《Demon Slayer: The Kamado Legacy》


 Chapter 1: Trek Down the Mountain

    In a cold and desolate forest, there sits a house belonging to a family of charcoal makers. Next to the charcoal kiln are two boys, currently putting their woven baskets filled with charcoal onto their backs. The younger boy, who is 13 years of age, is donning a checkered, black-and-sea-foam-green haori over a white robe. The older boy, who is 14 years of age, has a black haori which turns to white halfway down the cloth over a similar white robe.


    A woman''s voice sounds out as the two finished gathering their charcoal.


    "Hiroto! Tanjiro!" the woman calls out, wearing a white and long-sleeved smock over a purple and cream checkered kimono, along with a white cloth covering her hair. Her name is Kie Kamado, the mother of the two boys.


    Turning around, Hiroto and Tanjiro both look over to their mother. Their faces and hands covered in soot from gathering the charcoal.


    "Look at you two, both of your faces are covered in soot. Come over here." Kie says as she wipes her hands clean on her clothes.


    The two boys walk over to their mother, who kneels and starts wiping Tanjiro''s face first clean of soot. Worry can be seen in her eyes as she looks at her two boys.


    "It''s dangerous with all this snow. You two don''t have to go, you know." Kie says, wiping off the last of the soot on Tanjiro''s face and starts cleaning Hiroto up next.


    "Well, we both want everyone to eat their fill on New Year''s so me and Tanjiro are going to sell as much charcoal as we can." Replied Hiroto, the older boy.


    Hiroto has messy, ruffled up black hair with burgundy tips tied into a ponytail along with Tanjiro. His hair is similar to his younger brother, Tanjiro, but the darker parts are more concentrated, while the burgundy seems to be sharper in contrast. Hiroto''s eyes are wide and dark red, also similar to Tanjiro''s. However, his eyes also have a hint of purple on the outside as it seems to be inherited from his mother.


    Hiroto''s height is 160cm, just slightly above Tanjiro when standing next to him.


    Kie looks at the two and smiles, "Thank you boys" she says.


    Hiroto smiles at his loving mother, and just when he is about to say something to Tanjiro he is interrupted.


    "Big bro!" a young boy''s voice can be heard.


    "Hm?" Hiroto and Tanjiro both turn to look towards the source of the voice, to see their younger siblings, Shigeru and Hanako, running towards them.


    "Are you both going to town again today?" Asked Shigeru in an excited tone.


    Hanako shouts out beside him in a pleading tone, "I''m going with you two!"


    Behind the two coming from around the corner of the house is Takeo with an axe on his shoulder. He stutters in his step seeing the scene to his left.


    "Oh no, you''re not you two," Kie says, standing up. "You both know that you can''t walk as fast as Hiroto and Tanjiro."


    "But Mom!" Shigeru says, shaking both his fists in agitation.


    "No buts" Kie responds. "Since they both can''t use the cart today because of the snow, they both won''t be able to give you a ride when you''re tired. You don''t want to be a burden to them now do you?"


    Both Shigeru and Hanako pouts at her words. Shigeru lunges towards Hiroto and grabs onto his clothes shouting out, "Big bro!" and hugging him.


    Hanako walks up behind Shigeru and looks pleadingly towards Hiroto, "I wanna go with you!" Using her puppy eyes. "I promise I''ll help you two!"


    Hiroto rubs the head of both Shigeru and Hanako, calming them down a bit. "Thanks, Hanako, but you have to stay home today. It''s going to be dangerous walking down the path with all this snow." Hiroto says, gently pushing Shigeru out of his embrace in front of him.


    Tanjiro crouches down next to Shigeru and puts a hand on his shoulder and cheek reassuring him. "Don''t worry, we''ll get you tons of goodies from the village, okay?" Tanjiro says.


    Hiroto, looking at the scene smiles, at how close his siblings are. He rubs Hanako''s head and say''s, "Don''t worry Hanako, your big brother will read for you when we get back."


    "Okay!" Hanako says, smiling up at Hiroto.


    Kie looking at the scene playing out in front of her is grateful for her doting elder siblings. "Thank you both so much Hiroto, Tanjiro."


    *Chuckle* "It''s no problem, Mom. Me and Tanjiro should get going now or we might not make it back before nighttime." Hiroto says, turning to Takeo at the back, who is resting an axe on his shoulder. "Can you chop as much wood as you can Takeo? You should be strong enough to chop a lot now right?" Hiroto says to him, teasing a bit.


    "Don''t tease me, big bro. Sure I''ll do it but¡­ I was hoping that I could do with you and Tanjiro." Takeo says turning away and pouting.


    Hiroto, seeing the scene just laughs, "Ha ha ha don''t be missing us too much when we''re both gone." Hiroto says to Takeo.


    Tanjiro walk''s up and starts patting Takeo''s head, "There there," Tanjiro says.


    Takeo swipes the hands away from his head and shouts to Tanjiro, "What''s with that all of a sudden?."Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    "There there," Tanjiro says as he caresses Takeo''s head again.


    "I said, cut it out!" Takeo says jumping back with his hand on his hips.


    "Hahahaha" Hiroto and his family laugh at the scene in front of him. "Come on Tanjiro, let''s get going," Hiroto says turning away towards the path.


    "Be safe, okay?" "Hurry back, okay!" Shouts Hanako and Shigeru.


    Hiroto and Tanjiro waves back at them as they walk away. On Hiroto''s hand, there is a bracelet made up of black beads with a silver piece that has engravings in the middle of the bracelet. This was given to him by his father before he passed away from disease.


    Walking along the path, the two meet their younger sister, Nezuko with Rokuta on her back wrapped up in a cloth. Nezuko has her hair long black hair done up into a bun with pink hair ties. She has soft-looking pink eyes that match her pink kimono.


    "Big Brothers!" Nezuko says with Rokuta on her back sleeping.


    Hiroto looks at Nezuko and says, "Hey, Nezuko. Me and Tanjiro are both leaving now for the village. How''s Rokuta? Did he cause much trouble?" Looking at Rokuta on her back sleeping.


    Nezuko looks at her oldest brother and says while smiling, "He didn''t cause too much trouble, I just put him down for a nap or else he would start making a scene when you both leave."


    Nezuko looks back to Rokuta''s peaceful smiling face and says softly, "He misses Dad a lot after he passed away. So he looks up to you a lot Hiroto."


    Hiroto looks at Rokuta with a caring smile as he softly ruffles his hair a bit.


    "It''s been hard for us all after Dad passed away. We only have each other, so we have to look out for one another as much as we can. Especially Mom." Hiroto says quietly to both Nezuko and Tanjiro, who look towards their caring older brother with both care and respect.


    Ever since their father passed away, Hiroto has always made sure to support the family as best he could. Chopping the wood and making charcoal to go sell at the village down the mountain. To their eyes, Hiroto has become a pillar supporting the family when they were grieving. This led to Hiroto''s siblings treating Hiroto as a father figure to them, alongside Tanjiro as he also tries his best to help his big brother in supporting the family.


    "Everyone wants to follow you where ever you go, not even allowing you to leave their sights," Nezuko says.


    "Haha, ain''t that true," Hiroto responds, before urging Tanjiro to follow him along to the village. "We''ll be going now Nezuko, Take care!"


    "See you both later!" Nezuko says looking at the departing backs of her older brothers, before turning to go back home.


    As the two continue on down the path, Tanjiro looks towards Hiroto and asks. "Hey, big bro, do you think we''ll make it back on time before it gets too dark?"


    "Of course we can, well that is unless a certain somebody doesn''t keep helping everyone around town like last time," Hiroto says, smirking towards Tanjiro.


    Tanjiro blushes in embarrassment, "well¡­ there''s nothing wrong with that right?"


    "Yea, yea, don''t worry I was only teasing you. That''s a good quality to have Tanjiro, but you should also know that there is a time and place for everything right?" Hiroto says ruffling Tanjiro''s hair.


    "Of course I know that it''s not like I help everyone I see¡­" Tanjiro says, almost whispering the last part of his sentence.


    Hiroto looks teasingly at Tanjiro. "Oh? Are you sure about that? You do know that nothing escapes my eyes right? I can tell that whenever you see someone needing help you would always fidget. Take Grandma Kioko for example. Last time we went to the village and you saw her looking around for something you immediately started feeling uncomfortable and start fidgeting. *sigh* it''s almost like it''s built into you."


    "Hey now, that''s not true! Well, maybe a bit of it." Tanjiro responds. "Ehhhh" Hiroto mutters with deadpan eyes. Tanjiro''s hands start to fidgets slightly. Of course, this doesn''t escape Hiroto''s eyes.


    "Ok maybe you''re right, but there''s nothing wrong with that is there," Tanjiro says to Hiroto.


    Hiroto pats Tanjiro''s head saying, "Of course there isn''t. In fact, it makes me proud seeing you want to help others this much. Well, we better hurry to the Village before it gets dark." Having lost his father, Hiroto started maturing a lot faster than his other siblings to set himself as a role model for his brothers and sisters.


    As Hiroto retracts his hand from Tanjiro''s head, Tanjiro looks at Hiroto''s hands. There is a burn mark on his right hand, stretching from inside of his palm to the side of his hand. A look of guilt is present in Tanjiro''s eyes as he looks at the burn mark. Hiroto notices the look in Tanjiro''s eyes and sighs.


    "*sigh* Tanjiro, how many times do I have to say it. It wasn''t your fault. Besides you got burnt too." Hiroto points towards the upper left side of Tanjiro''s forehead, which has a sizeable burn mark on it similar to their deceased father. "Look, if you hadn''t stepped in to help out your brother when the brazier fell because he knocked it down, it could''ve been much worse. Rokuta could''ve been hurt severely. Both of us getting burnt a bit to shield Rokuta is nothing compared to what could''ve been."


    Tanjiro looks down as he blames himself a bit for his older brother getting the burn mark. When Tanjiro dove in to shield Rokuta from the brazier after it was knocked down, Hiroto reached his hand out to try and stop it from falling but instead grabbed onto the burning charcoals which spilled out next to the edge after Tanjiro bumped into the brazier when diving.


    Hiroto headchops Tanjiro lightly and says, "If you don''t stop it with that look then I won''t bring you with me again when I go down to the village."


    Tanjiro then looks as though the world was crumbling as he quickly responds pleadingly, grabbing onto Hiroto''s left arm, "No no! Anything but that! Please let me go with you next time!"


    "Hahaha, that''s better," Hiroto says as the duo continue''s on towards the village.


    As the two arrive to the village they are recognized by some village folks.


    "Hey, Hiroto! Tanjiro! I can''t believe you two came down from the mountain on a day like this! It''s so cold outside, you might catch a cold if you aren''t careful now." A middleaged lady, whose age shall not be mentioned, says greeting the two.


    "It''s no problem miss, do you still need charcoal?" Hiroto says to her.


    "Hey, Tanjiro! Thanks for fixing my doors the other day!" An old man from across the street shouts out from his home.


    Hiroto looks towards Tanjiro smirking, "Well well, what did I say huh?"


    Tanjiro bumps his elbow towards Hirotos arm and says, "Stop teasing me now."


    From behind the two boys, there is the sound of a commotion happening inside of a house. As they turn around they see a man with a bleeding nose and mouth as he is being dragged by a woman outside.


    The man, as though seeing his savior and messiah, looks towards Hiroto and Tanjiro before yelling. "Hiroto! Tanjiro! You have to help me! I''ve been accused of breaking this plate!" The man proceeds to unwrap a bundle of cloth as he presents it towards the pair.


    Hiroto looks towards the pieces and can see very tiny pieces of fur attached to one of the plate pieces. Of course, no one else can see this as from birth Hiroto seems to have had a heightened sense of sight allowing him to see very tiny details and others tend to miss out on.


    Tanjiro, on the other hand, walks up to it and starts sniffing the pieces. Hiroto seeing the scene thought to himself, ''he''s practically a hound'' of course he wouldn''t say this out loud.


    *sniff sniff* "I smell a cat." Tanjiro says looking up to the woman with her arms crossed behind the weeping man. ''Yup, just like a hound'' Hiroto thought.


    Tanjiro, as though he could hear Hiroto''s thoughts. Twitched his eye a bit.


    "Oh my, so it was a cat?" The woman said.


    An old man behind the couple waves towards Tanjiro as he says, "Hey Tanjiro, can you lend me a hand with this luggage?"


    Hiroto thought to himself, ''*sigh* here we go again''.

 Chapter 2: Foreboding feeling

    It''s currently night now as both Hiroto and Tanjiro are walking back up the path towards their house. As the snow crunches under their foot, Tanjiro can''t help but complain quietly, "Jeez, it''s late already."


    "And who''s fault do you think that is huh?" Hiroto says looking at this younger brother.


    "Umm, well at least we sold all the charcoal left though. Haha." Tanjiro replies and laughing wearily.


    Hiroto responds back, *sigh* "Well we better start hurrying up a bit more, let''s just hope Mom still left some food for us to eat."


    As the two continue on, a rough and gruff voice sounds out from down the ditch to their left.


    "Oi, Hiroto! Tanjiro!"


    The two turn and look towards the direction of the voice and seeing that it''s Saburo. Saburo lives close to their house up the mountain as well. The man lives along and has sharp eyes, like those of a dead fish.


    "Are you going back up the mountain?" Saburo says, leaning out of his window. "You better not. It''s too dangerous at this time of night."


    Hiroto looks down towards Saburo and says, "It''s fine, I''ve got eyesight, even at night so I''ll be able to see anything that comes."


    "I''ve also got a great sense of smell, so we''ll be fine on our own." Tanjiro also replies.


