Hiruko acted normally for the rest of the day. Senshi and I could see how distressed we had made him, but when he had said that that would be all for tonight, he was serious about keeping to this vow. He would say nothing more about this ‘Hyouga’ tribe that he claimed he came from, though Senshi wouldn’t stop.

They each have supernatural powers to control all the water in the atmosphere. There have been stories of them ‘discarding’ members of their clan throughout their history but not for the reason Hiruko gave. A Katana said that they have been known to produce offspring that are born without bones. God-knows how; but nonetheless, these children are left in the woods, so that the people of the tribe did not exactly kill the child, but left them. However, the child is always seen as dead in the eyes of the clan when they are left in the outskirts of the woods. It seems, somehow, Hiruko escaped...

I was surprised by two things; the fact that Hiruko had a history that large, and secondly that Senshi had learned all of this from his Katana brethren.

How can Katana know everything?! I yelled.

There are so many of us, floating in clouds above, that we meet souls that have travelled everywhere. A few of the Katana had seen the Hyouga or had been a part of them.

As Senshi spoke, I realised an important aspect of the tribe. Senshi, is the tribe made up of cats, other animals or humans? How could Hiruko be born into a tribe made of humans, or let’s say, a group of bears? He may have other secrets, than this one alone..?

Senshi paused and I could hear him sighing for a few seconds. I regret to inform you Aaron, that the Hyouga tribe is made up purely of humans. I think you might be right. Hiruko has other secrets...or this is purely a convoluted lie, even though Hiruko does not seem to be one to lie.

I sighed and paused. So Hiruko was born into a strictly-human society, without bones, without being human, and was then left in the outskirts of the woods to fend for himself, then suddenly came to the Soul Tower and became a General...with bones?

Well, said Senshi, that is correct, based on the information we have...whether or not it’s the right information...well, we don’t know.

But it doesn’t seem right, Senshi. First of all, how could he have been born? Secondly, how could he have survived without bones, and lastly, how could he end up with them in the end? There’s definitely a missing link. ...But what?

Well, Aaron. That’s for us to squeeze out of Hiruko.

I groaned. How long would this take? According to Hiruko, we now had less than nine days to finish my training and to gain my trust of him. Whether or not Hiruko would cooperate and ‘spill the beans’ on his past life...well, that was a completely different matter.

We’ll never make it....do you think Hiruko knows when those three guys are going to strike? There must be a reason that he’s making this so quick....

I could hear Hiruko’s voice from the terrace, like a bell, calling his student to his training.

Alright...let’s drop this until later... Senshi agreed and I walked to the side door, stepping lightly onto the terrace without a word.

It’s time to act on impulse, Aaron. Act without thinking and I will lend you my strength. We can only communicate briefly in a real battle, for example: Left! Right!

I’ll do my best, Senshi. I said in reply.

Say this: Power of the Katana Senshi, flow into my flesh and bone so that I may wield his strength with my own!

As I repeated his words, a small smile tinted the corner of Hiruko’s mouth. He looked to the sword and then to me again, and commented with a hint of respect and surprise, “Already, they share a bond with each other...”

There was a flash of silver light as Senshi’s power flared before returning to the sword. The light flowed up to the hilt, and then surrounded my hands until I could feel my entire body stronger with his power.

“I told you, Aaron that there were many things I could not teach you. One of those you have just mastered. However, if you’re going to win a battle, you need to be able to use your sword’s power to the fullest of its abilities. Your sword has techniques that only it can use, along with its holder. For example:” Hiruko reached down to the ground and unleashed his claws. “Kuroi tsuki, strike the sky!”

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Kuroi tsuki? It means black moon…

As he spoke a black ball flew out from Hiruko’s paws, blazing the tree that it hit before it blew up in flames. Within seconds, a pile of ash sat on the terrace floor.

Well, I think that answers our question if his claws were indeed his sword! I exclaimed.

“Most Katana have two abilities. Some though, have only one. One of these two powers is usually weaker but quicker than the second attack. The second one is doubly powerful, but doubly slow. ‘Kuroi tsuki’ is the only of my Katana’s abilities. It may be that neither you nor your Katana know of your abilities, though I doubt it. To unleash such an ability you must fight with your Katana.” I would have objected, but the look on Hiruko’s face was extremely serious.

He means that, doesn’t he? Senshi asked. I grunted in response and stepped forward to ask Hiruko what he meant.

“How can I? The only way that Senshi has a corporeal form is in my dreams!”

Hiruko smiled, and nodded his head before explaining, “Yes. Senshi is able to call you to his world. There will be two weapons there. You each choose one and attempt to kill each other.”

