Training pt 3

Azure was acutely aware that time was slipping away, with only a month and a half until the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill event.

the weight of the upcoming event pressed heavily on him, fueling his determination to improve. He dedicated his days to relentless training, balancing his academic learning with Gojo and physical and combat training under Maki's tutelage. But his nightly sessions with Kuro truly tested the limits of his endurance and willpower.

Each afternoon, Azure trained with Maki, honing his swordsmanship. Maki was a relentless instructor, her movements precise and deadly.

She wielded her wooden spear with an expertise that left Azure in awe–– and often on the defensive. 

Their sparring sessions were intense, filled with rapid exchanges of blows. Maki's spear, though wood, felt like an iron rod with every strike. 

She moved like a whirlwind, her spear dancing through the air, keeping Azure constantly on his toes.

Azure, wielding his wooden sword, struggled to keep up. Maki's attacks were relentless, leaving him no room to breathe or counterattack. Whenever he thought he found an opening, Maki would close it with a swift jab or a powerful sweep, knocking him off balance. The sound of their weapons clashing echoed through the training grounds, accompanied by the rhythmic thuds of Azure being knocked to the ground.

*TAK

*TAK

The six decided to take a break all of them sitting close.

Azure, Megumi, and Inumaki sitting on the stairs, while Maki, Panda, and Nobara sat on the floor.

"Carrying cursed tools, huh?" Maki said to Megumi.

"There are indeed advantages to using them in close combat but I like having my hands free considering my curse technique," Megumi said.

"You have one right, Azure?" Megumi asked facing Azure.

"Yeah, it's a katana," Azure said looking at it as it was in its scabbard on his lap.

"It seems like you carry at least two, Zen'in Senpai. Where do you keep them?" Megumi asked Maki.

"I make Panda hold one," She said as Panda showed off the weapon that was around his arm

'I shouldn't;t have asked...' Megumi said blankly staring at the two.

"There are Jujutsu Sorcerers who use cursed spirits to store items as well," Panda said.

"They're really rare, and you rarely see them used... Since it takes a lot to tame them," Maki said.

"Let me know if you find one," Maki told Panda

"Sure, for a year's worth of sausage."

Azure was lost in thought thinking about what happened in the detention center.

"Back then... why did you run?" Sukuna asked.

'did he mean that I had a chance of winning... against a special grade?' Azure thought.

"Tuna Tuna."

"Huh? What?" Maki asked Inumaki

*******

*Night

When night fell, Azure's training entered a different realm. 

After the day's exhausting sessions, he would retreat to the secluded area of the dorm grounds, where the shadows were thick, and the air was still. It was there that Kuro would emerge from the darkness, his form as ominous as the night itself. These sessions were less about physical endurance and more about mental and spiritual resilience.

"Tonight, we will focus on deepening your connection to the darkness," Kuro would begin each session, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through the air. "The power we share is vast, but it is also volatile. To master it, you must learn to become one with it—both in body and soul."

Azure nodded, his muscles already aching from the day's training, but his resolve unwavering. The memory of Yuji, the weight of his failure, drove him forward. He knew that mastering his cursed ability was not just about power; it was about ensuring that he would never lose another friend again.

Kuro started each session with exercises to enhance Azure's control over darkness. He would instruct Azure to manipulate the shadows around him, bending them to his will. At first, it was simple—extending a shadow, forming a tendril—but as the days progressed, Kuro pushed him further, demanding more intricate control.

"Create a dome around yourself," Kuro instructed one night. "Solidify it with your will, make it impenetrable."

Azure closed his eyes, focusing on the darkness within and around him. He reached out with his mind, feeling the shadows respond to his call. Slowly, they began to swirl around him, forming a dome. But keeping the structure intact was like trying to hold water in cupped hands. The darkness pulsed, shifting with every breath, threatening to collapse.

"Focus," Kuro's voice cut through his concentration. "Do not let it waver. The darkness is as much a part of you as your blood. Command it."

Azure gritted his teeth, his brow furrowed in concentration. He could feel the strain on his mind, the pull of the shadows resisting his control. But he pushed harder, drawing on his determination, his anger at his weakness, and his fear of losing more people he cared about. The dome solidified, the shadows becoming denser, more tangible.

"Good," Kuro acknowledged, though there was no warmth in his praise. "But now, maintain it while moving. A stationary defense is useless."

Azure opened his eyes, sweat trickling down his temples. Moving while maintaining the dome felt impossible, but he knew Kuro wouldn't ask if it wasn't something he could achieve. Slowly, he began to take a step, feeling the dome tremble with the movement. His breath hitched, and the dome started to waver, but he forced himself to calm down, to breathe steadily.

Step by step, Azure moved within the dome, the shadows quivering but holding. The strain on his mind was immense, every fiber of his being focused on maintaining the structure. But he pushed through, driven by the need to prove himself, to Kuro, to his friends, and most importantly, to himself.

When the dome finally collapsed, Azure fell to one knee, panting heavily. His vision blurred with exhaustion, but there was a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. He had done it, even if only for a few moments.

"You're improving," Kuro observed, his tone still measured but less harsh.

"But do not let small victories make you complacent. We have much more to cover."

Kuro then moved on to teaching Azure how to use his intangibility more effectively. This power required Azure to let go of his physical form, to become one with the shadows entirely. It was a difficult concept, one that required immense concentration and a deep connection with the darkness.

"Intangibility is not about disappearing," Kuro explained.

"It's about becoming nothing. To phase through solid matter, you must erase your presence, your existence from this plane, if only for a moment. It's a dangerous technique, but one that will make you untouchable if mastered."

Azure practiced this relentlessly, night after night. He started by phasing his hand through a solid object, feeling the strange sensation of passing through something as though it weren't there. The first attempts were clumsy, with his hand getting stuck halfway or the object shattering from the incomplete intangibility. But as he practiced, the transitions became smoother, the effort required lessening slightly.

Kuro noticed somebody coming near them recognizing it was one of Azure's allies he didn't go into protective mode.

"Azure," Gojo called out.

Azure looked behind him and saw Gojo walking up to him.

"Gojo sensei..." Azure murmured as he said hello.

"Let's go," Gojo smiled.

"Huh?" Azure asked confused.

Kuro landed on Azure's shoulder.

"I know you've been practicing your cursed energy out here, and you've been doing a great job with Kuro's help," Gojo smiled.

"That's why I want to show you something, Let's go on a field trip to... A high-end Jujutsu battle." Gojo smiled.

"I'll teach you about... Domain Expansion."