    Saburo ignores what we said and responds back, "I''ll put you both up for the night, so you''ll sleep here. Come on, get back down here."


    Tanjiro looks up to Hiroto, not knowing what to do. Hiroto just looks at Saburo and he can see from his eyes that the old man won''t take no for an answer.


    "It''s fine Tanjiro, it''s only a night away. We can head back first thing in the morning." Hiroto says reassuring Tanjiro.


    "Good, now come in," Saburo says. "Before the demons show up."


    Saburo serves Hiroto and Tanjiro some food as he heard them mentioning about hoping to eat when they got home.


    As Hiroto finishes up his miso soup he places the chopsticks down and says, "Thanks for the meal" followed by Tanjiro.


    As Tanjiro is drinking his tea, he askes Saburo, "Hey, Granddad Saburo. What are demons like?"This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    This caught Hiroto''s interest as he is also curious about what they are like since Saburo warned them both about demons.


    Saburo, as he is getting out the futons replies back, "Man-eating demons have always prowled the land once it gets dark. That''s why you should never stroll around at night."


    Hiroto thought to himself, ''Really? Man-eating demons? It must be a bedtime story parents tell their kids so that they can sleep earlier."


    As Saburo finishes laying the futons out, he continues saying, "If you''re done eating, go to bed. You can set off for home at first light."


    Hiroto, however, notices that Saburo has extra futons laying around conveniently. "Hey, Granddad Saburo, how come you have extra futons when you live alone here?"


    Saburo halts for a moment as his eyes seem to show off a say look, before recovering back to head dead fish eyes look. This didn''t escape Hiroto''s sight.


    "I used to have a family here. Just like you two, I was going down to the village to get some food for us. However before I could go back up the mountain, a blizzard came in and I was stuck inside the village with no way up the mountain. It was too dark and the path was covered with snow for me to see. So, I waited until the next day before heading back. But when I came back, they were already gone."


    Hiroto and Tanjiro both were shocked by what they heard. "Did the demons do it?" Hiroto asked?


    Saburo, however, ignored him and continued smoking from his pipe.


    Tanjiro laid down in his futon and asked Saburo, "These demons, they wouldn''t come inside your house, would they?"


    Saburo replied with his back facing the two. "Yes, they''d come in." Blowing the smoke out of his pipe, he continues. "But that''s why the demon hunters are there to protect us, by slaying them." He taps the ashes out of his pipe before saying, "That''s it, lights out.


    Hiroto and Tanjiro can both vaguely remember, back when they were little their grandmother would sometimes tell the same stories that Saburo said, about the demons.


    In his futon, Hiroto lifts his right arm up and looks at the bracelet around his wrist. ''Dad, I hope that you are still watching over us, even when you''re gone. We all miss you."


    *The next morning*


    [Hiroto''s POV]


    As we both put on our empty woven baskets, we get ready to head back home after waking up.


    I look back towards Saburo and tell him, "We''re off now, thank you for letting us stay the night."


    Saburo waves his hand casually tells us both to be careful on our way up.


    As we continue up the mountain path, my eyes focus around on the surroundings. Looking at the leaves, thickets, and snow on the ground for any footprints. After what Saburo told me last night about demons I could never shake off this feeling of weariness from myself.


    The sounds of crows croaking around the forest top echo throughout the forest. When walking I could see Tanjiro stop from the corner of my eye, and his nose starts twitching. Does he smell something? Tanjiro focuses more and tries to identify the smell.


    *sniff sniff*


    The moment he opened his eyes, I could tell from how the pupils contracted that something was wrong.


    "Brother! I smell blood!" Tanjiro shouts towards me.


    At that moment alarm bells start ringing in my head, the sense of dread hit me like a big avalanche. I turn back towards the path up to our house and start sprinting. Tanjiro follows behind me with erratic breathing patterns from his nervousness.


    A few minutes later we both see the top of our house and the firewood stacks. Tanjiro''s voice sounds out from behind me.


    "Big bro, I can smell a lot of blood," he says nervously.


    I narrow my eyes as I run up the path until I can get a full view of the house. And what I saw was a sight that will forever haunt me.

 Chapter 3: Crimson Winter

    [Hiroto''s POV]


    Blood¡­


    There''s so much¡­


    I stood still, looking at Nezuko on the ground in front of the door, covering Rokuta.


    I want to scream, but no sound comes out.


    Tanjiro besides me see''s this and makes a sound that breaks my heart completely.


    "AGHH!!" It was a cry coming straight from his soul, a cry that doesn''t sound humane, as he drops the basket and runs up to the figures.


    I wake up from my shocked state, eyes full of water, and I grab the axe next to the firewood.


    "Nezuko! *huff puff* What happened?! What''s going on?!" Tanjiro shouts, kneeling next to the prone Nezuko, faced down.


    I run up beside him and look down, feeling my heartache as much as the day father died. No. Worse.


    I look inside the house, my eyes begin to shake and my legs tremble. I stumble inside the house, gripping the side of the door.


    "M¡­ Mom? Takeo¡­ everyone¡­ no¡­" I stutter at the scene in front of me. The sliding doors inside were broken down, blood seeped into the wooden floors and the tatami mats. Crimson decorates the walls and the lifeless bodies of my family. Takeo and Shigeru are laying on each other, Takeo''s eyes look at me dead in the end. Lifeless. His eyes seem to tell me, he was hoping for help. Hoping for someone to save them. So dim. So Void of life.


    I walk over to Takeo and grasp his lifeless face, muttering "T... Takeo? Please... Say something¡­ Take.." the words caught in my throat as I grab my chest in pain, I can barely see from the tears covering my eyes.


    I look over to the corner and see mother shielding Hanako behind her, both with their eyes closed. Blood all over their bodies. "Mom¡­ Hanako. No, please¡­ let this be a dream¡­" I say as I bang my head against the floor.


    *THUMP* "AGGGHHHHH" I yell out all of the pain that was building, clawing its way out of me. Griping my hands so tight that my fingernails dug into my hands, bleeding.


    I could hear Tanjiro''s voice behind me, and he falls onto his knees next to the door. "Mom¡­" *gasp* Tanjiro tries to breathe. "Takeo¡­ Shigeru¡­ Nezuko¡­ Rokuta.."


    I slowly get up and wipe my face to clear it of tears, my hands still covered with blood, smearing my face. I walk to Tanjiro grasping his shoulders.


    "Tanjiro, we need to find someone, find help. I can see Nezuko moving a bit. We have to go. We can''t stay here, we need to help Nezuko first before it''s too late." I said towards Tanjiro, as he wipes his eyes.


    "Nezuko" Tanjiro''s course voice says.


    "Yes, that''s right. We need to help Nezuko." I said, standing and pulling him up. I walk up to Nezuko and pull up her unto my back. The body of Rokuta underneath shows itself more and it made me falter. ''Why him too¡­ he was so young, so innocent.'' I thought to myself. I carry Nezuko onto my back as Tanjiro comes up behind me.


    "Tanjiro, we have to get her to a doctor. She might survive if we do so! Take the axe with you." I said handing it over to him, it''s only going to slow me down if I carry her with the axe.


    We started running back down the path that we can from, as the snow starts building up around us and falling down. The blood from Nezuko''s head drips unto my shoulder and unto the ground, coloring the snow red.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "What did this big brother? Was it a bear?" Tanjiro asks while running behind me.


    *huff puff* "I''m not sure Tanjiro. It might''ve been, but I''m not sure." I respond, not fully concentrating on talking, but rather on running. As I jump over a fallen dead tree I almost tripped along with Nezuko but managed to balance myself.


    *huff puff* ''It''s so cold...her body is getting colder'' I thought to myself.


    "Big Brother, it''s getting harder to breath *huff puff* my lungs hurt from the cold," Tanjiro says while gasping for breathing at the same time. All of this running through heavy snow is making it hard for us to traverse through.


    We''ve been running for almost 20 minutes down the path and it''s getting harder for us to endure. The cold weather, the snow, and the forest make it harder for us to continue on. I grit my teeth as I force myself to run, I need to push myself further or Nezuko might not make it.


    We make it up to a cliff-edge where we often walk on towards the village. There''s a steep drop towards our left if we''re not careful. As we keep on going I could hear Tanjiro behind me.


    "Brother, I saw her move her hand," Tanjiro shouted, happy at the chance that Nezuko is still moving.


    I can feel her moving. Nezuko then starts moving her body upright looking straight up to the sky.


    *grroowll*


    I can hear a low, throaty growl coming from her. She must have been hurt bad, I thought.


    *grrrrRRRRR* The growl gets louder, as Nezuko grips unto my shoulders with her nails. "Nezuko?! What''s wrong?! Stop shaking me!" I yelled out to her as I try to keep myself balanced.


    *GRRRRR* "ahhhHHH... AGHHHH!!"


    Nezuko keeps shaking and growling on my back, I turn around to try and see what''s wrong, but that was my biggest mistake. When I turned around my footing slipped off the ledge of the cliffside and I stumble off the cliff.


    "BROTHER!! NEZUKO!!" I hear Tanjiro yell, as he dives towards us to try and grab me, but the snow that piled up gave way from under him as he starts falling along with us.


    "AGGHHHHH" I yell as we start falling towards the ground.


    As I land with my back facing the ground, I braced for the impact. But I didn''t feel any pain, just numbness. ''The snow broke my fall, it was the snow that causes me to fall in the first place. Ironic'' I thought to myself. Tanjiro lands beside me facedown, taking in a mouthful of snow.


    I sit up, shaking the snow off of my haori and look around. "Nezuko?" I started looking around worriedly. Where did she go? I focus my eyes as best as I can to try and find her. Tanjiro also gets up and starts looking for her. I look around and see her standing next to a tree, her pink kimono covered in blood and her hail dangling on her face.


    "Nezuko! Are you alright? Try not to move too much." I said as I start running up to her. "Don''t try to walk, you don''t have any shoes on you''ll damage your feet." I walk up to her as I neared her, and when I was about to put my hands on her shoulders, she looked up suddenly.


    Her face was full of popping veins, fangs were growing from her mouth as her pupils dilated to that similar to a cat.


    *GRRR* "AHHH" Nezuko yells as she lunges at me with her mouth open trying to bite me. I push her back as I try to fight her. ''WHATS WITH HER STRENGTH?!'' I thought to myself.


    "Nezuko what are you doing?!" I yelled as she keeps trying to grab me. I tripped on a rock behind my foot as she falls onto me.


    "Brother!!! Catch!" Tanjiro shouts as he throws the axe towards me.


    As I turn to look at the axe, I thought to myself¡­ ''Tanjiro¡­ your aim is so bad!" The axe flies above both me and Nezuko as it lodges into the tree next to us. I put my palm unto Nezuko''s forehead to keep her from trying to get close and biting me as she wrestles on top of me.


    But then I could see past her, the snow on top of the tree was loosening. Thinking quickly, I look to the axe to my that''s lodged into the tree and I kick it. "Come on you bastard, fall!" I yell as I kick the axe again, this time causing the tree to reverberate, and loosen the snow towards us.


    As it falls, I push Nezuko with all my might off to the side and roll away. The moment I rolled away the snow fell onto Nezuko who was about to jump towards me. I run back to the tree, around the snow pile on Nezuko, and grab it again. I made sure to put the cover back onto the axe as I don''t to accidentally cut Nezuko. I pull Tanjiro behind, trying to catch my breath.


    *huff puff* "Tanjiro stand behind me, be careful. I don''t know why, but something''s wrong with Nezuko. It might be a concussion, but is there ever one this bad where they try and bite you?" I said, incredulously.


    Suddenly, Nezuko launches herself from under the snow, towards me while baring her fangs out. As I prepare myself to catch her, Nezuko swings a hand towards Tanjiro catching him in his chest and sending him flying into a tree.


    *THUD* "Gack!" Tanjiro coughed out as his back slammed against the tree.


    "Tanjiro!!"

 Chapter 5: Conviction

    The man scoffs at Tanjiro''s words, "Give me a break. Just now, he was about to be devoured.." The man says while lifting his katana towards my direction pointing at me.


    Hiroto replies back quickly, "No, you''re wrong! I''m sure that she knows who I am!"


    "We won''t let her hurt anyone! We''ll keep her away from people while looking out for her. She won''t do anything, so¡­ please¡­ don''t kill her." Tanjiro sputters out, while the last of his sentence was said into a low whisper.


    Putting a hand on Tanjiro''s shoulder, Hiroto comforted Tanjiro while saying, "Don''t worry we won''t let anything happen to her, or to the people around us. We''ll take full responsibility for her. We can find a cure for her. We''ll turn her ba¡­"


    "No" The man interrupts Hiroto midway. "You cannot cure her. Once you become a Demon, you can never go back to being a human."


    "We''ll find a way!" Tanjiro yells, spreading his hands out. "Please! We can find a way no matter what! So, please don''t kill her!"


    Hiroto, hearing Tanjiro''s pleas, is affecting and starts clenching his fists. "I''ll hunt down the one who slaughtered our family! I''ll find the one who made Nezuko like this! I''ll make right the wrongs, so please give us a chance!"


    As the man hears this, he moves his katana towards Nezuko''s neck preparing to cut her down. Tanjiro sees this gets desperate.


    "No! Please! We''ll both find the ones that took our family away from us! I have his scent so I can find him when he''s near! Please! Don''t take anyone else from me!" Tanjiro yells out while tears start littering his face.


    After a second of silence, Tanjiro gets on his knees into a dogeza position, planting his head into the snow with his hands in front of him begging the man.


    "I''m begging you... not to!" Tanjro''s voice breaks out from under, his voice cracking in between sobs. "*sniff* "Please¡­ Don''t kill me, little sister!"


