~*~

THREE MONTHS LATER - AT THE DRAGON ESTATE

"Just breath in........and out,"

In deep focus of Zen meditation Kaito was on the floorboards, legs half crossed with his eyes closed with a relaxed expression; contrasting from earlier when he was contorting in discomfort and irritation. I did the same, but remained focusing on to focus on his breathing pattern and how he can channel his breathing techniques with this meditation. He inhales and exhales deeply, before by my command I allow him to open his eyes.

"How do you feel?" I ask him softly, noticing that the tension had left him. "You were quite uptight and distressed earlier........am I not wrong?"

He remains in his position before his shoulders slump forward to relax, "I apologise.......just didn't get much sleep,"

My brows hike up with concern, "I've mentored you for three months, and I've watched and observed you every time I train you or see you in your spare time," I spoke up, while hearing the rain against the tin room above us within the dojo. It was close to the afternoon meaning another mission will be closing in, as the crows should be flying in to inform us our next hunting mission. "You can't get past me......."

He wearily smirks and rakes his fingers through his hair, "I know.......I've been begging for you to mentor me, but......" a troubling sigh leaves him. ".......can I do it? Can I really be the next Dragon Hashira? To learn such a beautiful and yet such a strong breathing technique?"

Raising a brow I couldn't help but chuckle, "I wouldn't have given you a chance, a few months ago if I didn't think you were capable," before standing up, following him to stand up as well when he approaches me. He suddenly bows before me in respect to our training session, with his form strong but gentle. 

"Guess I shouldn't doubt you, Big Sis," He lifts his gaze, seeing bags beneath his eyes. 

"Maybe......you should sit out tonight's mission?" I suggest softly, with a warm tone. Reaching forward I cup his face feeling his body stiffen in response before relaxing, as my thumb brushes his cheek. He seems rather exhausted and fatigued than I assumed, maybe I shouldn't take so much time in the day for training if he needs rest. "You've fought repeatedly this week, so I think you deserve a break.......get some sleep and focus on your health."

Usually he would push away from me, but this time he wasn't even neglecting my concerns.

"Fine.............I'll take you up on the offer," he gives me a small pout, earning a small scoff from me. "Seriously..........I swear your more like a mother to me......"

"Is it so bad for caring?" I question, as he gives me a wry smile.

He soon gives me a warm smile back even if it was weak, "No........no, it's actually nice...." leaning his head into my hands, seeing another vulnerable side of him. 

In the past three months of mentoring him it took some time and a lot of patience, and now he's at a level where his rank is Tsuchinoe. He still had a ways to go, but he was slowly cleaning up certain techniques and learning new ones simultaneously. Sometimes I catch him in the middle of the night training instead of sleeping when not on missions, and I overhear his impressive work in other groups when he's not with me on my high ranked missions. Like what Hashira are meant to do, we're meant to be patrolling and ensuring the safety when a dire emergency occurs or gets out of hand.

~*~

A WEEK LATER 

"......ya know that food isn't gonna eat itself?"

Blinking out of my daze expression finally returning back to the now, I sigh deeply before biting into my matcha flavoured daifuku. The powder dusts across my upper lip, tasting the bitter sweet treat. Suddenly a hand grabs my cheeks gently but a bit forcefully, noticing Sanemi licking his calloused thumb and wipes away the powder.

"Geez, your a child sometimes," he scoffs, playfully before that fades and turns to concern. "Hey, you seem a bit out of it.........everything alright?"

"Hmmm?" my head perks up, feeling his hand release my cheeks. "Well, just in deep thought. I'm concern for my student, that's all......he loves to give it his all instead of taking it back a notch I guess....."

He takes a bit of his ohagi and chews a little improperly, "Hmm.......isn't that a good thing?" He muffled with his food in his mouth, before swallowing with a few bits of rice on his cheek. "I mean, training harder makes us stronger.......keeps you on your toes. That brat should be even working harder in my opinion--"

Leaning over I take the few pieces of rice from his cheek, with a raised brow.

