Sautorou stood still in the dojo. The silence was thick in the air, even his breath sounded to loud.
As he stood with his right leg forward the old wooden floor squeaked.
Soutarou tried to drain the tension coiling in him. His shoulders dropped. He took a deep breathe. and reached deep in his he felt it. That surge beneath, coiling in his chest like a living thing. His soul energy. Ki
Everyone living thing had Ki but the issues was channeling the Soul Energy. Only a few could.
He gripped the hilt of his blade tighter. 'Maybe this time.'
Sweat trailed down his jaw. He swallowed dry.
Soutarou keep pushing but nothing happened. "Come on... please," he muttered.
When is Ki Channeled through a blade sword it's meant to glow. But his was still cold and lifeless. His grip began to tremble.
For how many years. He had harnessed his Ki he could feel it grow stronger but could never channeled it. "How will I kill demons."
In this world where demons existed. Ki was the only way to kill them. Ki severed their Makai. Their soul energy. Without it, demons regenerated endlessly.
No amount of strength or speed could help.
Soutarou had the skills all but no Ki.
"Still no luck?"
Soutarou stood still familiar of her voice and he turned to the door.
Sakura, is girlfriend. Standing at the in her uniform, with a soft but uncertain face.
Soutarou turned away and looked at his blade. It was still lifeless.
"I can feel it. It's there. Inside me. I just..." His fingers trembled on the hilt. "I can't get it out. Can't make it flow into the blade."
Sakura's expression softened with something like pity. "Sau... maybe that's exactly why you should stop. If it won't come out after all these years..."
"It WILL," he insisted. "I just need to figure out how."
His grip gave out, his blade hit the floor and bounced, the steel singing in the dojo.
Soutarou stared at his empty hands.
The energy was still there, circling beneath his skin. It felt trapped.
"What's wrong with me?" He muttered to himself.
Out of shame he sat down at the corner of the dojo. And the silence which came after was as a punishment.
Sakura gasped softly.
Sakura walked in, she stopping before the kantana, hesitant before picking it up.
Soutarou bent his head down with humiliation. His fingers wandered down in his black hair.
He grumbled something to himself, some curse, or some prayer.
Sakura Hung the blades on the racks then sat beside s Soutarou. She drew his palm to hers.he touch was soft alien for a demon slayer.
"All the years, Sau, you have tried. Maybe it's not your thing. You must have something you are better at."
She slipped her hands to his face, her palm warm on his cheeks as she raised his face tenderly. Maintaining eye contact.
"It does not need to be killing demons."
Sautorou scoffed. His lips tightened and his eyes darted away from hers. Then, after a pause, he relaxed. His face drew up a grin looking into her eyes. "Thank you," he said simply. "But I won't give up."
Sakura grinned and nudged him. "Stubborn as ever, Sau."
She rested her head against his shoulder. Her hair fell over her features.
Sautorou's chest tightened. His heart beat stunned and dropped into place. He adjusted her hair off with a finger, and snagged it over her ear.
She's perfect, he thought. And I'm the opposite.
They sat down silent in dojo. Just two lover private moment.
Then Sakura spoke up.
"You... remember the very first time we met? Sakura asked softly."
Sateurou sighed and shut his eyes. "Please don't remind me."
Sakura giggled. "You can't escape this one." She sat up as she cleared her throat. "Once upon a time, I was a weak noble girl and my father made me train with a blade."
Sautorou muttered. "Another story time."
Sakura continued, "I thought he was punishing me. I cried, I was too young and just a girl. I hated it."
She looked at him very slightly, smiling. "Until I saw you. You were my age, and had two years experience in training. Remember, Sau?"
"Of course." He tried to act nonchalant but His smile betrayed him.
"Master Yamamoto tried motivating me with that but I said to myself he is a boy, that is why he is good at this. But I'm a girl. I ought to be doing anything other than swinging a sword."
She shrugged. "I whined, refused to train. I believed that I was just an ordinary girl. Not a demon slayer."
Her voice softened. "But then you said something to me. Something that changed everything." She looked at him in anticipation. "What was it?"
Sautorou sighed. "I don't remember."
"Sau...." she frowned and nudge him repeatedly.
"Fine," he muttered. "Just... Stop it."
Sakura grinned. "There it is."
He sighed, his voice low, repeating his own words of years past:
"It does not matter to a sword who wields it. It does not question whether you are tough enough or maybe you were born to do this. Nothing more than that it asks you whether you are willing to try."
The face of Sautorou became pale.
The smile on Sakura was sadder, softer.
"You gave me hope that day, Sau. You made me think I could be something better than what I imagined I was."
She touched his chest gently.
"But maybe..." Her voice was gentle, careful. "Perhaps the sword is not the only way to be protected. Perhaps you should protect people in other ways."
Their eyes met. "You do not need to continue destroying yourself because at some point they described you as a prodigy. You owe no one."
Sautorou stared at her. His throat tightened.
She was right, the reason Soutarou didn't ever give up cause he felt he owed his adoptive father. And haven't full repaid for his kindness.
"Maybe," he whispered.
Sakura nodded softly, her gaze locked on his lips. She leaned forward, breath mingling with his as their lips drew closer.
The moment shattered.
A gigantic bell sounded in the dojo with a vibration on the walls. Signifying a demon attack.
Outside, Demon Slayers were already running out with their katanas ready. Their footsteps stomped the ground, movements sharp on guard.
Sakura and Sautorou stared at each other for a second. then made a break to the door.
This was an unusual event. No demon had ever been anywhere within the barracks—speak more of attacking that was just suicidal.
Which meant one thing... either it was a stong one... or a stupid one.
Outside Soutarou froze. Eyes fixed of the clouds ahead. Even columns of smoke darkened the air. The outer barracks was burning.
"No." His breathe stuttered at the sight.
"How is this possible?" Sakura eyes were narrowed. "How didn't we sense this?"
She gritted her teeth and grip her katana on her waist.