    Hiroto sees this and starts to tremble. He is in disbelief that they would have to resort to begging for the man to spare his little sister. If only he was stronger, stronger to protect the ones he loves. Stronger, so no one else has to lose whom they love. And stronger, to hunt down the one who broke his family.


    Gripping his hands tightly as his nails dig into his palms while looking at the trembling figure on Tanjiro''s haunched figure Hiroto can''t help but blame himself for putting him into this position.


    "TANJIRO!" Hiroto yells out.


    "!!!" Tanjiro was shocked by the yell. He has very rarely ever heard Hiroto this mad before in his lifetime. The only time his older brother was ever this mad was when his father passed away, and he went to be alone in the forest. At that time Hiroto could be seen shouting in the air while banging his head against a tree. That was one of the few times Tanjiro ever saw Hiroto truly mad.


    Looking up to his brother, Tanjiro could see that his older brother''s eyes were watering and full of guilt. "Brother¡­"


    Before Hiroto could say anything, the man was silent after seeing what Tanjiro did. His look black hair, done into a ponytail, covers his eyes as he saw Tanjiro beg.


    He grits his teeth in rage and starts shaking. "You¡­ Don''t ever give others a chance to murder you!!" He yells out, Hiroto sees that now in the man''s eyes were a different emotion. Rage.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    "Stop that pathetic groveling! If it was the least bit effective, your family wouldn''t be dead! What are you going to do when you are with your sister after you encounter another Demon slayer?! Are you just going to keep begging and hoping they would spare you!? Can a weakling who can''t take the initiative in such a situation heal his sister?! Let alone, hunt down the enemy?! Don''t make me laugh!" The man lashes out at Tanjiro, fully raging at the display Tanjiro put out.


    Tanjiro looks incredulously towards the man, while Hiroto was also shocked by what he said. It was true if they wanted to hunt down the one who turned his little sister into a Demon, the one who killed his family he has to have conviction.


    As Hiroto looks at the man''s eyes, he can faintly see another emotion present there. Pain. This man must have been reminded of the past after seeing Tanjiro begging.


    The man continues yelling, "The weak have no rights or choices! Their only fate is to be relentlessly crushed by the strong!" Hearing this Hiroto clenched his fist stronger, as a light shines in his eyes. The man was right, they need to be strong in order to pursue what they want. To cure Nezuko and avenge his family.


    "We will get stronger!" Hiroto yells at the man. "We''ll train! We will look for someone to take us in! And after that, we will find the one who caused all this! So please, don''t kill Nezuko! She''s one of the two siblings I have left in this world. Don''t take another one away from me!"


    The man looks at Hiroto for a moment. He was reminded of how Hiroto was able to see his movements. ''Although the boy couldn''t catch up to the speed I moved, he could react in time to my hands, it might have been a fluke. Or¡­'' Shaking the last thoughts away he turns back to the two.


    "And how do you plan on doing that? Demons can''t be killed by normal means! Don''t think a Demon would just bend over and allow you to cut its head off! Naturally, I have no respect for your little brother there!" The man shouts and points towards the kneeling Tanjiro.


    "You have an axe with you while a stranger is holding unto your little sister preparing to kill her! And what do you do? You beg and plead for me to let her go! Do you think the Demons would respect your will and wishes?! They won''t give a damn about what you have to say! That''s reality! And you!" The man moves on to point towards me with his katana.


    "Why did you throw yourself over your sister earlier? Was that your way of protecting her? If you can''t protect yourself how do you expect to protect your siblings? Why didn''t you try and fight back! All you did was roll away! Why did you show your back to me? All those blunders led to your sister''s capture!" The man finishes off while twisting Nezuko''s arm more and tightly gripping the katana raised towards the two boys.


    "I could''ve Skewered her along with you when you pull her away! Count yourself lucky I only cut your hair and haori!" The man shouts with rage.


    Having realized this Hiroto''s will starts to shake. Everything that the man said was right. Tanjiro starts to tear up again at what the man said.


    The man looks resolutely to them and thinks to himself. ''Don''t cry. Don''t despair. Now''s not the time for that. I know you''re bost devastated. Having lost your family. But you still have each other to look after. Bottle those feelings and lock them away. Your family was massacred, and your sister became a Demon. I know it''s painful. I know you want to scream¡­. I get it. If only I''d gotten here a half-day sooner, your family might not have ended up dead. But there''s no way to turn back time.''


    ''Feel the rage. The powerful, pure rage of not being able to forgive will become your unswerving drive to take action! Your conviction for revenge! With your little brother''s fragile resolve, you can''t protect your sister or heal her¡­'' The man raises his katana once more and aims the point down towards Nezuko''s neck. ''Or get revenge for your family.''


    "No!" Tanjiro and Hiroto shout seeing the man raise his katana.


    "Ahhh!AHH!!" Nezuko screams struggling to get out of the man''s grasp.


    *swish shting* "AHHHH '''' Nezuko cries out as the man pierces his katana straight into Nezuko''s chest.


    "Stop!" Tanjiro cries as Hiroto sees him lifting a stone to throw at the man. The moment Hiroto sees this, he immediately moves to grab the axe from the ground beside Tanjiro.


    *Clang* The man''s katana sounds out as he blocks the stone. A moment later, the snow picks up from around them as the wind blows in, obscuring the scene from both sides momentarily.


    Hiroto runs off to the man''s left side while Tanjiro runs to the man''s right flank, throwing another stone.


    "Tanjiro! His hand!" Hiroto yells out, as he runs behind a tree while secretly piling a handful of snow in his hand and hides it behind his back before running at the man.


    Tanjiro, hearing this, aims at the mains hand with the stone in his hand. *Clang* The katana sounds out again as the man effortlessly blocks the stone.


    "AGHHHH!" Hiroto yells out as he yells at the man while charging at him, the axe in his rang hand raised ready to strike.

 Chapter 5: Conviction

    The man scoffs at Tanjiro''s words, "Give me a break. Just now, he was about to be devoured.." The man says while lifting his katana towards my direction pointing at me.


    Hiroto replies back quickly, "No, you''re wrong! I''m sure that she knows who I am!"


    "We won''t let her hurt anyone! We''ll keep her away from people while looking out for her. She won''t do anything, so¡­ please¡­ don''t kill her." Tanjiro sputters out, while the last of his sentence was said into a low whisper.


    Putting a hand on Tanjiro''s shoulder, Hiroto comforted Tanjiro while saying, "Don''t worry we won''t let anything happen to her, or to the people around us. We''ll take full responsibility for her. We can find a cure for her. We''ll turn her ba¡­"


    "No" The man interrupts Hiroto midway. "You cannot cure her. Once you become a Demon, you can never go back to being a human."


    "We''ll find a way!" Tanjiro yells, spreading his hands out. "Please! We can find a way no matter what! So, please don''t kill her!"


    Hiroto, hearing Tanjiro''s pleas, is affecting and starts clenching his fists. "I''ll hunt down the one who slaughtered our family! I''ll find the one who made Nezuko like this! I''ll make right the wrongs, so please give us a chance!"


    As the man hears this, he moves his katana towards Nezuko''s neck preparing to cut her down. Tanjiro sees this gets desperate.


    "No! Please! We''ll both find the ones that took our family away from us! I have his scent so I can find him when he''s near! Please! Don''t take anyone else from me!" Tanjiro yells out while tears start littering his face.


    After a second of silence, Tanjiro gets on his knees into a dogeza position, planting his head into the snow with his hands in front of him begging the man.


    "I''m begging you... not to!" Tanjro''s voice breaks out from under, his voice cracking in between sobs. "*sniff* "Please¡­ Don''t kill me, little sister!"


    Hiroto sees this and starts to tremble. He is in disbelief that they would have to resort to begging for the man to spare his little sister. If only he was stronger, stronger to protect the ones he loves. Stronger, so no one else has to lose whom they love. And stronger, to hunt down the one who broke his family.


    Gripping his hands tightly as his nails dig into his palms while looking at the trembling figure on Tanjiro''s haunched figure Hiroto can''t help but blame himself for putting him into this position.


    "TANJIRO!" Hiroto yells out.


    "!!!" Tanjiro was shocked by the yell. He has very rarely ever heard Hiroto this mad before in his lifetime. The only time his older brother was ever this mad was when his father passed away, and he went to be alone in the forest. At that time Hiroto could be seen shouting in the air while banging his head against a tree. That was one of the few times Tanjiro ever saw Hiroto truly mad.


    Looking up to his brother, Tanjiro could see that his older brother''s eyes were watering and full of guilt. "Brother¡­"


    Before Hiroto could say anything, the man was silent after seeing what Tanjiro did. His look black hair, done into a ponytail, covers his eyes as he saw Tanjiro beg.


    He grits his teeth in rage and starts shaking. "You¡­ Don''t ever give others a chance to murder you!!" He yells out, Hiroto sees that now in the man''s eyes were a different emotion. Rage.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Stop that pathetic groveling! If it was the least bit effective, your family wouldn''t be dead! What are you going to do when you are with your sister after you encounter another Demon slayer?! Are you just going to keep begging and hoping they would spare you!? Can a weakling who can''t take the initiative in such a situation heal his sister?! Let alone, hunt down the enemy?! Don''t make me laugh!" The man lashes out at Tanjiro, fully raging at the display Tanjiro put out.


    Tanjiro looks incredulously towards the man, while Hiroto was also shocked by what he said. It was true if they wanted to hunt down the one who turned his little sister into a Demon, the one who killed his family he has to have conviction.


    As Hiroto looks at the man''s eyes, he can faintly see another emotion present there. Pain. This man must have been reminded of the past after seeing Tanjiro begging.


    The man continues yelling, "The weak have no rights or choices! Their only fate is to be relentlessly crushed by the strong!" Hearing this Hiroto clenched his fist stronger, as a light shines in his eyes. The man was right, they need to be strong in order to pursue what they want. To cure Nezuko and avenge his family.


    "We will get stronger!" Hiroto yells at the man. "We''ll train! We will look for someone to take us in! And after that, we will find the one who caused all this! So please, don''t kill Nezuko! She''s one of the two siblings I have left in this world. Don''t take another one away from me!"


    The man looks at Hiroto for a moment. He was reminded of how Hiroto was able to see his movements. ''Although the boy couldn''t catch up to the speed I moved, he could react in time to my hands, it might have been a fluke. Or¡­'' Shaking the last thoughts away he turns back to the two.


    "And how do you plan on doing that? Demons can''t be killed by normal means! Don''t think a Demon would just bend over and allow you to cut its head off! Naturally, I have no respect for your little brother there!" The man shouts and points towards the kneeling Tanjiro.


    "You have an axe with you while a stranger is holding unto your little sister preparing to kill her! And what do you do? You beg and plead for me to let her go! Do you think the Demons would respect your will and wishes?! They won''t give a damn about what you have to say! That''s reality! And you!" The man moves on to point towards me with his katana.


    "Why did you throw yourself over your sister earlier? Was that your way of protecting her? If you can''t protect yourself how do you expect to protect your siblings? Why didn''t you try and fight back! All you did was roll away! Why did you show your back to me? All those blunders led to your sister''s capture!" The man finishes off while twisting Nezuko''s arm more and tightly gripping the katana raised towards the two boys.


    "I could''ve Skewered her along with you when you pull her away! Count yourself lucky I only cut your hair and haori!" The man shouts with rage.


    Having realized this Hiroto''s will starts to shake. Everything that the man said was right. Tanjiro starts to tear up again at what the man said.


    The man looks resolutely to them and thinks to himself. ''Don''t cry. Don''t despair. Now''s not the time for that. I know you''re bost devastated. Having lost your family. But you still have each other to look after. Bottle those feelings and lock them away. Your family was massacred, and your sister became a Demon. I know it''s painful. I know you want to scream¡­. I get it. If only I''d gotten here a half-day sooner, your family might not have ended up dead. But there''s no way to turn back time.''


    ''Feel the rage. The powerful, pure rage of not being able to forgive will become your unswerving drive to take action! Your conviction for revenge! With your little brother''s fragile resolve, you can''t protect your sister or heal her¡­'' The man raises his katana once more and aims the point down towards Nezuko''s neck. ''Or get revenge for your family.''


    "No!" Tanjiro and Hiroto shout seeing the man raise his katana.


    "Ahhh!AHH!!" Nezuko screams struggling to get out of the man''s grasp.


    *swish shting* "AHHHH '''' Nezuko cries out as the man pierces his katana straight into Nezuko''s chest.


    "Stop!" Tanjiro cries as Hiroto sees him lifting a stone to throw at the man. The moment Hiroto sees this, he immediately moves to grab the axe from the ground beside Tanjiro.


    *Clang* The man''s katana sounds out as he blocks the stone. A moment later, the snow picks up from around them as the wind blows in, obscuring the scene from both sides momentarily.


    Hiroto runs off to the man''s left side while Tanjiro runs to the man''s right flank, throwing another stone.


    "Tanjiro! His hand!" Hiroto yells out, as he runs behind a tree while secretly piling a handful of snow in his hand and hides it behind his back before running at the man.


    Tanjiro, hearing this, aims at the mains hand with the stone in his hand. *Clang* The katana sounds out again as the man effortlessly blocks the stone.


    "AGHHHH!" Hiroto yells out as he yells at the man while charging at him, the axe in his rang hand raised ready to strike.

 Chapter 6: Resolution

    "You fool!" The man shouts, as he turns his katana backward with the hilt facing Hiroto, and slams it into Hiroto''s stomach.


