Taiyo followed Rei when the latter went to train, which kept the younger from rambling. Sorai was waiting for them, as he usually was, but still looked a bit surprised to see Taiyo with the older twin.
“Are you feeling any better, Taiyo?” Sorai asked.
“If I say yes, will you make me train?” Taiyo replied cautiously.
Rei looked over and frowned at him. “Considering you never come here on your own free will unless you’re following me—yes.”
“You look better,” Sorai continued, walking over to wear they kept the training weapons, “Which means your migraine must not be bothering you as much. If you’re feeling well enough that you don’t have to emphasize it, then you’re well enough to try to train.”
Taiyo frowned, but wordlessly wandered over to one of the trees. Rei took a step forward and accepted the blunt sword Sorai tossed his way.
“We’ll be using a northern sword again,” Sorai said firmly. “If you’re still having trouble in the next few months, I’ll see if Tezo can show you something.”
Rei sighed, fully aware that his grip on the sword was wrong and there wasn’t much he could do to change it. “You know he only uses his left hand to show off, right?”
“Better flashy but impractical than outright useless,” Sorai decided. He frowned, continuing to muse a bit, “If I could, I’d have let Takeo or Masaru teach you—or, even better, Utaka.”
“It’s a shame all the lefties are dead,” Rei murmured. He noticed Sorai changing his position a bit—he could try to make up for lack of strength by showing he can observe his surroundings.
After a second, Sorai silently started the session. It consisted of Sorai attacking, Rei dodging, and then instruction on how Rei could improve; they’ve been doing this for the past year, with Taiyo as an occasional participant as well. They went at it, exchanging blows and comments, for a few minutes before Sorai knocked Rei’s weapon away.
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Sorai wasted no time in looking at his younger son. “All right, Taiyo, you’re up.”
Taiyo hesitated. “Do I have to?”
“You’re the son of Gin’s queen nineteen years after Kuro last attacked,” Sorai replied simply. “You have to fight sooner or later.”
“The migraine’s worse when I’m training, though,” Taiyo argued. He winced—Rei couldn’t tell if it was him acting or if it was genuine—and continued on. “Plus, I don’t want to cut you by accident.”
“These things are pretty dull,” Rei pointed out. To prove his point, he pressed one edge of the blade into the palm of his hand—Sorai and Taiyo both frowned, but Rei held it out to Taiyo could see the lack of wound. “See? No blood.”
Taiyo only shook his head and took a step back. Sorai sighed, took Rei’s sword, and tried to give it to the younger twin.
“Just dodge for a few minutes,” Sorai said. “Kuro’s a few years away from setting a record, and I don’t want to see you die as soon as you step out there. You have talent, Taiyo, you’re just not using it.”
It took another second, but Taiyo finally accepted the sword and stepped further in to the training area; Rei made his way over to the trees to watch. Their father made a point to make sure Taiyo could guard attacks, at least, even if the session didn’t last very long.
Taiyo winced again and lowered his sword after two or three minutes—Sorai waited a moment to see if he would continue before lowering his own sword.
“That can be it for now,” Sorai said, frowning a bit. “I’d like to see both of you tomorrow—in the office or out here.” He specifically looked at Taiyo and added, “If you keep skipping training and helping with your mother—reasonable excuse or no—then there won’t be an option anymore. I don’t want to see either of you fight and I really don’t want to see you two die; either make sure you can fight, or make sure you can lead.”
“Right,” Taiyo replied quietly.
Sorai put the swords away and left; Rei and Taiyo were left to stand there for a few moments before Taiyo sighed and looked at his brother with a little wince.
“Do you think Maeko’s doing anything?” Taiyo asked. “I think being around other people might help.”
Rei chuckled a bit. “Maeko is the person you think of when you want other people? She talks more than you do.”
“Yet you still hang out with her,” Taiyo pointed out, teasing a bit. “I could probably find someone else if you’d rather—”
“I’m not going to let you finish that,” Rei said, effectively cutting him off. Taiyo still beamed like he said the full sentence. At least he felt well enough to tease. Sighing—although the annoyance in it was mostly feigned—he continued. “Why don’t we just gather up whoever’s available? They wanted to make up for the bad birthday anyway.”
Taiyo nodded, seeming grateful. Rei led as they went around gathering whatever friends were available.