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You slowly drifted off to sleep, your eyelids growing heavy as your breathing slowed and became steady. The worries of the day melted away, replaced by a calm stillness.
𝕀ℕ 𝕐𝕆𝕌ℝ 𝔻ℝ𝔼𝔸𝕄 :
You woke up slowly, the soft poke of a stick against your cheek pulling you from rest. Blinking, you saw Yoriichi crouching right beside you, a small mischievous smile on his lips as he gently tapped your face.
"Stop that..." you groaned, trying to ignore the repeated pokes.
Poke.
Poke.
Poke.
"I said stop, you little—"
Before you could finish, he interrupted, cheeks flushing slightly. "Your cheeks are so squishy," he said softly, eyes sparkling like a lovesick puppy.
You rolled your eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at your lips. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the compliment or whatever."
He chuckled quietly, then stood up, brushing off his clothes. "Cmon, we're gonna train. "
You stretched, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Ugh, finally. I was starting to think you were just here to annoy me."
Yoriichi's grin widened. "No way. I'm here to make sure you get stronger. Today, I'll teach you more Sun Breathing forms."
Your heart skipped a beat. The thought of learning those powerful techniques both excited and terrified you.
Mentally, you prepared yourself. "Alright, bring it on," you said, tightening your grip and focusing on the feeling of determination rising inside.
Yoriichi nodded, his usual calm presence filling the space between you. "Good.Remember, control is everything."
You took a deep breath, steadying yourself. The training was going to be hard, but with Yoriichi by your side, you knew you could face whatever came next, right?? Well that's what you thought..
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐩
"HUH? YOU WANT ME TO DO 𝘞𝘏𝘈𝘛??!"
You yelled, staring at him like he had grown a second head.
"You heard me," Yoriichi replied calmly, as if he hadn’t just asked you to attempt something completely insane.
Your mouth dropped open. "Jump that high while doing two breathing forms at once? Are you trying to kill me?! I'm still sore from yesterday!"
He tilted his head slightly, completely unfazed. "You’ll be fine. You’ve improved. You just don’t see it yet."
You groaned, dragging a hand down your face. "I get that you're the Ghost of Badass Past or whatever, but my legs are not ready for this."
Yoriichi walked over and gently tapped your forehead with two fingers. "Quiet your thoughts. Trust your body. Let your breathing guide you."
You mumbled under your breath, "Easy for you to say, Mister Perfect Sun God."
"What was that?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing!" you shot back quickly, hopping to your feet and glaring at the tall cliff he wanted you to leap from.
"Alright... but if I die in my sleep, I’m haunting you right back."
Yoriichi chuckled a rare sound and stepped back, giving you space. "Then do it right the first time."
With a deep breath, you focused. The heat in your chest spread through your arms and legs, your breathing syncing with the rhythm he taught you. You crouched low, tightened your muscles, and pushed off the ground with everything you had.
And for a moment just a split second it felt like you were flying.
"Sun Breathing, First and Second Form… at once," you whispered, trying to hype yourself up. "I got this. I got this."
For a split second, it felt like your body moved with perfect grace the wind wrapped around you, the power of the forms pushing through your limbs like fire. You actually thought you had it.
And then… gravity remembered you existed.
Your foot slipped. Your form broke. The second technique fizzled midair.
"Awh, shit—"
You started falling fast, flipping awkwardly through the air like a paper bag in a storm.
But before you could hit the ground, strong arms caught you from behind warm, steady, and annoyingly graceful.
Your eyes flew open.
Yoriichi had you tucked against his chest, one arm wrapped around your waist, the othr steadying your back. His hair fluttered in the breeze, and he looked down at you with that same peaceful face, though his lips twitched with amusement.
"I told you to trust your body," he said softly.
You blinked up at him, still upside down in his arms. "No offense, but my body is not as overpowered as yours."
He didn’t answer right away, just held you a little closer. "You were close. Your control is getting better."
You pouted. "Still fell though."
He chuckled, brushing a bit of hair from your face. "I’d never let you fall."
Your heart did not flutter. No of course not. You ignored it completely.
"You’re such a simp" you muttered.
"I was your husband, remember?" he replied with the softest smile.
You froze.
"...Ugh, why do you always gotta play that damn card right when I’m embarrassed?"
"Because it's true? "
You squirmed in his arms. "Okay, okay, put me down, Romeo. I’m trying to focus, not reenact some slow-motion romance scene."
Yoriichi gently set you back on your feet, still smiling calmly. "Then try again."
You sighed, shaking out your limbs. "Fine. But if I land on my face this time, I’m blaming you and your petty little Sun standards."
"Noted," he replied, clearly unbothered.