    *THUMP* "GACKK!" Hiroto spits out as the force is driven into his gut. Before falling over Hiroto see''s Tanjiro approaching ready to tackle the man to the ground, throwing the snow he has in his hand towards the man''s face. Before passing out himself.


    The man''s eyebrow raised slightly seeing Hiroto''s actions, ''Similar to what I did to you.'' he thought to himself.


    "Brother!" Tanjiro shouts.


    "Idiot, don''t just shout out when you''re trying to attack someone from behind." The man said turning around and kicking towards Tanjiro''s stomach. Before the kick lands on him, Tanjiro quickly drops his head towards the man''s feet and headbutts it.


    *THWACK* "Huh?" The man''s eyes widened as he thought, ''what the hell is this kid''s head made of? Stone? That numbed my foot.''


    As the man''s foot was pushed towards the ground, before Tanjiro could look up the man thrust the hilt of the katana straight into Tanjiro''s back, forcing him onto the ground.


    *THUMP* "Ughh¡­" Tanjiro falls next to Hiroto, unconscious.


    Nezuko, seeing the sight of her two older brothers unconscious in front of her, starts to shake in disbelief.


    The man looks down towards the two boys back laying on the ground and thought to himself. ''Wait, where''s the axe the older one dropped?''


    Sensing something about him, the man looks up to see axe falling straight down towards him, gathering more and more speed.


    *Clanggg* Using instinct alone, the man parries the axe away into the side of a tree as it was about to fall onto him. ''He threw it after throwing the snow at me. Not just him, his younger brother''s hands.'' He looks towards Tanjiro''s hand to see the sharp edge of a broken piece of stone in it, sharp enough to cut someone. ''These two were ready to face me with whatever they had. These kids¡­''


    "AGhhh!! ARGH!" Nezuko screams out, struggling out of the man''s grasp as she sees the two boys in front of her.


    She frees herself from the man''s grip before turning around and kicking his towards his stomach. ''Crap!'' the man thought, not having enough time to dodge.


    *THUB* The kick sounds out as the pressure released from the kick causes the snow to shift from the pure shockwave. The man, taking the full brunt of the kick, is launched a short distance away, recovering himself and stopping himself by planting his feet down.


    Nezuko runs towards the two brothers on the ground with her hands out reaching for them. ''Damn! She''ll devour them!'' But just before her hands reached them, the man was caught in disbelief. His eyes widening at what he saw in front of him.


    ''I know that it wasn''t her! I could still see the Nezuko I know of in her eyes! Nezuko, who''s my younger sister!'' The words of Hiroto sound out in his head, as he looks towards Nezuko.


    Only to see her sliding and crouching in front of the two, with her hands spread out to shield them.


    "Grrrrr" Nezuko does a small warning growl towards the man, bearing her fangs towards him as if to warn him not to get closer.


    Nezuko then launches herself towards the man, "Graaahhh!" Veins bulging on her forehead and her pupils dilated running towards him.


    ''Long ago, someone once said the same thing.'' The man thought as he dodges and backs off from Nezuko''s attack. ''Only to be devoured by a demon. When a demon is starving, it will kill and devour even its parents or siblings. Because they''re nutrient-rich. I''ve seen it happen more times than I can count.''


    Dodging a kick launched from Nezuko the man backs off to put some distance between himself and her. ''This girl has been wounded, and she''s expending energy to heal those injuries.'' Nezuko slashes at the man with her nails towards the man''s face, only to have him duck out of the way and strafing to the sides, kicking up a trail of snow.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ''She must''ve drained vast amounts of her strength as she transformed into a demon.'' As Nezuko claws towards the man he dodges to her left while turning, and in mid-turn shoves the hilt of his katana into her midriff before facing her and using his left palm to push her back.


    ''That means she''s severely starved at his moment, without a doubt.'' Nezuko stops and recovers from the attack. "Grrrrr. ARGGG" Nezuko yells before charging him, her hair fluttering behind her, once again.


    ''She must''ve wanted to feast on a human right away, even if it''s her own two brothers¡­ Yet, she protected him instead, and she even intimidated me¡­'' The man back off, as Nezuko launches herself up to a tree. As she hangs onto the tree, the man sheaths his katana back into his sheath and a *click* sounds out as it is stored.


    ''I wonder, these siblings might be¡­'' Nezuko launches herself towards the man once more with her right hand raised, aiming to maim the man. The man rests his left hand onto the sheath of the katana with his right hand on the hilt, ready to draw and strike. ''... different from others.''


    As Nezuko closes in on the man, only inches away, the man quickly raises his right hand towards her neck and then *THWACK* chops the side of her neck, knocking her out to the side.


    "Ughh¡­" Nezuko mutters out, before falling over to the side closing her eyes.


    [Unknown POV]


    It was dark all around, only the unconscious bodies of Hiroto and Tanjiro lay on the nonexistent ground. The rest of the Kamado family could be seen surrounding the two figures, having a light aura around them. They look down towards the two boys in worry.


    Kie Kamado, their mothers kneels down next to them, whispering softly. "I''m sorry to leave you two behind, Hiroto, Tanjiro." Leaning in closer towards the ears of the two boys, she mutters, "Take care of Nezuko for me, all right boys?"


    Kie then turns over to Hiroto, before whispering to him, "Please, watch over your younger siblings Hiroto. Take care of them in my stead. Be the pillar that supports them." Kie then reaches over to Hiroto''s bracelet and lightly touches it. "I''ll always be with you, we all will¡­"


    [Hiroto''s POV]


    Waking up, I immediately grasped onto what was in my left hand. Feeling a piece of cloth, I look over to my left to see Nezuko laying beside me.


    Relief hits me, as tears start to cloud my eyes. ''Thank god, she''s safe." I thought. Looking towards her face, I can see her sleeping with a piece of bamboo covering her mouth, tied with a cloth on each end of it going behind her head.


    Reaching over to her face, I lightly stroke it muttering, "I''ll cure you, no matter what it takes Nezuko¡­"


    "So, you finally woke up?" The man''s voice from before sounds out from in front of me. I quickly looked up to see him leaning onto the side of a tree. One thing that I noticed from him, is that his eyes aren''t as emotionless as before. It was a bit softer, not too much, but still softer as he gazes towards the siblings.


    Afraid that he might attack us again, I quickly sit up and pull Nezuko into my embrace, and pull Tanjiro''s body close to mine.


    Tanjiro from the movement woke up, and groggily sat up.


    "Go see an old man named Sakonji Urokodaki who lives at the foot of Mt. Sagiri." The man says with his arms crossed.


    "Tell him that Giyu Tomioka sent you." The man, who calls himself Giyu, gets off of the tree with his arm hanging by his sides. "She seems to be alright since it''s cloudy right now, but never let her be exposed to the sunlight, okay?" Giyu says, before disappearing from our sights.


    "What, where did he go?" Tanjiro asks as the man disappears from in front of us.


    "I don''t know what he did, but it doesn''t matter for now Tanjiro. We have to go back to our home and¡­" I mutter the last parts of the words, not having the strength to say the words I need to.


    Tanjiro catches on to what I was saying and nods sadly as he looks down. "Brother, is Nezuko fine?" He asks me looking towards her in my arms.


    I look down at her and see her eyes twitching a bit. I look to where the wound was when the man stabbed her with his katana, but she doesn''t seem to be hurt.


    "She''s alright. Just tired I''m guessing. Come on, let''s go. We have to go back to our home." I said while standing up with Nezuko in my arms. I put her back on my back as I wait for Tanjiro to follow me.


    "Do you think we can trust that man? About going to see this Urokodaki person?" Tanjiro asks me, as we walk back up to the path we fell from.


    "I don''t know, but he''s our best bet right now. The person, Giyu wouldn''t lie to us if he was making us walk into a trap. He could''ve killed Nezuko when he had the chance but he didn''t." I told him as we continued on towards our home.


    [1 Hour later]


    I''m kneeling down in a grave that we dug with 5 different mounds in it of various sizes. This was where we buried our family.


    Tanjiro is kneeling beside me as we give our last respects and prayers to our family with Nezuko standing behind us.


    After finishing we stood back up. I walk over to Nezuko and hold her hand to guide her. Tanjiro has the basket that we used to carry the charcoal, filled with a bit of food from inside of the house that I told him to grab.


    "Let''s go," I said walking off while pulling Nezuko with me. Her hair seems to have changed. Just past her elbows, the color of her hair turned into a vermilion color, as it appears to be crimped into large, and straight ridges.


    ''It must have been from turning into a Demon.'' I thought to myself, as we walk away from our empty and quiet house, leaving the graves of our mother and siblings behind.

 Chapter 7: A new day

    [Third person perspective]


    It was early morning as the crows were flying up above a rice paddy farm. At the house next to the bamboo forest, Hiroto and Tanjiro could be seen talking to some farmers nearby. There was no longer any snow where they were at.


    "Would you mind if we took a basket, straw, and some bamboo over there?" Hiroto asks the two as he points towards the side of the house. They needed another basket since the one they brought with them is carrying their food.


    "Well sure, you''re welcome to it." The old farmer says resting his hoe to the side. "But that basket''s full of holes, are you sure you want it?"


    Tanjiro cut''s in before Hiroto could respond, "Yes. We''ll pay you for it."


    The farmer waves his hand, "No, that''s all right. I mean, it''s a basket with holes."


    Tanjiro, being stubborn, says, "No, I will pay you!"


    The farmer shakes his head this time, responding, "No, it''s all right. You can have the bamboo and straw for free, too."


    Tanjiro then stubbornly shouts as he reaches into his robe, "But I''m still paying you!"


    Seeing this, Hiroto just facepalms at the scene in front of him. ''When Tanjiro gets like this, there''s no use arguing against him.'' Hiroto thought to himself.


    The man, now clearly surprised at the stubborn Tanjiro shouts back, "I said it''s okay! You''re one stubborn kid aren''t you!" with his palm outstretched to stop him.


    Tanjiro takes his hand and slaps, hard, the change into the man''s hand.


    *SMACK* "PLEASE ACCEPT THIS, ALTHOUGH IT''S JUST SMALL CHANGE!" Tanjiro shouts as the man is in disbelief and in pain. Tanjiro''s smack was not that soft.


    Grabbing the basket along with the bamboo and straw, Tanjiro runs ahead yelling back, "Thank you very much!" Hiroto looking at the poor old farmer and scratching the back of his head saying,


    "Haha, umm¡­ youth right? Thank you very much!" Hiroto thanked the man before following Tanjiro.


    The farmer, grasping his wrist in pain, shouts out as he drops the change. "OUCH!!"


    [Hiroto POV]


    When we arrive at a little cave on the side of a cliff, we both look in putting the supplies down behind us.


    "Nezuko?" I call out.


    "Huh? Nezuko?" Tanjiro follows up.


    We look inside of the dark cave, with my eyesight I could see a hole dug at the end of the cave, with the pile of dirt next to it.


    "Huh? Is she in the hole?" I wondered out loud.


    Tanjiro, who can''t see that well asks, "Hole? So she isn''t gone?" feeling relieved.


    *pop*


    As though as on cue, a little head pops up halfway of the hole with a little "mfm"


    "Ah, there she is," I said seeing the little mole *cough* Nezuko.


    "Mmmmm" Nezuko mumbles through her bamboo mouthpiece looking at us a bit worried from the sun behind us.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    "... Nezuko?" Tanjiro asks confused. "She dug a hole?" he says looking towards me.


    "Our little sister turned into a mole." We both look at Nezuko, who we can only see the upper half of her face. Nezuko frowns a bit.


    ''Her face is scrunched up? She must not want the sunlight to hit her'' I thought to myself.


    "Wait there, for now, Nezuko, your brother and I will make you something to hide in from the sun. Come on Tanjiro, help me with the bamboo." I told him.


    We began working on the basket, with Tanjiro cutting the bamboo into sticks with our axe and me tying the strips around each other around the basket.


    We start to reinforce it to make sure that no sunlight can enter through any holes. ''Good thing this comes with straps'' I thought to myself.


    As we finish I take the basket and enter into the cave, with Tanjiro following behind me.


    "Nezuko? Hey, Nezuko. Do you think you can fit inside this basket here?" I lift up the basket, showing it to her. "We need to keep moving during the day to get to Sagiri Mountain quicker. I''ll carry you, okay?"


    "Hmm." Nezuko mumbles.


    I point inside the basket, "Can you fit? Get in. Here. Baasket." I tell her.


    Hearing me, she lifts herself out of the hole and crawls towards the basket that''s leaning sideways on the ground. Nezuko crawls and puts her head in. Then starts moving forward with her leg as though trying to fit her body in, moving the basket along with her.


    "Ah!" I yelped, seeing her stop with only the upper half of her body laying inside the basket, and the rest dangling out.


    "She kinda protrudes, huh? I can''t believe she grew up already. It seems like yesterday that she was tiny." Tanjiro says.


    "Haha, yes you''re right. I remember her always trying to hide inside my haori." I said back smiling to the prone Nezuko.


    "Wait, speaking of which¡­" My voice trails off as I thought of an idea.


    "Hey Nezuko, remember how you became big like an adult earlier in the forest?" I said to her, "Do you think you can do the opposite of that? Shrink your body so you can fit inside it?"


    "Shrink Nezuko, shrink!" I said patting her back, trying to get her to understand.


    Hearing me, Nezuko starts moving inside the basket. She starts to kneel on the ground and when she gets into position¡­ she dove straight into the basket headfirst with her legs up in the air!


    *FLOP FLOP* Nezuko''s legs start shaking around.


    "Ah! Nezuko!" Tanjiro exclaims.


    But just a moment later, the legs started to disappear from our sights, as well as the rest of her body until we can''t see her anymore.


