Hello everyone! It's finally time for Izuku to learn how to use Flame Breathing! I've kinda liked the progress of his training even if it's a little sped up. Hopefully you guys are liking it as well. I've got some ideas that I cant wait to type.
Chapter 13: Flame Breathing
a couple weeks have passed as Izuku trained in total concentration breathing. He's graduated from his middle school class with minimal interaction from his old friend Katsuki. Both plan on applying to U.A's entrance exams that start in a couple months. His use of total concentration breathing has gotten better everyday as he trains with Rengoku. Though he has learned everything he could from Iroh, they still meet up from time to time to talk and maybe train more. For the time being, his routine consists of training with a blade, hand to hand combat, total concentration, and improving his strange quirk.
Both Izuku and Kyojuro sat infront of each other at the beach. The sand looks so much better than before because of his cleaning which attracted some of the locals to come back and thank him. If you payed attention closely to the two, you can hear their breathing is in sync with one another. Nodding to himself, Kyojuro stands up from the sand and Izuku does the same.
"Remember to train your mind as well as your body. Being strong is useless if you don't know how to use your strengths. These meditation techniques will help to clear your head and think on the fly as well as help with total concentration."
Izuku nods at the man while going back to cleaning the rest of the garbage. He makes his way to the vehicle that he saw on the first day of his training. Luckily for him, the wheels are still intact but the tires are horribly ripped up. He takes a moment to inhale as much oxygen his lungs will take, which is more than the normal person. He feels the blood rush faster in his veins as his heart starts to beat quicker. He slams his hands against the back of the vehicle with noticable dents being made into the metal and pushes forward.
Kyojuro smiles proudly as he watches Izuku push the truck off the sand into the parking area of the beach. Feeling the truck start to get heavy again, Izuku tried something that he has been working on in private. As he began to exhale, smoke came from his mouth as he used his inner flame just like he had when he was a kid when dodging Katsuki's attacks. Giving one more shove to the back of the truck, it pushed farther ahead than before when just using total concentration by itself. He was able to work out most of the draw backs from using his flame to enhance his normal abilities by using the breathing technique of total concentration to make sure he doesn't use too much energy at once.
The draw back is still there but it's not as bad as it was when he was a kid. He leaned forward with hands on his knees breathing heavily but thankfully not light headed or about to faint. Kyojuro appeared next to him silently with a water bottle. Izuku being used go his teacher's silent but loud personality took the bottle in thanks.
"That's an interesting display you just did. Did you use your quirk with that last push?"
Izuku nods at the man after drinking half the bottle of water. He looks at the truck where his hands had left the mental dented in.
"I can use my inner flame to enhance my body strength and reaction time for a short while. the only thing is that it would leave me on the verge of passing out. My flames are fueled through my stamina that's why Iroh kept hammering into me that fire bending comes from the breath and not the muscles. Before I met you, he taught me how to breath without wasting breathe if that makes sense."
Kyojuro nods at the explanation. He points at Izukus chest while grinning.
"So that's why smoke came out when you exhaled, interesting. You were able to combine total concentration breathing and your inner flame to regulate energy and stamina and not overuse them."
Izuku blinks in surprise at how easy Kyojuro figured it out. When he first tried to combine the two, it felt like his heart was going to explode. But after going through different practices and constant strain, the effects weren't as bad as before. He nods at the man and looks at the truck again. It felt like not too long ago that he would never be able to move something that big on his own.
"The breathing exercises and techniques you showed me have given me different ideas on how to further use my quirk. It's amazing how much stronger I feel when using them."
Kyojuro nods at the statement and smiles brightly. He looks at the settkng sun and remembers the words that soemone dear to him once said long, long ago.
"Not many people go far when they learn how to breath Izuku. But, do you know why you are able to use this strength when others fail?"
Izuku looks surprised at the question but takes a moment to think. He follows Kyojuro's gaze and also looks at the setting sun. When nothing comes to mind, he looks back at the man with a confused expression.
"It's because it's your job to protect those who cannot defend themselves. You must never use that God given strength to bring harm to others but to help them. People like us have a duty to fulfill when the time comes."
