Chapter 141: Zangetsu
(Ryoto's pov)
At home, I talked to Lala about what happened and what my plans for tomorrow were, and she was happy that I finally accepted Alme.
In my room, I planned out my day tomorrow in greater detail.
First thing in the morning, I'll talk with Zangetsu even though I don't want to.
Second, I'll thank Mikado-sensei at school and let her know that I'll cook for her later.
Third, I'll train with Rin my swordsmanship, which will become a daily thing unless something important comes up.
Fourth, I'll go on a date with Alme.
It looks like a good plan for the day.
---
The first thing in the morning, I went to the garden, sat under Celine, summoned Zangetsu, and started meditating.
After about a minute, I was pulled into my inner world.
There Zangetsu was waiting for me with a big smirk.
Zangetsu: "Yo, Jacob!"
I don't want to talk with him, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.
Ryoto: "You know why I'm here, Zangetsu."
Zangetsu: "Sure I do. You want..."
Zangetsu grabbed the sword, and the cloth covering it unraveled itself, showing the naked blade. It has the appearance of a giant white cleaver without any hilt or hand guard.
Zangetsu: "...This! But tell me, why should I give it to you?"
Ryoto: "Because the stronger I am, the better our chance to survive, and if I die, you do as well."
Still, with his signature smirk, he put a hand on his chin.
Zangetsu: "Excellent argument. Yes, very good, but there is one problem with it."
I furrowed my brows.
Ryoto: "Which is...?"
He suddenly rushed at me, which didn't even activate my spider sense. It makes sense that he doesn't trigger it since he is part of me. I still got time to react and block the blade with Haki.
Zangetsu: "I don't care if we die or not!!!"
He was strong enough to push me back, and I crushed into the wall of one of the buildings.
Zangetsu: "Remember that what you want and what I want are totally different things. You want to get stronger to protect people around you, to not make the same mistake!"
He started swinging the sword by the cloth.
Getting out of the wall, I asked.
Ryoto: "...So what do you want?"
Zangetsu: "Not telling!"
He threw the sword at me. I dodged it, and using this moment, I started running up to him, but halfway through, he pulled the cloth to bring back the sword. With this movement, the blade almost cut me, but thanks to my reflex, I bend down in time.
He then slammed the sword down at me and forced me to back down.
There was a distance between us again.
Ryoto: "Do we really need to fight?"
Zangetsu put the giant sword on his shoulder.
Zangetsu: "We don't, but you piss me off."
Ryoto: "Is it because of my past?"
Zangetsu: "You can say that. By accepting that you are Jacob, I'll allow you to wield me."
Ryoto: "*Sigh* Then I'll force you to give me Shikai."
Zangetsu smile widened.
Zangetsu: "Good luck with that."
I opened my eyes, and so did he. His eyes were gold, yellow, and black in color in contrast to mine, which are all blue. They had the same pattern as mine, just a different color. That means that illusions are useless against him.
No water here, so I'll use mainly fire to fight him.
I fired off a big stream of fire and used it to blind him and buy me some time. I started gathering up lighting, but unfortunately, I couldn't see that his smirk widened seeing what I was planning.
Zangetsu raised his sword/ himself? and called his attack.
Zangetsu: "Getsuga... Tenshou!!!"
Hearing what he just said, even without my spider-sense, my instincts were telling me to dodge it at all cost.
I instantly abandoned my attack plan and pushed myself away with flames from the trajectory of the attack, and just moments later, I saw a black slash with red outlines coming right through my fire and was coming fast towards my location.
I barely dodged it, and I instinctively looked at the damage that attack did, but as I shouldn't doing it mid-fight, I returned my gaze at Zangetsu, but the only thing I could see was the palm of his hand as he grabbed my face and before I could try to free myself I felt heat gathering in his hand so as fast as I ould I covered my whole face in Haki before a burst of fire attacked me violently and shoot me backward.
How...?
Zangetsu: "Surprised? You shouldn't be. I'm part of you so, of course, I can do everything you can, but I'm really disappointed. All this power, but you can't use them to their fullest potential."
I got up.
Ryoto: "I'm well aware that I don't use everything to its fullest potential, but I'm constantly working on it."
Zangetsu: "And what? You want a medal for that? You should be very aware of this. The only things that matter are results! You can try, try and try but never succeed, and no one bats an eye, but once you achieve success, everyone around you notices you! Isn't life beautiful!?"
Zangetsu, the whole time was relaxed as he wasn't taking me seriously the entire time. He was waiting for me to move first so he could crush me throughly.
I repelled myself with flames to shorten the distance between us, and to my surprise, he put back his sword to fight me in hand-to-hand combat.
He blocked all of my attacks with ease, and while he deflected one of my punches, he used his/mine power to attach his hand to my arm and threw me to the ground with great strength. To not be too hurt by that, I protected the back of my head and part of my back with Haki.
Using that momentum, he supported his whole body on one arm and delivered a devastating knee to my stomach, and because I had protected myself before, I didn't have time to save myself from his attack this time.
Ryoto: "Guagh!!!"
Zangetsu was looking down on me.
Zangetsu: "See, even without using myself, I can easily win. So now tell me once more, why should I let myself be wielded by someone weaker than me?"
He made a mocking gesture of listening by putting his hand to the ear.
Ryoto: "Fuck you, that's why."
I said weakly but full of spite.
Zangetsu smiled hearing my answer.
Zangetsu: "Seems like you still have some fight left in you, but today's session is over. Bye."
(Zangetsu's pov)
I send away Jacob.
To be honest, I'm proud and, at the same disappointed in him. Is it what being a parent feels like?
???: "Can I come out now?"
Zangetsu: "Sure."
The girl came out behind the building.
???: "Did you need to be so cruel with Jacob?"
Zangetsu: "We both know why I did that."
???: "Because you like to fight?"
Zangetsu: "Exactly!"
I showed her a smile and patted her head. I wouldn't show this side of me to anyone else but her since she is-
???: "Hey, when do you think will be a good time for me to show up?"
She disrupts my thoughts.
Zangetsu: "That depends on Jacob. The faster he accepts his past, the faster you'll meet him."
???: Oh, I have one more question. Do you plan on allowing Jacob to achieve Shikai?"
Zangetsu: "Not at the moment, but who knows if he'll change my mind. Maybe if he is strong enough..."
???: "But strength isn't everything!"
She countered.
Zangetsu: "That's the thing we'll not agree on. For me, strength is everything. Be it physical, mental, or strength of heart, I respect all kinds of strength. If you want to protect someone, you need the power to do so. If you want to win an argument, you need to have the strength of mind to do so. And if you want to win someone else's heart..."
I pointed to my heart.
Zangetsu: "You need to have this strength to do so.
???: "You don't need strength to enjoy life!"
Zangetsu: "Tell that to Jacob, and let's see if he agrees."
She pouted and turned her head.
???: "That's not fair because he is in a situation where he needs strength."
Zangestu: "I can't hear you over the sound of you losing the argument."
She became irritated because of my mocking.
???: "You...!!!"
As she was hitting me without even hurting me, I could only wait and see what Jacob plans on doing.
---
END
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This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