    "..." ''That worked?'' I thought to myself


    "Hmm" Nezuko mumbles as her head pops up again.


    ''Mole/Mole'' Both me and Tanjiro thought to ourselves at once.


    "Ohhhh!" I praised Nezuko as she squints up happily towards us. "Good job! That''s my little Nezuko! I''m impressed!" I said, patting her head. She closes her eyes in bliss when receiving the pat.


    "Well we should get going, we can eat as we walk Tanjiro," I said looking towards him.


    "Mhm," Tanjiro responded nodding his head.


    "Alright Nezuko, we''re going to have to cover you up okay? You can sleep in there in the meantime when we''re traveling. Also, try not to make any noise now. People might find us suspicious if they hear a girl''s voice from our basket, hahaha." I said to Nezuko, who nods her head twice at the instructions.


    "Hmm hmm." She muffles.


    "That''s my girl," I told her. When I removed my hand, she started to doze off, preparing to sleep for the journey.


    "Tanjiro passed me the cloth and lid," I said to my little brother.


    As he passes me the two items, I close the lid on her and wrap the cloth around the basket before securing a knot on it.


    "Wait, does she need to breathe? She should right?" Tanjiro asks looking at me.


    I scratch my head, "Umm, I''m not too sure, let me ask." I tap the side of the basket, "Hey Nezuko, can you breathe in there"


    ¡­


    "She''s probably asleep," I said. "It should be fine, don''t worry. Alright, let''s head out then.


    *Several Hours Later*


    We stopped next to a woman''s house, as it is currently turning to night time and ask her for directions.


    "To get to Mount Sagiri, you first have to cross that mountain," She says pointing towards its direction. "The sun will set soon. And you two want to go there? While carrying that huge load? It''s dangerous for kids like you." The woman says,s in concern.


    "We''ll be plenty careful. Thank you very much." I said, bowing towards her.


    "Thank you very much." Tanjiro copies my actions, bowing.


    As we walk away, we hear her voice behind us.


    "People do disappear up there¡­ so don''t get lost!"


    *Night Descends*


    I let Nezuko out of her basket as the sun''s gone now. I can hear the owls hooting.


    The three of us walked up the path until I could see a temple up the hill on our right.


    "There''s a temple up there," I said while holding Nezuko''s hand to guide her along.


    "Tanjiro next to me says, "There''s light coming from there, so someone must be up there then."


    "Let''s check it out then," I say while leading the 2 up the steps to the temple.


    Before we got near, Tanjiro stops me and says with an anxious voice, "Brother, I smell blood!"

 Chapter 8: The Temple

    [Hiroto POV]


    "Someone might have been hurt, brother! We should go to help them out!" Tanjiro said, anxiously looking towards me.


    I nod my head towards him, "Sure let''s go, come on you two."


    I start running about with Nezuko in one hand and Tanjiro following behind us. As we run up the stairs I could see that the sliding door has holes in it. ''Was it just from neglect over the years, or done recently?'' I thought to myself.


    Running up to the door I put down the basket off to the side and open up the sliding door. The moment I could I inside I was shocked to the core.


    *chew chew* The sound of chewing comes from the person squatting in the house.


    Next to him are 3 bodies, a family of 3. They are all bloodied with lifeless eyes. The person in front of me was chewing on something, looking closer he was chewing on the woman''s arm!


    *gasp* I heard from Tanjiro behind.


    "What the hell? This is my turf." The person said squatting. When he turned around, his sharp teeth and face were covered in blood. With bulging eyes and veins. The green-haired man stares back towards us.


    "If you break into my territory, I''ll make you pay!"


    ''This¡­ this was a man-eating Demon!'' I thought to myself. I put my left hand on the axe, ready, with my right arm stretched out to the right to shield my siblings. "You guys, stay back. This person is dangerous."


    I turn around to look at Nezuko, her eyes were starting to widen as she stares at the bodies and the blood. ''Crap, she''s reacting to the blood. We need to get out of here!'' Nezuko starts salivating past her bamboo mouthpiece. *huff puff* Trying to control herself.


    "Oi oi¡­ I''m talking to you here, you brat. You should listen to your elders." *slurp* The man in front starts licking the blood off of his hand "Wait, there''s something off about you." He starts standing up while looking at us.


    "Are you both¡­ Humans?" The man said. I back up a step as he stands there looking at me. My hand tightens around the axe in my left hand as his bulging eyes keep staring at us. At that moment, I concentrated as much as I could on him. Trying to tell even the tiniest of movements. ''There!'' I thought as I see his leg muscles start to contract.


    *whoosh* The candle inside is blown out by the wind, and at the moment the Demon lunges at us. I quickly stepped to the side while pushing Tanjiro away the moment I saw him move. But he was too quick, as his body slams into me, sending me flying out with him on my body. I quickly swing my axe, aiming at his arms first.


    *Splat* His left arms get cut off by me as he''s in midair and I roll over on the ground from the impact.


    Looking at his arm, the Demon says, "Hehehe, a hatchet? Not a bad brat. But just an arm, you''re gonna have to do better than this hahaha." He starts mocking me.


    At that moment, his hair starts moving down his body onto his arm. The hair starts going for where the arm was chopped off as it attaches itself, and starts growing a new limb.


    ''What the hell'' I thought to myself. I look past him to see Tanjiro pick up a cleaver from inside of the temple and rushes behind the Demon.


    "AGHHH!!" Tanjiro shouts charging at him. The man turns around just as Tanjiro was about to swing at him. He quickly pounces towards Tanjiro and chokes him while grabbing the arm that''s holding the cleaver. He then throws Tanjiro towards me as our body collides with each other.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Tanjiro!! Gack!*" I cough out as I catch him flying towards me.


    I tried to stand up, but I noticed from how the air was moving around me that the Demon was moving towards us. I quickly duck out of instinct as his hands swipe where my head was. *Swoosh*


    "Eh?" The Demon sounded surprised as he missed, but continued with another attack. As he switches targets to Tanjiro I could see once again the airwaves being moved around. ''Someone else is coming?''


    I look over to where it was and I see Nezuko running straight towards us, with her pupils dilated and veins bulging on her forehead. She runs straight for us and when the Demon was about to get on top of Tanjiro she kicks his head off.


    "What!/Nani?!" Both Tanjiro and me shouted seeing Nezuko kicking the Demons head off.


    I push the Demons body over and look over to Nezuko. She was breathing hard, trying to control herself. "Hrf Hrf"


    "N¡­ Nezuko!" I shouted, but then *Fwsh* I could see a hand clawing its way towards me and unbelievable speed.


    *WHOK* Nezuko kicks the body away before it reaches us as it skids off the ground multiple times before hitting a tree.


    "I can''t believe it! Brother, It just moved with its head ripped off!" Tanjiro said shocked while looking towards the flung body.


    "WHY YOUUU¡­!" We heard a voice, and looked over to see the decapitated head on the ground a distance away from us, alive and shouting at us. "I knew it! One of you is a demon! Something didn''t seem right! What are a Demon and a Human doing together?! What sort of team-up is this?!"


    "What the hell! It''s still talking!" I shouted out towards the head.


    *Thump thump thump*


    I then noticed out of the corner of my eye, the Demon''s body getting up and sprinting towards Nezuko. The body grabs onto Nezuko trying to grapple her.


    "Stop!" Tanjiro yells as he prepares to swing his cleaver at the Demons arm.


    As he does this, I notice the grass and leaves being kicked up towards our left *swish* and quickly swing my axe towards it. The Demon was prepared and bit onto the axe head and tried to grip my shoulders from the arms growing out of the side of its head.


    *Swish* but before it could, Tanjiro changed the direction his cleaver and chopped off one of the head''s arm off before it could reach.


    "Aghh" The demon screamed out, but before I could react, it reached out its other arm toward me again and grabbed onto my shirt, digging its nails into my arm.


    "Aghh! Get off me!" I yelled. I decided that I should use the Kamado family''s secret technique to get out of this bind, as the hairs start to craw over my arm and axe.


    I lift my head up and brought it down onto the Demons head as fast as I could.


    *BOONK* The sound reverberated throughout the temple as it hits the Demons head, stunning him as his eyes try and gain focus.


    ''What the hell, his head. Is as hard as a rock!'' The demon thought to itself. As I try to get him to let go of me, the hair starts climbing the axe handle more, I grabbed the Demons head and using both of my thumbs to jam it into his eye sockets.


    "AGhhh!" The demon yelled as I blind him. It quickly retracts it''s hand and swipe at my hands on his face. I push the head away as I back up, avoiding the claw swipe going past me, *swoosh*.


    Tanjiro, seeing the head on the ground, runs up to the head and chops off its other arm.


    While Tanjiro was occupied with the head, I turn my attention to Nezuko, only to see her then get thrown away into the forest away from us by the body. "Nezuko!!" I yelled before running off after her.


    "Tanjiro, you deal with the head while I go and get Nezuko back!" I yelled back to Tanjiro before running off.


    "Wait! Brother!" Tanjiro yelled, but his voice trails off as I go deeper into the forest to find Nezuko.


    I look around the forest but can''t see her or the body. I concentrate on the ground to see where the leaves and branches were broken and discover a trail left behind by the two.


    I quickly run off towards their direction, "Nezuko!" I yelled as I see the demon beating Nezuko down near a cliff edge. Seeing this I immediately run up and throw my hatchet straight towards the Demons side as it lodges in *Whok* The body stumbles a bit, and taking the chance Nezuko kicked its arm towards the ledge of the cliff, throwing the body off the side.


    *Splat!* the sound of the mangled corpse echos up towards us.


    "GACCK!" The familiar sound of the Demon rings out from where I left Tanjiro with the head.


    *huff puff* "Nezuko, we need to go back to Tanjiro." I say quickly reaching out my hands towards her.


    "Hmm" She nods back and she takes my hand and we run back towards the clearing, to see Tanjiro standing next to the Demon''s head which is trapped under a wooden board, as he takes out a knife from his pocket.

 chapter 9: Sakonji Urokodaki

    [Third Person Perspective]


    As Hiroto and Nezuko approached Tanjiro, they saw how the head seemed to have fallen unconscious.


    "What happened? Why did it stop moving?" Asked Hiroto towards Tanjiro.


    "I''m not sure, I was just fighting the head trying to keep it from running by making the wooden door fall over it and all of a sudden it just stopped moving! It screamed for a second then passed out." Tanjiro said, waving his hands and pointing to the door that''s on top of the still-intact head.


    Hiroto nods and looks at the knife in Tanjiro''s hands. "Are you going to do it? Or should I?"


    "No, no I''ll do it," Tanjiro said, taking the knife out of the wooden sheath. As he slowly creeps over to the head he thinks to himself, ''How many demons are there? He smells different than the one that was at my house. A different Demon. But¡­ if I don''t kill him, he''ll attack more people. *hff hff* so I HAVE to do this. *hff hff*''


    Hiroto sees Tanjiro struggling to kill the Demon who wants to help him, but knows that for Tanjiro to grow and help Nezuko in the future that he has to do this on his own. ''I''m sorry Tanjiro, but you have to do this one.''


    Hiroto then sees out of the corner of his eye, an arm stretched out towards Tanjiro''s shoulder and grasped it. ''Who is this, I didn''t even hear or see him approaching.''


    "Huh?" Tanjiro, surprised, thought that it was his brother who was behind him, but when he turned around he could see a taller man with a blue-colored kimono with clouds on it. What was most surprising was that his face was covered with a red tengu mask. "Ah!" Tanjiro exclaims in surprise.


    Before Hiroto started moving towards Tanjiro the man spoke, "You can''t kill it with that." sounded out the man''s gruff voice from behind the mask.


    Hiroto, hearing this figured out the man doesn''t have any ill feelings towards Tanjiro.


    ''A tengu mask? I didn''t even hear him come up behind me!" Tanjiro thought to himself, staring at the masked man


    "H-How can I finish him off?" Tanjiro asks him.


    "Don''t trust what others say. Can''t you solve this riddle yourself?" The masked man said.


    Meanwhile, Nezuko is just staring blankly towards no particular direction while holding Hiroto''s hand.


    ''If stabbing him won''t work¡­'' Tanjiro thought, as his eyes wander over to some rocks. ''I''ll have to crush the head.''


    "Nngh" Tanjiro grunted, as he lifted a rock from the side and brought it over.


    ''To completely crush the head, I''ll have to smash him with a rock repeatedly. He will surely suffer. Isn''t there any way to kill it with one blow?'' Tanjiro thought, having a mental dilemma inside of his head.


    Hiroto looked over to Tanjiro and thought to himself, ''If stabbing it doesn''t work, then why did that man Giyu carry a katana with him?''


    *Sniff* The man sniffed the air, (Hiroto saw this and thought, does he have a cold?), he thought to himself. ''Damn¡­ This kid is no good. His kindness prevents him from taking decisive action. When facing a Demon, he still reeks of sympathy and consideration. He even feels sympathy for a Demon.''The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ''But¡­ this boy¡­'' The masked man thought as he smelled the other scent besides him, Hiroto''s. ''This boy''s scent is different from that kid. From Giyu''s letter, I can only assume he''s the kid''s older brother. How can the brother of that scent be so different? He''s looking at his brother facing the Demon himself, but his will doesn''t shake. He''s a good sapling, his conviction won''t waver in front of other Demons¡­''


    After the man''s internal monologue finished, the Demons head woke up. ''WHA-? I was unconscious. Is my body dead? I feel sick.'' The Demon thought to itself.


    "Oh!" Tanjiro exclaimed.


    "!!" The demon''s eyes bulged looking at the boy carrying the rock.


