It had been five days and I couldn’t say I was getting any better. He often threw me in the river to see how my swimming progress was and then smirked when he found out that it hadn’t increased. I learned to ignore him for the most part, and it never helps to think about my parents. Today he would begin to teach me weaponry having already taught me the basics of fist fighting. I must admit I’m a fast learner.
The morning was cool, I noticed, when I awoke that morning. I stretched and sat up, scratching my back. I glanced around the grassy bank; the sun was just barely up. I thought of what Sensei had said to me yesterday, he told me that we would work with weapons.
“Weapons? I’m too young to handle a weapon,” I murmured, “Where is that crazy guy anyway?” I glanced around for my Sensei, although I wasn’t surprised when I saw an empty blanket next to mine. I stood up, more aware of my surroundings and walked over to the river. When I peered down I saw plenty of tiny fish and decided to try out a technique that Sensai was using. He calls the technique Cho. Who knows why, I guess he just made it up. I reached my hand up in the air with my elbow bent and my fingers facing the water. Once I found a fish that I wanted I brought my hand down on it and pulled my hand back up quickly. I Opened my wet hand only to find a stream of water droplets. No fish.
“Taken a fancy to Cho eh?” Sensai’s voice sounded behind me. I turned to look at him. He was still wearing the red cloak, and his arms were full of bread and cheese. I stood up, ignoring his question, and ambled over to my blanket. I began to fold it up while Sensai spread his out. He tossed two loaves of bread and a lump of cheese over to the far side of his blanket, he devoured the other loaves and cheese. I crawled over to my breakfast and looked at it glumly.
“Where’d you get this?” I poked at the meal.
“What does it matter?” He mumbled through a full mouth.
“You stole it didn’t you,” I murmured.
“If I did?” My mentor challenged.
“Then I’m not eating it!” I glared up.
“So… I can have it?” Sensai’s eyes grew wide with hope.
I fell backwards onto my back and waved my hand weakly as if to say, “I don’t care.” He was never taking anything seriously. I clasped my eyes shut and felt his presence get stronger as if he were closer. ‘Probably to take my breakfast.’ I was regretful that I hadn’t eaten anyway. Stolen or not it’s still food and I still need to eat.
I expected his presence to get weaker as he returned to his usual eating spot to finish off my food but it hadn’t. I opened my eyes in time to see a loaf of bread land in my face. Swiftly removing the bread I sat up. He was hovering over me so I almost hit him in the head with my own.
“Eat it Kiko,” Sensai advised. He had lost his childish glow, if only for a moment.
“O- OK.” I said picking up the bread and taking a bite.
“Good,” Sensai said, sitting back in his corner of the blanket, “Yep. Today’s the day.”
“Hm? For what?” I mumbled through my full mouth.
“You’re gonna swim!”
I sighed, “ He’ll never quit…”
Minutes later, I was stripped down to my pants and thrust into a river.
“COLD!” I almost leaped out of the water, wondering why I couldn’t wear a shirt.
“Relax, now just tread in the water,” Sensai said surprisingly reassuring. He stripped down to his pants and jumped into the water as well.
“COLD!” He yelped, almost leaping out of the water. I frowned. He smiled. Easily swimming to the other side of the river, he climbed out and held out his hand. “Swim toward me,” he said, his voice was gentle now, not childish or commanding. I began to move my arms and legs all working insink toward him. It was as if I was being drawn to him, like I knew him from a long time ago. I felt like I was thrown into a daze and the next think I knew I was on the other side of the river bank. I stood up and ambled toward the flowers and grabbed a bunch in my hand. The breeze carried them away.
“Kiko.” Sensai’s voice brought me back to earth.
I looked at him, “Something I’ve gazed at for so long and couldn’t reach. Now I can reach it…” I muttered to him
“It’s so not that deep Kiko. All you did was swim.”
“Yea, I guess you’re right.” I chuckled, “So-“
“It’s Ryoku. Ryoku Koukatsu.”
“Oh… well hello Mr. Koukatsu.” I finally knew his name.
“Just Ryoku.”
“Oh, ok.” I said, surprised. Ryoku picked me up and a light dash later we were back on the other side of the river. This time I didn’t gag, I only felt sleepy. Sleepy and wet. I curled up on my blanket and slept, Ryoku threw his blanket over me. I guessed it was because I was wet.
“Tomorrow we’ll practice with your weapon.” Ryoku said gentally. Thn I was asleep.
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Reigen Sutoikku-sama
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