"Who's the child now?" I retort from earlier, before shaking my head. "Also no, he shouldn't be working harder than what he's been doing. He's already doing immense training without my supervision sometimes, and collapsed a few times........after observing for a few months as his mentor I noticed he apologises too much like I used to. He offers to do the dishes instead, he even offers to clean the floors.........sometimes he would even offer doing the laundry. Like he's been a big help, but I feel......." a heavy a sigh of defeat.

".......like you're taking advantage of him," He finishes, with a gentle tone. His eyes soften and lowers showing a much placid side of himself in front of me, "Shit.......look, I don't know how to mentor or even know what the hell to do with a kid. Maybe.......talk to him or something, and set your foot down. I know you don't wanna push anything on him, but......now is the time for him to open up for real if there has to be some trust between Mentor and student."

The though has crossed my mind many times before, however I was so indecisive about it all that I decided to sit and observe Kaito more.

Bringing my tea to my lips with grace, I drink the bitter tea slowly and thoughtfully. My eyes remain on the plate of sweets that were still uneaten, realising how much this was effecting me more than I wanted to admit. Ever since I reluctantly brought him under my wing, I've noticed that he barely speaks about himself much. 

Leaning my palm against my cheek, my lips pucker a little with a heavy weighted sigh following after.

"I'm a terrible Mentor.........."

The sound of his cup slam on the table, "Bullshit.............you've come so far, and you're not terrible," Sanemi scolds me, with a stern voice. His violet eyes met mine, "I can't believe I'm even giving advice and sharing wisdom here, when your the one who gives it to me........but go and talk with him. Communication goes long ways, to mend that path for him.......he can't succeed you if he can't be straight with you."

My face soon softens giving him a nod, "You're right.........best wisdom you've given me so far," I smile, before taking his hand and kissed his knuckles. His cheeks burn in embarrassment, seen we were in public causing him to draw his hand away with a pout. He looks away shielding his face from me, shoving Ohagi into his mouth messily. 

"Shutup..." He mutters, with a pout.

Chuckling softly I sip my tea some more, "Come on.......don't be like that,"

"I'm not doing anything,"

I lean over and pinched the tips of his flushed ears, "Now who's acting like a child......" I tease quietly, with a smirk.

~*~

LATER THAT NIGHT

"This is how you spell.......'Properly'......"

The dim light flickers within my room as Kaito sat opposite of me, in front of my centre low table desk. Sitting crossed legged on the pillow, I drape my faux fur overcoat over my body more while focusing on his spelling. He quietly leans to the ink and holds his sleeve with his less dominant hand, and dips the brush into the black ink. With steadiness he does his strokes steady and neat, trying to learn how to write and spell.

He requested this months ago, due to lack of knowledge of his Japanese. 

"Like this......?" He asks quietly, feeling his eyes meet mine.

Leaning over to analyse his handwriting and spelling, a smile curls upon my lips giving him a confident and acknowledging nod. "Exactly, and now.........spell 'Dragon' (龍)....in Kanji," I suggest softly, whilst I return to making a book or some guide for both Kaito and Sanemi to learn from. 

I remember when Kumeno mentioned Sanemi doesn't know how to write, it took me by surprise that he didn't know how. Surprisingly though, he did know how to read as to why he understood my letters and such. Yet, not knowing how to write actually became more of an endearing quality to him, so it gave me some time to teach him from time to time. I even made a book for him, and dotted letters for him to learn and paint over if I'm not around. 

We even recently were given a new official writing system which was establish in the early 1900's, which is now what we learn as Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. 

It took me some time to learn seen my family had to change as well, after learning the old ways of our language. Now, I've studied and learned every now again that I've maintained my knowledge and technique still. Sometimes there might be words that would be unknown to me, so I usually ask Nami, my crow, to search for any book stores with any knowledge or readings for me to learn more. Either that, or even request Lady Amane to aid me if I'm stuck.

"........Like this....?" he asks, after seeing the gentle strokes painted on the washi paper. "Did I do it correctly?"