    While this happened Hiroto already noticed that the sun was quickly rising so he took Nezuko and put her back inside the temple before coming out again.


    "While I was wasting time, the sun came up!" Tanjiro said, looking anxiously towards the rising sun.


    As the sun eclipses over the horizon, the rays land upon the group and unto the Demon.


    "GYAAAAHH!!* The Demon cried out as it was being burnt alive. Trying to roll it''s head away but stuck under the door.


    "AGGHHHH" *SZZL KRAKL* "AGGHhhhh" The sounds of the Demons and it''s skin burning dies off.


    Hiroto, seeing the scene thought to himself. ''Just a touch of sunlight did that?! No wonder Nezuko fears it so much. Good thing brought her back inside.


    "Wait, Nezuko!" Tanjiro yelled out, but as he turned around all he saw was Hiroto raising his hands.


    "Calm down Tanjiro, I put her back in the basket inside, she''s fine," Hiroto reassured him.


    *phew* Tanjiro breathes out a sigh of relief.


    "Where''s that man?" Tanjiro asked.


    Hiroto pointed behind the house, "Over there when I brought Nezuko back in the house was already empty."


    The two turned to where the man was and saw him kneeling with his palms facing each other in prayer in front of 3 graves.


    ''He buried the family who was killed.'' Hiroto thought.


    The two boys walked up to the man.


    "Um¡­" Hiroto said first.


    The man stands up, dusting the dirt from his knees, and turns to face us. "I am Sakonji Urokodaki. You two must be the ones Giyu told me about."


    Shocked at what the man said, Hiroto responded, "Y¡­ Yes. I''m Hiroto Kamado, this is my little brother Tanjiro and," Hiroto points back towards the temple, "in there is my little sister Nezuko."


    The man looks towards Tanjiro and asks him, "Tell me, Tanjiro¡­ What will you do when your sister eats someone?"


    Tanjiro, shocked by the question, was left stumped as his eyes widened. Thinking of what he would do. But, as Tanjiro was thinking the man swung his hand towards Tanjiro''s face.


    Hiroto noticed before the man raised his arms from the little movements he made and managed to react fast enough. He reached out and grabbed Sakonji''s arm mid-swing.


    "HEY! What do you think you''re trying to do?!" Hiroto yells as the man yanks his arm free while pulling Hiroto over his shoulder and dumping him over the ground.


    *Thump*


    "Ack!" Hiroto sounded out as he was thrown.


    "He-" Before Tanjiro could respond he was slapped by Sakonji''s free arm.


    "Your brother thinks too slowly!" Sakonji shouts, looking at Hiroto''s figure on the ground.


    Hiroto slowly got back up massaging his back and looked towards Sakonji.


    Sakonji looks back towards Tanjiro who cups his right cheek which was struck by. "You struggle over the simplest decisions. You could never finish off a demon before the morning light. Why couldn''t you answer that question immediately? You are too soft!" The man berates Tanjiro.


    Hiroto looks on to the side, he knows that what the man said is true, but Tanjiro''s nature is like this. He has a kind soul, just the thought of having him kill something was a far dream in Hiroto''s mind.


    The man continues, "When your sister eats someone, there are two things you have to do¡­ Kill your sister¡­ then slit your belly and die! That is what it means to travel with your sister who has become a Demon! "


    "But it is both of your sacred duty to ensure that this never happens. Your sister must never take the life¡­ of an innocent person! Do you understand what I am saying?!" He shouts towards Tanjiro.


    "YES!" Tanjiro shouts with his resolve.


    "... And you." Sakonji points towards Hiroto. "You can''t keep coddling your brother. I know what you did before, making your brother do the deed instead of yourself. But your brother is far too softhearted. You need to stop coddling him" Hiroto looks straight at the man not wavering one bit.


    "I know this, but me and my brother are going to look after each other. We are going to protect Nezuko and look after her. We won''t let anyone get in our way or separate us." Hiroto responds eyeing the man''s tengu mask.


    ''... at least they both have the resolve.'' Sakonji thought to himself.


    "Very well¡­ I will test you two to see if you have what it takes to be a Demon Slayer Swordsman. Shoulder your sister and follow me."

 Chapter 10: The Test

    [Third Person Perspective]


    In the early mornings, above a farm of rice paddies, the figure of three people could be seen running at a face pace. At the front was a man wearing a light blue colored kimono with cloud patterns over it. On his face was a red Tengu mask. This was Sakonji Urokodaki, and behind him were two young boys trying to keep up with the man by running at full force.


    *hff hff*''H-he''s so fast! Just how old is he anyway? He''s not making any sounds when he runs'' *hff hff* Hiroto thought to himself, trying to run as fast as he can to keep up with the man while also carrying Nezuko on his back adding on to the wait.


    ''Crap, I hope Nezuko won''t mind all of the shaking when I run, just hold on Nezuko.'' Looking behind him, Hiroto could see Tanjiro struggling to keep up, but still pushing himself to stay as close as he can to the group.


    [Very brief Flashback]


    Looking back, Hiroto can remember a time when he came back from town, Tanjiro was talking to Nezuko who seems to be stitching up her pink kimono with some spare threads. Hiding behind a corner, Hiroto eavesdropped on how Nezuko responded when Tanjiro told her that she should buy a new one.


    "No, no¡­ I''m fine!" She responded with what Hiroto could only assume as her trademark smile. "I like this Kimono! It''s my favorite one. Instead, I use that money to give the younger kids plenty to eat."


    [End Flashback] (told ya it was brief)


    *sigh* Hiroto thought to himself, ''looking back, all Nezuko thought about was how she could take better care of her siblings. She could''ve at least acted more spoiled for her age.


    ''Don''t worry Nezuko, once we turn you back I''ll make sure to let you live the rest of your life as a normal girl again. I promise you that.'' Hiroto made a promise to himself as they passed by some curious onlookers.


    [Dusk]


    After running the whole day, the pair of brothers knelt down on the ground, breathing hard trying to recover as best as they could from the arduous task.


    *hff pff* *hff hff* Heavy breathing was heard from the two, as Hiroto opened his mouth to say something, "S-So¡­ *wheeze wheeze* Did we¡­ pass the test? *hff hff*" Shaking with sweat dripping down their faces.


    Sakonji opens the door to his house and takes off the cloth covering his head, exposing his aged white hairs. "The test begins now. We''re going to be climbing the mountain.


    *high pitched gasp* was heard from the two kids as they heard this, eyes almost popping out of their sockets. ''Then what was all that running for'' Hiroto and Tanjiro thought to themselves, as they begin to feel like dying.


    Walking inside and tucking Nezuko into a futon, Hiroto covers her with a blanket and strokes her head before standing up.


    "I''ll make sure to take care of your sister for you two, don''t worry." Sakonji''s rough voice sounds from behind the two.


    "Thank you/Thank you," The two boys said as at the same time, bowing a bit.


    [Several hours later]


    As they two followed Sakonji up the hill, where it is now almost pitch black with only the moon as their source of light, they walked for what seemed to be several hours up the mountain.


    The mountain climb took them up higher than they have ever been before, causing trouble in the two''s breathing as the air is so thin. Coupled with having run the whole day before, their legs begin to shake from the pain their muscles had to endure.


    [Leg Muscles POV]


    "IF WE HAVE TO MOVE ANY FURTHER IM KILLING MYSELF!!"


    [Hiroto POV]


    *shivers* ''why did I just get an ominous feeling?'' Hiroto thought to himself, as he tried to level his breathing.


    Sakonji stops moving before turning to face the two. "Now, you two must descend to the house at the foot of the mountain." He says as the heavy fog starts to roll into view, obscuring his figure.


    "This time, I will not wait until sunrise¡­" With those last words, Sakonji disappears from their sight.


    "Huh/Huh?" Both me and Tanjiro responded questioningly.


    ''Is that all?'' *hff hff* I thought to myself, wiping the sweat off my face.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "He thinks we''ll get lost in this thick fog," I said looking towards Tanjiro next to me.


    "Well *hff hff* We just have to get back before sunrise then. That''s easy! I have a sharp nose! I''ve already memorized Urokodaki''s scent." Tanjiro said.


    "Let''s go then," I said, as we pushed through the fog running towards the direction that Urokodaki left.


    *snag*


    Just as we started moving, Tanjiro seemed to have tripped over something, I wasn''t paying attention to my surroundings as the fog was too thick.


    *rattle* ''What was that'' I thought looking around. Concentrating my eyes to the fullest, I try to see where the source of the sound came from. Looking down I immediately cut down the bamboo tree underneath Tanjiro''s feet.


    "Tanjiro move!" I yelled out towards him, but it was too late *FWOOSH* as the bamboo moved with a powerful ark, carrying Tanjiro with it and flinging him to another part of the forest.


    "Tanjiro!" ''Dammit, I was too slow'' I thought, at least he knows the past back down the mountain with his nose. This is going to be hard for me.


    I look around carefully, trying to see the slightest of footprints or any indication to where Sakonji might have run off to.


    ''There!'' I thought in joy, as I started following the faint path back towards the foot of the mountain.


    *Foom* the sounds of something being hurled towards my direction sounds out, I quickly look towards the source of it and can see arrows flying towards me.


    *Swish* *Swish* Swish* I quickly predict the trajectory of it and move out of the way. *Thunk thunk thunk* The arrows lodge into the trees behind me. "Is that old man trying to kill me?!" I shouted out loud.


    [At the foot of the mountain]


    *Achoo* *sniff* Sakonji looks up from Nezuko and thought ''Which Demon is plotting against me?''


    [Hiroto POV]


    ''This must be a challenge Urokodaki set for us.'' I thought, spotting the ropes on the ground and dodging them all while running down the mountain.


    ''This will be harder for Tanjiro, he has to rely on his nose to get out of the traps.''


    As I jump over the dead tree log, my foot unluckily lands on a piece of rope, ''crap'' I quickly move out of the way and can hear a noise from behind.


    *whish* I look back to see a tree long attached to some ropes flying towards me, quickly rolling out of the way the log grazed past my face.


    *hff hff* ''I need to slow down my breathing, I''m panicking. The air is a lot thinner here than back home.''


    Closing my eyes, I concentrate to steady my breathing to a pattern, increasing my lung capacity. Thinking back to what he saw his father doing once, he tries to mimic it.


    [Brief flashback]


    Back in their old home up in the mountains, on a path back up their home was a tall man who appears to be a bit sickly, as his skin is dull and pale. His appearance is similar to that of Hiroto and Tanjiro.


    A small child was walking behind him, trying to keep up with the man. This was his father Tanjuro, who is currently wearing the earrings that he passed down to Tanjiro, with the black bracelet on his right wrist.


    "Ahhhh fatherrrr." The small boy, who is a mini version of Hiroto, complained. "How can you keep doing this every day when you''re so sick? Mother keeps complaining you know." The small boy pouts.


    "Hahaha." His father laughs, "I''m alright Hiroto, I''m not that sick I just get tired sometimes." his father says looking back at his son before picking him up.


    "People can use a specific and concentrated breathing pattern, to increase their lung capacity and the amount of oxygen in their blood. This can increase their physical and mental concentration. Remember this well Hiroto. Relax and¡­" Hiroto''s father''s voice trailed off as he starts to fall asleep in his arms while being carried, tired from the journey down.


    [End of Flashback]


    [Hiroto POV]


    ''Just like father said, I need to concentrate my breathing into a set pattern.'' I thought as I began to regulate my breaths. Putting strength into my abdomen, I flex my muscles and breathe out.


    *wheeze* "hooooo" A very small, yet noticeable, stream of steam comes out from behind my teeth.


    Being able to breathe properly again, I open my eyes and look around. I can feel my senses being heightened as everything seems clearer to me. Looking back to the path I was following, I can see finer details that Urokodaki left behind compared to before.


    ''Alright, I need to hurry up.'' Running back down the path, I realize that I can move faster now and start dodging all of the traps. Some still get me as I wasn''t accustomed to the changes in my body yet, making my movement feel stiff and clunky.


    [A few hours later]


    [Third Person Perspective.]


    Back at the foot of the hill inside of this house, Sakonji Urokodaki was kneeling beside Nezuko who is currently asleep inside of a futon. Watching over her, the man was lost in thoughts.


    *sniff* A scent rolls into his nose as he sniffs the air, he recognizes it and looks towards the door as hurried footsteps and be heard faintly from outside getting louder.


    Sliding the door open, the figure of Hiroto covered in mud, leaves, and grass was seen. One thing that surprised Urokodaki the most, was the lack of wounds on the boy. ''He managed to avoid the majority of the traps I laid out. He made it back before his younger brother too, who has the same ability to smell scents like me.''


    *wheeze* "hffff* The boy breathes out as he relaxes his breathing. Hiroto, after making it back doesn''t have to maintain that method of breathing anymore as he can now relax and lose focus.


    "I¡­ I made it back¡­ *hff hff* before dawn...." Hiroto says groggily, the strain could be heard in his voice.


    Walking up and kneeling beside Nezuko, Hiroto realized Tanjiro is not back yet and looks back out. ''You can do it Tanjiro, we''re waiting for you''


    Urokodaki waits silently seeing the scene ahead of him. ''Giyu brought me a good seedling¡­''


    [Several minutes later]


    Hiroto relaxes and waits patiently besides Nezuko''s sleeping body, as Urokodaki looks up towards the door again. Seeing this Hiroto shifts his attention back to the door and finally sees the figure of Tanjiro opening up the door.


    Hiroto''s eyes widen as he sees all the wounds on Tanjiro''s body. ''What the hell happened to him¡­'' Hiroto thought to himself.


    *pant pant pant pant* "I¡­ hff am¡­ back¡­" Tanjiro struggles to say as his muddied and wound covered body collapses down onto his knees by the entrance.


