Demon Sword Maiden
Demon Sword Maiden - Chapter 183: CHAPTER 28 – SHIMIZU’S TRAINING PARTNER

Tokugawa Shigetsugu鈥檚 expression morphed into an unsightly one. He didn鈥檛 even place a few teachers of the dojo in his eyes because of the influence his Tokugawa family held. Yet he didn鈥檛 dare to act up against Genji Shimizu.

No matter what kind of family background Tokugawa Shigetsugu had, strength reigned supreme in the dojo. If he got handled by Shimizu because of his lack of skill, he would only get reprimanded if he were to complain to his father.

After all, the Duke of Kamakura attached much importance to the current number one talent among the younger generation. Tokugawa didn鈥檛 have the background or strength to contend against her. They were poles apart. Hence, he could only give up and not act rashly.

鈥淵-You have it wrong, Lady Shimizu. This is a misunderstanding. I was just challenging Kondo to a duel between men! Kondo, do you dare duel with me at the dojo tomorrow? You better not cower like a coward if you鈥檙e a man. The loser will have to stay away from Ms. Kagami!鈥?Tokugawa pointed at Kondo in a fury.

Tokugawa wasn鈥檛 an idiot. He had cleverly obscured the truth with the so-called 鈥榙uel between men.鈥?Even Shimizu couldn鈥檛 interfere in such a duel between samurai.

鈥淗ah! I would have let you off if it were for something else, but I won鈥檛 back down in any matters involving Lady Kagami. A duel, it is then!鈥?Kondo stated assertively, a far contrast with his usual scholarly mannerisms.

Lily narrowed her eyes. Although Senior Kondo appeared smart, it looks like things are moving in Tokugawa鈥檚 favor. Tokugawa is obviously inciting him, but maybe Kondo has a reason for not backing down? Is it because of me?

Although Lily felt a little guilty about this troublesome matter, she too was helpless about it.

She could only whisper to Kondo, 鈥淪enior Kondo, please don鈥檛 fall for Tokugawa鈥檚 provocation. I鈥檓 fine.鈥?/p>

However, Kondo looked at Lily affectionately and brimmed with infinite power, 鈥淢s. Kagami, my fight with Tokugawa is a duel between men and not just for you. You needn鈥檛 say much.鈥?/p>

A duel between men? For me? Maybe I am part of the reason.

Lily felt a little powerless about this, too, as the blame fell entirely on her beauty for inviting this disaster.

This wouldn鈥檛 impress her, yet it seemed like she couldn鈥檛 prevent it and could only pray silently for Kondo to win.

鈥淢s. Kagami, shall we leave?鈥?Shimizu clearly had no interest in the so-called struggles youthful men went through for women.

鈥淪igh鈥?Sure鈥︹€?Even Lily had no interest in this, so she left along with Shimizu while feeling bittersweet emotions. No one dared to stop them.

Lily followed Shimizu gloomily as they walked through the secluded, verdant surroundings.

鈥淧ardon me鈥︹€?After pondering on it, Lily still felt uneasy.

鈥淗mm?鈥?Shimizu paused.

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 aware of your identity, Lady Shimizu. I- it was arrogant of me to talk back to you. I also overestimated my abilities and challenged you. If you hadn鈥檛 held back, I might have got hurt for sure.鈥?/p>

Lily had realized that Shimizu hadn鈥檛 used her full power in their duel just before. She had slightly revealed her real skill with that last attack, and that alone had sent Lily flying.

Shimizu yet smiled calmly in response, 鈥淒on鈥檛 say that. I heard Ms. Kagami hasn鈥檛 trained swordsmanship for long. I believe you are very talented, especially after that last attack. Setting aside your strength and technique, just the courage and decisiveness you displayed at that crucial moment had surpassed my predictions. Ms. Kagami, in the entire dojo, you alone are someone I find pleasing to my eyes. You鈥檙e much better than that Tokugawa and that fellow from Omi.鈥?

鈥淟ady Shimizu鈥?you鈥檙e referring to Kondo?鈥?Lily murmured.

Following Shimizu, she had arrived at the two lodgings beside the lake.

