Two Swords

-When was the first time he crossed swords with Kuroh?

He sparred with Kuroh plenty of times. Sometimes even five times a day. These spars weren’t anything like the traditional ones Kuroh did with their master. These were real fights that took place outdoors. It didn’t matter if it rained or snowed. After all, there is no meaning to a sword that loses its edge depending on the time or place.

Yukari showed no mercy. Because it wasn’t beautiful to do so. Sure, he might play around occasionally, but even then he pulls no shots. The same goes for his att.i.tude towards Kuroh. Even if it was in the middle of spar, Yukari wouldn’t hesitate to exploit any opening that Kuroh showed, and on more than one occasion, ended up injuring Kuroh that way.

His master chided him for that, but he paid it no heed. Yukari hated getting a lecture from anybody. Plus, Kuroh can just stop playing with Yukari if he really minded it. After all, it was Kuroh’s choice to keep going.

And he did.

Kuroh never cried, never let a single word of complain slip through his mouth.

Because he knew there was a huge gap in their abilities, almost to the point of despair. He wanted to shorten that distance by even one millimeter, to catch up to Yukari even a second sooner. And that’s good. Someone aiming for newer heights is certainly a beautiful sight.

However-

“Geez, Kuroh-chan. What have I been telling you? There’s a fine line between courage and recklessness, and you just crossed that line. That’s why you’re suffering like this.”

He once said those words while looking down at Kuroh, who was sprawled on the ground in agony after suffering a swift strike to his abdomen.

Kuroh was curled up in a ball and fighting a coughing fit. Yet he still found the strength to look up at Yukari.

“There was no way I could’ve landed a hit on you otherwise, brother*.”

It’s true. Kuroh swung his wooden sword, paying no heed to his own safety, and came closer than ever to hitting Yukari. Even though Kuroh’s blow was deflected and he himself suffered a devastating counterattack, that was probably the best shot he had during all of their sparring sessions so far, all things considered.

Yukari shrugged and tossed the wooden sword in front of Kuroh.

“You’re only fine because we’re using these toys. If we were fighting with real swords, you’d be dead by now.”

“But-”

“Or do you want to kill your opponent so much that you’d sacrifice your own life?”

All blood drained from Kuroh’s face.

Yukari let out a small sigh. He asked a question that couldn’t be answered. Kuroh’s actions were simply borne from childish recklessness, of course he wouldn’t have thought that far.

As expected, Kuroh muttered quietly after a long moment of hesitation.

“I…just want to become stronger.”

“I see.”

Yukari won’t deny that. Trying to become stronger is the right thing to do. Because weaklings can’t protect anyone nor obtain anything. If you want to do anything in this world, you’ll need strength.

However, Yukari followed up with another question.

“Why do you want to become stronger?”

“To support Ichigen-sama.”

There was no doubt in his answer. Kuroh’s unwavering gaze was as genuine as his words.

But Yukari looked back at him coldly. He never asked the next question that came to mind.

-So tell me, what will you do once Ichigen-sama dies?

He already knew the answer to that question - there is none. Kuroh never even imagined that Ichigen would be gone one day. There’s no way he thought about what to do once that day arrives.

It’s not beautiful to ask unnecessary questions, after all.

Yukari remained silent. He turned his back to Kuroh and walked away.

“Brother?”

“No more sparring for today. Make sure you clean up this mess.”

“Y-yes! Thank you for your guidance!”

Hearing those words of grat.i.tude resound behind him, Yukari could feel the corner of his mouth lifting into a bitter smile.

This happened one month before Mishakuji Yukari turned his sword against the Colorless King, Miwa Ichigen.

(*Kuroh refers to Yukari as 兄上(aniue), a really formal way of addressing an older brother, but also used to address someone who’s a disciple under the same master with more seniority.)

-

-Well then, was that the first time?

Yukari thought to himself as he swung “Ayamachi”, the beloved sword bestowed upon him by his master.

-No, I’m sure that’s not it.

Kuroh held a wooden sword and stood before him to protect Ichigen. It looked like a newly born fledgling trying to take a stand against a raptor - it was painful to watch, and there was nothing beautiful about it. However, they never actually crossed swords as Ichigen stepped in. If Ichigen never stopped Yukari, he surely would’ve killed Ichigen’s younger disciple without mercy.

-Then maybe the next time?

Yukari thought to himself as he dodged the tip of “Kotowari”, the treasured sword left behind by his master.

-Yes, that’s right.

In the incident revolving around Kushina Anna before she awakened as the Red King, Yukari fought Kuroh as a member of