    Hiroto moves to support Tanjiro back up. "I¡­ did it¡­ big bro¡­" Tanjiro said, smiling up towards Hiroto.


    Smiling back, Hiroto responds, "Yea, you did."


    Urokodaki seeing this finally made a move. "I''ve recognized your abilities, Hiroto and Tanjiro Kamado." Before standing up.


    "I accept you two, as my students"

 Chapter 11: Training

    [Third person Perspective]


    In the mornings, Hiroto would get up and get prepared for the training to come. Tanjiro keeps a journal that he''s writing in. When Hiroto asks Tanjiro why he''s writing it Tanjiro responds,


    "Well, I''m keeping a journal about our training and everyday life, so that when Nezuko wakes up she can read about what we did so far," Tanjiro responds by putting down the ink brush and closing his book.


    Leaning sideways on the doorframe, Hiroto looks towards Nezuko''s sleeping figure inside their room. Ever since the night at the temple, Nezuko hasn''t woken up yet. Hiroto and Tanjiro just assume that it''s probably something that Demons do to rest.


    "Let''s go." An aged voice comes from the main room. Tanjiro and Hiroto leave their room and close the door, taking a last look at Nezuko''s sleeping figure.


    When the three arrived at the clearing with the sun cascading through the forest top, Urokodaki turns and tells them. "The Demon Slayer Corps has around several hundred members." Hiroto and Tanjiro listen closely to the lecture.


    "It''s an organization unrecognized by the government. However, they still exist and continue to kill Demons. Nobody knows who is leading the band of Demon Hunters¡­ still shrouded in mystery." Turning towards the rising sun, Urokodaki continues.


    "Demons. Their main source of food; Humans. They kill Humans and consume their flesh. When they were first born or where they came from is still unknown. They have powerful physical abilities and even when injured, they are able to immediately heal themselves. Body parts hacked off will still have some sort of connection and they are able to grow completely new arms and legs." Pausing for a bit, he looks at the reaction of the two siblings to see them in shock at the information told of Demons.


    "There also exist Demons that have incredible abilities to change their body structure. If one does not use a blade of special quality, even after chopping the Demon''s head off, the Demon will not die." Urokodaki continues, as Hiroto interrupts at this point.


    "Was the sword that Tomioka-san used made of the special material?" Hiroto asked, looking for confirmation.


    Nodding his head Urokodaki replies, "Yes, each member of the Demon Slayer Corps carries a blade of the special material that is able to kill a Demon permanently when beheading them."


    Urokodaki continues from where Hiroto interrupted him. "The Demon Slayer Corps fights the Demons with their mortal flesh and blood. Due to them being Humans their injuries recover slowly and lost limbs will never regrow. Even so, they still fight the Demons of Humanity¡­ to protect other humans." Urokodaki concludes.


    "I am a trainer! I train swordsmen. There are a lot more of these trainers who train swordsmen with a variety of techniques in a variety of places. If one wants to enter the Demon Slayer Corps then they must survive in the "Final Selection" held on Mt. Fujikasane. Whether or not you''re eligible for "Final Selection"... is up to me."


    *gulp* Hiroto and Tanjiro look on to Urokodaki with some anxiety.


    [Training Montage (little time skips here and there)]


    The two boys keep training each day, waking up early running up the mountain and passing the traps one by one again. As the days go by, the traps get deadlier and more viscous.


    ''He''s really trying to kill us!'' Hiroto thought to himself, pulling Tanjiro who is balancing himself from falling into a pit trap full of sharp blades.


    *whoosh* a log flies towards their direction, forcing the two to keep running and dodging.


    ''We have to train our hardest so we won''t die during the Final Selection. I won''t be able to be with Tanjiro all the time during it, so he needs to get stronger. So do I. For Nezuko''s sake.'' Hiroto thought to himself.


    -----------


    After repeatedly descending the mountain, day after day, the two boys start to memorize and learn how to avoid most of the traps based on instinct alone.


    The constant running and jumping helps to build up their strength faster, with the two being more proficient at using their senses better than before.


    With Hiroto''s eyesight being more redefined, and Tanjiro''s sense of smell being sharper.


    However, as the two boys get stronger, the traps keep on getting more and more difficult.


    Ending each day, Hiroto sits next to Nezuko as he slowly wipes her face clean from some of the dust, and Tanjiro next to his desk as always writing in his Journal. After several months had passed, the amount of books has started to increase in size as the days of training pass by. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ------------


    After half a year has passed by, the two boys were given a katana as they ran down the mountain together, dodging the traps with a sword in hand.


    What they realized was that with the addition of the sword, both of their movements were hampered significantly as they had to be aware of the katana''s size and how to properly hold it when running down the mountain avoiding the traps.


    With the addition of the katana''s, the two boys find themselves getting ensnared by traps they would''ve previously avoided a lot more frequently, as Tanjiro currently dangles from a foot trap upside under a tree and Hiroto being tangled up in some rope, unable to move.


    In the evenings when the two descended the mountain, they would swing their katana over and over again until their swords nearly fall off.


    "998! 999! 1000!!" The two boys yell out, as they swing their sword in rhythm for the final time.


    "500 more!" The devil''s voi *cough* Urokodaki''s voice sounds out from behind, causing the two to freeze and wallow in their misfortune.


    Once night arrived, as usual, Hiroto would tend to Nezuko, as well as practice how to breathe in a pattern, while Tanjiro writes in his journal of what they did during the day. When Tanjiro asked what Hiroto was doing, Hiroto responded with,


    "... Breathing!"


    This caused a small vein to bulge on Tanjiro''s head, annoyed at the stupid simple answer, twitching.


    Some days, instead of running down the mountain Urokodaki would take the two and instruct them on how to use the katana.


    "Katanas break easily," Urokodaki told them.


    "Though it''s strong vertically, it''s weak horizontally, so you need to apply the force straight along the blade," Urokodaki says, before swinging his katana at the 3 tatami mats rolled and stacked side by side. As his sword passes through effortlessly, a clean and straight diagonal line is shown from the cut made.


    "The blade''s direction and the direction in which you apply the force must be exactly the same." He says, before pointing towards the two boys.


    "If you ever damage the blade, in other words, break it, I''ll snap your bones, as well." in a threatening tone of voice. Hiroto looks away as Tanjiro''s pupils into a dot.


    --------


    After some time, standing in a clearing surrounded by trees Hiroto and Tanjiro both have their sword poised ready in front of them. Opposite to them 20ft away stood Urokodaki, barehanded.


    The two boys stared at Urokodaki''s tengu mask not masking a move when suddenly the world started turning in front of them.


    "Ehh?/Huh?" The two mutter, as they start falling to the ground sideways.


    Urokodaki''s body flickers away from their sight as he stands over them in a fighting pose after flipping the two on the ground.


    This training session was to get the two boys used to being thrown around and recovering from any fallen position quickly while trying to defend themselves.


    This continued for hours before the two collapsed from fatigue with bruises littering their bodies, and muck in their hair.


    The day after, Urokodaki started teaching breathing techniques to the two boys.


    When he saw Hiroto performing the proper, although slightly different, breathing form he was surprised.


    "Where did you learn to do this?" Urokodaki asked him.


    "Hiroto scratched the back of his head before replying, "Well, I remember my Dad telling me how to people are able to get more strength and focus better when breathing in a certain manner and pattern while I was a kid."


    Tanjiro hearing this was shocked, "Dad told you that? How come I didn''t know?"


    "Well, you were still really young and was still crawling around so you wouldn''t remember," Hiroto replied.


    Urokodaki, when he heard this was curious about what their parents were but left it at that.


    "This breathing technique is called "Total Concentration Breathing", and it''s similar to what you did Hiroto. Did you feel your physical and mental abilities being improved when performing it?" Urokodaki said, looking towards Hiroto.


    "Yes, I felt that I could move and think faster, it also enhanced my sight a lot more so I can see things easier," Hiroto said, nodding his head.


    "That''s right, you need to take a long breath so the oxygen flows into every cell in your body. Doing this will enhance your body''s natural healing power too, and both stabilize and energize your spirit." Urokodai lectured, crossing his arms.


    "What you can do Hiroto is just the tip of the iceberg. You are just starting to break through into the full extent of "Total Concentration Breathing". Relax your upper body, while bracing your lower half." Urokodaki instructed.


    The two boys followed the instructions and did as told, relaxing their upper half while bracing the lower half of their bodies.


    "Alright, now breathe!" Urokodaki commanded.


    Tanjiro took a deep breath in*suuuuu* and exhaled *haaaaaaaa* *SMACK* "GACK!"* Tanjiro coughed out at the end of exhaling as his stomach was slapped by Urokodaki.


    "Wrong!"


    Hiroto on the side tried it as well, *Suuuuuuu* exhaling through his teeth, *Fooooo* as the sound of compressed air escapes from between.


    "Good," Urokodaki said nodding, before slapping Hiroto''s stomach too.


    "GACK! What did I do wrong?!" Hiroto exclaims, clutching his stomach in pain.


    "Whenever Tanjiro gets it wrong from now on, you will also be punished," Urokodaki said, in a low and menacing tone.


    Hiroto slowly looked over to Tanjiro who then looked away and started whistling.


    After training on breathing techniques, they were taken to a lake with a waterfall. Standing up on a cliff ledge over the water Urokodaki instructed the two boys to, "Become one with the water."


    Needless to say, the two boys have never swum before so they don''t know how to.


    "Get in there!" Urokodaki''s voice sounds out from behind as he proceeded to kick Tanjiro off the ledge.


    "AGGGHhhhhhh" Tanjiro yells out as his voice fades away before *Splash* falling into the water.


    "Tanjiro!" Hiroto yells before kneeling and clasping his palms together. "Don''t worry Tanjiro, your big bro will look after Nezuko. Rest well in the afterlife."


    Urokodaki then proceeded to kick Hiroto over the ledge as Hiroto screams out, "NEZUKOOOOooo" *splash*


    Two bodies could be seen lifelessly floating in the river.


    Afterward, they would have to train by withstanding the water pressure directly underneath a waterfall.


    "AHH NEZUKO!! WE ARE WATER!! AHHhhhouwwwahhhh." The two voices of the boys could be heard fading under the waterfall.


    Before shortly collapsing under the strong currents and floating away peacefully.

 Chapter 12: Limits

    [Third person Perspective]


    In the mornings, Hiroto would get up and get prepared for the training to come. Tanjiro keeps a journal that he''s writing in. When Hiroto asks Tanjiro why he''s writing it Tanjiro responds,


    "Well, I''m keeping a journal about our training and everyday life, so that when Nezuko wakes up she can read about what we did so far," Tanjiro responds by putting down the ink brush and closing his book.


    Leaning sideways on the doorframe, Hiroto looks towards Nezuko''s sleeping figure inside their room. Ever since the night at the temple, Nezuko hasn''t woken up yet. Hiroto and Tanjiro just assume that it''s probably something that Demons do to rest.


    "Let''s go." An aged voice comes from the main room. Tanjiro and Hiroto leave their room and close the door, taking a last look at Nezuko''s sleeping figure.


    When the three arrived at the clearing with the sun cascading through the forest top, Urokodaki turns and tells them. "The Demon Slayer Corps has around several hundred members." Hiroto and Tanjiro listen closely to the lecture.


    "It''s an organization unrecognized by the government. However, they still exist and continue to kill Demons. Nobody knows who is leading the band of Demon Hunters¡­ still shrouded in mystery." Turning towards the rising sun, Urokodaki continues.


    "Demons. Their main source of food; Humans. They kill Humans and consume their flesh. When they were first born or where they came from is still unknown. They have powerful physical abilities and even when injured, they are able to immediately heal themselves. Body parts hacked off will still have some sort of connection and they are able to grow completely new arms and legs." Pausing for a bit, he looks at the reaction of the two siblings to see them in shock at the information told of Demons.


    "There also exist Demons that have incredible abilities to change their body structure. If one does not use a blade of special quality, even after chopping the Demon''s head off, the Demon will not die." Urokodaki continues, as Hiroto interrupts at this point.


    "Was the sword that Tomioka-san used made of the special material?" Hiroto asked, looking for confirmation.


    Nodding his head Urokodaki replies, "Yes, each member of the Demon Slayer Corps carries a blade of the special material that is able to kill a Demon permanently when beheading them."


    Urokodaki continues from where Hiroto interrupted him. "The Demon Slayer Corps fights the Demons with their mortal flesh and blood. Due to them being Humans their injuries recover slowly and lost limbs will never regrow. Even so, they still fight the Demons of Humanity¡­ to protect other humans." Urokodaki concludes.


    "I am a trainer! I train swordsmen. There are a lot more of these trainers who train swordsmen with a variety of techniques in a variety of places. If one wants to enter the Demon Slayer Corps then they must survive in the "Final Selection" held on Mt. Fujikasane. Whether or not you''re eligible for "Final Selection"... is up to me."


    *gulp* Hiroto and Tanjiro look on to Urokodaki with some anxiety.


    [Training Montage (little time skips here and there)]


    The two boys keep training each day, waking up early running up the mountain and passing the traps one by one again. As the days go by, the traps get deadlier and more viscous.


    ''He''s really trying to kill us!'' Hiroto thought to himself, pulling Tanjiro who is balancing himself from falling into a pit trap full of sharp blades.


    *whoosh* a log flies towards their direction, forcing the two to keep running and dodging.


    ''We have to train our hardest so we won''t die during the Final Selection. I won''t be able to be with Tanjiro all the time during it, so he needs to get stronger. So do I. For Nezuko''s sake.'' Hiroto thought to himself.


