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"Ikki." Tashigi turned to look at him with a bright smile. "This is all thanks to your teaching, but I feel like my swordsmanship technique isn't complete yet."
"Not complete? Let show you sothing."
Ikki smiled and drew the Sandai Kitetsu from his waist.
Following the pattern of Tashigi's 'Dancing Blade Cascade' from monts ago, he smoothly executed his own version of the Water Breathing technique.
After just a brief mont of observation, Ikki had already formulated how to perfect the Water Breathing version of Dancing Blade Cascade.
"That's... the sword technique I just perford!"
Tashigi's eyes widened in amazent, her mouth falling open unconsciously.
Nojiko glanced at Tashigi, seeing her surprise, and couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed. She didn't want to ntion that she had also learned Tashigi's sword technique from Ikki—though hers was just the basic version of Dancing Blade Cascade.
Ikki's sword lightly passed over a piece of scrap tal nearby before he returned it to its sheath.
A clean, straight line appeared in the center of the scrap tal before it split apart, revealing a brilliantly smooth cut surface.
"I can't believe the swordsmanship technique I just developed was so easily mastered by Ikki," Tashigi said, looking both impressed and discouraged. "And not just mastered, but perfected."
"I've simply practiced Water Breathing for a longer ti," Ikki replied modestly. "Tashigi, you were able to master Water Breathing and develop your own technique in such a short period. Your swordsmanship talent is truly remarkable."
Ikki walked up to Tashigi, patted her shoulder reassuringly and continued:
"The Eleventh Form of Water Breathing, 'Dead Calm,' focuses on calmness—maintaining stillness while neutralizing attacks around you. The Twelfth Form: Dancing Blade Cascade that you developed emphasizes sharpness and speed. It's sowhat similar to the 'Thunderclap and Flash' in Thunder Breathing."
"Tashigi, if you focus on these aspects when performing it, you can execute Dancing Blade Cascade effectively..."
As he spoke, Ikki carefully explained his insights and thoughts. Tashigi listened attentively, not wanting to miss a single word.
Ten minutes later, Tashigi stood before another piece of scrap tal and executed Dancing Blade Cascade again.
Yubashiri cut through the steel effortlessly, leaving a smooth, clean mark on the surface.
"I did it?" Her voice rose in excitent. "I did it, Ikki!"
Tashigi happily ran to Ikki and embraced him with open arms.
"Thank you, Ikki! I never thought I could cut through steel like this."
"You've entered the Iron-Cutting Realm. With enough practice, you'll be able to cut through steel even without using Water Breathing techniques."
Ikki patted Tashigi on the back and smiled warmly.
From the side, Nojiko glanced enviously at the cleanly-cut steel. Although she was currently stronger than Tashigi overall, Tashigi had surpassed her in the precision of cutting through steel.
"I hate to interrupt," Nojiko said apologetically, "but we need to go, Captain Ikki."
Hearing this, Tashigi quickly released Ikki, her face flushing as she caught Nojiko's knowing smile.
"Well, Tashigi, I'm afraid I have so unfortunate news," Ikki said, his tone becoming more serious.
"Unfortunate news?"
Tashigi turned her head in confusion, then noticed Ikki staring at the Yubashiri in her hand.
Like a flash of understanding, she rembered the conditions Ikki had ntioned when he first entrusted her with Yubashiri.
"Ikki, are you going to take Yubashiri back?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yes, that's right." Ikki rubbed his nose, feeling sowhat sheepish.
Having beco quite familiar with Tashigi, Ikki found himself reluctant to follow through with their agreent. Although they had established from the beginning that he might reclaim Yubashiri later, when the ti ca to do so, he couldn't help feeling a bit uncomfortable. Tashigi had clearly grown attached to the sword.
Sure enough, after hearing his confirmation, Tashigi imdiately pouted.
"I suppose it can't be helped. We did agree to this from the start," she conceded. "And you've taught so much, Ikki."
She handed Yubashiri back to him, but added with determination, "But one day, I'll reclaim both Shigure and Yubashiri together."
Tashigi pursed her lips, turned around, and fixed a resolute gaze on Nojiko.
Nojiko tapped her forehead and looked at Ikki with exasperation. It was Ikki who was taking back the famous sword, so why was she the one facing Tashigi's challenge?
However, when Nojiko glanced down at Shigure on her waist, she could only sigh slightly.
'I suppose it makes sense, given that Shigure is currently in my possession,' she thought.
…
"Tashigi, are you sure you don't want to keep the Sandai Kitetsu?" Ikki asked seriously, extending the sword toward her while Nojiko watched with a resentful expression.
"No, I'm afraid that after giving Sandai Kitetsu, you'll find an opportunity to take it away from again," Tashigi replied. "If that happened, I might be too heartbroken to bear it."
She placed a hand over her heart, casting a mournful look at Yubashiri and Shigure now in Ikki and Nojiko's possession.
This only intensified Nojiko's accusatory stare at Ikki, making him feel increasingly uncomfortable.
Ikki touched his nose, feeling sowhat embarrassed. But after reflection, he understood her perspective. Even accomplished swordsn would struggle with having their prized swords taken away twice in succession—let alone Tashigi, who had such a deep appreciation for legendary blades.
"Very well, I respect your decision," Ikki nodded, his expression turning solemn.
"Tashigi, it's ti for to say goodbye. It may be quite so ti before we et again."
Upon hearing these words, Tashigi's face visibly stiffened.
She looked at Ikki with unmistakable reluctance. Despite him reclaiming her swords twice, she couldn't forget his teachings, their connection, and those monts of subtle chemistry between them.
Tashigi felt a powerful sense of loss. She opened her mouth, wanting to ask Ikki to stay, but couldn't think of any compelling reason. After all, what right did she have to keep him from leaving?
"Tashigi, this is for you," Ikki said softly. "It's a manga I drew during these past ten days. It tells the stories of Tanjiro Kamado and the others."
Ikki took out a book from his pocket and handed it to Tashigi.
She blankly accepted the manga titled 'Demon Slayer: Kitsu no Yaiba,' feeling a warmth spread through her chest.
"Did you draw all of this yourself, Ikki?" she asked, looking up. "Does it continue Tanjiro and Nezuko's story after they returned to the Demon Slayer Corps for training?"
"Yes, I've illustrated the story as I know it, including the continuation you've been curious about," Ikki confird. "But before reading, you might want to prepare yourself emotionally."
Ikki patted Tashigi on the shoulder, exchanged a glance with Nojiko, and then turned to walk toward Loguetown's harbor with his companion.
During their ten days of training, Tashigi had frequently asked about the rest of the Demon Slayer story. Considering that the later chapters involved the deaths of various Hashira from the Demon Slayer Corps, Ikki had withheld those details to avoid affecting Tashigi's training mindset.
But now that he was leaving, that concern no longer applied.
Tashigi pursed her lips, watching Ikki's retreating figure. Suddenly, she ran forward and hugged him from behind.
Before Ikki could react or question her, she released him, clutched the manga tightly to her chest, and ran away.
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