It's a chilly morning, that's for sure
Ren feels the coldness of the wind as he shuffles on his sleep and grabbed his blanket to tuck himself further. Alas, no matter how warm Ren felt at the moment it doesn't help at all. He was already awake after the wind woke him up. It also didn't help that his body clock tells him that it's time to get a move on and start his day early.
Like a sergeant blowing his whistle while shouting at him. Ren thought as he laughed tiredly.
Ren sit straight up as he let out huge yawn. It seems like the exercise yesterday made him that tired. It's been a month already when he arrived, and boy his new sensei quickly got to work. He gave drills for us starting at our foundation. Foot works, agility, balance, and all things starting from below all the way up. Since then, the most relaxing time he ever had was when they ate after his fight with Sabito. It also doesn't help that according to them, the trainings are much harder than before.
He looks around and notice that the sun has still not risen. Ren gathered his things as he stood up and fix his futon. As he finished fixing his spot, he noticed that his 3 new colleagues are still sound asleep. Sabito, with his mouth open snoring had his arms and legs spread across his futon reaching Giyu's. His blanket is now somewhere else. His sleeping habits probably pushed it off him. Giyu on the other hand felt cold as he tries to grab his blanket to cover himself but find it hard as Sabito's foot lies on the edge.
Ren smiled to himself as he remembered how close this two are, or what the show portrayed them to be. He looked at the only girl in their group, still sleeping but much calmer and more relaxed than the other two. Makomo looked happy, probably having a great dream if her smiled indicates it. She has both of her hands holding the top of the blanket as she sleeps peacefully. A big difference towards them boys as even her futon looks perfect.
Ren laugh inwardly at the display only to stop as he recalled what happened in the show. If the future is the same, then only one of these 3 would survive to become a full fledge slayer. He only hopes that his existence will prove to be a catalyst for a different ending.
Making sure that he is ready, Ren exited the small hut and proceeded to get his gear. Nothing extra-ordinary, only a wooden sword, as he started his early morning routine.
The following training started all the way for our foundation. Urokodaki-sensei heavily emphasize that foot works has the same importance as sword art. Without it, the upper body would not be able to generate strength needed to behead a demon. With this clarification the training started with a series of normal road run, hill climbing, and obstacle courses. Though the idea seems simple enough, Urokodaki-sensei clearly shown his creativity by adding a few mixtures here and there to make the training… interesting to saw the least. It comes to the point that I needed to remove my morning run just to make sure that my body had enough stamina to last the training.
One time the former hashira decided that it would be great to add some spice in our morning run. He purposely borrowed some stray dogs he raised himself and made them line up in front of the house. They are an adorable little one. Giyu tried to befriend them only for him to be bitter when he extends his hand. Poor guy. The idea of having dogs is questionable that Ren can't help but ask his sensei.
"Sensei, what's with the sudden show of dogs." Ren asked. He never knew that the former Hashira has an interest in raising dogs. The show didn't show it after all. Get it? Show show.
"Yeah, this is the first time I seen this dog's sensei" Makomo added, completely focused on the dog. She's currently petting the dog and it show its appreciation by licking her face. It was a cute sight.
While the two of us put out our thoughts, Giyu is busy trying to pet one of the dogs. The dog is clearly uncomfortable with the future Hashira's presence as it shows its aggression by growling. Only for Giyu to be completely oblivious and continue on trying to pet it.
"I don't like this one bit" Sabito whispered just enough for me to hear it. The guy has his arms crossed and continues to stare at our teacher while tapping his foot on the ground. Something got him agitated.
Ren only looked at him as if waiting for an answer in which the peach haired responded. "When he often got something new, he usually uses it as soon as he can. The moment that he chose now to show the dogs right before we started our early training does not sit right with me."
Ren continued to look at Sabito before looking back at his sensei, who's setting up something in their makeshift table.
"You're probably overreacting. I mean the dogs matches our numbers, maybe he wanted us to take care of it" Ren guessed.
"Well, this is the first time that this happened" Makomo squealed as she hugged the dog. "They are so cute!"
Giyu walk towards them with some bite marks on his hand and scratches on his face. Even with the injuries, the boy had a look of enthusiasm in his face. "I don't think we need to worry about it. Urokodaki-sensei won't do things that we can't handle. I trust him completely. I think you're overthinking this one Sabito."
Wow what a flag.I internally face-palm at the kid's optimism and it sure looked like Sabito thought the same thing as he looked at Giyu with a dumbfounded expression.
As Giyu said those words, Urokodaki turned back as he finished his things and looked at them. He extends his hands as it contains a belt bag of sorts for each of us.
"Take one each and tie it down your waist. Don't remove it until I say so" Urokodaki ordered, which they followed. After putting the belt bag in their respective waist, he continued. "These dogs are ninja dogs that helped me a few times in my career. I asked a friend for a favor to let me borrow them"
"Wah, so sensei, we can raise our own dogs after we join the corps?" Giyu asked excitedly. Makomo petted the dog even further.
