Mist Breathing

Looking at the insignia of a moving cloud, I knock on the Mist Palace's door. Standing there for the next thirty minutes, a Kakushi finally opens the door, bows his head apologetically, and then leads me to the back of the campus.

In the middle of the backyard, I see Tokito sitting on top of a rock, staring mindlessly at the sky. Right next to him, there lay a pond that generated an unnatural amount of mist.

"Since you've arrived, you can start training."

Raising my eyebrow in confusion, I hesitantly ask, "Um, how exactly am I to train?"

Dropping is head from the sky, Tokito stares me straight in the eyes before answering with, "Do the same training regimen that Rengoku forced you through. It's beneficial for you to continue a training regime that you've already started then to just receive a new one. So, just do that."

Wondering if that was Tokito being wise or just lazy, I look around for a way to start my training. Finding all the training equipment at the corners of the campus, I quickly grab a boulder and start to run around. Strangled by the humidity before, I struggle restlessly until I finally finish the two-hour self-torture.

Taking an ice bath that a Kakushi set out for me, I let my body rest before moving on to the next step. Continuing the workout previously set by Rengoku in the oppressive humidity the Mist Palace presented, I thankfully finish.

Thinking that I would now be taught Mist Breathing, my hopes are dashed when Tokito states, "You can go back now."

Quelling my thoughts on questioning his decision, I relent and head back to the Butterfly Mansion. After that, the process of training in the Mist Palace continued for the next seven days until Tokito finally felt willing to teach me.

"Congratulations on adjusting to the humidity. Because I feel you're in a good enough state, I will tell my forms."

---

Mist Breathing Forms:

1st form – Low Clouds, Distant Haze – Allows the user to unleash a powerful thrust attack in front of them.

2nd form – Eight-Layered Mist – The user unleashes eight slashes, one on top of the other, in quick succession.

3rd form – Scattering Mist Splash – The user unleashes a powerful circular slash that blows away projectile attacks.

4th form – Shifting Flow Slash – The user quickly unsheathes their blade and strikes his enemy.

5th form – Sea of Clouds and Haze – The user dashes forward at high speeds and unleashes a flurry of slashes that cover a wide area.

6th Form – Lunar Dispersing Mist – The user leaps high in the air upside down and sends a series of countless ranged slashes downwards, capable of decimating a wide area.

---

After Tokito explained all the forms, I had expected him to show me what they would do, but contrary to my expectations, he sat back down on his rock and locked his eyes on the clouded sky once again.

"Are you going to teach me these forms?" I ask.

"I just did." Tokito begins. "It would hinder your development if I were to show you my skills. After all, you're creating your own breathing art, right? So, by learning my form by yourself, you should also be able to better create your own."

Even after hearing that, I felt slightly helpless since I didn't know what I was exactly looking to do. However, taking my plethora of knowledge I gained from training under Urokodaki and Mr. Kuwajima, I set myself to understand the process and pattern of Mist Breathing. Training the forms could come later, so I set myself to this one task.

In my time of trying to determine the way to breath, I listen to how Tokito breaths. Hearing the rhythmic sense of breathing, I accidentally doze off.

Being awoken by a Kakushi, the rhythmic sense of breathing resounds through my head. Copying that pattern to the best of my ability, I eventually reach a state of euphoria, giving me Mist Breathing.

Having accomplished such, I set myself to start creating the movements for each form. Only having the basis of words to go off, my movements are amateurish in the beginning and even when I get far.

"Sensei Tokito, how do I improve myself?" I ask after my days of unfruitful training.

Tokito's head swivels down and he stares at me before giving a short message of, "Go."

Understanding what he might want me to do, I execute each form of Mist Breathing.

"Each of your forms holds too much rigidity and for the fifth and sixth form, you're trying too hard to execute them." Tokito begins. "Mist Breathing is used to mimic mist and vapor, specifically the obscurity of it. You need to visualize yourself as manipulating and generating the mist and vapor whilst using the forms. I see you mimicking my way of breathing, but the pattern slightly differentiates based on body constitution and how well you're able to move. So, my advice to you is to try something else, you might get stronger because of it."

Accepting such a gracious explanation from Tokito, I set myself to train/adapt my Mist Breathing. Spending an entire week to both make my movements more fluid and my Mist Breathing better apt for my body, I preform each form.

"It seems like you've greatly improved." Tokito's voice sounds out. "Continue at this rate of speed and you'll soon master it."

Feeling giddy at the praise, I improve my mastery once again over the next four days. After two weeks of training in the Mist Palace, I both gained Mist Breathing and mastered it.

"I see you've finally mastered Mist Breathing. I suppose you must leave then. As a recommendation, I ask you now go to Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira."

Bowing my head in appreciation, I return myself to the Butterfly Mansion and thankfully find that no one has requested to teach me yet. Having free time, if only for a short while, I spend it with Kanao mainly and occasionally Aoi.

I wanted to speak with Shinobu, but she was once again trapped in her room, conducting experiments of unknown proportions. When Shinobu did finally come out of her room, I immediately engaged in conversation.

Swapping sides with Kanae at the dining room table, I start with a wide smile on my face.

"Hello again Shinobu… It's an absolute pleasure to see you again."

I hear Shinobu chuckle softly before speaking. "It's nice to see you again as well Shiro. Kanao after all becomes rather clingy to me or Kanae while you're not here."

"Does she really?" I ask.

Shinobu in return nods her head.

"But what about you, how have your experiments been going?"

After asking this, Shinobu meekly turns her head away from me. "Well, they're going well enough."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, my projects have progressed greatly from when we last talked. My projects serve to create poisons and antidotes for demons. I currently hypothesize that I can at least kill a low-level demon."

"Do you know how well it works?"

"Well obviously not, I'm not allowed on the field after all."

Rubbing the back of my head sheepishly, I say, "Ah, I guess you're right."

"I know I'm right." Shinobu states while puffing her chest out proudly.

Laughing aloud at Shinobu's demeanor, we continue to mingle before I suddenly feel the presence of someone behind me. As I go to turn around, I feel the sensation of a body pressing against mine.

Turning my head, my eyes lock with that of Kanao.

"Ah, would you look at the time, I really spent a lot of time talking with you Shiro." Shinobu starts while standing up. "I'll be leaving then; I hope we can talk again like this in the future."

"Of course!" I reassure her with a wide smile.

Seeing as she leaves the main hall, I wondered about why she had such a depressed look upon her face.

Turning my attention back to the still clinging Kanao, I ask her, "Did you want to do something with me?"

Seeing her nod her head resolutely, she removes herself before grabbing me by the hand and into the dimly lit backyard. Walking over to a pitch-black corner, she pulls out a practice sword. Standing in the middle of the yard, Kanao executes the very first form of Flower Breathing.

Having my eyes sparkle, I immediately start to praise Kanao. However, when I look closer, I see that Kanao eyes are droopy, and she sways back and forth. Thinking that she overworked herself just to get to this point, I grab her in a princess carry before carrying her off to bed.

Leaving her room, I immediately encounter Kanae in which all she does is wink at me before entering her own room. Waking up the next morning, I am immediately bombarded by the loud screeching of a crow.

"Sanemi Shinazugawa has requested to teach Shiro! I repeat! Sanemi Shinazugawa has requested to teach Shiro!"

Receiving the message from the crow, I decide to pack myself up and immediately head out for the Wind Compound.