They spent the whole day looking around the city and trying street food.
As Lord Fujioka was trying some dessert in a fancy bakery, a commoner woman walked in.
The guards immediately blocked her path.
"Please, give me a coin or two. My husband and I are struggling to feed our kids."
"Ah, yes."
Answered Lord Fujioka as he reached inside of his pocket and pulled out a silver coin.
He handed it to her.
The woman's eyes lit up with joy, thanking him before leaving the shop.
"What an amazing world. A woman can't even feed her own children while people like you are drowning in gold and silver."
Reiji said to the lord.
"Yes, that is true. If I could just hand out money to these people then I sure would. Want any?"
Said Lord Fujioka, asking if Reiji wanted some kind of dessert, since he was eating a piece of fine cake.
"No, I'm fine. How much is a silver coin anyway?"
Reiji asked.
"Well, ten copper coins are one silver coin and ten silver coins are one gold coin. The average commoner makes about five to ten copper coins a month. If something costs a silver coin you can pay with ten copper coins."
"Well, a loaf of bread costs two copper coins from what I saw. But of course, a person cannot live on bread alone."
Commented Reiji.
"Most commoners have their own farms which they live off of, saving money for special occasions."
"I'm still not sure about you, gray hair. I'll get to see who you truly are soon enough, I hope."
Said Reiji.
"Slow to trust? That is a good thing, a very good thing."
Commented Lord Fujioka.
"What now? We've seen the city, bought some totally useless food and more. When do we get to the monster killing part?"
"Well, we just happen to have a man who recently took up the mantle of instructor for sword fighting."
Answered Lord Fujioka.
"I prefer my fists but swords work just as well."
Said Reiji.
"...Your training begins tomorrow."
"Good, the shops in the city are about to close anyway…And I'm tired."
With that, Reiji turned and walked out of the shop selling dessert.
The next day.
Reiji was woken up by light streaming through the windows that had a pointed arch.
He got up and opened the curtains. He slept naked since it was the most comfortable option.
"Agh."
He closed his eyes and turned away, blinded by the light.
He then made his way into the closet where he had his suit and his old, bloody clothes.
He put on the old outfit and looked over into the corner of the room where his katana was.
He took it and put it diagonally on his back so the handle would be behind his right shoulder.
He walked out of his room, heading from the temple that was built about a ten minute walk away from Lord Fujioka's mansion.
The temple was also owned by Lord Fujioka and was on his property.
At the temple.
"Where is he?! You said he'd be 'special' or something."
"Please, mister Kurotaka, I'm sure he might've gotten lost."
Answered Lord Fujioka.
"You talking about me?"
Said Reiji as he walked into the temple.
He looked at Lord Fujioka. Beside him was a man sitting on the floor.
He had long black hair tied into a rough topknot, with loose strands.
His face was scarred and hardened, with sharp eyes that show determination and quiet rage.
He had a short beard and mustache.
He wore a battle robe. In his right hand he held a sheathed katana.
He stood up upon seeing Reiji, Lord Fujioka walking past him in a panicked manner.
"Good luck."
He whispered to Reiji as he walked past him.
Reiji turned his head to follow where he was going and when Lord Fujioka turned the corner Reiji looked back at the man with the sword.
"Do you think I'm a joke?"
Asked the man.
"I don't know, that depends on you."
"It was a rhetorical question, dumbass. You kept me waiting here like I'm some kind of clown."
The man said with an angry tone.
He pulled out his katana and readied it, intending to fight Reiji with steel instead of bamboo.
"I got lost but if I knew you were like this, I wouldn't come anyway."
Renji Kurotaka slashed, stopping right before cutting off Reiji's head.
The speed and precision had surprised Reiji.
"...That's one way to spike a heart beat."
Reiji commented, who couldn't even react to the speed of his strike.
He stepped back and pulled out his sword.
"What the hell is that? If that sword could cry, it would. It's chipped and rusted."
The man commented on Reiji's sword.
Reiji attacked only for it to be parried, having a blade against his neck once again.
Kurotaka stepped back and withdrew his sword.
"Any enemies you have taken down probably didn't have any skill. You don't know the basics of sword fighting."
"Well, I've got to say, you just earned my respect, but I'm not calling you master."
"I don't want you too, bloody boy. We'll take care of the basics, then spar with real swords. Training swords won't be enough to humble your ego."
The sun finally went down after a whole day of basic training.
Footwork, swinging a sword, strength training.
Most would be finished but not Reiji. He felt a mild soreness in his arms.
"I see why you're special in the old man's eyes. You've got strength but lack skill."
"What's your name anyway?"
Asked Reiji, sitting on the ground.
"Renji Kurotaka."
"...Wow, don't even bother asking for mine. I think it might kill you because of the sheer effort it takes."
Reiji said in a sarcastic tone.
"I hate smartasses like you."
Reiji didn't respond. He stood up and sheathed his katana.
"I'm leaving."
"Don't bother coming back with an attitude like that."
"Ok, generic swordsmaster."
Reiji commented one last time before leaving the training temple.
"Dumbass…"
Said Kurotaka as he walked to a resting place inside of the temple where he slept and had food already prepared.
He had dinner and laid down on the floor, using his battle robe as a pillow.
The chefs here sure know how to make food, I'll give em that.
That was Kurotaka's final thought before going to sleep.
Lord Fujioka's mansion was a big one even compared to the ones the other nobles had.
It was a complicated building with a lot of secrets, doors, halls, rooms and turns.
Those were the reasons Reiji was currently aimlessly wandering through the halls, trying to find his room.
After a long time, he stopped and sighed.
"I'm lost, damn it."
Reiji walked over to a table with two candles on it.
He put them on the ground and took off his top, using it like a pillow.
As he laid on the table, he kept his katana closely to his chest and fell asleep.