"As long as you can raise one and take responsibility" Urokodaki replied nonchalantly. "Anyway, these dogs will also be added to your regimen. I been seeing some great improvement during your training hence I decided to raise its intensity. Now you may be all wondering about the belt bag I have given to you. Those belt bag contains different flowers that I gathered this morning. The aroma is faint, but these dogs will always smell it. Your job is to make sure that you would not be hunted and caught by them."
Ren groaned at the motion.Now we have trained dogs on our butts every time we run.
Giyu was dumbfounded as Sabito smacked his head hard for his earlier remarks. The hit was so strong that Giyu can't help but bend forward to which Urokodaki saw. Sabito quickly put his hands behind and tried not to look at their sensei.
"It will start today, and the requirements would be to run to the start point all the way to the end without being caught" Urokodaki added. "You will follow your normal route the only difference is having dogs as an insurance that you'll run with all you have."
Ren groaned even further.2 hours against a dog that always know your location? Come on.
"Um, do we have anything to defend ourselves? Like maybe our wooden swords?" Makomo raised her hand and asked the question to which the elder denied.
"The idea for this regimen is survival. Fighting is not always the answer to a problem." Urokodaki mentioned. "You need to learn how to survive with nothing. A slayer is not a slayer just because of a sword."
Fair enough.Ren thought. The three boys groaned again while Makomo frowned. This is really something new and a little extreme but if it would help them then so be it.
Seeing that nobody argued, not like it would do anything, the students positioned themselves just beneath the slope of the mountain where they normally start their morning run. They stretch their bodies as the dogs lined behind their back, looking a bit excited. Weird.
As they started to get ready, Urokodaki said something that caught them of guard. "Ah yes, I nearly forgot. This dog would be having a reward if they manage to catch you. Do your best."
At the sound of treats, the dogs became serious. No joking around as they get down ready to lunge at them at a moment's notice, while wagging their tails furiously. They must be excited about those treats.
"Aw Come on!" Giyu cried as he raised his hands in denial.
"Come one, let's just get it over with" Sabito replied as he pulled Giyu back in the starting line.
"This is a bit exciting don't you think so, Ren?" Makomo asked optimistically. It seems that the girl looked at it as some sort of playing with dogs.
"Not really excited having someone running behind my back" Ren replied tiredly. Just the thought of the exercise made him tired.Oh well, let's get this over with. For my family.Ren thought as he stretches once last time before their sensei sound the alarm.
"Start" Urokodaki signaled as the four of us immediately run forward hoping to get as much distance from the dogs as possible. The dogs didn't chase us as soon as the signal has been given. It seems that we have a head start. Good.
"The dogs aren't chasing us" Giyu said as he glances back while running.
Sabito looked back and saw that the dogs really aren't chasing them. "It looks like it, anyway, just continue running"
"Go!" Urokodaki signaled once again.
Hearing the signal, the dogs begun their chase as they sprinted down the slope. It seems just a second and they are already near us.
"Oh shit" Sabito cursed as he saw the incoming dogs running towards them.
"Sabito! Language!" Giyu scolded Sabito.
"Who cares about that. Run run run!" Ren shouted as he urged his team to run faster.
"Ahahaha. This is so fun!" Makomo said seemingly enjoying the thrill.
"How long… have we been… running?" Giyu asked as he tried to breathe in between.
It's been some time since they have been running for as fast as they can. They can already feel the tiredness of their body as it tries to take another step over and over again.
"Probably… 30… minutes" Ren replied tiredly. The perks of running everyday put him in a much better spot but running at full sprint for half an hour would made any person tired. Though compared to his colleague, he's still lucky he started early building up his foundations. "How long before we reach the end."
Sabito looked ahead the road as he determined the distance left. "I say we're past the halfway mark, at this speed will probably reach the end by another half an hour. Give or take."
"We're lucky if we manage to continue this pace by another 5 minutes." Giyu said as he groaned but nonetheless continue to run. "I'm tired already. Where are the dogs?"
"Come on Giyu, we made it to the middle we only need to run further. We can do it" Makomo encouraged.
"Makomo… where do you get those optimism of yours? For all we know the moment we arrived there Urokodaki-sensei would be started another practice." Sabito questioned. Giyu made a face of despair upon learning that maybe another practice after this.
"Mou Sabito. It's no use thinking of something that aren't here yet. We just need to focus on surviving this test. One step at a time." Makomo replied to Sabito as she raised her pointing finger upwards while smiling.
Ren and the other have been together for quite a while that he is starting to see each of their quirks and personalities. Sabito, seemingly the leader of the group is the most rational out of them. He tackled things with logic and tries to not put his emotion too much in deciding what to do. A born leader per se, which made Ren think on what would happen if Sabito survived the test. He does not know how long he'll go but Ren knows that the kid would be play a big role one way or another.
Makomo on the other hand is the mood maker. There are times when Giyu and Sabito would fight over silly things and Ren would be sure that Makomo is always there breaking the fight and making sure that both sides make up. Her attitude is infectious, so much more her optimism. Hearing her speak about some things made you feel that you can tackle anything, and a loss would look like some sort of a win. She always finds a way to look at the bright side of things. There is always something about her voice that makes you relax and feel everything is alright. If Ren know better, he will assume that Makomo is just a frail innocent girl. Though despite her optimistic attitude and innocent persona, Makomo knows when to get serious and boy did, she show what she can do when she's serious. After his fight with Sabito. Makomo soon came next. Although paper wise, he had some advantage, Makomo never felt she's in a disadvantage. And that's what happened when the fight started. Ren lunge first but soon came second on how fast Makomo reacted. Ren noticed late that the frail girl is in front of him. He counterattacks but only hit on a gust of wind before being knock back. The fight continues on and on like that until Ren can't help but yield. She's truly the definition of a cinnamon roll that can kill you.
