Chapter 8: Step Three... Four
Inside the forgery, Faolan and Mr. Nakama sat by a makeshift brewer for tea. They are mostly dried up from being in the outdoor rain, Faolan wore a 'Jinbei' given to him by Mr. Nakama from the village. Faolan's ankles and his body finally felt the bruising effects of being twisted during the crashing fall that occurred when he was sliding down the mountain,his entire body pulses from the training and his cuts have been washed.
The rain outside grew fiercer and thunder can still be heard striking the sky, the sound of wind whistling deeply through the trees sounded like a beckoning call.
Mr. Nakama, retrieved the tea from the makeshift brewer pouring a cup for Faolan and for himself, he coughed quietly while affirming that he doesn't cough into Faolan's drink respectively. He turns to face Faolan, extending his arm, giving his student a cup of tea,Faolan retrieves the tea carefully from Mr. Nakama's hand.
"Thank you very much," Faolan spoke softly.
"It is no trouble at all," Mr. Nakama coughed internally before quickly placing his mouth within his tea. Faolan though quiet and seemingly to be moodless, gazed upon his teacher, 'Mr. Nakama has always loved to drink his tea.'
"Alright… Now I will explain to you the Breathing Styles , you will need to listen closely to what I have to say and I will ensure it sticks onto your mind ...The breathing, more formally called: Total Concentration Breathing, this specific technique increases the users capabilities beyond that of a normal human breathing you've practiced every day of your life. This breathing increases your lung storage, allowing oxygen to flow through every cell in the entire body, in which will increase your blood circulation and of course your heart rate as well." Mr. Nakama sips into his tea again.
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Faolan will remember Mr. Nakama's words clearly for the next days as Mr. Nakama would now speak repeatedly of what he's already spoken about Total Concentration Breathing. Mr. Nakama had created breathing exercises for Faolan, specializing in Breath Of Thunder.
Mr. Nakama first took Faolan for the first style of Thunder to a higher point of where the forgery was located, the area was completely open, yet hard to breathe due to the altitude.
"You will separate your legs into a lunge and hold your weight, and breathe," Mr. Nakama watches as Faolan slowly separates his legs into a lunge thinking he's gotten the correct distance.
"More…. more…. more," Mr. Nakama sweeps his leg under Faolan's increasing the distance.
Faolan catching himself from a potential fall, steadied himself and now attempted to control his breathing,
"Inhaling much air will cause the blood to elevate the body's temperature causing that blood to heat up your muscles so they can grow twice as stronger," Mr. Nakama pokes Faolan's muscles with the intention of having him stumble over, Faolan struggling to keep his form Mr. Nakama continues while smiling, "This enhances the user's human bodies healing factor while at the same time stabilizing and energizing your spirit, allowing one to be competition to the Demons.
Mr. Nakama had put Faolan within the position of the:
First Style: Thunderclap and Flash,
He did so because Thunder Breathing requires the user's s legs greatly so it was essential for Faolan to develop the muscles of his legs, through countless exercise of the lunge. If Faolan gave in to the weakness of his legs, Mr. Nakama would strike Faolan with a branch, that felt worse than the crashing fall down the mountain, Faolan wanting to give it his all, kept his legs steady and strong everyday.
Mr. Nakama would often repeat the importance of Total Concentration Breathing for Faolan throughout the entirety of a day and there would be moments where Mr. Nakama could barely speak due to his cough so he inhaled a grasp of air as a form of relief when it worsened.
Nights and days pass of training, Faolan continued to build the strength within his legs and concentrate on Breathing. There would eventually finally be times where his legs gave in due to exhaustion, but it was Faolan merely not being able to control his breathing, his legs lost the energy to keep him up. The training seemed to increasingly grow more difficult each day, Faolan's legs were increasingly sore from holding his body weight for so long, everyday. Though seeming to be failures to Faolan, Mr. Nakama saw it as growth. Mr.Nakama was challenging Faolan's body to grow and for Faolan to find his very own breathing that would provide enough energy to keep him growing.
A month would pass by, Faolan's legs now had grown much more fiercely, he had more success in controlling his form through the twenty four hour period, as well as his breathing somewhat, however Mr. Nakama saw that his breathing was still not under total control and that Faolan still was not in total concentration.
'He will not be able to fully carry out the technique if he cannot access Total Concentration Breathing correctly,' thought Mr. Nakama.
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The following day...
Now Faolan was instructed to carry the sword he forged seven months ago for the rest of training.
"Before we move on to the Second Style: Rice Spirit, maintain the First Style: Thunderclap and Flash for one hour, and boy if you feel the blade perfectly, strike like lightning." ordered Mr. Nakama then turning his head away from Faolan for a mild cough.
