The Closest Ones

34. Training

4 months after started training with Koda

January

No POV

"Again!" Koda yelled as Ash was lying on the ground, tired. He was traing every day since he came here. First it was just to get him into physical condition, where he could do anything Koda or his sister would tell him, but after a few months, it got more difficult. He would start training him with weapons, having him run obstacle course or just to train his patience.

Now, he was training him to try get Koda down from his feet by any way, but failing everytime. Ash stood back up, only in shirt and shorts, that was dripping sweat, by training. His scars could be seen, but they were mostly covered by red skin, which was result of Koda's wooden sword, that he would hit with Ash when he failed.

He was tired, but determined. He learned multiple things, one of those to never ask for break, but also things he should have learned long ago, as his mind went back to the first training.

"Please I am tired, can we have a break for a moment?" he asked, which only ended up by Ash doing another more training for that day and at the end of day, Koda would tell him that nobody won't wait for him to save them.

Ash ran at Koda again, making sure he wouldn't do the same thing by walking to side to just avoid his charge. Koda this time held the weapon ready and clashing each other. As they fought for who would  back away first, Ash used his leg to trip his legs, but failed, as his feet didn't move at all.

"How am I suppose to get you on ground?" Ash asked, but his question was quickly was gone from his head, when Koda grabbed his hand and threw him over his shoulder. Ash landed on his back, feeling how all of his breath was kicked out of his lungs.

"You need to count with everything your opponent can do and who it will be. If you fail with one way, find another one. If you will train harder, you will be able to do what you tried, but even then, not all opponents will be same size as me and not every opponent will be human. So instead of asking how, you ask which way. " he looked down at Ash, who was trying to catch his breath. "If you want to defeat a ninja, you must become one!"

March

"Tell me again what do you want me to do?" Ash asked, as he held the katana in his, stunned by the request.

"You heard me Ash, I want you to try slice through my chest." Koda said with straight face.

"Hell no. I am gonna kill you Koda."

"No you are not, if you would, I wouldn't say try." Ash turned his view at Aya, who seemed to tell him the same thing. Ash took a deap breath and ran with katana at Koda, aiming to slice through his chest. To his surprise, he blocked it by stopping, the blade between his hands and then kicking him back.

"Wow, I guess that is today's lesson." Ash said with slight excitement in his voice and Koda nodded.

April

"You need to learn to ignore some pain. If you are gonna flinch at every small cut, the enemy will use it against you." Aya said, as she watched Ash holding bricks in his hands and on his shoulders, with only shorts on and eyes closed. His body was now more covered with muscles, but more showing his scars.

Ash felt the small cut on his back, smack on his side, but didn't move with his hands at all.

"After all that pain, do you think I will break down Aya?" Ash asked with smirk, as he flinched for a moment the jolt of electricity hit his leg.

"No, but you break after that one moment." she said, as he felt heat more in room and sudden memories coming into his mind. "And they will come back. The police gave you a word, but still nothing." Aya voice made Ash loose in his nightmares even more.