Giving him a nod, "Excellent..........now how about you do a sentence for me?"

He nods with a determined look, "yes!"

"Introduce yourself.........that's a start," I suggest softly, while I place my paintbrush down and allowed my ink to dry on the paper. "Hold your sleeve while writing to not smudge your writing, and have a straight back whilst doing so. It's etiquette, and it will help when standing with a strong a straight stature......."

"Right,"

 Gathering my overcoat I cover myself from the cold, before standing up and closing the fusuma doors to keep the warmth inside while it took kaito a few minutes to write.

"Did I do it right, this time?" He asks me, as my feet padded towards and knelt down beside him and glanced down to the paper where he introduced himself. My finger hovers over as I trace over, before seeing one wrong spelling mistake. "Oh.....dammit--"

"Hey, hey," Shaking my head, I squeeze his shoulder with a warm chuckle. "This is amazing! You're already improving, especially since you start by scratch a few months ago since I started mentoring you.......so don't get irritated by one mistake...."

His brows furrow as his shaggy midnight raven blue hair covers his eyes, noticing that something is truly troubling. Gently taking his brush and placed it down on the table carefully, I take both of his hands placed it upon his lap. Reaching up I cup his face while brushing a few strands from his jade green eyes, as his gaze meets mine.

"There's something bothering you, and I know it's effecting your concentration," I spoke up, sitting comfortably beside him giving him my full attention. "You've been pushing yourself, doing most of the chores I'm supposed to do, and when I want to clean.....you do it straight away for me. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate everything you do for me.............but your overexerting yourself. Please, I want to know..........why?"

His jaw clenches tightly noticing his eyes harden, as my hand drifts down resting on my lap giving him some support and comfort.

He couldn't deny or push me away anymore, because this time I'm stepping my foot down.

"I just.......my whole life before meeting you, I've been.....a people pleaser," He spoke up, more hoarsely. His thumb rubs over his palm anxiously, "I didn't have the best mother, but it was home, where I slept, ate..........which we were struggling financially. Father had to support the family, while our mother......she would laze around home and eat majority of our food and leaves the scraps for us. I was always one to apologise or own to my own mistakes and did the chores all the time, and defend my little sister, Kaiya. Mother didn't have that maternal instinct as she was clearly detached from my sister and I, and sometimes went out to brothels in town nearby......."

My stomach churns in disgust already, realising more things I didn't know about him. It made realise how cruel the real world is, even for a child.

"Father was the best, he would always work hard and put food on the table," He continues, seeing a brief smile appear on his weary expression. His thumb keeps rubbing over his palm, noticing a red mark blemishing his hand. "Sometimes mother would argue with him, and then one night she never returned. Turned out, she was f-found in an alley...........r-raped and brutally murdered and torn to shreds. As the rumours had stated.......and the authorities ignored her death labelling it unknown......."

Taking his hand I securely held it, preventing him from hurting his own hands. Knowing this heavier information, I felt guilt trying to make him open up.

"I'm sorry........" My comes out shakily.

"It's fine........then it was me taking care of my sister, whilst our father continued to work," He continues, feeling his hands tightening while his breath grew heavier. His cheeks flush red with moist red eyes, glistening in the dim light. ".......one very night a Demon attacked our house whilst we were asleep, but seen Dad was a hunter he was quick on his feet. He quickly defend us, using his katana blade which shattered when protecting us. I took my sister reluctantly, as we tried making a run for it to the nearest town........then red splattered, and then before I knew it my sisters head rolled on the ground......"

One of his hands reaches to the long scar, that marred across the bridge of his nose and cheeks.

".......I saw red for a moment trying to stand up, but collapsed........"he begins to tear up, as his voice comes out more strained and hoarse. ".......the demon taunted me a little longer, and boasted that my father was dead and said he was weak. It left a burning fire inside me, as I tried to be brave latching on his wrist. I tight gripped it to prevent him from killing me instantly, and that's when his wrist snapped. That's when I discovered my strength. Then when I thought he was gonna kill me, a Demon Slayer cuts in one swift movement. What caught my eye, was her silver eyes reflecting in the moonlight..............now after realising whom it was.......it was you who saved me."

