Blackbeard; The Legend

Evening Training

The setting sun cast its fading glow across the world, its orange light glimmering across the ocean's surface, the shadow of the ship stretching over the water. Akahana leaned on the handrail, quietly humming a simple tune, her foot tapping in time with the beat. In her mind, she imagined a familiar voice croon the verses to it.

Even as the wind blows away all we know...

And the dust settles in places unfamiliar...

Don't worry, as I'll see you tomorrow...

After the dark has turned to-

"Hey!" Akahana was jolted from her trance as a voice pierced the silence of the waves. "Are you there?" She turned to see Ryota, looking at her expectantly with his chigiriki in his hands.

"Yes, yes we are." Akahana fully shook herself awake, and let out a deep breath. "So, are you ready?"

"Heck yes! So what are you gonna teach me first?" He asked excitedly and Akahana chuckled.

"Slow down." She said. "The first thing is I want to see how good you are with it."

"I thought you already saw how good I was with it..?" Ryota asked. "Oh! Do you want me to show you my special technique?"

Akahana smiled at his enthusiasm. "Perhaps later." Ryota's face dropped a little at that. "But, the training I saw earlier today was just a small demonstration of your skills." She put her hands to her hips. "I haven't always watched you train, so I'm not sure if that's how your training usually goes, or if that was an accident. So, show me."

"Alright!." Ryota readied himself and held his mace in a good attack position. With a melodramatic shout, he swung and the weight flew through the air and struck at an imaginary enemy. He continued fighting the fiend, the handle of the chigiriki twirling lightning fast in his hands as he struck with a variety of attacks. It was like seeing a hummingbird zooming through the air, and she couldn't help but be impressed by Ryota's skills. But like what she had seen before, he was swinging it too hard, with no clear focus or aim.

"So," He panted, as he wiped the sweat off his brow, "How was I?"

"You have some skill, but you lack control and precision." Akahana said. "In a battle, you could easily injure an ally by accident." She tapped the bruise on Ryota's face. "The chigiriki also leaves a few gaps in your attacks, which your enemies will utilize."

"Hmmm...you sure about that..?" Ryota asked skeptically. "I mean, I haven't even showed my special technique yet!"

"Trust me, I've been taught by a well-trained warrior." She chuckled. "And if you're still not sure, perhaps we find out." She drew her katana.

The fox smirked. "As you wish." The two readied themselves, Akahana lifting her blade beside her head, the tip pointed towards him. He grinned and gripped the staff, the weight lying on the deck floor.

He made the first move, charging at her. Akahana waited for his arm to move to see where the trajectory of the weight would go. He swung the chigiriki downwards at her, the weight coming down in front of her. Without a moment to waste, she easily dodged the attack, and Ryota continued swinging at her, each swing coming closer and closer. Akahana patiently avoided his attacks, and when the chigiriki's weight arced towards her from the side, she ducked and thrusted her blade upward at Ryota. His eyes widened in fear as the tip of the sword was about to go right through his head. At the last moment, when  the metal was about to pierce his skin, Akahana stopped and stepped backward.

"And that's how you end up dead." Akahana said as Ryota let out a relieved breath. "You kept on attacking, which showed me how you fight, and once I knew this, I only had to wait until the right time to strike."