The Sound Hashira's Apprentice // tengenuzui x reader

Chapter 6

Nightfall had sunken before us upon the arrival of the late Dragon Hashira's estate.

I'd anticipated a hut or a mid-sized mansion. But once the ground transitioned from grass to concrete, me and Sensei couldn't take our eyes off of the ancient temple that stood relentless against the darkened sky.

Tengen-sensei whistled. "I could do with a place like this with all three of my wives."

I scoffed. "You wish,"Of course this creep wanted three wives.

I trudged ahead of Tengen as I approached the pristine entrance.

It seemed the right side of the door had fallen from the hinges thanks to the harsh passing of time but the extravagance hadn't been loss as the jarring half-face of the fire breathing beast itself, stared dangerously at me from the left.

"If we're looking for any confirmation of Dragon breathing here it is."I stated matter-of-factly.

Tengen rummaged through his bag and lit up a torch for each of us before we entered.

Broken sculptures and vases' were scattered across the floor. The ceiling had also revealed cracks wide enough for the stars to illuminate the debris generously.

"Be careful, I don't want you cutting your feet on anything." Tengen pulled me suddenly by the collar, before my foot made contact on what looked like sharp pottery.

"Oops,"

He sighed. "You're the clumsiest Kinoe I know."

Letting him lead the way, we disappeared deeper into the temple that was once called home by the Dragon Hashira. We travelled along for a few minutes before we entered a room with high ceilings and what looked like an outdated bed. Scattered across walls were mouldy shelves with damp looking documents.

"Ewww,"I raised my elbow to my nose not wanting any of the fumes to enter my lungs.

"Here,"Tengen shoved a cloth to my face. "Knowing your luck you could drop dead any moment inhaling the shit in here,"

"Thanks."I rolled my eyes, tying it comfortably across my nose. "Aren't you going to put one on?"

"Tch, I'm a Hashira and ex-Shinobi, my body is designed to withstand pretty much anything."

"Wait! You used to be a shinobi?!"I say in shock. "You never told me that!"

"Huh? So you get excited over the fact that I used to be a shinobi more than when you find out you are training with me as a Hashira."

"You really want me to be excited about training with you whilst forgetting I was kinda forced to do it in the first place."I shot back with my hands on my hips.

Tengen ignored me as he turned away to scan the area.

I pursed my lips, stopping by one of the shelves before pulling a carefully binded transcript from it's wedges. Dust and debris revealed itself at my actions, making me silently thank Sensei for offering me the facial cloth.

"Do you still think that?"His question came unexpectedly belated. So he wasn't ignoring me.

"No, of course not."I try to say as casually as possible, using my substituted interest of the pages as a decoy behind how deeply I actually felt.

The truth was, even if it started as a situation I was sort of pushed into, being under Tengen Uzui's guidance felt like a privilege. He had invested so much time and effort towards me, more than another human being has ever done, and he believed that because of this I would be the product of becoming the grandest and flashiest Hashira ever to grace the corps.