" A new technique?" Y/n asked in a curious tone.

" not in the way your thinking." Hiko clarified as he sat infront of the fire, making sure the fish was being cooked properly. " it's not meant for fighting , but rather healing, a method of beyond rest or medicine."

" if the concern is pain you need not worry, I am small but not fragile that I'm not." Y/n spoke with a smile, not wishing his master to trouble himself.

" there is a big difference between healing and pain tolerance my foolish student." Hiko spoke firmly as he removed the fish from the fire and placed the stick on a plate next to him.. " what I am about to teach you goes beyond what I have thought you in the past, now pay close attention, I will only show it to you once."

Y/n nodded and focused, he then saw his master close his eyes and being his hands together.

"Rin. Pyo. Toh. Sha." Hiko spoke, reciting words, and performing these odd hand gestures along side it

Y/n didn't shift his eyes away for a moment, very curious to see where this was leading to.

"Kai. Jin. Retsu. Zai. Zen." Hiko finished and then he began reaching of to y/n.

Y/n saw him places his hands on his right leg, and left it there for a moment and then let it go. Y/n then felt his eyes widen and what just happened.

" my leg..." y/n spoke wiggling his leg around a bit, the ache and numbness it once had is gone, completely. " master , what what was that?" Y/n asked in awe.

" it is an ancient art known as the healing hand, before samurai ruled this land they was legend of truly gifted healers, developing what many would call now a miracle, they have even said to be able to bring someone back from brink." Hiko spoke the knowledge of the ancient art.

" amazing... ." Y/n trailed of rubbing his leg. " what happened to them?"

Hiko scoffed. " what always happens, greedy individuals wishing to take the art for themselves, when the healers refused....well..if the leaders of the land couldn't have it..nobody could." Hiko spoke shaking his head and biting into his fish.

Y/n look down in sadness, Greed, the greed of men like haronobu is was always the result of such pointless bloodshed, he knows Japan is a decent place, he's heard some good thinks about the shogun, but there is no doubt that deceitful men keep slipping through the cracks .

"That is unfortunate that it is...but master, if such an art was at your disposal why not use it on my other injuries ?" Y/n asked, with this he should have been on the road by now.

"Don't you think I would have if I could? The art is special but it is not perfect, given what you just went through you body still needs to do it's part, not to mention I am still no healer, this is as much as I can do." Hiko explained

"Sigh..I truly wish I could have better patience while recuperating that i do..." y/n spoke frustrated at himself.

Hiko shook his head, y/n had always wished to beyond his body's needs, feeling useless if he wasn't moving around and doing something. " quit whining , have you not considered the other reason I would show you such an art?" Hiko asked with a raised eye brow

Y/n considers his masters words and his eyes widen. " would you really be willing master?"

" my fighting days are behind me y/n, I'm not making much use of these days and the art has to live on somehow." Hiko then threw away the stick that once had his fried fish. " now then, shall we get started?"

Y/n nodded now in his knees with his hands clasped together.

"Rin. Pyo. Toh. Sha." Hiko began, once again performing the hand signs.

"Kai. Jin. Retsu. Zai. Zen." Y/n followed as best as he could, and he would repeat it again and again until he could do it on his own.

Elsewhere.

Mizu had followed the directions that were given to her, and when she found those large gates , she knew the woman had not lead her astray.

Mizu walked up to the gate and grabbed one of the ring handles, knocking twice firmly before waiting patiently.

Then a box slid open revealing a man on the other side "No new students. Find another school." The sentry spoke before closing it again.

Mizu raised her eyebrow and knocked twice once more, the sentry opened the slide again"I'm not a student. I bring a message for the master of the Shindo Dojo." Mizu explained.

The slide closed and then a lower slide opened below with a hand stretching out below, Mizu rolled her eyes. "I must deliver it personally." Mizu explained.

A moment later the doors had finally opening, revealing the dojos large courtyard, Mizu walked in eyeing its inhabitence, some were families, others were currently meditating, and further in she saw two warriors dualing, with one of them getting the best of the other after exploiting an opening.

" decent form, but nothing special." Mizu thought in her mind as she continued to follow the sentry.

