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"Bwuahh!!! You keep hitting me too hard!!"
"This is training! Of course I'm gonna hit you hard!"
"Haghhh..."
A tired sigh followed after two, admittedly loud, boys arguing. The crybaby looked to the elderly man hoping to be saved from his 'opponent', but was met with the shake of his head.
"J-jii-chan he's beating me up!!- ACK!!" He was quickly silenced by a quick jut to his throat.
"Its Shihan! Don't address him so casually, dirt!! Ugh, I'm done for today!" In the same hissy fit as he had everyday, the hot headed boy whipped around and stormed off down a beaten path.
Pathetically, the weeping boy went into a squat and tightly held the sword to his chest. As much as he was crying though, his thoughts were sending a whirlwind of insults to the retreating young man.
"That stupid guy could have killed me dead!! What the hell what the hell!? Does he seriously want me to die like this!? I could have choked, really!!! Does he hate me that much? Well screw you too Kaigaku!"
Though, he would never be able to say those words aloud. He's probably choke on them through sobs.
The gruff man huffed as he stood up. "Alright Zenitsu, it's time we practiced again." And as soon as he takes a single step forward, Zenitsu bolts from the scene with incoherent wails. "...he'll be back for dinner." Shihan croaks out, another shake of the head as he makes way to their shared little home.
A routine like this was natural.
Zenitsu having a fit after being hit one too many times. Kaigaku being frustrated with his fellow swordsman in training. And their teacher Shihan both wanting to keep the peace to continue their training, and beating both of them senseless with his cane.
He was far too old to be dealing with their bratty natures. Kaigaku was far too prideful to show Zenitsu any kindness in a fight. And Zenitsu..well.
He was high in a tree, hugging the branches for comfort at the moment. Too cowardly and weakhearted to come down and face his problems head on. It was too much!
That's what he said every day at least. Even so, Zenitsu would still go back to that weirdly cozy shared home. He would still sit neatly in his seat, take a long scolding from Shihan that he would quietly listen to. Still endure the little glares and upset looks from Kaigaku.
And after an admittedly long dinner, crawling into bed, Zenitsu was used to this routine. Because at least they were all alive by the end of the day.
Until it was time for Kaigaku to participate in the Final Selection.
Zenitsu had improved, but admittedly it wasn't enough for him to enter along with the older student. And he knew that Kaigaku was stronger, smarter, maybe a little more mature. But his nerves were on end thinking about Kaigaku potentially never coming back. These demons were serious business!!
So the night he planned to set foot on his journey, Zenitsu would lie in wait for him to pass by. And as soon as Kaigaku did, he'd jump down and proclaim that he should stay.
Except Zenitsu slipped and instead fell down flat onto his face behind Kaigaku with an unflattering THUD.
"Ugh, no wonder I felt something stupid was around." Kaigaku spat.
Groaning, Zenitsu got to his feet and exclaimed. "Eee! H-hey! ..." Unlike the cool and well thought out plan he had in his head, actually doing it was proving to be impossible by the second.
"Well? You got something to say to me? Spit it out, I dont plan on being late thanks to dirt like you."
Zenitsu flinched a bit. His legs shook, hands trembling, he grabbed his arms tightly to make them stop. "...y....I'm.." The sound of his own heart quaking made it hard to say a word.
"Tch, of course. The dumb coward still can't even say something more than whimpering mumbles. I'm leaving." Kaigaku hisses out another insult, turning away.
"No!! You can't!" Zenitsu finally wailed out.
His clammy hands latched onto Kaigaku's haori, even pulling him back. "Please..!! K..kaigaku.." The right words he rehearsed were bubbling, but not quite right. They definitely didn't make Kaigaku pleased.
He tries to shove Zenitsu away, but he only wails and shakes his head.
"Rghhh, spit it out already!! I dont have time to hear your whines!" Agitated, Kaigaku turns around.
Zenitsu still doesn't say much, only sniffling as he settles for clutching onto the front of Kaigaku's cloth.
Kaigaku gets ready to give this guy a wallop before Zenitsu inches closer, hiccuping a few times as he whimpers out.
"Please..." Zenitsu chokes out. "Please dont go...I..I don't want you to die.."
There was a long silence. Nothing but the windy night carried on between them. Those words were genuine, unlike some of the pathetic little insults Zenitsu would mumble out when they had arguments. Kaigaku had a moment of clarity, acknowledging how Zenitsu really felt, until his idiotic pride came over once again, making him punch down Zenitsu. Although this time, he felt regret for striking him.
"Stupid!! Idiot brat! Why would I be the one to die, you're the wine who wouldn't last a single hour out there! Don't you dare compare us. And dont think I'm so low that you have to feel worried about me."
And with a slap, Kaigaku freed himself from Zenitsu's grip and ran off ahead.
Even though he wanted to say things he found hard to describe, to say what was really on his mind every so often. He ran away. And didn't look back once, even as Zenitsu's wails filled the night air.
He'd remember that day, that night as his head was sliced off by the same crybaby he cursed.
And he'd wish that he did get to say that.
That he got to say, "We'll work together, so it's fine."