Gintama; Takasugi X Reader (part 2) [Save Me]

Chapter 17 {Y/N}

Now I finally realize that I must pass whatever the Naraku leader plans for me at whatever the cost. I doubt they'd simply return me back home.

One glance at his master, Komu charges.

I toss away the scabbard and take his blow, then jerk backward just in time he slices the air few inches from my face. Using the time, I swing my sword across but he jumps away.

Komu still maintains a bored look throughout our clash. I avoid him by dropping to the floor as his blade pieces through the fabric of my kimono at my arm. I scramble back up only to hold his attack straight to my face.

My grip on the hilt wavers for a second before I tighten it and push pass Komu's defense. The tip of the weapon tears at his clothes and from his look, my blade seems to reach his flesh.

We clash again and again with each time receiving cuts. He strikes while I block. We keep onto this procedure until I almost wait for him to recover from a deep cut at his shoulder. His heavy breaths an imitation of mine. Though when he casts a glance to the window, his breaths stop cold.

The look Utsuro gives us alone is enough to stop the flow of my blood. "Have you been training her only to block attacks?" His words directing to Komu.

     "My apologies," he says through clenched jaw. His master peers down at him like he's some kind of a low insect.

I turn to Komu, confused. "No, he didn't." I hear myself say over the tensed atmosphere. "He taught me more than that."

Surprise clouds over his expression at my support. Despite his flaw of rigorousness and impatience, Komu really intended to train me. He did all he could and I can clearly see that. Recalling of the past weeks alone makes me wince.

     "Oh?" Utsuro's amused tone jars my thought. "Well then."

I adjust my grip of the weapon. At Komu's still vagued face, I surge toward him.

He releases a startled cry at the sudden attack. Through his moves and attacks, I notice that his strength is slowly diminishing. He's exhausted while I remain normal. All of my cuts have completely healed comparison to Komu's bloodied form.

I push forward a step when our blades cross. Then I summon a kick to his leg, jarring his focus and send his blade flying across the room. He stares at me, distrait with pants.

I want to stop. But before I manage to get a word out, Komu proceeds go retreat his sword.

     "Y/N." My skin crawls at the sound my name on Utsuro's lips. "You don't wait for your opponent to retrieve his weapon when there's chance."

Komu stops short on his steps, looking at his master wide-eyed.

     "But this is just-" My mouth instinctively shuts at the leader's bloodshot eyes. Every flow of his blood in my body screams for me to obey its master's demand.

Before I realize, the distance between Komu and I closes within a second. My hand moves on its own and brings the sword to find his throat.

I snap to my senses at the last second and halt the blade from severing my partner's head. My breaths heavy as Komu remains dead still, blood tickling from where the blade touches his throat.

I stagger away from him, dropping my hand back to my side. Just when I recede enough for air to brush across us, Utsuro comes flying at me with his blade unsheathed.

My heart skips a beat when his face flashes before my eyes. I jump away, missing a blow. "What are you doing?" My voice merely a breath.

Utsuro simply smiles and says, "The test is only beginning." And he launches toward me.