A Merfolk's Tale

Chapter Fifteen

"Legs apart and keep your center of gravity," Eiji said, "That's good. Keep your grip firm or you'll lose it as soon as your sword hits and you'd die,"

Katsuki shot him a glare and Eiji just grinned.

It had been days since they had been saved from the slaver ship and days since Katsuki and Eiji had started talking to each other since their first meeting at the pub back in Yuei. During his injury, Katsuki stayed by Eiji's side where they mostly just talked about swords and swordfights since Eiji saw potential on Katsuki's fighting style and had decided to teach Katsuki sword-fighting to what they had been doing for the past few days when they had traveled from kingdom to kingdoms to return the rest of the slaves that had been rescued along with Katsuki and Ochako.

Today they were finally making their way back to Yuei-- back home.

"Okay... you ready?" Eiji asked, taking out his own sword and stood across Katsuki.

"Ready to wipe your ass up, your highness," Katsuki smirked as they prepared their practice.

"I'm rooting for you Katsuki!" Ochako cheered form among the small crowd that came to watch their little show, among them was Shoto and was standing beside Ochako when she had cheered.

The brunette blushed and looked away, mumbling a sorry to him before they continued to watch as Katsuki and Eiji both raised their swords and started their duel with a stalemate as both boys tried to fight for the dominant hand before pushing each other away and meeting once more.

Jeers and shouts of encouragement erupted among the crowd as they picked their sides-- some even going far as betting and secretly handing each other money to which Shoto chose to turn a blind eye to-- it was a celebration after all.

Eiji lunged forward, swinging his swords to the right but Katsuki was on his guard and welcomed his swing successfully-- the force, however, made Katsuki step back a bit to keep himself from falling.

"You're starting to get better," Eiji said through gritted teeth as he tried to keep his momentum and Katsuki returned his playful grin from earlier.

Eventually, their duel ended in a stalemate-- as it always did every time they do their duel as Eiji had the skills but Katsuki had more brute force.

"Great practice today," Eiji said, quietly mumbling thanks to one of the maids who handed him a towel. "You've been improving,"

Katsuki only grunted, glancing a glare at the maid who had blushed and giggled when Eiji threw her a smile before she walked away and met Katsuki's blazing stare that immediately wiped the smile on her face as she rushed back inside.

"Oh?" Eiji said, noticing how the maid had scurried back. "Wonder what's wrong?"

"Who knows," Katsuki mumbled, collecting his stuff as Ochako waited for him. He turned to leave without a goodbye as he always did when Eiji called him and he turned his head just enough to see Eiji at the corner of his eye.

"What do you say we practice again tonight?" Eiji asked and Katsuki missed the way how the redhead's cheeks blushed or how his eyes had focused on the wooden floor as if it was one of the most interesting things in the world.

"Sure," Katsuki answered without missing a heartbeat and Eiji had to bite his inner cheek to stop himself from smiling as Katsuki then went off to join Ochako, bumping into one the guard he had a fight with the other day.

"Watch it," the guard said and Katsuki threw him a glare-- a silent challenge for a second round.

"Oh-hoh," the guard said with a smirk. "Feisty now are we since you're in the princes' good graces?"