Soon she sat across a shindo official who sat across from her, pairing a kanji and not giving her his full attention. "You may leave any message with me." He spoke

"What must be said must be said to the master directly." Mizu responded.

"I assure you, what is for the master is for me, as I assure you the master does not meet with messengers." The shindo official explained not budging,

"....He will for me." Mizu spoke simply.

This seemed to touch a nerve as the shindo official paused his painting and glared firmly at Mizu "You stand before the Shindo School." He spoke before standing up. "For 200 years, we have taught here the Shindo-Ryu, secret methods passed down from Priest Soto, taught to him on the peak of Mount Kurama by the mystic Tengu themselves. Show your respect." The shindo official ordered.

"Heh, so easy to offend these types." Mizu thought mildly amused, " I must insist." Mizu spoke bowing her head a bit.

The shindo official was having none of it. "Escort him anywhere you please that is far from here."

"Come on, blind beggar." A shindo subordinate spoke as he was about to grab her shoulder.

"You are bound by hospitality to feed a traveler within your gates. I came very far. I'm very hungry. Or has the Shindo Dojo done away with etiquette? " Mizu questioned, knowing they follow through with this.

The shindo official grit his teeth a bit."Feed him. Then throw him out."

One of the subordinates grabbed Mizu by her shoulders and picked her up quite roughly and began pushing her, she was soon pushed into a room and tosses a mushy bowl of rice, as though it was just thrown together in a hurry.

" Eat. And leave." A subordinate spoke firmly, one of them even laughing as they left.

Mizu didn't pay it any mind , she was inside the the dojo, what came next would be quite easy, out of the window she saw several samurai, running drills repeatedly.

" shindo-ryu...hm..." Mizu thought recognizing one styles she learned during her childhood. " ever since I've been mastering the hiten-mitsurugi-ryu, everything I else I've learned seems so...primitive by comparison." Mizu thought to herself, this wasn't to say all her other knowledge in fighting was suddenly useless, as she grew learning her husbands style, she truly came to understand why he was such a force , this wasn't a style anybody could pick up, it requires much from the warriors body, it could be crippling or just impossible to anybody else, but not to her, It would prove instrumental to her success.

Mizu soon threw the nasty rice to the floor and announced she was finished, and soon she was being escorted out, or so they thought.

Mizu was shoved foward, she then came to a halt not moving any farther.

"Hey. Come on, beggar boy. Move it." One of the subordinates spoke firmly

"This will be much simpler if you allow me to speak with your master." Mizu spoke simply.

"No one sees the master." The subordinate spoke firmly , grabbing mizus shoulder trying to pusher , only finding it very difficult as though she was a tree rooted to the ground.

"I cannot leave here until I speak to the master of this dojo." Mizu reiterated, rearing a shoulder back and shoving the subordinate back.

"Uff!" The subordinate grunted as his friends caught him, all of them glaring at Mizu.

"Oh, good." One of the spoke as they flicked their swords before drawing them out. "We get to kill you." One of the subordinates spoke with a smirk.

Mizu adopts a fierce look on her face, " good, I could use the practice."

In another room, shindo warriors were practicing when suddenly...

"CRASH!!!"

"AHHH!!!" One of the subordinates screamed as he crashed to the floor.

"UGH!/ARGH!!" His friends following not long after.

Mizu came walking out the wall, sworn undrawn, removing her cloak as she eyed all the warriors.

"How dare you?" A subbordinate growled getting into his stance. " Be warned. You face our Shindo-Ryu!" He yelled.

"The problem with Shindo-Ryu....is it's trash." Mizu spoke as though it were a simple fact of life..

The man growled and took the first strike, Mizu dodged and tapped his back. She kept her momentum as another tried to hit her and she tapped his midsection.

She stopped right in front of one of them, briefly catching him off guard, " HAH!" The man yelled going for a diagonal strike, Mizu ducked and twisted away, using the hilt of her sword to flick up a bokken and catch it.

Mizu wielded it with one hand. " heheh.." Mizu chuckled in amusement, angering the warriors. "A poor technique....easily learned...easily defeated." Mizu spoke unimpressed, as she eyed each of them, awaiting their next move.