Giyu is a weird case. He has some quirks that he had on the show and some that directly contradicts it. The most obvious case of contradiction is his personality. The OG Giyu tends to be laid back and a person who you really don't want to talk to out of awkwardness. This Giyu is more open, at least to them. He is more expressive often times crying about things that he doesn't want to do. The future Hashira is more open on the way that his body expresses himself. You can often see his mouth hanging and hands in the air or his face beaming with joy as he ate his salmon radish. The personality may differ compared to the one Ren knew, the talent is still present. In Ren's eyes, Sabito may be the stronger one, but Giyu has a deeper potential than the rest of them. Well, it is only natural for someone who made his own form.
Ren smiled at the thought as he looks at the trio. This is what they will look like if they survive.
Woof woof
Huh?Ren pondered.
Woof woof
The sound becomes more louder and louder as Ren feels a chill on his back. He don't dare to look back but instead run faster which proves to be a lot harder considering how long they've ran. Ren bypassed the trio as Sabito and Makomo manage to understand the situation and followed him. Giyu on the other hand is confused as he look back and saw the dogs getting close and closer to him. On an ordinary day, the boy would be glad that the dogs are the ones getting close to him if only he didn't remember the purpose of the training. The black-haired student panicked as he tried to run faster only to trip on a rock.
"Woah!" Giyu cried as he fell on the ground face first.
Giyu's cries made the rest of them look back and saw what happened to their friend.
"Giyu! Look out!" Sabito screamed as he pointed to Giyu's back.
"Idiot! Don't stop." Ren shouted to Sabito as he tries to pull the guy.
"Ayaya!" Makomo said as anticipating whats about to happen.
Chomp!
OUCH!!!
It is safe to say that the training ended in failure as the four of them walked back from the middle of the road all the way from where they started. Well, the three of them walked while Giyu limped his way back. Sabito and Ren carried him on their shoulders as they felt pity for the boy. It seems like the moment they noticed that the dogs disappear from the view, they slowed down to take an active rest. Additionally, not content with slower pace, they decided to rest for a lot longer than they need to that the dogs manage to catch onto them. It's supposed to be fine since Ren recognize the problem immediately, but Giyu didn't. The poor boy caught on too late and panicked at the last second which made him trip. Sabito on the other hand stopped to warn his friend which also forced the other two to stop. Thankfully before they got caught, they surrendered and removed the container which the dogs grabbed and play with. On the other hand, Giyu's misfortune continued as he couldn't take off the bag which left him and his butt getting bitten by the dog. The guy now has a bruised butt and a wounded pride as they supported him back home.
As they finished climbing, they saw Urokodaki standing, as if waiting for them. The dogs immediately ran past them and onto him as they eagerly present the container.
Well, at least someone is happy.Ren chuckled as they put Giyu down on the floor softly. They soon followed as all of them collapsed to the ground in exhaustion. As the group took the time to rest and recover before they do their expected punishment, Makomo decided to at least break the silence.
"What do you think will happen?" Makomo asked as they waited for our sensei's verdict.
Ren looked at their sensei. The old man prepares the dogs' breakfast seemingly having added portions of meat as a treat for catching them. The dogs started wolfing down the food as the group watched their tails wag side to side. "I don't know but I'm expecting some sort of punishment" Ren replied to Makomo.
Giyu widened his eyes on the thought that there would be a punishment from a failed training. Isn't his bitten butt punishment enough. Giyu hopes that their sensei would take a blind eye at this failure with the excuse of it being the first time they done it. They really need to be honest. The thought of outrunning dogs feels near impossible. Feeling the possibility that his new friend is correct, Giyu surrendered. "At least made the punishment simpler".
"Wouldn't that be great" Ren smiled at the thought as he slumped back on his back looking at the sky. It's still morning but a hotter as the sun started to rise further from the clouds.
Ren looked at Sabito, the person who's silent all these times even since they failed the task. The man sat on the ground with one of his arms resting on his raised leg. Ren looked at his expression and saw him looking at Urokodaki, as if expecting something would happen.
Ren's thought was disturbed as he heard footsteps near him. He sat back up and saw their sensei in front of him, hands clasped together behind his back just like any other time.
As the former Hashira stood in front of his students, they quickly sit properly, even Giyu with his sore ass tried to sit straight.
Before the old man can speak, Sabito spoke first.
"I apologize, sensei. We couldn't succeed on the first try." Sabito said as he hangs his head low, looking at the ground in disappointment.
Ren was taken back at the attitude as he looked at the two behind him for clues. Giyu just looked away, clicking his tongue while Makomo only smiled bitterly while raising both of her elbows.
