𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕖𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟 𝕠𝕗 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔻𝕣𝕒𝕘𝕠𝕟 [𝔻𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕟 𝕊𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕖𝕣]

(Chapter 9) Proving Ourselves

*Time Skip 9 Months*
Takeo,Kyojuro and Iguro have  learned a lot about swordsmanship and how to fight demon properly from Shinjuro.
And now they are learning how to use their Breath Style effectively.

One day Shinjuro gathered the boys to learn more about Breath Styles.
The boys were listening to him carefully.
"The Breathing Styles make use of specific and concentrated breath patterns, which increase the user's lung capacity and amount of oxygen in the blood. This increase of oxygen allows the user to enhance their physical abilities and mental concentration, allowing them to fight on par with Demons, whose physical prowess surpasses that of the average human."

The boys started training and after a week Shinjuro wanted to test their skills.
He placed three stone statues in front of the boys.
"I want you to destroy these statues immediately!"

The boys stood in their positions.
They breathe deeply.
The first to leave was Kyojuro.
"Breath of Flame!
First Form: Unknowing Fire! "
He managed to split the statue in two very quickly.

Then it was Iguro's turn.
"Breath of the Serpent!
First Form:Winding Serpent Slash!"
Iguro rotate releasing a circulial slash and the statue head was sliced.

Now it was Takeo's turn and he was nervous.
He tried to concentrate and headed for the statue.
"Breath of the Dragon!
First Form: Dragon's Roar! "
Takeo hitted the statue but the sword was not slicing it.
Takeo looked at that and tried to add more power and suddenly the head of the statue was destroyed.
Shinjuro looked at him in surprise because he did not expect this.

Kyujuro and Iguro approached Takeo.
"That was amazing Takeo!"

Takeo smiled.
"No that was nothing!
You were better than me! "

Shinjuro approached them.
"For the first try you were not bad and I'm suprised!"

The boys looked at him happily and he kept talking.
"It does not mean that you will not train.
You need to master your Breath Styles in order to give your best in duel."

Shinjuro taught them more about how to use Breathing Techniques and and he wanted to demonstrate to them.
Shinjuro approached a statue and took his stace and took a deep breath.
"Breath of Flame!
Fifth Form:Flame Tiger!"
Shinjuro release a series of slashes taking the form of a tiger.
And the statue was cut into many small pieces perfectly.
The boys were looking at him with admiration.
Takeo and Kyojuro were amazed.
"AMAZING!"
Iguro looked at him and smiled.
"Expected by a former Hashira!"

Shinjuro approached them.
"Are you surprised?"
The boys nodded.
"You can do this too if you train hard and you can do it better than I do."

The boys took their swords and continued their training.
They continued their training for two weeks.
When it got dark they stopped training and went home.
There the boys played together with little Senjuro.
Kyojuro always went to his mother and told her what had happened in the training full of enthusiasm and Ruka smiled as she listened to her.
All this made Takeo happy.
But...
His thoughts stood somewhere.
Looking at all that harmony Takeo had a question in his head.
What would happen when someone left?

He knew that day would come.
This made Takeo upset and lost in thought.
Suddenly he heard a laugh.
He looked at Senjuro and Kyojuro who were laughing as they stood next to Ruka.
Takeo and Iguro stood watching them happily from a distance.
Ruka looked at them and smiled.
"Come here!"

Iguro and Takeo looked at her suprised.
They approached her and she grabbed their hands.
"You do not have to stay away.
You are already part of this family. "

Takeo and Iguro sat down next to her and they hugged along with Kyojuro and Senjuro.
Takeo was enjoying that moment and they were very happy.
At that moment Shinjuro enters the room and looks at them.
Senjuro got up and approached him.
"Come here!"

Shinjuro was embarrassed but he approached them and hugged them.
That moment brought Takeo many happy memories and he could feel the warmth of that hug.

That was an pure happiness...

*Time Skip 2 Weeks*
Now winter has come and Takeo with his friends are training in their backyard.
He was fighting with wooden swords alone with Kyojuro.
They were not hurting each other but were just practicing.
"You're too fast Takeo!"

Takeo laughed.
"You are too strong!"

Kyojuro ran to Takeo and they both clashed their swords pushing each other.
They looked each other in the eye and backed away.
Kyojuro was excited.
"Do not hold back this time!"

Takeo looked at him and got in his stance.
"Same for you!"

They focused and ran towards each other.
"Breath of the Dragon!"

"Breath of Flame!"

At that moment Iguro appeared there.
He looked at them and was shocked.
"They will kill each other!"

Iguro shouted.
"Stop now!"

Takeo and Kyojuro looked at them and they collided with each other and fell on the ground.
Iguro approached them worried.
"Are you okay?"

Takeo looked at him.
"Yes."

Kyojuro stood up.
"Why did you shout Iguro?"

Iguro was angry.
"You were trying to kill each other."

Kyojuro and Takeo laugh and place their hands on his shoulders.
"We would never do such a thing!"

After they clarified Iguro had something to say.
"Guys! We have to collect firewood because this winter will be long."

Takeo and Kyojuro accepted immediately and they set off for the mountain.
The road was covered with snow and they found it difficult to walk.
Once they arrived they continued to gather firewood until it got dark.
Iguro was tired.
"I think we have collected enough."
Kyojuro and Takeo approached.
"Let 's go home now!"

They kept walking and along the way Iguro felt something.
He immediately turned his head back.
"Who is there?"

Kyojuro and Takeo looked around.
They lowered their bags and approached each other.
"Show up now because we know you're here!"

The boys were a little scared and then someone came out of a bush.
There was an old man who was laughing.
"Sorry to bother you but I lost my way!"

He approached the boys.
"Can you show me the way?"
He smirked showing his tongue who was longer than that of a human.
Kyojuro took a firewood and hit him in the head shouting.
"He is a demon!"

The old man got angry and he pulled out a lot of arms showing his true appearance.
The boys retreated in fear.
Kyojuro looked around.
"We can defeat him if we have our swords!"

Takeo looked at them.
"I know but we have no swords here!"

Iguro shouted.
"Let 's run away!"

Iguro started running and Takeo followed but Kyojuro stayed there.
"You guys get away and I will keep the demon away from you!"

Takeo stopped and looked at Kyojuro.
He thought hard and decided not to leave his best friend alone.
He approached him and stood beside him.
"Nobody will die here!"

Kyojuro looked at Takeo and he was very happy.
The demon laughed when he looked at them.
"Nobody?
Someone will definitely die now, you brats!"

Kyojuro and Takeo heard someone speak back.
"He is right!
But the only one who will die here is this demon! "

They saw that there was Iguro standing next to them.
The boys looked at each other and nodded.
"LET'S  DEFEAT IT TOGETHER!"

This was the ninth chapter of this story.
Takeo is connected with Rengoku Family and his friends too much that he couldn't afford to lose anyone of them.
He and his friend are going to fight a demon without sword and this is gonna be a hard task.
Please vote this story and comment your thoughts about this chapter.
Goodbye!😊😊😊