You stepped back, looked up at the cliff again, and cracked your neck. The fire inside you burned hotter now part determination, part pride. You weren’t about to let this 800-year-old warrior ghost outdo you in your own dream.
You muttered under your breath, "Sun Breathing, First and Second Form.... "
This time, you didn’t hesitate. You took a breath one that filled your chest and pushed your heart into rhythm then dashed forward with a fierce burst of speed.
Your blade carved through the air, the first form striking with grace, the second form sweeping behind it like fire dancing with wind. Your feet left the ground again higher smoother.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was strong.
You landed with a hard thud and a stumble....but you stayed on your feet.
You looked back at Yoriichi, slightly out of breath but grinning. "Did you see that?! I didn’t eat dirt!"
He nodded, clearly impressed. "It was cleaner. Your balance is improving."
You lit up like a child who just got praised by a teacher. "Ha! Take that, dream physics."
Yoriichi walked toward you, that soft, ever-gentle look still in his eyes. "You’re learning faster than I expected. Your soul remembers more than you think."
"That’s because she probably trained with you in a past life, right?" you teased with a smirk. "Ex-husband perks?"
He gave a small, almost shy chuckle. "Maybe so."
You looked away quickly, cheeks burning definitely from exertion and not from his stupidly cute laugh. "Okay, next form! Hit me with it."
He raised a brow. "You just recovered from nearly breaking your spine."
"And yet I’m still hotter than every warrior in this dream realm."
He said nothing, just stared at you with a soft, amused smile that made your stomach flip for no good reason.
You groaned. "Stop looking at me like that. It’s weird."
"You used to like when I did."
"Yoriichi—!"
"Form Three. Let's begin...?" He quickly cut you off
You groaned, waving him off as you tried to cool your face down with your hand. "Form Three. Right. Totally ready. Mentally stable. Definitely not flustered "Yoriichi stood in front of you with that calm posture of his, blade already in hand. "Form Three focuses on flowing movement. Less force, more grace. Imagine the flame dancing in the wind."
You tilted your head. "You know, that sounds pretty, but I’m like… a walking explosion of chaos, not a graceful flame."
He didn’t even blink. "That’s why we’re training."
You muttered, "You really believe in me more than I do."
"I remember you. I always will."
"Bro stop." You held up a hand like a stop sign. "I can't focus with that Disney prince talk right now. Let's go."
He chuckled softly. "Very well. Watch closely."
Yoriichi moved first light on his feet, like he was gliding across water. His blade cut through the air in a wide arc, flowing like a wave and sparking with golden light. It was so smooth it almost didn’t look real.
"Okay…" you whispered. "Now me."
You inhaled deeply. Flow like fire. Graceful like wind. Don't fall on your face. Please??
You moved, copying the arc of his swing, your footwork a little clumsy but filled with effort. The first part went smoothly.
Then...your toe caught on a rock.
And everything. Fell. Apart.
You tripped mid-spin, arms flailing like a noodle, and your blade which was supposed to be slicing the air gracefully instead whacked you square in the shin.
"OW-OH MY GOD—WHY DID THAT HURT AGAIN?!" you yelled, hopping on one foot while clutching your leg. "IT’S A DREAM!?
I TRIED STOPPING IT BRO!!"
Yoriichi blinked once, then calmly said, "Pain makes lessons stick."
You glared at him still hopping. "I’m gonna stick my foot in your face in a second."
He stepped closer, not even hiding the small laugh under his breath. "Your form was actually improving before the rock defeated you."
"Wow," you groaned dramatically, flopping into the grass. "Not a demon, not a Hashira-level threat. A rock. I was taken out by landscaping."
Yoriichi knelt beside you, reaching out to gently press his palm against your shin. His touch was cool and soft, like moonlight. "You'll recover. Dream injuries heal fast."
You looked at him. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"Only a little," he admitted.
You laid back in the grass with a sigh. "I swear, if I wake up with a bruise, I’m suing dream logic."
Yoriichi smiled down at you, the sky behind him slowly shifting into soft oranges and golds. "Rest a little. We'll try again."
"Only if you promise not to laugh when I fall next time."
"I’ll try. No promises."
You squinted. "Fuck you.. "
Time skip
You laid in the grass for a moment, glaring up at the dream sky. "Okay… I’m good now. I think the rock bruised my soul more than my leg."
Yoriichi offered his hand, his voice calm as ever. "Then let’s continue."
You took it and pulled yourself up with a dramatic groan. "Fine, but if I go down again, I’m filing a complaint with the Dream Training Department."
He didn’t even flinch. "Noted. Now—Form Four."
You blinked. "We’re already on Four?! I just failed Three like a minute ago."