"You shouldn't blame yourself Sabito, it is only normal for you to fail in this new training that I set for you children." Urokodaki laughed as he scratches his chin. "Rather I am impressed that you lasted for half an hour. I have expected that it would take a quarter before the exercise ended.
"Chin up Sabito." Makomo said. "We may have failed the task, but we have exceeded sensei's expectation. Don't you think that something to be happy about?"
Sabito still hangs his head low, not feeling the enthusiasm that Makomo shared. He still felt that they could last a little longer.
Before it can get out of hand, Ren kicked Sabito's thighs.
"Wha-" Sabito said in surprise as he looked back at Ren with anger.
Before Sabito can speak his mind, Ren immediately motion his head towards Giyu. Sabito looked at the future Hashira and realized what Ren is trying to convey. Giyu is in his own world as he looked anywhere but them, a frown in his face.
Upon looking at his fellow aspiring swordsman, Sabito sat straight and looked up determined to listen to their teacher's words. Ren met Makomo's eyes as she nod thankfully at their new friend.
"Considering that this is a first try, no punishment shall be given. Remember that starting tomorrow this exercise would continue until I deemed you ready to move on to the next stage" Urokodaki said as he nodded as the display the children shown. "But right now, rest and recover. Take your late breakfast and lunch later on and we'll continue after that."
Soon the four of them stood up and walk towards the house hoping to get some food. Though four of them walk the same time, only two looked forward to eating.
As they started to eat, the atmosphere is nerve-wracking. No one dared to speak and only ate in silence. Even Makomo was on her own world, albeit still in a much better mood than the other two. Ren can feel the awkwardness building between Giyu and Sabito. As Ren was about to comment on the gloomy mood on the table, Giyu stood up and gave his thanks for the food before running outside the house. The action made the trio confused before returning back to their foods. It seems like this is something that they both expected based on their reaction.
"Ok what is that?" Ren asked, breaking the silence at the table.
"What's what?" Sabito replied as he continued to eat his food.
"This awkward atmosphere and Giyu running off like that?" Ren replied to Sabito raising his voice a little.
Sabito looked at Ren calmly before he sigh and continue on eating his food. "Let him be, he'll come back when he's ready."
"Excuse me?" Ren said in disbelief. "Are you sure?"
"Totally" Sabito replied to Ren.
Ren finished his food quickly, not satisfied with Sabito's answer before he walked out of the house as well.
Sabito sighed at Ren's departure as he noticed Makomo giving him a small smile.
"I messed up huh" Sabito asked her to which the petite girl nodded.
As he exited the house, Ren proceeded on finding Giyu. Although the future Hashira just left, Ren couldn't see where he ran off to. To be fair, he was not expecting that to happen. Considering their roles in the show and how close they are portrayed to be, it's only natural for him to think that Giyu and Sabito are inseparable, like milk and cereal. Two peas in a pod. He knows that friends often got mad at each other, but this is something below them. What Sabito did was insensitive to Giyu. Even if he doesn't mean it he shouldn't said it that way. Now Giyu felt that the failure is part of his fault. Honestly Sabito is quite intent on making Urokodaki-sensei proud. Nothing wrong about it but too much of something is bad to you and others.
After searching for a while, Ren heard grunts near him. Deciding to follow the noise, he found Giyu doing some push ups on the ground and by the looks of it, too preoccupied to notice his arrival. Ren waited for Giyu to finish before he announced himself.
"Ehem" Ren cough as Giyu finished his set.
"Ren" Giyu spoke as he sat and looked at him. "Why are you here?"
"I was…" Ren replied as he stopped.Why am I here?He asked himself. Truthfully he just wanted to check on hows Giyu's feeling at the moment but when he found him he doesn't have an idea on how to start a conversation. "…well. I wanted to check on you. You know… about what happened back there"
This was awkward for Ren and he's sure that Giyu felt it too. This would be the first time that the two converse on something more…personal. Their previous talks only relates to their jobs as students. Well never mind Giyu, Ren never spoke something personal to both Sabito and Makomo. Sabito just normally kept things to himself and while Makomo is quite interested in his upbringing she never goes too deep about it.
"What is there to see" Giyu replied somberly, looking at the ground in dismay. "I failed in the training and held you guys back."
Sensing that this maybe a lot longer than usual, Ren sat down as he rest his back on the trunk of the tree right in front of his colleague. "I don't think that any of us blames you in your blunder."
Upon hearing Ren's reply, Giyu looked at the kid in front of him with disbelieving eyes.
"Um… well… I don't think that Sabito does too, to clear up the misunderstanding." Ren said as he clarifies himself.
"And why do you think of that? Did he say it?" Giyu replied seemingly more interested in playing with a rock he grabbed, tossing it in the air and catching it.
"No… but-"
"But that's it. Sabito is kind that he wouldn't say those things in front of me. But I'm sure he's feeling irritated by my actions. I always mess something up. From something so simple to something important." Giyu interrupted at Ren. He still has a tone of calmness yet has a feel of sadness and… regret. Something that Ren caught. "Makomo always say its fine but I'm sure that she feels bad about it. There are many times where we could have done better only for me to mess it up. At first, I just thought that it may all just be bad luck. But as things go forward, things remain the same and I was too late to notice it. At the end something bad happen not just to me but to others. My bad luck victimized another person that should never experienced it. Let's face it Ren, I don't deserve to be here at this place, this sense of mission, or hell even this life."
