{{Eternal flames, a love that never ends}}

~ Chapter 8 ~

Astrea had gotten the information he wished for, he had indeed killed a 12 kizuki. They weren't high in ranking but Astrea had only been a slayer for a day. So the master saw him fit to get to Kinoe rank. He'd also found out that he was in the blood line of sun breath users, meaning if he were to become a pillar. He himself would be one of the strongest, the Sun hashira.

Kuma was delighted to hear the news, that Astrea was a descendant of the first man to use breathing styles and that his blade could turn red.
"Ah, I was I could be as strong as you!!" They exclaimed, hugging him excitedly.
"I'm not that powerful, it's simply my bloodline." He replied, patting their back

"Second mission and you're already a Kinoe and you slayer one of the 12 kizuki, that's really impressive!!" Kuma was ecstatic, it wasn't her own achievement no but the man she had brought to hq, she was proud of him.
"Thank you." He replied before pausing.
"I think I will go train with my sensei until more missions arrive." He said but when he arrived at the wind estate  Sanemi was not there, nor was Rengoku in the flame estate. As the master had called an impromptu meeting regarding Astrea Tsugikuni.

Kuma on the other hand went out to the woods near ha to train there. Astrea went to look for them, after finding them he stalked them from a tree, not in a creepy way but he would attack, to check if they were ready for anything at any moment.

Kuma was blind to the fact he was there, humming quietly as they jumped from tree to tree, hitting some training dummies in the process.
"Are you vigilant enough?" He said from one side of her body before appearing on the other side, holding his hand to her neck gently.

This surprised them, kicking at where he was before going to a tree, rubbing their neck gently, their eyes darting around the area.

"If I held back, it wouldn't be very easy." He was behind Kuma now, holding his hand around the front of them and placing his thumb over their lips. The rest of his hand laid on their face.
"Your kicks aren't enough." With that they grabbed his arm, throwing him over her shoulder.

"You're tough Astrea but I'm not slow." They began jumping around.

"You're not slow, but not quick enough." He leap to the tree they were currently in, tackling her down onto the ground and holding her face against the ground. There was no way for her to get out of this, the wind grew cold around them both from the sheer presence of Astrea and his overwhelming force.

"How's you know I was out here?" They questioned, their voice slightly muffled as it was pressed against the ground.
"I just found you." He stated, letting her go and taking a few seconds to dust off her face and her uniform.

They smiled.
"You caught me off guard, thanks." They thanked him.
"No problem. It's too bad your uniform's revealing, did one of the Kakushi's give it to you saying it was all good?" He questioned.
"Ah they did but I don't really care all that much." They replied.
"If you don't then I won't. I believe you can improve to be like me too, maybe not identical, but kuma, you'll definitely be strong." He put a hand on their shoulder.

They nodded. 
"I hope that ome day i will become the flame hashira, but i have a long way to go until then"  They climbed up one of the trees, sitting on a branch.
"No matter the time it takes, you'll be an amazing Hashira." He climbed a tree parallel of the one she was sat in.
They smiled more.
"You really are great Astrea." They said, jumping to the branch on top of him. He looked up to her before averting his eyes.
"It may not matter that much, but there are minor inconveniences that come along with the skirt on the uniform." That made Kuma chuckle, climbing down to him. Staying leant against the trunk of the tree, he waited on the branch for Kuma. Astrea's eyes were shut as he didn't say a word. Not until confirmation was there that he wouldn't just accidentally look at something he shouldn't look at.
"What a gentleman~" They cooed, their face just inches away from his. He opened his eyes to discover the sight, hitting the back of his head against the tree trunk.
"I didn't think you'd be right there." He leaned forward a little.
"Wouldn't think so but are you alright?" They reached around to hold where he had hit. "Sorry you hit your head..." They caressed his head softly with their thumb.

"I'm okay, yes." He became internally flustered by looking her in the eyes, so he looked down, but that's where her chest was. Looking up seemed weird, so he just looked to the side a little. Kuma moved back, smiling softly.
"I'm sorry..again." They sighed.
"It certainly shows a lot." He dropped down from the tree, hitting a dummy on the way down Kuma had previously placed. They jumped down after him.
"Astrea, you think you could do this a few more times? Come out of no where? It'll help me" They asked.
"It can be done." He replied.
"Thank you!" They exclaimed, hugging him. He just stood there quietly with his head leant down so his chin could rest on their shoulder. Astrea was never one for affection, despite Miyamoto's insisting to get a few hugs out of him every now and then. The memories of that caused him to lift his arms up and place them on Kuma's back. This being the first time it hadn't been a one sided hug. Kuma smiled, rubbing his back.

"Your hugs are nice, Astrea." He hummed slightly before breaking the tender moment short. Astrea didn't say a word, turning his back and going. "See you soon!" They exclaimed, before going back to their training.

The Hashira's impromptu meeting was over, Sanemi returning to his estate to find Astrea there.
"What're you doing here, huh?!" The student had his head bowed,
"I'd like to train, Sensei." His words weren't received, the only thing that was is Sanemi's foot to his face. It knocked him over,
"Why don't you teach us all then?! High and mighty Sun Breather, why isn't Muzan Kibutsuji dead yet? You're weak for someone related to the first breather. Get up and fight me, prove you can use your gifts! Worthless! Your friends died for you? It should've been the other way around." Shinazugawa was speaking some of his mind, but he was also riling Astrea up to know how he could perform after being ridiculed and insulted. The Wind Pillar wanted to know how true everything he was just told is, to see if there really was a monster in him that's just never shown.

Kuma continued to train on their own for some time before going back to the flame estate.
"Of course.." He muttered, taking a wooden sword and getting ready to fight Sanemi.
"My condolences." Astrea looked up when speaking, in an instant unleashing his Sun Breathing. Dragon Sun Halo Head Dance, unleashing a continuous fast and powerful sword attack that seemingly takes the form of  a Japanese dragon made of solar flames. The attack struck Sanemi and he then followed up with Beneficent Radiance, spiralling into the air and delivering a powerful slash that surrounded his Sensei. Since Astrea was still in the air, Clear Blue Sky was next used to deliver the final blow that knocked the Hashira unconscious.
"Rengoku-san! It's been a while since we've trained together, how about it?" They asked, a wide grin spread across their face.