Time: April 3th 2023, 7 am
Location: Outskirts of Japan, at the edge of the Aokigahara forest
Time that has passed since the end of the war: 92 years
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Chapter 1: Father and son
I tie my white hachimaki/bandana around my head as I walk outside to the smithing house with my father. My father always insisted that I wore it even though i looked pretty silly with it on, always saying that it helped with concentration and helped protect our foreheads against sparks and ash and most importantly, that it was tradition. I still found it silly though
My dad was Piisuke Kurogane. He was the most famous swordsmith and a very....enigmatic man to put it politely.
"Jin...have you fed the gold fishes." He said in a gruff voice, his tone made it seem as if not feeding the tiny fishes was the most serious offence I could commit.
"Yes father, exactly 15 grams of fish food" my tone was flat, I had fed them everyday so everything was practiced and frankly.....tediously boring. But i wouldn't trade this life for anything....it was the only life that I truly know
My father's face brightens up and a childish grin came on his face
"Great job, now let's focus on this next sword okay it's very special" He says as he finishes tying his own hachimaki
I always wondered how he could switch personalities so quickly
"That's what you say about all the swords we make" I retort with a deadpan expression on my face
"Kinda hard to see how this one is any different"
He winced at my dismissive tone
"Come on try to be a little excited" he mutters with a pout.
"Why do you always call me Jin.....Grandpa's name" I say to him as we walk.
There was a long silence before he answered
"You remind me of him" His tone carried a hint of sadness but he was smiling.
I didn't say anything back
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Location: Smithing house, 60 metres from the main house
Time: 16:54
We had been working on the sword for hours on end and it looked nearly complete. It was a black sword that had a subtle white silver streak that made it both absorb and reflect light depending on the way you held.
I held the blade in my hands for a long moment before my focus was broken by my father's voice
"A beauty ain't it" he says chuckling as he wipes the sweat from his brow
"Yeah.....it is" I mutter before I sheath the sword and keeping it in a safe place
We take off our aprons and hachimaki before entering back into the house. My father moved into the kitchen to prepare our food. My arms felt sore after hours of meticulously beating the sword into shape. I let out a low groan as i roll my shoulders trying to relax the joints
"Are your arms hurting" he asks as he walks in back with a plate of rice balls
"Nah.....they're fine" I say not looking at him
Before he could press any further, someone walks into the house. The persom was familiar, a tall man with white hair, black pants and white T-shirt. He was an old friend of my father
"Oh Mr Taro....you didn't tell us you were coming....or told us when you entered....again" I say looking up at him. He visited quite often.
"Yeah Taro, you should learn to knock" my father said as he munched on a rice ball.
"Sorry sorry I brought gifts" he said as he handed a bag to me
"Looking good Issei, as usual". Issei was my real name
We all sat down at the dinner table, my father was doing the dishes nearby.
"You've grown so much Issei, I can believe you're 14 already" he said as he fed the goldfish pieces of bread, I just hoped that he wouldn't kill them by accident.
"Yeah" I mumble as I eat a rice ball
"I was watching you guys while you were forging the sword, your dad's a great teacher you know, he also learnt from his father. During the Shadotai war , your grandfather's name was known even more than those who fought in it, the swords he made were more important than the people who wielded them. You have to remember that, he saved a lot of people and now your father is following in his footsteps and you should too".
I cross my arms and put them on the table as i chuckle quietly
"I have heard that story hundreds of times" I say with a smile
"You seem happy to listen to it again and again...keep working hard and you'll be just like your dad" he says while pointing at me
"Yeah I've heard that a hundred times too"
My father stood in the kitchen quietly.....to quietly
After a while, Mr Taro left, leaving the both of us alone again
My dad stared into the distance for a moment before tilting his head to the side, his expression was a combination of annoyed and melancholic
"What's wrong father" I say feeling sightly anxious
He replied with a low tone
"You're gonna be fifteen soon.....if you're gonna become a true master swordsmith, you have to learn the some of the less joyful parts of this craft and I'll teach you"