Ren was surprised at Giyu's outburst. He wanted to make Giyu feel better only to make things worse. Ren was looking at Giyu, standing in front of him as he said those words. He couldn't reply to him. I mean how could he reply too something that deep. Ren knew that Giyu is more or less talking to the incident that happened to his childhood. His loss of sister and his growing survivor's guilt. It all happened upon circumstances so he couldn't blame the boy for thinking it was all some sort of bad luck. Ren couldn't answer anything as he was afraid that speaking may do more damage than it is. There are not that close enough for him to give advises. He doesn't have that right. But he also knew that not doing anything would make Giyu continue on his thoughts and he wouldn't allow that. So with a decision he made, Ren spoke out his true feelings as he stand up, meeting Giyu eye to eye.
"You know. I respect you and look up to you. Not on the things you thought of yourself but the things I saw in you. I was fortunate enough in this life and I don't know where this comes from but…" Ren looked down before he look back up again. "…if I was ever in your place. I don't think that I can move forward. Maybe I'll just be stucked to who know where, searching for something that I lost and can never recover. So seeing you continue persevering to this harsh world made me feel that if he you could do it, what sort of excuse do I have to stop trying. I-I just want you to know that there are people you affected positively."
This is Ren's real thought about Giyu. He never felt but he knows what the kid has gone through and what he'll go through in his journey full of sorrows. But Ren knew how he also persevere, adapt, and overcome these dangers and live his life towards his goal. Ren doesn't have the keys to convince Giyu without having any basis but he hopes that he may be abe to convey what he feels towards the emo no friends according to Shinobu what he felt and possible the fandom as well.
"That's all. Im sorry if I overstep my boundaries. I-I'll leave you for a while" Ren said as he excused himself and walking back to the house, leaving Giyu behind.
"Stupid fucker, thinking you could solve things. News flash Ren, youre not some sort of Psychiatrist or Psychologist or whichever that handles emotions. Stupid stupid stupid" Ren mumbles to himself as he scratches his head hard with feet kicking the ground and anything it passes by.
After the awkward talk between him and Giyu, Ren felt bad. Not bad as in "Oh no bad" but more of a "Fuck this is bad". When he first decided to find Giyu, he had the intention to make sure he's fine and not dwell on it too much. The moment he arrived at the area, he was made wrong as the problem lies on something deeper. Something that he had an idea but no way to explain how he knew. Before he could even share his opinion, the talk is all one sided and if he ever said something, it would only come out as a cheap consolation. Then to top it off, all he could do is run back with his hands behind his back, embarrassed.
"Oh dear" Ren sigh hard as he stopped his tantrum. He feels bad. Of course, there's no way that he would notice that Giyu would blow up like that, but it doesn't remove that he may be the one who pushed the button.
Ren was so into himself that he didn't notice that he walked all the way at the bottom of the mountain. It seems that his feet were on autopilot. "Haha, come on" he laughed at himself.
"Well, you certainly walked all the way down."
Ren was surprised at the sudden voice as he turned back and saw Makomo walking to him slowly.
"Makomo" Ren greeted the petite girl as he watched her stopped besides him to look at the view.
"Woah!" Makomo cheered as he took on the view. They are in a road in the surrounding by trees on both sides. Agricultural plains can be seen in the distance as people, who looked tiny, work their ways to plant the seeds. As Ren was forced to see the view and was captured by it. He can feel the calmness of forest and the freshness of air. A place where something is simple yet hard. Ren rarely see such scenery from before his life. He was born in the middle of the city so this change in lifestyle is surprising but welcomed.
Makomo looked at Ren as he enjoys the view. She smiled. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
Ren didn't reply, only nodding to the question.
"It really is nice to look at beautiful things especially if you feel tired, sad, or stressed. It just sort of took away the negativities in life don't you think?" Makomo said to Ren smiling, as he looked at her. "Life is something like this, I think. It all depends on the scenery on which our mind portrays."
"You mean like our perspective to things?"
Makomo nodded. She pointed out different things at once. "Tell me Ren, have you seen the laziness of the farmers there or felt the gloominess of the forest or oh, the loneliness on being far from people?"
"I have seen the laziness of the kid of the farmer but never felt the gloominess or loneliness that you mentioned" Ren replied as he tries to think on what's on Makomo's mind.
"Precisely" Makomo beamed. "Its because you never saw it as it is. It is there but you decided to focus on the freshness of the forest and the hardworking farmers. In this world there is always good and bad. Some of those cases is where the bad is so obvious that you think that's all you can see. But sometimes you need to look past those or look at the little details that would make you happy. Something that would make you think that 'oh its fine at least I…' or 'Im still good, it still got something…'. It might be hard for some things but you need to do it because otherwise how can you move forward?"
Ren took the moment to absorb Makomo's teachings. She was right to some degree but it doesn't apply to every situation.
"While it may be a good way to look on the bright side, but it doesn't apply to all things." Ren replied. "There are times where you can never see the bright side. That is why there are people who choose to end their lives."