鈥淗ow about we have a proper chat at my place?鈥?/p>

鈥淎h? S-Sure.鈥?Lily replied timidly.

They arrived at Shimizu鈥檚 residence across the lake from Lily鈥檚. An aromatic scent hit her when they entered the house, but this fragrance differed from the womanly scent in Lily鈥檚 room. This was rather鈥?a blend of medicinal incense.

The maid felt surprised when she saw Shimizu return along with an unfamiliar woman in tow, yet she prepared tea somewhat jovially. 鈥淟ady Shimizu has finally brought a friend home to play with.鈥?/p>

The duo arrived atop the lakeside pavilion and took seats opposite each other in a seiza. The cool breeze from outside, the serene waters, the cloudy mid-autumn skies 鈥?this picturesque scene of the lakeside pavilion portrayed a unique rustic feel.

When the maid brought out the tea set, Lily felt that it was an exquisite piece of work and an absolute rarity.

Shimizu took the lead to make tea for Lily.

鈥淧lease, Ms. Kagami.鈥?/p>

鈥淭hank you.鈥?/p>

Lily picked up the teacup and sampled it slightly. Tea told much about the maker. Inside this elegant, lukewarm tea laid the slight aloofness that made up Shimizu鈥檚 core personality.

鈥淚 wonder if you could allow me to prepare a cup of tea for you too, Lady Shimizu?鈥?/p>

鈥淥h? Ms. Kagami is also proficient in tea ceremonies?鈥?/p>

鈥淎s if. Although I鈥檓 not that proficient in it, I鈥檝e learned it a bit.鈥?/p>

Lily also prepared a cup of tea for Shimizu conscientiously. In the end, her intent had condensed into sakura blossoms formed of spirit power and scattered within the tea.

This amount of skill had actually lit up the eyes of the always expressionless Shimizu.

She received it with much expectation, and courteously finished it with three sips.

Placing the cup down, although she had a steady gaze, Shimizu looked at Lily with slightly furrowed brows.

鈥淎h鈥?Lady Shimizu, perhaps my tea isn鈥檛 to your tastes.鈥?/p>

Shimizu remained silent for a while, then looked at Lily solemnly, 鈥淢s. Kagami鈥?your tea brought along the flavor of sakura with it. At first, I experienced the same feeling you gave me, refreshing pureness that also possesses a rich sweetness. But鈥?the aftertaste surprisingly contained a trace of grief鈥?I cannot fathom it, Ms. Kagami. Why does the tea of someone like you, who has flawless looks and figure, a healthy body, literally a woman brimming with feminine charm, contain such grief in it?鈥?/p>

鈥淗ah?鈥?Lily felt shocked by Shimizu鈥檚 unexpectedly sharp senses. She had just poured her heart and soul into making tea. Yet, the feeling hidden deep within her heart had affected the process and inadvertently blended a little bitterness into the perfect tea.

鈥淔orgive me鈥?Lady Shimizu.鈥?/p>

鈥淧lease. Although your tea had a slight bitterness in its sweetness, it only enriched the flavor with grace. I鈥檓 fond of it, but I just don鈥檛 understand鈥︹€?/p>

Shimizu advanced forwards a little and raised Lily鈥檚 hand before lowering her head slightly to take a deep sniff of Lily鈥檚 palm.2

鈥淗uh? Lady Shimizu鈥?W-What are you doing?鈥?Lily鈥檚 palms were pretty sensitive, so this action had spooked her.

鈥淚鈥檓 just bewildered. Why is the tea prepared by such a healthy girl accompanied by grief鈥?鈥?/p>

Lily鈥檚 gaze turned melancholic, 鈥淓ven if someone has a healthy body, it鈥檚 hard to change tragedy wrought by fate. It鈥檚 inevitable for the heart to feel grief when faced with such helplessness.鈥?/p>

Shimizu鈥檚 slightly warm breath hit Lily鈥檚 palm. Then she raised her head to examine Lily anew meticulously, 鈥淢s. Kagami, please excuse me for my behavior this morning. I ended up disrespecting you a tad bit. A vast difference exists in the time we have invested in training, and our circumstances also differ by a lot. I should not have bullied you.鈥?/p>

鈥淎h? As if. I鈥檝e benefited a lot from Lady Shimizu鈥檚 instruction. Normally, it would have been impossible for me to exchange blows with such an expert.鈥?/p>

鈥淗eh.鈥?Shimizu smiled faintly.

