The Shadow Hashira - Tengen X Reader X Sanemi

9

The clearing was filled with the rhythmic clash of our weapons, the sharp, metallic sounds echoing through the forest. Tengen moved with his usual flamboyance, effortlessly parrying and dodging my attacks. His playful demeanor was evident in the way he moved—his grins and winks as he deflected my strikes. Despite my frustration and the intensity of the fight, I couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't fully committed to his attacks. He really is underestimating me, little fucking shit.

Determined to prove a point, I decided it was time to escalate things. I took a deep breath, centring myself as I prepared to unleash a move that I'd been saving for a special occasion. It was a technique I had unlocked but rarely used, one that required precision and a bit of flair.

Shadow Breathing, Eighth Form: Midnight Eclipse.

I moved swiftly, vanishing into the shadows and reappearing high above him in a flash. Tengen's eyes widened in surprise as I descended with a fierce, calculated strike. My spear came down with a powerful force, catching him off guard and pushing him back several paces.

He stumbled, his expression a mix of astonishment and delight. "Well, now! That's more like it!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "I didn't expect you to have such a hidden card up your sleeve."

I landed gracefully, a smirk playing on my lips as I readied myself for the next exchange. "You seemed like you were holding back," I said, keeping my tone playful. "Thought I'd give you a reason to step up your game." Eat on that Mr sound hashira.

Tengen chuckled, regaining his footing and adopting a more serious stance. "Fair enough. I guess I was taking it easy on you. But you've definitely earned my full attention now."

We continued to spar, the intensity of the fight shifting as he matched my movements with more focus. Each clash of our weapons was accompanied by a volley of teasing remarks and the occasional biting remarks from me.

"You know," I said between strikes, "for someone so confident, you're surprisingly easy to catch off guard."

Tengen grinned, deflecting a particularly swift attack with a flourish. "And for someone so determined, you've got a knack for keeping me on my toes. I like it." My cheeks warmed up but hopefully the fighting disguised it. Ugh, get a grip y/n. You hate him! Remember?

Our movements were fluid and synchronized, a dance of combat that was both fierce and exhilarating. Despite the physical exertion, there was a playful energy between us that made the fight feel more like a game than a serious battle. I hate to admit it, but this is fun.

"I bet you say that to all your sparring partners," I teased, narrowly dodging one of his strikes.

"Only the ones who actually challenge me," he replied with a wink. "And you're definitely in that category moonlight. I have to say, you're quite the formidable opponent."

"What an honour it is Mr Uzui." I feinted a move to the left, then struck from the right, catching him by surprise once more. He staggered back, laughing as he recovered. "You're not making this easy," he said, clearly enjoying the challenge.

"And I wouldn't want it any other way," I retorted, feeling a rush of exhilaration as we continued to exchange blows. The fight had become less about frustration and more about trying to catch the other off guard. Each comment, each strike, seemed to build an intense air between us, even as we remained locked in combat.

As the fight wore on, the remarks and snarks exchanges became almost as intense as the physical combat. Tengen's laughter and compliments added a new layer to our interaction, making the sparring match feel like a dance of its own.