Chapter 24

Hokus was wondering about, taking in the domain when he came across Toji once more. He was speaking to a young man who had a similar appearance to him… does Toji have a son?

Curious, he approached them. The young man froze to the sight of him. "Dad…"

"Oh, hey…" Toji said in an uncaring voice.

"Hi…" He turned to the young man. "I'm Hokus… Hokus Tooru" he explained.

The young man froze to this and peered at Toji, who merely nodded his head to him. "I'm Megumi Fushiguro," he explained. "This is my father,"

Hokus nodded. "I just met him the other night… at the same time getting lectured by Sukuna of all people…"

"Father told me, in fact, Ryoto was speaking to me too about your ability…"

He shied away. "Shadow claws… not exactly useful or very helpful in big fights, but that's what I'm dealt."

"Ryoto thinks you are capable of more than just shadow claws, in fact, he spoke to me about this, thinking this could be a gateway for you to alter your technique." Megumi explained.

"What are you getting at!?" Toji demanded. "You can't go Tiamat on him!"

"Huh?"

"What are you talking about, dad?" Megumi demanded.

"Tiamat could alter his technique, it is within her power. YOU think you can do something like that?!"

Megumi didn't bat an eye. "Yes," he said. "In fact, I think I can, shadow claws are in my realm of power, the shadows. You also have Zen'in blood which means the ten shadows is part of your blood too…"

"I much rather say I'm a Tooru over Zen'in…"

"That we got in common" Toji muttered.

"But if it is possible, I just… I got to get these stupid thoughts out of my head!" Hokus protested. "Like it or not, I said things the other night when I drank too much. I still say stupid shit too, hell I called my sister a monkey when I learned she had no technique… I stopped after she kicked my ass!"

"I'm starting to realizing you really aren't a Zen'in. No one in my clan would have stopped even after getting their ass kicked." Muttered Toji.

"Until I can figure out how to stop thinking like that…"

"Oh, I can help!"

Everyone paused as they turned to see Ryoto lingering near by with Takaba.

Megumi froze to this. "Takaba?"

"Sort of? I'm Yua's grandfather Hakuryo Tooru!" he said proudly. "But since we're all using bodies that people are familiar with around here you are more than welcome to call me Takaba"

Megumi nodded to this as he peered to Ryoto. "You had an idea to help him?"

He smiled and nodded. "Using hiijiji's technique!" Ryoto said proudly. "Also a bit of hiibara's technique too!"

Everyone was confused, Hokus didn't know what was going on until he turned around, and was suddenly struck in the head, knocked out cold!

#

THUD!

"Bro…" Toji muttered as he saw Hokus get smoked like that, from his mother no less. The body she possesses has her hair turn into a scorpion's tail, yet with training, she can alter the properties and form of her hair.

Just now, she had turned into the same shape and density as a frying pan.

As Hokus laid out on the ground, just like in the cartoons, creatures and images where floating around his head. "Okay hiijiji, your turn!" Ryoto said proudly.

In fact, both of them leaned down and began… flicking. Toji saw these little masses of black and grey blobs getting flicked and a small scream was heard! As if Hokus was seeing stars or birds at this point but things that didn't belong, were being flicked away!

"Are… you removing the Zen'in notions from his head?!" Toji demanded.

"Yep!" Ryoto replied confidently and then flicked. That one landed with a splat somewhere else, but in the end, Hokus came too.

At first he stared up at the sky rather blankly, his mother peered over him. "Are you okay, Hokus?" she asked gently.

In fact, he laid there contently. "I… never felt better." He said to her. "I don't know what you did, but… I feel a lot lighter than I did before."

"You don't have that damn blood sickness anymore" Takaba decreed.

"Oh good." Hokus then sat himself up, he looked to Megumi and asked. "If you are able to… would you allow me to change my technique?"

Megumi nodded to this. "Ryoto speaks rather fondly of you. He understood what had you so upset, at the same time, he realizes that you are still family as well." He then peered to Ryoto. "I trust him when he says that this person would use the technique for good, but I want to test you."

Megumi reached and placed his hand over Hokus's head. Toji felt a surge follow but then he settled. Hokus didn't look or feel any different, however Megumi said he altered his technique. "In 24 hours, you will have a new technique, until then, don't use your curse energy."

Hokus nodded sincerely to this. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet, you have to prove yourself first."

Hokus nodded with great sincerity, he prostrated himself in thanks to Megumi for his consideration.

Toji on the other hand was grinning. "You know what… I got a little brother for you to meet. Granted, he's not a sorcerer anymore either but, this will be funny as hell!" he decreed.

Hokus continued to sit there. "Is he someone I SHOULD meet or is this just for shits and giggles on your part?"

"Shits and giggles" Toji said without hesitation.

"At least he's honest about it…" Hokus slowly sat himself up, before regaining to his feet. "Okay, led the way"

Toji paused. "Really? You are going to entertain this notion?!" he demanded with an amusing smirk.

Hokus shrugged. "I maybe amused by it as well. So… why not!" he decreed. "Besides, I am curious to see what a Zen'in would have thought of me anyways… is that okay with you mom, dad?" he asked.

They smiled. "Go ahead, but I doubt it is going to be anything pleasant." His mother warned.