"RAH!" One went for an overhead strike from behind, Mizu simple stepped away, spinning her bokken around her, the man then went for a one handed strike, a poor mistake.

"CRACK!!!"

"ARGH!!!" The man cried out as his Mizu had simply outstretched the bokken, allowing the man to use his own strength against him, breaking his arm through his elbow. Mizu flicked his weapon away then used hers to hold his chin up.

"The Swallow's Return crumbles against the Fisherman's Net of the Rogen-Ryu." Mizu spoke, unfolding the counter to the man's attack. Mizu then hit the man's chest sending him to floor, down for the count.

Her apparent arragonce caused the rest to rush her, Mizu simply eyed them through glasses.

"Smart, but futile." Mizu thought simply.

"HAAAAH!" One of the shouted charging with a very telegraphed strike, Mizu side stepped, and not bothering to look behind her as she swung down world and broke the man's ankle and ruptures his Achilles heel. "ARRRGHH!" The man cried out in pain, crumbling to the floor.

Another tried his luck, Mizu simply struck at both the man's knees, dropping him to the floor, she caught the attack of another, yanking the bokken back and shoving it foward, man's the man's Adam's apple, then performing a spinning left hook, batting the man to the floor and knocking some of his teeth out in the process.

She grabbed her previous opponent by her face, another tried to seize an opening but Mizu blocked the strike , twisting the man she had in her hand, placing her fingers to the roof of his mouth and ripping his front teeth out.

"ARGHH" The Man with two less teeth shouted in pain, Mizu elbowed him while he was still in the air, knocking him out. Then taking the opportunity to palm strike the standing man's nose, breaking it, before grabbing his arm fling him over her shoulder and slamming him to the ground.

The subordinates were shocked, they had never seen a warrior fight like this.Then you fight with Rogen-Ryu?" One of them questioned while holding a wooden naginata

"No. It is also trash." Mizu spoke simply, laying her bokken between her arm and her side.

The man growled in anger."What school are you? Your name and teacher! Announce yourself!" He yelled as to of his allies tried attacking simultaneously.

Mizu took steps back weaving away stiles she saw coming a mile away, she gripped her bokken and dashed forward, using the hilt over her bokken to strike the rigors midsection, feeling the 2 of the mans ribs break, he fell to the floor gasping in pain.

She then her head forward dodging the others swing at her head, she switch the bokken to her left, cracking the man's torso forcing him to bend over, she then placed the back of her bokken against his neck and
yanked him to the ground.

The man with  the wodden naginata  charged, mizu forced his weapon to the ground and struck his groin.

"AHHHH!!" The man cried out in pain before mizu jabbed her bokken in his mouth, punched his jaw then dragged it out, ripping out his teeth.

Mizu twirled her bokken in the air, seperating the teeth that were stuck to the bokken then grabbed her bokken and flicked them towards an incoming opponents face.

"Argghhh!!!!!" The subordinate cried out on his knees as a toth was lodged in his eye.

Mizus ear twitched merely tilted her foot away from an incoming brush, which was launched by the shindo official.

" i would not take pride in defeating a few children." The official spoke drawing a sword.

Mizu simply got into her stance. " do i dual the mystic tengu themselves?"

"Put down that toy, and draw your sword!" The offical yelled, offended by the fact she was still trying to use her bokken.

"But..then you'll die." Mizu spoke as though warning him.

The official grit his teeth in anger and charged. " HYAAAAH!!"

Elsewhere.

Y/n had kept reciting the healing mantra over and over again, performing the signs until it was second nature.

" you aren't gonna learn it any faster that way." Hiko spoke as he sharpened a cleaver.

Y/n paused. "What do you mean?"

" i can tell your in a rush to learn it, but it requires a calm mind, which you do not have at the moment." Hiko spoke as he eyed the cleaver.

".sigh...it is difficult to remain calm, i have the means to cut down the time of the healing process ,and if I am able to learn." Y/n explained

"And i understand, but your mind is moving erratically like those waves." Hiko spoke pointing to the beach. " settle it like a running river and only then can you truly begin to master it." Hiko spoke as he cut the head off a small fish.

Y/n looked down at his hands as he thought of mizu. " i certainly hope you're having an easier time than i mizu that i do."