"Progress doesn’t wait," he said smoothly, stepping back with that light, ghostlike movement. "Form Four is faster. Sharper. You’ll need to combine your speed with timing."
"Cool, so basically I’m gonna faceplant faster this time," you muttered, tightening your stance.
Yoriichi demonstrated once again his blade slicing through the air with the grace of a falling leaf and the speed of lightning. The motion ended with a clean, silent step back, his hair fluttering gently around his face like some kind of training montage model.
"Alright, hot ghost man, watch and learn," you said, pointing your practice sword forward.
He tilted his head. "Hot?"
"Nothing!" You coughed. "Anyway—here I go!"
You dashed forward, mimicking the movement twisting your hips, shifting your weight, letting your feet guide your path. This time, the swing had real power. It wasn’t perfect, but it cut through the air.
Yoriichi raised an eyebrow, visibly impressed. "That was—"
Thunk.
You clipped a tree branch with the end of your blade and spun sideways, landing flat on your back with a dramatic whump.
You stared up at the sky, gasping. "Why does nature hate me in this dream?! First the rock, now the tree?!"
Yoriichi leaned over you again, blocking the sunlight with that frustratingly perfect face. "I told you, pain makes the lesson stick."
"Yeah? Well, I’m so close to getting a restraining order against gravity."
He chuckled softly, offering you a hand again. "Get up. Form Five is waiting."
"Already?! Bro..I’m still recovering from Form Four’s betrayal!"
He tilted his head thoughtfully. "You could rest... or you could learn how to counter the next attack I throw at you."
You narrowed your eyes. "You wouldn't."
He took a step back, smile ghosting across his lips. "Then don’t blink."
And without warning, he lunged forward.
"OH MY GOD—"
You barely raised your blade in time to block his strike, the impact sending a jolt through your arms.
"Okay!! "you shouted, grinning like a maniac now. "So we’re doing surprise attacks now?! Alright then,hot ghost"
You pushed back, swinging harder, your movements sharper than before. Something inside you clicked the training was working. You could feel your body moving faster, stronger, more in sync with your breathing. Your past self… her memories… her strength… they were waking up.
Yoriichi circled you slowly, his tone softer now. "That’s it. You’re starting to remember."
"Yeah?" you huffed between swings. "Well tell past me she better leave behind some better footwork next time!!!"
He smiled, almost sadly. "She left behind her heart. That’s all you need."
You paused for a second, thrown off by the tenderness in his voice.
And he struck again.
"YOU LITTLE—!"
You barely blocked his second strike, the impact rattling through your whole arm.
"You're so lucky you're dead," you growled, stumbling back with wild eyes. "Because if you weren’t already a ghost, I’d end you."
Yoriichi just stood there, calm as ever, blade lowered, expression unreadable… and smug. "Your past self would have dodged that."
"My past self also married you, so clearly her judgment was questionable!"
He smirked the tiniest, most irritating smirk you’d ever seen.
That was it.
You dropped your sword.
Yoriichi blinked. "What are you—"
"RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
You charged.
Like a rabid squirrel hopped up on too much caffeine, you tackled him full-force, arms flying like windmill blades, not caring about form, breathing, or anything that even resembled discipline.
"IF I CAN'T WIN WITH SUN BREATHING, I’LL WIN WITH UNHINGED ENERGY!"
Yoriichi made a confused noise as you crashed into him, the two of you rolling through the grass like chaotic tumbleweeds. He was strong, yes but clearly not ready for the sheer feral force of your rage tackle.
"Is this… part of your strategy?" he asked as you pinned him down by the shoulders, hair in your face, eyes glowing with vengeance.
"Yup," you huffed, victorious. "It's called Form Six: unarmed emotional breakdown."
There was a moment of silence… then a laugh.
Not a soft chuckle, not a polite hum.
A full-on, shoulders-shaking laugh from Yoriichi.
You stared. "Did I finally break you?"
He shook his head, still laughing. "No. You reminded me what you were always like."
You blinked, caught off guard. "...You mean chaotic and slightly unhinged?"
He looked up at you, still beneath you on the grass. "And unstoppable."
Your face heated, suddenly very aware of how close you were. "Okay wow we’re done now GOODNIGHT—"
And just like that, the dream began to fade.
𝔼𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕞.
You gasped awake in your bed, tangled in your blanket, a faint ache still pulsing in your shin.
You looked down.
A faint bruise.
"...I tackled a literal legend in my sleep and STILL woke up with dream injuries. I hate it here."
Somewhere, you swore you could hear a soft laugh echo through your room that same gentle chuckle from the Ghost of Sun-Breathing past owner.
"YORIICHI I SWEAR TO—!"
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