Chapter 33

He was normal… for the first time since this mess has started. Megumi appeared as he should. No dragon ears, tail or fur to be seen. But it didn't matter to him, his sister has returned to him and he couldn't be happier.

But, there was something off about it all. His sense of smell is far sharper than what it use to be, and he kept picking up a scent from her that wasn't inviting. "Everything okay?" she asked.

"Yes… yes, it's fine… Tsumiki, I'm sorry I couldn't protect you…"

She paused and sighed. "Megumi, it was beyond your control. How could you have known…"

"It was because I had to go to a different school than you." He said bluntly. "Had I stayed…"

"I don't think it would have made a difference."

They fell silent to each other, Megumi wanted to tell her so many things and yet…

"I will never forgive Sukuna for what he made me do."

She paused to this, in fact, Tsumiki turned to Megumi. "Then you have yet to really understand what has happened."

Instantly he froze in his steps. "What do you mean? He POSSESSED me to KILL you… knowing what you meant to me! Knowing that would break me far more than anything else in the world, he used your death to control and take over my body!" he protested.

She nodded and understood that, and yet, she wasn't upset by the event.

"Sukuna… was having his soul repaired… I saw everything that had happened from when I died until I was taken in and placed in his care… Megumi… he truly was doing everything he could to restore my soul, despite the fact that wasn't in his expertise." She explained.

"I could care less," he protested. "He USED us. I won't give him a chance to do so again."

"Did he?" she asked. "Or was this Kenjaku?"

He paused. "How do you know…"

"As I said, I had a lot of things explained to me as my soul was healing. There were many others in that strange place I was in as Sukuna's soul was getting mended. One was rather talkative and explained everything to me that Sukuna had done in the past and why, but, they also said. 'His actions are his, even in madness, he decided to do those things. At the same time, he is making amends for the pain he caused. He may not succeed in doing so, but at least let him try. I am not asking you to forgive him outright, but at least open your mind to it.' It was a sincere request, as such when he lowered his head… I began to understand what was told to me."

"It's still no excuse…"

"I know, but Yua also explained everything that has happened since, she even said if I was uncomfortable around him, she will make arrangements…"

"He won't harm you anymore, I promise!" Megumi protested. "I'll always protect you!"

She smiled. "Megumi…" she was about to speak farther when suddenly she paused.

"Oh, is this a new dragon?"

Megumi turned and saw three odd young men standing there… rather smitten by her appearance… carrying rather large rations of meat. "Uh… hi… I'm Tsumiki Fushiguro, Megumi's sister," she said with a smile.

The three smiled back and lowered their heads. "I'm Sota, son of Choso. These are my brothers, Grant is the big, burly guy here. Very powerful and strong defensive powers and this is Syth, his skin is really dark, but he is an excellent night hunter."

"Hey don't cut yourself short! Brother here is very good at managing the siblings…"

"Guys… not now!" Megumi growled.

Their smiles vanished as looks of shock came over the three. "Sorry! Please excuse us!" the three hurried off, and yet, Tsumiki kept peering back at them.

"Let me continue the tour, until you know what you want to do, you are going to stay with me." Megumi insisted.

"Actually, Yua has offered to put me up for a while…"

"I'm your brother!" he protested. "Why don't you stay with me for a while?"

This was rather upsetting, Megumi wants nothing more than for Tsumiki to stay under the same roof as him. However, she appeared to be against it?

"Tsumiki, is there something you are not telling me?" he asked of her.

She paused but nodded. "Megumi… I'm… aware as to how you feel about me." She said gently. "I don't feel the same way, you're my brother!"

"We not blood siblings…"

"We share a mother" she protested. "But now, with the way things have become, it's changed… we share a father now. How that happened, I don't know, but…"

"Why are you saying this?" he asked of her. "Why…" he began to feel choked up, Megumi paused. "What do you mean…"

She sighed to him. "I know… you fell in love with me… but I don't feel the same way… you're my brother. I love you as my brother… nothing more." she said gently.

He froze to this, shaking his head, trying to understand what this feeling was. It was rejection wasn't it? He… didn't know how to feel at this point and yet, it was enough to make him walk way from her. His heart was racing, his mind all over the place.

"Why… am I feeling like this?!" he demanded of himself.

He didn't get too far until he pause at the sight. His father was lingering and nudged his head towards his residence. "Let's go, we need to talk."