"Alright! Now that I've taught you all the safety precautions I think you're ready to start your training!" Uzui explains, "but don't let your guard down! this won't be easy alright? Though if you do manage to learn sound breathing, that will be quite the spectacle!" he smiles.
"Are you sure I'll be okay? I don't think I can do this," I laugh nervously.
"first rule of swordsmanship, always be confident in your ability to succeed. if you don't that your sure to fail." he reminds me of this rule for the hundredth time.
"that's reassuring" I laugh. I follow him as he leads me to a separate room. He opens the door for me to see a thick forest of bamboo, all of the trees are lined up perfectly making it impossible to see any sign of a path to walk through.
"This is where you'll be training, each seed has been perfectly planted to fill the entire room with the trees so in short, by the end of the month I want you to clear this entire room by cutting down all of them with that sword of yours." he smiles with full confidence.
"you expect me, someone with slim to no experience with a sword, to clear this whole ass room of bamboo? In your huge ass mansion??" I laugh in disbelief,
"well, you've got quite the mouth on you huh?" His smile falters, only to grow once more. "but yes, I wouldn't have chosen to train you if I didn't have full confidence in you Okamoto-Kun, I truly believe you can." He smiles. that's the first time he's ever used honorifics with me, I can tell he's being genuine. I smile and nod simultaneously.
"well, first of all, to be able to strike something properly you have to swing the same direction that that blade is pointing or else your sword will surely shatter. Now if that happens I will only replace your sword two times if needed. after that we'll need to go back to the basics alright?" He explains while holding up two fingers to ensure I understand the circumstances.
"wow okay..." I say while realizing how big the room really is.
"I'll demonstrate before you begin" he offers while standing in the doorway and taking his sword out of their bandages. "I won't use my breathing technique so you can understand easier," he says and in the blink of an eye, almost 50 trees fall from only one swing of his swords.
"There now you have a head start!" he smiles, his ego shining bright as he does so. I sigh and reveal my sword from its sheath, and walk into the 'path' that Uzui has created. I walk up to a thin tree and Uzui follows. I raise my sword and Uzui places his hands on mine and guides my action slowly for me to repeat. I breathe in and sigh, this is the first time I've ever attempted the cut anything with a sword. I breathe in once more and close my eyes.
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"We could fight together someday!" Insouke says, "we'll beat up the ones who hurt you okay?" he smiles, his ego shining.
"You're crazy! I can't even beat you in arm wrestling, what makes you think I could fight anyone?" I ask.
"I can teach you! you'll be an amazing fighter one day!" He exclaims
"I belevie in you Moriko!"
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I open my eyes with a flash of energy surging through my arms I cut through five trees in one swing. my hands grip the handle of my sword tighter as I stare at it in disbelief, then I shift my glance to Uzui who looks just as surprised, though his expression softens to a smile as he closes his eyes.
"I knew it." he opens his eyes.
"knew what?" I ask genuinely confused.
" that you'd be powerful of course!" he exclaims, I laugh.
"yeah sure, you just cut down like 50!" I deflect.
"well here's something...you're 9, most 9 years olds would probably have accidentally killed them selfs by now, just saying." he explains, "Plus, that wasn't at full strength I can tell. And you can't even use breathing techniques yet! So I'd consider that quite the spectacle!" He exclaims.
"Thanks...I'm not very good with compliments but thank you," I reply.
"That reminds me when you clear this room we'll start on your breathing! And don't think this means you aren't going to continue your regular training you'll still be running up that mountain every morning!" he laughs as I look at him with a 'are you fucking serious' face.
"now! I think this calls for a celebratory dinner don't you think?" He exclaims as he leads both of us to the exit with his hand on my back in a supporting manner.
"This is just your excuse to eat a big meal isn't it?" I ask with a smirk.
"shush child," he says while lightly smacking me upside the head in a playful manner.
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Inosuke POV
I stare at the unfinished cabin that we built together. It's been almost half a year since she got captured, I can't help but feel an overwhelming feeling of guilt every time I pass the structure. I can't bring myself to finish it either. I look at it and begin to feel like I failed her. If she hadn't insisted on putting that stupid box of nails in that stupid fucking tree then none of this would have happened, She would still be here. No, if I hadn't let her go, then she would still be here.
"it's all my fault" I whisper, I walk up to the half-finished building and a wave of anger begins to flush out the guilt as I bring my fist towards one of the logs, I punch and kick the structure as the sun falls down and tears begin to fall as well. I kick the wooden building one more time before falling to the ground, wiping away the continuous stream of tears. I scream,
"NO. NO!" I exclaim, "YOU'RE NOT SORRY FOR HER!" I manage to get out in-between sobs.
"DAMMIT. WHY DID YOU HAVE TO LEAVE ME RIGHT WHEN I NEEDED YOU?? WHY??" I scream through my cries. I lay on the cold, wet ground as I feel drops of water on my face that weren't my tears I open my eyes,
'it's raining' I grumble. I give up and lay crying on the ground mumbling to myself, cursing myself, cursing Moriko and cursing the world.
"Why did you leave me?"
YOU ARE READING
~Acorns~ An OC x Inosuke Fanfiction
FanfictionA young girl who grew up in Japan is used as a lab subject by who she could only assume were her parents. she ran out of her home after finding out the terrible truth about them. She loses her friend and learns about these things called demon slayer...