鈥淟ady Shimizu, why are you smiling?鈥?/p>

鈥淢s. Kagami, can I call you Lily?鈥?Shimizu鈥檚 voice became softer than usual by a lot.

鈥淪ure鈥︹€?/p>

鈥淟ily, you are truly unfathomable.鈥?/p>

鈥淲hy?鈥?/p>

鈥淵ou鈥檙e obviously so healthy, cheerful, good-natured, and also bountiful.鈥?Shimizu鈥檚 gaze fell on Lily鈥檚 open collar, and that made Lily cover her bosom nervously, making her wonder what that 鈥榖ountiful鈥?was referring to.

Shimizu continued, 鈥淏ut when you speak such emotional words, it makes others perceive you as an enigmatic woman.鈥?/p>

Lily took a sip of tea and felt perplexed about how to answer her. After all, the secret of the mirror and the secret of her senior sister鈥檚 soul weren鈥檛 things she could mention to others.

Time passed quickly as they went deep into the conversation, right until night arrived.

Shimizu shared her past with Lily. Telling her about her frail body in her childhood days that made her fall ill often and how the other healthy girls of the Genji clan looked down on her. Lily couldn鈥檛 help but sympathize with her.

In Lily鈥檚 childhood memories, that is, in her childhood memories as a boy, although he wasn鈥檛 sickly, he had a frail body too. Moreover, he always looked fair and pretty, which made him a target of bullying often.

To think such a genius also had a past like that. Shimizu must have worked hard.

As they chatted, the mood gradually turned harmonious while Shimizu also got closer to Lily. Her voice became softer and gentle. Truthfully, Lily also felt happy talking to her.

鈥淟ily, why don鈥檛 you speak about your past? Where did you grow up? Also, from when you began鈥?growing?鈥?As the night gradually crept up, Shimizu鈥檚 questions shifted from tea ceremonies to childhood memories to intimate content that 鈥榖osom friends鈥?conversed about.

But this put Lily in a bind. She had nothing noteworthy to share, and regarding her 鈥榞rowth,鈥?as she hadn鈥檛 actually experienced it, there was no way for her to share that.

鈥淭hat鈥?I鈥檓 sorry, Lady Shimizu. I-I suffered amnesia before and can鈥檛 recall anything from before arriving at Kamakura.鈥?Left with no other choice, Lily was forced to reply in such a manner.

But Shimizu wasn鈥檛 as careless as Uesugi Rei and looked at all things with a somewhat wise and sharp gaze. She shifted closer to Lily and asked, 鈥淥h my? You鈥檙e making it difficult for Sister Shimizu to believe such a vague reason. Say, perhaps you have some unspeakable secret?鈥?/p>

Lily felt startled by Shimizu鈥檚 words as she really had a secret, that too an unspeakable one.

Lily blushed as she had a relatively simple personality in essence and wasn鈥檛 good at lying.

鈥淟ily, raise your arms and place them behind your head,鈥?Shimizu stated whimsically all of a sudden.

鈥淎h?鈥?Lily felt dazed. Raise my arms? Is Shimizu worried I鈥檓 injured from the bout this morning? Really, with her strength, it鈥檚 entirely possible that I still haven鈥檛 noticed some kind of internal injury she might have left behind. Perhaps she intends to express her goodwill this way? Although she felt puzzled, it wasn鈥檛 appropriate for Lily to refuse.

Therefore, she raised her arms just as Shimizu told her to.

The loose white dojo uniform鈥檚 sleeves slid down Lily鈥檚 fair arms until they exposed her underarms a little, and this made her feel a bit embarrassed.

Before Lily could attempt to cover up, Shimizu nuzzled her straight nose closely at Lily鈥檚 underarm and shockingly took in a breath with her eyes closed.