Faolan positioned himself into the first form leg strong, holding his sword within his sheath and attempting to control his breathing. In the hour Faolan is able to withstand the position of the form, but his breathing however still lacked in total concentration, Faolan slashes the air, the blade slaps the grass. 'His breathing would take great leaps, to quick stubbles,' Mr. Nakama understood that the boy wouldn't be able to achieve the breathing so quickly, especially on the First Style of Breath Of Thunder. After the hour, Mr. Nakama begins the second teaching of the Thunder, now to work on Faolan's upper body .
"For the next traini—," Mr. Nakama is interrupted by more coughing.
"Are you alright?" Faolan voices a question, from his silence.
"Yes...yess… I am alright, thank you," Mr. Nakama reassures himself by clearing his throat.
"Now it is important for you to learn, that the blade you carry is not something you swing wildly. A katana will break easily if used incorrectly. One of the greatest advantages with a katana is that it is powerful at length but horridly weak from side hits," Mr. Nakama reaches into his coat, revealing a simple sheath, pulling a katana out from it.
"With this blade you must strike straight on, when you swing this blade, it's direction and the force of the direction you choose must be identical at all cost," with the blade Mr. Nakama slashes the air, crafting a sound of a full blast. Faolan though quiet, his eyes widened at the amazing display of his teacher. Mr.Nakama can see the spectacle within Faolan's eyes, it made him chuckle to himself.
"The Second Style: Rice Spirit will allow you to generate five straight attacks around you in a single moment, but you just again concentrate on your legs…..do not worry about the first style. We will return to that form with the blade as we progress forward; that form is no easy task as are the others, the first form is an extremely special style.
Now I will show you the form, and you will try your best to maintain your breathing and form, follow me," Mr. Nakama walked to the nearest tree, and Faolan followed and watched. Mr. Nakama raised his blade and inhaled a breath, and he paused— an instant flash of light wildly blew gusts as Faolan watched Mr. Nakama slashing the tree. Stormy wind blew Faolan's hair back, with him now covering his eyes from the force of the air.
'What was that? That's what I'm supposed to do?' he wiped his eyes, trying to be assured of what had just happened.
The tree had been sliced not once but five times, the bark tipped and fell over onto the grass, leaving only the trunk of the tree, causing Faolan to gasp quietly.
"Heh heh heh… Boy, you will stand firm and practice swinging your blade in the Second Style. This is what you'll achieve.... Now, I'm sure you could see how I struck? Replicate it the best you can and repeat it until we move onto the next style," Nakama sheathes his blade, 'The training to the Marvelous View should of increased his perception,' speculated Mr. Nakama.
'The attack, what did it look like? It was so fast, could I have seen it correctly,' Faolan held his blade with both of his hands and lowered it diagonally, stretching his legs. This made Faolan believe he could swing the blade easily based on what he saw with his eyes.
"Hahaha, I see that you caught my bluff of how I raised my blade, your eyes are remarkable Faolan," Mr.Nakama overly proud of Faolan, patted Faolan on his head.
"Hm?" Faolan was confused, usually Mr. Nakama wouldn't do something like this, he noticed the genuine smile on Mr.Nakama.
In realizing what he was doing, Mr. Nakama stepped away from Faolan only for the mild cough to return, aching his throat with subtle droplets of blood on his sleeve. He turns to Faolan rapidly.
"Alright boy, swing your blade and you will swing your blade in the Second Style until you understand your breathing and form. At the same time you will be strengthening your arms and upper body through exercise. I see that you have troubled breathing, you must find your 'Breathing' so you can fully utilize the techniques I'm showing you," Mr. Nakama informed Faolan for his benefit, but he looked down in shame for being unable to meet Mr. Nakama's expectations yet. Seeing such expression causes Mr.Nakama to cough mildly before finally speaking:
"It doesn't mean you have to already mastered the breathing when I say so boy, if you keep trying with all of your heart and spirit, you will achieve it," Mr. Nakama raised his chin high expressing gratitude in a way he would not before, A sudden urge to shine over the darkness he has put to sleep,Faolan raises his head and returns a nod to his teacher.
"Okami, I know you can achieve breathing, do not ever stop," Mr. Nakama believed in Faolan.
Faolan continued to practice the Second Style every single day with his katana now, before he began swinging his blade though, he was ordered as a warm up to continue, he performed the First Style for the first hour and the last hour of training.
Returning to the Second Style, Faolan repeatedly motioned five quick strikes, attempting to control his breathing increased in difficulty, especially when he needed to strike three hundred and sixty degrees. His legs though strong, felt as they were wearing out much quicker than the month before.The grilling of the hilt and Faolan's hands had also increased the calluses within his hands, but with each exercise comes great reward, his arms and upper body muscles strengthened little by little just as his legs. Mr. Nakama would not allow for Faolan to have any rest until the dead of night, throughout the day he would only eat breakfast and drink water, nothing more . Mr. Nakama of course continued to lecture Faolan of the importance of Total Concentration Breathing, and it's benefits against Demons. He spoke of Breath Of Thunder but never really explained the other breath styles that existed, he mentioned that he would speak of it in another time.
