Chapter 15

At the domain…

"UGH! Why does this taste worst than before?! Did you put your foot into it or something?"

Rook was continuing his training, however, his latest drink from Oji tasted worst than the liver juice he had been drinking before. So much so, he pushed it away in disgust after a single sip. Oji snickered to his reaction.

"That's the right response" he said and took the drink back. "This is what I have been drinking."

Rook froze to this as he stared at him, bewildered. "That's worst than what I was drinking!" he protested. "What… why is you different?"

"Figured that out?" he asked as his smile grew. "In truth, the liver used for this… came from sorcerers." He explained and pounded the drink down without hesitation!

Rook felt sick to learn that. But, he was even more disturbed to see the empty glass on the table. "Sorcerer… livers…" he said slowly. "Why…"

"Boosts my curse energy… not that I need it. Also those guys looked at me funny."

"Oji, if you are trying to be funny, it's not working…"

He rolled all four of his eyes and sighed. "They were the sorcerers who targeted your mother." He said bluntly. "Those are the livers I took, better?"

Not really, but he won't argue.

"Now that you have had your cleanse, we are working on building up the body, in other words bulking you up. You are off to a good start but you need more in your diet."

"Am I eating more meat again?"

"And then some, yes," he said but that smile returned to his face. "We're hunting it down this time."

"Did we not have leftovers from the last time the divine came to attack mom?"

He shook his head. "We went through that last week."

"Damn… that was a ton of meat too…"

"Why do you think we went through it all?" Sukuna asked of him.

Rook paused, he was confused but stared at Oji before pointing to himself. He got a nod from his uncle. "You mean, I ate most of it?" he demanded.

"Hearty appetite, something we have in common."

"So, are we going to hunt more of these divine beasts?" he asked.

"They are the only way we can keep you fed and not make a scene… more or less… I could give a damn either way."

Rook nodded but paused. "Ryoto has grown a lot…"

The look on Oji's face changed, a smile escaped from him as he appeared to puff his chest out a little more. "Indeed, he's a strong child…" yet he peered over at Rook curiously. "You do realize that since your mother and aunt are so close in blood, Ryoto is like a half brother to you than a cousin isn't he?"

Rook snickered and nodded to that. "Yeah no kidding, he's going to be a great cousin… but it would be awkward if we treated him like a little brother… We will but I won't call him that so we don't confuse him…"

"Somehow I believe Six Eyes is going to be doing that more often than not…"

"I don't doubt it, my father isn't… all there" Rook said offhandedly.

"Which reminds me, how does it feel to have your parents become dragons?"

Rook smirked for a moment. "Cool at the same time… pressure" he said offhandedly. "Dad has approached us asking if we want to be turned, Shin, Mochi and I are thinking about it. But… I want to say human."

Oji crooked his head to the side curiously. "Oh? Why is that? Being a dragon has greater benefits…"

"Yeah well, it's just that… Everyone else is… I rather be me than to change myself anymore than what I have already done…"

"Get to your real reason."

Rook paused to this as he looked to Oji rather stunned that he wasn't speaking his truth. So, he sighed in defeat and snickered. "You're as bad as my mom…" he snickered. "But, in all honesty… I worked this hard to get to where I am. Those are by MY efforts, not because I'm a dragon, a sorcerer or anything else. It's because I did it with my own strength and the training of the people around me."

He peered at Oji for a form of approval.

He stared at him oddly but nodded to this. "Being proud of your power isn't a bad thing, you are aware of the efforts that went into obtaining it, the sacrifices and suffering… you have yet to suffer by the way."

"You mean that liver juice is just the start?!"

"Look at Toji's back and tell me how you expect to be as strong as him without taking the same hits he has"

"I got welts!" Rook snapped back. He even took off his shirt and showed the scars he has. But, as he looked over them himself, he paused. There… really weren't that many… "Huh? I had more before!"

"You forget who is training you."

Rook paused as he put his shirt back on. "Now, hunting. We are going to be joined by your aunt on this…"

"Really?"

"Apparently, she has taken into doing a side business but didn't tell me about it… She was inspired when the divine came and attacked us. In fact, we went out for a strange soup she was craving, after speaking to some staff members she explained she would help them out… what they spoke of I don't know. But, she is coming with us to hunt"

"And Ryoto?"

He smiled. "Spending time with his godfather today"

#

"Are you sure you got this?"

"Indeed, if I need help I will ask Choso… as always…"

Toshi was smiling as he held little Ryoto in his arms, Chusi had just come by to drop him off as she was escorting Sukuna and Rook on a hunt. Naturally, Ryoto was too young to be a part of it, despite Sukuna stating other wise.

Toshi however was more than happy to help out and offered to babysit. Chusi agreed and she was on her way shortly after.

He was a small little thing. And yet, Toshi saw a good mix of both parents in Ryoto. But, the more he looked, the more he saw Sukuna's features more and more. What was interesting is the fact that Ryoto was born with orange hair.

"I knew for certain you would have your father's hair tone…" he snickered.

He took a seat and held little Ryoto, before long, Syrax came into the room, but she froze at the sight of the baby. "Oh… is this Ryoto?" she cooed.

"Indeed, hard to believe he's Ryomen Sukuna's child…"

Yet, as he peered over to Syrax, he saw her smile vanish. She… she was upset. "Syrax?"

"I… I wish we could have another…" she wept. "I know I don't have to worry about losing you anymore… I don't even know how that happened to you, but, you're a dragon now… but… we need to wait…" she said with such sorrow. "You could have your pick of the females… those who could give you a child faster…"

"Stop" he said rather sternly. "Don't you dare"

"Toshi…"

"You could have done the same!" he protested to her. "You knew, there was a probability of me not becoming a dragon, I would have died before you would have had a chance to have more children… but, you didn't discard me. I am not doing the same to you!"

She was taken aback but wept happily in his arms. "If there is a way… someway to have more children, we will find it and we will have the family you desire." He promised her.

Syrax nodded into his shoulder. She then peered down at Ryoto once more. "Can I hold him?"

He happily obliged her.