua, he hardly leaves the hospital now. Thus, he moved on to the third floor.

Suiryu was about to head to Toshi's room when… the pressure suddenly altered.

"Mom?!" he looked around to see if Lady Tiamat had appeared, she wasn't anywhere in sight and the pressure suddenly shifted. Suiryu suddenly had an urge to check on Toshi.

Rushing to his room, he walked in and found him sitting up in bed. "Toshi…" he whispered.

"Can, I have some water please?"

Suiryu didn't hesitate, he got him water and sent out a text to the brothers. "Be warned, you're about to get mobbed."

Not surprisingly, Toshi nodded to the barrage he is about to go through. Quickly drinking his water, he set everything to the side… as the ground trembled. Suiryu stepped back and away from the door when the brothers came rushing in all at once!

"TOSHI!"

"You're going to break the damn bed!" Suiryu scolded as they were almost dog piled on top of him!

They were quick to remove themselves, but Choso froze. In fact, he was grabbing his chest. "Toshi… you… you're…"

He nodded to them. Suiryu was confused as hell though. "Can someone explain this to me like I'm five. Mom said that he couldn't become a dragon due to Sukuna's blood or something… And yet… he looks and smells like a dragon to me here and now…"

"I don't know how either… But… I'm one of you again, right?" he asked meekly.

"Yeah, you are!" Junpei cheered. "But, what kind of dragon are you?"

He didn't care, and for the moment, it didn't matter to him. "Can… I get caught up as to what happened? My children are safe, right?"

Choso took a seat and explained everything to Toshi. He was devastated when he learned about Yua's condition, and he was relieved oddly enough to know Sukuna survived his attack as well. "There is much going on, at the same time… I can't shake the notion that this was all planned." Choso stated.

Suiryu nodded. "I wouldn't be surprised that this was uncle's plan, but we got no way of proving it. Yet, I doubt he intended to let THIS happen to Toshi. That wasn't part of it." He decreed. "Since you are better and being looked after Toshi, I am going to check on Yua's kids."

"Thank you for your care, Suiryu"

He was about to leave the room but found the door blocked. Peering up, Suiryu found Sukuna had wondered his way up to the third floor. "He's awake, go ahead" Suiryu said and stepped aside.

Sukuna was silent as he came into the room. Suiryu didn't bother to stick around to hear their conversation, he has a schedule to keep!