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Chapter 26
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I kept up with Kurogane with a bit of difficulty, but I was faring a bit better compared to the men behind us...who were actually lagging behind by a few dozen feet. Ever since Yasha took the three of us in, I continued with my regular running with Kurogane...which resulted in the soldiers Yasha usually assigned to guard me whenever I went out to join us...and had to endure the few miles Kurogane and I usually did while still dressed in heavy armor and carrying their swords. Actually, I think they're prideful...considering they got left behind on the first day and are just barely managing it on the tenth day. Kurogane didn't seem to care about the fact that they soldiers couldn't keep up, but he usually sped up resulting me in speeding up to catch up to him...and thus forcing the soldiers to try to catch up. It was quite cruel, but...well, I did say I wouldn't complain and not only that...I can't exactly make a reasonable complaint like this...I don't want to risk my training stopping or him increasing it.
"Ah, we're back..." I said noticing the gates of the castle up ahead.
I could practically hear the sighs of relief behind me. I was actually a bit relieved too...since, it means I can finally go back to learning how to staff fight under Kurogane. I wasn't able to do it at all and it was so painful since it meant I didn't get stuck with a strict old woman by the name of Setsuna! The old woman seemed to disapprove of training or me learning to fight and managed to rope me into learning to play some strange instrument called an erhu. I'm not too sure what it is, but it's like a violin you sit on your lap and play and it only has two strings. My playing is clumsy...and really sloppy...I wanted to go crawl into a hole and die after my first lesson due to the embarrassment.
Well, aside from that, I've mostly hung around Kurogane during the day to train while the rest of the time was either spent with Fai or Setsuna. Although...I really don't need the elderly woman adding hime to my name...er, false name. Well, either way, there were those who seemed pleased with me being around Yasha, neutral or downright vindictive...the young female servants. The soldiers, they were very much neutral with the exception of my guards who seemed to admire my determination to get stronger or...at least I hope it's for that reason. I'm still getting used to this country's language.
"Come on, kid. It's time for your next lesson." Kurogane said ditching the collapsed group of men.
"Y...Yes..." I breathed heavily, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm coming." I said chasing after him.
"T-That man...isn't human...!"
"H-how...c-can...Hik...ari...sama keep...up?"
"A demon...!"
I glanced back at the guards before heading to the small open field where we will train. I silently rubbed my left shoulder as Kurogane fetched the wooden staffs we would be use. The skin on my shoulder was irritating me even though the injury healed up. I can't risk scratching at it or it'd leave a scar. I perked up at the sound of Kurogane's return and I caught the staff thrown my way. I adjusted it in my hand a few times before shifting my stance. Kurogane nodded before I began going through the kata he taught me. Every time I made a mistake, Kurogane would lightly tap at my body to adjust my stance or to fix how far I had performed my swing. Kurogane stood watching me until the sun began to set and I thanked him, trying to control my heavy breathing. Kurogane said something, patting my head before leaving me. I returned to my room to bathe...and attend the lessons Setsuna is forcing me to take.
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"Faster. Your opponent won't wait for you to attack." Kurogane said as I attempted to get a hit in.
"I understand! Faster!" I shouted jumping back before striking at him repeatedly.
"You're only aiming randomly! Aim for an opening or create one!"
"Don't speak so quickly! I can't understand you!" I spun the staff in my hand before adjusting my grip before thrusting aiming for his throat before he knocked it away. I twisted my wrist, fixing the position of my hand before spinning on my heel to land a successful hit to his side. "Ah."
"Not bad. I guess I'll get a bit serious now."
"N-nnnnyyaaaahhh!" I ran away, Kurogane had a freaking scary as look in his eyes again! He had the same look when he was fighting Seishirou! "Scary! Kurogane is scary!"
"What was that, you damn brat?!"
I continued to scream while running away from Kurogane, to his irritation. I somehow managed to dodge any attack he threw my while, that or I ended up knocking it away while still running away. I saw Fai up ahead and I quickly hid behind him while putting him in front of me to use him as a shield against Kurogane. Fai, while confused, still smiled and acted the same as usual...redirecting Kurogane's irritation from me to him...and I no longer needed to run about since Kurogane is chasing Fai now.
"This is a good chance..." I lunged for Kurogane's blind spot...only to receive a harsh smack to my side. I was thrown and I rolled around on the ground, groaning as I held my side. "That really...fucking hurts...!" I groaned struggling to sit up.
"Smart move using the wizard to redirect my attention, but don't get cocky." Kurogane said helping me up.
"Kurogane, mean! Mean! Scary! Hurts!" I cried holding my side in pain.
"That's what happens when you think you can assume you can actually launch a successful attack from behind on me." Kurogane said with a slight grin.
I kicked Kurogane's shin, pissed off as hell at him. He dropped me unceremoniously on the ground and I landed on my ass, of course. I shot him a look and he only gave me a slight grin before leaving me alone. I grumbled under my breath as Fai came over and helped me up. I thanked him in his language and he gave me a grin. You know, I'm somehow stuck alternating between Japanese whatever language Fai spoke, which is not French, but it's along freaking slow considering Kurogane took up most of my time along with Setsuna.
"What we do?" I asked looking up at him.
"Let's work on your language skills first." Fai said leading me away as I still held my side.