Makomo looked at Ren, the smile still never leaving her face. "But there are also people who continue living right?"
"It doesn't mean that you can see hope right now means it doesn't exist. Time will heal most wounds" Makomo closed her eyes as she spoke the adage. "There are still people who continues to find hope, find the beauty in this life. Hey, do you know? I was abandoned by my parents after being born not as a boy. Then my second parents died due to a demon. It was a hard life and there are many times I felt loss and surrendering but I continued on. I hated life but I was more scared of dying. I continued until Urokodaki-sensei saw me and adopted me. I become happy. I had another family and this time I will protect it.
Makomo then looked at Ren as she poked he finger in his chest. "And you are also in that family Ren. I would have never met sensei, Sabito, Giyu, and you if I end myself then. I would never experience the beauty of life, the fun times that it has. So you guys are always thinking on how bright and happy I am almost every time? The answer is, I choose to be!"
Makomo jumped in front of him then turned and show her brightest smile he ever seen on her. The view becomes even more beautiful. Picturesque, even.
Ren digested every word that Makomo spoke and tried to see her own point of view. He believes that while it is a great motivation to continue living, it is not a great advise for people. But although it may not work on anyone, he understood that people are drive by convictions and these convictions are what forces them to continue on their journey despite the severity of it. In the end, you just need to find that one thing that pushes you onwards and if Makomo's drive is by believing that something will work out then who is he to deny that.
Ren's thought on Makomo's drive made him think on what pushes him forward. At first, he only wanted to save his family and not regret things. In a sense he accomplished it already and as long as he work for it, it would be enough. So does he need to risk his life for these people? Though lovable and close to one another, Ren still cant help feel that this people are just data in a computer or pages in a book. But living with them and seeing things that hasn't been shown when he watched them made him realize that this is real and they are very much alive.
But where would he go from there? He wanted to save them, but he needed to take on the risk that doesn't mean he helped them things would turn out for the better. In fact, he may also join the casualty. If he dies, could he handle the possibility that his family is left by the mercy of the world and its demons. Friends may Makomo and other maybe, his family is still his priority. He set out on this journey for them after all.
Ren sigh at the thought. It looks like that he was not resolute as they claim him to be.
Giyu was left dumbfounded. How could he refuse someone when they just wanted to help. The future Hashira knew Ren only came to check up on him and make sure that he was alright. He was used to it due to Makomo's kindness. He was shocked at first when the new teammate came first to him. Now that he think of it, he actually like the gesture that snowflake haori kid has shown. But what did he do? He just took out his frustration on an innocent guy.
Great job Giyu. Now Nee-san is disappointed in you, Giyu thought depressingly as he clutched to his red shirt tightly.
His sister, Tsutako, is a kind and gentle woman. She often wishes for him to be happy and look at the bright side at life. Although he grew up without the touch and warmth of his parents, it is wholly supplied by his sister. Even at the end of her life, she still wishes for Giyu to be happy and live on. Giyu was even sure that her sister would say something like "Thank goodness Giyu survived" or "Be happy, Giyu", something along those lines. But that is where the conflict starts. How could he be happy while his sister suffered a terrible faith. Why is he alive than her sister who's just about to get married. Those thoughts that someone who's just a waste of space lived than a person who could help many people struck him hard. In a sense he had an idea that honoring her sister's sacrifice meant him saving many people. So when the opportunity arrive in the form of his sensei, he took the chance to become a slayer.
As much as he wanted to save other people to give honor to her sister, he was still taught some etiquettes and gestures by Tsutako. One of those is apologizing for something you did wrong and cherishing your friends, both of which he failed to do. He wanted to apologize to Ren however find it awkward to do so. Giyu even has a half mind to do nothing and hope that it doesn't affect their relationship too much. But just as he was about to decide on it, he saw a peach hair, meters in front of him.
"Yow…" Sabito greeted though it was obvious how awkward it is. He his hand only for him take it back and scratched his head.
Giyu was also uncomfortable with the situation and he's sure that it showed in his face the way his peach haired friend reacted. He was still having trouble on how to tackle his outburst to Ren and now he's facing the person where this all started with.
Its not like he hated Sabito, in fact he adores him. He was there, even though he had some… problems you see, but nonetheless there to show him comfort when he was just starting. The problem is that he hated his inexperience and clumsiness that always resulted in the failure of their training. Giyu was known as oblivious and uncoordinated, but he is not that oblivious to the fact that Sabito always wanted to make Urokodaki-sensei proud. After all to Sabito's eyes, their sensei is the one closest to being a father and of course Giyu felt the same as well. But with their performance due to him may affected on how the elder looked at them. Of course Makomo always tell them that the former Hashira isn't like that but there always been a minute where he find himself asking if it really is like that. Giyu will be having a hard time if Urokodaki is disappointed in him but he couldn't take it if Sabito and the other are treated the same just because of his blunders.
"Hey…" Sabito interrupted Giyu's musing. "You, okay? You look pale?"
Sabito walked near Giyu to check out his situation. He was confused. He just greeted Giyu, which he didn't return, and now started to look washed out.
