#PoV 1.
*…Huuuft~*
After hours of training, I sat on the engawa, wooden sword resting beside me, letting the sweat dry as I began my meditation. It had become my daily ritual for the past year.
Not only to steady my breathing, but also to review what I'd learned.
Smoke Breathing… it takes too much energy every time I use it. I've come to understand that every Breathing Technique is essentially the conversion of energy inside the body. Special breathing increases oxygen intake; excess oxygen drives the body to burn fuel at extreme levels, producing new energy, such as heat, electricity, and even raw vibration.
Take Flame Breathing: the user's body heat rises until it ignites the very air, birthing real flame. Or Thunder Breathing: the muscles channel bioelectric energy, accelerating the body to inhuman speeds.
That's only the beginning. When paired with a Nichirin Sword, everything changes. These blades, forged from ore that absorbs the sun's light, act as conduits. Breath + energy + sword, together they amplify the element, giving it form.
Water Breathing: the flow of movements regulates moisture in the air, shaping torrents of water. Wind Breathing: slashes cut through the air so fast they generate sharp currents.
But none of this is possible without focus... and imagination.
The image the swordsman holds in their mind shapes the phenomenon itself. Breath, energy, and blade obey the will of one's vision.
Imagination is not just belief, it is the trigger. The key that transforms breath into reality.
That much I've learned. And yet…
---
#PoV 3
Kagerou opened his eyes, staring up at the sky.
'Sun Breathing… how could someone possibly create... let alone wield something like that?'
He knew well the lineage of techniques. From the Sun Breathing, the first and strongest, came six pillars: Water, Flame, Thunder, Stone, Wind, and Moon. From these flowed countless branches, Sound, Mist, and his own path, Smoke, born as a flawed offshoot of Flame.
But even knowing that, one thought haunted him: '... How can anyone hold the power of the sun itself?'
"Kage-kun"
The voice pulled him from his thoughts. Kagerou blinked, lifting his head toward the source.
There she was, Ruka, standing hand-in-hand with little Kyojuro, her other palm resting gently on her stomach, now round with five months of life.
"…Mother, do you need something?" Kagerou asked, his tone soft but alert.
"Kage-nii, let's go outside!" Kyojuro piped up before Ruka could answer, golden eyes shining with excitement.
"…Go outside?" Kagerou echoed, brows furrowing. His gray gaze slid back to Ruka. "Do you want to buy something, Mother?"
Ruka chuckled, nodding lightly. "Mm, yes. There are a few things I'd like to get. So... do you want to come along?"
The answer came to him instantly. With Ruka's condition, letting her wander off alone, much less with Kyojuro, who could barely stand still for a heartbeat was unthinkable. A disaster waiting to happen.
"…Let's go," Kagerou said without hesitation. His voice carried quiet resolve, even as a faint shadow stirred in his chest, the unease of the marketplace, the memories he would rather not revisit. Still… if it were for Ruka, he would go anywhere.
"... I'll just wash my face and change first. Wait for me, alright? Don't leave without me." He rose, determination steady in his eyes. "I'll be fast"
"Don't rush, the market isn't going anywhere," Ruka said softly, watching Kagerou dart into the house with quick steps. Her smile lingered, gentle and wistful. "…That child…"
---
Kagerou, eight years old, stood tall at 143 cm, unusually tall for his age. His lean, toned frame spoke of discipline and relentless training. Combined with his striking gray eyes and sharp features, the boy carried a presence far beyond his years.
Unfortunately… that very presence was also the reason he disliked coming to crowded places.
"…Ohh~ look, it's Rengoku-san! So handsome~"
"If I asked, do you think he'd want to be my boyfriend?"
"Keep dreaming! Rengoku-san is mine!"
"I saw him training once, those muscles… ah~"
Whispers, giggles, and shameless remarks trailed after him as he walked beside Ruka. Kagerou's hand unconsciously tightened on the hem of her yukata, a silent shield against the barrage of voices.
Ruka, ever serene, only let out a soft laugh at the scene. Her hand brushed lightly over his hair.
"…Our Kage-kun is quite popular," she teased warmly. "Why not choose one of them to be your little girlfriend~ hmm?"
"...Mother." His voice dropped, gray eyes narrowing in quiet embarrassment.
Ruka chuckled, hiding her mouth with her sleeve. "Ahaha~ I'm only joking, Kage-kun. Don't pout so much"
"Rengoku-san~!"
"Rengoku-san, I love you!"
"Oh~ really? Thank you! Thank you!" Kyojuro beamed, his little hands waving enthusiastically at the girls who called out.
His golden eyes sparkled, his grin wide and fearless, soaking in the attention as though it were sunlight itself.
Beside him, Kagerou blinked at the scene before glancing at Ruka. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the weight in Kagerou's chest lightened.
Both mother and son shared a quiet smile, soft, knowing, and full of pride for the boy who burned so brightly.