Burn to ash

To what is fear

    The world around I'd darkened but the old man walking in front of me doesn't look worried or distressed. He grins at me walking with his cane, step by step.
    " Afraid of the dark are we?" he asks and I shake my head. " No shishou, not of the dark, I'm afraid of what dwells in the dark." I correct him an he nods.
    " Afraid for good reason. In the dark there are many things to fear but we can not live without fear. We can not be demon slayers without fear. Fear makes us stronger so never forget that fear. That fear is what forces us to become stronger. That fear is what pushes us to train harder, to protect not only ourselves, but protect all who are unable to protect themselves." he finished still walking at our slow pace. "For example, fear is what kept you from getting a bump on your head while we were playing our game. Your mind could not keep up with your fear but instinct, your flight or fight response forced you body to move. I was pleasantly surprised that you were a able to react in that way. I have high hopes for your training." He states pulling a sword from his side, unlatch in it from his belt.
    " so your lesson starts here. Protect not only yourself but me. I am unable to fight due to my health so if you fail, we will both die. Do well and fear for our lives." He laughs manically, starting to walk again with me in tow. A sword is nothing new to me, I've been training with one since I was young but the weight of my task, the weight of take one's life, the weight of another's life was something I had never felt before. My hands trembled as I tied the sword to my obi and follow the old man. He starts babbling about nonsense, throwing in a lesson here and there. He tells me about the sword he's handed and and he tells stories just as father had done, most overlap with one another all until he begins telling a story about the origin of breaths. Just as he begins deconstructing the history, a demon finally appeared on our path. The dark that surrounded us was darker than the night, and I could barley see even my own nose but for some reason, I can sense it there.
    " Shishou, a demo" I can;t find it in myself to finish my sentence as I look back for guidance but he's sat down on the path, crossed leg, intent on watching me. " Go on. Have at it. He's a weak one. You'll be fine." He then faces the demon. " Demon, if you kill her, I'll let you take my life as well." He grins waving his cane in the air, almost as if he's taunting the demon to attack him, which it does and I have to jump in between them. My arms shake in the lock between the demon and I. Ive never thought myself to be weak. Maybe weaker than Kyojuro but not weak in the least but this demon and I can feel it pushing back against me, winning. If I let him win, I will die and so will shishou.
    " Breath deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth. You need to give your body the energy to fight back." Shishou watches and comments from his position on the ground. I do as I am told. Not only does it give me energy but a moment to think. It calms me for a moment to where I can think properly.
    " If he's stronger than you, dodge him. Is he fast?" He asks completely focused on my struggles. I answer with a no.
    " so if he's stronger than you, what do you need to do to beat him.?" He asks again and I understand. I need to be faster than him. It's claws graze my cheek as I dodge but instead of running, grabbing it's wrists and ducking under and through his legs. He flips onto his back and pin him with a knee to the chest and blade at him neck.    
    " What do you now?" Shishou has finally stood up ready to carry on with out journey. I look the demon in the eyes and I can't help but feel pity. I remember a story father had always told me about a beautiful demon pleaded for death.
    " I will pray for them and put him to rest." I whisper and a slight look of shock flashes in its eyes. I hear my teacher huff and walking closer to us,
    " May you live prosperously in your next life." I cleanly cut it's head of and the demon doesn't even try to fight back. It's head rolls and begins to burn. I'd never seen this happen before. I expected blood but all that appears is a black dust like substance. This is shishou's Nichirintou. This is was the famed blade will do.
    " There is nothing beautiful about killing no matter but hey be human or demon, killing should never be easy. Never forget your first kill because though it was for the greater good, you have just killed a living being." Shishou explains motioning for me to stand and follow him to resume our walk. We were attacked by 2 more demons that night and reached Shishou's home the next morning. I've never been as tired as I was but I noticed a young boy waiting for us at the door. A boy maybe a year or two younger than I waiting patiently for him teacher to return.
    " Sensei. Okaerinasaimase＊." He bowed before glancing at me. " oh.. Kaigaku. This is Houzuki. She'll be your sister disciple from today. You treat her well." He waved his hand starts searching for something.
    " Where's the other one? Still locked up?" Shishou asks laughing and Kaigaku nods motioning towards the what looked to be a closet. I can slightly hear a muffled cry from inside.
    " Zenitsu!" Our teacher yells out as he slams open the door revealing a young boy, maybe around 13 or 14 cowering in the corner, He had on a bright yellow haori and on his head was a mop of dark black hair. He had tears in his eyes as he semi glared up at Shishou.
    " Jiichan, that was so cruel of you to lock me in the closet." He cried holding himself but older man just laughs, smirking. "If I didn't lock you up, you would have run away while I was gone. Now, stop embarrassing yourself and come meet Houzuki." He roughly pulls the young boy out into the open when he lands on his knee before me. He gives me one glance before bolting up and taking my hand in his.
" Hello hime. It's very nice to meet you, my name is Agatsuma Zenitsu." He then kisses my hand and all I can muster out is a laugh. He takes pride in the fact that I laugh but our sensei hits him over the head.
" It's very nice to meet you Zenitsu, Kaigaku. I'll be in your care from now on. I hope that we are able to get along well." I bow and I can see the the youngest boy is blushing but the older one, Kaigaku looks slightly puzzled. They both bow back nonetheless and Shishou laughs saying something about starting training and such, which in turn makes Zenitsu scream and cry.
" Houzuki. You're afraid of what's in the dark. I am afraid of the demons. So we both do our part. You to get strong, and I, I work hard to make my students stronger all because of our fears." Shishou grins from ear to ear mischievously as he drags the young boy out, motioning for us to follow but as we do, I see a glimpse of Kaigaku throwing me a glare.

*okaerinasaimase: A very formal version of Okaerinasai which was welcome back.