The words are engraved into Izuku's memory. He has a huge respect for Kyojuro for teaching him when he didn't have to but heseing those words only made him admire the man more. He bows hiw head to him and speaks softly but strongly.
"I promise to use my power to protect everyone and never to bring harm."
Kyojuro lets out a heart filled laugh and reaches out to ruffle Izuku's hair. He knows that Izuku's words are true. After the small interaction, Izuku runs back to the beach to do more cleaning.
-A Few Days Later-
Izuku walked up to the Rengoku estate to continue his sword training, his own blade at his hip. Once he made it to the house, he saw the man standing infront of a row of wooden dummies with his blade drawn. Kyojuro took a deep breath as he prepared to swing his sword before saying something Izuku heard clear as day.
"Flame breathing, first form: unknowing fire!"
The attack was beautiful in Izuku's eyes. To the untrained eye, most would say that it was a powerful horizontal sword slash, but to Izuku it is more. It was like seeing a blade of beautiful bright flames cut through the air then through the wood. His analytical eyes followed the sword as it cut and almost blow apart the dummies with just shear force. Kyojuro then took a step back to exhale quickly before swinging his sword upwards without losing any momentum in the first swing.
"Second form: rising scorching sun!"
The stone stand that held one of the dummies was then cut cleanly in half as the blade made contact. Izuku widened his eyes at seeing the man cut pure stone. Even though no element was present, his mind filled in the flames that followed the blade with the upward attack. He can hear Kyojuro take in another steady breath before side stepping and looking at one of the dummies cut in half. Changing the grip on his sword he let out another shout.
"Third form: blazing universe!"
The blade came down hard and cut the already halved dummy all the way down so that when he raised the sword again, it fell in opposite directions with the stone being separated as well. To Izuku, this didn't look like any martial art but just pure art at it's core. The way that he see's Kyojuro handle his blade would most definitely put heroes who use swords to shame. Once the man sheathed his blade, he turns around to see a mesmerized Izuku to which he smiles brightly. He motions for the boy to follow him as some people dressed in fancy kimonos come to clean up the dummies.
"So that's what flame breathing looks like, huh? The way that you swing your sword is like nothing I have seen! Even when you cut two stones your sword didn't lose any sharpness at all. It's like watching actual fire cut through things."
Izuku went on a mumbling spree as he followed Kyojuro to the otherside of the estate where fresh dummies stood. While he listened to Izuku rant on he decided to see if the boy was paying attention to things around him. Using his left leg, Kyojuro went in for a leg sweep to knock Izuku off his feet. While in mid sentence, Izuku stopped talking and jumped over the attack with pure instinct but was caught in the air as Kyojuro hrabbed him by the shirt and tossed him a few feet. Using the momentum of the throw, Izuku tucked and rolled into the ground. Once he's on his feet, he automatically gets in the fighting stance that the man showed him countless times.
Kyojuro grins at Izuku's quick reaction and gets into the same stance. Both take a large inhale of oxygen then seemingly vanish from their spots. Meeting in the middle of their short distance they both clash, slammimg their forarms against one another. A loud cracking sound can be heard but neither yeild. Kyojuro uses his other hand to send a sideways fist towards Izuku's face but the boy drops low letting the man stumble at losing balance slightly. Izuku attemps to sweep Kyojuro's legs but once he sees the man steel himself for it, raises his kick to aim for his side.
Kyojuro catches the kick with his left hand which Izuku was hoping for. Pulling on his leg to lift himself up, he grabs on to the mans right arm and cocks his own right arm back to send a fist to his face. Kyojuro, slightly surprised at the change in fighting style let's go of Izuku's leg and sends his hand fingers out in a reverse palm to the boy's chest sending him back before the punch lands. Izuku stumbles back but gets his footing before going into a stance that Iroh showed him. He is facing Kyojuro sideways with his feet apart, his left foot pointing towards the man while the other faces forward. His left hand is strentch out and made into a fist with the other held high and bent so the fist is also facing the man with his elbo going the other way.
"That stance is one that a fire bender uses. I remember Zuko always getting into that stance. Iroh has indeed taught you well."