Shindo Dojo.

"UGHH!!" A subordinate groaned he was kicked harshly to the ground.

Mizu caught one by his wrist, yanking him forward and flipping and striking his head while he was on the ground.

A third tried to strike at her back and she side stepped and hit him on head with the hilt of her bokken.

"Who dares challenge the Shindo Dojo?"

Mizu paused for ment hearing the new voice enter the room"I'm afraid no one in this dojo has offered much of a ch-

The man had managed to hit the head of her head then performed a spin kick, which Mizu blocked, sliding a bit across the floor.

Mizu got a good look at her mind and her eyes widened, he may have been older but she knew that face, "You're from Kohama Village." Mizu spoke, remembering the bully who tried to kill her.

He however didn't seem to recognize her "Do I know you?

"You've climbed some heights to be the prize of a miserable lot." Mizu spoke gesturing to the entire dojo

"Taigen has won twenty four duels. How many have you won?" One of the injured subordinates spoke in offense.

Mizu looked around a bit at the results of her work."Should I have been counting?"

"Kill the son of a b¡tch, Taigen. Teach him to respect Shindo!" The subordinate spoke to Taigen, tired of this man insulting them.

"I've come to speak with your master and will go on my way once I have. " Mizu repeated once more, it really didn't need to get this far.

"You won't go anywhere except in the funeral cart." Taigen said with a fierce glare getting into his stance.

Mizu adjusted her glasses a bit. "Sure I will." She spoke getting into her stance, this would not take long.

Mizu charged in , dodging a strike from Taigen, twisting and jabbing foward, Taigen caught her wrist and placed the hand wielding the bokken on her chest pushing her out of the room, Mizu quickly maneuvered out of the hold , grabbing his arm and yanking him over her shoulder.

Taigen grunted as he picked himself back up, sending two strikes which Mizu blocked, he tried to keep going on the advance, with Mizu dodging as she took steps, when her back met the wall, Taigen threw a punch and missed, Mizu capitalized wrapping her arm around his , running over the wall to build momentum and threw him into another room, Mizu didn't let up as when he recovered she locked her bokken around his neck then flipped him overhead once more.

Taigne stumbled a bit but still remained standing, Mizu kept the pressure going " RAH!" She yelled striking down, clashing with Taigen, they glared at each as their blades locked. Taigen pushed her into a pillar and performed a spin kick which didn't land, only making the man even more frustrated, Taigen then pressed forward striking overhead twice and getting blocked , then he tried like his bokken under her arm but once more Mizu maneuvered out of the hold and spin kicked him in the face, Taigen using his rotating momentum and stroked upward in. "HYAH!!" He shouted.

Mizu jumped back and brought up her, her bokken in half, and the tip of it making contact with her glasses and throwing them upward in the air, Mizu landed on the ground firmly as her glasses landed near her.

Taigen scoffed. " had I been using a naked blade you would be dead by now." He spoke wiping his mouth.

Mizu kept here eyes lowed. "is that what you believe?" She said simply before finally looking at him, revealing her blue eyes to everyone in the room.

The shindo warriors Looked on in shock and disgust, Taigen however finally recognized her. " you..." he spoke in shock

Mizu looked him up and down once more. " to think I once ran from you..." she in an unimpressed tone.

Taigen glared at her in response

" Taigen. You cannot allow that to dishonor us or you. Kill him!" The shindo official ordered as he threw his katana at him.

Taigen caught it and looked to Mizu. " let's take this outside, I don't want your blood desecrating this dojo." He spoke as he proceeded to head to the exit

. " it won't make any difference." She said simply dropping the broken pieces of her bokken and following him.

Now they stood outside the dojo , facing each other as snow gently fell around them, Taigen finally drew his sword, pointing it at Mizu, look at her for a moment.

"Are you afraid to fight with steel?" He questioned.

"No. consider yourself lucky, I only draw it because the bokken broke." She spoke calmly as she slowly drew out her sword.

Taigen looked at her steal and realized who was responsible for such craftsmanship "You have a blade by Master Eiji?" He asked in confusion.

Mizu smiled to herself but provided no answer , getting into a one handed stance , Taigen got into his own Stance in response.