What is with that fur-ball?! Senshi screamed.

“Whoever takes a hit first loses. Senshi’s soul has these abilities trapped inside of him. By creating a rift in his soul, by slicing him, these abilities will be able to escape and, with practice, you will be able to use them in battle. You will be dreaming, Aaron. Although it seems very real, you are dreaming. If you have ever dreamt of fighting someone to the death, when you wake, they are still very much alive. That will happen if you are able to hit Senshi. However, if you lose, you will not be able to access these powers.” Hiruko turned to look at Senshi. “And you are unable to go easy on him, for then your abilities will be weaker than what they are.”

I could hear Senshi sigh in my mind. But you suck without me...

I laughed out loud, but Hiruko said nothing, sure that I was laughing at my sword. And you are a piece of metal, unable to move, stuck in the clouds with a bunch of swords without me!

Then I guess we need each other!

“So Hiruko, I just have to fall asleep? But I take hours to fall asleep in the daytime!”

“That’s alright, Aaron. We’ll be training for a few hours. After I work you to the bone, you’ll be tired enough, don’t you think?” He smiled at my face and ran to the other side of the terrace.

Senshi moaned, and added with disgust, So he’s going to wear us down? How original...

“Alright! Come at me!” Hiruko yowled.

I smiled.

Oh, we’ve learned from that one!

“Do you really think a taunt like that,” I bent my knee, ready for him, “will lure me to you, and above all things, that the same trick will work on me twice?”

Hiruko grinned at me and grunted, “I know an Aaron that would have run at me screaming and within seconds, my claws would have found his neck.”

I drew Senshi to my side and as Hiruko ran, I slid across the pavement and pushed him out, catching Hiruko’s front legs. However, he used this to his advantage and flipped up as I tried to flip him down. He landed behind me, but I had already turned. I used my right hand to strike out, narrowly missing his chest. Hiruko stepped back, panting.

“You’re getting good.” I didn’t reply and did a two-handed attack as he turned, cutting his back lightly. I lowered my sword, thinking I had won. In an instant he had hit my shins and I fell. I quickly put out the sword so that the tip of the blade sat firmly in the ground, leaning on it until I had regained my balance. By this time, Hiruko had recovered. I drew Senshi from the ground, straightening my leg out and holding the sword in front of me. I ran to Hiruko but he dodged.

“You’re such a hot-head.” He scowled as he spoke and bent his head. Quickly he ran, but my legs would not move. Hiruko jumped and sliced through my clothes, his claws running deeply into my flesh. My breathing faltered and I staggered forward.

Up, Aaron! Stay up! I could hear Senshi calling, and I balanced myself. “You’re the hot-head, Hiruko. Feel my blade!” I came at him, and expecting him to jump I would raise my sword, but for now I would keep it low. He took the bait and jumped up towards my sword. His eyes widened but they lowered when he brought his foot to greet my sword. He kicked off it and landed gracefully on the terrace. As he did this I could feel the frustration of everything boiling under my skin. I moved forward suddenly and sliced out while Hiruko was still recovering himself and sliced out, cutting his chest. He gasped out but still stood. He jumped up into the air to attack from there but I easily cut him down because of the size of his body and pressed the sword to his chest.

“You’re also too predictable.”

Hiruko gasped but laughed. “Please don’t sell me short, Aaron.” He looked down and stood up, shaking himself. He placed his paws on the places where I had cut him and they healed. Wiping the blood off himself, he jumped to my shoulder and did the same to my wounds so there was only shredded clothes, and nothing underneath the blood.

I said, “Hmm...you still amaze me, Hiruko.,” as I examined the places where I had felt pain moments before.

“Yes, well, there’s plenty more where that came from.” Hiruko proceeded to walk to the opposite end of the terrace. “And you, Aaron,” he bent his head, a side smile appearing across his face, “should have a lot more power than that.” I snickered and scurried to the end of the terrace.

“Don’t hold back, then.”

****

Senshi’s exhaustion matched my own.

“Ow...” I groaned as I managed to pull myself through the door. At this, I earned a sharp, “Man up.,” from Hiruko.

Glad he can’t hear me! Said Senshi enthusiastically, soon replacing this excitement with a few groans. I guess he didn’t lie when he said he was going to work us hard...

I mumbled, Agreed., in reply. Hiruko proposed food as I dragged my half-dead body to the lounge.

“Can you heal me before I fight Senshi?” I lay on the lounge, Hiruko jumping up and placing a paw on both my body and the sword.

In an instant after Hiruko had left the lounge, I fell into sleep that I was sure would last for days, considering how fatigued both Senshi and I felt. However, I knew Hiruko would have none of it.