Kyojuro said with a saddened smile. Izuku nods at the man and takes a breath before rushing forward to close the distance. Once in range Izuku spins around to deliver a kick to Kyojuro's head only for the man to duck under it and send a fist to his back. Before the hit lands, Izuku blocks the blow with his elbow and winces slightly while sending a jab at the mans chest. Kyojuro side steps the hit and spins around to send his elbow at Izuku's head. Izuku barley manages to catch the elbow but feels his feet sliding on the grass from the force.
Before he stumbles, Izuku leans back and pulls Kyojuro over him and uses his feet to launch the man above him. As Kyojuro flies in the air he laughs. Once Izuku is back on his feet he looks over at the man lying in the grass. He gets up and puts up his hands in surrender. Izuku relaxes his stance and goes over to the other.
"My boy, you did splendid. When we first started sparring you couldn't even touch me with that exceptional headbutt. This time you have me on my toes and get the occasional hit. I'm very proud of your progress."
Izuku bows at the man with small tears filling his eyes. He's so happy that he's getting stronger. He owed this all to Iroh and Kyojuro.
"Thank you sir, I couldn't of gotten this far without the help of you and Iroh. I will continue to do my best."
Kyojuro nods and goes over to where they both dropped their swords to pick them up. Once he has them in hand he notices that Izuku has the blade Iroh gave the boy. In his mind, Kyojuro has one thought.
'So we meet again old friend.'
He tosses the sheathed sword over to Izuku who catches it carefully. With his own blade in hand, Kyojuro walks over to the dummies again with Izuku following behind. They both stand infront of a dummy like when he taught the boy his own fighting style.
"I'm surprised that you can see the difference in flame breathing from another sword style. To anyone else it would just look like strong slashes."
Kyojuro said while pulling his blade from it's sheathe. Izuku pulls out his own blade and copies the mans hold. Kyojuro sticks his blade into the ground and goes over to fix Izuku's posture and hold on the sword.
"As it sounds, flame breathing is meant to replicate flames and how powerful they can be. Each attack aims to either put down the enemy in one motion or multiple enemies in multiple motions."
Izuku listens carefully but feels slightly conflicted about what Kyojuro said. The thought of actually killing someone weighed heavy on his mind. If demons did exist back then, then he can see it as necessary but a human is different.
'Would I be able to end a life if it meant that others would be safe?'
kyojuro can see the look of doubt in Izuku's face and places a hand on his shoulder. The boy lowered his blade and looks up to the man. They shared a moment of understanding as Kyojuro's firey eyes showed warmth, loss, pain, and saddness. Izuku took a moment to steady himself as he realized something. Kyojuro has the eyes of someone who has lived passed his days.
"I know what you're thinking lad. There are some sacrafices that people like us have to make to keep the ones we hold dear safe. You may think that you can subdue and arrest every villain you come across, but that's just not how the world works. There are chances that villain will either bail themselves out or even escape prison to cause more chaos to hurt or even kill more people. It may not sound like justice but in the end stopling the threat... permanently would be a wise decision."
Izuku looks at the man in an unreadable expression. He knows that what he said makes sense, but in his own mind it just doesn't add up.
"Why do people use their gifts to bring harm to others?"
The boy's question was simple yet not. Even while Kyojuro talked, Izuku could see pain in his eyes as he told him that not all villains can be reasoned with. The man looks up to the sky and at the sun. Izuku follows his gaze.
"There are just circumstances that are out of everyone's control I'm afriad. Things are not and will never be fair. If you ever find yourself doubting yourself, that if you aren't enough..."
Kyojuro looks back at Izuku with tears in his eyes, like he is remembering something that happened so long ago it was a mystery as to why it came up now. Izuku is quiet. He can feel his heart pounding more and more at seeing his mentor so vulnerable. The man points to the boy's chest and smiles that same smile when they first met.
"...Set your heart ablaze."
Not gonna lie to you guys, I really love how this chapter ended. Izuku now has fire bending along with flame breathing! I can't wait to mix these two in later chapters and see what I can come up with, hehe! As always, I hope you all are enjoying the story so far. I would love to hear your feedback. see you guys in the next one!