"Tsurumaru, draw your sword." Mikazuki commanded sternly.
The white haired child didn't react, couldn't react, almost as though he had been stunned in place by the elder sword's sudden words.
"Draw your sword." Mikazuki commanded once again, showing no sign of consideration towards the young child.
Tsurumaru stared intently at Mikazuki for a minute or two before drawing his blade, catching onto the elder swords intentions.
"I'll give you a handicap. I'll use one hand," Mikazuki announced and held up his free hand. "You're free to use both."
Despite the fact that Tsurumaru disliked taking advantages of given handicaps, he knew in this parry of blade's against the ancient sword, he wouldn't stand a chance.
Tsurumaru took hold of his sword in both hands. Although the Taichi sword had looked much like a Oodachi in his hands, he showed no struggle but rather ease when he held onto his large weapon.
The young child showed no sign of movement, simply just taking his stance and observing the elder sword closely, allowing Mikazuki to make the first move.
Mikazuki nodded in approval at Tsurumaru's patience and his decision to observe his opponents movements, rather than charging aimlessly to score the first hit.
'Looks like there is no need to teach this child patience and observation.' And with that thought, Mikazuki drew his sword.
'He probably won't be able to react if I charged right at him.' Taking into consideration this, he walked towards the younger male and aimed his blade.
Making sharp and precise movements that was invisible to the naked eye, Mikazuki sliced diagonally, a strike that would've torn Tsurumaru's white robe if he was unable to defend himself against the blow.
Mikazuki smirked at the thought of his blow making a cut and tearing the others robe.
"Clang!"
Mikazuki's eyes widened in surprise at the sound of metal clashing against each another and the sudden halt of his swing, sending familiar tremors of shock through his arm as his attacking blade collided with defending one's. Immediately withdrawing his sword, Mikazuki aimed for another hit, but only to be blocked again.
"Look, look! Mikazuki's testing Tsuru-chan's strength."
"Uwaah, he's fighting on par with Mikazuki-san."
"Have any of you's made it past his test?"
"Nuh uh!"
"Hey, hey. Wasn't Kogi-kun the only one who stood his ground against Mikazuki?"
Soft chatters filled the quiet hallway as the swords filed around the open window, all wanting to see how long the newbie would last against the ancient sword.
Attack, attack, attack.
Defence, defence, defence.
Mikazuki threw a series of hits, but all were proved fruitless when his blade connected with Tsurumaru's blade. Despite this, both refused to relinquish their upper hand they had in this mock battle.
"Clang!"
Mikazuki's eyes widened at the sudden change of events.
This time, Tsurumaru was attacking and Mikazuki was forced to undertake defence. And before Mikazuki could get over his mild shock, Tsurumaru had already withdrew his weapon and thrusted his blade forward, aiming to pierce Mikazuki's abdomen.
Mikazuki stood, unable to respond to Tsurumaru's sudden attacks, as a frenzy of thoughts encircled his mind.
As soon as his mind had registered the danger of the upcoming weapon, Mikazuki could only lunge his arms forward. Gripping onto the blade, he forced the thrusted weapon to come to a sudden halt as he was met with a sharp piercing pain.
Tsurumaru stopped, his once strong hands that gripped onto his blade shook with what seemed like fear and his eyes widened with shock.
Thick crimson liquid trickled down his blade, dying the silver metal to stains of red.
His knees buckled as he struggled to stay upright and nausea clouded his senses.
The blood wasn't his, he knew that much, because he couldn't feel any pain.
Moving his eyes along his blade to where the blood came from, there was a deep gash visible on the palm of Mikazuki's hand. But even so, he seemed reluctant to relinquish his grip on the weapon.
"Y-your…. your hand… L-let go…" Tsurumaru choked, fear clearly audible in his soft tone as his knees buckled. If it was not for his strong grip on his sword, he would've met with rough solid ground.
Mikazuki's grip on Tsurumaru's blade tightened as he sheathed his own sword and pulled on the other, causing the young child to stagger towards him.
Discarding his grip on Tsurumaru's blade, Mikazuki wrapped his arms around the younger child and pulled him into tight grip.
"It's okay, calm down. I'm fine." He whispered, soothing the younger child as he ran his fingers through his soft locks.
Relief washed over Mikazuki, followed by a moment of indescribable happiness. Tsurumaru had spoken words. He had expressed emotions. But despite the swelling emotions he had felt in that blissful second, a soft smile was all he displayed. There wasn't a mere second where he would drop his guard and allow his truthful emotions to show.
"I'll teach you the emotions which you cannot express… I'll teach you when to express them." Mikazuki spoke, drowning the white haired in his embrace as though he was his very own child. "I won't let become vulnerable to the outside world. I won't let fate control your life"