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For the next four months, Mr. Nakama taught Faolan the rest of the breathing techniques. However, Faolan was still unable to sustain Total Concentration Breathing and perform supernatural attacks like Mr. Nakama. Even with the inability to use the styles he was shown, Faolan was somewhat able to train 'something' by swinging his blade according to the styles themselves shown by Mr. Nakama.
Third Month:
Third Style: Buzzing Mosquito Thunder required Faolan to create a spinning wave of swings with his katana all around him, in all directions.
Fourth Month:
Fourth Style: Distant Thunder Faolan could not launch ranged lightning strikes, with massive movement of his stride like Mr. Nakama, so he only acted out the physical motion of the swing that would cast the ranged attacks with short steps. In re
Fifth Month:
Fifth Style: Heat Lightning had Faolan muster up a singular, focused slashing attack with his katana, he would constantly swing at hundreds of logs made by Mr. Nakama every day.
Sixth Month:
Sixth Style: Electric Lightning Shower needed Faolan to create a series of overpowering ranged attacks around him, which he could not accomplish so he only mimicked what would be the attacks with the katana.
By the sixth month, Mr. Nakama had set up many practice mannequins instead of logs for Faolan to strike and slash; he also had Faolan repeat every single form for every hour of the beginning of training. Mr. Nakama also revisited the first two steps of training in Faolan, returned to the marvelous view with all that he had learned, and set up multiple traps and more practice mannequins for him to strike as he reached the marvelous view in the allotted time again. Mr. Nakama had hoped Faolan would find a way to gain Total Concentration Breathing,
'He could perform every single one of these forms if could use breathing, but he can't, especially the First Style,' Mr. Nakama observes Faolan is physically in practice, his spirit would soon give in to much desperation.
Faolan could not completely perform any of the styles presented by Mr. Nakama. He continued every day in the sixth month, repeating everything Mr. Nakama had taught him.
Faolan attempted every single form, and he kept failing and failing to configure a manner of breathing that he could not craft. Different attempts of breathing during exercise on some days caused Faolan to pass out due to the oxygen levels in his body behaving abnormally, with the change of airflow within him.
Throughout the months, Mr. Nakama's cough worsened, his face got much paler, and his eyes heavily darker, yet he was still motivated to train Faolan; he wanted to see him succeed. He felt that he could do so little now. The more breaths he inhaled, the more infectious his body felt.
'I believe in Faolan', Mr. Nakama's mind thought only of Faolan, the promise he made to Okami-san was all he ever cared about, but he soon realized he couldn't teach Faolan Total Concentration Breathing.... while he was still there,
'Faolan must find it on his own, he will think he is alone, and the thoughts of failure may return, but never give in to it.'
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Mr. Nakama decides to call Faolan from practicing the Fourth Style, the air was chilly and clouds bloomed over the warm sun ready to burst.
"Faolan, boy come to me," Mr. Nakama had begun to choke up, Faolan whose face and hands were filled with dirt and snow, for it was Winter again.
Faolan's hands now were completely rough due to the calluses that had taken form within his palms, and his entire outfit was filthy of foliage, showcasing his extensive hard work. Quietly panting to himself, Faolan approached his longtime teacher.
"I have taught you all that I know, and there is one final step to the training," Mr. Nakama forcefully held back a mild cough that was about to interrupt, and Faolan's eyes widened.
"With everything that I shared…" Mr. Nakama looked into the cloudy skies that perfumed air with icy stars now falling.
"You will deflect lightning from the sky; it is up to you now to finish."
Mr. Nakama turned away from Faolan, walking down in the direction of bright snow-covered olive-barbed trees with a tear breaking from his socket, Mr. Nakama had made a final decision that would completely leave Faolan's future to the unknown. There will be no certainty, he will not see it.
'I will have this Faith in you ', Mr. Nakama finally wiped his eyes.
Faolan stood still, witnessing his teacher disappear from his very eyes, he dropped his katana and fell to his knees, staring blankly at the blade.
The snow began to blanket the blade in droplets of white melting quickly into water. Faolan pressed his palms against the snow until he felt enough force to push himself up, his arms felt weak. The sound of the crackling wind rustled through the trees, and there also came a refreshing wind, blowing the snow off the leaves. The icy stars developed into Faolan's hair and melted into a small stream from his cheek.
'Will I ever find what I want in this life?' Faolan didn't understand how to succeed.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
AM_Sensei
AM_Sensei Thank you for reading the chapter!
For this particular chapter I really wanted to dive into the training of the Breathing Style of Thunder. I felt that in the manga/anime we never really get to see Tanjiro train every single form of Water, if he did it was minimal, but we do see him train his senses of course.
So hopefully I was able to capture the difficulty of the training through Faolan and see how he trained.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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