~Female Reader x Goemon Point of View~
It begins at the base of the mountain range that went on for miles. It's a long hike to near where the peak was and through the thick woods that surrounded and shaded the sun's light from above. Making it near the peak on some flat mossy ground, a few bushes here and there, with large trees towered over you. The great pines grew over and around a small Japanese's temple, it was in the middle of nowhere out in the forest near the top of the highest mountain range.
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It was a little hard for you to breathe up here but you managed make it all this way. Was this even worth it? Sitting down on the steps of the temple you set your bag down and caught your breath. Looking around it all seemed peaceful, you hear the stream flowing below with a distant waterfall. Birds chirped from the highest trees and a few critters scampered into the bushes and grass.
You heard a door slide open behind you, you stand up and turn around in surprise.
Y/N: Oh! Mister Ishikawa~ my apologies *you bowed your head to your new teacher*
Goemon: There is no need for apologies L/N, Y/N.
Y/N: I came as soon as I could.
Goemon: Very good, I heard you were struggling to breathe, the air is quite thin up here.
Y/N: Yes, but I'm sure I can adjust.
Goemon: You seem to have a confident attitude, it's good to have but you mustn't get caught off guard. Sometimes your confidence can be too intolerable, there will be times in your training where you'll second guess yourself.
Y/N nods: I understand, I heard your friends have decided to separate for a while?
Goemon: My friends and I have committed sins of thievery, however, we only take from those of the wealthy and rich. For myself, I don't keep things I steal and If I did I would give it to the poor.
Y/N: Like robin hood?
Goemon: I know not of that person, but yes...please, come inside the temple. I have your room made.
You picked up your bag and entered the nice small temple, it was airy with a few Japanese's sakura cherry tree printed shoji separator walls. There were handprinted black kanji Japanese handwriting upon the light lemon colored walls. Entering your room there was just a light pink yoga mat, a small window, and a little pot with a rose smelling incense already burning. Setting your bag down you sat on the mat.
Goemon looked through the archway holding his sacred wooden encased sword in his left hand.
Goemon: Your first lesson is meditation is a form of sleep, you calm the mind and body enough to enter a trance-like state. You remain conscious, but remain relaxed, it reduces your insomnia and increases your meditation trial.
Y/N: You do this as a regular thing?
Goemon: Of course, it's my way of resting the mind. But before you do so, I have made you some soup, you've must've had a long journey hiking here.
Following behind him you enter the dining room where the small table and chairs were made of birch wood, a bowl of yakisoba noodles were there with some chopsticks. You sit in front of Goemon and eat the food he had made.
The noodles were good and had some tofu, soy sauce, miso soup mixed into it as well. Something that seemed personally made by Ishikawa.
Y/N: This is really good, I like it.
Goemon nods his head: Thank You.
Eating the food it was good hospitality and you liked how kind and respectful he was. He always seemed quiet as well, except for when he is instructing you. Finishing your food Goemon tells you to sit on the yoga mat to relax your body.
Entering back into you room you sat down on the mat and crossed your legs, Goemon then instructed you to keep a straight posture and close your eyes.
Goemon: You will hear the sound of my voice fade away as you enter a transient place in your mind. You will relax your mind and body and go into a calming state, letting go of the stress your body feels or has been through.
Y/N: Okay...*you sit up straight and relax your core with your eyes closed*
Goemon turns on small speaker he sets down in front of you and played some calming Japanese lo-fi music that was nature-like. You felt yourself get sleepy almost falling over and you jerk back up sitting up straight.
Goemon calmly spoke: Keep your posture up while meditating, that's important.
Relaxing your mind and body you felt yourself go into an empty light blue room in your mind. All there was was a waterfall falling into a little crystal pool filled with Koi Fish.
Turning around you then saw Goemon standing behind you in his light blue kimono and light grey striped hakama pants, his arms behind his back as he walked next to you in front of the koi pond and waterfall.
Goemon: You are getting along quickly I see, finding a peaceful place in your mind is essential to your emotional well-being.
Y/N: Those koi fish are quite peaceful to me
Goemon: Then this shall be your place of tranquility in your mind to transcend your mistakes and downfalls. It is important to keep this place in your head to keep you mentally stable.
Y/N: I understand
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Transitioning back out of your mind you open your eyes and find yourself in the same room sitting upon your yoga mat.
You discover it was already morning and the next day. You stumble awake standing up surprised.
Goemon: I see you've entered the transcending meditation place in your mind?
Y/N: You were there!
Goemon: I was? How strange..., anyhow I have your second lesson for this morning. Please, I've made you some breakfast in the dining room.
You then follow and eat your breakfast in the dining room that morning and then you and Goemon go outback in the grass by the woods.
Goemon: Usually when someone meditates they try to clear of all the people in their minds from their head. If you envisioned me in your tranquil space, then it must mean that I'm a peaceful figure to you.
Y/N: P-peaceful figure? I'm sorry if that wasn't supposed to happen.
Goemon chuckled gently: It's alright, I do not mind. Now, we will go over your first combat lesson out here in the field and forest.
Y/N: And what may this be?
Goemon bent at his knees hidden by his hakama, he unsheathed his Zantesuken from his light wooden casing, his blade reflected.
Goemon: Defending yourself...
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~End Scene~