Weeks turned into months as Keitaro embarked on a whirlwind tour of Nepal. His primary mission was to exorcise cursed spirits and hone his skills, but he had a new purpose woven into his routine - expanding Akane's mental library.
He visited bustling marketplaces, serene mountain monasteries, and ancient, crumbling temples. Akane, who was ever curious, accompanied him on most journeys. They revisited familiar locations, allowing the kitsune to solidify her memories and refine her understanding of these places. With each visit, her licks of affection became increasingly frequent, a silent expression of her gratitude.
One day, after a rigorous training session with Master Tenzin, Keitaro muttered to himself, with frustration evident in his voice, "Still no way to bypass that Infinity technique..." Akane perked up and emitted a series of sharp barks that seemed to translate to, "What about Domain Amplification?"
Keitaro sighed, "Yeah, I know, it's an option. But when I activate domain amplification, I'm practically crippled. Most of my techniques go offline. I need something more subtle, something that can slip past that cursed shield without resorting to being unable to access my techniques."Akane tilted her head, her gaze flickering as if considering something. Then, a series of sharp barks erupted from her throat, seemingly mimicking, "What about that weird weapon that assassin guy was using?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Keitaro's face. "Oh, the Inverted Spear of Heaven? Gojo destroyed it after... well, let's just say it triggered some bad memories for him." He chuckled nonchalantly, then a sudden realization dawned on him. "Wait a minute, how do you know about that? You weren't my contracted Shikigami back then."
Silence. Then, a voice, ethereal and feminine, echoed directly within Keitaro's mind. "I saw it in your dreams."He whipped his head towards Akane, confusion clouding his expression. What was happening? "It worked?! You can hear me? Yay!" The voice, however, was far from ethereal now. It was a jumbled mess of excitement, a mix between a toddler's coo and a teenager's squeal.
Keitaro, piecing things together, remembered Akane's illusionary prowess. He turned back to his furry companion, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Using your illusion to create the illusion of telepathy, huh? Clever girl."Akane, her tail swishing excitedly, gave a single, smug bark. "Master is so smart!" the voice echoed once more in his head, laced with childish pride.
Akane, her head cocked thoughtfully, tilted her gaze towards Keitaro. A series of sharp barks echoed in the room, translating roughly to, 'What about Master's spinning ball technique?'
Keitaro furrowed his brow, a flicker of recognition sparking in his eyes. Right, his spinning cursed energy orb! He vaguely recalled a part of it managing to bypass Gojo's Infinity during their previous encounter. The memory was hazy, but Akane's sharp mind had clearly picked up on that crucial detail.
However, there was a catch. While it did manage to slip past Gojo's initial defense, it lacked the necessary power to fully breach Infinity. It was like a pebble trying to break through a reinforced steel wall.
Undeterred, Keitaro rose to his feet, a determined glint in his eyes. With a practiced motion, he channeled his cursed energy, condensing it into a miniature orb in his palm. He meticulously crafted a small seal, barely a millimeter thick, around the orb, further focusing the energy within. This was the core of his technique, a bootleg Rasengan fueled by his own cursed energy.
Then came the crucial part - imbuing the orb with more power. He pushed his cursed energy, willing it to surge through the miniature seal, causing the orb to spin with increasing velocity. The air crackled with raw energy, a miniature storm brewing in his hand. It was a painful process, the raw energy threatening to tear through his own flesh. This was uncharted territory, pushing the limits of his technique and his endurance.
But just as the orb reached a critical point, a blinding flash erupted, followed by a loud bang. The bootleg Rasengan had detonated prematurely, exploding harmlessly in his hand. A stinging pain shot through his singed fingers, a testament to his failed attempt.
Despite the setback, Keitaro remained undeterred. He stared at his throbbing hand, a resolute fire burning in his eyes. "I'll get it eventually," he muttered, his voice laced with determination.
A soft, reassuring voice echoed in his mind, Akane's youthful enthusiasm evident. 'I am sure Master will!' she chirped, her unwavering belief a source of comfort and motivation.
Keitaro just grinned upon looking at his Kitsune compagnion, sometime she was just the cutest, he patted her head and she let out some soft purr.
She seemed to enjoy the act of being patted.
"Oh...i almost forgot, i promise Gojo to buy him some souvenir" Keitaro said with a thoughful expression on his face as Akane just looked at him before she made some noise which were translated to his mind.
'buy him sweets...he love sweets doesnt he'