    -----------


    After repeatedly descending the mountain, day after day, the two boys start to memorize and learn how to avoid most of the traps based on instinct alone.


    The constant running and jumping helps to build up their strength faster, with the two being more proficient at using their senses better than before.


    With Hiroto''s eyesight being more redefined, and Tanjiro''s sense of smell being sharper.


    However, as the two boys get stronger, the traps keep on getting more and more difficult.


    Ending each day, Hiroto sits next to Nezuko as he slowly wipes her face clean from some of the dust, and Tanjiro next to his desk as always writing in his Journal. After several months had passed, the amount of books has started to increase in size as the days of training pass by. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ------------


    After half a year has passed by, the two boys were given a katana as they ran down the mountain together, dodging the traps with a sword in hand.


    What they realized was that with the addition of the sword, both of their movements were hampered significantly as they had to be aware of the katana''s size and how to properly hold it when running down the mountain avoiding the traps.


    With the addition of the katana''s, the two boys find themselves getting ensnared by traps they would''ve previously avoided a lot more frequently, as Tanjiro currently dangles from a foot trap upside under a tree and Hiroto being tangled up in some rope, unable to move.


    In the evenings when the two descended the mountain, they would swing their katana over and over again until their swords nearly fall off.


    "998! 999! 1000!!" The two boys yell out, as they swing their sword in rhythm for the final time.


    "500 more!" The devil''s voi *cough* Urokodaki''s voice sounds out from behind, causing the two to freeze and wallow in their misfortune.


    Once night arrived, as usual, Hiroto would tend to Nezuko, as well as practice how to breathe in a pattern, while Tanjiro writes in his journal of what they did during the day. When Tanjiro asked what Hiroto was doing, Hiroto responded with,


    "... Breathing!"


    This caused a small vein to bulge on Tanjiro''s head, annoyed at the stupid simple answer, twitching.


    Some days, instead of running down the mountain Urokodaki would take the two and instruct them on how to use the katana.


    "Katanas break easily," Urokodaki told them.


    "Though it''s strong vertically, it''s weak horizontally, so you need to apply the force straight along the blade," Urokodaki says, before swinging his katana at the 3 tatami mats rolled and stacked side by side. As his sword passes through effortlessly, a clean and straight diagonal line is shown from the cut made.


    "The blade''s direction and the direction in which you apply the force must be exactly the same." He says, before pointing towards the two boys.


    "If you ever damage the blade, in other words, break it, I''ll snap your bones, as well." in a threatening tone of voice. Hiroto looks away as Tanjiro''s pupils into a dot.


    --------


    After some time, standing in a clearing surrounded by trees Hiroto and Tanjiro both have their sword poised ready in front of them. Opposite to them 20ft away stood Urokodaki, barehanded.


    The two boys stared at Urokodaki''s tengu mask not masking a move when suddenly the world started turning in front of them.


    "Ehh?/Huh?" The two mutter, as they start falling to the ground sideways.


    Urokodaki''s body flickers away from their sight as he stands over them in a fighting pose after flipping the two on the ground.


    This training session was to get the two boys used to being thrown around and recovering from any fallen position quickly while trying to defend themselves.


    This continued for hours before the two collapsed from fatigue with bruises littering their bodies, and muck in their hair.


    The day after, Urokodaki started teaching breathing techniques to the two boys.


    When he saw Hiroto performing the proper, although slightly different, breathing form he was surprised.


    "Where did you learn to do this?" Urokodaki asked him.


    "Hiroto scratched the back of his head before replying, "Well, I remember my Dad telling me how to people are able to get more strength and focus better when breathing in a certain manner and pattern while I was a kid."


    Tanjiro hearing this was shocked, "Dad told you that? How come I didn''t know?"


    "Well, you were still really young and was still crawling around so you wouldn''t remember," Hiroto replied.


    Urokodaki, when he heard this was curious about what their parents were but left it at that.


    "This breathing technique is called "Total Concentration Breathing", and it''s similar to what you did Hiroto. Did you feel your physical and mental abilities being improved when performing it?" Urokodaki said, looking towards Hiroto.


    "Yes, I felt that I could move and think faster, it also enhanced my sight a lot more so I can see things easier," Hiroto said, nodding his head.


    "That''s right, you need to take a long breath so the oxygen flows into every cell in your body. Doing this will enhance your body''s natural healing power too, and both stabilize and energize your spirit." Urokodai lectured, crossing his arms.


    "What you can do Hiroto is just the tip of the iceberg. You are just starting to break through into the full extent of "Total Concentration Breathing". Relax your upper body, while bracing your lower half." Urokodaki instructed.


    The two boys followed the instructions and did as told, relaxing their upper half while bracing the lower half of their bodies.


    "Alright, now breathe!" Urokodaki commanded.


    Tanjiro took a deep breath in*suuuuu* and exhaled *haaaaaaaa* *SMACK* "GACK!"* Tanjiro coughed out at the end of exhaling as his stomach was slapped by Urokodaki.


    "Wrong!"


    Hiroto on the side tried it as well, *Suuuuuuu* exhaling through his teeth, *Fooooo* as the sound of compressed air escapes from between.


    "Good," Urokodaki said nodding, before slapping Hiroto''s stomach too.


    "GACK! What did I do wrong?!" Hiroto exclaims, clutching his stomach in pain.


    "Whenever Tanjiro gets it wrong from now on, you will also be punished," Urokodaki said, in a low and menacing tone.


    Hiroto slowly looked over to Tanjiro who then looked away and started whistling.


    After training on breathing techniques, they were taken to a lake with a waterfall. Standing up on a cliff ledge over the water Urokodaki instructed the two boys to, "Become one with the water."


    Needless to say, the two boys have never swum before so they don''t know how to.


    "Get in there!" Urokodaki''s voice sounds out from behind as he proceeded to kick Tanjiro off the ledge.


    "AGGGHhhhhhh" Tanjiro yells out as his voice fades away before *Splash* falling into the water.


    "Tanjiro!" Hiroto yells before kneeling and clasping his palms together. "Don''t worry Tanjiro, your big bro will look after Nezuko. Rest well in the afterlife."


    Urokodaki then proceeded to kick Hiroto over the ledge as Hiroto screams out, "NEZUKOOOOooo" *splash*


    Two bodies could be seen lifelessly floating in the river.


    Afterward, they would have to train by withstanding the water pressure directly underneath a waterfall.


    "AHH NEZUKO!! WE ARE WATER!! AHHhhhouwwwahhhh." The two voices of the boys could be heard fading under the waterfall.


    Before shortly collapsing under the strong currents and floating away peacefully.

 Chapter 13: Fight

    [Hiroto POV]


    *clang, ting* sounds of metal clashing reverberates throughout the forest and sparks fly about the two of us clashing against each other.


    Thrusting my sword forward, Botan knocks it aside with a parry *ding* and aims the hilt of his sword towards my face. I quickly predict the move as I move my elbow upwards to change the path of the hilt before it slams into me.


    Pulling my sword back I raise it and swing it down towards Botan. *clang* Botan blocks it the katana with his left arm raising his own, and as our blade lock, I keep adding pressure down onto him.


    Botan then swings his katana to the side redirecting mine and swings towards me again. *swoosh* I quickly step back dodging it by inches as it grazes the hair on my head.


    He rushed towards me again, this time swinging his sword from a low sweep towards my legs. I quickly jump up to avoid the swing as I pull my sword back thrusts it towards his face. *Clack* Botan quickly leans out of the way towards the side, but not fast enough as to the side of his mask, causing a crack to form and a bit of blood to come out but not enough for it to break.


    He quickly slams his sword down on top of the katana *Clang, Boom*, forcing mine down onto the ground beneath his feet.


    Using his katana above mine as leverage, I maneuver myself around in an arc and launch a kick towards the side of his head. Not having his right arm, Botan quickly raised his left arm to block the brunt of the force *boom* as he is forced away, skidding along the ground as dust is kicked up.


    Landing on the ground I inhale*suuuu*, increasing my lung capacity up as I silently start using total concentration causing my body to heat up. I run towards Botan who quickly readies himself for my strike. I swing towards his face and he bends over backward to dodge the strike and launching a kick up towards me while moving backward. I quickly sidestep the kick and continue pushing him, striking, again and again, *clang clang* causing sparks to fly at each hit.


    *clang clang* Botan blocks and keeps backing up from my onslaught.


    I bring the katana down low to my left and slash diagonally upright towards him. Botan quickly does a backflip onto the side of a tree to dodge and hangs there. I jumped up towards him the katana''s edge gleamed as it moved up and swept down, swishing audibly through the air. Botan propels himself off to the tree to the side before I could hit him. *shiing* The katana glides through the tree as it is cut in one single slice.


    *crckkkk* The sounds of bark and the tree sounds out as it starts to topple towards Botan. Running along the length of the fallen tree, I move closer towards him and launch myself with a forward thrust, as he quickly parries my sword off to the side. Before he could act again, I turn around and kick a do a low sweep with my legs, causing his posture to be unbalanced as he falls over.


    I flip over my katana to a backhanded grip as I bring it down towards him. *Shitung* Botan quickly rolls out of the way as the tip of the blade stabs into where his face was. Flipping to a normal handed grip I drag the sword along the ground towards Botan as I aim to throw the dust-up to distract and blind his eye.


    Unprepared for the sneak attack, Botan didn''t have time to counter as the dust and debris landed on the mask, obscuring his view until.


    *swoosh* *Clack*


    As the dust settled I had already dashed past him and landed in a low crouch. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    I stand back up, with my back towards Botan who''s behind me. My right hand holding the Katana and my left holding his cracked mask. I could hear Botan stop moving as he stands still in his spot.


    I turn around to face his back. As Botan turned around I could see¡­ He was wearing another god damn mask underneath it.


    *sigh* "You had another one under there?"I said incredulously, waving the mask in my left hand towards him.


    "Of course I do, the last people to have seen my face were probably Sakonji along with Sabito and Makomo," Botan said with a sadder tone towards the end of his sentence.


    "Sabito and Makomo? Who are they?" I asked him.


    Looking off to the side, Botan answered, "They were the orphans. Kids who trained under Sakonji before you guys came."


    "Enough about that, it seems that we have a guest," Botan said, looking off to the side.


    From there approached Urokodaki from the side, emerging from the foliage. Looking at the mask in my hand, he spoke up. "... Did you go easy on him?"


    "In your dreams, the kid''s more than meets the eye Sakonji. You should give him more credit." Botan said, looking towards me.


    Walking up towards me, Urokodaki puts a head on my head as he says, "... I never had any intention of sending you or your brother off to go join the "Final Selection". I didn''t want to see more children die from the test anymore. But I never thought that you would be able to defeat Botan. He used to train under me before becoming recognized as my equal, looking at his arm and eye under a Demon ambush. You did well."


    Urokodaki hugged me as he muttered, "Don''t tell Tanjiro yet, of what I told you. You should prepare yourself to leave in a few months when the examination ground opens up again." Separating from me, Botan came up and patted my shoulder.


    "You did good kid, you made me proud by how fast you could grow," Botan said, before turning and walking away. I give a bow towards his diminishing figure, as he disappears behind the trees. We both walked away, towards the direction of the house.


    As we continued walking I could faintly hear the sounds of Tanjiro yelling.


    "Ha! Ha! Ha!" Tanjiro''s yells echo faintly towards me.


    ''Work hard Tanjiro, I''m waiting for you to get stronger. Both me and Nezuko.'' I thought before walking off again.


    We were too concentrated with our own training that we barely interacted or saw each other. The only time we did was in the evenings when we ate and slept.


    Arriving back to Urokodaki''s home, I enter and directly go to wash myself from behind the back of the house.


    Wiping off the mud and dried up blood stains I think back to how I was able to win the fight against Botan. My eyesight has improved tremendously over the past months of training. Being able to predict movements allows me to make effective counterattacks and dodges to stay ahead of my opponents.


    I put on my usual white robe with my black and white haori on top before entering his bedroom. Bruises were still visible on his face and arms from past duels.


    Laying in the futon, as usual, was Nezuko still asleep. Kneeling beside her I start wiping her face once again as I always do. It''s become a way for me to settle down and relax in the evenings.


    Closing the door behind me, I enter the main room to see a hotpot being cooked in the stove, with Urokodaki kneeling next to it.


    At that moment Tanjiro walked in and asked, "What''s the occasion Urokodaki-san?"


    "It''s your brother, he finished his training," Urokodaki said,


    Tanjiro''s eyes widened in surprise and joy before looking towards me, "Big bro, you really beat that Botan?" Tanjiro said.


    I told him about what I had to do in order to get Urokodaki to recognize my abilities.


    "Mm," I nodded my head in response.


    "That''s great! I have to get stronger to catch up to you and train even harder!" Tanjiro said, before sitting down next to us.


    I hit the back of his head before he could sit down. "Oi, go and clean yourself first, you reek."


    "Haha, sorry. I''ll go now." Tanjiro said, before scurrying off the back.


    *sigh* I said before sitting down in my spot. Urokodaki passed me a bowl filled with meat and vegetables. "Here, you should eat as much as you can. A growing boy like you needs food to get bigger and grow more muscles. You deserve it."


    "Thank you for the food," I said before digging in.


    The rest of the night followed as Tanjiro ate his fill before going to write in his journal as usual in our bedroom. I sat in the main room with Urokodaki and handed me a new kimono and haori.


    "Here, my present for you for exceeding my expectations. Before you get your official uniform anyway." He says, passing me the kimono.


    As I got changed into my new clothes, I observed how it looks. The kimono was white underneath, with the haori on top being black with white cloud patterns on it in a random pattern.