"Ah, Sabito. Yeah… I'm fine" Giyu replied as he cracked a smile. Yeah, Sabito knows that look.
Giyu always smiles like that, forced, when he encounters a situation where he need to put on a brave front. Sabito saw that many time and knows that the façade is directed at him. But he needed to talk this one at, not because Makomo told him too, but because he felt he needed to make things clear. "Alright then… um are you free right now? Can we talk?"
Giyu was waiting for this moment. Not excited that for sure but with the way he acts, its only a matter of time before someone confront him about it. And no better candidate than Sabito and his straight mind thinking. He was more surprised that it took him this long. So, despite being afraid of the heartbreak he was about to encountered, he steeled himself, and agree on this talk.
"Sure…" he replied quietly, just enough for his friend to hear him.
"Um, you see. About what happened last time… It was…um…. How do I say this…" Sabito said as he tries to form a sentence.
"You don't need to be shy" Giyu said as he showed his fake smiled once again. "Just go on and don't filter anything out."
That smiled again.Sabito thought.
"You know what, youre reading this way too wrong" Sabito raised his voice to Giyu, making his surprised at the tone of his voice.
"Reading what wrong? Why don't you tell me what you really mean and get this over with!" Giyu shouted in return.
"You're acting as if I was about to banish you or something!" Sabito clicked his tongue.
"Wait, you're not?" Giyu asked shocked, before he drops his shoulder and raise his hand backwards. "Then I guess it's something about not being friends anymore."
"What the hell? No! Of course, not" Sabito replied flabbergasted. "Where the hell do you get these absurd ideas."
"From you idiot. Just hurry up and tell me what the hell you wanted to say!" Giyu shouted back. "You're delaying things too much and It's making me nervous!".
"Ok you know what? You're on! I was worried you know!". Sabito replied with the same tone to Giyu. "Worried that I won't be someone who make Urokodaki-sensei proud. I don't have any parents and he's the closest thing to a father"
"Yeah, and that's the reason why I hate it! I hate being the one who lets everyone down. The burden of the group, the mister failure, the bad luck!"
"That's what you thought of yourself?" Sabito said surprised. "That we thought of you as a burden. That you're a bad luck huh?"
Sabito said with a soft tone but Giyu knows that it is just an attempt to conceal his anger. A calm before a storm.
"Y-yeah" Giyu replied meekly. "E-everyone knows it. That's why its better for me to not be here."
Sabito looked at him like he grew a head before he bend down, body's shaking.
"Y-ou, you, you" Sabito repeated in restrained anger before he rushed Giyu and grabbed his shirt pushing him to the tree behind. "YOU FUCKER! WHEN DID THAT EVER LEAEVE MY MOUTH HUH? WHEN DID I EVER TOLD YOU YOU'RE A BURDEN! WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU GET THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE A BAD LUCK!"
Sabito shouted at Giyu while shaking him back and forth. He was breathing heavily in anger. This is the first time that Giyu saw his friend get mad at someone, more so at him. Seeing Sabito get irked would made Giyu shut up and seeing him mad this way would surely made him shy and curl up. But despite the fear directed at him, Giyu felt nothing on what he should do on the scar faced boy ire. In fact, he felt different. Something deep beneath him transcends fear and before he knew it his mouth worked on auto pilot.
"ITS BECAUSE OF YOU, YOU IDIOT!" Giyu shouted back at Sabito as he grabbed his shirt and pushed him back. But despite the early surprised the black hair kid had on Sabito, he relented and stood his ground. "YOU ALWAYS ACT LIKE SOMEONES AT FAULT! EVERYTIME SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED YOU WOULD ALWAYS SIGH HEAVILY IN FRONT OF US THEN GO ON WITH YOUR SELF DEPRECIATING TALK ABOUT BEING A FAILURE."
"HUH?! AND HOW IS THAT YOURE FAULT? I NEVER BLAMED YOU-" Sabito replied before he was interrupted by Giyu.
"THAT'S THE FUCKING PROBLEM. YOU MADE IT LIKE ITS MY FAULT. ALL THE THINGS YOU DO CAUSES MISUNDERSTANDING. YOU MAY HAVE BLAME IT ON YOURSELF BUT IT ALWAYS LOOK THE OTHER WAY AROUND"
Giyu didn't know what happened making him like that. His mouth spoke before his mind think. He was never be the one who raise his voice. If he was to guess, he thinks that this is the stress that accumulated during this times and finally let out like a raised dam pouring water continuously. Somewhere inside of him felt bad at his friend. Sabito never blamed him personally and perhaps it was all to his perspective. But he felt fulfilled despite the outburst. He felt a little bit relaxed despite the tense situation in front. Maybe he was just glad that he finally spoke up. Let his true feeling be heard.
When Sabito heared Giyu shouted back at him and the bomb that he blown up, he recalled his earlier memory concerning this.
"Ne, Sabito-kun" Makomo called him out of nowhere.
"Hm?" Sabito replied as he was trying to finish his food and the leftovers that Giyu's bowl had when he suddenly left.
"You know, you should be mindful about your actions" the petite girl said to him, looking at his eyes with a small smile. A smile that is anything but happy. "You may have not meant doing those things but people tend to understand other people's action based on their own perspective."
