Chapter 50: Worthless

'I'm nothing!'

Aku stood in the middle of the forest with no shirt on. He was scratched up and dirty having to fend off many monsters over the last 7 days of his training. His hair was longer than usual due to not being done in a while, his body looked more muscular or toned, and he also looked thinner than usual.

'I've done nothing but stand here, killing and eating monster after monster, and yet I feel like I've still just started this training. A couple of days or so have passed since Tarin left me here and yet I've barely managed to make a mark into the tree.'

Aku opened his left eye revealing his Shiryoku.

'I'm just some kid…begging for power like a loser.'

Aku's Aspect flared as he put his arms out, and his body muscles tightened up as he tried to force his Aspect into a shape. Any shape he could think of, it didn't matter, he just needed a shape.

'What is it I'm missing?'

He relaxed as he looked at the multiple small chips he had made in the tree over the last few days. 

'It's not enough.'

***

"He looks rough..."

Yaki said to Tarin as they sat next to each other drinking water out of flasks. Yaki's appearance was more aligned with Tarin's now as they both wore abnormally large fishing hats and baggy shorts with way too many pockets.

"Your brother hasn't eaten, slept, or even moved from that spot in the last 6 days. So I'd expect him to look a little rough after all that, but if you look closer Yaki."

Yaki tried to take a closer look at Aku as they were quite far away. Yet she couldn't see what Tarin was pointing out.

"What am I looking for?"

"Your brother has such an amazing drive, look at his body he hasn't just been trying to perform the ability I showed him. He's been refining his physical self as well during all of this time. Even though he has failed every single time he's attempted to cut the tree in half, he's still up and trying."

"Sounds like my usual stubborn brother."

Yaki stopped watching and took another drink from her flask.

"You see Yaki, Your brother is special. His Aspect has piqued my interest in terms of potential. I think there's a good chance your brother could be as strong as me one day, but first, he must learn certain lessons. Like patience, priorities, and overall he needs more experience. Power in our world today is used for acts of selfishness and wrongdoing. Power just like mine is used for control and fear, I want Aku to become strong so he can be the light of the world. Our world in fact."

Yaki looked at the sky as she rested her hands on the grass behind her.

"How do you know Aku will turn out like that?"

The question stumped Tarin for a moment.

'This girl's thought process has been bringing me down all week. She's a little too realistic.'

"To be honest with you, I don't. For all I know he could become the next leader of some awful Demon Clan or organization. He could use all his great power to control others with fear, but!"

Tarin looked over at Yaki as she looked at him.

"I have a feeling he wouldn't want you to see him like that."

Yaki turned away as she scoffed under her breath.

'I love Aku, and Tarin has brought my spirits up over the last week but…'

She looked slightly over at Aku in the distance.

'I have this feeling things will never be normal again…'

"Yaki?"

"Yes?"

She looked back at Tarin as he put his hand on her head.

"I promise you, you have nothing to worry about I'll handle Aku if anything happens okay!"

His smile made Yaki relax slightly.

*CRACK*

Yaki jumped hearing a loud noise as she looked back at where Aku was as a tree fell. Yaki could feel Aku's presence as if it was surging throughout the whole area.

'I wonder if all demons feel so terrifying!'

***

Aku looked at the damage he did to the tree as it wasn't clean in the slightest, the area where he had cut was chunky cuts as if it had been chopped over and over again. It was still enough to make the tree fall, however.

'Damnit!'

Aku was frustrated as crouched down balancing on his toes and burying his face in his knees.

'It's not good enough! It wasn't clean like Tarin's!'

"Get up!"

Aku took his face out of his knees as he slowly stood up and looked back at Tarin who wore a large smile on his face like a proud dad.

"What are you doing here?"

Aku looked annoyed.

"You want results right?"

Aku scoffed at Tarin's words as suddenly he threw Aku a shirt.

"Follow me!"

Tarin smiles as he starts to walk away. Aku put on the shirt as he noticed Yaki next to Tarin.

"Hi Yaki"

He said sorely.

"Hi Aku…"

Yaki then followed Tarin with a cold shoulder. Aku watched as she walked off behind Tarin.

'I'm sorry Yaki…but I promise...all of this will turn out all right!'