鈥淢hm鈥?Indeed鈥?It鈥檚 the odor released by a healthy woman post-exercise. Perfect鈥︹€?

Lily鈥檚 face flushed up immediately, 鈥淟-Lady Shimizu, w-what are you doing? Don鈥檛 nuzzle so closely there, it feels weird鈥︹€?

鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing weird about it. Do you know? Although I train with the sword every day, I rarely sweat a lot. We鈥檙e both girls, yet my body is really too different from yours. Therefore, a constitution like yours, which sweats this easily and brims with an odor of youthful, healthy sweat is something I yearn for very much鈥︹€?Saying so, Shimizu snuggled her face closer to Lily鈥檚 underarm with a somewhat enraptured expression, slipped her tongue out, and licked there directly.5

鈥淗yah 鈥撯€?Don鈥檛!鈥?That sudden cold yet warm, wet sensations from Lily鈥檚 overly sensitive underarm made her subconsciously evade and lower her arm. However, she still felt the phantom sensations of that moistness, and this made her feel ashamed to death.

How come Lady Shimizu appeared so dignified and graceful yet ended up putting out such a graceless act after chatting? And what鈥檚 wrong with this body? Why are other women so fond of it?6

It seemed like Shimizu relished in the aftertaste of Lily鈥檚 flavor. Her eyes lit up as brightly as the stars as she stated, 鈥淟ily, that Tokugawa鈥檚 group tried to extort you before, right? Although he changed the topic to deceive me, how could I fail to see through it with how they usually act within the dojo. It will be difficult for a girl so pretty and delicate like you to resist them alone. How about鈥?you become my training partner? This way, they won鈥檛 dare to disturb you again.鈥?/p>

鈥淗ah? Training partner?鈥?Lily wasn鈥檛 too clear about what this so-called training partner implied according to the Heian customs.

Shimizu saw the doubt in Lily鈥檚 eyes and took a sip of tea calmly. She then looked at the ripples of water in the night scene outside the window. She explained slowly, 鈥淎 training partner is actually just a title within the dojo. It can be someone of the opposite gender or the same gender. Actually, the seniors and juniors of this dojo form pairs and train together frequently. They compare notes with each other, test their mettle with swordsmanship, research secret skill books, and interact through appreciation of poems, paintings, and tea. The journey of training is lonely and fraught with danger. It puts a lot of pressure on a person. Through training in rapport, the partners mutually inspire each other. Whether it be to protect each other or to advance their skills through training exchanges, both are beneficial for partners. It鈥檚 just that in this entire dojo, you alone are qualified to train together with me, Lily.鈥?/p>

Pausing for a while, Shimizu continued, 鈥淎nyway, Lily, don鈥檛 think that Sister Shimizu is just being aloof or proud. In my opinion, only I alone am suitable to train together with my family鈥檚 Lil鈥?Lily.鈥?

Heh. Lily forced a smile. Lady Shimizu, since when did I become one of your family鈥檚鈥?

Shimizu stared at Lily with a gentle yet intense gaze as she questioned her, 鈥淗ow about it? Do you agree?鈥?/p>

Loneliness and peril riddled the path of training. Although Lily progressed rapidly, it was all on account of fortuitous coincidences. Such timely twists of fate wouldn鈥檛 keep happening forever.

Shimizu鈥檚 strength, knowledge, and attainments all surpass mine greatly. She can definitely provide better guidance to me if I practice swordplay together with her. I can also get lots of inspiration by watching her swordplay and secret skills from beside her. This can also curb the harassment from Tokugawa and his ilk. Especially Tokugawa鈥檚 group, which has members much stronger than me. If Kondo and Shimizu hadn鈥檛 arrived in succession today, I might鈥檝e spent all my strength in the secluded woods and suffered a greater injustice.

Looking at it this way, Lily couldn鈥檛 find any reason to refuse her.

鈥淚t鈥檚 Lily鈥檚 honor to train together with Sister Shimizu.鈥?/p>

For some reason, Lily鈥檚 answer made Shimizu鈥檚 eyes shine. Her gaze seemed to contain a different kind of happiness and anticipation that transcended the scope of training.9