Chapter 2: Water Breathing
As the sun gradually rose, a new day began. Having finished breakfast, Miyamizu Ichiyuki started his Water Breathing training early.
From under the eaves, Yuuya Kazami watched Miyamizu Ichiyuki blindly swinging his blade and couldn't help but speak up. "Don't just rely on brute force. The reason a Breathing Technique is called a Breathing Technique is because of the breath. Feel the water flowing through your body."
Hearing this, Miyamizu Ichiyuki immediately closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing, trying to feel the sensation of water flowing through his body as Yuuya Kazami described.
"Water Breathing: First Form, Water Surface Slash."
As Miyamizu Ichiyuki's voice faded, he unleashed a horizontal slash under Total Concentration. This strike was different from every one before it; it carried visible splashes of water.
As the wooden sword snapped in two, Miyamizu Ichiyuki grasped the knack of Water Breathing. Yuuya Kazami, watching from the side, nodded and tossed a new wooden sword to Miyamizu Ichiyuki.
"Good job. Hold onto that feeling and keep going."
After saying this, Yuuya Kazami returned to the house. Miyamizu Ichiyuki took the new wooden sword and continued to explore further, following the sensation he had just felt.
...
"Water Breathing: First Form, Water Surface Slash."
"Water Breathing: Second Form, Water Wheel."
"Water Breathing: Third Form, Flowing Dance."
"Water Breathing: Fourth Form, Striking Tide."
In just one morning, the exceptionally gifted Miyamizu Ichiyuki had completely mastered the essentials of Water Breathing and successfully performed the first four forms.
However, the first four forms Miyamizu Ichiyuki performed were still somewhat different compared to Yuuya Kazami's. He realized this himself, but when he tried to push further, he found he couldn't make any more progress no matter what.
Just as Miyamizu Ichiyuki was feeling frustrated, Yuuya Kazami walked up behind him and said, "Water Breathing actually isn't suitable for you."
"Why do you say that, Master?"
"Haven't you noticed it too? You can't take it any further."
"Is there no other way?" Miyamizu Ichiyuki asked.
"Water Breathing is the easiest to learn among all Breathing Techniques, but it's not suitable for everyone. If you want to go further, you must find the Breathing Technique that fits you."
Hearing his master say this, Miyamizu Ichiyuki slowly lowered his head.
"Actually, your talent for learning is very high. Regarding just the first four forms, almost no one can surpass you except for Water Breathing swordsmen of Kinoe rank or higher."
"Really?"
"Really."
Hearing his master say this, Miyamizu Ichiyuki's mood improved a bit.
Seeing that Miyamizu Ichiyuki's mood had brightened, Yuuya Kazami said, "Alright, I'll teach you four more forms."
"Yes, Master."
With that, Yuuya Kazami took Miyamizu Ichiyuki's wooden sword and demonstrated the next four forms for him.
"Water Breathing: Fifth Form, Blessed Rain After the Drought."
"Water Breathing: Sixth Form, Whirlpool."
"Water Breathing: Seventh Form, Drop Ripple Thrust."
"Water Breathing: Eighth Form, Waterfall Basin."
Having finished demonstrating the fifth through Eighth Forms, Yuuya Kazami returned the sword to Miyamizu Ichiyuki and went back inside. In Yuuya Kazami's view, Miyamizu Ichiyuki certainly wouldn't be able to learn these four forms in just two or three days.
...
The reality was indeed as Yuuya Kazami had said; the fifth through Eighth Forms were much harder than the first four. Even with Miyamizu Ichiyuki's incredible talent, he could only learn them passably in three days.
Seeing this, Yuuya Kazami didn't plan to teach the last two forms yet, but instead let Miyamizu Ichiyuki continue to polish his skills.
So, Miyamizu Ichiyuki began his life of hard training once again. Just like when he first arrived, he left early and returned late every day, training until he collapsed into sleep. Yuuya Kazami saw all of this.
...
Finally, seven days passed. Miyamizu Ichiyuki didn't know how many wooden swords he had broken, but he could finally perform the fifth through Eighth Forms fluidly. However, the old problem remained: he wasn't fully compatible with Water Breathing, so it always felt like something was missing.
Seeing that Miyamizu Ichiyuki could proficiently use the first eight forms, Yuuya Kazami planned to teach him the final two forms.
It had been ten days since Yuuya Kazami last picked up a wooden sword. This time, unlike before, he intended to demonstrate them twice.
"Master, why are you demonstrating them twice this time?" Miyamizu Ichiyuki asked.
After a brief warm-up, Yuuya Kazami said, "I'm afraid you won't learn it if I only show you once."
"I see. Thank you, Master."
Then, Yuuya Kazami took a stance and jumped, using the Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow, Turbulent while in mid-air.
After landing, Yuuya Kazami took a deep breath and then used the last form that anyone except Tomioka Giyu could learn, the Tenth Form: Constant Flux.
The sword in Yuuya Kazami's hand transformed into a dragon's head, and the water behind him became the dragon's body. Like a dragon dancer, Yuuya Kazami rotated and moved nimbly until he finished.
After demonstrating it again, Yuuya Kazami said, "Remember, in the Tenth Form, the more rotations you make, the more powerful the slash becomes, but it also consumes more stamina. Do not use the Tenth Form until the very last moment, understood?"
"Understood."
"Alright, here's your sword back. Practice on your own."
With that, Yuuya Kazami left the backyard and went into the house.
Back in his room, Yuuya Kazami took a light blue and white haori from a box. The pattern on it consisted of pure white snowflakes.
This was prepared by Yuuya Kazami for Miyamizu Ichiyuki. Yuuya Kazami knew that when spring came next year, Miyamizu Ichiyuki would head to Mount Fujikasane to participate in the Demon Slayer Corps selection.
Although Yuuya Kazami was unwilling to let Miyamizu Ichiyuki take such risks, he knew that even if he forbade it, Miyamizu Ichiyuki would go anyway to avenge his parents.
Looking at the pattern on the haori, Yuuya Kazami's thoughts drifted back to three years ago. It was a snowy night; while he was down the mountain buying supplies, he received a report from his Kasugai Crow that a shrine had been attacked by a demon, so he rushed there without hesitation.
By the time he arrived, the shrine was already a river of blood. He followed the demon's scent into the house and found the demon about to strike a child—the current Miyamizu Ichiyuki. So, he stepped forward with his blade.
After about two exchanges, the demon realized it couldn't win against Yuuya Kazami and fled. Yuuya Kazami had originally planned to pursue it, but fearing that the unconscious Miyamizu Ichiyuki might be attacked by other demons, he had no choice but to give up.
Afterward, he adopted Miyamizu Ichiyuki, and the rest of the story followed.
Yuuya Kazami put the haori back in the box, waiting to give it to Miyamizu Ichiyuki personally once his training was complete.
Yuuya Kazami came outside and watched Miyamizu Ichiyuki training hard before him, unable to help but feel worried for his future.
After all, any demon capable of escaping from him could only be one of the Twelve Kizuki.
Sensing his gaze, Miyamizu Ichiyuki turned his head and gave his master a big smile in response, then threw himself back into training to fully prepare for the upcoming selection.
On the other side, at Mount Sagiri, two boys were also training, with their senior sister supervising them from the side.
Meanwhile, in a pharmacy in Sword Town, a couple was treating patients along with their two daughters.