My eyes slowly widen in surprise, not even realising that his story would not even mention anything about me. 

"Me.........? How long.....was this?" still in disbelief, his hand grips my own tightly.

"I was only ten, so roughly six years ago......" He replies, which made me realise that I was probably around fourteen or thirteen at the time of his rescue. "......since then, I tried to survive until I met my mentor who later passed when I was only thirteen as I was already a slayer. He taught me everything I knew, water breathing..............and I snapped my wooden blade due to my strength I couldn't control. After his death, I've been staying at the Wisteria inns or sometimes Lady Kocho's Mansion. Now..........I'm here, with you......"

Pulling him into my arms I held him tightly, feeling a few tears fall in response to his story. He was surprised by this as his body tenses in response, before slowly easing into me and held onto me more tightly feeling his strength tighten. However my body could endure it, giving him the same amount of strength into the embrace. "It's okay..........I'm here, I will take care of you," I whisper softly, this maternal instinct drives me to protect this boy. "I'm so glad you never gave up after what happened to you, and I'm relieved that  to know your story. For now, you can rest easy when your around me. The Dragon estate is now your home, I'm your home.........you don't have to put up walls for me. It will take time, but........I will help you in any way I can."

"Home? Your.....my home?" His voice breaks, feeling his tears soak into my overcoat as I held him close to me. "I'm sorry for not telling you, I just wanted to impress you with a side of me that pleases you....."

Shaking my head, "Under my roof, I want the real you to shine.............be just Kaito," I say softly, as he sobs into the crook of my neck. "You have nothing to apologise for, don't overexert yourself either..........because dragon breathing is also about patience. Your still learning, so I don't expect perfection........okay?"

My fingers thread through his raven blue shagging hair, allowing him to let it all out here and now.

He nods, "Okay......" he muffles, shakily.

"That's it.........just relax," I coo softly, my hand rubbing his back soothingly. His arms trembles around me as he sobs louder into my neck, with his tears soaking against my flesh while making sure to keep my hold secure. "I've got you, and I'll do everything in my power.........to help you grow stronger......."

He nods in response, but remains crying until he silently does so instead.

~*~

"Get some sleep tonight, tomorrow........we work on controlling your strength,"

"Right," he croaks out, as he adjusts himself in his futon. His eyes red and splotchy from his breakdown an hour ago, he rakes a hand through his shaggy hair. "Thank you, again......for guiding me. It means alot."

Smiling softly I lean against the frame of the fusuma door, "Anything for you, now......lights out," i walk over to the candle, and blew it out. "Need your energy tomorrow......"

"Night.......Big sis,"

Closing the door, "Night........little bro," finally shutting the paper door, and made my way down the verandah. The cool breeze gentle glides through my long thick hair, as I head to the kitchen to prepare some tea as I've boiled water earlier. Tugging my faux fur overcoat around my body, I knelt down and began to pour my Hojicha tea in the small cup.

Processing everything from Kaito's testimony and history, it all soon came to my memory of a mission where I had to guide the small boy to the village.

It's been six long years since that happened, and now he's returned as my own student. It's funny how the world works, but even still his story was also something I could relate to in some degree. I felt empathetic to his life with his own mother, with this detachment that neglected the needs for the two children. Judging by what happened that woman didn't deserve to be a mother, and I praise the father for protecting the children with everything he could. 

We don't get to choose our parents, that's a complete fact........

Sipping my tea slowly I exhale deeply, "I'll be better.....for both Kaito and Sanemi...."

-----------------------------------------

A/N: Hey guys! 

I apologise for not updating for a long while, as I've been receiving so much assessments and not getting time in to write. Also Hayami's birthday is on the 25th this month! I've got a surprise coming in honour of her birthday! 

Thanks again for reading!

~ Little Bean