The two of us went to my room and I changed into something...clean after my usual training session with Kurogane. I would bathe, but I really don't want to leave Fai waiting so long...that and I knew if I left Fai in my room while I bathed would only trip some questions with Setsuna who was protective of me and actively gave Fai the stink eye whenever we're alone in my room together. I cannot keep up with the elderly woman's interrogations and I could only stare her at her dumbly most times.
"Where...are you...going?" I questioned hoping I said it correctly.
"That's right." Fai said nodding his head.
"...Your language is ten times harder than Kurogane's." At least with Kurogane's language, there are vowels I can pronounce! "Alright, let's switch."
"It's okay!"
"...The one phrase I teach you and you have to use it like that." I shook my head and I decided to repeat the phases we've been teaching to one another. "Where are you going?"
"W-where...are you going?"
"Yes."
"Kuro-pyon is my love!"
"Huh?" I heard the annoying nickname Fai gives to Kurogane then something unfamiliar. "Love?"
"Yes!" Fai made a heart with his hands and I only stared at him dumbly. "Love!"
"Love...are you an idiot?"
"Meanie!"
"..." At least he's used to me calling him an idiot. "Hm...Let's see, what should I teach you...hm..."
The two of us at first used charades to figure out the basics. So far, we know the basic emotions, places, animals, and a few random phrases here and there. I jumped a bit hearing a sharp knock at my door, it's Setsuna! Aaahh...here I was hoping that I would get out of my music lessons today since she was late...no luck, huh? As usual, she gave Fai a disapproving look upon entering, but he didn't seem to take it to heart...although I seriously wished he left because he did. It's embarrassing knowing my horrible playing was being heard by someone other than the person teaching me...and I'm not sure how to take him smiling the entire damn time when I'm learning.
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"You know, I have no idea why you are here. You never come here when I'm training..." I muttered looking at Fai.
The man remained silent, giving me his usual grin. I silently stared at the weird dragon...dinosaur creature...that Kurogane is bringing in this direction. The weird creature and I stared at one another before it stuck out its tongue and it licked me in the face. I went stock still out of disgust and fear. I could hear someone trying not to snicker and I slowly moved back before releasing a disgusted squeal. I furiously rubbed at my face with my sleeve, trying to get rid of the sticky saliva that is covering my face and hair.
"What the heck is up with that?! That's so freaking disgusting!" I cried as it tried to lick me a second time.
I shot Kurogane a dirty look for bringing the very affectionate creature...that was refusing to listen to any of us since we can't get it to stop being so affectionate with me. It began nuzzling the side of my head with its forehead and I reached up slowly, patting the side of its neck. Wow...it's so warm. It's not a reptile despite having such scaly skin...it's a warm-blooded creature.
"...Warm..." I said shutting my eyes.
"Kid, this is Tomoe. She's going to be your mount." Kurogane said patting it-er-her back.
"Tomoe...So you're a girl. Nice to meet you." I pushed her head away when she licked me again. "Let's start...by teaching you not to lick me."
I'm not sure why I'm getting a mount when I won't be going into combat anytime soon...but I wonder if I'll be close to it. Kurogane taught me how to put the saddle and reins on before I got straight on without him helping me. Whenever my family went to the ocean, my dad always chose one with the option of horseback riding! It can't be that different! Once I was on and the reins in hand, Tomoe got excited and went off on a dash. I heard a surprised sound from Kurogane when Tomoe suddenly went off while I could hear Fai happily cheer me on.
"Let's see...Let's turn around..." I muttered pulling the reins so that Tomoe would turn around.
"So you do know how to ride. This will make my job easier." Kurogane said once I returned.
"Not...very good...need work." I said looking down at him.
Kurogane was going to teach me to ride properly since I'm merely a beginner. I can ride, but I can't ride properly as I wasn't ever properly taught. Kurogane was even worse when it comes to fighting like this, I got thrown off a good five dozen times! I shot Fai a dirty look when he laughed at me and I lightly elbowed him in the side before Tomoe came back around to get me. I learned how to properly roll when I fell, but I still lost my weapon. More than once did I almost crack my head against the ground the first two dozen, but Kurogane was...kind...enough to save me during these times. The other three dozen, I had to suffer and ended up with all sorts of bruises and pains. After training, Kurogane taught me the basic care for Tomoe before saying something about teaching the rest later...or so I think. I'm still learning so I have to do a lot of guess work into what is being said.
"Fai! That hurts!" I cried as he bandaged my arms after cleaning them.
"Ahaha, sorry." Fai said giving me a grin.
"Why is it you learn how to apologize and the comebacks the fastest?" I questioned giving Fai a blank stare.
"Hm?"
"Today's lesson...I'm teaching you how to curse because right now, that's all I want to do."
"Lu-hime?"
"How should we go about this...?" I smiled in a way that made Fai weary, but looked ready to participate all the same. "Let's see...How about alphabetically?"
While the training was rough, I can't complain. I want to catch up, I want to catch up so badly to them. Kurogane and Fai, the two quickly rose the ranks among the soldiers, they were able to join the fight...on the battlefield of the moon castle. Me...I can barely compare to those two and I wanted to...no, I had to catch up to them. I won't let them fight alone, I want to be there for them like they are for me!
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Chapter 26 Ends
Another chapter~! In truth, this was done for a while, but I've been seriously debating the future chapters and how to introduce the reason for Lucy's powers and all that. Soon though, very soon the story will diverge~! Look forward to it for there are many surprises and interesting things to occur~! Welp! That's it for today, until next time my dears! Bye-bye~!