#tsuguko

"Your wrist are weak, your movement are slow, how even you past the final selection? Are you just joining to kill yourself?"

It was the usual training for him under the serpent hashira. And usual insult of course. Well, probably why Iguro didn't have many tsuguko. Him and his friend, who barely survive and on the verge of quitting.

...

"you really want to continue? Iguro sama is so merciless, i couldn't take it anymore, when we didn't had any mission, he will really tortured us for a whole day. I can't" his friend was whining non stop and it's actually understandable. The serpent hashira's regular training is harsh, even harsher than their previous water cultivator.

"I'm fine. I think i need to do what i need to do, even though It's hurt, even if in the end i couldn't be as skillful as him. Also, I'm not forcing you, we has been together since the final selection, I'm okay if this is where we part ways."

....

He was now the only tsuguko left. In front of him, the serpent hashira was cleaning his sword, beside him, his friend snake, Kaburamaru calmly sitting.

"How great. You are the only one. I'm surprise..."

That evening, the two just finished their training, and Iguro asked him to stay for a bit.

"To be fair, your sword skill has improved in accuracy. But there's a lot if thing you need to master. The demons aren't merciful. A bit mistake and it's fatal. First, grasp your swords as tightly but loosing up your wrist, make it flexible, get used to it. You always has an error in that and that was a basic. " Once he finished taking care of his sword. Iguro come and looking at him with his usual staring.

"you want to take avenge for your family didn't you? Do better. "

"and don't die"

he watch his master carefully. The serpent hashira was really strict in their training and the corp's code of conduct, his words are especially sharp. Of course, he is a hashira, he probably training much harder than himself.

" and don't forget your lunch. Fill your body with energy before the training. I don't want you to collapse mid training."

Ironically, he never saw his master's eat. When it was a break time, iguro was nowhere to be seen.

....

And one day, when he was off duty and there's no training, he went to visit the cemetery. Iguro was there, seems like he was having a little convo to one of the stone there, named as 'Iguro's family tombstone '. He want to leave, but some words that the serpent hashira said pulling his attention.

" Once everything done, please let go of me. All the sins i do, please forgive me. I'll dying fighting muzan and from there, i hope we'll never related, forgive me. Mother, sisters, may God forgive all the sins i committed against you. Rest well. "

It was an unusual prayer as if he was blaming himself. He just standing there for a bit before leaving to his family's grave. Iguro was always a mysterious person. Sometimes he can sense the sadness despite the serpent hashira's harshness. Thinking back of their training, iguro never forget to make time for them to rest, and bought them food despite he himself was never seen to eat in front of his tsuguko.

"iguro sama is a good person. I know. "

.....

The first sight of muzan desperately swinging his tentacles around to slash the hashiras. He was in the back, supporting others. He was terrified to be fair. Grasping his sword as tightly as he could, he run towards the battlefield. In front of him the hashiras, iguro, tomioka and kanroji was happened to be in a very dangerous position. There were too close to the demon king.

He didn't know how, but his body moved automatically, leading the charge, he yell.

"PROTECT THE HASHIRA!!! MOVED!!!"

"Grasp you sword's handle tightly, loosing up your wrist. Get used to it"

As tightly as he can, he grasp his sword, charging, in front of the serpent hashira, he try to slash the tentacle, it was too fast however, but he still grasping his sword tightly.

He was facing Iguro. Throwing his whole body, the last thing he could see was his master's eyes.

"you.."