*Timeskip- 1 Month*
*Snow-White Forest*
It is a rare sunny day in the middle of the winter, with clear skies, the birds chirping, and a cool breeze blowing through the forest, the leaves rustling, creating a calm atmosphere, only to be broken by the winds created by the swings of swords, yells of a child, and the authoritative instructions of a young adult man.
"Remember, while swinging your blade, make sure to always watch your footing and balance. You might be swinging your sword with your arms, but do not think that the power behind that swing comes from them. It is the lower body that provides the power. Your arms only provide the direction and control of your swing."
Isshin had started teaching Mio on how to fight, or rather, he had started teaching her how to swing a sword, continuously for last 2 weeks.
*Flashback 1 month ago: Pirate Ship Deck*
"Master, let's start training! I want to get stronger, like you!" Mio cried out, holding her bicep as she posed, wanting to get stronger.
"Not yet, little one. Your body has been too damaged by the cold and malnutrition."
"Mal... nitrion? What is that?" she questioned, never having heard such complicated terms as she hadn't received much education yet.
"Malnutrition. It means that your body doesn't have the things it needs to grow. You need to start eating healthily, and once your wounds have been healed, then we can start training."
"Mouuuu... then how long will it take?"
"Who knows? It all depends on how you take care of yourself. You need to rest, so that your body can take it easy and heal quickly. If you keep jumping like that, and keep refusing to eat your greens, it will take longer for your body to heal and grow." Isshin replied, remembering how Mio had a visible dislike at eating green vegetables when they were in the forest, reluctantly eating them, because of her hunger, and because she thought that it would be too rude of her to refuse the food given to her by her saviour.
"Bweh!" she put her tongue out.
"But I don't like eating them! Especially broccoli!" she said, shivering with disgust while remembering that horrible taste she wanted to never try again.
"Kuhaha! No buts! You have no choice in this matter. You should also start drinking more milk, you will need it for bones to grow strong." Isshin reprimanded her, before remembering seeing a couple of goats in the village.
'I will need also need to hunt for meat in the forest for her to eat. Protein is of utmost importance during growth, afterall, those crazy scientists called them the "building blocks of life" when I used to rule Ashina.
They had setup an experiment with 2 battalions of soldiers to test the effects of protein on the body, and had found out after a couple of months that those who consumed more of this "protein" We're physically stronger than those who did not consume it.
Although, I should make sure not to overdo it. I doubt she would want to look like a macho in the future.' he made a mental note to himself.
*Flashback Ends*
2 weeks after that day, she wounds had recovered, and she was ready to start some light training.
"One can only become a good fighter if their foundation is built properly." he lectured, as Mio swung her mini bamboo katana, an action she had repeated so many times, that she had lost count.
"Ok that's it for today! Finish your stretches and go for a jog to cool down before getting back to eat you meal." He spoke, as he carried 2 bamboo swords, one of regular size, and one mini size in his arms, as he turned and walked towards the camp they had setup, in a circular clearing in the woods, where there stood a small, crude wooden cabin, with firewood stacked on the side, and a fireplace outside, for cooking and for keeping warm, along with a stump of a previously cut tree, with a woodcutting axe stuck into it.
This was where they had stayed for the past 2 weeks. The initial plan was to live on the Pirate ship, but it was too far to live, to travel so much distance everyday to get to their training spot in the forest, and thus, Isshin decided to set up camp inside of the forest, albeit, in the Outskirts where it is safe, free from any dangerous predators lurking in the deeper parts of the woods.
"Hmmm... what should be today's dinner? Yesterday, we had some hog meat, so maybe today, something light? Maybe just some porridge and vegetables, and some fish? But the fish in storage seems to have run out. It seems I will have to go fishing tomorrow. Kuhaha! It has been a while since I have had some leisure fishing time."
Isshin mused, as he bustled around, setting up the utensils, cutting the vegetables and spices for cooking, throwing wood into the firepit and setting them aflame, reminiscing about the old times during the Revolution, when he and a couple of fools used to surround a bonfire just like this, sharing food and stories and war plans, with the dream of someday freeing Ashina from the Tyrant ruler, brining peace and happiness to the lands.
"All from Another Life" he thought murmured to himself, as he poured some Sake into a cup, watching the beautiful full moon rise into the night sky, the view exactly like it was when he had first woken up in this strange, seemingly cruel world.
"It has been a month... Genichiro, I may not have believed in reincarnation, but if it was real, I pray you have a good, carefree life, without conflict." he muttered under his breath, his gaze turning slightly wistful, as he recalled his little grandson, who had given up everything, even his own life, all to protect Ashina from the the invaders, from the Interior Ministry.
It was unfortunate, that even after sacrificing everything, he was still unable to prevent Ashina from facing her doom, doused in orange flames, wanton destruction throughout her land, as innocent blood was spilt in the tussle of the powerful.
Isshin closed his eyes, calming his turbulent heart, knowing that all of it was in the past, that nothing could change what had happened. All that was left is to live in the present, to prepare for the future.
"Hm? She should have been back by now... it is unlike her to be late for dinner." Isshin felt something was off.
"Aaaaaahhhh!" suddenly, a piercing scream was heard in the woods.
...
A/N: Sorry for not posting a chapter yesterday, was busy with making a website for my team's project. Luckily had some free time today, and was in flow, so the chapter crossed 1100 words.
Also, collections have become nearly nil. So any advice on how to improve that?
Please add the story to your collections and donate your powerstones.