Weeks passed as Tatsuki kept up his vigorous training. His senses becoming sharper as he ran endlessly through the forest that had changed his life immensely.
The weight and sound of the sword made each day a slog, as he relied solely upon the sounds and feel of the forest. The sound of each twig snapping under his feet and the birds flying with the wind echoed throughout his mind for hours as he carefully and concisely ran down the mountain.
It almost became second nature to Tatsuki to keep his eyes closed, even when he didn't have the blindfold on.
And after three weeks of training, his muscles and mind were able to absorb information without sight. He was finally able to make it down the mountain in under an hour.
Swish
Tatsuki ripped off his blindfold in relief, his body dripping with sweat as he sat atop the gate.
Man, does it feel good to be finished with the morning run before noon, Tatsuki thought to himself, as he shifted his sword from his back to his side.
"Wow, look who made it back before lunch!" Renji laughed as he walked past Tatsuki, his hands resting behind his head in his usual carefree manner.
Tatsuki simply sighed at the boy before laying flat on the elderly gate, his eyes looking up at the clouds as the cold stone caressed his skin.
Tatsuki had learned to simply ignore Renji's juvenile and antagonistic tendencies.
It had been a rather pleasant few weeks for Tatsuki, as he had finally been slowly integrated into the other students' training.
It had started when the Master finally began teaching him Total Concentration Breathing, which Tatsuki picked up on after some time.
Apparently, it was a technique all living creatures used inherently, though to different degrees.
In essence, the user would take in copious amounts of oxygen and release it throughout their muscles.
It not only increased the user's endurance but also their physical strength and mental acuity in the moment.
That was the first thing Master Sachio had made Tatsuki focus on. Every day, when he returned from the mountain, he would repetitively swing his sword, getting used to its momentum and weight, before—to varying degrees of success—trying to use Concentration Breathing in short bursts.
Though Tatsuki would often choke up when he had to take in a rush of oxygen mid-swing, causing him to lose form and focus.
This went on for several hours each day, until dusk, when he would be called in to eat and sleep.
Each student, thankfully, had their own room at the estate, as it was rather large in size, with more than enough space to accommodate every apprentice.
And after a week and a half of morning mountain runs and repetitive breathing and sword swinging, Tatsuki was given the privilege of watching the other students spar.
And that was where he found himself heading now.
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Ushi walked through the pristine gardens of the estate, its peaceful serenity a calming sight on such a hot day.
Though he didn't really mind the heat—to Ushi, it was just another obstacle to overcome, one that would push him further.
To push him further to become a demon slayer!
To become a Demon Slayer was truly a noble goal in his eyes. In fact, to die in battle against a demon was the most honorable thing a man could do.
He wished for nothing more than to protect—to provide for those who couldn't care for themselves.
That was what it meant to be a man. That's why, when given the opportunity to become a swordsman, he took it without hesitation.
And even though he had to leave his life behind—as well as his little sister—he promised himself he'd repay her tenfold.
That is why he trained. That is why he kept pushing himself—and his comrades.
Thud!
Ushi viciously opened the large shoji, the hot air rushing into the ventilated room filled with windows that let the sunlight pour in from every angle.
As Ushi walked into the open space, he noticed that his opponent hadn't showed up.
Where is that damn brat with his stupid grin? We were supposed to start when I arrived!
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Renji walked aimlessly around the estate, doing everything he could to stall today's spar.
He had wandered all over the compound—from every corner to every building. He even started scrounging around the other students' rooms.
But no matter what he did, he knew he couldn't defy fate. He was dreading today.
The last time Renji had sparred with Ushi a couple of weeks ago, he got destroyed in front of Haruko.
And it might have been—slightly, maybe, kind of, sorta—his own fault.
He just got caught up in the banter and the excitement of having the new guy around… and he might have made Ushi a little too angry.
Though why did Ushi have to break his bokken over my ribs? That took me out of training for a week—the stupid brute! Renji sulked to himself as he thought back to the battle.
Maybe I just leave the compound for a few hours… Master won't mind, will he?
Renji quickly abandoned the thought. The last time he'd gone on one of his "day trips," the master had violently punished him! Renji shuddered as he remembered the consequences.
Sigh…
Well, I guess it's that time. If I make Ushi wait another minute, he might put me in recovery for two weeks this time.
With that, Renji walked out of Haruko's room—after thoroughly trashing it. The girl's pristinely organized space was now completely jumbled, as if a cat had come in and knocked everything over.
His boisterous white and yellow diamond haori reflected the sunlight as he passed Tatsuki, who was leisurely panting atop the estate's stone wall.
Renji called out a quick quip to the boy out of nervous habit, then made his way toward the sparring house.
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Haruko bathed in the sunlight as she meditated on her morning, her breathing controlled and concise.
She had been meditating daily for months now, her concentration breathing the best amongst the students.
Each day after her individualized morning workout and swordplay, she would use her free time to do total concentration breathing for as long as possible without breaking.
It was a rather tedious process, though Haruko didn't mind—she liked the silence.
And whenever she would falter during the practice, she would get right back to it like it never happened.
She knew that to become a Hashira, the greatest of swordsmen, one must have perfect concentration and breathing with the patience of a monk.
That was why she was so diligent with it—because she needed to become strong. She had to.
Every time she would fail, her dead parents' half-eaten bodies would flash in her mind—their corpses drained of life, pale and washed up on the beach.
Their appendages were wrapped in a seaweed-like material that infested their corpses, sprouting out of their mouths, eyes, and ears like a corrupted blooming flower in spring.
She knew it had to be a demon. It just—it just had to!
"Are, are you coming to watch Ushi and Renji spar today?" a soft voice broke Haruko out of her enraged trance.
Haruko opened her eyes—the youthful, bright blue eyes of Mono staring back at her.
"Um, yes, yes I am. Just… give me a minute, please," Haruko replied, suppressing her anger.
"Ok, I'm gonna start making my way over there now. Renji is probably gonna need my medical expertise after the fight." Mono giggled to herself.
With that, Mono walked off, leaving Haruko alone by herself with her thoughts again.
Calm yourself, calm yourself, calm yourself.
Haruko repeated to herself internally, her emotions showing externally.
But after a few minutes of silent meditation again, Haruko was back into her emotionless demeanor as she headed off toward the sparring grounds.
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Tatsuki walked into the sparring room, the shoji already wide open.
As he did so, he looked around and saw everyone there. Mono and Haruko were sitting in cross-legged positions on the ground, intently looking up at Ushi and Renji, who had their bokkens at the ready.
"Looks like I'm late," Tatsuki sighed to himself, as he wiped the sweat off his brow.
"No, you're just in time. They're about to start," Mono replied eagerly.
"So, who's going to start the match?" Renji asked in a blunt manner.
"Haruko, could—could you do it?" Mono asked.
"Let Tatsuki do it. He would get the most out of it as a new student," Ushi replied, cutting off Mono.
"Sure," Tatsuki responded unenthusiastically.
With that, Tatsuki made his way to the middle of the arena before everyone quieted down, the hot air blowing through the rather spacious room.
Tatsuki looked at both boys, studying their stances. Ushi was firm and strong, no movement in his hands or face.
While Renji's stance was constantly shifting slightly, his momentum moving with each second that passed, his eyes darting around rapidly.
Tatsuki let the tension build up for a moment before eventually releasing his hand down.
"Begin!"
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"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16
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