Sabito swallowed the food in his mouth and took a sip of water before he replied. "Did I do something bad to you?"
The petite girl shook her head, "No" she replied.
"I see" He replied as he stands up and grabbed his plates. "Well, don't worry, I won't do anything completely bad to you. There would be occasional pranks here and there but nothing that won't destroy this family"
Makomo grabbed the ends of his shirt. "I know, its just that it may appear different on others" she said. This time no smile plastered on her face. All there is a worried look.
Sabito took Makomo's out of the blue comment seriously but after a few days left his mind as something that is not important. Some advice for the far future he thought. Now he never knew that the one that Makomo was warning him about is the person in front of him.A conflict arouses from misunderstanding huh, Sabito laughed inwardly. He was a jerk and a fool. He now saw the misunderstanding that grew between the two of them. How long did Giyu felt this way? Felt that every failure of the team is because of him. That his self-pride and quest for acknowledgement end up hurting his friend. What a friend and family he was. The people that he promised to protect ended up being hurt by him.
Sabito let go of Giyu as his hands fell and head hang low. Giyu was surprised by the act and manage to control himself once again.
"A-ah, I-I'm sorry" Giyu apologized as he left go of Sabito's clothes as well. Realizing the awkwardness, Giyu wanted to run away but manage to stop himself. All he does is ran away. Once his scared of something he always run back and hopes that it would fix himself. Just like how he took his anger at Ren, just like how her run away when her sister was about to be killed. But what did running away do. It never did fixed his problems, it only made it worse, and at the end of the day all was left is regret. Giyu does not want to have any more regrets hence the reason he didn't run this time. Maybe if he faced his problem, he would no longer had any regrets.
"Its fine" Sabito replied as he scratches his cheek. "I overreacted earlier. Heh, I probably overreacted almost every time. And that resulted in your misunderstanding."
"I-I-" Giyu tried to spoke a word before Sabito interrupted him.
"Oh, don't get me wrong. It isn't your fault. Looking back, its only natural to misunderstand things. Haha" Sabito said as he forced his awkward laugh.
A few minutes has passed and neither side can still feel the tense atmosphere around them until Sabito bowed 90 degrees and shouted his apology.
"I'm sorry" he shouted. "I always want to be acknowledged to Urokodaki-sensei. That is why I was harsh to myself. However, my attitude had created a rift between us and what's even worse is that I never realized it until now."
"Don't accept my apology" Sabito shouted once again. "You have every right to be mad at me and I wont blame you for it. Instead stay here and I will prove my sincerity to you. I'll make sure to change this attitude."
Giyu was astonished to Sabito's commitment. Though it is a direct apology, he noticed a tone of pleading once he told him to stay here. It doesn't fit Sabito, Giyu thought.
"I accept your apology" Giyu said as he grabbed Sabito's shoulder and pushes him to stand straight. He smiled at Sabito's righteous mind. Can he be someone like that as well? "I'm sorry as well for overthinking".
"No, no, no. You have the right to overthink because of my selfishness."
"But still, Im sorry"
"No! This is all my fault" Sabito insisted as they bicker as both side does not yield.
Looking at each other, both of them laughed their hearts out. Seriously, how can they talk about something heavy then laugh at the end about their idiocy. Its hilarious.
Wanting to be the one who steps first, Giyu reached out his hand in front of the scar faced kid and said "Then I'll look forward to you proving your sincerity"
Sabito looked at Giyu's hand before he smiled widely and grabbed it strongly. "Yeah, you better be."
As both sides came to an agreement, the tense and icy atmosphere disappeared and all that's left is a heartful and warm sight of two friends reconciling.
Alright, first things first are I would like to apologize for the late upload. I promised you guys that I would upload mid-January, but it ended up at early February. I got too relaxed during the first 2 weeks of the month then suddenly become stressed out due to school when it started. Well, and added by the lack of ideas and motivation.
At first I don't know how I would write this scene up. I wanted it to be a chapter where it shows how Sabito and Giyu's relationship becomes tight with a little help from Makomo and Ren and I am glad to say that I did although I don't know how well. The reason why I didn't put Ren at the center is that it isn't really realistic for Ren and the other 3 to be tight considering that they haven't been together for long. Considering that this is a fantasy genre, I would wanted relationships to be realistic as I possible can.
Well, I don't know what to say anymore to lets leave it at that. The next chapter would be out when I finished it. I don't want to make promises since I really don't know when inspiration came and my schedule may look to be more busier than ever. So I guess just stay tuned.
Oh, and thank you for the likes and follow I have received. It really brought a smile to my face knowing that Im making others like this story that I just randomly decided to make. Speaking of story, I was thinking of putting a new one with different setting. I was thinking about Genshin. I wanted to right about Honkai Impact but I don't know that much about it and the lore is really filled with scientific stuff and is much more deeper considering it has different timelines. So, Genshin is probably the best bet since I play the game and has decent knowledge at it. It wouldn't be something like a whole story but more of a oneshot and scenarios.
Anyway I talked for far too long, so thank you again, like and follow if you enjoyed it, and feel free to leave a comment. Adios!