They both remained there, eyes locked in, each drawing their breath steadily, making subtle adjustments in their stance waiting to make the right move.

Mizu adjusted her stance to a two handed grip, and soon...it began.

Taigen charged forward and Mizu struck out the snow to obsucure his vision, Taigen performed a horizontal strike, which Mizu prepared for dragging her blade across his and knicking his neck. Mizu quickly turned dodging a sticker then parrying the next, Taigen quickly shuffled back dodging a strike, he moved around a bit trying to find an opening in her Gaurd, he then pressed forward, launching several strikes that were blocked, Mizu remained rooted to the ground and their blades locked

Taigen was getting tired of this bout. "Death comes for everyone...For you, today!" Taigen yelled pushing her away and launching an overhead strike, Mizu dodged and side kicked him away.

Mizu decided this had dragged on long enough it was to time put this boy in his place.

"Hitter mitsurugi- ryu Ryūtsuisen (龍りゅう槌つい閃せん, Dragon Hammer Flash)" Mizu called out in her mind, switching to the blunt side of her sword and jumping forward in an impressive burst of power and speed.

Taigen could not lift his sword up to block in time, as mizu came down and struck his right shoulder.

"GAAHHH!" Taigen cried out as pain radiated throughout his right arm , losing his grip on his sword and dropping it. Mizu didn't waste time as she kicked him off his feet and held her blade to his throat, mizu held back on the attack but it would take a day or two for taigens arm to recuperate.

Mizu looked down at her childhood bully, she should kill him right now and be done with it, even now he carried that air of superiority that disgusted her, but instead she opted for a different approach.

"...do you yield?" Mizu asked firmly, giving the man a chance to save his own life.

Taigen only glared up at her, as though offended by such a question. " don't you dare mock me....hurry up and finish it!" Taigen yelled.

Mizu just shook here head, if that's was his wish then so be it. " sorry y/n." Mizu thought , gripping her blade to slice his throat.

"STOP!"

Mizu paused and looked up, seeing a tall man of authority standing before her, wearing a dark variant of the shindo uniform. "You are the master of this school?" Mizu asked wondering if the man had finally decided to show himself.

"Hmm." The dojo master nodded

Mizu regarded him, unimpressed "Your students need better training." She spoke simply.

"You have a message for me." The dojo master said wishing to confirm.

"A question. Where may I find your brother, the black market merchant Heiji Shindo?" Mizu repeated once more, hoping to be done with this,

The dojo master was confused to say the least "You did all this to find my brother? Why?"

Mizu inwardly sighed. " is it so hard to answer a simple question?..." she growled inwardly as she held her sword closer to taigens throat.

Thankfully the dojo master got the message."Heiji Shindo is in the fortress on Tanabe Island, protected by the Genken Clan. Whatever business you have with him, you will never reach him." The dojo master warned.

And that was all she wanted, Mizu finally moved her sword away from Taigen and slowly sheathed it, bowing to the dojo master. " thank you." She poke simply, taking her leave.

Taigen however wasn't having it , groaning as he picked himself up. "You're still... a dog." Taigen spit with venom.

Mizu put on her glasses and picked up her hat off of a lamppost. " then it must be quite embarrassing for you to lose to said dog..." Mizu spoke, not even bothering to turn around as she kept walking

Taigens eyes flashed in anger, gripping the snow before rushing to his sword with his left hand and charging at Mizu. " HAAAAAH!!!" Taigen shouted as he charged.

"Taigen stop!!!" The dojo master yelled reaching out.

Mizu merely scoffed, when taken tried to swing , mizu drew her sword with one hand, batting it away, before taking advantage of a clear opening...and slicing the bun off of his head, a firm reminder of his loss today, and roundhouse kicked him across his jaw sending him to the ground, Taigen didn't get up this time, merely groaning in pain.

Mizu picked up taigens gold hair pin, this ordeal had taken longer than she would have liked but it was done, and now it was time to take her leave.

She walked across town, no empty as the people were now in their homes slipping the night way, it took some time but she finally found her noble steed.

"Neigh.." Kaoru sounded, as though annoyed she was tied up for so long.

