Chapter 4:The Bladeborn Trial I

"Who are you?"

Takeshi mutters, frightened. It has only been him and Arakaki in this village. No one else, well not that Arakaki had mentioned anyone else. So this boy coming out of the bushes startled Takeshi.

"Don't worry I'm here to help you. Where is Mr. Arakaki?" The boy questioned looking around for him. "He's inside." Takeshi quietly informed him. "Oh, so he's not out here training with you?" Satoshi questioned again but in disbelief. "No, he kind of got tired of watching me, I mean I don't blame him I would do the same. He said I have everything now, I just need to train." Takeshi tells him, his hand covering the bruises the training had given him. "Oh well, that's no good. How about from tomorrow I train you. Go get some rest." 

Why did he just show up now? Takeshi though. After all these

months of failing, he comes now? "Umm Satoshi, do you not want to come see Arakaki?" Takeshi turns and invites him over. "Nah, it's alright, he'll get startled." Satoshi replies. Before Takeshi could process what Satoshi had said, Satoshi had already disappeared beyond the bushes.

Startled?

The next day, Takeshi gets ready for training, as per usual. He goes to the

training area, but Satoshi is nowhere to be seen. "Satoshi!" Takeshi calls out as he turns the dummy on, twisting the lever. "Hey boy, who are you calling this early?" A voice came from behind. It was Arakaki. Takeshi turns around scratching his head. "Ummmm, no one?" He lets out a sarcastic fake laugh and turns back around. I don't think Satoshi wants Arakaki to know he's here. Arakaki lifts an eyebrow and walks back inside.

Takeshi turns around- The dummy's arm swung aiming for his head. Before he got hit someone had swooped in and pushed him out of the way. Takeshi lay on the floor wondering what had happened. Who pushed him? "Oww, that hurt." Takeshi let out a groan. "Not as much as it would have if you got hit with that dummy."

A soft voice came from a distance. It sounded familiar. Takeshi jumped up, it was Satoshi. He had pushed him away from the dummy. "That was you?!" "Yes, I suppose. You could've got knocked out. You really need to work on your reaction time." Takeshi just gave him a look, really. Where did he even come from? Satoshi just came out of the bushes and coincidentally straight after Arakaki left. Who is this boy? Or a reasonable question, What is this boy?

After a few minutes of deciding, Satoshi decides on working with reaction time. Satoshi trains him with; trap, all around the area. Instead of the dummy, fighting with Satoshi. By the end of the day, Takeshi's reaction time had become more quicker. This time he could really dodge the dummy's attacks.

The first month with Satoshi: Takeshi had used Tide Serpent Style, it turns out Satoshi had used it as well. So they focused on striking the dummy. Which was easy for Takeshi since before Satoshi he had already started to throw strikes at the dummy.

The fourth month: Satoshi had taught in depth, the breathing style and its forms. As well Takeshi had finally broken an arm of the Dummy.

"Arakaki! Arakaki!" Takeshi shouts running inside the home. "I broke one of the arms!" "Great job, but you still have three more. Don't celebrate yet Takeshi." Arakaki said sharply and boldly. He's so bold can't he just be a bit happier and delusional? "Being delusional is a disadvantage, you need to be bold and clear." It was as if Arakaki had read Takeshi's mind. "Here have some soup."

The sixth month: Satoshi had come to train him. At this point, Takeshi knows where to strike, where the weak points are, where and how the dummy will hit. "This time I want you to pretend I am the dummy." "But Arakaki said I can't be delusi-" Satoshi interrupted him. "Do it Takeshi, it's the only way you'll

train and break the dummy." Takeshi wasn't concentrating on the words of

Satoshi. "Okay if you say so."

"Use the breathing style Takeshi." They both went into a fighting stance and leapt in to strike. At first, they blocked each other's strikes. He's working exactly like the dummy. Takeshi says in his head. Satoshi was moving,

hitting, and standing exactly like the dummy.

"Tide Serpent Style, First form, Mooncurrent Dancer." Takeshi muttered under his breath. Suddenly, like out of an anime. A snake-like water rushed past him, alongside the movement of his sword. Takeshi struck Satoshi and hit both of his arms. "Good one more left." I hit two!? "Tide Serpent Style, Second Form, Tidal Devourer." The snake came back. Following the movement of his sword. Then… "Great job Takeshi, I'm so proud of you." Satoshi says bowing as he starts to walk away. "Your training is done." Takeshi couldn't believe his eyes, he blinked and rubbed his eyes. Satoshi was gone. There in front of Takeshi lay the now broken dummy, its arms laid detached next to the body. "What? Satoshi!" No reply. He was gone.

"ARAKAKI!" Takeshi runs back home. "I did it! I did it!" Takeshi repeats. Arakaki's mouth sits wide open. He runs out to see what had happened. "I'm so proud of you my boy! Congratulations! I'll cook us a grand meal as a celebration!" Arakaki shouts with pride. He wasn't being sharp and bold. He was genuinely proud.

During their celebratory meal.

"So Takeshi you are now onto the Bladeborn Trial." Arakaki said while slurping some

soup.

"Bladeborn Trial?" Takeshi questioned looking up from his food.

"The Bladeborn Trial is something all future demon slayers must endure. It lasts five days commonly. Sometimes it lasts seven. But to pass you must kill three demons that have been taken into there. If you kill none, you are not qualified. You cannot get away with not killing demons, you have to kill the demons." Arakaki explained, sharp and bold as ever. But the fear in his eyes told Takeshi that this was no joke. No time to mess on. No time to shrug past it. "When is it?" Takeshi asked. "The next one is next week, I will sign you up." "Right." I need to do more training. To kill those

demons. Thank you, Satoshi. "Just to let you know, almost all of my students did not return, so there is a fifty-fifty chance you will either survive or die." Arakaki warned Takeshi. "Be careful my boy." He then followed it with. Takeshi felt a shiver go down his back. They both then went back

slurping their food.