My Sun and Moon (Akaza x OC)

Chapter 25: Not a Figment of Imagination

Nagano narrowed her eyes watching the boy, or who she assumed to be younger than her, his face surely looked to be that way. After his minor celebration of what he deemed to be a victory, he had returned to facing her, though now standing waiting for them to begin. She knew full well the chance of him betraying her had been incredibly high, someone who has betrayed countless others to get the strength that they want does not suddenly stop, as much as she wished it might be the case for her. For her to be the one he remains loyal to, not out of affection, but simply hope that he too could change much like Akaza had in their travels. Though there was no guarantee there would even be signs right away if he even did, it had taken weeks of being together for her to truly see the difference in Akaza, and even then, the only time she had seen who he might have been before her had been two occasions. The first argument they had that night and then his sudden change after they had made their way back to the room. A part of her had attempted to make her believe that everything that had gone on between them had been entirely a lie, some play. That who she saw in that room, was who he truly was. The larger part of her heart angrily argued and pushed against it, there was no way she could accept that fact. Surely.

Becoming his teacher would need her to remain attentive, ever watchful of every move that he made. Watch every look in his eyes and changes in behavior. Becoming his teacher meant her needing to be on edge around him, though she would need to do it in secret. There was no way he would react if she had openly showed her distrust and paranoia around him. Would he become angry? Become violent? She would not be afraid to fight him, she had won the last time he had attempted, and that had been her holding back. If she truly tapped into the power she had been given, there was no question as to who would win in that fight. There had been one issue in her desire to watch his movements, with him being a thunder breath user, she would need to watch him thrice more than she would any of the other lower level demons, his training obviously still held in tact with his turning which had meant that his speed had come in tow; though at a much swifter speed with the addition of the demon blood placed into him. She would have to keep her guard up and not let it falter even a single moment.

"Are we to begin now, or are you to dismiss me for another time." Kaigaku drawls.

Turning her head to face him as she circled him, she narrowed her eyes.

"Master..." Kaigaku corrected himself, his eyes flashing with annoyance. Was he actually trying?

Of course he would. There would be no point in him betraying her now, not until he fully assessed the situation of the worth of her teachings. He'd play along until then.

"We will begin with stances," Her eyebrows knitted together in a silent anger when he attempted to protest. "I am well aware that you want to learn other moves, to enhance your skills, but every skill must start at the bottom if they are to truly reach the top. Plus," Nagano held out one finger. "I told you it would take time. Are you truly going to throw such a fit on the first day?"

"No.." He grumbled.

"No?" She asked.

"No Master," Kaigaku raised his chin high, meeting eye to eye with her.

"Good," Nagano smiled pleasantly, her smile never reaching her eyes. "First we are to start with a defensive stance, one you will have to learn to use at the start of every fight until your opponent makes their first move."

"Alright."

Standing beside him, Nagano gestures to her feet, moving them shoulder length apart. "You're going to want your feet shoulder length apart, though you are to not keep them like this, whatever your predominant hand is, that foot on that side will step back at an angle with your heel raised ever so slightly. I will show you why."