" I know girl i apologize, it wasn't my attention to take so long." Mizu spoke laying her head against kaorus, rubbing it gently. " thank you for being patient."

"Neigh." Kaoru sounded, appearing to forgive her rider.

Mizu hopped on kaoru and grabbed her reins. " time to take our leave girl."

Kaoru appeared to look into town, as though there should be someone else with them. Mizu grew a small smile and pet kaorus neck. "Don't worry girl, he'll just track us like he did last time, come on." Mizu said moving her reins and beginning to move out of the town.

At the gates Mizu looked down to find the mother who couldn't get in and her child huddled together with a blanket. Mizu reached into her robes and dropped the gold pin near them, they would need it more than she would.

Mizu and kaoru walked through the snowy valley, mizu held at her hand as the snowflakes fell and melted onto it, looking up at the clouded night sky, mizu closed her eyes. "Thank you for my ember." Mizu gripped the hilt of her sword. " thank you for protecting me."

As Mizu and kaoru continued they had eventually made it to a water fall. " hm.. I could use a soak." Mizu thought as she stopped kaoru and hopped down. " rest for a bit longer kaoru." Mizu spoke running her neck.

Kaoru accepted the words with no complaints and she landed on the snow.

Mizu had soon removed her robes and folded them, placing them on a nearby rock in arms reach of the water along with her sword.

Mizu walked in slowly, cringing a bit as the water was cold but adjusting, finally having most of her body submerged, laying her back against the edge, enjoying the soothing feeling of the water after so much fighting, he mind began to wonder.

"I wonder how sword father is doing... retired by now perhaps?" Mizu then inwardly chuckled. " no, I don't believe he would ever consider such a thing, hm...I hope he is still healthy." Mizu then began thinking of her late husband. "Y/n... hm...when we first shared a bath you were as red as a tomato." Mizu smiled warmly. " you once spoke of hot springs... you said you would bathe to relax after a day of battle.. gather your thoughts and feel peace if only for a moment... I would have liked to share on with you." Mizu thought somberly.

Suddenly, Mizu heard rustling in the nearby bushes, she opened her eyes and quickly gripped her sword, moving out of the water.

Ringo looked around frantically, when suddenly a sword was pointed at his face. " AH!!!" He shouted, but then he looked on in surprise .

It was a woman, a very naked woman, holding her masters sword? "But where is...ohhhhhh!" Ringo thought realizing the situation.

Mizu panted , beginning to feel the winter cold, giving ringo a frustrated look as he had ruined her thoughts had made her get out of the water for no reason.

Ringo could only say one thing.

"Peaches." Ringo spoke in a surprised tone.

Mizus widened her eyes realizing immediately what he meant and blushed, clenching her eyes in anger, only one man could see and he was not him. "LOOK ELSEWHERE!!!" she shouted as she picked up a rock off the ground and threw it.

"DOH!" Ringo exclaimed as the rock bounced of his head and he fell to the ground.

Elsewhere.

Y/n sat on a stone, looking up at the pale moon, the wind was quite cold but he didn't let it deter him, he closed his eyes and started the mantra once more.

"Rin...Pyo... Toh...Sha..." Y/n spoke calmly, slowly but precisely reciting the word, and the hand symbols that go along with it.

Kai...Jin...Retsu... Zai... Zen..." y/n finished, then he slowly placed his hands on his chest. Y/n lowered his hands and breathed in....and out, the pain he had every time he took a breath was no more, and the dull ache had dialed down. Y/n smiled, having succeeded in learning the technique, looking up at the pale moon once more. " Stay safe my lady, I will make my way back to you that I will." Y/n spoke warmly.

At the shed, Hiko stood against the wall , watching his student and shaking his head with a smile. " you never cease to surprise me y/n..." Hiko walked in and eyed a unassuming wood stick perched on the wall, his old sword. " tomorrow.. we get to the next step." Hiko spoke before walking away to his room.

——

Boom!

This was a pain in the ass, for those of you who weren't aware, I had an error and had to rewrite 2000+ words, this chapter should have been up already :/

I made changes to the fight, reason being to show how Mizu got better by training with y/n, displaying better combat prowess as well as elements of jiujitsu and aikido.

Let me know your thoughts!